Work Text:
“Woah, you two aren’t dating?”
Ena sank more into the seat of the booth, her fork weakly stabbing into a cheesecake. Airi leaned in curiously, while Shizuku busied herself with stirring her cream soda with a straw.
“And what if I said we aren’t…”
“I’d be surprised…” Airi hummed, after taking a bite of her parfait. “The Ena I know isn’t the type to stay too quiet about how she feels.”
Ena’s fork scraped at the edge of her plate, before pausing.
“I… Am I really that blunt?”
Airi’s friendly smile quickly grew strained.
“That, and…” The idol awkwardly trailed off. Would it really be a good idea to tell Ena how clingy she’s been? Every time Airi saw her these last few weeks… She was either talking about something Mizuki showed her, or was glued to Mizuki’s side.
Today’s Ena deflated in front of her eyes, grumbling to herself while slicing off another piece of cheesecake. For someone who prided herself on giving quips and keeping a conversation going, this one had the idol stumped!
“Well…”
“It’s a good quality to have, Ena!” Shizuku piped up with her usual, sincere radiance. “You were honest with us about your worries, and because of them, we became friends with Mizuki, too…”
Airi glanced at her girlfriend, sending her a wink from behind thick frames.
Nice save, Shizuku!
“Now I have someone to sew with! And she’s really helped me coordinate my outfits with different jackets and shoes.”
“Oh, really?” The brunette seemed to brighten up a little, twirling her fork. “I’m glad… Mizuki’s always complaining that she wants to dress up other people…”
Bingo.
Airi could barely suppress her grin. Lately, whenever Ena could… She’d ramble about Mizuki endlessly . There was a particular glow to Ena whenever she talked about her, like how she looked at the homemade cheesecake Airi baked for her birthday.
A softened tilt to her eyebrows, a smile that seemed to shine thousands of watts, even without a filter!
And if Airi had to hazard a guess, Mizuki definitely felt a similar way. She saw how naturally she took Ena’s hand, holding it as they walked in front of her and Shizuku on the sidewalk. Or even how Mizuki looked at Ena… As if trying to commit every moment they spent together to memory.
The signs of a budding romance, and that was just when the four went to an arcade together!
Airi could only guess the amount of affection the younger girl really had for her friend. Mizuki seemed more relaxed, more worry-free nowadays.
Call it intuition, or maybe a familiarity with people who could be a little dense…
Ena just needed a push.
“The answer’s simple… You just need to tell her, then!”
“Eh?” Her friend set down her fork, her fingertips nervously drumming against her lips. “Isn’t that too straightforward? Shouldn’t I leave a letter in her locker, or something..?”
“You both already talk to each other every day, so a letter would be kind of…” Airi shook her head. “A confession is about showing the person that you love that you love them! It can be a gift, a date, flowers…”
Ena’s chin rested on the back of her hand.
It was incredible, the way she couldn’t pinpoint when she fell for the other girl. Was it a crush that grew after weeks of late night voice chatting? Or was it something horrendously simple, like the way Mizuki dove headfirst into her own rendition of the Super Phoenix Rangers theme during karaoke?
Dorky, irritating, sweet, energetic, timid.
All these details Ena took in over the years, that only made her care more and more… To the point that worrying came naturally, and wanting her to smile became one of her greatest desires.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. What did Mizuki like?
She liked it when her food wasn’t too hot, outfits with ribbon and frills… Mizuki also liked to tease her, judging from the way she had tears in her eyes from glee… Whenever Ena jabbed a hand into her side because of it. She also liked being relied on, and being included whenever people wanted to make plans…
Mizuki was also really sentimental, even if she wouldn’t say it aloud. The way she wanted to remember their time together at the summer festival, or always insisted on setting aside a day to hang out after each milestone, on every holiday…
Ena was at a loss.
Why couldn’t the answer be obvious? She just wanted to do something for Mizuki! Not exactly a grand gesture, but anything less hectic than the last few months. Her fingertips tapped against the table as she mulled it over.
“It’d be nice if I could do something for her… Something that doesn’t involve running.”
Airi’s eyebrows raised.
“Ahaha, it’s nothing…” Ena let out a soft exhale, straightening in her seat. “Alright, I’ll try it then. To do something special for her.”
“That’s the spirit!”
“And if you need anything, we’d be happy to help…” Shizuku stopped stirring her straw, eyes widening. “Oh!”
