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In a lonesome wreck of emotions, Mafuyu finds herself at the center. She lays awake in a bed all too small for the likes of her grown body. The cold of the outside bites at her skin, shallowly covered by feathered bedding on top of her. Thankfully, the firing of rainfall outside the window of Kanade’s childhood room remains close—just enough to distract her from the heaviness of her breathing.
Mafuyu is lost—way too caught up in her own emotions to comprehend the spur of the moment. What drove her from the home she’s always known to the shelter of Kanade’s? An overwhelming sense of dread washes over her—making Mafuyu wish so deeply to step out into the rain and shower herself clean. How could she talk back to her mother like that, and where had it gotten her. Was she at more resolve to run away without any of her belongings or a clear source of communication. How juvenile.
Mafuyu notices herself tossing and turning in the loose sheets. Part of which has to do with the unpleasant bedding she is stationed in. Her feet hang off the bedframe with ease, the bed being too narrow to curl up in. Kanade’s room in itself is claustrophobic. The ceiling hangs especially low, with everything from the desk to the closet in miniature proportions. Is this the room of young Kanade Yoisaki, or that of a door mouse?
On the other hand, Mafuyu is growing restless over her situation. If she knew what was good for her, she’d get up this instant and march her way back to her mother who's most likely stressing sleeplessly over the same separation.
However, Mafuyu can’t bring herself to break free of the confines held upon her at Kanade’s house. In a corrupt way, she feels at ease knowing at the very least, she is being protected from the likes of her mother. There is no option for Mrs. Asahina to tear her way through the walls of Kanade’s life after Kanade has already made an effort to make Mafuyu feel so at home.
With this, Mafuyu’s mind is directed somewhere else entirely. Kanade and her subtle smile. Kanade and her soft spoken words of affirmation. The way she had stepped out of her own threshold to let Mafuyu in, bearing her gifts of food, shelter, and a warm bath in her time of need. Mafuyu’s insides stir, and she thinks she’s going to vomit. In moments such as now, she finds herself longing for Kanade’s support and protection. Maybe then, she could stand on her own two feet.
As nausea grows, so does the apparency of just how uncomfortable this bed truly is. It is much smaller than that of her own, thus meaning it is inferior to any other bed she has had the grace of sleeping on. Even the floor of Ena’s room served more pleasure to her than this.
At the same time, Mafuyu could only blame herself. Kanade had offered her the bed of her parents, along with the silk set of pajamas that Mafuyu happens to be wearing at this very moment. Upon first hand experience, she could probably imagine just how discomforting the sleeping arrangement would be for Mafuyu. However, Mafuyu had already been too accepting of Kanade’s generosity for one night—she couldn’t bring herself to take Kanade’s bedding from her on top of everything else. After some back and forth of gentle bickering, Kanade brought Mafuyu to where she is now—laying in a mix of flat, thin pillows and a quilt offering the comfort of a thousand needles. Maybe it was just the uneasiness already festering inside Mafuyu, but there seemed to be way too many prickly feathers stuffed inside this comforter.
A new reason for panic shocks Mafuyu's body subsequently. She bites at her nails over the thought of her astronomic levels of stress possibly resulting in hives. With this revelation, the tingling sensation of a slow burn erupts across her legs and arms. Possibly a product of goosebumps from the cold, but Mafuyu’s throat still runs dry.
Without a second thought, she picks herself up from the bed and makes her way out the bedroom door. The dimmed light of a decorative lamp is all that guides Mafuyu on her journey to the kitchen as she walks hastily on her toes. Mafuyu is quite thankful at the moment for Kanade’s humble house arrangement. The narrow hallways, along with the clutter lurking in every corner feels welcoming and lived in. She finds the architecture of the house easy to navigate, with an odd sense of familiarity. This could only be driven by comfort—comfort of which isn’t conveyed well in the Asahina household.
The chill that seeps through every nook of this house is still unforgiving. It urges Mafuyu to quickly pour herself a cup of water from the tap once she finds the sink. Both before Kanade finds her lost in the mess of the Yoisaki kitchen, and before she dies of frostbite.
