Changing Season

Miyami's eyes were spinning nearly as much as her soul in the cozy dressing room.

The walls were painted in a soft, cream hue, with a large mirror hung on the opposite side. A small bench ran along the wall, and an ornate wooden rack was adorned with a variety of colorful kimonos that'd either been recommended by the overeager attendant, or ones that the two girls had selected together on their own.

Dainty orange with fiery flowers, light blue and a wave motif, dark purple adorned in traditional pattern. They'd tried several on already with various obi, but the dark-haired woman was struggling to narrow down the selection. All of them made her feel so… pretty.

Up until this point, nearly all of her clothes shopping had been done online. For obvious reasons, she'd never had the courage to walk into a clothing shop and browse the racks before, let alone try anything on. The few times she'd bought clothes in person was from before she'd been herself.

Now that she was though…

The woman shuffled in the warmth of the moment. She was in a changing room with her gorgeous girlfriend, trying on the most beautiful things she'd ever worn. Soft fabric brushed against her skin with every movement, and deft hands found excuses to do the same. Most flattering of all, her body was being observed by a pair of amber eyes, like she was actually something to be admired.

She clenched her eyes, not wanting any tears to escape down her cheeks.

"Hmm, I think this orange and white one might be a bit too bright for you. Especially for an autumn evening." Hinoka commented, the heat of her body pressed against Miyami's as she tied off the obi. "Not that you don't look amazing in it, but you're more of a cooler toned girl."

She gazed in the mirror, noting the way the sunset hues contrasted against her pale complexion. "I suppose so. Still… it's quite beautiful."

After a few moments of inspection, fingers immediately began undoing the knot, and the fabric slipped off with a bit of the hadajuban, exposing bare skin to the air.

Miyami blushed as her girlfriend traced a hand across the expanse of her back before spiriting the garment away toward the rack.

"Alright, last one, then I'm gonna go try mine on." Her partner said, returning to her side with a different set. "I don't want to say too much this early, but this may be my favorite."

Miyami tilted her head as the cloth brushed against skin and the shorter girl began the dressing process once again. There'd been a few similar display yukatas to this that'd caught her eye, but since it was September, kimono would be better for the chillier weather.

Hinoka readjusted the undergarment and began wrapping the fabric around her, folding left over right. "It's furisode style, so a bit formal for a festival, but the design is just… ugh, so cute."

The woman took the time to appreciate her girlfriend's work, the way her hands moved across the fabric, and the way the colors shifted. The pattern featured several birds in flight, their wings spread wide against a deep blue, almost purple silk.

Before she realized it, it was secured, and the completed ensemble was reflected for her to see.

Eyes began their inspection before widening.

Her heart nearly stopped.

"…"

"…"

"It's… beautiful." She breathed more than said.

"Right?!"

The girl in the mirror gazed back, tears once again threatening to spill from her eyes. The birds seemed to flutter with her every movement, the deep hues of the kimono blending perfectly with the dark shade of her hair. And the obi, the way it cinched her waist, the way it made her feel…

She loved it.

Heart took to the open sky as she spun slightly, the fabric trailing behind her like wings.

"…" The shorter woman stared at her, a grin on her lips, an indescribable emotion in her eyes, and hand moving toward her pocket.

*pa-sha!* Camera shutter clicked before she could even realize.

Miyami blushed, turning to meet her girlfriend's gaze.

"H-Hinoka?"

The woman fumbled with her phone, mischievously pink as she looked at the screen. "Oh, um, sorry. I just had to."

*ba-dump!* *ba-dump!* *ba-dump!*

Was she really that photo worthy?! The taller woman's fluttering heart catapulted up into the stratosphere—

"E-excuse me, dear customers? Please don't take photos in the dressing room! I know it's just you two, b-but there are still rules in place!"

—only to be brought back down to the ground by mortification.

*eep*

The cat tensed up. "Eh, sorry! It won't happen again, promise."

A moment of silence followed before a reply. "Thank you. A-and uh, you can keep the photo though, just so long as you don't post it online."

Muted footsteps trailed away, leaving them again in privacy. "…Ah~ the season of yuri is here~!"

"…"

"…"

"So… we're going with this one, right?"

Miyami nodded.

***

Warmed air billowed from the aircon's heating element, releasing a current that circulated heat and incense throughout the bedroom. The sun was setting now, refracting through the window and dazzling Miyami enough to turn her head to the side, away from the shrine.

Her lungs filled in the air before softly deflating into the mattress.

She was tired.

After finding their outfits, the couple had picked up some take-out for dinner, bringing it back home to eat. Gyudon now happily settled in both girl's stomachs. Hinoka occupied the shower, and Miyami was alone to her thoughts, black hair still damp from hers.

Hands vacantly reached to her notebook, retrieving the New Life List to inspect as she waited.

'Kiss Under Fireworks…'

A smile crept over her lips. That was happening soon.

