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It was midnight. Normally, students would've been asleep at their dorm rooms already. Well, normally.
These two brunette umas, were far from normal. One is a diehard gambler, and the other is a diehard player. Matchmade in hell. It's a wonder why they're even paired as roommates, isn't it?
Sirius Symboli, the prodigy who flew to Europe ages ago, having won the Japanese Derby. And Nakayama Festa, who won her Takarazuka Kinen just a few years ago with all odds against her.
It's not that they can't sleep, or anything. But they always have their midnight activities like this. Whether it's playing poker, mahjong, or anything really, they always bet on something either way.
Like tonight.
—˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚
It all started when they first got assigned to their dorm room together. Neither knew each other before, since Sirius is Nakayama's senior by a few years. Never necessarily talking unless they needed to.
Three months into rooming together, Nakayama had knew Sirius's habit by this point. Sometimes, she'll sneak out of school, meet up with a random girl to "rendezvous" at a hotel, and not come back the same night.
Ah, so she sleeps around, Nakayama concluded. And every time it happens, Nakayama would have to vouch as to why Sirius wasn't at the dorms. The same reason she keeps using,
"Probably at the Symboli mansion." She's repeated it so much, like a broken recorder. Then she'll storm off to her room and sleep by herself.
It was always lonely when Sirius wasn’t around, Nakayama had to be honest. I mean, it's not like they'd talk or do anything if she's even here. And she's used to sleeping alone, but ever since getting assigned together, Nakayama started to feel the consequences of being distant.
Maybe she'll have to make small talks with Sirius.
—˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚
"Fuck, I lost again?" Sirius whined, throwing her cards. Nakayama had that signature smug smirk she always had whenever her opponent lost. In this case, Sirius.
See, this is the first time they've played together. Four months into rooming together, approximately. Sirius is kinda fun to toy with, Nakayama thought.
"So, about that bet?" Nakayama grinned ear-to-ear, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Fine... I lost. Loser has to treat a nice dinner out, yeah, yeah." Sirius huffed, slumping against her bed frame.
"Seriously, bullying your senior like that? Not so fancy, Nakayama."
"Heh, never one for fancy things anyways." Nakayama gathered the scattered cards and put them back in their rightful place. Gambling items must stay good.
What an innocent bet to start of their games of a more... complicated relationship, to say the least.
Honestly, Nakayama never thought she'd be lying down on her bed, loomed over by someone only a few inches taller than her. To be frank, Nakayama had always thought Sirius is beautiful. Her bright red eyes suits her damn well. She just doesn't want to admit it.
And getting laid by her on Christmas Eve wasn't on Nakayama's yearly bingo. But holy fuck was it an experience.
Just a one night encounter, truly nothing more. They'll forget about it the next morning. After all, all's casual when it comes to Sirius. She's never one to stay for too long.
But was it casual when Sirius ran to Nakayama immediately after a devastating announcement?
Was it casual when Sirius hugged her while crying until she was asleep in Nakayama's arms?
Was it casual when Sirius trusted Nakayama with her earrings that she never took off before?
Was it casual when Sirius would kiss her senseless until both their lungs were screaming for oxygen?
Was it all?
—˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚
By this point, Nakayama had slept with Sirius more times than can be counted with her fingers alone. Yet Sirius still had the audacity to seek skinship with other girls? How irritating.
Nakayama never felt jealous before. Not even when she lost a big bet. But this, this were far more irritating than any race she had ever been in. It's 1 am. Sirius had promised to play a game of mahjong with her tonight, but she canceled at the very last minute. Damnit.
Said she had other matters to attend to. Bullshit. Why does Sirius even see other girls? She has me, doesn't she? Nakayama knew it wasn't like her to act this way. But it's just so frustrating.
She should've known, though. Sirius did once say she was never one to commit for a relationship. So why did Sirius leave her hanging?
And, better yet. Why does Nakayama, the ever so righteous and rational one, wants to be treated like a piece of crap to be discarded later?
Goddesses, her head is hurting so bad. Her eyes were warm, and tears were slowly forming, but why?
She's not this irrational. She's not jealous. She shouldn't be.
