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“And with this, that's the end of our special stream for today”
“Hopefully our tips for last-minute gifts will help you win over that special someone in your heart” Airi winked at the camera, her hands forming a heart to the viewers.
“We hope to see you all again next time, after our break” Shizuku chirped before Airi ended the stream.
Haruka finally let her muscles relax, a content smile on her face. They’ve made it to some big stages together, even some of the bigger venues often being sold out, not unlike back at the height of her popularity, but Haruka had to admit that these smaller events from the comfortable living room of the MORE MORE HOUSE were something she didn't want to lose out on anymore. However the topic of the day was a bit bothersome for her, feeling particularly disconnected from their audience as among the four girls, Airi was the only one with any prior experience with relationships and even then she claimed that they were still children back then, and that because of that it didn't count for anything.
“Uwaaah” Minori’s satisfied yawn caught Haruka's attention as the other girl stretched out on the carpet she had let herself fall back onto once the stream ended. “This was great”
Maybe Haruka understood a little bit about what they had been talking about, she thought to herself as she looked at the girl beside her fondly. And how could she not, with someone that shone so brightly that it even reignited the spark in herself to be the idol everyone was looking for – to be the idol the girl was admiring for so long already.
“So, time for our own gifts, right?” Airi called back to the topic of the day, Minori almost jumping out from her seat at the low desk to grab her bag.
“Right, I almost forgot, just a moment!”
After Minori ran off, Airi and Shizuku pulled their respective gifts out almost at the same time, Shizuku giving Airi a small box of fruit sweets, while the other got her some sort of tea from what Haruka could gather from the packaging. Airi seemed very embarrassed about the simultaneous exchange, but Haruka wasn't going to pry. Not long after, Minori came back with her bag, pulling out a small package.
“Shizuku, this is for you” Minori handed her a Shima Enaga plush.
“Awww it’s so cute! Thank you Minori”
“Hey Minori! Catch!” Airi called out, throwing a small plush back at her.
“Huh? Ahh” Minori almost stumbled backwards, but just caught herself before colliding with the table. In her hands the beady eyes of a small otter looked back at her, a light blue sea shell in its paws.
“We saw it a few weeks ago in a shop, and Shizuku insisted on making the shell for it to match your practice shirt”
“Thank you! It's so adorable!”
After calming down from the near accident (a way too common occurrence with Minori around), Haruka opened her pencil case as Minori was fussing over the plush, pulling out two pens each engraved with a clover in Airi and Shizuku’s colour respectively.
“Airi, Shizuku” The two turned to Haruka expectantly. “You two have sacrificed a lot for us this year, we really wouldn't be where we are today without it. It may not be enough to repay you, but hopefully these will give you some extra luck with your upcoming exams”
“Thank you Haruka! That's such a thoughtful gift” Shizuku admired the careful work on the pen, while Airi was eyeing them with suspicion.
“Hold on, these look expensive. Just how much did you spend on them?” Airi complained.
“I managed to trade in some favours from my time at ASRUN for them. Besides, this seemed like an appropriate occasion to put a little more into it”
Shizuku got ahead of any further complaints from Airi, “Then let me give you these as thanks in return, I don't think they are as elaborate as your gift, but hopefully you'll appreciate them as well”
Shizuku held a bag with a few bath bombs towards Haruka, the label on it describing the scent as “Arctic Breeze”. The message behind it was clear, during their upcoming break for the older duo's final exams and graduation Shizuku wanted her to relax.
“Thank you Shizuku, I’ll make good use of them” Haruka tried not to think of the sheer amount of relaxation products she had received from Shizuku in the past already, all still waiting for the day the idol would use them. In her defense, with the growing popularity of their group over the past year, it had become even more difficult to find the time to soak in a bath for one or two hours. Meanwhile Minori had run off to pull something out of her bag again, clearly bigger than the gift for Shizuku had been.
“Ha-Haruka!”
Minori stood across the table from Haruka, a light blush painting her cheeks a soft red with her hands behind her back, a view Haruka had become used to as the other usually made a big deal out of gifting her idol anything.
