Work Text:
Uika rubbed her eyes as a yawn clawed its way up her throat. It was the kind of yawn where tears pricked the corners of her eyes and she worried for a brief moment that her jaw would unhinge itself. She reached for her coffee cup, only to find it empty. With a pout, she rose to her feet and started for the kitchen.
"Uika," Sakiko called from the loft. She poked her head over the ledge. "Have you finished those lyrics?"
"Almost!" Her hand hovered over the cupboard door. "I'm making coffee. Do you want some?"
"No, thank you."
Every time she offered, Sakiko always politely declined, though that never stopped Uika from offering. She just needed one more cup of coffee to fight off this exhaustion. Then, she'd be able to finish up these lyrics. Sakiko was counting on her, after all!
Recently, though, it wasn't Sakiko that inspired her to put her all into her writing. No. Somewhere along the way, Uika had found a new muse. She smiled to herself as she sipped the still too-hot coffee. Uika winced. She definitely burnt her tongue…
It wasn't long at all until she finished up. Her vision blurred as she yawned again. Uika attached the document to a message and hit send.
Finally, she could get some rest. Uika stretched her arms up above her head. It was a pleasant exhaustion. The kind that only came from a job well done.
Her phone buzzed on the table. Uika glanced at it. A text from Nyamu?
"Uiko? So this is what you write in your free time?"
Uika scrunched up her face in confusion as a text from Umiri came in.
"Is this supposed to a script? It doesn't really sound like song lyrics."
Mutsumi—or more likely Mortis—joined in next.
"Woah~ I didn't know you were into this stuff!"
Finally, Sakiko deigned to add her input.
"Uika, I believe you've attached the wrong document."
She froze in horror. Her thumb refused to click on the document. What had they seen? What horrible thing had she sent them all?
Sakiko stared at the document Uika had sent. It wasn't lyrics. She could tell that much. The question, then, was what this even was. A story? But then why was Uika a character in it? Perhaps she meant her sister…? Sakiko started over from the beginning.
You meet under the cover of night—where the world is always at its safest. You've always found the night comforting. If nothing else, you knew you had the company of the stars.
Uika brings two cups of coffee. Her own is black—bitter and dark just how she likes it. You, on the other hand, prefer sweet things. She's helpfully dosed enough sugar and cream to turn the liquid a milky white color. It's sweet when you take the first sip.
She greets you with a smile which you return. Under the cover of night, you're alone here on the grassy hillside. Perhaps, if you knew her true nature, you might be afraid. Instead, you only see the pleasant smile of a friend—and hopefully something more soon.
The nausea steadily welling up in her forced Sakiko to close the document before she could get any further.
"It's just until college," Sakiko whispered to herself. "You can survive until then."
But before that, it appeared she needed to have a conversation with Uika about boundaries. Whatever this story was supposed to be, it no doubt violated many of the boundaries Sakiko had tried to put in place.
You remember the day you first met. When you helped her adjust her seat in the planetarium and you came face to face with Uika for the first time. She blushed then, and you wondered if it meant she thought about kissing you.
Even now, you wonder what it would be like. As your rose colored eyes meet hers, you can't see the darkness behind the mask Uika wears. You want to know more about her. You want to be the one she relies on. You want to save this lost girl and give her a home.
"Oh, this is about Tomori, isn't it?" Mutsumi asked.
Mortis hummed thoughtfully. "Seems like it. I didn't know they were friends."
"…we probably shouldn't be reading this."
Mutsumi closed out of the document and set her phone aside.
Together, you sit in silence and watch the stars. You pick out constellations and map them out in your head. Uika isn't looking at you, but you find yourself drawn to her.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she says.
You nod.
"I'm glad we made this trip."
That's right. You remember she isn't from the city like you are. The stars shine so much more brilliantly now that you're out of reach of the skyscrapers and city lights. No cars pass by this hill. Just a bus that you've already missed the last run for. You're all alone—a fact you can't help feeling happy about.
Umiri frowns at her phone screen. Uika wrote this? It seemed a bit more tranquil than her normal writing. Then again, it could have been Sakiko's instructions to write Ave Mujica's lyrics like that.
If nothing else, she felt like she understood their vocalist a little more now.
With great hesitation and your heart pounding in your chest, you reach for her hand. Your fingertips graze hers and she yanks her hand away. Her eyes are wide and wild as if no one has ever touched her before. And maybe that's true. You feel giddy at being the first.
