Hey there! It took me a while to finally finish this fic due to personal reason but I finally got the motivation to do so and I hope you'll enjoy it.
She never expected that she would ever spend such a wonderful day in her entire life. The high rush of adrenaline, the sun on her skin, the soft breeze in her hair, all the sweets and thrilling games. Really, theme parks were amazing!
And it was even better in the company of the girl you loved.
Nio let out a powerful scream when the rollercoaster finally dropped and raised her arms. The feeling was so much exciting! She never thought she could have so much fun just sitting around in attractions all day long.
When the ride was over, Nio's heart was racing like crazy and she felt slightly dizzy. She felt so alive, overwhelmed by all the adrenaline. She was staggering a little, her head spinning. Then suddenly, the girl she loved gently took her hand.
"Feeling dizzy, Nio?" Haru asked.
"Yeah… I actually never went to a theme park before."
"Well then, I'm glad you got your first time with me!" Haru replied enthusiastically.
Nio couldn't help but blush. Ah Haru, how could she say something like that so innocently?
"I'm starting to be thirsty," Haru suddenly added.
"...Ah?"
"Yeah. It's hot today, I want to drink some juice!"
Nio was starting to wonder if Haru was doing that on purpose. But there she was, smiling so cheerfully and innocently.
"I… I'm thirsty too," Nio replied.
"Yeah, I bet you are!"
Okay, now Nio was really convinced Haru was doing that on purpose.
"Have you seen how many clothes you're wearing? Of course you'd be totally dehydrated by now!" Haru added.
Nio signed. Definitely, she was the one who had a dirty mind.
The sound of giant explosives was cracking through the dark sky. Fireworks were piercing through the sky, full of colours and amazing patterns.
Yet Nio couldn't stop contemplating something even more beautiful.
"Those fireworks sure are beautiful, right?" Haru said.
"Hm, yeah, really beautiful," Nio replied, still staring at Haru.
Sitting in the grass, they were both attending to the firework show, a special event organized by the theme park for the evening. Haru and Nio were snuggling, admiring the spectacles of lights.
Nio wished she could stay like that forever, close to Haru, feeling her warmth against her and the softness of her hand. Gosh, she wished she could just kiss her right now!
Unfortunately, all good things came to an end. The show was over. Nio and Haru remained on the grass for a little longer, as if they both didn't want this day to be over yet.
"We… we should go now," Nio finally said.
Haru didn't reply. She looked at Nio in the eyes, with such a warm and tender gaze. Instinctively, both of them close the distance between them, there face getting dangerously closer…
Then suddenly, Haru froze. Nio felt like she could see doubts in her lilac eyes, and even… sadness? Then all of a sudden, Haru rose up.
"You're right, we should go. It's late," Haru said almost mechanically.
For a moment, Nio didn't know what to say. She then stood up too, trying to put on her best smile.
"Yeah. Let's go!"
But in reality, Nio could only feel the growing doubt and torment in her heart.
She knew this situation couldn't continue forever.
It was almost midnight when Nio arrived home. The memory of this day felt ephemeral now. She wished she could go out with Haru again, but deep down, she felt like it might never happen again.
When she reached her floor she had the surprise to discover an unexpected visitor waiting at her door.
"... Tokaku-san? What are you doing there?"
Tokaku raised her head and greeted Nio with her most stoic expression.
"Hi, Hashiri. May I come in?"
"Uh… yeah, sure!"
Nio pulled out her keys and unlocked the door. They both removed their shoes when they stepped inside.
"Would you like something to drink?" Nio proposed.
"No, I'm fine. Thanks."
And they both stand there, silent. Awkward…
Then finally, Tokaku broke the uncomfortable silence.
"It can't continue like that."
Nio replied nothing at first, uncertain about what her coworker meant.
"Continue… what?"
"Putting Haru through all of this. Both of us, going on dates without actually dating while we all know she's tormented by her feelings for us. It has to stop. The more we wait, the more hurt Haru will be when she'll have to make a choice."
At first, Nio wanted to protest. She wanted to preserve the illusion, keep going on dates with Haru, pretending that the choice will never happen and they will keep going forever.
But deep down, she knew Tokaku was right. Haru wasn't happy. Haru loved them both and wanted to date them for real, and they were just pushing the inevitable.
