Hikaru pushed herself up on her toes, leaning to Aya, and Aya’s eyes widened.

Before she knew what was going on, Hikaru’s soft lips had pressed up against hers and suddenly, the colours in her vision seemed to brighten, the scent of Hikaru’s shampoo passing through her nose.

Aya froze, her pupils dilating.

The convenience store went silent and so did Aya’s mind.

Hikaru pulled her lips away slowly, then stared at Aya with wet eyes, her cheeks and nose pink.

“H-Hikaru…?” Aya managed to mouth.

“I-I really like you too, Aya…” Hikaru stammered. “…in that way…”

“…”

Aya was suspended in disbelief, her body refusing to move.

That was until she caught from the corner of her eyes the store employee staring at them in bewilderment. He was standing paralysed at the end of the aisle, a mop in his hand.

“Um…” Aya coughed, blushing from the kiss. “Let’s get out of here first, Hikaru…”

“Ah, I have to buy snacks for my mum…”

“Right… Do that, and then we will go…”

After Hikaru had picked out an assortment of her mother’s favourite snacks, the two left the convenience store together, a tense atmosphere in the chill air as they each waited for the other to break the silence.

Walking side by side as they headed back to Hikaru’s apartment, Hikaru was shyly stealing glances at Aya’s face, having not seen her friend in a long time.

Aya’s breathtaking hazel eyes stared outwards in front of them, sitting below arched eyebrows that accentuated her refined features. Despite having done nothing to style her hair, Aya’s hair fell naturally to the sides of her forehead and past her shoulders in an aesthetic manner, almost as though each strand of hair had been purposely placed to perfection.

Doki doki.

Hikaru felt her heart beating faster and her face growing hotter, the longer she stared at Aya’s face.

When Aya turned to glance at her, Hikaru quickly looked away, her cheeks red.

Kyaa—! Did Aya always look this good? Hikaru was thinking. Does that mean I really do like girls? I mean, I did kiss her just then, so that clearly means I like her, right?!

Hikaru placed a hand to chest, trying to slow her breathing with closed eyes.

…But I wonder what Aya thinks about me… I really hurt her feelings last time… What if she doesn’t like me anymore because of that…?

Opening her eyes, Hikaru glanced at Aya cautiously. Aya seemed to have that same elegant look on her face that she always had on at school.

What Hikaru didn’t know, was that Aya was freaking out inside her head and had blanked out on the outside.

“Aya…?” Hikaru put on an energetic smile, peering at Aya’s face.

“Yes?” Aya glanced over at Hikaru, returning her smile.

Ack! She’s so beautiful when she smiles! Hikaru thought to herself.

“You know…” Hikaru tried to appear unnerved. “You were gone for such a long time… Everyone at school missed you a lot…”

“Ahh, really…?” Aya said. “You’re being too nice, Hikaru. I’m sure the school was fine without me. People probably didn’t even realise I was gone.”

“That’s not true,” Hikaru replied quickly. “The whole school was talking about you today! And, Fumiko and Sana was so worried about you! I was also counting every single day for you to come back!”

Aya seemed surprised, then changed her face into a warm smile. “Thank you, Hikaru…”

That sent Hikaru’s heart into another wave of fluttered beats.

They continued walking in silence for a while more until they stopped outside the glass door entering Hikaru’s apartment building.

Aya smiled, turning to face Hikaru. “I guess, I’ll see you at school tomorrow then, Hikaru.”

“Um…” Hikaru flashed nervous glances at Aya. “…do you want to come up…?”

“Uh…” Aya blinked at Hikaru.

“I’ve kind of been struggling with schoolwork… ever since you left…” Hikaru said.

“Oh, I see!” Aya said, then glanced down at the watch on her wrist. It was already pretty late and the sun had set. She glanced up and smiled at Hikaru, tilting her head slightly. “Sure, I would love to help you, Hikaru!”

“Gr-great…!” Hikaru’s face brightened up.

Hikaru led Aya into the apartment building, walking up the stairs as the elevator had been broken for a while now. Her apartment wasn’t that high up so the walk didn’t take long.

When they reached her apartment door, Hikaru scrambled for her keys in her bag, before unlocking the door, taking Aya in.

Haruka’s voice called out as they entered through the door.

“Oh, Hikaru, you’re back, did you get the—” Haruka gasped, seeing Aya. “Aya!” Haruka had just walked out of her bedroom, wearing long sweat pants and a t-shirt. “You’re back from America? Oh my goodness! How have you been? You look as beautiful as ever!”

