Chapter Text
Falling for your best friend is always a dangerous game to play. Like playing a game of cards where you’re betting your whole heart. One wrong move and you risk losing everything, the laughter, the late night talks, the comfort of knowing they’ll always be there.
But right now? Amane Yugi was convinced his feelings for Nene Yashiro might actually kill him.
The donuts looked harmless enough when she’d handed them over, but the longer he stared, the more suspicious they became… the strange discoloration, the overcooked edges. He should’ve known better than to trust anything Yashiro baked.
Amane instantly regretted his decision to take such a large bite, up to the point where he was struggling to swallow. It tasted like she had mixed up sugar and salt somewhere in the recipe. He also could have sworn she may have accidentally added some red pepper too, which would explain why they were so spicy. He pressed a hand to his chest as the donut burned its way down. His insides felt like they were on fire, and by the time the donut did hit his stomach, he was half convinced his day would end with an ambulance ride.
“So…” Yashiro looked up at him, crimson eyes wide with hope. “What do you think?”
Her smile nearly undid him. She always looked like she belonged in a fairy tale, sweet, bright, like the kind of girl birds might flock to if she could actually carry a tune. Unfortunately, Amane’s fairy tale princess had just handed him a poisoned apple.
There was no way he could tell her the truth. He forced a smile, choking back the confusing flavors. “I… I think these might be your best yet, Yashiro-san.”
It wasn’t completely far from the truth. Baking was Yashiro’s latest obsession, and he’d been a guinea pig for her creations all week. This batch of donuts were at least an improvement on the ones she had made earlier that same week. He almost chipped a tooth on those.
“Really?” She beamed, glancing at a few others in his class. Their faces ranged from pale horror to barely concealed gagging. Mitsuba, in particular, looked like he was plotting his will. It was bad enough she’d nearly poisoned Amane, but did she have to take half of his classmates out too? He wasn’t sure if he’d make it to the end of the day, let alone club meetings.
“What do you guys think?” She asked. “Do you like them?”
Amane didn’t want Yashiro to notice their disgust, and his smile, made mostly for Yashiro, immediately transformed into a dark glare as he warned the others to not say anything negative.
When they saw the look in Amane’s eyes, they all started nodding and giving small satisfied groans.
“These are great Yashiro-Senpai…”
“... Never had anything so good.”
They were laying it on a bit thick, but Amane didn’t stop them. Not when he saw how happy it made her. She was practically skipping on the spot.
Mitsuba, chewing reluctantly beside him, suddenly tugged a bit of foil from his mouth. His horrified gaze met Amane’s, who raised a brow until Mitsuba got the hint. Quickly hiding the evidence, Mitsuba coughed.
“Daikon-senpai… I really like the extra kick—ow!” Amane’s elbow jabbed his ribs.
“I-Is that cinnamon?”
“It is!” Yashiro gushed as she spun to face him. “Oh, I’m so glad you all like them! I’ll have to bring some more for your class next week!”
Amane was about to tell her that wasn’t necessary, but his younger brother, Tsukasa, chimed in, “That’d be great, Nene-chan!” His words were barely decipherable as he was speaking with his mouth full.
The funny thing about that was, Amane was pretty sure he wasn’t lying. Tsukasa was quite happy demolishing the donut, and before he had even finished, he started gesturing to Yashiro to hand him the box holding the rest. Tsukasa was a bit of a garbage disposal when it came to food, being on the football team and all. He didn’t seem to have any standards for what he put in his mouth. He didn’t really have standards for what came out of it either. Tsukasa was the kind of person who released pretty much every thought that popped into his head. In that regard, him and Amane couldn’t have been more different.
“Okay, well, I better run before our next class starts.” Yashiro said. She gave everyone a wave, her pigtails bouncing as she made her way to leave. Suddenly, she stopped next to the younger twin. “Make sure you share, Tsukasa-kun!”
Tsukasa was too busy digging into another donut to respond, but Amane could feel half the class flinch at the mere thought of going for seconds. Amane guided Yashiro over to the classroom doors before she could notice.
Once the two of them were out in the hallway, she paused and turned to him. “They weren’t that good, were they…”
Amane tightened the rope he always walked to keep her smiling. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll never pass up a donut, I loved them.” Technically, that was true. He loved everything about Yashiro, even her barely edible donuts. Apparently love wasn’t just blind, it also had no sense of taste.
Yashiro laughed, shaking her head. “I know you’re just saying that to be nice. But don’t worry, the next batch will be better. I’ve got to get this baking thing nailed if I want to check it off my list.”
Amane murmured some sounds of agreement. There was a strong chance he wouldn’t survive the next batch, but he didn’t want to discourage her when it came to her bucket list. She’d started working on it during winter break, while her parents were pressuring her to figure out what she wanted to do with her life.
At first, the list was full of things Yashiro thought she might be able to make into a career someday. She was on the cheer team, so she wasn’t really sure how that could be turned into a profession. But now, this list seemed to have a much broader focus. There was definitely stuff on her list that could never lead to a paying job. Though Amane wasn’t completely sure what she had actually included in this list, seeing she had never shown him everything written on it.
