gaaaaay | (no subject)

University means a new start. With all the bittersweet feelings graduation brought, the approaching start of the school year sweeps it all aside and fills Nozomi's chest with bright new anticipation. A lot of things are different -- something Nozomi used to dread, but living in it now, it's more exciting than stressful.

Like moving in with Eli.

It wasn't even something that required thought or discussion; it seemed obvious to the both of them. Nico chose to stay at home and go to a nearby school, so that she can continue supporting her family. That left just Nozomi and Eli. Nozomi and Eli, who got into university together; who are never, ever going to let themselves grow apart.

They begin their moving progress a week and a half before school starts. Had you asked Nozomi, she'd say that's more time than they really needed, but she knows Eli likes to be on top of things, so she didn't protest. Their budget is limited, so they opted for a studio apartment -- it's close to campus, neat and relatively spacious, so it's good enough for the two of them.

Their beds have little distance between them, but they don't have a problem with that.

They get there in early noon to unpack their belongings. Though the number of boxes didn't seem that imposing at first, it's eight thirty in the evening when they give up and call it a day. (Well, Nozomi gave up, and Eli mercifully agreed.)

Exhausted, Nozomi flops back onto her bed, limbs spread out listlessly. "Ahh, we worked all day and we didn't even unpack half..."

She sighs up at the ceiling.

"... But it's already starting to feel a little like home." Her head tilts towards Eli, as a little smile plays on her lips. "Right?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It was natural for both, wasn't it? The conversation on the matter was surprisingly straightforward, a simple meeting of their gazes being all they truly needed to understand each other's intentions, their hopes. Who else would they choose to stand by their side on this new stage if not each other?

Neither of them thought they had packed too many of their belongings yet time passed quickly to bring forth the night like a merciless spell to force their work to remain unfinished. Living together, going to the same school and even sharing a room, this new life welcomes Nozomi and Eli while destroying the physical distance between them.

Would it be the same as wishing for a miracle to hope that it brings down other walls too?

"We still have more work to do, but..." She can't hold back a smile of her own and much less wishes to hide her own happiness from her friend. "It definitely feels much warmer now."

Eli approaches the bed and gently offers a mug filled with tea for her friend, a proper reward for all their hard work. A matching blue mug rests on her other hand being it tea for herself.

Nozomi limply throws out one arm, but its range isn't wide enough to reach the mug. With a sigh of defeat, she rolls into a sitting position, gratefully accepting the tea.

"Thanks, Elichi." She takes a sip and breathes out a sigh of contentment. Eli always makes it just right. "Ahh, I feel revived already!"

For such a mature and independent girl Nozomi can have such adorable reactions that it's hard for the blonde to not smile warmly to her. Motherly? friendly? romantically? it's hard to tell with them.

Eli sits on the bed now that her friend stopped taking it over and holds her blue mug carefully, pilling it would be too much of a pity.

"Don't revive too much, we'll go to bed after a bath." She giggles afterwards with complete understanding of her feelings. It's truly nice to have a warm drink after a day of hard work!... ah, a matching sigh of contentment escapes her.

Nozomi blinks at her slowly, her lips parting though no words leave them. Her expression is odd, with a sort of blankness to it one might have right after waking up, still in the midst of separating the dream from reality.

A moment passes, and she laughs. "When you say it like that, it sounds like... how should I put it?" Her gaze drops down to the warm liquid swirling in her cup. "Domestic bliss?"

Those words are unfair, Nozomi. You shouldn't make her heart beat faster with just that concept, with such a gentle voice. She can only hope that her embarrassment isn't too obvious on her voice.

"Domestic bliss has a nice ring to it." Eli closes her eyes, enjoying this fleeting moment as it is. "I'm glad we choose to do this." 'Together from now onward' is an even sweeter sound.

Ah... she'd expected Eli to get flustered and laugh it off, telling her don't say such weird things, Nozomi. She thinks she would have, a year ago. But to have her agree so plainly now, like it's the most obvious thing in the word -- Nozomi can't help but blush into her mug.

"Me too, Elichi."

She drowns the sudden lump in her throat with a mouthful of tea, and forces herself to sit up a little straighter. "Oh, since we have time until school starts, why don't we explore the area a bit tomorrow? I think I saw a shopping center not far away. We could find a new cafe to have parfaits at."

She would have definitely reacted in such a way had this kind of conversation come up in another moment, another time, another place yet with such a rosy mood between them Eli allows herself to be guided along, to open her heart a bit. It's not dangerous, is it? to say this much.

"Mh~ and I thought you were attached to our normal cafe." A playful tone escapes the blonde girl, a side of herself mostly shown only to Nozomi, and leans just a bit closer to the other. "Let's do that, we should leave early in the morning so we have time to continue unpacking on the afternoon." ... serious even when playful, Elichika.

"Sweets in the morning? Elichi, you glutton." She pokes Eli's cheek with the tip of one finger. "It can be our reward for when we finish packing, right?"

That's a good way to make Eli's cheeks darken.

"Nozomi..." She doesn't move away from her touch though. "We should still wake up early when work is unfinished."

"But I'm reeeaaally bad at getting up in the morning, you know that," Nozomi whines. The thought of it alone is enough to make her yawn.

"What will I do with you?" Eli decides to take a long sip from her tea, letting Nozomi wait for her answer, obvious at it may be. "We'll need to work even harder later, understood?"

"Okaaaay," Nozomi answers obediently, her body slanting sideways until her head comes to rest on Eli's shoulder. She nuzzles her head into the side of her neck. "Elichi's so gentle with me."

Ah... isn't this just unfair? a resistance carefully brewed with determination and dread melts as easily as snow during spring at such a soft contact and the invitation of both her warmth and her soft, flowery, scent. She nuzzles back without thinking after a simple moment of surprise, a faint gasp.

Isn't it just natural? if there is an advantage of this longing is how close they can be without wording doubts, without the other flinching, and yet isn't the unperturbed distance even most cruel when one is able to enjoy this much?

"I would be even gentler if you didn't give into slumber so much, you know." Eli's voice is softer, being careful just in case Nozomi is close to falling asleep.