Shinrabansho: Myriad Souls

We finished the last of the cookies slowly, crumbs dusting the plate between us. I licked my thumb and glanced up at Aoi-chan, still seated in her lap, suddenly aware of how late it was.

“Um… do you want to brush your teeth?” I asked.

Then, before she could answer, I added brightly, “Don’t forget that you are sleeping with me tonight!” and gave her a little wink, my cheeks already warming.

Aoi blinked, then nodded, completely serious.

“Yes, my princess.”

My heart did a crazy little flip.

We padded quietly to the bathroom together, our bare feet careful against the floor. I handed her my toothbrush, only realizing what I was doing after she took it.

Oh.

I watched her hesitate for just a second before smiling faintly and using it with some toothpaste anyway. My face felt like it was on fire.

“It’s… kind of an indirect kiss,” I muttered, staring very hard at the sink.

Aoi’s shoulders shook. “You think about the cutest things.”

“I can’t help it,” I said softly. “You’re the one who makes everything feel like that.”

She met my eyes in the mirror, her expression warm and unguarded again, and for a moment the tightness in my chest completely eased.

We brushed quickly, quietly, sharing small smiles and glances like we were keeping a secret together.

Back in my room, the lights were low and my bed looked impossibly inviting. We naturally slipped under the covers and curled up against each other, like we’d already been doing it for a while.

As I settled against her, a thought popped into my head.

“Did you bring your school uniform with you, Aoi-chan?”

She shook her head, smiling bashfully. “No…”

I hummed. “I’d suggest going to your place instead, but I think my parents would be more upset finding me gone than finding you here.” I shifted closer. “So we’ll just have to sleep and… only mess around a little.”

Her breath caught, and I felt her laugh quietly against my hair.

I blushed and snuggled closer anyway. “I wouldn’t mind a quick goodnight kiss,” I admitted, pouting a little. “I just hope my heart doesn’t beat so loudly that I can’t sleep.”

“As you wish, my princess,” Aoi murmured.

She kissed me, slow, warm, unhurried, and I melted into it, wrapping myself around her.

I feel almost like the night we went on our date. I wouldn’t mind if it did go further, but I can’t be too selfish.

After our kiss ended, I resumed curling up against her. Her arms were firm and protective around me, and I let myself relax completely.

We fell asleep like that, sharing warmth, breathing in sync, feeling safe, being together, and finally at peace.

Some time later, Aoi-chan woke me.

I yawned and mumbled, snuggling closer against her. “Just a little longer…” I muttered.

“No can do, princess. Wake up. We need to get to my place before your parents wake up,” Aoi-chan said, shaking me gently.

I groaned, rubbing my eyes and mumbling complete gibberish as I climbed out of bed. When I finally looked at her properly, my heart skipped a beat.

It wasn’t just a dream…

“I’ll hurry!” I said, rushing to my uniform. I stripped without really thinking about it, too sleepy, too focused on dressing, until I felt her eyes on me.

I froze for half a second, flushing hard, then wiggled a little flirtatiously as I changed my underwear and pulled on my uniform. She didn’t just watch, though. She changed quickly out of the loaned pajamas, and soon she was dressed just like she had been when I saw her clinging to the side of my house outside my window.

I thought about telling my parents about us and felt a little anxious despite how courageously I’d spoken last night.

“Maybe we should climb out the window,” I suggested quietly, giggling.

“Do you think you’d feel safe doing that?” Aoi-chan asked.

“I’ve never tried it before… but…” I sighed, shaking my head.

“But what?” she prompted.

I was just trying to back out. I knew that I had to be honest.

“Maybe it’s better to tell my parents, after all,” I said, my face heating up. “I promised myself and you that I would. About being in love with you… a girl… no matter how they react.”

“That might be the best way,” Aoi-chan said carefully. “But we can’t take too long if they catch us.”

