Work Text:
“Thanks for the help, Kasumi.” Marker ink filled the air in its sickening sweet scent. Rina flipped to another blank page, tapping on it a few times before thinking of another iteration of her Rina-chan board. Across the table, Kasumi was helping by compiling some of the many faces given by Rina’s friends. Kasumi recognized some were in the handwriting of the club’s members.
“Don’t mention it, Rinako. Call on Kasumin anytime!” she cheered, bringing one of the sheets to her face. A moment later, she moved it away. “Hmmm, obscuring such a cute face is bad. Kasumin should leave this to you.”
“It’s for everyone. Rina-chan board: smile.” She flipped to her normal drawn smile. Kasumi giggled, returning to her work.
“Jeez, Rinako. You sure have a lot of faces. Do you even get to use them all?”
Rina hummed, golden eyes scanning the table. “Not yet, but I end up using them at least once.”
They returned to a comfortable silence whilst working. A few minutes pass, and Kasumi perked up, an idea striking her. “Hey Rinako, lend me an empty page for a second?”
Rina shot a look but nodded before tearing off one page from her sketchbook. They were silent as Kasumi took the sheet. Without a word, she tore it crosswise, earning surprise from Rina. “Kasumi?”
“Let me just-“ she trailed into silent concentration, focusing on a few simple, but crucial lines to make a triangular smile. Kasumi capped the marker, standing up and walking around the table to Rina. She brought out the smile, hovering in front of Rina’s lips. “Ta-da! Perfect.”
Rina looked down at the slip of torn off paper, then back up at Kasumi. A mirror caught her eyes, and she looked over, blinking curiously. It felt weird to see her eyes paired with a smile. “Kasumi-“
“Doesn’t Rinako look cute with those eyes looking with a smile?” Kasumi hummed to herself, nodding in agreement to her own words. Rina held an edge of the paper, tugging it closer against her lips.
“It looks good?” There was a tinge of dejection amidst the hopefulness that made Kasumi’s smile falter ever so slightly. She hid it before Rina could notice.
“Of course! Not as cute as Kasumin, though,” she remarked, a bright smirk with it in hopes to lighten the mood.
A short hum left Rina. She looked up, radiant gold meeting taffy pink. “I wish I could have a smile like yours, Kasumi.”
“Rinako-“ Kasumi’s breath hitched. Her throat dried beneath the bright stare. One of longing, hope, and sadness. She gulped, her body leaning down slow. “What do you mean? You already do. Kasumin can smile for you anytime you like!”
“That’s not what I mean, Kasumi.” Rina’s words dropped the cheerful curve on Kasumi’s face, who offered a sad smile instead. Of course, nothing returned it but a drawn smile.
“I know. I’m not good like Ai-senpai who can cheer you up at the drop of a hat.” Kasumi sighed, preparing to move away. Before she could, the hand on the sheet felt a warmth settle atop it. Looking back, Rina lowered the slip of paper. Kasumi felt a soft tug on her hand, beckoning her back.
“And what if you’re not Ai?” Rina spoke through a calm breath, the neutral features on her face telling Kasumi nothing. Yet, she drew closer.
“Kasumin just thinks she’d be better in these types of situations.” Her explanation trailed off into a short, tense silence. Unable to escape the radiant gaze, she could only inch closer. Kasumi lifted a knee, settling it on the chair between Rina’s legs to steady her slow approach.
“Then, would what you’re doing be faster if it was Shizuku here instead?”
The question stunned Kasumi. A brow quirked quizzically, but the strange magnetism kept her moving closer. This time, the unsure smile was replaced with hard line. “Why bring Shizuko up all of a sudden?”
“You started it,” Rina countered, setting the paper smile down on her lap. She felt the warmth of both her own hand and Kasumi’s, the grip on the slip grown taut as they began to feel the other’s breath.
Kasumi blinked, realizing where she was. Her lips were still, careful at the precarious distance from Rina’s. Up this close, the gold in her eyes was glowing, her warmth searing. Kasumi gulped, attempting pushing words past tense lips.
“What are you doing, Kasumi?” Before she could, Rina beat her to breaking the short silence. Kasumi’s tongue toiled to string words together, her body still amidst the heavy air.
“That tug of yours, Rinako. If anything, what were you doing?” A small smirk played across Kasumi’s face, proud at her question. Rina sighed, the hot air felt on Kasumi’s face.
