Work Text:
"Shit!" Kita saw Hitori jump in surprise at her profanity.
The two of them were on one of their usual one-on-one guitar lessons. The autumn afternoon sun bathed the small space they shared under the school stairs in a warm hue.
It took Kita a second to register the pain in her left hand.
"Kita-chan? A-are you o-okay?" As she hurriedly put her own guitar aside, Hitori had a worried expression on her face.
"Yeah… The E string snapped…" The broken string was dangling from the headstock of the Les Paul Junior. "Ryo-senpai is going to kill me…"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hitori, whose gaze was fixed on her.
"Kita-chan, your hand…" A small drop of blood had appeared on the tip of her pinky finger.
Great, just what I needed…
Hitori picked up her bag from the floor and smiled as she fished out a small box from it: a pack of band aids. She took one out, leaning over her hand with serious gesture.
Kita gasped at the sudden closeness. With skillful hands, the guitarist applied the bandage to her bleeding finger. Kita's heart skipped a beat at the touch of Hitori's calloused fingers.
"There, that ought to do it." Hitori smiled with out even looking into the vocalist eyes.
"Hitori…" Kita could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks. She covered her face as best as she could with her hands.
"Huh? Kita-chan?" Hitori asked. Between her fingers, Kita could see the puzzled look in Hitori's face.
Always the same… She is so oblivious… Kita had to work hard to calm her racing heart.
Somehow, slowly but inexorably, Gotoh Hitori had left a mark in her soul. To most, Hitori was an awkward and withdrawn girl. But to Kita, she had become the brightest star in the firmament.
After a moment struggling with her emotions, she finally looked towards the girl who, without realizing it, had stolen her heart. Kita saw Hitori examining her — actually Ryo's — blue guitar with a curious gaze.
"Kita-chan, when was the last time you changed your guitar strings?"
"Mmmm… never? It's the first time something like this happens." She followed Hitori's eyes. Her guitar strings seemed to be a little worn, and she needed to fix the one that had broken. "Should I take to the store? Maybe ask Ryo-senpai?"
"No need, I can help you with that." The guitarist had a wide grin in her face.
"Huh? But…"
"Don't worry, Kita-chan. The incident at the school festival thought me a lesson. We should take better care of our instruments." She turned to grab something from her guitar bag. "That's why I'm always prepared for these kinds of situations now." She showed Kita a bright green package with curved lettering and an eagle, and some kind of tool. "I'll change the strings for you, Kita-chan."
"Then…" Kita hesitated. Somehow, she felt guilty for having Hitori solve the problem for her. "Could you at least show me how to do it?"
"S-sure!"
They arranged a couple of the desks stored under the stairs to use as a makeshift workbench. Kita rested the guitar on them and Hitori began working on it. She started by using one end of the tool as a crank to loosen the tuners.
"The first step is to loosen all the strings one by one." She continued going through the motions until all the strings were laying against the freeboard. "Then, we cut them." One by one, Hitori clipped them.
"Normally you should take the chance to give the guitar a good cleaning," Hitori said. "Since the strings are…"
Kita stopped listening, lost in the guitarist's words… She still remembered the first time she noticed Hitori, a solitary girl running through the school hallways with a guitar case slung over her shoulder. It was right there, under the same stairs where they practiced, that she had first heard the sound of her guitar… Though something told her they had met somewhere before, in a time she couldn't recall.
Hitori got Kita back into the band, became her personal teacher, and changed Kita's life forever. Everything happened so fast, the countless hours practicing together, their audition, their first concert…
Right… That's probably when I first fell for her. She looked so cool in during that solo…
But it wasn't just Hitori being cool. Although Nijika was Kessoku Band's leader, Hitori had somehow become the group's cornerstone. Someone who, in difficult times, could overcome any obstacle and rise to the occasion, carrying the rest of the band along with her.
Before she knew it, her crush on Ryo had been replaced by an impossible devotion to the pink-haired guitarist.
The events of last month's school festival where still fresh in Kita´s mind. Back then, she vowed to become someone who could support Hitori no matter what, finally admitting to herself that what her heart felt was love.
There was no point in denying it, especially after she had sung with all her heart a love song that — at least she suspected — Hitori had written thinking about her.
I have zero evidence, but it's pretty obvious. Isn't it?
"Kita-chan?"
She had to find a way to ask Hitori about it. Maybe…
"Kita-chan?" Hitori's words finally brought her back to reality.
