#mochizuki honami

Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE! click and drag game!

Game notes • How to Play

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

Summary: Honami couldn’t just watch her flounder like this; it would be dangerous if the knife slipped. “Try cutting with more of a pushing motion.” She offered, drawing Kanade’s eyes to her. 

“What do you mean?” Kanade asked, lifting the kitchen knife slightly. 

Honami lifted one hand to mime the motion, but paused before she could. The easiest way for her to learn would be to help her do it, so she could learn how it felt and repeat it.

Word Count: 1200

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Honami hummed lightly as she chopped the vegetables, her kitchen knife tapping rhythmically against the cutting board. Her hands moved easily in the practiced motion, creating almost perfectly cut cubes. Soon she’d be ready to start the stir fry, a simple yet satisfying dinner to share with her companion

Above her, orange rays of light filtered through the small front window of Kanade’s apartment. The sun was starting to set and would soon vanish beneath the horizon. The natural light competed with a lightbulb overhead, which served to illuminate the space. It was a quiet evening, as they so often were when Honami visited here.

Somewhere behind her, Honami knew, Kanade was watching. The other teen had left her office today to sit with Honami while she cooked, her ice blue eyes burning a hole in the center of Honami’s back. She’d been sitting there silently this whole time, though Honami wasn’t sure why.

Even though they’d known each other for so long, sometimes Kanade managed to surprise her.

“Can I help with that?” Kanade’s voice, quiet yet insistent, came from far closer to Honami’s right side than she had anticipated. She glanced over, hands coming to a halt at the cutting board.

Kanade’s mouth was set in a firm line, her fingers intertwined together in front of her. This was an odd request, Honami thought as she set down the kitchen knife. Kanade almost never cooked for herself, in fact Honami couldn’t recall ever finding a homemade meal there that she hadn’t prepared herself.

This was unusual, but in a good way. If Kanade practiced cooking, maybe she would even make herself some real food. If Honami could help her do that, who was she to turn her down.

A hint of warmth flourished in Honami’s chest, bringing a broad smile to her face.

“Of course!” Honami moved the already chopped vegetables to the side, placing another onto the cutting board. “If you want to chop, I’ll get the stovetop ready.” She offered up her current task without a second thought.

Kanade nodded and stepped into that space, slowly picking up the kitchen knife in her right hand. She looked down at it silently, rotating it and examining both sides. Honami watched for a moment, wondering if she should reconsider their assignments. She could already tell that Kanade had no idea how to hold the kitchen knife, let alone use it.

No, she had given her the task so she needed to see it through. Kanade had a decent supply of bandages in the closet, Honami told herself it would be fine.

Honami left her to it for a moment, vowing to not look away for long, and searched beneath the counter for the pan she needed. She placed it on the stovetop, before turning back to Kanade.

In the few moments she hadn’t been watching, Kanade had settled on how to use the knife. She held it firmly in her hand and had succeeded at aligning it with the vegetable on the cutting board. As she tried to cut, the blade merely stopped on top of the vegetable.

Honami couldn’t just watch her flounder like this; it would be dangerous if the knife slipped. “Try cutting with more of a pushing motion.” She offered, drawing Kanade’s eyes to her.

“What do you mean?” Kanade asked, lifting the kitchen knife slightly.

Honami lifted one hand to mime the motion, but paused before she could. The easiest way for her to learn would be to help her do it, so she could learn how it felt and repeat it.

“Here, I’ll guide you.” Honami stepped around Kanade so she was on her right side, slowly reaching forward to cover her right hand with her own. Honami had to step closer to make it work, bringing her body even closer to Kanade’s. She placed her hand carefully and precisely, with Kanade’s small fingers between it and the kitchen knife. Kanade’s hand and arm tensed against her, flinching away just slightly before returning.

Honami’s heart sunk in her chest, a familiar and unwelcome feeling. That pulling away, that rejection, she remembered it.

