Work Text:
"Hmmmm..."
In the dimly lit room, a young woman was sitting on her bed, a laptop in front of her. This young woman had long pink hair attached in pigtails while wearing a two piece white pajama.
"Why can't I win? My characters are definitely higher level so why do I keep losing?" the girl complained while looking at the screen, showing a big "YOU LOST" message. "a cheater? or perhaps a whale?"
She sighed heavily before closing the game software and placed the laptop on the bedside table. It was already 22:00 so she thought now was a good time to go to sleep. After shutting down her PC, she laid on the bed and wrapped the covers around herself.
"Matsuuna, huh?" Nanami muttered before closing her eyes. "That player is just too strong. I wonder what kind of person they are in real life."
[-x-x-x-]
Oda Nanami, 22 years old, 4th year college student in Social Sciences. If one asked her to describe herself, she will without any doubt answer that she is 'normal' or 'average'.
Reality is often stranger than fiction however, as this 'plain girl' is not normal in many ways. First, for a 22 years old, she was very short and childish to the point that people would mistake her for a high school or even middle school students. The second point is that she was being raised by two women. And the third reason is that despite her grades not being high, she was always the center of attention at school, not in a bad way though.
It was a quiet Saturday morning and the collegue student was walking down the campus. They had to attend psychology courses from 10 to 12 on that day and she was already feeling exhasted. Her adoptive Mothers were quite odd and would sometimes act childish. Nanami was grateful of them for adopting and raising her but their antics can sometimes be exhausting.
"Nanami!" a familiar voice called out to the girl and she turned around to see another girl who was shorter than her but had long blonde hair. "Having classes in weekends is such a pain. I will take a nap in class so make sure to take notes for the two of us, okay?"
The taller girl sighed as the two started walking together side by side. "Listen up, Reo. You have to properly pay attention in class or you will never success in life. You can't depend on me for everything."
Kawamura Reo, 23 years old and a classmate of Nanami, sighed. "You're such a downer, Nanami. Now, let me ask; who asked me to take psychology course 4 years ago?"
"Ugh." Nanami grimaced at that question. True enough, the two of them were childhood friends since their Mothers knew each others. They were together since they were 5 and 6 respectively and always went to the same school. "It's true that I did suggest you to take the same course as me so we could stay together even in college but..."
"No but. You have to take your responsibility."
The younger woman sighed. "Listen, Reo. I can take your note this time but make sure to properly study once you get home okay. It would be really bothersome if you fail the exams. Auntie Shizuku will be very sad if that happen. Please remember when you failed your high school exam entrance and had to wait for a year."
"Ugh." the shorter blonde couldn't comment back on that. She was indeed one year older than Nanami but the two were in the same class. The reason for that was due to fluking during her high school entrance exams. Due to failing, she had to wait for a year and had to retake the exams, now as Nanami's classmate and not as her senior anymore. "It's true but I just can't stay focused for too long."
Nanami stopped in her track and waved a finger around while trying to scowld her older friend. "I understand how you feel as I am also a 'bellow average' person but you have to make efforts in life. Once we graduate from college, we will have to look for jobs and I might not be able to save you up every time."
Reo looked down at that comment, also stopping in her track. "..."
"Reo..."
"I get it. I will try harder." the girl said, half angry and half frustered. Just like Nanami, she was also adopted by a couple of women so the two of them got along very well. She also didn't want to admit it but she liked the pinkette quite a lot - a sisterly love that is. "But I have a request."
"A request?" Nanami's expression softened and a concerned look took over.
"Until we graduate, you are not allowed to get away from me and you have to look over me every day."
Nanami was taken aback by that request but quickly recovered and couldn't help a laugh from escaping her lips. "Silly Reo. There's no way I'd ever leave you alone." she tried to supress her laugher but failed, much to her senior's embarassment. Said girl started punching her though so Nanami quickly apologized. "Sorry. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me, Reo-sama."
"Hmpf."
"But if you ever get a girlfriend, though..." the pinkette continued after the blonde stopped throwing a tantrum. The two of them resumed their walk as they didn't want to be late for class. "I will have to back away a little. I wouldn't want to get in the way of your lover after all."
The shorter girl remained silent at that comment. "But you will stay remain close to me, right?"
"Of course. If you want to, you can even call me when you have nightmares and I will pat your head until you fall asleep." the younger girl jokingly said, causing Reo to blush furiously.
"T-that only happened once and we were 10 back then. It couldn't be helped."
"Sure sure."
After another round of teasing, the duo soon arrived in front of a large building and got inside. As soon as they reached the classroom where they were due to attend, a crowd of girl gathered around the two.
"Good day to you, Nanami-chan."
"Good day to you too, Reo-sama."
The students greeted the two and they returned the greeting, much to Nanami's embarassment. The pinkette was indeed the second most popular student in St Michael University. She did not understand why but people saw her as a goddess, a bringer of miracle or something like that. Maybe it was due to her always doing her best, helping people in need, sometimes scoring very high on certain exams despite looking average and most of the times, she was among the cutest student.
