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Kanade awoke to pain, lots of pain. She used to just think she really needed to throw up. Now she knew exactly what it was, that being her least favourite time of month.
Kanade hardly was ever able to sit up, just laying there in excruciating pain. On the first day the there was so much pain, so much so that one night Ena had taken her to the hospital believing something could’ve been seriously wrong.
Nothing had ever really helped with this pain, she would just have to take meds, lay completely still until she is forced to move and readjust, then do it again.
Eventually she would be able to get up. It would still ache and slow her movements all day, so she normally didn’t get up. Especially when one of her partners was home. She had been.. better than she had been. She definitely didn’t enjoy talking about it though.
Kanade had never enjoyed talking about it. She wasn’t sure what was more embarrassing, the fact that she couldn’t talk about it, or actually talking about it. The only time she had opened up about this, Mafuyu had provided reasoning that she just hadn’t been able to learn about it like any other child.
The more Kanade thought about that reasoning, the more it unfortunately made sense. Considering the situation with her parents, Kanade quickly accepted the likelihood of that being the case.
Another sharp ache of pain returned her to her senses, she reflexively clutched her stomach. It had been extra bad enough today, bad enough that she was crying. Kanade only just realised that last fact.
Kanade had passed out from the pain before, she had multiple times. It always scared the others when she did, though it was her medical state that caused the pain increase so it wasn’t that unexpected. Anaemia and iron problems (likely more) definitely didn’t help with all this…
A bright light starts to slowly fill the room, Kanade slightly opens her eyes to see what was going on. She doesn’t get very far before squeezing them back closed. Whether it was her door opening or the fan had hit her curtain, she didn’t know.
Kanade tried a few times to adjust to the light before finally slightly lifting her head to better see what was ahead of her..
By the time she figured out it was indeed her door and someone was home, it was much too late to turn them back. She had already poked her head up enough for them to see the tears steadily flowing from her eyes.
"Kanade? Are you good there in your cave?"
Ah, definitely Mizuki. Kanade didn’t need to hear the voice, only the words, to know that much.
"Mmghh.."
It was meant to be a sentence, maybe a word.. though, it just came out as a pained noise. Kanade well understood why this was, considering she was in a lot of pain.
"Kanade, what’s wrong? Can I sit here..?"
Kanade never decided whether to love or hate their immediate softness when Kanade was tired or hurt.
As for what was wrong… as much as it was obvious if you didn’t know Kanade, if you did, the girl could be experiencing just about anything. Kanade was also prone to getting some really weird symptoms…
"Per..ah..mhh.."
Like, Seriously, why did talking hurt!?
"Ok, I see! and you haven’t had your medicine yet? Any pain killers? I’ll get you sorted! Doctor Mizuki can solve anything!"
..Kanade couldn’t help but smile a little at Mizuki’s enthusiasm to help her, Kanade never knew even to this day why they were so eager to help her. Maybe they just never had the chance before.
Mizuki had left the room now, leaving Kanade once again focusing on her pain. The only strong enough pain medication took around an hour to kick in, and Kanade wasn’t making any bets that Mizuki wouldn’t stay that whole hour.
"Kanade! The nurse has returned with your medicine, water, and Ena’s chocolate!"
Wasn’t she a doctor?.. Wait!- Ena’s..!?
"B-But that’s for Ena.."
Kanade’s determination to make sure Ena could keep her chocolate was enough to force the words out, only barely before she crunched back into a fetal position.
"Don’t worry, I’ll just buy more later! Ena doesn’t have to know anything, and hers hasn’t started yet. If she finds out and complains or you really want, I’ll just tell her it was for you."
It was.. too reasonable to argue with. Not that Kanade had the strength to argue either way. Ena and Kanade always had their period at a very similar time, sometime it even completely matched up. Ena just seemed to always eat chocolate and sweets the whole time, though.
That’s exactly why Kanade was scared to take it from her. Dealing with an angry Ena is something Kanade would never want to sick on anyone, let alone Mizuki.
Though, if it was for Kanade, Ena likely wouldn’t mind it as bad. She was sure Mizuki would follow her word and buy more, anyways.
"Now, can you sit up, or should I help you?"
Kanade just shook her head pitifully…
"Gotcha. Well, you know how it goes, I’m gonna have to lift you… are you ok with that?"
Kanade wanted to say no, she knew what was coming, but since it was worth it for the pain meds.. she reluctantly nodded.
This was because there was no, and no means absolutely zero, non-painful way to move Kanade up. They had tried everything, even using a stretcher! It turns out you just have to go as quick as possible.
Kanade braced as Mizuki hooked her arms under Kanade’s, squeezing her eyes further closed despite the headache it started creating.
"Three.. two.. one.. HOIST!"
Kanade wasn’t sure what noise she let out this time, but it was surely unable to be typed. Luckily, nobody was writing this out as some kind of fanfic.
She was lifted into an upright position, kind of on her knees, but not quite classified as sitting. She was bent awkwardly to the right, as much as it seemed painful.
"I got you some water, now your amazing caretaker will provide you with your chocolates!"
Kanade knew exactly what was going to happen, Mizuki would feed her chocolate and randomly just.. give her the medicine. Kanade hated taking medicine, so it worked surprisingly well. Especially considering Kanade knew it was going to happen. She doesn’t know what comes over her to swallow it when she’d normally have to spit it out countless times.
"Open wide! Here’s comes the aeroplane!~"
Kanade must’ve been losing herself, the disassociation was really getting to her. No way Kanade just opened her mouth to "here comes the aeroplane" for a piece of chocolate.
Mizuki placed the sweet small block upon her tongue, Kanade recognised this as Ena’s favourite "cheesecake chocolate". The thought that she had taken not only Ena’s chocolate, but Ena’s favourite chocolate…
"M-Mizuki.."
