Tell Me, What Do You Feel?

"Nishi-senpai. Nishi-senpai... Wake up."
Tan-Tan gently shook her head, attempting to tickle Nishi's nose with her hair to rouse him. His grip around her waist was starting to suffocate her; despite her love for being in his arms. He groaned a few times, tightening his dangerous embrace. Tan-Tan let out a sharp squeak, clawing at his hands with her fingernails.

"Nishi-senpai! You're going to kill me!"
Her back arched closer to his torso, trying her best to loosen the clasp around her tiny waistline. The door to the spare bedroom gently clicked open, and before her stood someone she wished she had not seen in her current state- Kuromoto Souichi.

He gazed down at the small girl, tightly gripped by his younger brother. She looked almost frightened, a pleading glint in her eye.

"Souichi-senpai, help! Nishi-senpai won't wake up, and my tummy is starting to hurt!"
She reached a hand out to Souichi, who had already gotten dressed and eaten breakfast. With a boisterous laugh, Souichi yanked her from her limb prison. He confidently placed his hands on his hips.
"What you're experiencing is called morning sickness, Tanaka-san! Congratulations on the baby!"

Tan-Tan shrieked, landing a harsh slap across Souichi's face.
"No! We didn't have se-.... ahem... We didn't do any... lovemaking. My tummy hurts because Nishi-senpai was holding me all night."

Souichi rubbed his cheek, still smiling; despite having been slapped. He nodded his head, placing his fingers under his chin
"I see. Here, I thought my little brother had gotten ahead of me. But, may I ask, why were you two sleeping in the same bed?"

Tan-Tan's cheeks turned pink. She replayed the events of last night in her head. Nishi running away from home, Nishi saving her from a few bullies, Nishi confessing his love with a very mature kiss. She twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, her lips quivering from holding back a smirk.
"Well, I suppose I'm Nishi-senpai's girlfriend now, so..."

Souichi's eyes widened. He walked circles around Tan-Tan, studying the wrinkles of her school uniform; her messy hair matted in the back.
"Are you sure you didn't have se-"

*Slap!*

Tan-Tan's eyes narrowed, a vein practically popping out of her forehead.
"I'm sure, Souichi-nii."
She casually referred to him as big bro, almost as if she were already part of the Kuromoto family.

He couldn't help but laugh. He squatted down and petted her disheveled hair, gently smiling at her.
"I always knew Nishi would find a good girl. Welcome to the family, little sis."

Arising from the mattress, Nishi reached around for his glasses; a force of habit, despite having broken them in a fistfight the other day.
"Sou-chan, why are you calling Tan-Tan 'little sis'?"

"Nishi-senpai! You're awake."
Tan-Tan hopped onto the bed, wrapping her arms around him. He stroked her back leaning his tired head against hers.

"I was just welcoming Tanaka-san into the family. I mean, you're going to marry her, right?"
Souichi walked to the door frame.

"Marry?! Sou-chan, we only just started dating."
Nishi ran a hand through his hair, clearly flustered by the idea of marriage.

Souichi left the room, leaving the awkward couple to their own devices. Tan-Tan leaned upward, giving Nishi's lips a small peck.
"We should hurry and catch the train. I can't wait to see you make up with Sakai-senpai and Minami-chan."

Nishi couldn't help but fall for her charms, gently offering a few kisses of his own. The two shared a lovely morning together, exploring each other's comfort with kissing and caressing. Nishi learned that Tan-Tan wasn't a fan of consensual groping, while Tan-Tan learned that Nishi didn't like when she playfully bit his bottom lip, claiming that it made him feel less masculine. Regardless, the two made compromising adjustments to enjoy a healthy relationship.

"Ready to head home, Tan-Tan?"
Nishi grabbed his rucksack, handsomely slinging it over one shoulder. He led her to the front door, but not before she stopped to express her gratitude to her soon to be brother-in-law. Hopefully.

"Thank you for everything, Souichi-nii."
Tan-Tan bowed her head to Kuromoto Souichi, who was deep into a novel on the sofa, thankful for the chance to have a supportive older brother figure in her life.

"No, Tanaka-san. Thank you. You somehow managed to get my stubborn little brother out of his stupor. I applaud you."
He comedically waved the two off, as if to say they were interrupting his reading.

"Nishi-senpai, what about your father?"
Tan-Tan was gently tugged out of the house by Nishi.

"Don't worry about him. He gets up early for work, so it's rare if you see him at all. I'll introduce you someday, okay?"
He smiled back at her over his shoulder. The crisp morning air of a beautiful fall day offered a bright new beginning for the freshly rejuvenated couple.

The two stepped onto the train together, hand in hand, sitting beside a few businessmen on their way to work overtime on this wonderful Sunday morning. As the countryside of Hokkaido chugged along outside the windows, Tan-Tan found herself leaning into Nishi's embrace; his arm wrapped tightly around her shoulder.

