Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Misaki was a complicated girl. It wasn’t an adjective she felt comfortable owning, but it was something she had grown familiar with, especially as part of a band where organized routine wasn’t the group’s most striking trait. Still, she’d learned to deal with it thanks to one small factor that made everything worth it: the days were fun.

Admitting it out loud was, at the very least... difficult, but her friends knew that despite her complaints or her scowls, she enjoyed what she was doing. She kept in mind that someday, this would end. She reminded herself that being in her third year and with her friends growing busier, it would eventually become impossible to gather all the band members in the same place to keep rehearsing and organizing the shows she’d grown to appreciate. So, secretly, she promised herself she’d cherish every moment without paying too much attention to the hazy thoughts about the future.

Today was no exception. She walked alongside two forces of nature, one with orange hair and the other with yellow, both carrying within them a bottomless energy reserve that could probably fuel a mecha. ( She made a mental note not to mention that idea around them, deep down, she feared encouraging a catastrophe if the group’s vocalist liked it. )

“-SO MICHELLE COULD RIDE A UNICYCLE ON A TIGHTROPE WHILE CARRYING US ON HER BACK AND-” As her orange-haired friend shouted deafeningly, the blonde’s eyes sparkled as if this were an idea with zero margin for error… or at least, not in the duo’s little fantasy world. But hearing the name of her other half, Misaki had to intervene.

“Hey, hey… terrible idea! Michelle doesn’t know how to ride a unicycle, much less balance on a tightrope. Plus, it’d be dangerous if you two were clinging to her back like that.” Still, she had to admit, compared to the other extremes they’d pulled, this was scarily casual. And, well… it did fit the whole circus vibe Hello Happy World gave off whenever fans described them.

In front of her, Hagumi made a face at having her idea shot down. It didn’t take long for Misaki to feel guilty at the sight, so she sighed and tried to explain more gently:
"Think about Michelle’s feelings. She’d be really sad if you fell and got hurt."
Hearing this, Hagumi grinned again, seemingly satisfied with the answer. But her companion wasn’t ready to give up so easily.

"Then we just won’t fall! We could even ask Kaoru to come with us, then I’ll climb on her back, and Hagumi can ride on Michelle’s!" Kokoro declared in a sing-song tone.

"It’s still dangerous!"
Misaki almost added that involving the guitarist would be worse due to her fear of heights, but she decided to drop the topic, praying the two would forget about it.

She kept walking, keeping an eye on her friends as they chatted about something entirely different. Despite the odd exchange, the stroll was pleasant thanks to the calm weather. Letting herself smile at their contagious energy, she kept her head down, feeling the spring breeze on her skin. They were getting closer to the rehearsal spot.

--

"Do not mock our valor, Misaki, for not even the most terrible tempest could tear me from thy radiance."
The black-haired girl could picture Kaoru striking a pose even over the phone. No wonder she and Kanon were late. again .

"Then hurry up! This is the fourth time we’ve started rehearsal behind schedule… And tell Kanon I said hi."
Only Misaki seemed to care about punctuality, especially since they’d only booked the space for a short time today.

"Ah, what is the heart of an eloquent lady if not harbor such flicker of longing? Once, thou didst not show such vulnerability. Perhaps thou dost miss thy companions, yet deny."

Misaki hung up before she could finish, convinced they’d arrive soon.

Tucking her phone away, she headed for her DJ equipment, wanting everything set up. In her peripheral vision, she saw the duo sitting on the floor, Kokoro whispering something to Hagumi. Curiosity nagged at her, but she figured the best move was just to update them.

"They’re on their way. If you need to do anything before rehearsal, do it now."

"But don’t you need to call Michelle?"

Hagumi’s innocent tone almost made her reach for her phone, for about two seconds before realizing that she is the girl in question.

"I already talked to her. Apparently, some bear business came up, so I’m filling in today. Don’t worry, I’ll debrief her later."
She wasn’t keen on wearing the costume today. One small deviation wouldn’t hurt.

A giggle slipped from the orange-haired girl.
"Mii-kun thinks of everything! Let’s do our best today, right Kokorin?" She jumped, throwing her arms in the air.

Kokoro mirrored the pose. "YES!"
When Misaki glanced over, she saw Kokoro’s usual glow... but for a second, she could’ve sworn something was off . Kokoro was staring at Hagumi, oddly quiet.

After a pause, Hagumi suddenly flinched.
"O-Oh! I, uh… need to use the bathroom?" Her voice tilted like a question. She glanced at Kokoro, whose smile only widened.

"Taaake your time! We'll wait right here for as long as you need~" Kokoro flashed a thumbs-up while winking at her friend... Something felt off to Misaki, though she couldn't quite put her finger on what exactly was wrong.

Hagumi smiled and quickly headed toward the restroom. Misaki kept watching Kokoro - something seemed different today. She was still energetic and bouncy of course, but noticeably less so than usual. Maybe something bad had happened? Or was it just her imagination? Perhaps Kokoro was simply tired - a disturbing thought, since ‘tired’ and ‘Tsurumaki Kokoro’ in the same sentence felt fundamentally incompatible. The blonde wandered toward her bag at the edge of the room, rummaging for something. Misaki wanted to ask what was up, but without Michelle's natural charm at her disposal she doubted she'd get anywhere. Better to wait and see how this played out.

After a few moments Kokoro approached Misaki while hiding something behind her back. Her expression was cheerful, but her face looked slightly flushed. Now that she noticed, the DJ realized the room had gotten warmer - maybe the blonde was just feeling hot?

What happened next completely blindsided her. Kokoro extended a pink envelope toward her, sealed with a sticker of their band's mascot. Something twisted inside Misaki's gut - this had ‘trouble’ written all over it. Coming from the girl who made the extraordinary feel mundane, this could mean literally anything.

