Himiko may have improved, but the remnants of her old behavior didn't just vanish overnight.

In fact, she had to face her old self each evening when she had to sleep in her messy dorm. The only bright side was she'd been too lazy to let it get messy in the first place… but even a sedentary creature could turn a place into a pigsty given enough time. Just imagine how much worse it could've been if she was an actively sloppy person.

Almost everything lying around was a byproduct of her laziness. Food wrappers and containers she didn't bother to move to the trash. Magic doodads, playing cards, and schoolbooks left to lay wherever she'd last used them. Any clothes that weren't lucky enough to be her favorites were buried under heaps of other skirts and tops, never to see the light of day again.

At first, she didn't bother cleaning anything up because she was Himiko. Now, she didn't clean because it was too daunting a task. Before, she lived in the squalor without a care. Now… she was seriously considering inviting Kirumi over just once to get the mess over and done with.

Thankfully, she didn't have to take advantage of the maid's goodwill. Less thankfully, it was because Mahiru was so repulsed to find out how she lived that she immediately offered to come over and help clean.

Emphasis on help. Himiko couldn't stand off to the side hiding her face from Mahiru's judgement for long as her girlfriend took careful steps over various junk. Once she'd done her assessment, Himiko would be helping – and as tiring as it sounded, she accepted it as the punishment for letting this happen in the first place. Mahiru's commentary was the rest of the punishment.

The mage winced when Mahiru fumbled in her step, looking down to pull her foot away from the microwavable bento box she'd almost tripped on. "How long has… that, been there?"

Himiko drummed her fingers together nervously. "I dunno… uh… at least six months?"

"Oh my god."

Mahiru wasn't necessarily a clean freak, but this was unacceptable. Every fiber of decency within her screamed at this monument to filth. She refused to let her girlfriend live like this any longer.

When Mahiru left to get supplies, Himiko slumped over the railing outside her room, ashamed. When the photographer returned, carrying masks, brooms, sprays, and a huge trash can, Himiko grumbled. "Sorry…"

That gave her girlfriend pause. "Sorry? For what?"

"Sorry for letting it get this bad… and making you help me…"

After a second, Himiko felt a hand on her shoulder. "You're not making me do anything. I want to help. Because believe me, if I didn't want to, I wouldn't be anywhere near this toxic wasteland. Don't feel bad, alright? You weren't in a good place… and now that you are, we can make sure you live in a good place. Together?"

Himiko couldn't help but giggle at the little slogan they shared. "Together."

"Good. Because you're doing the sweeping."

Himiko's body immediately went slack. "Nyeeeeeh! But I hate sweeping…!"

"How?! You dress like a witch! Broomsticks should be your thing!"

"I'm a mage! And they aren't!"

Himiko fussed a bit, and Mahiru was going to need to take a long bath after this, but once the task started seeming less like a monumental undertaking and more like a hefty one-time chore, the duo started to get more into it.

By the time the sun was high in the sky, they could see the floor again. By the time that same sun was setting, the two exhausted ladies could wipe their brows and be satisfied that the room actually looked like a room again.

Once she'd had a good, long rest, Himiko took her mask off and breathed in the fresh air. Soft carpet under her toes… she knew where all her spellbooks and charms were at… and best of all, her bed was clear. Now she could turbonap in peace without worrying about rolling over onto last week's lunch.

Even Mahiru took some pride in their work, having added a bit of her own touch. She'd brought over some photos of the two of them to pin above her desk, and some flowers to keep the place fresh. Now this was a place she wouldn't mind coming over to visit.

Provided it stayed this way, of course. "Think you can handle keeping it clean?" she asked.

As much as Himiko wanted to joke about having an excuse for Mahiru to come over more often, she didn't want their dates to consist of cleaning duty. And now that she had a bit more energy and a much less daunting task ahead, she felt a bit more confident. "I'll try."

Mahiru didn't seem entirely convinced. Then, a sly smirk spread over her lips. "Himiko?"

"Eh?" When the smaller girl turned, she found herself suddenly wrapped up in her girlfriend's arms.

Mahiru kissed her and made her head spin. Himiko was a master of magic and curses, and yet she'd never been under someone's spell this strongly before. She melted into her lips, in her own little world with just her and Mahiru.

Then as quickly as it'd happened, it was over. Mahiru glanced away sheepishly, distracting herself by running a hand through her hair. "There's more where that came from if you keep it clean. Deal?" At first, Himiko seemed too dazed to respond. Then Mahiru's mouth fell open when she realized her girlfriend was in deep thought. "…Are you weighing the pros and cons?!"

"I really hate cleaning, okay?!"

"Agggggh…!" While Mahiru griped, Himiko just laughed, still running her fingers over her lips. If that was the reward… she'd never let this place get messy again.

A/N: And with that, I'm outta chapters I made beforehand so I can't promise weekly updates anymore. I might be able to get something out for Mahiru's birthday next week, though! Either way, this is definitely a pair I'll write something for whenever I feel like doing something simpler. They're so much fun to write!