@Rey ✨Hotaru @hina 🌼 almond

It’s a bit of a walk to the gym. But at this time, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of people around. Besides, who’s going to take a shower at the gym when they have their own apartment showers? So they make it to the changing room with no fanfare. Hotaru sets her belongings down— toiletries and the loungewear from Cade. “Do you want to shower first, Hanamori-chan?” @hina 🌼 almond

She's quieter than usual, but otherwise normal. "Ah, we're not going in together?" she asks, already pulling her shirt over her head. Gyms usually have more than one shower, right? She could be wrong... She doesn't go to the gym much after all. @Rey ✨Hotaru

They’re both women here, so she shouldn’t be phased by Almond taking off her clothes. Shouldn’t being the key word. Hotaru looks towards the shower room. “It might be cramped…” But it’s not a no. @hina 🌼 almond

"Is that so?" The socks are the last to come off before she wraps herself in a towel. "It'd be nice to have the company, yes? I can assist with washing your hair." @Rey ✨Hotaru

She can’t win with Almond. Hotaru starts undressing too, taking off her contacts first. “… Fine, I’ll join you. I’ll get your back.” They can go in together. She starts the water before they step in, making sure the temperature is nice. @hina 🌼 almond

She squeezes some soap into her palms. "Did you enjoy today's events, Kanemaru-san?" @Rey ✨Hotaru

She lets the water run through her hair. "... Not really. It was work." Nothing fun about it. "You?" @hina 🌼 almond

"I did." She smiles. "I thought it was exciting... How cool Mr. Cade was. How quickly you and Mr. Frankie reacted. Mr. Zachary's calmness...Mr. Arthur's efforts..." "Everything goes by so quickly....Doesn't it make your heart pound?" ☺️ @Rey ✨Hotaru

It was exciting, sure. But Hotaru would prefer if things were calm and organized. Less dangerous and more mundane. "A lot can happen in a second." She sighs. "... You did good out there too, Hanamori-chan." Then a smile back. "You've got good aim." @hina 🌼 almond

"Do you really think so?" she giggles. "I'm glad I could be of assistance." She steps closer, gently guiding Hotaru to tilt her head back so she could apply the shampoo. "Do you think our managers will be quite pleased?" @Rey ✨Hotaru

She lets Almond tilt her head back. Her eyes slide shut, so no water runs into them. "Mmm..." "I hope so." Cade hasn't been harmed yet. So she can only hope it stays that way. @hina 🌼 almond

She giggles, imagining Alzaga or Dallas being impressed with their work. She hopes they'll smile at her more. Her fingers comb through her hair, making sure to fully disperse the product over her scalp. "...Let's keep working well together, Kanemaru-san." @Rey ✨Hotaru

It feels nice, having Almond scrub the shampoo into her hair. She hums and relaxes a bit against her. "Mmm. Let's." "Though I'd prefer to keep you out of danger..." @hina 🌼 almond

She tilts her head to the side... "You said I did well today, no?" Her tone is more curious than defensive. @Rey ✨Hotaru

"You did." "But that doesn't mean you won't get hurt next time." The same goes for herself. She blinks her eyes open. "Aren't you afraid of getting hurt?" @hina 🌼 almond

Hotaru will see her eyes smiling down at her for a brief moment, before her head is pushed back forward. She massages the base of her skull now. "Our lives are too short to be afraid, no?" she whispers. "...Are you truly so worried about me? Am I different from anybody else?" @Rey ✨Hotaru

Being afraid is what keeps you alive, you know. "'Course I worry." "You're different because I know you." @hina 🌼 almond

"You know me?" Her tone remains gentle and curious. "Are you talking about the me now? Or from back then?" @Rey ✨Hotaru

"From back then." Always one to be stuck in the past. "It's strange meeting again like this. So much has changed." @hina 🌼 almond

There's a slight shift in the energy of this little stall. It's...unreadable. "Change is good, yes?" she muses. It's always fun to get something new. "What kind of changes are you speaking of?" @Rey ✨Hotaru

Change can be... Confusing. Annoying. A setback. -# But then again, Hotaru didn't really change, did she? No, it would be more accurate to say that she had realized a few things about herself. Hotaru tilts her head forward a little and turns around slightly, looking at Almond with her peripherals. "You used to be so quiet." She knows that change happens because something happens to dictates a change. "Hanamori-chan, aren't you scared?" Of change. Of the situation. Weren't they both coddled as children, born with a silver spoon? So why doesn't she feel the same fear that Hotaru does? @hina 🌼 almond

She stands there, hands covered in suds, water rolling off the length of her body. Her smiling eyes meet hers, unwavering. "....Not of this." Never of this. She brings Hotaru to the water, rinsing her hair til it drapes down and obscures Almond from her peripherals. "You say I've changed, no? What do you think of me now?" @Rey ✨Hotaru

She closes her eyes instinctually, as the water runs down her head and onto her face. Like this, she can't see Almond as she is now. hen she closes her eyes and thinks of the name *Hanamori*, she can see an older man sitting across from her, with young girl sitting quietly besides him. A little detached, but respectful. "You..." She takes a second to stew on her choice of words. "Seem to lack focus." "At the end of this all, what is it that you want?" Hotaru tilts her head out of the water, pushing her hair out of her face. She looks at Almond again. "I feel like I know you, but I don't understand you." Not yet. And she has a feeling that she won't ever understand. @hina 🌼 almond

