Work Text:
The insistent sound of the ocean called to her in the rented beach house as Yuzu blinked awake, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar ceiling. Then she remembered—they were on a weekend trip with friends, a celebration of the final exams that had consumed their semester. Six girls sharing a spacious rental property near the coast, two days of freedom before returning to the demands of Aihara High School
Yuzu turned her head on the pillow to find Mei already awake, with her eyes fixed on the ceiling with an intensity that suggested she was calculating something. Or ignoring something. With Mei, it was sometimes difficult to tell, even for her.
"Good morning," Yuzu whispered, propping herself up on one elbow.
Mei's response was a soft "Mm". Her expression would have been unreadable to anyone else. But her lover had learned to interpret the subtle shifts in the sultry girl's demeanor over the many long months since they'd discovered their connection. They might have been thrust together by circumstance, but they had long since been drawn into something far more complicated and beautiful than either had anticipated. The slight furrow of Mei's brow, the way her fingers twitched against the sheets... these spoke louder than any words.
"You were dreaming," Yuzu observed.
"I don't dream."
An obvious lie.
"You were smiling."
Mei's cheeks colored faintly, a crack in her typically composed facade. "You're imagining things."
The bickering was familiar, comfortable, but there was something else in the air this morning. A restlessness that Yuzu recognized because she felt it too. The past weeks had been difficult, between balancing their secret relationship with the demands of school, avoiding the suspicions of classmates and that perpetually suspicious final year transfer student. They had stolen moments here and there, rushed encounters in the president's office, empty classrooms... but it had been far too long since they had simply made love, unhurried and uninterrupted.
The vacation house was spacious, modern, with an open floor plan that flowed from the living areas to a wooden deck overlooking the sea. The others were still asleep, sprawled across their respective rooms in various states of slumber. Harumin and Matsuri shared one room, their quiet snoring occasionally audible through the walls. Suzuran had claimed the couch, declaring that she slept better where she could "keep watch over everyone." Sara and Nina, and Nene had arrived separately and taken the remaining two rooms.
Which meant, Yuzu realized with a quickened pulse, that for the next few hours, she and Mei were essentially alone.
"Mei," Yuzu started, her voice dropping lower, "do you think maybe we could—"
"I was thinking the same thing."
The words hung in the light, heavy with promise. Mei turned to face her fully, and Yuzu saw it there, the same hunger that she felt burning in her own loins. Days of stolen glances and hidden touches had built something between them, a tension that demanded release.
It had been weeks since the two princesses had bumped tiaras!
Yuzu's hand found Mei's beneath the sheets, their fingers coupling with practiced ease. She breathed in the familiar scent of Mei's shampoo, feeling the heat of her body despite the barrier of blankets between them.
"Just for a little while," she murmured against Mei's neck as her tongue flicked out, "before everyone else wakes up—"
The door crashed open.
"Yuzu! Mei! Are you awake? I found this amazing recipe for pancakes and I really think we should all make breakfast together! It says here you need to let the batter rest for exactly forty-five minutes—" Harumin's voice cut through the moment like a knife through butter, her cheerful intrusion accompanied by the clatter of pots and pans she was somehow already managing to drop.
Mei moved faster than Yuzu had ever seen her move outside of a fight. One moment they were tangled together, the next Mei had put at least three feet of space between them and was staring at the ceiling with an expression of profound disinterest, as if she had been doing nothing more consequential than contemplating the meaning of existence.
With one bare breast peaking out jauntily from her pajama shirt.
"Good morning, Taniguchi-san," Mei said flatly, her voice carrying the precise measured tone she used when she was absolutely furious but too polite to show it. "How thoughtful of you to consider breakfast."
Yuzu, whose face was currently approximately the color of a ripe tomato, managed a weak smile. "Pancakes sound great! I'll be right down!"
Harumin, bless her earnest, if clueless heart, noticed nothing amiss. "Wonderful! Matsuri is still asleep, but I'll wake her up. Oh, and Sara said she wanted to go to the market later, so we should all plan to meet at nine!"
The door closed behind her, and the silence that followed was deafening.
Mei sat up slowly, her expression unreadable. "The pancakes will be ready in forty-five minutes."
"We could—" Yuzu started.
