Juniper crawled out of her messy unmade bed, the emptied containers of junk food filling her room like a wild garden. Empty chip bags, soda cans, and candy wrappers. Her console was humming like a smothered fan, as she focused on power leveling her character. It was the best kind of distraction, in the game she wasn’t Juniper, and she didn’t need to deal with Juniper’s issues.
Her mind lingers on yesterday’s events. Replaying everything from meeting Annemarie to being shot by the ‘good guys’. The little girl cradled up in her arm, unaware she was bleeding out of her shoulder for whatever reason, it was something she couldn’t forget. She was sure the girl had been traumatized by the event. She’d like to check up on her and her mother if it is possible.
Her hands kept twitching on the controller, every other sensation made it hard to concentrate. Severe aching all over her chest–the gun flashes and the flowing blood, replaying over and over again. Annemarie’s sadistic beatdown and sys-chan’s lack of intervention, weigh on her.
Her screen beeped, she achieved another pointless in-game achievement, barely drowning out her thoughts. Oh, how she wanted to drown in her sorrow, but couldn’t.
“Sys-chan, did you betray me back there? Did you deliberately sabotage me with Annemarie?”
[Betrayal! Never! I just thought you didn’t need any assistance nya~ ₍^. .^₎⟆]
“Don’t act all cute.” Juniper raised her voice, barely loud enough that her siblings might hear. “Be honest with me, or I’ll consider this partnership null and void.” she scowled.
[Okay, Okay. Just listen. Prepare yourself for the absolute worst.] sys-chan imitated the sound of holding a breath, her unseeable lungs bracing herself. [As your quote on quote ‘helper’, It’s important that I make sure you grow enough. TO PUT IT SIMPLY: Thereby meaning, I make sure you get into conflicts to maximize your potential.]
“So I'm supposed to turn into a living weapon or some shit.”
[Of course not, my adorably depressed muffin bun. But you're on a ticking clock, And I need you prepared for the inevitable.]
“The aliens.” her mind lingers on the night Quixis, the fox god thingy had visited her, following the aftermath of her accident.
[Yes]
“Where is Quixis! He owes a proper explanation”
[I don’t know, he will get around to you eventually, this planet has only one guardian from Elysium assigned to it.]
She groans. Going back to button mashing and start building.
[Warning! Your agility has decreased by 1 stat point due to prolonged inactivity]
It was a faux notification but it annoyed her. She became agitated and hurled the pillow against the wall.
[You can’t just decay Juniper, you barely slept last night. Go do something productive! Squat! Go out! Socialize, work on that charisma, or get some more sleep.]
“Just one day okay, I’ll deal with everything tomorrow, what, I can’t have a day off after being shot.”
[But most of your pain is gone, you need to work hard if you plan on surviving Cape life.]
Her phone kept buzzing, loudly vibrating on her messy nightstand. She froze in place, staring at the unfamiliar number that appeared on the screen. Her thumb moved ready to decline.
To answer or not to answer.
There was the possibility it was very important. Better to find out now.
She took a deep breath and swiped up.
“Hello?”
“Juniper, It’s me.” It was Annemarie's voice. “I hope you’re okay…I–”
Her voice was strained, and her tone low–like she was doing the acting thing again, where she pretended to be innocent and quirky.
“Can we talk? Please? About everything that happened–”
Juniper’s heart ran a race. She preferred not to deal with it right now, she was ready. The urge to just shut it down was strong.”
“No– you hurt me in more ways than one. Don’t call me again.”
“Wai–”
She hung up. Immediately blocked the number. Annemarie had more than one chance to come clean, she instead toyed with her. She knew that if she accepted Bell Brigade’s offer she’d have to deal with Anne again.
[So rude, Juniper. She's your yandere route if Kanako doesn't pan out. You lost 10 social credits.]
“I don’t care, she only wanted to fetishize me. My heart is in a different place anyway.”
[She sounded worried though. She’s Bipolar Possibly. Maybe? But definitely worried.]
“Worried? She’s unhinged! Did you see what she got me into? I’m not dealing with that. Not today.”
[At Least you should've heard her out.]
“Nope. Not happening. I don’t forget easily.”
She grabbed the controller and went back into her game. Theorycrafted game builds were so much more fun than worrying. A swarm of pixelated enemies Zerg rushed her character’s party, the flash of red blood splatter and exp pop-ups did wonders for her mind.”
[Wow. You got a +100 MP boosted greaves. ] sys-chan quipped [If only the Mana Points fixed things in real life.]
Juniper rolled her eyes.
Her hands trembled. No amount of dopamine would stop the literal and figurative pain she felt gnawing at her heart.
***
Juniper had been on her third set of food. –she wasn’t hungry, eating only because it made her feel good. Her junk fortress grows by the pile. Her brother had berated her several times now, the noise came in one ear and out the other. Three words she would catch occasionally –’ worried,’ ‘Effy,’ and ‘fix’ then it became static again.
