Work Text:
This is normal.
This is normal.
Those words keep swirling in Minori’s head.
Because it is .
Why wouldn't your friend ask to cuddle with you on a cold winter's night? Why wouldn't they hike themselves up on the mattress just so they could nuzzle into the crook of your neck and wrap their arms around your waist…?
…
‘Why WOULD that happen…?!?!’
This was supposed to be normal.
They were supposed to just huddle for warmth–and that would be that.
But this…!
‘This is too… too much... ’
Minori took in a deep breath through her nose, the scent of Airi’s usual perfume coming along with it.
…
Something about that makes her want to turn around, to see that pretty face dressed in blissful sleep…
If only Airi wasn't holding her so tight–though that touch felt so comforting she’d be lying if she said she genuinely wanted to be without it–she wouldn't hesitate to look.
Minori laid awake, yet her eyes stayed closed.
In the pitch black image she saw behind her eyelids, her mind created visuals of the mesmerizing girl behind her.
That flowy, rose-tinted hair, with the most gorgeous smile ever given to an individual–that strong, capturing singing voice.
‘Airi-chan…’
‘...pretty. So pretty.’
Her lips curled into a smile she failed to realize came upon her.
“...minori…” A usually clear and lively voice came out as muffled and soft.
Minori's eyes shot open, yet her body remained still. “Airi…? Are you awake?”
…
She was given no verbal reply.
Maybe Airi's reply came in the form of her lips slowly pressing a kiss to Minori's neck.
…
…?
‘...what was that feeling?’
‘WHAT DID SHE JUST DO…?!’
Okay– okay. Just–just THINK for a moment.
That had to be– THAT WAS just a mistake. Or…OR she was dreaming of something–and–she just did whatever she was doing in her dream physically! See, that makes sense!
‘I do that all the time! Or so I’ve been told…’
So.
That kiss didn't mean anything.
Because why would it?
…
‘Why do I want it to mean something?’
‘Why do I want all of this to mean something?’
There was this fiery feeling in her chest–some sort of passion laid in her–yet she couldn't pinpoint the cause.
However, she did know that…
‘I want this to mean more than just–a friend thing.’
But why?
…
Something about the warmth she feels right now– something about it makes her never want it to end.
…most importantly…
That kiss.
She tried not to think about– to no avail– but that…sensation?
…it was…
Minori squeezed her eyes shut.
‘I really– really –shouldn't think about that. It probably wasn't meant for me anyway.’
She could deal with that, since the way Airi’s holding her right now–that’s for her .
And that feels…so… so nice.
Minori accepted the fact she wouldn't be going to sleep at this point; her mind was racing with thoughts and her heart was beating to a quick rhythm she couldn't quell.
Especially when one of Airi’s hands found its way to hers, lacing their fingers together softly…
‘Airi-chan’s really affectionate in her sleep…isn't she…?’
Though, not a single complaint formed in her head.
…
Minori found the sound of Airi’s quiet, steady breathing calming with the silence around them.
But, it couldn't stay like that forever.
Airi, in a less drowsy voice, called out to Minori.
“Minori, could you face me please?”
The volume ( which was not loud, by any means) in her voice startled Minori, yet she complied with no response.
“There, that’s better.”
‘...?!?!?!’ Minori’s head tried its best at processing whatever was going on.
They had a sliver of distance between them, and with her new found limb freedom, Minori took the chance to reach out to Airi.
She landed on… her arm. Not having the brainpower to know what to do with it.
Yet, Airi smiled under her closed eyelids.
Seeing her face so up close gave her heartbeat a new top speed.
Airi's eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes slightly, tilting her head up to get a better view of Minori.
She retracted her arm from Airi's in response–though she wanted to completely leave the room her body was solid ice at this point…
Airi frowned, propping her cheek on the back of her hand. “What was that for?”
Minori desperately tried to keep eye contact, her heartbeat remained overwhelming. “I–I thought… err…”
“It's fine–I mean, only fair, right? I know I can get a little cuddly in my sleep…” Airi shrugged, following up with “Sorry.”
‘Is that classified as only ‘a little’ cuddly…?!’
“No, no!” Minori responded, “...s’okay…I liked it…”
Airi's eyes opened a little bit more at that.
“I mean…! I wasn't cold! So it was nice…yeah… ”
‘Can I just sink into this bed already…’
Airi simply nodded, closing her eyes again.
Despite her calm expression, her mind was anything but.
‘...There's no way she just said that.’
‘That dream–and now this…?!’
Airi’s mind was swirling with images of the scenes that played out in her unconscious mind…
Images of her holding Minori in a warm embrace, reveling in the sweet giggles she let out each time her own lips landed on her's…
That smile on her face was so intoxicating–it was one that she couldn't make her eyes divert from.
Just as Minori leaned closer to Airi as her palm landed on her arm, the dream ended.
…
Airi noticed she was smiling.
‘...this–this is so weird.’
She swore she never felt like this before towards Minori–how can one question spiral into this…?!
Yet again, whatever feeling that was blossoming in her heart filled her with indescribable joy.
‘...I wanna hold her again.’
“Airi-chan?”
Airi's eyes shot open.
“Sorry…were you asleep?” Minori's voice dwindled into a cautious whisper.
“Nah, you're good. Do you need something?”
