Your Hands

Continuous strumming was followed by the light sounds of guitar strings producing music. It went on and on for a few more seconds before stopping.

“…I did it!” Anon smiled as she finished playing a phrase from their song. “How did I do, Soyorin!?”

Soyo only looked at her briefly before returning to her book. “It was better than the last one.”

“All right!” Anon did a guts pose with her left hand then promptly returned that hand to the fretboard after fixing her folded white blouse’s sleeves. “One more…”

Soyo watched her from her peripheral vision as they sat side by side, not exactly close to each other, but not too far either, in her house’s spacious couch. Anon’s blazer was neatly placed on one of the chairs with the necktie.

They had just returned from a studio practice, and Anon asked if she could stay a bit longer for extra practice because ‘Rikki’s gonna mega scold me so I’m gonna show her’ and that ‘Soyorin’s the only one who teaches me guitar so help me’.

Soyo sighed as the intense strumming started once again. Anon’s been at it non-stop for the last hour and a half.

“At least you know that she actually does practice.” Soyo put her focus back on her book and half-listened and half-read her book.

There was some intense playing, then it stopped followed by a slide.

“S– Ah– Oh crap.” Anon immediately removed her hand and put it on her school uniform’s skirt. “Wah~ Can’t ruin Soyorin’s expensive couch with blood… Whew.”

Soyo blinked. “Huh?”

“All right. Where was I–“

“Wait a minute.” Soyo bookmarked her book and set it on the table. She turned to Anon who had just looked at her with her mouth open. “No. This practice is done.”

“Eh? But…” Anon looked at her guitar and noticed some blood scattered on her strings. “Ah… Huh? Which one…”

Soyo could only sigh as she grabbed a tissue from the table and forcefully wrapped Anon’s hand with it.

“Don’t just stare at it. Hold onto the tissue properly.” Soyo closed Anon’s left hand after covering it with tissue. She took another one and handed it to Anon’s right hand. “Wipe your strings.”

“Eh? O- Okay?” Anon followed Soyo’s instruction as she watched her get off the couch and into the bathroom. As quickly as she entered she was back with a box and sat next to her. “Hm?”

“What are you puzzled for? Take this guitar away. Practice is done.” Soyo sighed as she forcefully removed Anon’s guitar from her body and set it on a stand.

“Eh? But…”

“Taking a break and caring for your hands are important too. Give it to me.” Soyo sighed audibly once more as she took Anon’s left hand into her own. “Who practices guitar until their fingers are bleeding? So stupid.”

“Eh? I didn’t even feel it. I just ignore it sometimes?” Anon was puzzled and watched Soyo’s hands carefully check her fingertips after removing the slightly bloodied tissue. “It’s really okay, I can still–“

“No.” Soyo told her firmly and set Anon’s hand, palm up, on her thigh. She leaned forward and took a cotton. She poured antiseptic on the cotton ball and started to carefully wipe and dab on each of Anon’s fingertips, starting with her thumb.

“Muu! And I was so into it–ow!” Anon pouted at Soyo, who had finally found the injured skin. It was her ring finger.

Soyo pinched it a little as it drew out more blood. She carefully wiped it away… then turned to look at Anon with a sharp glare.

“Uhh… He… hehe…?” Anon laughed nervously as she scratched the back of her head with her free hand.

“We’re doing this band our entire lives, right? Then it’s important to care for your hand.” Soyo continued cleaning her wound. After she quickly applied some cream, followed by a beautifully wrapped adhesive bandage. “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”

“Fiiiine.” Anon only pouted as Soyo finished dressing her wound. “Thank you…”

“You’re welcome.” Soyo closed the first aid kit and sighed as she went back to her book.

Anon reluctantly returned her guitar to its case and set it somewhere.

She then sat back on the couch, hands on her lap as the comforting silence enveloped them.

“Whatchu reading?” Anon asked.

Soyo slowly turned to her, showing the back of the book to her briefly, then returned to her previous position.

