Maybe That's the POINT

Face scrunches again in a similar confusion.  “Well–y-yeah.  I thought that the only real way for peace would be for you two…”  She frowns.  Is she suggesting…?  She turns her head, staring at Shiori’s face.

“Are you saying we should, like…?”  He voice trails off, wanting to say what’s on her mind, but knowing it’s unwise.  She wants this.  She knows, however, that life’s more complicated than that.  She lets goof Shiori’s hand, shifting to sit in front of her.  She’s only inches from the Princess’s face now, eyes locked on hers.

“I love you.  There–it’s out there.  I think I have for most of my life.  And as much as I would love to just run off to some remote part of the world, and just be hunters or something, we both know we can’t.  You getting with the Oracle is the best chance for peace there is.  You know that.”

❝ What? No, not that-- ❞

Staci’s face is too close, her face is flushed, and she doesn’t know what to say for a good while. 

❝ --A-all I was trying to say was-- yes, she and I can work together to bring peace, but I don’t think we-- have to be married to do that. ❞

Now she wished she’d finished her statement before Staci had a chance to reply, it would have saved at least her the embarrassment-- she’s not good at saying things like that to people! Especially having heard that out of nowhere like that. So, hoping Staci doesn’t expect her to reply, she continues.

She can’t help but frown.  “I don’t want you to be the responsible one anymore,” she mumbles.  “I just want you to say fuck the Oracle and sit in my lap, and just be happy, despite all that’s going on.”  She knows she should just nod, and agree with whatever Shiori suggests.  She thinks that she could enjoy the ride to Altissia regardless of their relationship, but…this has to be said, she thinks.

“I know you can’t do that though.  We can’t ignore what’s going on.  If we did then Somnus…”  she bites her lower lip.  Shakes her head.  “Not just Somnus either.  Everyone we know and love–I can’t do that to my brother.  He deserves a safe life where he doesn’t have to constantly look over his shoulder.  We have to finish this.  You have to marry the Oracle.”

She squeezes Shiori’s hand.  Finally smiles again, a gentle, wistful thing.  “But, if we so happen to have to book two rooms in hotels from now on…I don’t think I’d mind it.  I mean, what the Oracle doesn’t know won’t hurt her…?”

Staci sounds like a child sometimes, she thinks, listening quietly to her complaints, many things she’d already thought herself. It makes her feel a little less crazy, hearing it from another person, and she sighs, running a hand through her bangs and looking out at the dark landscape around them. 

It isn’t until then that something comes to mind. 

❝ ... h-hey, Staci... ❞

Brows furrowed, a confused look is stuck on her face. 

“C-creepy? Ahaha, Can’t I just do something nice? After all, living with Dojima-san must be hard so… I just figured I could give you some chocolate that you can share with Nanako-chan.” Nice save. 

She’d really only been teasing him, but it was certainly fun seeing him get all flustered. 

❝ Oh, so it’s for two girls younger than you. Definitely makes more sense. ❞

❝ Adachi-san, isn’t it a little creepy to give someone half your age White Day chocolate?  Especially a few days after White Day...? ❞

holy crap i actually beat botw 

Door slightly creaking to her room, Yukiko slipped out to take Shiori’s hand and bring her into her room to cuddle with that night. It was a bit obvious that she was a bit tipsy and still in the hoodie that was given to her.

She can’t help but smile.  She snuggles just a little closer to Shiori, momentarily forgetting that they were supposed to be talking about…that.  She laces her fingers in with Shiori’s, her mind swimming in memories.

“I’ll always be here to take care of you, and to support you.  It’s kinda my entire duty.”  She feels her smile fade, and a frown mars her lips.  “I mean, duty or not, I’d be there.  You’re my best friend.  The only one I’ve known–and loved–since childhood.”

She lifts her head from Shiori’s shoulder, and plants a soft peck on her cheek.  “Oracle or no, I’ll be here.  I guess the long and the short of what I wanted to say was that, like…I dunno, I didn’t want sex of all things to be an awkward thing that makes us hate each other or something, you know?”

Cheeks flush when she feels lips pressed to them, tugged out of her memories by the other’s words again. She hadn’t really known that taci had liked her for that long-- then again plenty of boys had asked her out at school once they figured out who she was. Hopefully Staci didn’t feel this way because she was the princess. Nah, that’d be impossible. 

❝ ... I didn’t either... it wouldn’t have mattered as much if it’d-- if I wasn’t engaged, but... that’s the life of a princess, yeah? Duty before everything... But-- i-if the news is reporting me dead anyway, n-now and then can’t hurt, right...? E-even if I still                   marry her when we get to Altissia... ❞