How could Honami have forgotten?  Her fingers, which she used every day to cook and play the drums, were covered in the rugged calluses that accompanied regular percussion playing. She hadn’t even thought about it as she reached out, hadn’t considered how it rough it would feel and how undesirable her touch would be.

Honami inhaled sharply, pulling her hand back and stepping hastily away. The kitchen table was there, halting her retreat. She pulled her hand up to her chest, fingers curled over her heart as Kanade looked over her shoulder, a look of confusion clear on her face.

“I’m sorry.” Honami’s voice shook, wavering despite her desire to hold it steady. “I shouldn’t have, my hands are…” She grimaced, unsure of how to finish that sentence.

“I don’t mind, you just startled me.” Kanade set the kitchen knife down, turning fully to face Honami. She frowned slightly as her eyes glimmered with concern, with questions. “Is your hand hurt?” She asked, eyes dropping to the one clenched against Honami’s chest.

Honami followed her eyes down, opening her hand to inspect her own fingers. They appeared normal at first glance, but if she looked closely she could see the slightly darkened skin that marked her calluses. Every place the drumstick made contact was protected, creating a rough uneven surface. She lowered her hand to show Kanade, who stepped closer to get a better look.

“Did you get cut?” Kanade reached forward to lift Honami’s hand higher, her touch soft and warm against the back of it. The gentleness of her touch, Honami wanted her own to be like that.

“I’m not hurt, don’t worry.” Honami didn’t like seeing Kanade fret like this, fussing over her. The heavy feeling it brought tore into her gut. “They’re just rough.”

Kanade blinked as her eyes came up, her other hand coming to cover Honami’s. “Even if they’re tough on the outside, they’re still you.” Her hands were warm as they encompassed Honami’s, grasping her in place. “Please show me how to do it.”

Those words washed over Honami, sinking through her ears to her mind. Kanade was right, of course she was. This roughness was still a part of her, a product of her membership in the band. They were the result of many hours spent practicing and performing, of bonding with her bandmates. She carried them with the rest of her experiences, both good and bad.

Even after that, Kanade still wanted Honami to help guide her and to teach her. This wasn’t a rejection, as she had feared. No, it was quite the opposite.

Honami nodded once, smiling down at Kanade as her heart clenched in her chest. “I will.”

The corner of Kanade’s lips quirked up as she released Honami’s hands, turning back to the cutting board.

After taking a moment to calm herself, Honami joined her. Together they resumed the task, cutting through the vegetable that had been waiting for them.

Honami’s hand was rough against Kanade’s, but that was okay.

Summary: “Alright, I’ll be all done after that.” Kanade listened without turning her head, processing Honami’s words. She already knew that; she’d been waiting for this. She turned her ear towards the door as Honami stepped away from it, her footsteps easily heard moving into the next room. 

Kanade waited for another few seconds just to be sure, before pushing her chair back and rising to her feet. Her knees cracked as she stood, a sure sign that she’d been sitting too long. That was a thought for another day, when she didn’t have plans to conduct.

Word Count: 1000

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“Would you like me to clean the bedroom today?” Honami’s voice, gentle and kind as always, drifted from the open door. Despite the ease at which the sound entered her ears, it caused Kanade’s heart to tighten noticeably in her chest. She sat at her computer, still facing the large screens. The door was far behind her, on the opposite end of the room. She had been waiting for this.

Kanade clicked to save her current project, making sure her work wouldn’t be lost. “Yes, thank you Mochizuki-san.” She could practically feel Honami’s gaze against the back of her head, eyes that exuded warmth.

“Alright, I’ll be all done after that.” Kanade listened without turning her head, processing Honami’s words. She already knew that; she’d been waiting for this. She turned her ear towards the door as Honami stepped away from it, her footsteps easily heard moving into the next room.

Kanade waited for another few seconds just to be sure, before pushing her chair back and rising to her feet. Her knees cracked as she stood, a sure sign that she’d been sitting too long. That was a thought for another day, when she didn’t have plans to conduct.

