Nanase was healing and enjoying time with Yuki and I was compiling evidence and enjoying my time with Fuuko. I wanted this next part to go different from the story. I wanted everyone to be happy and I thought it might be possible. If only I could make everyone see what I saw. I was lying in Fuuko's lap when I got the text I had been waiting for. My selfish girlfriend was finally ready to meet. I knew what she wanted to say. She wanted everything to stay the same. Me waiting in the shadows for her while she shined as the star of our class. There would come a time when she would be the star of the school, of that I had no doubt. I just hoped we were still friends when that happened. I kissed Fuuko openly in the field. Nanase had been out with her leg, but to most of the school we were already a couple.
We went to the storage room Fuuko had arranged and we star gazed waiting for Nanase. She was my ex at this point she just didn't know it yet, "Yeesh, it's dark in here," she complained and Fuuko admonished her.
"Ok Fuuko, let Nanse be. She just got back on her feet and she came all this way to talk to me. To make me feel special. For one moment at least," I realized the sarcasm and spite was dripping from my statements. So I stopped, cleared my throat, and started over, "Sorry, that was rude of me. I'm glad we're having this chance to talk. First I'm not leaving Fuuko. She loves me, prioritizes me, care for and protects me. I do care vary much about you. I want you to admit though I didn't cheat first. So I did nothing wrong. I dropped the stack of photos and sticky notes of half truths in front of Nanase on the floor she started looking through them then she looked up at me.
"You were stalking me? What do our issues have to do with Yuki?"
"Let's see. She hugs you, holds your hand, goes on dates and eats lunch with you alone while your girlfriend is in the nurse's office alone. You left me alone at the festival for her. For some reason her relationship is more intimate in most moments then ours and yet our relationship is the one you're embarrassed by. The team aside how can you criticize me for my relationship with Fuuko when the only difference is I closed the deal while you guys are moving at a turtles pace. What do you think Nanase?"
"That's not fair. She's my best friend. How can you ask me to pick between you and my best friend or you and my team."
"Aren't you doing the same. I already told you Fuuko is my best friend. Sure we are slightly closer then you and Yuki, but lets be honest with all the time you guys spend in the shower together is the difference really that much," I could tell this had not been how she envisioned this conversation going. That made sense it's not how it was supposed to go.
She finally composed her self and locked eyes with me, "So what are you saying. Are we done?"
"Honestly I think we should be. You're not going to be happy sharing me with Fuuko and you can't make me happy on your own. The team and Yuki mean too much to you, but if you're ready to be honest with yourself. I'll help you confess to Yuki."
"You really think I love Yuki?"
"Yes," me and Fuuko both responded in unison.
"Even if I did we're on the same team. It will never work," that was as good as an omission in my book and I couldn't help, but notice she was no longer interested in our relationship and strangely enough she had not questioned Yuki's feelings. Then I remembered Yuki had already told Nanase she loved her. So maybe she had already pieced together how Yuki really felt or maybe I gave her too much credit and she understood it all. I wanted to give Yuni's memories the benefit of the doubt though and assume she didn't know she was hurting everyone involved.
"Maybe, but if you're not honest at some point your guy's relationship will fall apart. She was openly hostel to me. Granted I was cheating on you, but I don't think it would have changed much either way. Do you think you can find a girlfriend or even a sex partner, because lets be honest that's really what I was. The only place I was allowed to be your girlfriend was in my bed. Anyways, beside the point no women would except Yuki and Yuki will never accept your partner."
It looked like that statement truly hurt, but I couldn't hold back. Not if I wanted to reach her. Not if I wanted to make sure Yuni had no regrets.
"Hey, if I had taken you to the theme park instead of Yuki would that have made a difference?" That struck me as odd that that was the one situation she had chosen to focus on.
"Honestly, if you would have come to check on me when I was sick instead of lying to me about lunch. If you had stayed with me at the pool. If you had said we could tell everybody at the pool. If you had remembered our anniversary. If you had noticed I was wearing the moon stud at the pool. Any of it would of made a difference, but you were always looking past me. I'm glad, because the difference would have been how hard this is. I love Fuuko. If you want to stay friends I'll cheer for you and Yuki on. I did love you and you are a superstar."
With that I took Fuuko's hand and left the storage unit. I hoped she took the news better then Fuuko had in the book. I would hate for the little galaxy to be broken. I wanted to finish star gazing with Fuuko someday. The next day me and Fuuko went public and as I said most people basically knew already, but there was still quite the stir. At lunch Yuki caught up with me and Fuuko at the top of our secluded stair retreat.
"I thought you said you cared about Nanase. You promised it would all work out. She's not even in school today."
"Yeah she missed a day of school. You could skip again and go check on her, but it's probably better if you give her some time. Fuuko promised to help her too. So I'm sure everything will work out. My girl's amazing," I told Yuki, wrapping my arm around Fuuko's waist. She blushed at my praise. She wasn't used to our open and mutual affectioned relationship, but she hadn't rejected it either. She was still as persistent and endearing as ever.
"Did you say those kinds of things about Nanase? I mean before you broke her heart."
