Epilogue (Part 1)

 

It turned out that "a bit long epilogue" is a pretty long one so I divided them into two parts. Here's the first half of the epilogue, this one is SFW because it's better to save the best for later.

*****

"Eehh!?"

Aya let out an uncharacteristically loud voice.

This is Aya's room, so no one can be bothered if we're being noisy, it still surprised me though. But Aya doesn't care. She keep looking at me dreadfully with a face like she just faced a sudden betrayal.

"...Did you understand what you were just saying? Marika, are you serious?"
"Okay, calm down and listen." 

I repeat my exact words earlier with the same intention.

"I said that I haven't fell in love with you"

It's one month after we decided to going out. The season has completely changed into summer. While enjoying the cool air from Aya's air conditioner, we were planning our summer break activity.

"That's just over the top. It's too much no matter how I see it"

Aya rest her head on the top of the table while staring at me coldly.

I didn't have the intention to make it sounds so weird, it's just the way we interpret thing might a bit too different.

"It's not like that. Because back then you said that you will make me fall [thoroughly]. Right now, I don't feel like I [thoroughly] in love with you.

That's right. This is what I mean. I'm not being unreasonable. With this, I'm sure even Aya would convinced...or not. She looks very discontent right now!

"Let me ask you first, how do you define [thoroughly] anyway?"
"I can't help but thinking about you all the time from wake up until I sleep, I no longer could live without you!...kind of thing?"
"I see..."

She's showing a difficult expression while placing her hand on top of her mouth. 

Our relationship hasn't really changed since we started dating. Of course, I'm in love with her, but I think it's quite different with [thoroughly in love with her] kind of thing.

"...So you mean that we are still in the middle of our one million battle?"
"Yup"
"You still think that girls dating each other is something impossible?"
"Hmm...well, yup"

Her expressions become more difficult than before. I observe her from the sideways, she sure is gorgeous even from this angle, ah I like her. What I'm feeling right now is a gentle sensation, a taste of love.

"Because, the one I love is Aya and it has nothing to do with other girls. I like you not because you are a girl, but because you are Aya.
"No, well, let's just leave it at that for now"
"What is?!"

She pinched my nose and I let out a shriek.

"Just tone down that stubbornness of yours"
"That was not my intention..."

In fact, up until now I'm still wondering why would girls date each other. Actually, I still confused about the fact that I'm a homosexual. It just feels so unreal since all these time I only able to liked opposite-sex.

That's why, I can't really label this love with [thoroughly].

"Marika is, how should I put it, you really are temptress, huh"
"Eh, why!"
"Because, the way you said it, you implied that you want me to make you fallen in love [thoroughly], right?"
"Why does it become like that!?"
"You want me to hurry up and make you mine completely and rushing me. I never know that you already drowned that deep, well it's my fault that I'm too slow to figured it out. You really are greedy"
"That's not it!"

This girl, she really interpret things the way it would benefit her. While still getting cocky, she gently pat my shoulders.

"I understand. Let's go to the hot-spring during summer break. I'll pay for it"
"Eeehh!?"

I don't know what triggered her impulsiveness, I really don't get her.

"That's sudden...It sounds fun but I feel bad if you're going to pay for it"
"Then, let's use that one million yen"
"So, if I win, I would be the one whose going to pay for it, vice versa?"
"Yeah"

Even if you said it like that...
It's not like I still desired that one million. I always thought that Aya is a super-rich celeb with a hundred billion yen inside her bank account, but after I know that the one million is the result from her job, of course I can't do that.

Even now, I'm planning on pay her back the 30,000 yen she spent on my bag. I don't have any intention to told her beforehand, but Aya probably already figured it out. Beside, unlike before, I never brought up any topics concerning the money.

But currently, the other party is looking at me with a smug smile like she's provoking me.

"In the end, I'm the one who will pay for it anyway"

She sure has a lot of confidence. She has a beautiful face, but seeing that conceited face of hers only boils something inside me.

