Work Text:
“Alright, Himiko!” Tenko puts her hands in the air and grins. “Today, we're going to train you in breathing!”
“Breathing?” Himiko furrows her brows. “I already know how to breathe.”
“Yes, but breathing properly is extremely important to any martial art, especially Neo-Aikido! And it can do lots of things for your body!”
“Nyeh, I think my body is just fine…”
“O-of course it is!” Tenko says hurriedly. “But you seem tired most of the time, so I thought I could teach you to breathe and get energy.”
Himiko, somehow, looks even more skeptical. “How do you get energy through breathing?”
“Um, I think it has something to do with getting extra oxygen to your brain?” Tenko puts a hand on her chin. “Anyway, it works! I know it works!”
“Like you actually need any extra energy,” Himiko says, then snickers.
Tenko can't help but laugh along. “Ah, that's a good point.”
Himiko toes her shoes off and sits on the floor. “Let's do this, then.”
Tenko nearly squeals in delight. “Let's do this” and not “let's get this over with?!” Himiko's really grown to not dislike the things Tenko does! She swallows the urge to do something like flapping her hands and sits in front of Himiko.
“Alright, now you must get into position!”
“Isn't this just about breathing?”
“Yes! But just like everything else you do with your body, the position you’re in also impacts it.” Tenko crosses her legs and sits up straight. “Just like this, okay?”
“What should I do with my hands?” Himiko asks.
“Put them in your lap.” Tenko does the same, and Himiko quickly follows. “Now, we’re going to breathe together. In for six seconds, out for two.”
“Out for two,” Himiko repeats, then nods. “I’m ready.”
Tenko grins and closes her eyes, pleasantly surprised by Himiko’s agreeability. “Okay. Starting now! One… two… three… four… five… six… Now out for one… two…” She sighs. “Ah, that felt great! I’m raring to go!”
Himiko’s eyes are open, and she’s looking at Tenko kind of… strangely. “Um, I feel a little weird.”
“Oh, no! Are you okay? Can you still breathe normally?”
“I can, but… No, it’s fine. I just need to try again.”
Tenko blinks. “O-okay! I’ll guide you through it.”
They continue breathing for quite a while, but Himiko never seems to feel better. She seems on edge — full of almost too much energy.
“Maybe we should just quit…” Tenko says, pouting. “You don’t look too good. I’m sorry!”
Himiko’s face is red, and she nods shakily.
“D-did it work, though?”
“Um…” Himiko looks down as Tenko gets closer to her.
“Is your heart okay?” Tenko instinctively puts her hand to Himiko’s wrist. She gasps. “It’s racing! Oh, I knew I shouldn’t have done this—”
“No!” Himiko says passionately. “It’s not you, Tenko, it… It’s me. My heart c-can’t take you having this close to me… Talking in a calming voice, a-and telling me how to breathe… Ugh, I’m so flustered…” She covers her face.
Tenko’s heart also starts racing. Himiko. Flustered. By her.
She nearly passes out with how hard she swoons.
She does fall over, actually. Himiko quickly crawls over to her.
“Tenko? Are you here with me? Can you breathe?” she asks in a panic.
“I’m wonderful…” Tenko sighs, her face hot and her hands pressed to her heart. “You really got flustered by that, Himiko?”
Himiko’s cheeks go darker, somehow. “I-it’s not weird! Anyone would get flustered by that, e-especially someone so…” She takes a deep breath and continues. “Someone so pretty.”
Tenko really does fade out of consciousness for a few moments with how happy she is. “You think I’m pretty, Himiko?”
“Obviously. It’s just a fact.”
“But I’m too muscley and my hair is super thin and—”
“None of that keeps you from being pretty,” Himiko says. “And you’re… cute.”
“Cute?!” Tenko grins and can’t stop herself from flapping her hands. “You’re the second person who’s ever called me cute, Himiko!”
“Second?”
“Well, Kaede said it too, but I think she thinks all girls are cute… Which is true!”
“Me being only the second is kinda sad…” Himiko pouts — adorably! “You are cute, Tenko. You’re a lot, sometimes, but the way you get so happy about stuff is cute… E-even when that stuff is me.”
Tenko squeals, sitting up and hovering her hands over Himiko’s shoulders. “Thank you…! Can I— can I give you a hug?!”
Himiko smiles, a bit hesitant, but still a smile. “Sure. Just don’t squeeze me so hard I can’t breathe.”
“Yes! Of course!”
Tenko wraps her arms around Himiko and squeezes gently. Way gentler than she really wants to, but she makes sure to not crush the girl. Himiko squeaks quietly. Call Tenko crazy, but it didn’t sound like strictly a bad thing.
“U-um, Himiko?” Tenko asks, her heart ramming her ribs from the inside. She takes a deep breath, holds it, and lets it go. “Can I ask you something embarrassing?”
Himiko stumbles over her words for a few seconds. “Sure…”
“Do you l-like me? Like, um… Like a crush?” She winces at her own phrasing. To make Himiko feel less awkward, she rushes to speak. “B-because I have a crush on you! Uh, but I think that was obvious. I mean, how could I not? You’re so cute, a-and—”
“Stop talking, please,” Himiko mutters. She stays silent for a little while, and her voice is quiet when she speaks up again. “I don’t know. I’ve never had a crush on anyone before, but my heart gets all weird when you get too close to me, and… I guess I like being around you. No, I know I do. I dunno if it’s romantic or what, but I think…” She swallows audibly. “I think I wanna try it.”
Tenko gapes. She blinks. Blinks again. Then grins. “Wah! Thank you, thank you, Himiko! W-we can’t really go on proper dates in this place, but I’m sure a late-night walk outside would be romantic—!”
“Slow your roll, there,” Himiko says, though Tenko can hear her smiling. “Let’s just start with something smaller. Like… more breathing practice.”
“O-oh, of course! We can do that!” Tenko’s face hurts from how hard she’s smiling. “Uh, but maybe we should do some calming ones this time.”
Himiko giggles unabashedly. Tenko swoons again.
In the end, she has to leave early because her heart can’t take it. Even the breathing that is specifically designed to slow down your heartbeat doesn’t work.
And she couldn’t be happier. (But she is a bit worried for her heart health after the whole experience.)