Haruka smiled and nodded at Michirus offer. „My pleasure, Michiru." The two women smiled at each other before they made their way home. Haruka locked her dogs into her garden and followed Michiru to her house, since she promised her to assemble her cupboard.
The loud sound of hammering echoed through Michirus house while the aqua haired girl readied two glasses of iced tea in her kitchen. She took the glasses and walked into the living room where Haruka was kneeling on the floor. The sleeves of her shirt were rolled up, she had four or five nails in her mouth and was busy with hitting a sixth one into the wood. Michiru watched how a small trail of sweat made it's way down over Harukas scarred cheek, and a weird feeling rose inside her. "Hey, are you thirsty?" the aqua haired woman now spoke. Haruka nodded, put the hammer away and wiped the sweat from her brow. Michiru handed her the glass and watched with amusement how Haruka gulped it down with one big swallow. "Now now, slow down or you'll get a stomach ache." The smaller woman teased. Haruka grinned at her and pointed to the almost finished cupboard. "Look, I'm almost done." Michiru admired her new friend's handwork. "You are really good at such things, Haruka." The aqua haired girl said. "Thanks." Haruka answered. "After I had four tradesmen staring at my face instead of doing their work, I decided to fix broken things myself." Michiru didn't make any comment about that, and Haruka was thankful about it. She lived in Daisuka for six years now, and it had been hell for her. The first year, Haruka had earned a lot of pitiful looks, then the rumors had started. Soon the only one who had been tolerating her down in the village was Goemon, and he had started to keep his store longer open just for her after an incident with the mayor who had prompted her to stop buying her groceries in Goemons store. And now, from one day to another, there was someone who accepted her the way she was and didn't tease her about her looks. Haruka still couldn't believe her luck, but slowly she started to open up towards Michiru. "Hello! Earth to Haruka!" the aqua haired girl now said. Haruka flinched and gave her friend a shocked look. "Sorry, I was in thought." She said afterwards. Michiru smiled and patted Harukas back. "That's okay." The two women grinned at each other, and Haruka picked her hammer up again. She took the nails back into her mouth, much to Michirus amusement, and continued building the cupboard together.
One hour later, the blonde was finally finished and presented her work to the stunned Michiru. "Haruka, that's perfect! I'm sure this cupboard will stand forever." Haruka blushed and scratched the back of her head. "Thank you!" Michiru called out, throwing her arms around the surprised Harukas neck and cuddling her. Haruka looked down at the smaller Michiru, and teal eyes met blue ones. Sparks flew through the air when Haruka and Michiru locked their eyes, but suddenly Haruka cleared her throat and looked away. "You're welcome." She murmured. Michiru let go of her and said: "Thanks again, Haruka. May I invite you for dinner? As payment?" "That's…that's nice, but I'm afraid I have to decline." Haruka answered while packing her hammer and nails into the bag she brought. "Another time, okay?" "Okay." Michiru answered softly. "Have a nice evening, Haruka." "Thanks, you too. See you." And with that, Haruka quickly left Michirus house.
One hour later, Haruka sat in her living room, her head in her hands, and thought about her dilemma. "If I fall in love with Michiru, I'm in big trouble." The blonde thought to herself. "Maybe she really wants my friendship, but I'm sure that she won't love me. She probably isn't a lesbian, and even if she would be, how could she love someone like me?" Haruka sighed and turned on the TV.
"That is weird." Michiru thought to herself the very same time. "When I looked into Harukas eyes, it felt so…right. And that odd feeling I had in my stomach afterwards…could it be that I'm falling for her? Yeah, I know that I'm gay, and Haruka is such a nice person…but I only know her for three days now!" Michiru let out a heavy sigh and stared at the cupboard Haruka had assembled for her. "If she just would let me get close to her." Michirus thoughts were interrupted when her doorbell rang. She frowned, checked her watch – who visited her at such a time? – and stood up to answer it. When she opened the door, an elderly man stood on her doorstep, looking at her with cold gray eyes. "Yes please?" Michiru asked politely, despite the man's unfriendly stare. "I'm Yamada Satoshi." The guy now introduced himself. "My pleasure. Michiru Kaioh." Michiru answered. "I know who you are!" Satoshi snapped. "You threatened my son!" Michiru frowned. "If your son is one of the beatniks who threw empty beer bottles at Haruka Tenoh, yes I did." "What my son and his friends do to that freak is none of your business!" Satoshi shouted at the startled Michiru. It took the aqua haired girl a few moments to recover, then she snapped back: "Oh yes, it is! After all, Haruka is my friend! And if you call her a freak again…" "Then what?" Satoshi jeered. "Are you going to hit me? Oh, I'm so scared now." "You better be." A husky voice suddenly came from behind. Satoshi spun around only to see Haruka standing at the fence, her two dogs beside her.
