Archive of Our Own

Lady Momoi Airi lived a rather peaceful and sedentary life where she resided in the Tenma Castle.

Her day-to-day life consisted of tea parties, off-hand pleasantries, promenading through the garden, and even more tea parties for good measure.

She’d been seated at one of those aforementioned tea parties at that very moment, and delicately raised her cup to her lips to take a sip, taking a moment to appreciate the taste on her tongue. A general mildness, characterized by a lulling warmth, with tinges of fresh fruitiness.

The sound of nearby chatter reached her ears, making her shift her attention to the two girls sitting at her side. Her two most common companions: Tenma Saki and Ootori Emu.

As her name would suggest, Saki was the kingdom's princess and thus next in line for the throne due to her brother, Tsukasa, having more interest in the role of a knight.

And Emu, who happened to be one of Tsukasa’s close friends, first came from one of their allied neighboring kingdoms, and eventually decided to stick around long-term after many visits over the years.

Airi herself had landed her own spot in the castle’s court through well-formed connections over the years. For the most part, however, she owed her current position to her closest confidant, one Hinomori Shizuku, a knight working at the castle.

“Airi, there you are!” As if summoned by the simple act of thinking about her, the dashing knight appeared next to her with a warm smile. (One only reserved for her favorite lady.)

They’d known each other for a very long time, even before Shizuku had gained the title of ‘Knight’, so Airi ending up as part of the castle’s court was simply a matter of them being an inseparable pair, wherever the future and fate may lead them. If Hinomori Shizuku and her family were to suddenly reside in the Tenma Castle, Momoi Airi wouldn’t be far behind.

Putting her cup down, a familiar feeling of amusement lifted the corners of Airi’s mouth into a smile. “Shizuku! To what do I owe the pleasure? Haven’t the knights been very busy as of late?”

The taller girl nodded her head bashfully in response, a modest blush rising to her cheeks as she answered: “I just wanted to see you, if only for a moment.”

“Coming by again to beg to be my knight, despite the fact things don’t work that way?” She quipped, briefly laying off the formal attitude. This was her childhood friend, after all. Emu and Saki giggled loudly at their routine behavior from next to her.

Even though Airi had always been more than capable of pulling her own weight, ever since Shizuku began to dream of becoming a knight, her desire to protect the slightly younger girl kept growing with every passing day.

“But it’s only fair for lovely ladies like you to be treated preciously!” An uncharacteristic (to strangers, maybe) whine left the knight’s throat.

Though she was unsure, Airi believed this wish came to be due to how often they had played fairy tale in their youth. With Airi being more headstrong as a child, at first she’d always been the one to play the role of the hero. Shizuku, being far gentler, would naturally be the princess in need of saving, while little Shiho was inclined to play the fierce dragon.

(Though the sisters would of course switch when young, soft-hearted Shiho was feeling particularly left out.)

But one day, childishly bored of the same old routine, Shizuku found herself especially enjoying being the heroic knight to Airi’s damsel in distress. Clearly, it must have had a stronger effect on her than Airi could have ever anticipated.

Before their easy conversation could continue any further, the aforementioned little sister came and pulled at Shizuku’s sleeves in an attempt to direct her back to work.

“Sorry, Momoi-san… I suppose this one needs an extra scolding not to slack off work. We, the knights, are actually still extremely busy.” Shiho said in a faux strict tone, clearly just trying to ward off one of her signature small smiles, as she decided to properly drag the older girl away with a little force.

“Nooooo!” Shizuku exclaimed dramatically, despite entirely allowing herself to be pulled along.

“No worries, but make sure to really burn it into her mind this time! And that’s just Airi to you, Shiho!” She shouted after them, smiling wide and uncaring of how she may appear in that moment.

“See you later, Airi!” Shizuku said loudly from the ever growing distance.

The girl addressed huffed out a laugh. Though short and few and far between, Airi cherished every moment with her deep in her heart.

“Airi-san, you’re so lucky to be so close to Hinomori-san!” Sparkly-eyed Emu finally spoke up once the two knights were out of sight.

“Childhood friends go a veeery long way, Emu-san. I’d know!” Saki giggled in response. “If only I could’ve said something to Shiho-chan, though… Them being busy was no jest.” Sadly savoring a sip of her own tea, she then sighed.

“The knights are able to get quite a bit of free time in the evenings, you’ll certainly be able to catch her then, Saki-san. That’s how I usually do it with Shizuku.” Airi suggested, thoughtfully tapping a fingertip on her bottom lip.

And then like clockwork, shortly after Shizuku had passed by to check her Daily Airi Greeting off of her to-do-list, a certain annoying, short-haired beau made her appearance.

“Ah, Momoi-san, is that you? To see a beautiful girl like you on a beautiful morning like this… How wonderful.” Her smooth voice, that has struck unknown feelings in the hearts of many young women within the shortest amount of time, said.