“Hm~ Good choice.” Anon nodded in approval. She looked around the spacious home. “At least it looks a bit more lived in now.”

Anon then looked around once more until a point of interest intrigued her.

“What if?” She thought as she looked at the point of interest. Without thinking too much about it, she crawled on the couch, and…

plopped onto Soyo’s lap.

The back of her head rested on those soft looking thighs as she marveled at the sight of Soyo’s face and the bottom side of a book.

“Rare sight.”

“Anon-chan?” Soyo called for her with a very deep voice, with hints of very very dangerous anger.

“I was bored! I couldn’t practice anymore, but I didn’t want to go home either!” Anon raised her hands above her head as she stretched on Soyo’s
lap. “Play with me~”

“Haaahhh…” Soyo sighed audibly as she bookmarked her book once again, then set it on the table. “What?”

Anon smiled at her, fang showing.

“Okay, okay.” Soyo just closed her eyes in exasperation as she gently placed her hand onto Anon’s head and gave her head pats. She carefully ran her palm from her forehead down to her head. “You did well today.”

“Yaaaay~” Anon grinned as she enjoyed the rewarding head pats. “Soyorin.”

“Hm.” Soyo answered.

Anon then grabbed Soyo’s left hand that was patting her head into her own.

“You’ve got plenty of callouses on your fingertips too.”

“Of course, I do.” Soyo as a matter of fact.

“But somehow your hands still look pretty.” Anon held onto Soyo’s left hand with her both as she gently pressed on different parts of her palm and fingertips. “They’re slender and soft.”

“It surprised me even that someone like you, who is addicted to beauty products and make up videos didn’t care for their hand.” Soyo let Anon play with her hand.

“Well… I never really thought about it. I just knew I had to get better. Hehe.” Anon laughed sheepishly as she peeked at Soyo through Soyo’s fingers. “I’m kind of glad I did.”

“Is that so?” Soyo only sighed and closed her eyes.

Anon only smiled at her and returned her focus to Soyo’s hands. Without thinking too much about it, she entwined her fingers between Soyo’s and held her hand.

“Hehe.” Anon grinned at her. “Maybe one day, we can do this outside as well.”

Soyo only turned away in silence.

“…Sorry.” Anon reluctantly let go of Soyo’s hand and got up from her lap. “Yosh! Time to go home!”

Anon jumped out of the couch and started unfolding her sleeves from her elbows and back to her wrists. She quickly put on her blazer and then her necktie.

“Thank you for helping me today, Soyorin!” Anon hooked her guitar bag on her back and then picked up her school bag. “Also for this too!” She showed her bandaged ring fingertip with a fang grin. “I really should look up hand care videos.”

Soyo could only sigh. “That you should.”

“See you next practice.” Anon smiled at her and turned her back to her. “…Like I said, you don’t have to give me a response.”

Soyo’s eyes widened as she looked down on her lap.

“I’m fine with being just like this with you every now and then, Soyorin.” Anon walked towards the front door of her house.

The door opened, and without even turning back, Anon left as the door closed behind her.

Soyo played with her fingers as she stared at her lap. Was it really all right not to give her a response?

It was a month ago, when Anon made an excuse to go barge in her house. The weather was nice, and Anon took that opportunity to lounge at her house’s veranda.

Soyo found her, and followed there. There was nothing going on in particular until…

“Soyorin, I like you.”

Anon looked at her with clear gray eyes. The same determined look she had when she talked to her to take her back in the band a long time ago.

“Not the friend like-like. If that made sense.”

The wind that blew that day was extremely refreshing. Pink haired swayed with the air, as the sunshine highlighted Anon’s face nicely.

It was the prettiest Chihaya Anon she had seen.

Soyo didn’t know what her expression was like then, but Anon’s next words explained how misunderstood she was.

