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There are six languages of love, in accordance with a highly esteemed and self-proclaimed philosopher (of the showbiz industry), Minori Hanasato — yes, six, and you read that right, from Minori Hanasato. Usually, most would argue that there are only five since a credible figure already established the concept of different love languages, but the idol is as knowledgeable in the vast topic of love (another self-proclaimed fact). You see, she supports this assertion because, well, in fact, still according to her, she is in love with not just anyone — she is in love with her beacon of hope, Haruka Kiritani.
(Still, still according to her;) Meaning that experiencing and exploring romantic love with Haruka seems to evoke a new mind-boggling theory in Minori’s mind. She even wondered if she would be featured in Shibuya’s live broadcast if she submitted this to the government or in another timeline, be regarded as a significant figure in Japanese history. Minori also considered that she might even change the course of humanity, but that was merely an overstatement.
Hence, as evidence to support this discovery, the following are first-hand information she gathered directly from her girlfriend ( P.S. Super-duper reliable content incoming! ):
1. comforting words, common hopeful poetry (words of affirmation)
“Haruka-chan, I can't do this anymore! ” Minori threw her head on the table, accidentally scattering pieces of paper and sending them flying in the process as if to ask them to escape and never return. “I used the same formula as you, but I kept getting big numbers!” She complained, dramatically shaking her head.
“I’m starting to wonder if there is an error in the calculator’s settings.” Haruka chuckled while checking Minori’s mathematical scribbles. (The former found it odd that the latter’s answer was wrong, because she had been exactly following the steps.)
It has been a while since the both of them last attended class, so they decided to hold a study session (not a date) at Minori’s place.
Haruka was genuinely concerned with the number of assignments they needed to accomplish, particularly about mathematics. Since, in her mind, she's not well-versed with the subject, but for the sake of herself and, foremost, her girlfriend, she vowed to make this successful… However, it clearly has not been going well for the brunette, given her current predicament — but a Haruka Kiritani does not give up easily.
Maybe Minori just needs a little boost (from her?).
“What if I fail!? Oh, no! I'll be unworthy of being an idol, and… and … I might never see your face ever again, Haruka-chan!” Minori sobbed, clenching her own pen tightly as she imagined the worst-case scenario.
“That's not true, Minori.” The shorter idol tensed up because she could feel Haruka’s soft gaze turning into a serious one. “That's not true at all...” The latter protested as she gently caressed the back of her girlfriend’s hand.
“...Haruka-chan?”
“The first time I met you during that fateful day, I already realized that your burning determination is something special. Despite many hardships you faced, whether it was a failed audition or a stumble from dance practice, you still wore that charming smile and stood up from the ground as if nothing happened. So, Minori, even if you managed to write down the wrong answer right now, I know it's a matter of time before you start working more and more until you reach the finish line. Failing and trying do not make you less of an idol in people's eyes.” Haruka softly whispered with a profound spark in her eyes — like she was chanting a lovely prayer.
Hearing her girlfriend's words stirred something warm in her stomach. She even had to shelter her blushing cheeks with her free hand to hide the evidence of Minori Hanasato’s overheating mechanism. Minori's mouth may be closed, but she was screaming her lungs out inside her brain. She gave a standing ovation to whoever invented keysmashing in real life. Thanks a lot.
It was implicit that she was no goddess — given her average features and immense proneness to bad luck — yet Haruka still chose to shower her with a monologue, a prayer of love, which awakened a dormant volcano in her heart to erupt. Woo hoo! Rainbow lava flow and gay ashfall, here we come.
“Y-You can’t just say something like that! My heart has no resistance to you, Haruka-chan!” Minori reluctantly rose from the table, trying to defend her Haruka-fragile heart. “W-Wait… What if I die!?” She raised her hand, leaving it suspended in midair, her face still flushed.
Unfortunately for Minori, Haruka was more than ready (and unaware) to send a final, knockout blow towards the former. This was it. Her girlfriend was out to kill her, metaphorically of course.