"The batter needs to rest." Mei's jaw was tight. "Harumin was very specific about the resting time."
An hour later, surrounded by the chaotic energy of six girls attempting to prepare a meal together, Yuzu was beginning to suspect that the universe had conspired against her. The pancakes were eventually consumed, accompanied by enthusiastic compliments from Harumin, questionable remarks from Suzuran about the strategic placement of maple syrup, and several pointed looks from Matsuri that Yuzu couldn't quite interpret but which made her nervous nonetheless.
The group migrated to the beach afterward, spreading towels across the sand while the late summer sun beat down with remnants of August heat. Yuzu applied sunscreen with mechanical efficiency, her mind elsewhere. Specifically, on the way Mei had looked at her over breakfast, that flicker of promise in those violet eyes before they'd been interrupted by Nene's enthusiastic announcement about finding a seashell "that looked exactly like "The President's face."
Now, stretched out on a towel beside the object of her frustration, Yuzu watched the others play in the surf. Harumin was building something elaborate with Matsuri. Apparently a sandcastle, although it was taking on architectural features that seemed better suited to a medieval fortress. Suzuran had claimed a shady spot and was reading a thick novel, occasionally making notes in the margins. Sara, Nina, and Nene were gathered near the water's edge, engaged in what appeared to be a very serious conversation Yuzu couldn't quite hear.
Mei lay benath the umbrella beside her, close enough that their shoulders almost touched, her eyes closed against the sun. Perfectly still, perfectly composed. If Yuzu didn't know better, she would think Mei was actually asleep.
"You know," Yuzu said quietly, not looking at her companion, "there's an area behind the rental house. Some trees. Very private."
"I'm aware."
"I could go there. In a few minutes. To... read."
Mei's eyes opened, fixing on Yuzu with an intensity that made her breath catch. "What book are you reading?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"How will you know which book to bring if you haven't decided?"
Yuzu turned her head, meeting Mei's gaze directly. "Maybe whoever finds me there will help me choose."
The corner of Mei's mouth twitched, the barest hint of a smile. "Perhaps I should accompany you. To ensure you select appropriate reading material."
"That would be... helpful."
They waited another twenty minutes, long enough that their absence wouldn't seem conspicuous, but not so long that someone might come looking. Yuzu stood first, stretching in a way that she hoped appeared casual, then offered Mei her hand. Mei took it, and the simple touch sent warmth spreading through Yuzu's entire body.
They walked side by side along the beach, not touching but acutely aware of each other's presence, toward the strip of trees that bordered the rental property. The sounds of the others faded behind them, the splashing of waves, Harumin's delighted laughter, Matsuri's indignant protest about something or other, seagulls...
The copse of trees was cooler, shaded from the midday sun, and privacy seemed to wrap around them like a gentle embrace. Yuzu found a spot where the undergrowth formed a natural alcove, hidden from view on all sides.
"This should work," she said, her voice slightly breathless.
Mei stepped closer, her hand coming up to trace the line of Yuzu's jaw. "You had a plan."
"I had hopes..."
"Hope and planning are not the same thing."
"Does that matter right now?"
In answer, Mei kissed her.
It started soft and exploratory, the way they always began, rediscovering each other as if for the first time. Yuzu's hands found their way to Mei's waist, pulling her closer, feeling the warmth of her body through the thin fabric of her swimsuit. Mei's fingers threaded through Yuzu's long wavy hair, angling her head for a deeper kiss, and Yuzu felt a familiar energy building in her chest, spreading outward through her whole body.
They had done this before, many times, in hidden nooks and locked rooms. But each time felt new, charged with the electricity of their connection, the knowledge that what they had was forbidden and precious and entirely their own.
Yuzu lowered Mei to the ground, covering her body with her own, losing herself in the feel of lips and hands and the soft sounds that escaped Mei's throat. This was what she craved. Not just the physical pleasure, though that was certainly part of it, but the intimate connection, the way Mei looked at her when they were alone together, all her defenses stripped away.
"Mei," Yuzu murmured against her neck, "I've missed this."
"Not—" Mei's voice caught as Yuzu's lips found a particularly sensitive spot, "—not more than I have."
They were so absorbed in each other that they didn't hear the footsteps approaching through the underbrush.
"OH MY GOD!"
