Tender Moments (ch7)

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY $20+ PATRONS!

So uh this is stupid.

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

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														Chapter 7.

Another Saturday evening finds Maya and Claudine in their communal room with their seven friends. Rather than scary movies, this time they're letting the TV play random comedies and cute animal shows.

Nana and Junna have brought snacks as per usual, and Karen has Mahiru and Hikari help her carry in a bunch of board and card games. Futaba and Kaoruko had gone into town earlier today and gotten some new kind of flavored water Kaoruko had been raving about.

As everyone greets one another and settles either onto the couches or onto pillows on the floor, the nine girls begin their evening of fun and winding down.

"All right!" Karen beams. "Who's playing Uno with me?"

"Hell yeah!" Futaba says, taking a seat next to her. "This game gets intense."

"I'm in," Junna says. "I've got a good strategy down."

"Well, I suppose so," Claudine mutters as if she doesn't like the game.

Their roommates and partners all cheer for them as the game begins to get heated. Karen's down to two cards before Claudine makes her draw four more, Junna uses a wild card to sabotage Futaba's last few blues.

Maya contents herself with watching how cute Claudine's intense expression is when she's concentrating so seriously.

In the end Junna emerges victorious, with Futaba behind her, then Claudine, and Karen dead last.

"Aww!" Karen flops down onto her back. "I thought I was getting better at it!"

"You definitely are, Karen-chan!" Mahiru says, picking her up.

"She's right," Hikari agrees. "You survived much longer than you did last time."

"Chill out," Futaba grins. "Have a drink and walk it off."

"Sore winner," Claudine pouts. She stretches out her legs and is about to get up to fetch a drink, but Maya beats her to it.

"Allow me. Consider it your reward for not losing completely."

Claudine feels a rush of heat in her veins.

"Why you..." But nonetheless she lets Maya choose a flavored drink for her. She selects strawberry because it matches the color of Claudine's face.

Claudine is annoyed at her, but she only half-snatches it out of her hand because she doesn't want to appear rude.

"Thank you."

"Anytime."

Claudine tilts her head back to take a sip.

"Is it to your liking, mademoiselle?"

"It's not bad."

"I'm glad."

"Oy!" Futaba calls. "Are you two love birds gonna join us or what?"

The next game they're setting up is Twister. Claudine immediately decides she'll abstain due to her nightgown, and Maya agrees.

Futaba, Kaoruko, Karen and Nana squish together onto the mat while Hikari spins.

Claudine sits on the floor next to Maya and leans into her slightly. Maya happily wraps an arm around the small of her back. In their opinion, it's much more entertaining to observe this game than participate.

It's harmless enough at first, but before long the girls get stuck in impossible positions, twisting over under and around one another. Several times Hikari calls an order and the four of them shout "it's already there!" in desperation to move.

Claudine seems to be in a very giggly mood tonight. She keeps chuckling to herself and swaying against Maya's side as she watches. It's a bit odd for her, but Maya asks no questions.

Karen ends up flopping down in the middle of the mat and losing again, then Kaoruko conveniently makes contact somewhere that make Futaba shriek and fall over. But ultimately it's Nana's flexibility that wins out.

"Aw," Kaoruko sighs. "And I was so close too..."

"Don't worry!" Nana pets her head. "Maybe next time!"

They all take a break to refresh themselves with their new flavored drinks, which seem to be popular.

"These are really good!" Karen says. "Where did you guys get them?"

"Oh, just at the convenience store," Kaoruko replies.

"What flavors did you guys choose?" Futaba asks. "I got watermelon."

"Lemon for me," Kaoruko says.

"Apple!" Karen cheers.

"Orange," Mahiru says.

"Cherry," Hikari adds.

"Plumb," Junna says.

"Banana!" Nana grins.

"Of course," Futaba laughs. "What about you guys?" She looks back to Maya and Claudine, who are still sitting on the floor due to the fact that Claudine is being awfully clingy and Maya doesn't feel inclined to make her stop.

"Grape," she says simply.

