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“So, are you going to tell me what happened?”
Ena bit the chocolate in annoyance again and Mizuki sighed at her stubbornness. They were in an area strictly prohibited to students. Ruins that lead to a mysterious source of desires, although only Niigo knew that, far from the magic academy. As soon as classes ended, Mizuki ran to the dorms to meet her girlfriend Kanade, however, Mafuyu (who was his roommate) told her that she fainted during broomstick flying class. Although she was worried, she decided to let her rest and they would talk about what happened.
It was Valentine's Day. Most of his friends were with their partners or out with his group, so Mizuki was alone. To her surprise, she found Ena walking through the gardens with an expression full of frustration while she carried a large amount of chocolate in her hands. He received a dragon-like growl as she approached to greet her and immediately understood that something happened with Mafuyu. They walked hand in hand, Mizuki wanting to make sure she didn't escape, to the ruins where they always gathered as a group for their nightly activities. They could still see the sunset over the rocks, they were both sitting next to each other eating Ena's sweets.
“I found Mafuyu in the hallway earlier, I asked her if I could go to her room or if she would come to mine. Do you know what she told me? She was going out with a group of her class of Magical Beasts until nightfall!” The piece in her hand broke into pieces. “Who does she think she is!? Leaving your partner for some guys who only approach her because she's good at everything! Idiot, idiot! She should be called Idiotfuyu Asahina”
She sighed. Both were as problematic as always on important dates. Still, a fight with less damage than the last time was better. Everyone will remember the day when Shinonome Ena, an average student, destroyed the Philosopher's Stone Tower with a spell because the prodigy student misunderstood her Christmas date invitation from one of her classmates.
“Now, now, I'm sure Mafuyu didn't mean to make you feel bad,” she rested her head on Ena's shoulder. “You know she needs to maintain her image and she couldn't reject them because her mother wants Mafuyu to get along with them. Tomorrow you will talk and everything will be fine again.”
Ena rested her head on top of Mizuki's as she watched the sunset. It was a beautiful and romantic setting that she wanted to share with her girlfriend, but she was with one of her most important friends. She understood Mafuyu's desperation to maintain all the contacts her mother hoped for. The image of the perfect girl born of natural talent for magic, which everyone envied, was based on fear of disappointing her parents. Mizuki was right. She was going to apologize for yelling at her at noon and ask her out to go to the concert of her best friend's group.
“I will apologize to her when I get home from the city, I was being selfish without thinking about her feelings” She was interrupted by her cell phone ringing inside her pocket, it was from the academy's rumor forum, her hand was shaking and she smiled full of anger. "Better, I don't want to know anything about Asahina Mafuyu from now on."
[...]
“So, is she staying the night?” An asked, seeing her superior's body wrapped in the sheets of Mizuki's bed.
“Yes, she is in a very bad mood, but she will be fine in a few hours.”
The academy had a fresh new rumor that included Mafuyu Asahina with a popular boy. When they were returning from the party, they were both seen in an alley kissing and someone took the opportunity to take a photo of them to upload it to the forum. Mizuki knew that Mafuyu would not do anything similar, there must be some reason for the event, but she could not control the anger of an Ena who had felt abandoned and now betrayed. She was still lying on her bed watching her roommate caress Ena's hair carefully trying to calm her down. She left the room to give them her space and look for some sweets in the kitchen that might cheer her up.
"How do you feel?"
“Horrible… I wish I could disappear right now,” she responded, pulling the sheets up to the middle of her face. “I know Mafuyu wouldn't do that, but I can't help but feel betrayed and a disgusting urge to vomit.”
“I sent a message to Kanade to let us know when Mafuyu returned to the room, we will go there to find out what happened.”
"No!" The scream scared Mizuki. Ena sat hugging her knees and shook her head. “I am always the one who looks for her to solve everything, even if we argue because of her indifference, this time I will not be the one who gives her the initiative. If she really cares about me, she will come and tell me.”
She bit his lip understanding Ena. She had had some disagreements with Kanade, especially in the way they both led their lives, but they always took the first step to reach an agreement. Mizuki appeared at her bedroom door with delicious food made by her when they fought over her girlfriend's bad eating habit. And Kanade slept with her in her bed until she calmed all her anxiety by stroking her hair while humming melodies composed solely for Mizuki. She wanted her friends to have the same peace of mind in her relationship as the two of them, but it was complicated when Mafuyu's indifference and naivety of both her own feelings and of her girlfriend clashed with Ena's insecurity.
This time it wasn't a simple problem caused by Mafuyu saying that she didn't understand her or saying that her painting was strange. She ran her fingers through Ena's hair again and tucked the unruly strands behind her ear.
“Okay, take your time and know that Mafuyu is going to appear here.”
[...]
She was used to the rumors around her. She could hear the other students talking among themselves, thinking they were out of reach. She knew stories of all kinds that involved contracts with demons for her talent, romances with older students or teachers, and being a descendant of elves. She never gave importance to the rumors because they were insignificant and changed day after day involving other students. However, it was the first time that Mafuyu Asahina was so eager to blast someone with her wand because of a rumor.
