Tag: michiru

Michiru and Haruka, “Can we just pretend I didn’t say that?”

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

It felt silly, but sometimes it was the little things Haurka
enjoyed most—the ordinary things, everyday life but a way she hadn’t been sure
she’d ever experience it. Right now, for example, she and Michiru were merely
walking through a department store, ostensibly there for a sauce pan but
looking at everything, since Michiru knew Haruka liked to. There was a certain
delight to be had in imagining uses for things, and even more in having Michiru
at her side.

“Would a bookshelf like that look good in my apartment?”

Michiru laughed and leaned in close. “I think you’d look
good carrying it up the stairs.”

Haruka blushed. 

They wandered up to the top floor, where a little corner was
walled off with glass. Inside were racks of white dresses with a mannequin wearing
one in front. Lace sloped off its plastic shoulders, a ribbon cinched at its
tiny artificial waist.

“Do you think when we get married, you’ll wear something
like that?” Haruka looked down with a smile that fell as her own words hit her.
Her blood ran cold. “I mean. When you
get married, not necessarily to me, or maybe you won’t get married, I dunno, we
never– Can we just pretend I didn’t say that?” She willed herself the ability
to time travel, just once, to thirty seconds ago.

But Michiru took her hands. “I don’t like pretending much.”
She stood on tip toe to kiss Haruka’s cheek. “Maybe it’s time for us to talk
about it.”

“You think so?” Haruka fought down her smile, just in case.

“I do. It’s definitely getting silly for us not to at least
live together. And…” For the first time that Haruka had seen, Michiru blushed. “I
rather like the idea of a future with you.”

Haruka could not but laugh with joy and relief as she
wrapped Michiru in her arms. “I do, too.”

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

In times of trouble, my roommate comes to me and speaks words of wisdom.

Usually, “You’re a dumbass.”

Sparkle Sparkle It’s a Fic :D

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

My sparklee is none other than @rosepetalrevolution, and as soon as I saw the prompt “PMMM-style AU”, I knew what I had to write. I had a lot of fun with it (and a lot of trouble, lol) so I hope you enjoy it! ~2400 words, and I’d call this BroTP focused, though HaruMichi and Reinako are present.

Minako Magica

“Listen, there’s something off about her lately. “

Haruka rolled her eyes and kept walking. “I’m not asking you two to get along. But—“

“This isn’t about me.” Mina dug her nails into her palm. “I’m worried for you.” There was something in the back of her mind she couldn’t quite call forward. Whenever she saw Michiru, the hairs on the back of her neck prickled and her body tensed as if ready to fight. Something had changed. Minako had never been afraid of the girl, no matter what power her family’s money gave her. “You can feel it too, however much you want to ignore it.”

“She’s… she’s just Michiru.”

Mina noted it wasn’t a no. “Haruka…”

The sunny road around them went dark. Purple shadows danced around them like snakes charmed out of the darkness. Images of smiling faces rained down from a domed black sky.

The most startling thing, to Mina, was that it didn’t feel startling at all. Her immediate thought was Not again and her hand reached for something on her belt that wasn’t there.

Haruka’s back pressed up to hers, and she knew she felt the same way. “What the hell?”

“Another witch.” The words were out before Mina could process them. Another? When had she faced this unreality before?

The shadow struck at them. Despite their insubstantial appearance, every hit they landed stung.  Mina and Haruka split to dodge.

“What do we do?”

“Run,” Mina called out.
“Where? There’s no end!”

“There has to be.” Mina spun around the way they came, but it was the same rounded darkness as in front of them.

“Stay still!” a sharp voice called out. A stream of arrows followed, piecing each shadow and dissolving it into a poof a glitter.

“I’m surprised Miss Deathbringer herself hasn’t come to save you,” came a deeper voice, soon followed by the appearance of a tall brunette girl. Her muscular frame was offset by a green dress bedecked by pink bows and frills but matched by the large hammer slung over her shoulder.

