Chapter Text
Hinomori Shiho had always thought that romance was a shallow social construct that she would never take part in willingly. It was too overwhelming. Too fickle. Love from a partner wasn't something Shiho longed for.
So why was she laying on her bed at 2AM, staring blankly at the ceiling, thinking about Ichika of all people?
Thoughts of Ichika's kind words, cute smile and soft-looking hands flooded her mind. Shiho wanted to hold them between her own while they watched a beautiful yellow and orange blazed sunset together.
But not in that way. Shiho just wanted to be closer friends with Ichika.
Yeah. Friends. That was all they were.
The thought slightly upset Shiho.
***
"Okay, I think that's enough for today. There's something wrong with my guitar, I think it needs tuning." Ichika announced in a quiet voice. She set her guitar down in its stand and wiped her sleeve on her forehead.
"It's okay, Icchan! Let’s carry on tomorrow. Great work, guys!" Saki chirped.
Saki and Honami set their instruments in their destined places and got ready to leave the Sekai. Ichika was staying behind. She had to tune her guitar. Shiho was.. what was she even doing?
"I'll go now. Text me later, Hona-chan?" Saki said, warmly smiling at Honami.
"O-okay! See you..!" Honami replied, a faint pink dusting her cheeks.
They both waved at Shiho and Ichika and left.
"Hey, do you think they're.. you know..." Ichika said suddenly, while she handled her guitar carefully.
"They're too obvious." Shiho said bluntly.
"Yeah I guess so. Shiho? Have you ever had a crush?" Ichika asked, tilting her head and looking at the gray-haired girl curiously.
".. No."
"Ah, okay. That's cool." Ichika said awkwardly, fiddling with her guitar which she had propped up on one of the tables, apparently trying and failing to tune it correctly.
There was no way the Hoshino Ichika had asked about Shiho's love life. There was no way she was curious about Shiho. Especially about her love life.
"What about you?" Shiho said quickly.
"Oh. No. Never. I'm too.. plain for that stuff." Ichika mumbled, a forlorn look set on her face.
Shiho's heart thundered in her chest. She clutched at her bass guitar case tightly. "I don't think you're plain."
"You don't mean that. Anyway, I won't hold you up for any longer. You can go home now, okay? See you tomorrow." Ichika smiled, although it didn't reach her eyes.
***
Rain pattered rhythmically on the windows as Shiho watched the scene outside through the window of her classroom. Dark clouds were foregrounded in the sky and puddles had formed in the yard, reflecting the dim light of the atmosphere.
Luckily it was break time so Shiho was allowed to think properly. She thought back to yesterday’s band practice. Something was definitely wrong with Ichika. She wanted to help the other girl, but wasn’t sure how to. Ichika had a way of bottling up her true emotions and hiding her sadness.
“Shiho-chan? Have you seen Icchan?” Saki said, suddenly appearing at Shiho’s side.
“I haven’t seen her today actually. Have you asked Honami?” Shiho replied.
“Oh.. It’s just that you’re always with her…” Saki remarked, a small smirk forming on her face.
“…I am not! If I see her around I’ll tell you. What do you even need her for anyway?” Shiho asked, she could feel her face slightly heat up.
“It’s a secret! You’ll see soon enough!” Saki declared, putting her index finger to her lips.
They were definitely planning something. Her birthday was coming up in a few days so Shiho already had an idea of what they were doing. Saki, Honami and Ichika were not good at keeping secrets at all.
But where was Ichika? If even Honami, who was in the same class as Ichika, didn’t know then where could she have gone?
Maybe something bad had happened? Yesterday’s practice was definitely kind of worrying.
“Hey, how many minutes of break do we have left?” Shiho inquired.
Saki looked at her wrist, where no time was shown whatsoever. “Time for you to get a watch. Just kidding! I think there’s 10 minutes left.”
Shiho rolled her eyes, said her goodbye to Saki and began her search for Ichika.
Shiho’s first thought was the rooftop but the rain was so heavy she doubted anyone could stand there without getting drenched. However she decided to give it a try anyway.
The steps leading up to the rooftop door were maybe a bit menacing but Shiho swallowed her fears. She had to be brave for Ichika.
Shiho turned the handle and collided right into Ichika.
“Ouch.”
“Shiho, what are you doing here?” Ichika asked, a hint of panic in her voice.
“I was looking for you. Saki said she couldn’t find you so I thought you might be here.” Shiho responded. “Um.. are you okay? I was worried.”
“...Yeah, I’m okay. I’m fine. It’s just..” Ichika hesitated. “Can I- can I have a hug?”
There was a brief silence before Shiho wrapped her arms around Ichika and pulled her into an embrace. Ichika leaned slightly into the hug with a quiet sigh of relief, her body softening against Shiho’s. Shiho slowly rubbed her hand against Ichika’s back, trying to comfort her. She wasn’t really good at this type of stuff. She hoped she wasn’t too stiff or awkward.
Shiho could feel her heart beating loudly in her chest and her palms were starting to sweat a little. She had hugged the taller girl plenty of times before so she didn’t know why today was so different. It was weird.. but also oddly calming? She liked the feeling.
“Your uniform is soaked, Ichika.”
“Sorry…” Ichika said quietly.
Shiho giggled. “Hey, it’s okay. Wanna talk about it?”
”Promise you won’t tell or look at me differently if I say it?” Ichika muttered, her grip slightly tightening on Shiho’s green hoodie.
“I promise. You can trust me with anything, you know.” Shiho said gently, fiddling with Ichika’s hair.
“Okay.” Ichika whispered. “I.. I like Honami, but I don’t think she likes me back.”
Oh.
***
Shiho sighed into her pillow. She couldn’t sleep. It was 3AM.
Ever since Ichika had confessed her feelings for Honami, Shiho couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. She wanted Ichika to like her.
Not in that way though. Yeah. It was just a platonic desire. Platonic. Definitely.
Shiho could feel a slight itch at the back of her throat. She reflexively brought her elbow to her mouth. She coughed dryly into the crook of her arm. She could feel something slimy come out of her mouth.
A petal. A petal had just come out of her mouth.
Shiho studied it, the petal was small and a brightly-hued yellow with a generous coating of saliva around it. Gross.
Maybe it had come from out of the window? No.. Shiho knew this was something different.
She had heard something like this before from Saki. Something called hanahaki? Shiho grabbed her phone and typed “Hanahaki” into the search engine.
Coughing up petals? Here’s what’s going on!
You most likely have Hanahaki, a disease in which a person bearing an unrequited love coughs up flower petals until they die or their feelings are reciprocated. The disease may be removed by surgery but this results in losing the feelings of love for that person. Better confess soon, children!
Shiho frowned. Unrequited love? She didn’t love anyone romantically. She tried to think of someone that made her feel particularly happy or excited. The only person that came to mind was Ichika.
As if on cue, she rattled away until a few stray petals escaped her lips.
Oh.
Oh.
Shiho was in love with Ichika.