A/N: Whew! I'm back after 1 week! Sorry 'bout the delay because I'm pretty busy enjoying the last few days of my summer vacation. Oh and, the last chap has few Mitsu scenes so I decided to write it in the next chap, which is right now! Anyways, enjoy reading y'all!
Disclaimer: I do not own K-On! or any of its characters, etc, etc.
More than Just Friends
Chapter 7: Close Enough
Chapter Summary: Mio and Ritsu are going to practice their roles. What happens next?
After school...
"Oi Mio, Wait up!" Ritsu tried her best to keep up with her friend.
Mio dashed towards her home, ignoring Ritsu behind.
"Mio, why're you in a hurry?" Ritsu groaned as she went ahead and blocked Mio from going further.
"We're going to practice, remember?" Mio furrowed her brows. She scrambled her hand inside her bag to find the script Akane gave her.
"Akane said that she has to go home early because her parents are going somewhere tonight." Mio concluded, she grabbed Ritsu's arm, dragging her towards the Akiyama house's front door.
"Why are you so hyped up about this?" Ritsu raised her eyebrows as she continued, "And here I thought you're the shy one, not me."
"Because.." Mio looked at Ritsu confidently before breaking up into tears, "I-I don't want to m-make any mistakes if we're going to p-perform on stage.." Mio hiccuped as she continued to sob.
"Woah, wait! Mio, don't cry.." Ritsu patted Mio's head, 'Oh yeah.. if she did make a mistake, I know that she'll never get over it. Thus, it's pretty embarrassing, after all..'
The house's door opened, revealing Midori in the doorway. Midori heard them talking, so she decided to greet them.
"Ah, Ricchan, Mio-chan, welco-" Midori stopped talking when she saw the scene in front of her.
"Mio-chan! Why are you crying?" Midori felt shocked after witnessing the scene in front of her. She crouched a bit, wiping Mio's tears with her hand.
"Good afternoon, Akiyama-san. Mio here's crying 'cause she's scared that she'd make a mistake for our school festival performance." Ritsu retrieved her hand from Mio's head as she explained the case.
"Oh, so what's your class going to perform for the school festival?" Midori soothingly stroke her hand on Mio's back to stop crying.
"Er.. um.." Ritsu scratched her cheek as she continued, "..Romeo and Juliet play."
"Maa, maa.. I'm quite surpised that junior high students can now perform a play nowadays." Miori smiled warmly at Ritsu, Mio stopped crying.
'Ugh.. I'm gonna blame Akane for this if it doesn't turn out right.' Ritsu sweatdropped as she laughed nervously, scratching her head as a response.
"Feeling okay now, Mio-chan?" Midori patted her daughter's head with tenderly love and care.
"Y-yeah.." Mio wiped her remaining tears with her free hand before looking at Ritsu. 'Good thing I have Ritsu to explain things right now.'
She spun her head to look at her mother, "M-mama.. can we practice now?" Mio begged for her mother's permission to let them practice for the play.
"Of course, Mio-chan! This is for your play, right?" Midori giggled lightly before standing up, pointing out the script Mio's holding.
"Well, I'm going to cook dinner now, so you can stay if you want, Ricchan." Midori winked at Ritsu before proceeding to go to the kitchen.
"Yeah.. well, let's go!" Ritsu went inside the house, removing her shoes before going upstairs towards Mio's room.
Mio nodded before she removed her shoes, going upstairs as well.
Mio's bedroom...
Ritsu placed her bag onto Mio's table, Mio did the same.
"So.. where do we start?" Ritsu grabbed the script Mio's holding, flicking its contents.
"We should practice the hardest part so that when we practice it completely, there'll be no more problems." Mio suggested as her voice slowly died out. 'The hardest part is the first kissing scene!' Mio blushed.
"Well, so what's the hardest part then?" Ritsu continued to flick the notebook, deciding to play dumb for now.
"I-it's.." Mio timidly grabbed the notebook from Ritsu, flipping the notebook until she came across the 'hardest part'.