Misaki's face contorted with concern. If this was another skydiving invitation... The first experience had been traumatic enough, and even talking about it seemed absurd. But if they'd done it once, nothing would stop Kokoro from wanting a repeat.

She reached for the envelope but hesitated midway, lowering her hand again. Kokoro's smile dimmed slightly, replaced by a curious head tilt. But the moment she noticed Misaki looking, her grin widened further.

"Take it! It's yours!" She thrust the envelope forward again. The skydiving theory evaporated - that would've been a group activity. This was something else entirely. Misaki took the envelope, rubbing her thumb against its surface as if unsure what to do. The obvious choice was to open it, but she felt compelled to ask first.

"And this... would be what exactly?" Her voice came out stiffer than intended. As one of the group's most responsible members (alongside Kanon), she had to be ready to lecture Kokoro if this turned out to be another dangerous scheme.

The blonde's expression became uncharacteristically hesitant - a rare sight. Misaki could count on one hand how often she'd seen Kokoro actually think before speaking. For someone who always blurted out whatever came to mind, this was... peculiar.

"I... hmm," the blonde girl began, her eyes darting around nervously. This only made Misaki more uneasy - this behavior just felt wrong. She decided to encourage Kokoro to share what was on her mind.

"Hey... is something wrong?" Misaki crossed her arms, the envelope still clutched in one hand, as she fixed Kokoro with a steady gaze. The blonde fidgeted with her sweater, twisting the fabric in her hands. Silence filled the room. Misaki considered just saying it was okay, that whatever it was, she-could always talk to her, that her friend would help no matter wh-

"I LOVE YOU!"

"......"

"......"

...Huh?

"W-what did you just.."

"THAT I LOVE YOU!" Kokoro's expression was resolute. As Misaki stared at her friend, she saw no trace of confusion or deceit - just Kokoro's radiant smile, a touch nervous but utterly genuine, her golden eyes shining with anticipation as she willed herself to maintain eye contact.

But... Misaki felt something bitter twist inside her. This wasn't what she'd wanted to hear. Suddenly, unicycles and tightropes seemed like infinitely preferable topics. Her mouth opened to say something, to ask what this even meant. But no words came out. Her arms hung limp at her sides like noodles.

Noticing Misaki's silence, Kokoro stepped closer before continuing: "Seeing your face makes me so happy that I can't stop smiling! I didn't understand why my stomach felt funny whenever I saw you happy, so I asked Kaoru what it meant. She lent me this really cool and fun book and said it was 'the afflictions of a heart in love' but 'affliction' sounded like a bad word, so I got a little bit confused about it. But when I read the book, the descriptions matched exactly how I feel! My heart races whenever I spend time with you!"

With each word Kokoro spoke, Misaki seemed to shrink further into herself. How had this happened? Maybe it was a mistake... Yes, maybe Kokoro had confused admiration with love. This was Kaoru they were talking about, everything had to be overly dramatic and flowery with her. And besides, why would someone so incredible love someone as plain as her? Would someone like Kokoro even understand what real love was? The thoughts swirled chaotically in Misaki's head. Maybe she could still make Kokoro see she was mistaken... if only she could find the strength to voice her thoughts.  

Kokoro kept staring at her, those golden eyes never wavering. After what felt like an eternity, the blonde suddenly cupped her own cheeks. "My face gets all warm when I see you smile! At first I thought it was just because you're usually so grumpy that seeing you happy was surprising, but then I realized, I think your smile is the prettiest! The prettiest in the whole world!" She threw her arms up as if trying to measure something, then gave up and just stretched them as wide as she could. "I love you thiiiiis much!" She made a little ‘boing’ sound with her mouth, as if that somehow made it more official.

It was a love confession, pure and simple. No additions, no subtractions. Misaki couldn't comprehend why this was happening. Why now? Why today? Why her of all people? She tried once more to voice her objections, but all that escaped her lips was a single, strained question:

"Why?"

Not out of malice, nor from ignorance of what love meant, but from the profound aching confusion of how this could even be possible.

Kokoro tilted her head slightly. "Why what?" Her voice mirrored her bewilderment, and rightly so. What answer did Misaki even expect? Unlike her, Kokoro was straightforward, diving headfirst into anything that caught her interest. As simple as that.

So why couldn’t the DJ respond? It should be simple. Just say no. Say she wasn’t interested, that they were both too young for relationships, that this was surely just another fleeting whim of Kokoro’s. Even if she rejected her now, it’d take five minutes tops for the blonde to forget this silly thought. And yet... the words refused to come.

"I-I..." Misaki’s voice faltered. She should say, "I’m sorry, but I don’t feel the same way." But instead, she took the coward’s way out. "I... need time to think. I’ll give you an answer after rehearsal next Saturday." Two days. Just Thursday and Friday to mentally prepare herself to reject her friend, and inevitably hurt her in the process.

But Kokoro looked thrilled. She jumped for joy, spinning like she couldn’t contain her excitement. Of course she’d react like this. Misaki hadn’t considered how her vague reply would only feed Kokoro’s hope, how it painted the illusion that maybe, just maybe, the answer could be yes. Watching her, Misaki felt her energy drain away.

And yet... Kokoro wasn’t doing anything wrong. So why did observing her now make Misaki feel so distant? After a final bounce, Kokoro turned to launch herself at the DJ, but stopped mid-motion, freezing when she finally saw Misaki’s face. Her smile flickered. Gently, she took Misaki’s hand, studying her with uncharacteristic care.

"Misaki... you’re not smiling. Did something happen?"

That question again, the one that refused to stay silent. What happened? She don’t know and unlike Kokoro, Misaki was... complicated.

The lack of response only made Kokoro step even closer, now holding the DJ's hands firmly in her own, warm, but not tight enough to hurt. Before Misaki could process the details of the moment, she felt Kokoro's gaze scanning her face.

