Please use a browser other than Google Chrome to play because the gif always locks onto its first frame on Chrome. Safari and Firefox work, please try those.
If you’re on mobile, I’d highly suggest screenshotting the gifs individually rather than as a set to avoid getting the same person for everything
When Airi heard those words leave Shizuku’s lips, that forlorn apology, her heart froze in her chest. She blinked in disbelief, stuck in place and unable to process the sound that had clashed against her ears. It was just the two of them on the roof at the moment, starting to stretch for rehearsal.
A speaker had been tipped over, caused by Shizuku losing balance and stumbling into it, but it was no big deal. Airi had moved only a moment before to set it upright, before Shizuku spoke.
She must’ve misheard, there was no way Shizuku would say that. There was no way Shizuku could think that.
“Sorry for always ruining everything.” Her voice was low, crestfallen as she stared down at the roof. Airi watched her sigh, before finding her voice.
“You haven’t ruined anything.” Airi said, gesturing towards the now standing speaker. “It’s not even broken.” She kept her tone light and chipper, trying to cheer Shizuku up. This seemed to have the opposite effect.
Shizuku’s lips tightened, the edges pulling down into a grimace that cause Airi’s stomach to sink. Her eyes glimmered as she blinked a few times rapidly, hands held together in front of her. “Not this time it isn’t.” Shizuku’s voice wavered slightly as she spoke. “I still interrupted your warmup.”
There were only a couple paces between them, but Shizuku had never felt further away.
Airi’s eyebrows knit together as she tried to process what she was hearing, what she was seeing. Her heart felt heavy in her chest, sickly and nauseating. She had considered this before, that Shizuku might’ve felt this way, but she never thought that she actually did. As much as it hurt her to hear, it must’ve hurt Shizuku ten times worse.
Airi knew what she wanted to say.
“You never have.” She declared, loudly and firmly. “Not a single time.”
Shizuku’s eyes widened, her hands rising to clutch anxiously together near her chest. “But, Airi-chan…” Her voice was weak, lacking her usual poise and strength.
“No buts.” Airi cut her off, closing the distance between them with only a couple steps. She stopped in front of Shizuku, who wiped away tears gathering in the corner of her eyes. “You’re a member of More More Jump, we wouldn’t be a unit without you. We need you, all of you.”
As Shizuku’s hands came back together, wringing her fingers together, Airi stepped in even closer and wrapped her arms around trembling shoulders. She buried her nose into Shizuku’s hair, speaking softly. “I need you too, I wouldn’t be an idol today without you.”
Slowly, Shizuku lowered her arms and brought them around Airi to return the hug. She sniffled once, but had stopped shaking. “Thank you, Airi-chan.” She muttered, arms pulling Airi tighter against her.
They stayed like that for a few moments longer, Airi lifting one hand to pat the back of Shizuku’s head before pulling back.
She stepped away and checked the speaker, so they could get back to stretching.
Summary: “Airi-chan?” Shizuku’s voice was soft, barely audible over the noise of the restaurant. Even so, Airi could hear her clearly. She slowly set her hand down on the phone, looking back across the table at Shizuku. When Airi’s eyes locked with wide blue ones, Shizuku spoke again. “What’s wrong?”
Airi sighed, her body sinking further into herself. Her heart was still pounding in her chest, shoulders tense as she tried to calm down. “Some of the prep for next month fell through, it’s nothing to worry about.” She pushed her phone a few more centimeters away as if to prove her words true, schooling her expression into a well-practiced smile. She moved her hand away from the phone, with her fingers sitting curled against the table.
Airi’s elbows rested on the table, with her phone clutched tightly between her hands. She glared down at the offending device, pink eyes sparking with barely concealed irritation. The email she just received echoed all the ones from before, expressing concern over More More Jump’s ability to draw a crowd. It was yet another denial, this time for renting a stage for an afternoon next month.
She wanted to tell them that they were wrong, to just wait and see that More More Jump was on the rise. She wanted to type in all caps that they should dig their head out from under the sand and pay attention. Airi’s fingers didn’t move; no matter how she felt, she couldn’t burn this bridge.
The regular activity of the family restaurant thrummed around her as people chatted in the nearby booths, coming and going occasionally. They created a low layer of sound that remained consistent, pushing against Airi’s ears as she struggled to think of an appropriate reply. It was almost overbearing, but she couldn’t leave. She would never want to disappoint the person she was meeting.
Airi scoffed and typed back a short reply, settling on thanking them for their consideration. She sent it with a scowl, before double checking the time and clicking to her texts. There was a video Haruka had sent her the previous day with a dance move suggestion that she still needed to review. She needed to block out the timing to implement it in one of their songs.
There were more tasks after this too, always something else that needed to be completed. As Airi had learned, the life of a freelance idol was one filled with phone calls, paperwork, and choreography. There was stress too, adding on to the regular stresses of being an idol.
Airi could feel the pressure on her shoulders, the never ending need to organize events better and to make sure that the unit didn’t fail. It was there when she checked her email, when she worked on the choreography, and when she thought about everything else that still needed to be done.
She was halfway through watching the video when an intimately familiar voice interrupted her, one that immediately lifted her heart.
“I’m so sorry I’m late, I got off at the wrong stop.” Shizuku slid into the other side of the booth as she apologized, removing her tan brimmed hat and placing it on the table. Her cheeks were flushed slightly from exertion, a dusting of pink that pulled Airi’s gaze from her phone.
“No worries, you’re actually right on time.” Airi chuckled, remembering what time it had been a moment before. “Was the train crowded?” She turned off the screen of her phone, setting it face down on the table. She had come here to meet Shizuku; it could wait.
Shizuku shook her head, the color already starting to fade from her cheeks. “No, it was quiet today. Shii-chan rode part of the way with me to see her friends.” She hummed as she picked up the plastic menu card from the table, scrutinizing it with cutely narrowed eyes. “Do you want to split some fries?”
Airi managed to tear her eyes from Shizuku to look at her own menu, glancing over the different options. “We could, or perhaps we-“ Her voice was cut off by the loud pinging of her phone, a sound that meant she had a new email. Airi’s right arm tensed, hand flashing to the device as her heart kicked violently in her chest. There was no need for that reaction of course, since the sound faded immediately. She grimaced down at it the offending device, not wanting to flip it over to check whatever smug response they sent back.
“Airi-chan?” Shizuku’s voice was soft, barely audible over the noise of the restaurant. Even so, Airi could hear her clearly. She slowly set her hand down on the phone, looking back across the table at Shizuku. When Airi’s eyes locked with wide blue ones, Shizuku spoke again. “What’s wrong?”
