4 is for "happiness" and doesn't mean "to die"

Chapter 6

A/N: Rest in music, Mikio Fujioka.
All the best with your future endeavours, Yui Mizuno.
Wherever we are, I know you will be with us.
Content warning: underage drinking. 20 is the legal drinking age in Japan.

四 四 四 四

It's been almost a year since I realised I'm in love with Yui.

And she still doesn't know.

To backtrack, the Fox Festivals were going okay until the Big Fox Festivals came. Yui wanted to join my gym sessions and it was her first time performing a deadlift. Her form was almost perfect.

Almost.

Yui lifted the Olympic-sized bar and her lower back, which was unfamiliar with the new movement, didn't like it. Yui managed to power through the Big Fox Festivals with the help of painkiller medication and a back brace. She still shone and smiled and pulled silly faces despite the lesser flexibility she must have been experiencing due to the stubborn back injury.

Yui consulted a chiropractor, who a family friend had recommended, when the first physio she met strongly suggested to Yui to stop all physical activity. Fortunately the chiropractor understood and recommended Yui the daily exercises she should do to recover and resume all activities as soon as was possible.

But then December happened.

Mikiko burst in backstage on the first day of Legend S, aghast that Yui was still intending to perform; Mikiko was just informed that the chiropractor had strongly advised Yui to rest as such a big-scaled performance so soon after the injury was too strenuous. Su and I were shocked. Koba looked extremely stressed. And Yui...

Her whole visage was heartbreaking to look at.

Yui didn't cry as she negotiated with Koba to allow the shows to continue as too many people have been looking forward to it and some have even travelled from other countries to see it, but her voice wavered here and there and I held her hand as she gripped me back. We held on after the negotiations were over and the public announcements were released, advising everyone that YUIMETAL was too ill to perform that night and the night after.

Mikiko came back stage to help make quick arrangements of my choreography, especially for Song 4 and GJ. The team decided to not try and find a backing track for Meta Taro and Ijime Dame Zettai that had Yui's solo lines, so it was going to be hard for Su and me during those painful silences on stage but due to the time constraint it cannot be helped.

Su and I decided we should call the attendees to respond and sing Yui's parts. We are The ONE, after all.

Yui held herself strongly as she helped with us on the last minute arrangements.

Before the show officially started, I hugged her gently.

"I'm not going to break," Yui murmured.

"You know I'm trying not to ruin my makeup," I replied as I hugged her tighter and willed my unshed tears to evaporate.

I didn't get to see Yui again until after the whole two nights were over. As I performed, I gave my absolute all. If I had given 100% in previous shows, I gave 140% during those two nights and increased the call and response times. The audience needed to know Yui will be back.

But Yui's health spiralled after New Year's. Her emotional and mental well-being became vulnerable. And her family, close friends, Su and I did our best to support her as she went through various medical treatments.

During all this, I didn't want to burden Yui with my feelings so I never got to tell her.

"Moa!"