Afterword - A Doki Doki Precure Story

9 - A Shoulder To Lean On

New Year's Eve. It was strange to think the year was already ending.
Makoto awoke to a freezing bedroom and a sickening feeling in her stomach.
The idol knew exactly why this was. She was hungry, starving even. Being mainly a vegetarian, Makoto made sure she didn't eat much throughout the day, to keep her physique. However she stupidly decided to take it upon herself to not eat for an entire day because she began to see a rise in how much she weighed.

Makoto stayed sat up in her bed for a moment. Her stomach rumbled furiously. She needed to eat.

The door to her room opened and in walked Daybi, her manager and best friend.
"Good morning, Makoto. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." She mumbled, still tired, and hoping her stomach would not betray her. She had lied to Daybi the previous night because she didn't want to upset her. At least that's what she told herself.

Unfortunately for the idol, her stomach rumbled once again.

Daybi's smile turned into a stern frown.
"Did you eat yesterday?"

"Y-yes?" Makoto lied.

With a huff, Daybi left the room and entered the kitchen. Makoto could only lie back in her bed in a moment filled with self-loathing.
Shortly after, Daybi returned with a bowl of vegetable soup. The lilac-haired idol awkwardly took the dish and stared at the contents.

After not eating for an entire day, looking at the soup make Makoto's stomach churn.

"Please eat. I don't want you to get sick." Daybi ordered softly.
The younger girl nodded and with a sigh began to eat her soup.

———

Rikka tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and quickly knocked on the door.
A moment later, the door opened to reveal Makoto in a purple winter coat.
"Hey... R-ready to go?" Rikka asked, taking in how cute Makoto looked.
"Y-yeah," she nodded, hiding a faint blush.

Makoto had seen an advertisement for a fireworks show at 12am New Year's Day. Since the others were spending it with family, Makoto decided to invite Rikka, who wasn't doing anything. Her father was abroad and her mother would be working at the hospital.
In addition to this, the idol invited the aspiring doctor in hopes of getting closer to her.

Rikka had decided to tie her hair into a ponytail, something she usually never did, and something Makoto took notice of very quickly.
"I see you tied your hair back?" She teased.

Rikka nodded. She couldn't admit that she had made herself look her best for the sake of looking good for the girl she had a crush on.

Together the two girls made their way through the city. Along the way they stopped to look at clothes, they bought some sweets, went inside a coffee shop they usually go to, and then made their way in the direction of a large building.

Rikka looked at the blue scarf in her hands.
"Hey Makoto?"

Makoto turned to look at her friend. Rikka stepped close to her and wrapped the scarf around Makoto's neck.
'Adorable.' Rikka thought to herself.

"Y-you noticed me looking at it then..." Makoto mumbled, her face burning up with a vibrant blush.
Rikka began to blush. "O-of course I did! I wanted to get you a present..."

Makoto quickly embraced her friend.

———

Yuki looked into a mirror and sighed.
'You can do this, Yuki.'
She looked down to her attire. A black jacket over a simple T-shirt and blue skinny jeans.
'I look stupid,' she thought to herself.