Let's go back to yesterday, right after the final bell rang and school ended.
As the warm afternoon light bathed the campus in a soft glow, students poured out of the classrooms, eager for the freedom of after-school hours. Among them, three figures stood out—Shin in the center, with Aiko clinging to his right arm and Yuki, as always a blushing bundle of shy energy, on his left.
Their hands were intertwined, a perfect display of their unconventional but tender love. Aiko smiled sweetly, her head resting briefly on Shin's shoulder. Yuki looked away whenever their eyes met, his face flushed as red as a cherry blossom. Shin, in contrast, seemed perfectly relaxed, clearly enjoying the closeness of the two people who had taken over his heart.
"Let's go," he said with a soft chuckle.
As they reached the school gate, they paused for a moment. Haru and Sora had already gone home together, lost in their own world. Shin, Aiko, and Yuki walked the familiar route that wound its way through the neighborhood streets, bathed in golden hues.
Yuki was still flustered and red after their kissing session in the washroom's stall and Aiko noticed it.
"Yuki-kun, your face is all red," she said with a teasing glint. "Did something happen?"
Yuki just buried his face into Shin's side.
Aiko tilted her head cutely and leaned into Shin. "Taaaa-Kuuun~ what did you do to him?"
Shin placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I kissed him. A lot. In the bathroom."
Yuki squeaked. "He pulled me there! It's not my fault!"
Shin grinned, tilting his head playfully. "But you sure enjoyed it. And you said you love me."
Aiko pouted adorably. "No fair~ you're making me jealous!"
"You're both mine," Shin said, tugging both of them closer as their hands gripped his tighter. "No need to be jealous. I love you both."
Aiko smiled, but stayed clingy, cuddling into his arm. Yuki still buried his face, though he didn't resist being pulled closer.
Shin teased them all the way down the street, whispering things that made Yuki turn bright red and Aiko whine in cute frustration.
"So…" Shin leaned closer to Yuki, his voice dropping into that teasing, velvety tone that never failed to unravel the boy. "Are your lips still tingling from earlier, Yuki?"
"B–Baka!" Yuki stammered, already pink as he flinched, his grip tightening on Shin's hand. "D-Don't say stuff like that here!"
"Oh? But you were the one squirming so much, moaning into my mouth like you didn't want me to stop," Shin whispered, nose brushing against Yuki's ear.
Yuki's whole face flushed crimson. He turned his head and buried his face in Shin's shoulder. "Idiot! I didn't! I mean—shut up!"
On Shin's other side, Aiko puffed her cheeks and let out a high-pitched whine. "Taa-kun! You're bullying Yuki again! And ignoring me!"
Shin laughed and turned toward her, brushing a kiss on her forehead. "How could I ignore my adorable Haa-chan? You're way too cute when you pout like that."
Aiko tried to pout harder but failed, her face heating up. "You're so mean, Taa-kun… You made Yuki all red and squirmy and didn't even tease me like that…"
Shin smirked. "Oh? You want me to whisper naughty things in your ear too?"
Aiko's eyes widened before she hid her face behind Shin's arm, whining. "Mou! Don't say it like that in public!"
Shin snickered, then leaned in and whispered, "I was thinking about how soft you were in my arms last night… how sweet you tasted when I—"
"Stop! Taa-kun!!" Aiko squeaked, flailing lightly and giggling in embarrassment. "That's not fair!"
On the other side, Yuki peeked out from behind Shin's shoulder, still flushed. "Pervert…" he muttered, though the soft quiver in his voice betrayed how flustered he truly was.
Shin chuckled again. "I think you both love it when I tease you."
"No, I don't," Yuki mumbled immediately, face still buried—but he didn't let go of Shin's hand.
"Liar," Shin grinned. "You said you loved me earlier, remember? Right after I kissed you the fifth time in the bathroom?"
Yuki gasped and shook his head furiously. "I-I didn't say it like that! You tricked me!"