“She’ll be coming.” A smaller girl with streaming black hair leapt down from somewhere Mina couldn’t see. Her outfit was simpler, a long white tunic with a red sash, but she too carried a weapon– a long, exquisitely curved black bow. A bright red jewel was set into the strap of her quiver. “She has felt the danger now.”

“What is going on?”

The new comers turned to Haruka. “It’s a witch,” the larger one said.

The smaller one, who, Mina couldn’t help but notice, was strikingly pretty, squared her shoulders. “You don’t want to know anything more than that.”

“We do.” Mina faced her. “There’s something that’s been happening for awhile, and you’re going to explain it.”

The girl’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t take orders from you now.”

“Rei. We don’t have time.”

She scowled. “Fine. They’ll have to come with us.” Her hand wrapped around Mina’s wrist. A spark leapt up her arm, from a memory she couldn’t grasp or something else Mina couldn’t be sure. They ran forward until the shadows broke upon a larger dome. At the center a dark mass writhed and twisted, flickering like static.

“Mako, go left.” The larger girl nodded and darted away. “You two, stay close.” Rei drew an arrow.

“Aim true,” Mina said automatically.

The smallest smile played on Rei’s lips. “Always.” Her shot landed at the heart of the writhing mass. A screech like crumpling metal washed over them. “And Michiru will be coming right about… now.”

Mina didn’t see her at first. It took a long moment for her eyes to notice the dot of green amongst the black. Her outfit called to mind a Victorian mourning dress, though it was short enough to show her knee high black boots. She bore no weapon. One pale hand reached out to the shadow.

They were back in the light of day.

Michiru picked something up from the street. Mako’s hammer slammed down next to her. “We kept her safe, so you’ll share.”

“Naturally. I’d think you’d be more trusting by now.” She handed the thing, a small black needle with a stylized eye, over. Mina noticed how careful they were not to touch each other.

“I told you something was up with your girlfr…” Mina turned back to Haruka. Her face was in her hands, her whole body was shaking. “What’s wrong?”

“You… you…”

“Minako. You need to leave.” Rei grabbed at her arm, but she shrugged her off.

“Buddy, you gotta talk to me, come on.” Mina reached out to pat Haruka’s shoulder.

“Don’t touch me!” Haruka reeled back, her eyes wide and full of tears. “I remember… I remember what you did… you were… I… I…”

“Haruka.” Michiru’s voice was sharp and soft at the same time in a way Minako could not comprehend. “None of that matters. It no longer happened.”

“I remember,” she repeated as though she hadn’t heard. “I remember.” Something glowed at her chest, a pure yellow rapidly blotted out with darkness.

“No.” Michiru dove for her, but Mako tackled her down.

“Rei!”

Before she could draw an arrow, the light exploded. The same sort of needle Michiru had held a moment ago appeared and burst open. The street again was gone, replaced by a tumultuous but shallow sea. An island of swords lay before them, pinning down something the water hid from view.  Where the light hit each blade a different memory played. Mina and Haruka as kids in the park, Mina and Haruka passing notes at school. Mina and Haruka fighting back to back in gaudy capes.

Mina could not remember the latter.

She felt its vital importance.

“You will tell me what is going on. Now.”

“And then there will be three witches,” Michiru spat from under Mako. “But go on, find out, maybe then you can help protect her for once.”

“No one else is turning.” Mako pressed the first needle to the gem on Michiru’s waist clasp. “Not you, not her.”

“I won’t let you kill Haruka.”

“She’s gone. For good this time.”

Michiru threw Mako off with a strength Minako wouldn’t have believed had she not seen it. Mako’s skin was gray where Michiru’s hands had touched her. She lay panting in the water. Michiru approached the island of swords.

“Let her go,” Rei said quietly. “There’s nothing she can do.” Her eyes landed on Mina’s with unparalleled intensity. “She might be right about you though. It’s not a pleasant memory. And if Haruka can become a witch without being a magical girl, even I can’t know what may happen with you.”