Yuzu launched herself backward so fast she collided with a tree trunk, the impact jarring her entire spine. Mei sat up with remarkable speed, her expression cycling through shock, rage, and cold fury in rapid succession.
Nene stood at the entrance to their hidden alcove, her eyes wide, her mouth opening and closing without producing coherent sound. Behind her, Nina and Sara peered over her shoulders with expressions of utter fascination.
"We were just—" Yuzu started, her voice several octaves higher than normal.
"Reading," Mei finished flatly. "As you can see, we found a private place to read."
Sara's gaze dropped to the ground, to the swimsuit straps that had slipped during their earlier enthusiasm, to the evidence of where they had been lying together, to the unmistakable signs of what they had actually been doing. Her face cycled through several shades of red before she finally spoke.
"We were looking for seashells," she said. "Nene said she saw some unusual ones back here."
"There aren't any," Mei said, standing and brushing sand from her swimsuit with precise movements. "We checked. Thoroughly."
Nina craned her neck to see around Sara. "It looked like you were doing something else entirely."
"Reading," Mei repeated with deadly composure. "Some of us enjoy quiet intellectual pursuits rather than wandering around looking at shells like confused seagulls."
Yuzu watched in a mixture of horror and admiration as Mei walked past the three frozen figures, her posture perfect, her expression unreadable. "I believe the others are planning beach volleyball. I suggest you join them."
It was not a suggestion.
Once Mei had collected herself and given Yuzu a look that promised retribution for the entire situation, she led the way back to the beach, leaving Yuzu to trail behind, still adjusting her swimwear with trembling hands.
The afternoon passed in a blur of increasingly frustrated attempts at privacy. After the incident with Nene, Mei had declared that they should be more strategic, which somehow translated to waiting until everyone was occupied before making another attempt.
Yuzu found herself on edge, hyperaware of Mei's movements across the house. When Mei disappeared toward the bedrooms, Yuzu made her excuses and followed. When she headed toward the bathroom, Yuzu waited patiently outside, only to be foiled when Suzuran emerged from the adjacent shower room and engaged them both in a twenty-minute conversation about the symbolic importance of water in classical literature.
When evening finally arrived, the group gathered on the deck for a barbecue, the grill manned by Matsuri with enthusiastic but questionable technique. Yuzu sat close to Mei, their shoulders touching, a current of anticipation running between them.
"You know," Harumin said, waving a skewer in the air, "this vacation has been so much fun! We should do this more often!"
"Definitely," Matsuri agreed, somehow managing to get sauce on her forehead, her nose, and approximately seventeen other locations. "Like, maybe next month? Can we share a room again?"
"As long as you're not pervy!"
"That would be nice," Yuzu said, her attention only half on the conversation. Mei's hand had found hers beneath the table, her fingers rubbing in a way that sent shivers up the blonde's arm.
"It will be clear tonight," Suzuran observed, looking up at the darkening sky. "Excellent conditions for stargazing. We should all go out on the lawn and look at them."
Yuzu's grip on Mei's hand tightened. "Maybe just a few of us. Some people might be tired."
"Excellent point," Mei said, her voice carrying an edge. "Some of us have been... very active today. We should... rest."
Nene, who had been eying them suspiciously since the afternoon's discovery, opened her mouth to say something. Sara elbowed her in the ribs.
"Right," Nina said brightly. "Rest is important. Very important."
The meal continued, punctuated by Harumin's laughter, Matsuri's repeated trips for more food, and Suzuran's obscure literary tangents. Yuzu picked at her dinner, her appetite overshadowed by the tension coiling in her stomach. Beside her, Mei ate with mechanical precision, but Yuzu could feel the barely-contained energy radiating from her.
Finally, the meal ended. Dishes were cleared, good nights were exchanged, and the group dispersed toward their respective sleeping areas. Yuzu waited until the hallway was clear, then made her way toward the couple's room, her heart pounding with anticipation.
The door was unlocked. She slipped inside to find Mei already there, sitting on the edge of the bed, her expression unreadable in the dim light.
"Lock the door," Mei commanded.
Yuzu obeyed, the click of the latch seeming impossibly loud in the silence. When she turned, Mei was standing, closing the distance between them with purposeful strides.
