Our Sparkling, Heart pounding Moment

Anticipation

Days have passed and we are at the night before the show and are doing our final rehearsals getting everything together. Saya is packing her drums into cases, Rimirin is checking over the music again to make minor changes to anything, O-Tae is playing with Occhan, and Arisa is pacing around the room. I scroll through my phone, seeing how the media is taking the sudden change from Pastel Palettes to our band for the countdown show. The air was tense, no one spoke, and we were all waiting, anticipating for the coming show. This isn't how Poppin Party is supposed to be, we should be getting excited about the show. All it seems right now is that we are dreading what is to come.  

After Saya finished packing I stood up and said "Hey girls, let's go out tonight, it's on me. Let's have a little pre-show party."

Everyone gave a sign and their faces relaxed to their usual selves. We shouldn't dread too much, or even at all. This was our day, to finally play together again. So I take everyone to Korean BBQ, just so that we can enjoy ourselves. It was packed, as usual, being in the middle of the holiday season and people from corporate jobs are out getting drinks and living it up on their few days of freedom. We aren't much different in retrospect, wanting to escape the work that separates us and live our moments of freedom with each other. 

"Party of 5 please," I tell the front desk. She leads us to our table and we all sit down. We talk about random things and eat the night away. By the time we are done, it is about 23:20, and we call a taxi to bring us back to Arisa's house and get ready. Once we got back we get out clothes for tomorrow ready, we thought that it would be appropriate to wear our costumes from our first year in high school (which somehow still fit amazingly, with some minor adjustments) when we did our basement live show. 

Getting ready, I can't help but feel anxious. I heart feels tight and there is a lump in my throat. I need to talk to someone.

"Saya? Can I talk to you?" I ask her as she is drying her hair. 

"Mhm, talk away. Though this is quite rare for you to willing want to talk to me."

I pout a bit. "Anyways, so I'm just going to say it straight to you right now. I--" Before I could say anything I was cut off.

"You are in love with Arisa and you fear being completely rejected?"

"I-I--"

"Don't think I can't tell what's going on between you two. We all already know. It was actually quite the topic when you two weren't around to guess what you two are doing right now."

My faced flushed with red. I mean we were close but I didn't think we exuded anything that was couple-like in high school. 

"So," Saya leaned in, "when are you confessing?"

"Ah...well, the thing is..."

I begin to explain the whole situation to her, going into a little more detail about how I felt about everything. I mean she's always been looking out for us so she would certainly know a thing or two by this point about this. Right? I explained everything from the moment I finally met with Arisa again to Christmas Eve. 

"I see, so in other words, you are afraid of Arisa's answers because you don't want to ruin the friendship and bonds you two share, but you really do want her to say yes as well?"

"Well if you put it like that...yeah I guess."

Saya leans in and puts her hand on my shoulder.

"Listen Kasumi, whether you two start going out or not, won't affect Popipa in the least, I can promise you that. And also," she lifts her hand off my shoulder and ruffles my hair, "don't be so hesitant and reserved about this. The Kasumi I know always runs headfirst into everything she wants to do, to chase her "sparkling, heart-pounding moment."