Ah, it's been a while since I'm getting this agitated. Since the day we started dating, Aya took a huge leap and being super-kind-girlfriend and treated me well that I've forgot the fact that she is a big bully!

"Heh, I accept your challenge, let's go to that hot-spring trip. But you are wrong if you always think that everything will turned out as you planned. I assure you that I won't fail this time!"

Her smile is getting darker.

"I really like that gap between what you said and your reaction, it's cute. You always playing hard to get but actually you really have a low endurance that by getting attacked only once you already yield in."
"I'm not! You will lose that composure once I beat you! Just see!"
"Yeah yeah, I'll make sure to enjoy it."

Aya spread her arms while shrugging her shoulders.

"I'll totally make you say something like [Please forgive me for saying something like it's not possible for two girls being together. I'm really a fool. That's why, just let me cum]"
"As if I will say something shameless like that! You watched to much porn! Geez!"

I feel like a little puppy that disobeying their master. Well, actually it's a tiger. It's a breeze for me to eat a girl like Aya.

Just look, Aya. I already learnt a lot from my past mistakes to improve myself after all these time......

And then we headed into our 99th day of our final showdown.
We planned our trip for the 15th until 16th of August.

After we decided the date, there's a few things that we should talk about. The first thing is Astalotte. I decided to ask her about Astalotte's business during her time inside Aya's house. 

"Well, there's a few circumstances, it wasn't a big deal"
Hearing that half-baked answer, I keep glaring at Aya.

"Uh, sorry. I don't have any intention to hid this from you"
Is what Aya said while looking apologetic.

"Asta came here for the sake of reading manga"
"......Manga?"
"Manga. Yuri Manga"

An unexpected trivial reason....

"She's only a middle-schooler and doesn't have that much money. She also can't go into Manga Cafe, that's why she used my house"
"Eehh...?"
"She came to Japan because she likes those stuff anyway. The main reason she applied for exchange because she's longing for that. Apparently, yuri culture is quite popular overseas."
"If it's just that, ain't it better to just lent her few manga so she can read them at her own house?"

Aya let out a really repulsive face after hearing my suggestion.

"No. She read manga in a really bad manner, like folding on a certain page."

Aah, Aya does really care about her books' condition.

"But you let me brought them to my house?"
"You don't have bad manner when reading books. Beside.....you are special"

S-so that's the case.

It's really a problem if you keep doing a surprise attack like that. Wait, it's not problematic, just embarrassing.

"That's why, our relationship is not something you should worry about. At worst, Asta just touched herself while reading the manga."

Umm...um?

Somehow Aya just said something outrageous. Maybe it's better if I don't probe further, yep, let's stop. I won't deliberately stepping on a landmine.

"Geez, you should say that since the beginning. Beside, you did something like cancelling our plan on the last minute, it makes me worried in case something happened to you."
"That's because Asta suddenly came. It takes an hour from her house to mine, I can't just make her going home like that."

Aya is kind, or maybe unexpectedly a total pushover. Even when we did karaoke back then she ended up singing after I forced her to.

"Well then, is she still going to your house?"
"No, I said that I have girlfriend now and I can't let her inside my room anymore. I don't want to cause any misunderstandings between us."
"Eh? Ehehe...so it's like that"

Crap, I can't holding back my smile. She just referred me as her girlfriend.

Well, it's true that we are girlfriends, somehow I can't explain this feeling well. It's embarrassing, it's ticklish...Girlfriend, huh.

"And so, this is her response," Aya picked her phone and show me a message from Astalotte.
[Next time let's have sex with the four of us then!]
As if. The bar is too high for me.

"Is she a lust demon or what?"
"I always think to make Karen-san take the full responsibility"

So it's Karen-san's fault...

"So, what was your reply? You won't said something like [Okay then next time], right?"
"I just simply said [No.]"

I'm looking at Aya's face. I always thought that a stiff expression fits her image, but recently I think that she also looks good with sullen face. It's my own thought anyway.

She whispered at me, "I don't want to let others seeing you naked after all."

