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Sat on the grass outside school, Misaki prodded at her lunch while Kanon eagerly chatted about a romance novel she’s been reading.
"...and then, he confessed his love in the most romantic way possible," Kanon gushed, her eyes shining in a way her shyness never would have allowed when they’d first met.
Misaki nodded absently though her thoughts couldn’t be further away from whatever overused trope her bandmate was swooning at. Though she’d never break Kanon’s heart, the entire genre made her cringe. She found the predictability of romance novels in general downright insufferable.
But amidst her disdain for clichés, Misaki held a dark secret. Beneath her respectable image, she was once an avid fanfic reader. Carrying this immense shame to this day, it’s a secret she'd bury as deep as her mortifying, middle-school fics.
Her painful recollection was interrupted by high-pitched giggles and Misaki looked up to find Kokoro cartwheeling across the grass towards them. Without missing a beat, the vocalist plopped herself downright next to her, their shoulders brushing slightly as she greeted her bandmates with a blinding smile.
“Hi! I’ve been looking for you everywhere Misaki!”
“Oh? What is it this time?” Misaki eyed her warily.
Whenever Kokoro needed her, it was to either compose entire songs from her convoluted doodles or share equally disastrous ideas, more often than not involving putting Michell’s safety at risk. Whatever the case, the DJ knew she was in a for a whole lot of trouble.
Kokoro's enthusiasm bubbled as she leaned in closer, "Guess what? My cousin's getting married!"
“That’s great news. I guess you’ll be going to the wedding soon then?”
Misaki had heard of Kokoro’s cousin, Mari a few times. Just as rich and equally whimsical, though at least her girlfriend seemed reliable enough to keep her in line. Well, more than girlfriend now from the looks of things.
Kokoro beamed, though the persistent glimmer in her eyes was growing concerning. “Yeah, it’s just next week. That’s why I want you to come as my plus one!”
Misaki’s nearly choked on her rolled egg. “Me? Why me? Won’t Kaoru-san, or anyone else in Hello Happy be better?” Misaki's well aware of her own gloomy disposition, that she's no ones first choice to take to a party.
Kokoro shook her head, her smile undeterred, “Kaoru is already going with Chisato and Hagumi is coaching her softball team.”
“My parents made plans for us to visit my grandparents that same weekend,” Kanon added apologetically.
“Besides, I wanted to invite you!” Kokoro insisted.
Misaki sighed inwardly. She knew better than anyone that resistance was futile. Kokoro would find a way to drag her there regardless.
“Alright, I’ll go with you.”
Kokoro’s already smiling face somehow lit up further, “Yay! It's going to be so much fun, Misaki!”
Though this arrangement seemingly stemmed from convenience, Misaki saw all the signs from a mile away. The old gears in her head from those fanfic days creaked into place once more. It’s so obvious from how Kokoro always went out of her way to make sure Misaki was alright, even amongst her antics. Not mention how the vocalist’s affectionate gestures suspiciously gravitated towards her and no one else in the band.
Misaki had long suspected that Kokoro held feeling for her. Now, the pieces were falling into pace. An innocent invitation for a plus one to a cousin’s wedding? The DJ’s read enough fanfics to know exactly where this was going. Plus, they’re the classic case of Sunshine x Grumpy trope.
Yet, knowing and acting were two entirely different things. In truth, Misaki had been putting off figuring out her feelings. Sure, Kokoro was nice, and she surprisingly enjoyed spending time with her, but the question of that girl’s emotional intelligence is a different language entirely.
Nonetheless, Misaki resolved that it was time to stop running from matters of the heart. By the end of this wedding, she’ll finally figure out what Kokoro meant to her.
Yet as she laid bed that night, Misaki wondered if it was pretentious of her to really expect anything to happen this coming weekend. Real life isn’t a fanfic, and she cursed younger her for rotting their brain with such delusional fantasies. She wasn't some main female lead in a femslash slow burn. As far as Misaki was concerned, she’s just like all those other girls, therefore not a suitable applicant for the role of nauseating protagonist.
Before she knew it, the weekend of the wedding arrived. After school, Misaki stepped out to find a sleek limousine parked by the curb. It was entirely out of place in front of their school but as expected, Kokoro never understood moderation.
