Chapter 37: Chapter 37 - What Changed Between Us

The Kyoto trip came to a peaceful end.

Which was honestly suspicious.

No bombs. No scandal on the public stage. No one died emotionally when a teacher was present.

A miracle.

The train ride home seemed more subdued than before.

The students were sleeping in a state of exhaustion, while the teachers finally looked more inwardly defeated and renewed.

Meanwhile, Kuro Kurogane was sitting next to the window, trying not to lose his mind and life as he knew it.

His strategy had failed.

Because at least every few minutes...

He would catch himself watching Aoi without even realising it.

And each time it happened...

His heart would immediately betray him.

This was becoming ridiculous

Akari had fallen asleep again on Kuro’s shoulder during the train ride.

Warm, comfortable, and familiar.

Under normal circumstances, that would completely occupy his mind.

But today Kuro became acutely aware of someone across from him.

Aoi.

Reading quietly, occasionally looking outside at whatever they passed by.

Every time they looked at each other, they would look away too quickly.

But even after several days of being awkward with each other.

The memory of their kiss was very electrifyingly stained in both their minds.

Soft lips. Warm breath. The look of vulnerability when it was over.

Kuro briefly closed his eyes.

"...This is not good."

Mina leaned over immediately from the seat next to him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Seriously, you’ve been staring at Aoi for the past three days."

Kuro felt like he was dying.

"No, I haven’t."

You have done so!"

Akari snuggled up against his shoulder (sleepily).

"Kuro-kun’s too noisy."

"I’m sorry..."

Mina just smiled knowingly.

Back home should have been a return to normalcy.

Same house. Same school life. Same routines.

None of it felt normal anymore, though.

That’s the problem.

Now even the simplest of activities can become very dangerous.

Like Aoi saying, "Welcome back!"

Very dangerous.

Eating dinner together?

Very dangerous.

Having a late-night hallway encounter?

Emotionally life-threatening.

Worst of all Kuro kept randomly remembering "that" kiss.

During class. While reading. Trying to fall asleep.

Every time his chest would tighten painfully.

Because no matter the moment he remembered.

He wanted to experience it again.

Three days after returning from Kyoto, Kuro was alone at home at night (in the living room) quietly reading.

The entire house was silent.

Daichi and Shizuka were already asleep (on the second floor).

Rain was gently falling onto the windows outside.

A very peaceful environment.

Then he heard footsteps coming to him (gently).

Kuro looked up and saw Aoi standing at the entrance of the hallway with a glass of water (wearing oversized pajamas).

Both of them froze for a moment.

Neither of them were "normal" around each other yet.

Not since Kyoto.

"Can’t sleep?" Kuro quietly asked.

Aoi nodded.

"Me either."

An agreeable silence settled between them.

Neither of them felt awkward anymore.

"Maybe it’s a little bit too much."

Aoi walked into the living room with a slow-gaited and relaxed demeanor as he took a seat next to Kuro on the couch.

They were so close to each other that their shoulders almost brushed against each other.

Before he even finished his last thought, Kuro’s heart began beating erratically.

Pathetic.

Very pathetic.

Aoi briefly turned to look at Kuro and the manga book he was reading.

" Are you reading another romantic manga book?"

" For research purposes."

" You are such a liar."

Kuro lets out a small sigh.

" I might have some romantic interest in the book."

Aoi broke a little smile.

Then silence again.

It was raining outside, and the dim lights of the living room made for a peaceful environment.

And in a way being this close to Aoi felt completely natural to Kuro.

Then Aoi suddenly spoke very quietly.

"...Do you regret it?"

That was a direct shot to the heart for Kuro.

Kuro froze completely in his position.

He understood exactly what she was asking.

The kiss.

Kuro and Aoi both tried to stay still.

Aoi looked down at her hands and bit her nails.

"...You don’t have to answer now."

Kuro looked at Aoi and continued to observe her nervousness as she sipped from her glass.

Kuro also noted that there was a tremendous amount of vulnerability hidden behind Aoi’s composed demeanor.

Kuro realizes something very significant.

Aoi is just as scared he was.

Not from the kiss itself, but from the p

ossibility of Kuro rejecting her.

With an effort, Kuro shifted his attention from Aoi to the rain outside.

Kuro’s heart continued to pound in his chest as he answered Aoi truthfully.

" No."

"...that’s what I’ve been trying to figure out all week."

His voice dropped into a whisper.

" I don’t regret it."

Heavy, total silence.

Then slowly, Aoi’s expression softened.

With relief.With warmth.

With something so emotional that it made Kuro’s heart hurt to see.

"I see," she said softly.

And then the atmosphere changed again, instantly.

Just...the two of them felt closer together than they had before.

Another invisible wall between them was gone.

The rain started to fall harder outside.

Aoi gently set the glass back down on the table.

Then very softly –

"Wow, everything has really changed."

Kuro looked back at her.

Aoi smiled. A small, bittersweet smile.

"There’s no way we can pretend we’re just brother-and-sister anymore."

Kuro’s heart began to stumble, painfully.

Because she was absolutely right.

Somewhere along the line, they had crossed a line that neither of them could ever uncross again.

Weirdly enough, Kuro didn’t want to uncross it.

And that was terrifying.

But it also felt warm.

And then suddenly, Aoi leaned just slightly closer to Kuro.

Not far enough to touch him at all.

Just far enough away that he could feel her warmth.

And then she whispered down to him very quietly -

"I’m happy that everything is different now."

Kuro just stared at her.

He stared at Aoi’s lovely soft face, at the girl who had loved him quietly for all these years.

At last, he had come to terms with the fact that he had developed romantic feelings for her when he arrived in Kyoto.

This new awareness brought about a significant shift in their relationship.

She was now alone in the living room quietly.

The rain fell softly outside the window.

She was once again unconsciously caressing her lips.

She gently closed her eyes for a moment.

A gentle and happy smile crept onto her face.

Dangerously in love.

And almost as if making a vow, she whispered quietly, "Next time..."

She tightened her fingers slightly against the couch.

"...I don’t want it to happen by accident."