Mafuyu sets the sink to a slow, steady stream. Any more pressure, and Kanade will notice the noise of running water coming from outside, catching Mafuyu in the act of quenching her thirst.
This outcome is one that Mafuyu tries to work around. She doesn’t want Kanade to be disrupted by her antics, not when Kanade has already put in so much effort in tonight- scratch that, every night. It is every night that Kanade works towards writing songs for her, saving her. While the rational side of Mafuyu's consciousness finds it to be a lost cause; the concept of saving her from whatever mess she is trapped in, Mafuyu also finds Kanade’s determination to be contagious. She seems so sure of her abilities, which turns Mafuyu’s justice into something she can only hope for.
It goes without notice in the moment, when the glass that Mafuyu brings to her lips drips freezing water down the cotton pajamas that Kanade lent her. It is only when the icy liquid travels down the protrude of Mafuyu’s chin that she reels the cup back, shivering from the feeling. There seems as though to be a chip in the rim that Mafuyu hadn't taken account for. She shifts the cup around to a different angle as she chugs down the refreshment. The drink of water immediately helps stabilize her breathing, it's a remedy she uses quite often in her life when overcome by the control of her mother.
It's only when Mafuyu looks towards the paper towel rack that she notices there are none placed in the dispenser. She wonders if she should venture elsewhere, or let the cold liquid seep further into her skin and clothing until it dries. Still taken aback by the sensation against her numb limbs, Mafuyu can’t begin to imagine going back to the wretched bed in Kanade’s room like this. As she makes her way across the kitchen towards the direction of the bathroom, Mafuyu ponders over just sleeping on the floor tonight. It would be much more adaptable. Of course, this is all under the assumption that Mafuyu lets herself get any sleep tonight whatsoever.
Mafuyu halts in her tracks once the hallways to the bathroom leads her astray to the door of Kanade’s room. Blue light seeps from the crevices around its hinges, a clear sign of whose presence awaits behind those walls. Apart of Mafuyu wants to give up on her stealthy plan and run straight in.
She reminisces over the one and only time she had entered that room. An overbearing amount of academic and familiar pressure led her straight into Kanade’s bed. Those soft sheets, welcoming to her worn out state. On top of it all, Kanade kneeled next to her as she whispered reassurances and spooned sweet applesauce. It was a warm endeavor, like the contact of Kanade’s hand around her own. Mafuyu treads lightly around Kanade’s entrance, wondering if Kanade could more efficiently cure her chilling ache.
It is only when the light of Kanade’s room dims that Mafuyu breaks out of her trance. How long had she been standing there, exactly? It doesn’t matter anyways. Kanade will prepare herself now at twilight for much needed slumber, free of Mafuyu’s burden—and if Mafuyu knows one thing about herself, it’s that she is not the type of person to bother standing in people's way. She turns her head on course, gently opening the door into the bathroom.
Mafuyu dries herself off in hurried motion, suddenly feeling quite out of place in the confines of the Yoisaki household. Who is she to make herself feel at home? This is not her home. Her home is a place she deliberately abandoned with no remorse. Mafuyu knows she's leading herself astray, getting caught up in fantasies unsuitable to her own misfortune. The best thing she can do for herself now is go straight to bed and sort through this mess come daybreak.
Mafuyu looks at herself in the mirror only to subsequently squeeze her eyes shut. She feels great discomfort in the likes of her own skin, as though something sinister is bubbling under the surface. Never in her life has Mafuyu been so disobedient. It’s hard to believe that this entire situation isn’t a fantasy in itself–a deranged dream of which Mafuyu will soon overcome.
It is only when she reopens the bathroom door that Mafuyu feels more assured of this theory. The oxygen gets caught in her throat as she blinks at who she is in the presence of.
Kanade Yoisaki.