“Yeah…” I nodded, suddenly serious. “They probably won’t keep us long. School is more important right now.” I hesitated, then added softly, “…they might send you home and keep me here… but that’s okay. I could still meet you at the gate if that happens…”

I swallowed. “…I wonder if everything will be the same as before. But I also wonder about us…”

Aoi-chan looked sad for a moment, then nodded with a small smile. “I can see why you’d ask. The way I was acting… nothing feels certain.”

Her sad expression bit into my heart. I hurried to reassure her, “I wasn’t sure if it was selfish to assume that everything—”

“Some things will probably be different,” she interrupted gently. “But I hope most of them will be better.” Her expression perked up just a little. “That said, I’m as serious about your training as ever, meaning VERY. Starting today, we’re stepping it up. I want you sparring with me on equal terms as soon as possible.”

“I’m not sure how likely that is,” I admitted. “I’m still so far behind you.”

“True,” she said easily. “But you’re growing fast. I watched you take down those crooked senpai, and I couldn’t be prouder of you. You didn’t hesitate once.”

I blushed. “Yeah, but I did get hit once.”

“That was inexperience. You took the hit well, minimizing the damage, and you didn’t stop moving,” Aoi-chan replied calmly. “With more sparring, your situational awareness will improve. Things like that will get rarer, unless you’re fighting someone genuinely better than you. Multiple opponents are always riskier.”

“Really?”

“It’s too bad we can’t train you against several of me at once,” she said with a smirk.

I gasped and blushed instantly.

More than one Aoi-chan…

I felt a little dizzy imagining three or four of her doing things to me.

DOKI-DOKI

She laughed softly when she saw my face. “You’re having naughty thoughts, aren’t you?”

“No!” I protested, turning even redder.

Heading downstairs, I realized my parents were already up.

The kitchen lights were already on. My mom stood by the counter with a mug in her hands, steam curling up toward her face. My dad leaned against the far counter, half-turned as if he’d just finished saying something to her. When they noticed us entering the kitchen, they both froze and then looked at each other.

I blushed immediately.

My feet slowed and stopped. I fidgeted with my skirt as I approached them, my heart pounding loudly enough that I was sure they could hear it.

“Um... sorry,” I said. “I know this is a little out of nowhere, but—”

“I snuck into her room last night and took your daughter hostage. Sorry,” Aoi said.

I gasped and whipped my head toward her. “What?”

My parents blinked in unison.

“Hostage?” my mom said. “What?”

“Baka! You’re making yourself sound like a criminal!” I pouted, tugging Aoi-chan by the hand.

My dad squinted at her, trying to place her. “What’s going on? Isn’t this the girl you used to go to school with every morning?”

“Yes.” I squeezed Aoi-chan’s hand before she could say anything else, my face burning so hot I thought I might actually melt through the floor. “She’s Kurobane Aoi... my lover.”

The room went very, very quiet.

Mom turned a little pink and looked at Dad. He looked like he wanted to be mad. Even the water heater on the counter seemed to stop for a moment.

Koibito. I had used the word directly and intentionally. My lover. There was no room for confusion.

I could feel my heart trying to escape through my ribs. My shoulders wanted to hunch. I kind of wanted to hide, but I forced myself to keep my back straight. I didn’t step behind Aoi-chan and didn’t let go of her hand.

I promised myself I wouldn’t chicken out, no matter how this went.

Not now that I’ve come this far.

My mom recovered first. She moved to the table and set her mug down carefully, the porcelain clicking softly against the wood. Her eyes moved between the two of us.

“Sumire... you’re serious about her?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

My dad cleared his throat and shifted his weight. “Since when?”

I swallowed. “Since... a while ago.” I glanced at Aoi-chan, then back at them. “We didn’t plan it like this. I didn’t mean for you to find out so suddenly.”

Aoi shifted beside me, stiff as a board. I could feel how tense she was through our joined hands, her grip controlled but tight.

“She climbed up to my window last night,” I added quickly, the words tumbling out. “We’re leaving early because she doesn’t have her uniform with her. And we didn’t want to make things worse by sneaking out the window, so... I thought it was better to tell you if you were up.”

