It had been a while since the wildly popular program Pop'n Music went on an indefinite hiatus, scattering its cast of performers into their own seperate lives. Some still chased fame and some lived the quiet life. Mimi and Nyami, once dazzling onstage, were no exception, now running a humble pet store to survive mounting bills and dwindling customers.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the glass walls of the modest cornershop, casting a warm, golden haze over the cluttered interior. The gentle tinkling of wind chimes swayed in the faint breeze that slipped through the slightly ajar door, providing a soft, melodic backdrop to the otherwise quiet space. Random posters and brochures stuck against the glass walls obscured parts of the windows, peeling at the edges from neglect. The sign showed "Open", but it might as well have read "Closed" for how there was barely any foot traffic they saw these days.
Behind the counter, Nyami sat alone, her attention absorbed by what seemed to be the Snake game she was playing on her old flip phone under her hands, fingers fidgeting with the buttons. Scattered acne spots dotted her cheeks and forehead, too busy for any skincare routine now. She wore a long, beige button-up shirt that had seen better days, paired with a buckled red apron and faded denim pants. She wore a pair of second-hand leather shoes, scuffed and worn, but they did the job. Her hair was a little more tousled than when they were still on stage, a bob she rarely bothered to tame now. Though Mimi had kindly woven a few braids into it earlier that morning to keep it somewhat manageable.
Time dragged on in the empty shop, the air thick with the scent of dry kibble and dusty shelves. Nyami's broad shoulders, honed from a year of handling stocks of bags and boxes, slumped slightly as she hit yet another game over. It wasn't until the familiar chime of the shopkeeper's bell rang out that she looked up, her ears alert and pointing upwards. Mimi stepped inside, her arms awkwardly positioned behind her back, concealing a sizeable package that rustled with each movement. She wore a baggy salmon-pink shirt adorned with a big mint-green heart at the center. The fabric was loose and comfortable, untucked. Under her shirt were relaxed denim jeans that ended in simple sneakers. Her hair gleamed with a touch more care than Nyami's, her expression bright and secretive. Her lop ears followed the bounce of her hair as she skipped into the store.
Nyami raised an eyebrow, folded her flip phone with a click and set it down with a clack. "And what's that you're hiding?" she asked, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. In their struggling frugal lives surprises were rare and luxuries, not counting unexpected bills.
Mimi's grin widened, her eyes sparkling with barely contained excitement, though she tried to play it cool. "You'll find out soon enough," she teased, her voice light and playful. She glanced at the clock on the wall, its hands ticking toward closing time. "We'd better tidy up before I get to show you, though."
The sun had begun its descent, painting the sky in hues of yellow and pink that seeped through the windows. With a shared nod, they set about tidying the shop. Wiping down the counter, straightening a few misplaced bags of pet food, yada yada, and finally flipping the sign to "Closed." The routine was familiar, almost comforting in its monotony.
And once it was all done, Nyami just had to ask. "Oookay. Now can you show me?
A giggle came out of the rabbit, still holding on to the secrecy. "Yeah, sure, but let's head upstairs first!" she said before pulling Nyami by the wrist to drag them both upwards the narrow staircase that connected to the living quarters above, the wooden steps creaking under their weight.
Upstairs was a humble abode, pieced together from necessity rather than design. The space was cramped but functional. In the corner was a single mattress laid directly on the floor, just wide enough for the two of them, covered in mismatched sheets and a threadbare blanket. A spinning ceiling fan whirred lazily overhead, stirring the warm air. One of the corners had faded posters from their glory days as performers accompanied with merch and fan letters, now relics of a past life. In one corner sat a bulky square television, its screen gathering a thin layer of dust, flanked by a small stack of outdated magazines and a few personal trinkets. They hadn't bothered changing out of their work clothes yet, merely kicking off their shoes at the door, leaving them in a haphazard pile.
Mimi placed the mysterious package on the low table in the center of the room, its wrapping crinkling invitingly. She patted the spot beside her on the wooden floor, gesturing for Nyami to join her. "Come on, sit with me!" she said softly, her tone warm and encouraging. Nyami obliged, settling cross-legged next to her, her curiosity piqued despite her guarded expression. With a gentle nudge, Mimi encouraged her to unwrap it.
Nyami carefully peeled back the paper, revealing an appealing yet modest six-inch cake nestled inside. It was simple, layers of vanilla sponge swirled with strawberry filling, topped with smooth white frosting. In careful, looping script across the top read "❤︎ Happy Birthday Nyami ❤︎" accompanied by a charming little doodle of her face with a playful wink, a specific request Mimi suggested.
In the grind of daily survival, this special date had slipped her mind entirely, buried under invoices and inventory counts. For a moment, the room fell silent. Nyami stared at the cake, her throat tightening with emotion she hadn't anticipated. It was the nicest gesture she'd received in what felt like ages, a small beacon of thoughtfulness in their otherwise tedious routine. That Mimi had remembered, and spent her own money on it. Mimi really cared this much for her? Her eyes glistened just a little, but she blinked them back, a rare softness breaking through her usual toughness. She was undeniably happy, a warmth spreading through her chest that she hadn't felt in too long.
