Chapter Text
Shizuku left Airi’s workshop earlier in the morning to keep Minori occupied while the finishing work is done for her staff, leaving just Airi and Haruka alone together again in the workshop. The topic from the other day comes to Airi’s mind.
“Haruka, thanks for agreeing to help me with the detailing and runes on Minori’s staff, but are you really sure you don't want to meet Yuuki when Minori goes to see her?” Airi asks with a frown. Haruka has been insistent on not going with Minori.
“I’ve already long since made my peace with not seeing her, Airi. Besides, I don't want to interfere with Minori’s big moment,” Haruka says.
Airi sighs, “Haruka Kiritani, I did not listen to your heartrending tale for THIS. I swear I will kiss you if you keep trying to avoid talking about your feelings like that.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Airi,” Haruka smirks.
“You think I won’t?!” Airi scowls.
“Go ahead and try,” Haruka says smugly.
“Fine, I will—if it will get you to talk about your fucking feelings for once!” Airi shouts
Airi pounces on Haruka, shoving her onto the bed and pins her against it. Airi kisses her neck and cheek repeatedly until Haruka starts to giggle.
“Feel like talking yet?” Airi asks pausing to stare Haruka in the eyes briefly.
“Not yet, I don’t think so,” Haruka says, struggling to contain her giggle.
“You can be so difficult sometimes, you know that,” Airi says furrowed brows.
“Oh, like you don’t like that part of our relationship,” Haruka teases with a wink.
“Okay, that’s enough, Miss Goddess,” Airi sighs.
Airi kisses around Haruka’s lips to tease her back before finally kissing her lips and being just a bit forceful with her tongue into Haruka’s lips. Airi keeps kissing her and occasionally changing it up until both of their breathing begin to grow heavy. She pulls away and sits on the edge of the bed.
“You better feel like it now,” Airi says, catching her breath.
“I think I might. Thanks, Airi,” Haruka says, sitting beside Airi and subtly taking one of her hands.
“Then, what do you have to say?” Airi asks.
“I would like to meet Yuuki again, but I don’t want to complicate things for Minori… Airi, you said Mochizuki-san was also going to try to take the trial?” Haruka says.
“Yeah, she asked for the staff I made for her a few days ago finally. So it seems she wants to help Minori,” Airi says.
“Then, how about after they succeed, I’ll get Mochizuki-san to introduce me. It would let me meet Yuuki again and give her a chance to feel like she was repaying me,” Haruka suggests.
“That’s not a bad plan I suppose, it’s very Haruka. And finally believing in our apprentice and girlfriend again, Haruka?” Airi asks with a grin.
“Thanks, and, well, with seeing how well her new staff is turning out, it’s hard not to believe in her. That’s thanks to you, Airi,” Haruka says with a smile.
“Of course, I’ve got to give it my all since it's my final gift to her while she’s still my apprentice though thank you, Haruka. Anyways, I won’t bother you further about the past. Just do what you can in the present,” Airi says.
Haruka nods, “I will, don’t worry, Airi.”
“Good morning, my sleepy and sweet Minori-chan,” a familiar gentle voice calls out to a still groggy Minori.
“Shi—shizuku-chan? Uh… um—good morning,” Minori says awkwardly as she realizes at some point Shizuku had cuddled up to her, and judging by the window’s sunlight, Minori had overslept again… since Airi’s ritual Minori feels she’s been sleeping a lot yet dreaming very little.
“I figured you could use some company. Shii-chan told me you looked a little lonely recently, and I made you some breakfast,” Shizuku says happily.
Minori smiles widely and cuddles back against Shizuku gently, “Thank you, Shizuku-chan.”
“Of course, anything for you my love,” Shizuku pulls Minori even closer to her.
“I love you, Shizuku-chan,” Minori says.
“Me too, Minori-chan. Is there anything else you need?” Shizuku asks.
“Just more of this for a bit longer,” Minori says, clinging tightly to Shizuku with both arms wrapped around her.
“Of course.”
Several more minutes pass as Minori basks in Shizuku’s comforting embrace before a thought comes to her, “Though later I’d like to go for a walk. I haven't been able to enjoy being out in the forest much lately. Would you accompany me?”
