Chapter Text
Friday, December 24th, 2010
Yukari sighs, sprawled out on the couch in an unfamiliar living room. Mitsuru’s home is elegantly decorated, as Yukari has come to expect. Polished furniture that looks both brand new and antique, esoteric paintings she is sure are individually worth more than everything she owns, and an impressive entertainment center with a shockingly bare set of shelves for media. A part of herself is kind of surprised it’s taken this long to actually visit her girlfriend’s home; it’s only a half hour train ride out from Iwatodai, after all. But she supposes that Mitsuru doesn’t even stay here usually, often traveling for work and spending nights in hotels or other Kirijo properties.
It’s a life Yukari has only had the barest of peeks into during her relatively short time as Mitsuru’s girlfriend.
“Yukari!”
A shout from Mitsuru sounds from the kitchen, and Yukari immediately perks up and hops up from the couch. She quickly weaves through the several halls between her and the kitchen, poking her head into the room. Fuuka is still working steadily as she consults her notebook, preparing the breading for their fried chicken dinner.
Mitsuru is waiting for Yukari at the door, wiping her hands off onto a washcloth. “There you are. Fuuka wanted to know if there was anything else you’d like tonight.”
“Besides chicken and cake?” Yukari takes a moment before answering the question, a smile perking up on her face as Fuuka doesn’t even look up from her work to greet her. Her dedication is her cutest trait. “Well, I mean, I wouldn’t say no to sushi! Not sure if that goes together… or how we’re going to eat all of that.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it. If we have leftovers, I’m sure the staff won’t mind finishing it off for us tomorrow.” Mitsuru pulls out her cellphone, flicking it open. “I’ll order some sushi, then... Perhaps some salad as well?”
Yukari nods wordlessly as Mitsuru dials a number on her phone. She idly marvels that Mitsuru seems to have a restaurant’s number memorized like that, but as she returns her gaze to Fuuka breading the soon-to-be-fried chicken, she loses focus. Yukari stalks forward, past Mitsuru, and slips to the side of the counter to approach Fuuka from behind.
Fuuka turns her head, and Yukari almost thinks she’s caught, before Fuuka begins to speak to Yukari’s other girlfriend instead. “Oh, Mitsuru, could you bring me the… O-oh!” Yukari leans in from behind, hugging Fuuka tightly. “Y-Yukari! I didn’t even see you come in… b-be careful! This is still raw.”
“I know! Geez, can’t a girl just hug her girlfriend?” Yukari leans her head forward onto Fuuka’s shoulder. “...Are you having fun?”
“Me? Oh, yes! This kitchen is amazing! Did you see that stove? And look, she even has a dishwasher!” Fuuka points at the aforementioned device, and Yukari just giggles. She can barely tell where it is; its sleek black color blending in with the rest of the appliances in the kitchen… but Fuuka’s excitement is contagious.
“I’m dating up, for sure.” Yukari nuzzles her head against Fuuka again, who hovers her hands in front of herself, unable to reciprocate. Yukari feels Mitsuru’s hand on her back, and she glances up to Mitsuru shaking her head with a smile.
“Maybe stop distracting our chef. Head back to the living room, and feel free to turn on the television if you’re bored.” Mitsuru leans down to kiss Yukari on the top of the head, who bats at her offhandedly as she wanders off and out of the kitchen again toward the living room.
As she wanders back whence she came, she wonders where all the maids are. She hadn’t seen a single one since she arrived, or any other staff for that matter. Maybe they have the day off today? It’s not really a day off kind of holiday, though…
Yukari’s train of thought is derailed by the presence of a creature in Mitsuru’s living room, stalking across the back of the couch. Its hair is sleek, ears perked up, as it turns and considers Yukari. Its tail is short, like a rabbits, but it is unmistakably....
“Mitsuru! Since when did you have a cat!?” Yukari shouts over her shoulder, which seems to annoy the cat as it flicks its ears.
“I got her a few months ago!” Mitsuru has to shout to be heard from the kitchen to the living room, and Yukari is sure she’s not particularly thrilled with doing it. In her private life, Mitsuru is really not the kind of person to make herself out as larger than she is.
Yukari approaches the animal slowly. It doesn’t seem enthused by the yelling, jumping down from the couch and wandering off to the side of the room and away from Yukari.
“Don’t worry… I’m not going to hurt you.” She lowers her hand to the ground, trying to make steady eye contact with the cat. She’s used to taking care of Koromaru, and a cat couldn’t be that dissimilar to a dog, right? “Who’s a good girl…” The cat doesn’t move, swishing its tail back and forth as Yukari approaches. She reaches out to pet the top of its head. “That’s a good kitty… You’re so cute! What’s your na- Ow!”
