A/N: I Finally Posted this! I'm friggin done! So I know we're in a rush to read here and me to sleep so! Enjoy! Oh and It's been so long and THanks to everyone who reviewed last time! You know yourself. I'll probably edit in your names later but now I just wanna sleep so bye!
~Shintori Khazumi.
"Ne Maki-chan…"
"Hmmm?"
"About the thing in the kitchen…" Maki turned stiff while driving.
"Y-yeah? What about it?"
"Do you think Nico-chan's going to be okay, cooking alone and all that." Honoka asked as Maki gave out a relieved sigh.
"Yeah, She'll be alright- I mean , she must've gotten used to it by now since she's the one who cooks for us on every single trip we have." Maki reminded pointedly.
"Oh… right." Silence ensued and Maki found it rather peaceful yet at the same time unnerving.
"Um…"
"Y'know"
"You first"
"No you…" The two said at the same time.
"Maki-chan… you know…" Honoka fiddled with the hem of her shirt. "I never knew you… " She swallowed up her nervousness. "…felt that way about me- b-before that is!" Honoka said as her cheeks were splashed with a soft pink. Maki however wasn't faring any better as her face went up several shades of red, putting her own crimson hair to shame.
"Y-yeah… It's alright. I'm… over it… maybe." She whispered the last part, but apparently Honoka caught on it.
"R-R-R-r-r-r-right now… you just said 'maybe' didn't you?! Wah! I'm really sorry now." Honoka lowered her head, Maki doing her best to concentrate on driving, lest those depressing memories take over her thoughts and distract her any further than what the ginger beside her was doing.
"I said it's fine, didn't I?" Maki said, trying her best to sound nonchalant, but her voice came out in a weird, raspy and quiet tone. "S-sorry. I didn't want to bring it up." She sighed, recomposing herself. "It was nothing big anyway. And besides, you and Kotori… I can say this from the bottom of my heart, so don't get the wrong idea…" Maki blushed, taking in a deep breath. "You guys make a great pair." She finished, a solemn smile creeping its way on to her lips.
Realizing they had arrived at their destination, which was Otonokizaka, Maki parked the car swiftly and shut off the engine. "We're here, Honoka. Come on now, let's go do-" Unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching for the door, she felt someone stop her from getting out of the car by means of hugging her tightly. "H-honoka…" Maki's eyes fell to her side where Honoka's bangs covered her entire face.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"Mmm… I know." Maki hugged Honoka back, though it only lasted a short while, Maki pulling away as quickly as she had responded. "We should go now." Maki opened the car door and got out.
"Onee-chan! Your so slow!" Honoka and Maki turned to see Yukiho waving at them. They walked towards the building where she was waiting. "Thanks Maki-san. I know she's a handful, but you still brought her here.
Maki smiled at the girl, ready to respond when suddenly her phone rang in her pocket. "Excuse me." She said as she took the call.
'Maki, where are you right now?' The unmistakable voice of Eri could be heard through the speaker.
"By the school, why?" Maki was curious. She was supposed to stay here and prepare a few things, but Eri calling was a surprise.
'Ah… you see, I need you to pick up Kotori and Umi. Nozomi forgot something at home so she had to drive away, I don't have my car right now and the two are still a bit tired to walk to the station and we have a time schedule to keep, so… can you please?'
"Alright. I'm on my way. Bye." Maki ended the call. Turning to the two curious siblings, she told them the situation. "Eri and Nozomi had a bit of trouble so I have to pick up Umi and Kotori and take them to Hanayo and Rin's station. Will you both be alright? With the preparations and all, I mean."
"Don't worry. It'll be fine. And besides, all we need is the finishing touches. You can rest assured, Maki-san." Yukiho replied.
"Alright. Bye you two." She waved, turning to leave, when a hand grasped hers.
"Maki…" Honoka, who so far had been quiet after their talk in the car, lifted her head and trained her eyes on Maki's lilac ones. "Thank you."