“Have an arrow ready.”

“You couldn’t forget your role as commander, could you?” Rei grunted, but she drew an arrow and pressed it into Mina’s chest with one hand.

“Might as well cop a feel, might be your last chance.”

Rei did not smile. “Are you ready?”

“Absolutely.”

She touched her other hand to Mina’s forehead. The truth opened up in her mind like a storybook. Kyubey’s approach, Mina convincing Haruka to make a wish with her. “We’ll be heroes, isn’t that what you always wanted?” I wish to never be overshadowed, I wish to be admired. She’d hounded Haruka for her wish.

“If I tell you, it won’t come true.”

“That’s not how this works, dummy.”

Kyubey agreed, but Haruka never gave in.

They fought for months just the two of them, back to back, side by side. It was glorious. Mina won talent show after talent show. That was glorious. All life had to offer was theirs. Other magical girls began joining them. Minako lead, and they listened. Rei bickered, but it was charged with something more than insubordination. Minako delighted in the inevitable end of their games.

It was right, until it all went wrong.

Nothing had felt dangerous, really, not until Ami’s soul gem lay shattered next to the grief seed of their latest kill. Doubts crept into Mina’s mind.

And then she found her sister, small precious Usagi, in the belly of a witch.

“Look, Mina! Now I’m just like you!”

I wish to be admired.

The witch launched a bolt through Usagi’s chest. Her eyes went wide as blood poured over the costume that replicated Minako’s so closely.

Minako lead, and people followed her straight unto their deaths.

The echo of her despair washed over her now, how her grief had hatched from her body into something so big and destructive she could only remember spurts. But she remembered Haruka pleading, and she remembered Haruka crumpled at what might have been her feet. Michiru came, and then Kyubey.

“What would you do to bring her back?”

“Anything.”

Mina gripped Rei’s fist, pressed the arrow tip hard against her sternum, but her grief did not hatch a second time. She had killed Haruka, had as good as killed Ami and Usagi, and it hurt but she did not change.

“We’ll fix this.”

Kyubey appeared in the water. “You’ve all made your wishes.”

Mako’s hammer slammed down on him. “Damn you for misleading us all.” Her knuckles were white against the hammer. “He’d lead us all into despair. Don’t give him the satisfaction.”

“We can’t save her,” Rei said. She lacked gentleness, always had, but Mina felt her trying. “I doubt, even, that we can save Michiru.”

The green haired girl stood in the surf. The swords had begun to awaken. They lifted themselves slowly, playing images now of Haruka reaching for Michiru, and Michiru turning away. Michiru keeping her hands in her pockets as they walked. Haruka trying, trying to figure out what changed, to figure out what she’d done.

“I did it for you. It was the only way.”

A sword launched at her, and for a moment Minako was sure she would not dodge. Michiru turned just in time. The blade buried itself in the water.

Michiru’s gem clouded again. “Please, Haruka.”

Minako clenched her fists. The power she’d once had would not come now. It hardly mattered. “We will save Michiru. It’s what Haruka would have wanted.”

Rei sighed, but a spark of determination flitted across her eyes. “Go.”

Minako made her way towards the swords. “It’s me you want, not her. I did this to you, to her, it’s my fault.”

The swords stilled. Minako had the brief thought that maybe reason could work, maybe Kyubey had always lied about being able to talk down witches. But then the thing beneath the swords ripped itself up.

It dripped like water—no, too thick, like blood. Hunks of it stayed pinned beneath the blades, but it was doggish in shape, with navy goop instead of fur. Luminous yellow eyes bore down on Minako.

To Michiru’s credit, she did not flinch away.

Every drip hissed as it hit the water. Minako had a sinking feeling she would find out what sound it would make when it hit skin. “I’m sorry isn’t enough, I know. I should never have convinced you to do this. I should never have done it.”

One large paw shot out. Mina dodged and the whole thing fell into the water, only strings of liquid holding it to the main body.

