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It wasn't a kiss. Saya and then Kasumi like to tease her that it was, but it wasn't.
Tae snuggled up to her, and her face bumped into Arisa's own face, and maybe her lips brushed the corner of her mouth. But it wasn't a kiss. It never was. It never will be.
There was no kiss. She doesn't want to kiss her bandmate. That's weird.
And life goes on after that, because why wouldn't it? She's not thinking about it, because there's nothing to think about.
She goes back to going to school and playing her keyboard and eating her grandmother's cooking and all the while she doesn't think about Tae one bit.
Obviously, Arisa gets stuck with Tae in the basement one day. Because the world just loves to torture her that way.
They're not literally stuck. Arisa can leave whenever she wants to. She can bolt and run away from Tae as quickly as she can manage if she so desires.
She doesn't.
With that being said, Kasumi, Rimi and Saya are running late. They really shouldn't be.
Arisa is doing her homework. Or reviewing it, she got it done the day it was assigned, as she should've. Tae is supposed to be doing her homework too, but... She's playing her guitar, because of course she is.
The sound is relaxing, and Arisa doesn't think she could make it through the silence, so she doesn't urge Tae to start.
She might as well be staring down at a blank sheet with how little she's able to focus on the words.
Tae speaks over the sound of her guitar.
"Say, did I kiss you the other day? During the sleepover?"
God, how Arisa wishes she had.
"Wh— No!"
"But Kasumi and Saya say I did."
"You literally didn't!"
Tae hums, changing up what she's playing to play something similar to Arisa's part in the song instead.
Arisa could melt into the floor, right now.
"Do you want me to, though?"
"Stop talking."
"I would if you asked."
Arisa doesn't dignify Tae with another response, she simply groans loudly and hides behind her arms. A weak barrier, something that doesn't prevent Arisa from hearing Tae out.
Thinking about it.
She... did offer.
This is ridiculous.
Arisa breathes in, out, in again, and musters up all the courage she possesses just to sit next to Tae on the couch.
She doesn't say anything. Arisa can barely look at Tae's face as is, but when she does, she sees a look that just screams I knew you would in her eyes.
"Arisa."
"What?!"
Tae nudges her guitar out the way, just slightly. Arisa watches her like a hawk the entire time.
Tae leans in, Arisa can't help but instinctively take a metaphorical step back. Tae frowns at her a little.
"I can't kiss you if you lean away from me."
As she speaks, Tae brings her arm around Arisa's shoulder, pulling and bringing her to her and oh god okay yup that's a thing that's happening for real then.
Arisa closes her eyes as if she's about to be punched.
She doesn't open them again, because Tae is probably the kind of weirdo to kiss with her eyes open. Arisa doesn't know what this is supposed to feel like, but there's a sort of satisfaction settling itself in her gut and she doesn't want to pull away anymore.
...Why did Tae even suggest this? It couldn't just have been because of the others' teasing. Sure, maybe Arisa was curious, but there's no way Tae would've caught on to that.
Probably. Arisa feels better if she tells herself Tae didn't.
Tae's the one to lean back this time, she takes a good look at Arisa's face before pulling away fully.
"Your face is really red."
And then she goes back to playing her guitar as if nothing happened.
Arisa doesn't say anything more, she simply watches Tae, acknowledges how unnervingly composed she is.
And she slides off the couch, going back to her homework patiently waiting for her on the table.
She can read the words a little easier now, maybe.
When Kasumi bursts in, Rimi and Saya not too far behind her, Arisa can't help but feel relieved.