Chapter Text
The lighting was divine from this part of the city. Deep blues, almost greens, intermingling with an intoxicating purple hue that spread from one side of the skyline to the other. And the young woman could not have pictured a more perfect scene.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she shot a glance at her companion- even more radiant in the darkness, and feebly attempted to still her heart. She sighed, expectantly searching for a sign of subtle recognition- that never came. Things were evidently needing to be done the hard way.
But the woman would do it gently, just like she rehearsed, soft as a baby’s touch in the morning, personal as a family heirloom, sincere as a hound. The words wouldn’t get stuck, not this time. For this was the moment, the moment that her true feelings could finally crawl out of the shadows, and into the light.
Her fingers trembled as she brought her hands to clasp her dearest friend’s own balled fists.
“There’s something I need to-”
Clap!
“Shizuku!”
With a gasp of horror, the blue-haired girl shot up from her position on the bed, startled to see an impatient bassist pouting and looming over her frame, her hands clapping above her furiously in attempts to wake her up. The girl got off of her, allowing Shizuku to scan her surroundings. Shoji could be seen enclosing the quiet and tranquil sleeping area, a serene place that could easily be renamed a meditation area and none would know the difference. She was in her own home, her own bedroom.
It took a while to regulate her breathing, but - finally - she managed to speak. “Good morning, Shii…”
“Are you sick?” Naturally, she was not greeted in return. “You slept in for two whole hours, Shizuku. I was starting to think you were dead, or something.”
Groaning, Shizuku hauled herself off of her bed, immediately making her way to her vanity where a calendar hung. In the box marked with the current date was one singular name, marked in sparkly purple gel pen with the neatest handwriting Shizuku could muster. Her gaze lingered on it for a mere moment, almost in admiration of her one work.
“I’m just sleepy, I suppose…” Shizuku yawned, trying her best to grin authentically at her younger sister.
Since the two had finished their studies at Miyamasuzaka Girls' Academy, Shiho had reluctantly agreed to move in with her older sibling, despite how outwardly she longed for distance between them. This decision was a combination of their parents' own ambitions, who had always wanted the sisters to get their independence early, and the fact that Shizuku’s idol work brought in a much more stable income than Shiho’s indie rock band. They weren’t the most unpleasant roommates Shizuku could think of: at least Shizuku wasn’t afraid of letting the world know how much she adored her partner in crime, it just took a little more persuasion for Shiho to reciprocate that affection. The grey-haired girl stood with her arms crossed as Shizuku opened a fresh palette of blush, suspicion evident in her furrowed brow.
“You never sleep in.” Shiho murmured, deep in thought. When she was brushed aside with a curt shrug from the idol, she continued. “-And your schedule clearly mentions breakfast before makeup. Are you sure you aren’t unwell?”
Shizuku glanced down at what she was doing, and cringed as she realised how disorganised she had allowed herself to become. “Ah…”
The woman got up, quickly wiping her progress off of her face with a wet wipe before disposing of it in the bin left to her vanity. She turned to Shiho.
“You don’t need to worry about me, Shii, I just couldn’t sleep well last night.” She reassured.
And yet Shiho was not content with that answer. “Let me see your phone.”
“Huh?”
“C’mon, open your phone app.”
“Shii…”
Despite her childish groaning, Shizuku did as she was requested, allowing her sister to watch as she tried to locate the correct app with her index finger.
“No, Shizuku- The one with the phone icon on it.” The bassist sighed.
After some trial and error, the application was finally opened- and all of Shizuku’s secrets were laid out in a perfect column to unveil.
“Four calls to Asahina!” Shiho remarked. “All well past midnight!”
“Well, what other time am I meant to contact her?” Shizuku pathetically attempted to defend herself, though guilt tingled up and down her spine.
Her sister grumbled. “Seriously, onee-chan, just because she stays up to ungodly hours doesn’t mean you should! Why were you calling her anyway?”
“We were just talking!”
“For five hours and twentyseven minutes?!”
“Well, she fell asleep and-”
“Then that’s your cue to hang up, Shizuku!”
“I didn’t know how to!”
“That I believe.”
Their bickering was interrupted by a knock at the door, immediately Shiho took on a new persona, exhaling all of her anger in a brisk breath and avoiding the curious gaze of her older sister.
“Who’s that?” She asked, innocence sparkling in her eyes.
Shiho glanced away. “Ichika…”
A smug smile switched the dynamic of perpetrator and accuser between them.
“I’m guessing you need me gone then?”
