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I've admired Esora-san since the day I've met her, I always thought she was very smart, kind and capable, I enjoyed her bubbly persona, always smiling, but when I had the chance to actually get to meet the vulnerable, sensitive part of her I was a bit surprised, but I promised myself that I'll make sure she feels happy and safe. I never looked down on her or assumed that she was fake, I knew every part of her was real. All in all, she was never scary, as some people depict her, she was the same gentle, sweet soul.
I think it took a long time for me to acknowledge my real feelings for her, I was oblivious to the butterflies in my stomach and the constant jumping of my heart around her, but if you know Esora-san, you know that just the way she is can make your heart flutter and she has an unimaginable skill of brightening up your day like I've never seen.
I care deeply about her, but it wasn't until my head was full of thoughts about her, my legs always ready to go after her, my desire to be near her at all times, that I realized I care about her, but not like a friend would, like a partner would. I think it took me by surprise a little, all of these feelings that I haven't had before were a bit scary, but I wasn't against them, especially because loving Esora-san really warmed my heart. Like a warm cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day or like a melodious lullaby that I loved when I was little, like a rainbow after the rain. And I shiver when I'm around her cause my heart is full of electrifying feelings, I feel as if her presence is just a multitude of piano notes pressed really aggressively next to my ear, while still creating a beautiful melody.
And so I've decided, to win Esora-san's heart I shall start by exteriorizing my emotions, but I get too flustered to use words so I'll bake her cookies! One big problem: I can't really cook and I don't want to just buy her cookies from the store, I want it to mean something so I'll have to call for help. Operation "Love cookies for Esora-san" starts now and the first step is call Maho-san for help and if I call her, why not call Muni-san and Rinku-san as well? It can be a nice activity together as a unit!
"Welcome, girls! Thank you for coming on such a short notice, especially you Maho-san, I know these days are supposed to be your free days with Saki-san and I'm sorry to intrude, but I really want everything to be perfect."
"Hello to you too?" Maho laughs as she pats me on the shoulder. "There is absolutely no need for you to apologise, I'm always happy to help, no worries, Saki said it's all good, she's going to go shopping with Towa-san and Noa-san and we'll just spend our time together tomorrow."
"Thank you. I really appreciate your help and culinary knowledge."
"Hmph, you call all of us here, but only praise Maho? We are knowledgeable as well!" Muni snickers while pouting, holding a bag of ingredients.
"Cookies~! What's better than all of us together, having fun and good food to enjoy?" Rinku joins in.
"Muni-san, Rinku-san, thank you for coming and for bringing what's needed, I'm truly grateful to have such good friends." I smile and Muni instantly changes her expression, she is now a bit flustered.
"Well...whatever. There is no need to go overboard with praise now."
"Hm? But I think you should be praised, Muni-chan!" Rinku happily says and now Muni is really red and she is trying to go past the conversation.
"W-Well...praise me all you want, Rinku..."
"Muni-chan, Muni-chan! You are the best, we're gonna make the best cookies for Esora-san!"
Maho sighs a bit and I smile, it's already very lively in here, it's also a warm feeling, just doing something with people you care about, even though I wish Esora-san was here as well, because I miss her. To miss something that is not even yours is to desire, is to love, but I hope that these cookies are going to steal her heart so she actually becomes something of mine that I miss.
"I think...I could have just bought her the tastiest cookies that I know, but I really want to learn from Maho-san so that they have meaning, so that I can say I took a part in "crafting" a handmade gift for Esora-san."
"I think it's really sweet, Rei, I'll let you take the lead and I'll guide through the process." Maho says and I put my apron on, ready to start part two of my operation: actually baking some cookies for Esora-san.
"I wonder...you guys think she'll like the cookies? Should have I went with a different thing?"
"She is going to love them! Who wouldn't? It's something sweet and it's made by you! I would love to get this kind of surprize." Rinku says while already interfering with the ingredients.
"Eh? I literally brought you donuts a week ago!" Muni pouts while Rinku giggles.
"But Rei likes Esora-san, these are kind of like a confession so it's even more special! Or...do you like me too Muni-chan?~"
"Huhh??? Rinku you can't just be asking questions like that!!!"
"Why not? I like you, Muni-chan~!"
"You don't know what you're saying!!! Just...just get ready to help!"
Maho sighs once again, but patiently guides through the process of preparing the cookie dough, while helping with what I can't do, Rinku mostly tries to eat the dough regardless of Maho telling her it's not good to eat it raw, Muni comes up with the idea of a heart design for the cookies and teaches me how to decorate them in a way that will look nice. I want Esora-san to have the best cookies! Sprinkles, icing, chocolate chips, she deserves everything!