“I can’t blame you for lashing out. I did the same thing.”

Michiru touched the fallen paw. It shrank down and disappeared. “I have become ruinous. I should have told you, but I didn’t want you to remember.”

The doggish shape whined. The swords turned upwards from the ground and pierced its underbelly. Dark goo poured down. The shape lashed out at them again, again. It struck Michiru. She fell with a bright white burn contorting her face. The beast turned on itself, contorting into painful shapes to bite its own flesh.

“Haruka,” Michiru breathed.

Two realizations hit Minako—one, that this really was still Haruka, two, that she had a plan. A stupid plan, maybe, but a plan. She turned back. Rei had an arrow drawn, aimed at the beast’s heart, Mako had her hammer ready to launch. “You will hold your fire until I say, or until I am dead.” She looked to Michiru. “You will make sure they do.”

“I will do more than that.”

You’ll kill me yourself if Haruka dies again. But it didn’t matter. Maybe it would even be enough to keep Michiru alive if she failed.

Minako walked forward. She was not a magical girl. She’d spent her soul and become a witch. By rights, she should not exist.

Kyubey had said they’d all made their wishes.

But maybe, just maybe, there had been a but on the end of it. If no one asked, he’d never say.

She gripped the hilt of one of the swords. “I wish to find Haruka, whole and alive.” She pulled it out of the dripping belly. Dark liquid came with it, splashing and burning her skin. “I wish to find Haruka, whole and alive.” Another sword, more burns.

“I wish.”

Her arms were covered in blisters and angry red welts.

“I wish.”

Tears stung at her eyes, every splash and splatter stung at her cheeks, her neck.

“I wish.”

Her strength began to fail, a sword came out and swung into her leg.

“I wish.”

The world narrowed to this pain.

“I wish!”

And Kyubey heard.

She felt her soul separate and condense into a gem. She transformed, not into her old costume but into something like her school uniform, how Haruka had known and liked her best. The dog’s legs gave out, Minako dug into the dark liquid as it crashed down on her.

Her hands found Haruka, warm and safe and alive. The witch world faded. Minako cried into her shoulder.

“I’m so, so sorry.”

Haruka held her tightly. “Do you know what my wish was?”

Mina could only shake her head.

“I wished we’d both get through this alive. And you made it come true.” Her grip tightened. “I’m so sorry I doubted you.”

They sobbed into each other for a long while, from relief, from grief, from guilt. Finally, Minako’s eyes met Michiru’s. There was, likely, more grief yet to be had. She prayed it could wait. An hour, a day, just some separation between tragedies.

“Well,” Mako said gently. “I think we all could use some cake.”

They walked off all together. Haruka held Mina’s right hand, and, to Mina’s great surprise, Rei took her left. Minako felt a warmth much quieter than their usual fire. On the other side, Michiru let Haruka link her arm through hers, careful to keep her jacket covering her skin. Mako flanked Rei. She lacked her usual smile but was somehow still reassuring; she would keep them from despair.

Whatever would happen later, in that moment Mina felt sure that they could keep making it through.

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

“I know what you are.”

“Say it,” Michiru whispered. She’d tried so hard to protect this girl from the truth, but she couldn’t stay away. Not when danger seemed to lurk around every corner Haruka turned. At least now she’d know why Michiru stayed so distant, she wouldn’t worry something was wrong with her.

“You’re… a lesbian.”

Michiru stared. Haruka looked so proud of herself. “That’s not–”

“It’s okay, I’m gay too.”

No shit.

“You don’t have to hide it from me. And, if you wanted…” she kicked around some leaves with her toe as she stared at the ground. “We could maybe. You know. Go on a date. Or something. If you wanted.”

“Haruka. Haruka. That would be very nice, but that is not the issue here.”

She looked up. “Oh. Is it… is it your parents? Mine suck too, but–”

“I’m a vampire!” Haruka stared. “I drink blood. You never see me in sunlight, my skin is always cold. I’m a vampire.”

