Hotaru and Komari's Future

by Windrises

Before Komari leaves for college Hotaru tells Komari about how she feels. After learning about this Hotaru and Komari both wonder what they should do.

Note: Non Non Biyori is a anime done by the studio Silver Link and is based on a magna by Atto. This story takes place years after the show.

It was Komari Koshigaya's last day at school. She was eighteen and ready to graduate. Komari's best friend, Hotaru Ichijo, had a crush on Komari from the day she met her six years ago. Despite Hoatru's obvious hints Komari never seemed to notice how Hotaru truly felt about her.

Hotaru wanted to be proud and happy for Komari, but she was too distracted at the thought of Komari leaving to college. Hotaru was two years younger than Komari so she would have to wait two years to go to college. Hotaru figured that Komari's graduation party would be the last chance she got to tell Komari about her feelings before she left.

The graduation party was a small event outside the super small school. Hotaru looked around at the other party guests. Everybody looked so happy. Hotaru felt a little jealous of the lighthearted and easygoing nature of her friends. While Komari talked to her family and friends Hotaru stood around and thought about how to tell Komari her true feelings.

Komari looked around and saw Hotaru whispering to herself. Komari walked up to her. Hotaru was already blushing. She felt the urge to just keep her feelings locked up in order to keep this day from getting awkward.

It took ten seconds for Hotaru to get the courage to say, "Hi."

Komari looked at Hotaru with a polite smile on her face while asking, "Are you okay?"

Hotaru nervously said, "Yes."

Komari replied, "You haven't spoken to me all day."

Hotaru blushed again while saying, "I have something that I want to tell you, but I've been nervous to tell you."

Komari replied, "Come on. You shouldn't feel scared to tell me your feelings. There's nobody I trust more than you."

Hotaru asked, "Really?"

Komari said, "My sister's nosy, my brother's quieter than a mime, and Renge is unpredictable."

Hotaru replied, "I'm really proud of you for graduating."

Komari said, "Thank you. What else?"

Hotaru blushed with extreme embarrassment while saying, "I love you."

Komari replied, "Aww."

Hotaru looked at Komari's face. Komari thought that Hotaru was just saying that she loves Komari as a friend. Hotaru was super scared, but she couldn't wait any longer to tell her crush how she felt. Hotaru said, "I'm not talking about loving you as a friend. I have a crush on you."

Komari had a surprised expression her face. She asked, "Are you making a joke?"

Hotaru shook her head and said, "I've had a crush on you since fifth grade."

Komari replied, "I wasn't expecting this. You were always so sweet, but I didn't think you thought me as anything more than a good friend."

Hotaru looked down on the ground, because she was scared to face Komari at this point. She said, "I'm so sorry. I know that I shouldn't of ruined your graduation with this news."

Komari lifted Hotaru's chin up and said, "You have no need to be sorry. When we were growing up I sometimes saw you blushing. I had fleeting thoughts that you were blushing at me, but I didn't think that much about it."

Hotaru replied, "I'm going to go." Hotaru tried running away, but Komari gently stopped her. Hotaru tried to hide her tears while saying, "I probably ruined our friendship."

Komari said, "Hotaru, no matter happens between us I want you to know that I care about you. The summer's about to begin so we'll have fun."

Hotaru replied, "Um, okay."

During the summer Hotaru hung out with Komari and her other friends. Komari tried to talk to Hotaru alone, but Hotaru was too scared to talk everytime. Hotaru and Komari had fun together during the summer, but both of them felt too confused to talk to each other about their feelings.

After the summer was over it was time for Komari to go to college. A few years ago a college was put up fifty miles away from Hotaru's school. Komari waited for the bus while wearing her blue college uniform for the first time. While she waited Hotaru walked to her while wearing a purple dress. Komari asked, "What are you doing here?"

Hotaru answered, "I wanted to say goodbye before you left. I'm going to miss you a lot."

Komari replied, "I'll miss you too."

After standing around for a few minutes Hotaru gave Komari a hug. Komari said, "If you have anything else to tell me say it now. Don't hold back. I wanna hear all of your secrets."

Hotaru decided to tell Komari her strongest feelings. She said, "I've never met anybody who I love more than you." Komari got caught up in the moment and kissed Hotaru on the cheek.

Komari said, "I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't of done that." Komari looked around and noticed that the bus was waiting for her. She said, "I must go. Goodbye Hotaru."

Hotaru replied, "Goodbye Komari." Hotaru and Komari stared at each other. Neither of them felt ready to leave.

The bus driver angrily asked, "Will you hurry up? Being late is a terrible way to start college." Komari growled at the bus driver.

Hotaru said, "I don't want you to be late, because of me. Please go ahead."

Komari replied, "Okay, but I plan on calling you."

Hotaru said, "I'm already excited for your call."

Komari replied, "You're adorable."

The bus driver said, "All of the students on this bus are going to be late if you don't hurry up."

Komari sighed and said, "Okay. I'm sorry." She got on the bus and waved goodbye to Hotaru.

Hotaru was an hour late for her first day of eleventh grade. However Kazuho Miyauchi, the teacher, was sleeping so Hotaru didn't get into much trouble. Hotaru tried to not think about her feelings towards Komari during school.

After school Komari went to her dorm room and met Julie Kitt, her new roommate. Komari waited for Julie to leave so she could call Hotaru. Hotaru heard her phone ring and got excited. She answered the phone super fast and said, "Hi Komari."

Komari replied, "Hi Hotaru."

Hotaru said, "I'm sorry about what happened earlier this morning. Your class was probably late, because of how long I delayed you from getting on the bus."

