and the prize goes to...

The end of summer was in sight, and Kohara could barely hold back their excitement. Finally, finally, relief from the incessant, unbearable, overwhelming heat that had befallen Burrowgatory.

All xe wanted was for the days to pass faster so their suffering could end. But that wasn't in the stars for them.

"Miyeon, what do you mean you signed us up for a beach event?!" Xe exclaims from their spot on the couch. Kohara had just sat down, ready for a full blessed day of doing nothing, when their roommate came hopping into the living room, little nose twitching anxiously.

They feel the clouds surrounding them darken with their mood, and watch as Miyeon's sweet butterfly wings drop minutely, with each moment that passed.

"I'm sorry!" She whines, "I need a pair and all I could think of was you! Everyone else is joining in and I didn't want to be left out…"

Kohara looks as she fidgets. Their stern expression lasts around a minute, before they fold.

Xe sighs, heavily, "Fine." Miyeon's demeanor brightens immediately, the glimmering stars around her sparkling with her squeals.

"Thank you thank you thank you, Hara!!! You're the best!!!"

Try as they might, Kohara can't hide the happy twitch of their ears at making Miyeon so happy.

—

Miyeon sucks and Kohara is going to start looking for another roommate, best friend, and crush.

It was a water gun fight. Miyeon signed them up as a team for the Forneous Sea's Official Water War. They had steadily climbed their way through the matches, how? Kohara wasn't certain. The rules were blurry for them, all they knew was to avoid getting hit, and hit as many buns as xe could. 

Miyeon had dubbed their team 'Koyeon', and, surprisingly, she was more focused on winning than on looking for romance for once, which was more than fine with Kohara.

One by one, the teams started losing, leaving fewer buns on the sandy beach. Splatters of hardened wet sand disturbed the otherwise soft feeling of it beneath their hooves.

Currently, Miyeon and xe were under heavy fire (or would it be water?) from two other enemy teams, Dan and Shibani and Sachi and Taho, who had ganged up on them.

Miyeon cursed under her breath from their quickly dissolving packed sand barrier. Her eyes were lit with a passionate gleam that spoke of her desire to win.

So xe decided to win it for her.

They had accumulated a few water balloons, but their guns had a low supply, and making a run for the refill buckets was impossible, seeing as Dan and Shibani (or 'Tied Up Delicacies' as their team name said) were in their way.

Xe checked the amount of water on xyr barrel. Low. Maybe enough for three or four shots before they had to rely solely on water balloons. Miyeon didn't look any better, but she kept eyeing their opponents and murmuring under her breath.

Kohara knew her enough to be aware that she was looking for a breach in their defenses so they could counter-attack. But they also knew that their chances were low against all four of them.

They had made it very far already, xe hopes Miyeon wouldn't be disappointed if xyr next move made them lose.

"Stay here." They command, attracting Miyeon's attention.

"What are you planning?" She asks.

Kohara cocks the gun in xyr hand, draws Miyeon close by the nape, so close that their foreheads touch, and announces,

"I'm planning to win."

And then proceeds to not do that.

When Kohara emerges, they're fast. Dan and Shibani weren't expecting the speed, so their first few shots go way off route, and draw the attention of Taho and Sachi.

Xe runs, shooting Dan straight in the chest and thoroughly soaking him. Xe dodges a balloon aimed by Sachi, who curses when her balloon ends up rolling at Kohara's hooves, that xe quickly gathers to his small collection of balloons.

They throw two at Shibani, hitting him hard enough that he fell.

Two down. Two to go.

Unfortunately, Taho was still standing.

Kohara shot another balloon, aiming at Taho. They miss, but the balloon explodes still, at least not giving their enemy more ammunition.

Xe shoots at Taho, missing when bun dodges expertly out of the way. Trying again, Kohara finds xyr gun now empty.

Seeing the breach, Sachi yells and proceeds to attack alongside Taho.

Behind xyr, Kohara hears heavy footsteps hitting the sand and suddenly feels a heavy body hit them, causing them to fall and roll on the sand.

Miyeon ends on top of xyr, straddling their body, heavy breasts terribly (thankfully) pressing against xyr own chest, with only the small fabric of her swimsuit separating their skin. Xe hopes and prays that they don't get an evident reaction to the proximity.