The night before she was planning a perfect day so that her girlfriend could enjoy Valentine's Day. After a talk with Kanade, she understood Ena's frustration for making her wait for Christmas for having gone out with a classmate of hers, so she decided to make it up to her on the day of love. Unfortunately for her, as soon as she woke up, an owl entered through her bedroom window with a letter from her mother. She was supposed to go out with a group of blue blood wizards because it would be a good opportunity to connect families. She wanted to refuse, but she felt the threatening pressure of her mother in the final words of the letter. That feeling in her chest reappeared, she didn't want to make Ena wait again like she was always doing. She had been so patient with her that she didn't deserve to be pushed into the background.
“Mafuyu, welcome.” Kanade looked up from her sheet of paper on her desk to turn around. "Are you OK?"
She left her things on the side of the bed and looked at Kanade with dead eyes that made the composer worry.
“Is that because of the rumor?”
“Even Kanade knows it.”
“I went out to look for dinner and everyone was talking about it in the hallways, I wanted to look for Mizuki, but she locked herself in her room with Ena.”
“Ena,” her body trembled as she imagined her angry expression filled with pain from her just like that day. When they confessed her feelings. “Is she still in Mizuki's room?”
Kanade nodded, showing her the messages she received from her girlfriend. She thanked her by looking in her drawer for the gift for his girlfriend. She wasn't going to forgive herself for being the one to blame for putting that distraught expression on her face again. No matter how many dates her mother made to pair her with some future blue blood wizard, she only felt disgust just like when her lips tasted that stalker's liquor. Only Ena filled her with that warmth different from what she felt with Kanade and Mizuki.
She ran down the hallway until she reached the stairs. She hurried down, apologizing on her way, drawing the attention of some people who began to speak in a low voice. She put a hand on her chest when she had Mizuki's door in front of her. There were so many things on her mind, she didn't know if her roommate was into her either and if Ena didn't want to talk on her own she would make things awkward. The door opened meeting Mizuki's smile.
“Good luck, just tell her the whole truth,” she whispered in her ear before leaving.
She gulped as she entered the room. She felt uncomfortable seeing her girlfriend tangled in Mizuki's sheets. There was a time when she felt jealous every time she saw them together in the hallways and she intervened in her conversation to walk with them away from Mizuki. Ena was looking at the wall so she still hadn't noticed her presence. She lay down next to her and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's waist to hug her body.
“I'm sorry,” she said, kissing the back of her neck. “I love you, Ena. "I don't want to be with anyone but you."
“Is that the only thing you have to tell me?”
“I wanted to spend the day with you, but my mother told me that if I rejected this outing I would have to leave the academy for a week to meet an heir of foreign lineage. I didn't want to be separated from Niigo and you for so long so I accepted,” Mafuyu tightened his grip on her, burying his nose in the scent of Ena's hair. She felt the knot disappear. “He is the son of a family friend, so I let my guard down, but he caught me by surprise with a spell and kissed me in the alley. I’m sorry, Ena, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
She kissed the back of her neck again, murmuring “I'm sorry” between each kiss. She didn't know what her girlfriend was thinking or what expression, she was expecting a growl or annoying screams as always so she was feeling anxious about the silent treatment. She was surprised when Ena turned around and covered both bodies with the sheets, placing herself on top of her. There was that expression she hated on her. She tried to say something, but her girlfriend was quicker and silenced her with a kiss.
“I trust Mafuyu, although I felt betrayed, I am happy that you came to look for me,” she rejoined in a short kiss. "I love you"
“Ena can yell at me if she wants,” this time Mafuyu kissed her, taking her waist again with his arms. "I love you"
They both deepened the kiss, desperately searching for the other. Mafuyu sat up while she put his tongue into her girlfriend's mouth, he wanted to feel her body heat as much as possible. For her part, Ena undid the ponytail, leaving her hair loose. There was something different about the messy-haired Mafuyu of her looking at her with those eyes of a unique shine aimed at her that made her fall in love again with the prodigy student. Her hands, before holding Ena's waist firmly, went up her back making slight scratches on her skin that sent a shock through Ena’s body.
“Mafuyu,” she murmured against his lips when they parted.
She was trying with all her effort not to advance any further. She was still aware that they were in Mizuki's room, at any moment she or her roommate could return. She didn't want to cause an awkward moment because she didn't know how to control herself because of her beautiful girlfriend. She reached into her coat pocket and showed Ena the pink box wrapped with a red ribbon that said “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“I wanted to give you this today. Happy day of love, Ena”
Inside were two gold necklaces. One had a smoky quartz and the other had a blue one.
“In class we saw that quartz is used to absorb dark magic and as a protective amulet for magicians, that's why I thought it would be a good gift.
“Ena will use this quartz with my color and I will use the one with your color.”
“Idiot… Thank you, it's very beautiful.”
“Let me put it on for you.”
The clock echoed through the academy announcing midnight. Valentine's Day didn't turn out as she expected, but she was grateful to be able to enjoy that moment. After putting on the necklaces, Mizuki came in to put them in Ena's room because she would spend the night with Kanade in her bedroom. They both left hand in hand in silence. Ena smiled when she saw Mafuyu's red ears. The next year it would be her turn to surprise her with a gift.