Even though she performed miracles for a living, Himiko always thought Mahiru's talent was just as incredible. Himiko might be able to make smiles… but Mahiru captured them for all to enjoy. She turned boring old locations into memorable scenes with a flash of her camera. There was a sort of magic in the way she documented the world around them.

Himiko wouldn't say she had an eye for photography, and yet she always found herself enraptured by Mahiru's work. Maybe it was because it was her girlfriend's, maybe it was because Mahiru's talent really made them shine. All she knew was when Mahiru ran a finger over her album, showing off picture after picture, Himiko listened intently.

It was how she eventually came to a realization.

Mahiru had fanned out the day's pictures for her perusal. Some shots of the animals around campus, each looking like they were taken straight from the Nature Channel. Quality was always guaranteed. A few pictures of various happenings – there was no shortage of wild activities to record at their academy. And lastly, something Himiko had come to expect. Pictures of her friends and classmates, a common subject for her.

And also a few she snuck of Himiko, which made the mage try to hide her smirk behind her fingers.

But as much as she liked being her girlfriend's new favorite focus, it didn't distract from the thought entering her head. Her eyes swept over the friend photos again, a curious hum escaping her.

"You're not in any of these."

"Huh?" Mahiru paused, then chuckled. "Well, duh. Someone needs to take the picture, right?"

"I guess…" Himiko mumbled. "But I don't think I've ever seen a picture of you. You don't ever ask someone else to get you in the shot? Or just turn it around and take a photo of yourself…?

"There's some I'm in!" Mahiru protested, gesturing to a couple group shots buried amongst the many images on her walls. "And as for selfies… well… I don't really like them."

"Nyeh? Why not?"

Mahiru shrugged, absently shuffling through today's pictures. "I don't know. They're just… embarrassing. Turning the camera on myself… and who'd even look at it, anyway?"

"I would." Himiko giggled, taking Mahiru's arm in hers. "Any picture with you in it is prettier by default."

The photographer blushed a bit, unable to keep a small smile off her face. But ultimately, she shook her head. "Well, that doesn't diminish the first point. When I'm under my own lens… eugh. So embarrassing."

Himiko glanced up at her, lost in thought. And then another realization hit her. "…What if I took one of you?"

That took Mahiru off guard. "E-eh?! Me?"

"Nyeah. Then it's less embarrassing, right?" She let go of her and ducked her head, tapping her fingers together. "Plus, it'd be really nice to have a picture of you to keep…"

"…" Mahiru's eyes shifted away, flustered. It was a simple request, and yet it gave her pause. But, finally, she reached up to slip the camera from around her neck. "Well… if it'll make you happy," she mumbled as she offered the device in one hand.

"It will!" Himiko cheered, a rare bit of joyful energy in her as she snatched the tool. "Though I don't know if it'll be any good. I'm not nearly as good as you…"

Mahiru rested her hands over hers. "Just do your best, okay? No one's expecting perfection. Just take something you like."

Taking the advice to heart, Himiko nodded. "Alright. Ummmm…" She glanced at the camera, looking lost at all the dials, buttons and features on its back. "…Help?"

Chuckling, Mahiru took it back just long enough to fiddle with its settings. "There. That ought to work."

"Nyeh… whatever happened to cameras where you just push one button…?" Himiko grumbled, peeking through the adjusted lens.

"Do you think I'd come this far just using that?" Still laughing to herself, Mahiru paced away. She turned back with a hand on her chin, the shyness flooding her again when she saw her own camera trained on her. "U-um… should I… what sort of pose do you want?"

Himiko thought it over. And in the end, she just shrugged. "Anything you want. You're perfect no matter what~."

"…Ugh…" It was a grunt of embarrassment, not annoyance. Now she was all red-faced, and it was about to be captured on film. …And yet she was smiling, genuinely, warmly. Rubbing her arm, she forced herself to face the lens. "I guess this is good."

Himiko gave her a thumbs up, bent forward in concentration. After a moment of tense silence, the final relieving click of the camera rang out. …And then another. And another.

"H-hey! No one said anything about taking more than one!"

"I just wanted to make sure I got a good one! Sorry…"

Mahiru watched Himiko's face pop out from behind her camera and sighed. She could never be angry at that face, especially not for something so harmless. "It's fine, I guess…"

Perking up, Himiko glanced down at her results. "Wanna come see?"

Did she? Not particularly. But she knew her girlfriend was hoping for feedback, so she forced herself to her side. "Why not?"

It was just as embarrassing to look at herself as she imagined, but she set aside her feelings to be objective. The shots were at a weird angle since Himiko bent forward coupled with her already short stature. But as far as a non-Ultimate Photographer went, they weren't bad. Mahiru just wished she didn't look so meek on-screen, but she supposed that was her fault for being so reluctant in the first place. She was still feeling self-conscious, but when she glanced over and caught the giddy little grin Himiko had when she looked at the shots, she felt a bit more at ease.

"Not bad," she finally praised, keeping any criticisms to herself. "Maybe you should get into photography."

It was mild praise, but coming from someone of her talent, it made Himiko's day. "Really?"

Mahiru laughed, taking her camera back. "Maybe. Anyway, I assume you want some copies, so… I'll make sure they get to you." So long as they were out of her storage and only Himiko could look at them. But, admittedly, the idea of Himiko keeping a piece of her even when they were apart made her heart swell a bit. "Just don't expect many more pictures of me."

Himiko's face flipped from pride to disappointment. "Awww…"

Seeing her frown, Mahiru felt guilt overshadowing sheepishness. It was her turn for an idea to pop into her head. "Sorry. I still don't like selfies. Buuuuut…" She slipped an arm around Himiko and pulled her close, turning the camera on both of them. "I like them more if you're in them."

Now that was a compromise Himiko could live with. Grinning, she leaned up to kiss Mahiru's cheek as the camera clicked again.