LOSS

Nagisa's loss of words was visible. She didn't know exactly how to express what her heart felt so intensely. The strange loss of her crush on the cutest boy in school was strange. Fujimura practically told her to go into Honoka's arms and now she didn't know what to do.

Yes, she wanted to go into Honoka's arms, Nagisa wanted to feel a hug from those delicate arms, she wanted those soft kisses. But if she gave in to those feelings, there would be no turning back. Nagisa would officially accept her feelings for Honoka, for another girl. A girl just like her.

Accepting her feelings of love for a girl was a risk, Nagisa knew Honoka's situation. She knew that her parents and her grandmother supported her, but other than that, Honoka couldn't openly show her preference for girls. Honoka shouldn't do that if she didn't want to earn people's bad looks and gossip. Nagisa knew that Honoka didn't care what people thought of her, but the pressure of society could break even a strong will.

Nagisa didn't feel as strong as Honoka. Nagisa was afraid to take that step.

The girl tortured herself with such thoughts as she waited for Honoka. School ended and her friend only had to leave some documents in the teachers' room. In fact, Nagisa had been mulling over the matter for a few days without deciding anything yet. Nagisa knew she was going crazy.

The loss of normality she knew terrified her.

And suddenly all those thoughts turned to dust when Nagisa heard Honoka's voice and footsteps going in her direction.

Honoka smiled automatically as Nagisa faced her. Nagisa smiled as well and they both left the school on their way to a stall where they sold some pretty good takoyaki.

"Are you sure you want to pay this time?" Nagisa asked with some embarrassment. She had already run out of her allowance, because of the new volumes of her favorite light novels.

"I have extra money, my grandma asked me to buy her an order of takoyaki and bring it to her, so let's say it's my grandma who's going to invite us the food," Honoka said happily.

"I'll thank Grandma when we go to your place," Nagisa said with a smile. She looked at Honoka a little more and couldn't help but blush. Honoka was seriously cute, so cute that Nagisa couldn't believe it. She was so focused in the beautiful sight of her friend that she tripped and nearly fell to the ground, Honoka catching her in time.

"Nagisa, are you alright?" Honoka asked as she noticed that Nagisa was acting clumsier than usual.

Nagisa felt the warmth of Honoka's arms and immediately ran away from them nervously. She giggled as she scratched her head. "I'm fine, it's nothing."

"Are you sure?" Honoka insisted. Nagisa had been acting weird since her date with Fujimura at the amusement park.

Nagisa finally gave up and seemed to deflate as her good mood drifted away with the breeze. "I'm not really well."

"You know you can talk to me if you need help," Honoka said sweetly. "Even if I don't have the power to help you, you know that I'll always listen to you and be by your side."

A nervous Nagisa took a deep breath. She blushed brightly as she looked at Honoka. "I'm about to let go of something I took for granted. Something I've always known and used to."

Honoka blinked a few times in confusion, but paid attention to her friend anyway. "And that idea worries you? Does it scare you?" Her friend nodded, and Honoka put a hand to her chin. "Can you tell me what's going to cause that loss?"

"There's something new coming my way and if I accept it, I'll lose the normality I know," Nagisa stopped and looked sheepishly at Honoka. "I want to take that new thing into my own hands, but if I do, I don't know what I'm going to do after that."

Honoka held Nagisa's hands gently. "I don't know what is new on your path or what you're going to lose, but I can tell you that all new paths are scary, you don't know what awaits you or what challenges you'll find, but I can assure you that if the new thing you want it's worth the effort and it gives you a reason to move on, then do it."

Nagisa felt like crying. Was it worth following a new and unknown path if she could do it hand in hand with Honoka?

"I'll always be with you Nagisa," Honoka added sweetly.

Yes, it was worth it. "I'll do it, Honoka."

And Nagisa kissed her.