It'll be okay
- You really like yuri mangas, don't you, Riri?
Yoshiko says casually one afternoon as the both of them are studying together at the burgundy haired girl's bedroom, taking one of her yuri mangas in her hand to take a quick look at it while they are on a break.
- T-t-that's not true!
Riko squeals flustered quickly crossing the room to pry the manga away from the blue haired girl's hands.
- I was joking Riri, there's no need to be so flustered – Yoshiko says in between giggles, loving to see the light blush tinting Riko's cheeks, before she continues – It's okay, you know? I like them too.
She offers reassuringly, and Riko can only nod timidly in return, putting the manga back on the shelves that Yoshiko took it from, before they go back to continue their study session in silence before the night slowly falls over.
Yoshiko can't help but notice it before Riko does herself, but she doesn't say anything about it.
The next time she notices it, is after one of their practices, right as she's putting her bottle of water back into her bag.
- Riri, do you want to go to buy some….
She trails off as she sees that Riko isn't paying attention to her, being instead too absorbed on the girl in front of them laughing carefree with they're marine friend.
Yoshiko observes the way Riko's eyes glint with wonder yet also with sadness as she looks at the orange haired girl, hurt flashing briefly in them when she sees You taking Chika's hand in hers to leave together.
Yoshiko then observes Riko sighing dejected while looking down at her hand, clenching it as tears peek out of her eyes timidly, and the blue haired girl can only look at the pianist sadly as her heart breaks in pieces upon such a distressing sight.
What does Chika has that everybody, no... that Riko loves her?
She thinks to herself, letting out a sad sigh, before she finds her voice.
- You like her, don't you?
Yoshiko asks the burgundy haired girl ever so softly, startling Riko who can't help but gasp as her eyes open widely.
- D-don't say stupid things! I don't!
Riko exclaims enraged, looking everywhere around but at the younger girl, and Yoshiko can only smile bitterly as a long sigh escapes her lips.
- It's okay, Riko, you know? – she tells her reassuringly, but her words fall on deaf ears – Let's go back home, Riri.
Riko only nods, following her as they go back home part of the way together and in silence, each of them too engrossed in their own thoughts as to try and attempt to strike a conversation. Riko thinking about Chika, You and also about Yoshiko's words, while Yoshiko for her part can only think on the burgundy haired girl walking beside her and that loves Chika, trying to ignore the aching pang in her chest.
As they come to an intersection, they separate without another word or whatsoever exchanged between them but their biding farewells.
That night, both girls cry on their respective beds for their unrequited loves.
And even though a new day arrives, it stays the same as the previous one with the girls not talking about it, barely even talking to each other or recognizing the existence of the other, especially Riko.
- Hey Riri, do you want to go back home together? Maybe we could pass by-
- I'm sorry Yoshiko, I can't.
Riko cuts the young girl off abruptly, almost rudely, not bothering to look at her while she attempts to run away, and Yoshiko can't help but think there's something wrong with her or that maybe she did something wrong the previous day.
- Wait, Riri!
Her hand quickly grabs Riko's in desperation yet gently not wanting to hurt her, but it little matters as the action only makes Riko panic even more.
- Don't touch me!
Riko yells while slapping Yoshiko's hand to then begin to run leaving the younger girl behind, standing in the middle of the street shocked and hurt without understanding what just happened.
The younger girl tries to call Riko several times as well as send her texts apologizing for what happened, but she gets no answer back whatsoever.
That night, only Yoshiko cries herself to sleep, the ache in her chest turning unbearable for her.
The next day, Riko not only ignores the younger girl, but also avoids her like the plague, and the same happens the following day and the next one... until it comes to a point in which Yoshiko can't take the pain this causes her any longer and she is obliged to leave the club temporarily alleging she has to focus on her studies and exams if she doesn't want to fail the whole year. Luckily for her, her bandmates buy her excuse, or at least all of them do but one.
It's in one of those afternoons in which Yoshiko is calming "studying" in her room, when she gets the visit of her sub-unit mate.
- Ciao!
A blonde girl greets her chirpily as soon as the blue haired girl opens the front door.
- M-Mari? What are you doing here?
Yoshiko asks the blonde confused, stepping aside as Mari lets herself in her house without invitation.
- I was just passing by and decided to see if my favorite fallen angel was doing okay – she says winking at Yoshiko, before making herself comfortable in the younger girl's house.
- Oh, huh, thanks? I guess I'm doing well – Yoshiko answers awkwardly, making Mari giggle.
- Oh, are you? You don't sound like you are to me – Mari says invading Yoshiko's personal space – Besides, it looks like Riko and you have fought, am I wrong?
Yoshiko remains quiet, choosing to look at the floor instead while she balls her hands into fists at her sides. Mari can't help but look at her sadly, the pain on Yoshiko's face talking by itself causing her to sigh.