“Kasumi.” The name trailed into silence. Rina blinked her eyes, watching Kasumi do the same. Her fingers pinched between the matte texture of the paper, eyes trapped in the intense gaze. She watched Rina part her lips, pressing her own tight in response.
"Rinako-" The words about to leave Kasumi paused when Rina pushed forward, closing the minuscule gap between. Kasumi let out an involuntary squeak, muffled from the delicate warmth on her lips. Her lungs burned, but she didn't dare move. Their gaze never broke, not even as the soft sensation moved away, Rina biting her lower lip as she leaned back.
Kasumi gasped, releasing pent up breath. The sudden noise made Rina blink, whose gaze flickered down for a quick moment. "You held your breath?"
"W-well, I mean-" Kasumi stuttered, her voice cracking from the rush to speak. Rina said nothing, the expression on her face remaining monotonous. "It's just, uh, you know?"
Rina shook her head, tilting her head up at Kasumi. "I don't."
Kasumi sighed, releasing her grip on the paper smile. Her hands trailed up, settling on each of Rina's shoulders. There was only a moment's hesitation before Kasumi closed the gap, this time her lips atop Rina's.
A muffled hum left between the delicate intimacy. Neither was sure on who made the noise, their attention focused on each other's unwavering stare. Neither tried to push farther, but neither pulled away. In the silent afternoon of the club room, they felt nothing but how the other felt. How slim Rina's shoulders felt in her grip, how soft Kasumi's lips felt on Rina's.
Before either could begin, the kiss ended. Their lips stayed only a moment apart. Feeling hot, shallow breaths, Kasumi hovered over Rina, the shared gaze unwavering. "Do you, now?"
Rina blinked in response, her eyes breaking away to flicker down to at Kasumi's lips. When her gaze returned, faint red dusted her cheeks. "W-what is it, Rinako?"
Before Rina could answer, the click of the door broke the spell in the air. Kasumi jumped back, stumbling onto a seat as a voice greeted the near-empty room. Rina turned her head, watching two of their club members enter.
"Rinari! We're all done!" Behind Ai, Shizuku walked in with a cardboard box, setting it down on a table in one corner of the room. Ai walked forward, brandishing a carefree smile as their eyes met. "Everything all right in here?"
Rina hummed, stealing a sidelong glance at Kasumi at the corner of her eye. Shizuku joined them, scanning the numerous pages scattered on the table. "Is Kasumi helping you out with your board, Rina?"
"T-that's right," Kasumi sputtered a shy reply, sitting herself up slowly on the chair. Shizuku leaned closer, her gaze narrowing in suspicion.
"What's with that stutter?"
"Kasumin doesn't know what you're talking about!" A fluid counter. Shizuku sighed, moving away with a disapproving shake of the head.
"They're as lively as ever huh, Rinari?" Ai gave a playful nudge, bumping against Rina's arm. She looked down, then back up at Ai.
"I guess," she answered, her voice telling nothing. Amidst the bickering of the two first years, Rina stood up, gathering her many faces of the Rina-chan board. The swift and silent motion stopped both Shizuku and Kasumi.
"Rina?" Shizuku was first to speak, her momentary silence brought on by surprise. Kasumi was behind her, mouth agape but pushing only a choked stutter.
"I'll be going home now." Rina stuffed everything in her bag. Some of the pages were folded but she was already starting out the door before anyone could speak.
"Hey, Rinari! Wait for me!" Ai scrambled for her own bag, quickly catching up to Rina who stopped at the door. Shizuku let off a quiet remark of confusion, but Kasumi pushed off from her seat, crossing the room and gripping her wrist.
"H-hey, Rinako-"
"You were right, Kasumi," Rina looked over her shoulder, their eyes meeting once more. The same intense stare stopped Kasumi in place, the words caught in her throat. Rina bit her bottom lip, leaving a voiceless gasp before turning away.
"You're not Ai." Rina said in a whisper just for her. Kasumi felt her grip lose strength, the soft fabric of Rina's jacket slipping between fingertips. She left the room, Ai sparing only a look of confusion before rushing to catch up to Rina.
Kasumi watched both of them turn a corner out of sight. A second after, a weight was on her shoulder. She turned around, finding Shizuku's concerned face. "Kasumi, is everything all right?"
Kasumi looked back out the door, finding no sign of pink hair or golden eyes. She dropped her gaze to the floor, nodding her head.
"Y-yeah! Just peachy, Shizuko." Before she could doubt her uneasy tone, Kasumi walked to the table, reaching for her bag.
"C'mon. It's getting late. Let's go home."