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Hinata wanted everything perfect. Every detail of every moment is to be perfect.
Today was the yearly summer festival, a time when there were food vendors, games, and plenty of cultural activities to engage with. Hinata was never entirely into all of that, though. She avoided disengaging from most cultural events, finding them boring or overdone. But this year was different.
This year, she had a date in the form of her girlfriend, Komaeda Nagito. Komaeda was a very frail girl, never had much of a childhood, and was always in and out of the hospital, so she never got to experience the summer festival. At first, Hinata was weary. She never took anyone to a festival besides her family, so it seemed a bit intimate.
She wasn't against taking komaeda, but the implications of it being visible to others scared her. She wasn't exactly quiet about her infatuation with women, but going on a date with one seemed terrifying.
Despite that, she couldn't say no.
Komaeda was so excited when she mentioned the summer festival. She raved about all the fun the two of them would have despite not asking Hinata. The brunette didn't have the heart once she spoke of all the times she missed going to festivals.
Sighing, the brunette fixed her yukata. It was a lovely blue with floral patterns and yellow accents. Komaeda was set to arrive in about five minutes, leaving Hinata just enough time to get a few things prepared.
Hinata busied about, looking to grab some extra things for her girlfriend.
Komaeda was always very noise-sensitive but always refused to wear noise-canceling headphones without someone else telling her. She had developed this mindset; she wasn't worthy of her own comfort, she had told Hinata.
So, ever since that day, the brunette has tried to bring things her girlfriend wouldn't get for herself.
While she was rushing about, picking out small things for the frail girl, she hardly recognized the soft, timid knock from her front door.
Stealing herself a second, she composed herself, placing the items komaeda might need into a bag and slinging it over her shoulder as she made her way to the door and opened it.
"hello hinata-san!" Komaeda spoke with a soft, raspy voice.
It was almost like Hinata's heart stopped when she looked up at her lover. Her normal, unruly, long white hair was tied up into a bun with a cute pin, almost resembling a crown. Wisps of white hair framed her porcelain skin. Her yukata was a soft pink, and designs of roses and cherry blossoms littered the far more expensive fabrics.
It was as if she froze in time, unable to move or speak, blinking slowly as she took in everything: the soft makeup, the lace that framed the ornate fabrics, and her gorgeous hair.
Hinata never felt more in love.
“h-hinata-san?...” Komaeda had spoken with a worried look, biting her lip, a nervous habit she had all the while Hinata had known her. Just then, Hinata realized she had been gawking at her lover.
"you look like a princess.." was all Hinata could manage, her brain was mush at this rate, so incredibly useless to think of anything else, but despite that, the once worried looting face on komaeda melted into a fond sort of exacerbation.
"Ah... Hinata-san has such a way with words, doesn't she?" Komaeda responded with a giggle, clearly over her momentary anxiety. Her new goal was to tease her girlfriend.
"augh, okay, I get it!" Hinata shouted in embarrassment, her cheeks flushed to an almost unhealthy degree.
Hinata grabbed komaeda by the shoulders, turned her around, and practically pushed them out the door, stumbling slightly. The two couldn't handle it much longer before they broke out into a fit of laughter.
"Well, well, well, it seems Hinata-san is quite easy to embarrass!" Komaeda had spoken as if she hadn't known this fact for years. A smile on her face indicated she truthfully was only teasing.
"Yeah, yeah, quit that now! We've got a festival to go, you know?" Hinata spoke with a fond smile on her face, fixing her yukata so it was crinkled.
"We better leave before we miss our train."
—
They had indeed missed their train, leaving the two lovers to wait for about 20 minutes for the next one.
Once at the festival, komaeda's eyes were full of wonder, she looked so happy even though they hadn't even really stepped forth into the festival grounds fully.
"This is beautiful," she said, the strands of curly white hair that framed her face tousled gently by the wind.
Looking directly at her lover, all Hinata could say from the scene unfolding before her was a barely audible "yeah.."
After a few moments of taking it all in on komaeda's part and Hinata's hopelessness for pining for the girl she was already dating, the two finally entered the festival grounds.
Komaeda giggled and bounced on her feet as she walked hand in hand with her lover. Hinata could hardly contain the smile on her face, which she was trying to hide with a scowl.
“hinata-san, what shall we do? I'm not too sure what a girl like me would do here. I mean, I've never been to a festival." Komaeda said, with more anxiety in her voice than she had earlier, despite her cheerful expression and body language.
"Well, usually when my family and I went to festivals, we would play games for a few hours before stopping for food at a vendor. And, of course, we'd stay for the fireworks after the festivities," Hinata said with an almost fond smile on her face.
"I remember Izuru hated festivals, but he'd always come along regardless.."
Hinata looked up from her slight nostalgic haze. Before she could say anything else, Komaeda said, "Then let's do it then," with a little nod.
Leaving Hinata to just smile gently, how could she deny this? "Okay, then, let's," Hinata said before offering her arm. Well, on we go, m'lady." Hinata spoke with a fake regal voice, feigning poshness.
