Air
“What!?”
Kiko grabbed Rika’s hands and began hopping excitedly.
“Moving in together!”
Rika looked around at the busy office. Her cheeks turning red. She shushed her.
“Not so loud Kiko.”
“It’s just.”
Kiko sat down in her chair, and put her hand on her forehead.
“It’s so much. So much has happened, and it’s so cute. You’re both so cute!”
She gasped and paused a moment.
“My heart may actually stop from the cuteness.”
In reality Rika’s heart had been fluttering since the day before.
“I can hardly believe it myself...”
Kiko looked at Rika with a frank face.
“When is the wedding?”
Rika looked shocked, she had been asking herself that since after her dream.
“I... I don’t know, it’s too soon to think about it I think.”
Kiko touched her finger tips together and rested her chin of them.
“You two are clearly in love, not that it’s my business, but you spent a day and night with her. You’re moving in together, and if we’re being pragmatic. You’ve got a nice income, enough to support both of you.”
Rika’s face spelled “nervous”.
“That sounds so serious...”
Kiko nodded.
“Because I am.”
Rika had considered all of Kiko’s points, but hearing them out loud made their relationship that much more real.
Rika nodded.
“This is real.”
Kiko nodded, serious as before.
“It’s real sweetie.”
Rika leaned back in her chair, staring at Kiko.
“I’m... I’m so happy right now.”
She shook off a chill, rubbing her arms.
“I can’t even describe it. Like, all my worries are gone...”
Kiko remained silent. She knew the feeling all too well. It was Rika’s time to learn how to feel.
“She loves me...”
Kiko smiled secretly, she hid it behind her hands.
“I... I don’t know when the wedding is, or when I’ll ask her. But, I know I will.”
She paused.
“I need to ask her parents first. And introduce her to mine.”
Kiko nodded.
“You two should set a date, take a week or two off.”
Rika put her face in her hands.
“Ahhhhhhhhhh.”
Kiko patted her on the back.
“Everything is fine.”
Rika still hid her face.
“It’s just. It’s all so soon. I wouldn’t have imagined this last week. Usually these things take months... Years!”
Kiko continued to gently pat Rika.
Rika still aired her fears.
“A whole friend phase, then dating, then talking about marriage. I’m skipping all the steps!”
Kiko gently spoke.
“I don’t know if it helps, but Takehide and I skipped all that too.”
Rika peaked from the corner of her hand.
“Really?”
Kiko nodded, a nostalgic look in her eyes.
“We already knew one another, and knew we loved each other. So, there wasn’t much to really figure out.”
She paused.
“Your relationship is what you two want it to be. Whether it’s a slow dance or a particle collider. Because, no matter what, big sis Kiko is here to cheer you both on.”
Rika sat up, taking her face away from her hands.
“You’re part of this.”
Kiko poked her nose.
“You know it.”
Rika sat back in her chair, connecting her fingers behind her head, and stretching out her arms.
“Though, with marriage and everything, it’s a little... different with us.”
Kiko leaned back in her own chair, looking thoughtful as she answered in completely sincerity.
“Never to me and Hide.”
Rika smiled.
“I know, other people though... I don’t think we can even get married here.”
Kiko’s bottom lip began to tremble.
“I didn’t even think... I’m so sorry.”
Kiko stood up from her chair and began leaving their corner of the office.
“Kiko?”
She answered tearfully in stride.
“I need to leave for a bit.”
She sped out of view, trying to hide her tears from the rest of the workers.
Rika stood up from her chair.
“Wait.”
Rika paused for a moment. She had known Kiko for years, she had told Kiko early on that she liked women. She had been completely supportive, it didn’t change anything about their friendship. In fact, Kiko had been her best friend the whole time. She had even been a matchmaker for them, it was outside of her realm of thought for it to be any different than her own marriage.
Rika began making her way in the direction Kiko had run off in.
She was nowhere to be found. The canteen was empty, as well as her usual break spot in the hall.
/The cafe./
They had more than once snuck out of the office for a coffee break, it was their go to spot when they needed air.
Rika took the elevator down and walked across the street.
At this hour the cafe was nearly empty.
The usual barista Kaede was cleaning behind the counter as she saw Rika walk through the doors.
Kaede smiled and nodded in the direction of their usual table.
Kiko sat staring at an empty extra large Frappe slowly eating the last of the whipped cream. She was deeply lost in thought unaware of Rika approaching the table.
