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*click*
The coin slid into the vending machine.
“What do you want, Ichika?” Shiho asked, eyes glancing at the highlighted options. “You can pick whatever.”
A quiet sigh came from the girl next to her.
“Shiho, you seriously don’t have to. I can buy it myself.”
A hand waved the request off. “Like I said, it's your birthday , dummy. I should pay for something as small as your drink. Now, pick something before I change my mind.”
“I think you’ve done enough today…” She mumbled in protest. They had spent an entire day celebrating, and this late-night walk was a decision made afterwards. Ichika didn’t expect anything more to be given.
The grey-haired girl hovered a finger over the buttons, giving an expectant side eye towards Ichika. Clearly she wasn’t leaving without an answer.
Ichika pursed her lips together, before hanging her head in defeat.
“... Fine . Juice, then.”
A warmth suddenly patted Ichika’s head. She yelped in surprise, only to see Shiho’s cheeky grin illuminated by the machine’s light.
“Heh. There you go.”
“...Meanie.” She pouted childishly, which caused Shiho to chuckle lightly. “That’s unfair. You can’t do that out of nowhere!”
“Who said I can’t? It’s your fault anyways.” Shiho deflected. “Your reactions are too cute to pass up.”
*thump*
Two cans rolled onto the exit tray. Shiho grabbed the drinks with both hands and outreached one to Ichika. “There’s yours.”
“...”
“Uh, your drink, Ichika.”
“...You called me cute.”
Shiho cocked her head. “Huh?”
“Earlier. You said my reactions are cute.” Even in the cool air of night, Ichika could feel her cheeks slightly burning.
The bassist in front of her went silent, clearly unaware of what she said, before immediately flushing bright red.
“I-I, I-I said your reactions are cute! D-don’t twist my words like that!”
Ichika smiled. “Hehe. It’s alright Shiho, I think you’re cute too.”
“No, that’s not!...” The girl wanted to say more, but seemingly decided it wasn’t worth fighting. She shoved the can towards Ichika in desperation. “J-just take your damn drink…”
It was always worth teasing Shiho like this. Take a single step and she’ll break down in a flustered mess.The guitarist smirked in victory, before claiming her prize from Shiho’s hands. “Heh, whatever you say.”
“Sh-shush already! We’re dating, it’s not a big deal anymore…”
Shiho was blushing so much, her head was practically a tomato. Ichika giggled at the thought, before cracking her can of juice open and taking a sip.
The clear night sky stared down at the two, stars glistening alongside the moon’s shine. Ichika was captivated by the sight; starry skies never failed to grasp her attention.
Now that she thought about it, Ichika had left her house enjoying the warmth of the sunlight on a summer morning. Strange how time flew by so easily.
Shiho seemed to catch her introspection, as she settled against a guardrail and opened her own drink, now back to her usual cool state. Ichika joined her.
“You had fun today?”
Ichika glanced at Shiho, before gently smiling and turning back towards the stars.
“Mm. We did a lot.” She recalled the past day in quick detail. The four members of Leo/Need had gone all over the place: a cafe, Spojoy Park, even Phoenix Wonderland. A lot of their friends ended up joining them too, making for a…lively experience to say the least.
“Maybe too much.” Shiho sighed. “I told Saki that, and of course she didn’t listen and had to throw in Phoenix Wonderland.”
“You say that, yet I seem to recall your giant smile at the Phenny mascot Emu prepared for me in Phoenix Wonderland…” Ichika playfully recalled. “Is that too much?”
The redness returned to Shiho’s face. “ Sh-shut it. What’s with this nonstop teasing?”
“You all teased me today. It’s only fair.” Ichika rebutted.
“Whatever.” Shiho rolled her eyes, escaping any more jabs or remarks from the guitarist. She crossed her arms tightly, taking another embarrassed sip from her own drink. “What’s important is that you had fun, anyways.”
Ichika smiled at that comment. “But you know…I’m really grateful for today.”
Shiho glanced in Ichika’s direction, but didn’t say anything.
“Spending my birthday celebrating with every single person I care about, going around places until night time…it still feels like a dream.” She murmured. “The past me never could have imagined this, let alone dreamed of it.”
“Ichika…”
The guitarist grinned. “That’s why I’m thankful for everyone. For always being right next to me no matter what. I can’t…even think of where I’d be without any of you.”
Shiho waited for Ichika to stop talking, before nudging her softly.
“H-hey!”
“What are you talking about, dummy? You act as if you’ve done nothing to get to this point.”
The bassist said. “There’s…so many things you did that only you can do.”
Ichika looked towards the ground, avoiding Shiho’s softened gaze. “No, I really don’t…”
“ You were the one who always visited Saki.” She pointed out. “Honami and I…we never had the courage to do so.”
“W-well, I guess so, but-”
“ You were the one who persuaded Honami to talk to us again.” Shiho continued, ignoring Ichika’s protest. “Saki and I had already given up by that point.”
“...” Ichika lifted her hand as if to stop Shiho, but said girl brought it back down and grasped it tightly, enveloping their fingers together.
“And… you convinced me that you all were serious about going pro.” The grey-haired girl smiled, squeezing her hand in Ichika’s. “You took that step before anyone else.”
“...Anyone of you could have done that.” Ichika said halfheartedly. Her cheeks were burning too much to resist further.
Just like that, her girlfriend had comforted her so easily.
“I can’t exactly speak for them but…I’m sure they’d agree with me, Ichika.” Shiho brought her face closer to the other girl’s. “Besides…don’t you trust what your girlfriend says?”
Now that completely destroyed her. An overwhelming warmth filled her chest. “T-testing me after all of that?...”
Shiho grinned, pecking Ichika’s lips. “Hehe. Still your fault.”
Ichika sighed, but she couldn’t stop smiling. The burning sensation in her cheeks felt so damn good, and that only came when face-to-face with reality:
She really was together with her friends again.
“So, Ichika.” Shiho raised her drink. “I hope next year’s even better. Let’s surpass our dreams together.”
The guitarist smiled, before softly smacking her can against Shiho’s.
“Yeah. Thanks, Shiho.”