author's notes

i just wanna say thank you guys for the support of this fanfic!! wouldnt be here without your reviews and all :DD anyway, let's gOoOOo

Responses for Reviews:

Hiei's Curry: if u need a dentist, give the nishi medical center a call! kotori needs to tell umi directly, like what you said, or else umi-chan would get wrong ideas.. especially with the love song that kotori had written in her notebook :00

IamGayandaSinner: dw, this takes place in 2018 so there's no pandemic going on-- if its this year, umi would probably lock kotori inside the house. the song may be a good way for kotori to confess to her, but then again, she has to be direct or else umi would think its for another.. and hey, they didnt say pregnancy sex is bad *lennyface* (but would umi allow it? nah, she wouldnt--)

Susy Cullen: Thank you so much for enjoying this story!!

Guest: i mean, their gay is showing the more kotori's baby bump is growing-- and yes, umi might prefer private confessions but kotori loves to show off her love-

Guest/Chap: dw, it will happen soon!

With all that said, lez go!

Disclaimer: The Love Live franchise and its characters are not mine.


Chapter Fifteen: Sweet as Ice Cream

"Kotori.."

"..mm.."

"..Kotori.."

"..no."

Umi sighed, unable to move as Kotori snuggled even more into her bosom. She had been awake for the past fifteen minutes, trying to get Kotori to wake up, but was unsuccessful.

"Kotori, come on.. wake up, we can't miss the flight." Umi muttered, running her fingers through Kotori's hair. In all honesty, if there was no flight to go to, she wouldn't mind staying in and spending the rest of the day holding Kotori tight. But of course, the world had different plans for them today.

"..mm..fine." Kotori soon pulled away, pouting as she squinted her eyes "Good morning, Umi-chan."

"Good morning, sleepyhead. I'm sorry I had to wake you up." Umi chuckled, and soon reached out to rub Kotori's small belly bump "Good morning, little one."

"Umi-chan, what about me?" Kotori pointed to her own cheek, then let out a giggle after seeing Umi blush "Jo-king! You should go take a shower, you take the longest to get ready."

"Me? Surely, you're talking about yourself." Umi rolled her eyes, and let out a chuckle "Please do tell me you decided on an outfit already?"

"Mou, meanie..! I just take time to look presentable, that's all!" Kotori pouted even more, then let out a giggle "But it's okay, you look great in anything anyway."

"Hm? What's that? I didn't hear you." Umi pointed to her ear, letting out a laugh as Kotori got flustered and stood up "Mou, Kotori! Come back..! I didn't hear you~"

"Forget it..! I'm taking a shower!"

Umi just grinned as she watched Kotori leave the room, but soon raised her eyebrow when she heard Kotori's footsteps rushing back.

"Forgot something?"

"Yeah, I forgot this." Kotori leaned in closer to Umi's face, and planted a kiss on Umi's cheek "I'm off to shower~!"

All Umi could do was stare into the distance while blushing red.

Kotori - 1, Umi - 0


"Kotori?" Umi looked at Kotori, who was still pouting. Since they were going to the airport, they decided on using a taxi instead of one of their cars, but, Kotori, well.. she has gotten quite moody, leaning on the other side of the taxi's backseat.

"Are you upset because I said we can't eat ice cream for breakfast?"

"..yes."

"You know I'd let you eat any of your cravings, at almost any hour," Umi sighed, opening her phone as she received a message "but not now. Let's get ice cream after we have breakfast."

"Really?" Kotori turned her head, eyes gleaming "You mean it?"

"Of course." Umi nodded, not taking her eyes off the phone.

Yui-nee: Umi! Although I'm glad I'm going to see Kotori again, why are you bringing her?

Yui-nee: Are you two back together?

Umi let out a sigh, her eyebrows furrowing as she typed her response.

Umi: No. Is it bad to bring along a friend?

Yui: A "friend"? Umi, I'm your sister. I know you well.

Umi: What do you mean by that?

Yui: You still like Kotori, don't you?

Yui: It's okay, I still like her as a sister-in-law too.

Yui sent a thumbs up.

Umi rolled her eyes, hitting her phone's power button. Her gaze soon travelled to Kotori, who looked confused with her head cocked slightly.

"You read it a bit, didn't you.."

"Y-Yes..?" Kotori nodded, smiling shyly "It's okay, though! I like Yui-nee as a sister-in-law, too!"

"She'd be quite glad to hear that." Umi chuckled, letting out a happy sigh "I'm excited to finally come home."

"I'm excited for you, too." Kotori giggled, although slightly irritated that Umi didn't understand the way she would slyly flirt with her.

It will definitely take Kotori a while to get the dense Umi to realize how she feels.

"Maybe the best way to confess to her is to write 'I love you' on a rock and throw it to her face."

