Chapter 208 — Between Them

Yuki

I looked between Akeno and Koneko as they waited for me to reply.

Koneko was still standing by the door after entering.

Akeno was sitting upright beside me on the bed a bit further away than we had been moments ago.

Koneko was right that Akeno never specified that she would get to spend time with me alone, but it wasn’t unreasonable for Akeno to assume that her night with me would be spent alone.

I didn’t want to tell Koneko to leave, and I didn’t want to tell Akeno that she had to accept that Koneko was staying with us.

Especially after she had told me that she had been looking forward to her time alone with me.

But after the two of us nearly kissed, maybe it was for the best that Koneko arrived.

At this point, I couldn’t tell if Akeno was messing around with me or if she might actually have some kind of romantic interest in me.

Either way, it was a good thing that it stopped when it did.

I had let things go too far and I had selfishly wanted something I couldn’t have.

It would have been a mistake.

And Akeno would have realized it shortly afterwards if she really did have feelings for me.

Or Akeno would have gotten to mess around and have her fun and I would have been fooling myself into hoping for something that wouldn’t happen.

“Yuki-chan? Is something wrong?” Akeno asked

“…I can leave if you want, senpai. I didn’t mean to bother you,” Koneko said.

I blinked and looked at the two of them. 

Akeno looked concerned and Koneko was frowning slightly.

I had taken too long to respond and then noticed that something was wrong.

I shook my head.

“It’s nothing. You can stay, Koneko-chan.”

Koneko studied my face briefly before nodding and walking further into the room.

Akeno looked like she wanted to protest for a moment before sighing.

“At least we had some time alone,” she muttered as she pouted.

“I’m sorry that we didn’t get more time alone, Akeno-san, but I would be more comfortable tonight if Koneko-chan was here too,” I said.

Aside from what happened right before Koneko had walked in, I had been worried that I might have a nightmare while Akeno was in bed with me.

It wouldn’t be good if I panicked without her being aware of it.

I knew that I should just tell her, but I hadn’t had any issues recently.

And when I had a nightmare Koneko had been able to help me recover from it and get back to sleep.

Plus, it was embarrassing to admit that I had night terrors and I was worried I might panic in my sleep.

I’d rather deal with it on my own than make it an issue for Akeno.

It was already bad enough that I was waking Koneko up and bothering her with it.

“It’s fine,” Akeno said as she fixed her yukata and smiled in her usual manner.

I frowned faintly.

She had been acting much more open before.

“If you’d like, we can spend some more time alone together. If you’d like—“

“Two times,” Akeno said cutting me off. “I want to have you to myself on two different occasions. That sounds fair, right, Koneko-chan?”

Koneko narrowed her eyes at Akeno, but stayed silent.

“Alright, Akeno-san. The two of us can spend time together, alone, on two occasions. And Koneko-chan will spend the night with us tonight,” I said.

“That sounds wonderful, Yuki-chan. I look forward to spending even more time together,” Akeno said while smiling at me. “But now that Koneko-chan is joining us, we have another problem.”

“…And what is that?” Koneko asked with a sceptical look.

“We need to decide how we will be sleeping together in the bed.”

Koneko’s eyes widened.

 “You’re right, Akeno-senpai, that is an issue,” Koneko said while nodding.

I looked between the two of them and then at the bed.

“Why is it an issue? My bed is massive. All three of us will be able to fit in it comfortably without an issue.”

“…You don’t get it, Yuki-senpai,” Koneko said shaking her head.

“The issue isn’t how much space there is. It’s how we are going to sleep together in bed,” Akeno said to me before turning to Koneko. “So, Koneko-chan, since tonight is supposed to be my reward, I think that I should get first choice of a spot next to Yuki-chan.”

Koneko frowned for a moment before nodding begrudgingly.

“…fine. I’ll accept that for now.”

I really didn’t understand why they were treating this as if it were extremely important. 

We were just going to lie down and sleep.

“How do the two of you normally sleep together?” Akeno asked.

“…Usually on our sides, with one of us spooning the other. But sometimes I sleep on top of Yuki-senpai,” Koneko responded.

Akeno looked at me with a raised eyebrow. 

I tilted my head.

“What? It only happens when I get too relaxed during Koneko-chan’s Senjutsu healing sessions.”

Akeno looked back at Koneko.

“Is that so? It sounds like you’re enjoying yourself when you’re supposed to be focused on healing Yuki-chan, aren’t you, Koneko-chan?”

Koneko looked away from Akeno as she moved to sit on my other side.

“…I need as much contact as possible during Yuki-senpai’s treatment. And sometimes when we finish her treatment she’s already asleep, and I don’t want to wake her by moving. So I don’t.”

“And that’s the only reason?”

“…its comfy to sleep on her…” Koneko murmured.

Akeno let out a huff as she shook her head.

“Alright, you don’t need to interrogate Koneko-chan on our sleeping habits,” I said. “How do you want to sleep, Akeno-san? I’m ready to get into bed, so tell me how you want me to lie.”

Akeno smiled at me.

