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The record store had always been a sanctuary for Aya. It was a place she could go to guarantee her own happiness, finding solace in her conversations with Mitsuki. Sometimes she would even just sit in the shop listening to the music play from the overhead speakers or sit in silence and share earbuds with Mitsuki. Something about the place had the ability to make her forget everything on the outside. Tonight, however, she was hesitant to step any closer, knowing the atmosphere she's grown to love won't be enough to comfort her.
It wasn't odd for Aya to visit her girlfriend so close to closing time, but the circumstances that brought her here definitely strayed from their usual norm. She hasn’t seen Mitsuki all weekend, it’s like the girl shut everyone out and has refused to do anything that isn’t sitting in her room. She’s tried to text Mitsuki about it but all she’s gotten back in return were half assed responses.
It hurts, but at least Aya knows what's causing this, she recognizes this behavior from the previous time this happened.
She recalls how Mitsuki had been so distant – her mind constantly occupied by the song she was writing. Aya understood her girlfriend's need for solitude to help spur her creativity, but it still sucked to feel like she was being pushed aside. The one-word answers to texts, the sudden critical nature of their conversations about music — it all added up to growing feelings of frustration and uselessness within Aya. It was like Mitsuki didn't have time for anything other than song writing.
And now, It’s happening again, and arguably at a much worse scale than the first time.
Back then, all she could do was watch from the sidelines and hope it would pass quickly. She won't lie to herself, it was hard, even if it eventually culminated into one of the best songs she's ever heard. Though, Aya would much prefer it if Mitsuki didn’t feel the need to push her away when she got like this.
But that was the past. They’re dating now, and Aya knows she now has so many more privileges that she only could’ve dreamed of back when all that was between them was a giant crush that Aya was so sure was one sided. Maybe this time she’s allowed to do more than wait. Aya wants to be there to take care of her girlfriend beyond giving her space or sneaking snacks into her bag; Aya wants to do something to help her out directly, even if it’s as small as reminding Mitsuki to take breaks.
She takes a deep breath, then with her newfound determination marches up to the door and pushes it open. The bell chimes as she walks through, making Joe look up at her from behind the counter. He doesn’t even take off his headphones, Aya barges in at this hour so often to visit Mitsuki that he's grown used to it. He simply turns his eyes back towards the vinyl cover in his hands as Aya makes her way past him to the back.
Aya climbs the flight up to the apartment as she's done several times before. The familiar creak of the stairs beneath her feet echoes through the narrow stairwell as Aya gets closer to Mitstukis room, wondering what state she’s going to find her girlfriend in.
She doesn't bother to knock, instead electing to throw open the door and confront Mitsuki without giving the other girl any time to prepare.
“Mitsuki Koga!” Aya yells a little louder than intended. Maybe she’s a tad more frustrated than she previously thought.
Mitsuki startles at the sound of her name, jumping in her seat and head immediately turning towards Aya standing in her doorway. The lights are off save for the lamp on Mitsukis desk emanating a dim glow, but that’s still more than enough for Aya to see that this is worse than last time. Her rooms messier than Aya remembers: the trashcan is overflowing with crumpled pieces of paper, her desk is scattered with sheets that Mitsuki looks to have hastily scrawled song lyrics on to, and there are a few empty plastic water bottles on the floor by the legs of her chair.
The next thing Aya notices is that Mitsuki looks like shit. Aya knows that Mitsuki has always had the faint bags under her eyes – hell, Aya even finds them a little cute – but they’re so much deeper than normal, it makes her seem sickly. Her hair looks disheveled and carelessly tied up, Aya wonders when was the last time Mitsuki properly brushed it.
Aya cant even be upset with her girlfriend anymore, all she feels is sadness that Mitsuki clearly isn't taking care of herself to the proper extent. She doesn’t know how bad it got last time, but she hopes it wasn't nearly as gloomy as the sight in front of her.
Mitsuki takes off her headphones, “Aya, what are you doing her-”
Aya doesn't let her finish. “You’re taking a break.” she firmly states.
Mitsuki turns towards the pile of papers strewn across her desk. She sets her headphones down then starts rifling through a small stack searching for a specific sheet. “But I'm making good progress. I’m even almost done with the melody.”
Aya decides now is the time to enact her girlfriend privileges. She steps further into the room, grabbing Mitsukis hoodie sleeve and yanking her into a standing position. The pages in Mitsukis hands fall back onto the table as she's forced to stop what she was doing. Mitsuki doesn’t protest, Aya assumes the girl simply doesn’t have the energy to. She takes a step towards the bed then sits down on the edge, tugging Mitsukis arm so they’re seated next to each other.