“Ah… Anyone would be surprised. It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.” Anon tucked her hair behind her ear as she looked away. “…You don’t have to reject me either, I think I’ll get depressed…”

“Then why say it?” were the words sitting inside Soyo’s head.

“I just wanted you to know that, everyone in this world could hate you, but I’d always like you.” Anon smiled, but there was pain behind that smile.

Soyo balled her hands into fists as she opened her mouth, then closed it, unable to say anything.

“I won’t quit the band. We’re doing this our whole lives, aren’t we?” Anon grinned at her. “Time to go home!”

Anon immediately escaped from the veranda and left Soyo.

The wind blew once again with a whistle as the air passed through. The air this time was too cold, and depressing.

Soyo looked at the floor as she held a balled hand onto her chest.

“…Don’t just decide that on your own… Idiot.”

Just like that, she let Anon leave that day, without letting her hear her response.

“I like you, too, Anon-chan.”

Soyo cradled her left hand with her right as she reminisced what had just happened. She would love to hold hands with her too.

The silence at her large house was stifling. Soyo knew that tonight she’d be spending her time alone in such a large house. Once again, she’s spending the night thinking about how she missed her opportunity to respond to her, again.

Soyo lifted her knees up the couch as she hugged her legs, face onto her knees as she curled.

Of course, it was lonely. She was supposed to be used to it, but in the end, she’d still be left alone.

She’ll sleep alone, wake up alone. Go to school alone, go back home, alone. Stay at a house alone.

It only repeated. Day by day, time and time again. Dark thoughts would cross her mind.

Did she like Chihaya Anon because she liked to spend time at her house? That way she was no longer lonely.

Did she like Chihaya Anon because Chihaya Anon already liked her back? As they say, choose someone who already loves you.

Did she like Chihaya Anon, because she was Chihaya Anon? If so, why couldn’t she just say her response to her confession? Because she said she didn’t need an answer? That no answer is better than a ‘No’ answer?

“Ahh… Geez. Why now…?” Soyo let out a shaky breathe as she finally realized the tears that had come out of her eyes, brought to her by loneliness. “All I did was to patch her string cuts.”

Soyo ignored the intercom as it rang. It was probably just a sales person. They always come the same time everyday. That, too. She was used to it.

Soyo peeked at the first aid kit on the couch table. She stared at it as she let her body fall sideways onto the couch, arms still hugging her legs.

Chihaya Anon’s hands were warm…

Anon was already near the elevators when she realized she had left her phone at Soyo’s house.

Immediately, she headed back up to the 45th floor and rang the door bell, but there was no answer.

“Huh? Did she fall asleep? I wasn’t even gone for ten minutes.” Anon reached for the doorknob and was surprised as it clicked open.

She just entered the house once again.

“Please excuse me…” The silence inside was deafening. “Maybe I kind of left a weird mood… Sorry, Soyorin.”

Anon slowly walked towards the living room and heard sobbing.

“Eh?” She blinked multiple times, and the silent sobbing continued. “Eh?”

Screw it all, Anon ran towards the living room and found Soyo curled on the couch, hugging her legs.

“S- Soyorin? Is everything okay?” Anon put down her bag and guitar on the side and immediately rushed to her side. “Hey…”

Soyo lifted up her head from her legs as she glared at Anon. “Wh- Why are you h-here?” She tried to speak in between sobs.

“Well, I forgot… my phone, I rang the intercom but you didn’t answer so I checked the door…” Anon explained as she watched Soyo. “It was open so I went in…”

“Go take your phone, th- then. This is the worst.” Soyo turned around on the couch and faced the back rest.

“I- I won’t leave. Even if you say you want me to.” Anon sat on the floor next to the couch as she placed a comforting hand on Soyo’s back. “I’ll be here.”

Anon started to gently rub Soyo’s back, running her hand slowly up and down to comfort her. She didn’t say anything else as she continued.

A few minutes later, Soyo’s breathing calmed, and her sobs were gone, but Anon still continued to rub her back.

