Chapter Text
The day passed as any other, but Kanade couldn't shake the heaviness that had settled within her. Her father hadn’t come to pick her up from school, and although she understood the reason—he had work, after all—it didn’t make it any easier to bear.
The thought of it lingered like an uncomfortable weight, pulling her shoulders down. Her feet shuffled along the path, moving without purpose, and her mind seemed to move just as slowly, consumed by a growing chill that seeped into her chest. It felt cold, too cold. Her thoughts felt scattered, her heart heavy, like there was a growing emptiness inside of her.
Kanade didn’t even notice when she bumped into someone.
"Ah! Asahina-san… I'm so sorry! I wasn’t thinking straight. My apologies!" Her voice was soft, apologetic, and she instinctively bowed her head, her hands clasped in front of her.
When she looked up, her gaze met Mafuyu’s—but there was no familiar spark in the other girl’s eyes. No teasing smile or playful glint. Instead, Mafuyu’s face was… muted. Grim, even.
"Ah, it’s no worries, Yoisaki," Mafuyu replied, her voice quiet, lacking its usual liveliness. "Please, call me Mafuyu."
Kanade felt her heart give a small lurch. There was something off about the way Mafuyu spoke. It was strange, unsettling, and Kanade found herself wanting to fix it. She wanted to say something, anything, to make Mafuyu feel a little better. But her words felt stuck, trapped in her chest.
"Then... you can call me Kanade," she finally managed, offering the smallest, softest of smiles, hoping to warm the cold air that had settled between them.
But Mafuyu didn’t smile back. She simply looked at Kanade with a quiet, unreadable expression, and it sent a strange tug through Kanade’s stomach. Something wasn’t right.
"Mafuyu... are you..." Kanade began, her voice uncertain, trailing off. Her heart fluttered nervously in her chest. "Are you alright?"
The words slipped out before she could stop them, and she immediately regretted them. What was she doing? They hadn’t spoken much, certainly not enough for her to ask something so personal. l
Mafuyu seemed to hesitate for a long moment, her gaze distant. "Ah, I’m alright... I just... I don’t know." Her voice trailed off, uncertain, like she was struggling to find the right words. Kanade could see it—the confusion, the sadness, the quiet desperation behind her eyes.
Kanade swallowed. She wanted to know more. She wanted to understand. But at the same time, she didn’t want to pry.
"Ah... if it helps," Kanade found herself saying, her voice soft and almost unsure of herself, "you can listen to something I composed. It’s not really good... compared to my father's work..." She felt a pang of doubt. Why was she even offering? Her music was so insignificant compared to the compositions her father produced. But it was the only thing she could offer, the only part of herself she could give.
Mafuyu’s expression shifted, just slightly. It wasn’t a full smile, but there was a brief flicker of something in her eyes. "Ah, right, your father’s a composer," she said. "I’d like to hear it."
Kanade hesitated, but pulled out her phone anyway, her hands shaking just a little. She held it out to Mafuyu, unsure of how this moment would unfold.
"Here..." Kanade murmured, her heart racing as she handed over the phone, almost afraid of what Mafuyu might think.
The moment the melody began to play, something shifted. The air around them seemed to change, and Kanade noticed the subtle way Mafuyu’s eyes widened. There was something in the music, something unspoken, and for a brief moment, it felt like time slowed. Mafuyu’s expression seemed to soften, her body slightly leaning toward the sound as if drawn to it.
This melody... it feels... Mafuyu thought, and her breath caught in her throat. There was something hauntingly familiar about it. Something that resonated deep within her.
Before Kanade could fully process what was happening, Mafuyu’s voice broke the silence.
"K-Kanade, please..." Mafuyu’s voice trembled with an urgency Kanade hadn’t expected. "Please, keep composing for me. I’m sorry for this selfish request, but please—just keep composing for me."
The words hit Kanade like a punch to the gut. She blinked, her eyes wide, her mind racing. She hadn’t expected this—this plea, this raw emotion.
"Mafuyu?" Kanade whispered, her voice barely a breath. She wasn’t sure what to say, what she was supposed to do. This wasn’t something she could have anticipated.
