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April twenty fifth. The last year of junior high for Kohane. That day had been normal enough; answering questions whenever she was called on— albeit quietly. So quiet that the whole class would have to shut up so she could be barely heard. It always made things feel more intense.
No matter, that day, she felt this weird pressure on the lower part of her stomach. She tried drinking water but that didn’t work. In fact, it only caused her to have to use the bathroom. After her second period, she staggered into the closest stall, the pain caused by walking felt like electric pin needles around the place she assumed her kidneys were located.
Then she saw it.
Blood. A few speckles of it.
Enough to make her yelp with terror.
That was the day she stopped being a timid little girl. Now she was a timid growing lady.
—
Kohane was always a polite and kind highschooler. She’d never try to hurt anyone’s feelings. But when that time of the month came, everything just felt sucky. If Kohane wasn’t so stubborn about never cussing, she would’ve whirled up a storm of cussing and crying. As of now, it was the spring in the second year of high school. About three years since that day.
On a pretty Saturday like this, you’d think Kohane would be out practicing with the rest of Vivid Bad, no? Mother Nature had other plans. Here she was, curled up on the floor with a towel underneath her. She would’ve sat on her bed if she wasn’t scared of getting blood on her sheets.
It was the second day of this nightmare too. The ibuprofen had yet to kick in. The sandy blonde’s breathing was shaky and pained. She was trying not to sound like she was hyperventilating but geez the pain was getting to her. Sitting in the bathroom did nothing. The heating pad her lovely mother gave her only made her hot.
Kohane was so lost in her thoughts, it took a moment to register that her phone buzzed. Grabbing her phone, the sandy blonde realized it was An.
An: Kohaneee!!! Wanna hang out today? :D
12:38pm
Oh how Kohane wished she wasn’t in agony right now. It felt as though someone was gently squeezing her sides with hot metal knives. Reluctantly, Kohane used her thumb to type back.
Kohane: I’m not sure I can today T-T I’m kinda sick
An: What?! Not on my watch. Hang on! >:L
Kohane stared at the message for a long moment. It took a moment for the word’s to set in. When they did, a small chill of anxiety poured down from her face to her finger tips. An was definitely coming over. Heck, she might be bolting here right as the sandy blonde was internally panicking.
She couldn’t let An see her like this! Sure, she’s been sick around A before, but this is different. She didn’t want An to see her all gross and— she should probably shower.
Though admittedly, it would be her third shower. The first one was just to freshen up. Second time was when she ended up messing up her sheets after taking a pained induced nap.
Getting up was the hard part. As Kohane did, she grimaced when she felt the blood rush down. She didn’t know how much, but it was enough to make her hastily shimmy to the bathroom. Again.
—
The shower did little to settle her anxiety but after fifteen minutes of trying to scrub it out, she had to just suck it up. After getting dressed again, she walked out of the bathroom, the steam escaping and in turn, the cooler air wafted into her face.
Just as Kohane got into her room and closed the door…
Knock knock.
Dang it. That couldn’t be her…could it?
“Kohane-Chan? I just got here!” A called out, her tone a bit worried but mostly happy in the chirp. Begrudgingly, Kohane opened the door just a bit. Only to immediately be pulled into a bear hug. “Not to worry, Good-Reliable- An is here to save your sickly day!”
“I can’t breathe,” Kohane managed to wheeze. Feeling the physical arms release her, Kohane awkwardly rubbed her arms. The internal squeezing was still there, but the shower and painkillers were actually doing their magic at last. “I- sorry you had to rush all this way- I’m not that sick I—“
She was cut off by An’s hand on her forehead. Which was still damp from the shower.
“Were you in the shower?”
“Yeah…”
“I see, well— no matter, let’s get ya in bed!” An grinned, already walking inside the room. Much to Kohane’s dismay.
“W-wait— An-chan!” But it was still a bit too late. An had already noticed the bed. It was bare because Kohane was currently washing them and the blankets. A very minor, small pink stain remained.
“Hmm, where do you keep your sheets and stuff?” An asked. Was she not going to say anything about the disgusting blood? Maybe An was too nice to mention it. An was too good to her sometimes.
“Uhm- I’m washing them but they’re usually in- in the closet in the hall.”
“Why are you cleaning your sheets while you’re sick, silly?” An quirked a brow. “And aren’t there more sheets in there?”
I don’t want to potentially ruin those sheets.
“Uh- yeah but- I- I don’t wanna use more sheets. I like my own..y-y’know?”
“Yeah, I get that,” An nodded, looking around. “But where-…?” She trailed off, noticing the random towel on the floor. “What’s that doing there?”
“I forgot to get it up,” Kohane mumbled quickly. Please don’t make me elaborate, she silently begged.
“Where were you sitting before I got here?”
“The bed.” A big fat lie that came too quickly. An octave a smidge bit too high to be considered ‘average tiny timid creature’ behavior.
“Uhuhhhhh….Kohane-chan, are you toying with me or…?” An chuckled awkwardly. Oh how Kohane sucked at keeping a lie.
“I…Uhm…” blood was warming up her face. She could feel it in her ears. Twiddling her thumbs, the sandy blonde ducked her head. “Well— I guess I’m just thrown off by how fast you came!” She forced a chirp. “Yeah…”
…
“Kohane what’s wrong?” An’s voice was almost knowingly deadpanned.
“My stomach hurts,” Kohane confessed half the battle with her head low. But that’s what seemed to make A connect the dots.
“Oh, you’re cramping?” Hearing the question made Kohane cover her face with an arm. With a weak nod as a response, An hugged Kohane once again.
