Chapter Text
It's bright and sunny, the scene is occupied by the sound of birds and nature.
"Girls! Don't run so fast! You'll hurt yourselves!”
It's… Mizuguchi Miki? And two little kids???
”You can't catch us mom!”
Did they just call her mom???
”These little…!”
It seems like Miki did a lunge, and caught her kids, I guess?
I wonder who's the…
”Hey! You three okay?!”
A voice calls out from beyond the horizon, and shortly after someone arrives. That orange hair looks familiar. Isn't that…?
”Ayaka! You're slow as heck! What are you gonna do if the kids run off with those stubby legs?!”
"If that happens? I'll just leave it to you!”
Ayaka retorted with such audacity you could almost hear an “Ehe!~” from her.
”So you're exploiting me? Why you!…”
”Sweetie! You promised not to do this in front of the kids!”
Ayaka braced herself in defense of Miki’s fierce assault, but then…
”Haha! Mom's getting angry at mama!”
Mama??? How'd they even do it?
Well anyways their kid interrupted the imminent battle, dropping the tension between the two, and leaving just a moment of silence in the family. Until…
”Pfft! Hahaha! You always know just how to press my buttons!”
Seems like Miki got over it.
”Alright, come on you little rascals! Let's eat!”
Distractions out of the way, the family continued with their planned picnic. Ayaka looks on at her harmonious family, content with what she's achieved.
”Ayaka? What are you staring at?”
”Nothing. Just feeling happy about what I've got right now.”
”Pshhh, what are you saying that for? Think you're dreaming right now?”
”I am, aren't I?.”
”Heh, hit the nail on the head.”
The both of them had a little chuckle.
”I love you, Miki.”
”I love you too, Aya-...”
"...-senpai!”
”Mii-chan…~”
”…Aya-senpai!"
”Mii…chan? AHHH!”
Ohhh so it was just a dream the whole time. Now we're back to a reality where Ayaka got so startled she somehow fell over even though she was sitting down. Classic Ayaka.
That was all a dream? Wait, why'd I imagine us with kids? How does that even work???
Ayaka was upside-down and flustered in her thoughts.
”Aya-senpai? You good?”
Wait… it was just a dream but, Miki said… she loved me?
“WOAH!”
In this reality Ayaka got so embarrassed she somehow fell over, again, even though she was already on the ground. Classic Ayaka.
”Hup we go!”
She helped Ayaka back on her feet, but she kept clutching Miki's hands, looking into her eyes.
Ah~ she's so beautiful. With that hair that's always pretty with whatever cute style she tries, those bright eyes full of hope, and that big and beautiful smile, topped off with her signature mole. This is my heart, my life, and my future.
The girl stared at her peer with a disturbing abundance of admiration and affection.
"You better not still be dreaming senpai, you missed our whole plan for the concert!"
”Wah! Sorry Mii-chan!”
"Jeez, you're always so clumsy senpai!"
Yeah, unlike me, she's so cheerful, so level-headed, and so cute~
Before I knew it, I'd fallen in love with her. I decided I would confess to her after the school festival...
...at least, it's what I resolved myself to do, but...
"Two bags of cookies please! One for Mii-chan of course!"
”Are you Miki-chan's friend?”
”I'm Mii-chan's senpai! From the wind instrument club! Nice to meetya!”
”Mhm! Likewise, senpai! Thank you for looking after my best friend!”
Ayaka spoke with such confidence in her voice, yet under that esteemed guise...
Wah! So this is Mii-chan's friend? Even the people around her are cute!
"Jeez senpai! Talking up my best friend from the first meeting!"
Even though she's pouting, Mii-chan looks even cuter than usual today~
...her thoughts were laced with the overenthusiastic obsession of an avid fan.
"Aya-senpai, I'm going to my Nee-chan's class with Himari, wanna come with us?"
"Eh? Ah, no thanks, you two go have fun!"
The reason for her declination hidden in her thoughts.
EHHH??? Nee-chan??? Meeting her sister??? But what if she doesn't approve of me? What if I embarrass Mii-chan?
WHAT IF SHE DOESN'T ACCEPT GIRL TO GIRL RELATIONSHIPS???
