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Maki hears about the first years pretty much as soon as the information comes in. When it comes to the campus, it’s not really like anything can be kept a secret, there are very few of them there. Panda is the worst at keeping secrets so as soon as he found out, the rest of the place did too. Which meant Maki heard pretty fast.
When Panda had asked when the three were training, Maki had hoped her simple reply and encouragement toward more training had deterred any suspicion from either of them. The truth is ever since Maki had heard about the first years; she’d been anxiously awaiting their arrival. From what she heard, they weren’t doing too horribly, but Nobara and Megumi had taken some pretty good hits, and though she worries about Megumi, her thoughts zero in on Nobara instantly.
She pushes herself to train after the conversation until she’s tired out, and it’s the only stop because she can’t guarantee she won’t lose consciousness if her head hits the ground one more time. She can deal with that happening on her own when she’s training alone, but the thought of it happening in front of someone else is less than ideal.
“Ready to go then?” Panda asks though it’s definitely more of a definitive choice than a question. She’d been sitting on the ground lost in thought when he had pulled her out of her own daydream. Once again wondering when the first years would be returning.
“Yeah, I’m starving.” Dinner sounded nice and to be honest she hadn’t eaten since that morning, so she really was actually craving food. “Let’s walk by the entrance and see if they’ve gotten back in.”
It’d been about a day since the information came in, and she doesn’t entirely know the information but it had been a bit of a mess to get them back on their way here.
“Sure!”
While they walk, her mind wanders back to Nobara. How hurt had she been? Going against special grades wasn’t exactly an easy task for anyone. And before when they’d done something like that, she’d lost a friend. Everyone was alive but what damage had been done?
Her thoughts wander toward the memory of just a few days prior when Nobara had asked if she wanted to go shopping during an upcoming weekend. Nobara’s eyes seemed to shine when she asked and her little squeal and jump of happiness when she had agreed sent a strange feeling to her stomach. Butterflies. Excitement. She felt drawn toward the girl.
No, she’d felt more than pulled toward her, she’s not stupid. She’s noticed her feelings for the other for a while now. Something brewing since the day that Nobara had leaned her head on her shoulder as they walked.
Nobara draws Maki to her like a moth to a flame. She can’t explain it more than that, Nobara clearly exists to draw Maki in with no regard to any consequences.
It’s called having feelings, is the tiny voice in her head that coaxes her heart along with this foolish path of getting closer to Nobara.
And arguably, Maki was going to feel very disappointed if she didn’t get to spend that time with Nobara, just watching her enjoy her time, free of the stress of their lives. Going shopping with her, spending the day with her, had been something she was looking forward to.
But right now, all she could look forward to was seeing Nobara safe and sound.
They walk toward the entrance in silence, the return car hadn’t made it into the school yet clearly, and it made Maki rock on her feet, jumping slightly on her toes. It made her anxious.
“I’m just going to wait a few more minutes, why don’t you two head in?” She nods toward down the path. “And don’t eat all the food.”
“We wouldn’t…”
“You would.” She nods to the boys once more, especially when Panda gives her a quizzical look. Or the best he can anyways. “Go on, I just want to be here just in case the others need help getting in.”
“Okay.”
She watches them wander off into the distance, feeling a little more at ease now that she wasn’t being observed by the others, ones who know her very clearly. She doesn’t have to school her face into a casual expression, and she doesn’t have to hope her thoughts aren’t being so easily read.
She’s worried about Nobara. Clearly. And now she can kind of feel that emotion a bit more.
A few minutes turn closer to almost an hour, and Maki’s gotten to the point where she’s been sitting on the ground watching as the sun goes down. Her stomach pain indicates once again just how hungry she is, and she’s tempted to just on inside, but something keeps her right in the same spot.
Fuck, I’m starving though.
She compromises with waiting fifteen more minutes, and it pays off because not less than five minutes after that she sees a car pulling up in the distance.
She only stands up when it gets a little closer and she can confirm it’s actually them. Her muscles ache and her stomach protests once again but she just rolls her shoulders.
Yuuji makes it out first, followed by a Megumi who seems to be leaning on him just a bit. He looks exhausted, like he might immediately fall asleep and has a little too much dry blood on him for comfort. They look stable but tired, any more damage to their bodies, and every wound they have might re-open again.
She finds herself moving toward them without really realizing it.
“Hey.” She doesn’t really know what else to say, and it feels really awkward, so there’s a pause before she looks between the two of them. “I heard you went against a few special grades, that’s pretty impressive.”
“Yeah!” Yuuji sounds proud even though he also looks ready to collapse. He almost looks sad when he says the next few words. Disappointed even. “But, I need to take him to Shoko, so maybe we should talk more about it later.”
