Work Text:
100….200….300….
Yamada Ryo confirmed the amount of Yen left in her wallet: three 100 Yen coins. Unsure (or rather in denial) that was all that remained in her possession, she rummaged through every nook and cranny of her wallet, hoping she would magically find a 10,000 Yen note in there.
Tragically for Ryo, the only things inside her wallet were dust and disappointment.
“Damn….” she muttered, as she dejectedly closed her wallet and shoved it back into her pocket. Ryo had not anticipated her monthly budget running dry this soon. Normally she would have enough to last her at least until the third week of the month in the best-case scenario.
It was only the fourth day of the month.
Not wanting to even consider the source of her financial blunder, Ryo hastily made her way towards Starry. Despite only leaving the live house after her shift less than an hour ago, she hoped Nijika would be in a good enough mood to cook dinner for her. Her curry was housewife material.
Ryo walked through the familiar streets of Shimokitazawa towards Starry as the sun began to set and the neon street lamps flickered to life. Approaching the familiar row of vending machines that sat near Starry, Ryo considered rummaging beneath the vending machines for loose change, a thought that was pushed aside the moment she saw a figure curled up in front of the machines. Even though the lights of the machine barely illuminated the person, the bright red hair was enough for Ryo to figure out.
“What are you doing here Ikuyo?”
Kita Ikuyo jolted up from the sudden mention of her name, a panicked look on her face that quickly softened when she realized who called her. “Ryo-senpai….” Kita said softly, her usual cheerful demeanor nowhere to be seen. Ryo was quick to notice her swollen red face and glistening amber eyes.
Kita had been crying.
Ryo bit her lip, realizing she had no idea what to say at a time like this. She was never good with comforting others, the many times Nijika had thrown things at her out of frustration was enough proof of her incompetence. Regardless, as emotionless as she was, she wasn’t heartless. While she enjoyed messing with Kita for her own amusement, the pained look that once hosted a bubbly personality was enough to convince her to intervene. Sitting down next to Kita, Ryo’s mind raced to determine the words she should say next, “You….doing okay there?”
Kita stayed silent for what seemed like an eternity. Her eyes wandered as if searching for the words to answer the simple question. “I….had a really bad day today.”
“What happened?”
“What didn’t happen? In the morning I argued with my mom, at school, I found out I flunked my midterms, my guitar string then broke when I was practicing with Hitori-chan,” Kita’s voice grew shaky the more she vented, burying her face between her legs, "I….also lashed out at Hitori-chan.”
“You what?!” Ryo exclaimed, caught off guard by what she just heard. It was then she realized that was most likely why Bocchi looked down when working today, her moody expression hinted at sadness and hurt, but to think Kita was the one responsible was a surprise even to Ryo.
“I’m terrible! Just a terrible terrible person!!” Kita yelled, her voice now more agitated as her body began shaking. “I hurt Hitori-chan….just because I had a bad day! I don’t deserve to be her friend! I….I….” The floodgates of Kita’s eyes burst open once more, and a rush of tears flowed down her cheeks.
“I don’t deserve to be anyone’s friend….”
The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy, Ryo silently watched as Kita covered her face and sobbed. As much as she wanted to comfort Kita, give her a tight hug and tell her everything would be okay, she simply didn’t know how to go about it sincerely. Ryo was never one to mince her words, it was a trait that made her unique. However, that uniqueness was also her biggest flaw as honesty often does not mesh with empathy, something Ryo unfortunately knew all too well. She wanted to do better, not repeat the mistakes of times gone.
She didn’t want to lose another band.
Ryo racked her tiny brain more than ever for ways to lift Kita’s spirits without it feeling patronizing. It was only then her ears noticed the soft hum of the vending machines behind her did an idea came to mind. Ryo got on her feet and scanned the rows of dully illuminated drinks displayed behind the vending machine glass. Spotting the drink she wanted, her sank when she noticed the price tag:
300¥
Ryo gulped, pulling out her wallet and pouring out three coins onto her palm. The last of her budget for the month lay pathetically in her hands, looking back and forth between the drink and the coins, the correct choice being so obvious, but still weighing heavily on her. Ryo sighed as she slowly inserted the coins into the machine, the loud ‘cling’ of each coin entering the machine hurting her like a knife piercing her chest.
