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Tang Keke is in China.
How she dreaded this outcome! Being an idol was supposed to be a success, Liella! is a success. So, how come she’s back in her home country?
She couldn’t defy her parents any longer. The harder she tried to stay in Japan, the more frequent the calls for return became. It became hard to breathe with calls coming in and gone every time she’s at her apartment. That irritating sound of the call ringtone drilling into her ears would ring in her head, resulting in a painful headache.
One time, she left her phone in her apartment on purpose when their group decided on a sleepover. There was another instance that she left her phone turned off during the whole day. In both, she was restless and the other girls picked up on it.
For her health, Uesaka Sumire stepped in and persuaded the girl to give them a bit of a leverage.
Just this once, she decided with a sigh.
She blames the season for her decision to go back home and not Sumire at all. (It was only because, it was Sumire that told her to that she caved in to her family’s persistence.)
In immediate effect, she put out her luggage and put in her bare necessities. Since most of her things were still at home. After quickly checking the contents of her luggage the third time, she finally booked the ticket and started preparing herself for the possible things that will happen once she does get home.
Then again, she can’t help but grumble her complaints on her way to the airport. Her lips were sealed up until that point and she was itching to just let out her worries and her contradicting thoughts.
"I thought you were going to chicken out."
Keke raised her head up and saw a complicated smile on the owner's voice. She doesn't immediately reply like she always does when they're at school. She held her gaze on the girl and it rested on the bag she's pulling behind her.
"Sumire, you're also going somewhere?" She asked with an almost worried tone, almost worried.
"That's right." Keke hummed, slightly questioning the reason why the blonde looked like she was giving off an assuring smile.
The conversation ended there. In silence, they waited for the announcement for each of their flights. When it did, they shuffled in place for their luggage and headed to the same place, boarding the same airplane, and seats beside each other.
Keke had her eyes getting wider from a squint every moment she was beside Sumire during the whole process until they arrived to China.
"Did you really think I would rest easy sending you alone?"
"Absolutely. Isn't that what you were telling me?"
"I might have been vague." Sumire scratched on her cheek and looked away to the side.
"Really, Sumire is..." Keke let out a breath.
She took her hand and pulled her forward, making their way in the busy streets of the country. Shanghai was the same as she remembered it which calmed her down a little, though Sumire being by her was doing tremendous help which she was leaning into for support.
"Is your house still far?"
"Not really. My sister is probably by the window on the lookout. I just really don't want to immediately go home."
"Are they still against the whole idol thing? I thought they let you stay in Japan even after the three years of highschool."
"They've warmed up to that is what I thought. I'm not so sure anymore, actually."
Sumire lightly squeezed the hand she was holding. Keke glanced at her, a small smile on her lips.
"Keke!"
A familiar voice reached Keke's ears and she grimaced recognizing who the voice belonged to.
"It's my older sister. I can't believe she found us. We were hiding in the middle of the crowd too." She whispered to her companion and stopped in her tracks. She knew it would be pointless to run at this point. Her sister would find her in no time at all, it honestly scares her how easily her sister finds her.
"It's been so long! You should've told us in advance when you were coming."
"I was going to when I get to the house."
"Stop being so grumpy and come eat lunch with us." She put an arm on Keke's shoulders and tried to bring her home. Only Keke stood still like her soles were cemented on the ground. "Is there a problem, Keke?"
"She's coming with me."
"Keke?" Sumire raised a brow and tilted her head, confused on what they were talking about. She still couldn't understand Chinese that well without that translator app she used, but her phone just ran out of data that morning so she relied on Keke for the most part.
"I thought you came alone. Is she the only one with you?" She looked past her little sister, searching for other possible people her sister brought with her. "So the rest of the group are not here..."
"She'll be staying with me in my room. That should be no problem, right?"
"Of course. Our parents are going to be so happy once they see you."
"Yeah, yeah."
Sumire just timidly followed behind Keke, tightening her grip on her luggage and the hand squeezing hers.
Once they reached her house, Keke skipped going to the living room and went straight to her room with Sumire.
"Wait here and I'll be back in no time. Try to be comfortable, okay?"
The blonde could hear the slight tremble in her voice and she couldn't let her leave so unsure of herself like that. Unconsciously, she took a hold of her wrist and made Keke look at her.
"I'll be here when you need me."
"I know."
With the click of the door, Keke had left her room and left Sumire.
She was humming to herself when she realized that she was alone in Keke's room. Her face flushed, quickly sitting on her legs, her fists on her lap, and her eyes didn't know where to look. Until she eyed her luggage and brought it close to her, the only thing keeping her sane at the moment.
In the next second, she reminded herself that something similar to this has already happened countless times in Keke's apartment in Japan. But, you know what, the room she's currently in is her crush's childhood room. Just how can she restrain herself from staring at every inch of the room.
"Sumire... Calm yourself. Remember, you're just an isopod. An isopod..."
She finally decided to just open up her luggage and drink the lukewarm chocolate drink she bought in the airport.
Her eyes was staring blankly at the room ceiling. Like her soul has just flew mindlessly away from her body.
Keke returned with a confused look to see her like that. She didn't move from the door until she made a quick conclusion on her head and snapped Sumire out of her trance.