Airi sighed, her body sinking further into herself. Her heart was still pounding in her chest, shoulders tense as she tried to calm down. “Some of the prep for next month fell through, it’s nothing to worry about.” She pushed her phone a few more centimeters away as if to prove her words true, schooling her expression into a well-practiced smile. She moved her hand away from the phone, with her fingers sitting curled against the table.
Shizuku merely frowned, just as unconvinced as Airi expected. Her eyes glimmered with concern as she reached forward, her left hand extending slowly across the table. Airi didn’t move as it settled over her right one, gently covering it with warmth.
“How can I help?” Shizuku’s hand pulled back after a moment, her fingers gently encouraging Airi to lift her palm. She then intertwined their fingers together, resting their hands against each other.
This touch, something to small and simple, pulled Airi’s world to a halt around her. The noise from before, her phone on the table, it all seemed to vanish. She only saw Shizuku across from her, felt the steady contact of her touch.
Airi knew why she was doing all of this work. It was for More More Jump, for her dream of being an idol who could give hope to others. But it was also for Shizuku, to reach the stage and stand on it together. Side by side, hand in hand, they would share their dream with the world.
Even though she did much of her work on her own, as long as Shizuku was by her side she wasn’t truly alone. It was okay to accept this touch, to accept the comfort and support being offered.
Finally, Airi’s heartbeat slowed, the tension in her shoulders easing ever so slightly.
Airi tightened her hand against Shizuku’s, slowly and intentionally. “You already are.” Her lips lifted into a small smile, unable to contain the warmth growing in her chest.
“Are you sure? I could call they might listen this time.” Shizuku offered earnestly, her eyes still locked on Airi’s.
Airi shook her head. “Just stay with me, like this.” She spoke softly, barely lifting her voice above a murmur. She focused on the warmth of Shizuku’s hand in hers.
Shizuku blinked a couple times, a hint of pink returning to her cheeks. Then, as if heaven had opened and blessed Airi with its presence, the worry vanished from her face and was replaced with a splendid smile.
“Of course I will!” Shizuku’s hand shifted slightly as she spoke, but it still fit perfectly with Airi’s.
Airi felt her own face heat up at the eager response, breaking eye contact to look down at her menu once again before speaking. “Thank you…” She stared at the menu for a moment, regathering her composure as Shizuku beamed at her. “We should get a parfait too.” Airi declared once she felt ready, remembering how delicious it had been last time.
“I’ve always wanted to dip my fries in one.”
Airi raised one eyebrow, glancing back up at Shizuku. “That sounds like something you would do.”
“It’s going to be delicious.” Shizuku asserted confidently as she used her free hand to hit the button to call for assistance.
“If you say so.” Airi replied with a chuckle, laughing at the mental image.
Shizuku and Airi’s hands remained connected on the table, a point of constant connection. Even after the food came and they were forced to let go, Airi would never forget that feeling.
Shizuku waved as she saw Airi in the distance, spotting her after having spent the last half hour wandering down the wrong street. Airi’s face lit up with a grin, her arm rising to rapidly return the gesture. Haruka was looking at her watch.
They missed the train as a result, transferring their tickets to a later time. Shizuku apologized profusely and offered to pay the replacement fare. The others smiled and insisted it was no big deal.
Still, it settled itself heavily against her heart.
During a segment of the live stream, as Minori and Haruka demonstrated a new dance step for the camera, Shizuku and Airi stood just off to the side. Shizuku watched the comments scroll, reading and absorbing each one. One in particular stood out, a compliment on Minori’s form.
Shizuku reached towards it with one hand, tapping the screen as it flashed by. The screen cut immediately to black. Airi brushed her hand aside and quickly restored it, as the comments morphed into questions about if the stream had died. Airi reminded Shizuku not to mess with the tech in a light tone, resting her hand on Shizuku’s arm. A chill ran down Shizuku’s spine as she hastily stepped back, offering a wavering smile and reassurance.
Now it was heftier, a growing knot nestling deep in her chest. She couldn’t bear it.
Passing out cups of water was easy, Shizuku knew that. It was so easy she should’ve been able to do it in her sleep, especially with how hard she was focusing on it, or so she thought as one cup tumbled gracelessly from her grasp. The water splashed out onto the roof, brushing the edge of Minori’s skirt and hitting her legs.
Minori reassured her that it was fine, that it would dry and there was plenty more water where that came from. She laughed it off sheepishly. All Shizuku could think was that she did it again.
This was who she was, wasn’t it? She had left behind the illusion of perfection and accepted her imperfect self. She tried so hard to be the best idol she could without the mask, to help her new group grow and prosper.
Yet, the painful feeling remained. It balled in her heart, reverberating, aching, and growing with every mistake. No matter how hard she tried, it was always the same.
Shizuku needed to work harder. There was no other choice.
Author Note: I’ve been thinking about writing something longer for MMJ and finally got around to planning it. There will be ships in this fic, but they will not be the main focus. Rather, the focus is on the idol group as a whole.
Haruka knelt on the tatami floor next to a round table, both hands carefully holding her cup of tea. She was carefully positioned as not to lose her balance, not spilling a single drop even as one of the mini shiba dogs that inhabited this café sped past her. She wouldn’t dare risk dripping the hot liquid on her casual clothes.
The other members of More More Jump sat at the other three sides, each occupied with their own tasks. They were dressed casually as well to match their location. Going clockwise from Haruka’s position, Airi was the next person over. She had largely turned away from the table, her elbows coming dangerously close to knocking over her coffee as she tugged a rope back and forth with one of the dogs. Next to her, Shizuku cooed at the sight with both hands pressed to her cheeks. Haruka hoped she had already recorded the occurrence from that angle.
In the last spot, with stars and dreams glimmering in her eyes, Minori held her camera at the ready. She had led the group to this point, bringing them together and driving them to pick up and continue even after they all stumbled and quit. Even now Haruka was still inspired by her hard work, dedication, and drive to be an idol who gave hope to others. She followed Minori back to the stage, and as well today to this dog café.
The lens of Minori’s camera steadily took in the playful affair on the other side of the table, watching the pair for a few minutes before sweeping to land on Haruka.
“You have a visitor.” Minori grinned as she lifted the phone, leaning forward over the table and tilting the camera lens down towards Haruka’s left side. Haruka let out a soft chuckle, turning and spotting one of the dogs sitting eagerly by her side. The dog’s ears barely reached a foot off the ground and light brown fur covered it from the top of its head to the tip of its curled tail. It looked up towards her with wide eyes, tail wagging energetically when she made eye contact. It was cute, but not as cute as Phenny of course.
Haruka set her tea down and reached towards the furry creature, patting it gently on the head. She moved her hand to scratch behind its ears, a motion it seemed to enjoy since it drew its head closer. The short fur tickled against her fingers, rough but still pleasant to touch.
