Nobara stomped across campus, fists clenched, teeth gritted. It was silly to be irritated now. She knew it and yet, the feelings still bubbled up inside her, threatening to spill over. Yuji making an offhand comment about someone asking for his number. Why should she care about that? She didn’t at first until the conversation spiraled into the rest of Tokyo Tech’s dating experience leaving Nobara to realize she was the least experienced one in the group.
Her? Nobara Kugasaki the least experienced? Granted, she wasn’t exactly open to the idea of relationships and most people she met were what she considered undatable in the first place. That made the dating pool considerably small to begin with. There was no time too, she was a Jujutsu sorcerer now.
But still, apparently everyone else had time. Her footsteps echoed off the hallway, alerting everyone in the vicinity that she was in a bad mood. The realization that she was falling behind her peers in something was maddening. It was stupid, it was frivolous, it was asinine. If she wanted relationship experience, she could easily get it if she wanted to.
She did want it a little bit. The more she stewed, the more frustrated she became with her lack of participation in regular teenage activities. They were all so busy with preparing for the exchange event but now that it was over, it wasn’t like she had more free time since missions were going to pick up again. And she needed to meet people outside of the school, there was no way she was going to hook up with any of her classmates.
Nobara turned the corner and pushed her way into the bathroom. The hinges creaked and the door slammed against the wall before swinging shut behind her. Thankfully it was empty. She thought about shutting herself away in one of the stalls at first but chose to stop in front of the mirror. Her brows were furrowed and Nobara forced herself to relax her face. She didn’t want to get premature wrinkles.
There was one positive note though and that was the Kyoto students probably left the school grounds by now. Having the Kyoto students there for so long was suffocating. Each one of them managed to irritate her in different ways. Especially Mai Zenin. She couldn’t believe that a girl like that was related to Maki.
Her forehead was still sore from where the other girl’s bullet struck her. An angry, purple bruise was visible and seeing the injury in the mirror sent another flash of annoyance through Nobara. She pushed her hair to the side to cover the mark.
She still had lingering traces of disappointment that she didn’t end up getting to visit Kyoto. Since Tokyo won, the next exchange event will be hosted at Tokyo again, meaning Nobara was going to have to find her own way to Kyoto. That was for the best because after these events, there was no way she was going to step on the other campus willingly.
Nobara leaned over the sink, letting the cool water wash over her hands. There wasn’t really any reason for her to be in there besides the fact that it was a place for her to hide. The Kyoto students were probably all more experienced in dating than her too and that sent a fresh wave of annoyance through her. Being behind the idiots she went to school with was bad enough but also being behind those losers as well. That was a little too much.
The door swung open and Nobara lifted her head to look at the entrance through the mirror. She wasn’t expecting anyone to be around this part of the school and the sound of the door tapping against the wall startled her but Nobara was trained well enough to not show it outwardly. A good thing too because the person who joined her would surely never let her hear the end of it.
Dark hair chopped chin length, a sleeveless school uniform, and an insufferable smirk. Mai Zenin was staring back at her through the mirror. She sauntered over while Nobara pretended to fix her hair, stopping at the sink next to hers. Mai pulled out a clear tube of gloss and began to apply it to her lips.
“I thought you all would’ve ran back to Kyoto by now,” Nobara remarked, she couldn’t help herself from instigating.
“If I could’ve left this trash heap a week ago, I would’ve,” Mai said, moving the lip gloss applicator across her lips.
The action made Nobara’s eyes flick towards Mai’s mouth but she immediately caught herself and forced herself to look forward. “Well nothing is stopping you now.”
“And leave without saying goodbye to my favorite Tokyo first year?” Mai capped the gloss and put it back in her bag. She glanced at Nobara from the side of her eyes, a glossy smirk fixed on her face. “I would never.”
“You’ve seen me so feel free to get lost,” Nobara said and Mai chuckled.
“I like how you assumed you were my favorite Tokyo first year,” she said and Nobara could feel her cheeks heat.
“Just leave,” Nobara growled but it was too late, Mai eyes glinted with a challenge.
“Why are you hiding in here anyway?” Mai continued, ignoring Nobara’s demands. Nobara knew she reacted too much and now there was nothing that was going to stop Mai from pushing her further.
“Is it weird for me to be in the bathroom?” Nobara snapped.
Mai tilted her head thoughtfully. “No, but it is weird to see you sulk in one.”
“I’m not sulking,” Nobara grumbled.
“Could’ve fooled me. Your idiot friends put you in a bad mood?”
It was on the tip of her tongue but Nobara kept her mouth clamped shut. Her desire to vent was at odds with her dislike of the girl she would be venting to. What would she even say? That she was sulking in the bathroom because Yuji Itadori of all people had better luck dating than she did. And telling Mai Zenin this fact too?
Mai raised an eyebrow at her, expecting an answer. There was something about Mai that was disarming. No matter how infuriating she was, Nobara kept coming back for more. Taking more jabs at her, starting more arguments, even wanting to be around her more. Nobara could easily retreat out of this bathroom and leave Mai behind but her feet were rooted to the tile floor. She realized that she would take anything Mai offered her even if it was a mere exchange of insults.
