Work Text:
Ecchan's POV
It's the last school festival of the school year. I walk around the campus as everyone seems to be in chaos of setting up decorations for the occasion. Good thing i already did my fair share of work for my class already or i wouldn't be able to enjoy the weather.
I find a tree near one of the schools storage buildings and i lean on it, looking up at the clear bright blue sky.
"It's the end of the year, huh?" I ask no one in particular and sigh.
A lot has happened this year. Changes. Many, many changes. But the biggest life changing thing to happen was with Hanabi.
Hanabi.
It's been weeks since i last talked or even seen her. At first i avoided her at all cost. It would bring back feelings inside of me. Hurt feelings. Whenever i saw her coming from the opposite end of the hall i'd turn back around. If i heard her voice around the corner, i'd find another way to where i was headed. But after doing that for two weeks i got tired of it and decided i didn't need to do things like that.
But now i never see her. Maybe she's the one avoiding me, but i don't think so. I think she has other things to worry about than someone like me.
I know i can't change what happened between us and i don't regret it. But sometimes i wish things could have ended up differently than how things are now. Maybe i really should have kept my mouth shut about how i felt for her. But... I still love her.
Closing my eyes, i take a deep breath and let it out. A light breeze whips by and i raise my hand to my hair to fix it. I run my hand through my hair. What used to be long and flowing is now short and thin. Feeling the tips, i think back to the day i got it done.
I had sat in a salon chair staring at my own reflection. It's not that i didn't like my hair... I loved my hair. It took years to grow it out. But I needed another change in my life. Something positive. And i thought why not start a new 'me'. And what better way to start a new 'me', other than a change of hair style to start it off? When i looked at the person in the mirror, i knew it was the right choice.
Hanabi. I wonder what she would think of my new hair. I stand, twiddling with my hair and think about it, but I don't dwell on this thought long as i push myself off the tree and begin walking again.
I don't even know where i'm headed to until i spot an all too familiar figure a couple feet away from me.
Hanabi.
I stop and stare at her and the guy she's with. I take in the way she's standing. She's fidgeting. It's hard to tell but i can see it. And she's frowning. She looks uncomfortable. What are they talking about? Walking closer with my bag clutched in my hands, i stop mere feet away from them.
"How have things been between you and Awaya?"
Awaya?
"I haven't seen you two together lately that much..."
Ah. I think i know what's going on. Especially with how his posture is and how he's blushing.
I make my way behind Hanabi, ready to but in.
"If you're interested, maybe you'd like to-"
That's my cue.
I grab Hanabi's shoulder and wrap my arm around her, pulling her close. "Alright, that's enough." I Hold up a pointed finger at the guy and shake it from left to right. "Hanabi is mine." I say looking him straight in the eyes. "Kindly back off."
Hanabi stutters but i feel her relax. I don't need to look at her face to know she's blushing. Before i can let either one of them respond, i grab her hand and pull her away.
She stops me though and turns to say sorry to the guy before we run off again. We make it to our spot. The spot we usually sat at during our lunches together when we did hang out with each other. Ah. I don't remember the last time i was here. I didn't realize how much I've missed it. I smile sadly.
"Ecchan..." I hear her say to me, my back facing her.
"I was only joking back there. No need to worry." I tell her, letting out a small chuckle.
"But why did you do that?"
I'm quiet for a moment before i respond. Why did i do that? "You looked uncomfortable and needed space. Right?" I ask, turning my head.
She merely nods, looking down at her feet. "Ecchan." She whispers this so softly i barely hear it.
I turn to fully face her and smile, but i immediately wipe it off my face in seconds when i see her shoulders shaking. A sob leaves her mouth and i slightly see tears coming out her eyes.
"I didn't think... You'd ever talk to me again." She says, wiping her eyes.
Something pulls at my heart, seeing her like this. "I would never do that." I whisper, resting my hand on her head.
"Ecchan." She whisperes again. "I'm so sorry."
"About what? What's there to be sorry for?" I ask, confused.
After wiping her eyes, she looks up at me and my heart skips a beat. My eyes widen. What is that look on her face? I've never seen her look at me like that before.
"Ecchan. It took so long for me to figure this out. I'm so sorry for hurting you."
Figure out... what?
She moves closer to me with that same look on her face. I begin to sweat. "C-Can you forgive me?"
I retreat back as she moves even closer to me. Every time she take a step forward i take a step back. I can hear my heart beating in my ears now. That look on her face... It... It can't be.
"I'm not gonna run away from you this time. And i'm not letting you get away either."
With one last step back, i hit the brick wall and freeze. My eyes widen when i feel plump lips on mine.
Hanabi pushes forward against me, eyes closed. I'm frozen and i don't know how to process what's happening. Hanabi. She's kissing me. And crying. And holding onto to me so tightly. What's going on?
My mind is in a jumble and i can't concentrate on my thoughts. But this feeling... With Hanabi, i can't resist it. I close my eyes and push back against her lips. We kiss. Once. Twice. Another.
I feel wetness leak out from my closed eyes. My breathing hitches in my throat. We kiss for what seems like hours, but i stop and pull away, a trail of saliva connecting us before disappearing.
We're both breathing hard now and tears are both cascading down our faces.
"Hanabi?" I whisper in confusion. I'm in a daze. She is the only thing in my sights.
"I love you, Ecchan. I love you."
Are my ears deceiving me? She loves me?
"You... Love me?"
"I love you." She repeats, face red from blushing.
I can't believe it. Is she really speaking the truth?
"As...?" I ask nervously.
"As... More than a friend."
"You love me." I breath out, shocked. "You love me as more than a friend."
She nods.
I stare at her eyes, seeing to make sure there was no uncertainty there and all i see is love and confidence. Pure love. No doubt.
My eyes begin to water again. I choke back a sob. "Hanabi. I love you too." I say trying to smile and pulling her into me. She wraps her arms around my neck and i wrap mine around her waist. We clutch onto each other, wrinkling each other uniforms. I cry into her shoulder as she does the same to me.
We stand there holding each other tightly for minutes. Our sobs soon die down and all we hear are our breathing and beating hearts. I feel Hanabi massage the back of my neck and i sigh.
"You cut your hair." She says. I nod, letting out a hum.
She pulls away and smiles up at me. "It suits you."