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i.
"Ah, Touya. Could you help me study for the upcoming test? Kohane said her school hasn't learned what we're doing yet, so I can't ask her." An's back was facing him as she poured the coffee into the cup. She hummed quietly, placing his drink on the counter behind her as she poured herself her own cup.
Turning around, she met his eyes. He held a cheek in the palm of one hand, eyes softer than usual. It's almost unfair how pretty he is, effortlessly at that. She often wants to know what he saw in Akito to become his partner in the first place. Not that she was complaining, of course, if he didn't then Vivid BAD SQUAD would have never been formed. "Touya? You okay?" She held the back of her hand to his forehead. He jumped at her touch, recoiling away from her. "Ah… sorry. You were just staring for a while, so I thought something was wrong." She slid the cup closer to him, walking around the counter with her own drink and sitting beside him.
"I… was staring?"
"...Yes? I guess you were just spacing out. For a bit, I honestly thought you were staring at me!" She laughed, taking a sip of her coffee. "Good thing you weren't: I don't think my weak heart would be able to take that sort of thing."
"Why's that?"
"Huh… good question." An hadn't really thought about it. She really only said the first thing that came to her mind. "Well, when I stare at things, it's usually because there's something strange or wrong with it. So, I assume you'd do the same. I guess that's not a very good assumption though, huh?"
He laughs. It was brief and short, quickly stifled by his hand. It instantly catches her attention. She loves the sound of his laughter, almost as nice as his singing. "I apologize. I was just surprised there was an actual answer. But if that's the reason then you wouldn't have to worry." An raised her eyebrow at Touya.
"Why do you say that?" It was her turn to ask. Touya, as blunt as he usually is, can be just confusing at times. She thought he would say something along the lines of him not staring at her. She didn't think she was that eye catching anyways.
"If I'm staring at you it'd probably be because you're pretty." He said it so matter-of-factly it almost made her heart skip a beat. Key word: almost. Well, maybe it did make her heart skip. Only slightly though.
Cue An almost choking on her drink with Touya patting her back in panic. It was quite the scene for Kohane and Akito to walk in on (his words not hers).
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ii.
"Akito!" An crashed into his back, slipping her arm in between his.
Akito jumped slightly from surprise before settling himself down. "An." He looked forward, hands in his pockets, letting An hang off his arm.
She gave him the brightest smile he had seen all day. Or at least, she assumed so. He only ever talks to Touya, so she didn't have much competition. Probably. "So—"
"There they go again…"
"Are you sure they aren't dating?"
"Seriously… in public?"
She listened passively, a few words here and there being processed by her. Was it really so weird to be like this to Akito? Awkwardly, An let go of his arm, distancing herself slightly. She held her hands behind her back, pushing down her embarrassment. She didn't miss Akito's quick glance in her direction, smiling slightly at his reaction. "So… is the soccer team stealing you today or…"
"Not today." He cleared his throat, looking at her from the corner of his eye. "I have work though."
"Haah… I thought we could go pick up Kohane together." She pouted, holding the side of her face with one hand. She tilted her head slightly, thinking. "Touya's busy too…"
"Can't you go by yourself? You and Kohane can be alone and do whatever girls do until we finish."
"Eh? Yeah, I guess I can. I mean, I will since both of you are busy. I like being with all of you though. You and Touya included." She shrugged, kicking her legs out as she walked.
"Huh." Akito stopped in front of a vending machine, digging into his pocket for his money.
An leaned on the wall beside the machine, looking at Akito. "That's it? I thought you would have teased me for saying that."
He leaned down, looking at the buttons on the vending machine, pressing one of them after a quick scan. He kneeled down to grab his drink. "Why would I?" He poked it open with the straw, drinking it. "I like being with the whole group too." He began walking away, An could hear him muttering about the drink being too sweet.
She's quiet for a moment, trying to hold back her smile; they both know about his sweet tooth.
"Aw! Akito likes us!" She pushed herself off the wall, skipping up to him. "Are you embarrassed?" She laughed, looking at his red ears.
"Tch… Look who's teasing now."
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iii.
An wonders what it would be like if they were all in the same class. An wonders how much stronger their teamwork would get. If Kohane transferred schools. If all four of them were placed into one classroom.
She imagines Kohane would have difficulty with the guys that weren't Akito or Touya. She's so cute, afterall; it wouldn't be uncommon for guys to like her. She could be her knight and whisk her away to go eat lunch, or to do anything else. She has a sneaking suspicion that Kohane would agree whether she was being bothered by the other guys or not.
She always loved being near Touya. His presence was just so… well, she didn't know how to describe it, and she didn't think she'd ever be able to. He confused her heart on a daily basis. Something about being near him made her heart calm down and speed up at the same time. She finds her spot next to Touya to fill her heart with newfound energy. So terrifyingly new and invigorating.
It'd be easier to bother—err… talk to—Akito, she thinks. He'd always be within a 20 meter radius of her. It's a free game, and she was going to win. Whether it be teasing or mocking him, it would never get boring with him around. She likes that about him. Well, more so him and her together. They'd always been rivals and then suddenly they turned into teammates. It was something strange, something new, and yet it was something right.