"Very well, my knight," Komaeda said with the same mock regalness as the brunette. Taking her lover's arm, she said again, "Lead us forward, my love!"
Laughing softly, they both began to move to look for a game they could play. Wandering about for a while, the two suddenly stopped at a stall. Ring toss—Hinata had always been good at those!
Maybe she could impress her lover by winning her a lovely plushie to take home. Komaeda enjoys soft things and collects stuffed animals!
"I think we should play this one!" Hinata spoke with such happiness in her tone that she felt genuinely excited now, despite the worries she faced earlier.
With a nod from her lover, the two stepped up to the bender.
"Hello, sir. I'd like to play this game, please." Hinata spoke politely with a small bow, komaeda following not long after, seemingly mimicking Hinata's socialization. The frail girl had a tendency to do this; she struggled to understand social cues and most things of societal standards, so she didn't quite mind the mimicking.
The man running the station looked sleazy, but Hinata knew vendors could just be like that sometimes at festivals.
"sure thing, kid, that'll be 550 yen," the vendor spoke in a cocky manner, leaving Hinata to believe this may just be a scam.. But she was confident enough in her abilities!
Passing the man the yen, she was given her rings to toss, five rings for herself as komaeda said she only really wanted to throw one of the rings.
Steadying herself and getting into a more confident stance, Hinata prepared to throw the first ring. Her eyes narrowed on the highest prize option, hoping to get it for her lover.
She throws her arm back in a practiced measure, flinging it at the target but missing by just a thread.
Huffing to herself, she tries again to get similar results.
On the fourth try she examined the ring a lot longer than she had the others, got into a different position, and tried to line it up properly.
Throwing again, the ring makes it to the most accessible prize.
Just as she was about to throw again, komaeda stopped her, placing her hand over the others.
"It's my turn, Hinata-san," she said with her eyes crinkled in a smile.
Hinata softened her gaze and looked up at her lover."" she said as she handed the last ring over to her lover. "It's not easy, though, so don't get discouraged if you miss."
She knew komaeda had very low self-esteem, so she felt the need to reassure the frail girl.
Komaeda nodded, smiling as she carelessly through the ring. In an instant, the ring hit the roof of the vendor stall, bouncing off the wall to the register to the ceiling again. Hinata had to close her eyes, so embarrassed of the horrible throw.
Once the scene ended, Hinata opened her eyes and began to reassure her lover, "It's okay, ko." She hardly got the words out before she spotted it, the ring somehow resting on the highest prize option.
Her eyes widened with complete and utter shock; she thought for sure her girlfriend had missed..
Despite that, she didn't have much time to react. Her lover was handed a big stuffed pink bunny and Hinata a small whale plush.
Standing stock still, Hinata couldn't believe that happened. She barely recognized that her lover had pulled her by the arm and out of the way of other patrons who wanted to play.
After a few more seconds of walking, all Hinata could manage out was a shocked "How?"
"I'm just lucky, I guess!" was the cheerful response komaeda gave before passing the giant fluffy pink bunny over to Hinata. "it's for you!"
The brunette looked down at the floppy plushie, smiling fondly before passing the small whale plush over to the frail girl.
"hinata-san?..." Komaeda spoke with a shocked look on her face, her eyes glossy as her lips parted in a confused manner, "why did y-" Komaeda spoke before Hinata cut her off with a gentle kiss under her eye. "it's for you.." she said before pulling away "it's for you.."
Komaeda sniffled, looking away, yet no tears escaped.. "Thank you.." was all komaeda managed.
Hinata couldn't help but smile; of course, komaeda wouldn't mind something small; she just loved the fact that Hinata even thought to give it to her...
—
The two had spent a few hours playing games. Much to Hinata's disappointment, she never won a big prize and lost more than anything.
But to her shock, her lover had won every single game they played. Immediately, Hinata could hardly understand how she managed, but now as they walked hand and hand down the festival grounds she could scarcely seem to care. They both had a bag with plushies and other assortments of prizes, komaeda with several from Hinata, while Hinata had several from komaeda.
"that was so much fun Hinata-san! I can just barely believe we won so much!" she exclaimed with such joy.
"Well, you did most of the winning," Hinata responded with a fond smile, looking at the goddess who was her girlfriend.
Komaeda pouted at Hinata; her cheeks puffed up in such a cute manner that Hinata couldn't help but kiss them.
"But Hinata-san, that was just my luck.." Komaeda spoke with a slight frown.
"well, well, I think I'm the luckiest one here." hin, Hinata said a smile. She knew this thought was cheesy, but she couldn't help herself.
"why?" Komaeda responded while tilting her head.
"Because I'm with you.." she spoke, rubbing her thumb over her girlfriend's scarred hands.
"ah- hinata-san!" Komaeda spoke with a flustered look on her face, looking as if Hinata had just said something scandalous. With that the brunette could hardly contain the giggles that escaped. She doubled over with laughter before her lover quickly joined, seemingly realizing how silly they were acting.
