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Shizuku isn’t sure when– well, she does, she just doesn't want to hurt Kasumi’s feelings– It was around when the club had dispersed for snacks after her performance of Solitude Rain when a daring stagehand from her Drama club passed her a love letter at the reception hall. Her pulse still thumping heavy and a stupid grin etching over her face as Kasumi reached over to snicker at the flattery written all over the heart shaped card. It’s rude to insult someone’s sincere feelings, Shizuku had reprimanded, taking back what was rightfully hers, to which Kasumi whined. Oh, c’mon, please? I’ve never seen an actual one! Give poor little Kasumin a taste?
Yes, that was around when Shizuku developed the small hobby of observing her best friend to see if romance was in any way of Kasumi’s life. At first it was completely out of pity, with just a dash of curiosity. Because… really? Because as cute as Kasumi insists she was, Shizuku always found her rather pretty beforehand, at least when she's not doing some reckless prank. But Shizuku can't deny she's adorable, alongside the abashed, yet dashing look that straightens the confident posture she’s been practicing to maintain. And as a dancer, she comes with a surprisingly study grip, though gentle when it finds itself in Shizuku's grasp.
And while her morals were questionable at times– her mind was quite beautiful too. Loyal to a fault even when the prospects of their club was fleeting and exerting all she had to bring everyone back, out of desperation or humility, Shizuku couldn't tell. But she can always count on Kasumi to hear her out on whatever's weighing on her mind, alongside the snippy responses she’s grown all so accustomed to.
Shizuku knows something between them has shifted ever since the ‘pep talk’, though she’s not so stupid enough to believe it was truly a confession from the heart. Kasumi repeated those words with everyone – when she’s crying to Yuu when she agreed with her outlandish ideas, when she's begging Shioriko to hear her out on her pranks and even using such in fruitless attempts to wake Kanata from her primordial slumbers. But Kasumi seemed… unreasonably determined that afternoon. And if her jarring confession didn’t come from the heart, her words certainly did. Shizuku wondered if she’s always been like that deep down, and simply kept it all hidden. That she’s just as scared as Shizuku and simply managed to smile so bright and full of love in the face of the disappointment and scorn...
Shizuku isn’t the type to envy, but needless to say, her shameless gaze is always following her eccentric little friend.
It doesn't help that Kasumi still keeps jumping into situations with her questionable moments of passion that somehow results in Shizuku's interest piqued even more.
So, in all, Shizuku really is surprised that Kasumi had never received a real love letter before they started out. Because she’s seen Kasumi get them after events, and she’s seen her reading them, gushing over how much the world just adores Kasumin before moving on to whatever else catches her attention.
Was it because it was from men? Kasumi insists as much with the same old mantra: They’re school idol’s! Kasumin isn’t not so dumb she’d ruin it all for some lousy boyfriend.
That makes sense. Shizuku can’t particularly see herself ending up with a man either, but seeing how Kasumi simply melted at compliments– no matter how sincere, she’d thought Kasumi would’ve folded with any insistent fan letter. Shizuku believes in her friend to not get into an affair, she swears she does. But Shizuku has also noticed the way Kasumi molded into her touch, the warm curl of her eyes when Shizuku would perform.
Then perhaps it was a matter of gender, Shizuku had once innocently believed. Because she’s watched Kasumi receive confessions in a myriad of other ways, and oftentimes with women.
Differently from her previous school running coeducation, which was a bit more on the fence on the topic, thinking of the same gender in that way was far more common around Nijigasaki. And although her parents and such thought it was a result of simply having no actual guys to prance around, Shizuku has seen enough couples lasting far past the high school fling and through university whenever her dad had brought her to his workplace. Shizuku admits she probably likes women, considering she’s never had an actual man she’s been captivated about that wasn’t from movies and the like. But she doesn't think too much about it, since, well, Kasumi’s right about the idol scandals, and no one was demonising her otherwise.
So, the only thing stopped Kasumi from realising was either her complete obliviousness, or some lack of genuine care.
Shizuku thought it to be the former, but…
There comes the school fair where a girl from the arts course insisted on giving her best friend a full discount on a pocket painting of Kasumi’s sly self embroidered with a crown of wildflowers. And her friend admires the artwork’s warm, detailed strokes as she comments on the amazing deal, completely unaware of the gleaming admiration and adoration pouring from the poor girl’s eyes, her light blush as Kasumi hands her a signature with her usual cute tagline and their hands brushing.
They leave a sighing girl behind, the sheer disappointment digging deep into Shizuku’s soul as she steeled herself to press forward.
Maybe… Kasumi just wasn’t into women. Or men. She didn’t seem particularly envious when Shizuku received the love letter, just curious.
Part of her heart dropped right to her stomach, thrumming in annoyance and dejection that she refused to question.
“Kasumi-san, that girl earlier…” Shizuku starts hestiantly, still feeling an empathetic pang for the seller, “I think she liked you."
Kasumi blinked. “Yeah, I know.” She stuffs a whole string of seasoned calamari into her mouth, her words muffled, “But she’s not Kasumin’s kinda thing.”
“Is that so?” Shizuku murmured, “You’re not disturbed?”
Kasumi stops chewing all of a sudden, her head cocking towards Shizuku with a confused expression. Her vibrant, magenta eyes flickering as she seemed to compute something in her head with her brows all furrowed, then she huffs.
“Shizuko. I don’t really care if it's a guy or a girl confessing to me. It’s literally the same anyway. Like, who am I to complain who tells Kasumin that she’s the most amazing and adorable thing on Earth? Being disturbed about whatnot would just be adding to my losses.” Kasumi tosses her skewer into the trash, her hands motioning exaggerated, “Besides, seeing people get so mushy without even knowing me is kinda weird. I mean, it’s not– because, well, not to brag, but Kasumin’s simply the most lovable wonder around. But if you ask me to actually love them back right away? I dunno. You’d think they’d at least try to talk to me a bit and be friends or something before trying to jump the gun like that.” Then she shrugged, “Why’d you ask though?... Wait. No way. Are you interested in her?”
“S-she’s not my type!” Shizuku deflects almost immediately, words suddenly stumbling over themselves. Her type is someone a little too observant for how egotistical they act. Someone just a tiny bit shorter than her with silky hair just short enough she can comb her whole hand through and someone who says all so confidently that they loved her when she needed it most. And, and… ugh.
Kasumi pats her shoulder, “Well, when you find someone you like, bring them over to Kasumin.” She pressed tighter, “As besties, I have to make sure they’re good enough for you.”
“...Don't treat me like a child, it's unseemly.”
“When you stop acting like a spoiled princess I'll consider it." She scoffs, "C'monnn Shizuko, my love life is lacking. Seriously. Noone gets me! But you, on the other hand? You can’t blame Kasumin for being curious about who can actually catch your pretty eye!”
Naturally as she could muster, Shizuku muffles the choking sound building in her throat and covers her palm over her face as if simply thinking of her next response, her grip creasing her frown and more importantly, the heat spreading from her cheeks. Kasumi’s gaze catches Setsuna and Ayumu trying to shoot a target at a gun game and grabs Shizuku’s arm, her hand sweeping down until their fingers interlace and make their way over, as if it were the most normal thing for them to do. Kasumi gloats loudly of her shooting abilities, and Shizuku smiles when her friend misses every shot and sulks to her as they make their way over to an ice cream stand.
So Kasumi seems to like anyone who she considers a friend.
Huh.
Maybe Shizuku will touch up on the feelings about her… best friend then, sometime.