Work Text:
“This is gonna be so cute.”
Saki felt like a secret agent at the moment, with all of the sneaking around she had been doing these last few weeks—one entrusted with delicate mission that, if she failed, would result in her probably being brutally hunted down by a bassist that definitely had the capability to throw her a good few feet. But it was a mission she was taking absolutely seriously!
After all, it was not everyday she helped her best friend plan the ultimate White Day proposal!
Shiho had come to Honami and Saki earlier in the winter with his grand idea, and Saki would never forget the look on his face when he did. So embarrassed, yet so entirely lovestruck whenever he mentioned Ichika’s name. She didn’t tease him about it in the moment, but she filed it away to tell Ichika later—once this entire proposal thing actually happened.
Naturally, he wanted their help in planning a lot of it—mostly just to make sure everyone was where they needed to be when they needed to be there—so he could focus on the important stuff. Like the ring and the speech and his irrational worry that Ichika would hate the entire thing and break up with him on the spot.
That last one had sent Shiho into more spirals than Saki could count.
“He’s so ridiculous…” the blonde said to herself. Despite how utterly pathetic her best friend was, Saki couldn’t help but be excited. Not only were her two best friends about to start this new chapter of their lives together, but also, proposals meant weddings, and Saki had already assigned herself the role of wedding planner. Ichika and Shiho would be having the most spectacular celebration in the entire world, but none of that could happen until Shiho actually asked Ichika first—so she was pretty eager for him to get on with it.
“Hehe.” She giggled to herself. “Just you wait, Ichi, you’ll—“
“Wait for what?”
“Gah!”
Saki yelled, scrambling to straighten herself up.
“Nothing!” She smiled far too quickly. “Nothing, I was just—when did you get home early, Ichi?”
“It’s not early…I’m late, actually.”
“Ah…well, I was just about to—to call you! I was worried!”
“It’s only by a few minutes.” Ichika shrugged, unlocking her phone. “Have you seen Shiho? He’s not answering my texts, it’s weird. He was supposed to be home by now.”
Saki did know where Shiho was. Shiho was with Honami, and they were currently out tearing into every jeweler in the world because somehow, someway, the ring Shiho wanted months ago still wasn’t ready and he needed it, like, now?
Well, Saki supposed a more accurate statement would be that Honami was the one dealing with all that, Shiho was probably on the floor in tears.
She couldn’t exactly tell Ichika that, though.
“I…have no idea.” The blonde coughed. “I think—I think Shindo wanted to see him, though.”
If all else failed, blame the manager.
“This late?”
“Yeah. Crazy, isn’t it?”
“I…guess. What about Honami?”
“Oh, Hona went out to buy me some snacks. I was craving something specific~!” Saki chirped. “I’m sure they’ll both be back soon, though…hey, I’ve got an idea! Why don’t we set up movie night?” Distract, distract, distract! “We can totally stay up late tonight!”
“…” Ichika turned her phone off with a sigh. “Yeah, yeah. Movie night sounds great.”
“Perfect! Can you get all the pillows and stuff, I’ll make the popcorn!”
“Okay. Just…don’t burn it this time.”
Saki turned around sharply.
“That was one time when we were nineteen! We’re twenty-three!”
“One time too many, Saki.”
“I’m not gonna burn it!” Saki called as she made her way down the stairs.
Ichika giggled to herself, before making her way into one of their closets.
“I think Honami put all of our extra pillows in here…”
“I can’t do this.”
“Too bad, you’re going to do it.”
“No, Honami, I really can’t.” Shiho buried his head in his hands. “I can’t keep lying to her like this.”
“You haven’t even been lying that long, really.” Honami said. “And in your defense, tonight wasn’t supposed to go this way, so it wasn’t even your fault.”
”Still,” Shiho whimpered. “Honami, we’re nearly two hours late. She doesn’t know where I’ve been and I only answered her thirty minutes ago! Once she’s done worrying, I’ll be lucky if she doesn’t kill me.”
“Ichika wouldn’t dare touch a hair on your head, stop that.” Honami scolded. “Honestly Shiho, you’re freaked out over nothing. Once we show up with the snacks and start the movie, she’ll probably forget all about it.”
Shiho turned his head to stare at her, and Honami gulped, moving her eyes back towards the road.
“Okay, maybe she won’t, but she’ll be fine in a little while! Once you’re on the couch together and you’re laughing at all of the silly jokes she makes, she’ll have no reason to be mad—as if she’d even be mad in the first place!”
