Chapter Text
I don’t often travel outside Academy City.
As a Level 5 and a student of Tokiwadai, I don’t get many opportunities. I’m tied to this city, whether I like it or not. So when I heard our school was planning a week-long trip to a cabin in the woods, far away from here, I was ecstatic.
It was only for the second years, which gravely disappointed Kuroko. She wept when I told her I’d be gone for a week. Pleaded I take her in my suitcase, which I adamantly refused. I was looking forward to taking a break and spending time with other people.
We weren’t allowed to choose our roommates. The staff at Tokiwadai carefully assigned each student a room, to encourage “collaboration and the discovery of new connections.” We would find out on the day who we were staying with. Plenty were anxious, but I didn’t mind. I didn’t have any close friends in my grade, nor enemies. I was looking forward to spending time with some fresh faces.
My excitement grew with every passing day. I could barely sleep the night before, my body shivering in anticipation. I wonder what it will be like, away from civilisation, I thought. And who I’ll be sharing this experience with.
We took a bus from Academy City and drove for hours upon hours. Until the familiar cityscape disappeared from view, engulfed by the horizon, and was steadily replaced by green. Trees, grass, bush. It seemed mankind was far behind us, as we drove down a dirt road into a quiet, secluded forest. We curved through towering, thick trees, the canopy above blocking out almost all sunlight. And we reached a grassy clearing, filled with log cabins and wooden buildings.
I was given a key and lead to my room, A304. Each building had narrow hallways and several rooms where other students were staying, like a cozy hotel. I opened the door, my heart swelling in my chest, and found my room empty. No one had arrived yet. I closed the door behind me. At least I could set down my stuff first.
It was a large, rectangular cabin room with a wooden floor. In the centre was a large rug and a bed pressed up against the wall. There was a dresser at the foot of the bed, with a book and lamp sitting on top. To my right was a door leading to a bathroom ensuite, and on the far left, a dining table and a couch. Behind it was an arched window, with a clear view of the outside.
My eyes lit up. I put my suitcase down on the far wall, and rushed over to the window. It nearly reached the ceiling, and the pair of white curtains framing it were drawn back. I pressed my hands against the glass.
I could see the deep green line of trees outside, surrounding this little clearing. And the winding, dirt path we had travelled to get here. The streaked lines from the bus’s tires. There was a blur of movement suddenly, and a bird fluttered from one tree to the next, rattling the branches. Everything looked so… colourful. Serene. And comforting. It was unlike the bustle of Academy City, and the white skyscrapers that washed out everything between them. I stood in awe, just watching, for a long time.
When I finally turned away from the window, I had an extra spring in my step. I walked over to my suitcase and laid it down, unzipping it and lifting the cover. It was only a week’s stay, so I only brought the essentials. Clothes in neatly folded piles. A phone charger, a hairbrush, both of which I yanked out immediately and placed on top of the drawer. I grabbed my bag of toiletries and stored them in the bathroom cupboard — it was really cold in the bathroom, I noted. I picked up my pouch of arcade coins, that I always had just in case.
The coins jingled in my hands. I didn’t notice the fumbling of keys, or the door swinging open until a voice called out to me.
“Hello, anyone home~?”
My heart leapt from my chest. One of my roommates was here! I stood up and shoved the bag of coins in my pocket. “Hey! Sorry, I was just—“ I turned around. And stopped dead in my tracks. “…huh?”
“Oh my.” The other figure blinked. I would recognise those sparkling eyes anywhere. My heart sunk into my chest, and I heard it clatter against my ribs and shatter to pieces. We stared at each other. Even the whistling winds outside dulled for just a moment. “If it isn’t Misaka-san.”
“Shokuhou Misaki? Surely, you have the wrong room…” Misaki glanced at the keys in her hand.
“A304?”
Uh oh. My body seized up, a mixture of confusion and frustration started to brew in my chest. “This must be a mistake,” I said. My anguish was written all over my face, I was sure. Misaki giggled into the palm of her hand, and the crinkle in my brow deepened.
“Well, well, well. What a coincidence,” she said. She almost seemed amused by it all, like she wasn’t surprised — I felt a slap in the face. My eyes widened.
“You—“ I said, pointing a finger. “You did this! There’s no way this happened by chance! You’re messing with me, aren’t you!?”
“It would be easy for me to arrange, sure. But I assure you, I have done no such thing.”