She always kept the pink piece of paper stuffed in her school diary and was very secretive about it, even with Amane. It was strange, considering she involved Amane in practically everything she tried anyway. He was constantly being dragged from one activity to another. One week she tried sewing, insisting she’d fix every button on his school uniform and sweaters, the next she was painting portraits. Amane would argue they were… subjective . The Kid’s came out the most accurate in his opinion. And now she was baking. Who knew what was coming next.
“Once the donuts are perfected, maybe I’ll try baking something bigger, like a cake!” Yashiro said, her eyes lighting up. “I know you like the plain stuff. I read about this thing called a naked cake , you don’t cover it with frosting, so everything’s just… bare.” Amane froze. His mind immediately went somewhere it shouldn’t. Why did she have to word it like that? “Or maybe angel cake?” She continued. “Something different…”
Her eyes were glittering with excitement, and it drew a smile to his lips. He loved the way her face lit up when she was passionate about something. Whenever she tried something new, she always gave it her all. And while nothing she had attempted so far had stuck, Amane had no doubt it was only a matter of time before she found the one thing she loved.
Yashiro tiled her head as though she was waiting for him to respond. She’d finished speaking, and apparently he’d been so lost in his thoughts about her he was now staring in silence like a complete idiot. Amane couldn’t help it that every time she looked at him time seemed to slow, and he was briefly transported to an alternate universe, one where his deep and secret feelings for his best friend weren’t completely one sided.
“Sorry?” He asked, jerking himself back to reality.
She laughed softly. “Naked or angel cake? I know it’s a hard decision, but you’re looking at me like you’ve forgotten what baking is.”
“I know I might have lost a few brain cells from all the brain power that goes into robotics, but I’m not a lost cause just yet.”
“Not a lost cause. Maybe just a little lost in your own head,” She teased with a grin. “But… which one sounds better?”
Amane fumbled, eyes darting anywhere but at her. “Uh… a-angel cake. Definitely. Let’s just… stick with that.” He wasn’t about to risk another visualization in his head from hearing her say naked again.
“Good choice.” Yashiro nodded, but then her expression started to turn sour. “Although, I may not get a chance to bake again for a while. My mom has not gotten off of me about my college applications. She might chain me to my desk until I finish them.”
She scrunched up her nose at the thought, and Amane felt a pang tighten in his chest. It was rare to see Yashiro without that bright smile and the sparkle that always lit up her eyes. When it did fade, though, it was usually tied to one of two things, her ankles, or her ideas for college. It seemed like her mother only wanted to talk about college applications with her these days. And from the way Yashiro shifted whenever the topic came up, Amane could tell it was a sore spot.
“You’re just lucky you know what you want to do with your life.” She muttered. “I can’t even figure out what my hobbies are, let alone what universities I want to apply to, or what career aspirations I have.”
Amane certainly felt lucky to know he’d wanted to major in computer science since he was in middle school. Although a year younger than Yashiro, he already had the universities he planned to apply to in mind.
“Well you like cheerleading right?” He asked. “I don’t know, you could be a dancer.”
“That doesn’t seem very practical.” She sighed. “I also know how my mom would feel about me going to college for a starving profession.”
“Maybe you could tell your mom you want to be a baker.” He suggested, holding back a laugh.
“Maybe.” Yashiro laughed. “Do you think she’ll be convinced after trying one of my donuts?”
“Sure.” His stomach took that moment to groan loudly, reminding him that lying through his teeth didn’t always align with what the universe wanted. “Uh… I should probably get back into class.”
“Oh– Yeah. You’re right, I’m sorry!” She said, before she reached up to give him a quick hug. It was something she’d done over a thousand times over the years, but it never stopped Amane’s heart from racing and his ears to grow hot.
“I’ll see you later, okay?” Her arms fell and he immediately missed their warmth. The corners of her mouth lifted as she started to back away. “Oh, and awesome job yesterday in your robotics club, Akane-san said you’re nearly finished with your project, it’s rare he’d give you a compliment. So it has to be good!”
Amane scoffed under his breath. “I don’t know if I should be concerned that he complimented me.” He said. “Sometimes it seems like he tolerates me at best.” She couldn’t help but laugh, knowing he wasn’t completely wrong.
“Bye Amane-kun!” She called back over her shoulder.
Amane waited until Yashiro disappeared around the corner before slipping back into his classroom. The odd twist in his stomach lingered, but even so, it was hard not to feel lighter after talking to her. That lightness vanished the moment he slid the door open.
“Is Amane-kun’s girlfriend trying to kill us?” Mitsuba groaned.
It wasn’t the first time someone had called Yashiro his girlfriend. The two of them spent so much time together, he could understand people making that assumption. However, most of his friends and classmates knew just as well as he did that they’d only ever been just friends.
“Shh.. Mitsuba.” Kou said, eyeing the pink haired boy. “They’re right outside!”
Amane cleared his throat, loud enough to cut through Mitsuba’s snickering. The sound made Mitsuba stiffen slightly, though he tried to play it off with a crooked smile.
