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From the first day the two had ended up by each other’s side, Toko was very aware of Komaru’s reading choices. Specifically, ones she’d refuse to call literature even if the world itself depended on it. Toko had no idea why Komaru enjoyed these - the few times Komaru had pushed her into taking a glance at some of Komaru’s suggestions (though she often couldn’t even finish the synopsis before she wanted to see which idiot thought disguising their work as proper literature was an understandable choice), she had seen nothing except shallow characters which were either wholly bland or trying too hard to get a reaction from a reader.
Point is, Toko failed to regard any manga she saw in any high regard. However, Komaru didn’t, for reasons she didn’t understand.
Komaru would always get excited when she’d stumble across a book she recognized, especially when it came to ones Toko just couldn’t see as having any redeeming qualities. Everything in those felt cheesy or shallow, yet Komaru’s face would always light up each time she recognized a familiar title or cover visual, and Toko would often find her happily skimming through the pages or even tearing up over a plot which left her touched.
(Toko thought it was sweet, though, how Komaru would get so excited. Maybe it was a result of how unfortunately rare her better moments could be some weeks, but seeing the girl happily reading through pages or chatting away about the convoluted plotline of whatever she read last did, without fail, always make Toko’s heart skip a beat. Toko held firm to her belief that maga was nothing more than trash at best, but she couldn’t help but be a little thankful that brought the other girl those moments of joy).
This reaction became familiar. Familiar enough that, when Toko saw the girl flipping through one book with a few others next to her, so focused on the pages that she didn't even notice the writer entering, Toko already knew every detail. She’d seen Komaru come across the entire series before, always looking like a happy little kid as she read through the volumes.
Komaru startled slightly as Toko took a seat on the bed next to her, only becoming aware of the writer’s presence in that moment. Though, when she did notice her, the grin already on her face widened, the look on her face as if the brightness and warmth of the sun was put into one smile. Into an expression which had begun to feel like home to Toko, one she had never quite known before.
“You got a new manga?” Toko asked, hoping the question of where she had gotten it was an implication. The question was hardly a proper greeting, but the girl assumed that having spent four months dating and even longer together was enough to make proper greetings unnecessary sometimes. At least, they certainly weren’t from Komaru, who usually substituted those greetings with acts of physical affection (usually smaller ones - Toko wasn’t one for being greeted with a hug every time they had been apart for any amount of time. Even if she grew more and more comfortable with affection like that each day she lived with Komaru).
"I found these with Syo a bit earlier! There's apparently a library a bit further out than we usually go. Though it's pretty worn down," Komaru responded with a nod as Toko joined her in bed, settling down at her side. "I should take you there sometime! There were a lot of romance novels, even some you wrote! Hopefully it won't be infested with Monokumas next time, though."
Toko looked down at the pages, noticing the small rips and tears at the edges. It just seemed like another generic plotline, from the little she saw. Though, that was almost always a given for what Komaru took interest in.
“I’ve been looking for this series for a while!” Komaru continued, looking down at the pages as Toko looked up to take up the excitement on her features, deciding her time was better spent gazing at Komaru’s expressions than the illustrations on the page. Nothing there could make her heart skip a beat in the same way that Komaru’s smile did (though, the second that sappy thought came into her head, she wanted it to disappear. Komaru must have been doing things to even her private thoughts). Komaru continued, “I was going to get it, but I didn’t really have time to get it for a while, not until I got stuck in this city. I forgot I even wanted to read the volumes until I saw them earlier!”
“Hardly looks worth the wait,” Toko commented.
“I mean - I wouldn’t have waited as long as I did for anything, but I think I think this comes pretty close to worth it! The last arc had such an emotional ending that I nearly cried!" responded Komaru.
“I-I don’t think that’s as high of a bar as you think it is, Komaru,” Toko sighed in response.
“Hey!” Komaru chuckled with mock offence. "This one is really powerful. The protagonist's childhood friend finally started making efforts to have her in her life after they had grown distant for years, and the protagonist just realised that the feelings which had kept her caring for her friend from a distance had been romantic all along!"
"L-Let me guess,” Toko speculated. “By the end of it, their friend will reveal that she’s been in love with her all along. They’ll have some sappy confession scene, kiss under some fireworks or something generic like that, and that’ll be the end.”
“It sounds more generic than it is when you phrase it like that, Toko,” Komaru replied. “It’s really good! I think even you would like it.”
“When did my standards drop so low as for you to think that?! ” Toko squawked. “I’ll have you know that I’ll still die before I touch any of that trash. Besides, it’s too sappy. Too many sweet scenes which completely miss the soul of romance.”
“Yeah, I guess you do like more gritty things.”
“Well not things which are gritty for the sake of being dark, but this book completely misses all of the agony which comes with love,” Toko clarified. “This is probably just a mushy little tale of nothing but infatuation.”
“You still think all love is like that? Komaru questioned.
“Of course! The nature of love never changes, without any exceptions.”
“Not even us together? I hope you don’t see us like that,” Komaru commented with a laugh.
“I-” Toko started, feeling as if she had stepped right into Komaru’s trap. “Okay, love is usually brutal. Don’t think you’d survive it, honestly. We’re just - a rare case.”
“Sure we are,” Komaru lightly teased. She added on shortly after, “Alright, I guess you wouldn’t like this. Though, if you ever decide manga isn’t “ total trash”, as you call it, I’d still suggest this to you!”
“Don’t put too much hope into that. Unless my taste vanishes into thin air, I don’t think that day will ever come.” Toko couldn’t keep a smile off her face as she spoke to Komaru. Smiling had become natural around her, within the last few months. “B-Besides, I said that if I ever read manga, the first one I’d touch would be one by you. I’m not g-going back on that. Not for some trashy romance, anyways.”
“Okay, okay,” Komaru breathed as Toko set her head onto her shoulder, settling into her side further.
From that point onwards, the conversations died out. The silence it left behind was not uncomfortable, though, as Komaru returned to her manga. Toko was left to watch her flip through the pages. She probably could have gone to fetch a book, or something to pass the time as her girlfriend read, but she decided that she didn’t want to move from her position, practically melting into the warmth of her side.
Her eyes switched between Komaru and the manga she was reading. It didn’t seem too different from what she expected it to be, though the fact that Komaru was only working on the second volume in a series made it clear that her speculated ending would only come after a considerable amount of content only created to pat the manga out.
Komaru seemed to enjoy it, even the bits which were clearly just there for filler. It could be seen in her expressions, which seemed to shift each couple pages. It could be heard in some small chuckles, or even light sniffles at more emotional points.
Toko wasn’t sure how much time passed. It could have been hours, for all she knew. She wasn’t, solely because she wished the moment could last much longer, before one of them had to get up from where they were sitting.
The warmth of Komaru's side became too familiar to part from, and Toko found her arms wrapping around Komaru, never wanting to let go.
(Eventually, as the light outside the window turned sunset hues, Komaru did have to get up. Just as she set down her book and was about to mention this to her girlfriend, though, she noticed the aforementioned girl asleep at her side, the comforting quiet of the last couple hours having put her to rest. She could only smile at this, carefully removing herself from her girlfriend's grasp, and making sure to tuck the covers fully onto her.)