“Soyorin…?” Anon called for her as she continued to rub her back.

“Anon-chan.” Soyo called her name calmly, but didn’t move. “…Why do you like me?”

“Eh? Ah…” Anon’s hand stopped moving for a while, then it started again. “I don’t know. Before I noticed it, I always think about you. Then I wanted to always be with you. Do I need to have a reason?”

Soyo closed her eyes as her breathing leveled. She could just fall asleep this way. Why was it so comfortable?

“Soyorin?”

“Anon-chan.” Deja vu. “…Why don’t you want a response from me?”

Anon’s hand stopped again. “…Because if you rejected me I might not be able to go on.” She then started to rub Soyo’s back again.

“…But what if the answer wasn’t a rejection?”

Anon’s hand stopped moving again, and this time she decided to remove it from Soyo’s back. “I just don’t want to fool myself into thinking there could be something.”

Soyo slowly turned around, now eye to eye with Anon who was sitting on the floor next to her couch. They stared at each other for a long time. No one moved. Were they breathing?

“Anon-chan… Do you want my answer?”

“Uu…” Anon tore her gaze away from those clear bluish-gray eyes. Is she going to let her curiousity get the best of her?

She turned to look at Soyo again, who now had her eyes closed, as if she was sleeping. She was so pretty.

“Y- Yeah…” Anon breathed out her answer.

Soyo slowly opened her eyes, as if waking up from sleep. She slowly got up and put her feet on the floor. At the same time Anon stood up, as to not be in the way.

“Sit.” Soyo touched the space next to her and Anon obliged without saying anything. “Close your eyes.”

“Eh? Mm?” Anon blinked at the order. She wanted to hear her answer, but… “Close my eyes?”

“Close your eyes.” Soyo repeated, and this time Anon obliged.

Why did she have to close her eyes? She was just gonna tell her words, right? Anon waited rigidly, unsure of what to expect when suddenly… She felt the couch move, and Soyo’s natural scent going near her. So near that she could almost feel her body heat… then a warm and soft sensation on her lips.

“Eh…?” Anon opened her eyes wildly and was suddenly engulfed in an embrace. Soyo’s arms wrapped tightly around her neck, as Soyo leaned her nose onto her shoulders. “Soyorin…?”

“Do you still not know?” Her voice was low, and hesitant. “I’m clumsy, I don’t say what I think, but if it’s you, Anon-chan, you’ll understand with just my actions, right?”

Anon felt her body heat up as her heart raced quickly. She slowly wrapped her arms around Soyo’s body as she hugged her back. She started rubbing Soyo’s back with her hands up and down as they relaxed.

“Mm. I understand.” Anon nodded on Soyo’s shoulders as they embraced. “It was mutual, huh…”

They hug and embraced for a long time until Anon noticed that Soyo’s arms around her neck were no longer tightly wrapped. Then there was calm and even breathing.

“Soyorin…?” Anon gently parted from the hug as she caught Soyo’s body, ultimately noticing that she had fallen asleep. “Who falls asleep like that…?” She smiled as she laughed.

The next time Soyo opened her eyes, her head was on someone’s lap. She immediately turned around to face up and saw Anon’s face, and her hand that was on her phone.

The other hand was half wrapped around her body, slowly patting one part of her to sleep, then it stopped.

“Good morning, sleepyhead.” Anon greeted her with a cute fang grin.

Soyo only looked at her with a flat expression, before curling up into a ball towards the back rest of the couch, and burying her face onto Anon’s stomach.

“…Who would have thought that the Almighty Soyo-san liked being spoiled like this?” Anon placed her hand back on Soyo’s back, near her shoulders, as she continued tapping gently.

“…That’s going to be your role now, Anon-chan.” Soyo spoke from Anon’s stomach, and rubbed her face further, closing her eyes.

“Okay, okay.” Anon smiled. “…Should we start dating?”

Soyo opened her eyes, but didn’t move. “…What do dating people do?”

