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Mafuyu first notices Tsukasa's habit one day in Tsukasa's room, as the taller is scrolling casually, looking at different covers of a song, one she can't currently recall.
It's just the two of them. Everyone else is either busy or having a day out, and regardless, both were early compared to the groups usual meet up sessions.
"It's not a regular human cover." Tsukasa notes, pointing to a video on his laptop. "It's a cover by...." he lightly squints, "Luka?"
"Well. If we wanted to save time, we could always ask our own Luka...." she casually commented.
"True, that. Then, should we look for something else?"
"No- it's fine." She simply says.
Having a signal to do something, the taller uses the mouse the click, and a video comes to life.
The more the video goes on, the more Mafuyu's already fading concentration dims. The Music Video is the same one as the original song, and it being one of many covers that use it means there's nothing truly new and interesting, besides the vocals.
About halfway through the playthrough, her gaze has unintentionally shifted to Tsukasa.
Then she notices; he's unconsciously nibbling on his nail, Tsukasa is. Mafuyu observes the way he does so, ensuring the curve shape is mostly there, and he occasionally removes his finger, looking at it. Mafuyu noticed the way the blond seems to bite again on wherever he noticed a chipped part, or where the tip isn't entirely smooth.
It's clear that he's not even fully aware of it- most of his mind is attentively on the video.
Mafuyu wonders if its because he's nervous, or if he just simply does it. Other than his nail-biting however, there's no sign of anxiety, nor was that a feature really fitting him.
When the videos over, Tsukasa turns to grin- because of course he does- and asks for her thoughts.
"Well.... I'm not entirely an expert on virtual singers..." He chuckles. "I tend to listen more to KAITO tracks, but... its different to usual Luka covers I've heard, isn't it?" He clicked on the cover artists profile, and a list of about ten covers they've done comes to life on the main page.
"It's soft, but something about the pitch seems like the composers own unique style." He scrolls through their profile. "Though..... I've never heard of this producer before.... Hm.... Do you think our Luka can sing like that?"
Mafuyu's silent. "..." she's more confused than anything.
"Hm? Is everything alright, Mafuyu?"
"It's...nothing. I was just thinking." She mumbled, shaking her head.
Tsukasa raises his eyebrow inquiringly, but she ignores it. "Our Luka sings very soft..... maybe we could...."
Mafuyu and Tsukasa are sat on a bench, Tsukasa being already exhausted. Its only Midday.
In the distance, Kohane, still energy filled, is searching for a good angle to take a shot of a rather leisurely sat lion.
Mafuyu herself is mostly zoned out, just dipping her mildly salted cucumbers into sauce and then munching on them.
To her left, she hears Tsukasa's own bento box snap shut, making her aware that he's completed his lunch.
It's a comfortable atmosphere, and the silence they have between them isn't unwelcoming.
That's one thing Mafuyu prefers about Tsukasa; he won't start up a conversation unless he's sure she'll contribute in some way, and at the same time, he isn't afraid of her 'true self'.
Though, he can be rather loud. Ah, she's looking at him again.
He's yet again absentmindedly got his finger near his mouth. There's no issue regarding hygiene (after all, he was the one who ensured they thoroughly sanitised) rather, she's more baffled, realising he's biting the skin around his nails.
Mafuyu looks at his other hand and, sure enough, nails are bitten, in addition to skin above, underneath, to the left and right of his nails being partially chewed off.
She can see the way there's odd skin flaked in corners, the redness on the tip of his fingers, the way each nail is shaped slightly differently, and even the occasional speck of unshed or previously shed blood and cuts.
Tsukasa seems to have noticed Mafuyu staring as she ate, removing his ring finger from his mouth and awkwardly placing them at his sides.
"-Y- you shouldn't stare so intently-!" He chided, and despite the anger he displayed in his words, both knew he didn't mean it.
Though, what did he feel, then?
Was it fear? Embarrassment? Discomfort?
"....was I staring..?" She simply said, tilting her head dully. "Sorry."
"You..." The boy sighed, "Actually... Nevermind."
They both return to sitting in silence, though Tsukasa is clearly much more stiff, until Kohane comes running up to them excitedly, camera held overhead.
Mafuyu runs into Rui on a crowded train one day, heading to a different part of Shibuya.
"Oya? Is that Asahina-kun?" He calls out to her, ignoring the stares he gets from irritated passengers.
"Ah-? Oh, Kamishiro-san!" She smiles, "What were the chances of us meeting here!"
Rui laughs, though she said nothing particularly funny. "Indeed. What brings you to this part of town?"
"Ah, I'm here for a tutoring session."
"Tutoring? Ah..." he looked mildly disappointed. "So, you're still doing that."
"I'm sorry... I just...." she looks down, clutching her left bag strap. "I just don't know what to do."
"Fufu, no need to apologise," He smiles, palm over his heart. "These things take time, no? Don't push yourself."
"I suppose so..." she weakly smiled, "but- how have things been for you?"
"Things have been great recently, truth be told." He smiled, "even in work, I'm enjoying myself alot more."