"You… you're right. But, it's Haru's choice, not ours. So what are you suggesting? That one of us just step down?"
"That's not what I'm saying," Tokaku replied. "I've been thinking for a while for an alternative. I have one in mind but I kept pushing it away, but the more I think about it, the more it seems like a good solution. A way to all be happy- a way for Haru to not be hurt. And honestly, I'm fine with that."
"... What kind of miracle solution could that be?" Nio asked, doubtful yet also hopeful.
As a rare occurrence, Tokaku allowed herself to smile.
"The only solution fitting for a queen."
Haru was wondering what both Tokaku and Nio were doing together in her living room. She was just coming back from work and she had been wondering why both of them left earlier.
"Hey… did something happen?" Haru asked.
Both Tokaku and Nio remained silent for a moment, exchanging a brief glance before they sighed.
"Haru, it can't continue like that," Tokaku said.
"Continue… like that?" Haru asked, playing innocent.
"You know what I mean. We all know that you love both of us, you know that we both love you, and forcing you to choose is only hurting you."
"You… you're not forcing me! I have to make a choice, but… I know whatever choice I'll make, one of you will be hurt… and I'll be hurt too."
Even if she enjoyed her dates with both Tokaku and Nio, Haru couldn't ignore the turmoil in her heart. She loved them so much and yet, she could only be with one of them.
"That's the thing. Do you really have to choose?" Tokaku suddenly said.
Haru was taken by surprise. What was Tokaku suggesting?
"What… what do you mean by that?" Haru asked, confused.
"You love both of us, we both love you, and… I guess I tolerate Hashiri. So why fight it? Why can't we all be happy and see our love flourish?"
Slowly, Haru started to understand what Tokaku was insinuating.
"Tokaku… are you saying that… I should date you both?!"
"Yeah, I was shocked when she told me first, but hear her out," Nio said.
"Haru, I want you to be happy, but not at the expense of Hashiri. And I want to be happy too, but I know I won't if you're not happy too. The only solution is for all of us to be happy."
Haru didn't know what to see. She couldn't deny that part of her wished for this outcome. But at the same time, was it wrong to love two people? Was it bad to go out with more than one person?
"Tokaku… are you really sure… you're okay with that?" Haru asked.
"For weeks I had doubts, but I don't have anymore. When love is mutual, why resist it?"
"I still can't believe she said she tolerates me. Talk about progress!" Nio added.
Really, if both Tokaku and Nio were okay with that, then what was stopping her? Yet, even if it was what her heart truly desires, part of her still continued to hesitate.
"I… I don't know," Haru finally said. "I may need some time… to think about this."
"Of course. The choice is yours after all," Tokaku replied.
"But… I wouldn't mind a hug," Haru added.
Tokaku and Nio glanced at each other before they smiled.
"I don't see why we couldn't," Tokaku said.
"Me neither!" Nio exclaimed cheerfully.
Haru felt relief as she tightly hugged the girls she loved, thinking that maybe, it was okay to love more than one person.
Sunbathing on the beach, Yuri was enjoying a martini and the soft warmth of the sun when she suddenly got a notification on her phone. Curious, she opened it and saw that Nio had updated her status.
"In a relationship with Ichinose Haru," Yuri read after removing her sunglasses. "Good for her."
Then she checked Haru's profile.
"In a relationship with Hashiri Nio and Azuma Tokaku. Huh. Interesting."
She then put away her phone and took a sip of her martini while enjoying the sight of schoolgirls on the beach.
"Two partners huh… I knew you were meant to be a queen, Haru-chan."
She finished up her drink and put back on her sunglasses.
"I'll miss you, my old Nio. May you be happy with your new queen."
Nio woke up with a jolt. Why did she have a bad feeling all of a sudden? Was someone thinking about her?
"Nio? Is everything alright?"
Haru was laying next to her in bed. Tokaku was still sleeping, on the other side of Haru. Nio smiled when she saw her girlfriend.
"Everything is fine now," Nio replied softly.
Haru smiled back and, the two lovers shared a tender morning kiss.
Unexpected polyamorous ending! I wish we see that more whenever we're stuck with a love triangle.
Anyway, this fic was originally a gift to my gf (now ex-gf) so this is the reason why finishing this fic was hard for me, but I really don't like leaving stuff unfinished, especially since there was only one chapter left. So I hope you liked it and seeya next time!
