Took a few days, but I think I made some pretty good time. School already starts up again tomorrow though, and I didn't get as much done as I would have liked -.- But it was a new year's resolution of mine to just be better at time management, so hopefully I'll be able to spend less time procrastinating, and more time on this along with my studies.

Anyways, here we have a 'Love marginal' inspired KotoHono story. I know it's a Hanayo center song, but it just seemed so fitting for Kotori.

"Normal" = Talking

"Italics" = Thinking

Bold Italics Underlined = Setting

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Love Live, nor do I own anything related to it. All I do own is one of many thousands of downloads of School Idol Festival. As such, I am not profiting off of Love Live, and am instead losing money over it due to the nature of gacha.

Awajicho Station

The second year trio of ยต's had planned an outing with one another, to simply hang out around the city. They were just about to board the train when a look of startled realization came upon Umi's face.

"Ah!"

Umi started looking through her purse, and the other two girls looked on in worry. Honoka went up to her, placing an arm on her shoulder, which didn't go unnoticed by Kotori.

"What's wrong, Umi-chan?"

"I left my shopping money at home. I can't believe I forgot it."

Honoka giggled.

"So even you can be forgetful at times huh, Umi-chan? Well don't worry, I'll go back with you to go get it."

As Umi was feeling embarrassed and reminding Honoka that she was the more forgetful of the two, Kotori looked on, envious of their banter.

"Honoka-chan..."

"Well then, you two go back together. I'll go on ahead and wait for you."

With a strained smile on her face, and a slight quiver in her lips, Kotori quickly turns around and boards the train, leaving Honoka and Umi behind, confused.

Inside the train, Kotori quickly found a seat, and sat down. Leaning against the window, Kotori's heart clenched as she thought of the sight of Honoka and Umi together. Giving out a sigh, she let her heart take over, and she found herself writing out her and Honoka's name on the window, drawing a heart around it.

Taking a look at it, a bitter smile formed on her face, and she struck a line in the middle of the heart, separating her name from Honoka's, before erasing it completely. Letting out another sigh, Kotori leaned back in her seat, looking up in an introspective manner.

"Honoka-chan, I love you...I want to tell her that so badly. But I just know she wouldn't feel the same. She likes Umi-chan after all. It's obvious. And so, I will keep these feelings in my heart. I'm sorry, Honoka-chan. I can't tell you about my selfish desires. This secret, marginal love will remain mine alone. It's better that way."

Feeling something wet on her cheek, Kotori noticed that she was starting to cry. Wiping them away, she willed herself not to, and just sat there, suffering through the pain of heartbreak. Eventually, the train arrived at her destination, and she got off the train at Ikebukuro.

Finding a nearby bench, Kotori decided to sit there and wait for her childhood friends, trying her best to keep her mind off of the fact that they were alone together.

After what felt like an eternity's wait, Honoka and Umi finally showed up. Kotori's eyes zoomed in on their locked fingers as Honoka dragged Umi off of the train.

Not being able to stop herself after having just been deep in thought, stirring her own feelings of jealousy, Kotori felt tears prickling at her eyes. Umi was the first to notice between her and Honoka.

"Kotori?"

With her attention drawn to her best friend, Honoka noticed as well, and rushed up to her, kneeling in front of her to look her in the eyes.

"Kotori-chan!? What's the matter?"

Not wanting Honoka to notice, Kotori faked a yawn, and averted her eyes.

"Nothing's the matter, Honoka-chan. I'm just a bit tired is all."

Honoka was silent for a moment, before turning to Umi.

"Hey, um, Umi-chan. Can you...go get us some drinks?"

Under normal circumstances, Umi would have scolded Honoka for being too lazy to do it herself, but there was nothing normal about this situation. Knowing this was a precarious situation, Umi took the hint, and decided to leave it to Honoka.

"Y-yeah. I'll go do that."

