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"Langa," Reki whines, yawning into the girls neck. "Gotta wake up."
Langa grumbles, sleepy as she flops around in bed. It's still early, there's morning fog, and it's not as warm as usual outside since it had rained the night prior. Langa fights the urge to ignore Reki completely, which she really wants to do. "No." She grunts, scooting closer to her girlfriend and tossing an arm around her waist, face shoved uncomfortably into Reki's neck. She does a fake snore, something she'd learned from the redhead when she'd refuse to wake up for class. It almost works, like a placebo affect, makes Langa feel sleepier. Reki's all soft and warm too, always is, that doesn't help.
"Langaaa," Reki repeats loudly, adjusting herself. Her pajama top rides up, and Langa can feel her palm brush against the skin of Reki's back where the shirt had lifted up. Langa really does not want to move, like at all. "We have stuff to do!"
Langa pouts. "Like what?" She asks, eyes still glued shut. Reki moves her head back when Langa tries to bury her face further into her neck, and that earns the red-head a pissed off scowl, eyes finally cracking open just to glare at Reki.
"We were gonna see a movie, remember? For a first date." She answers, and yes, Langa does remember that. It's so early though, who sees a movie at the ass crack of dawn? Apparently them.
Langa groans. "This is a good first date, laying in bed. Not moving."
Reki rolls her eyes. "You need to get up. If you don't, I'm gonna punch you."
Langa, ever persistent, gazes up at her sternly. "You wouldn't do that to me."
"I would too!"
"Hmm," she raises a brow. "Okay, I'll get up." Langa decides, and while she's almost certain Reki would never punch her— well, not on purpose at least, she does need to get up one way or another. "Can you brush my hair?"
Reki punches the air triumphantly. "Yeah! Course I'll brush it, sit up." She replies, shuffling out of bed as Langa shimmys against the headboard.
Langa likes sleeping at Reki's house more when they're together, but today Reki wanted to stay at Langa's because her house was closer to the theater. Langa doesn't really care either way, as long as she can cling to Reki all day, anything is fine with her.
"Do you want me to put it up too?" Reki asks, messing around in the bathroom. She's got a whole mess out on the sink, all her hair supplies sprawled out across the marble. "I can give you a real meannn bun."
Langa likes the idea of Reki playing with her hair. Not so much the thought of having to deal with having it up, though. "No, it's okay. I like it down." Langa answers, and Reki dramatically groans.
"Fineeee, but it'd be so super cute!" she says with a scrunched little pout, stepping out with Langa's bright blue hairbrush. "How about matching hairclips?" she suggests, waving around two star shaped clips in the other hand. One's red and the other is blue, the red matches Reki's hair to a tee.
Langa doesn't like anything in her hair most of the time, but she likes it when Reki's involved. Just maybe not the whole hair up situation, that's a bit much.
"Sure, you want me to wear the red one?" Langa asks, she knows the answer. Reki loves when Langa wears her colors, and Langa loves it too.
"Yeah, obviously," is Reki's swift reply, a pretty, toothy grin on her face. "Scootch over."
Langa shuffles near the edge of her bed, turning her back to face Reki so that she can properly brush her hair. Hers is getting longer, reaching just down to her ribcage, sleek and straight too. Reki says she loves it, because she gets to play with it and style it since hers is too short to do anything with. Reki's always liked it that way though, cause she hates the management and it was always so heavy for her apparently. Thicker and courser.
Langa loves Reki's short hair, she loved it when it was long too, she's fine with anything. Reki looks beautiful with both.
Langa likes Reki more than anything or anyone she's ever liked ever, even more than snow boarding or skating, so that's also probably why Reki could do anything ever and Langa would still think she's perfect no matter. Langa likes Reki so much, she likes her for so many reasons. She likes her because she always wears short sleeved crop-tops that have her own designs paired with multiple different colored, stylish sweats and she always looks so cool and Langa can hold onto her and feel her skin and she likes that, among a few hundred other things. She always wants to feel Reki, to be close to her. Reki's just so cute, gets all easily flustered, always wants to touch, teach Langa a new move she made up on the board, or help Langa play some weird new game that Miya showed her. It's just always something new that she loves about Reki.
