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It was Shiho’s first day at a new school. She wasn't given a reason by anyone on why, even after a hundred asks. At least she had some friends at the school, so she wasn't all that lonely.
Her new classroom was 1-A. Walking in, there weren't that many students, she was early so to be expected. She was already told where her desk would be.
While waiting for class to start, someone caught her eyes. A gorgeous girl with black hair and blue tips and stunning amber eyes. It felt like seeing a sunrise reflection on the sea. Shiho has never experienced ‘love at first sight’ before, but something about this girl…
The pink-haired girl she was talking to looked blurry to Shiho. Nothing else mattered to her at the moment. She tried to look away, but she just couldn't. She really didn't want to get caught staring.
Once the girl looked in Shiho’s direction, she was finally able to look away. She should really get her act together. Class was starting soon, she hoped pretending the girl didn't exist would help her focus.
***
Shiho was walking to the instrument store after school. She was somewhat able to focus at school, but caught herself looking at her from time to time. It was quiet until…
“Hey! Aren't you my new classmate?” A girl called behind her.
Turning around, she saw it was the beautiful girl. “Oh, yes,” she said as she caught up with her.
“What was your name again?” The girl had a sorry look on her face.
“My name's Hinomori. Shiho Hinomori.”
“That's right, I remember now! My name's An Shiraishi.” An's face lit up. “Where are you doing?”
“I'm just going to the instrument shop.”
“Can I join you?”
“I guess.”
The girls walked into the store. Shiho noticed An's eyes wandering. She made her way to the cords, An was close behind her.
“So what do you do?” An asked.
“Huh?” Shiho wasn't paying much attention.
“I mean, what do you play in music?”
“I play bassist in a band.”
“You do? Can I listen to you play live someday?” An asked cheerfully.
“I don't see why you can't.”
An gave a big smile and chuckled. “I'll make sure I do then.”
Shiho put her full attention back to the cords. After a few seconds, she picked one. She suddenly noticed how close An was. She was able to smell her unique scent. She didn't know how to describe it, but it was comforting. But she still liked her own space. “Can you back up a bit?” Shiho asked.
“Ah, I'm sorry,” An apologized, walking away a bit.
Shiho thought about how much she's like Saki. Bright with a lack of space. She paid for the cord while An waited near the entrance, then the two left the shop.
“I live in the other direction, so I'll see you later,” An said.
“Goodbye, see you later,” Shiho said, waving her hand.
An also waved her hand with a smile, then walked away. Shiho wished she could spend more time with her, but they go to the same school so not much is lost.
***
Shiho heard knocking from her bedroom door. “Shii, someone's at the door for you,” Shizuku said, her voice muffled by the closed door.
She didn't remember inviting anyone over. She saw it was An standing on the other side when she went out to open the door. How the fuck did she know her address?
They stood in silence for a few seconds. “So why are you here?” Shiho asked.
“I come to listen to you play bass,” An said, seemingly a bit embarrassed.
Does all she has to herself is beauty? Well, she came all this way and Shiho doesn't have any other plans. “Sure, come in,” Shiho said, moving out of the doorway.
“Thank you very much!” An said, her face brightening. Shiho closed the door after she came in. She began looking around, as she followed her into her room.
“What do you plan on playing?” An asked as they entered the room.
Shiho didn't really know herself. “Whatever comes to mind, I guess.” She picked up her bass and sat on her bed. An sat next to her, she was closer to the edge than Shiho was.
An watched as Shiho's fingers moved the strings of the bass as she began to play. The rest of the day was like that. They barely talked, Shiho heavily focused on playing, An watched and listened.
Shiho stopped playing when the leftover sunlight disappeared from her room. “So what did you think?” Shiho asked, putting her bass away.
“Hm?” An seemed lost in thought, not replying for a few seconds. “It was beautiful. It really made me want to sing.” There was a lot of fondness in her voice.
Shiho softly smiled.
“Also can I… um…” An fidgeted. “Can I stay the night?”
Shiho's smile dropped. She wished she told that sooner. “You can.”
“That's good. I wasn't planning to leave. But your bed is a little small, we might have to cuddle,” An said, looking at the bed.
Shiho immediately blushed, whipping her head to look at her. “Who said we're sleeping in the same bed?! And we'll both fit without cuddling!”
An had a confused look on her face. “It's normal for friends to sleep on the same bed. Unless you like me.” Mischievous was her tone, as she got close to Shiho with a playful face.
