Work Text:
One day.
Rome fell in one day.
Sonia believes she could keep her kingdom—her friends —together longer than that. All she needs is a good attitude, hope, and perseverance. Stay calm like she did during princess training at home. If she could do all of that, her friends would stick together.
So she picks up Teruteru’s work. She cooks. She serves. Things she was taught not to do as a princess. But if she is to lead her people, she must be like them. That has been her mindset as she observed her parents rule. While they are kind and gracious leaders, they do not know their own people.
Sonia vowed to change that under her reign. That goes for any circumstance where she may take up a leadership role, including a killing game.
(And maybe taking up a job like Teruteru will help her fit in more, feel normal for once.)
“Being served by a princess, wow. Am I supposed to feel honored and special?”
Sonia ignores the Hiyoko’s chirping because the last thing she needs is negativity clouding her mind. She stays light on her feet as she spins around to the table behind her. The plate of steaming pancakes lands in front of Chiaki, who nods in acknowledgement despite her sleepy state.
Kazuichi slams his hands on the table, somehow not startling Chiaki wide awake. “Miss Sonia, let me serve instead! You should be the one sitting.”
“Kazuichi, dude, shut up and leave her be.” Akane smirks. “I’m ready for some ‘cakes.”
“Um—hello?” Hiyoko snaps her fingers. “They’re burnt! Sheesh, even I know how to make pancakes.”
“They are not burnt,” Sonia chimes in with a smile. “They are extra warm. I believe we all need the extra warmth after the cold events of yesterday, hm?”
She lays another plate in front of Ibuki. The musician stabs it with her fork, but it bends after multiple failed attempts. Eventually, she holds it in her mouth with no hands and bites down until it cracks. Between it in her mouth and her pointy hair, Sonia is reminded of one of the palace dogs and giggles.
Sonia pats Ibuki’s head with her free hand. “I believe we are overdue for some happiness.”
Hiyoko cocks her head. “Why? Because you said so? Some of us can’t pretend it didn’t happen.”
“There is no pretending.” Sonia places the next plate in front of Hajime. His eyebrows scrunch the longer he stares at the patchy brownness of the pancakes. Knowing him, he refrains from whatever comment sits on the tip of his tongue for Sonia’s sake. She’s trying, and she already has one person fighting her on this. “I believe that we must let it unite us and push forward together. If we do not choose to move on as a unit, it will have all been in vain.”
“You mean their deaths ? This isn’t a kingdom, princess. We aren’t going to blindly agree with what you’re saying.”
Sonia huffs, pushing down the growing irritation in her chest. “I am aware this is not my home, but it is not yours either. All we have is one another, and I only wish we stay positive and search for hope in our situation. If we do not—“
Screech!
Hiyoko stands to her feet in a flash, causing her chair to slide back and crash to the floor. “They’re dead , Sonia. Not everyone can pick themselves up and push forward like you. Teruteru was a freaking creep, and Byakuya may have been a loser—ugh, but what happened is still traumatizing. You’re trained to pick yourself up from devastating events, but I’m not! The others? Neither are they. They’re just scared to speak up.”
“Oh? Are you implying I do not feel sorrow over these events?!” Realizing she lost her composure, Sonia inhales and straightens her skirt. “What is there to fear about working together this morning? Does anyone see an issue?”
Sonia glances around the group. Chiaki blows a bubble in her sleep. Hajime opens and shuts his mouth again like he has something to say then changes his mind. Akane’s eyes widen when Sonia’s lock on her, so she turns her attention to Ibuki’s other pancake and takes it. At this angle, Sonia now sees the bags under Kazuichi’s eyes. Even Nekomaru, who always has a pep talk ready, stays silent.
(Isolation’s a cold hand that continuously tightens its grip around her heart here.)
She shakes that feeling away. Maybe she took it the wrong way. Stay positive because they all need it . “No one? Then okay—“
“ Stop. ” Hiyoko points a finger. “They’re not going to speak against you when you’re trying to be good. It’s obnoxious!”
“That’s enough!”
Mahiru slams her hands against the table, silencing both girls. Her eyes hold an intensity that warns everyone to stay quiet. Her aura screams “listen to me!” and Sonia admires that about her. The photographer doesn’t even need to try to earn anyone’s respect. Her presence alone gains it.
Without another word, Hiyoko sits down and crosses her arms. Sonia serves the last few plates but refuses to make eye contact with anyone. She brings the last plate to Mahiru.
