Courage to Fly

A Moment Full of Warmth

After a long conclusion of the big family blow-up, they all made dinner-together. Kanade had slowly warmed up to Asahina's family after having one of the biggest screaming matches possible.

It felt like it was a long year so far. Omens of bad luck, insecurities, and all the negative stuff just seemed to get everyone off the edge, Asahina politely noted.

Kanade had sat next to her, and they spoke of songs and whatnot. Asahina figured Mafuyu must have been blown away by the environment of her family-the rooms weren't messy, but they weren't empty. Flowers in pots and vases inhabited locations among the house's many rooms, and all of Asahina's awards from all the years prior to now.

All of the victories she won, which all made her lose herself. Don't get her wrong, she didn't mind doing all of these activities, but she didn't really want to do them either.

Every now and then, the four would converse altogether, rather than in their rotating pairs; Mr. and Mrs. Mafuyu, Mr. Mafuyu and Asahina, Kanade and Mrs. Mafuyu, Asahina and Kanade.

They seemed to be holding up fine to the chaos, and since they were happy, Asahina supposed she should be, too.

Her life was messed up, sure, but it shouldn't always be an upset.

                                                                              ☆☆☆

After the sumptuous meal that the four of them had together in a pantomime cheeriness, they all rested in the living room, conversation continued as they spoke between intervals of a new film they were watching;Dark Stage! The Movie: A Teto Who Can't Sing. It was an interesting film for what it was, and it was enough to to lull the unspoken awkwardness looming in the wake.

That night, as she helped her mother clean, Asahina was insisted on to come back, move back in, and stay. Asahina didn't know what to say. Sure, they made a breakthrough on what family issues that they had, possibly due to generational trauma, as Asahina liked to considered it.

She simply thought she needed some time to think about her choices, and what sort of choices to make.

So, she called her other friends, Shinonome Ena and Mizuki Akiyama as Kanade sat beside her in what was her room only a day ago. Almost two. 

It had been a while since they last spoke to the pair; they still had their struggles with pushing their applications to apply to Miyamasuzaka Girls' Academy. Honami also goes to the school, and the reminder of the fact made Kanade laugh a little when Asahina spoke up on it.

"I guess I should tell her that her services are respectfully no longer required." Kanade chuckled. After a couple of seconds or so of waiting for their friends to answer, Kanade and Asahina started to speak on the fact if they were to truly move in together, and what would happen.

And then, they finally got back to them.

"Hello~?" sang out Mizuki, Asahina realizing how much she missed hearing their voice.

"Hi, so, I'm here at my parents'house. I don't know if you know, but I ran away from home yesterday since there's what I would like to call a lack of communication and everyone's feelings are hurt and....it's been a crazy life I've been living. Um, anyways, my mom's asking for me to move back in, but I'm actually happy, like, really happy living with Kanade, and I don't want her dad to lose his house if he gets to come back." Asahina's words had rushed right out, and even she was surprised she  could understand what she said in all of her regurgitation of words.

"Well," Ena had piped up, "I think you should write out pros and cons, or maybe just visit and have sleepovers every weekend? I'm not so sure, and I may have to hang up-Akito is bothering me with some issue he's having at school, and I have night classes coming soon-did I tell you? I can now alternate between night and regular school. I didn't feel like showing up this morning-and I'm getting off topic. Got to go. Hope that helps Bye-"

Ena had hung up, probably busy with the clamors of her life. 

Asahina  thought her advice was good advice in general, just not good advice for her. Mizuki had intently been listening, their youthful energy spilling over into Asahina's phone, making her feel hopeful for all of the issues they'd all been trying to solve.

If only it could be so simple.

In the end, they all hung up, and Kanade and Asahina spent the night in the bedroom with undecided fate. It didn't feel as empty as before, maybe since it was being filled with a warm aura.

And Asahina decided she would enjoy this silent, beautiful moment full of warmth.