Work Text:
Late one night, Subaru sighed and did the only thing she could do in that moment: stare.
On Subaru’s left, Nina slept with Momoka’s arm sandwiched between her legs, while on Subaru's right, Rupa and Tomo wrapped each other in a tight embrace. Her bandmates’ backs were pressed against her arms, leaving no room to turn to either side. And if the claustrophobia wasn’t enough to keep her up, Momoka’s engine snoring did.
Subaru glanced at her right. Tomo had her face buried in Rupa’s chest and the two of them wrapped each other in a tight embrace. Subaru giggled. Tomo looked like a stuffed animal beneath Rupa’s long limbs. If someone had said that they were mother and daughter, Subaru would’ve believed it. They had a strong bond with each other before Toge Toge, and Subaru wondered how much history they shared. She wanted something like that in her own life too.
Subaru felt a slight ruffling on her left. Nina shifted in place and brought Momoka’s arm even lower until her fingers were directly on Nina’s crotch. Nina meanwhile, was a Momoka fan. Yet on some days, Subaru would catch Nina staring at Momoka for a minute too long, and whenever Subaru brought up the subject, Nina would turn red, saying that she simply thought Momoka looked cool. Whatever.
“Snake, snake, g- get it away,” Momoka mumbled and swatted the air.
What kind of dream is she even having? Subaru thought.
She looked at Tomo’s empty pet snake enclosure in the corner. Wait, empty?!
She squinted at the glass terrarium, and noticed the lid slightly ajar. She rubbed her eyes, and looked at the terrarium again. Indeed, it was empty and the lid was slightly ajar.
“What the-” Subaru muttered to herself before a slithering noise caught her attention. She turned towards the sound and saw Tomo’s pet snake coiled and fast asleep on top of Momoka's stomach. Subaru covered her mouth.
“Subaru-chan, subaru-chan!” Nina whispered.
“What!”
Nina pointed towards the snake.
“Yeah, I know. I saw it,” Subaru replied, “I don’t even know when it got out.”
“Weren’t you asleep?”
“Of course not, how can I sleep when all of you are crushing me to death?! And Momoka’s snoring is unbearable!”
“Can you put the snake back? I don’t wanna get up.” Nina said as she nestled her head against Momoka’s shoulder. Subaru groaned.
“Fine,” Subaru bent over and reached for the snake.
“Go away, snake,” Momoka mumbled again.
“What are you—” Subaru didn’t even have time to react as Momoka’s hand came hurtling towards her and slapped Subaru across the face.
“Ow!!” Subaru yelped, holding her face. Rupa and Tomo woke up.
Tomo glared at Subaru, “Why the hell are you shouting? We’re trying to sleep here!”
“Blame her!” Subaru pointed an accusing finger at Momoka who was still fast asleep and snoring with her mouth open. “She slapped me, look!” Subaru turned her cheek, now a bright patch of red.
Rupa giggled, “Looks like Momoka’s having a bad dream.”
Subaru shook her head and turned to Nina, “And you! How did you not get hit? You were literally beside her!”
“Umm, I dodged.” Nina replied.
Subaru groaned and rubbed her brow, “Why me?”
The girls heard a loud yawn. They turned and saw Momoka stretching her arms.
“What are you guys talking about?” Momoka said as she rubbed her eyes.
“The fact that you slapped me for no reason!” Subaru said.
“Oh, I did?”
Subaru showed Momoka the bruise on her face again.
“Ohh, sorry Subaru. I had a nightmare where I was being chased by a snake and I was trying to fight it. Sorry.”
Subaru held a hand up to her mouth.
“I’m sorry to break it to you Momoka, but that wasn’t a dream.” she smirked.
“What?”
“Look down.”
Momoka looked down and saw Tomo’s pet snake staring back at her on her stomach.
“WHAT THE F—” Momoka screamed and flung the snake before sprinting towards the door. “GUYS THIS IS NOT FUNNY! GET IT OUT OF HERE! PLEASE!” she picked up the nightlamp and raised it over her head.
Tomo dove in front of the snake and covered it with her body.
“Stop, you idiot, you’re gonna hurt him!”
“Then get him out! What the hell—- This is why I didn’t even want to bring it along, get it out now!”
The girls fought and bickered with each other for the rest of the night, and Subaru wondered if they would receive noise complaints from the neighbors.
In the morning, Subaru walked out of the bathroom, dark circles under her eyes.
She turned towards her bandmates eating breakfast.
“You know what,” Subaru raised both her pinky fingers at them, “I love you guys, and you’re the best. But I’m never sleeping with any of you again! Good riddance!” she said as she stormed out the room and slammed the door behind her. The rest of the girls shrugged and returned to their food.