She wears a similar set of cozy pajamas to that of Mafuyus, meaning she must have already showered and completed her night routine. Still, Kanade’s hair drapes loosely around her shoulders and down her back—cool toned as the bathroom light reaches it. A rushing waterfall.
“M-Mafuyu…” Kanade mumbles, as though equally unsure of the reality they are both living in. Not only this moment, but the entire day. Or maybe just the happenings of the past few weeks, it's hard to determine when things became so unbelievable for the both of them.
“Kanade..I was just-” Mafuyu gets caught up in her own words, unable to string coherent sentences together. Her mouth hangs slightly open as she stares down at Kanade’s startled manner.
Surprise quickly transforms into concern, as Kanade reaches her hand out to rub Mafuyu’s arm in gentle comfort. “Mafuyu, are you okay? Why are you up this late?” Upon touch, she halts. “Oh my….your freezing.”
Mafuyu is frozen in place, wondering whether or not frostbite has finally caught up to her. Kanade’s hand is soft, soothing, her words feel like a lullaby meant to put Mafuyu to sleep peacefully. It is at that moment that Mafuyu realizes this is what she has been craving this entire time. Maybe an exothermic sense of warmth, maybe just a shoulder to cry on. Kanade has found her. Mafuyu’s not sure how, but she has. With that, she finds herself at ease in the sudden hands of the one person she has always ran too.
“I’m fine, don’t worry about me. I just came for a drink of water,” Mafuyu assures as she laughs breathily despite the glisten of her violet irises. The response only seems to worry Kanade more, as she now places her opposite hand against that of Mafuyu’s to catch a better feel of her body temperature.
“Mafuyu…how could I not possibly be worried. Your body is freezing cold. Come on, I’ll help you get settled into bed.” With a furrowed brow, Kanade tugs slightly at Mafuyu’s arm as she turns the corner.
“No, wait! I….” Mafuyu’s voice grows shaky as she stands her ground. She looks down to avert Kanade’s gaze.
“Mafuyu…what's the matter?” Kanade cautiously guides her hand from Mafuyu’s arm to that of her neck before landing on her chin to tilt Mafuyu’s face into her peripheral vision. When Mafuyu’s eyes lock with those of Kanade’s she feels an overwhelming sense of guilt. Because plastered on Kanade’s face is the greatest sense of worry she has ever come across. It feels as though Kanade is looking directly past her pupils and straight into her soul, truly seeing her.
And with that, Kanade opens the gates to a whole new realm of suppressed emotions yet again. Her tender hold on Mafuyu’s chin breaks the dam Mafuyu has spent all night attempting to restore—and with that comes the floodgates.
Mafuyu is sure she looks utterly insane above Kanade’s gaze as her expression of disquiet quickly transfers to panic once again. Without a second thought, Kanade pulls Mafuyu into a benign yet protective embrace, hands traveling from Mafuyu’s arm and head to the middle of her back.
Mafuyu is startled by her change in demeanor yet again as her head falls to Kanade’s shoulder. She can’t recall breaking as easily as she did this very night. “I-I’m sorry, Kanade…I don’t know what's gotten into me,” she confessed between stifling sobs.
“I understand, and I’m here.” Kanade’s words anchor her back to earth. It is only when she carefully tends to Mafuyu’s broken fragments that Mafuyu finally finds herself winding down.
When Kanade affirms Mafuyu of settling her back into bed, Mafuyu complies this time. After all, Kanade’s words have always been easy to believe for Mafuyu. She is so careful with how she carries every conversation between the two of them, which brings on a sense of intention deeply rooted behind all of Kanade’s words. She would never speak out of line when it comes to anyone she cares about.
Mafuyu on the other hand has proven to herself that she can’t keep her mouth shut to save her life. She seems to have a newfound tendency of crossing lines, poking the bear one too many times. When Kanade restates her effort of bringing Mafuyu to bed for a night’s rest, Mafuyu gives in obediently. Falling for Kanade’s words, maybe she’s right—maybe all Mafuyu needs is to go back to bed.
