You take a deep breath, gather your courage in your hands and squeeze them tight, and knock on the door. One, two, three solid hits against the aging wood, and then you step back to wait. You're jittery with nerves, shifting from foot to foot and trying not to count down the seconds. You know they're in here, you saw her enter- your thoughts are tumbling around in your head, words swimming and images flashing by quicker than you can process, your eyes fixed on the door as if it's the only thing grounding you in this maelstrom.

Nozomi opens the door, surprise blooming into a smile. She waves you in, offering greetings and cheerful teasing; you nod at Eli sitting at the table with a mug in her hand you know now to be her favorite. (You wonder if at the end of the day there will be a pink mug sitting next to the blue and purple ones in the cabinet. Until then you make do with the plain white one Nozomi gives you, hands curling tight around it.)

You're sitting on different sides of the table, all of you, and yet despite the evenly placed chairs they seem closer, auras entwined and comfort flowing between them. You feel left out even though they're both looking at you.

"What's up, Nicocchi?"

"Everything alright?"

Are they playing games? You're looking all over the room, at anything but them, and you know they're astute enough to notice. Your leg is shaking; you press down with your fingernails, stilling the motion, only for the other to start instead. It's a losing battle. You take a sip of hot tea instead, the burning sensation rushing down your throat along with the taste of sweet sugar. Four heaping spoonfuls, just how you like it. You never mentioned it, never commented on the tea Nozomi handed you on the days you took up residence in her small apartment, but somehow she had figured it out anyways.

She always did.

They must be anxious too, you realize suddenly. Eli is chewing her lip, Nozomi's playing with her cup, and you know they truly meant their words. Not that you doubted them, of course. Well, maybe you did, or maybe you doubted yourself more. Would you be good enough for them? Could you fit smoothly between them without breaking them apart?

They had said yes.

So you did too.

"I want to date both of you," you say, and the words are easier than you had imagined. You feel strangely calm. Nozomi smiles wider than you have ever seen. Eli's whole face lights up, her eyes glowing. The endless wonders of the future hit you, from glimpses of hand holding in the sunshine and blankets under the stars to rose colored pictures of breakfast in the morning and ice cream in the summer heat. From the moment they had asked you to join them you had known your answer would be yes, for how could you turn down the two most wonderful people in your life?

"Welcome home," Eli says, and Nozomi slides you a key. It's pink on top and it's no mug, not yet, but it's yours. You clutch the key, feeling the cool metal against your hot skin. You'll never let it go.

"I'm home."