"Its always good to be enjoying yourself. Im glad you're happy." She nodded. It's silent for a bit, and they simply rock around to the trains movement. Mafuyu wants to ask a question that's been on her mind for a while.
"Um..."
Rui raised an eyebrow, "hm?"
"You're friends with Tsuk- Ah- Tenma-kun, aren't you?" She quickly corrected herself.
"Tsukasa-kun? Well, we're apart of the same troupe, so I suppose we are quite close. Why?"
"Does Tenma-kun generally tend to... well... bite his nails?"
"Oh? You're asking about that habit of his?" Rui rubs his neck inquisitively.
"Hm... he does that alot. Apparently its a childhood habit of his."
"Really...? That long?"
"He doesn't know when it started, but he just tends to do it when his mind is elsewhere. When did you notice?"
"W- when we were on our school trip, at first. I've been.... seeing him in town alot since then, so I've noticed alot. I was just concerned that he was hurting himself by doing so." Mafuyu quickly bluffed.
The taller boy thought for a moment, cupping his chin. "If you're concerned, you should try stopping him."
"-eh-??"
"Me and Emu-kun- and somethings even Nene- tend to just pull his hand away. It grounds him, as well as making him stop." He explained. "In truth, biting probably does hurt him, but the thing harder than a habit is breaking the habit; he can't stop it himself." He smiled to Mafuyu. "That's why it would be nice if a friend could do it."
"Hm? A.... friend..." she looked at Rui. "I suppose so. But he seemed uncomfortable when I noticed."
"Uncomfortable? Probably just embarrassed." He explained, tilting his head, "Though he knows its not a good thing, Tsukasa-kun doesn't like getting caught doing it. It probably ruins the image he wants. Don't worry too much. Push him out of his comfort zone a little."
"I see.... thank you, Kamishiro-kun." She nodded.
The train slowed down, before hissing to a stop. Rui smiled again. Seriously, he smiles alot. "This is my stop, I should be leaving." He gestured. "Are you getting off as well?"
"Um... " she squinted towards the platform sign. "yes, this is my stop." She tried to replicate the way his lips were turned, Rui just giggled at her attempt.
"Come, I'll escort you out.”
Whenever Mafuyu and the group go to the Livehouse, knowing Mafuyu's irritation by majorly loud crowds and sounds, Tsukasa tends to accompany her towards the back, where the speakers are actually at a manageable range, and the crowd is much less.
Haruka and Kohane are somewhere near the front, as they have a bigger tolerance to some places, and Honami is up on stage, skillfully playing the drums.
Mafuyu always tends to focus on Honami whenever Leo/need plays. Despite Hinomori Shiho having the most stage presence in the group, due to the experience gap, Mafuyu much prefers watching Honamis more gentle movements. Ichika and Shiho are much more aggressive in their movements, while Saki is more bouncy. Honami is a contrast from the rest of the group, her gentle demeanour shining through even in the way she plays her drums. She's gentle, almost as if afraid of hurting it, yet even still it's not overshadowed by any other instrument.
In fact, all of the instruments balance themselves out rather well.
Besides her, Tsukasa is quite, as he usually is with Mafuyu. He prefers not to make her uncomfortable, so generally stands and occasionally waves.
There's an atmosphere Mafuyu can't say she dislikes, the way the crowd is jumping around, the usually bright lights, and the way Tsukasa grins proudly, not just at his sister anymore, but also at Honami.
She can't help but feel a bit of that warm pride, standing by him. Honami was always afraid of being abandoned, yet for her to play comfortably besdies those same people....
She feels her lips turn upwards.
It really is a beautiful thing, this place. The honour student can't help but feel as if the problems waiting for her are meaningless, wishing for this to never end.
As the first song simmers down, Mafuyu notices the way the thumb on one of his crossed arms lift up and he bites it.
"If you're concerned, you should try stopping him."
For a long time, the 'real' Mafuyu never had concern for other peoples wellbeing.
Its not that she didn't care, it was simply that she never understood herself.
In fact, she's never understood alot of things.
Ena's easily triggered temper, Kanades relentless and unreasonable determination, Mizuki's eyes, clouded with fear.
She never understood different things about niigo, but even still, she wants to be with them, and she wants them to be happy.
She wants that for Tsukasa too. And everyone else.
Mafuyu grabs on his hand, "You... shouldn't do that." She explains.
It's something minute, but even so, it's damaging for him.
"Ah... Mafuyu. Sorry, its-"
"A habit of yours? It's fine, just don't do it. You'll hurt yourself." Reasons Mafuyu.
"I get told that all the time...." The taller nervously smiles.
"It's okay, you'll stop eventually. If.... If we're here for you." She smiles, genuinely.
Tsukasa widens at the expression, and laughs, a soft laugh that she's never heard before. "I'd.... really like that." He placed a heart at his chest. "Thank you, Mafuyu."
Then, he headlocks the girl, though gently, "Then, this star will do his best to stop as well, HAHAHAHA!"
Mafuyu's taken aback by this mode of affection from Tsukasa, and when the next song starts up, she does something she hasn't done in a long time.
She laughs.