That same time, Kobayashi and Shirasawa walked together, separating from their classmates in the bus and train stations.

The sky shows dusk; passing of cars through the main road heard their revving engine. Through their faces are the exhaustion after having a good time. Both of them are quiet.

None of them dared to say anything. Only the clank sound of steps from the asphalt road heard from their loafers.

Since they left the Karaoke bar and with everyone, Shirasawa became quiet. Kobayashi does bothered by her friend being this quiet. Usually, Shirasawa is enthusiastic.

“Ayase?” cracking the silence between them, Kobayashi called her. “What’s the matter?”

“Huh? Oh… it’s… nothing.” Shirasawa answered. That simple paused, Kobayashi noticed that something’s bothering on her. She knows Shirasawa since their middle school years.

Shirasawa is her first friend. They’ve been inseparable since the time they met, and Kobayashi got the deepened affection to her. For her, this girl is the one she wants to protect.

Shirasawa Ayase is her haven. “Come on, you can tell me what bothers you.”

Kobayashi’s voice show emphaty, as Shirasawa turns to look at her. She snorts at the girl and chuckles. “You’re cheering me up?” she asked.

“Yeah, if that’s what you want.” Kobayashi answered. Grabbing her hand, their fingers entwined together. They both feel the warmth of each other, as Shirasawa heaves a sigh.

“There’s this someone I liked. I like that person for a while now…”

Breaking the silence between them, Shirasawa stated. Kobayashi didn’t respond, but she just listened. “I’ve been trying to muster up my courage to tell to that person how I truly feel, but…”

Shirasawa halted from walking. Her grip slowly loose to Kobayashi’s hand. Her body’s start trembling; biting her lips, tears rushed down her eyes.

“I was knew she’s in love with someone else.” Shirasawa’s voice become shaky. Her pretty face distorts with pain and anxiousness. Wailing like a child losing her toy, she bawled while facing Kobayashi.

“I understand what you feel, Ayase…” is the thought she has while looking at the girl in front of her. She knows the pain struck on her now.

Yet, instead of encouraging words, or comforting words, Kobayashi pulls Shirasawa forward to her. Locking her arms through the girl’s body, she firmly holds.

“I don’t know what words I can say to make you feel better. But I don’t think it’s enough for you.”

Kobayashi let the words out from her mouth. “I want you to know, that I will always be here for you. I won’t leave you, Ayase.”

Shirasawa, hearing the words from the friend she’s always been since, warms her feelings. The fluffy feeling wrapped around her, recalling all the things she saw today.

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And that made her heart shattered completely. Gripping tightly to Kobayashi, she bawled out. Within the deepest pain she felt, all the things she has been carrying slowly dissipates.

But now, the only thing she knows that there’s someone for her.

That one person who is special to her… always has been with her from the beginning.

Kobayashi Hinako, is the person she always depend on.

****

They stopped at the nearby park to take a rest.

Shirasawa calmed, holding a can of tea Kobayashi bought at the vending machine. Like awhile ago, they both become quiet.

“I’ve got no idea what to tell to her…” Shiraawa, who just realized all what she did awhile ago, awkwardly felt how to explain everything to Kobayashi.

“You don’t need to tell anything about it, Ayase. I’m not forcing you.” Kobayashi, somewhat seemed she read what Ayase is thinking, stated. “Huh?”

“I understand if you’re not ready to tell me about that person.” she added. Yet, little did Shirasawa knows is that Kobayashi knew about the feelings she has for Senior Sakagami.

Kobayashi doesn’t want to interrupt Shirasawa’s feelings. She knows that time is needed for her to heal and move on. “All I want to say is, I’m always here by your side.”

“Yeah, thanks… Hinako.” Shirasawa smiles. Since their middle school days, Shirasawa has been friends with Kobayashi, at that time the Physical Education started.

They’re the ones who haven’t got a partner for their back stretching, and from that, the bond they have together started. Kobayashi is a good natured girl; she’s the opposite side of herself.

“You’re always welcome, Ayase.” facing her, Kobayashi smiles. At the faint light of sunray of dusk, Shirasawa sees the glow of her friend. The dazzling feeling of a pretty woman burned to her image.

“You know, we’ve been together all this time, Hinako… but…”

“Huh?”

Their distance gets closer as Shirasawa moves a bit towards her. “I never knew you were this pretty.”

That blabbered words made Kobayashi twitched. “Huh?”

“You look really pretty, Hinako.”

“T-thank you.” Kobayashi answered awkwardly. Their atmosphere become stifle after Shirasawa blabbered those words. She did even feel the hotness of her face while recalling Kobayashi’s looks.

“I—I think it’s time for me to go home!” Kobayashi retorted as she stands. “Wait…” before she leaves, Shirasawa grabs her wrist.

“Huh?”

Both of them look at each other. Shirasawa’s expression firms out. “I just… well—can I kiss you?”

The sudden burst of words came from her mouth baffled Kobayashi. “Huh?”

“Ah, no… it’s not that! I mean—”

“If you’re not against it. Then…”

Just as the time Shirasawa gets to admit to herself that it’s just a matter of confusion between her addled feelings and the situation right now, Kobayashi retorted.

“Huh? No, Hinako—we’re both girls, you see?”

“I’m fine with it.”

That word elaborated through Kobayashi’s lips made Shirasawa twitched. “What is she saying? She’s fine kissing by me? We’re not dating at all! And besides—”

Recalling Senior Sakagami and her expression while facing Kira clumps her chest. This is just a confusion with her feelings right now. She can’t just use someone to forget.

“No. I’m sorry… Hinako.”

Shirasawa shows apologetic looks to the girl, as she averts her eyes off. Kobayashi didn’t speak, but she fully understands what Shirasawa is saying. Through that gesture, she just get off from the grip and walked away.

“What are you thinking?! Asking your friend for a kiss?! Are you stupid, Ayase!?”

And at that solitary place, both two girls having addled feelings starts to get bloom their inner desires to each other, while contemplating what each others’ feelings should bear for.