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Kokomi doesn't need to look to know why she feels a cold shudder run down her spine as she places a hand on Lumine's shoulder with a smile.
It's happened for a while, every time she touches someone. Gorou one time when she ruffled his ears. That nice blonde fireworks maker Lumine had introduced her to when she was invited to a fireworks show on Narukami. Even children that run up to her and greet her.
They all garner the same reaction.
Kujou Sara staring, almost glaring, even, a hole into the back of her neck, and then quickly swinging her head around as soon as Kokomi tries to catch her in the act.
"She's doing it again. Staring." Her mumble is as low as she can make it, just enough to barely make it to Lumine's ears. Sara's own hearing in several times better than either of theirs, and she can't risk her overhearing before she figures out what this is all supposed to mean.
Kokomi just wants to know what she did. She's certain that she hasn't offended Sara intentionally, but the Tengu has such strange habits and her perspective on certain things are distinctly not orthodox, so she can't be certain that Sara feels the same.
"Is there any pattern to it? Something specific that you do when she starts?"
"I just. . .touch people. Like I did with you just now, and then she's angry with me."
Lumine starts giggling, enough for Sara to hear, and Kokomi can see the way she shifts in place where she stands.
"I don't think it's anything nearly as serious as you think, Kokomi. Maybe she's just being herself again, in that way only she herself really understands." She giggles again. "I have an inkling what it might be about, but I don't want to jump to conclusions, so we'll just have to wait for a while."
She winks as she turns to walk away.
"Don't worry though, if I'm right she's definitely not angry, and even if she is she isn't angry with you."
Well, that was strange.
***
Contrary to what some would believe, Kokomi is actually a very tactile person.
She spent her first years as Divine Priestess mired in traditions and decorum, everybody around her hesitating to touch her, just as they'd never touched her mother, and She thought she was going mad.
Since then, since she managed to gather enough courage to break the mould her mother had made for her, she takes every little chacne she gets to just touch, to let herself be human.
Usually, this is never a problem. Any complaints that the people of Watatsumi had are long gone, and as her circle of friends have steadily grown as Lumine has introduced her to more of her companions they too are only too happy to partake as well.
Usually, however, isn't accounting for the fact that Sara's looks are growing sharper and sharper, and Kokomi is certain that she's seen the Tengu's jaw clench when she hugged Ayaka goodbye the last time they'd all parted ways after Lumine's latest adventure.
Lumine, it seems, takes it all in stride.
"I've got it, Kokomi."
Her grin is the kind that should put anyone with a sense of self preservation on edge.
"Please tell me that this isn't going to end in chaos, Lumine. . ."
That's what had happened the last time she'd approached Kokomi with a grin like that, ending up with all of them covered in spectre slime and Yae Miko tittering on the sidelines about how she'd have to make sure they all had their clothes replaced while they got cleaned up.
She's never letting Yae Miko pick out clothes for her or Gorou again.
"Well, that depends. She's definitely not mad at you, at least." That was a relief, at least. "In fact, I think she's just a tiny bit jealous."
Jealous?
"Of what? Of whom?" Also, Sara was never shy to actually tell people that she disapproves of things, so that didn't make any sense either.
Lumine's smile doesn't die down. If anything it becomes even wider. "Well, just think about it. It's pretty obvious that the Kujou Clan aren't exactly experts on physical affection, and pretty much everyone she hangs out with are people that see her as their boss."
She gives Kokomi a look full of meaning.
"Do you really think she's gotten a hug since she was adopted by the Kujous? I bet she doesn't even know how to ask for one, and here you are hugging people left and right, yet you haven't hugged her. " She giggles again. "She really wants to be your ~friend~ too, so I think you should ask her if she wants one."
That. . . made complete sense. Sara was always cordial, friendly even, to the people she'd spent several minutes staring at just before.
In hindsight, it was all kind of cute.
"I guess I'll just have to go give her a hug, then, don't I?"
Lumine smiles again, happily this time.
***
Finding Sara is not particularly hard.
She always carries herself with authority, the sheer energy of her presence always hanging thick in the air whenever she's around.
When Kokomi spots her sitting by a tree, eyes closed and face flat, she just walks up to her and sits down by her side. It'll work wonders, Kokomi knows that. Even as awkward as Sara tends to be, and her tendency to avoid things she doesn't want to talk about by making herself busy, she'd never run away so blatantly.
"Hello, Sara. I've noticed that you seem to stare at me quite a bit."
Sara immediately grows tense, a small flush creeping across her face. "I. . . I have, yes. I do not mean any offence, please do not see my lack of tact as . . ."
Before Sara can carry on, Kokomi cuts in.
"You don't have to just stare, you know. If you want a hug too you can just come and ask for one."
The way Sara's face shifts through several emotions at once, embarassment and shock and a tint of hopeful happiness melding into a single grimace that Kokomi has no idea how the Tengu manages to pull off, almost makes her laugh.
"I. . . It was. . . I don't . . . " Sara looks like she's halfway between either combusting or melting into a puddle.
Kokomi just leans to the side, snakes and arm around Sara's waist, and pulls her in for a, admittedly slightly awkward, hug.
Sara goes rigid as a rock.
It's actually quite uncomfortable. She perseveres, though, slowly guiding the taller woman into turning around until she can pull herself into the Tengu's lap and let her head rest on Sara's shoulder.
It takes only a few moments until Sara goes practically limp, less hugging Kokomi back and more clinging to her like a vice, breath hitching in the process. "T-this is not very dignified, but it is not unpleasant. Thank you for indulging me."
The way her voice sounds, she seems to think that this will be the only time.
"Sara. You can hug me again if you want to. You're not just some charity case, you're my friend. I'll hug you again if you want me to, because I like hugging you."
"Oh."
She can practically feel the heat she knows is radiating from Sara's face, because that's how she always reacts when someone is kind to her.
Sara breaks the silence that falls over them only after several minutes of sitting with Kokomi tucked into her chest.
"Kokomi?"
Kokomi stirs, leaning back slightly to look at Sara's face. It is indeed red, but she looks hopeful, not embarassed like before.
"This is nice. Is it okay if we stay like this for a while?"
Kokomi leans back in and grips Sara's waist more securely.
"Of course it is, Sara. It is nice, after all."
From where she's sitting, ear against Sara's chest, Kokomi can hear her heart speed up happily.
She doesn't mind. She wasn't lying when she said that hugging Sara is nice.