Work Text:
This year, Kamiya High is having a New Year celebration at the school. The corridors were filled with students laughing and sharing snacks, waiting for the upcoming midnight. The atmosphere was calm despite hearing the chaotic talking from the background.
Nene wished she could have the courage to go laugh with them, but her anxiety snuck up and she ended up hiding in an empty classroom again. The wooden floor was filled with confetti and glitter as her feet dangled above it. She was sitting on a table, playing games on her phone. She wasn't in the mood to mingle with her friends or other classmates. At least she still had the New Year events on her favorite games.
"There's glitter on the floor after the party.."
The oh-so-familiar soft melody from the speakers sounded. She heard a few girls laughing while running around the halls. She recognized the song. Though she was never much of a Taylor Swift fan, she still liked the song. The muffled giggles of the other students filled the air while she stayed in her quiet detachment.
"Girls carrying their shoes down in the lobby"
She glanced around, seeing a familiar group pass by. It was just Mizuki, Rui, Toya, and some other students she didn't recognize. She set her phone down to peek at the known people. They looked like they were having fun, talking and laughing. A soft smile appeared on her face as she glared at them. She envied them so much.
"Candle wax and polaroids on the hardwood floor"
She remembered her first New Year, at least the first one she could remember. She was around 6, just around when she and Rui met. They were pretty close, her shy cover finally opening up a little. Her being his only friend, he always tried to impress the little girl. For the New Year, this little 7-year-old made a firework show in the neighborhood park because she said she had never seen it. She remembers it vividly, the sparks flying up in the sky, making a beautiful glittering explosion. Her little arms clung onto him, scared, and he hugged her back, making sure she didn't get hurt by his invention. He hasn't changed since then? Still making crazy explosions, yet protecting everyone around him.
"You and me from the night before"
Her eyes glanced back at their little friend group. They looked so happy. She was glad for that. Mizuki was a great friend to Rui. She cared for him back in middle school when Nene felt useless for anything she did. He really did love her. Nene felt her heart ache at that thought. She loved him, yet didn't want to admit it to herself. Her heart hurt at the thought that she could ever be with him. He pushed her away in middle school for a reason, he was a bother to her. He was so selfless. Why did he even invite her to join Wonderlands x Showtime? She didn't want things to turn out this way. She wanted to be with him forever when they were small naive kids, yet now here she was, hiding in a classroom, questioning her life. That little innocent kid who wanted to sing only turned into some girl with dumb dreams and not even being able to speak without anxiety.
"Dont read the last page"
There was no doubt she loved him. She loved him even when he distanced himself. She stayed and wanted to continue doing so even with their past. Even with the distance and pushing away she cared for him so much. That love inside her felt soft, like a little flower made to be cherished. She loved him that way. He was her flowered that needed to be cherished.
"But I stayed when I'm lost and I'm scared and I'm turning away"
She wanted to love him freely. A delicate love to be cherished. But she knew she could never have that. He didn't love her, she was only his friend, a fellow troupe member, and a "good" actress. She would be there for him forever, even if her love would never be returned. She sighed and looked down finding tears in her eyes forming at the gentle melody of the song.
"I want your midnights.. but I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day..."
She hated this feeling. Her heart ached for such a dumb reason. No way would she be out here crying over a boy. She just looked back at her phone, going back to playing her games, another New Year's alone. She wanted her childhood days back, those filled with awfully sweet memories.
Soon she heard a gentle knock on the classroom. Her attention turned to the door and there was her fellow childhood friend. He had that dumb, sweet look on his face like always while she was just all embarrassed emotionally sitting here.
"Nene? What are you doing here all alone?"
"I don't feel too well"
She made up a lie. She just didn't have the energy to socialize with others. His smile slightly faded as he got worried for his friend's health.
"How so?"
"Just leave me alone please..."
She mumbled, her voice shaking. He couldn't see her like this, all emotional and teary. She covered her face with her sleeve.
"I can't leave you alone, its new years eve after all"
He smiled at her as he sat next to her. It felt comforting just having him there next to her. She hated how he managed to see through her.
"You should go hang out with the others"
"Fufu~ I'm sure they can survive without me. Plus you're my friend too and I can't just leave you alone"
She smiled back at him while mumbling a small thank you. She looked back down at her feet dangling from the desk, but this time, he was next to her. She slightly shivered feeling the cold from the outside.
"Are you cold Nene?"
"Mhm... a little. It's no big deal though"
Before she could even finish her sentence, he was already taking off his cardigan. Idiot. He always thinks of others before himself.
"Here put it on"
She felt the soft material cover her body. It was big on her yet so soft and comforting. It smelled of the classic "Rui scent".
"Warmer?"
She gave a quiet nod as her body rested slightly on his. She knew she should have her distance, he probably liked some other girl anyway, but it felt so right. He was there, worried about her.
"Remember the firework show I made when we were kids"
"S-shut up. You could have gotten seriously hurt."
"But I didn't"
He smiled at her with his stupid face. She glared back at his yellowish eyes. God he was an idiot. A stupid stupid idiot.
"And what if you did? You probably wouldn't be he-"
She stopped herself. It made her think, what if he wasn't here? She probably never would have gotten over her anxiety, much less join Wonderlands X Showtime, if they would even form. The what ifs got stuck in her mind but quickly got interrupted by him.
"I'm still shocked how you managed to make fireworks as a 7-year-old"
"Well it took just som-"
"Shut up I don't wanna hear about it"
"Oh, feisty?"
He laughs as they recall their memories. She playfully smacked his chest as he just sat there stupidly smiling.
After his laugh died down she realized she had been leaning on him this entire time. She blushed but didn't move. He just rested his head on hers.
"Hold on to the memories. They will hold on to you"
Her mind focused on the song again, but this time, it felt less lonely than listening to it alone. Counting from the hallways was finally heard. Oh crap it was almost midnight.
"10...9..."
"Rui?"
"8...7..."
"Mhm?"
"6...5..."
"I love you"
"4...3..."
"I love you too"
"2...1"
"W-wait what?"
Her head immediately rose but was just met with his kiss. Her mind went completely blank and she felt his lips against hers.
"Happy New Year!"
The sky lit up with fireworks as the clock struck midnight. All sorts of colors were seen up in the sky as the pair slowly parted from the sudden kiss. She was a complete blushing mess.
"Fufu... happy new years Nene"
"I-I hate you, idiot"
He laughs once more as he puts his arm around her body. She just snuggled close accepting the affection. The fireworks were still going off in the background. It wasn't another new years alone. This time she wasn't alone but was surrounded by love and warmth. A new year, a new year of new and sweet memories.