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“Good night, everyone. Great work today, as always.” You had packed up your things quite a while ago, and you were headed back home after another busy day at the NewDi office suite.
“GoodNIGHT, KitTEN~ I’ll cast a small spell so you get home safE.” Natsume gave you a mischievous smile, as always, as he saw you off.
“Goodnight, Miss Producer. Don’t forget your coat, it’s a little chilly tonight.” The bluenette made his way toward you, holding open your jacket, which you slipped on with his help. That was Tsumugi, always willing, ready, and happy to assist you, with even the smallest of tasks.
On this unextraordinary night, there was one thing that was off... Sora was oddly quiet… usually this was about the time where he would rush you, winding his arms around you tightly and snuggling into your chest… but when you glanced over at Sora, he seemed lost in thought, his shoulders sinking just a bit. With a slight frown forming on your face, you made your way over to the youngest of the Trio. You ruffled his fluffy, blonde, locks playfully, before shooting him a bright smile.
“Goodnight, Sora. Is everything okay? You did well today, I’ve seen huge improvements in your performance and magic, I’m proud of you, you know that, right?.” You kneeled down to get on his eye level, as he had been sitting down on the lounge area’s sofa.”
“Producer…” Is all the small blonde could manage to speak, before throwing his arms around your neck in a tight hug. You almost lost your balance at the sudden shift in weight, but you quickly caught yourself, cradling Sora’s back, one of your hands pressed up against his warm body. “Sora didn’t realize, Producer… Sora is sorry…” The smaller boy nuzzled into your neck, you flushed just a bit when his soft hair brushed against your cheek.
“Sora…?” You tenderly stroked his back as he trembled in your arms. “I…” Your eyes caught the clock on the wall of the lounge a little bit behind him. “I need to head out for the night, Sora.. or I’ll miss my train…we will talk about this tomorrow, okay?” Your eyes scanned the room for Tsumugi, he was the best at comforting Sora when he got like this, and when your eyes locked with Tsumugi’s olive-colored ones, he understood right away. You all had been working together so closely over the past year, that at this point, words were not always necessary. The tallest of the trio made his way toward both of you, gently taking Sora’s hand within his own.
“Sora-kun, Miss Producer has been helping us out all day here… she needs to get home now.” Tsumugi sat down on the couch next to Sora, stroking his hair a bit as the blonde settled into him.
“Don’t worrY, KitTEN.~ We’ll take care of thiS.” Natsume somewhat shooed you away, and with one final glance back into the lounge, you left the 3 magicians alone for the night. You had to hurry or you’d be stranded at Ensemble Square all night… You smiled a bit to yourself at the thought. “But would that really be such a bad thing..?” You shook your head, dismissing such a silly fantasy, as you made your way to the train station.
It was Sora who noticed it first. He picked up on the way your ‘ color ‘ would shift from a shimmering neon pink, to a dull, mute, mauve, when you said goodnight to himself, and his unit mates, after practices. He had been noticing it for the past few weeks, but only tonight had Sora finally put two and two together. Sora was very sensitive to the feelings of others. He noticed how you always accepted any request he, Tsumugi or Natsume asked of you. You were always quick to spend all the time you could with Switch because you adored them, and the three magicians felt the same way about you, but Sora was the first to realize your hidden feelings.
“Senpai, Shisho… Sora thinks Producer is lonely…” Sora huddled up into himself, pouting. “Sora has noticed… Producer’s color fades into a lonely color when Producer’s work is over for the day… Sora is the worst ever… how could Sora not have noticed before?”
Tsumugi and Natsume exchanged sullen looks with one another as they carefully considered Sora’s words.
For the past year, you had been Switch’s producer. Your days in the NewDi office building were filled with the playful, (sometimes violent), banter between Tsumugi and Natsume, sometimes you felt like you had become a bit of a mediator for the pair… and when you weren’t busy playing marriage counselor, you were being pulled every which way by Sora, towards whatever adventure Switch's Junior decided to embark on on that particular day.
Lately, Tsumugi’s workload had been a lot more manageable with you by his side. You were willing to take on any projects that seemed too unreasonable to be placed onto Tsumugi’s already overloaded plate, you were also quick to stand up to others in the organization that felt like it was OK to push their responsibilities onto the overworked idol, just because they knew they could get away with it in the past. The wheels in Tsumugi’s head began to turn… “Is Miss Producer willing to spend so much time helping me out with the managerial side of NewDi because she’s lonely?”