The reason why Reo was popular was because of her petite figure. She looked like a doll, especially with her current attire composed of a white lolita dress full of frills. It was not really her taste as her clothes were selected by adoptive mother Eris who loved dressing up the petite girl.
"Good day, everyone. Let us do our best today as well."
"Yes~" everyone cheered in unison before going to their seat as class was about to start soon.
Nanami made sure to get to the front row in order to stay focused why her friend sat behind her.
"Hello Nanami." the girl by her left greeted the pinkette as she took her seat. This person had long blonde hair and was dressed in a white one-piece summer dress.
Matsubara Yuuna, the most popular student in St Michael. Not only was she a real beauty, her grades were always on top of her class. She was one year older than Nanami but they were in the same class because the older girl had to take one year of breach few years ago due to her parent's job.
"H-Hello Yuuna-san. How are you feeling today?" Nanami asked, trying not to stutter. After all, she also admired this girl a lot.
"I am doing fine, thank you for asking." the blonde answered with a chuckle and a smile. "However, I might have overdone it last night as I was awake until 22:30."
"Really?" the younger girl was surprised. "But well, I can picture you as the kind of person who stay late to study so I guess it's only normal. As expected of Yuuna-san, always doing her best to remain the top 1."
"S-study...?" the smile on Yuuna's face disappeared and she nervously sweated. "N-no... I didn't study last night. I was doing something else."
"Oh..." as Nanami was about to pry into this, however, their teacher walked in so she decided to not ask any further question, deciding to focus on their class. She made a mental note to ask about this later.
[-x-x-x-]
"Reo~ wake up, class is over~" a raven-haired girl playfully said as she poked the young girl's cheek with her finger. "Reo~ if you don't wake up, I will kiss you."
The girl in question squished her eyes then slowly opened them. In front of her was her senior Sakaguchi Mai, 23 years old and a 5th year student in the same course of them. "Mai? What are you doing here?" the blonde calmly asked as she pushed her body up. She now realized that she fell asleep on her desk in the middle of the lesson and only 4 people were left in the room.
"I cam to invite you to eat some ice cream." Mai happily said. "Since I don't have classes anymore, we should enjoy some girly hobbies. Once this month is over, we won't have the opportunity to do so anymore after all."
True enough, it was June now, meaning in the middle of the summer. They would have to prepare for a semestrial exams soon though so now was the only time to relax and go at their own pace.
"Oh my, that sounds like a good idea." Yuuna smiled as she voiced her opinion.
"I agree as well." Nanami added her comment. "It has been so long since the four of us could go somewhere together."
While Nanami and Reo were childhood friend, they met Mai in high school. Back then, the ravenette was a very reliable senior so the two girls ended up being constantly spoiled and they decided to go to the same college. As for Yuuna, they met soon after entering St Michael University.
"Let's go in that case." Mai happily said as she grabbed Reo and pulled her in a princes cary.
"M-Mai! Let go of me, I have to tidy my stuffs."
"Youth, huh?" The other blonde commented playfully as she started tidying her tools, then started putting Reo's notebooks inside her backpack. "Do not mind me as I will take care of Reo-chan's stuffs. Please feel free to flirt and pretend that we are not here~"
"Yuunaaaaaa!!!"
"Thank you Yuuna. I will gladly take you on that offer."
While the petite girl was annoyed, the senior was more than happy and she skillfully left the room, the struggling girl still in her arms. Now left alone, Nanami felt a little anxious. It was not their first time being alone together but tidying her stuff was never this nerve-wracking.
"Nanami."
"Y-yeush." the panicked girl answered as her name was being called by her classmate.
"Are you feeling okay? You've been acting strangely today." Yuuna placed a hand on Nanami's forehead to check her temperature. "Are you getting enough sleep?"
"Woaaa..." the pinkette tried to back away but was caugh off guard so she let the blonde do as she pleased. They remained quiet for a moment before she spoke up. "The truth is I recently started playing an online game and got so much into you that I stayed up late last night. It's a little embarassing though."
"Oh my. So you also play online games. That's unexpected."
"Y-yeah..." Nanami nodded weakly before she realized something. "too...?"
"Yes, I recently got a lot into this 'Hanahira' online game. My characters are still low level but it is so much fun."
"..."
Nanami stayed quiet after that. That game's name was familiar to her as it was the one she played the night prior.
"Don't tell me... You aren't Matsuuna, right?"
"I am the user Matsuuna indeed. Could you be Nami-chan perhaps?"
Nami was Nanami's in-game nickname so she was surprised but decided to weakly nod at that. "Yes, I am Nami. To be honest, I always wanted to meet Matsuuna so we could talk about Hanahira." Nanami admitted. "Well... You know, girls these day aren't really fan of competitive MMORPGs so I couldn't really talk with Mai-chan or Reo regarding this game so when you told me in the game chat that you are also a girl, I wanted to become friend and talk a lot."