The blonde opened her mouth to speak

SLAM.

The door burst open, making Kokoro whirl around, her smile instantly reigniting. Misaki lifted her head to see two figures entering: one striking a dramatic pose straight out of a magical girl anime.

"Greetings, beloved comrades who bathe my days in resplendent radiance!" Kaoru announced, voice booming. Behind her, Kanon slipped in quietly, murmuring apologies for their lateness. Misaki barely registered them, too aware of Kokoro still clutching her hands, and Kanon’s gentle, knowing smile in her direction.

Remembering why they were there, Misaki yanked her hands back before the atmosphere could grow even more awkward. Kokoro blinked, startled but quickly recovered, beaming at the newcomers.

"KAAORU! KANON!" Misaki would never cease to be amazed at how loud Kokoro could scream over the simplest joys. Part of her was grateful for the vocalist’s ability to bulldoze tension, but another part couldn’t shake the memory of that tender expression when she’d confessed. Misaki shook her head, focus. She’d deal with those thoughts later.

"I see our brilliant star is in high spirits today!" Kaoru draped an arm over Kokoro’s shoulders. "What polish has graced your diamond heart this time?" Misaki side-eyed the interaction, curious.

"This morning, Kasumi showed us videos of circus acrobats! So Hagumi and I got this idea to.... Oh! HAGUMI!" Kokoro bolted for the door, yelling the bassist’s name.

Misaki was half-relieved Kokoro hadn’t blurted everything out, but sighed at yet another delay. Still, these chaotic "normal" moments (for lack of a better word) were something she’d grown fond of...something she wouldn’t trade.

"You seem happy today too, Misaki. You’re even smiling." Kanon’s comment made her stiffen. The drummer was adjusting her hair at her kit, tone light. Misaki turned away, flustered.

" Good Afternoon Kanon. I Just remembered a joke someone told me earlier. No big deal." She heard the older girl chuckle softly.

"Tell me after rehearsal, then."

"Assuming the dynamic duo doesn’t take forever to come back."

"Worry not, dear Misaki!" Kaoru declared. "We spotted our beloved Hagumi playing with a stray cat outside. Once she and our leader return, we shall triumph in yet another productive day!"

Misaki might’ve scoffed at Kaoru’s confidence, but one detail stuck out. "A cat? I thought she went to the bathro..."

Speak of the devil. Hagumi bounded in, twice as energetic as before, greeting the others loudly. Kokoro trailed behind, and with the group finally assembled, Misaki pushed down the contradictions and braced for rehearsal.

–

To say they were in sync would be an understatement, their current performance, especially with last week’s new song, was flawless. If Misaki had to judge, they could easily debut it at the next event without issues. But the DJ still felt pressured to tweak the choreography, mainly convincing a certain blonde that backflips weren’t necessary every single chorus.

"Wow, Kokoron! That’s seven in a row! How do you not get tired?!" Hagumi’s eyes sparkled as she clutched her bass, already asking if she could copy the move.

While the two chattered, Kanon sidled up to Misaki, resting a hand on her shoulder. Seizing the moment, the DJ clapped her hands.

"Fifteen-minute break, everyone! After this, we’ll run through some older songs."
The blonde’s hand shot up like a rocket.
"And no...we already did Naruto music last time. Pick something different today."
Kokoro’s arm flopped down with a theatrical whine, but she burst into giggles almost instantly, nodding before turning back to Hagumi.

"They’re extra energetic today," Kanon mused, twirling a strand of Misaki’s hair. "Honestly? It makes me want to play even better."

"When aren’t they? If they ever show up frowning, it’ll mean the apocalypse is coming."
In her periphery, Misaki spotted Kaoru approaching with two water bottles.

"Ah, when that fateful day dawns upon us, fear not, I shall shield thee!" she proclaimed, offering the drinks like a knight presenting swords.

"Thanks. I feel so safe knowing someone who struggles to lift anything heavier than a microphone will defend me," Misaki deadpanned.

Kaoru laughed, unfazed, handing the other bottle to Kanon. "You underestimate me, dear one. Though you wear the guise of a princess, your spirit rivals the fiercest warrior!" She winked. Misaki just rolled her eyes.

"Now, if you’ll excuse me, I shall seize this respite to court the most radiant monarch this world has ever known." 

This time, Kanon was the first to react. "Chisato asked me to tell you she won’t answer any calls today. And if you text her, she won’t reply until tonight."

The guitarist’s face fell into melodramatic despair. She raised a hand to her forehead, sighing. "Such cruelty! How can I focus knowing I’ve succumbed to the temptation of gazing upon Eurydice one last time? No, I shall hesitate no longer! This very moment, I shall declare all that burns in my heart!" And with that, she swept out of the room.

"I’ll bet a cup of tea she gets muted for at least five days," Misaki muttered, already picturing Chisato’s rage at the inevitable spam barrage by evening.

"Sh-she wouldn’t do that!" Kanon tried to defend her, then paused, looked down, and reconsidered. "...At least not after that time Kaoru showed up at night with apology bouquets and chocolates, begging to be unblocked." A scenario that didn’t surprise Misaki in the slightest.

"My condolences for getting caught in the crossfire." The DJ felt a pang of sympathy for the drummer. Juggling work, school, band practice, and her friends’ antics was no small feat.

"MISAKI! MISAKIIII!" Speaking of antics, a certain blonde was now bouncing toward her like an overexcited spring.

Still flustered from earlier, Misaki forced herself to act normal. "Yeah, Kokoro, I can hear you just fine. What’s up?"

"Sorry! Hagumi just told me there’s a new chocolate flavor at a bakery near her place! Wanna come with us after rehearsal?" A surprisingly mundane request, just curiosity about sweets. Yet Misaki’s chest tightened inexplicably. It should be an easy yes. Chocolate was harmless, and she had just enough spare cash…

But that gnawing feeling wouldn’t let her accept. "Next time. Today I, uh… promised Kanon I’d walk her home." She turned to the drummer, who blinked in confusion.

