K-On: The Return
Nodoka's side
Nodoka Manabe smiled slightly as the brown haired woman looked down at the lovely woman sleeping beside her. Mio Akiyama's long black hair fanned out around the beautiful woman, the soft snores more cute than annoying.
They had become friends through a mutual aquaintence, Yui, who had joined the Light Music Club along with Mio. They interacted some, then the next year they had ended up in homeroom together. There a friendship blossomed, as they talked and chatted between classes. She really liked Mio, and sensed a degree of strength beneath her seeming fragility.
They went to different colleges, and Nodoka had expected they would grow more and more distant. But Mio kept up letters and calls, and Nodoka was touched at how she strove to maintain their friendship. Even after graduation they stayed in touch, while her friends tried to be a professional band.
While her friends chased dreams, Nodoka settled down in the corporate world. Starting out as a glorified office lady she demonstrated her managerial skills, ending up in charge of the secretarial pool at first. Getting that running well she moved up the ladder, if a bit slower than some of the men, and felt that she was on her way.
Nodoka had a nice apartment, a fulfilling work life and really felt like she was doing something with her life. Yes, she had no social life, but she also knew you sometimes had to sacrifice a bit to get what you want. Besides, she hadn't really felt any sort of connection with the office ladies she had worked with, and her fellow managers were as focused on work as she was.
Then SHE walked back into her life.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Nodoka tiredly went home from another night at the office, working to get ahead. Having the report done early would get the attention of the manager above her boss, raising the possibility of another promotion. Which would in turn mean more late nights trying to get ahead of the next guy.
'Why did I want to get promoted again?' Nodoka wondered wryly as she walked up the hall to her apartment. Turning a corner she blinked, seeing a figure standing by her door, long black hair messy and her clothes looking worn.
"Nodoka?" she turned, smiling weakly.
"Mio?" Nodoka blinked, hurrying up to her. "I haven't seen you in years!"
"I'm sorry for just dropping in on you like this," Mio said quietly as she followed Nodoka into the apartment. She sat down on the couch and sighed, "To be honest, I rented out my apartment and have no where else to go."
Just looking at her Nodoka knew something had gone horribly wrong, but she also knew not to press. It seemed fairly clear Mio wasn't in any shape to deal with what was going on. Instead she said, "It's fine, stay as long as you want."
"Thank you," Mio looked up at her as tears began to trickle down her cheeks.
Without really thinking about it Nodoka sat down beside her and cradled Mio in her arms. The other girl stiffened a moment then relaxed, sobbing gently against Nodoka's shoulder. "There there," Nodoka patted her back, "there there."
It took a few days for Nodoka to find out what happened. In a way it was typical for the band, silly and embarassing all wrapped up in one huge package. While preforming for a college crowd the group was wearing some new gothic outfits designed by their former teacher, Sawa. Like on their very first preformance, someone tripped.
However, unlike the first time it was Rits who tripped going off stage. Reaching out she had grabbed at something to break her fall... and managed to rip Mio's dress right off her, leaving the poor girl standing there in just her bra and panties.
That had been bad enough, but reading between the lines Nodoka got the sense that a lot of harsh words had been said afterward. While she didn't think Mio had burnt her bridges behind her, they were certainly very singed. And it looked like the friendship between Rits and Mio was done, too.
Mio stayed with Nodoka a week as she recovered, look a look at her life and decided what to do with herself. Nodoka didn't push, wanting to give the other woman time to think. And on a purely selfish note, Mio was a better cook than she was and kept the place spic and span. In the end she decided to go back to school, take course credits she generated in college and persue a degree.
Nobly (Hah!) Nodoka offered up her spare bedroom as a base of operations for Mio, in return for cooking and cleaning around her classes. Mio agreed, and the two settled into a odd version of domestic bliss. Odd in that they didn't have that kind of relationship, yet...
Nodoka had seen girls have crushes on other girls before. Hell, she had been vice president to a woman who was madly crushed on Mio, at one point even following Mio around. And astonishingly Mio had even forgiven Megumi for the stalking, something Nodoka didn't know she could do!
But Nodoka had never really had such emotions herself. Or at least she had thought she hadn't. But the more time she spent with Mio, the more comfortable she felt. And as time passed a warmth built up between them, each watching out for the other. Nodoka found herself knowing when Mio was distressed, even as Mio seemed to know that about her.
Sadly, Nodoka just didn't have the guts to DO anything about her feelings. As Mio took accelerated courses and graduated with a Masters in Library Science, all she could bring herself to do was stand by her and help however she could. Thankfully, several classmates of Mio had seen her mooning around, and hatched a plan.
The celebration for the graduates invited friends and family along, and Mio had asked Nodoka along, They drank and talked through the evening, even as the classmates discretely peeled off to give them privacy. In a corner table, with candlelight glittering and enough wine to give her courage Nodoka asked Mio out, and Mio accepted.
