The confrontation
Yukina was the first of the group to lose all three of their lives, and even after her demise, everyone else still hadn’t even lost a single life. Within the first thirty seconds of the match - she self-destructed repeatedly, jumping off of the stage into the abyss. Rinko had made an attempt to teach Yukina how to recover back to the stage, but the vocalist was stubborn and chose not to listen; she believed she had superior judgement.
Lisa was the next player to drop. After Yukina’s departure, the battle evened out. However, this couldn’t help the bassist’s luck in the game. Despite managing to K.O. Ako with a sneaky frying pan attack, Rinko managed to get rid of her just as fast with her large wings. She wasn’t that bothered though, it was more fun for her to watch them play anyways.
Next to lose all of their lives was Ako. The petite girl was a skilled gamer, without a doubt. However, she played recklessly, of which was her undoing. She and Sayo had only a single life to their name, meanwhile, Rinko managed to hold on to two. Sayo was off of the stage, puffing her way back to the platform. Ako viewed this as a window of opportunity - a flashy play, per se. She lept off the right side of the stage in an attempt to off the guitarist. However, her calculations were off - very, pitifully, off. She flew past Sayo into the abyss with a single swift motion. Lisa had to spend the rest of the battle consoling a mortified Ako.
Three girls were down and two remained: Sayo and Rinko. Lisa was impressed by her girlfriend’s surprising proficiency in video-games. She may have taken much more damage than the pianist, however, she was still holding her own against the attacks coming her way. The pink puffball puffed and weaved through a flurry of fire and light, Ako gasped over and over - she received a warning from Yukina to stop. It is safe to say that she took her advice to heart.
Rinko was practically untouchable, whenever Sayo attempted to make a move, the pianist managed to counter the attack or de-escalate the situation. The tension in the room was unbearable, however, it all came to end sooner than they had thought.
Lisa had shouted an encouraging cheer for Sayo, and unfortunately, it backfired. The guitarist stumbled over her actions as she was flustered by her girlfriend’s sudden cheer. The pink ball was soon demolished into a blazing tower of light, effectively ending her stock. Fortunately, there were no hard feelings afterwards, they even shook hands after the match as a sign of respect. To Rinko’s embarrassment, Sayo bowed; Lisa found it cute.
As Rinko turned off the Nimtendo, the sun had long disappeared; the only natural light was the glow of the moon. Ako jumped up from her spot on the couch and waddled over to the pile of bags in the corner. She picked up a grey bag on the top and held it out behind her, not bothering to even turn around. Yukina stood up with surprising haste, not wanting her belongings to get damaged. “Ako,” she said as she took her bag from Ako, “please refrain from being so reckless with our bags, you may break something.”
“Jeez, don’t worry so much; I have complete control!” the drummer shouted, thrusting another bag behind her. Sayo stood up without a word and retrieved her belongings, then sat back down beside Lisa.
“I’ll just take mine myself…” Rinko sat up and scurried over with haste, snatching her bag before it got into Ako’s hands. “Imai,” she mumbled, “is it alright if I grab your things as well?”
Lisa flashed a smile, “That would be super nice of you~.”
The pianist lugged both of their belongings over and passed Lisa hers; she was promptly thanked. Ako bounded over to the girls, carrying her own things now too. “There’s a bathroom down here and also a bathroom upstairs, so we’re gonna have to take turns.”
Sayo questioned, “Are we changing already?”
“Yup!” Ako replies. “Once we’re all in our pyjamas we can talk and gossip - apparently it’s a super popular thing girls do at sleepovers!”
“Totally!” Lisa agreed. “We can even do some truth or dare, y’know?”
“That…” Rinko said, “sounds very fun.”
Yukina approached the stairs. “We can discuss our performance in the morning.” She made her way up, her voice echoed. “I feel like we’ll be very occupied tonight.” Then she was gone.
The four remaining girls stood up, still holding their individual bags. “I’m still surprised Minato-san planned this night together,” Sayo said, looking down. “It’s unusual for her.”
Lisa winked at Sayo, “Nothing’s wrong with a little change, right?” She purred, “I feel like you’ve changed a lot too~.”
“I… I suppose so, Imai-san. Well, anyway...” Sayo coughed and changed the subject, feeling pressure from the bassist’s gaze. “Lisa, would you like to use the first-floor bathroom first? Shirokane-san can use it after, then Ako, then I-“
“Rin-Rin and I can change up in my bedroom, actually! I may as well - cause, well - it’s my room, no doy…” Ako pursed her lips together and raised her hands. “It’ll save us time anyways!”
Sayo stumbled over her words. “Are… you for certain? I wouldn’t want to make Shirokane-san uncomfortable…”
Rinko smiled gently. “It… is fine, don’t worry. Ako-chan and I are very close~.”
Sayo felt a bubbling sensation in her chest. “If you are certain,” she said unsure.
