Chapter Text
"I was really lucky that the neighbor girl let me have this ticket. It sucks about her aunt, but at least this keeps me out of the house like dad told me to." Hibiki thinks out loud. She was also really lucky that the neighbor girl decided not to ask any more about the bruise on her face. She wasn't exactly sure what she did wrong, but obviously she made her dad mad so he had to discipline her. It's just how things work, but a horrible part of her wishes he would tell her what she did wrong so she wouldn't do it again.
She shakes her head, slapping her cheeks and wincing as she hits the bruise. "No being selfish, he does it because he has to. I'm supposed to know and the fact I don't is part of the issue. I think." The line moves forward as she gently rubs her cheek, the aching from just this morning returning for a few seconds. Someone yells nearby and her body freezes, head whipping around to the origin of the sound. She sees a group of girls, probably around her age, talking and laughing with each other. Hibiki sighs from relief, the line moving again as she nears the front entrance.
"Ticket please." The attendant requests.
"Um yeah, here." She goes to hand her physical ticket to them, she doesn't have a phone or any way to have an electronic ticket, and catches the sight of her bloody sleeve. Her breath hitches as everything else loses focus. Her body flinches and curls into itself as screaming assaults her ears. She collapses in on herself, knees hitting the floor as she hugs herself tightly.
"Don't give up on living!" Her head snaps to the source of the words, and all she can see is a brilliant blinding mix of red and orange. It's as calming as it is terrifying, whoever or whatever this is is protecting her just as much as they're scaring her. But what scares her even more is when the colors suddenly fade, the light dimming. The figure crumbles until it explodes into shards, pain ripping through her chest as they hit her heart.
***
Hibiki wakes violently, drenched in sweat and heart pounding. She doesn't scream, she knows better than to make any noise above a whisper in the morning. Even if she doesn't live at home anymore, it's better if she's quiet. Her chest seizes and she's barely able to stifle a cry as she clutches her scar. She remembers the doctors saying that she needs to take a long named medicine to help with her heart condition, but she doesn't exactly have the money to afford it so she's had to learn to just deal with it until it passes.
The tiny apartment is filled with her labored breathing while her ears are filled with the hammering of her heart. She tries to control her breathing better, softer and quieter to try and slow her heartbeat. The stabbing pain in her chest begins to subside as her breathing finally quiets. "Why do I keep getting that nightmare recently…" She asks aloud to no one.
She thinks it was about a year ago now when she started living in the tiny one room apartment in one of the bad areas of Tokyo. She's not exactly sure why it's the bad side, so far everyone has been nice to her even though she's her, but she won't complain about it! It's incredibly cheap due to recent Noise attacks among other things, has enough electricity for her to charge her phone and alarm clock most nights as well as a good few hours of clean water. She managed to scrounge up a couple good sized bottles to keep it in, plus Boss lets her fill them up at work if she ever needs to.
As her breathing evens out fully she lets herself fall back, her head hitting her pillow. "I'm so lucky Boss hired me, but I still feel really bad about lying…" There are a lot of things she's had to lie about just to get by, and it does make her heart hurt more than just physically that he doesn't seem to realize it. The kind man had hired her onto his cafe staff, a place still on the poorer side of the area but relatively cozy. She's also able to get a free meal or two whenever she works, and Boss, in his infinite kindness, let her join his phone plan for the cost out of her paycheck. It made things easier, less stress on her family to take care of her.
She knows how hard it was to take care of her, her dad made sure to let her know as much as possible. It pushed her to do better, do more. She helped around the house, got odd jobs around the neighborhood so she could get enough grocery money. Her mom stayed at home nearly every day, and she always looked so scared whenever she saw Hibiki around. Though it was pretty obvious she was a bad kid, and her mom was probably just afraid she'd spread it to her little sister.
Setsuko was only… four or five? When Hibiki had been sent away, so she'd probably be around seven or eight now. Even that young she was already so much smarter than Hibiki. Her grades had never been great in the first place (she really did try though, she always tried!), and they only got worse after she came back from the hospital. Her dad was always angry and her mom was disappointed with every report card that came back. Those were always the worst days, she went to the attic sore and hungry. Only smart girls get her parents kindness, that's what she's learned.
"But Boss has been so nice to me, even though…"
She lets her head turn to the side where she keeps her alarm clock, greeted by a blank screen. She blinks a few times, staring at the clock that should be on right now. Her body jolts as she starts to scramble. She grabs her phone from the charger, flipping it open to see the time. "Eleven AM, crap I'm late!" She yells out. She's so glad she decided to use the public bathrooms last night even if they get really creepy sometimes. Less time for her to waste in the morning is how she's always justified it.
Throwing on one of her sets of day clothes followed by an old gray hoodie she starts stuffing everything into her duffel bag. It's safer to carry everything with her, and so everything that was taken out for her to sleep goes back in. After rolling up her blanket and stuffing her pillow in the bag, she reaches for the clock and finds it unplugged. "God, you stupid stupid girl!" She yells at herself. She has to do it because her dad isn't here to do it for her.