“No, we’re just…practicing…” Shiho attempted to deflect, despite the various conversations that Shizuku had overheard between her younger sister and Honami mere months ago.
“Without the rest of your band?”
“It’s nothing, don’t read into it.”
“Oh, I’m not reading into anything that isn’t already open-”
“Just don’t disturb us, okay? We’re going for ice cream later and I don’t need you tagging along again.”
The memory of the last time Ichika was over alone was actually pretty amusing. After relentless begging, Shizuku third-wheeled them on a simple shopping trip. The idol had spent so much time chatting with the dark-haired guitarist that Shiho herself had gotten jealous, and it caused much more hassle trying to get her out of that mood than the teasing was ever worth. Shiho quickly checked her own reflection in her sister’s mirror, something she didn’t do frequently, before darting to the door.
“You’ll be going out with Asahina tonight, right?” Shiho asked. Shizuku nodded in response. “Just don’t get too drunk, ‘kay? Some of us want to have nights out too without being on taxi duty.”
“You’re going for ice cream at night?”
“Shut up.”
❅───────────❅•°•°•❅───────────❅
Shizuku Hinomori perhaps wasn’t the most logical person she knew. While the girl’s grades were decent back in her high school days, she was known to be aloof at times, perhaps a little dense or lacking common sense.
But even she knew there was nothing logical about falling for someone you could never have.
Of course, as a successful idol and student, Shizuku had gathered many friends, companions, even potential partners throughout the years. But none could ever compete with Mafuyu Asahina. The two had met during their school years: they were both active members of the archery club, shared lunch times together, they even helped each other out with trivial matters- such as directions or studying advice. Sure, that last part was weighted to Mafuyu, but that didn't mean that the quiet and polite girl did not enjoy Shizuku’s company. It took a while for the two to fully warm up to each other, but despite the fear that finishing school would distance them - It had only made them closer.
Mafuyu was a busy and dedicated student, spending most of her time applying herself to her studies to finally get into her dream school of medicine - A school that had shattered her world when she received the first rejection. Meanwhile, Shizuku was coping with idol work, putting in each waking hour into her appearance and facade for the fans that adored her. Yet while these schedules could have become a challenge, the duo managed to evade them, keeping on top of their timetables to work out days they were available to go out together- or at least times to give the other a call.
For Shizuku, it was hard to differentiate where the line between admiration and adoration began, or where it had at least blurred.
It had come as a bit of a shock, to say the least, seeing as most of the idol’s friends were primarily women: Minori, Haruka, Airi… they were all women, as far as Shizuku was concerned anyway, and yet these strange feelings never seemed to come to light when she was with them. It was always Asahina, and Asahina alone, that was her weakness: Unusual flutterings within her heart, a needy sense to check in with her daily, a sense of uneasiness around her.
She only was able to identify those feelings specifically through Shiho, one quiet day when they both still attended high school, when her younger sister was standing in front of her- eyes watering, hands clasped and shaking.
“I haven’t told mom and dad yet.” Shiho admitted. “I just thought you should know.”
“Is that…really something you can feel?” Shizuku had asked, an arm around her sister’s shoulder- who was now starting to calm down from her previous crying. Her curiosity was only curiosity, as nothing Shiho could ever admit to Shizuku would ever change her good opinion of her- Shiho would have her full support, no matter how confusing the things she told her older sister were.
“It’s something I’m always going to feel.” Shiho answered back, shakingly, though that wasn’t exactly what Shizuku had meant by ‘you’.
The night had ended in an embrace, a promise to always aid each other, through thick and thin. Yet, it was also an eye opening experience. As though Shiho’s own vulnerability had indirectly torn back the blindfold Shizuku herself was wearing.
Her own experience with Mafuyu wasn’t simply a platonic admiration of her character, or a sense of intimidation that came with her own need to impress her. It was something a lot more exclusive, something darker. And as much as she would have liked it to be, the realisation wasn’t pretty, nor was it exciting.
Shizuku Hinomori was in love with Mafuyu Asahina.
She just had to keep on masking it.
❅───────────❅•°•°•❅───────────❅
They met in a small clothes shop near Shibuya Scramble Crossing, just before the rush hour. It took a while to locate Mafuyu’s dark, purple hair among the high racks of disorganized clothes- but once Shizuku had nodded a greeting to the doorman, and spotted the young woman with her dull eyes fixed to her phone, she couldn’t help but rush over. Almost tripping over the small pile of shoe boxes as she passed, she stumbled in front of the girl- regaining her composure by the time she was face-to-face with her.
