Pairing/Characters Involved: RinxTeto
Rating: K+
Genre(s): Romance, Yuri

When Rin thought of Teto, the only thing she wondered was how on earth that magenta hair could stay fixed. Never had she seen something so ridiculously curled, so pink. It was insane. And Rin couldn't stop staring at it. In fact, during the classes they shared together, that was all she did.

Today was no different, as while chewing on the end of her pencil and half-listening to the teacher Rin persisted to watch Teto with an intent expression. Teto was bobbing her head slightly, probably to some imaginary beat, and it made her twin curls bounce around in odd directions. Rin was entranced.

Eventually, or way too soon in Rin's opinion, the bell rang and Teto, packing up her stationary swiftly, strolled out of the classroom. Rin followed the amazing-haired girl with her eyes right until the very last moment. Even after, she continued to stare at the empty space Teto had last occupied. It wasn't until Rin was sitting in a nearly deserted classroom, and the teacher started giving her strange looks, that she begun sluggishly shoving her books back into her bag. Slinging it over her shoulder, Rin slumped out of class.

--

"Uh, Rin."

"Hm?" Rin, halfway through consuming a salad roll, gazed over at Miku. Her teal-haired friend had an unusually bothered expression and kept uncomfortably shifting her eyes around the room.

"Well, uh, you see.. This is a little, um, awkward but…" Miku mumbled and began fiddling with her long aquamarine pigtails, stringing the ends between her pointer and index fingers. Rin had to admit, Miku's hair was fairly interesting too… but it was incomparable to Teto's.

"Spit it out, what's up?" Rin jocularly replied after swallowing her mouthful her food.

"Rin… are you… lesbian?" Miku squeaked out the last word almost soundlessly, immediately looking horribly embarrassed and ashamed. Rin on the other hand, had a look that strongly resembled Len's face whenever someone mentioned the word 'roadroller'.

"W-WHAT."

"It's just that you're always staring at Teto! A-And if you, y'know, like her or something, well you can tell me! I mean I-I'm not going to judge you or anything. I just, uh, want to know…"

Rin swore her face turned the same colour as Teto's hair. There was no way. Rin liking Teto?! Her hair was great and all (or maybe a little better than great) but Rin wasn't interested in Teto like that. Crazy!

"I'M NOT." Rin spluttered back, her hair bow flicking around vigorously as she shook her head.

"O-Okay then. Please forget I mentioned it!" Miku stared at the ground, a flush on her face just from the complete awkwardness of the situation. Rin could do no better, resigning to finishing off her half-eaten bread roll. Needless to say, the rest of lunch was extremely uncomfortable.

--

Despite the previous event, during the next class Rin only stared at Teto more. And maybe started noticing things other than her hair. For one, Teto's eyes were nearly the exact shade as her hair, only they had a warming chocolate hue, and maybe even a playful spark flickered within them. Her figure was slim and contained a childish cuteness which Rin happened to find awfully appealing. Even her personality Rin liked. During the few classes they had actually spoken, Rin had never thought on it before but Teto's easy-going loquacity and random bouts of shyness (mainly when they accidently brushed shoulders, Rin noticed) were utterly adorable.

As much as Rin loathed to admit it… Miku had been right. Rin sighed and collapsed her head on the desk, hoping the bell would ring soon. Thankfully, luck was on her side this time, and echoing loudly in the halls was the signal for the end of the school day. Rin chucked her equipment away messily, knowing full well it would be a horror to sort out after school, but she did not care. She needed something to distract her anyway.

Being the last out of the room again, Rin took her time. She was about to exit and start to make her way to the front gate where she usually met her brother before walking home, when she found herself stopped by a particular pink-haired girl.

"Hey Rin, do you want to walk with me out to the back carpark? It's where my parents pick me up. Normally I walk with Momo but she's away today and I don't want to seem like a total loner." Teto spoke exaggeratedly, pulling a face on the word 'loner' as if it was the most horrendous thing in the world.

Rin blushed a tender pink before nodding her head in agreement, ignoring the fact she needed to head in the opposite direction. Teto grinned, and started happily bouncing off. Tagging along beside her, Rin smiled as she listened to her ramble on about whimsical things. Not long later – only a few minutes, actually – the spacious back carpark came into view. Teto hastily came to a stop. Rin, not expecting it, had walked a few steps ahead before pausing and turning back.