But Kohara shouldn't have worried, seeing as there's far more pressing problems at hand, such as the two buns with full access to water balloons and water guns. In no time, team Koyeon is soaked to the bone as team Sweetness cheers.

Kohara lets xyrself settle on the sand, Miyeon's comfortable weight putting the familiar pressure against their body tempting enough that xe's mind grows a little foggy as they sigh.

Miyeon whines on their ear and somehow flops harder against them. Kohara's hands automatically  touch her back in a soothing back and forth gesture that xe knows she likes, extra gentle where her skin turns to wing.

"Sorry," xe mumbles, "I know how badly you wanted to win. I'm sorry I made us lose."

Miyeon fits so snuggly against them, even more when she wiggles until her face rests on their neck. Her breath is warm against their skin, and xe feels where her tail tangles with xyr own.

Water drips from her tightly coiled curls to their chest. She smells like grapes and limes, and Kohara remembers her mentioning she wanted to try a new shampoo. It's nice. Makes them want to bite her. Xe is half tempted to just let themselves mouth against her skin and taste her when Dan interrupts their musings with his deep voice.

"Stop defiling the public beach. Sachi is invinting you two to their winners commemoration. Also, you should get your prize."

Kohara's whole body freezes, but seeing as Miyeon simply moves so she can look at Dan, they resign to their fate of temporary pillow, "Wait, prize?"

Dan looks at xem as if xe was stupid. "You got third place. Of course there's a prize."

Suddenly, Miyeon sits up, and Kohara once more hopes and prays that they're too tired to… well… get up. Xyr hands drop to her hips and they have to consciously hold themselves back from squeezing her and switching their positions.

Miyeon's demeanor changes entirely from her previous quietness, she waves Dan off with a shooing motion and tells him that they'll be with them soon, before turning to Kohara and holding their face in hands.

"It's okay that we lost." She says, certain, "But don't ever leave me behind again, got it?" She ends in a threatening tone, squeezing Kohara's cheeks so their lips purse up.

Xe nods frantically, and mutters a "Yes ma'am."

"Good. We're a team, Hara. Koyeon. It's you and me together, not just you or me. It's us." She ends, satisfied, before getting up and bringing Kohara with her.

Xe is still dazed from the intensity of whatever that was, but is quick to follow Miyeon to where their friends had gathered.

They collect their prize, 100 carats and tickets for a week of free meals at the restaurant of their choice each! Miyeon is excitedly planning on who to take on a date and where, while Kohara (definitely not jealous) intends to spend their meals on truly decadent bakeries, starting with a three layered chocolate cake.

Taho and Dan greet xem with a smile and a nod respectively, and Kohara can't help but ask.

"So, what did you guys win?"

They exchange a look, and Dan goes first, "30 carats and a gift voucher." Wow. That's quite the drop from second to third place!?

Taho refuses to look at Kohara as bun says something under buns breath.

Kohara's still damp ears twitch, and xe bends a little closer to Taho, "What was that?"

Bun sighs, and, with a guilty look, declares, "A year's worth of desserts anywhere we choose…"

There's a moment of mourning silence.

"Excuse me for a moment." Kohara declares, before walking mid-waist to the sea, and screaming into the water.

—

Much later, once they've finally arrived home, Kohara sits on their couch, cradling a cup of hot chocolate.

Miyeon sprawls beside them and groans.

"My fur was so water logged. We're never doing that again."

Kohara scoffs, "It was your idea, Miyeon."

"Yeah! Because I wanted to win you the dessert thing!"

Xe stops, and when they speak next, their voice is softer, "You what?"

Miyeon puffs up her cheeks and turns her face so she's not facing them. But Kohara grabs her hand and tugs until she looks at xyr, the faintest of a blush visible on her cheeks.

"Thank you, Yeon." Xe says, "I love you."

Miyeon relaxes against them, "Of course, Hara. I love you too."

They spend a few minutes cuddled watching TV, before Miyeon pipes up again.

"Y'know, if we put both of our prizes together, we can get two weeks of desserts!" Her smile is wide, and her care too much for their poor heart.

She'll be the death of me, they think, before focusing on Miyeon's plans of which restaurants they will go first, and exactly how much they will order.