She straps her watch on her wrist, sitting it just below the silver bracelet the doctors told her to wear. The chain jingles against the watch, the small silver plate shining as it catches the stray sunlight. She never did ask what the symbol is, but she sees it on every ambulance so it's probably something doctor related. They said she had to wear it just in case anything happens, and the cold metal was always nice and the chain was something she liked to play with if she got nervous so she never really takes it off.
"Eleven thirty, if I take the shortcut and push myself I think I can make it by noon. I just hope Boss isn't too upset." She looks at her watch as she slips her shoes on. She slings her duffel over her shoulder, patting her pockets one final time to make sure she has everything. After doing a final look through the room, noting that all she sees is the bare floor, she nods and heads out. She unlocked her bike from the guardrails just in front of her apartment, slipping the bike lock into the duffel before putting a strap over each shoulder like a backpack.
She was really super lucky that the kind old lady that runs the corner store had this old bike for sale, and that she even had this good quality bike lock to go with it. She could walk or run to the cafe, but biking is faster and she can keep her heart rate down easier. It's a chilly day, the crisp fall air whipping through her hair as she pedals. She enjoys it when she's able to coast, letting her momentum carry her while she can focus on her breathing.
Despite being able to rest while coasting, she pushed herself through the shortcut in order to make it by eleven fifty five which meant by the time she got to the back entrance of the cafe she was winded with a dull ache just below her scar. She's gotten plenty of practice riding a bike up and down stairs, but it still makes her anxious to do it. She skids to a stop in the back alley, taking a moment to try and still her hammering heart. The dull ache persists, but it lessens as she calms down.
The door opens before she can reach it, a familiar middle aged man carrying a bag of trash coming through and meeting her eyes. "Amou? The hell you doing here?" She still feels bad about taking that idol's name, but she really shouldn't bother her family with any of her problems. She definitely didn't panic when they hired her because of all the other stuff she lied about and gave herself the first last name that wasn't her original. Nuh uh.
"A-ah, Fujimori-san! I'm really sorry I'm late, but I got here as fast as I could after I woke up and-" She winces and clutches her scar as a jolt of pain hits her. There's a sigh and the sound of bottles rattling.
"Dammit Amou, you didn't even need to be here today." She feels a hand on her back and another on her shoulder. "I get that you have an insane work ethic but even you need rest days every now and then."
"I-I'm not supposed to be here? But my shift always starts at nine." She leans a little into the man's hands, silently thankful for his help.
"...Did you seriously forget what today is?" She finally turns to look at him and is met with a confused and sad face. She blinks and he seems to take that and her silence as her answer. He sighs, making sure she's steady before letting her go. "Come on, let's get you inside and to Boss. Yokota won the bet apparently."
"Bet?" She asks as the two enter the back of the cafe, Fujimori taking her bike and setting it in the small alcove just inside. She gives a small bow and a thank you, getting another sigh and wave in response. She makes her way to Boss's office, "Um, Boss? I'm sorry I'm late…"
The older man lifts his head up, hand coming up to his bearded chin. "Amou? Did you forget what today is?" She feels an awkward laugh bubble up in her throat, a hand coming up to rub the back of her neck. He gives her a knowing smile, knowing of what she apparently doesn't realize, and turns the calendar on his desk towards her.
She takes a minute to read the date. "September thirteenth…" What's so important about that date? She can't think of… "Oh." She's sixteen now, what a strange thing to realize.
Boss huffs a laugh, "Yeah, oh. You don't have to be here because I don't make any of you be here on your birthday. Happy big two and oh by the way." Right, they think she started working here at eighteen, and that she's turning twenty today.
"Can… can I work anyway?" She asks, Boss turning the calendar back towards him. "I can do it for no pay, I just… I'm already here and it's not like I have any plans."
He shakes his head and sighs before giving her a smile. "Sure, you're closing with Yokota today then, they'll be here around three so you'll be with Imai until then. And don't worry about working for free, you'll be getting OT." Out of reflex she goes to argue against that, but she knows by now that Boss won't let her not take the extra money. She has to keep all the cash in her duffel with all of her belongings, but that's part of the reason she takes it with her everywhere anyway.
She gives a bow, turning away before stopping, "Can I still use upstairs?"
Boss huffs another laugh, part of her has started to think he keeps her around because he finds her amusing, and nods. "You ask that every time and my answer has been and always will be the same. Leave your duffel in the same room and it'll be safe, you have my word. Happy birthday by the way." She gives a quiet thank you and escapes before he can notice how red her face must be from how embarrassed she is.
There's no way she asks that question every shift! And even if she did, she wants to make sure he's still okay with it. He does so much for her and everyone else it's the least she could do. She deposits her duffel upstairs, making a pitstop by the break room to grab her apron and ties it onto her. She cuts through the kitchen, Yoshida-san giving her a small wave before he goes back to making the next batch of pastries.