Airi and Ena both stared at her, confused.
“We actually have a performance scheduled at a local venue next Saturday…” Shizuku explained, as she fished inside of her bag with a hand. “Mizuki’s been a fan of ours for so long… Maybe this can be the chance you need!”
She pulled out two tickets, setting it down on the table.
Weekends were when she and Mizuki spent most of their time as of late… Especially since Mizuki had to catch up on her attendance last month.
Ena could clearly hear the sheepishness in her voice as she admitted as such to N25 the night Ena found her.
“She’s always talking about you guys… So that wouldn’t be a bad idea…”
Airi clapped her hands, satisfied.
“Those tickets are meant for front row seats too, so you and your sweetheart can get the best view!”
The light blush on Ena’s cheeks spread to her ears.
“Hey… I don’t know about ‘sweetheart’, but…” Ena finally smiled in full then, a bashful tilt of her mouth. “I really appreciate the help… Thanks, you two.”
“What are friends for?” Airi’s hands met in the middle, forming her signature heart over her chest. “And as an idol, I’m always going to be here to give you hope!”
The brunette laughed.
“You've given me more than enough hope as my friend, Airi.”
The other girl’s smile blossomed into a full grin. She took Ena’s hand and held it in both of hers.
“Aww, thanks! Don’t worry, Ena… We’ll give you the perfect show to confess after!”
That’s what led her to the present, where she stood next to Mizuki at a More More Jump concert. The other girl was ecstatic to hear about the tickets, and by the look of it… Even happier to be there in person.
Her friend was sure to lead Ena through memorizing some fan chants before they arrived, even lending her a light stick to wave, much to her chagrin.
“This is a bit embarrassing…”
“C’mon, Enanan! It’s part of the experience !
But standing in the thick of it, Ena felt the way the room grew warm from the spotlights and the heat emanating off of the crowd… The crowd. The room was packed with fans, eager to see them. It was apparent how long it’d been since she saw MMJ in action. She couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride at her friends’ success.
Mizuki cheered on each member, with a seemingly endless amount of energy. The brunette was sure to switch her light stick's colors between blue and pink, to root for her friends in her own way.
The girls on stage dazzled, moving through heaps of songs and choreography… Singing with bright smiles and tons of energy.
Airi was right… They worked hard on this!
When it was time for the intermission, the bright colors on the stage faded… Ena was less focused on the story Mizuki recounted from the group’s last livestream, and more focused on her .
Mizuki was smiling so brightly. And with most of the audience gone to get food, or use the bathroom…
She nervously shuffled in her seat.
Maybe this was it?
The kind of timing Airi was telling Ena about… Where they both were sitting side by side, and the room was emptier than before. Enough to provide a little privacy.
“So they played a game where they all had headphones and…” Mizuki tilted her head. “Helloooo… Earth to Ena?”
Her eyes widened, and the girl in question quickly shook her head.
“Yeah…? I’m here.”
The pink-haired girl’s eyes narrowed a bit, before she reconsidered… Poking Ena’s forehead with her pointer.
“What—”
Ena grumbled, but she couldn’t maintain her scowl for long… Especially when Mizuki had her full attention on her. She lightly rubbed at the spot with her palm, while Mizuki waggled her finger as she chided her.
“Did you pull another all-nighter? You know how bad staying up so late can be for your skin…”
“Excuse me? I slept earlier than usual!”
“Hehe~ Just kidding…” Mizuki sobered up for a moment. “But if there’s anything you’re worried about… You can tell me.”
“Mizuki…” Ena felt that same warm blanket of affection wash over her. “Of course.”
Content with Ena’s answer, Mizuki continued onwards… Telling her about the cute outfit Haruka posted on her account the other day.
The speakers filled once more with the beat of a More More Jump song, the audience bouncing excitedly… Waving their fans and banners and—
She glanced again at Mizuki, whose expression was that of pure contentment as she cheered Minori on for her solo. Her light stick was a vibrant orange, and she was sure to wave it to the beat of the song.
Ena knew that supposed perfect timing was gone, but… It was fine by her.
Especially when Mizuki was this happy.
She’d have another moment to do this again, to give Mizuki a proper confession.
She was sure of it.
After the concert, the two went to a nearby park to get fresh air. The buzz of her phone in her purse woke Ena out of her brief stupor, and she glanced at it for a second.
