**Sailor Moon: Chibiusa and Hotaru Love Life - Hotaru’s Midnight Stomachache**
Prompt: Sailor Moon: Chibiusa and Hotaru Love Life: Hotaru’s Midnight Stomachache
The moon hung high in the velvety night sky, its silvery light casting a gentle glow over the quiet city of Tokyo. In a charming little apartment that had been turned into a sanctuary of love and friendship by its two occupants—Chibiusa Tsukino and Hotaru Tomoe—peace reigned. Chibiusa, with her pink pigtails and a heart full of dreams, was cocooned in a fluffy blanket as she slept soundly. Meanwhile, her friend Hotaru, a girl with deep purple hair and sparkling violet eyes, was still awake, lost in her own thoughts.
Tonight, however, was different. Hotaru sat at her small desk, a pile of books stacked beside her, but she couldn’t focus on her studies. An uneasy feeling churned in her stomach, disturbing her thoughts and making the books in front of her seem less vital than they had a few hours ago. She had tried to ignore it, hoping the discomfort would pass, but it only grew stronger.
With a sigh, Hotaru placed her pen down and rubbed her belly gently, wishing she could ease whatever discomfort was taking residence inside her. Little did she know, Chibiusa had stirred and was watching her friend with concern.
“Hotaru?” the pink-haired girl whispered, her voice barely breaking the tranquil night.
Hotaru turned, startled to see her friend’s big, bright eyes trained on her. “Oh, Chibiusa, I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Are you okay?” Chibiusa asked, slipping out from under her blanket and padding over to Hotaru. “You look a bit pale.”
“I’m fine,” Hotaru replied, though her voice betrayed her with a slight tremor. She wouldn’t want to worry Chibiusa with her stomachache, a minor nuisance she assumed would fade soon.
Chibiusa wasn’t convinced. She had come to recognize Hotaru’s moods and ailments, sometimes even better than Hotaru herself. The concern etched on her face deepened as she approached, pressing the back of her hand against Hotaru’s forehead. “You’re warm! You’re not fine. Did you eat something strange?”
Hotaru shook her head, the gesture a bit too animated. “No, I just—maybe I shouldn’t have had that extra slice of cake earlier.”
Chibiusa shot her a disapproving look teasingly. “You have to take better care of yourself! You can’t just eat all the cake you want, especially if you have a sensitive stomach.”
Hotaru laughed softly, appreciating Chibiusa’s playful reprimand. “I promise I’ll be more careful next time. But really, it’s nothing that bad.”
Yet, before she could finish her thought, a sudden cramp twisted in her stomach, causing her to wince.
“Okay, that definitely hurts,” she admitted under her breath, her hand instinctively clutching her stomach.
Chibiusa’s eyes widened in alarm. “Hotaru! Come on, let’s get you something to help. We have tea and ginger ale. I’ll go make you some.”
“It’s late, Chibiusa. You should go back to bed,” Hotaru insisted, but Chibiusa had already turned and flung open the kitchen door, her small frame disappearing into the darkness of their little apartment.
The soft sounds of boiling water filled the air, calming yet contrasting Hotaru's discomfort. She sat at her desk, feeling helpless. She hated being in this state, especially in front of Chibiusa, who always seemed to buoy everyone’s spirits.
A moment later, Chibiusa returned, holding a cup of steaming herbal tea in one hand and a ginger ale can in the other. “Okay! You get to pick. Herbal tea for a tummy ache or fizzy ginger ale for a party!”
Hotaru took a shaky breath. The light from the cup made Chibiusa's eyes shimmer, full of warmth and affection. “As fun as a party sounds, I think the tea is better for this.”
Chibiusa grinned and placed the cup in Hotaru’s hands. “Just breathe it in for a moment. It’s good for the soul.”
Hotaru followed her advice, inhaling the calming aroma. It brought a soothing relief and momentarily distracted her from the persistent ache. “Thank you, Chibiusa. You always know how to make me feel better.”
Chibiusa settled beside her, never leaning away from the friendship they had nurtured over the years, one filled with little adventures and shared laughter. “That’s what friends are for.”
As Hotaru sipped her tea, she suddenly became aware of the quiet intimacy that filled the space between them. She cherished these moments, undisturbed by anything or anyone else. There was a silent understanding that traveled between their hearts, a bond that deepened every day.
“Chibiusa,” Hotaru began, finding the courage to voice what often floated in her mind, “do you think... do you think we’ll always be together like this? No matter what happens?”
Chibiusa’s eyes sparkled with certainty, “Of course! We’re like Sailor Senshi in a way—no matter the battle, we always have each other’s backs. Plus, I can’t imagine being without my best friend!”
Hotaru felt a warmth replace the cold twinge of pain in her belly. “You’re right, I just sometimes worry about the future.”
“That’s silly. We have each other, and we’ll get through everything together. Even if you eat too much cake!” Chibiusa teased, causing Hotaru to giggle, though her laughter soon turned into a soft, pained expression as another cramp hit her.
“No more cake, I promise!” Hotaru chuckled, then turned serious again. “But really, thank you for being here tonight.”
Chibiusa, still bubbling with her usual energy, leaned closer. “You really mean that, don't you?”
Hotaru nodded, and in that moment, they exchanged a soft glance, one that spoke more than words ever could. A million feelings swirled between them—a mixture of friendship, unspoken affection, and the kind of understanding that could only be formed through shared trials.
As the minutes passed, Hotaru’s stomachache began to ease, soothed by Chibiusa’s simple acts of love and care. “See, you’re already feeling better!” Chibiusa cheered, her cheerfulness infectious.
“I think I am,” Hotaru replied softly, a smile blooming on her face.
“Tomorrow I’ll help you bake a cake, but this time I’ll make sure it’s healthy!”
Hotaru’s laughter filled the room, a promise of healing and joy. “Let’s do that, partner.”
As they settled back into their comfortable silence, the moonlight continued to bathe them in its glow, a reminder that though the night may bring its own troubles, they were never alone—especially when their hearts were intertwined with such profound affection.
