The winter weather demanded appropriate clothing, so dressing up wasn't high on the priority list. Still, the teen tried to look nice for the evening ahead. A red cotton buttoned up blouse and a blue skirt that went down to her knees. A pair of black stockings would keep the lower half of her body warm, and a light grey jacket hung on a nearby chair. She didn't have any jewelry or make up, but the brown hair she'd let grown out recently gave her face a cute appearance anyway, better than the tomboyish look she'd sported before. Looking at herself in the mirror, she had to admit she was pleased with her appearance.
"Naomi…" A voice purred with even more approval. In the mirror, she saw another girl come up behind her, one wearing a long black dress with matching stockings. Her hair was styled in two buns and two small blue earrings gleamed a bit from her ears. Like Naomi, she hadn't bothered with make-up. "You're so pretty!" She gushed, wrapping her arms around Naomi's midsection from behind and resting her head on her shoulder. "I told you you'd look nice if you let your hair grow out."
"Thanks, Seiko." Naomi blushed at the compliment while pulling her girlfriend's hands away from where they'd been playing with the blouse buttons covering her breasts. "You look really great in that dress." She stepped off to the side so Seiko could admire her own appearance.
"Yeah…" Seiko agreed. "I don't fill it out all the way, but dad says I look just like mom when she wore it." There was something a little sad in her smile as she stared at herself.
"I'm sure she'd be happy to see you wear it." Naomi offered, conscious of the sore spot in Seiko's psych that was her mother's disappearance.
"Yeah…" Seiko sighed dreamily. "And I'd bet she'd happy that I got such a beautiful girlfriend!" She finished this statement by jumping onto Naomi, nearing toppling them both over.
"Seiko!" Naomi pushed her away. "You'll mess up my clothes!" She brushed herself off and looked over at her clock- It was half an hour to six. They'd have to leave soon to be there on time. "Are you ready?"
"Ready!" The other brunette confirmed. The two adorned the jackets they'd chosen for the evenings and grabbed their purses with their personal effects in them before heading down stairs. The only other person in the house was Naomi's mother, who'd returned from work only a few minutes ago. She spotted both the girls coming down the stairs.
"Oh? Are you two leaving for your 'girls' night out'?" She asked with a smile. Since Naomi couldn't tell a lie without getting flustered, Seiko answered.
"Yep!" Seiko put her hands on Naomi's shoulders and steered her towards the door. "We're going to have lots of fun!" Natsumi smiled, glad to see her daughter had such an outgoing friend, one who she was sure had had a positive effect as Naomi unfortunately grew up without as much of her parents' attention as she wished she would've. She couldn't think of a pair of friends who'd ever been as close as they were.
"Okay…but you two don't stay out too late." She warned, her motherly instincts coming back.
"We won't!" Naomi promised before Seiko succeeded in getting her out the front door. "Really?" She asked once the two were standing in the very tiny front yard of her house.
"You're a terrible liar, Naomi." Her friend reminded her, making her go read in the face.
"Well, I'm not going to tell her!" She protested. "Don't make me so nervous about this…"
"Oh, Naomi." Seiko wrapped her arms around her. "There's nothing to be nervous about! Things will go just fine." She nuzzled Naomi's neck.
"Seiko…" Naomi pushed her away. "Someone might see…"
"You're so shy." Seiko sighed, although she did kind of consider it cute next to the tougher persona Naomi liked to assume in public. "There's always later tonight though." Naomi shoved the giggling girl away.
"There's nothing going on later tonight! We're just doing…this…and going home." She was still blushing furiously. "God…" She remembered how much Seiko liked seeing her flustered, and composed herself. "Let's just go." She grabbed her hand and they started walking.
Naomi did allow Seiko to hold her hand as they walked through the city's residential area, even thought public displays like that were somewhat frowned upon. It was probably just to calm her own nerves, evidenced by the clamminess of her hands.
"You're worrying too much." Seiko told her as they walked. "No one's even going to look at us unless you two start looking guilty. Just relax! We're not doing anything wrong."
"It's still not normal."
"So? It's nothing we haven't been doing for the past few months." Seiko pointed out.
"But not in public." She rebutted.
"Naomi...we need to get you a sense of adventure!" Seiko declared. The bustier brunette just sighed. Seiko leaned in close to her ear. "I know you're worried. It'll be fine, babe. You want this to work more than us, so don't be so glum about it!"
"I know, Seiko, I know. I just...Ah!" She jumped forward a little at a pinch on her behind. "Seiko!" Her friend just grinned cheekily back at her, knowing she'd already succeeded in cheering her up. "Pervert."
