Work Text:
"Hmm..."
Mafuyu was at school like any other day. This summer had been busy with tests, and exams, and as it was her final year, she found it hard to spend time with her friends as usual. Kanade was doing well; she lived with her. Mizuki, who was often mysterious, and would either send Mafuyu random photos or initiate conversations in the middle of the night.
But no, she thought about her question again. It wasn't specifically her friends but A friend who had been on her mind lately.
Shinonome Ena.
Mafuyu couldn't recall the last time she had talked with Ena alone, a feeling she couldn't quite recognize welled up in her chest the more she thought about the often annoyed girl. The rare smiles she would flicker, the small amount of blush that would grace her cheeks when you embarrassed her about something, even the way she gets scared so easily.
The lyricist thought back to when she watched a horror movie with Ena, that tough exterior of hers fell instantly and she clung to Mafuyu the entire time like a puppy that's heard thunder for the first time. She didn't even need to watch the movie but chose to stick around just because Mafuyu asked.
That side of her was adorable too...
"Huh, Mafuyu? You daydreaming?"
Her eyes snapped forward toward the girl in front of her. It was one of her classmates. She must've had a strange expression because her classmate looked absolutely shocked.
"Was I?" Mafuyu stood, slinging her back to her shoulder, "The day is over. I think I'll head home then."
"Eh...? That fast?"
Even she could tell that her classmate had a burning question in their throat they wanted to say. A part of her didn't want to indulge but the friendly part of her couldn't help but turn on her heel while she was in the doorway, "What is it?"
"I was just wondering... what were you thinking about? You had such a warm smile on your face, I'm sorry if that's a little too nosy..."
Mafuyu may have dropped her good girl facade a while ago but a part of her still liked to help people in a way that was much more healthy for her. She thought about it, "Ena?"
Her classmate raised an eyebrow, "Is that a girl you know?"
"Mhm. I haven't talked to her in a while. My mind drifted to thinking about her."
"O- oh...? Well, I hope you see her soon. I've never seen you so..." Her classmate was at a loss for words, she couldn't say something like that out loud, especially for Mafuyu. It was something she probably already knew too.
But, the purple-haired girl in front of her was clueless to the highest degree and could only give a questioning expression and a head tilt.
She really didn't want to waste any more time dancing around with her classmates' cryptic and prying questions. Concentrating on leaving school, she turned, said goodbye, and left right out of the door to the classroom.
Soon enough, she was out on the streets and walking alone as the sun was still high in the sky beaming down its powerful rays down onto the earth and Mafuyu.
She was thankful for the summer uniforms. But, her train of thought trailed back to the very thing that was sitting at the back of her mind, just before her classmate rudely burst her bubble.
"I should text her. She's wandering around before she goes to school."
Mafuyu hadn't even thought more of it as she recalled Ena's schedule so clearly in her mind. Information most people don't store about people think of as just normal friends.
She thought a little harder... she needed to go to the store... maybe they ran out of cup noodles for Kanade to make when Mafuyu wasn't home.
With excuse in mind, she took her moderately big detour and passed by many different stores that sold cup noodles until she reached an area not very familiar to her. She walked around for a little.
Well, she certainly did find who she was looking for after a while. Around a single corner, a side road with a bench, and a playground nearby.
Ena smiled, and a giggle came right after. Mafuyu was so focused on her that she didn't even notice that Mizuki was standing in front of Ena, seemingly making jokes to get her to laugh...
A strong feeling she'd never felt before shot through her chest. Seeing those two together never really elicited such a feeling in her chest but today... what was going on with her?
She felt cold. It's been so long that...
"Am I... jealous?" She put a hand over her heart, jealous of Mizuki? They always were close...
Mafuyu's mind wandered to a very distant past, a time where Ena could earnestly, and truthfully say she wanted Mafuyu. Things like that didn't matter anymore, their relationship had improved far beyond that, Mafuyu showed her air-headed nature around her while Ena would probably remark that Mafuyu could stay overnight at her place if she wanted.
They've even shared a bed in the past. Held hands, talked deeply to each other, and were alongside each other during the worst of hardships.
Even with all those events flashing in her mind, why? Just why? Why does this feeling strike now of all times? Jealousy was foreign to her, maybe that's why it came at her so strong.
Her eyes didn't leave the scene. She wanted to be closer but it's still been so long.
