I figured something was up with sis and Midori… Today has been quite fun so far, but at some point I could feel the air change around them. As much as I enjoy spending time with Yume, I can't help but feel like Midori is trying to take sis away from me. Even during that roller coaster, she held sis' hand all the way through didn't she? And even after we got off, Midori remained close by. It's not like that isn't what usually happens as I know that sis is close with her. She was sis' first proper friend ever since our family broke apart, but lately I feel like it's something more than that…
"Reina?"
"Mmm?"
"You okay?"
"...I don't know."
We finished figuring out where everyone goes for the Ferris Wheel, which ended up mostly being in groups of two instead of 4 as even my brother is taking a ride with Mei alone together. I feel like everyone's getting what they want, but here I am, wound up with Yume.
"...You're making that face again."
"Eh?"
Suddenly, Yume breaks the silence as we slowly ascend into the sky inside the carriage. The sunset shining ever so brightly.
"Mm… When you gaze out like that, staring out into the void. I've seen that far too many times when we were in school."
"Fufu. You been watching me that closely?"
"Of course. We were desk partners, weren't we?"
"...Sorry, yeah. Just got a lot on my mind."
"Does it have something to do with your sister?"
"Huh?"
I turn my gaze straight back to Yume as I feel my skin grow cold for a second there.
"Bullseye, right?"
"…"
"We are friends, right? You can talk to me about this. Did you two have a fight or-"
"No… nothing like that. It's just Midori, she…"
I stop mid sentence as even I'm not too sure on what exactly her goal is, and I'd hate to accuse her and spread misinformation that she's trying to break sis and I away. I know that it's just a selfish thought…
"Those two are pretty close, huh."
"You think?"
"Yup. I mean, I've known Luna for a while now, but just seeing Midori act around her, I feel like there's something there."
"What do you mean?"
I immediately press her for answers, my attention now solely on her, not wanting to take in the sights any longer.
"Ahh, well it's just a hunch."
"What is it? Tell me."
"Well, it just seems like something straight out of a romance manga I read. But it was with a guy and a girl instead."
"...What are you implying?"
I already have an idea, but I also don't want to jump to conclusions. Truth be told, I've had thoughts about this, so to hear it from someone else only drives the thoughts that have been pooling up in my head to finally take shape.
"Midori likes Luna. At least that's what it seems like in my eyes. Hehe, it was why I was okay riding the Ferris Wheel with just us two since I also wanted to talk about this with you. I wanted to give those two some alone time."
"…"
"Reina?"
If even Yume thinks so, without really knowing much about Midori, then surely I'm not mistaken… Wait, hang on-
"But aren't relationships meant to be between guys and girls?"
"Pfft-hehehe. Well, I guess that is the norm, but I've read a lot of manga and stuff, and I don't personally think it's weird for two girls to date, or two guys."
It's not weird? Wait, huh? Then how would that even work? Isn't the whole point of a relationship is to continue the bloodline? But if what Yume is saying is true, then maybe-
"Do you know if your sister likes girls? Or does she just like guys?"
"I'm…"
My thoughts quickly fill up with my past interaction with Sis. Sure we kissed and stuff ever since we were little, it was a form of affirmation that we have each other's backs, almost like a symbol of our closeness. But it's also true that a romantic relationship also does involve kissing and other things too…
("Sis-mmh, mnn.")
("Mnnh?")
Memories of our recent kisses flash through my mind as I feel my face growing hotter by the second, as my mind quickly begins to race at the many possibilities.
"Reina? Hey, you okay? You look like you're-"
"I-I'm fine! J-just a bit- cl-claustrophobic!"
"Oh? I Didn't know that."
"Y-yeah…"
It's a complete lie, but it's all I could think about to try and avoid the question and to focus more on my thoughts right now…
The other side-
"...Luna."
For a while now, we've just been sat in the carriage in silence, only for Midori to finally break it, however I could still feel the pressure exuding from her as I find it difficult to enjoy the scenery steadily opening up before us.
"Yes?"
"Fooooo~ Haaaaaah~"
She takes a deep breath, as if trying to flush out all that pressure, but that only makes me sit up even straighter, preparing myself what's to come.
"Luna."
"Yes, Midori?"
"We've known each other for quite a while, right?"
"...Yes?"
I was expecting something else, but okay.
"Ever since you saved me that one night, when I was being stupid, running away from home."
"Yeah… you really were a piece of work."
