Chapter Text
Kotori’s plan was perfect. Simple, yet perfect. It was only a matter of time before her trap was sprung, and she anticipated it greatly.
“Kotori-Chaan, when does this even start? Why do I have to be here so early?” Honoka complained from beside her, she cracked her neck, they hadn’t been there long but she was already bored.
“Well you’d ruin it if you came in too late.” she explained, watching the entrance eagrely. This was her favourite cafe in Akihabara, and she had offered to pay for everything. There was no way they wouldn’t come.
Through the glass, Hanayo’s drooped, moping form could be seen. She was being eaten away at by something, from her posture to her expression, she was the image of sadness. “Quick, Honoka-Chan! Hide behind your menu!” Kotori exclaimed, putting up her own menu over her face. Honoka mirrored her quickly, doing her best to watch as Hanayo walked in, looked around, and sat at an empty table.
Hanayo sighed, looking around and finding nothing. She shrugged, supposing that Kotori and Honoka would show up later. Since their last meeting, things had only really gotten worse. She kept thinking more and more seriously about just giving up on her feelings. She and Rin hadn’t been talking as much. They still talked a lot, but it felt like they weren’t as close anymore. She had been spending more time with her other friends and Rin always insisted she was going to do the same. On the one hand, she felt it could be her fault, she was the one going to see her friends constantly. On the other, she was only doing it so frequently because she felt like Rin may be happier to have time without her. They spent so much time together, maybe it was too much?
All of a sudden, Rin was in the doorway, it was as if her thoughts had caused her to manifest. Her eyes lit up when she saw her, however they dimmed immediately after, her fears not letting her rest.
“Kayo-Chin?” Rin said, staring at her curiously. She seemed happy, a stark contrast to the gloomy Hanayo she was looking at. “Can I sit down with you?” she requested, eagre to be with her friend again.
“Oh, sure…” Hanayo muttered, even in her current state she couldn’t bring herself to deny Rin. Kotori grinned, although it was hidden by her menu. Her plan was working perfectly, she peeked over the menu at Honoka and nodded, indicating her success.
Rin sat down, she could already tell something was wrong. She knew it wouldn’t be good for Hanayo to ask right away, so she decided to start with some more casual conversation. “So, did Kotori-Chan invite you here?”
“Oh, yes, she doesn’t seem to be here though.” she looked around, still not catching on. The menu was an ingenious piece of equipment,with it, Kotori and Honoka were the epitome of stealth, masters of hiding in plain sight. “I guess she’s coming later.
“Oh, I see. She invited me too.” Rin said. “She offered me free food! Too bad she’s not here though, I’m starving, nya.” she clutched her stoumach, overdramatically making a point of how hungry she was.
Hanayo giggled a little. The dark gloom that seemed to emanate from her eased a bit. “I can get us some food if you’d like, Rin-Chan.” Hanayo told her, now smiling, just a little bit.
“Nah, it's okay Kayo-Chin. I’ll pay for our food.” Rin insisted.
“N-no, it’s fine Rin-Chan. I really don’t mind.” Hanayo insisted more.
“Kayo-Chin please, I’ll do it!” Rin took her insistence to a new level, eclipsing Hanayo’s previous escalation.
“Rin-Chan, please. I like buying you things. You always seem so happy when I do.” Hanayo’s insistence surpassed Rin’s, and with her extra comment about Rin’s happiness, she had secured her victory.
“O-okay, Kayo-Chin.” Rin surrendered, taking a look through the menu.
Hanayo was smiling properly now, talking to Rin so casually and normally had calmed her. A small worry gnawed at the back of her mind, telling her it was all temporary. But for now, she could ignore it and just appreciate the girl in front of her.
“So, what’ve you been doing today?” she asked, picking up her own menu and checking through it, searching for something that involved rice.
“Nothing, just went shopping with my parents, nya.” Rin shrugged. “How about you? Did you see your friend again today?”
“Oh uh, Tanaka-San?” Hanayo inquired, it was somewhat redundant to do so, she was the only one Hanayo had been with lately. “Not today, no.”
“I see.” Rin nodded in understanding. She seemed lost in thought, she tapped her fingers against eachother, pensively pondering something. Occasionally her lips would part, preparing to speak, only for them to shut again.
“What’s wrong Rin-Chan?” Hanayo asked, concern coming clearly from every aspect of her.
“Um…” she clenched her fists, wincing slightly. She didn’t want to say it, but she did anyway. “I-is there anything between you and Tanaka-San?” she blurted out. The words hung in the air for a couple of seconds, before Rin followed up with a barrage of stumbled over sentences “I-I don’t have a problem with that! She’s nice. I just want to know. I feel like I should give you more space to be with her and stuff. I just don’t wanna intrude, y’know.” she could’ve gone on and on if Hanayo hadn’t laughed the way she did.
“Th-that’s why you’ve been away from me?” Hanayo asked, looking at Rin with a sadly amused expression. “You think I like Tanaka-San?” she smiled, droplets trickling down her face from her eyes. It was somewhat ridiculous, she felt, to cry at this. But she did anyway.
