Bai You nodded.
"Thank the blanket?" Varesa's voice held a smile, the last word rising slightly. "What about me?"
Bai You's face instantly burned.
She couldn't see Varesa's expression in the dark, but she could almost picture her now-eyes curved, a mischievous smile playing on her lips, her head probably tilted slightly, looking pleased as if to say, "I knew you'd get embarrassed."
"I-I didn't mean it like that..." Bai You stammered, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
"Then what did you mean?"
Varesa shifted closer to her.
The mattress Varesa had brought was very soft. When she moved, it dipped slightly beneath Bai You too.
The little distance between them shrank even further, and Bai You could almost feel Varesa's knee brush against her calf.
"I just..." Bai You swallowed. "I just thought, sorry for the trouble."
"Trouble?" Varesa repeated the word, a teasing note in her voice. "Are you sure that's the word you want to use?"
Bai You fell silent.
She was afraid that if she opened her mouth, she would give herself away.
Her heart pounded hard against her chest, each beat making her ears buzz.
She could smell Varesa's faint fragrance-it made her feel inexplicably at ease, and inexplicably flustered.
"Bai You."
Varesa suddenly called her name.
Her voice was soft. Unlike before, there was no teasing in it; instead, it had grown somewhat serious.
"Hmm?"
"What were you about to say?"
Bai You's breath caught.
"N-Nothing."
"Liar." Varesa sounded certain. "You bit your lip. People who lie always bite their lips."
Bai You unconsciously released her tightly bitten lower lip.
She hadn't expected Varesa to notice even that.
"I really don't have anything to say," she repeated stubbornly, retreating farther into the blanket.
Then she felt Varesa turn over.
Not toward her, but... onto her back?
Bai You secretly turned her face to the side, trying to make out Varesa's silhouette in the dark.
A thin ray of moonlight slipped through a gap in the curtains, falling right across Varesa's profile.
Her eyelashes were long, her nose straight, and her lips slightly pursed. There was no telling what she was thinking.
"Actually, I know," Varesa suddenly said.
Bai You's heart gave a violent leap.
"Know what?"
"What you wanted to say." Varesa turned to look at her, her eyes startlingly bright in the dim light. "What you wanted to say wasn't 'thank the blanket,' was it?"
Bai You held her breath.
"What you wanted to say was-" Varesa lowered her voice further, until she was almost breathing the words. "You're a little nervous and scared, but also a little happy, right?"
Bai You thought Varesa was truly cute and lively.
She turned her face away, not wanting Varesa to see her expression.
"How did you know...?" Bai You could only reply in a soft, adorable voice.
"Because I feel the same way."
Varesa turned onto her side to face Bai You and gently reached out a hand.
Her fingers touched the back of Bai You's hand first, as if testing the waters. When Bai You didn't pull away, she gently took her hand.
Her hand was warm, with slender fingers and a soft palm.
"Bai You," Varesa said, holding her hand, her voice very, very soft. "I'm really happy I got to meet you today."
Bai You said nothing.
But she returned Varesa's grip.
Tightly.
Neither of them spoke again in the darkness. Only the sound of their breathing mingled, gradually falling into the same rhythm.
After a long while, Bai You finally spoke in a quiet voice. "Varesa."
"Hmm?"
"Your blanket... is very warm."
Varesa laughed again.
This time she didn't tease her. She only drew Bai You's hand closer and placed it against her own chest.
"Can you feel it?" Varesa asked.
Bai You could.
That heart beat against her palm, strong and steady, echoing her own heartbeat.
"It's beating so fast," Bai You whispered.
"Because you're here."
Varesa turned onto her side and gently embraced her from behind.
She rested her chin in the crook of Bai You's shoulder, her breath brushing the side of her neck, a little ticklish.
"Go to sleep~~" Varesa's voice was sleepy. "When you wake up tomorrow, I'll still be here."
Bai You closed her eyes.
Her body, tense all night, finally began to relax.
She snuggled closer into Varesa's embrace and found a comfortable position.
"Good night, Varesa."
"Good night, my little Bai You."