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Intentionally facing away from her desk, Ena wallows in her bed with an angry expression painted on her face. Normally, signing off of their Nightcord calls leaves her exhausted, but with an overall warm feeling across her body.
She wishes that was what she felt right now, that budding warmth instead exploding into a fiery rage. Her eyebrows are furrowed harshly, the usual soft features that adorn her face shifting to something much more rigid and menacing. Her brain, the one she needs desperately to create any form of art, has not been working together with her at all.
It has felt like months, but truthfully only been days. Her mind, so creative and intricate, has been pushing out absolutely no ideas as of late. It feels like someone has taken the organ and stripped it of any knowledge, or at least wrapped it in a foam layer that prevents any of the insight from escaping.
She loathes being unable to work on her passions and tries to force herself into it, but even that isn’t beneficial.The hours that her and the rest of Nightcord spend together are useless. She listens to Mizuki talk about the newest fad she’s indulged herself in, the relentless whirring of a fan that Mafuyu refuses to turn off, and the dull clicks of Kanade’s mouse or synthesizer as she composes.
Everyone seems engaged, at least to some extent, but she hasn’t produced anything at all. Every meeting, without fail, she’s left disgruntled. Despite being reassured time and time again, it makes her unfathomably upset that she isn’t able to draw. She loves drawing, but there’s a concept drought in her cranium that leaves her digital canvas bone dry.
Facing away from her desk is the only way she’s been able to sleep, the bursting negative feelings eventually cooling down to a simmer and allowing her eyes to drift shut. Each night that gets harder, however, as the stress of doing nothing builds up more and more on her shoulders.
It seems to have hit a peak right now. She can practically feel the steam coming from her ears, clouding her hearing and making her only receptive to the heavy breaths that she heaves in and sighs out.
Well, that’s until there’s an abnormality. Her phone pings, once and not insisting on her attention, but she pops up anyway. Just who is trying to get a hold of her at this hour? It feels a little weird—absurd even—but it helpfully makes the swelling fury in her chest stand stagnant.
She twists over in her bed, grabbing her phone and doing the best she can to avoid rekindling that flame by accidentally glancing at her drawing table. Plopping back down, she pulls down her notification bar to see just who’s so important this early in the morning.
The shock comes when she realizes that this person is actually important and not another annoying text telling her she’s lost a raffle she signed up for. A message from Kanade peeks out at her, a private DM, nervously sitting on top of a pile of other notifications that she had pointedly ignored earlier.
‘will you go somewhere with me tomorrow?’
It’s forward but vague at the same time, a way that Kanade normally doesn’t talk. The tiniest hint of skepticism plants itself in Ena’s chest, only to be eaten alive by the overwhelming joy the text brings.
‘Of course. When and what are you thinking?’
Kanade has to have something in mind if she’s texting Ena out of the blue like this. Maybe it’s an event that she doesn’t want to go to alone, or maybe she just wants some company while doing a domestic task like grocery shopping. Whatever it is, Ena doesn’t mind in the slightest. She steadily starts to forget about the aching inferno in her mind, Kanade’s words acting like water that splashes over the flames to extinguish them.
‘i can send you the address’
Again, very much not giving off a whole lot of information. Ena thinks that Kanade’s typing indicator has never moved so slowly, waiting and waiting for just a few more details to make this doable.
‘is 05:00 ok?’
What?? Ena’s eyes just about pop out of her head. Has Kanade gone mad? The time she’s asking for is only in a few hours since they hold their meetings so late. Plus, it’s absolutely freezing outside at that time.
‘Why so early?’
She tries the hardest she can to not sound needlessly rude or accusatory, but at the same time, just who is texting her? The Kanade she knows doesn’t leave the house if she doesn’t have to, especially not before the sun even comes up.
‘it’s a surprise’
Kanade finally responds after ages of typing. Ena looks at the message with wide eyes, completely unbelieving that this situation is true. Is she having some crazy dream that she’s going to wake up from and be left in a cold sweat? Maybe her angry haze is making her eyes blurry so that she reads everything wrong. Kanade wants Ena, notorious for her sleeping in, to leave the house early and face the cold?
