Texas took a deep and satisfying sip of coffee. It was 7 o'clock in the morning, and she was leaning against the kitchen counter back at Penguin Logistics HQ. Usually, she was the only one awake at this time. Today, however, things were a tad different. Sora walked into the kitchen, looking as though she hadn't slept a wink. Naturally, this troubled Texas, who cared for her teammates if no one else at all.
"Good morning, Sora."
No response. The dazed idol staggered her way to the coffee machine, mumbling something incomprehensible. Texas's frown only deepened.
"I see you didn't sleep very well last night."
That's when Sora went on the offensive. She scowled at Texas, and turned up her nose. "And I think you had a wonderful night last night. Am I wrong?"
Texas blinked. Clearly Sora's response had surprised her. "I beg your pardon?" That's when Sora sighed.
"Texas… I appreciate you. You know that I do. You do so much here, for me—for us. But... " Sora trails off, sighing deeply. She pinches the bridge of her nose, which has Texas looking even more concerned. Sora rarely behaved in such a manner. Only when she was truly stressed did she really make it known to everyone around her.
"Sora, if I did something to wrong you, I need to be made aware of it. It's the only way I'll know to refrain from doing it again in the future."
That seemed to be what Sora wanted to hear. Her shoulders slumped; she became visibly less distraught, much to Texas's relief. However, it's what the idol said next that truly shook her.
"You and Exusiai last night," she began, and already Texas went pale, "you were soooo loud that I couldn't sleep. It was… just SO much."
"...Ah. I see."
Texas held her coffee mug in a vise-like grip. Her knuckles turned white, and her cheeks turned red. "I'm sorry," she said, first and foremost. "I hadn't realized… that our… I didn't mean to cause trouble for you."
Sora tried a tired smile. "Well, I'm just glad you feel sorry about it."
"Of course I do," said Texas.
"I don't mind that you and Exusiai are fooling around sometimes. But just try to keep it down a little bit at night, okay? Pretty please? I don't want to hear that kind of dirty stuff for hours."
"No no, you're right, I understand. Thank you for letting me know, Sora, really. I promise we'll—"
"GOOOOOOOOD MORNING~!" A bright and bubbly angel just slid into the kitchen. Exusiai wore a happy smile on her face, and she seemed to radiate good vibes. "Happy Saturday! Wow, I slept great! G'morning, Sora! Good morning, Texas~!"
The dark-haired Lupo cringed. Her eye twitched, and she could feel Sora's death glare on her. She didn't even have to look at the blonde idol to know that she was silently fuming. Somehow, though, Exusiai didn't notice. Maybe because she was too busy rocking her booty to and fro, while she poured herself a cup of coffee and stayed close to her not-so-secret lover.
"Texas, I wanna go to the clothing store today. Can you drive?" The angel turned to look at Texas, pouting playfully. Texas sighed, feeling sheepish.
"Well, I'd rather drive than let you get behind the wheel, so… I guess I'd better, huh?"
"I knew you'd say that! Then afterwards, maybe we can get some ice cream! And then maybe we can watch a movie! Or maybe the theater sells ice cream?" She knit her brow as if she was deep in thought, suddenly.
"One step at a time, Exusiai… for now, just get dressed and go wait in the car, alright?"
"I'm already dressed!" Exusiai gestured to her person. She wore a cherry red shirt beneath an open black jacket. Texas shook her head.
"Exusiai… those are my clothes."
"Hmm." Sora rolled her eyes, taking a drink from her coffee mug. Exusiai giggled, playfully.
"Welllllllll… why do you think we're going to the clothing store today? All my stuff's in the wash! And besides… don't your clothes look good on me~?" She struck a little pose, pulling at the flaps of Texas's (now hers) jacket. "I get to wear your clothes now. That's like… the girlfriend privilege, right?"
"HMMMMMMM." Sora pretended to look at something else; the arrangement of the tiles on the kitchen floor were utterly fascinating at this point in time.
Texas groaned. She couldn't shoo Exusiai out of the room fast enough.
