warning for past injuries

14 – Some Are Good Answers

"Something important?" Kanade didn't speak immediately after that, a puzzled note entering her voice. "I don't mind, what's up?"

Well, she knew Kanade was listening then. And there was no backing out now either. "I... I wanted to know... why did you retire from idol work?"

The line went quiet. Serena put the phone on speaker as she busied herself with the rest of the meal. "I mean, well... you don't have to answer. I just wanted to know because at the school you were really good... and if you ever wanted to tell me, I don't mind listening..." Serena trailed off, face burning even though she was home alone.

Then Kanade chuckled. "You're a dork," she declared and Serena could imagine her face, all smiles and warmth. "Was that bothering you the entire time?"

If possible, Serena's face burned a darker red. "Well... yeah, I thought it was pretty serious since no one brings it up!"

"That's because they're silly too." Kanade went quiet for a while, giving Serena a few minutes to collect herself.

Then she began. "When Tsubasa and I were in Zwei Wing, we were asked to send off the old stage in the middle of the city here before they demolished it for a scheduled rebuilding. We were to give it a whole goodbye. The place was sold out. It was a normal performance mostly." She exhaled quietly, and Serena could hear the sound of tinkling wind chimes.

"Then the concert stands exploded."

Serena's blood, despite what everyone said happened when you heard terrifying things, ran cold.

"We found out later that some jealous industry rival set off the bombs," Kanade continued breezily. "We were supposed to just get out, right? But I couldn't do that. Music had saved my life. I had to at least save one more person. Which... I did, and we got buried under the rubble together. The doctors said if I hadn't been there, she definitely would have died."

"I..."

"Hibiki was always a stubborn girl though, apparently. But I got hit pretty hard. I recovered, apparently, because Im still me, but it's too much on me to do the routines anymore. And besides, it freaked out my family. They flew from across continents to check on me. And you know, I'm a tough, independent woman. Couldn't just stand by and let that happen. So I decided to retire."

Serena was silent. She gulped down some water, busied herself with dinner for a little too long.

"I'm sorry I made you tell me," she said after a while. "I'm sorry that happened. "

She had always known that some people were awful and that jealousy did awful things to a person and their heart and soul. That didn't mean other people should pay for it. That didn't mean an entire audience should pay, if what Kanade wasn't saying was anything to go by.

Kanade didn't answer for a while. The only reason that Serena knew that the woman hadn't hung up was due to the quiet hiss of the phone still on the line.

"I'm glad you did."

Serena felt her throat close. "Really?"

"Yeah. It was good to talk about it."

That wasn't enough for Serena, really. But she would take it for now.