Mishaps And Comforts (ch2)

EARLY RELEASE FOR ALL MY PATRONS!

Directly continuing off of Chapter 1.

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

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							Chapter 2. Accident

About a week after Kaoruko's ankle had gotten better and she'd retaken her ballet class together with Futaba, Maya, and Claudine, she's currently relaxing in the lounge with those same three classmates.

Maya and Claudine are seated opposite one another across the table, reading character lines back and forth, while Kaoruko is stretched out on the couch with her head in Futaba's lap. Her roommate is reading a book she'd tried to get Kaoruko interested in to no avail.

Kaoruko just dozes for the time being, laying on her back with her hands folded on her stomach and a contented smirk on her lips as Futaba idly cards through her bangs in between turning pages. She listens to Maya and Claudine for a while as they read their lines, and for the most part just lets her mind wander aimlessly.

It's about an hour into the lazy Saturday afternoon when Kaoruko starts to get hungry, and it isn't long after that when her stomach lets out a rather loud growl. The others pause in what they're doing to look at her bemusedly as Kaoruko opens her eyes with a blush.

"Gee, Kaoruko," Claudine teases. "Leave the sound effects to the stage crew, would you?"

"Oh, quiet," she huffs back before blinking innocently up at her roommate. "Futaba-han~? Do we have any of those candies left in our room?"

"Huh? I think you ate the last of 'em the other night."

"How unfortunate," she pouts. "I was really craving some…"

"How about you eat something healthier instead?" Futaba suggests. "We got plenty of fruits in the kitchen over there."

"But I'm not in the mood for fruit!" she whines. "Is Banana-han really that busy with Class B right now? Doesn't she have any leftover treats lying around?"

"Nana doesn't exist just to make you snacks, Kaoruko." Futaba flicks her forehead and makes her yelp. "We have a cafeteria. Or if you want something that bad, why don't you go out and buy it yourself?"

"Hmm I suppose… But I'm just too comfortable right now."

"Then starve."

"Futaba-han!"

"Calm down, I'm joking."

Kaoruko pouts as Claudine and Maya hide their soft laughter behind their hands.

"You're all so cruel," she mumbles.

"All right, all right." Futaba closes her book and puts it aside. "If you want 'em that badly, I'll go buy some candies." She lifts Kaoruko off her lap, stands up, then drops her onto the couch.

"Hey!"

"Futaba?" Claudine says. "Should you really be going out of your way to spoil her like that? Her ankle's fine, you know. She can go herself."

Kaoruko turns to stick her tongue out at her, and Claudine leers back. Futaba scratches the back of her head.

"It's fine. I kinda had to grab some stuff anyways. You comin' with me or what, Kaoruko?"

"Mmm, I think I'll stay here," she yawns.

"All right. I'll be back in an hour." Futaba gives them all a wave, to which Kaoruko curls the tips of her fingers in a tinier one.

"Be safe, Futaba-han!"

"I know."

Maya and Claudine dip their heads to Futaba as she exits the lounge, then turn back to Kaoruko.

"That's odd," Claudine says. "You normally go with her."

"Is your ankle perhaps still bothering you?" Maya guesses.

Kaoruko twirls her hand dismissively.

"Oh, please. I knew she had things she wanted to get anyway, so I just prompted her to go by asking for some candy. I figured she could use some fresh air and some alone time to do as she pleases, so I decided to stay here." She says all of this as if she's some kind of hero for letting Futaba run her errands on her own, but then adds on more quietly. "And also… perhaps my ankle is still bothering me just a little…"

Claudine sighs.

"Kaoruko. You should be more honest."

"Saijou-san?" Maya smiles. "You're sounding rather hypocritical right now."

"What?! How so?"

"Oh, never mind. Please forget I mentioned it."

"Wh-Why you..."

"Shall we continue practicing over some lunch?"

"Don't try to change the subject!"

As the two of them start bickering, they collect their scripts and stand up before taking their leave from the lounge. Kaoruko smirks and waves after them, then stretches out fully on the couch.

"Hmmn, guess I'll just have to continue my nap, then…"

She gets comfortable, folding her hands over her stomach like a princess before closing her eyes with a sigh, imagining how wonderful those candies are going to taste when Futaba gets back.

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She isn't sure how long she's asleep for before she's subconsciously aware of a commotion out in the halls. There's a clammer, and just as Kaoruko is regaining consciousness, there's a cry of her name.

"Kaoruko!"

Kaoruko wakes fully with a start, gasping as she sits herself up and looks to the threshold where Claudine is panting after clearly having just run all the way here. Her voice had been taut, and now Kaoruko can plainly see panic all over her face. Kaoruko blinks and rubs her eyes.