"This is absurd," Mei said, her voice low. "We have been trying all day. I am not going to be interrupted again."
"You don't think someone will—"
"I do not care." Mei's hands found Yuzu's face, pulling her into a kiss that was nothing like the gentle caresses of earlier. This was possessive, and hungry. "Let them try to interrupt. Let them knock. I'm not stopping this time."
Yuzu wanted to respond and express her agreement with similarly fierce passion, but Mei was already moving, lips trailing along her jaw, down her neck, finding the tender spots that never failed to make Yuzu's knees weak. They stumbled toward the bed together, a tangle of limbs and desperate touches, falling onto the mattress in a heap of desire.
"This is a terrible angle," Mei muttered, attempting to reposition them.
"Your fault," Yuzu gasped, pulling her back down.
They were in the process of resolving the angle issue when the knock came.
Soft at first, then more insistent.
"Mei-san? Yuzucchi?" Harumin's voice filtered through the door. "I found a board game! Matsuri says she can explain the rules, but she also said the same thing about the barbecue and I still have sauce in my ear, so I'm not sure that's a good idea. Can you both join us?"
Yuzu stared at the ceiling in despair. Mei's expression shifted through several emotions—shock, rage, and finally a cold, terrifying calm.
"We are busy," she called out, her voice dangerously pleasant.
"But it's a really fun game! It says here it's about building kingdoms and falling in love and—" Harumin paused. "Are you two okay? You seem like you've been busy all day."
"We are fine," Mei said, her grip on Yuzu tightening. "We will join you shortly."
"Okay! But don't take too long! The game starts in ten minutes!"
Footsteps faded down the hall.
Yuzu waited until Harumin was out of earshot before speaking. "She means well."
"Clearly."
"We could try again later. After the game."
Mei's eyes flashed in the darkness. "No."
"No?"
"I have been patient all day. I have been interrupted by Harumin, and Matsuri, by Sara's insufferable entourage, by Suzuran's water symbolism, by—actually, where is Nene? I haven't seen her in hours."
"She was with Sara and Nina..."
"Regardless." Mei sat up, and Yuzu noticed with some trepidation that she was doing the thing where she got really calm before becoming very, very intense. "I am tired of being interrupted. I am tired of hiding. I am tired of stolen moments and hidden encounters and constantly having to pretend that you are not the most important person in my life."
Yuzu sat up too, reaching for Mei's hand. "Mei—"
"No. Wait." Mei took a breath. "I know we have reasons to be careful. I know there are consequences of being open. But right now, at this moment, I do not care about consequences. I want to be with you, Yuzu. Properly. Without clothes. Without interruption. And I am going to make that happen."
Before Yuzu could respond, Mei stood, walked to the door, and threw it open with dramatic flair.
The hallway was not empty.
Matsuri was doing some kind of exercise routine in the corridor, her movements somehow both energetic and completely incoherent. Harumin stood nearby, holding a board game box that was almost as large as she was. Suzuran had emerged from nowhere, as she often did, observing the scene with academic interest. Sara, Nina, and Nene had appeared at the far end of the hall, drawn by the sudden noise.
"Everyone," Mei announced, her voice carrying across the gathering group, "the following announcement is being made for the final time. Yuzu and I require privacy. I am sure you are all lovely individuals with many positive qualities and fascinating hobbies. However, starting from this moment and continuing indefinitely, I am asking, or rather, telling you, to find somewhere else to be."
"Like where?" Matsuri asked, mid-squat.
"Anywhere. The beach. The kitchen. The roof. I do not care. There is a town nearby. Go explore it. I will even provide money."
"Mei Aihara," Sara started, her voice cautious, "this is a shared rental—"
"Then I will buy out everyone's shares. Effective immediately."
Silence fell over the group.
Harumin looked from Mei to Yuzu, who was currently attempting to melt into the background behind Mei, her face a mixture of embarrassment and reluctant admiration. The pieces seemed to assemble themselves behind Harumin's eyes, not completely, but enough.
"Oh," she said quietly. "Oh, I see."
"See what?" Matsuri asked.
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Harumin turned to the others, adopting an overly bright expression. "You know what, guys, I suddenly really want to go into town! There's supposed to be a night market, right? And I've heard the ramen there is amazing!"
