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The road to Kanade’s house has been practically etched into my mind. The streets have become familiar to me, the air is calm. It’s very different from Phoenix Wonderland.
I set foot on Kanade’s doorstep and shout loud enough so she can hear me from her room.
“SPECIAL DELIVERY!”
After a few seconds, Kanade opens the door. Her gaze is initially on the ground, but she eventually moves it up to meet my eyes. I greet her with my star-worthy smile! She returns it, sighing softly. I take it that I managed to brighten her day. It’s my star quality after all!
Kanade and I don’t go back that long. We’ve gotten closer through music. Both of us play the piano, so it’s easy to talk about something we share. That time when Kanade saved our show by improvising a song… I’ll never forget it!
Even then, this girl has so much more she won’t talk about. With us becoming closer, she started opening up to me. Her father is hospital-bound. And I’m trying my hardest to be there for her because I know what it’s like to have someone you love taken away from you. But I at least had the chance to talk to Saki, a chance she rarely ever encounters… Kanade overworks herself so much, so I put it upon myself to be there for her. I want to show her how much I love her!
We both walk in, Kanade leading the way to her room. She hasn’t asked, but I explain to her the reason I’m here.
“Honami told me she was incredibly busy with band practices this week, with Leo/Need’s next gig coming up. So I, your star, have taken upon myself that role. I shall make sure all your needs are met,” I tell her. Even in the very low light of her room, I can see a rosy tint colour her cheeks. I drop a small kiss on her forehead and head to the kitchen.
I decide to make Kanade noodles. Something I know she likes, but also something that’s more healthy than those instant noodles she loves so much. Rummaging through her fridge and pantry, I find quite a few ingredients I can use: an egg, green onions, some tofu. Thank you Honami for getting groceries!
The savoury aroma of the broth fills the air. I fill Kanade’s bowl almost to the brim with noodles and top it off with the ingredients I found. It’s presentable, but it’s also nutritious, which is what she needs. I carefully walk to her room to make sure I don’t spill any soup.
Kanade is in her room, still composing. She looks so focused on her work, it’s admirable, but also a bit worrying. She’s already very frail, and her habit of thinking of others before herself definitely takes over her need to sleep or eat. I knock on her door to alert her of my presence. She turns around, taking her headphones. Her bright blue eyes are reflecting the light of her monitor, making them pop even more. I bring her her meal, putting it down on probably the only spot on her desk that’s not taken by equipment or music sheets. She smiles brightly. I might be imagining it, but I’m pretty sure I heard her stomach rumbling. Good thing I’m here for her!
Kanade starts slurping the noodles, blowing on them first to cool them down a little. I sit down on her bed, watching her. I can’t help but feel a little proud. Kanade liked what I made her. It’s an accomplishment in my book. Once she’s done, she looks at me and smiles again, so softly it makes my poor heart melt.
“Thank you…” she says, almost in a whisper.
“It’s my duty as a STAR!” I reply, throwing my hand in the air, pointing up. “And as your boyfriend, of course!”
She laughs softly. I can’t get enough of her laugh, it sounds so delicate, like it’d break at any moment, fragile… Truly a huge contrast when compared to my window-breaking laughter. I let out a light exhale, satisfied.
“You should take a break, don’t you think?” I attempt. She looks like she’s been working nonstop for a good day or two.
“I’m still in the middle of–”
“HEY! The best music pieces have rests in them!”
I gesture to her to sit down on the bed. She saves her current project, a little reluctant, but ends up sitting on the edge of her bed, right in front of me. I kneel behind her and run my fingers through her long white hair. Then separate it into three strands. Left to middle… Right to middle… Left… Right… Left… I’ve done Saki’s hair a few times in the past, but it really doesn’t compare to how long and silky Kanade’s is. My hands gently cross the strands one after the other, alternating sides. We both stay silent. It’s a comfortable silence. Which surprised me the first time it happened. I’m loud. Extremely. But Kanade has this grounding aura. She calms me down. And I brighten her up. I tie the braid at the end with a hairband I stole from Saki. I started keeping it in case any of my troupe members needed one during practice. Over time, it sort of became second nature to keep an elastic on me.
When she feels that I’m done, Kanade slumps on my chest, sighing. I wrap my arms around her, resting my cheek against the top of her head. My voice comes out a little louder than I had expected it to.
“Tired?”
I can feel Kanade nod against me. I chuckle. Nothing can escape my incredible radar!
I slowly lie down on my side, leading Kanade against her pillow. I pull her blanket over her, making sure she’s covered and that she won’t get cold during her nap. I hold her tight as she drifts into well-deserved, much needed sleep.