‘Alright, send me the address.’
Yet she still relents, giving into whatever whim Kanade wants because Kanade is Kanade. How is she supposed to say no? It’s not often Kanade asks for something like this; it’s unusual for her to ask for anything at all. To deny her would be morally wrong— at least that’s what Ena thinks.
She’s eventually sent another text, this one just having an address that Ena will punch into her phone in the morning. She doesn’t bother wasting time thinking about all her inadequacies or the mediocrity of her art. She has much better things to be doing, namely resting up for her early morning date with Kanade.
–
Perhaps Ena hadn’t quite taken the time to really think about what she was agreeing to before she went to bed, but she was definitely facing the consequences of that now. After torturous time dragging herself around the house while she got ready, Ena has finally step foot outside, and it’s less than enjoyable.
The frigid air bites at her skin in a way she can never fully conceptualize until she’s standing smack dab in the middle of it. She had even layered up, a jacket shielding her arms and a scarf giving warmth to her face, but those efforts are still mostly fruitless. Her jacket is far too thin to warm her up adequately and her scarf is way too long, extra fabric flapping around and hitting other parts of her body irritatingly.
Her fingers, rendered almost completely immobile by the icy temperature engulfing her, awkwardly tap in the address that she’s supposed to be going to. The walk isn’t far, not horribly so, but the weather definitely isn’t making her situation a whole lot better.
In what might be one of the worst turns of events, it just so happens to be windy out as well. The air that she’s already established as numbingly cold doesn’t just hang around her, it jolts out like it’s only desire is to cool Ena into her very own ice cube.
She can’t help wondering how Kanade is fairing in a situation like this. It’s well known that her body isn’t really the most resistant to cruel climates— whether that be on either side of the spectrum. Her long hair too. Ena hopes that Kanade is able to see well enough to make it to their location safely.
Her unwilling legs are lifted from the ground and take small steps, gradually closing the distance between her and whatever is so special that Kanade had to call her outside before the crack of dawn.
As much as she hates the heat, Ena would almost rather it be scorching hot outside. At least then her skin would be warm and not resisting her every will for it to move.
It’s her fantasizing about being thawed out that manages to get her to her destination. Every time she thinks about turning back, she thinks about a poor little Kanade standing in the cold alone and imagines a portable heater shooting warm rays in her direction. She continues forward with perseverance, not seeing any other soul out at this hour because even the office workers are still getting ready in their homes.
She just about passes an ominous trail and her phone alerts her that she’s arrived at the address she requested to be taken to. Her eyes scan her surroundings, looking for the building that Kanade has asked her to come to, but she sees nothing. Matter of fact, nothing around here looks manmade. Everything is natural, trees and paths that are only etched by the soles of shoes repeatedly traversing the ground.
Just as she’s about to bring up her inquiries with Kanade over the phone, she hears a noise that’s definitely a ways away from her. It’s a soft sound, small thumps that are sometimes broken by slightly louder crunches.
Ena spins around, looking in the opposite direction of where she came from, and sees none other than Kanade. It seems like Kanade isn’t fully aware of her presence yet, ducking her head down as she obviously shakes and shivers in the cold. She’s swapped out her shorts for pants and her hands are gloved at least, but there isn’t the trace of a scarf around her neck. Ena frowns a little; she should definitely be wearing something more protective.
Kanade is merely a wisp of a girl, her long white hair blown backwards as she faces the wind head-on. Her whole face is revealed to the ferocious elements, her complexion a shade or two paler than it normally is. Even with her head hung low, Ena can see the pink that scatters her delicate skin and the condensation of her warm puffs hitting the chilled air.
Pulling the cuffs of her gloves so that they’re tighter around her hands, Kanade finally looks up and lets out a little gasp when her eyes fall on Ena. Her face, which Ena had been admiring beforehand, is now fully illuminated by the streetlights that are still on since it’s so insanely early. “Ena, I’m glad you could make it.”
Her shock turns to something more comfortable, her cheeks squishing up as she smiles and then shudders a little because of the cold breeze. “Is this where we’re supposed to be?” Ena doesn’t want to make it sound like she doesn’t trust Kanade, but they are quite literally in the middle of nowhere.
