Work Text:
“It's not my fault that—”
“Shut up.”
Stelle is in her room, kneeling with a box that is overflowing with video games weighing down on her legs and her arms raised. Meanwhile, March is standing in front of her with a face full of anger.
“I know you're upset, March, but at least let me explain myself.”
“Sure, I'd love to hear why you looked so happy while that girl was holding onto your arm.”
“The girl just wanted a picture because she's a fan of Fluffy Across the Blue and the stories they tell about the Trailblazers here in Planarcadia.”
“Uh-huh, that still doesn't explain why you were holding onto each other so affectionately.”
“She caught me by surprise. Just as she raised her phone for the picture, she grabbed my arm without asking.”
“Of course, I'm sure it was impossible for you to react in time or simply tell her to move away! Do you think I'm an idiot or what?!”
“She was being nice until then, I don't think she did it with bad intentions—”
“No, I've noticed how happy you were with the situation. Surely it was only because she was being nice and not because you had her clinging to you.”
“I was just smiling for the picture she was taking.”
“If any other girl comes along and grabs your arm to take a picture with you, will you let her then? Is that what you're trying to tell me?”
“N-no, not just anyone, it's just that—”
“Shut up! I refuse to listen to you anymore.”
March walks quickly towards the door with the intention of leaving the room.
“March—”
“And you'd better stay in that position for another 3 hours until you reflect!”
She leaves the room with a slam, leaving Stelle still in her punishment position, but this time alone.
“...”
. . . .
“And that's what happened.”
Five hours have passed since the argument. Stelle, still not knowing what to do, went to Himeko in the Party Car to explain the situation and seek her advice.
Himeko takes a sip of her coffee after listening to everything that happened between Stelle and March.
“Let's take this one step at a time, Stelle.”
“Yes.”
“I can understand that what happened isn't your fault, and at the same time I can understand that perhaps March has exaggerated the situation a little, but...” she takes another sip of her coffee, “I think you should both try to understand each other's perspective a little more.”
She gently stirs the coffee with a teaspoon.
“I'm sure you also understand March's perspective. She's feeling especially stressed with all the attention we've suddenly received from strangers and the number of people looking to approach all of us.”
She leaves the coffee resting on the counter.
“She undoubtedly knows how important she is to you, but the situation is overwhelming her. Seeing you smiling while holding onto another girl right when she was going to seek refuge in you... Well, it's understandable to some extent why she got so angry, even though she herself knows that the situation wasn't what it seemed.”
“You're right...”
“I understand your feelings too. There are many people in Planarcadia who admire you or see you as a role model, and you don't want to leave them with a bad impression by being rude or refusing to take pictures, am I wrong?”
“No...”
“But on the other hand, you have to take your own situation into account. If you're in a relationship, it implies, among many other things, that you trust each other, right?”
“Yes...”
“But for that, you have to make an effort to reassure her and avoid causing misunderstandings. Of course, I'm not saying that you should refuse to take pictures with fans or anything like that, it's simply something you should talk about between the two of you to understand each other's point of view and how you can proceed in the best possible way without hurting each other.”
“...”
Seeing how downcast Stelle is because of the situation, Himeko raises her hand to gently stroke her head.
“Listen, Stelle. It's normal for problems to arise when you share your life with another person, you don't have to worry so much about that.”
Stelle raises her head to look at Himeko.
“Although a small conflict occurred because you hadn't discussed this topic before, neither of you did anything wrong or irreparable. Why don't you try talking things out again?”
“But she didn't even want to listen to me...”
“I'm sure she knows that she was also wrong, despite not being able to stop herself from getting angry. Several hours have already passed, I'm sure that if you try now, you'll be able to reconcile.”
“D-do you really think so?”
Himeko smiles while placing both hands on her face.
“Of course, I promise you. When have I ever been wrong about you two?”
“Yes... You're right!”
Stelle hops off the stool, back to her usual self, and drinking in one gulp the coffee Himeko had prepared for her but which she hadn't touched until now.
“It was delicious!”
She leaves the cup on the counter.
“Thank you so much for your help, Mom!”
Just as Stelle has grown accustomed to the coffee Himeko makes, Himeko has grown accustomed to Stelle occasionally calling her Mom affectionately, so she simply lets out a laugh.
“Yes, yes, I'm glad I could help you. Don't worry, everything will turn out fine.”
She grabs her coffee again and starts drinking.
“Of course you helped me! Besides, you're the one who could give the best love advice. After all, you're the one who has been able to tame Kafka.”
As Stelle leaves the Party Car, the sound of someone spitting out their coffee can be heard, followed by a fit of coughing.
. . . .
Stelle arrives at the door of March's room and stops in front of it. After a few seconds of hesitation, she decides to gently knock on the door.
Knock, knock.
“March, it's me.”
“...”
Movement can be heard inside the room, but there is no response.
“I'd like to talk to you.”
“...”
There is still no response.
“Please...”
“...”
When she is about to give up and leave, a voice can be heard from inside.
“...The door's open.”
With a little hope, but also fear, Stelle opens the door and enters the room.
March is lying on the bed, looking towards the window and hugging her Pom-Pom plushie.
“Can I... sit on the bed?”
“...Yes.”
She carefully sits on the bed, looking at March's back.
“I... I wanted to apologize to you.”
“...”
“I kept trying to justify myself and convince you that the situation wasn’t what you thought it was, but at no point did I stop to consider how you were feeling or try to truly understand why you felt that way, so I could keep it from happening again. I’m really sorry.”
Sniff.
“I...”
Sniff, sniff.
A strange noise began to come from March.
“M-March?”
Before Stelle can approach her to check what is happening, March slowly sits up on the bed and turns around to face her.
“I... I'm sooo sorry!”
When she sees March's face, Stelle realizes that she's crying inconsolably, leaving her petrified.
“You didn't do anything wrong... You don't have to apologize. It's just that...”
She tries to wipe away her tears as best she can.
“After the incident at school with Sparxie, and seeing how much attention we've been getting, I was starting to feel a little insecure. I was afraid that you would suddenly abandon me because of everything new happening around us...”
“It would never even cross my mind to do something like that!”
Stelle hugs March tightly, stroking her head to try to calm her down.
“I know it's an irrational fear. I'm aware of everything you've shown me and how much you care about me, but... I don't know. I was afraid.”
“I'm sorry I didn't realize sooner and that I made you feel insecure.”
“Don't be sorry, it's not your fault. I simply let myself get carried away by the stress...”
“Even so, I want to apologize. I should have paid more attention to how you were feeling. I'm sorry.”
The tears gradually begin to subside.
“Stelle...”
“Yes?”
“Can we stay hugging for a little while longer, please?”
“You don't even have to ask.”
. . . .
“But we already solved this last night—”
“Shut up.”
Stelle is in her room, kneeling with a box that is overflowing with video games weighing down on her legs and her arms raised. Meanwhile, Evernight is standing in front of her with a face full of anger.
“I know you're upset, Evernight, but March and I already talked about it yesterday. We understand each other now and we're closer than ever.”
“And I'm glad to hear that, but... Do you expect me to simply let it go after you broke your promise and made her cry yesterday?”
“I'm sorry—”
“Silence.”
Stelle looks at Evernight's angry face.
“I thought everything was finally going to be okay again, but I forgot that I would also have to calm her down.”
She sighs to herself.
“Why do I feel like I'm in a loop?”