“Mafuyu!” She called, loud enough that if she had done so earlier at the doors, her excitement would have still been heard throughout the entire shop. “Hi!”
Mafuyu glanced up, and - goodness - Shizuku would never grow tired of seeing her blank face soften when they faced each other, as Mafuyu offered her a smile. “Shizuku.”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d already be here,” The blue-haired girl beamed, covering her shyness with a false sense of confidence. “You didn’t respond to my texts.”
A small chuckle managed to evade the younger girl, and it was a rare sound indeed. That only made Shizuku prouder that it had been her to wring it out. “In my defence, I was too busy deciphering them to reply.”
She turned her phone towards her, an inexpensive brand, adorned with a plain purple phone case that Shizuku had bought her once her older case had grown dirty.
Shizuku pouted. “Texting is hard.”
“The closest I managed to gather was three…so I came at three.”
The idol chuckled in response at her serious demeanor. It seemed as though Mafuyu would really analyse everything, including Shizuku's awful auto correct mishaps.
“So smart.” She remarked, absentmindedly, instantaneously regretting her utterings. “Anyways! Have you looked around yet? Anything you like?”
Mafuyu hummed tediously. “To be honest, I haven't even begun to look. I… still don't really get clothes shopping, I think.”
“What's not to get?” Shizuku asked, turning to a rack close by to rummage through them. This one was full of knitted jumpers of various colours and patterns, some fitted to the body- and others slightly baggier. “You pick out the colours and styles you like. It's easy!”
Glancing aside, her best friend stiffened. “I don't know what I like.”
She was interrupted by Shizuku’s gasping as she saw a jumper with a twist cable pattern, made entirely from a gorgeous light blue wool that she found adorable. She held it up, a little too eagerly, against Mafuyu’s body.
“How about this one? This seems totally your style! And it's your size!” She could hardly stop herself from fawning over it. “Oh, it's perfect!”
However, Mafuyu didn't seem as pleased- and looked at it skeptically before answering, “I don't think my mother would like it. It's too tight.”
“Ah.” Shizuku huffed, though her hands were unable to place the pretty jumper back. “Do you like it?”
“How exactly would I know that?”
“Here, I'll show you.”
After a few more peeks around the shop, she led the woman by hand to the fitting rooms at the very far corner of the shop. They had walked hand-in-hand before, of course, Shizuku was naturally affectionate as a person anyhow. Yet as the years passed between them, the older girl was having to put more and more effort into composing herself whenever her palm pressed against Mafuyu’s. Her hands were simply too soft, a stark contrast to her bitten nails. Shizuku was convinced that if she could hold her hand forever, she would never feel lonely again. But, of course, she knew the time had come to release her grip the moment they reached their destination- and a shameful part of her was crestfallen by the way Mafuyu’s hand instantly dropped and returned to grip her left arm, instead of lingering that split second longer that would have pleased the idol immensely.
No matter the circumstance, Mafuyu would always be the one to let go. Shizuku would simply pull her along.
Smiling, Shizuku held a finger up to the attendant in front of the changing room. A tired, overworked woman who had already handed Mafuyu a placecard before Shizuku could finish, “Just the one.”
“Shizuku, I don’t even know if-”
“Just pull it over your shirt! Then come out and show me. I promise you it’ll look cute.” Shizuku grinned, as her friend sighed and dragged her feet to an empty changing room.
It felt like an eternity before Mafuyu finally emerged from the changing room. Almost in a shy manner, she readjusted the hem of the jumper a few times before meeting Shizuku’s gaze. It fit her figure perfectly, the collar from her crisp white shirt sticking out of the very top. The colour matched her violet eyes, and - even in this clinical bright light - it looked flawless.
“What do you think?” Mafuyu asked, hesitantly.
It was a simple jumper. It didn’t add much to the overall outfit, really. The only thing it did was make the plain, formal attire of white shirt and black skirt look the slightest bit more casual. And yet, Shizuku was speechless. “It looks gorgeous on you.”
She meant to shout it, say it with utmost enthusiasm, and yet it came out weaker and more sincere than the idol was comfortable with. Curse this pathetic longing.
The younger girl shifted, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror, lips curving into a tiny, bitter smile. “I quite like it too.”
“Then buy it!”
“I’m still not sure about that.”
“Fine,” Shizuku shrugged, taking a stride towards her. “Let me buy it.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Aww, c’mon!” Shizuku whined. “I’ve been paid, I’m feeling generous and you’ve been working so hard recently. Just let me treat you.”
