Work Text:
The thing about being at university, was that it was damn hard work. You were constantly busy, which had - at least for you - forced your friend group to narrow down. Where you’d had a lot of less close friends in high school, you’d transitioned to a smaller group of much closer friends. It was nice. One of those friends was Maki, she was reliable and steadfast, always there to help out and so you tried to do the same for her too.
You couldn’t count how many times she’d turned up in the eleventh hour with just the thing you needed to make your day instantly turn around.
Best friend!Maki always remembers what you forget
It was a rainy day, and you’d been cooped up in the library for most of it. You’d dressed cutely because it helped you feel better about being stuck indoors and working hard, but you’d quickly come to regret wearing a skirt without stockings. The library was cold as balls. You’d had to take several breaks to just go rinse your hands under the warm tap in the bathroom to warm up a little, standing under the hand dryer to help your poor legs, constantly raised with goosebumps. You appreciated the air conditioning in the summer, but in the winter it was hell. You understood it was to help with the sheer number of computers in the building, but it was still a pain in your ass.
Finally, you were in the home stretch of your essay. Or, at least, you were trying to tell yourself that. Had been telling yourself that for almost an hour. If you just told yourself that hard enough, maybe it would become true. You used that high focus as justification for why you jumped so hard when Maki appeared beside you and said your name.
“Did you forget how cold it is in here?” She asked, expression knowing behind her rectangular glasses frames.
“Yeah.” You had to sheepishly admit, because you’d long since given up on even trying to fool Maki. It was pointless.
“Though so. Here.” From her bag, Maki pulled a pair of your own black stockings, and a hoodie. You could’ve cried. You forgot about the library’s stupid air conditioning often, and she’d remembered. Immediately, you took off to change in the bathroom, mouthing thank you’s as you walked backwards, then spun around to move quicker without bumping into anyone or anything. Maki just smiled as she watched you go.
Best friend!Maki knows what foods you like best
The plan to go for lunch together had been completely last minute, but you hadn’t been able to resist. It was the weekend, and you’d already finished all your work so had a free afternoon for the first time in ages. So, of course you’d agreed when Maki had invited you to join her for lunch.
One cute outfit and lip combo later, you were waltzing into the cute cafe down the street from campus - the one that was a closely kept secret around campus, that was less frequented students because it was so out of the way, down a side alley. There she sat, on a table by the window that was almost always occupied whenever you visited, with food and a drink already ordered for you.
Your voice rang out around the space as you called her name, and when she looked up, her face transformed from her usual neutral (bordering on scary) expression to one just a little warmer, a small smile pulling at her lips. It took just a few steps for you to be there at the table, sitting opposite her.
“Is this-”
“Yeah, it’s your usual. I know what you order by now.” Maki casually replied as she sipped at her own coffee with a shrug. Like it was no big deal for to know exactly what drink, and food you usually get when you go out. Not just that, but she’d ordered your second choice order, because they hadn’t had the first. She just knew you.
“I’ll get the next one.” You promised firmly, and she just shook her head. She’d accept it, because you’d make her, but she never made a big deal out of making things even. As long as you were happy, she was too.
Best friend!Maki forgets to take care of herself when she’s cramming
It was a terrible habit that you’d tried to get her out of a dozen times, but you’d learned over the years just how hopeless that could be. She was stubborn above all else, so all you could do is make up for it on her behalf.
The key she’d given you for her apartment was technically supposed to be for emergencies, but Maki left unattended when she was cramming was always an emergency, so you didn’t feel guilty about using it to sneak your way in. Was it really sneaking? You weren’t trying to be secretive, she just wasn’t paying enough attention to notice you.
So what did you do with that? Naturally, you started by doing her dishes. Then you cleared out the food in the fridge that had started going mouldy, because she was living off instant noodles so everything in there was just slowly rotting away. Finally, you actually announced your arrival by bringing her a glass of water that you gently set on her desk.
“How long have you been here?” She asked, looking up at you to reveal the dark bags under her eyes.
“Long enough to do the dishes and clean the fridge.” You replied, dropping yourself into the beanbag on the other side of her room.
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“And I’ll keep doing it anyway. Now drink your water and finish what you’re working on, then we’re going on a walk.”
“I’m bu-”
“You’ve not left this apartment in three days. A walk won’t kill you.” Your words were firm, brows pinched with concern. She couldn’t argue when you looked at her like that.
“Fine. Just give me ten minutes to finish this topic.”
Best friend!Maki anticipates your good morning message every day
It was a habit you’d gotten into months ago while you were sick, Maki had asked you to check in every day so she knew you were still alive. She’d been mostly joking, but had been reassured when you’d done it anyway. Then, it just kind of never stopped. In fact, they got increasingly silly over time.
Despite that, every morning Maki found herself smiling at what you sent.
