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English
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Published:
2022-10-15
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1/1
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Because it's warm

Summary:

Mafuyu wants to hold hands. And that's all.

Notes:

Thank you so much for Devil_Tai for giving this a beta read when it was mostly done! It’s just another short and silly idea of mine, but the beta reading was of great help^^

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

They're supposed to dissolve after another celebration at the family restaurant. But Mizuki somehow convinced them all to hang out a little more and go shopping with them.

 

If it was a request only directed to Ena, she'd probably have declined saying she wanted to go back home already to sleep or draw, but since Kanade and Mafuyu were there as well she thought it would be nice to hang out with Kanade for a little longer. So, she decided to help Mizuki convince the other two of the group to go with them.

 

In truth, as much as she enjoys these celebrations they do after releasing a song; Kanade just wanted to go back home already. Get away from the daylight and go back to work already. But put under the pressure of the Mizuki and Ena's expectations she was not able to refuse them. And how could she? When Mizuki and Ena smile so brightly after she accepts their request? Maybe it’s worth it if it’s going to make them happy.

 

That’s what she is supposed to do. Make others happy.

 

Can I...?

 

That’s what she wishes the most for. To make people smile.

 

But I couldn’t make father smile

 

She shakes her head, pushing the weird thoughts away.

 

Since Kanade accepted, Mafuyu went along with it as well. It was both surprising and not at the same time. Usually Mafuyu would always follow Kanade’s decisions, but at the times to dissolve their meeting she has always been pretty stern about going back home after finishing an appointment. But to be able to hang out a little longer with everyone made them all happy. Or at least the other three hoped that Mafuyu felt the same.

 

That’s what leads them all to still being outside, walking on the street. Ena and Mizuki were walking side by side in the front while Kanade and Mafuyu followed right behind them, listening to their talks and bickering while sharing their comfortable silence. Even if walking was tiring, their laughs and smiles gave Kanade the strength she needed to stay there a little longer and enjoy the company of her friends.

 

To have friends . The possibility of having such a thing never crossed her mind when she locked herself away from the world. It still feels mysterious to her how she is now receiving such a blessing like good friends and how they managed to make her come back to the outside again. She would always welcome and accept them, but never expected to receive the same.


.

.

.

 

At first they are headed towards the shopping mall (Kanade thanks them inside her head for taking them out of the sunlight), Mizuki and Ena would jump from one store to another. Sometimes only looking at the store’s showcase, other times stepping into the stores. But after a while they just become too distracted in their own world that they forget to include Mafuyu and Kanade in their conversations. Not even looking behind them to see if they're still following, they walk outside again.

 

Suddenly, Kanade felt a light tug on her left sleeve. She takes her eyes off the two in front of them and looks at Mafuyu by her side.

 

“Hm? What’s wrong, Mafuyu?” 

 

Mafuyu kept her gaze down while still holding Kanade’s sleeve for a few more seconds before letting go of it. She notices Mafuyu’s pensive look.

 

Kanade tilts her head in curiosity, but does not rush her. As always, she is patient enough to give all the time she needs to organize her thoughts and say what she wants.

 

But this is rare. Usually she doesn’t hesitate so much to say things.

 

Maybe she wants to go home already? … No. She never hesitates to say this kind of thing…

 

While trying to figure out what Mafuyu might be thinking, the girl finally calls Kanade back to reality.

 

“Kanade.”

 

“Ah– Yeah?”

 

“...”  She hesitates again, confused at herself. At the same time she understands her own hesitance, she doesn’t. She looks at the two in front of them for a moment before looking back at Kanade, finally looking her in the eyes. “... Can I ask for a favor?”

 

“A favor? Of course. What is it?”

 

“I want to… hold your hand.”

 

Kanade's brain freezes before she could process the request properly.

 

“Eh?” She finally responds and it looks like Mafuyu becomes a little timid, avoiding her eyes to the side, but still expecting an answer.

 

“I want to”... huh.

 

Kanade opened a found smile. A small, but heart melting one. Mafuyu freezes when she sees it.