She backed away from her. “Says the girl who suggested cuddling out of nowhere!”
She giggled. “I'm only joking, no need to be so red.”
Shiho started wondering if she really liked her. Or is she pushing because she knows she likes her? Shiho hasn't given any obvious signs so it can't be that. “We can sleep on the same bed, but if you try anything, I'll force you to sleep on the floor,” Shiho said, strictly.
“I promise I won't do anything,” An said through a smile. She didn't believe her.
After taking their position on the bed, Shiho laid close to the wall, back turned on An, and An laid near the edge of the bed, moving a lot. When An finally settled down, Shiho heard her immediately softly snoring and realized she was facing towards her. Whatever, that wasn't going to make her turn to look at An's peaceful face. She closed her eyes to fall asleep.
***
Shiho woke up with weight against her left side, laying on her back. She opened her eyes to find An pressed up against her. Her head on her chest, her arm wrapped around her waist, and her legs locked around her legs.
She knew not to believe her. She began shaking her awake. “Wake up,” Shiho said, sternly.
An woke up then quickly got up and tried to back away from Shiho, but… THUD. She fell off the bed.
“Are you okay?” Shiho asked, looking over the edge of the bed.
An laid unmoving on her side, her hair covering her eyes. She could tell she was breathing.
“Looks like you already did my job,” Shiho said, jokingly.
“You're mean…”
“I haven't done anything.”
An sat up, Shiho helped her dust herself off. “What time is it?” An asked.
“Around six,” Shiho answered.
“I need to start getting ready.” An stood up and went to the door. Shiho stayed in bed, she didn't need to get up quite yet, she watched An get ready.
Shiho gave An a note as she finished. “What's this?” An asked.
“It has my contact information, because I don't want you to show up unannounced, when I never told you where I live, like a creep,” Shiho said.
She looked away like she was ashamed. “I'm sorry about that… I probably should have told you that Tenma told me.”
“You should have, and she should have told me that you were coming over.”
An nodded. “I'll be leaving now. Thank you for the special show. See you soon.”
“See you.”
(Bonus: Saki did text her that she was coming over. But it was a draft. She never sent the text, she didn't realize until it was too late.)
***
They haven't talked much in the last few days. Shiho sat at a desk in the School SEKAI, while the girls took a break during practice. She heard her phone buzz. A message? She checked her phone to see…
{Shiraishi}
[Are you free anytime soon?]
Shiho wondered what An was up to this time. She tapped the text to reply.
[Yes, I'm free tomorrow.]
[Great! There's a new cafe that
opened up and you were the
first person I thought of since
the others were busy.]
Shiho found it nice to hangout with An after what felt so long, even if An's a little too much for her.
“Did something good happen, Shiho? You're smiling joyfully.” A voice suddenly made Shiho look away from her phone.
It was Saki. “It's nothing important,” Shiho said, pretending to not have smiled at all.
Saki giggled. “The way you were smiling said otherwise.”
“I was not smiling.”
“Is it that you have a date?”
Shiho got embarrassed. “I do not!” Or not yet.
“That's a shame, I thought you would have one already. Unless you want to date-”
“Break's over,” Shiho announced, getting up. She didn't want to talk about who she wants to date right now.
***
Shiho saw An at the spot they agreed to meet up at. “Hey, Shiraishi,” She said, while she got closer, to get An's attention.
“Hi, Hinomori,” An said, with a smile. “How are you doing today?”
“Good. How about you?” Shiho responded. She has to admit, she feels a sudden calmness being around her.
“Good, but one of my singing members won't stop complaining about his sister making him do weird requests that he won't elaborate on,” An said, sounding fed up.
Shiho knows she sometimes complains about her own sister to the others, but not to the point they get mad. “It must be annoying. How far is the cafe?”
“It's not far, just around this corner.” An's tone softened.
As they rounded the corner, they were at the cafe. Shiho quickly realized that it was a cat cafe. She wished she told her that information, but acted like she didn't care. They entered, ordered, got their drinks, then sat at a table. There were just two other people. Shiho glazed back at An as she watched her pull a chair from the other side of the table to her.
“Do you need to sit right next to me?” Shiho asked.
“Why would I sit across when I can sit next to you?” An asked.
“Whatever makes you happy then.”
An ordered an iced caffe latte and Shiho ordered an apple smoothie, they also ordered a chocolate chip cookie that they split in half. An already ate her half.
“It's nice to be with you,” An said.
