Michiru stared at a counter containing a small tray filled with egg and ham square sandwiches. Well, accurately, her eyelids lowered more than halfway, sight blanking from the imprints of Mika's expression sticking in her memory. Stinging the back of her head since that night and repeating itself against Michiru's will, eyelids drooping in the process.
As they nearly shut completely, resulting in blurriness, a merry sound interjected her trance in a trice following a hand reaching beside.
With sense slamming back in her mental state did a sharp gasp seep past Michiru's lips. Turning to one side, she caught sight of Tsu snatching a sandwich from the platter and then tossing it in her mouth.
The idol chewed on the food before swallowing, shooting Michiru a relative smile.
"You'll miss the sandwiches if you blank away."
"Right." Fumbling, the assistant used her thumbs to spread them over her eyes. It wouldn't be much longer until break time ended; it was out of the question to let her focus escape during shift.
"Michiru-chan," Tsu soon said, tone mellowed enough for Michiru to face her a second time.
Furrowing one brow did she ask, "Yes?"
"Why do you still look sad? I know something has been bothering you since my Halloween concert."
Upon putting more concrete focus, Michiru witnessed her lips relaxing as well as her eyebrows evenly lowered.
Michiru's mouth parted, but nothing except her breathing left.
"And it can't be nothing; you look like you're about to fall asleep! This is the third day in a row!"
Subconsciously, her gaze averted from Tsu while pondering on the last statement. She did notice staring off into space at some point, but doing it for three consecutive days?
The singer went on to add while taking one step forward, "Michiru-chan, I'm your friend, remember? Otherwise, you'd be lonely. Isn't that how you were before you became my assistant?"
Michiru dug the tips of a few digits in her sleeve, pursing her lips together as the enfolding in her arms tightened.
"Was it something about my performance? Or is it related to Mika-chan?"
An involuntary flinch occurred in her spine in a solid second.
When not answering at first, Tsu continued, "I remember her wanting to stay with you during that time but you insisted on being alone. I can't put my finger on it."
A pause.
"Is there something wrong with her or even you?"
Michiru's head whirled back and her eyebrows knitted. "Hah?"
"You seemed to dislike her based on how you talked."
Hardly any movement was visible in her facial features aside from a few spasms in her upper cheek.
"It's weird since you're twins."
"What are you saying?" Although the tone of Michiru's voice deepened and she tightened the grip on her suit sleeve, Tsu raised a hand to her own chin with a hum.
"I assumed you'd be more accepting of her offer instead of pushing her away." One corner of her lips pursed sideways.
Perceiving the words coming from her orifice gave rise to the already burning fervor coursing through her stiffened bod.
"Don't you two live together because of sisterly love?"
Focal points of blue irises set dead towards the pair of hazel ones. The former narrowed her eyes and parted her mouth for the nth time.
"Why're you inquiring about ridiculous things when you know next to nothing about my relationship with Mika, nor have any siblings of your own?"
In an instant, Tsu squeezed her lips together. A hefty ambiance trapped over the room, with the lone exception of a soft buzzing from a ceiling light.
Michiru started lowering her eyelids, mainly because the stinging had broadened to the limit. She witnessed more highlights than previously, and a hint of convulsion was in her brow.
Tsu responded in the middle of pressing the corners of her lips to rise, "Now that you mention it, you never have gone into much detail other than you're twins."
Tension in Michiru's cheek muscles alleviated, yet arms and legs went the opposite.
"There isn't a lot to say since we mostly work." At this point, teeth stabbed in her lower lip. Not enough to redden said lip but still sensing the nib. Additionally, rotating to the side while the pads of her fingers stroked against her sweat-coated palms.
"Why're you talking as if you're incapable of finding enjoyment while working?" Rasps traced in Tsu's vocal cords.
Michiru faced her. Though little of a smile to begin with, it diminished as a whole when the gloss increased in her glands.
"And all our conversations have only been related to the production of my songs or my concerts." Tsu wrinkled her nose. "When did we talk about something besides that?"
Zilch changes in Michiru's facial features.
Tsu went on, "Isn't it boring? I didn't mind it at first but our chats ended up getting repetitive. We should shop, do makeup, or go to the beach to get a tan! That's what friends—"
"Weren't you the one who wanted us to be friends in the first place? How'd you even be able to find time to hang out with an introverted civilian as opposed to a celebrity?"
Tsu's eyebrows creased, more so when she perceived her tone as less intense than her foregoing statement.
"I don't see how those are different. You know you can talk to me, Michiru-chan," she pressed, a churn going through her gut. "Why do you insist on keeping it to yourself? Even after you passed out during my concert, you were still hostile—"
A fist slammed against the table, earning a flinch from the other individual and a shriek.
Michiru's eyelids expanded, the strain returning but it worsened than ever. Disregarding salty fluid tickling over her skin even as it threatened to reach her mouth.
Vibes surrounding her thickened to an uncomfortable degree as hissing parted Michiru's lips.
