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Nana is sweet (and has a habit of spoiling her), Junna thinks for the umpteenth time.
Unable to hide the smile that threatens to form on her lips, she picks up the little wrapped treat sitting on her desk.
Popping the handmade chocolate into her mouth, Junna’s eyes light up in recognition as the mild taste of dark cocoa mixed with banana melts heavenly in her mouth.
There isn’t any note on her desk, which strikes Junna as odd as Nana often likes to pen a sentence or two down on a note decorated with green frogs for her. Junna lets herself ponder over this fact, unconsciously looking over to the other side of her shared room with Nana. There are several reference books and scripts scattered about, a testament to her hard work over their new script.
Nana is nowhere to be seen. Junna suspects that the girl had probably escaped to the kitchen, no doubt making some afternoon snacks for their friends before Karen can tumble into the kitchen, trying to find some food.
The lack of any handwritten notes leaves a strange feeling in Junna’s chest. She pops another chocolate into her mouth—
And it just occurs to her that Nana had been leaving various sweets and snacks on her desk every few days for the past two weeks. Knowing Nana, Junna figures that she is probably trying to surprise her with new recipes.
It definitely is working. She’s plenty surprised and had been enjoying those treats much more than she lets on. She’s torn between thanking Nana when she returns and curiously waiting to see if Nana has any more recipes coming up.
Chewing on the third piece of chocolate thoughtfully, a small idea starts to form in her mind. Smiling to herself, Junna makes a mental note to make a trip to the supermarket sometime this week.
When Nana returns to her room in the evening, exhausted, she’s just a step away from collapsing on the bed when she notices a wrapped item on her desk, near her half-written scripts for an upcoming play.
“These are… cookies?” Nana mutters to herself as she unwraps its contents. Her eyes widen and she lets out a quiet giggle when she sees the shape of the cookies.
A frog wearing glasses.
There’s no doubt now that Junna is the one who gave her the snacks. Amused, Nana picks it up. As expected of Junna, the shape was cleanly done and on point. Junna had been insistent that frog wearing glasses are cooler and much cuter though she had never been able to convince Nana of it.
Seeing the amount of effort Junna had put into the gift, Nana almost finds it a waste to eat them.
Nonetheless, she brings it close to her chest.
“Thank you and you’re welcome, Junna-chan,” Nana says softly.
When Junna feels a familiar weight sinking and sliding next to her in the middle of the night, she lets out an incoherent murmur in her sleep.
“Junna-chan?”
The soft voice that Junna can recognize anywhere in a heartbeat rouses her up, though her mind is still swarming as she replies sleepily. “Nana…?”
“Sorry, Junna-chan… for disturbing your sleep.” The guilt in Nana’s voice tugs at Junna’s heartstrings, but to be honest, there’s no way Junna can find it in her to even be mad at the other girl.
“It’s fine, Nana.” Junna’s voice grows softer, and she shifts to her side, facing the blonde. Despite the darkness, Junna easily pinpoints Nana’s features and gently pats the back of Nana’s head. “I told you didn’t I? That you could rely on me more.”
Nana nods against Junna’s shoulders, her arms tightening around the girl’s waist.
“Mm.”
It started that fateful night when Nana had hesitantly sought her out.
The night where she found Nana outside, under the sea of stars in the dark sky, sitting alone, huddled against her knees.
The sight caused a pang in her heart but nonetheless, something in Junna began to stir and she had resolved herself with renewed conviction. And as the clumsy figure sobbed into her arms, Junna only pulled her closer, tightening her arms around the shaking frame.
Even when they reach their room, hand in hand, Nana still refused to let go.
It’s also that night that Nana began to sneak into Junna’s bed. Junna only moved slightly, making sure that there’s enough space for Nana and kept quiet. She doesn’t pry and waited patiently as Nana’s arms found their way toward her.
When Nana started to speak, she turned towards the girl, sliding a comforting hand against hers, and listened.
Sometimes, when Nana thinks that Junna isn’t paying attention, she would let her gaze linger, staring at the other girl. It’s easy to lose herself while watching Junna, and no matter how many times she watches her, Nana can’t help the affection and warmth that blooms from within her chest.
