Chapter 20: Wafer-thin ice

Yuu ran out of the student council room to get the banners for the Sports Day event. She was told that it might be in the storage shed beside the soccer field. Sayaka watched her go. She was busy organizing every event—things needed for each, time restraints, people who can oversee, class rosters, when each team can take a break, decorations, rooms to store equipment, sound system, refreshments, chairs, floormats, and tents for each class—and so many other things that she could only stay in one place as she communicated with each team and clubs that would participate. She brought her own laptop for it.

Forty minutes went by, and the kōhai still hadn't returned. 'Those banners must be buried somewhere.' Though they didn't have the chance to talk or share an intimate look, the brunette still likes it when Yuu is in her immediate vicinity. Knowing that she couldn't help her girlfriend find the banners, Sayaka tried her best to focus on the tasks in front of her. Not allowing her mind to visit the memories she had locked away in the most secure part of her brain, memories that she will visit whenever her other half isn't with her in her room. Even so, a flash of Yuu in a blindfold came uninvited to the back of her mind. Her quick fingers type in 'blindfold' unconsciously in the Excel file she's populating with data. The backspace key was hit so hard that Doujima looked up from his own computer.

"Are you okay, Seaki-senpai?"

Sayaka stared at her screen; at least five lines were deleted after her impulsive action. It's a good thing there is an undo button. She deleted the word carefully this time. "Yes, I just made a mistake. Must be tired."

Doujima leans back on his chair and stretches out his limbs. "Yeah, we have been at it for hours. Do you want me to prepare a coffee for you?"

"That's alright. Let's wait for the others for that." Sayaka is particular when it comes to coffee; thanks to her father's affinity with Italian coffee, she now can't appreciate the instant kind. But she could tolerate one if her lover prepared it for her.

A light chuckle was heard from outside, and the lanky girl recognized it immediately. She can pinpoint it in a noisy, busy crowd. Much more in a deserted schoolground. Her eyes followed the sound, and she saw Touko talking with Yuu as they made their way towards the room.

"But it's cool, isn't it?"

"If you can call it cool, then I question your taste level."

Another hearty laugh as they entered the room, Yuu turned her face towards the table, still lightly amused, excited to tell Sayaka that she had found the banners. But the expression on her girlfriend's face isn't something that can be described as friendly. She had seen that look before, and it never ended well for her neck.

They continue the tasks given to them, and the sun is beginning to set when Touko tells them that they can continue tomorrow instead. Sayaka insisted on walking Yuu home. Touko was with them until they separated on the street towards her train station.

Yuu went on defense immediately. "Sayaka, we were just talking."

"And laughing."

"Sometimes that happens when you are having a conversation about how some manga character's clothes stayed the same throughout its run."

"I don't like the fact that you are laughing with someone who had a crush on you."

"She's your best friend. How can I not be friendly with her?"

"Did you flirt the whole time you were walking with her? Is that why it took you ages to get back?"

"Geez, we are talking about Nanami-senpai, right?"

"She confessed to you. She's your first kiss."

"And I had sex with you. Are you done?"

Sayaka was taken aback. Yuu had always been patient. But before she could reply, she saw Yuu's mom waving at them from the store door.

"Sayaka-chan, please stay for dinner. You had Yuu for dinners and sleepovers, but we haven't returned the favor yet. Please stay. My mother is planning to cook yakitori and soba. Yuu loves them together. But we also have Unagi and rice if you want something dry."

"I would love too. Thanks, anything is fine."

"Okay, it will take a little bit of time to prepare. You girls can go up and rest in Yuu's room, and we will call you when it's ready."

The couple exchanged looks but agreed.

It would be the first time she would see the room of her lover. And she hates that the atmosphere between them isn't what she hopes for when it does happen. The kōhai opened the door to her room and told her that she would get some tea. Sayaka was worried. But the redhead just doesn't want to get bitten again. Not in that context anyway.

