Midnight Fast Food Therapy

Summary - Setsuna, Kasumi, and Karin can't sleep. So they go out and get McDonalds.

Ship: Friendship

AN: This is a College AU.

Late nights were a common occurrence at any college university.

Papers needed to be written, projects needed to be worked on, experiments needed to be conducted, and sometimes alcohol just needed to be consumed. There were many reasons for students to be up all hours of the night doing who-knows-what.

Sometimes these students were together, working toward a common goal for a common benefit. But just as common were the loners, the ones burning the midnight oil seemingly without a friend in the world for their own self-interest. Usually these students kept to themselves, eschewing as much human contact as possible to ensure their own goals were met.

But sometimes these ships passing in the night found temporary harbor amidst the daily tumult of youth and academia.

Namely at the 24-hour McDonalds, with those glowing golden arches as the beckoning lighthouse.

"So why did you want to get McDonalds at 3am on a weekday?" asked Karin curiously as they waited for their order.

"Why not?" shrugged Kasumi. "I was awake, you were awake. Let's do something. It's not so strange."

"So you say, but I can't help but feel as if you have some ulterior motive."

"Just what are you accusing me of?!"

"I'm sure Karin-san didn't mean it like that, Kasumi-san," said Setsuna placatingly. "But this is certainly an unlikely turn of events, yes?"

"I don't know what you want me to say," retorted the brunette, now marginally annoyed. "I was awake, looked across the courtyard and saw your light on, and texted you. Then we texted Karin-senpai and she was just as willing to go."

Karin hummed in thought. "I have to admit, part of me was wondering if you were going to use this excursion as a childish way of getting us to ruin our diets, but you seem fully willing to indulge in the same."

Setsuna nodded in agreement. "I was also quite surprised to hear your order. I didn't even know they had a 100 piece chicken nugget value meal!"

"Ruin your diets?" asked Kasumi deadpan. "Please. I haven't stooped to such a childish prank since high school."

"Just last week you ordered us a large pizza instead of a medium and said to enjoy the extra calories," retorted Karin.

"And yet she ate the most slices," giggled Setsuna in remembrance.

"I meant that genuinely!" protested Kasumi with an exaggerated pout.

"Yes, the evil smirk you wore and the accompanying cackle were very sincere," teased Karin.

"I for one appreciated the extra energy," chirped Setsuna. "It let me go even further beyond!"

Karin laughed. "And of course, trying to overfeed this one is like trying to overfeed the sun."

"Eh? I'm not sure how I feel about that description," said Setsuna.

"I think it's pretty apt," remarked Kasumi, "The more fuel the sun gets the brighter it shines."

"I guess I'm flattered then," accepted Setsuna sheepishly.

Karin caught sight of their order number. "And on that note..."

A short time later saw the trio of friends at a table, their trays laden with boxes of freshly fried nuggets and containers of crispy fries. Small cups of ketchup balanced precariously atop their bountiful golden harvest, the rest of their table space dedicated to soft drinks, napkins, and Kasumi's extra large hot fudge sundae.

Following a silly little tradition that dated back to their high school days, the girls each sought out the longest fry they could find and crossed them as if they were swords. "Itadakimasu~" they chorused. And with that, the feast began.

"So really, why did you want to go out at 3am for greasy, fried, fast food?" asked Karin between bites.

"I got a sundae too," muttered Kasumi, almost as if she were offended.

"Okay fine, greasy fried fast food and a sugar-laden comfort treat," acknowledged Karin. "However you wanna slice it, this is pretty far from your normal behavior."

Setsuna nodded in agreement. "Kasumi-san, is everything okay?" she asked, eyes gleaming with worry.

"I'm fine," dismissed Kasumi, spooning out another glob of ice cream. "I just couldn't sleep is all."

Setsuna and Karin exchanged a glance, then fixed their stares on Kasumi. They looked on intently as Kasumi attempted to evade their probing looks. She didn't succeed.

"Look, I just... I guess I was caught up thinking about the future," admitted Kasumi somberly.

"Oh? How so?"

Kasumi looked down, idly prodding her sundae as her words came together. "The past few years have been really good, you know? We all met in high school, and we've been together ever since. Not even graduation could stop us from being together for too long, and we even got into to the same university. But after next month..." She looked to the blunette and shrugged helplessly. "You'll be out of college and in the real world with a real job and real responsibilities. Who knows when we'll get to meet up again? Who knows if we'll meet up again?"

"So... you're worried that, once I graduate, I'll just... forget about the two of you?" asked Karin, her words laced with hurt and outrage.

"No," stressed Kasumi, "I'm worried you'll have too much to worry about, too much coming at you at once, and Setsuna-senpai and I will just... slip through the cracks. I'm worried we'll just let it happen. I'm worried that one day, I'll wake up with the horrible realization that we haven't so much as texted for half a year and that we'll never again have what we have now. That we'll never have anything again! And then when Setsuna-senpai graduates..." She trailed off, falling into a quiet unease.

