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They were still transformed into the Legendary Warriors Pretty Cure as they began their walk home.
The fight had been rough and exhausting, and now even returning to their natural forms felt like too much work.
Cure Black and Cure White held hands as they trudged along until they were closer to town, at which point they finally poofed back into Nagisa and Honoka. Without the power of the Pretty Cure holding them up, they felt even more tired and worn out. They continued to hold hands, taking strength from the other, each pulling the other forward.
They wound up at Honoka's house. This hadn't been planned - neither of them had said a word after the latest battle with the powers of darkness. But somehow, they both instinctively knew that that's what they were pulling each other towards. Once they were safely in Honoka's room, they looked at each other wordlessly for a moment before Nagisa sat herself down rather gingerly on Honoka's bed. "I'm sorry," she said as she did so. "I know I'm all dirty and gross right now... but I'm so tired."
"Nagisa... you don't need to apologize to sit down," said Honoka. "I can always wash the blankets anyway." She sat down beside her, and for a moment they said nothing again. Both were looking down at their laps. Both were so, so tired of fighting.
Nagisa was wondering what to say next when Honoka spoke up. "Did... did you want to take a bath?"
"Huh?"
"We have a traditional style bathtub," said Honoka. She said the words a little quickly, as though she had to get them out before she changed her mind. "We can wash up and then... relax a bit."
"Oh... that sounds nice, actually," said Nagisa. "But you're sure your grandma won't mind?"
"Of course not," said Honoka. She stood back up and took Nagisa's hand. "Here," she said. "Follow me."
She led her to the washroom, then told Nagisa to wait. She returned a few moments later with some clean robes, which she placed on a counter.
"Did you tell your grandma we're here?" Nagisa asked her.
"Yes," said Honoka. "She's going to make us tea for when we're done." She paused for a moment and then said, "Did you want to shower first?"
"Oh, um, sure," said Nagisa. She felt somehow embarrassed about it all, though she also thought that was kind of silly. She'd have to take off her clothes right in front of Honoka, and this flustered her. Why? They were both girls, after all.
Still, she couldn't bear to look at Honoka as she did so, so she turned around and faced the shower while she pulled all her clothes off and stepped inside. Her face was burning hot, but she tried not to think about it too much. Instead, she tried to distract herself by making sure to go through all the proper steps of cleaning herself in her head. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash...
Finally the washing up was done, and, quite aware of the fact that she was naked, Nagisa gingerly stepped over to the bath tub and eased herself inside. She felt a little bit better about the whole situation now that she was safely in the tub, although she still didn't want to look at Honoka for some reason.
Honoka, then, undressed herself, and when Nagisa saw this out of the corner of her eye blushed deeply and looked down at the water. She was going to have to concentrate on the water very, very hard to distract herself, she thought.
She wasn't the only one feeling this way. Although Honoka had been certain this would all be fine and not an issue at all, she now felt her cheeks warm as she began to wash herself. Nagisa, she noticed, was very clearly embarrassed about it all, and she found that sort of endearing. She and Nagisa seemed to be... something, and even Honoka herself wasn't certain what that something was. It went beyond friendship. But not in a sisterly way, because sisters wouldn't feel embarrassed by bathing together.
Well. Maybe it would sort itself out in the tub. Things had a way of becoming clearer there.
Eventually she finished washing herself, and walked over to the tub. She let herself in and Nagisa shifted a bit so soon enough they were both sitting right next to each other. Some of the tension melted away with the water...
...some of it. Both girls were still clearly tense. Honoka decided that, since she was the host, she should be the one to try to dissipate some of that tension. "It feels nice to be in the bath like this after the battle."
"Mmm... yeah," said Nagisa. She was still staring at the water.
"The Dark Zone... doesn't really seem to be letting up, does it?" Honoka continued. "I'm really glad I have you with me, though. I think we'll be okay so long as we're together."
"I think you're right," Nagisa agreed. She started to relax a bit, happy that they were apparently just talking like they always did. She tilted her head back and forth a few times to stretch her neck. "No wonder there are two Pretty Cure. I can't imagine trying to do it all alone."
"Me neither," said Honoka.
They were quiet for a few moments, both of them allowing themselves to relax even more. The water was warm and soothing, and the two girls were simply glad to be together.
"Hey, Honoka," Nagisa said after a bit.
"Hmm?"
"You're my best friend," Nagisa said. "I don't know if I ever told you that... but I wanted you to know."
Honoka smiled and looked up at the ceiling. "I sort of thought I was... but I'm really glad you told me, so I can be sure."
"Really?"
"Of course! It makes me so happy to hear. You're my best friend, too."
Nagisa had suspected this, much like Honoka had, but it filled her soul with a cozy warmth to hear it. It was as though her heart was taking its own warm bath. "I'm really glad," she said.
Then they were quiet for a bit, and, somehow, their hands touched. Honoka moved hers a bit closer, and Nagisa put her hand on top. There. That was perfect.