"Kuro-han? What-?"

Claudine rushes straight in, and Maya appears just a second behind her. Kaoruko stares at them in confusion as their panic begins rubbing off on her.

"Kuro-han-?"

"It's Futaba!" Claudine grabs her by the wrist and pulls her off the couch, slinging Kaoruko's arm across her shoulders to support her for her ankle. Kaoruko clings onto her classmate's shirt. She can feel Claudine trembling, which causes a horrible, nauseating feeling to sink throughout her chest.

"Kuro-han…? Wh-What about Futaba-han-?"

"There was an accident-"

The words almost don't make sense for a moment in Kaoruko's mind. She sways, and if not for Claudine's grip on her, she knows she would've hit the floor. She feels like she's going to be sick.

"An… accident…?"

"We don't know all the details-" Claudine says meekly. "But she's in the hospital."

"A teacher just informed us," Maya says, hurrying over to help support Kaoruko from her other side. She's equally as shaken as Claudine is from hearing the news. "We'll take the bus and go to her right away."

Kaoruko blinks, but she doesn't wake up from some nightmare. It's all still happening. She swallows, but it doesn't go down. She can't believe what she's hearing.

"Futaba-han… an accident…? She's… in the hospital…"

"Come on…" On her left side, Claudine is biting her lip and fighting back tears. And on her right, Maya is terribly pale.

Kaoruko can't feel her legs as they begin guiding her out of the lounge and down the hallway. She can't feel much of anything, actually. Just a painful, sickening dread gnarling tightly in her stomach.

This can't be… It simply can't be… Not my Futaba-han…

She's waiting for someone to just come out and say it was all a hoax. But as the three of them begin passing by other classmates, Kaoruko hears worried murmurs all around.

"Did you hear? There was an accident-"

"Really? Oh my god!"

"Is Isurugi-san all right?"

"I'm not sure…"

In spite of Claudine and Maya's support, Kaoruko nearly collapses anyway, and it takes the both of them to keep her up.

"Hanayagi-san-"

"Kaoruko, come on. We have to go to the hospital-"

Only now does it really seem to click for her. Kaoruko struggles between the two of them and digs her slippers into the carpet.

"W-Wait-" She clings to them as they turn anxious eyes on her. "What… What is all this…? H-How could there have been an accident? That's impossible-"

"Kaoruko…" Claudine gives her a tug, pulling Kaoruko into a shaking hug. Kaoruko starts to sniffle and hiccup as she clings back to her. She starts to cry, feeling as though she might drop to the floor.

After a moment, Maya coaxes them apart and encourages them to keep going.

One of their teachers is at the main office and lets them exit the building without asking questions. They hurry down the sidewalk to the bus stop in nothing but their casual clothes and their dorm slippers. The three girls sit on the bench together, doing their best to provide comfort and support until the bus finally arrives.

Claudine pays the fair for the three of them as Maya guides Kaoruko to a seat and sits beside her, rubbing her back. Kaoruko flings herself at her and cries into her shoulder, trying to stifle herself so she won't draw too much attention. Claudine joins them, sending out warning glares to anyone who looks like they might start asking questions.

They reach their stop at the hospital in about ten minutes, by which point Kaoruko thought she'd composed herself enough. But as soon as they step off the bus she starts whimpering all over again.

"Wh-What if it's serious-?" she whimpers. "Wh-What if… my Futaba-han can never stand onstage again…?"

Maya and Claudine share a frightened glance over her head.

"I'm sure that is not the case," Maya says softly.

"Right," Claudine agrees. "This is Futaba we're talking about, after all. She'll be fine."

They hurry inside to the lobby, where Maya asks the receptionist about Futaba's information. Claudine stays back with Kaoruko, trying to reassure her further.

"I'm sure she's fine. I'm sure…"

Kaoruko clings to her tightly, trembling as she hides her face in her classmate's shoulder.

Maya returns a moment later to tell them Futaba's room number, grateful that visitors are allowed for her. She and Claudine help Kaoruko down the hallway, but as soon as Futaba's room is in sight, Kaoruko breaks away from them and takes off running, limping slightly at the small ache in her ankle. But she hardly even feels that or anything else other than this horrible gripping fear.

"Futaba-han-" She chokes on her name, stumbling into the doorway, heart pounding as she forces herself to look inside. "Futaba-han-!"

"Whoa! Kaoruko?!"

"…Eh…?" Kaoruko's voice comes out as a thin little gasp as she finally lifts her head and peers into the room.

