Chapter Text
Mizuki set her headphones on, then rolled her chair over to her computer. When she logged on and unmuted herself, Kanade spoke.
“You’re back,” she said calmly.
“I’m back!” Mizuki replied, grinning. Then she hesitated and sighed. “But I’m not here for long, I have a favor I need to ask.”
“Don’t try to send your newest set of outfits,” Mafuyu said flatly.
Mizuki laughed, she’d mailed her friends a package of new outfits she’d sewn for class. It had just been sent back, arriving two days ago.
“They were cute, you have to admit,” she said indignantly.
There was a pause, then Mafuyu whispered.
“Kanade seemed to think so.”
“Mafuyu!” Kanade replied. Mizuki laughed, doubling over and gripping her desk as she heard them begin to laugh as well.
Six years ago, this would not have been possible.
Mafuyu and Kanade had cut off ties with Mafuyu’s mother when they’d begun dating almost four years ago. Then almost three years ago they’d moved out to the countryside, wanting to have less distractions to recovering from everything that had happened over the years.
There was still a while to go, but there had been a clear improvement in Mafuyu’s mental health… everyone’s actually.
“Is Ena going to log on soon?” Kanade asked.
“Nope, she’s taking an extra class today,” Mizuki replied. “And that’s what I wanted to ask about, I have something I want to do for her.”
She blushed as she thought of her girlfriend, today was their five-year anniversary. She had special plans to make it the best ever.
“Alright then, what do you want help from us, and why?” Kanade asked. Mizuki grinned.
“I’m going to propose to her tonight, and I need to make sure she has no reason not to go out with me.”
…
Ena looked around the alleyway, smiling as the drone flew the fairy lights up and looped them around the pole that jutted out of the ground. It had changed a lot in the six years since Mizuki and Ena’s first time in this alley, and tonight, it would be barely recognizable, she was making sure of that.
“Sooo, what’s so special about this place?” An asked. “Why do you want to propose to Mizuki here?”
“I think Mizuki mentioned it being where they had their first date,” Rui replied.
Ena nodded.
“Yeah, our first date was a picnic back here,” she explained. “Although that’s not where the significance came from.”
“And what would that be?” An asked, smiling widely. Ena grinned. Who knew that world famous pop stars could be so nosy at times. “This was where I convinced her to come back to N25… after she was outed.”
Both An and Rui stilled at this statement, a hush falling over the alley. The only noise filling the space was the buzz of electricity that came from the machines powering the buildings in front of them.
“I see; it must be an incredibly special place for to the two of you,” Rui said. Ena nodded, holding her arm to her side tightly. Tension creeping up her spine.
“This is the perfect place,” An added, grinning. “Mizuki will love it.” Ena breathed out, glad to get both of their approval.
“I hope so,” she said.
An shook her head, holding out a hand to stop her there.
“You know so,” she said. Ena smiled again, then breathed out a sigh.
“Thanks… for everything, for helping me get this ready.” An smiled again, then pointed out to Rui where he was should set some of the easels.
Should we really put paintings on them… she probably wouldn’t like them… no. Shut up anxiety, she’ll like the paintings, Mizuki will like the paintings, she will like tonight… she likes me.
“Well,” An said, jolting Ena out of her thoughts. “Considering you helped with my proposal to Kohane, I kind of had to return the favor, didn’t I?”
Ena grinned, then folded her arms.
“I hope that tonight isn’t as chaotic as that was,” she said. An shrugged.
“Doubt it,” she said. “You and Mizuki aren’t famous…” she paused. “Something that I envy at times.”
“And at other times…” Rui prodded.
An laughed, a sharp barking noise that echoed around the alleyway.
“I absolutely love that others care about our music like that,” she said. “If six years ago you’d told me that I’d end up performing at the Tokyo Dome, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
“Still waiting for you to get a DVD of that performance out,” Ena replied. An gave her a loose salute, then grabbed the first of the paintings. It was of a cherry blossom tree. The pink petals falling gently onto a lake that reflected the image. It was one of Ena’s favorite pieces she’d made.
“I will get one to you as soon as possible… maybe it could be a wedding gift.”
“Right… the great An Shiraishi of Vivid BAD SQUAD will be at my wedding…” Ena said. “If Mizuki says yes.” Both An and Rui gave her a flat look.
“She’ll say yes,” Rui said. He set another painting on an easel, this one of Mizuki, smiling widely, eyes closed and hands held behind her back. She looked so happy, Ena blushed as she looked at the picture. Imagining her girlfriend having that expression tonight.
“I know…” Ena said. “But anxiety can be a real bitch at times.” The older man inclined his head.
“That is true,” he replied. Ena grabbed the picnic blanket they’d brought out here and laid it out before setting a few candles on top. She wouldn’t light them yet; they still had work to do.
