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"Midari, you pervert! Get back in here!" They all hung out at one of Kirari's rest houses on the beach just beside a resort she owned. Yuriko hit Midari's head with her folded hand fan and then grabbed her by the ear.
"How degenerate!" She pinched the tip of her ear and twisted, earning a screech from the eye patched girl.
"Eek! Harder, harder!" Instead of crying in pain she had seemed to loved it so the brunette had no choice but to let go. Tears started to roll down from the insane girl's eyes, annoying Yuriko even more.
Yuriko scowled and swatted Midari again on the head before she could even return to peep at Yumeko who sat down at the beach while their own group ( Student council ) hung out at a rest house's terrace.
"Give me that!" Sayaka interrupted the two, snatching the pirate telescope from Midari, the short haired girl annoyingly growled.
"Really! Why can't anyone understand my happiness, only Yumeko did but she fucking ditched me." Said Midari who now turned to the president and hoped to get a little bit of attention.
"She did not ditch you, she was just simply not interested in you no longer. You pissed her off." Said Yuriko but the short haired latter ignored her and was still turned to Kirari, awaiting for a notice.
"Don't look at me," Kirari glared at Midari intently; looking down at her cards and then extended her arm motioning Sayaka to come near. She patted on her lap and the younger girl sat there, calmly, unlike before she would always end up getting a short circuit even from the simplest affections shown by Kirari.
"Eugh! Don't care, just 'lemme gamble with you!" Midari said, her body crumbling down in the middle of the table with her tears smudging on the cards. She whimpered and sobbed.
"I'm afraid that I would have to refuse, Ikishima, for it is my first time gambling with Runa and I would like to enjoy it all to myself." Kirari grinned, placing two of her cards on the laying, crying body of Midari. Runa peeked at the revealed cards and scowled.
"I'm not enjoying this at all," Runa flashed her own cards, revealing a five of hearts and two of spades, leaving Kirari's seven of spades and two of diamonds.
"Well, this game does depend on the player's luck so," Kirari moved Midari's body with a shrug. She took the cards underneath to shuffle them again. Sayaka shot her a glare. On all of those years that they have been together, the ex- secretary tried her best from preventing her to do dangerous gambles but Kirari would always end up seducing Sayaka anyways.
"...maybe we could stir up our games and change it?" Kirari continued with a shit eating grin plastered on her face and Sayaka rolled her eyes at her one of soon to be shenanigans.
"Worry not, my dear. No 'silly' things, just normal games and gambles." Said Kirari with boredom, but then had smooched Sayaka before playing another game with Runa.
"Fine, as long as no harmful things alright? I know you and your drive for amusing things." Sayaka sighed and patted Kirari on the head before leaving her grasp to move to another seat.
"Funny thing darling is that only you could ever amuse and drive me up all night." Kirari bewitched Sayaka with a flirty wink and with that the younger woman's face turned red and Runa made a gagging noise.
The two continued the game with Midari still laid on the table, suffering from the need of pain. A couple of more turns in their simple game of lucky nine and Kirari finally managed to win two points ahead of Runa meaning that she would do the punishment.
"Punishment for you then. I'll have Sayaka call-"
"Punishment? What punishment?!" Midari was brought back to life just from hearing that word. Her eyes glistened and her smile grew big.
"Well-"
"No, don't fucking say it! I'll take your punishment! I want it to be a surprise!" Midari jolted up, her body standing unsteadily at the small table as she stood in a stance. She was shaking, euphorically.
"Are you sure, Ikishima?" Runa smirked and twirled the lollipop between her lips.
"Ugh! Of course! I need some juice, I've been dried since college."
***
"No, you've got to be fucking with me!" Midari choked out.
"Mhm, you did say you were taking Runa's punishment and no take backs!" Kirari grinned wide-eyed, handing Midari a rather utterly ridiculous costume. It was cute, but gross for the eye patched girl. The costume was totally not her thing.
"This is embarrassing! Please, not this. I'll do shit but this." Midari cried out, still cringing at the costume. It had a pink and orange color scheme which was too bright for her tastes and was far from her style.
"Weren't you the type to love embarrassing things?" Sayaka pinched the bridge of her nose.
Sure, she missed being with the student council even if it was stressing at times. But it was never in her book to expect that on their second day of vacation, one of them would already do something ridiculous. She didn't expect that such soon to be 30 year olds would still be as sill as they were before. The odds are endless. Though it's not like she's seen worse. She did manage to stay sane for all those years of dealing with their 'shenanigans.' Except for that one time she jumped from a tower, it was all to prove her love and devotion to Kirari, that was far from normal, but you gotta do what you gotta do. ( And the tasing of students. Eh, who cares, anyone in that school was far from normal. )
"So pink and bright," Midari's face twisted in shivering disgust, her eyes squinting.
