Chapter Text
~ KOHANE ~
“Honestly, I feel awful for not confessing to you sooner,” Kohane said, “I was so fixated on the moment being special, that I failed to notice how horrible your health was.”
Kohane was walking An to her house after she had just been released from the hospital.
“You’re not the only one. I was scared despite knowing the most likely outcome. I pushed the thought of confession away because I was so scared,” An confessed, “and I know Kusanagi wishes she pushed me sooner because she knew the repercussions.”
An’s voice still felt the same, but the louder she talked, the more hoarse her voice got.
According to the doctor, it will probably take years for her voice to be able to do what she could before.
It’s a miracle she was even able to pull off the performance.
“I think that… the most important thing is that you’re alive.”
An smiled, “I agree.”
~ HARUKA ~
“Haruka! This one’s adorable!” Minori held up a small penguin keychain holding a small clock that had the biggest eyes known to man.
Haruka gasped, “look at those eyes! Oh, I need him! How much?”
“Hm, 900 yen! That’s pretty good!” Haruka snatched the keychain.
“You’re coming with me, little guy. Do you have a good idea for a name, Minori?” Haruka asked, rotating the little guy horizontally in her hands.
“Well, his eyes are massive, so maybe like, Double? Because his eyes are double the size they’re supposed to be?” Minori chuckled, scanning more of the plushies.
“Double the size? Honestly more like a hundred.”
“Double-one-hundred? Dub for short!”
“I like it! Hi there, Dub!”
Minori and Haruka continued to look over the plushies when the two stopped in their tracks.
There were plushies of a hamster in a baseball cap with a microphone.
“We need to get this for An,” They said in unison.
They bought the whole stock.
“This is our get-well-soon and ‘congrats on getting a girlfriend gift’ for An,” Haruka declared, carrying two very full bags of hamsters as Minori laughed, holding Dub and a couple other penguin plushies the couple picked out.
“I thought that was a given, maybe we should save some for the wedding gift!”
“No, we’ll find another store filled with just those and we’ll buy the entire store, and that will be our wedding gift to them.”
“Genius,” Minori said, kissing Haruka’s cheek.
~ ENA ~
As Toya and Akito ran upstairs, Ena sighed. Mizuki was supposed to be here any minute.
“ENANAN!!” Mizuki called while knocking on the door.
“Coming!” Ena stood up and hurried to the door. When she opened it she saw Mizuki carrying a bag, holding it out towards her.
“Ta-da!” Ena took the gift and they sat on the couch. “Open it!” Mizuki smiled.
Ena stared down at the gift bag before throwing out the tissue paper.
Inside was a sketchbook and fresh watercolors, some watercolor paper, along with a pack of stickers ranging from Vocaloid to Sanrio.
Ena carefully held up the sketchbook. It had a smooth white cover, and was pretty average sized for a sketchbook.
“I was going to buy some fabric from the store and happened to pass by the art section. You were talking about getting back into sketching and I wanted to help you get started,” they explained.
Ena set down the bag and hugged Mizuki tightly.
“What did I ever do to deserve you?”
“Be absolutely stunning and creative~” Mizuki chuckled.
Ena froze for a second. She then kissed Mizuki’s cheek and went back to examining the sketchbook.
“For my first sketch… I want to make something for Shiraishi. After all that’s happened,” She said.
“I think that’s wonderful! Can I watch you?”
Ena sighed, “why not?”
~ NENE ~
“Nene, it’s me,” Emu soothed as she hugged her girlfriend tightly, “I’m here. I love you!”
Nene’s breathing slowed as she melted into Emu’s embrace.
“… I’m here. I love you too.”
“If this is troubling you this much, shouldn’t you ask your doctor about medication?”
Nene bit her nails. Emu had a point.
“I tried asking my parents about it, and they said I didn’t need it,” Nene said.
“Do you think you need medication?” Emu asked.
“…Honestly, yes. Most likely. Even a little something would help,” Nene admitted.
“Then ask your doctor! I’ll help you!”
Nene was grateful. She had an adorable, caring girlfriend who was willing to help her.
She felt the urge to turn down Emu, but she needed the help. She really needed Emu .
“…Thank you. What were we doing again?”
“The get better show for Shiraishi!”
Right…
~ TSUKASA ~
“Stargazing all by yourself, handsome?” Rui asked, lying down next to Tsukasa.
The Sekai was quite peaceful at night. The lively atmosphere made for a nice ambience during the dark hours of the night.
“I wouldn’t say stargazing, especially since there aren’t really any stars out. I’m more just… thinking.”
Rui rolled over onto Tsukasa’s chest.
“Thinking about what?” He asked dreamily.