"Never bring that up to me. I told you it wasn't something you meant to know about. Are you that inconsiderate? How desperate are you?"
Nostrils flared, tear droplets trailing down and staining Michiru's features.
Unlike last time, Tsu's face fell. Finding reason for uttering anything fogged while blue irises glowered directly into her pupils. A tense shiver crawled over her spine; although eye contact soon broke, the air remained stagnant.
The moment something started bubbling up her throat, the door behind clicked.
"Ah, I'm glad I managed to find you two."
Tsu whirled her head around, only to spot her manager entering the room, leaving the door open a crack.
Taking a few more steps towards them, Ichi witnessed Michiru rotating until her back faced her, brushing her fingers against her features with haste.
About to ask but after a pause, the much older woman said towards the pop star, "Have you brought up the news to Michiru-san?"
The tip of Michiru's ear convulsed. One more wipe and she turned. "What news?"
Foregoing a sigh, Ichi continued, "There will be a private dance next weekend. A longtime idol acquaintance of Otsu's has an upcoming tour; however, she didn't want to leave her mansion unsupervised. Otsu brought up the idea to her and the rest is history."
Michiru had little strength to bring her lids more than over her vision. Still, she replied, "Who will be going?"
"Let's see…" Crossing arms over her chest, Ichi tilted her head towards the ceiling with a moment of contemplation roaming. "Shimura Shinpachi will be there along with his club, and a band will arrive to play music. Most of the other assistants lacked interest, but we believe at least some should arrive for protection."
She pursed her lips and supported her chin. Eyebrows shifting, she added, "Oh, Tsunpo is going to arrive, but he won't be there as long."
"Tsunpo?" In repeating the stage name, the inadvertent rise in her pitch and volume strained through Michiru's throat. "How did he agree to be a part of this?"
Tsu started, tone mellower, "Well…"
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In a small room, Tsu stood beside a keyboard studio desk covered with stacks of paper. Using her palm to support the device in her hand, she planted her other hand over the top sheet of a pile next to the piano keys.
"Tsunpo!" she chirped into the cell phone upon the line picking up. "I was wondering if I'd get a hold of you."
"Sorry, Otsu-dono. I lost my phone at some point while planning a sauna song." The tone on the other side grew livelier. "What's brought you to call? Any song suggestions or did another virus hit your computer?"
"It's neither." A light giggle parted her lips. "Some of my fans brought up an idea for an event. I wanna hear what you have to say on it."
"Oh? What is it?"
Describing the concept of a mansion dance didn't spare her more than five minutes. While occasionally humming, he remained quiet, absorbing the information she gave.
"They also requested you to participate," Tsu said. "They'd be delighted to ask questions about your work as a producer."
"I see," he replied. "Are they aware that you and I have never met in person? It sounds like they're new to your fan club."
In a split second, a spark hit her cranium; Tsu's eyelids shot wide open, and her smile diminished. "I knew I forgot something! I thought I just had to deal with two parents complaining about my pirate song!"
He couldn't help his sigh from escaping. "It also sounds like thinking ahead is far from your strongest suit."
"Hey!" she cried, squinting at the dials. "I can only handle so much every twenty-four hours of every day!"
"I could say the same to you."
The retort transitioning in a dry timbre coming through the phone earned an irritated whine.
She breathed in through her nostrils, about to go on a tangent when the other end cut in.
"How long do you intend to have this event last?"
Sounds of paper crumpled beneath her fingers, pressing hard. Consequently, her arm slipped, and papers mirroring her action inevitably floated downwards until they made contact with the marbled tile.
Notwithstanding a vein throbbing in her cheek and venturing for a curse, Tsu hawked. "It hasn't been decided, but not overnight. Mom says idols being out for hours makes them cranky and get wrinkles."
"Then you should tell them to drink lots of water, moisturize and hide from the police at all costs."
"They're not getting involved. The only way that'd happen is if my mansion party got invaded by debt!" Tsu stepped around the room and beside the papers, adding, "Listen, I'd rather you answer sooner than later. I plan to be at this mansion in half a month."
"And you've proved my point." Verbal inflection flattened to the point of resonating more with a robot.
"We're not talking—" Right as she started towards the other side of the room, the sole of her foot swayed across the flooring.
A high pitch exiting her larynx lasted for two seconds before it got abruptly cut. Head slamming against the edge of the desk, the bottom of the cell phone slipping from her palm. Next thing Tsu recalled, her neck forwarded on one of the stands, perceiving chills from the metal's surface.
The room's size brought her legs to abut on the wall, twisting in a direction it shouldn't have been.
Tsu scanned her perspective towards the other end of the room. There, the device entered her vision.
Being in halves.
Dead silence filled the space. Her eyes went blank whilst sweat droplets flowed over her scrunched features.
Four hours later...
Tsu sat on the couch in the booth as Ichi stood outside by the closed door alongside a recording engineer and two assistants of her acquaintances'. Although the swollen ache in her head had healed a while prior, her hand rested on the spot where the desk edge hit.
