Chapter 2: Complicated feelings
The windows of the music room were open, allowing the wind and sunlight inside while a beautiful melody was playing. Two figures could be seen sitting on a bench, in front of the large piano while playing, pressing the white ivory keys. The owner of the point of view was the one sitting at the other figure's left. They could see cute manicured fingers in front of them, pressing the keys as to play a melodious series of tone.
The two of them were playing a duet, the person doing the bass and the other figure doing the additional decoration, making the song perfect. It lasted for a couple of minute until the song ended and the owner of the memory lifted their head to be face to face with the other person. They couldn't see the other person clearly, but judging by the silhouette, it was female…maybe a high school girl.
Despite how blurry the vision was, shades of red could be seen on top of the other person's head, presumably meaning that she had red hair.
"Nice job, Honoka! You are getting better by each passing day."
The owner of the memory didn't recognize the voice right away but had the feeling they knew the other person very well. They however couldn't place a finger on the answers to these questions and just decided to focus on the dream.
"It's all thanks to Maki-chan!"
Whose voice was that? I don's see anyone else around so…was that my voice? There was a brief moment of silence. To think that I wouldn't be able to recognize my own voice…
"What are you talking about?" The other figure turned away from the viewer and moved her left hand next to her face. "I haven't done that much. I just taught you how to play Yume no Tobira because you begged me to."
"Silly Maki-chan!"
The owner of the memory could feel their body moving forward and wrapping their arms around the other person.
"I like you, Maki-chan!"
"W-what are you talking about, idiot?! Don't just go around hugging others and say such embarrassing things like that."
"Hehe!"
[-x-x-x-]
A pair of baby blue eyes slowly opened and it didn't take the owner more than few minutes to get her mind in order.
"A dream?" Honoka pushed her back so she was in a sitting position, yet still on the bed, her stomach and legs covered with the white blanket.
As she scanned the surrounding, the ginger saw someone sitting on a chair beside the bed she was currently in. That person had a rather petite figure and judging by her past-shoulder raven hair attached in a ponytail, her child-like facial feathers and her way of dressing, was in her 30s or late 20s. Her attire was composed of a light pink shirt, a dark red skirt and a light blue jacket. She was fast asleep while her head was resting on the bed, a book resting on her lap.
Honoka was surprised to see a 'someone' she didn't recognize and backed away slightly…but didn't manage to move that much because of the multiple bandages on her body. Her movements were slow and awkward and as a result, she fell face first out of the bed, causing a loud thud.
"Gyuu…" The woman clad in orange pajama groaned in pain and attempted to stand up but found no strength in her legs.
"Honoka?"
Said woman turned around—while still on the floor—and saw a pair of ruby red eyes looking for her. Her expression was pure concern and she wasted no time standing up before helping Honoka back on the bed.
"Jeez! If you wanted to go somewhere, you should have woken me instead of doing things on your own. You know that your body has not fully recovered yet." The ravenette scowled and sat at the edge of the bed, staying closer to the patient. The stern look on her face soon turned into a smile though after a couple of second. "But I am glad you are finally awake, Honoka." She slightly turned away as to hide her face from the other woman. "To be honest, I was so happy when Maki told me that you finally woke up. Unfortunately, I couldn't get in touch with the others so they won't be there." There was a brief moment of pause before she spoke again. "I don't think that you were at fault. No one would have been able to do anything in such situation. Umi, Kotori, Rin, Hanayo, Nozomi and Eri…I am sure that they didn't mean what they said that day."
Honoka fidgeted with the sheets, not totally comfortable talking about things she didn't remember with someone she didn't remember. "A-ano…"
The shorter woman turned back to her. "What's wrong, Honoka? Are you hungry? Do you want to have some fresh air?"
The ginger gulped, almost forgetting the question that was burning her lips. Sure, the raven-haired woman was not that intimidating but rather looked kind and caring and yet, Honoka couldn't help but to be nervous. "She's a nice person…" The ginger slightly looked down, avoiding direct eye contact with the other person. "M-may I know your name?"
[-x-x-x-]
"M-may I know your name?" Honoka shyly asked.
Niko was surprised but quickly snapped out of confusion as she remembered what her girlfriend has told her the night prior. She gave a comforting smile. "So, you really don't remember anything?" The response came into a shake of the head from the ginger. Deciding that it would be better to not rush things by bringing Honoka's memories at once, especially the bad ones, the older girl gave a smile. "Yazawa Niko! I am your friend so you don't have to be afraid." She offered a hand and Honoka reluctantly accepted it.
"N-nice to meet you, Niko-san…"
"You don't have to be that formal." The ravenette moved closer and intertwined their fingers. "We are friends after all!" Shades of pink appeared on the ginger's face as the older woman leaned closer, that smile still glued to her face. "Maki and I will always be your friend…no matter what. We will never let you down."