“W-What? Don’t look at me like that,” Mitsuba muttered, lowering his voice. “It’s not like I said anything untrue. You’re always hanging around her, so… people talk.”
Amane’s eyes narrowed, and that tiny shift was enough to make the pink haired boy fidget. Mitsuba didn’t need to remind him. Amane was well aware of how fast rumors spread in this school. One whisper turned into five, and before long, the whole school had decided he was the quiet kid with a “glaring problem.”
“She’s my friend, ” Amane said. There was no need to say anything else as Amane took a seat at his desk. He hated unwanted attention— it made him nervous— so he didn’t need more rumors spreading about him.
Kou turned around in his seat. “So… Senpai’s cooking.” He said. “What’s the special occasion?”
“She’s baking at the moment.” Amane said quietly. “You know how she likes to try everything.”
“Ahhh.. her list!” Kou nodded knowingly. He was one of the few people who knew about it. “I know she tried her best, but I think I liked it a bit more when she was trying to learn violin.”
Amane shrugged at the memory. She’d made sounds he didn’t think were possible, and he was sure she’d hit notes that only dogs could hear. Amane’s ears were still ringing.
“At least loud noises can’t kill you.” Kou added.
“Maybe your stomach needs to harden up kid.” It was damn near nonexistent to hear the kid insult anything Yashiro did. But Kou was a great cook, and apparently his stomach lining was where he was drawing a line. He quickly softened his words with a small grin.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’d eat anything Senpai makes. Just… maybe not all at once.” Amane just looked at him, causing Kou to sigh. “Seriously Amane, are you ever going to make a move on her?” The kid was really feeling brave today apparently.
“Like I just said, we’re friends.” Amane replied.
“Yeah, but can’t you change that?” Kou glanced over at Mitsuba, who gave a small shrug of agreement. He obviously thought the same since apparently refers to her as his girlfriend behind his back. “Don’t you want to be more?” He added.
What Amane wanted was for this conversation to end. He could hardly admit how he felt about Yashiro to himself, let alone to anyone else. Those feelings had to stay buried, locked down so tightly he could almost believe they didn’t exist. Almost . He’d been practicing since the first time she’d smiled at him in grade school.
Yashiro was the first person to ever see him as more than just “one of the twins.” Because of that, she’d carved out a place in him he could never quite put into words. The trouble was, the harder he tried to bury those feelings, the more they clawed their way back to the surface every time she laughed, every time she looked at him like he actually mattered.
By the time Amane realized the depth of what he felt, he was already too deep in the friend zone to climb out. And even if, by some miracle, Yashiro ever started seeing him differently, he knew he didn’t deserve her. She was sunlight, warm and radiant, and what right did someone like him have to drag clouds across her sky?
“I… I don’t want anything to change.” Amane muttered. “I like things how they are now.”
“Alright.” Kou said simply. “Whatever you say.” He had hoped that would be the end of the conversation, but Mitsuba had decided to speak up.
“Yeah, until Daikon Senpai goes off to university and leaves you behind.” Amane shot him a glare. Even if he was right, he didn’t have to say it out loud. Yashiro was a third year, with him being one year behind, it only made sense she’d be starting university before him.
He tuned out after that, catching only fragments of the kid rambling about someone new joining the football team. Even once class began, Amane’s thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Everything could change at the end of this school year, depending on where Yashiro chose to go. He hated the thought of it, hated the uncertainty of a future without her in it. Still, that didn’t mean he was going to risk everything with some reckless confession. She was the one person he wanted in his life forever, and if friendship was all she could give him, then he’d take it. It would have to be enough.
The school day had finally come to an end, cheer practice wrapping up at last. After freshening up in the locker room, Nene stepped outside, the cool evening breeze brushing against her face. Out on the field, her teammates were still gathering cones and pom-poms, their laughter echoing across the empty stretch of grass. She tugged her pigtails into place, slung her bag over her shoulder, and started toward the exit.
The sun was dipping low, casting long shadows across the football field. Near the fence, she spotted Tsukasa with Satou. When Tsukasa saw her in the distance he lit up, making his way over to her.
“Nene-chan!” She smiled as he approached her. The moment he was close, he clasped her shoulders, practically bouncing in place. “Hey, you won’t believe what happened during football practice today!”
“Oh?” Nene raised an eyebrow, curious.
“I kicked the ball way too hard… totally meant to aim for the goal,” He said, flailing his arms for emphasis. “But… um… I might’ve almost knocked Kou-kun out.”
Nene gasped. “Was he okay!?”
He tilted his head, grinning innocently. “Oh yeah! I mean he got up, that’s fine right?”
She frowned. “I suppose… but–”
“Hey I wanted to ask if you had any more of your spicy donuts.” He interupted. “Can’t say I’ve ever had one with that flavor before, I liked them!”
“S-Spicy?” Nene blinked. They weren’t supposed to be… spicy. She dug through her bag, pulling out a small pastry bag with a couple left. S he had gotten them out to give to Tsukasa, but paused. She’d been so excited about giving them away, she’d forgotten to try one herself. When she took one out of the bag, she brought it to her mouth, taking a bite.
