Work Text:
Hatsune made her way through the school corridors to go to the outside vending machines. Whether going out there in these temperatures to get a cool drink will end up leaving her hotter or cooler was anyone's guess. At least it beat staying in the stuffy air of the classroom.
When she exited the door two things greeted her: intense heat radiating off of every surface the sunlight touched; and Umiri and Taki. The two had already collected their refreshments and had turned to move back to their classroom.
When Umiri noticed Hatsune, she gestured for Taki to go on alone. Without further setup she then turned back around, threw a coin into the vending machine and with a curt 'Please' gestured for Hatsune to make an input.
On reflex, Hatsune chose coffee, which unceremoniously hit the pick-up box floor a second later. The can felt nice and cold in her hand. Under Umiri's watchful gaze she pulled the tab and took a sip. Black. Bitter. Strong enough to get you out of afternoon drowsiness, but not out of heat lethargy.
"Misumi-san, I have a request."
"Hmm?" Hatsune said while taking another sip.
"Would you hug me?"
A mouthful of the bitter liquid descended her throat as she gulped in surprise.
She must have misheard that, right?
Hatsune looked at Umiri for any hint of clarification or jest, finding none in the piercing stare of her bandmate. A drop of condensation ran from the coffee can down and over her hand like cold sweat. She realized she had been staring at Umiri with a dumbfounded expression—but no answer—for what must have been at least a minute. All the while Umiri looked at her serious and expectant, like she would wait millennia if necessary. If it weren't for the cicadas and the merciful, light breeze you could have heard a pin drop between them.
"W-what do you mean?" Hatsune finally spat out.
"An embrace can activate brain chemicals which strengthen social bonding between the participants. A close bond would be beneficial for ensuring Ave Mujica's continued stability, which is why I'd like to suggest it. Only if you are alright with it, of course."
"...R-right."
She fidgeted with the can in her hands, indenting the thin aluminum in her contemplation.
They had been getting friendlier since the re-formation of the band, but the two of them weren't all that close per se, both more used to an amicable, professional distance. Hatsune wasn't really used to physical contact off stage either, much less it being requested from her, rather than put on her.
"A-Alright?"
Instantly Umiri spread her arms out in reply, face still stoic. Hatsune awkwardly put the can aside before moving in with hesitation.
It was a stiff hug with no emotion behind it. It felt weird. It felt kinda nice, she guessed?
She started to pull away after what felt like a reasonable time, but Umiri interrupted her.
"It takes about five minutes for oxytocin to form like this, so please continue."
That didn't sound right, but Hatsune was too distracted by Umiri's voice to protest. It had a tone to it she couldn't quite place. A small quiver?
Hesitation murmured in the back of her mind, but she didn't want to decline the request, so she closed the distance again. Following instructions felt a lot easier.
Despite what Umiri said, this really wasn't in service of some 'greater good', was it? It was just something between them, which brought its own problems with it. What if Umiri felt disgusted being hugged by her, not just because of the summer heat? Being hugged by her could never be enjoyable. Who would do such a thing voluntarily? Umiri must already be regretting this. The only reason she didn't recoil as soon as Hatsune's limbs made contact with her must have been out of politeness or a sense of duty.
Nausea bubbled in her stomach the more she thought about it. Slowly twisting its way around her intestines and up her throat, where it stopped just below her jaw. Surely Umiri must sense all of this through their proximity and will push Hatsune away any moment now. Hatsune should show mercy and stop this ill-fated encounter herself.
A shallow breath passed by her ear and Hatsune didn't know what it meant. Was it a sigh of regret? It made her nervous. She squeezed her eyes shut and hugged Umiri harder. She hoped her bandmate wouldn't hate her for it, but it was the only thing left to do in that moment to not freak out from overthinking.
She could feel Umiri's chin resting on her shoulder and how she hugging her a bit tighter too. It felt nice and she wasn't sure if she was allowed to feel that way, especially if only she was the one enjoying this. The warmth of the contact felt comforting, not scalding. The pressure against her body felt stabilizing, not crushing. Her throat was still chocking on something, but it no long was just the bile of emotions she felt small and powerless against. There was something else mixed into it. Something she didn't dare acknowledge, for it would leave her too weak to continue on living like she had for all these years. So she didn't. She didn't try swallowing down the feeling either, just letting it stay there where she could feel them with every breath.
After what surely must have been well over five minutes their hug ended. As they pulled away there were tears in the corners of Umiri's eyes.
"Are you ok? Did I do it too hard?" Hatsune panicked.
"No, Misumi-san I- ... simply was moved by your effort towards Ave Mujica's future. Yes, that is all." Umiri said, while wiping her eyes with little effect.
The bell rang, marking the end of break.
"We should get going." Umiri noted, still wiping. She moved to pull on Hatsune's hand, before thinking better of it.
The walk back to their classroom passed without further exchange until the final corner. Umiri's tears had dried by that point and her nonchalant facade was firmly back in place. Right outside class she half-turned to Hatsune.
"We will have to do that again sometime."