FLF 05

05 ～Feelings　Side Manaka～

“Let me kiss you first, Manaka.”

At Aika-chan’s sudden demand, I froze completely.

Ever since earlier… I hadn’t been able to meet her eyes. The embarrassment had hit me all at once, and now even looking at her felt impossible.

Maybe she noticed. Maybe she was being considerate. Normally, she would stay quiet unless I spoke first—but today, she kept talking to me. A lot. And I couldn’t respond to any of it. I just kept slipping away from her like I was running.

“Do you… want to sleep together tonight?”

It’s not like I didn’t understand what she meant. I knew exactly what she was implying. That’s why she said it like that.

And I nodded.

I didn’t regret it. Even if I knew it was wrong, the truth didn’t change—somewhere along the way, I had fallen in love with my twin sister.

There was guilt, yes. But right now, embarrassment overwhelmed everything else. I couldn’t even think about what came after that.

No hesitation—just shame.

Just looking at Aika-chan made my face heat up… and it wasn’t just my face. My whole body felt like it was burning. There was no way I could let her see me like that.

After the bath, when I returned to my room, my eyes naturally drifted to the bed.

…What am I doing?

I shook my head slightly, trying to steady myself. I should get ready for tomorrow. I reached for my schoolbag to take out my textbooks—

And the door opened.

Aika-chan stepped inside in her pajamas.

I quickly turned my face away from the door and stared down at my bag. I could feel her gaze on me, but I forced myself to ignore it.

She yawned a few times, yet she didn’t lie down. She was waiting.

Waiting for me.

Even though I knew that, I still kept taking books out… putting them back… repeating the same pointless motion again and again, wasting time.

When I finally glanced at the clock, I realized fifteen minutes had already passed since I started acting like this.

“…Seriously, what am I doing…”

Before I could decide anything, Aika-chan spoke to me.

As usual, her tone carried a slight edge—like she was gently scolding me. But her expression was different.

Sad.

Just seeing that made something in my chest twist painfully.

She asked me.

Whether the “like” I said before was the same kind of “like” she felt for me… or the same kind I felt for Mami.

And if I didn’t answer, she said, she’d become anxious.

She looked so painfully sad when she said it.

I hesitated, not knowing how to respond. Then Aika-chan let out a small sigh, and tried to guide me gently.

“Is it because you’ll regret saying it? Or is it just… hard to say?”

I answered that it was the latter.

At that, she suddenly leaned in close.

So close that words didn’t feel necessary anymore.

And that was how we ended up here.

“Can’t you do it?”

She smiled again—but her eyes were still sad.

I shook my head, and slowly reached out to touch her cheek.

“Manaka… you’re shaking. Do you… still hate it?”

Only then did I realize.

I was trembling.

Cold? No. I knew that wasn’t it.

Fear? Anxiety? Or maybe… I was just scared?

While I was lost in those thoughts, Aika-chan’s expression turned cool.

I closed my eyes tightly—

And gently pressed my lips against hers.

“10 points.”

The moment our lips parted, Aika-chan said it with a mischievous smile.

“What… is that supposed to mean?”

I looked at her, confused, and she lightly touched my lips with her finger.

“Unless you can get a perfect score today… I’m not letting you go.”

Her smile deepened.

My face burned so intensely it felt like my skin might melt.

I couldn’t even find words.

“That one wasn’t good enough,” she said, urging me on.

I had to make up the remaining ninety points.

This time, I kissed her more carefully.

Softly holding her upper lip, then her lower lip, before pulling away.

“40 points.”

“Th-That low?!”

“Did you think that was enough?”

Again, she pressed her lips against mine—but this time, she slipped her tongue in between them.

As I hesitantly searched for hers, my entire body—not just my face—grew hot.

My head started spinning.

And then Aika-chan pulled away first.

A thin strand of saliva connected our lips, only making my embarrassment worse.

She smiled brightly.

“Full score.”

“…Then… let’s sleep?”

She took my hand.

I nodded slightly, and she guided me toward the bed.

It had been a long time since I lay down in Aika-chan’s futon.

Only now did I realize it—her scent wrapped around me the moment I lay down.

And just that alone made my body heat up even more.

The moment I was laid down, a storm of kisses rained over my body.

A sensation I had never felt before surged through me, and a sound escaped my lips without permission.

Aika-chan pressed her lips over mine, muffling it.

Even saying her name felt difficult.

She watched me with a teasing smile, clearly enjoying every reaction I made.

When another wave of sensation hit me, my body tensed—and my movements were gently stopped.

Each time, I let out a pleading, almost crying voice.

“…Nn… w-what…”

“What is it?”

“I… c-can’t… ah…”

“Can’t what?”

Her voice was deliberately unkind.

But I no longer hated it.

I grabbed her arm tightly and stared at her, my mind hazy.

“Ai…ka-chan…”

“If you don’t say it, I won’t understand.”

I tightened my grip again.

She let out a soft laugh.

And finally… she gave me what I wanted.

“I’ll spoil you even more from now on. This feeling… I’ve finally reached it. So sleep now. I love you, Manaka…”

So do I.

I tried to say it back—but I didn’t have the strength left.

My consciousness slipped away before the words could form.

As I drifted off, feeling her gently stroke my head in a steady rhythm…

I thought that if I ever admitted how happy I felt right now…

I might never be able to look Aika-chan in the eyes again.