A few moments passed, and then their hands moved and they were holding hands proper. This gave Nagisa a warm, tingly sensation, but it didn't last long, because then Honoka lifted Nagisa's hand out of the water and inspected it. "Nagisa... your hand is so rough," she said with soft concern. "Is it from all that lacrosse playing?"
"Oh, yeah," said Nagisa. "My hands get a little calloused from holding the stick. But that's a good thing because it means it doesn't hurt as much if I'm really gripping it."
Honoka nodded. "Calluses are a part of the body's natural defense system. Skin that repeatedly feels pressure like that hardens to serve as a sort of cushion."
"Yeah, I remember hearing that somewhere," Nagisa said. "In the club, it's sort of a badge of honor to have the calluses, really. It means you're playing really hard and practicing a lot."
"Mmm. Still..." Honoka held Nagisa's hand gently.
"Still?" Nagisa asked.
"It's hard to explain," Honoka said. "But even though your hand is rough like this, it still feels so soft to me."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Hmm, let me see... can I have your other hand, too?"
Nagisa turned a bit and held out her other hand. Honoka took it, so she had each of Nagisa's hands in one of hers. Gently she traced her thumb over them. "Just as I thought... callouses on both," she murmured. "But still so comforting..." she looked into Nagisa's eyes, and Nagisa looked into hers. Something seemed to pass between them in that moment. Neither was quite sure what it meant, but they both knew, deep inside, that it meant something. It was a promise of some sort, almost. Their hearts were connected, they knew, and would always be so.
The moment didn't last particularly long, because Nagisa was suddenly hit with a wave of exhaustion. Her hands went almost limp in Honoka's. "Ugh... I'm so tired suddenly... that fight really took so much out of me..."
"It's alright," said Honoka sympathetically. "It really tired me out, too. Here... rest your head on my shoulder and just let your muscles relax in the water. Okay?" She turned so she was facing forward in the bath again.
"Huh, really? Is that okay?" Nagisa asked, suddenly worried this would be somehow annoying.
"Of course! Just relax... and I'll relax too. Okay?"
She was adamant about it and Nagisa had to admit the idea was appealing, so she obliged and rested her head on Honoka's shoulder. It was like the softest pillow, a thought which caused Nagisa to blush deeply. The warm, familiar intimacy of it all caused Honoka to blush as well, but they were both so tired that soon any sort of awkwardness washed away completely in the water and they were content just to be together. Together, like they always were. Together, like they both felt they somehow always would be. Together, because they knew the other was the only one in the world who knew what it was like to be the legendary warriors, Pretty Cure.
"You should stay the night," Honoka said, after a few quiet minutes. "That way you don't have to worry about going home when you're this tired."
"Really? Will your grandma be okay with it?" Nagisa asked. Her head was still on Honoka's shoulder. She didn't want to move it.
"I'm sure she will be! We can make something really easy for dinner, too. Like instant noodles. It's not the usual dinner I'd want for us... but I don't have much energy for anything else."
"Me neither," said Nagisa. "But that's okay. I want to help as much as I can."
"Mmm. We'll do that in a bit, then," said Honoka. "But for now... I want to stay here, with you, for a bit longer. If that's okay?"
Nagisa was hungry, but not hungry enough to want to move yet. "Yeah, that's okay," she said. She might have said it more enthusiastically, but she really was exhausted. She let her head rest on Honoka's shoulder, her eyes closed, very content.
They remained like this for a few blissful moments, but then Nagisa's stomach growled loudly. Honoka giggled. "It might be dinnertime," she said.
"I guess so," said Nagisa, but she was conflicted. She really was so warm and comforted here by Honoka's side, with her head on her shoulder...
Honoka read her mind. "We can always do this again another time," she said. "Let's get some food."
Nagisa blushed at the thought of doing it again. It was definitely encouraging, though, and she lifted her head away from Honoka's shoulder. "Okay," she said.
Honoka stood and stepped out of the tub. She turned and held a hand out to Nagisa, who took it as Honoka helped her up. Both of them were very aware of being naked, and both looked away from each other hurriedly, their cheeks hot and red. Honoka took two towels and handed one to Nagisa. Then they both dried themselves and dressed into robes.
"It's a good thing I keep a set of pajamas here," Nagisa said, wrapping the robe's belt around herself.
"Yeah! It was a good idea," said Honoka. "Let's get into those before dinner."
Honoka put the lid on the bathtub and then they both walked back to her bedroom. Honoka pulled two pairs of pajamas out of a dresser - one set for her, and one set that Nagisa kept there. For some reason, the thought that their pajamas were kept together in the same dresser flustered Nagisa, and she wasn't sure why, because it kind of was a silly thing to be flustered about. Soon enough they were dressed, and then they made their way to the kitchen.
They passed Honoka's grandmother as they did so. "Grandma, Nagisa is spending the night today," Honoka said.
"I see! Isn't that lovely. You both look so tired. Did you have a rough day?"
"A little," Honoka admitted. "We're going to make dinner, and then go to bed."
"Oh, did you want me to make dinner for you?" Honoka's grandmother asked. "You both need to relax a bit, you know. I already made tea for you."
"Thank you, but it's okay," said Honoka. "I like doing things together with Nagisa." Nagisa blushed at that remark.
