Work Text:
"Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for."
- Seamus Heaney
If you asked Airi what hope is, she would chuckle in your face, and tell you the texbook definition of it. She knows it by heart after all, it became her religion at some point of her life she couldn't remember. However, back in her mind, something else will appear, a fluid meaning of hope that changes every second she is standing on this blue rock of the universe.
Airi could tell you every time she felt Hope, and which times were the strongest. The first time she saw an idol performing on TV, the first time she performed as an idol herself, that time when she met a rookie idol who would soon change her life. She could remember all of it. The Hope tying her to the universe. The Hope that served as fuel for her dream.
There was also today, a normal day at Miyamasuzaka's rooftop, sitting in front of a quiet sunset like one would sit in front of a screen at a theater. She wasn't alone though, next to her was her own definition of hope, blue illuminated by the sun rays. Shizuku was sitting close to her, watching silently the sunset too.
Airi turns her head towards her companion, and she smiles gently, her heart beating thanks to the Hope.
Shizuku is the one who…
Airi turns her head back to look at the sunset again. The peace she felt was indescribable. She thinks back to her trainee days, when this peace was something rare to be cherished when it occurred. She was glad that the Hope lacing her heart was fierce and glowing under skin at that time too, because how else would she be alive right now. She had nothing, and yet, here she is now.
Airi is glad for the sun to set and rise everyday. She is glad to be alive right now, seeing it with her own eyes.
Hope was everywhere to be found, could be seen everywhere, in the gentle breeze in the morning, to the light and gentle blue eyes gazing at her when she wasn't being attentive. It was there when she ate breakfast with her family the morning, and there when she was dancing with her best friends too. On her body, on every wound and scratches, hope was there, because hope comes from a broken heart first. Hope comes from a place of hopelessness in the first place.
Everything would be okay and turn out well, that was what would everyone answer when you asked what hope was.
But to Airi, hope was like the sunset in front of her, because even if it disappeared, it'll come back in full force. Tomorrow will be better, and if won't be, then Airi will say it again, and again, because the sun will rise again tomorrow, and the Hope will still remain.
Shizuku was the one that made Airi aware of the Hope in her heart. Airi was fully convinced that if Shizuku wasn't here, sharing her dream with her, Airi would've just drowned in utter chaos. But Shizuku, Hope, made her stand up, dream, and keep moving forward. Because hope was everywhere.
Every time Shizuku declared that Airi brought her Hope, Airi would just answer "i know", with a gentle smile, because the stars were the same as five thousand years ago, and the sun would rise and set tomorrow, and Shizuku and Airi were tied by hope.
Shizuku breaks the silence first, but the sun will still rise and set tomorrow too.
"Airi-chan… i'm glad, you know ? To be able to stand with you after all this." Shizuku whispered, eyes still on the gloaming in front of them. Few days ago, their life turned upside down. Shizuku left Cheerful Days, and Airi accepted to be idols again, together. They formed More More Jump! with Minori and Haruka, and now, they could give the Hope that was overflowing their bodies.
Airi giggled, and answered like usual.
"I know." A pause. "Shizuku, you're very strong, you know." She continued, taking a look at her partner.
"I'm still sorry, about what i said."
"No need to apologize, Airi-chan."
Airi looks at her, with an expression of surpise mixed with regret. She nods with a melancholic smile.
"Airi-chan, hope isn't a stagnant thing. You gave it to me, and it is changing in my body, and i hope i'll give you some one day." Shizuku said, still facing the horizon.
Oh but she already did, Airi thinks. The moment they met, everytime they practiced together, every moment they spent together. Hope was there, like the sunset. Their relationship was founded on hope itself, not expectations nor talent.
"Hope…" Airi moves her hand closer to Shizuku's and laces their fingers together, just like hope lacing it's threads to their universe.
Airi thinks again, and is met with a realization. The reason the sun is drowning in the sky, the reason she dances on stage, the reason her determination never falters, the reason why she decided to stay, it was all woven together by Love. Shizuku, and the sun, and everything in between, are all tied together by the love of the Universe, hope.
Airi sighs, and is happy to love.
The answer of the universe to all her questions will always be love, because why wouldn't it ?
If you asked Airi how she would define Hope, she'll probably tell you a textbook definition at first, but then, after few seconds, she'll just giggle and point her finger to the sunset.
Airi turns her head towards Shizuku and seals their lips. It feels so good, and Airi is so fucking happy.
She moves back and gives a toothy grin to Shizuku, who's so pretty and glowing like the sunset.
"Let's keep giving hope to everyone, Shizuku !" She says.
Airi doesn't let Shizuku answer, because she just dives back in, kissing Shizuku again. Just like the sun who will rise again tomorrow.