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Bustling streets, busy roads and multi-coloured screens light up the night, and the view from the rooftop of the penthouse had always been breathtaking. Standing in the sky felt liberating, the cool breeze under the clouds dancing through the locks of your hair and the fabrics of your clothes - it's all you can hear along with the late night traffic. City air rises from the streets below your feet, but the horizon stays the same. It's a moment of peace, knowing that the glow of the urban sky will always be there, beneath the hidden stars above you.
Today, the sky is clear. Nothing particularly struck the little producer as it usually did - she figures it's probably because she's alone on the rooftop that she finds her head strangely calm. It's difficult for her to determine what kind of calm it is, but the rooftop is a place for her to remind herself that there's a huge world out there. It's waiting for her.
She stuffs her hands in her pockets, hopping off her usual standing-place to go get something to drink. Pareo wouldn't be here to fetch her anything, since they had already finished practice for the day, and Chiyu distinctively remembers watching her walk out of the door, suitcase in tow. She remembers the gentle streaks of her twintails falling from her silhouette, and the lovely pastel colors of the clothes Chiyu had given her. Most of all, she remembers the way Pareo tries to smile when she says goodbye.
It didn't feel very good to see that in her mind, so clearly.
Stepping into the empty studio is never a new feeling. Before Raise A Suilen had formed, the studio being empty was the norm for Chiyu. But now, it always makes her feel a little lonely. Masuki would be energetically yelling how awesome they sound during practice. Whenever she complimented Rokka, it obviously made the guitarist revert back from her cool stage performer mode back to her shy little bean mode. It's incredible to Chiyu how things were so different between her and Rokka now - it feels like those days of chasing after her were ages away, though they were probably some weeks or months ago. And Rei really brought everybody together, with her incredible bass, powerful voice, and gentle smile. If she wasn't there, the studio would feel even more empty than when nobody was there.
Their instrument stands are lined up against the wall. Chiyu even finds herself smiling - but anyway, she's here to get some water. She grabs the bottle she had left there earlier and heads back out. As soon as she opens the door, she's greeted with the muffled pitter-pattering of rain against the glass walkway. She looks up, watching the droplets fall from the night sky. Watching them fall and dance and combine is never boring, and reminds her of long journeys in the car in New York, on the way to... actually, Chiyu doesn't want to remember that.
She continues walking, reaching the elevator room, and she presses the button to call it up. She closes her eyes, waiting for the chime. She taps her foot. Now, being so close to recalling her past is making her body feel heavy. It's strange. From hearing the loud wind blustering and rain showering from beyond her headphones, then to the quiet drone of the air conditioning, it'd make sense for her head to be a little less stressed. Instead, the space in her mind freed by the quiet lobby is instantly filled by a still, dark fog. Something is pressing down on her.
The elevator chimes, and she looks up, prepared to step inside, but when the door opens, she's startled by a familiar shape in front of her.
"Pareo?!" Chiyu exclaims, nearly jumping right off the ground. "I thought you went home already! What are you doing back here?"
"Ah, Chu2-sama..."
She's covered in rain. Chiyu's heart drops. Pareo didn't need to force a smile out like that.
"Come on. I'll get a shower ready for you," Chiyu insists, hopping into the elevator with her and pressing the button to go to the floor with a huge bathroom. She looks over at Pareo, whose glasses are full of raindrops. Her lips are slightly parted, like the words aren't coming out. The little producer simply places a hand on one of the straps of Pareo's backpack. "I'll handle this. You don't need to say anything. Just get in there and clean off when you're ready - I'll be with you when I'm done, okay?"
"But—"
"Pareo." She reaches down to Pareo's hand, and gives it a light squeeze. The serious glint in those bright blue eyes tell Pareo to put her trust in her.
The slight smile on the keyboardist's face is real this time.
"Okay."
Once they reach the floor and she prepares the shower with everything needed, Chiyu dries off Pareo's suitcase and backpack in the floor's lobby, and returns to the bathroom to hear the shower still being used. The little producer knocks a few times.
"You alright?"
"Yes, Chu2-sama. I'm nearly done."
"Good."
There's a short moment of silence, before Pareo speaks up.
"Chu2-sama..." she starts, her voice beginning to waver. Chiyu hears the water stop. "Is it okay if I stay here for the night?"
"Are you kidding? Of course it's okay," Chiyu reassures her, crossing her arms and leaning on the bathroom door. "You can stay as long as you want."
There's another short pause, and Pareo thanks her. Once she's done showering, she comes out in a comfy set of pyjamas and a towel on her head. She's looking much better than just earlier, being soaked in the rain and all. And heck, she looks so cute in those pyjamas, Chiyu could give her a big hug if she could. Well, she probably could, but that would be embarrassing. So instead, she has a better idea.
"I'll dry your hair," she says, holding up a hairdryer, and patting the seat on the chair beside her.
Pareo has a cheeky smile on her face. "But how are you going to reach me?"
"There's a chair right here."
"Are you going to stand on it?"
"No!!"
Chiyu yells like an angry little cat, but the beautiful melody of Pareo's laughter is worth it. "Jeez, you sound just like Masking when you say things like that!"
