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As she surveyed the Empty SEKAI, Meiko decided that she was like a hawk.
She’d read a bit about them from the animal biology encyclopedia Mafuyu had brought over the other day. While Miku poured over the illustrations with childish wonder, Meiko had kept her distance, stealing glances of the lengthy descriptions with subdued interest. It was only when the rest of the Virtual Singers had lost interest and wandered away that she finally allowed herself to approach and pick up the encyclopedia herself, unearthing the knowledge of the outside world recorded in its pages.
Hawks were intelligent creatures, mostly solitary by nature, who regarded their prey with cold, calculating abandon. Meiko suspected that she was similar: the detached observer of the SEKAI who kept a careful emotional distance between herself and the other members, taking advantage of the open space to survey them from afar. That was her role here.
Meiko sighed, letting her feet dangle from the edge of the iron girder on which she’d perched herself. Upon reflection, this line of thought was rather silly, as Meiko neither was a hawk nor ever would be a hawk. If she were to push herself forward now, she would simply plummet towards the lifeless terrain of the SEKAI, unable to sprout wings to catch herself.
It had of course been Luka who had planted such foolish ideas in her head. Having found the encyclopedia again shortly after Meiko had discarded it, her first task in her endless pursuit of mayhem had been to round up the Virtual Singers and ask them what animal they wished they could be.
This had predictably enraptured Miku and the twins, and with enough nagging, Luka had even convinced the standoffish Kaito to seriously consider her dim-witted question.
Being above such trivial nonsense, Meiko had quietly slipped away, successfully avoiding being dragged into another of Luka’s schemes—or so she’d thought. Yet here she was, only a short while later, catching herself genuinely musing upon the question as well.
How ridiculous.
It was always Luka, with her strange questions and provocations, who managed to trouble the serene silence within Meiko’s mind. She was like a rude, obnoxious child splashing through the perfect stillness of a pond, oblivious to the disturbance she sent rippling across the surface.
Or, no—she wasn’t oblivious. She simply didn’t care, or perhaps even worse, she prided herself on being a bother. Meiko curled her lip downwards in distaste. Such a crooked mindset was exactly why the two of them could never see eye to eye. If there was one thing Meiko could not stand, it was inconveniencing someone else.
And then there was Luka, so careless with her actions, spouting out stupid questions that left Meiko wondering what it would be like if she was a bird.
At the very least, Meiko hadn’t given Luka the satisfaction of seeing her ploy succeed. She was grateful for that much. If Luka were to discover her idly musing over such an absurd question, Meiko suspected she would never hear the end of it.
“So, yeah, that’s pretty much it. Thanks for understanding.”
Mizuki wore their usual feline grin, though their eyes were slightly furrowed, betraying their unease. To their side, Kanade stood with a sheepish look on her face.
Internally, Meiko chastised herself for her choice of description. She’d had no intention of entertaining Luka’s nonsense for any longer, and yet the more she tried not to think about it, the more she seeped into Meiko’s subconscious mind like a pesty stain she couldn’t quite scrub clean.
“Of course,” she replied dismissively to the teenagers still standing awkwardly in front of her. “It’s not like it matters to me, anyway.”
“Yeah, yeah. Indifferent as always.” Mizuki rubbed the back of their neck with an embarrassed chuckle. “Y’know, I can’t help but wonder if you care about the people around here a little more than you let on.”
“I don’t,” Meiko shot back a little too quickly.
She didn’t miss the mischievous spark that flashed in Mizuki’s eye as they waved farewell, nor the flustered expression on Kanade’s face as she glanced over her shoulder one last time before following suit. The glimmering flash of triangular particles that marked transit between the real and virtual worlds slowly faded in the stagnant air, and Meiko finally let a deep breath heave from her lungs.
Mizuki was probably right. Maybe she did care a little more than was necessary, and that’s why all these peculiar interactions she’d been having lately were weighing on her more heavily than expected. It was starting to become tiresome. This was likely a sign that she needed to take a step back, put some distance between herself and the other inhabitants of the SEKAI and give her churning thoughts space to settle again—
“Those two have been coming here often, haven’t they?”
—or not.
