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“Uh.. Peko, are you sure you shouldn’t go back to your dorm?”
Mahiru hears Fuyuhiko ask his best friend. Her first instinct is to tune out the conversation, since usually they’re talking about whatever and often inane things - but then Peko is mentioned. Her crush for a while, which everyone keeps guessing is Hiyoko, and the girl she’s been taking photos of when no one’s been there to witness it. Why could she be part of the conversation? Peko is usually quite quiet and reserved and hardly ever gets involved unless Fuyuhiko and Kazuichi try to bite each other’s heads off. Sometimes literally, more times figuratively. So the photographer looks up, and tilts her head.
Peko is swaying lightly on the spot, her eyes glassy and unfocused. There are bags littering the space under her eyes, her braids and most importantly - she looks exhausted. Mahiru cocks her head back to its usual position and pulls a light frown. This was nothing like Peko, she was usually quite strict on getting her eight hours of sleep. Obviously, this worries the redhead but she can’t do much. She’s not close to Peko, they’re merely friends, but not close. Mahiru is the one with the dumb crush. So she just watches, and hopes that someone will take Peko back to her dorm swiftly so she can catch up on the sleep she’s missing.
Then they don’t.
“I don’t want to take her; what if she decapitates me?” Kazuichi panics, “You do it!”
Fuyuhiko scoffs, gesturing to Peko, who’s mentally checked out at the moment, and shakes his head, “Look, I don’t want to do it, I.. feel weird about it. She’s my best friend and I don’t wanna watch her sleep like some sort of creep! Gundham?”
“I refuse to babysit a mortal, I have rituals to complete today.”
“Shove it up your ass, you’re doing it!” Fuyuhiko shouts, and the boys start bickering. Mahiru rolls her eyes and looks around the room at possible candidates for taking care of Peko.
Mikan looked like she would, until they started yelling to which the nurse cowered under her desk. Ibuki? No, too loud. Hiyoko would complain the whole time. No one would dare let Teruteru go near that room. Hajime? Maybe.. but he’s in the hospital with Nagito all day today. Chiaki? No, maybe not, the gamer has duties today. Akane and Nekomaru are busy too.. so that really only leaves her. Mahiru flushes red at the thought, before sighing. This is for Peko’s own good, she reminds herself. She has to do good by her friend. Someone has to be sensible here. She stands up, putting her hands down on her desk and sighing.
“I’ll do it since you can’t man up to.” She says. Fuyuhiko looks over, raising a brow.
“Are you sure? You’re not that close.”
(Peko’s not really close with anyone, you simpleton.)
“I’m sure,” Mahiru says instead, before grabbing her bag and heading over to the group, Kazuichi looks relieved and Gundham only somewhat satisfied. He does care under that scarf, but by God is he stubborn about showing it. Mahiru nods to Fuyuhiko and he turns to Peko, who clearly is anywhere but in her own headspace.
“You- uh, know how to deal with this? I don’t.”
“I got it.” Mahiru murmurs, shooing the three away and approaching Peko. Who let her keep her sword? Idiots. “Hi, Peko. I’m gonna touch you, okay? I’m assuming you’re fine with me holding your hand?” She slips her hands into the swordswoman’s own and is surprised by how… easy it is. Peko loosely grips onto her hand, looking down to her in tiredness, to which Mahiru offers a flustered smile, and slowly leads her out of the classroom into the hallway.
-
It takes a good twenty minutes, but Mahiru does get Peko into her dorm. The whole walk back had been full of “we need to be in class” and “I need to be in class” from Peko, but Mahiru managed to quieten her with a small hum and a promise that she’d get the notes for her off of the Yakuza. Using Peko’s key, she opens the door and sets it down on Peko’s dresser, and then Peko on the bed. She offers her a small smile.
“I need to take your sword off so you can lie down. I promise you can have it with you, okay?”
“No.” Peko refuses, blinking hard.
Mahiru sighs, “Peko-”
“I can’t sleep.” Peko says again, looking out the window. The photographer takes a deep breath, and sits next to her.
“Okay.. why can’t you sleep?”
Peko goes quiet, looking around for a few moments before grabbing Mahiru’s hand properly, “I keep.. having nightmares. About you.” She explains. Mahiru blinks, brows jumping behind her bangs. She slowly nods, gesturing for her to continue, which Peko doesn’t catch at first, “Well.. you keep getting your skull caved in by myself or others and I just.. I don’t want that to happen to you so I stopped sleeping in order to solve the issue.” She nods.
“Peko..” Mahiru says, touched, before she shakes her head, “Hey, you know that’s not going to solve it. Why are you having these?”
“I.. I am not sure. It may be because my brain is obsessed with you, but I couldn’t tell you.”
The redhead pauses, then nods to herself, “Lie down, I’m gonna try something.”
Peko nods, then lies down. Mahiru waits a moment, then lies down beside her. Peko looks at her in confusion while Mahiru offers a small smile and a shrug.
“What? You won’t sleep otherwise. Besides, I think it might help.” She offers, a light blush settling and bringing out her freckles, “If you want me off, just say.”
“No, I’m okay.” Peko says. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to have some sort of intimacy with you for a while.”
Flustered, Mahiru stammers, “You mean privacy?”
“Yes.” Peko mumbles, stifling a yawn, “I’ve developed… these feelings for you, and I am not sure how to deal with them. I thought I’d tell you in a situation where my sword is not in my hands. When I get nervous I swing.”
“Good to know.” The redhead murmurs, “If it helps.. I’ve liked you for a little while, too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Peko smiles and scoots closer, “Then.. may we talk this through when I awaken? I would like to remember our first kiss.”
Mahiru blushes, then grins so wide her cheeks hurt, “Sure.”