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Sayo opened her eyes slowly, still refusing to wake up because the nights before were so tiring that her body was demanding for a long sleep. The show in which they played the night before had required her, and all the members of the band, extra reheshalls to improve their skills and rise to the challenge of the event. It was a huge success. And she could not feel more proud of herself and her friends.
The sunlight crossing the curtains of the window prevented Sayo to fall asleep again and, the moment she raised a hand to block them, she noticed something strange. She moved slowly, looking down in her bed, just to find out that someone was there, curled in her bed with a soft expression on her face. She seems to be having a nice dream. That girl was none other than the vocalist of Roselia, Yukina Minato.
Sayo’s heart started beating fast.
“M-Minato…-san?”
She pressed the sleepy girl’s shoulder but obtained no answer, Yukina was in a deep sleep. Sayo repeated the move, same result.
As the sunlights came across the curtains, pieces of memories entered in her mind and couldn’t be stopped.
** * * * **
“Sayo? Are you still awake?”
A few knocks were followed by those words. Sayo moved lazily and let herself fall to the ground, just because the girl behind the door was the leader of Roselia.
“I’m going.”
Sayo opened the door and the girl answered with a smile.
“Do you need something?”
“Not really.” That answer left the host confused but Yukina immediately added: “Can I come in and chat with you a bit?”
Sayo flicked but opened the door a little more and took a step back, inviting the other girl to get inside. Yukina was the one who closed the door after her but didn’t move forwards and just stood there.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
Sayo tilted her head.
“Is something bothering you?”
But Yukina denied with a move and drew a smile.
“I was so satisfied, the show went on perfectly.”
Sayo’s heart blinked, not because of her words but the smile. Yukina wasn’t the smiling type and even so, the few smiles Sayo had seen in the past were not so beautiful… or maybe all of them were, but that smile was only seen by Sayo and directed to her.
Sayo nodded.
“It was, indeed.”
Until then Yukina had kept back on the door but suddenly she moved forwards and closed distances with her friend and moved a hand to cuddle Sayo’s cheek. Sayo tensed but not moved a single inch while feeling her own face turn red.
“Thank you, Sayo.”
“E-eh?”
“Everything started with the two of us, didn't it? And since then, you’ve been the one who worked harder, constantly, faithfully.” One of Yukina’s fingers moved from her friend’s cheek to the lower part of her eye where dark circles decorated her face. “I can notice it.” Because the guitarist dedicated many hours to perfect her technique and her music. “I couldn’t have reached my goal If it weren’t for you.” Yukina paused, took a few seconds to reflect and continued. “I couldn’t have moved forward and enjoyed the path while achieving my dream.” And after that, she removed her hand and smiled gently. “Because of that, you must take a rest.”
Sayo felt silent. Those words had a lot of meaning to her and felt like anything that was said or done at that point would break the setting. None of them really made anything for a few minutes and just stood there, looking at each other.
“It’s… ah... “ Finally, Sayo spoke. “I’m honored but I really didn’t feel that I…” She looked away. “Imai-san took care of us and improved our mood daily; Shirokane-san and Udagawa-san kept us connected and brought Roselia to a higher level. I just kept playing. If you want to thank someone, you have to talk with them too.”
“I will but...”
Not giving Sayo time to answer, Yukina catched the other girl in a hug. Sayo widened her eyes. Yukina closed them.
“Now I’m talking to you, Sayo. You were the beginning of everything to me and the one who took me back when I got lost, don’t you remember?”
No answer. Sayo kept motionless in the other’s arms until Yukina pulled herself away.
“Lisa looked after us. Rinko and Ako show us what Roselia was.” Both looks found before Yukina continues. “I composed our songs and gave Roselia something to aim for.” Added. Yukina walked around the room to stand in front of the window, turning her back on Sayo. And Sayo just followed her with her eyes. “And you organized our agenda, you took care of the formalities. Sayo became our agent without even caring. And, most important, you showed everyone how significant it was to being constant, to practise… to fight… “ Yukina turned around. “Because you are the reason why Roselia is so strong.”
With that said, Yukina approached to Sayo and took her hand. She had no answer but really didn’t need or want it. Yukina gently pressed her friend’s arm and guided her to the bed.
“Now… time to rest.”
** * * * **
Sayo felt her chest hurt and, knowing she wouldn’t be seen, she smiled tenderly.
It was early in the morning and, because of the show the night before, they decided to wake up a little late and rest for a long time. Sayo should sleep at least one more hour but with Yukina in her bed it would be impossible.
She moved stealthily not to wake Yukina and tried to leave the bed but, when her feet found the floor and tried to push her body up, she discovered that her friend’s arms were around her waist and prevented Sayo from moving.
“Huh?”
She looked back, but her friend looked sleepy and found no way to stand up without waking her up. She sighed and took the other’s arm carefully, trying to set them aside. In response, Yukina surrounded her strongly.
“Stay here.”
“So, you were awake.”
But Yukina hadn’t even opened her eyes and murmured some incomprehensible words. Sayo laughed out loud.
“What am I supposed to do?”
As answering herself, Sayo moved slowly and, trying not to break Yukina’s hug, she put herself to the bed again and closed her eyes. For the first time Sayo raised her arms and cuddled Yukina back.