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Mio knew London would be an amazing experience. She just didn’t think it would have some scariness to it too. On top of that, Ritsu’s amusement at her running away from the scary looking man wasn’t helpful either. Mio knew her best friend was going to tease her about it, but she couldn’t do it right away because of a call she had received. When the phone conversation was finished, Mio and the others immediately looked towards Ritsu for a proper explanation.
“Kawakami-san called about a festival taking place tomorrow. Maki-chan’s band and Black Frill will be playing there. She said she’ll send me an email with more details later.” Ritsu informed everyone, putting her phone back in her pocket.
“Ah, should we accept?” Mugi wondered as everyone else thought the same.
”Let’s wait for the email first.” Azusa suggested, waving her hands as she stood up from the bench. “Until then, we should go to the store to get some food and-“
“Ah, sorry!” Ritsu suddenly stood up, causing her friends flinch and look up at her. “I just realized I have to go somewhere! Mio’s joining me, we won’t be long!”
“Eh? What are you talking about?!” Mio asked. “I never even agreed to this!”
“No, you didn’t agree, but you’d come with me anyway to ensure I wouldn’t get lost.” Ritsu grinned, extending out her hand. “Wouldn’t you, Mio?”
Mio glanced off to the side, blushing as she knew her best friend was right. She would never let Ritsu go off by herself in an unfamiliar place such as London, or anywhere for that matter. The thought of something bad happening to Ritsu scared her more than anything else.
“Yeah yeah, I hear you.” Mio rolled her eyes before getting up from the bench. “Let’s go, idiot.”
Ritsu’s grin grew wider as she linked their arms together. “Let’s go, let’s go!”
“Stop right there, Ritsu-senpai!” Azusa shouted, walking up to them. “I don’t want you guys to be separated from us for too long, call a taxi and take a spare map.”
“Of course, Secretary~” Ritsu teasingly called out with a wink.
“R-Ritsu-senpai!” Azusa’s face flushed before quickly regaining her composure. “Please, just hurry back.”
“Aw, Azu-nyan!” Yui cooed, reaching out to hug her. “It’s okay, I think you’re-“
Azusa easily dodged her, stepping off to the side. She quickly glanced at Yui, who was frowning over the lack of Azu-nyan energy. “Also, why don’t I go with you-“
Mugi firmly placed her hand on Azusa’s shoulder. “No need for that, Azusa-chan! After all, Ricchan has Mio-chan with her! We should let them go by themselves! Let them have fun on their alone time together! Maybe even-“
“Okay! That’s enough!” Ritsu interrupted, failing her hands towards an amused Mugi.
Mio checked the time displayed on her phone before pocketing it. “We need to get going before sundown. Don’t worry, Azusa, we won’t be long.”
With that, Mio felt herself being dragged away by Ritsu as they ran to catch a taxi.
The taxi ride was also an experience. She didn’t really talk to Ritsu about where they were headed, just looking out the window for more sightseeing opportunities. However, she couldn’t shake off the uneasiness she had about the abrupt situation, whatever it was.
“Alright, we’re here.” Ritsu announced once they stepped out of the taxi.
Mio frowned and looked at the building next to her as an unwelcoming chill creeped up on her. Mio shivered from the atmosphere, shaking in her boots as she didn’t like how unpleasant the grass felt underneath her feet. It didn’t help that the sky was also gloomy, filled with gray clouds.
It also didn’t help that Ritsu was walking along the path with ease, no fear at all.
“R-Ritsu!” Mio called out anxiously. “Wait, please come back! We have to stick together and…”
Mio’s eyes began to water so she shut them tight, whimpering and shaking as she couldn’t move from her spot. She wished she had Ritsu’s confidence for once in these situations. She wished she could know where they were. She wished for someone to hold her hand and tell her to not worry, guide her through her fears with a bit of comfort.
Fortunately, that last wish was about to be granted as a familiar voice spoke gently to her.
“Mio? Hey, look at me.”
Mio opened her eyes, finding herself staring at the drummer who held her shaking hands. “Ritsu..?”
“Yeah, it’s me.” Ritsu assured her with a small smile. “I’m sorry, Mio. We’ll be going to where I wanna go now. It’s not far. I’ll hold your hand. Don’t focus on the surroundings around you, just pay attention to only me, okay?”
Mio slightly nodded, still feeling tense. “Um, okay…”
She let herself be led by Ritsu, the one who would always tease over almost everything she was afraid of. Though today, she didn’t do any of that. Mio was curious as to why. She did enjoy her comforting words but something had to be seriously bothering Ritsu if she didn’t crack a joke or two.
Mio focused her attention on her friend’s hair that was pulled back by her yellow headband. Mio liked her bangs more, it was a delight seeing them on the plane ride. She glanced down to the back of her neck, not many thoughts about it occurred to her. It was the same with her back, but Mio did take quite a liking to her winter attire.
“Okay, we’re here now.” Ritsu clarified, stopping in her tracks by a certain grassy area in front of the building.
“Where are we?” Mio asked again, hopefully for the last time.
“Keith Moon’s grave.”
