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The beach rolled on, its wake as soft as a purr.
Serufu tilted her head to watch the foam spray the shore. As the sun dripped toward the horizon, it painted the sky in pastel streaks of pink and violet. She was reminded of parfaits.
Serufu's scalp prickled where her best friend had touched her, gently tugging her hair into a secure band. Serufu could shake her head back and forth, and her hair would still remain in place. She wouldn't be so lucky if she'd tied up her hair by herself!
Giggling, she glanced to her side, where her best friend sat, close enough that Serufu could hear her soft breaths and feel a little of her warmth. She and Purin had sat together on the edge of an aging boat's railing, one that had been left by its owners for the morning. Serufu and Purin's feet almost swayed off of their perch in sync. Sync...
In some ways, Serufu felt like she and Purin were synced up. Where Serufu stumbled, Purin came by with bandages and a stern lecture. When Purin was tired and lonely after a long night of studying, she could come to Serufu for hugs and encouragement. They were always checking on each other like that, peeking in on one another's lives through the windows of their bedrooms.
Serufu smiled to herself. Purin had been so, so mad at her when she hadn't gotten into Yuyu Votech. Yeah, maybe Serufu could've studied harder and gotten into a more rigorous program. But she was happy here, at Gatagata, with Rei and Takumin and Jobko, and the DIY Club. She wouldn't have gotten anything like that from Yuyu.
And besides, she still could have moments like these with Purin, even if they didn't share a school anymore.
Serufu tried to hold her friend's gaze, but Purin was busy staring at her own toes. Quietly, Serufu said, “I'm really glad I got to come with you today, Purin.”
The effect was immediate: Purin went ramrod-straight, her cheeks puffing up and developing a healthy pink blush. She really was just like a pudding. Serufu giggled, and Purin's face found a way to become even pinker. She was so, so cute. And Serufu loved being with her.
Really, Serufu loved her. She always had. She couldn't imagine a life without Purin, and she hoped she'd never have to.
Slowly, Purin's head turned, her eyes peeking up beneath her lashes at Serufu. A tiny smile, quick as the flash of a butterfly's wings, brushed across her lips.
Serufu felt the worth in that. Her heart was pounding, suddenly.
When she leaned in, planting her hand on the little space in the railing between them, Purin gasped. She gasped harder when Serufu tucked a strand of Purin's plum-colored hair behind her ear, exposing her cheek.
Purin's hand sealed over her own mouth, locking away the sound that erupted when Serufu pecked her skin.
When Purin—shakily—pried her hand off her mouth, she turned on Serufu and sputtered: “Wh-Wh-What was that?”
One of Serufu's trademark cheeky giggles escaped her. She pulled up on her smile. “Hey, Purin. I hope we can spend more days like this together.”
Purin's hand cupped her own cheek, right over the spot Serufu had kissed her. “Wh-Why do..?”
Serufu giggled again. Purin was so silly. She really, really wanted Serufu to spell it out for her, huh?
“Cuz I love you.”
She prodded Purin's nose, which set off another volcanic flood of blush across Mt. Purin's hot skin. Purin's scarlet eyes flickered rapidly from Serufu's face, to her mouth, to the horizon. Eventually, she stammered, “O-O-Obviously, you do.”
Then her hand was on Serufu's chin and forcing their mouths together.
A gleeful gasp escaped Serufu. She gently wrapped her arms around Purin's waist, pulling her close. Purin's hands were cupping Serufu's cheeks, forcing her into kiss on kiss with an intensity that suggested she didn't know how to stop. A warm, happy rush of emotion flew through Serufu like a winged deluge. She found she quite liked when Purin gave her so much attention.
Letting out a small, shocked whimper, Purin pulled back and tucked her head down, letting her hair cover her face.
Serufu smiled. She traced her thumb along Purin's warm cheek.
They heard the sand-softened footsteps too late to prepare themselves:
“GOOD JOB, PUDDING AND SERUFU!”
With a squeal, both girls sat upright, staring at the tween interloper who had thrust a thumbs-up into the meager space between Purin and Serufu.
Immediately, Purin let out a groan. “Jobko..! What the heck?!”
Serufu couldn't stop laughing. Her head crashed into her hands, but her laughter shook her tremendously. She only steadied when Purin's cool hands clutched her close. Purin's head was tucked on top of Serufu's, and she was rapid-fire insulting Jobko, who met her for every quip.
“Jobko, you should be ashamed of yourself!”
“I'm proud of you, Pudding! Look at you, spreading your wings and—”
“Stop! Let me spread my wings by myself, you—”
“But Pudding, we just want to express our satisfaction!”
“W-We...” Purin stumbled.
When her chin came off Serufu's head, she looked up too.
It turned out the entire club was spying on them, including Ms. Haruko, from behind a rock efface that overlooked the boat. When they saw that they had been caught, one by one, the members bestowed a pleased thumbs-up to the girls.
Serufu couldn't help but join in. Purin, dismayed, cried, “Aren't you embarrassed, Serufu?”
Jobko grinned. “Do it...” she started.
And the rest of the club filled in:
“YOURSELF!”
Purin sank to the bottom of the boat's interior, her head hidden deep in her hands. Serufu had to fish her out—nobody else wanted to mess with a totaled Purin. And she wouldn't look at Serufu for the rest of the trip... but then she lay her head on Serufu's shoulder as the train set off back home.
It was a promise, Serufu knew, drawing her fingers through Purin's soft hair. A promise... and a renewal of the vows they had made long ago as children.