Meiko barely managed to suppress a groan as she turned to face the pink-haired Virtual Singer who had appeared behind her. Luka greeted her with a familiar faux innocence, her comically wide eyes and an unassuming pout hiding some poorly concealed scheme that Meiko wanted no part in.
What a headache.
Meiko narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “Does it matter? This is their SEKAI.”
“True, but… I can’t help but wonder.” Luka tapped her chin a few times as if in deep thought, occasionally sneaking glances in Meiko’s direction as if to gauge her reaction. “It seems like they’ve gotten a bit closer lately, hasn’t it? You’re always watching them, so I’m curious what you think.”
This felt like a trap. Luka was notorious for weaving nasty webs throughout her conversations, ready to snag Meiko at the slightest misstep. She’d found the most surefire way to avoid getting tripped up and dragged into Luka’s games was to say as little as possible and promptly excuse herself.
She knew that’s what she should do, but Meiko hesitated. On the off-chance Luka really was asking out of curiosity, being too dismissive would only send her sniffing down Kanade and Mizuki’s trail like a hunting dog. Willingly subjecting someone to Luka’s harassment would not weigh lightly on her conscience, no matter how neutral an observer she may be; if she tread cautiously, she could appease Luka just enough to throw her off the scent and still make it out in one piece.
Meiko chose her words carefully as she replied. “Yes, it’s possible. Ever since you first appeared in the SEKAI, they’ve grown much closer than before. Perhaps it’s simply the effect of shared time.”
“Since I appeared, hm~?” Meiko didn’t like the cunning grin that stretched across Luka’s face as she said that, but a second later, it had disappeared. Luka stretched her arms above her head and looked off to the horizon, seeming to have lost interest in the conversation. “Fair enough. I’m probably overthinking it.”
Meiko blinked. Was it that easy? “You probably are,” she remarked as impassively as possible, hoping that Luka would accept her empty words and walk away.
And for a moment, she did. Luka turned, strolling off to find someone else to bother—but after a few steps, she paused, and cocked her head back towards Meiko. “Though, come to think of it… you did see what they were doing before, didn’t you?”
Of course it wasn’t that easy. Meiko did her best to hold back the blood that rushed to her head, dusting her cheeks a light pink.
It was a bluff. It had to be a bluff, right? Meiko didn’t sound convincing even to herself, but she hung on to that shred of hope regardless. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t?” Luka cocked a playful eyebrow and looked her up and down suspiciously. When she trotted back over with a far too cheerful look on her face, Meiko knew she’d thrown herself straight into the deep end.
Luka leaned in, ignoring Meiko’s sharp intake of breath, and whispered, “You know, the part where they kissed~?”
Meiko jerked backwards and glared at Luka like a venomous snake. “That’s none of your business. Mizuki said they didn’t want anyone else to find out about it.”
“Oh, no, I don’t mean any harm, of course.” Luka held up her hands in exaggerated innocence. “It just got me… curious, is all.”
“About what?”
“What a kiss feels like.” She put one finger to her lips with a longing expression, and Meiko felt her heart stutter in her chest. She wasn’t sure she liked where this was going. Knowing Luka, she didn’t care about the sensation of a kiss beyond idle curiosity; her true motivations likely revolved around teasing Meiko in some way or another, and she wasn’t particularly interested in falling for that ploy again today.
Sure enough, Luka gave her a meaningful look, and Meiko averted her eyes. “If you’re so curious, go ask one of the others to try it with you.”
“Even I’d feel guilty doing that,” Luka sighed. “They’re basically children, after all. Well, and Kaito, but he doesn’t strike me as the romantic type. Too much of a buzzkill. That just leaves…”
“No thanks. I’ve had enough of your teasing,” Meiko cut her off sharply.
She was expecting some sort of follow-up remark—a jab at the ever-reddening color of her cheeks, perhaps, or feigned offense at how quickly she’d shot her down—but to Meiko’s surprise, there was nothing. Luka just stared at her in silence, an unreadable expression painting her face.
It was unsettling, and Meiko found herself squirming under Luka’s incessant gaze. “Why are you just staring at me like that? I said I’m not interested,” she repeated, her voice coming out a little more flustered than she’d have liked.
