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It hadn’t even been a year after the Precure finished their mission when Komugi unceremoniously dropped the news on them. She and Daifuku were dating. She seemed more aware of what such a relationship meant than a year prior, but a few details were still confusing to her, she admitted with a bashful laugh. But they decided to try it anyways, Daifuku added as he gently held her hand.
To say Yuki was surprised would be an understatement, but maybe she shouldn’t have been. Daifuku’s calm demeanor contrasted nicely with Komugi’s boundless enthusiasm. They were a perfect pair, even before they were both granted human forms by the Mirror Stone.
Besides, they had known each other for a long time and were very close. It was a likely possibility that such feelings would blossom between them.
And yet, hearing them saying those words, and watching them trading tender glances… Something ugly began to form inside Yuki, something she couldn’t quite put a name to.
She excused herself from the conversation, claiming she had homework to finish. Before anyone could stop her, she took off running towards Pretty Holic, ignored her mother’s greetings, and locked herself in Mayu’s room. Throwing herself onto the bed, she shifted back into the smaller body she was most comfortable with, closed her eyes tightly and tried to sleep the awful feeling off.
Not long after, she heard a soft knock on the door.
“Yuki?” Mayu’s tone was gentle, comforting. “Can I come in?”
“It’s your room,” Yuki reminded, voice barely above a tired mumble. “You don’t have to ask permission.”
A sigh could be heard from the other side. “I know. But if you want to be alone, I’ll respect that.”
Yuki’s heart was filled with appreciation for her partner, and the tight sensation in her chest began to loosen, just slightly. “...I won’t mind the company, nya.”
That was all she had to say before the door was opening, a hesitant Mayu peeking through. Once she saw Yuki’s disheveled state, she rushed to take her in her arms, pressing kisses on her forehead and hugging her tightly. The feeling faded further.
“Mayu, I can’t breathe,” She complained, but made no move to escape her grasp.
The girl giggled, holding her cat a few inches from her face so she could look into her eyes, making it so Yuki averted her gaze to the wall with a huff. “Will you tell me what’s wrong?”
Yuki tensed. She lowered her head. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it, alright?”
From the corner of her eyes, she saw Mayu’s brows furrow, before something mischievous flashed through her expression. It was the only warning she got before Mayu was holding her up higher and pressing her cold nose on her stomach.
“Tell me,” Mayu bargained, nuzzling her belly in a way that it tickled, making a surprised chuckle escape the cat’s mouth.
“Fine, fine!” Yuki said through short bursts of badly-concealed laughter and protesting meows. As soon as Mayu’s grip slackened, Yuki scratched her cheek. Not deep enough to hurt, but enough to serve as a warning.
Mayu simply smiled as she rubbed at the spot. She didn’t say anything else, settling Yuki on the bed and watching her with expectant reddish-brown eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Yuki stared at her own claws as she spoke. “I’m actually not sure what the problem is.”
“That’s okay,” Mayu reassured. “I can help you figure it out.”
“How?”
She hummed pensively. “How about you tell me what you’re feeling, first.”
With a shaky sigh, Yuki closed her eyes and concentrated hard on the varying emotions from before. She didn’t know how to put it into words, but she would try. She lifted a paw to gesture to her own chest. “It hurts. In here.”
Mayu let out a horrified gasp, her eyes filled with sudden panic. “Oh, no, do you think you’re sick? I should take you to Iroha-chan’s house!”
Yuki was swift to shake her head. The thought of going to having to explain to anyone else what she was feeling made embarrassment churn at her stomach. “No. I… I don’t think it’s physical pain.”
“Oh,” Mayu’s tense shoulders dropped, relief obvious in her expression. “Okay. Does it feel like someone is squeezing your heart really tightly?”
The cat nodded. “My eyes are burning, too.”
Mayu winced in sympathy. “So you’re obviously upset about something. Do you know when you started feeling this way?”
“After Komugi showed up earlier today.”
She seemed surprised. “Komugi-chan? Did you two have a fight?” Even as she asked the question, it seemed like she doubted that was it.
Yuki simply shook her head.
“Then…” Mayu stared at her for a long while, in which Yuki was starting to grow nervous. She could practically see the gears turning in her head. Eventually, after a brief pause, Mayu’s eyes lit up with something dangerous. “Was it because of what she announced?”
“The thing with Daifuku?” She opened her mouth to deny it, but soon closed it again. She wasn’t sure.
At her lack of response, she could swear Mayu’s eyes began to sparkle. “Yuki, correct me if I’m wrong, but could it be that you’re… jealous?”
Yuki made an undignified squawk, switching to her human form in her surprise. She used the opportunity to better cover her burning cheeks with her acquired palms. “Of course not, Mayu! Don’t be absurd.”