The difference in how Shiho said ‘Momoi-san’ and how Asahina Mafuyu did was striking, Airi thought. And in the corner of her eye, she could see her company gawk in a very unladylike fashion.

Badly stifling a blush, she mustered up a hasty, “Yes, you’ve gotten quite enough of that by now, haven’t you? You’ve been coming here every day for the past week!”

She said that with a good layer of valor, and yet once the words had left her, her mouth dried up and she could only manage a meek once-over at the sight for sore eyes.

That’s right, Asahina Mafuyu, the handsome knight visiting from a foreign kingdom that had already easily charmed her way into most of the female population's affections, has had her interest be caught by the simple Lady Momoi Airi.

“What’s wrong with wanting to enjoy the ever-lovely sight of a delicate lady each morning?” Mafuyu spoke with infuriating nonchalance, tilting her head carelessly, as if no one would be affected by such a minute yet charming action.

(Airi was simply speaking from the perspective of the average lovestruck court girl, not her own. Indubitably.)

Her apprehension was well-warranted, of course, she wasn’t behaving so drastically over a plain playboy reputation. Mafuyu’s reason for traveling all the way here wasn’t just to flirt with ladies, no, the foreign kingdom she hailed from had quite the rocky past with the Tenmas. With the entire kingdom, in fact.

And in taking on a secret diplomatic role, she and her fellow troops were attempting to mend this shaky relationship little by little, covering up eons-long meetings with the higher class as ‘training’. Why did Airi know this? A certain lanky knight told her, who else? Connections, people of the court!

Now, her intentions did appear to be fine, Airi supposed, but you couldn’t possibly blame her for being distrustful. Years of history don’t simply disappear after a few stray conversations.

But good lord, those charms of hers were working their magic. That must be part of the plan, a pretty face can be more powerful than even the most well-smithed weapon, after all.

She must have been subconsciously burning a hole through Mafuyu’s face, because a sudden bell-chime-like laugh rang out in Airi’s ears.

“Even your furious looks are only akin to that of a kitten. How endearing.” Two high-pitched gasps resounded from next to her, but she didn't react, still fully focused on Airi. Her eyes narrowed as she finished speaking, clearly giving the other girl the message that she knew exactly what she was doing.

A completely ill-mannered groan escaped the lady as she spluttered. How dare she?!

Just as Airi could find the words dancing on the tip of her tongue, a slender, gloved finger shot out to rest right on the cupid’s bow of her lips.

“You forget yourself, Momoi-san.” Asahina Mafuyu said simply, the corners of her eyes crinkling in a smile, before turning away to leave just as swiftly as she had initially appeared.

After a few seconds of silence, Saki and Airi ended up squeaking out completely opposing statements simultaneously. “So charming!” “So calculating—!”

“You must be blessed to have so many admirers, Airi-san! And yet, you're always rejecting them!” Saki giggled cheekily, grabbing a chocolate-covered biscuit to dip in her tea.

Little more than muffled words came as a reply from Airi. “Saki-san, you're a princess actively looking for a partner to rule with in the future, I’d wager you get heaps more attention than I do…” Her head plopped weakly into her arms resting on the table.

“And I’m not… rejecting them. That is a harsh word.” Hastily raising her head again, Airi immediately began to regret the words she spoke.

“So, you're making them bide their time? Isn't that even worse? I wasn't aware you could be so cruel—”

“Scary…” Emu suddenly whimpered. The other two girls perked up.

“Asahina-san is so scary—!” Her whimpers quickly turned into a wail as she somehow managed to tearfully crumble a bourbon cream biscuit with one single tiny hand. Had she always harbored this kind of strength?

“Scary?! She is very forward, but I wouldn't go that far! Are you more interested in another sort of girl?” Saki questioned.

“No, her smile…! She's definitely not being true to herself. I wish she would be able to smile more genuinely.” The strings of fear on Emu loosened, and her expression mellowed into a melancholy frown.

The words rang true in Airi’s ears. She already knew for certain that Mafuyu was simply upholding a façade, being deceitful regarding her feelings for her, but hearing it from somebody else was validating.

Saki leaned over slightly to pat Emu on the shoulder reassuringly, as the latter girl raised her head to speak: “But she still comes to visit you every day… I don’t think she would do such a thing for no reason.”

“Airi-san, maybe you’ll manage to make her truly smile?” Her glassy eyes stared up at Airi with uncertainty, painting the perfect picture of a kicked puppy. The kind of look that Airi had always relented to.

Even so, the goddamned princess squeezed her head next to Emu’s as well, dealing twice the amount of sparkly-eyed damage to Airi. Curse that pigtail-duo.

“...I may.” She acquiesced flatly, earning an instantaneous hug to the side from Emu.

“I’ll be eternally grateful! Please do your best for me, Airi-san!” She buried her head into Airi’s neck and tightened the embrace, making her sigh and easily run her free hand through Emu’s soft locks.

“Exactly, if anyone has the determination to do it, it's absolutely you, Airi-san!” Saki nodded resolutely with the kind of certainty you'd more than expect from a future queen.