“Yep, this is the place.” Kanade joyfully enunciates the ‘p’ in her affirmation, Ena’s uncertainty starting to wither away at the sight of her happiness. Then Kanade shivers again, burrowing into herself slightly before popping back up.
“You should’ve brought warmer clothes,” Ena chides, looking at her disastrously thin tracksuit top.
Kanade gives her a sheepish little smile. “I thought I had a scarf but I couldn’t look for it because I didn’t want to be late.” Ena clicks her tongue disapprovingly, starting to unwrap her own scarf from around her neck.
“I could’ve waited a few minutes, I don’t want you to freeze out here.” Her long scarf that has been doing nothing but flailing around in the wind finally has use. She tenderly wraps half around Kanade’s neck, taking advantage of their minimal height difference to bring the other half to herself. “Now we’re both toasty.”
“Mhm.” The sound is a little muffled, Kanade sinking further into the new fabric that surrounds her cold body. “But your hands, you don’t have gloves.”
Ena shrugs a little, pretending like the absence of feeling in her fingers hasn’t been driving her up a wall the entire walk over here. “I’m alright.” Kanade makes a humming noise like she’s contemplating something that Ena can’t see.
Suddenly, there are warm fingers touching on Ena’s stiff hands. “Put one in your pocket and I’ll hold the other.” Her voice makes it sound like taking no as an answer isn’t really in the cards, so Ena obliges. As she awkwardly tries to stuff her rock solid hand into her pocket, Kanade uses both of her gloved hands to slowly caress on Ena’s sensitive and icy skin.
It isn’t until Ena manages to finally start wiggling her fingers around that Kanade decides it is no longer a two-handed effort. She pulls one away and their remaining hands shift, fingers lacing between each other’s and holding gently. “Are you going to lead us? Because I have no idea where we are.”
Kanade giggles a little, her grip on Ena’s hand tightening for a brief second. “I know where we’re going. It shouldn’t be that long… I don’t think.” Gulp. As long as she’s with Kanade, Ena decides she’ll probably be fine.
–
“Are you sure we haven’t been here already? I swear I just saw that tree a few minutes ago.”
“Uh, we might be going in circles.” Okay, maybe not fine, but it’s not the biggest deal. It’s still cold, horribly so, but the wind has to maneuver around the inhibitors to get them. The trees do well to break up the airflow and spare their bodies that cling to each other in the frigidness.
“The sun should be coming up soon, we can just wait for that and navigate out.” Ena suggests, ready to find them a little spot where they can wait patiently on the day to bloom.
“No.” Oh? “I know where we’re going. I think I just got a little twisted up.” Ena really isn’t sure, especially since Kanade has said this every time they back themselves into a corner, but she’ll have to trust her since she can’t guide them any better.
“We go…” Kanade looks left and right, the two paths the exact same as each other. Ena observes her as she deliberates their options, almost looking like she’s just flipping a coin inside her head. “This way.”
There’s nothing else to do, so Ena follows her and they walk to the right. Slowly but surely they gain elevation, which Ena assumes is a good thing since they’ve been taking some kind of trail. Kanade’s breathing is a little less than steady, though, which doesn’t seem like a favorable development.
“Kanade, you okay? We can take a break if you need it.” Kanade shakes her head adamantly.
“No, I’m okay.” She wheezes. “We have to keep going.” Ena has no idea why she’s suddenly so determined—and to do physical exercise of all things—but she’s never been one to reject what Kanade wants to do, so Ena continues walking with her as she plods.
The sun’s light starts to brighten up where they are the slightest bit, and Kanade speeds up her steps. It doesn’t look like quickening her pace is something she really needs to do, but Ena adjusts herself so that they’re walking with the same fervor.
“Where are we even going? We’ve sort of been talking about nothing during the whole walk, but I don’t think you’ve told me where you’re bringing me.” Kanade has mainly listened and given small remarks about Ena stories, but there are only so many of those since they talk on the daily.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, would it?” She smiles as she glances at Ena, the pink on her face almost covered up all the way by the scarf neatly bundled above her shoulders.
