It’s raining outside my window, there’s tests on the horizon, I should be stressed, but then when I listen to the rain and this song, I think back to a few years prior and find myself more grateful for the people who’ve come into my life since.
@langwrites, a small story for you, as thanks for you constantly checking in on me. @owlsofstarlight too, since you were the first one to call me “Vy” and I’m glad everyone else has gotten the message since.
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The couch never really was an ideal place to sleep. But considering how my eyes were barely staying open and the feeling had already left my hands, I probably should rescind that statement. I didn’t even know if I was still wearing my cooking apron, but a nap sounded nice about now…
A weight gently pressed down on the right side of the couch and my head lolled in that direction before I could think on it. “Tired?”
“Muu-mm,” was the first weird noise out of my throat and without my eyes open, my ears could still hear Kei chuckle as something soft landed on my knees. “What’s up with your end?”
“Not much. Otoha just went home to handle something with their teammates. They offered to come visit you later since they missed out on your goodbye hug.” There was rustling and now the soft thing was up to my chest and I could tell it was a blanket. An arm wrapped around my shoulders, straightening my posture. “Wanted to check in on you since we were chilling. Sleepy already?”
“You didn’t tell me Hayate had a growth in his sweet tooth, Kei,” I mumbled, barely opening an eye to give her a half-hearted glare. My vision was blurry, but the teasing grin on her face was easy to see. “I don’t think I want to touch cookie dough for an entire month. My feet ache from standing so long just holding the cookie sheet.”
Kei threw her head back hard enough to jostle the couch from the sudden giggle fit. “Th-That’s a shame because you’re spoiling every single customer in the cafe with your sweets experiments otherwise, Tomo.” She paused for a moment, adding with a fond snort, “Obito keeps bragging about how your food is the best in the world after Rin’s.”
“Naaaaaah,” I muttered, closing my eyes again while sinking into the cushions. “Ricchan’s probably better. Pancakes and rice are my territory.” For extra emphasis or tiredness or what have you, what left my mouth as a final note was a small, “Muu.”
The arm around my shoulders squeezed softly. “…You did good, though, Tomo.”
A tired smile came up to my lips. “Hearing that from you means I can fall asleep in peace now.”
Kei chuckled again. “I’ll make sure to tell you that more often.”
“Aye.” I couldn’t help but lean into her and once my ear found a perching spot on a familiar broad shoulder, the sparks in the back of my head signaling an incoming nap were going off. “Hey, Kei?”
“Did I make you happy today too?”
The pause this time was a bit longer. Then the arm around my shoulders went up to my head, patting it. “Your friendship always does. Now get some rest, Tomo. You need it.”
“Hee hee. Aye.” I couldn’t help it. The sparkles could take me to dreamland now. “Ni ni then, Lang…”
The warmth at my side was undeniable as the room seemed a lot less cold from the winter. “Ni ni, Vy.”
The embrace of sleep at a friend’s side was the best kind of rest I could get.