“Yeah, she might be sober. Maybe.”
“Oh, well, I hope so.” Yuuji adjusts Megumi who just nods at her slightly. She could probably tease him later about he seems to be leaning more than he needs to into the other boy. But that was later. “She’s in there, sleeping. I know you want to ask.”
Maki tries not to notice the way her face feels like it heats up immediately and turns to look away. Clearing her throat, she has to admit that was brave for the other boy. She nods slightly and looks to the open door on the other side of the car, having watched the driver open it.
There’s a bit of relief when she hears that, Nobara is at least not in the state that needs to be completely and immediately rushed to seek help. Though she doubts she’s absolutely okay either.
“Go, I’ll- I’ll help get her in.” She’s not some child with a schoolgirl crush, she can help a friend into the school just fine. Though she’d really like it if her face would cool down.
“Careful!” Was all Yuuji said as he started to carry the other boy the best he could, past her. “I’ll see you in there!”
If Yuuji was expecting an answer, Maki didn’t give one as she walks towards the other side of the car. She lets the others know that she can handle getting her out and taking her to Shoko. They seem appreciative, if only because they couldn’t really tell how they were going to get her out.
Maki takes a second to just take in what she can see. Nobara looks cute, even though she looks completely wrecked. Her mouth is open slightly as her head leaned back against the seat. An arm with a ripped sleeve is held against her stomach. She can see that her wrist is wrapped but the wrapping seems to still have red spots that seem to be fresh, she’s bleeding through them.
There are scratches and forming bruises on almost every exposed part of her body and her shoes are actually taken off and disposed of at the floor. She must have kicked them off sometime during the car ride when she was trying to sleep.
Her nose scrunches for a second but other than that she doesn’t move.
Maki takes off her own jacket and gently moves Nobara enough, so it’s wrapped around her shoulders. It’s not particularly cold, but that ripped sleeve and the wind that’s blowing might not be the best feeling. Nobara barely flinches at the movement so Maki takes it as a sign that she can go to lift the smaller girl out of the seat.
It takes a minute, but she’s able to get her arm under Nobara’s knees and one supporting her head. Nobara, even in her sleep, instinctively seems to know what’s happening, she wraps her arms around Maki’s neck and tucks her head into the crook where her neck meets her chest. There are a few noises of protest but other than that she seems to willingly let herself be carried. Maki starts to see more blood drip down the arm, having gotten through the wrappings and it makes her wince. She’d better get her to Shoko a little bit faster.
And she really better not get any more distracted than she already is at how close the other is to her. Her heart is beating at an alarming rate and she’s feeling that stupid feeling in her stomach again. But her worry for Nobara seems to be overpowering it because she’s able to focus enough to kick the door closed and head back toward the school.
They make it to the hallways heading toward where Shoko should be before Nobara starts to nod awake. She makes a noise under her breath like she’s annoyed at moving and when she goes to move her arm away from Maki’s neck she hisses, her eyes flashing open faster than anything.
“Careful,” Maki warns, it’s almost a whisper. “You’re bleeding all over your arm right now, moving it too much is going to make it much worse.”
“Ugh…I thought it’d stop already.” She whines a little under her breath, putting her face back toward Maki’s neck. “It was just a few nails.”
“Huh?” Maki’s voice raises in concern, coming to a stop momentarily, but Nobara shakes her head and shushes her.
“Later, my head hurts.” She peeks an eye open. “You don’t have to carry me, you know.”
“Do you think you can walk?” Maki doesn’t mean to make it sound challenging, but she really wasn’t planning on letting Nobara down just to watch her tumble out of exhaustion and dizziness.
“I could,” Nobara says defiantly, and yet pitifully. She doesn’t sound certain at all. “But this is nice.”
Maki only starts moving again because she sees a bit of blood drop to the floor in front of her when it seems Nobara’s arm became too heavy to hold on to Maki’s neck and fell next to her. It is a reminder that she’s supposed to be moving.
“Nice is it?”
“Yeah,” Nobara whispers, her voice sounds heavy, like she’s tired again. Maki feels bad for what she’s about to say.
“Nobara, you probably shouldn’t go back to sleep. Shoko is probably going to want you awake,” Maki winces when she sees Nobara pull back only to give a sleepy glare. “Don’t be mad at me, I’m just the messenger.”
“Yeah, right,” Nobara grumbles before pressing herself back against Maki. “Maki, did you know you smell nice?”
“I just spent hours training and then waiting for you to come home, that can’t be true.”
“Yeah, it is. I like it.”
“Weirdo.”