“A walk with Minori-chan? I’d love to!” Shizuku says.
“Then it’s a date,” Minori says with a blush and giggle.
Thanks to her animal magic, plant connection, and knowledge from Airi-chan, if there was one place Minori-chan felt truly at ease in—aside from at her girlfriends’ side—it was the forest. It being all around her at the tower was a part of living there Minori had really come to treasure.
Walking through it again with Shizuku was a simple joy Minori wouldn’t take for granted. Sure, technically she had gotten to go in the forest to see Airi-chan’s Mom, but that was a simple there and back on a known path, rather than getting to immerse herself in the forest.
This was different. Minori and Shizuku wandered with no objective in mind for most of the walk, simply enjoying the plants and animals together in whatever direction looked interesting at the moment.
Enjoying putting flowers in each other’s hair, laying in the sun in the grassy areas holding hands and whispering sweet nothings to each other, having a picnic on a hill with a great view of the forest, watching unusual animals together, and just sharing their joy and wonder for nature with each other.
Eventually, when the sun began to set, Minori had no complaints going back to the tower. Today had been filled with so much happiness, enough to make up for her being stuck away for two weeks prior and more.
“Thank you for today, Shizuku-chan,” Minori says with a smile.
“No, thank you, Minori-chan. You made exploring the forest together just as fun as Airi-chan does. It was my pleasure, and I was glad to see you smiling so much,” Shizuku says, taking Minori’s hand.
“I still appreciate it, since I couldn’t do this alone. Have I not been smiling that much lately?” Minori asks.
“You were the one that told me your heart felt empty before, didn’t you?” Shizuku asks.
“That’s true…” Minori says, slightly taken aback by her own words.
“You only smiled genuinely a few times around me since then, but today you were much more like the Minori-chan I've loved for these past one hundred years, so do you still feel empty?” Shizuku asks.
Minori shakes her head, “How could I, with all the love the three of you have given me lately? Shizuku-chan, that’s unfair to say because you’ve become so much more wonderful these past one hundred years, I might love you even more than I did back then,” she says gazing longingly at her girlfriend of a hundred years.
Shizuku giggles, “Minori-chan, I love you too, but if you keep saying things like that, then I’ll have to do this.”
Minori feels herself pulled much closer to Shizuku, as her eyes make contact looking directly up to the taller girl’s eyes, who towered above Minori. “Well, is this what Minori-chan wants?” Shizuku says playfully. Minori blushes intensely and can only nod. “Then I suppose that’s probably the best way for us to end this date, so there can be nothing left empty in Minori-chan’s heart,” Shizuku says with a cute giggle before shutting her eyes, and Minori does the same.
Minori feels her forehead kissed first, then one cheek, then the other before finally going for Minori’s lips. Even then, her motions stay more playful and whimsical than Shizuku would usually do with her, kissing Minori’s lips back and forth from different directions.
Before it eventually comes to an end when Minori feels both of them breathing heavily, and Shizuku moves a little away still holding Minori’s hand. “How was that, Minori-chan?” Shizuku asks after catching her breath.
“I couldn’t ask for a better end to our date, Shizuku-chan. Today was wonderful, thank you.” Minori says.
“You’re very welcome, Minori-chan,” Shizuku says with a smile.
Minori slept in once more only to awake alone after. How odd… Minori had expected to see Shizuku-chan here for sure after how snuggly and comfortable she had gotten in bed with Minori last night after their date.
Minori descends from the library’s loft once more only to spot not one, but all three of her girlfriends gathered around the central table.
“Ah, finally awake, Minori,” Airi calls out.
“Ahaha… I’ve still been a bit sleepy while recovering fully,” Minori says awkwardly.
“Well, it’s good you’re taking time to rest, so don’t worry about it. Just get down here,” Airi says.
Haruka’s familiar floating platforms guide Minori down to the table the three are sitting at.
“So if all three of you are here, then does that mean it’s done?!” Minori asks a bit eagerly.
“Yup! Haruka-chan helped Airi-chan put the finishing touches on your new staff last night, Minori-chan,” Shizuku says proudly.