"But we are already friends." Yuuna happily said as she grabbed Nanami's hands in between hers. "Or could you perhaps want to become something more intimate?"
At that question, the pinkette's face started matching the color of her hair. She remained quiet for a moment but then remembered she was not a high school student anymore. She was now a college student and knew this was a confession and need to get a proper answer. "I-if you don't mind someone like me then... I will gladly."
"Yay. I finally managed to get a girlfriend. Now, Sara-chan won't be the only one to brag anymore."
Nanami chuckled at that. "You are so childish." she commented. "but that is an attractive trait of yours."
"Hehe. You are far cuter than me, you know."
[-x-x-x-]
"Ughhhhh..." Nanami groaned as she held the blanket tight.
"That's why I told you to be careful." the woman standing beside her bed angrily commented. "No matter how hot this summer is, you have to properly take care of yourself or you'll catch a cold." her adoptive mother - Oda Risa - commented. She was wearing a pink one-piece summer dress and her hair was attached with a ribbon. "Anyway, why did you catch a cold? Did you jump into a river or something like that?"
The pinkette couldn't answer. She couldn't possibly confess that after becoming Yuuna's girlfriend, the two of them would go to the infirmary to do stuffs, totally forgetting that Reo and Mai were waiting for them outside for the ice cream. "Is Reo still upset?"
Risa sighed. "Yes, she is. She told me that you left her hanging with the 'big booba molester' when Yuuna-chan and you disappeared somewhere." she then grabbed the smarphone placed by the bedside and started walking away. "Make sure to properly apologize once you are feeling better. Also, no phone until your cold is healed up. Don't worry however as I will not unlock it nor pry into your secrets."
Nanami couldn't comment back on that. She just nodded. "Understood. Thanks Mom."
"Jeez!" The older woman chuckled at how cute her daughter was as she exited the room. Waiting for her outside was her concerned wife. "She is doing fine. She just need some sleep."
"Thank goddness." Miya, her wife and Nanami's other adoptive mother, sighed. "I was really scared when she went to bed early last night, then knocked on our bedroom to say that she wasn't feeling great."
"Well... It's Nanami after all. She probably tried to do something too hard by herself and managed to help others." Risa commented before a sad look appeared on her face. "She was always like that, caring for others more than herself. I wish she could act selfishly once in a while."
Miya moved behind her wife and hugged her. "I know that Nanami is a strong girl. She might seem naive but I am sure she will soon find someone who accept her as she is."
"Someone huh?" the pinkette paused as she took a look at Nanmi's phone in her hand. With a tap on the screen, it showed the lock school, which was a picture of 4 girls happily smiling at the camera, the sea behind them. "I don't see Nanami and Reo-chan going out with each others and Mai-chan is definitely not a match for her either."
"Do you think Yuuna-chan already confessed?" her wife asked.
"I mean that would be great and all but we shouldn't ask for too much. Sure I would be glad if Yuuna-chan and Nanami started going out but they are still too young to think about that and we are not even sure if Yuuna-chan sees Nanami as a potential lover."
"That's true."
The two of them joked about it, not knowing that their daughter already did 'stuffs' with the girl. It was still a secret however and they wouldn't know about it for few years until the two girls would officially introduce each others to their respective family. But that is a story for another day.
[-x-x-x-]
~ Omake ~
"Cute~ So cute~ Now, kneel down and give a pleading look to Mama." The tall half-foreign blonde happily said, a camera in hand as she took several pictures of Reo.
"M-Mama... as expected, this is too embarassing. Can I change into normal clothes now?"
"Of course not." Eris happily said with a whicked smile on her face. "I heard you made Nanami cry today so this is your punishment. Unless-" the evil smirk on her face widened, "you want to be spanked."
"Please continue taking pictures." Reo gave up and got on her knees to apologize. She was not the smartest child out there but she knew when she was wrong and this time, yelling at Nanami while bitting her was too far.
"Good girl."
As the two continued, a woman wearing a Japanese tradicional attire walked into the room with a smartphone in hand. "It looks like Nanami-chan is feeling better. She will be bedridden for two days however."
"Thank god." Reo sighed in relief. 'I will make sure to properly apologize this time and will buy her something. I admit it I kind of overdid it this time.'
Shizuku - Reo's other Mother - smiled gently as she placed a hand on Eris' shoulder. "I think she learned her lesson. Let us forgive us this time."
"Hmmm..." the older blonde gave a cute pout at that. "But I still want to dress her up a little more. Especially since I got some really good time-limited skimpy foreign gothic lolita dresses." sparks appeared in her eyes as Shizuku sighed in defeat. Eris quickly tossed a box in fron of the other two. This one was full of cute underwear, short skirts and revealing clothes. "Reo-chan~"
"I-I am not feeling well today. I should go to my room and lay down I think."
"Hehe. You will have all time in the world to rest later. For now, you are Mama's dress up doll~"
"N-no... NOOOOOOOO!!!" the girl screamed as Shizuku pretended to not see. "NANAMI HELP MEEEEE!!!"