Work Text:
July 24th
Akari sat at her desk, looking out the window and listening to some people walking by the school. Her heart was lonely, again worrying about her so dubbed lack of presence. A sad look came over her face, remembering all the times she had been left out of a picture, left behind, or just overlooked. ---
“Yui-senpai, we’ll be late!”
“Alright!” Yui ran toward the train, grabbing Chinatsu’s hand as the door beeped and the doors began to close.
“Extra points Yui-sama!”
“Cut it out Kyoko!”
“Waiiiit!” Akari slammed into the train doors as they closed. Kyoko grinned and waved as the train took off. “Wait for me!!”
The sound of the train heading off left an alone Akari standing outside, leaving nothing but the wind.
She sat there, entranced, her knees giving out as she slid onto the ground, sitting there. “It’s always like this. It’s never going to change is it? IS IT!” Akari shouted into the air, echoing through the now empty train station. ---
Akari strolled into her next class, a dejected look still on her face. Drudging herself toward the entrance, she was reminded of all the pictures everyone sent her from the trip that she didn’t get to join simply because her lack of presence didn’t allow her friends to prepay for a ticket like they had.
“Akari-chan! Did you finish that project?” Chinatsu ran up behind her asking.
“Ah! Um, yeah I’m all set.”
“I forgot! I’ve been researching poetry to try and figure out how to more entice my beloved Yui-senpai. Can I come by after school for help?”
“Oh, alright.” Akari grimaced with a smile. The two walked home while Akari plastered on a happy face.
Akari sat in her room, listening to Chinatsu talk about how great Yui was. “Yui-senpai is so lovely! Oh I want to do this and that with her!”
“That’s great Chinatsu-chan.” Chinatsu looked over with a sly look at Akari.
“I know. I need to know how to kiss Yui-senpai even more passionate like. Want to try having a more indulgent kiss, Akari-chan?” Chinatsu grinned with a slither in her voice. Turning to expect a flustered Akari, she saw the pinkette with no expression on her face. “What do you say Akari-chan? Hmm?” Akari’s face faltered hearing that.
“Chinatsu. I’m sorry. I don’t want to play this anymore” Akari replied as the smile ran away from her face. “Not with you. I want to leave now.” Akari turned away, white-faced as she walked down the hall.
“Akari-chan!”
“H-huh?” Akari turned slowly, tears still streaming down her face.
“Akari-chan! Where are you going? This is your house!”
“I don’t care. I’m leaving.” She reached for her shoes to head out the door.
“Please don’t go! You’re my best friend!”
“I’m tired of being a substitute for when Yui-chan isn’t around.”
“But…!” Chinatsu lowered her head, the gravity now hitting her of what she has been doing.
“Ch-chinatsu-chan. You’re a good friend and I want to help you. But I can’t do this anymore.”
“Akari-chan?”
“You’re using me. You’re mean.” Chinatsu’s face turned red with frustration as Akari looked down and sniffled.
“I just…” Chinatsu stopped herself, her mind replaying the last time she forced Akari to kiss her, she didn’t even look back after jumping up to chase after Yui. Chinatsu practically slammed herself into Akari, hugging the girl almost painfully tight. She buried her head in Akari’s shoulder, the dam finally breaking and she cried, nearly squealing, pouring tears out as she realized that not once had she really considered Akari’s feelings; that for some girls, a first kiss might want to mean something, not just given up in a fevered make-out, practicing for someone else. Chinatsu cried even harder, realizing how selfish she had been for a girl she claimed was her friend. How much had she really hurt Akari? Did it feel like this? And even now, she was still focusing on her own pain. That thought made her sick as she poured all of her tears into Akari’s shirt. Choking on her own breath Chinatsu pulled back, wiping her face and looked through blurred eyes into the face of a cute redhead that she had used. “Akari you don’t need to act so strong anymore. I hurt you! You’re the best friend I ever had and I didn’t even bother thinking of you. I'm sorry.”
“I-it’s okay.”
“No its not! All of our jokes about your presence were supposed to be jokes, but they weren’t! I hurt you. I used you. I…prayed on your selfishness. Oh God, Akari I am so sorry!” Chinatsu stood there, eyes pouring out tears as she finally spoke from the heart, exposing herself in front of Akari. But the redhead tried to smile. After everything, she cares so much about her friends that she tried to smile. It was pitiful. “Akari please come here.” Chinatsu wiped her eyes and stood up. Holding her hand out, she lifted Akari to her feet and walked the girl to her bedroom, closing the door. As it latched, Akari flinched, realizing the possibilities.
“Akari, I was a bully. I don’t know why I was but I was. I never wanted to hurt you and I did. See, once when I was younger there were these girls who were on a playground.”
“I know” the redhead whimpered, looking down.
“What was that? How did…” Chinatsu’s face paled nearly white at the realization of what Akari just said. “Oh no.”
