Sing me to sleep
Maria can't help but flop on the couch tiredly, letting out a heavy sigh as she rests her head against the back of the couch and closes her eyes for a brief moment.
- Are you okay? – Tsubasa asks her sat beside her, pulling her gaze away from the book she's reading to look at her, and Maria can only turn her head to look at the blue haired girl with a weak smile on her face.
- I'm fine, I'm just... tired.
Maria pauses, wanting nothing more than admit that tiredness isn't what she actually feels but a heavy and tight feeling settled in her chest upon remembering what day is, but she doesn't think she can even voice it out without starting to cry, so she simply smiles at Tsubasa tiredly and pretends she's okay.
Tsubasa only nods, giving her a soft smile in return, before she goes back to her book.
Maria stares at her profile for a while, before she also turns her attention back to the TV in front of her and takes the remote to turn it on and watch whatever it's on, trying to distract herself to not let the heavy feeling settled in her chest dwell on.
Tsubasa sees her out of the corner of her eye, noticing her blank stare and clicks her tongue to then tuck a bookmark in the page she's currently reading and close the book, placing it over the small table next to her.
She turns to keep staring at Maria's profile for a while admiring her beauty, before she awkwardly clears her throat, a light blush dusting her cheeks.
- Maria?
- Hm? – the older girl hums being pulled out of her reverie to look at the young girl once again.
- C-could you place your head on my lap? – Tsubasa asks her awkwardly and embarrassedly.
- E-excuse me?!
Maria can't help but squeak high-pitched, shocked by Tsubasa's sudden request, seeing the young girl blushing even harder.
- C-could you, please?
Tsubasa implores her and Maria can only nod bewildered, finding a red and stammering Tsubasa endearing cute. She then complies and carefully places her head on Tsubasa's lap, being the one blushing hard this time.
- L-like this?
- Y-yes.
They stay like that for a while in an awkward silence, before Maria feels Tsubasa's shaky hand rest over her hair, hesitantly moving to begin brushing it.
- I-is this okay? – Tsubasa asks in embarrassment, and if Maria wasn't as embarrassed as Tsubasa is, she swears she'd be laughing and teasing her about it.
- Y-yeah.
Maria lets out timidly, focusing on the movie in the TV to ignore the hard beating of her heart.
Some minutes go by while Tsubasa continues with her ministrations, and Maria slowly begins to calm down, enjoying the soothing feeling of Tsubasa's strokes.
Then, she hears the blue haired girl begin to hum a very familiar song to her.
- I apologize, I still don't know very well the lyrics.
Tsubasa apologizes and Maria has to bite her lip to not cry.
- It's okay Tsubasa – she whispers, taking the hand stroking now her cheek to kiss her fingertips and hold it close to her heart.
- You know it's okay to not be fine and show it, right? – Tsubasa says softly, her free hand coming to rest over Maria's hair before, once again, she begins to brush it and massage the pink haired girl's scalp.
- I know – Maria whispers, tightening the hold she has over Tsubasa's hand as a timid tear escapes her eyes and falls onto the young girl's lap.
Tsubasa smiles softly, before she begins to hum "Apple" again, and Maria can only close her eyes to enjoy the calming sensation that Tsubasa's soft voice and caresses brings within them, slowly falling asleep.