Work Text:
Day 5 - Swap
1:
"You sound tired, Enanan. What's up?"
"I'm fine." Ena's voice sounded out through the call. It sounded like she'd been crying too.
"Are you sure?" Kanade asked, unmuting herself.
"Y-Yeah…! Don't worry K."
"It doesn't sound like it." Mafuyu said, the soft "ping!" sounding out as she unmuted herself.
"Oh, shut up Yuki! It's none of your business!"
"Okay."
"Well, whatever… I'm actually gonna log off early for tonight." Ena muttered,
"Okay, goodnight, Enanan. Rest well." Kanade said. Mizuki could sense the worry in her voice.
"Goodnight." Mafuyu said.
"Wait, En—" Ena logged off, leaving the call in silence. "Yikes…" Mizuki muttered to themself. "Something really bad must've happened, huh?"
"Amia? Did you say something?" K asked, snapping Mizuki out of their thoughts.
"Eh? Nah, I'm just worried for Enanan is all!"
"I am as well. I can message her and ask.”
“It’s alright! I’ll check on her!”
“Okay, if you’re sure…” Mizuki mutes their mic, opening their DMs with Ena.
amia!!🎀:
enanannnnn
Enanan:
What do you want
I was getting ready to sleep
amia!!🎀:
no u werent
Enanan:
What
amia!!🎀:
i know you
and i also know that somethings wrong
wanna meet in sekai?
Enanan:
I dont feel like talking about it that much sorry
It’s the same as always anyways - about my art
But thank you Amia :)
amia!!🎀:
ofc!! :D
im here for u if u do need to talk tho!!
Enanan:
Ty
amia!!🎀:
is there anything i can do for you rn tho?
Enanan:
Maybe we could just talk? That'd be nice
amia!!🎀:
omg sure!! vc or just through text?
Enanan:
I guess vc works fine
amia!!🎀:
yay!! :00
In just a few seconds, they received a call from Ena, leaving the Nightcord call and accepting Ena's with a small grin on their face.
"Ena! Hihi! How are you?" Ena sighed.
"Well, you know. I'm not doing too well. But how are you?"
"I'm doing good! Oh! Did you see that new shop the other day? I took a look inside on the way back from work and they have really cute clothes!"
"Then maybe we should go together someday."
"Yeah, I'd love to! Hey, I saw your latest selfie! It looked super cute and you didn't go too overboard with the filters this time!"
"Thank y— Hah?! This time!? Fuck you!"
"You're welcome~!"
"You're so insufferable…"
"It adds to my charm~"
"What charm? As if you have any with how annoying you are."
"Nah, Enanan's just in denial~! She's tooootally fallen for me!"
"You—! No I haven't!"
"Whatever you say~"
"Anyways… I think tomorrow sounds good for our outing, actually."
"Ooh, really? Okay great!! Sounds fun."
"Yeah…" Ena laughs slightly, "Thank you, Mizuki."
"Huh? Oh you're welcome! Are you feeling better?"
"A bit, yeah. Mind if we stay on call for a little longer?"
"Of course!!"
"Thanks again."
2:
"Ena? It's rare to see you here without your sketchbook! Is everything okay?" Mizuki sat down beside her.
"What? Did you come to tease me or something? Why are you even here?" Mizuki shrugged.
"Nothing like that. Soooo… what's wrong, Ena?"
"You didn't answer my ques— Whatever. It's just that man being himself as always." Ena rubs her cheek. "I hate him, I don't care if he's trying to protect me, I just…! Ugh." She rests her head on Mizuki's shoulder.
"What'd he say this time?"
"Just some small comment about this piece I was really proud of… it shouldn't have bothered me as much as it did. We ended up getting into a fight…"
"How bad was it?"
"Bad enough that we both threw something."
"Christ…"
"I don't even have the energy to be mad anymore… I'm just so fucking tired of this. And of him."
"How about I get you some cheesecake?"
"Do you seriously think cheesecake always makes me feel better?? I'm not as shallow as you think I am!"
"I know you. And it certainly helps, doesn't it~?"
"Well it does… I think just you being here is enough help though. I'm glad that it's you that found me." Mizuki flushed.
"Awh, Enaaa—"
"I still want that cheesecake though." Mizuki chuckled, squeezing Ena's hand subconsciously.
"Haha, as you wish, your majesty~!" Ena groaned, facepalming.
"I take everything back. I'd rather you not be here."
"Wh- hey! Hmph! You know you can't resist my cuteness~!"
"Who said you were cute??"
"I did!"
"Well… guess you aren't wrong." Mizuki gasped dramatically.
"I knew it! Enanan thinks I'm cute~!"
"I take it back."
"Awh… you're so cruel to your kouhai, Enaaa~!"
"If you start calling me 'senpai,' you'll wake up tomorrow with no vocal chords."
