Takina sighed as she stood by the hall stretching her hips. Mizuki eyed her suspiciously.
“You okay?”
“Ah, yes. Just a little tired…” Takina sighed again as she tried to stretch her waist, as if she’s got a knotted muscle she can’t unknot.
Mizuki turned to look at Chisato. “Chisato?”
“E- Ehh?” Chisato blinked at her. “Wh- What?”
“Why are you the one blushing?”
And on a different day.
Takina covered her mouth as she yawned. “I’m sorry.”
Kurumi turned to look at her. “Lack of sleep?”
“…Only a little.” She yawned again and muttered a small ‘I’m sorry’.
Kurumi raised an eyebrow and looked at Chisato. “Hm?”
“Ehhh? Why me?”
“I mean, who else?” Kurumi took a tray and carried it.
“If there is someone else I think I’d go crazy?” Chisato raised an eyebrow and Takina only yawned again.
It was after that one evening.
“Chisa…to… Stop.” Takina panted as she gently pushed Chisato away. “We have a duty early tomorrow.”
“Eh~ Just one last? Please?” Chisato nuzzled her cheeks with her nose as her eyes looked at the bed side clock that said 2:27AM
“Ah, geez…” Takina closed her eyes as she accepted the warm and soft kiss as Chisato’s warm skin collided with her own.
“This is your fault, Chisato!” Takina and Chisato ran as fast as they could. “I told you we should have stopped!”
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it! You were–” Chisato closed her mouth as Takina turned around to glare at her. Her eyes drifting down to that exposed neck by the uniform as she felt a cold sweat trickle down her spine. “Oh man… Oh nonono…”
“You two had fun, that’s why you’re late?” Mizuki stood next to their car that was already in front of the cafe as the two of them arrived.
“No, Chisato was…” Takina looked into Mizuki’s eyes who seemed to be not looking at her eyes but somewhere else. It was her mouth, or nose, but around that vicinity. She walked towards the car’s side mirror and looked at her neck.
There they were. Two red spots at the bottom of her neck, one of them was hidden by the collar of the lycoris uniform, and the other was just slightly above it. Her face colored red from the neck up as she angrily marched towards Chisato who was trying to shrink herself to the other side of the car.
“Chisato!”
“H- HYES!?!?” Chisato turned to look at an ominously angry Takina angry-stomping towards. “Please, let me expl–“
“I already told you we should have stopped last night… I also told you to not leave marks here!” Takina pointed at her neck as Chisato gave her a complete bow.
“S- Sorry~ I got too into it. Also Takina you were–“
“Don’t start blaming it on me, I am gonna smack you.” Takina raised her hand before sighing. “What am I going to do with you?”
“I’m sorryyyyy!”
“Get in. Before we actually become late. Finish your marital problems later, ugh.” Mizuki got on the car as Takina and Chisato complied and got on the back. “This is why I hate young couples. Do this, and that, don’t take the time, not being responsible, ughhhhhh.”
For now, Takina has fixed her kiss mark problems by raising her collar a little bit and some make up help from Mizuki. Chisato kept on glancing at Takina who still seemed to be in an extremely bad mood.
“…No touching for a week.” Takina voiced out rigidly. “You cannot touch me for week in any way or form.”
“S- Starting tomo–???”
“Starting now.” Takina glared at her before looking down in between them as they sat next to each other in the car. She moved a bit further from Chisato and leaned her body on the window side.
“Eh? Eeeehhhh…?” Chisato blinked as she realized what was happening, and it was really going to happen. Mizuki only looked at her through the rear view mirror who mouthed ‘You reap what you sow.’ at her. “Okay…”
“I’ll be taking a break!” After seeing a customer off, Chisato raised her hands for a break and quietly went into the break room as everyone nodded and responded to her.
Mizuki only looked at Takina who was standing by the counter. “That one’s gonna start wilting you know?”
Takina only looked at Mizuki in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Three days of not touching you or being in close proximity with you is draining her energy.” Mizuki leaned her waist onto the counter as she stretched her arms. “Not entirely sure what happened to you two why you were late that day… Actually no, I know exactly what happened to you two, but you know, forgive her.”
Takina looked at the direction to the break room. “It was not like I was still angry with her. I had already forgiven her on that day, but I felt that if I don’t go this far, it would just happen again. I suppose, some sacrifices had to be made.”
“You got a real good woman right here, Chisato…” Mizuki groaned then sighed. “Well, don’t overdo it. A week’s too long.”
“Do you think so?” Takina asked innocently.
“How do you feel?”
“…I suppose so.” Takina looked down at her own hands as she blushed a little. “I do miss her a little.”