A contemplative hum. "Is that so?" On the contrary, she feels like she's really simple. She wants to have fun. She wants to see new places and meet new people. But, Hotaru was right. There was never really an end goal. "So, you don't understand me..." she echoes. She draws closer unassumingly, until her arms suddenly wrap around Hotaru's waist. Pressing her chest to her back and resting her chin on her shoulder, while the water cascades over them both. "Even still..." Their eyes lock. "You like me better this way, no?" @Rey ✨Hotaru

It’s warm. Even more so with Almond’s arms wrapped around her, chest pressed against her back. Their eyes meet like this, with barely any space between them. Does she like her this way? Hotaru smiles. “Do you want me to like you?” And in what way? @hina 🌼 almond

A smile. So was she correct? "Of course~ I like Kanemaru-san too, you know...." Though, she wouldn't mind if you didn't. "Do you think I'm cuter?" She rephrases the question. @Rey ✨Hotaru

Was she? “You seem to like everyone.” She tilts her head to the side, leaning some weight back onto Almond. “And if you like everyone, then it starts to loose meaning.” In other words, what makes Hotaru so special to you? “Sure, you’re cute. But I think a lot of people are cute.” She reaches up to brush a strand of Almond’s hair out of her face. “Does that bother you?” @hina 🌼 almond

"Do you think so?" Doesn't everyone want to be liked, regardless of the circumstances? -# Deep down, she had started to see more clearly already...It annoyingly pulls in the opposite direction, like a hangnail. "It doesn't," she answers sweetly. "I want the people I like to be happy~" Smiling, she leans in closer, until the tips of the noses brush against each other. "That's enough for me." @Rey ✨Hotaru

All that sugar can be bad for you, you know? Things taste sweeter when you haven’t had them in a while. And well, Hotaru’s never been a fan of sweets. Still, she lets Almond come closer. “You ought to think for yourself more, Hanamori.” Dropping the suffix. “You can’t make everyone happy. And not everybody will like you for bending over backwards for them.” Where’s your spine? “Is it really?” She doesn’t believe it. Hotaru raises a hand to press a thumb on Almond’s lower lip. “Are you kissing me because you want to or is it because you think it will make me happy?” @hina 🌼 almond

There's nothing left to think of or consider. She's here for you, nothing else. -# A flame that needs constant kindling, or perhaps another flame, less it gets extinguished. A pause. Her hands slide to rest on Hotaru's hips, fingers gingerly running over her skin. "...I like kissing~" This was the truth. @Rey ✨Hotaru

A flame that needs constant kindling— don’t you think that’s a little selfish? To attach yourself to someone else, engulf and overwhelm them with your desires. It’s greedy. Hotaru hums, feeling her hand slide over the curve of her hip. “Then here—” She leans in and tilts her head at an angle, gently pressing her lips against Almond’s. “A reward for doing well today.” Is that all she wanted? @hina 🌼 almond

A bit of warmth, but it's fleeting. -# The flame flickers... Maybe she is selfish. A placid smile adorns her lips. "One more." @Rey ✨Hotaru

There we go. It’s better to be honest and selfish, than to be lie about your selflessness. Hotaru leans in again, pressing another kiss to Almond’s lips. A hand slides up her side, resting at the curve of her back as she deepens the kiss. Another reward. Was this enough kindling for the flames? @hina 🌼 almond

Her eyes stay open for just a second before closing. The kiss is warm and soft. -# But a fire never stops consuming. With their mouths still together, she takes a couple tentative steps forward, until Hotaru was pressing against the acrylic wall. At the angle, most of the water ends up hitting Almond's back and shoulders. -# @Rey ✨Hotaru maybe... wrap up soon

A fire that's always burning. Won't you stay hungry forever, at this rate? Her back hits the cold wall, sending an uncomfortable shiver up her back. She pulls back a little, lips still connected by a string of saliva. The air's warm between them, made only warmer by the hot water running down Almond's back. "Tell me what else you want." For yourself. @hina 🌼 almond yeah...

-# iiiiiiiii

-# where am i

What else? She didn't really plan for what else... "We'll get lightheaded at this rate, no?" she giggles, breath slightly shallow from the heat. Gently, she takes Hotaru's hand in hers and brings her fingers to her lips, giving the underside a small kiss. "I'd like to kiss you more," she murmurs, as she playfully nips one of her fingertips. -# But if you wanted more, she'll always give it to you. @Rey ✨Hotaru

She hums. The heat is starting to get to her a little. "Is that so?" The bite to her finger tips makes her feel... strange. It's a similar feeling to the adrenaline induced high. "Then..." Maybe it's a little overkill. They should clean up and head back to Kinoshita's apartment. Hotaru slides a hand around the back of Almond's neck and pulls her closer. "Consider this a reward for being honest with me." Their lips find each other again. @hina 🌼 almond w-we can. fade 😭

-# awesome