Work Text:
The Olympics, worlds──
It was alot, even for Wakaba, who spent her time watching Kaori’s journey, getting giddy over stupid things like her tributes to her.
She was thinking of me at such a crucial moment.
Not that either of them stopped thinking of eachother, anyway. They couldn't have that separation.
Being half-way across the earth is too much in itself. Or halfway across the room.
Texts were exchanged every second. Wakaba was supplied with hefty amounts of pictures.
Wakaba served the same for Kaori.
The airport was less busy than usual, so she had a clear veiw of Kaori returning home── Finally, she'd get to touch the hands she misses so dearly.
When she spotted Kaori in the corner of her eye, she practically launched herself into Kaori’s arms.
Kaori immediately busted into laughter, picking up Wakaba and twirling her around, just like in 2024 Jnats.
Wakaba allowed it, dumbly laughing with her.
After a few more spins, Kaori sets her down & immediately says,
"I missed you so much." She takes both of Wakaba’s hands into hers, eyes scanning hers so desperately.
Wakaba huffs a breath, (she had already expected Kaori to say that), and swings her arms with Kaori’s.
"Me too. Not fun being half-way across the earth, huh?"
"Never want to do it again." She shakes her head. Wakaba knows she's not thinking about the future with that statement, but it means something to her right now, so she'll let it slide.
Without any further words, she transfers her hands to Kaori's luggage and starts pushing it towards the exit.
With the car stuffed to the brim with luggage, Wakaba started driving.
She didn't actually tell Kaori about her plans yet.
At some point, she'll notice that they're not going the right way back to her apartment. Hopefully, anyway. Sometimes she can be abit daft.
She glances over to Kaori's seat. Kaori was slumped over, fast asleep.
She sighed, digging her nails into the steering wheel gingerly.
The only sounds that broke the silence was Kaoris soft breathing and the thrum of the wheels on the ground below.
Somehow, it was relaxing.
Wakaba didn't realize how much she'd needed this── Kaori, too, if she was awake.
For the first time in awhile, time wasn't warping into another.
For the first time in awhile, the moment felt slow.
Digestible. No rushing, no switching from area to area, no constant texting & calling, just a long drive.
She sighed again, her own eyes feeling heavy. But excitement still lays beyond with the woman in the passenger seat.
The drive wasn't painstakingly long, but long enough that she didn't feel like having to carry her suitcase.
Grudgingly, she parked, her eyes already worn from being open for so long, and went into the hotel.
The receptionist looked up from his computer. The lobby was empty, the golden warm light easy on Wakaba’s eyes.
"Good evening." He greeted automatically, shifting his position.
Wakaba simply nodded in greeting, and pulled out her phone to check the reservation.
"I booked a room earlier today." She informed him, turning her phone to show him.
He nodded, eyes scanning her phone── then snapping back to the computer.
"Great. Room 213," He handed her a key, "a suite. Enjoy your stay."
Wakaba murmured absently, pocketing the key.
Now I got to wake the heaviest sleeper of them all.
She jogged back to her car, more awake than before, and opened the passenger door.
Kaori was spraled stupidly over the seat.
She can't believe she went through all this trouble for Kaori, who will be sleeping again in 10 minutes.
Well, love makes you blind, right?
"Kaori," She grumbled.
Oh my god, Wakaba thinks internally, already giving up in this mission.
"Kaori!"
Kaori jumps abit, eyes blinking open. "Wha.." She mumbles, following incoherent words.
Wakaba gestures inward.
"We're here."
Kaori sits up slowly & looks out the window. Her eyes lit up questioningly, realizing this is not her apartment.
"We're not."
Wakaba chuckles, and pushes past Kaori's legs and fumbles with the bag under the passenger seat.
"Well, yes, we are. I missed your birthday. So── I got presents, I got cupcakes. And I got a reservation at a hotel." She holds up the cupcakes and gestures to the hotel, which she was wishing she was already inside.
Kaori stares blankly at her.
"Wakaba."
"What?"
Kaori practically leaps out of the car and starts hugging Wakaba frantically, prancing around her like a lunatic.
"Oh my god. I love you." She crowed. "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you." She chants, holding Wakaba so tightly she might suffocate.
"I love you too, okay? let's get inside please?" She grins, trying to monevoure around Kaori’s prancing.
Kaori nods & takes Wakaba’s bag for her, budding with renowned energy.
I'm in love with a freak, Wakaba reminds herself, placing Kaori’s & hers onto the pavement.
Much to her relief, Kaori scooped them up and skipped to the entrance.
Wakaba walked after her, holding up her phone & snapped a photo.
She considered adding it to her story for a moment. But this moment wasn't for the people out there; it was for them.
"Hurry!" Kaori jumps up & down impatiently.
