hibiscus rosa-sinensis (ycsh)

Yachiyo was the one who’s awake first that morning.

Or, yeah, she thought she was - a pair of jade green eyes already greeted her upon her wake. The morning lights coming from outside draped around them. It’s no longer them searching for each other eyes to see.

Shiori was smiling. She paused a bit to see Yachiyo is awake, it seems, as her lips parted a bit and her eyes rounded up. It wasn’t long for her to revert back to similarly former soft expression.

The little girl still looked a bit tired, Yachiyo noted. While she hoped that it is her miscalculations, the pallid skin of Shiori said otherwise.

“Good morning, senpai.”

Even her voice is moored in tiredness. Did she get enough sleep last night?

“Morning,” Yachiyo replied. “Did you sleep well?”

“I did,” a pause. “But I’m still tired.”

Good thing that Shiori doesn’t lie to her in the morning, or it would only sour the mood if the latter happened.

The younger girl snuggled close to Yachiyo’s neck, making Yachiyo flinched. Shiori didn’t do anything else but to breathe. Yachiyo then wrapped her arms around her in a protective embrace.

“Do you want to rest a little more?”

“We’ll be late for school,” came the squeak.

“We can ditch the class together.”

“No we can’t.” Yachiyo could see Shiori is pouting, she couldn’t help her streak of giggles.

The pinkette wondered why Shiori is looking tired, or it’s just she who’s not paying attention. Was it about the thing she discussed with Akira last night? Should Yachiyo really know about it? Is it alright to ask?

“… What happened last night?” she finally asked.

“Nothing’s happened,” Shiori answered. “Yukishiro-senpai was the usual Yukishiro-senpai, and Michiru-senpai was there. It was a choreography talk.”

“I see,” it’s not like Yachiyo knows every lies that’s hidden. It’s not like she never trust anyone. She respected Shiori’s answers. She believed that there’s nothing bad happened. “Then, why do you look so …?”

“I’m alright.”

“But-“

Shiori raised her head. The soft lips marked Yachiyo’s in one kiss. The kiss lasted, albeit it’s only a weak press. The meaning transmitted behind it is unclear, or maybe it was multitude of words she’s unable to utter in a sentence. A request of trust. An affirmation that everything will be okay.

“If I … take a day off today, will you stop worrying?”

Their foreheads bumped, Yachiyo cradled her hands to cup on Shiori’s cheeks.

“I won’t,” Yachiyo said in all honesty. Really, she won’t – but it would only stir a problem if two members of Edels are absent on the same day. Yachiyo stole a kiss on the bridge of the nose. “But I’ll manage.”

“Mou, Senpai.”

“I blame it on you for being so precious, Shiori.”

It is okay. It will be okay. She can leave Shiori to her rest for a while. She can come back the first time on the day after the last bell—scratch that, after student council routines. Shiori will be alright.

“Oh, on one condition.”

“Yes?”

“Can you let me change your clothes?”

Redness spread on Shiori’s face like a wildfire, “E-Eh?”

“You’re still in your uniform from yesterday. And, oh I can wipe your body-“

“Senpai, you’ll be late for school!”


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—Well, Yachiyo gladly praised herself for her own perseverance … in bargaining. She needed to be quick on doing it, though, or she won’t make it to the first bell, just like Shiori said.

After making a beeline to and from her own room to get ready for the school and getting a spare towel and bowl of warm water, Yachiyo is back to Shiori’s room.

Shiori seated on the bed as directed. Though, Shiori turned away rather than facing Yachiyo – the pinkette knew that the girl is embarrassed, judging by her reddened ears, but she said nothing and keep it to herself.

Yachiyo took the liberty to get her pajama (“No, Senpai. I don’t need you to change my underwear as well.”) from the closet. Shiori stripped her shirt when Yachiyo said that she is ready with the preparation.

A small, frail-looking back.

Yachiyo has seen it a few times during clothes fitting, yet she would always find herself to pause. Unlike Akira or Mei Fan with their visible back muscles (can’t say it wasn’t sexy), Shiori was lacking in mass. Michiru’s back looks even tougher than hers, and there’s no saying about her older sister. Well, Shiori trained quite a bit to toughen herself up, but she still got a long way to go. Not to mention, she shouldered a burden-

-burden? No, it wasn’t right.

Rather than just a ‘burden’, Shiori also thinks she’s not fit to be there – as a Frau Jade, or as a stage girl sometimes. She had overcome her past self, and yet-

[Why there’s only sadness, loneliness that Yachiyo feel when she’s staring at Shiori?]

“Senpai? Ah-“

It’s not the warm towel, but a warm hug. The tense-looking back gradually relaxed on her embrace. A desperate urge is there, and Yachiyo welcomed herself to. Her lips trailed from the nape to the expanse of the small shoulders, to the peeking collarbone, and lastly, to the center of the back.

Shiori called her name a few times, shakily. Only a call to her name, not a sign for her to stop.

“… Senpai? You’ll … be late for school.”

“I know.” Yachiyo whispered. “And I don’t mind.”