The two older girls exchanged another glance, this one of understanding and sympathy.

"I guess I just... wanted to make a few more precious memories while we still could," finished Kasumi weakly.

Karin leaned towards her and gently placed a hand on her arm.

"Kasumi... I understand this will be hard for you. For all of us really. But like you said, graduating high school didn't stop this, so there's clearly something here we all cherish and treasure. I can't say what the future holds. No one can. But given our history, I don't think it would be misplaced to have a little faith in our bonds, yes?" She offered a wistful smile. "And relationships like ours are a two-way street. Even if, god forbid, I start to slack on my end, you can still pull me back. I want you to pull me back."

"Karin-san is right," interjected Setsuna, passionately grasping Kasumi's other hand with her own. "If she strays too far from us, then it is up to us to keep her involved. And after I graduate, it will be on Karin-san and I to keep up with you as well. So please, Kasumi-san, believe that we'll all care about each other as much as we do now, and that we'll take whatever steps necessary to preserve these bonds, and even strengthen them."

After a short silence, Kasumi's face cracked a small smile. "Thanks guys," she managed. "That... that helps."

They all knew her worries wouldn't disappear with a few simple words, but it was a start.

"Does it help enough to keep you asleep at 3am instead of going out for ice cream and poor dietary choices?" teased Karin.

"I think so, but we'll see."

"Hey, Setsuna-senpai?" began Kasumi. The ravenette looked to her. "What were you doing up so late? Don't you have an early lecture?"

"M-Me?" stuttered Setsuna. "Oh, it's nothing out of the ordinary. Sometimes I find it hard to fall asleep at night. I end up tossing and turning until morning," she said sheepishly, a finger idly scratching her cheek.

Kasumi frowned. "Does that mean you do this often? That's not healthy Setsuna-senpai!"

"I wouldn't say often," defended Setsuna, shrinking into herself. "Just... often enough."

"Is it about what you want to do in life?" asked Karin gently.

Setsuna drooped, the older girl having hit the nail on the head. "Yes," she admitted quietly.

Kasumi and Karin exchanged a look. This was a topic Setsuna had suffered with on a recurring basis. Though she majored in business at the wishes of her family, Setsuna's heart was set on performing, her imagination continuously conjuring idea after idea for stage shows and song productions. It was perhaps even more unfortunate for her divided mind that she excelled in both such areas; it left her without a reasonable excuse for not following her heart.

"I... I know I've talked about this many times before, and I've always stayed on the path my parents have laid out for me. But I just love performing so much! I keep wondering what it would be like to entertain and inspire people for a living."

For a time, the trio sat in silence. After a long and thoughtful slurp of her soda, Karin spoke. "I've said it before and I'll say it again, but you should follow your heart," she advised. "Abiding by your family's preference would be the safe thing, but I think you'd go far in showbiz. I mean it." She looked deeply into Setsuna's eyes. "You're the most passionate person I know, and it would be absolutely tragic for you to not pursue that passion."

The ravenette fidgeted. "My parents would never approve. They didn't approve of our club in high school, and they'd be livid if they knew I was still thinking about it."

"So what? If they won't support you with this, you can stay with me until you make it big."

"Eh?!"

"I've been looking into a place for after graduation, and I've found a decent space. If the worst comes to pass you can move in with me for a while."

"Gee, that escalated quickly," deadpanned Kasumi.

Karin ignored her. "And it would go a long way towards alleviating Kasumi-chan's worry that I might drop off the grid."

"I appreciate the thought," demurred Setsuna, "But that's a bit... much. I don't know if I'm ready to progress to that stage in our relationship!"

"My, doesn't that sound salacious," said Karin teasingly.

"Alternatively," suggested Kasumi, "Why don't you look into getting a job managing idols?"

"...eh?"

"Well maybe not managing them," considered the brunette between nuggets. "That probably wouldn't give you time to perform, but some kind of position in an idol production company. You could work as part of the office, and maybe chip in as a backup dancer or something every now and then."

Setsuna hummed in contemplative thought.

"That's actually quite the clever idea from our little Kasumi-chan," agreed Karin. She reached over and pet the brunette's head. "Good girl, good girl."

"Don't patronize me," snapped Kasumi through a mouthful of fries. "Besides, it's not like you thought of it before either..."

"True, true," conceded Karin. She removed her hand, Kasumi deflating ever so slightly as the headpat stopped. The taller girl giggled. "It's so cute how you enjoy our headpats."

"I am not cute!" protested Kasumi. She paused. "Wait, no, I am cute! Just... you know what I mean!"

"Of course you are," agreed Setsuna, joining in. Her spirit buoyed by the banter between her friends, she leaned in to take over patting Kasumi's head. "Kasumi-san is truly the cutest~!"

The brunette only sighed. "Kasumin gets no respect..." she grumbled without bite.

"Well, that's two down," noted Kasumi. She turned to the blunette. "Karin-senpai? Care to share why you're up so late?"