"I'm not hungry," Suzuran said.
"Well, you should be! It's rude not to eat when someone else is eating! It's, like, a whole thing!" Harumin began shooing the others toward the stairs. "Come on, everyone! Let's give Mei and Yuzu some... private time!"
"Wait, why do they get private time and we don't?" Matsuri protested as she was herded away. "That's not fair! I want private time too! With you, Harumin! Nina, tell her it's not fair!"
Nina, who had already figured out what was happening based on Sara's very red face, simply nodded and went along with Harumin's enthusiastic evacuation.
Harumin's voice drifted away. "You're a perv, Mattie!"
Within two minutes, the house had emptied of everyone except Yuzu and Mei, who stood in the bedroom doorway, blinking at the sudden solitude.
"Was that... necessary?" Yuzu asked.
"Yes." Mei's composure cracked slightly, and she looked almost shy. "They needed to understand that certain things are more important than board games."
"Building kingdoms and falling in love," Yuzu quoted. "That was the game, apparently."
Mei's cheeks flushed. "I didn't pay attention to what Harumin was saying."
"You were too busy trying to get into my pants."
"I was NOT—" Mei's protest dissolved as Yuzu pulled her close, laughter bubbling up between them.
The evening had passed in a blur of warmth and closeness, the frustrations of the day finally finding their release in hours of unhurried intimacy. Now, with night darkening the world beyond the curtains, Yuzu lay with her head on Mei's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat, fondling the bare skin of her shoulders.
The blanket had fallen somewhere around their ankles, forgotten in the heat of their embrace. Neither of them had bothered to retrieve it. There was no need for pretense, no reason to hide. Not here, not now, not with the house empty and the world reduced to the space between two bodies pressed together.
"You're thinking too loudly," Mei murmured, her fingers combing through Yuzu's hair.
"I'm not thinking at all. That's the nice part."
Mei made a small sound of acknowledgment, which might have been agreement or might have been her simply enjoying the sensation of Yuzu's weight against her. But it was all good. She had learned to communicate in touches and silences, in the pressure of her hand against Yuzu's back, in the way she turned her head to press lips against Yuzu's temple without breaking the rhythm of their relaxation.
"The others will be back eventually," Yuzu said. "Harumin will want to tell us about the night market. Matsuri will probably bring food."
"She always brings food."
"Suzuran will have observations about the quality of the stars from different vantage points in town."
"She would."
"And they will definitely have questions."
Mei's hand paused momentarily in Yuzu's hair. "Let them ask."
"You'd answer?"
"If the questions are appropriate." Mei's voice took on its harder edge, the one she reserved for people who interfered with her plans. "If they are not, I will remind them I can destroy their academic records with one phone call to the board of directors."
Yuzu laughed, the sound muffled against Mei's skin. "You wouldn't actually do that."
"Never." Mei's fingers resumed their gentle movements. "But they don't know that."
They fell quiet again, listening to the distant sound of waves, the first birds beginning their morning songs, the house settling around them with creaks and sighs. Yuzu thought about the previous day, with the constant interruptions, the frustrated attempts, She thrilled to the way Mei had finally snapped and ordered everyone out. She thought about how embarrassing it was, how ridiculous, that they had to go to such lengths simply to be together.
She thought about how very, very worth it it was.
"Next time," she said, "we should just tell them we're horned out. Properly. No more secrets."
Mei's heartbeat shifted beneath her ear, accelerating slightly. "You want that?"
"Look, they already are aware we're lovers! Why not let them know we've been doing the wild thing every chance we can get? I want to be able to kiss you in front of people. I want to hold your hand at school. I want—" Yuzu lifted her head, meeting Mei's worried eyes in the soft light. "I don't want to hide anymore. Especially not from our friends"
The expression that crossed Mei's face was complex. Yuzu saw vulnerability warring with caution, hope wrestling with fear. They had both spent so long building walls, protecting themselves from a world that didn't understand this soul-bond they had found in each other. The idea of lowering those walls, of letting others see what they shared, was still terrifying. Even among friends.
But also, Yuzu could see, it was intoxicating.
"After vacation," Mei said finally. "When we return. We will... discuss it."
"Discuss it."
