Hand to Hand

By: Escarlata

Precure belongs to Toei, plot is mine

~o~o~o~o~o~

It was weird but Honoka knew the reason behind that feeling. Her hands were cold. A cold day after all, Winter was coming and the wind was always blowing hard, causing the dry leaves to fly everywhere... And freezing the faces, ears and hands of everyone. Honoka rubbed her hands together trying to warm them. Not the best day for her to forget her gloves, the high school girl even used her warm breath to help herself.

But the cold remained in her hands.

It wasn't just the cold in the air, something else felt weird.

Honoka was alone at the school entrance, she was waiting for Nagisa. The lacrosse team was in the middle of a meeting for the next game. They were ready for the final. Both girls had a lot of homework and they planned to stay at Honoka's house the whole afternoon. Nagisa really wanted to have better notes, she could no longer have low grades. The player knew herself, high grades weren't a possibility for her level but she really, really, really was happy with 70-80 points. Honoka was helping her and the girl couldn't help but feel proud of Nagisa, her effort was giving her great results.

The dark-haired girl opened and closed her hands for some seconds, then put them in the pockets of her school jacket.

The feeling was there, that strange feeling.

Honoka closed her eyes, she really was aware of the reason behind her silent desire and her anxiety. Her breath condensed in the air and she opened her eyes again. Some students left the school in small groups and Honoka looked at them. They're smiling and waved at her, Honoka smiled and waved at them too. Those girls were the others lacrosse players.

A sudden feeling made her take two steps and look behind her. There was no need to even hear her or see her, Honoka simply could feel her.

Nagisa was there. She was running at her with a big smile on her face and her bag with her lacrosse gears on her back. Honoka welcomed her with a sweet smile.

"There is no need to run, you must be tired Nagisa," Honoka said and brushed the hair from Nagisa's forehead with her fingers. Her hair was unkempt from the hard training. "We are in time to go home and do our homework."

"I know, but grandma promised us hot chocolate!" Nagisa exclaimed with excitement. And then she noticed something. Without saying anything, she took Honoka's hand, her fingers were red and cold. "Did you forget your gloves?"

"Yes, I thought I've put them in my bag but ... Don't worry, I'll be fine, we'll be home soon."

"No, this is not good, Honoka. You must take care of your body," Nagisa said as she took off one of her gloves.

"Nagisa, wait! Your hands were warm thanks to the training and could hurt for the cold, " Honoka tried to stop her, but Nagisa made her wear the single glove. "I..." Nagisa's glove were warm. So warm.

"It's fine, look here," a smiling Nagisa took her other hand with her naked hand and put them together inside her pocket.

And Honoka sighed.

The weird feeling left, the cold left. Her hands strage alone because she needed another hand, Nagisa's hand in her. Honoka smiled. "You're right, it's fine. Thanks, Nagisa."

"Don't thank me, you're my partner, I'll never leave you alone in the cold," Nagisa smiled even more and started walking back to Honoka's house. "I feel warmer too," and this phrase came out with a slight blush on the player's cheeks.

Honoka smiled and she got closer to her best friend, their shoulders touched. "And we'll be even warmer with hot chocolate, right?"

"Yes! I really need something sweet right now, I feel tired." The girl sighed. "The finals will be soon and we really want to win. We'll be the winners, I promise you!" Nagisa exclaimed as she looked at Honoka.

"You're the best, Nagisa, you'll win," Honoka pressed her forehead on Nagisa's chin. "Thanks for your hard work." And she gave her a butterfly kiss on the cheek.

Nagisa blushed and lowered her face, but still smiled and laughed with a nervous laugh. A happy laugh. "Will you be there, right?"

"In the front row," Honoka lovingly pressed Nagisa's hand inside the jacket. "For now, let's go home and do our homework, If we finish quickly, I'll let you take a nap."

Nagisa looked straight ahead, cleared her throat and laced her fingers with Honoka's. "If we finish quickly, take a nap with me then."

Honoka smiled. "Okay."

"Cool!"

There was no need to rush, both girls enjoyed the walk to Yukishiro's house. Together and hand to hand.

FIN