"T-this one." Mio pointed out the part to Ritsu, blushing hard.
"Oh.. that. We should practice it then." Ritsu flushed a bit. 'I hope yer suggestion'll work, Akane.'
"But how?" Mio took a step back from Ritsu, gazing at her confusingly.
"Well, I should just kiss you on the cheek since it's not that obvious for the audiences, in my opinion." Ritsu stuck out her index finger to strengthen her suggestion. 'I guess I should do the first suggestion Akane gave me, then the next one.'
Mio's face reddened at the thought of her best friend kissing her on the cheek. 'H-huh? This weird feeling.. N-no! It's just a play, Mio! It's not like that I'd expect her to kiss me on the..' Mio shifted to her thoughts until she's as red as a tomato.
"Uh.. Mio, you okay?" Ritsu waved her hand in front of Mio to check if she's still listening, plus the fact that her raven-haired friend's been blushing the whole time.
Mio shooked her head to remove her thoughts, "L-let's do it!"
"Well, if ya say so." Ritsu grabbed Mio's hand and went towards the mirror.
Ritsu stopped as she turned Mio's body to face her's, "There, now we can see what we look like how the audiences view us."
"Y-yeah.." She turned her head to look at the mirror, looking at her side view.
"Like I said, a kiss on the cheek, right?" Ritsu placed her hands onto Mio's shoulders, hesitating to do the next part.
"..." Mio blushed for the umpteenth time. 'W-well, it's j-just a kiss on the cheek. There's n-no need to fret over it.'
Ritsu gulped in some air, looking at herself in the mirror before planting a kiss on Mio's cheek.
Mio closed her eyes shut as she felt her friend's lips brushing up against her cheek.
Ritsu angled a better spot as she continued gawking at the mirror, but it's still a bit obvious since it's just on the cheek.
'It's kinda embarrassing to do this if it's too long.' Ritsu started to sweat as she went on to find a better angle, but it did not work out well.
Mio started to tremble a bit. The feeling wherein your best friend continued to kiss you on the cheek is just too hard to brush off.
Ritsu slowly backed away from Mio, she sighed as she blushed a bit, "So, first's option's out of the list."
Mio decided to open her eyes, looking at Ritsu in confusion, "You mean t-there's another option for this? And why did you crossed this one o-out?"
"Yep. It's 'cause a kiss on the cheek's a bit too obvious for the audiences, now that I've saw ourselves in the mirror." Ritsu placed her hands behind her head as she tried to maintain her normal composure, averting her eyes from Mio. 'It's just a kiss on the cheek Ritsu, keep it cool.'
"T-then what is it?" Mio stuttered a bit, 'I wonder where she gets these ideas from.. and the kiss earlier is a bit embarrassing.'
"This." Ritsu grabbed both of Mio's hands and placed it on her own cheeks.
"W-what are you doing?" Mio continued to blush, not removing her hands from Ritsu's cheeks.
"We just need our faces to get close to each other, almost like a kiss. Your hands will block the audiences from viewing it, so it'll not be that embarrassing." Ritsu stated. 'Keep it cool.. keep it cool.'
"O-okay then." Mio hesitated as she moved her head towards Ritsu's own, Ritsu did the same.
Once they're both close enough, Ritsu stole a glance at the mirror to check if it's really close to a kiss, but it's still not close yet.
Ritsu looked at Mio, the latter is blushing really hard. 'She's blushing again! She's just too cute, but she's too close!'
Mio can feel Ritsu's hot breath on her lips as she continued to move slowly. 'T-this is way too embarrassing than the last one!'
Ritsu's body is starting to feel hot, but she glanced at the mirror again. 'Hm.. t-this looks too close to a kiss..'
Mio looked at her friend who is now looking at the mirror, she decided to check on herself as well. Mio widened her grey orbs as she continued to ogle their faces, 'We're.. too.. c-close..' Mio's blush never left her face ever since they started practicing.
