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Kirari prided herself on routine. Wake up, draw the curtains, dress for the academy, and finally, do her makeup. She repeated this every day without fail. The routine practically branded into her skin after so many years. So when she woke up this morning, eyes slitting open to reveal her near pitch black bedroom, she knew something was amiss.
She could move through the room blindfolded, though still mindful of the furniture scattered about. Now, such grace was unnecessary.
Her light, calculating eyes swept over the room, taking in the familiar space. Everything was as she recalled. Bed in the center, her desk off to the right, large bookcase to the left, and the ajar closet door in the farthest corner. But rather than the typical fuzzy outlines of furniture just visible within the sliver of light between the curtains. Kirari could make out each piece in its entirety. From the worn leather bound books crammed so tight one wrong placement would send them spilling about. To the careful assortment of life plans still clipped together by a paperclip stretched to its absolute limit. Sayaka did prefer to utilize office supplies to the point past well worn out.
What made it most unusual? The light currently present hardly allowed for such detailed sight. Less than a small slip of the slowly rising sun cast a thin sliver near the foot of her bed. Running a sharp, jagged line diagonally across the mattress. A few minutes longer, and the beam would have crossed her face, pulling her from the decent night of rest. Truly, what a shame.
Kirari sat up, the silken sheets slipping down and pooling at her waist. She gracefully ambled out of bed, the faded material of her shirt shifting against her pale legs, only a sliver of her boy shorts visible. She skipped drawing the curtains, aiming for the monumental stack of life plans still waiting for her. They should've been taken care of yesterday, but what a boring way to pass the day, having to laminate her name again and again. They could wait another day, although Sayaka might claim her head later for it. Tardiness did seem to fluster her secretary quite a bit. But Kirari was simply too fond of the precarious pout of her lips. The way her dark eyes seemed to reside heavily and burn a great hole in Kirari's heart. To be under them felt like being swallowed up by a black hole. Such a powerful force of nature, too alluring to avoid.
Though it pained Kirari to brush the thoughts of her dear Sayaka aside for now, she returned to her current curiosity. And yet, speaking of—
Her eyes fell to the haste yet careful calligraphy of Sayaka’s writing sticking out plentifully against the white sheets of paper where they should’ve been devoured by her shadow. Kirari brought a hand to her chin and spun on her heel to further survey her room. A panel squeaked and arched under what were typically her silent footfalls. Kirari's eyebrows rose to her forehead. That was certainly new. She retraced her steps. As expected, the board rustled again and louder than before. She shifted her weight further onto her right side, the board dipping and creaking under the force. Something else to look into later, then.
Kirari shifted her eyes up and fell on their next target. Her vanity. Wedged between her bookcase and the opening of her closet. The placement most beneficial when on those dreadfully late nights when sleep alluded her, she would change into looser attire and exit into the frigid air.
Now, Kirari slid into the seat, hands reaching instinctively for the case of blue lipstick when, for the second time, surprise overtook her carefully crafted mask.
Everything was as she remembered. Could never forget. Crystal blue eyes stared back, the pale of her lashes fluttering rapidly as they greedily took in her reflection. Equally light hair in near perfect strands fell down the length of her back. Only her bangs unkempt, a flyway hair too many out of place. But it wasn’t her naked face that was a cause for concern. But the new things sitting aloft her head. With a careful hand, Kirari watched her reflection raise a hand to her head. Chipped nails brushed over the strange, furry things.
A white pair of rounded ears sat poised at attention behind her bangs.
Kirari's eyes sparkled in awe, speech robbed from her as one twitched under the touch. A shiver worked its way over her skin, the subtle warning clear. Sensitive then, but no less intriguing.