Why can’t I let go, when other people do the goddamn same. Not even for a day, and the whole world is spinning on its head.
Stolen story; please report.
Her brother dropped down next to her, bumping into her shoulder deliberately. “Juniper. I may not have superpowers but I’ll help you punch your problems away if you’ll let me.” He keeps tugging at her without a response. “Yesterday, you said we’d talk about this. Is that girl the cause of this? Annemarie? Is she a cape too?”
She gave him a side-eye. “Remy. I’m fine. Go play adult elsewhere, focus on your studies or your job. It’s not a school day, Effy is fine, I just need to–” she pointed to her monitor. “unwind.”
“Except you're not fine at all. Even Effy can see it, you haven’t even played with her today like you always do.”
She tensed, he just had to keep pressing her. “C'mon, you can’t slump back into this mode, you’ve changed so much over the course of a week.”
“Just watch me.”
“What about Effy?”
“She’s nine. She’ll understand me when she’s older.”
As if summoned by the mention of her name, she burst into the room, wearing a handpicked superhero kit–complete with a crumpling cape, sparkling paper, and an arsenal of drawing crayons.
“This will fix your slump Juniper.” She declared. Waving the glitter-covered paper over her face. “ Sparkles! Everyone loves sparkles!”
“Hey, stop that. Effy” she did her best to get the glitter-infused paper away. “I hate sparkles and rainbows.”
“Okay, time for plan B.” she gave her a wide unnerving stare before bolting out of the room. Arms in the air. Yelling dramatically.
“Wait–Effy come back, where are you going?”
“Well look at that now you’ve done it," Remy answered. She half considers running after the little mischievous girl. Or should she let chaos run its course.
“Ah, not my problem.”
“We’ll see,” Remy said, strolling after the girl.
Juniper sighed. Closing her door again. She’s gonna ease into her comfort zone, with or without their interference.
Or so she thought.
Only a moment later. There was an extra pair of footsteps walking into the apartment. She immediately starts panicking. The calm and deliberate pace of the steps put down. Was all too familiar.
It was Kanako.
Her eyes hyper-analyzed her room like a bomb was going to go off. Except it’s too late to cut any wires... Junk food wrappers, soda cans, and her clothes were thrown over her chair—an absolute disaster. Her pajamas? A mismatched and embarrassing image, filled with cartoony skulls and black hearts. She was not fit to be seen.
Effy you little devil!
She scrambled to her closet. Hiding with her cheap horrible pajamas, half squishing in next to hanging clothing. She sits and waits for her demise.
They entered the room. Their footsteps stopped just in front of the door.
“Juniper, Miss Kanako is here!” Effy yells all too cheerfully.
It’s Kanako, you little imbecile.
[Your sister is way more intelligent than you give her credit for, how are you going to get out of this one. I wonder. ~Teehee~]
“Not now dude!” she hissed at her headmate.
Kanako enters, carefully pacing herself. Scanning the messy room, observing the work of art on the floor.
Effy walked up to the closet and knocked aggressively. They met each other’s eyes.
She peered through the closet.
Kanako, who’s hair was styled into a ponytail today. Didn’t seem bothered at all but her sharp eyes went all over the room. She lingered on the faint glow of the running console.
Shit forgot to turn it off.
[Just wait till she finds out what kinds of games you play. You’re losing your status as ‘barely cute’ soon enough. Next thing you know she’ll call you a creeper]
“Ack–”
“Juniper?”
Juniper froze.
“Juniper come out.”
She mumbled from inside the closet. “k-Ka…kanako?”
The Yamato nadeshiko blinked.
“Why are you here!?”
She crept out. Closing the closet behind her. Her face was pale, frazzled and her hair all frizzy and curly.
Kanako arched an eyebrow. “I’m your neighbor, you’re well-being is my well-being.”
Juniper pouted. “That’s kinda twisted if you think about it!”
Kanako crossed her arms and lifted her head. Her face filled with pity and disappointment. She did stare at her chest area, where a few bandages remained. “Oh Juniper, what happened to you?”
“It’s not what it looks like! It’s complicated okay. I’m just dealing with stuff.”
Kanako raised a brow. “So you weren’t just hiding inside your closet, covered in dirt and dust?”
Juniper's face turned sour.
Effy jumped up in cheer. “Plan B worked out alright!”
“Plan B?” Kanako questioned with a smile.
“Weaken the monster with bait.””
Juniper groaned. “I’m not a monster.”
Kanako tilted her head. “I'm the bait?”
Effy fled the room. “I’ll be back in a minute,” she exclaimed.
Kanako took one more look at the room. Her lips pressed into a sad line.
“What happened to you?" She asked her voice raised, her voice expressed an undercurrent of worry beneath it. “This happened after you went out with that girl, didn’t it? What did she do to you, did she hurt you.”
