Chapter Text
Furina Fontaine’s confidence belonged to the stage.
She was almost certain of this. It was the only explanation that made sense.
In the daytime, her professors beckoned her to speak louder than her courage allowed. She was like a mouse: quiet, hidden, and always watching. Her dark clothes blended into her surroundings, perhaps making up for her more unusual features. It wasn’t uncommon that people asked about the blue highlights in her white hair, or her mismatched, cyan and sapphire eyes. Still, her uniform clothes offered a simple look, while still remaining tasteful. She always loved little bows.
Anyone who knew her found it impossible that she could be bold. But in the little theater that partnered with Café Lucerne every Tuesday evening, Furina found herself under a spell, entranced by the background music as she ran in front of the glimmering stage decorations.
An actor waited for her on the other side of the stage. “Clio?”
Furina gazed at him, her eyes filled with newfound resolve. “Levi, let’s get married.”
The actor stared at her in disbelief. “This feels like a dream come true. But are… are you sure that you really want to go through with this?” he asked.
“You’ve been at my side for so many years. No matter how the tides of life crash against my harbor, you’re always there, weathering the waves with me. How could I choose anyone but you?”
She pulled a ring out of her pocket and held it before him. “I’ve been waiting to give this for so long…”
Hand in hand, they exchanged rings and sang together in perfect harmony. As wedding bells played on the speaker, they waltzed across the stage, hand in hand.
“ Celui à qui j'ai donné mon cœur,
celui dont je suis tombée amoureux,
C'est toi, c'est toi, c'est toi. ”
Her smile brightened the room more than the spotlights ever could. Spectators had wondered whether this was because Furina was truly in love with her co-star. While untrue, it was understandable how they came to that conclusion– their chemistry on stage was unmatched.
As luck had it, though, someone had caught her eye. Anyone who glanced at her diary would find his name surrounded by hearts, again and again. In a life plagued with midnight tears and facades, he was the sun.
The cast took their final bow. They were met with sparse claps from across the room. Exams had caught up with most, though not everyone. She weaved past the tables and the idling visitors. A few minutes passed before she finally found him sitting by the windows. A piping hot cup of coffee rested on his papers. Much to her embarrassment, she had all of his features memorized, from his pointed ears to the blue streaks in his flowing, gray hair. It didn’t help that his visage entered her daydreams all too often.
Her heart could have leaped out of her chest at any moment. She must’ve looked stupid at a distance, clutching her jacket for dear life to the soft sounds of the violin music playing on the café radio. “Be cool, Furina… Be cool.” Her voice trembled with every whispered word.
He spotted her. Crap.
“Neuvillette!” she announced, rushing forward. “Y-you made it! I’m so happy.”
Neuvillette looked down at his papers without a word. Surely that was a bad sign. Perhaps he preferred the confident actress he saw on stage. She cackled. “Ha… hahaha! Your attendance was expected. After all, I am Furina Fontaine: the next face of Broadway!”
“I don’t doubt that. You really do have a gift. It’s only a matter of time before your talents are discovered on a greater scale.” Neuvillette said emphatically. “I hope you’ll forgive me for examining my papers during the intermission, though. I have an exam tomorrow.”
Her heart sank. “H-huh? You… skipped studying to see my play? No, that won’t do! Why didn’t you say so sooner?! Okay, I’ll help make a study guide.”
The guilt she’d feel if he failed because of her…
“Not to worry. It was my choice to come,” he said soundly. “I am prepared, I simply need to review a few terms.”
He pulled up a chair next to him anyway. She plopped next to him. “Are… are you sure? I’ve only taken a couple of classes in law, but I’m great at memorization! There must be something I can do.”
“I am sure. Don’t worry. It is a joy to see you on the stage,” he said.
“Hahaha! Of course, you’d say that. Who wouldn’t?” she cackled. The magazines always said that men like confidence. Was this the kind they were talking about?
Neuvillette stared blankly at her, his inner thoughts an enigma. Probably the wrong kind of confidence.
Her breathing grew shallow. Breathe in, and out. Breathe in, and out.
He stared back at his papers. Breathe in, and out. Breathe in, and out.
“What I mean to say is–” she said with her voice lowered. “I… don’t really know if theater is what I am supposed to do, but I love it so much. It feels like a calling. So, it means a lot that someone supports it. I know I have a long road ahead, so I hope that you’ll always be there, watching me.”
Neuvillette smiled. “I wouldn’t dare to miss it.”
He opened his book. Her eyes darted away. “Um, great! So with that out of the way, I have something to ask you.”
“And what is that?”
Breathe in, and out. “Would you ever want to watch me when it’s just the two of us?” she asked.
“You want to show me a solo performance?”
“Um… I guess? I mean– this is coming out all wrong,” she mumbled. “I just wanted to see if you wanted to spend some time together! Just us. If you want. Or you can forget I asked.”