That seemed to break Luka out of her daze. Her eyes refocused on Meiko, and after a moment, her mouth stretched back into her usual lazy grin.
“Is that so? That’s too bad,” she pouted, spinning back around on her heel to walk away again. One hand waved over her shoulder as she departed, along with an invitation left hanging in the air.
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
“I won’t,” Meiko called after her. Luka didn’t reply.
That had been the last time Luka brought up the kiss. It came as a surprise, but also a welcome relief—Meiko wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep her cool if Luka had made any further advances.
It hadn’t, however, been the last time Luka brought up Mizuki and Kanade’s newly-discovered relationship. She had an uncanny knack for wringing out every drop of information Meiko had on the matter, regardless of whether she’d intended on sharing in the first place.
Luka had approached Meiko again today with another probing question: what do you think they see in each other? It was far more personally invasive than Meiko preferred to speculate on their business, and she had initially tried to brush off the question; however, Luka was as relentless as always, and Meiko had no choice but to search for a response.
“Well, they’re young, aren’t they? I doubt a high school romance is all that serious. They’re both kind and attentive people, and I’m sure they appreciate that in each other,” Meiko replied half-heartedly. She wasn’t sure she really believed that, but it should be an acceptable enough answer to satisfy Luka.
Or not, judging by the disappointed side-eye she flashed in Meiko’s direction. “You believe two people love each other for their similarities?”
That was a more difficult question, but one that Meiko was more inclined to pursue. “I suppose not,” she admitted, choosing her words carefully. “But it would also be illogical to admire a person for their flaws, wouldn’t it?”
“So you consider a person’s differences as flaws? That’s awfully self-centered of you, Meiko.”
Meiko started. Was that self-centered? Luka’s mouth was stretched into a sly, teasing grin, but there was a tightness to her lips that carried an air of seriousness. The conversation held an uncharacteristic weight to it, as if the air had suddenly grown thick and cloudy, making it difficult to breathe. It took great effort for Meiko to fill her shaky lungs and form a reply.
“Not necessarily. I don’t think it’s wrong for me to feel threatened when someone doesn’t share my values. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s inherently wrong, but…” Meiko frowned. “I think it would be challenging to get along with someone you disagree with.”
Luka was silent for a moment before replying, and when she finally did, her voice was quieter than usual. “Meiko, why do you think I seek you out for these kinds of conversations?”
“To bother me,” Meiko said with a scowl, and Luka frowned.
“My, that’s a hurtful way to put it,” she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Meiko’s scowl only deepened. “But in a way, you’re right. You’re an unmovable boulder, and I, like Kanade, can’t help but want to leave my mark on you.”
Luka leaned forward as she said this, and Meiko backed away instinctively. This felt dangerous. There was none of the usual lightness to Luka’s tone that defined her antics for the carefree mischief that they were—no, this was different, and Meiko could feel herself being cornered like a predator circling its prey.
“I’m not sure what you’re implying,” she spit back, but even she could feel the emptiness of the words on her tongue. Luka only smiled and took another step towards her.
“You,” she began, jutting a finger against Meiko’s chest as she spoke, “are a manifestation of Mizuki’s feelings. The part of them that is cautious, controlling, and hesitant to accept change. The ever-vigilant observer of the SEKAI, monitoring everyone but careful not to get personally involved; the same role that Mizuki plays within their circle.”
Luka took another decisive step forward. “That’s where Kanade comes in. She is a force capable of delivering the change that Mizuki needs, and in return, she can find peace with the darkness inside her. She measures her self-worth with her influence on other people, and like this, she is needed. She is helpful. What greater influence could there be?”
Meiko felt herself on the cusp of some great revelation. It was frightening. Luka was right—she was hesitant to accept change, and so to see Luka baring herself so unnaturally to Meiko felt deeply uncomfortable.
She didn’t want to think about this anymore. If only she could go back and have never seen that kiss, she could have continued to feign ignorance to the stirring feelings that flowed through the core of the SEKAI, pulsating within the hearts of the Virtual Singers. Maybe Luka would still be acting the same as always, and Meiko would not be finding her own heart being shaken as well.
