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"It's been a while since then. What is this, the second time?"
Honami bows down her head, unable to see Kanade in the eyes. Ashamed of how she let herself space out and suddenly remembered the old days, causing her to lose the ability to breathe and choke on the warm air of summer afternoon inside the safety of Kanade's house.
Why is Yoisaki-san not scolding me? She ponders. In fact, Kanade is even treating her wound. That is a pretty nasty wound from absentmindedly picking up the broken pieces of the porcelain mug.
Yoisaki-san's favorite mug…
Honami was about to apologize again when she sees Kanade worriedly—or is that confusion?—dab a wet and warm towel on her wounded hands. She then looks at the rubbing alcohol bottle and swab, then looks at Honami apologetically, asking her which one to use. When Honami points at the swab, she sighs in relief and proceeds to clean Honami's wound with an anxious but determined smile on her face.
It makes Honami cries a little harder.
"I'm glad that Mochizuki-san is safe," Kanade whispers as she applies bandaids to the now visible solitary cuts.
Honami was about to argue with her when Kanade brings up their hands, showing Honami her effort.
"I'm really doing a poor job treating your wounds. I'm really doing a poor job taking care of you and creating a safe space for you. I really shouldn't have promised myself to save you too… but I still really want to. So it doesn't matter if you accidentally break something. It's just a mere material possession that can be replaced. Mochizuki-san on the other hand…"
Kanade caresses those bigger, firmer, and rougher hands. And with so much care, she kisses each bandaid deeply. She buries her face in those bigger, firmer, and rougher palms, nuzzling them like a kitten seeking warmth.
"...Mochizuki-san on the other hand is irreplaceable. And I always fear that one day you will slip away. And I don't want that…"
It's been a while since the first day they found each other on that fateful day.
Honami wonders since when did Kanade become this strong for both of them.