 

“Okay.” Despite keeping a neutral expression, Kanade can’t help but see a hint of joy in Mafuyu’s eyes.

 

Both of them look at their hands. Even though the request came from Mafuyu, Kanade is the one to take the initiative. Casually, she reaches Mafuyu’s right hand with her left hand. At first she just holds half of Mafuyu’s hand with a gentle touch of her fingers. Then Mafuyu turns her wrist so that their palms can get in touch properly. Kanade slides her hand further to make it happen and both seal the deal, closing their hands on each other's hand with a comforting squeeze.

 

Kanade smiles at the sight of their hands together while her heart flutters with the touch. She is not used to skinship, but the touch felt nice. To be held like this made her feel warm inside. Mafuyu’s hand enveloped hers. Curious, she lifts her head to ask Mafuyu how she feels about it, but chokes on her word in surprise. While still looking at their hands as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world… 

 

Mafuyu was smiling.

 

The sight painted Kanade’s face red and her heart raced.

 

And to totally not help Kanade’s heart calm down, Mafuyu decided to test something else. Without separating their hands, she made their fingers intertwine.

 

“M-Mafuyu?”

 

“Hm?” She lifts her face to look at Kanade. The smile goes away, probably not even noticing she was smiling, but she looked peaceful. At that moment, the darkness in her eyes dissipated a bit more.

 

“Erm– Ah Hm…” Kanade looked away for a moment with her eyes closed and scratched her head before facing Mafuyu again. “How do you feel about this?”

 

Mafuyu gazes down at their hands again and gives their hands another squeeze before giving an answer. “... Warm. Very warm.” 

 

Kanade squeezes her hand back and smiles warmly once again.

 

Mafuyu’s eyes widened. She wonders how someone can provide so much warmth like Kanade provides her.

 

They don’t speak further than that. They turn their face to look forward and fall back into their silence again. Right now they were not suffering in the slightest, but holding each other like this made them feel safe and grounded.

 

.

.

.

 

[Bonus]

 

“WAITWAITWAITWAIT”

 

“Why are you two holding hands???”

 

Kanade and Mafuyu exchange glances before Kanade could reply.

 

“Because Mafuyu wanted to...”

 

“Because Mafuyu wanted to????”

 

Kanade smiles awkwardly and Mafuyu stays in silence, only staring at them. 

 

Ena looks at their hands together. At first she's taken by surprise, then she frowns at it only to now look at it with a yearning expression.

 

“ How nice… ” Ena whispers to herself.

 

But of course someone besides her could hear.

 

“Hmmmmmm? Enanan, are you that jealous? You’re such a Kanade simp.” Mizuki puts a hand in front of their mouth, only hiding half of it. They show their infuriating smile on purpose to Ena. 

 

“HAH?? That’s not it!”




“Hmm… Mafayu. What is a “simp”?”




“That’s not it? So you don’t want to hold Kanade’s hand too?”



“...I also don’t know.”

 

“Oh… Ok.”



“IT’S NOT… like I don’t want to…Kanade is small… huggable… must be nice to hold hands too… ”

 

“Simp.”

 

“MIZUKI” 

 

“Even though you have me.” Mizuki feigns to be hurt.

 

“MI-ZU-KI” Ena's face was already red at this point.

 

“Ena.” Mafuyu calls.

 

“WHAT?” She turns her head. “I mean– What?”

 

Mafuyu exchanges glances between Ena and Kanade before pulling Kanade behind her.

 

“Not happening.”

 

“????Mafuyu?????”

 

“AHAHAHAH”

 

After the eventful talk, Mizuki and Ena bid their farewell to Kanade and Mafuyu who walked away, still holding hands.

 

When Kanade and Mafuyu could not see them anymore, Ena reached for Mizuki’s hand on their way home, still slightly annoyed by before. This time, Mizuki decided to only enjoy the moment without saying anything that could infuriate Ena again and gave their hands a gentle squeeze.

Notes:

"gay gay homossexual gay" - Mizuki, probably