Inseparable

I stepped out of the library, Nakamura's hand gently wrapped around mine. Her shoulder occasionally brushed against me while we walked, and I felt my heartbeat quicken each time. We stopped halfway down the corridor, leaning up against the bannister as we stared silently out the window, down at the courtyard below.

“So, what happens now?” Nakamura turned to me, her eyes gazing into mine.

“I'm… not sure. This is all new for me,” I admitted.

She giggled, and I couldn't help smiling too. I loved seeing her this happy.

“It's new for me too. I guess we just take it at our own pace and see what happens.”

“Yeah,” I nodded.

I turned my attention back towards the window. The sun had started to set, dying everything in a rich golden glow. It was so surreal that it all felt like a scene out of a dream. With everything that had happened today, it very well could have been. I still couldn't believe that Nakamura had said yes. But she had. Things couldn't have gone any better.

Except…

“There is one last thing I need to do,” I explained, scratching my cheek awkwardly.

“It's Chizuru, isn't it.”

“Yeah, it's only fair I tell her.”

“I get it,” she said as I felt her grip tighten, “I want to come too.”

“You sure?”

She nodded, looking determined.

“It's about time I faced her as well.”

We found Iwasaki just as she was entering the clubroom. Luck must have been on our side, as it seemed like none of the other members had arrived yet. That's good, I thought to myself, that makes this a whole lot easier.

“H-hey, Iwasaki,” I called out to her.

She took one look at the pair of us and her face darkened.

“Oh…”

I felt a pang of guilt, but pushed past it. I had to.

“Can we talk?”

She hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.

The three of us entered the clubroom and sat down. For a moment no one spoke. Iwasaki was the first to break the silence.

“You've made your choice then,” She noted solemnly.

“Yeah. I'm sorry, Iwasaki.”

She shook her head, “You don't need to apologise. I knew the two of you were meant to… m-meant to b-be.”

Iwasaki's eyes began to glisten, and she was soon crying uncontrollably.

Nakamura leapt to her side without a moment's notice and pulled her into a hug. Iwaskai was shocked to start with, but soon accepted her cousin, nuzzling up against her.

“I'm sorry you got hurt,” Nakamura consoled her, “I didn't want this for you.”

They stayed like that for some time, Nakamura embracing Iwasaki as she sobbed into her shoulder. Eventually, Iwasaki broke away, and wiped her eyes on her sleeve.

“I'll be alright,” she muttered, forcing a smile, “I'm happy for the both of you. Really, I am.”

“Despite everything, I hope we can still stay friends.”

Maybe it was selfish of me to say it, but it was coming from the heart. While we may not have ended up together, the past few months I had spent getting to know her had still meant something to me. Even if it wasn't as lovers, she had still become an important friend of mine. I didn't want that to change.

“Of course we will! We’re all still members of the light music club together, aren't we?”

“Yeah,” I smiled softly, “we are.”

“I need to thank you,” Nakamura told Iwasaki, “I don't think I would have been able to admit my feelings if you hadn't given me the push.”

“You hear that, Tachi-kun? She's madly in love with you,” Iwasaki teased.

“H-hey, you don't need to say it like that…” Nakamura protested.

“You'd better not go and do anything to make Aya-chan sad!”

Iwasaki wagged her finger at me.

“I won't,” I promised, “that's the last thing I’d want.”

“Good,” she huffed, satisfied.

Just then, the door to the clubroom creaked open and the two remaining members appeared. Shinohara and Inaba didn't attempt to hide the surprise on their faces at seeing the three of us together. Inaba, in particular, seemed hesitant to enter. She gave a knowing glance towards Iwasaki, who gave her a small nod in return.

“Everything's okay now,” Iwasaki reassured them, “we've all worked things out.”

“That's good to hear,” Inaba let out a sigh of relief.

“Ah. There's, um, something more you should probably know. Nakamura and I are…”

Shinohara barely gave me a chance before he butted in, “...you're together? Good for you! How did it happen? Who asked who out? Have you…ow!”

Inaba punched him lightly on the arm.

“Leave it,” she reprimanded, “they don't need to say anything they don't want to.”

“Okay, okay. Message received,” he grumbled.

Inaba plopped down next to Iwasaki, and laid her hand on her shoulder.

“Are you okay with this?”

“I am,” Iwasaki replied confidently, “two people that are very dear to me have found happiness together. I'm thrilled for them, and maybe, one day, I'll find that too.”

Inaba grabbed Iwasaki by the hand, and dragged her over to the rest of us. She motioned for us to come closer, and we were all pulled into a group hug. It was a little embarrassing, and I was wedged in between them at an uncomfortable angle, but I didn't try to break away. Soon, the awkwardness turned into laughter, and we all collapsed back down onto the seats and started chatting over something irrelevant.

The light music club was finally back together.