Michiru took a deep breath as she looked at herself in the mirror for the tenth time. She checked her hair, her makeup; she fixed a nonexistent wrinkle on her skirt, pulled on her jacket, and tilted her head to the side. She wasn't a hundred percent happy with herself, but that will have to do. She paced to her side of the dorm and went through her jewelry… again…

Next to her, Setsuna, her roommate, looked up from the chemistry book she read. "You look fine."

Michiru nodded. "That's the problem. I don't want to look just fine. I want to look gorgeous, I want her to know that she is not going to get anyone better than me." Setsuna snorted, and Michiru glared at her. "You are not helping at all."

"It's a promise ring! Not like you are going to give her an engagement ring."

Michiru stopped her rummaging and let out a loud sigh. "About that..."

Setsuna closed her book and opened her eyes wide. "No. Way."

Michiru dropped the necklace she was holding and scratched her scalp. "Yeah… It is."

"But you have been dating for like four weeks!"

"One year, eleven months, and twenty four days."

"Shit. Time flies, I guess."

"Do you think I am making a mistake, Setsuna?"

"Well… No. I mean you like her, she clearly likes you too. You guys have been all over each other for quite some time," Setsuna paused and bit her lower lip.

"But?"

"Aren't you moving too fast?"

"We are lesbians. We move fast. I am surprised we haven't moved in together after the first week."

Setsuna laughed and nodded. "True words have never been spoken."

"Do you think she will say no? I mean, what you are saying is kind of true…"

Setsuna must've seen Michiru's face saddened at the sudden realization that she was probably moving too fast. The older woman dropped her book and moved to Michiru's side in a heartbeat. "She will not say no. God knows that woman adores you. I have seen the way she looks at you. She looks at you as if you were the last ramen in the entire cafeteria."

"Romance is not your thing, Setsuna."

"It clearly isn't, but you do get the idea." Setsuna tutted and placed her hand over Michiru's shoulders. "Goodness, you are tense."

"Of course I am tense! I am going to propose to the girl of my dreams and now I think I am making a mistake. We haven't graduated, my parents kicked me out of the house when I came out to them, she lives miles away from here, we barely get to see each other, and now I want to marry her as if it was too easy!"

"It is easy. You will find a way to make it work. Think about how good it will feel to wake up and just see her, every day… for the rest of your natural mortal life."

Michiru looked up at Setsuna and noticed the slight discomfort on her friend's face. "You hate that notion?"

"Seen someone everyday forever? Yeah. I think it can get tiring, but that is just me. The boy I like is marrying off to a cry baby that didn't even make it to college." Setsuna cringed. "But that's not the case with you." Setsuna cupped her friend's cheeks and smiled. "Haruka loves you, and I am sure she will be elated to know that you want to marry her. So," Setsuna stood up, pulled Michiru by the wrist, and made her face the mirror again. "You look beautiful and if she says no to this—" She twirled Michiru, earning a laugh from the younger woman. "Then she is as dumb blonde and you should break up with her right there."

Michiru sighed loudly and looked at herself one last time. Then, she stuck her hand inside her pocket and pulled out a small brown box. "Thanks. I needed that pep talk."

Setsuna inhaled sharply and pulled Michiru in for a tight hug. "The only thing that will make me sad about this is that I might lose my roommate. Who else is going to wake me out for school after pulling an all-nighter?"

Michiru hugged her back and shook her head. "I have a year left, in any case you will be the one graduating before me."

"Ah yes, with all the bad grades I am getting I don't think so." Setsuna pulled away and frowned. "Anyways. What's your plan?"

"We are eating at IIl Carreto and—"

"Fancy Italian dinner, super cliché.."

"Fine, I'm not going to tell you."

"No! Sorry, keep going. You are eating garling so your kisses are spicier."

"Setsuna, geez… Now I don't want to eat there."

"Oh, please! Nothing a little mint can't fix." Setsuna moved her hand, egging her to continue.

"Then I am planning on watching the lights down at the hilltop outside the city," Michiru said and cleared her throat. "You know that place."

"Of course I do."

A soft melodic violin sounded inside the dorm room. Michiru jumped as she felt her phone vibrating inside her jacket. She looked down at the screen and saw it was Haruka calling. Suddenly, her stomach became alive with butterflies. She took a deep breath before answering the phone with an enthusiastic "hello" She listened to the girl on the other side before nodding and saying, "Alright, meet you downstairs." She hung up and exhaled.

"Dun dun dun!" Setsuna squeezed her shoulders again and gave her one final hug. "You will be fine! She will say yes, and you will be the most beautiful bride."

Michiru nodded at her friend's words, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes before grabbing her purse and finally leaving the dorm.

