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The diner wasn’t incredibly loud or anything. Some speakers to Shizuku’s left were playing an old pop song she recognized from when she was a kid. Minori was drumming her fingers on the table and saying something to Haruka, who every now and then giggled or took a sip of her water, ice clinking. Airi was still scanning the menu, and Shizuku was unable to catch her eye. Vague clinking of silverware and chatter from the other patrons registered on top of the existing noise.
Shizuku started chewing her lip, immediately catching herself. That’s too obvious, she remembered, smoothing her brow as well. Everyone can see you doing that! She had had trouble with that when she had just started out in Cheerful*Days, much to the director’s annoyance. Biting down lightly on her tongue she ran her nails along the fabric of her skirt, trying to calm down. The noises kept fighting with each other, it felt like. There was so much at once and she could feel herself swallow.
Suddenly, a child a few tables over dropped a glass. It didn’t break, landing on the soft carpet flooring of the diner, but Shizuku let out a muted sob at the intrusion. It was so much. So much and it kept going. She blinked hard, eyes swimming trying still to find a way out. Something. She shook her head, as if trying to clear out her thoughts physically.
“Shizuku-chan?” Minori’s voice jolted Shizuku, who turned and quickly gave the younger girl a warm smile. “Can you come with me for a second? I’m not sure where the bathroom here is,” Minori continued, scooching over in the booth, prompting Shizuku to clear the way.
“Minori-chan, ah, are you sure you want me to be the one to help you?” Shizuku blinked to clear her eyes as Minori linked their arms together. She wasn’t exactly the best with directions, as all the members of MORE MORE JUMP! were well aware.
“Yep!” Minori smiled as she pulled Shizuku along, making Shizuku smile again as well. Minori always smiled so warmly, it was impossible not to smile as well when you saw her. Oddly, it seemed that Minori did most of the leading, and before Shizuku knew it they were standing in the bathroom. Shizuku washed her hands and reapplied lotion while she waited for Minori. The lights were brighter than they were in the rest of the diner, and there was no music. Shizuku took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. It felt like the noises that had built up were leaking out, leaving her clear-minded and calm.
“Um-“ Shizuku’s eyes fluttered open to see Minori drying her hands. “Shizuku-chan? Are you feeling okay?” Shizuku’s eyebrows went up. She hadn’t realized she had looked upset. The thought of it made her a little worried. Were the others going to think she didn’t like spending time with them?
“It’s just!” Minori cried, as either she noticed the worry in Shizuku’s face or, more likely for Minori, realized that her question seemed to come out of the blue. “You were shaking your head! And, uh, rubbing the material of your skirt! I do that sometimes when I’m overwhelmed, ah, in a bad way. Or overstimulated, or something. Aah, I’m sorry! Did I misunderstand what was going on?” Minori looked down, now looking worried herself, undoing and retying her braid.
Shizuku blinked and smiled, pulling Minori into a hug (a hug which was met with a yelp before being nervously returned).
“Thank you Minori-chan!” Shizuku felt warm. How lucky was she to have someone notice when she was struggling? How lucky was she to have someone who didn’t mind when was trying to cope, but knew how to help? She swung Minori around absentmindedly, before letting go of the dazed, flushed girl. “Thank you. I’m okay now. All thanks to Minorinrin!”
“Ah-“ Minori, hardly recovered from the hug, doubtless in the midst of a thought like ‘what if Haruka hugged me like that?’, jolted at the idol nickname, smiling and almost tearing up. “I- aaah!! Shizuku-chan!!” Minori gave Shizuku another hug, before realizing what she was doing and stopping, looking down bashfully. Both the girls were jolted out of the moment they were sharing when an elderly woman entered the bathroom, after which they quickly left and returned to their table.
“Hey, Shizuku!” Airi called as the two girls got back into the booth, “Did you two get lost anyway?! What happened?”
“I just needed a minute, Airi-chan!” Shizuku smiled, swaying back and forth happily. Airi smiled and shook her head, sighing.
“Well I hope you two have your orders ready, because me and Haruka have been ready for a while now.” Minori jumped, and quickly began scanning the menu, bringing a laugh to the other girls. Shizuku smiled. She felt happy.