Her mind quickly began to reel as Saki trailed off into a passionate tangent. “Anyhow, isn't the great ball coming up? You are absolutely in need of a partner—and very available, might I add—so I couldn't think of a better opportunity to make Asahina-san’s day than with a romantic dance in the gardens! I shall even personally rent it out for the two of you!”

“I think that a dance between Airi-san and Hinomori-san would be just as nice… She’s so dedicated, I think she deserves to have Airi-san’s spotlight shine down on her during such an important event!” Emu suggested, her mood rapidly improving as the conversation veered away from Mafuyu. Although she had good intentions, in the end, her fear for that deceitful knight was quite real.

“Indeed as well! This upcoming ball will remain as the kingdom’s most treasured memories for years to come, so make the decision that will make you the happiest, my dear friend!”

“I'll have to think about it.” Airi sighed.

And so, the trail of that day’s conversation slowly crossed another path, and while Airi sipped her peach-reminiscent tea with an open ear, she pondered.

Her mind continued to remain filled with ruminations even as the rest of the day passed by, the pale evening moonlight shimmering through her bedroom window.

Having absentmindedly changed her heavy, extravagant daytime dress into a leisurely nightgown, she made her way over to Shizuku’s quarters to invite her over, just as her usual routine would have it.

Before she could even knock on the thick wooden door, the knight, practically bursting with excitement, rushed out to greet her. Though, her air quickly shifted upon seeing the pensive look on Airi’s face.

As they silently maneuvered the halls, Shizuku spoke. “Is everything all right, Airi? You seemed much more cheerful earlier.” Dejection tinged Shizuku’s words, making Airi break out of her musing.

She stopped and hesitated for a moment, aware of how her words may affect Shizuku. But she trusted her childhood friend more than enough to be able to speak truthfully.

“...You know that foreign knight, Asahina Mafuyu.”

“Yes. As I’ve told you, our guilds have been working together recently.” Shizuku’s thin eyebrows furrowed noticeably, but her words didn’t imply any deeper meaning behind the slight change in expression.

“She has been making eyes at me as of late. Every day, during our tea gatherings. And her lies must be more obvious than I initially thought, because even Emu-san noticed her faulty excuse of a smile.”

“Asahina has been… ‘making eyes at you’? Is she bothering you? Should I talk to her?” Firmly grabbing Airi’s shoulder, worry was now clear to see on her face.

“Oh, huh–?” Airi dazedly stammered, stopping right in her tracks.

“As you know, since these troops aren’t in their homeland, even lower-ranking knights such as myself will be able to reprimand a higher-ranking one like her, if she acts out of line to a lady.”

Standing paused right in front of her room door, silver keys in hand, Airi only stared, stupified, before losing herself in a fit of laughter.

It was just her being protective… She was surprised she hadn’t realized it earlier, frankly. She could feel her stomach tickle with the flutter of what felt like a colony of butterflies, but brushed it off.

“I’m fine, Shizuku. Let me finish talking once we go inside, all right?”

Silvery blue eyes gazed at her, rapt with attention as Airi spoke. Then, “Thank goodness…” she whined in response, a light flush dusting her cheeks.

The key entered the lock and turned, allowing the two to finally make their way into the bedroom. With a sleepy groan, Airi took a seat on the edge of her bed and patted the space next to her, making Shizuku immediately perk up. (Like a little kitty.)

“Emu-san begged me to make Asahina ‘give us a true smile’... I gave in, but I have no clue how I should go about it, or what that could even mean for her.”

“I see… So, you just want to make her earnestly happy.” Shizuku leaned down to rest her head on Airi’s shoulder (and the shorter girl would never understand how that was comfortable for her), humming thoughtfully.

She gently clung to Airi’s arm. “Well, I think you can make anyone smile… You just have that power. I'm smiling right now, in fact!”

“You—You’re biased!” Playfully knocking her on the head, Airi turned away with a fluster. She could feel a hand bigger than her own close in to envelop it, stroking her knuckles gingerly.

“Definitely not, the way you're so headstrong yet gentle instead of just one or the other… That makes you differ from other noblewomen, it's incredibly endearing. I couldn't think of anyone that wouldn't like you, Airi!” The bright smile she was likely donning practically seeped into Shizuku’s voice, rousing Airi’s heart.

“Don't alter yourself, especially not for somebody else. If she truly is interested in you, I think you’ll be able to do it, just by being you.” Failing to push down the warmth rising in her cheeks at those words, Airi reluctantly looked back over to her longtime friend, quietly scanning her.

Unlike her daytime appearance, in the lull of the night, Shizuku’s long hair was left loose rather than tied up, and her customary armor was also nowhere to be seen. Though she was not the strictest of cavaliers, at that very moment, there was such an unguarded air to her, like she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world.

She should have been used to it by now, they’d seen each other every day for the past 15 years, for goodness’ sake, but knowing that Airi was the only one Shizuku didn’t keep up appearances around… It made her chest tighten in a strange and disconcerting manner. She didn’t know what to think, her mind was utterly scrambled.

