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Ochako wasn’t quite sure why she kept volunteering at the rehabilitation centre… except she did.
A specific person she couldn’t get off of her mind.
Every Wednesday she walked through the same pale grey hallways, greeting the staff before stopping outside of one particular room. Inside, Toga Himiko sat on the flat mattress bed, staring out of a window.
“You came back!” She said with a slight grin. “I thought you had gotten bored of me..”
“I said I would visit again, and I’m not one to break promises.” Ochako said with a monotone, cleaning up the pieces of foam from the mattress Toga had torn apart.
“It seems that all you heros keep your promises…huh?” Himiko muttered
Ochako responded, this time looking directly at Toga, “I try to.”
Toga laughed quietly, “That’s annoying!!”
For a while, neither of them spoke. Ochako handed her a small cup of strawberry yogurt from the cafeteria. Toga looked somewhat surprised before taking it.
”You remembered?!!” She spoke while spooning the yogurt to herself.
“I mean… you mentioned you liked strawberries, so…”
“Yeah but… I say a lot of stuff” Toga giggled
”I’m well aware…” Ochako said in a light tone
——————————————————————————-
A few weeks later, the rehabilitation centre held a small community festival for the residents. There were food stalls, games, and music. Most people were excited to finally get out away from the colorless plain inside atmosphere. Toga wasn’t.
She slipped away from the crowd as the dusk set in and the sky faded into a pale blue.
Ochako arrived right as Toga left, she searched for her and before a matter of time she had found her on the rooftop, hugging her knees, staring at the moon as it came closer into her view.
“I figured you’d be here…”
”Heh, yeah, I guess you always find me.” Toga said smiling, but Ochako could tell it wasn’t genuine. Toga looked at the city lights, and the cell towers in the distance blinking periodically in a satisfying pattern.
“They're all laughing down there like nothing ever happened….”
Ochako cleared her throat, trying to figure out what to say,
”They’re trying to move forward.”
“But what if I don’t know how? I feel left behind.” Toga said with her face in her hands.
Ochako scooted over closer to her
”Then… well- you don’t have to figure it out alone.”
Toga stared at her for a second before taking a deep breath
”You really believe someone like me deserves a second chance at everything?”
Toga blushed just a bit
”Honestly, I believe you’re special. You can do whatever you want to do next, and I hope that it’s to move forward and push away the pressure and pain of the past.” Ochako said, staring at the stars as the sky darkens.
Toga stares at ochako again and glances at her lips,
”She looks so beautiful in the moonlight..” she thinks to herself
”You’re weird Ochako…” she giggles gently
”So I’ve been told…” Ochako says with a smile on her face
“But I think that’s why I like you so much.” Toga says with a face as red as a tomato
Ochako giggles before realizing Toga was being completely serious.
”Wait, you really mean that?” She utters
”Of course I do… I thought it was obvious- I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have said anyth-“
Ochako leans in to kiss Toga
After they pull away, Ochako looks away from Toga, embarrassed.
It was silent as a radio for a moment, it seemed even the city quieted itself down. But that didn’t last too long.
”You kissed me, heh..” Toga whispered to herself, touching her lips.
”I-I did..”
Ochakos face started to burn up
“I wasn’t imagining it?” Toga said with complete seriousness.
”Nope… that just happened.”
A laugh escaped Toga’s mouth, she seemed relieved. It was a laugh Ochako had never heard before, it didn’t seem manic or teasing.
”I thought…” Toga whispered.
“I thought no one could ever love someone like me.”
Ochako turned in her direction
“Listen, I will be honest. I don’t know what tomorrow looks like. You have such a long road ahead of you.”
Togas smile faded a bit, but she nodded
”I know..”
“But- I want to be there while you walk through it.” Ochako said, holding Togas two hands in her own.
For a moment, Toga simply stared at their intertwined fingers.
“You’re going to make me cry..”
“I didn’t think you cried really.” Ochako said in return
”I don’t.” Toga responded
A tear rolled down her cheek anyway.
Ochako laughed softly before wiping the tear off of her face, she pulled her closer and Toga put her head in her lap.
“Do you.. maybe think we can stay here for a little longer?” Toga said, still a little sniffly.
”Of course we can.” Ochako moved her hand up to Togas head and separated strands of her hair, tucking each piece behind her ear.