“Oh gosh, you totally are!” Mayu reached out to take Yuki’s hands in hers in order to uncover the proof of her bashfulness. “Which one do you like? Is it Daifuku-kun? Or maybe Komugi-chan?” Her smile was so wide with excitement, it almost made the embarrassment Yuki felt worth it. ‘Almost’ being the key word there.
“Neither,” Yuki tried to sound firm, but the way her voice shook betrayed her.
In a moment of vulnerability, she thought back to Komugi. She was sweet and kind to a fault. She had way too much energy, but it was cute how easily excitable she was. She wore her emotions on her sleeve, which made her get hurt easily, and yet Yuki admired how quick she was to bounce back.
Her thoughts drifted to Daifuku. He might seen apathetic when compared to Komugi, but it became clear that he was simply tranquil and more composed. He was brave, and would not hesitate to protect the ones he cared about. He was quiet and didn’t speak that much, but Yuki felt comfortable spending time in companionable silence with him.
Realization hit her like an oncoming train. “Both,” She corrected her previous statement. Swallowing heavily at the pure shock in Mayu’s features, Yuki repeated, “I think I might like both of them.”
A few seconds of silence, which was quickly broken by a loud squeal. Yuki’s cheeks felt like they were on fire. “That’s perfect, you have to ask them out!”
“Mayu-”
“I’m sure they’d be happy to have you! You’re pretty, and smart, and you’re cute even when you’re grumpy!”
“Mayu, listen-”
“We’ll have to set up a perfect moment for you to confess!”
“Mayu!” Said girl finally turned to look at Yuki. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Our friendship is good enough for me.”
“That’s what Toyama-kun said before he started dating Iroha-chan,” Mayu told her cheekily, leading her to pout in protest. “C’mon, where’s that confidence we all love so much?”
Yuki sighed, but a smile still tugged at the corners of her mouth. “I suppose it can’t be helped. But if they reject me, you’ll have to give me comfort pets.”
“Ah, Yuki, I’ll pet you regardless!”
~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~
“Yuki!” Komugi called out. “We came to the roof like you asked us to!”
Yuki coolly turned to look in their direction, like she hadn’t been counting the seconds until they arrived. She tried to smile, but it likely came out as more of a grimace. Her heartbeat thundered loudly in her ears.
“Are you okay?” Daifuku soon followed, sitting down beside her way too close for comfort. “Your face is red.”
Shyly, Yuki nodded. She saw them trade a concerned look, and decided to just rip off the band-aid.
“I have something to tell you.”
“Of course,” Daifuku laid a comforting hand on her arm.
“You can tell us anything, Yuki!” Komugi, in turn, scooted closer and looked at her with an earnest expression.
Yuki cleared her throat, internally begging for her voice not to falter. “I have feelings for the two of you.”
Daifuku’s red eyes widened, his nose twitching. A light blush spread across his features. Komugi, however, looked confused. She tilted her head to the side.
“Feelings?” She echoed.
The feline opened her mouth to elaborate, but the words got stuck in her throat when Komugi leaned in closer, staring at her with a strange kind of intensity.
“I think,” Daifuku started, looking a little flustered. “I think Yuki means that she likes us as we do each other,” He glanced at her for confirmation. “Right?”
Yuki took a deep, shaky breath. Then hummed an affirmation.
Komugi’s eyes widened. She thankfully seemed to have gotten the message. “Oh.”
An awkward silence befell them. Yuki’s eyes began to sting, but she refused to cry over this. “That’s all I wanted to say. I have something I need to do now, so I will take my leave-”
Before Yuki could take even one step forward, however, Daifuku reached out to lightly grip her wrist, tugging her backwards. When she looked at him in surprise, he rubbed the back of his neck but maintained eye-contact. “I think I can speak for the both of us when I say that we’re glad you do.”
Mouth agape, Yuki blinked at him. Before she could process this information, Komugi was lunging forward and hugging her middle.
“We like you, too! Lots and lots!”
As it sunk in, Yuki couldn’t help the giddy smile that began to spread across her face. She bit her bottom lip in order to suppress it, twirling a strand of blond hair around her pointer finger. “Is that right?”
Daifuku sent her a small grin while Komugi nodded vigorously.
“Does that mean the three of us are dating now?” The other girl asked. Were she in her dog form, Yuki was sure her tail would be wagging.
Daifuku shot her a fond look. “If we’re all okay with that.”
“Of course! The more, the merrier!”
“I’m not against it,” Yuki said, though her heart was racing miles per minute.
In a sudden movement, Daifuku leaned forward and gave Yuki a peck on the cheek, then repeated the process towards Komugi.
Yuki swore she was going to combust on the spot when Komugi decided to copy him, kissing her and then Daifuku. It got worse when they both looked at her, all shy smiles and rosy cheeks, as though urging her to do the same.
“Fine, I’ll pay attention to you,” She murmured before doing as she was asked.