Chapter 6: Chapter 6 - Accidental Chest Contact Isn’t Accidental

Kuro Kurogane despised school events with every fiber of his being, as they were loud, frenetic, full of human activity, and quite the opposite of how he liked to spend his free time.

At the moment, Kuro was standing inside the gym carrying volleyball nets, and he found himself questioning exactly how he ended up in this position, as he was not a sports player or school athlete, nor did he have any desire to play sports.

"Kuro, hurry up!" the PE teacher shouted while clapping his hands.

"The equipment needs to be ready for practice this afternoon!"

Internally, Kuro sighed, as simply existing as a person and being physically able to help out was all he needed to be deemed a manual laborer. Tragedy!

On the opposite end of the physical spectrum, Akari looked to be full of life, joy, and excitement as she ran around talking about sports day.

Kuro couldn’t understand why anyone would enjoy physically exerting themselves and sweating on sports days.

"Kuro-kun~!" Akari suddenly twirled backwards and leaned against him while he was trying to focus on carrying volleyball nets.

"You look like you are at a funeral!" she exclaimed.

"Actually, I am," Kuro replied matter-of-factly.

"You are so gloomy!" Akari exclaimed, her face lighting up with that signature smile.

"Of course, but yet you still are going to continue to follow me," Kuro said.

"Of course I am! Someone has to take care of you!" Akari responded, with enthusiasm.

Kuro looked away from Akari. That smile of hers was dangerous. Not because it was a flirty smile or anything else; it was simply too easy to see how naturally she could invade his personal space as easily as she breathes.

Meanwhile, Aoi was near the entrance of the gym reading a book while "helping." Very sketchy. Very sketchy.

After just a couple minutes, disaster struck.

"Kuro! Akari!"

Teacher pointed towards storage.

"Go get extra basketballs."

Akari dramatically saluted.

"Yes Sir!"

Kuro thought about running out the window.

But Akari already grabbed his sleeve and dragged him.

Gym storage room is in rear hallway. Old, dim, musty.

Akari walked into storage room first.

"Whoa creepy."

"You’re scared of storage room but not horror movies?"

"Horror movies have background music."

"That makes no sense at all."

Shelves had many sports supplies.

Basketballs, mats, cones, and many items no one uses anymore.

Kuro bent down to pick up a box from lower shelf.

At same time—Akari grabbed at something above him.

As she slipped a little.

"Wah—" THUD.

Kuro was just able to catch her before she fell.

Unfortunately...

This caused another problem.A very soft problem.

Kuro’s hand accidentally pressed directly against Akari’s chest.

Silence. A Complete silence.

Kuro’s brain stopped working instantly.

And Akari froze.

They both just froze for one second.

"Uh—"

"Kuro-kun...," she spoke so softly.

Kuro jumped back like he’d touched lava.

"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"

"I didn’t say anything."

"You were about to!"

Akari moved her gaze from her body back to Kuro.

The corners of her mouth turned up mischievously.Danger.

"Kuro-kun..."

"...What."

"Kuro-kun, your face is red."

"It’s really hot in here."

"We are in a storage closet."

"Right."

"That doesn’t make any sense."

He immediately turned his back to her.

Meanwhile, Akari stepped closer to him. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Too close.

"So...," she poked at his chest.

"How did it feel?"

Kuro almost died.

"I’m not telling you."

"What a coward!"

"Everyone is a normal human."

She giggled softly.

Then the door slammed behind them.

Both froze.

Kuro rushed to the door and grabbed the doorknob; it was locked.

"Are you kidding me?"

Akari looked confused. "Did someone lock us in?"

"Most likely."

He knocked hard on the door — nothing.

Fabulous.Just fabulous.

He was now trapped alone in a dark storage room with his psychotic stepsister.

The romcom gods truly hated him.

As time wore on, the sounds died down from the gym.

Akari was still sitting on a folded mat watching him.

"Uh...Kuro-Kun."

"Ehh, what?"

"You aren’t looking me in the eyes."

"I’m just trying to survive."

"Still thinking about earlier?"

"Nope!"

"You’re lying."

Kuro took a deep breath.

The room they were in was much too small for comfort, but there wasn’t much room to move/escape.

Until, all of a sudden, the lights went out.

Akari grabbed a hold of his sleeve immediately.

"Okay maybe this CAN be scary."

"You said ghosts were fake."

"They’re real when there is no light."

A loud rumble could be heard in the distance.Good timing.

Kuro sank down against the shelf behind him.

"This day has been horrible."

Akari softly chuckled.

After a second...she looked at him differently.

Her expression was softer.More serious.

"...Kuro-Kun."

"...Huh?"

"Do you hate us?"

"Hate whom?"

"Living with the three of us."

All of the teasing left her voice.

This surprised Kuro.

Akari’s head dropped slightly.

"At first I thought living with you would be fun."

She smiled a small smile.

"Now I just...always wonder if I’m bothering you."

Kuro raised his brows.

That was not something that Akari normally would have said.

She normally giggled at his expense.

Made teasing comments to annoy him.

Clung to him excessively.

She sounded so emotionally vulnerable at that moment.

"I know we’re loud."

"Also, Aoi is kind of strange."

"She’s REALLY weird."

"Plus, I probably annoy you way too much."

"Oh yeah, a ton."

Akari puffed her cheeks.

"You’re mean."

"But..."

Kuro paused.

"I don’t hate the house."

Akari looked up at him slowly.

Kuro scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"The house was empty."

Emotional things hurt him emotionally.

"But now it’s more lively."

"That sounds negative," Akari said.

"Not bad, though," Kuro said. He paused for a moment before continuing.

"Didn’t you say quietness is better?"

Akari stared at him for several seconds before finally smiling again.

The smile was different from the usual teasing smile; it was smaller and warmer.

"Kuro-kun," she said softly.

She moved closer so that he could really see how beautiful her eyes were.

This was a very dangerous thing to notice.

With that they continued in silence but it was now in danger of ending when Akari leaned in.

"Kuro-kun."

Kuro felt his heart beating faster as they got closer together.

It was way too close now.

Then...

The storage room door opened very suddenly.

The light came spilling inside.Aoi entered the room.No words were spoken.Aoi did not seem pleased with what she saw.

Akari backed away from Kuro, almost falling over herself.

"Kya!" exclaimed Akari.

Kuro bumped his back against the shelf.

Aoi glanced back and forth between Kuro and Akari, then looked at how close they were.

There was complete silence as Aoi smiled.

It was far too calm and collected.

It was a danger to Kuro at this time.

"Kuro-kun, you’re taking too long."

Kuro nearly jumped back at her sudden movement.

"N-nothing happened!" he said.

Akari turned crimson.

"....Yeah, no worries!"

Aoi still continued to smile at Akari and made it even worse.

"Okay..."

...Aoi never ’saw’... however, while Aoi was looking at Akari’s breast (wow) she noticed something on Akari’s shirt.

Namely: the area of her shirt that was a little wrinkly, near her breast.

So there’s was complete silence in the room.

Kuro about died; he thought his soul was leaving his body at this point when Aoi was staring at him; she was doing it kind of calmly.

"...Kuro..."

"...Yeah?"

"You should totally explain."

"I CAN TELL YOU HOW I ACCIDENTALLY DID ."

At which point Akari immediately covered her face with her hands.

"AHHHHH, STOP SAYING THAT OUT LOUD!"

...And in an effort to silence Akari, Aoi quietly shut the door to the room behind her. Click.

So Kuro is sitting there in shock.

"...Why did you shut the door....".