< Good luck! Let us know how the confession goes! >
She took a deep breath, before quickly typing in her thanks for the tickets, and pocketing it again.
Ena felt a little bad for not taking the chance the girls gave her, but well… Mizuki walked beside her with a skip to her step, the heels of her shoes lightly tapping against the pavement.
To say it wasn’t worth it would’ve been a lie.
“It was really hot in there…”
Ena brushed her bangs into their proper place as they walked… And Mizuki turned to her with a grin.
“Yeah, but wasn’t it amazing? I haven’t seen them since Shizuku had that birthday stream… I can’t believe they were able to prepare all of that in two months!”
“Mhm…”
They walked down the pathway, along a trail shaded by trees. It wasn’t the bright pink shower of cherry blossoms during spring, but…
It had potential, Ena thought to herself.
The sun was at a good angle, the weather wasn’t too cold or hot… Not too many people were around. Mizuki was in a good mood, as well.
“Ena? You’re spacing out again…”
“Huh?” She hadn’t even realized she stopped in place, looking at the tops of the trees. “Oh, sorry…”
Mizuki’s eyebrows knit, as she gently took Ena’s hand… Tugging her to a nearby bench.
“You know… It’s okay to say you're tired…”
“I’m not, I promise…”
When she faced Mizuki, it was suddenly apparent how close the two were. Enough that she could clearly see the pink of the other girl’s eyelashes. “I’m just…”
Close enough for them to kiss .
Ugh… Why did she have to go and think about that!
It was making her even more nervous!
Ena scooted back a little, face feeling a little hotter. Her eyebrows knit as she tried to collect herself.
A flash of recognition flickered on Mizuki’s face, and she raised her hands with a soft laugh.
It confused her.
“Mizuki?”
“Was I sitting too close? My bad…” The other girl began to fidget with the sleeve of her sweater, keeping a wry smile on her face… Even though Ena knew Mizuki’s feelings were more akin to worry and doubt.
“I know you can’t help but gravitate towards me so much, since I’m the cutest…” Her words trailed off weakly, before Mizuki muttered an apology. “I’m sorry, I… I don’t know why I said that. I was making you uncomfortable, wasn't I?”
Ena’s lips pulled into a frown.
“What are you saying…”
“It’s just…” Mizuki’s eyes lowered, trained on the tips of her fingers as she pressed them against each other. Her thumb, her pointer, and so on.
“You pulled away so fast, it’s like you saw a ghost…”
A weight settled on Ena’s chest at that moment.
She was such an idiot.
Not telling Mizuki how she felt, pulling away… Small things, but not to someone who was learning how to open their heart again.
Sneaking around wasn’t her style… But neither was upsetting her friend by dancing around what she already knew to be true. A fact that constantly rested on the tip of her tongue.
Her plans were going to be foiled, but that was okay. All Ena wanted was to be with her…. Maybe that simplicity is what she needed the entire time.
“Mizuki, you…” She growled under her breath, and she moved closer to the other girl, finally taking her hand. Properly. It was unbelievable, how starved she felt just for that touch again… The softness of her palm grounding Ena.
“Huh—”
“I need you to listen…” Her fingers slightly trembled, but Ena refused to loosen her hold. “I haven’t been honest with you; it’s because I had all these ideas and plans, and I wanted it to be perfect…”
Ena shook her head. Those didn’t matter now.
“Mizuki, you’re important to me. I feel like I can never say or show it enough, really…” Her free hand rubbed at the back of her neck, as if the motion of her fingers would ease away the tenseness of it… That her face would burn less if she did it enough.
The pink-haired girl kept holding Ena’s other hand, waiting for what she’d say next. Ena couldn’t tell if the clamminess of their palms was from her, or Mizuki.
Maybe it was both of them.
Was it always this warm outside?
“And after all this, I… I’ve been getting nervous , you know! You’re always planning the group’s afterparties, and every outing we have… You make it look so easy.” Ena let out an angry noise. “I wanted this to turn out right, after everything that happened….”
All the missed timing they’ve had… All the ways they misunderstood each other…
“You deserve the best, and I wish…”
She exhaled, meeting her gaze. Mizuki’s eyebrows were raised, a look of complete befuddlement.
“I’ll just say it. Because I think if I hold it in any longer, you’re only going to get more doubts… And this isn’t something I want to hide from you anymore.” Ena had yet to let go of Mizuki’s hand. “You don’t make me uncomfortable… You are what peace of mind means to me.”