That night…
Sora let out a deep and tired yawn. At long last, it was time for bed. She only hoped this night would go a lot better than the one before.
She'd brushed her teeth and got into her pajamas. The sleep mask was on. The covers were pulled up. She could feel herself drifting off… one ticket to Dreamland, please. Round trip.
But then, right before Sora's able to board the snooze cruise… it happens.
Creak.
A sound.
Creak.
That terrible, telltale sound.
Creak.
Coming from just next door.
No, she thinks to herself, impossible. There is simply no way. She warned Texas to quiet down with Exusiai just this morning. She warned her! Would she really stab her in the back like this?!
Creak creak creak.
And then at the same time, she heard a moan from beyond the room's wall. No way around it: that was definitely Exusiai's voice. Is this how Sora's nights were going to be from now on? Trying in vain to sleep while her two co-workers went at it for hours? It was certainly beginning to seem that way. Sora covered her head with a pillow, hoping to muffle the sounds of lust from beyond the room. Or perhaps she could suffocate herself to death.
"Shhhh… keep your voice down," Sora heard a whisper through the wall. "You're going to wake someone up."
And then a giggle from Exusiai. "It's so haaaard to keep my voice down with you… oh, Texas~!"
"Hush your mouth, Exusiai… nnghh…"
"Why don't you silence me yourself?" And then, it sounded like that was exactly what was happening. Sora had had enough. She'd tried to be nice when broaching the subject, but she was getting far too tired for this.
Perhaps she couldn't Silence her coworkers, but she could certainly Sleep them. This was yet another instance in which she was glad to be proficient with Arts. All she had to do was sing her magic song, and…
Well, that's exactly what she did. Concentrating as best she could, Sora began to sing her Hymn of Respite, and almost as soon as she started with her mystic frequencies, she could no longer hear Texas or Exusiai going at it. There was a sudden quiet beyond the room, and she knew that it had worked: she had put her co-workers to sleep with her Arts. She waited a few moments, before she allowed a smile to cross her features.
"Sheesh… I should have just done that from the very beginning," the idol mused.
Evening passed, and morning followed. Sora was in the kitchen, having returned to the coffee machine in higher spirits. She slept much better last night, and so she wasn't so cranky or disheveled this time.
Exusiai entered the kitchen, and much to Sora's surprise, she didn't look ashamed or upset with what she did. In fact, Exusiai seemed almost excited. This wasn't a good sign.
"Good morning, Exusiai," Sora said, smiling a little bit. "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Pfft. No thanks to you! As soon as I knew you were singing me and Texas to sleep with your Arts, I knew we were fucked. And not even in a good way!" The Sankta put her hand on her hip, cocking it to the side. Sora shook her head.
"Serves you right for keeping me up at night," Sora shot back. "Sorry to knock you out the way I did, but—"
"We need you to do that again!" Exusiai exclaimed, and Sora blinked with confusion.
"What?"
"We need you to use your Arts again, just like you did last night! Maybe tonight?" Exusiai asked, looking hopeful. Sora was more than a little confused, now.
"I don't get it," the idol said, "I thought I put you two to sleep last night?"
"You did," Exusiai replied, smiling, "but this time, I think it'll be really fun if Texas wears ear plugs when you do it, so only I'll fall asleep, and then—" She couldn't finish her sentence, because Sora bonked her over the head. "Ow!"
"I'm not contributing to your somnophilia fetish!" Sora scowled. "Don't make me your third wheel to this nonsense!"
"Okay, okay!" Exusiai smiled sheepishly. "Then… would it be too much to ask for you to use your Hymn of Battle tonight, instead?" Exusiai started to blush.
"What?" Sora furrowed her brow. "Why?"
"Increased attack damage. You can never have too much thrust…~"
Sora put down the cup of coffee. "Wait right here."
"Oh? Where are you going?" She watched Sora calmly turn around and exit the kitchen.
"I'm going to see if I can find Croissant's sledgehammer. Clearly you need a harder bonking."
"Waaah! Sora, wait! I was just kidding! Sora!"