#atoji

Shishido and Mukahi looked around to see who Aktuagawa was talking about. They saw a tall girl with a full figure and high heels surrounded by groupie girls. 

“That’s Atobe,” Mukahi said. “She’s the girl who plays the male leads in the drama club.”

“The King,” Shishido said, rolling her eyes.

Akutagawa stared. Atobe stroked a girl’s cheek, saying she was a beautiful princess, and the girls lost it. Boys looked on jealously.

Akutagawa didn’t really get it, but she was still pretty.

.

Atobe comes to her classroom the next week. She sits on Akutagawa’s desk, crossing her long legs, and looks down at Akutagawa, who is still half-asleep. 

“You’ve been watching me,” Atobe said.

Akutagawa licked her lips. They tasted like cupcake chapstick. 

“You’re pretty,” Akutagawa said. “Why do you act as a boy in plays if you’re pretty?”

“And let a boy play the main role?” Atobe smiled, her lipstick covered lips so beautiful and dangerous and Akutagawa really wanted to kiss them. “Never.”

The girls in Akutagawa’s class began to gather around Atobe, asking if she wanted to go get a parfait after school, or go shopping, or do karaoke. 

Akutagawa went back to sleep. 

.

Atobe’s visits became a regular affair. Eventually, she started bringing Akutagawa makeup to wear.

Akutagawa liked her cupcake chapstick and her cheap nail polish that cracked. She didn’t want mascara and lipstick and eyebrow pencils. 

“No thanks,” Akutagawa said. 

Atobe took the makeup, tucking it back into her purse. “What would you like, then?”

Akutagawa frowned. “Who said I need anything?”

Atobe tilted her head. Very seriously, she said, “How do you expect me to court you without gifts?”

Akutagawa was silent. Then she smiled.

“Court? You’re really weird, Atobe-chan.”

For the first time in Akutagawa’s memory, Atobe blushed. 

“Cake,” Akutagawa said. “And flowers. And kisses. Looots of kisses.”

.

Atobe gave her a bouquet of red roses at the beginning of the day. While they were pretty and smelled nice, Akutagawa wasn’t really sure what she was supposed to do with them during class.

Atobe frowned. “I had not thought of that.”

Akutagawa got on her toes and kissed her cheek. Her skin tasted like foundation and other makeup. 

“Thanks,” Akutagawa said, hugging the flowers to her chest and bouncing off to first period.

.

Atobe took her hand when they were walking down the hall. Akutagawa struggled to keep up because Atobe wore this high heels that click-clacked and Akutagawa was short. Akutagawa waved their connected hands dramatically between them.

“And then we can get cake?” Akutagawa asked. “Promise?”

“I promise. It’s a date.”

Akutagawa smiled. Atobe smiled too.

.

During lunch, they sat outside on the bench. Akutagawa slept with her head in Atobe’s lap. Atobe leaned down, brushed away the blonde’s hair, and kissed her away.

“Good morning, my love,” Atobe said.

Akutagawa blushed. “You’re really embarrassing. I think you play the male lead too often.”

Atobe straightened up. Akutagawa smiled up at her girlfriend with the biggest, dumbest smile. 

"But I love you anyways."

Atobe smiled fondly at her. “I love you too, darling.”