Author Notes
And here we have the third chapter… :')
May you enjoy~ XD
"Maaa~kiii~chan~~!"
Honoka is calling me. I like that, though she's being so loud.
Maki barely had enough time to feel happy and energized by her favourite voice, turn around, and check out the cute ball of orange-brown energy running towards her, when the cute ball of energy slammed into her with full force.
"Ho- oof! Honoka!"
Maki shouted with irritation in her voice but affection in her heart, while the redhead's mind screams contradictory opinions.
Honoka is so close…She smells nice. ..What? Why would I even think that…it's not like I find that Honoka smells like freshly baked bread and it makes me feel warm and safe… No, I don't!
The gingerhead herself was giggling happily right at her junior's ear, oblivious to her laughter's effect on the redhead.
"H-Honoka! What d-do you want? And g-get off me!" The blushing first year pushes her senior away before regretting the loss of warmth.
"Ah…I actually have a favour to ask of you, Maki-chan." Honoka asks with a sheepish look, a hand rubbing the back of her neck.
"A favour?" Maki put on a stern look as she crossed her arms; partly to look unfriendly, and partly to warm herself since she really misses Honoka's warmth.
Is she going to ask to use one of my vacation homes again? I don't remember us planning a training camp though…
"Could you borrow me your jersey?" The gingerhead asks with a hopeful smile.
"What?" Maki raised both eyebrows, not sure if she heard correctly.
My jersey? Why would she want my jersey?
Honoka laughs awkwardly, clearly embarrassed.
Why is her awkward laughing so cute too… Wait! I don't find Honoka cute!
"You see…I actually forgot to bring my own jersey, and there's physical education later, so… I was hoping I could borrow Maki-chan's!" Honoka flashed her junior a broad smile.
Ugh…that smile… It's so beautiful… No, no, no! I don't think that!
Maki shook her head furiously in a futile attempt to dispel her thoughts on how cute and beautiful she find the gingerhead before her.
"You can go ask Rin or Hanayo instead." Maki turned away from Honoka who pouted.
No, don't ask Rin or Hanayo. I'm happy that you ask me first… Why would I be happy about it though? …
"But I want to borrow Maki-chan's. Rin-chan or Hanayo-chan's jersey would be too small anyways." Honoka whined while tugging at the redhead's arms without thinking.
"So it's just because of the size? Anyone else could do." Maki retorted.
Ah! Why am I being so hard on Honoka? I want to lend her my jersey; I don't want Honoka wearing anyone else's jersey but mine if she has to borrow one!
"That's not it! I mean, that's one of the reasons, but…I want to wear Maki-chan's jersey!" Honoka defended her case by spurting out whatever came to mind first, not knowing she caused the pianist to blush even further.
"A-Alright already. Just, stop talking, Honoka!" The literal redhead faced the oblivious Leader of Muse and covered her mouth with her free hand.
"So you'll borrow me your jersey?" Honoka asks excitedly into the redhead's hand.
"D-Don't talk on my hand!" Maki tightened her hold on Honoka's mouth by accident.
"Mm- I'm sorry, Maki-chan." Honoka's muffled voice sounded as she spoke into Maki's hand again.
And she does it again! Why must Honoka be such a cute, infuriating idiot!
Maki released Honoka and went into her classroom.
"Eh? Maki-chan are you angry? Y-You're still going to lend me your jersey right?" Honoka called after the redhead from outside.
Maki returned a minute later with her jersey in hand, thrusting it to Honoka. "Here."
Honoka stared at the jersey in her hands for a second as though she forgot that she asked for it, before breaking into a huge smile and jumping Maki. "Maki-chan, thank you! Now I'm saved~ hehe~"
"J-Just remember to return it to me!" Maki hid her smile as the gingerhead nod in their embrace.
The second years get to play a friendly, uncompetitive game of basketball; or simply passing, dribbling and throwing into the hoop when they get a chance. Usually, Honoka enjoys physical education where she gets to run around a whole lot, but today, the ginger was slightly distracted.
"Mm…" Honoka sounded softly as she angled her nose closer to the collar of Maki's jersey, distracted by the smell of the first year that wasn't present.
"Honoka."
Maki-chan smells a bit like books…perhaps music sheet? And breakfast tomatoes… If that makes sense…hehe~ Maki-chan…
Honoka was so distracted she didn't notice the ball passing over to her or Umi calling her name.
"Uwa!" Honoka cried as she fell to the ground. "Owwie…"
"Honoka! Why were you spacing out during class?" Umi reprimanded despite the worry all over her face.
"Honoka-chan! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" Kotori rushed over to the fallen ginger's side; expressing the concern for both Umi and her.
"Ah…Maki-chan…" Honoka held her stomach where the ball hit her as she subconsciously said the first year's name.
Umi and Kotori fell silent for a moment before Umi shook her head. "Shameless. I didn't think Honoka noticing her feelings for Maki would be this shameless!"
