(aka they are in high school and this is an excuse for me to use all the dumb tropes that I didn't actually use in the novel.... yes, this is going to be ridiculous and extremely unedited)
Enjoy!
Scene 4 Hesitant Kiss
Kathleen felt like she should have anticipated coming to this moment. She shouldn't feel nervous or fearful. She should have guessed weeks or months ago that she would find herself here.
She stood on the roof of the school. The bitter wind if March felt warm compared to the cold of winter. Yuriko leaned against the chain link fence bordering the edge of the roof, staring at her evenly. She had grown her hair out over the winter. So long that even though it was tied back in the ponytail, it hung over one shoulder.
Her blue eyes were clear, staring at Kathleen without judgment. There was just mild curiosity. Her lips held a smile back.
“So,” Yuriko said, “what are you going to give me?”
Kathleen thought back to when this all started. Maybe it was the day she sprained her ankle in Kamakura. The day she practically asked Yuriko to kiss her.
After that all of Kathleen’s free time was devoted to Yuriko and Ai. It was hard to really spend time alone with either one. Even though they had different interests, they still supported one another. If Ai wanted for go shopping for the newest anime merchandise, then Yuriko would go. If Yuriko wanted to go bike riding along the river, Ai would follow.
Often Kathleen wished she could get Yuriko alone. She wanted to talk about what happened in Kamakura. She wanted to talk about a lot of things. However, Ai was always there. No matter how much Kathleen appreciated Ai’s friendship, there were some things she just didn't want to say in front of her.
Or maybe this all started around New Years, when Yuriko and Ai had offered to bring Kathleen to a temple. She had enjoyed the experience, even with the crowds and the cold rain. She had felt refreshed and brave. On the walk back to Yuriko’s and Ai’s house she had the nerve to take Yuriko’s hand.
Yuriko had let her, squeezing gently in response, but Ai had noticed. Kathleen wasn't sure if it was jealousy or just Ai being… well, Ai. However, Ai had reached out and taken Kathleen’s other hand, saying something about sharing.
Kathleen hadn't the courage to take Yuriko's hand again.
Of course, this particular situation had probably started on Valentine’s Day. Kathleen had never really celebrated the holiday since she was in grade school. She barely even noticed it from year to year. She was actually surprised to find that Japan celebrated it.
Both Yuriko and Ai had given her chocolates. Kathleen appreciated it, but otherwise hadn't thought much on it.
So it came as a surprise when, about a month later, Ai cornered Kathleen at her desk.
Kathleen had been working in her notebook, playing around with an idea for a game she wanted to create. She had been playing around with computer programming for a couple months now. She wasn’t very good, but she found it fun.
She wanted to make a dating simulation game. Something better than Girl Pure Love Story or even Love Friend. She wanted the player to do more than just wear the right clothes or say the right things. She wanted the simulation to engage with the player’s real interests. She wasn't sure how they would work yet, but she liked making characters and scenarios to test out.
Ai slammed her hands down on Kathleen’s desk, making her jump. Kathleen looked up to see a wide grin on Ai’s face.
“What are you working on?” Ai asked eagerly.
Before Kathleen could even think to hide the notebook, Ai had already snatched it, scanning it quickly. “It’s just something stupid I’ve been working on.”
Ai looked at her curiously. “Is this a… dating game?”
Kathleen grabbed her notebook back. “Maybe.”
Ai grinned. “You have to let me play it!”
“No.” Kathleen said emphatically.
“Why not?”
“Because it's not done and it’s stupid. Did you come over here to just bother me?” she said quickly.
Ai pouted, but then a mischievous grin overtook her face. “Do you know what day it is?”
Kathleen thought for a second. “March 14th?” she answered cautiously.
Ai stared at her for a second longer. Then her smile faded and her eyes narrowed. “Do you have any idea what that means?”
Kathleen knew it wasn’t Ai and Yuriko's birthday. She glanced to Yuriko's desk, but she was away having a meeting with the teacher.
