a song to the dawn (ycsh)

‘Don’t make me wait.’—Yachiyo has pronounced her request sound enough. Sadly, the reality won’t allow it to be as easy enough.

The instant they are back in the dorm, Akira was calling up Shiori from the dormitory’s living room. Knowing that she would only be a hindrance if she waited there, Yachiyo bid her goodbye and went back to her room. In the hallway, Mei Fan happened to pass by and they talked for a bit about earlier assignments and student council stuffs. Well, discarding the /private moment/ aside, Yachiyo was able to tell Mei Fan what she was working at earlier.

That quite long of hallway conversation, however, Shiori didn’t dare to show up to the direction of her room. Akira always borrow Shiori the longest than anyone in Edels, much of Yachiyo’s dismay. Frau Platin perhaps started her sermon again, she bet, and Shiori, being the kind soul she is, would likely listen.

Trying to keep herself occupied to push away her disappointment, Yachiyo think of browsing the fashion magazines she has yet to read after an early bath and quick dinner.

…

And by then, Shiori has yet to come.

Yachiyo flipped another page of her magazines with a sigh. The mood has passed far from waning. The pinkette knew that it won’t be easy to secure a rest day with Shiori. Siegfeld’s schedule has been so hectic, not to mention if the Edels is planning on a new stage play to show. On the top of it, student council work swamped and the list of work keep piling.

A scenario played in her mind. A possible scenario why Shiori ended up not coming to her room. Akira has called her earlier probably for a choreography discussion. Then, a wild Mei Fan happened to be having her jealousy spark again and joined the conversation. Next, Michiru who’s walking by, added to the party of fun. The conversation then goes longer, almost endless, and Yachiyo didn’t know how to end her scenario.

Yachiyo spared a small, woeful smile. Her hand adjusted her favorite stole from the ground back to her back, “It was nice while it lasted, huh?”

Frau Perle once again replayed her memories about their exchange not long ago. A special exchange with Frau Jade. One at time. One in small chances. One after so long not. How it tasted like a forgotten page out of a dusted book of fairytales. Kissing until both exhausted. Hands roaming everywhere. Another kiss of vow. A bubbling, selfish wish to meet again in their own wonderland.

‘There should come another day’, Yachiyo told to herself, closing the magazine with another huff. It has been a long time she was this impatient about something, and she disliked it. She wasn’t one to be so restless. She should be the one Tsuruhime Yachiyo with no care of the world.

[Part of her heart still expected that the moment will come. But it is her mind that told her to get it rest.]

A soft rapping on the door by then sprung Yachiyo to an alert. The time is 11 PM. She was about to get the lights off and finish the day. She could feel her heart rises, and-

“Yachiyo? It’s me, Michiru~” Oh. Her heart stops, not in a good note. “Are you still awake? I need to tell you about alteration on Akira’s costume.”

Yachiyo drawn a plentiful amount of deep breaths before she greeted the senpai. “Yees~”

Michiru was still in her casual wear. The small upperclassman is another busybody below Akira in rank, though with her odd air of authority. If Akira is the sharp sword, Michiru always play her role as the foil, while it is not exactly looked like how it is. Yachiyo doesn’t want to pry about it, at least for now.

“Come on in?”

“Nah, it will be short. I just want to tell about the skirt length and the glitters on the end of the jacket.” Michiru said.

Yachiyo produced her note from her pajama pocket. It was there since she browsed magazines for inspiration earlier. Though, she doesn’t have that much of findings as she waited for /another/ opportunity (that is not coming to fruition).

“—and, yeah. That’s everything, I guess? Do you have any question?”

“Do you see Shiori?”

The question just blurted. It was out of the topic. It wasn’t about the clothes. It wasn’t about a fabric. It was her heart speaking.

Michiru looked up in thought before, “Ah, I told her to go back to her room when I saw her with Akira in the living room. She looked pale.”

Yachiyo could feel a chill running down her spine. Her heart beatings dropped dramatically. Though, it would not be funny if her composure crumbled, especially on the face of Ootori Michiru. And it would be strange if she asked for more details.