It’s somewhat of her favorite pastime — to observe Junna as she works diligently on her studies, or when she lies comfortably against the wall on her bed, reading one of Shakespeare’s plays she borrowed from the library. The way the serious bespectacled girl looks intently at her book, unconsciously tucking a stray hair behind her ear before her expression brightens up, and how she scrambles to jot down new discoveries from her reading in a child-like excitement.
At times, Nana becomes too engrossed in watching Junna that she forgets what she’s doing.
And when Junna finally notices that she’s staring, Nana only gives her a warm smile, delighting in the slight flush on Junna’s cheeks.
As Junna tries to hide her embarrassment behind her book, Nana can’t help the light flutters in her chest.
It doesn’t always work.
Junna is always next to her. She’s her pillar of strength — someone she has gradually been relying on. But there are still times where an inexplicable feeling abruptly hits her, seizing the mending gaps in her heart as she stands at the side, observing the rest of their friends going about their daily shenanigans.
It doesn’t take long for Junna to notice her. There are feelings that Nana can’t really explain in words — feelings and emotions that confuses her greatly, yet Nana doesn’t think they are entirely negative. Maybe she still hasn’t fully adjusted to the present, or maybe she’s experiencing so much new and exciting things every day with her friends that she can’t fathom them.
But Junna always notices.
The way Junna looks at her, with such warm and gentle faith as she offers a hand makes Nana's throat tighten.
And for a moment, she forgets all the complicated feelings swirling within her as a burning warmth fills her heart.
“Are those glasses on the cupcake?” A sudden voice jolts Junna out of thoughts and she almost yelps in surprise.
“S-Saijou-san?”
“What has gotten you so uptight?” Claudine asks curiously. Shifting her eyes away from her phone on hand, she takes another peek at the cupcake that Junna has been holding and staring at for at least five minutes.
It must have been really important for Junna to be staring at it so intently, not even noticing Claudine who had taken to sitting next to her.
Either that or there’s something wrong with the cupcake.
“N-Nothing!” Junna says— too quickly.
“Hmm, really?” Claudine hums, not entirely convinced. But really, the cupcake spells “Nana” all over; they have all eaten Nana’s banana cupcakes and muffins often enough to recognize one on sight. Claudine can probably wager a few guesses about Nana’s intentions in making this specifically for Junna.
“A banana flavored cupcake with handmade glasses-shaped chocolate on it?” Claudine can’t help the teasing grin on her face. Honestly, sometimes Nana can be really obvious. She watches Junna’s cheeks turn red while their class president makes a sound that’s halfway between a startled cat and a choking duck before she sputters.
“W-Wha— Why are you smiling like this?!”
“No reason.” Claudine’s smile widens. While Junna’s distracted, Claudine snaps a photo of the flustered girl and sends it to Nana.
Almost instantly, she receives a reply filled with thanks and emoticons.
Those two can be so adorable sometimes, Claudine thinks, greatly amused.
“Hoshimi-san, do you have a moment?”
“Tendou-san?” Junna looks up from her notes, seeing Maya coming up to her in the library. “What’s wrong?”
Maya pauses, as if mulling over her words, before she decides to say, “How is Daiba-san doing?”
“Eh?” Junna does a double-take. “What do you mean?”
“What Tendou means is Banana seems to be out of sorts a while back. But she seems to be fine these days,” A new voice chips in, and Junna is surprised to see a rare sight of Futaba coming up from behind Maya.
“Yes, that is what I meant. Thank you, Isurugi-san.” Maya nods appreciatively at Futaba.
“No problem. Well, everyone has probably noticed a thing or two but with Hoshimi by Banana’s side, Banana seems to be doing better.” Futaba says thoughtfully.
Junna can only stare at her two friends, struck by their words. They had noticed. Although they did not ask for details, they had noticed enough to know that Nana hadn’t been herself.
And that means a lot to Junna — much more than they would ever think.
The warm feeling in her heart lingers on as Futaba flashes a genuine smile.
“We’re always here if either you or Banana needs us!”
“Indeed. All of us will help the two of you in any way we can.” Maya adds.