The phone chimed within Tsu's palm between the vague talking in the background and faint buzzes from the machines. Not wasting a second, her thumb swiftly crossed the screen in advance of lifting the device beside her earlobe.
Dissimilar to earlier afternoon, the pacing in her voice slowed whilst saying his name.
The other line said after making his returned greeting, "Funny how I lost my phone, and then not a few days after, you broke yours."
"Don't get started," Tsu grunted. "My mom already gave me a scolding that I don't believe lasted less than thirty minutes."
She stood from the furniture while placing a hand on her hip. "Have you made up your mind about participating?"
"I have, but may I ask something important?"
Tsu inquired after her initial hesitancy, "Sure."
"Is whoever is setting up this event making it public or private?"
"I mean, I thought it could be public."
"Then I won't participate."
"Wear a bag over your head!" she blurted without an attempt to have her indoor voice.
"That's not my point. I don't want to be in the same place as any political figures."
While nibbling on the tip of her tongue, air surrounding the girl stiffened to where perspiration developed. "Oh, I see…"
He informed, "If you still want to go through with this publicly, you'll have todisappoint the fans who asked."
Stillness between the producer and singer went on longer than the latter wished, and his getting straight to the point enforced the stagnancy. Despite this, saying she wouldn't let down her fans would be anything but genuine.
Tsu pursed her lips and shifted her gaze to a different corner, fingers tightening around the phone.
"I'll talk to the fans and coordinators, then. I'm sure we'll make it work."
"All right." An increase in buoyancy bounced off his words. "I have to get going now."
"Wha—you just called!"
"Yes, but the sooner this call ends, the faster plans can carry through."
It took the youngster a moment to process before her eyes closed halfway. "Touché."
"Also, tell your fans to use their brains more before planning something this big next time. Bye!" He raised a note, followed by the call cutting off.
Paying little to no heed to the sound of static, Tsu lowered her arm beside her, remaining glued to the flooring as a mumble emitted.
"Titty milk."
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"After I told Shinpachi-san, he went to dig Q-tips in his club members' ears."
The inflection remained indifferent upon concluding, gaze shifting towards her toes tugging to the wooden clogs.
Michiru parted her lips, yet nothing came out at first. Her inner focus leaned more on the aforementioned fans. Whether they had joined recently or since the beginning of the pop star's career, the simple fact of them making this kind of solicitation went beyond her comprehension.
Ichi said, "Perhaps you are willing to join? The only things you'd be obligated to do is wear formal attire and assist Otsu."
Michiru caught a glimpse of Tsu avoiding her peripheral direction. Scraping on her lower lip and tugging her palms over her elbows.
In spite of the stiff returning to her muscles and calamity coursing through, she breathed in a silent breath.
"I'll talk to my sister about it." Michiru straightened her arms in front, clasping her hands together.
"Well, don't contemplate on it for too long. I'll likely call you while speaking with the rest of the assistants."
Fingers clutched over her knuckles to where they started whitening. Leaning the ached sensation further from her consciousness, she pushed the corners of her rigid mouth to curl up.
"Understood, Terakado-san."
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Eyes went wide and without a blink.
Michiru peered at the table's edge, digits hooking the blanket over her lap. Awaiting anything from her sister stretched time to a near-grueling halt save for the sound of her heart thumping in her eardrums. Butterflies fluttered across her gut, concurrently reaching for her throat but pushing the knot from her focal point.
When words reached her cognitive functions, Mika's mouth went ajar, and her eyelids eased at a leisurely pace.
"You said it's going to be private?"
"Yes." The answer came out scarce of being discerned.
Mika curled her toes underneath as her crestfallen brows pulled together. She inhaled a considerable amount of oxygen through the humidity and twisting in her stomach, sensing a prickle in her lungs.
"How," a stutter left, "how about I join?"
Not the first thing Michiru expected her to say, but no recoiling became apparent. Instead, her lips made a slight curve.
"That should be all right with them." Upon a spark tingling in her mind, she added, "Maybe you'll end up having fun."
"Yeah," Mika drawled. "Maybe."
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Hanging paper lanterns lit, one of which brightened over Tsu and Ichi as both consumed hamburg steak with broccoli, carrots, and rice. Checking time prior to dinner, it'd be less than two hours before requiring to retire for the night.
"Otsu," Ichi began as her daughter's movements didn't create any animation sans using utensils, "you've barely touched your food. You'll risk passing out if you don't eat enough."
Tsu placed the fork down before raising her head.
"Mom."
"Hm?"
"What's a friend?"
Outright addressing the question left the parent taken aback, close to letting the knife handle slip from her palm.
"What's this about?"
Tsu glimpsed over the space between their dishes, furthering their muggy aura. "Friends are supposed to help each other, right?"
It should've been an easy concept to explain, but when seeking a succinct answer, only muteness fell on behalf of Ichi.
Impeded with a dolorous spirit overtaking Tsu for however long it got.
To be continued...