Work Text:
“Hey Miku?”
The white-haired girl turned her attention to the person that had just called out to her and was met with the familiar sight of short brown hair framed by a singular braid.
“Oh, hello Ena.” She greeted as she raised a hand to wave at the girl. “What brings you here today?”
The girl in question seemed to have brought a sketchbook with her and – judging by how her breathing was faintly labored – was probably walking around the Sekai. Was she looking for someone to help her?
“I need to do some model studies, so I thought I could find someone here willing to help.”
“I see.”
“But I could not for the life of me find anyone!” The girl growled, her frustration evident. She then clasped her hands together and begged the white-haired Virtual Singer: “Please Miku, can you be my model?”
Seeing as she wasn’t really doing much but walking around, Miku didn’t see any reason to refuse the request.
So, she accepted with a nod. “If you’ll have me, then I’ll accept.”
“Thank you!”
Minutes flew by as the artist and model duo went through different poses for the former to sketch. What was quite surprising was the lack of anyone else passing by to even observe.
Usually, a certain pink-haired lady might even have showed up to stir some mischief, but she was nowhere to be seen.
It was peaceful, serene.
Perfect for the artist to focus.
However, even Ena felt the need to strike up a conversation to occasionally break up the silence.
“Hey Miku, can I ask you something?” She began, her curiosity finally getting the better of her as she sketched the rabbit plushie that Miku was holding onto.
“You can, Ena.”
She erased an errant stroke. “Tsk. Ah, sorry. Um, when did you get the plushie?”
“Oh, this? Mafuyu gave it to me as a gift a while back.” The girl’s lips curved upward as the words left her mouth. “She said it’ll keep me company in her stead when she can’t come over.”
Ena raised an eyebrow, a wry smile lifting a corner of her lips. “How considerate of her.”
Was she slightly bitter that the girl had less of a filter for her art? Probably. Still, the honesty was appreciated.
“She’s always been so nice…” Miku’s grip on the plushie tightened slightly. “...I’m glad she has the rest of you though. She’s come a long way since then.”
Another mistake. Ena held the click of her tongue this time. “Is that why I never see you without the plushie?”
Miku nodded. “Yes. It helps me feel closer to her when I can’t be with her.”
“That’s sweet.” Ena had to admit. Almost romantic even.
She brushed that thought away quickly, not wanting to get distracted.
She returned to focus on her sketch, only for Miku’s voice to fill in the silence.
“Do you think Mafuyu knows?”
Ena’s hand stopped as she turned her gaze back to the girl. “Knows what Miku?”
Miku’s eyes looked away from Ena, her gaze fixating on the grays and whites of the Empty Sekai. “...Knows that I’m always thinking of her?”
Ena blinked. Was Miku…?
She slapped her cheeks. No, she could mull on that later.
“Ena…?”
Oh, right, she should probably answer the question.
“Oh, sorry, I was just thinking.” Ena assured her. “I think…”
Her gaze flitted between Miku’s eyes and the purple bunny in her hands.
Then, to memories of Mafuyu always finding a way to be alone whenever the four of them found time to meet up for outings, only to return with some kind of bag.
It finally clicked in Ena’s mind.
‘So all this time…’
Ena smiled at the realization. “I think you don’t need to worry about that Miku.”
Miku tilted her head to the side, as if urging the girl to explain.
Ena found the gesture cute, like a little white rabbit curiously observing something it had never seen before.
“If you’re always thinking of her–”
She added a few finishing details to the drawing in her sketchbook.
“–then I’m almost positive she’s always thinking of you too.”
Ena didn’t notice the tinge of pink that developed on the Virtual Singer’s face, her focus drawn mainly to the sketchbook in her hands.
After a few more strokes with her pencil and a bit of shading, Ena finally finished with a clap.
“Alright, that should be enough for today! Thanks Miku!”
“A-Ah, no problem Ena. I’m always happy to help.”
Ena got up and stretched for a bit before she gathered her stuff. “Alright, I’ll be off now. See you Miku!”
“Bye-bye.” Miku waved at the girl before she vanished in a flash of light.
And she was alone again, unsure of where the others even were.
Alone with the plushie she never wanted to let go of.
Alone with the thought of wanting to see Mafuyu again.
She knew the girl was busy, so she didn’t mind waiting longer between visits.
The plushie was there to stand in for her, after all.
But–
She looked at the plushie in her hands, the threads slightly frayed, the purples and whites dulled slightly by time, and a few buttons loosened.
–it still wasn’t Mafuyu.
Wordlessly, she brought the plushie closer to her and placed a gentle kiss on its head.
She stayed like that for a while, a quiet longing burning in her heart.
It wasn’t Mafuyu, but this was the closest she could get.