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Joining a traveling circus was the last thing Nene expected to happen. She had been a follower of Megurine Luka since day one. Training to protect ever since she was young. She did…like to sing. And maybe she did enjoy some shows. But if anything, KAITO’s teachings had always been more of Rui’s thing. She played along, but they all had to grow up sometime, right?
Of course, that somehow did not apply to the Princess of Miyamasuzaka.
Emu cheered as one of Rui’s chimeras jumped into the river before them, taking a huge chomp of the stick she had thrown only moments prior.
“You’re going to tire him out soon,” Nene commented, her cheek resting against her hand. Emu turned around, her grin not faltering the slightest. If anything, it grew as she turned to Nene.
“But he’s having fun! Look at how zoom-zoom and whhhooosh he’s going!” She waved her hands in the air. Her royal dress had long been discarded, replaced by something more akin to what a jester would wear. Nene would never admit it, especially not to the Otoris, but to Nene, this outfit fit her much more.
“Zoom-zoom…?” Nene repeated, a small grin forming. The chimera hurriedly rushed over to Emu. He shook out his pelt, spraying the two in river water.
“Gwahhh! Fluffy!” Emu giggled, picking up the chimera’s stick and throwing it back in the water. Nene watched quietly as the routine began again. She wondered, just vaguely, what she was going to tell the Otoris.
“You look so much happier…” Nene murmured. Emu blinked, turning around.
“Eh?”
Nene jumped. “Ah, n-nothing,” Nene quickly brushed it off. She did not intend to say that out loud. Emu wandered over to where Nene sat on the river bank, plopping herself down next to her. Nene scooted a bit over.
“Nene-chan, do you like this place?” Emu asked. Her eyes hadn’t left Nene’s face.
“Ah…me?” Nene blinked.
“Mm! You’re the only one who hasn’t performed yet!”
“I thought that Nene-puppet was enough.” Nene’s face flushed a bit as Emu seemed to scoot increasingly closer. The puppet Rui had created so many years ago…Nene never thought it’d become so useful in his performances. She’d been using it to puppeteer the roles she was meant to play, herself of course being too shy to truly take the stage.
“But I wanna sing with you, Nene-chan!”
“EH!?” Nene’s heart practically leaped out of her chest. Sing? Sing with Emu? Sing…Wait…Sing!? “H-how did you know I could sing!?”
“Eh?” Emu tilted her head. “I’ve seen you singing all by yourself whenever we stop!”
Nene’s face grew hot. She pulled her hair in front of her face, covering her cheeks and mouth. Oh Miku, had she been that obvious? Of course she’d embarrass herself in front of the princess. Miku above, just swallow me whole, please.
“Hehe, don’t be embarrassed! It’s really pretty! You look so sparkly and wonderhoy!” Emu waved her hands.
Nene still couldn’t face her. If anything, Emu’s comments were making it worse. Emu liked her singing. Emu liked her…
“Nene-chan…” Emu placed her hands over Nene’s, causing Nene to jolt. She slowly pulled her hands down, letting Nene’s hair fall so they were face-to-face. While Nene had been far too embarrassed to look at her, Emu had rotated around so their knees were touching and her face was only a few inches away from hers. “We don’t need to sing, if you don’t want to!”
“No, no, that’s not…it…” Nene took a quick glance at their hands. Emu’s were still clasped around hers. “I…I wouldn’t mind singing with you.”
Emu practically lit up at that. “Really!?”
“Ah, you don’t need to be so loud about it!” Nene took a quick glance back at the parked circus. Rui and Tsukasa were certainly out of earshot, but she still was not ready for Rui of all people to hear this.
“Let’s sing now then!” Emu grinned. Her hands pulled back, balling into fists in front of her chest. Nearly immediately, her hands felt a cold chill without Emu’s.
Nene had to pull herself out of her thoughts to finally process what Emu had just said. “Eh? N-now? Like…now, now?”
“Yes! It’ll be fun!”
“…Now?” Nene could feel her blush returning. How did Emu always manage to catch her off guard?
“I can start! Um, it’ll be one we both know, okay!” Emu pointed, nodding. Nene nodded as well, although, less vigorously. Emu hummed for a second before singing a soft melody.
No matter how many times Nene saw Emu perform, she still could never get enough. The way Emu’s eyes closed with complete trust, her voice following her excitement and joy. The subtle sway in her body, and the smile that made anyone smile back. Except this time it was just for her. Emu’s eyes opened, presenting an invitation to Nene that she had never received before. One that simply said, ‘let’s sing’.
Nene’s voice fell into the song ungracefully, starting out with the smallest tremble. Soon, she slipped into a harmony. Their voices intertwined in a familiar melody. Emu slowly got up, reaching down to take hold of Nene’s hands. Nene blinked, taking hers as well as they stood up.
Emu pulled Nene close, causing Nene’s voice to wobble with a bit of laughter. They spun through the river bank, a dance unlike in a ballroom. Simply wandering over grass and pebbles, singing a song sung just for the two of them.
The song ended far too soon. Nene’s hands were still folded over Emu’s as the two stared at each other. Emu’s face soon split into giggles, folding over so her head fell into the crook of Nene’s neck.
Nene jumped, her hold tightening onto Emu’s hands. A bark came from their feet and Emu stood back up, looking down to the chimera.
“Fluffy! Oh, sorry, sorry!” Emu squatted down, letting go of Nene and patting the chimera’s head. Nene watched in silence, blinking a few times. Her heart was racing and her face was completely red no doubt. She wondered, very briefly, if she could sing with Emu just one more time.
She squatted down next to Emu. “Does he want his stick?”
“I think so…” Emu murmured. Nene picked up the small branch, holding it in her hand.
“I guess we’ve kept him waiting long enough,” she smiled. Emu smiled back. That radiant smile that made Nene’s heart shatter. She pulled back, tossing the stick into the river.
The chimera barked, rushing after it with a wagging tail.
Nene collapsed onto her back and stared up at the sky. Emu followed in suit. “Nene-chan, you should become our songstress.” The words were so absentminded. So relaxed. After everything, if it meant going to the ends of the earth, meeting Miku herself, or fighting a dragon with Emu…Nene would have done it.
“I wouldn’t mind that.”