Keyakizaka46 One-shots (English)

Someone to stay (TechiNeru)

Platonic Techi/Neru but shippable if you squint hard enough. I was inspired by the song Someone to stay by Vancouver Sleep Clinic. I recommend you to listen to it while reading. Enjoy~

Hirate Yurina blinked owlishly up at the ceiling, trying in vain to fall asleep but no matter how exhausted she was her eyes refused to slip shut. She had just finished a photo-shoot with a magazine and had retired early after the shoot was finished, letting out excuses to the members that she was tired after they had pleaded for her to join them for dinner. She lay in her bed while her brain was working in overdrive, overthinking matters that drain her both emotionally and mentally.

The summer that had been filled with endless concerts had not been kind to her and she had been overworked to the bones, jeopardizing her health. She had begun to close herself off from the world and most importantly the other members. It had pained her but she had felt that the others had their own issues to worry about and she didn't want to be a bother so she hid, fighting her demons off on her own, fighting a losing battle in her own head. The effects were apparent, she was constantly in a zombie-like state. She sang and danced as needed, went to photo-shoots, variety shows and concerts but it was as if her body was there but her soul was elsewhere. Not only that, she had always doubted about her position as a center, doubting whether she was pretty enough or if her singing and dancing was good enough or if there were others who were more qualified to be in her position.

She rolled to her side pressing her face into the pillow and let out a shuddered sob, tears trickling down her cheeks and wetting the pillow beneath.

Sometimes she felt lonely, being at the center, under the scrutinizing gaze of the public and sometimes she could imagine the hateful gazes of the other members boring into her back, wondering why a person like her was chosen as a center although she was assured time and time again by the other members that they had no ill feeling towards her position and will always have her back.

She can't help herself, she had always been an insecure child and was always overthinking about things to the point that she would shut herself off from the world, trapped in her own mind and bombarded with many negative insecurities that slowly whittles away at her soul leaving a soulless husk in its wake. She suppresses the side of her that wants to scream out to her teammates, her family for help, afraid that it might jeopardize her beloved Keyakizaka46 family. So she lies there, cold and alone, whimpering out quiet sobs into her tear sodden pillow unaware of a presence listening keenly outside her hotel room door.

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Nagahama Neru walked leisurely down the hotel hallway, having finished her late dinner she had opted for a brisk stroll down the hallway to let the food in her stomach settle down. As she was walking, her thoughts came upon Hirate. She was worried about the younger girl, true, the summer had been hard for all of them but Hirate was hit the hardest, being the center had put a lot of pressure on her to the point that she had almost collapsed during a concert due to exhaustion. After that incident it was never the same again, she had become almost zombie-like, with deep bags under eyes and had a weariness in her stance. No longer was she the girl from way back when they had first met, the one who always smiled and laughed freely, who enjoyed being in the idol world. Now there was only a soulless body, carrying her burdens alone.

The other members had also voiced out their concerns, tirelessly trying to include Hirate in their antics, cheering her up but she had brushed them off with a "I'm fine" and a tired smile and went off on her own.

Over the months, Neru had grown close to Hirate as she had always felt like an outcast in the group what with her being in two groups at once but Hirate hadn't treated her differently and had accepted her with open arms. They had become the best of friends but lately Hirate seemed off, away in her own little world and it was frustrating for Neru who felt lost, unable to help her distressed friend.

While walking aimlessly down the hallway she heard soft whimpering coming from room 306, it was Hirate's room. Narrowing her eyes and concentrating on her hearing, she walked quietly near the door and placed an ear on it to prove that she wasn't imagining things. Ozeki did say that she felt spooked yesterday. Her eyes widened when she heard muffled crying from the room and she bit her bottom lip, debating internally whether she should intrude and comfort her troubled friend. She sighed and made up her mind, slowly she turned the doorknob and peeked inside the dark room and saw Hirate bundled up under the covers, her body was wracked with quiet sobs. "Oh Techi" she sighed sympathetically and made her way into the room, closing the door on her way in. With quiet footsteps she approached the weeping figure and placed a hand on her back feeling the way Hirate tense up and burrow further into the bed trying to hide herself.

"Techi, it's me Neru, are you okay? Talk to me please?"

Neru pleaded, stroking her back softly trying to coax her out of her self-imposed prison.

"I'm fine Neru, just a stomach ache that's all", Hirate mumbled, her tear streaked face hidden away from Neru, cursing silently to herself for having caved in to her emotions and breaking down, she knew Neru was stubborn and wouldn't leave her alone until she talked. She heard Neru sigh and panicked when she felt the bed dip behind her. Suddenly she was engulfed in warmth, Neru's arms were wrapped securely around her, and her warm breaths tickled the nape of her neck.

"Ne-neru?" Hirate stuttered, she blushed from the close proximity and tried to turn her head to look behind her but Neru's hand stopped her from turning so she was stuck there, her fafce pressed into the pillow but then Neru's hand started to stroke her hair gently, smoothing the knots and gently scratching at her scalp in a soothing manner. It felt..nice.

"The door is closed and the lights are off"

"W-what Ne-"

"It's just you and me here, so it's ok Techi", Neru murmered softly, she could feel the sincerity and warmth in her friend's embrace. Her vision blurred in the darkness.

"It's ok"

Hirate felt her eyes burn and her throat tightened.

"It's fine if you're not ready to tell me but please don't keep all of this" Neru placed a hand on Hirate's chest close to her heart, "All to yourself, it not only hurts you but it also hurts me and the other members too. Don't drive everyone away, you don't have to do this alone, we all need someone to stay"

And that was how the dam that was her heart burst, all the pent up rage and insecurities had burst forth, her chin trembled and great wracking sobs escaped from her lips. She whirled around in Neru's embrace and buried her head deep into her friend's bosom, hands grasping the back of Neru's shirt and she cried and cried- she felt raw and everything hurts but she felt the hold on her waist tighten and the reassuring murmurs from Neru had filled her heart with nothing but love and acceptance.

So just this once, she let go since she couldn't help but trust in Neru that everything was going to be okay- that it was okay to not be strong.

For tonight, she can find solace in Neru, she hopes that soon she'll find the courage to ask for help from the other members too.

But tonight-

Tonight

It's just her and Neru and that's okay.

It's okay after all everyone needs someone to stay.