I have been terribly busy with course work/research so I appreciate your patience with me. There will likely be only one or two more chapters after this but thank you for reading thus far. I will try to update as soon as I get the chance to sit down and get into the writing mood. There was an error the first time that I uploaded the chapter so please let me know if it persists.

Permission to use the fantastic image as the cover was given by nextstopplease. Check out more of their amazing work on tumblr!

P.S. I'm somewhat interested in collabing with someone. I get pretty busy with coursework/ my research but I feel like getting more into writing as a creative outlet. If you are interested in working with such an inexperienced writer then please feel free to contact me haha.


Umi slowly descended the stone steps of her apartment complex, quietly taking in her surroundings. The streets of her neighborhood were lively- as one would expect on a Saturday night in a college area. The sound of soft, intimate laughter flitted around Umi's ears as couples walked hand-in-hand.

A terrible loneliness assailed Umi as she watched couples pass.

She secured her over-the-shoulder bag and spun on her heel of her boot, turning toward the train station.

She found herself staring nervously at the dark green door of Kotori's apartment. She took another glance at her outfit, fidgeting with it. On her lower half was a dull aegean blue skirt with a black belt tied around it, a pair of thin, black tights, and brown, knee high boots. The top of her outfit consisted of a silky, white blouse that flowed down her arms, an unbuttoned, light grayish blue sweater over the blouse, and a small pink scarf around her neck. On her left wrist was a brown leather watch and gold colored, flower shaped earrings dangled from her ears. She even tied back a portion of her hair into a ribbon that was the same color as her skirt.

On her left shoulder rested the strap of her bag and in her right hand was a box containing Kotori's favorite strawberry cheesecake.

'I wonder if I dressed up too much...'

She clutched the strap of her bag and went back to staring timidly at the intimidating green door.

Umi slowly reached her curled left fist out toward the door. Abruptly, the door opened up; giving Umi a start and revealing the mirthful amber eyes she adored so much.

Kotori let out an amused giggle, the playful glint never leaving her eyes as she looked at her blue-haired friend.

"I was wondering when you'd knock~" Kotori greeted in a sing song voice.

Umi couldn't help but blush in response. Even after so many years of being friends with Kotori, she was still susceptible to her teasing.

"Geez..." Umi sighed but had a good-natured smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "If you already knew I was there then you should have just opened the door... "

Kotori giggled again and sent a sweet smile toward her friend, dispelling all of the blue-haired woman's worries and nerves.

"Ah, I almost forgot." She raised the hand holding the box the contained the dessert. "I brought your favorite."

"Umi-chan is as thoughtful as ever. I can't wait to eat it!"

Immediately, the ashen-haired woman stepped back and opened the door, sweeping an arm out in a dramatic welcome gesture.

"Welcome, miss. Dinner is served!" Kotori said in a deeper voice than normal. Perhaps imitating a butler.

pUmi chuckled in response and stepped into the stylish apartment. She was instantly greeted by rich and savory scents, instantly making her mouth water.

"I tried out a new recipe that I found online. Curry udon!" Kotori exclaimed as she moved away from the now closed door to take Umi's bag. No one could say Kotori wasn't an attentive host.

"It smells great. I can't wait to eat!" Umi called out as she watched Kotori disappear into her bedroom to deposit the bag.

She took a moment to glance around at the apartment as she awaited the return of her friend. Her eyes floated around the familiar room, taking comfort in how similar it looked despite how long it had been since she had been there.

Until her eyes landed on unfamiliar cushions decorating the couch and a small painting she had never seen before hanging above it. For reasons she could not pinpoint, the sight of these new items in Kotori's apartment filled her with a sense of melancholy.

""Ahh~ I get to have dinner with a cute girl in a cute outfit~" Kotori teased, using the same sing song voice as she reappeared.

Umi was broken out of her musings and could feel her cheeks heat up. She had completely forgotten about her outfit as soon as Kotori had opened the door.

Umi was the only one that Kotori would tease in such a way, but Umi was by no means used to it. No matter how much she matured, the blue-haired woman was sure she would be susceptible to Kotori's teasing.

"L-let's eat dinner..."

xxxxxx

'Kotori is such a great chef,' Umi thought happily to herself as the two ate and made light conversation.

