ℌ𝔢𝔯𝔪𝔦𝔱'𝔰 ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔣𝔢𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔑𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔢𝔫

(Mostly Kanamafu in this chapter)

"MEIKO!" Mizuki called. "She changed to afternoon right? I wonder where she is..."

"Maybe she's late," Mafuyu said bluntly before Ena, of course, spoke up.

"Well of course she's late Mafuyu! Why else would she not be here...?"

Mafuyu just shrugged. "I'm just saying. MEIKO could show up whenever she wants to. It's unique that she's late."

Ena had to process that...but she didn't want to admit that Mafuyu had a good point.

"Knowing how much trouble she's in, she's probably still preparing," Kanade guessed. Mizuki nodded but had slight worry inside them.

"I wonder how strong MEIKO is in an actual fight!" Mizuki started a conversation.

"I would know..." Kanade faintly smiled.

"Oh right. I'm sorry Kanade," Mizuki smiled nervously, remembering the time when they all first met MEIKO.

"Though," Kanade continued, "she does seem very strong. She could throw me back with a snap of her fingers...I wonder how long she's been here for. She's only a young adult right?"

"More of an adult to be honest..." Ena spoke up.

Mafuyu rubbed her eyes. "Can we focus on how MEIKO is still late please?"

"Yeah, where the hell is she?!" Ena said, getting impatient. Mizuki informed that maybe she was running late out of anxiety. "If that's what it is then is this really a good idea, Mizu?"

Mizuki nodded, hesitantly though. "I think it is...it's pressuring but I feel like it's the right decision. I..." they paused, "I don't know right now..."

Ena wanted to say something, but saved it for later since her and Mizuki weren't alone at the moment. Turning her head, she found a familiar face and frowned in annoyance. "MEIKO!"

"Sorry for being late...I was thinking."

"You must've been thinking of a whole story then because we've been here for a while!"

"Enaaaa! Be nice! Don't worry MEIKO, we weren't here for that long!" Mizuki ran up to MEIKO and hugged them. MEIKO's eyes widened for a moment before she hugged them back.

"Y-Yeah...I'm glad I wasn't that late then."

Mizuki released MEIKO, smiling widely. "Off we go!" MEIKO nodded, leading the way.

Kanade's POV
As we walked, I was starting to wonder where we were going. Me and Mafuyu haven't talked ever since that...incident. I would see her look at me a couple of times but when I look back, she looks away. It upsets me a little. I slowly look at Mafuyu myself for probably the first time and she seems to still be worried about Mizuki. I don't blame her...they got shot what? Five times and now we are all on this supposably dangerous adventure. How much can they take at this point? Mizuki really has changed when I first them...they were serious and somewhat always wanting to be hidden. Now, they're more comfortable around me and Mafuyu and want to do new things and come outside more. I wonder why sometimes but I feel like I should be proud of them.

I slowly move closer to Mafuyu, getting cold, and cling to her arm. I feel her flinch slightly before I bury my face in her sleeve. Next thing I know, we're walking slower, trying not to be close to the group. "Is there something you need?" Mafuyu asked, turning away from me. I felt somewhat hurt but I didn't want to show it.

"I-I'm sorry...I was just cold." It was really quiet as we walked a little faster to catch up with the group. I sighed, leaning a little closer, I felt like I wasn't even cold anymore. Mafuyu nodded and pulled me closer, assuming that I was still cold. I wasn't, but I didn't mind. "Are you still upset with me?" I whispered.

"I have no reason to be," Mafuyu simply replied, bluntly. "Stop assuming I am."

"But I--"

"You had every right to be scared of me," Mafuyu looked down, "I can't control my hunger anymore, even if I can never taste anything. You...I don't blame you for getting scared like that, I could've ditched the lady and ate you."

"Mafuyu, stop talking to me like you became a monster or something..." I frowned, looking up at her. I could feel my eyes filling up with tears. Mafuyu never talks to me this way...is she really upset about the situation?

"Mhm..." Mafuyu nodded slightly. I grabbed her hand in a way of calming her down, which surprisingly worked.

I smiled up at her. "It's fine, really! We haven't ate that moment so I can understand why it happened."

"You're trying to make me feel better."

"And it's working, right?"

I saw Mafuyu's face slightly heat up before replying, "...yes."

(Back to 3rd person)
Kanade slightly smiled. But she wanted to say something...she didn't want to do this trouble because she felt like death was coming to them, but she was doing it for MEIKO. But she wanted to tell Mafuyu something before the chaos even starts. She frowned at her cowardice and Mafuyu noticed.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing...I promise."

Mafuyu frowned, a serious expression on her face that gave Kanade chills. They slowed down to a complete stop from the group. "What is it? You've been acting weird, even before the whole incident," Mafuyu snapped. Kanade's eyes widened. When has Mafuyu been this worried about her?

"Mafuyu, it's nothing—"

"It's something. So tell me before we get lost from the group."

Kanade had no choice at this point. "I-I was thinking about how long we've been friends for..."

"And?"

"L-Look...I only clung to your shoulder back there because I wanted to be close to you! Not because I was cold!" Was this her way of confessing? Mafuyu didn't get it, but she did blush intensely. "Mhm..."

"Back at the empty spot...when Mizuki was building our cabin and you almost..."

"Do you want us to date Mizuki and Ena too?" Mafuyu asked, obviously oblivious.

"N-No?!" Kanade laughed. "What I'm saying is..."

"Is?"

Kanade was getting nervous. She looked up and saw Mafuyu...smiling? Her face flushed red as she turned away from Mafuyu's face. "Let me do this without distractions!"

"Go on," Mafuyu smiled. "The group is leaving."

"Mafuyu, will you be my girlfriend?!" Kanade shouted out of stress. She was trembling for Mafuyu's answer, but Mafuyu stayed quiet. It was driving Kanade crazy.

She just confessed. Right then and there. Mafuyu was silent and she was too afraid to look up. Why did she have to do it? She couldn't take the silence anymore.

"Kanade."

She froze. She refused to look at Mafuyu at this time. But Mafuyu persisted.

"Kanade. Face me."

She did, and her lips were sealed together with Mafuyu's. She was shocked at first, but it went away quickly when Mafuyu pulled away. She still stood there, shocked again. "M-Mafuyu...?"

"I'm too flustered to speak...can we keep walking..?" Mafuyu smiled slightly.

Kanade smiled. "Yeah."

Author's Note
Crying. Bro I hate love scenes why do I make so much romance stories. Sorry this took so long bro I have one more chapter until I open season two (+oc stories) 🦧