Chapter Text
It’s the first day of school. Some students look happy to finally see their friends, while others look like they wanted summer vacation to last for eternity. The air is filled with laughter and chatter, the hallway was already full despite it being relatively early. Shizuku clutched her bag as she dragged herself to class with her head cast downwards. Like some of the students here, she too, wanted summer vacation to last for eternity, because then it would mean that she could spend more time with Kaori. Plus, she’s never really liked school anyway, ever since that incident during 5th grade.
Luckily no one really paid attention to her, everyone treated her like she wasn’t there. As she sat down, she looked to the seat beside her, Kaori’s seat. It was empty, just as she expected. Yet she hoped that Kaori would suddenly come to class and surprise Shizuku, telling her that the doctor allowed to go to school or something like that. It was silly for her to hope for something that absurd, she literally saw how Kaori’s condition is faring. She really did miss her. Gosh, she was like a puppy that can’t be left alone for 10 minutes.
Their homeroom teacher enters the room and gives a speech about the start of the semester, improving grades, and whatever else he was talking about. Shizuku never really bothered to hear the speech and tuned out most of it. She propped her elbow against the table then placed her chin above her palm as she gazed out the window. Her thoughts drifted back to Kaori, how was she right now? Has she woken up yet? Has she eaten? Is she thinking about her the same way that she’s thinking of her?
She was already counting the seconds until she could meet Kaori again, and the first lesson hadn't even started yet! When the teacher finally dismissed them to prepare for the first lesson, Shizuku let out a quiet breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She straightened her back and reached for her bag, pulling out her notebook as well as a pencil and an eraser. Around her, her classmates chatted and laughed, reminding Shizuku that she was alone.
Had she been the same Shizuku before the start of summer vacation, she would have ignored them. Yet after spending so much time with Kaori, she felt an ache in her chest. She used to like being left alone, but now she just wished she could speak to Kaori. Hence why she fished out her phone from her pocket and began texting Kaori.
Kaori
Are you awake yet?
Kaori
Are you awake yet?
Kaori stared at the message for a moment longer, her mind foggy with sleep and her eyes blurry from lack of good eyesight. She was surprised to receive a text this early and during lesson time too. Was Shizuku not paying attention to class? She quickly typed out her response.
I just did!
Has class started yet?
Yeah, class already started not too long ago
We’re currently learning history
Then why aren’t you paying attention?
Shizuku
Pay attention to class
Kaori huffed and shook her head. She knew Shizuku never really paid attention to class, but that doesn’t mean that habit should stay! A few seconds passed before the three dots of a typing indicator appeared, then came Shizuku’s response.
I am paying attention
I’m still listening to the teachers lecture
Only listening is not good
You have to give all your attention
There was another pause, longer this time. When Shizuku replied again, the message was shorter this time. It seems she has given up on fighting Kaori on this topic.
Okay
I’ll try to focus
Kaori stared at the screen, a smile slowly creeping towards her face. Coincidentally, a nurse comes in to deliver her breakfast. Kaori types back one last message before setting her phone aside.
Good
We’ll talk later during lunch
Okay?
Good
We’ll talk later during lunch
Okay?
That message made Shizuku’s heart skip a beat. She glanced at the front of the class for a brief moment to make sure that the teacher wasn’t looking at her. The fuzzy feeling in her chest, which she’d felt since this morning, grew even more bigger over something so simple, so ordinary. Her fingers hovered over the screen, trying to figure out a response that doesn’t show how giddy and eager she feels right now. In the end, she ended up with a simple one word reply.
Okay
She turned her phone off and shoved it inside her desk, turning her attention towards the front of the class. From an outsider's perspective, Shizuku might look like she was paying so much attention to the teacher’s lecture, and while she was trying to focus, her mind was already counting down the minutes until lunch, while wondering about topics to talk about with Kaori.
Somehow, Kaori’s message made it more bearable to go through the school day, but at the same time, it made her more impatient to see her in person. Be patient. You’ll see her later. She reminded herself over and over again. Just a few more classes before lunch, then she’ll get to talk to Kaori. This should be easy.