"I can’t keep pretending, Kanade," Mafuyu continued, her voice breaking even further. "I... I can barely feel anything anymore. I don’t know who I am anymore." The words seemed to pour out of her, and Kanade could see the pain in her eyes, the way her chest rose and fell rapidly as if she were struggling to hold back tears.
A weight settled on Kanade’s chest, heavy and full of compassion. She wanted to fix this, to take away the pain Mafuyu was clearly carrying, but she didn’t know how.
Mafuyu’s voice lowered even further. "Your music... It’s different. It feels like it can save me... from whatever this is." Her voice quivered, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She was barely holding herself together.
Kanade’s heart raced. Save? The word echoed in her mind, unfamiliar and yet deeply meaningful. It felt like a call to action, something she couldn’t ignore.
Her mind raced, her thoughts swirling. Save? She had always wanted to help people—especially those who were in pain. This was her chance.
"I-" Kanade started, her voice firming as the resolve inside her grew. "I promise, Mafuyu. I’ll save you." She spoke with a certainty she hadn’t even realized she had, her voice steady despite the rapid beating of her heart.
Mafuyu looked at her, her expression softening. But before she could respond, Kanade rushed to add, "I’ll do everything I can. Just... don’t give up."
[]
"Asahina..." Kanade began, her words trailing off as she watched the other girl’s fragile expression. But Mafuyu cut her off before she could continue.
"Please... just call me Mafuyu," she whispered, her voice a soft plea. It was a request that made Kanade’s chest tighten. Mafuyu wasn’t asking for formality. She was asking for connection.
Kanade nodded slowly. "Right... Mafuyu."
She paused, then, a question tugging at her. "When did you start feeling like this? Like... you’re losing yourself?"
Mafuyu went quiet, her gaze falling to the ground. There was a long pause before she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not too long ago... It’s like... I started losing parts of myself. I can’t feel anything anymore... Not really." She shook her head, her voice faltering with each word. "I couldn’t let anyone see that, though. Especially my mom. So I pretended. I pretended everything was fine." Her voice cracked on the last word, and she fell silent, her eyes closed as if trying to hold back the flood of emotions she couldn’t contain.
Kanade’s heart ached for her. "Mafuyu..." She stepped closer, the words coming out in a soft, steady tone. "Please, don’t pretend with me. I need to know how you really feel."
Mafuyu looked up, confusion clouding her features. Kanade spoke again, gently but with a quiet insistence. "If I’m going to help you, Mafuyu... I need to understand you. Not just the version you show everyone else."
Mafuyu looked at her for a long time, her expression unreadable. And then, after what felt like an eternity, she gave Kanade a small, almost hesitant smile. It wasn’t much, but it was real. Genuine.
"I see... Thank you, Kanade," she whispered. "Thank you for not turning away."
Kanade smiled back, her heart swelling with a quiet determination. "I’ll save you, Mafuyu. As long as you keep that smile on your face, I’ll do my best."
[]
When Kanade returned home that evening, she tried to shake off the heaviness that had been following her all day.
"Dad! I’m home!" she called as she entered the house, her voice echoing in the quiet space. She waited, her heart still unsettled.
"Kanade! You worried me! What took you so long?!" her father called from the other room.
She heard his footsteps coming closer, and before she knew it, he was there, wrapping her in a tight hug.
"I’m sorry, Dad," she murmured, feeling guilty. "I was with a friend... I didn’t realize the time."
He chuckled, releasing her from the hug. "As long as you’re safe. That’s all that matters."
She nodded, a quiet sense of relief settling over her.
"Are you going to work now?" she asked.
"Of course," he said with a smile, already moving toward his study. "But hey... if you want, you can watch me work for a bit. What do you say?"
Kanade smiled. She wanted this, wanted to spend time with her father, wanted to learn from him.
"Yes, please," she said, her voice eager. "I need to improve. I have something important to do."
[]
Kanade followed her father to his workroom, her heart still beating with a mix of determination and uncertainty. The air in the room felt different when they were together, a space filled with the quiet hum of creative energy. She sat down at the desk, watching her father adjust the settings on his computer, his focus sharp and intent.
Her father started talking, his expression softened, "Music has that power. It's a language of its own. It speaks to the soul." He smiled at her gently. "And you have a gift, Kanade. A gift that not only connects to the heart but can help others find their way."