They would be able to walk together after school (given they all didn't have committee duties or work). Joking and laughing, growing closer. She would be stuck to at least one of their sides at all times. She knows they don't need to be in the same class to get closer, that's obvious, but something in her heart longs to stay with them forever. It's not a bad feeling though.
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iv.
Kohane sings at Scramble Crossing today. Today she sings, but she sings alone. She sings alone, but An watches as Kohane sings so beautifully in a place she has openly admitted her fear for. Pride swells in An's heart. Slowly, a crowd starts to form around them. This is no surprise, of course, An knows there's something about Kohane that just makes her so completely and utterly lovable. She can't name exactly what it is, but there is something. It's more than her voice and more than her skill and it's just… everything. Or at least, that's what An thinks.
The song comes to a close. She hates how short songs must be. "An-chan! How did I do?"
It could be the way Kohane calls her name. Light practically radiates off of her. So adorably soft. An has to refrain from tackling her in a hug. She knows they would fall over, and doesn't want to risk possibly hurting her.
"You… you were perfect! I mean… Of course you were! You're my partner!" An throws away any previous reason she had left, tackling Kohane in a hug. Thankfully, neither of them fall. "I could watch you perform a thousand—no—a million more times! You were just that good." She held Kohane's face in her hands, squishing her cheeks together.
"It was because you were here with me that I was able to do so well." An quite literally almost has a heart attack right then and there. She's almost astounded at the fact that someone like Kohane agreed to be her partner.
"That's nice of you to say. But that performance was all you. You're amazing."
Her cheeks turned slightly pink, laughing at An's compliment. "Would you join me for the next song?" Kohane held the microphone out to her.
An's eyes sparkled. "Always!" She grabbed Kohane's wrist, pulling her back over to the speakers.
An still can't exactly name what makes Kohane so easy to love. But, she does know that being with Kohane just seemed like destiny; she was her partner, afterall.
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v.
What is love?
An remembers asking her mother that question when she was a child. She remembers reading fairy tales with princesses falling for princes. Listening to songs that made hearts float. She sees her parents every day. They aren't like the stories or the songs, but she thinks they are in love too.
Did it even have a definition? She doesn't quite remember the answer she got, only bits and fragments. Would it be embarrassing if she were to ask her mother again?
Maybe it could be the teasing. Or the laughter. The constant pushing each other to perform better. The high of hearing the cheers of the crowd with people by your side. She yells the lyrics to the songs she loves, joined by the others. She ties Kohane's hair, and she does An's makeup. Akito chooses the outfits. Touya helps them calm down. He brings all of them water. Waiting for them to be called on stage, anxiety pulsing through her veins. They all stand nervous together. They take care of each other in the ways that they can.
If not then it's the calm moments. The falling asleep on her shoulder. She holds one of their hands as they cross the street. Neither of them let go as they make it to the other side. She tries to carry Akito or Touya, only to realize she can only hold Kohane. There's a feeling in her heart that screams. It swells and swells, waiting to burst open.
She doesn't really know what love is. It's not the same as what she's seen growing up. But something tells her what she has with Vivid BAD SQUAD is pretty close.
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+
She doesn't really know when it started. She doesn't really know why it started either. It's instinct, she tells herself. She's always been overly affectionate (or at least that's what she's been told). It's weird for her to be thinking about it so much. She really shouldn't be conscious of it, really. She's usually like this, so why is it important to her now? She really can't put it together.
"You like them, don't you? Romantically, I mean."
An stares at Mizuki with maybe the most shocked expression she's worn today. "HUH?! No–no way!" An's cheeks are turning visibly pink as she waves her hands in front of her body.
"Oh, so it's love then?" Mizuki teases. They're having a little too much fun with this. "As much as I could question your taste for liking Otouto-kun… Isn't it obvious you like all of them?"
"Isn't… Isn't that weird? Don't you think so?"
"Are you… really asking me if I think something is weird?" They stared at her, stuffing food into their mouth. They chewed slowly, giving An time to think properly. "I think if you like them, you like them. There's nothing wrong with liking multiple people."
"I… like them?" An slowly slid down, her knees giving up on her. "That's impossible—! We're just a group that's together to surpass RAD WEEKEND! If I fell in love… that would just ruin… everything we've worked for."
"I say try it out. It won't ruin your love for music so..."
"But what if they don't feel the same way? It'll be awkward and it'll mess up our performances. And… and it'd be all my fault."
"Look, An. You could be confused because you never seen them romantically before. I'm confident there's not a soul in this world that wouldn't like you. Especially not the people you've grown closest to. You should think it out for a bit. But, whatever conclusion you come to, I'll support you. You've done the same thing for me anyway." They played with the bow around their neck. Mizuki looked up at An, smiling. "If there's anything I know, it's that you have more than enough love for all three of them. I only met you this year, but I've never seen you happier than you are with them."
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
An was sure her brain was short circuiting. This wasn't good at all. Mizuki was right. If not for their words maybe it was the way her heart was racing or her flushed cheeks. When she thinks about it, it's not like she'd be mad if she ended up dating them. In all honesty, just imagining the possibility makes her smile.
She was in love.
Oh, this would be a problem for sure.