"Yours and yours only!" Naomi shook her head, although the antics had gotten her to relax a little, at least until they reached their destination: another two story house just a few short blocks away. The gate was already open, so the pair walked up to the door to press the bell. They both let go of each other's hands before it was answered.
The person who answered was a girl, younger and shorter than both of them and wearing a pink dress. When she saw the two on her doorstep, she gasped and her eyes lit up. "Naomi! Seiko!" She stepped out and wrapped the two in a hugs.
"Aww, hey Yuka." Seiko patted the middle-school student and their newest friend's head.
"Yuka, who is it?" A voice called from inside the house, presumably her mother.
"Just me and big brother's friends!" She called back. Her sharing that brought another person to the door- the last piece of tonight's puzzle.
"Satoshi." Naomi greeted.
"Looking nice, Mochida." Seiko grinned. Just like the girls, he'd put some thought into dressing up: beige dress pants, a white button up shirt, and perhaps even a trim to his brunette hair, although it was hard to tell for sure. And just like Naomi had at the start of the night, their older classmate looked incredibly awkward in it. Yuka let go of them and turned to face him.
"Why are they here?" She asked her older brother.
"We're just here to pick him up." Seiko explained.
"Eh? You guys are doing something together?" Apparently, Satoshi hadn't told her. "Can I come?" Yuka asked quickly. "I just have to grab my coat!"
"Uh, actually, Yuka!" Satoshi stopped her as she spun around on her heels about to dart back inside the house. "It's only the three of us...Really important..."
"Ooh." Yuka stood there with her head hanging down. "I can't come?"
"Not this time...sorry." Satoshi managed, trying not to cave into her sadness, something the girls probably would've done if they'd opened their mouths. "Maybe later." Yuka sighed. Not in a bratty or frustrated way, but genuinely sad about it.
"Yuka!" Her mother called, appearing in the doorway. The taller woman wrapped her arms around daughter's shoulders. "Don't be sad. We can do something here at home."
"Can we?" Yuka looked up, her mood perked.
"Of course." Her mother smiled down at her before looking up at Naomi and Seiko. Both girls noticed whose eyes Satoshi as inherited as she looked over them, and then she smiled. "You three go ahead and have fun. We'll have our own girls' night in. And bring my son back in one piece." She teased, making Satoshi groan in embarrassment.
"We will." Naomi nodded, smiling a bit at her boyfriend's misfortune.
"Don't stay out too late." Mrs. Mochida added as a final note.
"We won't." Satoshi nodded. His mother smiled at him and closed the front door, leaving the three teens by themselves.
Out of the prying eyes of the Mochida family, Naomi and Satoshi stood there looking at each other, still obviously embarrassed just being here. "You... look nice, Satoshi." Naomi managed, getting the boy to start.
"Ah, thanks. You too, Naomi." He paused for a moment. "You uh...both...look nice?" He said hesitantly.
Seiko rolled her eyes at their interaction before giving Naomi a light shove so that she stumbled into the boy, causing both of them to grab onto each other to stay upright. It was a close enough feint to a hug, like they usually greeted each other. Seiko could already tell she'd have to drag them both along. "Are you two ready for our date?"
Both of the other teens jumped a little like Seiko had just said something far more illicit and untangled themselves. Naomi rubbed her arm in embarrassment. "I'm guess I'm still ready." She mumbled. Both girls turned to Satoshi, who recoiled slightly under the observation.
"Y-yeah." He stuttered. Just like Naomi, the idea of a three way date was strange, unnerving, and had to revolve around secrecy. Seiko had hoped once the two actually saw each other, they'd lighten up. But no, they both looked borderline ill. For the first time that night, Seiko started to have reservations. She was no stranger to making people uncomfortable, but it was all in good fun and never went too far. This? This was genuine, and as long as the night hadn't truly began, they could still stop.
"You guys really are nervous, aren't you?" Seiko asked, her voice losing its prep. I mean... if you guys don't want to go through with this three-way date...I'll understand." Satoshi and Naomi glanced at each other, and then at Seiko. The two gave her an uneasy smile and shook their heads.
It was more than just a simple date to them. This was doing something they'd never thought they'd be doing. From every angle it was illicit in their eyes. This was something that by all means belonged in fiction than the real world. But despite all their reservations, this was something they'd agreed to and, however difficult, would follow through. Actually, and they were probably willing to admit it if asked, but this was even something they had to do.
