Chapter 1: NagiHono

For a long time now, the thought has passed my mind. There is a high chance she would say "no." There is a high chance she would just think I'm weird and leave me alone, like Kagami did in grade school. If I told her my true feelings for her, I might lose Nagisa forever… and that's what scares me the most right now.

As of late, I've been thinking of Nagisa as… more than friends. I've seen her work hard to become who she wants to be. Her determination to get any job done when she's serious about it; I've seen that too. More times than anyone since it shows whenever we fight as pretty cure.

Kagami is the only one I can talk to about this, only because she's my best friend. My very first friend, even before Fujimura. Back then and now, she was always there for me.

Speaking of which, I'm with Kagami and Hikari at Akane's shop right now. Hikari was really busy to even take a break to talk with us. Kagami turned to me, asking "Hey, are you going to go to Karen's Christmas party?"

I nodded my head, agreeing that I would go "Yeah. I'm going. Nagisa and Hikari are pretty excited about it. Are you going?"

Kagami leaned back on her chair and looked up to the sky "Of course. It's a party to see everyone again. I heard Karen's house was big, so I want to see it with my own eyes."

"Oh, you" I said, teasingly. She stuck her tongue out, playfully. She's always looked for excuses to go travel. It's for that reason she wants to be a professional instrumentalist, so she can go all around the world and let the world know of her music. She hasn't stuck to an instrument, of course. Oh, she might end up picking the violin though. Her idol has always been Maria Hojo. When she found out that she was Hibiki's mom, Kagami couldn't contain how happy she was. I think Hibiki gets uncomfortable around Kagami, despite them becoming musicians in the future.

Kagami sat up right and looked at me again. "So, how's that heart of yours doing? Is it being strong?" She asked me. I've been around Kagami long enough to know she was talking about my true feelings for Nagisa. "That's why you called me out here today, right?" Even if she were wrong, I couldn't stand the fact Kagami assumes and be correct all the time. With me, Hikari, and Nagisa… with anyone, she can tell what we are thinking.

I pushed her, lightly "Stop reading people's minds. It's rude, you know."

She laughed it off. Kagami, always being a trickster, joked around "So what's up? What does the scientist need to ask the musician?"

"I don't appreciate how you asked that question." I glared at her. Kagami smiled. She took me seriously, but this is how she opens people up to her. I always walk right into it. I sighed and scooted closer to her so I can at least make this conversation a little bit more private. "I can't do this anymore. Hiding from Nagisa, just running from my true feelings. I'm about to crash." I revealed to her. Kagami smiled and pulled me closer. She held me tight. "Ka-kagami?"

She looked at me, straight in the eye "Honoka, are you sure you like her that way? I mean, it could just be a phase." I see where she's coming from. She was concerned. Why wouldn't she be? I remained silent as I heard Kagami call out to Hikari. "Hey Hikari, I'm sorry but I have to go. I have to show Honoka something."

"Okay. See you later." Hikari said her farewell

Kagami got up and lent me a hand "Come on, Honoka. I'm going to confirm something with you right now." Questions popped into my head as I looked at her hand. What did she want to talk about? Am I going to regret it later? Kagami is my best friend, so I'm sure she won't do anything bad to me… I took her hand, trusting her.

Kagami held my hand and we ran off toward the forest part of the park. No one was around; it felt like we were the only ones on Earth. We sat on the bench and became even more nervous. "Kagami…"

"Did you put Mipple to sleep? I don't want her and Artemia to interrupt this." Kagami asked. She was just as nervous as I was. Kagami couldn't look at me in the eye. Her cheeks came to a light pink color and darkened as time passed. Usually in a situation like this, something happens. Could be bad… could be good… it's just a serious topic. In this situation between a boy and a girl… it's a confession.

"Yeah, she's asleep. Why did you ask?" I said, looking at her. She closed her eyes and took a breath. I didn't like what she was planning. She looked at me and closed the gap between our bodies. My heart began to pound. It pounded so hard; I couldn't hear the rustling trees. "Kagami…" She didn't respond. Her face was no further than an inch apart from mine. I started to back away. She came closer to me, however "Ka…"

"Shut up for a second… and stay still…" She softly said. I didn't have any bench left behind me anyway. I shut my eyes and waited for Kagami's lips to touch mine. I know that's what she was doing. I didn't believe this was really happening. She's my best friend. My first friend. What happened that made her this bold?

All of a sudden, Kagami slowly started to laugh. I opened my eyes and saw her only smiling. I felt really confused… "So what did you feel? I heard your heart beating fast, missy" She asked me, with a grin on her face. What did she do to me? Kagami got off the bench and looked forward. She looked back at me, with her back towards me. "I would have done it too… kiss you. But that wouldn't be fair if you're first wasn't from her. Honoka, I think you should just come out and ask Nagisa out. She isn't the type that will just abandon you for something like this." She was always like this. I'm not sure what she did, but I'm sure she held back a lot for her to be saying something like that.

Some time passed and Nagisa appeared with a box from a cake shop. She greeted us "Hey girls!"

