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The Heart Cavern was even more magnificent after dark.
Mirai kept her head up, sitting on the shore, watching the moonbeams reflected now on the rock face of the cavern, now in the crystal clear water of the sea. Who would have thought that such a wonder was right here, in front of everyone?
The young singer let out a chuckle as she thought back to how she had discovered the cave. If Emo and Anna didn't have this tendency to put everything in competition, they would never have found this cave, and saved the Prism Store from the beach.
Maybe she should thank them next time…by locking them in a room?
“You seem very happy, Mirai-kun. Is it saving the Prism Store that makes you so joyful?”
Mirai jumped and spun around when she heard the amused voice behind her. To her surprise, Sara was right behind her, standing, her guitar behind her, still dressed in her bathing suit, like her.
“Oh, Sara-chan! I didn’t see you…”
Sara gave her a small smile, before pointing her chin at the space just next to where the girl was sitting. Mirai blushed, and shifted slightly, making room for the guitarist who sat down delicately, before pulling out her guitar. She started to play some soft chords, and Mirai let herself be carried away by the music. Between the notes and the almost magical place, she couldn't help but imagine being in a parallel world.
“Well,” resumed Sara, without ceasing to play, “what makes our adorable Mirai-kun so happy?”
“Oh, well, I thought that without the almost sickly rivalry between Emo and Anna-chan, I would never have discovered the cave. I was thinking that maybe I could find a way to thank them… by locking them in a room, for example?”
Mirai turned her head towards Sara, letting her catch a glimpse of her mischievous smile. Sara was silent with shock for a moment, before bursting into laughter.
“It's true that I want to lock them up from time to time, if only to spend more time alone with you,” she teased her in return with a wink.
Mirai blushed, and looked away. Sara had hit on something Mirai had been wanting for a while…since their supposed date. They had had such a good day, she wanted to do it again. She was very fond of the guitarist, who had an exceptional sense of humor, and a very special wisdom for a thirteen-year-old girl, and Mirai wanted them to become true friends. But between their hectic schedules, especially since the official formation of their group, she hadn't had time to think about it. The only time she saw Sara was in school and at the Prism Stone…or the rare times their band crossed paths on set. None of these moments were good for deepening their budding friendship.
The music suddenly stopped, and Mirai looked up at Sara curiously, before blushing when she saw her already watching her thoughtfully.
“Come to think of it, it's the first time since our first meeting that we've been alone… No Emo-kun or Anna to occupy our minds, or a camera for an audience that we have to entertain.”
“Oh, that's right,” Mirai replied after a moment of thought.
“Hum… you're very quiet without the spotlights on you.”
Mirai let out a small laugh. “I've always been the shy type,” she confessed in a low voice. “Emo was the one who enjoyed socializing the most, and I was behind her. When Emo and Anna-chan challenged each other that day, I was mortified and terrified. A girl like me doing PriChan?”
She didn't know why she confided in Sara. Maybe it was the peaceful setting. Maybe that was the melody Sara had picked up under her confessions. Maybe it was the fact that for the first time since the beginning of this story, she felt like she was listening.
“Finally, we decided to try, and here we are,” she finishes with a small laugh.
Sara remained silent, and Mirai was afraid she had said too much. “You say a girl like you, but you don't understand your own worth,” the guitarist finally says. “You are beautiful, talented, determined and hardworking. I don't see why you couldn't do Prichan.”
Mirai blushes at the compliments.
“That's not true!” she stammered. “I'm clumsy and I wouldn't be here today without the help of Emo, Rinka, or even yours. Your encouragement is also a big part of my determination to succeed. I haven't forgotten our promise…”
Sara stopped composing again, and turned to Mirai, looking at her with her magenta eyes. Mirai felt like her eyes could see her soul, they were so deep.
“You really believe what you say,” she realized, her eyes widening. “Mirai-kun. I don't know if you really understand your strength. You and Emo, you made Anna want to go back on stage, something she had promised herself not to do after… after an incident. And you know Anna well enough to know that she's the stubborn type. But your Live…your enthusiasm, your desire to give pleasure to the public touched her, and reminded her why we started performing. It's a miracle.”
Sara put her guitar in its case, and turned to take Mirai's hands in hers, smiling at her. Mirai's breath hitched, as it was not her usual smile in front of her fans, full of charm and slightly distant. It was a genuine smile, showing her teeth and narrowing her eyes.
“Thank you, really.”
“Oh, uh… I'm glad I could help,” she answered vaguely, still in a trance in front of Sara's real smile.
She laughed lightly, and let go of Mirai's hands, before stepping closer to her. Then with one hand, she took the head of the young singer, and gently guided it until she could lay it comfortably on her shoulder. Mirai, in shock, let her do it, and blushed when she felt Sara's head do the same on hers.
The two girls were silent for a moment.
“I often go to the roof of the school, when I need calm and peace,” Sara whispers finally. “With the fans roaming the halls, sometimes I feel the need to have a moment to myself.”
Mirai answered with a simple 'hum', not really understanding what Sara meant.
“If you need it, the roof is always open, even more when you become more and more popular… and if I'm already there, well nothing prevents us from discussing, is it not?”
Mirai felt shock go through her for the third time that night as she stared at the heart carved into the rock. Sara wanted to spend more time with her! Alone!
She smiled, and with her hand grabbed the guitarist's, which she squeezed in hers. Sara returned the gesture, and the two new friends remained like this, entwined, until they fell asleep.