And in contrast, Claudine all but sings her answer.

"Strawberryyyyy!"

Everyone shares confused looks.

"Um, Kuro-chan? Are you okay?"

"Hm~?" Claudine looks up at Karen with a lazy smile. "Of course I am! Why do you ask?"

"I-I dunno, you just seem a little-"

"Totally weird," Futaba finishes.

"Wha-!" Claudine straightens up while still keeping her arms around Maya. "I'm offended! I'm perfectly fine!"

"If you say so..."

The others leave it at that, but Maya has definitely noticed a drastic change in Claudine's behavior as well. Not that she's complaining, considering the fact that Claudine can't seem to get enough of cuddling up to her, but there's still a sliver of concern.

"Are you sure you're all right?" she wonders, looking over Claudine's pink cheeks. "Are you getting a fever?"

"Absurdite! Nonsense! I'm perfectly fine! Now, what's on TV?"

Maya looks up to see the others have taken seats on the couches to start eating some snacks and watching cute animal shows. Perhaps a little less excitement could be good for Claudine.

So Maya helps the girl up, and it takes more effort than she'd thought. Claudine nearly stumbles, but laughs it off.

"Whoops! My legs are asleep."

"I see. Please take it slowly."

Maya isn't sure how to react to her. She's inclined to think she really might be getting sick again somehow.

But for now she brings Claudine over to their spot on the bigger couch and sits down beside her. Claudine wastes no time in snuggling up, which again, Maya can't oppose.

The program on the TV is all about baby seal pups, polar bears, and arctic foxes. Naturally the room is filled with high-pitched squeals and cooing. Everyone but Maya reacts audibly, though Maya is so enamored with the animals she quietly hugs Claudine tighter in her glee.

For several moments there's nothing but laughter and delight.

"Oh my gosh! Did you see that?"

"The polar bear just tumbled down the hill and landed in a pile of snow!"

"Waaah, look at the penguins!"

"The sound the fox makes, though!"

"The seal looks so fluffy!"

"I wanna hold one..."

And then, amongst all the giggling and squealing, a very different sound rises up. The sound of crying.

Maya stiffens and glances down at Claudine as all eyes in the room turn to her. Claudine is sobbing into Maya's shoulder, wailing and blubbering with her whole body.

"Th-They're... they're so cuuuuute!"

Everyone relaxes a little when they realize nothing's wrong, but they're all still confused.

"Um... Saijou-san?"

"Are you all right?"

"She doesn't usually react like this..."

"I agree," Maya says. "Claudine, are you feeling sick after all...?"

Claudine sniffles and shakes her head.

"N... Noooooooo! It's just... so sad because... once the babies grow up, they won't be small anymore! They'll just be big!"

And as everyone else shares puzzled glances around the room, one other voice breaks out into uncontrollable laughter.

"Oh!" Kaoruko cackles. "Oh my, this is too good! Simply too good!"

"Kaoruko?" Futaba shakes her. "What the hell's going on? Is everyone losin' their damn mind?"

"Ahaa... oh, Futaba-han, quite the opposite. We're all perfectly sober. Well, most of us, that is."

As her words sink in, everyone else cries out.

"Hah?"

"What?"

"Kaoruko! You spiked her drink?!"

"You brought alcohol onto campus?"

"If the teachers find out we're dead!"

Kaoruko stops laughing long enough to raise her hands.

"All right, all right. Calm down, all of you. It was just a harmless little prank. And besides, it wasn't me who spiked Saijou-san's drink. The bottles come in a pack, and one of them has a little extra something in it. It's randomized and different every time. Saijou-san just got the luck of the draw this time."

"Haah?!" Futaba shrieks. "So that's why you wanted to get these flavored drinks so bad!"

"Precisely. I had the same chance of getting the special drink as any of the rest of you. I took that risk as well. It's really quite an amusing concept."

Everyone looks at her in a mixture of disbelief and mild amusement.

"And besides," she continues. "It wasn't even a lot of alcohol. It's just a pinch. I guess it goes to show Saijou-san can't hold her liquor."