Umi was focusing on picking up the noodles and delicately placing before chewing each bite with a satisfied expression.

She didn't notice the slight grin that tugged at her friend's lips as she watched the blue-haired woman enjoy the meal.

After popping the last of the noodles into her mouth, she looked up to find indecipherable amber eyes gazing intently at her.

Her own eyes widened slightly and the hand holding her chopsticks stilled as she met Kotori's searching look.

But before Umi could open her mouth to say something- to say anything- Kotori's eyes flashed back to their typical, gentle look as she smiled at the bluenette, leaving Umi at a loss.

"How was it?" Kotori asked as she continued to smile.

"...it was great, Kotori." Umi replied, struggling to return the smile. "Your cooking is always fantastic," she finished.

"Umi-chan is such a flatterer~" Kotori laughed.

Still shaken, Umi simply stood from her seat at the table and moved to take away their dishes.

"Why don't we eat the cheesecake now?" Umi suggested.

""Yay~" was the cheerful response.

xxxxxxxx

After they had finished cleaning up the remnants of dinner, Kotori offered to get the bath ready for Umi first.

'I put so much effort into getting dressed only to take a bath and change into my pajamas not too long after...'

She sighed to herself as she discarded her clothes and quickly finished her bath.

When she returned to the living room she let Kotori know the bath was free. She was left standing alone in the center of the room as her friend went to bathe.

She couldn't bring herself to sit on the couch as her eyes lingered on the foreign objects in Kotori's apartment.

'When did Kotori get these? Usually she gets so excited about buying new things that she texts me right away...'

Not wanting to sit alone by these things that filled her with such unease, she made her way to the balcony that overlooked the city. Kotori's apartment had a much better view than her own. And she could at least take comfort in that at least this hadn't changed.

xxxxxx

Kotori re-entered the living room, noticing that Umi wasn't around. Fluttering blue hair caught her attention and she made her way to the glass sliding door. Umi had a towel resting on her head as she looked out at the city. But as she got closer, she noticed that the woman's blue hair was still damp.

She opened it quickly and popped her head out.

"Umi-chan, you're going to catch a cold like that!" She scolded. "You didn't even dry your hair."

"Hmm? Ah, right..." Umi replied noncommittally. She turned away from the balcony and moved towards the door.

Kotori however, didn't move out of the way to let her in. Instead, she was looking at Umi with that searching gaze again.

"...I thought you wanted me to come in?" Umi replied questioningly.

Kotori evaluated her friend for a moment longer before silently stepping aside.

Umi walked back into the apartment without glancing toward Kotori. She wanted to ask the ashen-haired woman what those looks were all about but was suddenly feeling exhausted.

'I just want to enjoy my time with Kotori... No point in bringing things like that up.'

She started to use the towel that had been resting atop her head to finish drying her hair.

"Should we watch a movie before bed?" Umi asked as she glanced over, breaking the silence between the two.

Kotori's expression was still cryptic but Umi simply raised a brow as the two maintained eye contact. Something flashed in Kotori's eyes before she did a quick spin on her heel.

"How about a romance movie?" She inquired, walking over to the couch and picking up the remote that was resting on the coffee table in front of it. The TV flashed to life as the ashen-haired woman sunk into the couch. "What better way to have a broken-hearted?"

"Works for me," Umi answered easily as she ambled over. She seated herself where Kotori's hand impatiently tapped the space directly beside her, beckoning the blue-haired woman to sit. Umi flashed a wary glance at the couch cushions again before taking a seat, making sure there was some space between the two women.

She turned her head to see Kotori smiling her way. At that, Umi couldn't help but return it; albeit pretty weakly.

Apparently satisfied with that, Kotori turned her attention back to the TV.

"There's a romance in particular I've wanted to see..." she stated, flicking through the menu of available movies."...ah! This one."

"Lily Garden?" Umi looked at the inconspicuous cover of the movie that was displayed on the TV. The only things on the cover were the title and a pretty woman.

'No movie description but it looks like a pretty typical romance movie... Well, if Kotori has wanted to watch it then I have no reason to say no.'

"Sure, why not?"

"Great!" Kotori smiled at her again.