“I don’t understand,” she mumbled half-heartedly, searching for an excuse. “You said it yourself. Mizuki doesn’t want to change.”
“I said that they’re hesitant to accept it, not that they don’t want to.” Luka’s piercing gaze bored into her for a moment, her blue eyes like ice. “You’re the same, Meiko. I know you want to change too, even if you are too scared to admit it.”
“I don’t.”
“But you do. It’s the same reason you offered advice to Ena, even though you had sworn not to get involved in their affairs. Because deep down, you wish you had the courage to lay aside your caution, step forward into the present, and let someone in.”
At that moment, Meiko feels something click inside her. It’s as though a hidden mechanism has been activated, kicking every gear in her body into action. The sensation ripples through her from the tips of her fingers to her toes, and by the time it resonates through her entire body, Meiko recognizes what this feeling is.
Luka is right, isn’t she?
She opens her mouth to say something but comes up empty. At this point, it would be far too embarrassing to admit that—but Luka must see it in her eyes, because she curls her lips into a catlike grin.
Meiko braces herself to be teased to no end, but to her surprise, Luka doesn’t say anything more on the matter. She certainly has a knack for guiding the conversation to where she wants it to be, pulling out dozens of nonsense topics and observations that Meiko disgruntledly hurries to keep up with. It seems that for now, Luka is content with leaving her to stew in her newly agitated thoughts.
Judging by the ever-growing heat in her cheeks as she reflects upon their conversation, Meiko wonders if maybe that’s for the best.
“Luka, I’d like to take you up on your offer.”
It had taken a lot of self-reflection and psyching herself up for Meiko to get to this point. Even with all her preparation, her voice comes out slightly unnaturally, pitching up at the end—a detail Luka of course doesn’t fail to notice. After the initial shock of Meiko’s request has passed, her face breaks into a sinister smile.
“My offer? You’ll have to be more specific~” Luka prods her teasingly, and Meiko’s embarrassment only grows deeper.
“Stop playing dumb. You know what I’m talking about, so don’t make me spell it out,” Meiko grumbles, swatting Luka’s hand away. She hopes that won’t goad her on more, and to her relief, Luka eases off with a relaxed chuckle.
“Yeah, I know,” she says, her gaze drifting off to meet the horizon. “So you finally changed your mind, then? I’m surprised.”
Meiko follows Luka’s eyes, surveying the bleak landscape and eventually resting on some mangled gray structure off in the distance. The familiar stillness of the SEKAI suddenly makes her feel restless, perhaps in anticipation of what she is about to do, and she shuffles her feet nervously against the cool ground. “Hurry up and kiss me before I change it again.”
“Sure, sure,” Luka laughs. She slides her hand up against Meiko’s cheek as if it were natural, and she almost instinctively squishes her face up in response as Luka’s eyes grow closer and closer. Thinking back, she probably looks a lot like Kanade, clenching her eyes tightly shut in nervousness as Mizuki closed the gap between them. She wonders if she too will ease into a gentle expression when their lips touched, or whether Luka would tease her afterwards for the pinkness of her cheeks.
A beat, and Meiko feels Luka’s lips brush against her own. It’s softer than she’d imagined, and Luka’s fingers gently caress her skin with a tender care that she hadn’t expected.
When they pull away from each other, it is not playful banter that comes from Luka’s mouth but a quiet mumble that Meiko has to strain her ears to hear.
“I like you a lot more than you probably realize.”
The words send a rush of excitement coursing through Meiko’s body, but she doesn’t respond. Instead, she stares back into the nothingness and leans her head idly on Luka’s shoulder, trying to ignore both the subdued jolt of surprise she makes when Meiko laid against her and the blood now rushing to her cheeks in the aftermath.
“I can’t believe you roped me into this,” Meiko finally grumbles, and Luka lets out an airy laugh.
“I’ll probably try to do it again, you know.”
She peeks up at Luka, and sees that her bright blue eyes are glinting back down at her with that same mischievous look she knows all too well. Meiko scowls and buries her face back into the cloth of Luka’s sleeve.
“Do whatever you want,” she sighs. “It’s not like I can stop you anyway.”