Spring cleaning was a family tradition.

The rules were simple. Everyone opens their closets, pulls everything out. Go through all your belongings, clothing, shoes, jewelry, everything. If you haven't worn it in three months, out into the donation bin

Simple, concise, and straight to the point.

But Michiru was staring at her side of the closet with a hesitant and forlorn expression. "Do I really have to do this?"

Haruka walked behind her, gave her a noisy peck on her shoulder, and moved away. "Yes. I don't want you taking my side of the closet so you can put away your things. You are already overdoing it in the shoe department."

Michiru pouted and crossed her arms under her chest. "You have space for my shoes."

"No. I have space for my shoes." The blonde chuckled as she grabbed a bag with her unused clothes in it and dragged it out of the walk-in closet and out of their room. Hotaru, their adoptive daughter, was just walking out of her room with a bag of her own.

"How is it going?" The seventeen-year-old asked, knowing that her adoptive mothers were about to go at it any time now.

"I guess you can say it is going," Haruka answered, rubbing her temples in frustration. "As always, she doesn't want to get rid of anything…"

Hotaru shrugged. "Then, don't let her get rid of anything? If it makes her happy, why should she get rid of it?"

"It is taking up a lot of space," Haruka said, her arms akimbo. "Did you clean up a bit?"

Hotaru nodded. "Yeah. I did. Do you want me to help, Michiru-mama? Maybe I can help her decide."

Haruka waved her hand theatrically at the bedroom she shared with the violinist. "Be my guest."

Hotaru chuckled as she walked inside the master bedroom just in time to see MIchiru pulling a small box out of her side of the closet. "Hey, Mama."

Michiru turned to Hotaru and welcomed her with a smile. "I heard you talking with Haruka-papa."

Hotaru grinned. "Yeah, about that. She wants me to help you out with your spring cleaning."

Michiru frowned.

"I am here only if you want me to be."

"I feel slightly pressured."

Hotaru raised her hands defensively. "I can leave."

Michiru shook her head and sighed. "No, don't. I am going to get something to drink. Do you want something?"

"Nah I am fine," Hotaru answered.

"Alright. Take this. I will be right back." Michiru handed Hotaru the small box she was holding and turned to leave the bedroom.

Hotaru grinned as Michiru left. She knew her mother was about to get a glass of wine to unwind before battling the monster that is spring cleaning and Hotaru respected that. Michiru always bought expensive, beautiful garments, and every day she looked like she had a new outfit to wear. Of course, she was going to have a hard time disposing of her unused things…

Hotaru pivoted to stare at Michiru's side of the closet. There was quite an organized mess, if that even made sense. There were long and short dresses, cardigans and jackets, fashion blouses, button-downs, graphic tees, coats, skirts, slacks, boots, sandals, sneakers, and high heels. There was a large jewelry box, unused violin cases, and forgotten canvases.

And then there was the box she was holding. Hotaru tilted her head as she looked at the small wooden box. It was worn out, with soft intrinsically and detailed carving of a rose right in the middle. Hotaru undid the latch and opened the box only to find wrinkled envelopes and loose sheets of paper as well as old pictures. Hotaru tilted her head and took out one of the many pictures inside.

It was an old picture of her mothers. Haruka and Michiru were wearing their high school uniforms, grinning at the camera. The tall blonde had her arms wrapped tightly around Michiru's waist; her chin tucked between Michiru's shoulder and neck.

Hotaru smiled at the sweet memory before grabbing a second picture. This time it was a picture of Haruka. She looked like she was taking a break after winning a track race. She stood proudly, looking away from the camera while holding a bottle of water and wiping her forehead.

The third picture was Michiru, sneering mischievously at the camera. Half of her body was hidden by a large canvas. In one hand, she held a brush with blue paint on its bristles.

Hotaru's eyes dipped down to the envelopes. As much as she understood that she was going through private mementos, curiosity got the best of her. She took one letter and unfolded it, and she began to read.

