Work Text:
Mizuki stretched in front of the computer. It took all night, but she finally finished editing the most recent video. It’s finally ready to post.
And you know what? She’s happy with it. She can’t see any flaws with it, which is rare. Usually there’s a nagging insecurity that pops up, but no!
She smiled.
“Guys! It’s done!”
“About time!” Ena teased, her grin clear in her voice. “Send it in the chat!”
“Alright, alright, if you’re begging for it.” Mizuki responded, fake fighting back.
“I am not begging!” Ena grumbled. Haha. Mizuki loved making her annoyed.
She took a quick breath and sent it in the chat.
They watched it together, and were quiet afterwards.
“…Mizuki, this is really good.” Kanade started.
“You put everything at just the right moments! I can’t see anything wrong with it! Nice work.” Ena praised.
Her smile never left her face. She liked hearing what they had to say in critique and all, but she loved it when they reinforced her own beliefs. Everyone likes to feel supported, after all.
“Thank you!” She said cheerfully.
“Mafuyu, what do you think?” Kanade asked. She always cared about what Mafuyu thought or how she felt. Mizuki couldn’t help but think she worried too much.
“It’s good.” Mafuyu said simply.
That surprised her.
“It’s good?” She asked hopefully. “Nothing else to add? No incoming critiques?”
“No. It’s a good video.” Mafuyu replied.
Mizuki’s smile grew wider and wider. This was rarer than rare. This was incredible!
“Yay! Thank you Mafuyu!” She cheered.
“Hey, you had plenty to say about my drawings when I sent them in!” Ena argued.
“Well, the colors were off, given the tone of the song. I can’t find anything wrong with the video.” Oh, Mafuyu. Mizuki felt like celebrating.
“Okay, I’m going to post it.” Kanade cut through the tension.
“Good!” Mizuki replied. “We should go out to celebrate. This song was so hard to get through. We should treat ourselves!”
The group’s conversation died down. Typical. They didn’t really like hanging out in real life.
“Well, I’m willing to go.” Ena said, letting Mizuki sigh from relief. “I’m only free tomorrow, though.”
That’s great! “Sure! I don’t have class tomorrow, so that works out!” She beamed.
“Actually, tomorrow works out for me, too.” Kanade agreed. “Were you just wanting to go to that ramen place again?”
“No way!” Mizuki instantly denied. “That place gave me food poisoning last time!”
“Oh, yeah, that’s true. Happened to me, too.” Ena sighed. “Well, where were you wanting to go?”
Mizuki thought for a moment. What was near that ramen place? There was a mall, a post office… Ooh, and a froyo place. She ran into Rui the other day, and he told her about it. Apparently it’s really good.
“Do you guys want to go to that froyo place? I think it’s next door to the restaurant.” She proposed.
“Oh, yeah! I’ve been meaning to go there. I’ve heard good things!” Ena instantly supported her.
“I’m willing to go.” Kanade agreed.
“Great! Tomorrow, we get froyo!” Mizuki smiled.
“Mafuyu, did you want to go?” Kanade asked.
She was silent for a moment, and then said “Sure.”
Nothing else? Just sure? Well, that’s affirmative!
“Yay!” She cheered. “Tomorrow at 2 PM!”
“Why 2 PM?” Ena asked.
“That’s when I wake up on Saturdays.” She replied.
***
Kanade waited outside of Mafuyu’s home.
She had privately messaged her after Mizuki and Ena logged off for the night, asking her to walk her there. This was normal for them. When they went to a restaurant or a diner, Kanade waited for her.
It was 1:30, which was early, but Kanade woke up earlier than normal, and she was going to take advantage of that.
She woke up at noon, but she wanted to get started at the next song. She watched Mafuyu closely last night after she said the video was good, but she didn’t smile. She didn’t seem changed. She just said it was good.
That wasn’t good enough for Kanade.
“Bye Mom!” She heard Mafuyu say in a cheery voice as she opened the door. Someone said something else, and Mafuyu replied “Yes, I’ll be safe. I love you!”
She smiled as she turned to walk out. Kanade hated that smile. That fake smile she had to wear near anyone who didn’t understand her. Kanade could see it a mile away.
Mafuyu’s face dropped the moment she was out of sight.
“Hi, Mafuyu.” Kanade started, a small grin forming when Mafuyu’s fake one disappeared.
“Hi Kanade. You’re early.” Mafuyu said. She turned to walk away. Kanade grabbed her hand and walked with her.
“I know. It wasn’t on purpose.” Kanade admitted. “But that’s okay.”
