Work Text:
Sumire remembers a red ribbon, tied into a bow on a girl’s brunette hair.
She remembers the smile on the girl’s face as she watched from the audience.
“Sumire!”
The girl smiled widely, waving her arms to someone in the audience.
“I did it!”
She remembers the girl’s joking nature as they walked together down the street, umbrellas in hand.
She remembers the sinking, inescapable feeling of envy and sorrow she felt as the brunette dismissed her.
Did she ever take me seriously?
“—Your growth spurts just changed your eye level. You’ll get used to it.”
“Look, you’re as tall as I am now!”
“We practice the same amount, yet…”
“…You’re the one who always gets first place.”
“I can’t catch up to you, Kasumi…”
—
Even though it had been almost a year since Kasumi’s death, Sumire still felt… odd.
Kasumi was always the one people wanted, the better gymnast, the better person. She was perfect, yet she was gone because of Sumire.
Mere days after their birthday.
If Sumire had—
What could she have done?
Sumire let out a small sigh as she placed her glasses back on her face. The soft rain pattering against the window of the gym sounded calming, allowing her some comfort as she slowly took her hair out of the bun she wore.
It had been almost a few months since Sumire became herself again. Less than 5 days since Amamiya had gone back to his home town.
Sumire is extremely grateful to Amamiya.
He kept her from living a lie for the rest of her life, he liked her for Sumire too, not for Kasumi, but for Sumire. He was so kind and helpful, but even after everything she still struggles to tie her hair up some days.
Sometimes all she can see is Kasumi’s reflection staring back at her. She’s feels like a coward, like how she did when she fought Amamiya and Akechi.
Akechi.
Akechi wasn’t alive when he helped her, was he? Though, she doubts he did it for her sake. Not a lot of people are nice enough to deal with a girl who thought she was her dead over sister for almost a year.
“So, you’re Sumire Yoshizawa, huh? I’m Doctor—“
You know, she was always curious about who brought Akechi back if Maruki was granting other’s wishes.
If Amamiya knew Akechi was dead, would he have let us go home?
Did he know Akechi’s fate?
Did it even matter now?
Sumire didn’t know when she left practice and started walking home. She should probably get better at paying attention while walking, shouldn’t she?
Kasumi would have liked her to be careful now.
Step.
To be aware of her surroundings as she walked.
Step.
To be careful of the people around her.
Step.
To watch out for the weather when she was out.
Step.
She had even forgotten her umbrella today.
Step.
Sumire always forgetting the simplest of things, didn’t she? Will she ever learn?
Step.
I’ll never be able to replace Kasumi.
Sumire took a deep breath as she stood at the crosswalk. Her bag felt heavier now, she should probably throw it in the dryer when she gets home.
The light turned green, so she walked.
And she walked.
It was so quiet as she walked home. It has been almost a year, why isn’t she used to it yet? The silence, the excruciating silence.
Maybe, she gotten used to the sound of people talking back in January.
Maybe, she had never gotten used to the silence.
Sumire stood in her room, silence still ringing through her ears. She spun around, her gaze landing on each item of interest.
Despite everything,
Despite beating Maruki,
Things that did not belong to her remained.
She should really return it all.
…When had life become so dull again?
Was it when Sumire found out who she was?
Was it when Amamiya left?
It was no one’s fault but her own.
That man wouldn’t have been able to influence her if she hadn’t wanted it.
To be…
She should return the rest of Kasumi’s stuff now. Kasumi’s memory shouldn’t be tainted by her killer.
Sumire placed her bag on her bed, quickly moving across the room to pick up an empty box, the packaging of a preowned Featherman Figure she had gotten after getting into one of the several iterations of the show so she could talk with Futaba.
First Place Award, Kasumi Yoshizawa. In the box it goes.
Coin purse. Into the box.
Student ID, Kasumi Yoshizawa, 15 years old— Into the box.
Sumire moved to look around before spotting the last item of Kasumi’s she took. The source of her delusions sat on Sumire’s desk in all it’s glory. She can remember Kasumi so clearly now.
Her darker hair contrasting the ribbon’s bright red color. The noticeable beauty mark under her left eye. Her bright smile as she spoke happily about their futures.
“Come on, Sumire, I know you can do it!”
The girl in the memory had such a bright smile. Her arms moving back and forth as she cheered happily, her voice encouraging and determined.
“Su-mi-re! You got this!”
Sumire took a few steps towards the last item she had taken away, picking it up as if it would explode into thousands of shards and cradling it in her hands.
Glass that had given her hope and purpose. Or was it a illusion?
Glass that permanently shattered on the midnight of February Third.
Kasumi’s ribbon.
The one thing she doesn’t know if she can return. She had tainted it.
Sumire let out a shaky sigh, staring at the ribbon. She could feel her eyes water slightly, her mind cursing her with memories of her sister.
—
Soft humming could be heard along with the scratching of a pencil.
“Homework?” A different voice asked, causing the humming to stop for a moment. “What subject, Sumire?”
Sumire looked up, placing her pencil back in her pencil case.
“…Math. Did you finish yours…?” Sumire’s voice always seemed to be very meeklyp in her memories.
The girl with the red ribbon nodded. “Yep!”
Sumire smiled, turning to face her sister. “Even science?”
The girl in the red ribbon froze before sighing. “I finished most of it. I can finish it after practice!”
Sumire giggled. “Okay, if you need help, let me know.” She stood up, pushing her chair in and moving to grab her bag.
