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“Kanpai!!!”
We clink our glasses, and down our drinks as the camera flash goes off.
It’s late at night and quiet here. We spent the whole morning celebrating my graduation from B-Komachi, and afterwards, I suggested that the three of us go out for drinks now that Ruby’s of age. Unfortunately, I had to invite her as well.
Akane is across from me, dressed in a crisp white dress shirt, and a Louis Vuitton purse slung across her shoulder. Her long blue hair has a light, bouncy sheen to it under the fluorescent lights, and her movements carry the swagger of a star actress.
3 years. 3 years since I joined B-Komachi, and 3 years since Akane turned from being a one off into a recurring character in my life. In that time, she’s gone from nobody into a rising star actress, landing more leading roles in a week than I’d ever have in 3 months. As for me, my idol career is at its end, and I’ll have to figure something out soon. I don’t have a right to be petty of course—I already had my spotlight years ago. But I can't stand it sometimes.
“Hey, thanks for inviting me! ” Akane says, flashing her brightest camera smile. It takes me a few seconds to realize she’s talking to me. “It’s always so fun to hang out with you guys.”
Sure thing, Ms. Kurokawa. Like I’d ever trust the words of a genius actress. Actresses are scummy people who lie for a living.
“Don’t worry about it. We’ve known each other for a long time haven’t we?” I say. “Besides, it’s just us girls here—” A flash of inspiration hits me.
I try to be straightforward, I really do. But a childish part of me still lights up with glee at the mention of gossip. I don’t purposely look for it—I have to be professional after all. But I won’t turn down an opportunity to poke at enigmas, and what bigger enigma than that brilliant head of Akane’s. She’s a bit like Aqua sometimes, always pondering, ruminating, scheming. Both of them also have this annoying tendency to keep me in the dark. It’s frankly annoying. Yet that could change with a glass or two of liquid courage.
“That reminds me,” I say. “How about we go for another round of drinks? The stronger stuff this time since Ruby’s grown up now,.” Ruby is immediately on board, and so is Mem. Akane, meanwhile, is a little unsure, but we finally manage to convince her too. Come on Akane, let’s see what kind of drunk you really are!
It doesn’t take long before Ruby and Mem are loudly slurring out B-Komachi songs. As for Akane, she seems to have withdrawn into her shell. She’s sulking in the corner, face all flushed and red, rubbing her temples. Not what I expected. With how popular she was, I thought she would’ve been no stranger to alcohol. She looks like she might crash at any second.
“Soooo senpaii,” Ruby says, slurring her words. “Whatt’re we gonna doooo?”
“Truth or dare,” I reply. “Now’s the perfect time.” Ruby giggles.
“I- I’m gonna pass,” Akane says, holding up her hand. Way to go. But I’m not gonna let up now.
“Come on, you have to join us. We rarely meet up like this.” I say.
“I don’t know, I’m feeling a little lightheaded.”
“No you’re not. You’re drunk.”
“I- I don’t know.”
“Come on, join us!”
We finally manage to convince Akane after a few minutes of nagging. We go a couple rounds each, everyone only choosing truth. While I managed to learn a few things—things better left unsaid—one can only hear about so much gossip until it gets boring. It’s my turn again.
“Dare,” I say this time. Someone’s gotta do it. It’s not too different from acting.
Ruby and Mem start giggling and clapping. Ruby’s eyes light up. She whispers into Mem’s ears, and the two of them burst into another bout of squealing, looking back and forth at me and Akane. Whatever those idiots come up with, I have a bad feeling about it.
“Alright what is it?” I ask.
“Senpai,” Ruby breaks into a wide grin. “I dare you to make out with Akane-senpai.”
“HUH?!!”
***
“What kind of a dare is that?!” I yell at Ruby.
Akane stands up, “I- I have to participate too?”
“Yup. We’ll let you skip the next one.” Ruby winks.
“B- But I didn’t choose dare.”
“Yeah! What she said!” I said.
“You knew the consequences, senpai,” Ruby says, “You’re both actresses. Think of it like filming a scene.”
It doesn’t seem like I’m getting out of this. Damn Ruby. I’m gonna get back at you one day. I can tell from her and Mem’s shit eating grins that they’re really gonna enjoy watching us do weird shit. I need to get back at both of them.
My face burns as I pour another glass of wine down my throat. I wipe my mouth and shuffle closer to Akane—she doesn’t look at me.
Just as I start to tuck my hair, I hear a giggle behind me and spot Mem pointing her phone camera at us.
“Hey put that down!!” I yell at her.
“I’m not gonna show this to anyone.” Mem says.
“Stoppp!!!”
“You’re an actress, senpai. This is nothing!” Ruby chimes in.
“That’s diff—”
Something yanks me before I finish, sending me stumbling forward. I grab onto whatever I can to balance myself.
When I open my eyes, I realize I’m gripping Akane’s chest.
I yelp and pull away immediately. Akane looks at me with half-open eyes.
“Kana,” she says, her voice a soft murmur. “Let’s get this over with,”
She holds my shoulders, gently guiding me towards her this time. Goosebumps rise over my skin. Ruby and Mem start howling like hyenas but their yaps grow fainter and fainter as Akane pulls me close. So close. She closes her eyes and tilts her head. I do the same.
Her lips feel unbelievably soft and warm. They fondle my upper lip gently as her fingers caress my scalp. A glowing warmth rises in my stomach; strange tingles blanket my whole body. I’m struggling to breathe.
Was this how she kissed Aqua? Was this what he felt? What I felt? The thought excited and scared me—in a way Akane Kurokawa usually didn’t.
I shift my position, gripping Akane’s shoulder by reflex. She pulls away briefly and we both look at each other. Her face is bright red and her pupils dilated. Her breath smells of beer.
I don’t hear Mem or Ruby anymore—I can’t tell if they’ve gone silent or if I can’t hear them. It doesn’t matter. I can’t just leave her like this.
“My turn, okay?” I say. She nods.
I climb onto her lap and nudge her into the backseat. Once we were settled, I started the exchange this time, brushing a few hair strands off her cheeks. She holds my waist.
Our lips touch for the second time this evening, and I close my eyes as another wave of electricity passes through me. The smell of her perfume completely envelops me. I run my fingers over the nape of her neck, feeling her muscles quiver with every subsequent kiss. My own limbs feel weak. The world fades away, leaving me alone with her soft lips, her warm skin, her fragrant perfume, her silky blue hair, her quivering neck, her girly moans, the squelch of our lips, her sweat, her—
“Senpai! You can stop now!” Ruby’s voice pierces my ears. I flinch and pull away from Akane; both of us gasp for breath. Akane looks away and I touch my lips.
“That was well over a minute.” Mem says. “But you two were really going at it.”
My face burns. Akane tries to disappear under her own hair.
I shake my head. “Y- Yeah. I- It was just a- acting, you know.”
“You two should just date already.”
“Shut up Mem! We finished your shitty dare now drive us home!”
We waited for a few minutes for the alcohol to flush out of our systems before driving back home. As I lay in bed, dawn fast approaching, I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened there. About Akane. About how I felt.
Her taste still lingers in my mouth. It was just acting, wasn’t it? I just got carried away is all. I don’t actually want to kiss Akane right? Right?!