Pairing: Kotori X Hanayo

Chapter: Wow wow loving you

Rating: K+

In which Hanayo spends a day in Kotori's house as they write their newest single together.


Admiration.

That was what Hanayo felt when she saw her senior humming to herself as the older girl started doodling on the piece of paper before her.

There was something about the taupe haired girl that drew Hanayo in. Something soft, gentle, and warm.

She often found herself awestruck by the girl before her. Despite being the more passive member in Muse, as well as between her two childhood friends, her presence was just as strong. Kotori was a kind and gentle girl - perhaps the sweetest girl she'd ever met and seen. Despite always being "dragged along" by Honoka, the taupe haired girl was emotionally strong and was no pushover - though she liked to spoil Honoka a lot.

As she got to know her senior better, Hanayo realised that there were many hidden depths in Kotori that people sometimes do not notice. Kotori was much more perceptive than people give her credit for. Kotori was also the type of girl that took notice of people's feelings and treated them seriously. She was often an observer and only stepped in when she thought there was a need to.

The older girl also had this ability to make her feel at ease and comfortable - it made Hanayo feel safe, that she could confide in or tell the taupe haired girl anything.

Even now, just by sitting down at her own desk in Kotori's room, Hanayo couldn't help but notice how cute her senior was. Her usual hair that was tied up into a small side pony tail was let down - it was a good change though it made Kotori look a little older - in addition to a dark navy checkered skirt and beige sweater - as she hugged a huge plush cat.

"-chan, Hanayo-chan?"

"E-Eh?" Hanayo flinched slightly when she finally realised that Kotori was calling her. The older girl's eyebrows were furrowed into a slight crease of light worry as the older girl leaned closer towards Hanayo. "Are you fine, Hanayo-chan?"

"Y-Yes!" Hanayo sputtered out, flushing slightly at the somewhat close proximity. Somewhat like Rin, Kotori had a small habit of leaning in towards Hanayo sometimes when they spoke, especially when the older girl was worried about her. "I-I'm fine!" She managed squeaked out.

Kotori looked a little skeptical before smiling slightly, patting the younger girl's head before she finally returned back to the piece of paper before her.

Hanayo sighed inwardly as unconsciously reached for the spot on her head that Kotori had just touched. She was still not used to being alone with her senior. It wasn't as if Kotori was scary (like Umi sometimes) - on the contrary, the older girl was too kind and sweet. But still, this wasn't the first time she'd been alone with Kotori. The last time they had to come up with a lyric to their duet, they had gone to Hanayo's house. Although she was extremely nervous then, it paled in comparison to today since she came over to Kotori's house instead - and they were the only ones in the house.

Kotori had always been especially nice and kind to her and was the senior whom she had least problems talking to ever since she joined Muse. She took great care of her and was quick to help her whenever she had issues during their practices.

"Any idea how we should start the song?" Kotori tapped her pencil against her desk as she glanced at Hanayo, who sat on the chair next to Kotori, the brunette's knees brought towards her chest as she rested her chin on her kneecap, not realising that Hanayo was deep in thought.

"I was thinking we could go with the theme of love - romance seemed really popular with our fans," Kotori continued her explanation, absent-mindedly doodling a small heart shape on top of the paper. "We did a confession-type of song the last time so this time..."

Kotori's voice slowly faded away from her mind as Hanayo continued to stare at the girl before her, unable to tear her eyes off how beautiful and cute her senior was. How smooth her jawlines were, how her small pink supple lips moved as she spoke, how the soft locks of hair covered her forehead as the rest cascaded gracefully on her back. It was as if she in a trance, watching a fairy flutter right in front of her and the younger girl couldn't help how her cheeks were beginning to warm as her heart skipped a beat.

She had to resist the urge to lean forward and touch the older girl's seemingly soft cheeks. She wondered why she had always felt this pull towards Kotori. Was it because she was kind? Was it because she was like an older sister to her? Or was it because Kotori was someone Hanayo could never hope to be like?

Ah...I'm...

"...in love...?" Hanayo herself whispered at the sudden revelation. That...wasn't possible was it? If that was true then... "I love her...but does she love me...?"

"That's it! Hanayo-chan!" Kotori suddenly exclaimed excitedly as she grasped Hanayo's shoulder, enthusiasm shinning in her amber eyes.