“Thank you, Tendou-san, Isurugi-san.” Junna finally smiles.
She really couldn’t have asked for any better friends.
They are lying next to each other on the grass fields out by the school fountain.
The specks of stars illuminating the dark sky remind Nana of the night where time had resumed for her. The cool breeze washes over them, tickling against her skin and Nana slowly sits up. Junna follows suit.
“Nana?” Junna calls out softly.
“I’m just thinking.” Nana’s voice is quiet. She doesn’t face Junna, and is staring forward at nothing in particular. Nana continues, almost contemplative, “About how much Junna-chan means to me.”
Junna blinks. Despite how such words should make her feel happy, there’s a strange sense of unease that gives her a slight pause.
“I really like everyone, but you, Junna-chan , holds a special place in my heart,” Nana admits. Nana knows that despite how she acts, she’s actually timid, and someone who cries easily. She doesn’t like to be alone, and she almost never is — spending time together with their friends, being each other’s rivals as they evolve to a greater stage every day fills her with more joy than she has ever had in her entire life. But with Junna, the spark is different .
Junna’s the star that shines too brightly before her, yet it’s never out of reach. If she reaches her hand out, Junna is always there. Her best friend — the girl who she spends the holidays with at the dorm, the girl who worries too much yet so earnest. Junna who never fails to welcome her back to their shared room when she returns, who always notices the little details when it comes to her, and always so willing to go along with her whims.
Her star.
There’s a wistful look in Nana’s eyes. A faraway look that makes Junna think that if she doesn’t hold onto Nana, she would slowly disappear behind the clouds in the sky. A look that borders on melancholy yet still somewhat hopeful.
It doesn’t take Junna long to finally come to a realization.
She tugs the other girl closer, causing Nana to turn to her, giving her a questioning look.
Junna grabs the ribbon of Nana’s uniform gently and pulls her down, until they see eye to eye.
She needs Nana to understand — her thumb ghosts over the smooth skin across her cheek, and she sees the uncertainty lying beneath emerald green eyes — that just as much as Nana needs her, she needs Nana too.
“Nana. You’re the one who keeps me steady on my feet— each time I get too caught up in training and find myself losing my way, you’re here to keep me in check. If I’m able to shine, when I’m able to grasp my own star, it's also because you're here, next to me.”
“Junna-chan—”
“Nana, I need you.” Junna’s voice is a firm whisper but Nana hears it loud and clear. Her ears are ringing, heart thumping too loudly but, but —
Nana finally breaks out a small smile as tears start to brim in her eyes.
“Mmm.”
“You’re my light.” Nana blurts out one day.
Junna almost drops the pen she’s holding, and stares at Nana who looks just as surprised as her, mouth agape.
There’s a rare flush of embarrassment on Nana’s face, as if she can’t believe what she had accidentally said.
“H-huh?” Junna’s voice cracks eloquently.
“Junna-chan is my light,” Nana says again, this time albeit more playfully, trying to cover up her slip.
She’s rewarded with the sight of the deepening red hue on Junna’s cheeks. “You’re being unfair, Nana.” Junna pouts, causing Nana to giggle.
Setting her pen aside, Junna stands up and heads toward Nana. She climbs onto the girl’s bed, and crawls over to Nana, effectively trapping the latter against the wall. She moves further in, hoping to turn the tables and catch Nana off guard. The blonde easily uses the momentum to shift and angle her body, and now she’s the one towering over Junna.
“...Unfair.” Junna grunts, “You’re being really unfair here you know.”
“Silly Junna-chan.” Nana chuckles lightly, cupping Junna’s face and bumps her forehead against the other girl’s. She doesn’t realize that her hands are trembling until she feels a gentle and reassuring touch on the back of her hand.
"Nana." The gentle way Junna calls her name, with much fondness and familiarity, causes Nana to unexpectedly choke up.
"Now who's the unfair one?" Nana swallows, voice slightly shaky as she tries to smile.
Only Junna — only she can say her name and make her feel so much at ease, feel like she’s home. Just a simple action, a word, and it is enough for Nana’s heart to soar, for her world to brighten up infinitely—
—and she finds herself falling in love all over again.