"Fueee…?" Kanon tilted her head but stayed silent.

Kokoro, at least, seemed to buy the excuse. She simply smiled and nodded enthusiastically. "Got it! But next time, you have to come, I’m sure it’ll make you even happier!" With that, she bounced back to Hagumi, who was now in full cheerleader mode. When Hagumi noticed Misaki’s gaze, she abruptly started whistling and looking away, as if caught red-handed.

Kanon leaned in, whispering into Misaki’s ear, "S-sorry, did we really plan to walk home together? I don’t remember talking about it…" Guilt prickled at Misaki, she’d dragged the drummer into this. she reminded herself to make it up to her later with snacks or something. 

"I-I’m sorry, Kanon. It’s just… today’s been exhausting, and I really need to rest. If I’d said no outright, Kokoro would’ve kept pushing until I gave in. So… mind if I tag along?" Admitting the lie was embarrassing, but there was no taking it back now.

"Oh… I see. W-well, in that case, please walk with me after rehearsal."

"Thanks."

The sound of the door swinging open interrupted them, Kaoru returning with a carefully neutral expression. Or so it seemed, until she dramatically sighed, shoulders slumping, making it clear her "declaration" hadn’t gone well. Not Misaki’s problem to fix, though.

–

True to her word, Misaki walked with Kanon. Kaoru had left first, citing "unfinished business," while Hagumi and Kokoro raced off to the bakery. Despite the lingering unease, the stroll was peaceful, so much so that Misaki realized how rare these moments had become since graduation. Back then, it was just the two of them half the time. Now, this was the closest they’d get to making up for lost time.

Kanon’s laughter broke the silence. "I might actually get home early with you guiding me. At least I won’t get lost."

The normality of it, this was what Misaki loved. She could relax here, just for a while. "Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve gotten way better—only two wrong turns in the past few weeks. That’s progress!"

"Fueee…" Kanon pouted, then hesitated. "But… you haven’t turned down an outing with those two in ages. Is everything okay?"

Of course Kanon would notice the elephant in the room. She was staring right at Misaki now, waiting, patient, but insistent.

But how could she answer? She could state the obvious: Kokoro confessed, and I chickened out. But that felt too raw, too messy to explain without making it sound like she means bad, or worse, she couldn’t bear the thought of Kanon seeing her in a negative light.

Misaki didn’t realize how tense her expression had become, or the storm of worries brewing beneath it. But Kanon noticed. Always did. The drummer gently squeezed her hand as they walked, her voice soft as spring rain.

"I’ll take that as a ‘yes’ for now. But if something’s bothering you… you know you can always talk to me, right?"

The words wrapped around Misaki like a warm blanket. For a moment, she hovered on the edge of confession ‘Kokoro said she loves me, and I panicked’ But the weight of it stuck in her throat. Instead, she exhaled.

"Sorry. Just… not tonight." Guilt prickled at her evasion, but Kanon’s smile never wavered.

"That’s okay. Tell me when you’re ready."

Silence settled over most of their walk, but it was comfortable, the kind only Kanon could create. It was almost funny, really. This poised, steady presence was the same girl who once trembled at basic social interactions. That growth, Misaki thought, is why she’s so precious to me.

"Thanks for walking with me," Kanon said, adjusting her bag. "Oh! Before I forget, I’m free Friday evening before study session. Want to grab coffee?"

A rare chance to steal more moments like this. Misaki wouldn’t waste it.

"I’d love that. See you, Kanon." She waved.

"It’s a date then! Bye, Misaki!" Kanon turned to leave.

and immediately started walking in the wrong direction.

Misaki blinked. Three times in two weeks. Still, she couldn’t help but smile as she called out, "Other way, navigator!"

Kanon spun around, cheeks pink. "Fueee?! S-sorry, I was just..."

"Proud of you for trying," Misaki chuckled, pointing her toward the correct path. The night air hummed with quiet understanding. Some things like Kanon’s sense of direction never changed.

And maybe… that was okay.

–

Drinking coffee to cope with problems wasn’t exactly effective, but it wasn’t like Misaki had a better alternative at the moment. So she resolved to spend the night working on lyrics for their next song. Never too late to bring the vocalist’s chaotic ideas to life, she thought dryly.

The only issue? Kokoro’s "ideas" always arrived as cryptic doodles. Misaki had to admit her drawing skills had improved over time, but deciphering them was still like solving a riddle in a language she didn’t speak. After minutes of glaring at the sketch. a swirl of stars, a bear wearing a crown, and what might’ve been a trampoline?, she groaned and gave up. Maybe if I call her, she can at least explain what the hell this is supposed to mean.

As she straightened her desk, her gaze snagged on the small pink envelope from earlier. She hadn’t opened it yet, dread coiled in her stomach at the thought of facing whatever confession lay inside. But throwing it away felt impossible. So it stayed there, a weight she couldn’t carry or discard.

Stretching, she flopped onto her bed and grabbed her phone, thumb hovering over Kokoro’s contact. Impulse won. She hit the call, then immediately canceled, a wave of panic crashing over her.

What the hell am I doing?! Her mind raced. It’s past midnight. She’s probably asleep. And even if she isn’t, why would she want to talk to me when I’m just going to reject her in a few days?

She tossed the phone aside, burying her face in her pillow. Maybe if I just lie here long enough tiredness would make her sleep

The sudden vibration made her yelp, sending her phone tumbling onto the mattress. Deep down, she already knew who’d call at this hour without a second thought. And sure enough, ‘Kokoro ♡’ flashed on the screen, demanding an answer.

