There were few moments when Tokaku and Haru were separated. Nio set down her tablet and grinned. This was probably her only chance.
Nio knocked on the door, carrying only the scent of apricots, apples, and astor. When Haru opened the door, caraway seeds and cardamom hung heavily in the air.
"Tokaku-san..." There was confusion in her voice.
"I forgot my keys," Nio said, but Haru heard Tokaku's voice.
Haru giggled. "That's not like Tokaku-san. I'll help find them."
She moved aside and Nio entered the room, feeling a bristle of envy at the sight of the two beds: Haru's immaculately made and Tokaku's a mess of covers. Nio had two beds in her dorm room, but only one was ever used.
The blonde looked away from the beds and back to Haru, who was bent over, looking under the desk for the keys. Slyly, Nio locked the door behind her and approached her.
"Eh! Tokak-" She jumped, nearly hitting her head on the desk.
"Should I stop?" Nio asked, her arms wrapped around Haru's waist. Haru hurriedly shook her head.
"It's. . . just not like Tokaku-san. . ."
Nio shifted her weight, keeping a steady hand on Haru's body as she moved under the desk with the girl. Haru rolled over to face her, her face redder than Nio had predicted.
How many times had she imagined this? Her body towering over Haru's, pinning her to the floor just to run her fingers along those brilliant scars. Anything to make the girl scream and beg for mercy. From the first day Black Class had started, she had hated that Yuri assigned the rooms this way. She hated being alone. She hated that Tokaku shared a room with Haru.
But more than anything, she hated herself. Even if she shared a room with Haru, Nio knew they would never be as close as she wanted. There was no reason for Haru- for anyone- to love her.
She brushed a stray hair from Haru's eyes, and her hand lingered there, thumb rubbing her cheek, meditatively. Haru smiled and Nio felt her body relax in her arms.
"Haru," she whispered.
She leaned forward, closing the distance between them, if only for a moment. Even if it was a lie.