How had they got here? It was in no small part to a horrifying place known as Heavenly Host Elementary. A cursed school they, several of their friends, and Yuka had been trapped in for nearly a day. Trapped with angry spirits that had been intent on their death. A place where permanent suffering constantly threatened them.
The horror and their survival was all a blur to all of them three months later and the mental and physical damage was fast healing. But what had stuck with those three were the confessions that had been made. At some point in the experience, perhaps at a point where they didn't foresee their survival, Satoshi and Naomi had decided there were some things they didn't want to die without saying. Their mutual crush on each other was one such thing, and both ended up confessing in that dreary school, a brief moment of hope in despair.
Seiko had been there to see it and the two embrace after. In a way, she'd been glad to see it. But it broke her heart all the same- Satoshi wasn't the only one to have feelings for Naomi. But if her best friend was happy, Seiko could normally put aside her feelings. But in that place, with the threat of eternal damnation hanging over their heads, the thought of things ending without letting Naomi know just how much she meant to the bubbly girl seemed unbearable. If they only had a few hours left to be together, Seiko decided she would tell her, if only so she could die with one less burden on her soul.
When Seiko had pulled her off to the side to confess, she hadn't gotten an immediate response. Seiko had hoped it was just confusion or lack of words from the dehydration all nine of them had by that point. She'd been hopeful for a moment her friend would completely understand and accept.
She'd ran. After a few moments Naomi had turn around and fled back to where everyone else had been gathered without a word. Seiko had just been left standing there without a response and a sinking feeling in her heart she might've just ruined the last few hours of her life with her best friend.
Seiko had slunk back to her friends with her head down. Naomi had gone back over to Satoshi, averting her gaze from her best friend. Seiko hadn't gone over to join them, instead standing off by herself with the sinking feeling getting even worse.
Things didn't end in despair though.
It couldn't have even been half an hour later when all of them were exploring the building that Naomi dropped back to the rear of the group where Seiko was and apologized for earlier. She said she'd gotten so flustered and emotional she just...ran away instead of confronting it. Seiko understood; she knew Naomi wasn't always good with her emotions. Even though she'd still be shaken by it, Seiko accepted her apology.
Seiko would've been fine if things ended there, but Naomi had more to say. She'd thanked Seiko for being such a good friend and gone on about much important Seiko was to her. She'd even said, hesitantly, that if this horrible event hadn't impacted their lives, maybe things could've been different. It turned out she'd actually mentioned what happened to Satoshi and, instead of getting mad, he'd encouraged Naomi to apologize. Always thinking others, that boy.
They were still trapped and it seemed all but guaranteed they'd die. But for those three who'd come clean, there was a sort of acceptance under the worry and hopefulness they stubbornly clung onto. Even if they would die, at least they wouldn't do so with those great regrets.
But in the end, against all possible odds, they'd gotten out. It was morning by the time they returned and the aftermath had landed half of them in the hospital, but they'd survived. The jubilation of living had occupied their minds for several days after, but eventually they had to return their focus to living. That meant confronting what had been said, what couldn't be taken back or ignored.
Naomi just wanted some time and space to herself to think. Both of them were important to her, more than she'd ever realized and especially now. But… how did they compare? She'd always known she was interested in Satoshi and his kind and caring nature, but she hadn't realized how close she actually was to Seiko until that moment. Could she choose one of them? How did she actually feel about Seiko? She'd only ever thought them friends before, but when she hadn't been able to turn down her friend's confession, she had to wonder: had she been lying to herself? It was not a realization to make in a day.
Satoshi wasn't a confrontational person at all, and to be honest the whole problem embarrassed him. Even if he was in love with Naomi and even though they had kissed after, it was obvious how troubled she was. So, he gave her space to figure it out. If she didn't choose him… Well, he still had his life, something that held a far greater value to him now, and they could stay friends.
Seiko was the quietest of the three, owing to being the most selfless. Above anything else, all she wanted was for Naomi to be happy and to start healing. If that meant not choosing her…Seiko didn't mind. Just her friend's happiness was enough for her. So, she said nothing. If things went back to how they were before, if they could, that would be fine for her.
In the end, all three of them ended up being indecisive about it, unwilling to push for a solution in any of their favors and letting the problem drag on. Somehow though, this ended up being a good thing. The three didn't avoid each other while Naomi was trying to decide, and before they knew it, something peculiar had formed.
No matter the conflict, you can't help but be close with people who've you experienced trauma with. It was more than just that they were forever linked by trauma. There's nothing as helpful as the embrace of someone who you love and whom loves you. It's a bond as strong as it is tragic. Seiko was the first slip up. Neither girl could recall which had turned the comforting hug into a passionate kiss, but it had happened, to each party's guilt.
