EIGHTEEN

She's on her second cup of tea and in the middle of making sure their pantry is still well stocked when Hibiki announces, "I'm home, my sunshine~!"

"I'm in the pantry," she calls back, then says to herself, "and you're still the sun." With a timing born out of years of experience, she sets down her teacup in time for Hibiki to burst into the pantry and sweep her into a bridal carry. "Hibiki! You're incorrigible!"

"There you are, sunshine," beams Hibiki. "Have I told you today that I love you?"

She touches Hibiki's cheeks with her fingertips, then threads her hands in Hibiki's hair to pull her face down for a kiss. When they break apart, she teases, "You've only told me once or twice or a hundred times, today."

Hibiki shakes her head exaggeratedly, "That's no good, Miku! You haven't lost count yet? I have to up my game!" She puts her down but keeps their bodies pressed together. "I love you, Miku," she says, in a voice so sincere and so warm that it never fails to remind Miku of the early days of their relationship.

"I love you, too, Hibiki." And then they kiss and don't speak for quite a while.

[* * *]

Sometime later, she extricates herself from Hibiki's embrace to say, "I've made a list of things we need to restock soon. Since we don't have anything planned today, why don't we go to the grocery store?"

"Oh! If we finish quickly, we can have lunch and take a siesta before picking up Carol at school," Hibiki adds, eyes alight for adventure even though they aren't going to be doing anything exciting. Well—the plan doesn't involve anything exciting. With Hibiki around…

"I wouldn't say no to more sleep," she says wryly. She squeaks when Hibiki suddenly nuzzles her. "H-Hibiki! That tickles!"

"You make the best teddy bear when you sleep," Hibiki tells her mock-seriously. "We need to stock up on cuddles before summer makes us sleep on opposite sides of the bed."

Just the thought of the sweaty summer ahead makes her shudder. How is she going to make through this summer, wanting to hold Hibiki close but also wanting nothing to do with the added heat of another person? At least last summer they were still sort-of fighting and not sharing a bed more often than not, and the summer of two years ago—"Let's not think about that," she says.

[* * *]

They just had breakfast, lunch is still hours away, yet Hibiki convinces her to stop at a café to share a parfait.

"Hibiki," she says when her wife walks up to their table holding two parfaits, "we agreed to share one."

"Don't worry! It's still early in the day! They're made with non-fat yogurt, reduced sugar, fresh fruit, and stretch my diet only a liiiitle bit," Hibiki pouts at her, to which Miku concedes defeat. "Besides," Hibiki adds as she sets down one parfait in front of her, "I know you like more chocolate syrup in yours than I'm allowed to have."

She winces, "I really don't mind joining you in your diet," even if the glossy drizzle of chocolate syrup calls to her. Her mouth is not watering. She pulls her eyes away to try to smile convincingly at Hibiki.

"But you look so cute when you indulge," Hibiki smiles.

"Don't—don't say such things in public!"

Hibiki reaches out, teasing, "Then I guess I'll just have to take this back…."

Her hand clamps down on Hibiki's. They stare at each other. "You already paid for it," she points out. "It would be a waste," she justifies.

"Hehehe. I knew Miku wouldn't be able to resist!"

[* * *]

After that, Hibiki drags her into a music store: "Carol's getting pretty serious with her mini harp. Don't you think we should get her some new material to practice with? What if we find a piece to accompany her on piano!"

"We could probably find something online," she says but picks up a book to leaf through. Playing together sounds fun. "Maybe we can get the others to play with us." She puts back the book. "Incorporating a harp into our ensemble shouldn't be too hard if we stick to pieces at Carol's level. Or we could try to improvise." Considering how rowdy they can get as a group, it'll work out better if she arranges a few pieces beforehand. She glances up and catches Hibiki's teary gaze. "Hibiki?"

Hibiki dashes a hand against her face, "Sorry. It's just, it's been a while. I miss our friends."