“Should I know?”
Ai scoffed. “Come on! Yuriko and I even grew up in America and we know what White Day is!”
Kathleen frowned. “You both have a Japanese mother.”
Ai rolled her eyes, but Kathleen could tell she really wasn't that angry. She was practically vibrating on the balls of her feet, eyes sparkling with mischief. “White Day is the follow up to Valentines. On Valentines you are supposed to supposed to give chocolates to the person you love. Then that person on White Day , if they love you back, will give you a present in return.”
Kathleen thought about it for a second. “Wait… are you and Yuriko expecting something from me?”
Ai huffed out a laugh. “Well, I am expecting something. I can never tell with Yuriko what she really wants.”
“But I don't have anything!”
Ai leaned forward, eyes laughing at her. “It doesn't need to be something material. Come on, I know you can think of a suitable gift.”
Kathleen pushed her with one hand. It only made Ai giggle. “You are assuming that I love you.”
Ai just sat back on her desk, pulling up one leg. “Of course you love me. Otherwise you’d never let me copy your algebra homework.”
“Just because I don't want you to fail algebra doesn't mean I love you.”
“You also let me sleep on you on the train.”
“You don't give me much of a choice!”
“And-” Ai continued, suddenly lowering her voice as she leaned forward. “-I know you love Yuriko.” Kathleen felt her voice catch in her throat. “So since we are identical, it means you love me too.”
Kathleen bit her lip, face going hot. She suddenly stood up, making Ai look up at her in surprise. She placed both her hands on Ai’s shoulders, feeling them tense under her.
Then, without really thinking about it, she leaned forward, giving Ai a firm kiss on her temple. She pressed her cheek against Ai’s feeling flushed and just a little annoyed.
“You are not the same as Yuriko. And that's why I love you.”
Then she stepped back, only glancing at Ai’s shocked expression, before walking towards the door.
She heard Ai call behind her. “Where are you going?”
Kathleen stopped at the door, noticing a couple other students were watching her now. “I have to go give Yuriko her present too!”
Ai touched the side of her face, looking more surprised than Kathleen had ever seen. Then she pouted. “Well don't give her more than what you gave me!”
Kathleen snorted and walked from the room, heading towards the teachers office. It didn't take long for Yuriko to appear. It was easy to convince her to come to the roof with Kathleen for a bit of privacy. Kathleen was unwilling to give her classmates another show.
“Ai told you about White Day?” Yuriko guessed after Kathleen’s initial sputtering. Kathleen was still a little overwhelmed by her audacity in the classroom.
Yuriko just leaned against the chain link fence, smirking. “You know, you don't have to give us anything. It’s not your tradition.”
Kathleen just balled her fists. “Well, I want to give you something. Besides, I already gave Ai…. um, something.”
Yuriko raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So what are you going to give me?”
Suddenly Kathleen wasn't so sure. It was one thing, in a fit of frustration, to give Ai a kiss on the cheek. It was another to give a kiss to Yuriko.
Don't give her more than you gave me!
She remembered Ai’s words and suddenly wondered if she was planning on giving Yuriko more.
Kathleen didn't know if she could do it. It wouldn't be the first kiss shared between them, but it wouldn't be like getting bumped in a train. Or a misunderstanding in a silly play. Or a moment of weakness and fear in a dark forest. This would just be Kathleen kissing Yuriko because she wanted to.
She really, really wanted to.
Yuriko was waiting, looking amused and oblivious. Kathleen had no idea how to act. Was she supposed to take Yuriko’s hand? Take her shoulders or face? Yuriko had always cradled Kathleen's head. It had felt nice, like Yuriko had been guiding her. Had Yuriko kissed someone else before? How had it been? Did Kathleen know them? Did Yuriko like kissing them? Would Yuriko rather kiss them than Kathleen?
Yuriko smile was slipping. She was starting to look concerned. It was probably because Kathleen was internally freaking out and wasn’t breathing right.
“Kathleen?”