"Mmm…" Maki ran to her car, all the while fighting back the urge to hug Honoka and cry, to pour out all her old frustrations. But now wasn't the time and she knew. For now, she just had to suck it up and be an adult.
"Thank you too…" She muttered to herself, putting on her seatbelt. "I couldn't have asked for a better first love." She smiled at her reflection. Some tears spilled, but she felt happy, happier than she had ever been in a while. "I can finally let go… of you." She gripped the steering wheel lightly and with that, she quickly drove away to her destination. "I am honestly… happy for you."
"Rin-chan! Help me!" Hanayo cried out, lugging around with her a huge pot filled with-
"Kayo-chin! The Ramen! The Ramen! It'll spill nya!" Rin ran to help Hanayo balance herself properly.
"That's why I told you to help me! Mou!" Hanayo complained.
"Hehe… gomen, gomen." Rin rubbed her head sheepishly, taking the pot from Hanayo's hands and planting a soft kiss on her forhead. The shy girl blushed.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Still, Eri-chan and Nozomi-chan are late. I wonder what happened?" Rin looked out the ramen store's window. "Nico-chan! Are you done with the cooking? Do you think you can head over to the school first?" Rin called to the team's main cook.
"Hmmm? Sure! Just help me load the food safely in the car and I can take it to the school already." Nico replied as her head popped out from the door connecting the counters and the kitchen.
"OK!" Rin replied, rushing to aid Nico with the food.
"I wonder if everything's alright." Hanayo mused before joining Rin and Nico.
"Umi! I'm here to pick you guys up." Maki exited her car and approached Umi who was guzzling down a bottle of water. The bluenette looked up and nodded her head in affirmation.
"Alright. let me go get Kotori and we can head out." She turned on her heel but then abruptly stopped, making Maki raise an eyebrow at her actions. "Maki… I'm sorry and good luck. I know you'll find someone like her someday. If you ever need a listening ear, don't hesitate to approach me- or Nozomi for that matter. We're all family, you know?" She began walking again. "Be sure to fix your face before showing it to the others. You don't want them worried right?"
Maki stared wide-eyed at the disappearing figure, also blushing as she realized how obvious she was being. "Thanks but… there will never be anyone like her." She rinsed her face at a nearby sink and turned to the passenger seat of the car and took out a bouquet of anemones and yellow camellias. A small card was tucked neatly among the flowers.
Once Umi and Kotori arrived, Maki handed the flowers to Kotori. The card only had two words:
"Sincere"
"Longing"
"The anemones mean sincerity, while the yellow camellias mean longing." Maki commented as Kotori placed the flowers in the wagon with the last bouquet she got and they secured it in the car.
"Bye Nico-chan! Take care." Rin shut the trunk of Nico's car and gave it a tap.
"Hai, hai… Don't worry about me, you should worry about your part. Oh and don't forget the flowers." Nico reminded,
"Roger!" The two kouhais saluted. Nico laughed at their antics.
"Alright, see ya there." And she drove off just as another car pulled in.
"Maki-chan!" Rin greeted in surprise, that was well hidden under her usual overexcited tendencies.
"Was that Nico-chan just now?" Maki whispered to the cat-like girl. "Cutting it a bit close, aren't we?" Maki sighed with a smile.
"You say that, but why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be at the school nya?" Rin replied.
"Ugh… Nozomi and Eri had a bit of trouble. I couldn't find Eri earlier so maybe she followed Nozomi or just waited for her at the park." Maki slumped her shoulders. "I'm kinda tired too."
"We all are, but after this, it'll all be worth it so hang on Maki-chan!" Rin gave Maki a slap on the back, which was a bit too strong in the red head's opinion, as she had a quick intake of air. "Riinnn…"
"Ah. Sorry." Rin ran to Kotori and Umi to avoid Maki's wrath, taking the flowers from Hanayo and offering it to Kotori. "Here Kotori-chan. I think they're called A.. Ar.. arbi, arba?"
"Arbutus, right?" Maki sighed. "Really?"
"S-sorry… I'm not good with flowers!"She said handing the small basket to Kotori.
