6 Our Kisses Note - Final (2/2)

”How? How don't you know? If you would pay attention to anything beyond your nose, there's no way you wouldn't have heard of it. It was the talk all over the city some months ago. Why do you think everyone knows about her...preferences?”

”Because you don't mind your own business… I mean, sorry, please tell…”

Aya gave Hina a cold look, but then let out another sigh before starting:

”Her ex-girlfriend is the daughter of a famous politician living in our city. Her name is… I forgot.”

”So famous…”

”Well, I don't really care about them in particular. It doesn't matter anyway. The point is that she started to date a girl, and that girl was Shizuhara. Of course, I don't know the details. I just know what happened after that, as everyone else in town… well, except you.”

Hina gave a scornful look while playing with her hair.

”I don't care about… people like her, anyway.”

”You really took a dislike for someone you hardly know, huh?” Aya said with a smile. ”Anyway, it only became known that they were dating when they break up. Or she broke up with Shizuhara, I guess since she didn't take it too well. The whole scandal happened because Shizuhara went to her ex's home after that, to get some explanation. And that's when everyone found out about their relationship.”

”Saki did?!” Hina asked, giving a shocked look. ”That Saki?! She can't even do anything for herself if she thinks she's bothering someone.”

”Well, I'm not sure, but maybe that's the reason why? I heard things got ugly. Her father even lost his job, or something. She was dealing with some powerful people, after all. In the end, she's just a dumb teenager, like us.”

”All because of that bland bitch? She was probably cheating on her even before that.”

”That's what the rumors say, at least. I admit I felt bad for Suzuhara at the time. Everyone in the whole city was talking about it… Well, except you, it seems.”

Hina looked at Saki's empty desk. The class hadn't started yet, and she still hadn't arrived. She turned to the window, giving a sad look outside.

”I'll apologize again,” she said.

And when lunch time came, Hina waited until Saki got out of the classroom. She followed after her and let a relieved sigh after realizing she was still going to the place they would always meet. When Hina approached Saki, she thought there was the same sign of relief in her eyes, but she was not sure.

She sat in silence beside Saki, opening her lunch box. Saki didn't say anything either and for a long moment, the two girls only watched over the backyard in silence while eating. Hina was the first to talk, after finishing her lunch.

”I'm sorry,” she said, avoiding to look at Saki.

”Again?” Saki also wouldn't look directly at Hina, so both girls were looking in opposite directions.

”Yes. Yesterday it was suddenly and I… Still feel bad about it. Aya is right, I'm a giant narcissist.”

Saki didn't say anything, poking her lips with her finger and waiting. Hina still didn't look at her as she talked, while playing with her hair. Her finger was shaking.

”So, yeah… About yesterday, I'm really sorry. What I did was disgusting, and you have all the right to hate me. And also… Sorry, but Aya told me about what happened, and I had no right to pry on your life.”

The silence surrounded both girls. Saki didn't say anything, and Hina was still struggling to keep talking. Still, she raised her voice when she continued.

”But you know what? I don't think it's right. I don't like how you punish yourself when it wasn't even your fault, to begin with. I'm sorry, I know, I'm a narcissist, so I don't get it, but… Why do you think you're bothering other just by following your feelings? Just by complaining when you were hurt? It's not your fault, that…”

Hina stopped. She felt like she would start crying if she kept going. She tried to breathe hard, as she was feeling agitated.

”Thank you,” Saki said. Her voice was calm.

When Hina looked at her, she felt Saki's hands hold her face gently as she approached, brushing their lips together in a soft kiss. Hina felt her heartbeat rush, and when Saki distanced from her, her face was burning.

Looking at Hina's reaction, Saki also blushed and looked away.

”W-What's with that reaction?” Saki said, struggling with her words. ”Huh… Y-You… T-This is like always, right?”

”It's not,” Hina said, and when Saki looked at her, she had a big smile on her red face. ”This is the first time you kiss me. I'm always the one doing it.”

”I-Is that so? I didn't realize,” she said, looking away from Hina again.

Hina didn't say anything for some awkward minutes, and when her voice was back, she was very weak.

”Also, huh, it did bother me a little that you had a girlfriend before, I guess.”

Saki gave her a confused look.