The feeling scared her and Nobara hated feeling scared. She'd rather swallow it down and ignore it but maybe that’s why she was falling behind in the first place.
Nobara crossed her arms over her chest. “You could say that.”
Mai shrugged. “Get better friends.”
“Like you’d be any better?” Nobara scoffed.
“You and I will never be friends,” Mai said, her voice smooth. The words sent a chill down Nobara’s spine. She didn’t want to be Mai’s friend either.
She didn’t want to be Mai’s friend but at the same time Nobara couldn’t let her go. Doomed to be hostile acquaintances forever or was something else brewing? It was coming to the surface and this time Nobara couldn’t stop it.
Nobara reached out, grabbing Mai’s face between her hands and crushed their lips together. She didn’t think about it first, her body moved on its own accord. Mai went rigid, her bag dropped to the floor with a thud and the clinking of the lip gloss tubes and bullets. The gloss on Mai’s lips tasted like artificial strawberries. Figures she’d choose such a tacky flavor.
A sinking feeling formed in Nobara’s stomach when Mai hardly reacted at first. The prospect of being rejected in such a way would be humiliating. But soon after a few moments, Mai moved her mouth against hers, her hands coming to Nobara’s waist to hold her close. Being held in this capacity was thrilling and Nobara understood why her classmates were so eager to experience this.
Nobara didn’t know what she was doing but she refused to let Mai take the lead. Mai kissed her with the gentle confidence that would only come from having experience and Nobara kissed Mai like she had something to prove. She wasn’t sure when she was supposed to open her mouth more or when tongue was supposed to come in or if tongue was even something she should be using. Nobara remembered hearing that sometimes people nipped at the other’s bottom lips but that seemed too aggressive to her right now. And her hands, she didn’t know what to do with her hands. Should she keep holding Mai’s face or move her hands somewhere else?
Suddenly Mai pushed Nobara backwards, her back colliding with the side of the bathroom stall. Mai followed after her, keeping Nobara pinned. Heart pounding, Nobara tried to even out her breathing as she met Mai’s gaze. She couldn’t help but sneak another glance at Mai’s lips, the gloss thoroughly smeared.
“Your kissing could use work,” Mai said, her face still so close to Nobara’s that her breath ghosted over her face.
“You could participate a little more,” Nobara snapped back.
“I can tell this is your first kiss,” Mai continued and Nobara held her tongue. She wanted to protest but it would be a lie and she knew it was already obvious. Mai’s thumb came up to graze Nobara’s bottom lip and Nobara held her breath. “Let me lead.”
Mai didn’t give Nobara any time to spit out another retort. Her lips were pressed against hers again and this time Nobara let Mai make the moves. Mai was much less frantic, kissing Nobara slowly and deliberately. Like she was trying to savor every touch. Nobara was able to take in how soft her lips were and how sweet her shampoo smelled. Mai’s hand snuck under Nobara’s hair to cradle the base of her head. The combination of Mai’s lips against her own and the feeling of her fingers in Nobara’s hair sent a jolt down her spine.
Nobara was feeling impatient but she let Mai continue her slow exploration. Mai caught Nobara’s bottom lip between her teeth and gently pulled before pressing her lips back to hers. She made a mental note that lip biting could come before using tongue. Nobara nipped Mai back, wanting to try it out. The action made Mai chuckle a little and Nobara could feel her cheeks heat but she didn’t dare pull away.
The tip of Mai’s tongue traced the seam of Nobara’s lips and Nobara took the hint that she should open her mouth a little. It gave Mai more access and feeling her tongue slide against hers had Nobara fighting the urge to make it frantic again. She needed Mai closer, needed Mai to touch more of her. Growing more bold, Nobara let her hands trail up Mai’s sides, feeling her curves. It still wasn’t enough.
The sound of Mai’s phone vibrating from inside her forgotten purse interrupted them. Mai pulled back and Nobara had to bite her lip to suppress a whine of disappointment. Her hands were still on Mai’s waist holding her close, not wanting to let her go. She leaned forward to capture Mai’s lips again, which she let her do so, but the phone continued to vibrate and it was futile to stop Mai from getting distracted.
Mai pulled away from her and scooped up her purse, fishing out her phone. Nobara suddenly felt cold and empty without having Mai’s warmth radiating against her. Mai’s eyes scanned the phone screen for a moment, a smirk returning to her face.
She held the phone up. “You’re in luck. We’re finally heading out now.”
“Finally,” Nobara muttered but there was a pang of disappointment laced in her tone that she hoped Mai wouldn’t notice but at the same also wanted her to.
“Don’t look so down,” Mai teased. “You know where to find me.”
“I’m not going to come to you,” Nobara replied with a huff. She may have conceded in letting Mai take the lead in kissing but she wasn’t about to be seen as desperate for her attention now.
Mai moved towards the door, holding it open. “We’ll see about that.”
And then she was gone and Nobara was left to agonize over the fact that she deeply desired the one person she couldn’t stand the most. It was still a win in her books though because while Yuji had been asked for his number, she was sure she had beaten him in kissing someone first. Even if it was Mai Zenin.
