Nostophobia

Yumeno Himiko

This chapter and Chabashira's will have romantic Tenmiko (the children are not involved. I'm not icky).

Yumeno = in-game.
Himiko = child.

-•°•❀•°•-

Taking her hands off the regular playing card, Yumeno hummed tiredly and revealed the blank white paper. Chabashira clapped her hands with a smile brighter than the sun. "You're amazing, Yumeno!" The red-haired mage smiled, thankful for the praise.

Grabbing her deck of cards, Yumeno slipped the box into her pocket. She almost missed her pocket entirely and focused on not yawning. "Now my mana is low..."

"What can Chabashira do to help?!" The Aikido master asked with so much enthusiasm that Yumeno physically winced.

Despite all of their differences, Yumeno felt nothing but love for her girlfriend. Chabashira always had too much energy for Yumeno to handle, but they managed to mellow each other out when necessary. Sometimes, Yumeno found Chabashira's hyperactivity a little annoying, but it never made her love the Aikido master any less.

Chabashira wrapped an arm around the smaller girl's shoulders. "What do you need to recharge your mana this time, Yumeno?"

Thinking for a few moments, Yumeno looked up with a childish sparkle of hope in her crimson eyes. "Chocolate."

"Chabashira will escort you to the kitchen!" She announced, marching beside Yumeno. "None of the degenerate males will hurt you with Chabashira by your side!" They walked side-by-side and Yumeno listened to her girlfriend gushing about her magic tricks. If only she wasn't so tired, then maybe she could put on another magic show to keep Chabashira happy.

As they walked, the two heard a deep, booming voice call out to them. "Ugh, degenerate males," Chabashira muttered as they turned to notice Gokuhara. Yumeno smiled a little, knowing that Chabashira didn't mind Gokuhara compared to other males. He was the only nice one, as Chabashira described one night.

"Yumeno, Chabashira!" The gentle giant beamed and waved as he approached his friends. "We found Himiko walking through school!" This news made the red-haired girl turn pale. She didn't want to deal with this right now.

Instead of admitting her fear, Yumeno sighed and rubbed her half-lidded eyes. "I don't have enough mana for this," she whispered.

Immediately, Chabashira wrapped an arm around the mage in a comforting manner. "Chabashira will protect you, Yumeno!" She hugged her smaller girlfriend.

"Get off," Yumeno mumbled despite not attempting to escape from the embrace.

When they began dating, Chabashira had noticed how Yumeno always verbally resisted hugs, so she'd questioned the little mage. Yumeno found the conversation a little awkward since she didn't want to reveal her secrets, but she explained anyway. Physical contact had always been uncomfortable for her unless it was with someone she trusted. Chabashira had the rare honour of being one of two humans that Yumeno trusted enough to hug her. Gokuhara began creeping up that hill though, so she knew they'd be able to hug someday. Maybe he'd even give her a piggyback ride!

"Can Gokuhara take friends to Himiko?" The entomologist asked with a smile as pure as a dove.

Despite not wanting to face her fears, Yumeno nodded. "Okay." She took Chabashira's hand and followed Gokuhara. The chocolate would have to wait.

It didn't take long for Gokuhara to lead them to where Himiko supposedly was. More of their fellow Ultimate Students huddled around a few benches in the courtyard. Himiko sat there, swinging her legs idly with a blank expression. Yonaga, Momota, Hoshi and Shinguji all stood around the little girl. Yumeno analysed every tiny detail of the young girl. Her eyes landed on the girl's hair adorning... nothing. Himiko wasn't wearing Yumeno's favourite blue gemstone hairpin. That could only mean one thing.