Instant regret.
Her taste buds recoiled in horror. Her eyes watered as a strange spicy aftertaste burned its way down her throat.
“I–” She coughed. “T-They weren’t supposed to be spicy Tsukasa-kun!”
“They weren’t?” Tsukasa tilted his head.
“No!”
“So you don’t want them?” He was already holding his hands out expectantly.
Groaning, Nene shoved the bag at him. He took them with obvious delight.
“I just don’t understand.” She muttered. “I gave a few of them out in your class and they seemed to like them? Were they lying?”
Tsukasa chewed thoughtfully, a sly smile creeping across his face. “Or… maybe someone just likes seeing you happy! And what better way to make Nene-chan happy than to get everyone to compliment her delicious spicy donuts?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Are you implying someone made your class eat them?”
“I’m not not implying!” He said. “Like I said, Amane really likes to make you happy–” He froze mid sentence. “Oops.”
Nene’s head snapped up. “So it was Amane!? But that makes no sense!” Amane, of all people, forcing his class to eat disastrous pastries? Tsukasa’s voice kept going, but it was already drowned out by the whirlwind of her own imagination.
She pictured Amane standing at the front of the classroom, donut in hand, his golden eyes gleaming. “Alright, everyone! We’re all eating these! And we’re all smiling! Nobody breathes a word to Yashiro-san about how they actually taste! Do you understand me?!”
A sea of terrified classmates nodding in unison. One brave soul whispering, “But Yugi-kun, they’re… spicy?” Only to be silenced with a glare.
In her mind’s eye, it was less a class and more a donut cult. Amane their smug, tyrannical leader forcing his followers to choke down her “experimental” pastries like offerings to some terrible god.
Nene blinked hard, shaking the ridiculous image of Amane the donut tyrant out of her head. He was far too shy to pull something like that off, though admittedly, the idea was kind of funny. Her attention snapped back when she realized Tsukasa was still talking beside her.
“...and I also think it might be that face he makes when you’re not around. It’s hilarious, Nene-chan! He gets so gloomy without you.”
She frowned. “He’s no different around me than anyone else.”
“Suuure.” He grinned knowingly. “We’ll just pretend that’s true.”
Nene pursed her lips. Sure, Amane sulked sometimes, and yes, he was quiet with people he didn’t know. But gloomy ? That felt like a stretch.
“I think you might be the only person he can actually tolerate, well, besides me, but I’m his twin, so he doesn’t get a choice!” Tsukasa continued, eyes glittering mischievously. “I swear, Nene-chan, if you don’t marry him, he’s going to end up old and alone!”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You’re right,” Tsukasa said with a nod. “He already acts like an old man sometimes, complaining about everything, muttering under his breath, moving slow… I swear, next thing you know, he’ll be tinkering with some weird robot just to marry it.”
Nene blinked. “A robot? Really?”
He shrugged with a grin. “Hey, wouldn’t surprise me. He’s always so precise and careful with things, like he’s building some perfect little machine in his head. But seriously, Nene-chan, when are you going to put him out of his misery and date him already?”
Nene groaned, shaking her head. “Please don’t say that. You know we’re just friends! He’s not even my type!”
Tsukasa wagged his finger, sing-songing, “You sure about thaaaaat~?”
Nene hated when people asked her that question. It always made the heat go straight to her face, but not for the reason everyone thought. Sure, Amane had his charm, and yes, his eyes were… annoyingly pretty. But that was something she refused to even consider. They’d been friends for so long, he’d become the most important person in her life. So much more than just some passing high school relationship. She didn’t want that to change.
Besides, Nene was certain he had never even thought of her that way. Amane was hard to read, but this she was sure of. He had never made a move, never even given her the faintest hint of interest. Just last summer Amane had taken one look at her in her swim suit and refused to look at her the rest of the day. Insisting she wear her cover up every chance he got. Whatever his “type” was, it clearly wasn’t her.
“Yes. I’m sure. Just friends.” She said. Tsukasa, however, wasn’t listening anymore. His gaze had flicked past her shoulder. Nene didn’t even have any time to react as Tsukasa quickly grabbed a pink piece of paper that was sticking out of her bag from when she took the donuts out.
“Tsukasa-kun!” Nene lunged, reaching for it.
“Well, well, well…” He drawled, holding it just out of reach as she chased after him. “What do we have here?”
“Give it back, Tsukasa-kun!” Nene pleaded, jumping to snatch the paper from his hand. He wasn’t listening. His eyes flicked eagerly across the page, grin widening the more he read. When she finally got close enough to grab it, he simply lifted it high above her reach, keeping his gaze glued to the words. This was a nightmare. Out of all the people , he was the last person she wanted to see that list.
“What’s this?” He teased, glancing down at her with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“N-Nothing!” She stuttered, finally managing to yank the paper back into her hands.
“You seem very upset over ‘nothing,’ Nene-chan,” He said.
“Well, it’s private!”
His grin widened. “Not anymoooore~! ”
Perhaps Amane was right… Tsukasa really was the worst.
“Looked like some kind of list to me…” He prodded.