"Sure I did. And you definitely didn't hold onto me like your knees were jelly."
"Sh-Shin!!" Yuki whined, almost in a squeal, hiding his face again.
Aiko, not to be outdone, tugged on Shin's arm. "If you're gonna tease Yuki like that, you better tease me too, or I'll cry…"
Shin raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. "Aiko, you're a terrible liar. You'd pout and cling, but you wouldn't cry."
"Hmph! Maybe I will!" she said, clinging harder and raising her chin defiantly. "You're our boyfriend. You have to treat us both equally!"
Yuki peeked up again, muttering. "That's true… even though he's annoying."
Shin playfully tightened his grip on their hands and pulled them both closer. "Equal love, huh? That's fair."
Then Aiko looked up with puppy eyes. "Soo... when you get home, you'll be playing with Ai, right?"
Shin chuckled. "Of course. She is my girlfriend too. Like you both."
Aiko beamed and snuggled closer. "Then you have to walk me home first, kiss me lots, then walk Yuki home and kiss him too!"
Shin shrugged with a grin. "Well, I did sign up for the full boyfriend experience. So yeah, I'll do just that."
"Promise?" Aiko asked sweetly, lips pouty, eyes shining.
Shin bent down slightly and kissed her temple again. "Promise."
Yuki looked away, cheeks still burning. "Tch… I'm not asking for a kiss. Don't get weird."
"Good," Shin said with a smug look. "That means when I kiss you later, I'll catch you totally off-guard."
"Baka!" Yuki shrieked. "I hate you!"
"No you don't," Shin sang.
Aiko giggled. "Nope. He loves you. Just like I do."
Shin laughed warmly, pulling them both even closer as the sun dipped lower. "I love you both too."
They continued walking down the quiet neighborhood street, the golden twilight soaking their skin in soft light. Shin strolled calmly in the middle, his arms claimed on both sides—Aiko on his right, Yuki on his left. Their fingers intertwined tightly with his, the warmth of their touch grounding him. Aiko hummed softly under her breath, swinging their hands back and forth, while Yuki looked everywhere except at Shin, his cheeks still stubbornly pink from earlier.
Shin glanced between them and grinned.
"You two look so different, but your hands feel the same," he said, voice teasing. "Soft, warm… needy."
"Needy!?" Aiko squeaked, pulling herself closer with a huff. "I'm not needy! I'm just… loving!"
"You're clinging like a kitten who doesn't want to let go," Shin chuckled, resting his cheek atop her head briefly.
Aiko blushed and pressed her face to his shoulder. "That's because I missed you the whole day after lunch…"
Yuki made a soft noise of protest, eyes narrowing as he mumbled, "You're the one who kissed him in front of everyone… clingy show-off…"
Shin turned to Yuki with a smirk. "Jealous?"
Yuki whipped his head away, ears practically glowing. "No!"
"So red…" Shin leaned into Yuki's ear and whispered, "Want me to kiss you again right here?"
Yuki flinched, his legs stumbling. "Wha—no!! Don't say stuff like that—baka!"
Aiko giggled, hugging Shin's arm tighter. "Taa-kun's being extra mean to Yuki today~"
"I can't help it. He turns so pink it's irresistible," Shin said, watching Yuki's mortified expression with amused eyes.
"I—I'm not pink!" Yuki squeaked. "You're the one whispering pervy things!"
"Like…" Shin leaned in again, this time murmuring, "Like how you gasped when I licked your lips earlier in the bathroom?"
Yuki stopped walking. "SHIN!!"
Aiko burst into a fit of giggles, her hands clamped over her mouth. "You really did that?"
"He pulled me in there!" Yuki cried, turning to her for help. "I didn't do anything!"
"Oh?" Shin chimed in innocently. "And who wrapped their arms around my neck and kissed back like he was starving?"
Yuki whined and buried his face against Shin's side. "I hate you so much…"
"Mmhm," Shin said, patting his head. "Say that again when you're kissing me next time."
