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Kohane hardly got any sleep. She constantly tried, begging herself to go to sleep because she knew if she didn’t, she was going to be exhausted throughout the day, but her anxiety about the upcoming day left her restless. Today was the day An was coming to her house for dinner. This was the day she would officially introduce An to her parents. This was the day…
…that she was going to tell her parents about her and An’s relationship.
Kohane knew her parents were kind people, but it had taken some convincing just for her to be able to be a part of and perform at events with Vivid BAD SQUAD. How would they react if she announced her singing partner as her girlfriend? Hell, how would they feel about her even being in a relationship, let alone with another GIRL? Having overprotective parents really made this a lot more difficult for Kohane.
Throughout the night, she was texting An about her thoughts. She was so in her head and overthinking every possible outcome and assuming the worst; how she didn’t want her parents to not approve of her and their relationship; how she wanted nothing more than for her and An to be together, and how she did not want to live in a world without her in it. She felt terrible for texting her so late at night/early in the morning and assumed she was asleep, but the *DING* sound from her phone ten minutes later told her otherwise.
—
An-chan🎧🩵
it’s okay kohane. i get it. i completely understand and u have every right to feel the way u do. i know how terrifying coming out can be. but remember, i’ll be right by ur side. if ur scared, i’ll be right next to u to comfort u. if u need to let out ur emotions, i’ll let u and i’ll support u. if they upset u, i won’t hesitate to defend u. if they ask me questions, i’ll answer kindly and honestly. it’s scary when it’s unpredictable how someone will react to something like this, but i’ll be right next to u. i will do everything in my willpower to make sure that u are happy in the end because i love u so much. u are the most precious thing to happen to me and there is no one else like u. u are a sweet, smart, talented, extraordinary young lady. i wish for nothing more than ur happiness because that’s what u deserve
—
*DING*
—
An-chan🎧🩵
call or text me at any time if u need ANYTHING!! can’t wait to see u soon. i love u kohane and i’ll be there for u and with u through the whole thing🩵
—
*DING*
—
An-chan🎧🩵
also i’m awake because i figured u’d be anxious about later, so i took a FAAAT power nap right after dinner and wanted to be awake throughout the night in case u couldn’t sleep
—
“Hehe,” Kohane giggled as she read through the messages. “What an angel.” An had always been such a kind-hearted soul to everyone, but Kohane wasn’t stupid. She knew An had a huge soft spot for her. She was relieved to know that she hadn’t bothered An, and that An was even prepared for Kohane to message her.
An’s effortless kindness would surely make her incredibly likable to Kohane’s parents, but it was mainly how they might feel about her being her girlfriend that worried Kohane the most.
……
“Kohane dear, could you please pass me the onions?” Kohane’s mom asked as they prepared dinner.
“Hai,” Kohane nodded as she grabbed the onions from the refrigerator and passed them to her mother.
“So, Shiraishi. You said she has long black and blue hair with star clips scattered throughout, and she dresses in street-style clothing. What’s her personality like? Just so I can get an idea of how she is with others.”
The question caught Kohane off guard, but she smiled as she replied.
“She may look intimidating at first glance, but the moment you talk to her and get to know her, she’s a big sweetheart. She’s really passionate and enthusiastic, and she cares a lot about people. She loves the elderly and kids too. I think you’re really going to like her.”
“Well then, she sounds like a lovely person. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Hehe, yeah…” Kohane’s smile soon faded as her thoughts began to overwhelm her again. She was happy to know her parents would enjoy getting to know An, but the moment she tells them…
*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*
“Looks like she’s here!” Kohane’s dad exclaimed from the living room couch.
Kohane immediately went to the door. She knew that once she opened it, things would change soon, but she needed An beside her.
The moment she opened the door, the two immediately wrapped each other in a hug. Kohane felt like she was about to cry, but the feeling of An’s arms secure around her back felt so right.
“How are you doing?” An whispered into Kohane’s ear.
“I’m so, so scared… but I’m so glad you’re here,” Kohane said. Her voice was small and muffled as she buried her face into An’s shirt. They could’ve stayed like that forever, but they eventually had to pull apart. An had parents to meet, and they had dinner to eat.
An’s outfit included a pair of black flared jeans and a red oversized band tee. She wore silver hoop earrings and a couple of smaller silver necklaces to accompany her silver star necklace. Kohane had her hair in her signature pigtails and wore a denim skirt (that Akito thought looked great on her) with a white undershirt and a pink cardigan.
Kohane took An’s hand and guided her inside. The moment An stepped fully in, the voices of excited parents followed.
“Heyy, you must be Shiraishi! So nice to finally meet you!” Kohane’s dad announced.
“Hehe. It’s so great to finally meet you too! But don’t worry about formalities. You both can just call me An if you don’t mind. I’m perfectly fine with whatever you want!” An exclaimed happily.
“Okay, An-chan. Make yourself comfortable. Would you like a drink or anything?” Kohane’s mom asked.
“I’m okay for now. Thank you so much,” An replied.
