Chapter Text
The clock on Kanade’s monitor flashed 03:17. The only thing that lit up her dark room was the glow of her computer setup. She didn't feel the time, the cold, or the ache in her back. Kanade only felt the music.
She’s seen the look in Mafuyu’s eyes recently. The light in her eyes slowly dwindling. Kanade has to get this song done before the remaining light in those eyes are crushed by her mother’s expectations once again.
Her fingers flew across the keyboard, hastily mapping notes on her composition app. This song, she was sure, was the key. It had to be the final key, the one to finally reach into the depths of Mafuyu's Sekai and save her.
Kanade hadn't eaten anything substantial in over thirty hours except a few mouthfuls of instant ramen and a sip of water. That was all she allowed herself. Every second spent on herself was a second someone spent drowning.
Just a little more. Just a little faster.
Kanade leaned closer to the monitor, her breath fogging the screen slightly.
She had to finish this before... before what?
Before Mafuyu disappears. Then she’ll lose her reason to keep living.
She still needs to repent.
So just a little more. Just a little faster.
Every part of her being should be dedicated on this song. And when shes finally saved Mafuyu, her penance will be paid.
Yet, the silence still found a way in.
There he was, the memory silently creeping up into her head. Her father. Lying on the hospital bed, unable to remember her.
Unable to remember the person that tore music away from him.
No. Not now.
She jolted her head to shove the ghost back into the dark where it belonged.
Not now.
Tap-tap.
A soft knock at her door, startled her.
The door creaked open, revealing Mafuyu, illuminated by the hall light filtering in. Kanade squinted at the sudden intrusion of light. Mafuyu was quiet, she was holding a small, steaming mug.
"Kanade."
Kanade didn't try to meet Mafuyu’s eyes.
“Mafuyu. I'm almost done." Her voice was rough from disuse.
Mafuyu glided further into the room, stepping carefully over scattered music sheets and empty instant noodle cups. The scent of hot tea cut through the stale air.
Mafuyu placed the mug gently on the edge of the desk.
"You haven't slept," Mafuyu stated. "Or eaten properly. Ena told me that you’re ignoring her calls."
"I'll sleep when I’m done." Kanade’s fingers skipped, unintentionally adding an extra note. She hit Ctrl + Z in irritation. "I can also eat later.”
Mafuyu stood beside her, utterly still, watching Kanade add notes, listen to it, delete them, and repeat.
"Is this song more important than your health?" Mafuyu asked. "You told me once that I have to keep living. Why don't you apply your own advice, Kanade?"
Kanade finally stopped. She rested her forehead on the cool plastic of her keyboard, her body trembling with exhaustion and frustration. "You don't understand, Mafuyu. I want to save you.”
Mafuyu waited a long moment before replying.
"I am right here, Kanade." Mafuyu said. "Does saving me have to include all of this?”
She gestured to all of the mess around the room.
Kanade lifted her head, meeting Mafuyu's unnervingly blank gaze. "I have to create a song to save you, that's my entire purpose."
"…Your purpose" Mafuyu tilted her head. "Is the song you're writing right now actually for me, Kanade, or is it for something else?"
Mafuyu’s words hung heavy in the air.
Kanade felt a dizzying wave of panic.
"If it is for me," Mafuyu replied, "then I am asking you to stop. Please, take a break."
She reached out and placed her hand over Kanade's, covering the tension in Kanade's strained muscles.
“I’m sorry Mafu—“
"Look around, Kanade. Your phone has been vibrating on your mattress for minutes. The screen keeps lighting up." she interrupted.
Kanade instinctively glanced towards her bed, where her phone lay half-buried under a pile of sweatshirts. The small, worn device was indeed pulsing silently, casting a white flicker against the dark fabric. She hadn't even registered it. She never did when she was composing.
"It's probably Ena," Kanade dismissed, trying to pull her hand away and return to composing.
Mafuyu's grip tightened. "Ena texts. She rarely calls this many times. Please, pick it up."
Something in Mafuyu’s eyes made Kanade slowly withdraw her hand from the keyboard.
Reluctantly, Kanade crossed the room, every step feeling heavy and wrong. She snatched the phone.
She opened it. 4 missed calls. All from a single, familiar number she rarely saw but never forgot. It was the number for the main desk at her father's hospital.
A cold, visceral dread seized her chest, making it impossible to take a full breath. The phone felt like a stone in her hand.
No. This can't be happening now. She’s busy. She can't deal with this now.
"Is something wrong?" Mafuyu was standing behind her now.
Kanade swallowed hard, her throat painfully dry. "It's... my father’s hospital..."
"Call them back." Mafuyu said.
Kanade dialed the number from the call log. It rang twice before a professional, slightly tired voice answered.
"Hello, Nurse Amane speaking."
"Hello," Kanade managed. "This is Yoisaki Kanade. I'm sorry, I just saw I had several missed calls from this number."
There was a slight pause on the other end.
"Ah, Miss Yoisaki. Thank you for calling back. I apologize for the time, but we have important news regarding your father." The nurse said, her tone slightly more warmer.
Kanade braced herself, her knuckles white against the phone casing.
Did he get worse or better? Please, just not worse. She can't handle worse.
"He is stable," the nurse quickly reassured. "Actually, he has had a major breakthrough. He’s regained some of his memories prior to his collapse. Earlier this evening, he asked about your whereabouts. Told us he wanted to say something to you.
Kanade's knees went weak. "He… he wants to say something?"
"Yes. We're arranging an immediate transfer to the main hospital's rehabilitation center to begin intensive physical and cognitive therapy. This is a very promising development."
Kanade could only hear a roaring sound, the blood rushing in her ears, drowning out the nurse's explanation.
"Miss Yoisaki? Are you still there?"
"Yes," Kanade whispered. "I understand. Thank you. When… when can I see him?"
"He'll be settling in tomorrow morning. We recommend visiting in the afternoon. The staff there will update you on the exact visiting hours. Congratulations, Miss Yoisaki. This is wonderful news."
Kanade thanked the nurse mechanically, ended the call, and lowered the phone, her hand shaking so badly she nearly dropped it.
Relief should have flooded her. Joy should have overwhelmed her. But all Kanade felt was a wave of intense dread. Her father remembered her, and soon, she would have to face him after years.
Face him as the person that took away years of his life.
She felt a desperate urge to run back to composing and finish the song, to complete her penance before she had to confront the living proof of her sin.
"You should go to the hospital tomorrow." Mafuyu said quietly.
Kanade nodded, her eyes wide and unfocused. "Yes. I will. But first, I have to finish the song."
Mafuyu didn't argue. She simply walked back to Kanade's desk, picked up the hot mug, and placed it back in Kanade's trembling hands.
"Drink this first. If you arrive looking like this, you will worry him."
Kanade obeyed, taking a long, shaky sip of the warm, soothing tea.