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“If two guys were on the moon, and one killed the other with a rock, would that be fucked up or what?”
“Mizuki, are you serious.” Ena deadpans, glaring at Mizuki. They only stare back with a laugh.
Kanade lets out a gentle smile seeing them banter. They’re on a bit of an outing today. Something about a nature walk and “stopping to smell the roses.” As one would put it.
(This whole thing started when Akito told Ena to go outside for once and smell the roses. To which Ena replied with a stern promise to buy some roses to shove down his throat. Mizuki laughed at that of course.)
Truthfully, they haven’t actually been stopping or smelling the roses at all. Mizuki would make some playful comment, Ena would counter, until it gets heated and they’re both left chasing each other around. Much to the despair of Kanade’s athletic abilities. Or lack thereof.
She zones back into the conversation when Mizuki suddenly gets behind her and grabs her by the shoulders. Almost toppling them both over. She lets out a little yelp as they both try to balance together, to no avail. Kanade’s ready to give up and accept her fate. With Mizuki giggling behind her. But an arm reaches out to steady them.
Eyes wide, she turns to the owner of said arm. And locks eyes with Mafuyu.
The other girl has been quiet for the entire walk. Sometimes commenting here and there, but for the most part, choosing to stay silent. Kanade feels guilty for not acknowledging her more.
“Ah, thank you, Yuki.” Kanade says, smiling up at the taller girl. She only nods back before they both turn their attention to the ball of anger in front of them.
“Mizuki! You almost made Kanade fall!” Ena says, marching up to them, who is still hiding behind Kanade.
“Oops, sorry about that K!” They smile, and Kanade can tell that underneath the playful tone, they really mean it. “But Enanan is just soooooo scary!”
“What was that?” Ena grinds her teeth together. And man, if looks could kill, they would already be signing Mizuki’s obituary. If that’s how that stuff works.
“Oh no, now I really made her mad!” Mizuki shouts dramatically, faux shying away with their hands.
Ena sighs in response. “You’re lucky K and Yuki are here, or else I would have pummeled you into the ground already.”
Mizuki grins, walking out of their safe haven behind Kanade and right up to Ena. Thus, continuing their little nature walk.
When they get lost in their own little conversation again, Kanade turns to Mafuyu.
“Is everything alright Yuki?” She asks, not because she thinks anything is wrong. But because she doesn’t want Mafuyu to feel left out.
“Hm.” Mafuyu hums, “the troublemakers are noisy as always.”
She glances over to the two in front. Getting into another heated conversation. Before turning her attention back to Mafuyu.
“Yeah.” She smiles, fondly.
They walk in silence, and unlike Mizuki and Ena, the both of them bask in the moment. Really taking in everything from this walk. Kanade doesn’t go outside often, and when she does, it’s usually with the rest of their music circle, or because she wants to take a trip to the music shop.
(Her thoughts drift away to a very specific dark haired girl she saw there once, but she quickly shakes her head to keep from thinking about it too hard.)
It’s comfortable, she thinks. Being with Mafuyu. Kanade appreciates the quiet, and it’s a nice change of pace compared to the energy Mizuki and Ena bring to the table. Mafuyu is also blunt, she doesn’t sugarcoat anything. And Kanade appreciates that too. Sometimes it’s exactly what she needs to hear, and it’s what inspires her to push on further. She speaks her mind only when she feels like she needs to, but whenever she does, it’s always thoughtful. Unless it’s with Ena, she doesn’t exactly know what she means whenever she replies to one of Ena’s comments.
She appreciates a lot of things about Mafuyu actually, now that she thinks about it. The girl never oversteps any boundaries, and she tries not to make anyone upset out of malice. But she always seems..particularly softer around Kanade.
Maybe it’s because of that promise to save her. But she wants to think that it’s also because they’re friends.
“Alright!“ Mizuki shouts, snapping her out of her daze. “Ena, it’s time to finally smell the roses!”
“Wait huh? What do you m—“ before she can finish her sentence, Ena lets out a startled yelp as she’s dragged by the hand. One Mizuki Akiyama cackling, and leading the way to god knows where.
“Ah, w-wait!” Kanade calls out softly, hand reaching out, but the two are already gone. Lost to the wind. They’re way too far already for Kanade to have any hope of catching them. And she sighs hopelessly.
“Those two will be fine.” Mafuyu says calmly, quelling her fears. “They always come back after all.”
She’s right, usually when Ena and Mizuki drift off a little too far into their own world. They always end up back on ground, intact, and closer than ever. Maybe it’ll even do them some good.
Kanade nods, and they start trailing after the two.
It isn’t long before Kanade gets tired, and she’s practically limping to the next bench. Feet sore from too much physical activity. She sits down with a heave, and Mafuyu sits quietly next to her. Not even breaking a sweat.
Kanade is panting, knees a little wobbly. But she knows she probably needed it. Her hands rest on her lap, and she turns to look at Mafuyu, who is blankly staring at the distance. They’ve taken a rest at a nice place, now that she’s stopped to…oh god, smell the roses, they’re taking a rest near a field of roses. She might be getting tired of that sentence.
The roses are pretty. The way they’re lined up suggests that they were hand planted. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a nice sight to see. Her mind drifts back to the carnations she saw with Mizuki. Their peaceful grin, and her soft smile. She wishes she could see Mafuyu like that too.
Speaking of, she feels a weight on her shoulder. And purple fills her peripheral vision. Ah, Mafuyu is resting on her shoulder.
Her hand leaves her lap to wrap around Mafuyu’s. Intertwining their fingers together.
“Mafuyu?” She whispers, just in case she’s sleeping.
Her breathing doesn’t change, and Kanade is about to ask again when Mafuyu already answers her with a question of her own.
“K, can you do me a favour?” Oh, definitely awake. “Sing for me.”
“Eh?” Kanade asks, confused.
“Please.” There’s a sort of desperate tone to Mafuyu’s voice. Although that might just be Kanade’s brain tricking her.
She complies though, because she isn’t one to deny anyone, especially Mafuyu. She sings one of their newer songs softly. And as Mafuyu’s breathing evens out, she holds her hand tighter. Resting her head on Mafuyu’s.
When Ena and Mizuki get back from their detour. They find the two sitting together, sleeping. And smile as they leave to cross the rose field.