A sharp gasp in the room down the hall snatched her thoughts. The ears twitched once more, swiveling to face the direction of the sound. Her head quickly followed. Kirari pushed up from her chair in one languid motion, makeup forgotten as her feet moved without thought. They carried her to the threshold of her sister's room. Kirari didn’t bother knocking. Never needed to this early in the morning. The door handle turned with ease, scrapping the door jamb as it opened with a harsh click. Metal scratched against itself, gears grinding to a quick, headache inducing halt. Had the mechanics always sounded so harsh? She pondered what else the new appendages could detect, eliciting to put them to test at a far letter date. The sight before her took far more priority.
Ririka leaned over her own vanity. A forefinger and thumb peeled back her lips as far as they would allow. Panic unfurled in her eyes, letting out a whine much too high to pass as human the longer she stared. Kirari chuckled and advanced deeper into the room. She moved with more practiced ease, the path of her twin’s room as familiar as her own. Ririka had yet to acknowledge her presence, but the swivel of her own white, fluffy ears at least alerted her to the new company.
Kirari gently pried Ririka's hand from her mouth, her free hand grasping her chin to get a better look. Ririka’s mouth fell open in shock, another inhuman whine falling from her lips. Her tongue wiggled around in her mouth, perhaps to attempt to say something human this time, but Kirari shushed her.
As it so happened, the ears weren't the only new biological development. Kirari leaned in closer for a better look, eyes narrowed as she examined her twin closely. She twisted Ririka's head left, then right, and hummed. Where her canines should have been—small but pointed slopes—had become rather lengthy fangs, almost brushing painfully against the bottom row of her teeth.
As for the cause of her sudden gasp, Kirari let her finger trail over her lip, tutting at the drop of blood staining the pad of her thumb. The cut didn't bleed terribly, painting the exit wound and a quarter of her lip a dull red. Consequence of Ririka's new terribly found habit. Gnawing on her lip in times where her morality and discomfort for conflict crossed paths, stretching her thin, or simply when she presumed no one to notice. Kirari always did. Now, such habit had obviously come back to scorn her.
"Rari—" Ririka whined, though the words came out distorted and shaky with the unusual stretch of her mouth, the younger twin still scrutinizing each fang. Her ears flattened against her bangs, a furious blush taking over her pale cheeks.
Kirari ignored her, but relaxed her grip. And almost earning a palm to the face for her trouble. Ririka quick to bat her continuously prodding hands by her ears away. Kirari stood to her full height, letting her eyes drift back to the mirror and focused on her own reflection. She worked her jaw, revealing what turned out to be her own set of fangs. Not as crowded into her mouth as Ririka's. What hers lacked in width, they made up in length, settling easily over the length of her lower lip.
“What do you think it means?” Ririka asked, turning away from the mirror. Kirari probed her fangs with her tongue, the tip scraping along the edges of her fangs. Even with her lightly applied pressure, the sharpened points tore into it with ease. She didn’t flinch as a bead of blood swelled.
Kirari tapped her chin, a carefully crafted answer ready to break loose, but the eyes matching her own made her pause. Nowadays's Ririka's gaze held a new curiosity. Where once she watched Kirari blankly and more often than not joined by her mask. None of her meekness remained. Nor her quiet complacency as she would hover over Kirari's shoulder. More times than not, when Kirari would look over and watch the pass of emotions cross Ririka's face, no matter the conversation, it always stole a beat of her heart. She didn't dare hide them either, not when the mask wasn't around. Determined to embrace things, clouded by judgment as opposed to the rigid indifference taught into them. For so long, Ririka wore the mask, hid herself behind a carefully crafted persona, behind Kirari. Yet, now it was Kirari who bore the mask, disguising herself behind sharp smiles and derisive giggles too upbeat to be genuine.
But they were in the quietness of their home. No need for extra grandiose. At least, not under Ririka's open gaze. She owed her sister that much. Kirari shrugged, earnest speculation contorting her expression as she answered honestly. “I’m not sure.” Ririka sighed, sensing she was probably enjoying the change too much. She wouldn't be wrong. Kirari's answering fang filled smirk only confirmed it. "But there's no point in dwelling on it. Today is the bi annual budget meeting." Kirari tried not to delight too much as the disbelief registered on her sister's face.
