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It’s funny how things can change over the years. Not everything did, even a decade after their idol group had formed Airi and Shizuku were still pretty much the same. Sure they got married, but everything about their relationship felt like an exact replica of how it was back in high school.
Minori had changed the most out of them all. It took her a few years, but she’d gained her own sort of idol confidence. She’d compared herself to the other three less and less, and it showed in her performances and interactions with fans.
She was always an idol fan at heart, but it felt like she could finally accept that she was an idol herself. She’d found her own… idol power, whatever that meant. It wasn’t something Haruka could put into words, but she could FEEL Minori’s idol aura. It existed, it was strong, and it felt perfect.
Haruka could still remember Minori’s confession. It had taken her until graduation to work up the courage… and the confidence in herself. By then, she knew what she wanted, and took the steps to get it. She was confident and persevered through everything. All the things she’d once thought Haruka had been.
But it was Haruka who waited in fear Minori somehow wouldn’t feel the same. And it was Haruka now, a week before her girlfriend’s 25th birthday, worried she’d get the wrong gift.
“You’re being stupid,” An sounded annoyed, she looked the part too, “That girl will love anything you get her if it’s like… from the heart or whatever. She’s crazy for you.”
“She used to be…”
An groaned, “She still is stupid. She’s just not fangirling over you.”
Ah was entirely correct, she often was. “But… what if…”
“What if what? She saw the gazillion photos you have of her on your phone?”
“That’s not a number. I only have eight thousand and ninety two.”
“God damn Haruka, you have that memorized? Watch out or she’ll find that shrine you have of her.”
She knew An was joking, but that too was a concern of hers. There was a non zero chance Minori had actually seen her Minori shrine, a thing she definitely had that An did not know about. Probably.
In truth, she knew Minori’s fangirling had died out years ago. She treated Haruka far more seriously, and her affection had morphed over the years into something a lot more tender.
Unfortunately, Haruka seemed to have gone the opposite direction. She had the most impressive Minori merchandise collection in the world (separate from her shrine of course), she waited on her girlfriend’s every need and…
And she was terrified it was too much. If this is what Minori had felt in high school, no wonder she’d put off confessing.
This also didn’t pair well with Haruka’s perfectionism and anxiety surrounding said perfectionism and… the complex web of emotions that comprised the human being known as Minori Hanasato.
“But An, I need to show her that she’s the most important perfect girl in the world.”
Her friend rolled her eyes, “You squeal just looking at her sometimes, I think she knows.”
“Ok, but what if she doesn’t know. And what if she secretly doesn’t like me and how… much I’ve been lately.”
“It’s not lately, you’ve been like this for years. A late honeymoon phase maybe, who knows. Point is you haven’t been normal around her for a while.” That hurt, but it was true. “If she didn’t like you, she’d end the relationship.”
Normally yes… but their status as co-workers in more more jump complicated that a bit. And by a bit, that meant a lot.
Logically she knew some perfect gift wouldn’t solve any hypothetical relationship issues, if they existed, and yet…
There was absolutely no logic involved in Haruka’s thoughts when it came to Minori.
Her phone dinged, a custom sound recorded from Minori’s voice to signal a text from her beloved. Haruka whipped out her phone.
Minori: Haruka-chan, I hope you’re having a nice day out! I was thinking of having dinner ready in an hour and a half, does that work for you?
Only one logical response.
Haruka: Yes. You’re perfect.
Minori: I don’t think so, but I hope dinner will be ❤️
Haruka almost fell out of her chair, a frequent occurrence when receiving a lovey text from her girlfriend.
She really wasn’t normal about this.
An was unhelpful when it came to picking gifts. Her idea for a Kohane gift was giving her girlfriend a million hugs… which isn’t exactly what Haruka was going for. She needed the specialest gift for the specialest girl.
Haruka bought her a plush otter. Minori really liked her plushies…
Wrapping it in more more jump wrapping paper seemed fitting. It wasn’t official merch, but someone used their logo and hell why not get some. It was fun, probably.
All that was left was to wait for her to return home. She had a quick photo shoot scheduled with Airi on her birthday, unfortunately, meaning Haruka had to be patient and-
The door clicked, and Haruka shot to her feet. It must be…
“I’m home Haruka-chan!!!”
“MINORI!!!” she threw her arms around the girl, which was the best she could do at her currently limited mental processing power. The first twenty minutes or so she was with Minori were too distracting to think straight.
“Welcome home! Did they work you too hard? It’s your birthday so they better not have…”
She chuckled, “No no, nothing like that. It went pretty smoothly! I’m back earlier than I thought.”
Minori shook off her shoes and headed into the living room, half dragging Haruka along with her.
It was the two minute mark after seeing Minori that exactly one part of her brain booted back up, the compliment part.
“Minori, you look absolutely radiant!!!”
That came out more fangirly than she’d intended, as it always did it seemed. In theory she should have the capability to deliver a line like that and look cool, but she can’t wipe the dumb grin off her equally dumb face.
“Thank you Haruka-chan!” Minori stroked her head a bit, but even a bit was to die for, “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”
“Not at all!!! I’d wait a million years if I had to!!”
Minori leaned against her shoulder… Haruka may have squeaked a bit as she did. The way Minori nestled herself into her shoulder felt so familiar. God was she glad it felt familiar, this was routine for them. How lucky she was…
“Mm, I see a gift over in the corner… but could we wait a bit before you give it to me? I’d just like to cuddle a bit.”
“Of course.” She placed a cautious arm around Minori to hug her a bit closer. Minori closed her eyes, sighing with a smile. She… “beautiful… you’re beautiful Minori.”
“Thank you Haruka-chan… but maybe look in a mirror.”
“But then I wouldn’t see you.”
She chuckled, “It’s ok, I’ll stand right behind you. Just… try to appreciate yourself some more, ok?”
“More and more?”
Minori laughed, “Yeah, exactly. Anyways, I’m ready for-“
She didn’t need to finish the thought, Haruka had the gift ready to go. “Here. Happy birthday Minori”
One aspect of her that hadn’t changed was unwrapping gifts. Minori still tore through wrapping paper like a child, throwing bits and pieces around in a mad dash to the wrapping open at all costs.
In about five seconds, the plush was in her hands. “Oh it’s so cute!!!!”
She held it tight, as she did with most of her stuffed toys. Doubt was starting to set in, was this really the best she could do? Surely not… the gift looked so standard now. She could do so much more, she could…
Minori gave her a quick peck on the lips and Haruka might have died a little. She definitely squealed “M-Minori… thank you.”
Her girlfriend giggled her perfect sweet little giggle, “I’m the one who should thank you, it’s a really nice gift!”
Her expression looked a bit off though. Haruka couldn’t tell exactly what it was, but as she squeezed the otter to her chest, there was clearly something on her mind.”
“Um… Haruka-chan, I know it’s my birthday but… there’s something I’d like to give you actually.”
Receiving a gift??? On Minori’s birthday??? “I… w-well I’d never say no, but why?”
“Well it’s sorta like a gift for me too, it would make me happy.”
She fidgeted around on the spot, freeing an arm to reach into her pocket.
“S-So, Haruka-chan, could I um… give you my last name?”
From her pocket she brought a small box. Opening it to show two rings within… was all Haruka remembered before fainting from pure glee. Hopefully the massive grin on her unconscious face was enough to communicate yes better than she ever could with words.