'Urgh. Is the screen supposed to be so blurry?'
Tired pink eyes stared blearily at the various shapes and blobs that filled the computer screen, each one appearing distorted and washed out, eyelids blinking rapidly to dispel the itchy haze burning their vision. Rubbing the sleeve of her ruffled blouse over her eyes, desperately trying to rid herself of that infernal fog covering her vision, Mizuki gave her cheeks a couple of sharp slaps to perk herself back up.
She needed to stay awake just a little longer.
The members of Niigo were having their daily meetup on Nightcord to go over everyone's progress on their newest video, the planned deadline for its release was fast approaching as they hoped to capitalize on their current wave of good form, the views and comments on their account growing with each new song they put out. Kanade was currently checking in with all of them to see how they were doing, Ena's voice sounding especially perky as she proudly declared how her newest painting had turned out better than she had hoped, the smug grin on the resident artist of Niigo's face appearing clearly in Mizuki's fog-addled head.
This was the reason for Mizuki's current predicament, the fashion-conscious girl feeling burnt out and lethargic after spending the whole weekend editing the new music video, having forgone sleep, safe for a couple of 30-minute naps here and there, to make sure it was just right. Mizuki had pushed herself harder than ever, barely taking any time to rest or eat during her long hours of work, the pink-haired girl not wanting to disappoint her friends and bandmates by having to delay the video just because she failed to get it done on time.
Coughing softly into her fist, her dry throat feeling scratchy and worn, Mizuki winced slightly as she tenderly pressed her fingers to her forehead, a pounding ache reverberating through her head. Clearly, overworking herself had led to some less than positive results, a rising feeling of sickness permeating Mizuki's body the longer she went without rest.
"Mizuki? Are you okay?" Flinching sharply at the voice appearing in her headphones, one that was unmistakably Ena's, the last person she wanted to worry, Mizuki noticed for the first time that the conversation had come to a sudden halt, all of the attention suddenly placed squarely on the fashion-loving girl.
"Ah, sorry, sorry! Hehe~" Trying to laugh off the artist's concern, clearly aware of how raspy her voice currently was, Mizuki awkwardly scratched her cheek as a thin sheen of sweat clung to her forehead. "I'm fine, I'm fine. My room is just a little dusty."
"Uh-huh." Ena's voice was filled with doubt, her unimpressed glare clearly visible even through Nightcord's voice chat, her tone softening slightly as she continued. "Are you sure you're ok? You seem a bit off today?"
Lowering her head slightly, the deafening silence on the other side as they patiently awaited her answer, Mizuki nervously fiddled with her fingers, noticing for the first time the slight tremble running through her hands. Was she really in that bad a shape after all of that overworking? Or was she just scared to be open and vulnerable with them? Wasn't she over something like that by now? She trusted them.
She trusted Ena.
"Hehe. You caught me." Scratching the back of her head bashfully, unaware that none of them could see her right now, Mizuki embarrassingly admitted what she had done. It was just so hard to lie to Ena. "I maybe, possibly, have been overworking myself a bit to get the video done. I'm ok though, honest!"
A brief silence fell over the call after Mizuki's confession, Niigo's editor feeling a small bead of worry roll down her spine, the beginnings of a veritable storm practically brewing on the other end of the line. It was only a matter of seconds until the lightning came crashing down.
"Eh?! What do you mean you're fine?!"
Leaning back slightly as Ena's angry scream filled her ears, her words stabbing like needles into her brain, Mizuki's stomach rumbling slightly as a wave of nausea washed over her. Yep, definitely not fine.
"You need to take better care of yourself!" Despite the loudness and anger in her voice, there was an undertone of concern in her words, Ena's voice growing softer, "I'm sure Kanade will agree that the video can wait. Your health is more important."
"It's not that bad, honest." Mizuki tried to protest, her words coming out very hollow as another cough passed her lips, the pink-haired girl silently cursing her body's betrayal. "I can just make up for the lost sleep later."
"I agree with Ena." Kanade's soft voice drifted through her headphones, its gentleness a welcome reprieve for her aching head, her words nevertheless hitting her hard. "I'd rather you take care of yourself than get the video done."
"I agree with both of them." To everyone's surprise, Mafuyu decided to join in on the conversation as well, her usually monotone voice for a split second baring the slightest hint of concern. "Being tired will only lead to sloppy work which means it will have to be redone anyway. It'd be better to rest now."
