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Yamada tried to find a comfortable spot next to Kase. They had stopped for the night at an inn, but the room they were stuck with only had one bed. Kase had offered to sleep on the floor, but it was far too cold for that. They would have to huddle for warmth.
Yamada was a mage in training, going through her final exam. Having passed the written and practical portions of the exam, she now had to complete one final task: proving her mettle as an adventurer. All she had to do was carry a jewel from one branch of the Mages’ Academy to the other, relying on her wits and magical abilities to survive. Accomplishing such a task, of course, was easier said than done.
Kase was a quick-footed rogue who tagged along for her own reasons. They met early on in Yamada’s quest, and from that day they were inseparable. Although recruiting party members for the journey wasn’t strictly forbidden for the exam, it would still be looked at with scrutiny by the Academy. Regardless of that, Yamada treasured the company of her new friend, and she would gladly accept any penalty.
“Can’t you just cast a spell to heat up the room?” asked Kase, with a hint of discomfort in her voice.
“I don’t have anything like that prepared,” Yamada confessed. Her spellbook lay on the bedside table, each page carefully inscribed with magical runes, the language of her profession. Each morning, she had to decide which of her spells she would have at her disposal. She had prepared a basic flame spell, but it would only provide a moment of warmth without something to burn. Unfortunately, the room consisted of little more than four walls and a door.
All Yamada could do now was try to get some sleep. She held out her hand, trying to muster up the energy to extinguish the light spell she cast when they first entered the room. It should have been a simple flick of the wrist, but her muscles felt heavy with exhaustion, making it hard to get the movement just right. Eventually, she had no choice but to let her arm go slack.
A gust of wind blew against the window, making it rattle. Yamada grasped the edge of the blanket and held it tight against herself. Her back was warm from Kase’s body heat, but everything else was bitterly cold. She closed her eyes and tried to tune it all out, feeling herself slowly give in to sleep. Only then did she notice an arm around her waist.
“Hey, what are you—”
As Yamada tried to turn her head, her lips brushed against Kase’s. It lasted only a moment—just long enough for her heart to beat three times—but it felt so much longer. When they both realized what just happened, it took all of Yamada’s self-control not to scream.
“I'm sorry,” she squeaked. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry...”
“Hey, it’s fine,” said Kase. “I know you didn’t mean to.”
Yamada quickly tried again to turn out the light, but her movements were sloppy, further brightening the room instead. She pushed herself away from Kase, nearly falling off the bed as she tried in vain to increase the distance between them. Her chest felt tight, and her ears warmed.
“You know,” Kase continued, “it didn’t feel bad. Was it bad for you?”
Yamada shook her head. “It was...soft.”
Kase sighed. “I’m making this more awkward than it needs to be, aren’t I? Look, if you want to pretend this didn’t happen, I understand. We can just go—”
“No!” Yamada crossed her arms in front of her and looked away. “It’s just, I mean, you’re so warm, but I didn’t mean to, but it felt so good, but we’re both girls…”
Kase pulled Yamada back in, cracking a smile. “I think I get it. Do you want another one?”
The word “yes” caught in Yamada’s throat, but she relaxed and closed her eyes as Kase brought their lips together again. Even after the exam was over, Yamada didn’t want them to go their separate ways. Maybe here, safe in Kase’s arms, was exactly where she was meant to be.