"You can't be serious," Ririka shook her head, jostling her much messier silver hair. "How are we going to explain—" she pointed wildly between them, panic overtaking her voice. "…All of this?"
Kirari's eyes glinted mischievously. "Won't that be the fun part?" She turned on her heel. They were already edging dangerously close to being late. Ririka shot up from her seat, the bench toppling over in her haste. With quick strides, she threw herself in front of the door, arms outstretched and blocking Kirari's path.
"Kirari, no."
Kirari's lip twitched. She feigned a sigh. "Even if I wanted to skip, Sayaka would most certainty be displeased."
Ririka scowled, arms coming to cross over her chest. "You just don't want to upset your girlfriend."
Quickly, Kirari's jovial mood grew serious, gaze sharp enough that anyone else would have cowered. "My private relations have nothing to do with it."
"If you wanted to keep it private, maybe you two should try being a little quieter. Despite what you paid the contractor's, sound carries." Ririka looked almost distressed as she finished. Her nude nails biting down into her arms. Kirari eyed her curiously. This combative side was new, unveiled perhaps after too much time spent at Mary Saotome's side. Or simply the effect of Ririka finding her own way. Either way, Kirari couldn't help but feel delighted by this new devolvement. If slightly peeved at being held up. The meeting would be without a doubt boring, but what was it, if not another perfect excuse to bask in drawing the enamoring flush to Sayaka's face. Harder these days after the tower of doors, but Kirari loved nothing if not the challenge.
In her tenure as president, only two people had dared to refuse her. Ever. Mary, and of course her beloved Sayaka, when she claimed her to be 'unreasonable' over what were really suggestible deadlines. Ririka now, however, joined that list. What Kirari hadn't anticipated when she paired Saotome with her sister, the new, rather often, way they clashed heads. "Oh? perhaps I should attempt to rectify that." Kirari made a show of checking her pockets, not that there were any with her current pants-less appearance. "It seems I don't have my phone if you'd—" Kirari tried to step past, rewarded with forceful hands shoving her back. That, too, was new.
"I'm serious," Ririka hissed. Gone was the innocent looking girl, expression muddled and buried behind a mask, as annoyance brimmed behind her eyes.
Kirari smiled, never one to back down from a challenge. "As am I." They stared one another down, Kirari's smile widening, exposing the full length of her fangs. On a regular basis, her smile appeared eerily enough, often jarring and looking displaced for the given moment. Now? It had only become more uncanny.
Ririka broke first, bowing her head with a scoff. "Excellent. We'll leave in 20." Kirari patted her cheek and giggled as her touch was shrugged off. "I suppose that's been decided." She walked back to her own room, ears twitching as her sister grew huffy, forcing the door with a little more force than necessary.
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Unsurprisingly, they were the last to arrive at the meeting. It went about as well as it could've. Ririka was just grateful her mask hid her blush. Though she didn't think she would live the memory down for a while. Their chauffeur hadn't batted an eye. He was paid to drive them around, not ask questions. Now if only she could've said the same for the student body.
Ririka trailed behind Kirari on her left, Sayaka on her right. The moment the car stopped before the academy gates, the secretary had been on them and in the middle of lecturing her sister on setting a good example for punctuality when she caught on to their new bizarre look—apparently not restricted to the twins as Ririka didn't miss the black fluffy ears on her head. They'd been hidden first, pinned back and laid flat against her head. Fitting for her pissed mood.
Kirari retained her smile and looked grossly smitten—well, for Kirari, that was. The only giveaway, her ears perked forward and standing at attention. If Ririka didn't know any better, she would've said it made her sister look like a lovesick puppy. The thought alone almost made her gag. Not to say it wasn't endearing, love looked good on her. Cushioned out and softened her twin's most jagged edges. And while Ririka wasn't Sayaka's biggest fan, at the very least, she was grateful someone matched her sister in just the right manner.