“I’m happy to spend time with you. But isn’t that what we’re doing right now?” he asked, visibly a little confused.
“That’s not what I meant!” Furina blurted out. “A date. I am asking you out on a date. Dinners at fancy restaurants, late nights with macaroni and Netflix, heartfelt gazes–that sort of thing.”
He paused thoughtfully and opened one of his notebooks. “I see now. One moment.”
For Furina, it felt like an eternity. If he was going to tell her no, he should just say no. She already knew it was coming.
“Saturday,” he stated.
Furina bowed her head. “That’s okay–wait, what?”
“Are you available Saturday?”
7 Years Later
It was quiet in the waiting room. With nothing to do, all Furina could do was stare at her phone. Still, it offered a very welcome respite from the frosty winds and icy pavements. Intricately patterned snowflakes fell on the window sill. It was snowing again.
Furina grumbled to herself. She dreaded the idea of driving to work in the snow after this. In truth, she only came here because her dear friend Clorinde told her to. “With everything that’s been happening, I think having a counselor could help you,” she had said.
How absurd. Furina was fine. The therapist would declare as much too, and then she’d go to work. Clorinde worried far too much for her own good.
A notification slid down the top of her screen.
Neuvillette’s birthday. It was a week away.
Under different circumstances, everything would have been planned out from start to finish: a present arriving precisely at midnight, a dinner at his favorite restaurant, and of course, the sappiest romantic movie of the year. For better or worse, she didn’t have to worry about any of that this year as much as she did anyway. The temptation to call him crept into her mind like a fly buzzing into her face. No matter how often she distracted herself with the macarons at the bakery or the packaged quiches in her freezer, he always entered her mind.
She grew sick to her stomach. Either her feelings crept to the rest of her body, or the breakfast sandwich she purchased that morning was undercooked. It would truly be a terrible time to get food poisoning. A door creaked on the other side of the room. “Furina! Come on back.”
A petite woman stood in the doorway. She had a gentle gaze with her striking, baby-blue eyes. Her ashen hair was fashioned into a neat bob, with the longer strands of hair tied into a rat tail at the back. Her outfit offered a mix between comfortable and spunky, with her long-sleeved, white sweater and black skirt. There was a bounce in her step, accompanied by the warmest of smiles. It could make anyone feel at home, even if that person was Furina. She shoved her phone in her pocket and followed the therapist into the hallway.
The office was a small one. There was a bookshelf in the corner, filled with aging novels. Between some of them was the occasional sketch, each as intricate as the next. Leather couches sat spaced throughout the room. Furina tensed her shoulders and stood awkwardly by one of the sofas, dreading the inevitable onslaught of questions that were to come.
“Feel free to sit wherever you like!” she said before plopping on her armchair. “It’s pretty easy to get comfortable here. That’s by design, by the way. I did a little research and found these memory foam ones. So, no need to worry about your back here!”
She squeezed the armrest. “Um… s-sure,” she said, her voice quivering. “Thanks, Miss–”
“There is no need to be so formal. Just Guizhong will do.” She smiled attentively and leaned forward. “Now, where should we start this conversation? Perhaps you want to start by telling me a bit about yourself?”
Furina’s lips quivered into a smile. Of course, she’d need to talk about herself. If she didn’t, then she’d be wasting this woman’s time. “Wh-what’s there to know? S-sure, we can work from the top. Okay…” she laughed nervously. “Well! It’s no wonder you’re curious. After all, I was once a big actor on Broadway! You’ve probably heard my name before. I starred in a wide variety of plays, ranging from Beetlewine to Do Re Land.”
“Do Re Land… yes, actually, I remember watching that play with my husband! I was wondering why you looked so familiar. You were amazing, by the way!” She clapped her hands with delight. “I remember it well. It effectively captured the struggles of young love in a way that tells the harsh tale of reality.”
Furina’s eyes lit up. “I’m glad you saw the vision! While the playwright understood that the audience would have adored the couple, they figured it would be appropriate to show an ending where both leads pursued their dreams in different ways… even if they could not do so together.”
“Well said. I cried at the end. It really was tragically beautiful,” Guizhong commended wholeheartedly. “It appears you are quite passionate about the arts. Given your retirement from acting, you seem to have taken a different path, however.”
She smiled sheepishly. “Well, I loved the arts. But for any of us, the time for us to exit the stage always comes. It’s only natural!”
“Of course! Still, if you’re still thinking about it, I’m curious about what led you to leave the stage,” she commented with a glance at her notes. “Was it just not your thing?”
Furina suddenly hunched over. A sour taste shot up to her mouth, begging her to throw up all over the carpet floor. The breakfast sandwich struck once again, but it wouldn’t win today. She shut her eyes and swallowed slowly.
“Are you alright?” Guizhong said. “Are you sick?”