Mizuki waved goodbye, almost in a rushed manner that left Ena with a confused look. The oddly athletic girl sprinted off, Ena knew better than to try and chase after her ever since the incident last year...
"Did she do that for me?" Mafuyu tilted her head, seeing Ena alone cleared the feeling that permeated throughout her chest. She still couldn't believe she was so jealous.
The artist stood up and turned to her left, their eyes met and they both looked more than shocked to finally see each other. Ena was looking shy in her own way, trying not to show it but her attempts to not look Mafuyu in the eye gave her away.
She was so easy to read...
Mafuyu walked forward, finally coming into range to speak with Ena.
"Mafuyu? It's been a long time since I've seen you in real life, what... what are you doing over here?" Ena stared forward, Mafuyu was smiling at her which felt creepy and comforting at the same time.
"I... wanted to buy cup noodles for Kanade."
"Doesn't she like, have an almost infinite supply of them? What? Did you really just come over here to see me?" Ena wanted to joke with her, she felt as if that could never be the case but that flash of surprise on Mafuyu's face had Ena reacting the exact same way. She was spot on, "What?! That's kind of embarrassing, actually! For me!"
Mafuyu put a hand over her eyes, turning her head up to the sky as her face burned red, "I could say the same thing. I... missed you." She wasn't even sure if it was her talking or some sort of demon that infested her body.
"What-? what-! WHAT?!" Ena took a step back, she didn't know what to do as Mafuyu took a deep breath and walked to be just in front of Ena.
The girl who was brimming with blush almost as bright as the sun stood frozen, unable to move or even think for that matter.
"You. It's been a while. Should I walk you to school?" Mafuyu held out her hand which Ena stared at. Her mouth was slightly agape.
"Really?" Ena exhaled, trying to calm down her racing heart. She took Mafyu's hand, "You don't send me a message for such a long time just to reappear and ask to walk me to school? Huh, the nerve you have, you know that?" That classic Ena face was made, that furrowed brow, slightly frowned lips, and a glare that showed how annoyed she was.
Though, Mafuyu was almost happy this expression was directed at her.
"Mhm. It's the one thing you always comment on. I don't want to lose you."
Ena felt like there should've been a bit more said there, Mafuyu's mouth stayed open like she had something to say but the words were trapped in her throat.
"It's fine. I'm gonna be late. How about we start walking?"
"Right." Mafuyu took the first step, they were connected by their hands, the beat of their hearts synching up as they walked in comfortable silence.
By the time they got to Ena's school, it was almost as if one of them didn't let go and neither of them knew who the culprit was until...
"You can let go now."
"I should say the same to you!"
Their grip faded at the same time, Ena crossing her arms.
"I'll keep in contact again."
"What's got you so determined, huh? Our messages are dryer than a desert." She didn't want to be the first one to message, it was a bad habit of hers that she just couldn't break. No matter how many times she stayed up into the night when not working on Niigo things, wanting to talk to Mafuyu, her fingers just never hit the keys to send that first message. It was something that left Ena restless, especially lately for some reason.
She had plenty of things she wanted to tell Mafuyu. That semi-curious expression she carried and she was a good listener, even if she didn't say much back sometimes.
Mafuyu on the other hand, thought of how many other people Ena must talk to. She never thought she would be a jealous person but this smug little hedgehog in front of her had brought something out of her.
Just letting her mind drift back to that feeling of being an outsider, staring in on Ena having fun... something felt so off that she hated it.
Mizuki was her friend and helped her through a lot of her problems. But, back then, in front of that playground, Mafuyu wished it was her who was making Ena laugh...
Though that might be impossible, Mafuyu wasn't very funny and mostly funny by accident.
"Can I walk you to school now and then?"
"Eh?! I mean, sure! I really... wouldn't mind that." She almost mumbled accepting Mafuyu's invitation. She looked up, that pleasant smile on her face, why was Mafuyu so happy about something as simple as this?
An even better question sprung to mind, why did she feel like she was looking forward to it so much?!
"Ena-"
They heard the bell ring in the school directly behind Ena.
"I'm late!!" She turned on her heel and started running inside, "See you tomorrow!!"
"See you tomorrow!" Mafuyu waved and watched as the girl disappeared into the building. She brought a hand to her chin, covering her face... "Why am I blushing so much...?"
She left it at that, turning around with one final glance at the place Ena used to be. It was time to go home now...