(November 21st, 8:30 am, Eigaharu Music Studios. Emiya, Aoi, and the rest of the music team are having a meeting about their next song and how the song will be composed, as well as discussing the lyrics that Aoi wrote before signing the contract with Emiya's company. Although Emiya threw up this morning because of the mix of medicine and alcohol, she ended up feeling better [probably because her body's used to this by now]. However, the bandages around her arms are visible and she's still in pain.)
Emiya (thinking): Ugh... it still hurts, even though I bandaged and disinfected properly. Not to mention, I'm wearing a half sleeve black dress... hopefully, no one sees it...
Aoi: (looks at Emiya's arms with suspicion) ...
???: Ikuro-san, what do you think of these lyrics?
Aoi: Ah, yes. Let me see...
(An hour later, everyone stops their work and decides to have lunch at the cafeteria in the office. Aoi goes up to Emiya to stop her from walking away.)
Aoi: Emiya, can you stay for a few minutes?
(Emiya flinched when she heard Aoi's request, but Aoi didn't notice it because she hides it very well.)
Emiya: Uhh... sure. You guys go ahead, we'll be there shortly.
(After the rest of Emiya's team went without them.)
Aoi: I noticed that a part of your arm is bandaged up for some reason, did something happen?
Emiya: Ah... uhh... (She looks away from Aoi.) It's nothing, I fell down the stairs when leaving the station, that's all. Nothing to worry about. (She puts her left hand on her right elbow to close herself off from Aoi.)
(Aoi sees through the lie because of Emiya's body language, but chooses not to question her further to avoid further conflict.)
Aoi: Alright, I won't ask you anymore. (She walks away from Emiya, stopping at the door border and glancing back at her.) But, if you want to talk about it another day, I'm here. We're going to be singing partners for three months, so we have to have each other's backs.
(She leaves the room to join the rest of the team at the cafeteria. Emiya's eyes become watery, but she wipes them off immediately and regains her composure. She leaves the meeting room to have lunch with everyone.)
(3:00 pm, Emiya's apartment. After lunch and discussing the collab songs with Aoi and the rest of the team, Emiya went home to get herself ready for an anime premiere. She was looking forward to it since it was based on her favorite manga that she's been reading for a few months. However, when she got home, she immediately got herself a fresh set of clothes and went to the shower because her back and arm started to bleed again. She winced when the water hit her wounded parts, but she tried her best to clean them as much as possible. After she was done showering, she reapplied the ointment that she kept in the kitchen when she heard the doorbell ring. She looked at the door with trembling hands. Taking a deep breath, she put her first aid equipment down and went towards the door. She looked through the peephole to see her next-door neighbor. She breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door.)
Neighbor: Hello- Oh no, what happened to you? (The neighbor puts one hand on her mouth in shock.) Did he come back last night?
Emiya: Ah, it's nothing. You know, the usual...
(The neighbor burrowed her eyebrows and went inside with the food boxes in her right hand, grabbing Emiya's uninjured hand with her left and going back to the kitchen where the equipment was. The neighbor opens the first aid kit. She begins to pull out a roll of gauze.)
Emiya: You don't have to...
Neighbor: Oh please, let me help you. After all, I've known you for 2-3 years now. And, this seems nothing... Anyways, why did he get violent this time?
Emiya: ...I'm trying to collab with a long lost friend I used to have, and... I don't want to make the same mistakes that I made before losing touch with them...
Neighbor: Oh, I see. That makes sense, but that doesn't allow him to do such a thing to you... (She sighed.) Listen to me, Emiya. If you don't do anything about this, then I'll have to call the police because this is going too far. Plus, your fans and the community your songs have created are a safe space to open up about your feelings, so please... don't be afraid to say what you want. No one will EVER try to hurt you the same way that bastard is trying to hurt you.
(Emiya listened to everything her neighbor said.)
Neighbor: There, all done. (The neighbor puts down the first-aid equipment.) No one will notice you even got injured with the dresses you have. Ah, here's your food in case you get hungry. I got some extras from Mako by accident, so I wanted to give them to you.
(Emiya hugs her neighbor tightly and starts to cry.)
Emiya: (*sniff*) Thank you... Ice...
Ice: You don't have to thank me, we're good friends now. So, if you need me, I'm here to listen. (She smiles and looks at the time) Oh, I have to go now. I'll see you tomorrow!
Emiya: Bye Ice, take care.
(Ice left Emiya's apartment and went back to her apartment. Emiya got ready for the anime premier and left the house)
YOU ARE READING
Aome (青目; Vol.2)
FanfictionAoi has decided to collaborate with Yame (Emiya) for her upcoming album. However, in the months before the album release comes around, something doesn't seem right with Emiya as she becomes quieter and less vocal about her wants and needs than befor...
