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Gotoh Hitori doesn’t mind bugs. That’s not to say she is particularly fond of them, but she feels a certain camaraderie with, and perhaps envy at their ability to scuttle into dark places and stay there days on end. Very similar to how Hitori was cooped up in the small space beside a staircase, preferring to stay in that musty corner than listen to the sunlight glistening through a nearby window inviting her outside. So, when a large cockroach appeared on the floor as she was about to pull out her guitar to practice, she wasn’t too alarmed.
“KYAAAAA!!!”
“GUAH?!”
CRASH
The same could not be said for Kita Ikuyo.
“It’s- B-B-Bug! There! I-It’s mov- it’s coming closer! Hitori-chan, help!” Her chair went flying as Kita, who was sitting next to Hitori, exploded to her feet at the sight of the bug.
“Hi-Hitori-chan!”
Hitori, stunned by the sudden shriek, was in a higher plane of existence. The bug crawled closer.
“Hitori-chan!”
Kita was now hiding behind Hitori, holding her tightly with her eyes screwed shut.
“Hitori!!!”
Finally, Hitori returned from whatever realm she ascended to and became aware of her surroundings.
Eh? Kita-chan is holding me? Why?! Ahhhh, I hope my tracksuit isn’t dirty. Her perfume smells nice. Oh no, I probably smell like my musty closet! She’s probably grossed out by me right now. She’s hugging me so tightly it’s kind of hard to breathe. Is she trying to silence me?! My crimes of hanging out with the brightest extrovert in school are finally catching up to me! She’s kinda warm. And soft. And… wet? Wait, is she crying?! What happened, why is she crying, did I do something? Oh god, if people find out I made Kita-chan cry, my life is over! I’ll be kicked out of the band and the entire school will hate me and my parents will disown me and I’ll be sentenced to death for my crimes and my sister will call me lame an- Oh, is that a cockroach?
At the sight of something familiar and comforting, Hitori stopped thinking and did what came naturally: detach herself from Kita, pull out a tissue from her pocket, pick up the cockroach, and deposit it in the nearest trash can.
I’m sorry my kindred spirit, but you have a lot of germs.
Hitori did a quick prayer for her fallen brother, then turned back to the staircase. However, she froze when she noticed Kita was quiet and curled into a ball on a chair.
“... Um, K-Kita-chan?” Hitori said quietly after staring wide-eyed for a few seconds.
She’s really quiet, what happened? And her hands are clenched too. Ahhhhh, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do?! Is she mad at me? And refusing to talk now? Oh no, what did I do? I need to make it up to her, maybe I can play her something? But that might make her even more mad at me. Maybe it’s too late, and I’ve messed up one of the few friendships I’ve made… I don’t want that! Ahhhhhhh, think Hitori, think! If she stays like this she might not want to practice, and if she doesn’t practice that means Kessoku Ban-
“Hic”
She’s crying.
Seeing Kita like this, unresponsive and lacking her quintessential Kit-aura, made Hitori, for the second time, stop thinking. Maybe it was the big sister's instinct in her that made her move. She slowly reached out her hand and put it on Kita’s shoulder.
“... Kita-chan… W-What’s wro…” Hitori’s voice died after Kita raised her head.
“ Sniff . Ah, sorry, umm…” Kita said while trying to put on a smile. “I, uh, I’m not a fan of bugs, hehe…” Tears were running down her face, which was flushed red with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, it’s- it’s silly I know.” Hitori twitched. “Just give me a few se-”
“I’m afraid of strangers!” Hitori said, nearly yelling, while taking a few steps back. Kita stopped and stared, surprised by Hitori’s sudden outburst. Despite her vigor, Hitori’s eyes quickly found the floor. “A-and tests. And, um, the beach, and talking to the teacher, a-and pairing up for group work.” Kita kept looking at her in confusion.
“Entering class late, too, and missing my stop on the train, and- and when the doctor asks me questions about my personal life. Um, and opening cans of soda if I think they’ve been shaken, and if my lyrics are any good, and… And of being kicked out of Kessoku Band!
After the last sentence, Kita took a breath to speak, but Hitori kept going.
“I think that being scared of those things is stupid and silly, but I can’t help it! But…” A deep breath. “Every time I get scared, you or Nijika-chan or Ryo-san help me. You tell me that I’m not being silly, and you comfort me. So, um, I want to as well! C-Comfort you!” A pause. “Ah, b-but that might be arrogant of me to say that I can help you, or that you want my help, o-or that you deserve someone lik-”
“Hitori-chan.”
Hitori’s eyes rose to match Kita’s. Kita unfurled herself and smiled at Hitori. Her normal Kit-aura was gone, replaced by something warmer, more subdued. Less like the Sun and more like a cozy campfire.
“Hitori-chan.”
Kita stood up and turned her body to Hitori. Hitori, who was frozen by the new aura, could only stare at Kita.
