2ECONDS TO STΔRLIVHT: My Heart's Reflection/Story/Chapter 5
Characters
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Story
Ultimately, no one else joins the (abbreviated) Pride Squad, leaving Hakuno, Sumire, Rhyme, and Han as the only members, with Sumire and Hakuno being named co-presidents. The group would get together every Tuesday and Thursday after class to hang out, finish homework, or go out in the city, with Sumire occasionally baking for the group. Three months after the formation, the group finally finds a day to go on their picnic since Hakuno's parents are out for a few days.
Rhyme and Han ask Sumire if she's ready to head out. Sumire says she is and the group departs for the abandoned theater.
The group leave the abandoned classroom and follow Sumire to the theater. Hakuno revels in the feeling of freedom the trip gives her, something she doesn't get to feel often due to her parents' controlling nature.
Sumire and Han interrupt Hakuno's musing, asking if she's doing okay. Hakuno says she is and that she's taking in the events happening. Rhyme points out they aren't there yet, and points out it's about to rain. Sumire is briefly distressed, but Han points out their picnic is indoors. Rhyme agrees, and says it was a good call for Sumire since she considers outdoor picnics to be boring. Han begins feeling raindrops, and the group scramble to find an umbrella.
Sumire calmly takes out her own umbrella and asks Hakuno if she still has hers:
Yeah, I do!
Hakuno pulls out the umbrella with a flourish, but no one notices. Hakuno decides it's for the best.
I gave it back to you, remember?
Sumire says she left the umbrella for Hakuno to keep, since someone likely took Hakuno's after she left on the first day. Hakuno assumed Sumire just let her borrow it, but thanks her and takes the umbrella.
No, I forgot it.
Sumire says she'll share her umbrella with Hakuno and pulls Hakuno toward her. Hakuno is left flustered by the gesture.
As the rain begins to pour, Hakuno feels free in the feeling they aren't being watched. She vocalizes this to the group, and Rhyme says she understands the feeling, as she'd felt more free the more she left her parents' house. Han also admits they haven't gone to many places with friends, or without some kind of chaperone. Han compares it to being in an open-ended game, which confuses Rhyme. They explain it as how the player can make their character go anywhere in a game, with no one to stop them, and says it's like that except they are both the player and the character. Hakuno says she likes how Han put it, relating due to the struggles she faced before she could embrace her identity.
Sumire tells Hakuno they're falling behind, and asks if they can pick up the pace. Hakuno says yes, and the group make their way to the backside of the theater. Han asks if they're sure no one uses the place anymore, which Sumire says she is. Rhyme, on the other hand, claims the theater belongs to the Theater Kids, to Han's shock. She continues that the kids who died during their performances still linger in the theater, though Sumire points out this is Rhyme's first time hearing about the theater. Rhyme ignores her and says the kids continue to haunt the performers, causing Han to freak out.
g-g-g....g-g-g-ghost?!?!
Rhyme says the ghosts will make them perform the final show...of their lives, causing Hakuno and Han scream in fear. Sumire scolds Rhyme as Rhyme breaks into laughter. She says she was just messing with them and apologizes. Han says scary stories scare them, and Rhyme tells them not to read her zines. Sumire is surprised to hear Rhyme makes them, and Rhyme explains it's something they do out of class-she considers it a fun side project, and jokes her future girlfriend might be the first to see them.
But you see...anyone that steps on the stage is a performer...
Hakuno continues, with Rhyme's help, that they could be the perfect actors for their penultimate play. Han briefly freaks out before questioning Hakuno's use of "penultimate" instead of "ultimate". Hakuno says it sounded scarier, not being the final one. Rhyme compliments Hakuno's improv skills, saying she'd be a good writer. Hakuno admits she usually draws a blank when writing, but Rhyme claims it's easy. She attempts to explain, but after a moment admits it's hard. Hakuno says she'll consider it, and apologizes to Han for scaring them. Rhyme admits she wishes she didn't have writer's block so often for her horror zines. Han offers to help, despite disliking scary stories, which Rhyme agrees to.
The group pull their umbrellas down and head into the theater.
As the group heads into the backstage, Sumire pulls out a flashlight she brought and leads the group down the halls. Hakuno asks Sumire if she knows where the lights are. Sumire says she wouldn't know, not being backstage before:
Maybe it's down in the rec room?
Hakuno is surprised to hear there's a rec room, leading Sumire to explain they have one for actors and on-stage crew. Rhyme asks why the power breaker would be there. Sumire admits she isn't sure, but thinks it's worth a shot anyways.
The group eventually finds a door labelled "Lounge", and inspect the room for the power breaker. While they don't find it, Sumire notes that it looks as if it's last visitors had left their belongings behind. Han points out the theater should have an equipment room, and they decide to look there next. Rhyme asks if this place would have some kind of tec room as Sumire sees a door labelled with a vector-drawn camera on it near the backdoor to the main stage.
Where's the equipment room?
