Chapter Text
Stretching a little as they roamed the halls of Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy, Mafuyu went through it's schedule for the day. Before and after school today was student council, as well as archery after school. Then they had plans to meet Ena since something happened at Kamiyama High to cause it to close for a few days for a movie, before returning to Kanade's for Nightcord work and sleep. Honestly, a rather uneventful day, compared to when it lived with—
Shaking its head, it looked through the window to the classroom the student council met in. To void's surprise, Emu was already there. For a small moment, Mafuyu examined the younger. Rose eyes seemed upset, and there was no smile living up to the name the pinkette was given. In fact, it nearly reminded void of itself. Watching as two other younger students entered and greeted Emu, the one void was worried about instantly became the one it knew.
After school was normal. The council ended early, since they met before school as well. Some of the girls giggled and expressed delight at the suggestion going so well.
“I'll stay and clean up!” Emu offered with an excited tone. Mafuyu glanced up.
“But don't you have rehearsal at the Wonder Stage?“ a worried classmate asked.
“Not today. It's maintenance day for the park, so we don't go in.” She giggled. “I can handle it!”
The few remaining girls relented. “Alright...”
Mafuyu smiled. “I have archery now, but if you're still here after, I'll help you finish cleaning up, Otori. See you tomorrow, everyone.”
Waving, Mafuyu hurried to the archery hall, where to its surprise, Shizuku was waiting. “Hinomori-chan.”
“Ah! Hello, Asahina-chan! Guess we both missed the memo...” Shizuku smiled sheepishly.
“The... memo?” Mafuyu inquired. Watching the idol nod, it tilted its head.
“The coach found out their child is sick, so they weren't able to make it today. No archery tonight, I'm afraid.” Mafuyu sighed. It was a lot less urgent than void though, but that was still a good reason to cancel practice.
“It can't be helped. I should hurry back to the council room to help Otori-chan clean up...”
Shizuku leaped to Mafuyu's side. “I'll help too! I haven't said hello to Otori-chan in a while!”
The seniors chatted loosely on the way back to the classroom, Mafuyu giving gentle yet genuine smiles to the topics. Glancing into the window like void had that morning, the room was cleaned up properly...
“That's odd...”
Shizuku glanced in as well, tilting her head. “It's all clean. We must have missed her...”
“The room is cleaned up, yes... but the door is unlocked. We make it a point to have that be the last of cleaning up...” Mafuyu explained, looking around the room through the window. Its ears perked a little hearing soft sobbing, before duelchromatic eyes found Emu, crying near the chalkboard.
Void's body moved on its own. Slipping into the room and sitting on the floor beside the younger, it suddenly hesitated and looked up at Shizuku through the window. The idol made a hugging motion and pointed at Emu. Hug her... Will that do anything...? Mafuyu thought to itself.
Still, hesitantly, Mafuyu wrapped their arms around Emu, who gasped and looked up at them. “It's alright, Emu... I'm here... You can let it out...”
The surprise that came after Emu buried herself in void was apparent on void's face. Yet it held the younger girl closer, as if to protect her from whatever was making her cry.
It felt like only a few minutes had passed, though it had to have been at least an hour. Emu had cried herself to sleep in Mafuyu's arms. A small sigh after they realized Emu wouldn't wake up, and they picked her up carefully. Shizuku got the idea, coming in and grabbing the bags of the council members for Mafuyu. “We should get her home... But I don't know where she lives...”
Shizuku hummed as she locked the classroom and proceeded to the entrance of the school, explaining to the few remaining staff the situation. At the entrance of the school, the idol smiled. “Tsukasa would know! I'll have Shi ask Saki to call her brother!” Carefully, Shizuku pulled her phone out and hit the speed dial button for Shiho.
---
Shiho groaned as she looked at who was calling her. Picking up and stepping away from the small slumber party that she was hosting, she sighed. “What's going on, Shizuku...? I thought you'd be home by now.”
She heard Saki jump up, calling her sister's name and then proceeding to trip over something to rush over, green eyes looking over at the energetic blonde. “Saki, careful! I don't want you getting hurt.”
“I wanna say hi to Shizuku-channn!” Saki sang, reaching for the phone as Shiho held her back gently.
“Can I at least figure out why she called first?!”
A hum over the phone. “Actually, I need Saki-chan to call her brother! Emu is asleep and we don't know where she lives~”
Shiho sighed, handing the phone to Saki. “Eh heh heh! Hihi, Shizuku-chan!”
“Hello, Saki-chan! Could you ask your brother where Emu-chan lives?” Shizuku asked over the phone.
Saki blinked. “Yeah, I guess? Why, is Emu not okay? Is she hurt?!” The panic caught Honami's attention, the brunette moving over.
“No, no, she just fell asleep. We need to get her home!”
A sigh from the pianist and drummer. “I can ask Big Brother, for sure!”
Honami glanced at the clock. “Actually... Where are you guys? I could meet you on my way to Yoisaki's and show you.”
“Oh! Hello, Honami-chan!! Um... We're...”
A sigh was heard on the other end. A guiding murmur and then a new voice was heard. “A few blocks south of Scramble Crossing, near the new Ministop.”
Honami watched Saki's face scrunch as she tried to figure out who it was who told the location, giggling a little. “I'll be there soon.”
“Thank you.” The second voice said.
“See you soon, Honami-chan~” Shizuku said, before hanging up.
As Honami got her coat, Saki grumbled. “I know that voice, why can I not remember the name.”
“It was Asahina-senpai, Saki.” Honami said. “I'll be back in a few hours.”
Ichika smiled. “Say hi to Yoisaki-san for us.”
A nod, and off Honami went, dialing Kanade.
---
Kanade looked at the clock. So far, she was alone in the Nightcord call. But Mafuyu wasn't back from school, which worried her a little...
And distracted her enough that when her phone rang, she jumped.
Shakily picking it up, she sighed softly. “H-Hello...?”
“Hello, Yoisaki-san. I wanted to tell you, I might be a little late to your place...” A small smile graced Kanade's cheeks as Honami spoke.
“It's alright. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, I just need to help Asahina-senpai and Shizuku-senpai get Emu home safe. She apparently fell asleep...”
Kanade sighed in relief. So Mafuyu was safe. “That's fine. It's good to know. I'm glad Mafuyu is okay, too...”
“Have they not called to tell you...?” Honami asked.
“It probably slipped their mind. But it's okay.” Kanade smiled more. “Take your time, okay?”
“Thank you, and I'm sorry again.” Honami said a goodbye before hanging up.
And as if on cue, Ena joined the Nightcord call. “Hello, K.”
“Enanan, hello. How are you?”
“Not used to not having school. Can't believe a science fair went so wrong. Anyway... Is Yuki there? I wanna show them some art.”
Kanade shook her head. “Yuki is helping a schoolmate get home. Otori apparently fell asleep...”
“Emu?! Is she okay? Yuki is helping her get home safe, right?!” Kanade heard rustling.
“Th-That's what Mochizuki-san said... What's going on over there...?”
“Duh, I'm going to go over to Emu's and make sure she's okay! I don't know her extremely well, but I know she isn't the kind to just pass out! Talk later, K!” Before Kanade could say anything, Ena had left the call.