Chapter Text
It all began with Mizuki's partially coherent ramblings at 5:47 PM, which was usually the norm for N25's outings.
amia :3 > hey guys. guys. hey guys.
> @everyone guys.
> guys i have an idea
> @everyone hello
> @everyone guys??
> enanan i know you're online stop ignoring me
enanan!!! > STOP PINGING EVERYONE EVERY FIVE SECONDS I SWEAR TO GOD
> AAJHGBFGEIUYGIWEGKEBIHEBFHHBRHJBIUWH
> IWBDIUYVEFTIUEFVWIJHEBFRWIEFBIUE
Mafuyu was currently laying in Kanade's bed, staring at the ceiling as she waited for her partner to return from her trip to the grocery store (Mafuyu would have joined her, but she mentioned something about not wanting to be an inconvenience and I think I have the stamina to handle it now, though Mafuyu doubted that), feeling mildly annoyed from the constant vibrating coming from her phone. There was no doubt that it was Ena and Mizuki arguing again, despite Mafuyu's past efforts to make sure they didn't overload her phone's notifications every few hours.
enanan!!! > I HATE YOU SO MUCH OH MY GOD
amia :3> i love you too ena :]
enanan!!! > YOU TOO BUT ALSO STOP PINGING US LIKE THIS
Yuki. > Can you two stop arguing in the group chat, please? We've already discussed this in the past. Use your direct messages.
enanan!!! > IT'S NOT MY FAULT MIZUKI KEEPS STARTING IT
> SORRY FOR BOTHERING YOU THOUGH YUKI
> Stupid capslock button i swear to god
amia :3> sorry,,, i just had this really neat idea of where we could go next weekend!!!
enanan!!! > Which???? Is?????
amia :3> so like you know how it's starting to become fall and all that stuff, right?
> apparently there's like this cool fall... harvest... festival thingy 30 minutes away with like a market, a corn maze, an apple orchard, all that fun jazz
> we could head over there and go like uh, pick fruits and take in the atmosphere. or we could have a picnic or something???
> i think it would be fun to go out there and relax considering how hard we've been working
> that, and i think i can speak for Ena and Kanade in saying that we could really use some sunlight lately instead of our SEKAI's... digital... light... stuff
enanan!!! >.....
> You should be glad that yuki's here or you would be So Dead right now
> But speaking of @Yuki, what do you think about it? Does it sound fun at all
Mafuyu's eyes snapped back into focus upon seeing her name mentioned. She felt impartial to the concept of going to a fall festival, but there was one part of Mizuki's explanation that messed with her head.
"Apple... orchard."
The sheer mention of apples forced Mafuyu to remember a pleasant childhood memory from a not-so-pleasant parent figure that she really couldn't handle thinking about right now, especially without Kanade home to reassure her. It wasn't time to worry about her. Not here. Not right now. I don't want to think about it.
I was sick, and Mom was taking care of me. She was busy with work, yet she dropped all of it just because I had a small fever. Why did she never help me like that when I was older? Was it because I wasn't good enough for her?
"One of our neighbors gave us some apples. They taste great even when you're sick, you know."
"Could you… peel it like a little bunny's face?"
"Hee hee. Oh, Mafuyu, you really do love bunnies, don't you? Give me just one second..."
Mafuyu tried wiping away the small tears streaming down her perpetually neutral face. Despite the fact that neither Amia or Enanan could see her right now, it felt embarassing, disappointing, to be in such a pitiful state. She wished she felt better. She needed to feel better. She couldn't go back to her old habits and hurt the people around her, especially after her girlfriends worked so hard to keep Mafuyu happy.
amia :3> yuki???? mafuyu??? are u there??
Yuki. > Sorry, I had to clean up a mess. I wouldn't mind going to the fall festival if that's what you two want.
> I don't believe Kanade would mind either, as long as she doesn't overexert herself.
amia :3> do you reeeeally want to go though? ena and i can tell when you're just agreeing just to not be an inconvenience
enanan!!! > Yeah we don't want to force you to come if you aren't up to it
> Your opinions matter too, okay
Mafuyu didn't know why she decided to go along with this. If even just thinking about the place was so anxiety-inducing, what would happen when she got there? Regardless, she cared about her girlfriends' feelings more than her own, and decided to say a partial truth.
Yuki. > That's...
> I think I feel that way a bit, but I would likely feel worse if I didn't go.
> Maybe I'm just agreeing since you three would be there, but that alone is... convincing enough for me.
> Either way, I'm going to start writing lyrics now, so I'll probably be offline until 21:00. Goodbye.
enanan!!! > Alright, just let us know if you ever change your mind. Love you ❤️
Yuki. > Love you too, Ena.
amia :3> why doesnt yuki love me tho... 💔
enanan!!! > Oh you're just SOOO jealous arent you
amia :3> yes.... and the only way to cure it is with a kiss... from my beloved prince ena... sigh...
Mafuyu quickly turned on Do Not Disturb and closed out Nightcord to avoid listening to whatever argument Ena and Mizuki would have that would eventually turn into them flirting and meeting up at the Empty SEKAI to make out. Mafuyu loved her girlfriends, yes, but sometimes her sanity was more important.
Unfortunately, she didn't exactly feel like she was in the mood to write lyrics, or do basically anything at all other than staring at the ceiling again. Regretfully, she nestled back into her laying position until-
Creeeeeak....
"Oh! Hi, Mafuyu..."
Kanade was staring right at her pitiful position in bed from the doorway, somehow managing to get in the house without Mafuyu hearing anything. Maybe Ena and Mizuki were really just that distracting.