"Ah! Yes! What were you saying?"
"The guitar's ready, it just needs tuning." Kita had been lost in thought for several minutes while Hitori finished changing the strings. As she took the blue Les Paul from Hitori's hands, a melody coming from the loudspeakers echoed through the empty school hallways, signaling the end of the day.
"Is it already that late, huh? We should go, Hitori-chan." Today was one of those rare days where they could go directly home, no part-time work or rehearsal with the band.
"Sure, let me put away the desks and we'll go."
Kita gathered their belongings while Hitori stored the old desks and chairs back under the stairs.
"Crap!" said Hitori behind her.
Hitori clutched her right hand in pain as she squatted down. A sharp edge on the metal underside of the desk had cut her hand.
"What happened?" Kita asked, quickly approaching and kneeling beside Hitori.
She showed her hand to Kita; there was a deep cut at the tip of her little finger from which a trickle of blood was already oozing. "No wonder they keep these desks locked away, huh?"
Kita's worried gaze fell upon the hand, taking it in her own. She ran her delicate fingers over the palm, carefully examining the wounded finger.
Upon coming into contact with the redhead's skin, a shiver ran through Hitori's body. Somehow, those were becoming more and more common when she was around Kita.
Kita rummaged in the pockets of her skirt and pulled out a handkerchief. She placed it on Hitori's hand, closing the fingers around it. "Put some pressure on it. Where did you leave the pack of band aids?"
"Ah, they're in my tote bag."
"Right. Wait here, Hitori," she said with a curt nod.
Hitori followed Kita with her eyes, transfixed by her movement. Somehow, she was capable of making even the simplest motions hypnotic. Kita was their high school darling, everyone wanted a piece of her. Hitori considered herself lucky to be her friend.
Friend, huh? Something sunk in her stomach at the thought.
Soon, the cute redhead returned to her side. Kita peeled off the back of the bandage and wrapped it around her finger.
"See?" She held up her own bandaged little finger. "Now we are matching!" Kita's smile blinded her for a second.
If there was one thing Hitori appreciated, it was that Kita always took good care of her, no matter what happened. This situation reminded her of their first shift together at Starry, when Kita bandaged her hand after burning it.
"Thanks, Kita-chan." She tried to get up, but the other girl stopped her.
"Wait!" Kita reached for Hitori's hand again. "I forgot the spell!"
"S-spell?"
"Just wait, you'll feel better in no time." Kita winked at her playfully.
She put Hitori's hand in front of her face, tracing imaginary circles around it with her free hand. "Pain, pain… Go away!" She exclaimed, before gently blowing on the finger and placing a tender kiss on it.
Thump. Hitori's ribcage throbbed like a bass drum.
"Ki-Ki-Kita-chan?!?" she tried to compose herself while Kita laughed. This was definitely not good for her health. What's wrong with me?
"We should go, Hitori-chan," said Kita, handing her the bag and guitar case.
"S-sure…" Hitori tried to regain control over her legs, finally stood up.
They walked in silence through the empty hallways of the institute, Hitori's mind was racing. She couldn't stop thinking about Kita kissing her hand.
Focus, Hitori! What's wrong with you? She was only trying to make you fell better!
As they took to the schoolyard, Hitori saw Kita fidgeting with the straps of her bag. She was clearly nervous about something.
Outstanding work, Gotoh! Somehow, you've put Kita-chan in an awkward situation…
It was always the same for Hitori; her behavior put those close to her in uncomfortable situations. Meanwhile, Kita always made sure to look out for her, to make her feel comfortable in any social interaction, carrying her when she felt overwhelmed… And how did Gotoh Hitori repay that kindness? By making her feel miserable…
She shines so brightly… I don't deserve someone like her.
Once they crossed the threshold of the school grounds, Hitori looked up, seeking solace. The autumn sky was already turning purple as night fell. It was almost six o'clock, and the evening star was already shining.
"Hitori-chan! Hitori-chan! Look!" Kita almost jumped over her, pointing at the sky. "It's the evening star, just like in your love song!" In Hitori's eyes, Kita's smile shone brighter than any star.
I hope one day I'm worthy of standing by your side… Wait!
"A love song? What are you talking about, K-Kita-chan?" Hitori's eyes widened.
"Eh?" Kita's mouth fell open. "If I Could Be a Constellation, that's the one I'm talking about."
