The sunlight filtered through the windows of the Tokyo Sky Tower, casting a warm glow on the bustling streets below. Inside, the atmosphere was a mix of tension and camaraderie as the members of the Devil Survivor 2 team gathered to discuss their next move.
Makoto sat at one end of the table, her gaze fixed on the map spread out in front of her. She traced her finger along the routes, trying to focus on the task at hand, but her mind kept drifting back to that moment—the moment when she had landed on top of Hibiki, her face inches away from his, and he had made that remark about the "nice view."
She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks just thinking about it. How could she face him after that? Every time she saw him, her heart would race, and she would find herself stuttering or avoiding eye contact. It was embarrassing, to say the least.
Across the table, Hibiki leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips. He noticed Makoto's discomfort and couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. He hadn't meant to make her feel awkward—it was just a harmless joke, after all.
"So, any ideas on how to approach the next Septentrione?" Daichi's voice broke through Makoto's thoughts, pulling her back to the present.
She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "Um, well, we could try attacking it head-on, but that might not be the best strategy..."
As the discussion continued, Makoto found herself stealing glances at Hibiki when she thought he wasn't looking. Each time their eyes met, she quickly looked away, feeling a fresh wave of embarrassment wash over her.
Hibiki noticed her avoidance and frowned slightly. He had to find a way to make things right between them, but he wasn't sure how. Maybe he could apologize again? Or perhaps he could try to lighten the mood with another joke?
Before he could come to a decision, the meeting was adjourned, and everyone began to disperse. Makoto seized the opportunity to slip out of the room before Hibiki could approach her.
Outside, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She couldn't keep avoiding him forever, but she wasn't sure how to face him either. Maybe if she just pretended like nothing had happened, things would go back to normal.
As she made her way through the crowded streets, lost in thought, she bumped into someone, nearly knocking them over.
"Sorry!" she exclaimed, looking up to see Hibiki standing in front of her, a concerned expression on his face.
"It's okay," he said with a smile, reaching out to steady her. "Are you alright?"
Makoto nodded, feeling her cheeks grow warm again. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry for running into you like that."
Hibiki chuckled. "No harm done. Say, do you have a moment to talk? I feel like we haven't had a chance to catch up lately."
Makoto hesitated, torn between wanting to talk to him and wanting to flee as fast as possible. In the end, she nodded, forcing a smile. "Sure, I have some time."
They found a nearby bench and sat down, the awkward silence stretching between them.
"I wanted to apologize," Hibiki said suddenly, breaking the silence. "For what I said the other day. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Makoto blinked in surprise, her heart skipping a beat. "Oh, it's okay. It was just a joke, right?"
Hibiki nodded, relieved. "Yeah, just a joke. But I can see that it bothered you, and I'm sorry for that."
Makoto couldn't resist a mischievous grin as she watched Hibiki's reaction to her sudden closeness. She could practically see the color rising in his cheeks, and it only fueled her desire to tease him further.
"If you're really sorry," she said, her voice low and playful, "You can take me out for lunch."
Hibiki's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. He was clearly caught off guard by her boldness, and Makoto couldn't help but enjoy every moment of it.
But just as quickly as she had leaned in, Makoto pulled back, her laughter bubbling up uncontrollably. "I'm just kidding," she said, unable to contain her amusement. "Consider it payback for teasing me the other day."
Hibiki let out a relieved chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. "You really got me there," he admitted, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
Makoto smiled back at him, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over her. It felt good to be able to joke around with him again, to feel that easy camaraderie they had shared before their little incident.
As they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways, Makoto couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Maybe things weren't as awkward between them as she had feared. And who knows? Maybe this was just the beginning of a new chapter in their friendship—one filled with laughter, teasing, and maybe even the occasional lunch date.