Aah, so that's the reason...Yup. But I kinda understand. Because I also don't want to let others seeing her naked state. Ah, whenever I came to remember that thing it makes me agitated.

"Even though you did a threesome before"
"....I won't do it again"
"Really?"
"Of course"

Aya hugs my arm tightly. I can faintly smell a scent of tea tree from her hair. She stares at me from the area around my chest.

"I also don't want you to do it with someone other than me"
"Yeah yeah, I get it"

Geez, she's being cute at time like this. Even though it would be alright if she always being spoiled like this...I bet she would turn into demon during our hot-spring trip....

The thing that changed other than Astalotte, it's another surprising thing. 

It was after we agreed to go to family restaurant after-school and eating there.
A sudden coming-out.

"Actually, the two of us are dating"

From Yume and Chisaki.

I unconsciously loosened my grip on the spoon. It fell onto the floor I ended up making the waiter exchange it for me.

I still can't really proceed the sudden information and ended up just saying "Eh? Eh, eh, eh, eeh?"
"S-since when?"

I don't bother to ask them questions like, why would you date a girl, or, even though you both girls, because I secretly dating Aya. 

Yume looks like she's embarrassed and keep looking down.

"Winter, during our first year..."
"Since that long ago!?"

Eh, wait, wait a minute.

"B-back then when you guys asked me about girls' love stuff, you guys were already dating? You guys just wanted to see how I react?"
"Well, yeah"
"Uwaa...so that's why. I'm sorry, I wasn't able to realized about what's going on"

I hurriedly bowing my head, the two of them are laughing while assure me that it's okay. The time where I think that my [good at reading mood] title is a self-proclaimed thing might come soon. I'm having an identity crisis.

I see. So that's why they always together...But, what should I do now.

"Umm....congratulation?"
"Thanks?"

Yume laughs again.

"We thought if we told you, you will get disgusted at us. Because back then you frankly rejected the idea of two girls being together after all."
"Uhh, well, that's...I already went through a lot of things"

I started to mumbling starting from the middle. Chisaki is looking at me and laughing with that famous eyes that can discern lies and truths.

"So even Mari is growing up each day, huh. You also getting along with Fuwa as of lately."

She said that while smirking. This girl, could it be she already figured it out...?
Yume looks puzzled and has no idea, but I really can't let my guard down around Chisaki.

"Eeeh, I wonder what is this feeling. You see, like, my friends are getting into a special relationship, it gives me an odd feeling. Ah, but it's not like I hate it! It's just...uhh, I'm not being a bother, right?"
"It's okay it's okay, because it's Marika. Just let's keep being friends like always. That's enough, ri~ght?"

Yume turned her gaze to Chisaki, asking for an agreement. Chisaki tilted her neck while saying, "Ri~ght."
Those act, somehow, really make them look like a pair of lovers.

"Yeah, it's not like we are telling you this for any specific reasons, so you don't have to feel any obligation to do anything. We just want to let you know."
"Ha....well, if you guys are okay with that."

But still, I can't helped but feeling dumbfounded when my best friends that I already know for over a year suddenly date each other...

Yume was my first friend after starting high school. I don't have any friends from the same middle school here so I wanted to make a lot of friends. I have the confidence but can't really suppress those uneasiness inside me.

The one who reached me out when I was in that state is Yume.

"Hey, hey, you over there. You sure are cute! Let's become friends!"
I ended up laughing after hearing her flashy greeting that sounds like she's hitting on me.  

Yume has a small body but she's filled with charm. Her grade is, well, at the level where I'm wondering how she managed to get in, but that's also part of her appeal.

It's a regular occurrence where I helped her with her study before test. She always said, "No, I don't want to study anymore! It's my limit" It was kinda funny.

Aya always thought of me as someone that bright and cheerful, that I always look like I'm having fun with a lot of people, but that's because Yume is together with me.

Whenever I'm with Yume, she will dragged me into something dumb, but that's okay because it always turned out to be fun.

