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Miku Mahashi's Sunday used to start like any other day. She wakes up, she prepares for whatever is scheduled on her phone, and keeps on that ever-present smile in front of the whole world. It was unchanging, only interrupted by the whims of her Mother who clings to her new family while forgetting everything that her own daughter has ever done for her.
But things have changed and Miku Mahashi's Sunday now starts a little differently.
She opens her eyes to a room still bathed in the darkness of her closed curtains. Beside her, her phone (charged to full) buzzed incessantly with the reminder that she's due to wake now and make herself presentable for the day.
And yet, deep down, Miku feels a little unsettled. Her eyes remain on the ceiling, unblinking, wondering what was wrong with today.
'... How odd,' she thinks to herself. 'I actually woke up without anyone barging in first thing in the morning.'
She turns to her phone, grasping it and unlocking it — she stops and stares at the notification at the top.
[It's your Birthday today! Celebrate your birthd...]
It was a notification from one of her many auxiliary apps, and yet it seemed to answer all the questions that had built up within her the moment she opened her eyes to a quiet room.
The memories from last night come rushing back — of a chaotic midnight party full of laughter and joy, with unfinished decorations strewn about in the living room and presents that the family had given to her and are now safely stored inside her own room.
Unconsciously, a smile grows on Miku's face.
They're all ridiculous. They had tried to put up decorations in secret, planning to celebrate her birthday first thing in the morning and yet they couldn't even keep their voices down. She caught them by surprise, ruining their plans and yet—
“Ah...” she covers her face. “Miku Mahashi, you're really hopeless,” she says to herself with a giggle.
After taking a moment to calm herself down, she turns her attention back to her phone and begins the process of dealing with her notifications — replying to messages that she had failed to reply to and catching up with any other news that she might have missed.
Having finished all of that, she stares a little longer at her screen.
There were no messages from her Mother.
All the joy she's been feeling from remembering last night leaves her, replaced by a sudden emptiness in her chest.
She didn't feel like leaving the bed anymore.
She heaves out a sigh.
It's not like she can do anything about it. She's not a child wanting attention, she has no intention of reminding her mother — she can't even bring herself to talk to her unless she can't avoid it anyways. She leaves it at that.
It's just a shame that it soured her mood on such a special day.
Collecting herself, Miku stands up and begins the process of preparing for the day.
“Hey.”
The sound of rushing water and plates bumping into another initially filled the silence between them, now broken by a singular word from Raika who was helping her wash the dishes.
“What is it?” Miku says to her.
Breakfast was, as always, lively. Chieri and Raika never stopped their bickering, fighting over who gets the last bit of food. Shizuku ate her plate in silence, once in a while turning to look at Miku with some questions to say. Yomogi — well, Yomogi, at the very least, didn't fall right back to sleep before finishing her own breakfast. She had been dragged unceremoniously by the self-appointed head of the family to join them at the table despite having stayed up so late.
Considering the special day, there really were a lot more plates to clean than usual. That's why Miku had offered to help Raika deal with them, shutting down any and every attempt of her... Family to get her to stay hands off for today's round of chores because of her status as the birthday girl.
“You alright?” Raika says after much deliberation, careful with her words.
“...?” Miku furrows her brows. “Why wouldn't I be?”
“I dunno. It's just... I noticed you looked a bit off during breakfast. So...” Raika trails off with that.
Miku freezes.
For all of Raika's shortcomings, she is someone who places so much importance on her family to the point that she can notice even the smallest changes in them.
It was a trait that sometimes, Miku wished she did not have.
Subconsciously, Miku touches her ear. “I'm alright, perhaps you've seen wrongly.”
“You'd be much more convincing if you weren't lying to me, Miku.”
The hand holding her ear stiffens and she lowers it guiltily. She sighs, giving Raika a soft smile. “It's really nothing to worry about.”
Silence descends between them again, the sounds of rushing water ringing even louder in Miku's ears.
It left her a little uncomfortable, becoming unsure if she's even doing the right thing. She didn't want to become a burden but at the same time, over-sharing wasn't really something she wanted to get in the habit of — this silly family of hers had already seen her with all her vulnerabilities displayed and that wasn't even that long ago.
And yet, it felt wrong to let this conversation die here. It was too awkward, an atmosphere so unsuitable especially when it involved that stupidly bright and lively Suga Raika.
“Raika, I—”
“It's your birthday, Miku.” Raika tilts her head towards her and when Miku looks closely, there is no trace of grievances in her eyes. As if she really wasn't bothered by Miku's half-hearted attempt to hide away from her. “We can't leave you feeling down, y'know? It's supposed to be a day full of celebrations but well, I guess we can't have that 'cuz everyone is busy but! At least, we can't let you stay sad for too long.”
With her hand still full of bubbling soap, Raika poked Miku on the nose, leaving behind a white foamy spot on it.
“Oh—” Raika blinks, belatedly realizing what she had just done to Miku. “Oops. Oh no, I didn't mean that to happen. Sorry, let me wipe it off you—”
Before she could even get a towel, she was stopped on her tracks by the giggles spilling from Miku's lips. Raika stares dumbly at her, mouth slightly agape.
