Work Text:
“Urrgh…”
A small groan pierced the silence of the apartment as the morning sun shone onto Ayaka's face through the curtains, rousing her from her slumber. She was never a morning person, but the duties of everyday life force her to wake up early. She stretched languidly before rolling over to reach for her phone, which was laying on her bedside table. The time on the screen read 6:13am, which meant that she had at least an hour of time to spare before she'd need to get up. Ayaka checked today's schedule for her college classes, and as tradition would have it, she had four classes to attend today. Surprisingly, that was perfect for her, since she wouldn't have to forcibly kill time in the afternoon. Maybe she could take an extra shift at the music store she worked at in Kichijoji today, considering her entire previous paycheck had gone towards new recording equipment, or perhaps…
“Hmm?”
Her attention returned to her phone, which had briefly buzzed in her hand. She pulled up the notification, and a smile formed on her face as she read who it was from.
*gm Ayaka, hope you slept well, sorry if i woke you up*
She could feel her smile widening as she read her boyfriend's text. It was a simple thing, sure, but Nagisa's morning texts always brightened her day. She thought for a bit before quickly typing out her reply.
*gm Nagisa!! It's fine, haha, I just woke up. Good thing it's a Friday today, huh?*
*a good thing indeed. do you have any plans after classes? I want to spend some time with you...*
He wants to meet up today, huh? Well, she supposed she could always take the shift tomorrow instead and take it easy for today… yeah, that sounds quite pleasant.
*Okay, see you at our usual spot. I can't wait!*
*neither can I. love you!*
Ayaka's breath stopped short as the words popped up on her screen. Two simple words, yet they sent her heart into a frenzy like no other. Her lips curved into a giddy grin as she sent him her response.
*Love you too! <3*
With that done, she set her phone down on the bedside table and finally got out of bed, letting out a sigh as she stood up. 6am was a horrible time to have to get ready at, but at least she can regain some lost hours of sleep tomorrow before work. Ayaka walked over to her wardrobe and skimmed through her clothes. What to wear today… eh, the usual set would do, probably. It's too early in the day for her to want to think too hard, so it's good she always had one notable set of clothes she was easily recognisable in. She took a white dress shirt off the hanger and a pair of black shorts and knee-high socks from her drawers and headed to the bathroom to continue getting ready there.
—--
After finally getting dressed, Ayaka wet her face with some water before reaching for a bottle of deep pore cleanser lotion that she used as part of her basic morning routine. She wasn't one to dabble in some overcomplicated skincare procedures, but she figured it'd be good to put some effort into keeping her face pimple-free. She massaged it into her skin, taking care to evenly distribute the lotion and rinsed it off with lukewarm water afterwards. Simple, but very effective.
Next up on the checklist was makeup. Unlike skincare, this was one area Ayaka was very particular about. Granted, she didn't use a ton of it, but it was important to get right. Maybe it was a good thing she got up early today; could use that time to make sure she looks extra beautiful in Nagisa's eyes… oh, who was she kidding, he'd tell her she looks gorgeous anyway. Regardless, it had to be done. A bit of foundation to even out the skin tone, some concealer under the eyes, a touch of neutral eyeshadow to give that “no makeup” look and a brush of mascara to define her lashes and voila, all done. Today, however, she was feeling a little daring, so she applied some thin eyeliner in the hopes that her boyfriend would notice. He always seemed to stare into her eyes for prolonged periods of time… and she loved feeling his serene gaze on her.
Last but certainly not least was the hair. Thankfully, it was rather cooperative, much to Ayaka's relief, as it only required a few brushes to straighten out any strands that may have gotten tangled overnight. She only ever used some conditioner and shampoo during her showers, finding any additional products redundant. She was always a little proud of how well she took care of her hair while taking so little steps, but she's too modest to admit it out loud. She couldn't detect any abnormalities in the mirror, so with a little nod to her own reflection she left the bathroom.
—
The living room was generally kept tidy, but it was currently a bit cluttered with the recording equipment she had bought recently. It was worth every single yen spent, though, as the quality was miles ahead of the stuff she had used beforehand. Ayaka sidestepped most of the equipment and grabbed her guitar case, which doubled as her bag. She checked one last time whether she had everything; laptop, notebooks, a pen and, of course, her trusty guitar, tried and true. It's been with her from all the way back in high school, when she was still in the band with Ryoko and the others…
A sad smile flashed on her face as she thought of her friend. Ryoko was the most calm and collected of the band, but Ayaka could always tell that she was the most excited about music. The sparkle in her eyes was clear and unmistakable whenever they chatted about their visions of making it big together and putting on the show of a lifetime. However, the influence of a certain Kei Akashi and her own parents’ insistence forced Ryoko to give up her ambitions of a music career and pass on her dreams to Ayaka. Sometimes, she couldn't help but wonder what could have been… but on the other hand, she wouldn't have ever met Nagisa or any of the other Phantom Thieves had the band not disbanded, and they meant the entire world to her, if not even more. Deep down, hope lived within her that someday, she may fulfill her old friend's lifelong dream, with her friends by her side. Ayaka shook off the thought and checked the time on her phone. 7:04am… she should get going. She pulled on her shoes, put on her signature oversized coat and finally reached for her hat before taking one last look in the mirror and finally leaving the apartment.
