AKANE
In just a few days, she settled into the role perfectly. It wasn't too difficult. Even with no memories, Ibuki-san is stubborn and preferred to do most things herself. The other girl who got chosen, a girl called Renna was quiet and seldom spoke. But she did her duties well, and very quickly. So, most of the time it felt like she didn't have much work to do anyway.
As the eldest daughter of the Nagawa family, she has been raised in an environment of luxury. But unlike her twin sister Kanade, she was always the more humble one. She didn't care about her family riches, and wore simple and plain garments whenever she could get away with it.
If Grandmother hears she applied to become a servant, a maid. Akane could already foresee the lecture. Which is why she has been very careful about coming to the manor.
Akane knocks on the door and she hears a gentle voice telling her to come inside. She stepped into the room.
"Oh Akane! Good timing, can you help me choose between these hairpins? Lucifer bought me some more and I am struggling to choose."
Sumire is sitting in front of the dressing table, a large box in front of her. Akane walked over to see gorgeous hairpins practically made out of gold. Her sweat fell,the Lord is definitely over doing it. Even if he is trying to win her over, does he really have to resort to such superficial methods? Besides what happened to that confidence he normally has.
Akane paused seeing the dark markings on the girls neck.
"My lady...does..the lord abuse you?" Akane asked carefully.
At those words Sumire frantically shakes her head.
"But these marks.." Akane said worriedly. To her surprise the girl's cheeks turned red.
"N-not at all. Um, he can become quite rough in bed. But he doesn't harm me."
'So they have done it. It's not like I
"Akane, have you been with many guys before
"Huh?
"Oh I hope this doesn't come across as rude. It's just I'd like some advice. I tried asking Renna, but it seems she hasn't had a boyfriend before."
"I have." Akane nodded.
"Then, can I ask some questions? Are all men supposed to-" Sumire whispered in her ear.
Akane blinked but found herself answering the girls question. She watched Sumire take out a notebook and started to seriously jot down what she was saying.
'This is surprising, perhaps we are more similar than I thought. I would do the same in her situation. Write everything down, gather facts and put all the information together.'
Sumire's notebook was getting filled by the minute and she laughed softly once she reached what looked like the last page. "I think we should end it here. But, I am thankful for your help."
Akane nodded. "Pardon me for saying so, I heard that you have lost your memories. To what extent have you forgotten exactly?"
Sumire paused and for a moment Akane thought she had taken it too far. But Sumire suddenly answered.
"I've forgotten nearly everything. Who I was, what my name was, my life before I came here. But recently I am discovering things that I may have liked before."
"Such as?"
Sumire's eyes lit up. "Singing. I don't mean to boast, but I feel I am strangely good at it."
At those words she recalled Mashima's request. 'Remind her of her love for music. If you do that, there is a high chance she will remember Terashima.' Akane heard in an interview before that Ibuki-san started as Terashima's fan. But, by that point the seed of dislike had grown so she simply scoffed at the interview thinking the girl said that to get attention.
If that's truly the case, then she ought to encourage the girl to sing.
"Can you show me? I happen to be interested in music too."
Sumire nodded eagerly.
"The sound of raindrops.
Like the clattering percussion.
Ding Dong. Ding dong."
"So beautifully.
The mottled path with sunlight and shadows.
Like a forest of dreams
Lead me into a rainbow mystery.
A sky full of stars, hiding all of my secrets."
"Cicadas chirping on a summer day.
Singing my hopes for the future.
Dream Dream Dream
Everyone has a dream, has a dream, always felt.
How sweet with a dream."
By the end of the song, Akane was staring at the girl stunned. It's not the first time she is hearing Ibuki sing a ballad before. She sang one not too long ago during her solo concert 'only one.' But, this song is something else. There is something graceful about the way she sang it.
Ibuki does come from a noble household. People tend to forget since so many years have passed since the Ibuki family accident. Even she, who was formerly a fan, had gotten used to Sumire being a normal person.
She thinks about all the girls in the company who talk about defeating Ibuki and she shakes her head. 'I thought Ibuki already showed her fullpower during the solo concert, but the girl is still holding back. With a voice like this? She could crush them all and stand on the top of the entertainment industry easily.'
Akane finds Sumire staring at her nervously, as she plays with the ends of her hair. "W-what do you think? I mean, I think my voice is a bit better than the average. But, it's not like I have had much of an opportunity to show people."
'Was she always like this?' Akane paused and thought back to when she first became Ibuki's fan. Right, she listened to her song on the radio. The girl didn't appear in front of the public and her promotion was very small. That was when she was a member of blueberry entertainment. Even when Ibuki switched to star records, her songs were still limited to the radio. Is this the reason why?
Before Akane could ask, the doors opened revealing Lucifer. Lucifer scanned the room and briefly nodded at her.
"I have returned."
"Welcome back!" Sumire happily rushed over only to lose her footing. Before the girl could fall, Lucifer caught her.
Lucifer sighed. "You are very clumsy. Do be more careful."
Sumire laughed softly. "Right."
"Should we go on that walk now?"
Sumire nodded and clung to Lucifer's arm. "Then, I'll see you later Akane."
'I should report to Mashima..and my brother too. But, the latter won't take the news well.'
*Unedited*