Before the brunette could open her eyes, she felt a pair of hands cupping her cheeks. She could sense Haruka was slowly closing the distance between them. Okay, her girlfriend was being unfair, but honestly, when did Haruka ever play fair? This was a game where Minori would never emerge victorious — not against someone so endearingly special.
“I love you, Minori.”
Minori's eyes fluttered open as she noticed the sensation of her girlfriend's breathy whisper against her ear. Saying ‘I love you’ to the people you hold closest to your heart was a mere simplicity…. Yet she found herself unable to comprehend the complexity of those three straightforward words when uttered by her girlfriend. It was not simply love oozing out from her; there was adoration, affection, and tenderness too.
Haruka had an enchanting way of making Minori feel like the most cherished girl in all the universe. (In Haruka's eyes, she is the most special).
“I love you too, Haruka-chan…”
2. love material (giving gifts)
Minori flopped herself, face first, onto the soft mattress of her bed.
Her nose picked up the scent of lavender laundry detergent. How weird. Well, it wasn't weird, weird because Minori found it literally weird (or we could just say, unpleasant to smell); it was just… For the past year, her sheets smelled like spring, given the Cherry Blossom Ultra Max++ (the exact label) detergent packets sitting in her mom’s secret stash. She didn't mind welcoming this kind of change, but she supposed Japanese bandwagon propaganda was to blame for this.
Minori groaned as she adjusted herself to face the clock. For the past two hours, she had been contemplating whether to get out of her room and march to the nearest convenience store to buy herself a slice of strawberry shortcake to suffice her late-night cravings or to basically ignore it and rot in her bed. ‘Who normal being would also go out at this hour when it's raining badly?’ Minori started to support evidence for her profound argument (the second one); maybe she was just gaslighting herself, though.
“Onee-chan, someone is looking for you.” Her little brother interrupted her train of thought as he gently knocked on the door.
Huh. At this hour? Who could that possibly be?
Minori, with all her strength remaining from practice, prompted herself to get out of bed. “That's strange,” she said, groggily, and then opened the door.
She racked the thesaurus in her brain to search for a synonym of weird, for she had been saying that word a lot during the night. Well, in reality, her definition of a lot was merely four word counts. Minori didn't really know who to hold accountable for this linguistic situation, so, once again, she blamed the Japanese bandwagon propaganda.
“Ah… Did I wake you up?” He asked.
“I haven't slept yet.” She joined her brother outside of the room, and closed the door with a creak. That signature creak she would hear every time.
“That’s good to hear. You wouldn't want to keep this person waiting by the door,” her brother chuckled with a flashy, mischievous grin afterwards.
What was that? That sounded like a threat.
“I’ll head to my room now. Goodnight, onee-chan— and don't stay up too late, okay?” He said with utmost care in his voice before turning around and disappearing into the hallway.
“Mhm, goodnight…”
With all seriousness, if her brother was being cheeky, then it meant that the someone looking for her wasn't a bad guy or a mad man. Or a bad gal or a mad woman. Talk about some assuring information.
Minori approached the front door, carefully tiptoeing to minimize the sound of her footsteps. After a moment of contemplation, she resolved to open the door as slowly as she could manage. She was nervous, really nervous — however, who could fault her for feeling this way?
Creak creak.
(Unbeknownst to Minori, a figure of exquisite beauty lingered just beyond the door, and that enchanting presence was searching for her).
Her jaw dropped in the most unladylike manner upon seeing Haruka.
“Good evening, Minori.” Haruka smiled as dazzling as ever.
“W-What are you doing here!?” The brunette almost tripped when she asked her girlfriend. If Haruka was all sparkly right now, she was the exact opposite — Minori was losing some aura points.
As a response to Minori's question, Haruka took out the most expensive-looking box of cake she (Minori) had ever seen in her whole life. Even the ribbon was golden, but as common knowledge, it was not made from real gold, and it was absolutely there for merely aesthetic purposes.
“You kept sending strawberry shortcake videos on our group chat, so I seized that opportunity.” Haruka, for the second time, smiled but with the most confident expression she had ever worn.