“Good evening, okaa-san.” Aya bowed gracefully. “I’ve been doing very well, thank you for your concern. You look very beautiful, yourself.”

Haruka blushed, laughing as she touched a hand to her cheek. “Oh, Aya! If only my future son-in-law could be as well-mannered as you! I would have nothing to worry about!”

“M-mum, that’s enough…” Hikaru said, walking up to the kitchen counter to drop off the bag of snacks she had been holding. “Here’s your snacks…”

“Aah!” Haruka went over to the kitchen counter, delving into the bag. “You got me all the things I wanted and I didn’t even have to tell you! That’s why you’re such a good girl, Hikaru~!”

“Anyways, we’re going to be in my room,” Hikaru said hastily, quickly walking Aya into her bedroom while her mother was distracted.

Once the two of them were in the room alone, Hikaru closed the door behind Aya, locking it.

Aya sat down on the edge of Hikaru’s bed since there was nowhere else to sit, taking off her jacket and her scarf. There was the computer chair, but Aya assumed that Hikaru would be sitting on it.

“Okay, so what did you needed help with?” Aya asked. “I’ve already learnt most of the curriculum for the year, so I should be able to help you even if I missed out on the classes.”

Hikaru dropped her school bag on the ground, then lifted the bottom of her school jumper, pulling it up as she took it off her. Then, she threw the jumper on the ground and bounced on top of Aya, pushing her down into the bed roughly.

Before Aya could say anything, Hikaru forced her lips over Aya’s, taking her by surprise and locking her in a long, passionate kiss.

Hikaru lifted her lips off Aya’s by the tiniest amount, their breaths touching, and their eyes staring into one another.

“You can do anything you want to me…” Hikaru panted, then lowered her lips back down on Aya’s, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she did so.

Aya kissed Hikaru back, her mind melting with desire as she found herself frantically pulled away at the buttons on Hikaru’s shirt. Aya didn’t know what was happening anymore, but quite frankly, she didn’t care.

Unbuttoning Hikaru down to her last few buttons, Aya impatiently ripped Hikaru’s shirt down from her chest and Hikaru slipped her arms out of the shirt so that it would fall, hugging onto her waist.

Aya then pushed Hikaru up so that she could take off her own blouse, moving into a sitting posture at the edge of the bed with Hikaru straddling her.

Throwing her blouse on the ground next to the bed, Aya resumed kissing Hikaru lustfully, while Hikaru thumbled at the straps on the back of Aya’s bra for a moment before managing to finally take it off.

Aya slid out of a luxurious-looking black bra, chucking it to the ground without a care, revealing a pair of perfectly-sized breasts and a toned body with no useless fat visible anywhere.

“Aya… I love you…” Hikaru mouthed in between kisses, her eyes closed shut, showing her long eyelashes. “Please don’t go again…”

“I won’t,” Aya whispered back in heavy breaths. “I love you too, Hikaru… you’re so cute…”

Hikaru blushed, hugging onto Aya’s naked back and feeling her immaculately smooth skin brushing past her fingertips.

Aya glided her hands down Hikaru’s body, one hand stopping at her breasts, caressing it, then the other went further down, sliding under the plaited skirt of Hikaru’s school uniform.

Aya’s fingers ran across Hikaru’s thigh, feeling a hint of the creamy skin underneath the fabric of the pantyhose Hikaru was wearing. Her fingers moved further up, sliding past Hikaru’s inner thighs before reaching her clit, causing Hikaru's body to jump.

“It’s okay…” Aya whispered soothingly into Hikaru’s ear. “Trust me…”

Hikaru nodded with burning cheeks, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. “Okay, Aya… I trust you…”

Aya grabbed onto the top of Hikaru’s pantyhose, rolling it off down to her thighs. Then, placed her middle finger over Hikaru’s white panties, at the place of her clit. Feeling how wet Hikaru was, Aya became even more aroused as she started slowly rubbing at Hikaru’s clit, causing her to moan against Aya’s lips.

Wanting to hear her moan more, Aya moved away from Hikaru’s lips, and decided to suckle at her delicate neck instead, her teeth gently nipping at the soft, fragrant skin.

“Aah… A-Aya…” Hikaru bit her own lips, trying to hold back her moans but her efforts were fruitless.

Hikaru’s hips were rocking back and forth against Aya’s hand, as Aya started rubbing her faster. Aya moved the bottom of Hikaru's panties to the side so that Aya could touch her clit directly, continuing to play with her and building up the tension until Hikaru’s mind couldn’t take it any longer.