One single line of thought stood out, however.

That Airi liked this side of Shizuku, the one she had for herself. And that she liked the heroic side of Shizuku as well.

She liked every side of Shizuku. She liked how Shizuku was like her name, how like an ever-reflecting droplet of water, she could express all of her radiant selves.

Momoi Airi liked Hinomori Shizuku.

Ugh.

It was no wonder she had caught feelings. Who wouldn't when they'd had such an earnest, loyal girl by their side all this time?

And she wasn't stupid, clearly there was something similar on Shizuku’s side as well. That wouldn't make her any less hesitant, however. Not to mention how Airi would be chasing after another knight, too, one that had also piqued her interest.

“Says you… You’re the one who’s always impressing me and being all endearing,“ was all she could muster to say out loud, despite her thoughts going haywire.

Shizuku gasped with her stupid, smooth, soprano voice. “Airi praised me!” She cheered in a sing-song tone.

At this, Airi’s brain finally made the decision to shrivel up and conclude its existence after a long, long day of being tortured with ponderings about two frustratingly beautiful women. The woes of being weak to a pretty face.

She crawled under her duvet with a long groan, her burning face more prominent than ever.

Airi kept her head under for a bit longer than what could be deemed normal, only coming to that realization once light leaked in from Shizuku unexpectedly lifting the covers.

Her lips curved into a smile, and Airi could only grimace. She was a tease in the exact opposite way Mafuyu was.

“So, about the great ball—”

An abrupt knock shook the peculiar atmosphere that had formed between them. They shared a quick glance, silently agreeing to leave that conversation for later.

Shizuku, chivalrous to the core, rushed to the door first, as if she'd be able to act as Airi’s human shield in case of danger. (What dangerous individual would try and off some low-ranking lady when the sun had barely set?) Hastily following after, a drowsy Airi somehow managed to open the door just before her long-legged companion could.

And what an unfitting sight she was greeted by.

“Greetings. I was informed this is where you reside, Momoi-san. Your home decor is most charming.” Polite as ever, Asahina Mafuyu, the cause of most of her troubles, stood languidly before her. Speak of the devil and she'll arrive right at your front door.

“You… Who told you these are my quarters?”

“I queried your short tea party friend.” With a grit of her teeth, Airi had to stop a loud groan from escaping the depths of her rattled mind. Of course that elusive woman would.

Unable to hold her tongue any longer, Shizuku spoke: “Asahina, I believe you are holding something behind your back. Would you mind revealing it?”

Her eyes closed in the shape of crescent moons, Mafuyu smiled good-naturedly. “Hinomori, you're so hostile all of a sudden. I'll bite.”

Her gaze rested pointedly on Airi when her eyes opened once more, and from her back she pulled out a highly extravagant bouquet of flowers, presenting it in front of her chest with pride.

Now, Airi’s knowledge on flowers was limited, but she wasn't clueless enough to not know the meaning behind those red roses. She'd been completely vexed mere seconds ago, and yet now… Goodness, was her face heating up again? Was she actually being courted right now?!

“For you, my dear.” The effects of Mafuyu’s captivating smile must have tripled in the few hours Airi hadn't seen her; no longer could she deny her weak, weak heart pounding like before.

If only to make things worse, the knight proceeded to kneel down and offer the bouquet up to the now taller standing Airi, as if attempting to express worship to her.

Said girl’s hands trembled, reluctantly reaching for it, and she tried to avoid any brushes of their fingertips, any physical contact at all. She wasn’t intent on dying young, thank you very much!

Mafuyu slowly, elegantly, got up and spoke, words lilted with underlying amusement. “Are you familiar with the language of flowers?” Airi had the desire to scream and yell, but that’d be unbecoming.

“I can't say I am.”

As if commanded to, the knight’s gloved hand stretched out to reach the bouquet in Airi’s arms, gently caressing a pair of rosy petals as she graciously started to explain: “First and foremost, the pink rose acts as the centerpiece, symbolizing affection. At its side are matching peonies, exemplifying my well wishes towards you, so that you will prosper evermore in the future. Though what frames each of the previous components is the lily; it expresses an appreciation for your femininity, how you express yourself outwardly, of course, but also how your demeanor embodies it as well.”

Airi stopped and staggered for a moment, feeling her cheeks color at the surprisingly thoughtful recounting of what she intended to transmit to her. It almost felt out of character, what with her typical shallow compliments… Perhaps chivalry wasn’t dead, after all.

“...I’m very thankful, Asahina-san, but I’d just like to ask… What exactly is the purpose behind this gift? Out of everyone in our court, why have you given this to me of all people? I just can't imagine why.” Acting temptingly coy is woven into the very threads of any self-respecting lady, so the admittedly dense-sounding words came easily to her.