Mio’s eyes widened as the realization hit her. Those unpleasant things she felt on the ground were the ashes of dead human bodies, possibly would have been skeletons if they hadn’t been cremated. Another thought roamed through her mind. That building she saw earlier… She vividly remembered the taxi driver saying something about the name. It was… it was called…
Golders Green Crematorium.
Mio relaxed once she realized Ritsu had been rubbing her thumb over her hand. “Ahh… he was your favorite drummer… from The Who, right?”
Ritsu nodded before stepping closer, looking up at the gravestone placed on the brick wall. “Yeah, I figured I’d pay my respects, you know? He was a big inspiration for me and my drumming skills. So…”
Mio couldn’t help but frown at Ritsu’s words. Mio knew Ritsu wouldn’t cry, as she was aware that the drummer hated crying in front of her friends. She didn’t actually know if Ritsu wanted to cry over him.
Mio did the next best thing she could think of.
Mio tightly wrapped her arms around Ritsu's neck, burying her head in her shoulder. Mio felt Ritsu shuffle a bit before getting hugged back. She felt her jacket being gripped tightly as they both knelt down. Mio rubbed Ritsu’s back with care.
“This is so stupid,” Ritsu started quietly, “I only came to pay my respects but now I’m doing more than that.
“No, it’s not stupid at all. You’re still being respectful to him.” Mio reassured, stroking her friend’s hair.
“Heh, it’s kinda funny…” Ritsu chuckled. “I didn’t ask Azusa to include this in the itinerary plan because I didn’t want to bother anyone with it…”
“You wouldn’t have bothered us with it,” Mio told her in a soft voice. “I’m sure the others would have understood.”
“I know how Azusa feels about his ‘destructiveness’, but I actually really liked it ‘cause it looked super cool watching things like that get wrecked!”
Mio smiled. “I bet it did.”
“Yeah, it was because of him… because of him that I was able… able to-“
Ritsu abruptly pulled away from the embrace and sat in the opposite direction with her head buried in her knees.
Mio knew how distraught Ritsu was by her favorite drummer’s passing, so upset to the point where she was actually shedding tears, not wanting anyone to notice despite it only being the two of them in the cemetery.
Without any hesitation, Mio crawled on the grass of ashes and placed her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Ritsu…”
Once Ritsu glanced in her direction, Mio extended out her arms with a small smile.
Together, they silently let their tears fall onto the ashes of what was once alive. It only lasted for a few minutes, but it was enough to convey their feelings of the current situation.
Ritsu slowly pulled away from the warm embrace, wiping her tear-stained eyes. “T-thanks, Mio… I really needed that.”
“Of course, Ritsu.“ Mio gently reminded, giving her a soft smile. “You know I’m always here for you.
Ritsu quickly smiled back before noticing the sky was changing to an orange and pink color. “Oh, crap! We gotta go, or else Azusa’s gonna kill us!”
Mio nodded, standing up alongside Ritsu. “You’re right, we should go, but I want to do something first…”
Ritsu tilted her head. “Do what, exactly?”
Mio clasped her hands, bowed her head, and respectfully closed her eyes. “Thank you, Keith Moon, for inspiring Ritsu to play the drums. She’s really amazing at it. Sure, she might rush a little, but in the end, her energetic and powerful drumming shining through our backs when we’re practicing in our clubroom, or performing on stage makes it worthwhile!”
“Mio…”
The excitement and strength in Mio’s voice came out on impact, and seeing Ritsu’s flustered face at the received praise made Mio shout out her next words even louder.
“As a bass player, I especially love it when we mesh well together!”
The next thing Mio knew, she was brought into a tight, loving hug by her best friend.
“Ah, Mio!! I love you!!” Ritsu shouted with happiness, jumping up and down with Mio in her arms. “I love you so much!!”
Mio smiled fondly at her. “I love you too, Ritsu.”
“Ah, we really gotta go though!” Ritsu suddenly realized, dropping her hands down to the sides.
Mio adjusted the bag strap on her shoulder. “Right, so-“
“Bridal carry or piggy back ride?”
“Wh-What?!” Mio exclaimed at Ritsu’s choice of options. “What’s that supposed to mean?!”
“I won’t repeat myself twice~” Ritsu gently teased, looking up at her with a loving smirk.
“The- the second option is less embarrassing..” Mio muttered, looking away in mild shame.
“Bridal carry it is!” Ritsu instantly decided.
“Ritsu!” Mio warned, clenching her fists.
“Kidding, kidding!” Ritsu defended, putting her hands up to avoid Mio’s wrath of fury.
Mio climbed up onto Ritsu’s back, wrapping her arms around her neck and letting herself be carried out of the cemetery by her best friend. She knew why Ritsu offered, because of the ashes on the ground. It was the little things like these that truly made Mio feel grateful for such a wonderful friendship between them.
“Hey, Mio… I don’t want the others to know what went down here, alright?”
After all, it was their special moment of grief and solace together. No one else would understand it anyway, except for them, and only them alone.
“Whatever happens in the graveyard, stays in the graveyard.”