Expansion on Hongo and Milo’s relationship after high school.
Pairing: Hongo/Milo
Anime: ‘O Maiden in Your Savage Season’
Hongo gargles the mouthwash again. “I’m not bothering you. If I were it’d look like this.” She throws her head back, filling the room with a retching sound when the mouthwash inevitably shoots down the wrong pipe. What is she to do but wipe her mouth with one of the pure white towels dawning the name Amagi in bold aquamarine.
Rika winces. “You’re so undignified.” The rollers in her hair say the same about her, walking throughout the house and even outside to gather her belongings for their stay at her family’s estate. Estate being a very liberal word to describe the family home, though reflective to the looks Momoko gave when she realized Rika had been holding back on them.
“You know dignity?” Hongo coughs into her hand and smirks. “ Introduce us one day.”
“Hongo, you know it’s hard to tell when you’re joking.” Rika scratches the back of her neck. “I—I’m sorry if this—makes you lonely.” Her voice waivers, afraid to pursue the opening she’d been waiting for. Her feet felt cold against the bathroom floor, although not as cold as the look Hongo gives her.
“Sonoe says I shouldn’t care about—about flaunting my relationship.” Rika exhales. “However this is different—you’re lonely.”
“I’m alone,” it’s Hongo’s turn to scoff. “Never lonely.”
It’s less of a grievance now as it is an annoyingly embarrassing blimp of her teen years. If their third year didn’t do anything to awaken the revelation she needed, her senior year of college wouldn’t either. If the wedding hadn’t quelled the symphony in her heart, then words—no matter how powerful—damn sure wouldn’t either.
(Not unless they came from him.)
(But Hongo made a promise and she intends to abide by it. The only string attached.)
“Rika,” Sugawara sways against the doorframe, fingers gently lowering her into their conversation. “Your mother’s asking where you want the flowers?”
“On the nightstand near my side of the bed! Honestly!” Rika says, exasperated. She turns and glares at Hongo. “We’re not done here.”
Hongo hears the quickening stomps down stairs and decides to tune out the yelling. This proves difficult under the eyes of a very persistent third party.
“I happen to give award-winning advice,” Sugawara says matter-of-factly. “You look like you need some dick.”