"They mean… just read the card I guess." Hanayo pointed to the small card.
Kotori took it and in neat cursive handwriting, it read in English 'Thee only do I love' . Kotori blushed at that as she held the flowers wondering what the first years had in store for her. 'Well first years in the past.' She laughed to herself.
"Now… It's time for… RIn and Hanayo's RamenRice challenge! Can you find which ramen bowl has rice mixed in? Oh but to find it, you have to check each bowl while blindfolded and eat. If you find rice in it, then you have completed the mission. The bowls are mixed up so just go at them in any order." Rin announced as Umi helped a blindfolded Kotori approached the table.
"Ah! There's rice in this."
"That was fast!"
"already?"
The four people were shocked. "Maki!" Umi called. "Better contact Arisa next… tell her we're coming real soon." She said in a hushed tone to the pianist.
"Got it." Maki went to contact the said girl while Rin knelt down in defeat.
"Why? Even though I took so long in hiding it… I put in my best effort of placing it somewhere that Kotori would choose the least.
"Did you cheat?" She looked at Kotori suspiciously.
"Why would I?" Kotori deadpanned. "And how can you even cheat at this game?"
"You could've used your supernatural powers of insight." Rin replied.
"What now?" Kotori asked looking confused.
"Don't mind her Kotori-chan. But now I guess we have to move on to the next sight." Hanayo sighed. "We'll follow after getting cleaned up here. See ya, Umi-chan, Maki-chan, Kotori-chan. And Rin-chan, I think you mean foresight." She corrected the other girl.
"Yeah, see ya." Maki said just finishing the call. "So…" Turning to her two seniors "Shall we go?"
Driving to the next place, which was a small carnival that had settled in, Kotori asked a question that had been nagging her for quite some time.
"Who's paying for the gas?" She asked the driver.
"Honoka is, or so she said." Maki replied briefly.
"Ah… So…" Kotori looked out the window. "Where is Honoka-chan?" She asked eyeing her two companions. One of them went stiff, while the other kept her calm composure.
"Dunno." Maki replied unfazed by the eyes boring into her back. Kotori sighed and gave up on interrogating Maki, who she knew would not budge… Umi however, was a different story.
"Umi-chan, Umi-chan… would you tell me?" She gave Umi her best Alpaca eyes. Umi did her best to tear away her gaze from her bestfriend. "You would tell Kotori, wouldn't you?" She bit her lip as her eyes sparkled.
"W-who knows?" She replied, crying softly on the inside. 'Honoka…You are sooo going to get it later…'
"Aww… and here I thought… Umi-chan cared…" Kotori put on a faux expression of hurt.
'Honoka… Maki please save me!' Umi sent a look of desperation to the red head who just sighed.
"Kotori… calm down. We're here anyways."
The trio was greeted by Arisa who handed Kotori another boquet of flowers that Maki recognized as-
"Asters and magenta-colored Zinnias…" Kotori remembered those flowers. When they had their biology class, she thought that the two sometimes looked similar. Honoka would always tell her which was which though, since for some reason, Honoka was really good with flowers. Kotori remembered the time when Honoka got a perfect score in the exam for this class and Umi was shocked as she only got a ninety-seven.
(a/n: seriously… look it up on google, they kinda look alike sometimes. Note it being sometimes. ;) )
"Yeah! They mean-" Arisa was about to explain before Umi cut in as well.
"They're a symbol of love; Daintiness and Lasting Affection." Umi laughed. "Honoka talked about this in class once when the teacher confused the meaning of scarlet Zinnias which mean "constancy" with magenta ones that meant "Lasting love". They argued about it for a quarter of an hour." Kotori laughed as well, remembering how the teacher felt so ashamed after they had a bet and checked for the answers. "Honoka-chan got a week's worth of bread from sensei." The two classmates recalled.
"Yeah… the teacher was so angry at her that he told her to differentiate another set of flowers and when she actually got them all right, the professor walked out of the class." Umi told the rest.
"I wonder though…" Kotori muttered.
"Hmmm? Wonder what?" Maki asked Kotori.