Really easy.
Okay.
Maybe it isn’t as easy as she thought it would be.
After enduring a ton of classes, Shizuku bolted out of the room when the bell rang, lunch in one hand and phone in the other. She didn’t bother to think about how other people stared at her as she ran towards the rooftop, not when her mind was filled with Kaori. When she arrived at her destination, she walked over to a bench and sat down, placing her lunch on her lap as she opened her phone.
Immediately she was greeted with a message from Kaori.
Is it lunch break yet?
Shizuku thought of a response, one that didn’t sound too dry but also didn’t show her eagerness. She didn’t want Kaori to think that she didn’t care, but she also didn’t want Kaori to think that she was counting down the minutes until they count text each other, which she did do but Kaori doesn’t need to know.
She leaned back against the bench, the cool air of the rooftop helping her calm down just a little. Her thumbs hovered over the screen as she typed, deleted, and typed again, over and over. Yeah. Too dry, delete. Yeah, I couldn’t wait to text you. Too obvious, delete. After what felt like hours, which were actually minutes, Shizuku finally settled with something
Yeah, It just started
How are you feeling?
Before she changed her mind and spent the whole lunch break thinking of another way to respond, she hit send and released a breath she’d been holding in. She was both surprised and happy to see that Kaori immediately read her message after it was sent. Was Kaori waiting for her? Oh god, did she take too long to respond??
Kaori giggled as she watched the three dots constantly disappear and reappear again and again. She knew that Shizuku was overthinking about how to respond to her text, and honestly? It was really cute in her eyes. Finally she gets a response from her girlfriend.
Yeah, it just started
How are you feeling?
Kaori stared at the message, a warm feeling spreading across her chest. She shifted slightly in her bed, adjusting the pillow so she could lay down comfortably. Daylight streamed in through the windows, illuminating the quiet hospital room. She stared at the screen, phone close to her chest, and allowed that warm feeling to spread. Then she began typing again, her movements unhurried.
I’m doing okay, a little sleepy, but that’s nothing new
Have you eaten yet?
She hit send then diverted her gaze to the ceiling as she waited for a response. The steady hum of the machines beside her faded into the background. It felt nice to talk to someone like this. Shiori doesn’t bring a phone to school so she can’t really text her, and though they are close, Kaori doesn’t want to bother Ruri and Seri by texting them. So texting Shizuku felt really nice, though she will have to remind her to not text during class.
She wondered what Shizuku could be eating right now and where she could be eating. She never recalled seeing Shizuku eat lunch in the classroom back when Kaori still went to school, but she still made it back in time before lunch break ended. Maybe she’s eating on the rooftop? That’s a perfect place to be alone since little to no people go up there.
Oh, I haven’t yet.
[Photo]
My mom made this for me
A response came and Kaori shifted her gaze back to her phone. The photo loaded slowly, and when it finally appeared on her screen, her eyes softened immediately. Nestled neatly inside the lunch box was a simple but lovingly prepared meal. Fluffy white rice sprinkled with sesame seeds, a golden omelet folded carefully to one side, a few pieces of karaage glistening lightly, and a small portion of bright green broccoli arranged with surprising care.
I don’t really like broccoli though
The last message made Kaori giggle. Who knew her girlfriend could be such a picky eater? She’ll have to remember this for when they go out. For… when they go out… Kaori shook her head, erasing any bad thoughts swirling inside her head. She finished her surgery and is on the path towards recovery now, they’ll definitely go out, even if it takes a while to achieve.
That looks really good!
You should eat it before it gets cold
And you have to eat the broccoli, your mom put it there for a reason you know!
Shizuku grumbled at the response she received while staring down at the broccolis like they had offended her in some way. She knew that Kaori was right, that her mom put those broccoli because she cared for her and wanted her to eat some vegetables, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept. But she didn’t want her mom to worry about her, especially when she already made her worry before. So putting aside her ego, Shizuku picked up a piece of broccoli and placed it in her mouth. She chewed the broccoli with a sour expression and swallowed it hard as she stuck her tongue out. Yet the taste wasn’t so bad, she didn’t know why she disliked it so much.