It was a long drive but they eventually arrived at Uchiura bay where the wedding was to be held. Misaki hoped her jaw didn’t drop when she caught sight of the luxurious hotel, one they had to get to by boat! Only when Kokoro informed her that her uncle owned the hotel did Misaki seriously contemplated the extent of the Tsurumaki’s wealth. She’d always wondered how Kokoro’s family got all their money thought at this point, she decided she was probably safer off not knowing.
As the two girls stepped into the lavish lobby, they were greeted by an ecstatic blonde woman in her mid-twenties.
“Kokoro!” As Mari flung her arms around her cousin, Misaki couldn’t deny the family resemblance just from her energy alone. “And you must be Misaki, ciao! Kokoro’s told me so much about you,” Mari beamed before pulling Misaki into another bone crushing hug.
“Ahaha, all good things I hope,” Misaki chuckled weakly. Considering the mayhem they got up in in the band, she hoped the stories weren’t too embarrassing.
“Of course! And thank you both for coming! I’m so glad mama didn’t make me go through what that horrid, arranged marriage. Since then, she got to see what an amazing person Kanan is.”
“It took ages but I’m happy uncle and auntie finally let you get married!” Kokoro cheered as the two cousins began hopping up and down in excitement.
Remembering herself, Mari cleared her throat. “You two must be tired. Why don’t you take your bags to the room and get some rest? I know I’ll need it before the ceremony tomorrow. Who knew planning a wedding is so exhausting?"”
The drive over had been uneventful. So much so that Misaki almost hoped this weekend would pass by without Kokoro's usual chaos. However, the first problem arose when they reached room she and Kokoro were mean to share. Though was problem really the right word?
"Why are there so many beds?!” Misaki exclaimed as she stared in bewilderment. The large, luxurious suite would’ve been ordinary aside from the fact that there were a dozen beds pushed up against every wall.
Kokoro only laughed at the unexpected surprise, “Silly me! I told Mari it was just the two of us, but I must have said twelve on accident. But now we don’t have to fight over which one we want!” With a happy squeal, she flung herself onto the nearest bed. “Ooh, and if we pushed them all together we can make one giant bed!”
Misaki remained stunned in the doorway. Of all the things she’d expected this weekend, her fanfics had not prepared her for this. Nonetheless, she threw her bag onto one of the many beds. But before she could catch that much needed break, Kokoro grabbed her hand and was already pulling her back out the door.
After getting dragged about the hotel to explore, with Kokoro pointing out every nook and cranny she loved as a child, Misaki was relieved when the time came to join the rest of the family for dinner. Despite all her experience with the heiress, the DJ was still taken aback by the sheer extravagance of the feast that met them. If this was the level of cuisine served the night before, Misaki couldn’t imagine the sheer expense of the actual reception.
Amidst the gourmet dishes and happy chatters, she caught sight of Kanan, the other btide-to-be. The happiness that radiated between her and Mari thawed even her cynical heart, and Misaki found herself silently hoping the wedding tomorrow will go smoothly.
…
Later that night, Misaki was awoken by the sound of fitful shuffling from the other side of the room. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she could make out Kokoro’s silhouette tossing and turning in her sleep.
Feeling a surge of concern, she realised this was the perfect opportunity to try moving their relationship towards something more. After all, isn’t comforting someone after a nightmare the number one way for romance to bloom?
But before she could climb out of bed, Kokoro suddenly sat up. Misaki held her breath as the blonde reached for a pop-up book in her bedside table. A cheerful tune played as she opened it and after humming along for a few seconds, the distress on Kokoro’s face began to fade. Not moments later, she was fast asleep again.
Misaki could only stare in disbelief. Unable to fight her curiosity, she crept over to her bandmate’s bed. Her hand hovered hesitantly over the girl’s cheek. Yet, a soft poke confirmed that Kokoro was indeed asleep.
Feeling bewildered and slightly disappointed, Misaki placed the book back on the bedside table and reluctantly returned to her own bed. At least now she wouldn’t have to worry about Kokoro stamping smiley faces on her while she’s asleep. Speaking of, why were their band sleepovers so weird?
