"So Yuu… do you think you could stay the night at my place?"

This was asked by none other than Touko as she and Yuu were walking home from school together one day, hand in hand. Twilight filled the sky as the streets were relatively empty, making for a peaceful stroll. Yuu looked up at Touko and gave an audible hum as she looked to be pondering the question.

"I mean, I'm not quite sure if I can." Yuu admitted with a defeated look on her face. "I already spent the last three days at your place so my parents will probably insist I shouldn't be going over so much. Since well… it'll probably come off as suspicious." Yuu explained as Touko sighed with a defeated look on her face.

"Right… and it wouldn't change anything if I just came over to your house either." Touko pointed out as she then gave a weak smile to the shorter girl. "They'll probably find it suspicious we're spending so much time with each other, regardless of which house we go to…"

"Mmhmm. Is everything okay?" Yuu asked, noticing the distraught look on her face. "You look like something's on your mind. Want to talk about it?" Yuu offered.

"I just hope I haven't been exhausting you lately" Touko said, feeling insecure. Yuu responded by shaking her head and giving Touko's hand a gentle squeeze, making the raven haired girl smile a bit.

"Stupid… you don't ever have to worry about that. If I could have it my way, we'd be… w-well… ya know…" Yuu trailed off, feeling her cheeks redden.

"Oh my goodness… embarrassed Yuu!" Touko thought. "She's even cuter… how is that possible?!" Touko then quickly snapped herself out of her thoughts as she was desperate to hear more. "No no, could you clarify?" Touko asked sincerely as Yuu just sighed and looked at her feet while they kept walking.

"I'd… have us live together. So don't ever worry about asking to come over for the night or inviting me over or anything like that, okay?" Yuu explained as Touko gave Yuu a tight side hug and giggled. Touko looked like she was about to say more but before they knew it, they had both arrived at the bookstore that also served as Yuu's home. Touko gave an audible whine as she looked hesitant.

"Err… Touko?" Yuu pointed out how close they still were as Touko's eyes went wide. She immediately broke up the side hug and stepped back from the smaller girl, her cheeks still red.

"S-Sorry! I got caught up in the moment and just…" The taller girl sighed, slumping her shoulders as she gave a pout. "The walks never last long enough…" Touko said as she very much looked bummed.

"There she goes again, pouting and being adorable" Yuu thought to herself as she looked all around her. When she could tell the coast was clear, Yuu quickly went up to Touko and leaned in to peck her on the lips. This made both of the girl's hearts flutter as Touko was grinning.

"I'm gonna miss you… I…" Touko started as she reached her hand out briefly before pulling it away. "I hope we can live together too, Yuu. That'd be a dream come true." Touko said as Yuu smiled back at her.

"Before you go… I want you to remind you of something." Yuu said as Touko gave her a curious look while cocking her head to the side. You'll see me tomorrow at school, okay?" Yuu pointed out.

"Pardon?" Touko asked as she wasn't exactly following what Yuu meant.

"This is just speculation on my part but well… ever since I was allowed to leave the hospital and go back to school, you've been wanting to spend the night with me every day. "Yuu pointed out as Touko's eyes widened, the older girl knowing she'd been caught red handed. "Not to mention that you've also been walking me home, even when you can't stay the night!" Yuu finished with her observation as Touko twiddled her thumbs around and avoided eye contact.

"Here I thought I was being more discreet about all that… I suppose subtly still isn't one of my strong suits." Touko said as Yuu gave her a look of disbelief.

"That was you trying to be subtle?! Oh geez…" Yuu shook her head and giggled. "I mean don't get me wrong, all the walks and staying at your place has been fun but I just want to reassure you that I'll be okay. I promise." Yuu reassured as Touko met back with the girl's eyes and nodded. Life seemed to return to the older girl's eyes as she seemed far more reassured.

"I love you." Touko said simply as those three little words meant everything to Yuu.

"I love you too. You can always call or text me if you start getting worried again, okay?" Yuu offered as she felt her phone vibrate. Looking at it quickly, she noticed it was her mother asking when she was going to get home, making Yuu sweat drop. "Shoot, I better get inside! Later Touko!" Yuu then scrambled inside in such a panicky way that Touko couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

"I'll see you tomorrow, huh? Yeah… I will. Everything will be okay." Touko muttered as she reminded herself of those words of reassurance. Touko then headed home herself before her own parents would start to worry.

It was about midnight over at the Nanami residence as Touko was just about to get ready for bed. Touko was getting comfortable in her bed but before she would turn off the nearby lamp, her eyes fell onto one of the pictures on the counter, the family photo that had her older sister in it. Touko grabbed that picture frame and rested it on her lap as she stared at the picture and felt herself getting lost in memories. But a primary thought kept plaguing Touko's mind as she kept thinking about her sister.

"I lost her… and I almost lost Yuu." Touko thought to herself as her hands holding the picture frame started to shake a bit. "What am I supposed to do if I DO lose Yuu? How am I supposed to cope? God I wish I was with her right now… no! I can't be too clingy like that! I just have to believe in her. She's going to be okay and I'll see her tomorrow. I'll get past this… I will. I…" Touko shook her head as she couldn't stop imagining different scenarios of what if Yuu wasn't around anymore.

"Touko?" A voice called out, making Touko snap out of her thoughts. By the doorway to her room was her father. He looked at her with his typical stern expression but with the slightest trace of concern that Touko could detect. "Why are you still awake? You have school tomorrow." Her father pointed out as he noticed the picture that Touko was holding. "I see… so that's why." He simply stated as he went over and sat on the edge of the bed, prompting Touko to sit up properly herself as she looked very embarrassed.

"Sorry about that. I'll be sure to-" Touko started but her father cut her off by raising his hand, motioning for her to be silent as Touko did exactly that.

"Your mother and I think about her often too. Sometimes, the pain can be so unbearable that I can't sleep too." Her father explained as Touko listened intently. He looked at her and nodded before grabbing the photo frame and looking at it himself. "You're thinking about your friend, aren't you? Koito?" He inquired as Touko was stunned by her father's keen observation.

"How did you…" Touko started but her father continued before she could finish.

"Cherish the time you have with her. Focus on the present and not waste time on hypothetical what ifs." Her father instructed as he looked at her with an even softer gaze, one Touko personally hadn't seen in a long time from him. "When Mio died, I tormented myself on what would happen if I would lose you or your mother as well. It felt like it was driving myself to the point of insanity. Koito recently had that car accident so you must be worrying yourself sick over losing her too, aren't you?" He clarified as Touko nodded.

"I just… I can't imagine losing her. I can't." Touko said as her father nodded.

"She really means that much to you, doesn't she?" He asked as once again, Touko just nodded. This made him crack a rare smile "Yes… that much is certainly clear. Good. It's good for you to have someone so irreplaceable in your life. Make every moment with her count and don't waste your energy assuming bad things will happen. That's what I intend to do for both you and your mother. You should do the same for her." He advised as he stood up from the bed and brought the picture back to the nearby counter.

"Father… thank you." Touko said as the much older man nodded at her, his stern expression returning. As he was leaving, he looked back at Touko once more who was texting on her phone with a smile on her face . He looked as though he wanted to ask her something but instead, he shook his head and left the room. As he closed the door to Touko's room, he couldn't help but wonder when he should ask her the question that's been on both his and his wife's mind.

"Those two… Surely a bond much deeper than simple friendship. If that were the case…

…

…

…

"That would be nice." He thought to himself with a smile as he got ready to sign off for the night himself.