Ako pulled Rinko’s sleeve with her free hand and led her upstairs, “Let’s go~! I promise I won’t peek!” Rinko giggled as she was dragged like a ragdoll up the wooden stairs; their footsteps echoed the entire way up. Sayo gulped once they were left alone.
“So, Sayo~” she purred. “Did you want to change,” she giggled, “separately?”
She tilted her head. “Isn’t that what we were going to do? We were going to take…” her voice slowed down as the realization donned upon her, “turns…” She tightened her grip on her bag. “You’re suggesting that we…” She blinked. “This is very random of you Imai-san, not to mention crude.”
Lisa chuckled playfully. “I’m not sure what you exactly thought I was insinuating, but we don’t have to do anything just yet; I know we’re still easing into this - and I know you’re a bit-“
“I’m not completely opposed to,” Sayo paused, realizing she had interrupted her girlfriend, “physical affection, of… that kind .”
“Oh, so that’s what we’re calling it?” Lisa found herself blushing at the guitarist’s remarks. “Jeez, you’re being pretty forward, Sayo~.”
Sayo turned around and walked over the hardwood floor to the first-floor bathroom. “I’m simply replying to your statement, and I am a teenager, you know. I will see you upstairs.” As she closed the door, a typhoon of embarrassment washed over her. She internally screamed as a violent scarlet washed across her face. What just happened? Was that flirting? Playful banter? Did they actually just talk about… that ? Sayo evaded the thought, opting for keeping her innocence intact. She spoke to herself as her head went light, “Doing something… like that - with you - Imai-san… it doesn’t sound that bad.”
She truly was changing. Her mind was occupied with many things, most of which she had never bothered to give thought to before; she was scared yet eager for what was to come. But Lisa didn’t have to know that just yet.
-
Rinko asked, “Is everyone comfortable? I hope I brought enough pillows and blankets…”
Sayo replied, “There are more than enough. I appreciate your efforts Shirokane-san.”
Everyone had changed into their pyjamas, and as far as what she had thought, what they wore was expected. Yukina - along with herself - wore a nightgown, Ako wore a purple polka-dotted two-piece with cat slippers, and the most simple of them all, Rinko wore modest silk pyjamas. Lisa, to Sayo’s luck, wore a simple tank and shorts; it was a similar outfit to when she slept over. She had managed to keep her cool for a fair while. However, she had to calm her heartbeat when she saw Lisa let her hair down; every beat was a reminder of her beauty. She thought to herself, at what point did I get so mushy ?
And did she imagine Yukina glaring at her, or was it just her imagination?
“This is so cool!” Ako cheered, snuggling herself even deeper in the pillows and blankets. “It’s like we’re swimming in a sea of fluffy things, it’s just so… it’s so…”
“Cool?” Lisa finished.
“Yeah!”
She’s like a child , Sayo pondered. It’s sweet .
Yukina cleared her throat. ‘So,” she began, “if we are going to be spending time together like this, we must not waste it. I don’t normally allow instances like tonight to occur, so let’s get the show on the road.”
Lisa chimed, “Why don’t we play truth or dare like I suggested before? It’s always fun to do at sleepovers~.”
Rinko murmured, “That sounds… fun…”
“Ooh, also!” Ako shouted. “It could help us get to know each other’s secrets too! It could be like band bonding~.”
Sayo gulped. “Each-other’s secrets..? Is that not… personal?”
“Well, duh, Sayo!” Lisa purred. “ Are you not up for the challenge - scared even ?”
She knew she was blushing. “Not at all.”
Yukina added, “You can go first then.”
“What?”
Ako raised her voice. “Since Sayo-san’s going first-”
“Excuse me?”
“-who wants to ask her?”
Sayo could practically hear Lisa’s smirk when she spoke. “Well,” the bassist said, “if it’s okay with you guys, I’ll ask her.”
Rinko smiled softly. “Feel free~.”
Lisa’s eyes travelled up and down Sayo. “Truth or dare, Sayo?”
“Truth.” It would be easy, right?
The words came out breathlessly, “Is there anyone you’re attracted to?”
If Lisa wanted to kill her, she didn’t know. What was the point of this - embarrassment, if not shame? She knew that there was no harm intended, but the hot blood pumping through her veins was all but pleasant. Her and Rinko’s eyes locked; she could tell that the pianist was wondering if she should step in and change the topic. Sayo sharpened her eyes, signifying that she had no intention of backing down - it would be against her principles, after all.
“Yes,” was all she said.
The atmosphere in the room changed drastically, and Sayo could notice Lisa’s smug face. “Wha-? Really?” Ako gasped. “Sayo-san, super serious and grumpy, likes someone!? Who!? Who!?”
Sayo shook her head. “I do not have to say, so I won’t.”
Ako groaned over-dramatically. She tugged on Yukina’s sleeve, “Yukina-san, you wanna know too, right? C’mon, make'em say it - you’re like the overlord!”