Nishi stepped off the train car and onto the platform below, his hand never leaving his girlfriend's. Pulling his smartphone out of his back pocket, he didn't hesitate for even a second before dialing a number into the keypad.

"Hello? Minami, it's me. Can we talk? I'll be waiting at Shigeo Beans in 10 minutes... Yeah, you can bring Aki... My treat."
His voice was shaking slightly, it was evident he was nervous about making up to his friends.

"Did she agree to meet?"
Tan-Tan smiled up at Nishi, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

"Yeah, they agreed to meet. Are you sure you want to come, Tan-Tan?"
He started walking, squeezing her hand tightly.

"Of course I do. They're my friends too, you know?"
She cutely hopped up in the air, poking his nose with her pinky finger. Taking the lead, she dragged the tired boy like a dog on a leash dragging it's owner.

Arriving at Shigeo Beans, Tan-Tan and Nishi found a booth, carefully sliding in next to each other. Nishi's brain was in dismay, silently thinking up proper apologies for when his friends finally showed up. His hand was unknowingly smothering Tan-Tan's.

"Nishi-senpai, it's okay."
She shifted closer to the distraught boy, petting his hair in a comforting manner. Tan-Tan watched as Nishi simmered, his mouth silently whispering practiced regrets and sympathy.

The metallic clatter of the coffee shop's golden bell rang to life, causing Nishi to jump to his feet. Standing a few feet away, his best friends were holding hands. Sakai Akinari wore a cautious expression, unaware of what had happened the night prior to this meeting. Yamaguchi Minami immediately furrowed her brow, looking away from the boy getting closer to them. Before anybody could speak a word, Nishi tossed his arms around the couple's shoulders. He buried his head between them, pulling them so tight their necks were starting to hurt.

His voice cracked as he spoke in a hushed tone, rapidly apologizing for being a horrible friend.
"I'm sorry! Minami, I'm sorry! Aki, I didn't mean what I said. I was stupid and impulsive, but I've learned now. Please, never stop being my friends! I freaking love you both so much!"

Timidly, Minami was the first to break the silence, as she usually did. She whimpered against Nishi's cheek, pulling him even closer with her lioness strength.
"I know, Nishi. You're forgiven. I love you too, more than you know."

Akinari couldn't help but fall for his friend's words, feeling grateful for the moment of passion.
"You're such an idiot, man. I'm glad to have you back, best friend. I suppose... I love you too."

Tan-Tan watched from the booth, wiping tears from her eyes as she sniffled. The display of friendship was enough to make her cry. It was pure, wholesome friendship; better than any shoujo manga story could offer her.

"I'm so glad to have you back, Nishi. I'm sorry for being so harsh back then. I guess I was just worried about the contest. I hate seeing you sad, because it makes me sad. I'm not good at saying this kind of stuff, but I really care about you."
Minami gently punched her friend's shoulder, trying to play her words off as if the situation wasn't already awkward.

Nishi let out a breathless giggle, mimicking her punch.
"You don't need to apologize. You know I would never mean to hurt you, Minami."

Akinari pulled a small box from his back pocket, skillfully sliding it into Nishi's hand.
"You owe us a latte, Nishi. Especially for how much this cost me."

He carefully pried the green bow off the present, allowing it to slip to the floor. Opening the minuscule container, Nishi burst into a fit of laughter.
"Dude, you bought me new glasses? These things cost a fortune. And what's with the lame frames?!"

Akinari couldn't help but crack up at Nishi's reaction. His arm flew around his shoulder, poking at his friend's bruised cheek.
"You get a lame pair because you were a lame friend. Now, try them on. I asked your mom for your prescription."

Donning his new spectacles, Nishi looked like a completely different person. His usual nerdy persona was quickly replaced with a handsome womanizer. Striking a dramatic pose, Nishi winked at Tan-Tan.
"How do I look?"

She gasped in excitement, immediately jumping to his side.
"Like Ootoro Kyouta!"

Minami joined the laughter, slapping Nishi on the back.
"Oh my gosh, he does! So handsome!"

Akinari and Nishi locked eyes, both of them tilting their heads in confusion. In unison, the two asked
"Who?"

"You wouldn't get it; it's a shoujo manga reference. Now, about that latte?"
Minami pushed Tan-Tan into the booth, eagerly awaiting the beginning of the reunion.

"I want matcha!"
Tan-Tan raised her hand.

"Oh, good choice! I want pumpkin spice! It's not fall without pumpkins!"
Minami mimicked Tan-Tan's cute gesture.

Sitting beside each other, Akinari and Nishi both sighed, secretly admiring their adorable girlfriends.

"I guess I'll have a pumpkin too."
Akinari propped his chin in his palm, smirking at Nishi.

"Yeah, yeah. You guys are going to clear out my wallet, aren't you?"
Nishi waved a waitress over to the table, excited to be spending money on his loved ones.