“Sonia,” addresses Mahiru. “Thank you for breakfast, but I need to steal you away for a moment. I have a special project for you, and it requires a certain outside lighting. If we don’t go now, we’ll have to wait for tomorrow, and…”
( There may not be a tomorrow , Sonia finishes for Mahiru.)
“Anyways—come with me.”
The heaviness of the room suffocates her, and she needs the fresh air. Besides, Mahiru’s request comes out more like a command than a question. She straightens out her skirt once more and follows Mahiru outside.
The sun rises only partway into the sky, giving it a soft, golden-blue glow to it. The morning dew reflects this across the grass, and she understands why cows love it so much ( that’s not a normal thought, Sonia! Stop it! ). Even the sand on the beach in the distance shimmers as bright as the water that kisses it. Mahiru was right, whatever special project this is… the lighting is perfect .
“It is beautiful out,” she states as she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Your photos will come out stunning.”
Mahiru, tapping her camera absentmindedly, smiles at the compliment. “Only as stunning as the subject in them… that’s where you come in.”
Sonia blinks and points to herself. Her cheeks heat up, and she hopes it’s not enough for Mahiru to notice. Mahiru giggles (darn, she noticed) with an eye roll, shaking her head at Sonia’s surprise. She clasps her hand in Sonia’s to lead the way.
“I’ve been taking pictures of all the girls,” admits Mahiru. Sonia despises the way her eyes, filled with sorrow, momentarily shoot to the ground. “I… Sonia, don’t get upset at me when I say this, but I’ve been worried since the killing game started that things won’t end well for us ladies. I don’t know how to explain it. Just this looming dread that keeps getting stronger.”
“I believe we all feel—“
“No, don’t talk—I need you to not try to solve a problem this time. I need you to be my friend and hear me. Not subconsciously try to fix my issues like a princess would, okay?”
Sonia opens her mouth to respond then shuts it when Mahiru’s words sink in more. Ah, so this was why Hajime took a vow of silence. He was trying to be a friend, and now it’s Sonia’s turn for someone else.
Mahiru’s right, though. As much as Sonia wants to fit in and not feel like she’s on a pedestal, many of her actions and thoughts go back to years of princess training. Her mind is a battlefield with every move she makes, and as hard as she may fight it, many times her princess ways win out even without her being fully aware of it.
She squeezes Mahiru’s hand. Sonia listens.
“I know you know the statistics,” continues Mahiru as she leads Sonia toward a field she doesn’t recognize. Hm, she supposes she hasn’t explored as much as she believes she had. “You know a lot about serial killers—actually, killers in general. How often do women make it out alive in situations such as these?”
Sonia purses her lips before she decides that it’s best to be honest instead of positive here. “Not often.”
“Y-Yeah… so I want to make sure the world finds out we were here. The men can’t bury our murders if something happens because I will have a scrapbook of us. A record book, I guess? It’ll have our information. Names, talents, some facts about us… but I want the pictures to be happy and mean something. I know it probably sounds stupid—“
“No.” Sonia squeezes her hand. “It sounds wonderful, Mahiru. You are a smart, thoughtful woman. Thank you for caring about us and doing this.”
The corners of Mahiru’s lips tug into a small, reassuring smile. Like before, it suddenly disappears and her eyes dart down. “And I guess… it’s my way of leaving a mark on the world if something happens to me. My mother’s photos mean something to a lot of people. If nothing else, this can mean the world to our families because at least they’ll have some answers to what happened here.”
Sonia nods but remains silent. Until now, she viewed Mahiru as a fantastic lady that’s as optimistic as herself. Yes, Mahiru complains a lot, but she stays on the positive side of life. To hear that Mahiru struggles with anxiety in this way breaks Sonia’s heart.
(And also makes her wonder how much she herself has compartmentalized.)
“We’re here.”
Sonia snaps out of her thoughts. Stalks of white, blue, and pink petals spread out in patches across the field. The white flowers carry a similar golden glow as the sun, adding more color to the already gorgeous display. The wind blows enough to ruffle the petals and add to the natural beauty of the island.
“Wow…” Sonia mutters. “You were right about the sun and taking pictures at this moment.”
Mahiru nods, releases Sonia’s hand, and motions for her to enter the field. “Mhmm. Now hurry up before the sun gets too high.”
The poses start out simple. Mahiru commands her well. Sonia sits for the first one, legs together, hands on her shins, head tilted down with a small smile on her face. The flowers frame her head, and she wonders if Mahiru picked this pose to make it appear as though Sonia is wearing a colorful, petal crown.
