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Mafuyu was finally in college. After working her ass off, she was finally accepted into one. Finally, her hard work would pay off, finally she'd be able to become a doctor, just like..
Just like her parents had always wanted.
But nevermind that! Mafuyu was over the moon to be in college. Learning and studying was the highlight of her day. She never stopped studying until late nights, because that was what her parents..
What her parents always told her to do.
The only good thing that came out of being in college was that Mafuyu was able to move away. Against her parents' bitter judgement, Mafuyu was able to convince them to let her move away, claiming she was 'more than mature enough' to be left alone. Whether that was true or not, not even Mafuyu is sure.
Now that she was alone, she didn't have to hide being up late at night with her fellow music circle members. Now, she could make music peacefully with them. And it was..
God it was stressful. Not the studying, Mafuyu knew full and well how to handle that, just.. Everything. Her assignments, logging onto Nightcord with her circle members, her parents.. She needed a break.
She remembers one of her colleagues talking about a certain party going to happen around midnight. While Mafuyu certainly wasn't the party type, that sort of thing might be just what she needs. She logs onto nightcord to announce that she wouldn't be logging in at their regulated time, earning quick responses from the others. An "okay" from Kanade, an "I'm also not gonna be able to log on" from Mizuki, and a response from Ena that Mafuyu didn't care to read due to how long it was.
Mafuyu checks the time. It's 11:56, so this time seems appropriate to get ready to leave. The girl walks into her room to change into something nice. Something that wouldn't make her stand out, but still an outfit that would satisfy her. She chooses a simple black suit. Sure, not too similar to what people deem "female attire", but with Mafuyu's now short and fluffy hair - a decision she made when she was able to get away from her parents and wanted to finally get rid of that god awful ponytail of hers - maybe people'll mistake her as a male.
Mafuyu glances at her phone when it vibrates. It lights up, revealing a message from her colleague, Rui Kamishiro. It was just him texting her details to the party, like the address. He also mentions that he'll be a little late due to a detour he has to take. Mafuyu shoots him back a simple 'okay'. Afterwards, the girl steps out of her house, inhaling the fresh air the world hits her with. It's cold. She can't find it in herself to relish in it. She checks her phone to see the address, then begins her sulk towards it.
When she reaches where the party is being hosted in, there's already multiple cars parked outside the house, and multiple students leaving them to enter the party. She approaches the building, and just stares up at it, while students brush past her to enter.
"Asahina," A voice calls out, grabbing Mafuyu's attention. She looks back, just to see Rui exiting his car. "I thought you had a detour." Mafuyu's voice is blank. Unlike how she used to, she no longer keeps up the good girl front with Rui. She knows he can see right through her.
Rui nods, walking up to his fellow purple haired friend. "I did." He confirms, then looks behind himself. "Come on out. Don't be shy." He moves a hand to his hips, while Mafuyu stares at his car suspiciously. Then, someone steps out. Pink hair let loose, a white dress that compliments their skin, and a familiar devilish look in their eyes.
"Mizuki?" Mafuyu breathes, as the person who stepped out the car, Mizuki Akiyama, beams. "Mafuyu!! It's been so long!!" They rush up to their friend, embracing her into a bone-crushing hug. Mafuyu doesn't react in any way. "The rest of our friends should be on their way. Why don't you two enjoy yourselves in there?" Rui leans on the building, while Mizuki releases their grip on Mafuyu, and instead opts to hold her hand. "That sound good, Mafu?" Mizuki inquires. "Yes."
The two walk into the party, hand in hand. "I didn't know you were coming." Mafuyu states, eyes squinting at the blaring lights emitting from the living room. "I didn't know you were coming either! You come to parties now?" "What did you say?" Mafuyu can't hear them from the blaring music inside the mansion. Or, whatever giant house they were in. Mizuki takes notice of this, so they look around. Then, they begin to drag Mafuyu to a secluded area.
Mizuki lets go of Mafuyu's hand, and turns to look back at her. "Mafuyu Asahina," Mizuki's tone is teasing. "The so-called gifted student, the 'good girl', at a party like this? Say it ain't so." Mizuki grins. Mafuyu tilts her head. "Is it really that unbelievable?" She inquires, and Mizuki blinks.
"..Kinda. But hey, I'm glad for you! You're starting to rebel now!" Mizuki places a hand on Mafuyu's shoulder. "Your hair looks great." They comment, tilting their head. "Thank you. You look good in a dress, I think." Mafuyu replies, averting her gaze. Mizuki grins, before wrapping their arms around Mafuyu in a tight hug again. "You are such a charmer, you know that?"
