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On the roof, the two of them, again.
Middle schoolers are completely off limits here under every circumstance, but lucky for Dazai, she has Oda.
Her key, her heart.
The door unlocks. And before Oda could react,
The younger one, filled with ecstatic joy, runs through. Invading the space and treating it as if it were a playground, their own free space dedicated just for the two of them.
At this time, after school, after clubs, and other such obligations have ended.
And you only have yourself, time, and the setting sun.
She gets up on the edge with a 'hop!', arms outstretched in balance, she starts tiptoeing,
Ever so carefully...
She doesn't even bother to look at the world below, just her two shoes. One after the other.
Slowly, slowly, she makes her way...
Oda trails behind, entering at a leisurely pace. Her eyes barely looking towards Dazai.
She trusts her. Dazai's a smart girl. And even if she slipped, Oda's ability would let her know, and she'd catch her in an instant.
She takes a seat on a nearby bench. Her gaze transfixed upon the slow moving clouds and pink-orange sky.
Adrenaline builds up... and...
She breaks into a sprint!
Running, running
The wind runs through her hair and uniform as well,
Such a refreshing feeling! She sighs out a happy little sigh, grinning, full of mirth.
And she turns to face her friend. Her back to the world as the wind flutters her skirt and blossoms her hair out.
She looks at her, but their eyes don't meet.
She looks at her some more. It's a pretty sight. Well, of course, her friend is pretty. But Dazai's taking in the moment to really look at her properly. As if trying to memorise the sight in front of her.
The way her uniform hangs off her, one button loose from the top, a hint of her collarbones, loosened ribbon, sharp, messy hair.
Her hair reminded her of cherries, the dark ones especially, and her skin looked so warm in this lighting. So warm and cozy, like the sun...
Dazai wants to become a cat and hoard all her warmth forever.
She steps down, and approaches slowly. Making sure to keep her friend centered in her frame of vision.
Looking, looking...
She doesn't break it even once, and sits next to her. From Oda's side view, she follows her eyes, and sits closer to her. Her cheek just barely brushing her arm, looking up at the sky together.
Oda reaches for Dazai's hand, rubbing her thumb over the smaller one's knuckles. Only then does the little one break and go slack, resting her head completely into her friend's shoulder, rubbing against her like an affectionate cat.
Oda finally turns her head, looking down at Dazai who has completely melted, eyes closed in a gentle bliss.
She leans in, and lands the lightest, featherlike kiss against her hair, to which the younger one squirms, feeling ticklish, but not pulling away.
If anything, she nuzzles in closer, closer, closer.
The two of them aren't usually overly affectionate like this, but as Oda's graduation date drew close, they spent more time together in this fashion. Cherishing every little moment.
As the sun dips further below the horizon and the world grows colder, blanketing them in dark blues, the two of them cuddle into each other more and more.
☆
On the roof, as usual.
This time she came by herself.
Years have passed, and she's now become a highschooler. Naturally, this means she has gained access to the rooftop. Well, legally, that is.
Even if she was banned from it, like a cat, you simply can't separate them and their love of high places. They'll find a way to get up there regardless.
Slinking leisurely along on the edge again. Arms folded behind her head, footsteps high, and rounding one after the other.
She doesn't even bother to look down to check if her feet are following the narrow path of the edge.
It's not that she trusts herself, it's rather that she's done it so many times before. If she slipped now, it'd be a spectacular failure of her muscle memory.
So carefree, or careless. She peers over the edge and gazes at the fall below. The wind rustling through her hair, causing ripples through her uniform.
Her hands buried into her pockets. Not knowing if she felt like an ant or a giant. If she felt on top of the world or more insignificant than ever.
She lets out a sigh, a meaningless little sigh with barely any emotion in it.
Perhaps a little exhaustion. She was feeling a bit sleepy today, after all. Even napping and daydreaming during class couldn't alleviate her weariness.
She lets out a big, lazy stretch. One foot in the air and the other below, arching her back and yawning. As she brought her foot back down, it lie dangerously close to the edge. She barely felt the difference. No adrenaline nor sense of preservation.
Her legs wobbled, joints all loose. And she missteps.
She didn't mean to attempt anything today. It would be too much of a fuss. Too much attention for her busy, muddled brain.
In the midst of all that static, she feels gravity shift. Her heart leapt in her mouth.
