Perfect. Again. Not a single missed question, how boring.
Shintaro glanced over at his paper as his head was resting on one of his hands. Peeking out the window to see the sun begin to set as class had just ended, drifting into his own thoughts until noticing the stare of the one next to him.
He flinched for a second and this caught her attention making her look away hastily. Why is she staring at me?
Shintaro spoke quietly from embarrassment, "Was something on my face…?"
Ayano giggled sweetly, "No, just wondered what really goes on in the mind of yours when you drift off I guess."
Shintaro looked coldly, "Are you an idiot?"
Ayano laughed again, and shot back a warm smile. She took no offense to his words. No. Maybe she didn't even notice what he said? Shintaro was never a real people person, however, he couldn't shake this one off. She was stuck like glue to him. Nothing he could say or do would make her find him unenjoyable to be around.
Ayano swiftly snatched his paper resting on his desk and her mouth flew open in awe.
"Perfect again!" Her eyes glimmered as if she were so proud like it was an accomplishment. Shintaro didn't feel the same, this was all routine for him. Minor studying and just exceling in class. Nothing really was challenging about school to him.
She giggled as she was making folds and creases with the paper, chiming a song.
For some reason or another, he couldn't shake the thoughts arriving in his head.
Is she really an idiot?
She's actually not that bad at singing…
Why was I so embarrassed this morning?
Why won't she leave me alone?
He let his mind flow only to stare at her, until he noticed she was actually speaking to him.
"Did you hear me? I hope you aren't ignoring me…"
Shintaro rolled his eyes, "No, I wasn't ignoring you."
Ayano stood in a jolt and began to tug on Shintaro's uniform while grinning from ear to ear, "Great, it's settled."
Shintaro was puzzled and stuttering, "W-What? Where are we going? Ow, stop!"
Ayano began to stand still and looked at him while her eyes shined with what looked like tears, Ayano whimpered, "I-I said don't say anything if you would go shopping with me and you didn't..."
Shintaro nearly fell, "How the hell is that fair!?"
She began to stare into his eyes as tears welled up, he had lost.
A sigh left the young adults lips, "Fine. I will go."
Ayano was ecstatic about this, her arms flailed and she twisted as if she was dancing and grabbed Shintaro by the hand and began to leave the building, some students remained around the school grounds and began to whisper amongst themselves at the two holding hands.
Idiots! Shintaro stated in his mind whilst gritting his teeth from embarrassment, she's just excited about me going shopping, there is nothing to be gossiping about. Simpletons.
His hand was clammy but she didn't care, she would use this excitement and take advantage of it to hold his hand.
I'm doing it! His hand is a little sweaty and I wonder what the look on his face is about, maybe he actually dislikes it?
Ayano shook her head whilst walking into the market, If he really disliked it then why wouldn't he have let go by now. Could it mean that he wanted to hold my hand as well?
Her face grew beet red from her thoughts. Her hand was still clamped to his at the entrance of the market until Shintaro spoke up a small whisper.
"I-I think we're here.."
Ayano took notice that he was an entirely different person in public, which she found kind of cute. No, thoughts like that in a place like this is bad.
"P-Please let go.." Shintaro whispered again, his face flushing and growing pale.
"Oh! Sorry, sorry!" Ayano dropped his hand and regained her composure.
"Alright my soldier, are you prepared?" She laughed heartily.
She drew out a list of groceries that were necessary on this ever so important trip and handed it to her companion whilst circling some items on the list.
Shintaro paid no attention to what she was saying, his intelligent mind couldn't possible wrap around his new developing feelings. His heart thumping heavily when she was around, it bothered him that he couldn't explain it.
"Are you spacing out again? I need you to pay attention!" Ayano complained while puffing her cheeks.
Shintaro just looked at her and smiled, "Yeah, I was listening.."
Ayano blinked and giggled to herself, "Maybe if you smiled more, people wouldn't be so afraid to see it?"
Shintaro grimaced at what felt like he made a mistake, his smile was one that struck fear in children and could be labeled as "that guy" in group photos.
He stopped and glanced at the floor, how foolish of me. I let my guard down, damn it.
Ayano swiveled on a foot and faced him and crouched to meet his eyes that were staring at the ground. She gave him a warm smile when he made eye contact with her and spoke in a voice that captivated him.
"I like your smile, so do it for me more okay?"
Another awkward smile formed his lips, and he simply nodded.
Ayano stood and shot a fist in the air, "All right! Nobody in the Tateyama household shall go hungry tonight!"
Shintaro snickered. He was really finding her attractive. She was determined to get everything on this list. He was having… Fun?
Shintaro shook his head, let's not get ahead of ourselves.
…
Shintaro sighed as the sun had fallen and it was now dark, the city had become alive with lights. At a crosswalk, the two were meant to go in to opposite directions. Shintaro spoke uncharacteristically, "Do you need me to bring those to your house?
Ayano smiled and shook her head, "Nope, you've done plenty enough. I have something for you though."
Shintaro was puzzled and noticed the notion that Ayano gave. She wanted him to cover his eyes with his hands, and he reluctantly did so.
Under the heat of the summer night, and the lights of the city, Ayano placed her lips on his cheek with a peck.
The rustling of the shopping bags were soon in the distance as Shintaro felt his body grow hotter as his hands returned from his eyes.
When did it get so hot?
A/N: To me, telling a story like this whilst trying to keep the characters true to themselves is hard. Hard, but at the same time fun. :D
