Volume 10 - Extending Family, Chapter 71 - Star-Crossed Signals

Yuisu set a freshly-rinsed dinner plate in the dishwasher then looked back up at Chione, who was gathering dirty dishes from the dinner table. "So what is it you wanted to talk about?"

"Was it that obvious that I wanted something?" Chione asked shyly, her long grey tail flicking through the air. Despite just having just woken up at sunset, she was already dressed in a pleated skirt and her standard sweater vest. Other than her tail, horns, and large multi-colored wings, she might have passed for a high school girl in a school uniform.

"Yeah, it was," Yuisu responded with a chuckle. "You're normally still half asleep at dinner time, but suddenly you're volunteering to help with cleanup. So, what's up?" she said casually as she continued to load the dishwasher.

"Uh, I was hoping you could drive me down into town." Chione set some dishes on the counter next to Yuisu, then returned to collect another armful. Eight adults made for a lot of dirty dishes.

"Sure thing. When?" Yuisu asked.

"Um, right after we're done here?" Chione said cautiously.

Yuisu raised one eyebrow and asked another question, "What for?"

"To meet up with a friend. I think you met her once. Her name's Actia." As she spoke, Chione tried to stay calm and casual, but her blushing face gave her away.

"Oh, I know her. Mara's friend," Yuisu said slowly, still loading the dishwasher. "And does this have anything to do with those flowers Quess brought home earlier?"

"Y-You saw those?" Chione stammered.

Yuisu turned and smiled at Chione. "Of course I did, since Quess and I carpooled home after work today. Good choice on those flowers, by the way. They're really pretty and they made the whole truck smell nice."

Chione blushed even brighter and fidgeted in silence until Yuisu spoke up again, "Anyways, getting back to your original question: Yes, I'll drive you down to town. Will I be waiting around for you, or just dropping you off?"

Chione stared blankly. She hadn't thought things out that far, or realized that she was allowed to stay there without Yuisu.

When Chione didn't respond, Yuisu elaborated, "You can hang out with Actia without a host, since she's a former Exchange Program homestay. Mara has made use of that a few times."

Finally, Chione said, "Ah, I dunno what Actia will want to do. I forgot to ask when I called her…"

Yuisu dried her hands off and stepped away from the dishwasher, which was humming along quietly. Yuisu mentally thanked her Uncle Ichiro for that. Before he passed away, he had updated a lot of the appliances in the house to top of the line models, and the houseful of women had been putting them all to good use.

Yuisu nudged Chione with an elbow and said, "Just ask her when we get there. It sounds like you have something else to ask her too…"

As Yuisu's little red truck drove away, Chione started to doubt her decision to stay the night. Even if Actia said it was okay, isn't it too soon to stay at her house? We only just met…

"Come on up, Chione," a soft, quiet voice said, interrupting Chione's thoughts.

Actia, wearing a loose-fitting t-shirt and little jean shorts, tugged on the taller girl's elbow and said, "I've got the telescope all set up, and tonight should be a great night for stargazing."

Oh, duh. I guess I'm not really 'staying the night', Chione realized, We're both nocturnal, so it's more like we're hanging out together for a day. A look of determination appeared in her eyes and she thought, In that case, I guess this is a date!

As she followed Actia up the stairs to her apartment, Chione couldn't help but notice Actia's tiny jean shorts wiggling side to side with her footsteps, right at eye level. She averted her eyes, looking down at the bag that held the moon flowers for Actia.

Oh, right. I still need to give those to her… Why does this all have to be so hard and awkward? she thought as they stepped into the tiny one-room apartment.

"Sorry for how cramped it is. I'm small and don't need much space, so I was fine with a small apartment. I guess I never planned to have guests over," Actia said candidly as she sat down on the bed, which was the only place to sit in the apartment other than the floor.

"No, it's totally fine. Actually, I think it really suits you. Uh, not just because you're small, uh," Chione rambled, "but because your interests, like online games and astronomy, are bigger than this room, bigger than regular life. I really admire that."