It was going to be a perfect night.
…
Mizuki pinched her tongue in her teeth as she pulled her needle through the fabric, she wanted this one to be perfect. Not only was it an assessment for her hand sewing class, but it was also a shirt that belonged to someone else, one that had been ripped, and Mizuki had full intention to make it better than new.
Yet… her mind drifted from the shirt and towards Ena, and her plans tonight.
Go to the park, go on a romantic little walk, find a place that the two of us can be alone, then… then propose to her. Tell her that she is the best part of your life, that you never want to go a day without her. That you never would have gotten this far in life without her…
That last one… it was the truest of them all…
I probably would have ended my life if I hadn’t come back to N25.
She pricked her finger on the needle and instinctively pulled back, desperate not to get blood on the shirt. Mizuki sighed as she set the project on her desk and went to wash off the tiny wound.
“I probably shouldn’t be working right now, not when I’m distracted like this,” she spoke the words aloud, despite knowing that nobody would respond.
Then the door suddenly opened and Ena walked inside.
“I’m home!” she said. Mizuki started, then glanced down at her watch. Last she’d checked, it had been 4:16, now it was 6:39.
Wow, time really flies by when you’re doing -and thinking of- what you love. She dried her hands, then crushed her girlfriend in an embrace, causing Ena to burst out into laughter.
“What’s that for?” she asked. Mizuki pulled away then smiled.
“I can’t bare being away from you for long,” she stated in an overly dramatic voice. “It maketh my soul weep… and uh…” she trailed off. “Okay, I probably should have thought on that one more.” Ena burst out into laughter again. Mizuki found herself laughing as well, as her girlfriend dropped her purse on the kitchen counter.
Mizuki took a moment to look her up and down, Ena had left before she’d woken this morning. She gasped when she saw the outfit.
“You’re wearing the dress I made for your birthday!” she exclaimed. Ena smiled, then spun in a slow circle to show it off.
“I know that I haven’t gotten the chance to wear it yet…”
“That or you’ve chosen not to,” Mizuki interrupted, Ena hesitated, then looked away, ashamed. Mizuki laughed, then patted her girlfriend on the head. “Just messing,” she said. Ena pulled away and fixed her hair, then smiled, nonetheless.
“I thought that I had to wear something you made today, in case you forgot what day it is.”
“In what world would I forget the day?” Mizuki asked. “It’s Tuesday.” Ena turned a skeptical look on her, and Mizuki stuck out her tongue, before pulling Ena back into a second choking embrace. “Happy anniversary sweetheart!” She kissed her on the cheek. Ena returned the embrace.
And just on cue, both of their phones buzzed. Both pulled back, startled, then both checked their phones to see what had happened. It was a notification from Nightcord.
K: <Something came up for Yuki and I; we can’t log on tonight.>
“Well, that’s certainly rare,” Ena said.
“Yeah,” Mizuki replied, despite knowing that she’d asked them to send this message.
“And it’s actually perfect, because I was about to text them the same thing,” Ena replied, Mizuki started.
“What happened to let’s just spend our fifth anniversary hanging out with friends?” she asked. “You said the best way to celebrate would be to have the best night of our life, and that the best way to do that was to be with friends?” she asked.
Ena nodded, grabbing her purse again.
“I did say that,” she explained. “Then I thought about it again and decided that we should actually do something extra special.” Mizuki smiled and hooked her arm in Ena’s.
“Perfect, I was going to make sure this happened,” she said. “I have the perfect place…” she began to pull Ena but stopped when her girlfriend pulled her arm away. She held a finger up.
“Nope,” she said. “You chose where we went last time, it’s my turn to choose.” Mizuki hesitated, then drooped down in a sigh. I guess that I can propose to her elsewhere… it has to be tonight.
“Finneeee,” she replied, drawing out the word. Ena smiled.
“Alright then, let’s go.”
…
Ena quickly lit the candles, turned on the fairy lights, and made the finishing touches on the most perfect date she and Mizuki would ever have. Then she came out of the alleyway and pulled Mizuki towards it.
“Okay, I see that it was smart for you to choose,” Mizuki said as Ena covered her eyes and led her down the alley. “This place didn’t even cross my mind…”
“Well, it’s been quite a few years since we’ve been here,” Ena replied.
Six years. Wow, we’ve come a really long way, haven’t we.
So much had happened in the past six years. Moving out for art school, starting to sell her art and make commissions, heck, her little brother becoming a world-famous musician, and actually becoming a pretty popular artist… and of course, all the best parts with Mizuki.
Moving in together, teaching her how to draw, learning how to sew. Modeling for assignments that Mizuki had at school.
It had been a chaotic, messy, and yes, sometimes painful few years. But overall, it had been wonderful, and Ena wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Mizuki gasped when Ena pulled her hands away, she watched her girlfriend, a sudden spike of nervousness striking her. Does she like it? Does she hate it? Will she… say yes?
