Chapter Text
It wasn't unusual for people to enter the wrong practice room, it was sometimes way too common.
Except that this time it was technically your fault, you had stayed a little over time, and didn't realise.
"Ah…" In front of her, two taller girls stood at the open doorway, awkwardly waiting. One of them had a guitar case on her back, and despite there being just a slight difference in height, you felt like their presence was towering over you. You could only panic and scramble to try and gather your things, before one of them spoke up.
"Hey it's okay! If you wanna practice more you can join us, is that okay with you, Rei?" One of them rushed to reassure you, her tone and actions holding no malice. The other girl nodded, seeming fine with things as well.
Shyly you nod yes, agreeing to this arrangement, placing down your things again. You quietly watch as the settle in, getting out their own things, before they suddenly turn back to you.
"Hey you can call me Hana-chan, what's your name?" One of them spoke, holding out a paper for you to see. You take note of the song on that paper, before flipping through your own set of scores and finding your own score for the exact same song.
"Ichi…...gaya…...Ari….sa….." You whisper out softly, inching your way back to the keyboard in the practice room. "Ari-chan! Is that okay if we call you that?" Hana exclaims, receiving your nod as confirmation. Rei cake to stand by your side, as Hana took out her guitar.
(It was blue, very blue.)
You had fun with them, playing some songs and learning some newer songs. After that day you did meet them a few more times, always in the music school. They were essentially your first friends, and they were so nice. You didn't know what they did outside of the music school, but they seemed to be very close friends.
"We want to play in the same band together when we grow up!" Hana had enthusiastically exclaimed during one of your group practice sessions. A band, huh? "Maybe we can play together when we grow up!"
Yeah, when you guys grew up. You were happy with that.
You didn't make too much of an effort to get any closer than you were, you were happy being a casual friend with them. It was always fun enjoying music together, you three somehow kept meeting. You were satisfied with everything.
It was just a normal day, that one day when everything suddenly ended. You didn't see Rei or Hana at the usual practice room and time. You didn't know anything, but you continued waiting, till it was a little too late and you walked out. You only saw Hana crying near the music school and blurting out "She's leaving." From then on you didn't see Rei anymore, you only caught glimpses of Hana in the school, you didn't have anything anymore. You were suddenly far away from them, and you didn't know what to do.
Eventually you stopped playing music. You turned to other stuff, throwing yourself in your studies. You went to school, but the kids didn't like you. Eventually it was easier to skip school and study hard. You didn't need anyone.
Until another girl came barreling into your life.
One thing led to another, you became friends with other people from the other class. Kasumi, Rimi, Saaya.
And then there was Tae.
Her bright blue guitar brought back memories of a long forgotten past. It had been so many years, but it didn't stop the hurt. You occasionally saw the same guitar in stores, and it always brought back the faint memories. You used to wonder what would have happened if you, Rei and Hana had stayed friends, would you have been different?
You slowly became numb to the memories, Tae's guitar slowly stopped bringing back memories. Your memories filled with other new ones, those with Poppin Party, with the other bands, with your new friends.
It came as a shock when you heard of Raise a Suilen, and how Tae wanted to fill in for them. Their vocalist was apparently Tae's childhood friend, who had some dream of starting a band together.
You didn't pay too much attention at first, it wasn't really a call for concern. You did however take note of the name of the vocalist. Her name was Layer, but Tae seemed to have mentioned her name was Rei. Just like your missing friend.
Doubt started forming. You denied it, harshly. It was just a coincidence. There were so many people in Japan, it was unlikely they were the same people. You didnt need to bother yourself with that, you had other stuff to do.
You did not really pay any more than enough attention to Raise a Suilen, you busied yourself with practice, improving yourself, and your own school work. Everything was fine, it was normal. There was nothing abnormal. You had the cultural festival to focus on, and revisions for exams too.
Yet it didn’t work out. Tae never made it to the concert in time. You were frustrated. Everyone were. All of you just ended up with pent up feelings, but all of you were worried. Was Tae over working herself? You didnt know.
You guys talked. Talked about everything, about what had happened. Saaya was upset, she had a right to be. Kasumi was disappointed, Rimi was worried, you didn’t even know how to feel. None of what you all felt was that simple.
And then when you watched Tae stand on stage with Raise a Suilen, you wonder if holding onto her was the right thing. If holding on to Popipa was even the right thing. If everything was even right.
You were holding her back and it showed.
It took a while for Popipa to recover from that. Chu Chu wanted Tae to join Raise a Suilen, all of you were left in a dilemma. Tae didn’t want to leave you guys, Tae made her choice.
Yet through this whole thing, you got a few brief glances of Raise a Suilen’s vocalist. Something was nagging at you, and you didnt know what it was. It didn’t matter, you had other things to focus on. You had your own self sponsored live, you had your own schoolwork, you had Popipa to focus on.
Something about that “Hana-chan” was wrong.
It was a fucking miracle the world put this off for so long.
Tae had decided she wanted Rei to meet her new friends, and for Popipa to meet her first friend. She decided to bring Rei over to the warehouse on one saturday, where you were all supposed to be hanging out.
The whole scene seemed so familiar. Two taller girls at the doorway, as you scrambled to keep your stuff, to make space for Rei. It was only when you looked at them both when it hit you.
It seemed that Rei also remembered you, how ironic.
“Aren’t you the girl with the gold stars?”
You were frozen in place, your eyes darting between Rei and Tae. This whole time, this whole time she was right in front of you.
You felt anger.
“You.”
You essentially growled out, glaring at Tae. It took her a moment before it seemed like she herself remembered the past too.
“A-ari-chan?”
“Don’t call me that.”
You could feel tears, but you didn’t want them.
“A-arisa-”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Rei seemed worried, Tae had snapped out of her usual airheaded self. Popipa watched, unsure of the context. You were angry. You were upset.
You were crying.
“You don’t get to call me that after you fucking abandoned me.”
You packed up your stuff silently, letting your tears spill. You hastily wipe them, trying not to damage your homework. You brush past everyone, walking towards the exit. Kasumi tried to stop you, getting up and heading towards you, and Rei…...she seemed confused.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Oh why didn’t you ask Hana-chan herself? She fucking left me, its that simple. One day she just came crying and saying you were gone and i never got any context or what happened to you. She never told me or spoke to me afterwards, it is that simple. She abandoned me.” You snapped, hugging your things close to yourself. You turned and walked out, heading to your room instead.
You don't see Tae's distraught look. You don't see Rimi and Saaya's confusion. You don't see anything, your tears were blurring your vision,
You collapsed in you room, on your bed, letting out a muffled sob. Kasumi hesitantly came in, walking right to your bed and sitting down.
"Arisa?"
All you could reply was a sob.