…
The next morning Misaki was awoken by the full force of Kokoro jumping onto her bed. “Misaki it’s the big day! Are you excited?” she cried, shoving her face far, far too close as she straddled the DJ-sized cocoon.
Though Misaki was accustomed to such wake-up calls from past HHW sleepovers, something about the proximity that morning left her flustered beyond explanation. She quickly shoved a pillow into the vocalist’s face, hoping Kokoro hadn’t noticed the redness that engulfed her own. Though she knew she’d overreacted, Misaki blamed the plus-one trope for invading her brain as the two of them headed down to breakfast.
But as she later made her way back to prepare for the ceremony, a small sound caught her attention. Turning towards the source, she was surprised to find Mari’s head poking out from one of the corridor’s many rooms. The blonde beckoned for her to come over. Not wanting to ignore her host, Misaki followed her inside only to stop short.
The bride looked gorgeous in her wedding gown, the white fabric hugging her figure like shimmering waves. Misaki's pulse quickened as she tried to figure out what the blonde could possibly want from her. Oblivious to her rising panic, Mari spun around, showing off more of the backless dress.
“Sorry to call you in suddenly. The clasp in the back came loose and my stylist already left,” she explained. “Think you could give me a hand?”
Misaki squirmed uncomfortably but eventually took a hesitant step towards the bride. As she adjusted the section, a mischievous smile crossed Mari’s face.
"So how did Kokoro convince you to come this weekend, Misaki?" Mari asked, her tone teasing yet probing. “I’m aware my dear cousin’s a handful and a half.”
“Kokoro’s a good friend so I’ve gotten used to her ideas, no matter how crazy. Not that I’m saying you’re crazy-” Misaki fumbled in a panic only making the older woman laugh.
“Relax, there’s no reason to be so nervous,” Mari said gently. However, a knowing smile rose on her lips, “Though from the looks of things, are you sure you’re just friends?”
Misaki's cheeks immediately flushed. “Well... um, that’s something I’m trying to figure out myself.”
“I wish you the best of luck then,” Mari winked.
“Thanks, though to answer your first question, I was reluctant to come,” Misaki admitted slowly. “Sometimes Kokoro can be… well, a lot. It’s like we’re from completely different worlds and I don’t know if I’ll ever fit in here-”
She was cut off as Mari pressed a finger to her lips. “Then forget about Kokoro. At least for this weekend, just let loose a little. It looks like you need it,” she offered with a smile.
Suddenly, a sound from behind caught their attention. Misaki’s heart leapt into her throat as the shellshocked faces of Kokoro and Kanan stared back at her. Panic only rose when she realised her hand was still placed on Mari’s bare back, the blonde’s finger to her lips.
“What is going on here?” Kanan spoke slowly, her gaze flickering between her fiancée and this random girl in her room. On the other hand, Kokoro looked close to tears. It was one of the first times Misaki had seen her this way, and it nearly broke her own heart.
“Misaki… I didn’t realise you hated it so much here,” she whispered. With a final, hurt glance, she turned and ran from the room.
“Kokoro, wait!” Misaki called, but it was already too late.
She wanted to bash her head against the wall. Of course, the classic melodramatic misunderstanding that could’ve been avoided if someone entered the room a moment later. Meanwhile, Mari quickly moved to Kanan’s side and placed a comforting hand on her fiancée’s shoulder.
“I promise this was a misunderstanding, my amore.”
Just then, Kokoro popped her head back into the room. “So, I know I ran off, but I realised there’s probably an explanation for all this.”
Misaki nearly did a double take at this unforeseen solution. She half expected this fight to drag out till evening. That’s always how it happened in the stories she read… though it usually also involved some kind of traffic accident before the leads finally made up again. On second thought, probably not the most reliable reference.
After a quick explanation, Kanan’s worry turned to amusement as well. Misaki watched in relief as the couple held hands again.
“I’m glad this didn’t spiral out of control on our wedding day. Though didn’t we agreed you wouldn’t see my dress till the ceremony?” Mari teased.
Kanan wore a sheepish look as she pressed a kiss to her partner’s cheek. “I know, but I just couldn’t wait that long to see you again.” Leaving them to their reconciliation, Kokoro shuffled closer to Misaki as well.
