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"...Ahhhhh-"As Maki's mouth opened, her tongue meets the pressure of some doughy substance, squishing against the surface. She recoils slightly, as her lips close around an escaping finger."Mm-" Maki winces, opening a single violet eye as she chews carefully on the treat. "...Red bean paste?""Heehee, yeah, that's right!" Honoka beams, sitting cross-legged across from the rose-haired idol. A pallete of fresh sweets sits on Honoka's floor, between the two. "Whaddya think?"Maki hates red bean paste. It's way too sweet. Still, whatever Honoka has baked up has some sort of salty substance balancing it out. As Maki swallows, she realizes she very much enjoyed the taste."It was... fine. I guess."Honoka smiles even wider, and adds another tick to her 'Tastes Great' column."Seven for seven! Maybe I'm not so bad at this!""Hey... why did you pick me of all people to be your taste tester?" Maki asks, feeling increasingly flustered over being alone with her energetic leader."Because you're cute!""!!""And-" Honoka cuts Maki off before she has a chance to make her token protests. "You're always eating salads and stuff. You deserve a few treats.""We're idols. We're supposed to watch what we eat...""We're also girls. We're supposed to eat what we want!" Honoka smiles, her truths self-evident. "...Don't tell Umi I said that."Maki glances away. Trying to deny Honoka is like trying to deadlift the planet. How could you possibly say no to a smile like that? "W-Whatever. I'm ready for the next one.""...Okay."Honoka picks up a small white dumpling between her fingers. Maki closes her eyes and parts her lips, still not sure why her orange-haired friend insisted on doing this 'blind'."...This one's a bit special. You have to promise me that if you don't like it, you'll spit it out immediately, alright?""Well, yeah, that's the whole point, isn't it?" Maki asks, raising a single eyebrow."Promise me.""...I promise."Maki stays still. She hears the shifting of a body. Then — her lips are not met by mochi or bread. Instead, there's the texture of balmed lips. The taste of mint, swallowed by a girl nervously awaiting this moment. The feeling of a soft hand, shaking carefully on her cheek. A baker's daughter, rather than a baker's daughter's goods.And like that — the moment ends. Maki opens her eyes slowly, as Honoka pulls back from the kiss, dumpling still in hand. Shy eyes over blooming cheeks and a forced smile."...How was that one, Maki?""...I'll take all you have."
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"1, 2, 3, 4-"Below, two young teenagers — Riko Sakurauchi and Chika Takami — practice their dance moves on the side walks. Smiling brightly through their sweat, enjoying the hardships they've committed to.Above, however, Ms. Sakurauchi watches her daughter pensively from the Takami Inn's balcony. Watching for any hint of pain behind her offspring's smile."...Sakurauchi-san?"Her attention is grabbed as her host for the day — Ms. Takami — places a tray between them with fresh tea."S-Sorry. Thank you," she responds politely. "They're... getting quite good, aren't they?""Ahhh, to be young again..." Takami smiles. "Making friends just isn't the same once you get older, is it?"Sakurauchi eyes the orange-haired mother carefully, as she now watches over. It's hard for her to imagine that such a small, gorgeous woman is older than herself — much less that she gave birth to three children.Raising Riko has been the pride of her life. Even so — it's been almost impossibly difficult to do alone. Every obstacle that Riko has met has felt like a failure of her own. And now here her daughter is, trying to save the school her mother just transferred her to.That's why she's here today — to get some advice from a 'better mother'."Sakurauchi-san? What did you want to ask me?" Ms. Takami says with a gentle smile."Well I..." the dark-haired mother blushes. "...Take a look at this."She reaches into her bag and pulls out a set of bound and inked paper, placing it on the table. On the cover, one aggressively handsome woman presses another more dainty one against a wall. Classic lesbian smut."...Oh my!" Ms. Takami says, bringing a hand to her mouth with a teasing grin. "Well I'm certainly open to a lady as pretty as yourself, but really, we just met. Maybe a date first-""N-No!" Ms. Sakurauchi shouts a little too loudly, drawing her daughter's eyes from below for half a second. "I-It's my daughter — Riko. I found this in her room.""Oh?""She was... hiding it. Under the bed. And a lot more like it..."Ms. Takami sits back in her seat, pondering. "I see. And do you have a problem with it?"Ms. Sakurauchi thinks carefully. She certainly wouldn't be upset with Riko, if she had talked to her about it. When she was Riko's age, she had similar thoughts. But it was just a phase — of course."I... want to support her through anything. But the fact that she hid it from me..."Ms. Sakurauchi wraps her hands around her tea. The familiar fear that she has failed her daughter creeping yet again onto her shoulders.Suddenly she feels fingers on her own, almost jumping at the sudden intimacy. Ms. Takami looks across at her with a bright smile."Forgive me if this seems presumptuous, Sakurauchi-san — but you think too much. Look down there."The two mothers glance over the edge. Both of their daughters are laughing, and discussing where they've made mistakes in their choreography."Your daughter is happy — and she's falling in love."Sakurauchi watches the eyes of her daughter. The blush across her face. She knows things have changed — both for their family, and culture in general.But falling in love with another woman... That was a fantasy from a long time ago."If you ask me, your daughter is about at that age where she can handle more things herself — and wants you to worry about her less. So you can live your own life," Takami smiles. "Hiding it is her gift to you, you could say."Sakurauchi smiles, looking back at her own tea. She feels her own shoulders relax a bit."You think she's... falling in love?""Who knows? But either way, I have a feeling our families will be connected from now on, Sakurauchi-san."Ms. Takami wears a knowing smile, her fingers where a wedding ring once rested. Ms. Sakurauchi's eyes subconsciously dart to the yuri between them, and feels something familiar as her fingers interlace with anothers."Likewise, Takami-san..."