“Oh. Well. That’s cool too.”

Michiru suppressed the urge to scream.

Miles away from the wooden grove in which they stood, Mina felt an unexplained wave of validation.

Things you said that I wish you hadn’t

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

Okay I lied I’m posting this now since I can’t sleep.

—

As soon as Mina drags us into their game of truth or dare, I know there’s going to be trouble. If it had been just the inners, maybe it would have been fine. Fun, even. But they are here. I try to make an excuse. You wave it off. I know they’d never break you, but I’m not that strong.

It’s alright for a few rounds, until Yaten gets that look in their eye. “Michiru. Truth or dare?”

You flip your hair, ready for the challenge. “Dare.”

I really wish you hadn’t said that.

Yaten smiles. “I dare you to kiss the most attractive person in the room who isn’t Haruka.”

“Will you be providing the mirror, or should I summon mine?”

I bite into my hand to keep from screaming. This isn’t going to end well. Seiya shifts forward in her seat. If you choose her, I swear I’ll break something.

“While your narcissism is certainly entertaining, I hardly think that would count.” Yaten puts their hand in their chin. “We’re waiting, Ms. Kaioh.”

“And I suppose I’m right to assume this is to be a full mouth kiss?”

Why did you ask? You could have gotten away with a peck on the cheek if you hadn’t.

“Yes.”

My heart pounds in my chest. Mako would be an alright choice, if it came down to it. Thought maybe I only think so because I trust her; she’s too genuine to take anything from it. Even if you really were attracted to her. Are you?

“Well, there’s one objectively right choice, isn’t there?” You stand up. Choose Mako, I plead in my head. Or Usagi, she’s innocent enough.

But you don’t walk to either of them.

Or Seiya.

Before anyone can process your choice, you’ve dipped Mina from her seat on the couch arm and kissed her. Mina’s eyes are wide even as you walk away.

“Goddess of love and beauty, you know,” you say as you sit down next to me. “The obvious choice.”

“Well,” Mina says, “that’s hard logic to argue with.”

Your eyes harden. I can see revenge forming in your mind. “So, Seiya, truth or dare?”

I groan and bury my face in a couch cushion.

~ sittingoverheredreaming ~ Leave a comment

Prompt Party Time!

One Beautiful Day
~1900 words
AO3 link

For the AU I haven’t written in before, I decided to go with a childhood meeting AU.
In a ground breaking twist, it features HaruMichi… at the beach!! 

At age ten, Michiru had already learned to hate family vacations. Maybe if her parents had taken her to Disney World or even camping among national landmarks like T.V. families did, she wouldn’t have found them so vile, although she knew deep down they’d find a way to make those sorts of trips performances too.

She managed to slip away on the second day this time. Her parents had a no-children luncheon and had told her to stay in the hotel room and practice the piece she would play for their friends that night. As though she hadn’t perfected it months ago. She waited until she heard the elevator ding shut in the hall before sneaking out into the stairwell.

When you’d been trained to carry yourself with dignity and purpose, no one questioned why you were out alone. A little eye contact and a smile assuaged any fears. The doorman even held the door open for her, and she walked out into the world. The sun was bright; the air was heavy with moisture and salt. Michiru followed the street signs to the beach.

She’d always liked the ocean, probably because it made her feel so small and insignificant. She could live and die and flub her next concert and the ocean would still be there, vast and uncaring. Setting her shoes at the edge of the sand, she made her way towards the water. The sand was hot, but she kept walking. She half hoped she’d get a blister right on her toes where it would show in the shoes her mother had picked out. It wouldn’t be big enough for the audience to notice it, but her mother would be upset anyway. A perfect rebellion. But she reached the tide line without a mark.

No one on the beach paid attention to the small girl ruining her sundress in the surf. No one, that was, besides another girl Michiru had not noticed at first. Her clothes were baggy and a little dirty, but she had beautiful long blonde hair tied up in a ponytail, straight and frizz-free like Michiru’s mother always wished Michiru’s was. She sat in the sand a few feet from the tide line. Color rose in her cheeks when Michiru caught her eye.

