Stellar Evolution/credits to "orphan_account?" on ao3

part 13

i told you it wasn't over, didn't i?
also sorry for how incredibly short this is

"Rui—please don't cry. It's okay, you still have us! ...Right?"

"Emu, you should leave him be. He's—he's going to be here a while."

"Right. Okay...see you later, Rui!"

Emu would still think about that conversation at the funeral. How he'd stayed, looking over Tsukasa's casket and trying to compose himself—but ultimately failing. She'd tried all day to cheer him up, since she hated seeing any of her friends like this. Especially Rui. She'd never seen him cry before.

She hadn't seen Rui after the funeral at all...and it'd been weeks ago.

Emu would still see her girlfriend, Nene, but she wasn't the same after it either. Emu had been upset about it, of course. After all, Tsukasa was the first one willing to listen to her dream and help her with it. But she'd lost someone important like this before—and she wanted to keep moving forward. She'd never know what Tsukasa was thinking, but she thought that's what he'd want. For them to keep moving forward as a troupe, together.

As of right now, she was in her room alone. Nene had decided to go out and try and talk to Rui today. Emu wanted to join her, but Nene urged her to stay behind. Something about how they were childhood friends and maybe she'd have better luck if it were just her. Which was okay with Emu—she just wished she could see her friends all together again. Or what remained of them, anyway.

Come to think of it—Miku and the Virtual Singers were still there, right? She could still talk and sing with them. It wasn't her friends, but it was close enough. Emu takes out her phone and lets herself transport to SEKAI.

Everything appears the same as it was, the same dreamlike environment she'd seen the last night they were here before...well, everything. The only thing missing was Tsukasa.

Or at least—so she thought.

She pushes open the door to the stage area.

"Miku! KAITO! Ri-"

Her joy becomes confusion as she stares at the 6 Virtual Singers, surrounding a very familiar, loud blonde.

"...Tsukasa?"

His eyes meet hers.

"Ah, Emu! You're just in time, we were about to go over a song! Wanna join us?" He calls, walking up to her.

"...But aren't you—"

Tsukasa presses a finger to his mouth and shushes her. "I'll explain to you later. I can't now, in front of them. Just play along for now."

Emu nods. Tsukasa turns around to the others with his hands on his hips and does his signature laugh. "Perfect! Now we have Emu with us. This is going to be the best performance imaginable!"

He seemed back to normal...was Emu just dreaming? Was any of this actually happening?

She wasn't sure. But she'd go along with it for now. It certainly didn't feel like reality—but it was enjoyable nonetheless. She breaks into a joyful smile and joins everyone else onstage.

Anything to get Tsukasa back, at least temporarily.