“Well… This is my way of inviting you to accompany me to the great ball.” And unless Airi had come down with a horrible case of harrowing hallucinations, there was but the slightest sign of hesitation to be seen in Mafuyu’s expression.

Before Airi could even ponder how she’d reply—as she was quite caught up with that sudden lack of confidence in her words—Shizuku swiftly interfered with her own answer.

“I had the very same intention. In fact, I was asking her just when you knocked!”

A beat passed, but Mafuyu didn't look swayed in the slightest. In fact, she looked more self-assured than she did before.

“Is that so… I'm sure you know what course of action is customary when two bachelors have shown interest in the same dame, Hinomori.” She said slowly, methodically, as if she was attempting to draw something out of Shizuku. Like she was taunting her…?

“Yes. Any knight would.” Shizuku quipped back, almost infuriatingly resolute. No, was she seriously getting into this, too?

They both stayed silent for a few seconds, exchanging no words, just glares. Horribly dramatic. Airi had long resigned herself to simply gripping the bunched-together stems of the bouquet so firmly, they’d be sure to leave indents in her palms. As if she could’ve even tried interfering with whatever this was.

“That's right: a duel!” They then said in unison, and she began to seriously consider going back to bed for good this time. The door was right there. Kicking Shizuku back if she tried to chase after her like a puppy wouldn’t be too hard. Probably.

“However, we both have different prowesses, don't we? You excel with the bow, while I am more adept with the sword… Wouldn't it only be fair to engage in multiple duels, exchanging weapons?” Eyes were shutting. Her quarters called for her. There was no way they were actually going to do something so immature in the tender hours of the night.

Mafuyu’s expression shifted. “Actually, Hinomori… I've always wondered what it might feel like to spar against your sword. I think we could both learn something from one another.”

“You… Have you?” Shizuku stammered, her mouth falling agape. And as if the situation at hand couldn’t get any more baffling, Mafuyu stepped closer to her, humming in agreement.

Any tension that had been found in the grip of Airi’s arm had now vanished, as she promptly turned around and slipped back into her room, pointedly shutting the door before she could be followed. Though, frankly, it didn’t seem like she would be.

By the time Airi had returned back under the covers, no other woman in tow, the last thing she was able to hear from the hall was the sonorous, honorable sound of two gloved palms striking against each other and the words “As early as six in the morning!”.

She… She was going to have to be present for that, wasn't she?

…And present she was. Veering far away from her usual routine of lazy strolls that never exceeded the distance between her quarters and the nearest table that could fit a tea set, Momoi Airi instead decided to sit and watch her two so-called ‘bachelors’ that morning. At six in the morning.

There was a small space where beaten-up wooden dummies and targets were set up—likely for spur-of-the-moment sparring sessions like this one—with Mafuyu and Shizuku standing in the center. They had moved the dummies to the side, as they did already have each other as fighting partners, and, after a swift warm-up, immediately began to charge at each other with their blades.

Mafuyu’s technique was more straightforward, self-assured as she always was. She hardly wavered, was exceedingly fast and had the ability to find weak spots from all angles. Her strength was apparent from how swiftly she could cut through and stab the air, how Airi could see the muscle of her arm flex and tense.

Though, this wasn’t to say that Shizuku was leaving herself open; her way of defense was steady and consistent, she protected her primary weapon, her own body, while still leaving ample room to fit in attacks of her own.

Their combined degree of focus was astounding to watch, mesmerizing. They danced across the space, circling around each other in a way that felt borderline intimate. It continued until Mafuyu appeared to lightly strike Shizuku’s forearm with the pommel of her sword, making them both pause and exhale.

“I lost…” Shizuku sighed. Mafuyu’s lips quirked up, not mockingly.

“No, your defense was excellent. I was strapped for openings the entire time,” she said and paused. “In terms of offense, I could only give you the advice to commit to one line of thought and nothing else… To give it rigid focus and empty yourself of everything else. Despite your dual-edged approach, you still came off as a bit scatter-brained.”

“Amazing…” Shizuku breathed, face coloring, “T—Thank you, from the bottom of my heart… You are quite the fearsome opponent yourself.” Their faces must have been mere inches from each other at that point; Airi could barely hear what they were saying.

Mafuyu’s smile gained a competitive edge. “Show me how you truly fare against a ‘fearsome opponent’, then. Maybe you’ll eke out the win after all.”

“Of course, I won’t back down!” She said with spirited glee.

A part of Airi had always been curious to see precisely how the knights behaved when in their element… In all honesty, it made her heart swell with pride to see how her once small and amateurish childhood friend had grown into a respectable and capable knight of her own. As much as Airi teased her for it like any long-time friend would, while Shizuku had suddenly found her dream, she’d just as suddenly succeeded in making it come true. It was admirable.

Yesterday’s mutual decision to ‘duel’ quickly became less of an actual competition between the two, and more so evolved into a vaguely intense, yet completely obliging exchange of knowledge, where both stood on equal footing, and most importantly… seemed to be getting along more than anything? It continued to confound Airi, but it was better than the unnecessary tussle they were aiming for before.