“Why do you sound so proud about it? Haruka and I did the hardest parts,” Airi pouts.
“But you had asked me to keep you company, while you were figuring out the design to work best for Minori-chan and to help vent your frustration when you were overthinking it,” Shizuku says.
“T—that’s…” Airi stutters.
Haruka giggles, “As amusing as it is to watch you two like this, we gathered here for a reason didn’t we?”
Minori nods.
Airi takes the staff in wand form out of her pouch, transforms it to staff form, and holds it out towards Minori. “Here, Minori. It will probably take some getting used to, but I promise I put in my best effort to make a staff worthy of the growth you’ve shown these past hundred years. It should be able to handle even the most powerful of spells you could ever dream of casting thanks to the finishing touches Haruka helped me place on the staff.”
“We’ll finally get to match, Minori-chan. Airi-chan even tried to make some parts of the design similar,” Shizuku says happily.
“Minori, this staff is very powerful, as you know, but I know you’re ready for this staff. Just take your time to learn to use it, and I know you’ll make all three of us proud,” Haruka says confidently.
Minori admires Airi’s work. Aside from the wolf at the top of the staff, it is quite similar to Shizuku’s. What stands out most to Minori is the engraving between where her hands would rest that reads, ‘Minori, never forget there's nothing you can’t do. Believe in yourself like we believe in you, with our love, Airi, Shizuku, and Haruka’ their names clearly each personally engraved.
Minori wipes her tears, and takes the staff, “I promise I’ll make all three of you proud, and Airi-chan, I’ll take even better care of this staff for at least a millennium—no, for two thousand years—no, for as long as I live! I love it so much already,” Minori says.
Compared to how scary Shizuku’s staff felt to her before, this staff feels powerful yet reliable in Minori’s hands. The staff glows orange as Minori shines her magic into it to connect with it, and it becomes a part of her.
“I’m sure you will, and with Mom’s wood used for it, I know it will last you that long,” Airi says.
“I can’t wait to see what you can achieve with it, Minori,” Haruka says.
“Oh right, Minori-chan, I have one more thing for you, let me go get it,” Shizuku says, leaving before anyone can get a word in.
“Minori, before you use this staff to go looking for that spirit, I’ve warned the forest to keep you away from that spirit until you’re ready. I’ve known of that spirit for centuries and it tends to stay around for a few years after it shows up. The forest told me stories of it being one that was abandoned by humanity, it’s kind, but holds a grudge according to them, so it will certainly seek to test you when you approach it, so make sure you master that staff before you even think of going looking for it, okay?” Airi asks.
“Airi, how about Shizuku and I train with Minori and spar with her some? She should be able to hold her own against us, and I’ll give you my approval when I think she’s ready,” Haruka says.
“That sounds good to me. Does that sound good to you, Minori?” Airi asks.
Minori finds the thought of sparring with Haruka or Shizuku a bit terrifying. Could she really keep up, even with her new staff? If she wanted to become more capable of protecting them, then this is probably her best option. “I’ll try my best to endure it, and if you think it’s fine to wait on finding the spirit, Airi-chan, then I’ll trust you and wait until I feel confident that I can handle it.”
“Good, I’m sure you’ll find a way to manage,” Airi says.
“Don’t expect me to go too easy on you Minori,” Haruka says.
Minori trembles, “Please don’t be too hard on me, Haruka-chan. I’ve never spared with a goddess before,” she pleads.
Airi and Haruka both giggle.
“Oh, and Minori, I have one more thing for your staff if you’d like it,” Airi says, reaching into a pouch in her belt. “Here.”
A wood charm sits in Airi’s palm. It's not an animal, so it’s not a focus. It has a small string tied to the top. This shape, it’s a clover?... “Airi-chan, what’s this?” Minori asks.
“Well, you said you wanted me to make something from your old staff to remember it by, so I ended up making that clover decoration for your new staff, if you’ll accept it. I picked the clover design because it was one of the first plants I taught you about, and it somehow reminds me of you still after all this time,” Airi says reluctantly with a bit of a blush.