The minute the trio entered the council room, the other councilmen fell silent. Ririka pinned her eyes to a spot on the wall. See, this was exactly why she wanted to stay home today so at the very least, they could figure out what was going on with them. Not one of the other student council members looked to be under the same problem. Only making the trio's appearance stick out even worse. The only one who didn't openly gawk was Runa, currently swirling a lollipop between her lips.
"Oh, this is gonna be good." She giggled and shoved it back in her mouth.
Kirari took her seat, unbothered by the open stares. Though her smile grew slightly reserved, not quite reaching her icy eyes, inviting any one of them to speak out.
"Yo, what's up with the get up, Prez?" Midari said first, waving her revolver in place of a hand in their direction. Ririka tilted her head. Had she assumed it wasn't real? Did the rest of them believe the same?
"Ah, that." Kirari made no move to elaborate. Ririka hated how much she was enjoying this. The awkward silence brewed, not even Sayaka looked like she knew what to say.
"Who cares about that," Yumemi scowled and replaced it in a flash with a smile. She pushed back against her seat, the chair scrapping against the floor. "You all look so adorable," she cooed, hearts practically radiating from her eyes. Ririka shivered. How the girl managed to hide one strikingly opposite demeanor behind the other with such ease, she wished to never understand.
"Perhaps if they were even real," Kaede said, unimpressed as usual. Of course, he believed they weren't real. Though he didn't cling to logic as fiercely as Sayaka, he still valued reason deeply. He pushed up the browline of his glasses, almost sneering with disproval. "I'm with Ikishima on this one. Why the strange attire?" Instead of answering, because apparently that just would've been far too easy, Kirari laughed into her hand. Her eyes slid over to her twin, deflecting the question to Ririka with a wave of her hand.
Ririka resisted the urge to shuffle under the fresh attention. Her eyes darted to her twin, unease hidden away by her mask. Kirari tilted her head, eyes watching her with unabashed mischief and challenge. Ririka knew the reason for it. Revenge, a dish best served cold. Or at least in her sister's eyes, whenever an opportunity struck. Whether that was hours or weeks later. Ririka's jab about her relationship had struck a nerve. She hadn't shown it then. Ririka didn't need the confirmation now, either.
"Vice president?" Igarashi called. Right. Answer. They were waiting.
Ririka jumped out with the first thing that came to mind, the lie sounding terrible even to her own ears. "…A side bet gamble gone poorly. " There, hopefully enough to stave their curiosity. Kaede looked ready to press for more, but Sayaka jumped in first, diverting their attention to the reason for their mandatory presence to begin with. Budgets, right. And to think the day had just started.
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Kirari waited for the last council member to shuffle out. The door was still on its way to closing when she slid out of her seat. She was nearly at her secretary's side by the time it shut. The quiet click deafening in the silence. Sayaka pressed her back against the paneling, hands splayed down at her sides, digging eagerly into the wood. She bared that adorable furrow between her eyes, her ears slightly folded over to match.
She crowded Sayaka against the door, blue eyes bouncing with wonder over her features. "P- president?" Sayaka looked up at her from under her eyelashes. This close, Kirari heard the rapid thumping of her heart. She braced one hand against the door, the other reaching out to cradle her jaw. Sayaka's breath hitched, her cheeks taking on that luscious red she adored so much.
Kirari leaned in further, working the pad of her thumb over the underside of her jaw. "Open." Sayaka didn't need to be told twice. She unclenched her jaw, only the sharpest points of her fangs on display. Kirari moved without thinking. Curiosity winning out over reason. Weren't things more fun that way? The fingers on Sayaka's jaw came up to probe around her fangs.
