So uhm... hi? it's been a year...I think?
I hibernated for a long, long time on this story. Forgive me.
Misaki found herself at a loss.
The Misaka's were having Yakiniku.
The adult Misaka made small talk earlier while they were waiting for the meat to cook but they are mostly complimenting the food in between bites now. Honestly, Yakiniku is not in Misaki's alley (the smell would stick to her clothes which sucked) but she's enjoying the warm wafting from her seatmate and the liveliness of her mother.
Misaki just wishes she would stop piling her plate with meat. It's like everytime Misaki eats a piece, five more gets added.
"Come on! Here, more meat. Don't look away or Mikoto-chan will devour them even if it is from your plate. Eat."
"Hey!"
As she should, Misaki thinks. The least Mikoto can do is help her clear the plate. The thing that Mikoto's mother kept piling up until it resembled a mountain of smoking food. This was not what she thought when Mikoto invited her to the annual Christmas Misaka party. No, she envisioned elegant seatings and sumptuous wines, a waiter at their beck and call. She was a fool too caught up romanticizing her own dashed Christmas plans.
Her plan to dine out with Mikoto with only the two of them alone. On Christmas.
Surely the dense electromaster can glean at least something from her efforts.
A plan that because of their busy schedules, she hadn't had the time to even ask.
(The plan that Mikoto crashed when she asked for dinner instead.)
Still, Misaki canceled her reservation happily.
And she was understandably….(despite Misaki going for the casual look) she was (for sure) the most enchanting woman in that simple establishment, Misaki thought, as proud and smug as the next peacock. She, Shokuhou Misaki, whose dress is more expensive than all their orders combined, (well, she is dressing to impress a certain parent of a certain Misaka) that is all whites and creams in contrast to the darker colors of her companions. She's certainly not lamenting her choice of outfit.
The two women (who might as well be twins in appearance) were dressed casually, both in open-neck shirts, leather jackets and pants, simple but tasteful.
To Misaki's pleasure, Mikoto's gaze savoured her visage upon presenting herself to the Misaka's that evening.
"I know everyone in Tokiwadai is super cute and beautiful but you," Misuzu-san held out her hand for a shake. Misaki did so with the appropriate amount of grip, enough to be polite and eager in equal measure. "You, kid, utterly and absolutely stunning!"
Misaki thanked her graciously. "Thank you. Such a high praise coming from you Misaka-san."
"Misuzu, please. I have a feeling we will forge a special bond in no time."
Mikoto stuttered her greeting adorably which she got teased about. "H-Hi"
"That's it?"
"Eh?"
"You get a free pass to ogle but that's the only thing you say to me?" Misaki scolded playfully. "Gee, after I put so much effort into my appearance. What a cruel girl you are, Mi~ko~to~kun"
"Shokuhou-san is right, Mikoto-chan. I'm rather positive that I thought you how to suck up to people"
Good Backing Misaka-san! Misaki told the older woman with a wink and a finger gun of approval. Misuzu winks back and something between them clicks into place.
To the electromaster, their predatory pairs of gold and hazel, promised unspeakable horror to come. One worthy enough to make the railgun squirm even before things started.
"Sh-Shut up! I hadn't introduced you two so you can gang up on me! Whose side are you on?"
"I'm your mother, it's in my job description to embarrass you as much as I can!" Misuzu chirped happily.
"It depends on my fancy, Misaka-san"
It was what Misaki said 30 minutes ago.
Well, everyone knows her 'fancy' is as gullible as the wind.
"Oh? Misaka-san, here," Misaki placed a couple pieces of meat on her friend's currently empty plate. "You could have said you wanted more meat, Could have save yourself the trouble of waiting, no?~"
"Shokuhou-san, you don't really have to do that. Mikoto-chan can wait for the meat to cook."
"Oh no, it's fine really. Between the two of us, she's more impatient." cue, more meat transfers.
"Aww. My Mikoto-chan is such a lucky person to find a good friend like you in her life!"
"It's just meat, mama. You're being dramatic." said the electromaster, flushing mightily as she shoved meat into her mouth.
"I believe I'm the luckiest girl to have earned her friendship, Misuzu-san. You daughter is such a special character, you must have been proud"
"A flatterer! Great! Mikoto-chan will have to put more effort to find herself back in my good graces."
"She deserves a reward before that, no?"
