When I awoke, I found Ruby there standing in front of me.
"Maru! You're awake," She said cheerily as she smiled. Her face seemed to be tinted a soft shade of red.
"Ruby? Is something wrong?" I asked, concerned. She then turned away from me and started shifting around slightly. I could tell she was embarrassed.
"N-nothing I just f-fell asleep and…" She trailed off. "Ah! W-we gotta go, Maru! The gym is closing soon,"
Why is she avoiding the topic?
Oh. I just remembered. We fell asleep hand in hand, maybe she was embarrassed about that?
I started to blush myself. I totally forgot that happened…
I smiled. Even if it was embarrassing to remember, I enjoyed that moment so much..
"Maru!" Ruby yelled at me, bringing my attention back to her.
"Ah, sorry, sorry," I managed to blurt out. "How long were we sleeping?"
"I'm not sure, but when I woke up, the ceremony was already over." She replied. "We've gotta go, Maru! It's lunch now."
"Ah, okay," I said standing up. I paused for a second. I had an idea.
"Maru? What's wrong?" Ruby asked with concern in her voice. "Why are you just standing there?"
"Aren't you going to hold my hand?" I asked, smirking.
Ruby's whole face turned red and she started getting all flustered. She turned away from me and I could hear her squeak from embarrassment. She's just so cute.
"F-fine," Ruby said, stuttering.
To my surprise, when I looked up I saw Ruby hold out her hand in front of me. I wasn't expecting this kind of reaction. I started blushing uncontrollably.
"Ah, I was just joking you know," I managed to get out. Ruby looked at me with a sad look on her face.
"R-right," She said, turning away from me. "I knew t-that. I was just p-playing along,"
"W-we've got to get going now, Maru." I heard her voice crack slightly as she spoke. Oh no. What have I done? I've gotta make this right.
I walked up to Ruby and put my arms around her waist, cuddling up against her back.
"I'm sorry," I said softly. "I didn't mean to upset you. I do want to hold your hand."
For a few minutes, she didn't say anything. We just stood there together in the empty gym, with me hugging her. I felt her relax under my arms.
"…Let's go." She finally said. I felt her grasp my hand, intertwining it with hers.
My heart couldn't take much more. I wasn't sure if this was good for me… I mean, she didn't like me, right? At least not in the same way I did. No. There's no way. I'm sure this is just something friends do… Right?
Ruby started walking forwards, with my hand in hers. I followed behind her. Her hand was kind of sweaty… Was she nervous?
"Hey, Maru?" Ruby said quietly enough for me to hear.
My heart skipped a beat hearing her say my name.
"Y-yes?" I replied.
She stopped walking for a second.
"I, uh… Nevermind." She said even quieter.
That's… Odd? I could have sworn she had wanted to say something. Oh no. Maybe I'm making her uncomfortable? Maybe I should just let go of her hand?
Ruby opened the door to the outside of the gym, and gave my hand a tight squeeze.
I was shocked, my heart was beating so fast that I couldn't take it. I didn't know what to do, so I just gave her a squeeze back. She let out a small squeak when I did so.
"Sorry, too hard?" I asked.
"..." No response.
What kind of question is "too hard?", anyway? I'm so stupid sometimes.
We walked hand in hand to our lockers. She let go of my hand to open her locker and I did the same. We both grabbed our lunch and headed off.
"The cherry blossoms are so beautiful, don't you think?" I said, looking around me in amazement.
"Yeah, you're right." I heard Ruby say in reply. "Hey, Maru do you think-"
I zoned out, staring at the cherry blossoms. I was captivated by their beauty. I started to walk ahead, away from Ruby without even realising. I just kept my eyes on the trees, and was entranced by how beautiful they were.
Suddenly, I felt something squeeze my hand. I looked down next to me to see Ruby there before me, avoiding eye contact with a massive blush spread across her face.
"Ah, sorry, I must have spaced out…" I said, feeling quite embarrassed.
"…" She didn't reply. She just stood there next to me, holding my hand tight.
"Um… Want to go sit down and eat?" I asked.
"…Yes." She replied quietly.
"O-okay," I said. Did I mess up? I hope I didn't upset her too much.. I just get distracted so easily.
With her hand in mine, we went to go sit down and eat down by a seat near the cherry blossoms.
I let go of her hand and opened up my lunch. Ruby was strangely quiet.
"Wow! Mom packed such a lovely lunch today! What about yours, Ruby?" I said, cheerily.
"…" No response. Oh no. Could I really have upset her this much..?
"Well, uh, what about our classes? I'm so excited for cooking-" I started to say, but I was interrupted by Ruby suddenly standing up over me, hands on my shoulders.
"Ruby..?" I said with confusion in my voice.
"Maru.." She spoke with a stern tone in her voice. "No matter what happens, please pay attention to me, too."