Yukari shouts in pain as the cat lurches forward and scratches her hand, hissing menacingly. Yukari falls backwards onto the floor, the cat shooting off down one of Mitsuru’s many hallways, the damage done. Yukari curses, standing and stomping her feet as she rushes over to the bathroom to wash out the scratch.
“Dammit… Stupid freaking cat, what the hell did I do to her?” She towels off, grunting a bit in annoyance, before stomping away out and back through the hallways to the kitchen. “Mitsuru, your cat freaking…”
She enters the kitchen with neither occupant paying her any mind, Mitsuru slowly and carefully wiping off icing from Fuuka’s blushing face with a washcloth. Yukari snorts, entering the kitchen and walking closer, her injuries momentarily forgotten. “Hey you two…” She glances at the half-iced cake, shaking her head. “Now who’s distracting the chef, Mitsuru? Trying to steal my girlfriend?”
A flush washes over Mitsuru’s cheeks, who stands up a bit taller and sets down the offending cloth. “Steal…? I believe Fuuka is capable of making her own choices on that matter.”
“Maaaybe she is…” Yukari leans forward and swipes her freshly cleaned finger over the icing on Fuuka’s cheek, pulling back and licking it off. “I think we know who’ll win that one, though~.” Yukari grins cheekily, and Fuuka immediately turns an extra shade redder, turning her head away from both girls.
“It’s not a competition.” Mitsuru chuckles. “Dinner will be ready soon, I promise. Would you set the table?”
“Sure.” Yukari walks toward the entrance to the dining room, pushing the unlatched door open before pausing to glance at her pair of girlfriends. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
“I suppose, given we have seen what you will do, we’ll take it under advisement.” Mitsuru wraps an arm around Fuuka’s shoulder, her face blending in perfectly amongst Mitsuru’s flawless hair, before Yukari turns to complete her assigned task.
—
The dinner is smaller than Yukari first thought; for whatever reason, she imagined the kind of spread they had gotten when they defeated the final shadow last year. Instead, it’s just a single tray of home-fried chicken, a small Christmas shortcake, a platter of sushi, and a large salad. It smells heavenly, though, and Yukari wastes no time thanking her girlfriends for their work and making herself a plate.
Mitsuru’s dining table is extensive, easily able to fit at least two dozen people around it. But with only the three of them present, they all take positions at one of the heads of the table, Mitsuru taking the end with Yukari and Fuuka at her sides. Mitsuru herself waits patiently for Fuuka and Yukari to make their plates before getting her own.
“Oh, hey, I was thinking about this earlier, but…” Yukari gets a healthy portion of salad alongside the crabcakes and chicken. “Where’s all the maids? I thought you’d have at least a couple running around.”
“Did I not mention?” Mitsuru watches the pair of them make their plates with interest, with Fuuka prioritizing the sushi. “I sent them home early. I wanted us to have the house to ourselves… It’s not everyday I have my girlfriend and…” She glances at Fuuka, then at Yukari. “...What would I call my relationship to Yamagishi? ‘Girlfriend-in-law’?”
Yukari has to cover her mouth to keep from snorting with laughter, with Fuuka not noticing the comment as she arranges her plate. “I mean, if you two just got together already, we wouldn’t need a special term, y’know.”
MItsuru just shakes her head at the statement, a smile on her face.
Fuuka finishes plating her food, looking over it with a dorky, oblvious grin on her face before glancing up at the other two. “Let me know how the chicken tastes! I hope the herbs turned out well… I added a bit more chili flakes than-” She gasps, pointing at Yukaris hand. “Oh my gosh, are you alright, Yukari?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Yukari holds up her hand demonstrably, turning it back and forth. “It didn’t really bleed, and I washed it right after… Also, uh, sorry for scaring your cat, Mitsuru. Hey, since when do you like cats anyway?”
Mitsuru leans over, taking Yukari’s hand and examining the cut before nodding and pulling away. “I’ve always liked cats… And there’s no need to apologize. I had my own fair share of scratches from when she was first adopted. She’s a bit… free-spirited, and has her rough edges, but she’s very loving and sweet when you get to know her.”
“Oh, adopted? You didn’t get her from a breeder?” Fuuka chimes in as she works on her food.
“She is, yes. Kotone suggested I adopt, rather than buy. She was even the one who suggested getting a cat in the first place.” Mitsuru smiles fondly as she mentions their friend, and Yukari giggles before taking her first bite of the salad.
She scrunches up her face a bit. A bit dry… She tosses the salad on her plate a bit, hoping to alleviate the problem. “What’s her name? I didn’t see a tag on her.”