The repeated clang of swords made for surprisingly peaceful background noise; Airi would sit and read, looking up to check on the two more often than not, which essentially meant she hardly read at all.

Other women of the court seemed to think so as well, occasionally stopping by to observe the scuffling knights in their natural habitat. Or, the more likely option, they were simply… ‘enjoying the view’. None stayed, however, clearly seeing more merits in doing something more valuable with their time, which was entirely rational. Not that Airi had ever heard of being rational, judging by her actions.

Airi found herself leaning into the role of ‘sensible nurse’, and volunteered to patch up any scrapes or cuts that formed in the process of their sparring. That, too, ended up being a compelling insight on both her childhood friend, who she’d believed to have known everything about; and the mysterious local casanova, who she’d previously only known and thought of in an admittedly emotionally distant manner.

Once their joined battle trance would subside, they’d lower their weapons, and turn towards Airi almost excitedly. She would, in turn, huff moodily, but beckon them over one at a time nonetheless.

Shizuku would skitter over with a winning smile that was practically begging for praise, before laying her lanky arm with an equally lanky cut on Airi’s lap. That wouldn’t get you any praise!

Bandage would unfurl from its circular spool, and Airi would wrap it around the length of Shizuku’s forearm (after having cleaned the wound to the best of her abilities), pull it tight, then chop it off with a pair of tremendous scissors, separating it from where it began. And if she accidentally and subtly nipped a part of her own finger off while doing so, it was none of your business.

Shizuku would raise her arm up once it was finished, and admire it like it was an engagement ring, a dreamy smile adorning her beautiful face. Then, to top it off, she’d dip her head down and kiss the bare back of Airi’s hand with glimmering pride.

“Oh, you… Get out of here!” She’d shout, flush with embarrassment, voice overembellished with faux anger. Only for them to both break, bursting into fits of laughter.

It was sweet. It was familiar. It was perfect. It made her feel like everything had been worth it.

All this to say: tending to Mafuyu was nothing like it.

Mafuyu’s head hung low, perhaps to ensure that Airi was properly handling her wounds, but almost looked to be deeper in thought. She always tended to be quiet when sitting at Airi’s side and being taken care of like this, which already felt strange and out of the ordinary for somebody like her; it did seem like the perfect opportunity to act out their usual dynamic, after all.

Before, she’d merely let the silence between them settle, offering the necessary pleasantries at the beginning and end while staring off into the distance during the in-betweens. Uncharacteristic, yes. Certainly no reason to worry, though.

This time, her eyes had been caught by Airi’s movements, and she finally let her gaze settle on her. She allowed her gaze to trail along the tightening and wrapping of the bandage, almost as if studying it, scanning it.

But when Airi nosily, intrusively tilted her head downward to get a better look at her expression, her eyes were dull and misty, her lips just slightly parted, and she stared down at the other girl’s hands like they were only hurting her more. It made Airi want to stop.

“Is everything okay?” She murmured cautiously. Is the bandage too tight, she wanted to add, but knew that had nothing to do with it.

Mafuyu’s head lifted abruptly at that, her demeanor shifting into that of a deer in the headlights. For once, Airihad been the one to catch her off guard, but she couldn’t relish the moment. Not when she was still making that face.

Her head shook infinitesimally. “No… No, I’m all right,” she said and paused. Then: “You’re doing well.”

It was then that the underlying meaning of ‘that face’ unveiled itself to Airi; though she appeared just as down-trodden as before, it carried a certain acceptance with it, her eyes entirely familiar with what Airi was doing, cognizant enough of the details to be able to make such a judgement. She wasn’t praising just to praise. Nonetheless, it didn’t eliminate the terse distance her words held.

But who said it wasn’t worth a shot?

“...If I may trouble you. I cut myself earlier. Could you perhaps tend to my wounds as well?” Airi said daringly, feeling rife with spontaneity. Mafuyu only stared.

“You know…? You scratch my back and I scratch yours?” She said, a bit desperately, thinking she’d made a fool of herself.

Mafuyu’s frozen and unchanging blank expression didn’t help in revising that judgement.

“...You want me to?” She finally asked, voice low, but not provocative. Honest, maybe.

Airi nodded slowly.

Without much further ado, Mafuyu gently took the bandage out of her hands and pulled her chair closer so that she could get a better look. Airi carefully placed her hand in her palm, allowing her to pick up the nipped finger and properly inspect it. Her movements slowed and Airi spotted how she picked at her lip in deliberation, looking to be mulling over saying something.

“It’s tiny.”

“So? It’s still a wound, is it not?” You’ve already accepted. Non-verbally. Don’t take it back.

They sat wordlessly for a few moments.

“You’re right. I’ll get to it.” She then said, not harshly, and did as she said.

It made her face feel warm for three reasons. One: Mafuyu was in close proximity to her, and touching her, to be more specific, without any ulterior motives. Two: a more hushed, less grandiose Mafuyu somehow managed to charm her even more. Three: she undeniably was good at tending to someone. Much better than Airi was. Urgh.

