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Yuji’s finger hovers over the vending machine keypad. Once he makes his decision, each key lights up as he punches in the code for a sports drink.
“What’d he say next?”
Nobara scoffs.
“He gave me some line about how the group battles would be so amazing, they’d solve global warming. So of course, I had to ask him what the hell that even meant.”
She slaps her hands over her eyes and puts on a low voice.
“‘It’ll all make sense in due time, Kugisaki. For now, just go with the flow.’ Tch. All I asked was if we’d be getting new uniforms for the exchange event. He didn’t even come close to answering the question.”
Yuji cackles loudly. Nobara lowers her hands to see him doubled over, both arms wrapped around his stomach. Next to him, an extremely faint smile plays at the corner of Megumi’s mouth.
“What’s that?” Nobara teases. “Go on, you can laugh.”
“I’m not laughing.”
Megumi turns his head, but the expression doesn’t fade.
Yuji looks up at Nobara and points at the hair tie around her wrist.
“Do Maki next! Do Maki!”
Nobara yanks off the familiar elastic, hands flying up again to pull her hair back. Her back goes ramrod straight. She pushes her index finger up the bridge of her nose, adjusting an invisible pair of glasses. Her voice drops again, this time to a smooth, severe level.
“I'm Maki. I'm a total badass and super hot. Watch as I do cool shit with a staff your dumb brain could never even imagine.”
Nobara slides her feet apart and squats down. She twirls a fake staff behind her back, following through with the movements as though she held an actual weapon.
Yuji barely covers his mouth before he sprays Powerade from laughter. Megumi rolls his eyes, yet there’s a slight sparkle in them. But as soon as Nobara sees it, it’s gone. She’s about to ask what’s wrong when-
“You think I'm a super hot badass?”
Maki’s calm voice comes from behind Nobara.
Nobara freezes. She croaks as if her soul has left her body. After a second, she gathers herself and cranes her head to the side to get a better look. Maki’s leaning her right shoulder against another vending machine, eyebrow quirked and expecting an answer.
Giddiness shoves embarrassment out of the way. Nobara drops her ridiculous battle stance and turns around with the world’s biggest shit-eating grin.
“Well, I wouldn't say I think that's true. I know it is.”
“Is that right?”
“Mm-hm.”
The adoring glint in Nobara's eyes as she looks up at Maki couldn’t have been more obvious.
Maki’s gaze takes in the high ponytail, then flicks back to Nobara’s face. Nobara isn’t sure what she’s looking for, so she tilts her chin toward her good side. Both sides are good, but she wants her jawline to catch the sunlight just so.
Nothing goes unnoticed by Maki, including this. Especially this.
The silence stretches on longer than Sukuna can stand, so he clears his (Yuji’s?) throat. Nobara tosses a glare his way over her shoulder just as Yuji slaps his cheek. When he pulls his hand away, the second mouth is gone.
Megumi glances knowingly between the girls, then takes the chance to catch Yuji’s eye. Hands still in his pockets, he points his elbow toward the dorms and mutters something about how they’ll see Nobara later.
As they leave, Maki adjusts the weapon case on her shoulder and strides over. She reaches out slowly, curls her fingers in Nobara’s ponytail. Nobara forces herself to keep her breathing steady. Collapsing would bring on too much embarrassment in one day.
“So this is where one of my bands went. If you ran out, you could’ve just bought some yourself.”
“I’d rather have one of yours.”
Nobara can’t quite read the expression Maki makes. Something between curiosity and disbelief, perhaps. A sense of worry swirls in her gut; she hopes this confession hasn't made Maki uncomfortable.
“Do you want it back?”
Maki shakes her head.
“Keep it. I’ve got plenty.” She brings her hand around to cup Nobara's cheek. “More importantly, you look nice.”
Nobara's palm covers the back of Maki's hand, pulling it the tiniest bit closer.
“That means something coming from you.”
“Which is why I keep saying it.”
Maki flashes a smile, showing off her top row of teeth.
Nobara’s heart twists in her chest.
“Well.” Maki gently tugs her hand free, and Nobara already misses its warmth. “I'm headed to the training room. You're welcome to join me.”
Nobara nods, immediately taking her place by Maki’s side. She wouldn't miss this for the world.