"ah... Thank you hinata-san.." was all komaeda could respond with; the two had made their way to some benches, placing their stuff on the extra space next to each other.
"I'll go get us food, okay?" hinata spoke as komaeda nodded along. "What would you like?"
It took the frail girl a minute to respond. Her eyebrows crinkled together in thought before she replied quietly, "I think okonomiyaki may be good."
Nodding to herself, Hinata stood up before speaking, "I'll be right back!" as she left the seating area.
Quickly, she found the proper food stand, ordering what she and komaeda had wanted; before she knew it, she was back by her lover again, placing their food in front of them.
"ah! Thank you hinata-san!” Komaeda exclaimed as she clapped her hands happily.
"yeah, yeah, I know.." hinata responded with a flushed face.
For a while, the two just ate in silence, enjoying the peace and ambiance of the festival from a more gentle distance.
It took a while before Hinata spoke up again, her earlier worries coming forward.
"you know, I was worried about this earlier.." she muttered.
Komaeda tilted her head, licking a piece of food off the side of her mouth. "Why's that?"
"It's just that… Well... I guess I was scared of us being harassed or something since we're both girls... And we aren't that subtle about our relationship..." Hinata trailed off, looking to the side before frail, pale hands cupped her cheeks.
"Hey. You're a strong girl, Hinata-san. If anyone can be safe outside, it's you!" Komaeda said before faltering at the look on Hinata's face. "This... is about me, isn't it? You're scared I'll get hurt." Komaeda said before sighing and leaning forward to kiss the muscular woman.
Pulling away, komaeda spoke, "I'll always be safe with you, Hinata-san, I will never think any differently." she said with a fond look on her face, clear adoration laced her graceful features. Hinata hadn't been lying earlier when she told her lover looked like a princess.
"Okay, okay. I love you, ko." Hinata spoke with a trembling voice, her anxiety from earlier seeping back into her.
It didn't take long for the frail girl to take her by the cheeks and kiss under her eyes, a reminder of the comfort Hinata had given her earlier.
"I love you too, Hajime," Komaeda said, placing her forehead with Hinata's in an intimate gesture, but the brunette couldn't seem to care anymore.
She was with the love of her life.
The two finished their food quicker than they thought, and just for a moment, the two just sat with each other, komaeda's head resting on her shoulder as Hinata wrapped her strong arms around her lover, kissing her forehead.
"I love you, nagito.."
—
The sun was sinking behind the horizon, and komaeda was yawning slightly as they walked hand in hand towards the grassy field in which everyone was headed to watch the fireworks.
Once they arrived, Hinata set up a blanket on the grass; she had prepared it earlier, knowing her girlfriend hated the texture and mess the grass could hold. She had noticed for a while now that her lover had been quiet, that she hadn't spoken a word since they had begun to walk towards the fireworks display, just in time for the first few sparks of color to line the sky.
As the two sat down, komaeda immediately curled close to her, practically hiding her face in the crook of her neck.
This was incredibly unusual for her lover; even though she was clingy, she usually never clung this fiercely.. It was a worrying sight for sure.
"Ko.. Clover, look at me," Hinata spoke with a soothing voice, using the nickname only she and her late parents had called her, coaxing her lover into a more comfortable position. "What's wrong?" Hinata spoke as she gently rubbed her thumb under her lover's eyes.
All komaeda could do was sniffle out a quiet "loud.." hinata sighed, gently massaging the sickly girl's shoulders.
"Hey. Shh. It's okay, it's okay." Hinata spoke barely above a whisper. Being as discreet as possible, she reached into her bag, pulled out the noise-canceling headphones, and gently placed them on top of her girlfriend's head.
It was almost immediate how quickly her lover had relaxed into her arms. She was seemingly too exhausted to go on a self-loathing rant about Hinata having to do this for her because all she managed out was a weak "thank you."
All Hinata could respond with was a kiss on her forehead as the different colors lit the sky up. It took komaeda a bit before she turned around. Her eyes are wide with adoration as pinks and purples reflect onto her grayish-green eyes.
"pretty…" Komaeda spoke, her eyes not once leaving the skyline, hinata, looking at komaeda couldn't help but say the same.
"It is pretty.." she said, her eyes not once looking at the sky.
The two lovers relaxed under the sky, bursts of color erupting every few seconds, a beautiful display despite the earlier stress it had on komaeda.
As the display came to an end, Hinata hardly recognized the weight on her lap of her lover, who had gone limp and into sleep a while ago, exhausted from the day, it seemed. She was curled up close to the brunette, her face completely relaxed, and a little line of drool trailed down her chin.
Smiling to herself, Hinata couldn't help but feel relieved. Her lover really did enjoy herself today. Hinata had never seen her lover so lively. Something genuinely happy had clicked within her lover today, and she got to experience that moment with her. She felt almost bad for wanting to protect that moment fiercely, keep it just for the two to share. But she knew that wouldn't be fair to the sickly girl who she called her lover.
Picking the frail girl up bridal style with two bags of prizes slung over her shoulder, Hinata began carrying her princess home.
It was what a proper knight would do.