“Aww how cute! I think he likes you.” Minori commented in an enthusiastic tone, practically leaning over the table to capture the moment from the best angle.
The dog’s head turned towards her voice, still under Haruka’s hand as it looked right at the camera. That would make a great shot; Haruka noted that she should ask Minori for this footage later. It was just one clip of many for the day, which each of them had worked to record. The longer they did this, the better they became at it.
This all started just a couple months before, when the group met to discuss expanding their social media presence. They had seen moderate success through music videos and live streams, but were also looking for new ways to grow.
When Minori suggested that they make new types of edited videos, content that wasn’t directly related to being an idol, the others were willing to try it. They were all prepared to put in the extra work to make More More Jump a success.
Minori would take the lead on the social media side, while Airi and Haruka would divide up the extra video editing and checking. Shizuku would help record and come up with ideas, but was explicitly forbidden by Airi to touch any of the accounts or videos.
Thus, they started to record new content. The first place they went was a nearby park, where they each took video of the group members sitting on the swings, walking through the fields, and singing for some kids.
Though Haruka didn’t do the editing when she was in Asrun, she did remember recording and watching videos like these before. She cut the footage together after, including a few cute subtitles for extra emphasis. The resulting video was just over ten minutes in length and was soon posted by Minori to their youtube channel.
Haruka watched the numbers as they rose, as the likes and comments rolled in. After just a few days it had nearly as many views as some of their music, and was only continuing to climb. Minori beamed and celebrated the success of her idea, then started planning their next outing.
They had recorded at multiple locations since then, with each new video gaining more views than the last. Today they decided to go to a dog café, one that was located not too far from the school. A cat café was more traditional, but with Airi’s allergy that would’ve been a bad idea. Minori found the perfect dog café instead, and they decided to go right when the café opened to decrease the chance of being recognized.
That was how Haruka found herself in this situation, picking her phone up off the table as the mini shiba bounced around her to reach Minori. As Minori set her phone down, palms extended up towards the dog instead, Haruka swiped open her camera and started to record.
She held her phone steady as the light brown dog crashed into Minori’s waiting hands, its chin fitting perfectly into them. Minori giggled down at it, her face alight with joy. The dog stepped forward even closer, lifting one paw to rest on her arm.
Minori gasped, then looked slowly up from the dog at Haruka. Her grey eyes practically glowed, the question she wanted to ask clearly visible within them.
“No, you can’t keep him.” Haruka’s tone was dismissive, but she couldn’t hold back a hint of affection. How could she, when Minori looked at her like that.
The other teen’s expression fell, a dramatic wavering frown settling on her lips as she looked back down at the dog. She sniffled once, causing Haruka to scoff lightly under her breath. “Did you hear that Fred, she said no.” So, she’d already named him too. That was so typical for her.
The dog merely wagged its tail, accepting the fact without complaint. Its whole body seemed to wiggle with the motion, as if every muscle was being used to express its excitement.
“It’ll be harder to leave if you name them.” Haruka shook her head as she scolded her lightly, causing Minori’s wide eyes to jump back to hers. “He certainly already has one.”
Minori opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, staring with clear offense written on her face for a few moments. She decided not to say anything and settled into a disgruntled pout, moving her hands to pet the dog along its back.
Haruka stopped the recording, swiping over to another function to take a few pictures. She snapped one of Minori petting the dog, then turned her phone towards the other two members. Shizuku was playing with one of the dogs now, tapping the ground near its paws. Airi watched from her seat, a soft smile lifting her lips. Haruka took a couple pictures of them both, capturing the moment.
She then set her phone down and returned to her tea. The cup was still warm against her hands as she lifted it, taking a long sip. Not only did they have cute dogs here, they also served good tea. Haruka glanced over at Minori, who now had three dogs vying for her attention. Perhaps it would be worth it to come back here again, just for fun.
The group stayed for another half hour, finishing their drinks and getting plenty more video footage with the dogs. They would send it all to Airi later, since she would be editing the final video together this time. Haruka also made sure to ask Minori to send her that one clip, which she promised to do.
Before they left, Minori even named three more of the dogs and insisted that they were the best dogs she ever met. When it was time to go, she bid them all a teary farewell.
Haruka thanked the staff, then led them all out of the café. They paused in the entrance to put their disguises back on, then emerged onto the busy sidewalk where cars whizzed past on the street. That was where they parted ways, each heading towards their next destination.
Shizuku and Airi walked in one direction together, waving back at the other pair, while Haruka and Minori went the other way. When they reached the next street corner, they too parted. Minori was off to her part time job, while Haruka headed towards the train that would take her home.
As she reached the train station, her phone buzzed in her bag. Haruka waited until she was seated on the train to open it. There was always a risk of being recognized; she wanted to be sure before she let her guard down. Luckily, there were only a handful of people on the train and none of them cast her so much as a second glance. Satisfied, Haruka pulled out her phone to see the delivered text from Minori.
“Fred really was the adorable!” The text read, followed by an attached video clip. When Haruka clicked play, she saw herself interacting with the mini shiba from earlier. She was petting it on the head, before it turned to look right into the lens of the camera.
This was even better than Haruka anticipated. She tapped the icon in the corner to save the video to her phone, so she wouldn’t lose it later. Haruka then clicked into her own videos, looking back through the footage she took. They would definitely be able to make a good video with all of this. She would send the videos to Airi later, since it would be easier on wifi.
In the meantime, as the train carried her closer towards home, Haruka opened the email app on her phone. She kept multiple accounts there, including one for More More Jump. They had it listed on their social media in multiple places, accepting business opportunities. Not that many had come; mostly it was filled with messages from fans. While those were appreciated, they weren’t what the account was set up for.
Haruka still checked the message box regularly and cleaned it out, saving kind emails in a folder so they wouldn’t be lost. There were a few today, which she read before moving them to the folder. The most recent message, sent just an hour before, looked different. Rather than containing a compliment or personal story, the subject line read, “Sponsorship Offer.”
With one tap of her finger the message opened, its text filling the screen of her phone. Haruka’s eyes widened as she read through it. This appeared to be their first real business email.
As the subject line stated, it was on offer to sponsor More More Jump. Specifically, an offer to pay them to make a video. The name of the company was of a café, one Haruka had passed by in town before.
This was certainly an intriguing proposition. When Haruka was in Asrun, they worked often with different sponsors. Sometimes sponsors provided the clothing they wore, while other times they involved product placement in music videos. While Haruka had done many of these promotions, she had never been on the arranging side of the deal. Well, this was what freelancing was all about.
Haruka clicked to respond, starting with her gratitude for the offer. She followed it with a number of questions, asking for details about the video, the price point they were looking for, and the timeline they wanted to work in. These three details would all be vital in making a decision.