As Ayaka made her way out onto the backstreets of Yongen-Jaya, she came across a familiar furry friend.
“Heyyy, little guy! How've you been?”
The black cat trotted up to Ayaka and started rubbing itself along her leg, invoking a chuckle from the girl. She had met the stray feline a few months ago while playing her guitar early one summer morning, and it came by, intrigued by the melody, and started helping with its adorable little meows. It loved to greet her specifically every Friday, and today was no different. She bent down to scratch behind its ear, making it immediately lay down on the ground and start purring.
“Aww, who's a good kitty, who's a gooood kitty? Yes you are!”
The cat looked up at her with its brown eyes, slowly blinking as it made eye contact. Ayaka could feel her heart melting as her hand moved to give it some quick chin scratches. Unfortunately, she couldn't afford to spend any more time with it right now, much to both of their dismay.
“Listen, I'd love to stay, but I'm in a bit of a hurry. I'll play with you some more another day, okay? Say hello to Morgana for me if you ever wander by Leblanc.”
No visible reaction could be seen from the cat, who just wanted more pets. Ayaka chuckled and went on her way, heading towards the Yongen-Jaya station to catch a train to Shibuya, where she intended to drop by the convenience store for a morning snack before getting to campus on foot.
—
The station was packed with people as usual, ranging from high school students to the average office worker, wanting to get the day done with. 7am was the start of morning rush hour in Tokyo, so the sight was as common as rain in Ireland. Much to Ayaka's misfortune, the line from Yongen to Shibuya was one of the most congested lines in all of Tokyo, so it'd be a miracle if she could squeeze onto the train with her gig bag, which already took up a fair bit of space. On the bright side, it was the only train she ever had to take to actually get to college, so 15 minutes of being squished like a sardine together with tens of other people in an already cramped train car was a fair trade in her eyes. Good thing she had her headphones with her at all times, they helped pass the time faster.
Speaking of… she should probably put something on while she still has the space to move. Ayaka whipped out her phone and scrolled through her multiple playlists, trying to find the perfect one. Eventually, she settled on some classic tracks from many years ago, ones that she picked up while she was visiting Tatsumi Port Island. As the first notes of Moon's Reaching Stars started playing from her headphones, she let herself zone out while gazing out onto the tracks, waiting for the train to arrive.
I never felt, like, so miserable…
So miserable, huh… as much as Ayaka loved that song, she couldn't relate to its lyrics right now. If anything, she was more content with her life than ever before. Her music career was constantly climbing onto a higher stage, she had the best of friends in the form of the Phantom Thieves of Desires, the salary from her job was acceptable, college was… going fine, and most importantly, she had met the love of her life. Everything was practically perfect… and the train finally arrived, forcing her to return to reality. Ayaka adjusted the strap on her bag and braced herself for the tsunami of people trying to get into the cars. Luckily, she managed to just barely squeeze in near the entrance. Being small did have its uses after all. As the doors closed, she could feel her mind wandering off again, the lyrics of the song reaching her ears once more.
When stars smile at moon, wonder how it looks in your eyes…
Now that was definitely her favourite part, if only because it made her think of her relationship with Nagisa. This part of Moon's Reaching Out Stars almost felt like it was about them. Ayaka wasn't really sure how to explain it herself, but it made her want to rush the composition of her latest track. She already had two songs to her name, one of which was a dedication to her boyfriend, the other a relic of her past, made together with her old high school band. Both songs were like dear treasures to her, and a lot of time had passed since she released anything new. She had most of it written down, a melody about their relationship, the last instalment in a trilogy of songs about how her life had changed…
Ayaka's attention snapped back to reality as she realised that the train was almost at Shibuya. She readied herself once more for the exit process as it pulled into the station. Thankfully, she left the train rather smoothly and returned above ground. She quickly checked the time on her phone, which read 7:35am. About 25 minutes left until classes started… that's not enough time to grab something from Triple Seven. She'd have to rely on the campus shop for her morning breakfast.
