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Kagome is half asleep when she wanders into the dorm kitchen, eyes still closed, hair haphazardly thrown up into a messy bun and one ear plug playing soft music. Most of the others are already there, a rare occurrence the closer they get to graduation and she mumbles something when Haibara’s chipper voice greets her. There’s a few chuckles and she feels Kento-kun’s energy move to the side as she shuffles past the island, nose leading her towards the heavenly smell of coffee.
Temptation bubbles as it brews, coating her minty mouth in excess saliva she has to swallow or else she’ll start drooling.
The bitter scent of tobacco brings a pat to her shoulder as Shoko steers her more to the left. Right, they had reorganized the layout last week. She hums a tune in thanks while she struggles to unglue her eyelids, blindly grabbing for the dark pink coffee mug that Satoru had given her as a joke. It’s habitual to trace her fingers over the white lettering that spells out ‘Princess’ topped with a crown. Her sleepy mind wanders to the pleased little grin he’d worn the first time she’d used it and she smiles.
“-a kiss!”
Speak of the devil.
Satoru’s energy swells as he enters the room, a habit he’s gained since the incident with the Star Plasma girl, before subsiding to float about him. It’s an exorcise in restraint anytime they hang out now for her not to just stare; at him, at his power. Her only saving grace right now is her exhaustion while she follows them with her senses. He’s a blazing star made flesh and it leaves her breathless more and more lately. Following behind him is Suguru in all his cool mannerisms and quiet plotting, his energy a soothing balm that makes her want to just melt into any nearby surface. Old fantasies, new yearnings, whisper how much she’d prefer melting into him.
A little nudge to her shoulder breaks her from her thoughts, tired mind noticing first that the coffee is done and second that, once again, she is all caught up in feelings she’s been trying to hide for a while now. She pries her eyes open, squinting and widening them until they stay open long enough she can pour herself a cup of coffee.
Her nose scrunches up in distaste at her first swallow, forever hateful that she’s made it a part of her routine. Stupid kickstart to wake her up. Now that it’s out of the way though, time for cream and sugar. Sweet, sweet sugar. A very large and very familiar container of french vanilla creamer sits on the counter and she squints at it in confusion. How’d that get there?
“Oh my, you’re extra dead this morning, princess.” Suguru’s cadence brushes against her unoccupied ear, steadying her when she stumbles back against him in her surprise. If she were more awake, she might peer up at him through the fringe of her bangs or flush at having him pressed so close to her, maybe even offer a little quip but as is she just stays where she is, enjoying the warmth that seeps into her from him. One arm settles around her waist, already well prepared for her sleep-weak knees to give out while the other adjusts the clip on her earphone so it doesnt fall off. His chuckle tickles the little hairs on her neck, making her shiver.
Pliant, Kagome watches as he finishes preparing her coffee, pouring creamer then adding a few spoonfuls of sugar before mixing it. It’s only when he carefully wraps her hands around the mug that she realizes she's even let it go. She really is out of it. He guides her over to the kitchen island where Satoru has splayed his long arms across it, whining about something or another, usual glasses perched on his nose. From the way those galaxy bright eyes quickly settle on her, she’s pretty sure he’s made some sort of snide comment.
Fuzzy, fond amusement bubbles in her chest, curling her lips because she knows that he can’t get the usual rise out of her right now.
Suguru’s hand is steady as he helps her into the chair next to Satoru’s and before she puts all her focus on the sweet, sweet coffee just inches away, Kagome gives Satoru a few head pats. His hair is as sinfully soft as usual. Whatever his retort is, is lost on her when she takes a proper sip this time, eyes falling shut.
The conversation flows around her, never at her, not when she’s like this and she prefers it that way. Mornings are cruel, cold things and she would love nothing more than to spend them curled up in her bed until half the day has already passed. Alas, responsibilities. Her mind wanders as she tries not to fall back asleep, counting the number of times a hand straightens her back up.
“How long did they have her out on the field this time?”
“Don’t know. You know how tightly sealed they have Yaga’s lips when it comes to her missions.”
“Was she wearing that when she came back last night?”
“Again, don’t know, didn’t even realize she was back until she walked in.”
Wasn’t that just the whole of it, too. Working for Jujutsu Tech but kept along the fringes since day one.
Their conversation fades as she thinks about her mission, about the ache in her feet as she had to walk to each of the nearby villages, the cold shoulders and nasty remarks that were made as she worked. On her worse days, Kagome hates that she is the first priestess to awaken in nearly a millennium but she goes out of her way to make those few and far between. Not when her power helps the natural energy of nature begin to thrive without the oppressive weight of a curse or its energy.
Not when she has two little girls hiding away off campus.
The reminder has her jolting upright in her seat, eyes snapping open to see everyone has paused to stare at her. She shoves down her panic, remembering the food and clothes she got them along with the promise to be back. Haibara’s hand falls from where it was nestled in her hair to brace her shoulder so she doesn’t teeter off the stool. She clears her throat and mumbles, “Morning.”