The phone kept ringing. Misaki considered letting it go to voicemail, turning down the volume and ignoring the vibrations to avoid outright rejecting the call. It’d save her the trouble of concocting an elaborate excuse tomorrow at school. I could say I dialed by accident, then went to the bathroom and missed her callback.

The phone kept ringing. Misaki considered letting it go to voicemail, turning down the volume and ignoring the vibrations to avoid outright rejecting the call. It’d save her the trouble of concocting an elaborate excuse tomorrow at school. I could say I dialed by accident, then went to the bathroom and missed her callback.

A few months ago, that’s exactly what she would’ve done. Back then, she didn’t owe anyone explanations.

But the thought evaporated as quickly as it came. She’ll just keep calling until I answer. (And, well. The guilt would eat her alive.)

She hit accept.

"Misaki! MisakiMisakiMisaki...!" A hurricane of enthusiasm blasted through the speaker. The fact that this energy existed naturally, without caffeine or energy drinks, was frankly terrifying.

"Kokoro! Isn’t it way too late for you to be awake?" Misaki flopped back onto her bed. As long as she avoided saying anything embarrassing, this could be short and painless.

"Yep! But I can’t sleep!" Kokoro’s words tumbled out in a rush. "And apparently, neither can you!"

"Not wrong. Though in my case, it’s... probably intentional. But since you’re here, about your latest ‘sketch’? I have no idea how to turn this into lyrics..."

"I HAVE MORE IDEAS! Want me to draw them now?!" Rustling, frantic footsteps, and the sound of a drawer being yanked open nearly deafened Misaki.

"That’s, not what I meant. But sure, if you want. And hey, what did I say about interrupting people? That's rude y’know." Despite the scolding, Misaki couldn’t suppress a laugh. How had this spiraled so fast? At least it was... productive chaos.

"Sorry! But I’m just so happy! You called right when I was thinking about you! Can you read minds? Guess what I’m thinking now?" All in one breath. Three seconds. A record even for Kokoro. But Misaki’s brain snagged on one detail.

"...You were thinking about me?" Her face burned. Normally, Kokoro’s bluntness rolled off her, but now, it carried a weight that made her stomach flip.

"Mhm! Today was so fun! I almost beat Hagumi in our race, but she passed me right before the bakery. Then we smelled all the sweets, they had new cakes too! The chocolate was so good. And pretty! Pink, like Michelle’s fur!" Misaki had heard of this new flavor of chocolate, but never tried it for herself. "But I wish you’d been there."

Thank god for audio-only calls. Misaki’s cheeks were nuclear, her chest tight with something she couldn’t name. If this kept up, she’d blurt something stupid, but the sound of the vocalist come over her thoughts

"Why don’t you come over on Saturday? We can stay up super late! I’ll show you all my drawings, and we can do other fun stuff too, like a slumber party! I’ll even order a whole truck of that chocolate, and then we can—"

"O-one thing at a time, Kokoro… Please." Her voice came out harsher than intended. The silence on the other end made her wince."Sorry. I am Just… tired today."

"It’s okay! You should rest now, so I’ll hang up and finish the drawings. See you tomorrow, Misaki! Sweeeeet dreams~!" Kokoro sang, her voice still bright.

 "Wait!" The guilt in Misaki’s chest twisted tighter. She had to fix this now, but her brain short-circuited. A soft hmm? came through the phone. She could practically see Kokoro tilting her head, waiting. "I’ll… come over Saturday. And… stay with me a little longer . Good night, Kokoro."

She hung up before Kokoro could react, hurled her phone aside, and buried her face in her pillow with a groan. Did I just agree to a sleepover?! Saturday’s logistics (and her inevitable panic) were a problem for Future Misaki.

–

The next morning, everything seemed to be going smoothly, or at least, that's what Misaki wanted to believe. During class, she felt a persistent nudge at her side. One of her classmates slid a small folded note toward her, then subtly pointed toward the back of the room where Kokoro sat, watching with eager, curious eyes.

Misaki unfolded the note. Inside, in Kokoro’s unmistakably bubbly handwriting, was a message:

"Are you okay? You look sad. Didn’t sleep enough?
If you want, I can take you to the nurse’s office!
- T. Kokoro

Beneath it, a tiny doodle: a frowning mini-Misaki being led by a mini-Kokoro in a nurse’s cap, their hands clasped. Despite the storm of worries swirling in her mind, the sleepover promise, the unopened pink envelope, the weight of everything unsaid, Misaki couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips. Damn it. She had a soft spot for idiots.

She scribbled a quick reply "I’m fine. Pay attention to class." with an arrow pointing at the nurse Kokoro doodle with a little note that reads ‘silly’, then passed it back. A glance over her shoulder confirmed Kokoro’s face lighting up like a firework.

–

Misaki had always cherished lunch breaks, a rare pocket of time where she could just exist with her friends, no expectations, no forced small talk. Today was no different.

Rimi sat beside her, locked in a heated debate with Arisa. "Come on, you’re exaggerating! It wasn’t that bad," Rimi insisted, poking at her lunch.

"Bad? It was atrocious!" Arisa crossed her arms, nose scrunched in disdain. "How did no one question the butler disappearing every time someone got murdered? That’s not a plot twist, that’s lazy writing!"

Rimi opened her mouth to argue, then wilted under Arisa’s glare. Misaki smirked and cut in.

"But that's the charm of old films!" Misaki countered, twirling her chopsticks. "The fun is in the direction and how they play with the camera, technically, it's pretty impressive." Not her favorite movie, but she understood its cult appeal. "Besides, let's be real, you only connected the dots after the maid literally pointed out the butler's disappearances. Easy to criticize in hindsight, huh?" That last jab was purely to defend Rimi's honor.

Arisa's face scrunched up before she turned away with a huff. "W-whatever! It was still obvious the one person not in the scene had to be the killer!" Her puffed cheeks only made her protest more endearing. Rimi scooted closer, patting her shoulder consolingly.