“Kyoko and Yui too.” Chinatsu choked, stopping herself from nearly throwing up. Not only did Akari know, but she even bullied the girl she claimed to be her best friend. She hung her head down, looking through her now matted hair at the redhead sitting on her bed, still afraid to look at her. Chinatsu looked toward her closet and walked over. She fished out a kendo stick and leaned it on the bed next to Akari.
“Akari.” The redhead looked up with a dead expression and tear stained eyes. “Here.” She pointed to the kendo stick. Chinatsu pulled the top of her school outfit over her head and threw it behind her. “I deserve it. Go ahead. Hit me with it. I’ve done so much to you; you must hate me. Take out your frustrations. Go ahead! Hit me! Here!” Chinatsu bowed on the ground, hands out, her head on the ground in a ball. “Do to me whatever you want!” Chinatsu closed her eyes and cried. “I pinned you down before and made you feel awful didn’t I? Go ahead, hit me! Hit me!” The pink haired girl shrieked, her eyes shut tight as she heard the bed creak. She held her breath, awaiting whatever Akari might to do her. After hearing nothing she spoke. “Akari I’m a terrible friend, I’m selfish. But please, whatever you want to do, punish me if you want but I love you too much and I’ll do anything because I don’t want to stop being your friend! I’m sorry!” She heard a sound and opened one eye, seeing a shoe in front of her. She arched her neck and looked up, seeing Akari with, of all things, a genuine smile on her face. Chinatsu opened her other eye and saw her best friend kneeling down above her, giggling. “Akari?”
“Chinatsu, I’d never hurt you. You’re my friend.” The pink haired girl’s tears started all over again as she looked up at her best friend.
“A-kari-chan?”
“It’s noble of you to want to do this for atonement, but I forgive you Chinatsu-chan, even without the seppuku, you are forgiven.” Akari smiled her genuine smile. And just like that, Akari was herself again. Chinatsu sat up and wrapped her arms around the redhead, smiling brighter than she ever had. She leaned back; choking on her words and could only laugh herself. The two looked at each other, smiling.
“Akari-chan…that was so lame.”
“Hey!” The redhead fumed and crossed her arms, falling back against the bed. Chinatsu sat up and crawled over to the girl.
“Sorry. You’re really cute when you turn red like that, you know?
“Mou. Chinatsu-chan.” Chinatsu smiled, wiping her tears away once again.
“Hey Akari. I’ll ask this time. If it’s alright with you, could I give you a thank you kiss? Just on the cheek? No practice or anything. Just because…well I can’t think of any other way to thank you for being such a great friend right now.”
“Well…” the redhead blushed, looking around the room, looking out the window, and turning to look under the bed. “S-sure.”
“Yay!” Chinatsu leaned forward, kissing Akari ever so gently on the cheek, making the both of them blush pink.
“Ahh! I um…t-thanks. Chinatsu-chan.”
“Thank you, Akari-chan. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
“You’re my best friend too, China-chan.”
“Akari…” Chinatsu wrapped her arms around the girl again, wiping her tears, and the last of her emotions fading to happiness. “Akari, I love you.”
“Ch-chinatsu-chan??” Akari’s face turned pink in astonishment at her words. “Well, I love you to, China-chan.”
“Will you come with me?”
“Where?”
“It’s a surprise. Nothing bad, I mean it.”
“Alright.”
The two left afterwards, heading toward the amusement clubhouse. “Chinatsu-chan, its awfully late, school activities should be over. What are we doing here?”
“It’s okay, there’s enough light out. Here.” Chinatsu extended her hand toward the pinkette. Smiling, she took it as they walked inside. “It’s dark.”
“I’ll get it.” Akari hit the light switch and turned around to see Chinatsu with her hands behind her back in front of the door.
“This is for you.” Chinatsu slid the door open to see all of her friends standing there.
“Surprise!”
“Huh?” Kyoko jumped out and hugged the girl while she saw Yui, Sakurako, Himawari, Ayano, Chitose, Chizuru, Rise and Akane smiling. Akari stood in amazement as all of her friends had thrown her a party.
“Happy Birthday Akari-chan!” All at once, her anxiety had melted away knowing she truly was cared for. Her eyes watered as she looked at all her friends standing around the table with a cake in the middle and a candle for her.
“You guys…remembered.” Chinatsu took Akari by the hand and walked her in, closing the door behind her as she finally found a way to make Akari realize just how special she is.
"Of course we did. We all love you Akari-chan." Chinatsu smiled, her face glowing, and got to see Akari this time shed tears of joy, surrounded by all of her friends.
"You...you guys." Akari cried while Chinatsu wrapped her arms around her, kissing her on the cheek while all her friends smiled. Akari closed her eyes and smiled, wrapping her arms around Chinatsu. It was the best birthday she ever had.