“Sorry,” she said as Michiru walked over. “You just looked so… so free.”

I’ll never really be free. But Michiru put on her best smile. “I’m not supposed to be out here.”

“Did you run away, too?”

“Well, I sneaked out for a bit.” The “too” processed through her mind. “You’re a runaway?”

The girl’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell anyone! My mom will find me soon anyway. She always does.”

“Okay.” Michiru almost asked why she ran away, but she could hear her father’s voice in her head– It’s bad manners to ask about others’ misfortunes. Instead she sat down next to the girl. “I’m Michiru.”

“Haruka.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, same.” Haruka gestured towards the water. “You can keep playing, if you want. I don’t mind.”

“Don’t you want to join me?”

“Oh, um, no. No thanks.” Haruka eyed the ocean and swallowed hard. “I’m good here.”

Michiru frowned. “You don’t like–” Don’t make comments like that, Michiru, it brings down the conversation. “Is there something we could both do?” Something about this girl struck her; she didn’t want to leave her alone. She wasn’t at all like the playmates Michiru’s parents always chose for her.

Haruka thought for a moment. “There’s a corner store over there a bit. I’ve got a couple dollars, we could get some candy or something.”

Michiru smiled. “I have a better idea.”

She took Haruka by the hand and led her back to the hotel. Eyebrows were raised at the state of their clothes, but the workers recognized Michiru well enough to not say anything. She strutted into the hotel shop like she belonged there.

“My parents sent me to grab a few things. Can you put it on our room tab?” She handed the cashier the key card.

He gave a pause; certainly ten-year olds were not normally allowed to charge their parents’ account. But she was well-spoken and, she knew, intimidating despite her size, so he nodded.

She turned to see Haruka gaping. Michiru pulled her away from the desk and behind a display of candied nuts before whispering, “That was nothing.”

“That was…” Haruka shook her head. “Do people always do what you want like that?”

“Mostly. Except my parents.”

“Oh. Will they be mad you’re spending their money?”

“Not mad, but–” She put on her best impression of her mother. “Very disappointed in me, they haven’t raised me to act like this.”

Haruka giggled appreciatively.

“But then tonight they’ll parade me around and hear what a darling I am, how talented and precocious, and they’ll forget all about it.”

Haruka frowned. Michiru’s stomach gave a twist. She’d ruined it, hadn’t she? She’d come off as ungrateful, and negative, and No one likes negative people, Michiru, always say nice things, even if they’re lies. Veil your criticisms. Her parents were right, and–

“I know what that’s like, sort of. I mean, it’s not the same, I don’t have talents, but I think…” Haruka blushed very red. “Sorry never mind.”

“No, it’s all right.”

Harka swallowed. “I think she has reasons for having me that aren’t… me. Which I guess is a little like you.”

For a long moment Michiru couldn’t think of anything to say. It was strange to have someone acknowledge her feelings and agree. “Do you want your mom to find you?” she asked finally.

Haruka shrugged. “I’ve got nowhere else to go.” Her face was somber, but then it broke into a smile. “Unless you want to run away and become a bandit with me?” She lunged like she had a sword in her hand. “We could live in the wild, and defend little kids, and have a whole band like Robin Hood.”

“We could.” Michiru smiled, feeling an excitement like none she’d had before. “But we’ll need some supplies.”

They ran back and forth through the shop, grabbing a bag, a water bottle, all the candy they could carry, and a pair of scissors. “Since there’s no swords here,” Haruka said. “We’ll have to make do.”

The cashier opened his mouth to ask if her parents had really asked for these things, but Michiru withered him with a glare. She wouldn’t let anyone ruin this. She was having fun. He swiped the room key and they barreled out into the street, bag in hand, breaking into fits of laughter as their feet hit the pavement.

“We’re bandits!”