“Mama, can An-chan come up to my room with me?” Kohane asked sheepishly.
“Okay, but don’t spend too much time in there. Dinner will be ready soon,” her mom warned.
Kohane nodded and guided An to her room.
……
They barely made it inside before Kohane’s anxiety attack hit full force. An took Kohane’s shaking body and sat her down on the bed.
“Hey, look at me. Kohane, look at me,” An whispered as she squatted in front of her, hands resting just above Kohane’s knees. Kohane turned her head to look down at An. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to breathe. “I’ll be back with water, okay? I’m here, baby.”
Kohane nodded frantically, then folded forward, hiding her face in her hands and legs. She continued to sob and hyperventilate as if the air had run out of oxygen. An rubbed her hand over the top of Kohane’s head and gave it a quick kiss before leaving the room.
……
“Hey, Mrs. Azusawa?”
“Yes, An-chan?”
“Do you have any water bottles?”
“Yes, we have a whole drawer in the refrigerator full of water bottles. I’ll grab one for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Here you go. Tell Kohane that dinner will be ready in 15 minutes.” Kohane’s mom added as she handed An the bottle.
“Got it. Thank you again Mrs. Azusawa!”
“You’re very welcome, An-chan.”
……
“Feel a bit calmer now?” An asked softly, noticing Kohane’s attack had lightened up.
“Maybe a little,” Kohane said. Her voice was quiet and trembling with every word. “I’m just…” Her voice cracked. “I’m just terrified.”
An sat next to her and brought a hand up to run circles on her back. “I know. It is a terrifying thing, but I’m here and I’ll be here through the whole thing. Do you need anything?”
Kohane looked down. Her body continued to shake as she shut her eyes. No answer.
“Do you need a hug?” An asked suddenly.
Kohane hesitated, then nodded a couple of times as she felt herself start to cry again. An immediately stood, grabbed Kohane’s hands to help her up, and the two wrapped each other in a tight embrace. An brought one hand to Kohane’s head and massaged it slowly as Kohane wept into her shirt. After a few seconds, An buried her face in the crook of Kohane’s neck.
Kohane needed it most, but An couldn’t deny that she did too. She didn’t show it, but deep down, she was scared. She was scared of not being accepted by Kohane’s family. She was afraid of the 50/50 chance of Kohane being pulled away from her.
An remembered the moment she came out to her own family. It was scary, but a part of her knew her parents would accept her regardless. She knew them well enough to believe they would love her no matter what.
Unfortunately, this didn’t seem as easy with Kohane’s parents. They seemed like caring people, but they were cautious too. An knew they wouldn’t scream or say hateful things, but it was still possible they wouldn’t like the idea of Kohane being the way she is.
……
“Dinner’s ready!” Kohane’s mom called.
The two lovers pulled away and looked at each other. Swiftly, An pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Kohane to wipe her tears and clear her nose.
Before leaving the room, An placed her forehead against Kohane’s and spoke softly. “You don’t need to rush. You can do this. With me here, I’ll do everything I can to make sure you’re happy in the end.”
Kohane thanked her quietly. An gently caressed her face before connecting their lips for a brief moment. An guided Kohane to take a deep breath, and the two exited the room.
……
“This is really good, Mrs. Azusawa!” An exclaimed in amusement.
“So glad you like it! I was going to add tomatoes to the curry, but someone made it veeeery clear not to,” Kohane’s mom replied, sneaking a glance at Kohane. Her expression changed when she noticed Kohane didn’t look like her usual self.
“Kohane?” she asked, concerned. “Are you okay?”
Kohane looked up in alarm. Everyone was staring at her now; her mom, her dad, and An.
She wanted to speak, wanted to laugh it off and say she was fine, but she knew it was too late. Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to talk, but only broken sounds came out. Her chest tightened. Her head spun. They all knew something was wrong.
Fear took over to the point where it was obvious she had to say something.
An, like Kohane’s personal mind reader, subtly reached for her arm and lowered it until their fingers intertwined. Kohane looked at An. Concern filled her expression, but there was also that soft, loving look.
“It’s okay, Kohane. Just breathe, okay?” An said gently, guiding her through slow breaths.
She leaned toward Kohane’s ear. “I can hold your hand while you do it, if you want,” she whispered.
Kohane’s eyes widened, but she nodded almost immediately. She looked back at her parents, then closed her eyes and took another breath.
She pushed her chair back and stood, pulling An up with her since their hands were still locked. Kohane didn’t open her eyes. There was no turning back now.
“Mama…Dad…I guess now is the time to tell you something,” she said, voice trembling.
“I…” Her voice broke, forcing her to take another shaky breath. An wrapped her free hand around Kohane’s arm; a quiet reminder that she wasn’t alone.
“An-chan isn’t just a friend or a singing partner to me. She…she’s done so much for me. She cares for me like no one else ever has. She’s always been there when I struggle.” Kohane swallowed hard. “And because of that…she’s become someone I want to devote my life to.”