“Yup!” She forced the stiffest smile she could manage. “M-My grocery list!”
“Oh then if that’s the case Nene-chan you should have just said so!” He beamed. “Did you put red pepper on there, I’m sure if it’s just groceries you’ll let me see it again.”
Nene groaned. “You’re really not gonna leave this alone, huh?” Tsukasa just smiled. Nene continued. “Even if I ask nicely?”
“ Especially if you ask nicely!” He teased.
Nene released a sigh.”Fine… it is a list. I made a bucket list for my last year of high school…” Tsukasa titled his head, confused. “You know, all the things I want to do before I graduate.”
His head tilted. “I get that. What I don’t get are things like…” He plucked the paper from her hands again, ignoring her protests as he scanned it. “…‘Sewing’? ‘Ballroom dancing’?”
Nene’s cheeks warmed. She really didn’t want to explain that the list had started as a desperate attempt to prove, to her parents, and to herself, that there were more options for her than just a bland office job. Somewhere along the line, the list had expanded to include all sorts of things she felt she needed to try before high school came to an end. Nene decided to give Tsukasa the short version of the story.
“Because I’ve never done those things before, and I wanted to try them.” She said. “And sewing has been ticked off the list already. I fixed the button on your uniform, remember?”
“Oh yeah!” He said. “I was wondering why Amane stole that uniform from me!” Before Nene could ask what he meant, Tsukasa darted back and started reading again, ignoring her frantic attempts to grab it.
“Is that why you made those donuts Nene-chan?”
“Yes.” She said. “And I also had–”
“Oh! What’s this one?” His voice slowed as his eyes landed further down the page. He looked up at her, grin stretching ear to ear. “‘My first kiss’?”
Oh no… He’d found the last thing she had written, one that remained very much unchecked. Her face turned red. She had forgotten it was even there. Probably because she had given up the hope of ever completing that one. “Please just forget you read that…” She muttered.
“Nene-chan, how the hell have you never kissed anyone!?”
Nene wanted to disappear, crawl under a rock, hide in the bushes, be anywhere but here. Unfortunately, the wicked gleam in Tsukasa’s eyes told her this was ammunition he’d use against her for the rest of her life.
“I don’t know…” She muttered, heat rushing to her cheeks. “I just… haven’t gotten around to it.”
“You make it sound like homework.” Tsukasa laughed, shaking his head. “Does Amane know about your virgin lips ?”
“Oh my god!” Nene buried her head in her hands, her face melting.
“ Does he, Nene-chan?” He leaned in, totally unfazed over the fact that Nene was shriveling into a corpse in front of him.
“No!” She snapped, muffled by her palms. “I don’t see how this is any of Amane-kun’s business.”
“Because everything about you is Amane’s business!”
“Whatever.” She finally dropped her hands with an exhausted sigh. “Just—please don’t tell him. Or anyone. Ever .”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that.” Tsukasa’s grin widened. “I’m well aware of how fast rumors spread at this school. My lips are sealed! …Though you really do need to fix that situation. How else are you gonna know what kisses taste like?” He dramatically pointed at her lips. “You can’t graduate high school without being smooched!”
“Yeah, I realize that,” She deadpanned. “Which is why it’s on that list.” Tsukasa looked at the piece of paper still clutched in his hands.
“Sooo…” He drew out the word, grinning. “How do we fix this?”
“We don’t do anything ,” Nene said quickly. “I don’t need your help, Tsukasa-kun.”
He ignored her, lifting the list in front of her face and tapping the final unchecked item with his finger. “Clearly you do, Nene-chan! Otherwise, this would’ve been crossed off a long time ago!”
“It’s not as easy as you’re making it sound!” She protested.
“It should be.” Tsukasa said. “You’re a cheerleader, you’re cute— don’t tell Amane I said that though— Just pick a guy and smack him with your lips!”
Nene thought that perhaps Tsukasa was just trying to be nice. In his own chaotic, Tsukasa kind of way. But it was only making her humiliation worse. “You think I haven’t tried that? The amount of times I’ve been rejected from my ankles alone is ridiculous! I also can’t flirt for the life of me… It scares them off…”
“Really?” Tsukasa’s mouth turned into an ‘o’ as his eyes darted down to her legs. Suddenly Nene felt very self conscious. Tsukasa’s face turned sly, like he was thinking of something. “You should ask Amane to help you!” He offered.
Nene blinked. “…Help me? You mean… help me get someone to kiss me?”
Tsukasa tilted his head, confused for a second, then his grin stretched even wider. “Ohhh, sure, that’s totally what I meant.”
Her shoulders relaxed a little. “Well… I guess he is pretty good at giving advice… sometimes .” She pressed her fingers together nervously. “Maybe he could… I don’t know… tell me what guys actually like, or something.”
Tsukasa covered his mouth, but the snicker still escaped. “Yeah, yeah! That’d be perfect. He could give you lots of tips. He could let you practice flirting on him, what to say, the right little looks to give… oh, and definitely how to get closer without scaring the guy away with your radish legs!”
That last part really wasn’t necessary.
