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'At what point was it, that my eyes began to look elsewhere?'
Ranka laid on her side in bed, head buried in a mountain of pillows. She hugged them as close to her as she could, cocooning into a fetal position.
It was nearing almost three o'clock in the morning.
She still had her clothes from the day on - a cute outfit comprised of a loose fitting white t-shirt and a soft, pink flowing skirt. She also donned white thigh highs with pink hearts laced around the top of the sock. They even had small, darker pink bows in the centre. Ranka had been wearing a headpiece that matched, but had taken it off, making her hair a bit messier than usual.
Ranka's eyes felt heavy, but she couldn't stop thinking about the day. She couldn't stop torturing herself for the missed opportunity.
Well, today's missed opportunity anyway.
Tonight there was a full moon, and Ranka really wanted to spend it with someone special. Today was her last day off for a while, and she didn't want to squander it.
But instead, she spent most of her day procrastinating and rethinking how she would word her request, that before she realized, it had become too late to make plans.
"I'm such a dummy!" Ranka shouted, to no one in particular. Mostly to herself.
She had wasted her whole day. The only day she'd have off for almost a month. When would she find time now?
Well, she may come across that someone in work, but it would have been nice to have some private time. Some time dedicated to relaxing and not working.
Talking to her was so easy usually, but when it came time to text her about something not professional or work related, Ranka always froze up. Her anxiety always got the better of her.
Besides... Sheryl Nome was way out of her league.
Bzzt, bzzt.
Ranka's phone suddenly vibrated, indicating she had received a new message. When she went to check who had sent her something this damn early, her eyes widened.
"Sheryl...?"
'why are u still up?' The message read.
Ranka wasn't sure how Sheryl knew she would was still awake, but she had to answer somehow. She figured Sheryl may have seen her online via the social networking app that they both use. She contemplated various different answers in her head, and ended up going with the safest one.
'i can't sleep.' She responded.
Keeping her phone clutched in her hand, Ranka anxiously awaited Sheryl's response. It came only a few minutes after.
'me either. do u mind if i come over?'
It was so like Sheryl to just invite herself over at three in the morning. Maybe Ranka hadn't wasted the entire day, after all.
Well, no, she definitely wasted her day, but at least she got to see Sheryl in her off time. Even if they both should be sleeping right now.
'sure, come on over! door's unlocked for you.'
Ranka got up to go unlock the door to her apartment, but when she did, she saw the knob twist immediately as the door swung open.
And there was Sheryl.
She was wearing very plain clothes today. She sported a white crop top with a red heart in the middle, with jean shorts that had a few holes in them. Her hair was thrown up in a loose ponytail, and matching the lazy look were black rimmed plastic glasses.
She grinned seeing Ranka's surprise.
"Didn't expect me here so fast, sweetheart?"
Sweetheart. Oh god. This was not good for Ranka's nerves.
"Sh-Sheryl!? Were you standing here this whole time!?" Ranka nearly shouted, her hair rising up as it always did when she was shocked or surprised.
Sheryl giggled. "Just for a few minutes. I couldn't sleep so I decided to go for a walk and ended up here."
Regaining her composure, Ranka made a reply. "W-well, come on in!" She made a gesture signalling for Sheryl to follow her into the apartment, and she complied.
Ranka only lived in a small, one room apartment, but it was still nice and cozy. She really didn't want to live anywhere big or fancy. In the centre of the room was her bed, which was queen sized. It was a canopy bed with brown rails and pastel pink curtains. Her pillows were different shades of pink, while her sheets were a darker pink colour with white polka dots.
She sat down on her bed, and patted the place next to her for Sheryl to sit down on.
Sheryl did in fact sit down next her, perhaps a little closer than Ranka was bargaining for. Sheryl's bare arms grazed Ranka's, and she could feel her chest start to tighten and her cheeks begin to heat up.
There was silence between them for a while before Sheryl finally spoke up.
"So, what's keeping you up, Ranka?"
Ranka knew she couldn't answer honestly. There's no way she could tell Sheryl she procrastinated texting her all day. That would just be way too embarrassing. Instead, she settled on something a little more quaint, while still being kind of honest.
"It's a full moon tonight, so I kind of wanted to enjoy it. I know it's fake but, it's still really pretty."