And yet, she cried herself to sleep that night. How pathetic.
"Goddamnit..." She fell asleep exactly one hour later, tear stains all across her face.
.
.
.
.
.
Just one hour after that, a creak on the door could be heard.
"Nakayama...?" Sirius had somehow managed to sneak herself inside the dorm perfectly. Well, she's done this almost any other night. This was an easy task for her by now.
Sirius padded through the wooden floor gently, as to not wake up Nakayama.
She approached her bed, and stared at her for a few minutes. Tear stains... Did Nakayama cry earlier? The thought bugged Sirius more than she'd like to admit.
She continued to stare, and stare...
A small piece of shining gold metal glinting underneath Nakayama's blanket caught Sirius attention. She reached out for it, and...
Her earrings? Sirius's hand immediately shot up, feelings her ears. She indeed didn't have her earrings on.
She remembered now, the last time she laid on Nakayama, she took off her earrings so it wouldn't get in the way. Guess she forgot to take it back from her...
She twirled her earrings around, then her eyes drifted to Nakayama again.
Under then moonlight like this, Nakayama looks... beautiful. Gorgeous. Ethereal. It feels like Sirius can't describe it with words alone. Has she always been this pretty?
The same loudmouthed Nakayama that always talks back whenever she was taking care of her?
Without a second thought, Sirius reached out and caressed Nakayama's cheeks. Softly, gently. As if Nakayama's some fragile being. Which she is not. She'll probably hate to be called that, especially by Sirius no less.
Whoops. Nakayama's ears twitched, immediately making Sirius pull her hand away. Did she wake her up?
After a bit of shuffling in the bed, Nakayama seems to look relaxed again. Good. Sirius continued to caress her cheeks.
"Why were you crying, Nakayama...?" Sirius voice was the softest it had ever been. She was usually snarky, all barks and bites. But now her voice was... gentle. As if trying to see what Nakayama's heart was surrounded by.
She continued the soft touch before getting distacted. She caught a few pieces of mahjong all around the floor near Nakayama's bed. But why?
.
.
.
.
.
Ah, right. Sirius canceled plans last minute. She forgot she had promised to play a game of mahjong with Nakayama tonight, but she instead took the time to entertain her physical desire. How stupid.
Nakayama must've gotten mad. That explains the tear stains, right?
Pulling her hand away, she decided to clean up the mahjong pieces and store them where they belonged. She's memorized all the spots where Nakayama has put her things. Though she might not seem like the type to care about that, she does.
Especially when it comes to Nakayama. She stared at her roommate for a few more seconds, before tearing away her gaze. A warm shower would do her wonders for now.
—˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚
Seems like the snowfall was heavier than they thought it'd be. The whole city was practically covered in white now. Nakayama clutched her scarf tightly, while Sirius's hand stayed inside her pocket.
Originally, they both were sent out together to buy Christmas decorations for Tracen’s annual Christmas and year end party. But with a blizzard incoming like this... that'll have to wait. They ended up seeking refuge in a nearby cafe. The heater was surprisingly nice. At least they got some warmth in here.
—˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚
24th of December. Christmas Eve. Everyone was practically buzzing with festive energies. Sirius was talking with all the other Symboli. And everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.
All except for Nakayama. See, it's not like she was allowed to bet here in the first place. This was a prestigious school, after all. But to leave her with some uninteresting food too? That's diabolical.
Nakayama ended up sitting on a corner by herself, not even bothering to try to go up and talk to some of her friends.
Sirius noticed. Of course she does. From the corner of her eye, she can quite see Nakayama's boredom. It was practically written all over her face. Excusing herself from the other Symboli, she made her way towards the couch Nakayama sat on.
"Not having much fun?" She plopped down, immediately leaning against the backrest.
"There's nothing to do. It's boring as fuck." Nakayama sighed, a heavy one, and placed both her feet onto the coffee table in front of her.
"Wanna head back to the dorm?" Oh, Nakayama knows that tone. That voice Sirius always used to get her what she wanted. Nakayama really wants to decline, to deny-
Sirius collapsed on top of Nakayama, breath heavy and chest heaving. Dresses? Discarded on the floors.