It's just Reki. She loves Reki.
Reki clears her throat as she gets comfortable behind Langa, pulling some of her hair out from her shirt. "You know, my mama always taught me to brush from the bottom up because it makes it pull on your scalp less," she idly mutters, combing lightly through the ends of Langa's hair. "Did your mama teach you that?"
"I think." Langa replies, nodding. She can't really remember, but it seems like something her mom would teach her. Her mothers hair is usually really nice, and she's always got it curled or done up. She's meticulous about those kinds of things, kinda like Reki. Reki enjoyed tending to other people rather than herself though. She knew so much about hair and body care and all that, but only ever really used that knowledge when Langa asked for help with something related.
Reki is gentle with each pass through Langa's hair. Langa likes that Reki does these things for her, and just for her. So many people only see Reki's rough edges, her ridiculous tangents and the scrapes on her shins. They don't know how gentle and caring she can be, and Langa likes that shes one of the few people who do know that side of her. Even in moments like these, Reki always speaks to Langa so softly. Even though she loves being loud and passionate, she knows how easily overwhelmed Langa can get.
Langa wouldn't mind regardless. Langa will always love everything about Reki. How overprotective and forward she is, how hardworking she has convinced herself she somehow isn't. She's such a force, the strongest and fiercest person Langa has ever met, and she's sure that she'll never let anyone dim that light within Reki again. She knows what it's like to see Reki depressed, and it's horrible. Someone so bright, brought down like she'd been drenched in a bucket of ice water.
She hated it then, and would hate it even more now.
"Does it feel okay?" Reki asks, her perfect voice pulling Langa out of her Reki induced trance. She's closer, so close, her left palm pressed against Langas back. Langa wishes she could turn around and just hold her, that Reki could brush her hair like that. Probably wouldn't be the best method though, which sucks.
She pouts, something Reki luckily can't spot and question. "Feels fine."
Langa's always been pretty quiet, awkward and a little confusing to people, so when Reki chirps her usual giddy, "Okay, good!" in response, rather then asking her if she's okay, she just feels warm and happy. Reki knows what she means without Langa ever having to explain, and if she does, she never makes Langa feel stupid about it.
Reki hums a pretty melody, breath maybe too close to Langa's ear. She keeps brushing and brushing. Langa nearly falls asleep by the time she's at her roots, her lashes batting as she tries to keep her eyes open while Reki's finishing. "Ah, Langa," she mumbles, pausing her ministrations. The door to Langa's room creaks open. "Your mama."
"Goodmorning," comes her moms voice. "You girls want some breakfast?"
Langa yawns, and Reki's hands tilt her head back again so that she can finish brushing. "Yes, please. Reki wants some too."
Reki giggles. "Only if that's okay, Ms. Hasegawa."
"Of course thats okay, baby. You're my daughter in law." She replies, Langa can imagine that her mother's probably smiling real hard.
"Really?" Langa flushes, hands curling up in her lap. "Mom, we aren't married."
Langa's mother laughs, warm and sweet and Langa loves her mom even though she can be a little nosy. "But you probably will be," she says. "Like me and your father were."
Langa frowns fondly at the mention, she likes the thought of being in the same shoes as her father and mother were with Reki. She hopes that her papa would be proud— well, of her in general, but mostly to see her with someone so beautiful and strong and full of love and life. That's how Langa's dad always spoke about mom, like she was everything to him and more, his guiding light, and Reki's just like that for Langa. It feels like Langas the earth, and Reki's the sun, just spinning around her over and over again.
"I think so too, Ms. Hasegawa." Reki comments, pressing her face against Langa's back. Langa finds herself wondering, how had her life become so good so fast? She'd come from Canada after her dad had died, no more snow boarding and none of her family besides her mom coming with. She had been so sad, convinced herself nothing good could even come from moving, that she'd just end up even more alone than she already had been in Canada.