“Kyaa…!!”

Hikaru’s fingers dug onto Aya’s back, grabbing on tightly as she came from the pleasure, her head falling down on Aya’s shoulder. Hikaru was red-faced, her eyes closed and her breath coming out in steamy mists against the cold air of the apartment.

"That was really good..." Hikaru breathed out, her body still tense.

Aya moved Hikaru down on the bed, then laid down next to her, staring her in the eye.

"We're not done yet..." Aya said.

“Morning!”

A sweet voice called out to Hikaru, and she squeezed her eyes, before slowly opening them.

Aya’s angelic face appeared above her sight, staring down at her with a smile.

“It’s time for school, sleepyhead!” Aya bent down closer to her, standing at the edge of the bed.

“Wh-wha—?!”

Hikaru jumped, scurrying backwards on her bed with a flushed face. Then, the memories of last night came back to her and she relaxed, sighing.

“O-oh… Aya… I remember…”

Last night Aya stayed over and even ate dinner with my mum... She got her limousine to deliver all the stuff she needed to sleep here… I couldn’t even sleep much, because we were… Ack! It’s so embarrassing!!

Hikaru’s cheeks blushed crimson, and she hid the bottom half of her face under the blankets as she stared at Aya.

Aya was humming to herself, checking herself out at a mirror at the corner of the room as she tidied her clothes up. She was already dressed in her school uniform; a collared white shirt, checkered skirt, and an extravagant but modest designer coat for the cold weather.

“Y-you look nice…” Hikaru said, speaking her thoughts aloud.

Aya stopped, then turned to Hikaru with a faint shade of pink on her face. Then, she burst out laughing, walking over to Hikaru.

“Oh, you, Hikaru!” Aya giggled. “You sure know what to say to get a girl’s heart racing!”

“I am a girl…” Hikaru replied, then blushed as Aya nuzzled Hikaru’s nose with her own.

“Come on!” Aya leaned up from her with a smile. “We have to go to school! At this rate, we’re going to be late!”

“Okay, okay…” Hikaru replied softly, getting out of the bed. “I’m just really tired after last night…”

“But you weren’t even doing anything!” Aya said, the corner of her lips turning up mischievously.

“A-Aya…!” Hikaru’s face reddened.

Aya started laughing again, and Hikaru quickly scuttled to the toilet to hide her blushing face.

The chilling wind brushed past their cheeks as the two of them arrived at Hibiya High. Aya was used to taking her limousine to school, but she insisted on walking with Hikaru and taking the train so that she could experience what a typical morning was like for Hikaru.

After having fought off the heavily crowded public transport system, Aya wiped a sweat from her forehead, sighing.

I didn’t know that mornings for Hikaru was so chaotic! Aya thought to herself, then she turned to Hikaru by her side and felt herself instantly brightening up. Thank god I had Hikaru with me, otherwise I don’t know how I would had survived that!

“That was probably horrible for you, right?” Hikaru glanced up at Aya with a sympathetic face. “I told you that it’s really crowded…”

“No, no,” Aya waved her hands in front of her. “That was fine! I’m fine! As if something so little could affect me!”

“Really?” Hikaru said, as they strolled through the gates of the school. “You looked really uncomfortable on the train though…”

“Everyone takes the train,” Aya laughed weakly. “I was totally okay with it. Honestly.”

I don’t want Hikaru to think that I’m some spoilt kid… Aya thought. It really wasn’t that bad… but I can’t imagine riding the train every day…

“Anyways,” Aya tried to change the subject. “Did you want to go somewhere after school today? We should try going on a—”

“AHHH!!!”

A shriek from the side of Aya interrupted her sentence, and the two of them turned to look at a female student staring at Aya with wide eyes.

“A-A-Aya, you’re back!!” The girl cried, and suddenly, students all around the school grounds were turning heads over to look.

“Oh crap…” Aya muttered, almost forgetting that she was something of an idol at Hibiya High.

Students began rushing over with enthusiastic cries, falling over themselves to greet Aya.

“We missed you so much!”

“We thought you were never coming back!”

“Ayaaaaa!!”

Countless female students ran to hug Aya, while the males stood amidst a growing circle surrounding Aya with relief on their faces, seeing her. Some students were even crying in the crowd.

The spectacle was getting way too much for Hikaru and as the crowd continued to increase in size, Hikaru felt her eyes spinning as she was pushed out of the frenzy.

Eventually, Hikaru emerged outside of the huddled circle, panting as she pulled herself away. There were still more students flocking over to see Aya.