"Sorry," you say. Your voice is always so soft like the sprinkling of rain on a sidewalk. You can tell Uika finds safety in the sound. You want to be her sanctuary. "I just… wanted to hold your hand."
Uika looks conflicted for a moment. A dark look passes over her face. You want so badly to comfort her, but you don't know how.
"You don't want to hold hands with me." Uika curls in on herself. "I ruin everything I touch. I'll taint you with my filth."
"No," you instinctively blurt out. "That's not true."
"It is!" she insists. "I'm unclean and you're so…"
Your breath catches in your throat.
"You're perfect, Y/N." Uika looks at you bashfully from underneath her hat. "How can I compare with that?"
"It's so~ corny!"
Nyamu could barely stomach it. What kind of person would sit on a grassy hill in the middle of the night with Uika, of all people? It definitely wasn't her idea of a good date. Nevermind the fact that none of this would ever happen. Uika? On a date? Nyamu wanted to laugh.
She closed out of the document with a shake of her head. Maybe, if Uika got too annoying, Nyamu could bring this up to get her to be quiet. Otherwise, she was content to write this whole thing off as one big accident. A funny one, sure, but Nyamu cared enough about her band members not to be too mean to them.
"Uika-chan… don't put yourself down so much." You reach out to touch her hand again. This time, she doesn't move away. "I… don't know how to say this, but—"
Uika shakes her head. "Y/N, no. I know what you're going to say."
"So what's the harm in letting me say it?" You smile at her. Your smile is always so warm and soft. You treat her in a way she's never experienced before. It's only you that can pull these pesky emotions out of her.
Uika chews her lower lip. She glances away from you. "You can't love me."
"But I do."
She shakes her head. "No. You don't know the darkness that lurks within me." Her voice trembles. "Everything about me is just a mask I put on for others."
"Your kindness isn't a mask. Your love for the stars isn't a mask. I know you. I see you. And I love you."
Tears well up in the corners of her eyes. "Y/N…" Uika squeezes your hand. "You're too kind to me." She looks back at you, eyes glancing at your lips. "Can I kiss you?"
You nod bashfully.
She leans in, eyes fluttering closed.
Just as Anon was about to finish the chapter, her thumb hit the refresh button on accident. Rather than the story she'd just been reading, Anon was met with a short paragraph.
Sorry, everyone! My bandmates found this story so it looks like I'm going to have to delete this…
"What?!" Anon yelled.
Tomori crouched down low to the ground. She sifted through the gravel until she found something she liked. Her thumb rubbed along the smooth, round stone. The pale grey, almost blue color of it pleased her in a way she couldn't quite name. Its size was small. It fit comfortably in the palm of her hand.
"Ah! There you are!"
Tomori poked her head over the bush.
Uika flashed her a smile. "Sorry I'm late!"
"It's alright."
Tomori slipped the rock into her bag. Her friendship with Uika was still new. As busy as she was, Uika had little time to hang out with her. With what little time she had, Uika spent as much of it with Tomori as possible. Together, they walked toward the planetarium.
"Um… Tomori-chan, can I ask you something?"
Tomori turned. "Hm?"
Uika wouldn't meet her eyes. There was a flush across her cheeks. "Would you want to, uh, go on a trip together? J— just for one day! I wouldn't want to keep you too long." She laughed nervously.
"Where?"
"Let me show you what the stars look like outside the city." Uika flashed a smile.
It sounded like a good idea. Tomori wouldn't mind spending more time with Uika, especially since they shared an interest in astronomy.
"…okay," Tomori agreed. "It sounds fun."
Uika beamed. Tomori got the feeling that if Uika had a tail, it'd be wagging wildly. "Really?! Let's go this weekend! Are you free Saturday?"
"I have band practice."
"Oh…" Uika blushed. "I do, too… Sunday?"
Tomori smiled. "I'm free then."
"Yay! I'll look forward to it!"
"Me, too."
Uika blinked, seemingly realizing something. She gasped. "We should go before we miss the show!" She grabbed Tomori's hand before immediately letting go. "Sorry!"
"It's okay." Tomori reached for Uika's hand again. She laced their fingers together. "I don't mind."
Uika's face turned so red that Tomori worried she was going to pass out. "Awesome," she said, voice pitching awkwardly in the middle.
Together, they walked toward the planetarium. Uika's hand was clammy in hers. Tomori had a slight pep in her step. Maybe she'd pack a telescope for their trip…