"Well, I can't argue with that, I suppose. Let me know if you need anything, okay?" Honoka's grandmother smiled at them. "I'm going to go feed Chuutaro."
"Thank you for letting Nagisa stay over, grandma!" said Honoka.
"Of course! I love to see you so happy... and you're always so happy together. It makes me happy as well."
The two girls continued to the kitchen. There was tea for them on the counter, as Honoka's grandmother had said. They each took a sip from a cup, savoring the warmth and flavor. Then Honoka opened a cupboard and pulled out two servings of instant noodles. "Jeeze," Honoka mumbled as she looked at them. "I wish I could make us something a little better. Maybe we can make breakfast together tomorrow."
Nagisa went over and took one of the noodle cups from Honoka. "That sounds fun," she said. "But this is fine for now."
"Are you sure?" Honoka asked.
"Yeah! Besides, I like doing everything with you. Even eating instant noodles."
This made Honoka feel warm, and she smiled. "Good," she said. She put water in a kettle on the stove and set it to boil. Then she and Nagisa went back to their tea while they waited. It really was so nice just being together like this.
Soon enough the kettle whistled, and Honoka poured the water into Nagisa's noodle cup and then into her own. They took them and their tea over to the table and sat and ate together. It was all so... so blissfully normal. Both girls felt completely at peace. It truly wasn't easy being Pretty Cure, both knew that. But if they could just just be like this sometimes... if they could just be together in the quiet of the evening... then, they both knew, everything would turn out okay.
"Oh... oh jeeze," Nagisa said suddenly. "Aahhh..."
Honoka looked up to see that Nagisa had bumped her elbow on the table and, in the process, spilled ramen broth all over herself.
"Are you okay?" Honoka asked, concerned.
"Yeah... I just got stuff all over my pajamas," Nagisa said rather mournfully. "Ugh, and this is the only pair I have here, too. I can't believe this."
"Oh! Don't worry about that," Honoka said quickly. "You can borrow some of mine. We're about the same size, so it shouldn't be a problem."
"Are you sure?" Nagisa asked.
"Of course I'm sure! It'll be like when you borrowed my yukata that time. We're best friends, so I'm really glad to be able to help," said Honoka.
Right... they were best friends, weren't they? They had both confirmed that much while in the bath just a while ago. "Okay," said Nagisa. "Thank you, Honoka."
They were almost done eating, so they finished up and then went back to Honoka's room. Honoka found a set of pink pajamas in her dresser, and handed them to Nagisa. "I'm wearing blue, so it's sort of like Pretty Cure," Honoka smiled as she did so.
"Ohh, you're right!" Nagisa smiled at the revelation. She changed, then, and she couldn't help but note to herself that although she was getting increasingly comfortable with the idea of changing in front of Honoka, it was also still somehow very thrilling to her.
Honoka was right: the pajamas fit her almost perfectly. Nagisa looked at a mirror on the wall to admire herself in them. "They're so cute," she said.
"They are! And you're really cute wearing them," Honoka said. This statement came out of her mouth completely unexpectedly, and Honoka almost kicked herself for it. But then... it was true, wasn't it?
"Aww... jeeze." Nagisa blushed. Then she yawned loudly. "I'm so glad your grandma is letting me stay... I don't have the energy to get home."
"It was a long day... for all of us," said Honoka, because she was looking at the card communes that they'd set on her desk. Mepple and Mipple must have been fast asleep inside, because if they were awake, she knew they'd be out and spending time together.
Nagisa followed her gaze. "I'm really glad they have each other," she said. "And I'm... I'm really glad we have us, too."
"Yeah," said Honoka. She yawned herself. "I think you still have a toothbrush here, right?"
"Mm-hmm. I was staying over enough. It's almost like I live here with you." She giggled a bit at the thought.
Honoka smiled. "I wouldn't mind," she said.
They headed back to the bathroom and brushed their teeth, and then Honoka said, "I'm going to get a glass of water for the night. Did you want one too?"
"Oh! Yeah, that would be nice," said Nagisa.
"Okay. You can go ahead and head to bed, and I'll get one for each of us," said Honoka.
So Honoka went to the kitchen and Nagisa went back to the bedroom. Honoka filled two glasses of water, endlessly glad to be able to help make Nagisa's life easier in even the smallest possible ways. Once the water was ready, she went back to the bedroom and set the glasses on her desk.
Nagisa was already curled under the covers, her eyes closed. "Mmm," she said drowsily when she heard Honoka enter. "These pajamas... they smell like you, you know... it's so nice. So nice..."
Honoka felt her cheeks warm. "I hope that's okay," she said, as she crawled into bed besides Nagisa.
"I like it," Nagisa mumbled, clearly half-asleep already. "I like... you."
Honoka couldn't resist anymore: Nagisa was being too cute. She pulled Nagisa close, holding her arms around her. She wanted to protect her forever - just as she wanted Nagisa to protect her forever. It may have felt like the entire world was against them, but so long as they had each other, that was okay. "I like you too," she whispered.
And within a few minutes, they were both asleep.