It was a good thing the college was within walking distance of Shibuya, as Ayaka couldn't possibly imagine waking up any earlier than she already does. She had heard stories of people getting up at 4am to get ready for the day, needing to take many trains across all of Tokyo just to barely get to their classes on time. Luckily, she could let herself have the luxury of taking her time, commonly arriving just before 8am, but only because she never felt the need to hurry unless she overslept. Even today, she was slightly earlier than usual, having arrived 15 minutes before classes were to begin. That gave her enough time to buy an egg sandwich and a bottle of water from the shop, which she'd slowly consume while rereading her schedule for the day.
Maths, English, Composition, and Music Technology, those were her classes today. All of them except Maths were right up her alley, which gave her faith that the time would pass by quickly. Maths she was taking more out of necessity than need, but she was passing, and that's all that mattered to her. Composition and Music Technology were part of her major, so they were mandatory classes, although they were enjoyable all the same due to being her field of expertise. She already had hands-on experience with them, so she'd commonly zone out during lectures and end up thinking about something completely unrelated to the topics being discussed, but it didn't stop her from acing the classes anyway. English, however, was one of her favourite subjects. Ayaka had always wanted to go abroad somewhere, so she strived to give it her all when studying foreign languages. Her main countries of interest lay in Europe, namely England itself, Italy (in no small part thanks to Shoki Ikenami's praises of his mother's home country) and, for some odd reason, Poland. All of those subjects went together to create a solid day at college, or so she hoped as she entered the lecture room to begin with Maths.
—
As expected, the day flew by without a hitch, and before Ayaka knew it, it was 3pm and her last class was finally over. She was making her way to her usual spot in Shibuya Square, headphones playing some happy tunes, already thinking about where she'd be going with Nagisa... who she hadn't heard from since the morning. She decided to pause her music and send him a quick text to see if he's done as well.
*Hey, I just finished classes, almost at the square. How about you?*
*Already on a train to Shibuya, should be there in a minute.*
Ayaka's eyes widened slightly at how fast the response came, but what surprised her even more was that he was almost here. She could've sworn Nagisa also finished school at 3pm, but considering how far Shimo-Kitazawa was from Shibuya, that would mean...
*You didn't skip any classes, did you?*
*Nah, last class got cut short, so I finished half an hour early.*
She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. At least he wasn't skipping anything important just to see her… much as she wouldn't mind. Though, in hindsight, he never skipped class unless urgent Phantom Thief business required it, so it was a stupid assumption in the first place.
*Okay, good, just making sure. See you in Shibuya!*
*Yup.*
Just as that text conversation finished and Ayaka was about to put on her headphones again, she arrived at the square in time to see Nagisa come up the stairs from the underground, looking around the area. There he was; her Mr Right, with his mesmerising scarlet eyes and equally red flowing hair, the one who had helped her find her voice and realise her true self. He hadn't spotted her yet, though, which gave her an excellent idea. She whipped out her phone and sent him a message.
*Look ahead, I can see you from here haha*
Nagisa's head snapped forward almost instantly, fixated on trying to find his girlfriend among the crowd. Perfect, he didn't suspect a thing. She crept up behind him and wrapped her arms around his body, pulling him into her embrace.
“Surprise! Did I scare you? Hehe…”
He jumped slightly as he felt her arms around him. Nagisa had been so focused on trying to find her in the mass that he hadn't considered this possibility at all. A smile inevitably formed on his face as he whipped round to see Ayaka looking up at him with a cheeky grin.
“Yeah, maybe a little. Come here, you.”
He turned around fully to give her a proper hug, which she melted into almost instantly. He was so soft, so warm, so comforting… she almost let out a whine when he pulled away, but they were still in public, so it wasn't really appropriate to stay like that for too long. Still, she wanted to feel him as close to her as possible.
“So, where are we going? You've been keeping me in suspense all day…”
“Inokashira Park. I figured we could both use a bit of quiet time, maybe with some guitar playing in the mix. What do you say? We could also catch a train to Odaiba instead, watch the waves crash, if you'd rather that.”
Both. Both sounded good to Ayaka, so long as she was with him, but alas, there wasn't enough time for both. She pondered the question for a bit, weighing the options before choosing.
“...Inokashira Park sounds quite nice, yeah.”
Nagisa smiled and held out his hand.
“Let's get going, then. Train leaves in five minutes.”
Ayaka nodded and took his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together as they made their way back to the Shibuya Underground to the Keio Inokashira Line.
—
The train ride to the park was silent for the most part. The couple had managed to get some seats, so at least they didn't have to stand for half an hour. Ayaka could just let herself rest her head against Nagisa's shoulder as they sat there, watching the sights of Tokyo zoom by. Eventually, the train pulled into the station, and they headed to the park to properly spend some time. They seated themselves on a bench overlooking the lake, fingers intertwined as Ayaka snuggled up to her boyfriend.
“How was your day today? Anything interesting happen at Kokatsu?”
“Not that I can think of. Most school days are pretty boring when no Phantom Thief business is going on. You?”