"I wonder why Honoka-chan knows so much about flowers."
"Oh… so you didn't know?" Maki blurted out earning a curious look from her companions.
"Know what?" Umi asked. Maki blushed but decided to share what she knew.
"One summer, Honoka came over to my place asking if I could help her find a job. She wanted an easy one though, so it was hard to find something she could manage." Maki started as she followed Arisa, gesturing for Umi and Kotori to follow them into the carnival. "She wanted to be a maid, but Kotori would see her. She wanted to be an idol for an agency, but remembered she used to be one and remembered that we would all stay together dance and sing together. She wanted to bake, but she already kinda did that." Maki opened the door to one of the rides and Kotori and Umi buckled up in the seats behind her as Arisa went and told the staff to get the ride ready.
"We couldn't find anything so she went home. The next day, she called me and said she helped out a lady on the street advertise a flowershop and she just sort of went with it and asked for a job. I guess she picked up on a lot of things about flowers and plants." Maki shrugged.
Arisa decided to cut in. "Kotori-san, for this challenge, it is very simple. Just ride this for about half an hour and you're free to go." She said as she smiled sweetly.
"Ok. What is this anyway?" Umi asked.
"The death-defying rollercoaster." Arisa read the ride's name.
"What?" And with that the ride launched.
A few minutes later, Kotori came out smiling, seemingly the only one who enjoyed the life threatening experience of riding and going in circles and upside-down in mid-air while the other two didn't take the ride in a positive way.
"Was she trying to kill us?!" Umi leaned on the wall for support as Maki did the same.
"I… I think so." Maki replied.
"Ah~ That felt so refreshing." Kotori exclaimed.
"Right?" Arisa replied enthusiastically. "but the next one's even more exciting Kotori-san!" She tugged at Kotori's wrist. "Let's go!"
"Th-the next o-one?!" Umi cried.
"Octopus, Upgraded!" Arisa cheered dragging Umi with them.
"NOOOOO!"
"Onee-chan, Is something wrong? You've been quiet for ten minutes, it's freaking me out." Yukiho turned to Honoka as they were fixing the clubroom of the idol research club, for use.
"AH. Eh? Oh sorry Yukiho, did you say something?"
"Ugh… Nee-chan, is something bothering you?"
"Ahehe… w-why would you th-think that?"
"You don't walk like a solemn bookish beauty when everything is alright."
"I feel like I was insulted somewhere there." Honoka sweatdropped.
"Whatever, Come on." Yukiho pulled Honoka into the room for final touches.
A few minutes later, Nico arrived at the school and pulled in the parking lot and called for help with the food.
"Honoka?" Nico's voice sounded through the mobile phone. "I need your help with the food. Can you spare me a little help?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'll be right there. I can probably take three or four people with me while the others are finishing the décor and set up." Honoka replied on the other end.
"Alright. I'm waiting for you outside."
"Kay…" She replied as she hung up. Signaling to a few companions for help, they made their way to Nico and unloaded the food and did their set up in their makeshift ballroom.
"I hope she'll like it." Honoka nervously rubbed her palms together. "God, I pray she'll like it."
"She'll love it, don't be stupid." Yukiho chided.
"Will she now?"
"Arisa… I thought you said we only needed to ride that one ride and we were free to go. Why did we go on so many of those monstrosities?" Umi wheezed, clearly out of breath as they stood at the park's exit.
"Well… Kotori-chan was enjoying it so I decided to go with the flow?" She shrugged innocently.
"I think I'm gonna hurl." Maki slumped.
"Wait, who's gonna drive us there then?" Arisa asked.
As if on cue, a blue minivan pulled over and the driver's window rolled down. "Hi you guys. How is everything goi-? Are they ok?!" Eli panicked.
"Yes they're fine. Totally, perfectly fine. Just a little queasy." Kotori replied.
"A little?!"
"Well, I guess you need a ride?"
"Yep, it would be much appreciated." Arisa replied.
"We'll follow afterwards." Maki recovered enough to answer as Eli gave them the okay sign.
