Talk To Her
AnjuErena, Love Live, 1.1K, 1/2
Summary: A-Rise is preparing for a tour and Anju finds herself looking forward to spending more time with a friend. Or might they be more?
Talk To Her
“Management calls me in for something urgent and it’s this. Full mailslot.” Toudou Erena, seemingly shorter than her stature, very uncharacteristically slumped into Anju’s work room, letting a pile of notes slide out of her hand.
Yuuki Anju glanced up from her sewing machine, “How many?”
Erena shrugged, “I’m not counting. Or replying.”
Anju finished the final stitch, “Try this on.”
Erena walked over, taking off her coat and loosening her collar.
“Put your arm through there.” Anju commanded, but softly. “Yes.” It seemed to be some kind of military jacket, a uniform, in Erena’s favorite color.
She slid it over her shoulders, Anju’s light touches guiding it to rest perfectly, turning Erena to face the mirror. She could feel her posture sharpening, her calm returning, the weight of the day left like the raindrops beaded on her cashmere coat. “I like it.”
Anju nodded, “You look taller. So handsome.”
Erena collapsed into the bean bag lounger. “Taller, handsomer…you’re not going to make me more popular, are you?”
“Maybe…Tsubasa would get worried if our site traffic and social media mentions plateaued and you are a very popular search.”
Erena grabbed a bear plushie from the stack Anju had piled next to the lounger, hugging it. “We’re really starting another tour.”
“Yes.”
“You sound excited.” Erena leaned forward.
Anju collapsed next to Erena, grabbing a tiger plushie, leaning in. “We haven’t had much time to talk. You’ve been busy. And in Tokyo you stay with your parents.”
“It’s usually quiet. Not this time. Parties.” Erena groaned, “Too many cousins. And engagements. And people who want to know all about being an idol.”
“Pay Tsubasa to impersonate you. She thrives on the attention.”
“No one in my family is that tiny.”
They both laughed.
“So…” Erena kicked her legs out, “You want to go on tour so we can talk more? What about?”
“French Toast.”
“French Toast?”
“Melty, buttery, I’ve started going out and eating breakfast and it’s what all the pretty, trendy girls wait in line for.”
“You wait in line?” Erena raised an eyebrow.
“So you do think I’m pretty?”
Erena snorted, “Don’t enough fans tell you that on every TWIG post?”
“Ha ha.” Anju pouted.
Erena bopped her on the nose with the bear. “Toasty here loves you.”
“That’s not her name.” Anju kissed the bear’s nose, “Manami is a very traditional Japanese girl. Like you.”
Erena’s expression was suddenly blank, and she pulled the bear back, “Manami and I may have a few modern thoughts. So we can keep up with the trendy, fashionable girls.”
“Ooh. Tell me."
Erena glanced at the clock, “You’re usually done by now. Are you still doing your pre rehearsal early morning workout?”
Anju stretched out her legs, “Yeah. Helps me focus. Works up my appetite. But,” Anju leaned closer to Erena, whispering, “some mornings, I just stretch my arms out and lay on the yoga mat, staring up. But at least it’s one activity a day I get to pick.”
“Plus the wait in line for French toast workout.”
“Plus the wait in line for French toast workout.”
“Oh, that laying on the yoga mat,” Erena’s voice became serious, “I’ve heard they call that open meditation. It takes a real guru to discover it.”
Laughter, then Anju pushing her plushie into the one Erena was still holding.
“See, I miss talking to you.”
“Well,” Erena tilted her head and smiled, “There will be the plane flights.”
“And the limo rides.”
“And the sound checks.”
“And the fleeing the crowds.”
“And the taking over the private room of the hottest restaurant wherever we are with 12 of Tsubasa’s most interesting party people finds and ordering everything on the menu.”
“You’re hungry, aren’t you.”
“You know me well.” Erena rolled up out of the lounger, then turned to offer Anju a hand, pulling up the smaller woman.
“C’mon.” Anju smiled brightly, “I’ll finish up and then let me take you to dinner.”
“Isn’t it late?”
“Have you eaten?”
“I don’t remember.”
Anju stared up at Erena, seeing bags makeup didn’t hide under usually sharp eyes, now exhausted, “What have you been doing all day?”
“Interviews, working on the new song, family lawyer meeting…” Erena grimaced, “I remember sunrise.”
Anju pushed Erena firmly back down into the lounger, “More rest while I finish your costume, then I’m taking you home. To my home.”
Erena stared at Anju for a minute, then smiled, “Okay, boss.”
Anju winked.
###
Anju leaned back, reaching out her fingers to stretch them, turning off her worktable light. Erena had fallen asleep in the bean bag lounger, Manami clutched to her chest, long hair spread everywhere. Anju glanced at her phone. She only meant to be ten minutes. How long had she been sitting and staring at Erena’s profile?
“Hey, why are you still…” Kira Tsubasa froze in the doorway when Anju spun and hissed at her. Tsubasa tiptoed to the sewing machine, exaggerating her motions. “When she’d fall asleep?”
“An hour ago.”
“How long have you been watching her?”
Anju blinked, sighing, “Since an hour ago.”
Tsubasa quietly pulled a stool over, “This a new thing?”
Anju’s laugh was quiet, “A tea thing.”
“T?”
“Green tea. Steeping just long enough for that lovely color and perfect floral scent.”
“You’re silly. C’mon, you’ve obviously been here too long.” Tsubasa pulled Anju to her feet, “Go home.”
“I told Erena I was taking her home.”
“Smart. Her parents have been jamming her schedule.”
“She told me.”
Tsubasa squatted down, poking Erena on the cheek, “Hey, Sleepyhead, let Anju take you home.”
Erena woke instantly, “What?”
“You fell asleep, the softie there wouldn’t wake you, but I’m not going to worry about both of you so go home.” Tsubasa pointed at the door, exasperated amusement in her tone.
“Home.” Erena said softly.
Anju slid her arm through Erena’s, pulling her toward their coats, “I’m taking you home, remember.”
“And take half the day off.” Tsubasa decided, “We don’t really need to talk about the album art for the live album yet. I’ll have management set up photographer pitches.”
“Sounds practical.” Erena leaned to pick up Anju’s coat, draping it carefully around the seamstress’s shoulders.
“But tell your family you have endless meetings.” Tsubasa ordered.
“I will.”
“And don’t oversteep that tea, Anju. You’ll regret it.”
Anju giggled; Erena didn’t understand. She must be not as awake as she thought.
A/N: Howdy. Another Femslash February prompt. Plus, I've been feeling like I owe Anju and Erena a story since Casual Lunacy so here we go.
In theatre news, we livstream Oscar Wilde's A Woman Of No Importance this weekend, which is an amazing play and rarely staged.
