Double Promise
It’s the day after I decide to meet up with Serina on the weekend and head to the festival with Alicia.
Something’s gone terribly wrong. I realize it just moments ago. During my chat with Serina, she drops this line.
“I’m so looking forward to the festival. Right?”
“Huh? What festival?”
“We promised, remember? To meet on the weekend.”
Right. I know you made that weekend promise with me. But why’s the festival coming up? Because it’s on the weekend? You’re not seriously gonna say something that absurd, are you?
“Just to be super sure, Serina…”
“Yeah?”
“The thing we promised yesterday… that was about the festival, right…?”
“Yeah!”
Her bright, innocent reply leaves me speechless.
“…”
“Lily?”
Ehhh, me, a TS girl, at a fireworks festival with a heavenly yuri girl? That’s so not yuri-approved~ Had no idea the promise was the festival~ What do I even do now~ Ugh, this is such a mess~
If only I could’ve brushed it off with my usual inner whining. But that’s not my real problem right now.
I already promised Alicia we’d go to the festival…
Just to double-check, I ask again.
“Th-the weekend promise… you meant the festival…?”
“Yeah. Oh. Did I forget to mention…?”
“You didn’t.”
If I’d known, I never would’ve made plans with Alicia! I swallow the urge to grill Serina about it. Thinking back, this is all my fault for being an idiot. Yesterday, when we set the date, I should’ve straight-up asked where we were going and what we’d do. Why didn’t I ask…?
I’ve double-booked myself. Now I’m deep in dilemma. Looks like I’ll have to bail on one of them.
It’s awkward as hell, but I can’t not say it. I open my mouth.
“Hey, Serina.”
“Yeah?”
“Um, about that promise…”
Sorry. I think I have to cancel our weekend meetup. Why’s it so damn hard to spit that out? I just hem and haw, mumbling like an idiot.
Serina reads my vibe and ventures carefully, “Did something urgent come up this weekend…?”
“Uh, yeah, kinda.”
“……”
“Aahaha.”
Her brown eyes, sparkling with excitement just seconds ago, cloud over in an instant. Those naturally soft, downturned eyes sink even lower, like they can’t hide her disappointment anymore. She bites her pink lower lip, gazing at me with a heartbroken look.
I figure I’ve got nothing to say, even if she chews me out. But her response is totally out of left field.
“Can’t be helped.”
The way she says it, so poignantly resigned… My conscience stings like hell. For a smooth-as-a-bald-mountain girl like me with not a single hair under my lashes, it’s beyond awkward.
I fidget like a guilty criminal. “No, Serina. It’s not… Sorry…”
“It’s fine.”
“This weekend’s impossible, but we can meet up some other time, right…?”
“…Yeah. Really, it’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Maybe it’s for the best…”
Serina mutters something cryptic. Her face turns even gloomier, more wistful—like she’s reluctantly letting go of a chance that’ll never come again.
Does it have something to do with the festival? But if so, she doesn’t have to go with me. There’s Ruby. Ah, but Ruby’s probably glued to Citri, so that might not work.
“…”
“…”
Gaaaaah. Don’t look at my pussy like that. The guilt’s killing me.
If she’d snapped at me angrily or bitterly, I could’ve shrugged it off as unavoidable. But that pitiful, rain-soaked-puppy vibe—managing her expression so it doesn’t bug me—that tugs at my heartstrings.
…Ah. Nope. Can’t do it. Fine. You win. You totally win. Forgive me for figuring your promise would be easier to ditch and going for it.
“Ah. No. I got it wrong.”
“Huh?”
“Thinking it over, it’s not actually urgent.”
“……”
“Why that face…?”
“Lily. You don’t have to consider me. If you’re just feeling bad…”
“No, it’s not that…”
“…”
Why’s she so damn quick on the uptake? Just say sure and roll with it—it’d be better for you. I guess what’s behind her reaction. She probably hates seeing me stressed. That personality where she puts others’ moods first, even yielding something she really wants… How does someone get that sweet?
Disappointing a girl like this? Unforgivable. Plus, she’s my friend. I dig in my heels.
“No way. I wanna hang with Serina.”
“Th-then I can’t.”
“Why? I wanna hang with you.”
I whine it out like a brat on purpose. Feels kinda pathetic, but I don’t stop. Going to the festival with Serina sounds fun. Pointless without you. Wanna play with you. Love playing with you.
At that, Serina jerks back like my whining shocked her silly.
“If you say it like that… No. Lily…”
“What?”
“……”
What’s she on about? Just come to the festival with me, you pure-hearted landlady.
“We’re going together?”
“Yeah…!”
She’s thrilled over something as simple as hitting the festival with a mess like me. Well, I’m glad too—happy to see her light up. No deeper meaning. She’s just pretty.
……
With Serina sorted, time to square things with Alicia. But man, bringing it up is brutal. I try a few times in class, but guilt and embarrassment make me fumble every shot. Somehow, it drags till after school.
Delay any longer, and I won’t say shit. Tomorrow’ll be worse. I know quick notice is best for this crap. I spot Alicia strolling the hall and latch on fast.
“Aliciaaa.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve got something to say…”
“Hold on. Got stuff to handle after this. I’ll wrap it and come back.”
“It’s quick. Can you spare a sec?”
“What is it?”
I hem and haw, stammering like crazy, but finally blurt it.
“The festival we planned… um, yeah…”
“Yeah.”
“Think I can’t make it…”
“Why?”
Scary. No clue why, but terrifying. I get chills. Alicia’s face hasn’t budged, but the air feels heavier somehow.
Still, I’ve started—gotta finish. I muster courage.
“Forgot I had another promise that day…?”
“Oh?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Was pretty hyped. Bummer.”
Guess it was my imagination. Alicia takes it surprisingly easy. Regretful, sure, but no biggie vibe. Doesn’t seem too bummed. Thought this’d be harder than with Serina, but results say otherwise.
Double promise resolved. Standing like a lump in the hall’s weird, so I try to split.
“Ah. Yeah. Sorry for stealing your time. And the cancel…”
“No need to apologize.”
“Huh?”
Something feels off—and bam, my wrist’s grabbed. Eh, ehhh. Next thing, I’m being dragged. She’s stupid strong. We end up in that staff lounge with killer AC we’ve been using lately. She double-locks the door, turns to me. I huddle like cornered prey.
Then Alicia picks up where she left off.
“I’ll make it so you don’t feel sorry.”
“Eh.”
……
I’m not spilling what went down there.
“You kept me from doing what I had to.”
“S-sorry…”
“How’re you gonna make it up?”
“Go to the festival with you…”
“Yeah. You will.”
By now I’m straight-up terrified, flinching at her every twitch, peeking like a scaredy-cat, begging.
“I’ll go. Let me go to the festival with you, Alicia…”
“Yeah.”
“A-ahehehehe…”
“Lily. That’s lewd talk.”
“What the actual fuuuuck…!”
But hear me out on one thing. Nothing yuri happened. For real. I’m innocent…
……
Anyway. What now? Couldn’t cancel either side. Ah. Wait, waitwaitwait—genius idea. Just hook up Serina and Alicia? I play middleman bridge. Ughuhu… Am I a total genius?