"Teto?"

"Mm… Rin. There was actually another reason I wanted you to walk with me." Nervously she tugged on the edge of her shirt, stretching the material. Rin cocked her head to the side, looking at Teto quizzically. They stared at each silently for a moment, before Teto, realizing Rin was not planning on saying anymore, began to speak again.

"I want to tell you a secret. I know this may seem very out of the blue… But I feel like I can trust you. We may not talk so much, or hang out at lunch, or have many classes together… Though I think because of that I can tell you. Does that make sense at all? I think I sound silly… Aha…" Teto palmed the back of her neck, smiling awkwardly.

Rin blushed and looked down at the ground as a small smile worked its way upon her lips. Her heart skipped happily at the thought; she had Teto's trust!

"I think I know what you mean," Rin assured Teto, wiping the smile and replacing it with a serious expression. "You can tell me anything, I promise I'll keep it a secret between us."

Teto smiled and Rin swallowed hard, trying to suppress the emotions that attempted to overflow.

"Thanks, Rin." Teto sincerely spoke before letting her smile slide, switching to a meek demeanour. "The truth is… I'm not into guys. I mean, I think I like another girl…"

"A-Ah, really?!" Rin asked, unable to contain the surprise and maybe even a small spark of hope.

"Yes… I'm sorry if it bothers you! I just wanted to tell someone, I felt like I was going to pop!" Teto stared at her feet, returning to pulling at her shirt, this time more fervently. "I guess I should get going now." She spoke humbly and begun to walk off, yet a call from Rin stopped her.

"Me too. I… I like a girl too."

Spinning around to face Rin, Teto widened her magenta eyes. "You're not just saying that to make me feel better, right?"

Rin shook her head. "No way!"

Beaming, Teto rushed up to Rin, wrapping her thin arms around her. Caught off guard and flustered, Rin's cheeks coloured red from the sudden yet gentle hug. Before it became too awkward Teto let go, still grinning.

"Who is it that you like, Rin?"

Immediately Rin's blush darkened to a rosy crimson, and a startled squeak escaped her mouth. Caught in between the urge to confess or lie, Rin stammered out rambling phrases. After a good minute, and some prodding from Teto (which only inflamed Rin's already noticeable blush), Rin's will cracked. There was no time like the present to confess love, right?

"Ilikeyou." Rin spurted in a faint yet hasty whisper.

Teto blinked, her eyes glazed over as the information slowly seeped into her brain. Though it didn't take long to process once it got there. Practically jumping, Teto shrieked loudly.

"YOU MEAN IT?!"

"Sssshh." Rin hushed the overactive girl, at the same time being extremely humiliated and still keeping the full-face blush.

"Sorry," Teto murmured, clamping a hand over her own mouth. "I was just so surprised," She whispered through her fingers, "Because, I like you too."

Rin felt a rush through her body at the last words. Her heart, which had previously felt thick, laden with the weight of the little secret, was now soaring through the clouds. So overwhelming was the emotion, that Rin was dumbfounded on what exactly to do next. Once you confess to someone, what's meant to happen afterwards?

"So, um…" Rin began, but her voice quickly petered out.

"I… really have to leave now… My parents might worry." Teto mumbled hesitantly, breaking the silence that was fast becoming awkward.

"Oh, right." Rin replied, monotone.

"I'll see you, Rin!" Waving vaguely, Teto turned, making her twin curls bounce.

"Ah, wait!"

Teto looked back, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly.

"Why don't you come over my house after school tomorrow? We could… talk. And stuff." Rin shuffled nervously, unable to keep eye contact and instead staring into the space just over Teto's shoulder.

Teto's curls of hair flopped back and forth like a pendulum as she vigorously nodded her head. "I'd love to! It's a date!" With that, she turned on heel and fled off, her feet thudding lightly on the ground.

"It's a… date." Rin repeated quietly as she watched her crush leave. A large smile suddenly broke across her face. On the inside, Rin was nearly dancing from joy. Barely containing a heartfelt laugh, Rin ran back through the school. Len would no doubt scold her for being late, but not like she cared. It would be completely worth it.

And to think it all started with a strange fetish.