An Empty SEKAI

A/N: well, here they are. strange, how no one questions things around here.

AAAAND WE'RE RIGHT BACK IN THE MEAT OF THE LORE BABEYYYYYYY

im excited for the next few chapters and I hope you are too!!



"So one of your friends reminds you of Mafuyu and how she's searching for herself." Miku tilted her head, looking up at the two people in the SEKAI.


One of them, Mizuki. Not an unusual visit, but also not as frequent as Kanade or Mafuyu. The other, Rui. Miku only knew his name due to how often Mizuki talked about him, and since that one time the SEKAIs collided on April 1st and the Wonderland Miku wouldn't stop talking about him and his directing.


He certainly looked interesting. Miku could sense the emotional troubles from a mile away, though. Maybe he belonged in this SEKAI instead of Wanshow Miku's, though Miku wouldn't question whatever power was in charge of deciding which SEKAI a person could access.


"Yeah, we're looking for her. She wasn't responding to my Nightcord texts, so I assumed she was here, since she said she got dismissed from club meetings today. Have you seen her, Miku?" Mizuki asked. Miku hummed in thought.


"I haven't seen her, but I think she's in SEKAI..." She said, then added, "Please don't put too much pressure on Mafuyu. She's getting better, and I don't want to see her go back to how she was again."


"We won't, Miku! Thank you for worrying~ See you later!" Mizuki waved, setting off into the endless void of the SEKAI with Rui being dragged behind them.


Something interesting is going on. Miku can feel it.


She hopes it won't be a big problem.



"Yuki!" Mizuki called from beside him, approaching a dark purple-haired girl, sitting on the cold, flat floor. She looked up.


Yes, that's Asahina Mafuyu alright, Rui registered in his head, and then he almost flinched back at the look on her face. She looked... just like Tsukasa had, yes. He can't deny that.


She tilted her head at Mizuki, but upon noticing he was there, the change was instant.


Her eyes lit up and a pleasant— but so off— smile spread itself across her features. "Ah, hello, Mizuki, and Kamishiro-san, was it? It's wonderful seeing you again, welcome to my SEKAI. How have you been?"


"Good." Rui nodded, slightly surprised Mafuyu remembered his name, and also that she didn't question why or how he was here. "But... there's no need for talking like that, Asahina-san."


"Yeah, yeah! We're here for some help we think only you can provide~" Mizuki cut in, sitting down on the floor to be on Mafuyu's level. Rui followed suit. "No need for the polite mask, alright?"


"What polite mask?" She asked with a warm smile. It reminded Rui of the sort a friend's mother would give to try and make you comfortable. Not that he really knew what that was like, though.


"Yu~uki. You know what I'm talking about! Stop it!"


"I'm kidding." Mafuyu's face dropped back into blankness instantly. "That was a joke."


"Eh?" Mizuki blinked, then laughed. Rui realized they were not in fact laughing at Mafuyu's attempt at a joke, more so at how bizarre the change was. "Ahahaha, you're so funny, Yuki~! But anyways, maybe I should let Rui explain, huh?"



"I don't know what I would do." Mafuyu said after a few minutes of silence. "I haven't found myself yet. And you want me to find him?"


"Not find him. We just want you to give him a little push, you know? Plus, it's easier to deal with problems if you know you're not alone." Mizuki corrected, looking awfully chipper despite the topic they were discussing. "If you don't want to, though, that's totally fine! We don't want you to do something you don't wanna do, alright? You already suffer enough of that on your day to day."


Mafuyu stared soullessly at them, seemingly thinking very hard about it. Rui had never really been close to her (they don't even go to the same school) so he wouldn't know what she was like not like this, but from conversations he'd heard, she was always doing something; studying, club meetings, reading, doing favors for other people, etcetera. She seemed to enjoy doing all of those, but looking at her now...


To be honest, if Rui had to deal with being treated like that everyday, he'd also go a little insane; not that he wasn't already, of course.


"...what would I get out of doing this for you? I don't see the point." Mafuyu then asked, perhaps a bit reluctantly, but despite her blunt statement and cold tone, Mizuki was happy to reply.


"Well, maybe he'll help you learn something about yourself! While we try our best, we don't fully understand you, and since Tsukasa might be going through the same thing, maybe by hanging out with each other both of you might realize new things?" Mizuki hummed. In reality, what they proposed wasn't false at all. Maybe this wouldn't just be beneficial for Tsukasa. Rui is glad their plan may have more positive effect than they originally anticipated. "I want you to get to know him. Become friends, take as long as you need. Both of you need to be comfortable with each other for this to happen. Then, once you're ready, drop the mask, bring him here if you'd like, encourage him to talk to you. That's all."


"..." Mafuyu considered.


"You don't have to do it, Asahina-san. We're aware this is quite a lot to ask of you." Rui added, and Mizuki nodded to support his statement. "We'll find something else if you're not comfortable."


".....do you think I can save him with my music?"


"What?"


"Do you think I can save him with my music like Kanade does?" Mafuyu repeated. Rui had absolutely no clue what she meant, but luckily Mizuki filled in for him.


"Of course, Mafuyu! With what you've learned from her, you can definitely help with music if that's what you find easiest, alright?" They assured. "OWN's music— your music— touched many people. Your songs are wonderful, Yuki~ ♪"


Mafuyu then nodded, looking more convinced and sure of herself— or well, Rui thought so. It was a bit hard to tell on her face specifically, considering it was still holding a blank expression. "Okay. If you say so. I will try."


Mizuki cheered and Rui smiled. "Thank you, Asahina-san. I wish you well, even in endeavors that don't involve this particular situation."


"Okay." Mafuyu answered, vaguely.


Rui understood her, anyway. And he thinks that's what was so beautiful about these interactions with her; how she expressed so much in so little.


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