“Huh?” Shiho was caught off guard.
“I just mean you're peaceful to be around. I feel like I could relax and be me. I'm not saying I can't be myself around my singing group. You're just like a lavender scent, while my group is a wood scent.”
“What?”
“That wasn't understandable?” An got her drink and started drinking it, out of embarrassment.
“If this is you trying to impress me, it's not working.” Shiho chuckled. “And you don't need to chug your drink.”
An put down her drink. Shiho felt a cat jump in her lap, looking down, it was a Russian blue with green eyes. It meowed at her. “The cat looks just like you,” An said, smiling.
“It really does.” Shiho could see herself in the reflection of the cat's eyes.
An reached over and picked up the cat. She hugged it, but it escaped her grip, it jumped down on the ground. She watched it as it walked away. “I wished it stayed for a little longer,” she said, sadly.
Shiho giggled at how cute An looked.
“Don't laugh at my sadness,” An defensively said.
“I couldn't help myself.”
An took another drink from her coffee. But Shiho heard her suck up air through the straw. “Oh,” An said, like she just noticed.
Shiho thought of how clueless she was. “Maybe if you didn't chug it down, you'll have some left.”
An put the cup down and sighed. “I didn't drink it that fast.” She glanced around at the cats. “We should play together someday. I feel like your bass playing and my singing would work well with each other,” An said out of the blue.
Shiho realized she had never heard her sing before. “I'll be happy if we can.”
An smiled. “We can do it right now if you want.”
Shiho huffed. “My bass is back at my house, I'll force you to go get it for me.”
“Alright, fine. We could do it another day.” An looked down at Shiho's hands. “Can I have some of your smoothie?”
Her drink wasn't even in her hands, why did she look at them? “Sure, but don't chug it,” Shiho said, handing her the drink.
“Of course, I'm not going to.” She took the drink from her hand. Shiho watched her throat as she swallowed two gulps, then she handed the drink back to her.
Shiho took a sip as she got the drink back. If the only means of them kissing would be through a plastic straw, so be it. She drank the rest of the drink since there was little left. She also ate her half of the cookie. “I'm all finished, we could leave if you want,” Shiho said.
“You are? I was able to say that I want to stretch my legs,” An said.
They got up from the table and threw their trash away. As they neared the door out, An slowed down while looking at something, smiling. “Look,” An whispered.
Shiho faced where An's eyes were on. There were two cats, a black one and the other one was grey, cuddling each other. Their tails that laid upon each other made a heart. It was a really adorable sight.
“You're making a cute face, Hinomori,” An said.
Shiho couldn't believe she allowed herself to slip up like that. She went behind An, opening the door. She was right behind her, snickering.
An stopped as she looked at someone. “Oh, hey, Mizuki!” she said, running up to a pink hair girl.
The girl turned around to face An, smiling. “What's up, An?”
“Where are you going?”
“Just to a clothing store.”
“Can I join?”
“Of course!”
An turned to Shiho. “Would you like to come too, Hinomori?” She asked her.
If it means she can hang out with An more… “Sure, I'll come,” Shiho said.
An gave a big smile, then dropped as she remembered something. “You two don't know each other's names,” An whispered to no one.
“I'm Mizuki Akiyama,” Mizuki introduced herself.
“Shiho Hinomori.”
After walking for a few minutes, they entered a big clothes store. “Is there anything you two want to look at?” Mizuki asked.
“Not anything comes to mind,” An said while Shiho shook her head.
Mizuki nodded, then walked to a woman section, An and Shiho close behind. “I think you should try this, Hinomori,” An said behind Shiho.
Shiho stopped walking to turn around to see what An was holding. It was a black, goth looking shirt. “I am absolutely not wearing that,” Shiho said.
“Come on, maybe you'll find a new favorite style,” An said cheekily, putting the shirt back.
“It would look good on other women, but I'm not one of them. You're just finding an excuse to laugh at me.”
“So serious. But that's what I love about you.”
Shiho looked away.
“Are you blushing?” An sounded closer with her voice low.
“I am not.”
“Here. Why don't you try this on, An?” Mizuki said. Shiho looked back to see Mizuki holding a dress to An. She didn't realize she had left them.
It was white with blue and cream flowers. It had a flower pattern on the net part as well, starting from the rib cage. It honestly looked beautiful.
“Why make Shiraishi wear a dress when we're not here for that?” Shiho wondered.
“It caught my eye, and it wouldn't hurt to try it on for a few seconds,” Mizuki said.