“Same old, same old. College is starting to be much more of a chore than I expected. Speaking of Phantom Thief business, we're gonna be sending the calling card to Shimotsuna soon, right?”
Nagisa nodded.
“Yep, I've got it prepared at home. We just need Lufel to be more precise with his swoops so we can guarantee he snatches the voice recorder and we're golden.”
“I'm guessing he's training with Motoha right now, then?”
“Bingo, but even if he wasn't, I'd ask him to find something to do for a while. When I say I want to spend some time with you…” he reached to clasp her other hand as well “...I mean only you.”
Ayaka could feel her cheeks flushing at his words. She shifted slightly, burying her head in his shoulder.
“You have no idea what effect your words have on me, you know?”
Nagisa looked at her, his sparkling crimson eyes accompanied by a cheeky grin.
“Maybe I do, and that's the fun part…”
Ayaka's head immediately turned to meet his gaze, her cheeks burning slightly more intensely as she gave off a small whine.
“The fact you're able to look me in the eye and say that… You're such a tease, Nagisa.”
That invoked a small laugh from him, which only made Ayaka's heart beat faster. It was surprisingly rare to hear him laugh, so every time it happened, it felt like music to her ears, a sound she might want to record to have on repeat just for herself. Her attention was brought back to reality as Nagisa gestured to her bag.
“Can I borrow your guitar for a sec?”
“Hm? Yeah, uhh, sure…”
Ayaka unzipped the compartment, took out her trusty guitar and handed it to him. The request puzzled her, though; Nagisa played the bass, so what was he planning? Everything became clear as soon as the first notes started to play.
“How did it go, again… maybe something like this…”
My Mr Right
Scarlet eyes
Watching how far made me move
Together take stage to sing out all my brave
Ayaka's eyes widened as Nagisa strummed and sang out the opening to Wonder Light before suddenly stopping, his fingers hesitating. He looked at her, a shy smile flashing on his face.
“How was that? I've been trying to learn how to play Wonder Light on the guitar during band club so I could surprise you one day, but I really wanted to show you what I can do now. It's miles harder than it was on bass, I'll tell you that much.”
Ayaka blinked twice before her mind processed what had happened. It was… pretty sweet of him to try and learn to play it, especially considering it was outside his field of expertise.
“Yeah, it was really good, I can tell you put a lot into this! Though you'd have an easier time playing if you did this…”
—
The hours whiled away as the two attempted to improve Nagisa's guitar skills. It was the small things like that, spending time together in any way possible, that meant the entire world to them. With a bit of persistence, many sighs and even more laughs, Ayaka managed to teach her boyfriend how to play the song properly. After all that, they simply sat there together, gazing out onto the sparkling lake of Inokashira Park before Nagisa spoke up.
“Have you ever gone on one of those boats that they let people rent around here?”
Ayaka perked up slightly. She had thought about them many times before when visiting, but they always felt too… romantic for her, for lack of a better word. The only people to ever grace those boats were presumably dating, which she had the pleasure of only doing for a few months now.
“No, never. What about it?”
“What do you say we rent one before they close for the day? The sun's starting to set, and I imagine the view would be wonderful.”
There's the question she was hoping he'd ask. Just the two of them, together out on a lake where no one else could reach them… maybe they could play something while in the boat, too. However, her throat tightened up, the words refusing to let her voice her assent, so she did the only thing she could and planted a kiss on his cheek.
“...Yeah, let's go.”
Seeing Nagisa's goofy smile and cheeks turning as scarlet as his hair made her want to giggle. He was always so cute whenever she showed him a bit of physical love, but he was extra adorable this time. She stood up, pulling him up with her and basically dragged him towards the rental place, fingers intertwined and his hand slightly squeezed.
Not long after, they found themselves near the middle of the lake. They had gone with a rowing boat to amplify the romantic tension, even though it did mean Nagisa had to put in some work to get them there. Once he set down the oars, he let out a blissful sigh and started looking around with a face full of wonder, and Ayaka couldn't blame him one bit. Even out of season, the park looked magnificent when illuminated by the slowly setting sun. The water perfectly reflected the blazing orange sky, decorating it with equally exquisite clouds, and splotches of azure were retained by the shade of the trees. It was almost as if the surface of the lake was a field of flames, surrounding the duo in their boat. If the guitar hadn't been taking up so much space, she would've just leaned in for a kiss right then and there, but on the other hand, she was curious as to how well her playing would sound in such an open space, so she supposed she'd have to leave the kissing for later, maybe…
Her fingers moved to pluck the strings and tune the guitar accordingly while Nagisa watched intently, having finished checking out their surroundings.