“Uuughhhhhhh… Takinaaaaaaa.” Chisato zombie walked towards the nearest tatami table and dropped her body onto the table. The last customer for the day had just left, the door sign’s been turned to ‘Closed’ and Chisato and Kurumi were left to clean the store while Takina went to shop for supplies. “I miss youuuuuuuu.”
“Have you told her that? No idea what happened to you two. Had a fight?” Kurumi wiped a table.
“They had a lover’s quarrel, then Chisato got banned from skinship.” Mizuki gave Chisato a teasing grin, and Chisato only gritted her teeth at her with a ‘Grrr.’
“It’s not a lover’s quarrel if only one of them is angry!” Chisato sighed as she got up from the table and sat next to it. “How could she just suddenly switch back to her cool and cold self so quickly…?”
“Have you tried talking to her?” Kurumi raised an eyebrow and moved to another table.
“Well, I did try but she’d just give me small greetings and leave… She won’t go home to the same house too… Takinaaaaaaaa.” Chisato cried out as she smacked her forehead onto the table. “Takinaaaaaaaaaaa.”
“You’re noisy! Of course she won’t go home to wherever you are, you predator.” Mizuki drank from her cup of sake and continued typing away at her laptop.
“You make it sound like we do it against her will! It was consensual! Con! Sen! Sual!” Chisato gritted her teeth at her again before dropping her head onto the table again. “Takinaaaaaa.”
“Oh god, she’s annoying.” Mizuki just sighed and downed a cup. “It’s because you do it too much that it has turned out into this. You’ve got a real pushy side to you when it comes to things.”
“I’m not pushy! I ask properly! I make sure I get a yes, or a nod, or something!” Chisato glared at Mizuki who equally just glared at her. “I mean, if she’s that cute and sexy…”
“Ahhh! I’m not hearing this! I’m not listening!” Mizuki covered her ears as Chisato grinned at her, as if she won at something.
“I don’t think Takina’s really angry at you, though? Maybe just teaching you a lesson.” Kurumi shrugged as she wiped a different table. “You do sort of have an unstoppable force, kind of side.”
“Guh…” Chisato flinched from the table. “You think it’s that…? I mean, I’m willing to change anything about me for her…”
“I’m back.” The door chimed and Chisato immediately rose like a dog whose master finally returned home.
“Takinaaa~ Welcome back!” Chisato got up from the table and immediately rushed towards her with open arms, but was only met with a cold stare. “O- Oh, ah, s- sorry…” She immediately looked sad, like a dog whose ears suddenly drooped forward when rejected for treats. “I–uh–I’ll take these to the pantry.”
Chisato took the bags from Takina’s hands careful not to touch her and quietly walked towards the back rooms.
Mizuki and Kurumi only looked at Takina, then sighed.
“Eh?” Takina only blinked at them.
“We should just leave them to fix their marital problems.” Mizuki grumbled as Kurumi agreed.
Takina only blinked at them as if a huge question mark was above her head.
Chisato brought down the groceries and started taking them out one by one.
“Milk… Red bean, the tea should be here…” Chisato sorted out the groceries as she heard the door open. “Good work today.” She greeted the person who went in without checking who it was. She just focused on her task at hand.
“Chisato.”
“O- Oohh. Takina.” Chisato only looked at her worriedly before blinking a few times and trying her best to focus her attention on the grocery again. “Going home now?”
Takina only looked at her, then the watch. “No. I was here to help you sort those groceries.”
Chisato smiled at her wryly before checking the stuff again. “It’s not too many, I can handle it.” Unable to focus, Chisato shook her head as she tried to hyper focus on it instead. Her brain could only say ‘Takina, Takina’ but she knew that she shouldn’t be feeling that way.
“Chisato.”
“Yes?”
“Please look at me?”
Chisato only gazed at her for a short time before turning back to then plastic of grocery and taking everything her eyes see. “Don’t think so…?”
“Why so?” Takina blinked.
“When I see you I want to hug you, or touch your hand, so… no. I want to fulfill my promise…” Chisato sighed as she focused on one grocery bag, then to another. “Grocery, grocery… Just four more days… Grocery, grocery…”
Takina only watched her work. Just as Mizuki mentioned, watching this Chisato, was like watching a puppy kicked out of their home, and not giving them the love they deserved.
If it’s not a bright and happy Chisato, then it may not be Nishikigi Chisato. Takina felt guilty and sad that it was because of her that Chisato now looked like a lost puppy, but if she didn’t do it, something like what happened last time could continue, and that wasn’t good. She fought with her internal morals, it was good that they were late only to the meet up, but what if a life was lost because they were being too lax with time?
