Chapter Text
N25 was sitting in their usual cafe. And Mizuki was sitting next to Ena.
Kanade was slurping noodles, and Mafuyu was drinking tea. Mizuki watched Ena gobble up her curry.
Mizuki’s eyes were on Ena. Her attention was away from the fries infront of her, and instead on Ena. Her eyes were cute, and her cheeks were too. Her lips were so cute and pretty, Mizuki thought.
Mizuki adored the makeup of the blush on Ena's cheeks. She adored her hands, how soft and smooth they looked. Her neck was really cute too. She was so cute and pretty to Mizuki.
Mizuki’s head was full of Ena. A strong urge started to kick into Mizuki.
I want to kiss her.
Mizuki’s hands fidgeted slightly, as her eyes were still watching Ena. She wasn’t really thinking in the moment, but her heart was taking control.
Mizuki slid closer and kissed Ena on her cheek.
It was impulsive.
Ena froze.
Mizuki watched her face for a reaction. She had just done something completely unprovoked, and irrevocably impulsively.
Mafuyu was watching. She paused the drinking of her tea to look at the two of them.
Kanade was still gobbling up the noodles- but her eyes had caught the sight, and she paused the slurping.
Ena’s face began to get red. Her body began to feel really warm.
Mizuki continued staring at Ena. Ena wiped her mouth and slowly turned to look at Mizuki.
No one had said anything yet at the table. Ena’s cheeks filled up with air, making her look like a hamster, as she turned to look at Mizuki with her face filled with shyness and blushing.
Her eyes seemed as if they were shaking.
Mizuki looked at Ena, now adoring her cute nose and her hamster cheeks too.
No words were said yet. Mizuki and Ena were staring at each other in silence.
“Mizuki…” Ena’s voice was low and shy, as she looked down at the seat of the chair.
Mizuki’s eyes widened, and then she began to involunatarially admire Ena’s hair.
Ena shifted closer to Mizuki, whilst still looking down. She leaned on Mizuki’s shoulder, her side and legs rested against Mizuki’s body. She could feel the movement of Mizuki’s breathing, and it made her heart and mind feel warm and comforted.
Mizuki put her hand atop of Ena’s own. Mizuki’s eyes grew relaxed, as the two cats felt comfortable together.
Mafuyu just stared. Kanade smiled lightly, and they both didn’t say anything.
—
It was the evening. Fresh air blew through the street as N25 walked out of the cafe.
Mafuyu’s voice was plain and direct. “Me and Kanade need to catch up on housekeeping at home. Let’s see each other later.”
Kanade nodded. “Mmn.”
Mizuki’s voice was cheerful. “O-kay, bye-bye Kanade, Mafuyu! Me and Ena will head back to our homes, then!”
Ena smiled. “Bye, Kanade, Mafuyu.”
Both sides departed to the directions of their homes, trekking on the sidewalks.
Mizuki and Ena were walking beside each other. They hadn’t said anything to each other yet.
Ena broke the silence.
“Mizu-ki…” She stopped walking.
Mizuki stopped beside her. “What’s up?”
Ena’s voice was shaky and shy. “S-so… You like me too, right..?”
Mizuki smiled, speaking gently. “I do, Ena..”
Ena felt all the things she loved about Mizuki, flow through her mind and heart. Mizuki is so pretty. I love her hair. I love her smile. I love her eyes. I love her nails. I love how attractive she is. I love how cute she is. I love how we know that we want to be beside each other, that we’ll never leave each other.
I feel safe and happy with Mizuki. I also love how Mizuki cares for the others in the group, too.
I don’t love how she teases me, sometimes. I don’t love how she tries to make jabs at me. And I was annoyed at first at how Mizuki always tried to avoid communicating with me- but I learned that I need to be patient sometimes. That I need to let the other person figure it out and be ready.
But I love how she’s good at sewing. I love how she likes all of my posts. I love how she truly thinks my art is beautiful. I love how she understands how seriously I take my art. I love how she helps me see other perspectives about my art.
Ena finally responded.
“I want to be with you, Mizuki. I like you, Mizuki.
B-but- there’s things that I still want you to work on, okay? And if we went into a relationship together- please promise me, that you’ll work on yourself- that you’ll communicate with me, that you’ll listen to me.”
Mizuki’s eyes widened. She didn’t know that all of this was what Ena was thinking about- how serious she was taking getting into a relationship was, too.
But- Mizuki loves Ena. And she would need to stop running, and would need to face head on, the challenges ahead. She would need to know how serious a relationship could be.
“Ena…” Mizuki looked down at the sidewalk.
“Mizuki..!” Ena was looking at Mizuki, her eyes filled with hope yet determination. Her hands showed that she was nervous, though- the slight tremor of her hands by her side.
Mizuki thought about everything from the past. Everything she had gone through. All the gender dysphoria she had to face, all the teasing and comments from everyone at school- all the repression she had to inflict upon herself in Middle School.
Mizuki thought about how happy and fulfilling being with N25 was. She thought about how she and Ena collaborated, how Mizuki had something to make her happy when she got home.
She thought about the Kamiyama High Festivals, from genuine peace and happiness atop the rooftop, to pure terror and fear.
She thought about how Ena held her hands, and promised to stay with her. To be friends, together.
And Mizuki’s heart grew warm. She had to be serious. She didn’t want to reap what she sow- she wanted to plant a seed and grow a giant blossom tree. She wanted to grow that tree together with Ena- and she would do anything to keep that- to keep being with Ena, to make her happy.
Mizuki grabbed Ena’s hands this time, and Mizuki smiled, her eyes relaxed with glowing warmth.
“I promise to become better, Ena. I’ll do anything to be with you, my beloved.”
Ena’s breath was taken away, from her touch to her words. Beloved…!
Her heart forced the words out of Ena’s mouth- her words were filled with so much love and overwhelming warmth for the girl infront of her.
“Mizuki… I love you..!”
Mizuki’s eyes began tearing up with overwhelming love, too.
“I l-love you, Ena…” Her breath hitched in her throat, and her body felt weak with love and adoration.
—-