Oh, yeah, remember when Minori said, ‘Who normal being would also go out at this hour when it's raining badly?’. It turned out that this aforementioned not-normal being was a human, and her name was Haruka Kiritani.
Seriously, who would have thought of that? That the nationally acclaimed charismatic idol was very, very, very, exceedingly down bad for her own girlfriend? It wasn't a bad thing, though.
“Haruka-chan, you big idiot! ” A baffled Minori sputtered. “I appreciate your effort in this… I really, really do. However, I would never forgive myself if you came down with a cold or fever just because of my greedy cravings…” She looked down and noticed her girlfriend’s soaked clothes.
“Hey. I brought an umbrella… You don't have to worry about me, Minori. I won't get sick.” Her girlfriend tried to reassure her.
“Even though! Look, your clothes got badly wet from the strong rai—”
“My love for you is stronger,” Haruka blurted out like it was the most obvious fact in the world.
Man, Haruka was being unfair again, and it was really bad for Minori's heart.
She should have known by now that no Haruka Kiritani ever wished to play fair in this game of love.
Minori was going to lose again even if she gambled every ounce of luck on her side.
However, she didn't mind — it was Haruka, after all.
“I-Idiot…! You're so unfair, Haruka-chan!"
“Idiot? I suppose I'm an idiot when it comes to loving you.”
“N-No more! I'm going to pass out!”
It was…. a rather chaotic night.
3. with a heart that believes in love, jumpin’ jumpin’ do! (quality time)
All penguins have criminal tendencies…
So, some penguins turn to a life of crime.
Minori found it devastatingly cute — the way Haruka's eyebrow quirked up upon hearing the narration of a penguin documentary they had been watching for the past hour. She was puzzled. Her reaction resembled a fast-food customer discovering pickles in their cheeseburger when, in fact, they asked for no pickles. Wait. No, that was not it. Weird analogy.
“You seem surprised, Haruka-chan,” her voice echoed through the walls of the almost-empty movie theater room. They were the only couple and the only ones there.
“The thief penguin kept stealing pebbles from the victim penguin's nest. It's morally evil and wrong and unforgivable and… cute.” Haruka mumbled and gently shifted their intertwined fingers.
You're cuter, Minori wanted to blurt out, but she chose not to since it was probably the best decision for her Haruka-fragile heart. Who could have known that spending your day off with your gorgeous girlfriend at the cinema watching a penguin documentary would be so much fun?
“So… You find robbery cute?” She joked.
“If the robbers are penguins— or any cute animal— I’ll consider it,” she corrected her girlfriend, fixing her disguise glasses in the process. “Then, here I was, thinking that there were no recorded crimes in Antarctica…”
Minori light-heartedly giggled at Haruka's response. She gently squeezed the latter's hand and pondered if this was the best day ever. The flashing screen, the empty seats, two persons in love holding hands, and a two-hour penguin documentary for their date — it was perfect.
“Haruka-chan, you're like the human version of a penguin.” Minori took a sip from her cola and poked her girlfriend's nose with her free hand.
The action prompted Haruka to stop munching on their shared bucket of popcorn. She gave Minori a look of confusion, and maybe, just maybe, there was a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Hmm… I do appreciate the consideration— however, I don't believe I have any criminal tendencies,” Haruka commented nonchalantly, but she found herself leaning into her girlfriend's sudden touch of warmth.
“But—”
“Nor will I turn to a life of crime.”
“I can imagine you stealing from Airi-chan’s nest.”
“What? Minori, Airi is a cat.”
“What about provoking An-chan? Should I consider it?”
“An is dumb — not that I mean it in a bad way.”
“That's way too much emphasis, Haruka-chan…” Minori flashed her a grin.
“They deserve it.” Haruka reached out to pinch Minori's flushed cheek. “Too many questions regarding criminal tendencies, don't you think? ” She chuckled softly.