Aiko let out a little pout. "That's not fair. I want a surprise kiss too…"
Shin raised an eyebrow. "You want me to ambush you in the bathroom too?"
Her face flushed pink. "Maybe…"
Shin laughed, turning his head and pecking the top of hers again. "You're both hopeless."
They kept walking in comfortable silence for a bit, their hearts fluttering in rhythm. As they reached Aiko's house, she slowed her steps reluctantly.
"Well…" she murmured, turning to face him as she stopped at her gate.
"See you tomorrow, Haa-Chan," Shin said, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
Aiko looked up, eyes bright with anticipation. "Kiss me properly."
He didn't hesitate. His hand slid to her waist, the other cupping her cheek, and he leaned in. Their lips met in a deep, wet kiss that made Aiko melt into him instantly. Her knees buckled slightly as Shin's mouth moved slowly, sensually over hers. She whimpered, parting her lips to feel more of him. His tongue slipped in, slow and teasing, and she pressed against him with a soft moan.
By the time he pulled away, she was swaying, breathless.
"Mmm… You better not forget me tonight," she whispered, dazed, brushing her nose against his.
"Impossible," Shin whispered back with a smirk.
He gave her one more soft peck before gently turning with Yuki still holding his other hand tightly. Aiko stayed at her gate, watching them walk away, her lips still tingling.
As they turned down the next street, Shin glanced over at Yuki, whose eyes were glued to the sidewalk.
"You're unusually quiet."
"Shut up…" Yuki mumbled. "You're gonna tease me again."
"Oh, I was planning to," Shin said, brushing his fingers up Yuki's side gently.
Yuki shivered. "Stop! That tickles!"
"Does it?" Shin grinned. "What if I do this—" he slipped his fingers under the hem of Yuki's shirt and traced circles over his waist.
"Ahh—Shin!" Yuki yelped, squirming and laughing despite himself. "Y-You pervert!"
"You're cuter when you squirm," Shin whispered low into his ear, and Yuki visibly trembled.
He clung tighter to Shin's arm, flustered beyond repair. "Why do you always do this…"
"Because you get even redder than normal," Shin replied smugly. "And because you won't stop hugging my arm either way."
"I-it's not like I like it or anything," Yuki muttered, but his voice was so faint it lacked conviction.
They reached Yuki's building soon after, the entrance lit by a soft amber glow from the hallway lights. Shin turned toward him and smirked.
"Well, here we are."
Yuki fidgeted. "You don't have to kiss me. It's fine."
Shin stepped closer, pressing Yuki gently against the wall beside the door. "But I want to kiss you. That's the difference."
Yuki's breath caught. "W-Wait—"
Shin silenced him with a firm kiss, his hands resting warmly on Yuki's waist. It started gentle, but the longer their lips pressed together, the more Yuki began to melt, fingers curling into Shin's jacket. His heart pounded in his chest, loud and erratic. He felt Shin's tongue slide across his lower lip, and he gasped softly, allowing it in.
The kiss deepened—slow, languid, but consuming. Yuki whimpered helplessly, unable to resist as Shin kissed him like he was claiming every shaky breath in his lungs.
When Shin finally pulled back, their lips were slightly swollen, a thin thread of saliva still between them.
Shin smiled down at him, brushing Yuki's cheek. "See you tomorrow, Yuki. Sleep well."
Yuki's knees felt weak. His voice came out in a whisper. "Y-Yeah… see you… Shin…"
Shin leaned in for one last kiss—softer, brief, but affectionate—before stepping back with a wave and turning toward the street. His figure slowly disappeared into the dimming light.
Yuki stood there for a while, still against the wall, heart racing, lips tingling, and face impossibly red.
"…Idiot," he murmured, but his voice trembled with warmth.
And so, Shin left behind two blushing, breathless lovers—both kissed senseless, both holding onto the pieces of his love he'd left in their hearts.
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END OF CHAPTER : 128 : AFTER THE BELL!
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