Actia looked up at Chione with a hint of a smile. "If you say so, Chione."

After an awkward pause, Chione took the plunge and blurted, "I got a gift for you! As thanks for saving me and taking me in the other night." She quickly reached into her bag and pulled out a small bouquet of pure white moon flowers. The trumpet-shaped blossoms had already opened up for the night, emitting their light, sweet fragrance. Chione bowed rigidly, stuck her arms out holding the flowers, and said, "Thank you, Actia."

Actia stepped back in surprise, but her slight smile widened. "You're welcome, Chione, but really, it was no big deal." She took the flowers and carried them to the kitchenette, where she put them in a tall drinking glass with some water. When they passed under her nose, she said, "Mmm, those smell nice."

Chione had heard about Quess's special pheromone abilities, but firmly declined her offer to add some to the bouquet. The romantic gesture of giving flowers should be enough, Chione thought.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, then smoothed her skirt over her clasped knees as she wondered, Did Actia realize I was trying to be romantic? I can't tell with her, 'cause she's so hard to read…

Actia returned from the kitchen area and changed the subject, "So, do you play any video games, Chione?"

"Oh…" Chione shook her head. "No, I don't. They weren't allowed at the boarding school, so I've barely played any," Chione said drearily. She was starting to realize how many things she'd missed out on during her time in that school. But that doesn't mean I can't experience those things now, she thought. She switched to an upbeat tone and said, "But I do find them interesting! I'd love to share in your interests."

Actia lit up with a broad smile, unlike the subtle one she usually showed. "Oh, then I just have to show you this new MMO I've been playing!" She grabbed her laptop from the end table and hopped up on the bed. With her short legs dangling over the edge of the bed, she scooted right up next to Chione until their knees touched, skin against skin.

Her slim high-end laptop was decorated with the same glow-in-the-dark stickers as the room's walls, and its white color matched Actia perfectly. She flipped it open and set it across her and Chione's laps, then said, "It's got this amazing character creator, where you can make anyone you can think of. I was even able to make my character look just like me, size and all…"

Actia kept talking about the game, but Chione wasn't able to pay attention. She was too distracted by Actia's closeness and she couldn't get her mind off the physical contact. She's so close! Is this just how she always is? She didn't really respond to me being romantic, so I guess she's just like this with everyone…

Before she knew it, Chione had been wrangled into creating a character of her own in the game. Even with the laptop fully on her lap, she was having difficulty with the touchpad mouse; it didn't seem to respond to her stony skin most of the time.

"Ah, sorry about that touch-pad. My mouse broke the other day and the new one hasn't arrived yet. H-Here, let me help you," Actia said as she leaned over and slid her own hand under Chione's. "U-Use m-m-my finger to press it." Actia's stutter was growing worse, but Chione didn't even notice it over the sensation of holding Actia's hand.

Her hand is so little and soft, I'm almost worried I'll squish it, Chione thought, failing to focus on the game. Their teamwork technique wasn't much more effective than Chione's hand alone, and the awkwardness wasn't helping either.

After they flailed inefficiently at the character creator for a bit, Actia pulled away and said, "It should be nice and dark now. Let's do some stargazing." She pulled Chione by the hand to the sliding glass door and out onto the little balcony.

As Actia adjusted the telescope, her mind wandered. Ugh, Chione just isn't returning my advances! I'm all over her, but she doesn't reciprocate at all… Should I have worn even skimpier clothes? I was flaunting my underwear yesterday, but that didn't seem to work…

Actia was was shy and reclusive normally, so it was taking all of her resolve to be so physical with Chione. She stepped back from the tripod and grabbed Chione's hand again. Chione's rough skin was unusual at first, but Actia was starting to get used to it. "Take a look and tell me what you see," she said.

Chione paused to adjust her clothes, then she bent carefully at the waist to look through the telescope. She saw six bright stars in a 'p' shape, surrounded by some smaller stars. "Oh, wow… those are the Nereides, right? You mentioned them yesterday."

