Oneshot 1: Rocks and Bandages
ErikoxYoshino
Disclaimer: All credit on MSGM to Oyuki Konno. Only the following stories are my own.
Eriko stormed out of the Rose Mansion after shutting off her cell phone.
"Sorry, but I need to go."
After seeing the very obvious look of anger, sadness, and disappointment on her face, everyone just decided to let her go.
About half an hour went on until the meeting had ended but Eriko still hadn't returned. Her things were still in the mansion, which meant she was still on campus. But the other occupants couldn't afford to wait for her for too long.
"Everyone, feel free to head home," Yoshino said. "I'll stay here and do some homework for a bit while waiting for Eriko-sama to return."
"Then I'll stay behind too," Rei responded.
"No no. Let me handle this, Rei-chan. Besides, you have a test tomorrow so you should head home."
"I can study here."
"If it's alright with you, I'd like to talk to her myself. She's just as much my big sister as she is yours. Trust me?"
"...Okay. Please take care of her, Yoshino."
"Hey, Yoshino-chan," Sei interrupted. "If you find that she's more than you can handle, call me and Youko. Kay?"
"Yes."
Everyone went their separate ways while Yoshino stayed behind. But instead of doing her homework like she said, she waited for everyone else to be out of sight, left a note on the table for Eriko in case she returned, and practically ran to the main building.
"Screw walking slowly. It's after school hours anyway."
Yoshino ran to the first place she could think of: the roof. She knew Eriko would often come here to clear her head; it was her favourite spot to be by herself. The openness and elevation that made you feel like you were on top of the world just could not compete with the confines of the Rose Mansion.
Her instinct was right. Eriko was sitting on the floor with her back to the fence, phone in hand and head tilted back.
"I thought I'd find you here," Yoshino said, slightly panting.
Eriko turned her gaze and let a smile emerge. "Why didn't you just call?"
"Because for one," Yoshino replied, "You probably wouldn't pick up. And if you did, I'm sure you wouldn't tell me of your whereabouts. Two, you know I have a bit of a flare for the dramatic," she said with a smirk. "And three, I simply wanted to see you." This time, Yoshino put on a gentle smile.
Eriko let out an even bigger smile. "Thank you."
Yoshino made her way over next to Eriko and sat down, leaving just enough space to fit half a person between them. Knowing that she wouldn't open up right away, Yoshino just waited in silence. And they both sat in silence for about ten minutes.
"He cancelled on me again. Yamanobe-kun. For the fourth time." Eriko spoke up without breaking her gaze away from the sky.
Yoshino took a quick look at her and back.
"So I've learned that your heart will break several to many times before you find the real thing," Eriko continued. "Now I'm just trying to mentally prepare myself for it."
"You really have your heart set on him, don't you? This isn't just some school-girl crush?"
"Yes, I do. And no, right now I don't want to believe that it is."
Actions speak louder than words, Yoshino remembered. And that fact was a blessing right now since she really wasn't sure of what "the right thing to say" was. So she placed her hand on top of Eriko's which was resting on the floor, and squeezed it gently once before letting her hand simply rest on hers.
Feeling the warm gesture, Eriko closed the gap between them and let her head rest on Yoshino's shoulder. Oh, the warmth of a little sister, she thought.
Not long after, Yoshino came up with the best words of encouragement that she could come up with; words that best catered to Eriko's fighting spirit.
"Don't give up, and don't let it get you down," she told her. "But at some point, you need to know that if he still doesn't see you for the wonderful person that you are then it's his problem. Not yours. I understand that people need to be hurt sometimes to grow stronger, but I don't want you to be crushed."
For the third time that afternoon, Eriko smiled. Truly, she had been blessed with friends that could be her rocks and bandages. And this one whose shoulder was supporting Eriko's head and sharing her burden was especially sturdy and protective.
"Thank you, dear. Really." Eriko returned the squeeze.
They sat there for just a little bit longer with no more words before heading home.