“Bullshit.” I narrowed my eyes. “They wouldn’t stick the Level 5’s together, that’s crazy.”
“And yet, here we are.” Misaki shrugged. “If you’re to request a room change, best do it quickly. Before I lay down my things.”
“I— I will, then.” Despite my words, I still couldn’t move. I was in shock. And awe. Misaki knew I didn’t like her, and she didn’t like me, either. Would she go this far to spite me? Did she have an ulterior motive? She was hard to read. Her whimsical, airy personality clouded my judgment; she seemed inauthentic all the time. It was annoying.
I watched closely as Misaki walked inside, dragging her large, white suitcase behind her. Her eyes surveyed the room, scanning left and right as if I wasn’t standing there. She suddenly stopped, her eyes pausing for a moment. She raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”
“What is it?” Before I could follow her gaze, she turned to look at me.
“I know you’re slow, but really? You haven’t noticed?”
“Cut the crap, Shokuhou…” I growled, through clenched teeth. Misaki nodded towards the direction of the ensuite door.
“That’s a bathroom. Correct?” she asked.
“Well, yeah.”
“There’s only one bed.”
I blinked. I slowly looked behind Misaki and stared at the one bed against the wall. I twirled on my heel, looking around the room one last time as if another would suddenly appear. She was right. How did I not realise sooner?
I felt a flicker of anger in my chest, and I tightened my fists. “Then this must be a mistake. Don’t touch my stuff, okay?” I said, pushing past Misaki, and walking out the door.
“Okay~” she hummed, as I stormed through the corridors.
.
.
.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
I trudged back to my room, feeling utterly defeated. My feet dragged against the floor. When I opened the door to my room again, everything looked a little different. Everything was somehow darker than before. Misaki had scattered her belongings about, claiming the space as her own. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, replacing the pillows with ones she had brought. God knows how she fit them in her bag. She glanced over her shoulder.
“Welcome back.” she said. “What’s the matter? You look quite pale.”
“Room swaps are forbidden, every room is full, and A304 is assigned to just you and me.” I spat.
“How unfortunate.”
I sighed. “Can’t you use your power to fix this? Force them to swap our rooms?”
“Why would I?” Misaki said, barely batting an eye. “You’re the only one who has a problem with this arrangement. If you behave, Misaka-san, we won’t have any problems.”
I hated to admit it, but Misaki was right. She didn’t seem bothered at all. I was the one making a big deal of things because I knew what she was capable of. She knew how to test my patience, and being around her was exhausting. If she didn’t push me and I kept my mouth shut, all would be well. It sounded simple. I knew it wouldn’t be, but it sounded simple.
I had to try, at least.
I nodded my head. My shoulders relaxed by my sides, and I unclenched my fists. “Alright, fine,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. “I won’t kick up a fuss. As long as you don’t do anything to get on my nerves.”
“Understood.” Misaki said, giving me a smile. “I won’t get in your way.”
“And, umm,” I perked up. “What do we do about our sleeping arrangements?”
Misaki stared at me for a moment, blinking, as if she didn’t follow. She was quiet. Her eyes wandered up to the ceiling. And then, suddenly, a flash of recognition. Her eyebrows lifted. “Oh, right!” she hummed. “I don’t know, sleep on the floor, or something.”
“I am not sleeping on the floor.” I crossed my arms. Misaki shrugged.
“The couch, then?”
“No!”
“You’re going to have to pick one, because this is mine~” And Misaki lied down on the bed, splaying out her arms and legs to take up as much space as possible. Just to make a point. I felt my eye twitch, and a spark flicker from my temple. I took a deep, deep breath.
“We… will have this talk later. I’m gonna take a walk.” I said. Luckily, there was plenty to do on this trip. The less time I spent in our room, the less I would have to deal with Misaki. She waved a hand, dismissing me, and I walked away.
.
.
.
The day went by very quickly. It was easy to get lost in the excitement of new surroundings. The sun had long set, replaced by a clear, night sky, and a shining moon. I was growing tired from swatting bugs left and right, occasionally zapping them with my power. Shivers took over my skin, and my teeth started chattering. It was late, it was cold, and most of the other girls had gone back inside.
That’s when I decided to turn in for the night.
I waved my classmates goodbye, and walked back to my cabin room. I stood before the front door. Dreading. I felt all giddiness wash away from my chest, and sighed. Some people were more mellow at night — I hoped Misaki was one of them. I pushed the door open, holding my breath…
And Misaki wasn’t there.