There was a brief moment of silence as Honoka was trying to calm her mind and form a proper reply. "A-ano…" She gulped slightly. "T-thank you, Niko-chan… You really are a nice person."
The response came in form of Niko taking her in her arms and pressing the younger girl's face against her (not so developed) chest. "I know that this is not like me…but allow me to spoil you a little." Honoka slightly nodded as her face turned slightly pink from embarrassment…but deep inside, she felt a foreign comfort. "I've been so worried when I heard you got accident and fell in the coma. I was sad to hear that your parents and Yukiho couldn't survive…" The ravenette paused an instant. "Anyway, Maki and I are here now so you don't have to worry anymore. We will take care of you until you fully recover."
The ginger felt a warm feeling on her chest as her vision became blurry, tears forming on her eyes. "Thank you, Niko-chan!" The response came in form of Niko hugging her tighter.
[-x-x-x-]
"Sorry for the intrusion!" Maki pushed the door open and entered the room to see Niko hugging Honoka on the bed. She couldn't help her lips from curling into a smile. "That Niko… But I guess she was really happy… After all, the three of us used to be…"
"Ah… Maki-san!" The red-head's train of thought was short-lived as Honoka has spotted her and was giving her a smile. The raven-haired woman quickly broke the hug and jumped out of the bed as to try to hide her embarrassment, but her all-red face was making it hard.
The doctor giggled. "I see that the two of you are already getting along well." She giggled before walking by the bed's side. "How are you feeling today, Honoka? May I take your temperature first?" The ginger nodded and Maki took a thermometer from her pocket before placing it on the shorter woman's mouth.
There was a brief moment of silence until the red-head slightly jumped from surprise as Niko wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's waist. Fortunately, Honoka was looking at the window while waiting for the result and was not able to see the two others.
"W-what are you doing?" Maki hissed in a low tone and the ginger didn't hear her.
The ravenette rested her head on the taller woman's back. "What are you talking about? Is it a crime to cling to my girlfriend?"
The red-head's face was slightly red but she decided to not counter. After all, what Niko said was true; they were going out. She has decided to move to Nagiita few months prior while Niko stood behind at Tokyo. Sure, the ravenette used to visit her regularly and she even had a trip back to Akihabara from time to time but the time they spent together was mostly short-lived.
Their attention was brought back by a beep coming from the thermometer and Niko had no other choice but to let go so that Maki could take back the tool. "36.9°… It is fine!" The red-head placed the small device back on her pocket. "The weather is nice today so how about we have a little walk outside?"
[-x-x-x-]
The sun was at the East, meaning that it just rose few hours prior, the sly being white due to the clouds, barely allowing the rays of light to shine the small town in which the hospital was. Niko was the one leading their way out of the hospital, her girlfriend and the ginger right behind her. Honoka was currently sitting on a wheeled chair pushed by Maki.
It was snowing outside, the background being a slightly desolated place. The roads were covered with white snows, just like the very few cars placed at the parking and the few buildings. It was a small town and no one was outside at that moment except for the three women.
Said women were at the hospital's rear 'garden'. Only a bed of Narcissus flower was decorating such place as it was the only flower that bloomed in winter. Other than that, there was nothing that interesting. Honoka, still sitting on her chair watched the mysterious flowers and couldn't help at them.
"Narcissus, the flower of winter." She turned to see Niko, who was clad in a large coat and scarf over her attire from earlier walked in her direction. "Do you know the legend behind that flower?"
Honoka nodded with a smile. She was intrigued as to why something would be able to bloom in such harsh season. Maki walked in their direction as well after seeing the two. The doctor too was wearing a coat and a scarf over her white shirt and dark skirt. "Are you perhaps talking about Narcissus?"
The raven-haired girl scoffed while proudly placing her hands on her hips. "The story took place in Grece back during the Antiquity. There was a young woman by the name of Echo and another young woman by the name of Narcissus." Niko started before kneeling in front of the flower bed. "Narcissus was beautiful, kind and caring; everything about her was perfect. She was courageous and loved by the people as well. On the other hand, Echo was a shy but talented person that few of the people called 'goddess'. She was good at lot of things, but she could only imitate things that the others did; be they song, actions or even words."
Honoka eyed at the flowers an instant before turning to the raven-haired woman once again. "So, what happened?"
"Echo was in love with Narcissus." Maki continued. "However, Echo couldn't do anything about it. She couldn't confess her love to Narcissus until Narcissus confessed to her. Her curse was that she could only imitate things and words that the others did/said. She has waited decades for her beloved to finally tell the three words she was longing for so long."