Many outlandish and impossibly unlikely ideas crossed her unfortunately weak-willed mind, putting her out of commission for the day, and thus eliminating any chances of executing her plan.
"Ugh... if I got that flustered at the thought of meeting her sister, what the heck is gonna happen when I do meet her?!"
The girl's voice rang with fatigue for her own flaws.
"Who says you'll meet her? You've procrastinated with the confession for two weeks. At this rate, you'll never get past the first step."
Another girl said with a disheartening tone.
"Ehhh, that's not how you encourage a friend, you could teach me how to confess, my senpai in love!"
She pleaded with her friend.
"Can't help you with that. I was the one being confessed to after all."
"Just don't screw it up. Since she's part of the club, you'll rope us into your quarrel."
Another girl cut in.
"You guys are useless…"
She said with resignation in her voice.
"If you're dissatisfied, go find someone else. We're 5 out of 5 stars if I do say so myself."
"Hell yeah we are"
The two of them are posing together like some sort of comedic duo.
"Noooo, you guys are all I've got…"
”Why are you even asking us? We don't know any more about her love life than you do.”
”Yeah, come to think of it, she's surprisingly tight-lipped about it.”
Before Ayaka could think too deeply, her friend interrupted with a feasible idea.
"Well, looking at your situation, if you're gonna keep treading around it instead of manning up, there is one way, but you won't like it."
"Please! I'll do anything!"
"You could try asking that girl."
"Huh? That girl?"
“EHHHH??!!!”
With some “encouragement” from her friends, Ayaka finally decides to face her fears.
”I'd like to speak with her, if that's alright.”
”It's fine, I'll call her now.”
The girl went to her classroom to call someone. Then, out of the door came those familiar…peach…braids…
Ayaka, did not, in fact, face her fears.
Sorry Fuyu! I said I'll do anything, but that's the one thing I can't do!
”A second-year wants to talk to me? Does Momoka-senpai need me?”
Himari muttered to herself, wondering who her sudden visitor was.
”Hey, aren't you Miki-chan's…senpai?”
”Yep! Glad you still remember me, Himari-chan!”
”Ah! Hello Ayaka-senpai! If you're looking for Miki-chan, she told me she's sick today.”
”That's not it, Himari-chan. The thing is, well…”
Ayaka was starting to fidget, her initial confidence while initiating collapsed as they got to the heart of the meeting.
”Well?”
”Well…!”
WELL HOW DO I EVEN SAY IT?! I WANT YOUR BEST FRIEND'S HAND! I WANT HER TO NEVER LEAVE ME! I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF HER AND GROW OLD TOGETHER! IS THAT WHAT I SHOULD SAY???
Even taking liberties to face a miniboss instead of the final challenge, our timid Ayaka still struggled to relay her intentions to the one in front of her.
”Ayaka…senpai?”
She was looking more conflicted by the second. Part of her wanted to run and hide, the other wanted to sing her praises about her unclassman’s beauty. None of her was ready to have a civilized conversation with Himari.
OH WHATEVER, LET'S JUST GET THIS OVER WITH
“I'M IN LOVE WITH MII-CHAN!”
Ayaka covered her face in fearful anticipation, afraid of what her only lead on Miki's romantic life would say.
”Mii-chan? You mean…Miki-chan?”
”Uh-huh…”
”YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH MIKI-CHAN? THAT'S GREAT!”
Himari exclaimed with such excitement, it's almost like she grew dog ears.
”Uh…huh?”
Ayaka was puzzled, she expected something more along the lines of disapproval or disgust, she only imagined such warm words in her dreams.
”It's great?”
”Yeah! It's great! I always hoped Miki-chan would find another person, you'd be great for her!”
Himari grabbed Ayaka's hands in excitement.
”Another? Wait, me…for her???”
”Yeah, don't you want that?”
”N-no I'm happy but, I was expecting more…disapproval, from you. She's your best friend after all.”
”It's fine. As long as Miki-chan's happy, then I'm happy.”
Himari had a satisfied expression on her face, faithful of Ayaka's ability to make her best friend happy once more.
”But, why are you telling me this? Shouldn't you be talking to Miki-chan?”
