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It isn’t often the boys invite Kotoha to go out with her.
She doesn’t mind—she has her own friends from her own school to hang out with, and she spends most of her free time working at the café. But it just so happens she ends up with a free evening the same night as some concert happening at a club on Keisei Street, and Umemiya practically begs her to come with. She doesn’t get any explanation as to why this concert is such a big deal until Tsubaki joins the conversation, explaining that the singer took a hiatus after an altercation in which she was the prize to be won.
(It leaves a sour taste in Kotoha’s mouth, the thought that she wasn’t seen as a victim but as a trophy.)
So, she agrees to join Umemiya, Tsubaki, and the others from Furin who will be in attendance. She doesn’t have much clothing suitable for a night out in Keisei Street, but she manages to make do with what she has, and borrows Tsubaki’s bright red lipstick to tie the look together.
Once at the club, they meet up with Sakura, Suo, Nirei, and the Sakaki twins. Sakura looks at her like she’s grown a second head when they first make eye contact.
“Did you not realize I can leave the café?” she teases.
“I KNEW THAT!” he shouts, in a way that makes Kotoha think he might not entirely be telling the truth. “I just…didn’t know you…wore makeup like that.” He makes an aborted gesture towards her face.
Kotoha lifts a hand, brushing her fingers against her cheek. It’s not her normal style, sure, but she didn’t think it looked bad. Does he not like it, or did he just not realize it’s possible to change up your style for fun every once in a while?
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s trying to impress someone,” Suo comments idly.
Kotoha scoffs. “Who? You? No thanks.”
“Why, Kotoha-chan, I’m wounded—!”
“I think you look nice,” Sakura declares, and then turns and walks away, dragging Nirei with him. Suo blinks in dismay at being left behind, then clicks his tongue and follows his friends. Those three can be so strange sometimes, but Kotoha feels better knowing Sakura’s reaction was likely just his typical awkwardness and unfamiliarity with how human beings act.
Tsubaki throws an arm over Kotoha’s shoulders. “I think you look adorable, Kotoha-chan!”
She frowns. “‘Adorable’ isn’t really what I was going for…”
“I’m not sure ‘adorable’ is the word I’d pick either,” Uryu comments.
“Can I say you look hot, in like, an objective way?” Seiryu tacks on.
Kotoha laughs. “Yeah, sure.”
They claim the table beside Sakura’s, chatting amongst themselves as they wait for Shizuka’s entrance. Tsubaki filled Kotoha in on her situation a bit more before they left, and each new piece of information Kotoha learned caused her heart to ache even more for the girl. She’s grateful that Shizuka has people who will fight to protect her, though honestly, Kotoha would have liked to meet her in a chiller environment than this. It would be nice if Tsubaki could bring her to the café sometime…
Her contemplation is interrupted when the lights dim, shifting hue from warm yellow to a cool blue. Kotoha looks up to the stage and finds a girl she assumes must be Shizuka take her place. Tsubaki whistles while the Sakaki twins burst into applause. Shizuka ducks her head, cheeks flushing.
She’s very pretty, especially in the flowy blue dress she’s wearing. Each minuscule movement she makes is done with the utmost grace, painting her as something ethereal. Kotoha’s breath catches in her throat just at the sight of her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she vaguely registers she must be gaping, but she’s too entranced to do anything about it.
And then Shizuka opens her mouth, and begins to sing.
Tsubaki hyped her up for most of the trip here, but Kotoha assumed it was semi-exaggerated. To them, any talent any of their friends have is truly the greatest thing in the world, so they often lack objectivity when it comes to something like music. Not that Kotoha thought Shizuka would be bad, but given that this is a venue which generally features local talent, she assumed the music would be above-average at best.
How strikingly wrong she was.
Shizuka’s voice cascades over the room like a cool wave on the warmest summer day. She commands attention effortlessly, as if her simple existence has cast a spell on everyone in her presence while she remains blissfully unaware of her allure. She puts everything she has into the song, voice raw and full of emotion—Kotoha feels her own throat closing up and her eyes watering as the melody settles deep in her soul.
This performance is, perhaps, the most beautiful thing Kotoha has ever witnessed.
She wishes she could breach the distance between herself and Shizuka—that she could link their fingers together and pull the other girl into a hug. But at the same time, the thought of touching her is as unfathomable as reaching the moon. How could one ever expect to hold a celestial being in their hands? Kotoha is merely an average high school girl, working part-time at a café. Her greatest claims to fame are the food she makes and the advice she offers to her friends.
