Archive of Our Own ^beta

Nobara stood in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse building playing games on her phone waiting for a special someone. She gazed at the screen for about 30 minutes now and no sign of the person she awaited. In her other hand, she held a small cup of coffee that she got from the teacher's break room. Her orange hair danced lightly in the breeze, tickling against one cheek as she tried keeping still despite her impatient excitement. She was out of uniform and was wearing a light blue dress, and her two legs were covered by tights.

Her phone flashing a notification from Maki Zenin. Nobara smiled at the name and went to check the message. She said she would be out of the school in a moment. Kugisaki knew from the moment she laid eyes on Maki that she admired her. From then on, they trained with each other and practiced with experimental weapons; Maki had got for the two of them. The two girls would share small bits of their past and giggle like children. Maki only let her guard down around Nobara because she trusted her and enjoyed her company.

Moments pass and Nobara spots the taller girl further down by the vending machines. Her lovely hair was tied at the back of her head. Her eyes were diverted toward the machine, not realizing Kugisaki watching. She loved her dark-green hair that was always swaying side to side when she walked. She was dressed in a black-uniformed skirt and top. She maintained a toned but slender body encased with fair, tinted with toast-colored, skin. Kugisaki ran over and waved out to the unsuspecting girl, she could smell Maki's perfume: a sweet, rich lavender. "Maki!" she called, walking towards her.

She turned around. A smile gradually made its way across her face. "Hey, it's good to see you're recovering properly."

Nobara smirked and flicked a bit of hair. "Naturally, it's good to see you too. Now follow me." The eager orange-haired girl tugged at Zenin's hand and pulled her away into her car. She began driving rapidly along the street up to a cliff that overlooked the city.

"What have you been doing lately?" Maki asked.

"You know. Eliminating cursed spirits. Saving the world. Sweeping a fine lady off her feet." Nobara flashed her a self-assured grin. "Other than that? Nothing important."

She laughed and lightly shoved Nobara's arm. "Oh, you. You're such a..."

"Rogue? Beauty Sorcerer? Uncontested master of jujutsu?"

"Rogue," Maki said gently. "Definitely rogue."

"That's why you love me."

Maki humored her with a smile. Nobara swerved and parked recklessly as she always has and flung off her seatbelt. Maki gets out of the car and stands awkwardly looking around. "What are we undertaking all the way up here?" Inquires the girl but is hit by, "It's a surprise!" Nobara begins digging through her trunk and shouts out. "Close your eyes, okay!" Maki places her hands over her eyelids and stands waiting. Kugisaki pulls out a blanket and places it on the soft grass.

The sorcerer hurries all the food onto the blanket and sets everything up. A moment passes and she calls out, "You can open your eyes." Maki uncovers her eyes to be confronted by majestic scenery with the sun dying in the background. The faint orange hue gently glows against the other cheek as she pats the ground next to her. Maki sits next to the other girl and Kugisaki smiles then lapse momentarily into an uncharacteristic silence. Maki angled her head in response. "What is it?"

"I just keep thinking about how long it's been since we met, you know. I mean, I know it hasn't been that long -- but..." A rare serious look passed over Nobara's face. "It's like you've always been there."

Maki shrugged and looked away. For a moment, Nobara's heart hammered in her chest, but then Maki looked back toward her and she saw she was blushing. "We've been through a lot together."

Nobara thought to herself that it was something like that, but all of a sudden the conversation wasn't as important to her as catching Maki's flushed face between her hands and pressing their lips together.

Being the beautiful master of jujutsu, that was exactly what she did.

When they parted, Maki's turns red and looks away. "W-We're in public," she whispered.

"Nobody will see us. Besides nobody is way up here."

Then Nobara looped her arms around Maki's neck and did it again.

As they sat, they were surrounded by beautiful forests and pretty stars that shimmered at them. For a moment, everything felt perfect and before Maki went to take her glasses off she murmurs "What's that?"

Nobara jerks her head and observes a cursed spirit lurking in the forest "Be careful!" Maki shouts and she grips one of the smaller weapons she keeps in the pocket of her skirt

The curse swelled, Nobara ran up with Maki both gripping at their weapon of choice. From its mouth, it frothed foam and emerged from the leaves. It was just as disturbing to look at as the rest of the spirits they have encountered together. The spirit let out a screech and made its way closer. Its deformed features came into view.

"It looks like it's thinking about what it should do," Maki remarked with a hint of confidence.

"It's not defeating us, that's for sure!" Nobara said firmly. Ever prepared, she whipped out her hammer. "Go! I'll handle this one. You go search for other curses in the area"

"Wait! Nobara! I think this one is stronger than it looks!" Maki, too, was prepared.

"Maki..." Nobara started to say, but there was no time to argue -- the curse lunged for her, and she jumped away. Then it launched an attack towards the girls, but Nobara struck a blow first, along the spirit, and then Maki second, along the spirits exposed underside. Maki slashed at it till it was cut clean. The curse screamed in outrage before slipping back into dust.

Panting for breath, Nobara asked, "Are you hurt?"

Maki shook her head. "I'm fine."

"I didn't expect there to be curses around." Nobara sighed, her plans were ruined. "Stay close, there could be more in the area."

Maki who didn't want their plans to be ruined strung her hand into the others.

"Our plans aren't ruined... We can continue where we left off"

Nobara shifted her head "I suppose your right." the corners of her mouth forming a wide smile

After a moment of silence, Maki clutched Nobara's hand and sidled closer.

Nobara sighed with contentment and brought the girl with glasses closer to her. She gazed at the radiant lights that emerged from the city below.

Their lips met, aflame in the dying night. Both sitting in silence enjoying each other's company.