She took one last breath.
“I love her. Not as a friend. Not even as a best friend. I love her as someone I want to spend my life with. I’m in love with her.” Her voice shook. “So……Mama…Dad……meet my girlfriend, An Shiraishi.”
An’s heart nearly burst as she tightened her grip on Kohane’s arm.
“Hello,” An said confidently. “My name is Shiraishi An, and yes, it’s true. I’m Kohane’s girlfriend.”
Kohane still didn’t look up. Her parents were silent, mouths slightly open.
…
“I’ve always wondered when the day would come that Kohane would introduce someone special to us,” her dad finally said. “Didn’t expect it to be a girl, though.”
Kohane’s heart pounded.
“Kohane, I’m proud of you for telling us,” her mom added. “But like your dad said…who knew?”
Kohane finally asked, voice barely above a whisper, “Are you…okay with it? With me being with another girl?”
Silence followed. It was brief, but heavy.
“It’ll take some getting used to,” her dad admitted. “But I suppose love doesn’t need strict rules.” He paused, and smirked. “Plus, we don’t have to worry about teen pregnancy.”
“DAD!!” Kohane shouted, mortified, collapsing back into her chair.
An burst into laughter. “HAHAHA! GOOD ONE, MR. AZUSAWA!”
“Well, he’s not wrong,” her mom added. “But more importantly, does being with An make you happy?”
Kohane looked up, eyes shining. “Yeah…it really does.” She spoke quietly but confidently, and her parents listened. “She makes me feel so happy and allows me to be myself. She’s someone who is helping me learn more about myself and helping me grow as a person, not just as a singer. Her kindness and selflessness is also something I admire about her. She really is such a cool person with a big heart. I love her for who she is and I know she feels the same way about me. So yeah, being with An feels so right to me and makes me feel like I belong in this world beside her.”
An’s heart melted as Kohane spoke, and her parents exchanged smiles.
“Alright!” her mom said. “After dinner, we will converse with An. I’m still a bit in shock and will be for a while about everything, but if you’re happy, I’m happy.”
A wave of relief filled Kohane. She still felt a little anxious, but she feels a lot lighter than before. She felt a hand on her shoulder. A familiar, comfortable feeling. She looked at An again, who was looking at her with so much pride. Was that tears forming in her eyes?
“You did it, Kohane,” An spoke quietly. “You did it.”
“I did, didn’t I?” Kohane breathed out. They both knew they were being watched, but they didn’t care.
An leaned forward and placed a sweet peck against Kohane’s cheek before both of them continued to eat their dinner.
As they ate, Kohane’s parents asked An about her parents, where she goes to school, her hobbies, and asked the both of them how they first met. Kohane noted that if her mom never sent her to get that CD, they probably would have never met, so part of that was all thanks to her.
……
“Will you be there for our daughter if she is in serious danger?”
“Absolutely!”
“You have no intentions of putting our daughter in danger, right?”
“Not a single one. My biggest obligation with her is to make sure she’s safe.”
“You do not intend to take advantage of our daughter or intentionally do anything to her without her consent?”
“Never. I do not want to make her feel like she can’t have control of herself and her wants.”
“So tell me, how did you fall for our daughter?”
The conversation lasted for what felt like an entire day, but An answered every question with honesty and confidence.
“I like you. I like you a lot. Welcome to the family, An-chan!” exclaimed Kohane’s dad. An beamed hearing those words. “Kohane! You can come in here now!”
Kohane approached the living room to see an ecstatic An Shiraishi and happy parents. The sight thrilled her.
“We’d love to have An over whenever she wants, and we’d love for you to go to her place whenever you want to as well!” exclaimed her mom. “Just remember to not let this get in the way of your studies. And if you guys go in Kohane’s room, leave the door open and no. funny. business in the house. Understand?” she warned.
“Loud and clear, Mama.” Kohane replied confidently.
……
“Thank you all so much again for inviting me over for dinner.” An thanked.
“Of course dear, you’re welcome anytime!” said Kohane’s mom.
An turned to Kohane, who was walking towards her.
“Thank you An-chan, for being so thoughtful, and kind, and for staying by my side when I was scared.” Kohane said endearingly. Her hazel eyes stared into An’s orange ones, squinted ever so slightly with nothing but the words “you mean the world to me” behind them.
“It’s seriously the least I could do. I’ll always support you. That’s what I’m here to do!” An took Kohane’s hands and swung them around before she leaned forward and gently pressed her lips against her girlfriend’s. She kissed her softly, feeling her smile and reciprocate as she continues. Kohane let go of An’s hands and worked them up her arms, to her shoulders, then wrapped them around the back of her neck. Noticing the movement, An rested her hand right at Kohane’s hips.
The two stopped kissing to look at each other. They both giggled and went in for one more kiss before An had to take her leave.
“I love you, Kohane. See you soon.” An exclaimed as she made her way to the door.
“I love you too An-chan. Get home safe.” What a great day this turned out to be for these two homotron3000 lesbians.