"Kotori?" Umi cocked her head slightly, tapping Kotori's thigh to get her attention "What are you thinking of?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing." Kotori smiled sweetly, confusing Umi even more. Still, Umi took this as a sign that everything's okay and looked out of the window.

Kotori - (still) 1, Umi - 0

Soon, the taxi arrived at their destination and they were dropped off. They had about half an hour left before they needed to board the flight, so Umi took Kotori to the convenience store to have a light breakfast (and to satisfy Kotori's ice cream cravings.)

"..is having ice cream for breakfast really that bad..?" Kotori muttered as Umi returned, holding a bowl of ramen "Ehh? Why only one, though?"

"Hm? We can share, can't we?" Umi smiled, handing Kotori a pair of chopsticks "Let's eat?"

"Itadakimasu!" Kotori said, and smiled after taking a big bite of the ramen "Uwaa, tastes good~"

After Umi realized Kotori enjoyed the ramen, she only took smaller mouthfuls in order for Kotori to get more. It's not like she's the one bearing another person inside of her, anyway. Surprisingly, it only took them a few minutes to finish it.

"Umi-chan, we can get ice cream now?" Kotori smiled as Umi returned to their table after disposing the now-empty bowl and used chopsticks "I want cookies and cream!"

"Mm, okay then. I'll go get it for you, you stay here." Umi nodded, then checked her watch "Think you can finish it in less than fifteen minutes?"

"Mm, I think so!" Kotori nodded eagerly, smiling brighter than before "Umi-chann, don't get the one in a cone, okay? The ones in little cups would do!"

"Got it!"

While Umi went ahead and bought her the ice cream, Kotori whipped out her phone to message a few people on a groupchat.

Helping Kotori-chan Confess!

members: Nozomi, Nico, Hanayo, Kotori, Honoka

Kotori: Umi-chan doesn't get the remarks I make at all! T8T

Nozomi: umi-chan is unique, y'know? say it directly so it will go through her thick skull!

Nico: What Nozomi said. You can't expect Umi, the most dense member of Muse, to understand your way of flirting.

Honoka: Yeah, yeah! What remarks did you make, anyway?

Kotori: Umi-chan's sister messaged something like she still likes me as a sister-in-law

Kotori: And when I told Umi-chan I like Yui-nee as a sister-in-law too, she didn't even react and just smiled!

Hanayo: Umi-chan is truly a unique case..

Nico: and you actually have a child with her..

Nozomi: amazing.

Honoka: absolutely amazing. Oh! wait, rin-chan messaged the other gc about something funny!!

Kotori: Ehh? Which one? I didn't get any!

Nico: neither did I

Honoka: ah, sorry! sorry! It's the gc of umi-chan, eli-chan, rin-chan, maki-chan and I!

Nozomi: and why are we not there?

Hanayo: Rin-chan is hiding things from me?!

Honoka: definitely not!! think of it like our gc, why aren't the others here too??

Kotori: because they can't know yet!!

Honoka: well, same thing for umi's gc!!

Honoka: i feel so out of place there with their smart talk, but thankfully rin-chan is there

Nozomi: the dense gays gc.

Nico: pff, more like two cheerful idiots and three dense idiots

Kotori let out a giggle as she typed out her response, but soon paused in the middle of typing. What does Umi's groupchat talk about, anyway? Quickly, she erased what she was supposed to say and typed out a question.

Kotori: Honoka-channnn what do they talk about there?

Honoka: eli-chan is being gay as usual, rin-chan is asking for help for classes most of the time, maki-chan talks about bloody things,

Honoka: and i can't say what umi-chan talks about, sorryyyy!!

Nozomi: is it about yuuki??

Kotori: i don't like her..

Honoka: never! she only complains about yuuki lol but i have a question, though

Nozomi: ?

Honoka: they talked about the sizes of..well, their down there. apparently, umi-chan's *eggplant emoji* size is unique

Kotori: ..how did they get umi-chan to talk about such things?

Nozomi: whoaaa, kotori!! can you confirm it??

Nico: pfft, i doubt it. umi doesn't seem like the person that would have such package

Hanayo: ..i'll go ahead and leave you guys for now. kotori-chan, have a safe flight!

Kotori: thank you, hanayo-chan!

Honoka: they cornered umi-chan. i think eli-chan was drunk and maki-chan just went along. rin-chan left like hanayo-chan, tho

Kotori: i suppose it is unique..

Nico: damn.

Nozomi: should've been mrs. sonoda when i got the chance.

Kotori: in your dreams, tojo nozomi :p

Honoka: umi-chan is def an inside perv with all the lyrics she wrote, tho

Honoka: Mermaid Festa Vol. 1 and Kaguya no Shiro de Odoretai are examples of umi-chan being shameless

Nico: don't forget the flirty lyrics of Loneliest Baby

Nozomi: kotori, does this line remind you of anything??