"Yes dear?~"
"Full.."
Kanade’s default excuse for anything to do with food was that she was full. She had originally done it in her younger years to avoid wasting time eating, but the habit always stuck.
Kanade knew very much how stupid she sounded, claiming she was full after eating one piece of chocolate was pretty… well, probably pretty high on the list of "stupid things Kanade has done".
Mizuki seemed to agree.
"Pff!- Kanade- one piece of chocolate and she’s full! Very believable.."
"Shut up.."
Kanade had every right to be a little moody. Maybe this was how Ena felt with Mizuki always teasing her, if so, Kanade felt she should step in next time…
Speaking of Ena…
"Is it cause it’s Ena’s favourite chocolate? Seriously, I’ll buy her another one. Big bad Ena can yell at me all she wants to, as long as you’re happy!"
Mizuki was accurate, she always knew what Kanade needed… somehow, all her partners did. Was Kanade just that obvious?
"I’ll just take.. the medicine.."
"Sorry, Kanade, but there’s no way that’s happening.."
It took at least another five minutes of reassuring to convince Kanade that Ena truely wouldn’t mind. More realistically, Mizuki just "threatened" to call Ena and confirm. Kanade knew she was busy…
"Mizu- mph!"
"No more complaining, you’re in pain, take your chocolates and let me feed you!"
Maybe Kanade should really just start listening more often and she wouldn’t end up in these situations.
Kanade continued to take a few chocolates before she finally took her medicine, slipped in unexpectedly yet expectedly at the same time… Kanade was still unsure why this method worked so well.
"All done! Thank you for finally taking it, now, how can your all powerful lover save her saviour from the evil period cramps!"
"Y-You can just leave.. I’ll be ok."
Mizuki had given up acting shocked to that a while ago. It was very much expected.
"Kanade, I know the second you can get up you’re going to be at your computer. I’m familiar with your tricks!"
"Urk…"
"Now, what can I do for you?"
"Can you just stay with me…?"
If Mizuki would refuse to leave, at the very least Kanade was going to do her best to make her happy and comfortable…
"Of course, let me get you a heat bag first!~"
"There’s no need, it doesn’t help with the-"
"Kanade, all it needs to do is bring the smallest amount of comfort to you for me to get it. It’s not a hassle! I’ll be right back!"
Mizuki left no room to argue as she went to follow up on her words. The heat bag always made her more comfortable, her room was rather cold at times…
"I have returned with your heat bag! Put it where you want to, I’ll be careful laying behind you!"
Mizuki was so considerate, Kanade didn’t deserve her.. Kanade didn’t deserve any of this. Not the chocolate, not the meds, not the heat bag, the compliance to even stay here and cuddle was the last straw until..-
"Kanade!? What’s wrong? Is it too hot? Did I shift the bed wrong?"
"Y-You’re too nice to me- Mizuki..! I don’t deserve any of this..!"
Kanade couldn’t hold back her thoughts, and she hated it. She wished she could just accept her partners love, but it was so hard to move forward…
"Oh, Kanade.. that’s not true at all and you know it! I do this because I love you, I care about you more than you know… just, try and focus on me, yea?"
Kanade didn’t want to bother Mizuki with her crying any longer. She really should just try and focus on Mizuki’s hold around her.
It was comforting, gentle, but not firm in the way Ena’s was. It was a slightly heavier weight resting under her shoulders, where Mizuki had wrapped her arms around Kanade. Her fingers stroked Kanade’s collarbone, a motion Kanade found herself particularly fond off over time.
The more Kanade focused, the drowsier she became. The pain gradually faded, guilt seeping away as Kanade leaned into Mizuki’s touch.
Said girl appears to also be falling asleep, completely lulled in the crook of Kanade’s neck. A few kisses had been placed there at some point, but Mizuki definitely didn’t have the energy anymore. Perhaps she had a bigger day than Kanade thought.
Kanade looked forwards to the door, closed behind Mizuki after her last trip out. It still seeped a little light from underneath, though it was irrelevant to note. Kanade was just waiting for the moment her brain refused to let her stay awake any longer.
That moment came and went, before she could process it, Kanade was dead asleep. All her previous pain was long forgotten as she slept cuddled up to Mizuki and slept peacefully.
————————
The front door slowly opened up to a familiar head of purple hair, and a familiar tired expression after a long day of work. An expression Ena could very much relate to right now.
"I’m home."
"Mafuyu, welcome home."
"Where’s Kanade and Mizuki?"
"Not sure yet, I only just got home myself. Pretty sure they’re both in Kanade’s room."
"Got it, should we go check?"
Mafuyu still worried for Kanade just as much as she had in the past. Even though Kanade had much improved, her worry was very much valid after all that happened.
"Sure."
Ena and Mafuyu headed to Kanade’s room, turning the hallway light off to assure the girl didn’t get startled by the light as she often did.
"Kanade..? Mizuki..?"
Ena called to no response, almost raising her voice before being silenced by Mafuyu.
"Mmphuyu! What was-"
"Shut up. They’re asleep."
Ena gave Mafuyu the "you’re so done… after Kanade isn’t near" look.
"Can we join them?"
"Sure. Just gonna get a snack first."
Kanade had gotten a huge bed. All four of them fit together well, but they could probably make any size work with all the cuddling..
Mafuyu settled behind Mizuki, Ena had likely also seen the pain meds at her side table and would want to cuddle her. Of course Mafuyu did too, but she wouldn’t take it from Ena.
Just as she was closing her eyes, an audible yell rung from the kitchen…
"WHERE THE HELL IS MY CHOCOLATE!?"