Chapter Text
It was a familiar sight for Tsumugu in this booth tucked away in the corner; Miki-san was smoking far too much and drinking until she became stern, Saku had polished off a few plates, and Ao…. Was pretty much the same, to be honest. Tao, though, she always worried for Tao during these excursions. Tsumugu had seen it firsthand plenty of times what too much drinking did to Tao’s state of being, creating a crybaby mess of her, and today wasn’t going to be different.
What was supposed to be a simple celebration for the creation of a new collaboration outfit with Ootori Kei had turned into the chaos strewn about on the table, and despite everyone’s battle knowledge with such, old habits die hard, and Ao being here was certainly not helping.
“oh, Tao~ if you’re not feeling so well, feel free to rest your weary head with me~” Ao extended her arms to the drunk blonde, as if inviting her for a hug. This clearly ticked Miki off, eliciting a “tch” from her.
“Tao, if you’re good enough to stop sleeping on the table, go get me more cigarettes, I’m about to run out,” Miki said in a somewhat gruff voice.
Tsumugu didn’t know how much more she could really take of this; Miki bullying Tao was one thing, but she couldn’t stand to see her get doubleteamed by Ao as well. She got up from her seat, and shook Tao. “Tao? Tao? Are you OK with walking right now?”
The blonde girl awoke, getting stirred by her coworker, and she struggled to remain sitting upright. “dangoooooo….. why’d you wake me uuuuuuup…..” Tao slurred slowly, producing a few sniffles at the end. Tsumugu saw the familiar full face blush, the tears in the corners of her eyes, and the trickle of drool coming out of her mouth.
“Tao….. I think it’s time to wrap it all up, you’ve had enough to drink for tonight.” Tsumugu tries to hold her steady by her shoulders, before Tao responds by wrapping her arms on top of hers, and trying to push herself up.
“Tao, seriously, just let me help you up-”
“Hold me, dango……” suddenly having enough strength to lean herself against Tsumugu’s shoulder, Tao punctuates her demand with a ‘gweh’ as she lands. Miki looks incredibly pissed at what is currently happening.
“tao…… where do you get off…..” Miki grumbles out of her mouth, still holding a cigarette butt in her lips.
“Look, Owner, it’s already getting late…. We can all still make the last train if we start heading out right now….” Tsumugu tries to get Tao’s attention by rubbing her head, but accidentally just ends up brushing her hair with her hand. “Tao, what’s your address? I can take you to your station.”
Tsumugu doesn’t hear a reply, instead hearing the slow tapping of fingers on glass as Tao tries her hardest to get to her Maps app on her phone. She passes her phone back to Tsumugu, showing the screen and the pre-typed address.
“Here? That’s not… actually too far from here, I think we can walk.” She begins typing into her own phone, and turning to the rest of the table. “Saku, can you take the others to the station?”
“yes…. I think I can handle that.”
“Alright, just let me know how much I owe you and if you need to take a taxi, let me know the amount.”
Everything confirmed, she adjusted Tao so that she was walking forward, and each of them had their own arm on the other’s shoulder, taking care to give more strength to holding Tao up for the walk. “then we’ll be off for tonight. Get home safe,” Tsumugu said waving as they exited the establishment.
She felt a tinge of guilt for leaving Saku to deal with the two older coworkers, but the alternative picture with Tao remaining instead made her feel even worse. Together, the two began the journey.
The walk to the apartment took longer than expected, for reasons both girls already knew.
“seven minutes….. what kind of seven minute walk was that, dango…….”
“Look, for my track record, ten extra minutes is a small delay!” Tsumugu took Tao’s arm off of her shoulder to free up both of their hands. “Tao, can I get your keys?”
Tao merely mumbled, fumbling through her bag to grab her keys, which she uses unsuccessfully attempting to unlock her door, instead jabbing at the surrounding metal of the keyhole.
Tsumugu grabs the key from her, and swiftly turns the key, opening the door. Tao walks past her and begins taking off her shoes. “I’m home…..”†
Tsumugu looks a bit surprised hearing this. “oh, do you live with someone, Tao?”
Tao waves her hand back without looking. “nah….”
Tsumugu tries her best to keep her face neutral, trying to not look sour. “OK, I’ll be…..” Before she can finish her statement, she remembers Tao attempting to cook while drunk, and realizes she probably still needs to be helped out for a little while longer. “Do you need assistance with anything, Tao?”