“Seems like we're the only ones out on the lake at this hour, huh? Guess I'm the only lucky one who'll get to hear you play…”
Ayaka briefly faltered before gripping her guitar a little tighter as her heart skipped a beat and cheeks faintly flushed. Damn it, how did he always know what to say to get her flustered? Her fingers trembled slightly as she thought about playing just for him. Nagisa was the first person to hear her sing for the first time since she had finished high school, after all, so being alone with him in the middle of a lake set off all sorts of butterflies in her stomach. Fortunately, he didn't seem to notice her reaction, and she managed to play it off.
“Yeah, that's true, haha. I hope this'll sound really good…”
With that said, she corrected her hold on the guitar, closed her and began strumming the first notes of Seize the Light.
Strum for memo
One more daring try
In secret
Step on shadow
One more starry night
Hide in shade
Immediately, Ayaka could tell the difference between playing on land and in the middle of a lake. She's always had a good ear for noticing subtle changes in songs, and this time was no different. Due to the lake’s surface not reflecting sound waves too well, the music felt a little quieter. Additionally, it almost sounded like there was a delayed echo following the plucked strings, making some of the higher notes sound strange. It was a little disappointing, though not unexpected.
Despite that, however, Ayaka kept playing. Somehow, it just felt… right, doing what she loved, in a boat with the boy she cherished most. She opened her eyes to look at Nagisa, who was sitting there with his jaw open and eyes widened. The way he was looking at her made her blush and avert his eyes, feeling a little nervous yet giddy. Her strumming slowed as she met his gaze.
“W-What? D-Don't stare so much…”
Nagisa shook his head slightly and let out a small chuckle, his lips curving into a gentle smile.
“If we weren't in the middle of a lake, I'd be rushing for my bass to play along with you. It's always a joy to hear your music.”
That invoked a smile on Ayaka's face, her strumming coming to a full stop, robbing the area of the wondrous melody. The couple just sat there, quietly taking in the sight of each other as the water surrounding them reflected the dance of sky and clouds up above, illuminated by the setting sun. He placed a hand on her cheek, and her mind was sent into a frenzy as she felt his warmth. They gazed into each other's eyes as they both leaned in, breaths shortening and heartbeats synchronised. The birds in the trees had stopped chirping, almost as if watching the two in anticipation. The rustling of their clothes, while usually quiet, now felt like they echoed across the waters. Before either of them knew it, their lips had pressed together in a wave of passion, locking them in place and sending sparks flying.
Their eyes fluttered shut as the kiss intensified, a small moan escaping Ayaka's lips every time they shifted. He tasted absolutely divine, like the ambrosia of the gods, and that was the only thing that could possibly satisfy her in that moment. She wrapped her arms around his neck in an attempt to pull him even closer. His taste, his scent, his touch… they all came together to drive her absolutely crazy for him. It felt unreal, yet so perfect… or would have, had Nagisa's alarm not gone off to inform them that they had 5 minutes left. They unwillingly broke the kiss as he reached to check his phone.
“Damn it, five minutes until we have to return the boat. I wish we could stay longer, but I guess I should start rowing.”
“Aren't you still tired after the first trip here? Maybe I could take the oars this time…”
Nagisa simply winked in response.
“Nah, no need. You can cheer me on, though.”
That drew out a laugh from Ayaka, who clasped her hands together and rested her chin on them.
“Haha, okay then. Go, go, Nagisa! You can do it!”
—
Some more time passed before the couple had returned the boat to the rental (Nagisa claimed he wouldn't have made it in time if not for Ayaka's encouragement) and caught the train back to Shibuya, where they were originally planning to separate for the day. Ayaka, however, had a different idea in mind…
“Hey, Nagisa…?”
“What's up?”
Ayaka looked down. She couldn't believe she was about to ask him this, but she didn't want him to go just yet. She took a deep breath and steeled her nerves before continuing.
“Listen, it's getting pretty late. M-Maybe, um…”
Her voice slightly stuttered as her heart started beating extremely fast. The slight head tilt Nagisa did was not helping her case at all…
“M-Maybe you could… s-stay the night at my place?”
She could hear Nagisa's breath stop short, and she braced for the worst when she looked up to gauge his reaction. His eyes had widened considerably, and a small blush spread across his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck shyly. He looked absolutely adorable, but she wasn't gonna drop that bombshell of a statement on him right now.
“I, uh… would really like that, actually.”
A weight was lifted off Ayaka's heart as she heard those words. Her plan had worked; she had him all to herself that night, and it went by much smoother than she was expecting. Maybe it was because she had already been over to his house in Zoshigaya multiple times, yet he had rarely been over to her apartment, so it was possible that was partially driving his decision to stay. It didn't matter to her though, she was just happy that he wasn't leaving yet.
“Great! We gotta catch a train to Yongen, then. And, um… my apartment is a little messy, so I'm sorry about that in advance, this was a bit of a spur of the moment invite.”