But then came Reki, riding on her skateboard with her wild hair and a fat grin on her face that Langa now had memorized, slamming into Langa while she'd been trying to get a job while hardly able to read kanji. Langa had definitely fallen in love at first sight, she didn't even know she liked girls then, but the moment she saw Reki she knew she did. She had such a sunny, pretty face, cheeks all red and scratched up. She was a picture.
"My bad!" She'd giggled, hands fumbling to grab her toppled over skateboard. "You good man?"
"Y-yeah," Langa mumbled, her face probably on fire.
Langa thought to herself that maybe Okinawa wouldn't be so bad after that, that maybe her dad had sent her and mama someone to keep them company. Someone he'd known Langa would love, or maybe she really did just get lucky. Right place, perfect time.
"You don't like romance movies? I thought this would set the mood."
Langa winces, watching as the couple on screen starts sloppily making out. The speakers overhead echoing through the theater with weird wet noises. "I mean, they just— don't even look like they're enjoying it..?" she mutters, trying to understand why the girl looks absolutely disgusted with herself, her eyes squeezed shut so hard that her lips are starting to purse up as the man slobbers all over her face. Langa's beginning to think that the actors really suck, and that the woman might be a lesbian.
Reki laughs, loud and bright and someone behind them shushes her. Reki rolls her eyes, her bottom lip rolling up and over her top lip. It bothers Langa, no one should ever shush Reki. She doesn't even care that they're in a theater, Reki can laugh if she wants to. "You're funny," Reki whispers, leaning against Langa's shoulder. "I like kissing you, so you can just close your eyes and pretend it's us making those weird mouth noises."
"That's not gonna make it any better." Langa says quietly.
Reki laughs again, softer this time. "Ya don't think so?" she asks. "I think so. All I'd be able to think about is you."
"Well, me too, but," she blushes, glancing at her shoes. "I would rather just leave. Then kiss."
Reki looks so pleased with herself, she folds over, glancing up at Langa. "You're so cute."
"Stop it." Langa pouts, shoving at Reki's face. Reki laughs silently, eyes crinkling.
"Okay, okayyy. I should've planned something else though, this is so bad." She admits, clasping Langa's hand over the armrest as she gestures over to the movie screen. The couple is cuddling now, taking up the entirety of the girls bed. "I could've just used my brain and picked an actually funny movie, but like.. I don't know man. I've never planned a date before, I've always just done things spontaneously but I wanted this to be perfect and romantic so—"
The person behind them shushes Reki again, a little louder, and the girl sticks her tongue out in dismay. Langa thinks the person is just being annoying now. Reki lowers her voice, scooting closer to Langa. "You get what I mean."
"I do." Langa replies. "This is fine too, as long as you're with me. I don't really care what we do."
Reki blushes, the apples of her cheeks rising. "Langaaa," she whispers, not wanting to get scolded again. "Let's go home, 'kay? We can just watch funny compilation videos on youtube and order pizza. Wouldn't that be better, more fun?"
"Yeah," Langa agrees. She rolls her head on Reki's shoulder, that does sound perfect. "Which home though?"
Reki loves her girlfriend. Langa's home is hers, and her home is Langa's. Langa's mom welcomes Reki with open arms everytime she visits, and Langa helps her make dinner while Reki sets up a movie for the three of them to watch. Reki's mom always bakes cupcakes or biscuits or something sweet that she knows both Reki and Langa will like when Langa sleeps over, and Reki's sisters will force Langa to let them do her makeup.
No matter where they go, they can make something of it together. They don't even need to do typical romantic date-y type things, it just needs to be them. Wherever they are together is where they belong, whether that be in their own actual homes, at S, or huddled up together in Kojiro's restaurant eating pasta while Kaoru tells Kojiro to shut up after calling Miya a needy brat. Which he would do just so that he can tell Kojiro to shut up, because he definitely also thinks Miya is a brat.