“Hitori-chan.”
She’s smiling, and she stopped crying. That’s good.
After hesitating for a second, Kita stepped closer to Hitori
Her eyes are shining, maybe it’s the leftover tears? They look like emeralds.
And closer.
Her hair looks really nice, she must use a good conditioner. It’s such a vibrant red.
Her arms rose.
Wow, Kita is so…
Kita hugged Hitori.
Hitori became a rocket ship.
After the Bocchi 9 crash landed and her body was recovered, the two returned to their practice spot and sat facing each other in silence.
Ahhhhh, this is so awkward! She was just crying, I don’t know how to handle that! I’m happy she stopped, but I don’t know if my words actually helped her…. Of course they didn’t help her, who do you think you are Hitori? And not to mention how you completely freaked out after she hugged you.
Wait.
SHE HUGGED ME!
Hitori’s brain, which had already been through a lot, started melting again. Her body was beginning to join as well.
I mean, we’ve hugged before, sure, but never like that! Like, like… that! Maybe it was because she was crying? I’ve never seen her that vulnerable before. Whenever she starts to feel down she’s always able to pick herself back up with her Kit-aura. Right, that too! Her Kit-aura was super weird! It was normal during the entire day, but right before she hugged me it felt so warm. And welcoming. Like a hug. HUG! Ahhhhh, I really don’t know what to do this time.
Meanwhile, Kita was staring at Hitori during her meltdown. Or perhaps gazing was a better word, considering the warmth and fondness in her eyes.
Eventually, Hitori noticed Kita’s gaze, and began to melt even faster, before Kita finally cleared her throat.
“Hitori-chan.”
CRASH
“I deeply apologize for everything I’ve said to you and done to you I can’t believe I was so arrogant as to believe that I could do anything meaningful for you I’m very sorry for being born-”
Hitori hit the floor at Mach 7, assumed the dogeza position, and started apologizing for her very existence, before pulling out her guitar and pressing it to her stomach.
“I will now commit musical seppuku to atone for-”
“Hitori-chan! You’re alright, you don’t have to do that!” Kita interrupted Hitori before she could spiral any further, kneeling down and grabbing her by the shoulders to ground her. “First, I want to say this: we will never, ever, kick you out of Kessoku Band. Okay?” Hitori’s eyes, wide at the shoulder grab, went wider. “So if you ever, ever start getting scared of that, tell any of us and we’ll help you. Got it? I promise none of us will get mad.” Kita’s words felt warm in Hitori’s heart, and Hitori’s expression began to soften, but it quickly darkened again. “What’s wrong?” Kita asked, noticing the change. “Are you still worried? If you are, we can keep tal-”
“What about you?”
“... Huh?”
“W-When you get scared?”
“Oh, are you talking about before?” Kita let out a small, awkward chuckle. “Don’t worry about that, that’s just me being stupid-”
“Don’t say that.”
Silence. Hitori’s words weren’t quite a shout, but they carried the same intensity.
“... Hitori-chan?”
“... You called it stupid. Don’t say that it’s just you being stupid. B-Because it’s not, okay? I said it before, right? Whenever I get scared about something, no matter how stupid or illogical I think it is, you never call it that. You always tell me that it’s okay to feel scared, and you help me work through it. S-So…” Hitori’s momentary boldness was quickly evaporating, along with her body. “S-S-So…”
Kita gave a small giggle as a warm smile spread across her face. “Haha. I guess it’s not fair if I say I’m stupid while also helping you, huh?” she said, causing Hitori to solidify. Hitori furiously nodded her head.
“Y-Yeah! That’s what I mean. Er- um- that’s just how I feel and I guess it would be selfish of me to force that on you and you can feel however you want, but… but…” Hitori took a deep breath and looked directly at Kita, her deep blue eyes reflecting how sincere her emotions were. “You’re my precious bandmate. I don’t like it when you insult yourself.”
There was a moment of silence as the two stared at each other, sapphire blue locked on jade green.
Oh no, was I too forward in my desires? But it’s true, I don’t like it when she’s so hard on herself, she’s doing so well, both in school and in the band, in just a few months she’s as far as I was in a year, and singing to boot! Wait, how long have I been staring into her eyes? Uahhhhh, she’s probably getting weirded out by me now, I should look away, maybe musical seppuku wasn’t a bad ide-
“Hitori-chan.” Kita spoke first. “Thank you. Not just for this, but for always helping me with guitar too… And for so much more. I’m lucky to have such a great teacher. So, thank you.”
“Ah, i-it’s nothing, I’m just trying to be a good… f-f-friend! Hehe… uehehehe…” Hitori started melting from the praise. Kita smiled at her for a few seconds, before turning away.
“Hitori-chan,” Kita said, picking up her guitar, ”let’s start practice!”
“Ah, yes!”