"Kaoruko-"

"Seriously?"

"We're never letting her buy drinks ever again."

"Or food!"

As the others get to scolding her, Maya breathes a sigh of relief. At least it's nothing serious that's wrong with Claudine. And she does have to admit the clingy crying tipsy version of her is quite irresistible.

Claudine hadn't heard a word of what they'd just said because she'd been too busy sobbing about baby penguins. By this point she's slumped off from Maya's shoulder and curled into her lap, hugging her waist and burying her face into her thighs.

"Th-They're so cute..." she whimpers. "Que devrais-je faire...? Je ne peux pas..."

"Oh my," Nana says, looking over to them. "Has she reverted back to French?"

"What's she saying?" Junna asks.

Maya shakes her head. "Just nonsense."

"J'en veux un!"

"She wants a seal."

"Don't we all," Hikari murmurs.

So once Kaoruko has been thoroughly scolded and made to swear she'll never pull a stunt like this again, they continue watching their show. Maya asks Mahiru to pass her the tray of little finger sandwiches in hopes to have Claudine eat and help sober her up. But Claudine refuses.

"No, no..." she sniffles. "Je suis... je... voudrais patate..."

"I'm afraid we don't have any potatoes here."

"Pourquoi pas?! What kind of party is this?" Claudine flops her weight back onto Maya's lap and continues sobbing softly. Maya tentatively rubs her back. She's never dealt with a drunk person before, and it shows in how uncertain she is to react.

Nana gets up and comes over to try and help.

"Hey, Saijou-san? Would you like a couple of potato chips?"

And just like that, Claudine shoots up.

"Vraiment? They're potatoes...?"

"Yes! Of course!" Nana shares an amused look with Maya, who's just relieved that Claudine has stopped crying now. Nana hands her the bowl of chips before going back to her seat. Claudine picks one up as though she's never seen one before and nips at it.

"Oh! It's crunchy!"

Maya has to hold back a chuckle at how cute she is. But it isn't even a minute before Claudine is picking up a second chip and then tugging on Maya's sleeve.

"I can't eat it," she sniffles. "It's too big..." She looks up at Maya with pitiable watery rose-pink eyes that nearly make Maya's heart seize.

"I-It's all right. I can help." Maya carefully takes the chip from her fingers and snaps it in half.

Claudine lights up.

"Oh, yay! Thank you, Maya-san!"

"Y-You're welcome."

Claudine munches away happily as the others all try not to look and laugh. Maya has mixed feelings about how Claudine had gotten tipsy, but now that they're this far along she has to admit she's enjoying it an awful lot.

Now every time Claudine picks up a potato chip she hands it to Maya to break in half first. But before long she stops taking the pieces back and just opens her mouth to have Maya feed them to her.

In between eating she squeals and cries at the animals on TV, occasionally throwing her arms around Maya out of nowhere and nearly knocking the bowl of chips off her lap. After ten minutes or so, Claudine is content with the food, so Maya puts the bowl back onto the table.

"I'm thirsty," Claudine mumbles, reaching for her strawberry drink. But both Maya and Futaba reach out to stop her.

"No."

"Nooo way, Kuroko! Here, have a water instead." Futaba hands her an unopened bottle, and Kaoruko pouts.

Maya has to hold the bottle for Claudine because she can't bring it to her lips by herself without spilling. Claudine takes a few sips and then suddenly pulls away without warning, causing Maya to spill some onto her chest.

"Kyaa! It's coooold!"

"I'm sorry. You just moved so suddenly." Maya takes a few napkins and dries her off. Claudine hums and giggles.

"Hmm, merci, merci~ Bonne petite amie..."

Maya feels her heart skip; Claudine's never called her her girlfriend before, not even in French.

"Huh?" Futaba asks. "What'd she say?"

"Nothing..."

"Oh, I'm so sure~" Kaoruko grins.

Once Maya's dried her off, Claudine slouches back against her and cuddles up more, blabbering random French words and phrases into her shoulder. Most of the time it's nonsense like what the weather is like in Paris and how incredible Shakespeare was and the best potato salad she'd ever eaten.

