Fuyu's first feeling.
After they came out of the escape room, Fuyu let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly looked for a place to sit, as if she needed to catch her breath. She had been holding it in long enough during the game, trying not to be obvious. She didn’t want anyone to notice, nor did she want to trouble anyone or ruin the fun. As she sat down on a bench, trying to collect her thoughts, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.
"Fuyu, here, have some water."
She looked up to see Itsuki, who handed her a water bottle before taking the seat next to her. Itsuki kept one hand on Fuyu's shoulder, gently rubbing her upper arm. Fuyu took the bottle, noticing that the cap had already been loosened. She twisted it open and took a large gulp of water, letting out a loud, exaggerated "aaiiiaaooouu" sound as she swallowed.
"Arigatou, Itsuki. You're a lifesaver. I forgot to bring water," Fuyu said.
With the gentlest smile, Itsuki replied, "Don't worry about it."
"Do you want some?" Fuyu offered, holding the bottle toward Itsuki.
Before Itsuki could decline, one of their friends pulled them both in by the arms for a group photo to commemorate their successful escape.
"Fuyu, Itsuki, come on! Let's pose for our victory!" the friend called out, handing them props like oversized glasses, a tall hat, a feather boa, etc.
Fuyu put on the silly oversized glasses while Itsuki donned the tall top hat. As everyone gathered into position, Fuyu found herself between the friend and Itsuki. The room was small, so the staff asked everyone to squeeze together to fit the escape room's name into the shot. Another friend tugged at Itsuki from behind, pulling her closer to Fuyu, so close that Itsuki's arm naturally wrapped around Fuyu's waist, their faces pressed together.
"Everyone say cheese!" the staff announced.
"Cheese!" the group echoed.
The photos only took a minute or two, but to Fuyu, it felt like time had slowed. Each second stretched into an eternity as Itsuki's hand rested gently on her waist. Warmth radiated from the spot where they touched, spreading like ripples across a still pond. It wasn’t just the physical sensation—it was the way Itsuki’s presence seemed to radiate care and closeness. The soft press of her fingers against Fuyu’s side anchored her while setting her heart racing all at once.
The gentle squish of Itsuki’s cheek against hers only heightened the moment. Fuyu felt her skin grow hotter by the second, betraying her calm exterior.
Fuyu had been close to Itsuki since the first day of the semester when Itsuki rescued her from a group of hooligans. Their friendship had blossomed from that moment. They studied together, played games, watched movies, grocery-shopped, and cooked meals at Itsuki's place. They were inseparable.
But something was different today. For the first time, Fuyu was hyper-aware of Itsuki—not just her touch, but her warmth, her scent, her every movement. A strange mix of nervousness and comfort swirled within her, emotions she couldn’t name or push away. It felt as if the world blurred into the background, leaving only the two of them in sharp focus.
"Fuyu, let’s go!" one of the girls called out.
Fuyu snapped out of her thoughts. They were preparing to leave for the next escape room.
"Sorry, everyone. I’m suddenly feeling dizzy. You go ahead and have fun. Send me the pictures later, okay?" Fuyu said.
"Fuyu, are you okay? I’ll take you home," Itsuki offered.
"No, Itsuki! You have to come! For the next room, we’ll need your expertise—it’s based on one of your favorite games!" the girls exclaimed, tugging at Itsuki’s arm.
Itsuki’s eyes stayed on Fuyu. "But—"
"It’s okay, Itsuki. Go have fun! You’ve been waiting to play this game for weeks. I’ll be fine going home alone. Don’t worry," Fuyu reassured her.
Itsuki hesitated before nodding. "Un."
As the group walked away, Itsuki occasionally glanced back at Fuyu, her worry evident. Fuyu strolled toward the train station, her mind replaying the sensations from earlier. The warmth of Itsuki’s hand, the gentle press of her cheek—it all lingered in her thoughts. She shook her head, trying to clear the strange emotions.
"Fuyu, what’s going on with you?" she muttered to herself.
"Fuyu!" a distant voice called out.
She froze. [Why am I hearing her voice now?] she thought. [Get a hold of yourself, Fuyu.]
"Fuyu, wait up!" the voice called again, closer this time.
Turning around, she saw Itsuki running toward her. "Itsuki! Ehh? Why?"
Without realizing it, Fuyu found herself walking toward her.
"Fuyu, I’m glad I caught up!" Itsuki said, out of breath, resting a hand on Fuyu’s arm.
"Are you okay? Take your time," Fuyu said, offering her the water bottle.
"I’d rather hang out with you," Itsuki said with a grin.
Those words made Fuyu’s heart skip a beat, even though she’d heard them before. Seeing Itsuki breathless from running after her made them feel different this time.
"What were you thinking earlier? I called you a few times, but you didn’t hear me," Itsuki asked after catching her breath.
"Oh, nothing. I was just… thinking," Fuyu stuttered.
Itsuki chuckled. "Thinking about what?"
"Are you feeling okay now? Still dizzy?" Itsuki asked, placing a hand on Fuyu’s forehead.
The warmth of Itsuki’s palm made Fuyu’s cheeks flush. She blinked rapidly before stepping back.
"I’m okay now. I think I just felt a bit stuffed in the escape room earlier," Fuyu explained.
"Are you afraid of tight spaces? I saw your face during the game," Itsuki asked with concern.
Fuyu hesitated before replying. "Yeah. When I was in elementary school, I didn’t get a perfect test score, and Mama locked me in the closet for 15 minutes. It was dark, and I was terrified. Since then, I’ve hated closed spaces."
"I’m sorry your mama did that to you. You were so small. She shouldn’t have treated you that way," Itsuki said, pulling Fuyu into a warm hug.
Fuyu’s face grew even hotter. She always thought Itsuki gave the best hugs—perhaps because she had never been hugged much before. After they parted, Fuyu asked, "But why are you here and not with the others?"
"I was worried about you," Itsuki said proudly. "I told them I’d go another day. They protested, but I told them my stomach hurt."
"Is your stomach okay?" Fuyu asked.
"Well, it’s empty. What should we cook for dinner?" Itsuki teased.
"Itsuki, you’re impossible!" Fuyu exclaimed with a laugh.
"Let’s go," Itsuki said, casually grabbing Fuyu’s hand. As they walked toward the station, Fuyu felt that familiar warmth from Itsuki’s touch.
This time, the realization hit her like a sunrise. She wanted to be close to Itsuki in a way that went beyond friendship. It scared her, but it was exhilarating too. Itsuki’s laugh echoed in her mind, her gentle smile replayed over and over. For the first time, Fuyu began to see her world in brighter, more vivid colors.
#チェイサーゲームW2 #チェイサーゲームW
#ChaserGameW2 #ChaserGameW
#いつふゆ
#itsufuyu
#林冬雨
#春本樹
#菅井友香 #中村ゆりか