"E-Eh...? W-Wha-" Hanayo blinked, extremely confused. Wait- Did she just say her thoughts out loud just now? At that realisation, Hanayo's face flushed a scarlet red, embarrassed at her slip, her mind began to reel as she panic began to set in. What had she-

"You're a genius, Hanayo-chan!" Kotori's eyes were now lit with determination, undeterred by Hanayo's now confused and frantic expression. "The feeling of being love, but not knowing if the other party likes her back! We could use explore that theme in our song!"

Hanayo's mouth gaped open, still stunned at Kotori's sudden outburst and could only nod mutely as her heart continued to pound quickly against her chest. She... misunderstood. A sudden wave of disappointed (and relief) overcame the younger girl as she sighed inwardly. Of course, her feelings were not reciprocated. There was no way Kotori would return these feelings. Kotori only treated Hanayo as if she was her younger sister after all. Somehow, it left a bitter taste in her mouth as all energy left her entire body as her shoulder slumped down.

"Hanayo-chan?" Kotori sounded a little anxious at the sudden change in attitude in her junior. "Did you not like the idea?"

"A-Ah, that's not it!" Hanayo quickly say, forcing a smile, "I-It's a great idea! Let's do it!"

"Great!" Kotori beamed, and once again, Hanayo's breath caught at the huge and charming smile that Kotori had shot her.


Kotori felt her heart sink with each passing second, her initial enthusiasm wavering. Trying to control the growing ache in her heart, Kotori tried to pen down Hanayo's idea down on the paper. But the longer she stared at the second line that she wrote, the more she found her heart aching.

"I love you, but do you love me?"

Kotori had, in actual fact understood Hanayo's words perfectly. She knew that the younger girl had unintentionally spoken out loud and to save her from embarrassment (since Hanayo looked like she was going to cry at her slip), Kotori had jumped at the opportunity and used the junior's words as their lyric. It was also something she could relate to after all.

As she spent more time with her adorable junior, she found herself more and more attached to the younger girl. Hanayo was just irresistibly cute. An angel.

Although Hanayo was often not confident of herself and insecure (which she found endearing sometimes), there was a certain strength and passion in the younger girl that Kotori admired. The courage to take the first step forward towards her dreams, unlike Kotori, who ran away, indecisive.

The way Hanayo's voice stuttered as her face turned red when she was embarrassed, and the times where the younger was able to smile comfortably around her... Kotori didn't think she could take it any longer. Especially when Hanayo seemed to have fallen for someone else. It hurt, yet she was always finding excuses, trying to stay near Hanayo as much as she could.

But she didn't want their song to end up sounding like a heart break. She didn't want it to be sad. Or perhaps, because of her own selfishness, she wanted it to be more optimistic and cheerful sounding, in a vain hope that it could turn her unrequited love around. Love Marginal and Unbalanced Love were depressing enough as it is - and the taupe haired girl wanted their song to be filled with hope and joy.

Hugging her plush toy tighter, Kotori swallowed as she tried to lock her feelings away, burying it deep within her heart.

For now, she should be concentrating on their new duet.

She would make it more upbeat to beat down the growing pain in her heart.


A/N:

FYI, the song they are writing is "Suki desu ga suki desu ka?" (lit. I love you, but do you love me?) sung by the two of them.

It wasn't easy to write this. The both of them are too pure and sweet that I, as a human being who isn't that pure or sweet is unable to write fluff that could melt people's heart. I could imagine how it played out in my mind but I can't write it out. Sorry it turned out to be so...angsty ;_;

Next: Eli X Rin!


Review Replies:

Enya Talisman: Thank you~ Hmmm not really a childhood friend-ish bond but rather a close friend? They only know each for only three years after all but Nozomi saw something inside Nico that resembled herself and was drawn towards it, making her kind of protective over Nico.

Kousaka Maki: Indeed, poor Umi...

SourLoli-pop: Hahaha yea, what a coincidence!

GAT-X105VividPanzer: Thanks~

Dash24zappshift: XD Yea~ I like the dynamics of their relationship and all the subtleties :) Hahaha yes let's just blame it on autocorrect...

Weesah: YES you get it! Thank you. Their dynamics are just so interesting and there's so much potential there. They understand each other even those that they think they'd hidden well. Ahhh I thought it was quite overdone - the dashing Umi part that is. Like a cliche tv troupe? But glad you liked it! (Pana is so precious)

Major Mike Powell III: Ahh it sounds nice too! But it wouldn't be fair if Nico and Nozomi are just the ones with special pairing name right? I like the way you put it. The lone wolf and the nomad. Naise. Thanks for the review as usual!