#KanamafuWeek2022

[umbry-fic]

a genuine smile

Summary: Emu is hanging around backstage when faint music catches her ear. She follows it, only to find the most unexpected sight.

Fandom: Project Sekai Colourful Stage Characters: Asahina Mafuyu, Ootori Emu, Yoisaki Kanade (mentioned) Relationships: Yoisaki Kanade & Asahina Mafuyu (implied) Rating: G Word Count: 1871 Mirror Link: AO3 Original Post Date: 25/06/2022

Notes: This was written for Kanamafu Week Day 5: AU. (Could also fit Day 1: Genuine but I ran out of time haha.)

The kanamafu is only implied since this is the April Fool's Day AU and Kanade and Mafuyu haven't met in it. (Yet.) This is just about how Kanade can still make Mafuyu smile, even in another universe (as witnessed by Emu).

~~~

Emu skipped through the small backstage area of the Wonder Stage with no particular destination in mind, wildly swinging her arms as she hummed the tune to one of the songs that had been in the play she had just performed with her troupe members. Their appearance on the Wonder Stage just a half-hour ago had been a resounding success! Everyone in the crowd had clapped and cheered as the troupe had filed off the stage with wide smiles on their faces and waves to the audience, having gone all-out in weaving a fantastical play that interweaved cheerful song and dance, filling the air with upbeat voices that aimed to bring joy to everyone who heard it.

It certainly made her glad to see that Happiness Sentai Sunny Sunny☆Wonder was only growing ever more popular. An increasing amount of people were taking time out of their park visiting schedule just to come to the decrepit stage tucked away in a secluded corner and catch a performance. There were even repeat audience members whose faces she was beginning to recognise, who Haruka had said with a bright laugh could even be called fans. She hoped she could one day learn their names, and even come to know what they were like. Maybe someday, she could even become friends with them! That would be wonderful.

Who knew so much could come from a troupe that had sprung out of a small, seemingly inconsequential school project? Life was full of surprises! She couldn’t wait to see what more was in store.

The Wonder Stage was even beginning to look less like it was going to fall apart at any second, the cracks and dents being slowly patched up as it received a makeover. Stepping on the wood as they acted out complicated routines yielded less obnoxiously loud creaks. At this rate, maybe she could actually do something to protect all the precious memories - the laughter, smiles and tears - tucked away in every nook and cranny. Convince her brothers that there was another path they could take where the park could survive, all while keeping her grandfather’s vision alive.

Well, those thoughts could wait for another time. For now, she was here to enjoy herself and admire the sights! Still in costume, the pink, puffed-out hem bobbing around her knees and the ribbon in her hair swaying, she continued moving, exclaiming in wonder at the various props that she passed.

A large flower, capable of rotating its head and waving its large leaves at the audience, assisted by metal joints that squeaked and motors that gave out hissing sounds that made her jump. She had no idea how it worked. But it sure was exciting to watch! Sometimes, she would spot a purple-haired boy tinkering with it, and wonder if he was the one who had built it. But he always disappeared before she could get close enough to talk to him.

A cannon, capable of shooting someone out to a great height, sending them in an arc that stretched over the audience. She really wanted to try it someday! Imagine the view! Maybe Minori would be willing to help her with that. They could even incorporate it into a performance! Surely the crowd would cheer from the thrill of it all. She’d love that.

And, last but not least, a simple forest backdrop. Her favourite, in her very biased opinion. A wooden stand, painted over by her with warm browns and lush greens to resemble trees. Simple, but it got the job done. And sometimes simple was best.

Hm... What else was there to see while she waited for Haruka and Minori to return with lunch?

happii shinsesaiza kimi no mune no oku made…

She stopped in her tracks as the faint strands of music caught her ear, snaking through the air with a life of their own, petering out when they got too far from their source. Cocking her head at the unexpected sound, she followed it, to a door that was left ajar. The only one who should still be here was Mafuyu, who had said that she would stay for a while before heading back home to study for her upcoming test. Was she perhaps practising for their next show? But Emu didn’t recognise this song as any they had used before.

Maybe Mafuyu was devising a new section to add to the play! As expected from her, always putting her all into everything, becoming a shining example for others to follow, burning bright as the sun. If that was what Mafuyu was busy doing, then Emu would lend a helping hand, even if the prospect of being left alone with her was slightly terrifying to consider.

Peeking through the gap, however, yielded a sight that she wasn’t expecting in a thousand years.

Resting on a bean bag with her back held ramrod straight was Mafuyu, clad in her costume, complete with the same fun finishes as hers, but purple in colour from head-to-toe. Cradled in her lap was her phone, her head bowed over it as she bobbed her chin to the music, headphones fitting snug in her ears.

Headphones that must not have been plugged in all the way, for the music was leaking out from her phone, filling the air. A colourful theme, complete with bright voices, singing in harmony to produce perfection.

