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It was a lovely afternoon. People were out and about, perhaps going about their daily errands or maybe just out for a walk. However, if someone were to pass by a certain alleyway on that day, they may have heard some arguing.
“Saki, why are we following Honami like this? Isn’t this basically stalking?” Shiho grumbled, as she, Saki, and Ichika were squished up against a wall in a cool, shadowy alleyway. Saki’s head was poking out from the alleyway, tracking Honami’s movements. Unfortunately, she lost her balance and Ichika had to grab her to prevent her from falling face-first onto the floor.
“Shiho, I have to know where she’s going! I think Hona’s been feeling a little sad recently, so we have to try to cheer her up with a nice surprise!” Saki did have a point. While Honami still spent plenty of time with them, she was a bit quieter and smiled a little less often. Ever since Honami stopped talking as much, Saki and Ichika had been unable to focus on their band practices, which was unfortunate for all of them. Ichika nodded along with Saki, then added,
“Besides, Shiho, it’s not stalking. It’s just making sure that our Honami is okay, you know?”
It had been Saki’s plan to cheer up Honami with a surprise, and Ichika went along with it, so of course Shiho had been dragged along as well. However, Shiho did have one major question:
“Do you even know what we’re going to surprise her with?”
Saki smiled confidently and opened her mouth to speak.
“No!”
Ichika and Shiho looked at Saki for a moment, then looked at each other. Ichika gave a subtle shrug of her shoulders. Shiho just sighed and motioned for Saki to continue, knowing that she couldn’t stop Saki once her mind was set. Besides, if Honami wasn’t feeling okay, then they would have to try their best to make her day a little brighter.
The trio continued to follow Honami at a safe distance, slipping into more shadowy alleyways so Honami wouldn't spot them. Soon enough, Shiho recognized the paths Honami was taking.
“Guys, I think she’s going to the bakery to buy some more apple pies.”
“OH! That makes sense! Hona loves apple pies! She’s probably buying them to make herself feel better.” Saki nodded and then looked at Ichika.
“Well, maybe we should get there before her and buy the apple pies for her?” Shiho and Saki considered this perfectly reasonable suggestion before Saki shook her head.
“No, no, that’s too boring. We need something that’s really going to amaze her! Like a party!”
“I’m not sure if we have enough time to set up a party, Saki.” Shiho nodded in agreement.
“Well, whatever! Let’s just get there before her and then we‘ll figure it out!” Saki began sprinting along to the bakery. Shiho and Ichika looked at each other in unison once again, before sighing, though not without some fondness, then running to catch up with Saki.
Once all three of them were standing outside the bakery, they paused to catch their breath.
“Okay, so assuming that Honami continues to walk at the pace that she was when we ran off, we have about five minutes to think of something. So what’s your bright idea, Saki?” Shiho stared at Saki expectantly.
“We can…” Saki trailed off into thought. Then Ichika piped up with her idea.
“I know! What if we get everyone in the bakery to cheer for Honami as soon as she comes in!” Shiho looked at Ichika in disbelief as Saki’s face split into a wide grin.
“That’s a great idea, Icchan!” Saki and Ichika practically dragged Shiho inside the bakery. Once there, they were met with the smell of warm, buttery pastries and sweet air scented with all sorts of fruits. Shiho took a deep breath. The smell of the bakery reminded her of someone comforting her, with its warm and cozy atmosphere.
Unfortunately, someone inevitably had to break the calm, and that someone was Saki.
“Hello, everyone!” She shouted. Some people turned to look at her, though she was mostly met with annoyed glances. People began murmuring amongst themselves. Saki trembled a bit, but she seemed determined. Clearing her throat, she continued.
“I’ve got a really special girl coming into the bakery soon, and her name is Honami! She’s been feeling pretty sad recently, so if you all could help me cheer her up by cheering and clapping for her when she comes in, that would be great!”
Saki’s statement was met with some grumbles of “not my problem to cheer up your lame ass girlfriend,” and “seriously?” For a moment, the three girls stood there in an awkward silence before an employee walked up to them and asked Saki to leave the bakery.
“Aw, but we have to cheer up Hona-chan! Shiho, Ichika, can you please think of something?” Saki pleaded, then shuffled out of the bakery. Ichika followed after her, likely planning to comfort Saki. That left Shiho standing alone in the bakery, and she too had half a mind to leave, until she saw Honami approaching the bakery, clearly exhausted and upset.
I can’t believe I’m about to do this.
Shiho’s resolve steeled. She looked at Ichika outside the window and mouthed,
Keep Hona distracted!
Ichika nodded and turned to Honami, opening her arms for a hug which Honami collapsed into, and Saki soon followed to enclose Honami in a hug sandwich. Shiho smiled to herself and turned away from the window.
She vaulted up onto a table, and stomped her foot once, causing everyone in the bakery to look at her with wide eyes.
Shiho lowered her voice, making it as threatening as possible, and glaring at everyone in the bakery. Several of the customers and employees began to cower.
"You all are getting one more chance, so I think it'd be in your best interest to listen to what I have to say."
“My name is Hinomori Shiho. Saki may have briefly introduced her, but I’ll say it again in case you need a reminder. In a few minutes, there’s going to be a girl named Honami, the most specialest girl in the whole entire world, walking through that door. She’s absolutely amazing, so beautiful, and she’s the core of our entire band. We think she’s been having a rough time recently. So, it’s my job, and now all of your jobs, to make her feel better. When Honami walks through that door, you all better clap and cheer like it’s your child’s fucking high school graduation. And even if just one of you doesn’t raise the roof off of this place, I’ll fucking blow this entire building to shreds. Got that?”
Everyone in the building nodded their heads vigorously. Shiho jumped off the table and slapped down a stack of money at the counter.
“I’m going to need to buy every single apple pie you have in stock.” The employees nodded nervously and set several bags on the counter, then scooted away from Shiho’s glare. Shiho turned to the window and nodded at Ichika, who nodded back, releasing Honami from her and Saki’s grip, gesturing to the bakery.
As soon as Honami walked through the threshold of the bakery, the entire building erupted into a cacophony of noise, thunderous applause echoing in everyone’s ears, cheering drowning out all other nearby sounds. Shiho plucked the bags of apple pie off the counter and walked over to her girlfriends, passing them each a bag.
“Guys, did you really organize this all for me?” Honami asked, eyes shiny.
Shiho nodded and spread her arms wide, and Honami nearly charged into her, causing Shiho to let out a small oof as Honami collided with her. As Honami's face pressed into the crook of her shoulder, Shiho inhaled the comforting scent of apples and sweet pastries that always seemed to be present when Honami was close to her.
“Thank you so much, I’m sorry I’ve been feeling upset recently, you really didn’t have to do all of this-“
“But we wanted to.” Ichika chimed in, and Saki nodded in agreement.
“We love you, Hona-chan! It makes us happy when you are, too!”
Honami’s eyes were still shining with tears as Saki and Ichika rushed in to join in the hug.
Shiho wriggled out of everyone’s grip after a moment. “Okay, we should probably still eat these apple pies before they get cold.” Shiho took out one of the pastries, and the others nodded and took out theirs as well. They bit into warm, flaky pastry, enhanced with the taste of apple.
Ah. So this is why Hona enjoys them so much.
“But I do have one question.” Shiho paused after taking a bite of her apple pie and looked at Honami, who tilted her head in confusion.
“Why were you three stalking me earlier?”
“Uhhh.”