Nozomi: i want you to make me yours gently/passionately

Nico: heh sounds like it was inspired by a fun night.

Honoka: kotori.. by any chance, was kaguya no shiro de odoretai inspired by you?

Kotori: umi-chan's back, byebyeeee

Honoka: ah!! you're avoiding us!!

Nico: can't believe my center-song is just about a sea and a bird making a seagull.

Kotori let out a giggle as she turned off her phone, ignoring the messages that would pop up. Umi came back with the cup of ice cream, giving Kotori a light smile when she saw Kotori's face light up.

"Kotori," Umi sat down, opening the ice cream and taking a spoonful "Ah~"

"Ehh?!" Kotori's eyes widened, but she still complied and opened her mouth "A-Ah.."

"Apparently this is the best one there.." Umi muttered, examining the ice cream cup. Soon, she placed the cup on the table and reached out to wipe Kotori's cheek with her thumb. "You have some ice cream here."

"Mm?" Kotori mumbled, her eyes widening and her cheeks turning red as she felt Umi's hand "T-Thank you?"

Kotori turned even more red as Umi licked the ice cream off her thumb.

"Tastes sweet, like you."

"..Umi-chan," Kotori turned her head to the side, avoiding Umi's gaze as the blush couldn't leave her cheeks "shameless."

"Hm?" Umi looked at Kotori, puzzled "What did you say?"

"Nothing.."

"Crap, Umi-chan really is shameless in some ways but she's so pure she doesn't even realize it..!"

Kotori - 1, Umi - 1


They boarded the plane soon after having the ice cream, but both of them slept throughout the entire trip and only woke up to the announcement that they were landing soon.

Now, after picking up their luggages, they were waiting outside the airport for Umi's sister to pick them up.

"Has Yui-nee been living here?" Kotori asked "I thought she would be living in Tokyo since she manages the Sonoda dojo..?"

"Well, she goes back and forth. The dojo has some trusted employees, after all. Though," Umi sighed, staring at the ground "she's been spending more time here since my parents are here."

"What about you? Your family.. they don't visit you much?"

"Not much. Although Yui-nee and Grandma support me whole-heartedly, I know they're slightly disappointed that I didn't take the path Father made for us." Umi smiled sadly, then looked up when she heard the honking of a car.

"Umi!"

"Yui-nee."

Yui had similar looks to Umi, but looked more like their father, opposed to Umi who looked like their mother. Instead of blue hair, she had black hair and her eyes were more like a darker shade of brown, almost black. Her figure and the way she moved was more lady-like compared to Umi.

"Kotori! It's so nice to see you again!" Yui smiled as she exited the car "My, oh my! You grew up into a lovely lady!"

"Thank you, Yui-nee. It has been a while." Kotori smiled softly, giving Yui a slight bow "You look great as well, Yui-nee."

"Don't joke around, I already have wrinkles forming here and there!" Yui pouted, but soon chuckled "Well, a compliment is a compliment and I'm willing to take it. And how are you, my darling sister?"

"You look more mature than the last time I saw you." Umi chuckled, giving her older sister a hug "I missed you, Yui-nee."

"Ah, one of the times where you'll see this girl soft." Yui giggled as she returned the hug, but soon backed away "What do you mean by mature, Umi?'

"I don't know, older?" Umi laughed as she took her and Kotori's luggages to the car, preparing to load each of them in the trunk "Can you accompany Kotori for now? I'll just load these in."

"..you say that just because you're 21 and I'm 34." Yui grumbled, before flashing Kotori a smile "Let's get into the car, my future sis-in-law!"

"I heard that!"

"And I heard you asking for Kotori when you were drunk four years ago, no big deal." Yui yelled back, opening the car door "We have ears, Umi."

Kotori could only laugh nervously as she entered the car as well.


"Well, here we are, Umi, Kotori." Yui smiled as they all exited the car together once they reached the main entrance of their ancestral home.

From the outside and even the gate itself, the house looked traditional and gave the aura of fierceness.

Truly, it is home to a samurai's descendants.

"Welcome to the Sonoda's house."


sidenotes:

a little bit of fluff n sweetness before we face the fierce sonodas :DD

i've always thought of the sonoda's being connected to at least one samurai in the past, since they value tradition a lot and with the way umi (and assuming the canon older sis) was raised strictly and sternly. so in this story, it is canon.

I hope you guys will like Yui's character, I based her attitude a lot after Domyoji Tsubaki of Hana Yori Dango and a hint of Vaisravana from Noragami :DD aka, the older sister who just wants her younger sibling to get laid.

apologies for any grammatical error/typo! and please do leave a review, it motivates me a lot!!

see ya next chapter, and stay safe!

- zumi