"W-well, this one should do." Ritsu whispered as she pointed at themselves in the mirror. 'Just.. keep it cool.' Ritsu's body continued to get hotter, blushing as red like Mio's.
Mio stopped moving as well, 'It feels weird for Ritsu to talk while w-we're this.. close.' Mio stared to tremble as she removed her hands from Ritsu's cheeks.
Once she placed her hands on her sides, she finally realized that their lips are only a centimeter away from each other.
'W-we're this close already?! Okay, I can't keep it cool!' Ritsu mentally screamed inside her head as her eyes twitched in realization.
Mio's blush finally reached her ears, her heart is pounding so hard as if it's about to come out of her chest.
They stayed like that for a couple of seconds before Ritsu backed away, sitting on the edge of Mio's bed.
'That's too hot! Keep it cool, keep it cool..' Ritsu closed her eyes as she continued to remind herself inwardly. Her heart is pounding way too fast, her face remained flushed.
Mio's blush never left her face, taking in the moment that just happened. 'W-w-what just h-happened?' Mio widened her eyes in realization.
Once both of them finally recovered from the shock, Ritsu stood up and said, "Okay, I've got no more options left, so pick one."
Mio didn't reply, but she thought, 'If I pick the second option, it'll be way too embarrassing. But if I pick the first one, it'll be too obvious..' she continued to ponder until she comes up with an answer.
"So?" Ritsu anticipated that her friend will give her a straight answer.
"F..first option!" Mio shouted a bit, as she clenched both of her hands.
"Sure." Ritsu placed her hands behind her head again. 'Though it's a bit embarrassing for me to do it instead of her. But it's only a play, right?'
Mio doesn't feel convinced of Ritsu's answer, "Are sure you're okay with it, Ritsu?" Mio made sure that her friend is okay with the option.
"Of course! I am the brave 'Romeo' after all, right?" Ritsu removed her yellow headband off and placed it inside her pocket.
'W-wow..' Mio looked at her, suprised about the fact that her friend is different without the headband, so different that she can't almost recognize her because of her bangs.
"Huh? What's the matter?" Ritsu stared at Mio curiously.
"It's just that.. it feels weird that you don't have your headband on." Mio's eyes softened, 'You look cute without the headband, I just wish you shouldn't wear it anymore.' Mio couldn't find the courage to tell Ritsu what she really thinks right now.
"I knew that it's weird." Ritsu dropped her head in disappointment, staring at the ground annoyingly.
Mio took notice of this and abruptly said, "N-no! Not that kind of weird! It's just that I'm used to always having to see you with your headband on, that's all." Mio waved her hands to dismiss what Ritsu just said.
Ritsu looked up to mouth an "O" as a response. 'I guess it's my fault for always wearing my headband.'
Ritsu decided to say, "I'm only doing this for the time being, though. After the play, I'm going to wear it back again."
Mio took in her best friend's words, "So that you're used to having your bangs down for the play, right?" Mio clarified.
"Yep." Ritsu lopsidedly grinned at Mio, picking up the script on the floor because of the short event earlier.
"Well, we should use the time to practice now." Mio smiled as Ritsu gave the script to her.
"Yeah, we should 'cause I'm not use to the language type that we're all gonna say. Heh." Ritsu scratched the back of her head nervously.
Mio could only sigh in disappointment.
Hayabusha household...
"Akane-chan!" Akane's mom called out to her daughter, "We're leaving now! Sleep early because there's school tomorrow, okay?"
"Yeah, I will, mom!" Akane answered back before continuing, "..Can you tell gramps that I said I love him for me?"
"Of course, anything for our Akane-chan!" Akane's mom giggled, opening the front door.
"Don't let any strangers in, like I've said ever since you're little, okay?" Akane's dad shouted for Akane to hear.
"Okay, dad. See you tomorrow, I love you!" Akane grinned as she threw herself onto the couch, rummaging for the remote control to power the TV on.
"Take care, we love you too!" Akane's parents went outside and closed the door behind them, proceeding to go to their elder's home by car.