“Chisato.”
Chisato blinked and looked at Takina who was already standing next to her. “Whoa, when did you get there? Don’t surprise me like that… Whew.”
“I’m sorry.” Takina wrapped her arms around Chisato’s body as she pressed her body onto her back.
“N- No- No. Like you said, it was my fault, why are you apologizing?” Chisato struggled where to put her hands. She wanted to turn around and hold Takina too. Hold her hands on her stomach? Her arms? Where does she put her hands?
“True, it was your fault.” Takina agreed without remorse as Chisato felt the guilt strike her in the heart. “However, thinking about it, I think preventing you from touching me was also as mean.”
“Y- You mean I can touch you now?” Chisato turned to face Takina as she separated from the hug. “I can?”
Takina smiled at her. “I suppose. No kissing, though?”
Chisato blinked at her. “C- Can I hold your hand?”
“Just my hand?”
“H- Hug?”
Takina opened her arms at Chisato. “Come?”
“Ta- Takinaaaaaa.” Chisato immediately lunged to hug her, wrapping her arms around Takina’s neck as she embraced her tightly. “Takina, Takina. My first Takina in three days~~~”
Takina rubbed Chisato’s back as she laughed after she had just nuzzled her neck. If Chisato had a dog’s tail, it must be wagging so wildly right now.
“Takinaaaaa~~~”
“Yes, yes.” Takina patted Chisato’s back as they parted. “I will lift the restriction, but only if you agree to my conditions.”
“A- Anything!” Chisato looked at her with sparkling eyes.
“First, we absolutely cannot do it if we have a duty for the next day.” Takina raised a finger to count. “Next, when we do it, no marks in places clothing can’t cover.”
Chisato nodded as Takina spoke. Then she raised an eyebrow.
“Lastly, let’s talk properly about our problems, okay?” Takina smiled at her.
Chisato grinned at her as she brightly nodded at her.
“I also assume you understand why I did this?” Takina questioned.
“…Ever since we started dating, we’ve been too negligent with time. I’ve also been too pushy with the things I want to do…?” Chisato looked at her as if confirming it.
“That’s right. If because we were negligent, and that caused someone’s life to end, or something bigger than that, do you think you’re able to forgive yourself?” Chisato shook her head. “Yes, because I am also the same. I’m proud of you for realizing that on your own.”
“Hehe~ I got praised~ Well, I do think about things too~ And I also realized them too… I’m sorry.” Chisato bowed her head and Takina patted her hair gently.
“It’s okay. I forgive you.” Takina smiled at her.
” But, wait a minute… Going back… What do you mean by no markings in places clothes can’t cover…?” Chisato blinked as she watched Takina blush before her. “Eh?”
“Eh?” Takina looked at her as if finally remembering what she had just said earlier. “I- It’s not that, they’re bad? Maybe I like it when you mark me, as yours…?” She looked away as she hugged her own arm.
“Ta- Takina…? Ugh, no, no, don’t switch on now, Nishikigi Chisato.” Chisato groaned as she agonized the feeling of wanting to kiss her, and hug her. Hug-kiss her. “Um… Can we, later?”
“We have duty tomorrow, so we can’t.”
“C- Can we at least sleep next to each other?”
“If you promise to be a good girl and keep your hands to yourself.”
“I promise to be a good girl!” Chisato saluted at her.
“Good. I’m counting on you, then.” Takina smiled as she stood next to Chisato and helped her with sorting the already abandoned groceries. “What do you want for dinner?”
“Ah! I forgot about sorting the groceries!” Chisato went back to it as Takina laughed. “Dinner? Hmm… Udon?”
“Udon? Okay, then.”
“Takina’s udon~~”
“Yes, yes.”
“Takina.” Chisato gently held her hand and looked at her. “Thank you.”
“What for?” Takina squeezed Chisato’s hand.
“For forgiving me, and teaching me this lesson. I’ll do my best so I could be the best lover to you. Last time, that was my fault. I’ll practice better self-restraint from now on.”
“Then, I’m counting on you, Chisato.”
“Lovebirds stop flirting and finish that so we could close up!” Mizuki’s loud voice startled them both as they quickly finished their duty.
“Unmarried women are scary.” Chisato whispered followed by a stifled ‘nishishi’.
“Be quiet or we’ll get scolded again.” Takina laughed as she pushed Chisato with her shoulder.
“You better not be backstabbing me back there! Or is it just stabbing because you’re back there?” Mizuki shouted at them again.
“You’re drunk.” Kurumi’s voice followed.
“I’m having a moment here!”
(Restriction/END)