Mizuki’s breath hitched, with the intensity of Ena’s eyes. She was practically drowning in the sea of her warm gaze.
“Mizuki, I like you.” The artist’s eyes studied the other girl’s reaction as she spoke, carefully speaking each word to make sure it’d get through to her. “I like you, more than a friend should.”
Her thumbs traced circles on the soft skin of Mizuki’s hand, as if rooting herself in place. Despite her bravado, Ena’s face burned hot, the flush travelling all the way to her ears.
Mizuki looked properly surprised. Ena wasn’t even finished yet.
“When I tell you I’ll be by your side forever, I’ll be happy… Whether it's as your best friend, or your partner.” Ena grumbled. “And don’t think I mean ‘partner’ like Akito says about Toya! I’m saying I want you to be my girlfriend , Mizuki.”
Ena took a shaky breath, recentering herself to the best of her ability. She squeezed her Mizuki’s one more time, before letting it go.
“Haaah… I finally said it.” Her gaze lowered, staring at the fabric of her skirt with a sigh, her shoulders relaxing. “That’s all I wanted to tell you, okay? You can be surprisingly dense, stubborn too… But I like those sides too, because they’re things that make you… You .”
Ena waited for a moment, before lifting her head…. Only to see Mizuki’s wide eyes, and her flushed cheeks.
“Mizuki…?”
“Ena, I…”
Mizuki’s entire face was hot, a beet red. And her eyebrows were pinched together while her fingers played with the edges of her cardigan. Instead of her usual smirk, her crush looked terribly shy.
Cute.
The brunette couldn’t help but let out a tiny laugh, her hand covering her mouth. It was so much easier to relax, with the weight of her confession off her chest.
“Aha, sorry! You’re just so red…”
“H-Hey!” It was Mizuki’s turn to be the indignant one, waving her fist in mock offense. “I can’t help it when you surprise me like that…!”
She went quiet for a moment, before meeting Ena’s eyes… An uncharacteristic meekness shining in them. Or maybe it was the insecurity Mizuki always fought to hide, there in its entirety for Ena to see.
There you are.
It made her heart flutter, to see how easily Mizuki could lower her walls around her.
“Is it really me? The person you like?”
“Stupid…” Ena’s expression melted to that familiar fondness , her lips curled into a soft smile… Her eyes crinkled at the corners. “I said so, didn’t I?”
“O-Oh…”
“Yeah. This whole time… That’s what I wanted to say to you.”
The silence was a bit too much, especially with the way her heart thundered in her chest. Ena’s brave face was quickly wearing off… Her arms crossed as she fought the urge to stand up from the bench and start pacing.
“You don’t have to answer me today, okay?”
She wanted to leave the ball in Mizuki’s court for a reason, to let her be as comfortable as possible. Even if the other girl hated it, it was Ena’s desire to treasure her happiness… To do what she can to make sure Mizuki’s heart was protected.
“I’ll wait for you… I always will. And no matter what, you’re always going to be important to me.”
If Ena had said as such months ago, Mizuki wouldn’t really believe her. The persistent part of her brain, the one that left a coldness in her chest, a dryness in her mouth… It always managed to break through, every moment someone tried to reassure her.
But now…
Mizuki thought of hurried footsteps, a desperate cry of her name. Ena’s arms embracing Mizuki as she sobbed into the shoulder of her blazer. Even back then, when she found her on the rooftop… Ena always chased her with a kindness that burned passionately.
The knit fabric of her cardigan gave under the pressure of her pinched fingertips.
For once, Mizuki wanted to turn around, and properly face her friend…
That was a lie. Friend was such a small word for the depth of her feelings, the things that bloomed in her chest when she thought of the older girl.
No, Ena was more than that to her. And after all these weeks, she wanted nothing but more, and more, and more—
Mizuki was going to meet her halfway, and tell her what lit a fire in her own heart. A fire that Ena painstakingly sheltered with her hands from the storm, until it could sustain itself.
“Ena…”
“Hmm?”
