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The ceiling lamp in the room is off, Ena prefers not to have the brightness shining directly in her eyes. The dim yellow light comes from the computer, left on her desk to simulate the table lamp she has yet to buy, even though she should and can. She is usually able to find her way around her room in almost complete darkness, which has never been a problem since she spends most of the night on Nightcord or drawing.
Until now.
Now, Ena is lying on her side in bed, part of her brain scolding her and ordering to turn off the device if she is not going to use it for its original purpose so it won't break sooner than later. She refuses, however, because depriving herself of extra light until 25:00 a.m. means quitting the view before her: Akiyama Mizuki, wearing one of her pyjamas chosen by herself with more care than needed, humming softly as she tastes some sweets she has brought to the Shinonome household.
Brightly coloured bags are on the table, some with brand logos in languages she doesn't understand and others with excessive heart decorations. One of them fell to the floor without Mizuki making the slightest effort to pick it up, too busy savouring the delicacies from other lands. Ena would normally scold her, or at least ask her to not make a mess, but she doesn't want to interrupt the scene. Her delighted smile, her eyes lighting up with every new flavour she tastes, her dirty fingers that will potentially stain the shirt she has lent her. Her artistic side can see the brushstrokes, the colours blending together to replicate the cotton of her ponytail in an future attempt to immortalise the sight; Ena can't pay much attention to the idea anyway, this time it's her who appreciates the art and not the artist.
Just as Ena predicted, a piece of chocolate falls from Mizuki's lips as she bites into it, luckily for both of them onto her arm. Mizuki ponders her options for a moment, or so Ena wants to believe she does before licking the sweetness directly from her skin. Although she already suspected it from the little dance she did after the first bite, it's clear that her girlfriend likes that one in particular. Ena smiles at her growing similarities to a cat.
"Is it good?"
Mizuki looks back startled, remembering that she is not alone. She nods energetically with childlike joy. "It's amazing! Onee-chan has such good taste, I love her!"
Seeing her so delighted is a relief. When Mizuki asked Ena not to buy chocolates because her sister promised to send some for both of them and she tends to send much more than necessary, Ena was about to refuse. Yuuki is someone she admires, she wants to be that special and safe for Mizuki one day. The romantic gestures to be covered by her and not by Ena herself felt irresponsible, a way of settling for what is convenient and not putting real effort into showing how much the date means to her.
Then she understands after reading the letter sent by Yuuki, thanking Ena for what she has done for her sister and asking her to accept the gesture. It's a gift that is impossible for both of them to get because of their location, and it gives them a moment to share together, as they are doing, after spending the day celebrating their relationship. Ena was being unreasonable to worry about it, she realises now, admiring Mizuki doing another little dance. She doesn't have to struggle to please Mizuki; being together is what they enjoy most.
"Can you get me one?"
Mizuki looks at her while eating another chocolate. "One of these?"
Ena nods. There are three chocolates left in the rectangular box, not counting the one that's half-eaten. Mizuki looks at the chocolate she is holding, then flashes a smile that warns Ena of mischief, and adopts an expression of innocent glee as she replies.
"Nope."
The simple denial makes her wonder if she has misheard. Mizuki is the first to assure her that she can have all the snacks she wants without asking when she brings food to Empty Sekai or to her house, as on this occasion. Even earlier, she rejected the idea of choosing which part of the sweets she would give to Ena, resulting in a pyjama party of candies between them before going to Empty Sekai to share with the others.
Ena hopes she's joking temporarily, Mizuki loves to say no even if she's going to do what she asked for just to get a reaction. The way Mizuki ignores her and patiently eats the chocolate to repeat the act with the next one indicates that this is not the case.
Her face wrinkles. "Hey! I wanna try it too!"
A malicious giggle shakes her shoulders. Ena sits up in bed, ready to go and object against her response. It's not necessary, Mizuki leaves the altar of sweets surrounding her and goes with the almost empty box of sweets to keep her company.
Ena identifies her performance as a bad joke then, and sighs against the back of the bed as she waits for Mizuki to finish chewing and finally offer her the rest. It's a big surprise when Mizuki simply grabs the penultimate sweet and puts it in her mouth grinning instead, showing off her gift with an arrogant attitude.
The artist protests exasperated. "Mizuki! Are you really going to just give me the last one?"
Mizuki shakes her head, the tips of her hair brushing her shoulder. "I'm not giving you any."
Her disbelief elicits a laugh from the pink haired one, who does not take it back after doubling over with laughter nor after finishing the chocolate. She is about to devour what is left, as indicated by the way her hand approaches.
Ena slides the box to her side of the mattress, preventing her from grabbing it by inches. "Hey! Didn't you say we would share?"