Something didn't add up, at least not to Hitori. Her? Writing a love song? Now that would be something.
"Kita-chan… That's not a love song." She made a dismissive gesture with her hand.
"But…" Kita tried to interject.
"When I wrote it I was thinking about…" Her eyes locked with Ikuyo's. A storm broke out inside her chest. Her heart pounded, caught in the whirlwind of emotions she suddenly had to contend with. Something she had never thought before escaped her lips. "You…"
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, HITORI?!?
She saw the redhead bring a hand to her mouth, her emerald eyes bulging.
For her, time stood still; her heart was probably beating at the speed of light. Something had to break, and that something was Hitori's own ego.
No way, no freaking way! Me? In love like a silly teenager? When did I become the kind of person I hate? When did this happened? When did I fall in love with Ikuyo-chan? IKUYO-CHAN? What the HELL I'm saying?!? Now I've really messed up. Falling in love with a band mate? Nijika is going to kill me… Well, maybe I'll get away with it, after all, Kita is in love with Ryo, right? I have no chance. If only…
"Hitori-chan?" Kita repeatedly asked the pink-haired girl who was convulsing in front of her, foam coming from her mouth. She let out a heavy sigh. "What a mess…"
I should have kept my big mouth shut. Of course, asking something like this was going to give her a panic attack… Mom's right, I should start thinking things through. I'm going to kill this poor girl one day if I keep bothering her with this stupid crush.
"Hitori?" she asked again. This time she took her hand, which seemed to work, because Hitori finally snapped out of her fit.
"Iku… Ikuyo-chan?" Now it was turn Kita's to suffer a heart attack.
Calling me by my first name… That's a low blow, Hitori-chan.
Kita felt the blood rushing to her cheeks. She kept looking away, trying to hide her emotions as Hitori got back on her feet. Something was struggling to get out of her chest, and she now had find a way to deal with it.
What the hell, if I've gotten this far I might as well rip the band-aid off.
"Hi… Hitori-chan! Could you listen to me? I have something to tell you…" She gathered all her strength. The moment she had dreaded for weeks had finally arrived.
"Iku.. Kita-chan?" Hitori asked. The girl was still regaining consciousness.
Kita looked up at the sky, searching for the evening star. There was no turning back now.
"I love you, Hitori!" Yeah, this is definitely going to kill her. I'm going to be branded a criminal after this.
Hitori did her best to understand the words she had just heard. Kita Ikuyo, the vocalist of Kessoku Band, the most popular girl in school, and the brightest star in the firmament, had declared her love for subhuman like herself.
I must be dreaming….
She had a lot to process. Yes, Kita loved her, but… did she deserve that love? She knew the best thing for Kita was to…
"I love you too, Kita-chan." Somehow, her words betrayed her.
NOT AGAIN!
The two remained silent for what seemed like an eternity. When Hitori finally mustered the courage to look up, she saw Kita crying.
"I'm so... happy..." Kita sobbed.
"Kita-chan?" She asked worriedly.
"Thank you, Hitori. I'm so happy I could die right now." She smiled again, brighter than any of the stars above them.
"I'm the one who should be thanking you, Ki… Ikuyo-chan." Hitori had a wide grin in her face. "Someday I hope to be worthy of being by your side."
"Don't say that!" Kita punched her in the shoulder. "I'm the one who doesn't deserve to be by your side."
After a moment of awkward silence, both girls burst out laughing.
I guess we really deserve each other, huh? Better to get my act together if this is really happening. Maybe I should ask her directly…
"Kita-chan?"
"Huh? Why are you using my last name again? Call me Ikuyo, you idiot!" She grabbed Hitori's face, pinching her cheeks. Little by little, the redhead closed the distance between their faces.
"I… Ikuyo-chan, could we take things… a little slowly?" Her face was already melting in undefined shapes.
Ikuyo laughed, she probably hadn't expected Hitori to be so pathetic. "Sure! Hitori-chan." She put her hand to her chin as if lost in thought. “How about...” She intertwined their hands together. “We start with this?”
A warm, fuzzy feeling bloomed out inside of Hitori. Something about the whole situation was soothing her.
"Hitori-chan, have you ever heard about red thread of fate?" asked Ikuyo.
The two of them began their usual walk to the train station. Under the starlight, their hands — with band aids in both of the pinky fingers — remained tightly woven.