In the back of her mind, Akiha's still counting kisses. Their first one had been a while ago, their second one was fairly recent. Would that peck count as a third? It's such a silly thing to get hung up on, but it's impossible not to feel it. She's kissing Nico, after all. It's something she'd never thought would happen.

It feels incredible, though. Even when it's just little pecks. She leans after Nico as she pulls away, pecks right back at Nico, lips briefly brushing across hers. She wonders if that's still three, or if they've moved onto four.

"When I put my mind to it, I can do anything," Akiha protests without any of her usual huffiness. She just doesn't have it in her anymore. Not when she's so happy.

"I wonder what you love about me," Akiha not so subtly asks in return, eyes meeting Nico's. There's a surprising vulnerability to them. Well, surprising to Nico. Akiha has friends, but they're a stubborn and out-of-sorts lot. Souka is more likely to swear at her than pay her a compliment, and Hanei is so deliberate and slow-paced that Akiha's not even sure if she's heard her say more than four words at a time.

And if she asked Shiki or the twins why they loved her, she's certain they'd have reasons - but the underlying, unspoken reason would be 'you're my sister,' 'you're my employer.'

She guesses she's never had love that she felt she earned, all on her own. She wants to know what she did to earn Nico's. Frankly, it was probably accidental. She doesn't think of herself as a very lovable person.