Shiho crossed his arms. “You’re being too optimistic. This might be how I die.”
“You are not gonna die. Look at the positives, Shiho! We got the ring, didn’t we?” Honami smiled. “Now all you have to do is wait until Saturday, and come that evening, you’ll have a fiancée. Isn’t that exiting?”
“You don’t know that she’ll say yes. Maybe she’ll hate the entire thing and break up with me right there.”
“She will say yes.” Honami insisted. “I invested too much time into getting you together back when we were teenagers—“ She exhaled deeply through her nose in an attempt to calm down. “—For her to not say yes.”
And after the hour and a half she spent arguing with jewelers while trying to soothe Shiho’s panic?
That girl better say yes, or Honami will find a way to successfully take every single Miku plushie she owned and send them down the garbage disposal.
…Okay, that was too harsh, but the point was made.
“Do you think Saki told her?” Shiho asked after a moment. “Saki can’t keep secrets—what if Ichika already knows?”
“Even Saki wouldn’t spill a secret like this—“
“But what if she told Rin? Rin can’t keep secrets—Rin would totally tell Ichika.”
“Rin doesn’t know, Shiho. You’re being terribly irrational these days, and it doesn’t suit you.”
Shiho sighed. “I know, Honami—I’m sorry. I’m just…I’m really, really scared.”
“And why’s that?” Honami asked. “I mean, the affection we feel for her is different now, but…” the brunette giggled. “She’s still the same Ichika we knew all those years ago, is she not?”
“That’s the problem.” Shiho told her. “She’s Ichika. I’ve never met anyone else like her in this world, and I never will. She’s talented, she’s brave, she’s loyal, she’s forgiving and honest and beautiful and—and I just—she means everything to me, Honami. You know that.”
He traced the box in his hand with his thumb.
“…I want to give her the best. My best. It’s what I’ve been trying to do ever since we were sixteen and I asked her on a date, and it’s what I’m going to continue to do until one of us dies—fingers crossed. But this is so…”
“Big and important?”
“Yeah. It’s one of the biggest steps either of us will ever take—it might even be the biggest so far. I mean, I’m asking her to marry me, Honami. Do you know how much that entails?”
“A lot.” Honami agreed. “Although, for you two, it won’t be that difficult. You’re essentially connected in everything but name, anyway. I mean, how many couples can say their feelings were so strong they created a brand new world?”
“But it’s not just about the name, it’s about what it represents. It’s a big deal, asking someone to be your forever like that. What if she’s not ready? Or worse—what if I mess it up somehow and she changes her mind? I mean, I wasn’t this nervous when I decided I was going to, I knew I wanted to, she always mentioned getting married to be and she kept telling me, if you’re ready, I’m ready, but what if I’m doing something wrong? Or what if I’m doing everything right and it’s just—not enough? I don’t want to lose this, Honami—lose her. She’s…” Shiho trailed off.
“…Everything?”
“Yeah.”
Honami hummed. “I know I’ve said this a lot the last few weeks, but I really think you are overthinking it. I mean, Shiho, Ichika’s not the type of person to casually throw out the idea of being ready to marry you. She understands and appreciates the value of that union just as much as you do—if she didn’t want to get married, you would know. And you wouldn’t have decided to propose if you thought she wasn’t ready, right?”
“No.” Shiho shook his head. “‘Course not.”
“Right.” Honami laughed a bit. “Honestly, the thing you’re so worried about might just be the one thing you shouldn’t be worried about—it’s Ichika, Shiho. You know her better than you know yourself. You know that the entire time you’ve been together, you’ve been giving it your very best, and she loves you for it every single day. You do more than enough. And, to be honest, Saturday could turn into a disaster and I am still quite certain she would sob her eyes out and say yes if you asked her anyway.”
Shiho shuddered.
”Please don’t use Saturday and disaster in the same sentence…”
“Sorry, sorry…but you understand, right? Everything is going to be alright, Shiho. Just…go with your heart, and I’m sure that she’ll accept.”
“…I guess you’re right. You always are.” Shiho chuckled. “How do you do that?”
“Yeats of practice.” Honami shrugged as they turned into the driveway. “Besides, I’m the leader. It’s my job.”
“You’re right…have I ever mentioned the three of us would never survive without you?”
“You don’t have to. I know.”
“Heyyyyy! There you both are!”
Saki bounded over to the two immediately, and before Ichika could even turn around all the way, Saki hugged them both tightly, letting Shiho slip the ring into her pocket.
“We’re back.” Shiho huffed. “Now, get off me.”
