Chapter Text
Usually, An and Akito would have fought for their partners, but Kohane had a cough and Toya insisted they go.
Someone had asked them to perform together. Well, Vivid Bad Squad had done duo shows before, just not like this. Regardless, Akito and An went to perform together, and Toya and Kohane decided to go to the arcade.
“I always look at the prize counter before I start. It’s easier to figure out what you want fir-are you alright?” Said Toya, frowning.
Kohane nodded, she was coughing into her hands like crazy, they would have to get her some tea from MEIKO’s café later.
The first thing at the prize counter that caught Toya’s eye was a heart-shaped plushie. He wondered if he should try to win it for Akito, but he decided against it, it wasn’t something that he would like…
So Toya then decided that he would get more Phenny plushies for the next time he went to the Tenmas’ house. Tsukasa and Saki were always grateful for more of them.
But Kohane noticed the plushies too, well, one of them…
“Ohh!” She said, jumping up and down, “There’s a giant Phenny Plushie!”
Toya smiled, “We can get it for you,”
“Thank you Aoyagi-kun!”
“…You know you can use my name, right?”
Kohane smiled brightly, “Ok! You can use mine too!”
So, they were off to earn tickets.
Toya had never seen anyone play Rhythm2000 with that much determination (even though she wasn’t very good at it).
“The trick is that you have to look at which notes are coming, not which ones are closest,” he told her.
She nodded firmly and kept going. While Kohane was busy with the rhythm game, Toya worked the claw machines, the ones with ticket rolls, the ones with rubber ducks, the ones with stuffed animals. All of them. Eventually, they had enough to buy Kohane’s giant pink Phenny plushie, six more of varying sizes, as well as other trinkets. And having put all their arcade treasures in a bag, they headed to the SEKAI.
***
“AN! GIVE ME THAT!” Akito yelled, chasing after An.
“No!” She said, running as fast as she could around the entrance of the café, firmly gripping her phone.
“I’m telling MEIKO-san!”
“Well, I already sent it!” An pressed play.
It was a video of Akito beatboxing.
Akito stopped in his tracks.
He was scowling at her, but his eyes betrayed that he was somewhat glad the fun wasn’t over (even if he didn’t appreciate his sister sending-no wait, receiving this video of him through Haruka).
“You LITTLE-!” He started to say.
Then came Kohane and Toya
“Aa-Kohane!” An fumbled with her phone, and to her credit, paused the video.
An went up to Kohane, who turned her back to An and immediately started coughing.
Toya squeezed Kohane’s shoulder.
“You should go talk to MEIKO-san about that tea…” he said.
So Kohane left.
Toya looked at Akito, who seemed dejected.
“What did you do?” He asked An.
His tone wasn’t accusatory whatsoever, but An still felt a bit shameful.
“I recorded a video!” She said simply.
“And now you’re going to delete it,” Akito said dryly.
“Lo-oo-ok,” An said, drawing out the word in annoyance, “No one’s going to see it! I didn’t send it to Haruka, and if you don’t want Kohane to see it either then I can edit it out. It’s fine,”
She gave him a sympathetic smirk, “I was just messing with you.”
Akito nodded, but his face had been almost completely drained of its previous excitement.
“I’m going to the café…” Toya said resignedly.
But An followed Akito through an alleyway.
———
After about 10 minutes, Akito and An still hadn’t arrived at the café.
“…I hope they’re ok,” said Toya.
Kohane started coughing into her hands again.
“Oh! Use your elbow please,” said MEIKO, handing Kohane more tea.
“What were-not your hands, Kohane! What were they fighting about, anyway?” MEIKO asked Toya.
“I’m not sure.”
He had an idea though. An had long been on a mission to get Akito to show her his beatboxing skills, she probably recorded a video. Or said that she had. He somewhat understood. Akito was really talented, and sometimes when he sang, Toya could feel his own heart beating along.
Maybe An felt that too.
He was happy everyone could be friends, An and Kohane were almost like siblings to him.
And Akito?
Well, Akito was his partner, right?
The two eventually arrived, but as soon as they opened the door, Kohane slumped down in her chair.