Right beside you

Maria stares warily at the flight of stairs in front of her, the constant roaring of the crowd outside doing nothing to help her to calm down her nerves nor her insecurity of stepping onto the stage once again, especially after having proclaimed herself as a villain and part of a terrorist organization that was closer to destroy the world than to save it.

The pink haired girl closes her eyes trying to block the loud roaring, focusing instead on her breathing, inhaling and exhaling deeply and calmly. But the more she tries to focus on it, the more conscious she is about the feeling of panic that slowly takes over her body.

Maria soon notices her hands beginning to tremble, her heart beating loudly and quickly against her eardrums as her breathing becomes ragged, sending her into a panic spiral.

She can already feel the tears pricking her eyes as she fights to breathe steadily again, before she feels a pair of strong arms wrapping her by the shoulders to pull her into a firm body, enveloping her in a warm hug that helps her to soothe her nerves.

- Shhh, just breathe.

A soft voice whispers in her ear, and Maria can only smile bashfully, before she does what the other person just told her.

- That's right. Do you feel better now?

The soft voice whispers again in her ear gently while she notices the embrace around her tightening, and Maria can only nod, bringing her hands up to rest them over the hands of the girl hugging her.

- Yes, thank you, Tsubasa.

Maria says quietly, feeling Tsubasa leaving a light kiss on her hair before she untangles herself from the embrace and takes a step beside her to give her a calming smile.

- You know? I used to be nervous before concerts too.

Tsubasa comments quietly, almost embarrassedly, and Maria can't help but arch an eyebrow at this, causing Tsubasa to blush.

- You?

Maria asks surprised and amused upon imagining Tsubasa being nervous before going onto the stage, seeing the younger girl biting her lip bashfully while nodding.

- I… I was a bit scared of going out there and perform in front of so many people, of the pressure and having to fulfill their expectations…

Tsubasa trails off as if she was remembering those past times.

- What changed? – Maria asks intrigued, hearing Tsubasa giggling.

- Kanade. And then you – Tsubasa answers with a fond smile on her face, surprising Maria – Kanade used to find me wherever I hide and hug me, whispering comforting words so I wouldn't be scared to go out there anymore.

Tsubasa pauses, looking down sadly and Maria can only take her hand in hers, squeezing it in a gesture of support upon knowing how much it still hurts the younger girl to talk about her late singing partner.

- But when she died, I couldn't bear to go onto a stage anymore until you came around.

Tsubasa confesses, squeezing Maria's hand back as she looks back at her with a timid smile on her face.

- Me? – Maria asks slowly, seeing Tsubasa nodding timidly.

- Yes, you. I remember the first time I met you and the way you entered my dressing room with such determination and strength. It was similar to Kanade's but different at the same time, and yet, it felt oddly comforting. It gave me the courage and confidence I needed to go onto the stage and sing once again.

Maria can only stare at Tsubasa agape, blushing lightly upon her honest confession.

- So trust me, everything will be okay – Tsubasa says with a reassuringly smile on her face, squeezing Maria's hand again – I know it's scary to go out there once again after everything that happened, but I'm right beside you. I won't leave you alone, Maria.

Tsubasa ends up saying, squeezing Maria's hand again to reassure her that they're together, that she won't leave her so she doesn't have anything to be worried about or afraid to go onto the stage and sing because she's right beside her.

Maria can only smile softly at Tsubasa, her eyes watering slightly, before she wipes them and giggles.

- Thank you, Tsubasa. I'm right beside you too.

She thanks the younger girl, squeezing Tsubasa's hand in return to emphasize the meaning of her words, and Tsubasa can only smile timidly back at her, nodding before they look at the flight of stairs in front of them together.

With their hands intertwined, they close their eyes to take a deep breath, before they open their eyes again and begin to go up tread by tread together with a calm smile on their faces.

They smile reassuringly at one another one last time, before they let their hands go and step onto the stage, the spotlights illuminating them as they begin to sing and dance around the other.

Maria can't help but look at Tsubasa as she sings, seeing her calm demeanor but also the determination showed on her face, smiling widely as they sing together, and for the first time, Maria feels herself enjoying the performance, forgetting about her past actions as a member of a terrorist organization, forgetting about the pressure of having to be an idol to protect Shirabe, Kirika and Hibiki and give them a future.

Maria forgets about all the things that weight her down and smiles widely, singing and dancing happily thanks to a certain blue haired girl.