The penguin fluttered her legs in the air, giddy with cotton balls of excitement. She'd already imagined how it would be like and was more than ready to make the fantasy real, especially after seeing her and Hinoka's kimonos.

Golden glow faded as the sun descended behind the mountains, allowing Miyami to return her head over to the shrine and relax her back into the bed.

She'd already given her mother an update on how she was doing. How life was good. How much she was growing. How a certain someone was there to love her…

*ba-dump!*

Her heart squeezed in her chest, and she clenched her eyes, basking in the sweet, sweet sensation.

In the past three months—soon to become four—Miyami had experienced so many firsts: her first time in a relationship, her first kiss, her first time making love. She'd fallen asleep next to her partner, woken up to her face, and lived together under the same roof.

*ba-dump!*

And now, with the festival tomorrow, Miyami was about to experience another first, something that she'd only read about in books and seen on the screen.

"…"

She wondered what her past self would've thought.

Miyami reminisced about the kid who was scared of living, of showing the world who she was—of her own wants.

She'd be shocked, of course, to know she'd been a girl the whole time, but also how she'd managed to get this far.

The dark-haired woman sighed, letting the scent of incense, cherry, and citrus guide her mind to reflect. How many years had she spent hiding? How much had she suppressed her wants, her feelings, and her desires? How many nights had she cried herself to sleep? How many mornings had she wished that things could just be different?

How many days would she have now? Enjoying the present, finally knowing who she was?

"…"

'One day, I'll live my life. I'll be myself, and I'll be free.'

Those were the words that she'd told herself every night, if not that exactly, a variation. They were the mantra that she'd used to keep herself going, to keep taking steps forward when everything seemed impossible.

'One day.'

'One day.'

'One day.'

She'd kept repeating them, hoping that eventually, they'd come true. But days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months, and months turned to years.

Now though?

Now, she could finally say that 'one day' had arrived.

She was living her life. She was living as her real self.

She was free.

"Hey. Everything okay, birdy?"

A soft voice came from the hallway, and Miyami looked over to see Hinoka, hair still slightly damp, and a towel draped over her shoulders. She was wearing—

*blink*

—nothing else.

Her girlfriend smirked at her, the woman's toned muscles and supple curves on full display, and the faintest hint of pink in her cheeks.

Before embarrassment could kick in and flip her body away, Chibi Hinoka shattered her mental bonds to make an appearance, immediately whispering in her ear.

'Take it in, birdy~'

Miyami gulped.

She did.

*fwomp*

Sheets and fabric shuffled as the shorter girl climbed on top of her, amber glittering in the fading light. They both paused for a beat before Hinoka leaned downward, sensually docking lips as the scent of shampoo and conditioner mingled in the air.

Then she pulled back slightly, leaving Miyami's heart pounding in her chest.

"So… we're home. It's later." Supple fingers trailed down her cheek. "Date night isn't over just yet, so… you want to recreate those posters?"

*BA-DUMP!*

She'd almost forgotten about that. W-was Hinoka actually serious?

"…" Her eyes trailed from the smirking face to the rest of the body in front of her. Sensing building desire, the imaginary imp on her shoulder gave a thumbs up and an encouraging gesture.

'♫ Go for it, honey! Be your confident self! ♫'

"…" Miyami inwardly groaned at the chibi's mimicry of her alert tone.

More so that it was actually working.

"Tongue-tied, my penguin princess?" Hinoka's smirk grew cat-like as she, still leaning over her girlfriend, placed a knee between her legs. "Because, if that's the case, then I can lead—"

Miyami's hands shot out, grabbing her girlfriend's waist and pulling her close for a smooch on the cheek. Then a hug, one that sent both girls tumbling over one another on the covers, a tangle of limbs and a mess of hair.

"W-whoa there!"

*fwap!*

The world reversed. Hinoka was beneath her now, her head sinking into a pillow.

Fire blazed at the position.

*fwap!*

They flipped again, and the ponytailed girl was on top once more, legs hooked around Miyami's thighs. Hot breaths and smiles mixed as they continued their play wrestling, each girl trying to outdo the other in affectionate dominance.

Both laughed, giggled, and grinned, until the taller of the two eventually found herself firmly on top, both flushed and out of breath.

The typically timid girl didn't really know what'd gotten into her today, but she felt confident—freer than ever before. It was like the two of them were in their own little bubble where failure and judgment no longer existed.

She looked into Hinoka's eyes as things settled, brighter than the setting sun.

And leaned in.

"…!" Lips pressed then locked together as the kiss was eagerly returned.

They stayed like that for a few seconds, eyes shut, and bodies intertwined as hearts indulged in one another. When Miyami finally pulled away, she was greeted by the sight of Hinoka beneath her, panting softly.

"Crap. Why are you suddenly this assertive?" A hand brushed aside her bangs.

Heat bloomed in Miyami's cheeks as they stared at one another, and she said the first stupid thing that popped into her mind.

"…The season of yuri has begun?"

Both girls stared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter.