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Rumi never wants to go to the bathhouse when Zoey and Mira propose it. Sure, it’s a bit strange, and maybe Mira should’ve looked more into it at the time, but the fact that it meant spending alone time with her crush had her playing along. Honestly, at the time she just thought Rumi knew how she felt about Zoey, and was being a saint by giving them opportunities to confess, or something. That’s just the person Rumi is after all, always thinking about other people first.
And, needless to say that, one day it worked.
—
Zoey and Mira had gone to the bathhouse alone a million times in the past and nothing too big had happened, so of course, Mira wasn’t expecting anything like that today. As they walked towards the building as it finally came into view, Zoey looked super enthusiastic. Mira just smirked at her.
“You still act like it’s the first time you come here,” she told her, her small smile still in place. Zoey’s own expression brightened further at Mira’s words, and she responded with a faint blush.
“It’s just so nice every time, it’s hard not to be happy…” She explained, avoiding Mira’s gaze for a moment. Her smile turned nervous, and Mira found herself looking away too.
“Yeah, well, it’s cute,” she thoughtlessly said, and when she realized the meaning of her words, she blushed slightly. She didn’t take it back though.
To be fair, it was true. Zoey was always so cute, mostly when she was enthusiastic or passionate about something. Mira could listen to her talking about her ideas for hours and not get tired at all. It was just nice seeing her so happy. And she was even more sure of it when she heard Zoey’s giggle.
“You flirt…” She quickly waved her hand in dismissal as she looked away again. Mira couldn’t exactly see if she was blushing, but she had a pretty good guess. She still didn’t know if it was because she liked her or just because she just got embarrassed easily, so she didn’t think too much about it.
Mira just opened the double doors of the bathhouse when she was close enough, and let Zoey enter first, which made her let out another nervous giggle. Mira chuckled this time too. She knew she had never been the one for manners, but she just wanted to be good to Zoey. She couldn’t help it.
“Wow, it’s empty!” Zoey instantly reacted when she saw the lack of people inside. Sure, they had been here a million times, but there was always another person or two around. Today, they would be completely alone.
“Yeah…” Mira couldn’t keep her surprised reaction in either, looking around to make sure they really didn’t have any company. Turns out, Zoey was right. It was entirely empty.
Mira had to concentrate on calming down. When she finally looked at Zoey, it turns out she was already looking at her, with what Mira would think was a pretty nervous look on her face. Did she… feel this way too?
Zoey giggled nervously, eyes open to the point where Mira thought she was worried about something. But then, the maknae spoke with a smile.
“We can finally talk loudly! No one will care!” She said, chuckling again, like this had been a dream of hers. Mira understood. Sometimes Zoey got so passionate talking about something she started outright yelling, which normally bothered the strangers here. Today, they wouldn’t have to worry about that. So, Mira smiled, trying to mirror Zoey’s excitement instead of letting her nerves show. Celine would be proud.
So they changed into the comfortable robes of the bathhouse, Mira feeling even more heat on her skin than normally, and got in the water.
As implicitly promised by the other times they had been here, Mira’s worries left her mind almost in their entirety when she felt the hot water surrounding her body. It always felt nice, mostly when Zoey was by her side. She had been to bathhouses years before with her mother, but it had never been the same. Things with her mother were always… complicated.
She shook her head, urging herself to think about more positive things while they were here. Zoey and her. Together. She looked at the maknae, whose eyes were closed as she hummed a whimsy tune to herself. Cute…
Eventually though, she must’ve noticed Mira’s eyes on her as she glanced her way too.
“Whatcha thinking about?” She asked Mira, who honestly didn’t expect the question. Honestly, every possible honest answer would be opening a can of worms she didn’t have the energy for right now. Her issues with her mother? Too much. Her thoughts about Zoey? She wouldn’t be able to handle rejection today. Mostly when this was supposed to be a fun day at the bathhouse.
So she made something up.
“That the water is just the right temperature,” she looked away nervously as she finally found her excuse. “You know when sometimes it’s a bit too cold, and you can’t really relax?”
She didn’t know if Zoey was convinced of her lie, but she still agreed loudly.
“Yeah! Man, I hate when that happens!” She exclaimed, before looking around apologetically. However she was once again reminded of their privacy, and she looked at the steamy water with a nervous smile.
“Hey, Mira…”
“Mh?” The visual looked her way, her attention fully on Zoey. It felt like she was either excited or worried about something. Sometimes, Mira couldn’t tell the difference between the two when it came to Zoey. But she didn’t have time to even try when the maknae spoke next.
“You don’t think I’m… too much… Do you?”
Definitely worried then. However, Mira was quick to react.
“Nope,” she looked at Zoey with a convinced look, not even a little hesitant. “Zoey, there are so many things I think about you, and ‘too much’ is not one of them. Promise”
The maknae looked at her, now with a different look in her eyes.
“... And what do you think about me?”
Well, Mira wasn’t expecting that.
