jasminum sambac (ycsh)

Student council work has always been tiring, that much Yachiyo has known. On the top of having to make the costumes for upcoming performances, sometimes there’s no in-between.

Yachiyo was alone today in the student council room. Though, she didn’t make it too long to write her usual report and going over her student council task instead. There’s a probability of Michiru’s suddenly showing up out of the blue, or just Mei Fan came back because she forgot something. Yachiyo was thankful that there’s no practice today at least, she needs a little break -- a break from strenuous work and a break from the crowd of people.

She was standing around the file cabinet when a soft knock reverberated on the door.

“Yachiyo-senpai?”

A small creak, followed by a small voice belonged to a small girl. Right, it nearly slipped her mind that Shiori was around with her shopping errand. She might look frail than the rest of Edels, but she doesn’t really have any problem carrying those shopping bags around alone. Usually, there would be Mei Fan tagging along with her, but the blonde didn’t mind on going out on her own.

“Are you still working? It will be curfew soon.” Shiori noted. She put away the bags and produced a list from her pocket.

“I think I’ll be finished soon, do you want to wait for me?”

Shiori nodded. “Would you like a coffee, then?”

“Aw, my little girl is being so considerate~” Yachiyo teased, she unconsciously gave Shiori a hug.

“S, Senpai. It tickles!”

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When everyone is there, Michiru and Shiori are taking turns on making drinks. It is like afternoon tea time setup, sometimes they will drink together below the shade on the student council room’s balcony. Yachiyo would be the one who’s sipping coffee while others are mostly tea person. Akira and Michiru could switch for coffee, so is Shiori, but Yachiyo rarely sees Mei Fan drink coffee.

At first, Yachiyo thought Shiori is the type to fond of sweet drinks. Part of her maybe thinking that she’s just a little girl. Shiori usually takes her tea as it is - as she says: it tastes natural.

Shiori arrived with two cups with her. Yachiyo eyed her own cup for a bit to see white liquid floating amidst the black goodness. The only condiment with such thick color came into mind.

“Au lait?”

It piqued Yachiyo’s curiosity enough to lift the cup and takes the taste. It wasn’t as sweet as she expected. When she took down the cup, Shiori was looking to her direction, smiling. They were sitting on the student council’s respective chairs, beside each other. Their distance is but an arm away.

Shiori’s cup is steaming, untouched. The blonde-haired girl looked at her for quite long, long enough duration until the cup is on the table again. Yachiyo’s throat felt unbearably dry, actually, she needed another sip.

“Sorry,” she said. Shiori is never a shy one to admit that she’s indeed fixing her eyes on Yachiyo. “I thought you were tired, so I add up a little bit of sweetness to the mix.”

“There’s no need to be sorry for that, you’re doing the right thing.”

“Is that so? I’m glad.”

Yachiyo tried hard to focus somewhere else. Somewhere else. Her work is close to be done soon. The curfew is slowly on the clock. Those jade green eyes didn’t stop looking at her way.

Did Shiori want something from her? Did she want to say something so embarrassing that she couldn’t put it into words?

“Shiori~ if you’re keep looking at me that way, I can’t finish my work~” Yachiyo said in her usual playful tone.

The pinkette expected the blonde to go red, clammed up, and dart off somewhere while looked like steam is coming out from her head. Though, not today - Shiori went wide-eyed for a bit, before her cheeks tinted in red blossom.

“W-was it that obvious?”

Yachiyo fought an urge to open her mouth wide in surprise. Shiori was bashful. She needed to keep her cool. It could be misleading, but they are still in the student council office in the broad afternoon light, and Shiori is-

“Oh? What would that be?” the pinkette lowered her tone, her face going closer to Shiori’s.

At this point, Shiori would back away. Usually she would. But sadly, not today as well. It was a small peck on her lips, as chaste as it would be. A faint fragrance of jasmine drawn her in.

“--Ah.”

Shiori fidgeted. Their faces are still close. Neither sides are backing away. No one is pulling or shying their eyes from an innocent exchange. Yachiyo smiled, nowhere teasing nor menacing. Her fingers found its purchase to roam on the blonde’s hair, tucking the stray strands behind the small ear.

Her reddened ears are cute. Shiori is cute.

“Is it simply that?”

Was a kiss such an innocent thing? Was a kiss is also a one point trigger to something - a small fickle fire alight inside her?

Shiori’s answer was late in timing, but Yachiyo would always wait.

“... No.”

Their breaths overlapping each other as Yachiyo bumped their noses together. “Then, just shut up and kiss me more.”