“Don't worry about it, I'm sure it'll be fine.”
He offered her his hand once more.
“Lead me there?”
Ayaka chuckled and took Nagisa's hand, intertwining their fingers like she always loved to do.
“You know, for the proclaimed leader of the Phantom Thieves, you sure do enjoy getting dragged around by me. Maybe I should take on the role if you're so content with this, hehe!”
“Hey, I get to order you around in the Metaverse, you get to drag me around in real life. I see it as an absolute win for everyone.”
—
The keys rattled against the door as Ayaka fiddled with the lock. Eventually, it gave way and cracked open. Nagisa took hold of the door and gestured for her to go in first, which she did so with a smile. Once they were inside and the door was shut behind them, she turned to face her boyfriend with open arms and a grin.
“Welcome back to my humble abode! I hope you'll enjoy your stay here tonight with your host; little old me.”
“Couldn't really pass up this opportunity, it's a pleasure to be here.”
Having said that, they both kicked off their shoes and headed deeper into the apartment, more specifically the living room, which was connected to the kitchen. Like Ayaka had left it in the morning, the room was still cluttered with a ton of recording equipment on both the table and the sofa, but there was enough space for both of them to comfortably navigate their way through. The kitchen, in turn, was spotless. Granted, Ayaka didn't use it a lot, so there wasn't much to stain it with except dust, but it looked good all the same.
They plopped down on the sofa in the living room, slowly winding down after the day. Nagisa wrapped an arm around her, upon which she immediately snuggled closer, drawing in a deep breath as she did. His scent always comforted her…
“I wonder how it would be, living here with you. Close to the station, close to Leblanc, close to you...”
Ayaka's heart skipped a beat as the thought of living together entered her mind, but she kept her cool and played it off.
“Well, I guess you're getting another trial run today, hehe…”
“Hah, that's true. I wonder how Lufel would react if I broke that news to him..”
Before Ayaka could come up with a reply, she could feel her stomach growling. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at Nagisa, hoping he hadn't heard that, but no dice, he was already looking at her with that stupid smirk of his.
“Hungry, huh?”
“Yeah, I haven't eaten anything since this morning. I'll go get us two ramen cups ready…”
Just as Ayaka was about to stand, she was stopped by Nagisa, who took her hand and shook his head in response.
“Nope, you're eating properly tonight. No college struggle meals for you. You got eggs in the fridge?”
“Yeah, I bought a carton last week. Why?”
“That's because we're making omelettes. Come on, I'll teach you how.”
—
After almost spilling the whisked eggs, a lot of banter and some terrible folding with the spatula, the duo finally had the omelettes ready. They almost looked like golden crepes, and the smell was immaculate. Nagisa had found some ham, bell peppers and spring onions, which he promptly sliced up and put to good use while Ayaka took care of the omelettes themselves under his guiding eye. Truly, they had made a work of culinary art, but what mattered in the end was the taste. Nagisa sighed with content as they each cut a slice of their food and got ready to take their first bite.
“I gotta say, these look absolutely delicious. I'm proud of us.”
Ayaka nodded. For her first time making omelettes, she had done surprisingly well. Granted, she wasn't completely inexperienced in cooking eggs, as she did enjoy a good plate of scrambled eggs on a quiet Sunday morning, but it was something new.
Well, time for a taste test…
...oh damn, that was good.
She hummed in surprise as the food hit her taste buds. The fluffy texture of the eggs contrasted well with the smoky ham and tender vegetables, creating a savoury explosion of flavour that Ayaka was not used to at all.
“Yeah, not bad for my first time. Thanks for helping me with dinner tonight, it's refreshing to eat something other than noodles for once. I've been meaning to ask, how did you learn to cook so well?”
“I work multiple part time jobs that handle food, including at the crepe store in Shibuya. The process of baking the pancake, adding cream, adding strawberries, rolling up the pancake and wrapping it in paper has been engraved into my muscle memory, and the recipe's not so different for omelettes. That, and living alone with an owl that loves meat will get you to learn how to cook real fast.”
Ayaka nodded. It did make a lot of sense for him to have to teach himself all that. She chuckled slightly at the thought of Lufel crying out for roast pork before reaching for the salt shaker… only for her hand to brush against his. They both slightly pulled back at the touch, and he gestured for her to take it first. As she was applying extra salt to her omelette, she could hear Nagisa murmuring something under his breath.
“You have a bit of food here, let me just…”
Unexpectedly, Ayaka felt his hand cup her cheek, its warmth sending a little shiver down her spine. She immediately leaned into his touch, reacting almost subconsciously to the sensation as he carefully wiped a small piece of ham out of the corner of her mouth and brought it to his own lips, eating it in one bite. Butterflies were sent fluttering in her stomach as she watched him do that, though a little pout did form on her face and her face flushed bright red.