“Ara, Yuki-chan. I can think of quite a few positions you and I could do, but I think we’d have to ask Koneko-chan to leave if things are going to get more intimate.”

“Akeno-san,” I said giving her a look.

“Fine, Koneko-chan can stay. But she has to sit somewhere besides the bed while she watches us,” Akeno said as she scooted closer and leaned against me.

“I will kick you out, reward or not.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll stop for now,” Akeno said as she stood.

She turned and looked at the bed as she tapped a finger to her chin.

“I want you to lie in the middle on your side, Yuki-chan, and I’ll lie on the side you’re facing. Koneko-chan can sleep by your back.”

Koneko nodded.

“…That’s fine. I’ll sleep by Yuki-senpai’s tails. They’re warm and comfy.”

Akeno paused and glanced at my tails.

Then she shook her head.

“I’m not going to change my mind, even if that sounds nice.”

Koneko clicked her tongue and then stood. 

“I’m going to go get changed before getting in bed. I’ll be right back.”

She walked over to my dresser pulled open a drawer, and grabbed a shirt out of it.

She walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind her, leaving me alone with Akeno once again.

Akeno glanced at the bathroom door before moving to stand in front of me as I sat on the edge of the bed.

Akeno moved forward and knelt on the bed, leaning over me.

I scooted back slightly as she hovered over me, her knees on either side of my legs and her hands on my shoulders to keep her upright.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I shifted back slightly, putting more room between us.

“You know, while Koneko-chan is getting changed we could get back to what we were doing. Before she interrupted,” Akeno said as she moved one of her hands to catch a strand of my hair and play with it.

She smiled at me with half-lidded eyes as she leaned closer. 

I shifted further back and placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

I had already almost made a mistake with our relationship today.

This would be a good chance to clear things up and make sure that Akeno wasn’t actually interested in me.

“What’s wrong, Yuki-chan? Are you nervous now that Koneko-chan is here? You normally don’t care about audiences,” Akeno said with a grin. 

“Akeno-san, why are you doing this?” I asked. 

She looked confused for a moment before smiling again. 

“Because I want to.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

I noticed Koneko standing in the doorway to the bathroom watching the two of us.

This was good.

It meant that I could explain why any feelings that they may have for me were misplaced.

And if I was wrong and reading too far into this, then they would understand why I had no interest in romance or trying to have a relationship.

I could make things simpler and I could go back to looking at everyone as close friends, and only that.

“Why do you act like you’re flirting with me? Why do you try to tease and push me to react to you? What was whatever was happening before Koneko-chan came into the room?” I asked. “You like Issei-san. It’s obvious to anyone who sees the two of you. I get that’s why you tease him and try to act intimate with him. But the only reason that you would act that way with me is to entertain yourself, right? You’re just messing around and having fun.”

Akeno moved back and sat near me on the bed as I spoke. 

Koneko walked back into the room and stood next to the bed.

Akeno had a look of concerned confusion.

Koneko’s face was unreadable. 

Akeno glanced at Koneko before replying.

“Why would that be the only possible reason Yuki-chan?” She asked quietly.

 I frowned.

“Because the alternative doesn’t make sense. I’m not the kind of person that someone should be interested in. It’s a waste.”

“What…what do you mean by that, senpai?” Koneko asked.

Her brow furrowed as she watched me with a frown.

“The two of you know enough about my past to understand. For someone like me, romantic relationships aren’t something that’s possible,” I explained.

Koneko’s frown deepened.

Akeno’s confusion disappeared but the concern in her eyes increased.

“It’s alright,” I said, giving them a soft smile. “I accepted it a while ago already. I’ve already explained more to you, Koneko-chan. So you know I’m speaking from experience.”

Koneko’s fists tightened at her sides.

She looked like she wanted to say something, but decided against it.

“So that is why I’m confused, Akeno-san. I understand messing around and trying to have fun. I don’t mind it as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. But that’s all it is, right?” I asked calmly.

Akeno paused to search my face for a moment before smiling wryly. 

“You’re right, Yuki-chan. I enjoyed your reactions too much and couldn’t help myself. I’m sorry that it made you think differently.”

I didn’t know if I fully believed her, but this was good enough.

Both Akeno and Koneko would understand now that if they had the beginnings of feelings towards me, they were misplaced and would lead nowhere.

I hadn’t been lying when I had told Akeno that I might someday find someone whom I might try to form a relationship with, but I wasn’t sure that it would be possible.

They would probably have to be someone like me.

Someone broken and wrong that would be able to accept someone else like them.

Or maybe after I’d had enough time to try and heal, I could find someone who could look past every reason that they shouldn’t be with me.

But if that ever happened it would be in the distant future.

Akeno and Koneko were both beautiful and wonderful girls.

They should be with someone who was good enough for them and would be able to make them happy and love them properly.

That wasn’t me.

And like I told them, it was fine.

I had to be fine with it.

“Well, with that heavy conversation over with, let’s get into bed,” Akeno said in a light tone.

I blinked and realized that I had been lost in my own thoughts for a moment.