Of course, Haruka wouldn’t make the decision alone. She would bring all of this information to the next group practice, to ask the others what they thought.
More More Jump wasn’t just one idol, they were four. They brought their own perspective to the group. Each had their own drive to inspire hope in others. They would come to a decision together on what to do next, Haruka was sure of that.
Summary: At this time of day the girl’s bathroom up on the third floor was always abandoned. That suited Shizuku perfectly, as she lingered in front of the mirror.
Shizuku’s hands rested against the two sides of the sink, the cold stark against her half curled fingers. The doors to the bathroom stalls were all varying degrees of open behind her, visible in the reflection of the mirror. At this time of day the girl’s bathroom up on the third floor was always abandoned. That suited Shizuku perfectly, as she lingered in front of the mirror.
Her own reflection stared back, cheeks flushed from practice and eyes tired from exertion. Well, not just from that.
The livestream earlier, remembering their comments brought a fresh wave of pain up her throat. They flashed over her head in the mirror, echoing everything her viewers wanted her to be. Laughing at her snack choice, disliking her dancing. They flashed past her eyes.
One stopped in the middle, larger and bolder than the rest.
“This isn’t the Shizuku I know.”
It pulsed over her forehead, impossible to ignore. It burned like a brand against her skin, stuck and refusing to let go even as she shook her head. Shizuku lifted one hand to it, her fingers swiping through only empty space.
Her heart sunk in her chest, a splitting headache growing. Even pressing her hand against the spot didn’t alleviate it, didn’t provide any relief.
This was who she was now, not even herself any longer. Shizuku wondered if the others saw it too, even as they offered to help. What did Airi think of her now? Now that she was just an empty shell, the hollow remains of the idol she once was.
Shizuku’s hand clenched, the expression in her reflection contorting violently. Her hand lifted from her forehead, forming a trembling fist over her head.
She could make it go away, it would be easy. One smash of the fist, and her image would be shattered. Those words, her own exhausted run down eyes, they’d be gone.
Shizuku’s hand shook even worse as she held it in place, calling her to follow through, to smash it. Her chest burned hot, painful and spiking. Who cared what they thought, certainly not her. What did it matter how she looked? This imperfect reflection, she wanted it to disappear.
Yet still, her hand remained lifted. She couldn’t do it.
Shizuku blinked a few times, taking a deep breath and seeing herself once again.
It did matter how she looked. It did matter what they thought. Making this one image vanish wouldn’t change that, wouldn’t erase her mistakes. It wouldn’t make her perfect.
She could already envision the headlines if she smashed a mirror at school, gossiping about the former idol who lost her mind. It would only damage the group worse, hurt Airi even more. Airi who had worked so hard to support her for all this time.
Slowly, Shizuku’s hand came forward. She brushed her fingers across her reflection, leaving fingerprints where the brand remained.
As Shizuku walked away, heading back up the stairs to rejoin practice, her hand pulsed in pain.
Summary: Shizuku scrunched up her nose, and then spoke after a moment. “I’ll be able to find it, don’t worry.” Her words provided Airi with no comfort. In fact, they had the opposite effect.
“Which train are you taking then?” Airi raised one eyebrow, holding it there as Shizuku’s brow furrowed.
Airi leaned forward in her chair, head tilted down towards her desk. A small stack of paper sat nestled between her elbows, full of her notes for the upcoming quiz. It wasn’t her fault she’d been too busy to study yesterday, not at all. Between More More Jump practice, getting crepes with Shizuku, and learning video editing, she just hadn’t had the time.
That left Airi in somewhat of a pickle this morning, as the quiz was rapidly approaching and she was far from ready. She separated a few of the pages, rubbing her forehead with one hand as she squinted at them. The slowly rising hum of chatter surrounded her as more students arrived, steadily filling the classroom.
“Good morning, Airi-chan.” A melodious voice called her name, sending an unbidden spark shooting down Airi’s spine.
She looked up at the owner of said voice, her heart singing in her chest. “Shizuku.” Her name rolled easily from Airi’s lips. The frustration she felt only a minute before had largely washed away, replaced with the joy of seeing her truest idol. Even in her school uniform, early in the morning with a white cardigan drawn tight around her shoulders, Shizuku was radiant. “How was your commute?” Airi shuffled her papers back into a pile, to come back to later.
Shizuku smiled softly down at her, eyes flicking over the papers for the briefest of moments. In a single fluid motion, Shizuku spun the chair away from the desk in front of Airi’s, sitting down across from her with perfect poise. That student usually came right on time; Shizuku often borrowed her chair in the morning.
“It was wonderful.” Shizuku’s tone carried warmth as she spoke, aligning closely with her words. She brought both of her hands up to rest on the back edge of the desk, fingers lightly curled against its surface. “Shii-chan even suggested a ramen shop to me!” Her smile grew as she spoke, which Airi was certain had created the brightest spot in the room.
“Where did she suggest?” Airi asked in response, her eyes locked onto Shizuku’s.
Shizuku gave her the name excitedly, along with the district it was in. “She said their food is delicious, I absolutely must try it after practice today.” Her fingers tapped the table in excitement.
Airi hadn’t been to that ramen shop before, but she remembered passing by it at least once. “That’s over by the planetarium, isn’t it?” Shizuku’s expression froze as she thought about the question, hands stilling abruptly. “How are you planning to get there?” Airi asked a follow up question, unable to resist smiling as Shizuku’s lips fell into a small pout.
Shizuku scrunched up her nose, and then spoke after a moment. “I’ll be able to find it, don’t worry.” Her words provided Airi with no comfort. In fact, they had the opposite effect.
“Which train are you taking then?” Airi raised one eyebrow, holding it there as Shizuku’s brow furrowed.
“Hmm, I think it’s…” Shizuku started, then paused and looked down at her hands. She tilted her head as she considered her words. “The red line?” Her voice lifted at the end, phrasing what should have been an assertion as a half-formed question instead.
“I don’t think that’s right.” Airi took her phone out, opening the map application and searching for the ramen shop. As she thought, it was only a few blocks from the planetarium. To get there from school, Shizuku would need to take two different trains, neither of which was the red line. She turned her phone towards Shizuku, showing her the screen. “Here’s the route you should take.”
Shizuku stared down at it with wide eyes, reaching out with finger extended to touch the screen. “Phones can do that?” She dragged her finger across it, letting out a soft, “ooh.” The sound rung through Airi’s ears as she cherished the softness within it.
Airi held back a chuckle, turning her phone back towards herself. “Yours can too, go to the maps icon.”
Somehow, Airi hadn’t thought it possible, Shizuku’s eyes grew even wider as she placed her phone on the desk. She looked down as she swiped the screen a few times. After a long moment she seemed to find it.