Yukina paused. “Overlord?”
Rinko budded in, “I can’t disagree…”
She hummed, “I don’t mind the title, it has a certain charm to it.” Her gaze sharpened. “Regardless, Sayo doesn’t have to say.”
“Why aren’t you more curious, it could get in the way of our rehearsals, our performances…” Ako wiggled sporadically. “The fabric of the universe could tear apart, leaving the powerful deity, Ako, to save the day!”
“She doesn’t have to say it, I already know who she likes.”
Those words brought pure silence, the atmosphere went groggy and muddled. Nobody made a sound - Yukina just stared at the others. Sayo looked like she wanted to die and wither away where she sat, Ako’s mouth was agape with shock - and oddly enough - Lisa seemed calm, at the very least, she hid her worry. Rinko sat there, sipping on a carton of milk - she found the display oddly entertaining.
Sayo stood up with haste and shakily walked to the exit. She croaked, voice clearly strained, “I am going to use the washroom,” as she made her exit.
Lisa’s face shifted to annoyance. “Why did I ask a question like that? Stupid Lisa, I’m so stupid…”
“Do you think she is okay…?” Rinko mumbled. “That wasn’t very nice of you to say, Yukina-san…”
“I only said the truth.”
Lisa stood up from the pile of blankets and pillows and announced, “I’m going to go check on her.”
Yukina scoffed under her breath, “Figures.”
Ako and Rinko stared at the two as if they were a real-time soap opera. It would be unwise of them to bud in, so they opted to watch. The bassist’s body stilled, and like clockwork, she then turned around. “What’s gotten into you, Yukina? You and Sayo were always on the same page on almost everything band-related, you two had similar mindsets for our goals - I really don’t get it - why are you treating her like this?”
Lisa was always the mediator within the band. Despite the clashing personalities within Roselia, she always was the one who held the group together; she was empathetic and easy-going, it was almost scary to see her act this unlike herself. Not to mention, she and Yukina have been friends since they were children. It’s no surprise that the two have fought throughout the course of their friendship, but this is the first time they’ve ever clashed in front of the band.
“Our goal is to get to Future World Fes, anything else is a distraction and will get us off of track,” Yukina said matter-of-factly. “If she’s interested in letting her feelings guide her, then maybe this band isn’t the place she is meant to be.”
“So childish...” Lisa’s voice cracked. “I can’t believe you’re saying stuff like this; I thought we’ve moved past this...” She continued with newfound conviction. “We’re all teenagers, Yukina - we have emotions and we might make decisions that we might regret - you can’t shame Sayo for developing feelings for someone, it’s not something she can control. Why did you even suggest a sleepover if you were so scared of us getting off-track?”
“I had to test out my theory, and it is safe to say it proved my hypothesis.” Yukina’s gaze didn’t waver. She continued calmly, not allowing Lisa the chance to reply, “I could feel a difference at our rehearsals, Ako and Rinko have consistently given their best effort every time we play. But there's a new spark - electricity - between you and Sayo, and it is getting in the way of our progress.”
Lisa’s face darkened. “You’re not making sense.”
“You can’t let your relationship with her get in the way of this band. I can already tell that it had an impact, and it will only grow into a more dire issue as time goes by,” she said.
“Is Future World Fes the only thing you care about? Does it really trump over everything else?” Her ginger hair was a mess. “You have no right to call our relationship an issue. I don’t need to hear any more of this.” She slipped out of the door, momentarily shining a light through the room before shrouding itself in darkness again. “Yukina, I hope you change. For the band.”
The vocalist was still sitting down, her face still appeared vacant. Despite Lisa’s disappearance, she murmured to herself. “I don’t want to be viewed as evil. We... we just can’t risk losing our sound, not like before.” She looked aside. “The balance between your relationship and the band, it will only hurt us all in the end - I hope you realize that.”
She noticed a cat plush sitting in the corner of her view. She picked it up and began playing with it, it looked childish. She mumbled something unintelligible under her breath.
On the other hand, Ako was at a loss for words. “They…” she sputtered. Rinko rubbed her shoulder in encouragement. The drummer continued, “Lisa-nee and Sayo-san were dating? Like the holding hands, kissy, mushy dating?”
Rinko nodded.
“You knew!? Why didn’t you tell me!?” She smiled wide, cutting through the dark atmosphere. “They’re so cute together!”
“I’m glad you agree.” Rinko heaved a sigh. “But… it would only create problems if I brought it up, they had... the right to tell you on your own terms.”
Ako scratched her temple. “Hm, I guess you’re right…”
She sighed as she turned her gaze to Yukina, who was playing with the cat plush as if the fight had never occurred. “I don’t know... where we go from here… there’s been a lot of damage done.”
Ako whimpered. “This has got to be the worst sleepover ever…”