Emma's Calm (EmmaKarin)
Rumbling thunder drowned her labored breath, rain trickling down from the heavens. Karin considered herself lucky to reach back to her dorm before the rain started, but if she was truly lucky, she would had been back a few hours earlier.
The sea of Tokyo lights shimmered in the hallway window, grimly reminding her that it was truly night. Taking a breath, she reached for the door. Setsuna was persistent to complement her talents, so the extra hours in practicing was needed in order to improve. Being the sexiest idol of the group would not mean much if one failed to deliver in the idol aspect.
“I’m home-“ A flash of light, then a dark common room. Thunder growled just moments after, the storm truly setting in outside. Karin removed her shoes before continuing to her room, but a light at the bottom of a door stole her interest.
Curiosity won out, and she moved to the door in question, knocking softly before entering. “Emma?” She called out, not expecting a reply. Her eyes found her roommate sitting on her bed, knees huddled close as she stared out the window. Their eyes met; the rain muffled her voice.
“Ah! Welcome home, Karin!” Emma greeted with a gentle smile, her arms keeping her legs close.
“I thought you’d be asleep by now,” Karin mused, standing by the doorway as she watched her. Emma shook her head, returning her gaze to the rain hitting the window. She caught the somber look on her face.
“I’m fine. Oh, I kept some dinner for you in the fridge if you haven’t eaten yet, Karin.” A smile returned to her, mismatching the look in her eyes. Karin took a step, the door clicking shut behind her.
“I already had some on the way back,” was her reply. A soft thud echoed as she set her bag down on the floor. Emma still had her eyes to the window, but her brow furrowed in attention.
“Oh, then, you can take a bath. I uh, already took one so you can go ahead right now and-“ The shift of the bed gave her words pause. Emma looked to find Karin in front of her, sat on her knees, settling on the bed. “Karin?”
Karin moved close, wrapping silent arms around Emma’s huddled frame. For a few moments, they were still, the sounds of rain filling the void. Slowly, the hold on her own knees relaxed, and found new purpose around Karin’s body.
Light flickered; thunder boomed almost instantly, but they were still. “Good work today.” Karin whispered, their breaths matching to a calm rise and fall. She knew that Emma was not afraid of thunder, but it drew a strange mood out of her. A memory? It was a question she had no answer to. However, she had a way of dispelling the somber in her eyes.
“...Thank you, Karin.” She said, her voice a delicate tone, just for the two of them to hear. The loud thunder reminded her of that memorable night back in Switzerland, where a snowstorm led to a night alone. But back then, she was anything but lonely. The TV program with school idols kept her worries at bay and realize her dream. Still, remembering sent an aching sting of homesickness in her chest.
Karin moved closer, baring her full warmth to Emma, who hugged even tighter. Back then, she relied on school idols, but it seemed that had not changed. Tonight was a reminiscent cold, but the warmth is no different, if not a little closer.
In cold, lonely nights, Emma can always count on school idols to keep her warm.