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“Are you sure?” Yuzuriha asked.
“100%,” Kohaku groaned. “I was talking about it with Minami yesterday. She really said she and Nikki have never kissed,”
“Aren’t they dating?” Gen added.
“No!? Apparently not,” Kohaku rolled her eyes. “They’re just like that?”
“Just like that?” Gen raised a brow. “I swear I saw Nikki chan feeding Minami chan a few nights ago,”
“Right? I asked about that too,” Kohaku dramatically threw her arms up. “But noooo, it was just them being friendly.
“And all the times Nikki chan helped Minami with her manual labor task?”
“Don’t forget the time Minami passed out on Nikki’s shoulder,” Ukyo pointed out.
“Exactly! I even asked about the time Nikki kissed her cheek and nope!” Kohaku hid her face in her hands.
“Suika doesn’t get it” Suika hummed. “So Minami and Nikki aren’t together?”
“Apparently not Suika chan,” Gen hummed.
“But they act like one,” Suika tilted her head as her child’s brain tried to process.
“That’s the confusing thing,” Ukyo pointed out.
“So I guess there’s only one thing to do then,” Kohaku crossed her arms and huffed.
“Mission get Minami and Nikki chan to onfess cay?” Gen sang. Mission get Minami and Nikki chan to onfess cay?” Gen sang.
“Well.. maybe we should just leave them alone and let them figure it out on their own…,” Yuzuriha trailed off.
“No trust me Yuzuriha, they’ve been like this since me and Ukyo chan have known them,” Gen pointed out. “If we don’t step in, who knows how long that'll go on,” Gen replied.
“Besides its payback for Nikki and Minami teasing me about Amaryllis,” Kohaku added.
“So that’s your reason huh?” Ukyo sighed.
“They’re most hopeless romantics so no way one would make the first move,” Gen pointed out to Yuzuriha.
“Still… it seems wrong getting involved in other people's romantic lives…,” Yuzuriha trailed off.
“This coming from the same person who helped Kohaku and Amaryllis get together,” Gen raised a brow.
“Wait what?!” Kohaku asked.
“Ok I’m in!” Yuzuriha blushed.
“Alright,Nikki, Taiju , hold it in place,” Senkuu asked.
“On it,” Taiju replied, cheerfully.
“Got it,” Nikki added, holding up the metal panel with Taiju.
“Alright Magma,” Senkuu instructed. “Just along the edges,”
“Yeah yeah,” Magma scoffed.
Magma flipped down his welder's mask and ran the small touch along the ediles of the panel, welding it to the rest of the metal. Nikki was glad for the protective gear to keep the sparks from burning her but it was hot as hell. Nikki could feel the beads of sweat running down her face. Magma finished up with the panel and turned off the touch.
“Nice job guys,” Senkuu gave a thumbs up, his nose still buried in the blue prints.
“Senkuu what is this?” Taiju asked.
“Hmh?” Senkuu looked up. “Just one of the rockets ,” Senkuu answered.
“The damn things so big,” Magma pointed out.
“Has to be if we want to go to space,” Senkuu explained.
“I didn’t care how big it is, as long as it works,” Nikki wiped her forehead. “I think I’ll take my break. Damn thing is hot as hell,”
“Sure, send Tsukasa in, '' Senkuu replied, turning his attention back to his blueprints.
“Will do,” Nikki took off her protective gear and put them to the side. Nikki walked out into the fresh air and it helped her cool down a bit. It wasn’t much cooler out but it was better than having a blow torch a few inches away from her. Nikki walked to the assigned break area of the camp.
“Hey Tsukasa you're up,” Nikki told him.
“You we’re in there for a while,” Tsukasa noted.
“Just trying to do my part,” Nikki sat on one of the logs.
“Good job,” Tsukasa sat up and headed for the direction Nikki came from.
Nikki sat in a chair in the room trying not to buckle over from how tired she was. Thankfully the place was air conditioned. One of the gifts of science. Nikki l looked up to try to stop her core from giving out on her. And one of the curses of science. Someone had to make it. Nikki closed her eyes and took a deep breath and relaxed her shoulders.
