Chapter 5 - Under your eyes (Stay Up, Part 2)

This can be counted as a sequel to the previous chapter "Stay up", with the idea of Sayaka (?) being the one to stroke Hachiman's hair. You don't need to read "Stay Up" to understand this story, but I would love it if you did!

He ran a hand down his face and shook his head. He sat up from his place on the floor and looked around. Yuigahama and Hiratsuka were sharing a blanket in the corner of the room, sleeping soundly.

He quietly stood and he stepped silently through the room and through the door, stepping outside of the cabin. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep for the rest of the evening, so he figured he might as well enjoy the good weather and clear sky.

Hachiman sat down on the grass and leaned back against the wall of the cabin. He wiped at his eyes and shook his head; these long nights were getting exhausting. He was used to not getting as much sleep as the average person. Lately though, even just having a light sleep that lasted more than a few hours was rare.

He sighed and leaned his head back to look up at the stars. He'd be lucky if he even managed to doze off tonight.

Before he could try, the door to the hut opened, and he saw black shoes step on the grass, the hem of a flowing skirt brushing around them as Yuigahama shut the door behind her and turned to face him. She smiled at him, he frowned at her. It was becoming quite a habit of Yuigahama's to join Hachiman when he stayed up. It was one of the reasons he was now trying to get some sleep with the rest of the group, so that she would sleep as well instead of trying to stay up with him.

"What are you doing?" Hachiman asked quietly.

"I heard you walk out," Yuigahama told him. "I wanted to see if you're okay."

"I'm fine," Hachiman said with a wave of his hand. "Go back inside."

"Well…" Yuigahama smiled sheepishly and sat down next to him. "I also heard you. When you woke up. It… Sounded like you were having a nightmare."

Hachiman swallowed and looked away from her. "It was just a dream," He said quietly.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Yuigahama asked him.

"Nope," Hachiman answered quickly.

"Okay then," Yuigahama said lightly, and just her quick acceptance eased Hachiman's mind. It was nice to not be pushed or nagged, but to just have someone by his side, someone who cared enough to listen if he needed to talk but would never force him to.

"Thanks," He said softly with a nod. He felt like he needed to say it.

Yuigahama stretched her legs straight out in front of her and leaned back against the wall. Hachiman watched her feet as they moved left and right to a beat he couldn't hear. "You seem pretty tired lately," She said after a few moments of comfortable silence.

"Yeah, well," Hachiman responded. "Can't sleep. But I'm used to it."

Yuigahama looked at him from the corner of her eye and gave a sly smile. "You always say you're used to it, but I don't know if I believe you."

Hachiman sighed and shook his head. "Do you want me to admit I'm tired? Fine, I'm tired," He shrugged. "But really. I'm okay."

Yuigahama hummed in thought as she looked at him. "You need to sleep more."

"Can't," Hachiman said. "That's why I'm out here."

"You could try," Yuigahama replied. She patted her thigh. "Come on, lie down."

Hachiman looked down at her leg, then into her eyes. "...Huh?"

"Lie down," Yuigahama repeated, gesturing to her leg in some form of offering. "It'll be more comfortable than just sitting here. And maybe you'll be able to sleep."

"U-Um…" Hachiman swallowed. His ears were warm. "I-I don't think I…"

"Come on, Hachiman," Yuigahama pulled at his arm to get him to sway closer to her. "I'm telling you it's all right. I want you to get some rest."

Her eyes were as kind as ever and her smile just as comforting, and Hachiman knew she wouldn't let him object any longer. With a slow nod, Hachiman awkwardly moved along the grass so he could lie down on his back and hesitantly laid his head across her lap. He laid there stiffly, afraid to put his full weight on her thighs in case it was uncomfortable for her, but her hand quickly landed on his shoulder.

"Don't be shy, Hachiman," She said. "Just get comfortable."

Hachiman did as he was told and slowly forced himself to relax his body. He crossed his hands over his stomach and looked at the stars, adamantly trying to avoid looking up at her. Soon after though, he felt something tickle against his cheek, and realized it was her hair falling over his face. He glanced up at her; she was looking down at him with a smile.

"Better?" She asked.

Hachiman thought for a moment. He was actually the most comfortable he had been in a long time. "Yeah," He said with a nod. "Much."

Yuigahama nodded. "Just try to sleep," She said in a soft, soothing voice that was just barely above a whisper, a tone that quickly lulled him into a sense of comfort. "It's okay."

Hachiman listened to her and shut his eyes with a quiet sigh. Out here, all he could hear were crickets chirping nearby and the soft breeze rustling leaves. And then… humming. Yuigahama was quietly humming a song Hachiman didn't know, one that eased him more and more into that comfortable, sleepy state. Maybe he would be able to doze off, he thought briefly as he felt his body relax more with each note she hummed.

Right after he thought it, he felt something brush through his hair. He felt it again, and again, felt fingernails scratch softly against his scalp in a way that made his fingers tingle. He blinked his eyes open and looked up at Yuigahama, who didn't even notice at first; she was too preoccupied running her fingers through his hair.

Once she saw his eyes peering up at her, she stopped immediately and pulled her hand back sheepishly. "Sorry," She said.

"It's okay," Hachiman told her quietly. Normally, he's sure he'd be feeling quite a bit more nervous than this. He would be distant, awkward, unsure of how to act. But now, he felt so warm and content, it was like he didn't have the energy to feel that way. He just wanted to keep the same serene feeling Yuigahama was giving him. "I… I like it."

Yuigahama smiled, nodded, and returned to her ministrations. As soon as her fingers sunk into his hair again, Hachiman felt pure bliss. If this was how he could spend the rest of his days, sitting under the starlight with her, just feeling her like this, he'd stay put until the day he died. He continued looking up at her, looked at the gentle arch of her brow, her high cheekbones, the soft, smiling curve of her lips, the darkened red of her eyes that seemed to hold an unknown power over him.

Those eyes met his, and she leaned down closer to him.

"Shouldn't you be trying to sleep?" She whispered.

Yes, he thought, but how could he? How could he shut his eyes to the beauty looking down at him? But then again, he also couldn't deny her. He felt his lips turn up in a small smile as he shut his eyes once again.

Yuigahama's fingers continued brushing through his hair and she began humming her song again, and this time when Hachiman fell asleep, he rested pleasantly until sunrise.

Thanks for reading!