Mafuyu blinks at the unexpected embrace. "..Am I?" She questions, looking up at Mizuki, whose face is buried in the crook of Mafuyu's neck. "Yes, you are." They pull away from the hug, and reach forward to ruffle Mafuyu's hair. Mafuyu's eye twitches at the contact, but otherwise she leans into it, finding comfort in the simple action.
"So, why are you here?" Mizuki inquires, pulling their hand away. "You don't think I could've come here just for fun?" Mafuyu asks, to which Mizuki answers with a deadpanned look. "..I was stressed. And I needed something to relieve myself." Mafuyu answers honestly, pushing her hands into the pockets of her pants.
Mizuki raises their brows, taking note of her statement. "Are you feeling alright?" They inquire. "Yeah." Mafuyu shrugs offhandedly, glancing at the person who entered the room, then back at Mizuki. Mizuki smiles and lets out a small chortle, face softening. "It's easy to tell you aren't, you know." "Out of all people, I figured you'd be the quickest to call me out." Mafuyu tilts her head, and Mizuki giggles. "You know me too well."
"What about you? Have you been okay?" There seems to be genuine concern on Mafuyu's face. Mizuki appreciates that. "Eh, yeah and no. I might be here for the same reason you are. Stressed." Mizuki shrugs, then glances at the door. "Yo! Rui! Over here!" They call out, and Mafuyu turns around.
After a moment, six people spill into the room. Rui, from earlier, and a few other people Mafuyu doesn't know, aside from Akito Shinonome, a friend's brother. "Mizuki!" A person rushes up to Mizuki, and brings them into a hug. So, Mafuyu steps back, taking a moment to reel this all in.
All of them begin to talk, thus ruining the somewhat quiet moment her and Mizuki were having. Mafuyu isn't mad at that fact, she could care less, it's just a little disappointing to her. She was hoping Mizuki would stay by her side for the night.
The party goes on just like that. Everyone having a good enough time, laughing and joking with each other. Mafuyu mainly stayed behind, watching everyone. Not because she had no one to talk to, while that did play an important part in her obscurity, but simply because she had no desire to. This party was nothing but a stress reliever, or in other words, just a way for her to get away from work.
At some point, that had all moved to the main lobby, where majority of the people at the party were located in. Mafuyu watched her acquaintances dance with other random people, and Mafuyu even danced with someone as well. Although not very enjoyable, it was something to keep her occupied.
But now, the upbeat song has switched to a slow song. Couples are beginning to sway to the music, and Mafuyu can even notice a few of her friends dance with each other. Akito with a blue haired guy, Rui with someone Mafuyu faintly remembers to be Tsukasa, and An and Mizuki dance together. There was another person though.. Eh, Mafuyu doesn't worry too much about it. Mafuyu instead, decides to walk up the stairs, towards the rooms.
Surprisingly enough, the hallways up here are empty, not a single person in sight. Mafuyu walks into a room, leaving the door open. She looks around. It's neatly organized, the bed fixed, no mess on the floor. Mafuyu hums, choosing to walk over and sit on the bed.
And she waits. For what, she's not sure. Maybe for Rui to text her and tell her that he's leaving. Maybe for her mind to finally decide she's had enough of procrastinating and she'll force herself home.
Mafuyu waits in someone's bed that isn't her own. She isn't messing it up or anything, she sat down carefully, so the person this bed belongs to likely won't even notice. However, that just makes Mafuyu feel.. Guilt? She isn't sure. Just the feeling that she shouldn't be here. Maybe the reason no one was up here was because it wasn't allowed.
"Mafuyu!" Mafuyu jolts, as someone yells out her name, and walks into the room. Mafuyu huffs as the person comes into view, being none other than her friend, Mizuki Akiyama. "Oh, you are in here! You should've told me you were gonna leave!" They exclaim, turning to face Mafuyu.
"I didn't want to bother you. You were having fun." Mafuyu responds, and Mizuki sighs, making their way to the bed. "It was fun for a little while, but.. I was kinda hoping you'd invite me to dance." Mizuki sits down, a hint of a blush on their face. That caught Mafuyu by surprise. She thought they'd be too tired to even dance with her, so she didn't bother.
"..I'm sorry." She apologizes. Mizuki chuckles, placing a hand over Mafuyu's. "It's nothing serious.. I'm not mad or anything. Just a bit disappointed. Afterall, who wouldn't want to dance with someone as handsome as you?"
Handsome. Mafuyu's breath hitches at that. She's never been called handsome before. Pretty and beautiful, sure, but handsome? Mafuyu found herself blushing. "You're not supposed to be up here, you know. You might get in trouble." Mizuki states, leaning close, and placing a hand on Mafuyu's cheek.