Actia smirked and said, "Close, but no cigar. They're called the Pleiades, or 'subaru' here in Japan. It's my favorite constellation."

"Oh, of course. Thank you for sharing that with me, Actia," Chione replied, smiling at Actia with glistening eyes.

Actia raised an eyebrow. Why's she getting all emotional about that? Did I say something wrong?

Actia quickly changed the subject. "Let me switch over to another lens and we can look at the moon." She moved up close to Chione and started to fiddle with the telescope to get it ready for the next viewing.

After nearly an hour of studying the crystal clear night sky, Actia noticed Chione holding her elbows and shivering. It was the middle of the night in October and neither of them were generating heat through physical activity, so it was only logical. "Let's go inside and warm up," Actia said, trying to put a bit of suggestive tone on it.

Chione didn't seem to notice, since she just replied, "Sure. I was getting a little chilly."

Chione sat on the edge of the bed with a blanket over her legs and a mug of hot cocoa clenched in her hands. As she blew across the steaming liquid to cool it down, she thought, She started to open up to me about her favorite stars, but then she shut down… Did I do something wrong? Or is she just not the type to open up emotionally?

She was pulled from her thoughts when Actia climbed up on the bed next to her, wearing nothing but pink panties and a loose t-shirt, featuring some magical girl from an anime. She nestled down under the blanket, then grabbed her own hot cocoa from the end table.

"I can't get comfy in bed while wearing jeans," Actia said, then took a tiny sip of cocoa. "How about you? You seem to wear that uniform like all the time."

A red flush crept up Chione's cheeks, which she hoped would just look like the result of the warm room on her chilled skin. "Um, I'm just, uh, used to dressing like this. I dress like, uh, that"—she gestured at Actia's shirt and toward her legs—"when I go to sleep, though."

Actia leaned close, a slight grin on her lips. "Oh? You sleep in just a shirt and underwear too? You're a woman after my own heart. Got any cute panties?"

Chione turned bright red from ear to ear, then stammered, "Uh, um, I have some with a teddy bear on them." Then she quickly took a sip of the cocoa to hide her embarrassment.

"Aww, that sounds adorable!" Actia cheered, then scooted even closer to Chione. Under the blanket, her bare thigh was pressed up against Chione's leg. Chione's pleated skirt only blocked a little of the warm contact, and Chione's thoughts drifted to Actia's legs and panties…

Chione couldn't turn any redder, so when she thought she was going to explode, she forced herself to say something. She looked down at her lap and said, "Um, Actia?"

"Yeah?" Actia took a sip of her own drink, her pink lips brushing the white mug.

"Are you always so… touchy?" Chione asked. "Like, hugging and touching your friends, I mean…"

Actia leaned over and peered up at Chione's face, meeting her gaze. "No, I normally keep to myself."

Chione's eyes went wide. That was not the answer she'd been expecting. She had been convinced that Actia was just a naturally physical person, and that all the physical contact was just normal friendship stuff. She managed to mumble, "Uh, so why are you so touchy now?"

Now Actia blushed too, the crimson hue standing out against her pale skin and paler hair. "I-I w-was trying t-to let you kn-know that, uh…" she stuttered, then trailed off.

Chione blinked in confusion. She didn't understand why Actia had suddenly gotten so flustered. "Let me know what?" she asked cautiously.

"Thatilikeyou," Actia blurted, smashing all the syllables into one rushed word.

"What?" Chione said, mouth agape.

"That I l-like y-you," Actia repeated, tightly clenching her mug of cocoa like a lifeline.

"As a friend, right? I mean, you didn't respond to any of my romantic gestures, so I just kinda figured that—"

Actia cut her off. "Romantic gestures? Huh? Wait… the flowers… Oh." Actia slapped her palm to her forehead with an audible smack. "I'm so dumb. I thought that was just a formal 'thank you' thing here in Japan."

