Chapter 20: Chapter 20 - Sleepover Rules Are Meaningless

Kuro Kurogane should have realized that trouble was headed his way when his dad lightly dropped this small bombshell.

"We’re leaving for the night."

Daichi stood at the entrance with their bags while Shizuka stood next to him re-arranging her coat.

"And you be good while we’re gone," said Daichi.

Shizuka smiled at Daichi in an attempt to reassure him that they were going to be okay.

"And no staying up all night, either" he added.

Once the door to their home closed,

the house went into complete silence.

Soon after Akari jumped up from the couch,

"Overnight Party!"

Kuro felt his soul leave his body. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"No!"

Way too late!

Mina had an evil grin that could only be described as "how in the world could you say that--I thought you were my friend?"

"Oh, this sounds like a lot of fun."

Aoi nodded once but did so with a calm acceptance.

"Agreed," Kuro said, with all of the enthusiasm of a wet sock.

Rika adjusted her glasses nervously.

"I should probably run home," said Rika.

Mina immediately (and quite determinedly) said, "Nope."

Mina seized Rika’s arm, and with the flair and drama one would expect from an actress on a stage,

"You are now mine!"

"I dislike the wording of that," said Rika.

Kuro looked up to the ceiling.

"I want to be in peace."

Nobody heard him.

Three hours later, the living room was literally torn to shreds.

Blankets were thrown everywhere (on the floor; over the couch; over the chairs; on the dogs).

Pillows were thrown everywhere (on the floor; over the couch; over the chairs).

Snacks were over all of the tables.

And everyone is now in their own pajamas!!

This was an emotional travesty for Kuro.

Akari wore loose pink pajamas that continually slipped down off of her shoulder delicate with time.

Mina had an oversized t-shirt that could be used for a weapon more that is ever dangerous with her school uniform on.

Aoi’s pajama bottoms were dark and comfy, which made her appear softer and more relaxed than she did normally.

And then there was Rika—who could also manage to look elegant, even dressed casually for bed.

Unfair. Totally unfair.

"Hey, Kuro-kun~"

Akari was patting the area beside her enthusiastically. "You have to sit here," she instructed him.

"There’s other places to sit," he replied.

"I want THIS spot," she reaffirmed.

Typical.

Kuro sighed before cautiously sitting down.

Instantly, he regretted it.

Akari leaned in against him just like it was completely natural for her to do.

At the same time, Aoi had also chosen to sit on Kuro’s opposite side, so close their shoulders touched lightly.

The effort from both sides instantly wiped away any mental stability Kuro had maintained up to that point.

At this point, Mina had taken to staring openly.

"Dude." Kuro looked completely defeated.

"I need your help," he said dramatically.

"No," Mina replied with a huge grin on her face, "This is just too good to not watch."

Even Rika was successfully hiding a small grin behind her cup.

Traitor.

The movie night only lasted twelve minutes before everything went downhill.

Mina was tossing popcorn at Kuro while Akari kept stealing his blanket. Aoi was quietly taking sips of soda every time Kuro wasn’t watching her. And Rika was arguing with everyone about how unrealistic romance movie stories are.

"That confession scene was completely unrealistic," Rika stated.

Mina gasped in shock.

"Does the president really watch romance films!?"

"Research, of course."

"I have never heard that said naturally."

Kuro almost gave a quiet laugh.

The room became silent for half a moment.

Kuro rarely, if ever, laughed out loud.

Rika blinked, almost like she couldn’t believe her eyes.

Akari stared at him while still holding his gaze.

"You laughed," said Akari.

Kuro turned away almost immediately.

"I did NOT laugh," Kuro said.

"I DID see you laugh," Aoi calmly reiterated.

Mina pointed excitedly.

"That is how you develop your character!"

"Stop observing me like you are a zoologist!"

Akari reached out and touched Kuro, leaning in closer.

"You have been smiling more often recently."

Kuro stiffened, again.Everyone had said the same thing in the last couple of days.

It annoyed him that they were correct.

Slowly the atmosphere of the room softened.

The movie came to an end, rain began to fall, and the lights were dimmed.

They all got into comfortable spots on the sofa under blankets while listening to the soft sound of rain tapping against the windows.

Nobody spoke out loud the entire time.

Mina was laying upside down on the couch with her feet in the air playing with her phone.

Rika was quietly reading manga beside the lamp.

Akari was laying next to Kuro under the same blanket.Aoi was sitting quietly next to Kuro with tea in hand .

The entire atmosphere was warm.

Comfortable.Dangerously comfortable.

Kuro stared out of the window at the rain.

"This is a little strange," Kuro said.

Akari looked up at him.

"What’s strange?"

"Being around so many people."

For a few moments, nothing was said.

Finally, Mina broke the silence.

"You were alone all the time, right?"

Kuro shrugged his shoulders a little.

"It was simpler."

"Was it really?"

The way the question hung between Kuro and Mina for so long was surprising.

Kuro sat quietly for a moment, thinking.

Back in those days there was...

An empty house.

Dinners without anyone but himself.

Being in his bedroom all the time.

Peacefulness.

But also emptiness.

Aoi was now calmly watching him.

"You come down more now."

Akari smiled gently.

"And you don’t hide in your room like you used to."

Rika carefully closed her manga.

"You seem much more comfortable being with people."

Kuro felt like he was being emotionally attacked at that point.

"Why are you all so curious about me tonight?"

"Because you are fascinating," said Mina in her somewhat lazy tone.

"I will have to disagree."

"Well, too late."

The three girls laughed softly.

Kuro found the sound strangely pleasurable.

Outside, the rain fell softly.

At that moment Akari moved slightly closer to him under the blanket.

"Kuro-kun."

"Yeh?"

"Your hand is very warm."

Before Kuro was able to respond, Akari reached underneath the blanket to grasp his hand.The two of them were silent.

Kuro immediately went still.

Akari’s face flushed slightly as she held onto Kuro’s hand.

Aoi, too, stared at their clasped hands.

A few moments later, she gave a light pull on Kuro’s sleeve which was lying beside her.

To keep them from being disturbed.