Sleeping Soundly (KanaKarin)
Karin remembered the first time she saw Kanata wake up on her own.
A late afternoon after classes. She distinctly remembered the salt in the air, the tranquil quiet, and the pale yellow of her ribbon.
Back then, she barely interacted with the brunette aside from being in classes they shared together. Drowsy had been the most fitting word to describe her. The half-lidded stares and sleepy smiles a prominent feature framed by disheveled brown hair.
A scene not much different when she'd stumble across her asleep around campus. At secluded spots in school where students rarely visited or passed by.
In the quiet lulls of the afternoon was where Karin found herself stumbling across her sleeping figure. A peaceful event, one she'd acknowledge with a soft laugh (and a quick picture) before shaking her awake.
However, she remembered the first time the monotony had been broken.
Karin remembered the orange sky as she sat at the bench, bumping her thigh against the curled body fast asleep. Kanata had her arms tucked beneath her head, almost in a comical way on how a character slept. It was a humorous sight, one Karin immortalized with a quick snap of her phone.
It was a joy short-lived when Kanata began to stir but remained asleep. Curling closer into herself, the brunette wore a tense expression, numbed by the lack of consciousness. Karin watched. She stayed quiet as Kanata's expression changed.
What came next was the quiet, troubled murmurs. Beneath her breath were soft cries, and Karin didn't allow a moment more before she began shaking her shoulder.
"Kanata, wake up." Sleep was thick, and she all but shoved her from the brewing nightmare. "Kanata!"
Drowsy mauve shot wide open, meeting her stare. Karin watched her release a breath, as if she had resurfaced from water, holding in air the whole way. "...Asaka-chan?"
Karin felt her own chest deflate, relieved to see the brunette awake. She grasped her shoulder, feeling the stiffness of her frame. "It's just-"
She paused. There were more pressing matters than how she was referred. "Don't worry about that. You were having a nightmare."
The air went silent, her words met by an intense stare. Her lips opened and closed together, words failing in lieu of choked gasps. Karin watched her eyelids close, and she held her shoulder just a tad tighter.
"Asaka-chan, you're holding a little tight," Kanata said, her words soft. Karin rolled her eyes but eased her grip.
"You looked like you were going to fall back asleep."
"It doesn't happen that quickly, you know?"
Karin giggled, almost tempted to showcase a certain photo album on her phone. "With how many times I find you asleep, you never know."
She heard Kanata laugh. It was fleeting and breathless, and as she recalled it was almost drowned out by the winds. Yet, she remembered the airy laughter, the very thought a vice grip on her chest.
"Kanata," Karin broke the settling silence, her hand travelling down the length of her arm. "Are you all right?"
A soft hum prefaced her answer. "It was just a nightmare, Asaka-chan."
Karin let the second eyeroll be more obvious. Her hand met the tiny circumference of her wrist. "You certainly don't look like it was just a nightmare."
"Rude." The brunette said absently, her eyes half-lidded, a yawn following her words after. "I..."
When she trailed off, Karin took a chance to speak. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Kanata went silent, mulling the offer in her mind. She remembered how a spectrum of emotions flashed on her countenance, concluding in a soft, thoughtful hum.
"I'll pass, Asaka-chan."
Karin nodded. She made sure to let nothing else show on her face, but Kanata suddenly had her gaze fixed on her. "Eh, what's with that look? Do you want to know? Is that why you're looking for me?"
"I can leave right now."
Kanata giggled, securely bolting Karin down to the bench by leaning against her shoulder. "Don't back out of an offer, Asaka-chan."
She sighed, and the annoying first year snuggled closer against her body. "I don't remember offering to become your pillow."
Another bout of laughter filled the air. The same light, gentle giggle that Karin would remember.
"But, " Kanata dragged out, her voice alight with a teasing tone. "I get good dreams with a pillow, you know?"
"Is that right?" Karin humored, raising a brow. Alluring blue was met with the same drowsy stare, mauve glassy behind her eyelashes. She realized that no amount of her aloof atmosphere could hide the honesty behind her eyes. "Fine, don't talk about it."
"Ehh, is Asaka-chan upset?" Kanata pressed closer, a silent apology Karin understood. She groaned softly, and her hand found the other's between them.
"I know a bit of sewing, myself. So..."
"Hmm, so?"
Karin looked away. She remembered how her mind already began picking out the right fabric and filling, and pattern. "What's your favorite color?"