Futaba is there, sitting up on the single bed inside. Her eyes are wide in shock, but other than that and a small cast on her left hand…

She's completely fine.

No blood. No screaming. No crying.

She's just totally surprised to see Kaoruko there.

The rush of relief that overwhelms her finally brings Kaoruko to her knees as she sinks to the floor.

"Oh, thank goodness…"

"K-Kaoruko?!"

There's a flurry of quiet but panicked footsteps as Maya and Claudine hurry to the doorway.

"Kaoruko-?"

"Isurugi-san-!"

"Kuroko?! Tendo, too?!"

All three of them freeze as they finally make eye contact. Claudine and Maya are on the verge of tears until they finally see for themselves that Futaba is completely fine. Futaba is dumbfounded by everyone's arrival, but quickly understands how worried they must have been.

"Ah, geez… Someone must've recognized me cuz of my bike and notified the school or somethin'. Gimme a break… I'd wanted to call you guys and explain things properly myself."

Now that the others can see for themselves that Futaba isn't seriously hurt at all, they also let out weighted sighs of relief.

"Thank goodness…"

"We were so worried…"

Maya and Claudine both help Kaoruko to her feet and limp across the room to Futaba's bedside. The second Kaoruko is near enough to her, she eases away from them and throws herself at her roommate.

"Futaba-han! You idiot!"

"W-Whoa! Kaoruko!" Futaba hastily catches her with her good arm. Kaoruko slumps against her, sobbing and wailing. Futaba can feel her shaking, and her heart's pounding really hard. She frowns, rubbing her good hand up and down her friend's back.

"Crap… I'm sorry you guys found out like this. You must've been really scared, huh?"

"'Scared' is an understatement." Claudine breathes another long sigh, leaning slightly against Maya for support. Maya wipes a hand across her own forehead, then coaxes her partner closer for comfort's sake.

"We heard from a teacher. All we'd been told was that you'd been in an accident. Nothing more."

"Aw, geez," Futaba groans. "That's so vague! It makes it sound a hell of a lot worse than what it was! Listen…" She gives Kaoruko's back a soft little pat, urging her to listen to what she's about to tell her.

"I was riding my bike to town to pick some stuff up, and this cat suddenly ran across the road. I swerved so I wouldn't hit it and I ended up wiping out. I just skidded a bit, but my bike hit a post and made a loud noise that probably made it sound like a bigger deal than it was. Someone called an ambulance and then it was a whole fiasco…" She lifts up her hand that's covered in a cast. "I only sprained my wrist though. That's all. Cat's fine, bike's fine, I'm fine. It's all good."

When she's finished telling of the events that had happened, it feels as though a pressure is removed from the room, and everyone can breathe a little more easily.

"So that's all…" Claudine murmurs. "Thank goodness."

"Indeed," Maya nods. "We should get back to school and ease everyone's minds."

But first, both of them take turns easing around Kaoruko to give Futaba a small hug. Futaba grins and uses her good fingers to give a peace sign.

"Thanks for worryin', guys. Though I wish you weren't misinformed to the point where you were so scared you ran here without even changin' outta your slippers."

"So long as you're all right," Claudine says. "That's all that matters."

With this, both she and Maya take their leave for now and slowly head out of the room.

Futaba waves them off as best she can while still keeping an arm around her roommate. Kaoruko has mostly quieted down by now, though she's still trembling a little. Futaba gives her a few more minutes, but when Kaoruko still doesn't lift her head or move, Futaba starts to pat her back to get her attention.

"Oy, Kaoruko. I'm fine, y'know. And I got the candies you wanted. They're on the table over there," she says, nodding to a little baggie. She hears a shaky exhale in response.

"Dummy…"

"Hah?"

"Futaba-han, you dummy!" Kaoruko squeezes her torso a little harder and buries her face deeper into her shoulder. "I don't care about candies…" Her voice cracks, and the tears start up again. "What if… something bad happened? What would I… do without you, Futaba-han…?"

Futaba flinches as Kaoruko tapers off into more breathless sobbing. By this point she doesn't feel any pain in her sprained wrist, so she even uses that to hold her.

"Kaoruko… geez, you really are a crybaby…" She smiles a little, resting her chin on her friend's shoulder. "I'm not goin' anywhere, dummy. You don't have to worry about that kinda thing. Cuz there's no way you'd last a day without me, right? You wouldn't know how to handle cooking or chores, and you'd get so sore without my massages you wouldn't be able to move, right?"

As Kaoruko blubbers softly, she nods to everything Futaba says.