“Wait. I don't think I even said anything funny—”
She really didn't. To begin with, it's not like that's what was causing Miku to laugh.
It was the realization that somewhere along the way, sometime during the time they had spent together as one family, Raika had already somehow managed to bruteforce her way past the high walls she had built around herself.
Had it been the past Miku, she's certain that she would have shut down the conversation before it even steered towards her.
And now, here she is, worrying so much about leaving this conversation as is, only for Raika to turn around and show her none of the things she has long learned to be afraid of thanks to her Mother.
Miku brushes off the foam on her nose, shaking her head with a defeated smile. “And if I don't tell you what was bothering me, what will you do?”
It was meant to be teasing, purposely said to put Raika on the spot.
And put her on the spot, it did. Raika shifts her body uncomfortably and now, it seems as if Miku can see the gears in her head twisting and turning until they start overheating.
“Pfft—” And, inevitably, laughter once more escapes Miku. “Haha!”
“D-Don't laugh!” Raika whines, immediately catching on that Miku was finding her difficulty completely entertaining. “Wahh, you're not even giving me time to think properly, hold on a sec'—” she complains.
And then a glint appears in her eyes that made Miku quickly try to regain her composure.
“W-Wait, Raika—” still breathless from laughing, Miku becomes flustered when Raika started to encroach her personal space.
“Don't you dare—”
“—It can't be helped, this is the only solution after all!—”
“—Raika, I swear—”
“—This is the power of family. Tickle attack!”
Miku abandons post, dodging one of Raika's lunges while still laughing. With her face still flushed, she placed distance between her and Raika using the table. “Stop, stop, you—” animal!
It didn't deter the grin growing even larger on Raika's face, her hands still hovering as if a threat. “Hehe~ Don't think you can run away from me forever, Miku~"
“I will throw this bowl at you!”
“That's not made of glass, it's not going to be enough to stop me, Miku~”
Thankfully, before the fight could even escalate, Chieri skids to a stop by the door.
She blankly stares at the two of them and seconds pass in utter silence.
“What the heck are you two even doing!?” She bursts out, looking around to find the place that should have been cleaned out long ago still full of things to do. “What kind of subordinates takes this long to do their chores? Chieri is very disappointed!”
Panicked, Raika hides her hands behind her back. She doesn't notice Miku heaving a sigh of relief and walking past her to go back to the sink. “Hang on! We can get this done in a minute, don't worry!”
Meanwhile, behind Raika, Miku stares at the basin of water that has gone cold. She thoughtfully stares at it, and then at her hand, and then glances to the girl behind her.
“I will clean this whole thing up, you can leave it to me.” Raika proudly says, flexing an arm as if it will help her prove her point.
Chieri glares at her before huffing. “Well, you better. Chieri can't have subordinates that can't even do their jobs right. That'd reflect terribly on the Union, okay!?”
“Yosh, yosh!” Raika salutes, unaware that danger is right behind her at the moment. “You can leave without worry now, Leader! I, your loyal subordinate will—Ack!”
She jumps while letting out a shriek, having felt a pair of cold hands like the deepest winter wrap around her exposed waist.
Miku lifts her chin at the spooked girl, asserting her dominance over Raika before turning back to her chores with a satisfied hum and her hips even swaying as she did so.
And Raika is left staring at Miku's back with the most pitiful and wronged expression on her face.
Miku doesn't even need to turn to see it, she can already imagine Raika's devastated face at being betrayed just like that — her weakness having been grasped so easily by her ally-turned-traitor (as if it was not Raika that had began this whole mess). “Hehe...”
It was the giggle she made that finally snapped Raika out of her misery. The other girl trudging up next to Miku with her metaphorical dog ears all drooped.
“That was so cold.” Raika complains to Miku, helping her with the dishes now that their fun was over.
“Maybe if you listened to me and picked other clothes that didn't leave you with that kind of opening, nothing would have happened.” Miku said with an "I was right" tone, passing over a plate for Raika to rinse.
“That—” Raika emphasizes with all the solemnity she could muster, “did not count at all.”
“A sore loser,” Miku comments, still with a smug underlying tone to her voice. “That's what you are.”
Raika pouts next to her. “Next time.”
“There's not going to be a next time,” Miku says, bumping elbows with the girl.
“Miku, I didn't think you'd be this mean too,” Raika gasps in despair. “Not even letting me even the scores?”
She raises a brow. “Why would I let you even the score?”
She wasn't stupid, she knows how competitive this family idiot could be — she has front row seats whenever she and Chieri start another showdown. She will never let it go if given the chance.
That reduced Raika to muttering things under her breath, but she can still pick up words like “unfair” and “birthday girl authorities”.
She covers her mouth and turns around to hide a laugh.
This made her miss the sparkling eyes Raika threw her way, finally pleased that the girl no longer has the shadow of loneliness that was pressing on her since the start of the morning.
