The date became a traditional double date, and we had fun. In fact, it was the most fun me and Nanase had had since we started dating. At least with our clothes on. She was an athlete and the things she could do shouldn't be underestimated. At the end of the night, she tugged on my arm.
"I get us being together probably doesn't make sense and wouldn't be fair to whatever I'm starting with Yuki, but I do love you. I'm not ready for you to just be gone."
"We might not have as much time together as before, but I'll always be here."
The student body had at large accepted us the faculty turned a blind eye and my mom was over the moon I was happy. Now we could settle into our relationships and figure out what was next for us. Yuki took to their relationship with a natural ease that I couldn't help but be hurt by. I shouldn't have been surprised their relationship hadn't changed really. She still clung to Nanase who playfully reluctantly gave her whatever she wanted. I wondered for the briefest moment if she had been able to give herself to me that completely would we have been happy.
"Sad, selfish, Yuni, regrating it already?" Fuuko asked me in this brief moment of contemplation.
"No, our tragic first loves are just one more thing we have in common now right."
She smiled and took my hand, and I felt like the luckiest woman on Earth.
It had been six months since Fuuko came to stay and Mom had been really cool about it. She was officially living here, having severed relationship with her family. We were getting ready to meet Yuki to head to Natsume's volleyball game.
"Yuni-Chan,"Fuuko said with that sharp mischievous tone that made my heart do summersaults, "Will you marry me? I never thought I needed to be first. Never thought I could be. I was fine with you saying you cared, but now that you've given me so much, I'm weak and greedy Yuni. I don't want to wait and see what happens tomorrow. I want to claim you. Every inch of you now and forever."
"Ok, but Yuki has to be your maid of honor. I get Natsume," I said, chuckling. I kissed her cheek, and we left the house. I texted Mom as we road on the train, "I'm engaged."
She sent a giant smiley face in response.
After the game at lunch, we told Yuki and Nanase the good news.
"Congratulations. We'll be here for you," Nanase said.
"O, babe, we should just make it a double ceremony," Yuki responded with joy overtaking her. She was so excitable I really didn't know how Nanase kept up with her energy levels. Nobody commented on her suggestion.
Later Nanase approached me when I was alone, "I want to do better with Yuki then I did with you. Would it be wrong to give her this? I want to be with her forever."
"I have to talk to Fuuko, but I wouldn't mind, and I think it's sweet of you, but don't rush because you're afraid of making the same mistakes."
"When did you get so emotionally aware? You seem so different now."
"When Fuuko taught me, my feelings were always valid. When I felt seen and heard even when I shrank back and stayed quiet. When someone chose me and I seen the hurt in her eyes when I couldn't choose her. Thank you Nanase. I'm truly happy you know?"
She nodded, but I could see the hurt in her eyes. I wanted to comfort her, but I couldn't find the words or the feelings that said this was fine and for the best. So, I left her to her thoughts. Several days later she and Yuki appeared at my place. They were officially engaged, and we were starting to plan our weddings.
Time flew by and our graduation was here. We were getting married tomorrow. Ironically Nanase was leaving town alone the day after that. Yuki would be joining her, but Nanase had a training camp, so the window was tight. Yuki and Nanase were used to such tight deadlines, but me and Fuuko were not, and we were feeling anxious. Not about the wedding or the forever that loomed beyond it, but for the constraint of it all. They were our friends, and we were determined to make it work. Though at times it was difficult Nanase seemed oblivious to all the concessions we made, but that was typical for her, so we let it go.
The ceremony for graduation was a blur Nanase gave a speech about being yourself and fighting for what you wanted. I couldn't help but ache a little at the irony of the fact that that was all I had ever wanted her to give me. We had dinner after, and no one mentioned the speech. We had already moved our attention to tomorrow's ceremony. Nanase wore a suit Yuki a small white dress that resembled a spring dress more than a wedding gown, but she did ware a vail. Fuuko wore a provocative form fitting gown with lace across the stomach. I wore a traditional wedding gown with layers and a vail and everything that felt heavy and overwhelming, but the look on Fuuko's face when she had me try it on, I knew it was the only dress I could ware today.
Just like that my childhood was over and my dream future had begun. Me and Fuuko opened a bookstore with considerable support from my mother. Though she never made me call her Momma Fuuko again she still pampered me when I was sad, cared for me when I was sick, and punished me when I was being bratty. We were faithful and our love never shrank back from the world. I was blessed to be truly loved and happy in this world.
In our early thirties Nanase and Yuki returned to town, and we reconnected. I mean we had stayed in touch, but just the occasional text and rare phone call. Now they were settling in town. They had two children and were starting a gym. They had some big investment firm backing them Nanase was still a big sports star. She had been on the Olympic team and won a medal. We all grew up close and I came to call their children my niece and nephew. When me and Fuuko grew old it was them who took care of us.
I truly couldn't have asked for better live and whenever I sit and think back on it, I can't think of one thing I would have changed. Even now in my eighties I spend my nights holding the woman I love, the woman that saved me from myself so many years ago.