“Hey Misaki, I’m sorry I thought bad things about you as well.”
“It’s okay, it was just a misunderstanding. I want you to know that I am grateful you invited me,” Misaki promised as she took in the smiling faces around her. Despite her eccentricities, at least Kokoro’s family were really nice.
…
The ceremony itself was beautiful. Mari was radiant in her gown as expected while Kanan looked equally dashing in her white and purple tuxedo. Kokoro’s cheers were the loudest as the newlyweds shared their kiss at the altar. Though amidst the joyful celebration, Misaki couldn’t help but fidget in the suit Kokoro leant her. She couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that it probably costed more than her annual allowance and sincerley hoped she wouldn’t accidentally crease it.
As the guests mingled in the chapel after the ceremony, Misaki caught sight of a familiar figure amongst the crowd. Shuffling over to Chisato, she hoped the actress could provide some much-needed clarity on her current situation.
"Shirasagi-senpai, I need your help," Misaki kept her voice low. “You have experience with relationships, right? I was hoping you could help me figure out my feelings for… someone.”
Chisato raised an eyebrow but nonetheless seemed intrigued enough to stay. “I’m certainly surprised to hear this coming from you, but I suppose I can offer some guidance. Who are you interested in?”
Misaki hesitated for a moment. “It’s um… it’s Kokoro,” she practically whispered the last part. Chisato's shock was palpable, her expression instantly shifting to concern as she absorbed Misaki's words.
"Misaki, that's a terrible idea.” The bluntness took the DJ aback.
“Wait, what?”
"You and Kokoro couldn't be more different. It would never work," Chisato continued in disbelief. Misaki hadn’t expected her heart to sink in such a way.
“Don’t you like, ship us at all?”
“Unless you’ve started a mailing company, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” But seeing the crestfallen look on Misaki’s face, Chisato finally let out a sigh. “Maybe I’m being a bit harsh from my own experience, but you really should think carefully before getting into a relationship. Especially with someone so… persistent. You may never get the chance to escape.”
“So are you and Kaoru-san really together than?” Misaki probed, remembering that Kaoru apparently came to this wedding with the actress.
“God no! Well, not anymore at least,” Chisato clarified as if this was the biggest relief in history. Though she generally didn’t care about relationships and similar gossip, Misaki couldn’t help feeling intrigued.
“You at least used to date then?”
“My, you’re curious all of the sudden. But unfortunately so. We were childhood lovers you could say, but that was a long time ago.”
Misaki didn’t miss the flicker of emotion that crossed Chisato's face at the mention of Kaoru. "You know, Kaoru still talks about you all the time,” she began, not sure if she was doing the right thing getting involved in her bandmate’s relationship, but if it would stop their guitarist from woefully sighing throughout every band practice, she was willing to try. “I think she still really cares about you.”
Chisato couldn’t hide her surprise as she processed these words. “Really? I... had no idea."
“Would… would you ever consider giving it another try?” The words left Misaki’s lips before she could stop herself. Yet, the actress’ response took her aback.
"I've been tempted," Chisato admitted, "but I just don't know if I can see Kaoru as more than an annoyance."
Before Misaki could respond, the devil herself appeared, flashing them both her charming smile. “Ah my little kittens~ Such a fleeting union of love was it not?”
Suddenly, Kaoru was yanked down by the tie, finding Chisato’s lips sealed against hers in a deep kiss. Misaki couldn’t only stare in horror at what she’d just unleased. Yet almost immediately they pulled away. Even Kokoro’s shrill voice couldn’t have cut through the awkwardness in the air.
"That felt… so wrong. I think any romance died years ago," Chisato remarked dryly, all semblance of her rose-tinted glasses gone.
“Regrettably, I must agree.” Kaoru appeared equally disillusioned as she readjusted her tie, “That was... less fleeting than I imagined."
“Now that was a last kiss if I ever saw one,” a giggle sounded behind them. Sayo and Hina approached the group, one twin looking more excited to be there than the other.
“Do you both know Mari and Kanan as well?” Misaki asked, surprised to find the twins there of all places.