…
The silence that dragged out after that question awoke a sense of worry in Airi.
“I wanted to ask…um…” Minori traced the folds of the sheet below them with her eyes. “Were you awake when you did that… ?”
Airi blinked. “Did what?”
“Kissed–” Minori realized then her question was answered. “Nothing! Nevermind…”
She rolled over, ceasing to face Airi.
…
‘WHAT DOES SHE MEAN “KISSED”?’
‘Did I hear that right…?! I mean, we’re so close…it'd be weird if I didn't…but no way–right?’
Airi reached out to Minori, tapping her shoulder lightly.
Reluctantly, she faced Airi again.
“...yes?”
Airi fidgeted with her hand. “Did I–did I actually do that…?”
…
“You did…”
‘Damn it! You're telling me the first time I kissed her was when I was asleep! Talk about a missed opportunit–’
‘...What am I thinking…’
“I’m sorry.”
Airi's voice lingered in the air for a while.
Minori knew how she wanted to reply–but…
‘Will that change things?’
‘If I really say I didn't mind when she kissed me–if I say I liked it , even–what would she say?’
Was it even meant for her?
…
She had to figure it out somehow.
Eventually, Airi’s eyes got tired of staying open.
‘So you're saying that damn dream got to me so bad I acted it out in real life? I hope I only did it once…’
Dread filled her veins.
‘Why isn't she saying anythin–?!’
“It's okay, Airi-chan… i liked it, I think…”
…
‘...wha…’
‘What.’
‘WHAT????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????’
All the drowsiness in Airi’s body evaporated at those words, the rhythm of her heartbeat gaining a beyond fast pace.
She felt a scorching heat bubble under her skin as she tried to make any words come out of her.
“S– seriously…?! You have to be kidding, Minori…” Airi, once she collected herself, had a small, wobbly tone to her voice.
“...Is that weird?” Minori replied, giving a nervous smile. “I’m being honest…”
“Honest, huh…” Airi exhaled slowly, in a vain attempt to slow her heartbeat.
She looked off into the drawn out shadows that fell upon them in the night.
Her mind remained conflicted.
‘What do I even do with this info…’
A question she knew the answer to, but decided to ask herself anyway.
Because—you can't just ask one of your closest friends if you could kiss them. Let alone again.
‘Again…’
…
She could try it out.
“Could I do it again?”
A weird sensation went down her bones with that final word.
Airi’s eyes widened as Minori’s response came in so quickly, with no hesitation…
“...sure.” Minori smiled.
…
As Airi laid there–in the dead of night, next to Minori–all she could think about was how confused she was.
Not at Minori’s response, but how elated she felt because of it.
‘That…that isn't normal…’
Nothing about this is normal.
Then why try to make it?
Without a word, Airi closed the short distance that came between the two, softly laying her lips onto Minori's own.
Each worry piled in their stomachs dissipated within a moment–all they could focus on was how one's lips felt on the others.
Airi softly wrapped her fingers around Minori's wrist, reveling in the warmth she radiated.
She felt Minori's lips curl into a smile.
Once they parted, Minori noticed her legs were tangled with Airi's as she tried to make more space in between them.
“Oh–uh…Airi-chan,” Minori made no attempt to break free, turning her face toward the pillow below her instead, “Not that it's a problem but–you didn't kiss me…there…the first time.”
“I DIDN'T?” Airi whisper-shouted, speaking with widened eyes, “I–well if it’s not a problem then…alright.”
‘Oh wait... of course I didn't! We weren't even facing each other…!’
‘I meant to just kiss her in the same place–why did I do it on the lips anyway…?!’
‘I should've just done it on the cheek–now I made her my–’
Airi's train of thought came to a screeching halt, yet–she knew the final words of that sentence.
First kiss.
Minori faced Airi again, realizing her face looked a little off…though she couldn't see clearly under the darkness. “Airi-chan…? Are you alright…?”
“I’m…!” Airi sighed. “...fine, yeah.”
‘Minori’s my first kiss.’
Airi was not fine in the slightest.
‘...feels nice to say that.’
That-–now constant—warm, blossoming feeling in her heart started to grow even stronger.
Minori, having endured hours of bouncing thoughts in her head, along with cuddling and kissing one of her closest friends–all casually, of course– she had become extremely weighed down by drowsiness.
Her brain was not nearly at the capacity to fully process what she just did–but she did know…
‘That felt nice– so nice…’
Absent-mindedly, Minori wrapped her arms under Airi’s while nuzzling closer to her.
“I like being close to you, Airi-chan…” Minori whispered before finally being able to rest, sleepiness heavy in her speech.
…
“Me too.”
Airi returned the sleepy hug she was given, closing her eyes slowly…
Before she realized….
'I CAN'T JUST GO TO SLEEP NOW…?!?!?!’
Her body was frozen in place, completely alert despite her unconscious appearance.
…what would happen in the morning?
Would Minori wake up in her arms just to go on like what they shared the night prior held no weight?
Airi held her tighter, the flowery feeling in her stomach beginning to wilt.
‘...I can only hope not.’
‘I couldn’t do that even if I tried.’
…
Those feelings had to wait.
All she can live in is the present, and in such, there's only one thing she wants to think–what she wishes to say.
‘I love you, Minori.’