"Hehe, forgive me, Chu2-sama!"
"Whatever, just sit down!"
Hairdryers are loud, but Chiyu can focus on directing the air on and through her precious keyboardist's hair. It's a stark black, so different to the pastel colors that everybody's so used to - no one else in Tokyo had ever seen her with this hair except for the rest of the band. It's so long, just like hers. And running her fingers through it makes her cheeks warm. Pareo herself feels at peace, the comfortable heat from the hairdryer calming her, as well as the gentle touch of Chiyu's hands.
"Okay, all done."
After putting the hairdryer away, she takes Pareo's hand and they both hop back into the elevator. They go to the main lobby floor, the one with the nice couches and pillows, and they sit together closely, with Pareo comfortably leaning on Chiyu's head.
"So," Chiyu starts, taking Pareo's hand again and running her fingertip across her palm, drawing random little shapes. "Why did you come back, even though it started to rain?"
"Um..." Pareo gulps, hesitating. "To put it simply, Pareo didn't really want to go home."
She feels Chiyu draws a question mark. Is it really okay for her to tell her about it? Well, they were snuggling together on a couch, and Chiyu's been doing lots to help her. Gosh, it felt strange. Normally, it would be Pareo doing all these things, but tonight it was all so different. It would be okay to say what's on her mind, wouldn't it? Chiyu would never judge her for anything she would say. She knows that for a fact. Chiyu makes her feel safe, loved, herself. So... It's okay, isn't it?
"Well... there's not much for me to go back to, you see," she cautiously continues, turning her head to nuzzle Chiyu's hair. She sighs quietly. "I'd rather stay here, with you, but I had always felt like I shouldn't, and that I would be a burden to you—"
"Stop right there," Chiyu interjects, pressing her index finger onto the middle of the keyboardist's hand. "I want to make something clear to you."
Pareo sounds close to crying, and that much breaks Chiyu's heart. It's unfair that Pareo has to feel this way, and it ignites a passionate flame in the producer's chest. Screw everyone who ever made Pareo feel this way. It makes Chiyu's blood boil.
"You were, are not, and never will be a burden to anybody here. Especially me. If being with me is where you want to be, it's where you want to be. That will always be okay. You're not a burden, Pareo. I'll beat up anyone who says otherwise."
"Chu2-sama..."
"You know what? Tonight, you're gonna stay right here," Chiyu decides. "You hungry? I'll get us some snacks. Although I probably only have jerky. If you're thirsty, I'll get you something to drink. If you're cold, I'll grab a blanket for you."
"But..."
Chiyu pulls back, shakes her head, and places her finger on Pareo's lips.
"Nuh-uh. You're staying right here, okay?"
It seems that the unbridled rage within Chiyu causes her to do rather gay and crazy things. Pareo's heart does a somersault, her face heating up as her little producer gazes at her with determination.
"Okay, I'll stay," she giggles, holding her blushing face in her hands.
Crossing her arms and slouching back on the couch, Chiyu growls. "Seriously, though. I'll beat the crap out of everyone who made you feel like that. They can come fight me anytime they want. No, I'll go fight them. I'll bite their ankles and make sure they can't walk back home to go cry to their moms."
"Aw, no, Chu2-sama! That's going a bit far, isn't it?"
"It's nothing, really. I'll never let anyone hurt you like that again."
"Chu2-sama~!"
It's that time of day again where Pareo smothers Chiyu in her hugs. She feels so sweet and small in her arms, so little and tiny Pareo wishes they could stay like this forever. To be by her side forever feels like a dream.
"Pareo, I can't breathe—"
"Ah, sorry, sorry...!" She lets go. "I got so excited...!"
"It's fine," Chiyu takes a deep breath. "Whew. Well, I guess that's that. You're staying over tonight. I've got a lot of things you can wear and use and do whatever you want to. Too many things. But I'm gonna go get some jerky. We can, uh, share, if you want..."
"Really? I must be dreaming... Chu2-sama is offering somebody her jerky, and it's me...?!"
"Don't you dare tell anyone," Chiyu pouts. "Masking will tease me forever if she finds out!"
"Aw, don't worry, Pareo won't tell a soul!"
"...You promise?"
Pareo holds out her pinky, and gives Chiyu a delighted smile. "Of course! I'll pinky promise with you!"
"Alright," Chiyu nods and they link pinkies, shaking on their small secret.
The rest of their night is spent talking about what they'll do tomorrow during practice, what meals they'll all cook together, and when, if ever, Chiyu will ever go to the bathhouse with them again. And maybe Pareo kissed her little producer on the cheek a few times. Maybe she pet her head lots while she lied down on her lap. Either way, it's infinitely better than being alone in a place where she never really felt like herself.
Chiyu had fallen asleep first. Her light blush and soft cheeks looked adorable in the dim light of late-night Tokyo. Leaning in once more, Pareo lets a little kiss linger on her forehead.
"Good night, Chu2-sama. Sweet dreams. I love you."
A grumble escapes Chiyu's mouth, surprising Pareo. And with what came next, perhaps Pareo's poor heart was beating so fast, she couldn't sleep for most of the night.
"Mmm, love you too..."