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Minori leaned back into the seat, trying to get comfortable as the city lights glittered outside of the windows of the car. Beside her, Haruka’s hands were steady on the wheel, and she could distantly hear the rumble of the car’s engines as they headed over the bridge.
She yawned, glancing at the digital display.
12:26 am.
Minori turned her head to look at Haruka, still focused on the road. Yet, she saw her lips curl, and then Haruka spoke softly, soothingly.
“Minori, you can get some rest.”
Stretching to try and remove some of the tension that had settled into her muscles, Minori protested.
“I don’t feel too tired. I’ll try to stay up with you, Haruka-chan.”
Haruka reached forward, adjusting one of the dials on the front of the car. Instrumental music began to play, and Minori’s eyes drooped, feeling heavy. She shifted around, the fabric of the car seat brushing against her skin, and she shuddered slightly. Haruka tilted her head.
“My jacket’s in the back, if you want to wear it.”
Minori ducked around the seat and patted around for the jacket, her hand curling around the garment. Once she pulled it back to her spot, she didn’t wear it, simply burying her face into its soft fabric and inhaling slowly, taking in its comforting scent.
Briefly, Haruka removed one of her hands from the wheel, stroking the side of Minori’s cheek, the soft pads of her fingers gently gliding along the surface.
Minori gasped, though internally, she was melting.
“Haruka-chan! I didn’t take you to be so daring! Taking one hand off the wheel?”
A quiet laugh was heard.
“You’re rubbing off on me, I think. But I won’t do it again if it worries you so much.”
“N-no, that’s not what I meant.”
Minori tried to focus on the road like Haruka was doing, the beams illuminating the highway ahead of them, their only companions being the occasional other car that shot past them, and each other. It was a struggle. She yawned again.
“Go to sleep, love. I’ll take over the night shift. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Nodding, she folded the jacket into a sort of makeshift pillow, and tucked it underneath her shoulder. Minori let her eyes close and sighed, letting exhaustion wash over her.
Even though the position was uncomfortable, with Haruka beside her and the low drone of the car rumbling over the road, she found herself lulled to sleep, finally letting herself rest.
Once Minori’s breaths had evened out, signaling to Haruka that she was well and truly asleep, Haruka took her hand off the wheel once more and did the same thing that she did earlier. Even in her sleep, as she briefly glanced over, Minori still turned slightly pink, her face being illuminated by the weak lights shining through the tinted windows.
Haruka returned to focusing on the road.
Now alone with her thoughts, with only Minori’s soft snores, the sound of the car, and the music to accompany her, she, too, found herself becoming a little drowsy.
She took a sip of the coffee that she kept next to the wheel, its bitter flavor reenergizing her slightly, but she grimaced, finding its taste unpleasant. Minori whispered something in her sleep, incomprehensible but sounding cute anyways.
Rest well, Minori. I’ll make sure we get to our destination safely.