Mimi added, “It’s even your favourite flavor…! I think. Probably. You mentioned it ages ago.” The rich vanilla with bursts of strawberry was, in fact, Nyami’s absolute favorite.
"O-oh, thanks, Mimi…" she murmured, reaching for the spoon provided, only for Mimi to snatch it away with a playful swat.
"Nuh-uh, hold on…" Mimi chided, her voice dripping with teasing affection.
"Hey! What's the hold up? I wanted the first bite so bad." Nyami, understandably upset, tried to steal the spoon back.
Seeing Nyami upset got a small chuckle out of Mimi. Gently, the rabbit responded "Let me handle this. It's your special day. I want to spoil you a bit."
"Spoil?" Nyami's cheeks flushed beneath her fur, a mix of embarrassment and irritation coloring her features. "What!? No way! I'm not some kitty, Mimi. Just hand it over," Nyami protested, making a half-hearted lunge for the utensil.
Mimi held it out of her reach, scooping up a generous portion of the cake. "Come onnn," Mimi coaxed, leaning in closer. She poked the loaded spoon several times against Nyami's cheek, leaving a smudge of frosting that made Nyami swat at it with feigned annoyance, her ears flattening against her head in a display of flustered vulnerability.
"This is… This is ridiculous," Nyami grumbled, not yielding and keeping her mouth closed. It took a few more moments of back-and-forth banter, the room filled with light laughter and protests, before she relented.
"Come on Nyamiii, open up!" Mimi urged sweetly, her rabbit ears twitching with delight.
"Ughhhh…." the cat knew this would never go anywhere if she didn't play nice with Mimi.
She relented at last, parting her lips with a reluctant sigh, her face aflame with a blush that seeped through her fur. Mimi guided the spoon forward with tender precision, and as the bite met Nyami's tongue, the flavors bloomed, a combination of moist vanilla sponge intertwined with the tart sweetness of strawberry. Soooo good!
Each bite was melting away the edges of fatigue from their daily hustle. Nyami could feel the pain leaving her shoulders with every scoop taken. Mimi persisted with gentle insistence, offering spoonful after spoonful, her voice a soft melody of endearments that danced in the air between them.
"There you go, birthday girl…~" she murmured, her eyes alight with affection, "So yummy, isn't it? Ehehe, just one more…" Nyami chewed slowly, showing feigned annoyance that hid her hidden joy. Her arms remained crossed defensively, her cheeks puffing out in protest, with her eyes furrowed, even as the sweetness lingered in her mouth. Though it lured a secret smile to the corners of her mouth. The room seemed to shrink around them, the whir of the fan above fading into a distant hum, leaving only the shared rhythm of their breaths and the subtle rustle of their fabric.
After spoiling Nyami with several servings in a row, Mimi paused, her head tilting with a sparkle of mischief. She wanted to savor the sweetness too. "Can I have a taste?" she asked, her tone laced with something deeper, unspoken.
Nyami blinked, the gesture casual yet revealing in its vulnerability. "Alright… sure, go ahead," she replied, sliding the cake plate closer, offering to share. The cake came out of her pocket anyway, so it wasn't wrong that she deserved a portion.
But Mimi had other intentions. With a graceful motion, she set the spoon aside, her paws rising to cradle Nyami's face with the lightness of the sunset breeze.
Before Nyami could process the shift, Mimi leaned in, her lips brushing against the feline in a kiss that unfolded like the petals of a flower; soft, lingering, radiating a warmth that echoed the frosting's sweetness now shared between them. The kiss was unhurried, a sweet, sweet kiss mixed with smears of vanilla frosting and strawberry filling, along with the essence of their closeness, as if time itself had paused.
Nyami's eyes widened, her body momentarily suspended in stillness, her eyes wide and her ears shot up, as though the world had tilted on its axis. The kiss stretched on, a timeless interlude that felt eternal, weaving threads of emotion that had long settled beneath the surface of their relationship.
When Mimi finally drew back, her shy smile blooming, Nyami remained seated in stunned silence, her ears pressed flat against her head, her cheeks washed with a deeper crimson that spoke volumes of shock and confusion. "What… what was that?" she stammered, her voice nervous and bewildered.
Mimi toyed with the hem of her shirt, her own cheeks tinged with pink, a mirror to Nyami's flush. Another hand was also fidgeting with one of her long ears. "Oh! I… I just wanted a taste. Of you. Heh. Get it?…" Her words hung in the air, playful yet laced with a vulnerability that tugged at the heartstrings.
Nyami stared, her broad shoulders tensing subtly. "You… could've just said that. Or… something. I didn't expect that." She averted her gaze, her paw rubbing the back of her neck in a gesture of unease, her brows knitting together in a furrow of confusion and faint irritation. They were adrift in uncharted emotional waters.
Mimi's eyes widened, a shadow of fear flickering across her face, and in that instant, it felt as though the earth had stopped spinning. "…Nyami, are you upset?" Mimi's voice trembled like a fragile note in the quiet symphony of their evening.