Someone like her could never find a place amongst the stars. Not like Shizuka.
The final note rings out, fading delicately into a magnificent silence. For a moment, it is as if no one so much as dares to breathe, letting Shizuka’s song resonate within them and linger in the room.
Then, the crowd erupts into cheering.
Kotoha joins in, clapping her hands together emphatically and rising to her feet in time with Tsubaki. Shizuka deserves more than a simple standing ovation, but as that is all Kotoha can offer right now, she pours her whole heart into it.
Tsubaki nudges her playfully. “So, what’d you think?” they ask, leaning down so Kotoha can hear them over the applause still roaring.
“She’s…wow. She’s incredible!”
They throw their head back, laughing. “I figured.”
Afterwards, Shizuka makes her way to their table, and Tsubaki envelopes her in a hug, showering her with praises and affection. Kotoha watches, trying to quell the discontent bubbling in her stomach because it is completely illogical for her to be jealous right now. Tsubaki and Shizuka are literally friends, and Kotoha really doesn’t know Shizuka at all.
(She wishes she did, though. She’d love nothing more than to be as close with Shizuka as Tsubaki is.)
“Oh!” Tsubaki exclaims. “We brought a new friend for you to meet tonight!” They gesture to Kotoha, whose eyes widen at the attention. “This is Kotoha-chan! She was very impressed by your performance tonight.” They wink.
Shizuka’s face colors. Kotoha is fairly certain her own does as well.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Shizuka bows her head in Kotoha’s direction. “And thank you.”
“You have a beautiful voice,” Kotoha tells her, because honestly, Tsubaki undersold her reaction for once. “And the song—the lyrics were incredible. Tsubaki-chan said you write your own music?”
“I do, yes.” Shizuka tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. She shifts, moving closer to Kotoha. Behind her, Tsubaki winks and then turns away to talk with Umemiya. “When I first started writing, I didn’t think I’d ever get to share them with anyone. I didn’t really think I’d be brave enough to, let alone have the opportunity. But people here seem to like my music so…” She shrugs sheepishly.
“You deserve every compliment you get and more,” Kotoha insists. She might be coming on a bit strong, but she does genuinely believe what she’s saying. She hopes Shizuka can see that much, at least. “And it’s really great that you’re able to share your songs! I think everyone deserves an opportunity to do the things they love, and share that passion with other people.”
Shizuka leans forward. “So… Can I ask what it is you love?”
Somehow, that questions stops Kotoha short.
What does she love?
“I enjoy cooking,” she decides. A basic answer maybe, but she does find much enjoyment in her job. “And it’s best when I’m able to share what I make with my friends.” A good meal may not be quite as impressive as songwriting, but food is a staple of humanity. It brings people together in a way few other things can, and the best part of Kotoha’s job is always watching customers enjoy what she’s made for them.
“That’s so cool!” Shizuka gushes. “I’m not very good at cooking myself.”
Before Kotoha can think better of it, she offers, “Maybe you could ask Tsubaki-chan to bring you to the café where I work sometime?”
As soon as the words have left Kotoha’s mouth, she regrets them. She doesn’t want Shizuka to feel forced into anything, and it’s highly possible she’s wary to wander too far from Keisei Street even with Furin’s protection. Kotoha wouldn’t blame her for any lingering anxiety from her past circumstances.
But Shizuka’s eyes light up, and a grin splits her face. It’s nothing like the small, practiced smiles she wore while on stage—this one is full of unhindered enthusiasm. “That sounds fun! Do you really think they’d do that?”
The fear that spiked in Kotoha’s chest settles. While watching Shizuka sing, it was as if Kotoha found herself face-to-face with an angel. But now, when Shizuka is seated beside her and engaging in a casual conversation, it’s easy to see that she is just as human as Kotoha is.
And Kotoha finds herself even more enthralled because of it.
She nods. “I’m certain they would.”
“Then I’ll plan to visit you there soon!”
Warmth spills through Kotoha’s veins. Precious few people have walked on the surface of the moon, but it is not impossible to reach her. It does not matter if Kotoha deserves the privilege so much as it does whether or not Shizuka is willing to grant it to her.
She smiles softly. She may not shine in silver luminescence like Shizuka when she cooks, but perhaps the sunlight that filters in through the windows of Café Pothos will paint her golden.
“I look forward to it.”