Now alone with just the two of them, Honoka turned back to face Kotori. Bringing her hands up, Honoka cupped them around Kotori's cheeks, and tilted them so that they were making eye contact.

At this point, Kotori could hold it in no longer, and her tears were rolling down her face. Honoka couldn't stand seeing her like this.

"Kotori-chan, please tell me, what's wrong?"

Still trying her best to keep her feelings inside, Kotori shook her head, and pulled Honoka into a hug. Honoka just wanted to see her stop crying, and started stroking her on the back. Eventually, Kotori's tears dried up, and they stayed silent as Honoka continued to comfort her.

"Kotori-chan...will you please tell me what's the matter?"

"...it's nothing."

Having had enough, Honoka separated herself from the other girl, and grasped her by the shoulders.

"It's not nothing, Kotori-chan. You were crying. I hate seeing you cry like that! So please...tell me. Aren't we friends?"

Seeing that Honoka was about to start crying herself, Kotori could hold it in no longer, and dived in. Her lips met with Honoka's. For her part, Honoka did not at all see this coming, and was at a loss. So she knelt there, not sure what to do, and stiff as a board.

Pulling back, Kotori was afraid. However, she knew she couldn't just keep going on like this. So she willed herself to come face to face with Honoka.

"We are friends, Honoka-chan. The best. But that's just it. I can't stand just being your friend anymore. I'm in love with you, Honoka-chan! I love you so, so much. Just seeing you talk to any other girl hurts! But...more than any of that, I want you to be happy. So I resolved myself to keep it all to myself. To never let it surface. I just want you to be happy, Honoka-chan. Even if it means watching you and Umi-chan together. It hurts so much, but I'll take all of it. Just as long as I can see you smile."

Having said everything she wanted to say, Kotori looked down, no longer being able to keep looking at her. Honoka's eyes widened throughout this speech, unaware that Kotori had been feeling this way.

"So that's why Kotori-chan has been acting so weird around Umi-chan lately...I'm sorry Kotori-chan. I can't believe I never noticed. But..."

"You're wrong!"

The sudden outburst startled Kotori, and she looked back up at Honoka. Honoka took a hold of both of Kotori's hands, and brought them together, cupping them in her own.

"I don't know how you got it into your head that I love Umi-chan. But I don't. I'm in love with you, Kotori-chan. And I know it might seem like I'm just saying this, but I mean it. I'm in love with my oldest and most beloved childhood friend. The one that would be willing to do anything for me. The one that suffered through so much for me when I couldn't even tell that she was in pain. I love you Kotori-chan. I always have, and I always will."

To emphasize the fact that she truly was in love with her, Honoka kissed her. At first, Kotori was too surprised, struggling with the idea that her feelings were reciprocated. But she eventually melted into it, kissing back with all the passion and love that she had withheld for all this time.

Pulling apart one last time, they looked at each other with a heartfelt look in their eyes. Kotori especially, as her feelings were boiling over.

"Honoka-chan...I must be dreaming."

Smiling, Honoka gave her a little pinch on the cheek.

"Ow!"

Honoka giggled as Kotori rubbed her cheek.

"Not a dream is it? I told you, Kotori-chan. I truly do love you. Always."

They embraced again, this time, an embrace full of affection. Nearby, Umi watched on, and as shameless as this all was, she was sincerely happy for her two best friends.

"Well, I suppose they'll be expecting drinks. I should go and take care of that. They'll be fine on their own for a while."

Word count: 1297

I had originally planned to just have Kotori keep holding onto these feelings as she just watched Honoka and Umi, but I just can't stand sad endings :P

I enjoyed writing this one, even if it was rather heartbreaking to do so. And I'm glad I can write like this again. Now let's just hope college doesn't stack too much work on me this semester ^-^'

Thank you for taking the time to click on, and read through my story. Please leave a review, it's always nice to see what people think of my stories, and whether or not they appreciate it. And if not, then criticism is always welcome as long as it's constructive.