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Each member of Nightcord had been through a lot since they first met. From the marionette at the exehibition to Kanade's constant insistence that she was entirely fine after pulling another all-nighter composing, their lives had been rife with difficulties. It wasn't an overstatement to say that they had been through more than their fair share of stress and strife, yet they still managed to find moments of respite - however brief - in days such as this.
They all stood ankles-deep in the luscious emerald glass, watching the beauty of cherry blossom flowers falling gracefully, twisting and dancing in the light breeze that flowed lazily through their hair. Kanade gazed at the trees, trasfixed by their beauty, while Ena was passionately arguing after managing to get into yet another one sided argument with Mafuyu as they seemed to so often that Mizuki would joke that their love language was quarreling like a married couple.
Mizuki thought that she could stay like this for life, as she gazed lovingly over her friends and fellow group members. The mystery tour she orchestrated not only gave Kanade the inspiration she needed to pull her through the block she had encountered, but brought the girls even closer together, their tight-knit friendship blooming like the cherry blossoms that Mizuki brought them (dragged, as Ena grumbled) to witness. The beauty that eluded Mizuki's eyes for so long finally became visible to her. She could finally feel the warmth of a close bond for herself rather than just through stories.
Affection bubbled up in her chest, alongside something else, something new. Hope perhaps? The idea that maybe, just maybe this could last... She no longer had to be alone in the dark; the light of Nightcord could be her guide through the void.
Words that she never thought she would have the strength to say filled her mind, finally ready to be spoken aloud : could we do this next year?
As soon as the word were out, she felt her chest begin to tighten. What was she thinking? They would never accept somebody like her if they found out. This was never built to last... She loved the other girls with her whole heart, yet deep down she knew she couldn't hold on to what they had for long. It was only a matter of time before they got bored and left, or fell apart.
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