“Enter the address at the top.” Airi instructed, watching the upside down screen as Shizuku tried to navigate it. Her fingers fumbled over the map, tapping in multiple spots as she struggled to locate the address line. Airi waited patiently for her to locate it, accustomed to this after teaching Shizuku to use many different smart phone functions over the years. She glanced up for a moment, noting that most of their classmates had arrived. They only had about five minutes until class was supposed to start.
Once Shizuku found it, she tapped the bar and slowly typed in the name of the ramen shop.
Shizuku paused after typing, frowning down at her phone. She tapped the map again, moving it slightly, before tapping back into the address bar.
“Hit the go button.” Airi still prompted her gently, even though they were running out of time. Shizuku looked relieved as she located the right option and pressed her finger against it. The map zoomed off to the new location, which luckily was the same place Airi found a few minutes before.
Shizuku’s expression slowly fell once again as she continued looking at it, searching for the next step. There were only a couple minutes left now, since soon the teacher would walk in the door.
Airi had a choice, there were two paths in front of her. Her first option was to show Shizuku where the start route button was and then leave her to it. She would probably try to use the application again that afternoon when she went to the ramen shop, maybe even with success. Watching her now though, struggling to read all of the provided information even without the route, Airi doubted it.
The second option, which truly was her only real choice, was simple.
“I’ll help you find it this afternoon; we can go together.” Airi spoke in a casual tone, presenting herself as calm despite the kick to her heartbeat. It wasn’t a big deal if she went, she told herself. She liked ramen too, and with her help Shizuku would make it there for sure. Sure, they just got crepes together yesterday, what did that matter? Two days in a row was fine.
Shizuku’s eyes glimmered as they came up to meet Airi’s, a warm smile spreading across her face that did nothing to soothe Airi’s rapid pulse. “Thank you, Airi-chan. I’d love for you to join me.”
Airi’s cheeks felt warm as she looked pointedly away, settling her gaze on the external window. This wasn’t a big deal, it wasn’t. Friends went out for meals together all the time, as they had so many times before. The way she couldn’t just leave Shizuku to handle it herself, this was perfectly normal friendly behavior.
That would never be true, no matter how many times she thought it, no matter how many times she denied the heat in her veins. Airi knew that too.
The teacher entered the classroom and shut the door; they were out of time.
“We’ll go after practice then.” Airi muttered, still not looking back at Shizuku.
Shizuku giggled, even without seeing her Airi could imagine how she covered her mouth as she did. “See you later then.” She stood, returning the chair to the rightful owner who had been standing there with her arms crossed.
Airi glanced over to watch her go, before going back to her phone and reopening the map app. Airi saved the ramen shop with a pin, so she would be able to find it later. There was a quiz coming up, but this was more important right now.
It was her job to navigate for them, after all. No matter how hard her heart pounded, Shizuku was relying on her. She had to make sure to do it right.
Summary: Airi chuckled and nodded. “I always used to catch you practicing late.” Her voice was soft, as if it was a fond memory. “Some things never change.”
Her last words echoed over the rooftop, reminding Shizuku of how much really had changed over the last few months. They left their groups, nearly gave up being idols completely, and then formed More More Jump. Despite that, here they were, practicing dancing together.
Or
It was hard to let go of the concept of perfection.
Word Count: 2100
Author Note: This is a follow up to the My Color event, so please read that first. I also suggest reading Shizuku’s four star card from the same event.
When the members of More More Jump parted ways after today’s long practice, each with their own destination in mind, Shizuku turned back towards the school building. She told them she’d forgotten something and that she’d see them tomorrow, accompanied by her best dazzling smile. Airi had raised an eyebrow, a clear expression of doubt, but let her go without comment.
In a way, it was the truth. That’s what Shizuku told herself as she climbed the stairs, headed back to a familiar location. She’d simply forgotten that she needed to keep practicing. It hadn’t been too long, so the door should’ve still been unlocked.
The sun had started its descent towards the horizon by the time she stepped through the door, casting a growing shadow across the roof’s surface. That was fine, as long as there was enough light she’d be able to practice.
Shizuku carefully shut the door behind her before starting. She re-stretched first to be safe, then took out her phone to review the steps from earlier. They were working to create and release a video series, in which they tackled increasingly complex dance sequences. Haruka and Airi rose to the challenge, adapting easily to each new move that was introduced. Minori was keeping up as well, her enthusiasm and spirit carrying her through each hiccup.
For Shizuku, even the first video had posed a significant struggle. There wasn’t too much time to learn the steps, as they only needed them for a single recording. She spent extra time practicing during breaks, even forgoing her miso soup one day, but the dance moves continued to grow even harder.
Thus, Shizuku returned to the roof after practice. If she could just get a few more reps in, she’d be more ready for the recording tomorrow. She pulled up the video for one of the moves, trying to press the screen to start it. The play button turned into a wheel, which spun in the center of the screen. Shizuku didn’t know what to make of that, so she tapped it again. With a sigh, she watched it continue to spin.
For now she could do it from memory, until her phone decided it wanted to work. Shizuku set it down near the edge of the roof where she wouldn’t step on it by accident. She then took her position, which was at the same place she’d stood earlier when the whole unit was there. In her mind she could picture where they each stood and how they moved.
After checking the desired tempo, Shizuku began to practice the first set of steps. One part was particularly trickly, requiring careful foot placement. She started slow, making sure she remembered where her feet went, before trying the step faster.
Shizuku was half way up to speed, still working on being more precise, when a wonderfully familiar voice called out to her. It was slightly rough, high in pitch, and distinct in a way that set Shizuku’s heart racing.
“I knew I’d find you here.” Airi emerged from the rooftop door, her appearance causing Shizuku to freeze mid dance step. She turned to watch as Airi crossed the roof towards her with a wry smile stretched across her lips. A flash of guilt washed over Shizuku as she remembered how they parted, a wholly unwelcome feeling.
“Airi-chan!” Shizuku schooled her expression back to her usual smile, greeting Airi warmly. “Do you need something?” Maybe she actually forgot something and had to come back. No, Shizuku would’ve seen it on the roof in that case.
“I was looking for you, got a little worried when you didn’t reply to my texts.” Airi’s tone was unusually low as she glanced over to where Shizuku’s phone sat abandoned on the concrete roof.
“Oh… I’m so sorry.” Shizuku hurried to pick it up, seeing a series of notifications pop up on the screen. Each was a text from Airi, as well as one from Haruka. The texts told her that Airi had finished her errand near the school, then asked if she was still nearby. They were followed by a short text asking her to message back. The one from Haruka just said Airi was looking for her and that she seemed worried.