"Fine, fine. I get it. I'll go to bed." Throwing her head back in exasperation, clearly outnumbered in this situation, Mizuki pursed her lips slightly, pouting like a petulant child that was being told what to do by her parents. Though this time it was the collective concerned voices of her friends and bandmates.
"I better not catch you working on it once you log off!" Ena sternly warned, the unspoken threat coming through clear as day, a picture of the short-haired girl glaring angrily as she placed her hands on her hips appeared perfectly in the pink-haired girl's mind's eye, bringing a small smile to Mizuki's face.
"Yes, yes." Chuckling softly to herself, amused and greatly touched by her friend's concern for her health, Mizuki had to get one last teasing remark in before calling it a day. "Goodnight!"
After the rest of the group bid her goodnight, Mizuki logged off of Nightcord before shutting down her computer, the pink-haired girl shakily got to her feet, her legs feeling like a combination of lead and jelly as she awkwardly stumbled over to her dresser. Fishing out the first clothes she could find, Mizuki, as quickly as she could manage, slipped into some comfy sleepwear, truly able to feel the fatigue settle in as she clumsily tried to fit her foot through the hole of her fluffy shorts.
Yeah, she really needed to get some sleep.
Practically dragging her near-lifeless body over to her bed, Mizuki flopped heavily into its plush softness, her eyes immediately growing heavy as the days worth of fatigue crashed down on her all at once. Pressing her face into the nearest pillow, nose smushed awkwardly against its surface, Mizuki could feel the veil of sleep beginning to drape over her, her mind starting to drift as her consciousness began to fade.
The sharp ping of getting a LINE notification caused Mizuki to perk up slightly, pulled back from the brink of unconsciousness, the pink-haired editor fumbling for her phone on her nightstand before bringing it up to her face. Sliding open the lock screen, squinting slightly under the screen's harsh light, tired pink eyes read over the message, a small smile curling Mizuki's lips.
'Hey, just wanted to say I hope you feel better. I'll be coming to check in on you after school so make sure to stay hydrated and get lots of rest. If your head hurts, make sure to take some medicine, ok?'
Sighing softly, a loving smile plastered on her face, Mizuki felt her entire being get all warm and fuzzy as she read over Ena's message. Ena was so sweet. Sweet, adorable, incredibly tsundere Ena.
'Aww, you're so sweet, coming to check up on little old me. Or maybe you are just hoping to catch me while I'm in a vulnerable state. Kyaa!~'
Rolling to her side, Mizuki quickly typed out a response, the fashion-conscious girl grinning slyly as she couldn't resist teasing the brown-haired girl just a little bit. It was just too cute how annoyed the artist would get with just the smallest bit of teasing.
'Yes…that was exactly what I was planning. I sure love the type that overworks themselves and needs to be treated like a baby.'
Giggling at the brown-haired girl's response, her previous tiredness all but forgotten, Mizuki felt light and airy as she thought about Niigo's resident artist. While she wasn't one for showing it openly, the brown-haired girl keeping an air of hostile distance about her, one of the things Mizuki loved so much about Ena was just how deeply caring she could be. Despite her tough outer facade, her words able to sting like an agitated wasp, there was a sweet and caring person slumbering just below the surface, someone willing to go to the ends of the earth to make sure you were ok.
'Aww, I love you too.'
Mizuki's breath suddenly hitched in her throat as she noticed what she had written without thinking, a brief moment of silence washed over the room as she quietly awaited the next message, the pink-haired girl nervously chewing on the tip of her thumb.
'I love you too, Mizuki.'
Burying her face into her pillow, Mizuki let out a series of quick squeals of joy, her feet kicking happily as she hugged her phone tightly to her chest. Reading the message over and over, a bubbly giggle passing her lips after every re-read, Mizuki practically bursting at the seams with loving bliss.
'Now get to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow.'
Giggling happily one last time, amused by Ena's obvious embarrassment, Mizuki gently placed her phone back on her nightstand before snuggling deeply into her pillow, her eyes sliding closed as she drifted off to sleep, a tiny, happy smile still present on her lips.
A/N: Sweet, fluffy dreams for the weary.
Well, this came together much faster than expected. Decided to ride the wave of publishing the first chapter by immediately working on the second and, as everyone can see, here it is. Fluff abound in this chapter and a little more concrete proof of Mizuki and Ena's relationship. And we got some quick cameos of the rest of Niigo as well, woo!
No promise the third chapter will come out quite as quickly but we'll have to see what happens! I'm quite enjoying writing these two so it might pop up sooner rather than later!
