Invited

Yumi sat on her bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to fight the nervous energy that had taken over her. It wasn't that she wasn't excited to have Elnora over—she was. She was excited, and maybe a little nervous, but she'd never admit that. The idea of having Elnora in her space was... overwhelming, in the best way possible.

She ran her fingers through her dark hair, tugging it over her shoulder as she scrolled through her phone. Her messages were filled with random shit from her friends, but nothing stood out. A couple of texts from Kikidori, asking if she was still alive, a few random bits of gossip from the demons at school, and a meme or two from Elnora herself.

After staring at her phone for a few minutes, she decided it was time to stop thinking about it and just do it. She tossed her phone onto her bed and went to change into something that screamed 'I'm cool, but I don't care.' It was a little tight black t-shirt with a band logo she'd never heard of, ripped jeans that had seen better days, and combat boots that were a little too big for her but still felt like home. She didn't care if Elnora thought she was basic; this was the look she wanted. It was her look.

The clock ticked in the background, its sound louder than usual as Yumi paced back and forth. She was getting impatient now, and the thought of what might happen when Elnora arrived made her stomach do flips. But at the same time, she couldn't help but feel excited.

When the doorbell rang, Yumi jumped, startled by the sudden noise.

"Fuck," she muttered to herself. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she managed to walk toward the door without tripping over her own feet.

She opened the door to find Elnora standing there, her usual confident smile lighting up her face.

"You're late," Yumi said, leaning against the doorframe with a raised brow.

Elnora rolled her eyes, stepping inside. "I was getting snacks, Yumi. You know, for the occasion," she said, holding up a bag of chips in one hand and a two-liter bottle of soda in the other.

"Nice," Yumi said, stepping aside to let her in. "Come on in, you weirdo."

Elnora's eyes flicked around the room, taking in the dark posters, the flickering candles, and the subtle aura of chaos that always seemed to surround Yumi's space. The room had that dark, mysterious feel that screamed 'don't fuck with me,' but also had an oddly welcoming vibe to it. She noticed a few drawings pinned to the wall—pentagrams, skulls, and cryptic symbols. Some looked like sketches from Yumi herself, while others seemed like random notes or doodles from someone else.

"So, what's the deal?" Elnora asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and tossing the chips onto the floor. "Are we just chilling or what?"

Yumi shrugged, walking over to her dresser to grab a bottle of water. "I don't know. What do you want to do? You're the one who wanted to come over."

Elnora smirked, crossing her legs. "Oh, I don't know. I was hoping you'd have some ideas. Maybe some music?"

Yumi tossed the bottle to her, watching as she caught it with ease. "Yeah, sure. But don't expect me to play anything 'normal.'"

Elnora laughed. "Trust me, I wouldn't want you to."

Yumi opened the door to her closet, which was filled with clothes, some new and some old. She picked out an old record and threw it on the turntable, letting the soft, scratchy sound fill the room. It was something eerie, something old-school metal that made Elnora nod her head to the beat.

"Nice choice," Elnora said, grinning.

"Yeah, well, I do have taste," Yumi said, rolling her eyes. She took a seat on the bed next to Elnora, a little closer than usual.

Elnora looked at her with an eyebrow raised, sensing something different in the air. The tension between them was undeniable, and it wasn't the first time they had been alone together like this. Yumi had never really acknowledged it, but she felt it now—the pulse of something between them.

"So, what's up with you?" Elnora asked, her voice a little softer now. "You're different today."

Yumi blinked, not quite sure how to respond. She opened her mouth to say something but then shut it again, unsure if she should just lay it all out on the table. It was a weird feeling. Being around Elnora had always been comfortable, but now... it felt like something was shifting.

"I don't know," Yumi finally admitted. "Maybe I'm just tired. School's been shit lately, and I don't know... I'm just trying to figure out what the hell's going on."

Elnora nodded, her face softening in understanding. "I get it," she said, her voice quiet but kind. "You know you can talk to me, right? About... anything."

Yumi glanced at her, swallowing hard. "Yeah, I know. I just—" she paused, unsure if she wanted to say what was on her mind. "It's like, everything's always just a little off. Like I'm always trying to prove something to people, to myself... and it's exhausting."

Elnora was quiet for a moment, and Yumi could feel the weight of her words hanging in the air. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone," Elnora finally said, her tone gentle. "You're already awesome just as you are."

Yumi wasn't sure why those words hit her so hard, but they did. It was like a sudden flood of emotions, and for a second, she felt herself let go of the heavy weight she'd been carrying.

She turned her body toward Elnora, meeting her gaze for the first time in a while. "Thanks," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elnora smiled, leaning in just a bit closer, her breath brushing against Yumi's lips. The room seemed to grow smaller, and Yumi couldn't help but be drawn to her.

Before either of them could think, Yumi leaned forward, closing the distance, and kissed Elnora.

It wasn't a slow, hesitant kiss—it was full of all the unspoken words they hadn't said yet. It was everything Yumi had been holding back, everything she wanted to say but didn't know how. She felt the heat of Elnora's lips against hers, and for the first time in a long while, it felt like everything was right.

When they finally broke apart, Yumi rested her forehead against Elnora's, both of them breathing heavily.

"I—" Yumi started, but Elnora stopped her with a finger to her lips.

"Don't say anything," Elnora whispered. "Just let it be."

Yumi nodded, not sure what to say but feeling strangely relieved. In that moment, nothing else mattered. It was just her and Elnora, and that was enough.

The End of Chapter 16