Maki can’t help but laugh at the words she’s hearing from a drowsy Nobara. But she also can’t seem to stop smiling at them either, her face is feeling flushed, and she just moves to press her chin slightly on top of Nobara’s head, only for a moment. Maybe out of affection, maybe out of something else, she isn’t sure. She just wants to be closer to her.
“We’re almost there. After I drop you off, I’ll go get something to eat and bring you back something as long as Shoko says it’s okay. Alright?” She adjusts Nobara just a little, seeing the door at the end of the hallway meaning they’re basically there.
“You not going to stay and hold my hand?” Nobara’s teasing voice almost sounds like it has a hint of disappointment in it. Maybe Maki’s imagining it.
“Tell you what, I’ll come back right away and hold your hand.” Maki doesn’t know where she gets the bravery to say that, but seeing as she’s started, she’s certainly not going to stop. “I’ll hold it the whole night, just to make up for it.”
Surprisingly, it doesn’t seem to scare Nobara. She only pull backs to squint slightly at Maki, questioning.
“You promise?”
“I promise. I’ll even sit next to you if it’s super painful.”
“You better,” There seems to be a little huff in her voice, but it turns into a groan when she sees Shoko’s door.
“Alright, let’s get you looked at.”
--
Turns out, Shoko says Nobara should be able to eat. Shoko does tell her on the way out that though, that Nobara is going to end up staying in the medical wing for the night though. Apparently, Shoko didn’t even need to look at the injuries to know that it would be a long night.
Maki feels bad because nothing is worse than having to be stuck in a hospital bed for the night, so she grabs Nobara a few sweets just to make the night a little brighter.
By the time she’s finished eating and meeting up with everyone else, it’s been about two hours. She ran into Yuuji who informed her that he and Megumi were just going to sleep the rest of it off. He’d told her a little bit, a more summarized version, of what happened. He seemed so impressed with Nobara, he almost forgot to seem impressed with himself.
Maki reminds him to be proud of himself too. Every win for someone is a win. He lived another day, and that’s worth it.
Once she makes it back to the hallway with the medical rooms, she hears a bit of yelling, and she knows she’s in for a scene. Honestly, what she saw when she walked in, should have been expected.
Nobara is sitting half off the bed, seeming like she’s trying to get up. Nobara seems to have been changed into a gown and pants that were probably provided by Shoko, her arm seems to be re-wrapped, which means those injuries probably couldn’t have been healed by Shoko’s reversed curse technique. And though she looks more awake and aware, she’s a little pale and looks exhausted.
“Am…I interrupting something?” She says after clearing her throat. Clearly, neither Shoko nor Nobara realized she came in. She adjusts the food she’s holding in her hands and raises an eyebrow.
“Oh wonderful,” Shoko says as she taps at Maki’s shoulder to indicate that she needs to get past her. Maki moves to the side. “You’re here. You can get her to stay in the bed tonight.”
“I don’t need to be here tonight!” Nobara yells again, but Shoko’s already breezed her way past Maki with a knowing smile.
Maki felt a little fear at the look if she’s honest. She turns to Nobara looking confused. She moves closer to set all the food down on the tray she had next to her bed. Wordlessly Maki walks to the bed and a little forcibly, only because Nobara seems to fight it, adjusts Nobara so she’s sitting back in bed.
“There we go,” She gives a little bit of a grin at an annoyed Nobara. “Not liking your accommodations then?”
Nobara just stares at her, gaping a little, before clenching her jaw just ever so slightly. Maki laughs at the expression, Nobara glares viciously, and it makes Maki laugh louder.
“No then?”
“I really don’t need to be in this bed, I could be doing the same amount of recovering in my own dorm.” Nobara makes it sound almost matter of fact but seems to be ignoring the wires hooked to her hand and the needle nestled into her hand feeding her what is probably some sort of fluid to help hydrate her.
Maki finds herself shaking her head.
“Somehow, pretty sure that’s not true.”
“Okay, maybe not. But I don’t want to be stuck here all night.”
“Shoko sleeps in the office down the way when she has students stuck here, she can get here faster if she needs to.” Maki moves to sit on the edge of the bed, placing her hand on Nobara’s leg that’s covered by the blanket. “What if something happens?”
“Well…” Nobara seems to look away, face a little red at the idea of being outsmarted. “Whatever.”
“Ah, yes, whatever.” Maki laughs a little again, squeezing at Nobara’s leg. She watches the other’s face get a little redder and she’s confused by it. If anything, Maki should be a little red, with the way she’s so close to the girl she’s got feelings for. “You look a little better. Not so bruised up.”
“You saying I looked ugly before?”