"E-even if you didn’t like it, thanks for watching, Arisa… Next time, I’ll pick something more your style. Like, um… that one about the possessed car! It’s way less predictable, and it also has that"

Misaki’s attention drifted. A few tables over, a very animated Hagumi was demonstrating what appeared to be "secret vending machine codes" a claim of highly dubious credibility, to an enraptured Kagumi (who was scribbling notes) and… her.

Kokoro

The trio existed in their own universe. When they weren’t bouncing off walls or competing for "Worst Idea of the Century," they debated topics so absurd they’d make anyone feel like they’d stumbled into a kindergarten conspiracy theory club.

Then their eyes met.

Kokoro turned, beaming, and waved like she’d just spotted the sun itself. Maybe it was the angle, or the embarrassment of being caught staring, but that familiar tingle shot through Misaki’s chest, warmer this time, less panic, more… something else. She managed a half-hearted wave back before promptly studying the floor like it held the secrets of the universe.

(Truly, what a magnificent floor. Such texture. Such… not-Kokoro-ness.)

The perfect plan to pretend nothing happened
If only she weren’t surrounded by nosy friends.

Misaki’s attempt at floor-based invisibility shattered when laughter erupted beside her. She turned to find Arisa smirking, one eyebrow arched like she’d just won the lottery.

"Not subtle at all, Okusawa," Arisa drawled, glancing pointedly at the trio, then back at Misaki, whose face was now thermodynamically incompatible with human survival. Why did I think staring like a creep in public was a good idea?!

"I-I don’t know what you’re talking about," Misaki muttered, desperately scanning for Rimi’s backup. "Hey, Ri-...Rimi?"

But the bassist was gone.

"Christ, you’re worse than I thought," Arisa snorted. "She literally said she was leaving to buy ice cream three minutes ago. Even asked if you wanted a specific flavor. I just told her to pick whatever."

How did I miss that?! Misaki’s soul briefly exited her body.

"I’m just... distracted. That’s all."

"Wow, really? I hadn’t noticed," Arisa deadpanned, rolling her eyes. She knew Arisa’s teasing wasn’t malicious, just payback for the movie critique earlier.

"But hey," Arisa lowered her voice, nudging Misaki’s shoulder, "it’s kinda nice to see that. A year ago, you had the same grumpy face every day. So… credit where it’s due. Thank those dorks over there, and your little circus of hyperactive idiots for making even you smile sometimes."

The comment gave Misaki pause. Was I really like that? She didn’t feel that different now, but the thought tugged at something she usually avoided.

"Hey… can I ask you something kinda personal?"

Arisa blinked but nodded.

Misaki fidgeted. "When you guys first formed your band… did any of you ever worry it might just… end someday? Like, you’d get bored, or things would change, and it’d all fall apart?" The second the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Too heavy. Too raw. "N-never mind. Lest just forget tha-"

Arisa’s hand landed on her knee. For once, the usually sharp-tongued guitarist looked thoughtful. "Sometimes I wonder about that too. Late at night, or when I’m gardening." She shrugged. "Never found a good answer. Some days I even think about quitting to focus on other stuff. But… hn. After every show, no matter how tired we are, it always feels… right. Like we did something real. That’s kinda hard to walk away from." She eyed Misaki. "You get that, don’t you?"

Misaki stared at her lap before nodding. "Yeah. Maybe not the same way, but… I get it."

Arisa’s smile was small but genuine.

"And about it ending… yeah, I think it could happen someday," Arisa admitted, her gaze flickering toward Kasumi before returning to Misaki. "Our fans might move on, or one of us might wake up and decide she wants to do something else, no matter how much some people pretend otherwise." A pause. Then, quieter: "But… it’s okay to believe that it won’t. That things can just… stay like this. And even if something changes, it doesn’t always have to be bad. I trust them enough to know I can keep playing without worrying. They’ve got my back."

The words settled over Misaki like a calm she hadn’t realized she needed, no hesitation, no second-guessing. Just certainty.

Just as Misaki was about to change the subject, she noticed Arisa’s eyes drifting back to the trio, specifically, to the brown-haired ball of energy at their center. "And I know they trust me too. So if it’s up to me… it’ll never end."

Something about that felt too intimate, too raw, like Misaki was overhearing a confession she wasn’t meant to. And yet.

"Arisa…"

The voice made them both jump. Rimi was sitting there, eyes shimmering with tears, clutching three ice cream bars to her chest like a emotional support snack.

"H-HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN?! W-WHEN DID YOU?!" Arisa’s composure shattered instantly, her face exploding into crimson.

"I-I came back a little while ago… I didn’t want to interrupt, but hearing you say those things made me so hap..."

"I DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING! AND YOU CAN’T JUST SNEAK UP ON PEOPLE LIKE THAT!"

Misaki burst out laughing. The whiplash of Arisa’s mood swings was legendary. But beneath the laughter, she was grateful, for the honesty, for the unshakable faith, for the reminder that even impermanent things can matter.

–

Friday had finally arrived. As promised, Misaki waited in a small plaza for Kanon, who had texted that she was "just finishing getting ready" and would be there soon.

"Sending GPS location just in case," Misaki had replied, a necessary precaution, given past experiences. She trusted Kanon, but… well. Better safe than stranded.

Before long, she spotted the drummer approaching, grinning like she’d just manage to do something incredible.

"I did it! No map app, and I only took one wrong turn!" Kanon’s eyes sparkled with triumph, this was clearly a personal best.

Misaki stood and, like a proud mother whose child had just aced a test, reached up to ruffle Kanon’s hair (careful not to mess up her styling). "Good girl. I’m proud of you." Kanon beamed even brighter, leaning into the praise.