"Not really," she replied glibly.

"Karin-san," frowned Setsuna. "Please tell us? We can't help you if you keep it to yourself."

Karin sighed. "It's honestly really stupid."

"It can't be that stupid if it's keeping you up till 3am," said Kasumi. "So come on. Spill."

Karin was silent for a time. "...Do you remember Emma? From high school?"

"Your ex?"

The blunette nodded. "The one and only."

Her friends blinked. "Wow. I didn't think you were still stuck on her," remarked Kasumi.

A wry smile crossed her face as she responded. "I wouldn't think so either, but here we are. Today, or I suppose yesterday, would have been our anniversary, had we actually stayed together after she went back to Switzerland." She took a sip of her drink in contemplation. "But actually, I don't think it's so much her, more rather the idea of her."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I don't want Emma back in particular. I want the ideal she represented. A young love, everlasting in its immaturity, one that was passionate and innocently intimate. The perfect romance, if you will." She sighed and shrugged. "But such a romance doesn't exist, and if it does, I'm not fortunate or special enough to find it. So what's even the point of it all? Why bother?"

"That's... very cynical of you," observed Setsuna.

"Yes it is. When it comes to love, I feel emotionally vacant," admitted Karin. "After Emma, the only relationships I've had that have been even remotely as intimate have been with the two of you." She hummed in thought. "I just can't bring myself to open my heart. I guess it makes me wonder if I'll ever love anyone again..."

"Karin-san..." Setsuna trailed off, at a loss for words.

Kasumi however, had no such problem. "Then don't," she said bluntly. "Don't think about it, don't agonize over it; just realize that love isn't for you and accept it."

"Kasumi-san!" exclaimed the ravenette with shock.

"No, seriously!" she insisted. "The real world is a cold, unforgiving place. Who can blame you for trying to protect yourself?" She paused. "Look, you fell in love once and it didn't work. And realistically, what did you expect? You were trying to hold a torch for a girl on the other side of the world while also dealing with shit like growing up. You didn't know what you wanted back then and you don't know what you want now." She shrugged. "You had fun while it lasted, right? There's nothing you regret doing while you were with her, right? Then I'd say it was worth it, even the heartbreak and emptyness that followed."

"But Kasumi-san, you're telling her to just give up on love! One of humanity's greatest reasons for living!"

"But not the only one," riposted the brunette. "Setsuna-senpai, you're an optimistic person; it's part of why we love you. But Karin-senpai and I tend to be more cynical. So I say just go with the flow. If you ever feel like trying again, then go for it. We'll support you all the way. But until then, don't bother."

Karin sighed wistfully. "If only emotions could be so simple," she lamented lightly. "I've tried to follow that line of thinking time and again, but I always come back to this insomnia of indecision."

"How poetic of you," deadpanned Kasumi as she munched on a fry.

"Karin-san, if you still have a sliver of desire for romance, I encourage you to nurture that desire and follow it!" exclaimed Setsuna. "Every blazing flame was but an ember, once upon a time."

"See, you say that, but you have the least experience out of all of us when it comes to actual romance," remarked Kasumi mercilessly.

"Well! That may be true but it's irrelevant," defended Setsuna. "Love is a many splendored thing, after all."

"Now you're resorting to common sayings," replied Kasumi. "Here's another: all's fair in love and war. And if war is hell, then so is love."

Setsuna pouted. "This is coming from someone whose only experience with love was an unrequited crush. You never even worked up the courage to confess."

The brunette flinched as if struck. "At least I had someone I wanted to confess to. And really, I've never introduced myself by claiming to be 'a girl in love with love', unlike some people."

Setsuna's pout only grew as a small growl began emanating from the back of her throat, her stare met unflinchingly by Kasumi's defiant leer. It was almost as if a different sort of blazing flame was about to ignite.

The sound of elegant giggling forestalled their bickering.

"Settle down children," interrupted Karin with amusement, "That's enough now."

"But we haven't solved your problem!" protested Setsuna.

"Much like we didn't solve yours either," she reminded gently. "It's fine though. Really. Having insomnia for one night a year is no big deal. Late nights are a part of growing up, right?"

"Still..."

Karin reached out and placed her hand atop Setsuna's, then did the same with Kasumi. "It's enough for me that I got to talk about this after so long, and to my two closest friends in the world."

"That's pretty sappy of you, Karin-senpai."

"You love it," asserted the tallest girl with a smile. "And so do I."

The trio kept talking long into the early morning, sharing possibilities for the future and colorfully playful banter all the while, occupying their table until the first rays of sunlight began peeking over the horizon. The menu had already flipped over to the breakfast items by the time they made their departure, returning to their residences to start the day anew.

~END~

AN: This seemed like a good idea at the time. Not sure how it turned out, but I enjoyed writing this well enough. There's something about midnight fast food therapy with friends that just seems so... romantic?

I'd like to think this can be read as pre-SetsuKasuKarin, but to each their own. :)