”I-I mean… I always thought that time in class was your first kiss, too,” Hina said while playing with her hair and looking at the ground.

”Well… Wait, too? Was that your first kiss?”

”Of course it was! What do you think my kisses are?!”

”Something you use to bargain for grades?”

”Ugh,” Hina looked away uncomfortable.

”But you see… Although it wasn't my first kiss, we probably did it more than I did with her now, anyway.”

”Is that so?” Hina smiled, while trying to hide it from Saki. ”So, so, so… Which one was better?” She asked, suddenly turning excited to Saki's way.

”You mean…”

”Between me and her. Which kiss you like the best?”

”Only between you two?”

”Only? Wait… H-How many girls did you kiss?!”

Saki couldn't resist and let a laugh out. She feared Hina would be annoyed, but the girl started to laugh with her.

The way Hina looked at her while laughing made Saki experience confusing feelings. She wanted to run away, but she also wanted to hug Hina firm in her arms. She controlled herself so she wouldn't do either.

That was the moment Saki realizing she was falling for that girl. But she also knew that wouldn't go anywhere. After all, their deal would end soon.

20 kisses left

”You think I can be her friend?” Hina asked Aya in the corridor, before the start of the classes. They were waiting while Sayaka went to get something in the infirmary.

”What? Oh, you mean Shizuhara?” Aya said, taking her eyes from her smartphone.

”Yeah, Saki. I was thinking. We're almost over with the kisses, but what should we do after that? I do have fun around her. I called her out again after the park, you know?”

”Oh, is that so?”

”We went on a shopping spree, although she only carried my bags. We also went to the movies because there was a movie I wanted to watch. Also, we went to eat that cake I wanted to…”

”So you pretty much only did things you wanted?”

”That's…! Completely right… But!”

”Well, after such a long time together, she's probably used to it.”

”So… You think she would accept being my friend?”

Aya fell into silence. She stared at her smartphone with a stern face while touching the screen aimlessly.

”Again… You realize Shizuhara likes girls, right?”

”Yeah… So what?”

”I mean, have you thought about how she…” But Aya stopped and looked at Hina who waited with anticipation for her answer. She gave her friend a smile. ”You know what, forget it. It's not my place to say anything. If you want to be her friend, ask her and find out what she thinks of it.”

Hina gave a relieved smile.

”You're right. I should just tell her already… But, I'll still wait.”

”Hmmm,” made Aya, still waiting for Hina to continue.

”I mean, we still have 20 kisses left, and it would be awkward keep doing it if we're officially friends. So I'll tell her after the last one.”

”I see, that makes sense, but Hina…” In a rare gesture of affection, Aya ruffled Hina's hair. ”I just want you to know, I'll support you in any decision you make. And I'll force Sayaka to stop being a bitch about it, either. So don't hold yourself.”

Hina slapped Aya's hand away while smiling nervously.

”W-What are you saying?” Then she took her own smartphone and started touching it as Sayaka approached them. ”But well, now I can't wait to give her the last kiss.”

Later that day, while Saki was heading to the place she would meet Hina as always, Sayaka was waiting for her. She made a signal with her hand, ordering the girl to stop.

”What is it?” Saki said. ”Look, I know you don't like me, but if you had a problem, you should talk with Hina instead.”

”Hina, huh?” Sayaka gave an intimidating look at Saki but then relaxed her face in a smile. ”Well, that's fine. You're almost over with all this, anyway, right?”

Saki didn't say anything, still standing in her place.

”I mean, I heard it from Hina herself,” Sayaka went on. ”She just can't wait for the last kiss. I guess she's tired of it, after all. You do know, right? After this is all over, she has no reason to hang out with you. So you go back to like you were before.”

”I…” For a moment, Saki hesitated. But then she lifted her face, staring straight into Sayaka's eyes. ”Of course I always knew that. Now, if you'll let me go…” She walked past Sayaka, letting the other girl throwing an angry look at her back.

5 kisses left

”I don't get it. I don't get what she's thinking,” Hina said to her two friends. It was a Sunday afternoon and the three girls were sitting outside of a famous Cafe, eating cake. Hina was touching her smartphone, almost furiously. ”She has been avoiding me the whole week. I thought we would finally be over with this, but she…!”

”Shizuhara?” Aya asked, already knowing the answer.