Rin was met with a mixture of emotions, she wasn’t really sure what to do. Hanayo was laughing, but also crying. Either way, among the chaotic swarm of differing feelings, one thing was clear. Hanayo didn’t like her. And that meant all of Rin’s worry had been for nothing. She breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad. Now I don’t have to worry about it.”
Hanayo felt stupid, utterly stupid. All this time she had spent worrying they were growing apart, all this time she had spent sadly thinking about Rin and wondering why she kept distancing herself. It was all clear now, and she was so glad. All the worries that darkened her days seemed to burn away, unable to withstand the bright shining star that was Rin Hoshizora.
She may not be Honoka, Rin may not be Tsubasa. And even though she knew she was nowhere near able to confess. She felt reassured that someday, she’d be able to. And it was okay that today wasn’t that day.
“Guess we both got worried over nothing, nya.” Rin stated, letting it all sink in. Hanayo nodded in agreement.
“I’m sorry Kayo-Chin!” Rin cried, hugging her tight. “I should’ve known!”
Hanayo smiled, and hugged Rin back, just as tightly. “I’m sorry too!” she replied.
“Now.” Kotori said, nodding at Honoka. The two of them got up and subtly left, only to enter once again. “Oh, hi Rin-Chan, Hanayo-Chan.” she said, acting perfectly, it was impossible for them to tell that she had any prior knowledge of them being here. “Why’re you here?” she asked, directing the question at Rin,
“Huh, you invited me!” she exclaimed, turning to face Kotori, she was utterly bewildered.
“Hm, no. Check again. I invited you to come here on Tuesday, not today.” she explained. Rin squinted at her suspiciously, going and checking her phone. She found that yes, Kotori had indeed said today. Although she really hadn’t. She had just hastily edited it while Rin was talking with Hanayo.
“Oh, yeah. Heheh, sorry nya.” she said sheepishly. “Are you three having a meeting then?” she asked, looking over the Printemps, of course finishing on Hanayo, staring at her for longer than she did the others.
“Yep!” Honoka chimed in. “Sorry Rin-Chan! I’m sure you and Hanayo-Chan can go get food together tomorrow.” she beamed at Rin, delighted in herself. “I’m the best wingman.” she thought, her smile growing wider and more prideful.
Rin beamed too, turning back to Hanayo once again. “Can we Kayo-Chin? Please?” she looked at her, yellow eyes wide and expectant. Hanayo was utterly powerless against them. She nodded in acceptance.
“Great!” she cheered, hugging Hanayo quickly before heading for the door. “I’ll talk to you about it later, nya!” she waved, an excited spring in each and every step she took. Hanayo watched her leave fondly, she found herself relaxed, the atmosphere of gloom that once haunted her every moment was gone. She doubted it would come back. And if it did? Well, Rin was always there for her.
“So, how’re you feeling?” Kotori questioned, taking a seat across from Hanayo, she leaned forward eagrely, excited to now if her plan had worked. It had seemed to, but she wanted to be certain. “Better?”
Hanayo nodded, she seemed entirely unaware that Kotori had set it all up. She felt slightly guilty for not telling her, but if she did, it could make her more paranoid. Kotori didn’t want that, she just wanted to see her friend happy again. And she succeeded. “I’m so glad.” she chirped, a wide and satisfied grin on her face.
“Hm, I guess the song isn’t really accurate anymore. Is it?” Honoka chimed, looking up at the ceiling in thought. “After all, our problems seem to be solved, mostly.” she commented distantly, evidently still lost in thought while she spoke.
“Hm. I-I guess so. After all, I made up with Rin-Chan and you got to be with Tsubasa-San.” Hanayo agreed. “I think we’ll be fine though. I think we’ll just draw on our memories for it.”
“Makes sense.” Honoka responded, nodding.
Kotori sighed wistfully. “Seems I’m the only one who didn’t make progress.” she complained. She was happy for her friends, very, very happy. But she still wished she could’ve done something too. “How did that date go anyway, Honoka?”
“It went good!” she exclaimed, suddenly jolting up, sculpting herself into a statue of excitement. “It was so nice talking to her more up close. And she was so nice and fun and cool.” she revelled in the daydream, a look of bliss decorating her features. “She did talk a lot about other idols though…” she stated, not really complaining. After all, it was completely overshadowed by the good aspects of their time together. “But she was mostly focused on me!”
Kotori and Hanayo wore matching smiles, happy for her success. “Oh, and about you not getting anywhere with Umi-Chan…” Honoka said, a devious glint of mischief in her eye. “Me and Hanayo-Chan will help you with that.”
“W-will we?” Hanayo questioned frantically, looking between the other girls. Honoka’s stalwartly passionate look infected her in the end, bringing her onto her side. “O-okay! We will!” she declared with a newfound confidence.
Kotori looked between them, both of them stared at her intensely, a fire flickering within their eyes. “Somebody save me.” she muttered, taking a page from Hanayo’s book.