This is for you, ChibiRine.
I hope it's not too bad. And thanks for all the comments, everybody.
If anyone has any other requests, feel free to ask away. I could always use some more motivation to write more regularly.
Love BirdsPairings: Ikuta Erika x Shiraishi Mai, Wakatsuki Yumi x Sakurai Reika (Nogizaka46)The audience stood as one and applauded as the young pianist in a beautiful white dress made her way back to the stage. She had just finished playing piano piece after piano piece that captivated the audience throughout. She bowed in front of the cheering crowd, as she was presented a bouquet of roses.
As the audience started to disperse to the exits, two girls made their way to the front of stage. One of the girls had long brown hair and angelic white skin. She wore a short, red dress that showed off her long legs. It would have been easy to confuse her for a goddess. The other girl had short brown hair and wore a little black dress that complemented her physique.
Upon seeing the two girls, the pianist, Ikuta Erika, jumped off the stage and hugged the girl in the red dress.
The girl in the red dress, Shiraishi Mai, returned the embrace of Erika. She said, “You were wonderful, Erika.”
Erika blushed at the compliment, “Thank you, Mai!” After the hug, the couple leaned towards one another for a kiss. They were suddenly interrupted before their lips could connect.
“Hey, now’s not the time to be all lovey-dovey, you two love birds!” said Wakatsuki Yumi, the girl in the little black dress. Yumi folded her arms and glared at the couple. “What am I? Chopped liver?”
Erika separated herself from Mai and went over to hug Yumi. “Sorry, Yumi. Thanks for coming to watch my performance. I hope you enjoyed it.”
Yumi switched her frown into a smile, “You were amazing, Erika. You know I love listening to you perform.”
Mai nodded, “Me too.”
Yumi said with a grin on her face, “From my point of view, it didn’t look like you were doing much listening during the performance, Mai. More like lusting.”
Yumi and Erika started laughing as Mai started pouting and fake-punching Yumi. As this commotion was going, another girl slowly approached the three girls. The girl had shoulder-length dark brown hair and wore a casual, purple dress. A clap from the girl in the purple dress brought the three out of their own world.
“Ah, you made it, Miss President,” said Erika, waving at the girl.
The girl in the purple dress, Sakurai Reika, responded, “Thank you for inviting me to watch your piano performance, Erika. And the four of us have been in the same class for six years now. Call me Reika, please.”
Mai replied, “You got it, Miss President!”
Now it was Reika pouting and fake-punching Mai as the couple starting laughing. After the fake outburst, Reika hugged Erika and Mai, but noticed that Yumi was keeping her distance away from her, staring off into space. She walked up slowly to Yumi from behind and gave her a huge hug.
“HELLO, YUMI!”
Yumi stuttered, “He... hello… Sa…sa…ku…ku…ku…rai.”
“Geez, that’s even worse than calling me Miss President. I just said to call me Reika. We’ve all been friends for like six years.”
Yumi attempted to steady her voice and responded, “Hello… Reika.”
Reika smiled and said, “Much better.”
Yumi hoped that Reika didn’t think pick up too much from her nervous responses. Only Reika could do that Yumi. Yumi had a reputation in their high school of always being cool, calm, and collective, but all those attributes went out the window when Reika was involved. Six years in the same class together along with Mai and Erika and Yumi still felt uneasy around Reika. The entire school knew of Yumi’s feelings towards Reika. Except seemingly enough for Reika. Despite being student council president, Reika could be really dense and naive at times and being the only person who didn’t know of Yumi’s crush on Reika seemed like such a Reika-like thing to happen.
Reika looks so beautiful, Yumi thought.
Yumi’s thoughts were interrupted as Erika came up to Yumi and Reika and asked, “Hey, how would you two like to join Mai and me for dinner? My treat for you guys coming to watch my performance.”
Not waiting for a response from Yumi, Reika said, “We’d love to!”
Mai and Erika smiled and walked towards the exit. Reika, noticing that Yumi had zoned out once again, grabbed Yumi’s hand and dragged her toward the exit. “Come on, Yumi. Let’s go!” As Reika held her hand and walked towards the exit, Yumi was convinced that she had died and gone to heaven.
Mai and Erika led Reika and Yumi to Erika’s home. Confused, Yumi asked, “Aren’t we going out to dinner?”
Erika responded, “No, I’m going to make dinner for you guys.”
Reika said, “I never knew you knew how to cook, Erika.”