It took a moment for Mafuyu to accept her proposal, but ultimately - and to her friend’s delight - she nodded. “Alright.”
❅───────────❅•°•°•❅───────────❅
The jumper remained in the plastic shopping bag for the remainder of the day. A bright white - almost translucent - bag, with a stock image smiling emoji plastered in the middle. The words “Thank You” and “Have A Nice Day!” surrounded the wide-eyed yellow face, drawing all attention away from the purchased jumper. Admittedly, it had disappointed Shizuku.
After all, it really did suit Mafuyu splendidly. She was hoping she would just throw it on top of her shirt and wear it around Shibuya for the day, and still, it stayed in an unappealing bag by Mafuyu’s side. It didn’t matter, it had made Shizuku happy to at least buy Mafuyu something on their day out- It was her choice whether she wore it out or not.
Still, it had perplexed Shizuku that Mafuyu hadn’t even considered pulling it over her when nighttime finally rolled around, and the breeze became intolerable.
It was around nine o’clock at night, and the two were busy finishing their dinner at a restaurant that Shizuku had heard of during a photoshoot, a supposed “viral” sensation. Though the restaurant did not look particularly fancy, it had a rather homely feel to it. The lights were warm, like glows of candlelight as opposed to LEDs, and the kitchen was completely open. It reminded Shizuku of the days where she would watch her mother cook for her: chopping vegetables, stirring the pot, letting her daughter lick the spoon when the dinner was fully prepared. This made the atmosphere of the eatery particularly domestic, and Shizuku was starting to see the appeal of the place. The yuba she had eaten was particularly delicious, and fairly lightweight as well, which fit in well with her new diet. Mafuyu had finished her meal as well, a bowl of ramen that looked fairly bland in taste, though Mafuyu didn’t seem to mind too much. As Shizuku could recall, no amount of flavour could particularly stand out to her companion. Sweetness, spice, even sour foods all seemed fairly bland to Mafuyu- she never seemed to fully appreciate any meal she was given.
The bill arrived, and the idol had to push Mafuyu’s hand away from checking the total of the meal.
“I’ve been paid, remember?”
Mafuyu sighed, her tone firm. “Shizuku.”
“It’s on me, I insist!”
“Hinomori.” Oh, she was serious. “It doesn’t make me feel good about myself if I constantly leech off your money. You’ve bought me enough.”
“Well you’re the one who’ll soon be paying off student accommodation,” Shizuku reasoned in response. “You need to save anyway.”
The blue-haired girl tried her best to let her words distract from her widening eyes upon seeing the price listed on the bill. This restaurant really had taken advantage of their views on social media, huh?
The other woman groaned, obviously uncomfortable with the memory of her studies. She had already been rejected once, who was to say she would not fail again? She had often come to Shizuku with her worries regarding academic situations. She had done everything she was supposed to, attained high grades in every domain where it was necessary. And yet, it still wasn’t enough. She had to continue pushing herself further, if she was serious about this job.
“I promise I’ll pay you back,” Mafuyu mumbled. “When I become a doctor, and work a stable job.”
“Sure you– Hey, what are you suggesting about my job?”
The introverted woman chuckled, and got up out of her seat as Shizuku laid down the notes on the table, carrying the clear bag with her as she ascended. “Nothing at all.”
“I tell you what, Asahina…” She smirked, matching her pace as they both walked towards the door. “If you want to buy me something, you can buy me a drink.”
“Tonight?”
She nodded. “The night is still young.”
“And does Shiho know you’ll be drinking?”
The woman made a noise of indignation. “C’mon, we’re not kids anymore. Besides, Shii’s occupied with her own plans. I’ll just take the train home.”
Mafuyu looked unsure, but her legs led her in the direction of the bar anyhow. “Alright…”
❅───────────❅•°•°•❅───────────❅
Glasses piled up into a pyramid as another round was ordered. The sound of beverages being clinked together could just be heard above the chattering of the crowds around them. It was now around eleven pm, give or take, though the clock above the bar looked blurry from Shizuku’s perspective.