Either way, she felt that the air around Mafuyu had become less heavy… There was a different sort of gleam to her, softer and content. She couldn’t exactly know whether or not she’d made the right decision, but hoped that allowing her this could act as a gift of her own. Like the bouquet had been.

Yet, the realization of her middling abilities came too late; archery gave way to a quieter and more subdued sort of training, one where Airi’s assistance was less necessary. And with time, duty called, forcing Airi to go back to the everyday. Leaving them on their own, to their own devices, without her.

“I’ve been told that a beautiful and wise spirit rests within the fountain! Supposedly, it appears to any maiden whose heart is suffering ails of the romantic kind, and offers her life-changing advice that is tailormade to her circumstances. Though, only when no one else is present, which is typically at night.” Saki declared, so excited that she was gripping the tablecloth.

“She’s so magical!” Emu squealed, “I heard she’s known as ‘The First Spirit of the Sound of the Future’, because she can foresee the future. That’s why her advice is so accurate!”

Airi nursed her cup of tea, if only to avoid answering. Her head had already been stewing for long enough, as the spell of being able to admire Shizuku and Mafuyu broke as soon as she left the isolated bubble of the fighting grounds. If they had indeed gone through with the duel, it would have upset her, no doubt—but something about their affable sparring began to sting and broach her heart. It was a kind of atmosphere she could never replicate with either and, as happy as she was for both of them, rested on the foundation of a world she simply was not a part of. Perhaps she was only overthinking things; but even so, how could she possibly choose—

“Speaking of romance… How have things been going with your two bachelors? The ball’s coming up, you know!” Saki snickered, suddenly elbowing Airi, which made her choke on her tea. She coughed loudly.

She coughed on for what felt like ages, earning awkward and worried glances from Saki and a vicious knock to her back from Emu. When she finally regained the ability to breathe, she stayed quiet for a bit, hopelessly hoping her companions had already forgotten the topic at hand. They hadn’t.

“...I’m working on it.” She finally said. Not a complete lie.

Saki hummed. “Maybe you’re in need of the spirit’s services?” Absolutely not!

“That’s ridiculous, Saki-san. I need to be able to handle my own issues, not just rely on the possibility of a spirit existing, on top of that spirit theoretically wanting to aid me. Not to mention how strange that summoning ritual sounds… She just ‘knows’ when you have romantic ails in your heart? And she has the ability of future sight? Do you really believe that?”

“Airi-san… You look tired.” Emu glowered, looking well and truly upset, like Airi’s fussing was beginning to creep in on her, too. “Maybe we should wrap things up for today… Tomorrow’s always another day.” Saki said, nodding in sorry agreement.

Airi was also beginning to think that might be for the best. She’d find a solution somehow. A normal solution.

So, feeling very desperate and particularly touched in the head that night, she snuck out of her quarters, dodging Shizuku, and made her way into the gardens. Goal: the fountain.

The cool breeze of the late hour licked at her naked ankles (she’d only haphazardly thrown a coat over her sleeping gown before leaving), as if persuading her to return to her senses and go back inside.

Which she did not do.

After a few more flighty steps, she began to recognize her surroundings, seeing specific bushes that she remembered as being right in the fountain’s vicinity, until… She finally reached the fountain itself.
As she awkwardly stood in front of the structure gripping the material of her shoddy coat and pulling it closer to her chilled body, the pure lunacy of her actions became evident to her. Just what was she doing here?

The steady, unchanging sound of water flowing felt like it was mocking her, displaying to her how stupid she was for believing for even a second that it could shift, or reveal anything, let alone a deity of some sort. If anything, she was the ridiculous one. Why had she talked such a big game to her friends? Why had she been so rude, only to come here anyway—

“Greetings. I am Hatsune Miku, the First Spirit resonating with the sound of the future.”

Airi gasped. What in tarnation?

She looked up to see a glowing figure with bright twintails spewing out of her radiant head. Her entire form was cool-toned like the water coming out of the fountain… In fact, it almost looked to be made out of the water, her ‘hair’ waving subtly, and her legs only partly materializing out of the fountain’s pit.

“You… You are split between two options. You wish to know which choice you should make.” The spirit, Miku, said contemplatively.

“I… I don’t know. Do I even have the right to choose between one of them? I’d feel guilty regardless, but— What if I’m not even part of the equation? They looked so close today. You don’t think maybe they’ve started preferring each other over me? I’d have to support them, how couldn’t I... Should I prepare some sort of gift—?”

“Please, remain calm. I know how you feel.” She lifted her hand, essentially commanding Airi to shut her mouth, although it somehow looked sophisticated and airy on her. Though her words sounded almost kind, if Emu and Saki were indeed right, they must have been meant in a very literal sense.

“The love you harbor for these two women is genuine and pure of heart, that much I can see. While I cannot ascertain their feelings for one another without having them standing before me… You say that they may similarly share affections for one another?”

