Title: levity
Rating: G
Fandom: Jack Jeanne
Relationship: Akane Ao/Tachibana Kisa
Wordcount: 868
Short summary: Kisa and Ao meet up early Saturday morning for pastries and tea. This is enough to make Kisa feel better.
“Sorry for calling you here so early in the day.”
It’s the second Saturday morning in June and even though the next performance is still 6 weeks away, Kisa is already feeling the pressure. The newcomer’s performance went well; it was great to see the first-year Al Jeanne do well considering how Jack-heavy Quartz currently is. But now Kisa is slated to be the star of the summer performance, to face off against Takanamigi once more. On top of that, the first year Jeanne had asked yesterday for dance pointers, leaving only the morning free, so…
“No worries!” Ao smiles, albeit with half-open eyes. “I’d come over any time for you, no matter what.”
So only morning is open for meeting up with Ao. After Kisa’s message last night, Ao had taken the 7 AM train just to see Kisa for pastries and tea. And with the crowdedness of the café, they don’t even sit in, electing to take their order out and walk to the park.
“I’ll try to keep it to the weekend at least…” Kisa sighs. It’s not that short of a trip for Ao after all.
They find an empty bench and sit down together, thighs touching even though they don’t have to sit so close. They converse quietly, talking about the events of the last few weeks, not needing to raise their voices to hear each other clearly. Kisa loves these moments. With no one else around, they can sit this close without any fuss. To strangers far away, it just looks like a young man and a young woman having a quiet intimate moment. But to people who know of Kisa, the star of Quartz, it’s a different issue. And Kisa needs Ao; she can’t drag Ao into the spotlight and gossip…
“Ao?”
Lost in her thoughts, Kisa is surprised when Ao’s arms wrap around her, pulling her close.
“I know I can’t help you at Univeil,” Ao says into Kisa’s right ear, “but I want to do anything I can to lessen the burden you carry.”
Kisa feels her face flush as she belatedly realizes how much she had “complained” to Ao. Being at Univeil for another year is another year of dreams come true, but it’s also hard work. She still has to pretend to be a boy, even if she also has Mitsuki along with Sou helping her keep it secret from the others. She still has the shadow of Tsuki hanging around; she still doesn’t know where Tsuki is, even though she feels one step closer to the truth. With Ao, none of this matter. With Ao Kisa can be herself: the self she was before she went to Univeil, the self she started to discover during her first year at Univeil, the self she has yet to meet. Whatever side she has shown, Ao has accepted and supported. And it means so much.
“Can you keep holding me?” Kisa whispers as she wraps her arms around Ao in return.
“Kisa…”
With her face pressed into the side of Ao’s neck, Kisa breathes. She inhales the lavender scent of Ao’s soap, she feels the softness and warmth of Ao’s skin. She feels the weight on her shoulders, the mental weight, melt away like ice under warm sun rays. Meanwhile Ao hums one of the tunes from the newcomer’s performance…no, wait, the one from last year’s newcomer’s performance.
Even on sleepless nights, look out the window to see the silver moon always looking at you from above.
Kisa pulls away, blinking away the image. For a moment she had seen someone in that dress, which would mean Kisa was the sleepless king this time? She wonders what Suzu would say to that…
“Do you feel better Kisa?”
Ao’s cute smile always elicits one from Kisa. Yes, this has helped a lot. Any happiness and energy gained from this meeting will help Kisa get through the afternoon training with the first-year student. Not that it’s the student’s fault, but Kisa has realized more and more just how much of a blessed first year she had with Neji and Fumi and Kai in their class. She wants to carry that forward. She wants to do her best.
And see Ao’s smile afterwards.
“Thanks.” Kisa stands up and offers out her hand. “I’ll walk you to the station.”
There still aren’t too many people out and about, so Kisa keeps her hold tight on Ao’s hand. Not that Ao would ever let go. Not until they reach the station.
“I’ll come by next Saturday!” Ao says upon their arrival at the station entrance.
Kisa frowns slightly, wondering if she looks so burdened that Ao needs to intervene. “You don’t have to…” Kisa can bother someone else if she has to. If Ao is busy…
“If you are fine, that’d be even better!” Ao’s smile only widens. “I always want to see you happy.”
“Ao…” Kisa feels the same. She wants to reply, but…
“But maybe it can be for lunch instead?” Ao is better at keeping the mood up.
Kisa laughs. “I hope so.”
It would be nice indeed to have a more relaxed date at a better time. Well, first things first: work hard and have a successful week of training and practice. But having something to look forward to so soon never hurts…