Mai went up to Erika and pinched her cheek. “That’s my Erika all right. I love eating your cooking.”
The four girls laughed and entered Erika’s house. Mai, Reika, and Yumi sat down at the dining room table, while Erika went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. The three girls chatted amongst themselves, though Yumi’s nervousness around Reika kept her participation in any discussion to a minimum. Every so often, Erika would ask for Mai’s “help” in the kitchen, leaving Reika and Yumi all alone. The silence between the two would be deafening until Mai came back.
I’m going to kill these two love birds, Yumi thought in her mind.
Finally, dinner was ready and Erika brought it to the dining table on a gold platter. Immediately upon setting it on the table, Yumi jumped out of her seat. “WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT!?”
On top of the gold platter was a huge gray lump of
something.
Slime?
Sludge? Yumi couldn’t ascertain to what kind of food this “dinner” started out as or how it turned into this gray monstrosity. She just knew it could no longer be called food.
It looks like a Muk Pokémon got cooked, Yumi thought.
And was the gray blob… moving?
Beaming proudly of her cooking, Erika said, “It’s udon!”
Yumi started to ask, “HOW IS THAT…?” Yumi’s question was interrupted by a swift and almost undetectable punch to the gut from Mai.
With a glare towards Yumi, but a smile on her face, Mai announced, “Let’s eat!”
Erika dropped a portion of the gray substance on each of their plates. Upon taking their seats, Mai and Erika instantly started taking eating it.
“Your cooking is as wonderful as ever, Erika,” said Mai to Erika, causing her to blush once again.
Yumi stared at the gray substance again.
Even if it looks terrible, maybe it tastes good. Knowing how sweet of a girl Erika was, Yumi knew she owed her friend to at least take a bite. She spooned a bit of the gray substance and gulped it down. It took little time for realize that this was a mistake. Yumi couldn’t describe the taste in her head, but it was the single worst thing she had even eaten.
Yumi knew she had to escape this dinner monstrosity. “Oh, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be outside for a bit. I’m feeling a little light-headed and I could use some fresh air.”
Mai and Erika both nodded. Reika winked and replied, “Oh, I’ll join you.” To Yumi, it looked like Reika didn’t enjoy Erika’s cooking either.
They both exited to Erika’s balcony. It was a cool summer night, perfect for just standing outside and relaxing. For Yumi, she had managed to escape Erika’s cooking, but now she stuck alone with her crush. Her heart started beating like crazy, unsure of what to do with Reika.
Reika broke the silence, “Wow, I never knew Erika’s cooking could be so… awful.”
Yumi welcomed this topic of discussion. “For all the things Erika does well, it was only a matter of time until she found something she was awful at. And I guess her cooking has killed her and Mai’s taste buds.”
Reika laughed at the comment and Yumi followed suit. After the laughter died down, another awkward silence engulfed them. And once again, Reika decided to initiate another conversation.
“Hey Yumi, can I ask you something?”
Yumi hesitated for a bit, but finally nodded.
“Do you… hate me?”
The question completely took Yumi by surprise. It should have been easy to just answer no. That she really valued any time they spent together. That she was ecstatic that Reika considered her a friend. That she was madly in love with Reika for the past six years. But her mind was numb and her mouth couldn’t piece together any words.
Reika, seeing no response from Yumi, said, “I guess it’s true. I really do bother you then. So many people in school have told me that I cause you pain just being around you. I’m sorry. I won’t burden you anymore. I head back in first.”
Yumi’s feelings were going on overload and it took everything in her being to muster up the strength to say, “Wait… WAIT!” It was now or never for Yumi
Reika turned around to see Yumi walking up to her. Yumi took a deep breath and pressed her lips on Reika’s. And Yumi was relieved that Reika was returning the passion in their kiss.
After parting lips, Yumi said, “I love you, Reika! I always have.”
Reika let out a small laugh, “I know. I know. Took you long enough.”
Yumi’s eyes shot up at Reika’s laugh and response, but another kiss from Reika brought Yumi to ease.
“I love you, too, Yumi. I always have.”
The new couple kissed for another minute or so, until they had clapping in the background. In unison, Mai and Erika said, “Congratulations, you two love birds!” Afterwards, they ran back into the house.
Reika and Yumi kissed one more time before Reika said, “Ready to chase after those two idiots?”
Yumi said, “No doubt!”
And the newly formed couple ran after the original two love birds throughout Erika’s house.