The house was unusually quiet. Kazuki had just returned from his part-time job, expecting Aoi to be home, but instead, he found a note on the fridge:
"Onii-chan, I'm at Akemi's house. Don't wait for me!"
Kazuki sighed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. It was rare for the house to be so peaceful, and he decided to enjoy the quiet for once. As he settled into the couch, his phone buzzed.
"I'm outside. Let me in," Shizuka's text read.
Kazuki's eyebrows shot up. He quickly got up, opened the door, and found Shizuka standing there, holding a bag in one hand and an umbrella in the other. The sky behind her was grey, a light drizzle starting to fall.
"Shizuka? What are you doing here?" he asked, stepping aside to let her in.
"I figured you'd be home alone, so I thought I'd keep you company," she said, smiling warmly. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, either from the chill outside or the boldness of her decision to visit.
"Good timing. Aoi's out, so we have the whole place to ourselves," Kazuki said casually, leading her to the living room.
Shizuka's heart skipped a beat at his words, but she quickly brushed the thought aside. "I brought snacks," she said, holding up the bag.
"Perfect. I'll make tea," Kazuki offered.
As Kazuki busied himself in the kitchen, Shizuka sat on the couch, her eyes wandering around the room. It was always comforting being in Kazuki's house, a place filled with memories from their childhood. She absentmindedly flipped through a magazine on the coffee table, but her thoughts kept drifting to Kazuki.
When he returned with two steaming cups of tea, Shizuka couldn't help but notice how effortlessly charming he looked, even in a simple t-shirt and jeans.
"Here you go," Kazuki said, handing her a cup and sitting beside her.
"Thanks," she murmured, taking a sip. The warmth spread through her, though she wasn't sure if it was from the tea or Kazuki's proximity.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the sound of rain pattering against the windows creating a soothing backdrop. But as the minutes ticked by, the quiet between them grew heavier, charged with an unspoken tension.
Kazuki finally broke the silence. "So, what's the real reason you came over?"
Shizuka blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean? I told you, I just wanted to keep you company."
Kazuki smirked, leaning a little closer. "You didn't think I'd believe that, did you? You've never been the type to do things without a reason."
Shizuka felt her cheeks heat up. "Maybe I just missed you," she admitted softly, avoiding his gaze.
Kazuki's smirk faded, replaced by a softer expression. He reached out, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "You could've just said that."
Shizuka's heart pounded in her chest as his hand lingered, his fingers brushing against her cheek. She looked up at him, her breath hitching as their eyes met.
"Kazuki…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
He leaned in, his lips hovering just inches from hers. "Shizuka, if you don't want this, tell me now," he murmured, his voice low and filled with an intensity that made her knees weak.
She didn't respond with words. Instead, she closed the gap between them, pressing her lips to his in a kiss that was soft at first but quickly grew deeper, more passionate.
Kazuki's arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer as the world outside faded away. The tea on the table grew cold, forgotten in the heat of their embrace. Shizuka's fingers tangled in his hair, and she couldn't help but marvel at how natural this felt, as if they'd been made for moments like this.
When they finally broke apart, both were breathless. Shizuka's face was flushed, her lips slightly swollen from the intensity of their kiss.
"Wow," she whispered, her voice shaky but filled with happiness.
Kazuki chuckled, resting his forehead against hers. "Yeah. Wow."
They sat there for a moment, simply holding each other. But then Kazuki, ever the tease, couldn't resist breaking the moment with a smirk.
"By the way, you're a terrible liar," he said, earning a playful smack on the arm from Shizuka.
"Oh, shut up," she said, though she couldn't stop smiling.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter and stolen kisses. They talked about everything and nothing, their connection growing deeper with each passing moment. And as the rain continued to fall outside, they both silently wished for the night to never end.