(Three Months Later)
Tomorrow was moving day.
Just a few days before, the school's graduation ceremonies had propelled Mashiro Shiina, Sorata Kanda, Nanami Aoyama, and Ryuunosuke Akasaka into the next phase of their lives, and everything was changing quickly. Ryuunosuke and Aoyama had already moved out of Sakura-sou. The former had gone to a one-room apartment somewhere else in the city. The latter was in Tokyo, where she was hoping to make connections at bigger voice-acting schools. Tomorrow it would be Sorata and Mashiro's turn to leave. Their new place was on the top floor of a building about a mile away; it was small but it had a little studio space for Mashiro to use.
Mashiro had decided to take a bath that night, and now she was sitting on Sorata's bed in her nightgown while he dried her hair. He was sitting behind her, his legs on either side of hers as he worked the hair dryer. She sat still, contentedly staring off into space.
Sorata patted Mashiro's hair, then nodded. "Okay, I think it's done."
Mashiro's eyes widened slightly, and then she pushed herself towards him so her back was pressed up against Sorata's chest. "No, no," she said. "It's still wet. I can tell."
For a moment Sorata was puzzled, but then he caught on. "Oh, really?" he said in a low, warm voice. He ran his fingers through her hair. "What part did I miss?"
"It's hard to find," Mashiro said. Her cheeks were red as she rested her head on his face.
Sorata put down the hair dryer and cautiously wrapped his arms around Mashiro's waist. She folded her arms over his and closed her eyes.
They sat there for a long minute, not moving except for the rise and fall of their chests. Her forehead brushed against his lips, and her heart beat faster as his breath warmed her skin. He could smell the faint scent of her lavender soap. Then Sorata began to lean to his right, pulling them both down onto the bed. Mashiro moved with him and a moment later they were both lying on their sides, his arms around her, her whole body curving to fit into his big spoon. There was a pause, then Sorata reached down and pulled the comforter over them, then returned his arm to her side. Mashiro sighed with contentment and before long she was fast asleep.
Sorata lay there for a few minutes more, just listening to her breathe. In a moment he'd get up and finish getting ready for bed and turn off the light and such. But for now he just wanted to enjoy this moment with Mashiro. Tomorrow everything would change, and while he was looking forward to it, it was nice to take a moment to just be as they were, to savor their last night in this place.
Moving day dawned sunny and hot. Naturally, Sorata & Mashiro's new building did not have an elevator, and due to one thing or another the moving process didn't really get started till the afternoon. Which is how Jin and Sorata found themselves team-lifting a large and unwieldy box around a narrow turn in a stairwell on a hot, muggy afternoon.
"You are without a doubt the most troublesome kouhai I've ever had," Jin said cheerfully as he strained against the weight. Sorata grunted a quick "sorry" and then pulled while Jin pushed. The box finally obliged to move through the turn and the two young men quickly crossed the last few stairs to arrive on the walkway on the top floor.
Sorata lowered his end of the box to the ground and stepped back, panting. "Sorry, I need a second."
Jin stood the box up on its end, casually holding it in place upright. "Did you have to pick the top floor?" he asked with more feigned irritation.
Sorata shot him a dirty look. "Don't you start. Ryuunosuke's whining about that enough for the both of us."
"He is a man of deep conviction and passion," Jin said, "and his arms are shockingly weak for someone who is always typing."
Behind him there was the sound of footsteps on the stairs, and a moment later Misaki and Ryuunosuke came around the notorious corner, both holding small boxes in their arms. "Break's over I'm afraid, kouhai," Jin said.
By the time Jin and Sorata maneuvered the box into the new apartment, Mashiro and Iori had joined them as well. Iori was carrying a box, while Mashiro was holding an easel over her head with both arms. Jin leaned up against a wall and accepted a water bottle that Misaki offered him, while Ryuunosuke stretched out his spine by arching backwards. Mashiro stood in the center of the room looking around until Sorata tolerantly relived her of the easel and put it off to the side.
"Girls own too many things," Iori grumbled as he put down his box. "So glad we didn't have to help Aoyama-senpai move."
"Kanna-chan's never going to kiss you with that attitude," Misaki chided. Iori turned red, muttered something about checking to make sure they'd gotten everything, and hurried out.
Two hours later, after everyone had gone, Mashiro and Sorata lay on the floor of their new apartment. The setting afternoon sun coming through the sliding glass door that led to their tiny balcony made the room feel bright and welcoming. The boxes piled along the walls and scattered around the floor spoiled the effect a little bit, but Sorata was happy. Tired, and a little nervous, but happy.
Beside him Mashiro held up her hand and traced some lines in the air above them. "I want to paint a mural on the ceiling," she announced.
"I don't think the manager will let you do that," Sorata said lazily.
"But I thought this was our place," Mashiro said.
"We don't own it, we're renting it," Sorata said. "It's just 'ours' because no one else is living here and we don't have roommates."
"I see," Mashiro said. "Then I'll paint a huge painting and hang it on the ceiling."
"Where are you going to get a canvas that big?" Sorata said teasingly.
"It will be a masterpiece mural," Mashiro said. Then she turned her head and looked at her boyfriend. "Would you like it if I did that?"
"Of course," Sorata said. "Your art is always amazing."
She continued to gaze at him. "Maybe I will paint you."
"I don't think a picture of me would make a good mural."