"See you then!" The passengers called out as they got in the car.
"Yeah, bye."
"I'm killing Honoka when we get there."
"Umi?"
"Nevermind, after the plan then." She got up and they rode Maki's car heading for the school.
"So Eli-chan, where are we headed?" Kotori asked. It was getting late and the sun was beginning to set. Maybe about five thirty in the afternoon, Kotori deduced.
"To the second to the last place before the main destination." Eli replied as Kotori gave her a confused look. "You have two more of these little 'challenges' before we get to the main event so hang tight." She said as she sped up a bit heading for a very familiar place to Kotori.
"Did we just drive to… nevermind. Why are we in Akihabara?" She asked Eli who was walking ahead of her into her old work place. "Eli-chan?"
"Surprise!" Poppers released confetti as the staff and customers clapped their hands for Kotori who stood their stunned. Her former manager held out a single primrose to her.
"I can't live without you." The words were written in English in a familiar sloppy handwriting that had at least gotten a tad bit neater through the years. Kotori felt her heart skip a beat at the few simple yet sincere words.
"So… your challenge is to wear your uniform and give us a few photos!" Her co-workers said in excitement. "Hurry, Hurry!"
The photos were taken and Kotori even served the few customers who were watching this take place. She left with a wave, still wearing the maid uniform, not bothering to change back anymore.
"Next place?" Kotori asked with a smile.
"Last place." Eli replied as they went to the last one.
"Um… why are we at Arise's…?"
"Why are we at UTX? They have your last quest." Arisa said.
"Ok?" Kotori reluctantly entered the building and was greeted by obvious idol fans who knew of their group, not that it was a surprise that they knew. µ's technically still did a few charity gigs once in a while and were guests on one-too-many shows, which was amazing for people who had supposedly retired already.
"Welcome to UTX!" Tsubasa's unmistakable voice exclaimed as she bowed. Anju and Erena were beside her as she handed Kotori the assigned bouquet of flowers.
"Hydrangea. Thank you for understanding." Erena smiled as Kotori accepted it. Well then, you have no challenge here. Your only one is to make it to Otonokizaka for the last challenge, one that you need to pass to move on to a life we all know you deserve." She told Kotori who wondered what that meant.
"Let's go."
"They'll be here soon! Everyone is everything ready? I won't forgive any mistakes you little squirts." Nico barked out orders here and there, wanting everything to be just perfect.
"Relax Nico-chan." Honoka said.
"Try telling me that when you are." Nico retorted as she noted the cold temperature of Honoka's hands and the nervous smile on her face, as well as her tense frame.
"I just… hope…"
"Shut up and just do it. She'd say yes even without you hoping." Nico said, her stress melting away into a smile. "Now go and get to your position, Leader."
"Thanks."
"Any time."
"So… we're here." Arisa said as she got out. Kotori-chan you'll have to take the wagon with you. Oh and head for the roof." She added as Eli A-rise and her ran leaving Kotori with her wagon as she wondered why the heck she was being left alone.
"Oh well." She dragged her wagon and entered the corridor. It really was dark and it seemed that only certain halls were lit up so she decided to let the light guide her.
Checking her watch, Kotori was surprised to see it was nearly nine in the evening. She sure took her time at the café. The lights seemed to be getting fewer and fewer as she went along and it was… unnerving.
"Honoka-chan…. everyone… where are you?" She muttered getting quite scared at the dim lighting of the hallways and the quietness of the nighttime. Passing their second year classroom, she nearly screamed as the door slid open, but was relieved to see it was only Mika, Fumiko and Hideko with another bunch of flowers.
"Sorry for scaring you, Kotori… Ahahaha… It really is creepy when you're all alone at night here, huh?" Mika laughed as she handed over the flowers.
Pink Camellias… Longing for you.
"Just a bit more Kotori-chan, Fight!" They cheered. "Oh and you'll need this!" They tossed her a bag which contained what looked like a formal dress. A beautiful floor-length yellow gown along with matching shoes.