I ate one
It didn’t taste bad
She texted with a smile on her face. She imagined that Kaori was laughing at her silliness in the hospital room, and that made her smile widen.
[Photo]
Here’s my lunch!
It doesn’t as good as yours
But the important part is that it’s edible
The photo showed a bowl of plain white rice molded into a careful mound, a small bowl of clear soup with thin slices of carrot floating at the surface, a modest portion of simmered vegetables, and a piece of lightly grilled fish resting on a disposable plate. It was the kind of meal fit for a person trying to recover after surgery. If not for the vegetables being there, the food looked rather colorless compared to Shizuku’s own meal.
Eat it properly, okay?
Don’t skip any meals
I don’t want to see you sick anymore
I will!
Oh
Is lunch ending soon?
At Kaori’s question, Shizuku finally checked the time on her phone. She hadn’t done that after getting to the rooftop, so she was surprised to see how fast time had flown by. Lunch was about to end, yet she wasn’t satisfied yet. She wanted to talk with Kaori some more. And… actually finish her lunch. She groaned to herself, unable to do anything other than accept the inevitable.
Hang on
After sending that message, Kaori was quiet. She didn’t elaborate on what she meant by ‘Hang on’. Then she sent a message, a voice message.
[Shizuku… I know that school just started and it already feels very hard, but please hang on. Pay attention to class, eat your lunch, and make some friends. You’ll get to see me later after school ends, so keep fighting! I’ll be right here, waiting to hear about all the things you’ve done today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and so on. Work hard! And… I love you.]
The last words were quiet, yet it rang in Shizuku’s ears like an emergency alarm. Every other sound failed to register in her mind, only Kaori’s words did. I love you. I love you. Her grip on the phone tightened, knuckles turning white as her face flushed red. It felt terrifying, grounding, overwhelming, and comforting all at once. She replayed Kaori’s message again, and again, and again. Just to hear her say those words again. She played it one last time before she swallowed hard and nodded to herself. “... I’ll do my best.” She murmured into the empty air.
She slipped her phone into her pocket, picked up her lunch, and quickly finished everything, even the broccoli. There was still a long time before the school day ended, but with Kaori’s words, it felt different now. She cleaned up her lunch, stood up, and left the rooftop.
Kaori didn’t get a reply back from Shizuku. She didn’t need one. If someone saw her right now, they would assume that she was having a fever. But she wasn’t. She was just very, very embarrassed of her own actions. She closed her eyes and used one hand to cover her mouth, her feet kicking around under the covers. Gosh, that was so bold of her! She rolled on to her back and opened one eye, staring at the ceiling as if it’ll help calm her heart down. It didn’t. It was still beating like crazy. What were you thinking, Kaori! She scolded herself lightly. She meant everything she said, none of her words were just empty praises. But saying it out loud and recording it, where Shizuku could repeatedly listen to it if she wants, it felt so embarrassing!
Yet behind all that fluster and embarrassment, she felt relief that she could tell Shizuku those words. Now she’ll just have to deal with the outcome of said words. Later. When Shizuku comes to visit her. Right now, she has to convince her body to go to sleep, but she doubts that she can after all that excitement she felt. As she snuggles into her hospital bed, she imagines what kind of face Shizuku was making when she listened to her voice message.
For sure her face was red, Shizuku is always easily flustered. She wonders how many times did Shizuku replay her voice message, or if she even replayed it at all. She hopes that Shizuku replayed it at least once, so she can tease her a bit later. The thought made her heart flutter even more, making it harder for her to fall asleep. “... I’ll be waiting, Shizuku.” She whispers into the empty room as she closes her eyes and tries to steady her breathing. The beeping sound of the monitor fills her ears and she slowly lulls herself to sleep.
