Chapter Text
Ei could not believe they were doing this. Who goes on a trip with their ex girlfriend? But damn her ex girlfriend for talking her into this. It was her fault, planning this elaborate trip when she knew her relationship with Miko was on the precipice. She thought she could make everything right by taking them to see sakura trees in Japan. The fiction of it all.
She huffed in annoyance, as she dragged her bag along the concrete of the airport floors. It was especially hot this season in New York, and she was not looking forward to a long wait at the airport. She checked into the first class lounge and pulled out her tablet, hoping to get some work done before she was out of reach for the next two weeks. Ei, also known as Raiden Ei, was the CEO at her father's company, Narukami Inc. which specialised in electric vehicles. Her father was a first generation migrant from Japan and had set up the company when she was a small kid. She'd watched it grow to it's present size, with a decent market value and increasing profits every year.
She'd started working for her father right out of college, starting at the lowest position and rising to the top. Her dad never understood why she didn't directly take up the position meant for her but respected her will to work her way to the top. All of the experience had paid off as the company soared greater heights under her. But all of this had led to her sacrificing her teenage and young adulthood. After all, she was determined to work for the family business after graduation. Well, it's not everyday that people are CEOs at the age of 27, she had to sacrifice something.
She'd been working for 1 hour, when she saw someone standing in front of her.
"You're here, finally. Late as always huh?", Ei muttered, not hiding the annoyance. She hated being late, it was probably an obsession at this point, to an extent where she got to places an hour in advance just to avoid being late.
"Oh my, aren't you charming as ever", Miko said with a smirk on her face.
Ei winced internally. She'd vowed to herself to be nicer to people. Call it new year's resolutions or whatever. It was definitely not because someone had pointed out that she was an ass.
"There's still 20 minutes left for the takeoff. I see no reason to be here earlier than now. Ei, you fly first class. Maybe you should remind yourself of the perks of doing so."
Miko proceeded to sit down beside her and glanced at her tablet. "Really? You're working now?"
Ei frowned at the screen. "I'll stop once we get into the airplane."
"No sweetheart, you'll stop because you'll be forced to by a lack of wifi. Still as workaholic as ever huh."
Ei tried not to frown. She wasn't that much of a workaholic anymore, was she?
******
4 months ago
"Happy birthday Miko!", the crowd screamed as she walked into the now brightly lit room. She closed the apartment door as she entered her friend Ningguang's apartment.
"Thank you so much guys," Miko said as she took in the crowd. Ningguang, her girlfriend Beidou, Sara, Jean, Lisa, Gorou, Kazuha and Kaeya. Her closest friends and her coworkers. But the absence of one person was glaringly obvious. Was she working even today?
She blew the candles, made a wish and cut the cake. After getting the customary smearing of cake on her face and wishes from everyone, she went to the washroom to clean up. All the while, she kept an eye on her phone waiting for a text from her girlfriend. They'd been dating for well over 7 months now. She wasn't expecting too much from her was she? She'd never really dated anyone before her and everything was new but even she knew that her girlfriend wasn't in the right. Having received no text, she left the bedroom, leaving her phone on the nightstand.
When she re-entered the living room, everyone had helped themselves to the cake and food which Ningguang had set up. Her best friend truly was amazing. She somehow felt like an outsider even among all her closest friends.
"She isn't coming huh?", Ningguang whispered as she stood next to her.
"I don't know. She just wished me in the morning and then left for work. I'm pretty sure she mentioned that she got an invite from you".
"Yeah she did. She even said that she would be here."
Miko wanted to cry. She was not one for outward displays of emotions but, today it stung.
"I'll talk to her later. Let's not ruin the fun for others".
Ningguang just nodded in silence. What else could she do?
Later that night, Miko confronted Ei.
"You couldn't spare 1 hour for me?"
"I'm so sorry Miko, I had a sudden meeting come up and I had to be there."
"Oh please. I'm sure it wasn't something your brother could not have handled."
"You know I can't do that, I can't let him take so much responsibility yet-"
"Stop. I don't ask for much Ei. I just wanted to spend an evening with my girlfriend, on my birthday. But all I got was an anklet as a consolation. When will it get through your thick skull that I need you and not the things you can afford to give me because you felt guilty."
"Miko-"
Miko was tired. She didn't want to argue. She knew what she was getting into when she pursued Ei. She was stupid for thinking this was going to be easy. Ei had her priorities set and refused to make her one of them. She knew it deep down, but she has still chosen to be with her.
They came from vastly different worlds. While on one hand, Ei came from an accomplished family with expectations and requirements, Miko was from a simple world without such pressures.
After college she'd landed an internship at Liyue Advertising, and had met her now best friend Ningguang who was the chief editor. After a few years, she had bought half of the shares of the Advertising company, having decided to work with Ningguang for a long time. All her life, she had followed her dreams and had no regrets. At 26, she was doing pretty well for herself.
She'd met Ei for the first time when they had gone to Narukami Inc. headquarters for a series of ads for the new car model they were launching. She was instantly taken with Ei, a charming lady with nice manners. Ei was the one who was incharge of this project, she hadn't been formally appointed as CEO back then yet. They spent quite a bit of time together, owing to long creative discussions and planning. And Miko had gravitated towards her. Ei was thoughtful, always getting her coffee, making sure the AC was right, getting her food when she was too busy, and all these little gestures made her get drawn to her.
So when their contractual obligations were done, Miko had not hesitated to ask Ei out for a drink, which she agreed to after much persuasion. And later that night, they kissed under the awning of a shop, after a few rounds of shots. The next day, when Miko woke up in Ei's bed, she wasn't quite sure if this was a dream or reality. More importantly, was this a mistake?
She'd set her doubts aside and asked Ei out formally. You never know until you try right? When Ei said yes Miko could swear she saw a smile on her face.