Takeru was sitting on the living room sofa, wrapped in a blanket as he flipped through an old book on constellations that he had found in Daigo's library. The pages were yellowed and had that particular smell of time and accumulated dust. In front of him on the coffee table rested a cup of steaming hot chocolate, garnished with small marshmallows that were slowly melting, forming sweet swirls on the surface. The storm outside pounded the windows with gusts of wind and rain, occasionally illuminating the room with white flashes and distant rumbles.
-Dad had to leave because of an emergency at the company. He said he'll be back tomorrow afternoon... so... I'm on my own tonight.
Mei was coming back from the phone, already wearing her pajamas: a long lilac-colored T-shirt with little lightning bolts embroidered on the edges.
-And aren't you afraid to be alone with the storm?
Takeru looked at her, putting the book aside.
-I'm not afraid... if you stay.
Mei shook her head, but her fingers fiddled with the hem of his shirt, as if trying to disprove it. She mumbled the phrase, barely audible.
Takeru watched her silently for a few seconds. He knew Mei didn't usually ask things like that. She always maintained a facade of maturity, of serenity... but deep down she was still a child. And he knew that all too well.
-It's all right. I'll stay. But only if there's a sleepover.
She finally replied with a quiet smile.
-"Then you can borrow one of daddy's pajamas! The ones he never wears because he says they're 'too comfy'!"
Mei's eyes lit up with a twinkle. The girl ran upstairs, and Takeru followed her without much haste.
From the closet door, he watched her as she rummaged through the tall drawers, tossing giant shirts and too-long pants to the floor, until she found a navy blue one with gold accents. It was huge on him, but Takeru didn't complain. The pants dragged down to his heels, and the sleeves almost completely covered his hands, but Mei laughed at the sight of it and told him it looked cozier that way.
Once in the living room, they pushed furniture around with effort, laughing between sighs, and spread out a couple of makeshift mattresses with sheets, blankets, and pillows. Mei brought a flashlight, a couple of stuffed animals and a box of cookies she had hidden for "special occasions".
Takeru prepared another round of hot chocolate in the kitchen, and when he returned, she had already turned off the lights. The only illumination came from the TV screen, where an old space adventure movie was starting, and from the storm that occasionally lit up the whole room like a camera flash.
They sat together on the blankets, shoulder to shoulder, sharing the cup and cookies as the main characters in the movie fled from a tentacled creature.
Mei covered her eyes with a blanket during one scene.
Takeru wordlessly patted her shoulder, as if that was enough to protect her.
-You know, I've never had a sleepover with someone before.
Mei said suddenly, in a low, calm voice.
-Me neither...
Takeru answered, shyly, without taking his eyes off the screen.
-Do you have nightmares, Takeru?
She turned her head, settling on his arm.
-No... why do you say that?
He hesitated for a moment.
-My dad told me that sometimes you stay up too late.
She whispered, with a hint of concern.
-Yes, but it's not because of nightmares. It's just... I have a lot on my mind.
He answered, trying to sound calm.
-What things, Takeru?
Mei insisted, getting a little closer.
-It's... that. On you.
Takeru looked away for a second. The movie was still running, but neither he nor Mei were paying attention to it anymore.
-On me?
She repeated softly, a slight blush spreading across her cheeks.
Takeru nodded without looking directly at her, feeling his heart beating faster than normal. He wasn't sure why he had said it so matter-of-factly... maybe it was the atmosphere, or the way she was looking at him.
-I think about if you're okay... if you feel lonely, if you really smile when I'm not around... or if you're just pretending.
Mei watched him silently, eyes wide as saucers. Takeru continued to talk, his gaze lost and his voice lower and lower. He was so embarrassed he could barely hold her gaze.
"It's all your fault, Dad..." he thought in frustration. "You shouldn't have told me that."
He remembered clearly the moment, right after the incident, when his father had looked at him with that smirk and said calmly:
-That girl... she's going to be your girlfriend someday. You can't take your eyes off her for a second.
Takeru pursed his lips. He didn't know if his dad had said it jokingly or seriously, but since then, every time Mei looked at him like that, he felt a mixture of nerves and something unknown fluttering in his chest.
The night progressed between movies, games with the flashlight casting shadows on the wall, and a pillow battle that ended with both of them lying on the floor, laughing breathlessly.
Mei forced him to try a cucumber face mask that she said was "part of the experience," and then they both competed for who could make the highest pillow tower without collapsing.
Well past midnight, exhausted, they snuggled under the shared blanket. Takeru no longer felt cold, nor nervous.
-Takeru?
Mei whispered in a sleepy voice, half asleep.
-Hmm?
-When we're grown up... will you still come to my sleepovers?
He did not respond immediately. He only turned his face towards her, who already had her eyes closed.
-Always. Even if I have to wear those ridiculous pajamas.
Mei smiled, even in her sleep.
Outside, the storm was beginning to dissipate.