Kotori gave Umi a look of disbelief before looking back at Honoka who have yet to stand. "I don't think people usually hold their stomachs when they realize they are in love…"
Umi rolled her eyes. "This is Honoka we're talking about. She'll feel her stomach to know everything."
Kotori wanted to rebut, but seriously, Honoka tends to use her stomach to think.
While the gingerhead's two childhood friend was discussing whether she realized her feelings for a certain redhead junior, Honoka was starting to wonder why she's still on the ground.
I think I like Maki-chan's jersey smell… But that's weird, right? And I've got to return this to her anyways.
Honoka smiles at the thought of seeing Maki when she returns the jersey.
Maki was out of her classroom before anyone else could and made a beeline to the second year's classroom – for the sole reason of seeing Honoka, or well, getting her jersey back.
"Maki-chan can't wait to go home today, nya!" Rin exclaimed at the empty space Maki left behind.
Hanayo chuckles nervously. "Well…I guess."
Maki-chan is rushing to go see Honoka-chan, Rin-chan. Maki-chan has been distracted ever since Honoka-chan left with Maki-chan's jersey this morning after all…
Hanayo allowed Rin to misunderstand Maki, though it might not be a total misunderstanding since there's no dance practice later.
Be in class. Be in class. Be in class.
Maki could not help but chant as she rushed up the stairs and took a sharp turn for the classroom a certain bubbly gingerhead should be in.
She saw a few seniors exiting the classroom and her sharp violet eyes scanned each of them quickly to confirm their identities; relaxing each time she confirmed it was not Honoka.
Ah, Honoka's laughter.
A grin graced the pianist's face when she heard her favourite sound.
"Let's head home, Kotori-chan, Umi-chan~" Honoka called for her best friends happily.
You're supposed to return me my jersey first, Honoka. Not that I told you to…
"Mmph!" Kotori chirped her agreement.
"Right." Umi nodded.
"I can't wait to- Wahh!" Honoka was abruptly pulled by the arm down the corridor and away from her friends before she could do anything. "M-Maki-chan?"
Maki stopped dragging Honoka when they reached a relatively empty and quiet area.
Was I too forceful? I just didn't feel like asking her to follow me, and certainly did not want Umi or Kotori asking for reasons…
"My jersey."
"Eh?" Honoka blinked.
"My jersey." Maki repeated with a hand outstretched.
"Ah! Right…But I haven't washed it yet-"
"It's fine. I-I'll need it soon, so just return it to me now." Maki was getting redder by the second as she got the undivided attention from Honoka's straightforward blue eyes.
I don't want you washing that jersey and removing your smell… I mean, I can wash my jersey on my own!
"Well… If you say so…" Honoka reached into her bag for Maki's jersey. "But I could-"
Maki grabbed the jersey and stared at it – the jersey was clearly roughly stuffed into the gingerhead's bag.
Does it still have Honoka's warmth? ..! What am I even thinking?
"Ah! I was going to wash it first before returning it to you, so I didn't fold it…" Honoka fumbled for excuses, but Maki's giggle made her stop.
"It's fine. This is just like Honoka."
It's like Honoka to be kind of messy.
"Eh?! I-I can fold clothes, Maki-chan!" Honoka protested while the redhead simply smiled.
Before the smell dissipates…
"See you tomorrow, Honoka." Maki holds the jersey Honoka wore earlier close as she took quick steps away.
"S-See you…Eh?" Honoka was left alone as abruptly as Maki pulled her away from the people she was supposed to go home with. "Boo…I hope Umi-chan and Kotori-chan haven't left yet…"
Maki wanted to. Maki really wanted to. But Maki has good self-control and an image to uphold, so Maki managed to get into her house and into her room before she planted her face into her jersey, taking a big whiff of whatever smell was on it.
"…"
So this is Honoka's smell…there's still a bit of my own too I suppose. But…I can tell that Honoka's bread and manjuu smell is lingering…
Maki was smiling blissfully into her school jersey as she took in the scent of one cute and smiley gingerhead, until-
"..!" Maki flushed red from head to toes. "What am I doing?! I'm not a pervert!"
Maki threw her jersey away from her, jumped her large bed and fluffy pillow as she groaned into it.
Author Notes
Ah~ Maki, Maki~ -v- You are~ for Honoka~ XP
Sorry for taking so long to give the next chapter~ :') But it's here! XD
How was it~? :D I hope everyone enjoyed the third chapter of Honoka and Maki's love story~ ;D
By the way, Masane, I feel like I did not ask what the "basic situations" you mentioned was~ Was it like what I wrote? If not, could you share your ideas~? Hehe~ XD
Well! Leave a comment if you like~ *w* And tell me how you felt about Honoka and Maki smelling each other~ XD (in a sense; cos' smelling each other sounds weird~ :P)
See you next chappie~ XD