Just what did she think about Zoey that she could tell her? Words instantly came to mind, but they were words like ‘cute’, and ‘pretty’, and ‘genius’. But she couldn’t possibly tell her those. They were definitely too much, and she didn’t want Zoey to start having suspicions about her true feelings. But she also didn’t want the silence to stretch enough that the maknae would start doubting the veracity of her reassurance. So she spoke.
“That, uhm, you’re… cute,” she almost ran away when saying it, but managed to stay in place, though looking much more red than she should be.
Zoey just giggled for a moment, as if Mira had said something funny, and then stayed silent. She had thought for a moment she was joking. But she wasn’t. And it was the look on Mira’s face that made her realize. So Zoey spoke again, her voice almost too quiet this time.
“... Really?”
And Mira obviously nodded, though unsure if she should continue this conversation or change the topic abruptly. She was still undecided when Zoey mumbled her next words.
“... I think you’re cute too…”
And if she wasn’t blushing before, she definitely was now.
There was silence, though less awkward and more nervous than anything. At one point, Mira built up the courage to venture one look at Zoey, and found her looking at the water, just as red as she was. Was this conversation having an effect on her too? And Mira wasn’t the hopeful type, but this time, she did hope it was true. She wanted Zoey to feel the same way, and for a moment, she thought that maybe she had a chance. So she took it.
“‘Cute’ in… what way?” She finally dared to say, making Zoey throw a surprised glance her way, before looking at the water again.
“Oh, you know, just–, cute in the–, uhm…” The maknae was whipping her head back and forth between the water and Mira as she spoke, searching for something not-to-forward to say. The visual could relate to that, but this time, she kept pushing.
“Well… I think you’re cute in the… pretty way,” she shifted a bit closer to Zoey, and the maknae looked at her as her eyebrows shot to her forehead. But Mira kept talking. She had to say what she thought. “Not just because you’re attractive, but you’ve also got a… great personality, and I love how excited you get about things, and that you talk loudly… I never had the courage to do that…”
However, Zoey reacted instantly.
“What are you talking about? You’re so brave! Sometimes… I can’t even believe how great you are, Mira,” she confessed, and she sounded sincere. So this time, the visual was the surprised one as Zoey hesitantly, nervously, shifted closer to her.
Their shoulders touched, and the maknae looked at her with a wobbly smile. Mira thought that maybe this was one of the moments where she felt like exploding. Zoey felt like that sometimes, when she got too excited. And for Mira to be the one to cause it… It meant more than anything.
Even then, it was Zoey’s next action that made Mira make a decision. She closed her eyes shut and kissed the visual’s cheek, no more than a tiny peck. But it was definitely enough to send Mira reeling. She didn’t even process what had happened until Zoey was looking away. She couldn’t have that.
So, building up her courage, she took her cheek in her hand and pulled her closer. So close, that their foreheads touched. Mira didn’t have to do much convincing before Zoey kissed her, just like she spoke. Enthusiastically.
It was desperate, as desperate as a kiss with years of pent-up affection behind it would be, and Mira loved every second of it. She knew Zoey’s was enjoying it too, because the way she smiled into it was so endearing it couldn’t mean anything else.
Zoey felt the same way.
And Mira was so shocked by the sudden realization that she had to break the kiss, looking at Zoey with stars in her eyes. The maknae wasn’t doing much better, looking her way with a nervous smile and hopeful eyes.
So Mira just kissed her again. Zoey’s lips were so soft, after all, like she was inviting her in. And when the kiss got deeper, Mira truly felt like she couldn’t get enough.
Zoey chuckled a truth between softer kisses, though.
“Crap, we’re gonna have to tell Rumi about this, aren’t we?” She giggled, and Mira couldn’t help but smile too.
“I don’t think she’ll be surprised…” She said, and Zoey nodded once, still chuckling to herself.
“Me neither,” she agreed.
—
When they got back to the group’s shared apartment, Rumi was waiting for them sitting on the couch.
“That definitely took a while,” she said, making Zoey chuckle under her breath. “Did you guys have a good time?” She asked as she got up to greet them.
“Yep!” Zoey nodded quickly, jumping in her place. Mira chuckled.
However, as Rumi tilted her head, an inquisitive smirk on her face, she was reminded they hadn’t told her anything yet, and Zoey giggled looking at her new girlfriend.
“Oh, so you’re gonna make me say it, uh?” Mira teased, before sighing as she shook her head, still smiling. “Zoey and me, we’re–”
“Dating?” Rumi held in her laughter successfully, but not her smile.
And Mira’s suspicions were confirmed that, yeah, she knew.
“Oh, come on, you could at least try to be a bit surprised about it!” Zoey laughed.
“What can I say? I’m just that perceptive,” Rumi smirked, as all three of them walked to the couch. This was definitely the best part of their apartment, and Zoey seemed to agree as she sat down, sighing dreamily. Mira and Rumi followed her actions, and that’s when the latter spoke again.
“I knew booking the whole bathhouse was a good idea…”
And they could only laugh louder at that.