Kanade was somewhat red and sweaty, likely from all of the heavy lifting (at least, for to a frail Kanade) of produce and other goods from the store. She was definitely a bit less tired, having gained some semblance of stamina thanks to Mafuyu's rigorous training program of going outside once a week. At least Kanade was growing, unlike-
"U-um, I brought some tea for you to drink in the kitchen. Do you want me to bring it up right now?"
Mafuyu shook her head no.
"...Are you upset right now?" Kanade asks, clearly worried about Mafuyu's mental health. Of course she had to be an inconvenience to K, too. "I don't mind staying with you if something's... wrong."
"...don't want to hurt you," Mafuyu mumbles, facing away from her girlfriend.
"Do you, um, mind repeating that?"
"I don't want to hurt you too," the purple-haired girl manages to squeak out as her voice crumbles. Almost instantly, Kanade's exhausted expression turns into one of determination as she walks over to the bed.
"Mafuyu, you know that I want to take care of you, right?" Kanade then sits on the side of the bed as she holds Mafuyu's hand, instantly feeling her girlfriend tighten the grip. "I love you, just like you love me. I don't want you to think that you're hurting anyone just because you're having a bad day."
"But-"
"Shh, it's okay. I want you to feel happy, too."
Kanade lets go of Mafuyu's hand for a moment, causing the purplette to make a small whine, before Kanade got under the covers and held her arm around Mafuyu's waist. Her other hand went around to Mafuyu's hair, slowly stroking it with a calming motion as she worked through its knots. Mafuyu quickly returned the motion as she hugged Kanade tight, burying her own face in K's chest as she bursted into tears. "You three don't deserve me at all..." Mafuyu mumbles between her sobbing. "None of us think that way. We all think you're wonderful, Mafuyu." Kanade holds Mafuyu tight in her embrace, silencing her cries as they lay in bed together.
They hold that position for a long time, Mafuyu's sobbing lowering to sniffling, and then silence as she rests peacefully in the comfort of her favorite pillow, Kanade. Eventually, the two fall asleep together until Mafuyu's phone starts ringing from an alarm. Kanade, the light sleeper of the two, jolts awake and shifts slightly to reach it. Near instantly, Mafuyu whines as she holds Kanade tighter. This... might be a bit difficult.
After 5 minutes of trying to stretch her arm out, she finally reaches Mafuyu's phone. The contents on its screen almost make her jaw drop.
21:00!? We were cuddling for that long? How am I going to wake up Mafuyu when she's sleeping so adorably like this?
I guess she would probably still want to work on the song tonight, though... I'm sorry, Mafuyu.
Kanade regretfully shakes Mafuyu's shoulder to wake her up. Twice. Three times. How tired was this girl? That's probably a bit ironic, considering my sleep sched-
"Ah-!"
Mafuyu leaps up from her laying position, now sitting up as she frantically looks around before finding Kanade beside her.
"It's okay, Mafuyu. I'm here," Kanade says, as she tightens the grip on her girlfriend's hand. Mafuyu, in response, lays her head on Kanade's shoulder.
"It's time for our meeting right now. Do you still want to work, or do you want to rest?"
Mafuyu points at the computer in response, preferring to express her thoughts nonverbally.
"Are you sure?" Kanade says in response, right as Mafuyu nods her head to say yes.
"Okay. If you feel like this ever again, don't hesitate to let me know." Kanade uses her free hand to caress Mafuyu's hair, earning a light purr in response. Eventually, they get out of bed to log on.
"Your chair should be in your room," Kanade notes as she sits in her own personal (gaming? composing?) chair. Mafuyu ignores this information, deciding to sit in Kanade's lap instead.
"O-oh! Um, you can do that if you want, instead... I don't really mind..."
After a few clicks and having to readjust her posture to accomodate for a very clingy Mafuyu, Kanade joins the video call and turns on the camera. The two are instantly greeted with another lover's quarrel between Ena and Mizuki.
"I just think you're stupid, that's all."
"Ugh! You're so mean, Enaemon~"
"I already told you to stop calling me tha-" Ena's voice instantly softens when she hears the "Ping!" of Kanade and Mafuyu joining the call. "Oh hey, you guys! We were wondering if you two were going to show up."
"Pfft, Yuki's sitting on K's lap," Mizuki quietly snickers.
"Just let them have this one," Ena snaps back. "Anyway, K. Have you read the conversation we had in the chat this evening? You know, about the stupid plan Mizuki had or whatever."
"Um, yeah. I'm not really sure what a fall festival is, but I'd be willing to go if it means that I can spend time with you guys."
"Jackpot!" Mizuki yells into her mic, causing Kanade to slightly wince from the noise. "Soo, is Saturday afternoon a good time for you guys?"
"Sure, Amia." "Mhm." Rather than also agreeing, Mafuyu just nods her head.
And so the night went by, as the group quickly went back to working on their latest song.
Ena kept sketching, slightly irritable but with a hint of love to show that she cared.
Mizuki, still waiting on Ena for the required assets, lightly messed with the girl not out of malice, but just to liven the atmosphere with her... silliness.
Kanade kept comparing notes and melodies with fierce dedication, even if she struggled a bit due to Mafuyu sitting in her lap.
And Mafuyu was content.
Even if she could not show it, simply sitting here as her three girlfriends worked to create something beautiful was enough to warm her chest, even if only for a moment.
Mafuyu prayed that she could hold onto this feeling forever- or at least long enough to not cry at the fall festival because of a damn fruit.
"...fuyu? Mafuyu?"
Oh, right. I'm supposed to be working on the lyrics right now.
"Mafuyu, are you alright? You look like you're zoning out." Kanade lightly holds Mafuyu's shoulder to snap her back into reality.
"Sorry. It's nothing important, I was just distracted for a moment."
And so, Mafuyu grabbed her journal and went back to writing.