Mizuki tilts her head, her expression feigning naivety. "Uh, but there's plenty left."
"Yeah, well, obviously that's the best one. Let me taste it at least."
Her gaze remains on Ena for a few moments during which Ena genuinely cannot deduct that she is thinking so carefully, although she doesn't have it in her to complain, given how beautiful she finds those eyes. Mizuki examines the remaining chocolate once more, swallows, having made her decision. A false melancholy descends the corners of her mouth into a pout.
"I guess this is goodbye."
The editor pushes the box until it reaches her in a silent delivery. Ena smiles pleased for a single moment, her frown returning when she sees Mizuki crawling until she is half a metre away from her. There is no more vainglory on her face. Ena still suspects that she will turn the situation into a game somehow.
"What are you doing?"
Her characteristic serene expression makes her even more suspicious. Mizuki takes the sweet under Ena's careful watch; she has to be quick to grab her wrist if she decides to eat it in one bite.
She shakes the candy ball as if it were a rattle. "Okay, Enanan, close your eyes~"
It's not the first time Mizuki has fed her, nor is it the first time she has tried to distract her to get her way. "Wait, how do I know you aren't just going to eat it while I'm not looking? Just give it to me." She holds out her hand, somewhat exasperated.
The vulnerable tenderness reflected in her eyes catches her off guard. "Don't you trust me?"
It's a small smile, no teeth showing. Her eyelids are slightly closed. So close up, Ena is sure it's not a lie or an act, because she's seen that expression many times before, in hugs, sleeping together, in moments when she thinks no one is watching her. It's a low blow for Ena that Mizuki reminds her how much she's willing to do for her at an unrelated moment. Maybe it's manipulation, maybe it's not, either way she's unable to not mimic the gesture. She can feel her own face softening.
She groans loudly, knowing she's letting herself fall into the trap. "Whatever. Be quick."
Deprived of her vision, Ena pays careful attention to every sound her ears pick up. A silence lingers, she bites her lower lip with anxiety. The silky paper on which the chocolates rested crinkles, indicating how Mizuki has returned the small ball to its place. Ena almost predicts what will happen. Almost, because her confusion is not entirely cleared up the moment Mizuki's lips meet hers.
She can sense her doubts in the way Mizuki doesn't dare to move as she probably intended. It makes sense now, the more reserved and sweet behaviour so different from her initial cheerfulness, the recent pause. She smiles, struck by an avalanche of tenderness, unable to wait patiently for Mizuki to continue as she takes control of her mouth.
She immediately understands what she was talking about. It's a different chocolate from the ones in Japan, undoubtedly local in the way she doesn't remember such a sensation from any sweet she has tasted before, with a touch of bitterness and vanilla that she registers a little after tasting. Still, her hunger does not subside. It feels like she has eaten it herself, and it's undoubtedly good; even so, Mizuki's idea is flawed from the outset, because no matter how valuable the sweet is, Ena cannot enjoy it fully if she tastes her at the same time.
Mizuki is more cautious than usual, slower. She doesn't usually do things like this, and Ena has witnessed her constant hesitation since the idea first popped into her head. She caresses her cheek with her thumb, reassuring her as she has done countless times before that any gesture of love on her part is always welcome, and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear so she can hold her face with both hands. That manages to ease her, revealed by her smile in the middle of the kiss and the way she leans closer.
Ena pulls away first, more out of a whim to see her than out of necessity. Mizuki is slightly flushed, with stars in her eyes, more radiant than ever. She seeks her lips again with reborn eagerness, and Ena grants her the desire for which she is also guilty.
As she plunges back into her lips, with Mizuki placing her hands on her hips, her leg brushes against the forgotten box between them. A wicked thought crosses her mind, she has to fight for it not to drown in the sea of mellow emotions she finds herself in. The artist decides to listen to it. Revenge is not sweeter than Mizuki, but it's an acceptable temporary replacement.
Breaking the kiss before she can taste the chocolate in her mouth again is harder than expected. She handles the urge somehow. "Actually, fuck you."
Mizuki returns to reality somewhat disoriented. "Huh?"
Her involuntary pout tempts Ena, an invitation to continue what she has paused. She swallows and takes a deep breath, hardening her face. She is stronger than her rosy cheeks and tousled fringe.
Her hands remain on her face. "I'm not forgetting how you didn't give me chocolates when I asked and almost ate them all." She retreats to a more normal distance, her arms crossed as usual. "I'm keeping it to myself too."
Mizuki processes her words, a mocking smile forming as she understands. "Your... taste?"
The ridiculous implication of her words hits her, her attitude looks much more childish. She blushes, unable to come up with a good response.
"Don't say it like that!"
