Chapter Text
PROLOGUE
Jurina tries her best to smile at the photographer, despite not being in the mood for it. She's doing a photoshoot with Rena and has to - like always - act like they are close. She used to love it before when she arrived in SKE and was just a kid. She would tease Rena and try to hug and kiss her every time she had a chance. However, she was now seventeen and things had changed. She couldn't stand being close to her anymore. When did their relationship change so much?
Jurina never really understood why management decided to make them work together. They had nothing in common. Jurina was lively when Rena was shy. Jurina craved for physical contact when Rena loathed it. At first, Rena's reactions amused her when she tried to a avoid a kiss or a hug. It became a game for her as well as a challenge, and she took every given opportunity to try and surprise her into a hug.
It rarely worked. Rena usually saw it coming and dodged at the last minute. Jurina really tried to bond with the girl. Of course, there was a six years gap between them, but she admired Rena. Rena was a workaholic, always focused on her work. Jurina learned a lot from just looking at her. Despite her best efforts, Rena always rejected her and Jurina came to the conclusion that they would never really be friends.
Jurina always believed that Rena didn't like physical contact, that's why she couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Rena hug Airi a few months ago. Even worth, she would let the girl hug her in return. That's when something changed in Jurina. Before that, she never really thought twice about Rena's rejections. Now, it was a different story. She took it personally and felt hurt.
Three months had passed since that day and the aching had not faded. She didn't really know why it bothered her so much, after all, they were not really friends. However, she couldn't stand watching Rena and Airi interact together and avoided them as much as possible. She would stay as professional as usual during shootings and interviews, but the teasing towards Rena had stopped. In fact, she would avoid eye contact and always have a fake smile on her face. Working with Rena was becoming more and more difficult, but she couldn't do anything about it.
CHAPTER 1
The photoshoot is becoming more and more painful. Rena is acting like her usual safe, while Jurina is hoping time could pass more quickly. When the photographer announces the end, Jurina sighs in relief, thanking him before going straight to the dressing room. After such a tiring day, she only wishes for one thing: to go home and sleep.
Rena enters the room a few minutes later, and they both get change in silence. The door opens a while later on Airi who smiles at both of them.
"Hello!"
Jurina turns around and welcomes her with a polite smile, while Rena hugs Airi as she approaches.
"What are you doing here?" Rena asks, surprised to see her.
"I knew you had a photoshoot late today, and I thought maybe we could eat dinner together," Airi suggests, a hopeful smile on her lips.
"Of course," Rena answers.
Jurina watches them interact from afar before averting her eyes, annoyed by the sudden pang in her chest. When she's finally in her own clothes she quickly gathers her things and makes her way to the door, after saying goodbye. As Rena meets her eyes she finds her smile a bit fake but doesn't think too much of it, thinking the younger girl may be just tired. Once the young ace is gone Rena comes out of her musing as Airi calls her name, before narrating her day at the girl's demand.
Jurina is about to take a cab to go home when her phone rings. Quickly grabbing the device from her bag, her mouth tugs into a smile at the view of the caller ID.
"Hi Mayu!"
"Hi Jurina. Is your photoshoot over?"
"Yes it is. I was about to go home. Why?"
"Are you free? Yuki is cooking tonight, and she asked me to invite you home."
Jurina hesitates. She is really tired, and craves for a good night sleep. Just as she's about to decline she watches Rena and Airi leaving the photography studio, Airi's left hand attached to Rena's arm. They are talking while walking down the street, probably heading to the restaurant and don't notice Jurina, too engrossed in their conversation. Meanwhile, Mayu is still patiently waiting for Jurina's answer, that comes shortly after that.
"Yes, I'll be there soon."
Yuki and Mayu have been sharing an apartment for six months now. They quickly became friends in AKB, and now spent a lot of time together. When Yuki had asked Mayu to move in with her, she had quickly answered yes. Jurina had been to their apartment a few times now, as Mayu was her best friend. At first, she didn't really speak with Yuki as she didn't know much about her, but it didn't take too long before she started to enjoy her company. Mayu and Yuki were really different but, somehow, that didn't prevent them from being very close. Jurina really envied their relationship. She sometimes wished her relationship with Rena could have followed the same path.