With that Fuuko lost her composure and stepped in front of me, "Look here, if Yuni broke Nanase's heart she has know one to blame but herself. Yuni told her she felt neglected for the team and she was lonely. Yuni told her she felt abandoned for her friends and she was sad. Yuni told her she didn't like her cheating with you and she was jealous. Nanase heard it all, but she could give my Yuni a little bit of time and affection," Fuuko was furious and her voice was only getting louder. It took me longer then I would have liked to get control of the situation and even secluded at the top of the stairs there were now several students standing at the landing listening.
"What are they saying? Nanase was with Yuni first?" One of the girls pondered from the crowd. Crap, this was not what I wanted. I needed to get control of this situation and fast. Before I could Yuki ran down the stairs, tumbling as she went. The commotion broke up naturally after that and me and Fuuko helped Yuki to the nurse. There would be rumors though. I wasn't worried about myself, but how would Nanase take it. She didn't want to be outed as a couple so I couldn't imagine she wanted to be outed as my ex lover. Sealing the gossip train now was impossible so the best I could do is let Nanase know what had happened. Despite skipping school that day she was in the nurses office in less than twenty minutes. She must have gotten a taxi or already been at the school.
"So you guys told everybody I'm gay?" she asked as she came in to the nurses office, "Yuki, I would of expected more from you."
Ofph that had to hurt, but I didn't know what to say to that. These were real world problems and I was way off the script now. Even as she was scolding her, Nanase was checking Yuki for injuries. My heart quaked and the memory she hadn't come to see me when I was in the nurses office. Instead she had lunch with Yuki.
"Yuki, you never let me say what I wanted to say. I still think you should pick me. I want to make you happy, be friends with Yuki, and play Volleyball. Is that wrong?"
"No, it's not wrong to want everything, but it's naive to refuse to recognize when it's not possible. You're a great person, but being with you made me sad and left me feeling hollow. I'm not saying you couldn't do better, but when I needed someone to do better. That person was Fuuko and I love her for it. Besides I already told you, you don't love me. You should know you got outed because Yuki was defending you and Fuuko was defending me. I'm sorry it happened, but When Fuuko gets an idea in her head she can be hard to control. You should stay here and talk to Yuki, get on the same page at least. If we're still friends I'll help you deal if people get too much. Me and Fuuko have to get back to class, but you're already out for the day so see you tomorrow."
"I don't want to be alone and I can't lose my friendship with Yuki. She's my best friend. I can share you with Fuuko if I have to and it makes it easier to accept my schedule, but please don't leave me alone," I read the text on the train with Fuuko on the way home.
"My mischievous Fuuko, what would you do to get Yuki and Nanase together?"
"Maybe confront Yuki with the evidence you gave Nanase. Seems pretty obvious from the outside they feel the same way, but who am I to talk, I would have never guessed I'd end up first in your heart."
She was beaming and my heart was racing. How had I gotten so lucky. Then fear gripped me. I hadn't gotten lucky. This was a dream and I could wake at any moment. I calmed myself, for now I was with Fuuko and that was more then enough for me.
"That's a good plan. Fuuko, Momma will work let tonight. Do you want to stay over?"
"I thought you would never ask. Of course. You should know Yuni I'd stay by your side forever if you wanted it."
That was my girl. The reason I loved Fuuko more then anything. She was so strong, determined, and completely uninhibited. I was quick to capitalize, no longer the conflicted Yuni or my timid self from my normal life, "Nothing would make me happier," I said and then lend in and kissed Fuuko, she blushed and I sighed in satisfaction.
The next day back in Fuuko's storage room I showed Yuki the evidence I had collected and tried to make her understand why me and Nanase could never work. The girl was stubborn and hyper-focused just like Nanase herself. That push yourself till you drop kind of girl wasn't really my type, but I could admire the determination and dedication all the same.
"You're an idiot! Nanase was very clear what she wants is you," Yuki shouted after I was done showing her all my evidence of her and Nanase's relationship.
"No she's just lonely and scared."
"She loves you that's why she picked you dummy."
"No we got a long and I was safe. Close enough so my presence wouldn't be weird, but far enough removed that if we broke up cutting me out wouldn't be difficult or raise suspicion. She's a lonely girl and I was a warm and comforting presence. That's it," I was crying now. I wasn't trying to convince Yuki any more I was releasing what I truly felt both as Yuni and as me. Fuuko was hugging me and stroking my hair whispering it will all be ok in my ear. For the first time it didn't feel like enough. Was this why Yuni couldn't let go of Nanase. She couldn't face this crushing, lingering fear. Hadn't I been the same? Lonely and I thought Nanase would change that, "Fuuko I was such a fool, but at least it brought me you."
"Clearly you don't intend to help so I'm leaving. I'll help Nanase threw this on my own."
I pushed Fuuko away and wiped my tears away. I could leave things as they were. No one would fault me, at least not more than they did for breaking up with Nanase. I owed Nanase and she was a friend so I had to give this one more chance and there would be no going back after this.