Today, Langa's feeling like she wants to see Reki's mom again, sisters too. Her room is warm, bed covered in twelve blankets and pillows and her pantry is always stocked with tons of snacks and sweets. "Yours, your beds comfier than mine."
Reki cocks a brow, she disagrees with that. "Not true, but okay! Whatever you want."
"You wouldn't know," Langa gives her a look, handing her their leftover half eaten popcorn. "Are we allowed to keep this for later?"
"There's food at home, Langa. Good food, like my stash of epic banana shaped gummies!" Reki replies, grinning. Langa does not like bananas, or gummies. She dead-pans, and Reki bursts out laughing. It's really not all that funny.
"Just joking! Gotcha," she winks.
"I want the popcorn."
"Holy moly, okay! It can't be that good though!" Reki takes the popcorn and shoves a handful in her mouth as she says that. She crunches, swallows and nods. "Its 'kay. Do you wanna walk back? Or I can call my mom."
"You are so weird." Langa huffs. "Let's walk, we can get snacks at the kobini. Oh also, I need to shower."
Reki nods along, she's sure that every seven eleven in Okinawa knows Reki and Langa by now. They frequent way too often, just yesterday they were infiltrating the one next to Reki's sisters middle school when they were picking her up and walking her home. They'd gotten a whole armful of snacks for Koyomi.
"You shower everytime you're over, 'dunno why you always feel like you need to ask me if you can." Reki mumbles, shuffling out of her seat and leaving the theater with Langa in one hand and the popcorn in the other. Reki's hand is warm and soft, and it probably smells good. Peachy, like her favorite hand cream.
"It's polite," Langa says behind her. "I'm a polite person."
Reki glances behind, wiggling her brows. "Righttttt. That's why you kick me in your sleep."
"Liar." Langa tuts, catching up to her. "I don't." She claims, and she definitely does. Reki is gripping their popcorn for dear life as they leave the theater, eyeing the receptionist as she drags Langa outside. "You are sooo suspicious."
Reki gawks, locking eyes with Langa. "I'm not! We just need to be careful.. you never know. These places can be stingy."
Langa's face contorts, Reki sounds a little silly right now. "Seriously? They definitely do not care."
"They might start caring, Langa! You aren't careful enough!"
"Langa, have you ever tried shrimp chips? Do they have a lot in Canada?" Reki asks, squatting in the chip aisle. She's really scouting out her options, eyes zeroing in on two particularly brightly colored brands.
Langa turns from where shes trying to decide between chocolate or vanilla flavored wafers, Reki points to the two chips she's set on, asking for Langa's input silently. "Well, no, not really in Canada," Langa says, squinting in concentration as she reads the chip packaging. "I've tried them though. That one's good." She says, pointing at the cheapest bag.
"Is that cause you're broke?"
"Well probably, maybe you should request a raise for the both of us." Langa suggests. "You got me OUR job. Also, chocolate or vanilla?"
"That's a good idea, actually. Oka is so stingy." Reki nods. "Umm, chocolate!"
Langa sticks her tongue out and grabs the vanilla icecream just to spite Reki. "Ready?"
Reki clicks her tongue. "You're evil.."
Langa giggles. "Uh-uh, am not."
"Are too." The redhead says, grabbing two bags of the brand that Langa likes. "Should I get Koyomi something?"
"Well, obviously," Langa says. "She'll get mad if you don't. Get her candy or something, like the strawberry candies, and get her two packets so she can give Miya one."
"Who the hell cares about Miya!" Reki exclaims, eyes rolling back into her head. "He's a brat. Koyomi isn't."
Langa's face scrunches up, she laughs. "That what you're trying to convince yourself?"
Reki side eyes her. "Shut up." She mutters, and she races to the candy aisle, she grabs the first two packets that she sees and then runs straight to the register. Laughing loudly at Langa as she stalls behind, wafers in her hands. "Beat you to it!" Reki shouts as Langa slides up behind her a few seconds later. She sets her things on the counter alongside Reki's chips. The cashier gives them a weird look.