Guess one of the good things is if definitely bulked up a bit.
“Umhhh,” Nikki breathed out.
“You alright Nikki?” A sweet voice asked.
Nikki didn’t even need to look to know who. “Ughh yeah, I’m fine Minami. Senkuu just has us doing a bunch of manual labor,”
“How cruel,” Minami pouted, her hands behind her back.
“Heh, I just tell myself it’ll be worth it later,” Nikki replied.
“Well here, I got you some water,” Minami took a hand out from behind her back and offered Nikki a cup.
“Thanks Mina,” Nikki smiled, taking the cup from her.
“Oh it’s nothing. You’re working so hard anyway,” Minami sheepishly replied.
“Hmh? Do I owe Ms. reporter an interview or something?” Nikki teased, even enough she wouldn’t mind spending extra time with Minami.
“I’ll let you rest first,” Minami softly laughed.
“How kind,” Nikki threw her head back.
But I will get that interview,” Minami sat down next to Nikki.
“Knowing you, I won’t doubt it,” Nikki grinned
The two women started to laugh together. Hanging around Minami always gave Nikki more energy, even if her body was psychically tired. She just had to fight the urge to kiss the other every time she smiled. Minami was so effortlessly beautiful too.
God I’m so gay.
Nikki didn’t even notice herself doing so but she tucked a piece of Minami hair back so she could see her profile better. Minami paused and looked over at Nikki with a puzzled look on her face.
“Ahh sorry! There was hair in your face and-,” Nikki slightly panicked.
“No no it’s fine. Don’t want it getting caught in my mouth right?” Minami reassured her.
“Yeah…I’m still impressed you can take care of that much hair” Nikki pointed out.
And keep it so pretty.
“You should see it in the mornings,” Minami joked.
I wish.
“It’s all over the place,”
“I bet,” Nikki agreed.
Probably just as beautiful.
“You should see mine when I take it out of these braids,” Nikki added. “It’s all wavy and poofy,”
“Really?” Minami hummed. “I kind of want to see that now,”
“Oh really?” Nikki couldn’t help but laugh at the silly conversation.
“Yeah! As a reporter I want to know everything,” Minami pointed out. “And hey stop laughing,” Minami playfully pushed Nikki’s side.
Minami wasn’t that strong but Nikki played along.
“Hey Nikki,” Kohaku called
“Yeah?” Nikki responded.
“They need you,” Kohaku gestured with her head back to the constitution .
“Huh?! I was just there,” Nikki groaned.
“Something about Magma and a blow torch..?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m going to kiss his ass,” Nikki pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yeah yeah, I’ll be there in a sec,” Nikki sat up. “I’ll give you that interview later Mina,” Nikki promised.
“I’ll be waiting,” Minami smiled.
And with that Nikki walked back with an annoyed look on her face.
Kohaku entered the rest area and sat down next to Minami.
“Spill it Kohaku,” Minami glanced over at her friend.
“Huh?”
“Nikki just got here and if they needed more muscle they would have asked you. You’re planning something,” Minami explained.
“Well Damn,” Kohaku shrugged. “You’re good,”
“Hey, I wouldn’t have earned the Editors' choice magazine journalism award if I wasn’t,” Minami bragged a bit before she realized, “and you have no idea what that means,”
“Not in the slightest,” Kohaku bluntly said.
“Right, right,” Minami sighed. “So what did you want to tell me that Nikki couldn’t hear?”
.
.
.
So this was their plan huh? Geez.
Minami went to the spot Kohaku told her about and found a picnic basket full of food with the blanket already spread out. It was a beautiful field full of flowers and a river running by the blanket.
“Heh thanks guys,” Minami talked to herself.
“Taiju?” Nikki’s voice called from beyond the trees. “Taiju this isn’t funny. I can’t-,” Nikki stopped when she reached the end of the forest and saw Minami with the picnic laid out.
“Huh Mina?” Nikki looked around for a second. “Are you waiting for someone?” She asked, walking closer to her friend. “This is a pretty nice spot too,”
Oh yeah, it seems the other and planned a sort of date for us…,” Minami was able to get out.