“Her…” Mitsuru immediately casts her eyes down to her plate and begins to eat her food, face flushed.
“What’s so embarrassing about a name? Fuuka, do you-” Yukari turns her attention to her other girlfriend, before finding that she is also blushing and staring at her plate. “Wait, you told Fuuka and not me!? What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing, Yu-” Mitsuru stops herself, covering her mouth and turning her head away. “ Yukari. ”
Yukari huffs in annoyance, tapping the salad on her plate rhythmically, before shaking her head and picking up another piece of lettuce. Well. That’s freaking weird. But whatever, I’ll get my answers after dinner.
—
They continue their meal in amiable silence, occasionally asking for a condiment or seasoning to be passed, with fingers lingering and eye contact lasting for a few moments too long each time. Yukari can’t help but marvel at it. Even just a couple months ago… this kind of thing would have been unthinkable.
Mitsuru had been her first relationship with another girl. It was almost her first relationship, period, if it weren’t for that boy she dated for all of one week in middle school. I haven’t thought about him in years… What was his name, even? She doesn’t remember. I mean, he seemed nice enough, but what was I thinking, saying yes? I didn’t even know the guy before he confessed.
This situation is very different. She glances between Mitsuru, complimenting Fuuka on the breading for their chicken, and Fuuka, blushing as she stares down at her plate, thanking Mitsuru for helping her with the preparations and use of the kitchen. Dating her friends… It was something unthinkable, last year. Her only real friend outside of archery was Kotone. Junpei… didn’t count. Fuuka was a good friend when she joined, of course, but Yukari didn’t even know she herself was bi until November… until Mitsuru.
“Hey, Mitsuru, Fuuka…?” Yukari snatches another red spinach leaf from her plate, holding it aloft with her chopsticks. “...Thank you.”
“Whatever for, Yukari?” Mitsuru sits up a bit straighter, looking at her curiously. Fuuka is doing the same, even if it’s harder to tell with her shorter stature.
“Just…” Yukari takes a bite of her salad, chewing it as she chooses her words. “...I never really would have imagined my life turning out like this. With you both. Even when we were dating, Mitsuru, just the two of us… I always thought it wouldn’t last.”
The redhead’s hand snakes forward, taking Yukari’s. She doesn’t say anything, just watching her. Fuuka also watches, her food temporarily abandoned.
“Oh, geez. I didn’t mean to make a scene. I’m just… glad. Glad that I like girls, and… glad I like you both. And that you both like me.” She knows she’s blushing, but she smiles into it, leaning forward and plucking a crabcake from Fuuka’s plate. “Anyway, shut up and eat!” The statement is mostly for herself, and she turns her head down to focus on her food. She can still feel the two of them looking at her, and her blush intensifies.
Fuuka giggles, causing Yukari to snap her head back up to look at her. Her girlfriend is startled, for a moment, but smiles wide in response. “I really agree, though. I’ve never had a holiday quite like this.”
Mitsuru nods, smiling at Fuuka, but something dark flashes over her face. She sets down her chopsticks, her mouth dropping into a frown. “My father… On the 25th, he’d always make time to sit down and eat with me.” Yukari freezes, but MItsuru frown breaks, a neutral expression returning as she glances between Yukari and Fuuka. “I’m sure… I’m sure he’d be very happy I am not alone this year.”
“Yes, of course!” Fuuka reaches out, taking Mitsuru’s hands into her own. “You won’t ever have to be alone again, Misturu. Yukari and I will always be there for you.” Their gazes linger, and Fuuka is the one to turn away first, embarrassed at her own forwardness.
Mitsuru smiles softly, a breathy chuckle escaping her lips. “I see. Thank you, Fuuka.”
“O-of course.” Fuuka returns to her food, but keeps her other hand in Mitsuru’s.
Mitsuru does not seem quick to let go, and Yukari smirks at that. Her expression is caught by Mitsuru, whose cheeks redden.
She’s smiling, though. And that’s what matters to Yukari. “You know… My mom wants to have dinner with me tomorrow.”
“Oh?” Mitsuru raises an eyebrow. “...How has it been with her?”
“You know. The usual. Dicey. Kind of catty.” Yukari takes up her utensils again, nabbing a bit of cabbage. “She’s… She’s trying, though… and so am I, I guess.” She takes a bite, glancing at Fuuka and Mitsuru, still at attention and watching her. “Hey, you two need to stop forgetting about your food. Geez, all that work you both put in, and I’m the only one eating?”