Minori blushed at the contact. She never thought that asking questions about penguin criminal tendencies would make her blush. Though she could not deny it — that Haruka was indeed a criminal — a very smooth criminal.
God, she wanted to kiss her so bad.
“F-Focus on the documentary, Haruka-chan!” She stuttered as the warmth started to spread up to her ears. She looked away from her girlfriend.
“You too,” Haruka responded, leaning her head on Minori's shoulder. She slightly wiggled their intertwined hands and— suddenly — kissed the back of her girlfriend's hand.
“Y-You sneaky penguin… !”
“On second thoughts, I might consider turning to a life of crime.”
4. is it okay if my steps are crooked? right now, i just want to dance with you (physical touch)
Another day, another practice at the school’s rooftop.
Minori wiped her face with a towel and stood up from the floor. She had just finished stretching with Haruka.
“Airi texted me saying that she and Shizuku will be late for practice because of… unforeseen circumstances.” She scrolled a few times through her phone before placing it down on the bench. “She should elaborate on unforeseen circumstances.” Haruka’s tone contained a bit of skepticism, but she refused to dwell on those thoughts further.
“It's just you and me then! ” beamed Minori as she walked toward her girlfriend.
“Just you and me.” Haruka almost felt relieved as she giggled at Minori's response. Thank you, Airi and Shizuku, she made a mental note to thank them later, for she had more alone time to spend with Minori. Though she probably would ask Airi later about those unforeseen circumstances, also duly noted.
As she was about to open her imaginary notepad, a lightbulb appeared on her head— a very bright lightbulb that was radiating a rainbow of colors.
Shit. Because she had just thought of either the most romantic gesture or the most lesbian scenario she could ever muster. Maybe both, though?
Shit again. Because if Airi and Shizuku caught them doing that, it would be extremely embarrassing, and the former might force Haruka to explain everything while she holds a I-just-fainted Minori in her arms. She would succumb to Airi’s teasing (with that goddamn smirk) before even presenting her mental note asking about their unforeseen circumstances.
Well, shit. Because the gay lightbulb on her head just encouraged her to slow-dance with Minori (at the rooftop) while waiting for their seniors. Haruka's cheeks flushed softly at the suggestion.
“Are you okay? ” Minori asked, her tone full of concern as she noticed Haruka's face.
Crap (because she might explode if another mention of shit came running). Despite the contemplation, Haruka realized that her next reborn selves for the next three lives will never be silenced if she dismissed the idea of dancing with her beloved girlfriend. Hell, her soul from underground will even suffer from an insatiable desire. So— right now — it has to be right now.
Before Haruka could comprehend the predicament of her next three lives, she found herself opening her mouth. “Say, Minori... May I have this dance? ” The words slipped so easily like a flowing waterfall.
With unfaltering sincerity, she looked upon Minori, and in that moment, the universe transformed into a shimmering reflection of the ocean of blue penlights.
“W-What do you mean…? Is this about the dance routine—"
“No, no. I want to dance with you,” interjected Haruka.
“Practice?” Minori furrowed her eyebrows.
“No—” Haruka sighed; she should find a comprehensive way to get her point across (successfully). “It takes two to tango.” She wasn't really going to ask her to tango, but anyway.
“You’re going to teach me how to tango!? Haruka-chan is so cool!” Minori chirped as she patted non-existent dust from her shorts.
“No— well, sort of… Minori, I want to dance with you, slowly,” said Haruka in a breathy tone as she slowly closed the distance between them.
“Huh? What…? Why? Where is this coming from?” As evidence of her panicking, a bright shade of pink tinted Minori's cheeks. Her girlfriend was getting closer, but she made no move to stride backward — instead, she anticipated the sudden intrusion.
“...I don't know,” Haruka’s left hand found itself on Minori's waist as she got closer and closer. “I long for you,” she whispered, extending her hand towards her beloved, delicately caressing each finger before finally weaving their fingers together.
“Haruka-chan…” Minori fought the urge to draw nearer, yet Haruka pulled her waist closer, bringing their gazes to align. “...You never play by the rules,” the brunette blushed, letting her hand rest on Haruka's shoulder.