If Shizuku had to be honest, she didn’t pay attention at all during class. Well, she did, but only a little. It was still something though, she did still pay attention, if only a little. Kaori’s words kept replaying in her mind, over and over like an earworm. The words that were meant to encourage her to focus instead distracted her, but it wasn’t Kaori’s fault at all, she never could have known that Shizuku missed her this much. Throughout class all that she could think about was how much longer until she could meet Kaori. She stared at the clock above the blackboard, counting down every minute, second, and nanosecond.
When the bell rang, Shizuku quickly stuffed her items into her back and bolted out the room before the teacher could even dismiss them. She ignored how her classmates stared at her as she slipped out the classroom and hurried through the halls, her steps light and fast and her exhaustion long forgotten. It didn’t take long for her to arrive at the hospital, the walk from school was a complete blur to her, then suddenly she was in front of Kaori’s room. She paused her movements when her hand grabbed the doorknob. ‘Calm down.’ She told herself, taking deep breaths to calm her breathing. She knocks first before she finally twists the doorknob and swings open the door.
Kaori looked up from her bed, sleep fogging her eyes. She was surprised to see Shizuku be here so fast, but it quickly melted into a bright smile.
“That was fast… You didn’t skip school just to see me, did you?” Kaori asked, her voice teasing but gentle.
Shizuku shook her head, “I didn’t. I came as soon as school ended.” She hesitated, but a wave of Kaori’s hand beckoning her to come closer made her walk towards the bed and sit in the chair beside it. “How are you feeling? Did you get enough rest?” She asked, one hand already holding Kaori’s. It felt natural to her, to hold Kaori’s hand in her own, it felt like acquiring a missing puzzle piece.
Kaori laughed at how fast Shizuku began to worry over her, “I’m fine. I woke up just before you came, maybe about 5 or 7-ish minutes? The point is that I had tons of rest.”
Shizuku nodded, happy to hear the good news. Then Kaori changes the topic. “Well enough about me, how was the first day of school? Fun? Did you talk to anyone?” The look in her eyes made Shizuku very nervous. She slowly shook her head.
Kaori tilted her head, watching Shizuku carefully. She looked worried and scared, so Kaori assumed that something happened at school today. “Did something happen?” She asked, her voice laced with concern.
Shizuku hesitated, then shook her head again. “No… I just didn't really want to talk to anyone.” She whispered, a blush slowly creeping onto her face. “Classes were long and everyone already had someone to talk with. I mostly just…waited for lunch. And for after school.”
Kaori’s grip tightened slightly around her hand. “For me?”
Shizuku nodded, her cheeks getting darker as she stared down at the floor. Kaori sighed and smiled, she wasn’t disappointed or anything, she understands why it would take long for Shizuku to talk to her classmates, so she won’t rush her at all. “I’m glad. And… Don't rush yourself, okay? Do it at your own pace, take as long as you need. I’ll be here for you.”
Shizuku slowly raised her head, her eyes finally meeting Kaori’s. Her shoulders eased, tension melting away. Her grip on Kaori’s hand tightened, “Um… I kept thinking about the voice message that you sent… during lunch.” She admitted, “I was really happy to hear you encourage me like that… So I was wondering i-if you could… send me a message like that… everyday.” Her voice gradually became quieter and the last words ended up being a whisper. But Kaori heard it despite how quiet it sounded, resulting in her blushing intensely.
She used her unoccupied hand to cover her face, hoping that it would be enough to hide how red her face was, it wasn’t. “E-Everyday…?” She repeated softly. Then she went quiet, not saying anything and not moving. It worried Shizuku, was her request too forward? Did she overstep? Then Kaori suddenly let out a small, breathy laugh, unable to hide the fondness and adoration in her gaze. Her thumb gently brushed over Shizuku's knuckles, “Okay, I think I can do that. It might sound… corny. But I promise I’ll mean every word I say.” She peeked at Shizuku, her smile shy but sincere. It left Shizuku stunned, unable to form words, only able to stare at her.
She snapped out of her trance when Kaori tugged at her arm, telling her to come closer, to lay in bed beside her. “A-Are you sure?”
“Please? I miss you.”