Chione giggled. "I wouldn't know if it was. I'm from France…"

Actia shook her head and chuckled. "So, you're saying you've been trying to get my attention with romantic stuff?"

Chione added on, "And you've been trying to get mine by getting close and being sexy?"

"…Yeah," they said in unison.

Both girls burst into laughter. It was deep and unrestrained belly-laughter, the kind you could only get when laughing at yourself, and they couldn't stop it if they wanted to. They each had to set their remaining hot cocoa aside to keep from spilling it.

Chione wrapped Actia in one wing and leaned on her shoulder as they giggled and gasped for breath, then giggled some more.

Once it finally died down and Chione caught her breath, she said, "Wow, we're quite an oblivious pair, aren't we? I had no idea you were trying to tell me you liked me." She fidgeted with the edge of the blanket and added, "I kept averting my eyes whenever I saw your, uh, butt…"

"Aw, man… All that sexy wasted," Actia whined. Then she turned and looked up at Chione, her red eyes glinting like faceted gems. "So, d-did you like it?"

Chione looked back, fighting the urge to look away in embarrassment, and said, "… Yeah… When you were walking up the stairs, swaying side to side…" She tried to find the right words, but she only managed to say, "Wow."

Actia smiled shyly. "I'm glad. I was worried that my attempts to be sexy wouldn't work, because of my petite body, and total lack of boobs." She pointed at her flat chest for emphasis. Like Mara, Actia had a very small body and only the faintest sign of breasts. At least in Actia's case, her slight frame was very useful for flying, and she didn't act as childlike either.

"Oh, you were sexy. But it also felt a little off, like it didn't fit you," Chione admitted.

"Yeah, I was kinda forcing it. I'm not normally one to act like that. My friend Flare on the other hand… she's a pro at being sexy. Though she's straight, so her target market is a bit different," Actia joked.

Chione was immediately reminded of her own straight friend, Mimi. "Say, Actia?" she started carefully, "Did you ever have a crush on Flare?"

Actia nodded energetically, her fuzzy antennae bobbing with the motion. "Oh, yeah. I had a bit of a crush on her for her looks at first, then once we were friends, I really fell for her. That was a couple years ago, though, and I worked through all that, and we're still best friends."

Chione reclaimed her cocoa mug from the end table, then said, "How'd you do it? Work through that, that is?"

Actia tilted her head, watching Chione carefully. "I just talked to her about it. Why?"

Chione flushed red and mumbled, "Uh, I guess I'm in love with my friend Mimi."

Actia squinted her eyes and said, "Then why are you being romantic with me?"

"Because I like you… and because it can't work with Mimi. She's straight…" Chione answered.

"Then talk to her. Get some closure." Actia put a small, reassuring hand on Chione's back. "It'll be good for you."

Chione nodded determinedly, then jumped up from the bed, taking the blanket with her and exposing Actia's bare legs and pink underwear. "I'll call her right now!"

Actia raised one eyebrow. "It's the middle of the night, you know."

Chione thought for a second, then shook her head. "She's probably awake anyway, but I guess I can text her first."

DING! Mimi's text-notification rang out in a dark bedroom.

"Who's texting you at this hour, Mimi?" a male voice said between kisses. Hajime continued working his way along Mimi's collarbone, placing a kiss on every inch of her soft and sensual body. Using her mimic abilities, she'd made herself particularly curvy that night and Hajime was intent on taking full advantage of it.

"Not sure," Mimi responded, though she was already thinking of Chione. "Let me check, in case it's important." She was laying on her back, with her hair trailing off the side of the bed into her treasure chest. From inside the tooth-ringed maw, a fleshy tendril emerged. It stretched up and set the cell phone on the edge of the bed, next to Mimi's head. She grabbed it and squinted against the bright screen as she read the message.

"Uh, sorry Hajime, but can we put this on hold for a few minutes? It seems important after all."

"Yeah, no problem," he responded, then rolled sideways onto his back and snuggled up against Mimi under the sheets. For the girl he loved, he was content to wait as long as necessary.