"Yuki, do you really want me to fuck Nanase when she's free from club activities? When you guys get all nice and cozy and build your wonderful memories. When you want to hold onto her for a little longer. Do you want her to pull away to rush to my bed? Do you want me to share her with Fuuko? I mean you know how much I love Fuuko so does Nanase so surely you guys realize I wouldn't take a lover for myself alone. Is that what you want? Even after reading this," I badgered Yuki. I would never take another lover, but she didn't need to know that. I needed her angry, unguarded, ready to explode. Then maybe she could finally accept what was right in front of her. She read Nanase's desperate text and she realized I right I had been, but there was sadness in her eyes.
"So in the end she couldn't trust me after all."
"God, you two idiots. If either of you were half as awesome as Fuuko you morons would be married by now. She trusts you just fine. That's why she gave you every part of her she could never give to me. She just doesn't believe in herself. Not in the ways that matter anyways. Maybe that's why she's so obsessed with sports. If you don't take the first step you'll lose her."
"O, and here I thought we were going to get to play with her," a Fuuko sure loved to pick her moments, but I new her heart and that belonged to me. Still it wouldn't do for her to put in the effort and not get the rise she was looking for. So I firmly smacked her bottom and when she turned to look at me I pouted at her in a timid girly fashioned and locked eyes with her.
"You're mine," I scolded. SHe looked quite pleased with that response and I felt validated having given my girl what she wanted. Yuki looked on with open disgust. Even if she had accepted her feelings I guess it would take awhile for her to accept ours.
"So what's the first step?"
"Confess," Fuuko responded instantly. We both looked at her in shock. Not that I know why. Of course my Fuuko would suggest the most straight forward answer. If Nanase couldn't confess because she didn't know how Yuki felt then Yuki could simply confess to Nanase.
"What if that was an excuse? What if she really wants to be with you and she is using any means necessary to stay in your life?"
This was a good point, but I had never considered it. Honestly I could be arrogant and I assumed my read on the situation had to be right. I still was sure I was right, but I understood her trepanation. After all even with everything I knew beforehand about Fuuko's feelings for me I was still nervous every step of the way. Even now I feared some part of our story that was yet to be told.
"I know. Me and Yuni will invite her to Yuni's for dinner and a three way. You invite her somewhere on the same night. When she picks you that should be more than enough proof," Fuuko was again the one to speak. Of course she wanted to manipulate the situation. I had to admit she was damn good at it, but honestly I was kind of regretting making the threesome joke now. Even so watching my girl calculate other people like that was so sexy.
"What if she picks you?"
"Well," Fuuko started and I quickly cut in this time.
"Don't worry, we are not having a threesome. Fuuko is mine. I would never let another woman touch my bride."
"Fine well do it for Saturday night, lunch is almost over. I'm heading back."
We each sent text invites but come Friday neither of us had heard from Nanase.
It was lunch and me and Fuuko were feeding each other under a tree in the school yard. Nanase and Yuki walked up to us and Nanase looked like she was truly upset, "I don't like being manipulated. I know what you guys are trying to do. Forcing me to pick one over the other. To prove what? That I don't care about you. Yuki I'm so disappointed you went a long with this. I told you before Yuni why can't you understand it isn't one over the other I want it all and all in equal measure," Nanase was explaining. She looked like she had more to say, but that was all I cared to listen to. Fuuko had been ready to interrupt much sooner but I stilled her with my hand to her lips.
"I understand. The problem here is you never bothered to understand. I was never evenly measured and even if I was I don't want to be evenly measured I don't want to be in even measure. I want to matter most. I want to be loved more. I want to come first," I explained.
"Literally and figuratively," Fuuko added with a smirk and a chuckle. I blushed, this girl really could be too much.
"Also what was with that invite? I never agreed to a threesome,"
"No, but you did ask me to keep sleeping with you and I would never be unfaithful to Fuuko. I would never have sex with out her. Besides the invite was to give you a chance to choose love. Yuki couldn't accept the fact that you love her. She wanted to confess, but she thinks you love me and she doesn't want to get rejected. We will not be having sex. No matter how unboard my perverted girlfriend is.
"I see. So you have fully and completely rejected me and now the three of you are toying with me," she said her voice trembling. She was crying and I felt terrible. I didn't get it. This was a dream shouldn't story book endings unfold easily here. She left, all her fight was gone. Time flew by she was sullen and withdrawn, but she threw herself all the more so into volleyball. The girls all treated her much the same way though some of them had a hint of pity when they talked to her. Meanwhile me and Fuuko were pushed into our own little bubble. It was fine I liked it there. As far as I was concerned this world existed so that I could find happiness with Fuuko.
Sports day arrived and again Nanase was running. I didn't even remember her being asked. I had assumed she was too depressed, but she was an ace and no matter how she felt personally she would give it her all. I was pleased to see she hadn't changed. When it came clutch she could be brave and push her boundaries. She was carrying Yuki and Yuki was giggling and kicking her feet. As they crossed the finish line they kissed. In that moment I couldn't be happier.
"Hey Fuuko, when we graduate lets get married."
"Sure."
That sounded noncommittal, but I could see the joy on her face and I kissed her.