“I never play fair when it comes to you,”
“No rules in love, huh?”
"Hey, Minori," Haruka murmured softly into her ear.
"Y-Yes?" The closeness of her girlfriend's breath sent delightful shivers racing down her spine.
"May I have this dance?" Haruka reiterated her earlier request, infused with deep yearning and desire.
At the right moment, the afternoon sun poured through them, casting a warm glow on this special view — a magnificent grandiose. Their heartbeats harmonized, echoing like a melody in an orchestra, a symphony graced by the luminous sun. This was it.
“Yes, you may. I'd love to,” Minori answered with a smile.
And with that, Minori and Haruka began to dance beneath the afternoon light. There were endless moments of stumbling, yet none of it held any significance. What truly mattered to them was each other, wrapped in their warmth. Nothing else was important except for the two of them swaying in a world where time appeared to stand still.
5. i want to fly with you some more, dear planner! (acts of service)
“Good work, everyone!”
Minori, Haruka, Airi, and Shizuku sat side-by-side at the table as they celebrated yet another success for their idol activities. They just finished filming a restaurant review for a TV show — Airi unleashing her inner Gordon Ramsay was worth mentioning. Minori exclaiming Mamma mia! as she fancily feasted on spaghetti Bolognese. Haruka smiling subtly (scowling) as the taste of espresso landed on her taste buds. And Shizuku sitting at the wrong table, which caught the attention of an Italian customer who happened to be a painter too.
Chaotic? Yes. Fun? Yes. Embarrassing? Kind of. The food? Absolutely delicious.
Moreover, and most importantly, the owner of the restaurant was kind enough to offer them a feast of his specialty, chicken noodle soup, before they went home. No one should go home on an empty stomach, and Forget your diet for the day, he said a while ago.
“Airi-chan, may I please have your permission to change your nickname to Airi Ramsay?” Minori asked, too innocently to Airi's liking.
“Definitely not! Permission denied,” hissed Airi.
“Airi Ramsay … Oh, my. It's already growing on me~” Shizuku giggled as she waved a hand at a passing waiter.
“Shizuku! I will not let you harbor affection for that stupid nickname,” Airi hissed for the second time (lovingly).
“So, Airi Ramsay-san —”
“Shut up, Haruka! ”
The four of them laughed.
Shortly after, the owner approached their table, serving up his piping hot soup. He carefully set each bowl in front of them, offering a warm smile before heading over to serve the other production members. (They did not forget to express their gratitude to the him).
“Itadakimasu!” The three said in unison as they held their chopsticks, but Minori was staring at the soup like it was a black hole ready to suck her in any minute.
“Minori-chan, is there something wrong?” Shizuku wondered as she examined the components of her group mate’s bowl of soup.
When Minori was about to answer, her girlfriend suddenly pulled the bowl out of her hands. After a few seconds of pondering about the unspoken riddle in the air, the former and the other pair watched in awe as Haruka gracefully raised her chopsticks and began picking out each piece of broccoli in the soup. Each piece when there were like… more than ten chunks?
Sighing sound effect. Broccoli—the very vegetable Minori pledged to never eat since the day she was born. In short, she hates them (up until the age of seventeen).
Prince Charming sound effect. Haruka, that was so sweet of you to pull out little trees from your girlfriend's chicken noodle soup. Even if those are full of nutrients, they are still deadly, at least to Minori's eyes. So, thank you, Prince Haruka. (Everyone, clap for her.)
“Here, Minori,” Haruka returned the bowl of broccoli-less soup to her girlfriend as she set the last piece of the said vegetable in her own bowl. “No need to worry. I made sure to transfer each piece of broccoli to mine— so you don't have to trouble yourself with it anymore.” She smiled brightly, very brightly and very proudly.
"Haruka-chan..." Minori felt tears welling up as she cradled the bowl. It truly moved her that her girlfriend recalled her aversion to some foods (well, only broccoli). Plus, the fact that she had removed them from the soup was so thoughtful. Oh, if only she hadn't been wearing makeup at that moment.