All of a sudden, Kagami held me to my surprise "Man Nagisa! You ruined my intimate time with Honoka. I won't forgive you." Anyone who knew her as long as the two of us would know she was joking.

"Geez, if you were going to do that, then take her to your house." Nagisa teased Kagami. I know it was a joke, but it made me feel flushed.

"Geez, Nagisa…" I sighed. She stuck her tongue out and came to us as Kagami let me go.

"I brought some cake today for us. Want to eat it together?" Nagisa offered. Kagami stepped away.

"I'm sorry. I have to head home. Midori is taking me and Artemia out for dinner. She needs me home. I also have a concert to prepare for with Hibiki, Ellen, and Koe. I'll see you at the Christmas party next week, okay?" Kagami ran off. I honestly can't tell if she is telling the truth or not. I still want to know what it was that Kagami did to me. Well, whatever the case, I was left alone with Nagisa none-the-less. I should tell her about my feelings… like Kagami suggested. Ugh! Why am I getting all flustered?

"Oh, well. More for us!" she held up the cake box.

We sat at the bench close to us and opened the pastry box. There was a strawberry, a chocolate, and a vanilla. By guessing, I think the strawberry is Kagami's. Mine would be vanilla. And Chocolate belongs to Nagisa. Like I thought, Nagisa went for the Chocolate. I smiled and took the Vanilla. "This is good. Is this the new pastry shop by the supermarket," I asked.

"Yeah. I wanted all of us to try it, but Kagami left" Nagisa said.

"Well, we'll just have to bring her there later" I suggested. Nagisa just nodded and continued eating. I watched her eat while still holding to my bitten-into vanilla cake. I was entranced by how she ate, wondering how fast she finished that chocolate cake. She looked my way and I flinched. I immediately ate my cake and finished it. She probably thinks I'm weird…

"Honoka," Nagisa said my name. I flinched and looked at her

"Ye, yes…"

"The strawberry. You want to half it with me? I don't think Kagami will have time to eat it. So we can eat it ourselves."

I nodded. "Sure. Let's have it." I was given half the cake, after Nagisa literally ripped it in half.

Nagisa ate her half. She faced me and smiled "That was good." I saw some cream on her cheek. I chuckled. "Why are you laughing at me?"

I set my half of the cake back in the box. I wiped off the cream with my fingers "You have cream on your cheek." I licked my finger clean. I smiled "That is good." I looked at Nagisa, who was bright red. I looked at her with an innocent smile, unaware of what I just did "What's wrong, Nagisa?"

Nagisa flinched and looked away "I… I, uh… Well, you know, I could have gotten the cream off myself." I realized what I did and my face became hot. I turned away and rubbed my cheek with my finger.

"Oh… I, I'm sorry" I apologized. I can't believe I did that… I wasn't thinking at all. Please don't notice… Nagisa… don't notice I've fallen in love with you.

"Hey, Honoka" Nagisa softly said my name. I looked at her as she gave me a light kiss on my lips. I got shocked that I left my eyes open. When she moved from my face, I was too flushed and confused. "I had to… I couldn't take it anymore, Honoka" She was confessing to me. I, remaining shocked, was still paying attention to her. "I've always liked you… Honoka"

"Wh, what… I thought you and Fujimura…"

"I don't understand it myself. When I was with Fuji-P this afternoon, because we bumped into each other in the pastry shop, I couldn't get that feeling I usually got when I'm around him. Lately… it happens when I'm with you, Honoka" Nagisa told me. I felt embarrassed. Nagisa took some of the cream from my half of the strawberry cake and she put it on my cheeks, making me more embarrassed. "Is it okay if I… uh…"

Without really thinking, I just nodded "… yes." She slowly licked the cream directly off my cheeks. I didn't get why I was feeling the way I felt. My heart pounded because she was there. I can't breathe normally because of her being around… Speaking of which, Fujimura… I was always jealous of him. He was in Nagisa's mind and I couldn't stand it. It's why I tease her about him all the time. I wanted Nagisa to myself. I wanted her to care only for me… to watch only me… She meant so much to me. Even though she and I are of the same gender… I still…

Nagisa looked at me, with my cheeks cleaned. I still can feel the wetness from her tongue on my cheeks. I didn't feel the urge to wipe them off. Nagisa smiled at me. "Honoka… I was asking about you…"

"What do you mean?" I needed her to clarify.

"Kagami. I was so confused with how I felt for you; I went and asked Kagami about you."

"Oh… What did she say?"

"Um, I just said that… I might have some feelings for you and I needed her to help me out."

"Ho, how long have you been talking to her about it?"

"um… I guess a few weeks now. Heh heh"

"Oh, really…" I was happy to hear this. Nagisa and I… have been feeling like this for a long time. I smiled for her. I felt tears coming down my eyes. "I'm happy to hear that… you like me like that. I'm so happy"

"Honoka" she took my hand

"I've liked you too. I've always admired you when we were first years, being athletic and free to be yourself. I'm just… really happy right now" I confessed to her. She pressed her forehead against mine.

"You're so emotional… aren't you" She licked my tears away. I was really happy. I got to tell her how I felt, and she still accepts me. She even returned my feelings for her. Nagisa… I love you.