Mafuyu can't formulate a response. She doesn't move at all, allowing Mizuki to switch their positions to where she's laying down and they're hovering above. "People pay to see people as good looking as you. It's quite the ego boost to know I get to see it for free." Mizuki grins, moving back to let Mafuyu sit up again.
She doesn't, choosing to lay there. Mizuki finds that interesting, but doesn't say much about it. "There isn't anything to do up here. Why don't you go back down with me? Promise to keep you entertained." Mizuki smiles at Mafuyu, and who doesn't smile back, as expected.
"The songs playing are mainly for couples. Unless I'm reading our relationship wrong, we aren't a couple." Mafuyu replies, and Mizuki nods. "You'd be reading correct.." Mizuki responds, laying down at Mafuyu's feet. "I can kick you right now." Mafuyu chooses to say, and Mizuki chuckles. "You won't though." "How do you know that?"
Mizuki stays silent for a second. "..You don't seem like you'd try to hurt me." They come up with, shrugging. The room is silent after that. Mafuyu stares up at the ceiling. Mizuki stares up at it as well. Now they're both in a room that doesn't belong to them. But neither can find it in themselves to care.
"And if I did? You aren't scared of the implications of that? What if you get hurt?" Mafuyu sits up, bringing a knee to her chest. Mizuki is a little confused on the randomness of these questions, but shrugs and begins to answer. "I trust you. Can't that be a good enough answer?" Mizuki asks, sitting up as well.
There's a brief moment of silence between the two that follows. Mafuyu can hear the music now, no longer a slow song but now an upbeat one. Mizuki stares at Mafuyu, as if analyzing her face structure. Mafuyu has always been told she had the perfect face, so she supposes it can't be helped if Mizuki was interested in it.
"Do you trust me?" Mizuki suddenly questions, their once playful tone reduced to a quiet one. "Yes. I've known you since two years ago. Why wouldn't I?" "Then, Mafuyu, let me ask you another question." Mizuki sighs, closing their eyes. "How do you think I feel about you?" They open them, staring at Mafuyu intensely.
Mafuyu huffs, then sighs and lays down. "I don't think you like me." She answers honestly. "But I do." "Do you? Ever since the rest of your friends came in, you've only focused on them. Maybe its selfish to want to hoard you all to myself, but it's also selfish of you to not pay me any mind." Mafuyu argues.
"You're not entitled to my attention." "But I want it." Mafuyu can't formulate any other words than that, her gaze shifting to the bed. It isn't until another song starts playing, again an upbeat one, that Mizuki finally replies. "Okay. I'll give you as much attention as you need from this point forward." Mizuki promises, sealing the deal with a nod.
Mafuyu considers that. Then, she sits up, and scoots off the bed. "Dance with me, then." She looks back at Mizuki, lending out her hand. "Oh? Quite the gentleman, Mafu~" Mizuki takes the offer, and Mafuyu hoists them up. "Ah.. Usually the man takes the initiative here." "Psh, who cares about that? Hold me how you think you should." Mizuki smiles, fully trusting the girl in front of them.
Mafuyu swallows a lump in her throat. "..Okay. I should place my hand here," Mafuyu places a hand on Mizuki's shoulder. "And you should wrap your arms around my neck," Mizuki does just that. "And then.." Mafuyu trails off, hesitanting for a moment, before placing a hand on Mizuki's waist. "There. Is this okay?" "Perfect." Mizuki quickly answers, grinning at the nervousness that was evident on Mafuyu's face.
They both take a moment to properly tune out the music that wasn't appropriate for their situation, and once they do, they begin to slowly sway together. Mafuyu has no choice but to stare into Mizuki's eyes, and Mizuki seems to enjoy the attention.
"I've always wanted to dance with you, you know." Mizuki comments, and Mafuyu hums as a way to tell them to continue. "Who doesn't, right? I mean, having a chance to dance with Mafuyu Asahina is an honor, a privilege!" Mizuki lowers one of their hands to hold onto the one on their shoulder. "To get that privilege.. To be dancing with you right now.." There's a very small hint of red that finds it's way to Mizuki's face.
Mafuyu notices it. "..I don't think it's that big of a deal. I'm not too special." "There's no need to be humble! You don't have to pretend, I'm the only person here!" "I'm being serious. You're really making a big deal out of nothing." Mafuyu glances off to the side, subconsciously tightening her grip.
Mizuki tilts their head, their lips parting slightly. "..Aha.. Of course, what else to expect from Asahina Mafuyu.." Mizuki smiles bashfully, staring at the two's feet while they move back and forth. "Mafuyu..." "Mhm?" Mizuki moves closer to Mafuyu, resting their chin atop her shoulder. They speak quietly, almost barely audible over the loud music. "I enjoy these small moments we have. Do you?"