Green eyes roam around the room. It is clean and neat, and it smells fresh like Yuu. Everything inside the room expresses practicality. Nothing is out of place. Everything has a purpose. A bookshelf full of manga and games. A built-in two-door cabinet. Study table with chair and another cabinet with multiple drawers with its top shelf full of stuff toys from when she was young. A carpet with a floor table and her single bed. Cozy.

When she walked over to sit on the bed, she saw a white planetarium nightlight and alarm clock sitting on a small bedside table. "Didn't know she liked nightlights." She sat down and immediately took Yuu's pillow and hugged it. "Ah, it smells like her. I will take this home." Now she's debating if she should just let go of the argument earlier. 'Am I being unreasonable? But I can't help it. How do people live their lives without being jealous?'

Yuu returned with the tea and placed it on the floor table. Then walks toward the door to close it.

"I am sorry. I know you and Touko are friends. I should not be jealous. Will you forgive me?"

"I am not angry that you were jealous. I just don't want to be bitten again." Sayaka raised both eyebrows. The last time they made out, she had left a few bite marks all over her girlfriend's body. "Not like that. You can still leave marks on me, but not when you are jealous." The lanky girl was visibly relieved. Yuu sat down next to her. "Will you kiss me now?"

"You told me we would be disturbed here, right?"

"My sister is preparing the food with grandma. Mom is still at the counter, dad is still at work, and he…"

Sayaka cuts her off with a deep kiss. Since all the people in the household were mentioned and their locations confirmed, she executed the one thing she wanted to do when they were alone. Yuu responded by straddling her. It is her favorite make-out position; it will be harder for Sayaka to escape, and she's closer to the things she wanted to touch.

Hands roam around. Collars were grabbed, ribbons were undone, arms were stroked, breasts were fondled, waists were kneaded, backs were rubbed, necks were licked, and lips were bitten. Sayaka's hands go under Yuu's skirt and run her palms from her knees to the rear end, where they stay for a while. Breaths are catching, bodies are warming up, and the sounds they are making aren't exactly convenient for the snug home. Used to making out in the soundproof car and the heiress's opulent room, they were not conscious of the noise that their activity produced.

"I hate this uniform." The older girl declared, one hand on Yuu's jumper and shirt-covered breast.

The petite girl pulled away from sucking Sayaka's neck. "I know. I wish we were in your room right now." She leans closer, tucks a lock of hair behind her lover's ear, and whispers, "I want to see you naked again." Then she bites down gently on the now red ear.

"You really are insatiable, aren't you?"

"Is that a problem? It's your fault for being so stunningly beautiful and incredible in bed."

"Yuu!" Sayaka covered her kōhai's mouth and glanced at the door. They heard a door closing in the hallway. "Okay, get off me before we get caught."

"Ah no, I want like one hour more." Hugging her around the neck.

The senpai looks at the alarm clock on the small bedside table. They have at least an hour and a half before dinner time.

"We can't risk it. You told me your sister has a habit of just walking in without knocking."

"Yeah, no manners. Though I wouldn't want you to teach her a lesson. You are my personal shishou."

The green eyes glazed over. Full of desire. She wanted nothing but to get rid of all their clothes and burn them so that they wouldn't restrain the fantasies that were running in the background inside her brain, pleading with her to bring them to life. Before her lustful thoughts took over, she searched for a distraction. The nightlight became the number-one contender.

"Where did you get that nightlight?"

"Oh" Yuu's mischievous expression disappeared.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Uh, the answer might make you jealous again."

"What? Why?" Confused as to why a nightlight will make her jealous.

The kōhai got off of her lap. And sit beside her. "It's from Nanami-senpai."

"Touko gave this to you?"

"Yes."

"When?"

Yuu took a few seconds before she could reply. "Before the election speech, I think."

Sayaka's mind is quicker. "After the second time you heard me play?"

"Yeah, I guess. A few days after."

Sayaka's expression became dangerously serious as she processed the information given to her. Those days are imprinted in her mind because they are important to her. Those are the days that she keeps recalling with fond memories of meeting her lover.