"N-no. Not mad. I'm… I'm just taking it in," Nyami interrupted, her words measured yet softened by an awkward sincerity, the edges still sharp with surprise. "I'm just… surprised. That's all."
Mimi swallowed hard, as she gripped her hands on her denim, to brace what was coming. The air was thick and tense with revelations yet to unfold. "I thought… maybe it was okay." A pause followed.
"I think we need to have some talking," Nyami said at last, her tone firm, like the steady anchor in a swirling sea.
Mimi fell silent, her fear manifesting in the stillness of her form, her heart pounding with a rhythm that echoed the thunder of uncertainty.
Nyami ventured, the question hanging like a delicate thread in the stitches of their relationship.
"….Well… I thought we were, at least. We literally live together now," Mimi replied, her gaze fixed on the floor, unable to meet Nyami's eyes, her voice a whisper carried on the wings of hope and doubt.
Nyami drew a breath, her expression stern yet laced with an undercurrent of tenderness. "…I have two things to say that you might need to know."
Mimi froze, her heart racing with an intensity that bordered on pain, each beat a silent plea in the quiet room.
"Firstly, I didn't know we were dating," Nyami began, the words landing like a piercing arrow. It stirred a wave of despair that threatened to engulf Mimi's fragile optimism.
Nyami faltered, her own heart now quickening to match Mimi's, a duet of anticipation. She averted her eyes, drifting to the faded posters on the wall, her ears flattening as a rosy tint bloomed across her cheeks.
The silence stretched until Nyami found her voice again.
"…O-okay, fine, a-and I've actually been wanting that for a while."
Her voice was rushed, a frantic memo. The admission hung in the air, a bridge spanning the ravine of their unspoken desires. "I… really didn't know how or when to say it to you, Mimi. Well, until now, I guess." Nyami added, a nervous chuckle escaping, her vulnerability laid bare like stars emerging in a clearing sky.
Mimi's breath hitched, her gaze lifting hesitantly. "You really mean that? You didn't just say that in the heat of the moment, right?"
"Yeah. I'm for real. And I'm sorry I was too much of a coward to tell you sooner." Nyami confessed, her words laced with a humility that only deepened the affection between them. "Sorry," she added with a soft sigh.
"N-no, you're not," Mimi countered softly, her voice a soothing balm. "I've known you as… someone very strong. And brave. It's why I'm still with you running the shop. Just one of many reasons why I like you," Her words of admiration highlighted the quiet strengths that had drawn them together through hardship.
"…and… well… also because you're cute," Mimi added with a playful lilt, lightening the moment like sunlight piercing through clouds.
"You… um…" Nyami tried to mutter something, but words were failing her.
In a surge of emotion, Nyami stood up and dragged Mimi with her. Nyami used her hard-earned strength to put Mimi in place, pushing her against the nearest wall and pinning her down. In her helpless position, all she could do was stare back at Nyami's green emerald eyes. Beautiful. Her lop rabbit ears drooped more and her cheeks turned rosy from the intimacy.
The cat leaned forward, capturing Mimi's lips once more, this time with a passion that she initiated, deeper and more fervent, as if pouring the accumulated yearnings of their shared life into the embrace. It was a kiss that spoke of unspoken longings, of nights spent side by side in quiet solidarity, building to this peak of connection. Mimi surrendered, her paws grasping Nyami's apron, the beige fabric and denim crumpling under her touch like pages of a love letter finally unfolded.
"Mmhhh…." Nyami hummed as their lips were still crashing together. Her hands slid under the hem of Mimi's shirt to grab her on the waist, securing her in place as she continued to pour her feelings out into the kiss. She felt the warmth of the rabbit under her palms. When they felt like they were about to lose grasp of each other, they held on harder to each other.
After they parted, their breaths were raggedy. Nyami pressed her forehead to Mimi's, their closeness a sanctuary in the dimming light. They were still hanging onto each other, stuck to the wall.
"Y-you're the best gift I could ever get," she whispered, her voice a low, intimate murmur that resonated with heartfelt sincerity.
"That was so cheesy, you sap," Mimi teased, her laughter a gentle ripple, though her eyes softened even more. "I guess we're really a thing now. Heh." The rabbit hugged the cat closer, their heads resting on each other's shoulders as the newly fallen night's breeze washed over them.
One of her lop ears twitched upright at the feline's sniffle, her toughness melting into the embrace. "Oh my god, are you sobbing? Are you actually crying?" Of course, she had to tease her about it.
Nyami's response was swift, laced with half-irritated affection. "S-shut up. Shut. Up!" she retorted, scooping a spoonful of the cake and pressing it playfully to Mimi's lips, hoping a mouthful would shut her up. The gesture sealed their moment in a shared, sweet delight that promised more tomorrows intertwined. They had never felt so free after opening up for each other.
"Nyami…?"
"…Hm?"
"Since we're a thing now… Can you say it to me? To my face?"
"What are you hinting at?"
"Come on, you should know…"
"Oh! Um… Well, I love you. Is that it?"
"Hihihi…! Love you too… Always will..."
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