AN: Last chapter! I've warned you from the beginning - the moment those doors open again, we're done. And here we are. I hope you like!
Thank you to my beta, who was so very encouraging of my idea to lock them up with just themselves and their dialogue all throughout this little experiment 3.
Eleventh Hour
Usagi awoke with a start, and was completely disoriented for a second.
And then she remembered whose arms that were around her, and who that was pressed against her, spooning her. But then he almost jumped away from her.
She'd woken up when the elevator doors opened with a ding. And although objectively quiet, that slide of doors and little jingling sound, it was loud to her ears, and the elevator was flooded with uncomfortable light.
She lifted her arms up over her face in reflex with a loud groan, squinting against the light that still shone through.
Mamoru started talking. Explaining. Hushed and quickly.
Must be Murata-san, then. Must be morning.
Oh god, no. It was too soon. She hadn't… they hadn't…
It all happened very quickly. She'd just blinked out of her stupor, lifting herself off the floor by her elbows, when Mamoru was already diving for the used condoms lying on the floor with a giant blush, in between all the junk and rubbish and paper wrappers that had all exited her bag at one time, and she flushed as well.
And she realized his shirt was buttoned the wrong way, and her skirt was inside out. The way her hair tumbled about her in strands, the buns in her hair had seen better days, as well.
She didn't react for a moment, watched him wide-eyed as he started piling things in her bag, apologizing to Murata-san for the mess, who apologized right back for the imprisonment, and it turned into a giant, ridiculous back and forth dance of flushed bows and reassurances.
They hadn't talked about what would happen after this, yet.
Suddenly, Usagi was very, very scared.
What if he didn't want to see her …
And then Murata-san was saying something. All bows and grey hair and navy pants, pointing at the console, that Usagi had trouble registering, but then she did, and Mamoru, who tried to get him to change the topic.
Her eyes flew to the console. It had an emergency button. The sign above the console read, in bold characters, 'IN CASE OF EMERGENCY', with easy instructions, in several languages. A numeric code, then a specific button to press for 30 seconds to get the emergency power on. Then a similar series of buttons, to be directed straight to the police.
Usagi frowned. Remembering Mamoru, shining his phone against the console, pressing buttons, right in the beginning, then leaving them be…
He must have read it, he must have…
So why didn't he?
She exhaled slowly, and shook out of it. With trembling fingers, she started picking snacks and cords and pens and lip balm and her hand mirror and… all the things her bag had vomited from the floor.
Mamoru was beet red to the roots of his hair, and he didn't look her in the eye, but helped her picking up all the strewn things and put them in her bag, and it was awkward in the way he shrunk back every time their hands brushed accidentally, as they rushed the task.
The last thing he handed her back was her power bank. Empty now, and so was his phone.
Did he regret this, in the light of day?
They were walked out of the cubicle, Murata-san apologized profusely, and Mamoru seemed to have trouble reassuring him while awkwardly keeping up the pretense that there had been no way out of there, both of them blushing red hot.
And so was Murata-san. Mamoru hadn't been that quick in grabbing those condoms and stuffing them, soggy, milky and all, into the pockets of his jeans.
They had to sign some papers. For insurance, and that they were alright, and leave their contact addresses just in case. They went through the motions, and it took a while.
By the time they were almost done, a few students entered with their chip cards, and Mamoru stiffened up when they greeted him, and he stepped away from her, several paces.
It was then that he noticed his shirt was buttoned wrong, and turned awkwardly to the counter, shooting a glance she was sure he thought was inconspicuous and quick toward her own wayward clothing.
Her heart fell. He was clearly embarrassed. Ashamed of the whole thing.
He didn't look her in the eye. Only this awkward glance at her inside out-skirt, her messy hair.
He was regretting this all. She didn't live up to the magic, in the light of day.
It was like a pit that opened up in her stomach, and lodged itself in her throat, and she cursed herself for the tears that sprang to her eyes and she could just, just barely hold back.
The alarmed, if quick look that he threw her didn't help.
She glanced sideways, and saw an out. The restrooms, just to the side of the stair cases. She excused herself with a mumble, quickly, and didn't wait out his reply, as he bodily turned to her, instead she lurched forward, disappearing quickly behind safe, dark doors.
She locked herself in the first cubicle, placed her hands palms up on the heavy, fancy mahogany door. Everything was fancy about this place… Unlike her.
She inhaled deeply, but there was no way she would win this fight.
The tears fell freely, and soon turned into sobs.
He didn't want her.
