Leah sighed while waiting at the local laundromat waiting for her laundry to finish in the dryer. She hated spending her day off doing chores. She wanted to hurry home and spend her precious little free time with Ruby.
She'd had sex with Ruby and Yoshiko several more time since that first night, and life carried on just as ordinarily as it always had. This was a relief at first. But Leah couldn't shake this strange feeling growing inside of her whenever she thought about Yoshiko.
The dryer buzzed, freeing Leah from her thoughts momentarily. She gathered up her clothing and was soon consumed in her own little world again as she walked back to their apartment.
Leah loved Ruby. She had no doubt about this. But lately she had begun to feel something akin to a crush for their irritating but beautiful roommate. So far she had done her best to ignore this strange new feeling, but she couldn't help but feel a little guilty about how much she looked forward to their occasional bouts in bed. She didn't enjoy her time with Ruby any less, and cherished those moments alone with her but…
In no time at all Leah found herself at their apartment door. And she opened it to find Ruby and Yoshiko had moved the sofa out of the way to lay down one of Yoshiko's occult tapestries, which the two girls were dancing on while wearing gothic Lolita dresses and angel wings, and chanting some sort of gibberish.
"Just what are you idiots doing?" Leah asked flatly, unsure if she even really wanted to know.
"We're rehearsing for Yohane's stream later." Ruby answer cheerfully. "I'm guest starring! I'm so excited, and I want to do my rubesty!"
Yoshiko struck a pose and added, "There is still time for you to fall along with us, little demon Leah. Truly you would make a glorious warrior in the rebellion agains-"
"No thanks." Leah cut her off, storming off to her room with her laundry in tow. There is no possible way I could actually like that girl!
Later that night Leah was lying in bed spooning with Ruby. She recalled a conversation she had a few days ago with her sister.
"Sarah…is it wrong to have a crush on someone when you're in love with someone else?"
Oh? So that's what's on your mind. No, I don't think it is."
"But isn't that cheating?"
"Not if you don't act on it. Humans aren't perfect, Leah. Our emotions can be messy sometimes. I think it's perfectly normal to have crushes on other people when you're with someone. They don't necessarily mean anything. You love Ruby, right?"
"I do! I want to spend the rest of my life with her."
Sarah smiled at her little sister. "Then there's nothing to worry about. What matters is that you two love and trust each other. I had fleeting crushes on other girls when I was with Chika-san."
Leah was surprised to hear this. "Did you ever tell her?"
"No, there was never any reason to. Its not that I was ashamed, it just didn't matter. I know Chika had similar feelings. Where we use to go for coffee I would catch her staring at the waitress as she walked away." Sarah chuckled as she tried to explain her position to Leah.
"So that isn't why you two broke up?"
"No. We broke up amicably, and because we just wanted different things. I wanted to stay and take over our family's restaurant. Chika-san wanted to take over her family's ryokan. There was no way we could reconcile those dreams unfortunately."
Leah cowered in guilt. "I'm sorry Sarah…if I had wanted to take over the business then you could have stayed with her."
Sarah's expression when she spoke was stern, but still reassuringly warm. "You have nothing to apologize for. That had always been my dream. It's better for you to pursue your own dream as well." The two sisters embraced each other since Sarah soon had to catch her train home.
Leah held Ruby tight as she worked up the nerve to confess her crush. We love and trust each other, so it should be okay, right? "Ruby…"
"Hm? The redhead asked groggily. "What is it Leah?"
"I love you." Was all she could say. Ruby giggled.
"I love you too."
"Have you…" she hesitated. "Have you ever had a crush on anyone since we've been together?" Leah didn't know what Ruby's reaction would be. She suddenly worried her tone was accusatory.
"I noticed something was on your mind today." Ruby turned to face Leah. Was I talking about that new idol who just debut at #1 on the Oricon too much? She's just so adorable. I didn't mean to upset you." Ruby kissed her gently on the lips.
"No, Ruby, that's fine." Leah wasn't sure how to respond. So Ruby did crush on other people? It really doesn't matter?
"You know I'll always be yours, Leah."
Leah considered whether she should confess. But Yoshiko was still a different matter than some idol they'd never met.
But Leah couldn't do it. Instead she just cuddled Ruby.
"I love you so much Ruby. I'm sorry for being dumb."