"And yes Sayaka! I may do but that doesn't mean I'll do things like these." She threw it back down on the table and wiped her fingers on Yuriko's exposed stomach, wearing a two pieced bikini. Midari earned a smack on the head again.
"No take backs, Midari. I expect to see you on Yumemi's opening performance later." Kirari leaned towards Midari and grabbed her chin. The action made the shorthaired girl so giddy that she couldn't help but mewl in excitement. The president was sure as hell giving her attention.
"And maybe, I'd finally put up a gamble, considering my promise of I, being the one to end you. Would that perhaps satisfy what you want?" Kirari tightened her grip, eyes gleaming mischievously as her lips curled like Cheshire.
A promise. That's what it was. And it was to be fulfilled.
Behind them, Sayaka growled.
"He-he! Y-yes president!" Midari smiled like a hopeful child and Kirari let go of her chin with a satisfied glare.
"See you in an hour. We'll be meeting my sister, ciao!" Kirari turned away from the three who stared at the costume dumbfounded.
"Come on, wifey. Let's go..." Kirari's voice faded as Midari sneered at the clothes laying at the table.
"Miss Ikishima! If you could, please wear the costume now to prepare in advance." Someone from Yumemi's managing team said.
"Fine, fine! Jeez sus, let's just hope Yumeko doesn't see me in this embarrassing crap."
***
It was 6 pm and was already dark enough to make the lights stand out. In the stage was Yumemi who was now an outstanding actress and would from time to time perform as an idol/popstar.
While she danced and sing, Midari was beside her as a back up dancer, dressed as a coconut tree instead because she ended up ripping her costume. She grew irritated every time she forgot the dance steps and when she would; she'd accidentally step on another dancer's foot. And it messed up their choreography, big time, but the crowd still enjoyed it.
"Interesting isn't it?" Kirari whispered-shouted through the noise just so Sayaka would hear.
"What is?" Sayaka leaned closer to Kirari, also whisper-shouting.
"On how simultaneous people would sing along to an idol's song." Kirari said with her arms crossed. The five of them watched by the crowd.
"Idol, what a silly thing to call them." Kirari mumbled.
"Hmm, yes. It's either they like the song or to show support." Sayaka nodded in agreement to her wife's statement.
Runa and Yuriko stood behind the couple as they laughed and record Midari's dancing. Ririka on the other hand stood there beside them, still on her business suit.
"Sayaka, if I were to become an idol, would you come to my concerts?" Kirari faced Sayaka and wrapped her arms around the smaller woman's waist.
"W-well, why of course! You're my wife and I love you. Surely someone would be idiotic enough not to support their beloved." Sayaka's face flushed crimson red that Kirari had found it adorable like many other times.
"Even if I sing badly?" Kirari leaned her forehead towards Sayaka and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Y-yes. I mean no! Wait! That didn't sound right."
Kirari chuckled at her adorable flustering.
"Kirari! What I meant was that everything about you is good and beautiful. When the world finds you ugly, I'll still be there to see the beauty in you." Sayaka huffed out and wrapped her arms around Kirari's waist embarrassingly. She hid her face on the older woman's chest.
"Why, that's sweet my cherry. I love you." Kirari kissed the top of Sayaka's head and the younger woman mumbled out an 'I love you too.'
"Ew! Go get a room!" Runa splurged water at the two with her water gun and pointed her camera to them. Sayaka gasped while she stared at her chest which was now wet and her swimsuit drenched. Kirari's own bare stomach had been wet by the shot and her piece was drenched by water.
"Yomuzuki!" Sayaka shrieked and her mouth started to foam, eyes having an insane glare.
Sayaka had snatched the water gun from Runa and she started chasing her away from the crowd attempting to shoot her. Her hand clawing each and every time she got closer. Kirari chuckled and chased the two, leaving Yuriko and Ririka.
"Ririka, I shall be going with them. What about you?" Yuriko said and the platinum haired woman nodded.
"I'll be staying here for a while, please do tell Kirari I'd come with later on."
"Ah, yes. I will do." Yuriko bowed before heading off to follow the three who had ran further into the beach.
Ririka was now left alone in the crowd. She grew bored so she couldn't help but stick her hand inside her pocket and the other hanging onto her disheveled tie. Her thoughts wondered on to things then to other things. Nothing important really, just some work that she needed to finish by the end of the month.
The performance took quite long and was entertaining, well that is if you're really into pop, Ririka was fine with pop though... But glad that it had finished sooner. The crowds were forced to leave their place when men started to bring stacks of chairs to align in front of the stage.
'God knows what they're doing, I should've asked Kirari, she never told me about any of this.'
The platinum haired woman finally moved from her fixed stature. Her eyes suddenly darted towards the runway. She remembered those, especially when she used to visit her past lover's fashion shows.