“no, I’m….” Tao proceeds to almost trip over nothing and eat shit, but luckily catches herself in time. “fine.”
Tsumugu sighs before walking over to the drunk blonde. “Tao, it’s OK, I don’t mind helping,” she says as she takes off her jacket to hang up.
“Dango…… I don’t *hic* need help from a kouhai…..”
“Just go get cleaned up and I can grab you your sleeping clothes.” As Tsumugu leaves the threshold, she looks around what appears the common area, before making her way to Tao’s bedroom. Crossing the hallway, she opens the door slowly, taking in the sight before her. A sketching desk with a shelf placed on top, a table for the sewing machine, wheeled clothing racks, and a bed are what immediately catch her eye. It makes her realize one thing:
God, her room is way cleaner than mine.
She looks around and spots the dresser, sliding the drawers open to see if she can find the pajamas, trying her best not to snoop but still analyzing the folded clothes she sees. Eventually, she spots them: blue pajamas with what appears to be bunnies⁂ scattered all across the garments. Tsumugu turns around to hand them over to Tao, but is intercepted by her opening the door first.
“ah, sorry, Tao, I was just coming back to give you-”
“don’t worry *hic* about it….. I’ll clean up in the mornin…….” She flops onto her bed, face first into her pillow.
“Tao, come on, it’ll just take a minute-” Tsumugu turns Tao over in her bed, producing a ‘bleh’ from her. “at least sleep on your side.”
“dangoooo….. I’m fine…..”
“I’ll go get you some water, too,” Tsumugu said as she left to search the kitchen for a glass, finding one in the cabinet above the sink. Tilting the handle, she filled it up about halfway before shutting off the faucet and bringing it back into the room. “Careful with this.”
Tao sits up a bit more, holding onto the cup with two hands as she takes a sip slowly. Once she finishes with her drink, she gingerly places the glass onto the nightstand next to her, before sorta looking down towards the other girl.
“Tao? Is everything alright? Need anything else?”
“….thk you……” Tao whispered.
“Sorry, what was that?”
“….thank you, dango,” replied Tao in a louder voice, bashfully blushing.
Tsumugu began to feel her cheeks turn red now. She legitimately didn’t hear what Tao had said earlier, but it wasn’t like her to openly thank someone like that, especially for something as small as a glass of water. “ah….. it’s…. fine, Tao,” she finally replied. “I’m just glad…. You’re doing OK right now.”
“You can stay.”
“Sorry?”
“You can sleep here….. not this bed….. but the apartment….” and with that final reply, Tao finally dozes off, legs laying on the comforter.
Tsumugu gulps, processing what had just been offered to her. She continues thinking about it as she pulls the sheet over Tao. Tao was OK with a sleepover like this? The same senpai that once baited her with promise of looking at her design book just for a photoshoot? That one? She’s letting her stay? Over? Here?
She weighed her options, checking the time on the desk clock, and realizing she would most definitely not be able to get on a train at this hour. So Tsumugu instead gets ready to go to bed as well, which would involve considerably less steps than usual seeing as she did not pack sleep clothes nor a toothbrush. She got ready to sleep on the couch, but after hanging her bag on Tao’s chair, she spotted it.
Tao’s design notebook. It laid askew on her desk, closed. Tsumugu turned around quickly to check, Tao was still sleeping. This was her chance, to finally get a look inside. Her hands grabbed the notebook and held it and
She couldn’t open it.
Not like this. Nothing like this, Tao completely out of it. She remembered the Moesta+ photoshoot. She tried her hardest because she wanted to earn the right to look at it. Because, as Tsumugu realized, she wanted to really know that Tao trusted her enough to look, and to try to peek now would run counter to that. Firm grip on the cover, she placed it on the far edge of the desk, and scooted the chair in more. One day, but not today, she thought.
Laying on the couch, Tsumugu thought about how far she’s come. Working at Runway Cafe, becoming good friends with everyone there, figuring out what clothing really means to her, means to everyone. Unfolding the blanket, she felt her eyelids closing and the smile on her face growing, knowing that she was always getting one step closer to working with her idol.
Unbeknownst to either of the two sleeping girls, a loose page falls onto the floor.