Mikoto was just watching her amusedly (even with the prominent flush on her cheeks). The girl fully—definitely knows what she's trying to do. Buttering one's mother in order to transfer greasy food is a totally new strategy. Not unwelcome in the slightest.
Misuzu is just so sincere in serving Misaki that the blonde doesn't have the heart to deny or admit her less than favorable perspective of greasy foods.
She side-eyed her friend and elbowed her to further indent her intentions.
"I'm on your side. Help." Misaki whispered.
"Oh? I thought it depends on your fancy?" Mikoto whispered back.
"I fancy you now. Help me"
Sometimes, a message delivered can hit bullseye in a completely different meaning.
A not quite smile formed on the electromaster's lips. Even if she was blushing madly, Mikoto raised her hand and flagged a waitress. "Can we have two cans of beer and two glasses of pineapple juice please?"
"Right away ma'am!"
Misaki leaned in and whispered, thoroughly confused. "How is that supposed to— Wait, Don't tell me you're going to drink?"
"Me?! Nope. It's all for my mom, for distraction. I don't drink alcohol. Do you?"
"I don't…well, I do enjoy a few sips of wine."
"Typical rich kid."
Misaki rolled her eyes at that. It might have been unladylike but she's in good company anyway.
When Misuzu was not looking (too busy with the can of beer Mikoto opened for her), Misaki pleaded again with her eyes and gestured at her food.
Then Mikoto glanced at her mom, making sure she was occupied with her beer before snatching most of the meat. By the time Misuzu could pay attention to them, Mikoto had placed a plate of vegetables near the blonde to which she was grateful. All the grease was slowly affecting Misaki's sanity after all.
"Thank you" she whispered
Mikoto placed another can in front of her. "Pineapple juice. Good for digestion."
"How thoughtful of you"
"Don't thank me yet. This is to ensure you never stop fancying me." Mikoto smirked. Secretly, Misaki swooned. "I'll consider it a betrayal the moment you side with my mom though." she pointed with her fork.
Despite the vegetables filling her mouth, Misaki can't quite hide her giddy smile. "Then to ensure this alliance, you better cater to me well, Misaka~kun"
"Please dont phrase it like that. Oof–that's cringe worthy." A shiver exaggeratedly rocked the electromaster's body and Misaki's pleasure at the sight is undeniable.
"and it's Mikoto."
"What?"
"It's christmas, you're allowed to use my name for the night. You used my name a while ago without permission so this is an undeniable upgrade for you"
"Hmm?" Good, she noticed. "~Serve me well, and you might get the honor to use my name by the end of the night."
"Oi. Get off your high horse."
"~Aren't you gonna assist me?"
"Please just fall down."
"My~, what politeness too. But aren't you too much? Asking a lady to fall?"
"It is given that I will catch you"
There was a second of stillness in the air. Before both teenagers' heads faced in opposite directions, cheeks burning and minds in disarray.
Misaki had to put effort in organizing her thoughts.
She's not the only one.
There were several gentle slams on the table across from theirs. Both level 5's found their older companion with hands over her face (with an obvious partition to convey her merciless delighted eyes) to hide what would probably be a grin of questionable nature.
Beside her, the waitress held the circular tray just below her eyes, also clearly flushed.
And Misaki nearly combusted.
[:::::]
"Kiss me Misaki."
There are very few that can make her heart flutter as it did and as frequently as it did. Gosh, this night turns out to be too bountiful for Misaki's heart and it was not ready for it.
Aside from the electromaster's outfit that manage to looked like a pair of hers (Dark blue with white accents), the girl had look extra gallant with her side slick hair, earrings and light make up and as she presented herself to Misaki, she can't help the appreciative looks she sent to the Ace. The flowers and the bracelet were a nice touch, it was so sweet that Misaki's heart did a tap dance. A very, very Rigorous tap dance.
And as the night wore on, it got better and better. Mikoto had practiced plenty on her upper floor back in her penthouse but the first song she played (the one that got her a lot of smoldering gazes) flew right out of Misaki's ear even though the others wanted nothing but to devour the music. She can't concentrate on the music really and she really has to apologize. All she can think is the dazzling performer on the stage her heart had acknowledged.
Again, as Mikoto expertly led her throughout the dance and again when she kissed, hear that?! KISSED her ankles. It was—It was…. It was more ticklish than anything but the dusky hazel eyes transferred something irrational for her mind to comprehend and that made her a puddle of goo on that couch, at the mercy of the devilish looking oh-so-noble girl still holding her feet.
