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Okarun shifted from foot to foot as he waited by the school gate for Momo to finish her extra lesson. The sun was out and he looked forward to walking home with his girlfriend.
He smiled and bounced a little on the balls of his feet. Some days he felt like he was living a dream, the best possible timeline where Momo chose to be with him. His gaze roamed around and he noticed a cluster of blue and white flowers growing by a nearby building. Would Momo like a few flowers from him to brighten her day after having to stay late at school?
Practically skipping, he made his way over and selected a few blooms, arranging them as best he could. As he straightened, he noticed another student had taken his place by the gate, appearing to be waiting for someone as well.
Okarun took a step forward, then back. He didn't want to intrude, and Momo would be able to see him when she came out if she looked around. Besides, the young man looked a little intense and Okarun decided to give him space.
He looked at the flowers, took one out of the bunch, and stuck it back in a new spot. After studying the bouquet with a critical eye, he decided it was the thought that counted. Momo would be pleased.
Daydreaming about Momo's smile when she saw the flowers, he almost didn't notice the boy at the gate step forward. “Hey! Momo. Talk to me a minute,” the other boy called out.
Okarun's brow furrowed. Momo could take care of herself, no doubt. Still, he didn't like the look on the boy's face and he and Momo had always been there to back each other up. He walked forward, speeding up until he was running through the gate to see the boy talking to Momo as she scowled and turned away.
Momo noticed him approach and her eyes widened, darting from the boy to him again. The boy said something Okarun couldn't make out, but Momo ignored him. She stepped around and smiled.
“Okarun! Ready to-”
The boy grabbed her upper arm and pulled her back. “Just listen, okay? I'm being nice here. You should be grateful.”
Momo sneered and ripped her arm away from him. “Lay off, you smelly octopus! I said no way! If you're so great, you could get another girl to go with you willingly, right? Find someone who's interested in what you're offering!”
The boy moved towards her, but she was already marching toward Okarun. She wrapped her arm around his and said, “Hey, ready to go? It's been a long day.” Okarun knew the exaggerated smile she wore meant she was upset, but felt like she needed to hide it. If that was what she needed in the moment, he would willingly play along.
He adjusted his glasses as the pair started walking away from the school. “I'm ready if you are, Momo-chan. Did you still want to stop at the store for some-”
“Are you serious?”
Okarun felt Momo stiffen next to him, but they kept walking.
“Is this why you won't go with me? I knew you were desperate, but I didn't realize the rumors were true.”
Momo stopped short and their arms slipped apart. She whirled around, teeth clenched, and stuttered out, “Excuse you?!”
Okarun watched the two storm up to each other and start yelling.
“If I knew you were into scrawny otakus-!”
“I'm definitely not into whatever you-!”
“Admit it, you're just a-!”
“He's a better man than you'll ever-!”
By now Momo's hands were shaking in fists and Okarun could hear her fighting tears of rage. He made a decision and stepped between them.
Facing Momo, he took one of her hands in his. “Let's go to the store, okay? We can just go.” Their eyes locked. He ran his thumb soothingly over her knuckles. “We can just…go.” Some of the anger bled out of her expression, replaced by something he couldn't quite pinpoint.
“Yeah,” she said, squeezing his hand gently in response. “I want a matcha green tea, anyway.”
“Anything you want. My treat today.” They kept hold of each other's hands as they began walking again.
“You know what? Do whatever you want. Clearly you're desperate and he's rich or something and…” His voice faded as they moved further away.
Okarun kept an eye on Momo as they made their way down the sidewalk. She kept her gaze down and was uncharacteristically quiet. Usually on their walks, they chatted about everything and nothing, their days and aliens and whatever came to mind. Now his beautiful, vibrant Momo was clouded in a swirl of emotions he couldn't parse out, and his mind raced to determine the right thing to do.
“Whatcha got there, Okarun?” Momo asked suddenly, jolting him out of his thoughts.
“Oh, um…these are for you, Momo-chan.” He stopped walking and held out the forgotten flowers to her, fiddling with his glasses and looking away self-consciously. “They, uh- I- I might have held them too tightly.”
Momo looked at the proffered bouquet, reaching out slowly and wrapping her fingers around his. Instead of taking them, though, she left her hand covering his and pressed the back of her other hand to her eyes. “Thank you. Sorry. I love them,” she said in a small voice. She rubbed her fist against her eyes.
Okarun stood quietly for a beat, his heart aching but unsure what to do. This was Momo though- talking things out was always the right choice.
“Momo?” he said. “If you don't want to tell me what that was about, that's fine. You don't have to go through that again.” Momo looked up at him and he took her other hand. “But I think- if it's bothering you, or if you're uncomfortable, you can tell me. It might help.”
Momo looked down at their hands, still clasped over the flowers. She took them gently and laughed nervously. “Ah, that was nothing. Just some smelly tuna that doesn't listen. Besides, you know me- I can handle myself.” Touching each blossom erratically, she avoided his gaze with a smile that clearly wasn't genuine.