Sayaka let out a confused sound, swallowing thickly around what was basically Kirari's hand in her mouth. Kirari removed her other hand from the door, cradling Sayaka's cheek. Her eyes burned with interest, nearly forgetting herself entirely the longer she prodded. Sayaka seemed in no way interested in stopping her, leaning farther back into the wood like it might save her from burning up under the heat of Kirari's gaze.
Sayaka's fangs looked neither like her own nor Ririka's. They were much smaller, thinner. Even when Kirari gently worked her lips up past her gums, they aligned with the rest of her teeth. One could have even mistaken them for regular human canines if not for the razor sharp ends.
A warm hand wrapped around her wrist, breaking Kirari's concentration. Sayaka wouldn't meet her eyes, guiding Kirari's hand away from her mouth as her breathing resumed its regular pace. That was certainly no good. Drawing the hand back from her cheek, Kirari wrapped it loosely around the underside of Sayaka's jaw. The hand covered in saliva hung between them, Sayaka's smaller hands leaving a burning trail as they tapped absentmindedly on her wrist. Keeping eye contact, Kirari brought the hand to her lips, fingers easily pushing into her mouth. Leftover flavor of jasmine tea hit her tongue, Sayaka's favorite. She worked her hand over her own mouth, pulling back only when she dictated the fingers clean enough.
"Sayaka," Kirari dragged out each syllable, waiting until dark eyes met her own. If it were possible, the lilac shade had been swallowed up by her pupils, mouth slightly unhinged as she gulped down slow, long breaths. The grip around her wrist shook, nude color nails digging into the skin, lingering on the pulse point. "Lock the door?"
The deadbolt slid with quick precision. The scraping sound drawing a wince and a small ear twitch from her secretary. Damn, she would really need to see someone about those locks.
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The staring as Ririka strode past wasn't unusual. Wearing the mask meant always pulling the eyes of others, unsubtle gawks and whispers from the student body as she passed. Today, it wasn't the mask the students stared at. Ririka pushed herself to a brisk pace, ears shifting and swiveling beyond her control. The halls were too loud. Her ears struggled to process every sound that reached them. All the noise blended together, composing into one nauseating beat enough to make her head pound. She really wished she had fought harder to stay home. Her hands clenched the edge of her skirt. Today, the skirt swished unbearably against her skin, each pass over too itchy, too stiff. Her blazer felt too tight. Her tie dug in too close to the base of her neck. Every inhale tugged and restricted around her throat.
Mary, she reminded herself. That was why she bothered to make the trip down the second year's hall. Ririka would've stayed and hid away in the student council room. But that turned into a hard no when she spotted the predatory look in Kirari's eyes. Poor Sayaka would have it in for her today.
Ririka found the classroom her blonde friend should've been in. She'd memorized the schedule front to back. Not intentionally, but since she didn't need to attend her own classes as Kirari's shadow, what time they didn't spend together as partners during the election was spent actually acting like regular students—following Mary to her own. Only when Ririka rounded the corner, said room was empty. Odd, given Mary always had chemistry at the same time every Wednesday. She turned on her heel, looking over the many crowd of students. But still no sign of Mary.
"Vice President!" Bright red eyes and a wave of black hair bounced into her line of sight. For a moment, Ririka thought Yumeko was going to barrel her over. She stopped at the last possible moment, throwing a few strands over her shoulder. "Looking for Mary?" Yumeko asked. Ririka looked up at her floppy black ears. Weird. Both her, Kirari, Sayaka, and now Yumeko? All with the same… affliction. That seemed the best fitting word. But what was the pattern?
Yumeko spun the silver ring on her thumb, the guy always following her around stood awkwardly at her side. Though both her ears stuck forward, Ririka couldn't help but notice how the left wasn't as stiffly pointed as the right. "—wouldn't come out no matter how I tried. Even when I offered to gamble on it." Yumeko pressed her clasped hands under chin, that unsettling red gaze watching her expectantly. And was she… giggling? Her resemblance to Kirari in that way was unsettling. Ririka's head snapped over to Yumeko. Her ears pinned backwards, a knot forming in her chest. Something was wrong with Mary? "Maybe you could be a better help? She seems to like when you're around." Yumeko skipped away and dragged her friend with her, robbing Ririka of the chance to press for more.
