Under the Wraps (A Solarstories S Next Gen Fanfic)

Himawari x Inojin

"Wow! That looks amazing," The girl said to Himawari.

"Thanks for being a model for my drawing. It always gives me pride to do so," Himawari responded back. "By the way, what's your name?"

The girl looked at Himawari for a moment before answering.

"Marnie Magne."

Himwari remembered the time when she and Marnie first met and quickly became friends but come to think of it, she was very different compared to the one she knew before. She remembered how the leader would come to her aid whenever she had trouble and now that Macaque has her in his hands, she can't help the Solars when they need her the most.

She wasn't a big fan of Macaque, considering her cousins', MK and Mugman, experience with him. She once recalled how Macaque tried to get Mugman on his side, but failed to do so and his attempt to kill the anthropomorphic cup later on. She thought that Mugman would be saved from him but she didn't expect Macaque to turn Marnie into a monster, making Mugman traumatized over losing his girlfriend to a guy that brought him bad experiences.

Probably she might have seen that coming. considering that Marnie has been hanging with Macaque lately. She remembered how Macaque used her as a way to kill Mugman and MK when they first met and then they later spent time with each other to understand more about themselves following the shadow play when Marnie felt a pang of sympathy for him and they became close from that point on. It worried her to some degree as she didn't want Macaque to manipulate her. 

When the news of Macaque and Marnie being around each other spreaded around the Solars, she was in disbelief at first, but it was the truth. She, at the very least, tried to be there for her and support her for whatever she's going through right now. 

It wasn't a surprise that Himawari would stand up for Marnie when she was getting ridiculed by the Solars for hanging with Macaque. She tried her best to reason with them, understanding their fear and hatred for Macaque, but her efforts fell into failure as most didn't take her warning and continued ridiculing their leader. The young girl knew that they had good intentions of protecting her since Macaque is a menace to them, but it's probably taken too far and Marnie probably got tired of being treated as someone that needs a lot of protection and can't fend for herself. Himawari knew the whole time that wasn't true since Marnie is capable of fighting by herself.

She saw how Marnie had a hard time containing her anger with what's she's going through. Marnie is an even-tempered girl so it's very rare of her to lose her anger, but the repeated comments she gets from the Solars made it very difficult to stay calm. Earlier, her sister, Ms. Chalice, told Himawari about the last time she was like this which was when the Negaverse flew back to earth sometime after their banishment to space for their first rebellion. The rebel group used the power of dark matter to transmit a strong shockwave that knocked out all of Crystal Tokyo into a coma, leaving Marnie and Ms. Chalice to travel back in time and seek help from the present Solars. Losing everybody that they knew and loved made Marnie feel the need to take it out on the Negaverse for doing this to them but her sister made sure to put her anger in check so she doesn't snap. This time was different because the Solars didn't arrive to make sure their leader didn't unleash her rage out and things were made worse when Macaque encouraged her to let it spread during his own way of comforting her. 

Even during these tough times, Himawari continued do art sessions with her boyfriend, Inojin, and helping her moms and Fuyumi with housework, but the thought of losing one of her best friends lingered in her mind as she tried to go on with her usual life. 

She would usually think of her moms whenever she drew something, but it seems that losing Marnie gave her another subject to think of for her artistic works. 

"Sensei. You seem to draw something sad lately during the recent art sessions we had. Is there something wrong?" Inojin asked his girlfriend. He knew Himawari ever since she won a drawing contest so he asked her to show him her techniques. It resparked his passion for art and it enabled him to perform his ability of making drawings come to life.

Himawari thought for a moment before responding. "Well. In fact, my friends and I have lost someone important. She's someone who can brighten the hearts of everybody she meets, but now our hearts have just been frozen cold. Ms. Chalice, Mugman, and MK seem to be having a hard time dealing that someone close to them is taken by somebody who gave at least one of them something traumatic." 

"I'm sorry sensei. I know how it feels to lose someone special."

"Inojin. It's ok." Himawari embraced Inojin in a hug. "It wasn't your fault that Marnie succumbed to evil but we'll still continue with our art sessions. How about we do some drawing relating to feelings? Feelings are something we can think about when we draw."

Inojin understood why Himawari created those melancholy artworks and it's very hard to deal with the same experiences in Himawari's shoes. 

"Yeah. We can do that. Maybe expressing yourself this way can release any stress you have about your friend and it can bring appeal to a work of art."

While it may be today, tomorrow, or someday, they hoped that Marnie would come back to them so they can repair their bonds with her. Himawari looked up as she drew.

"Marnie. I'm sorry. I'll be sure to make things right for the Solars and for you."