“You’re so mean.” Saki pouted. “Ichi set up the fort—I think she outdid herself this time, don’t you?”
“Ah!” Honami clapped her hands. “This one is so cute!”
“Thanks…” Ichika mumbled.
“Are you alright, Ichika?” Shiho asked quickly.
“I’m fine—sorry, I’m just tired…”
“We don’t have to do movie night, if you don’t want to.”
“No, it’s whatever. I’ll have a lot of time to rest this week.”
Shiho’s breath trembled. “If you say so…”
Saki and Honami both fought grimaces.
Oh, dear…
“Those two always fall asleep…”
Shiho’s comment barely registered, and Ichika only half glanced at the other two, who had passed out in each other’s arms nearly half an hour prior.
“Ah…I guess they do.”
Shiho had never been more panicked in his life.
“Ichika,” He said, trying not to let the fear show in his voice. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I told you, I’m fine.”
“You’re acting weird.”
“I am not.”
She was, in fact, acting weird. She was hardly paying attention to anything any of them said all night—nor was she actually watching the movie. In addition to that, she treated Shiho like he was ghost. She probably looked at him twice the entire night.
Of all the things Ichika was, subtle was not one of them.
Shiho turned to face her. “Ichika.”
She didn’t reply to him.
“…Love.”
“…What?”
“I’m sorry.”
Ichika realized, at that moment, that she let Shiho get away with far too much, because why on earth did this work on her?!
“…For?”
“For lying to you.” He began. “And not answering you when you didn’t know where I was. For being back so late without warning you. Implications aside, I’m sure that I must’ve worried you. I know how you are.”
“You do.” Ichika admitted.
“That’s probably why it hurts, isn’t it? I know how you get, and I did it anyway…”
Shiho had always been perceptive, but Ichika, despite all their years together, sometimes forgot just how easy he could read her.
How well he knew her.
“…Yeah.”
Shiho nodded softly, and then reached out his hand, fingertips barely brushing her arm.
“Look, today was—it was unexpected. That I’m serious about. I really did have to stop somewhere—someplace I don’t usually go. And I really didn’t know what time I’d be home—for all I knew, I could still be there now.”
“But what about this is so secretive that you couldn’t at least tell me that much?” Ichika asked, finally turning her head fully. “If it’s some sort of surprise, why couldn’t you at least tell me that?”
“It’s a little different than that this time.”
“Is that all you’ll tell me? Am I supposed to just sit here in the dark while you lie to me, then?”
“I want to tell you.” Shiho insisted. “And I’m going to—when it’s time to reveal your surprise. I promise.”
Ichika huffed, and Shiho grabbed her hand.
“You trust me, don’t you?”
“I do.” Ichika’s never hesitated in her response to that question. “You know I do. I’m just…”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Shiho’s thumb traced over her knuckles softly. “It’ll all make sense this weekend, alright?”
“…Alright.”
“I can’t do his anymore.”
“For fucks sake, Shiho…”
When the other two had woken up and everyone decided to go to bed, Shiho followed Honami and Saki into their room.
“I can’t do this lying thing anymore.” He complained to an exhausted Saki. “I feel too bad. And she was so mad at me.”
“She wasn’t that mad if she let you hold her the rest of the night. And she isn’t that mad if she hasn’t banished you to the couch.” Honami pointed out.
“Ichika’s never banished me to the couch.”
“You’ve never given her a reason to.” Saki reminded him. “Go to bed, Shiho. You’re worrying over absolutely nothing. All you’ve gotta do is wait, like, two more days.”
“Right…” Shiho’s eyes suddenly widened. “Where’d you put the ring, anyway? Are you sure she can’t find it?!”
”Yes, Shiho.” Saki gestured to her jewelry box. “She never goes in there—she won’t find it.”
“But what if she does? It’s still sitting there in a box—it’s suspicious.”
“Then I’ll take it out of it’s box. Leave it in plain sight. She’s never seen it before—it’s not like she’ll know it’s hers.”
“But if she sees it and she likes it that decides to wear it and—!”
“If you don’t go to sleep, I’m going to have Hona tackle you.”
“…”
“Yeah. Exactly. Goodnight.”
“Night.”
Saturday, March 14th.
White Day.
Ichika woke up to Shiho particularly bouncing on the tips of his toes—and the smell of breakfast.
For someone who hated mushiness and public displays of affection, Shiho had a bad habit of letting his romantic gestures spiral out of control. Not that Ichika would ever complain, but the whole breakfast in bed thing was a sign that this White Day would be entirely too much.
