Apologies for the wait. Turns out when you are using a not shit computer it's a lot easier to type out an update.
>>154333 continued
>When we get back to the apartment, I put on a bit of tea while Kiku sits on the couch. I usually make something small like tea or coffee while we talk.
>But today, both of us are silent. Aside from a token thank you, she barely speaks to me. She’s just sits there, occasionally taking a sip from her mug while I type on my computer. I wish I could tell what she was thinking.
What are you working on? Is that something for work?
>Thank god, she broke the silence. “No…I’ve been writing a story.”
A story? I did not know you were a writer?
>I blush. “I’m not very good, I just do it for fun. I wanted to be one when I was younger but Mom told me I wouldn’t make much money so I ended up going into Science. I still want to do be a writer, so I write a bit and occasionally post online.”
What do you write about?
>”I like science fiction and fantasy the best, but I…” my blush deepens. “I really like romance. Good romance, not that dime store crap that always has a perfect guy or girl sweep the audience insert off their feet. Something where two people with faults come together.”
> I feel those familiar bells chime in my head. She’s laughing.
>“W-was that silly?”
No. I thought it was quite charming. I just was not expecting that. May I read some of your work?
>”It’s not very good. “
I am sure you are just being critical of yourself. May I see it?
>I hand her my laptop after selecting a story I wrote about a younger man that falls in love with an older woman. It’s not very long, just a couple of pages. But it is one I’ve always liked.
>She doesn’t move the entire time she’s reading aside from scrolling down the page. I wait in mortified silence, hopping she doesn’t judge me. Finally with a pleasant sigh, she closes me the laptop and hands it back to me.
>”Well?” I ask.
It was good. I quite enjoyed it. Sometimes it is difficult to portray love with a large age gap, but you did it well. There were some slight tense issues, and I wish you had expanded more on why the young man fell in love with a woman so far from his age. Their chemistry was good, but his reasons for liking her felt flimsy.
>”Maybe he liked her because she was always there for him.” I said.
Any good friend or family figure would have stood by him in his situation just the same.
>I shook my head. “No…it’s different. Family has to love you. You can have some lifelong friends, but most come and go. I think he saw something in her that made him want to commit. Something that doesn’t just happen every day.”
>I didn’t notice, but the entire time, we had been inching closer as we discussed the story. We were almost touching. A pang of melancholy ran through me, and Kiku pulled away. I could feel the sadness emanating off of her.
Maybe you are correct. Love can come at odd moments.
>The air got heavy for just a moment, and then Kiku tilted her head.
I am surprised at how competent you are at writing a lovemaking scene. I was impressed.
>I tried to say something in reply but all I could do was stammer. I completely forgot about the sex scene.
>My mind surged, and I felt warm music from Kiku play in my head. She was laughing. Hard.
My oh my, if you could see the look on your face!
>I grit my teeth as outrage replaces my shame. “Two words. Ara.Ara.”
>Kiku freezes for a moment, her hand placed over her…general mouth area in mock horror as I give her an angry stare.
>Then she clutches my shoulder and we both erupt into laughter.
You are ridiculous!
>”Hey, you’re just as bad!”
>Our joy is cut short as a clap of thunder startles us. It’s pouring outside. We were so caught up in our conversation, we lost track of the time. In fact, I check my clock and it’s almost ten.
John…I should go. It is late.
>My arm catches her sleeve as she starts to walk towards the door. “You don’t have to leave.” I say quietly.
>Kiku puts her hand over mine.
Yes I do.
>She wraps her arms around me and gives me a hug.
Good night John. Thank you for today. It was pleasant.
>I give her a small smile as she leaves.