“Sumire, want help putting your hair up?” The girl asked, walking towards her sister and picking up her own bag. “I’ve gotten way better at it, don’t worry!”
Sumire pulled out her leotard, turning to look at her sister. “Maybe…”
Kasumi opened her bag, pulling out a small lavender notebook decorated with small dark purple flowers on it, holding it out towards Sumire. “Happy birthday, Sumire.”
Sumire pauses, slightly wide-eyed before speaking up. “…Kasumi, it’s next week, you know that.”
The girl with the ribbon let out a laugh, smiling widely. “C’mon Sumire, you act like we’ve ever exchanged gifts before our birthday.”
“Okay, okay…” Sumire chuckled before grabbing the notebook and placing it in her bag. “I don’t really have anything to give you right now, I was going to bake a cake for you.”
The girl put her bag over her shoulder, moving to fix her bow. “It’s okay, Sumire. Let’s head to practice, okay?”
—
Sumire moved to place the ribbon on her bed next to her bag, sighing as she sat down.
“Sumire?” A masculine asked outside her room.
Sumire grabbed Kasumi’s ribbon, putting it in her bag before speaking up. “Yes, dad?”
Their father spoke calmly from the hallway. “Ready for dinner?”
“Okay, I’ll be right out.” Sumire closed her bag, stood up and walked towards her door, closing it behind her as she exited.
—
Oracle’s Spacecraft
Oracle: sumireeeee
Oracle: sumireeeeee!!!!
Violet: Good afternoon, can I help, Futaba?
Oracle: come to yongen-jaya! im sooo lonely
Queen: Futaba, you and I were just at Ann’s.
Oracle: but i haven’t seen sumire since the boss fight…
Noir: Boss fight?
Violet: But Futaba, I saw you yesterday!
Oracle: the boss fight…
Oracle: ohhh im oh so lonely not even ren has visited me im sooo lonely
Noir: I could have sworn Ren-kun was in his home town…
Queen: He is.
Oracle: doesnt mean he cant visit the great oracle!! do you think i can forgive such disrespect? ＿ | ￣ |○
Sumire let out a small giggle at Futaba’s messages. The two have become quite close and she’s quite glad. Futaba’s kindness and friendship have really been helping Sumire, especially since they’re (hopefully) going to be in the same class at Shujin. She’s been thinking about cooking for Futaba sometime soon, she can only pray that Futaba will like it.
Futaba recently made a different group chat she titled “Oracle’s Spacecraft” which consisted of the girls of the group which mostly consisted of Futaba’s messages. On second thought, she might go see Futaba.
Sumire quickly grabbed her bag and opened it to throw her contacts in there before she paused.
The red ribbon.
She sighed again before pulling it out and waking towards the mirror.
“Sumire, Sumire! Here, try my ice cream!” The girl in the reflection smiled widely.
Sumire took a deep breath before pulling her hair back, slowly tying her hair back with the ribbon before pulling it into a bow.
She stared at the reflection wearing glasses and a red ribbon, yet she didn’t know what to think.
It felt… too Kasumi-like, yet she had been doing it like this since her last few meetings with Amamiya. What was Sumire like? Who was Sumire?
Sumire calmly undid the bow, placing it on her bed before moving to her closet. She looked between her clothes before pulling out her dress. The blue dress Amamiya helped her pick out. That screamed Sumire, didn’t it?
After quickly changing, she returned to grab the red ribbon and stared at her reflection. Would the ribbon even fit with this dress? Maybe not…
But… she didn’t want to leave it.
What did she want?
Her deceased sister to tell her “Your friends really care about you, Sumire. I’m so proud of you!” and pat her on the back? Probably, honestly…
Even after everything, she still had those thoughts. The ones where she wishes were Kasumi, that Sumire had died instead of Kasumi.
She doesn’t regret leaving Maruki’s fake reality behind.
But, she does regret being so jealous of her sister that it blinded her of her own self-worth.
She is Sumire Yoshizawa, a successful gymnast that has recently received several awards, she doesn’t always have to win gold. She is an honor student, a good cook with good friends and a happy family, albeit missing a few people.
Even though it’s impossible to completely rid herself of those thoughts, she wishes she could.
It’d be easier to accomplish their dream.
Their dream…
Sumire paused as she stared in the mirror, looking at the ribbon.
Their dream to be gymnasts. Together.
“We’ll reach the top of the world together… That’s our dream, right?”
Kasumi…
I’m so sorry, Kasumi…
Sumire wiped her tears quickly, moving to look at herself in the mirror.
I am Sumire Yoshizawa.
Kasumi and I will reach the top of the world.
Together.
—
Futaba had wondered when Sumire was gonna show up. It’d been an hour since she confirmed she’d be coming over, she was starting to get worried. Did Sumire’s train get delayed? Did she have a last minute errand to run for gymnastics? Maybe she should—
“Futaba! Yoshizawa’s here!” Futaba heard Sojiro announce from downstairs before she heard steps heading upstairs.
Futaba quickly jumped from her chair and ran toward her door.
“There you are, Sumire! I thought you went on a side quest without me!” Futaba joked as she opened the door.
“I apologize for my tardiness.” Sumire simply replied with a smile on her face as Futaba stared at her.
Sumire wore that really cute blue dress that she got not that long ago. Futaba had seen it a few times, but that’s not what stood out to her.
It was the red ribbon tied to Sumire’s bag.
“I had a bit of thinking I had to do before I got here.”
“It’s okay. I’m happy for you, Violet.”