"You didn't even tell me we were racing." Langa replies, taking her wallet out. It's the new one Reki bought her, with blue ribbons printed all over it. "I'll pay since you paid last time."
"Thanks, like you said earlier, I'm broke." She admits, slapping a hand on Langa's shoulder with a pitiful look, their popcorn still huddled up in the crook of Reki's elbow against her chest. Langa pays for their things and they leave, chip bag crinkling as Reki fiddles with it awkwardly. She hands Langa a chip as if she hadn't bought Langa an entirely separate bag, and then she shoves a beefy handful in her mouth. "Thry ituh!"
Langa stares at her and takes the chip, watching Reki nearly choke and die on the handful in her mouth. "I told you I've had these before." She says, tossing it in her mouth. It would taste better if they were both inside and cuddled on Reki's bed watching ASMR together. That was Langa's recent new fascination and Reki loved using it as an excuse to turn it on everytime they got sleepy. Langa knew that Reki secretly liked it too.
"Still, 's good, right?" Reki bobs her head, eyes glued to Langa. It's all she's been doing lately, staring. Langa likes it, the attention.
"Mm." Langa nods, flustered. Reki meets Langa's gaze a few times again and then looks away, stuffing another chip into her mouth. "Reki, y'knowh," she coughs, clearing her throat. "Like I said earlier, you never have to plan these crazy, romantic dates. We'll think of something to do to make it perfect just by being with eachother, n' it doesn't need to be expensive or whatever a traditional date would be."
"Ya sure?" Reki asks, glancing up to the dark sky. Nights in Okinawa usually aren't all that chilly, but tonight it is. Reki's got goosebumps, could just be from Langa though. "I wanna do somethin' special, though."
Langa, effortlessly sweet with everything she says, presses against Reki with an easy response. "Everything we do together is special, Reki."
Reki's heart skips a beat, like how they do in cheesy romance films. Something she'd never thought she could ever experience. Langa takes Reki's hand, a little cold, with the softest smile in the world on her face. Reki wonders how red she probably is. "If you wanna do something, we can just plan it together," she says, fingers tightening around Reki's sweaty palm. "You're bad at things like this, planning alone."
God, does Langa look pretty. The street lights are casting that yellow-y glow on Langa's face that they always do as she walks, and every now and then Reki catches glimpses into Langa's eyes, her cheekbones standing out with each pass of light. Reki's really scored, Langa is effortlessly beautiful. "Heh, we'll do that then," she replies, caught off guard. "Teamwork makes the dreamwork?"
Langa snorts, her lips pressing together as she fights not to laugh. All the tension from todays failed date eases off of Reki's shoulders, and with these shrimp chips in her hand, the popcorn crooked into her arm, and Miya's and Koyomi's candies in the other hand, she thinks the day turned out alright despite everything.
"You're so corny." Langa huffs, "but I love you, even if you are."
Reki's heart thumps again, the light passes over Langa once more, and Reki grins so hard she thinks for a moment that she might look a little goofy. "I love you too! That was the first time we've said I love you," Reki mutters, cheeks still so red with affection. "Y'know, as girlfriends."
Langa squeezes her. "That's right. It's a romantic I love you now, right?"
"Yeah." Reki replies. "I love you."
"Don't overdo it."
"I do!" Reki whines, knocking her head against Langa's.
"Yes, Reki." Langa blinks at her, wetting her lips and leaning closer to press a kiss to Reki's warm cheek. "I love you too, you are stupid." Langa huffs, glancing away shyly.
"You're so cute, Langa!" Reki shrieks, patting her cheek to see if the kiss had been real. She throws herself onto Langa, snuggling all up into her space.
"Rekiiiii!" She groans, nearly toppling over.
The redhead giggles happily, yeah, today had been a good day regardless of her silly, failed attempt at romancing Langa. She had fun, and she was in love, and so unbelievably grateful. That's what really mattered.