Sheryl nodded and turned her head towards the open window in Ranka's room. There was a cool breeze coming from it, but you could see the full moon perfectly. Despite not being completely real, it was still a sight to behold. The moonlight poured into the room, illuminating the darkness that would usually befall the place. It really was beautiful.
Sheryl tuned her gaze back to Ranka. "Mmm, I can't blame you. It really is quite beautiful."
This was her chance. Ranka couldn't miss this opportunity. She had to say it! It was now or never!
Her eyes focused on Sheryl, and how the light in the room right now made it seem like she was glowing. The highlights in her hair had such an angelic feeling to them. Ranka could swear she saw a halo appear above Sheryl's head.
She was so beautiful. Nothing could ever compare to her, even the full moon on this night.
Just say it, Ranka.
"J-just like you, Sheryl!"
Ranka really could have gone on about how Sheryl's beauty couldn't even begin to compare to the moon, but this was all she could muster. If she said any more she might have just mumbled for a good few minutes, embarrassing herself.
Sheryl smiled, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "Thank you."
There was a long pause, and Ranka could feel herself regretting her words. Sheryl was always being told how beautiful she was, there's no way Ranka saying it would even faze her. She's probably tired of hearing it anyway--
"Ranka, could we go outside to enjoy this?"
"Eh?"
Ranka was caught off guard by the sudden question, but looking at Sheryl she could tell she was serious about it.
While it's true Ranka had a patio, she wasn't sure that's what Sheryl had in mind.
"There's a nearby park if you want to head there?"
Sheryl grinned, standing up and off of the bed. "Good, lets go then!"
Sheryl offered her hand to Ranka, to help pull her up from the bed. Ranka grinned, taking Sheryl's hand in her own. It was soft, of course, as was to be expected of Sheryl Nome. She would have been more surprised if it wasn't soft. Ranka didn't have much time to marvel, however, as Sheryl marched straight for the door, dragging Ranka behind her.
"Sheryl, wait! I need to get my keys and--"
"Well, hurry up! I don't want to miss this chance." Letting go out of her hand, Ranka grabbed her keys from the nearby vanity, and stuffed them into her purse that was on the floor. It was just a simple white bag with a big bow on the bottom of it.
After flinging her purse over her shoulder, Ranka followed Sheryl outside of the apartment, locked her door, and the two proceeded outside of the building together.
Sheryl made sure to take Ranka's hand again, which, of course, made Ranka's face brighten tenfold.
"So where is this park?" Sheryl asked, stopping in place outside of Ranka's apartment building.
"It's just up the road a bit, to the left. Do you see the the hill at the end of the street?"
Sheryl narrowed the her eyes as she looked up the street and spotted a grassy hill near the end of it. She spotted what looked like benches and trees as well.
"Ah, I see it! Let's get going then, shall we?"
Hand in hand, the two girls walked down the street at a brisk pace set by Sheryl. Ranka had to jog a little bit to keep up to her, which Sheryl definitely did notice, but she didn't stop her pace. She kept going, grasping Ranka's small hand in her own as she walked.
When the two finally reached the park, their hands found their way apart in mutual awe of how beautiful the moon looked from where they stood. They stood there, frozen, underneath the night sky together.
It was Sheryl that broke the trance.
"Standing here likes this makes me really want to sing."
Knocked out of her daze, Ranka responded. "The sparkling of the moon makes me want to sparkle too, right?"
Sheryl nodded. As if to read each other's minds, their voices took flight.
'Turn the stars at the centre of the world.
If you sneeze, a butterfly in a forest somewhere will dance.
The door you guard has a useless key.
It's an embarrassing story.
Though they often lick one another, lions are strong.
I want to survive.
I want to survive.
I still can't stop wanting to live.
Guided by the constellations, our eyes met...'
The two continued to sing, their hearts pounding together as their voices rang out in a key that sounded like heaven. It was incredible, really, to each of them, just how in sync they were with each other and how well their voices complimented each other.
Catching their breath at the end of the song, they looked at each other with sparkles in their eyes.
Ranka had forgotten how wonderful and amazing it was to sing next to Sheryl. Someone who had not long ago been her dream, her idol, was now her close friend. Her close friend who invited herself over at three in the morning.