Opening her eyes, she realizes. And instantly shifts the weight of her hips, twisting her torso in an awkward position, causing her to fall ass backwards into the tiles of rooftop than forwards into the ground below.
.
.
.
Ah, soft... strong... What's this?
Something shielding her head before it reached the ground.
She opens her eyes to see her teacher staring down at her, and Dazai faint expression grows more and more bright.
She remarks about how early she finished today, didn't expect to see you here, why didn't you tell me, and all that.
And Oda just looks at her, blinking.
The answer was obvious, she had come here exactly for that reason. This was their place. If she needed to find Dazai, or vice versa, she counted her on appearing here, at this moment.
Her hand trailed down from her students head to her back, supporting her up.
Ah, so she ended up in such a position where she was sitting on Oda-sensei's lap, that's what was soft yet firm.
So she ended up breaking her fall, by falling into her teacher...
Her face crumples up slightly in amusement. Cheeks blushing faintly.
From being essentially princess carried or from holding in her laughter about the situation, even Dazai herself doesn't know, but she throws her arms around Oda and lets herself go. Laughing into the crook of her teacher's neck.
Oda doesn't let go, instead holding her student more firmly against her. Her eyes narrowing into a soft expression as she gazes fondly upon the girl in her arms.
Her uniforms all ruffled, her bandages looking a bit stretched out, (but Oda will change that for her later). She feels Dazai's breathing below her ribcage, and the blood rushing through her veins. A dull thud resonates from the hollowness within, repeating over and over. Her slowed, quiet heartbeat.
Her hair shines like melted chocolate in the sun, she thinks. The delicious, glossy kind that you dip strawberries into and lose yourself in.
Dazai has an effect like that on her as well, for all the things the suicide maniac says and acts, Oda can't deny the fact that she is just... so...
Indulgent, sweet.
Like the call of the void, or like the feeling of being lulled into bed, making one forget all about the day ahead of them. Being with her is an languid experience. More akin walking within a dream, or like ink diffusing into water.
The moment she caught her in her arms, it's as if their temperments exchanged with it. Dazai's weariness transferred from her bones into this placid, serene feeling that overcame Oda like a tidal wave. And Oda's alertness travelled and became Dazai's joy, beaming in her smile, like sunrays.
She didn't even realize her eyes were closed until a cold hand on her cheek gently jolts her awake. Her eyes fly open and she sees her darling, gentle expression, full of love and all.
Her other hand that was holding Dazai's thighs, immediately darts to meet her hand, grasping it, warming it with her own, even if it was pointless, being that it was all wrapped in bandages.
She holds it tightly anyway. Pressing her cheek into it as well, warming her hand from both sides. Her eyes fluttered close once again.
...Now she's the one who won't let go, huh? Dazai thinks to herself. She can't help the bubbling feeling in her chest at that thought as she caresses the older one's cheek.
Oda's already an adult, but she's become this attached and clingy with her...
Oh, the worst of it was when she was in college, she recollects. Dazai was near constantly ambushed by arms behind her back. Whether she was doing dishes, cooking up something diabolical, playing games, writing, plotting. Those arms would find their way around her waist, as a heavy head dropped against her shoulder. That's how she would know Oda was finally home.
How did it become like this... wasn't it the other way around when they were younger? Dazai following, sneaking around, Oda, appearing beside her at any given moment, even when she shouldn't be. During break, in the library, or even during classes.
What a ruckus, she'd be absent from her own classes just to watch and be beside her for longer, and she never once pushed her away or scolded her. In fact, Dazai ended up learning much more things, way above her grade in the process.
In her retrospection, her eyes shut, with her forehead pressing gently against her love's.
Well, she's not complaining.
If anything, it only makes the feeling in her chest grow more effervescent. Like a bubbly drink pouring over from the sides.
She lets Oda bask in this moment as she shifts her head to look up at the sky.
Dark blues and purples has started to take over, stars winking in the distance like glitter. It's already become this late, yet it doesn't feel cold at all.
They're blanketed in each other's warmth.
Dazai slowly gets up, pulling Oda along with her.
A quiet remark about dinner, what to make, or if they should eat out this time. If Oda's going to have a drink or not, and if she does, can they finally kiss or real this time? She jokes, and the older one pinches her cheek ever so lightly for that.
The two exit the rooftop in no hurry at all, as if the world would wait for them to arrive.
The door closes behind them with a lock, their presence on the roof lingering before dissipating into the air and sky above.