“I don’t want you to wait, not for this.” Mizuki couldn’t help but weakly smile, with the way Ena bravely sat in front of her, despite the nervous tapping of her foot against the pavement. “You’re always chasing after me, when I want to run and hide…”
“Hey, I don’t do these things because I want to be paid back…”
Mizuki thought she already cried out years worth of tears, but the straightforwardness of Ena’s feelings… It was like a warm embrace for someone like her, who always fretted about her place in people’s lives…Heard whispers and snide comments behind her back.
“Still… I want to tell you everything.”
Ena tilted her head.
“So tell me, if you feel ready for it.”
Mizuki got worried for nothing, but Ena wouldn’t ridicule her for that. They were going to work through it, each of their rougher edges, as a team.
“I want us to keep being together…”
Ena’s smile grew, and she slowly leaned closer to her… The wind lightly mussing up her hair, carefully combed bangs going askew.
“I know that…”
“Having you in my life makes me so happy…”
“I’m glad.”
“I want you to be my girlfriend, too…!”
Ena’s arms uncrossed, and her hands searched for Mizuki’s… Easily prying manicured nails off of her cardigan, and intertwining their fingers. The same as that day, except…
Mizuki wondered what face she was making, as she watched the girl in front of her. Eye to eye. Ena looked at her so fondly, even through the exasperation in her voice as she spoke.
“Silly… Don’t we feel the same, then?”
She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding… Weightless and airy with the feeling of being seen, cared for, loved …
The two of them didn’t have the guts to say that word yet, but Mizuki knew that it couldn’t be far from reach. Not with the way Ena’s hands felt right at home on her own.
“Haha…” She blinked away a single tear. “I guess we do!”
Ena’s hands gave hers a squeeze. The brunette didn’t need false bravado now, with the way her heart thundered in her chest… Giving her a second wind.
The artist cleared her throat.
“So, now that’s settled… Can…”
It was the quietest Mizuki’s heard the other girl.
“Enanan, you’ll need to speak up if—”
“Quiet.” She leaned her forehead against Mizuki’s as she shut her eyes. “I’m… Trying to ask if I can kiss you.”
“Oh…” Mizuki felt breathless from the exhilaration of it, enough for the teasing remark on her tongue to melt away. “Be my guest.”
The two met each other’s eyes… Nervous in varying degrees.
Despite being so close, they were so fidgety that they couldn’t help but let out matching laughter as they separated for a moment. Ena’s shoulders shook, while Mizuki’s eyes closed for a moment of relieved bliss.
Why were they both so scared?
Didn’t they have forever to figure this out?
After a moment to collect themselves, It was awkward, the way Mizuki’s palm hesitantly brushed along her jaw… Leaving a few strands of Ena’s hair in disarray.
When she leaned down, Ena was delighted to smell the soft perfume she picked for her the other day. The artist watched how pink eyelashes fluttered shut… Delicate, beautiful. Then she felt it, the press of Mizuki’s lips against her own… Soft and reserved. Mizuki tasted lip balm, and Ena smelled hints of that familiar sweetness from Mizuki’s perfume.
Ena leaned into her with an exhale, her hands finding their way to Mizuki’s cardigan… To feel along each knitted stitch, to keep her close, even as they parted.
She blinked, her fingers digging into the fabric of Mizuki’s sweater as she collected herself.
Her girlfriend looked as smug as ever.
“Your face feels so warm, Enanan~”
To that, she received a light smack to her arm, before Ena held onto the edges of her sweater again.
“Shut up, are you sure that’s not your own?”
Ena’s words lacked their usual sharpness, especially with how much she was smiling herself. Mizuki was beginning to understand why Ena liked to study every line, every stroke, to figure out what made a painting beautiful.
“Who knows~”
There definitely was another gripe in mind, but Ena's hands moved higher on the animator's cardigan to gently tug her down… Closer. Enough that Mizuki’s nose brushed against hers.
“Get back here… I want another.”
“Another…? Is Enanan struggling to resist the cutest girl she’s ever seen?”
Mizuki wiggled her eyebrows.
“Ugh!” There was something so endearing, about the combination of Ena’s scowl, and the reddened tips of her ears; Mizuki couldn’t get enough of it. “I want another kiss, idiot.”
The pink-haired girl’s heart soared at her bluntness, and it only made her more eager to give it to her…. All of the affection she could.
“Got it~”
This time, when she moved to kiss her, she felt the curve of Ena’s smile against her mouth.
The butterflies in her stomach fluttered gently away, as Ena’s arms wrapped around her shoulders in a loose embrace.
Peace of mind, huh?