That night, she came home to find Solar watching TV in the living room. She had to tell him right away. She took out the autograph and held it out to him. "You'll never believe this, check it."
He took the note, his eyes widened. "Whoa, what?!"
Indigo smugly grinned before taking a seat. "Yup. Genuine article." She said, explaining her first day at work.
"That's incredible!' Solar said excitedly. "I can't believe you got to meet them, and what's better, they're actually approachable."
"I know! Ronin was really cool, Michiru did almost all of the talking though." She said with a grin.
"Are you thinking about the offer?"
"I dunno if wrestling is for me, but man it's tempting."
"It's your call, kiddo." He nodded. "Do what makes you happy."
Indigo smiled softly. "Right. Well, I'm gonna head to bed. Night pops." She hopped off the couch with a wave.
"Night Indigo."
She entered her room and sat down on the bed. "Indigo? You didn't call me for a ride home." Sunny spoke from the doorway.
She looked up to see the girl standing, arms crossed. "It's not that late...I could walk home."
"If this is another one of your 'don't wanna bother me' things, I swear." She huffed.
"Okay! Okay! I'm sorry."
"Good. Now how was your first day?" She asked as she walked in.
Indigo told her as well, recounting meeting the championship contenders of their favorite company.
Sunny lounged on Indigo's bed, hugging a pillow and listening to her story. She nodded along, but the idea of her getting into such a physical hobby made her nervous.
"You okay?" Indigo asked, tilting her head.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry." She said, "Are you going to start training for wrestling?"
"Maybe. It sounds kinda cool. You think I should?"
"If you want to, sure. It's up to you, y'know."
"Yeah, but I'd like some input to help make the decision…" She pouted.
"I'm always going to be concerned for your safety, but that's my only worry. I know you'll kill it, but I also know how much you'll throw yourself into it...so just be careful, for me?"
"Of course." She smiled softly, reaching out to pat her head before giggling. "Keep that up and people might think you enjoy having me around."
"I do." Sunny grumbled. "I genuinely like being around you."
"Oh wow, I didn't expect such a straight answer." She smiled.
"Huh? How much clearer could I be?"
"Listen, I'm still coming to grips with learning that not everyone expects the world of me. Alright?" She shrugged. "It's kinda nice to know at least one person who likes me being around."
"All of us like you being around, you ditz." She pushed her gently. "Don't forget that." Sunny shifted off the bed to stand. "Make sure you're ready to leave on time tomorrow, we're gonna try to hang out with everyone before class again."
"Right, goodnight."
"Sleep well." Sunny said, closing the door behind her. Indigo took a few minutes to get ready for bed, changing out of her work clothes, she figured if she woke up early she could shower before heading out.
She flopped back onto her bed, shifting to get comfortable. 'Hmm?' She blinked, something seemed different. The pillow didn't smell like her shampoo. But it was familiar. She breathed it in and recognized it right away. It was the pillow Sunny was holding while they talked.
'I genuinely like being around you.' Sunny's voice repeated in her mind. She sighed, pulling the blanket higher. Her heart felt more at ease. 'She smells nice…'
Morning ripped her out of her slumber, more accurately her alarm. She bolted up, looking around, remnants of her dream fading. She could have sworn Sunny was there, the fog cleared much slower as she got out of the bed, getting clothes together for a shower.
Hot water, a nice tune to hum and a good few minutes to wake up. She found herself in front of the mirror, combing back her hair. She pulled her goggles on, sliding them to their normal resting place and catching herself in the mirror. She looked different? Indigo tilted her head, trying to place the difference. Was it just that she was happier?
She felt a warmth in her chest. 'I'm happy.' She watched her own smile grow. 'I'm actually happy. This…' She caught a glimpse of purple hair behind her.
The door cracked just slightly. "Indigo, are you done yet?"
"I'm good, sorry!" She said over her shoulder, turning to exit. "Morning, sunshine."
Sunny wiped her eyes from sleep. "How do you still manage to get up before me?"
"Wonderful thing called an alarm." She mussed her hair with a smirk.
Sunny grumbled. "I set like three alarms!"
"And you sleep through them."
"Just the first two…" She pouted.
"Get yourself ready. It feels like I'm breaking some kinda cosmic rule seeing you not in your normal state." She teased. "You've normally got such a well put together image. It's like seeing you off stage."
"Whatever. I don't have the energy to banter yet…" She gently pushed past her.
"Giving up? Man, you really aren't a morning person."
"Absholutely noh." She said as she started brushing her teeth, taking a moment to pause. "It was harder when I didn't have a reason to wanna wake up early." She spoke to Indigo's reflection.
"Reason? I knew you started showing up early…" She crossed her arms. "You forced yourself up and out of your beloved bed for little ol' me?"
Sunny rolled her eyes, finishing brushing her teeth and rinsing before turning. "I didn't expect the outcome. But I can't be happier with my decision."
"You were a lifesaver, Sunny. Thanks." She pushed off the doorframe to give her privacy, Sunny felt a warmth in her chest again, but quickly shook it off to get herself ready.
Indigo slid into the passenger seat, Sunny the driver. She found herself surrounded by the scent that lulled her to sleep the night before. "I like your perfume." She said offhandedly as they rode.
"Oh, thank you." Sunny smiled, pulling into the school's parking lot. They stepped out and entered the building together.
They passed a few students in discussion as they walked toward the lunch room, a good place to meet up in the mornings before class. Indigo recognized a few from her former sports clubs.
The tallest girl turned to face her as they passed, long white hair with purple highlights was pulled into a ponytail. She stood a good few inches taller than the girls beside her, a challenging smirk on her face. Her uniform sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, and the overall outfit looked near perfectly pressed.
"Is that the lass we have to thank for you quitting the team?" She asked.