“Oh?”

“She didn’t say anything else, though, after I tell her to go. Hopefully it’s not another cold.” Michiru added. “Well, since I’m finished, sorry to bother you so late. See you tomorrow, Yachiyo!”

After Michiru’s back disappeared from the barely-lit hallway, Yachiyo quickly slipped away from the room.


…


Shiori’s room lights were still on, Yachiyo checked. The pinkette checked right and left to see the hallway is silent and no one is present there save for herself. Yachiyo knocked the door slowly, waiting for any response coming from the little girl.

Hopefully, she’s still there. Or worst—

“Yes?”

The voice is the usual small, soft voice belonged to the shorter blonde. It seemed that she is fine. A relief washed over her, ebbing her adrenaline. “Shiori, it’s me.”

“Ah, s-senpai! Wait.”

The door is open not long, revealing the blonde who’s still in her uniform minus her blazer. Her hair also a bit disheveled, and her usual flower pin was not present. True to what Michiru has told, Shiori looked pale. Her blossoming cheeks glowing in stark contrast to her unhealthy-looking pallor.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m okay,”

“Don’t lie to me.” Yachiyo shoved a low tone. “I know you might not want to bother anybody, but I’m here for you.”

After a brief hesitation, Shiori extended her hand to find Yachiyo’s tense ones. Shiori’s skin is always cold to touch, but that time, it is just exceptionally cold. That one time she caught a fever, it was quite warm, which felt really different.

“Are you having a cold again?”

“No, I think I’m simply … exhausted,” Shiori explained. “I was sleeping earlier, then-“

“Ah, sorry for bothering you, I’ll—“

“Senpai.”

A weak tug to her retreating hand.

“Can you stay with me tonight?”


…


They were sitting atop of Shiori’s bed. Shiori was tugging on Yachiyo’s pajama arm and didn’t let go. Yachiyo didn’t mind the silence, or whether Shiori needed time before speaking, or whether she doesn’t want to speak anything at all.

Shiori turned off the lights earlier, their only guide to move is a small lamp

The blonde rested her head to Yachiyo’s shoulder. The pinkette found herself to pat on the younger girl’s hair with her free hand.

Shiori always put a strong front. The blonde didn’t want to be spoiled. She won’t say anything if she’s failing behind, she would find her way to catch up. She doesn’t want to be a deadweight. She is doing her very best to fit as ‘the role she’s supposed not to have’—in the throne of Frau Jade she made her own path to the glimmering stage of her own apart from her sister’s influence.

Here, she looked so frail. She looked like how Yachiyo first imagined her to be. A weak-willed girl but with talent. One who’s a crybaby or a pampered lady who easily giving up.

Yumeoji Shiori is nothing like that, but a sensible member of Edel.

It is okay for her to rest. It is okay for her to act spoiled, just for a while.

“Feeling better?”

“Mm.” Shiori said. “S-Sorry.”

Yachiyo gave the crown of her head a peck. “You have nothing to be sorry about, silly.”

“I promised to come to your room.” Yachiyo could sense the sadness in every bit of the syllable. “And here, I—“

“It’s alright. There’s still tomorrow,” the pinkette whispered. “And I’m here with you now. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

Yachiyo ushered Shiori to lie down with her on the bed. Eyes locking to each other, enveloped in part of Yachiyo’s favorite stole, silence bested them once more. Her eye colors are similar, a warm green in the darkness, searching for each other.

Yachiyo felt her heart swell by the sight of innocence and tiredness – Shiori looked like she’s about to close her eyes in any moment but she struggled to stay awake, just to let the moment last.

“Sleep.” Yachiyo giggled.

“B-But,”

“Or do you want Yachiyo-oneesan to hug you until you sleep? Or maybe I can use Mei Fan’s idea to sing you a lullaby?” she joked.

“T, That’s embarrassing.” Shiori laughed as well. “I don’t mind the hug, though.”

“O~kay.”


[Until the dawn, will I still be holding you? Or, everything is merely one of my fleeting dreams?
Am I going to lose anyone else, again?]