Chisato used to have a congenital heart disease, however, since she started dating Inoue Takina, she felt like she’s suffering from frequent heart attacks that was normally not possible with her artificial heart.
If she had a heart rate monitor, every time this cute being does half of the things she does at home, her heartbeat per second would skyrocket. If she had a heartbeat.
Normally, while they work in the cafe, she’d be strict, all work and profits and no flirting… but when it comes to at home…
Chisato felt a head drop onto her shoulder. She immediately raised her arm as she welcomed the black hair snuggling to her side, using her shoulders as a pillow.
“Sleepy?”
“No… I wanted to… watch a bit more…” Takina closed her eyes as the TV screen flashed some bright lights followed by gunshots.
What is with this cute being!? Chisato stared at the ceiling, ignoring the movie’s action scenes as she felt the warmth and weight lean onto her side… followed by even and peaceful breathing. Mostly a sign that Takina had already fallen asleep. “You’re not even watching anymore…” Chisato laughed as she gently patted Takina’s head.
These were one of those nights where Chisato would leave the movie unfinished, carry her cute catlike girlfriend from the couch to the bed, and spend sometime watching her sleep peacefully before getting lulled into sleep by that cute face and that peaceful and steady breathing.
No one prepared her for the sudden change in behavior after Takina had turned twenty and things had settled for the two of them. Do people just change like that? Of course, from time to time, Chisato would still have to dodge some pillows, cushions, and some occasionally flying slippers when she’s embarrassed or angry…
Chisato would like to think that four years of tsun has finally turned into the years of dere… and so Chisato settled to find the answer. What happens during the day in particular, that summons sweet and snuggly Inoue Takina?
~*
“Chisato.” Mika called for Chisato from the backroom of the cafe. “There’s a new request for you.” He handed her a piece of paper.
“Is it only for Chisato?” Takina looked at Mika, arriving together with Chisato to the backroom.
“Unfortunately. There seems to be a recent break, and the DA doesn’t have enough hands, so most first and second lycoris are being encouraged to act solo to cover more ground. There’s one for you, too.” Mika handed her a paper as well. “Kurumi already agreed to helping out for the afternoon. Be careful, you two.”
Takina nodded as Chisato sighed. “Why even make a buddy system when it’s been just solo missions for months now?”
“That’s true.” Takina agreed as she and Chisato headed to the dressing room to change into their lycoris uniforms. “Chisato.”
“Mm?” Chisato turned to Takina who only looked at the closet. “Takina?”
“…I know that when the solo missions come, they always ask for you first before me… Ah, never mind.” Takina sighed and continued undressing.
“Heeeey. Don’t just suddenly say something and not finish it. What is it?” Chisato quickly put on her white blouse after placing her yukata onto a hanger and hung it in the closet.
“…It’s nothing. Please be careful, okay?” Takina only looked at gazed at her shortly before changing clothes as well.
“Of course. You too, okay?” Chisato smiled at her. What she was talking about worried her a little, but this was Takina after all. She’ll talk about it when she’s ready.
Then once again, it was one of those nights of sweet and snuggly Takina-san. Chisato ran her hand up and down Takina’s back who was completely snuggled into her arms as a blanket covered their bodies.
You’d think she was a scared child who had just been exposed to the scariest horror film of her life and needed someone to comfort them through the night. Takina buried her face onto the crook between Chisato’s neck and shoulders, both of her arms folded in between them.
“Takina.”
“Yes?”
Takina turned her head a little from Chisato’s neck to be able to talk audibly.
“Did something happen during your duty?” Chisato stopped her hand that was rubbing Takina’s back as they embraced.
“…No?” Takina blinked before answering and then burying her head onto Chisato’s neck once again.
After thinking about it, it was always like this. Whenever they had to do duties separately, sweet and snuggly Takina-san would happen, and it’d leave Chisato so puzzled because she’d be back to her usual tsuntsun Takina self by the next day.
“…Hmm…” Chisato weighed her options. If she asked about it, Takina might stop doing it if she was doing this unconsciously. However, if she asked about it and Takina was doing this consciously then for the next time she could prepare her heart for it instead of being surprised every time. Were there consequences for any of the two choices? No? Maybe? “Takina.”
“Yes?” Takina answered this time, not even bothering to remove her face from Chisato’s neck, her breathe touching her skin.
“…That tickles… Uh… I’ve been curious but, you’ve been snuggly lately…?”
“Is it not okay? We are lovers, so I thought it was normal…” Takina moved her head as she rested her forehead onto Chisato’s neck.
“O- Of course it’s okay! It’s just that, it didn’t seem like something you’d do before so, you could say Chisato-san’s just a bit of in a pinch when I get surprised like this lately…” Chisato gently started to rub Takina’s back up and down once again. Especially on my sanity and self-restraints.
“If I don’t reach my daily Chisato quota, I can’t sleep well at night.”
Hm?