Han guesses it would be fairly close to the stage, and Hakuno agrees it would make sense. She asks Sumire if she knows where the stage is. Sumire says she doesn't, but suddenly sees a door labelled with a vector-drawn camera on it near the backdoor to the main stage.
Rhyme slams herself against the door, causing it to burst open. Rhyme spots the power breaker, to Hakuno's awe despite pointing out how they could have simply opened the door.
Turn the power on.
As the power returns, the group head for the entrance to the main theater. Han asks if they're sure no one else is here, and calls out to anyone who might be there. They nervously ask if the theater kids are here. Hakuno says that she hopes they don't mind them having their picnic here if they are.
Sumire drops the picnic basket she brought and begins to set out the picnic area with the others.
Hakuno quickly opens her own basket of sandwiches and desserts she made with Sumire's help, taking out a mug and putting it on one of Han's plates they had brought for tea. Hakuno is tempted to eat the shortcakes first, but wants to save it for last.
Rhyme declares it's cake time to the group's surprise. Han asks if they were supposed to save those for last, but Rhyme says she wants to eat it first. She takes a bite and pulls out an energy drink. Sumire says she can do what she wants, which Rhyme appreciates. She admits she dislikes people who grate on how she does things, like her parents.
Han notes that Rhyme doesn't talk about her family much, which Rhyme says is because she doesn't want to. She admits she dislikes them, but thankfully doesn't interact with them much due to being busy. She admits she wants to get her own place and become self-sufficient, but doesn't have any goals aside from that. Han points out she's their kid, and Rhyme says she is; her parents don't hate her, but are almost always busy with something else and don't have time to take care of her.
Han admits they don't understand what that's like- their own parents had always been supporting of them. Despite that, Han feels it isn't enough and is unsure they can be themself around anyone, even themself:
...Fear of rejection?
Han admits it is, hearing several stories of kids like them who thought their parents would accept them but didn't. Hakuno sees Han begin to spiral and interrupts them, saying it isn't always like that, though she admits it's something she's afraid of as well. Regardless, they can still hope for the best, and accept who they are. Han admits they feel it's easier not to think about it, but it's something they want to work out one day. Sumire says they will, and Rhyme tells them there's nothing wrong with not figuring it out either.
Do you think they'd accept you?
Han admits they aren't sure, especially since they aren't even sure what they identify as. Sumire and Rhyme encourage Han, and Hakuno says that if Han can accept themself, their parents surely will. Han says they're still worried. Rhyme says it's okay to be worried, but they can't sit on it forever, and Sumire tells them their heart will figure out how they want to live. Hakuno admits to herself she wishes it was like that for her, but wants to root for Han regardless.
Rhyme takes another gulp of her energy drink as Hakuno finishes her first sandwich. As Hakuno begins eating the sandwich Sumire made for her, her heart begins pounding, and she struggles to say anything. Rhyme sees Hakuno malfunctioning and quickly changes the conversation by asking Hakuno her plans for the holidays:
I'm celebrating my birthday!
Rhyme and Han are surprised to hear Hakuno's birthday is on Christmas day. Sumire thinks it's a great birthday, but Rhyme points out you wouldn't get twice the presents. Hakuno says she likes thinking it is, as it had apparently snowed on the day she was born. Han wonders if it's an omen, but Rhyme points out that isn't the right word. Hakuno doesn't think it's special, but doesn't think it was a coincidence either, and Sumire says it just makes the day extra special for her.
As Hakuno looks away from Sumire again, she notices Rhyme giving her a weird face. She realizes Rhyme is winking at her, though notes she's doing it badly.
I'll probably be wrapping up gifts for my sister... and all of you!
Han says she doesn't have to do that. Sumire wonders if they have time to organize a Secret Santa event for the club, which Han is unfamiliar with. Rhyme says they could do it another year, as she'd feel bad about not being able to give something back. Hakuno insists it's fine, as she feels it's the least she could do for the group, even though she doesn't have much money herself. Han suggests they at least go out sometime on Christmas day, though Hakuno notes her family will be back by then. Sumire suggests they could try going sometime before or afterwards to make it work for Hakuno.
Rhyme finishes another can of her energy drinks. Sumire tells her to try the shortcake she and Hakuno made before she passes out. Rhyme is excited, but Han tells them not to, concerned for her health. Hakuno starts laughing, but it soon turns into crying. Sumire goes to check on Hakuno as Rhyme says she'll take a break. Hakuno tells Rhyme she's fine; Hakuno has felt trapped for so long, but now it feels like it's really possible to be herself, and that she could have a place to belong.
Sumire, Rhyme, and Han all take Hakuno's hand as Sumire tells her she deserves that kind of life, and that they'll always be there for her. Hakuno begins to cry again, but is still hopeful she can finally be herself.
Rhyme attempts to go for a fourth energy drink, but passes out before she can. Sumire checks her pulse, and says she'll be alright. She asks Hakuno if she's tried the shortcake yet, telling her she did a good job on the toppings.
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2ECONDS TO STΔRLIVHT: My Heart's Reflection/Story/Chapter 5
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