“I guess…” Ena half-whines, unserious but still genuinely curious at just where Kanade has been so insistent that they go. They’ve been walking for ages, and if Kanade is willing to walk this far, then she definitely means business.
“Ah.” Kanade gasps a little, similar to when she had noticed that Ena was in front of her. It seems like she’s made some revelation so Ena follows her eyes, finding her looking at an open clearing ahead of them.
The two of them continue to walk, connected by their hands and the scarf that binds them together, up the remaining hill until they can gaze at the view.
Vibrant yellow has only barely started to conquer the sky, spreading up a fraction but leaving the rest of the nighttime stars undisturbed. They stand still, staring at the sun that only peeks into their vision for the time being.
She looks over to Kanade, almost for reassurance that this is what they’ve come here for, and reassurance she finds. Kanade’s eyes are wide, the sun’s light playing around in her blue irises, making it almost look like she’s taken the stars from the sky and put them in her eyes.
Ena looks back at the sight and basks in it, allowing herself to squish closer to Kanade who welcomes her touch. Her shoulders ease, the build up tension and exhaustion starting to fade out as she lets herself finally relax for just a moment of decompression.
“It’s pretty, right?” Kanade eventually asks, her breath visible in the air and her voice quiet.
“It’s more than pretty, it’s gorgeous.” Ena’s response is only half in regards to the swirling colors in the sky, her vision more often than not drifting to the girl next to her and seeing how the light adorns her features.
Kanade doesn’t notice that, though, and she’s glad because it would be humiliating for both of them.
“Why’d you bring me here? It’s not that I hate it or anything, you just haven’t said anything that makes me think you’d like sunrises.” Or exercise, Ena chooses not to say.
She doesn’t immediately receive a response. Kanade pushes a little deeper into their sides that touch, this time Ena being the one to accept her advance. “Well, you’ve been struggling with your art recently. When I looked up how to fix art block, it said that exercise is a good idea, but I also know you like pretty things, so I figured this would do both at once.”
Ena is stunned to her spot and Kanade obviously starts to get coy. She hasn’t ever thought of Kanade as someone who’s tactless, possibly the exact opposite, but such a level of consideration doesn’t fail to make Ena’s heart clench pleasantly.
“How did you find this place?” Despite living here forever, Ena’s never even walked that path. According to other people, that’d probably be because she doesn’t exercise enough, but it still shocks her a tad that she’s never even heard of this view online.
“I came here once when I was younger. I thought I could remember the way up but I think I'm a little rusty.” There’s a nervous giggle that tumbles from Kanade’s lips, a noise that Ena cherishes.
“You’re so sweet, you know that?” Ena claims abruptly, startling Kanade out of her dead set focus on the rising sun.
“E-eh? I’m just helping.” Again, Ena forces Kanade’s eyes away from the beauty in front of them and tugs her into a hug.
“That’s what makes you so sweet.” She ignores the high-pitched squeak that Kanade lets out, letting her bare hands grip affectionately on the back of Kanade’s jacket. “Thank you, I love you.”
Kanade’s arms wrap around her too, hugging back the best she can with how flustered she is. “Of course. I-I love you too.” Ena can’t help giggling abashedly, giddy and excited.
“Can we go sit and take it in for a little?” Kanade nods and Ena leads her by the hand to some tree trunks, sitting down for just a moment and feeling the cold air's futile attempts at penetrating the loving warmth that radiates off of them.
–
“Should we start heading back down now?” Kanade groans a little, the exact response Ena was expecting.
“Can we wait a few more minutes? I’m still tired.” Ena’s tired too, but she assumes Kanade is probably referring more to the physical exertion aspect and not the fact they each only slept a few hours.
“That’s okay, whenever you’re ready.” She flops some more into Kanade, cuddling her tight as they let the sun wash over them.
“E-Ena…” Ena laughs.
“You’re tired, I’m cold, it’s a win-win.” Or just an excuse to hug, but Ena keeps that part her little secret. Kanade seems to think it’s a fair trade, though, based on the way she leans into the embrace and sighs fondly.