Shiritori Confessions (Chikayou)
They walked together to the bus stop from school, earlier than their usual. Riko stayed behind, wishing to finish composing a new song before heading home. Their most recent conversation had died down, and now a silence was beginning to thicken. However, one had a plan.
“Hey, Chika! Want to play a game of Shiritori?” You ask, dispelling the quiet. Chika looked over. Her bag thrown over a shoulder. She did not look as eager.
“Eh... I’m not good at it.” She stopped. Her mouth pursed as she began to hum loudly in thought. “I got nothing else, so let’s do it!”
“Nice!” You cheered, a wide smile on her face. “You start then, Chika.”
“Okay!” She beamed, her face falling to an intense concentration. “Hmm... Tiramisu.” A delightful sweet. Chika could not wait to get something to eat upon arriving back home.
You giggled at the opening word. She brought a hand to her chin, looking off to think. “Surprise!” This game was a surprise, but it was she who proposed it.
“Spice!” Like the nature that possessed Yoshiko’s cooking. Simply eating one gave you a taste of Hell.
You paused, mulling over her decisions. It had only been for a short moment. “Sigh!” She feigned a theatrical sigh, falling her weight onto Chika. She caught her easily.
“He-llo!” Chika separated by syllable, peering over to meet You’s eyes. They both stopped walking when a look of trouble crossed her face.
“Hng... Uhm, er...” Suddenly, an idea. You’d grin shone like the sun. “Ah! Love!”
Chika stammered at the bold word, but she would not let defeat have her now. “Very much!”
“Love, very much...” Only one answer bounced in You’s head. It would expose her secret, but some part of her wish it did. “Chika!”
“A-Ah...” Heat rushed her cheeks, but she still needed to answer. Whatever word she had disappeared to the wind. “Can...” Chika shook her head. That would end the game with her loss. Was this even about the game anymore?
You watched her with gleaming eyes, she swallows, her words a nervous whisper. “Can... I love You?”
It was cheating. Definitely cheating. That was more than one word. But You was busy paying attention to the growing heat in her chest. A silence grew, their eyes met. You grinned and rendered a salute.
“Yousoro!”