“Oh my god… Ena,” Mizuki whispered. “It’s perfect.” She turned and they met each other’s gaze. Ena saw that tears were shining in Mizuki’s eyes. She smiled.
“I’m glad you liked it, was her only reply.”
…
When it was finally night, Ena decided it was time, she sat up, removing herself from Mizuki’s arms. They’d been cuddling together on the soft picnic blanket, looking up and trying to find stars despite the light pollution.
Mizuki sat up, then took in a deep breath.
“I have a question to ask you,” they both said at the same time. There was a stunned moment of silence, both staring at each other, startled that they both asked the same question at the same time.
“Sorry, you go first…” when they matched each other’s words again, they burst out into laughter. As they finally calmed, Ena tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Actually, you go first,” she said. Mizuki hesitated.
“Are you sure?” she asked. Ena nodded, causing Mizuki to smile. She stood, then pulled Ena to her feet. She took a deep breath in, and Ena noticed that her girlfriends hands was shaking. She grabbed them and squeezed. “Just ask,” she said. Mizuki nodded.
“Shinonome, Ena…” she began. A slight panic hit Ena, at the use of her full name. What is that supposed to mean? “You… are the best person to have ever come into my life, and I don’t know what I would do without you.” There was a pause as the words settled in. Ena wanted to reply, but Mizuki continued.
“I genuinely believe that I would be a completely different woman without you… and I genuinely believe that if I couldn’t be with you forever, life would lose a lot of its charm…”
Wait is she…
Mizuki dropped her hand to her side, reaching into her pocket.
There’s no way…
“So, I want to ask that we can stay together forever,” she said.
Nooooo, we can’t have planned the same thing. Ena put her hands to her mouth, hiding her shock. She felt tears stinging her eyes as Mizuki got onto one knee, then held up a small box, opening it and revealing a small golden ring.
It was ornamented with small pink jewels that had been clearly set into the ring to look like cherry blossoms. They all surrounded a glistening diamond that shimmered in the light of the fairy lights glittering above.
“Shinonome Ena… will you marry me?” Mizuki asked.
Ena couldn’t speak for a long minute, she just stood there, hands cupped around her mouth, she stared at her girlfriend, at the ring in her hand.
“I…” Ena began. She trailed off. Do I tell her that I was going to ask her… no. I don’t want to take this moment away from Mizuki.
“Yes!” Ena exclaimed. “Of course I’ll marry you!” Mizuki grinned, then stood, and removed the ring from the box, she slipped it onto Ena’s finger, then pulled her into a tight embrace. Tears spilled from Ena’s eyes, and she knew that by the end of tonight, her jaw would be hurting from smiling.
Mizuki lifted Ena off the ground, then spun her in a circle. Ena laughed and cried tears of pure joy.
Then Mizuki pulled away, leaving Ena with a cold empty feeling that came with not being able to hold her girlfriend.
“Okay, your turn, what was your question?” Mizuki asked. Ena froze, then laughed.
“I, uh… it really doesn’t matter…” she began. Mizuki shook her head fiercely.
“Yes, it does matter, and I want to hear it,” she said. Folding her arms. The position signaled to Ena that this was non-negotiable.
Well… this has got to be the most unique fifth anniversary in the world.
“Alright then,” she said. “I uh, didn’t prepare anything special about the question I was going to ask you. And it probably wont matter in the same way… but, Mizuki, I don’t think I could live without you… and I…”
Nerves overtook Ena, and she found herself shaking, fighting to continue her words despite feeling choked up.
“Just breathe,” Mizuki replied. Squeezing Ena’s hands in hers. Ena nodded, then breathed in and out, she pulled her hand away, then reached into her purse.
She got down on one knee.
“I guess that this really isn’t the same as when you asked just seconds ago,” she said. Smiling from ear to ear as Mizuki gasped, her hands flying up to her mouth.
“But I wanted to ask the question to you,” she opened the box, revealing a ring that had been styled to look like a bunch of bows connected together by Peridot gems.
“So, uh, Akiyama Mizuki, I think I can guess the answer… but, will you marry me?” Mizuki was silent for a long minute, then she laughed.
“We are on a roll today,” she said. Ena laughed as well, causing a new cascade of tears to fall from her eyes. She stood, then pulled the ring out of the box. Mizuki held out her hand, and Ena slid it on, then her girlfriend… no, her fiancé pulled her into another embrace.
“I never said my answer,” she said.
“Which is?” Ena asked. Mizuki pulled away an inch.
“Yes!” They kissed each other, and as Ena fell into the trap that was Mizuki’s lips, her taste, the words they both were thinking seemed to haunt the air.
Yes.
Always.
Forever.