Chapter Text
A series of hurried footsteps echoed in the empty schoolyard, their creator panting as she ran, on and on. She had run this same route so many times over the year and yet none of them could possibly be more exhausting than this time round.
She passed the giant tree in the courtyard, the place where she often had her lunch of bread and sweets from her family bakery. "You're going to get fat," Umi had told her here many times whenever she decided to settle for a lunchtime nap under the gentle shade of the leaves. Not that it had ever stopped her, for that was just who she was. She chased after the things she wanted to do, and went for them without a thought of the consequences.
She ran through the front archway and burst through the front doors, startling Hanayo and Rin who were just about to leave. "Eeh?! Honoka-chan?" Hanayo blurted out in surprise at the blue and orange blur that flashed past her and disappeared just as quickly without a word. The two first-years only exchanged worried glances and exited the school doors, casting one last look over their shoulders before they left. Things had been odd amongst the second-years lately, that much they could sense, but they had felt it wasn't their place to interfere. Rin's hand subconsciously reached for Hanayo's, who interlaced their fingers together as they made their way out.
"Honoka, stop running this instant!" Eli called out when the ginger-haired girl dashed past her, taking the stairs two steps at a time. The leader of Muse didn't even pause to answer the senior, who shook her head in irritation and made a mental note to berate the excitable girl later.
There was no time. She had to get there, before...
Since when were these corridors ever this long? Honoka thought to herself in dismay as she dashed the remaining stretch to their homeroom, the place where she and her childhood friends shared so many memories together. All the precious days they had fooling around, having lunch together on the rainy days, talking about the most mundane things or their idol work. It was here where she had first announced her desire to become an idol, and how far it had taken all of them! This was the place where it all started.
Once she finally reached the classroom Honoka stopped and bent over, catching her breath. Grasping the handle, she slammed the door open with all her might to witness her worst nightmare.
Kotori's lips were joined with Umi's while they kissed passionately. The archer's hands roamed over the other's back from Honoka's viewpoint, pulling the other girl tighter to herself. Despite the noise Honoka had made with her entrance, Kotori hadn't made any effort to break away from the other girl at all. And Umi's eyes, even from as little as Honoka could see, conveyed a smug look. My victory.
It was inaccurate to say that time had frozen for the ginger-head as she fell to the ground upon her knees. With the sweat that was pouring down her face, she was acutely aware of the passage of time, and just how hideously long the pair continued clinging on to each other. But the world blurred for her when tears came brimming to her eyes, smudging the shapes and colours of all she could see. Which was just fine with her, she had enough of looking at the betrayal in front of her. Her beloved kissing the best friend she ever had... and the worst enemy she ever made.
For the first time since Kotori almost left the country, Honoka bowed her head down and cried tears of despair.