But interspersed through all of that are endearing little things like saying Maya's name just because she wants to.

"Tendo Maya..." she giggles. "Mendo Taya... hee hee. Ma Maya... Tres belle... tres tres..."

Luckily she says this softly enough so the others don't hear.

After that Claudine begins to yawn a lot more than mumble nonsensical French. Maya believes it's best to get her back to her room.

"I think I'll be taking her back now," she announces.

"Eh? But it's only 10 o'clock," Nana says.

"Yeah, but look at her," Junna mutters.

By now Claudine has splayed herself out across Maya's lap in a mess of hair and arms. She's smiling, but there are still tears in her eyes from watching the baby seals, and she keeps mumbling more French. Nana concedes.

"I guess you're right. Would you like some help with her, Tendo-san?"

"Nnno!" Claudine answers. "I don't... wanna..." She never finishes. She just turns her face and buries herself in Maya's stomach. Maya smiles helplessly up at Nana.

"I think I can manage."

"All right. She doesn't seem to want to be around anyone but you, anyway."

"Well," Kaoruko speaks up. "I think we all learned a valuable lesson here tonight."

"To never let you buy drinks again?"

"What kind of drunk Saijou-san is."

"Yeah," Futaba agrees. "And that she's probably gonna kill you once the hangover's passed."

"She might never live this down," Junna agrees.

"Let's make it up to her tomorrow!" Karen suggests.

"We could make her favorite potato salad," Hikari offers.

"That sounds nice," Mahiru nods.

With that decided on, Maya begins her task of collecting the half-conscious girl into her arms. Claudine rolls around a bit before Maya can manage to secure her, and whens she does Claudine moans softly and tries to glare up at her.

"No... don't wanna..."

"I'm sorry, but it's past your bedtime."

"Mm... okay..." Claudine closes her eyes again and hides her face in Maya's chest. Maya's glad that's all it took to pacify her.

She lifts Claudine up bridal style and wishes the others goodnight. Nana opens the door for her to let her out.

As Maya walks back to her room, Claudine continues mumbling to herself.

"Mmn what if we... hey, Maya-san?"

"Yes, Ma Claudine?"

Claudine's brow furrows, as if she can't remember how to open her eyes. When she finally does, she looks up at her with a glazed happiness.

"If we... gave the seal a potato... do you think he'd like it...?"

Maya smiles.

"With a bit of fish, I'm sure he'd love it."

"Thank goodness... Je suis heureux..." Her eyelids fall shut once again, and she's quiet the rest of the way back.

Maya's heart swells with affection. She bends down to press a tender kiss to her forehead.

When she finally reaches her bedroom, she jostles the handle with her elbow before pushing inside. She brings Claudine straight to the bed and lies her down gently, hoping not to wake her. But as Maya sits down to get situated, Claudine rolls over into her lap again. She sighs.

"Mmm... Ma Maya... right?"

Maya pets softly through her hair.

"Yes. You're right. I am yours." She bends down to kiss her again on top of her head. Claudine lets out another petite little yawn.

Maya brings her legs up onto the bed. It's a bit of a process to pull the blankets down and get both Claudine and herself underneath, but eventually she manages.

Claudine lies beside her for a moment, burying her face into the pillow as Maya watches fondly. It's like taking care of a puppy or a child. Just when she thinks Claudine has fallen asleep, the girl lifts her head again. She figures out how to open her eyes once more and reaches out for Maya.

"B... Baiser..."

"Eh?" It's not that she didn't understand, but that the request simply took her by surprise. Either way, Claudine asks again.

"I want a kiss... please?" She looks like she might cry if she's denied. Maya almost feels as though her heart is going to give out.

"Of course, ma princesse."

She gathers Claudine into her arms and pulls her on top of herself. Maya cradles her head with one hand and kisses her forehead, then trails down the side of her face, across her cheek, and eventually leaves a small imprint on her lips. Claudine giggles and sighs with delight.