'Quite a bitter past but I miss...'
She let out an exhausted sigh. An hour ago she was by her office and Kirari had picked her up on an helicopter.
'I shouldn't have come, what a waste of time.'
Leather shoes dipped down to the sand, heels turning to leave, not until her eyes caught a glimpse of blonde hair.
'No way.'
She craned her head back to the stage, and there, it was none other than...
'Mary Saotome.'
She turned away, her heart tugged. She saw Mary, laughing... Still looking bright and confident as ever.
Ririka wanted to run, hide, and not ever come back there again. They left each other for a reason but she never moved on. She never knew why, maybe because she didn't have a reason to, especially when she knew that they broke up for the sake of their careers. They never had problems, fights, they just... Lost time for each other.
And it was Mary's decision. She said it was better for the two of them, but for Ririka it wasn't, yet she still agreed. All to respect what Mary wanted. What if, she hadn't agreed and instead tried to fix things...
Still, seeing her now won't help her stop longing for the blonde.
Ririka clutched her chest, fisting on the fabric, she felt the ring that hang in her necklace behind her clothes. It was something she wished she should have given before it was too late. She wished to have proclaimed her neverending love and to have Mary for her whole life.
Before she could even have the chance, it was too late.
Ririka was about to walk away, only to find her heels twisting back to face the stage which was now a runway and had people wearing fancy and exquisite beach clothes gathering around.
A funky music started to blast from the towering speakers on either sides of the stage. The middle aged sat and the youngsters stood behind with their phones up, posting in social media or awaiting for the upcoming fashion collection.
An emcee then appeared and greeted everyone, sputtering nonsense, well, that is for Ririka, she didn't care about any that he said. She was used to waiting for Mary to appear and maybe until now she is. She would never miss any of Mary's shows before, and now she thought, how many shows had she missed since they separated... Three years is a long time.
Mary was also nearly thirty, an age when you could retire from modeling.
The show started, ranging from bikinis to fashionable summer wear. Ririka stood with anticipation, waiting for Mary. Five people lined up, strutting forward and turning back to the backstage, Mary came out with an expensive looking white two-piece bikini. With her wearing it, the piece looked even more priceless.
She naturally walked towards the runway with her face rested and narrowed eyebrows. Her arms swayed along as her legs moved to the front of the other as she walked. Her heels giving her height a little adjustment. Her hair wasn't tied, instead it was falling freely from behind her, flowing in every movement she made. It was golden and silky, something Ririka's fingers itched to run through.
Mary stopped at the end of the runway, posing, smiling, and flipping her hair. The lighting made her even more stunning. It seemed so natural for her, something that was meant to be for her.
She was beyond beautiful and Ririka...
Ririka was lovestruck, dazed, her heart flipped and her cheeks burned. Time slowed down as she watched Mary turn to retreat back to the stage.
Ririka felt her heart tighten, hoping to see Mary some more, but she was gone, again... She huffed and turned too, walking back to Kirari's rest house on the other side of the beach. She shook her head, distracting her thoughts to bring it somewhere else. But it never did and it had no plan to.
Mary was implanted in her whole being. She had always has been.
***
Along her way to the beach, there were bonfires and groups of people in tents.
Ririka reached the front of the rest house and climbed the stairs to the terrace where the rest of their group were, surprisingly, along with Jabami's group.
There were too much people than what she had expected, not that she minded, but her little demise on the beach seeing Mary had her easily bothered. And her cheeks were still cherry red too and she couldn't let anyone notice especially Kirari, it'd be embarrassing. And would for sure intrigue the younger twin.
"Ririka! Care for some barbecue?" Kirari turned to wave at her while her arms were snaked around Sayaka's waist. The two of them did the barbecue while the rest did other things of their own amusement.
"No, but thank you." Ririka answered poorly, her feet moved her towards the door and her tired eyes lead themselves to the knob.
"Hmm, I insist." Kirari let go of Sayaka, having Itsuki help her out. The twin walked to her.
"I'm good, really." Ririka said.
"Are you sure? Your cheeks are quite red," Kirari tugged on Ririka's hand softly and the other cupped her blushed cheek.
"Kirari... I'm fine." Ririka turned her face away.
"Well, if you say so," Kirari smiled, cheekily, with a hint of intimidation, and her smile the turned into a smirk.
"W-what?"
"Nothing at all... You know, we were planning on going down to the beach after having barbecue..." Kirari pouted ( which looked obviously fake and orchestrated just to intimidate Ririka ) and awaited for a response.
"Fine, I'll go." The older twin sighed.
"Wonderful!" Kirari squeezed her hand lightly and left.
Ririka strode inside to get a change of clothes and a quick warm shower to let her body relax a little after a long day from work and traveling.
***
"Not here and not there, where could they be..."
