Arc 6, Chapter 22: Witch in the Woods

Opening her eyes, sunlight breached through the window by the side of the room. It was cold, comfortably cold, snuggled up under the covers.

Waxing open her eyes to the particularly rustic scene, she saw a redhead above her, gently waking her up by the shoulder. Jotou muttered awake.

With one ear bent down and still in a nightgown, Hotaru awkwardly smiled. Hotaru whispered, her throat uncleared, "You can stay asleep a little longer. I just wanted to tell you I'm going back to my room… and thanks."

Jotou replied sleepily, barely forming a word. Hotaru hovered a finger near Jotou's cheek, but withdrew it, not wanting to touch her. "I'll see you later," and Hotaru departed the room.

Jotou took the next few minutes, waking up slowly but surely. She wiped her face clean. 'Glad I kept it together. I swear I could've cried throughout the night. How dare she hold onto me like that all night… If she misses me that much, then why not just say it!?'