Work Text:
Minori climbed onto the stepladder, precariously balancing on the top step to affix the small sprig of mistletoe she was holding onto the doorway. With a piece of tape in her other hand, she carefully pressed the end of the string that the mistletoe was tied to onto the doorway, letting the small plant hang suspended in midair.
“Minori-chan, what are you doing?”
Minori jumped back and lost her balance, the stepladder wobbling precariously. She felt herself begin to fall backwards, and screwed her eyes shut, bracing for impact.
She landed in soft, strong arms, and opened her eyes, looking up to see Shizuku’s concerned face.
“Are you okay, Minori-chan?”
Minori blushed furiously at the position they were in, lying in Shizuku’s arms, soft, caring voice sending Minori to heaven.
“Y-yeah! I’m fine.”
Shizuku carefully helped Minori to her feet.
“Take care of yourself, yes? We wouldn’t want you getting hurt or anything. Remember, our Christmas event is only a few days away~”
“Yes, Shizuku-chan!”
Shizuku continued to fuss over her, examining her limbs and body, Minori turning red underneath her gaze.
“Eh- Shizuku-chan, you can stop now-”
“But then how will I make sure that you’ll be alright?”
“I feel alright.”
Shizuku considered her.
“If you say so.”
Shizuku ruffled her hair and then walked through the doorway, leaving Minori standing there, dazed. It was only when Shizuku was out of sight that she realized that Shizuku forgot to give her a kiss under the mistletoe.
Eh?
After Minori put away the stepladder, she dragged a stool from the kitchen into the doorway, and sat down, waiting for one of her girlfriends to walk through the doorway.
Like a spider waiting to catch someone in my web!
Minori giggled at her amazing use of simile, and carefully crossed her legs and adjusted herself into an attractive position, pausing when she realized that she didn’t quite know what an attractive position entailed. She tried several poses, but nothing quite felt right.
“Minori, what are you doing?”
Minori yelped and fell off the stool once more, the stool toppling over with her. Unlike Shizuku, though, Airi didn’t move to catch her, and she tumbled onto the floor, groaning in pain. Airi stood over her, her lips curving into a slightly amused expression.
"What are you doing? That was quite the fall."
Minori nodded in agreement, still sprawled out on the floor in an awkward position.
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
She scrambled to her feet, brushing herself off.
“I was practicing some of my sexy poses!”
Airi stared at her, then burst into laughter, wiping some of the tears away from her eyes.
“Sexy poses?”
Minori blushed furiously.
“I didn’t think they were that bad!”
“Alright, I’ll help you with your… sexy poses. Arms up.”
Airi grabbed her arms, standing behind her and adjusting her arms into a rather uncomfortable position. Minori tried to tilt her head back to look at her, but Airi pushed her head back, causing Minori to grumble.
“Airi-chan, I feel stupid.”
“To be completely honest with you, Minori, I’m not sure if I can make you look sexy. I’m pretty good. I’m not a miracle worker.”
Minori righted herself, dropping the pose and giving Airi an indignant look, causing Airi to burst into laughter once more.
“I can be sexy!” She complained.
Shaking her head, Airi walked through the doorway, passing the mistletoe without kissing her.
“Wait, Airi-chan-”
Airi was already gone.
That’s two of them who didn’t kiss me under the mistletoe. Huh?
Minori was standing in the doorway this time, eyes sneakily tracking Haruka, who was sitting at the table in the kitchen, reading a newspaper, a cup of coffee on the table next to her.
Haruka-chan is so pretty… her reading glasses… and she’s so cute when she reads… tucking her hair behind her ear every so often… so cute!
Then, Haruka looked up and waved at her.
“Minori, why have you been staring at me for the last half hour?”
Minori jumped back, nearly falling over again but managed to catch herself, stumbling across the floor attempting to regain her balance, flailing her arms out wide, and she could feel Haruka watching on in mild amusement. She sighed in relief when she managed to right herself.
Then, Samo-chan ran right into her legs and she fell over anyway.
Haruka couldn’t hide her laugh, covering her mouth and chuckling, before standing up and walking over to Minori, offering her hands and pulling her up. Getting to her feet, Minori found that they were standing right in the doorway, Haruka holding her hands, underneath the mistletoe.
She blushed furiously.
Here it comes-!
Haruka stepped back and patted her on the shoulder, then went back to the dining table, picking up her newspaper once more. Minori stood there, stunned.
“Um, Haruka-chan?”
Haruka looked up, putting her newspaper down on the table.
“Yes, Minori?”
Minori didn’t want to ask to be kissed, because that would be kind of pathetic. So, she just sort of shuffled around under the doorway. Haruka looked at her, a confused expression on her face, though this was masked with a calm politeness in a moment.
“That’s a cute dance you’re doing.”
Minori felt herself becoming flustered at Haruka’s compliment.
Wait, no-!
“Haruka-chan!”
Again, Haruka looked at her, confused. Minori had yelled so loudly that even Shizuku and Airi had come out of their room, confused as well.
“Minori, are you all right?” Haruka questioned, concern etched onto her face. Minori ran up to her, tripping and collapsing into Haruka’s lap. She looked up at her to see Haruka, looking just a little surprised.
“Why haven’t any of you kissed me yet?” Minori complained, pointing to the mistletoe.
“There was mistletoe?” Haruka and Airi said in unison.
“Are you supposed to do something special underneath mistletoe, Minori-chan?” Shizuku tilted her head at her.
Minori gasped, shocked.
“Yeah! You’re supposed to kiss the people that are underneath the mistletoe with you!”
“Oh.”
Shizuku stepped forward and picked her up off of Haruka’s lap, cradling her in her arms and dropping a kiss to Minori’s forehead.