Pretending like nothing happened, Miku restarted the conversation. “So, do you have any surprises in store for me today?”
Happy with her initiative, Raika proceeds to ramble.
“I initially wanted to bring you out with the family. Like, to the arcade! But when I talked to Yomogi about it, she looked like she was ready to die so maybe next time.”
“That's too early for Yomogi-san, don't you think? We could start with babysteps.”
“A KTV then? We could book a room and we'd have a blast! Oh, and I wanted us to take a stroll in the park too — I wanted to show you guys how good the work I did was. And then, maybe we could stop for some ice cream by the road side,” she was vibrating with her ideas. “We can go after everyone's work is done!... Can we go, Miku? Please~”
Exasperated by her boundless energy, Miku could do nothing but agree with her wishes. “Fine, fine. After work, then we can go. Of course, provided everyone agrees—”
Raika gives her a beaming smile before jumping up in glee — failing to even allow her to finish her words. “Yosh! That's what you said! No take-backsies! I'll go and tell everyone now~”
And before Miku could even process what was happening, the other girl proceeds to bolt out of the room, her voice booming while calling out to their housemates.
“Hey, hey, people! We're going out tonight, as family! Yes, that includes you, Yomogi!”
“Ah—? Eek! You can't do this to me, Raika-san!”
“Nuh-uh, you're coming with us! It's gonna be a private room! Just us in a KTV! You have to come with us, or else!”
“P-Please, spare me!!!”
Miku is left behind, hand grasping onto empty air. She listens on as Raika visits their members' rooms one by one, going from pestering Yomogi into agreeing to coaxing Shizuku into coming with them later.
“Shizuku, any homeworks to do later today? Think you can set it aside? We're gonna continue celebrating Miku's birthday. Have you been to a KTV before?”
“Don't worry, we're gonna show you how to have a good time! So, what d'ya say?”
She couldn't even hear Shizuku's responses yet Raika's voice continues to be full of energy, heard even through the walls of the house.
Then Raika comes back for her—
“Miku!”
Miku snaps out of it, realizing that their work on the dishes is done and that she can finally clean herself up. She unties her apron as she responds to the call of her name.
“Yes?”
Raika makes a quick stop by the kitchen, peeking in. “Don't regret it later! I'm gonna chase Cherie now to tell her!”
And then she was off again, running out without looking back.
“... Fufu.” Miku chuckles.
'Did she forget she can just message the groupchat?' Miku thinks to herself, reaching out for her pocket. 'Her loss, then. I'll just beat her to it.'
She takes her phone out, sliding it open. Her actions pause, however, as she notices a new notification now adorning it.
Mother
Happy Birthday, Miku-chan. Is there anything you want?
I'm sorry, I don't think I can celebrate it with you—I'm—
Miku clears the notification, not even opening her chat with her mother and only making a mental note to reply to her politely later.
For now, there's something far more important to be done.
Miku
@Chieri Umezato 👑 Union Leader, we plan to head to the KTV after work. Do you think you can come with us?
Chieri Umezato 👑 Union Leader
WHAT!?
Making plans behind Chieri's back?? You will all wait for Chieri's return!
I will be judging everyone later!
A smile forms on Miku's face.
Good. It seems that she was the first to reach Chieri. That's another win against Raika.
Humming to herself, Miku finishes up in the kitchen and then heads to her room with a little skip to her every steps.
Miku Mahashi's Sunday used to start like any other day. A simple routine only broken up now and then by her Mother's emotions.
But that was before she found herself a family of idiots who demanded her to become one of them.
And — today was her birthday so the change to her routine wasn't entirely unwelcomed.
If anything, she finds herself less resistant to the idea of waking up to such a lively morning.
All of her worries, sadness and that tiny bit of loneliness she felt upon realizing that her Mother might never again place her higher in her now occupied heart seems to dissipate then.
Because now, just a tiny bit, she finds herself looking forward to what the rest of this special day will have in store for her.
And then much later, after her futile attempt to surprise Chieri that Miku had agreed for an extended birthday celebration and to claim credit for it, Raika finally remembers to look at her phone. Or much more precisely, their groupchat.
🏠 Raika 🍚
Wait.
So thats how you knew about the plans for KTV!!!
Chieriiii!!!!!
You lied to me 😡 😡 😡 😡
🏠 Raika 🍚
And you!!!!!
@Miku
THIS DOESN'T COUNT EITHER. YOU CHEATED THIS TIME
Miku
I wonder.
Is it really cheating if I remembered that we had a groupchat while you didn't?
yomogi
Raika-san probably can't even process two things at the same time
🏠 Raika 🍚
????? YOMOGI YOU TOO???
Ahhhh whatever. Next time!! I swear next time!!
I'll assert my position in this family again!
Miku renamed 🏠 Raika 🍚 to 🏠 Laika 🍚
🏠 Laika 🍚
What
Miku
It seemed much more fitting to have your name spelled out with an L.
yomogi
Ooof
🏠 Laika 🍚
??!?!?!
MIKUUUUUU ☹️☹️☹️