I just hope she likes them and doesn't think it's weird...even if she can't reciprocate my feelings, I just wish for her to be happy and for her to know that if there is ever a day where she has to sit and eat alone, I'll join her so she always has company.
The timer on Maho-san's phone brings me back to reality, the last batch of cookies are done, of course we had to make some for us to taste as well, but I'm starting to feel nervous because I have to actually go and give these to Esora-san.
"You okay, Rei?" Maho asks and I shake my head in approvement.
"I was just thinking...it's time to give these to her."
"You can go and we'll clean up here, especially because Rinku spilled flour everywhere..."
"It was an accident!"
"Oh...you've done so much for me, I can't possibly leave the cleaning to you guys."
"Rei, don't worry, just go, silly. Or do you want us to come too? You need support?" Muni says while she wraps the cookies for Esora-san in a pink blue shiny foil while tying it with a green ribbon.
"I think...I need to do this alone." I say and Maho smiles, already guiding me towards my room. "Take a shower, dress up and go. We'll be here when you come back, whatever the outcome is. I know the feeling of loving someone and being scared of their reaction, but look at me, Saki is my...girlfriend and we are really happy." She says kinda blushing towards the end.
"Thank you, Maho-san. I'll go!"
All said and done, I shower, I put my prettiest dress on, I spray myself with my favorite perfume from Esora-san, a sweet floral aroma, I thank the girls once again, I take the cookies and off I go. I wondered if I should have texted her beforehand, but I want this to be a surprise so I hope she is not busy with anything.
I ring knock on her door and I'm welcomed by her staff, they guide me to the living room while they go announce Esora-san that she has a visitor.
"Rei-chan? You've come to see me?~" She happily says while smiling and I instantly hide the cookies behind my back.
"Esora-san! Hi, I sure hope I'm not intruding...I should have called, but I wanted to surprise you."
"My, my, Rei-chan~ You are welcome anytime, don't worry. Hm? What do you have there, brought me something?~" She jokingly asks and I move closer to her, we are now in the middle of the living room, standing face to face.
"Actually, I did! For you, Esora-san!" I say while handing her the wrapped cookies.
"Oh...!" She has a surprised reaction, but she unwraps the foil with excitement and when she sees the cookies she goes quiet, her face is all red. "Oh my! Rei, you..."
"I baked cookies for you, Esora-san so I don't know if the taste is as good as what our parents usually buy, but I had a bit of help so they should be delicious!"
"They are...heart shaped...they uhm...oh wow...you actually made these for me?" She is acting a bit strange at the sight of the cookies, I wonder if she likes them.
"I did! Esora-san I thought that you would enjoy something lovely like you and I also wanted to...express my feeling for you through these cookies."
"Your...feelings?"
"Well...now that I'm face to face with you it's a bit embarassing, I can't really talk when you look at me so I wanted the cookies to talk for me, but I just want you to know that there is no reason for you to ever be alone again, I care deeply about you and I want you to always be happy."
"Rei-chan..." She gets all flustered and can barely formulate a sentence. "I love them, they are the best gift I have ever recieved and your words...mean a lot to me."
"Esora-san, I love you." Saying it outloud for sure wrecked my nerves, but it was worth it. Esora-san's face was even redder than before and she had to put the cookies down to hold her chest, I wonder if her heart is pounding as fast as mine.
"W-What? Rei-chan don't just blurt things like that out...!"
"But I love you, more than a friend, more than you can imagine!"
"You like...me? Out of everyone, you choose me?"
"Yes and I would choose you a million times again and again and again. If not you, then who else? I don't want there to be anyone else."
"Rei...I...I also...you know...like you." She says looking down at the ground so I just run to hug her really tightly.
So warm...so nice, keeping her safe in my arms, our chests pressed against each other, our hearts beating so fast, but complimenting each other so well. She is taken aback at first glance, but she wraps her arms tightly around me.
"Esora-san, be my girlfriend!" I place my palms on her cheeks, lifting her chin up to face me. She is the prettiest girl in the whole world.
"Yes, Rei. I will be your girlfriend." She chuckles a bit shyly, but her big happy smile makes me happy as well.
"Can I...kiss you or is that too much?"
"You...can. I would like it very much if you did!" She says so I do not waste any other second, I gently press my lips against her, kissing her softly, taking in her sweet aroma, enjoying every second of being so close to her. 10 seconds felt like an entire minute, but after the kiss I had to give her another one and another...I think I lost count at how many small, cute, soft kisses we had, but she's so addictive, once you have her in your life, you can't live without her and I sure wish that my entire life is filled by Esora-san...my girlfriend. And if anyone ever tried to follow the steps of my operation...well I kinda got lost after step 2, but I would definitely call this operation succesful!