"Takami-san, do you ever cook at home?" Kotori asked happily as she looked at Chika, who was finishing tying her apron.
"Ah, you can call me Chika! And uhm…not really, usually my mom or Shima-nee does it," Chika explained with a hint of embarrassment.
But Kotori just smiled.
"Okay, then I'll show you, Chika-san!" Kotori promised, and Chika returned the smile as she raised a fist in the air as if she were celebrating.
"Okay!"
…
"It smells good…" Honoka murmured as she stared at the ceiling while she lied on the bed, lazily kicking her feet that were off the edge.
"It does…" Umi replied quietly as she sat cross-legged on the bed next to Honoka.
The room was silent for a few moments, neither of them sure how to approach the topic.
As for why Kotori and Chika were cooking and Umi and Honoka were in the bedroom, it was Kotori's idea. It started after Umi saw Chika alongside Honoka.
"Why did you bring Takami-san with you?" Umi asked confused and feeling a bit betrayed after Honoka said she was coming alone.
"Well…it's about me and her right?" Honoka answered as she scratched her cheek, and Umi took a small step back.
"W-Well, that's true, but still…" Umi trailed off, and the entrance to the apartment went quiet for a few moments.
Then, Kotori walked past Umi and stopped in front of Chika.
"Takami-san, do you want to help me cook?" she asked innocently, and Chika's eyes widened.
"H-Huh?! Me? Help you? B-But I've never-" Chika stammered, but Kotori smiled as she lightly grabbed Chika's forearm.
"It'll be fine! Honoka-chan and Umi-chan have a lot to talk about, so…" Kotori hinted as she began lightly pulling Chika with her, and Chika's eyes wildly darted from person to person as she wondered if it was really okay, but Honoka showed a small smile and waved at her to indicate it was fine.
Now, Umi and Honoka were supposed to be having an important conversation, but they were having issues bringing it up now that they were alone.
They casted glances at one another while the other wasn't looking, and their words were on the tips of their tongues, however nothing came out.
But eventually…
"Honoka."
Honoka jumped a bit in surprise as her gaze drifted to Umi, who was giving her a serious look in response. The kicking of her feet stopped.
"What is it, Umi-chan?" Honoka asked normally with a small smile, but the expression on Umi's face remained.
"We need to talk…about Takami-san," Umi murmured.
Honoka stayed where she was for a few moments as she readied herself.
She knew what Umi said over the phone. She could clearly understand the words that came from Umi's lips.
But they didn't seem honest. Like she told Chika earlier, she thought Umi was just worried about it all. Scared, even.
It was time to address those feelings.
Honoka adjusted herself so that she was facing Umi, then sat cross-legged just like her.
"Okay," Honoka finally answered, a hint of optimism and energy in her voice as she looked back into Umi's eyes.
And Umi stared right back at her.
"Why?" she whispered, and Honoka's expression turned to a blank one as she slightly tilted her head in confusion.
"H-Huh? Why what…?" Honoka asked slowly, completely caught off guard by the question.
During their phone call, Umi was much more direct with her complaints, so when they finally met in person and started the conversation, she was expecting something less…vague.
Umi brought her eyes to the sheets below her as she hung her head, leaving Honoka confused and with her own thoughts.
"U-Umi-chan…?" Honoka whispered carefully as she slightly held out her hand toward Umi, but hesitated, worried that Umi was about to yell.
However, Umi let out a long sigh as she collected herself, then looked up to meet Honoka's eyes.
"Why her? And why now? What happened?" Umi asked vaguely again, and Honoka paused for a moment as she considered how to answer.
"W-Why…?" Honoka repeated the word as she tried to understand Umi's question, thinking on it for a bit as the room went silent.
But she wasn't able to understand it.
"Is…something wrong with it?" Honoka asked nervously in a whisper, and Umi quickly became flustered as she shook her head to say no. She didn't mean it like that.
Umi sighed once more. Prior to Honoka coming, she had talked to Kotori about the whole situation, and what she had said to Honoka over the phone. The two discussed it for a while, then eventually came up with the questions that really mattered.
But for some reason, Umi was having a difficult time asking them.
"I didn't mean that, it's just…" Umi murmured as she blushed, still having problems discussing love despite having been in a relationship for a long time now.
Honoka waited patiently, and after a few more moments of Umi collecting herself, the silence was broken once more.
"…before you left, it seemed like you would never fall in love with anyone. You were oblivious to everything, Honoka," Umi began to explain, then the distant sound of a pan dropping interrupted her. As she started to get up though, voices came from the kitchen, yelling that everything was okay. Honoka giggled quietly as Umi sat back down with a mixed expression of disbelief and happiness.
Umi cleared her throat as she aimed to continue the conversation, hopefully without any more cooking mishaps interrupting them.
"As I was saying…"
Honoka showed a small smile as Umi said that, somehow feeling reminded of their time as µ's from that small incident. Umi saw Honoka's expression and smiled herself before continuing.
"So, when you left and suddenly started dating Takami-san, I was worried…and confused," Umi spoke quietly and averted her eyes for a moment, and Honoka felt a bit guilty for some reason as she lightly scratched the back of her head in nervousness.
"Sorry…" Honoka apologized, but Umi quickly shook her head in dismissal.
"No, you don't have anything to be sorry for, it's just…" Umi paused again as her blush returned, but she immediately clenched her fists a bit, realizing she needed to hurry up with the conversation.
"You never cared about love or things like that, so what changed? You haven't even known her for that long, so…why Takami-san?" Umi finally finished her question as she looked into Honoka's eyes again.