The guilty feeling from before grew even stronger as Shizuku looked back up at Airi, morphing into a smoldering ball of anxiety that nestled deep in her chest. Airi had moved to be closer to her, standing only a couple feet away. When their eyes met, blue shakily watching pink, Airi didn’t look angry. Airi broke eye contact, sighing and shaking her head, but she harbored a hint of a smile.
“Are you having trouble with your phone?” Airi asked, peering down at the device in question.
Shizuku grimaced as she clicked in to clear the unread texts. When she went back to the video page, the swirling shape from before was still there. “Just a few,” Shizuku admitted, tilting the offending symbol towards Airi. “I’ve been reviewing the steps from rehearsal.”
Airi squinted at the phone, before chuckling. “Buffering, as usual.” Her eyes came back up, clear and warmer than Shizuku deserved. “Did you try refreshing it?”
“No, I suppose I should.” That was a good idea. Shizuku tapped the back button, then tried to refresh the video. After a moment it reloaded and began to play.
“You really are bad with tech.” Airi commented, her half smile from before growing.
The anxiety from before had lessened, but still Shizuku frowned. “I’m really sorry, Airi-chan.” She apologized again, despite knowing that it wouldn’t make up for her mistake.
“Luckily I knew where to find you.” Airi replied in a wry tone, before her voice came up. “It’s alright, you don’t need to apologize.”
Shizuku didn’t know how to reply to that, since apologizing again would certainly get her chastised. She allowed her eyes to trail back to her phone. She watched as the video played, showing the dance move she’d been working on. She could clearly see that their feet placement was slightly different than how she’d been doing it, which was a problem.
“I should get back to practicing.” Shizuku said, tapping the screen to rewind the video. She lifted it closer to her face so she could see it better.
Airi leaned closer to watch as well, her arm practically brushing against Shizuku’s. “You had trouble with this one during rehearsal.” She pointed out, which was something Shizuku hoped hadn’t been so obvious. “I’ll help, this is a tough step.”
“Thank you, Airi-chan.” Shizuku replied sincerely, finally allowing a smile to return to her face. There was something familiar about those words, something that triggered a feeling of deja vu. She stepped away from Airi to return to her position, stowing her phone back in its proper pocket.
Once in place, Shizuku began to work on the move again. Now she had seen the step, so she was better able to master the foot placement. It was still a slow process, of course, but she was getting there. She almost forgot that Airi was watching, but it was impossible to ignore her focused stare.
“Stop!” Airi called out, causing Shizuku to pause as she scurried over to stand by Shizuku’s left elbow. “Keep your arms up, don’t just focus on your feet.” She placed one hand under Shizuku’s bent arm, gently lifting it to a higher angle.
“Got it.” Shizuku made a note of the angle and how she would have to adjust to hit it. The feeling from before returned, as Airi stepped away. Only this time, she was able to place where it had come from. “This reminds me of rehearsals before our debut.” She broke her pose to cover her mouth with one hand, hiding a giggle.
Airi chuckled and nodded. “I always used to catch you practicing late.” Her voice was soft, as if it was a fond memory. “Some things never change.”
Her last words echoed over the rooftop, reminding Shizuku of how much really had changed over the last few months. They left their groups, nearly gave up being idols completely, and then formed More More Jump. Despite that, here they were, practicing dancing together.
Her anxiety from before, which had been hot and densely packed, had mostly dissolved. When Shizuku smiled gently back, there was only a lingering tension within.
She resumed practicing the dance step, making sure to keep her arm at the correct angle. It was finally starting to come together, even as her shadow stretched beyond the edge of the roof.
Airi moved away to lean against the fence as she watched. Shizuku occasionally looked her way while she continued to practice.
Some time passed like this, as Shizuku slowly improved at the step. She wasn’t sure how long it had been, but she almost felt ready to try it at tempo when Airi spoke again.
“How late are you planning to rehearse?” She asked, her arms crossed as she leaned.
Shizuku wasn’t sure. “I still need to work on it.” She replied, setting her feet to try it again. The move wasn’t ready yet, so she couldn’t stop. Not until a school employee came to kick her out.
“Hmm.” Airi tilted her head, seeming to mull something over. After a moment, she continued. “Want to stop by the mall? There’s a new magazine I want to check out.” She asked, basically ignoring what Shizuku had just said.
“I can’t go, we’re recording this tomorrow.” Shizuku reminded her, though she was certain Airi hadn’t forgotten. “There’s not much time left.”
Airi stepped away from the fence, her hands falling to her side. “I’m aware of that.” She frowned, a hint of concern clear in her eyes. Shizuku hated seeing that look on her face. “You know, it doesn’t have to be perfect.” Airi spoke levelly and clearly. Those words shook through Shizuku, reverberating into her ears.
Shizuku inhaled shakily. “It doesn’t?” She asked, thinking about the other two steps she hadn’t worked on yet. She still needed to do those next, before the roof was closed.
“That’s kind of the point of the challenge.” Airi replied, taking a few steps closer to her. “To show our limits.”
Shizuku bit her lower lip, contemplating those words. She hadn’t thought about it that way, not at all. She wanted to master each new hurdle, to show her skills at dancing. Having limits wasn’t an option, not for her as an idol.
She remembered again how much things had changed, how she had changed. She was no longer Shizuku the perfect idol. Instead, she was just Shizuku, herself. It was hard to remember sometimes, hard to shoulder the pressure. Airi had reminded her of that.
“Even if it wasn’t, you’ve worked incredibly hard.” Airi stopped in front of her, offering a small smile. “Your fans will see who you truly are, whether this move is perfect or not.” Airi brought one open palm up to rest over her own heart. “I do, every single day.” She spoke sincerely, eyes locked directly onto Shizuku’s.
“Airi-chan…” Shizuku struggled to find the words to respond as tears welled up in her eyes. Her heart felt warm, impossibly so, as she blinked to keep the tears down. Airi was right, just as she had been before. “Thank you for supporting me.” Shizuku’s voice wavered, but she was able to get the words out.
Airi winked and made an okay symbol with her hand. “Of course! What else is a fan to do?” She laughed, a light echoing sound that Shizuku cherished.
Shizuku couldn’t help but smile back, warmth still radiating through her chest. “You’re right, we should get going.” It felt cathartic to admit, to let go. A weight had been lifted from her chest, replaced with only light.
The pair were still standing together, close on the roof.
Airi reached out her hand as if it were the most natural gesture in the world, eyes glimmering in the setting sun. Shizuku slowly grasped it, intertwining their fingers together. They descended the stairs side by side, exiting the school.
As Airi squeezed her hand, glancing over with a half-smile, Shizuku felt her remaining worries fade away. With Airi, and with More More Jump, she could be exactly who she was.
The feeling of Airi’s hand in hers, warm and comfortable, reminded her that she didn’t need to be perfect.