Okarun took a breath. “Momo…look at me, please.” Momo's hands froze. She looked around where they were standing, at the streetlight, the houses, a crack in the sidewalk, before finally resting her eyes on his face. “Momo, you're the strongest, most capable person I know. It's one of the things-” -even now he flushed slightly at the thought- “-one of the things I love about you. You can deal with anything. But…” Her eyes shone as she listened. “But you don't have to. If you're hurting, let me share that with you. I love you, and I don't want you to ever be unhappy if you don't have to be. I want to be here for you. Will you let me?”
Momo's lips tightened and she took a few slow breaths, just looking back at him, and Okarun wasn't sure what she would say or do next. Brush him off? Ask him to go back to school and beat the guy up? Go to the store and pretend nothing happened? Whatever her response, he was determined to accept it. He was her boyfriend; he would be what she needed.
“Come with me,” she said simply, and took his wrist. She tugged him down the sidewalk and he followed after. Coming to a bench between two buildings, she sat them down. She placed the bouquet tenderly on the seat next to her, tucked her hands under her legs, and took a deep breath. “Okarun…” she started, then groaned. “This is too hard!” She fisted her hands in her hair and lowered her head onto her knees. Okaruns hovered his hand over her back, unsure, then gently patted her shoulder.
“It's okay, Momo-chan, I'm not in any rush. Take all the time you need.” She looked up at him, considering.
“Turn around.”
“What?”
“Turn around! I'll tell you, but not when you're looking at me like that.”
Okarun pushed up his glasses. “L-like what?”
“Like…just-all…ah! Just turn around!” she cried, pushing his arm with both hands. Okarun obligingly turned so he was sitting sideways on the bench, facing away from Momo. He felt her turn and settle her back against his.
They sat together, back to back, for nearly a minute before Momo said, “So…that was my first boyfriend.”
Okarun stared doggedly ahead. “The one you told me about? The one that…?”
“Yep. That's the guy,” Momo muttered. “Ugh, it's so embarrassing. He was clearly a piece of shit. I don't know what I was thinking.” Her voice was muffled and he could tell her face was buried against her arms.
“Yeah, he really is,” he responded placidly. Momo was still a moment, then started laughing. Okarun joined in until they both shook and leaned against each other for support. “Momo, can I turn around please?”
Momo shifted against his back. He took this as a yes and spun on the bench to face her. She was pink and smiling, and relief washed over him. “There's nothing to be embarrassed about. He was a bad guy, but that has nothing to do with you.” He lay a hand on each of her shoulders, wanting to be sure she took this in. “You didn't deserve how he treated you and you aren't together anymore. If you don't want to, you never have to think about him again.”
“I don't want to! But…” She took a deep breath and looked at him apologetically. “He was trying to get back together with me…and by together I mean…” She looked away. “...nothing flattering, anyway.” Okarun was surprised by the anger that flashed through him, and he fought to keep his grip on her arms soft. “But what was really embarrassing was what he said about you.”
Surprised, he leaned back. “What he said about me? What does that matter?”
Momo returned his gaze fiercely and answered, “What does it matter? It matters a lot! It matters to me! I won't let him talk about my boyfriend like that! You're the best person I've ever met and anyone who says otherwise is getting their ass beat!” She shook a fist at him, almost a dare.
For a moment, all he could do was stare back at her, lips parted in surprise. Slowly, Momo's expression gentled from defiance, to resolve, to affection. “I love you, Okarun. I was embarrassed that someone I chose-and I was wrong to choose him- could say something like that about you.” She clasped both his hands in hers and blushed slightly. “I don't want you to think I'm…I don't know-”
“I don't!” His grip on her hands tightened. “Momo-chan, I just want you to be happy. If thinking about that guy doesn't make you happy, then let-” He stopped abruptly, letting go of her hands to adjust his glasses again and turn slightly away.
Momo, wise to his mannerisms, immediately put her arms around him and leaned in, giggling, as he turned bright red. “Then let what…O-ka-ruuuun?”
He fidgeted and wiggled under her attention before he said, in a whisper, “...then let me make you happy.” He heard Momo draw in a sharp breath close to his ear and grow still. Gathering his courage, he scooted slightly away from her, just enough that he could meet her eye and put his arms around her.
“I want to be the one that makes you happy, Momo.” Her body relaxed in his arms, and she closed her eyes and lay her head on his shoulder. He lifted his hand to her hair, running his fingers through it as he continued. “I want to know if something is bothering you. If you're upset and don't want to talk about it, you can just say that. You don't have to act like you're okay when you're not. Please…don't pretend around me. I'd do anything for you-you know that, right? You must, by now.”
She shifted, lifting her eyes to his and resting her chin on his chest. “I do. And I'd do anything for you, too. I don't want to be a pain, you know?”
“Well, let's make each other a promise, then,” said Okarun, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. Momo took his hand and pressed it to her cheek. “If one of us is upset, we can always tell the other. And if we think we shouldn't, we have to remember that we're partners. We can trust each other to be strong.”
“And if we just need to get our minds off something, we can ask for that, too.” Momo sighed contentedly. “You do make me happy, Okarun. I've never been happier.” Her eyes shone as she sat up, touching his chest and leaning in close. Their eyes flicked over each other's faces. “If I ever want to feel better, I can just think of you.”
Okarun’s heart beat a mile a minute as Momo brushed her nose against his. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For the flowers.” Her breath tickled his cheek, and his arms tightened around her waist. He shut his eyes and leaned in to close the distance between them.