"Merci..." Then she sniffles, once, twice, and a third time. "Ow..."

Maya's eyes widen.

"Claudine? What's the matter?"

Claudine closes her eyes and bows her head as tears start to drip free.

"It hurts..."

"What does? What hurts, Claudine?" Maya quickly braces herself up onto her elbows as Claudine sits up in her lap. She wipes her eyes with one hand and holds her chest with the other.

"My heart..." she whimpers. "Because I... I love you so much..."

Maya feels like she's about to cry now. Any panic she'd been about to feel dissipates in wake of Claudine's expression of love for her. Maya relaxes, lets out a breath, and gently curls both arms around the girl, coaxing her back down.

"I love you too, Ma Claudine. Je t'aime."

Claudine sobs again and clings to her, once again hiding her face in Maya's shoulder.

"Je... Je t'aime... Ma Maya..." In only a minute or so, Claudine has stopped crying and gone back to chuckling to herself and sighing blissfully. "Ma Maya... Ma Maya..."

She repeats her name until she can't talk anymore, and sleep finally takes her.

Maya hugs her softly, carding through her hair and running her hands over her back. She feels Claudine's heartbeat against her chest; the heart that harbors more love for Maya than she often cares to express in words.

Tonight had been a special occasion in that sense.

Maya knows she'll never forget it, even if the imminent hangover means Claudine might.

But she's already decided she won't tease Claudine about any of this, lest she earn herself another punishment game.

Maya loves teasing her when she won't be honest with her feelings. But when Claudine lies her heart bare for her like she'd done tonight, Maya can't possibly retaliate.

Claudine has won this round probably without even knowing it.

Maya kisses her cheek one last time before settling down and letting sleep come.

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The next morning, Claudine wakes up with a pounding headache, and Maya confines her to the bed. She explains everything carefully, leaving out any unnecessary details.

And of course Claudine is mortified beyond words.

"Why, that-! Kaoruko! If I could get up right now I'd-"

"Don't worry. We've already scolded her plenty. You just focus on resting now."

"I can't believe this. I've never been drunk before in my life..." Claudine pulls the blankets up over her face, only to yank them back down a second later. "You better not have taken any videos! Or pictures! If you did, I swear on my life Tendo Maya-"

"Relax. I did nothing of the sort. Nor did anyone else." She seals the promise with a kiss to her forehead. Claudine seems to be put at ease a bit.

"You better not have..."

Maya is content to stay in bed with her until noon if need be. She drapes an arm across Claudine's stomach and rubs circles there, all while peppering little kisses over her temple in hopes of easing her pain.

"How's the headache?"

"I'll manage."

"I'll pick you up some medicine from the nurse later."

Maya continues kissing her, which also works to help quell Claudine's anger. After a while she finally sighs and lets herself relax a bit.

"So?" she asks. "How bad was it? How bad was I?"

"There was a lot of crying-"

"Oh my god..."

"But it was honestly quite adorable."

"What else...?" she asks, as though dreading the answer.

"Well," Maya continues. "There was also a lot of French."

"That... sounds about right..." Claudine crosses her arms over her face and heaves a heavy sigh. "God, that Kaoruko, I'm gonna-"

"Don't be too hard on her," Maya soothes. "I'm actually finding I'm a bit grateful to her. Last night, I got to see another brand new side of you I never thought existed."

"Well how nice for you..."

"Am I going to be punished again?"

"I'm too exhausted to try that again. And besides, as far as I can tell..." She lowers her arms and flashes her a quick, coy glance. "You took care of me, didn't you?"

Maya smiles and kisses her cheek.

"It was my pleasure."

Claudine turns onto her side to face her. She reaches out, cups Maya's face, and gazes into her eyes.

"Merci."

She draws her in for a deep, warm kiss that seems to last a lifetime.

And though she hadn't said "I love you" in quite the same way she had last night in words, she still conveys it loud and clear.

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A/N: So yeah the reason for this was just I'd seen some people talking about 'drunk Claudine' and how she might behave so this just...happened.

Next and final chapter will be a proper one, I swear!