Chapter Text
It was a long, boring week for Kyōryokuna Nanika. Not a lot of interesting things happened, aside from the fact that their bestfriends' birthday was coming up. Since there was gonna be a no-class friday, 12AW would host a 2-day long sleepover party at her house (Friday to Saturday), since she lives alone and wants to make her 17th birthday unforgettable.
- Mom, come here!! - Nanika called to her mother, with noticable excitement in her voice, which is rare to see in her.
"What do you want, sweetie?", answered Rita while walking from the kitchen to her daughter's room.
- Look: 12AW is gonna have a sleepover for her birthday and she sent me an invite, she told me she'll also have some of her other friends and it won't be just me. It's gonna be two days long, can you pleeease let me go? Pleeeeease?? ~
"Alright, alright; you can go, Nanikita... but make sure you're safe! Bring your phone and a charger, so you can message me if you got any problems" she replied to her daughter with slight worry. "You know I really care about you... ", Rita said while pinching at Nanika's cheeks.
On the Thursday of the birthday week, Nanika and 12AW started organizing themselves before the party. There was both a very heavy storm that day and an important national football match on most TV channels, so half the kids stayed home because of the rain and the other half stayed home to watch the match. Why were Nanika and 12AW at school then? They didn't check the class groupchat...
- So, Nanika, what do you plan on bringing to the sleepover? What are you gonna gift me?? - said 12AW, truly listenting to the teal-haired girl's reply and paying attention to her.
- Eh, I'm not sure what I'll gift you yet, you gotta wait for that. To the sleepover itself, I think I'm gonna bring my phone, my charger, a pillow, and maybe a blanket incase I get cold...
- Oww... Alright then. Did I tell you who I'm inviting yet? -12AW didn't wait for an answer- I'm bringing your friend Rory here, Ruro too, Aki Nekone... I think I also invited Tamara but she said she couldn't come because she had to watch a football match.
- Hey, by the way, can you stay for a little while after school today? I need to tell you something importa- 12AW cut her talking fastly.
- Huh? Whatcha need to tell me so secretely?? Almost nobody came to class today because it's raining outside, tell me directly! You know I'm also an anxious girl - she replied with a giggle.
Nanika hesitated for a second, she tried to find the right way to word it in her head but she spoke too fast:
- You... Y-... You're an amazing friend and I think we should get married when we're older!! - replied Nanika, almost yelling from excitement but getting insanely scared after realizing what she just said.
- What?! You really think that about me?!?! - 12AW answered surprised, yet very curious towards Nanika's reasoning for that.
- N-n-no, I swear I didn't mean to say that!! What I meant is... is...?! - Nanika couldn't even make up an excuse at the moment, they were sickeningly scared that their friend would view them negatively after finding out the crushing.
- No no no no no, don't worry!! It's alright, Nanika. Honestly, I also don't know how to verbally express my love to you sometimes... - 12AW said back, while fidgeting with her fingers under her long sleeves.
Nanika felt so many things at the same time; without even thinking, her eyes started tearing up as she knelt down to the floor, putting her head on her hands. 12AW, standing right in front of her, was utterly confused yet very worried about her friend. In a kind way, she turned around and sat cross-legged next to Nanika and held her hand, even through the warm cloth of her sleeves.
- I... I'm sorry, 12AW... I'm really sorry - mumbled Nanika, staring through the windows of the school hall, raindrops falling down on it like the tears falling down her cheeks.
- What are you sorry for? You know, I've always seen you as someone who I thought wouldn't like me, or atleast, wouldn't like me this much, because I'm not pretty or talkative like the popular girls... I'm not trying to be mean, I'm just being honest to you! If you ever need to tell me something, anything really, I'll be here for you, listening and comforting you to the best of my abilities. - 12AW answered with clear sincerity in her voice.
After that, both of the girls hugged eachother. Nanika started sobbing on 12AW's shoulder, hugging the black-haired girl hard, mumbling ambiguous noises that resembled an "I love you" and "I'm so sorry"; 12AW hugged them softly, as she didn't want to accidentally hurt them. After about 6 minutes of hugs and cries, both Nanika and 12AW went back into the classroom. Nanika stopped by the girl's bathroom to wash her face before going back to sit next to her best friend, and crush, 12AW.
Back in class, they didn't do any school-related work. The teacher didn't come, Rita didn't come either so Nanika couldn't just tell her to come to the classroom, and they've both finished the homework for the week. Before Laetus came over for the Religion hour, the two gals continued planning what would be done at the black-haired one's birthday party.