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It was a wonderful night.
Haruka always has a wonderful time performing with her teammates, but there was something truly special about this night in particular.
The venue was packed, thousands of fans excitedly chattering with one another before the show started. Once it had, thousands of colorful Glow Sticks were waved in the air, along to the beat of the music, a beautiful array of greens.
But, Haruka would be lying if she said that’s what she was paying attention to.
No, she was much more focused on her leader.
Minori was ecstatic, energy seemingly never ending, always keeping the crowd excited and hyped for the next song.
A true idol, Kiritani can’t help but think.
With each song passing by, Minori shined brighter. Haruka can understand what her girlfriend meant when she said Haruka’s aura was blinding, because she would be a liar if she said she hadn’t found herself super a bit distracted several a couple times.
It was hard not to, Minori was the brightest thing in the room, and her contesters were thousands of Glow Sticks, and a huge stage light!
Even as they bid their farewells to the crowd, Minori jumped around and waved her arm in the air, telling the crowd how much she’ll miss them, and how she is very grateful they all came tonight.
Kiritani hadn’t even thought about how wiped her girlfriend must be, until the girl falls into her arms backstage.
Hanasato wraps her arms around her Kiritani sleepily, who quickly reciprocates the hug, sighing into it, allowing her shoulders to relax.
”Oww…” Minori complains, her voice sounding gravelly, and worn. Haruka’s heart jumps at the sound.
“Ow?” Kiritani echoes with worry, “What hurts?” She asks, undoing the idol’s ponytail, so she can run her fingers through it instead.
“Every-thing…” she mumbles into Haruka’s chest, who can’t help but huff out a laugh.
“I bet,” she chuckles, moving her other hand down to rub circles into Hanasato’s back.
It only makes sense that Minori is so exhausted. She isn’t as used to shows of this size and duration, especially in comparison to someone like Haruka or Shizuku who used to do shows like these extremely often. Still, Minori didn’t let it show for a second when she was up onstage.
Haruka can’t help but feel super proud.
“You did really well.” She praises, and Minori moves her head so she can look up at her girlfriend.
” ’Feel like I was hit by a train.” She replies dryly, and Haruka notices how heavy her eyes look.
Haruka laughs, “It’ll get easier, I promise.” she squeezes Minori, which gets a sleepy giggle out of her.
A moment passes like that, just holding each other.
Minori breaks the silence first, “Even though the show’s over…” she trails off, and Haruka looks down at her for her to continue.
“…I’m still worried I’m gonna do bad—or, I guess, that I did bad.” She hides her face in Haruka once more, the words coming out muffled.
Haruka blinks, stunned. “Minori…” she shakes her head, “You did wonderfully.” She tries.
Minori sighs, unsure. ”…I dunno…”
“I do,” Haruka argues. “I was up onstage with you.” She moves to cup Minori’s face, taking her away from her hiding spot.
“You were like a goddess up there,” Haruka says gently, “‘sounded like one, too.” Minori blinks, the pink dusting her cheeks becoming much more red.
Haruka runs her thumbs over them, just to feel their warmth.
Minori moves her hands away from Haruka’s waist, moving them to hold her girlfriend’s wrists instead. Haruka leans closer, before she can comprehend what she’s doing, she kisses Minori.
She doesn’t even really realize that she is, until Minori gasps, in which she pulls away.
She immediately goes to stutter out an apologize, but Minori beats her to speaking, a familiar strand of words spilling out of the idol’s mouth, seemingly on autopilot.
“What…” she tilts her head, looking down at Minori, who is bright red. “What did you say?”
This seems to slap Minori out of her trance. “N-Nothing!” She stutters, her eyes going wide, trying to pull away, but also not releasing her hold on Haruka, so she makes no real progress.
Then, it clicks. “Was… was that your catchphrase?!” Haruka gasps, a smile tugging at her lips.
“Wh-What?! No-No, of course n-not!!” Minori stutters, squirming around uncomfortably.
Haruka breaks out in laughter, “It absolutely was!” She giggles, pulling an embarrassed, wiggly, Hanasato closer.
“I’m tired!” She tries to defend herself, to no avail, dropping her head onto Haruka’s shoulder.
“And, here I thought you couldn’t get anymore adorable.” Kiritani smiles, and Minori—somehow—gets even redder.
”St-Stop it!” Minori complains, but with no real bite. “Sorry, sorry,” Haruka apologizes, still smiling, before grabbing Minori’s face to kiss her again, this time longer.
”Better?” She asks, when she pulls away.
Minori pauses, still swooning from the kiss. “Much,” she swallows, “b-better.” she tails on, nodding, slightly smiling now.