"Yume and Chisaki, huh...."

Chisaki is, the one I get along with after Yume.

At first we talked because she has a good sense and she's an interesting person, it doesn't took long for us to hit it off.

At first I kinda looking up to her, but after a while she showed her hidden sharp tongue that annoyed me sometimes. But when I think that as a sign that she became comfortable with us, I was happy.

Whenever Yume had her shift, I went hang out normally with Chisaki. Sometimes we bought clothes together even though we had a different taste in fashion. Her advice is always on point, that's why I enjoyed my time with her.

These two that I treasure as my best friends are lovers, huh....

"Hey, this is just out of curiosity so you don't have to answer, but, which one did the confession?"

Considering Chisaki's aggressiveness, it might be her who took the initiative.

"It's me!"
"Eh, Yume?!"
"Umm, well, yeah"

Whilst look like she's embarrassed, Yume passionately told me about their story. Could it be that she wanted to do something like this since ages ago?

"Do you remember during Christmas last year? When my boyfriend since middle school was cheating on me?"
"Aah, sure. There was event like that"

That one time where Yume got really angry, me and Chisaki did our best to comfort her. After that, I had my part-time job so I went ahead. If my memory serves right, during Christmas eve that night, Yume ended up sleeping over at Chisaki's house.

"That time, Chii-chan was being so kind to me, and then....ehehe...."

.............

"Eh, wait. That's it?"

Yume stares at Chisaki and then laughing shyly. Eh, wait.

"You broke up with your boyfriend, then got Chisaki to comfort you, after that you ended up falling for her? You, just how easy are you!?"
"Because, that night Chii-chan was really warm you know!? She was being super kind you know!? She also got mad for my sake you know!? I can't helped it but falling in love with her, right!"

No no no, that's too hasty even for Yume....

Anyway, Chii-chan? Even though she usually called her Chisaki.

Yume hugs and rub her body toward Chisaki, these two are being completely lovey-dovey, it makes me shy looking at them.

"But Chii-chan won't accept my confession you see, even though I told her numerous time that I like her, she won't believe me"
"Ah, I'm glad Chisaki is a decent person"
"What were you implying there"

Because, Yume, that means you are okay with anyone as long they willing to lent you an ear...

Yume is pouting while keep hugging Chisaki's arm tightly.

"Whatever~ She did reject me a lot back then, but in the end she agreed to go out with me after all~"
"Well, at first I just wanted to playing around you see."
"Eeeeh, that's mean"

Chisaki shrugs her shoulder.

"Because dating girls sounds interesting, right? There's also this thing, that I'm afraid if I reject you too strongly it will affect our friendship. If I put it in a good way, Yume is too earnest. Simply said, she's an idiot."
"Aah..."

I really understand Chisaki's train of thoughts. I would definitely troubled if I was the one got confessed by Yume.

"That...might be possible...but still..." Yume agreed with Chisaki with a small voice.
"But in the end I'm the one who decided to accept your confession, and also"

Chisaki changed her expression into a gentle one, unlike her usual self while stroking Yume's head.
"I might get affected by Yume's feelings, and you were being super cute back then."
"Ehehe..."
Yume looks so happy getting praised by Chisaki.

.......Hm? In the end they are just bragging, right?

Anyway, looking at their faces, I get into a realization. So I look like that when Aya praised me...somehow it feels like looking at the mirror and it makes me embarrassed. Why are you geting embarrassed, you often did that kind of play with Aya, right? I did my best to bury the other me that being noisy since earlier.

"Err, hey..."

If I haven't changed, I might choose to not talking about this. But, I want to hear their thoughts, because I believe in them.

"...Chisaki, when you accepted Yume's confession, just how far you gave it a thought?"
"How far...?"

Errr, that's, uh, this is a bit hard to say.

"Um, that kind of thing, like, there's a lot of hardships when you decided to date another girl, right? For example, you will received judgmental gazes from the societies, or your future plan when you choose to going out with another girl...Stuff like that."
"Aah, that. Well, more or less"

Chisaki answered my question with a laughter, that's unexpected.