“I'm not a little kid, you know…”
Nagisa only grinned in response, which flared up her cheeks even more. Still, she couldn't really deny that she sort of enjoyed that, yet she did find it both oddly sweet and a little weird that he had eaten it…
—
Soon after, Ayaka found herself curled up on the sofa next to Nagisa once again, having washed up the dishes after their culinary undertaking. Turns out there was some truth in the saying “the way to someone's heart is through their stomach” after all. As they were lying there in each other's embrace, she could see him intently studying the recording equipment scattered around the room.
“How's the composition going? I know you've had a song in the works since we played Wonder Light at the square, but I haven't heard much from you about it.”
“It's nearly complete, actually. Just need a few finishing touches to the tune itself and I'm still figuring out the ending segment.”
“Looking forward to hearing it. Want me to help with anything?”
“I'd appreciate that, it's always reassuring to hear your thoughts on things. Maybe tomorrow, though, I'm a bit tired today…”
That said, Ayaka reached for her phone to check the time. Sure enough, it read 8:12pm. Not exactly a late hour for either of them, but she couldn't deny she was feeling a little sleepy in Nagisa's arms. A yawn was stifled as she shifted slightly to look up at him.
“You can go shower first if you want. I don't really want to move right now.”
“And let you fall asleep without me? Not happening.”
“I'll be fine, go on. I'll wait for you here.”
Nagisa's expression softened slightly as he looked at her, a hesitant sort of smile spreading across his face. His scarlet eyes were shimmering with a mixture of hope and anxiety, something which Ayaka had never seen before. She raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to say something.
“...Nagisa?”
He squirmed slightly upon her inquiry, but nothing could have possibly prepared her for his next words.
“Or maybe we could shower together?”
Time seemed to slow down as a million thoughts rushed through Ayaka's head. She could feel her heartbeat speed up considerably as she tried to process the idea. Showering together… definitely not something that had ever crossed her mind, but she wasn't opposed to it at all. In fact, her heart was telling her to go for it, to become even closer with him. However, her brain hadn't quite caught up with her heart yet, so she could only stutter out a few flustered words.
“Wh-Wha- are you sure?
“I mean, if you don't want to…”
The hesitance in Nagisa's voice immediately brought her mind up to speed. Ayaka took a shaky breath and steadied herself enough to look into his eyes, which were now gleaming with uncertainty.
“N-no, it's not that. You just caught me off guard, that's all… but yeah, I think I'll take you up on your offer.”
Ayaka stood up and extended her hand towards him, an intense blush forming on her cheeks as the reality of what they were about to do started to dawn on her.
“Care to lead me there?”
“I'll do you one better.”
Nagisa got up and, without warning, swept Ayaka up into his arms, making her let out a little yelp as the world changed perspective. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her breath hitching as she found herself firmly in his grasp. However, not a single complaint escaped her lips, and she found her muscles relaxing as she let herself get carried by her surprisingly strong boyfriend.
—
The door to the bathroom was nudged open by Nagisa's foot and he stumbled inside, barely able to keep his balance. As he set her down and turned his attention to the shower to get the water running, a few thoughts crossed over Ayaka's mind.
‘So… how are we gonna go about this? We need to go in there without any… y'know…”
Nagisa turned around and slowly stepped towards her, a caring glint in his eyes.
“Together, little by little.”
Ayaka's breath caught in her throat as she felt his fingers fumble with the top button of her shirt, her heart hammering in her chest so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
“May I?”
She nodded, her chest tightening with anticipation as his hand brushed against her collarbone. She looked to the side, unable to meet his gaze.
“Go on…”
Ayaka stood there, trying desperately to stay composed, though the growing tremble in her hands gave her away. Soon, the last button was undone, and her shirt hung loosely on her shoulders, one tug away from falling completely. Her eyes flickered back to meet his, her voice soft and full of emboldened desire.
“Can't let you do all the hard work…”
She reached for the hem of his shirt and attempted to pull it over his head, only for it to get stuck halfway since she couldn't reach that high. An embarrassed laugh bubbled up from both of them as Ayaka stood on her toes to help him fully take it off. The sight of a topless Nagisa normally would've made her put her face in her hands and look away, but tonight was different. She simply pressed her head against his chest and closed her eyes, taking in his scent and the firmness of his muscles.
“I can hear your heartbeat so much better like this. It sounds soothing…”
Nagisa chuckled and gently stroked Ayaka's hair, the strands threading loosely through his fingers and sending a shiver down her spine as she pressed her head into his chest even further.
“I imagine yours would be no different if I listened to it now…”
Steam slowly filled the room as they helped each other undress, sparks flying with every brush of skin, every nervous glance. Soon enough, no barrier stood between them and their bodies, making every touch feel much more meaningful. With a shaky breath, Ayaka stepped into the shower, pulling Nagisa in with her.