Haruka was waiting for her outside the dorm building. As always, she looked adorable with her boyish clothing. The smile that the blond gave her the moment they locked eyes made Mcihiru melt into a puddle of emotions. She was so scared of what might happen that night that even giving her girlfriend a proper greeting felt so awkward. Haruka noticed right away and quickly asked her if everything was alright.

Michiru felt like the biggest fool on the planet, but she quickly gifted Haruka her perfect smile. "I am fine. Just hungry," Michiru lied before grabbing Haruka's hand and walking to her car.

"We'll fix that soon." Haruka winked and opened the door for her before heading to her side.

Michiru watched the blonde get in the car and put on her seat belt. She rubbed her hands over her lap and exhaled loudly.

"Ill Carreto was it?" Haruka asked, turning on her car.

"Yes, unless you want to eat somewhere else. I know you might not want to have your mouth smelling like a ball of garlic."

The blonde frowned but chuckled. "I love italian. Besides, there's nothing a mint can't fix." She winked.

Michiru let out a breathy laugh. "That's exactly what Setsuna said."

"Such a wise woman."

The ride to the restaurant was relatively quiet. Haruka spoke about her track and field training; Michiru told her about her art class and how they were painting live models, to which Haruka got a bit jealous and asked her if she was painting people without their clothes off. Michiru saw it was an opportunity and teased the blonde. She told her how she would love to be a live model, pose in front of hungry eyes and have them paint her body.

She saw how Haruka's grip on the steering wheel got tighter, and she couldn't help but giggle. "I am kidding."

"You better be."

"Oh? And what if I am not?"

"Then I will sign up to be a live model too. I know they pay, what fifty bucks for that?"

Michiru narrowed her eyes on her. "I wouldn't mind painting you."

Haruka turned her head to look at Michiru and flashed her iconic handsome smirk that made Michiru's knees buckle. "I wouldn't mind posing for you."

"Only me?"

Haruka nodded. "Only you."

"For free?" Michiru reciprocated Haruka's smile, her tone shifting once again to that teasing that made her always succumb to her lover.

Haruka grabbed Michiru's hand, brought it to her lips, and kissed the back of her hand. "I would pose for you for free."

"You better." Michiru snickered and placed Haruka's hand on her thigh as they made it to the restaurant.

Il Carreto was the first place they went on a date. Michiru could remember how nervous she was, how awkward it all started. Haruka spoke to her about her goals, how she wanted to work with car motors, expensive and sophisticated car motors, how she wanted someone to go steady with, someone she could share her life with. She spoke about her parents, how understanding they were of all her projects, and how they did not push her away when she came out.

Michiru remembered how she felt when Haruka spoke of her parents and how she felt like her parents could never meet Haruka. It pained her, and sometimes she wondered if it was worth it to even come out of the closet at all if it meant losing the love of her parents. But as the days turned into weeks, as the weeks turned to months, having Haruka close to her, drowning in her warm embraces, in her kisses; hiding between her loving whispers, in her aching desired moans, between her fingers, Michiru was happy; she had never been happier in her life than when she was with her favorite blonde.

Haruka made her feel safe, wanted, desired, but above all; the blonde always made her feel loved.

The waitress walked to their table, both women ordered their meals and were left alone once again. This time around, Michiru could feel that something was wrong with her girlfriend. Haruka kept rubbing her hands against her lap as if she were wiping the sweat off her palms. Michiru tilted her fear crept through her. Was she making Haruka uncomfortable? Did she want to tell her something?

"Haruka?"

Haruka swallowed her beer and placed the bottle on the table. "Yes, Michiru?"

"Is everything okay?"

Haruka quickly scoffed and waved her hand dismissively. "I am fine! Why wouldn't I be! The food is delicious, the beer is cold and I am with amazing company!"

Michiru frowned. Haruka was babbling, and that meant she was nervous. "Are you sure?"

"Yes! Everything is okay."

Michiru decided to let it go for now. She didn't want to push Haruka to say something that might ruin the moment. They ate their meal in relative tranquility, although Michiru still felt like Haruka was hiding something from her.

After finishing their meal, Haruka paid for it and then ushered Michiru back to the car. Her actions were still awkward, jumpy even, and as if she was overthinking every single thing she did, but now isn't the moment to worry about that. Now was the moment for Mcihriu to feel her stomach queasy. Her shoulders curled, her fingers and toes tingled.

They had finally arrived at the hilltop, at the city limits. The city looked like the reflection of the stars in calm waters…

Michiru wished she was calm.

She turned to her lover and watched how Haruka bit her lower lip and rubbed her hands together before locking her green eyes with Mcihriu's blue ones.

"Haruka…"

"I lied, Michiru. I do have something to tell you."

Michiru felt her whole world cave in. She took a deep breath and nodded at Haruka, not trusting if she could talk.

"I … am moving out of my parent's house."