“That would explain the way Taiju was acting…,” Nikki thought about it.
“It doesn’t have to be a date if you don’t want it to be one,” Minami blushed.
“Oh no! That’s not what I meant! I just meant- I would like it to be one if that’s ok with you,”
Nikki flushed as well.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” Minami smiled at Nikki’s cute reaction. “Wanna see what they packed?”
“Pleaseeeee, I’m starvingggg,” Nikki groaned.
“They really know how to pack a picnic huh?” Nikki hummed.
“To be fair, I’m pretty sure Francois made it,” Minami pointed out.
“That would make more sense,” Nikki responded. “How many people did they get in on this?”
“How much do you bet they’re watching?” Minami whispered.
“I bet Ukyo is helping them too,” Nikki replied at normal volume.
“Right,” Minami sighed. “Thanks guys!”
“You’re welcome!” Taiju’s voice replied back.
“Taiju,” Kohaku’s voice hushed him a bit too loud.
“How many of you are there?” Nikki glared.
“Come on out guys,” Minami joined Nikki in glaring.
Out popped Gen, Ukyo, Suika, Taiju, Yuzuriha, and Ukyo from the bushes.
“Yuzu?!” Minami gasped.
“Sorry! They dragged me into it,” Yuzuriha apologized.
“Why is she the only one you were urprised say by?” Gen asked.
“Gen,”Nikki deadpanned.
“Ok maybe you have a point,” Gen sighed.
“Sorry guys, but you guys are so cute and we wanted you two to be happy,” Suika apologized.
“Awww that’s sweet Suika but you shouldn’t butt into people’s business,” Minami explained.
“Mina chan,”
“Ok maybe you have a point,” Minami backed down.
“Thank you guys but you think maybe…,”
“Right right privacy,” Yuzuriha grabbed the others and pushed them away.
Nikki and Minami watched as Yuzuriha pulled the others along.
“Strangely, not the weirdest first date I’ve been on,” Minami recalled.
“Do I want to know?” Nikki questioned.
“Oh it was for a story of course but it ended up with the police and it was a whole mess,” Minami recalled. “I didn’t even get the story,” Minami pouted.
“Well if it makes you feel better… this was my first date, you know, ever,” Nikki mumbled.
“Ohhhh… this must have been a horrible first date huh?” Minami trailed off.
“I wouldn’t say so,” Nikki smiled. “I‘d say I had a pretty fun time actually,” Nikki knew she must have looked like a blushing idiot. “I’ll have to kick the others' asses later but-,”
Nikki didn't finish what she was saying when she felt a hand guide her face. Nikki turned her face and felt lips touch her.
Minami backed up from Nikki. “Sorry… I’ve been waiting to do that for a while now,”
“Again please,” Nikki mumbled without thinking.
“Pfttt,” Minami held back a laugh. “Nikki pleaseee,” Minami rested her forehead on Nikki’s shoulder. “That was so adorable,”
“Take it back, horrible first date,” Nikki looked away.
“Awwww come on Nikki chan,” Minami couldn’t stop laughing.
“Not helping,”
“But you were so cute,” Minami sang. “I would have never thought big tough Nikki Hanada would be such a pure hearted romantic,” Minami teased. “Don’t tell me that was your first kiss,”
“It’s not!?” Nikki’s face burned bright red.
“Aww that’s good,” Minami kept laughing.
Nikki took a second to breathe so she wouldn’t end up passing out from embarrassment. Even if it was to tease her, hearing Minami’s laugh was still nice. That didn’t stop Nikki from being embarrassed but she appreciated seeing Minami laugh. As a friend or otherwise.
“You jerk,” Nikki scoffed.
“Awww come on, Nikki, I’m sorry,” Minami tried to stop herself.
“Anddd ignoring you,” Nikki huffed.
“Nooo Nikki,” Minami playfully whined. “I’m sorry,”
Nikki raised her Mianmi’s head up to look at her.
“I can’t believe I like you,” Nikki said with a smile.
“Hmhhhh yes you can,” Minami hummed. “I like you too,”