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“Well, I probably made a sliiiiiiight mistake in forgetting to grab more stuff for this supposed blizzard about to crash down—“
“Yeah you think?” Ena scoffed, exasperated with the animator facing her. Kanade sat on the edge of Mizuki’s bed alongside the lyricist Mafuyu. Mafuyu, who was…staring blankly at something on the ground.
“Look I’m sorry! I mean— we can’t really go out now anymore but we have plenty of stuff here to hunker us down!” Mizuki grinned sheepishly. Yesterday evening, the news had reported a massive snowstorm would drive into Shibuya. Mizuki had convinced them to have a sleepover at her place to all be together during this ‘scary time’ as she put it.
In reality, it was probably Mizuki’s excuse to keep an eye on Kanade in her own way alongside Ena. Ever since Luka’s question of;
“What are you going to do after you save Mafuyu?”
Kanade still couldn’t think of a response to the question playing and joyously taunting her mind.
Ena sat back down on the floor, sighing. The short haired girl stared at the animator who she really ought to strangle. She didn’t however, instead just glancing over at Kanade and Mafuyu.
“What is she staring at?”
“I don’t know, I think she’s zoned out,” Kanade whispered. “But she’s okay.”
“Well, as the snow rains down, why don’t we watch something on my tv?” Mizuki suggested with a playful grin.
“That doesn’t sound bad,” Kanade nodded, gently tapping Mafuyu. The lyricist blinked as the composer scooted onto the floor with Mizuki and Ena. Mafuyu slowly did the same, making a noise of mild discomfort from having previously sitting in the same position for twenty minutes. “What did you want to watch, Mizuki?” The shortest girl inquired.
“Mmm, well, we could watch this one anime where these big giant creatures called ti—“
“Mizuki I don’t need to bawl my eyes out again,” Mizuki was cut off by Ena’s rebuttal. The brown haired girl crossed her arms with a huff. “You won’t trick innocent Kanade in watching Attack Against Titans. Holy everything.”
“Attack…Against…?” Kanade blink with intrigue. Ena shook her head. “Is it scary?” She frowned. Hated to admit it but, horror movies right now weren’t appealing at all to Kanade. Well, in general really.
“I wouldn’t call it scary,” the short haired girl furrowed her brows in though, trying to describe it.
“It depends who you ask. The titans look freaky!” Mizuki jeered playfully.
“We’ll all nightmares if we watch that. Well— I don’t know about you and Mafuyu, but…“
“If it affects you and Kanade negatively then I don’t want to watch it,” Mafuyu interjected, her voice a mellow murmur. Kanade glanced at Mafuyu, her eyes filled with warmth and surprise. She really has come a long way, huh?
“Wow, you’re not worried about if it affects me?” Ena deadpanned.
“Fine fine, the jury has decided. I can put on a cheesy romance movie while we do each other’s hair and wear face masks like those teenagers in those kinds of movies!”
“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” Ena nodded in agreement. “Yeah, let’s do that.”
…
“You gotta hold still y’know,” Ena lightly scolded, trying to keep Kanade from moving her head away to avoid the green night cream being put on her face. It was involuntary— Kanade couldn’t help it! It was ticklish and kind of uncomfortable…
“Sorry, I’ll try to hold still. It feels cold,” Kanade whispered. Once it was done, Mizuki added the finishing part; the cucumbers.
“And boom! You look totally relaxed now,” the animator clasped her hands together. She then turned to Mafuyu. “How are you doing over there, Fuyu?”
“I’m fine…I can’t see anything.”
“Me neither.”
“Well you don’t gotta see. I’ll be your eyes!”
“because you ate your cucumbers already,” Ena scoffed, putting her own cucumbers over her eyes once she wiped her hands on a towel nearby to get rid of the access cream.
“A— oh quiet, you!” Mizuki grabbed the nearest pillow and bopped Ena over the head, making sure not to hit the brown haired girl in the face. Kanade softly chuckled hearing them both shuffle around, presumably hitting each other with more pillows.
“Kanade, when do we take these off?” Mafuyu murmured to her. Kanade thought for a moment, frowning.
“I…I don’t know. Maybe until Mizuki says we should.”
“Okay.”
…
As the night stretched on, it was noticeably getting a bit colder. To the point that the girls, who had already made a pallet on the floor, huddled closer. Movie after movie, the storm only got more brutal. By the time they had wiped off their face masks and ate the cucumbers— minus Kanade who had given them to Mafuyu, it was nipping cold.
But then the tv cut out. Alongside anything plugged in. They were now plunged into darkness. Ena and Kanade both gave startled squeaks. The comforting hum of the house was replaced with silence. Other than deep breathing of course.
“Well dang, the power’s out. I guess it’s time for bed,” Mizuki sighed. Kanade shifted uncomfortably. She’d much rather be able to see. Even at home, at least her monitor added some light. The short girl shivered softly. It was starting to get really cold. Or was it just her?
She subconsciously pulled the blankets closer as Mafuyu was lying back down. She was still lying on her back after previously staring at the ceiling while dozing. But how can the composer sleep like this? With darkness in every corner?