Michiru felt as if someone had dumped a bucket of icy water over her head. "Oh." Her chest felt so heavy; she didn't think she could say anything else. This felt like bad news, and she could feel the tears gathering at the corner of her eyes… She narrowed her eyes on Haruka and wondered if it was bad news; then why was Haruka smiling so brightly, so beautifully?

"I am moving to this city."

"Oh!"

"I am going to be much closer to you, Michiru."

"Haruka," Michiru finally exhaled the breath she didn't notice she was holding. "Fuck! Don't scare me like that. I thought you were going to dump me!"

"I would never."

"You are moving to the city?"

Haruka nodded before groaning as Michiru threw herself over her.

Michiru couldn't resist her; she jumped from her seat to Haruka's lap, ignoring the fact that the small sports car was not made for in-car action. She didn't care though, she held Haruka's jaw and pressed her lips with the blonde, and kissed her with such passion, such desperation. Michiru felt that if she didn't kiss her, she was going to die.

Haruka wrapped her arms tightly around Michiru's waist and pulled her seat back to be comfortable enough to devour Michiru. This was something that Michiru loved about her, her passion, her fiery desire. This woman could turn her own with such a gaze and make her surrender with a stroke of her tongue. God, she was minutes away from moving to the back seats of the car and let Haruka have her way, but then, as she was about to remove her jacket, she remembered what she was there for.

With all the regret in the world, Michiru pulled away from the breathtaking kiss to press her forehead to Haruka. She tried her best to steady her berthing, arousal already enveloping her skin with each stroke of Haruka's hands on her waist and flank. "I have something to tell you too."

Haruka shook her head against Mcihriu's forehead and pulled her in for another kiss; this time, her intentions were clear, she wanted Mcihriu, and she wanted to take her in the back of the car. As Michiru pulled away, the blonde groaned in disappointment and steadied herself by placing her hands on Haruka's broad shoulders. "I mean it, Haruka."

"Who said I was done with my news?"

"Wait…" Michiru opened her eyes and narrowed them on Haruka's lust-filled emerald eyes. "Are you…?"

Haruka tilted her head and tried her hardest not to smile. "Close your eyes. I have something I want to show you." The air inside Haruka's car was so dense; the windows were starting to haze. Everyone knew what this place was used for, but of course, no one was going to bother them unless it was the cops. Then again, Haruka and Michiru weren't doing anything too scandalous yet.

"I have something I want to show you too."

"Then… let's both close our eyes and we can show each other whatever it is we want to show the other." Haruka grinned, her hands still all over Michiru.

Michiru pursed her lip and pushed herself to sit back on the passenger's seat. "Alright." She was hesitant, but she closed her eyes and placed her hands inside the pockets of her jacket. "Are your eyes closed?"

"Yeeeep."

Alright. This was it. This was the moment Michiru had been waiting for since she bought the ring. She inhaled deeply, and so did Haruka. "Okay, at the count of three we open our eyes. Alright?"

"Alrighty," Haruka answered.

"One…" Michiru said.

"Two…" Haruka continued.

"Three." Both women said at the same time and opened their eyes.

When they both open their eyes, Michiru is holding her box open as well as Haruka. Yet, Haruka's box was longer, and inside it was a pristine, silver house key…

Michiru gasped as she stared at Haruka's box in bewilderment. "What is that?"

Haruka didn't answer; instead, she stared at Michiru's box intently, her lips parted, her breathing labored. "What is...that?"

Michiru jolted out of her shock and looked at Haruka as the words she had rehearsed the entire night came back to her. She sat up straight, cleared her throat, and took a deep breath as if she was about to jump into the deepest ocean. "Haruka. I love you, I hate having to say goodbye to you every time we are together. I don't want to say goodbye. I want to say goodnight when we lay together. I want to say good morning when I wake up… I want you and I know we haven't been going out for a long time but I know that I will never feel this for anyone else but you. I love you so much, will you marry me?"

Haruka's tears finally slid down her cheek. She let out a heartfelt laugh before touching Michiru's nape and pulling her in for a scorching kiss. "Oh man! I mean I thought I was moving too fast!"

Michiru's lip quivered. Was she saying no?

"Kaiou Michiru." The blonde pressed her forehead with hers and exhaled. "I want nothing more than to come home to you every day of my existence. She smiled, that smile that made her look like the most carefree creature on the planet. "Will you move in with me?"

"I need you to answer my question first."

Haruka laughed. "No. You anwer mine first."

Michiru held the box tighter, and without wasting a second, she gave Haruka her answer. "Of course! Yes! Yes I will move in with you. Will you marry me?"

"God, yes, I love you so much."

Michiru clumsily slid the ring into Haruka's finger before grabbing the house key and putting it in her purse.

Haruka inhaled through her nose and pulled Michiru in for another kiss. The city lights flickered in the background like a night sky filled with stars, and the car windows began to befog.