“Shiho…” She giggled. “You didn’t have to—“
“Yes I did.” He replied before she could even finish. “Happy White Day, Ichika.”
“Thank you…” She yawned. “You made my favorite…?”
“Of course I did.” He said proudly. “Eat quick, okay? We’re going out.”
“Already?”
“Yes, already.” Shiho laid out her outfit.
“But what about—“
“We’re not practicing today.”
“We aren’t?”
“No,” Shiho stubbornly huffed. “It’s White Day.”
“We’ve done it before—“
”Ichika.”
“Right, right! I’m eating, I’m eating…”
So bossy today…
The first part of White Day went exactly how Ichika expected. Shiho got her gifts, of course, and spent the entire day staring at her with that smile that managed to embarrass her every time…they got icecream, and yakisoba buns…nothing different from any other White Day they’ve spent together.
And yet, for some reason, Ichika felt different.
By now, the stars were hanging high in the sky—her favorite time of day has finally arrived.
“Thank you for today.” Ichika mumbled as they walked together.
“You don’t have to thank me. It’s White Day.” Shiho shrugged.
“But you always do so much.”
“I’m supposed to.”
“This argument never gets anywhere with you. I don’t know why I’m surprised…”
“Yeah, me neither.”
Ichika laughed. “Though, I have to ask…is this the end of the surprises?”
Shiho grip on her hand tightened.
“…Not yet.” He confessed. “There is…one more thing.”
“Eh?” She blinked. “I was just kidding…”
“I’m not. Cmon, I know a spot.”
“A spot?”
“Yeah. The spot.”
“The—oh. Oh!” Her eyes lit up. “Then, lead the way!”
“I feel like something life-changing happens every time I sit up here.”
“I don’t think it’s every time…”
“Sure it is.” Ichika insisted. “I mean, come on, some of our most important life decisions happened on this jungle gym. Like when we were kids and saw that meteor shower—that’s arguably the entire reason we’re here, right?”
“Yeah. That’s when we agreed on being friends forever…”
“I think that moments probably one of the reasons we all became friends again.” Ichika thought. “I mean, we promised, didn’t we? Wished upon a star and everything?”
“We did. I was there, y’know…” Shiho joked.
“Oh, shut up.” Ichika smacked his shoulder. “And then, when we were teenagers—we came back and wished for it again. And saw another meteor shower. Maybe they’re signs from the universe.” She let out a giggle. “Wouldn’t that be—“
“Hey, did you see that?”
“See what?”
“The shooting stars, Ichika.”
“Eh?!”
Sure enough, her eyes landed upon the sudden streaks of light across the sky.
“…Huh.” She blinked. “I wonder what it’s going to be this time.”
“What?”
“The next event that’ll change the trajectory of my life.” Ichika folded her hands on her lap. “Maybe if I sit here long enough, it’ll just fall into my lap.”
“…”
“…”
“Hey, what’s that you’re holding—oh!”
Shiho placed the book into her lap with a blush that spread to the very tips of his ears.
“…Y’know, I didn’t mean it so literally. But I guess this works.” She opened it. “What is this, anyway?”
“I made it.” He admitted. “For you.”
“Me?” Ichika pointed at herself. “Is—is this my last surprise?”
“That’s part of it. Are you going to read it?”
“Nah, I was gonna let it sit here.”
“…”
“…Yes, I’m going to read it, Shiho.”
She opened it carefully, her hands running over the pages as she read each and every word.
“These are just things you like about me…” She complained with a blush. “You’re so embarrassing. I love it, but you’re embarrassing…and why are there so many?!”
“Because I happen to like a lot about you, Ichika. Don’t know if you’ve noticed.”
“Don’t get smart with me.” She grumbled. “Shiho, this is…”
“Do you like it?”
“Of course I do.” It was full of things even Ichika had never noticed about herself. The way her nose scrunched if she laughed hard enough, or the way her eyes looked like stars, especially if the moonlight hit them just right. Her endless patience, the way she always forgave, even when she really shouldn’t have, the exact way her fingers moved when she played the guitar and the way she let music move her like it was the only thing in the world.
“You’re suffocating me here…” Ichika whined. “You’re sweet, and it’s going to kill me.”
“Don’t die on me now.” Shiho laughed. “You can skip to the end.”
Ichika did that, flipping the pages to the very back of the book—where there was just one last sentence.
Ichika read it once. Then twice.
She looked up at Shiho, and then back at the book, and then up at Shiho again as the smile on his face grew progressively wider.
