"Fish flakes," says a tiny judgemental 17-year-old appearing out of nowhere.

Inori nearly jumps out of his skin.

Akiho does the same, and makes an undignified squeaking sound to boot. Oh. Yes. That. Is a natural thing to happen when a couple is kissing in the common room, isn’t it.

“OhIamsosorrythisisnotanactivityforacommonroom, very sorry, aheheheheh we’ll just, sorryagainbye!”

And then with remarkable efficiency she tugs Inori off of the couch to gently and lovingly drag him to his room so they can both completely freak out in privacy. Once the door has been firmly shut behind them, she takes the opportunity to turn bright red, bury her face in her hands, and giggle with absolute embarrassment.

(The book she had been reading has, in the chaos and teenage hormones, been entirely forgotten.)

Yeah okay now he's BSODing, he's counting it as a success that he managed to last as long as he did and the only thing that broke it was Inumaki.

For once, he is not the only one to just utterly and completely shut down! Akiho migrates from giggling inanely into her hands to giggling into Inori’s shoulder, because. Because. Look they are in the same boat here, okay, and she would like someone to lean on as she’s dying of embarrassment, and he is the only one in the world that is probably just as embarrassed as she is.

Oh okay right hugs are a thing he can hug and also hide. In her hair.

They can hide together! Both of them! In each other! Oh man, dragging Inori off to his room probably had so many implications to Inumaki, didn’t it, oh no that’s terrible. She just wanted to get them Definitive Privacy so they could freak out in peace! Now all of the upperclassmen are going to think that, that. They were leaving to do. Other things.

She giggle-hiccups into Inori’s shoulder.

...okay now that the immediate embarrassing situation is gone he. He has to admit. That was kind of funny. And entirely predictable.

He starts laughing, too, into her hair.

“Auuuuuugh, they’re going to think we’re here for other reasons I’m so sorry, there’s probably time to flee the country right now if you wanna?” she whines into his shoulder.

...they're going to—oh—oh—oh kay he's BSODing again yep sec.

(What if he kind of wants them to be right NO SHUT UP DO A PROPER BSOD AND STOP THINKING)

She seems to have moved past the giggling stage and onto ‘soft whines of embarrassment,’ which involves a lot more hiding. And occasionally mumbling.

“I mean at least it was Inumaki-senpai, I don’t see how he could tell, no, no wait, he is absolutely going to immediately tell everyone else despite his thing about saying foods, somehow, whyyyyyy.”

Hug hug hug cling cling maybe he should not cling too close actually—

She hiccups again. “Oh no, I’m sorry, do you need space, I have completely failed to check on how you’re doing over there, I’ve just been clinging with no regard to your comfort, are you, um, okay, should I, er, leave you alone?” The way she says that sounds like it would be terrible to do, but she’s just all anxiety, okay.

"—no!" is what he says immediately but ahhhhhhhhhhh words

“Oh! Okay.” She pauses, then snorts at herself. “I’m sorry, I’m just. All anxiety right now.”

Nodnodnodnod he can understand that for sure he is ALSO all anxiety but also he is... kinda horny which is ENTIRELY THE INCORRECT EMOTION TO FEEL RIGHT NOW AAAHHH

Fortunately(?) for him, she has no idea.

“Right. Okay. Uh. Breathe. I will practice breathing. It’s okay, it’s ooookay.“ Shoulder lean. Whine.

Does breathing help? ...some, but her being so close doesn't and he's spiralling a bit aaaaah

She seems mostly recovered, and pulls back far enough away to look at him.

“Oh no, my poor Inori-kun. Do you want to sit down?”

Oh yes that. Sounds good. He nods and moves to the bed like a robot.

She sits beside him, and holds his hand between two of hers.

"... Damn. I forgot my book," she observes.

Oh right she had been reading uh.

...he still doesn't have his words back, that sucks

“It’s fine,” she assures, leaning against his shoulder. “I just remembered and it bugged me.”

Aaaaaaaaahhh she's so nice and pretty and hot and attractive and he wants things he has no words for

Well she’s just going to lean against him and rub little circles into his hand with her thumb, and wait for his ability to form words or preferences comes back. Her other hand gets her phone, which is going to get cute animal pictures, stat!