There was another pause.

My mom sighed. Her expression wasn’t angry, not even upset. She just looked tired and thoughtful.

“Did you really climb up to the second floor, Kurobane-san?” She used Aoi’s last name and -san to avoid being too pushy right away. “There isn’t anything to climb up under her window.” She gazed at Aoi. “You must be a very strong climber.” Then she looked at me sternly. “You should have given us a little warning.”

“I know,” I said immediately. “I’m sorry.”

“What about those other girls that slept in your room around three weeks ago?” Mom asked.

“I’m not involved with them like this... they’re just good friends.” I blushed at the thought of them wondering whether I might get involved with multiple people at once.

Wouldn’t you? ... No... I wouldn’t.

“Really?” my mom asked. “Well, the curry you made that day was very good. It was a pleasant surprise to come home to.”

My dad pushed himself off the counter, still looking at Aoi-chan, really studying her now.

“Is this true?”

“Yes, sir,” Aoi answered, bowing reflexively. “I’m honored that Sumire-chan is doing this and that you knew about me. I’m sorry for causing so much trouble.”

“What was with the ‘hostage’ comment?” Dad asked dryly.

Aoi stiffened. “Just a bad joke,” she said flatly. “I won’t do anything like that again.”

Again? You didn’t do it the first time either!

I felt a tiny spark of relief loosen the tension in my chest.

My mom rubbed her temple. “I see.”

“It was worrying, but amusing,” Dad said, his lips twisting as he laughed lightly.

Silence stretched after he stopped, thick and uncomfortable. My stomach twisted.

Then my dad sighed and leaned back against the counter.

“You two always rode her bike to school together,” he said slowly. “We figured you were close.”

My mom nodded. “We also figured something was wrong these past few weeks, Sumire.” She looked right at me.

I blinked. “You... did?”

“You stopped eating properly,” she said gently, putting a hand on my cheek. “You’ve been too distracted too... and you cry louder than you think.”

My throat tightened.

“Why didn’t you tell us what happened? I’m actually very confused,” Mom said, looking at both of us.

“I didn’t want to worry you,” I whispered.

She smiled at me, soft but serious.

“That’s exactly why you should, whether you want to or not. You should let us know when you’re hurt. Don’t just suffer on your own. We didn’t ask because we trusted you to deal with it... I suppose this means that you did.” She tilted her head.

I squeezed Aoi-chan’s hand again, drawing strength from her warmth.

“We had some problems the last few weeks, but it’s better now. I know that I truly love her,” I said. “It’s really inconvenient... and strange. And probably scary. But I’m not confused or unsure. I’m not being pressured in any way. If anything, it’s my fault.”

My dad studied my face for a long moment. Then he nodded once.

“You look more certain of this than anything else for a while.”

I blinked back tears.

My mom glanced at Aoi-chan. “And how do you feel? Do you feel pressured into this?”

Aoi straightened, her shoulders squared.

“I care about Sumire more than anything,” she said simply. “I will protect her for my whole life and beyond. I will respect her. And I won’t disappear without an explanation again.”

I gasped, my cheeks pinkening. That was almost like a proposal. My eyes widened.

That last part landed heavily in the room.

My mom exhaled. “Good. You had better take good care of our daughter then.”

She looked back at me. “You’re going to school today, just so we’re clear.”

“Yes,” I said quickly.

“And you’re stopping to eat some breakfast,” she added. “You skipped dinner last night. Don’t worry us so much, Sumire.”

“Yes.” I blushed.

“And,” my dad said, “we’re not having this conversation properly while everyone’s half-awake, so there’s more to talk about later.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

My mom moved to prepare tea, getting two more cups from the cabinet with the same routine motions that started the day for all of us.

“Kurobane-san, please stay as well.”

Aoi blinked. “...Thank you.”

“Before and while eating,” my mom continued, “we’ll talk together. Calmly like adults.”

