#decathecting

  Mamura Daiki felt extremely conflicted. On one hand, he was very happy (an understatement) that she chose him..and that she came back for him. But on the other hand…

  “Hey, are you sure that…”

  “Hmm?” Suzume looked at him. “What is it, Mamura?”

  He sighed and shook his head. “Nothing.”

  Suzume frowned and turned around to fully face him. She wanted to hold his face and make him face her directly but she knew he didn’t like to be touched..not even after they..

  “No, really. What is it?”

  Mamura scratched at his cheek to hide his blush.

  “What? Why are you blushing, Mamu—“

  “Why don’t you call me Daiki from now on?” Mamura avoided looking at her. “I..I mean..um, can I also..argh. Don’t mind me! Let’s just continue stargazing.” He sighed.

  Suzume giggled. “That’s what you’re worried about?”

  Mamura didn’t respond.

  “Daiki.”

  He looked at her in a snap and her face was just as pink as his. “Say it again.”

  “Daiki.”

  “Again.”

  “Daiki.”

  Mamura leaned in slowly and as Suzume closed her eyes, his face started to burn hotly. Instead of kissing her passionately like he planned to, his lips just pressed against hers swiftly.

  He groaned internally as Suzume opened her eyes in surprise.

  Mamura hid his flushed face in his arms. “I’m…sorry.”

  “What? Why are you apologizing for?” Suzume’s voice sounded so sincerely confused that it made him feel a bit guiltier. “Ma..Daiki?”

  “It’s because I can’t hold you or kiss you properly…” He mumbled quietly but she heard it. “That was the thing I was…thinking about a while ago…”

  Suzume giggled.

  Mamura looked up and glared at her. “What.”

  “That’s…” She continued to laugh, her face flushing a deep rosy color that he was distracted for a few seconds before he realized that she was laughing at him.

  Mamura scowled. “Fine, continue laughing at me.”

  Suzume reached out and touched his arm.

  “I’m sorry for—“ She giggled again but stopped immediately as Mamura glared at her harder. “—sorry! I mean, it’s just so funny.”

  “What is?”

  “That you’re so worried about things like that.” She smiled at him brightly. “You shouldn’t worry about those things, Daiki. We can take it slow.”

  Mamura smiled softly at her and sighed. “Okay…Suzume.”

  She grinned before leaning in. “Besides, do you know the phrase…’practice makes perfect’? That’s actually one of my mottos in life.”

  He chuckled and closed the distance between them. “Right..it’s one of my mottos too.”

  End.

  Bonus:

  She watched as her best friend and ex-crush kissed again on the beach from her bedroom window and sighed.

  “Dorks..” Yuyuka muttered and leaned away from the window, smiling for them.