Jealousy
Disclaimer: A little piece of work I wrote a long time ago, that I now discovered while organizing my computer files. I decided to give it a few improvements and share it with you. Takeru and Hikari moments are never enough! Maybe I will put it also on Fanfiction.net. Enjoy! ♡
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The sound of the basketball bouncing off the ground echoed across the almost empty school court — empty, except for him.
After several failed attempts at making a basket, Takeru began to consider leaving. He didn’t want to go home alone, but he also didn’t feel like bothering anyone with his presence. He was frustrated, and his slightly deep breathing had little to do with the physical effort of shooting the ball. Something that, on a normal day, would have been easy. It was simply mental exhaustion. He had left his belongings a few metres away and didn’t even notice the string of messages lighting up his phone, which was sat on top of his black backpack.
He started to sense someone’s presence, and the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. He could recognise who it was without even looking, but he turned around anyway and gave her a soft smile. He then bounced the ball a few more times, aimed again, and finally got it in the basket. He smiled. Since arriving there, he’d been doomed by frustration, missing every shot until now.
“I thought you’d left without me.”
Hikari’s gentle voice broke the silence of the court as she set her things down near his and slowly approached.
“I was waiting for you, but I thought you might take a little longer.” he replied just as softly.
“I told them I needed to do a few things before going home, and I left on my own. I sent you messages to understand where you were.”
“I didn’t see them, I am sorry. I forgot to take my phone off silent after class.”
“I thought it could’ve been the case.” She folded her arms as she reached him. He was holding the basketball again and stood still, looking at his own hands. “Is something wrong?”
A brief silence fell between them. He bounced the ball a few times as he tried to organise his thoughts and decide whether or not to talk about what he’d spent the last few hours thinking about.
“Daisuke…” he began, turning back to the basket and throwing the ball, which missed and bounced off the ground. “Didn’t he insist on coming with you?” he continued, turning to her and finally looking into her eyes.
“He did,” she said simply. “He wanted to. But I told him no. He tried to insist, as always, but I left before he could argue. Miyako and Iori stayed with him, to stop him from following me.”
“I figured. He can be very persistent when it comes to you, you know.”
“Takeru.” She looked at him, then at the ground, let out a deep sigh, and went on. “I think we should tell them the truth. I think both of us are uncomfortable with this situation.”
“Don’t you think it’s too soon?” he stepped closer to her. “We’ve only been dating for almost two months.”
“Maybe it is, but this discomfort is far from what we need now. And I hate seeing you upset with me. And don’t even try to deny it — I know that look. I know those eyes.”
He gave her a genuine smile. He gently unfolded her arms, and took both of her hands in his, caressing them.
“I’m not upset with you. Just… mildly uncomfortable with Daisuke’s constant comments and compliments. But I know that’s not your fault. I may need to get used to it.”
“I feel like it is. I should’ve been inflexible with him from the beginning, ended things a long time ago, but I never had the courage. I never wanted to hurt him, but now I feel like I’m hurting you. And I hate that.”
“Again, I’m not hurt by you.” He pulled her into a hug, kissing her on the forehead before wrapping his arms around her. “But yes… that’s why I left. I didn’t want to say something I’d regret, especially not without talking to you first.”
“Let’s tell them. It’s for the best,” she whispered in his ear. “If Daisuke gets upset or hurt, so be it. It was bound to happen eventually. But now—” she stepped back to face him again, “—I’m not risking us over this. We’ve come a long way to get here, and I’m not throwing it away now.”
“I love you, Hikari, and I trust you. If you think this is the right decision, I’m with you.”
“I love you too.”
He took her cheeks in his hands and kissed her softly on the lips. His hands were cold, but she didn’t mind at all. Her smile beneath the kiss said it all. They could not risk what they have.
“You’ve no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this." He murmured while their noses brushing.
“Although…” Hikari added, pulling back slightly, “I do find it rather cute the way you get when you’re jealous.”
“Hikari, stop!” Takeru laughed out loud. “It’s not funny!”
“Then why are you laughing?” she replied, giggling along with him.
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