“Hm~ Go on dates, watch movies, do stuff together?”

“That’s not too different from when we were friends.”

“…Hold hands, uh…” Anon looked at Soyo with a blush, then turned away as she tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ears. “Hug and k- kiss…? And f- further…?”

Soyo buried her face onto Anon’s stomach as she heard the word kiss, feeling her body heat up with a blush.

“I’m glad that my first kiss was with you.” Anon grinned.

“…It was mine too.” Soyo responded in a silent voice that Anon almost didn’t catch.

The comforting silence enveloped them, occasionally interrupted by Anon’s continuous soft pats on Soyo’s back, until Anon broke it.

“…Why were you crying?”

Soyo opened her eyes. Her hands, that were just comfortably folded in front of her moved, as she reached for Anon’s blazer and grabbed it.

“…Stay with me today.”

Anon’s eyes widened as she gently placed her hand onto Soyo’s head, gently patting it, and brushing her palms onto her soft hair.

“Mm. I already told my parents.” Anon smiled at her.

“…Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Anon smiled. She had a good feeling she’d be staying over from now on.

“Soyorin.” Anon called for her in a sweet, and confident voice.

Soyo didn’t say anything but Anon knew, anyway.

“I’m good at keeping promises, so I want to promise you, I won’t make you feel alone ever again.”

Soyo didn’t turn to look at her, but she made a small smile as her body relaxed. She closed her eyes once again and let the comforting hand on her head relax her, while the warm hand on her body kept her calm.

(END/Your Hand)

Omake

Soyo stood in front of the fridge, one hand on her hips as she thought of what to cook for dinner.

Anon stood around the dining table as she watched her.

“You need me for anything?”

“Decide what to cook.” Soyo’s response was quick, with a hint of tireness, and maybe some annoyance.

Anon smiled as she quickly walked behind her, slinking her arms around Soyo’s waist, and pressing her cheeks onto her arm as she peeked into the fridge. “Let’s see, let’s see~”

Soyo only turned to look at her with a tired expression, but not really complaining about the skinship.

“Hm~ Not a lot of potatoes, carrots, but if you have some ground beef, we can make burgers?” Anon stood up and grinned at her, while Soyo only raised an eyebrow. “Why not? It’s an anniversary, right?”

Soyo blinked. “Well, I suppose so.” Soyo crouched onto the freezer as Anon untangled from her and held the door open. “We do have some ground beef.”

“Yay~ Soyorin’s burgers~” Anon celebrated as Soyo took out the ground beef and handed it to her. She accepted it gracefully with one hand. “Should I help with chopping?”

“These potatoes and carrots are already peeled, so I’ll leave it to you. You can’t make burgers with adhesive on your finger.” Soyo picked out the potatoes and carrots, and a can of corn for side dish.

Anon looked at her left hand and remembered the bandage. “But–“

“We ran out of plastic gloves; It’ll be safer if I do it.” Soyo put the ingredients on the table and turned to Anon who was just smiling at her. “What?”

“This feels fairly domestic, doesn’t it?” Anon smiled at her.

Soyo felt a blush crawl up her face. So she shook her head and turned around to hide it. “That’s stupid. It hasn’t even been a day.”

“Finefine~” Anon continued grinning as she responded in a sing-song tune. “Shy blushy Soyorin, is so cute…!”

Soyo turned to her with a glare. “You must be thinking of something stupid.”

“My thoughts are perfectly pure and adorable!” Anon smiled as she accepted the apron Soyo had just handed to her.

“Whatever it may be.” Soyo shrugged and started cooking.

Anon only grinned at her, and started with her task as well.

Soyo looked at the bowl of raw ground beef as she wrapped it over with a cling wrap. She placed it inside the microwave for defrosting, then turned around to look at Anon’s back.

She watched her move about as she peeled and cut potatoes and carrots.

“Maybe it wasn’t so bad, to be honest every now and then.”

(END)