Natsume brought his hand to rest on his chin, deep in thought. There had been many moments between him and his “Little Kitten” where she had found him backed into a corner, unable to accept help, or admit his true feelings, on more than one occasion, regarding an array of situations, but she was always willing to lend an ear and give him advice. Because she was by his side, he was able to accept himself a bit more over the past year, and in turn, Natsume himself became willing to let others in a wee bit more than he had been willing to in the past… Natsume realized that in all that time, you had never brought up your own home life… were you living all on your own? “Does she always seek me out when I’m in a bind because she’s lonely?”
Sora sniffled, pulling his seniors out of their own heads and back into the present moment.
“S-sora doesn’t… Sora d-doesn’t want Producer to feel the way Sora used to… b-before Shisho and Senpai took Sora’s hands…”
Sora rubbed at his aqua eyes, clouded with tears, mopping them up on the sleeve of his Yumenosaki uniform blazer. Whenever Natsume and Tsumugi were tied up with something, his Producer was always willing to come and play with him. Thinking back on it now, Sora doesn’t think any of the activities he had dragged you along on had anything to do with improving himself as an idol, or you improving as a producer… he just loved to play with you! His thoughts whisked him away to all the shining days from the last year...to all the times you followed behind him to his favorite arcade. He thought of the summer months, you holding his hand, a sticky, drippy ice cream cone melting away in his other, strolling down the sidewalk, your sundress fluttering in the breeze, as you both made your way towards Ensemble Square. He thought of the times when he was sulking, and you had pressed pretend kisses to his cheeks with his precious Shisho and Senpai dolls to cheer him up.
“We messed uP..” Natsume breathed, sighing heavily.
“Yeah, but what can we do…?” Tsumugi looked up at the red head from his place next to Sora, he was still rubbing his back, comforting him. “There must be something we can do for her.”
The room was quiet for several moments, all but Sora’s sniffles and hiccups could be heard, before the leader of the bunch spoke up once more.
“I think we should all stay togeTHER, all of uS… I’m sure if we come up with a good enough exCUSE, the higher ups will grant us permission to all stay together in one dorM.” With this, Sora’s interests peaked, he hiccupped a bit, before looking up at his senior.
“Y-you mean that, Shisho~? Sora can be with Shisho, Senpai and Producer everyday!?!” Sora scooted towards the end of the couch, propping himself up on the arm on the chair excitedly, his eyes still a bit puffy and red, unfitting for the exuberant smile that quickly replaced his sullen expression.
“Ehehe…” Tsumugi rubbed the back of his head, nervously tousling his dark blue curls. “You’ve done it now, Natsume-kun… with Sora this excited, there’s no way we can let him down now…”
“I had no intenTION of letting him dowN.” Natsume huffed a bit and crossed his arms over his chest. “but I will be in need of your assistance thougH, SenPAI…”
Tsumugi stood from the couch and made his way toward Natsume. “Of course, I’ll do whatever I can for all of us, for Switch. We could not have made it this far without her… if us all being together would bring her the smallest bit of happiness, I’ll pull whatever strings I can to make that happen… because the happinesses she’s brought all of us over the past year…” Tsumugi paused, and a gentle smile spread across his face as he thought of you. “We have to find a way to repay her somehow…”
“HAHIHUHEHO~! ☆” Sora practically flipped from the arm of the couch and spun around excitedly in the middle of the lounge area. “SORA WILL GO PACK! BYE SHIOSHIO, BYE SENPAI!”
With that, Sora bolted toward the door, with Tsumugi quickly and clumsily grabbing all his things, trying to catch up to his over-excited Kohai.
“Sora-kun, wait!! We have to plan this out first!” Tsumugi trailed closely behind the blonde, making sure he didn’t do something like bolt into traffic in his frenzied excitement.
Natsume was left alone in the lounge at this point, he smiled as he too made his way to the door. Once he found himself outside, in the bright moonlight, he chanted a spell as he made his way to his dorm room, neon pink sparkles trailed behind him with every step he took.
* ✧･ﾟ::･ﾟ★,｡☆ “KitTEN, just hold on a bit lonGER.~ From now oN, all your days will be filled with happy maGIC. By your side will be three bright gemSTONES, the happier we can make yoU, the brighter we all will shinE... You’ll be so enTRANCED, you’ll hardly be able to look aWAY.~ You’ll have no choice but to stay by our sideS, so prepare your hearT. We want to hear your true feelINGS, any wish you havE, we will granT, only for yoU.”✧˖°.“*♡∞:｡:♡
Natsume hummed to himself, pleased with his work. “GoodNIGHT, little KitTEN.~ I’ll be sure to meet you in your dreams toNIGHT. From now oN, Switch will always be by your sidE.”