"In the end," the ginger turned to Niko who was walking beside the taller red-head, "Narcissus never confessed and Echo felt hurt. Despite her efforts, she was not able to do anything until Narcissus did them to her. She then fell in despair and met with a witch."
"She then asked the witch to cast a curse on the two of them since she feared someone else would get Narcissus. She has decided that if she wasn't the one for Narcissus then no one would." The doctor continued as her girlfriend linked arm with her.
Honoka had a painful feeling in her chest as she saw the two being this close. She brought a hand to her chest. "Why am I feeling like this? These two are going out…so why…?" She however rested back her hand on her lap. She herself was wearing a jacket and a scarf over the long-sleeve cotton pajama top and cotton pajama pants. "So, what kind of curse was it?"
Niko watched at the horizon an instant before turning back to their friend. "She has asked the witch to turn Narcissus into a flower so that her beauty and gentleness would remain but no one will be able to keep her for themselves. As to make her unique however, Echo has asked the witch to turn her into a flower that blooms in winter, unlike the usual flowers of spring or summer."
"…and so the witch accepted and casted the spell. Narcissus turned into a flower." Maki blew warm breath on her cold fingers. "Asking for such thing however was not free and in return, Echo has disappeared in exchange. She has not fully vanished however as she started to wander around the words; in the caves and in the mountains, looking for her beloved."
"What a tragic story…" Honoka stated as she turned back to the flowers before turning at the two other women.
Maki and Niko were looking at the horizon, now holding hands. The two women rested their shoulders against each others. The ginger felt jealous at that time.
"Why…?"
The raven-haired woman turned to her and let go of Maki's hand before walking in her direction. "Anyway, we should get back inside. The great Niko-Niko-Nii is starting to feel cold right now. Sure, I wouldn't want my skin to turn-"
Niko's speech was cut as the red-head cleared her throat and walked behind the wheeled chair. "I guess we should get back inside. It is almost time for lunch so how about Niko-chan go to buy us something at the cafeteria while I bring Honoka at her room." She eyes sarcastically at her lover with her pair of amethyst orbs.
The ravenette wanted to counter but her words got stuck in her tongue as she saw a smile on Honoka's face. The younger girl was smiling happily as the doctor placed her hands on her shoulders. She didn't know why, but the still recovering woman felt a warm feeling on her chest. Niko let go of a sigh. "Fine in that case! I will pay for today only!"
[-x-x-x-]
The three women were now back at the room and were eating their lunch—mostly composed of rice, bread, tomato and sweets. Niko was attempting to make a fool of herself as to make the ginger laugh. She has missed Honoka's laughing voice so much.
"Niko-chan is so funny!"
"What are you talking about?" The ravenette's Tsundere tendencies kicked in. Sure, she like hearing the ginger's giggles and laughing but she was too shy and proud to let it be without pretending. The smile on her face was betraying her however.
Maki rolled her eyes before grabbing a tomato with her chopstick and offering it to her girlfriend. Niko gladly accepted the offer and swallowed the tomato and giving a surprising peek on the red-head's lips. Honoka's and Maki's jaws fell. The painful feeling that the ginger felt earlier came at full force as she clenched her chopstick hard enough to break them. "Why?"
"N-Niko-chan… W-what do you think you are doing?" The red-head stuttered.
Niko just gave a teasing smile. "I am kissing my girlfriend. Is that a crime?"
The ginger-haired woman's feeling was increasing and she ended up clenching her teeth. "How dare she?" Her selfish side was getting the better of her. She had come to term that she have fallen for the red-head the night prior. Maybe it was love at first sigh…maybe it was long before that, but she was sure it was love. She was not going to just sit there and watch Niko take the spotlight with the gorgeous doctor.
"Honoka…" The young woman's train of thought was cut as she saw the red-head offering her a piece of tomato with her chopstick. "Here! You can have some as well."
The ginger took an instant as to place her mind on the events. She was internally fighting with herself about what she was about to do. She was in love with Maki, but Niko and Maki were a couple. What was she supposed to do? Accept the fact and live her life or allowing her selfish self to dominate?
"Honoka?"
The older girl forced a smile before leaning forward as to take the tomato in her mouth. As she leaned back once again, she had made her decision. Without summation, Honoka leaned in again and this time pressed her lips against the red-head's. Maki's and Niko's eyes went wide as she forced her tongue inside the other woman's.
"I don't care anymore! I don't know who I was and how I used to ask or even what is the situation now. I just want Maki…and I will do anything to get her." She eyed at Niko who was still gasping from shock, eyes wide. "And nothing will stop me."
[-x-x-x-]
A/N: OOCs are to be expected.