”Well um, the thing is…I still don't know how to tell Mii-chan. I don't even know if she has a crush or anything!”
She said with a dejected voice.
”Can you please help me, Himari-chan?”
”Hmm. Well I wouldn't be the greatest person to ask about this…”
”I, see…”
Ayaka lost hope, her only mutual connection to Miki couldn't accept her plea.
”But! I do know some people who could help! So how about this?”
”Huh? What are we gonna do?”
”The plan is…”
Himari explained her plan, and Ayaka agreed after a little thought. She thanked Himari, quite loudly in fact, and went on her merry way.
The day after, they met up at Waccy D's, with an unexpected surprise for Ayaka...
"Glad you're here, Ayaka-senpai!"
"H-hey Himari-chan, thanks for setting this all up for me. So, um, who are these people?"
...behind Himari was the SSGirls.
"Well, here's Yori-senpai! My girlfriend!"
Yori was visibly blushing, being introduced to someone as Himari's girlfriend.
”This is Aki-senpai! Miki-chan's sister!”
”O-oh… I see…"
SERIOUSLY HIMARI-CHAN??? YOU BROUGHT ME TO THE FINAL BOSS??? THE WHOLE REASON I HAVEN'T CONFESSED YET IS BECAUSE OF HER!
Well, looks like Ayaka's gonna have to face her fears after all.
”And they're Mari-senpai and Kaori-senpai! This isn't too many people for you, is it, senpai?”
”No need to worry about us, we’ll be mediators between you and that blonde dragon!”
”T-thank you, that's very reassuring.”
I hope she was exaggerating when she called her a dragon…
”So what do you like about Miki-chan, senpai?”
”I love how cheerful she is! I love her hair, it's always pretty no matter how she arranges it. There's that big smile you always see on her, and that mole under her mouth is…”
She's mouthing off a whole library of compliments for Miki.
"So, do you really like my sister, Kohara-san?"
"Ah, uhm, yes? I do, love…her?
Now she looks like she's about to devolve into some sort of antisocial sea slug?!
”So why haven't you confessed yet, Ayaya~?
”Eh? I mean, I can't just jump into it! What if there's someone else she likes?”
”I don't think she does? I talk about my love life a lot with Miki-chan but she never talks about herself.”
”If she isn't spoken for yet, then just swoop in and take her yourself!"
Mari boldly cut in.
"Wow! You're so assertive Ma-chan~"
Kaori jokingly commented.
"WEH? B-but, we don't know for sure! What if she does have someone she likes?"
"Fool! Then the only choice is to make her fall for you!"
She said with such audacity you could almost mistake it for confidence.
"W-we don't even know if she's ready for a relationship yet, Mari!"
Aki cut in, trying to keep such an absurd idea from affecting her sister.
"Well Kino Himari didn't even know what romantic love was. Isn't that right, Asanagi Yori?"
She pointed to their vocalist who had a complicated experience with love.
”D-don't rope me in so suddenly, Tsutsui!”
Yori was choking on her drink from the sudden mention.
”You got to date Himari-chan, even when she didn't know what love was? That… must've been difficult, wasn't it?”
”It probably was… I'm still sorry for all the trouble Yori-senpai went through for me…”
"It's fine Kino-san. As long as we're together now."
"H-how did you do it, exactly?”
Ayaka looked up at Yori, like she had just met her hero.
”Well, it wasn't easy. I failed like 2 times? And then, on the 3rd try, she finally found her love for me.”
"That's… amazing. Wasn't it hard whenever you failed?"
"Hmm… well every time I failed was depressing of course…"
Yori looked back at her struggles to make Himari understand her feelings.
"...when I fell in love with her, but realized she didn't share the feeling..."
Thinking of their first encounters.
"...when I told her my feelings, but she couldn't understand them."
She thought of her confession, and Himari's struggle with romantic understanding.
"But even after every attempt, Kino-san still loved me and my music."
She thought back to Himari's kindness, and clear affection for her.
That's what gave me the drive to keep trying."
Himari smiled at her lover.
"If I just stood still and Kino-san got taken by somebody else, I would've regretted it for the rest of my life."
Aki gave a nod to her best friend.
