Chapter Text
A girl wakes up to the light outside her window. Maybe it was the unkempt hair, or the disheveled clothes, or the fact that the clock by her bed has been ringing for about an hour. Whatever may be, one can tell that she slept in and that she’s supposed to be somewhere right now. Though it doesn’t look like she’s bothered by it at all. She rose from her bed, a dopey expression on her face, and proceeded to the shower.
Downstairs was a girl who was around the same age seated by the exit of the house. In contrast, she looked exhausted and had her body splayed out while keeping the weight of her body on the chair. Her eyes were heavy.
“She should be awake by now.” A woman spoke. “I’ll go tell her you’re here.”
The girl gave a weary smile. It has been about an hour, she thought. After she took the effort to rise early and clean up, she can’t help but feel a bit disappointed. Well, it’s not like making her wait is the worst thing that her friend has done. She’s bound to feel this way, and she knows deep in her heart that this isn’t going to be the last time.
“Hey, thanks for waiting You-chan!” The energy that echoed from the voice could never come from a girl who was so well rested in bed just a while ago. “Tokyo, right? Tokyo!” She stopped before giving an awkward laugh. “What were we doing again?”
You had grown exasperated and rose from her seat. “Chika-chan!” She said with a huff. “I can’t believe you forgot… Let’s just cancel.”
“Uwa-aaa! I’m sorry, You-chan! Really! I was just up last night thinking of ways we could have fun over there!” Chika apologized in a frenzy. She knew it was just an excuse.
But being friends with this idiot for so long, the other girl let it slide. “In Akiba?”
“Yeah! In Akiba…” A pause from Chika. “That’s in Tokyo! Alright mom, we’re off to Akiba that’s in Tokyo. BYE!” She took You’s hand and rushed towards the door. The latter only rolled her eyes.
They entered the bus and began the long trip. These girls, the bright Chika Takami and the fresh You Watanabe, are students of Uranohoshi Girls’ High School. As young teenage girls on break, they decided to move past Uchiura’s rural landscapes for a while to take a short trip to the city. Chika had already fallen asleep, but You looked on towards the horizon.
“Chika-chan?” She poked her friend lightly. “You up?”
The girl stretched her back, rubbed her eyes, and yawned. “Umm… What is it?” Chika rested her head on her palm and spoke with grimace. “It was just getting to the good part.”
A chuckle. “What did you dream of?” You asked.
“I was a performer singing to a crowd of people while holding a mikan.” She looked to the ceiling, as if to visualize. “Everyone had a mikan, and we were all singing about mikan.” Chika began to laugh. “I ended up becoming a mikan! You were there though, and asked for an encore. That’s when you woke me up.”
“That must have been something, huh?” You gave a smile to Chika. “I wouldn’t know what to do if you really became a mikan when you woke up.”
Chika smiled back. “Don’t worry, You-chan! I’ll still be Chika. You could even call me Takamikan-chan.” She expressed in self-satisfaction. “Imagine that, your best friend is a fruit!”
“Haha, sounds lame. What if I accidentally make you into juice or something?” You held out her hand, as if she were holding a ball. “I bring you around like this and tell people it’s you?”
“Well if you put it like that…” Chika’s charisma crumbles.
The two shared a bout of laughter and fell asleep moments after. Maybe there was nothing she had to worry about, You thought. Time passes, and they arrive in Akibahara, Tokyo. As You has had more experience, she was there to help the country girl bypass the dangers of the city. But as well versed as her friend is in the urban jungle, Chika couldn’t help being distracted by the displays. There was one thing that caught her eye in particular.
In front of a building which used to be the prestigious UTX, now a commercial building, a screen displayed an action sequence of sorts. There was also a booth which commercialized the subject. Action figures, posters, and various merchandise were available.
She couldn’t help but wonder. “CYAZALEA☆KISS…?”
As if on cue, the display’s voiceover started to play. “Heroes that fight for the peace of our world. She is as strong as she is gentle, CYAZAKISS EMERALD! As fearless as the flames that burn in her soul, CYAZAKISS RED! And the strategist behind every success, CYAZAKISS VIOLET! Yet again they have saved the country from imminent destruction from the forces of evil. Walk on with the power of hope, courage, and love! Walk on, CYAZALEA☆KISS!”
Chika was awestruck. To see these heroes on the screen after the catastrophe that hit and almost destroyed Japan was inspiring. She didn’t really follow them at first and only knew them in passing, but never really thought to follow them in their heroics. CYAZAKISS EMERALD’s hope, CYAZAKISS RED’s courage, and CYAZAKISS VIOLET’s love. For the first time in her life, she wanted something for herself.
Her best friend on the other hand had a look of relief. “Maybe it was the right thing to bring you with me here today.” You followed Chika to the display.
“Look, You-chan!” She held up a plastic bag with three boxes inside. “I got all three of them! Action figures of CYAZALEA☆KISS!” Chika took one and held it to You. “I got this for you. It’s CYAZAKISS EMERALD!”
You accepted the box and inspected it. “CYAZAKISS EMERALD, the warrior whose hope lights a way for the future. Press the button on the back to deliver a kick of justice...” Her eyes scanned through the contents of the box and then turned to her Chika.
“Do you like it!?” She asked with raw excitement.
Even if she was too old to be playing with these kinds of toys, she didn’t want to disappoint her best friend indulging herself in a brand new passion. There was a sparkle in Chika’s eyes that she couldn’t let die. “Yeah, it’s cool!” You responded heartily.
The day ended and the two had to return to Uchiura. Chika, her heart filled with a newfound passion for heroism rested well in the comfort of You on the ride home. You, satisfied that her friend has found something to enjoy on her own, looks through the window at the night sky. It may not lead to anything, You figured, but this is already a big start for someone like Chika. She’s glad to know that her best friend finally has something to call her own.