Minori immediately swipes the clover and starts to tie it to the notch on her staff for it. “Thank you so much, Airi-chan. I’ll cherish it forever,” Minori says, clutching it close to heart as a few tears fall down.
Airi smiles, holding back her own tears, “I’m glad you like it, Minori. Though don’t worry too much, I made two spares just in case, but I thought this one turned out the best.”
“See, I told you you had the right design, and you didn’t need to overthink it, Airi,” Haruka says with a grin.
“Haruka-chan is right, Airi-chan. I couldn’t have asked for a better decoration to remember my old staff by,” Minori says, hugging Airi now.
“You don’t need to get close when Shizuku is going to be back any moment,” Airi protests.
Minori frowns, releasing her hug.
The library’s door swings open with Shizuku and two people in tow, both Shiho and Honami. “Minori-chan! I brought your other gift,” Shizuku says.
“I’m not her present,” Shiho protests.
Honami giggles, “I don’t think that’s what she meant, Shiho-chan.”
“Shiho-chan and Honami-chan, what are you doing here?” Minori asks.
“Well, I couldn’t ignore a request from Honami and Shizuku, so here, this is for you, Minori. I made it myself. Consider it my thanks for doing what I hadn’t been able to do for Honami,” Shiho says, setting a small pouch on the table.
Minori opens the pouch and finds three pointed hexagonally shaped spell crystals set in a silver metal frame above a much larger crystal that's more of a diamond shape that Minori isn’t quite sure of what it’s for. “Thank you for the spell crystals, Shiho-chan, but what is that much larger one for?” she asks.
“It’s a spirit crystal. It’s a real pain to make even with my earth magic. I broke at least seven of them trying to figure out to make it just right, so you better take good care of it. You’ll need that if you want to be able to make a pact with that spirit I heard about,” Shiho says.
“Thank you very much, Shiho-chan, I’ll take good care of it,” Minori says, carefully attaching it to her staff. “But I’m surprised you’re able to make these yourself.”
“Think back to how I explained earth magic to you. A crystal is simply rocks placed under sufficient pressure, so you should understand why I can,” Shiho says.
Minori recalls her brief earth magic lesson, and suddenly, it clicks. She understands how Shiho made these, “Ohh I see, amazing!”
“Thank you for agreeing to make these for Minori-chan, Shii-chan,” Shizuku says, hugging Shiho from behind much to the surprise of Shiho, it seems to Minori.
“Shizuku, can I go now?” Shiho pouts.
“After Honami-chan shares with Minori-chan, you can go,” Shizuku says.
Shiho sighs, “Fine. Honami, hurry up.”
Honami now moves and places a piece of wood on the table. Minori looks at it in confusion. It's just a circle with an odd picture carved on it and a circle with a few patterns around it. She takes it and looks closer. It’s the same on the opposite site. She’s still unsure what the picture is supposed to be, perhaps a strange plant of some sort? The wood itself feels somehow familiar oddly.
“Um… Honami-chan, what’s this supposed to be? And why are you giving it to me?” Minori asks as gently as she can despite her confusion.
“It’s supposed to be the Mochizuki family crest,” Honami says with a pained look.
Oh, Mochizuki… so it’s supposed to be a wheat plant then. “Ohhh… I see, it’s certainly a unique symbol, but what’s it for?” Minori asks, hearing Airi and Haruka attempting to hold back a giggle.
“Well, since the spirit was connected with my family, according to Saki-chan, the best catalyst for the blessing should be the Mochizuki’s crest, so I made one as best as I could from part of your old staff that Momoi-san was kind of enough to allow me to use. Since it’s best if the wood had a connection to you, and um… I’ll make you an offering as well when you’re ready, Minori-chan,” Honami says.
“Oh, that’s what it’s for. Thank you very much, Honami-chan, and for your help with the offering. I appreciate it and hope it’s not too much trouble,” Minori says.
Honami shakes her head, “It’s no trouble, Minori-chan. In fact, please let me help you, both for your sake and mine. I want to be able to help you. I want to repay you and because I want to know if there is anything my family left behind. ”
Honami’s shift surprised Minori some compared to how withdrawn she had been only mere days ago, but she more than welcomed the change, “Then I’ll look forward to working together,” Minori says proudly, shaking Honami’s hand.
All of the joy and support Minori had received today only made her heart more eager to grow to where her magic would grow to in the near future with her lovers and friends to move forward with her.
Minori found herself in Airi’s workshop after everyone dispersed at Shizuku’s request.
“Airi-chan, Haruka-chan told me about how much you pushed yourself to finish the staff,” Shizuku frowns.
Airi audibly gulps, “Yeah, but…”
“No buts, Airi-chan. I need you to stay here and relax and rest while I prepare some lunch for you and Minori-chan. And Minori-chan,” Shizuku pulls Minori close to her and whispers something.
Ah, Minori understands Shizuku’s plan. Minori and Haruka had spent a few decades finding a solution to get Airi to relax when she’d been insisting she’s fine and overworking herself over a project. It took a bit more control than Minori’s usual transformations, since it required using her magic to suppress part of what Haruka’s research found caused Airi’s cat issues, so would be good first test for her new staff.
Minori takes the cat figure out of its pouch, holds her wand in front of her, and remembers how to use her magic to shift the transformation as needed. As she focuses, her eyes glow orange and her skin turns into a white-ish fur all over her body with an orange face and paws. She feels so wholly herself again being able to change form again, like this.
Minori rubs against Airi looking up, “So just stay with Minori-chan while I get you some lunch.”
Shizuku sits Airi down on the edge of the bed and Minori jumps up into her lap, “Fine, but only because Minori is so cute like this, and I still can’t believe Haruka and Minori spend thirty years on this,” Airi pouts lightly.
“That’s just how much we love you, Airi-chan. I’ll be back soon,” Shizuku says. Minori meows to voice her agreement.
Airi settles into petting Minori’s ears gently and she purrs in delight. When Airi stops for a moment, Minori curls herself up into a circle with her tail under her face.
Minori feels herself drift off from the comfort of being near Airi and her occasional gentle yet reluctant pets.
“Airi-chan, say ahh,” Shizuku says softly, offering some vegetables on a fork from the nearby salad.
“Shizuku, I can feed myself, you know,” Airi pouts.
“But Airi-chan, you don’t want to disturb her do you?” Shizuku pleads.
Airi looks down at Minori’s cat form looking in utter peace in her lap, and sighs, “Fine, but this is seriously unfair, Shizuku.”
Shizuku smiles, “Well, I think it’s unfair when Airi-chan doesn’t take proper care of herself. Here you go,” she holds out the vegetables on the fork once more.
Airi bites in. It’s surprisingly fresh, crisp, and tasting great, picking out some of her favorites in it. It’s strange, usually the salad vegetables in the kitchen were at least a week old, but this couldn’t have been that old. “When did you get to pick these Shizuku, they’re great.”
Shizuku giggles and smiles, “I picked some of your favorites while I was out with Minori-chan to reward you for your hard work.”
“Thank you. You really think about us all the time, don’t you Shizuku?” Airi asks.
“Of course I do, though don’t you do the same, Airi-chan?” Shizuku asks playfully, pressing her hands together.
“T—that’s…” Airi stutters with heated cheeks.
Shizuku giggles, “It’s fine, you don’t need to say it, Airi-chan. I know you do. Here have some more salad.”
Airi reluctantly accepts the food from the fork, more to calm this teasing that was making her heart race and to avoid Minori seeing her like this if nothing else.
Somehow, Minori hadn’t even woken up once while Shizuku was feeding Airi. Now Shizuku glares with clear intentions behind that calm smile of hers, but Airi had already resigned to this fate.
“Airi-chan, since you’ve been cooperative, and I think you’ll take care of yourself while I train Minori, would you like to…?” Shizuku asks with a smile leaning in towards Airi.
Airi silently nods and does the same. When their lips meet, it’s a calm relaxing kiss. In sharp contrast to the ones of the prior days when Airi had used kissing Shizuku a tad more aggressively to vent her frustrations with her projects at the time. Instead, it's full of the joy of her success and the calmness of seeing Minori back to being her usual self with magic and all along with the acceptance of her partners’ support.