Even with the knowledge that they might have been heading toward this in the back of her mind, Michiru isn't quite prepared for the feeling of Haruka's lips against hers. Her mouth is slack, just for a moment, before she leans into it, kisses her firmly.

How many times has she thought about this over the years, and how close had she come to never being able to experience it? The thought makes her heart jump into her throat all over again, for too many reasons to count, and Michiru's fingers grip tightly at Haruka's side.

It hadn't been a lie, when she said she didn't want her to let go.

She releases Haruka's wrist, slowly but surely, and moves to cup the back of her neck, instead, to draw her closer.