"Thanks…" She replied as she walked a bit more, finally reaching the door to the roof. She stopped to take a breather. She actually managed to carry the wagon up and down all those stairs?
"What is going on?" She asked herself as she turned the doorknob surprised to see a few candlelit tables scattered around the roof with the center being clear of anything but one person standing in the middle of it all.
The person walked towards her. "You should've changed first, Maid-san, before you came up. But I guess it doesn't matter. Cinderella can still dance with her prince, right?" A handful of Viscarias were held her way as she placed them in the basket and took the person's waiting hand.
"Will you dance with me?" The person whispered in her ear the meaning of the flowers.
"Yes, I will." She giggled. "Honoka."
The music played as they swayed to the ballroom music, Honoka leading all the way.
"When did you get so good at stuff like this?" Kotori just had to ask.
"I had to beg Maki and Umi for a few lessons from time to time when we were free. Eli-chan helped too. As for the clothes, Nico had fun, or so she said." Honoka explained and Kotori finally noticed that Honoka was wearing a prince costume.
"It's… charming." She smiled.
"Is it?" They danced a bit more until a hand tapped Honoka's shoulder.
"May I?"
"Mom!" Kotori brightened as a small basket of Ivy Geraniums were placed with her other tokens. "I'm pretty sure you were supposed to give them to me, you know." She giggled at her mother.
"Your hand for the next dance?" Her mother's rare grin showed as she returned one in kind.
"Sure."
Honoka had also gone to invite others to dance in their pseudo ball event and everyone was enjoying it, until Kotori's mother pulled her away.
"Time to get changed, Cinderella. Prince Charming is waiting till midnight." Her mother ushered her to the makeshift changing room inside the building.
"I think you got the story wrong, but okay." Kotori changed nonetheless and as she stepped out, her mother gasped.
"You look gorgeous, baby." She felt a tear form in her eye as she hugged her only daughter. "Let's get your hair fixed." She smiled as she styled her daughter's hair, tying some up and leaving half to flow down her back. To finish the look she handed her daughter a pair of earrings.
"They were your grandma's." Was her only comment as she helped Kotori with them.
"Okay. You're ready." She wiped her eyes dry. Kotori gave her mom a tight squeeze.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Honoka paced while waiting for that one person to come through the door. It was time… she knew. She reached into her pocket and felt for the object. IT was… gone!"
"Wha?! Where Huh?!" Honoka panicked.
"Silly Honoka, it's right there." Nozomi dug in her pocket and fished out the velvet box.
"geez… don't scare me like that." Honoka put her hand over her heart. "I'm gonna die if you pull something like that again, Nozomi-chan."
"You're still scared that she will say no?"
"Honestly, Yes." Honoka sighed as she opened the box revealing a silver ring with intricately carved golden designs. Instead of a diamond, Honoka opted to go for the girl's birthstone which was a sapphire beautifully carved and placed at the center. Snapping the box shut, she went over the words and actions she would be doing in her head. Everything seemed so tense and nerve-wracking, but exciting and hopeful all the same.
Honoka's thoughts were cut short as the lighting around was turned off and a single spotlight focused on that girl of her dreams. Her breath hitched in her throat as the stunning beauty made her way over to her. As she finally stood in front of her, Honoka found herself at a loss for words.
"So…" Kotori's cheeks were tinted with a soft blush as she had a hard time looking at her prince charming who stood a few inches taller than her even with her high heels. At the same time, Honoka realized that growth spurt was totally worth it.
"So…" Honoka rubbed the back of her neck nervously. Her mouth wasn't going to work and her brain was failing her by the minute. She thought things would just fall apart, all their plans going to waste just because she chickened ou-
"Aishiteru Banzai…" Maki had started singing. "Koko de yokatta watashitachi no ima ga koko ni aru "
"Aishiteru banzai!" The other µ's members had started singing.
"Hajimatta bakari ashita mo yoroshiku ne mada " Everyone had joined in by now and they waited for Honoka to finish that last line.
"…Gooru janai" She smiled as she held Kotori's hands in her own. Her sheepish demeanor finally showing, and Kotori realized just how much she loved it.
