2ECONDS TO STΔRLIVHT: Forever My Diamond/Story/Chapter 2
Characters
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Story
It's the end of another school day, and Sera thinks to herself about the common misconception that the final year of middle school is the easiest, concluding that the people who think so likely weren't taking very difficult electives; lamenting the exhausting nature of each day among homework and finals, she moves to thoughts of her break after it's done.
Sera daydreams about the new Heather Valentine novel she picked up, pre-emptively becoming defensive over having a romance novel: "Her works are bestsellers for a reason..."
She thinks about putting in more time into piano practice and writing music, all in all making for a productive break - as well as playing some new indie games with Grace, the part Sera looks forward to the most.
She realises she may be getting ahead of herself, and grounds herself in the present, a few more weeks before graduation, in a routine she admits she won't miss - however, she feels something seems off...
Sera's phone starts buzzing - a new message on LUNE, from Akira:
Akira
Hey Sera!
Doing anything after school today?
Sera
hm not exactly
Akira
Okay great
Sera
?
She puts her phone away, wondering if there were pre-existing plans with Akira that she'd forgotten, and why Akira didn't just decide to tell her there and then, especially if it's something important; Sera comments on Akira's nature as a very upfront person who often asks people for thoughts, and on him being both fun to plan things with, and a huge help as vice president of the music club, and the first friend she and Grace made in middle school.
Her thoughts turn to Grace, but before they can continue, Sera is interrupted by a very fake throat clearing sound from someone standing behind her in the corridor: Hinamori, rumourmonger, burn book keeper and president of the unnerving popular school tabloid. She corrects Sera with her first name - Yoko - and asks to continue their "interview":
I did? I can't recall.
Sera notes this as a bluff, and that the interview about the music club had only been promised to Yoko to get her to go away at the Senior Festival, something that Yoko as a "true reporter" corroborates.
Can't we just do this some other time?
Taking advantage of class not being for another 30 minutes, Yoko pulls Sera into her loaded "interview"
Sera tells her to write some proper articles for once rather than gossip, though Yoko insists it's an interview with the star of the Music Club about their performance at the festival.
Sera relents, and Yoko asks her first question, a whisper in her ear - a blunt "are you dating akira":
That's none of your business!
Yoko takes note of Sera's "defensive" reaction: "Where there's smoke, there's fire..."
He's just a friend!
Yoko finds Sera's answer "very interesting", and reminds Sera that surely "being friends" means Sera's not interested in that way. Sera curses at her carelessness, as she can't 100% say no.
...Let's not answer this question.
Yoko smugly reminds Sera that she did tell Yoko to "ask me whatever", though Sera retorts by reminding her that it doesn't mean she had to answer. Aggrieved, Yoko steps down.
She moves onto the next question, and Sera feels a pang of dread in the runup to it, though it turns out to be a seemingly simple question: "What's the best thing about working with your bandmates?", noting how "organised and tight-knit" the club is.
Sera gives a routine answer, talking about practice and schedules. Yoko asks her about her bandmates again, starting with Grace.
Sera starts thinking about how much she likes working with and being around Grace, and what she likes in Grace; these thoughts drift into "gay thoughts" territory, which Yoko notices, telling her to "wipe that lovesick look off your face", as she's "not asking about Akira".
Yoko takes this as evidence of Sera having feelings for Akira, the ultimate scoop - however, Sera insists she's not thinking about Akira, and moves back towards her standard interview answer, naming Grace "a wonderful friend to work with" before ending the interview prematurely to head to class.
As she heads off, Yoko blocks her path one more time - to tell her that "those who kiss under the tree are destined to be together forever" before heading off herself.
Painful interview over, Sera checks her messages to find none from Grace; however, there are none, to Sera's concern. She reminds herself to talk to Grace about a certain pressing matter despite her discomfort, before telling herself that she's "just trying to make plans for the summer with my best friend, just like we've done every year".
Two new messages from Grace appear:
Grace
seraaaaaaaaaaaaa
Grace
im so sry im gonna be late for class
Sera
you wont be that late, relax
Sera
this homeroom teacher doesn't really start til 10 minutes in
Grace
but seraaaaaaaaa i dont wanna fwunk out of scool cuz if i do we wont graduate together
Grace
agdhaehdgHdgegheghaehgGH
Amused, Sera puts away her phone with a sense that things will be okay.
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Chapter 2
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