Chapter Text
Kyomoto stood nervously outside Fujino’s house, her heart racing. The sun was shining brightly on this beautiful spring day, the kind that made the world feel alive and vibrant. Still, she felt an uneasy weight in her stomach.
Why did I agree to this? she thought, gripping her sketchbook tightly. What if she thinks I’m lame? What if I mess everything up?
Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door. It felt like an eternity before it swung open, and she was greeted by an older girl, who looked at her with confusion and interest.
"Hm? Who are..." she trailed, "Ah! You must be that Kyomoto girl Fujino mentioned. Come on in."
Kyomoto nodded, her voice trapped in her throat. She stepped inside, immediately enveloped by the comforting smells of home. The kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of something baking, and for a brief moment, her nerves quieted.
"Have a seat, Fujino should be home from school in a tiny bit." said the girl.
Sitting at the kitchen table, she opened her sketchbook, trying to focus on her latest drawing—a sprawling forest scene with trees that towered like giants. The pencil glided over the page, but her mind was elsewhere. What will Fujino think? Will she even want to work with me?
"Can I get you anything?" asked the older girl "We have crackers, chips, dango..."
"U-uh, um...I'm okay..thank you.." Kyomoto replied, her voice barely audible.
"Well, okay then." she shrugged "Hey, Fujino didn't bully you into becoming her little art slave, did she? Honestly, she could be such a handful sometimes. As her older sister, I worry about her sometimes."
"U-um, no...I chose to work with her by myself.." Kyomoto replied, "I-I look up to her...alot."
"I'll take your word for it."
A few minutes later, the door opened again, and Fujino walked in, her school bag slung over one shoulder. Kyomoto’s heart fluttered as she caught a glimpse of her. Fujino was everything she admired: confident, cheerful, and completely at ease in her own skin. Kyomoto’s admiration filled her with a mixture of warmth and anxiety.
"You're early," Fujino remarked coolly, tossing her bag onto a chair. There was a hint of aloofness in her voice, and it made Kyomoto's stomach twist.
“I didn’t want to be late,” Kyomoto replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt a rush of heat creeping up her cheeks as she avoided Fujino’s gaze.
Fujino glanced at Kyomoto’s drawing, a flicker of interest crossing her features. “Nice backgrounds, as usual. I’m still working on my characters. I’ll need you to make them look good in the scenes.”
The casual confidence in Fujino’s tone made Kyomoto’s heart race. She thinks my backgrounds are nice! The compliment warmed her, but there was a familiar sting in the way Fujino seemed to brush off her own talent.
Kyomoto wanted to retort, to insist that Fujino was just as good, but her social anxiety kept her from finding the right words. Instead, she smiled weakly. “I’m sure your characters are great,” she stammered, feeling shy but eager to hear more about what Fujino had created.
"Come on, let's go to my room. Wouldn't want Aiko bothering us while we're brainstorming the next biggest manga." said Fujino.
The duo gathered their supplies and relocated to Fujino's room. As Kyomoto stepped into Fujino's room for the first time, she felt her heart race. Her breath quickened a little as she took in the surroundings. The space was different from what she had imagined, though she wasn't exactly sure what she expected in the first place.
Fujino's room had an air of coolness—like everything was neatly placed, not a thing out of order. Posters of manga characters and athletes were pinned to the walls, each one a testament to Fujino’s interests. It was impressive, but what really caught Kyomoto’s attention was the desk in the corner, cluttered with sketchbooks and papers. It looked like Fujino had been working hard there, maybe all night.
Kyomoto stood near the door, unsure of where to go or what to say. She had never seen a room quite like this. Her own space at home was sparse and plain, nothing like the mix of chaos and order that Fujino’s room had. Her eyes were drawn to a few framed pieces hanging on the wall. Drawings. Fujino’s work. And they were so, so good.
"Have a seat," said Fujino, gesturing to the kotatsu in the middle of her room.
As they settled down to work, Kyomoto couldn’t help but steal glances at Fujino, who was now fully focused on her sketches. Every time Fujino laughed at something silly or complimented a part of Kyomoto’s drawing, it sent waves of warmth through her. Maybe this collaboration won’t be so bad after all.
Despite the occasional teasing remarks, Kyomoto admired how Fujino seemed to command the room. The way she drew was effortless, and the lines flowed from her pencil like magic. I wish I could be that confident, Kyomoto thought, her admiration deepening.
“Hey, Kyomoto,” Fujino said suddenly, breaking Kyomoto out of her thoughts. “You should get out more. It’s kind of sad to just stay cooped up at home all day.”
Kyomoto’s heart sank at the comment, but she forced herself to respond. “I just… like drawing,” she replied, her voice trembling slightly. The sting of the comment lingered in the air, but she tried to brush it off.
Fujino crossed her arms, a teasing glint in her eyes. “Yeah, but what if you miss out on all the fun? You could be missing adventures, like today!”
The challenge in her voice ignited something within Kyomoto. She wanted to tell Fujino that she could find adventure in her drawings, that the worlds she created were just as valid as the ones outside. But the words tangled in her throat, and instead, she smiled awkwardly, trying to hide her feelings.
As they continued to work on their project, the laughter and teasing flowed more freely. Kyomoto felt her worries beginning to dissipate, even as the nagging voice in her head reminded her of their differences. Still, the genuine moments of camaraderie filled her with hope.
When it came time to wrap up, Kyomoto felt a bittersweet mix of disappointment and relief. She glanced at the clock, realizing how late it had gotten. "I should probably go home now," she said, forcing herself to stand up.
Fujino nodded, her expression softening slightly. “Yeah, you can’t keep hiding inside forever. We’ll see how good your backgrounds look in the next draft, okay?”
“Okay,” Kyomoto replied, her heart fluttering. “Thanks for today. I had a lot of fun!”
As she made her way to the door, she turned back to Fujino, her nerves finally easing. “I can’t wait to see what we come up with next time!”
Fujino yawned, “Yeah yeah, me too. See you tomorrow?”
“Y-yes! Of course!” Kyomoto said, trying to keep her voice steady as she stepped out of the house.
As she walked home, her mind buzzed with excitement and admiration. Fujino is amazing, she thought, a smile spreading across her face. I can’t wait to hang out again! The earlier discomfort melted away, replaced by a warm glow of anticipation.
For the first time, Kyomoto felt a sense of belonging, as if they were not just working on a project but building a friendship. She couldn’t wait to see how their collaboration would grow and how their bond would deepen. As she stepped into her room, she knew she would cherish this moment, eager to see what adventures awaited them next.