A passing old man shot them a weird look. Misaki ignored him. He’ll never understand the magnitude of this victory.

–

Seated at their table, waiting for their orders, Kanon chattered away about her day, specifically, her frustration over the fast-food chain’s "mystery toy policy" for their pricier meals.

"It’s not Aya’s fault the Pokémon toys are almost out of stock! I get that bundling them with the expensive meal is ‘logistics,’ but she had to apologize to, like, seven customers today. I wish I could do more to help…" Her expression crumpled.

Meanwhile, Misaki mused how most of Kanon’s work woes somehow landed on the shoulders of that poor idol colleague of hers.

"Don’t take it to heart," Misaki reassured her. "Just being there to listen is helping. And let’s be real, this is 100% management’s fault." She didn’t know if that was true, but she refused to let Kanon blame herself for corporate nonsense.

Kanon sighed. "Thanks, Misaki. So… anything interesting on your end lately?"

A dozen thoughts flashed through Misaki’s mind, the pink envelope, Kokoro’s confession, the sleepover she’d impulsively agreed to, but none felt "safe" to share.

"Depends. Does staring at a blank page, trying to wrangle lyrics into something remotely coherent, count as ‘interesting’?" She shrugged. "Otherwise… nothing."

Kanon’s eyes softened. "I do think that’s interesting! Not everyone can do what you do." Her look said, ‘We’ve talked about this, stop underselling yourself.’

Misaki smiled faintly. Old habits died hard.

"I mean... nothing too unusual happened," Misaki muttered. "Though tomorrow I have to go to Kokoro’s place after practice."

Just mentioning it made her chest tighten. She wasn’t dreading it, not exactly...but the thought of facing Kokoro after everything left her restless. She’d promised herself she’d reject her cleanly, make sure nothing between them changed… but now that the moment was close, doubt gnawed at her.

"O-oh? Did something bad happen?" Kanon’s voice was gentle, her brow furrowed. "You seem kinda down."

Misaki stiffened. Again? She really needed to stop wearing her emotions on her sleeve. She opened her mouth to brush it off

"Here you go!"

The waitress slid their orders onto the table: Kanon’s tea and cake, Misaki’s sweet cappuccino. The interruption gave her a few precious seconds to think.

Theoretically, nothing bad had happened, not in a way she could easily explain. But lying to Kanon felt worse than just… saying it outright.

"It’s just…" She glanced around, half-hoping for an escape route.

None.

She sighed.

"Kokoro confessed to me at the last rehearsal. And I’m… scared things will change when I tell her I don’t feel the same."

A soft clink, Kanon’s teacup hitting the saucer. Misaki braced for the reaction…

But Kanon just took another sip, her expression calm. Too calm.

"…Aren’t you going to ask how it happened?" Misaki prodded, voice carefully neutral.

Kanon tilted her head. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Deja vu. Of course Kanon would prioritize her comfort first. And… maybe it would be easier to get it out now, before she heard some exaggerated version from someone else.

"It’s just… not a big deal, you know? It was never going to work out anyway." She took a sip of coffee, avoiding Kanon’s gaze.

"That’s curious," Kanon said, her voice steady in a way Misaki rarely heard. "I thought you’d already made up your mind about rejecting her. But now I’m wondering… why exactly wouldn’t it work out?"

Silence.

Misaki froze. She’d been so focused on having to reject Kokoro that she’d never actually put her reasons into words. And now, faced with the question, her mind blanked. …What if Kokoro asks me the same thing tomorrow?

Kanon reached across the table, gently covering Misaki’s hand with her own. "Take your time. Whatever you say here stays between us."

Misaki swallowed.

"Well… for starters, we’re both girls."

Kanon tilted her head. "And that’s a problem?"

"N-no! That’s not... That’s not what I meant!" Misaki fumbled, heat creeping up her neck. "It’s just… it could cause trouble for her. I don’t know exactly what her family does, but it’s clearly something high-profile. Imagine the headlines: ‘Tsurumaki Heiress Spotted Holding Hands with Girl Who Dresses as a Pink Bear to Hand Out Balloons to Kids.’"

The words tasted bitter as she said them. It was a valid concern, so why did it sound so… wrong coming from her own mouth?

Kanon sighed, shaking her head. "Look, I won’t lie to you. Yeah, some people might stare. But there are laws now to protect people. And same-sex relationships are way more visible these days than they used to be." She paused, choosing her next words carefully.

"Some singers I listen to are openly lesbian, you know," Kanon continued, her voice gentle but firm. "And there’s that calligraphy YouTuber I follow, he’s bisexual, and his husband even showed up in one of his videos!"

Misaki wasn’t so out of touch that she couldn’t see Kanon’s point. Sure, she knew some cases didn’t get the warmest reception, but…

Kanon moved her tea aside, freeing both hands to hold Misaki’s. "Besides, we know Kokoro. Do you really think her parents are that restrictive? They’ve never stopped her from doing the most absurd things imaginable."

Traumatic memories flashed through both their minds, like the time Kokoro insisted "performing on top of a giant, wobbly mascot robot" was a brilliant idea.

"So I doubt they’d stop her from being happy with another girl. It’s not like it’s some… supernatural or negative thing."

Misaki couldn’t argue with that. She didn’t know Kokoro’s parents well, but from how Kokoro talked about them, they didn’t seem like the type to care about something like that.

"You’re not wrong, but… there’s still the second problem." Misaki’s voice dropped. "Even if her parents are okay with it, they’re not naive enough to let their daughter date someone with… no real ambitions. I don’t have anything to offer her."

Kanon’s grip tightened. "That’s not true!" Her voice was uncharacteristically sharp. "Everyone in the band knows your worth, and so do plenty of people outside it! I could spend all night listing your qualities!"

She glanced around, as if searching for proof, then deflated slightly when she spotted a wall clock. "W-well, I would run out of time before my study session… but I can at least share my favorite points!"