For Sheryl, it was a different sentiment. Seeing Ranka transform from an adoring fan to a rival in the industry was almost like day and night. Ranka had changed so much, and it motivated her to keep going, to keep getting better and better. Ranka was a constant reminder that she couldn't stay stagnant, that she had to constantly be changing, too.
She motivated her to be a better idol, yes, but most of all, she motivated Sheryl to be a better person.
Ranka was so kind-hearted, if not a bit naive. She saw the beauty in life and tried to find the good in everyone. She was stubborn and went after what she wanted, but not at the expense of others. She didn't lie to get ahead, she didn't step on others to make herself look or feel better. She was a good person, and it reminded Sheryl of herself in her younger days.
Ranka was someone very special to her, in more ways than one. But there wasn't any way she could properly articulate how she felt about her. It was easy to flirt with men but with Ranka, it was different. Sheryl didn't know how to approach the subject with her.
"U-um, Sheryl?"
Suddenly knocked out of a trance she hadn't realized she was in, Sheryl was snapped back to reality when she heard Ranka's voice.
She was so soft spoken, but there was a hint of determination in her voice. Similar to the determination she heard from her during the Miss Macross contest.
"What is it, Ranka?"
Twiddling her thumbs and staring at the ground for a moment, Ranka thought long and hard at how to articulate her next reply. She didn't want to scare Sheryl away, but she couldn't keep her feelings hidden forever. Especially during a romantic night like this. Singing with her idol, her friend, and the person she loved, brought her the confidence and determination she needed.
Looking up and into Sheryl's eyes, Ranka prepared herself for potential rejection. "Sheryl... I love you!"
Her cheeks flushing a light pink in colour, Sheryl was taken aback by Ranka's sudden display of affection. But it didn't take long for her to smile a signature and smug grin. She tucked some stray hairs behind her ears before responding.
"Of course you do, Ranka. Who doesn't love the Galactic Fairy, Sheryl Nome?" She paused, mostly for dramatic effect, but also to bend down slightly so her face was completely level with Ranka's. "Now, aren't you supposed to kiss the one you love?"
"K-k-kiss!?" Ranka was completely in shock by Sheryl's reaction, she was not in the least expecting her to take her confession like this. Ranka's hair lifted up at her shock as she placed her hands on her lips in thought. Her eyes strayed to the side as to avoid eye contact. Could she really kiss Sheryl? Was Sheryl just testing her? Did she think this was some kind of joke?
Regardless, Ranka wasn't going to back down. Especially not after coming this far. If Sheryl wanted a kiss, she was going to get it.
Swallowing the knot in her throat, Ranka nodded her head in agreement, which made Sheryl smile. Their faces were mere inches apart, making it pretty easy to pucker up and plant a kiss on Sheryl. But where would she do it? On her lips? On her cheek? On her forehead?
Before Ranka had time to think about it, Sheryl leaned in quickly, grabbing Ranka's chin - gently of course - and pulled her into a kiss. It was just a quick peck on the lips, but it was long enough for Ranka to inhale the scent of bubblegum in Sheryl's hair.
As they pulled apart, Sheryl grinned upon seeing Ranka's embarrassed face. "You were taking too long, so I helped."
Gently grazing her lips with her fingers, Ranka was at a loss for words. She had just been kissed... by Sheryl Nome.
But she didn't want it to be over.
Looking at Sheryl with her face coloured tomato red, she quickly pecked her cheek, making a 'mwah' sound.
Sheryl grinned at the gesture, and patted Ranka on the head.
"I love you, too, by the way." She said, her own face turning its own shade of red.
Ranka couldn't help but smile, throwing herself at Sheryl and wrapping her arms around her in a hug. Her head wound up resting in Sheryl's chest.
"I love you, I love you, I love you, I love youuuu!" Was all Ranka could say, finding herself on cloud nine.
Sheryl hugged her back, placing her hands on the top of Ranka's head. She kissed that spot as she smiled.
"Now, why don't we enjoy the rest of this morning before the sun comes up?"
Ranka nodded, pulling herself apart from Sheryl's embrace. The two quickly locked hands and found their fingers intertwining so perfectly. Marching further into the park, they enjoyed the next couple hours in each others's arms until the sun rose on the day.