“There, did I do it right?”
“Shizuku. You’re going to kill her. Look at her!” Airi pointed.
Minori had perished. Gone. Died. Dead. Gone to heaven. She was sprawled out across Shizuku’s arms, red overtaking her whole face.
Haruka stood up, exchanging a look with Airi, and then speaking.
“Shizuku, why don’t you take Minori into the living room and get comfortable? Maybe start a fire, it’s a little chilly in here.”
Shizuku nodded, carrying Minori over to the living room and then pulling several blankets and pillows off the couch and onto the floor in front of the fireplace, then gently setting Minori down on top of them.
Minori watched as Shizuku took a few logs and set them into the fireplace, then placed kindling inside, then finally placed tinder on top and set it alight with a match. The flames flickered to life and were soon dancing merrily, warming Minori to the core. She sighed and curled into the blankets, relaxing.
She felt a weight on her chest and looked up, Shizuku hovering over her.
“I didn't get to kiss you properly earlier. May I?”
Minori nodded and Shizuku delicately pressed her lips to Minori’s, Minori slowly absorbing herself into Shizuku’s warmth and the heat of the flame. Shizuku’s hand reached out and cupped her cheek, thumb lightly stroking the cheekbone. Sighing happily, Minori continued moving her lips in sync with Shizuku’s, her mind slowly processing all the softness she was surrounded by. It was a struggle.
“Shizuku, you're not going to keep her all to yourself, are you?” The voice was amused and coming through several layers of fog, but Minori would still recognize it anywhere.
Shizuku sat up, and Minori, still dazed, whined and reached out for her, but then Shizuku’s soft mouth was replaced by a different set of lips, still soft but different, firmer, more steady. She whimpered and let Haruka kiss her, wrapping her arms around Haruka’s neck and pulling her downwards, pressing herself insistently against her girlfriend. Haruka felt steady, solid, a grounding presence against the lightheadedness she had felt from being kissed by Shizuku. Though, when Haruka began to play with her hair, she nearly died all over again.
“Eager, are we? I didn't even need this.”
Haruka pulled back, sitting alongside Minori, and held the mistletoe up, a little smile on her face.
“Mm, Haruka-chan…”
Just then, Airi came into the room, with three mugs on a tray.
“Tea for you, Haruka, and you, Shizuku. Minori, I made you hot chocolate.”
With a murmured “thanks, Airi-chan,” Minori took her mug and sipped the hot chocolate, the marshmallows bumping against her lips. Shizuku and Haruka also took their mugs.
“Nothing for you, Airi-chan?” Shizuku questioned, after taking a sip of the tea.
“Nah, I figured I could just-” Airi swiped the mug out of Haruka’s hands and took a sip, passing it back to her before she could blink.
Haruka looked at Airi, giving her a mildly unamused expression, and Airi chuckled, kissing her briefly.
“That was nice, but I need to move onto the main event now. Minori, come here.” Airi beckoned, so Minori scooted closer.
Airi wrapped her arms around Minori’s waist and kissed her soundly, tongue flicking out to taste Minori’s lips, teasing them, before pulling back.
“You taste like cocoa.”
Airi leaned forward and kissed her again, the slight bitterness of Haruka’s tea on her lips, so Minori, feeling a little bold, swiped her own tongue across the seam of Airi’s mouth. Airi gasped and pulled her tighter.
Shizuku squealed quietly. “Awww…”
She felt Airi’s small huff of annoyance, causing her to intensify the kiss, making Minori release a muffled giggle.
“Shh, you’ll make them uncomfortable.”
“Sorry, but watching them kiss is so cute!” Shizuku protested, and Haruka sighed fondly. Minori pulled back to watch Haruka go for Shizuku’s lips, Shizuku grinning and leaning into it, holding each other. Airi then placed the tip of her finger on Minori’s chin, turning Minori’s attention back to her.
“So, yeah. This is us saying sorry for not kissing you under the mistletoe earlier.”
Airi kissed her cheek.
“Oh. That’s alright.” Minori squeaked.
“Is there anything you wanted to do, Minori-chan?” Shizuku leaned over and fixed her with her gaze.
Minori thought for a moment, and then an idea came to her.
“Haruka-chan, may I cuddle you?”
“Me?” Haruka said, a hint of surprise crossing over her face, before she nodded. Minori pointed for her to lay down, and Haruka laid down on her side of the blanket, Minori wriggling out of Airi’s arms and wrapping her own around Haruka’s body, spooning her. She felt Haruka let out a barely audible sigh, and it was only because they were so close that she heard it.
“I thought you were really pretty today, Haruka-chan.” Minori murmured, then stiffened when she realized that what she said may have not been all that flattering. “WELL I MEAN. You’re always pretty- aaauuu, I can’t believe I said that out loud-”
She paused when she felt Haruka’s shoulders begin to shake with laughter, so she buried her head in the back of her neck and let out a long, embarrassed noise. Then, she felt Shizuku cling onto her back tightly, squashing her in a blue-haired idol sandwich.
“Shizuku!” Airi reprimanded. “You’re crushing her!”
Muffled, Minori protested. “I don’t mind… Shizuku-chan feels nice.”
Airi shook her head but joined the cuddle pile by climbing on top of all of them and collapsing across their bodies, sprawling out, limbs thrown across all of them.
“Airi-chan, is that really comfortable?” Minori questioned.
“It’s nice because I can do this.”
Airi shuffled around a bit and kissed Minori’s forehead, while Shizuku kissed the back of her neck, and Haruka turned around in her arms and just properly kissed her, leaving Minori melting.
A roaring fire, her three beautiful girlfriends, and the tastes of tea, chocolate, and them on her lips. Minori couldn’t ask for a more perfect evening.