Akiha's been called a lot of things in her life. Beautiful, elegant, but never cute. She finds herself flushing at Nico's words, taking them in as she keeps speaking. The 'kindred spirits' only intensifies her reaction. She gulps, audibly, at it. Can feel the weight, not in her throat but in her chest.

"Nico," Akiha begins, before Nico's even finished the thought. The fact that it finishes with the cactus joke doesn't even deter her. She leans in closer, wraps her arms around Nico, tight. She pulls the other girl onto her lap, one hand held close to her hips, the other one reaching up to move through her hair. She curls it in her fingers.

"If I were a cactus, you'd be full of holes," Akiha shoots back, smiling. Her smile can never be goofy, but it's the lightest Akiha thinks it's ever been. Not practiced, not an attempt to be elegant or attractive or confident, just full of affection for the girl in her arms. It's been at least six years since she's been able to smile like this.

"-- I felt like I was about to cry," she admits, laughing softly at her own weakness. "I would have, if you had an actual conclusion. Thank you for being so terrible at this, Nico."