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Illari had invited Hana to get some coffee at a local café, she was hoping to… well, confess her love to Hana. Yeah, say it right off the bat, right? That’s why she set it up so she would be honest with herself.She sat in the café, looking impatiently at the entrance, bouncing her leg anxiously. This was a big moment in her life and she couldn’t mess it up.Nervously, she checked her phone. Hana had confirmed the meetup and said she’d be there in fifteen minutes… fourteen minutes ago. So she had to be there soon, right?And as if summoned, Hana sauntered in the door, glancing around for Illari. Once her eyes caught the other woman, her eyes lit up. “Illari!”“Hana!” Illari smiled widely, standing up and rushing over to her to hug her. When their bodies connected, she felt like she was soaring— I have to tell her, I can’t live without this. “Let’s go get some coffee,” Hana said with a smile as she pulled back from the hug. “What do you want?”“I’ll probably just get the americano… I like my coffee black,” Illari chuckled.“Black like your soul?” Hana elbowed her. “I’ll probably get the caramel latte with white chocolate instead of vanilla. That sounds really good!” “Too sweet,” Illari said, sticking out her tongue and shaking her head.“Well, I’m a sweet gal, after all!” Hana laughed, grabbing Illari’s hand and taking her to the counter. “I’m paying.”“Okay, thank you,” Illari said with a grin. “What can I get you ladies today?” the cashier said with the classic retail worker smile.“We’ll take a large americano and a large caramel latte with white chocolate syrup instead of vanilla,” Hana said, grabbing her wallet. “Hey, sunshine, do you want a breakfast thing?”“Sure, I’ll take a croissant,” Illari said as she scratched the back of her head.“And I’ll take a chocolate eclair! That’s it,” Hana grabbed her card, ready to pay whenever the barista was ready.“Okay that will be $15.46,” the barista said. “Name for the order?”“Hana!” she tapped her card on the reader, hearing it beep. She smiled widely, looking at Illari, “Alright, let’s go find somewhere to sit and wait for the coffee.”“Sounds good to me,” Illari said quietly. It was getting closer to her confession time. I need to do this. I need to do this. I need to do this. They sat down at the table Illari was sitting at befor..“So, why did you set up this little date for us, huh?” Hana asked, putting her hands on the back of her head and leaning back in the chair.Illari’s face began heating up from flusteredness. “You shouldn’t lean back in your chair like that, it’s dangerous.”“Sure, sure. Okay,” Hana put her hands on the table and stopped leaning back. “But really, why did you ask me out for coffee? We’ve never really hung out on our own, just as a group with everyone else. I’m just curious.”Illari took a deep breath, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. This was it, the moment she had been building up to, the moment she couldn’t afford to back down from now. “Uh… well, Hana. I think I have a crush on you and I just wanted to tell you— I uhh— It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way. I just wanted to get my feelings out so it’ll stop weighing on me.”Hana froze for a moment, not saying anything. It was hard to read her expression and that was terrifying for Illari. She didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t a no response freezing up sort of situation. “Sorry…” “No!” Hana said, putting her hands up to almost protect herself.“I— I’m really sorry, Hana,” Illari felt tears prick her eyes.“Hana?” the barista called out, looking around for the girls.Hana got up and rushed over to get the drinks… not saying a word to Illari. A pit in her stomach formed as she began to feel sick. This isn’t how I wanted it to go, Illari thought.She got up from the table and rushed out the front door, unable to face Hana again after that incident. She didn’t go far, just to the park next door to the café and sat down on a bench. With that? She allowed herself to cry.It was early in the morning so some people were around, but not many. No one could see her heaving and sobbing in the park. Which was for the best as it was incredibly embarrassing…All she wanted was to tell Hana her feelings and get a gentle but sweet rejection. Not this. Everything was spinning as she began to feel even sicker to her stomach like she was actually going to throw up. She hadn’t eaten anything so it would just be bile instead of actual throw up but still.She had no idea if she’d ever be able to face Hana again. And if she stopped being friends with Hana, that meant she’d lose Brigitte, Kiriko, and Lena… fuck. All she’d have left is Q’orianka. And as much as Illari loved her, she’d like to have more than one friend to be around.She bent over and looked at the ground, holding her stomach. She was crying and heaving when suddenly someone showed up next to her.“Illari, I’m so sorry…” Hana’s voice.“Why are you here?” Illari pushed off her knees and sat up, looking at Hana who had both their drinks and the pastries.“I wanted to apologize, I didn’t mean— I didn’t mean to react like that. I didn’t want you— I don’t know how to say this, but Illari. I reacted that way because I feel the same way. I have a crush on you too. I just… I wasn’t expecting you to be the one to confess to me? I thought I’d have to be the one to do it and I wasn’t ready yet,” Hana sighed.“It’s like… every time I think of you, I can’t help but smile like an idiot, and I didn't want to tell you, because I don’t want to ruin anything,” Illari blurted out.“It’s not going to ruin anything. I’ll always care about you,” Hana said, handing Illari her drink and croissant. “I just… I wasn’t expecting it and I freaked out,” she sighed, taking a sip of her latte.Illari wiped the tears from her eyes, trying to take a deep breath to calm herself. “So, y-you like me too?”“Yes, Illari. I— I realized it a few weeks back when everyone was at Brigitte’s doing a work out session and I just… I realized I was in love. I didn’t know what to do so I hid it,” Hana explained. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”“I hurt myself by assuming,” Illari sighed, taking a sip of her coffee. It was bitter, but it was just the way she liked it. “It’s not your fault.”“Yes it is…” Hana sighed. “Please, Illari. Let me fix this somehow,” she said, leaning forward slightly to look Illari in the eyes.Making a bold move, Illari leaned forward as well, connecting their lips together for a short, but sweet kiss. “How’s that?”“Amazing,” Hana said breathily. “So… what does this mean?”Illari took a deep breath and smiled. “Girlfriends. We should be girlfriends.”“Yes, girlfriends it is then. Now, do you want to go back to the café or enjoy our breakfast here in the park?” Hana asked, looking out at the beautiful landscape.“Here is good… yeah,” Illari nodded, wiping the last of her tears away from her eyes. “Thank you for giving me a chance, Hana.”“No, thank you, Illari. I just… god, this is so complicated but I’m glad it worked out in the end,” Hana chuckled before taking a bite of her eclair. “This shit is good, you wanna try?” she said with her mouth full.“No thanks, you enjoy it.” Illari shook her head. “I… this is a good thing, right? This’ll be great.”“I sure hope so. I have faith in us,” Hana said with a wide smile.“Then I do too,” Illari nodded.As they sat together in the park, enjoying the warmth of the morning sun and the newfound sweetness between them, Illari felt a weight lift off her shoulders. The tension that had been building up inside her had dissipated, replaced by a sense of relief and contentment.This was a good thing. She now had a girlfriend to share her life with and that was amazing. Things could go only up from here, right? Yeah. Hopefully. With Hana by her side, Illari felt a newfound sense of confidence and happiness. As they finished their breakfast in the park, they talked about their hopes and dreams for the future, sharing secrets and laughter under the clear blue sky.Things were good… real good.Hopefully this lasts forever and ever. Just maybe it will. Hopefully.