"Keep walking, Sunny." Indigo instructed as she ignored her.
"Hey! I know you heard me!"
Sunny did as she was told, walking with Indigo close to her side.
"Guess your parents didn't raise you well. Got no manners."
Indigo tensed, turning to glare at the taller girl.
"Shut your mouth!" Sunny blurted out, Indigo glanced over, finding her just as angry.
"Better get yer girl before she makes a mistake." The girl spoke, ignoring Sunny's ire.
"Sunny-"
"No, I'm not going to be a bystander anymore." She said with a huff. "If anyone has a problem with you, then they have one with me as well."
"Getting defended by a theater kid, how pathetic." The taller girl reached out to shove Sunny, but her wrist was caught by Indigo.
"Don't fucking touch her." She said in a deathly serious tone. She twisted her arm painfully before shoving it away, moving in front of Sunny.
The taller girl stumbled back but remained firm. "I'm not scared of you." She growled.
"I don't care." Indigo replied. "Back off."
"Fine. Fine. Don't need to be so serious." She waved her off, turning to lead her trio away.
Indigo sighed, turning to face Sunny. "Please don't start fights over me." She said simply.
"Sorry, I just-"
"It's okay. Thanks for sticking up for me, but be careful...I don't trust that lot to just leave it at that."
"Right."
"Man...why is it that I can't decide to do something without the universe flipping it's shit at me?" She sighed again, turning to walk with Sunny again.
"I don't know, but you're moving forward. That's what matters."
"I guess. I mean, I have you shoving me ahead, so that's more help than you could imagine."
"Shoving you? I've been most patient."
"Yeah, but I need the motivation. You've been pretty good about being that for me."
"Aww, that was really sweet."
"Shaddup."
"You're a softy."
"Am not." She argued with a smirk.
They entered the cafeteria, Sugarcoat and Sour sat at one of the tables discussing something as Lemon frantically scribbled on a sheet of paper.
"Lemme guess. Forgot homework?" Sunny asked as she took a seat.
"I swore I did it!" Lemon said, almost frantically.
"Woah, easy there. We have an hour." Indigo said.
"I don't think I've ever seen Lemon this panicked." Sugarcoat admitted. The rocker just continued to scan the sheet, answering quickly.
Sour crossed her arms. "Let her finish and then we'll ask her. She's zoned in."
"So what's new?" Sugarcoat asked.
"Sunny about threw hands with Royal Decree."
"Huh?"
"Things did not become violent." Sunny huffed.
"Royal started talking shit and Sunny tried to shut her down." Indigo chuckled.
"Royal could totally kick your ass." Sour said with a raised eyebrow. "What could she have said to piss you off?"
"She took a shot at how I was raised." Indigo said with a shrug. "There's no way she coulda known, so I don't really care, but I don't think anyone appreciates that."
"Luckily you have a guard dog."
"Excuse me?" Sunny shot Sour a glare.
"A small yappy one." Sour grinned.
"Why y-, I'm taller than you!"
"Alright ladies, calm do-"
"FINISHED!" Lemon cheered, slamming her hands on the table excitedly. "Oh god, I did it." She breathed.
"Holy shit. All of that in twenty minutes?" Indigo asked, looking over at the papers. Every answer filled in, front and back.
"I did it." She repeated quietly before taking a breath to compose herself. "Never do that again, idiot." She grumbled before sighing. "Phew! Okay. Starting over. Hey Indigo, Sunny. Sorry about that."
"So, what was all that?" Indigo asked.
"No idea. I swear I did the work but I couldn't find it. Luckily Sugarcoat had a blank copy."
"That's not all. I've never seen you like that before." Indigo frowned.
"I get like that sometimes. Especially when I screw up. I'm in the top 5 students. I can't afford to slip. Dude, it's important. Sour's seen it before."
"And I told you then that you needed to go easier on yourself." Sour said with a frown. "I don't like seeing you work yourself into a panic like that."
"Sorry. It's just-"
"Don't just wave it off!" Sour grumbled. "You're more than your grade point."
"If I don't do well then everyone is right about me." She said with a frown. "I'm a slacker and stupid. I just learn differently, but to everyone else I'm just an idiot. This. This is how I prove them wrong." She held up the paper.
"But you're not an idiot. You're quite possibly one of the smartest people I've met." Sugarcoat said. "Plus your ear for music is second to none."
"That's just because I listen to it so often. Aside from having perfect pitch, I'm nothing special." Lemon chuckled.
"Hey, none of that." Indigo said with a frown. "You've been putting yourself down this whole time."
"Sorry. I just get like that sometimes."
"I don't like it either, but who am I to talk?" Sour asked.
"Lemon, you're so talented and witty, do you truly think so poorly of yourself?" Sunny asked.
"It comes and goes. Usually it only shows up when I screw up."
"Well, for what it's worth, you're not a screw up. You're a great person and friend." Indigo said. "I dunno who's telling you that you're stupid, but they're wrong."
"Maybe she'll listen when all of you agree with me." Sour said. "She's all for thinking the world of everyone except herself."
"So, when are we hitting a group therapy session?" Indigo asked.
"Have you even scheduled your therapy sessions yet?" Sour asked.
"I have…" Indigo shrank in her chair.
"So Sunny set them up."
"I hate talking to doctors, okay?" Indigo pouted.
"That's sorta the point of therapy though." Sugarcoat said.
"I'm not looking forward to it."
The bell rang for classes and the girls looked between each other.
"Catch you all at lunch." Indigo said.
"Later!" Lemon stood with Sour.
"I'm not letting that go, you know." Sour said as they walked. "Talk to me when you're feeling off. It's only fair."
"Right. That's fair." Lemon smiled. They walked to the classroom.