Maybe they had gotten a little carried away, as the shot glasses seemed to have multiplied minute after minute- and then, somehow, blended into one all at once. Mafuyu seemed to be composed at least, as she stared down into her own drink of Jamaica Rum- the pungent, bold liquor seeming to do nothing to her psyche at all. Shizuku couldn’t say the same. She felt incredible. It had been a fair while since she had drank seriously, and even then the most she indulged in were light alcohols. And yet, now, she had felt even more of an urge to take her edge off. Perhaps it was because it was Mafuyu who made her nervous anyhow, but after a few glasses of whiskey - notably, a drink Shizuku did not even enjoy - she was pleased to say she had regained her confidence a bit, even if the lights were spinning as she attempted to listen to Mafuyu.
Surprisingly, it was the aspiring medical student who was doing most of the talking. Very unnatural, considering how energetic the idol was.
Mafuyu looked exhausted, though she still managed to smile at her glass, taking careful, deliberate sips so as to pace herself. Shizuku took another swig of Johnny Walker, and found herself slumping into her seat. Posture uneven, her left elbow propped on the sticky countertop, just managing to hold her heavy head up with her hand.
“I think I’ll manage to pass them this year.” She could hear the words topple out of Mafuyu’s mouth, though she admittedly had not been paying her full attention to them. They would flutter into one ear, only to crash and die before they could reach her intoxicated mind. “I’m exhausted, but I just want to make my mother happy, I suppose-”
“–Do you always have your hair like that?” Shizuku slurred, feeling a pang of guilt as she completely interrupted her friend.
“...Sorry?”
“Jus’,” She hiccuped. “You have it straightened, mainly. But it’s all wavier today.”
To demonstrate this, she raised her hands and made a swirling motion as she gave her last sentence, like the waves of the sea- only a lot more juvenile.
It seemed as though the change of topic wasn’t taken as an offence, as Mafuyu glanced away, her fingers instinctively raising to her hair. “Oh, yes. Just thought I’d style it differently for tonight.”
“It’s pretty.”
“...Thank you.” Despite Shizuku’s staring, their eyes did not dare meet. “I like your hair just now too. Shorter.”
After a brief silence, Shizuku laughed - a little louder than what was preferable - as many of the sober couples around them seemed to scoot away from the duo and their drinks following the noise that evaded her. “You should tell that to our manager. He wants me to make a formal apology for it…”
Mafuyu frowned. “Did you not cut it for charity?”
She responded with a hum. “But the fans liked it longer. I miss Ayaka, she wouldn’t have cared what I did with it.”
“Ah. Saito…” Mafuyu looked askance, lost in the memory of someone she had only ever heard of, though her face crumpled slightly when saying her name, almost as though she were envious. “She did seem like a good manager.”
“Yeah.” She took another chug of the burning liquid in front of her, pausing to ask for another drink. This was a purchase that was surely going to hurt later, but Shizuku was too far gone. She didn’t enjoy the way Asahina made her feel, really, having this new boldness certainly made her feel better about herself, and she could not help but long for a time where she could behave like this in front of Mafuyu without any drinks. For now, however, this would simply have to do.
“You're always pretty, y’know. Even when you’re straight.”
Mafuyu didn’t respond.
Shizuku’s brow furrowed, and she took her new glass from the barman, who was starting to look as though he was concerned by her current state. “Your hair is straight, I mean. Even when your hair is–”
“I know what you meant.” Mafuyu smiled sympathetically.
“Right, right…” Her zipper hung from her shoulders pathetically, as though someone else had draped it there. Really, it was all the uncomfortable shifting from the increasing heat of the room that was causing it to fall off. Someone had ought to turn the radiators off entirely, the way they were causing the room to exceed in stuffiness.
“I think you’re drunk.” Mafuyu laughed. “Complimenting me like that, like it’s nothing...”
“You deserve to be complimented, Mafuyu.” Shizuku smiled, leaning into her palm once again. "I wouldn't lie to you."
Perhaps it was the lighting, but Shizuku could swear she flushed at the comment. “No, no. I just mean–”
As she spoke, Shizuku lost her train of thought once more.
Mafuyu really was beautiful, wasn't she?
Even when she had been out for an age, and the wind had ruffled her hair. Even when her shirt was creased, and the bags under her eyes ran deep. Despite everything, despite anything, she was beautiful.
The idol's own breath was fogging her glasses now, growing steadily heavier as she glanced at Mafuyu's face, steadily heading down from her fixed dark eyes, past her flushed cheeks, down to her mouth- which was moving delicately as she rambled about goodness knew what. How was it that Shizuku could work alongside models and idols every day, and yet still find a simple medicine student to be so enchanting? She must have found herself in a corrupt universe, where real beauty was overlooked by the masses. For how could everyone be so blind to this young woman in front of her? How stupid must the world be to not stop if it were her wishing it to?