Mitsuru takes the hint, returning to her meal. Fuuka, however, continues watching Yukari, a sad expression on her face. She doesn’t even seem to have noticed Yukari’s last statement, or, at the very least, is not quick to take the advice.
“What? Do I have something on my face?” Yukari lifts up a napkin, dabbing at her mouth, but Fuuka shakes her head.
“No… I just… I don’t really think I should say.”
“Yamagishi.” Mitsuru levels her gaze at Fuuka, who cringes. Mitsuru's stern expression immediately softens. “...Fuuka. This is one place you should never have to worry about sharing what’s on your mind.”
“Well…” Fuuka’s right hand is still in Mitsuru’s left, and she squeezes; a squeeze Mitsuru returns. “...My family never really spent time with me around this time of year. My parents are both doctors, you know, and my brother…” She hesitates, shaking her head. “...He’s so much older than me, I never really saw him when I was younger. And he was out of the house by the time I was old enough to try.” She glances between Yukari and Mitsuru, before reaching out her other hand to Yukari, which she swiftly takes and squeezes. “So… Thank you. Thank you both… for being my family this year.”
“Fuuka…” Yukari rolls her thumb across the knuckles of Fuuka’s hand, smiling softly at her. Fuuka seems embarrassed by what she’s said, and the smile seems to cement this firmly as she turns her head away from her and Mitsuru. Yukari leans forward toward her. “Why would you not want to tell us that?”
Fuuka squeezes their hands once more, before pulling away, setting them in her lap. “You both… have lost one of your parents. It doesn’t seem fair for me to complain when…” She trails off, and both Mitsuru and Yukari sit up quickly.
“Fuuka-”
“Fuuka.”
Mitsuru and Yukari glance at each other, their words overlapping, and Mitsuru nods for Yukari to speak, as they both return attention to Fuuka.
“Fuuka, you don’t have to do that… We’re not going to get mad at you for having feelings, too. It’s not a competition, y’know. We want to hear how you’re feeling… Even if you feel that we’ve had it worse, whatever that means.” She reaches out again for Fuuka’s hand, and after a moment, Fuuka notices it and takes it. Yukari smiles at her, and she returns it. “Y’know, my dad always took me and my mom out for Christmas. He’d take us out to these big fancy restaurants, and when we were all full, he’d just… drive us around town to see the lights until I fell asleep.”
“That sounds… really lovely, Yukari.” Fuuka is crying, but she smiles through the tears. Yukari is unsure if she’s crying for herself… or Yukari. She knows Fuuka can get pretty empathetic about these kinds of things.
“It was. It always felt like a wonderful dream. All those lights, shining through the car windows, that’s what Christmas was for me. And… I’m glad you all can be my family this year, too.” Yukari glances at Mitsuru, who nods happily, her own smile peaking through. Yukari glances down at their still uneaten food and releases Fuuka’s hand with another squeeze. “Alright, that’s enough sappy stuff! My girlfriend made this chicken, y’know, and I don’t want to let it get cold!”
They laugh, happy for the lessening of the tension in the room. They return to their food, and Yukari spares a single glance out the dining room window behind Mitsuru.
She could see the glittering of lights, decadent and splendid, dancing like a dream.
—
Dinner should have been the end of it. Mitsuru was meant to walk them to the train station, then they’d take the train back and get a good yelling at from their dorm mom about respecting curfew. But neither Yukari nor Fuuka are particularly interested in leaving just yet, and the three of them gravitate naturally to the living room. Mitsuru picks out a DVD to play, and to Yukari’s utter surprise, it’s some melodramatic romance movie between a traditional male and female lead.
“Aren’t you literally a lesbian?” Yukari pulls over a blanket from where Mitsuru indicated, throwing it over the couch and a giggling Fuuka sitting upon it.
“Be that as it may, I didn't always know that.” Mitsuru inserts the DVD, turning from the entertainment center and walking over to join Fuuka on the couch. Fuuka lifts up the blanket for her to get under and, after a moment of embarrassment, Mitsuru does. “I used to love this movie… I hope you both will, too.”
Yukari slips under the covers with them, cuddling up to Fuuka. Fuuka, sandwiched between the two women, lays back on the couch, comforted by the warmth. As the movie begins to play, and as the dramatic tension of the film rises (Yukari thinks it’s something about forbidden love between a rich man and a working class woman?), Fuuka gradually sits up more and more before eventually slipping from Yukari’s arms to sit on the edge of the couch, enamored with the movie. Yukari takes this chance to slip behind her, laying against Mitsuru instead.
