DISCLAIMER: I do not own KiraKira Pretty Cure a la Mode or the Pretty Cure/Precure franchise overall. It belongs to Toei Animation and Bandai. I do not profit from this in any way that involves monetary gain.
A/N: (Originally Written Jan., 2021) So I just finished Episode 25, like literally a couple of hours ago, and I needed to write a one shot about this pronto. I noticed other versions of this concept are usually from Yukari's point-of-view so I wanted to switch it around and write it from Akira's. Apologies if I don't quite write the characters as they are in canon. I'm still figuring out this couple and their dynamic. I also wanted to hint at my headcanon of Akira being a nonbinary character in the future, which I may delve into in further one shots we'll see.
Anyways, let me know what you thought? I'd love to hear from you all now that I'm more active on here.
"Bye Akira! Bye Yukari!" waved Ichika, craning her as far back as it would go so the older duo could see her bright smile. "We'll see you tomorrow at the KiraPati!"
"C'mon!" groaned Aoi, dragging Ichika harshly. "Someone still has to clean up the mess she left behind in the KiraPati."
Himari and Ciel giggled to themselves as they quietly walked with the others into the sunset towards home. It was at this moment that Akira realized just how close she was standing to Yukari. She blushed slightly, but didn't back away.
"Shouldn't you be going that way? You and Ichika are neighbors after all," smirked Yukari, the sparkle of amusement present in her beautiful violet eyes.
Akira chuckled awkwardly and rubbed the back of her head, "I thought I'd stay out a bit later. My grandparents aren't expecting me back anytime soon, and the night is still young. W-w-would you care to spend it with me?"
Yukari chuckled, "It could be amusing. Where do you propose we go?"
"Maybe the beach? There probably aren't that many people around," suggested Akira hesitantly. She wasn't sure if the beach would be a bad suggestion or not. She shot a quick peek at Yukari's face, but it remained as unreadable as ever. "Unless you don't want to of course!"
"The beach sounds lovely," giggled Yukari.
As the two made their way to the beach from the hotel where they had sent off the Prince, the day's events replayed on a loop throughout Akira's mind. Yukari's confession in the elevator, Akira's own love confession, and the arrival of a new enemy to top it all off. She wasn't entirely sure where to go from her. Trying to be subtle, Akira snuck another look at Yukari. If she was feeling the excitement of the day's events, she hid it well. But even still, the sight of Yukari's face made her heart melt.
She wasn't sure when exactly her love for Yukari had started. She had always thought the other girl was extremely beautiful, but so did everyone at their high school. But if she had to pinpoint a specific moment, it was when she made that young girl feel so beautiful at the jewelry store when they were out shopping for ingredients. The kindness that Yukari had shown had really spoken to Akira on a deep level. She hadn't been expecting to reveal her crush so soon, or ever, but now that she had said it she couldn't take it back.
"So you love me," said Yukari quietly. Though they weren't quite at the beach yet, Akira was surprised to see that Yukari had brought it up this quickly. "I don't know if that makes you the fool who came to close, or me the fool for trapping someone like you."
"Someone like me?" asked Akira, turning her head to stare at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Yukari flipped a portion of her long purple hair over her shoulder, "God doesn't give with both hands. Fairy tales don't usually end with the handsome prince falling for the coldhearted ice queen, now do they?"
"Who said this was supposed to be a fairy tale?" Akira sighed, she wasn't sure what Yukari was getting at. "I meant what I said. I love you Yukari Kotozume."
"But why," whispered Yukari. She was trying to hold back any tears. "I told you. I don't deserve anyone's love, especially yours. I'm cruel. I hurt people. I'm fickle. I don't know what I want. I'll just end up hurting you like I do everyone else."
Before she could regret it, Akira reached out and grabbed Yukari's wrist gently. She could see that Yukari was retreating into herself. What Akira wanted more than anything else was to prevent that. She needed Yukari to hear what she had to say more than anything.
"And don't forget what I told you." said Akira strongly. "I accept you for who you are. I don't need you to be anything other than who you are."
Yukari turned away and stared out at the ocean, " I can't give you what you want. I don't know what love feels like. You deserve someone as perfect as you are."
"A perfect person wouldn't be questioning if they're really a girl," said Akira, eyes widening as she realized what she had just said.
At this, Akira had Yukari's full attention. Yukari's eyes widened slightly and stared at Akira with something resembling understanding and...love?
"Chocolat," whispered Yukari gently.
"I-I-I'm n-n-not r-r-ready to speak about that quite yet," stuttered Akira, more nervous than she had already been. This was not how she had expected to reveal that particular question she was dealing with, if she would have revealed it at all. "N-n-no one else knows."
Yukari's eyes gleamed, "I can keep a secret. I'll be here when you're ready."
Akira smiled, "And I'll always be here for you. Yukari, I don't care if you're cruel. What I care about is your heart. I've seen the kindness and the beauty that lies within. Whenever you tell me why you don't deserve to be loved, it just makes me want to love you more. I won't run away because you hurt me. I don't know if you've heard, but I kind of moonlight as a Precure."
Yukari chuckled softly and leaned closer into Akira, "Oh really now? You must be quite brave."
Akira wrapped her arms around Yukari and pulled her into a deep hug, "Some might even say a handsome prince."
Yukari looked up and set her hand gently on Akira's cheek. Before she could register what Yukari was doing, their lips were engaging in a passionate yet chaste kiss. It was everything Akira had been expecting, and yet nothing like it at all. Yukari's lips were softer than she had thought they would be. Yukari's arms soon found themselves around Akira's neck as they continued to kiss. As they parted lips, Akira smirked down at her.
"For someone who doesn't know what love is, you sure do know how to kiss," said Akira lovingly.
"Akira, I don't know if I'll be able to fully give you the relationship you deserve," said Yukari, hesitation present in her voice. "But I'm willing to give what I'm capable of."
"That's all I ask," whispered Akira lovingly.
"I'll hurt you."
"I can take it."
"I'll try to get out of it."
"I'll hold on tighter."
"I'll leave."
"I'll wait for you."
Yukari said nothing as tears began to stream down her face. For the second time that day, Akira lifted a finger to Yukari's face and wiped a tear away. She leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"We never did make it to the beach, did we?" asked Yukari.
Akira shook her head and smiled gratefully, "I think I got what I came for."