"You can't sleep?" Kazumi was genuinely surprised. Kotomi's sleep habits? Let's put it this way: calling her a "head hits the pillow, out like a light" type doesn't do her justice. Her sleep quality was so good, and she fell asleep so fast, it was as if insomnia didn't exist for her. She practically radiated restful vibes wherever she went—yet here she was, claiming she was having trouble sleeping?!
Seeing Kotomi in need of her assistance over a sleep issue? Now that was sothing Kazumi never expected.
"Life sure throws surprises your way," Kazumi thought with an amused smile, then promptly climbed into Kotomi's bed.
"Imagine that—you having trouble sleeping? Pretty rare, isn't it? Usually, I have sothing important to say, but by the ti I get to you, you're already asleep."
"Ugh...I know, right? I used to be asleep in ten seconds flat, but tonight, I've been lying here for almost five minutes and still not a wink!"
"Yikes. If we were in a post-apocalyptic movie, that'd definitely be a bad on!"
"Do I look like a disaster-predicting dog to you?!" Kotomi shot Kazumi a playful glare, then pulled her close, saying, "Cuddle . I rember last ti, as soon as I held you, I was out like a light."
"I'd be happy to help, but you might beco addicted to this, you know~" Kazumi teased, stripping off her outer layer as she snuggled closer.
"Addicted?"
Seeing Kotomi's clueless expression, Kazumi continued in simpler terms.
"Imagine taking a sleep aid every night. Over ti, people beco dependent on them, and sotis it cos with side effects. Now, I'm not going to give you any side effects, but if you start enjoying sleeping deeply every night while holding …"
She trailed off dramatically, as if revealing a great secret. "...you might get addicted. Not physically harmful, but before long, you'll find it hard to fall asleep unless you're holding onto . And I don't know if your girlfriend would be too happy about that~"
"She'd probably smack you."
"Oh, how terrifying! Not like ; I'd just be heartbroken~" Kazumi teased, winking as she tossed her shirt aside and tackled Kotomi into a hug, pinning her to the bed.
"So, do you feel sleepy yet?" Kazumi asked.
"Yeah, I'm starting to feel really relaxed, like I could just close my eyes and drift off."
"Exactly, that's it—just relax and let yourself fall into a deep sleep," Kazumi murmured soothingly, her tone almost hypnotic.
But Kotomi opened her eyes again, giving Kazumi a knowing look. "I appreciate you helping sleep, but could you please move your mischievous hand off my chest?"
"Eh heh, busted! I was just trying to asure the height and range of the mountain peaks!"
With a sheepish laugh, Kazumi removed her hand but couldn't resist one last jab. "So jealous of your future little ones!"
"Isn't that jumping way ahead? I don't even have a girlfriend," Kotomi sighed, clearly irritated.
Even on school days, Kotomi would see couples everywhere, both at Sobu High School and on the streets over the weekend. Just witnessing it all left her single self feeling a pang of envy, like a walking lemon tree.
"Not that big of a deal, right? No one's dying without one," she'd always tell herself to stay positive.
Not missing the tinge of longing in Kotomi's voice, Kazumi smirked with an impish look. "Well, who knows, maybe soone's just around the corner! Like, I an...uh? Already asleep?"
She glanced down to find Kotomi already fast asleep. Just seconds ago, she'd been replying. This girl's ability to fall asleep was truly next level, Kazumi thought with a smile.
When she awoke, it was Friday morning, and just as Kazumi had said, it was a beautiful day. Sunshine bead down from a clear blue sky, and a cool breeze brushed past her face, filling her with comfort.
Kotomi stretched and stepped out onto her balcony, enjoying the warm sun and the chill of the air as she sighed happily, "What a gorgeous day. The sun's all cozy, the breeze is cool...got a whole night of deep sleep cuddled up to Kazumi. I feel so...oh no!"
A sudden realization hit her. Kotomi's mind raced as she pinpointed the source of a strange sensation. Her smile quickly twisted into a look of frustrated resignation.
Of all monts, her period had decided to arrive. With impeccable timing, like it had been checking its watch to show up right on schedule, it announced itself with unmistakable discomfort.
"Oh no," Kotomi muttered, crossing her legs instinctively as she scrambled back inside. If she stayed on the balcony any longer, she'd end up "testing her limits," as she bitterly thought.
She hastily shut the sliding door and tried to gather her bearings, feeling montarily panicked and uncertain.
"Shouldn't there be so sort of warning?" she muttered to herself, "I an, aren't there supposed to be signs or sothing? Mood swings, cramps?"
But this was not the ti for questions—she needed a pad, imdiately.
Recalling that her stash was in the bottom drawer, she cautiously hobbled to her closet, trying to keep her legs pressed together. She had a bad feeling that her flow this ti might be...significant.
Finally, she reached the drawer, pulling out a fresh pack of overnight pads.
Kotomi was about to change, but then, thanks to the chill from earlier, she felt a tickle in her nose. She tried to suppress it, but it was no use.
"A...achoo!"
She sniffled, but then froze, her face stiffening in horror.
Her little "shield" had just failed spectacularly.
"Sothing's...leaking out."
Her monthly visitor's enthusiastic greeting had truly arrived with a fiery intensity.
...
Sharp, twisting pain occasionally radiated from her lower abdon, and as Kotomi took off her pants, she was left montarily dumbfounded.
On her creamy white thighs, so soft that a slight pinch could likely release a trickle of water, a vivid, crimson line of blood slowly trailed down, stark and morable against her delicate skin.