Ririka tried not to let the worst come to mind. Mary was most likely fine. They were at school, and if Yumeko didn't think it serious, there was nothing to worry about. Then again, Ririka had seen how easily she gambled away her own life. Maybe this was another one of those gambles, only it was Mary's life at the helm. Those red eyes returned to her mind. As good as Ririka was at reading other people, Yumeko would forever remain a mystery. Ririka followed the path to the girls' dorm, muscle memory working over her with little thought. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking. Whether she held on to the sleeves of her blazer, or returned them to the edge of her skirt. The next time she blinked, her hand was already raised to knock.
"Go away," Mary's grumpy voice filtered from under the door crack. Ririka hesitated. Mary sounded okay, but still her heart twisted in her chest. She heard a rustle of sheets, then an even quieter hiss of pain. Screw it, Mary could lecture her about the importance of privacy all she wanted to after this. Ririka just needed to know she was okay.
Ririka twisted the doorknob, surprised to find the door squeak open. It wasn't like Mary to keep her dorm unlocked. Something must've seriously been wrong. She barely crossed the threshold, her eyes fluttering closed as the telltale smell of Mary's perfume brushed her nose, when the girl in question pulled herself into a sitting position. Her back was to the door, covers hastily thrown to the side revealing pale skin covered only by a black bra band.
Maybe be should've waited after all. Ririka ducked her head, keeping her eyes on a much safer spot on the bed. "I'm sorry…" The apology died on her lips. Yellow ears twitched between blonde ponytails, almost swallowed by her mass of hair. One swiveled to point at Ririka, before both pinned back against her head. So that's what Yumeko had meant.
Mary whipped around, a hint of gold lightening her irises. "Yumeko, I already told you—" Whatever she wanted to say was swallowed by a growl. The sound startled them both. It wasn't the volume that made Ririka froze but the heat behind it. The inhuman sound curled with ease around Mary's twisted lips, a threatening pair of fangs brandished on full display. Well, that was new. Then again, Ririka recalled her own strange noises from Kirari's meddling earlier. Mary scrambled back against the headboard, cheeks an angry red as she glared at her.
"Mary? It's just me." Ririka drew a half step closer to the bed. The growl grew louder. Mary's eyes shrunk to slits, lacking any of the familiar cushy warmth that had a habit of squeezing its way around Ririka's insides. Replaced by something colder, like a predator identifying a threat in its territory. Ririka closed the door, cutting off the nosy students pretending not to listen, and reached up for her mask. The heavy smell of orchids was a pleasant change. Mary's scent was pressed into every corner of the room, delightful if not for the way it seemed to beckon Ririka to get closer. A terrible idea as of now, if the scalding look Mary eyed her with meant anything.
Ririka tucked the once comforting carbon fiber mask into her chest, running a finger over the mesh eyes holes. She tried again, this time no voice modulator to distort the softness in her words. "It's me, Ririka?"
All at once, Mary's features relaxed, her tense posture becoming more loose. She sagged against the headboard. "Oh, right." Her cheeks reddened again, this time from embarrassment. "Sorry," Mary muttered, eyes falling to a spot on her bed.
Ririka crossed the room, setting her mask onto the nightstand before claiming a spot near the corner of the bed. "I see whatever is going on happened to you too?"
"Tch." Mary sniffed, ears twitching rapidly for a few seconds before falling still. "Unfortunately." Mary patted the spot closer to her side, a silent invitation. Ririka hesitated at first, looking down at her uniform, then up at Mary. "Right, let me just," she slid off the bed, quiet steps padding across the carpeted floor. Ririka watched, trying to keep from lingering on the soft, expansive plain of skin as she rifled through a set of drawers. Mary tossed her a sweater. The fabric thick beneath her fingers, a warn band logo fading from the front.
