Ficool

Chapter 26 - Cocoon

5th of January, 7:30 pm, Streets of Tokyo 

Mem-Cho walks through the illuminated streets of Tokyo. The practice took quite a toll on her today, her eyes feeling heavy already, and she can barely hold her yawns back. She is on her way to visit Kana, feeling bad for only visiting her so little compared to Ruby. Therefore, she wants to make up for it by going on the first day in the last 2 weeks on which Ruby isn't going to visit Kana herself.

She finally arrives at Kana's place at around 8:00 pm, ringing the doorbell and taking a step back. The door is opened by Kana's mother about a minute later, her expression grim.

"I'm sorry to intrude at such a late hour… But could I maybe visit Kana?"

Kana's mother looks Mem-Cho up and down before stepping to the side.

"Whatever. Just don't expect anything, she's still acting weird."

Mem-Cho steps in and slightly bows down as she passes by Kana's mom.

She walks through the dark hallway, deliberately not turning the light on so she can see the faint glow coming from beneath Kana's door.

By now, she stands in front of Kana's room, the door between them feeling huge and impenetrable. Mem-Cho knocks, once… twice… thrice… before talking. Her knocks were more to let Kana know that she's there; she already expected only the silence to respond.

"Hi, Kana."

Unbeknownst to her, Kana was waiting for Ruby all day long, but now that it's Mem-Cho and not Ruby who's standing in front of the door, she hesitates. She slowly lifts her hand off the handle and pulls back.

A pang of guilt shot through Kana.

Why can't I just show myself to Mem-Cho?

She's my friend too.

Why does it have to be Ruby?

But nothing helps, this unforeseen change from Ruby to Mem-Cho scares Kana, she had it all mapped out, and now this…

She quietly sits down on the cold wooden floor close to the door, listening as Mem-Cho continues.

"Ruby wasn't able to make it today, so I decided to visit you since I feel like I've been kind of a bad friend lately. I only visited twice while Ruby went every day… Just know that I haven't forgotten about you."

Mem-Cho stays silent, giving Kana at least the chance to reply, just like Ruby does every time. She just wants to continue the monologue when…

"That's still two times more than Aqua…"

Mem-Cho's heart skips a beat as she hears Kana speak for the first time in what feels like ages. Her drowsy feelings were momentarily replaced by a wave of joy.

OMG, that's a step in the right direction.

Okay, calm down, Mem, don't creep her out now.

I need to play this perfectly, otherwise she might hide again.

"To be honest with you, I think all of this had a huge toll on him. I haven't seen him once in like two weeks now… I think he blames himself for what happened to you… And I think Ruby blames him too… which is probably even worse for him… So, don't be too harsh on him, alright?"

Mem-Cho presses her ear against the door, hoping for a reply, hoping that she didn't mess it up. She presses so hard her ear starts hurting by the time Kana finally responds.

"Don't worry, I don't blame him for what happened. it's just… I can't even describe it-"

Mem-Cho feels how heavy this topic seems to weigh on Kana, switching topics so as not to make the retreat back into her shell.

"Did Ruby already tell you about Keiko?"

This time, Kana's reply comes quicker.

"Yeah, almost too often. She praises that girl like a fan would. She makes it seem like this Keiko girl is the perfect Idol…"

Mem-Cho can only guess how Kana feels about this, praying that her assumption is right.

"I bet Ruby just wants to draw you out. Keiko is good, but she is still just a kid, fifteen… She is too formal and anxious while also treating herself worse than the people around her… Reminds me of you…"

"Sorry if that was rude… I just think the two of you could become good friends… But like I said, she is not the next messiah; she carries her own burdens inside her, just like all of us do."

Kana and Mem-Cho continue to talk about various topics until Mem-Cho suddenly stops responding. Kana continues to sit in silence, occasionally quietly calling out, but her calls are only met by silence.

She is unsure of what to do, but eventually she gathers all her courage to crack the door open, just an inch. Her masked face peeks out into the dark hallway, unable to see Mem-Cho, so she opens the door further, sticking her head into the hallway.

Only then does Kana notice Mem-Cho sitting on the left side of her door. The sight sends shivers down her spine, but she pushes on, slowly stepping outside, praying that the floor doesn't creak, before kneeling in front of Mem-Cho's limp body. Kana's heart is racing, Mem-Cho's is quiet and beating evenly.

Kana notices the cause of all of this a few moments after kneeling; Mem-Cho's breathing is even and calm. 

Did she really just fall asleep?

I told her not to push herself too much, but she never listens.

What should I do now? If I wake her up, she sees me, but just leaving her is wrong.

She could get sick, or she might get back pain. No, leaving her is no option.

I think I have an idea.

She slips back into her room, grabbing her own blanket before going back outside and covering Mem-Cho with it. She stands in front of Mem-Cho, who is tightly packed up and tucked in now, completely exhausted from the day behind her.

The door quietly shuts again, and the light inside Kana's room turns off.

More Chapters