I despise high school. I have so much work and tests; I have hardly anymore time to myself. Which is why updates are slow, but to get the point. This is the July challenge for the SMML (Sou/Mi Mailing List, if you want to join the link is on my profile! Fanarts, polls, fanfics, wallpapers, and all kinds of stuff) So I hope you guys like it.

OoOoOo

Makimachi Misao gently blew on the moderately sized mug placed between her gloved hands, the white steam gently waving as she did so. The nineteen-year-old, college junior

was currently waiting for the other person residing at her dorm with the little free time they had together. Sighing, she pushed the mug away from her, the heavy glass making a soft scraping noise against the café’s table. The café was small, six or seven booths and a staff of four to help serve the customers of the local college, Tokyo University, said cafe simply named Aoi, blue. Misao was dressed in a long, deep red sweater, a black jacket strewn over her jean-clad lap accompanied by a plain dark green scarf. As usual, her unusually long hair was bound back in a lengthy braid, the rest framing her face and a few wisps covering her eyes, one side held back by an indigo barrette. Turning her head to the large window at her right, she watched with boredom as the multicolored leaves of fall fanned by the building from soft gusts of wind. Indeed, it was late into September, making the trees freckle with different shades of orange and rusty red, shedding the leaves to brown and crumble to the streets.

Her head went to the side as she heard the familiar chime of a bell and the swing of a being opened, her hopeful eyes set intently to the entrance. Those eyes furrowed into a pout as some stranger strode in casually, not paying her a glance as she walked past. Misao promptly turned in her seat and stuck her tongue out after the girl, melting it into a cheesy smile as said girl looked over and sniffed. Shifting back, the black haired, green-eyed young woman eyed the door once more, sighing. It wouldn’t surprise her if he got caught up in some other report or painting to finish, giving her a sincere as hell apology and offer for yet another “meeting” as she liked to call it. Meeting, she thought, snorting. “Whatever.” Misao muttered under her breath as she threw a few coins on the table and prepared herself to leave. “Misao!” A grateful sigh and happy smile grazed her alabaster features at the sound, a sound she was all too familiar with, by her standards. “About time.” She joyfully spoke as her roommate hurriedly stumbled in none too gracefully, chocolate colored hair sticking in every which way. “I’m so sorry! I got caught in another painting due next week when I realized what time it was! I’m sorry!” The young man frantically fumbled over his explanation, a sort of weight lifted from his heart as she shook her head happily, like always.

Seeing a few people glancing curiously their way, the duo hastily found the same booth Misao had been sitting in, taking a seat across from each other, as always. Despite the fact that the two hardly saw each other save holidays, weekends and times like this, Seta Soujiro and Makiamchi Misao were the best of friends, although recently both had been thinking otherwise of their relationship. “What were you working on anyway?” Misao asked as they settled down into the booth’s sunlit seats. “Oh, nothing much, usual stuff.” He answered politely, finally managing to smooth his hair down enough to look presentable. Misao giggled at this, watching him fuss with his hair like the perfectionist he could be at times. “What’s so funny?” Her companions’ amused voice sounded a second later, noticing how her eyes glowed with as much happiness as her laughter. Waving it off, Misao finally quieted down after a few moments. As used to his presence as she was, the young woman couldn’t help but notice the tell tale sensations of a blush on her cheeks. “Why do you do that? Mess with your hair and make almost everything just right? You know I’m just going to ruin it later!”

Her words rang true; their dorm was notorious for being spotless one day, trashed the next in an endless pattern throughout the days and months. Laughing, Soujiro only shrugged at her not-so question, stripping off the dark blue sweater he was wearing over a plain t-shirt. Setting it aside, he focused his full attention to her once more, letting her talk as she always did. “Isn’t it cold today? This morning I got up and it was absolutely freezing! I guess fall is coming with a bang this year.” Misao idly chatted, recalling the same morning she had woken up to find herself shivering and the heater doing nothing to help. Sighing, she picked at the napkin under her willowy fingers, getting bored with sitting and talking. “Wanna go for a walk? It’s not so cold now that the sun’s come out.” Her soft-spoken companion suggested cheerily, already up and offering a hand for her. Taking it and wrapping the scarf in its proper place, she smiled when he squeezed her hand in return.