“An actual word and you haven’t even finished your coffee.” Satoru immediately teases, wrapping a strand of hair around his fingers. Hair that shouldn’t be down. When she reaches back, it’s to find that her bun is gone. ‘Damn, there goes another hair tie.’
With a sigh, she scrubs a hand down her face. “What were we talking about?”
“Kisses.”
Ah, right. Valentine’s Day was just around the corner. “Why are we talking about a kiss?”
“Kisses, plural. I want kisses.”
“Is this a new way for you to bother people?” Kagome yawns through the question and shakes her head.
“Yes.” | “No.” It was debatable who was louder, the collective yes or Satoru’s scandalized no.
“How could I possibly bother people with kisses?” He exclaims, even slapping his hands down on the island.
“You want one from each of us.” Kento deadpans, his eyebags looking just as bad as hers. Actually, now that she’s a little more awake, everyone - even Haibara - has some pretty bad eyebags. Excluding Satoru, of course, cuz heaven forbid he ever looks unattractive..
She glances over at him, sees the familiar sheen on his pink lips, and isn’t surprised he’s already dolled himself up for when someone gives in. It’s a little surprising that Suguru hasn’t partaken, or maybe he has, and that’s why they got here after her. He doesn’t look like he’s been kissed, though.
Must be why he’s pouting, bottom lip jutting out as he glares at everyone. All her attention narrows down to that plump piece of fle— “Would it be so bad to give him a kiss?”
“Kiss-es, Kagome!” Satoru whines and it's only because everyone’s always ready at a moment’s notice to catch her that she doesn’t fall off the stool when he collapses against her side, his height making it easy for him to shove his face into her neck. His Infinity wavers as it always does when she passes through it then twists to accommodate her presence and subsequently leaves her afloat. His arms wind around her waist to keep her in place before her heart can do more than skip a beat.
“Kisses.” She amends, patting his back when he wiggles.
“Kagome?”
Suguru, who has since moved to lean against the island just next to her (he’s within Infinity’s parameters as well but when is that new), is looking at her with far more contemplation then she’s awake enough to understand. He’s definitely up to something though. She’s learned to recognize his sweet smiles from his cleverly mingled sardonic ones. “You’re sure about this?”
She squints at him, not understanding. “It’s a pretty common thing for this time of year so I don’t see why not.”
“You know how he gets once he’s got the go ahead.”
That… what? Is he suggesting Satoru’s going to want more kisses out of her? Highly unlikely and she makes sure the doubt shows clear as day. Behind Suguru, she watches Kento raise a brow, seemingly as thrown off as she is.
“If you’re sure.” He hums, eyes glittering. How annoying for him to choose one of her worst mornings yet to be so lively. Yeah, his lips definitely don’t look like they’ve been kissed and she’s stumbled on them mid-makeout session before. Maybe Satoru told him he couldn’t be first.
“You all just don’t understand! Kagome gets it!” He cheers, pulling back just enough to nuzzle against her shoulder. Which is a newer development; he’s always been careless of boundaries so she’s okay with a lot of things but this is… softer than he usually acts. There she goes again, reading into things she’s too tired to be noticing.
“Hai, hai.” She painstakingly releases her cup of coffee, pouting down at it like it’s not her fault she volunteered for a kiss. An affronted noise slips out of her when the mug is tugged away by Suguru’s long fingers. He’s clearly more amused than intimidated by her glare, jerking his chin to her right. “Hai, hai,” she mutters again, petulant.
Satoru’s chin turns up easily under her finger’s guidance and his glasses tip precariously enough she pulls them off to sit on the counter. He’s blinking at her, one brow raised and a little smirk curling his lips.
“Uhm…”
Why does Haibara sound all squeaky?
Kagome leans down, eyes falling closed as her lips press against Satoru’s. His cursed energy fluctuates and she takes it as a win, tallying yet another win for throwing him off. She breathes out through her nose slowly because wow, his lips are just as soft as they look. It’s not a long kiss, or even a proper one - the angle and their height difference is already giving her a crick in the neck - and Satoru doesn’t do much which makes her want to call him a princess. When she pulls back, the gloss makes the little smack louder than she expects.
She licks her lips, sucking the bottom into her mouth. “Mm.” Strawberry, huh? Fits into the whole theme but still a bit of a surprise. Satoru stays nestled against her shoulder so she can only use one hand to make a ‘gimme’ motion at Suguru. “Coffee.”
There’s an insufferably wide smirk adorning his face and Shoko looks like she’s about to lose it, shoulders shaking as she covers her mouth. At least Kento is behaving normally, looking as done as he always does when Satoru is involved with Haibara extra excited next to him.
Another ‘gimme’ gesture has Suguru relenting and she slips out of Satoru’s grasp and the chair the moment sweet salvation is in her hands. With a yawn and a distracted wave at everyone, she turns to leave, thoughts back on all the things she needs to do.
First is going to be finishing her coffee then taking another shower - no soaking in the tub, she’ll fall back asleep - and after that, checking her bank account. She’s already made plans with her mom for the girls to stay with her but now she needs to get documentation. She pays no mind to the way everyone’s energy seems to converge on Satoru’s, absently humming to her music.