“You always look beautiful.”
It just slips out, it really does. Maki has to use all her strength not to look away, even though she feels like she must be completely red.
Nobara’s huge smile, one that even reaches her eyes, makes it worth it.
“That so?” Her voice seems to be teasing, almost mocking. Maki doesn’t have to guess as to why.
“Cheeky.”
Nobara leans closer, the smile still there, as she giggles a little, “Maybe so.”
Maki doesn’t know why but she shifts closer to Nobara, moving so she’s basically right by her side. What she doesn’t expect was to have Nobara grab her arm and tug her down until she’s fallen almost completely on top of her.
“Nobara?” She questions as she watches the other pout slightly.
“Lay down.” There’s no teasing or anything this time, her voice is soft and clear. She seems to bite her lip almost like she’s worried Maki won’t. She probably wouldn’t have if she had made any other expression. But she can’t find herself saying no to a face like that. “Please?”
Definitely can’t say no now.
“Okay, scoot a little.” Maki adjusts herself so she’s laying next to Nobara, she’s shifting so she’s just at the same height as her, able to turn and look directly at her face as she props herself up on her elbow. “Hi.”
“Hey.”
“Like this?”
“Yeah.”
They both seem to be a little flustered, quiet, even. There’s a small pause between them, it’s comfortable and anxiety inducing at the same time. Maki has to break it or she thinks her heart is going to burst.
“I brought food. I can’t get it with us like this.”
“Don’t care.” Her voice is smaller now, Maki isn’t sure she’s ever really heard it like this before.
“Okay.”
“Hold my hand.”
“Huh?” Maki’s confusion is pretty clear on her face. It must be, because Nobara’s biting at her lip again, something she knows Nobara does when nervous.
“You said you would…. earlier. You promised.”
Oh, she did, that’s right.
“Right,” her words feel sticky like her mouth is suddenly too dry to get them out. “Let’s see it then.”
Nobara’s the one that looks confused this time. It makes Maki laugh quietly, not wanting to pull away from their closeness.
“Your injured arm. Let me see it.”
“Oh.”
Nobara carefully pulls the arm out from her side and brings it up toward Maki, who carefully takes the hand in her own. She brings it up toward her gaze, just looking at the wrappings. No blood-red stains this time. She lets go of a breath she didn’t know she was holding.
“That’s better.” She whispers. And she doesn’t know why she does it, but she brings the wrist up toward her face and presses the faintest kiss over the wrappings. And she knows, she’s not imagining it when she hears the slightest hitch of breath from Nobara. Letting the arm fall back down but intertwines their fingers. “Much better.”
“Huh?” Nobara sounds slightly dazed as she questions.
Maki smiles at the way her brow seems a little furrowed and her nose a little scrunched in confusion. It makes Maki want to move forward and kiss her on the forehead too. She’s the one biting her lip now, making sure she has something grounding her from being too impulsive.
“It was scary seeing you like that, you know. Not something I’ve really felt considering I know we can end up hurt at any time.” Maki admits it, and she doesn’t know why entirely, but she needs Nobara to know. Know something, know anything. Know that she cares. “So much blood coming out of a tiny wrist, just because someone wanted to stick three nails in it.”
Nobara makes the tiniest of squeaks and looks away.
“Yeah. Well, it worked! Okay?”
“I didn’t say it didn’t,” Maki’s laughing again, squeezing their intertwined hands until Nobara looks at her again. “A little crazy of you though.”
“Well, I never said I wasn’t crazy. And it’s not like you’re much better.” Nobara has turned back by now, with a bit of a knowing smile. “Though, I never get to visit you in a place like this.”
“I never end up getting hurt enough to be here.”
It was a lie, she’s been here a bunch, but it’s fun to tease anyway.
“Liar,” Nobara whispers, but she leans her head back down against the bed. She’s moved their joined hands a little just to play at Maki’s fingers a little. Keeping them close, intertwining and separating them over and over. Simply entertaining herself. Maki surrenders herself right over to Nobara like it’s nothing. “Thank you. For carrying me.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“Whatever. Still.”
They get a moment of silence, where Nobara focuses on playing with their hands and Maki focuses on her. If she just reached over, just a little, she could kiss her cheek. Maybe kiss her. If she just-
“If you’re going to kiss me, please do it already.”
“Huh?!” Maki jumps a little and sits up so she’s looking down slightly. She doesn’t take her hand back, but her eyes are wide, and she feels like she might die from a heart attack. “I’m- I wasn’t- It’s just…”
She doesn’t know what she’s trying to say. Nobara won’t look her in the eye and so all Maki can focus on is the blush on her cheeks.