It was kind of a habit, really, for the two to be seen walking about together with their hands interlocked. Neither minded, as well as their friends, which was a common sight between the group of young adults. Most of their fellow classmates insisted they were in cohorts, which were deeper than friendship. The two of course, brushed it off as silly and continued showing affection for each other. Friendly affection, of course. Although in recent months, both had noticed the “friendly affection” had begun sprouting into something more than that, and then some.

Sighing as they opened the café’ door and into the crisp fall air, Misao happily looked around, at the same old leaf covered streets, busy people and belle-blue skies splotched with clouds and skyscrapers of Tokyo. Certainly, this place was the same. Looking at Soujiro again, Misao concluded, this place was the same, but they were not. Still not loosing a stern grip on his hand, Misao led him down the street, kicking jumbles of leaves out of the path every now and then, her long braid gently swinging at her back. Placing a timid hand at the small of her spine, Soujiro pulled the girl closer just enough for her to be comfortable, abandoning her hand to do so. “Any reports due? I’m glad the teachers are going easy on us, I have only that painting to finish and I’m scott free of school work.” The slate blues of Soujiro’s eyes glowed with mirth at the aspect of no work to do and spending time with his more-than-friend for a good few weeks.

Happily reporting that she too had no work, Misao was overjoyed also, barely able to hide her excitement that she thought had vanished in recent years. “It’s so cool Sou! We get to spend some more time together now, instead of these few rendezvous! I have so much planned!” She squeaked, her breath coming out in small, barely visible clouds of condensation. “Rendezvous,” Soujiro repeated, whirling the word in his mind for a moment, “I like that.” Giggling, Misao gently punched him in the arm, her fingers acquiring the faintest tint of red from the cold. Calming down, Misao’s laughter subsided with it, appreciating the extra warmth his body gave off as she unwittingly nestled closer into him. Noticing, but not saying a word, Soujiro gladly placed his arm around her left shoulder completely, letting her bodily heat seep into his skin and paint warm colors into his mind.

An old couple, possibly in their late fifties, hair sprinkled with gray and old yet wise faces pulled down with age passed, in much the same position as they, smiled and greeted the two amiably. Blowing on his bangs idly, Soujiro stopped when they came to the end of the sidewalk, looking both ways and crossed, heading for the college dorms that they resided in. Said dorms were the typical brick, three story rooms with air conditioning, plumbing and all the works of a regular home, surrounded by flocks of shedding maples and yellowing grass. Their closeness made Misao’s mind drowsy and lax, paying no mind when her head came to rest on his shoulder as they crossed the grass to their dorm building.

Giving her shoulder and extra friendly squeeze, the chestnut haired youth reached into his pocket to pull out the dorm keys, thankful the room was on ground floor. Reaching the door, Misao pouted playfully as her companion left her side to open the door, stepping inside and flicking on the lights. Their room was nothing special, one bathroom, two bedrooms, a small kitchen and a living room set with a green sofa and color television. Flopping onto the well-used and bruised couch with a tired yawn and a stretch of her arm, the green-eyed girl threw her scarf to the floor and lazily lounged back, grinning.

“Hey, leave room for me too!” Soujiro mock teased, taking a seat on her legs joyfully, delighting when she grabbed a pillow and hit him once with it in return. Spotting the remote laying on the ground, he bent down and picked it up, letting her change positions to allow him space. Taking it gladly, he wasn’t surprised when she came closer once again, head coming to relax upon his shoulder once more. Laughing ever so quietly, Soujiro opened his mouth to say something, closed it, and opened it again. “Misao? I’ve been thinking a lot lately. Do you think we’re just…you know, friends?” Taken only slightly aback by his question, Misao shook her head against his shoulder. “Friends?” She snorted, and placed a bold peck to his cheek. “Of course not.” She answered as the televisions lights flickered upon her face.

“Good.” He answered.

OoOoO

There you go. Hope the ending wasn’t very cheesy. This is really just a drabble, which is why it’s so short and….bad, I know. I’ve been really busy with school and the group, so you may not see me much. Hope you liked it, and please send me GOOD reviews, not those two or less word ones I’ve been prone to getting. Thanks a bunch, hope you liked.