“You think so? I didn’t think Amane was… experienced in that stuff?” Now that she thought about it, it was pretty rare to ever see Amane interacting with a girl minus herself.
Tsukasa laughed brightly. “Experienced? No way . He gets all stiff just making eye contact with girls.”
Nene blinked. “…That doesn’t exactly sound helpful.”
“Sure it does!” Tsukasa insisted, pointing at her. “If you’re trying to learn how to flirt to get a kiss, isn’t it better to practice on someone who’s just as bad at it as you are? You’ll both be awkward together!”
She quickly shook the thought away. “B-but he wouldn’t actually be honest if I’m good at it or not! He’d just… pretend I was doing fine so I wouldn’t feel bad.”
Tsukasa tilted his head. “What makes you say that?”
“Because he’s already done it before!” Nene blurted, throwing her hands up. “He lied to my face about my donuts! Said they were ‘good,’”
Tsukasa only grinned wider. “Well, I loved them! Dangerous food is the most exciting kind. Keeps you on your toes.”
Nene groaned. “You’re impossible…”
“Anyway,” Tsukasa went on, rocking back on his heels, “That just proves my point. Amane didn’t lie to trick you, he just wanted you to feel good. If you asked him to help you get a boyfriend, he’d do it in a heartbeat.”
Nene blinked at him. “He would?”
“Of course!” Tsukasa said brightly. “He’s a total pushover when it comes to you. He’d give you advice, listen to your problems, probably even help you through it. You’d just have to ask.”
Her stomach fluttered uncomfortably. “…That sounds… weird . Asking him something like that.”
Tsukasa leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Weird, maybe. But he’d still say yes. Cause he’s weird like that.”
It wasn’t a… terrible idea. Maybe not everything Tsukasa said, she didn’t know how she felt practice flirting with Amane. But she could at least ask him if he’d be willing to help her find someone to kiss. Sure Nene gushed about guys with Amane around, but the more she thought about it. The two never really talked about things like relationships and kissing. Maybe it was a stupid idea, but if he was willing? What would be the harm?
“Where is he?” Nene asked.
“Probably in his club room. He likes to stay late.”
She didn’t waste another second. Slinging her bag tighter over her shoulder, she started marching back toward the school, determination lighting her steps. She still needed to cuss him out for lying about the donuts.
“You are such a jerk, Amane-kun!”
Amane was hiding in the radio control studio in his club room when Nene arrived.
“Hello to you too.”
The space was small, barely big enough for two desks and a pair of folding chairs. Shelves lined one wall, crammed with tangled wires, tools, and remote control parts stacked in messy piles. There was a buzzing of some forgotten machine in the background.
No one else was there, just Amane, sitting cross legged on a folding chair with screws and a half built gadget, lazily fiddling at it. Nene folded her arms across her chest, but her stern expression only seemed to amuse Amane more as he calmly placed his work to the side. “I’m not a jerk…” He said. “But, if– let’s just say I was, what would be the reason today?”
His dark choppy hair was a mess, and he was wearing his black sweater over his uniform. But Nene wasn’t planning to get distracted by that . Especially not when she had a bone to pick with him.
“The donuts I made yesterday were terrible and you didn’t tell me!”
Amane refused to make eye contact as he replied. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about Yashiro-san.”
“I’m talking about how I walked around all day, oblivious to the fact I was handing out toxic spicy donuts!”
Nene grabbed a pen from his desk and threw it at him for emphasis. It missed completely, hitting the edge of a chair instead, which made her even more frustrated.
She continued. “I knew they might not be the best but I didn’t think they were practically poisonous. How could you not tell me? I thought we were always honest with each other…”
“They weren’t poisonous .”
“Weren’t they?”
“I’m alive, aren’t I?”
“Maybe… but your stomach probably isn’t doing so great after that.” She shot back.
Amane looked like he was struggling not to laugh, but he managed to keep a straight face as he continued. “They weren’t that bad. Just… a little… unique .”
“Unique?” Nene gawked. “That’s the word people use when they don’t want to say disgusting.”
“I liked them,” He insisted, though his voice cracked with the effort of sounding sincere. Nene’s eyes narrowed on him.
“Don’t lie…”
“Me? Lie ? Never.”
“I shouldn’t have even come here, you’re impossible… I’m leaving.” Nene started for the door but didn’t make it very far. Amane leaped from his spot on the folding chair and grabbed hold of her hand.
“Wait!”
His voice was a little more frantic than she expected. For a moment, he looked down at where their hands touched, and as though realizing it all at once, he quickly but gently released her, ears burning red. His fingers lingered for a heartbeat against hers before pulling back.
“Uh– I mean…” He swallowed. “You can’t go.”
“Why not?” Nene asked, crossing her arms, daring him to give her a reason.
Amane hesitated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. His golden eyes flicked toward the cluttered wired pieces, anywhere but her. “Because… if you walk out right now, you’re just going to stay mad at me. And I…” He trailed off, jaw tightening. “…I don’t want that.”
Her breath caught at the seriousness in his tone. She searched his face, but his gaze stayed stubbornly averted, as though the floorboards had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the world.