“That’s what you were wanting to do right?” Maki can hear the nervousness in Nobara’s voice, but she thinks, she wants to hope, that she hears a little bit of excitement, maybe even hope, in her voice. “If not, I mean-”
“No!” She speaks a little too loud out of instinct before she lets her voice go back down to a whisper. It feels like swallowing rocks the next time she tries to speak. “I mean yes, it was. I just…yes, I was thinking about kissing you.”
“Oh. Okay. Good.”
They just blink at each other, it’s almost awkward. But then again, Nobara is tugging her back down by their hands. She lets herself basically crash on the bed. Nobara moves so she’s laying more on her side, just looking at her, eyes wide and smile soft.
“Do you still want to kiss me?”
Maki’s eyes immediately go down to Nobara’s lips, her mouth feeling dry again. She starts nodding before she can even answer.
“Yes.”
“I’ve wanted to kiss you for a while now.”
“Me too.” The words are instant because she’s distracted by staring at Nobara’s features but she immediately brings her gaze up toward Nobara. “Wait, what?”
“It’s exhausting, trying to constantly drop hints to a girl as oblivious as you. You know that?” Nobara’s got a smirk on her face, and Maki feels the need to return it. Even embarrassed, she’s feeling a little elated at the fact any of this is happening.
“I’ve been told I’m not exactly the best at feelings, yes.”
“Try the worst.”
Nobara’s the one laughing, and Maki doesn’t even hesitate this time, she brings up their joined hands and presses a kiss to Nobara’s knuckles. It’s quick but it quiets the laughing immediately.
“Are you saying I can kiss you then?”
“I’m saying if you don’t, I’ll keep jabbing nails in my wrist and making you hold my hand until you do.”
“A bit dramatic.”
“You’ve clearly never tried to flirt with yourself. You need dramatic to get it through your thick skull.”
Maki ducks her head just a tad, feeling attacked but in a way that is probably overly accurate. She’s never been the best at recognizing people flirting. Though not many people really ever have anyway.
Nobara takes her free hand and moves to tilt Maki’s head forward, so they’re looking at each other. Maki immediately leans into the touch with her cheek. It feels warm and nice, and it's reassuring that she’s not dreaming and that Nobara is actually there.
“I feel weird, kissing you…”
“You feel weird?” Nobara sounds offended, and that’s fair.
“Not like that!” She rolls her eyes, shifting just enough to press another quick kiss to Nobara’s palm. “I feel weird kissing you…like this. I’m not prepared. I was so distracted before, now, I’m nervous.”
“Can’t say I feel different. It would be my first kiss.”
Maki lets out a small groan. Now she really has to make it worth it. She feels unprepared, this is not the Maki Zenin she usually was. She’s not calm, collected, and confident. She feels out of place and nervous.
She’s going to do this, she can. She’s not afraid.
Except she’s terrified.
Shoko just had to let her stay.
With a deep breath, she turns more so she’s facing Nobara, taking the palm from her cheek and placing it down gently. She brings her own up and toward Nobara’s and just smiles.
“You’re insufferable, I like that about you.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Maki has a little bit of a smirk, of course, she does.
Then, it’s just like gravity pulls them toward each other. Like the world finally slots into place. Like Maki finally is allowed a win in her life. Like everything has led up to that one tiny moment.
They both seem to reach in the middle, with their intertwined hands somewhere awkwardly sandwiched between their bodies. The kiss is something all kinds of soft.
It’s no more than a brush of lips, soft and quick. Completely full of the innocence one has with their first kiss. It leads to the second brush of lips, and the third. And the only reason Maki doesn’t go for a fourth is that she feels like she might have to see Shoko if she does. Her heart beats so fast it might pop right out of her chest.
Nobara looks like she’s feeling about the same. She lets out a shaky breath that Maki can feel against her own lips.
“That was nice.” Maki finally whispers.
“I want you to do it again.”
“I can do that.”
But before she can lean into do that one more time, a loud noise, that can only be described as a raging grumble comes from Nobara’s stomach. Nobara immediately looks embarrassed and maybe even annoyed but it has Maki pulling back and laughing, happy, and full-bodied.
“How about, we feed you, and then we can do that again as many times as you want.” Maki compromises with a smile, moving her thumb to brush softly against Nobara’s cheek. “I even brought sweets.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” She squeezes their joined hands, to remind her, she’d always fulfill as many promises as she can. As long as she can. Even when it’s hard.
Nobara smiles so brightly, and her eyes shine, and it reminds Maki that she’s safe, and she’s here. And she can have Nobara in her arms, at least for now. And she will try to keep that happening as long as she can.