“Please accept these chocolates I got for you”
From her back Minori pulled out a box of little chocolate pralines, all in the shape of different penguin species. Haruka recognised the brand, it was pretty high-valued designer chocolate. She had walked past the confectionery in the mall that sells them a few times, always declining to buy them as she never seemed to be around on her cheat day, but she couldn't recall ever telling Minori about them.
“Thank you, Minori!” Haruka took the candy from her, careful to not crunch the wrapping.
“Ah, you don't look happy. Did I get the wrong one?! I knew I should have gotten the white ones, I’m so-”
Haruka couldn't help but giggle at her antics. “Don't worry Minori, it's not that. It's just that it's not my cheat day, so I can't eat all of these and if I just take these home they'll just end up in-between my penguins plushies, and wouldn't that be a shame for the money you spent”
“How about we eat them together while planning our schedule then?” Shizuku chimed in.
“But these are for Haruka…”
“I was actually thinking the same thing” Haruka saw Minori deflate a bit, but she didn't protest further. Haruka knew it wasn't right to pass the tokens of her love around like this, but she couldn't take it all for herself, or she’d grow addicted to it, and it's not like she lied when she planned to share the chocolate.
“Well… let's get started then” Airi spoke up, trying to steer away from a possible confrontation. Haruka knew Airi had noticed what she had done, clearly not approving her choice, but Airi knew why just as well as her.
While the upcoming exams of the older duo forced them to take a brief break, they didn't plan on wasting their time. Haruka and Minori would attend school during these two weeks as well, catching up on any credits they were still missing for the year and Haruka would continue her work as their producer with Saito to select additional offers for after their break, but even now there were a lot of events to schedule for then. In just over a month would be Airi's birthday too, so they’d have to be even more careful to not spoil the surprise for her. As usual, Haruka was taking the lead, explaining why she and Saito picked a particular offer, and showing them what other offers had come in for the weeks after their break, explaining the pros and cons of all of them, and why she settled on the ones chosen. Eventually they were interrupted by Airi getting a few messages in a row though.
“Sorry, guys, I have to go”
“Wh-What? What happened?” Panic was written all over Minori’s face as Airi hurried to pack her bag.
“My little sister got home. Apparently today didn't go well for her, and no one is home so I gotta look after her”
“Awww. I hope she'll be alright”
“Now that you mention it, Shii also seemed really fidgety this morning. Maybe I should check on her too”
Airi turned to the other two, “I know we promised to help with cleanup before the break…”
“Don't worry about it. Minori and I will be able to handle it just fine” Haruka replied, slightly amused.
“Thank you, we promise to make up for it” The two hastily made their way outside, Airi waiting just a little bit for Shizuku to finish bundling up for the chilly late-winter air. Meanwhile Haruka went to the kitchen to drink some water before they'd start cleaning up. When she returned, Minori still sat at the table, solemnly looking at the half emptied box of chocolates.
Oh. Now that wouldn't do. Not being able to accept her gift in full was one thing, but Haruka couldn't let her sulk on a day like this. She had already made plans to make it up to Minori on White Day but now she had to make sure she remembered the day for something positive.
When finally Minori spotted the other in the door frame, she quickly jumped up from her seat.
“Right, cleaning time!”
As Minori ran off to get the cleaning supplies, Haruka eyed the box on the table again. A reckless idea came over her, and she couldn't deny herself the excitement at the thought of Minori’s reaction. Carefully she picked out one of the bigger chocolates in the box, and called out to Minori who quickly whipped around the corner.
“What is it, Ha-” The chocolate was quickly placed to seal her lips, Haruka's fingers gently brushing over them for just a moment.
“A little pick-me-up before we start. Now come, the house won't clean itself”
Haruka went past her to get the broom herself, trying her hardest to push back against the feelings bubbling up in her chest as she heard the slightly embarrassed squeaks behind her. While the house provided them some shelter, the reality of their line of work waited just outside, eager to see them trip up and burn for it. Better to leave no space for anything more than work and little treats of fan service in-between them. One day at the sunset of their careers, when they can quietly slip into a proper private life she might finally accept the possibility of something more. When Minori came back to her, brimming with energy, Haruka, despite her inner turmoil, couldn't help but smile.