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The faintest clicking sound could be heard. Having done this for a few hours without a break —one that doesn't consist in just taking a sip of the water her partners insisted on her to keep on her desk— it's not her fault a thought was drilled into her mind and she needed to compose it somehow. Even so, a break would be nice, her back hurts.
Kanade decides to stop as she hears faint footsteps approaching. She stretches and feels a small smile tugging at her lips as she realizes who it is.
She hears two knocks on her door before it opens slightly.
"...Kanade?"
Kanade smiles softly. "Hello, Mafuyu." she turns around quickly to save the composing file. Her first thought is to show it to Mafuyu, but even if the two had been living together, the same couldn't be said about her other partners, she'll show the file to all of them at 25:00.
The purple haired boy enters to the room, a blank expression on his face. He walks over to Kanade's desk. Even so, he fidgets with a few strands on his hair, careful to not move a small lilac bunny hairclip (Mizuki's idea).
Kanade suddenly became aware of a small bowl on his boyfriend's hands. Ah.
"You didn't come to have dinner..." he eyes her computer. "Got carried away?" he asks in almost a whisper. Kanade hears it anyway, having become accustomed to her house being so silent and lonely that now even the littlest of sounds seemed kind of loud. Still, Mafuyu always talks in a silent way, just loud enough for her to hear.
The white haired girl hums. "I think so. Sorry for making you wait." she chuckles, apologetical. She takes the bowl from Mafuyu's arms, sending him a small smile to which he just nods.
"It's okay. I took a while anyways. I just heated Honami's food from the fridge." Mafuyu explains, sitting on the chair Kanade left at her side since he decided to stay. He places a hand on his chin, covering his mouth. "It almost slipped from my arms." he frowns, seemingly recalling the moment.
She feels a faint flutter in her chest. It's almost tingling. Kanade smiles at the sensation.
She moves her eyes to find Mafuyu's. Now an unreadable expression on his face. She feels her cheeks warming up because of his intense expression studying her face. Mafuyu opens his mouth but closes it a few seconds after.
Kanade slowly moves her hand to find his cold ones, encouraging him to speak. Mafuyu sighs. "You look weird." comes out, blunt. She can't help but widen her eyes, not expecting that answer.
"Ah. I did not mean it like that." he explains, before pausing once again, organizing his thoughts. "Your expression. You have a strange expression on your face." he murmurs.
She does?
Kanade tries to find what Mafuyu means by searching her reflection on the computer. She finds nothing worth of mention. She shoots him a confused smile.
Mafuyu shrugs, deciding to change the topic. "When I said I 'cooked' dinner late, I meant that it won't be long before we need to get on Nightcore."
Kanade frowns. Has it really been that long? she peeks at the time on her computer. And it was true, they had about 10 minutes before it was time for their daily (nightly?) meeting.
Even so, she smiles at the thought of talking to her partners, the fluttering sensation on her chest coming back. Before she can entertain that thought, she feels a hand placing chopsticks on her fingers.
"Eat."
Ah. Kanade giggles softly. "Okay. Did you eat already?" she asks as she takes a small bite, the strong but not overwhelming flavour rests nicely on her tongue. Mafuyu nods. She hums, "Did you like it?" she asks as she takes another bite, her eyes fixed on him.
Mafuyu pauses as he closes his eyes, trying to answer honestly. He opens his eyes and sighs. "I...don't know." he mumbles, looking away.
Kanade deflates a little, but she grips Mafuyu's hands with a smile. "That's okay. Do you want to get now on Nightcord? maybe someone is already there." she offers gently, setting for a moment the chopsticks on the bowl as she reaches for the spare headphones she keeps for Mafuyu.
The lyricist hums affirmatively and accepts the headphones.
With a sequence of key clicking, they open Nightcord to find that, in fact, their remaining partners are already there. Kanade shares a look with her boyfriend and he nods. She clicks the 'join' button.
<—Mizuki. You're insane.> a familiar voice huffs while she rolls her eyes.
<Hehe, you know you love me~♪> the expression on their partner can only be described as mischievous.
<Ugh whatever. You-> her eyes widen as she notices the presence on the other two on the call. <Oh. K! and Yuki.> she smiles warmly while greeting Kanade, her tone becoming deadpan in a teasing way when addressing Mafuyu.