They all keep quiet as the movie plays. While Yukari isn’t particularly interested in the story (it’s pretty formulaic), Fuuka and Mitsuru are, and she respects that. It doesn’t stop her from playing with Mitsuru’s hair, or trailing her hand down Fuuka’s arm, but neither of them pay much attention to her actions. A part of her finds that annoying… But, another part of her is glad they’re both having fun with it.
Her attention, however, is suddenly captivated by MItsuru’s cat hopping onto the arm of the couch and stalking onto the blanket. Yukari almost calls out, but instead does her best to ignore the cat, hoping it won’t have a repeat performance of earlier in the evening.
This doesn’t work exactly as intended, as the cat immediately crawls its way onto Yukari’s chest, stretching out and laying down. It begins to knead its paws against the blanket atop Yukari, purring, its eyes closed in contentment.
Yukari can’t stop herself from talking out loud in excitement. “Mitsuru, your cat is so cute!”
The other two jolt, glancing at Yukari and the cat, but thankfully, neither disturb it with their movements. Fuuka speaks up first, grinning widely. “Not as cute as you are right now, Yukari.”
Yukari grins happily, about to answer with a ‘you’re cuter,’ but the cat interrupts, lifting its head with a ‘Mrmph?’ and staring at Fuuka. Mitsuru freezes, a dreadfully agonized expression on her face, and Yukari glances up at her, confused.
But then the gears in her head click.
She glances back at the cat, still leveling its attention at Fuuka who has yet to notice the expression on the others’ faces. Yukari hopes that what she’s thinking is not the case, but there’s little else to do but test it.
“Yukari.” Yukari recites her own name, and cat’s ears twitch, its head swiveling to include Yukari in its field of view. Mitsuru mumbles under her breath, shifting in place, but the damage is done. “Mitsuru… You named your cat after me!?”
The cat, Yukari, flicks its tail in annoyance at the yelling, immediately letting out a hiss before bolting away from the three, its paws heavily pressing against Yukari’s chest, enough to make her wince. Fuuka looks guilty, glancing quickly between Mitsuru and Yukari. Mitsuru, for her part, is mortified, hiding her face in her hands.
“You named your mean cat after me!?” Yukari twists around, grabbing Mitsuru by the shoulders. She can’t help herself from teasing Mitsuru. “What was that stuff earlier about ‘free-spirit’ and ‘rough around the edges’? Was that me too?”
“You weren’t supposed to know her name…” Mitsuru won’t uncover her face, and Fuuka grasps Yukari’s arm.
“I-I’m sorry, Yukari, I shouldn’t have said her… your … name. Mitsuru told me to keep it a secret…”
Yukari can’t keep it in any longer. She starts to laugh, wrapping her arms around Mitsuru and kissing her on the cheek. Mitsuru peeks through her fingers at Yukari, the area of her face Yukari can see a bright red. “Are you mad?”
“How can I be mad? It’s so… you .” She kisses Mitsuru’s cheek again, and Mitsuru drops her guard, wrapping her arms around Yukari tight enough that she has a hard time breathing. “Ooof… Ugh, guess you really need a Yukari in your life, huh? Guess I came back right in time.” They continue to hold each other for a few more moments, before both of them turn to glance at Fuuka, who’s currently giggling. “What’s so funny?”
“Uh… Uhah, uhm. I’m sorry, Yukari… You’re just… You really are kind of similar to Yukari-cchi.” Fuuka continues to giggle at this, and Yukari reaches over to pull her into the hug with a kiss, feeling Fuuka smile into her lips.
“Hey, I resent that! I’m nothing like that cat… Right?” She glances at Mitsuru, puffing out her lower lip in a pout as strong as she can manage. Mitsuru just shakes her head, smiling. She glances at Fuuka, pulling her into the hug until the three are as close as they can be.
Mitsuru’s smile slips, for a tiny moment. Yukari thinks she’s the only one to see it, Fuuka closing her eyes amid the warmth beneath the blanket. “Fuuka… Is it alright if… I kiss you as well?”
“H-huh?” Fuuka twitches in surprise for a moment. Before Mitsuru can react negatively, however, Fuuka’s smile returns. “I, Uhm… I think I might like that.”
Yukari gasps exaggeratedly, and her pair of girlfriends ignore her, as Mitsuru slowly leans in closer, Fuuka closing her eyes expectantly… before Mitsuru lays a chaste kiss on her forehead. Fuuka is surprised at this, blinking her eyes open, but melts into Mitsuru and Yukari’s arms.
They remain there, movie forgotten, any sense of propriety long gone. Yukari is the last of the three to fall asleep, glancing up one last time at her girlfriends’ faces, illuminated by the dance of lights cast from the television.
Yukari closes her eyes, and dreams warm, dazzling dreams.