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Hisame sank into Suzu's arms with a sigh. She was a little sore from their revue earlier, but she was happy they finally got through to their juniors. Suzu shifted, and Hisame’s ribs throbbed at the reminder of the bruise there.
“You really scared me earlier,” Suzu said. "When you got taken by the Chorus."
They still had a little room on the bed which Koharu would fill once she was done washing her face. Hisame could hear the water running from the next room.
"You scared me, too." Hisame took Suzu's hand from her hip and held it. Suzu squeezed her hand lightly.
"I know."
Suzu hadn't apologized, though Hisame hadn't expected her to. Suzu could have seriously hurt her, and it would have just been a stage accident like any other.
Koharu returned from the bathroom. Her face still looked a little damp. If Hisame squinted, she could see a drop of water mark a path down past Koharu’s ear to her neck. Koharu dropped a towel into the basket in the corner before climbing into bed. She and Suzu sandwiched Hisame between them—not an uncommon position, considering she was the smallest.
“Are you alright?” Koharu said, brushing Hisame’s hair out of her face. Concern lined her features.
Koharu had already asked the same question several times before. None of them had ever been turned into a Chorus member. They didn’t know if there were any lasting effects. Luckily, it seemed like Hisame would be fine.
Hisame laughed, though there wasn’t any joy in it. She forced the sound out for both of their sakes. Truthfully, she was still a little shaken up from the experience. “I’m fine. I promise.”
Koharu still didn’t look completely convinced, but she didn’t ask again.
From behind Hisame, Suzu spoke up again. She poked her head up over Hisame’s shoulder so her words were spoken near Hisame’s ear.
“Do you think all the Chorus members are former stage girls?”
Hisame didn’t even want to think about unpacking that. She shuddered at the idea.
“I mean, think about it!” Suzu continued. “What if when you lose to the Chorus, they take you in as their own? What if that’s what stage girls turn into when they fail?”
Hisame covered her ears. “Suzu! Stop it! I almost turned into one of those things. I don’t need a reminder!”
Suzu rubbed Hisame’s shoulder. “Oops. Sorry.”
Koharu had started stroking Hisame’s cheek with her thumb at some point. She hummed thoughtfully. “In any case, I think Suzu is wrong.”
Hisame lowered her hands from her ears. “What do you mean?”
Koharu’s expression showed that she was actually, seriously considering Suzu’s theory. “She’s saying all the Chorus members are former stage girls who have been dragged into the Chorus? But that means there had to be something to turn the first failed stage girl into a member.”
Hisame was far too tired for all this. She looked up at Koharu with a pout. Koharu’s thumb still stroked her cheek, but she was too deep in concentration to notice Hisame’s distress.
“Like what?” Suzu asked.
“I don’t know. That’s why I think your theory is wrong.”
“Just because you don’t know something doesn’t mean it’s not real!”
Koharu frowned. Hisame leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek. She blinked like she had just remembered Hisame was there.
“Can we sleep? I’d rather not think about what would have happened if you two didn’t save me.”
Koharu’s expression softened. “Good idea.”
Suzu didn’t say “but we’ll always save you,” which Hisame was grateful for because it wouldn’t have been true. There would come a day where Suzu and Koharu weren’t around. When that day came, Hisame just hoped she would be able to fight her own battles.