Chapter Text
Mizuki knocked on the door, fidgeting with the basket she was carrying. She took in a deep breath, then expelled the fear, steeling herself. When the door opened, she stiffened.
“Oh, it’s you,” Ena’s father said coldly. Mizuki gripped her hands together. Still, she held up a hand in a peace sign and winked.
“It’s me!” she said. “Is Ena home?”
“She’s busy…” her father began.
At that moment, Ena burst out of the hallway, she smiled at Mizuki, then ducked under her father’s arm and pulled Mizuki down the steps.
“I’ll be home tonight!” she exclaimed. Mizuki laughed as they ran, and soon enough Ena joined in. When they were far away from Ena’s home they slowed to a walk, still laughing. “Sorry, he can be such a pain.” Mizuki smiled at Ena’s statement. Her best friend… no, god above, it was still weird getting used to this.
My girlfriend. We finally made it official.
“Eh,” she said. “Old men are so boring some time; they just can’t see my charm.” She winked and looped an arm through Ena’s. Her girlfriend scowled and pulled away. Mizuki laughed again, and soon enough Ena was as well.
It was hard to be angry when they were together.
Ena hesitated, then slipped her hand into Mizuki’s. The touch was warm and soft. She felt her face flush and found herself stiffening just the slightest, unsure what to do.
“God, Mizuki, calm down, it’s not like the world is going to end because we’re holding hands,” Ena told her sharply. She still had a small smile persisting through her seemingly frustrated words.
Mizuki breathed out, then nodded.
“Yep!” she said. “I just… am still getting used to the idea of staying together like this.” Ena’s smile widened into a gentle expression, she squeezed Mizuki’s hand, then pulled herself a little closer.
Mizuki felt her face flame, she was about to respond, but Ena spoke.
“Well get used to it, because I’m not going anywhere,” she proclaimed. Mizuki grinned.
“Was that some charisma coming from you Enanan?” she asked. “I’m surprised.” Ena rolled her eyes but didn’t pull away.
“Now where is this magical place you promised to take me on our first date?” she asked. Mizuki smiled.
“That’s a surprise, you’ll see in a few minutes!” she exclaimed.
…
Ena watched her girlfriend as she was led down the streets. Mizuki wore a pink skirt that went down to her knees, a cream turtleneck that had been altered with pink ribbons on the sleeves, and a ribbon designed to look like a collection of cherry blossoms in her hair.
She reached up and tapped the ribbon.
“I thought you hated these,” she said quietly. Mizuki stopped, then looked down at her, blushing. Then she glanced away.
“I did,” she said. Then she tilted her head to the side slightly, her bangs partially covering her face with the movement.
She smiled a radiant and beautiful smile.
“But now they just remind me of you,” Ena felt her face go tomato red at the statement. Goodness gracious, she’s so cute. “Cherry blossoms have always seemed to remind me of how everything good in my life has come to an end… but now I can see that even if that happens… they’re beautiful while they’re there.”
There was a moment where the two were silent
“Please tell me you’re not expecting me to abandon you,” Ena said flatly. Mizuki laughed, then pulled Ena into an embrace.
“I hope not,” she whispered. Then she pulled back, grabbed Ena’s arm and pulled her down the street. “Now come one! We’re almost there.”
“Where are we going?” Ena asked.
“You’ll see!” Mizuki replied over her shoulder.
…
“You’re taking me to an alleyway?” Ena asked in a skeptical tone. Mizuki breathed out a sigh, then began walking, Ena seemed annoyed, but she fell into step beside Mizuki. “Since when has hanging about in an alleyway been romantic?” she asked. Again, Mizuki sighed, she turned and began walking backwards.
“You don’t remember this place?” she asked. Ena faltered in her step, then looked around with that calm calculating look she seemed to get at times. “Here, maybe this will help.” Mizuki said. With that, they stepped into a small space behind two buildings. Larger than the rest of the alleyway.
It wasn’t the prettiest place, the buildings boxed around it, and there were some sort of machine shouting a buzzing noise at them, as if to say “leave, you’re not wanted here!”
An electrical pole shot high into the air on the other side, near some fences. A wire fence was on their left as well.
Still, not everything seemed to be doom and gloom. Plants had been set in the area, ivy twined around the electrical pole. Some of the green in the gray stone box had been placed by humans, clear by the pots they were in, but some had come naturally.
Mizuki looked back at Ena and saw that her girlfriend recognized the place. She had a hand held to her mouth, and tears pricking her eyes.
“I thought that… for our first date we could visit the place that gave us this chance,” Mizuki explained. She set the basket down, then opened the lid. “I brought a blanket and some food. I thought we could go on a picnic.” She stood up straight. Then started when Ena tackled her in a tight embrace.
Tears pricked her eyes, and she returned the hug.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Ena cried. Mizuki found herself crying at the statement as well. Ena pulled back, then wiped her tears away. “It’s perfect.”
…
As the sun began to set, Mizuki watched Ena furiously sketching the scene. They’d eaten their fill and now were relaxing together. It was perfect, this had been a perfect date. Full of laughter, teasing, and just… happiness. She knew that they both had needed this in their lives.
“Hold still!” Ena exclaimed as Mizuki moved to grab a macaroon. It was rose pink, and strawberry flavored. The perfect sweet treat.
“I’m just grabbing some food!” Mizuki replied, popping the macaroon in her mouth. Ena hesitated, then smiled.
She turned back to her art and continued sketching for a minute. Mizuki breathed out a long breath, feeling warm.
“I wonder what Kanade and Mafuyu are doing,” she said.
“Probably working,” Ena replied. She put her art book down, then lay down next to Mizuki, snuggling into her arms. Mizuki pulled her girlfriend close.
“Probably,” she replied. “How is the illustration Bake No Hana going?” Ena hesitated, then sat up abruptly. Mizuki looked up at her.
“Are you sure you want to release that song?” she asked. Mizuki sat up as well, hugging her knees to her chest.
“Yes… and no?” she said, statement sounding more like a question.
She’d felt worried about releasing this new song for a while, but ever since… that day… she sighed, then looked around the small clearing, forcing herself to focus on reuniting with Ena after she’d been outed.
Ena slipped a hand into hers.
“We really don’t have to,” she said. Mizuki smiled slightly.
“I want to,” she said, nodding, steeling her resolve. “For all the people out there, who are… like me…” she began. Ena put her hand on Mizuki’s chest.
“You really don’t need to dance around the subject,” she said calmly. Mizuki stared at her, then blushed.
Before she could figure out her emotions in that second, she found herself moving. She grabbed Ena by the shoulders and forced herself closer to her girlfriend. An insane pulsing, writhing, twisting, knot formed in her stomach as she did the most insane thing ever.
She kissed Ena.
Pressed their lips together, clutching tightly. She needed to be close.
One kiss became two, two became three.
They seemed to mold together, meeting each other and filling every gap. It was wonderful.
Somehow, Mizuki ended up back on the ground, she stared up at Ena, breathless from being so close.
They both smiled.
Their first kiss.
She’d expected that to come later, she’d wanted it to be planned and perfect.
Well, it had been perfect, Mizuki had never felt better.