The Question

Kikidori lay flat on his back, staring at the ceiling while Ere'ana sprawled beside him, legs lazily draped over his stomach. The room was dimly lit, the glow of a random anime playing on the TV casting flickering shadows over the walls.

Neither of them were really paying attention to it, though.

"So, like… if we did fuck," Ere'ana started, her tone casual as if she was asking about the weather.

Kikidori exhaled loudly, covering his face with his hands. "Oh my god, we are not seriously doing this conversation right now."

She grinned. "Why not? You brought it up earlier."

"I was joking!"

"Yeah, well, now I'm curious," she shot back, nudging his ribs with her foot. "I mean, let's be real, we're closer than most couples. We sleep together—"

"—in a purely non-sexual way."

"Right. But still. If we ever did, how would it even work?"

Kikidori groaned, dragging his hands down his face. "Ere', I am begging you to stop."

She ignored him. "Like, would it be awkward? Would we laugh? Would we even be able to take it seriously?"

Kikidori tilted his head toward her. "We literally just agreed that if we tried, one of us would start talking about anime in the middle of it."

"True," she admitted, then tapped her chin. "But, I mean, let's say we *really* tried. Like, full effort. What do you think would happen?"

Kikidori narrowed his eyes. "…Are you asking me to critique our hypothetical sex life?"

Ere'ana burst out laughing. "Yes, I guess I am."

He sighed. "Okay, fine. Let's assume we're actually doing it."

Ere'ana grinned. "Go on."

"Well, first of all," he started, rolling onto his side to face her, "you'd probably make some dumbass joke the second we started."

"Oh, absolutely," she agreed. "Something like 'Damn, I should've stretched first.'"

Kikidori snorted. "Exactly. And then I'd start laughing, which would ruin whatever dumb mood we were trying to set."

"Right. But let's say we somehow push past that."

He thought for a second. "Well… I guess we'd have to figure out what we actually *like* in that situation. Which is weird because we've never talked about that."

Ere'ana tilted her head. "That's true. I don't even know what kind of girls you're into."

Kikidori gave her a flat look. "I've known you since we were three. Do you *really* think I have a type?"

She considered this. "…Yeah, you're right. Your standards are just 'exist and be tolerable.'"

"Hey!"

"Tell me I'm wrong."

"…I'm not saying you're *right,* but I'm also not saying you're *wrong.*"

Ere'ana smirked in triumph. "But seriously, what do you think I'm into?"

Kikidori thought about it. "…Tall guys."

She blinked. "What? Why?"

"I dunno, you just seem like the type."

Ere'ana stared at him for a moment, then shrugged. "Yeah, okay, I can see that. I mean, it's not a *requirement,* but I wouldn't complain."

"See?"

"Okay, but back to the hypothetical," she continued. "So let's say we get past the awkwardness, past the laughing, and we're actually *doing it.*"

Kikidori squinted. "This is starting to feel like a science experiment."

"It kinda is," she admitted. "But, like, do you think it'd be *good?*"

Kikidori hesitated. "…I mean, I'd like to *think* I'd be decent at it."

Ere'ana grinned. "Cocky much?"

"I'm just saying! I feel like I'd be a considerate lover."

Ere'ana laughed. "Oh my god, say that again with a straight face."

He tried, but the second he opened his mouth, he started laughing too. "Okay, okay, but seriously. I think it wouldn't be *bad.*"

"Not exactly a glowing review," she teased.

Kikidori rolled his eyes. "Fine. I think, because we know each other so well, we'd at least be comfortable enough to figure things out. No weird pressure. No pretending. Just…" He trailed off, realizing how weirdly serious the conversation was getting.

Ere'ana, however, didn't seem fazed. "Just us. Like always."

Kikidori exhaled, staring up at the ceiling again. "Yeah."

For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of the conversation settling between them.

Then Ere'ana smirked. "Bet I'd be better at it than you."

Kikidori groaned. "Oh my fucking god."

She laughed, rolling on top of him and shaking his shoulders. "Say it! Say I'd be better!"

"Not a chance!"

"Say it, coward!"

He pushed her off, and they wrestled around for a bit before ending up tangled together again, just like always.

Still just friends. Still no boundaries. Still the same ridiculous dynamic they'd always had.

And, somehow, that was the best part.