She took slow careful steps towards the door, cautiously as not to alert her companion. Once she reached the hallway, she could just barely hear the melodic sound of humming. As tempting as it was to stay and listen, to lean closer to that bedroom door, Kanade pulled herself away.

The kitchen was her destination, with its stove burner and various other appliances. Kanade didn’t use this space too often, but today was going to be different.

Kanade stopped in the middle of the kitchen, perking her ear again to see if she’d been noticed. After a few moments of silence she didn’t hear anything, so she resumed.

First she took her kettle and filled it with water, a process that was far too loud, before setting it on the burner. Kanade lit the burner below to start heating it, making sure to leave the lid open so it wouldn’t make too much noise when it was ready.

Then came the teas. This was a harder step, having to choose a flavor. She’d even gone to the store earlier to get a few different ones, but it was so hard to pick which one would be best. Kanade laid her options out on the counter and then stared down at them, willing one to stand out to her. Her eyebrows were scrunched together as she scrutinized the varied choices.

She didn’t notice someone else entering the room. “Yoisaki-san, are you making tea?” This time, Honami’s voice sent a jolt up Kanade’s spine. She tensed up, before regaining her senses and hastily gathering all of the tea bags.

“Oh, are you finished already?” Kanade’s cheeks felt hot as she turned towards Honami, trying to conceal the tea bags hidden between her hands. It was impossible to do so, as the labels were still visible between her fingers.

Honami smiled, her response coming smoothly. “Almost, but I heard something and wanted to check on you.”

“Everything is fine.” The words came blunt, colder than Kanade anticipated. This was a blatant lie; everything was not fine the surprise had been ruined. Kanade sighed, looking down as she raised her hands up to show Honami what she held. “I was making tea, yes. It was supposed to be a surprise.”

“Why a surprise?” Honami asked, lifting one hand to her chin in thought.

If Kanade’s cheeks had been warm before, now they burned. Her eyes stayed stubbornly on her hands. “You always look after me and make me tea…” She muttered, struggling to lift her voice. “I wanted to do the same for you.” Kanade forced the words out, what she really wanted to say.

Her heart pounded in her chest after she finished speaking, and even though only a few seconds passed the silence stretched for what felt like an eternity.

A single hand entered Kanade’s vision, which came to gently touch the side of Kanade’s own hands. Though Honami’s touch was soft, almost hovering, Kanade could feel the roughness of her calloused fingers. “Thank you, Yoisaki-san.” Honami’s voice couldn’t have possibly sounded softer than before, yet somehow it did. Her words were low and tender and something in Kanade’s heart seized as it skipped a beat.

Kanade looked up, finally meeting her eyes. There were tears gathering in the corners of then, which disappeared a moment later as Honami blinked rapidly. Despite this, a broad smile was spread across her face, one Kanade had always longed to see from her.

Kanade observed her with wide eyes, wanting to grasp her hand in return, to promise to make tea for her every day if that was what she wanted. Unfortunately, Kanade’s hands were still full. Those actions would be for another time.

For now, Honami wiped at her eyes and took a step back. “I’ll finish up, then we’ll drink.” She was still smiling.

“Okay.” Was all Kanade could muster in response, still stunned from what occurred just a minute before.

“I’m looking forward to having your tea!” Honami grinned, turning away from Kanade with a small wave. She disappeared down the hallway, leaving Kanade alone in the kitchen.

Kanade turned back to the counter, setting down the tea bags that she had been clenching this whole time. She still needed to pick and she was determined not to disappoint.

It took more than a few minutes, but as the water reached a boil she was able to decide. She steeped the tea carefully, for the exact number of minutes it needed.

The pair soon sat down at the kitchen table, with Kanade pouring each of them a cup.

She brought it to place in front of Honami, just as she had so many times before for Kanade. Warmth echoed through Kanade’s heart as Honami took her first sip; she could get used to this.