It started as a normal evening.
Aoi and I were in my room, supposedly studying together. She sat cross-legged on the floor, flipping through her notes, while I tried to focus on my textbook.
But I couldn't concentrate. Not with her so close.
Her hair brushed her cheek. Her lips moved slightly as she read. Her scent filled the room.
Every time she leaned forward, my heart skipped.
"Haruto," she said suddenly, snapping me out of my daze.
"…Yeah?"
She looked up at me with those big, gentle eyes. "You're staring again."
I froze. "…I-I wasn't."
She smirked. "You're a terrible liar."
Before I could argue, she leaned closer, her face only inches from mine. My breath caught.
"Haruto… do you know how hard it is for me not to kiss you right now?" she whispered.
My pulse thundered in my ears.
I should've pulled away. I should've told her it was too dangerous. But instead, my body betrayed me.
I leaned closer too. "You think you're the only one struggling?"
Her lips parted slightly, her cheeks flushing bright red. For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
And then—our lips met.
---
It was soft at first. Hesitant. Almost like we were afraid to cross the line we had danced around for so long.
But then Aoi's hand slid to the back of my neck, pulling me closer. My arms wrapped around her instinctively, holding her as if I'd never let go.
The kiss deepened, messy and desperate, all the feelings we had bottled up pouring out at once.
By the time we pulled away, both of us were breathless, our foreheads touching.
"…Finally," Aoi whispered, her voice trembling. "I've dreamed of this for so long."
I chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You're not the only one."
She giggled, then hid her face against my chest, her heart racing as fast as mine.
And in that moment, I knew—
No matter what anyone said, no matter what rules we broke…
This love was real.
And there was no turning back now.