Hikaru sighed, turning to face the crowd, staring at the scene.

“I guess there’s no helping it…” Hikaru said to herself. “It’s Aya after all.”

Watching the scene for a while more, Hikaru was about to walk off when she heard a voice calling to her.

“Yo!”

Hikaru turned to the source of the voice and saw Itsuo walking over towards her, his school bag hung over one shoulder.

“Hello, Itsuo,” Hikaru greeted politely with a smile.

“What do you mean ‘hello’,” Itsuo narrowed his eyes. “Were you forgetting something this morning?”

“Huh?” Hikaru blinked at him. “What do you mean?”

Itsuo sighed, rubbing his hand to his forehead. “I was waiting outside your apartment for a while.”

“Oh!” Hikaru’s back straightened up as she realised what Itsuo was saying. “I-I’m so sorry, Itsuo!” She bowed down apologetically. “Ahh!! I completely forgot!”

“Jeez…” Itsuo said. “No need to apologise. I don’t mind. I was just worried, that’s all. You never woke up earlier than me before.” Itsuo turned his eye to the huddled circle besides them. “What’s going on over there? Another fight?”

“Ah,” Hikaru raised her head up, following Itsuo’s glance to the crowd around Aya. “It’s Aya. She’s back from America.”

“What?” Itsuo faced Hikaru, raising his eyebrows. “Aya’s back?”

“Yup!” Hikaru replied cheerfully. “She came to visit me yesterday, it was after you went back to your apartment.”

“Is that so…?” Itsuo said.

Itsuo didn’t know whether Aya coming back was a good thing or not, but…

Itsuo glanced down at the bubbly look on Hikaru’s face as she gazed over at the crowd. There were too many students gathered over there to spot Aya, but it was obvious what she was happy about.

Itsuo sighed, running a hand through his chocolate-brown hair.

As long as Hikaru’s happy I suppose…

It took only minutes before the news of Aya’s return travelled all over the school, spreading a reinvigorated atmosphere of liveliness across the place. Even the strict teachers of Hibiya High had more relaxed faces than usual.

Sitting at her desk, waiting for the first class to begin, Hikaru glanced around in awe at the students inside the classroom as they whispered to each other about Aya, secretly glimpsing at her best friend that was sitting by her side.

Aya was smiling elegantly as she listened to Fumiko and Sana who was chattering excitedly in front of her.

“I can’t believe you’re back!!” Fumiko squealed. “I know you texted me this morning that you were back, but…” She shook her head, speechless.

“We really missed you, Aya…” Sana said. “You just disappeared so suddenly, and without saying anything the whole time…”

“I’m sorry,” Aya replied, “I told you what happened in America. It’s all my parent’s idea.”

“Yeah, but…” Fumiko started and her voice faded away to Hikaru.

Hikaru was getting her textbooks and pencil case out of her bag. As she took her pencil case out, she accidentally let it slip against her grip, since she was trying to grab her textbooks too.

The pencil case hit the ground, spilling out its content of pens, erasers and other items.

“Ah,” Hikaru bit her lower lips at her mistake, as she bent her back down on her chair, trying to pick the items back up.

Fumiko and Sana were watching too, distracted by the sound of the pencil case hitting the floor.

“You should be more careful, Hikaru…” Fumiko said, furrowing her eyebrows in concern.

“I’m sorry…” Hikaru mumbled, embarrassed.

“Here, let me help you,” Aya said, getting out of her chair and bending down to the floor to pick up a pen that had rolled further away.

Fumiko and Sana resumed talking to one another about a different topic, and Hikaru was hurriedly putting back the contents of the pencil case.

“Thank you, Aya…” Hikaru said as Aya handed over a pen to her.

Their hands touched, and Hikaru felt Aya’s fingers grabbing onto her hand, running over it lightly.

“A-Aya…” Hikaru whispered.

The contact was going on longer than necessary, and Hikaru could feel some eyes in the classroom beginning to turn towards them.

“S-sorry, Hikaru…” Aya laughed, her face showing a slight pink flush as she moved her hand away from Hikaru’s. “Lucky nothing rolled too far, huh?” She said in a louder tone for others to hear, as she tried to put on her usual persona at school with a graceful smile.

“Right…” Hikaru replied back, glancing up at the eyes on them. Among them were Fumiko, who had raised eyebrows.

Uh oh… Hikaru stared down fixedly at her desk. Did anyone see anything? Ahh! Why did Aya do that?

She burrowed her head into her arms on the desk, hoping nothing would come out of what just happened.