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Things changed between Suletta and Miorine after Plant Quetta. They opened up to each other, Miorine accepted her gift, and Suletta followed through with all of her promises.
But that was all surface level.
They've been more intimate trusting loving close since they've gotten back, casual touches more frequent and no longer hidden away from others. Miorine smiles much more often now, and each time she sees it, Suletta's heart becomes full, a warm bloom spreading across her chest.
Suletta doesn't want to jump the gun, but she feels like her feelings are a bit more platonic than she initially believed.
Miorine's talk about not putting herself down sticks in her mind whenever she tries to quash those thoughts. Thinking back to their first interactions, it's obvious that Miorine likes having her around. And whenever Miorine thinks that Suletta isn’t looking at her, she always smiles—the same way Suletta knows that she does towards her.
Move forward, gain two. Suletta knows what she wants to ask Miorine out—properly, not out of some weird obligation for their engagement—but she's never done something like this before, and she wants it to be right.
She just didn't expect everyone's reactions.
"Wait, you guys aren't dating-dating?" Chuchu's lollipop dangles from her mouth and Suletta would have laughed if the rest of Earth House wasn't looking at her with similarly shocked expressions.
"No, w-we aren't. I mean, I'd like to b-but I'm not sure how to ask." When everyone's initial shock subsides, her housemates are quick to give suggestions.
The others are quick to offer suggestions, but the endless possibilities start to make Suletta feel overwhelmed. Funnily enough, the best idea comes from Nika.
"Miorine doesn't like grand gestures, right? Do something simple that speaks well to both of you."
The others nod sagely at her advice and Suletta works up the courage to get things ready.
Suletta wasn't ready.
She can't believe she worked herself up to do this! Miorine was so straightforward, if she wanted to date Suletta, she would've asked a long time ago.
Hands shaky, Suletta tries not to crush the rose in her hand. Scarlet and lush, the flower is wrapped in simple wrapping paper—red, blue, and white just like Aerial.
Miorine was expecting her at her greenhouse, and was surely wondering where she was by now.
Her feet are rooted to the ground, and Suletta knows she must look foolish, standing in the middle of the path like this.
What was she thinking?
"Why are you putting yourself down? … It’s because of you that I don’t have to run anymore!”
…
Confidence. It was hard to build up, but for Miorine's sake, Suletta could be brave.
Suletta finally sees the greenhouse and jogs the rest of the distance.
Standing at the entrance is Miorine, arms crossed but face neutral. Their eyes meet and Suletta forgets all of the pep talk she gave herself.
"Suletta, are you okay?"
Suletta feels her mouth hanging open, and she shuts it with a noticeable clack. Before making a bigger fool of herself, she rushes into the greenhouse, dragging a confused Miorine with her and closing the door behind them.
“Miorine-san! I… I have something I want to tell you,” Suletta fumbles with the rose and starts to feel her heartbeat even more erratically when Miorine leans over to see what’s behind her.
Before losing any more motivation, Suletta bows and holds out the rose, “Miorine-san, will you please go out with me!”
The silence goes on for a beat too long before Miorine finally speaks up, “I’m already your fiancée.”
Pushing on, Suletta raises her head, “Yes, but I want to take you out on dates! Not just because of our engagement, but because I really l-like you!”
There; her secret was finally out.
Miorine stares at the rose. And up to her before looking back at the rose.
It's only a few seconds, but it feels like a lifetime. Suletta's never seen Miorine with such an unreadable expression before and she's unsure of what to do.
Miorine’s whole face flushes red—even to the tips of her ears—and she hides her face within her hands.
"Miorine-san?"
“Why would you ask something so embarrassing?!”
“I’m s-s-sorry! I didn’t m-mean to make you feel like this. I just wanted to do this properly and—” Suletta stops when Miorine grabs her hand, holding it tight.
“You didn’t have to do all this. I was serious when I said you were my groom.”
Suletta processes that comment—one, two, three seconds—before her brain finally catches up and her face flushes similarly to Miorine’s.
“T-thank you, Miorine-san,” Suletta mumbles shyly.
“Don’t thank me for that,” Miorine scoffs. “And I like you too.” She’s glancing up at her now, a softness to her eyes but also a familiar intensity.
Suletta’s heart can’t take this much stress anymore; it feels like her heart is about to leap out of her chest.
“Miorine-san?” Miorine hums, encouraging her to continue. “Would it be okay if I kissed you?”
Miorine lets out a small huff and lets go of her hand, “As if you needed to ask.”
Hands glide up her arm and one rests on her shoulder as the other lightly holds the back of her head. Miorine stands on her tiptoes and presses her lips against Suletta’s.
A million thoughts ran through her head as Miorine’s lips approached her, but together like this in her greenhouse, the two of them alone? Her mind was finally quiet.
Suletta drops the rose and brings Miorine closer in.