They don't know (about us)
Her eyes can't stop gazing at the clock hanging at the top of the wall in front of her every now and then, watching the minutes, the hours go by nervously.
She had texted Yoshiko to let her know she'd be having a short last minute meeting to talk about the New Year's concert and also about other upcoming concerts, but that was already an hour ago and Yoshiko might be worried about her and wondering where is she or if something had happened to her by now.
Riko can't help but let a shaky sigh out, praying internally for the meeting to come to an end soon so she can finally go back home and reassure her girlfriend that she's completely fine.
She smiles briefly at the thought of Yoshiko being her girlfriend before she focuses her attention back on the ongoing talk. As much as Riko wants it to be over, she also knows the matters that are being discussed in the meeting are important for her future and she needs to listen to them.
Yet she can't help but sigh again, languidly this time, struggling to pay attention to the never-ending list of songs she should be performing.
Before she realizes, everybody is standing up to bow slightly before biding their goodbyes to finally go home.
She hurries up to take the first cab she finds and gives the driver her home address, huddling further on the back seat as a relieved sigh escapes her lips. She can finally head home to Yoshiko, even though she still has a somewhat long way ahead.
In her way back home, she can't inevitably think back again about the blue haired girl without feeling a smile spreading across her face.
Who would have thought they would end up together?
Her happy smile falters, turning sad for a moment at thinking how some of her family members, friends and even her first manager were against Yoshiko from the start.
She's a bad influence on you.
She's lazy.
They kept repeating over and over again. They kept saying, bad mouthing Yoshiko without even bothering to get to know her for real, not even a bit out of courtesy.
And Riko couldn't help but keep trying to change their minds, fighting against them trying to defend Yoshiko so they could see how truly marvelous the young girl was, still is.
It took her many years and fights until they've finally realized how wrong and unfair they were towards the young one, and finally accepted her.
Luckily for Yoshiko and her, they could count with their mothers and Aqours full support from the start, making things easier and more bearable for them.
Riko sighs heavily, looking through the cab window to see how the sights in the streets change as the cab passes by them.
Truth to be told, Yoshiko was actually a bit lazy, but only when it came to studies.
It was known for a fact that Yoshiko didn't enjoy classes nor the monotone voice of their teachers one bit, so she simply stopped paying attention to them to start doodling in her notebook whenever she could and even though Hanamaru and Ruby tried their hardest to make her go back to pay attention, it was pointless.
So when exams period came, Riko was already used to find Yoshiko clinging onto her arm begging her to help her study for the exams, taking advantage that she was a year older. Yet whenever Riko explained her the lessons, she was amazed at how quickly Yoshiko understood what she explained her and was smart enough to even almost have higher grades than the ones she used to have back in those times.
Riko lets a quiet chuckle out remembering how that always infuriated her to the point of threatening the young girl with not helping her anymore several times until each one of them, Yoshiko gave her such adorable and hard to resist puppy eyes that she ended giving up, immediately finding herself wrapped in Yoshiko's arms while the young girl peppered her face with kisses.
People liked to think Yoshiko was bad for her not only because of that, but also because she liked to cause troubles everywhere she went, always proclaiming herself as a fallen angel gaining everybody's weird glances or laughs, always with her eccentricities or dragging her, a great pianist in the making, to her pointless streams... And even though sometimes it embarrassed her no end, she couldn't be happier of it because it was part of her girlfriend and she'd never change that, she really loved and still loves her for who she is.
They didn't know how many times Yoshiko even got in fights just to defend and protect her. The times she'd end up all scratched because she tried to get back her favorite music score after being picked on for other girls for the mere fact of being shy or out of envy. The times she'd make somebody apologize to her for saying something not nice to her.
They didn't know how much she cared about her and all the things she did to make her smile again and always feel protected, but especially, loved.
A tender smile returns to her lips as she recalls it, and sooner than she expected, the cab is already reaching the entry path to their beloved home.
- We arrived, miss – the cab driver says.
- Thank you, please keep the change – she says, paying him the journey before she steps out of the vehicle and heads to open the front door slowly – I'm home.
She announces softly, hoping to see Yoshiko coming to greet her, but she's only greeted by silence.
She furrows her brows and goes into the house, stopping at the living room's door to find Yoshiko sprawled on the couch sleeping, drool seeping out of the corner of her mouth and her hair in a messy bun as the New Year's concert plays on the TV.
Riko can't help but be moved by the sight, giggling quietly thinking about how Yoshiko probably fell asleep out of boredom after having watched her playing the piano at the start of it.
She approaches her stealthily to leave a light kiss on the young girl's cheek before disappearing briefly into their bedroom to change into something more comfortable, coming back from it to finishing making the rest of the dinner.
As she's chopping the vegetables she can't help the smile spreading across her face neither the feeling of her heart bursting out of love from everything Yoshiko makes her feel.
She's soon brought out of her self-absorption as she hears a slight grumble behind her, obliging her to turn around to see Yoshiko appearing through the door frame, yawning lightly while rubbing her eyes.
As soon as her magenta eyes find her golden ones, a big smile appears on her face.
- Riri! You're back! – she says groggily yet very enthusiastically and Riko can't help but smile tenderly at her, lightly flushed by her cuteness.
Yoshiko grins happily at her blush and hops closer to her, pulling her into a sweet kiss.
- Welcome back – she says between giggles, infecting Riko with her good mood and making her giggle too while her blush deepens.
Riko looks at her briefly, with a happy smile on her face before she cups her cheeks and brings her into another sweet and deep kiss.
- I'm home – Riko says giddily – I love you.
The blush on her face deepens to unexpected limits after saying that and Yoshiko can't help but blush too, tilting her head confusedly at the sudden love declaration but smiling fondly nevertheless.
- I love you too, Riri – she says before closing their distance once again with another kiss.
No, they don't know how sweet Yoshiko is and can be, neither how much she cares about her and loves her, but that's okay, they don't need to know about it.