"Not for the mural, just a painting," Mashiro said. She paused, glancing away and blushing. "Maybe ... a nude."
For a moment Sorata was still. Then he rolled to his side and propped himself up so he was leaning over Mashiro. She reached up and touched his face, and he leaned down and kissed her. The kiss went on for a long moment, and when it ended, he kissed her again. And again, and again.
His hand began to slide up her shirt, exposing her belly button and torso. He caressed her bare skin and she sighed happily. The shirt kept moving up until it was over her head and she lay beneath him in her bra. When the next kiss ended, he looked into her eyes. Her face was beautiful, and flushed with anticipation. "Do you want me to keep going?" he whispered.
She said, "yes", and brought her hands up to undo her bra.
One by one, each article of their clothing was removed and tossed casually to the sides of the room with the boxes. The afternoon sunlight warmed their bare skin and the quiet of the room was broken only by whispers of affection and soft gasps and moans. She opened for him and whispered "I love you" in his ear as he moved inside of her. When her moment came, she held him close and gasped for breath and he said he loved her too.
Afterwards, he lay on his back again, only now they were both naked and she was lying curled up to his side, the warmth of her breath caressing the skin on his chest.
"Give me a nickname," she said, her voice low and warm.
"Hmm?"
"I want you to have a nickname for me, something that only you call me, and only when we're alone."
"A nickname, huh? Mmmm ... how about Shiro?"
"Too much like Shiina."
"Ro?"
"No."
"Neko-chan?"
"You dummy."
He laughed. "Well ... what if I called you Mashi-chan? Is that too silly?" He looked down at her face.
Mashiro was smiling, and snuggled him tighter. "I like Mashi-chan."
"Mashi-chan, my best pet girl."
(Six months later)
Mashiro pressed the door chime button. A few seconds later, the door popped open revealing Misaki Kamiigusa. "You made it, Mashiron!" she cried.
"Of course, you invited me."
"Everyone's so busy these days," Misaki said, grabbing Mashiro's hand and pulling her inside. She then darted behind her guest and pulled the door closed. "I mean I'm glad we're all texting and calling each other all the time but it's nice to see someone in person, you know? Haven't gotten to see Aoyama since she graduated. I guess it's not so different with Ryuunosuke, but you and kouhai-kun practically live down the street and this is the first time you've visited!"
They entered the living room area of the apartment. Mashiro stared down at the large assortment of cakes Misaki had laid out on her coffee table as she sat down beside it.
"Dig in, Mashiron!" Misaki said as she plopped down on the other side, her ample bosom wobbling as she landed. "Cake waits for no man!"
"We're girls," Mashiro replied.
"A minor detail!" she crowed as she laid into the first cake.
Mashiro selected a tart: she'd grown fond of them while in England.
"How are things with you and kouhai-kun?" Misaki said after downing her first bite of cake.
"I actually need your help with something," Mashiro said, putting down her half-eaten tart.
"Hmm?" Misaki had some frosting on her lips as she looked up at her guest.
"Misaki-senpai, I need you to teach me about sex."
Misaki face-faulted. "That's incredibly direct, even for you, Mashiron."
Mashiro blinked. "Are you and Jin not doing it?"
"Of-of course we are," Misaki said, her manner suddenly uncharacteristically shy. Then her eyes widened and she started at Mashiro. "Hold on, Mashiro, are you and kouhai-kun not doing it?"
"We are."
Misaki laughed a little nervously, realizing what she'd just asked. "Er, I'm not sure what you need my help with then, Mashiron."
Mashiro looked down at her hands. "I ... I don't know what I'm doing," she said in a small voice. "I just kind of ... let him. It's wonderful, but I don't want him to have to do all the work." She looked up timidly. "I want to thrill Sorata. I want him to be excited."
Misaki smiled and let out a small breath. "I know just what you need, Mashiron. Wait right here." She jumped up and ran into her bedroom. Mashiro looked after her for a moment then returned to her tart.
There was a great deal of crashing and throwing things around before Misaki emerged, triumphantly holding up a large-sized manga volume. "I found it!" she announced.
"What is it?" Mashiro asked.
Misaki came and sat down with Mashiro on the same side of the table. "It's The Guide to Earthling Sex!" She dropped it heavily next to the food.
Mashiro looked down at the well-worn book. "The Guide to Earthling Sex? Is this an adult manga, Misaki-senpai?"
Misaki held up an officious finger. "Most adult mangas are junk. They're written by creepy old men who don't know anything about women. I wouldn't read any of them." She pointed to the volume on the table. "But this one is an exception. It's written by a woman, and it's basically a sex manual."
"A sex manual?"
"Right! The story is that a boy alien comes to Earth and has to have a baby with an Earth girl in order to save the planet or something. He knows almost nothing about humans though, so this Earth girl has to teach him sex. I thought Mashiro would like it 'cause it's all about the pictures!" She opened to a random page, then flipped a couple further in and pointed to the very frank illustration on the page. "See?"
Even the typically unflappable Mashiro had to blush at the scene. "Does it really look like that?" she murmured, glancing down at her skirt.
"It helped me when I was first starting out," Misaki said, again a bit shyly. "I don't need it anymore, so you can have it."
"Really?"
"Yep! Go show kouhai-kun an incredible time, Mashiron! Blow his mind, boom!"