Running off to Satoshi and making the exact same mistake was more from distraught confusion then an automatic action like with Seiko, but that didn't change the fact it only compounded the problem. All three of them would've been lying if they hadn't thought at least once the issue would completely push all of the apart from each other for good; as the crux of the issue, Naomi wasn't really prepared to handle that burden and the other two considered giving up for her sake.
Neither were able to blame Naomi for the slip ups, both of them still unwilling to try and separate her from someone important to her. "Do whatever makes you feel better." Both Satoshi and Seiko had said the same thing. The problem was they both made her feel better: Satoshi was perhaps the nicest and most caring person she'd ever known. But Seiko, she had a certain emotional bond that only two girls could form, a person Naomi had been able to talk to about anything she just couldn't with her mother or her friends.
She didn't want to distance herself from either of them either. She was willing to admit she wasn't as personal with Satoshi as she'd been with Seiko, another girl, but that was understandable. But she'd known Satoshi longer than Seiko. He was still a person who liked her as she really was and how she preferred to act instead. And, in her own way, Naomi took care of the boy and liked doing so. Seiko...Seiko had been through so much worse than Naomi, losing her own mother and having become one to her younger siblings. Naomi had been more of a bright spot in Seiko's life than she'd been in her own. She couldn't possibly live with herself if a decision she made stopped her from being that to a person who'd helped her so much.
She didn't want to choose either one, but she just couldn't have both of them.
Or could she?
It appeared so. Even if she felt guilty, Naomi couldn't ignore either of them. The slip ups kept happening, sometimes her fault sometimes theirs, but none of them got upset over it. The guilt eventually started to ebb away. The three would hang out together, and say nothing is anything happened between any two of them even while the third was present. It just became an unspoken rule that Naomi could be romantically involved with both of them at the same time.
Their shared experience was probably the glue that held everything together. It wasn't just romantic interest, but reassurance and understanding in the trauma and scars all three on them had gained. Seeing themselves as mutual survivors rather than…whatever… helped give them a sense of justification in their minds.
Seiko had been the first to bring the issue up in a serious manner, asking them if they knew what they were doing and was okay with it. Seiko wasn't a conventional person by any means, but she still wanted to know if they were okay with it. Naomi still felt a little strange over being the center of things, but she really didn't want to give up what had formed now even though it felt sort of wrong. While people like Naomi and Yoshiki would make fun of Satoshi saying he was a doormat, the other two wanting to go along with it more or less convinced him. He wasn't a possessive person anyway, and he recognized that Seiko was important to Naomi too much to let go. If it actually worked…well, what was the harm?
With that conversation, they more or less acknowledge the fact they were in a three-way relationship, and the days got less awkward and more enjoyable as they started to get over what had happened.
Nothing really changed between Satoshi and Seiko- they saw no reason while their attention was focused on Naomi. When it was just the three of them, Seiko's minimal sense of modesty dropped even though Satoshi was there, but that was it. The two stayed friends just as they had before.
It was hard to tell if their friend's knew about it; the trio weren't exactly inconspicuous in how close they'd suddenly become and obviously interacted often with their fellow survivors. If they did, they didn't say. Still, the three kept it a private matter.
Seiko had been the one to break the mold and suggest this first official date between the three, something to prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt as a real relationship, however unorthodox. She'd taken a few days to sell to the others and succeeded mostly by insistence. Something about this all still struck them as weird, so of course there was a natural fear of showing it anywhere, especially in public. Seiko didn't fault them for that, but she thought they were being silly for wanting to tip toe everywhere over it.
And here they now were, taking their very first awkward 'official' steps in this relationship. None of them were completely sure what the night would bring, but they'd at least decided to try. Whether or not this arrangement could hold up, they were about to see.
XX A/N XX
Yes, this is a Sataosei story (thank you tumblr for that shipping name).I've actually intended to write something like this for a while. I saw this pairing over a year ago and it manages to stick in my mind. Everyone's alive, happy, and with someone? Who wouldn't sign up? These dorks could pull it off, I think. Aside from that, there's the mental portions. Someone tried writing his pairing before, but it was horrifically atrocious. No build up, no exploring their thoughts or chemistry. Well, that's what I'm intending to look at in this little two shot. Most of the stuff mentioned here will be expanded on.
Leave a review on the way out and check back for more later. I'll probably add the appropriate character tags later on once the story is off the front page.