It took a while until she'd calmed down. She rummaged for her phone, attempting to call Mina. Minako would know what to do… before she remembered that her battery had run out.
She sighed, deeply, and lowered herself onto the closed toilet and lower, her hands into her tangled hair, and her head between her legs.
She breathed in and out. In and out, calming breaths.
He didn't want her.
But she could do this. She wasn't 14. She wasn't that big of a crybaby, anymore. She could do this, she could. Just a little… Just a little longer.
When she exited the restrooms, a little later, her hair was fixed, her face cleaned, her skirt right side out, and her chin high. Mamoru was leaning against the entrance, wringing his hands, Murata-san gone.
His eyes were bloodshot and tired, and so startled and alarmed, when they found hers.
Remorseful.
She swallowed, and took the few remaining steps toward him.
He straightened up awkwardly. Just stood there, before opening his mouth, and closing it again.
Instead, he sighed, and opened the tall, heavy door for her.
She nodded, and with a few steps, she was back in Tokyo. At least that's what it felt like. The rustle of people walking about, the ring of a bicycle bell, kids laughing, the low murmur of people talking side by side on the sidewalk, Tokyo Tower in the distance.
She braced herself, and turned to him.
He didn't look her in the eye.
Guess it was up to her.
"I guess this is goodbye," she said.
His eyes flew to hers. Alarmed, again, but he didn't say anything.
She felt sick to her stomach. It was hard to form words.
But she did.
"Thank you, uh… thank you for…" she frowned, started again, it was so lame… "…the, uh… company."
And then she stuck out her hand. She didn't know why.
He stared at it. Didn't take it, at first.
He looked almost sick, as well.
Did he regret it so much?
But then he took it, awkwardly, and shook it. Started to say something, but then shook his head, and stopped.
"You, too," he said instead, eyes at the ground.
She swallowed. Nodded.
He didn't ask to see her again. He didn't ask for a phone number. Nothing.
She inhaled. It hurt a bit to breathe.
"Right…" She turned on her heel, before giving the most awkward wave she'd ever given anyone.
He didn't follow her.
She'd walked two blocks in the opposite direction, when her breathing sped up and the lump in her throat became so painful she couldn't bear it, and she asked herself in a panic…What the fuck am I doing? Why am I letting this happen?
And she broke into a run, as fast as she could, back whence she came, passing Mita's many restaurants and Izakayas, weaving ungracefully past people in her wake.
Please still be there, please still be there.
She nearly choked when she glimpsed his head in the crowd, once she turned the corner that would lead her back to Keio's campus.
He was running toward her just the same, stopping when he saw her. Out of breath.
She slowed down, panting harshly, and walked the last few steps, and this time, his eyes were on her. Almost frantic.
His eyes were wide, again. So, so wide. "I lied," he said, breathlessly. "Before. I lied. I never wanted to be your friend. And I don't want to be your friend... now."
She frowned.
He groaned, rolling his eyes heavenward, even as he said that part. She saw him struggle. "I'm sorry, I… I told you. I'm so bad at the… connecting part, but I…"
And then, suddenly, she wanted to smack herself. When she finally could look past her own self-consciousness, and could finally read his stance. What she'd read as remorse, and regret.
He was worried. He was panicked. Just like she was.
Her heart beat wildly.
He swallowed, tried again. "What… what are you… are you free for the rest of the morning?" he said, unsure.
Her heart almost beat out of her chest.
"Are you free for the rest of your life?" she asked, instead.
She held her breath, because he didn't move, didn't react…
…until he did.
It startled her, how fast he moved. How fast his arms were around her, his arms slipping around her frame as he crushed her to him, almost painfully. And something halfway between a giggle and a sob escaped her, when she hugged him back, and she felt her feet lift off the ground, as he hugged her so tightly, and she felt him shake and his breath tremble against her throat, as he held her.
"Yes. Yes, I am," he whispered, not loosening his hold on her one bit.
And so they just stood there, beneath that one solitary tree at the corner of the road by the entrance to the main campus of fancy Keio, with muttering people passing by them and her feet off the ground, in the tightest hug she'd ever known.
AN: So… The End!
Thank you guys, each and every one of you who left a review on this, for cheering me on like you did! Makes me feel confident that you don't mind when I experiment around, and that you're here with me, even if I jump across genres and mess around with them. I appreciate hearing from you so much, you really don't know what it means to me!
So, you'll be making my day if you let me know how you liked it – the end, and all in all – and also it's my birthday today and the best presents come in reviews ;)
See you soon, hopefully 3