“Oh! Heh…” Furina laughed nervously, mustering all of her strength to maintain a peppy tone. “Well! I’ll let you know that acting is and will always be my thing. But alas, part of its beauty is the fact that it’s fleeting. So, I just took my leave right when everyone adored me. Is that not better than exiting the stage of fame after my shine has faded? N-not that it ever would, of course.”
Yes, that answer would do for now.
“I see!” Guizhong said with a slow nod. “It seems like others’ perceptions matter a lot to you.”
That answer was a mistake.
“No one’s opinion matters more to me than my audience. After all, actors are predisposed to their audience first and foremost,” she said self-assuringly. “And that is why I–”
Bathroom. She needed the bathroom.
Furina stood up abruptly and covered her mouth. “I–I have to go...” she mumbled.
“Are you okay?” Guizhong asked. “If this is too much, we can definitely drop the topic.”
In an instant, it was crystal clear that she needed to run far away from this place.
But it was too late.
Her punishment for not running sooner came swiftly in the form of the cursed mush that she hadn’t seen since having the flu as a child. The incident’s only saving grace was Guizhong herself, rushing to her side with two gloves and a trash can.
“It’s okay…” Guizhong cooed over Furina’s gags and sobs. “Just let it all out.”
Curse that breakfast sandwich.
When you are late, there are consequences.
Every nurse at Saint Erinnyes knew this fact, evident by the endless number of cars parked across the nearby roads. Furina drove by them slowly anyway, hoping to snag the first opening she could find. Although it was still 15 minutes shy of her shift, the crowded streets determined her fate. She parked her car a few blocks away from the hospital and pulled her bag from the back seat. How she missed the days when she was Neuvillette’s passenger princess.
A young woman with blonde pigtails waited for her in the lounge. The innocent, eager smile and the fidgeting hands told Furina everything she needed to know: This was the new hire, all dressed up and ready for her first day in the hospital. Her blue eyes sparkled when Furina entered.
“Good morning! Are you Furina? I’m Barbara, and I think I’m shadowing you today!” she said cheerily. “Let’s do our very best today!”
With the new nurse right on her tail, Furina grabbed a cup of coffee from the lounge and organized the medical supplies in the cabinet. “Right…. Can you make sure we have enough blood pressure monitors in stock? I need to take a look at the first patient’s medical profile.”
“Are you okay? You look tired.” Barbara asked. “I can make my spicy new energy drink in the lounge, I’m sure it’ll wake you up in no time!”
“Huh? Oh!” Furina exclaimed. A wide, bright smile instantly appeared on her face. “No need for any of that! You just worry about yourself now! Do try to keep up. I simply ate something that disagreed with me this morning, that’s all. It was enough to make a poor woman ill.”
“Oh no! Food poisoning?”
“Who’s to say? All I know is, I’m writing to the manager about that sandwich,” she huffed. “As if I, Furina, would overlook such negligence! Now, let’s hurry up, we have patients to save.”
After reviewing the records of her patients, Furina took a clipboard in her hand and headed down the hallway with Barbara. Her curls bounced in the air as she strode confidently, commanding the attention of everyone in the hall. Barbara followed right alongside her, with the timidity of a new worker and yet the earnestness of a kind soul. It was clear in no time that she would do well with the patients here.
She passed by Bennett, the nurse whose positivity around the patients was remarkable given the number of bruises he incurred from the most random accidents. Checking the patient records was Dr. Sangonomiya, with her loyal friend and nurse Gorou gathering all the necessary equipment she required. And then there was Noelle, tidying up one of the rooms for the next patient, pondering just how messy the room was – perhaps it would be best to not tell her that Furina was the one who left it that way.
She looked at her clipboard. “Now then, it looks like we’ll be looking at one of Dr. Baizhu’s patients. The first patient is going to be Mr. Arataki, who is suffering head pains after falling from–” she started. The harmless words on the clipboard startled her all the same. “Skating next to a cow on black ice?!”
“That’s awful! I’ll pray for him at the Church,” Barbara said without missing a beat. “Let’s bring him over. Maybe we can bring him some water too!”
“We should be in Room 1020. I’ll just prepare the room real quick,” Furina said.
“Ooh, I’d love to be the one calling him from the waiting room! May I?”
She smiled and placed her hands on her hips. “Well! If you’re so insistent, who am I to stop you?” she said.
Unbeknownst to her, however, there was a mistake in Room 1020.
The floor was clean. The curtains were closed. The supplies were organized. But none of that mattered anymore.
All that mattered at that moment was Neuvillette, staring at her from the examination table.
Thank you so much for reading. :) This is a gift to my friend, and also my contribution to the Neuvifuri ship! Hopefully, everyone will enjoy the journey.
Special thanks to VarhomRuhmukia for beta reading this piece as well as all of my writing friends for their endless support.