Chisato blinked as her hand on Takina’s back stopped.
Did I hear that right?
She leaned her jaw lightly onto Takina’s head. “Could you say that again?”
“If I don’t reach my daily Chisato quota, I can’t sleep well at night.”
“Ohhh…” Chisato blinked again. Don’t oh yourself! “Wh- What do you mean quota?”
Takina gently pried herself away from Chisato’s embrace. She laid down on her stomach, arms laying flat under her chest as she looked at Chisato’s face. “…The feeling of ease, in my heart. That every time I sleep and wake up, you’re there, and that you’re alive.”
Chisato looked onto those forlorn amethyst orbs before she engulfed her back into a large bear hug. “Takina… You were worrying about that all this time?”
“If we were not together for a certain amount of time, how could I be sure I wasn’t dreaming? How could I be sure that the you I’m seeing isn’t an illusion…?”
Ah geez. Nishikigi Chisato, you opened this can of worms, so you better can it! Good pun there if I do say so myself, high-five. Chisato gently parted from the embrace as she rained kisses on Takina’s forehead, her left and right cheeks, her nose, those beautiful eyes, and then those pretty lips. “…I don’t think an illusion could do those for you, could they?”
Takina shook her head.
“So you’re worried about me when I have to go to solo missions?”
Takina looked down in between them and nodded. “Do you not feel the same with me?”
Chisato looked up the ceiling as she thought. “Well… I trust you that you’ll be okay…”
“You make it sound like I don’t feel the same way with you.” Takina pouted as she spoke in a small voice.
“I’m sorry, I phrased that badly.” Chisato kissed her temple gently. “Of course I feel worried too… For me… I just try to do everything quick and fast, so I can go back to your side.”
“……” Takina only stared at the space in between them without saying anything.
Of course that’s not enough to convince her… Chisato kissed her nose, then her forehead. “Then… Is there something I can do… to make you feel at ease?”
Takina took a quick look at those red orbs staring at her with a frown. “K- Kiss…”
“Hm?” Chisato lowered her head to listen.
“I- If you kissed me…” Takina turned away as she tried to whisper more quietly.
“Mmmnnnn~~~ So cuuuuute~” Chisato kissed Takina on the lips once again with a loud smack. “…More?”
Takina looked up to Chisato’s face before shyly turning away as she nodded.
Hnnnng. Adorbs alert, send help.
“Is a light kiss like this–” Chisato gave her a quick smack on the lips, “–okay?”
Takina leaned her forehead onto Chisato’s jaw. “…M- More?”
Aghhh.
Chisato moved her head back as she looked at that beautiful face before gently capturing those soft lips into a long bitey kiss.
“Like this?”
Takina nodded.
“Then…” Chisato nudged Takina’s nose with her own before kissing her again and again. “I’ll kiss all your worries away.”
Takina wrapped her arms around Chisato’s neck as they continued kissing.
~*
Surely enough it didn’t end in just a kiss. Chisato trailed her nose onto Takina’s exposed shoulders as she opened her eyes. Kissing her left shoulder’s scar lightly before trailing those kisses down that slender back.
“Mm… Chisato, stop…” Takina mumbled as she turned around to face her.
Ah, there she is. The usual Takina.
“Mornin’.” Chisato greeted with a huge smile.
Takina looked away with a blush. “…Good morning. Please forget about last night.”
“Forget? No way.” Chisato laughed as she locked her arms around Takina’s waist. Their warm naked bodies transferring heat from one to another. “Adorable Takina would forever be in my heart and mind.”
“Please forget about it.” Takina tried her best to escape from the bear hug but could only find herself giving up. “…Don’t you dislike women like me?”
“Hm? Why would I?”
“My love is deep. Just you being away for a few hours makes me worried. I’d always want your attention, and your time.”
“I love you, you know? All of those included. I’ll give you all of my attention, and all of my time. Besides I think they’re adorable.”
Takina blinked as she stared at Chisato in disbelief.
“…Adorable? You like possessive women, Chisato-san?”
“No, I don’t like possessive women? However, I do love a certain Inoue Takina. With all my… uh… artificial heart.”
“Uu…” Takina turned away with a blush, taken aback by the unexpected profession of love.
“What about me?” Chisato looked at her with a wide grin, like a puppy fishing for head pats. “What do you feel about me?”
“…I love you, too…?”
“Mm, mm! More!”
“M- More? Um… I love it when you kiss me?”
“O- Oohh! More?”
“Um…”
“No more!?”
“P- Please give me some time! There’s… too many…”
“Ahhhnnn. I love youuu.”
“Chisato!”
“Takina.”
“Yes?”
“If you feel worried… let me know, please?”
“……”
“So I can do what I can, to make you feel at ease. I won’t disappear, I won’t go anywhere. Okay?”
Takina nodded with a smile.
“Chisato, thank you.” For choosing to accept your new life, and live longer.
(Quota/END)