"Wh-Who… Who would cuddle with me on those cold nights…? And practice my roles with me… in our room…?"

"Right?" Futaba hugs her tighter. "Only I can do that stuff. So I'm not goin' anywhere, kay?"

"Futaba-han…"

Kaoruko cries for a few more minutes, her little hiccups jolting through her chest and filling the room. Futaba continues rubbing both hands up and down her back until Kaoruko finally manages to ease away. Her faces is a tear-stained, puffy mess, but Futaba still thinks she looks really cute.

"Futaba-han…" Kaoruko wipes her eyes, but more tears come, so Futaba reaches up to help her catch them.

"Easy," she murmurs. "It's all right, Kaoruko."

"No… it isn't." Kaoruko shakes her head, exhales, and finally looks back up at her. "I'm sorry for making you go into town to buy candies for me… If I hadn't-"

"Okay, stop right there," Futaba says, poking her mouth to quiet her. "This ain't your fault, Kaoruko. No way. You knew I had stuff I wanted to get anyway, so you just said you wanted candies to motivate me to go, right? Don't think I didn't realize. You may act a certain way, but you're actually really observant. You were bein' thoughtful of me, Kaoruko. I know that."

But Kaoruko shakes her head again.

"No! I was being selfish! Just like always-"

"Hey…" As Kaoruko breaks down crying again, Futaba coaxes her back into another hug, stroking down through her hair. "We both know that's not true. You're bein' too hard on yourself, Kaoruko. You never could've known something like this would happen."

"But-"

"No 'buts'. Thinkin' about the 'what if's and all that isn't gonna do us any good. Don't make yourself even more upset, okay? I'm fine, Kaoruko. Everything's fine."

Kaoruko starts wailing softly again, so Futaba gets to patting her back and hugging her more. Kaoruko may seem and sound selfish at times, but she always shows her love and gratitude for others in little ways. So for her to be bawling like this is unusual, but it's still really touching in a way.

Futaba doesn't like that she'd had to be so scared in thinking she'd gotten badly injured, but now that Kaoruko knows she's all right, it's kind of heartwarming that she'd cry this much for her sake.

Futaba stays quiet as she lets it all out, until the sounds of Kaoruko's crying really starts to make her feel guilty.

"Oy, Kaoruko, take it easy," she mutters. "Your face is gonna be all puffy for days."

Kaoruko whimpers a few more times, wiping her eyes more and more until she finally feels like she's mostly done crying. When she can, she eases herself back again, blinking tearfully as she finds Futaba's eyes.

"Next time…" she sniffles. "I'm coming with you. No matter what. I'm coming with you every single time from now on. Even if you want to get away from me and go for a ride by yourself, I'm coming anyway."

"Kaoruko…" Futaba can't help but smile a little. "You don't hafta-"

"It's decided," Kaoruko declares. "Even if you're going for a ride at 3am, you'll have to pull me out of bed and take me with you. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am." Futaba grins up at her, and Kaoruko looks partially like she's irked at her for getting hurt and partially like she's about to start crying all over again.

But before she can, Futaba opens her arms. Kaoruko heaves a long sigh and slowly sinks back into her.

"You don't have to give me any massages," she mumbles. "In fact, I'll give you some until your hand gets better."

"Aw, shucks. Thanks, Kaoruko."

"And I'll carry your bag for you…"

"Whoa."

"Oh, hush…"

With a chuckle, Futaba hugs her again, and it's only a few moments later when she realizes Kaoruko has fallen asleep on her. She knows she must have been completely exhausted from the scare, so Futaba just holds her close for a long time.

Eventually, Maya and Claudine return with the rest of their friends to visit, offering Futaba hugs and words of relief and little presents.

She's able to leave the hospital with them that evening, and they all help carry her things back, and luckily for Kaoruko, Claudine had brought her a change of shoes to walk back to school in.

All of Futaba's friends help her out while her wrist is still in its cast, and Kaoruko keeps to her word of giving her massages and carrying her bag for her. Futaba always shows her appreciation with a kiss to her cheek.

And even after Futaba's wrist has healed and she's able to ride her bike again, Kaoruko continues her efforts in trying to reciprocate as much as she's given, in her own little ways.

And just as she'd promised, she rides with Futaba every time from then on, no matter what.

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A/N: I wanted to explore how Kaoruko would react to being genuinely upset and frightened about Futaba's wellbeing. Yes, she's often flippant and petty, but I feel in a situation where she was truly scared for someone she loved, she would absolutely shatter. Her grief would match how dearly she cared for them. For someone who always acts so haughty, she's also a huge crybaby and softie.