"Hm.. I wonder what I should do for tonight?" Akane turned sideways on the couch, propping her elbow as she placed her head on her hand.
Akane continued to scroll the TV channel by channel, boredom decided to wash over Akane.
"Hngh.. not this.. ugh.. wait, not the shopping channel!" Akane quickly pressed the arrow button on the remote to move on to the next channel.
It continued on for a few more minutes, until Akane's stomach growled.
"Maybe I should cook some omelet first." Akane stood up as she rubbed her belly to stop growling.
Mio's bedroom, practice time...
"Then how am I supposed to say it?" Ritsu grunted as she fell on Mio's bed, sighing in defeat.
"You should say it like this," Mio positioned herself, reading the script on her hand, "With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out, and what love can do that dares love attempt; therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me."
"Woah! That's perfect!" Ritsu sat up on the bed, amazed by Mio's speech right now.
"It's because I love literature.." Mio sat down beside Ritsu, continuing where she left off, "You know, that line's not really hard, so why can't you say it?"
"Because it's way too cheesy for me to say it." Ritsu looked away as she pouted, scratching her back in the process.
"You really can't stand these kind of things, huh?" Mio sighed as she smiled at Ritsu, who is backfacing her right now.
'Hehe..' Ritsu's mischievous side finally kicks in, thinking of the best way to annoy Mio right now. 'You took the lead 'cause of practice, so it's payback time!'
Ritsu decided to backface Mio for a few more minutes, until Mio grew worried about it.
"R-Ritsu? Are you mad because you can't say your lines properly?" Mio decided to point out the nearest possible reason for Ritsu to act like this.
Ritsu let out a mischievous smirk, ignoring her friend's words.
"Ritsu?"
'Initiating plan in three..' Ritsu's eyes flashed.
"Oi, Ritsu!" Mio is starting to grow impatient as she shook her sandy-haired friend's shoulder, hoping for an answer.
'Two...' Ritsu hid her grin from Mio's view.
Mio could only sigh exasperatedly, finally getting tired from seeing Ritsu's back for like... five minutes now.
'One...' Ritsu bursted into laughter inside her mind.
"Ritsu!" Mio took the chance to turn Ritsu around to finally face her.
'GO!' Ritsu tackled Mio on the bed, Mio could only grimace due to the impact.
Ritsu's left hand made its way towards Mio's side, poking it with her index finger.
"Kyah!" Mio squealed as she covered her mouth with her hands from laughing.
Ritsu grinned as she continued to poke Mio's side, until the latter couldn't contain her laughter anymore.
"Ritsu- haha! Stop it- kyaha!" Tears are forming in Mio's eyes due to excessive laughter.
"Haha! Your face is priceless, Mio!" Ritsu laughed along with Mio as her hand went upwards, tickling Mio on her neck.
"Ahaha- Ritsu! Please stop! Haha!" Mio tried her best to fend off Ritsu's hand from tickling her any further.
"Nope! You keep correcting me during practice, so it's payback time!" Ritsu ridiculously laughed as she examined her best friend's reaction.
"Well, it's you're fault for messing it up! Hahaha!" Mio locked Ritsu's hand with her head tilted sideways. Ritsu could only flinch.
Mio's mood quickly changed to playful mood, "I should return the favor, Ricchan."
'Oh noes! I know what she's gonna do!' Ritsu pulled her left hand away from Mio's neck, but it failed.
Mio just mirrored Ritsu's mischievous face as both of her hands went towards Ritsu's sides.
"Crap! Gahaha!" Ritsu guffawed as she tried her best to retrieve her hand back.
"This is what you get for ambushing me!" Mio wiped her unshedded tears with her hand before continuing to tickle Ritsu.
'When did it turned out to end up like this?' Ritsu finally succeeded in retrieving her hand back, tickling Mio as well.
"Ahahaha!" Both of them bursted into laughter before Ritsu finally stopped, "Haa! That was pretty tirin'!" Ritsu wiped the sweat forming on her forehead with her arm.