Nene sighed and forced a small smile, deliberately shifting her focus. “Okay, fine... I’ll stay. But next time you have to tell me when my donuts are a disaster.” She peered over his shoulder. “What were you working on?” She gestured vaguely toward the table, cluttered with wires and parts.
Amane blinked at her, his tense shoulders relaxing a little. “Oh… this?” His eyes brightened as he leaned closer to her. “It’s a drone.” He said. “It’s supposed to be lightweight enough to fly indoors, but sturdy enough to handle wind drag outside.” He grabbed the drone, pointing to a wing like piece of plastic. “Most people make this out of aluminum, but I’ve been testing different methods. Less weight, better endurance.”
Nene sat on a nearby cardboard box next to him. She tucked her bag beside her, resting her chin in her hands as Amane continued to talk.
And talk he did.
Once he started, there was no stopping him. His usual quiet demeanor had turned right into the opposite, his words spilling over one another as he explained airflow, control signals, even how he’d scavenged old parts from the AV room. His golden eyes gleamed as he gestured wildly, nearly knocking over a soldering iron in the process.
Nene rested her cheek against her palm, her lips tugging upward. She wasn’t sure she understood half of what he was saying, but she liked watching him like this. And then… somehow, almost against her will, her gaze drifted lower, and she found herself noticing his lips. Just the way they moved when he talked, small quirks she’d never really paid attention to before. They pursed slightly when he was concentrating, the corners twitching whenever he smiled.
Her mind immediately jerked back to her earlier conversation with Tsukasa. “He’s a total pushover for you, all you have to do is ask.” She flushed hot, chiding herself. Stop it, Yashiro.
But it was impossible not to notice, and every time he explained a new part or pointed to some tiny wire, her eyes kept drifting back to the movement of his lips. She shook her head subtly, trying to focus on the drone instead.
Amane must have noticed her shift in expression. His rambling came to a stop. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh…” She avoided eye contact. “Nothing.”
“Doesn’t seem like nothing.” He pressed, brows lifting.
Her gaze fell to the cardboard box between them. “…It’s not important.”
“Yashiro-san.” His voice softened, coaxing this time.
Nene swallowed, her thoughts tangling. She wanted to say it’s nothing , that it was just her own distraction, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to speak. Instead, her lips parted slightly, betraying her hesitation.
When she finally dared to glance up, he was staring at her, sitting much closer than before, his golden eyes boring into her crimson ones.
“I-I said it’s nothing,” She repeated, firmer this time, though it didn’t sound convincing even to her own ears.
Amane leaned back, frowning slightly. “…Then why do you look like you’re about to scold me for something?”
Her lips pressed together. Lifting her chin stubbornly. “Maybe because you’re usually doing something worth being scolded for.”
That earned her the smallest twitch of a smile from him, but his eyes stayed on her, searching her face for the thing she wasn’t saying. Getting Amane’s advice on how to get a boyfriend? It didn’t seem like a good idea, but even still, the thought tugged at her. Nene took a large sigh.
“It’s just…” She was still frowning, avoiding his strong gaze. He waited for her to continue, but she stayed quietly for a long beat, he thought she might not even respond at all. Then all at once, her eyes found him again. “...I want to be kissed.”
Amane’s eyes widened. He suddenly found his heart hammering in his chest, faster than it was only seconds prior. “W-What?”
“I want to be kissed.” Nene said it a little slower, as if she was trying to make sure he heard. He froze, staring at her, completely unsure if he’d understood correctly.
“You know… kissing?” She added, her gaze fixed on him like he’d drop a dozen tools on his head. “Two sets of lips meeting… a romantic moment between two—”
“Y-Yeah, okay… I-I know what kissing is,” He stammered, heat rushing to his face.
“Well, good! Because I’ve never kissed anyone, and I need your help with my first time…”
“Uhhh… L-Like… Now?” He started wondering if he was too young to go into cardiac arrest. With the way his heart was pounding, it couldn’t be healthy.
“You wanted to know what’s wrong.” She said, tilting her head with a faint smile. “So, let’s talk about it.”
Amane rubbed a hand down his face as the reality of her words sunk in. Of course she didn’t want to kiss him . She only wanted his advice. And that meant… She wanted to kiss somebody else. His expression shifted. He was already regretting this conversation and wondering who it was that was trying to take her away.
“No guy will give me the time of day…” She continued. His eyes finally shot up to hers.
“Why?” He scowled. “I-I mean… what’s wrong with them?” Amane might not like the idea of Yashiro dating or kissing anyone, but the idea that a guy couldn’t see how amazing she was twisted something in him.
“They always make up some sort of excuse… I felt like I was trying my best but according to Tsukasa I’m not doing enough.”
Amane ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the knot of frustration tightening in his chest. “Tsukasa… giving advice?” He muttered, his voice half disbelief, half irritation. “Did he… actually tell you that?”
Yashiro nodded, frowning slightly. “Yeah. He said I might just need some practice before I actually go for it. Or at least advice on how to get a boyfriend. Which I think he could be right about. I don’t know… it’s kind of… silly.”
