Strawberry rice cakes (Aoinene)

Chapter 1

Aoi's said she loved Nene before. It was once, and Nene was asleep. She stills remembers that moment, Nene's silver and blue hair splayed across her pillow like a halo, and Aoi was so enraptured by her beauty there, that she let her secret slip out. She whispered 'I love you' In a soft voice, and let down walls she never should. Aoi Akane is the perfect girl, full of sweetness and patience and kindness. She's not supposed to be vulnerable and soft and tender like she was in that moment. Nene didn't answer.

"You're really lucky Aoi!" The bright sun hangs heavy in the sky, golden and brimming with light. The air has the warm, comforting sensation that can only be felt at the beginning of summer. Nene smiles as she says the words, blissfully unaware of what she's implying. "I wish I had a boy like Akane. He would do anything for me- it would be amazing!" She chuckles slightly, a sour sensation sitting in her stomach. "Yeah, I guess. He's just not my type." Their white and red Mary Janes click against the warm pavement. It smells of sickly sweet lemon syrup and the faint sound of children laughing reaches their ears. The truth of the matter is, Aoi doesn't want Akane, the boy who stalks her and invades her space constantly as if it's some romantic gesture. (Nene certainly seems to think so, at least.) She doesn't want some big, strong man to sweep her off her feet. A pretty lady with flowing hair and soft lips would be much preferable to the guys who look at her like she's a piece of meat.

Nene looks at her then, and the prettiest smile Aoi's ever seen is playing across her lips. It's full of shining white teeth, and it radiates pure joy. It takes an immense amount of willpower to keep her from melting like a popsicle at the mere sight of it. "I've never slept at your house before, Aoi! I'm super excited to see what it looks like." Nene pauses suddenly, and she worries that she's upset her. "If it's anything like the girl who occupies it, it's sure to be gorgeous!" She flushes red with heat and embarrassment from the compliment. (Aoi should be used to it by now- she gets showered with compliments even more flattering than Nene's, but there's something about the sincerity that she says them with that makes her soft in a way she's never been before.)

That gorgeous smile comes back the moment Aoi points out her house from the row of brick apartments. "Here it is!" Nene peeks behind her as she rattles the copper keys in the lock, and rushes forward, spreading her arms wide and laughing loudly as she twirls around the purple-colored entryway. "It's so pretty!" Aoi grins wide, and chuckles. "Thank you! My mom isn't home much, so I used the free time to accessorize!" She says, hanging up her cream-colored bookbag on a steel hook on the wall. Nene grabs her hand, and starts toward the stairs. "Show me your room! I bet it's great!"

"Ok!" They both race up the stairs, Aoi pushing her hands against the wooden stairs as she runs, as to give her more speed. They bumble over the fluffy carpet, and laugh loudly the whole way. (As old friends should.)

They reach the top, and stumble through the doorway into Aoi's room. A pink sofa sits in front of a window and is lined with a plethora of magenta and purple pillows, some adorned with hearts. A line of fairy lights are strung across the top of the window. Nene gasps, and flops onto the couch. She stares out of the window for a second, a look of interest and awe on her face. "Aoi?" She asks tentatively "Who is that in the house across from you?"

The shadow of a boy sits across from the pair in the other house. The curtains are drawn, and only a faint shadow is visible. Aoi clenches her fist so hard that her hand hurts from her nails. That sour feeling rushing back as she looks at the boy moving around. She knows perfectly well that it's Akane, the boy who trails behind her constantly. Her throat is dry and the light feeling in the air has switched to heavy and full of tension. "It's just a random guy. I think he's a year above us, but goes to the nearby public school." Aoi is lying through her teeth now, but she doesn't care. Anything to get Akane off the conversation. "I've never talked to him."