Komari replied, "I deserve the blame for that. I wanted to talk to you longer this morning."

Hotaru asked, "Can I ask you a personal question?"

Komari said, "Of course."

Hotaru asked, "Why did you kiss me on the cheek earlier?"

Komari nervously said, "I'm not sure. I was just moved by how nice you are."

Hotaru asked, "Have you ever been in love before?"

Komari answered, "Nothing romantic. What about you?"

Hotaru blushed while saying, "I've only had romantic feelings for you."

Komari replied, "Um, that's very heartfelt. I'm honored."

Julie was about to come back in so Komari said, "I need to go."

Hotaru responded, "Goodbye Komari. I love you."

Komari said, "You're the best." Komari hung up.

Julie said, "I got a bunch of milk so feel free to have some if you want."

Komari replied, "Okay."

Julie asked, "Who were you talking to on the phone?"

Komari said, "An old friend of mine."

Julie replied, "Sounded like you two have feelings for each other from what I heard."

Komari asked, "How could you hear that while you were walking to the door?"

Julie said, "The volume on your phone is crazy loud."

Komari looked at her phone and said, "Stupid phone."

Meanwhile Hotaru was having a conversation with her mom in her kitchen. Hotaru asked, "Is there any way I could skip eleventh and twelve grade?"

Hotaru's mom answered, "I'm afraid not. Why do you ask?"

Hotaru said, "I wanna be with Komari at college."

Hotaru's mom replied, "I know you care about her a lot, but you can't go to college for now." Hotaru had a mopey look on her face. Hotaru's mom said, "You can visit Komari this weekend." Hotaru smiled.

A few days later Komari got a ride on a bus to get to Hotaru's city. Hotaru patiently waited for her. After Komari got off the bus Hotaru ran up to her and said, "Hi Komari. I've been looking forward to your visit for days. Wanna go meet up with Renge and your family?"

Komari replied, "Um, I just wanna be with you for a while."

Hotaru smiled and said, "Sounds nice."

The weather was really nice so Hotaru and Komari took a long walk around the city. Hotaru talked about all the antics that her and her classmates got into during the week and Komari talked about how nosy her roommate and how many of her teachers danced around the hallways during breaktime.

After an hour of nice weather it started to rain. Hotaru said, "We're going to get soaked. I do know a shortcut to my house."

Komari replied, "Okay."

Hotaru and Komari took a shortcut and got to Hotaru's house in a few minutes. Hotaru asked, "Do you wanna come inside with me?"

Komari said, "I'm going to spend the night at my parent's house. I just wanted to make sure that you got home safely." Hotaru kissed Komari on the cheek.

Hotaru said, "I owed you a kiss on the cheek."

Komari blushed and replied, "Thank you. I need to go."

On Monday morning Hotaru walked Komari to the bus waiting area. Hotaru blushed happily while saying, "I enjoyed visiting you."

Komari replied, "It was a great time. I wish I was in eleventh grade so we could hangout more often."

Hotaru said, "You'll probably have lots of fun at college."

Komari replied, "I don't know. The last week was the saddest week I had in a long time."

Hotaru asked, "Komari, did you miss me?"

Komari nervously said, "Yes." Hotaru hugged Komari. Komari hugged back.

The bus driver angrily said, "You're wasting time again."

Komari replied, "I'm just giving someone special a goodbye hug."

The bus driver responded, "I'm going to give you a detention if you don't get on this bus now."

Komari said, "Fine." Komari rushed to the bus.

That day Principal Priceless hosted a assembly. He said, "We're having some news students coming to the dorm."

Komari raised her hand. After the Principal let her speak she replied, "But I heard there's no rooms left in the dorm."

Principal Priceless said, "That's true. We were offered a lot of money by some very rich students' parents so we can't turn them down. We need ten volunteers to forfeit from college. Your parents will get refunded and you'll be doing a generous thing so don't feel shy." Komari and nine other students raised their hands. The Principal was excited about getting the money.

Komari got permission to move back to her parent's house, until she was ready to go to college. However before going back home she paid Hotaru a visit. She knocked on the door. Hotaru opened it and said, "Hi Komari. I heard about you turning down college so a rich kid could get to college early. That was sweet of you, but I'm not sure if that was a great idea."

Komari replied, "Lets talk about. Wanna take a walk?"

Hotaru said, "Sure."

Hotaru and Komari started walking around the city. Komari nervously said, "Um, you can hold my hand if you want."

Hotaru started holding hands with Komari. Hotaru asked, "Are you upset about having to wait to go to college?"

Komari said, "No. I'll go there in two years so we can go together."

Hotaru asked, "Komari, did you forfeit college for me?"

Komari blushed and said, "Yes."

Hotaru replied, "I've had a question on my mind for several days."

Komari said, "Ask it. Be brave."

Hotaru asked, "Do you have a crush on me?"

Komari said, "Growing up I never properly appreciated or thanked you enough for all that you've done for me. I didn't even know that you loved me as something more than a friend. After I kissed you on the cheek last week I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. I thought that kiss on the cheek was a mistake, but it made me realize that I have a big crush on you." Hotaru did a victory dance.

Hotaru and Komari stayed silent for a few minutes. They were both embarrassed. Hotaru finally got up the nerve to speak. She asked, "Will you go on a date with me?"

Komari answered, "Yes. I don't have to go home for a few hours. Lets go have dinner together."

Hotaru said, "Okay." Hotaru and Komari started walking, but they paused and looked at each other. After staring at each other they kissed each other on the lips. Hotaru and Komari looked forward to spending the future together.