Do it for Ikuyo, she needs it more than you do.
With a loud ‘clunk’, the vending machine dispensed the drink. Ryo grabbed the can and gently pressed it against Kita’s head. The sudden coldness stemming from the can’s aluminum surface made Kita shake and shudder in surprise. Turning her head, her eyes met with Ryo’s as she held out a purple can of carbonated milk soda. Kita’s favorite drink.
“Fo-for me….?” Kita softly asked.
Ryo nodded, “I see you drink this many times during practice, thought it might cheer you up a lit-”
Ryo was interrupted when Kita wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Thank you….you’re the first good thing to happen to me today.”
Kita tightened her grip on Ryo, clinging as if she’d lose her forever if she let go. As much as she found herself uneasy with the prolonged intimacy, it was what Kita needed most right now. Ryo awkwardly rubbed Kita’s back, hoping it’d bring some form of comfort, however little it may be. The two stayed in each other’s embrace for a while, enough time that Ryo began wondering if she should let go first before her legs grew numb. As if on cue, Kita released her grip first. “Do you….feel better now?” Ryo asked.
“A little….” Kita answered, wiping the lingering tears in her eyes. She took the milk soda can from Ryo, opened it to a hissing pop, and took a few sips. “I honestly prefer the strawberry flavor more, never liked the grape one.”
“Sorry, I guess I missed out on that detail.”
Kita giggled, “It’s fine, I’m just happy you remembered I liked this.” After taking a few more sips, she passed the can back to Ryo. “You can finish the rest, Ryo–san.”
As Ryo reached out to grab the can, her hand froze when she finally processed what Kita said. She wasn’t sure if she had misheard that last part.
“Is something wrong?” Kita asked.
“It’s nothing,” Ryo said, chugging the remainder of the soda and letting out a loud burp, to which Kita only looked on in silence. “You said your guitar string broke, mind if I have a look?”
“Ah, right. The guitar is yours after all,” Kita said, nervously scratching her face. “I left it back home, you can follow me back and have a look.”
“Sure.”
Ryo got back on her feet, tossing the can into a bin before extending a hand to Kita. Holding hands with her beloved senpai would usually elicit a gleeful reaction from Kita. Now though, as she firmly grasped Ryo’s hand and pulled herself up, Kita smiled ever so slightly when her eyes met with a girl she no longer idolized. Ryo, too, returned a faint smile, even though she never quite liked the extreme positivity Kita exuded on a daily basis as she found it tiring to handle, she’d be lying to herself to say she wasn’t at least relieved to see a smile on her face again.
“I should apologize to Hitori-chan tomorrow, I hope she forgives me….” Kita said.
Ryo rested her hand on Kita’s shoulder, brushing off some dirt, “You and Bocchi are close, I’m sure things will work out.”
“Yeah, I hope so too.”
As the last of nature’s light flickered away, replaced with rays of artificial neon, Ryo and Kita headed to the latter’s house, an event neither of them expected to happen, until now. While the two have never been close, the relationship being one-sided at best, and indifferent at worst, perhaps tonight can be an opportunity to change that. A chance for two polar opposites to deepen their bonds, and become more than just bandmates.
Ryo caught a glimpse of Kita walking by her side, the pain she previously saw in her eyes had now been replaced with warmth. A slight smile also lingered on her face, perhaps a sign of self reassurance, that things will be alright.
Her introspective thoughts were interrupted when her stomach loudly grumbled, one that even Kita noticed. “Sorry, I haven’t eaten anything today, can we get something to eat on the way?”
Kita giggled, “Sure, my treat, for fixing the guitar.”
Ryo smiled, “Thanks, you’re a lifesaver….Kita.”
With a single sentence, the brightness in Kita rekindled once more. The beginning of something new between a vocalist and a bassist.