"Yikes! Okay, point taken!"
"Exactly! And… Hah, wow, this is the second time this week you've been there for me. Thanks again, Mizuki."
"Of course! You're my friend, I'm always here for ya."
"Right back at you. I feel a bit better now. But I don't want to go home."
"...Wanna come over to mine?"
"Huh? A-are you sure…?" She looked away, trying to hide the pink dusting her cheeks.
"One hundred percent!"
"Hah… alright then. Thank you. Guess you can be a decent person sometimes." Mizuki stared at her, blinking.
"HEY! I'm always nice! Enaaaa~!" Ena bumped her shoulder into Mizuki's, smirking.
"That's a taste of your own medicine for you." Mizuki only responded by sticking their tongue out, Ena giggled a bit. "I want to stay with you here for a bit before we go."
"Then we can! Just let me know when you wanna go back to my house, kay?"
"Yeah, yeah, will do." Ena smiled softly. "Thanks again, Mizuki."
3:
Ena sat down beside Mizuki on the park bench, a box with a slice of cheesecake in her hands. She sighed, staring at it.
"You gonna tell me what's wrong?"
"H-huh-?? What do you mean-??"
"You're easy to read, Enanan!"
"Wh— HEY! It's not my fault you somehow always immediately know when I'm in a bad mood!"
"Pffft—"
"Yeah, that sounded better in my head. How do you always know, anyways?"
"I just know you! So, what's wrong?"
"Just… My latest selfie didn't get many likes. It's been bothering me all day. Like— what if people decided they don't like what I post anymore? What if they think I'm attention seeking? Well, I am but—What if they think I'm—"
"Ena. I'm gonna stop you right there. You know you aren't defined by how many likes you get, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know…. It's just… it's the only way people will fucking notice my work. Since no one sees my art account. And that has the things I've actually put time and effort into. It's not fair that something that only takes a few seconds gets more recognition than something I pour my heart and soul into."
"You do deserve to get recognition for your art. Especially since it's improved so much, it was already good! But ever since you took up art classes again, it's been getting better and better!"
"Thanks Mizuki…."
"Also I think I have an answer as to why your selfie didn't get much likes~!" Ena raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really?"
"Yup!" Mizuki responded. "It's that stupid rate limit thing!"
"...Oh. Shit. Yeah I completely forgot about that. It's so fucking stupid!"
"Right?? I hate it so much!"
"Yeah, I'm so pissed. What was the need??"
"Yeah, I hope that guy knows that he's preventing people from using his app so he isn't getting any money. Dude's dumb as hell." Mizuki giggled a bit, swinging one of their legs over the other.
"Exactly! I hope it gets removed soon. I'll be so pissed if it isn't."
"Same, honestly!" Ena chuckled a bit.
"That's three times this week, Mizuki. Thanks."
"I'm just being a decent human being! And of course. You're my friend, I'll always help ya out."
"And same goes for you. I'm still waiting, y'know."
"Ah… Hahaha, yeah. Thanks."
4:
"I knew you'd be up here, Mizuki." The door to the rooftop changed shut, causing Mizuki to jump slightly at turn around.
"E-Ena…?? What are you doing here?"
"Akito mentioned you were at school today so I figured you'd be here," Ena walked up to them and leaned on the fence beside them. Mizuki sighed, turning to face her.
"What made you want to see me, then?" Ena shrugged.
"I felt like it." She frowned. "You look tired, Mizuki."
"Ahahah… School's just exhausting, y'know?" Ena sighed, expression softening.
"Not gonna deny that. I did say that I'm gonna wait, so I won't press. Though you can still come to me with anything, y'know?"
"Awh, Ena…" Mizuki shifted uncomfortably, "You're not as irritable today~"
"I'm not always— it's usually because of you-! But…" Ena sighed. "I got here early to see you so I have time before class. We can just talk if you'd like." Mizuki's eyes widened slightly, but they gestured for Ena to sit beside them.
"Yeah… I'd like that." Ena sat down, leaning against the fence again.
"Cool." The two sat in a comfortable silence, letting the soft whispers of the wind fill it up. Until Mizuki finally spoke out.
"School is… really tiring." Ena raised an eyebrow, as Mizuki leaned their head on her shoulder, causing her face to go red.
"Uhm, Mizuk…" Ena paused, noticing how tired they actually were, sighing and smiling softly. "Tiring, how so? Well, I know it is tiring but in what way-?"
"People." They muttered. Ena blinked, pursing her lips.
"People?" Ena repeated, tilting her head.
"Yeah." Ena sighed again, realizing that Mizuki wasn't going to elaborate.
"You tired?"
"No shit. Yeah, I am."
"You can rest here for a bit then. I still have time before class."
"Really?"
"Yeah, of course." They smiled softly, shutting their eyes.
"Thanks, Ena…"