Follow My Lead (ch4)

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY HIGH-PLEDGING PATRONS!!

I'm so grateful for the support on this little fic! I enjoyed the hell out of writing this over the past week, so I'm glad you can all enjoy it with me!

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

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														Chapter 4.

As Maya had anticipated, and to Claudine's utmost relief, Maya's ankle heals up perfectly after only a day of ice and elevation. She's quite literally back on her feet before anyone else in the dorms can ask questions.

Having Maya back and knowing she's recovered has Claudine on cloud nine, though of course she would never admit the reason why. She's a bit bubblier and slightly less argumentative, which can be chalked up to the fact that she's just glad to have her partner back.

They continue their private sessions together after classes, dancing and acting every night after supper and before curfew. Sometimes they adorn costumes, sometimes it's the leotards, and sometimes they even opt to stay in uniform.

Naturally, just about every session ends with some form of flirtation or intimacy, be it kisses peppered across cheeks or hands interlocked on the walk back to their rooms.

Not a night passes by when they don't share a bed, either.

It's gotten to the point where their friends have started to talk, more so than they had previously, and even without having to be asked, they always cover for the pair when room inspection rolls around.

With the drama and difficulties associated with the giraffe's Auditions at an end, some semblance of peace and an overall reduction of stress has settled over Seisho Academy.

With things as they are now, and with Claudine and herself growing ever closer by the day, Maya steels herself to take the next step.

She wants to kiss her. On the lips.

But for it to be done in the privacy of their own rooms or for all the school to see, she isn't yet certain.

Of course, if Claudine were to kiss her first, she needn't worry about all that. But Maya has her pride as the top student, as the one who leads and whom Claudine follows. She has a reputation to uphold.

Ultimately she decides to do it when the moment feels right, so long as Claudine doesn't show any signs of protest.

It shouldn't be long now.

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Their teacher decides to have the girls practice onstage for their classes.

"Because," she'd said. "I don't want anyone to forget that feeling of performing onstage. Even if there is no audience, I want you all to act like it's a full house. Remember the way words and sounds reverberate in an auditorium as opposed to a studio. I'll have someone on lights as well. Don't forget what it's like to have all of that going on between scenes. Let's see what you've remembered."

Most of them had scarcely practiced for classes onstage for several months, hence there is a bit of nervousness. But those who had been selected for the covert Auditions aren't all that fazed by the change in practice area.

So rather than their studio or classroom, the girls gather in the auditorium for practices this week instead.

Their teacher assigns roles randomly for the purpose of practicing, and has each girl change into costume respectively. They go through selected scenes of Starlight daily, with various intermissions and calling out from their instructor to remind them of key concepts and tips.

Of course when Maya is onstage, there is no interruption, because there are no flaws to address.

She is asked to play various roles, sometimes that of one of the goddesses, and sometimes that of lesser characters. Whenever there needs to be a demonstration for how Claire is performed, she is called upon to give an example of the designated lines.

Everyone is enjoying these new special "classes" this week, as being back on the stage brings back a plethora of memories for them all.

The only part Maya regrets is that after these classes, the group tends to head off together, and her quality-time with Claudine has been slightly compromised. But it's only for this week, and they're both glad to be around their friends nonetheless.

The days roll by, and by Friday everyone is sad to see the last day of these special classes.

"I wish we could do this more often," Karen sighs. She, Maya and most of the others are backstage at the moment, dressed as their respective goddesses for the day. Only Hikari and Claudine are not present and are currently out onstage performing the roles of Claire and Flora respectively.

Mahiru, ever Karen's supporter, adds immediately.

"I agree! It's a lot of fun to be out here onstage again."

Kaoruko, today's goddess of Despair – and appropriately so – crosses her arms in response to their comments.

"Really? I think it's quite bothersome. I can't wait to be done here."

"Seriously?" Futaba gawks. "It looked to me like you were having an awful lot of fun out there."

"It's your imagination."

"What a tsundere," Junna sighs.

"I most certainly am not."

"That's the definition of a tsundere."

As the others chat and laugh together, Maya stands more quietly with Nana. Nana has always been an observer more than a participant, but Maya finds herself in the same role now that her partner is absent. She can hear Claudine's voice carrying around the room from the other side of the curtain, strong and graceful as ever. Nana leans in next to her.

"Isn't this nice, Tendou-san? Did you have fun this week?"

It isn't often Maya has a conversation with the tallest girl of their group, but when the opportunity does arise she's always glad to hear from her.

"I have."

"Even though we sort of took away from some of your time with Saijou-san?"