Aya knows a little while ago she never would have dared to do something so bold, but ever since they started dating she’s grown far more comfortable enacting any physical touch. That's not to say she's completely used to all of this, her heart still feels like it's going to burst out of her chest, but this is still a thousand times better than how she was before.
Mitsukis shoulders slump. “Aya, can’t I just finish what I was working on?”
Aya shakes her head. “You’re taking a break.” she repeats.
Mitsuki looks at Aya for a moment as if she's trying to figure out some way to convince the girl to let her work a little longer. Aya sees how tired Mitsukis eyes look, it cements in her mind that she isn’t going to give in no matter how much Mitsuki pleads with her.
Mitsuki seems to understand that notion. She knows as long as Ayas here she won't be getting anymore work done. With a quiet huff, she leans back onto the bed and stares at the ceiling with a distant look on her face.
Aya sighs, then lays down too. Mitsuki lethargically turns her head to look at her girlfriend, her eyes lingering for a few seconds before her gaze returns back upwards. Aya wishes there was some quick fix to this. If it were any other situation, she knows listening to music would do wonders to improve the other girl's mood, but Aya’s mindful of the fact that in this current plight all her girlfriend would do is over analyze and criticize the song and spiral her further.
She was well aware of the woes of loving an artist when they first started dating, but it doesn’t make her heart hurt any less seeing the state Mitsukis in. Aya finds it hard to know what to do right now. She wishes she had spoken more to Kanna about this, maybe the woman could have passed on some advice and Aya wouldn't be so lost.
Aya rolls onto her side and drapes her arm over Mitsukis torso, pulling herself a little closer towards the other girl. She hopes she's offering some comfort; hopes that Mitsuki understands that Aya is trying to tell her I’m here.
They lie there in silence, the only noise filling the room being the faint melody of the music playing from the store below and the light sounds of their breathing. Aya can feel the tension slowly ebbing away from Mitsuki's body, gradually relaxing as she sinks into Ayas hold. Mitsukis cheeks finally get some color as their proximity sinks in.
A few more quiet moments pass between them as Aya tries to collect the right words in her mind to say. “Mitsuki, this isn’t healthy, you can’t isolate yourself like this.” she tells the girl.
Mitsuki turns her head back towards Aya once more. Something in her gaze shifts slightly, it’s not as distant as it was a moment ago, like she’s looking at Aya instead of through her.
“‘M sorry.” Mitsuki mutters. She scoots closer, resting her forehead on Ayas shoulder. Ayas arm pulls the girl a little more towards her. Aya can feel her own face heating up, but it’s not like she has to fret over blushing around Mitsuki anymore.
Mitsuki closes her eyes, and lets out a quiet sigh. Aya really hopes that Mitsuki is going to use this chance to get some sleep that she desperately needs. She knows very well by now that Mitsuki usually goes to sleep at ungodly hours, but Aya suspects that Mitsuki somehow made her sleep schedule much worse throughout all of this.
Mitsuki shifts onto her side, mirroring Ayas position. Keeping her head resting where it is against her girlfriend's shoulder, Mitsuki presses her body closer to Ayas, sluggishly wrapping her arm around Ayas waist and tangling her leg with the other girls. She presses her face a little closer into the crook of Ayas neck, then finally stills.
“The song’s about you,” Mitsuki mumbles, her voice muffled from speaking into Ayas shirt. Aya feels a surge of affection, but knows she shouldn’t enable this behavior.
“It's kinda stupid to neglect your girlfriend while writing a song about her, don't you think?” Aya adds a little levity to her voice, hoping Mitsuki understands she’s not actually upset anymore.
Mitsuki drowsily nods under Ayas chin. As much as she’d like more of an answer, she doesn't press.
After a few moments, Aya realizes Mitsuki’s breathing has evened out. That was quick. The tired girl fell asleep cuddled up against her.
Aya knows she’s probably going to be here for a while, Mitsuki looked like she has a lot of sleep to catch up on. Aya doesn’t mind. She shifts her position a little bit to get more comfortable, maintaining her close hold on her girlfriend and careful not to disturb her.
She adjusts her head so her lips are pressed into Mitsukis hair. Aya reaches around the girl and gently removes the hair tie, brushing out the uncombed strands with her fingers. Her hand stills against the back of Mitsukis neck.
Since she’s accepted that she isn't going anywhere any time soon, Aya decides she might as well try and get some rest too. It’s a lot earlier than when she’d normally go to sleep, but she has nothing better to do.
Aya gently kisses the spot in Mitsukis hair that her lips are pressed against, then makes one last pull with her arm to make sure that Mitsuki’s as close as she can be. She allows herself to finally fully relax into Mitsukis hold, closing her eyes, and lets sleep come for her too.