“I don't really, you know, do this kind of crap.”
Takane was flushed as she murmured it, and Ayano paused from where she was gliding the lip gloss across her lips. “Really?” She asked, eyes flickering from her lips that she stared at just a bit too intensely to those equally intense eyes. “But if you want Haruka to look at you, lip gloss is the way to go.”
Takane flushed, as red as Ayano's scarf, as her family's eyes, splotchy and adorable. Ayano has never known what to feel about red, but on Takane it's truly lovely. She giggles. “Did you think you were hiding it? I know you better than that.”
Takane glares. “You have no right to talk,” she huffs, “Anyone could tell you have a crush on Shintaro of all people.”
Now it was Ayano's turn to blush. “Am I that obvious?”
Takane met her gaze, lifting her head evenly. “Maybe not to people who don't know you,” she admits, “But I know you.”
Ayano glances back down, her eyes catching on her lips. She put the applicator wand back in the container. “Do you think he knows?”
Takane snorts. “Him? No. He's dumber than a bag of rocks when it comes to this. He'd be a perma-virgin forever, if not for you.”
Ayano huffs. “Don't speak of him that way. Anyway, it's not like it will go anywhere… I don't think he likes me.”
“Then he's an idiot.” Takane shuts down, derisive. “What's there not to like about Ayano?”
Ayano smiles, a half-there thing. “I've never kissed anyone before. I'll probably suck at that, at least. And I'm… recedent. I can't really say I'd be a good partner. I have enough trouble trying to be a good sister.”
Takane shuffles. “Well, there's a solution to some of that.” She says, crossing her arms. “Just kiss someone. Practice makes perfect, right?”
Ayano blinks. “But who would want to kiss me? I don't have anyone like that. I don't think anyone would want to, anyway…”
“I would,” Takane declares.
Ayano stared, jaw slacked, and Takane flushed once more. “D-Don't make it weird! It's just, well. I just meant anyone would be lucky to kiss you. Who would mind that?”
Ayano feels slightly dizzy. A little breathless. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Takane… wants to kiss me?”
Takane went reder, and reder still. “I-I! You know! Just for practice! You don't have to make a big deal out of it!”
“Then Takane should,” Ayano decides, tucking a stray bit of hair behind her ears, “Kiss me, I mean. We can practice with each other. Right?”
“R-Right…” Takane said, clasping her hands nervously. “Just practice. For Haruka and Shintaro.”
“Right,” Ayano echoed, and then leaned in.
It was awkward and messy, and not very pleasant at all, objectively. Takane was stiff and Ayano clutched her shoulders for leverage, almost losing her balance. They didn't really know what to do with their tongues. It was a little wet, and kind of gross, actually, and definitely not the fairytale kiss Ayano imagined.
And it was perfect.
The lipstick she applied earlier smears upon her lips. She can taste it. Strawberry, with a hint of something under it. With a hint of Takane. When she broke apart, it was as if coming up for air. It was as if drowning.
“Can we do that again?” Takane asked, and Ayano laughed, delighted.
“Of course.” She said. “After all, we’re not experts yet, are we?”
And she was convinced to practice this skill over, and over, again.