“Yes.” Mafuyu agreed. Her responses were always so simple. Kanade couldn’t help but think there was so much more going on behind her eyes. She wanted that to come out.
One day, she’ll make sure it does.
***
Mafuyu walked with Kanade to the frozen yogurt place, hand in hand. They got a few odd looks. She didn’t care. She didn’t understand why people cared so much about a stranger’s opinion of them.
That didn’t matter. Frozen yogurt.
She had no idea what to get once she actually got there. She was grateful for Kanade’s early arrival. It gave her extra time to think.
Actually, she was grateful to know Kanade. She didn’t force her into painful, pointless small talk. She allowed Mafuyu to be silent.
Back to frozen yogurt. She didn’t remember what she normally got. The last time she went to a froyo place, she was young. Maybe five. She remembered being upset that her mom didn’t let her put on a lot of toppings. That made sense to her now. Most places weigh the cup you get.
They arrived, breaking her out of her thoughts. The outside was bright, yet simple. “Kanna’s Fro-Yo” was pasted onto a sign outside, the walls a beige matching the other shops around it.
Kanade led her inside. Ena waved them over to her and Mizuki’s table.
***
Ena and Mizuki walked to the froyo place together. Mainly because Ena though Mizuki would sleep in.
At 1:40, Ena knocked on Mizuki’s door. She opened it groggily in pajamas. She rubbed her eyes, and then flinched seeing Ena.
“ENA!” She yelped. “You’re early!”
She sighed. “I wanted to see if you were awake.” She smirked as she added, “You clearly weren’t.”
“Come on, Ena, I’m tired!” Mizuki whined.
“You’re always tired!” Ena argued back. She eyed Mizuki’s arm. Homework papers were somehow holding on to her arm.
Ena giggled. “I’ll wait out here for you.”
“Okay…” Mizuki frowned, shutting the door. Ena waited on a bench outside for 20 minutes.
Well, that was then. Now they’re there, in a froyo place with teal walls and a lot of toppings.
Mafuyu and Kanade walked in, both silent, seemingly deep in thought. Ena waved them over.
Mizuki smiled seeing them. “It’s good to see you guys in person again! It’s been too long!”
“Mizuki, we met in the mall a week ago.” Ena stated plainly.
“Well, that wasn’t the whole group.” Mizuki argued back. She was so annoying sometimes. Well, that’s true, but Ena liked the little back-and-forths they had. It was fun.
Kanade looked at them confused. “You didn’t get froyo yet? And you’re both early?”
“Yep. We wanted to wait for you.” Mizuki smiled.
“And I wanted to make sure Mizuki woke up on time.” Ena added, making Mizuki turn to her and stick out her tongue.
“Let’s go eat, then.” Mafuyu led them to the machines.
Ena hadn’t been to a frozen yogurt place before, so Mizuki helped her with the process. Mizuki showed her what she got as an example: mint and chocolate swirl. Ena tried to match her motions as she got caramel apple pie. It sounded good, and it smelled sweet.
Kanade got expresso. The yogurt was a deep brown, darker than the chocolate. Ena sighed. Of course she got that.
Mafuyu looked torn as she stared at the flavors. It was a big list, after all. Ena walked up to her.
“You okay?” She asked delicately.
Mafuyu looked to her concerned. “I don’t know what to get.”
“That’s fine.” Ena assured. “The toppings are what makes the flavor. At least, that’s what Mizuki told me.”
“You haven’t been here before?” She asked.
“Nope.” Ena answered. Somehow, that reassured Mafuyu. She wasn’t alone.
Eventually, she got bubble gum. Ena thought she would’ve gotten vanilla. Guess she’s less bland than she thought.
They split up to get their toppings. Ena went to the syrups. She’s never been here before, but she thought gummies would make a weird texture, and some toppings would ruin the yogurt outright. She drizzled caramel over her yogurt. That was enough for her.
Kanade put some chocolate toppings into hers. Mizuki did the same, adding hot fudge.
“That’ll melt it!” Ena worried.
“It’s okay! I can eat it really fast.” Mizuki attempted to assure her, but Ena could see it melting already.
Mafuyu didn’t get any toppings. She noticed Mizuki side eyeing her. “It’s more expensive if it’s heavier.” She explained.
They each paid for their food and sat down. Mafuyu seemed surprised when they didn’t weigh it.
Ena kept the comments on the video open as she ate, happily showing everyone the compliments. The video was doing pretty good.
They talked about the new song Kanade was making, Mizuki’s new bows, Ena’s next art piece, etc.
Ena could confidently say it was a nice hangout. That didn't always happen.
She smiled listening to the others speak. This was nice.