After soaking in the tub for nearly an hour, Ririka got out only to find the rest house empty. She started to look for them around the beach but they weren't there. She had been walking and asking people but there was still no sign of their group.
She also tried calling Kirari's phone but the younger twin along the rest left their gadgets at the house.
"Kirari... Where the hell are you." Ririka groaned to herself as she kept walking back and forth infront of a beach bar beside a resort.
"Two martinis please." A familiar voice spoke out.
Ririka craned her head to the source of the voice and on the other side was Ryota. She jogged towards him and tapped on his shoulder, causing him to flinch the slightest.
"H-huh? Oh! Ririka!" He gaped before taking two of the drinks.
"Suzui-
"We haven't greeted each other yet, u-uh- it's nice seeing you after a long time!" Ryota bowed down frustratingly not knowing how to act.
"Yes, it's nice seeing you too, Suzui." Ririka smiled and Ryota smiled back too, he turned to pay for two of the drinks.
"You couldn't find us, right?" The latter asked as Ririka followed him. She watched him as he walked ahead, his frame had grown, muscles firm and wasn't as scrawny as before anymore.
"Mhm, where are they anyways?"
"Come on," Ryota chuckled and Ririka nodded to follow him to the further area where there weren't that much people anymore.
They too had a bonfire and a container filled with beers and some snacks. They all sat on a circle, in one side Yumemi sat as she sang and the rest listened and caught up with each other.
"Oi, oi! Hurry up Suzui! Come play the guitar!" Yumemi yelled over Midari's bickering with Yuriko after the eye-patched girl nearly burnt everyone alive with her careless playing with the fire. To impress Yumeko that is.
"Coming!" The latter moved in between Yumeko and Yumemi, taking the guitar to play so that the drunk popstar and the gambling addict could sing. He handed the two their drinks and started to strum.
Ririka stood, scanning each and every person, Kirari and Sayaka weren't there.
"Eh? Take a seat," Midari scooted closer beside Yuriko to give space for Ririka in between her and Runa.
Ririka took a seat, folding her legs up and hugging them as the cold night breezed her pale skin.
"So... Whatcha been up to? I heard yah got your own shit now." Midari hugged her knees too and stared at Ririka.
"Yes, I do now." The platinum haired girl nodded.
"I see... Anyways, if yah were lookin' for them two fuckers, they're right over there!" Midari nudged her on the side, slinging her arms around Ririka's shoulder, she pointed at the far part of the beach.
Kirari was carrying Sayaka bridal style as the two could be heard giggling from afar. They splashed with the waters as little waves came to meet them vastly.
"Thanks," Ririka said plainly. She held in her breath when the short haired girl breathed heavily close to her, she reeked off a very sour smell of beer.
"Yeah, no prob!" Midari ruffled her hair before turning her attention to Yuriko now.
Ririka finally let out her held breath, staring into the midst of the ocean, she couldn't help but chuckle at how childish her twin was but it can't be helped. She facepalmed herself and mentally gave Kirari a smack on the head.
She watched as Kirari chased Sayaka with a blob of thing, she couldn't make it out. It could be a sea creature or maybe perhaps it was just a blob of thing after all. Who knows. Two, thirty year old wives chasing each other.
"How normal," Ririka whispered sarcastically to herself.
After Sayaka had finally gotten tired and surrendered to Kirari's grasp, Ririka diverted her attention to somewhere else. Beside her, Runa sat playing on her Nintendo switch, she couldn't guess what she played but the gremlin kept cursing everytime a character attacked her own.
"Aw shiznut!" Runa grumbled when her character died, she stretched out her arms and legs, yawning, turning to the twin.
"Yow!"
"Hello," Ririka smiled.
"How have you been? Doing good after... Er..."
"Yes, I'm moving on." She answered skittishly.
"Moving on? I was hoping to hear 'moved on,' hehe, since it's been years." Runa tilted her head and looked at Ririka curiously.
Ririka sighed, her eyes lowering and her lips pursed in a thin line, "It's hard, I guess."
Her chest ached.
"Sure is, why didn't you just..." Runa paused, seeing Ririka teary eyed.
"I couldn't and I didn't want to keep her from succeeding on her own." Ririka blinked the tears away, recomposing herself.
'I didn't want to hold her back, our relationship was keeping her from succeeding.'
"Hmm, but what if..." Runa sneered teasingly at her.
"No I don't think so and I'm sure that she has... moved on." Ririka retorted with her voice low and turned to look away from Runa that stared with scrutiny.
"Well, I don't know about that." Runa teased even more, suddenly irritating Ririka. It was common for the midget to do that, but things have barriers. Things that shouldn't be said.
"Of course you don't!" The platinum haired latter sprung on her feet with her face fuming red. Everyone in the circle froze and shifted their attention awkwardly at her. The tension thickening inside her mind. It wasn't true, it was just inside her head, everything's alright.