"She had been in this room the entire time that we were in a relationship. She was here long before we even started."

"She wasn't. She had never stepped inside the house. Just the store downstairs."

"Yuu, she gave this to you. You accepted it. You are using it." There was an edge to her voice that sent shivers down Yuu's spine.

"I can't exactly refuse. Won't it be a waste if I don't use it?"

"Why am I only hearing about this now? Why didn't you tell me?" voice rising.

"What are you so mad about?"

"You don't even know?" Sayaka stands up.

"Yes, I don't know."

"Then I can't help you."

The door opened. "Hey, you two, I can hear you from my room. What's wrong?" Yuu had come out to her sister after her first night with Sayaka. She was nothing but supportive and covered for her sister whenever it was needed.

"Please excuse me, Rei-chan. I need some air." Sayaka walks out of the room.

Yuu stood up to follow her, but Rei blocked the doorway. "Give her some space. What happened anyway?" She proceeded to close the door.

"I can't understand her. What is the big deal? It was just a gift."

"Walk me through it, sis. I only heard the loud voices."

"We were making out, and then..."

"I don't need to know that." Rei complained. "Skipped to the part when she got angry."

"I was about to. Can you let me finish a sentence?"

"Sorry, go on."

"She saw the nightlight and asked me where I got it. And I told her it was from Nanami-senpai."

"Okay, she got mad from that?"

"Yeah, I can't understand why."

"Hmmn I think I am missing some other information. Start from the beginning. Skip the make-out session."

"I wasn't going to tell you any details about it anyway. So, after I told her it was from Nanami-senpai, she asked when I got it. I told her it was from weeks before we started dating. Then she becomes upset, telling me that Nanami-senpai had been here first and that she had been here throughout our relationship. And I told her that senpai hadn't even stepped inside the house, and then she goes on about me accepting it and using it and why I didn't tell her about it. That's when you open the door."

Rei ponders. "I still feel like I am missing something. Why is she mad that Nanami-chan gave you a gift? They are best friends, right?"

"Ah, she is jealous because senpai confessed to me and was my first kiss. But that was way before we started."

"Look at you with two senpais fighting over you." Rei said as she tousled her sister's hair.

"Are you here to help?"

"Hmmmn, let's see." Rei sat down on the floor and put her elbows on the floor table. "The gift was not from her. It was from someone who confessed to you and got to kiss you first."

"So? The two of us had done so many other things after that."

"Yuu, I support you, but I don't need the details of your sex life."

"What details are you talking about? I haven't given you any. You are just a pervert."

"So, you guys had sex already?"

"Get out. I'll figure this out myself."

"That is not a no, but okay. Let's continue. Maybe for her, since you accepted and are still using it, it means that you accepted Nanami-chan's feelings and care enough about her to use it."

"But I did not accept her feelings. I use it because it's a gift."

"It's a reminder of your first kiss. She might be thinking, that you remember that kiss every time you use it."

Yuu did remember her senpai whenever she used the nightlight. Not the kiss specifically, but the person.

"She's jealous about that?"

"Bingo? Maybe. I don't really know. These are just my conjectures."

"Is it reasonable?"

"Love doesn't make sense sometimes. Big deals for you might be small for her, and vice versa."

"How can I resolve this?"

"For starters, don't use the nightlight and pack it where Sayaka-chan won't see even its shadow."

"Then?"

"Talk to her and tell her you realized how it made her feel and got rid of it."

"Dang, I liked this nightlight. Especially when there's a storm and sometimes when I need to pee at night."

"The heart wants what the heart wants."

"I guess I can buy a different one."

"I'll take it to my room for tonight. Go get your girlfriend before mom asks about her."

Yuu found Sayaka sitting on one of the swings at the playground she used to frequent as a child. She approached slowly.

"Sayaka"

The brunette didn't look up. She knows the owner of the voice. "I may have overreacted."

