Disclaimer: You can tell i'm not the creator of Suki: A Like Story because, like Touko, i am not a fan of Asou being the main love interest. That's all CLAMP.
Prompt: Originally started for Femslash February 2022 Day 17 – Feathers, but i didn't finish in time.
It had been a while since Touko and Hina had gone on a picnic together. For that matter, it had been a while since Touko had had some of Hina's delicious cooking.
Touko had missed this. Having Hina all to herself was the best. Especially since it wasn't any kind of special occasion – it was just an ordinary late-spring afternoon. The cherry blossoms had fallen months ago, and the trees had already replaced them with green leaves. Golden Week had passed too. This was a totally normal Sunday, and that was why having a picnic was so special.
Hina had brought the food for their picnic, as well as some picture books she wanted to share with Touko. Touko herself brought their drinks and a blanket for them to sit on. It was getting close to time for the June rains to start, but they weren't quite there yet. This would be one of their last chances to hang out outside for a while.
It wasn't as though either of the girls was going to any extra lengths to make this date special – at least, not any more special than any picnic with Hina was. it was just the two of them, out in the park, and that was what Touko loved more than anything.
By now, they were mostly done eating; Hina's picnic basket stood open, and their two plates were littered with crumbs. The bottles of juice Touko had brought were set aside, nearly empty.
Hina had gotten fidgety; she kept casting glances at the Piffle Princess® bag behind her on the blanket. Touko stifled a laugh. She knew what Hina had in there.
"Shall we look at your stories now, Hina-chan?" she asked. Hina lit up like a puppy who'd been offered a walk.
"Sure!" she exclaimed, and pulled her bag around to her lap. She took out a slim stack of picture books, and Touko had just time to see an admittedly adorable drawing of two bears on the cover of one before a long black feather landed on the picture.
Hina blinked and looked around and up. "Did a bird just drop that?"
"It looks like it." Touko reached across to pick the feather up.
What kind is it, do you know?"
"It must be a crow's wing feather." Touko glanced at Hina's curious face, just centimeters from hers. On impulse, she twirled the tip of the feather against Hina's cheek.
Hina jerked back, laughing. From there, Touko had no choice but to follow her with the feather. "You won't get away!"
Hina fell back, screaming with laughter. "No, wait – Touko-chan–!"
"There's no use resisting!" Touko cried. "That crow must've given us this feather for a reason! I have no choice but to use it!"
"Noooo!" Hina howled. She twisted and squirmed and managed to wriggle out from under Touko's assault. She grabbed Touko's arm and gave her a sweet smile.
Touko's breath caught.
"Revenge!" Hina exclaimed, going for Touko's unguarded sides. Touko yelped and fell over. Hina's grin was no longer sweet, and Touko tried desperately to shield herself. Hina tickled her relentlessly, and Touko had to fight the need to kick out. In the turmoil, her head knocked into one of the open bottles of juice. It was still full enough to spill; Touko could feel it splashing cold over her scalp. "Ack!"
"Oh no!" Hina cried.
"Save the books!" Touko exclaimed. She didn't care what happened to her – she could always take a shower – but she couldn't let the books be ruined.
Hina dove over her to snatch them up. Touko fumbled around by her head until she found the bottle and righted it. Hina climbed off her, and Touko sat up. "How's the damage?" she asked.
"It's okay, we got it," Hina said. "But your hair . . ."
Touko ruefully reached up to touch her hair, and immediately regretted it. Hina dug around in her pockets until she found a handkerchief to offer Touko.
It probably wouldn't do much good, but Touko took it anyway. She couldn't turn down anything from Hina. "It's all right," she said, as she wiped off as much liquid as she could. "I can clean up later. And it's kind of my fault, anyway."
"No!" Hina exclaimed loyally. "I mean . . ." She trailed off. Being Hina, she couldn't blame the crow who'd originally dropped the feather, either. "It was an accident."
Touko hid a smile. "It was," she agreed.
Hina reached out and caught hold of her hand. "No, don't," she said. "You don't smile enough, Touko-chan, don't cover it up when you do."
Touko could feel the heat rising in her chest. She spent so much time worrying over Hina, it always caught her off guard to realize that Hina worried about her too. "Okay," she said, her smile as much out of nerves now as it was happiness. "I'll try not to."
Hinata beamed. "Good. Now . . ." She trailed off as she looked down at the ruins of their picnic.
"It's fine," Touko said reassuringly. "We were basically done anyway. No harm done."
Hina laughed. "You're right." She leaned over to start picking up the scattered remnants of their bentos, and pack away the two bottles. Touko squeezed the last of the juice out of Hina's handkerchief into the grass and chipped in to help. "Shall we read your stories together, after this?"
"Yes!" Hina exclaimed. "I'd love that."
And just like that, the rest of their afternoon was settled.