“You only order those for the whipped cream don’t you?”
Kiko looked up at her, startled and clearly upset.
“I’m sorry.”
Rika hugged her as she began weeping.
Tears began falling down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. That was insensitive of me...”
She began sobbing in Rika’s arms.
“**** I don’t even... Know what to say.”
Rika consoled Kiko.
“You know me all these years and swear words are the English you pick up.”
Kiko’s shoulder began to shake as they trembled. She began to half-cry and half-laugh.
“Probably because you say them so often.”
Rika patted her back lightly.
“You don’t need to cry right now though.”
Kiko continued to cry.
“I’m making this about me. I know, I’m just so angry.”
She paused.
“At myself.”
“You did nothing wrong. I’m happy you accept us.”
Kiko began to cry harder.
“Accept you... Of course I accept, you and Yuki are yourselves. You two are like my sisters.”
“Well, we can’t both be your sisters.”
Kiko began laughing again.
“Stop being funny, how are you so calm right now.”
Rika paused.
“I’ve had a long time to accept things.”
Kiko cried even more.
“Why... I don’t even.. Accept people who can’t accept you...”
She paused to sniffle.
“I can’t accept that!”
Rika held Kiko tightly, she knew all too well the thoughts that went through her head. They brought back painful memories, cruel lessons she had learned long ago about the nature of people.
“Then don’t.”
Kiko stopped crying for a moment, her nose had begun to run. Rika pulled out a tissue and began cleaning her face.
“Don’t accept them, they’re not worth your tears.”
She wiped tears from Kiko’s cheeks.
“They’re not worth my tears, our tears. So please don’t cry.”
She kissed Kiko on her forehead.
“I didn’t phrase what I meant correctly, Thank you for being here, all the other stuff doesn’t matter because I have you. I love you, big sis.”
Kiko threw her arms around Rika, tears fell again.
“I love you too.”
Rika patted her head.
“I... I don’t think of you and Yuki as different. I don’t mean to...”
She growled in frustration.
Rika smiled as she and Kiko hugged.
“I know what you mean.”
“If anyone thinks about treating you different, I’ll punch them.”
Rika began giggling.
“How about you do something else for me instead?”
“Anything.”
Rika moved so she and Kiko were facing.
“I want you to marry us.”
Kiko’s lower lip began quivering again.
“Me?”
Tears began running as she smiled.
“I wouldn’t have anyone else do it.”
Kiko began sobbing again, as she nodded tears began dripping off her chin.
“You can’t cry while you lead the ceremony though.”
Kiko began laughing.
“I can’t make any promises.”
Rika felt tears well in her own eyes.
“You’ll do an amazing job I know it.”
Kiko kissed her on her forehead.
“Don’t cry, that’s my job. Just...”
Kiko poked Rika’s cheeks.
“You better propose to her soon.”
She nodded, wiping the last of the tears from her eyes.
“I will. But...”
She stood up and sat in the chair across from Kiko, her Frappe glass empty.
“We need to talk things over, meet the parents... We still have to actually move in together.”
She smiled.
“I had a dream yesterday about what the wedding would look like.”
Kiko clapped her hands together excitedly.
“Tell me.”
“I’ll go get two more coffees.”
Kaede walked up nervously with a tray, two larges of their usual drinks.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop or anything, but I figured I’d make these.”
Rika and Kiko smiled as she set the drinks in front of them.
She bowed, but stopped before leaving.
“Um. I’m very happy for you and Yuki. Good luck to both of you.”
Kaede turned red and bowed deeply.
“That was stupid, I’m sorry.”
She turned to rush away.
“Kaede.”
She froze, expecting a scolding.
“You’ve worked here as long as I can remember.”
Kaede turned her head to see Rika’s smile.
“Considering how much we stop by here, you’re practically part of the team.”
Kaede tried to wave away the sentiment. And laughed nervously.
“You think too highly of me, I’m just a barista.”
Kiko spoke up as well.
“With the amount of BS we’ve talked your ear off with? Please.”
Rika nodded in agreement.
“Anyways, thanks.”
Kaede nodded and bowed once again.
“Best wishes.”
She nodded towards the counter and customers walking in the door.
“Back to work, bye!”
They both waved as she walked away.
Kiko rested her chin on her finger tips again, curiosity written in her eyes.
“I would like to hear about this dream.”
Rika took a sip of her coffee, and put her finger tips together.
“The setting was a botanical garden.”
