There's a Story Behind Every Smile (Hitachiin Triplets, OHSHC)

Chapter Nineteen

She sat on the stairs leading up to the balcony with Akira, their legs and forearms touching with no movement to pull them away. Her cheeks were still a light red, and Akira was still a little green with jealousy as she spoke.

"...I can't believe I let my guard down. Bastard," she mumbled to herself, looking away. Akira smiled exasperatedly at her, taking her hand in his own.

"It's fine, Teru. Oh, and Merry Christmas, by the way." She looked at him with wide eyes.

"It's Christmas already?" Her eyebrows tilted, and she looked a little hurt as she looked to the stairs. The bags under her eyes were heavy with the grief that came with maturity and the old age she didn't have. "Work really has... taken a toll." She gave a heavy sigh as Akira spoke.

"I got you a present, Teru." Her head snapped back as he pulled out a box.

"But, Akira, I didn't even remember it was Christmas."

He shoved her, and they giggled. "Oh shush, I knew you wouldn't when I got the present. We can have a Christmas Party next weekend, on New Years'. Just open it."

She rolled her eyes as she took the box, putting it in her lap as she undid the bow to reveal a maroon velvet box. "Akira, you know I don't wear..." Her voice faded away as she looked at the necklace.

It had a thin silver chain, and it had a few charms in metals ranging from silver, to rose gold, to copper. Only a few charms, though; not too many to bombard or be heavy. One was a small, roman numeral two, representing Gemini, her star sign. The next was a small, rose gold heart line, to remind her of all those dreadful days she couldn't escape. The last was a small, copper infinity sign with Akira's initials on one and hers on the other, although it wasn't her last name used, but his. He whispered to her as she raised an eyebrow to him.

"They don't deserve to call you family, if they have the nerve to erase you and hurt you like they have."

Tears came to her eyes as she smiled brightly, perhaps the first real smile she'd smiled in so long. Shakily, with weak hands, she pulled the necklace out of the box, finding it to be long enough to just put over her head without falling too low, charms in the middle of her chest. His eyes teared a little, too, at the sincerity in her smile as he pulled his matching necklace from under his collar, with a pendant for Aquarius instead. She leaned her head back on his shoulder as his arms wrapped around her, speaking.

"I love you, Akira."

"I love you too, Teru," he mumbled back, kissing her forehead.

Even if it's not in the way you mean.