“Reality. About if things were different. What if I hadn’t gotten you to rejoin? What if a random virus came out of nowhere and just destroyed humanity? What if we lived in a fantasy world and were sworn enemies? What if we were best friends but we never told each other how we felt until it was too late?”
“Ah, existential thinking.” Rui looked back up towards the sky, “I think about it a lot as well.”
Tsukasa nodded, “you seem like the type of person to do so.”
“I always come to the same conclusion, that all of those possibilities exist, but this is the reality we live in, and I’m happy to be here.” Tsukasa hugged Rui.
“I’m glad. That you’re happy. I hope you’ll always be that way, my dear director!” He planted a kiss on Rui’s forehead as he hugged him.
“I hope so too,” Rui smiled, “hey, what do you think are the chances Emu and Nene have made progress on the show for An?”
“They’ve probably done something,”
“Yeah, but we’ll probably have to do most of the work again.”
“And they call us insufferable,” Tsukasa sighed.
“At least they’re happy.”
“At least they’re happy.” Tsukasa laid his head on Rui’s as his gaze shifted up to the stars above.
~ AKITO ~
“This one… no, this one!” Akito said, no, that one’s no good either…”
“It’s just An and Azusawa,” Toya mentioned.
“I love you, but it is not just An and Kohane. It is my best friend and her girlfriend . Also the two people helping us surpass Rad Weekend,” Akito stressed, fidgeting with his hands.
Toya grabbed his shoulder and pulled him into a hug.
“I’m sure they’ll love any card you pick out,” Toya reassured.
“Ugh, I just think the options here suck ass.”
“Then why don’t you make one?”
“Make a card?” Akito asked, “like, with art supplies?”
“It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, but I’m sure they’ll love it.” Toya’s gaze shifted to the cards on display, “oh, this card looks interesting.”
He took a card from the shelf and showed it to Akito.
Akito’s eyes weren’t immediately drawn to the message on the card, but the visual.
There were roses of all different colors.
But his eyes were drawn to the blue ones.
The world was spinning.
He couldn’t breathe.
It hurts. It really fucking hurts.
His throat is scratchy his lungs are in constant pain.
He coughed. Hard.
Blood and blue roses land on the floor.
“Akito?”
The world came back.
Akito was being hugged tightly by Toya. The card was no longer in sight.
“I’m fine—“ he coughed, “—just a flashback.”
“If Kamishiro has taught me anything, it’s that flashbacks aren’t nothing.”
“Really? He didn’t teach you how to burn down the school?” Toya glared at him, “sorry, yep, flashbacks are shit.”
“So… make a card?”
“Make a card.”
~ AN ~
She was overflowing with anxiety.
She sat alone in her room waiting for Kohane to come grab her.
She hugged one of the hamster plushies Haruka and Minori got her. In order to distract herself, she shifted her gaze to the pile of gifts on her bed.
Majority of the pile were the plushies Minori and Haruka got, but there was also a beautifully painted sketch from Ena, hair accessories from Mizuki, and tickets for the next show at the Wonder Stage (rumor has it that it’s a sequel to their last show).
Akito and Toya made a card for Kohane and An, which admittedly, wasn’t very good artistically, but it was perfect to An.
Akito had also mentioned that he was jealous of An, as while he did get gifts while he was in the hospital, he didn’t get nearly as many as An.
She gave him one of the many hamster plushies, which he proceeded to affectionately name “Lesbi-An”. He then called up Toya to explain that they now had a child.
Kohane and An had their first date a couple days ago in the Sekai. They kept to themselves as the Virtual Singers watched from afar. Len lost 800 yen to Luka over the fact that An and Kohane had been on a date. (MEIKO is now concerned that Len has a gambling addiction)
“An!” Kohane opened the door, “it’s time to go!” She noticed An’s anxiety and walked over to comfort her.
“It’s going to be alright. Remember, you just talk in therapy. You’re amazing at talking,” Kohane reassured, cupping An’s face.
“I know it’s just… anxiety,” An sighed.
“Here.” Kohane took An’s hand and placed it into her own. “Just hold onto my hand.”
She then helped An off her bed and walked her to the car.
“An… you sure you’re gonna be alright?” Ken asked, noticing the state of his daughter.
An nodded. “Therapy will be good for me. I have to try at least.”
The car ride was pretty uneventful. Everyone sat in a silence that somehow wasn’t awkward as An clung to Kohane’s arm.
Eventually, they reached the office and Kohane pulled off the same trick to get her to enter, although she struggled much more.
“It’s going to be alright. I love you,” Kohane said.
An quickly kissed her before saying, “I love you too.”
“An Shiraishi?”
“Shit, gotta go.”
“I believe in you An!” Kohane cheered.
With a smile and a deep breath, An entered the office.