Worlds Collide

Kureha’s heartbeat began to elevate as the trio of girls approached the boys. Her mind was set, and Rin had made a good point that Kureha herself was the one who requested everyone be honest. The dwindling days that were now before them, and the trauma of the past few weeks, had removed any restraints in her mind. Whatever happened, she just wanted to say what she felt. She would mend whatever injuries that came from these words.

Arata and Riku were laughing out loud as the girls approached. The Australian was well down the outcropping now, returning to wait at the boat. Rin took Kureha and Shiona’s hands as they reached the boys. Hearing Riku laughing caused Kureha to temporarily teeter on being overwhelmed, but she calmed herself.

“Boys, we wanted to speak to you for a moment, if that was okay,” said Shiona.

The three boys turned to them. Rin squeezed the girls’ hands, then released them as the six of them faced one another.

“What’s that look?” Kai asked.

“I… I love all three of you. All five of you,” Kureha said in a directness that surprised even her.

“I… I like all five of you, too. I have longed after all of you in some capacity for many years. I think I was afraid because we were friends. But, looking at you all now, I know, a life with any of you as my partner would have been perfect. Rin, Shiona, you as well. I would have happily been your bride,” said Kureha.

Rin inhaled and nodded in agreement.

“Arata, you are my heart and my husband, and I so often imagined marrying you. I am so grateful for our time we will get to have. I am so very grateful that you wanted to face the end with me. But if you find yourself wanting another, even in this group, I won’t be mad. I just want you to be as happy as I am. And, I may occasionally want to kiss Shiona or Kureha, because I’ve always imagined it.”

Arata smiled a slightly confused grin and nodded.

Now it was Shiona’s turn.

“Riku, Kai, Rin, Kureha, Arata, I have loved all of you equally for years. You have been there for me through so much, which I will forever be grateful for. But, Riku, these last few days have given me such torment I did not think possible. The idea of saying goodbye to you without ever telling you I truly, deeply long for you and long to be with you even once, it’s too much. Please know that,” Shiona said with a bow.

“I’m sorry, I don’t fully understand?” said Kai.

Kureha hesitated, then approached him. Her heart felt like it was going to burst in her chest. There was no hiding. There was no privacy. The sun was bright in the sky. That didn’t stop her. She reached Kai and her hands trembled as they found his face. His skin was soft. Being that close to him made Kureha fully realize how tall he was. The scent of his perspiration mixed with the scent of the pine and cedar around them.

“I want you to kiss me,” Kureha said softly.

A reactionary smile crept on his face for a brief moment before he realized she was serious.

“Really? Me? I’m nobody. You could do so much better than me,” he said nervously.

Kureha shook her head.

“You’re far from nobody. You’re beautiful. And kind, and funny, and athletic, and…” she trailed off as she leaned forward.

Their lips met and his hands slowly raised to hold her arms. The rush of emotion pulled Kureha from the waking coma of the last week. His exhaling breath grazed her cheek as they stayed connected. Shiona made her way to Riku, who seemed nervous at first, but stood up fully as she approached. She stopped, inches from him, her head tilted to his.

“Shiona, I…” he stopped.

She paused.

“We don’t have to. I understand. I just wanted you to know how I feel,” said Shiona in rejection.

His face turned more mature and confident as his hand caught her arm to stop her.

“No, it’s not that. I wanted to know: Can I touch you? I wanted to feel you. To feel how soft you were,” he whispered.

Shiona’s body tensed with a flood of sensitivity.

“Yes, please,” she said as he held her waist and leaned toward her. 

His fingers slid under her shirt ever so softly and grazed the curve of her hips. She let out a quiet sigh as the two of them met for the first time.

Arata and Rin grinned to one another.

“I always figured you were curious about Kureha and Shiona. I totally get it,” Arata said with a grin.

“You’re not upset?” Rin asked.

Arata shook his head.

“No. Not at all. I just want you happy. And if that makes you happy, I am completely fine,” Arata said softly.

“What about you?” Rin asked.

“Invite me to watch, or join maybe?” Arata said with a smile.

Rin blushed, but the idea stuck in her mind.

Kureha’s lips separated from Kai’s and he smiled before his hands crossed in front of his waist. Kureha saw he was blushing. When she looked down, she realized why.

“Sorry,” he said.

Hormones were now flooding Kureha’s mind and body fully. Every inch of her screamed with sensation. Her soul was awakening once more after drifting for weeks in a lost fog.

“Don’t be,” she replied.

Beside them, Riku and Shiona separated and rested their heads against one another.

“Thank you,” said Shiona.

“Thank you,” he replied.

Soon, the six of them were back in the wooden boat, making their way back to the dock. An hour later, they were quietly loading back into the van and heading to a nearby ryokan. That night, they were the only guests in the entire building. The six of them shared a single bath in full vulnerability before making their way to their room, where the beds were pushed together once more, only this time, it was not for sleep.

Nervous hands trembled to undo robes. Laughter hid uncertainty. Clothes and wraps lay in a pile on the nightstand. For a brief moment, concerns of the end of the world vanished as lips met skin and the six of them found one another in the darkened room.