The weight in my chest lifted. She must still be out, I thought, visiting her lackeys. I looked about the room, and then rushed over the bedside. I threw myself onto the mattress, landing face-first in the pillows, and bouncing a little. I giggled to myself. If I got comfortable in bed first, surely, she wouldn’t kick me out. She couldn’t control me. Better yet, if I fell asleep, it would take real audacity to wake me. I pulled at the blankets with a grin across my face, and—
The bathroom door swung open.
“Ara, Misaka-san, what do you think you’re doing?”
Misaki’s voice. I whipped around. “A-Ah, Shokuhou, I was just…”
“Off my bed, please~” Misaki stepped out of the bathroom, sweeping her hair out of her face. Her hands reached back, and she tied her hair into a loose ponytail. Even then, her hair reached down her back. She wore a black nightdress with a lace trim, which flattered her curved body. And with those relaxed, half-lidded eyes, she looked way too sexy for someone just going to bed.
I, on the other hand, had brought my Gekota pyjamas. To wear them in front of Shokuhou Misaki, when she looked like that…
She would never let me live it down.
A string of curses ran through my brain. I felt so stupid. I should have thought of this beforehand, but I thought I would room with someone reasonable. I hadn’t packed anything else. And it was getting late; I needed to prepare for bed, too.
I groaned. Standing up from the bed, I stared at the floor and shuffled through my suitcase to fetch my pyjamas. Misaki moved past me and slipped into bed. I found my clothes and stared at them with hollow eyes. I had never felt so ashamed to own these. But I could feel eyelids lingering closed with every blink, my body sagging and swaying. I was tired. I didn’t have a choice. Clutching the pyjamas close to my chest, I slid into the bathroom and shut the door.
I got changed quickly but paused to reach for the door handle. I couldn’t bring myself to move. My face was red and puffy. I could imagine Misaki’s laughter in my head, loud and clear. Her smug grin and her narrowed eyes. I glanced at myself in the mirror. My clothes were baggy, not at all fitted, but they were comfortable. Breathable. And Gekota was so cute! My heart swelled whenever I looked at him.
Why was it so hard to be honest with myself? Why did I feel ashamed of the things I liked?
I’d better get this over with. I took a deep breath and opened the door.
I kept my eyes on the floor, as I walked back to my suitcase. The room was dead silent. Okay. No laughter yet, that’s good. Opening the lid, I dumped my dirty clothes back inside and zipped it up. I rose to my feet and dusted off my hands. Still nothing. Perhaps she was already asleep? I glanced over my shoulder, anxious and a little curious, and jumped. I didn’t expect her to be looking right at me.
Misaki was lying under the blankets, propping her head upon her elbow. Her cheek rested in the palm of her hand, and she looked me up and down, with a little smirk. My face flushed with heat. Why was she looking at me like that?
“D-Don’t laugh, okay? I know. I’ve heard it a million times, but I l-like it.” I stammered, crossing my arms.
Misaki giggled. Her smile stretched across her face. “Cute.” she said.
And… that was it.
I stared at her, waiting, expecting more to come. But she didn’t say anything. Just sat there looking at me. That made me even more uncomfortable. Shuffling on the spot, I cleared my throat. Had to change the conversation.
“Anyway,” I said, looking away. “Guess… I’ll sleep on the couch tonight?”
“Mm-hmm. Get the lights before you get comfy.”
I turned off the light switch and the room was plunged into darkness. It took a moment for me to adjust. Gradually, the outline of furniture appeared through the shadows. I slowly walked over to the couch and plopped myself down, expecting to bounce a little. I was gravely disappointed when my body hit solid rock. I pressed my palms down into the cushions beneath me. They barely budged. They were stiff and cold, and the couch itself was quite thin. Reluctantly, I lied down, resting my head on an armrest. I felt like I was about to roll off.
Misaki rolled over and the bedsheets rustled. “Goodnight, Misaka-san,” she said, as if completely innocent.
“Goodnight.” And I closed my eyes.
.
.
.
It usually wasn’t hard for me to fall asleep. I thought my exhaustion would overtake my discomfort, and I’d drift off right away. But it didn’t. Sleep didn’t come. I stopped counting how many times I had tossed and turned. I didn’t know how many hours had passed, or when sunrise would come. Maybe I wouldn’t sleep at all. I was somewhere unfamiliar, lying on a stiff couch, and I had to deal with the lingering presence of Shokuhou Misaki in the room — but, worst of all…
It was cold. Really cold.
