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“Rui?”
The familiar bob of purple hair turns to look at her. His face goes from surprise to happiness in a matter of seconds, greeting the pink-haired girl warmly.
“Mizuki. It’s been a while,” he laughs, gesturing to the seat beside him.
“It has, huh,” she smiles, sitting down beside him. “How’s it going?”
“Different from middle school. It’s been a long time since, right?”
She can’t help but think about how different it is now. She reaches for a strand of curled, long pink hair that she waited so long for. Even though it’s cold up on the roof in the evening, she can ignore it for the sake of the skirt she finally gathered the courage to wear.
The child from middle school wouldn’t have dared to even entertain these thoughts, in fear of another person mocking her or going further. That child’s hair was always short, always in the proper uniform for boys, eyes always dim and unfocused. She briefly wondered what would have happened to that child if she didn’t meet the boy named Kamishiro Rui before her. Would that child have gone on to make videos, meet everyone on Nightcord, to live?
The boy in question is also lost in thought, fiddling with the sleeves of his cardigan. He thinks about how his hair is properly taken care of now, albeit a bit uneven. He no longer needs to tie it up to keep it out of his face, no longer having to brush his overgrown bangs out of his eyes. Though it’s a little messy, he’s in the proper uniform instead of throwing on whatever shirt he could find that morning.
He’s secretly grateful he decided to go to the rooftop that day, that he met the child named Akiyama Mizuki. Without that child, would he have gotten to this point? To the point of coming back to Kamiyama, to making shows again and meeting him, to stopping and choosing to live every day?
“Mizuki,” he starts. “I think we owe quite a lot to each other.”
“Rui,” she mimics. “I think we owe a bit more than debts to each other.”
That earns a chuckle out of Rui. A real laugh, Mizuki notes, not the one that she was used to hearing in middle school that never seemed to reach his eyes. This Rui laughs more freely, allowing his eyes to crease up in joy and his shoulders to shake. It makes Mizuki smile too, something that Rui notices. He is happy that Mizuki is able to smile, a real soft smile with stars in her eyes. The child he met in middle school couldn’t have the corners of their mouth turn up even a little.
“I’m glad we’re still friends, sitting next to each other, alive. I’m glad that at the festivals, you can wear t-shirts again. I’m glad that I met you when I did,” Mizuki lets out. “I’m glad you got a second chance to put on your shows again.”
“I’m glad you’re smiling again, that you’re wearing outfits you like and styling your hair the way you want. I’m glad you’ve met all your friends in your music group, that you’re able to be your true self with them,” Rui finishes.
This sends both of them into thinking about their lives now again.
Mizuki thinks about the three girls that found their way into her everyday life. She always tells them that sleeping too late will be bad for her skin, but she’ll still stay up all night with them anyway. She thinks of Yoisaki Kanade, her soft voice that always knows exactly what to say and her empathy that knows no bounds. She thinks of Asahina Mafuyu, who is gentle and caring despite not knowing what to do with herself, in fear of hurting others around her.
Mizuki’s mind dwells on Shinonome Ena the longest. The girl that managed to push herself into Mizuki’s life, planting herself firmly in Mizuki’s heart. Even when Mizuki pushed everyone away, Ena somehow always found a way back to her. She remembers exactly what Ena told her that day, when Meiko told her to stop running. That Mizuki would always be Mizuki to her, and that this didn’t change a thing. Mizuki knows that she loves Ena, and Ena loves her back.
Mizuki thinks about Nightcord at 25:00, how her life would be without them.
Rui wonders if he didn’t choose to keep putting on illegal shows in Phoenix Wonderland, would he have had the chance to form Wonderlands x Showtime? He thinks about Kusanagi Nene, the girl next door that never stopped caring about him even when he pulled away out of nowhere, who said the coldest words with the softest intentions. He thinks about Otori Emu, a ball of sunshine who only cared about making others smile and keeping them happy, even at the cost of herself.
Rui thinks the hardest about Tenma Tsukasa. The boy who shone like the stars and reached for them too, the boy who promised his 12,000% when he pleaded with Rui to join their troupe. The boy he argued with, said the harshest words to, but ended up caring about the most. He wonders why Tsukasa hasn’t left him even after he’s hurt him, then remembers what Tsukasa has promised him. He’ll make the most of any role he’s given, to never hold back no matter what, because he can take anything Rui throws at him. Rui believes Tsukasa. He knows Tsukasa wouldn’t lie to him, and he wouldn’t go back on his word either. Tsukasa is his star, and Rui is Tsukasa’s hand-picked director. A perfect fit in love.
“Y’know, Rui, I never thought we’d ever find something like this,” Mizuki smiles. “I never thought someone could ever love someone like me, especially after middle school. I didn’t think anyone would want to associate with me for my identity. But I’m going on a date with her as soon as her classes are over.”
