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“Pareo.” It’s all you can say; you know that if you tried for more it’d come out in a sob.
Standing in the doorway, she blinks at you, wide-eyed. “Is there something wrong, Staff-san?”
You hadn't expected to get so emotional at having nearly ruined the live singlehandedly, and the innocent look on her face makes you all the more guilty for it. “I'm sorry about your performance just now, Pareo-san.” Her eyes soften.
There's a heaviness in your chest that weighs heavier with every tentative step she takes closer to you. You draw backwards just a slight. The furrow in Pareo’s brow grows deeper, and she lifts her palms up slowly to placate you. “Pareo isn't mad. She just wants to talk.” Pulling out a chair in front of one of the vanity mirrors, she gently motions for you to sit. When you don't oblige, she takes another chair for herself to sit right next to yours, patting the empty seat. You accept, but don't make eye contact.
“The live was a bust and it’s all my fault.” You murmur, and she takes your hand in hers.
“Don't say that. Pareo knows you worked hard to make us shine!”
You think back to the delays you caused by misplacing their constumes, the faulty spotlight that kept straying from position, the pure painful sound mixing. “It wasn't enough. We were short on people today, and-”
“Stop right there, Staff-san!” Your surprise makes you look up at her. “You did what you could for Pareo, for Raise A Suilen, and that's enough. Don't be so hard on yourself.”
Something thick rises in your throat at her kindness, and you're silent; you feel as if you'll actually start crying if you say something now.
“Staff-san.” She looks at you seriously, in stark contrast to the pastel in her hair and smiles on stage. “Do you love your live house?” You nod slowly. “Do you love Raise A Suilen?” Again, a nod.
“I do.”
“Then listen to Pareo right now. You did your best to bring us here, to make us feel welcomed, to make our show a success, and you did all of that just as you were supposed to.” A squeeze on your hand.
“More people would have come if I had done better. Everyone will hate me for this.”
“No one is upset at you!”
“CHU2-san seemed like it.”
Pareo looks to the side, sheepish. “Pareo can take care of that. CHU2-sama can be a bit hot-headed.”
“As long as one person is mad then I've failed.”
She lets go of your hand and grips your shoulders now. She's surprisingly firm. “If you don't want to listen to Pareo, look at me as Nyubara Reona right now, please.” That definitely gets your attention. “Do you have anyone you admire?”
You're embarrassed to say it now.
“Do you like Pareo?”
Dead on. “I do. I've always loved you, Pareo- no, Reona-san. You're always so cute on stage, your voice is so lovely, you're so sweet and fun, there's nothing I don't admire about you. Pareo is my idol.”
Releasing your shoulders, she asks, “Was I cute today as well?”
“As usual. More than usual. You get better with every live.”
“Pareo loves you too.” The corners of her lips tug upwards in a soft smile. “Pareo loves everyone that loves her. You did your hardest; success isn't defined by perfection. Everyone is satisfied with the live, so it’s okay.” She winks cheekily. “As long as Pareo was cute.”
She drags her chair closer and it screeches against the floor, making you both wince. She laughs shyly, and decides to simply stand up to pull you in a hug. You're sure it’s uncomfortable for her, having to bend and all, but her warmth moves you to tears. You melt into the hug gratefully, hiccuping into her shoulder. She strokes your back tenderly, encouraging you to stop holding back.
“It’ll work out, Staff-san.” The hug tightens briefly. “Pareo promises you.”