The girl is lost in thoughts when the apartment's door suddenly opens. She is greeted by Mayu's smile, who urges her to come in. A pleasant smell immediately reaches Jurina's nostrils, and she smiles in amusement when she manages to guess what Yuki is cooking. Yuki, wearing an apron, waves at her from the kitchen, and Mayu invites Jurina to sit down at the dinner table.
"I see Yuki is cooking your favorite dish," Jurina affirms.
"Yes, well..." Mayu's voice trails off, averting slightly her gaze shyly, before changing the subject with a barely contained eagerness, "how did your photoshoot with Rena go?"
Jurina's smile immediately falters. She agreed to have dinner with her two friends to forget about Rena, not wanting to stay alone at home as her parents were away, but was already reminded of her.
"Did something happen?" Mayu asks, noticing Jurina's sudden change of mood.
"No, nothing. It went smoothly, as always," Jurina replies swiftly, averting her questioning eyes.
"You know you can't lie to me. I'm the cyborg girl, not you," Mayu grumbles, annoyed at her younger friend's behavior.
A sudden laugh diverts their attention and both girls turn to look at Yuki who's now bringing the food.
"It's true. Mayu is good at hiding her emotions. Not you," Yuki chides, setting a plate of chicken on the table.
"I'm just tired," Jurina sighs, grabbing her chopsticks and starting to put food on her plate at Yuki's invitation.
As silence progressively fills the room Jurina looks up curiously, noticing that her friends are staring at her and not eating. Obviously, they are expecting a better explanation, and she exhales deeply, placing her chopsticks on her plate.
"I don't know how to act around her anymore," Jurina admits.
Yuki raises a confused eyebrow before starting to eat, while Mayu continues to stare at her. Jurina avoids her best friend's scrutinizing as best she can, feeling a bit ashamed of what she just admitted. She didn't really mean to utter those words, but as the uneasy feeling has been nagging her for a while now, she can't help but feel a bit relieved to finally have it off her chest. At her declaration the room stays silent anew and Jurina resumes eating, starting to believe her words won't get any response.
"What do you mean?" Mayu asks, absently bringing food to her mouth.
"Our relationship has changed a lot lately. We used to get along and spend a lot of time together but now, not so much," Jurina answers.
"Well, you always work together. It's normal sometimes to want some space," Yuki explains, "plus, you both are really different."
"You both are too. It doesn't prevent you from being close," Jurina retorts.
Yuki and Mayu turn to each other and share a brief shy smile, before avoiding Jurina's eyes and focusing on their food. Jurina raises a curious eyebrow at their sudden odd behavior, failing to find an explanation to it, her features contorting in surprise when Yuki starts to fidget in her seat, and Mayu clears her throat nervously. Her words obviously triggered this whole strange scene she's witnessing, but she has no idea why. Her eyes then stay on Mayu as she expects her to give an explanation, but none leaves her lips.
"I wouldn't be too worried about it. I'm sure you'll reconnect soon," Mayu affirms, her steady gaze back on the younger girl.
"I wouldn't count on it with Airi in the way," Jurina shakes her head, before widening her eyes when she realizes what she just said. She never intended to let that name leave her lips. It seems her weariness is playing tricks on her.
"Airi, what about her?" Yuki frowns, all trace of her previous uneasiness forgotten.
Jurina closes her eyes and sighs, realizing what she just got herself into. It seems it wasn't such a good idea to confide in her friends, after all. Plus, she wouldn't even know how to explain this uneasy feeling she has been having for a while.
"I'm sorry, but can we just drop the subject?" Jurina pleads.
Mayu looks at her carefully, pondering if she should insist or not. Obviously, something is really bothering her younger friend, otherwise she would never have mentioned it. Just as Mayu is about to open her mouth to question her she feels a gentle hand on her shoulder and she tilts her head to Yuki curiously, watching her as she slowly shakes her head. It's almost as if Yuki managed to read her mind, and disagreed with her prying.
"Fine, you're off the hook for tonight," Mayu says, half regretting backing away, "instead, you'll have to listen to how boring our day was."
Jurina chuckles at Mayu's dramatic tone, not missing the way Yuki rolls her eyes in amusement. Mayu starts her narration of the day and Jurina progressively relaxes as her mind gets freed from worried thoughts.