And so, both Marisa and Keine began taking care of each other, both thinking they were unwell, one true, one false. Marisa was content being the substitute and taking care of Keine, although rumors did start up about 'Miss Keine Kirisame', and Keine was only mildly annoyed with taking care of Marisa's 'delusions'. Of course, Marisa seemed the most content, making sure Keine was well.
"You really do need to stop trying to work hard, Keine…" Marisa sighed, smiling weakly. Keine pouted, childish, but cute – was always slightly cute to Marisa, of course, to see someone as mature as Keine slump to down to what they declared was 'Marisa's level'. "It's getting hard to manage, ze."
"Says the delusional magician….I wonder if all those years of eating mushrooms really did take a toll on you…" Keine muttered.
"Ah, you know how to get me, sensei…." Marisa shook her head, but shrugged lightly. "Anything ya need, da ze?"
"Just a glass of water would be excellent….oh, and today's test papers, I'd like to grade them myself…" Keine smiled.
"Too hardworking, too hardworking, I don't get it, why do you like this stuff…?" Marisa blinked.
"Well….it's something to do, and I like to see how far my students have improved. It's very good to see it, especially if it's a great improvement. I'm proud of Cirno, especially."
"Cirno? The arrogant 9-ball?"
"Don't call her that, that sets her off."
"I know that, but she needs to be dragged down some way, ze."
"You're cruel, Kirisame…"
"Nah, not cruel, just…..just. Fair."
"I wouldn't say that, you're not fair towards anyone, especially not me."
"You're a different matter."
"…Stop flirting, you delusional witch, and get me the testing papers. Pronto." Keine tilted her head away, refusing to listen. Marisa merely sighed, and walked off, returning with a stack of papers, and a lot of cards in another bin.
"Eh? What're those?" Keine looked at the cards with a curious expression. Marisa's response was a grin, and quite simple.
"Read 'em."
Keine picked up one, looking at the cover, it was a stick figure Cirno holding Keine and Marisa's hands. She already smiled, opening it, and reading the (misspelled) words inside.
"Sinsei, eye miss yew. Pleese comb back and say helloh. And Marisa is nice and shee really likes yew excpt shee's mean two me sometimes and calls me a nine ball, but she messes up my hair after that so she's okay :)
Pleese get well soon
Cirno"
Keine closed it, small tears in her eyes, with a smile that'd make any heart melt instantly (at least, in Marisa's opinion). "You had them do this?"
"No, not at all, actually. Cirno suggested it, and soon all of her group…..the student brigade, I think that's what they named themselves….all of them started doing it, which made the rest of the class want to. So I let them, ze. Thought it'd make you feel better, at least a bit." Marisa crossed her arms, clearly proud of herself.
"It did….t-thank you, Marisa."
"Do I get a thank-you kiss?"
"…You really want that as a reward?"
"Yes."
Keine sighed, looked down, blushed lightly, but finally nodded. "Fine, but just on the cheek, you delusional, affectionate witch." She looked up, a blushing but determined expression.
W-Wah, she accepted…
"Good enough for me." Marisa leaned down, and Keine kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"Happy?"
"Very. Don't know why it took you as much as it did, though, not like I'm that horrible…" Marisa smiled, standing up straight again, although she was bursting with joy at getting that much.
"You're not horrible, no, but you're not exactly Prince Charming either…" Keine sighed. Marisa stuck her hands on her hips.
"Would you believe I wasn't delusional if I said I would be for you?"
"Then you'd be considered even more delusional."
"I swear, Keine, I'm not delusional, I'm telling the truth!"
"You're delusional and lustful."
"Only a bit lustful, and I'm a magician who centers on love, I can't help it!"
"How pathetic."
"Oi, I can be romantic when I want to be…." Marisa sighed, then came back with her most sincere face. "You're more mature than me. You're more beautiful, hell, it's the littlest things you do that made me start to like you. You're cute when you pout, you're even cuter when you're angry, you're absolutely beautiful when happy, and even if you get the upper hand over me a good chunk of the time, you can easily go down to my level and begin trading insults like the best of 'em, against your better judgement, da ze. All those things…."
"You're a sympathetic liar, don't try to butter me up."
"…Fine then, I'll pull out my trap card, ze. The night you got injured, as you drifted off to sleep…"
"Yes?"
"I smiled, gave my most sincere face, told you goodnight, and kissed you on the forehead. You didn't mind at all." Marisa grinned. Keine turned pale, and then a deep red. Unfortunately, she soon turned that red into rage.
"YOU DID WHAT? N-No one does that! Ever! You disgusting, perverted, lustful trickster magician! If I had lesser morals, I'd kill you right now! YOU DO NOT DO THAT, KIRISAME, YOU CREEP! T-THAT'S NOT WHAT'S DONE!" Keine grinded her teeth, furious.
"….Okay, you're cute when you're mildly angry, but when you're furious, you're scary. Why're you snapping at me like this, eh, ze…"
"I have my reasons. NOW GET OUT! I WON'T NEED ANYTHING FOR THE REST OF THE DAY, AND AS SOON AS WE SOLVE THIS CRAP, YOU'RE GETTING AS FAR AWAY FROM ME AS POSSIBLE!"
Marisa raised her hands up, sighed, then walked out as Keine looked at the clock.
"Oh, good, about an hour until rest time…" She smiled weakly, then opened her book. About an hour later, Keine closed it, placing a bookmark inside. "Alright, then. Time to go to….no, I need more water…" She sighed, but weakly got up, wincing lightly. Walking out, she looked at the floor, seeing an all-too familiar shape nuzzled up near her door, a small blanket draped across her and a pillow beneath her head. Smiling, Keine sighed, shook her head, and then crouched down, kissing Marisa on the forehead.
There's the taste of your own medicine, Kirisame…
Unlike Keine, however, Marisa blushed lightly, smiling, muttering something under her breath that sounded like "I love you too, Keine"; as Keine walked off to get herself a glass of water.
It was tranquil the entirety of the night….quite a contrast with the next day's events.