When we meet again

“Guess who?”

Nanoka sighed but smiled. “Honoka, don’t you think I’m a little too old for that-”

However when she turned around it was not her older sister, but rather Margo standing there with a mischievous grin.

“Ara, did you think I was someone else?”

Her cheeks flushed red. “Housho Margo…”

She was never good at dealing with her. Her flirtatious nature and inability to be honest conflicted with Nanoka’s straightforward self. Despite not generally associating with her Margo always loved to talk to Nanoka, even if it was one sided.

And of course, how could Margo not? Seeing Nanoka’s reactions were an endless sort of entertainment. It would be a crime NOT to tease her. Her mimicry power may no longer exist, but her natural ability still persisted. More than enough to trick a girl like Nanoka anyways.

“Oh Margo, you are really good at that!” A girl in a white hospital gown laughed. Nanoka looked surprised at seeing her older sister.

“Honoka! I-is it okay for you to be out of bed?”

“Yep!” Honoka flexed her arm. “All thanks to the loving care of my younger sister!”

It had been a few months since her sister had returned to normal. Nanoka was helping with nursing all the other victims back to health. It was the least she could do for her sister who had sacrificed herself for Nanoka’s sake.

Of course Nanoka wasn’t exactly convinced. “Still…”

“Oh, come on Nanoka~ Shouldn’t you trust your big sister?” Margo said.

“Yeah! That’s right!” Honoka fiercely nodded.

Urk. In a two against one situation Nanoka was helpless, especially when it was Margo and Honoka teamed up. It surprised Nanoka with how much Honoka and Margo got along. At first Nanoka had suspected some foul play, but they genuinely seemed to be enjoying their time together. Though when she asked what they were talking about she never did get a clear response.

Nanoka sighed yet again and gave in. “Alright, alright. It does seem like the other patients are getting better too.”

“Exactly!” Honoka smiled. “You’ve been doing so wonderful Nanoka!”

The compliment made Nanoka blush. She thought she had lost her sister. Seeing her smile again was something she couldn’t have possibly imagined when she came to this prison.

Looking on at a distance was Margo who had the tact to not interrupt their sisterly love. She was happy for them. Though it was hard for her to really understand their bond.

What was love? The answer still eluded Margo. She was sure that the Nanoka and her sister loved each other. But she just couldn’t understand it. How could that emotion drive them to do so much for each other?

Would Margo ever understand it?

“If you’re better, does that mean we should leave soon?” Nanoka asked her sister. “We shouldn’t spend too much time away from society… It might make it harder to go back.”

Honoka thought about it. “Hm… well…”

“O-of course I don’t mean to rush you!” Nanoka quickly retracted her words. “I didn’t mean it like that!”

“Oh, I know!” Giggling, Honoka smiled at Nanoka.

Right. The two of them wouldn’t be here forever. Unlike Margo, they still had a reason to go back. Back to the world that Margo had rejected, and the world that rejected her.

“Aw, are you going to leave poor me all alone? How cruel Nanoka, we’ve barely just gotten to know each other!” Margo put on an exaggerated dejected expression.

Nanoka felt conflicted. “W-well, I mean, it’s not like we’re leaving right now, there’s still the other girls, and-” She looked at Margo who was suppressing a smile. Right. This was just the kind of person Margo was. Nanoka frowned. “Why would it bother you so much anyways?”

“Because I’d lose my favourite person to tease, right Honoka?”

Honoka nodded with her eyes closed. “Well it pains me to say this but… Nanoka is quite cute when she’s flustered. So I have to agree!”

“Wha-! Honoka!” Nanoka pouted.

Honoka and Margo laughed. Their combined force was too much for Nanoka to handle. Maybe it would be better to leave sooner than later to separate the two of them. She shuddered to think of how Margo could possibly corrupt her sister.

Though behind that laughter, there was a bit of Margo that would be lonely. More than just the fact that she’d lose her favourite target to tease, she… actually feels like she’d miss Nanoka in general. Lonely even.

Which of course is strange to say since in addition to all the other victims, Anan and Noa were still here. And they were their own issue to handle. Even now she was sure that they were still making a mess out of some room or another.

No matter how much she dressed it up behind laughter and teasing, Margo wished that Nanoka didn’t have to go.

“…Housho Margo?”

Margo looked up at Nanoka. “Oh, where did your sister go?” Honoka was nowhere to be found.

“She said she was getting tired so she was going back to bed.”

“And you didn’t go back with her?” Margo raised an eyebrow. The two of them were practically inseparable.

Nanoka hesitated. “It… it seemed like you were troubled by something.”

“Oh my,” Margo put her hand on her chest, “and you were concerned about me? Why, I’m touched!”

However her attempts at playing it off seemed ineffective. Nanoka continued to stare at Margo.

“You actually are feeling lonely, aren’t you Housho Margo?”

The bluntness of her statement caught Margo off guard. “Why, obviously! Like I said before, I’d lo-”

“You don’t have to try and hide it.”

Her words opened the curtain to Margo’s true self. Beyond the wall of words and teasing, there was a girl who didn’t want Nanoka to leave.

Margo opened her mouth to make a quippy remark but nothing came out.

“I know what it’s like.” Nanoka said while looking away. “To be left behind.”

And so did Margo. Now that Nanoka was acknowledging it, it felt even worse now. All the words, lies, deceptions, everything that Margo had relied on the past felt useless. With nothing to hide behind Margo stood there unable to say anything.

“I promise I’ll come back.”

The statement surprised her. Margo looked at Nanoka whose cheeks were slightly flushed.

“My sister and I, no all the victims here, owe you a lot. You’re kinder than you think, Housho Margo. When we meet again… let’s talk some more.”

Nanoka gave Margo an awkward nod and turned around to leave. But before she could walk away, Margo grabbed her hand.

“…It’s a promise.” Margo said. She smiled. “You’ll have to tell me everything about the outside world. Okay?”

“…Okay.”

Afterword

So this is a pairing that I must confess I love mostly based off vibes and feeling. They ARE roommates in the story, and they DO stay together on the island, but honestly I don’t remember there being that much with the two of them in the story itself. However, I cannot deny I love their dynamic, and I also especially love the fanart that gets made for them. Their aesthetic together is really nice too!