Kanade leads Mafuyu out the doorway to the bathroom and back down the hallway, which is hard to make out in cold darkness. Mafuyu can only trust Kanade and her knowingness to guide her through such dark tunnels.
In an instant, Kanade has stopped which leads Mafuyu to follow in suit. A creek of a doorframe echoes against the walls that seem to stretch on for eternity.
The door to Kanade’s room.
Confused, Mafuyu follows the soft touch of their linked hands into the room of Kanade’s. Her monitor screens have been shut off, so it’s hard to make out much with the absence of bright blue light. Just enough moonlight peaking out from the crack of the window curtains brings Kanade’s bed into focus. Suddenly, Mafuyu is longing for rest. Thinking back to herself resting effortlessly on the mattress before her fills her with an ease that surely no one, not even Mafuyu herself could describe. She wants nothing more than to crawl into Kanade’s bed and whisk herself to sleep, knowing her dreams will be filled with fluffy clouds and fragrant flowers.
Mafuyu feels Kanade’s hand move to her back, discreetly urging her into the mix of blankets and pillows. “You can sleep here,” she whispers sweetly. Has Kanade’s voice always sounded so lulling like that? It's best not to think about it.
Without response, Mafuyu finds herself climbing into Kanade’s bed, exhaustion winning over her own hesitancy regarding the situation. Her body is instantly overcome by the warmth of a Summer’s passing. It’s unbelievable, after layering herself for nights with a mix of layered pajamas and comforters to fight off the glacial soul of her own room. Nights have felt especially cold for Mafuyu these past few days as tension hangs heavy in the air. Tonight's ongoing storm is definitely not helping.
The faint sound of footsteps leads away from her spot on the bed, and Mafuyu thinks it's finally her time to rest.
Yet as anything from today, Mafuyu is quickly colored surprised. For just moments after curling up under Kanade’s wool covers, she feels a shift on the mattress, followed by the smooth limbs of no other, brushing along her side. A breath of relief escapes Kanade’s lips as their bare legs collide, and it is then that Mafuyu realizes Kanade’s body is alike hers previously. Frigid and needy.
“Kanade…,” Mafuyu’s mouth questions as Kanade settles into the spot beside her.
She’s unsure of how to frame it. Why are we sleeping in the same bed? Why did you want me in here in the first place? Surely it was safe to assume that Kanade would sleep elsewhere if it meant offering Mafuyu her own bed. Still, she feels as though it's necessary to make her own presence known. Had she somehow misinterpreted the situation? Maybe it would be a safer move to escape now—before everything builds up into-
“Mafuyu? I’m sorry, did I wake you?” Mafuyu can hear Kanade’s tender voice beside her, but is hesitant to rise and meet her gaze. It would be much easier to assume this was all a dream as it seems.
“No, I actually haven't been able to sleep,” Mafuyu settles on. It is the truth. She’s been having an especially hard time sleeping tonight. Usually, Mafuyu could settle in the misfortunes of her life knowing she had no particle action in them. As of now, she is nothing more than part of the problem. Knowing that she has somehow gotten Kanade and the rest of her friends in Nightcord involved, she can’t help but feel put to shame. Shutting her eyes forces her to dwell inside the mess of which he has found herself in, and quite frankly, Mafuyu would rather give up now than bear the fight.
“Oh, I understand. Today’s been…” Kanade falters on her whispering, “rough.”
Mafuyu is usually good at pushing things down—suppressing her feelings to save anyone from the trouble of herself. Even at shipwreck, Mafuyu would rather be left stranded than signal help. She’d be much more content letting a shark’s wrath strip her body alive. But Mafuyu already isn’t feeling like herself today, and Kanade is up at her own lighthouse oh so far away. Still, its luminance is visible enough to tell Mafuyu she will do whatever she can to aid her, and Kanade has made that clear to its highest degree.
Mafuyu has already landed herself an open wound, surely enough she starts seeping blood again. “I just don’t know if-I…I don’t know how to make things better,” Mafuyu’s voice shakes as she nears the end of her words. Sure it's vague, but it's the most she can say regarding the entire situation without letting herself break.