Taking Hibiki's hands into her own comes naturally. "I miss them, too," she says softly. "A lot was happening in everyone's lives. Especially ours."

"Yeah, I know," Hibiki mumbles.

She interlaces their fingers. "We're working on it. They're still our friends," she reminds her.

"Yes." Hibiki brightens and the entire store brightens with her.

[* * *]

Then, a few booklets in hand (she's definitely going to need to write some custom arrangements), they get sidetracked by a blouse displayed in a storefront that Hibiki insists would look good on her and Miku insists would look better on Hibiki.

"Miku is so, so beautiful." The intensity of Hibiki's gaze makes her blush brightly.

Ducking her head, almost blinded by Hibiki's radiance, she insists, "Hibiki looked better."

Hibiki steps back, shaking her head. "We'll have to ask Chris, then."

"I like that idea. I know Chris will definitely agree with me." She steps back into the changing room. Away from Hibiki's searing eyes, she presses a hand to her chest and catches her breath. She married Hibiki years ago, yet here she is, as susceptible to Hibiki's charms as she was back then. Maybe it's because they were on the rocks not long ago….

"Wanna bet?" Hibiki asks her once she emerges in her own clothes.

"Hm?"

"Do you want to bet that Chris will agree with you?" Hibiki puffs up, insufferably smug and just as insufferably endearing. "I am one-hundred-and-ten percent sure that she'll side with me. The odds are in my favor!" She leads them on a meandering path to the register. "What do you say, Miku? Are you willing to put your money where your mouth is?"

Rolling her eyes, she says, "You watch too many movies with Genjuurou. If we bet, then it won't be with money. That's illegal—"

"—technically not if we do something like pachinko, or—"

"—and boring."

Hibiki laughs. "Fine, fine. We'll wager for a favor, how about that? Just think about it," she adds, forestalling Miku's response. "Oh! C'mere, I think this will definitely look perfect on you! It will be… like icing on a cake. The cherry on a sundae. Chocolate syrup drizzle on a parfait. Whipped cream on your—"

"—A hat?" She looks at the selection in an effort to stifle her blush; almost immediately, one wide-brimmed hat in particular catches her eye.

Hibiki has to stifle her own giggles before replying, "Hehe, yeah. Good to know I can still pinpoint your taste—in clothes! You should totally get that hat."

Yes, she might as well. It'll be a physical reminder that this day happened.

[* * *]

"Oh, Miku! That stand over there sells phone straps! We need to get a new matching pair!"

"…Our current ones are getting threadbare…."

[* * *]

Finally, they arrive at the local grocery store—the store is, at most, fifteen minutes from their house yet somehow that short walk took them two hours.

"We have a list, Hibiki, okay? Hibiki." She tugs Hibiki's sleeve to drag her attention away from a display of assorted chips. Giving said list to Hibiki, she decides, "We have a list, and you're in charge of it."

Hibiki gives the list a quick skim, says, "Rice is first," and cranes her head around while Miku leads the way.

A gasp: "Look, Miku! They're having a sale on beef—twenty percent off!"

Excited sleeve tugging: "Look at this pack of assorted rice balls!"

Backtrack: "Aren't these little jars of wasabi just so cute, Miku?"

The produce section: "Look at these magnificent bell pepper specimens!"

"The sugar's kicking in. I think even a reduced sugar parfait was too much. Or maybe this is just typical Hibiki," Miku mutters to herself. They're most of the way through the list, but will they reach the checkout or will she give in to Hibiki first? At least Carol doesn't get hyper like this, sugar or no sugar.

"Ice cream sandwiches… it's been so long," Hibiki sighs like a lovestruck teenager.

"You've already had a parfait," she reminds her wife, who turns to her with puppy eyes. Rolling her eyes because Hibiki has already used up her stock of puppy-eyes-free-passes today, she nudges Hibiki away from the frozen food aisle. "Only a little bit longer. We're almost done," she tells Hibiki and herself. "What's next?"

"Oatmeal, and then ice. Shouldn't we have brought the car if we're buying ice?"