And those words were enough to convince her. She climbed onto the bed, careful to not disrupt any wires or machine. Oh how simple she was, only one small request from Kaori and she melts immediately.
Kaori snuggles closer, her head resting on Shizuku’s shoulder as one hand remains connected to Shizuku’s. She played with the taller girl’s hand, squeezing it, pinching her fingers, inspecting it closely. “You must be pretty tired, hm? Why don't you take a quick nap? I’ll wake you up when visiting hours end.” Kaori suggested, but Shizuku shook her head. “No. I came here to spend time with you, not to take a nap.” Her voice was firm, but her mouth closed quickly to hold back a yawn. Kaori giggled, choosing to not fight her girlfriend on this topic. Instead, she chose a different approach. She grabs the tablet on her bedside and holds it between them. “How about we watch something?”
Shizuku glanced at the tablet, then at Kaori. She wondered if she was trying to trick her or something, but the gentle and honest look on the shorter girl’s face made her dismiss that assumption. “Okay. Is there anything you wanted to watch?”
Kaori thought for a moment, her fingers scrolling down the screen in search of an interesting title. “Hmm… how about ‘Daily dose of sunshine’? I heard it’s a good show.” She suggest. “I think my sister watched it sometime ago… I wasn’t really interested, but if you want to watch it, we can try.” Shizuku replied, her eyes following Kaori’s finger as she searched for the show.
Kaori’s eyes lit up a little at that. “Really? Then it must be good,” she said with a small laugh, tapping the screen to select it. The opening screen filled the tablet, soft colors glowing faintly in the dim room, then Kaori pressed play. Shizuku shifted closer and closer, wanting to erase any gaps that came between them and Kaori naturally leaned closer too. They had their shoulders pressed against one another. Kaori was focused on the show, while Shizuku occasionally stole glances at her. When Kaori caught her staring at one point, she laughed and paused the show. “If you’re bored we can watch something else. You don’t have to force yourself.”
Shizuku shook her head, smiling. “It’s fine. You just… look very pretty.” She admitted quietly, earning another laugh from Kaori. The shorter girl shook her head, tapping on the screen to resume the show.
It didn't take long for Kaori’s plan to finally succeed, 3 episodes in and Shizuku had fallen asleep. She giggled quietly, closing the tablet and placing it on the bedside. “…Got you,” Kaori whispered to herself, amusement laced gently with affection. She carefully tugged at the blanket so it would cover both of them then she slowly adjusted Shizuku’s arm so it rested more comfortably around her. She snuggled closer, her head resting on Shizuku’s chest instead of her shoulder. “You worked hard today, you deserve this rest.” She whispered to the air before closing her eyes and matching the rhythm of Shizuku’s breath.
“I’m home.” Shizuku announced as she walked into her home, taking off her shoes before entering the living room. “Welcome home~ Were you visiting Kaori-chan?” Her sister, Shizuka, asked, peeking her head out from the kitchen. “Hey, why the frown?” Shizuka asked when she finally saw Shizuku’s face. Shizuku, who was already making her way upstairs, paused her steps, fingers still curled around the strap of her bag as she lifted her head slightly. “…I’m not frowning,” she muttered, though the lack of conviction in her voice made it obvious she was lying. Shizuka didn’t buy it, placing both hands on her hips while looking at her younger sister. “Come on now, spit it out. Something happened, right?”
Shizuku’s shoulders tensed, and she looked away. “...She tricked me.” She admitted after a moment, her voice quieter now. Shizuka blinked, clearly not expecting that answer, and the look on Shizuku’s face made her worried. “Tricked you? How?” She pressed on, her tone shifting from teasing to curious. Shizuku huffed softly, tightening the grip around the strap of her bag. “She told me to sleep and I didn't want to, so she suggested we watch a show together, knowing that I’d probably fall asleep while watching… and I did.”