"I-I'm sorry, I'll just go." Her face went pale and she clutched her hands into fists, her nails digging through her palm, she bit her lip anxiously. She shifted and stood to leave the circle. Her vision had started to go blurry, but it wasn't tears, no, it was her mind almost collapsing to emotions.
"Hey, no! I was just kidding around," Runa tried to call out and so did the others but none even ran after her. Maybe, 'Maybe it's for the best.'
So Ririka walked, faster and faster, her pace beating along with her heartbeat and thoughts. Her eyes began to blur( and it was no longer just in her mind, ) as they tracked down on her racing feet. It was wet and freshly hot, tears accumulating and it stung.
Warm, she wishes to go somewhere warm. Like her tears, but her tears hurt... they weren't the warmth she wanted.
Again.
All she could think about was-
"Oop-!"
"Eep-!"
"Holy mother of Chr..." The two looked up at each other on the same time. Hearts sinking.
"-Ist, I'm so sorry..." The blonde said lowly, her mouth gaped open. Her throat tightening and gone dry.
" I- Sorry!" Ririka declared in a small voice, she craned her head down before taking a big step away from the trio.
"Woah, woah, woah. Ririka? Hold on, shouldn't we all be there?" Itsuki stopped her by the arm and tilted her head towards the circle. The girl was obviously drunk, seeing how she looked drowsy and the beer bottle on her hand.
"I have things to do," Ririka bit her lip, her eyes glancing to Mary then back to Itsuki. She anticipated to leave, now, immediately. Her skin burnt coldly to the tips, nerves nearly shutting down, it was cold, getting colder than it was. Yet sweat came down from her back.
"Things? Dude, isn't this supposed to be a vacay?" Itsuki scoffed and put a hand on her hip.
"Yeah, but-"
"Let us go, please. I'm starting to get cold." Kaede interrupted and walked ahead.
'Cold.'
Ririka too was getting cold and wanted to leave.
"Ah, coming!" Itsuki let go of Ririka, glancing at her before following Kaede.
Ririka didn't even notice but Mary was still there, only to follow her walk on the opposite direction.
"Riri..." Mary tried to get ahold of her arm but the silver haired woman walked faster.
'Riri, you're so daring to call me that.' Ririka ached.
"Ririka, wait!"
She should run and not show her face ever again. But...
Ririka stopped on her tracks and didn't turn, "Mary... what is it?" Her name, it slipped so beautifully off her tongue. She could say it over and over again. But it left a burning, bad sensation up her throat and huge lump in her chest.
"You're not going?"
"I'm afraid not."
Mary almost reached out her hand to grab since Ririka was only a foot away but she seemed so far and distant. She missed the chance to grab her.
The older girl started to walk again, further. Her silver hair glowed along the moonlight as it cascaded to the side with the wind.
"And why not?" Mary asked.
"I have no reason to." Said Ririka, it was both the truth and a lie.
"We could catch up!" Mary desperately said and then biting her tongue harshly, regretting it later on.
'Why, out of all times we could bump into each other. Why now?' Ririka pondered.
"We could but I have more important things to do," said Ririka and bit on her tongue aggressively.
"You're kidding," Mary scoffed.
"Could you tell?" Ririka turned to finally face her, seriously, she gulped her fear and embarrassment.
"I've known you for years, you think I won't? Ririka, we separated peacefully right? So there's no problem with us talking. "
"What if I changed? Became someone you didn't know before." Ririka switched the topic unnoticed.
"Did you?"
"No... But I moved on..." A lie to be honest.
"Ah, good for you then. So, what now?" Mary crossed her arms infront of her chest and grinned.
"Mary," said Ririka.
"Yes? Ririka." Mary's face softened.
"Goodbye," she wished to stay but leaving would be better.
Ririka turned her back on Mary and started to walk further away again.
"You're really not going?"
"Mary, if you'd like me to stay please say so. I don't like to be kept... waiting. You of all people should know that," Ririka bit her own tongue.
'But for you I would wait forever.'
"Fine! Whatever, it's just that catching up wouldn't be so bad."
"Alright," Ririka sighed; finally surrendering and turned to face Mary again. "Catching up."
The blonde nodded as she walked ahead with Ririka keeping a distance from her.
The beach, the vastly seas and the chilly breeze. It made the thick tension between them thicker. Especially when the two have secrets to tell and hoped they would, before the evening ends.
"Look who finally came," Kirari smiled smuggly at the two.
"Well, fuck you." ... "Hello, dear sister." Mary scowled and Ririka frowned, her tone sarcastic.
The duo sat down but sadly not beside each other, catching up would have to happen later.
"What a drastic greeting, but isn't it wonderful! All of us having a little reunion after for so many years that we have not seen each other. My, have the times changed." Kirari smiled with a hint of amusement in her voice, it was coy and playful.