Nana gives her a small, if not slightly mischievous smile, but it isn't a mean one. Maya should have known that she of all people, being the expert observer she is, would know. Maya simply shrugs.

"We're both more than happy to be with everyone. After all, we're a team."

"You're right. Sorry for bringing it up."

"Not at all."

Everyone more or less quiets down a bit after that to listen to the voices from onstage. Karen begins to bounce in place.

"Oooh this is my favorite part! When Claire forgets Flora. It's so sad, but it's so good!"

Maya closes her eyes and listens to Hikari's voice, going over the lines Maya herself knows by heart. She imagines it's her up there on that raised platform that gives off the appearance of a tower staircase. She imagines looking down on Claudine as Flora, who is desperately trying to reach her.

The voice echoes in her head just as Claudine cries out in reality. Her voice is thick with emotion and terror, enough to make every heart ache. Karen sniffles. Junna adjusts her glasses as an excuse to move. Even Kaoruko is still.

"Damn," Futaba murmurs. "She's as good as ever."

"As expected of Saijou-san," Mahiru whispers.

They all get lost in the performance, even if they can't see it for themselves.

Maya is so absorbed in her own thoughts she doesn't even notice the strange sound until Nana points it out.

"Did you guys hear that?"

Everyone backstage opens their eyes and peers around. Other than Hikari and Claudine's voices, there is silence.

"What do you-"

But Junna's question is cut off by another unexpected noise. It only lasts for a second, but it sounds like wood being grated. Shifting.

It isn't part of the play.

"What the hell is that?" Futaba's voice has become tense, and everyone's shoulders stiffen to match.

The sound comes again, louder this time. The voices onstage don't stop.

Mahiru clings to Karen's arm and looks around frantically.

"I don't like this..."

None of them do.

Instinctively everyone begins to shuffle their feet to move away from the unnerving noise, whatever it is. Kaoruko voices their biggest obstacle.

"The echo is throwing me off. I can't tell where it's coming from."

They all wait, listening to Hikari crying out in pain as is called for in the script. Claire and Flora are being torn apart.

And then the sound comes loudly enough to drown out everything else.

Something snaps.

The deafening cracking of wood and metal collapsing suffocates the stage in an instant. Voices cry out and scream as the girls scatter and try to get each other to safety.

Maya can only pray it isn't what she thinks it is. Fueled by terror and adrenaline, she grabs the stage curtain and yanks it aside with all her might, hoping she's wrong-

/Please- Please no-/

"Claudine!"

She rushes out just in time to watch the platform beneath Claudine's feet collapse, wood and debris shattering, cracking, splintering. Hikari reaches out helplessly across the distance, and their teacher is frozen in terror down below.

Only Maya forces herself to move.

But there's nothing she or anyone else can do.

Claudine falls like a wounded angel from her white pedestal as the broken wood and dust consume her. Her scream is drowned out by the raucous noise, smothered by the threat.

Amongst the clattering of wood and metal, and the screams of their classmates, no one hears the thud of her body hitting the stage.

Maya never stops running.

Even when the dust is clouding her vision, she never stops rushing toward her.

Her eyes are stinging, and her heart is lodged at the base of her throat, gripping her entire body in the utmost terror.

It can't be real-

"Claudine!"

She finds her there beneath the debris. She isn't moving.

"Claudine! Claudine!"

Maya collapses beside her, hands shaking, tears spilling over. Claudine doesn't respond.

She isn't moving. She isn't moving.

"No... please no..."

Before she knows it the paramedics have arrived, and they take Claudine away from her.

. . .

. .

.

.

. .

. . .

News of the accident spreads to the local newspapers. The academy cancels classes for the next several days and allows its students to return home that evening for a time.

Claudine's parents are contacted and informed of the situation. But being overseas, they can't even make it over to visit their daughter's hospital room.

Maya and the others are forced to wait in the lobby for hours on end that night, trying to comfort one another.

Hikari is all but despondent in Karen's arms, having been one of the few people to have witnessed the accident firsthand. Mahiru is quiet beside them, holding onto Karen's sleeve with her forehead resting against her back.

Junna and Nana take turns wiping each other's tears. Kaoruko and Futaba don't say anything, but they have a firm hold on each other's hands.

Only Maya sits alone, apart from the others.

She can't erase the images from her mind. They haven't gone away since it had happened. She's been reliving it over and over again for hours now.

It's like being in some kind of purgatory, forced to suffer some perpetual torment for a crime she didn't even know she committed. What did she do to deserve this? Why did it happen? Why Claudine?