Honoka sat there for a while as she mulled over the question, Umi patiently waiting as Honoka tried to reach an answer that would satisfy.
What made her start dating Chika? Umi was right in that they still didn't know each other very well. But for some reason, whenever she sees her…it just makes her happy. But the same could be said about Umi, Kotori or anyone else from µ's.
"Hmm…." Honoka murmured aloud as she continued to think, and Umi began to look concerned as Honoka was taking an abnormal amount of time to answer.
But then, the answer finally came.
"I don't know!" Honoka proudly announced.
Umi was completely flabbergasted for a moment, a look of bewilderment on her face as she stared back at Honoka.
"You…you don't know…?" Umi asked in confusion, and Honoka just nodded her head.
"Mhm! I mean, I love Umi-chan and Kotori-chan, and I also love Chika-chan!"
"Then couldn't it just be-" Umi tried to interject, but Honoka cut her off.
"But it's different with Chika-chan, somehow. How do I say it…" Honoka trailed off as she cupped her chin in thought, and Umi stayed quiet as she watched Honoka.
Some might consider it silly for them to be having this discussion, especially at their age, but it was important. And for Honoka, who had never shown any interest in romance before this point, Umi had to make sure it was real.
For the both of them.
To Umi's surprise, Honoka had suddenly placed her hands on top of hers.
"See? I can do this, but if it's with Chika, I…" Honoka decided not to continue as a blush appeared on her cheeks, and Umi stared back for a moment before quietly laughing.
"And your chest feels tight when you look at her, right?" Umi asked, and Honoka energetically nodded her head.
"That's right! And I get really happy when I'm around her!" Honoka answered with a big smile, and Umi smiled back.
"And you want to spend the rest of your life with her?" Umi asked simply, and Honoka was stunned for a moment.
"T-The rest of my life?! Well…I haven't thought about that yet…" Honoka trailed off as she began to carefully consider it, then Umi laughed.
"Sorry, I was just joking," Umi clarified, and Honoka breathed a sigh of relief.
And after a few seconds of silence…
"I see. Well…everything's fine, then. As for the difference in your ages…it shouldn't be an issue," Umi said simply, fully trusting in Honoka.
Honoka's expression turned to a blank one for a moment before she looked at Umi, confused.
"Huh? That's it? But over the phone you were-" Honoka started, but stopped as she saw Umi shaking her head.
"About that…I'm sorry, Honoka," Umi quietly said as she bowed, and Honoka was stunned in silence for a moment as she stared at Umi's back.
"Huh? Sorry for what?"
In response to Honoka's question, Umi sat back up with a small blush on her cheeks as she averted her gaze.
"…when you told me that you were dating Takami-san, I was confused. And worried. I didn't understand, and I…ended up saying a lot of bad things. It wasn't my business to-" Umi began apologizing with a sad voice, but was cut off as Honoka's arms suddenly wrapped around her and tackled her on the bed.
"H-Honoka?!" Umi stammered with a deep blush, but Honoka just laughed.
"It's fine, really! I love you, Umi-chan!"
After a few moments, Umi let herself relax and she returned Honoka's hug.
"Mhm. I love you too, Honoka," she answered warmly.
…
…
After the two collected themselves, they left the bedroom, excited to reunite with Kotori and Chika.
…only for them to see a disaster.
Pots, pans and trays were strewn about, as well as various cooking ingredients and utensils. Patches of flour and other ingredients were spread out throughout the countertop, and it was impossible to tell which dish was supposed to be dinner.
As Honoka looked around in amazement, Umi looked at an embarrassed Kotori and Chika with a confused look.
"…what happened?" Umi asked quietly.
"We got carried away," Chika answered embarrassedly as Kotori giggled softly.
After cleaning up the kitchen, the four of them ate dinner and talked for a short while. Chika was able to talk about her favorite µ's songs with them as Umi became embarrassed, and they also talked about Aqours as well as their lives in general.
They also discussed Honoka and Chika's relationship a bit, and Umi attempted to ease into it by discussing herself and Kotori's relationship, only to become a blushing mess after Kotori informed her that she had already told Chika everything.
Unfortunately, they couldn't talk long as Honoka and Chika needed to leave early so Chika wouldn't be late for school. They did make a promise to meet again soon though.
After finishing dinner, cleaning up and exchanging goodnights, Honoka and Chika were lying on their sides in their own futons, looking at one another.
"…so, everything's fine with Umi-san?" Chika whispered quietly.
Everything seemed normal and friendly after Honoka and Umi finished their conversation, but Chika wanted to make sure.
And Honoka nodded.
"Mhm. She's happy," Honoka answered with a smile, and Chika smiled right back.
Without another word, Chika got out of her futon, and Honoka looked at her curiously.
"Chika-chan?"
Chika didn't respond to Honoka's call, but instead walked toward her and gently lied down next to her, climbing into the same futon.
Honoka blushed lightly as Chika cuddled up to her, then began to stammer in nervousness.
"C-Chika-chan?! W-What's wrong?" she stuttered as she looked down at Chika, who was now bringing her arms around Honoka.
After a brief moment of silence, and a deep blush forming on Chika's face which Honoka thankfully couldn't see, Chika whispered.
"I think I love you, Honoka-chan."
The quiet words were enough to stun Honoka into silence.
This was the first time since they began their 'pretend dating' that one of them had said something like that. The whole reason they were doing such a thing was because neither of them were completely sure about their feelings.
So to hear that from Chika…
It made her really happy.
"I think I love you too, Chika-chan," Honoka answered gently, then returned the hug as the two of them began to drift off to sleep.