"But hey, I guess it won't do if I'm thinking that far ahead at this step. For me, I try to date Yume and see if we are compatible enough for the long term ahead. If not, it's a natural thing to break up, right? Being friends again...might be a bit difficult. But rather than being afraid and not doing it at all, I think it's better if we just try and enjoying what came to us later. That sounds far more interesting, right?"
"Interesting..."

I'm getting perplexed by her answer. So Chisaki choose to enjoy the current situation rather than think about stuff in complicated way. That's so carefree.

"Mari is someone that looks like okay with every situation, but actually you are being cautious with your surrounding and a bit coward. I'm not like that. But that's not a bad thing, because that's the right behavior to surviving in this world, right? I'm a bit envious with that character of yours."

That last part is quite surprising.

"But I still think that it's no use if you think about it too hard. Even if someday we will break up, right now our feelings are mutual and we decided to going out is the truth. I just want to enjoy the time we have together right now."
"...Chisaki"

My best friend is laughing earnestly. Her radiance is getting stronger.

"We won't know is it possible or not for girls dating each other if we don't try it, right? For example, it might be possible that I would love Yume more than anything in my life after this. But that kind of thing has nothing to do with the gender, right? Or something like that"

Yume whose hearing Chisaki's what-if explanation joined her hands in front of her chest just like a shoujo manga character and looking at Chisaki with a moist eyes.

Yume is a sucker for romantic stuff anyway.

"...Chisaki, you are incredible"
"Hm? Am I?"
"Yeah...Even though we often together I never saw this side of you. I've come to respect you a bit."
"Ahaha, just don't fall for me, okay? Yume will get jealous"

She concluded her answer with a smile and then laughs. Indeed, it's not odd for Yume to fell for a dashing woman like Chisaki. 

"It turned out that there's a same-sex couple just right in front of me...Could it be that there's a lot of same-sex couple in our school that I'm not aware of"
"It's possible. Our school is an all-girls school after all."

Hearing that lukewarm answer from Chisaki, I started to thinking a lot of things.

Even though I'm taking a popular girl attitude, I have so many things I'm not aware about. It's possible they exist among the people I've met. What if I unknowingly hurt that person with my words? I can't help but wonder.

Falling in love with same-sex partner is not something to be scared of. Yume that being honest and straightforward with her feelings and choose to confessed. Chisaki that was brave enough to face and accepted Yume's feelings. These two are my precious friends and people I respect at the same time.

"Yume, Chisaki. Just tell me if you need any help or face any problems"
"That's sudden. What happen, Mari?"
"Somehow, the feeling of friendship is flowing out...Somehow..."

I'm holding my fist powerfully. What a weirdo, is what Chisaki said, like she's mocking me jokingly.

"If we are talking about problematic stuff, it might be that. We only able to do house dates. If we went outside while holding hand and being seen by someone, it might invites some trouble, right?"
"Umm, that's right. It's a bit hard to fool them. Ah, I know!"

Hearing Chisaki's problem reminded me of that.

I picked up my wallet and took a business card from inside. There's a specific name and location for a certain shop.

"You see, there's a good store located in Shinjuku. The master is kind, and the customers are people who prefer girls, it's pretty relaxing there."

Karen-san's goal when she decided to build her own store might be closely related to their current problems. A place where they belong...it is not limited to one place, it would also triggered the possibility to discover other places.

Karen-san is someone that bring me and Aya together in a certain meaning, I'll pay back her kindness bit by bit, first is by doing a quick advertisement for the store.

That one was quite effective to take Chisaki and Yume's attention, it looks like they are getting interested with the store. The question about why do I know those kind of store is not coming, maybe it's out of kindness.

"It's just, you guys better be careful"

Both of them are really the definition of high school girls after all.

"Don't ever come while wearing sailor uniform"

*****

The second epilogue will come soon.

a snippet for the extras before I release them all:

For more detailed info about the novel click here 

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