“Not personally, but Mari-chan sent an invitation to everyone in Pastel Palettes. Apparently, she’s a huge fan, isn’t that fun?” Hina grinned. “Of course, I had to bring Onee-chan as my plus one~”
“Ah Hikawas, it’s been a while since we’ve crossed paths,” Kaoru greeted suavely as if she didn’t just have her ex’s tongue shoved down her throat a moment ago. “How are your new living arrangements suiting you? Such bliss to reside with the one you cherish.”
“Actually, I moved out a month after college started. Having Hina as a roommate is enough to drive anyone insane,” Sayo shot her sister a pointed look.
“Oh my god, they weren’t roommates. Am I right Onee-chan?” Hina raised her hand for a high five which was entirely ignored.
“Hina, stop quoting dead vines. Also give me back my plant, you know I bought it.”
“But Onee-chan, if you’re not coming over every week to water it, how else will I get to see you?”
“By texting me like a normal person? Just because we don’t live together doesn’t mean we’re estranged.”
Leaving the bickering sisters, Misaki wandered amongst the other guests until she ran into Kokoro’s parents. She’d only seen them in passing so now getting cornered by such rich, powerful people, was making her sweat buckets.
"Ah, Misaki dear, I hope you’ve had a good time here so far,” Kokoro’s mother greeted though Misaki couldn’t quite read her expression. “We couldn’t help but notice that you and Kokoro have been getting quite close lately."
Misaki took in a sharp breath. Was their supposed relationship really that obvious? She’d been dreading this conversation for a while, but it was inevitable. The parents of the rich heiress, disapproving their daughter’s suitor out of fear they’ll take advantage of the family wealth.
“We’re, um, just really good friends.” But upon feeling those eyes continue to drill into her, Misaki knew she had to stand up for her own honour. “But… but even if there was something more going on, I would never take advantage of Kokoro for your money or whatever,” she insisted weakly.
Her father let out a sudden laugh. “Oh, we weren’t worried about anything like that. We were just curious if our daughter was seeing anyone.”
“Yes, in fact, any potential relationship with Kokoro would more likely be a relationship of inconvenience, given her... spirited nature,” hear mother added good-naturedly.
Misaki hadn’t expected the Tsurumakis to be so easy-going and soon laughed along. As the guests began to filter into the reception hall, Misaki was once again reminded of the power of money. The lavish decorations and equally impressive food all served as a reminder of the stark divide between her world and that of Kokoro's affluent family. Lingering awkwardly by the edge of the party, Misaki’s never felt like more of an outside than amongst the crowd of government official and celebrities.
Suddenly, she felt a though on her arm. Turning, she found Kokoro’s gaze searching her face with concern.
"Why aren't you happy, Misaki?" Kokoro’s tone was both sad and confused in a way that almost made Misaki guilty.
"I'm fine, just a bit tired from everything today," the DJ deflected. How could she possibly tell her bandmate she’s been troubled all day over whether they should date them or not? Does Kokoro even like her in the first place? The more Misaki thought about it, the more doubtful she was becoming.
However, Kokoro wasn’t convinced. "I can tell you’re worrying about something again,” she crossed her arms. “Come on, we’re at a party! You should be smiling.” Before Misaki could respond, a strikingly attractive girl approached them.
“Hi there, I really like your suit,” the girl smiled, her gaze fixed on Misaki. "This is one of my favourite songs. Would you like to dance?"
Misaki hesitated, heart racing at this twist of events. The rival. This was finally it. She awaited some form of jealousy from Kokoro, anything to hint to where they’re at but instead, Kokoro's face lit up with excitement.
"Let's all dance together!" she exclaimed, seizing Misaki and the bewildered girl's hands before either could protest. With an infectious laugh, she pulled them onto the dance floor. As they all twirled in an awkward three-person dance circle, Misaki couldn’t bring herself to complain.
Eventually tired out from dancing, Misaki excused herself to grab some punch. But upon returning with an extra glass for Kokoro, her found her bandmate had vanished. Panic bubbled as Misaki searched the reception hall, yet the hyperactive blonde was nowhere to be found. Spotting Mari and Kanan swaying gently on the dance floor, she reluctantly approached them.
"Mari-san, Kanan-san, sorry to interrupt but have you seen Kokoro?"