“His face.” Haruka gulped for breath and straightened herself. “There’s a park near here, if you wanna start there. We can claim the playground as our base.”

“Lead the way.”

Haruka grabbed her hand and broke into a run. Michiru struggled to keep up. The girl was fast, whatever she said about having no talent. But Michiru felt like slowing down this moment, halting its momentum, was something worse than death, worse than the dark shadows that came through her window at night that she had to pretend she was too old to be afraid of. Her calves burned and each breath felt like it drove a knife into her side, but she would not stop.

The park came into sight, and then they were there. Haruka put her hands behind her head and smiled. “Our new kingdom!”

Michiru smiled back. It didn’t matter that even calling the lopsided swingset and singular rusty slide a playground had been a stretch. It was theirs and they were free, for the day if not forever. She sat down on one of the swings and opened the bag. “This calls for a celebratory meal, I think.”

For awhile they ate candy in comfortable silence. Michiru felt herself smiling even as she chewed. She couldn’t help feeling this was the first time she’d felt this content.

“You know,” Haruka said after a while. “There’s a thing I’ve always wanted to do. Something rebellious, something totally bandit-y.”

Michiru set her candy bag on the ground. “And what’s that?”

Haruka smiled sheepishly and leaned over to reach in the bag. She pulled out the scissors. “Cut my hair short. Like, boy short.”

Michiru didn’t say how beautiful it was. Haruka knew that, had probably heard it as a reason she wasn’t allowed to cut it. And maybe, Michiru got the impression, Haruka didn’t want to be beautiful. Not like that, anyway.

“I’ll do it for you.”

“Have you cut hair before?” Haruka asked as she handed over the scissors. She smiled like it didn’t really matter.

“No, but I paint. Both are art, right?”

Haruka laughed. “If you say so. I guess worst comes to worst, I shave it all, right?”

“I imagine that wouldn’t look bad on you.” Michiru stood behind Haruka, but she still saw the color rise in her face. She felt her own cheeks flush. It was normal to tell girls they looked good, wasn’t it? She shook it off and took Haruka’s ponytail in her hands. “You’re sure about this, right?”

“Very sure. I only haven’t because I’m not allowed.”

“Okay.” Michiru cut straight across the base of the ponytail. It fell to the ground, heavy enough to scatter some of the wood chips. Michiru did her best to trim the top up to look like a real haircut. She didn’t quite succeed, but it was decent for a first time. She put her phone on the camera and handed it to Haruka so she could see.

“Not bad.” Haruka grinned wider than Michiru had ever seen anyone smile.

“You look.. you look very handsome. More like a prince than a bandit.”

Haruka blushed again. “You think so?”

“Yes,” Michiru said, feeling embarrassed. She wasn’t sure if it was giving an honest compliment that felt strange, or something else. Their eyes met.

And her phone rang.

Haruka nearly jumped out of the swing. Michiru grabbed the phone, it was her parents, of course it was, calling to drag her back from anything this good. She hit ignore and shut it off. “Sorry.”

Haruka looked down at the ground. “You have to go, don’t you?”

“No. Not yet.” Her hatred for her parents for cutting this so short battled with the overwhelming urge to give this girl something. Michiru did, really and truly, want to run away with her, despite how implausible it would be. “I don’t want to leave yet.”

“Okay.” Haruka smiled, a little forced but still genuine. “Think you can swing higher than me?”

–

The police arrived as the sun started to set. As the shuffled Michiru into their car and phoned her parents, she realized she hadn’t gotten Haruka’s phone number, or even her last name. By the time she turned back it was too late. The policewoman grabbed her gently around the middle and set her in the back seat.

Her parents yelled at her more than they ever had, but the only thing she felt bad for was not being able to contact the girl. Long after they returned home, Michiru held onto the memory, went over it in her head like a prayer on nights when the whole world seemed horrible. There was at least one good day, one good person. And even years later, Michiru swore she’d find a way to meet her again.