”Yeah, her! She's not answering my messages. She's no picking the phone. I don't understand. Did I do something to her?”

”I can think of a lot of things, actually. But nothing new.”

”And here I was excited to tell her how I feel…” Hina let out a sigh, leaving her phone on the table in front of her while she took a bite of her cafe. ”That stupid Saki!”

Sayaka watched in silence while Aya grabbed Hina's phone from the table and started using it. Hina didn't care that she did it in the past.

”I mean, isn't it better this way?” Sayaka said finally.

”How?” Hina looked astonished at Sayaka.

”Well, if she doesn't want to do it anymore, you can just let it go. It's her loss, right?”

”You don't get it. I was planning to ask her to be my friend,” Hina gave another bite on her cake, looking desolate. Sayaka made a confused face.

”What was that?” Sayaka asked. It was Aya who let out a sudden exclamation.

”Oh, that's right! You weren't with us that day. Actually, Hina was planning to keep being friends with her after it was all over.”

”Huh? Why?” Sayaka said, throwing a confused look at Hina. Aya caught that up and faced her friend.

”Sayaka, did you…? Did you say something to her?”

”W-Why are you…?”

”You just look like you're hiding something…”

At that moment, Hina looked at Sayaka too. She rose from her chair suddenly, making everyone look in their direction.

”Did you say something to her?” She asked with vigor.

”I… I just said what I heard… You looked excited to stop kissing her, so…” Sayaka was clearly nervous, trying to choose her word carefully.

”You idiot!” Hina shouted, not caring for the faces that turned in her direction. ”Why would you…? Ah, of course, so that's why…”

Hina let her body fall on her chair, putting a hand on her face. But her expression changed as she realized something.

”Wait a minute… When did you tell her that?”

”T-That day when I heard you on the hall…”

”Wait, so… Why is she only avoiding me now? That was weeks ago.”

”Because she thinks you'll start to avoid her,” Aya said, not taking her eyes off Hina's phone. ”Since you only have five kisses left.”

”Huh?! She doesn't want me to avoid her, so she avoids me? Is she an idiot?”

”You're supposed to be the idiot here. You can't expect reason when love… Wait, I talked too much,” Aya smiled, covering her mouth.

”Don't say such absurd…” Sayaka started, but Aya looked at her with a sarcastic smile.

”Sayaka, dear, shut up for a second, ok?” Then she turned to Hina. ”Say, Hina, are you missing kissing her?”

”Wha…” Hina reacted.

”I mean, your last kiss was two weeks ago, right? On a Friday. Below a cherry tree, with the wind caressing your cheeks. The nostalgic aroma of wet grass involving you two as her firm arms hold your waist and… wow,” Aya was looking at Hina's smartphone the whole time. The girl blushed.

”W-What are you even reading? Stop that…”

”No, like, when did your description become this detailed?”

”Huh?” Hina was visibly confused.

”I mean, like, here, look. Your very first entry in this… kiss note?... says 'in the classroom, never do it again', then 'inside the stall; bathroom'. It just stays like that for the first… at least 20 notes. But then you start to get a little more detailed. 'Walking home, in the sun it's hard to see her face'. 'After lunch, it tastes like strawberry this time'. 'On the mall, on a dark corner we can't be seen, a serenade is playing. Her lips are shaking a little.' Well, it starts to become pretty much a poem in the latest ones. Why is that?”

”T-That's…” Hina's face is bright red and she found it difficult to talk. ”I haven't thought about that, but now that you're reading it, I guess it's weird. I had fun writing and, huh… Thinking about… Huh…”

”It's not weird at all. Being romantic,” Aya gave Hina a smile.

Hina didn't react. Listening to Aya reading her notes was the first time she realized what she was actually writing. She felt her heartbeat accelerate. Deep down she knew why her notes were getting more detailed. Why she spent more time building them.

”I wanted… to keep those moments for a little more time…” She said in loud voice, but only talking to herself. ”I… Ah… I see… I am…”

Before she could finish, Aya rose from the chair and pointed to the other side of the street.

”Hina, look!” she said.

Hina turned to see Saki. She was staring directly at her, but when their eyes met, she ran away. As if losing control of her body, Hina started to run after her, too. Sayaka tried to yell at her, but Aya held her.