Summary: There was the idol merch, which had driven Minori to become an idol herself. The blue light sticks of Haruka’s fans inspired her to continue performing. The fan looked handmade, perhaps even by Airi herself.
The towel though, Minori wasn’t sure what to make of it. What kind of feelings did it contain?
The feeling of phasing into the Sekai, of her body disappearing and then reforming in the strange new world, still thrilled Minori each time. Her heart raced as the stage appeared before her eyes, light emanating from every corner.
She had visited many times since they discovered it, especially while rehearsing for Haruka’s show. After the performance, once More More Jump had formed, she mostly came to talk or dance with Miku and Rin. They always knew how to fix a slow dance step, or the best way to draw in the audience.
Today was different. The whole group was here, phasing in as Minori did. While Shizuku and Airi had spent almost as much time in the Sekai as Minori had, Haruka had still only been there a few times. When they met for rehearsal that afternoon, they discussed the other world.
Haruka suggested that they spend some time exploring it, since it tied all of them together. If they wanted to occasionally practice there, it would be best to try to understand it.
Minori remembered the first time she saw the Sekai, when Rin told her it was a world born from all of their feelings. She agreed it was worth exploring and happily shared her opinion.
That was how More More Jump ended up in the Sekai, standing together in front of the stage. Neither of the virtual singers were there today, leaving the world feeling strangely empty.
It didn’t bother Minori as she looked around the wide-open space. “Where should we start?” She asked eagerly, eyes landing on the production booth near the back of the audience. She hadn’t been back there before since there was no reason to go. Stage production was part of being an idol too; she wanted to check it out.
“I wonder what’s backstage.” Shizuku mused. When Minori turned back to the group, Shizuku was looking back at the closed curtain.
“Why don’t we split up?” Haruka must’ve noticed that they had different locations in mind, since she proposed an appropriate course of action.
Airi nodded a couple times. “Shizuku and I will look backstage.”
Haruka’s lips lifted ever so slightly, in a smile that made Minori feel as if she was warping into the Sekai all over again. “I’ll go with Minori through the seats.”
With that agreed, the two pairs parted ways. Minori weaved her way through the seats, pausing to take a look at each row. They were made up of primarily folding chairs, with glow sticks hovering above them. When they had performed here before, the glow sticks had moved as if they were being waved.
“On stage, you’d never know that the seats are empty.” Haruka commented as she stepped into one of the rows, reaching towards a hovering glow stick. Minori watched with wide eyes as her hand phased through it, as if there were nothing there. Haruka flinched back, now frowning.
Minori tried it too, reaching for one in the next row. Just like Haruka, she was unable to grasp them. “It’s like a holograph.” She waved her hand through it, to see how the light would react.
“I think you’re right.” Haruka stepped back out into the aisle. “Ready to keep going?”
“Yeah!” Minori left the odd holographs behind so she could lead the way. They walked faster through the rest of the stands, until they reached the production booth Minori noticed before.
There were a couple flower stands in front of it, one each for both Miku and Rin. Computers were spread along the production table, along with a few other items. As Minori rounded the corner, finally able to see the tables properly, she recognized a few of the things.
“Oh woah, it’s Asrun merch!” Minori picked up the Asrun bag, running her fingers across the buttons along the side. This wasn’t just any bag; this was her bag. These buttons were the same ones she’d added over the years. She used to carry this bag all the time, storing all sorts of things inside. How was it here though? She was confident that it was hanging up in her closet at home.
Haruka had walked into the booth as well, stopping to Minori’s left at a different item. It was a blue glow stick, the same color that had washed over the audience during Haruka’s performances. Her head was tilted towards it, face only partially visible to Minori.
Minori glanced back down at the table where she stood, spotting two cd’s where the bag had been. She recognized them without needing to see the titles; these were Haruka’s first two singles. She’d bought them both on the days they released, waiting outside the music store for over an hour before it opened. How strange, these were supposed to be at home too.
There were a couple other things on the table, a large pink fan and a towel. Minori started with the towel, since it was closer. She picked it up and unfolded it, holding it out in front of her. It was the size of a hand towel, with lettering engraved on one edge. The letters spelled out Airi’s name.
Minori folded it back up as best she could, placing it back on the table. She assumed that it was Airi’s towel. To her left, Haruka had picked up the fan. She held it up to show Minori, with Airi’s name clearly visible on it as well.
“These must have manifested here.” Haruka said as she gently placed the fan back on the table. “As fragments of our feelings.”
For the most part that made sense. The originals were probably still in the real world, with the Sekai making a copy based on their emotions.
There was the idol merch, which had driven Minori to become an idol herself. The blue light sticks of Haruka’s fans inspired her to continue performing. The fan looked handmade, perhaps even by Airi herself.
The towel though, Minori wasn’t sure what to make of it. What kind of feelings did it contain?
If Shizuku said that today had been an incredibly difficult day, that would’ve been an understatement. She’d found her drive that morning after meeting Airi, but while that changed her attitude, it hadn’t diminished the challenges ahead.
Throughout the day they practiced singing, dancing, and speaking. Shizuku gave her all in each task, with dancing being the hardest one for her. Even though she struggled with some of the dance moves, she was committed to getting them right.
She watched as Airi moved in perfect time, striking each pose with precision. There was much she could learn from her, even outside the talk they had earlier. Shizuku made note of what worked and tweaked her own performance, eager to improve.
She had to do her best in order give hope to others.
With her chin up and best foot forward, Shizuku made it through her first day learning to be an idol.
Once the group was dismissed on stage, Shizuku wiped her face with the towel she’d been carrying. It was handed to her that morning by Airi, who gave it to her to dry her tears. Shizuku had been using it since, wiping her sweat as they practiced.
As she dabbed it across her forehead, she realized that maybe she should give it back. There were letters embroidered onto one side, which read Airi. This was a personalized towel, not something to be given away. To be honest, she probably should’ve returned it earlier.
With that in mind, Shizuku looked around to find the girl in question. She’d been there a few minutes before, eyes locked eagerly onto their instructor. Now, as the others milled about and all prepared to leave, she was harder to spot.
Luckily, Airi’s bright pink hair couldn’t be missed. Near the back of the stage, behind another group of teens, Shizuku spotted her. Airi was looking down at her phone, typing something on the keypad.
Shizuku moved around the others to reach her, folding the towel as she did. She left the embroidered letters facing up; it just felt right.
When she reached Airi, she stopped in front of the shorter teen. Shizuku waited as she continued to type, not wanting to interrupt.
It took a moment for Airi to notice her. First only her pink eyes glanced up, then shifted down to her phone, A moment later she looked up completely, beaming at Shizuku with a bright grin.
“Great first day out there!” Airi tucked her phone away in a pocket.