“Sure, I’ll get in first,” I replied.

I climbed into bed and lay in the middle.

Akeno climbed into bed next and lay to my right.

Koneko hadn’t moved.

“Are you coming, Koneko-chan?” I asked.

She stared at Akeno and me with her usual unreadable expression.

Then she nodded and got into bed on my other side.

“There, now Yuki-chan, turn on your side and we can get comfortable,” Akeno said.

I rolled onto my side and Akeno immediately pressed herself against my front and Koneko shifted to lie against my back.

I pulled the covers up over us as the two of them sandwiched me between them.

“Aren’t you supposed to be facing away from me if you’re the little spoon, Akeno-san?” I asked.

“Ara, do you not want to see my pretty face, Yuki-chan? Or are you trying to get me into a better position to play with my body?” Akeno said with a grin.

I sighed.

Akeno’s grin changed into a soft smile.

“It’s easier to talk to you like this, Yuki-chan. That’s why,” Akeno said.

“Alright then,” I said.

Then I let out a yawn.

“…You’re tired, Yuki-senpai, we should go to sleep,” Koneko murmured.

“I’m fine. Akeno-san wanted to talk some more,” I replied.

Akeno shook her head.

“Let’s get some rest, Yuki-chan. It’s late and I don’t want to keep you up.”

I hesitated for a moment before nodding.

I reached a hand out and summoned a shadow tendril that I used to flip the light switch and another to close the window curtains. 

“That’s convenient…” Akeno murmured.

“You could do the same thing with a magic circle.”

“Yes, but tonight I have you to do it for me,” she said as she pressed herself closer to me.

She laid her head against my chest and wrapped an arm around my lower back.

Koneko shifted closer behind me as well.

She wrapped her arms around me and held me more tightly than she usually would.

“Is everything alright, Koneko-chan?”

“…Yes…Now get some sleep, senpai.”

I closed my eyes and relaxed as Koneko and Akeno held me and pressed themselves close.

The earlier conversation must have been more draining than I had realized as I quickly felt myself drift to sleep.

____

Akeno

I woke to a small noise coming from Yuki-chan and Koneko-chan.

It sounded like the two of them were talking quietly.

I had shifted away from Yuki-chan as I slept, so I couldn't hear exactly what was being said.

It seemed that the two of them had woken up and decided to talk for a bit before falling back asleep.

I smirked as I got ready to tease them over it.

Then my smile disappeared as I heard a whimper.

I sat up and turned towards Koneko-chan and Yuki-chan.

“What’s wrong?” I quickly asked.

“Shhhh… Yuki-senpai is having another nightmare. Don’t wake her up,” Koneko quietly replied.

I paused as I took in what was happening with the two of them. 

Koneko-chan was kneeling next to Yuki-chan’s head. 

She was gently running a hand through her hair as she stroked her head.

She was looking down at Yuki-chan with a gentle expression I hadn’t seen on her before.

Yuki-chan was asleep and lying on her back.

As Koneko-chan said, she seemed to be having a nightmare.

Her hands were clutching the sheets next to her tightly, her brow was scrunched tightly, and she was shifting occasionally as she slept.

She let out another small whimper as she moved.

That’s when I noticed that her cheeks were wet like she had been crying in her sleep.

I watched Yuki-chan in a stunned silence for a moment before speaking again.

“You said another nightmare? Shouldn’t we wake her up?” I asked.

Koneko-chan shook her head.

“It’s not a good idea to wake her up. She tends to panic when she wakes up from a nightmare, and it would be worse with both of us here,” Koneko-chan said without looking away from Yuki-chan. “She doesn’t have a nightmare every night, but they happen often enough that I’ve learned how to help her calm down. The first few times I slept in her room were bad. She panicked and almost attacked me,” Koneko ran her fingers along one of Yuki-chan’s ears. “She put way too much power into a spell and could have seriously hurt herself if she had fired it.”

I nodded slowly. 

“But what about you? I asked. “You could have been hurt when she panicked.”

Koneko-chan looked up from Yuki-chan and to me.

“…I’m a [Rook]. I’m tough. Plus I could use my Ki to protect myself, or I could have dodged.”

“You couldn’t have been certain of that, Koneko-chan. Yuki-chan’s spells are quite brutal.”

She shrugged.

“Yuki-senpai needed my help. The risk was worth keeping her safe from hurting herself.”

I looked down at Yuki-chan’s sleeping form.

She had relaxed now and her breathing was calm.

“She’s had a hard life. We’ve all had it rough before meeting Rias, but Yuki-chan had it the worst by far,” I said with a frown.

I knew there were cruel people out there.

My mother’s own family had killed her for having me and tried to kill me too.

But hearing a portion of what happened to Yuki-chan, and how she looked at herself because of it filled me with a hot anger.

I wanted to hurt all of the people who had tortured and abused her.

And the worst part was that the number of people who had hurt her was likely far too high.

I was removed from my vicious thoughts by Koneko-chan calling my name.

“…Akeno-senpai. We need to talk. About what Yuki-senpai said about herself, and about the three of us.”