“Wh—what?”
“You read it.” He giggled. “You know what I said.”
“B-but—“ Ichika stammered. “You said—you just—!”
“Yes, Ichika, I know. Every single reason why I want to marry you, listed right there.”
“Okay well—“ Ichika gestured. “Forgive me for—for being caught a little off guard, I just—“
“Are you going to let me ask?”
Ichika shut her mouth, nodding rapidly.
Shiho inhaled deeply. Right, here goes nothing…
“Ichika,” He began. “I can’t even begin to describe how you make me feel—after all, I am not nearly as good with words as you are.” He smiled softly. “But I can tell you that meeting you was undoubtedly the best thing to ever happen to me. And the fact that you chose to walk this path with me, and continue to choose this dream every day…it means everything to me. You mean everything to me. There is no other person in the world who I’d choose over you.”
Ichika was already about to cry, but she managed to hold it.
“And as for the future—I want to spend all of it with you, Ichika. I want to perform together, and laugh together, and reach the hearts of others the same way you have reached mine.”
Shiho took her hand, pulling it closer to his own heart.
“And if, as I follow this desire, I find that this is the next step in front of me, then…it’s only fair that I finally ask.”
“Sh-Shiho…”
“Hoshino Ichika,” He opened the ring box with his other hand, the sapphire in it’s center shining almost as brightly as the star right in front of him.
“Will you marry me?”
Ichika would have never imagined that she’d be here.
Not if you asked sixteen year old Ichika, full of hesitancy and pain, with a wounded, irreparable heart. That Ichika would have assumed that by now, she’d be wandering the earth permanently empty—if she was wandering at all. Waiting for a day that would never come.
And even after her heart finally regained its three missing pieces, that version of herself would still pause from time to time, still question. Still wonder is this the right path? Will it always be right, if I am with them? Am I supposed to just wait and see?
But now, Ichika had the answers to all those questions.
She had her missing pieces, she had the world. She had her music, her voice, her light. She had the hearts of others, she had her own heart.
And the had the guiding light of the sun, offering her his hand once and for all.
And Ichika, after all these years, was done waiting.
“Yes.”
The tears spill out before she even realizes it, and suddenly she’s outwardly sobbing in her favorite place, with her favorite person in the world.
”Yes.” It’s higher pitched and squeaker this time, but she’s still nodding. ”Yes, Shiho—I will marry you.”
“…Oh, good, because I don’t think I could do this twice.”
She promptly burst into laughter right after. She must’ve looked a mess, a mixture of tears and pure joy, but he didn’t seem to mind.
“You’re—“ She sniffled. “You’re so good to me…”
“Because you’re you.” Shiho cupped her cheek, wiping one of her tears with his thumb. “And you only deserve the best.”
“I guess that’s why I have you then, isn’t it?”
“I guess so.” He held the ring up to her finger. “If I may?”
“Ah—“ She fanned herself rapidly. “Sorry, sorry—go ahead.”
Shiho really did know her too well—it was by far the prettiest piece of jewelry Ichika had ever seen. Or maybe she was just a bit biased.
Shiho kissed her hand. “It suits you.”
“Yeah.” Ichika agreed. “It…it does.”
She then blinked. “…Is that why you were acting so weird earlier this week?! The surprise was my engagement ring?!”
“Honami was arguing with jewelers for an hour and a half while I sat on the floor and nearly started bawling.” Shiho explained. “I was…a bit stressed.”
“A bit? That, on top of all the secrets and planning?! I’m glad you decided to propose and not me…”
“Yeah, must be great for you.” Shiho rolled his eyes.
“You know you love me.”
“Of course I do. That’s why I’m marrying you, isn’t it?”
The words caused Ichika’s face to soften. “You’re marrying me…”
“Don’t do that.” The tips of Shiho’s ears got red again. “Stop that.”
“Stop what? I’m not doing anything.”
“You’re being embarrassing again.”
“Says the guy that wrote a book about why he wanted to marry me.”
“…Okay, points were made.”
“Hm.” Ichika wrapped her arms around him, nuzzling into his neck.
“I love you, Shiho.”
Shiho held her close, letting then sink into the moment before pulling back to look at her, pushing her hair behind her ear.
“I love you too, Ichika.”
“…Wouldn’t it be so crazy if we kissed right now, Darling?”
Shiho’s smile dropped, staring at her entirely unimpressed.
“…Really?”
“What?!”
“Did you have to kill the mood like that?”
“Oh, come on, take a joke! I wanted a kiss!”