“I’ve already learned a lot.” Shizuku replied, particularly thinking back on what Airi told her that morning. She lifted the towel with both hands, holding it out towards Airi. “Thank you for lending me this.”
Surprisingly, Airi did not reach up to accept the item. Instead, she shook her head. “Keep it.” She replied simply.
Shizuku’s hands fell slightly. “You don’t want it?” It seemed like a perfectly good towel, perhaps even better than good due to the lettering.
Airi smirked, placing one hand on her hip. “I won’t take it back until you’ve beaten me!” Her eyes glimmered, exuding excitement.
Shizuku lifted the towel to her chest as she processed those words. Even after her performance today, after helping her that morning and watching her lackluster dance steps, Airi still thought of her as a rival.
A warm smile spread on Shizuku’s face as she held the towel close. Someday, once she perfected every aspect of being an idol, she’d try again to give it back.
She couldn’t help but wonder if that would be enough. The girl in front of her was full of heart, of hope. Even if she was impossible to beat, Shizuku was determined to try.
Backstage in the Sekai was not nearly as interesting as Airi hoped it would be. It was full of the typical things that could be found on real stages, like old sets, unplugged light fixtures, and a folded curtain. The lights were dim, barely illuminating the space.
At least Shizuku seemed intrigued. She was leaning over one of the sets, looking closely at some of the finer details. Airi was in no hurry to move along, content with watching her explore this world.
It felt strange, spending time together like this after their careers had gone down drastically different paths. Airi was still getting used to it again. Practicing together again felt like a dream, one Airi had long left behind.
“Airi-chan, this one has clovers on it!” Shizuku’s voice rose as she gestured for Airi to come over.
Airi joined her with a smile, walking across the stage to scrutinize the set. Indeed, it did have clovers painted along the bottom.
“I wonder how clover themed outfits would look.” Airi mused, trying to imagine it. “It might clash with my hair.”
“Nonsense,” Shizuku dismissed the notion. “You’d look wonderful.” She stood upright, moving away from the set.
Airi’s cheeks warmed at that response, which she ignored as she changed the subject. “I think that’s everything back here.”
“Hmm, yes.” Shizuku looked around one more time. “That was the last one. I think it’s my favorite.”
The two turned back towards the stage, walking past all the sets they encountered before. Each set depicted different locations, most unfamiliar to Airi. One stood out to her, a background that showed a stage. She remembered debuting on a similar stage, in front of a roaring crowd.
“I’m more curious about where they came from.” Airi replied, walking past the last one and out onto the main stage.
“Probably the same magic that made this world.”
There was no arguing with that. Airi stepped towards the front of the stage, peering out over the audience. Midway back, she spotted Haruka and Minori. They were walking towards the front, through the aisles of the seats.
“Find anything interesting?” Airi asked once the pair reached the stage. They must’ve been craning their necks to look up at her.
“There’s some cool stuff at the production booth.” Minori pointed in the direction of the booth, which Airi could see from the stage.
“They’re copies of real things.” Haruka added, drawing Airi’s attention back to her. So it wasn’t real items, but copies? It sounded different than what they found on stage. Airi was definitely curious.
“Up here, there are many different sets.” Shizuku offered, still smiling as she had been before.
That was all it took to have Minori bounding up onto the stage, bouncing back behind the curtain. Haruka followed slowly behind, taking the stairs up. “We’ll meet you back out here.” She said as she passed, disappearing into the dark of backstage.
Airi and Shizuku took those same stairs down to see the booth, which was pretty far back in the stands. They were able to walk an aisle way almost straight to it.
When they reached the booth, walking around to enter it, the bright pink fan snagged Airi’s gaze. It looked familiar, far too familiar. She picked it up to look at and yes, it was exactly as she thought.
One of her earliest fans had made her this, sending it to the production studio to give to her. They made it by hand, using paint to add her name on the side. When her idol career started to fall apart, Airi used to look at the fan to remind herself of why she did this. It was for the fans, to give them hope as their idol.
The real one was carefully preserved in plastic at home, which must’ve been what Haruka meant by the items being copies. Airi’s desires as an idol were tied strongly to this fan. Perhaps that was why it was here.
She turned to see what Shizuku was doing, catching her folding something with her hands. It appeared to be a towel, of the light pink variety. Airi put the fan down to go see, passing the blue glow stick and Asrun merch on the way. Those must’ve belonged to Haruka and Minori.
Airi stopped next to Shizuku, watching as she finished folding the towel. White lettering was visible on the top, showing a few familiar letters.
A memory flashed in Airi’s mind, one long buried and forgotten.
“You can’t possibly still have that, after all this time?” Airi asked, carefully watching Shizuku’s reaction.
Shizuku turned towards her, leaving one hand pressed on top of the towel. “Of course I still have it, I’m not ready to give it back.” Her tone carried a hint of fondness.
Airi chuckled at that, “When I gave it to you, you only tried once.” She had almost forgotten about it after that, once Shizuku stopped bringing it to practice.
“That’s right.” Shizuku’s smile softened, her expression full of warmth. “You’re an amazing idol Airi-chan, I haven’t beaten you yet.”
Airi inhaled sharply; she didn’t agree with that statement. Even if Airi had her strengths, she had faltered as an idol. Not long ago, she had gone against everything she once preached.
“Even when I quit?” It was a heavy question, loaded with an anxiety she carried deep within.
Shizuki didn’t falter, didn’t allow the question to hang in the air. “I never stopped believing in you.” She spoke gently, her voice lifting Airi like the warm coming of spring. “I always hoped you’d come back, with all my heart.”
“I’m back, Shizuku” Airi affirmed, smiling despite fighting tears in the corners of her eyes. “We’re here now, together.”
Shizuku nodded, blinking rapidly a few times. “Finally, we are.” Something hung in the air between them, electric in the multicolored light. Airi was aware of each breath, as their eyes remained locked.
Shizuku broke eye contact, cheeks pink as she looked down. She patted the towel one last time before stepping away. She moved past Airi to the other items, stopping to coo over the Asrun merchandise.
Airi gently pushed a crease out of the towel, making sure it was lying flat. In a way she still disagreed; Shizuku had beaten her long ago. The one who inspired her, who drove her to be the best idol she could, that was always Shizuku.
Years ago, when she issued the challenge, she hadn’t realized that she’d lose. Not only would she lose, but she’d be happy to do so. She would be excited to face the next day, singing and dancing with the idol who inspired her. Her rival who, through hard work and persistence, had beaten her.
Even so, Airi would let her keep the towel for now. She suspected Shizuku wouldn’t give it up anyway, even if she asked. After all, it had appeared here for a reason.
Airi wasn’t ready to grapple with that idea yet, as she followed Shizuku over to the other items.
The Sekai version of the towel remained folded on the table, with the letters of Airi’s name face up for all to see.