"Yes." Mafuyu answers, way too quickly. "Out of everyone, you're someone I find myself relating to the most. To spend time with you like this, it's comforting. I enjoy your company." The hand that was on Mizuki's waist finds its way to their head, ruffling their hair slightly. "..Ah." Is Mizuki's sole reply.
The two dance in silence after that. The upbeat song fades, and this time, a slow song plays. They pay no mind to it, both glancing outside the open window. "..It's a beautiful night today, isn't it?" Mizuki starts, and Mafuyu just frowns. "It was cold." She states, eliciting a laugh from the one in her arms. "I think the moon is gorgeous. We can't see it from in here, though." Mizuki's smile turns into a sad one.
Mafuyu can't have that. So, she carefully slips out of Mizuki's grasps. "Eh? Is something wrong?" Mizuki watches, as Mafuyu walks over to the window, then opens it and looks back at Mizuki. "Come with me to the roof?"
This was a bad idea. They could fall and injure themselves, or worse!
But those thoughts don't stop Mizuki from squeezing Mafuyu's hand tigher. On top of a triangle shaped roof stood the both of them, hand in hand. "Can you see the moon from here?" Mafuyu inquires, and Mizuki nods. "Past those tall trees, you can see it. It's enamoring, isn't it?" Mizuki stares at the moon. Mafuyu stares at Mizuki. "..Yes."
There's silence. Mizuki looks over at Mafuyu. She doesn't look away. For a small moment, it's just them. "..Has anyone told you that you shine just as bright as the sun, but act as the moon?" Mafuyu inquires, causing Mizuki to blink "..No..?" "Then let me be the first. You may seem like the sun and act like the moon, but in reality you shine brighter than both combined, a brightness that can't be viewed with a naked eye." Mafuyu brings Mizuki's hand to her mouth. "What was that you said earlier, about you getting a chance to see me for free? I feel the exact same way." A kiss on their hand. "If only you knew how you make me feel when you're around. I wish you understood how I feel when you arent."
Mafuyu lets go of Mizuki's hand, and it slowly lowers to their side. "Is that really how you feel when you see me?" "As close as I can put it in words." "Ah." Mizuki nods, glancing back at the moon. Mafuyu turns her head to look back at it as well.
"..You aren't too bright, you know." Mizuki starts, causing Mafuyu to blink. Was that not usually stated as an insult? "Sure you're supposed to be, but you aren't. I cant compare you to anything cause I'm not that big on astrology, but I think that itself makes you unique." Mizuki closes their eyes. "There is nothing or no one like you. I cant find another you anywhere else, so for one, don't go disappearing again." They force out a chuckle. Mafuyu can only tilt her head. "But it's nice to have someone so special stand next to me. To hold my hand, to kiss it, to.." Mizuki trails off, looking back at Mafuyu, who was already looking at them.
"..To kiss me..?" They say hopefully, causing Mafuyu's eyes to widen slightly. She doesn't respond. Mizuki doesn't say anything more. "..If you want to kiss me then you can." Mafuyu responds, tilting her head even more to the right. "Don't.." Mizuki brings up a finger, nervously laughing. "Don't tempt me." "Does it look like I'm saying this to joke around? I'm letting you. If you can, why won't you?" "Mafuyu—" "Kiss me before I do it first." Mafuyu steps forward.
Mizuki gulps, quickly looking around to make sure no one was watching, despite the fact no one was on the roof. Then, when Mafuyu takes another step forward, Mizuki yanks Mafuyu towards them, just to press their lips against hers.
A simple, chaste kiss. Mafuyu's hand quickly finds it's way up Mizuki's neck and to their hair, while Mizuki's snakes around Mafuyu, pulling her closer. Once comfortable with their position, they both close their eyes, relishing in the moment. Despite the cold air hitting Mafuyu's neck, she still finds herself enjoying the moment. Mizuki is okay with the cold, and feels even better now that Mafuyu's body brings them warmth. When the two pull apart, quicker than either wanted, they both take a short moment to catch their breath.
"Do you believe in fate, Asahina Mafuyu?" Mizuki presses their forehead against Mafuyu's, holding her closer. "It brought me to you, did it not?" Mafuyu closes her eyes, and Mizuki lets out a quiet, way too quiet, laugh. "..Heh. I guess so.."
Mafuyu doesn't know what to say. And maybe, looking into Mizuki's eyes, she doesn't have to. She hopes her gaze conveys everything she's feeling, because she can't do such a thing verbally.
Her deadpanned stare did not convey a single thing. If anything, anyone who saw it would've thought she was pissed off, and annoyed. But Mizuki knew better than to think of that from their sweet group member. They hold Mafuyu tighter. Mafuyu closes her eyes.
For the second and not last time for that night, they share a kiss.