“You quite literally could’ve just asked me, dude.”
“It was funnier if I said it like that.”
“Was it really? You’re awful at this.”
“Says the guy who just called me dude after he proposed to me!”
“Maybe I wouldn’t have if you just asked for a kiss like a normal person.”
“Are you going to kiss me or are we gonna sit here and argue about the way I ask for things all night?”
Shiho rolled his eyes, but pulled her in for a kiss anyway, and it took Ichika all of a millisecond to melt into him like she always did.
…Yeah, she was really looking forward to this marriage thing.
“Hey.”
“Hey!”
Saki sat up on the couch eagerly, trying not to look too excited as Ichika and Shiho walked in the door.
“Good White Day?” Ichika asked.
“Great. Yours?” The slightest bit of hope found its way into Honami’s voice.
“Oh, you know…” Ichika giggled. “Nothing crazy…”
“Right…” Saki smirked. “Nothing crazy at all?”
“Well, now that you mention it…”
Ichika held out her hand, beaming.
”I’m engaged!”
”Yes!” Saki squealed. “I know!”
“You know?!”
“I helped him plan half of it! We both did!”
“He did tell me that Honami helped, actually—forget it—I’m getting married!”
Saki and Ichika spun each other around in circles while Honami pat Shiho’s head.
“Told you so.”
“Yeah, yeah. You were right.” Shiho waved her hand away. “Don’t rub it in.”
“I did no such thing.”
“Your face says otherwise.”
“Shiho!” Saki yelled, squishing him into a hug. “Congratulations!”
“Ack!” Shiho pushed. “Get off of me!”
“But I’m so happy for you!”
“I know that, but you can be happy from a distance!”
“Ignore him.” Ichika teased as they separated. “Shiho’s just mad that I’m right, so he’s all grumpy.”
“I never said that I was mad—nor did I say that you were right.” Shiho crossed his arms.
“You’re mad that my joke was hilarious.”
“Was it really?”
“I’m going to be your wife—my jokes better be hilarious.”
“Jeez, Shiho.” Saki placed her hands on her hips. “Engaged for less than an hour, and you’re already in trouble?”
“Not even at the altar yet…” Honami added on.
“I feel ganged up on.” Shiho grumbled as Ichika simply threw her arms around him again.
“Not your first time.” She said. “But you’re out voted—I’m right.”
“Why are they voting about our marriage?”
“Hm, fair point…my vote counts as two, I’m right.”
“Wha—?!”
“You’re never gaining the upper hand again, dude.” Saki snickered.
“Bold of you to assume he ever had it.” Honami reminded her. “Ichika gets away with everything.”
“Do I?” Ichika titled her head.
“Don’t act innocent—you definitely do.”
“Name one.”
“Exhibit A: he told Saki to get off of him two minutes ago. Look at you.” Honami stared them up and down. “You’re practically fusing.”
“…Points were made.” Ichika relented. “I can admit when I’m wrong.”
“Can you?” Shiho asked.
“Yeah. Keyword: when I’m wrong.”
“That’s more than one word, Ichika.”
“What, are you doing a divorce speedrun?”
“I think that’s your cue to get to bed.” Honami pointed towards the stairs. “Continue your argument in your room, please.”
“You got yourself involved in the argument too!” Ichika pointed a figure at her.
“Yeah, Honami, why are you including yourself in our fight?” Shiho taunted.
“She’s mad because we’re engaged and she’s not.”
“Mhm. Sounds jealous to me.”
“I can’t stand either of you.”
“Love you too, Honami.”
“I really am happy though.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Ichika nuzzled into him. “You smell nice.” She whispered.
“I smell like you, love.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Shiho chuckled.
“You’re absolutely impossible.”
“And yet, I’m still going to be your wife.”
“That you are.” Shiho nodded. “Be honest—did I make you wait too long?”
“Considering we’re the first out of all of our friends to get engaged?” She smiled. “No, not at all. Besides, I would’ve told you.”
“Or you would’ve done it first.”
“That too. Can’t believe you beat me to it.”
“What can I say?” Shiho tapped her nose. “When you know you know.”
Ichika just hummed. “We really will be together forever now, won’t we…?”
“We already were, my love.” Shiho kissed her head. “We were always going to be.”
The thought soothed her enough for her eyes to finally droop.
“Yeah, I guess so…”
She manages to hear herself and him one last time before sleep overtakes her.
“I love you, Shiho.”
“I love you too, Ichika.”
This is my wish,
Your voice continues to overlap with mine.
I want to sing together about the feelings we share!