"That's why, I'm glad that I confessed back then."
Yori said, with clear satisfaction in her eyes.
Ayaka was speechless, she found the person who had conquered even worse struggles than what she was facing now.
"Yori-senpai..."
Himari was touched by the genuine words of compassion she just heard from her lover.
"You go girl~!"
The SSGirls cheered for their lovey dovey vocalist.
”Thank you, senpai."
"You made me realize."
"I can either regret failing…"
"...or regret not doing anything."
"If I'm going to regret it either way, then I'll at least try!"
"So?"
The gang said in unison, eagerly awaiting their shy peer's declaration.
"So…"
"I…!"
"I'M GOING TO CONFESS!"
"Well said, Kohara Ayaka."
"Ah~ Ayaya really has the passion of youth~"
"I'll cheer you on senpai!"
Aki got up and approached her sister's potential partner.
”Kohara-san.
”S-senpai..."
Aki clutched Ayaka's hands.
”Do you love Miki?”
”Yes! More than anything in the world!”
She stared into Ayaka's eyes, and saw the genuine spark she needed to see.
”Then… show her a romantic world for me, alright?”
Aki gave Ayaka her approval.
”YES! I WILL!”
Ayaka exclaimed at the top of her lungs, she forgot that they're still at Waccy D's though.
"Mii-chan!"
"Ah! Senpai!"
"Did you wait long?"
"Nah, just got here myself!"
Wow, now that I'm about to say it, Mii-chan looks like she's glowing...
"So, you wanted to talk to me before club today?"
Behind them was the gang from earlier, watching over Ayaka, as she requested when they were walking home the other day.
”B-but, about tomorrow…
”What is it, senpai?”
”C-COULD YOU ALL WATCH OVER ME? PLEASE!”
”Ayaka-senpai…”
”I know this is such a pathetic request, but I'd really appreciate it if you were all there for me!”
”Aya-chan…”
Aki put her hand on Ayaka's shoulder.
”Don't worry, we'll all cheer you on. Right girls?
”We'll be there for you! Ayaya~!”
”If it doesn't work out, just come cry to us.”
”Miki-chan won't be that harsh though!”
”But…”
Yori put her hand on Ayaka's other shoulder.
”No matter what happens, I'm sure it'll all work out.”
Surrounded by such warmth and reassurance, Ayaka started tearing up.
”You guys… THANK YOU!”
She was overjoyed and full of confidence, now she's putting it to the test.
"This spring, when I met you, you became the accompaniment to my part."
"Huh?"
"How should I put it... I really started to enjoy my time in the club. I wanted to see you every day."
"When I talk to you in the morning, I get all giddy for the rest of the day. And on the rare occasions we get to walk home together, my heart skips a beat."
"S-senpai?"
"That's when I realized..."
"I want to talk to you more."
"I want to see your smile more closely."
"I want to be with you, Mii-chan."
"I promise I'll take care of you."
"So please..."
"GO OUT WITH ME!"
Her fervent words echoed in Miki's mind.
"I love you...Mii-chan."
"Aya...senpai."
Miki was surprised. Surprised to hear this from her senpai. And surprised about what she felt at that moment.
"I...didn't expect this at all, but, how should I put it..."
"...I'm really...happy."
"But, right now I-"
"MIKI! AYA-CHAN! CONGRATS!"
The eavesdropping squad came rushing out to congratulate the two on their new relationship.
"Eh?"
"W-what are you guys...doing here?"
"The thing is..."
"Aya-chan asked us for romance advice!"
"A-advice?"
"Ayaka-senpai was afraid to confess to you, so we decided to help her!"
"You always kept mentioning Aya-chan. I wondered if she'd be a good fit for you, but I'm sure she'll treat you right!"
"I'm glad you found someone who could love you, Miki-chan!"
There was excitement all around, except for Miki herself, who looked tense.
"Hmm? Mii-chan? What's wrong?"
"...rst..."
"Eh?"
-rst? Did I just hear...
Before either could get their thoughts in order, Miki's feelings left her lips.
"YOU'RE THE WORST!"
"IDIOT!"
Miki sobbed, and ran away. All anyone could do was stare, as their joyous surprise became a painful memory.