Chapter 18
"Fifteen hundred dollars!? I don't have that kinda money!" Ayane said both worried and shocked. Sora took a glance at Ayane and patted her head in an attempt to calm her down.
"It's ok… My parents will take care of it…"
"Wait, what?"
"Yeah… My parents are pretty wealthy… Someday they want me to take over the family business…" Ayane looked at her in awe and immediately stopped admiring after she saw the despondent look on Sora's face. She looked as if she had brought up some awful memories. Ayane felt bad, she gently rubbed Sora's shoulder.
"It's alright Ayane I'm fine don't worry about me…"
"But I am worried about you… What's going on, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine…" Ayane didn't seem too sure about Sora's response to her question, but she didn't wanna bother her anymore, so she let it go.
"I'll give my parents a call…" Sora said standing up. Ayane stood up with her and walked in front of her with a smile.
"Mind if I come with?" Ayane asked.
"Sure…" Responded Sora, feeding her a smile back. As they walked to the Center Building Ayane got some flashbacks of where she had first seen Sora. This was the place they first met, standing face-to-face with each other. Ayane smiled to herself as she watched Sora walk past her and to the Center Building lady to ask for the phone. Ayane watches Sora play with the connector to the phone, twirling it around in her finger as she held the phone up to her ear and started speaking, like she was watching an angel speak to a descendant.
Ayane walked back to the middle of the Center Building, where Sora and Ayane first locked eyes. She stood in the same place she found herself in on that day of memories. Sora walked back to Ayane from the phone and stood directly in front of Ayane at her designated spot. They both smiled at each other.
"You remember this spot, Sora?" Ayane said with a sweet smile.
"Yes I do…" It's where we first met, they both thought.
"Sora, can I ask you something?" Ayane seemed nervous, she was now twiddling with her thumbs, this made Sora nervous as well.
"Go on…" Sora said nervously.
"So, what do your parents do? And do you have any siblings?" As Sora asked these questions, her nerves calmed themselves like a peaceful ocean current. She then took a deep breath making a slight "phew" sound.
"My parents own the largest phone company in the world.. Nani Technology… Someday they want me to take over the business when they pass on… As for siblings… I don't have any, I'm an only child… Sometimes I wish I had siblings… They seem fun to have…" After Sora told her that Ayane reminisced back to the times where Sora would talk to Himura a lot. Ayane smiled,
"Is that why you're so fond of my sister?" Sora gasped in surprise.
"I-I suppose you could say that…" She said looking away for a split second.
"She can be your sister too, Sora, there is no need to be embarrassed!" Ayane said with a grin. Sora got more flustered than before. She instantly turned around and looked toward the ground.
Ayane felt bad. Having Sora look at the ground so despondently made Ayane feel guilty, but she felt worse after what Sora had said.
"I just wish I had someone to share my feelings with of the caliber you and your sister do…" Just then Sora feels a tight embrace from behind. As Sora gasps in shock she can hear Ayane's tears plopping onto the floor.
"I'll always be there for you Sora!..." Sora's eyes widened as her tear ducts started coating her eyes with the clear liquid substance.
"I'll always be there when you're upset!... Or feeling down!... When you're sick!... Or nervous!..." Ayane, yelling at the top of her lungs in a desperate attempt to make Sora understand her feelings, was balling her eyes out. Ayane's embrace loosened enough for Sora to turn around and still be in the hug. Sora wrapped her arms around Ayane and rested her chin on her shoulder rubbing her back soothingly.
"I'm so sorry Ayane… I didn't mean to make you fee–" Sora had gotten interrupted by Ayane as she felt her move a bit. Sora retracted from the hug, lifting her head up ever so slightly to see Ayane's tear filled face. As the duo made eye contact with each other, they both felt their worries go away within the body heat emanating from the two of them. As Sora realized they were still holding each other, she goes to retract herself from the hug only for Ayane to stop her in the process. Sora, flustered a bit, was confused; until Ayane brushed hair behind Sora's ear. Ayane leaned in and kissed Sora on the lips. Right there, in the hall where they first met. As Sora felt Ayane's lips press against her own, Sora closed her eyes and let the moment take place. Ayane and Sora slowly pulled their faces away from one another causing their lips to untie themselves like rope, and make a smacking sound. The duo stared at each other for a second longer before turning to themselves with crimson red faces.
They both turned back around to face each other, Ayane smiling sweetly at Sora, and Sora doing the same. After their shared moment, making more memories than the last, they walked out of the Center Building side by side, laughing at each other's jokes, and enjoying each other's company like they had always done. Neither of them spoke of the kiss they had, they completely dropped the whole thing like it never happened, but inside they both knew it did, and it lived rent free in their minds, knowing they couldn't live without each other.