"Not so boring, yeah?" Sirius asked, voice smug and dripping with confidence, as expected of her.
"That's two years in a row for Christmas Eve..." Nakayama tried to regain her breath.
"Ohoho, wanna keep the tradition going for next year?" Sirius asked with that sickly sweet voice.
"Can't guarantee I wouldn't have found a partner by then, though." Sirius continued, fingers brushing through her hair nonchalantly. As if Nakayama's heart hadn't just dropped the moment she said that.
"...right." Sirius, of course, noticed the sudden change in tone, and she immediately looked at Nakayama's direction. Her eyes were everywhere but on her.
"Oi, look at me." She took Nakayama's chin in her hand, redirecting her gaze back at Sirius.
"Did I do something wrong?" But Nakayama didn't answer. Sirius huffed, she tried her best not to get irritated too fast.
"Oi, I asked you something. Not that hard to answer, right?" She continued, but Nakayama still stayed silent.
.
.
.
.
.
Until one word slipped past her lips,
"Don't." In such a vulnerable voice. Sirius had never heard Nakayama like that. And they've been rooming for three years.
"Don't... what?" Sirius pressed, wanting to make Nakayama talk to her. Properly.
"...Don't get a partner...-" Nakayama continued, voice shaky.
"You have me, don't you?" This time, she's a bit more confident, but it was still vulnerable either way. She was on the verge of crying. Just like that one time.
Sirius's heart dropped when she heard Nakayama's answer. Had she... an effect on her?
"...And what exactly do you mean by that, Nakayama?"
.
.
.
.
.
Cut to the chase. Nakayama took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to finally be open with the one girl she feels most comfortable with.
Her roommate,
her friend,
and the girl she's been hopelessly in-
"I love you, Sirius." There, she said it. She stared at Sirius in the eyes now, her own eyes glinting with determination. She's not gonna let herself get played anymore. She needs to know where their border of relationship goes. Friends? Or something more?
The confession, with Nakayama's face glinting perfectly under the moonlight that slipped past through the curtains just a little... Sirius's eyes widened for a moment. Then she looked down.
"I... I don't know, I'm not good with commitment. You should know that best by now, Nakayama." Sirius was unsure. She wants this, too. More than anything. But she can't trust herself to make any promise at the risk of hurting Nakayama.
Nakayama knew it was for the best, but that didn't mean her heart felt like it just dropped to her stomach right then and there.
"I know- I just wanted t-" But before she could've finished her sentence, Sirius glanced back up at her and cut her off.
"But I'm willing to try. If you'll have me." And the softest smile accompanied Sirius's determined eyes. She's not a coward. If it's for the girl she loves, she's going to break her bad habit.
Nakayama's body went rigid. Did Sirius just say...? Her eyes instantly lit up, and she feels like she could die here and she'd be the happiest woman to ever live.
"You're not kidding, right?" Nakayama's tail was practically wagging just like a dog's. This earned a laugh from Sirius.
"Of course I am. I may be a heartbreaker, but I sure am not a liar." Sirius reached out for her ear, one where she wore her earrings on, and she took it off.
"Say, Nakayama. If you'll have me?" She held her hand out, offering the earrings to Nakayama, who took it without hesitation, and answered,
"Damn right I will."
—˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚
"Fuck, I lost again? Seriously?" Back to their present game of mahjong. Sirius whined as she lost her fourth time just this night. She really ought to step up her game...
"Not my fault you're bad at this. Now, as promised. Loser wears the mascot dress for Christmas party." Nakayama grinned, smug as always.
It was currently 23rd of December, and they were betting on who would wear the fuckass mascot dress for the party tomorrow. Of course, nothing is decided normally between them.
"Fine... Just don't forget to give me a proper night tomorrow." Sirius huffed, then a smirk appeared.
"Yeah, yeah. As if I haven't been doing that the past two years." Nakayama leaned back against her bed, then both their eyes were drawn to the small clock they've placed nearby.
The clock's hand hits 12 am. And before Nakayama could say anything, Sirius kissed her.
"Happy anniversary," Sirius whispered softly against her girlfriend's lips.