nelumbo nucifera (ycsh)

[ nelumbo nucifera ]

Visiting each other’s room is already something common in shared living space like dorms. Though for the two of them, after they are together, they counted on how often they should be visiting respective rooms, since somebody who’s passing by them might happen to ask.

Shiori could make up an excuse as to ‘help Yachiyo with her costume-making’, which is not a complete lie. Then again, Yachiyo opted that it would be better for them to keep lies in bare minimum, since it would be difficult to cover up if bad things bound to happen.

Shiori went out from her bath that night to find Yachiyo is still there on the changing room, brushing her upper back-length of pink hair while humming.

“Ah, so you’re here, Shiori~” Yachiyo spotted her from the mirror’s reflection. Her lips curved in full smile. “How about I help you dry your hair?”

“Will it be okay?”

Yachiyo turned to her way, “Of course it is. I would always indulge to my Shiori on every time I can~”

The pinkette ended with a signature wink. Her mischievous smile is there, plastered as plain as the day for Shiori to sigh (and blush) at.

Sometimes, she is jealous of how laid-back Yachiyo is. The pink-haired senior can tease her without having to think whether someone might get a wrong idea. It is her nature of being a jokester already, no one can tell when she is being serious or being a tease.

“Mou, Senpai.”

“Come here, come here. Spare me of your cutesy little pout, you might give me a heart attack.”

Shiori nodded as Yachiyo gestured to the chair she was on. They swapped position, Yachiyo grabbed the hair dryer from the table and clicked the power button. The older girl started from the back. The buzzing voice from the dryer filled the gap of silence in the room.

The blonde stared to the direction of big mirror in front of her. Her plain, flat-face greeted back. She sneaked a glance to the senior behind her. The said girl is not looking back at her, she doesn’t notice as she is absorbed in the task of drying the blonde strands.

As they are alone together, Shiori happened to think back to what transpired in her during lunch time. She didn’t have any time to space out during training hours as Akira is drilling to the dance practice. It’s not like she is spacing out right now, the thought just came back the instant she saw Yachiyo.

Yachiyo is not a type who will say something when she is in pinch—she will opt to find a way out herself. She won’t tell if she is struggling. She won’t be honest. Someone needed to reach her.

But, is Yachiyo in a middle of problem now? Everything seems fine; their relationship is fine, the student council work and practice hours are tedious yet it has been a part of their daily lives, and Shiori didn’t spot anything out of the ordinary.

Did she … worry too much?

“Okay, done, princess.” Yachiyo patted on her shoulders. “Or will you allow me to comb your hair, too?”

“Ah, it’s alright, Senpai. T-Thank you.”

Too late. Shiori watched the gleaming green eyes belonged to Yachiyo. Her sudden stutter should be noticeable by the keen-eyed senior, Yachiyo never missed a strike.

Giving her small shoulders a squeeze, Yachiyo then lowered her head, whispered to the ear. “Is something bothering you?”

“Not really,” a pause. “I think I’m overthinking about stuffs.”

“Is it Akira-senpai’s tiresome lesson again? Or Michiru-senpai is nagging at you? Or Mei Fan … you know, being Mei Fan.”

Shiori shook her head. “Ah, no,” she wondered if she should say it. She pondered. It would be bad if this strange premonition caused a rift between them. “I was thinking about you.”

Yachiyo blinked, “Me? You were thinking about me?”

Her tone is one laced with disbelief. Is it weird for Shiori to think of someone she holds so dear? Though, it wasn’t the real issue at hand.

“I was thinking if I’m incapable to be a help to you.”

“—since you think that you never helped me that much?”

Shiori was taken aback at how Yachiyo read her mind. She twisted to seek the pink-haired senior, who’s chuckling.

“I should be the one who’s thanking you for helping me for oh-so-many-times,” her voice went softer. “For the help on sewing, for the help to keep myself in check, and …”

The mirror is only the spectator as Yachiyo lowered herself to claim the open lips of Shiori’s. Another silence followed after their momentary kiss – not a heavy, awkward one, but a light, happy one.

“… And for the help of your love.” Yachiyo let out a breath as she acclaimed, cheeks tinging pink. The pinkette gestured a scratch on the back of her neck as she looked away.

“Ack, okay. Sorry, it sounded corny, huh.”

“I don’t mind,” Shiori answered. “But I … mind if you’d give me more.”

“More?” come the teasing notes, while Yachiyo has traced on Shiori’s jawline already.

“More.”

They shared another chaste touch of lips. One is not enough. Two is not satisfied them. Let alone three. Both know the limits. Both are close to pass that limits. They should stop.

“Are you ... free tomorrow, Senpai?” asked Shiori. She was close to breathless.

Tomorrow is a start of another weekend. Not a time to have a guard down for Edel members, but there is always a chance for them to have a day off.

“Yes. What about it?” the reply was concise. Shiori felt her heart swell.

“Then, can we spend the night together?”