The library was quiet, the faint hum of the air conditioner the only sound as Kikidori and Tsuki sat in their isolated corner. Tsuki's blush had barely faded from earlier, her book still clutched tightly in her hands. Kikidori, stoic as ever, shifted in his seat, his crimson eyes scanning the room.
"Alright, I should go," Kikidori muttered, standing up.
But as he did, his foot caught on the leg of the table, sending him stumbling forward. Simultaneously, Tsuki attempted to stand, likely to say goodbye. Their movements collided in the worst way possible. Tsuki stumbled backward, hitting the wall with a soft thud, and Kikidori, off balance, fell toward her.
Before either of them could react, Kikidori's arm pressed against the wall beside her head, his body leaning close to hers. Their faces were mere inches apart, and Tsuki froze, her cheeks lighting up like a Christmas tree. Her wide eyes darted to his, her breath hitching.
"I—" Kikidori started, his tone awkward for once.
But before he could finish, the sound of the library door creaking open filled the room. Kikidori glanced over his shoulder, still pinning Tsuki against the wall.
In walked Ere'ana, Taiyo, and Tessa.
The room felt like it dropped ten degrees as the trio froze in their tracks. Ere'ana blinked, her emerald eyes narrowing as her gaze fell on the compromising position between Kikidori and her best friend.
"Kikidori," Ere'ana began, her tone unnervingly calm. "Are you… having an affair with my bestie?"
Tsuki let out a panicked squeak, attempting to stammer out an explanation, but Ere'ana wasn't finished.
"Because if you are—" Ere'ana took a step closer, her voice lowering dangerously.
"Wait, no, I—" Kikidori tried to interject, but Ere'ana cut him off.
"I don't care," she said, shrugging.
Kikidori blinked, utterly thrown off. "What?"
Ere'ana crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "It's okay. They call it a threeso—"
"Stop!" Kikidori blurted, his voice louder than usual. His face was a mix of confusion and frustration as he stepped back, putting distance between himself and Tsuki. "This isn't what it looks like!"
Tsuki, still plastered to the wall, was visibly trembling, her blush somehow deepening. She looked between Ere'ana and Kikidori, her voice trembling. "E-Ere'ana, if… if you're okay with it… c-can I… kiss Kikidori?"
The room fell silent.
Kikidori turned to Tsuki, his eyes wide for once, his mouth slightly open in disbelief. "What did you just—"
"Sure!" Ere'ana said cheerfully, cutting him off.
"What?!" Kikidori exclaimed, staring at Ere'ana like she'd lost her mind.
Tsuki hesitated for a moment, then closed her eyes and leaned forward, her lips brushing against Kikidori's for a fleeting moment before she bolted out of the library like a frightened rabbit.
The room remained in stunned silence as Kikidori slowly turned back to Ere'ana.
"You're crazy," he said flatly.
Ere'ana grinned, blowing a raspberry at him. "You love me for it."
Kikidori sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm surrounded by lunatics."
Meanwhile, Taiyo and Tessa stood by the door, both too shocked to say anything. Tessa finally broke the silence.
"Well, that was… something," she muttered, her eyebrows raised.
"Welcome to my life," Kikidori replied, shoving his hands in his pockets and walking past them toward the door.
Ere'ana skipped after him, humming a tune as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.