Even before, Mafuyu couldn’t bring herself to tell Kanade about the entire situation. All Kanade is aware of is that there was a large argent between Ms. Asahina and Mafuyu that involved Nightcord and such that resulted in Mafuyu running away. Mafuyu vaguely remembers Kanade on the phone with someone as she sorted things out, most likely Mafuyu’s dad. There’s a good chance that she had been given more insight, but only Mafuyu and her mother know what went down earlier.
Still, Kanade leans upward from the mattress and moves toward her, meeting her gaze with all the understanding Mafuyu could ask for.
“I promise it’ll be alright, Mafuyu. I’m here for you, Mizuki and Ena are here for you as well. We can figure this all out tomorrow. Now, you owe yourself some rest,” Kanade says, her hand moving up and down Mafuyu’s frozen arm. In the safety of her own bed, Kanade’s skin radiates a similar warmth to Mafuyus. Except Kanade’s heat is much more relaxing, whereas Mafuyu’s feels like the path of a forest fire.
Suddenly Mafuyu is much too hot, moving the blankets off her torso so she is driven by nothing but the warmth of Kanade’s fingers. She doesn’t avert the contact of Kanade’s eyes. Maybe if she allows her eyes to get lost in Kanade’s, so will the rest of her soulless body.
“Mizuki and Ena…do they know,” Mafuyu can’t help but wonder aloud. In response, Kanade offers her a subtle smile of endearment as she looks slightly overtop her. Through the shaded moonlight, Mafuyu can only make out the kind expression on Kanade's face. Still, she can feel her weight on the opposite side of the bed and the hand she keeps around Mafuyu’s closer arm.
It’s mesmerizing, so much so that Mafuyu can’t bring herself to pull away from the encounter. Instead, she continues to look frantically in the eyes of Kanades, searching for solace.
“I told them briefly what happened, and about cancelling our meeting. Sure enough, both of them were very understanding, so there's nothing to worry about there,” Kanade says in a soft tone.
With that, Mafuyu takes a sigh of relief before resting her eyes. She feels Kanade shift her arm away, most likely about to deal some rest of her own.
“Still,” Kanade utters out of the blue, causing Mafuyu to open her eyes. Kanade now looks away from Mafuyu and towards the other direction of her room , seemingly lost in thought. Mafuyu can’t help but lie awake in preparation for Kanade’s words, despite her previous statement of rest. Seriously, how does Kanade expect her to sleep peacefully when reopening their conversation?
“I wish I had a better grasp of the situation. I understand completely of your own feelings–seriously, I can’t begin to imagine what that event must’ve been like for you. I just want you to know that you can open up to me…no matter what,” Kanade says, and it's unlike anything Mafuyu has ever heard before. A part of her wonders if Kanade is aware that she is awake; conscious and attentive to her words. The sincerity of her voice in the moment leads Mafuyu to believe that those words came straight from the pit of Kanade’s heart.
Kanade typically speaks of her own thoughts, but in a monotone fashion.
When it comes to people Kanade dearly cares about, such as Mafuyu, Mizuki, and Ena. Kanade opens her heart in order to lift them up. Mafuyu knows that it is in Kanade’s nature to help people in any way she can. Of course, this begs a sense of selfishness rooted in Kanade’s motives—she wants to be depended on.
However, Mafuyu sees no issue with that. Quite frankly, she has broken into fragments and eager for something, someone to elevate her again. It is with the words of Kanade in this very moment that Mafuyu truly sees her open arms, awaiting Mafuyu to fall into her embrace.
“She told me that it was all a mistake, something I’d regret later on…I just wish that she could see the real me…” Mafuyu chokes out, causing Kanade to turn her head slightly and glance back at her.
“Mafuyu…” Kanade can only say in response as her eyes fill with despair.