I swallowed, then nodded. “Okay.”

I leaned slightly toward Aoi-chan, our shoulders brushing.

It wasn’t perfect.

It wasn’t easy.

But I hadn’t run away from telling them the truth.

My legs were still shaking, though, even with the worst of it out of the way. Now that the words were out, all the tension I’d been holding together with sheer stubbornness started to leak out of me in little tremors. Aoi-chan noticed immediately. She adjusted her grip on my hand just enough to reassure me without making a show of it.

Noticing my knees knocking against each other, Mom said, “Sit. Both of you relax. It will be ready soon.”

She carried our two cups to the table ahead of time and placed them in front of Haru’s chair and mine.

We obeyed and warmed our hands on our cups while Mom carried Dad’s mug to the table, set it where he usually sat, and returned to the counter to prepare a light breakfast for us. She took thick slices of milk bread from our favorite bakery and popped them into the toaster oven. Then she got eggs from the refrigerator and warmed a frying pan.

Aoi-chan sat straighter than usual in Haru’s chair, her hands folded on her knees. I scooted my chair closer to Haru’s than I normally would have, my leg brushing against hers under the table.

It wasn’t long before the kitchen filled with the scents of tea, browned milk bread and cooking eggs.

My dad pulled out his chair across from Aoi and sat down, studying the steam rising from his mug. “You know,” he said slowly, “we were very much aware of how much time you spend together, but we didn’t think it was this serious. We worried about you.”

“I know,” I said quietly. “I didn’t expect it either.”

My mom set plates of toast on the table, then eggs, moving with her usual grace. She didn’t look at us while she spoke.

“Loving someone doesn’t excuse sneaking around or scaring your parents half to death for weeks on end.”

“I know,” I said again, softer. “I’m sorry.”

Aoi inhaled sharply. “This is all my fault,” she said. “I shouldn’t have climbed in through the window last night.”

I glanced at her and stuck my tongue out lightly. “I told you it was okay!” I looked back at my parents. “It was my choice. It surprised me too when she showed up outside my window and I was kind of scared, but I couldn’t leave her outside like that. After she was inside, we made up.”

My mom finally looked up. “You already mentioned that you had problems. Why did you break up?” she asked.

“It’s a personal matter if that’s okay,” Aoi said first. “It was my fault. I made a mistake and begged Sumire-chan for her forgiveness. There wasn’t anything else I could do that late... she might have ignored a text. I couldn’t let things keep going as they were, or so I thought.”

Mom nodded and turned back to me. “Sumire, how are you feeling today?”

The question landed heavier than anything else she’d said.

I didn’t hesitate. “Better than ever.”

“Both physically,” she clarified. “And emotionally.”

I swallowed. I could feel Aoi-chan tense beside me, like she was bracing for impact.

“I was deeply hurt the last three weeks and didn’t eat well. I was really irresponsible,” I admitted. “And really confused. But... I’m okay now. I feel stronger than before.” I met her eyes. “I’m sure that I’ll eat well from now on.”

My dad nodded slowly. “Yeah… That look in your eyes whenever you smiled at us is gone.”

I blinked. “You noticed that?”

“Yeah,” he said, twisting his lips. “We’re not blind or deaf.”

“It’ll get cold. Let’s eat,” she said gently. “We’ll talk a little more after.”

“Not too much, I hope. We have to go to Aoi-chan’s apartment to pick up her seifuku before going to school.” I reminded them.

I picked up my chopsticks with slightly clumsy fingers and took a bite. The food tasted better than usual. I let myself eat faster than usual, finally able to relax a little.

Aoi-chan hesitated, then followed suit.

“Thank you,” Aoi said again, quieter this time.

My mom gave a small nod. “You’re welcome.”

For a few minutes, we just ate together. The tension didn’t vanish, but it had softened. I found myself breathing more easily with every bite.

I leaned closer to Aoi-chan again, my shoulder resting lightly against hers.