Later on, Mio told Nodoka that she had been struggling with similar feelings. At first she though her feelings were just inspired by Nodoka's kindness, but they grew and strenthened. However she was scared to act on them, worried she might frighten Nodoka away.
"I guess we're both idiots," Nodoka noted as they staggered home rather drunkenly.
"I guess so," Mio agreed, then hiccuped.
That made Nodoka burst into giggles, and Mio laughed too. "You have a lovely laugh," Nodoka noted as they reached their building.
"You too," Mio agreed as they went inside and headed for the elevator. She smiled, "Nearly as pretty as the rest of you. And do you know how long I've wanted to SAY that?"
Nodoka smiled at her warmly, "About as long as I've wanted to tell you that you're beautiful." She leaned in and kissed Mio gently, then drew back. "I've wanted to do that since you showed up at my doorstep."
Mio chuckled as the elevator doors opened and they walked to the apartment. "Remember when I snuck into your bed because I was scared?" Mio murmured into Nodoka's ear, "I lied."
"You little minx," Nodoka grinned as she unlocked the door.
"You know, there's a lot of things I want to do," Mio noted as they stood in the hall, "but I want to do then sober. Are you okay with that?"
Nodoka hugged her gently as she said reassuringly, "Yeah, I don't want to wake up next morning not remembering what happened."
"Despite that," Mio said quietly, "can we sleep together?"
"I thought you'd never ask," Nodoka smiled as they walked back to the main bedroom.
The next morning Nodoka found herself curled into the warmth of mio's body, both snug in her single bed. 'If I'm going to do this regularly, we'll need to get a bigger bed,' she thought, breathing in the scent of Mio's hair. Thank goodness it was the weekend and neither of them had to work.
"Hmm," Mio stirred, then her eyes opened, turning to see nodoka in bed with her. "Am I dreaming?" she asked softly.
"No dream," Nodoka reassured her. Gently she asked, "Are you all right?"
"A little headachey," Mio admitted ruefully, "my friends party much harder than I ever did." She hesitated, "Did we say what I think we said?"
"I love you," Nodoka shrugged, "and you said you love me. Uhm, you aren't regretting that?"
"No! No," Mio said, a blush stealing across her cheeks. She beamed, "I'd kiss you, but my mouth probably tastes awful."
"Don't care," Nodoka decided, kissing her gently.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Quietly, and without fanfare, Mio's stuff migrated to Nodoka's bedroom and closet. The spare bedroom evolved into a mixed office space for both women, with each of them storing paperwork from their jobs in seperate filing cabinets. A new bed was delivered, and the two women settled down in what was almost married bliss.
Mio went to work for the library, soon showing her own talents. She was good with people, despite a crippling shyness when she was younger, and got along well with her co-workers. Nodoka was surprised to see they'd sort of formed a 'girl posse' at work, with the arch Ryouko in charge. The group of young women also closed ranks protectively if anyone brought up After School Tea Time or bothered Mio.
"I think Yue Ayase has figured out we're more than friends," Mio noted as they sat comfortably on the couch.
"That won't be a problem, will it?" Nodoka asked, thinking of the serious young woman with long purple hair.
"Actually, she congradulated me,' Mio said with some amusement. "I think her and her friend Emily might be in the same club."
Nodoka chuckled softly. "So coming out at work probably won't hurt you?" she asked curiously. "Because I am not telling my bosses, anyway."
"Me too," Mio agreed as she snuggled close to Nodoka, "but my coworkers seem to be cool."
Nodoka hesitated, but decided this might be a good time as any. "Well, if you think they might be okay with it," she started, taking a ring box out from where she stashed it in the couch.
"Is that...?" Mio's eyes were wide as nodoka eased herself off the couch and knelt beside her.
"Mio Akiyama" Nodoka said formally as she opened the box to reveal a nice silver ring set with emerald and diamond studs, "will you marry me?"
"Yes!" Mio yelled, throwing her arms around Nodoka and kissing her wildly, nearly bowling her right over, tears of happiness streaming down her face.
"Hmm, easy, easy," Nodoka laughed, breaking the kiss. They ended up sprawled on the very clean floor, Mio resting in her arms.
"I want to get you a ring too," Mio said, "maybe matching ones."
"Whatever you say," Nodoka squeezed her gently, "my wife."
Now, looking at her sleeping love Nodoka knew she had everything she wanted. Well, mostly. She'd like to see the ugly wound between Mio and her old friends be healed, but she was confident that would happen someday too. After all, they were together, and Nodoka didn't think there was anything more unlikely than that.
End
Notes: I don't know much about the Japanese education system, if I got any bits wrong tell me.
It's hard to write something from Nodoka's point of view, because she mostly just appears as Yui's and Mio's levelheaded friend. Not much to work with. This is probably the end of 'the Return' unless I get struck by some new inspiration.