I just finished catching up on the anime series and movie of THE IDOLMASTER, and I am really in the mood for that, hence I picked Chihaya's song as this chapter's title. 約束 (Yakusoku) means 'promise'. It comes from one of my favourite episodes of I-MAS. I really like the series.

Also, I have uploaded the second chapter to Strawberry Swing. Check it out if you can!

Chapter 5: 約束

She had never run any faster in her life.

It was precisely fifteen minutes ago that she picked up her phone, and now she was standing in front of Hanayo's residence, panting and feeling the sore pain in her muscles. Yet those seemed not to matter, for when Hanayo opened the door to let her in Maki immediately removed her rain jacket and let Hanayo took care of it.

'Where is she?'

Hanayo pointed at the direction of the bathroom with a sad expression. 'I just sent her to take a bath, since she was completely soaked when she got here.'

Maki glanced at the drenched bags laying by the door entrance. Hanayo went on to tell her that she had emptied the content and led her to her room. Her mother was making some food for them. It was only then that Maki suddenly realized barging in like this might not be such a good idea, after all. Hanayo noticed her discomfort, and gently patted her on the shoulder.

'My parents know, so don't worry.'

It only stunned the crimson-haired girl more.

'They know? But how?'

Hanayo couldn't help but let out a small laugh. 'We've always known that Rin-chan likes girls.'

While it was true, as Maki had learnt, that dear Kayochin had known about Rin's orientation pretty much right from the beginning, she was surprised that Hanayo's parents knew about it too. It made her feel worthless for some reason, as if she was the one who didn't really know anything.

'How is she?' Trying to shake away any negative thoughts for the moment, Maki asked as they entered the idol research club president's room. She had always liked Hanayo's room for the simplistic design gave her a sense of peacefulness. 'How did this happen?'

Hanayo sighed and signalled for her to sit down first. 'Rin-chan's mother was cleaning Rin-chan's room, when she opened a drawer and found some intimate pictures of you two that Rin-chan hid under some papers.'

Maki inhaled deeply and found herself shivering, not because of the cold from the rain but from fear and trembling of such realization. When Hanayo mentioned that, she had a good idea of what those pictures might be. Rin had shown her the pictures before when she visited. They were images of them hugging, kissing, holding hands while staring at each other shyly. It wasn't uncommon for girls to take intimate pictures, but with that vast amount of collection it was clear to anyone that the two of them were 'just friends'.

'Rin-chan's parents confronted her about it tonight, and even though Rin-chan tried to play it down at first, the discussion got heated,' Hanayo continued, recollecting what Rin had told her, 'and Rin-chan couldn't stand all the insults they said about…so she fought back and admitted everything. They yelled at her and kicked her out, saying that they didn't want a daughter like her…'

Maki did not miss the gap in Hanayo's words, and she could only clench her fists in anger, having a good idea what the unspoken words referred to. Why was it a huge matter? It shouldn't be like this. They were happy with each other, so why was it a problem? Why did this have to happen to them? Why was it that her happiness ought to be defined by others who had no idea how she felt?

'Rin-chan can stay here for the moment. My parents will try to talk to hers tomorrow,' Hanayo sighed, rubbing her knees sadly.

'Rin can stay with me,' Maki blurted out. Hanayo gasped.

'But Maki-chan, Rin-chan will be fine here. She's been here many times.'

'I know,' Maki interjected impatiently, 'but my house has enough space for an extra person. It's the least I can do, too.' She didn't mean to sound offensive, but she really didn't feel like arguing with Hanayo over the matter. Her girlfriend was in trouble and she wasn't there to help her. She wanted to take care of her, to make sure she would be there for her.

'But Maki-chan,' Hanayo looked hesitant, her eyes shifting from the crimson-haired girl to her own bed, 'what about your parents? How will you explain this to them?'

Maki bit her lips so hard that they turned pale in a second. Hanayo had hit the jackpot. It was this uncertain factor that had prevented her from revealing her relationship with Rin to her parents in the first place. She simply had no idea how they would take the news.

'I…I will make up something,' Maki tried to fight back, but it was clear her tone had betrayed her.

'Don't force yourself on this, Maki-chan,' Hanayo gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. 'Rin-chan is already in trouble like this. I don't want you to be in trouble as well.'

Maki lowered her head, not willing to let Hanayo see her helpless and tearful expression. She knew her friend was perfectly right, and she hated that she didn't have the words to counter her argument.

Suddenly, the door to Hanayo's room was opened, and there stood Rin who had a towel hanging around her neck. Her hair was still wet from the shower, and she looked soulless as she entered the room. However, the sight of Maki kneeling there, with her bright purple eyes looking at her, shocked her.

'Maki-chan!' Rin quickly hid her inner expression and gave a weak smile. 'I'm surprised to see you here.'

'Rin…' Maki rose from her position and stared at the orange-haired girl. She frowned the moment their eyes met. It was clear, based on how red her eyes looked, that Rin had been crying the whole time in the bathroom. It only made Maki feel worse and she inhaled deeply, her shoulders growing tense.

The three girls just remained like that for a while, and, as always, it was Rin who broke the silence, this time with a nervous laugh. 'Why are you looking like that, Maki-chan?' she beamed, walking past her and putting down her towel on the chair. 'If you keep looking like that you will grow wrinkles on your face.'

Maki would have retorted with her trademark cynicism, but she was in no mood for that. She just kept staring at Rin, who was looking at anywhere but her.

'Kayo-chin probably has told you everything,' Rin continued, 'but don't think too much about it. My parents are like that, and they will likely change their mind next morning, and Rin's family will be a happy family again.'

'Rin…'

'So don't worry!' Rin grinned, her facial muscles tightening unnaturally. 'There is no need to worry over Rin's well-being when she's perfectly fine!'

Maki did not utter a word. She had had enough of the feline girl pretending like all things were bright and beautiful. She lunged forward and brought her into a tight hug.

'Maki-chan?' Rin was taken aback by her action and retreated a few steps, but she did not resist the embrace. 'Now you're overreacting! There's no need to worry. Trust me!'

Hanayo sniffed and glared. She knew why her best friend was acting like this, and she was glad that Maki was here. Rin playfully tried to break out of Maki's embrace, but her girlfriend only tightened it more. She was holding her with so much force that Rin started to feel her defence falling apart, the wall that she had been trying to build was broken the moment Maki reached out to her.

'There's no need to worry…' she whimpered. 'Rin is fine. Rin doesn't want to see you act like this. Rin will be…Rin will be…' As Rin's voice grew weaker, she also found herself losing all the remaining strength that she had. She succumbed to Maki's embrace and let out a long wail. She could no longer pretend that everything was fine. She could no longer think that everything was fine.

Perhaps she should have whispered some words of comfort as Rin broke down completely, but at that moment Maki could find no other way to express herself apart from holding her tightly. She didn't even notice Hanayo silently leaving the room and closing the door behind her, allowing the two to have some privacy to themselves. All she could hear was Rin's despairing cry and all she could sense was her own broken heart.

End of Chapter 5

Originally, I planned to have Maki leaning on the bathroom door to listen to Rin's sob, but time-wise it wouldn't fit the chronological flow of the story. So I changed that into her holding Rin and let Rin cry in front of her instead. I think it works fine as well?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.