Juniper refused to answer, looking away like a child. She slumped her face in her pillows. “I can’t deal with this either. I hate to be rude, but please leave.”
“No.” Kanako’s voice is firm and dominant. “I can’t leave you like this.”
She went over to the dormant console, snatched the controller, and began browsing her game catalog.
All broke loose, as juniper fled upwards.
“Hey! Don’t touch that.”
Kanako’s eyes lingered on the screen. Lips perked upward as she scrolled past way too many girls love visual novels, and even ‘mature’ games.
“Oh.” she teased. “This is what you’re into?”
Juniper’s face burned. Grabbing the controller and turning it off. “H-hey don’t judge me! And don't let Effy see that! You’re intruding!”
“Am I?” she giggled softly. “Relax, I won't judge your preferences.”
“What preferences.”
Kanako ignored her antics. She winked and had a wide smile on her face. “First things first–clean up this mess ASAP!”
Juniper peaked out of her room, shouting. “Euphemia! You little brat! How dare you set me up like this?!”
“You’re welcome,” she shouted at the far end of the apartment.
Remy interjected. Pinching the bridge of his nose. “Sorry about this Miss Kanako. I didn’t know she’d drag you into this.”
Kanako waved him off. “Don’t blame Effy, she’s the handful here.” she pointed to Juniper.
Juniper sulked. “You’re all overreacting. I just wanted one day to myself!”
Kanako stepped closer, her tone soft but still resolute. “Jun,” she said, placing her hand on Juniper’s shoulder. “You’re not okay, and that’s fine. But I’m not leaving you to rot like this.”
She barely had time to protest, when Effy ran inside the room and snatched her last bag of snacks.
“EFFY!” she prepared to lunge after her, but Kanako pulled her back with surprising strength.
“Don’t worry,” Kanako said, smirking. “You’ll survive. Your arteries won’t if you keep going on like this.”
Juniper swore in defeat. Then gave in to everyone’s whims.
***
Kanako had managed to strong-arm Juniper into tidying up. She pouted through most of it, mumbling silence as she stuffed everything in the trash. This day of embarrassment would forever haunt her.
Sys-chan did nothing but drive her mad.
[Behold! The reluctant heroine faces her greatest nemesis yet—basic hygiene! Will she triumph, or will she drown in crumbs and existential despair?]
‘Keep quiet, keep quiet, keep quiet! You’re gonna make me slip up’
[Oh no, the heroine has a hidden temper. Is this the start of the tragic downfall of our beloved slob? Or will her love interest shake her together.]
“You’re lucky you’re cute, Juniper,” Kanako said.
Juniper’s burning face tried to hide from Kanako’s sight. “Shut up! Is that why you’re taking pity on me?”
“Not at all.” Kanako tilted her head. She didn’t elaborate.
She stepped closer to Juniper. “Though others might not, I see something in you. And someone needs to care about you. Even if you are a mess.”
Juniper didn’t know how to respond. She turned her back completely. “ You’re so bossy all of a sudden!”
“And you’re thickheaded.”
Kanako put her hands on her back. “Tomorrow, you and me, we’re going out, it’s non-negotiable.”
“Out! Out where?”
“Somewhere special, my treat.”
Her brain was struggling to function. A date? Was she asking her out on a date? Her face flushed again and she ducked her head in a pillow.
“A date! Wai–” she expressed half flushed. Now she wanted to crawl away entirely.
Kanako actually saw something in her. She should be happy but...
[It’s a mystery]
“Stop being dramatic, just a girl’s day out. We’ll have fun.”
[She’s definitely into you juniper or at least your excuse of a body. Don’t fumble this.]
“Can you not?” Juniper hissed at Sys-chan.
Kanako tilted her head. “What?”
“Nothing!” Juniper scrambled. “I mean... I can’t go out tomorrow. I just...can’t.”
Kanako looked saddened. “Why not?”
“I...I just can’t, okay?”
“I already told you,” Kanako said, stepping closer. “ It’s Non-negotiable.”
Juniper faltered. There was something steady about Kanako—like an anchor keeping her from drifting too far. The thought left her slightly light-headed. Maybe tomorrow wouldn’t be so bad.
When was the last time someone cared about her like this?
The moment was shattered by Effy barreling into the room with her hands on her ribs.
“Juniper, is Kanako your girlfriend? Are you gay?”
Juniper sprang up like she’d been electrocuted. “What—NO! Kanako, say something!”
Kanako’s lips twitched, but no words came out. Instead, she giggled.
Effy gasped dramatically. “You are gay!”
“Effy!”
Effy made another tactical retreat into the kitchen.
“Relax. I’ll see you tomorrow. ” Kanako patted Juniper’s shoulder. “Whatever you’re going through we’re gonna make it disappear, tomorrow…”
She winked and left, leaving Juniper red-faced and stammering.