Chapter Text
Victim 1: Ikuta Erina
“Leadah~!” A soft voice called out affectionately.
“Oda~!” Came an equally affectionate response.
Erina watched as Sakura ran into Mizuki’s arms. The Morning Musume leader hoisted the tiny girl up in the air and twirled her around, giggling as she did so. Something unpleasant tugged at Erina’s stomach.
The concert was about to start and everyone was at their respective locations, waiting for the right cue. Erina, Mizuki, Oda, Haga, Makino, and Duu were on standby at Stage Left. The new girls appeared to be enamored with Duu, and Mizuki and Oda were… in their own world.
Erina had to look away when Oda hooked her arms around Mizuki’s neck and brought the older lady closer to the point their noses were touching.
This is infuriating… Erina clenched her teeth. She sauntered close to the stairs to the stage. The cue could come any time now. She tapped the railing impatiently. She cracked her neck with her free hand, using its motions as an excuse to peek back at Mizuki and Oda.
They were talking extremely close now. Their noses were still touching and they looked like they were whispering sweetly into each other’s mouths. Sakura caught her gaze and the damned girl smiled at Erina.
Erina returned her gaze to the top of the stairs. The lights of the arena turned off and she heard the wota cheer and begin to chant along to the intro music.
The music and the cheers felt slower than usual. Mizuki was supposed to be hugging everyone at this point. Just before concerts, the leader would hug everyone within her vicinity to calm everyone’s nerves and in turn, pump up the excitement. However, Oda just happened to snag her Mizuki away.
Erina gripped the railing harder and she felt her armband tighten around her bicep, threatening to burst. Where was her hug?
The cue came and it was show time.
Erina did her best on stage, but this time around, she felt ridiculously lacking. It was hard to smile and she kept going off beat and off key. When it came time for her to flip, she could have sworn she was this close to turning a hand spring into a face plant.
The solo portion of the program began, which gave Erina time to dry off her sweat and change into the next set of clothes. She was blow drying her hair in the mirror when she saw Mizuki descend the stairs, having finished her solo.
“What are you doing?” The leader immediately chastised before even sitting down at the mirror next to her. “Is something the matter? You’re pretty off tonight.”
Is something the matter?
Is something the matter?
Erina rolled her eyes.
She turned off the hairdryer. “You’re my girlfriend, you should know what’s bothering me.” With that, Erina turned the hairdryer back on and resumed.
Mizuki was taken aback. “Excuse me? Am I supposed to be telepathic now?” She threw some of that attitude right back at her.
Erina shut off the hair dryer and set it down on the counter. She picked up the ready hair straightener and began to fix her fringe.
Mizuki waited for a response that never came. She took the hairdryer from Erina’s counter and began to dry her hair.
She doesn’t even know what she’s doing wrong?! Erina let out a deep breath through her nostrils.
“Seriously, what did I do?” Mizuki asked again, but with exasperation this time.
Erina can’t believe how dense she was. The next solo was over. The last one to go up would be Oda before everyone had to gather for a medley.
“If you’re going to be like this, I’m just gonna go and watch Oda’s performance,” Mizuki chided.
Erina took it as a threat. “Fine,” She set the straightener down hard. “You go and stare at Oda. Spoil her with all the skinship. See if I care!” She stood up, knocking the chair ajar with a loud rattle.
She started to walk away but Mizuki grabbed her wrist with ferocious strength, locking her in place.
“Are you mad because I was hanging out with Oda?”
Mad?
She was furious!
“Let go of me…” Erina muttered under her breath, glaring at the leader. They were on the last solo song of the list and she still hadn’t changed into the next outfit yet.
“Eri Please...You know there’s nothing between Oda and I. We just happen to be really huggy people.”
“I need to change.” Erina yanked her hand away and walked over to the changing rooms. She grabbed her set of clothes and moved into one of the rooms and pulled the curtains. Right after she took off her top, the curtains swished open and Mizuki immediately took her wrists and slammed them into the wall behind her.
“Don’t you be giving me any attitude, Eri,” Mizuki glared her fiercest at the other woman.
Erina gathered strength and reversed their position, slamming the leader back into the wall where she once stood. “What attitude? I’m not the one snuggling up to Oda before the concert starts.”
Mizuki scoffed. “How many times do I have to tell you? Oda and I just have a naturally affectionate disposition. Do I need to remind you that you were pepping up Haga and Makino earlier?”
Erina was taken aback. “I was only talking to them.” She just gave her juniors a cute little pep talk is all. Things like this will put her at the top of the list of most helpful senpai after all.
“You held their hands and kissed them. You think I wouldn’t notice that either? But do you see me throw an attitude about it? No, because I trust you and it hurts me to know you don’t trust me.” Mizuki looked away, lips pouting.
Ah… Yeah, Erina did do that, huh.... It was more of a princely gesture to put their minds at ease but that could totally be mistaken for something else.
She loosened her grip on Mizuki’s wrists and clasped her hands, bringing them back down. Mizuki was right, her anger was definitely unfounded.
“...Sorry,” Erina admitted. “But did you guys really have to be that close?” She leaned her forehead against Mizuki’s.
“Did you ever have a cat before?” Mizuki gave her a quick smooch. Her hands somehow found their way up Erina’s arms, caressing her muscles. “Oda is 100% a cat. I’m sure you’ve watched Youtube videos on how they can be.”
“Right…” Erina sighed.
“Now let’s change. I think Oda’s on the last chorus.”