It's been nearly five hours since the accident, and nearly four since they'd all arrived here at the hospital. It's late, nearly midnight, but no one is about to go back to the academy.

They don't know much about Claudine's condition. Only that she is unconscious and had sustained a head injury. They don't know how severe, or when she'll wake up.

"She'll be all right." Mahiru's rasp of a voice has been trying to reassure them all for hours now. "She'll be all right. She has to be."

No one else has been able to find the strength to speak, but they all just pray her words are true.

Maya more so than anyone.

She hunches forward in her chair, bowing her face into her hands.

It all just feels like a bad dream. She hopes it is.

But every time she opens her eyes she's still here.

Without Claudine.

It seems like they wait for weeks on end in that hospital lobby, too upset to eat or drink or move very much at all.

By the time it's nearly 1AM, everyone has fallen asleep except for Maya. She knows if she closes her eyes she'll only see Claudine falling again and again. She refuses to sleep or to leave until someone can give her news about her partner's condition.

That news doesn't come for another hour, when a weary nurse appears and approaches the group. Maya sits up immediately to meet her.

"How is she?"

Her voice rouses Junna, who in turn begins to wake the others. The woman looks them all over apologetically.

"She's stable now. It was a rather severe head injury, but she's come to."

There's a collective, hopeful gasp from the girls, and Karen is already on her feet.

"Can we see her?"

The nurse turns to her and smiles.

"You're all such kind friends to have stayed this late. I think she'll be able to handle seeing you a few at a time. We don't want to overwhelm her."

With permission given, the eight girls instantly get to their feet and form a jittery line of pairs behind the nurse. Maya sways on her feet, needing Mahiru's support to stay upright.

She wants to be the first person to see Claudine, but she's fearful for what she might find upon seeing her.

So she lingers at the back of the group wordlessly, while the others whisper to one another with anxious excitement. The nurse leads them quietly down a hallway and pauses in front of a closed door.

"I ask you all to please be mindful of your voices. Saijou-san is in a very delicate condition at the moment. Loud sounds could cause her pain. If you do make contact, please do not touch her head or neck. Should you feel too emotional, please step outside."

Everyone nods. Karen is already trying to stifle some sobs. With this, the nurse enters first.

"Saijou-san? You have some visitors. Do you feel well enough to take them?"

Maya can't hear an answer, but she can only assume Claudine has nodded her permission.

The nurse ushers in Karen and Hikari first, followed by Kaoruko and Futaba, Nana and Junna, Mahiru, and finally Maya.

Her heart is in her throat as she enters the room the smells like medicine. The floors, walls, and ceiling are all white, as is the single bed and its sheets.

Claudine is there, dressed in light pink hospital robes, the only color in an otherwise stark room.

She is leaning back against two large pillows with her hands in her lap. She looks so much smaller somehow. The robes and sheets seem to swallow her.

Bandages are wrapped firmly around her forehead and all back through her hair. An IV drip wire runs from her wrist to a machine next to the bed, monitoring a heartbeat Maya's been forced to live without for so many dreadful hours.

Maya feels her stomach lurch at the sight of her. She can't help but remember the image of Claudine lying motionless on the stage, covered in dust and wooden splinters, unresponsive and still.

To see her attentive, if not exhausted, with her eyes open and her lips in the beginnings of a smile is almost too much for Maya. She breathes a sigh of relief she's been holding back for hours, planting her feet a little more firmly so as not to sway.

Claudine's puzzled eyes shine with recognition as she looks them all over, and the smile finally emerges fully.

"Everyone..."

There's a collective sob as everyone whispers her name.

"Saijou-san!"

"Thank goodness!"

They do their best not to crowd around the bed too tightly so they can let her have space. She only shifts her gaze, but doesn't even try to turn her head from where it's cushioned against the pillows.

"You all came," she murmurs. "Karen-chan, Hikari-chan, Futaba-chan, Kaoruko-chan..." She looks to them all in turn as she speaks their names. "Nana-san, Junna-san, Mahiru-chan..."

And then her eyes meet Maya's. Soft pools of cherry-blossom pink.

Maya's heart lifts. She smiles, taking a step closer, waiting for her name to be spoken.

Claudine pauses and draws in another breath. She frowns.

"I'm sorry."

She says this while looking directly into Maya's eyes, with absolute seriousness.

Maya's heart drops into pit of her stomach. She stops dead in her tracks.

Claudine blinks up at her without any glimmer of recognition in her eyes. Her voice is small, and terribly honest.

"Who... are you?"

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A/N: ---