Kanade felt a warm glow spread through her chest at his words, but it was quickly tempered by the nagging feeling that she still wasn’t doing enough. She glanced at the screen in front of her, noticing the notes and patterns her father was working on, her mind already thinking about her own music, the melodies she would compose for Mafuyu.
"You really think so, Dad? That I could—" she started, but then hesitated. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to say what was truly on her mind.
Her father gave her a knowing look, sensing her uncertainty. "I know you, Kanade. You’ve always been passionate about helping others. Your music is an extension of that."
Kanade’s heart swelled. She had always wanted to make her father proud, but now, more than ever, she felt the weight of her own promise to Mafuyu. I’ll save you, Mafuyu, she thought again, the words firm in her mind.
[]
"Dad? Don’t you think we should do something like this?" Kanade asked, taking the keyboard and mouse, adjusting a few parts of the song before clicking play.
"Kanade, this is... this is brilliant!" Her father beamed at her, pride in his eyes. "You’ll become a great composer one day. I’ll submit this now. Can you set the table for dinner?"
"You think so?!" Kanade’s face lit up with excitement, her heart swelling with happiness. "Okay, I’ll set the table! And you’ll teach me more, right?"
"Of course, dear."
[]
"Kanade! My boss loved the part of the song you adjusted! You’re truly a gift to music!" Her father ruffled her hair affectionately. "You’ll go far, I know it."
"Wahh, really?!" Kanade’s face lit up, her excitement bubbling over. Now she was more determined than ever to save Mafuyu. Her father chuckled, clearly amused by her enthusiasm.
[]
The next day, Kanade decided to spend the day with Mafuyu, trying to understand her more deeply. She didn’t expect, though, the crowds of students who seemed to gravitate toward them.
Not to brag, but Kanade was popular. People often commented on her warm and caring aura, not to mention her impressive grades—though, honestly, she strived for high marks only so her father wouldn’t have to worry about her. Mafuyu, too, was popular for similar reasons. So, naturally, they found themselves surrounded by a swarm of students.
"Ah, Yoisaki-san, let’s have lunch together!" one student asked.
"Asahina-senpai, can you help me with this?" another student asked.
Kanade felt herself becoming overwhelmed. She didn’t have the heart to turn anyone down, but luckily, Mafuyu was there to help.
"Ah! Sorry, everyone, but me and Kanade have plans!" Mafuyu said quickly, grabbing Kanade’s arm and pulling her away. As they walked, Kanade could hear the murmurs behind them.
"Wahh, I didn’t know Asahina-san and Yoisaki-san were friends."
"I mean, look at them... can you really be surprised?" Eventually, Mafuyu slowed her pace, letting go of Kanade’s arm. Her usual bright demeanor seemed to fade, her expression growing distant again.
"Hey," Kanade started, offering a small smile. "I’ve been thinking about what you said yesterday. About the music."
Mafuyu looked at her, eyes wide and unsure. "You... really want to keep composing for me?"
Kanade nodded, her gaze steady. "Yes. I want to help you. I want to give you something that might help you feel again. Something real."
Mafuyu was silent for a moment, looking at Kanade as though she was searching for something in her eyes. Finally, she nodded, the faintest of smiles tugging at her lips. "I... I’d like that."
Kanade’s heart skipped. Maybe this is the start, she thought, feeling a sense of hope rising inside her. This wasn’t the end, not by a long shot—but it was a beginning.
"Then let me show you," Kanade said quietly, pulling out her phone. "I’ve been working on something for you."
Mafuyu leaned in, her expression cautious but curious. As the music played, Kanade saw the shift in her—a small flicker of something in her eyes. She didn’t know yet if this was the breakthrough, but she knew it was a step. And that was all she needed.
Kanade felt a quiet sense of accomplishment as the music filled the space between them. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she was on the right path.
"Thank you, Kanade," Mafuyu whispered, her voice filled with a softness Kanade hadn’t heard before.
Kanade smiled, a mixture of warmth and determination filling her. "We’ll get through this together, Mafuyu. I’ll help you find your way."
And just like that, Kanade knew—this was what she was meant to do.