They were nowhere near the dresses, but alright.
“It looks beautiful, I'll try it on,” An said, grabbing the dress out of her hand and going to the changing rooms.
Shiho stood in silence, waiting for An to come out. She didn't think of anything or paid attention to her surroundings. It felt like she was waiting for years.
At last, she heard and saw the door open. There was a spark in her that she couldn't describe as An stepped out in the open. She was so gorgeous. Shiho allowed her eyes to drink every inch of An.
“What do you think?” An asked, a light blush on her face.
“Huh?” Her words were unheard by Shiho, but she quickly realized what she said. “It looks good,” she said, trying to hide her feelings as she looked away.
“Hinomori, I found something for you as well,” Mizuki said, to the other side of her.
Shiho looked at what Mizuki was holding. It was a tuxedo, it had similar flowers on it. “I'm not-”
“You should wear it,” An said.
Shiho saw An's eyes sparkling. “Alright, I'll try it on,” Shiho said, taking the suit from Mizuki then going to the changing rooms. Closing the room's door, she inspected the tuxedo suit. She couldn't believe she was going to wear this.
After getting changed, she grabbed the door’s handle nervously. She hasn't dared to look at the mirror. She took a deep breath before opening the door. Walking out, An's eyes immediately landed on her. She blushed.
“You look handsome, Hinomori,” An said.
Handsome! She tried to not think about it too much as she walked to An's side.
“You two strive to get married!” Mizuki exclaimed.
Shiho blushed even more. This was a trap! “I'm going to change,” Shiho announced, turning to the changing rooms. She was suddenly stopped.
An's arms were wrapped around her. “Can I at least see you in the suit for a bit longer?” An asked, resting her chin on her shoulder.
“Fine,” Shiho said. An let out a satisfied hum. She was able to smell her scent, it took a lot to not turn and kiss her.
“I should buy the outfits for you two,” Mizuki said.
“How? Hers alone would cost eighty thousand yen,” Shiho said.
Mizuki just smiled. An giggled. These two she swears. “We can leave whenever you two stop being romantic,” Mizuki said something at least.
Shiho honestly forgot An was clinging onto her for a few seconds. She grabbed An's arms and lightly tugged, which made An let go of her. “I'm getting out of this,” Shiho said, successfully making it to the changing rooms this time. Upon entering a room, she immediately took the suit off. She took another look at it before putting back on her own clothes. She didn't think she'd wear something like that again, unless it was for An.
She saw An out of the dress when she got in the open. As she got close to Mizuki, she snatched the suit from her hand. She didn't want to hold it anyways. She watched Mizuki while she paid for both the tuxedo and dress. She wondered why she would pay so much for something so little.
“That was fun,” Mizuki said by the time they left the store.
“I'm not sure if fun would be what I'll describe it,” Shiho said.
“Like I said, always so serious,” An said.
***
It was lunch time, and Shiho was walking to the courtyard to eat alone. The only friend she had at the school was An. And Tsukasa and Mizuki she guessed. But they had their own places, so she wasn't going to bother them.
“Hey, Hinomori.” She heard someone say. She could tell it was Mizuki, footsteps closing in on behind her.
“Yes?” Shiho turned to look at Mizuki.
“Are you busy in two days in the afternoon?”
“Not that I remember.”
Mizuki smiled. “Great! There's a place I would like to meet up with you and An, if you don't mind that is.”
In the small time she spent with her, she felt like it would be something she wouldn't be a fan of. “I'll be there.”
“I'll have An text you the location because I forgot. Have a good day and I'll see you soon, Hinomori!” Mizuki said, bounding off.
“Goodbye, Akiyama.” Dear stars, whatever Mizuki’s going to do, let it not be embarrassing.
***
Shiho walked to the place An texted her on the day. The sun was high in the sky. There was a flower field in front of her as she looked for the girls. She found them at the edge of the field, An's deep sea hair and Mizuki’s pink hydrangea hair hash against the napier green grass.
“The last one to arrive,” Mizuki said, as Shiho approached.
“Why did you call us here?” Shiho asked, looking down at the mess Mizuki made. Oh no. She saw that she had brought the dress and tuxedo.
“You two looked so perfect in those outfits, we should save the memories. I'll do your makeup just because,” Mizuki explained, taking a camera out.
Forcing her to put on the suit again AND having makeup done AND taking a picture of this embarrassment? Shiho thought she should come up with an excuse to leave.
