Belle and Cherry (Kei x OC)

Prologue Part 3

Sakura begins to visit Suzu at her house for the first time around a week later. She even brings along some of her large notepads that contain her songs. The girls get to know each other little by little. Then they share each other's songs and privately sing a few of them together. Interestingly, Suzu manages to not throw up thanks while Sakura feels no heartache. Being in each other's presences is how they are put at ease with their physical conditions not acting up. Suzu's father also meets Sakura, who notices a distance between him and Suzu, but she's never questioned it. She can tell her new friend is keeping her distance from him since her mother's death affected her.

4 weeks after she met Sakura, Suzu makes her first visit to her house. She meets her cousin and aunt Rei, becoming relaxed by the former's endearing personality. Norito greets her like an acquaintance, much to Sakura and Koko's surprise. He tells them Suzu goes to the same high school as him, which explains how they know each other a little with just a few small talks due to Suzu's shyness. When Sakura asks if he knows about Suzu's singing and her childhood, he admits that he does not, so Suzu tells him and Koko what happened in her childhood that led to her loss of singing out of trust. They promise to keep her singing a secret like they do the same for Sakura. In addition to learning how Suzu lost a close parent like she did, Koko gives her new friend a big comforting hug, something Suzu thanks her for appreciatively.

On occasion after school and during the weekends, the two girls would sing when no one is around while spending some time with each other at the other's house. They grow to feel more comfortable around each other to sing again when they want to without their physical conditions affecting them in the process. Sometimes Norito and Koko watch them sing together.

One morning, Enji and Tamashini are hanging out with Sakura in her front yard. Enji wears a red polo shirt, grey pants with a brown belt, white quarter socks, and black sneakers. Tamashini is wearing a blue sleeveless turtleneck mid-thigh top, lavender leggings and black knee-high boots with white laces. They are sitting down on the grass near the front porch chatting when Suzu walks up to the front.

Sakura beams when she sees her. "Hey, Suzu! You came!" she waves, earning a slight one from her shy friend. She wears a white T-shirt with blue jeans, white quarter socks and grey sneakers with white tops, yellow shoelaces, and matching soles.

"Is that her?" Tamashini asks.

"Yup. Guys, this is Suzu, Norito's schoolmate who I told you about. Suzu, these are my friends from my school, Enji and Tamashini." Sakura introduces as Suzu comes over and sits down beside her to join the three teenagers.

"Hi. It's nice to meet you both." She greets.

"Nice to meet you too, Suzu." Enji nods politely.

Somewhat suspicious of the newcomer, Tamashini eyes on Suzu. "W-What?" she stutters with nervousness.

"Are you Sakura's friend for her bold ways or somethin'?" Tamashini questions out of skepticism.

"Huh?" Suzu blinks.

"Tamashini, relax. Suzu's not like the other students who like me just because I'm bold enough to be popular." Sakura dismisses, her voice bearing some amusement.

"Popular?" Suzu repeats, confused.

"Every student at our school likes Sakura because of her boldness when she stands up to a group of five boys who bully those they think are weak. They call them the Dominants." Enji explains, making a grimace at the thought of Tori and his friends.

"Oh." Suzu ponders for a second. "A girl at me and Norito's school is popular because she's really pretty." she tells the three teenagers.

"That so? Well, the eyepatch and glove don't stop Sakura from looking cool. And who knows? Maybe she has a pretty face underneath them too." Tamashini jokes.