But the most surprising thing by far was the smile blooming on Mafuyu’s face. Like a tiny flower that had just unfurled its petals, having not yet been spotted by anyone. Fragile, and could easily be crushed into dust in the blink of an eye, yet also capable of growing ever more beautiful if cultivated. Emu had to blink multiple times just to confirm that it was there, and not a figment of her imagination.

A real smile… She could hardly believe it.

“Asahina Senpai?” she called carefully, stepping slowly into the room as she picked her jaw off the floor. She didn’t want to interrupt Mafuyu, but she should warn her before anyone else stumbled upon this very scene. She wouldn't want Mafuyu to be embarrassed, nor did she want to feel the wrath of her angry stare, burning a hole into her soul. “Your headphones aren’t plugged in.”

“Oh. Emu. Thanks for telling me.” Within an instant, Mafuyu’s expression morphed, the corners of her lips rising to an unnatural height, crafting a hollow smile. The same one that she always wore in the school corridors when she conversed with classmates and teachers. Hiding something dark behind it, enough to strike terror into Emu’s heart and cause her to start trembling.

The music also came to an abrupt stop, Mafuyu pulling the headphones out of her ears and letting them clatter onto the phone’s screen.

Ah, she’d really done it now! That smile directed at her was the scariest thing ever… But running away would confuse Mafuyu, and she didn’t want to do that.

“What were you listening to?” she inquired, taking step after hesitant step closer and doing her best to suppress the scared squeak that threatened to push its way up her throat.

“Oh, just this idol group. Here, you can listen too.” Mafuyu held up the phone, taking care not to shove the screen too close to her face, and patted the chair next to her. Gulping, Emu took a seat, pushing her legs together in a futile attempt to stop her shaking and calm her racing heart.

With a quick tap on the screen, the paused video resumed. Showing four girls, dressed in matching flashy outfits, a piano pattern running down their skirts. They danced in sync to the music, mics in hand, and sang, with all their hearts.

They looked really familiar, the inkling of an idea tickling the sides of her mind… But where? Where had she seen them before…?

“It’s the idol group Haruka introduced to us!” she gasped, the memory finally popping into her head, though the name continued to evade her. Something to do with dreams and spring, perhaps.

Haruka had shown them this idol group about a month ago, excitedly proclaiming that one of her friends from when she had still been part of the industry had formed it. Emu could remember taking interest in how cute their performances were, but had quickly moved on and forgotten about it, preferring to focus on including even more sparkles and explosions into the play.

“I didn’t think Asahina Senpai would listen to this kind of music…”

Mafuyu didn’t look like the type of person to listen to idol music. In fact, she looked more like the type to listen to demonic seances, maybe… While enclosed in darkness, flickering candles providing the only source of light and illuminating the arcane writings on the walls, chants filling the room...

“Hm.” Mafuyu cocked her head, considering. “Well, I enjoy it quite a bit.” She lay a hand on the phone screen, right as the video switched to focus on one of the idols. A girl with long white hair that reached to the floor, performing her dance routine in a different manner than the rest, an air of awkwardness radiating off of her. But her performance still came off as endearing, because of all the effort she was pouring into it.

“I don’t really know how to explain why,” Mafuyu continued. “It’s just… their songs seem more genuine, somehow. Like they can reach into you and lift you out of the darkness, no matter how far you've sunk, no matter how hopeless the situation is. And… It’s strangely familiar,” she whispered, leaning forward, an unreadable emotion swimming in the depths of her eyes. Shockingly soft, as her gaze fell upon that same girl again. “Her in particular. Though I can’t put my finger on how…”

“Huh,” Emu muttered, standing and putting her hands on her waist. She couldn’t help but smile, watching the genuine one that had returned to Mafuyu’s face. It suited her, much better than the fake smiles did, bringing out a gentle quality that one didn't usually associate with 'good, perfect girl Asahina Mafuyu'. “I don’t really get it, but… It’s good for you to have something you like!”

It would be nice if Mafuyu could smile like this all the time. She often seemed like she held nothing dear, protecting nothing in the confines of her heart. Simply drifting through life, never showing any emotion. Remaining eternally closed-off, without anyone ever noticing.

“I’ll leave you to it then!” She got up, skipping her way back to the door and out into the corridor before Mafuyu could say anything in return.

She hoped that one day, Mafuyu would be able to meet this idol who had seemingly touched her soul through music alone, rather than being separated by a glass screen and the impossible distance that came from being strangers.

Maybe then, after the abyss had been closed, she could finally open up. And the flower locked securely behind an iron gate could finally be free, growing ever larger and stronger, nurtured by a kind soul and warm hands.

It was an unlikely notion. But miracles were always possible, and she was willing to believe.

#fanfiction #one shot #project sekai #project sekai colourful stage #asahina mafuyu #mafuyu asahina #ootori emu #emu ootori #yoisaki kanade #kanade yoisaki #kanamafu #KanamafuWeek2022