The yellow cushion leaning against the wall lands on Mizuki thanks to her, eliciting laughter that suits her face all too well.
"Ena! Don't be violent!" She grabs the pillow from her hands after the second attack. "But if you want, you can eat half of it."
The proposal is outrageous. "Why only half?"
Mizuki takes the chocolate, but instead of breaking it into two equal parts, she places it between her teeth with a provocative smile. "Just because."
For Ena, it's the perfect offer. A chance to beat her at her own game, with the bonus of feeling the touch of her lips even if only for a second. She doesn't dare yet. Mizuki seems confident, self-assured, and that's especially strange when kissing her is the subject. At the very least, Mizuki would ask her in a delicate voice, struggling not to look nervous, with timid yet assertive eyes.
"Are you sure about this?"
Her boldness swells. "Of course! Unless you're scared I'll mess up the bed~"
Oh, yeah. Ena hates the feeling of crumbs on her sheets, the slight itchiness on her skin is enough to drive her crazy, and she's also averse to ignore the smallest stain on any fabric surface. Mizuki in particular is a victim of this, Ena has forbidden her from eating on the mattress, no matter how careful she is, forcing her to settle for the table in the middle of her room. As much as she complains, it's not really a problem, except when Mizuki threatens to make a mess on purpose, like now.
She'll have to ignore it for today.
Ena leans forward, catching the other half of the sweet with her mouth in one attempt as she sees in slow motion Mizuki's face transform into pure awe. Stealing the whole chocolate from her mouth is simple; her sudden closeness is enough to destabilise her and reduce her to a blushing, dumbstruck mess, completely forgetting that she has to bite the sweet if she wants at least one piece. Victory is as delicious as seeing her speechless after her manoeuvre.
Mizuki remains silent as Ena savours her triumph with a winning smile. "Ha! Half my ass!"
She is not at all upset about losing the treat she defended so much. In fact, she is proud. "You're so pretty, Ena."
The moment becomes more intimate, preventing her from continuing to boast, but it's impossible for her to protest.
It's mainly dark, Ena's hair is not at its best, and she surely has chocolate around her mouth. There is no reason for Mizuki to praise her, and she knows that is precisely why she does. Ena, who values and protects her image in front of everyone, is careless, natural, and cheeky in front of her, without any filters or branded products to show off. There is nothing 'attractive' about her appearance now, Mizuki is admiring her true form and loving her with the pride that Ena does not feel for herself. It's endearing, disconcerting beyond context. She's in no way used to that look, but she's starting to feel like, maybe, she's not undeserving of it.
Both she and Mizuki are surprised when she starts coughing.
"Ena?!" Mizuki pats her back, trying to help clear her throat.
Her airway is clear again, Ena grabs her arm to let her know she won't be dying anytime soon.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." As soon as she catches her breath, her finger points at her accusingly. "This is your fault, how are you going to say that while I'm eating?"
Mizuki rests her chin on her hand with amusement. "Oh, I make you nervous—hey!"
Ena doesn't hit her with the pillow again out of compassion, and because she'll cough again if she moves too much. "Well, your sabotage doesn't matter anyway, I had the last bite."
Instead of complaints or cries, Mizuki adopts a cheerful expression. "Actually."
She jumps out of bed, with Ena refusing to believe what is now obvious until she sees the evidence. And she does. From the pine green bag lying on the floor, as if it were a golden trophy, Mizuki pulls out an identical sealed box. It's probably not even the last one.
"Ta-dah!"
Ena grabs the cushion, without taking her eyes off the chocolates. "You have three seconds to run."
"What?"
"One."
Mizuki chuckles awkwardly and takes a few steps back, hiding the treat behind her. "You don't mean that."
"Two."
"It was a joke!" She gets to the door, the doorknob in her hand. "I'll tell otouto-kun!"
She gets into throwing position. "Three."
The pillow flies across the room, Mizuki manages to escape seconds before it lands on her face. Despite her genuine frustration, Ena laughs at her escape and gazes fondly at the door, certain that the same pink hair will appear behind it in a couple of minutes, necessary for dramatic effect.
A piece of chocolate that fell on her sheets, half melted, catches her attention. She can almost see the stain it will leave there. The anger she would feel at any other time is completely replaced by nostalgia for the present. She knows she will remember this day vividly, the multiple kisses they shared, all the sweets they still have left to eat, and she will feel nothing but longing. Their previous beef was all useless, as Mizuki has just revealed to her, and if she is honest, that will not make her hate her any less when the day is over.
Ena runs her finger through the chocolate on the fabric to savour it again. The stain is bigger. She will scold Mizuki about it, even if she doesn't mean it, just to see her pout.