Chapter Text
Since starting university, Mafuyu realized that Nightcord at 25:00 was not strictly true to their name anymore. It was a belated realization one night. Living with everyone, there was no need for them to find that late night time to meet. In fact, Mafuyu was almost always asleep at that time now.
Almost always.
She rolled over in her bed, taking a reprieve from staring at her ceiling. Already her schedule had altered to fit the others, leading her to often fall asleep before two in the morning when she used to only have about three hours of sleep a night. She supposed that was good; according to everything she was learning in her nursing program, it was far healthier. She had no explanation for why she was awake.
There was no light on in the room. Kanade was still sleeping. Mafuyu confirmed that for herself, squinting into the dark to the bed next to hers. Kanade slept quite soundly, as though making up for the time lost throughout high school. Mafuyu sometimes wondered if her body was making up for the same, keeping her asleep the whole night.
There was nothing for her to do, she supposed. Kanade could be a light sleeper, all things considered. If she moved around too much or got up, Kanade would wake up, too. She needed the sleep. Mafuyu wouldn’t take it from her.
She settled for watching Kanade, listening to her breathe. Perhaps it was weird. Mafuyu didn’t feel any particular way about it. All she knew was that Kanade breathed rhythmically, as most did in sleep. Even in the dark, she knew that Kanade was cute. It looked like she would be tangled in her bedsheets when she woke up, a stark difference to Mafuyu’s still slumber. Her hair, too, would be knotted. It would take her a while in the morning to brush through it all. If Mafuyu had time, she would help.
One thing that Mafuyu was able to recognize, after living with Kanade in high school and currently, was luck. She was lucky that she met Kanade. She was lucky that Kanade helped save her, in more ways than one. She was lucky that Kanade loved someone like her.
She was able to recognize all of those statements, but sometimes, she didn’t quite believe it all.
Kanade stirred a little in her sleep. Mafuyu stayed still, holding her breath. Kanade didn’t awaken.
Mafuyu shifted slightly again, back to staring at her ceiling. Sharing a room with Kanade, even in two different beds, helped to remind her of all she had. All that had happened—in a positive way. 25:00 once was her only reprieve. Now, 25:00 was a time of absolute peace in the form of sleep beside someone she loved.
Even though she didn’t know if she would be able to fall asleep, Mafuyu closed her eyes, consoled by the thought of being loved so thoroughly by the girl in the bed next to hers.