Michiru

Listen,... uh… read… I know I am hard to deal with. I know I can be overbearing at times, annoying, and a bit possessive, but damn it! You need to understand that I am jealous! I am jealous of him and how he looks at you and always wants to be around you. How he wants to push me away, and I can't deal with him.

Please, talk to me. I am sorry I punched his face while you were eating your salad, and he landed on it. I am sorry! If you want I can buy you lunch next time! You can have my lunch! But please! Please please please, please talk to me!"

Haruka

Hotaru snorted. Haruka never mentioned anything like this! She punched some dude and ruined Michiru's lunch. Oh, now Hotaru was intrigued. She wanted to read some more. She moved to the entrance of the room and heard her parents talking downstairs. She heard Michiru mention something about new closet space while Haruka kept saying that they had enough already. They were going to be there for a while.

Hotaru closed the door and turned to the box yet again and pulled a second letter.

Michiru

It's hard for me to come to terms with the fact that you will be studying abroad. Last night was the best night of my life.

Hotaru pulled the letter away. Michiru was going to study abroad? When was this? Michiru never mentioned that; also, she pondered if she should continue reading. She didn't want to read all the details of what happened that night. She married her eyes for a moment before going back to reading.

I've been trying so hard to ignore what I feel for you for the past years, but the more I spend time with you, the more I notice that I am completely and hopelessly in love with you. Everything you do is magic to me. Your paintings, your music, your smile…

I really can't explain it, but it fills my heart with enormous joy that I am the one person you get to share everything with, and I feel that I screwed that. I screwed it up because I wanted more.

I got more, and it just broke my heart because when I woke up and saw you clinging to me, saw your face so close to mine when I felt you kiss me, it undid me. You are leaving just when we finally got together…

I am not asking you to stay; I know that you are looking forward to this. I just hope that you don't forget me when you are gone.

-Haruka

Hotaru folded the letter and put it back in the box. She felt a heaviness in her chest that she couldn't quite explain. Haruka and Michiru never talked about their love life when they were younger, not like Hotaru asked them about it, but she never imagined Haruka and Michiru ever being apart.

A third letter caught her attention. Michiru wrote this one, and it seemed like she never got to give it to Haruka. Hotaru looked back to the closed door and unfolded the letter, and began to read.

My dearest Haruka.

You will probably never read this letter. I don't think I will send it. Not because it is too embarrassing, I am just using this medium to release some emotions. I can't believe it has been four years since I've been here.

Hotaru paused. Four years? Four years! Hotaru couldn't even begin to comprehend what it would feel like to be away from someone she loved for a month, let alone four years.

And though I do come back during summer breaks, we spend all the time we can together. I cannot wait until I move back until we are together. Until we finally settle down.

I cannot wait to have a home with you. Can you imagine it? Our very own house, decorated how we want, no curfew, not saying goodbye to each other in the afternoon while going to separate places… I can't wait to wake up, and you will be the first thing I see in the morning. I can't wait to come home to you, or vice versa; I can't wait for you to get home and fix you something to eat. I can't wait to cuddle and fall asleep on the sofa with you.

I can't wait to cheer you up when you have a bad day and wrap myself in your warmth when anxious. I can't wait to … to start a family with you, to see you become a parent. I can just imagine you trying your hardest to keep a straight face while you scold them. I can't wait to see you changing diapers... But above all, I can't wait to grow old with you. Oh, Haruka…

Hotaru could feel her face heat with embarrassment. She had heard the stories of how Haruka gagged every time she would change her diapers. Yet, she sighed with contentment. She loved her parents; she loved how they loved each other and looked at each other with such adoring eyes. Whoever Hotaru's future lover was, needed to step up their game since he had a perfectly good example of loving and caring for someone. Hotaru sighed dramatically and continued reading.

Also… I can't wait to wake up with your head between my thighs until I co—

Hotaru folded the letter, stashed it inside the box, and placed it inside the closet before running out of the room, her ears ablaze.