Saki started to run through the crowd on downtown, with Hina tailing after her. Hina thought she was more athletic, but she realized Saki's long legs would give her a vantage against her, even if her physical condition wasn't the best. Hina knew she couldn't reach Saki. She could just wait for the next day and talk to her at school, and yet…

”Saki! You're bothering everyone again!” She shouted. Saki stopped.

Without stop, Hina grabbed Saki's hand and pulled her to an alley where the two found themselves alone.

”Finally,” Hina said and, holding Saki's wrists, kissed her five times, one after another. After the fifith one, she stared into Saki's eyes. ”100. We're done.”

Hina let go of Saki's wrists. Looking at her face, she realized there were tears forming in her eyes. Trying to hide it, Saki tried to run away again, but Hina grabbed her arm again and pushed her back against the wall. Throwing her arms around Saki's neck, Hina gave her another kiss.

Saki looked confused as Hina gave a step back and looked at her with a smile.

”A-Another one?” Saki said.

”Those last five were because I promised you,” Hina said, her finger making round movements on her hair. ”This one I'm giving to you because I want to.”

”I...I don't get it,” Saki was visible perplexed, but the tears in her eyes had dried.

”Y-You see…” Hina gave a nervous smile, avoiding to look straight at Saki. ”I, huh, I was planning to ask you to be my friend after this was over. Since I had fun with you and all. But after talking to Aya I realized I don't really want that. So… That's why… ”She made an effort to lift her head and stare at Saki with a smile: ”I'm giving you the privilege of having me as your girlfriend…”

A long silence passed between them. During that time, only the voices of people walking in the sideways could be heard. The first to raise her voice was Saki, in an incredulous tone.

”What?! Why are you saying it as if I had won a prize?”

”So you don't want it?” Hina yelled at her.

”Of course I want!” Saki shouted and hugged Hina close to her. She was so close that Hina could hear her fast heartbeats. ”I swear, if you're playing with me…”

”I'm not joking,” Hina said with a gentle smile. She put her hands on Saki's face and brought it closer to her, giving another kiss on her lips. ”And this is number two.”

0 kisses left

One week had passed since Hina caught Saki on the street and became her girlfriend. She was at the same Cafe together with Aya and Sayaka again, but this time she was nervously looking at her smartphone all the time and surveying around.

She had told them first about her girlfriend. Aya was happy to hear it, but Sayaka still protested at first. Until Aya had a private talk with her and, for some reason Hina would never know, she changed her mind. She even said Saki that she was sorry. Luckily, Saki had not resentments against her, or she was just too happy to care.

Hina was wearing her best clothes and her feet couldn't stay still, swinging below the table.

”Is your date late?” Aya asked.

”She's not late. But I… Well, this is our first official date as… girlfriends,” a big smile formed on her mouth as she said the word. ”So I'm a little excited.”

”Well, it's amazing she's not here yet,” Sayaka said.

”By the way, Hina,” Aya said, with a discrete smile on the corner of her mouth. ”Are you still keeping that kisses note?”

”Oh, yeah,” Hina took her smartphone and passed it to Aya. ”That was a little fun, so I thought I should keep doing it. Sometimes I take a photo, too. I'm not sure the counter is right, though. Sometimes I don't remember making a note because I'm too...well, you know,” she said with a smile.

”I see,” Aya gave some touches on the screen. ”Kiss number 134... Wow, 34 kisses in just one week? That's something.”

”34?” Hina asked with a confused face. ”Oh, no, no, no. I'm not counting the first 100. I don't think it would be fair, so I started from 1.”

”Wait… You don't mean,” Sayaka started to say, but was interrupted when someone hugged Hina from behind, making her almost jump from her chair.

”Hey, Saki,” Aya said, passing the phone back to Hina. Sayaka just nodded at her.

”Hey, mind if I take this cute girl with me?” Saki pulled Hina by the hand. Hina linked arms with her.

”I'm sure they'll be sad to lose my company, but a promise is a promise. So long, girls.”

”Yeah,” Aya said, waving to the two girls as they went to their date. When they disappear into the crowd, she turned to Sayaka. ”134 kisses.”

Sayaka also couldn't take her eyes from the crowd where the girls disappeared, stupefied.

”In just one week...”