"Aren't you my big, strong knight? As long as we don't take another two hours to get home, it won't melt." She laughs without reservation when Hibiki groans exaggeratedly.

[* * *]

They are half a block away from home when Hibiki suggests, "Let's have lunch there after we drop off the groceries," motioning to a little café.

"Not today, sunshine. We'll eat at home, where I can make sure you eat something not loaded with sodium or sugar or trans fats or—"

"Yeah, yeah, I get the picture," Hibiki sighs.

[* * *]

"How about I cook today?"

"Well, sure, if you really want to?"

"Yes! Don't worry, I'll stick to the recipe. No experimenting, no additives, no preservatives, no trans fats, no artificial ingredients, no GMOs, gluten-free, reduced sugar, vegan, zero calories, all ethically sourced ingredients!"

"…so, ice cubes?"

"Correct!"

[* * *]

"So, did you have fun today?" Hibiki swings their clasped hands together.

"Hm?" She shakes her thoughts from considering possible instrumental arrangements to focus on the present. Why is Hibiki looking at her with such soft eyes? "Um, yes?"

"We haven't been on a date in so long—" Hibiki shrugs bashfully, cheeks a fetching red—"I was kinda worried we fell out of practice."

"This was a date?"

Hibiki laughs, putting an arm around her to bring them close, "Yeah! You had a free day, I had a free day, Carol is at school, we didn't have anything planned—this was a spur-of-the-moment thing, but it made sense to have a date like this. I guess you were the oblivious one this time, huh?"

She presses her face into Hibiki's shoulder as Hibiki laughs. "Mou, don't make fun of me!"

"Sorry, sorry! You're just too adorable, Miku."

Despite her embarrassment, Hibiki's laughter pulls an answering smile from her.

Hibiki pulls them to a stop at a small park a block away from Carol's school.

"I know we're early," Miku says in concern, "but we shouldn't lose track of time. Remember what happened the last time we were late in picking up Carol."

Hibiki pulls a face but assures her this won't take long.

Confusion starts to turn into worry; Hibiki looks unusually serious.

"I'm not going to be on active duty anymore. Not in the reserves, either. I'm—I've been transferred to a trainer position. Genjuurou says he can still keep up with the new recruits, but I heard his knees pop the other day and this means I can still help people without having to go on missions. So, um, yeah!"

She can hardly muster enough coherence to repeat, "Trainer?"

Hibiki nods enthusiastically, serious mien giving way to an expression of adorable did I make you happy?

"You—" she takes a deep breath—"you're really going to stay?"

"I promise, Miku." Hibiki cradles her face, presses their foreheads together. Hibiki's eyes are so bright and confident. "I won't go on any more missions. I'll be home, for you and for our daughter."

[* * *]

From a distance, Carol and Elfnein look remarkably alike in their school uniforms, complete with the standard-issue sweater vests, backpacks, and hats.

Carol's smile right now rivals any of Hibiki's bright smiles.

Whatever grey fog lingered inside her evaporates under the sun and sky.


a/n:

Yes, it's an update! This one is brought to you by the realization that this series will soon be celebrating its fifth birthday. I think at least a year was spent on hiatus but even so, this is my longest running project. Ever.

Does anyone remember when I used to update daily? I certainly don't!

After this project ends, I highly doubt I'll continue writing Symphogear fanfic. I just have too many ideas I want to pursue in other fandoms, not to mention my ongoing PMMM fic that hasn't updated in... -sweats nervously-... idk how long. Anyway! I had a faking dating/fake marriage AU idea for TsubaMari a while back that I think would make a nice story, but since I'm going to be switching my focus to other stuff after this fic, I figured I'd post my notes for it in case anyone else wants to give it a go. I've made a post for it on my writing tumblr, teddy-tries-writing. It would make me very happy if someone were to write my little idea. Or commission someone to write it. Just... putting it out there.

Thanks for sticking with me this long! I hope you're all staying safe.