"Ahahaa… Yeah. Sorry again about that."
"It's alright. If you weren't stupid then we wouldn't have been friends."
"...Right."
For some reason when I said the word "friends," it felt like the smile from Midori's face faded ever so slightly, or maybe I'm just seeing things.
"You know. I never imagine us to ever be- friends. I thought you were too out of my league to be honest, and it took me a while to figure out how to interact with you."
"You sure? 'Cause it seemed like you were pulling me along as you pleased."
I still remember not wanting to bother with her, but she insisted that we were friends until it finally became a reality.
"Th-that took a lot out of me I'll have you know. Every time I was wondering if maybe I was being too pushy, and maybe you'll just shut me down. You were the 'ice queen' back then, remember?"
"And again, I never wanted that name, hehe."
"Hehe, yeah."
"…"
"…
Wait… was that it? What's up with this awkward silence all of a sudden?
"Sorry… I'm just really trying to work up the courage to say what I needed to say."
Midori takes a break to stare out of the carriage as I too follow along as we both gaze at the sunset from up high, seeing our reflections from inside.
"Sometimes- no, many times recently I've thought about whether it's okay for us to be friends."
"Wait, what?!"
But immediately as she says that, we both turn back to face each other, but before I could say anything else, pushing for her for answers-
"I-it's not like that! It's just that well… You know uhm, how I- kissed you?"
"...Yeah?"
"I uhm… I'm still very sorry about that."
"Again, I'm fine with-"
"No it's not! I did this all backwards! I was really meant to tell you this first, but my feelings just exploded back then. It felt like I had no control… So! I want to make this right!"
Midori sits up straight, her chest puffed up as her face is beet red.
"I… I like you!"
"…"
Wait, why does this feel like a confession like during all those times when I turned down the boys at our school? Aren't we meant to be-
"And not just as friends, but as something more! I want to uhm… well…"
Her courage finally seems to have finally crash landed as her posture also curls back as her embarrassment takes over.
"You mean, like in a romantic way?"
"...Yes."
"…"
What… WHAT?! How am I meant to respond to this?! I'm trying to keep calm, but every fibre in my body is screaming right now. Since when? Since when did Midori start to like me in that way? We're both girls, right? I'm not about to think that Midori thinks I'm a guy, we've taken PE class numerous times, we've seen each other's bodies, there's no way she's confused there. So then… she's being serious?
"Sorry… You're totally grossed out right now, right?"
"Huh?"
"You're thinking if I'm being serious or not, right? Maybe even something like 'you do realize we're both girls,' right?"
She hit the nail right on the head…
"...Heh. You never fail at reading me."
"We'll I've had a lot of time to read you… But to answer the question you're thinking, yes… I'm serious about this. I love you. I've had a long time to think about this. Nicole helped me out so much to sort out my feelings, and I feel like now's the only time for me to do this. I know this might make it awkward for the student council, but I just felt like I needed to do this before the new year…"
So she thought the same as me, wanting to sort all of this out before the new year… only I didn't know that it would involve Midori's sudden confession… But how do I feel about this?
It's not that I don't like Midori, in fact I think that she's easily my best friend. She helped me out so many times and helped me realize so much, pulling me away from what I thought was right for so long, steering me into the right track. She's like a beacon in my eyes. But would I call that love? Sure as friends, but the love that Midori wants?
"I don't expect you to accept. I just wanted to get this off my chest. It might be selfish of me, but please just let me have this… I don't want to carry this feeling alone any longer..."
However, seeing her eyes tear up ever so slightly does make my decision waver. I was going to reject her like I've done numerous times, but seeing just how pained her expression is, I feel like if I do so, we might never go back to how things were before… But at the same time… is it really okay to just go along with this?
"...Can I have time to think this over?"
"Y-yes! Of course!"
Her expression quickly clears up at my words, her face brightening up despite her lingering tears. Seeing her like this only makes me question this even more; whether to go through with this or not…
"It was selfish enough already to throw all of that at you, so if you need time to think then take as much time as you like!"
"Thank you."
"...Pfft."
Suddenly, Midori breaks into laughter as her tears finally spill down her cheek, rubbing it off with the back of her hand.
"What's so funny?"
"I just totally thought you'd reject me, so I guess I'm just laughing at how nervous I was? Hehe."
"Well, I can say that I really do like you as well, Midori. I've just never considered something like this before."