Mafuyu had opened up to her a few times about her mother: Her expectations, her criticisms and concerns. All of those things were worthless in the other woman's eyes, Mafuyu was perfect the way she was, it was clear her mother simply did not appreciate what she had.
It was the more that Shizuku paid attention to that specific area of her face - her two parted lips - that her mind started to slow, and she could feel her gaze soften.
Mafuyu was smiling.
Genuinely smiling.
And the more Shizuku thought of it, the more she knew it was only a select few that saw her so naturally pleased.
She was one of the few to see the real Mafuyu.
And that thought drove her insane.
She didn't even realise her hands were raising until she cupped her face, and tilted her head towards her.
She shouldn't have continued. All these years of silence, broken by one impulsive act. She should have stopped when she saw the indescribable emotion on the face of her best friend: a mix of fear and longing.
Too far gone.
She was just too far gone.
“Mafuyu…” She murmured, closer to her face now.
Even if the girl didn't answer to her own name, she didn't pull away. Her own muscles eased, drawing their faces closer together. Shizuku could feel the softness of her skin under her hand, her heated breath against her bottom lip- filling both of them with a painful anticipation, both unsure of how exactly to break it.
Seconds became hours, every inch of Shizuku's body was screaming at her to stop- to keep holding on to feelings that were just that: feelings.
She had been strong enough to hold back this long, after all.
Yet in this drunken state, a strong-willed woman was vulnerable against her weakness.
Shizuku came closer still.
She bit the apple. Took the temptation.
Then, their lips connected.
Electricity soared through Shizuku's heart as Mafuyu reciprocated the action. She felt the very air leave her lungs, exchanging it violently with Asahina’s. Adjusting herself to stay interlocked, like two holding hands or braided strands of hair. Shizuku's own fingers firmly kept Mafuyu's head in place as they both deepened what was originally a small brush, as Mafuyu ran her own hands through her short, blue hair- unafraid to ruffle it and mess it up entirely.
It was almost exactly as Shizuku had pictured it, countless times before, if not for the taste of spirits and drink that drew them together. It felt right, as though this was the way they were always meant to be, Mafuyu’s arms dragging her neck towards her- their bodies so close together. Her lips were soft, if not glossed by drink. It was an unspoken declaration, an action fueled by years of patience and uncertainty- a desperate, desperate act.
An act that failed to keep them connected for much longer.
All of a sudden, the reciprocation stopped- and a hand shoved Shizuku away from Mafuyu suddenly. The idol recoiled, but then paused as she realised who exactly it was dragging her so far away from the one she had been so eager to keep.
Her vision stilled, and she made out Mafuyu's face. The two arms that were dragging down the other girl’s neck were raised to cover her own mouth, and her eyes were wide with shock and… regret. Shizuku hoped that wasn't the case.
The pair stared at each other for a moment, and the pure untamed energy of their desire faded into one of ineptitude, before Mafuyu suddenly got up from her chair.
“I should get going.” Her voice came out breathless, still recovering from the incident, no doubt.
“Mafuyu, wait!”
She practically chased her to the door, clumsily attempting to avoid the pools of spilt drink on the floor, while stumbling over the legs of drunkards that stuck out from beneath the tables of the establishment.
Shizuku was still running off the adrenaline from the kiss, though her actions were also now fueled by a soul stirring fear. She managed to grab the wrist of the woman before she disappeared into the crowd of salarymen and office workers, rushing for the train home. However, ultimately, Mafuyu managed to slap her hand away and run off into the herd.
Just before she could let go, Shizuku could have sworn her eyes were dripping- though her vision was not well enough to confirm if they were tears or not.
The idol didn't chase further, instead she watched her head of purple hair mingle within the sea of a crowd before her. She stood shellshocked, with the most deep seated guilt lying dormant in the pit of her stomach.
She let go of a breath she had no idea she was holding, and ambled weakly back to their seats to gather her things. She attempted to call Shiho, and was met with an automated voice note that left her entirely isolated once more. Throwing on her zipper, and bringing the zip to the very highest it could reach, Shizuku noticed something left beside Mafuyu's chair.
It was the clear shopping bag, with the blue jumper still folded neatly within it. Warily, the woman picked it up, and held it to her own body. Her fingers grazed the wool from inside the bag, and the recent memory of Mafuyu's fragile skin under them compelled her to let go- replacing the emptiness with even more dread and unease.
She was in so much trouble.