Mari glanced up, “No, not since you were all dancing earlier. Never thought you were the type for a threesome, Misaki-chan~”
Kanan gave her wife’s arm a light-hearted slap, “Don’t tease the poor girl, she looks worried enough as is. Sorry Misaki, we haven’t seen her.”
Fearing the worst, Misaki thanked them both before dashing back to her and Kokoro’s room. Flinging open the door, she froze in shock.
Tied up on the floor was a man in a suit, struggling in vain against his muffle. Stood over him was none other than Kokoro. With her back turned, Misaki couldn’t see her expression. Horror was all she felt as Misaki struggled to comprehend what could’ve led to such a scene.
“Kokoro, what the heck is going on?!”
Kokoro turned to face bandmate. Her eyes shone bright with excitement. "Misaki! You won't believe it! This guy," she gestured towards the man on the floor, "was plotting to kidnap Mari for ransom money!"
Misaki felt her mouth go dry. "Kidnap? But... how.. what?"
"I overheard him talking on the phone," Kokoro explained casually, as if foiling a kidnapping plot was an everyday occurrence for her. “Apparently he’s the leader or something.”
“So you thought the best solution was to kidnap a mafia boss?!” Misaki half-screamed, unable to tear her eyes from the struggling figure on their floor.
She didn’t really know the law, but there must be some penalty for kidnapping right? Even if your captive happened to be a potential kidnapper as well. Out of every possible solution, who else would be brave enough- or apparently stupid enough to attempt such a thing? It was apparently too much for her brain to handle and Maski found herself crumpling to the floor.
…
Eyelids fluttering open, Misaki struggled to regain consciousness. Expecting to find herself in Kokoro's comforting embrace, she instead found herself being carried down a hospital corridor by one of the suits.
Confusion washed over her. Where was Kokoro? This wasn’t how it happened in her fics.
Her questions were answered when she spotted Kokoro following close by. “Misaki, are you okay?” she cried the moment she saw her bandmate awaken.
Misaki blinked a couple more time to adjust to the harsh fluorescent lighting. “Kokoro… where am I? I thought you’d be the one… nursing me back to health.”
Kokoro looked surprised for a second before giggling, “Why would it be me, silly? I don't know what I'm doing, I could've made it worse. That’s why we’re taking you to the nice doctors here.”
“Oh, okay,” Misaki managed before she passed out again.
…
Weekends always fly by really fast. That is especially true if you’ve been stuck unconscious at the hospital for most of it. By the time Misaki got back to the hotel, it was nearly time to go home.
No one was happier to see her return that Kokoro. The vocalist instantly flung herself at Misaki in a massive hug, nearly knocking them both down the stairs and sending them back to the hospital again. Thankfully, Misaki maintained her balance in time as she hugged Kokoro back.
At the end of the day, Kokoro was always there for her. So despite the hectic 48 hours, Misaki couldn’t imagine spending her weekend any other way. And that’s when she realised her answer.
As they began to pack their bags, Misaki knew it was time to face her feelings. With a hesitant smile, she turned to Kokoro, ready to lay her heart on the line.
"Kokoro, there's something I need to tell you.” She hoped she manged to hide the tremble in her voice.
Despite all the knowledge she’d acquired from reading, Misaki’s never had feeling for anyone herself, much less confessed. It was scary. Much scarier than anything she’d ever done, heck even skydiving! Still, she knew they couldn’t ignore this connection between them forever.
"I've been thinking a lot this weekend,” she began, suddenly finding it impossible to meet that curious gaze. “I've come to realise that… I have feelings for you too. So I thought maybe… we could give it a shot?"
To Misaki's surprise, Kokoro's brows furrowing in puzzlement. "You have feelings for me?" she tiled her head. “What does that mean?”
Did she really have to spell this out?
“I like you, Kokoro,” Misaki tried again. “Like, as more than a friend.”
“Oh.”
And that was all.
Shock rippled through Misaki's body while her heart sank at such a lukewarm response. She was an idiot. All this time, she believed Kokoro was into her when it’d been delusional one-sided pining all along.