The second pose: Sonia sits on her knees, leans into the flowers, and fakes a laugh as Mahiru snaps photos. The pink flowers in particular tickle her ears, so it’s not too forced. Mahiru makes her do the same thing, but this time she picks a stalk of each color. Sonia holds it at a specific angle, and she doesn’t question it. Whatever the professional wants!
Next, Mahiru and Sonia switch poses. The photographer drops to her knees as Sonia stands. The pose Mahiru requests of Sonia reminds her a lot of a thinking pose but with her hand holding the stalks showing off the flowers beneath her arm. This surprisingly makes her feel smart and confident, so Sonia’s smile comes across more genuine.
Going into the fourth pose, Sonia realizes that everything Mahiru does has purpose. Every movement, angle, all of it. Mahiru must have a reason why Sonia needed to be in this field as well. Something about these flowers mean something to Mahiru. Or maybe… it should mean something to Sonia.
So she holds the flowers in the air long enough for Mahiru to snap two pictures before she asks, “So why here?”
“Hm?” Mahiru stares at the camera screen to review the pictures.
“It may have taken some time, but I do believe this location—these flowers have purpose as does everything you ever do, Mahiru.”
The redhead smiles up at her. “Do you know flower language at all?”
“Er….” Sonia reviews all of her science studies but fails to recall anything other than how flowers function. “I do not.”
“These—“ Mahiru runs her hand across the petals of the stalks in Sonia’s arms. “—are called larkspur. These three colors mean grace, respectability, humor. All of which describe you, I believe.”
Aw.
“It can also mean fickleness.”
Oh.
“That one I don’t think fits you too much other than it’s hard to read who you really get along with because you try so hard to fit in with everyone.” Mahiru laughs softly. “That’s not a bad thing. You’re figuring yourself out. We all are.But with beauty comes danger. If digested, larkspur can be poisonous—no, deadly . Not just to animals that may stumble across it. It’s deadly to people, too. I think that fits you too.”
“What?!” Sonia drops the larkspur and places a hand on her chest. “I would never harm another person. People think that?”
“No, no, no!” Mahiru laughs and holds her hands up, camera dangling from its strap. “You’re so positive. I get it. I can be that way, but I know when too much is—well, too much . Sometimes, I don’t think you realize when you’re pushing people beyond what they’re comfortable with. Positivity—even when coming from the right place—can be toxic. Do you see what I’m saying?”
Sonia thinks back to Hiyoko arguing with her. While the way Hiyoko handled the situation wasn’t kind, what Mahiru’s said explains Hiyoko’s actions. She was hurt, and Sonia wasn’t giving her and others the space to grieve before expecting them to be okay and move on. Both ladies made mistakes.
She fiddles with the hem of her skirt. “I did not realize my actions hurt people. I did not mean to cause others pain.”
“They know that. That’s one of the reasons no one spoke up when you addressed them.” Mahiru rubs her back. “You also came at them while standing on some moral high ground.”
“‘Moral high ground?’”
“Ah—yeah, like—uh, again toxic positivity? They felt like they couldn’t argue against it or else they’d look bad like Hiyoko.”
“Hiyoko is not bad,” admits Sonia with a sigh. “I owe her an apology.”
Mahiru wags a finger with her free hand. “She owes you one too, so don’t let her get away without it!”
Sonia laughs, tension finally washing away. Another thought crosses her mind at the mention of Hiyoko. “Do you use flower language on all the ladies?”
That earns Sonia a smirk from Mahiru. “Maybe. Why? Jealous?”
“No, just wondering what you have planned for Hiyoko.”
“That’s for only Hiyoko and I to know.” Mahiru pats Sonia’s back before grabbing her camera again. “But it’s not insulting if that’s what you’re wondering. I want this to help keep us united, you know? If us ladies don’t have each other’s back, who will?”
Sonia nods and straightens out her skirt, more confident than ever. “You are correct. I will do my part. We will not let anything happen to each other.”
“Glad to hear—“
Sonia wraps Mahiru in a tight hug. Every isolated feeling Sonia felt before shatters the moment Mahiru hugs her back, creating a warm feeling between them. Mahiru lets out a long breath, and Sonia practically feels a bit of anxiety release from her. It makes her feel like a true sisterhood has been formed
Her first real friend that accepts her and sees her for who she is.
“Thank you for telling me the truth,” she whispers in Mahiru’s ear. “I will do better.”
“Y-Yeah… you’re welcome.”
When they break apart, Mahiru’s face is flushed a bright red. Sonia laughs. It’s almost the same shade as her hair.
“A-Anyways! Get back out there! I have a few more poses for you.”