Just some fluff with a tinge of angst, mentions of Kayano’s old life, Aguri, and pain from tentacle implants.
This was actually written for rarepair week, but I was too late o_O. So I actually am so glad for this valentines event, because I can post it now!
~
“Kayano-san?” Okuda called out, her voice soft and sweet in contrast to the booming music playing at the karaoke club they were at. She played with the end of her braid, a sign of her nervousness. “Um, have you picked a song yet?”
“Uh, almost! I’m just deciding between these two!” Another fake smile, bursting with cuteness that just wasn’t her.
It had, naturally, been Sugino’s idea at first. At the end of a long week, he piped up with the suggestion to wind down with some “crappy singing and good food.” She had been the first to agree, but it wasn’t all that genuine. She just needed to play the part, after all, and her designated role was the “cheerful, outgoing” sidekick-girl. Someone who would jump at this kind of thing, even if she was hesitant underneath.
Karaoke was fun in concept, but the actual thing gave her a headache. The bright lights, loud sounds, crowds of people - all of it reminded her of the movie sets she had grown up in. And after months of filming and being surrounded by all of that in work, it wasn’t the first idea that popped up in her head when she wanted to relax with friends. And now, the familiarity that it carried stung her. Another reminder of things - people - she couldn’t have anymore. Bitterness settled into her heart long ago, but it seemed the pain would never go away, both physical and emotional.
“Why don’t you two do a duet?” Kayano glanced up, shaking off the dark memories. Sugino was grinning at her while Okuda seemed to shy away even more than she usually did. Were her cheeks pink…?
“Who? Me and Okuda-san?”
“Yeah! Let’s all split into pairs! Nagisa, you go with Karma since he’ll only pick rock songs, and you’re cool with everything. And I’ll,” Sugino paused, a sly grin on his face that was instantly cancelled out by the blush on his face, ”sing with Kanzaki-san!”
Karma raised an eyebrow and made some type of snarky remark while Nagisa sweatdropped at them both. Kanzaki, ever so graceful, agreed to the duet and Sugino looked like he combusted inside. Kayano tuned all of them out to focus on Okuda, who looked slightly less pink now.
“I’m down to do a duet if you are,” Kayano told her, surprising even herself with how genuine that sounded. She really was happy to sing with the purple-haired chemist. Okuda had been nothing but kind to her since they’d become friends.
Okuda finally looked up and beamed at her. “M-me too! I mean, yes! I-I want to do a duet with Kayano-san.”
Kayano was starting to feel a little bit lightheaded, but she chalked it up to the thundering bass of the music and the flashing lights. “Okay! Let’s do the song you picked out.”
Nagisa and Karma opted to go first, although the former was noticeably more hesitant. Their song choice was some obscure rock melody with lots of belting out. Kayano had never heard it before, but it was definitely “Karma-ish” to pick something no one would know or predict.
Next up, it was her and Okuda. Kayano took a sharp breath as her hands wrapped around the cold microphone. God, those stupid implants chose a terrific time to hurt like hell. She felt like collapsing onto the ground.
Kayano tensed up slightly when she felt a hand gently hold onto her own. She turned to see a smiling Okuda. “I’m kind of nervous to do this. Well, really nervous. But I’m glad Kayano-san is singing with me, so I’m not alone.” Her face brightened. “Let’s have fun!”
Kayano’s lips curved up into a honest smile and she squeezed the other girl’s fingers, reassuringly. “Of course, Okuda-san,” she replied softly, feeling her chest tighten with affection.
She swore the pain lessened considerably for the rest of the night.
Awe it was never too late!! But this is still adorable!