Amane’s jaw tightened. Silly? No. It wasn’t silly. It was frustrating. Tsukasa knew what he was doing by opening that can of worms. He wanted to argue, to tell her that none of that mattered, that she didn’t need to practice for anyone. But the words got tangled in his throat.
“Look,” He started, his voice uneven, “I—uh… I don’t think you should… I mean, anyone would be… lucky to—” He trailed off, cheeks warming as he realized how absurd he probably sounded.
Yashiro tilted her head, eyes curious. “Lucky to what?”
Amane blinked, flustered. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, muttering under his breath. “Nothing… never mind.”
Yashiro smiled faintly, a teasing glint in her eyes. “You can tell me, you know. I won’t bite.”
Amane froze. She… actually wants him to say it? His heart thumped painfully against his ribs.
“Yashiro-san.” Amane felt a surge of boldness, or perhaps desperation , welling inside him. “A-any guy would be… lucky to kiss you.” He forced himself to make eye contact with her. Because that was real smooth Amane.
“You’re my best friend, Amane-kun. You have to say that!” She beamed. No… it was precisely because he was her best friend that he shouldn’t say that. “I’m not graduating high school having never kissed a guy. And you’re going to help me fix this.”
“F-Fix this? H-How?” Confusion and panic rose in his chest, threatening to choke him. He swore Yashiro could probably hear how loud and fast his heart was going. He was trying to keep his feelings buried, but she made it damn near impossible. They rarely talked about this kind of thing. Yashiro loved to gush about guys, sure, but not like this, not seriously. And in these moments, Amane became painfully aware of just how one sided his feelings for her were.
Amane was conflicted, he saw the people that tried to pursue her when they actually did. He had to resist the urge to glare at them. Sure Yashiro was fairly popular, much more so than him . But when it came to guys? They made a habit of using her for things like homework and getting closer to Aoi. They weren’t good enough for her.
“Since you lied about the donuts, you’re gonna help me find a guy to kiss.”
“Why the sudden interest in this?” His eyes remained hidden beneath his bangs. “Is… there a guy in particular?”
“No!” She replied quickly, and a wave of relief washed over him.
“Then why?”
She shrugged. “It’s on my list.”
“Your list ?” He asked. “Like your bucket list?”
“Yeah.”
“K-Kissing is on your bucket list?”
Yashiro laughed at his shock. “That’s what I said.” Amane was suddenly wishing he’d ask to inspect her list a little more closely before now, and was slightly terrified about what else could be on it.
“That seems like a bad reason to want to kiss someone.” He muttered.
“I can’t think of a better one. It’s on my list because I want it to happen. And it’s high time I did. Maybe now I can finally have my knight in shining armor swoop me up and ride off into the sunset with me.” Her gaze drifted somewhere distant. Amane couldn’t help thinking selfishly… but he didn’t like it. Not at all. He had to shove those feelings down.
“I’m just saying this isn’t the kind of thing you should rush.” Amane added. “O-obviously, it’s okay if you want it to happen soon, but you don’t have to kiss the first guy you see either…” Though, with him sitting in front of her, that may not be a bad idea .
“Tsukasa-kun made it sound like it was no big deal.”
“And that’s another thing, you went to Tsukasa about this?”
Yashiro smirked at the outrage on Amane’s face. “It wasn’t exactly by choice,” She admitted. “Tsukasa-kun accidentally saw my list, and he had a lot of thoughts about my lack of kissing experience.”
This wasn’t the first time he thought of killing his younger brother. “You should never listen to Tsukasa.” He said.
“But he’s right! I just need to get out there and be more proactive! So you’re going to help me!”
“W-What?!” Amane’s cheeks started to warm. Just tell her no. Two little letters, one word. Easy.
“Please?” She blinked up at him, her crimson eyes wide and hopeful.
“D-Don’t make that face!” He grimaced, turning slightly away from her. “You know you’re gonna get your way when you make that face.”
“So… You’ll help.”
“…Y-You know I’ll always help you,” He muttered, his voice tight. “With whatever you need.”
“Thank you! Thank you Amane-kun!” She beamed as she threw herself into his arms. His face was growing warmer and warmer, his heart hammering faster and faster. These moments were simultaneously the best and worst parts of his day. Yashiro was always so warm and soft. And she fit so perfectly into his arms, it was like she was meant to be in them. He always had to restrain himself from pulling her even closer and never letting her go. Amane closed his eyes, wishing for the millionth time that things were different. That he was the kind of guy that deserved Yashiro. That she returned his feelings. He was selfish, but he wasn’t selfish enough to risk their friendship and show her he could treat her a lot better.
Yashiro eventually left, the room suddenly feeling so much more empty. The thought of her disappearing from his life, her leaving him for another guy. He suddenly felt scared of losing her, even if she wasn’t his. Maybe he was being a little selfish… He suddenly thought of a long line of guys lining up to kiss her, maybe not realistic but… He wanted to be the first in that line. But how could he be when he knew she didn’t want him there. She wanted him to be her supportive friend. So he was going to have to keep pretending that was enough. Because what other choice did he have?