"Eh, Bikki? Did you forget it was your birthday again?" Hibiki flinches and laughs nervously, it seems like everyone knew but her.
"I-I guess so Masami-san." This gets her a sigh and Masami coming close to her. Her body tenses, Masami has never hurt her before but there's no telling when that kindness will run out.
"I've told you time and time again, it's Masami-chan! I know you don't like using nicknames but you could at least use the right suffix. As fellow baristas it's important we're all friendly with each other."
"B-but it'd be disrespectful…" She doesn't want to disrespect her any more than she already is by using her given name. During the past two years working for Boss, Masami had gotten her to use her first name which, according to the college student, took far too long than it should have.
"Give her a break Imai, you give her crap every single shift for it." Yoshida calls out from the kitchen. Seems like they were loud enough to interrupt his work. "Frankly you could do with a little more respect like her."
Masami sticks her tongue out to him, crossing her arms away from him. "You're just jealous that I'm so friendly!" Hibiki manages a small smile as the two continue to bicker. It's nice compared to what she grew up with, there's a lot less anger and a lot more playfulness in their words. The ring of a bell brings her attention away from the two, and she quietly slips away towards the front room.
"Hi, welcome to Sleeping Dove. What can we get started for you?" She asks her first customer of the day.
***
"Hibiki, mind taking out the trash before you lock up? I'm heading out."
"Sure thing Yoshida-san. Chiaki-san, did you-"
"I heard him Hibiki. I'm almost done in the front so I'll meet you at the back door."
"Night you two."
"Goodnight!/Night."
Hibiki hauls the last bag over her shoulder, making the final trip to the dumpster out back. She sighs, hand wandering over to her scar. She presses her hand down, feeling her heartbeat through the skin. She waits for a bit, letting the sound of her breathing fill her ears. She closes her eyes, silently thanking how her life has turned out. It's so quiet that she's really able to hear herself…
Wait.
Why is it so quiet?
She opens her eyes as a gust of wind passes through the alley, carrying some kind of black soot. It only takes a second until her breath hitches as her brain realizes what's happening. "N-no…"
The door opens, Chiaki stepping out and running a hand through their hair after adjusting their glasses. "Hibiki, you rea-" She doesn't think, she just turns to them and yanks them along with her. She catches a look of surprise when she turns, but she doesn't focus on that and just takes off running. "H-Hibiki?! What's wrong?!"
Her heart hurts, it hurts it hurts it hurts. But she has to keep running, she has to get herself and Chiaki away. "Hibiki tell me-" The pair skid to a stop as they see something blocking their path. "Noise, here?! But there isn't any siren!"
Hibiki's hand clenches around Chiaki's as she searches for another way to the Noise shelter. She sees an empty alleyway, one she's pretty sure should lead to one of the bigger roads that goes straight into a shelter. She hopes at least, it's been a little bit since she's last studied a map. "Come on, this way!" She yells, dragging her coworker behind her.
She's not sure exactly how long they run, only that a sharp stab in her chest makes her stumble and sends her to the ground. She curls up, hands clutches her scar as her vision blurs with tears. "Shit, Hibiki. Hold on!" Chiaki yells trying to help her up. They bring one of her arms around their shoulder, having to pull up her entire weight while her legs feel like jelly.
"S-save yourself… I'm not worth your life…" She says still trying to steady herself.
"Now's not the time for your extreme lack of self worth Hibiki! We need to- H-hey!" She pushes them away, just as more Noise begin to round the corner. If she can distract them then maybe Chiaki can get away. Another stab jolts her chest, causing her to wince but she manages to stay upright.
"Just run, Chikai-san!" Her chest is fire, more than what it would normally be. It feels like it wants to escape, and there's something in the back of her mind that is yelling at her to… sing?
"Are you crazy?! Come on, we can still-"
The words come without her wanting them to, as if they were clawing up her throat. "Balwisyall nescell Gungnir tron." There's a bright light that surrounds her as she catches her clothes ripping apart. There's two bright rings of yellow surrounding her, and her forte scar is glowing with a deep orange light. The light from her scar extends high into the sky, and pain rocks her body as she feels something inside her grow stabbing across her entire body.
She screams out as she crumbles forward, the rings of yellow shattering and leaving her in an orange black leotard of some kind. If she were in any other situation she'd try to look more at herself but everything hurts so much. She screams and screams and something explodes from her back, only to dive right back in without a care in the world. It does it again, ripping apart her body before mostly reentering and leaving some kind of armor on her body. The armor releases a loud hiss of steam as she pants, her mind nearly having whited out from the pain. She feels the armor on her arms and legs clamp down, locking itself onto her body.
She breathes, shuddering and labored, reflexively bringing an armored hand up to her scar. It's then that she realizes that despite all the pain she just went through because of whatever it is that just happened to her, the pain that she's had to deal with for three years now is gone.
Her heart doesn't hurt anymore.