“I don’t understand…why can’t I have both? Why can’t I keep doing what I love—making music….and have my mother’s support at the same time,” Mafuyu’s tone intensifies with every word like the buildup of an avalanche. “Why must I distance myself from you guys, just for the sake of someone else. Especially when it feels as though you are the ones that only truly listen to me…I just don't understand, Kanade!” her words are slurred between the sobs of an upcoming meltdown. “I don’t understand-”
Kanade darts across the mattress with urgency, grabbing Mafuyu by the shoulders and squeezing her tight. It is unlike any gentle touch Kanade has ever given her before. She holds her densely against her chest as though afraid of losing her. Kanade’s expression remains invisible, but the unsteadiness of her heartbeat against Mafuyu’s head tells her all she needs to know. Kanade is panicked.
“I’m sorry-! Mafuyu…” Kanade lets out, the desperation of her words caught in her throat. Despite Kanade's hushed voice, her words hit Mafuyu’s ears heavily, as though Kanade has had to gag the words out of herself.
Taken aback suddenly, all Mafuyu can muster out is a silent “huh” as she’s now sat up, eyes wide.
“I’m sorry that you don’t have anyone to see you unapologetically. I’m sorry you had to bear this all on your own...I feel terrible….” Kanade’s arms remain wrapped around Mafuyu’s upper body, but her grip loosens slightly. Mafuyu can’t find it in herself to speak further. Instead, she awaits the rest of Kanade’s personal analysis, as if to prove the expanse of her life leading up to now was all endured.
Kanade’s hushed voice cracks as she tells Mafuyu, “and I’m sorry that…I didn't fight my way back into your life. Knowing everything that I know now, I would’ve ripped through every wall I could to get through to you.”
“But you did get through to me,” Mafuyu interjects, causing Kanade to halt in her words. “It was you who reminded me just how much Nightcord means to me.” Pushing Kanade down to meet her eyes, Mafuyu places both her hands atop Kanade's shoulders.
Kanade watches Mafuyu with a similar astonishment to that of her own. Tears still accumulate at the brink of Mafuyu’s eyes, but with a newfound easiness. The comfort of Kanade’s own words pushes her statement further. “Kanade, do you remember when you told me about the times when your dad had composed music for your mother? I can recall you mentioning that you wanted to make me smile just as brightly as you had in that moment. All of my happiness spent in Nightcord…I owe it to you.”
Mafuyu can’t help but lift the corners of her mouth upward as she looks deeply into the eyes of Kanade. She has always felt that Kanade understood her, much more than anyone else could for that matter. Under inevitable circumstances when Mafuyu would make a mistake or act out of line from everyone else, Kanade had been the last person to ridicule her for her actions. Still, Mafuyu could never grasp why. In a way, she found it nonsensical, pathetic almost.
In situations of dire need, Mafuyu felt herself desperate for Kanade’s naive comfort. Still, she found herself unsure of why Kanade could possibly want to help someone like her. What was so special about Mafuyu that stuck out to Kanade anyways? She figured it had something to do with Mafuyu’s perfection. Maybe Kanade was looking for someone so utterly obedient at her side in order to ground herself in her own life.
In the wake of this moment, as Mafuyu traces over the fine edges of their past interactions, she begins to understand the inscriptions written between the lines. Not just what Kanade had always seen in her, but what she had always seen in Kanade as well.
Empathy.
Mafuyu could look at Kanade and see herself. She could see her own potential of benevolence. In a way, Kanade has always felt like a dream to Mafuyu. Despite going through so much, Kanade has been able to push past her struggles in strive of her own passion. She can turn her own weaknesses into such that could make her stronger. In the spur of the moment, Mafuyu realizes that this is what she admires about Kanade most.
Kanade has always knelt down from her own life to meet Mafuyu eye-to-eye. The selfless part of herself that Mafuyu had always encountered at a surface level seemed to want Mafuyu to grow from her past in the same way Kanade had. This still remains true, but Mafuyu only now grasps the selfish side of Kanade’s desires.
