Miyako jumped out of bed and checked outside the window. And then, a sigh escaped her attractive lips.
“Raining again.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“There’s no need to be so down in the dumps,” said Fuuka while running a brush through Miyako’s auburn hair.
“But I wanted to go on a picnic with you!!!”
“If you keep your cheeks puffed out like that, they’ll get stuck that way.”
“Hmph.”
Drops of rain struck the roof of their cabin. Umi had curled herself up in a corner of the cold room, near the stove that heated the water. As she yawned, there was no resemblance to a national treasure-level water spirit; instead, her attitude was indistinguishable from an ordinary cat.
“I can summon the rain, but I can’t make it stop,” she said in a low voice before curling up again.
Light showers had started the day before. Other than the non-stop rain, Miyako and Fuuka passed the time in peace. It seemed that Odina really had gone back to the Florence home to rest, keeping their presence a secret.
There were four days left to the promise. If Miyako couldn’t get Fuuka to say “I’m happy” within the next four days, this would all end. Miyako knew that Fuuka would stick precisely to the promise, which is why she wanted to follow through on their small plan of going for a picnic within that time.
“Ugh... so depressing.”
“Rainy days bring everyone’s mood down with them. It would be best not to let it get to you.”
“But now’s the perfect time of year... The field of flowers near here really is pretty. When we used to drive past in our carriage, it was so...”
Miyako felt her eyelids grow heavy. I’ve only just eaten breakfast; I’m really not with it today, she thought, but she couldn’t shake off her sleepiness.
“...Miyako?”
“Sorry, just feeling a bit sleepy.”
“You’re tired. Why don’t you go lie down on the bed?”
“Don’t wanna.” Miyako resisted the urge to sleep. I want to spend every minute of these last few days with Fuuka-chan. “I’ll go if you get in with me, Fuuka-chan.”
She half meant it as a joke. I love Fuuka-chan. I wanna be with her more. I wanna hold her in my arms. But the time limit was drawing closer, and before she knew it, the stress from that fact had built up inside her. But Fuuka is only here for my selfish reasons, so however much I ask her to, there’s no way she’ll agree to sleep in the same bed as me.
That’s what she thought, but...
“All right,” said Fuuka quietly.
“...Huh?!”
“You want us to sleep together, don’t you? I don’t mind,” she said. Her ears were burning red.
Umi yawned and jumped through the window to the outside. She ran a passing glance over the two of them as she left, as though she had taken a hint.
Miyako found it strange that even though her heart was racing, her irresistible sleepiness refused to go away.
✦ ✦ ✦
They crawled beneath the covers, and the warmth of their bodies soon heated the bed.
Their morning slumber had the scent of flowers.
Her neck is so soft, her breasts so warm, her black hair so lustrous. Ah, but I’m so... tired...