"Just a smidge. But I understand now how you feel. Or maybe part of it. I talked with my sister." Yuu occupied the swing next to her. "The nightlight doesn't signify what you think it does to me. I have never thought of Nanami-senpai like that. And you have been in my room a million times at least." Sayaka finally looks up. "Here." Yuu points at her temple. "I think about you all day. I fantasize about you. I even talked to you. And Nanami-senpai is nowhere near those moments."

"I'll buy you a different nightlight."

"You don't need to do that."

"I want you to remember me whenever you go to your room. Before you close your eyes."

"That happens every day already." Yuu stands up. "Come on, let's go back. Mom might look for us."

They arrive at the house, and the meals are still not ready. The father greeted them in the living room. And the whole family got busy again. Yuu excused them, mentioning an assignment that she needs help with. And they are back in the room again. As soon as the door was closed, Yuu led her senpai to the bed and told her to lay down.

"I thought we were doing an assignment."

"I'd rather do you."

"Oh, what have I done? Where had my innocent, cute, and charming kōhai gone to?"

"Yeah, blame yourself."

Sayaka sat down on the bed instead and leaned back against the headboard. Noticing that the nightlight is nowhere to be seen in the room.

"Is there anything else that happened between you and Touko that I should know about?"

"Arrrggg… Why can't we just make out? We don't have much time, you know?"

"Is there?"

"You're pushing it, Sayaka."

"There is, isn't it?"

"After I tell you, will you kiss me?"

"It depends on what happened between the two of you."

"It's insignificant anyway."

"Then why don't you hurry up and tell me so I can decide if I will kiss you or not?"

Yuu sat on the edge of the bed. "N-Nanami-senpai and I used to walk home together while we were discussing the election speech and..."

"And?"

"Please don't get mad. It meant nothing to me."

"Don't keep me waiting, Yuu." There's that dangerous edge in her voice again.

"She got a drink from a vending machine, drank from it, and offered me to drink from it too. I accepted since I do that all the time with my friends, but after I gave it back to her, she drank from it without hesitation. And I feel like we kissed again."

Sayaka grabbed her collar, pushed her down the bed, and shifted on top of her. Light brown hair closed out the room. "You belong to me. All of you. All your kisses are mine."

"I had never kissed anyone after we started dating. I promised. Even indirect ones."

"You need to be punished for not telling me about this till now. And I even had to force you to tell me."

"In my defense, those moments never crossed my mind again. They meant nothing to me."

Then something fell into place in Sayaka's mind. Something that she had wanted to ask before but forgot about.

"Why did you avoid Touko the day that you came with me to the corporate center?"

"Ah. That. Ah..."

"You are walking on thin ice." She muttered in an ominous voice.

"Give me a moment to remember. My brain isn't as fast as yours. That was so long ago."

"Wafer-thin ice."

"Sh-she was glancing at me all the time. I felt uncomfortable."

"And?" the lanky girl urges her.

"I feel like she's asking me to stay behind. I didn't want to stay, so I asked to walk out with you."

"Hmmmn…"

A minute had passed as Sayaka pieced the events together.

"Am I still in trouble?"

"I am just realizing that those things, the decisions you made, they led you to me."

Yuu smiled. "I saw you first. Before any of that happened. All the paths laid out for me lead me to you."

"You will still be punished. You will not get off this easily."

"I had never in a million years thought that I ever had a shot with you. I didn't even know if you were interested in girls. I never had crushes. I had friends. But I was never interested in anyone. You are the first person who moved me. You may not be my first kiss. But all the other firsts belonged to you." Yuu moved up to kiss her lips. "You are the first one to feel me kiss back." She licks Sayaka's lips. "The first one to feel my tongue." She took a slender hand and placed it on her breast. "The first one to feel me." Brown eyes shining with affection.

Sayaka was about to kiss her when the door opened again.

"Hey you two. Dinner is ready."

The brunette sat up so fast she had a headrush.

"When will you ever learn how to knock?!"

"Oh, you are a bottom. That checks out."