She wants Mafuyu to live alongside her—bear the loneliness of their independent existence to the extent that it is altered completely. Thus, being lonely alongside each other in a way the two of them could only hope for would utter its own sense of company.
“And the song…I promise to work as hard as I can on it still. I promise to do whatever I can to save you,” Kanade musters before Mafuyu can get another thought straight. Melancholy held over the situation is quickly replaced with hope, and Mafuyu can’t help but laugh in the wake of Kanade’s declaration despite the apparent tears in both of their eyes.
“Thank you, Kanade,” Mafuyu settles on. She raises her arm away from Kanade’s shoulder to wipe her own eyes, before wiping Kanade’s with the other in sequence. Kanade can’t seem to do much else but watch, fixated on Mafuyu's movements. It is then that Mafuyu notices a warmer light delicately fill the room. Dawn seems to be approaching fast, and the two of them still haven’t gotten a wink of sleep.
Mafuyu’s not sure if she wants to sleep anymore regardless. Despite her body’s exhaustion, she feels a surge of energy that electrifies her core. It's hard not to wonder how much this feeling will increase if she were to do what her mind is telling her to do.
Mafuyu decides to test the waters by moving her hand away from Kanade’s eye and towards her cheek. She cups Kanade’s face in her hand with grace, whom of which sits before her with a fascinated expression,
The energetic heat in Mafuyu’s chest rises, along with a rapid sense of alarm that she might be misinterpreting their situation. Despite her former epiphany, she’s still not sure how Kanade sees her on a deeper level. A friend? Best friend? More than friends? Or is it deeper than that…
Mafuyu’s not entirely sure, but her gut tells her that their souls confer in a place of guidance, together. And Mafuyu has never felt this strongly about another person before. All it took was briefly losing Kanade for Mafuyu to realize just how much their relationship means to her.
Sure, it would be foolish to say that they are not both in need of repair and of organizing their lives independently. Despite that, the connection Mafuyu feels towards Kanade is enough for her to be considerably tempted of progressing their link.
All of Mafuyu’s curiosity lies in her next movements, as she finds herself looking from Kanade’s eyes to her lips, then back to her eyes yet again. This could make or break everything, and Mafuyu’s not entirely sure what she's doing in the first place.
Kanade seems to catch sight of her advance, and follows in suit by raising her hand toward Mafuyu’s rested arm. “Mafuyu…” she hears Kanade mutter slightly under her breath. Her breathing has fallen off course along with it, nerves evident in the way she carries herself.
Mafuyu could say the same about her own nerves. Nonetheless, she breathes in sharply before leaning in slowly to close some of the space between them. If this is something Kanade truly wants for herself, then she will meet her halfway.
It all happens before Mafuyu can truly grasp the situation. The way that Kanade paces herself cautiously toward Mafuyu as their lips meet in the center, their emotions spilled across the sheets before them. Kanade’s lips are sickeningly soft, more so than that of her skin, to Mafuyu’s surprise. She can taste hints of mint toothpaste between their breath, that is before wrapping her arms around Kanade’s neck to deepen the kiss.
Kanade follows the trail of affection by pulling Mafuyu toward herself by her upper torso, and Mafuyu didn’t know just how badly she needed it. Nerves still fly high around them, but their hearts that beat as one are what carries them forward. Mafuyu’s not sure where any of this is going to get her, and it's safe to assume the same for Kanade. Thinking back to her mothers words of regret, Mafuyu has never been as sure that they were wrong than she is now.
The moment flies by, and the two of them break apart to catch their breaths. Despite the heavy disarray of emotions at shore, all Kanade and Mafuyu can do is smile as they look into each other’s eyes, They don’t exchange much words of sentiment before returning to a state of rest, still being too caught up in webs of their own thoughts and feelings to process much verbally. Mafuyu doesn’t mind though. For once, something in her world feels resolute.
Still bewildered by the events of the day, Mafuyu feels at ease knowing she has the people she cares about close to her. The path set before her is hard to follow—that is definite. But with Kanade next to her, Mafuyu is able to let go momentarily, finding herself in repose