Mafuyu rolls his eyes but decides to just wave while Kanade giggles.
<Oooo you two are here early, did you miss us?~> Mizuki smirks as they wiggle their eyebrows. Mafuyu and Ena sigh at that.
Without any drop of dishonesty, Kanade responds. "Of course." with a small smile. Ena's eyes soften gradually while Mizuki looks away bashfully.
Mafuyu hums in agreement. "It's been a while since we last saw each other." he states, his hand on his chin. "We should plan a meet up." his eyes remain serious, but there's still a hint of hesitation, always expecting rejection.
Their pink haired partner quickly goes back to their usual behavior. <Yeah 'Fuyu, I'd love to!~♪> they grin brightly. Kanade feels his boyfriend relax, squeezing her hand.
Kanade glances at the screen to address her brown haired girlfriend. "What do you think, Ena?" she smiles softly, waiting for her to respond.
<Huh, Y-yeah sure.> Ena does her best to appear uninterested, but her partners know better.
Their animator chuckles. <Well then, it's settled!> they clap their hands excitedly. <Where would be go?>
Kanade hums, she wasn't sure if she had the energy to do anything that meant going outside. "Perhaps we could just stay in any of our houses?" she offers, 'of course not Mafuyu's' goes unsaid, it had been a while since he last went there. The composer does her best to not express how relieved she feels about that.
"Stay in one house...?" Mafuyu's expression turns serious as he thinks. "Then. It would make the most sense to hang out here. Only Mizuki and Ena would have to come. Since I'm already here." he explains, before staring at the computer screen, silently asking what they think.
The artist sighs and shakes her head halfheartedly, a small smile forming on her lips showing her actual answer. While Mizuki nods along, tapping with excitement on their desk.
Kanade steals a glance to all her partners. A fuzzy warm feeling making itself present on her chest and cheeks. "Ms. Mochizuki cleaned yesterday. I assume it's enough for you two to come over."
Mizuki laughs at that. <Geez, you're making it sound like we wouldn't go even if it's dirty.>
<I wouldn't.>
The animator giggles. Knowing Ena is lying.
<Well then! it's a sleepover~♪> Mizuki giggles and gets off the call without any explanation. Ena huffs at her partner's antics.
The brown haired girl sighs and fixes her attention to her remaining partners. <When are we supposed to come over?>
Kanade hums in thought, she certainly doesn't have much to do tomorrow. She has no online school to attend since there's no school on weekends. Even so, she's aware that Mafuyu's schedule is kind of weird. He still goes to the same school, his mother still pays for it (none of them know how to actually feel about that).
Almost as if reading her mind, Mafuyu shakes his head. "I don't have any club or extra classes this weekend. Come whenever you want." Kanade smiles, already feeling excited about their future sleepover. Truth to be told, when she was young she never had a sleepover. She welcomes with open arms the many new experiences N25 gave her.
She's about to reply with her agreement when Mafuyu squeezes her hand. He points at her half eaten bowl of food. Ah. Right. She grabs the chopsticks once again and takes a small bite.
Ena smiles softly at that. <Alright, I'll tell Mizuki. I assume we aren't going to work today?> the answer seems almost obvious. The meeting wouldn't be as productive without Mizuki, Kanade has to admit she also felt too excited to work.
The composer shakes her head. "It doubt so. I think we should rest for tomorrow... Good night Enanan." she moves her hand to her mouth to stifle a yawn.
Mafuyu hums. "Good night." he waves.
Ena chuckles. Looking at them with a small smile. <Good night you two. See you tomorrow, well I guess today.> she rubs her eyes and promptly leaves the call.
Mafuyu sighs and takes off his headphones. He looks at his girlfriend and she smiles.
Kanade, noticing they're still holding hands, moves his hand towards her face and gives him a small kiss on the back of his hand, and resumes to keep eating the now slightly cold food.
The lyricist mumbles something inaudibly, covering his face with his unoccupied hand. He decides to just lean on her shoulder while he waits for her to finish eating.
"Huh, your house is cleaner than I expected, K." Mizuki mumbles, drinking all the details of their girlfriend's house. They only went there once or twice.
Kanade sighs in relief. "Really? that's good." she wasn't going to admit that she was actually worried about it.
