Sealed with a Kiss

“Come on, Momo, almost there,” Kasumi encourages, voice tense and hushed.

“Kasumi, you’re going too fast,” Momo whines. “At this rate, I’m going to—”

“Just follow my lead, that’s all you need to do,” Kasumi assures. “Come on, we can both finish if you just—”

“Agh!” Momo moans as dark red letters appear on her phone screen. “Mission Failed,” they read, followed by her run stats in smaller white letters. “Huh, died again,” Momo laments, setting her phone down beside her as she leans back on the bench’s backrest.

The pair is seated in the secluded spot Kasumi found on her first day at their school. They’d arrived nearly a half hour early after Kasumi suggested Momo use her powers to get them there ahead of schedule so they could “work on their teamwork” before school. It had taken the additional promise of doing a Bible study during lunch to convince her, but that was a small concession to be princess-carried in Momo’s arms as she leaped from rooftop to rooftop like a ninja.

“And we were so close this time!” Kasumi laments, clutching her phone like squeezing it will retroactively grant them victory. “It was all because of the latest update. What were the devs thinking? Did they wake up one day and decide that the only one who could work on it had to have shi—”

“Language,” Momo interrupts, cutting off Kasumi’s rant.

Kasumi turns to Momo, fully intending to continue, but Momo’s raised eyebrow stops her like a stone wall.

“Affection points, affection points,” Kasumi chants in her mind, calming her emotions.

“And I’m still not convinced this is the best way to improve our teamwork,” Momo continues. “The powers and situations are completely different, so how does this help us again?”

“I’m telling you, it improves a multitude of skills,” Kasumi argues, holding out a hand. “It helps us refine our communication skills, hand–eye coordination, and—” She rambles on, flipping a finger up for each skill or reason on her meticulously manicured list.

At first, Momo had been opposed to playing video games, seeing them as a waste of time better spent on physical training or reading scripture. “I mean, you saw the videos of the U.S. Army using video games to train their soldiers. Why would we be any different?”

“All right, all right,” Momo relents, growing tired of Kasumi’s rambling. She sighs, and Kasumi finally takes a breath for the first time since beginning her rant. She looks at Momo’s exhausted face as Momo rubs her cheeks and eyes.

“I wouldn’t have to badger you so much if you’d just play with me every once in a while,” Kasumi thinks, beginning to analyze the loot they’ve collected from the raid.

“I suppose, if nothing else, it’d be the best way to maintain our teamwork if we’re ever separated.”

*CLACK*

Kasumi’s phone hits the sidewalk, its fall only barely cushioned by her hand and the phone’s case.

“Hmm? Kasumi, you dropped your phone?” Momo says, leaning over to pick it up while Kasumi’s hands remain frozen still. “Ahh, you got a crack in the corner. What’s got you spaced out so much you’d drop it like—”

A giggle from down the street cuts her off. She knows who it is even before looking, and when she does, her eyes become conflicted.

“Oh, hi, ***,” Momo calls.

Kasumi hears the name but instinctively blots it out. Queen Bee is Queen Bee as far as she is concerned; she doesn’t have or need a name beyond that. Kasumi keeps her eyes facing forward, but she can feel the others peering at her back. Queen Bee and her two main lackeys stride by without a word, even avoiding Momo’s gaze.

When the footsteps pass, and the giggles resume, Kasumi finally releases the breath she’s been holding.

“Oh, come on, Kasumi, she’s not that bad,” Momo sighs. “The least you can do is say hi.”

“Never,” Kasumi declares. “Under no circumstances.”

“You can’t mean that,” Momo chides.

“I do.”

“But why? For the life of me, I can’t recall a time you’ve so much as spoken to her.”

“Because—” Kasumi begins, stopping before she can incriminate herself. “Because of how she treated you!” She wants to scream, beginning an hour-long tirade on why anyone who treated Momo poorly is worthy of the worst death imaginable. “Because I just don’t like her…” Kasumi settles on, turning away from Momo.

“Well, that’s no reason at all for us,” Momo chides, leaning back on the bench and raising a hand to the sky. “We have to reflect God’s light so those living in darkness can see and seek Him.” She turns to Kasumi, leaning in close to her ear. “That’s how I found you, after all,” Momo whispers, pulling her head away before Kasumi can turn.

Kasumi covers her ears, hiding them before Momo sees the bright shade of red they’re turning. Momo’s gleeful smirk overpowers Kasumi’s embarrassed frown as she hops from the bench.

“We should head to class,” Momo says, grabbing her school bag as Kasumi rises from the bench as well.

“Can I at least hope she’s in a different class next semester?” Kasumi asks, trying to focus on anything besides the beating of her heart reverberating in her ears.

“You say that like it’ll change anything,” Momo chides. “You two were never close, but I don’t think she’s spoken to me in…” Momo pauses, placing a finger to her lips as she contemplates. “It was just before Valentine’s Day, so about a month.”

“Isn’t that a blessing?” Kasumi says, voice sharp like a blade. “Let’s pray that streak continues.”

“Oh, lighten up, Kasumi,” Momo says, stopping in front of their classroom. “I’m not sure when I asked you to hold that grudge for me, but can you please stop? It’s not doing you any favors.”

“I’ll let it go when she apologizes,” Kasumi thinks, but doesn’t say, holding her tongue back by her fingernails.

“I’ll consider it,” Kasumi says, no vigor in her voice.

“That doesn’t sound very convincing,” Momo asks, tucking in her chin to look up at Kasumi. “Will you promise?”

“Gah! She’s doing it again!” Kasumi thinks, turning her head to avoid the finisher move. “That attack’s too cute. My HP’s way too low to tank it. Have to dodge instead.” Kasumi shifts her eyes, hoping to avoid Momo’s stare. Though a battle of agility definitely favors Momo, could she really move her whole body as quickly and elegantly as Kasumi can move just her face?

“Gah! Fine, I promise!” Kasumi squeals, finally caught by Momo’s eyes.

“Yay,” Momo cheers, throwing her arms into the air. “Seal it with a pinky promise,” she orders, holding out a pinky. Kasumi returns the gesture and interlocks her pinky with Momo’s.

“I promise I’ll let go of the grudge I have against her,” Kasumi says, voice trembling in anticipation of what she knows comes next.

“Promised with a pinky,” Momo sings, shaking her hand with the rhythm. “Sealed with a kiss.”

Without unlinking their pinkies, Momo leans in and kisses the back of Kasumi’s hand. It takes every ounce of self-control Kasumi has not to jump in glee at the feeling of Momo’s warm, soft lips on her skin. Time seems to freeze as the feeling lingers, extending a blink into an hour-long sleep. Momo then extends her hand to Kasumi’s face. Lips trembling, Kasumi kisses the back of Momo’s strong hand, avoiding eye contact all the while. This time, it’s easy, with Momo’s eyes half closed due to her cheek extending into a smile three sizes too big for her face.

“I’ll check up on your progress after the next Lent Bible Study,” she promises, skipping to her desk as the bell rings.

“Who taught her that’s how you pinky promise?” Kasumi wonders, simultaneously blessing and cursing whoever they are, as she slumps to her desk. “One of these days that combo is going to kill me,” she thinks, using all of homeroom to control her breathing and slow her racing heart.