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"J-Just one centimeter-""The answer is no, Rin."A completed maid outfit for Rin lays on the desk between them. Masterfully sown by Kotori for their next video. Probably her best work yet.Rin's goal is simple. Get Umi to allow her to cut the outfit a bit shorter — and break her skirt length rule.It's not going well. Rin shakes in her chair, as her senior sits calmly and sternly before her. Rin grits her teeth."Why!?""I have many reasons," Umi explains calmly. "But first and foremost is your protection. Lewd elements lead to undesirable comments."And perhaps worse, Umi thinks. But she keeps that part to herself."...Easy for you to say," Rin mutters, looking at the ground. "All I get are comments calling me a boy.""...Why do you want a shorter skirt here, Rin?""...Because I actually like how I look in it."Rin smiles, watching over the cute maid outfit."I've... never felt like this. I look cute in this outfit. Girly. I want to explore this feeling. It feels right.""It feels girly... to show off your thighs?" Umi boggles.Rin laughs a little, looking back at her. "Yeah. To show off my thighs. They've started looking good thanks to your workout plan. At least, I think so."Umi's face finally cracks a little."...Okay. We'll cut it half a centimeter shorter -"Rin starts to beam."- But!" Umi continues. "Only on the condition that we all do it together. I won't have you being singled out—""YAY!"Rin jumps over the desk and pulls Umi into a tight embrace, nuzzling her own cheek into Umi's blushing."I love you, Senpai! You're the best!""R-Rin! No 'Senpai's!" Umi shouts, practically knocked over from Rin's affection.———That night, Umi Sonoda stands in front of her mirror, wearing her own maid outfit.Nervously, she peels up the hem of her skirt. A full centimeter."..."To her surprise — it looks good. Very good. She smiles, laughing to herself slightly."Rin..." she thinks to herself."Maybe we have a lot in common..."
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One fleeting touch.The lingering of an older girl's perfume.That's all it took for Hanayo to take her idolizing of Kotori to another level. She had already admired her as a gentle big sister, and as the kind of idol she'd like to be. But now there was also something else — something that inspired her to try to do her makeup in an identical manner.And now she's alone with her in the club room — Kotori trying to fix the clown disaster of a face Hanayo showed up to school with, utilizing a makeshift vanity."Almost there..." Kotori smiles, reaching for some mascara.Hanayo blushes, sitting in front of the mirror as Kotori dances expertly around her. The intention was to do Hanayo's makeup her 'normal way' — but it still looks far better than when Hanayo does it herself."Uhhh — Ummm — " Hanayo struggles, trying to think of what to say. Anything to extend the moment. "I-I'm really sorry you had to do this!"Hanayo cringes reflexively. Another apology — her first reaction to everything. Words she breathes as naturally as air."No need to apologize!" Kotori smiles, with abundance of charm and poverty of effort. "It's actually really fun doing makeup with you!"'With' is a load-bearing word, as Kotori wraps her fingers around Hanayo's chin, turning and flexing her face in the mirrors reflection, checking her handiwork."Your features are really cute — I wanna make sure I bring them out!"Hanayo's gaze darts from the reflection of Kotori's deep hazel eyes to the long, gentle fingers currently molding her cheeks. She needs something — anything to make this moment last longer. Some miracle."Hanayo," Kotori says, fixing Hanayo's hair around her latest masterpiece. "I'm all for trying something new, but why did you try to do your makeup like this morning anyways?""I-I just... wanted to be more like you..."Hanayo admits the truth, as much as it embarrasses her. Kotori's hands pause for just a moment."...Oh come on, you don't mean that!" Kotori smiles. "I'm nothing special, really."A miracle appears — or something like it."N-no! Really!" Hanayo smiles, radiant through her foundation. "You're always so pretty-""S-stop-""You're probably the most beautiful girl I know-"Before she can finish the thought, Hanayo feels the length of Kotori's arms slide around her. Her head collapses onto her shoulder, her eyes hidden from the mirror behind grey bangs.Hanayo can feel Kotori's breath on her bare skin. Smell her shampoo."S-Senpai?!""Hanayo..." the older girl whispers. Dark and secretive — a little scary. "You can't say things like that. We have an established relationship.""...""If you say things like that... Someone might finally stop resisting the urge to eat you alive, you know?"Hanayo stares at her own relection, facing her own familiar insecurities. The hands around her suddenly feeling like claw and fang. The fleeting moment, forcing a decision upon her.Her hand finds a spot on Kotori's head."Maybe being eaten alive... wouldn't be the end of the world."The breath on her shoulder deepens. Slowly, Kotori straightens her spine as she turns, hiding her expression. Her loafers clack away to the club room entrance —— and she locks the door.