Ena huffs, "Geez Mizuki. Be nice to Kanade." she glares at Mizuki without any real malice. Lightly squeezing their shoulder.
"Hehe sorry~♪" the animator giggles apologetically, their hands together, jokingly pleading.
Kanade felt the fuzzy warm feeling come back again. She lets her hand rest on her chest. She chuckles, getting the attention of her two partners.
Mizuki giggles, their expression amused. Kanade smiles, "Sorry, I'm just glad you're here." she looks away, unaware of her accidentally being adorable. "Have you eaten yet? if you want to, I could heat up some food."
Ena looks at her with a small grin on her flustered face, she shakes her head. "I already had dinner at home." she replies. Still staring at Kanade with a bashful look.
"Me too!" Mizuki nods as they step closer to Kanade. Wrapping their arms around her in a quick hug. Kanade doesn't even flinch, already accustomed to her boyfriend's clingy attacks. The composer giggles, then laughs when she sees Ena's brief jealous expression.
Mhm, speaking of Mafuyu. "Then we only have to wait for Mafuyu to finish setting the mattresses." she states calmly, almost as if Mizuki wasn't rubbing their neck on her head. Another common situation.
"I already did." the deadpan voice of their boyfriend surprises them, they move their heads to look at him on Kanade's room doorstep.
Ena puts her hands on her hips. "Ugh, then why didn't you say so?" she scolded as she rolled her eyes.
Mafuyu shrugs. "You three were being cute." his tone and expression blank, except for the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.
The artist opens her mouth to argue. But she refrains from doing so, the heat on her cheeks annoying her. "You're insufferable." she grumbles out, her tone wavering when Mafuyu tilts his head confusedly. Why must the world torture her with stupidly adorable partners —except Kanade, she's just adorable.
Mafuyu deflates a little. "I thought that was nice to say."
Mizuki giggles, "It was! don't worry 'Fuyu~♪" their expression becomes mischievous. "It's just that Enanan over here doesn't know how to react to affection~" the pinkette squeezes Kanade in their arms to tease their artist girlfriend.
"Would you shut up?!"
Kanade feels herself giggle. She melts, still on the arms of their group animator. The fuzzy feeling causing her to give Mizuki a soft peck on the neck. The contact making them squeak.
Ena gives her a small grateful look that could be translated to 'thanks for shutting them up'
Mafuyu clears his throat. "Shall we go?" he puts a finger on his chin, emphasizing the question. Something he learned to do. (autistic masking real)
Mizuki nods, hesitantly separating from the shortest girl.
Kanade sighs as she feels the fuzzy feeling transform into longing.
"...Your hair is very soft."
"Hm...?" Kanade hums, before melting once again at the feeling of her girlfriend running her hands on her hair. She makes a small sound of contentment.
Ena chuckles. "Yeah. It's so pretty." she plays with a strand of white hair. "So long" Kanade hears her murmur under her breath.
"...'m happy you think that." she smiles, opening her eyes she didn't know she had closed. She feels the warm feeling on her chest grow when she notices the way Ena is looking down at her. Like she adores her.
"See? you're such a good girl. So cute, contrary to those two." she smirks, pointedly ignoring the way Mizuki stuck up their tongue at her.
Kanade sighs happily at the praise. The fondness on her chest making her shift a little in place. Just enough for her lips to find her way to Ena's forehead.
Ena feels Kanade's lips curl into a smile against her skin. She completely melts.
The white haired girl hears a small noise at her side. She smiles at her two remaining partners.
"Aww how cute!~♪" Mizuki coos at the display of affection in front of them. Meanwhile Mafuyu frowns (pouts), "I want that too..."
Kanade giggles. "Come here." she gestures for them to get closer. They do, without any drop of hesitancy.
She sighs contently as the three weights around her settle down. A pair of hands gently playing with her hair, a pair of arms wrapping themselves around her waist and one head resting on the crook of her neck.
In moments like this, she realizes how grateful she is of being alive to experience this. She lies on her bed with her favorite people in the world, the weight of the situation rests comfortably on her chest, next to the fuzzy feeling of fondness.
"I love you guys." it causes her to say.
Without any resistance, "Us too." is said in unison.
She allows herself to indulge.