ASLEEP

"Nagisa, I really don't want to intrude, but if you want, I can help you get closer to Shougo," Honoka said after seeing Nagisa looking a little melancholy because of the desire to have a boyfriend.

Also, for Honoka, Nagisa's crush on her childhood friend was no secret.

"Listen, I know it's going to sound weird, but I get really nervous when I'm around him, and I'm also awkward when he's around," Nagisa explained. "You've already seen me. I'm not supposed to feel like this, am I?"

"You have a point. You usually look much stressed when he approaches you," Honoka noted.

Nagisa took a deep breath. "That's what I mean; I like to see him more from a distance, that's all. I don't understand why, but that's how I feel."

Honoka understood a little better, but she thought it wasn't a good idea to tell Nagisa directly that it was just strong admiration mixed with the "duty" she had to like a boy. Besides, she might not understand yet, not until she herself opened her eyes.

"Unfortunately, I can't help you with such a personal matter, it's your feelings and you must give yourself time to understand them. But you'll be able to do it, I promise you."

"How?" Nagisa looked desperate.

"Grandma always says that you should always think about what you really want to do."

"Sounds simple, but it's not, is it?"

"It's never easy," Honoka said with a soft smile. "What I can do for you is help you relax so you can clear your head. A nap will restore your mood."

Nagisa already knew what that meant, and it was an offer she would never refuse. Without giving it much thought, she lay down on Honoka's lap. The afternoon was warm and they were in her favorite place: the river bank. Honoka smiled and began to comb her fingers through Nagisa's hair to help her relax. Ever since that time they kissed, they used to be a little closer physically. Nothing out of place, of course, just more direct displays of affection.

"So I just have to think about what I really want to do, right?"

"Yes, just that, it can be as simple or complicated as you want."

Nagisa laughed, she knew herself, and she used to overthink things, more than she should. "I'll try". She looked at her friend and would never get tired of thinking about how beautiful she was. So pretty, that if Nagisa liked girls, she would definitely date Honoka. Her kisses felt good, by the way. "Help me a bit," Nagisa resumed the conversation. "What would you like to do right now?"

"Right now?" Honoka laughed. "What I would really like right now is for you to stop feeling bad because you're single. The person who will make your heart beat like crazy will arrive sooner or later."

"And couldn't that person come over soon?"

Honoka laughed a cute laugh. "Just sleep, you need it."

"Yes ma'am!"

Nagisa fell asleep in Honoka's comfortable lap. Her naps used to last from twenty to forty minutes, so when she woke up thirty minutes later and sat up, she was surprised to see that Honoka had also fallen asleep on the cool grass. This was the first time Nagisa had seen Honoka sleep. She looked very pretty. Beautiful. Honoka was seriously beautiful.

"I can't believe it…" Nagisa seriously couldn't believe it. She sighed deeply as she looked at Honoka's sleeping face. Nagisa smiled helplessly and with her fingers she arranged a lock of Honoka's hair. I don't know what you're doing with me when you could be with a cute girlfriend. You're so cute; you could get a girlfriend anytime you want, Nagisa thought, still smiling.

But Nagisa liked having Honoka by her side. "If I liked girls, I'd really like to go out with you, Honoka..." Nagisa muttered in a very low voice. She looked at her friend's lips. Nagisa had already kissed those lips more than once and at that moment she would really like to kiss them, but Honoka was asleep and it wasn't right to steal a kiss from her without her consent. Nagisa blushed.

Honoka always protected her, helped her, and was by her side ever since they allowed themselves to be together. Nagisa wanted to do something for her, but she couldn't think of anything. What could she do for someone like Honoka Yukishiro? Nagisa knew herself, she wasn't the smartest or the prettiest or the most trustworthy but...

"Let me be with you," Nagisa asked a sleeping Honoka and she was the one who allowed Honoka to sleep on her lap.

That was what she wanted right now.