Shizuka fell silent for a moment, processing the words that her little sister had just told her, then laughed a very hard laugh, to the point of tears. “That’s it?” she said, wiping at the corner of her eye. Shizuku knew her reaction was rather… dramatic. But she didn’t need her sister laughing at her so hard. She scowled, cheeks heating up as she finally turned to face her sister. “It’s not funny,” she muttered. Shizuka tried—and failed—to stop laughing, clutching her stomach as she straightened up. Shizuka tried, and failed, to stop laughing, clutching her stomach as she straightened up. “But it is though! God, she knows you so well.”
Shizuku froze at that, the words sinking in. Her grip on her bag loosened slightly. “...You think so?”
“Of course,” Shizuka said, smiling now, her tone more softer. “She noticed you were tired, offered for you to rest, didn’t argue when you said you didn’t want to, and instead found another way to make you rest.”
Shizuku let the words sink in, her grip on her bag loosened slightly. “... That’s unfair.”
Shizuka laughed again, quietly this time. “It is, but you’re hopeless.” She teased lightly. “So hopeless that it’s sweet.” She shook her head as she headed back towards the kitchen. “Now, go take a shower. Then come back down for dinner.”
Shizuku stood there, watching as her sister’s back disappeared into the kitchen. Her cheeks were still warm and now she felt 10x more embarrassed than she previously felt. “...Okay.” She replied quietly before finally heading upstairs.
The bath felt good and dinner was delightful, despite her sister teasing her through it. Now Shizuku was laying in bed, phone in hand, staring at Kaori’s message.
Shizuku
Did you get home yet?
I’m sorry I tricked you
Please forgive me :(
She had the message almost an hour ago and now Shizuku felt sorry for not replying to Kaori's message almost immediately, but she felt like she had to, as a way to get back at her.
I got back an hour ago
I had a bath and ate dinner with my family
I’m sorry I didn’t reply immediately
It’s what you get for tricking me
After she hit send, Shizuku rolled onto her side, burying half her face into the pillow, peeking at her phone with one eye.
That’s really mean, you know
But I guess I deserve it
Shizuku smiled, imagining Kaori pouting as she texted. She hugged the pillow closer to her chest, thumbs moving faster now.
Have you had dinner yet?
I did
again, it wasn’t the best dinner
but it was at least edible
I’m kinda sleepy right now
Then go to sleep
But I want to talk with you some more!
Shizuku bit her lip, shoulders shaking as she silently laughed. Then an Idea struck. She cleared her voice, making sure it wouldn’t crack when she was talking. Then she pressed the record button and began recording her voice.
[Kaori, it’s rather late now, so you should go to bed, especially when you’re sleepy. Thank you for being there for me, for listening to me, and for waiting for me. School was a bit hard today, so I’m happy I get to see you at the end of the day. I’m so proud and happy to have you as my girlfriend. You’ve done an amazing job throughout your recovery and for that I’m very happy. Don’t force yourself to do things you’re unable to do currently, you’ll get to experience everything you want to experience once the time comes, and when it does, I’ll be right beside you. Good night, Kaori, sleep peacefully.]
She stopped the recording, then sent it to Kaori. She was rather embarrassed hearing her own voice, but everything she said came from her own heart. Her message was immediately read, or more like heard, by Kaori and she waited for her response for about 10 minutes before realizing that Kaori had gone offline, meaning she won’t get a response, at least not tonight. But that was alright with her. She turned off her phone and placed it on her bedside, then she got comfortable in bed and closed her eyes, hoping that her dreams will be filled with Kaori.
Kaori listened to the voice message, thumbs hovering uselessly over the screen. Unlike Shizuku, she replayed the message only once before going offline. She felt her cheeks burning, pressing her phone close to her chest and letting out a shaky breath. “... That’s so not fair.” She muttered softly into the empty room, but her voice didn’t hold any complaint inside. She was just… surprised to hear Shizuku say those words to her so honestly and gently.
She took deep breaths to calm herself, but nothing worked, her heart was still beating so rapidly. She turned off her phone, placing it beside her as she snuggled into the bed. Now she was faced with the same problem she experienced this morning, the inability to sleep due to so much excitement.
I can’t wait to see her tomorrow.