“...I believe so.”

“If that is so, you shall all choose to be with each other.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You choose both parties, and they shall choose the same.”

“What? No. No, we couldn’t possibly… That isn’t how it works.” Airi insisted.

“But why? Why should love be stifled?” She appeared especially innocent and untouched in that moment. Watery tendrils that were tinged with all colors of the rainbow were surrounding her, shielding her, curling around her essence, but never once covered her.
For a moment, Airi thought of her as naive, before wondering if she might be the naive one instead.

It sounded idealistic, yes, but above all, it seemed to be hopeful. This spirit, who could apparently see into the future, wholeheartedly believed that if Shizuku, Mafuyu, and Airi all loved each other, they could aptly choose to be together. Regardless of the fact they were three people, that simple mathematics dictated a pair couldn’t be formed without leaving someone behind.

It was the same simple hope that had driven Airi to leave her past life behind, and follow after Shizuku and come here; the same simple hope that had caused her to see that side of Mafuyu.

“I see… I think I might understand.” She said to the spirit, unable to fight the little smile beginning to form on her face.

Miku smiled, too. “Then I have fulfilled my purpose.”

The slowly approaching ball ceased to weigh as heavily on Airi as it did before. Thus there was no repeat of her terse outburst, to Emu and Saki’s delight.

She spoke amicably with both Shizuku and Mafuyu, greeting them each morning without any fuss, checking in on them during the gaps between their meetings and their training, and accepting any further courting attempt with open arms. The idea of a duel between the two knights had officially been crossed out in favor of allowing Airi to choose of her own accord. But whenever asked about which of the two she preferred, even who she might be slightly tending towards, she would only reply asking for them to remain patient.

This continued until the eve of the grand ball, when her two bachelors arrived at her quarters, knocking urgently and gently imploring her to please, kindly make her choice, they really wouldn’t be upset regardless of who she picked, which tickled her beyond belief.

That time, she swiftly placated them, asked them to meet her outside of the castle, in front of the fountain in the gardens, shortly before the ball was to begin, and that she would tell them then, once and for all. She asked them to trust her until then, and that it wouldn’t be a waste of their time.

So when the day came, she dolled herself up, laughed heartily with her closest companions, and as the sun slowly set, mustered up all of her courage while making her way to the gardens. She thought of Miku, who she had met there, that fateful and horrifying night, who had given her that hope, and emboldened herself with the memory. She hoped.

Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest when she noticed two tall and familiar figures approaching her. Shizuku and Mafuyu, handsome as ever. And… as anxious as ever, it seemed. Once they had settled and stopped in front of her, they looked as though they were just about to retch.

“Come closer, you two,” she said, putting them out of their misery. They both exchanged perplexed gazes, before bending down the slightest bit.

“Closer,” Airi chided. They obeyed, not without hesitating, and closed in further on Airi. The tips of their ears were amusingly close at this point, a few inches away from brushing against each other. Perfect.

Smugly, Airi raised herself up on the tips of her toes, turned to Shizuku and then Mafuyu, planting soft kisses on each of their soft cheeks.

Once she’d lowered herself and her heels back to the ground, she was overjoyed to see both previously put-together princes visibly stirred and bright red in the face. Airi was far from done, however. Her hands reached up to both of their faces once more, so that she could make them turn to be looking at each other.

Smooth gloved fingers slipped away, and she gently coaxed, “Go ahead.”

Shizuku’s eyes lit up with both bafflement and joy, her eyes instinctively moving to look at Mafuyu’s lips. Mafuyu herself had frozen up, staring into the other woman’s eyes with a blank expression, although, if you looked closely, you could see a flush creeping up her collar.

Nary a second had passed when Shizuku clumsily shoved her face into Mafuyu’s, lips connecting, eyes shutting, hands gripping forearms, and Airi badly suppressing a giggle. One which carried no underlying weight or worry, only genuine glee.

Just when she’d finally gotten a hold of herself again, the two separated and slowly directed their gazes back at her, looking quite pensive. Airi thought nothing of it, until a subtle and honest little grin spread across Mafuyu’s face—something that enraptured her so much that she well and truly did not notice a certain someone sneaking up to her and… picking her up?!

Airi squawked, legs kicking wildly in the air as she was repositioned in Shizuku’s arms so that she could be held in a bridal carry… Of course. Emu would be overjoyed. Saki, too. Oh, god…

She hid her face in the nearest crook she could find (that being the junction of Shizuku’s neck) upon hearing Mafuyu’s humored exhale from next to her. With a triumphant giggle of her own, Shizuku began to swaddle Airi like a baby and jauntily make her way back inside.

At that point, she was far too flustered to un-tuck her face out of said junction, but more than certain that Mafuyu was quietly following along, that they’d be entering that ballroom as a group of three, not just a disjointed and incomplete pair… Yes, that it would be Shizuku, Mafuyu, and Airi.