Kanon hesitated for a moment, then smiled gently and continued, "I really admire how clever you are, you always find a way to adapt and make everything work out in the end. And even though you’d never admit it, you have such a kind heart. You worry about everyone else’s well-being more than your own."

Suddenly, Kanon burst into laughter. "Remember that time you dove to catch Hagumi when she tripped over Kaoru’s guitar cable? See? Another point only Misaki has: lightning-fast reflexes! And doing it while in the Michelle costume proves you’re crazy strong too."

Misaki remembered that moment vividly, how embarrassing it had been. She’d completely forgotten about the audience, her only thought being don’t let Hagumi get hurt. But looking back, it was so impulsive that she couldn’t help but laugh along with Kanon.

"See? You don’t disagree~" Kanon beamed, delighted to have drawn such a reaction. "Besides, I don’t think Kokoro would ever expect anything in return. She’s never been one to hide her feelings, and… well, she does get really excited when talking about how your songs are ‘the best in the universe.’"

Misaki felt both flattered and flustered. Kanon hadn’t stuttered or hesitated once, but the DJ noticed her pausing mid-thought, as if reconsidering her words. Misaki gently rubbed her thumb over Kanon’s knuckles, encouraging her.

"A-and also… well, you’re really pretty!"

Misaki definitely hadn’t expected such a direct compliment. For a second, she wondered if she’d imagined it, but Kanon’s flushed face confirmed it was real. Misaki ducked her head, her legs bouncing nervously under the table.

Kanon, however, just squeezed her hand and added softly, "But what I love most… is how comforting it feels to hold your hands."

Misaki blinked, caught off guard by Kanon’s description of her hands. "But… they’re rough. I only started using hand cream recently, they’re not exactly soft, you know?" She didn’t mention that she’d only begun moisturizing after Rimi pointed out how much manual labor she did (both at home and as Michelle).

Kanon shook her head, undeterred. "I love your hands. They’re always warm, and your touch is… gentle. You don’t squeeze too hard, but you hold on just firmly enough. Every time one of us was nervous before a show....you always manage to calm down our worries, in or out of costume. to lighten the mood. I cherish those moments. We all do."

A long silence followed. Misaki hadn’t expected such a flood of praise, but she couldn’t look away. Kanon, realizing she was still holding Misaki’s hands, quickly let go and returned to her tea and cake, flustered. Misaki focused on her cappuccino, letting the words sink in.

After a while, one last doubt lingered. "But what if… it’s not what she expects? If we hypothetically tried, she might still end up disappointed in me. It could hurt the band. And if the band fell apart because of me…" The thought of losing what they’d built was unbearable.

Kanon finished her cake and raised a finger, signaling she had an answer.

"All I’ve heard are worries about Kokoro’s feelings. But Misaki… what do you want to do?"

The question hit like a hammer. What do I want?

"Well, she’s problematic. Impulsive. And literally a hazard to my health," Misaki grumbled, crossing her arms. "I almost needed therapy after nearly freezing to death during that ‘musical performance on a snow-covered mountain’ stunt." Even now, she shuddered at the thought of what other death-defying locations Kokoro might drag her to, all in the name of ‘making the world smile.’

Kanon nodded solemnly. "Right, I get that part." (No one understood the perils of Kokoro’s whims better than her bandmates.)

"But…" Misaki’s voice softened despite herself. "She’s also this… unstoppable force. Like nothing’s impossible if she decides it’ll happen. And the fact that it’s all just for fun, it’s so… simple. But it fits her, you know?"

A small smile tugged at her lips. "I guess I’m drawn to that part. In the end, everything does work out, and everyone does have fun… even if we’re traumatized afterward." She added the last bit sarcastically. "And yeah, even on my worst days, she somehow makes me laugh until I forget why I was upset in the first place. So… I guess I do like her. At least a little."

Kanon let out a soft "fuee~" before delivering the killing blow: "Misaki… are you just making excuses to avoid giving her a chance?"

Misaki opened her mouth to argue, then froze. …Damn. She’s not wrong.

You’re staying over tomorrow, right?" Kanon pressed gently. "Why not use that time alone to actually talk about this?"

Misaki exhaled, shoulders slumping. "I… can try. I’ll need to figure out what to say, but… yeah. I think I can come up with something by tomorrow." She met Kanon’s eyes, sincerity bleeding through. "Thanks, Kanon. I do feel better after talking to you. Really."

Kanon lit up, celebrating with a tiny, muffled cheer into her hands.

They chatted a while longer before Misaki insisted on paying the bill as thanks, despite Kanon’s protests. "Next time, it’s my treat!" the drummer vowed, hugging Misaki goodbye before hurrying off to study.

In a rare show of trust, Misaki let her go without escorting her home, then headed back to her own home, ready to collapse into bed and mentally prepare for the real challenge ahead: tomorrow.

Back in her room, Misaki reached for her phone to check if Kanon had made it home safely, but as she picked it up from the desk, her gaze snagged on the envelope beside it.

Bolstered by the night’s conversation, she’d expected more heartfelt words about Kokoro’s feelings. Instead, she found

A drawing.

Not a letter, not a poem...just a vibrant, chaotic sketch of all the Hello Happy World members (Michelle included), with Misaki herself at the center, grinning as tiny stars orbited her head. And beside her, Kokoro, beaming, with a swarm of hearts floating toward Misaki like she was the sun.

It was…

Ridiculous.

Childish.

Absolutely, undeniably Kokoro.

And yet

Misaki couldn’t look away. A smile, just as dumb and earnest as the drawing, spread across her face.

She still didn’t know what she’d do tomorrow. But for the first time, she let herself believe that with Kokoro’s help, with that stubborn, reckless, warm presence beside her

Maybe she wouldn’t make the wrong choice after all.