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It’s exactly 9 o’clock in the evening when Mizusaki’s parents set off to the party in honor of their new film’s premiere.
“Have fun, girls! Don’t wait up!”
”Bye-bye!”
Mizusaki — already in her pajamas — and Asakusa and Kanamori with backpacks behind their backs wave goodbye. The door smoothly closes behind Mr. and Mrs. Mizusaki, leaving the trio of comrades alone. Ever-so-exited Mizusaki can’t restrain herself anymore. She is bouncing, and her smile grows wider.
“It’s a sleepover time!”
Just with that in an hour and a half, the enormous house becomes absolutely unrecognizable. Now it’s a giant pillow fort. Trying not to make any sound very hard, Mizusaki crawls through the narrow tunnel made of pillows. The enemy can be anywhere so she needs to be extra careful after all her own life and the success of the mission are at stake. One moment there is a swift sound and the next — a hole in the wall of the tunnel. ‘Bombardment!’ A panicked thought rushes in Mzusaki's head. She’s nearly buried under a pile of fluffy blankets, but at the last moment, she manages to escape. Alas, that’s exactly what her enemy wanted. Asakusa is already waiting for her, camouflage hat down over her eyes and pillow armor covering her body. A red plaid tied up like a cape, a heavy pillow for each hand, Mizusaki stands tall and bravely faces her enemy. With a war cry, she rushes into battle. But the moment Mizusaki swings the pillow for a deadly blow and punches her right in the chest. Mizusaki’s knees buckles and she falls dramatically. With a pained expression, Asakusa cradles her in her arms.
“Oh, God, Mizusaki-shi! What has the war done to us?! Stay with me!”
“No... It’s all over for me now... You’ve beaten me fair and square,” Mizusaki’s glassy eyes stare into the void. “Tell Kanamori-san that I...”
She has no chance to finish as Kanamori’s sarcastic voice is heard from the kitchen.
“Kids, popcorn is ready!”
They gather together in a living room in front of an indecently big plasma TV. A large bowl of warm mouth-watering popcorn in each lap, they sit on the floor in a bunch of blankets, collectively ignoring the sofa behind them. The lights are out, only the neon blue light of the TV pours calmly into the room. They watch anime — well, of course, they watch anime! — and Mizusaki reminds herself to thank Kanamori later: today she’s patience herself, tolerating Asakusa’s constant babbling (sorry, analyzing) and Mizusaki’s loud pleading to rewind so she could examine the movements better. Thinking about it, she turns her head a little to cast a fond look at Kanamori. And oh, her sharp features are strikingly beautiful in electric light, grey eyes practically glowing. Although one of her favorite anime shows is playing on the screen, Mizusaki has a hard time paying attention, just keeping gazing dreamily at Kanamori at her side.
The clock on the wall shows half past midnight, but, nevertheless, light pours through the windows of Mizusaki’s house.
“Kanamori-ku-u-un! Come on, what are you drawing there? Your face’s scarin’ me...” Asakusa whines, while Kanamori presses her down to the floor and daubs her face in earnest.
Kanamori cruelly aborted the idea of playing twister, but Mizusaki was successful in persuading her to do make-up. So here they are! Asakusa has already painted a semblance of background right on Mizusaki’s forehead, and now Kanamori’s turn is coming to the end.
“Done,” She announces, clearly proud of herself. Kanamori hands the mirror over to Asakusa and smiles. There is not a bit of innocence in this terrifying grin.
“Tanuki,” Round face with thick dark marks around the eyes stares back at Asakusa from the mirror.
Mizusaki isn’t strong enough to restrain herself: she bursts into laughter. While Asakusa feverishly tries to wipe off the eye shadow, exited Mizusaki forces groaning Kanamori to lay down. She herself tools up with everything that she can find in her make-up bag and looms over Kanamori. She silently lies beneath her, dark hair scattered around and eyes half-lidded. Mizusaki thinks she could spend all her life just like that, watching Kanamori.
”You are really pretty, Kanamori-san, you know that?”
After a moment of confusion Kanamori huffs:
”Don’t get distracted.”
Mizusaki thinks that she can see a blush forming on Kanamori’s face... Well, maybe she just applied to much rouge. Nevertheless, she does her best to prolong the moment. The result... is not pretty.
Kanamori stares in the mirror, totally unimpressed.
”Care to tell me why I look like a clown?”
”Sorry!.. Sorry!..” With that, she falls on her back, practically crying with laughter.
At one a.m. all of them lay in the pillow fort in the dim light of night lights. Sketchbooks and hearts open, they talk about everything, exchange oh-so many ideas, and slip into imaginary worlds. Asakusa is the first one to drift asleep, just as always. She sniffs serenely, cradling a plush bunny to her chest. Although she’s already wrapped in a cocoon of blankets, Kanamori still covers her with one more. She then returns to lie down alongside Mizusaki. The house is silent. Kanamori is checking her phone, and Mizusaki just lies on her side, watching her friend fondly. She is so beautiful: Mizusaki doubts that she’ll ever be able to draw her as she deserves it. Warm feelings stir in her chest. Ah, “feelings”, pretty big word but surprisingly for herself Mizusaki realizes that she isn’t afraid of it. Mizusaki can’t make out what time Kanamori’s phone shows so instead she decides that it is time to be brave. She reaches out and clasps Kanamori’s hand. Mizusaki can feel her tense before putting down a phone and turning to face her.
”Something is wrong, Midzusaki-shi?” She asks carefully.
Mizusaki feels brave today, so she quickly sits back and looks right into Kanamori’s eyes.
“Look, Kanamori-san, I really have something to tell you. Ah, I... You know I don't expect anything from you, I just feel like I really have to say it now or...”
”Mizusa-” Kanamori tries to interrupt Mizusaki’s unstoppable babbling, but Mizusaki doesn't waste time clapping a hand over her mouth. The look Kanamori is giving her is absolutely murderous, and Mizusaki really hopes that she won't bite her hand off.
”No, listen. Kanamori, I don't know why I have never told you that before — maybe I was scared, I don't know... But... But today everything felt so-so right!” Mizusaki takes a deep, shuddering breath. ”Kanamori-san, you are my favorite person in the world. You make me feel like no one else does and I’d really like to be with you. You k-know, if it’s okay with you... So... yeah, that’s it, I guess.”
With that Mizusaki slides her now a little bit shaking hand from Kanamori’s face. But before she has a chance to move away, Kanamori’s long fingers circle her wrist.
”Finally done with your dramatics?”
Mizusaki reminds herself to be brave and nods. Kanamori’s face is as calm and unbothered as ever, but then she guides Mizusaki’s hand to lay high on her chest. And there, under a layer of plain grey pajamas, and skin, and muscles, and bones, her heart is thumping hard, and rapidly, and oh-so sincere.
Feeling something huge and beautiful blooming inside her chest, Mizusaki gives her the biggest, the goofiest smile, and Kanamori responds the same way.