“I’m going to kiss you! Okay?” Kathleen blurted out, her voice way too high pitched. Her cheeks were burning more than they had down in the classroom. She felt like her entire body was on fire. “S-so tell me if you don't want it!” Her voice sounded too wild.
Yuriko stopped leaning against the fence. She let her arms drop to her sides. “I… I want it,” she said softly. She lowered her eyes, flushing faintly.
Kathleen had no idea how she managed to do it so delicately. She was positive her neck, shoulders, and arms had to be red. She took a step forward. “Okay!” she squeaked. Then she took in a deep breath. “Okay, okay, good.”
The edge of Yuriko's lips curved and she gave a small breathy laugh. “Yeah. Good.”
Kathleen took a step forward, then another. Then she was standing directly in front of Yuriko, so close that if either of them breathed deeply, they would touch. Kathleen wasn't sure either of them were breathing.
Yuriko was taller than her. It was only a couple of inches and most of the time Kathleen didn't notice it. But standing like this, having to look up, Kathleen felt overwhelmed by her. Her hair, her eyes, the way her uniform fluttered in the small breeze, her smell, something floral and fresh. Kathleen saw her necklace again, only the edge of the chain visible. She knew Ai wore one too, but Kathleen had never seen it. She had never been so close to Ai. Never been this aware.
She stared at Yuriko's lips, a little chapped but glossy with chapstick. Kathleen knew they were soft. That they were gentle and sweet and made her heart race in a way that she missed the past few months.
Yuriko was too tall. Yuriko would have to lean down or Kathleen would have to stand on her tip toes.
She decided to put her hands on Yuriko's shoulders to balance. Yuriko's hands flew up to her elbows, keeping Kathleen from swaying into her. Yuriko giggled a little and it reminded Kathleen of Ai, but it wasn't quite the same. Yuriko was deeper, the laughter in her throat and not the top of her head like Ai.
Kathleen smiled back. She liked standing this close to Yuriko when she laughed.
Yuriko suddenly licked her bottom lip and Kathleen remembered why she was here, in this position. She sucked in a shaking breath and leaned forward.
It felt like slow motion. Kathleen could feel every exhale from Yuriko. She felt their noses bump slightly until Kathleen titled her head a little more. Kathleen licked her own lips, so close that she got a taste of Yuriko. Something sweet, like strawberry chapstick, mixed with something salty like sweat. It make Yuriko jerk back a little, but Kathleen was already leaning in.
Kathleen knew what the sensation would feel like, but this time she reveled in the feeling of being in control. She held on to Yuriko's shoulders, keeping her close. She tilted her head a little more, just to feel the slide of lips. Yuriko made a little gasp, the puff of air warm against Kathleen’s lips. She thought maybe she could-
“Hey! I told you not to give her more!”
They broke apart and Kathleen almost felt dizzy. She rocked back on her heels and Yuriko's hands tightened on her elbows to keep her from totally falling over. They both turned to Ai.
She stood in the doorway to the roof, lips in a hard line. Then she suddenly broke into a smile that was almost too wide. She waved one hand. “Hey, you owe me now, Kathleen!”
Kathleen let go of Yuriko and stalked towards Ai. “No I don't!”
Ai laughed. “You can start with letting me copy your book report! Or maybe letting me see that game you've been working on!”
Kathleen froze. Yuriko spoke up behind her. “Game?”
Ai grinned, “It’s a dating game that Kathleen has been writing.”
Kathleen looked between them, feeling shy again. “It’s just something stupid that I've been making.”
Yuriko’s eyes remained on her. “I’d like to see it.”
Ai suddenly ran from the door, wrapping her arms around Kathleen from behind. “Not until I get to play it. After all, Kathleen owes me.”
Yuriko frowned at Ai. “Why does she owe you?”
“No reason!” Kathleen protested. She tried to elbow Ai in the stomach, but she evaded, still clinging to her.
Yuriko was laughing now, bright and loud. Kathleen couldn't help but join in.
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