A few days after their pool adventure, Yui was beginning to feel the heavy weight of reality settle back onto her shoulders.
Summer homework.
Mountains of it.
She sat at her desk, textbooks piled like tiny fortresses around her, pencils scattered, and a barely-touched math worksheet staring back at her accusingly.
"This is impossible," she muttered, sinking into despair.
Just then, her phone buzzed.
> Mika: "Open your door, kitten."
Yui blinked, confused. Door?
Before she could process, there was a knock.
Heart racing, she scrambled to the entrance and pulled the door open—
Only to find Mika standing there, wearing casual clothes again: ripped jeans, a soft grey hoodie, her bag slung over one shoulder, and a confident grin on her lips.
"Miss me?" Mika teased, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
"W-what are you doing here?" Yui sputtered, clutching the door frame.
Mika tossed her bag onto the couch and flopped down like she lived there.
"Study date," she announced.
"Study... date?" Yui repeated, feeling her brain short-circuit.
Mika winked.
"Yup. You were drowning in homework, right? So I came to rescue you."
---
Ten minutes later, Yui sat stiffly beside Mika at the living room table, textbooks and notes spread between them.
Mika leaned over her, peering at Yui's half-finished math problem.
"Hmm... you're overthinking it," she said, tapping Yui's notebook.
Yui inhaled sharply — not because of the math, but because Mika's face was very close.
She could smell Mika's subtle shampoo scent — fresh and a little minty.
Trying desperately to focus, Yui scribbled down Mika's suggestions, her handwriting messier than usual.
"You're not focusing," Mika accused with a sly smile.
"I-I am!" Yui protested, cheeks burning.
Mika leaned even closer, her voice dropping into a teasing whisper.
"If you don't focus... I might have to punish you."
Yui practically exploded, flailing back and knocking over her pencil case.
Mika laughed, reaching out to steady her.
"Relax, kitten. I'm kidding."
But the mischievous glint in her eyes said otherwise.
---
Despite the chaos, they managed to actually finish a decent amount of work.
Every so often, Yui would catch Mika glancing at her, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Not the teasing one she usually wore — but something warmer. Gentler.
It made Yui's heart skip every time.
---
Around noon, Mika declared a break and rummaged through Yui's kitchen.
"Hey, you have instant ramen!" she called triumphantly.
Yui peeked into the kitchen.
"I-I was saving that—"
Too late.
Mika had already put the water on and was humming happily.
Yui pouted, crossing her arms.
"You're a menace."
"And you love it," Mika replied without missing a beat.
Yui's ears turned bright pink.
---
They ate together on the couch, legs brushing occasionally.
Mika slurped her noodles noisily, earning a scandalized look from Yui.
"You're hopeless," Yui scolded, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity as she ate properly.
Mika just grinned and leaned closer.
"But you think it's charming, right?"
"I-I think you're infuriating," Yui huffed, refusing to meet her eyes.
Mika chuckled and ruffled her hair affectionately.
"That's my kitten."
---
After lunch, they sprawled on the floor, textbooks forgotten for now.
Yui sighed contentedly.
"This is nice," she murmured, staring up at the ceiling.
Mika turned her head to look at her.
"Yeah," she agreed softly.
For a moment, neither spoke.
The late afternoon sun streamed through the windows, casting everything in a soft, golden glow.
Yui's hair caught the light, looking like spun sugar.
Mika swallowed hard.
God, she's beautiful.
---
Without thinking, Mika reached out and poked Yui's cheek lightly.
Yui turned her head, startled.
"M-Mika?"
Mika smirked playfully.
"Boop."
Yui glared weakly, cheeks puffing up adorably.
"I'm not a toy."
"You're my kitten," Mika said with a mock-serious nod.
Yui groaned and rolled over to bury her face in a pillow.
Mika laughed, flopping beside her.
---
After a while, Yui peeked up shyly.
"Mika?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you... like being with me?"
Mika blinked, caught off guard by the question.
Then she smiled — a real, soft, almost vulnerable smile.
"Yeah," she said simply. "I do."
Yui's chest felt like it might burst.
She hugged the pillow tighter, hiding her face again.
Mika chuckled and gently patted her back.
"Hey. No hiding. I like spending time with you, kitten. A lot."
---
They ended up napping like that — side by side on the living room floor, the summer air warm and lazy around them.
When Yui's mother came home later, she found the two girls fast asleep, tangled together like lazy cats, smiles on both their faces.
---
That night, after Mika left, Yui sat at her desk again, staring at her half-finished math worksheet.
She smiled to herself, tapping her pencil against her chin.
Maybe summer homework wasn't so bad after all.
Not if Mika was there.