I was used to the seasons of Academy City; mild, and predictable. This was something else entirely. I was shivering. My body was frozen still, as if sitting outside in the open air. I had curled up in a ball, my knees close to my chest, and my arms crossed. I clung to whatever body heat I could. I felt like bare bone and nothing else.
I had tried to use my power in bursts to give off some heat. It worked for a little while, but it took a lot of concentration. I couldn’t be too loud. And I certainly couldn’t fall asleep while channelling my power.
My skin was covered in goosebumps. My body was tingling from head to toe, and my teeth began to chatter again. It almost hurt, feeling this tense. I had never experienced a cold like this. It was like there was a perpetual, frosty breeze in the room, circling overhead. And my thin, short-sleeved pyjamas barely did anything to protect me. Another downside to them.
I slowed my breathing and closed my eyes tightly. I tried to imagine. Imagine a roaring fire, it’s licking flames and the crackling of wood. A barren desert, a summer sun, a vibrant beachside. I tried to take myself anywhere but here — but nothing worked. My eyes opened, looking around the darkness. I was wide awake. So tired, but wide awake. It was frustrating.
How many hours had I wasted? How many more would I have to waste?
I just wanted to sleep.
I sat up. The world around me spun and I was hit with a sudden wave of nausea. I put a hand to my forehead and blinked my blurry vision away. Slowly, everything cleared. Everything calmed. My knees resisted to move, like rusted metal, but I forced myself to stand. I was shaking and numb. I looked around the room. There was no heater, no fireplace, nothing. How stupid was that? Well, I thought. If you’re under blankets, you don’t really need those things.
I glanced at the bed across the room. Misaki looked different when she slept. She wasn’t as… horrible. As unlikeable. She had been asleep for a while; I noticed when her breathing became shallow and quiet and it felt like hours ago. The thick covers were pulled up to her face, just the top of her head and eyes poking out. Her long eyelashes, her curled, flowing hair, her rising and falling body. She looked peaceful. And in that king single bed, she didn’t take up much space at all.
That’s when it hit me.
Couldn’t we share?
I tried to bury the thought, but it kept resurfacing. It kept coming back. I felt a little embarrassed and a little guilty. But my legs were shaking, and I could feel a headache coming on. I rubbed my arms. Under any other circumstances, I wouldn’t have even considered it, but… I was freezing. And I was too tired to fight it.
I didn’t have any other options. I had to ask, at least. I had to try…
I walked over to the bedside, looking down at Misaki’s sleeping form. I never was good at waking people. It always made me feel bad. But the cold breeze urged me through my hesitation, to ask the unimaginable.
“…Shokuhou.” I whispered. I waited. She didn’t move. I took a bigger breath, and this time, spoke a little louder. “Shokuhou.” Still nothing. I reached out and gave her shoulder a nudge.
Misaki groaned. Her peaceful rest was shattered, and her face contorted with confusion. She pulled the covers down to her neck and rubbed at her eyes. Slowly, she looked up at me and blinked.
“S-Sorry for waking you. I know it’s late. Could I, umm…” I said. I could barely get the words out, my jaw was stiff as iron. The longer I looked at her, the more uneasy I felt. It was too late to back out. I glanced away. “Look, it’s f-freezing. I’ve been trying, I seriously have, but I can’t sleep. I won’t take up much space, I promise, I just…”
Misaki sighed. And without a word, she rolled over. My heart sunk — she was brushing me off. I watched as she shuffled to the edge of the bed, away from me, and then held the blanket out behind her.
My eyes widened.
Oh. She’s actually…
I didn’t argue. I lowered myself onto the edge of the bed, pulled the blanket on top of me. My skin tingled, immediately surrounded by warmth. I let out a shaky breath and closed my eyes. I rolled onto my side, so I was back to back with Misaki. There was enough space so we weren’t touching, but I had never been this close to her before. It was strange.
I smiled a little. Maybe it was because she was tired, but I was beyond relieved that Misaki didn’t object. Now that I was somewhere comfortable and somewhere warm, I could finally relax. I forgot about everything else. Gradually, the ice around my body began to melt away, and my exhaustion took hold of me.
I fell asleep.