“This is perfect. I’m freezing my butt off.”
“We can just huddle closer for warmth,” Mafuyu mumbled bluntly, already turning on her side to pull Mizuki close. It sounded like the animator was startled because Kanade heard nervous giggling followed with shuffling.
“Warn a girl before you spoon her,” Mizuki’s smile could be audible. Kanade could hear more shuffling on her right as she felt a pair of warm gentle arms envelop her middle and pull her close.
“E-Ena?” Kanade’s face grew beet red. She gripped the blankets tighter.
“You’re shivering, K,” the short haired girl cooed softly, her voice a little rough from drowsiness. Both her arms and her leg were enveloping Kanade now. She was quite grateful the room was pitch black so no one could see how red her face is.
Yep…just being spooned and cuddled by your friend…this is the life. Normal even.
I’m straight. I’m straight. I’m straight. I know I’m straight.
If I’m straight, then why do I wish it was Mafuyu more—
Shifting a little bit closer somehow, Ena rested her cheek against Kanade’s shoulder.
“I forgot, Kanade doesn’t eat as well as the rest of us,” Mizuki murmured. “Her iron levels probably suck so she must be really cold. We should huddle around her!”
“Ah— that’s not necessary…” Kanade sheepishly whispered, her voice growing a little higher. Her shoulders hiked up to her ears as Mafuyu shifted and scooted close enough to hold Kanade as well.
I’m still straight. I’m still straight. I’m still straight.
Mizuki crawled on her knees until she invaded Ena’s space and flopped right down in front of her. With her head pressed against Ena’s upper torso and all.
“Ugh, your hair got in my mouth!”
“Sorryyyy~”
“Quiet, Kanade is more at risk of getting hypothermia with the AC being down…” Mafuyu yawned, closing her eyes. “If not hypothermia, then getting sick in general.”
“Right…” Ena nodded, her voice sounding even more exhausted.
…
You know, feeling everyone’s breath against your face isn’t totally overwhelming at all. Nope. Kanade ended up being the last one awake. She was still staring at the ceiling, occasionally forgetting to blink until her eyes started to sting.
It’s still so dark in this room. Dark and cold. How are the others sleeping like this? The ceiling started to slowly warp, squiggle lines prancing in her vision.
She blinked, slowly turning her head to glance at Mafuyu. She had to focus to actually see the purple haired girl but even now…she looked peaceful. Slowly moving her hand, she grabbed the sleeve of Mafuyu’s sleepwear in a loose hold.
I’ll save you someday, I promise. I promise I’ll save you and you can smile. You can smile and then laugh and then enjoy your life and taste food again.
What will you do when you do eventually save Mafuyu?
Luka’s words from a handful of months ago danced in her mind. What will she do? What can she do? She can continue to make music for n25 like normal still.
But what if…
What if I can save her…without music?
…
The morning was crisp and cold. Kanade twitched a little, grimacing a tad as she noted her hip being sore from sleeping on the floor. Maybe if she was more filled out it wouldn’t be this achy.
Sitting up, she realized Ena and Mizuki were gone. Their spaces on the pallet beside her were empty. Mafuyu was still on her left though.
Still looking peaceful and pretty as ever. The composer felt her warm over again. If only she could feel warmth in her finger tips and her toes.
“It’s cold but I feel warm with you,” Kanade whispered softly to no one. However, Mafuyu opened an eye. She was awake for a good while but just didn’t say anything…
“I feel warm too.”
“kyah!” Kanade scooted back with shock. Rubbing her eyes, she stared down at Mafuyu. Why didn’t Mafuyu say anything before she said that embarrassing stuff?! “You were awake? I’m sorry- that was—“
“It’s fine. Why are you embarrassed? If what you were saying is true then I see no issue.”
“Mafuyu…”
“I’m curious,” the lyricist continued. Sitting up as well, her purple eyes bore deep into Kanade. Probably deep into her soul as well. “Would you still say that if she circumstances were different? Would you still try to save me if I was a bug?”
“A bug…? Mafuyu, what—?” Kanade blinked, taken aback.
“A bug, yes. Like that one right there.” Mafuyu pointed behind Kanade just as Ena was walking in. Unfortunately, the bug was on the wall beside’s the door. All it took was for Ena to look to her left and—
“Waah! How did a bug get in here?!” The artist shrieked, dropping her cup of water. So much for a dry carpet. The short haired girl ran out the room just as Mizuki was walking in, bumping her in the process.
“Hey—!” Shame Mizuki was holding a tray of perfectly good breakfast in her hands. The animator lost their balance for a split second and that was all the time needed for one of the drinks to also fall over. All of this chaos startled the gross brown creature.
It began to fly. Even Kanade yelped as it aimlessly fluttered around. Seemed as though Mafuyu was the only one not causing a ruckus from utter panic.
Mizuki gave a short breathless squeak as she put down the tray of food, scrambling for anything to get it with. Ena ran back but stayed feet’s away from the room itself. She wanted to at the very least not fully run away.