"It is indeed that time has passed and whatever happened back then is behind us, isn't that right?" Said Yumeko with the same playfulness but less mischief and more politeness.
"Truly is, Jabami Yumeko," Kirari tilted her chin slightly upward, her smile resting on her face normally.
Yumeko only smiled back and the rest kept quiet.
Leaving the two to stare at each other.
Midari cleared her throat groggily, "So~ Anyone up for a game of..."
She gulped everything and held up the empty beer bottle happily, "Heehee! Spin the bottle!"
She waved her arm aggressively, purposely hitting Yuriko multiple times.
"No!" Mary, Kaede, Sayaka and Yuriko.
"Yes!" Kirari, Yumeko and Yumemi.
And the other three? Silence.
"Great! Spin the bottle then~"
Midari flicked her tongue over her bottom lip sloppily; a wide grin staying on her face. She threw the bottle down to the sand and spun it.
"Come on, come on, bitch. Pick me," the short haired woman shook in her seat, practically sweating and drooling as the bottle slowed down it's pace... it finally pointed towards her.
But moved to Yuriko.
"Mother fucker!" Midari threw her hands up in the air aggressively, swatting Yuriko with the side of her arm.
"Midari! Haven't I told you to mind your language?" Yuriko spat, her eyes widening, and finally opening.
The whole circle gasped, surprised and intrigued.
"I... Yuriko-sama! You opened your eyes!" Itsuki squeaked a little too high while the rest were still eyeing Yuriko.
"Duh, what else she doin' then? Growing out teeth?" Midari snarled.
"That's not my point! What I meant was WE'VE never seen her eyes open." Itsuki's own eyes widened, teeth gritting as the alcohol bit on her sanity. Ready to come back at any remarks the eye patched woman makes.
"Well, WE have seen her eyes open already many times. Nyaha!~" Runa teased, popping a beer bottle open using her teeth.
Itsuki threw back a remark, even tho the sugar gremlin didn't mean for it to seem like one.
On the other hand, Mary and Ririka were separated by three people, Kirari, Sayaka and the now snorting Runa after having Itsuki angry and leaving everyone to forget about the game.
Mary skimmed her eyes past the three, trying to figure out what Ririka was doing but Runa beside her just kept on moving around.
"For God's sake! We are completely matured thirty year olds so please stop the nonsense." Sayaka bit, her voice aloud and heard that it shut those who had their own voices blabbering a few seconds ago.
"I'm not even thirty yet..." Itsuki mumbled quietly.
"If you mean to quarrel then please continue elsewhere, for now I plan on atleast relaxing and having 'fun' even if it's with you bastards." Sayaka inhaled sharply, calming her nerves as her hands wrapped tightly around the alcoholic beverage, Kirari beside her was as possibly as drunk and instead amused and enjoyed.
Mary cringed at them.
"In case anyone forgets, it's Yuriko's turn." Ryota called out.
"Rrrrrriiiighttttt... Errr-" Midari slouched and slowly looked at everyone at the sudden awkward silence.
"Yurikooo... truth or darrrr!" Yumemi flew from her seat, jumping and scooching between Midari and Yuriko.
"Uh-uh... Truth!"
"Who your crusttt?!" Yumemi gleed, her starry eyes nearly popping out as she grabbed Yuriko by the arm.
"Who's my wha-?" Yuriko's face turned pale.
"Boo! Next question!" Midari barged.
"Well got any better questions? Plankton?!"
"Ppppp-! Who did yah just call me?!"
"Yeah, yah heard!"
And the bickering drunk lesbians continued the bickering, making Sayaka itch to grab her taser, Yuriko nearing to a cardiac arrest because of the two loud women beside her, Kirari and Yumeko being quiet and observing everyone, their eyes glowing inhumanely, Itsuki throwing some remarks which were left unnoticed, Ryota being himself, Kaede... drinking and Runa giggling at everyone.
Mary groaned at the nonsense as what Sayaka had called it.
The blonde too had been forced to join the group, but she preferred it rather than attending the party at an inside of a hotel.
God, did she actually miss some old faces.
Especially Ririka... she admitted. And she regretted a lot.
'Fix it before it's too late.' Yumeko said to her a year after they broke up.
'How when... It's my fault.' she grimaced, but nonetheless.
'You atleast have to try to befriend her again...'
'Yumeko, you know you can't be friends with your ex. It's weird...'
Mary ran her hands past her legs, rubbing them to rid off the settling cold before bringing herself up. Her own feet then brought her behind Ririka, the woman casually talking to her twin.
"Pst," she did that a little too... loud?
"Yes?" Ririka calmly turned around and looked up at her.
"Can you scoot over?"
"Sure," Ririka nudged the twin who drunkenly flirted with her significant other, but turned when the older sibling caught her attention.