“Me too,” Rui agrees easily. “Everybody found me weird, or gross, or both. I still remember the days where we were both beaten senseless and had to patch each other up in the bathrooms. I didn’t think anyone would want to love me, so I really wanted to disappear. But he’ll smile at me just as brightly and draw stars all over the dark parts of my life.”
Both of them smile, letting the evening air blow through their hair. Letting the prospect of being loved for exactly who they were sink into their souls, warming their bodies despite the cold of the night.
The sun was setting in the horizon. Rui knew Tsukasa would be home already, he’d texted him saying he was caught up on gardening duties. Mizuki had texted Ena saying she’d wait for night classes to end before their date.
Even though Tsukasa was supposed to be home, Rui caught a flash of blond hair with peach tips flashing through the courtyard before going into the entrance. He chuckled lightly, awaiting the dramatic entrance of his beloved star.
“Tsukasa-kun is coming up any minute now. I’m sure he knows I’m still at school and now he’s here to drag me home,” Rui yawns. He lazily stretches, akin to a cat.
“Okay, have fun on your date!” Mizuki laughs. “I’m glad you have him, you know. You seem so much happier whenever he’s around. You’ve been so much happier with him.”
Rui’s eyes soften. “I guess, huh? I owe him everything, for allowing me to stay even though I’ve hurt him so much. But I can say the same for you. Shinonome-san cares a lot for you. I’m grateful she’s been there to change your life around.”
Rui’s hand finds his sleeve again, fiddling with the hem. Mizuki’s hand finds her hair, twisting it between her fingers. Both of them are anticipating the moment that Tsukasa opens the door.
Right on cue, the door creaks open.
“Rui!” Tsukasa’s voice calls. “Why are you still at school!”
Rui turns around. “Fufu, Tsukasa-kun! I was just here with Mizuki, we were catching up.”
“Hi, Tsukasa-senpai!”
“Hello, Akiyama!” Tsukasa replies brightly. “It’s embarrassing to do this in front of Rui, but I might as well since I don’t know when the next time you come to school is.”
Mizuki’s playful protest dies on her lips as Tsukasa’s words tumble out of his mouth.
“Thank you for taking care of Rui! I wish I could have done more for him, but I didn’t know him back then. I also could not have possibly gone to the school you two did. Thank you for being here for him and allowing me to get to know him!” he shouts. “I really can’t thank you enough, Akiyama! He’s become such an important part of my life that I can’t imagine being a star without him as my director.”
Mizuki does not remember when she started crying, but she can feel the tears slipping down her face. She thinks of her makeup that she painstakingly applied this morning before coming to school. Her watery eyes find Rui’s, and she sees that his eyes are also tearing up. It makes her sob harder.
“A-Akiyama?” Tsukasa panics. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine!” she yells back. “I just–”
The door slams open again to reveal one Shinonome Ena, walking over to the scene unfolding.
“Mizuki,” Ena sighs. “Here’s my handkerchief.”
“I think I’ll wait downstairs,” Tsukasa stammers out before rushing out of the rooftop.
“Aw man, I didn’t even get to answer him!” Mizuki sobs, wiping both the tears and makeup off her face.
“I think he’ll be okay,” Rui comforts.
“Thank you for caring for Mizuki, Kamishiro-san.”
Mizuki starts crying again, all while Rui smiles with wet eyes.
“Thank you for loving her, Shinonome-san.”
Rui wipes the tears from his eyes, wondering exactly how the child he met in middle school was the same as the girl sobbing over the prospect of being loved and cared for in front of him. Mizuki is wondering what she did to deserve all this love. She calms down just enough to shoo Rui away.
“Rui, go on your date,” she croaks out.
“Mizuki can be quite the crybaby,” Ena adds helpfully. Mizuki smacks her.
“Fufu, alright. Call me later tonight, have fun on your date too!”
Rui gets up and walks away, hearing Mizuki continue to cry as Ena comforts her on the rooftop. He smiles, knowing that his friend is going to be okay and that she’s loved. Knowing that this time, Mizuki crying on the rooftop is a sign of happiness rather than what he remembered from before.
When he makes it down, he is greeted by Tsukasa pacing back and forth at the entrance. He hugs him tightly, making him yelp out of surprise, as Rui buries his head into the crook of Tsukasa’s neck.
“Rui!” he chastises, reaching up to stroke his purple hair. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”
“Sorry, Tsukasa-kun!” Rui giggles as he leans further into Tsukasa. “Shall we go?”
Mizuki watches from the rooftop with Ena next to her. It’s getting colder and the sun is basically gone at this point, but she still feels warm in the presence of Ena. Her tears are still flowing and it makes her vision a little blurry, but she can still make out two people. She sees a head of blonde hair and a head of purple walking out of the school hand in hand. She can hear someone’s loud, boisterous voice shouting about shows where he is the star and the boy next to him is his dear director. His dear director is the boy on the rooftop that Mizuki remembers, the boy that grew into one that smiles freely and happily. The star’s speech of gratitude replays in Mizuki’s head over and over.
It makes the child from middle school cry harder, and Ena hugs her a little tighter too.