When she kissed her ankles again (Misaki can't believe it as well, what a jerk, right?), the warmth in her chest dropped abruptly from her chest past her stomach and settled just below her belly…and that made her freak out, accidentally kicking her crush in the face.
Shokuhou Misaki can't believe she was a bit turned on at the gesture and she can't have it in her to apologize verbally because technically, it's Mikoto's fault. It's her fault that her heart is beating so fast and it's her fault that she's stuttering, it's her fault that Misaki's mind is so jumbled trying to process every sensation that she had trouble picking apart what not to do.
"Sending me to insanity, is what. I'm helplessly drawn to you, Shokuhou Misaki"
…helplessly drawn to you…helplessly drawn to you.
Misaki's gonna die, isn't she?
"...brilliant but you know that do you?"
The little gasp Misaki let out was unintentional and a full body shiver had erupted, traveling all the way to her toes, having them curl in pleasure. It's so hot here. Everything is too hot.
She had little strength when she squeezed Mikoto's shoulder, she needed the anchor as much as she needed to close the gap between them. It's infuriating. Can…Can Mikoto just do it? What is she waiting for?
Her voice trembled trying to quell the emotions behind and she was not proud of it. "Misaka Mikoto, are you trying to kill me here?"
Mikoto's lips had trembled and that served to calm her a bit. It means she's not the only one trying not to die, maybe. "Can I?"
Misaki knew. This is it. This is really it.
"Yes" Misaki answered with nary a millisecond passing after Mikoto's warmth breath, as if chasing the worded affections for herself.
Soft flesh. The faint smell of orange and fresh linen. But it was much too short to enjoy.
Misaki would never admit the almost whine she let out the moment she felt the electromaster pull away. It was too short and she wanted more to enjoy.
And when Mikoto kissed her again, fully, Misaki rejoiced so much she had let out a happy hum.
Because oh.
The pressure against her lips felt so good, the slide of their lips felt electrifying in a weird way and the warmth shared had Misaki taking sharp breaths through her nose and craving for more.
She had fantasized, but this was so good! Too good. So much more than good. So, so much more.
—and apparently, it robs Misaki of the ability to think of any other vocabulary she can use.
She can feel herself starting to chase her breath, her fingers had unknowingly fisted around Mikoto's lapels—and OH.
She's kissing Mikoto.
Her crush.
Kissing her.
She is kissing her crush.
Her crush who's hands slowly encircled her shoulders. Whose hands traveled further up and messed a bit of her hair and good gracious does it feel so, so good— heavenly, so—
"Nggh~"
That—that was embarrassing!
But the caresses of the Electromaster made her focus on another thing. Then another and another.
Strong fingers lightly massage her scalp, sending delicious little electricity to travel all the way to her toes, it's not even real electricity and—what a way to die.
She can feel the small little smile on Mikoto's lips and she really should be offended.
The Ace did it again, this time with a little bit more intent on her part and Misaki just melted, she might as well be a puddle.
She was grasping for reality, ah, but this is a fantasy turned reality. The universe loves her after all!
(The universe does not, in fact, love her that much for it arranged someone to ruin her fun.)
Of course.
Because Misaki may not have Mikoto's electrolocation but she felt the brains, specifically the moisture of what is in fact, contained inside a brain. Three in fact.
She could be wrong though.
Then it was followed by gasps and shuffling of feet.
She's very much nailed the headcount. Urgh.
The soft delectable lips upon hers absorb the groan she let out.
Wait, Mikoto should have noticed them by now… ?
Misaki tried hard to push the girl, she really did.
But—
Aside from the hand that's generally making her into a marshmallow of mess, body loose and relaxed, the other one snakes around her waist and holds her together solidly, snugly into their warmth.
"I'm here"
Mikoto was asking, demanding Misaki's attention. She physically felt it. The subtle tightening of fingers around her waist and the way she says these heartstopping words and those attractive hazel eyes must have manipulative ability to ensconce her back to fragrant, soft, heat.
But the idea of someone seeing them, seeing this intimate exchange, tickled her the wrong way.
She has to deal with it. Fast.
That and she had to breathe.
She did manage to extract herself but Mikoto's eyes, the fondness in its depths right now is making it a lot more difficult to focus on anything but those. It shouldn't be so enthralling. It really shouldn't.
She had to find those intruders and she really should not be so distracting but the sight of this girl taking it easy while Misaki is catching her breath is annoyingly attractive.