"Sah- toh- meh~" Kirari voiced out with her eyelids covering half of her vision. Mary sat down sternly and ignored the other twin as casual as she could. Her ignoring only made Kirari to bother her more.
"Say... Saotome. What has brought you here beside my beloved favorite sister?"
"Nonna your business."
"Oh, stubborn are we?"
"Rari, just shut up."
"Oho~ You're teaming up on me now?"
"Dear, I think that you shouldn't bother them both," Sayaka grabbed Kirari by the arm and looked at the two apologetically.
Ririka reciprocated and nodded back. She knew something like this would happen and she had the willpower to ignore it but she couldn't. It's almost as if she didn't want to. She wanted it to happen but consequences would be along with it too.
"Really darling? But I wanna play cupid." Her drunk twin was the consequence.
"I'm sorry darling but I think that this isn't a good time." Sayaka brought Kirari closer to her chest as the older woman drifted away, seeming to fall asleep.
"Kudos to Sayaka for that," Mary chuckled rather nervously, her shoulder hitting Ririka's but eyes darted elsewhere.
"Yes, forgive my sister's insolence," Ririka froze when Mary leaned towards her side comfortably.
"You don't have to apologize for her," Mary let her eye land on Ririka only for a while before returning back to the amidst of the sea.
"Right...."
"I saw you today, you watched me didn't you?" The blonde grinned, her eyes observing Ririka's reaction.
Ririka came to a realization and her face turned red of embarrassment which made Mary laugh. "O-oh. You saw me?!"
"Oh my god! No! I was just kidding but-" Mary snickered when Ririka buried her face on her curled up knees and playfully nudged Mary's arm. "Riri, there's no need to be embarrassed about it. It's fine, I don't mind you watching me."
Ririka peeked up to Mary's blushing face, "You..."
"That's... That's not what I meant. You know that we could still be friends right? So I'm fine with you, uhm-" The blonde looked away and scratched the back of her head to find the right words as nothing came out, with Ririka staring at her like that, it's a struggle.
"Friends huh. I always thought that exes shouldn't be friends." The platinum haired woman spoke softly.
"Thought so too..."
"It should be fine for us then," Ririka said anticipated, soon then making eye contact with Mary.
They both looked away from each other.
Bantering with themselves on their minds, Mary broke the silence between them first.
"Hey, since I know that you watched me, got any clothes you liked?"
"I would be lying if I said that I liked some of them since I didn't actually pay attention that much. But yours was pretty, you're... pretty."
"You're pretty too," Mary said breathlessly and then regretted what she said.
'Shit.'
***
"Who lives on a pineapple under the sea?!" Kirari shouted and pointed the 'microphone' beer bottle to Yumemi.
"Spongebob Squarepants!" Yumemi grabbed the bottle.
"Absorbant and yellow and porous is he!" The popstar stroked a pose, and making peace sign.
"Spongebob! Squarepants!" Kirari giggled and marched around the bonfire.
"If nautical nonsense be something yah wish!" Yumemi tossed the bottle to Kirari.
"Spongebob! Squarepants!" The twin yelled and grabbed Sayaka, making her join the marching.
"Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish!" Kirari now yeeted Ririka up onto her feet and the older twin grabbed Mary which made her join the march.
"Ririka, what the fuck-" Mary was about to back out but seeing how Ririka laughed and sang along, so did she too.
Their arms linked together as they ran around singing happily.
"SpongeBob SquarePants! SPONGEBOB!!! AYE SQUAREPANTS!" Midari, the eye patched girl did a flip and ended the song.
"Yah bitch! Wrong lyrics!" Yumemi howled.
"It's called improvising~!"
"What! Ever!"
Ririka was still laughing and held onto Mary for support as the blonde had smiled and observed her.
"Boy, was that actually fun, right Mary?"
"F-fun..." The blonde was at awe, she hasn't even realized that she was dumbfounded and staring.
"Mary, you good?" Ririka tapped her on the cheek.
"Uh- Yeah!" Mary snapped and pinched herself from behind.
'Pull yourself together bitch.'
"Alright..." Ririka let her go when she decided to sit down again and Mary followed.
They sat beside each other peacefully, ignoring the ruckus in front of them, they sat together closer than before.
Suddenly, Ririka leaned closer and rested her head on Mary's shoulder.
"Mary... how's work?" Ririka looked up at Mary.
"Work... work's ok I guess," and Mary looked down back at her sincerely..
"And you? How are you doing?" Mary asked, mindlessly brushing the hair off of Ririka's face that fell down.
"I'm ok, my work is ok too. I'm enjoying it but..." she bit her lip and looked away from Mary.
"But...?"
"I don't really know, growing up sucks. Maybe... it's just been a lot different since back then..." said Ririka.
