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ʚ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 ɞ
It was only a matter of time before the spring air overcame them. The two decided it was due time for their reentry of the festival and hurried back inside to the school's guarded walls and escape the wind's gelatinous grasp. After taking a shuddering breath, the duo recomposed themselves, reaffirming their resolve before venturing down the stairs and integrating with the crowd of students once more.
By now, the day had almost reached an end; the sun casting itself behind cotton candy clouds, painting the sky with radiant colours that spread love to all. The pair found themselves walking—hand in hand—wallowing in the scarlet glow that flooded the, ominously, deserted corridor.
Megumi couldn't wrap her head around how Yuki's hand felt in her own. Moulded perfectly around hers, like it served nothing else but to hold hers. The soft skin of his thumb brushing the back of her hand like a paintbrush to a canvas, painting an exquisite still life. She had held his hand in her own a plethora of times before, but each time was a unique and unforgettable experience. Like she was learning to walk again with every delicate caress of his thumb.
As they continued walking through the halls, they began to notice more and more students taking down decorations. The colourful streamers that previously adorned the hallways drooping low until they were eventually retired. Posters being rolled into tiny ringlets before being toted off. The excitement that was once there was now nowhere to found, with a sense of melancholy left in its wake.
A few students seemed to still be filled with immeasurable joy after an exhausting day, even if only a few still had energy. In the end, Megumi couldn't help but find herself relating to the majority the passed; completely drained and in urgent need of sleep. Her body was becoming more and more lethargic the longer she and Yuki walked. So much so that Yuki was forced to support half her body weight, his help was the sole reason she remained upright.
The two travelled in silence to their classroom. A comfortable silence. Full of warmth and content. The shared sense of safety is known without having to speak. And for now, that's all they needed.
Gradually, the closer they got, the louder their classmates' laughs became. Evolving from hushed giggles to their true potential of howls of laughter. With the impending thought of letting go of Yuki's hand, Megumi slowed her pace even more. Just barely moving faster than a tortoise.
While Yuki did smile at her determination, he knew that they spent enough time dawdling as it stood. "Gumi, we really need to get back."
This resulted in Megumi slouching even more forward, pouting deeply as she allowed all her weight to rest on Yuki. She gaped at him, faking innocence. "But I'm tired." She whimpered.
The two of them knew that while she was unbelievably tired, that was not the actual reason why she was acting the way she was.
"Even more of a reason to hurry back." Yuki chided, "The faster we get back, the faster you can sleep." He continued as he shifted his hold on her to hold her weight better. But when he went to wrap his arm over her shoulders, Megumi pulled back with a dejected expression.