- You like her, don't you?
Mari affirms as she takes a step closer to take the younger girl's hands in hers and open them. Yoshiko can't help but look up at her surprised, seeing a soft and reassuring smile adorning her lips that does nothing to alleviate the lump in her throat, biting her lip to try not to cry, but it seems to be futile.
As soon as Mari gives her another soft smile and pulls her into a tight hug, Yoshiko breaks, gripping Mari's shirt tightly in her hands before she fully cries against her chest. The older girl can only stroke her hair and back in a soothing way hoping this helps Yoshiko.
- It's okay kiddo, it'll be okay. You just need to talk to her and I'm sure everything will be fixed.
Mari whispers in a motherly tone much different to her teasing one, and even though Yoshiko doubts of her words, of things being okay once again, she doesn't say anything on the subject. She just keeps crying in Mari's calming embrace as she lets all her hurt out until her tears stop.
- Don't worry, Yoshiko. I'm sure that everything will be okay.
Mari repeats once again hoping the younger girl believes her this time as she gives her strength, wiping her tears away, and Yoshiko can only nod at Mari, before soon enough, she finds herself being dragged into an evening of videogames with her until they have to go back to their respective homes.
After that talk with Mari, Yoshiko decides to go back to the club in the following days.
- My favorite fallen angel! Get ready because you're going to be my partner today, shinny isn't it!?
Mari yells cheerfully as soon as she sees her, taking her by her hand to drag her to a side of the rooftop before Yoshiko can even think of complaining.
- It's Yohane! – she grumbles, before she smiles softly at Mari, grateful for what she just did, seeing her winking at her in return – Thank you.
She ends up whispering loud enough for only Mari to hear it.
- Anything for Yohane-sama – Mari giggles as they begin to stretch.
Meanwhile at practice, Yoshiko can't help but steal glances at Riko's direction, but the only thing she notices is how the burgundy haired girl seems to keep ignoring and avoiding her no matter what.
I was so stupid thinking something would change…
Yoshiko thinks to herself as a heavy sigh escapes her lips, before she focuses back on the practice and on her blonde partner for the present day.
Once practice ends and everybody leaves, she notices Mari winking at her while giving her an encouraging thumbs up before linking her arm with Kanan's to leave together, leaving Yoshiko and Riko by themselves in the rooftop.
The blue haired girl can't help but look over Riko with hesitation, seeing her with her back turned to her, and just a single glance is enough to make all her courage leave her body.
A dejected sigh escapes her lips as she grabs her school bag ready to go back home alone, when suddenly she feels her shirt being clutched and pulled slightly.
- Don't… don't go, please.
Riko whispers ever so softly, her head coming to rest against Yoshiko's back.
- Riri…
- It... it hurts, Yocchan… – Riko breathes out, burying her head more in between Yoshiko's shoulder blades as her arms circle the younger girl's body to embrace her tightly – It hurts not having you around.
- Riri, I-
- I don't understand it – Riko says, her hold around Yoshiko tightening with her words – I don't understand… I… shouldn't like girls… but I do… I shouldn't like Chika-chan, but I… did. I shouldn't like you… but I do, I really do.
Riko confesses softly as she begins to openly cry, and Yoshiko can't help but quickly turn around to wrap her in her arms tightly, letting her cry hard now against her chest.
- It's okay to like girls, Riko; or Chika or me for the matter. It's perfectly okay – Yoshiko reassures her, hugging her tighter.
- Is it? – Riko asks insecurely.
- It is, Riri.
Yoshiko says softly, reassuringly, leaving a kiss on her burgundy hair as they stay like that for a while with Yoshiko rubbing Riko's back in circles until her crying stops and the older girl pulls slightly away from Yoshiko's chest to look down embarrassed.
Hesitantly, she takes one of Yoshiko's hands in hers to interlace their fingers shakily as a timid blush tints her cheeks.
- I… I don't understand it, but… but if you have patience, I-I'd like to try.
She asks nervously and Yoshiko can only smile widely at her words, squeezing her hand in return before she takes it to her lips to place a light kiss on the older girl's knuckles, earning a deeper blush from the pianist.
- I'll wait for you as long as you need, Riri. Take your time.
Yoshiko tells Riko reassuringly, smiling softly as Riko smiles back at her timidly, seeing the cute blush adorning her cheeks deepening even more than before. Yoshiko can only chuckle at this as Riko looks at their interlaced hands and mirrors Yoshiko, taking them to her lips nervously to leave a kiss on them that makes the blue haired girl being now the one blushing.
- Thank you – she whispers, feeling Yoshiko squeezing her hand in return.
- Let's go back home together.
Yoshiko offers and Riko nods, taking her school bag as they go back home together hand in hand.
At the end, Mari was right, everything will be okay.