Umi could have sworn that there was a mischievous glint in Kotori's eyes then but figured it was just the trick of the light.

xxxxxxx

'So that's why she looked like she was up to something...'

The movie had been about a love triangle. The woman on the cover was the main character, as Umi expected.

But what she did not expect was a love triangle between three women.

Umi was by no means uncomfortable with romance movies anymore and obviously, relationships between women didn't bother her either. But she hadn't exactly come out to all of her friends yet.

Kotori included.

She had known for years about both Kotori's and Honoka's romantic inclinations. She had just never thought about telling anyone else her own preferences; anyone except for Maki and Eli. Umi didn't like keeping secrets from her oldest friends but figured it was simpler this way.

Honoka had never really kept it a secret and she certainly wasn't shy about it. Anyone that knew her well enough knew she was into girls.

Kotori, however, was more reserved than their orange-haired friend. She had told Umi in high school. She told her right before confessing to the bluenette her love for Honoka.

By that time, Umi had already been in love with Kotori for years.

But judging by the way Kotori kept slyly glancing at her throughout the movie she figured that something was up. Umi did her best to keep a stoic expression as they watched the movie in silence, but to say that she was uncomfortable was an understatement.

The three women were childhood best friends. The main character was in love with the energetic and ambitious friend. The quieter, more level-headed friend was in love with the lead.

Throughout the movie, the lead chases after the energetic friend while the level-headed one offers her support and advice.

As it turns out, the energetic friend was in love with another woman. The distraught lead is consoled by the level-headed friend.

Umi was relieved when it seemed nothing else would happen between the two. The movie mirrored her situation so much that she was having trouble sitting still.

That was, she was relieved until the words Umi had been dreading poured out of the friend's mouth as she held the lead character close.

"Kumiko, I've always loved you. Please, just give me a chance."

Umi didn't dare look in Kotori's direction. Instead, she trained her eyes on the screen, doing her utmost to seem unaffected.

She was doing well- until the two women on screen kissed.

Umi could feel the heat rising from the base of her neck to the tips of her ears but still refused to look at the woman beside her.

Because she kept her attention forward, she missed the looks Kotori was sending her way.

xxxxxxxx

The remainder of the movie was a blur for Umi. Although her eyes were on the screen the entire time, her mind was elsewhere.

She kept imagining herself confessing to Kotori. A grand confession scene where Kotori is so moved by Umi's feelings that she finally realizes that the bluenette was the one she has wanted all along.

Her mind was brought back from its drifting when the credits started to roll.

"So... what did you think of the movie, Umi-chan?" Kotori was looking at her with an expression full of curiosity and something else that Umi couldn't quite place.

'Please stop looking at me like that... All I can imagine now is kissing her...'

Kotori cocked her head questioningly as Umi refused to make eye contact again. Umi was fighting desperately against the blush adorning her cheeks.

But the blue-haired woman replied, still trying to find her voice. "...I-it was good..." The squeak that left her lips did nothing to help with the embarrassment she was already feeling.

Kotori hummed thoughtfully.

"You know, I'm glad that stuff like this doesn't make you uncomfortable." Umi noticed that Kotori was smiling at her when she finally allowed her eyes to travel toward the ashen-haired woman.

'What a weird atmosphere...'

"What stuff..?" Umi questioned in return.

"Love between women," Kotori answered without hesitation. "Not everyone is accepting like you are," she stated while still smiling.

'Why does it seem like she is getting at something..?'

"I'm glad that the two of us can just hangout without me needing to worry whether or not I will gross you out."

"You could never gross me out, Kotori!" The ashen-haired woman blinked, taken aback by Umi's unexpected outburst.

"A-after all, I'm i-" Umi abruptly cut herself off. "I'm... uh..."

"You're..?" Kotori was leaning closer now, a searching look in those her amber eyes that made Umi shrink back to put more space between them.

Aware that Umi probably wouldn't continue, Kotori decided to change the subject to what she had actually wanted to know since the night at the bar.

"Umi-chan, Umi-chan~" Kotori cooed. "Tell me about the person you're in love with." She had her head propped up on her hand as her elbow rested on her knee. "It's a broken-hearted party, after all. You know all about Honoka-chan so it only seems fair." She leaned in more with a gentle smiling gracing her features.