Annoying yet attractive.
Attractively annoying.
"Kiss me, Misaki" she phrased it as a command, but really it's a plea.
Now that is just unfair. On all accounts.
Consequences be damned.
[::::]
"What are we?" Mikoto asks softly then she coughs. "Sorry, didn't mean to open with that….erm…Can I start?" then she muttered to herself. "Where do I even start?"
At Misaki's nod, the electromaster flashed her a shaky smile, taking a sip from her tea.
Both level 5's agreed to talk in the morning after a good rest but that plan tumbled out of the building when Misaki—who couldn't sleep—found Mikoto on her balcony at 3:45am.
The blonde eyed her friend's choice of clothing. Shorts and t-shirts in winter when it's snowing. She can only sigh as she let the girl in and prepared tea for the both of them.
(I told my mom I would turn in early but I can't sleep and before I knew it, I'm here.)
As such, what discussion they have promised happened way earlier by 10 hours.
As soon as the cup touched the wooden table with a clink, Mikoto started.
"err…to start with.. Uhmm…uhhh so uhh, so, hmm, wow this is hard…t-the circumstances is this… this uhmmm…okay…okay. Do it!" Mikoto made a fist and encouraged herself. It was honestly cute to watch. "For some reason, I l-like you. Romantically. That seems to be the word. Yep. Which is…well, er, I like you."
Mikoto was glowing red by the time she finished. Her small neurotic hand gestures such as hand ringing, or the finger tapping were as equally distracting to Misaki as her words.
In order to cover for her heart's frantic drumming, Misaki scrambled. "For some reason?" her heart is thundering twice as fast as when they were kissing earlier. What, All the butterflies in three different dimensions decided to party in her stomach? Is that it?
"Ah! Er…reasons…right. Uhh drat" Mikoto massaged the back of her neck. "I'm not very good at this now that I'm sober." then she whispered to herself which Misaki still heard by the way. "Wow, this is more nerve wracking than I thought."
"Cut the crap. You never drink."
"If you remember, I was drunk of you"
Two wide eyes met.
"..." Did that just really come out of her mouth?!
"..." Did she really just hear that kind of cringey line from her?!
Mikoto immediately drank all of the tea in her cup and hurriedly poured another and downed that one too. Which surely scalded her tongue a great deal but she was great at pretending to not be an idiot, so…
Misaki, meanwhile, was fighting a full blown smile but the little snort escaped her. Snort. Huh. She never snorts.
Her companion latches on to the sound.
"AH! You–" she pointed aggressively "You just sn—"
"Y–You heard nothing."
Two eyes started to crinkle—
"..." that was so cute.
"..." that was so unladylike.
I was drunk of you.
—until Misaki remembered what made her do that and snorted again, trembling with repressed laughter. That was so corny.
Mikoto caught the blunder and started laughing, maybe catching on to her drift. Her embarrassment gone as her guffaw rings in the living room— unable to control herself, the blonde followed, pearls of giggles escaping her lips unabashedly matching with her Mikoto.
Absently, Misaki felt the seat beside her dipping, an arm guided her shoulders and her head slotting neatly into Mikoto's shoulder and neck, still wracking with random bouts of laughter. She smelled strongly of fresh linen and mint soap with an underlying scent of chlorine and the crisp snow on her skin.
Warm palms glided up and down her left arm, warming up the side not connected to Mikoto. It did a good job in making Misaki think of warm fluffy clouds on a windy day, and making her breathing even and her laughter petter out.
She just—Misaki melted against her, letting out a contented sigh
"Shokuhou" in all the years that they've known each other, this is the first time Mikoto spoke her name in such a soft, reverent manner so openly. To call her attention, to make her look up and observe those expanding pupils.
"Misaki" she found herself correcting her girl. She just knows that it would sound a thousand times better if Mikoto spoke her name in such a tone.
"Shokuhou Misaki," she said with a smile. hmm, Not what she was hoping for but the intended weight still hit her all the more. They settled more into each other before she continued. "I like you. I really, really, like you. Despite your odd tendencies like saying the word ability–which is cute–or the fact that you can't run to save your life, or that you have a bitchy facade but are also quite a brat but then you outwit a lot of smart people in this city. You are rather nasty about a lot of things you know.
Misaki slaps her leg for that.
"You can start complimenting me anytime now.."
Mikoto said nothing and Misaki stayed trapped inside the affection in electromaster eyes.