"Oh, you're perfectly fine! I get it… I thought it was weird too, girls liking girls, but then it just happened."
Girls liking girls… I'm aware that romantic relationships involve stuff like going on dates, kissing, and many other things beyond that. Do I feel like I could do that with Midori?
("Haa-mnn! Mnngh!")
("Mm-mnnnnh~!")
A sudden flashback to the times I've kissed Reina flash in my mind as I think about the subject… However, before I could even think further about it, Midori pulls me forward, into her arms as I feel her warm embrace, taking me out of it.
"M-Midori?"
"Sorry, I just had the urge to do this… You don't hate it, right?"
"Pfft… of course not."
I wrap my arms around her in return as I find my gaze looking out at the scenery behind her. I know I have to give an answer to Midori sooner rather than later…
Eventually, the ride ended as we all made our way back to the cars outside as the park was beginning to close. Yume and her brother are the first to leave as they lived the furthest away and wanted to get back in time for dinner, much to Yume's displeasure.
"I'll come over again, okay?"
"Mm. Message me when you get back."
"Huh? What's this about messaging?"
"Ah-!"
"Pfft. Kidding~ I knew that you were hiding a phone from our parents."
"How?!"
"Your room is right next to mine, remember?"
"A-ahh…"
"Don't worry. After meeting your friend, Reina, I'll keep this a secret between us, okay?"
"Th-thank you bro… But our parents already found out, aha. But they said I can keep it!"
"Heh. Then Reina, thank you for taking care of Reina once more."
"It's no problem."
Well, at least she was able to say goodbye to Reina properly, hugging it out once more before departing Yume and her brother departs first with Yume waving out to us from the passenger seat.
"I believe it's time for us to also depart young lady."
Alisa, who was staying guard, comes over to us as Midori gives me a smile before hopping into the car along with Nicole and her siblings.
"Keep in touch, okay?"
"Yes. I will."
"Hehe."
I'm glad that Midori and I are at a somewhat okay state now. The unpleasant atmosphere around her is now completely gone, but is now around me as I think over how exactly I'm meant to handle this situation moving forward. Midori's right… it was selfish of her to shove this onto me, but it's my turn to carry this feeling, like she said.
"What about you two? Are you guys fine getting home?"
"Yeah, Zhen and I will see a couple places before catching the train back."
"Are you sure?"
""Yes""
My brother tries to get them to join us, but how exactly-
"And how exactly were we meant to fit them inside, huh? My car only carries at max five people."
"Ah, right… ahaha"
"I swear… fufufu."
Mei chimes in, saying that it was pointless to even ask in the first place. But truthfully, we could easily fit them inside. Zhen could sit with us in the back seat and Shin can ride in a trunk. That could easily work in my eyes.
After saying our goodbyes, Reina and I went into the car as we drove back. Reina looks at me in a way that makes me feel like she's asking how things went with Midori, but I don't think I want to say much regarding that as even I'm not too sure myself. Plus, with my brother and Mei with us, it might just make things weird. I know they say they aren't dating, but it's clear to me that they like each other, as a man and woman. So they might think this whole subject would be weird…
Which wound up to be quite a quiet ride home as we only talked about the fun we had at the park. Of course us three siblings were nervous on the ride back, but Mei made sure to be extra safe, especially considering the snowfall, making the roads more slippery, essentially a one-to-one replication to the day everything went wrong for us.
"Haaah~ We're finally home."
We enter my apartment as the cold wind, combines with the snow fall finally eases as we step into the much warmer room, taking off our snow covered jackets as we do so, hanging them up on the coat rack before taking off our shoes.
"So what's my sisters plans for Christmas tomorrow?"
"Wasn't today the early Christmas celebration?"
"Fufu. Then does that mean you two are free?"
Reina and I look at one another upon hearing Mei's question. I can sense that Mei already has something planned it seems…
"Yeah. Why?"
"Great! Then if you two would like we could have a Christmas dinner together!"
I've never seen Mei this excited before. She must've really enjoyed today. I look towards my brother but he just simply smiles.
"We could have it at my house if you like?"
"Mei's house?"
"Mhmm! Is that fine with you two?"
I look at Reina and she also simply smiles.
"Yes."
"Great! I'll come pick you two up tomorrow at let's say around, 5pm?"
"Nn. That works."
We spend a few more minutes all together before finally hugging one another before seeing my brother and Mei off, leaving just Reina and I alone together.
"..."
And just like that, the tension returns at full force...