"We.. should stop it.. for now." Mio panted for air, she gawked at Ritsu on top of her. 'I feel like Ritsu's a different person without her headband, but only on the outside.' Mio sweatdropped.
"Yep.." Ritsu breathed in and out heavily, reciprocating Mio's own. "Geez.. Mio, is that even you? I mean, you almost never do this kinda stuff 'cause yer always serious." Ritsu pointed out her raven-haired friend's sudden change of behavior.
Mio replied almost breathlessly, "It's just that.. you always do this to me and.. I never get to pay you.. back, you idiot."
Ritsu pressed her body on top of Mio's, compressing the latter even more.
'R-Ritsu, what are you doing?' Mio thought, her heart beating rapidly. 'We're too close..' Mio head jerked down due to the process.
Ritsu decided to look at Mio straight in the eyes, examining her closely.
Mio reciprocated her best friend's action, her blood made its way back to her cheeks.
Amber eyes met stormy orbs..
'Her hime cut suits her really well...' Ritsu brushed her friend's black bangs aside, making a clearer view of Mio's flushed face.
'R-Ritsu...' Mio examined her companion's long bangs that are touching her face.
Ritsu leaned in next to Mio's ear as she whispered, "Y'know, you really fit your role well as 'Juliet'.."
Mio could only blush because of her friend's compliment.
Ritsu retreated her head back. 'She's too.. cute! Must.. resist!' Ritsu fought her thoughts, closing her eyes shut.
'Romeo..' Mio's eyes are starting to tremble as she tried her best to control her emotions from overflowing.
"B-Being..'Romeo' suits.. y-you well, Ritsu..' Mio replied compressedly.
Ritsu snapped her eyes open, 'I.. can't stop! She's too irresistable for this!' Her heartbeat is racing way too fast, her face feeling hot because of her companion's voice.
She glanced at Mio below her, mustering up all of her courage before she did the next..
Ritsu closed her eyes as she kissed Mio near her lips.
Mio widened her eyes in shock, her heartbeat beating extremely fast, but because too much pressure.. she fainted.
Ritsu moved her head back, examining her raven-haired companion's expression with red tinge on both of her cheeks.
After a few seconds, Ritsu realized that her friend fainted.
'Looks like I went too far. Nice one, Romeo..' Ritsu sighed deeply, getting off the bed as she picked up her bag to go home.
Hayabusha household...
After Akane ate her omelet, she placed the dishes in the sink as she went back to the living room.
She flopped her body back to the couch, her hand searching for the outline of the remote control. After that, she pressed the power button.
But before she can scroll the channel due to boredom, she widened her eyes as she sat back up. Akane then grabbed the couch's pillow, blocking the scene from her view.
"What the-! Why'd this scene show up right now? Don't they even realize that kids are watching cinema channels like this?!" Akane groaned as she took a peek behind her pillow.
The channel in the TV is airing the famous movie, 'Romeo and Juliet'.. bed scene. Akane watched it in a bad timing.
'Geez...' Akane powered the TV off. 'Wrong timing..'
Akane went back to the kitchen to wash the dishes and decided to sleep early for the night.
A/N: Done! It feels good to finish another chappie even though I just updated last week lol xD
Review Responses:
Fujimoto-Chiaki-789: Another headbandless Ritsu comin' right up lol xD
You're welcome and I'll do my best!
Yukina-Tenma: I see what ya did there :D
Yep, but I still like Ritsu better than him.
You're right! xD
Keeper Aki: Thanks for pointing it out. I hope you enjoyed this chap, especially the last part.
Faby-chan: Here it is! I hope you've enjoyed it.
PanicAtFanfiction: Hah! They already did it in this chap!
Thanks for following both me and mah story! :D
Anyways, tell me what you all think about this chap in a form of a review/follow/fave, it helps me out a lot. Thanks for reading and see ya in the next chap!
Peace! Arf!