“Hinomori, at least one picture, please?” An said, her voice was soft. She must have noticed her annoyance.
She sighed. If An wanted her to, then she will. “Fine.”
“There should be a restroom nearby you can change in,” Mizuki said.
They both grabbed their outfits. The restroom was able to be seen from where they were at. It looked like it had only one room. “Can we change together?” An asked once they were at the door.
“What is up with you and your weird requests?” Shiho asked, flustered.
“Alright, I'll go first then.”
Shiho waited close by. When An left the room, her casual clothes in her hand now, Shiho immediately took her place and changed the fastest she could. She just wanted to get this over with. She saw An near Mizuki already when she got out.
Mizuki was doing An's makeup as she got close. “Do you know how to do makeup, Akiyama?” Shiho asked.
“I know enough,” Mizuki said.
How reassuring. Shiho turned back to the flower field. It was pretty, and the light breeze brushing the petals added a nice touch.
“I'm done,” Mizuki said.
Shiho laid her eyes on An as she heard her get up. There was an overwhelming feeling of love in her, like she entered heaven. Mizuki made her so pretty. She observed the flowers again, pretending to not care. An walked away from the chair.
“Hinomori, it's your turn to get your makeup done,” Mizuki said.
Shiho sat down then closed her eyes. She stayed still during Mizuki making her look nice. Shiho listened to An's dress blowing in the breeze until Mizuki finished.
“All done.” Mizuki backed up. “Why don't you two stand in the middle of the field?”
Shiho saw An already in the middle, she treaded next to her. An watched Shiho with a soft smile. Shiho's heart was beating so fast, she thought it was going to burst out of her chest or pass out.
An grabbed both her hands as they stood across from each other. Her hands were so soft and warm. She really wanted to pull her close. They looked at each other's eyes, An's amber eyes were full of gentleness. Mizuki was quite far from them so she couldn't hear the snap of the camera.
“Hinomori?” An asked.
“Yes?” Shiho responded, not realizing her voice was shaking.
“Can I tell you something?”
“Of course.”
Shiho felt An change the position of their hands so their fingers lock together. “I love you,” An said.
Shiho couldn't believe what she was hearing. Now she really felt like she was going to pass out. “I love you too,” Shiho said.
An leaned in, and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. Nothing else matters to Shiho now. She let go of An's hands and put them on An's waist. She leaned into her for another kiss. An put her arms around Shiho's neck. The sense of An's lips against hers was amazing.
Their lips parted to breathe. Shiho became aware of clapping. She paid attention to Mizuki, the person clapping. “Are you enjoying the show over there?” Shiho asked, loud enough for Mizuki to hear.
“Just happy for a happy ending. I have my own girlfriend,” Mizuki said, stopping and stretching back.
An giggled. “She's just a supportive friend,” An quietly said, her voice full of love. She rested her head on her chest.
“You're going to get makeup on the suit,” Shiho said.
“It’s fine, Mizuki can just wash it off.”
“White shirts are difficult to wash.”
She lifted her head up. “Why are you always so serious?”
“I don't think I'm being serious enough.” Shiho stared into her sunrise eyes, allowing herself to be mesmerized by her for a few moments. “Can I take this off now?”
“Aw, but you look so handsome,” An whined, “I do have to be somewhere in an hour, so I guess we could wrap this up.”
An backed away from Shiho, in order to walk. “Done already?” Mizuki asked, as they drew near.
“You know I have places to be,” An responded.
“Sure, sure, sit down. Unless you want to go out with makeup on.”
“I rather not be questioned by my group.”
Shiho left the two, putting her normal clothes back on. The suit was a little uncomfortable to wear. Once she returned, Mizuki also took the makeup off of her, though she said she could do it herself. Shiho and An waited as Mizuki packed everything away. “Looks like we're ready to go our separate ways, for now,” Mizuki said.
“If you asked me to do anything like this again, don't expect me to come,” Shiho said.
An bumped Shiho. “Come on, I know you'll show up waiting for me.”
Shiho huffed and An giggled.
“Alright, it's time for me to get going. Goodbye, honey,” An said, lowering her voice at the end as Mizuki walked a bit away.
“Goodbye, my love,” Shiho whispered back. They turned and went opposite directions, only An and Mizuki strolled together. But Shiho couldn't help herself while she turned back to An, watching her fade out of view. She felt like something heavy inside her has been lifted, she just feels overwhelmed with love now. She couldn't be happier right now.