“Kill it! Kill it!” The artist whimpered, her hands flapping a little with disgust.
“I don’t think we should kill it, just put it outside!” Kanade softly protested as Mizuki picked up a shoe.
“How can I even get it without having to kill it? I don’t want it to touch me as I try picking it up!”
“I’ll go grab a cup…” Kanade hastily stood up, her head spinning from how fast she got up. Iron deficiency be dam—
POW.
The sharp pop of a shoe hitting the wall accompanied by a sick crunch that made everybody’s appetites disappear faster than their wills to live in junior high. Mafuyu being the exception. She had thrown the shoe at the bug with sickening accuracy. The bug juices were unforgivingly still on the wall…alongside the crushed body of the bug.
Everyone was dead silent. Mizuki blinked a few times. Ena eventually swallowed, trying to stand more stiffly to hide her lingering tremors in her legs from the adrenaline spike.
“My wall…”
“I’ll clean it.”
“I’m glad I’m not a bug,” Ena side glanced away. Her voice was more quiet now since she was still suffering from shock. Mafuyu, for the rare moment she felt the urge to tease, lowered her head as she slowly stood up.
“If you were a bug, a normal slice of cheese cake would last you longer.” She was then hit in the face with a pillow by Ena.
“OH, SHUT UP—!”
…
“Well, the house is still ours for the rest of the day. We may be snowed in but we have everything we need to suffice. Plus, the snow should be melted enough by tomorrow,” Mizuki chipped in once they had all settled in the living room. “In the meaaann time~…I have a sweet twister game we can play!”
“For all four of us?” Ena inquired with an arch of her brow. “Is it big enough?”
“Yeah it’s pretty big!” Mizuki began to open the box and set up the game.
The events of the game lead to some…quite interesting. Mizuki’s left foot was on red, her right hand on blue and somehow she had to stretch her body to put her other foot on yellow. While the short haired artist was awkwardly half hovering over her.
After another spin, Kanade’s hand rested uncomfortably on the closest blue. As she herself hovered over Mafuyu. She was getting quite tired from the awkward position she was in. She was certainly getting her yoga in today.
The composer’s limbs started to develop a tremor. She couldn’t do this for much longer. Mafuyu reached out with a hand to spin the plastic spinner. She seemed to not be struggling as badly as the silver haired girl.
Well yeah, maybe if she ate more—
“Oof!” Kanade scrunched up her face as she collapsed on top of Mafuyu. The lyricist hadn’t prepared for the sudden weight to drop so she nearly toppled over herself.
Shocking— actually no. Unsurprisingly, Mafuyu remained on all fours like she previously was while Kanade was on her back.
“Heyyyy!” Mizuki whined childishly. “That’s cheating, K!”
“Mafuyu caught me,” a sheepish chuckle escaped Kanade.
“Y-you might have to—“ Ena sounded a bit strained from fatigue. She had been holding that position for a bit longer anyway. “Catch me—!“
“Ack!” Mizuki, unlike Mafuyu, collapsed under the sudden weight of Ena falling on her. “Goodness Ena— you really love cheese—“
“Can you both stop calling me fat?!” The short haired girl snapped, swatting Mizuki’s side with a huff.
“Waaaah!! I didn’t even say fat!”
“You implied it!”
“Whatever— anyways, Mafuyu technically won,” Mizuki slowly wriggled out of Ena’s unforgiving grasp. Both girls sat up. “Now, Mafuyu, for your prize, you shall be rewarded with…uhh…” Mizuki looked around the living room. “Well, what would you like to do? Or what do you want?”
“I don’t know,” Mafuyu responded. I mean Mizuki should’ve seen this coming. However, Mafuyu blinked, looking off to the side in thought. “I suppose we can watch a movie. I am tired.”
Kanade couldn’t help but softly smile at the taller girl as they both sat up. Mafuyu was so simple but so complex. It was hard not to fond over her, even if quietly. As Kanade rubbed her shoulder, she slightly winced. Man, she was gonna be sore tomorrow. Definitely.
“Well hang on, the power is out remember?” Ena interjected as Mizuki stood up to her feet.
Oh…how’d we all forget?
“In that case, why don’t we just sit on the couch…and just talk?” Mafuyu asked softly.
“Gossip it is then!” Mizuki chirped, scrambling to the couch immediately. As they all settled, Kanade let out a soft sigh. It was always mundane things like being with n25 that made her fuzzyily warm. All of them were very warm to be around. Mafuyu especially.
Snow days weren’t bad at all. Even if you were chilly constantly.
While Ena let herself indulge in Mizuki’s tale about an experience at the mall, Kanade very slowly leaned to whisper to Mafuyu.
“I have your answer. About the question earlier I mean.”
“Yes?” The lyricist had her full attention to the shorter girl.
“I would. You…” Kanade looked into Mafuyu’s eyes. Her heart began to pound but she didn’t know why. She should just tell this girl. She really should.
But….
“Even as a bug, an animal, a beast, anything…You’ll always be worth saving. And will always be dear to me.”