#shufuta

Snowfall

In which Futaba finds out that Ren makes for a nice pillow, and Ryuji discovers their relationship.

"Sorry guys, I know we came all this way to see Mari-san, but I really don't want to leave the RV right now. I'm just... Not feeling well." Futaba had explained earlier, and Ren had volunteered to stay back and make sure she was taken care of. It wasn't much more than a simple headache that had befallen Futaba but it did effectively ruin their plans with their friends.

And it was getting late. Night in Sapporo's winter was, to say the least, cold. Not something Futaba wanted to deal with either so even after her headache had abated, she simply chose to sit by the heater and peruse the internet on her laptop. Or that was until the power went out, something went wrong with the ground hook-up, and Makoto had the keys to actually start the RV's engine. That wasn't good, not in the least. The howling of wind outside and the creaking of the RV suggested that the weather had taken a turn for the worst. Heavy Snow and a storm? Just great.

Futaba pulled out her phone only to see a warning about severe weather. The listed temperature of -20C didn't look friendly and with a frown she shivered just thinking about it. However, she did have one thing going for her.

Ren. Her stoic boyfriend who had stayed back with her to help with her headache was likewise trapped in the RV. With her. He shrugged as he finished messing with the breaker panel. It was no good, the problem was from outside, not the camper itself. He stopped, turned around and opened up the seats, which held much of the group's camping gear. Crucially, though, it was the blankets he was after. He must have grabbed 4 or more, before placing them on Futaba's bed. That made her smile before looking back at her phone, as she pulled one of the new blankets over to herself. She stopped short of pulling it up over her shoulders, however, and looked back up at Ren, who was walking back towards one of the other beds. "Ren. Do you mind... Joining me?"

Ren stopped and turned back, was she really being that bold? He smiled and said "Sure, if that's what you want." Futaba was, innocent, well okay, she wasn't, but her actual approach to their relationship was. And he certainly didn't mind keeping a respectful distance, but here she was, inviting him. He loved her to bits, and certainly was going to take advantage of the opportunity, since on group outings they didn't get many. The others didn't know. Not yet, even over a year after they got together.

Not to say it was a complete secret. Sojiro knew, of course, they had told him, and while he had scared the couple at first, he was glad to help their blooming love along. And Mona knew, since he lived with Ren at almost all times. Sophia too, having read Ren's texts, nearly alerting Ann during the journey previously. Zenkichi knew as well since Futaba wasn't exactly subtle about it, and he confronted the couple if only to allow them a chance to partake in a bit of a comforting reunion after his own awakening. But Ann, Ryuji, Haru, Makoto and Yusuke were in the dark. It wasn't out of insecurity or jealousy, it's just they knew their friends and didn't want to deal with what they both knew was coming if they were found out.

Futaba smiled at him, "Yes, you dork. It's cold, you're warm, and I want to cuddle." He couldn't help but smile back at her as he joined her in her bed overlooking the camper. He wasn't the only warm one, he soon felt as Futaba curled up with him. She was warm, so warm. Not just physically, but in his heart too. He loved this, loved her. It rang true for the both of them. She gently moved herself to rest against his chest and let her eyes flutter shut for a moment. "You're comfortable... So warm."

He ran his hand through her hair. "You're warm too." He said with a smile.

She responded with a giggle. He felt his heart rise with it. She shifted her position within the ball of blankets that surrounded them. "See we share our warmth and keep the cold away. A brilliant plan, mwehehe."

Ren hugged her tighter, realizing she was falling asleep, and soon joined her, letting himself be her pillow.

He would awake to a banging sound from the door as a pile of snow was heaved aside and the camper was opened. He groaned and Futaba yawned, her eyes fluttering open but in their grogginess, they both missed the intrusion.

"Dude..." Ryuji's voice was a moment of awakening for both. He and Yusuke both were entering the camper and now staring right at the two. "Futaba? Really?" He said with a wide grin on his face to Ren.

Futaba's face was now an incandescent red, as she tried to explain that it was just how cold it was to no avail.

Ren breathed deeply before answering Ryuji with a simple nod affirming his attraction to and relationship with the girl, who despite her panic had yet to move from her position in his arms. There was no avoiding it now, as the others entered the camper as Ryuji said Ren was sleeping with Futaba.

{Shutaba} Akira x Futaba Flower Edit

shutaba hurt/comfort? shutaba hurt/comfort! have an oddly personal piece about futaba and dealing with the idea that she will be "take too long" to be "normal", in between her rank 8 and rank 9 convos :D

title: love is the process of my leading you gently back to yourself

word count: 4,282

summary:

Futaba was used to a lot of things. She was used to the guilt she'd lived with for so long, the all encompassing want to be erased from this world; to the whirring of her computer fans and the way her bed felt after she'd slept in it for far too long.

Futaba was not, however, used to… any of this.

Or: Ren and Futaba talk about getting better, and what that might look like.

Bonus: