#koipeko

  Koizumi smiles. "That's really admirable, Pekoyama-san. All I know is Japanese."

  "There's nothing wrong with that. Everyone here on the island is fluent in Japanese anyway, so there is no problem there."

  Koizumi secures the first braid with a hair elastic before moving on to the next. "Yeah. But I think more than half of the people here speak more than one language. I heard a rumour Japanese isn't Komaeda's first language as well! Can you believe it?"

  "Understandable, considering he was born in Europe. You should hear his life story sometime; it's rather interesting."

  The photographer considers it. "Perhaps I will."

  Both of them are silent for a while, while Koizumi finishes up. ". . .I'm going to learn a second language." She decides.

  "How admirable. I wish you luck."

-

  Koizumi stares herself down in the mirror, focusing on the movement of her lips. It had been a couple of months since that conversation with Pekoyama, and since then, she had thrown herself into the English language.

  Sonia and Komaeda had been helping her a lot, and now she could say some simple phrases and understand them in turn. They came by to her cottage almost every day to help her practice.

  'Introduce yourself.' She urges, taking a deep breath. "My name is Ko-no. My name is Mahiru Koizumi. Westerners do given names first, right?" She grins, "Pekoyama-san is very pretty. I am, you are, he is, she is, they are, we are. . .ah, whatever."

  There is a knock on the door.

  Koizumi brushes some hair out of her face and smiles. "Come in! It's open!"

  Pekoyama quietly steps inside with a small smile. "Hello, Koizumi-san."

  The photographer turns and beams at her. "Hi, Pekoyama-san! You are very nice. You are very nice and pretty?"

  Something briefly flashes over Pekoyama's face, but she recovers quickly. "Is that the language you're learning?"

  She grins and nods. "English! You probably can't tell, but Sonia says I sound really good."

  "I'm sure. Anyways, ready for coffee?"

  The photographer nods. "Absolutely, yes! Tea. Let's go have coffee!"

-

  "Hey, Pekoyama-san!" Koizumi calls across the room.

  Pekoyama looks up from the book she was flipping through. "Yes?"

  "I really like you. Do you know what you would look really good in? My arms."

  ". . .I'm sorry. What did you say?"

  She doesn't have the heart to tell this incredible girl she's fluent in English.

  The red-haired girl smiles to herself. "Oh, nothing."

-

  "Hey, Pekoyama-san, you're the prettiest girl I've ever seen. Like, wow. I would like to kiss you some time."

  "You sound far more comfortable with English than you did a few months ago."

-

  Koizumi smirks, leaning across the table, getting her face closer to the silver-haired girl finishing up her coffee.

  "Pekoyama-san, I'm in love with you."

  The swordswoman sighs, standing up and getting rid of her mug. She gives Koizumi a small smile before exiting the building.

  Just before she passes through the doors, she says, "I'm in love with you too, Mahiru."

  And before Koizumi can fully process what just happened, Pekoyama is gone.

-

  Pekoyama knew.

  She knew the whole time. She knew English. She knew every little word Koizumi was saying and knew she was flirting with her, had feelings for her.

  She didn't do a damn thing to indicate that she knew. She didn't even bother mentioning she spoke English.

  Koizumi doesn't know whether to be pissed or amazed.

  But she didn't even get to the most shocking part yet.

  Pekoyama said she was in love with her too.

 . . .

     . . .

           . . .

  What?

-

  Koizumi ambushes Pekoyama right outside of her cottage.

  "Hey, what gives?"

  Pekoyama doesn't flinch, merely meeting the photographer's gaze. "Whatever do you mean, Koizumi-san?"

  "You knew English the whole time and didn't think to tell me?! What the hell?! You've just been letting me make a fool of myself this entire time?! And then you come back with a 'hey, I'm in love with you too?' What the actual hell, Pekoyama?!"

  Pekoyama sighs. "To be fair, you never asked."

  "Still, you shouldn't have-"

  "I know. I'm sorry, Koizumi-san," Pekoyama bows her head, "I was startled. I was flustered. And then I felt it was too late for me to reveal anything. I was foolish, and it wasn't fair to you. But I just really wanted you to know in the moment that I'm in love with you as well."

  Neither of them says anything for a moment.

  ". . .Well, I suppose I'll just head inside th-"

  Koizumi firmly presses her lips to Pekoyama's, making her stumble back and hit the wall. It only takes a second for the swordswoman's instincts to kick in, and she takes Koizumi by the hips, kissing her back with a passion.

  Koizumi pulls back slightly, staring deep into Pekoyama's eyes. "I love you, Peko."