Even Kotomi herself was stunned at the sight.
"Isn't this...no, this is definitely way too much!"
Realizing the quantity, Kotomi finally understood why she preferred wearing pants-style sanitary napkins. Likely only these could handle such a heavy flow.
She gazed at herself, sighing in half-resignation, half-humor.
"Guess my monthly guest cos not only with fiery intensity but also enthusiasm...she's got it all!"
Resigned, she headed to the bathroom to carefully wash off the vivid red stain from her legs with warm water before slipping on a fresh sanitary napkin.
The underwear she had on before? Definitely done for. Thankfully, she had woken up a bit earlier this morning, so she filled a basin with warm water, added detergent, and began scrubbing it clean, washing it three or four tis before hanging it to dry on a hook in the bathroom.
There was no way she was hanging that out on the balcony...
After washing up, Kotomi walked back to her room, dug through the third drawer in her dresser, and found a new pair of underwear.
Blue and white.
Once the fresh underwear was on, she decided to change out of her pajamas entirely, donning a skirt and T-shirt. Although she had planned to only wear a T-shirt today like yesterday, her monthly visitor's arrival ant she bundled up, opting for an extra layer, and for warmth's sake, chose higher-denier black pantyhose.
Dressed warmly, Kotomi grabbed her bag and headed downstairs for breakfast.
Before leaving her room, she glanced at the calendar on her desk.
"September 20... It's always around the 20th each month when she visits."
"This timing couldn't be later, could it?" Kotomi muttered to herself.
Downstairs, breakfast had just been served—a plate of toasted bread and a fried egg.
"Good morning, Mom," Kotomi greeted, albeit weakly, as she entered the kitchen.
There was no helping it—she was in "low-battery mode" today. Usually full of energy, today she was running at half capacity. Every girl had a few days a month like this. She didn't understand that saying until now, but after experiencing it firsthand, she did.
Her situation wasn't "half-health mode," either—more like critical-health mode!
"Good morning! The toast is ready. What would you like to put in your sandwich? Bacon? Or maybe sausage?" her mom asked.
"Cheese, please," Kotomi replied.
"The cheese slices are in the fridge. You can grab one yourself. Do you want so salad? I can make a Caesar salad."
"No thanks, not much appetite this morning. I'll just have the sandwich with cheese."
Kotomi's mother heard the lackluster tone in her voice, correctly guessing the reason behind it.
"Kotomi, no spicy food these days, okay? Also, avoid iced water and drinks. Just plain water would be best."
"Got it, Mom. This isn't my first ti dealing with it."
"It doesn't matter how old you are; you'll always be my little girl. Now, take your ti eating. If you're running late for school, don't rush; just walk slowly."
Mom always made sure to remind Kotomi about these things when it was that ti of the month.
"Yes, yes, I know," Kotomi replied as she put a slice of cheese between her two pieces of toast.
The first bite was heavenly.
How nice it'd be to have a glass of iced orange juice with this...but she wasn't willing to trade a few monts of relief for an episode of severe cramping.
"Good morning, Onee-chan! And rember, no iced drinks!" Aimi remarked as she ca downstairs and noticed Kotomi was almost done with breakfast.
"Huh? How did you know?" Kotomi was taken aback.
She could understand her mom rembering her cycle, but why on earth would her little sister need to keep track of it too?
"Oh, it's not hard to rember~ You're always just so...late with it that it sticks in my mory."
"Don't keep track of these things!"
After eating, Kotomi left the house first. Before stepping outside, she fastened an extra button on her jacket, hoping it'd ward off any breeze that could aggravate her cramps.
"Good morning, Kotomi." Kato gumi, who had been waiting outside her house for who knows how long, turned and greeted her with a smile.
"Morning, gumi."
"Kotomi, are you not feeling well? Your face looks a bit pale."
"Heh, to be honest...it's that ti of the month," Kotomi admitted with a sheepish smile.
gumi nodded knowingly, silently taking note of the date before saying, "There's nothing embarrassing about it! Every girl has those days. But you do have kind of a late schedule, don't you?"
"Ugh, it's not like I control it," Kotomi said, her face flushed with embarrassnt.
gumi chuckled. "Looks like no iced drinks for you today. Even if you wanted one, I'd stop you."
"Hey! I'm not a kid who can't control herself," Kotomi protested, her face growing redder.
"You never know~"
When she entered the classroom, Yui Yuigahama cheerfully greeted her, and a girl who'd been standing beside Yui then bowed to her slightly before turning and leaving.
"Good morning, Kotomi! Wait—are you okay? You look a little off."
"Is my face really that bad?"
After two comnts on her pallor, Kotomi was surprised. It was just a period, but it seed she looked worse than she thought.
"You just seem a little off compared to your usual look," Yui explained.
"You've got my complexion morized, huh... Oh well, to be honest, it's just that ti of the month," Kotomi admitted with a shrug. She then asked, "By the way, who was that girl? She's from our class, but I don't rember her."
Given how many people were in their class, Kotomi didn't make an effort to rember every na right away. She was pretty laid-back about socializing.
"Oh, her? That's Tomomi Ogiwara. She ca over to ask about a math problem," Yui explained.
Stunned!
Amazingly, Yui, who used to struggle just to pass, was now explaining problems—math problems, of all things!
Her progress was so drastic that even Kotomi, who'd been tutoring her, felt a strange surge of pride, as if her own child had suddenly beco a genius.
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