She consistently woke up earlier than you so she could go to the campus gym while it was still quiet each day, getting a workout done before she got to work on university projects or studying, or classes. It was a simple thing that started her day off right. By the time she was done, and opened her phone to swap which playlist she was listening to, she’d find your message. Usually something simple, accompanied by a silly, sweet gif or reaction image.
“Gooood morning pretty thing!! Have a good day” and a photo of a dog that looked like it was smiling; “G’mornin angel! Lock in today” and several emojis that made less and less sense; “Morning gorgeous! Another day another grind, let’s do it!” and a cute gif of an animated bear; and other such ridiculous things, following the same format - good morning, pet name, well wishes for the day, and something cute. It was so uniquely you. Mai had teased her about it more than once, but Maki refused to rise to the bait. She wouldn’t change it for the world.
At first, she’d replied with her own good morning and well wishes for your day, but somewhere along the way the routine had shifted just lightly.
Best friend!Maki sends you gym progress pics
She’d started sending her gym photos to you each day. Nothing particularly extreme, just an update picture taken in the locker room mirror, with a simple caption like “Good morning, leg day update” so you knew what you were looking at. You’d never been so glad that traditional texts didn’t notify someone when their pictures were saved.
You loved your friends just like any other girl, and so you refused to believe that you calling Maki ‘mouth watering’ was anything out of the ordinary. You were just stating facts, really! You thought it was admirable just how much work she put into staying fit, and you appreciated that once a week she’d go along with you to one of your classes so you didn’t need to go along. You weren’t quite as dedicated as her, but it was easier to stay on track knowing you had someone there to support you, entirely without judgement.
The pictures you took together each weekend were your favourite. Silly, posing together and draped over each other, all saved securely to your google drive so you couldn’t lose them.
Best friend!Maki likes making sure you look your best
There was nothing more important than feeling your best, which included feeling like you looked your best, and Maki knew you believed that. Which was why she was always the first person to offer a hair tie if you needed one, the first person to pick away stray hairs from your jacket, the first person to unfold your skirt if ever it was messed up by sitting down or using the bathroom. She took good care of you like that.
It took you off guard the time she stepped in close, close enough that you were able to feel her breath on your face, and gently adjusted the collar on your shirt, smoothing it out with a gentle touch you’d never have expected from someone who looked like her - if you didn’t know better than that, that is. Maki made sure she was always gentle when she touched you, and you knew it. If she lingered for a moment longer than she needed to, then nobody felt the need to point that out.
Best friend!Maki panics when people assume you’re dating
Except that guy who’d been relentlessly hitting on you for weeks that is. He just didn’t seem to understand subtlety, or that fact that you were politely trying to turn him down. It really wasn’t working. Well, it was that guy who’d turned around and asked quite possibly the most blunt question you’d ever heard.
“You fucking?”
It caught you totally off guard. What? Where on Earth would he get that from? Maki slowly turned to face him, an expression on her face that screamed of her muderous intent, paired with sheer unadulterated confusion. You imagined your face must’ve looked much the same, because he hesitated before continuing: “or dating, or whatever?”
Men.
Maki just stared for a long while, which surprised you. She was usually the first person to clap back at idiots, especially when they were men. But she couldn’t seem to find her words. So, it was you that took that responsibility.
“No, she’s my best friend.” You told him with a scoff, followed by a roll of your eyes. He could’ve asked that question in so many ways, and yet that was the way he’d chosen to word it.
“Oh, right.”
“Why would you think that?” You then asked, because truly you couldn’t help yourself.
“You two just seem close.”
Maki finally seemed to find herself then, gently squeezing your shoulder.
“Just ignore him.” She told you flatly, in the way she always sounded when she’d decided that someone wasn’t worth her time. You shrugged and followed after her when she walked away.
Best friend!Maki is completly, totally, irrevocably in love with you
You’d known each other since middle school. She’d always loved you.
Even before, when she was just another friend of a dozen, and didn’t see you all that regularly. Before you’d slotted in perfectly into her life. Before she’d learned your coffee order and favourite snacks. Before you’d started keeping track of her class schedule to find moments to hang out. Before you’d started sending her fit checks, because you trusted her opinion implicitly. Before you’d shown just how kind you were by always being there for her. Before she’d started scaring men and women alike away from you.
Before all of that was a little girl who still didn’t understand that girls could marry other girls, who knew she wanted to hold your hand more than any boy in her class.
It hadn’t changed, even all these years later. Only now, sometimes she looked up and felt like she was getting a glimpse into the life she could have if only she was brave enough to tell you.
Especially on nights where you fell asleep on her shoulder watching movies together, so relaxed that you had no issue just curling up at her side beneath a shared blanket when it was cold, arms around her like it didn’t mean anything. It all made her heart race, but she still couldn’t tell you.
Best friend!Maki would rather be your best friend for the rest of her life, and never more, than risk losing you entirely