Kaori was captivated by everything in the hotel.
The intricate decor, the over-designed elevator & the lavish halls lit by candles.
"What kind of hotel is this?"
An expensive one, Wakaba thought. "Your suprise." She said.
Kaori looked back again, meeting Wakaba’s gaze thankfully.
"I can't believe you." She breathes out, placing her hand against her forehead.
She just shrugged and took out the key to the door.
The door clicked open; the keypad blinking green.
Pushing the door open, Wakaba was immediately greeted to the smell of candles.
On the bed, (Wakaba purposely booked the room with only one), was some flowers, candies, and other goods.
Kaori gasps behind her, pushing the suitcases into the room.
For a long minute, its quiet and they're both observing the rooms interior:
When you enter, the bathroom is to the right.
The bathroom is bigger than you need it to be, the shower & counterspace the main show.
Marble counters, a huge mirror, neatly stacked towels perched on a wooden shelf, expensive hair & body washes they wouldn't use── a dream.
The closet is to the right, reasonably big: stocked with extra towels. Not the moneymaker, obviously.
The bed is plush, way-too-soft-&-cloud-like blankets & pillows, the candy that will be gone in seconds, and the addicting candles── the candles are probably the moneymaker for how many there are.
Kaori turns to her and whisper-screams, plopping herself down onto the bed.
"Oh I could fall asleep already." She faltered.
"Better not," Wakaba replied, "Sleeping is for the morning."
"Right."
"And the suprises are for after you & I shower."
"Right."
Two ridiculously hot showers later, Kaori is forced to stay in the bathroom while Wakaba prepares.
Kaori doodles on the fogged mirror while she waits.
She can't believe what's happend to her in the past..
Two months, really.
Her 26th birthday.
Now, celebrating it with Wakaba.
SOI.
Her fourth world title.
Rigorous training, trying to forget the disappointment.
Deciding to go to worlds.
Silver in Milan. Endless tears.
Pre-Olympic excitement. Naive of what to expect, no matter the 2 experiences before.
And everything before then, in-between, and probably in the future.
Her life is so full of twists & turns, she's lucky she gets to move slow when she gets tired of going so fast.
Nows the time, huh? To slow down?
"Kao-chan." Wakaba opened the door.
Kaori looked toward Wakaba & drained out her thoughts, replacing her solemn look with her usual smile.
Wakaba grips her hand and she feels right at home.
Walking into the lavishly decorated room now, the cupcakes were laid out on a cute bunny plate, (Wakaba knew how much Kaori liked bunnies.) And Kaori practically dies right there.
But it didn't stop there.
A blanket── looking impossibly soft was right beside it.
Around the plate was six wrapped boxes, all adorning a sticker that reads:
"Happy 26th birthday, Kao-chan!"
In front of the boxes was a envelope.
"Happy birthday." Wakaba says, wrapping the, infact, impossibly soft blanket around her.
Kaori wanted to chant "I love you"'s again, but the shock left her wordless.
Wakaba huffed a breath in amusement and fished a cupcake from the plate & probed it onto Kaori's lips.
Kaori transfered the cupcake to her hands and appreciated the cupcake for a moment before putting the whole thing into her mouth.
(Luckily, they are the small kind of cupcakes, so she had no huge chance of choking.)
Wakaba broke into uncontrollable laughter at that, the buttercream frosting coating the edges of Kaori's lips.
Kaori flushed a little, and wiped the frosting half-heartedly, which only made it worse by spreading to her cheek.
Wakaba held Kaori's chin & fingered the frosting off, licking it off her finger.
Kaori flushed deeper, but chuckled and fished another cupcake from the plate, offering it to Wakaba.
"It's my job to feed you tonight." Wakaba joked.
"Such a gentle-lady." Kaori grinned, dabbing the sweet frosting onto Wakaba’s lips.
Wakaba rolled her eyes, opening her mouth & allowing Kaori to feed her a bite.
The rest of the box later, the wrapping paper stewn over the floor & new goods lying across the bed, Kaori wrapped her arms around Wakaba in her new bed clothes.
It was more feminine than what Kaori usually wore, a robe, but Wakaba didn't mind── she never would. She will always be a sucker for Kaori; no matter how she presented herself.
"How was Prague?" Wakaba whispered, shifting to look at Kaori, who was pleasantly burying herself into the covers and into Wakaba.
Kaori hummed, pondering for a long moment, and only shifting closer to Wakaba.
"Great. Full circle, too── I forgot my first international competition was in Czechia."
Huh.
"I see. You had quite the career." Wakaba remarks.
Kaori pinches Wakaba’s arm.
"You too."
Wakaba would laugh at that.
"I love you, but, tonight's not about me." She kisses Kaori’s forehead.
"Yeah," Kaori agrees. "It's about us."