Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Wait- not yet!"

A wooden bow slips slack from her sweaty hold like it was liquid, fluid and untouchable, overflowing from her palms and cluttering to the ground below her feet, drop echoing in what could be a dreadful sense of finality. The sound subtly rings into the blue haired girl's brain, pulsing in and out, In and out, in and out.

thud!

The arrow missed it's target again, diverting instead to stab at the mass of snow piling on top of the earth. Shizuku sighs in defeat and kneels down to bitterly grab her arrow from where it is lying still on the ground, it almost seems like it's sneering in shame at the sight of her failure, judging gaze forming holes onto her face is this all you can do? No wonder they say your only use is of the beauty you shamelessly stole from your mother.

Be quiet.

Recently, Shizuku opted to join the archery club in Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy once having heard of it's existence. It was a mindless act borne from a sense of eagerness to prove her worth. She hasn't thought beforehand how much of a tough activity it is to perform archery. Shizuku tightens her grasp against the bow, friction slithering to burn her hands from underneath the wooden surface. Her knees quiver in protest as she forces them upright. Those slender arms are trembling in their clutch against the bow, fear gushing in her veins.

Naturally, now should be the moment Shizuku fixes the bow into position, elegantly settles her pose as she readies herself to let the arrow pierce onto the wind. But every cell of her body was throbbing and thrashing in denial, unwilling to clasp the bow once more like it was torture she'll fail anyways.

Look at that, only Shizuku gets to be in the photoshoot once more, her charm is simply hard to resist huh?

No.

Isn't she just breathtaking? Her pretty face rivals all 4 of ours, doesn't it?

No..

It's unfair! Why does she always get to be one step ahead of us? I worked so hard day and night, yet Shizuku gets to bathe in a shower of spotlight simply because of her looks!

No..!

Shizuku's beauty is her only good quality, because she lacks severely as an idol otherwise anyways.

STOP!

The arrow dashes against a current of harsh wind like a bird fluttering it's wings to take a chance at flying once freed from it's cage, and pierces the bark of a tree towering behind the target with intensity. (The bird fails, flails over the skies in a feeble attempt to soar once more, and plummets to the merciless embrace of the ground.)

Did you really think it was going to work? How pitiful.

Shizuku's lips wobble as she weakly stares at the silver arrow glistening against the soft light. She sucks in a breath and tries to raise her arms gripping the bow once more, but it just won't budge, no matter how much she tries. Her arms are strongly firm in rebillion, unmoving like a block of solid.

Come on, I can do this.

You can't.

I can, I can do this.

You can't do this because..

You're talentless,

You can't do anything right,

You need help,

Need help,

Do you need help?

Do you need help?

"Excuse me, do you need help?" A lush voice calls out from behind, overpowering the self-depricating voices howling like a snowstorm materializing in her head.

"Ah!-" Shizuku quickly whips her head around in momentary surprise, fumbling with the bow below her shakey fingers.

There was a girl, hair the same shade as that of alluring violets, a vaste ocean bubbling in her round eyes and shaded with strings of long graceful eyelashes, cheeks flushed with a natural red that contrasts to her snow white skin, pink lips pulled into a smile.

And, oh my she's gorgeous- not to mention her lithe figure, slim waist, her perfect posture, curly strands of hair, and—

"I'm sorry, did you hear me?" The girl questions, uncertainty lacing her voice as she tilts her head to the side. The light radiates on her skin, strengthening the power of her gaze.

"O-oh, I have! I would very much appreciate it if you could spare the time to assist me?" Shizuku stumbles against the words, and embarassment is fresh, bearing fruits into her mind. The violet haired girl grants her a knowing smile, and reaches her fingers to gently pry the arrow from Shizuku's hold.

She stands directly behind Shizuku, hot breath tickling the back of her neck. Chin resting on her shoulder, eyes fixated on Shizuku's side and observing her every move like a silent prey. She grabs the other's arms that lay dumbly on her side, and steadily holds the bow with them. Shizuku's mind was blanked out, a brand new slate, the words murmuring venom into her soul disappearing with every movement.

"Your posture is wrong, you also held the bow too loosely, when you pull back the arrow make sure to place in a balanced amount of strength." The girl mutters from her side, the words blowing onto Shizuku's now gradually reddening neck. She places a hand onto the taller's waist, and fixes it into what she assumes is a correct posture, Shizuku was too overwhelmed to listen.

"Now..." the girl purrs underneath her neck, Shizuku can hear her smile before she sees it, "release."

The arrows pierces in a cleanly straight line, destination bright and clear. Like a flash of light that's too quick for the human eye to capture, Shizuku blinks and the arrow's already pounced onto the target, penetrating the red circle with a terrifiyingly accurate precision. From her side the girl squints her eyes, completely observed in concentration, and she can see the moment in which all the harsh exterior breaks away to reveal a mellow expression.

The girl backs away, yet the warmth exuding from her body is still soothingly caressing Shizuku's back, washing out her anxieties and worries. She grants her a tender smile that could melt even the iciest of snow, before wordlessly clapping her hands together as if she was truly proud, "that was a perfect shot! Congratulations."

Shizuku merely stands there, stunned into awe and mouth hung open in disbelief.

"It's time to head back! Thank you for your good work today, everyone!" The sound of the club president chimes from afar.

"Ah, it appears I need to leave now. See you next time." The girl briefly waves before swiftly making her escape, hurriedly sprinting away like a scalded cat.

Snapped out of her stupor, Shizuku comes to a realization,

"I never asked her for her name."