"I... I understand," Misaki mumbled, wishing for the first time that she never agreed to this weekend. "I'm sorry for springing this on you. Just… forget I ever said anything.”
Is this what unrequited love felt like? Misaki half expected to start coughing up flowers. Needing space to process her emotions, she rushed for the door only to be met with a bouquet of flowers shoved right in her face.
"Misaki, if you wish to express your feelings to dear Kokoro, I suggest these flowers—oh, my apologies," came Kaoru's voice as Misaki sneezed a handful of petals.
Humiliated and caught off guard, Misaki's slammed the door shut in Kaoru's face. After such a mortifying confession, the last thing she wanted was to stay here with Kokoro, but at the same time, she had nowhere else to go. Giving up entirely, she turned and sank into one of the many beds.
Feling a tentative presence beside her, Misaki finally forced herself to look up. Kokoro somehow made her way onto the bed without her noticing. Sitting side by side, the vocalist worse such a look of uncertainty that Misaki forgot about her own troubles for a moment.
"I didn’t mean to make you sad," Kokoro began, her voice earnest. Even met with silence, she pressed on, "I didn’t know you liked me, Misaki. But then I realised I like spending time with you too! So I think we should try it."
Misaki won’t let herself hope again. Kokoro may claim she could read her but in contrast, the vocalist was an enigma Misaki could never hope to understand. She had to be sure Kokoro didn’t see this as just another game.
“Try it?” she asked hesitantly.
“Yeah! Being more than friends!”
“Kokoro, do you even know what that means? Are you sure you… want to date me?”
“Why should I, silly? You’re my favourite person!”
The eager nod received made the DJ’s heart skip a beat. Overwhelmed with relief, Misaki pulled Kokoro into a hug and felt the blonde nuzzle into her. Holding her tight, Misaski liked how their bodies fitted together. It was also warm, much warmer than any past hugs Kokoro had given her. Despite all the chaos it took to get here, she thought it was perfect.
“The truth is, I don’t know anything about relationships,” Misaki admitted softly. “Only from what I’ve read in stories, but nothing could have prepared me for this weekend.”
To her surprise, Kokoro let out a giggle, “So what’s next, Misaki? Lovers to strangers trope?”
Misaki stared. Had… had Kokoro somehow learnt to read minds? The blonde simply returned a mischievous smile. “Just kidding~”
As the word "lovers" replayed in her mind, Misaki found herself blushing all over again. But before she could respond, Kokoro leaned in with a kiss.
Misaki’s heart leapt at the touch. She wanted to return it, to tell Kokoro how much she liked her as well but instead, her body melted onto the mattress in a useless, flustered mess. This only made Kokoro laugh but despite seeing red, the sound was like music to Misaki’s ears.
“You’re totally cheating,” she finally grumbled as the vocalist flopped back onto the mattress, snuggling up next to her.
“I just felt like it~ Plus, it made you happy right?” Kokoro’s eyes sparkled.
"You're impossible.” Regardless, Misaki leaned in to press her own kiss against Kokoro's lips. Kokoro’s grin softened as they continued to hold each other.
"I like seeing you this happy, Misaki," she admitted. Her tone was as warm as the soft breath brushing against Misaki’s face.
“Well, thank you for always making me this happy.”
A knock on the door made Misaki groan but she eventually got up from the bed. Opening it, she found herself face to face with a dark-haired girl she didn't recognize.
"Sorry, who are you?" Misaki asked, her patience wearing thing from having her time with Kokoro interrupted.
"Yor," the girl replied, her response only adding to Misaki's confusion.
"What? No, I asked for your name.”
"Yes, that's me! Most people pronounce it wrong because it's Japanese," the girl explained excitedly.
Misaki slammed the door in her face. Not today. She'd had enough book tropes to last a lifetime.
Returning to the bed, Misaki sank into Kokoro's eagerly waiting arms. This eliciting another wave of giggles from the blonde as Misaki buried her face into her neck.
"Since things didn’t happen the way you wanted, want to go to another wedding next month?" Kokoro offered eagerly. “Then we can do everything right this time!”
Misaki couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the suggestion. "I don't need some stupid, storybook romance to be happy,” she leaned in to kiss Kokoro's cheek. “Especially not when I have you.”