'Since there was an us, since when I was with you, I felt truly happy.'
"Same... and it's a part of life so we gotta live what we have. Either we're wrinkly old, young and dumb or broke middle aged people... we should enjoy the time we have left." said Mary.
"I can't..." said Ririka in a low voice, hoping that Mary hadn't heard but a part of her hoped that she did.
"Why can't you?"
"It's hard to explain," answered Ririka.
"Anything. Say anything, throw words, anything to describe what you're going through and I'll figure it out." Mary carefully cupped Ririka's cheek and made her make eye contact.
Ririka struggled to make eye contact, her insides battling to answer with her emotions growing more fragile with the way Mary talked to her and held her.
'You treat me like this as if we never separated... as if like nothing happened.'
"W-well, it's- uh- mmm-"
"Uh- mmmm what Riri?"
"I-I..." Ririka caught her breath and choked out on words.
Mary then brought her other hand to cup both of Ririka's cheek. The platinum haired woman felt warm under her touch that she couldn't help but melt on her.
Along with her walls breaking down, so did her tears and she didn't even realize.
"You're crying... Tell me what's wrong," said Mary quietly so that only both of them would hear as the rest stayed loud and distracted.
"I miss you... so much that it's breaking me apart and I try to forget-" Ririka gasped as a sob came through with her tears.
"Oh," said Mary while she held Ririka close.
"Can you stand?" Mary whispered and wiped Ririka's tears.
"W-why?"
"Let's go somewhere private," Mary said and tilted her head towards everyone who were still distracted.
" m'kay," Ririka nodded.
They both stood quietly with Ririka on support against Mary.
They walked back to the rest house and sat on the terrace, it was cold yet they felt warm with each other.
"Sorry for having to make you walk," Mary said while Ririka calmed herself down and wiped her tears away.
"It's-"
"I miss you too... lots," the blonde wrapped her arms around the older woman and rested her forehead towards Ririka's. She was close to crying and felt emotional all of a sudden.
"I miss you a lot that it's driving me crazy, Ririka." Mary said and closed her eyes.
Ririka was baffled and sat frozen on her place, a part of her yearned, a part of her was confused.
"It was stupid, I shouldn't have left you." Mary kissed her cheek.
"Forgive me, please."
"I forgave you a long time ago," Ririka whispered, closing the gap between them, she let her lips collide with Mary's.
They kissed.
For such a long time, they kissed again, it was familiar yet foreign.
Could it be that their lips missed each other too?
And their hands, they were eager to touch each other as they moved carefully through each other's body's.
The blonde slowly pushed the other down and laid on top of her.
Ririka let her be, she was as eager.
Their kiss started softly and slow, soon it began to grow more hot and passionate. They both deepened the kiss, as their tongues reached deep, as if looking for each other to satisfy the eagerness. They stopped and gasped for air.
The blonde kissed the other on her forehead and they both giggled while catching their breath.
Mary looked down and her eye caught on something underneath Ririka's clothes. Before the platinum haired woman could grab the blonde for another kiss, Mary's fingers grabbed something.
It was the ring.
A look of terror came to Ririka's face and Mary's face change so quick.
"Ririka, you're engaged."
"Hey- no," Ririka's face turned pale. She shouldn't be scared nor nervous... Should she?
Mary saw the ring but thought of it differently.
"Oh my fucking god! Mary panicked and got off Ririka, "You- You! Ugh!" She pointed her finger but was irritated that nothing was forming into words.
"What the fucking hell Ririka! You're engaged yet you're- Argh!" Mary paced back and forth angrily with tears streaming down her face.
"Mary wait- let me explain," Ririka quickly stood up and tried to grab and calm Mary down.
"No! You know what? I'm not going to be your fucking mistress!"
"Stop getting ahead of yourself that's not- Mary!"
"Shut up! Shhhh! Shut up! I'm out of here!"Mary pushed Ririka further from her and stomped away.
"Mary wait! I can explain!" Ririka chased after her.
"Fuck off, Momobami!" Mary ran.
"No, Saotome get your ass back here!" Ririka started to run too.
"Eat my ass rich bitch!" Mary ran faster.
"You freaking tsundere let me explain, please!"
"Explain? Explain what?! That you're a lesbian who doesn't want to get married to a guy so you'll use me as your cum dump?!" Mary stopped running but kept her back face Ririka.
"What's a cum- Nevermind, no that's not what it was... Mary, look at me please." Ririka slowly walked closer to Mary.
"Save your excuses, Ririka. Maybe it's good that I met you today or else who would've known that if I met you elsewhere I would've become your... Mistress!" Mary cried out.
"Mary, please... it's not that," Ririka hugged her from behind.
"Then what?" said Mary in between sobs.
"I... I was supposed to propose to you, but it was too la-"
"You what?!"