...............................................
Yuki pants in exhaustion when she finally reached him.
"I'm not prickly of my age... though, so you're the old lady... And I'm a manly man." she taunted as she panted really heavily.
Game of Tag doesn't usually take much of her effort, she was born with unparalled strength and agility. Yet, she realized that Umemiya may have been much much more. Like, she couldn't even grab him on his tailcoat, the old man runs so fast.
"Heh? But you're skinnier than me... And, I look way manly." he taunts back still grinning. He had already recovered from all the running and she's really annoyed by it.
Thirty minutes... they had been running for thirty minutes... and he was like, 'Oh, that was fun' and then gets back his normal breathing immediately?' she scoffs.
The green monster has taken over her entire being.
"But that was fun." he stated turning around to face her.
'See?!' she rolled her eyes, and walked only to stumble. Umemiya held her close. She was really worn out having to chase after him.
"Remind me not to run again with you." she muttered as she leaned her head on his chest. He just laugh again.
"No can do." he said and reflexively moved when he felt her falling.
He looks down only to see her fast asleep.
"How many times are you going to make me carry you?" he muttered before carrying her.
He chuckled when he realizes how they had lose track of time because it's already eleven in the morning. Fortunately, there were no classes for this morning so... they're totally fine.
He strode towards the stairs and swallowed. He shook his head and faced the hurdle in front of him. "You're lucky you're light." he whispered as he sneaked a glance at her completely sleeping.
Umemiya took a step down when he suddenly felt her shift. He flinches from shock and stopped climbing down the stairs.
He gasps from alarm.
'That could have gotten us killed. Wait, why did I carry you like this anyway? The scenario's so awkward and this is so hard to handle.' He thought before he shifted his gaze to her face.
"Mom..." she muttered as a few tears slipped out of her closed lids.
'You're having a nightmare... huh?'
He thought, but in fact, Yuki was actually dreaming of a happy memory with her Mom. She, for once, had it again after a long time, maybe because she lately felt happy or maybe because of the warm feeling that envelopes her tightly.
She just... she felt so safe. So she snuggled closer to that warmth, hoping to stay there forever. And in the reality, it was Umemiya's warmth that she wants to feel.
She snuggled so close clinging her hands on his neck, clasping her hands tightly on his nape, unexpectedly pulling him closer.
His eyes widened and leaned back fighting her strength from pulling his neck off his body.
"Are you really asleep?" He asked the sleeping Yuki. "You're not getting back at me, are you?" He continued asking. Then he decided to move forward again when she shifted again pulling him even closer.
He sighed in frustration and really stopped going down the stairs. 'It's dangerous when he keeps on moving.'
Thereby, he turned around to go back to the rooftop. 'I'll just call Sakura later.' he thought.
They were back at the rooftop in no time and walked directly to the East Room. He strode there leisurely, when she pulled on his neck again.
He's really irritated now, because he thought she's really getting back at him, and when he looked at her, her eyes were indeed open, well, slightly and she's smiling.
'Right, he was really pulling my leg.'
She pulled him closer again and smiled brightly, and this time, even her eyes seems like they're smiling too.
"Damn." he could only utter when she closed in the gap between them.
Her nose touching his, as his eyes widen from the unexpected touch, hers was closing. He stood there, frozen.
His earlier symptoms were undoubtedly coming back... hitting him like a storm.
His... shaky hands.
His... weakening legs.
His... troubled mind.
And his... tumultuous heart.
It was like everything was a mess but at the same time, it made him feel complete. It was confusing but... he closes his eyes...
... and immediately opened them widely when that touching feeling disappeared. He stared at her peacefully sleeping... and snoring at that, completely unaware of his chaotic thoughts and unsettled feelings.
He finally understands... even with just the simple gestures... with the little interactions... it just takes one move for things to change.
"I'm done in." he muttered completely taken aback by the sudden realization, then he shook his head in denial.
"No." he muttered. "Probably just an error." he convinces himself but it's not like he's a robot so he probably is wrong.
"I am in no need of a girlfriend... no, a boyfriend? Wait, huh?"
He walks back and forth, forgetting about East Room, the hammock, and even the person he was carrying, it's like it's just the 'all over the place' him and his thoughts and feelings, fighting in dominance. He was at a total loss at the moment.
"This is bad... certainly bad." he muttered before remembering Yuki. He immediately walked towards the East Room and laid her on the hammock.
He, then called Sakura to get her before leaving the place and after making sure she was nicely tucked in.
"I need space." he muttered as if he was breaking up a romantic relationship, which was totally inexistent at the moment.
He shuts the door.
"This is just a dream... I'm fallin' in a dream."
#unedited.