Quiet humming filled the air as Lakia stepped into Hapipare.

Sachika was there, lining up little colourful tubes in front of gochizos in corresponding colours, humming a tune to herself.

When she looked up, a smile lit up her face. “Lakian! Want to try these out with me?”

Lakia picked up one of the tubes, the words ‘juicy peach’ in bubbly letters on the front, the background decorated with the fruit and little bows and squiggles. He looked at Sachika. “If it’s candy you should ask Shouma instead.”

“It’s not!” She popped the cap off another tube, twisting the bottom to make the contents come out. “It’s lip balm. A friend gave it to me to try. Cute, right?” She held it out toward him. “Here, smell it.”

Leaning down, he did as asked. It smelled sweet. “Why would you make it smell like candy if you’re not supposed to eat it?”

“Because it tastes better.”

The long look he gave her made it obvious what he was thinking. She just said it wasn’t for eating, so why was she talking about the way it tasted?

“Let me show you what I mean?” she asked, brandishing the tube in her hand almost like a weapon.

Lakia looked between her and the gochizos happily jumping around on the table in front of them. “Lame…” Looking into her eyes was like looking at one of Earth’s puppies. He sighed. “Fine.”

 

Sachika bounced out of her seat, the smile on her face radiant. “Alright!” She picked up a few of the tubes. “Pick a flavour.”

His eyes scanned the labels. Most of them he only knew through others eating them, not himself, so he could only really guess at what they tasted like. “That one,” he said, tapping the lid of the one labelled ‘caramel’.

“Good choice,” Sachika said, pulling off the cap with a pop. “Okay, now hold still.”

One of her hands took a light grip on his chin, and she leaned close so she could swipe the stick of lip balm across his bottom lip. The rich scent of caramel reached his nose as he felt her run it along his upper lip as well.

She pulled back, capping the tube again before picking out a different one. Lakia licked his lips. They tasted like caramel.

Sachika swiped the tube in her hand across her own lips. She took a step closer to Lakia, now standing toe to toe with him. “Can you bend down a little for me?”

Lakia’s brows furrowed, but he still did as he was asked. He had already indulged her this far, what was a few seconds longer?

She seemed to be hesitating for a moment, but as she looked into his eyes, she seemed to make up her mind on something. She leaned forward, pressing her lips to his.

 

The sweet flavour of vanilla mixed with the richness of the caramel on his own lips, reminding him of the pudding he’d grown to appreciate.

She pulled back, face bright pink, yet still smiling. She tapped the tube of lip balm against her lips. “See? It tastes better when it’s flavoured.”

When he muttered a quiet ‘lame’, he knew his face was just as flushed as Sachika’s.

 

Maybe he got it after all, he thought, as the taste of her kiss lingered on his lips.

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