Just as she was lost in thought, a cup of coffee was placed on her desk.
Yukinoshita Yukino snapped back to reality and looked at Akira Fujimiya, who was sitting beside her.
"You keep staring at me instead of concentrating on your work. Do you want to hold my hand… or hug me?" Akira whispered softly.
"I… I just wanted to see what's going on over there…" Yukino replied, her cheeks slightly red.
Akira extended his hand toward her.
Yukino glanced around at the people in the room, then quickly turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.
But despite her efforts, her small hand was placed in his.
Holding her hand, Akira leaned closer and began to assist her with the background drawing.
When Yukino heard his voice so near, she slowly turned to look at him. Her cheeks flushed deeper as she studied his profile.
Her heartbeat, suddenly feel faster.
....
Sunset.
The day's work had ended—
Most of the first episode of Puella Magi Madoka Magica had been completed. The remaining tasks could be finished by Kanae Takahashi and the others, following Akira's script.
Tomorrow, Akira would be able to review the completed work.
He and Yukino walked out of Flash Animation Studio together, reaching the car already waiting in front of the door.
Once inside, Yukino glanced at Akira beside her.
"...Do want to come over for dinner?" she asked softly.
"If I can stay overnight, I'll come," Akira whispered, holding her hand and lowering his voice.
"I… I'd better take you home. Tomorrow is the weekend; you can go with Yuigaha—"
"If Yui and I were together, would you care so much?" Akira interrupted, meeting her gaze directly.
"I… I mean, we're just friends. Staying by my side so much might be too much for Yuigahama-san," Yukino admitted, avoiding his eyes.
"Yukino, you lost," Akira whispered in her ear.
Yukino froze, then looked at him, her face red.
She hadn't expected Akira to remember this agreement—she had almost forgotten.
"According to the agreement, I can make a request…" Akira said meaningfully, their faces close enough to feel each other's breath.
Yukino's face heated, and she instinctively wanted to pull away, but Akira held her gently, not letting her move.
As he lean over a little and whispered a few words in her ear.
Hearing them, Yukino glared at him, embarrassed.
As Akira smiled calmly, his eyes never leaving hers.
After a long pause, Yukino sighed and lowered her head.
"I… I agree..," she whispered.
Yukino Driver: "Who am I! Where am I! Is this really second young lady"
...
Half an hour later, in Akira's kitchen, Yukino was preparing dinner.
She had invited him because of how much work he had done today, including helping her finish the background painting.
But his mention of staying overnight had made her reconsider immediately. Thoughts of Yuigahama Yui and their friendship made her hesitate.
Unfortunately, Akira remembered the agreement. He made his request—a simple but intimate arrangement.
She could feel her cheek burning from just thinking about it.
One day a week — Yukino would become Akira's girlfriend.
Of course, it was only in name. They would go on a casual date, watch a movie, hold hands, and hug. And on that day, he could call her Yukino freely, without her being mad.
Yukino agreed because she knew that even if she had refused, they would probably still go to the movies, perhaps under a different pretext.
Akira seemed to understand her weakness, making her heartbeat accelerate, her face flush, and her thoughts scatter.
She dared not meet his eyes.
"Yukino, the water's ready," a voice called from the living room.
Snapping back to reality, Yukino hurried to finish preparing dinner.
While, Akira sat on the sofa, observing her in the kitchen while sending messages to Yuigahama Yui.
Dinner was simple: ramen.
Though it was instant and not as flavorful as the dishes they could make themselves, for the exhausted Akira, it was satisfying enough.
After dinner,
Yukino didn't rush away but washed the dishes first. By the time she glanced out the window, it was already dark.
Leaving the kitchen, Yukino approached Akira's bedroom and knocked gently.
"Come in," Akira's voice called.
She pushed the door open slowly and saw Akira with his back turned.
"Are you drawing your manga?" she asked.
"I'm drawing you," he said without turning around.
Yukino paused for a moment, then came closer to observe—
The paper depicted the Service Club room as it had been at the start, empty except for her. The wind blew softly through the open window, making her hair flutter.
"This was the first time I saw you," Akira said softly. "Even then, you had already taken a place in my heart."
Yukino opened her mouth to speak but found no words.
"Meeting you is the luckiest thing in my life," Akira added, turning to look at her.
...
In front of the gate of Sakurasou,
Yukino got into her car.
Akira stood outside, smiling.
"See you tomorrow," he said.
"... See you tomorrow," Yukino replied softly.
The female driver started the car and glanced at Yukino through the rearview mirror.
"Let's go," Yukino whispered.
The driver nodded, and the car moved forward.
Akira watched until the car disappeared from sight, then turned and headed home.
.....
In the car, Yukino held the painting in her hands.
She looked at herself in the image and remembered the loneliness she had felt at that time. Although it was peaceful to read quietly, being alone had never been particularly pleasant. She hadn't longed for friends, yet the emptiness remained.
Akira's arrival had changed the atmosphere in the Service Club. It was like a knock on her door then—now, it was a knock on the door of her heart.
While waiting at a red light, the female driver glanced at Yukino in the rearview mirror. Her attention was fixed entirely on the painting in her hands. Whatever was on it clearly held her complete focus.
When the car stopped at the base of Yukino's apartment, she came to her senses, carefully put away the portrait, and stepped out.
Inside her Apartment, she rode the elevator up to her floor and approached her room.
Opening the door, she noticed an extra pair of shoes at the entrance.
"Yukino, I thought you wouldn't be coming back tonight. Didn't Akira ask you to stay?" a voice suddenly sounded.
"Sister…" Yukino looked up at Yukinoshita Haruno, who was wearing pajamas.
"I've already brewed tea. Would you like to chat for a bit, Yukino?" Haruno asked, smiling softly.
"I'm a little tired today…" Yukino murmured.
"Don't you want to know what Akira and I talked about and did yesterday?" Haruno added, her tone carrying a subtle hint of meaning.
...
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