"Minami Kotori. You are the most talented designer, most beautiful, strangest alpaca-loving girl I have ever met, and you will be the death of me, I'm sure. So… ummm… Y'know…. Ahhh…" Honoka tried to wrack her brain until the plan came to mind. "Music!" She yelled.
Shiawase o hohoemi o todokemashou…
(Let's deliver happiness and smiles to everyone...)
Chotto wakatta mitai kara dani nagareru hibiki
Fui no deai janai youna
Watashitachi konnani hikareru kiseki
(I think I'm starting to understand the sound that flows through my body
Our meeting wasn't unexpected
It's a miracle that we're so attracted to each other)
Daijina koto wa ashita o shinjiru ariakeegao
(It's important to have a dazzling smile that believes in the future)
Ai wa taiyou ookina taiyou
Himawarigao agete oikakeru
Ai wa taiyou terashi tsudzukete
Onaji basho de saite itai
Minna minna shiawase ninare!
(Love is like a sun, a big sun
The sunflowers lift their heads to follow it
Love is like a sun, illuminating the world
I want to bloom with the sunflowers
I want everyone to be full of joy!)
Itsu datte hohoemi de utaimashou…
(Let's always be singing with a smile...)
Sou ne hashaide miseta anata no yasashii hitomi
Namida koboreru ippomae de
Watashi e to unazuku sutekina aizu
(That's right, your eyes were so gentle as you frolicked
Before the tears began to spill
You nodded beautifully at me)
Ganbare kokoro ashita wa ikou yo atarashi sekai
(Do your best, my heart; tomorrow we'll be going to a new world)
Koi no kumo ga hikari o ukete
Fuwari to tsutsumu kara hajimaru no
Koi no kumo ga atatameru kaze
Kanjimashou soshite ima o
Minna minna dakishimeru junbi!
(The clouds of love bask in the light
And are softly enveloped in it
The clouds of love bring with them a warm breeze
Let's feel it together
And prepare to embrace everyone now!)
Ganbare kokoro daijina kotodesu
Watashi to anata to koko kara umareru mirai
(Do your best, my heart; this is important
Now, a new future will be born for you and I)
Honoka stopped just before the last chorus nervously… She didn't know why, but as the music played she had just dragged Kotori all over the dance floor while singing the song they had given to her as a gift after she woke up. Was she supposed to continue?
"Ai wa taiyou" Kotori whispered. "My sun… did you want to ask me something."
"Will you… stay with me forever?" Honoka gulped.
"I thought I was already doing that. Change the question."
"Will you… marry me?" There was no response. Honoka felt her eyes sting. What was going on, she had no idea. Just as the tears were about to fall...
"My silly prince, is that how you were taught to propose?" Kotori suddenly giggled and Honoka then realized that she was still standing, ring in pocket. She slapped her forehead, hard.
Kneeling on one knee, "Minami Kotori, I swear you are going to kill me one of these days if you keep on doing this and… I may or may not be your favorite color," She earned a light kick for that one. "… but I… I got you your birthstone so that has to count for something, right?" Everyone laughed at that as the ginger opened the box.
"Honoka!"
"But what I'm really trying to say here is… Ugh screw it, Just marry me already Kotori!" Honoka cried taking the ring out and holding it by Kotori's left ring finger, she hesitated, looking the girl in the eyes. "Please?" She asked permission once more.
"Stupid."
"Yes."
A/N: I would like to apologize for leaving you hanging. I also feel so sorry for Maki!I love her, honest,! She was my favorite character right off the bat. I am also a huge HonoMaki fan, don't get me wrong, but I started this when i wasn't one yet so I shall tread on! I'm personally dying, but I resolved to do this today! I sat here for an hour straight or maybe 2 just to get this out. Yeah! Finally right? I kinda put too much focus on other stuff so I had a hard time and my school sched is getting more and more hectic. Well, I hope you enjoyed and there will probably be one more chap. So… Bye!
~Shintori Khazumi Love.