Rivulets of water trickled down their bodies as they stood together under the stream, taking turns applying soap onto the other's body. Soft smiles were exchanged with every caress of their roaming hands, setting their nerves alight. A blissful sigh escaped her lips as she traced a finger along the edge of his chest before reaching to cup his cheek. Steam condensed into small droplets, adorning Ayaka's lashes as she blinked up to look at Nagisa before pulling him into a tender kiss.
Around them, the world fell silent, the only perceptible sounds being the little moans that escaped them. All that mattered was the presence of the other, the brushes of skin, the little gasps for air, the sparkle of desire in their eyes. Once they finally broke away, Ayaka leaned into his chest, savouring the feeling.
“Is this what paradise feels like…?”
“Perhaps so… can I ask a favour?”
She tilted her head slightly out of curiosity, though she could feel her heartbeat speed up.
“Sure, what's up?”
“...will you sing me to sleep tonight?”
Ayaka's lips parted a little out of surprise before curving into a grin. She let out a playful hum, then pressed his nose with her thumb.
“Maybe… but only if you do something for me in return.”
“What would that be?”
Her grin widened as she pulled back a damp strand of hair from Nagisa's face and tucked it behind his ear.
“I'll sing you to sleep… but only if you wash my hair. What do you say?”
A small smirk adorned Nagisa's face, though the glimmer in his eyes gave away his true feelings of excitement.
“Sounds like a win-win for me. It's a deal.”
That drew out a giggle from Ayaka, who closed her eyes and turned around, giving him better access to her hair
“Make sure to use the right shampoo, okay…?”
Her heartbeat was pounding in her ears, drowning out the sound of cascading water and Nagisa's shuffles as he applied shampoo to his hands. An involuntary moan escaped Ayaka's throat as his fingers came in contact with her scalp, massaging it with precise circular motions. She pushed her head slightly into his hands, invoking a small laugh from Nagisa.
“Does it feel that good?”
“Mmm. You don't even know the half of it…”
Nagisa laughed again as he continued to wash her hair, adjusting his movements in accordance to Ayaka's reactions. He gently tilted her head back, letting the water wash away the suds from the strands as he gazed upon her serene expression, a small smile gracing her features. Time seemed to slow as they stayed together under the shower…
—
“We should really do that again sometime. The shower's gonna feel so empty now…”
“I agree, but could you sit still? I don't want to get your hair tangled.”
Ayaka smiled as she turned her head back to let Nagisa continue brushing her hair. Not only had she gotten it washed by him, but she had coerced him into drying and brushing it too, and all she had to do in return was sing him to sleep. As she felt the strands being gently parted by the brush, she couldn't help but think about the future.
“I've been thinking about our time as the Phantom Thieves. What's the plan, after everything’s done and dealt with?”
Nagisa's motions stopped as he pondered the query, a heavy sigh leaving his chest.
“I don't know, honestly. I can't bring myself to think about it. The Phantom Thieves mean everything to me. I…”
He swallowed nervously, the question clearly having struck a nerve deep within him.
“I don't want to lose anyone. You, Lufel, the others… I want to protect all of you, and that's all I know for sure.”
Ayaka could feel her heart sinking as the atmosphere grew heavy with uncertainty. She turned around and pulled Nagisa into her embrace, squeezing him tightly.
“Listen, no matter what life throws at us, I'll stay by your side forever, okay? You don't have to worry so much, I promise that we'll find a way through it all.”
She planted a quick peck on his lips, which brought a bit of that familiar smile right back to Nagisa's face. They stayed in each other's arms for a few seconds longer before she let go and patted her lap.
“Come on, rest your head here. I need to sing your worries away.”
Nagisa let out a small snort, but didn't protest as he laid down, facing up to look at Ayaka. They shared a silent smile before she caressed his hair and started singing.
I believe, so strongly
that tomorrow never falls away…
As soon as the first notes left Ayaka's throat, she noticed Nagisa's features relaxing, his brow unfurrowing as her gentle voice pierced the nightly air, filling it with a somber yet hopeful tune. She ran a hand through his hair, threading her fingers through his scarlet locks as she gazed upon her beloved with nothing but love in her heart.
Write me an endless song
As I'll feel so alive…
Nagisa's eyelids fluttered shut as she sang, his breathing steadying into a peaceful rhythm as he slowly fell asleep, carried by the gentle melody. As Ayaka watched him drift off in her lap, she pressed one last kiss to his forehead before setting his head onto the pillow and laying down beside him. She wished every day could be like this, spent sharing her life with the person she loved most. Just before sleep claimed her, she murmured one last sentence against his ear.
“Good night, Nagisa. I love you…”