Ririka trailed her hands over the trimming. It took everything in her not to pull the fabric to her nose. Inhale the sweet, yet subtle smell of Mary's perfume—always some warm, pale orchids and cedar wood blending nicely.
Mary crossed her arms over her chest, as if remembering her still bare front. Ririka dropped her gaze, mumbling a quiet thanks, and turned her back to the blonde to offer them both some privacy. She neatly set it on Mary's desk, fingers working stiffly over the buttons of her blazer. Her eyes stayed pinned to the motion, goosebumps raking over the skin. If only it were the cold to blame. Mary's gaze burned on her back. Her usual brutish nature dwindled down to whatever to blame for her current heavy look.
If not for their previous partnership during the election, Ririka never would've learned better than to cave under it. To stand headstrong even as Mary's eyes cut across her figure, brown eyes determined to uncover every last buried secret between them. No, this look was something different, heavier if the thick silence weighing on her shoulders said anything. Not unpleasant, but… something. Ririka ignored the burning of her cheeks. Maybe if she didn't acknowledge it, it would go away faster. The last button slipped free, blazer falling open at her sides. Ririka rolled her shoulders back, the red and black fabric sliding down her arms. She folded it neatly and set it beside the sweater.
Her hands hovered over the buttons on her blouse. If she took it off, she'd be just as exposed as Mary. Wouldn't that only be fair? Her eyes cut to the sweater. It did look incredibly soft. Something about it, the abundance of Mary's scent rolling off it maybe, urged her to slide it open. Maybe she'd worn it recently? Ririka wondered how it would feel against her bare skin.
Behind, Ririka heard Mary move closer. Felt the heat of her body, the smell of her perfume, before she even got too close. A light hand weaved through her loose white hair, scratching at the base of her neck. Her body acted of its own accord, eyes fluttering shut as Mary's hand worked over a tense knot near the base of her neck. So maybe her earlier headache had hurt more than she realized.
All too soon, the touch receded—
Wait, no. Ririka's eyes shot open, a complaint, or maybe a whine, ready on her tongue. Which exactly it was she would never know, as the hand reached its target, tugging once on her left ear. Not hard by any means, but enough to send an unpleasant shiver down her back.
Ririka bit down on a yelp, more from surprise than pain. She whipped her head around, ears pinned flat against her head.
The hand retreated, Mary's light laugh breaking the tense silence. "Come on, dork. It's cold and you're taking forever. Stop overthinking." Mary moved around to her front, hands working over the series of buttons down Ririka's blouse before that too was set aside and pressed the sweater into her waiting arms, the fabric bundling easily between her fingers as Ririka slid it on. Mary didn't wait for her to pull it all the way on before tugging them back to her bed. A standard twin size, but the lack of space between them didn't seem to bother her. Ririka found she didn't mind either.
Mary leaned into her side, their shoulders brushing. This close, her scent was even more potent. The silence was nice, a welcome reprieve after the overwhelming hallways. Ririka played with her hands in her lap, idly picking at the skin to distract herself from the deepening breaths so close. Touching like this was still new to her, the rapid jumps and stutters of her heart sitting heavy in her throat. It was both too much and not enough. But as always, Ririka didn't know how to ask for more.
She didn't have to. Warm hands slipped between her own. Mary leaned further into her, moving almost sluggishly as sleep tugged at her features. Ririka squeezed closer, if even possible, the shrinking gap of distance too tempting to resist. Whether from tiredness or simple desire, Mary's head tipped back against her shoulder, her deep breaths the only sound in the room. Ririka switched between looking at her sleeping friend and the borrowed sweater—it was as comfortable as it looked—and beamed. Maybe Kirari was right about coming in today after all. Not that she would dare tell her that.