Chapter Text
Kasane Teto woke up like she did everyday, with a growling stomach and a headache. As she stumbles into the bathroom, her body following muscle memory as she prepares for another busy day of being an idol, she takes a look in her mirror and frowns at the deep bags and pronounced cheekbones of her gaunt face.
Fans have already been speculating about her declining health so she'll have to make sure she puts on enough makeup to hide everything from the people she performs for. Teto sighs as she layers enough makeup to appear healthy, adding a little more blush than necessary to distract from her eyes.
A loud knock at her door startled her, making her drop the brush into the sink. She opens the door and her manager bursts in, already on his spiel about keeping to her schedule as the costume team carry in her outfit for the night. Teto watches with dead eyes as her team and manager flutter about with energy, staring enviously at the healthy glow to their skin that she has to fake with makeup.
Teto feels like she blinks when she's already in her outfit, tail and wings hidden from her adoring fans. A bandana tied around her mark on her arm. She wishes she could tug it looser, but her manager is watching her like a hawk. She can hear the crowd chanting her name, as the previous performer finishes their set, some popular figure from an old TV show. Teto thinks their name is Miku but she's not sure. At least, that's how she has to act, of course she knows Hatsune Miku.
Teto watches a gorgeous woman pass her from on stage, dressed in a childish, colorful suit. The woman's teal hair is tied up like quarter notes, in twin tails. The woman smiles at Teto and wishes her luck.
Teto nods with a polite smile, “I loved your show, I'm glad I got to hear you live.”
Miku pauses, turning back with a blinding smile and a small blush, “I'm glad I have such a good fan!”
Teto smiles back, more genuinely this time before her manager nudges her to head on stage.
Teto takes a deep breath before stepping out to a roaring crowd, feeling slightly faint from not eating before the show. 'Not wanting me to be bloated, sure,' Teto tsked internally. She keeps her smile plastered to her face as she greets her fans and starts singing, performing her choreography as best as she can while feeling sick. As Teto twirls, she notices Miku watching her with stars in her eyes. Teto almost stutters, before forcing herself to continue the performance.
As she nears the end of the song, she seemingly misses a step and collapses to the ground, blacking out for a moment. Shocked screams ring out across the stadium as the production team rushes out, cutting the cameras and carrying Teto offstage. Miku watches on with concern, following them.
“Really? She had to collapse right at the end? Another minute and she would have been off stage!” The manager groans, running a hand down his face, “This is gonna be a nightmare to deal with.”
“Should we call an ambulance? She doesn't look good,” a crewman points out where sweat is cutting through the layers of makeup, showing pale skin, more than typical for a performance.
The manager sighs and nods, and the crew quickly call an ambulance for Teto. Miku watches on with a glare on the manager, remembering her past as a child idol, and the stunted growth from her diet.
Teto wakes up to a sterile smell, and a bright room. She barely has the energy to look around, but she does notice the I.V. in her arm and the monitors hooked up to her. On a second glance, Teto also sees a mess of teal hair covering the face of a sleeping Miku. Teto blinks slowly before falling asleep again.
The next time she wakes up, she feels a little better and able to keep her eyes open. Noticing a distinct lack of teal hair, Teto sinks into the bed beneath her as the door is slammed open by Teto's manager, followed quickly by a furious Miku.
“I know you didn't just ask for Teto to be discharged so she can get back to work,” Miku growled at the manager as he backed up towards a wall, holding his hands up.
“Her fans need her back out there!” Teto's manager yelps as Miku grabs his collar.
“She needs to fucking rest you pathetic excuse of a manager! She's severely malnourished and exhausted!” Miku growls as she pins the manager to the wall, enjoying his panic and nervous sweating.
The manager stammers before noticing Teto is awake, “o-oh, Teto, you're awake!”
Miku drops him unceremoniously and hurries to Teto's side, grasping Teto's hand. “How are you feeling?”
Teto looks at Miku’s hands wrapped around hers and a light blush forms as Teto croaks out a single word, “warm.”
Miku quickly grabs a cup and the pitcher of water and pour Teto a drink. Teto takes it gratefully and sips, while the manager looks at the situation in disbelief.
“Teto, who exactly is this person?” her manager questions while glaring at Miku, “I don't remember seeing her before.”
Teto looks at her manager and swallows her water, “Miku is my girlfriend, we've been dating for a few years now. I kept it hidden because ‘an idol has to be available’ right?” Teto glares at her manager, “so it's a good thing I can retire from being an idol now huh?”
Her manager pales and starts frantically pleading with Teto, “N-now let's not be too hasty Teto, I can agree with you taking a break for health reasons but you can't just retire out of nowhere!” He takes out a handkerchief and wipes the sweat from his forehead, “I mean, think of the money you'll lose out on!”
Teto looks at him unimpressed, “I have plenty of money to live comfortably till I'm 90, not to mention Miku still has her fortune from her TV star days.”
Miku smirks, “Besides, imagine if this conversation left this room? What kinda damage would that do to your studio and label?”
The manager pales even further, imagining the PR nightmare of forcing an Idol that collapsed on stage to go back to work after they wished to retire, “fine, but what about your contract Teto? You still have three years left!”
Teto looks at him, “did you forget the clause about me retiring for my health?”
The manager curses, knowing that they have him there, before nodding. “I'll have the paperwork sent over shortly,” he grumbles, storming out of the room.
Miku smiles at Teto, “now we can finally live our lives together without worry!”
Teto smiles at Miku and gently kisses Miku's hand. “Yeah, I've been waiting for so long for this.”