Instead of the strangling bear hug previously, this one was more gentle. Grounding even. Kohane let herself mel and just surrendered to the feelings she felt.
The slowly dulling squeeze in her abdomen. The warm, kind arms around her torso that went up to her shoulder blades. Her own arms doing the same and going under An’s arms in return. Kohane could almost cry.
“Silly, why didn’t you just say so?” A broke the five minute silence.
“You aren’t grossed out?”
“Why would I? It’s natural no matter how sucky it is. Did you already take some painkillers?”
A nod followed. “Wanna sit down?” Another nod came from Kohane.
“On the floor though…”
“Why on the floor?” Well, I guess Kohane could finally confess.
“Cus I don’t want to accidentally get blood on the bed again.”
“Ohhhh,” An rubbed her back. “Well, I doubt you will but sure. We can sit on the floor.” Taking Kohane’s wavering hand, An gently guided them to the floor. With backs against the wall, Kohane rested her head on An’s shoulder. She must’ve had a miserable expression on her face because A then began to run her hand through Kohane’s disheveled hair. She didn’t even bother putting her hair in her usual twin tails today.
Kohane closed her eyes. Everything felt…almost peaceful.
“Thank you, An-chan,” Kohane was surprised to hear herself sound groggy. Then again, she did feel herself slipping into unconsciousness. The last thing she remembered hearing was probably a ‘your welcome’ from An.
What Kohane had yet to know was that A sat in that spot for two whole hours. She didn’t dare to move. The black haired girl sat there as if sitting with a cat in her lap.
—
With An surprisingly ending up spending the night, Kohane thought it was only fair if they both slept on the floor in her room. Since Kohane didn’t want to take the bed and A not wanting the same, it only made sense. Sure, there was a sheet and blanket on the mattress again but Kohane didn’t want to risk it.
It was ten at night. Both girls laying in a pillow fort. Pillow forts were fun. They had brought up a chair from the dining room, threw a sheet on part of the chair, and made a ‘roof’ by putting the other end of it on the bed with an unwanted pillow keeping it from collapsing.
With a bunch of of blankets inside, Kohane found herself curled up with a small pillow against her stomach. It always brought her comfort. It felt nice to snuggle something.
Though, she wished she had the courage to snuggle with a certain someone.
“Hey, Kohane-chan?” A broke the silence with a yawn. “Can I ask ya something?”
“Oh- s-sure, what’s wrong?” Kohane shifted so she faced An.
“If it’s not personal to ask or anything, do you not wear tampons?” The question brought a wave of blood to rush up Kohane’s face.
“Uh- I mean- no, I don’t. The thought of using one makes me queasy and anxious,” the response was in a low, very quiet voice. “Do you…?” Her voice trailed off. This felt too awkward. Almost too intimate even. But they were both girls, it was fine right? This was normal? Right? Kohane never talked about her period to anyone other than maybe her mom.
And maybe a stuffie if she was really in pain—
“Hah!” An’s retort was a little curt as she grinned. “No, absolutely not.” The smile dropped to a sheepish expression. “People who can do that have more guts than me, that’s for sure.”
“You’re still pretty brave in other ways.”
“Awww, thanks, Kohane-chan!” An swiftly hugged Kohane again. “But you’re braver,” An added. The sandy blonde found her head under An’s chin, one of her legs brushing one of the raven haired girl’s as well. Despite the burning in her cheeks, Kohane didn’t dare to move.
This was quite pleasant despite the angrily flapping butterflies in her stomach. Up until it wasn’t pleasant.
“An-channn, I probably smell,” Kohane tried to warn in a whine.
“Really? You smell like a crap-ton of lavander mint soap, girl. You took like two extra showers after that nap and dinner.”
“I smell okay?” Kohane blinked.
“Yeah!” An exasperated with an amused expression. “I get the feeling though,” her hand cared through Kohane’s hair. “You feel alll gross and sweaty. You’re fine, Kohane-chan. I promise.”
“Thanks…I think I needed to hear that,” Kohane felt her muscles relax. She let herself melt again with a small hum.
“Anytime, Hane. Now, try to sleep. I’ll do my best to chase away the painful monster assaulting you!” She smirked proudly.
Despite internally freaking out about how close she was to An again, sleep was soon found. If all her monthly miseries had An by her side, maybe they wouldn’t be a pain in the tail feathers.
—
The morning was peaceful. The warm glow of the sun leaked through the window curtains. It ended up making Kohane stir with a small hum. Disappointingly, Kohane found herself without her previous snuggle buddy. She rubbed her eyes, sitting up slowly. Standing up against the protest of her now popping ligaments in her legs and arms, the sandy blonde girl scanned her room.
An was gone. Her room remained the same, yes. Count Pearl safely tucked away in their inclosure.
The door was slightly open. Kohane concluded that A was probably in the bathroom. Speaking of the taller girl, she moments later appeared at the doorframe and paused when she saw Kohane. An looked…disheveled. It took a moment to realize that A was in shorts, not the pants she wore to bed yesterday. Kohane’s spare shorts. Not that she minded.
“Ah, sorry. I would’ve asked but uh,” An sheepishly smiled before grimacing. “Your period got teleported into my abdomen!” A groan followed with An hugging her stomach. Kohane gave a guilty but affectionately apologetic smile.
“It’s okay, An-chan,” the blonde mused and held out her hand. “It’s my turn to take care of you.” An looked at Kohane and smiled back. It seemed to ease the raven head’s weary mind.
“Let’s eat and take ibuprofen together after.”
“Sounds good to me.”