“Are you okay? Ah, maybe it's still too hot…! Here, let me blow it for you…” She scooted over to Minori's side.
Airi, with a wipeless smirk on her face, nudged Haruka. “Setting the bar high there, huh, Haruka?” She playfully teased her junior while softly patting her back.
“What?”
“So that was the problem… Well done, Haruka-chan!” praised Shizuku.
“It's nothing, you two… I only did what I must do for Minori.” Haruka looked away, slightly blushing.
Damn. That was the final straw, and—
For the first time in their relationship, Minori found herself unable to hold back her emotions. The way Haruka made her feel cherished brought tears to her eyes, and with that, she cried at the sight of her broccoli-less chicken noodle soup.
6. yearning is my lifeline, but i still can't get enough of you (longing gazes)
“How are things with Haruka, Minori?” Airi popped a question to her as they scanned the bread section of the convenience store.
“Huh? What do you mean…?” Minori extended her hand to get a pack of melon pan from the upper shelf, confused at Airi's sudden curiosity.
“Have you kissed already?” The shorter idol whispered in her ear, her voice full of playfulness.
“What!? No! N-Not yet. Thank you for asking.” She backed away in shock because why would Airi ask that at the most random time? Minori’s face flushed, almost mimicking the shade of her senior's pink hair.
Too much for a simple MORE MORE JUMP! break at the convenience store.
“I was only kidding— but, really? You two haven't kissed yet?” Airi continued to massacre Minori's declining sanity. “With how she looks at you, really? Like, really ?” She asked, grabbing a curry pan from the lower shelf.
How did Haruka look at her? Minori couldn't decipher the correlation between the first and second questions her group mate asked. Foremost, Haruka was looking at her? That was completely normal and not out of the blue— so what did Airi mean by that?
“I'm really confused right now, Airi-chan.” She crossed her arms, gently cradling the pack of melon pan.
“Seriously?” Airi deadpanned. “Look at your girlfriend from the left corner.”
“She’s looking at us.”
“No. She's looking at you.”
What?
“As always?”
“Minori. Haruka is longingly gazing at you— wondering if you are either the blinking stars in the night sky or the whole universe she yearns to reach.”
Oh.
Oh.
Airi was right. Haruka was longingly gazing at her as if she was the one who wielded the stars. Her eyes were sparkling with adoration Minori couldn't and cannot explain with words. Was it even possible to look at someone with that… intensity? Haruka was smiling naturally — smiling like someone who just won the jackpot in the lottery she dedicated her life to.
And Minori is that jackpot.
“...I-Is Haruka-chan always like this?” Minori blushed at Airi's revelation.
“Yeah. She always does this yearning thingy for an average of twelve hours per day.” She counted with her fingers.
“That much!? ” She sputtered as she locked eye contact with her girlfriend. Minori nervously waved at her, but she didn't answer, not a movement, not a blink. “Is she okay…?”
“Don't worry, Minori. Haruka is just in fully locked-in-yearning-mode.”
“How do you know that? ”
“Trust me. By the way, I have an entire album dedicated to her yearnful state, but please don't ask me why. Do you want it?” Airi asked her as she pulled her phone out from her pocket.
“I… Uhm, I'll gladly take upon your offer!” Minori scooted closer to her, eyes sparkling with determination.
“Good. My phone's storage is starting to suffer because of that one thousand picture album.” Airi scoffed and smirked at the same time.
“A thousand!?” She yelped.
But, hey , who wouldn't want a thousand pictures of your girlfriend yearning—for you? Haha, right? Those longing gazes that pierced through Minori's heart… The way Haruka's lips curved into a genuine smile as she stared at her eyes… Simply unparalleled.
And with that, she vowed to write a proposal regarding this new discovery of hers— a literary work solely dedicated to Haruka Kiritani’s ways in love.
[Last note: I love you, Haruka- chan <3333]
~end~