"Strategize. Plan. Execute." Mei smiled wryly. "I am very good at strategic planning."
"You are very good at a lot of things."
"My skills are somewhat limited in certain areas."
"Like patience."
"Like patience."
They kissed slowly, sleepily, the urgency of previous days replaced by a gentle afterglow that spread through Yuzu like sunlight through water. There would be problems enough tomorrow. There always were, for them. But right now, in this moment, everything was perfect.
A key turned in the front door.
They heard Harumin's voice before they saw her: "Shh, everyone! They're probably asleep! We have to be quiet!"
Matsuri's voice, considerably less quiet: "Why do we have to be quiet? I want more of your awesome pancakes! Who else wants pancakes? I made a whole list of pancake varieties and I need everyone to vote!"
"You didn't make a list—"
"I made several lists! They're very thorough!"
Suzuran's voice, contemplative: "The quality of moonlight through the eastern windows is quite exceptional. Perhaps I should document this in my—"
"Nobody needs documentation of the moon, Suzuran!"
Sara's voice, strained: "Maybe we should just... go back to bed. All of us. Go back to sleep. Pretend we never left."
Nene opined, "But I found this shell for Yuzu—"
"PUT THE SHELL DOWN, NENE." It was Nina, anxious to go back in the privacy of the room she shared with Sara.
Mei's glance found her lover's.
"Stay," she said quietly.
"Always."
They settled back against the pillows, letting the sounds of their friends' return wash over them without concern. The door to the bedroom opened slightly, and Harumin's head appeared, her eyes going wide at the sight of them together, uncovered and tangled together in the morning light.
"Oh," Nina breathed.
"Oh!" Matsuri said, peering over her shoulder,"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"I see," Suzuran said, nodding sagely. "This confirms several theories I have been developing."
Harumin had turned bright red and was backing away slowly, one hand over her eyes. "I did not see anything. I have seen nothing. I will remember nothing."
Nene, still clutching the shell, blinked slowly. "So this is why Mei-san wanted us to leave."
Yuzu, who had pulled the sheet up to at least cover some portions of their bodies, attempted an explanation. "We can explain—"
Harumin held up a hand, fumbling out, "You know what? You don't have to explain anything. Really. It's fine. This is... this is good, actually. I'm happy for you both."
"Very happy," Matsuri agreed, grinning. "Sure you've been good little virgins! You've been kidding us along about your innocent lamb status! You girl's have had it going on behind our backs all this time! This explains so much about the weird vibes I was picking up all day!"
"There were no weird vibes," Mei said flatly.
"There were SO many weird vibes..."
"That's enough." Mei sat up, and despite her lack of clothing, somehow managed to project an aura of absolute authority. "We will be having a conversation about boundaries. Personal space. The importance of knocking. And the appropriate times to return from outings. But that conversation will happen after I have consumed tea and possibly committed several acts of violence."
Harumin nodded quickly. "Totally fair. We'll... we'll make pancakes. And be downstairs. For... a while. Very long while."
The door closed.
Silence.
Mei looked at Yuzu, who's eyes were comically wide.
Then they both started laughing. Harder than they had laughed in months, the tension of the previous day pouring out in waves of helpless giggles. Yuzu snuggled herself into Mei's arms, pressing her face against her shoulder to muffle the sound, feeling tears of laughter squeeze from the corners of her eyes.
"We should probably get dressed," she managed between gasps.
"We should probably not."
"The pancakes will get cold."
"Screw those damned pancakes! The pancakes will survive." Mei's arms tightened around her. "We have wasted an entire vacation on interruptions. I am not wasting this moment."
Yuzu relaxed against her, listening to the sounds of chaos in the kitchen. Pots clattering, Harumin's panicked cooking instructions, Matsuri's enthusiastic but unhelpful commentary, Nene's muffled sounds of distress. It was absurd. It was ridiculous. It was, somehow...
Perfect.
"I love you," she said quietly, the words coming easily in the safety of Mei's embrace.
Mei was silent for a long moment. Then, so softly that Yuzu almost missed it:
"I love you too."
They stayed like that before the sounds of breakfast preparation grew louder, and the world outside slowly came alive before the new day. Later, they would have to face the questions, smirks, awkward conversations and the complicated future that awaited them.
For now... They had pancakes.