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Hasunosora Girls' strict, conservative policies are a matter of tradition. Obedience is the means by which girls transform into responsible young women — and disobedience speaks to a generational sickness. A dereliction of public morals, indicating the need for punishment as harsh as suspension for even the most minor of infractions.This is ridiculous, of course. But even so, Sayaka has risked a lot to be in Kaho's room tonight, huddled under her sheets, secretly watching an American R-rated movie on Kaho's phone. If she's caught after curfew, the consequences could be rather dire, depending on who catches her. Still, she wanted to do it for Kaho, her dear friend who was so excited about cheating a little 'girls night' with her friend.The girl currently asleep — drooling peacefully on Sayaka's arm."...Hey, wake up," Sayaka whispers with a nudge.She gets nothing but a half-snored smile in return. Out like a light. Sayaka sighs, turning her attention back to the movie.It's some sort of crime thriller. Apparently it's a bona-fide classic, but Sayaka had trouble paying attention. As far as she can gather, it's been mostly grown men screaming and waving guns at each other. She's not sure if the translated subtitles are fully capturing the dialogue. Even with her limited grasp of English, she's pretty sure there's supposed to be more cursing.It's a little annoying considering how much she risked to be here, but Sayaka doesn't blame Kaho for falling asleep. She probably could have seen this coming, with how hard Kaho practiced today — and every day. She can hide a lot beneath that smile, but she can't hide her yawns.Sayaka turns off the movie, preparing herself to leave and sneak back to her own dorm. However, she finds Kaho's face rather heavy on her arm."C-come on, Kaho-chan..." she whispers, shaking her arm. With her other hand, she wipes the little bit of drool escaping from the side of her mouth. Her knuckles brush against the sleeping beauty's cheek. "You can't seriously be that knocked out, right?""...Sayaka's touch..." Kaho whispers. Sayaka's hand freezes in place."Feels... Good..."Sayaka's heart starts to beat wildly. The sheets encapsulating their two bodies suddenly feeling like a prison of intimacy."Kaho... You... are asleep, right?"She receives no response, as her knuckles glide against Kaho's skin, feeling steady for all but the slightest shudders of breath. Sayaka glances at the door — a small acknowledgement of all the rules she's already broken tonight — and glances back at the girl next to her, preparing to break just one more."Kaho... This is going to be a secret, between just you and me, okay?""..."Sayaka presses her face forward, and steals a kiss. Kaho's lips are as soft as she always imagined, as she tries not to shake too much and risk waking her up."..."Eventually, Sayaka finds the strength to pull her lips back. Kaho lies unmoving, peaceful, without any of the guilt Sayaka just put on her own shoulders.Despite all her desire to stay and make things worse, Sayaka forces herself up, tucking Kaho gently beneath the blanket. She walks to the door, preparing herself to sneak carefully back to her room, and shoots one look back towards the bed."...Sorry about that, Hinoshita-san."She leaves. And in the moments that follow, Kaho flips over and stares at her ceiling, being half-awake since Sayaka started nudging her."She really did it..."Kaho holds her fingers to her lips. Sayaka tasted like artifical cherry flavoring, and a cool winter day. Even better than what Kaho had imagined.She curses herself for being a coward — for not making her stay."I'm sorry too, Murano-san. I don't like keeping secrets..."