She looks so patient, eyes taking in everything from her expressions of body language. A tinge of blush on her cheeks and pupils almost swallowed even her limbal rings. Mikoto looks at her like she defeated a god or something, like she was the personification of satisfaction she had always strived for. Like she can't believe it's real and not an illusion.
It feels like they were touching each other's souls.
It's making Misaki's skin flushed so easily, a different kind of emotion overwhelming her than the one that engulfed the both of them when they kissed earlier.
It makes Misaki fall with a little more gusto and the trust that she's safe with this person.
She falls and falls—
"You made me wait enough."
"Hmm? Does that mean you like me back too or—?"
"We just kissed each other—what—"
"Yeah but do you like me back or did you kiss me for kicks?"
"For kicks—? Wha—"
"Like you know, a rival's kiss or something? Don't know if there such a thing—I mean, I really need to know if you like me or not or was I just—"
"Why are you like this?"
"So you won't kiss me anymore?"
Misaki glared. "There goes that perfect romantic atmosphere! Your ability to destroy such a thing is—is..! Urgh!"
She turns away as she groans but doesn't leave Mikoto's side completely. The arm resting on her waist pulls her more securely to the owner.
"Misaki" the electromaster whispered in her ear. It's the perfect position to do so too. "Misaki~Shokuhou Misaki you are adorable and I like you lots and please look at me?"
The blonde turns, catching the smirk on Mikoto's lips before she feels them on her forehead, pressing a perfectly warmth there.
[::::]
The consequences damned her.
For sure.
But Misaki will discover that when classes resume. For now though, she basks in the calmness of the very first sunrise of the year.
Together with Misaka Mikoto.
Both of them perched on the peak of one of these bridges' arch. Mikoto had shown her a mischievous smile before carrying her and depositing her where they currently stand. Misaki had screamed of course, attempted murder even. The asshole just laughed at her efforts.
I know the perfect spot, she said.
You'll love it, she said.
Sometimes—no not sometimes, It's most of the time! This dummy! Most of the time, Mikoto is really just clueless and dense in all things that doesn't involve science and logic.
Still, the only thing keeping her from falling down this rusty, monstrous bridge is the hand that currently trapped hers.
Intertwined and warm and rough.
Secure.
As the sun rose, transforming the sky in a wave of yellow and orange, conquering the dark blues and violets more and more as time passed. A new upheaval of everything that has been familiar to Misaki until now. She'll be graduating this year, will be going to highschool, meeting new people and catching up with familiar ones and now, she have—
"I think this will be my favorite visual of the year" Mikoto murmured beside her but her gaze was solely on Misaki, warming her chest so quickly she didn't think she needed the sun anymore.
Misaki looks at her companion, hazel eyes almost shining gold in wake of the sun's rays. Wonderment and contentment circling around the brown flecks, her skin glows a golden dream as light casted sharp shadows on the contours of her jaw making her wonder how people could continue to look at this beauty and continue on in their lives like nothing fundamental happened.
However as soon as Mikoto processed what she had just blurted, she blushed and looked away, thoroughly embarrassed.
Misaki is too but she is happy to note that the brunette hadn't let go of her hand and she squeezes it.
"Please take care of me this year." Misaki breathed after a few blessed seconds of watching the first sunrise of the year.
"I–I'll be in y-your care." the electromaster murmured back, meeting her eyes with all the sincerity she could muster, cheeks still red from earlier. "...Shokuhou Misaki"
"..."
"..."
"...how am I surviving this?" she squeaks, and it draws a titter from Misaki's lungs, expelling the same sentiment as her partner but in a more graceful way of course.
Misaki felt her heart buzzing inside the little confines of her rib cage. Misaka Mikoto effortlessly makes it this way and she welcomes the feeling.
"Hopefully you figure that out any time soon. I'd like you to tell me then."
"That would require you to stay with me for a long time."
"Sounds logical. Why not? Let's do that."
She felt a tug on her hand, instinctively, Misaki scoots closer to the electromaster and kisses her on the cheek. "Happy New Year, Mikoto"
The shock on her face and the rather visible shiver that racked her body brought Misaki a terrible sense of pride and flattered her immensely. She also had the terrible urge to kiss Mikoto again just because she's so adorable.
Warm hands travel from her hands all the way up to her shoulders which were used as anchors as Mikoto leaned in and kissed the corner of her mouth and whispered back "Happy New Year, Misaki."
