#oughh i tried to include the honorifics and really went ham with mahirus third person way of speaking

[good-beanswrites]

I was thinking of Hallucination and LCSYS again. Would you like to write something about what Mahiru was doing instead of performing at Hallucination?

Ah, yes!! In my mind she was there and everything was perfect 😭 But it was super fun to think of what/who could be convincing to her... I know Miho Okasaki had another performance at the time, so I tried to keep things generally in line with that. Even if I wasn't writing for you specifically, I know there's only one character who could talk Mahiru into it... (I kept getting hung up on pov/little details/transitions but I think I just need to post this as is lol 😂)

“Mikoto-kun!” Mahiru cupped the phone close to her at the sound of his voice. “Mahiru has big news! You’re the first to know!”

“Ah, is it okay if he’s the second to know?”

“Oh! Hey, John-kun!” 

As much as Mikoto was protective over Red’s name, he himself always encouraged the prisoners to call him John. It was something like an affectionate nickname at this point; an inside joke between him and the people who had experienced so much with him. Well, and also the hundreds of thousands of adoring fans that called him that…

“I can tell you! Oooh, Mahiru just got the call a minute ago!”

“What is it?”

“Do you remember that group holding the mental health talks from a few months ago? They were asking permission to use my videos at one of their events?”

“I remember.”

She felt her cheeks blush at the way he said it – of course he remembers, she hadn’t stopped talking about it for a month straight.

“Well, they’re holding a biiiiig presentation this time. Lots of smart professionals and famous influencers will be there!” She listed off some of the guest list. John wouldn’t know a lot of the beauty and health influencers, but maybe he’d recognize them from her many prior conversations. She’d said time and time again what an inspiration some of these people were during her life before, and turning it around now. “I mean, she’s Mahiru’s hero!!”

“That’s great! So, are they going to play your videos there, too? That’s –”

“– They want Mahiru to come and talk!” She squealed, unable to contain it anymore. Her feet danced a few steps around her kitchen. “They asked if I could be one of the speakers!”

“That’s amazing!”

“I’d get to talk about my life, and then answer some questions after. I’d get to talk to all the guests, and the other speakers! Can you believe it, John-kun? Me, meeting them in person!”

“I’m so proud of you!” She could hear the smile in his voice.

She took a deep inhale. “Mahiru is going to turn it down, of course.”

There was a pause as he processed the statement in her cheery tone. 

“...Eh!?”

“It’s right when Jackalope’s big show is scheduled. They couldn’t have planned it any worse!” She laughed. It was, after all, amusing at how poorly the timing had worked out. “It took all of us to persuade Fuuta-kun to agree to come, there’s no way I can back out now.”

“That’s different – he had nothing better to do, and you have this awesome opportunity!”

“No, no,” she shook her head, even if he couldn’t see the gesture. She kept her smile up. She had to.

“What about rescheduling? Or maybe you can travel between both?”

“It’s impossible, they’ve already started selling tickets for both. But there’s no need to worry, I’m going to have so much fun with you all!”

“It was such an honor to be asked, and you deserve that moment in the spotlight – yourself.”

“Oh, Mahiru could never do something so selfish! My mind is made up!”

There was another pause. If there was one thing everyone had learned about Mahiru, it was that it took quite a lot to un-make her mind, once set on something. 

“Alright. Can you do me one favor, though?”

“Of course! Anything for you, John-kun!”

“Don’t call the others yet. Take a few days to think about it. Really think about it. Actually… do tell Amane about it.”

“Amane-chan…?”

“But wait to tell everyone else.”

She pouted her lips. “But Mahiru was so excited to tell everybody…”

John gave a small laugh on the other end. “I know. Just try to wait a little bit.”

“I will, for your sake…”

“Trust me, it’s for yours.”

—

She told Amane that night, peering into her room. The girl was separating some clothes, laying out her marching band uniform for the big game coming up. Amane responded similarly to John, her excitement turning to complete shock, even when Mahiru added her rational explanation. She started going through possible solutions, all of which Mahiru had already ruled out.

Finally, she asked, “why don’t you go to that event instead? You’ve gotten so much attention through Milgram, but this is something brand new. It’s something that you feel very passionately about.”

“You’re as silly as John-kun! If it was something helpful I’d think about it, but it’s just selfish. Just an excuse for Mahiru to be the center of attention, and meet people I want to meet. It would be so shameful to choose that over performing with you all.”

“But…” Amane’s expression was conflicted. 

“No buts!” Mahiru made a fluttery gesture to the uniform laid out on the bed. “You wouldn’t want to let down your band, would you? It’s like that! Now, dinner will be ready in just a minute, so hurry on down. I made your favorite tonight, and a special dessert in honor of your game~”

—

“Mahiru-san?”

Mahiru looked up from her phone. She hurriedly closed the social media app she’d been scrolling through, checking on who would be attending the presentation. She’d read her favorite blog’s post about it about a dozen times, so it didn’t matter that she closed out of the tab. “Oh, Amane-chan, you’re still up?”

Amane got right to it. She said the words as if she’d been choosing them carefully beforehand. Having helped her prepare for school speeches, Mahiru knew that was exactly what she’d done. 

“I think you should go to the presentation. Sometimes it’s okay if you disappoint a big group, if you’re doing something kind for yourself. You yourself told me that wasn’t selfish. You told me that if the group really loves you, they’ll be happy for you. We know you’re not selfish, and that you do deserve to be the center of attention. When is the last time you did something completely for yourself – not also helping another?”

Mahiru gaped at her. She scrambled for an answer, knowing the girl would have a rebuttal for each thing that crossed her mind. Seeing her point was a success, Amane continued. 

“I will miss you, of course. And Fuuta-san will definitely say something hot-headed. But I think… I know everyone will be very happy for you. No one will be upset, because they’ll see how much this means to you. Because we love you, Mahiru-san.”

Following some bursting into tears and lots of hugging, Mahiru stepped into the kitchen to make a phone call. “Jackalope-san! Mahiru has some good news and some bad news…”