"So this is where you live, senpai?" Mio stood in the doorway, peering in with undisguised curiosity.
First time here. Everything was new and interesting. She wondered if there was anything she wasn't supposed to see.
Haruno read her expression immediately. "Don't overthink it. Anything you're not supposed to see, I've already put away."
She slipped into the entryway and set out a pair of fluffy slippers.
Mio noticed they were brand new. Her exact size.
"You guessed right — those are specifically for you~"
Mio looked up, crimson eyes wide. "I didn't say anything. How did you know what I was thinking?"
"Two hearts in perfect tune~" Haruno smiled.
"Forget the telepathy — how do you know my shoe size? Did you sneak into my place and—"
She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't need to.
Anyone else might've gotten flustered at the implication. Haruno just smiled and nodded. "I pay close attention to my kouhai. So of course I came prepared~"
"Thanks, very touched," Mio said, in the flattest tone imaginable.
Haruno didn't mind. She led Mio inside and started preparing tea.
Mio looked around the living room. Spacious. Immaculate. Everything exactly in its place.
She briefly wondered if it had been tidied specifically for her visit — then decided that was probably giving herself too much credit. To Haruno, I'm probably just an amusing toy. Not worth all this effort.
"I haven't had anyone over in ages, so I never restocked — and I finished the last of the coffee yesterday. I've only got black tea today. Is that all right?"
"Hm?"
Haruno noticed Mio's odd expression. "Something wrong?"
"No, no. Just a weird sense of déjà vu. My problem — don't mind it."
Haruno gave her a curious look, then turned to finish the tea.
A few minutes later, a steaming cup was set in front of Mio. She'd just come in from the cold, and the heater had barely kicked on — the tea helped considerably.
Setting her cup down, Mio asked, "So do we just go straight to sleep?"
"If my kouhai doesn't want to sleep..." Haruno's gaze instantly took on a strange, predatory edge as she licked her lips, "I'm open to other suggestions~"
Mio didn't take the bait. This wicked woman. Haruno said stuff like this constantly. She'd yet to actually follow through on any of it.
She was, however, still curious about the nap idea. From lunch until now, she'd been quietly turning it over. No satisfying answer had come.
But honestly — sleep was a great way to kill time. One nap later, the date would be effectively over, and she'd have banked two conditions to call in from Haruno for free. If a mission triggered involving Haruno in the future, she'd be much better positioned.
Once they finished their tea and the apartment had warmed up, Haruno led her to the bedroom.
Mio scanned the room the moment she stepped in, eyes sharp with curiosity. She found nothing out of the ordinary.
Of course. Finding any dirt on Haruno was never going to be easy.
Satisfied there was nothing interesting to find, she flopped face-first onto the bed.
Immediately, a faint, light scent surrounded her.
That's Haruno's scent.
Looking at Mio sprawled out without a shred of ladylike dignity left, Haruno smiled. "Kouhai, your underwear is showing~"
"It's fine, I've got tights on." Mio tugged her skirt hem down anyway, then said, "Aren't you the one who wanted to nap? If you're not sleeping, I'm starting without you~"
"Coming~"
Haruno lay down beside her.
Mio had expected the same arrangement as when Haruno stayed over at her place — one on each side of the bed, sleep until you wake up.
Instead, the moment Haruno settled in, she was pressed right up against Mio, arm around her waist, close enough that Mio could feel her breath near her ear.
Snuggling with a beautiful girl was normally a very pleasant experience. Doing it while trying to actually sleep was another matter entirely.
Mio shifted uncomfortably. "Senpai... isn't this a little close? Are you using me as a body pillow?"
"I already agreed to two of your conditions. The least you can do is let me hold you." Haruno closed her eyes, looking deeply content, savoring how soft and sweet-smelling Mio was. Yes. This.
Mio couldn't argue with that, really. She was already Mashiro Shiina's designated body pillow on the regular. What was one more?
The room went quiet.
Mio eventually thought of something to say and opened her mouth — only to discover Haruno was already asleep.
It's been less than ten minutes. Can she really fall asleep that fast?
Mio squinted at her, vaguely suspicious. Is she faking?
She considered poking her to find out. Then she thought — if she's actually asleep and I poke her, that's just rude.
Forget it.
Haruno had clearly been running on poor sleep lately. And she'd agreed to two conditions. The least Mio could do was be a decent temporary body pillow.
······