Both of them are lounging in Tsukasa's bed, laden with fancy beddings and warm comforters. Two mugs of hot chocolate rest atop candy-patterned coasters on the studying desk, where several pocketbooks line up the outer side. The morning is lazy, and the weather is cool enough to stay in.

Shizuha's catching up on some sleep. She spent her Saturday cooped up in her room, a little exhausted. In her arms, completely awake, is Tsukasa scrolling down her social media. A notification pings from her phone and she rolls over to the other side of the bed.

"Oh? Yachiyo-san is sending us her congratulations."

Shizuha is stirring next to her. She's keeping her eyes closed.

"Is it about Venus and Cupid?"

"Yeah." Tsukasa taps the heart icon to leave a like on her kouhai's message. A weight shifts beside her. She pokes Shizuha on the cheek. "Hey, are you peeking?"

Adjusting their positions a little, Shizuha lets her forehead bump against the side of Tsukasa's temple. "Just curious."

Tsukasa laughs. "Not much here you aren't supposed to see."

She idly scrolls up her messages with the pink-haired Edel to show Shizuha that it is indeed a casual conversation between friends. She stares at the heart reacts.

"Does she know about us?"

"I don't think so. I haven't told her." Truthfully, she hasn't told anyone yet. "She thinks we're together. As in…" she gestures to Shizuha, then back to herself, "like hanging out."

"It could mean anything." Shizuha snuggles against Tsukasa's back.

Tsukasa shrugs, noncommittal as she thinks of a response to send to the Siegfeld student. "I don't mind more people knowing about us."

"Me neither," Shizuha says, and, after a pause, "Including Tsuruhime-san?"

"Including Yachiyo-san," Tsukasa replies. For a moment, she doesn't move, only turns her head to look behind her. It takes some time before Shizuha realizes Tsukasa is watching her. She furrows her brows, amused.

"You think I'm jealous." It was a statement, not a question. Tsukasa smiles.

"I didn't say that."

"Well, three can be a crowd," Shizuha replies, with an air of ease. She's sleepy enough to take Tsukasa's jibes in stride. She moves a little closer, hooking her head on Tsukasa's shoulder with her chin.

"Shizuha, I can't move like this."

"My bad," she says groggily, almost contentedly, and not budging. Tsukasa indulges her.

"Mm, okay. Hold still." Tsukasa opens her camera and smiles for a photo. Just as the phone makes the noise of a shutter, Shizuha pecks her on the cheek.

Eager to get back at her, Tsukasa lets her nose lightly bump against Shizuha's own, much to her delight.

The photo ends up looking really nice: She's grinning at the camera and Shizuha's tenderly holding her as she leans for a kiss.

"Ohh yeah, we're really cute like this."

"We are."

Shizuha's arms around Tsukasa are hanging more loosely as Tsukasa leans back on her for a more comfortable position, fumbling with her phone.

"It looks good enough to post," Shizuha says conversationally.

Tsukasa lets her thumb hover where the post button is. "This one?"

Shizuha hums affirmatively, resting her head in the crook of Tsukasa's neck.

"I don't know." Tsukasa lengthens the last syllable for emphasis. She's in the mood for a little mischief.

"Mmm. Why?" Shizuha tugs on at the ends of Tsukasa's hair, somewhat absently.

"I kind of want to keep this one to ourselves," she says, exaggerating the tone so Shizuha can tell she's joking. "You know, let people find out about us on their own."

"It'll be easier going if you do post it, I think," Shizuha says, languid. "We'll be a very interesting topic of conversation once Tsuruhime-san and I meet tomorrow."

Tsukasa adjusts herself in her seat, suddenly curious. "Really?"

Shizuha looks like she's seriously contemplating something when she says, "It wouldn't hurt. We could do it over a game of cards."

"That's fast. What kind of game?"

"Concentration, solitaire," Shizuha pauses, musing, "bluff."

Tsukasa suppresses a smile. "And I don't know about this meeting because…?"

"Oh, no plans have been made just yet. We did agree to see each other at the café sometime though."

Raising an eyebrow, Tsukasa smiles. "Not if I take her out first."

Shizuha opens one eye, her knee nudging Tsukasa's leg. "Tsuruhime-san might be overwhelmed having both of us for company, no?"

"We'll have to do it one at a time, then."

"Then it's settled."

"I can never tell when you're joking," Tsukasa says, and Shizuha smiles affably.

"What do you think?"

"Shizuha, play nice," Tsukasa taps her on the nose playfully. Shizuha has definitely won this round. "Are you really meeting her at a café this week?"

Looking pleased with herself, Shizuha then puts on a thoughtful expression. "Well, not tomorrow. And not in the way you might be thinking."

Tsukasa adds, to be certain, "So, not a date, then?"

Shizuha slowly shakes her head, eyes droopy. She looks ready to sleep again. "Not unless you're there."

Shizuha's wit is as quick as ever. She must still be in good humor. Tsukasa turns around and gives Shizuha a peck on the forehead, cradling her face in her hands. It may not have been too obvious but she notices the way Shizuha relaxes. When Shizuha smiles Tsukasa's palms become full with her cheeks. They both ease back into the embrace.

"You're serious?"

"I'm…sleepy." Shizuha stifles a yawn and holds her tighter.

"Okay, okay. I'm not going anywhere."

Shizuha exhales in contentment, her breath just barely tickling her ear. When she's certain she's finally asleep again, Tsukasa opens her phone.

Their photo together really does look sweet. For a few seconds, she briefly considered posting the image, then she did.

A new notification fades in from her top pane, and she swipes it down to read the message.

Oh.

It's a comment from Yachiyo. If she didn't know about their relationship then, she certainly had an idea now. Well, Shizuha did say she's meeting Yachiyo tomorrow. Tsukasa quickly sends back a reply to Yachiyo, biting back a laugh. It won't hurt to fluster her a bit. Maybe it will be a date. She'll ask Shizuha when she wakes up.