Beneath Their Masks Chapter 8 Is Up!

Beneath Their Masks Chapter 8 is Up!

Ah, and here is where Sae gets more screen time. You may notice that although this takes place at the beginning of November, Sae seems to be a lot nicer. This was by design because uuuuuh I don't like conflict. Sue me.

Makoto was clinging to Ann’s leg, much to both of their surprise. In the middle of a break from their study date, despite the lack of actual studying (much to Makoto’s chagrin), they had gotten up to make some coffee. However, the current weather had other plans for their evening. With a quiet pop, the apartment was pitch black, only illuminated by the surrounding buildings through the windows, casting long, rain-textured shadows over everything in sight (or lack thereof, in this case).

“Hey Makoto, you alright?” Ann said, suddenly surprised by the girl clinging to her leg. “I think the power went out.”

Obviously, she probably noticed that.

Realizing her involuntary show of fear, she quickly removed herself from Ann’s leg and stood up from the floor.

“Y-Yes, it appears so.” Makoto said, clearing her throat to distract from her stammering. “Hopefully it comes back soon so we can get back to studying.”

“I agree, although we weren’t exactly getting a whole lot of studying done.” Ann said with a chuckle. “Does this happen often?”

“Yes. Especially during inclement weather.” Makoto explained.

“Hmm, how long does it take to come back on?” Ann asked.

“If it hasn’t come back by now, it usually stays off for a few more hours.”

An uncomfortable silence came over the pair. A silence that would only be broken by the flash of lighting and booming of thunder, causing Makoto to jump with a yelp and Ann to flinch slightly.

“Oh Makoto, I forgot you don’t do well during storms.” Ann said, fumbling in the dark over to where Makoto was clinging to the kitchen counter for dear life.

Ann’s touch caused her to recoil, before recognizing the familiar warmth.

“No…I don’t like the dark. I feel better when you’re here with me, though.” Makoto confessed.

“Well…” Ann trailed off. “Does Sae have any candles around? I always light a bunch of candles when the power goes out at my place.”

“I think we may have some in the closet.” Makoto said, pulling away from Ann to check.

Using her phone to light the way (and showing Makoto how to do that on her own phone), they arrived at the closet. Opening it, they spotted a shelf full of candles, some still brand new.

“Wow, your sister is really into these things, isn’t she?” Ann mused.

“No, I believe these were all gifts.” Makoto said, picking one up off the shelf. “Either white elephant gifts from various office christmas parties or coworkers.”

“Well, maybe she’ll be relieved to see them get some use?” Ann said.

Beneath Their Masks Chapter 9 is Up!

It's totally on time. I definitely uploaded it while it was still the 9th (in some time zones). This is the end of the vacation fic "arc". Well, unless I think of something else to add, but yeah. Also, I hope the original side characters aren't too distracting. I wanted to write them to give Ann some connections relating to her modelling, and also as a (somewhat) positive influence on Ann. I didn't want Ann and Makoto's relationship to feel to isolated from the rest of their friends or family, so it was at this point that I started experimenting with more relationships and side stories to keep things fresh. It may be a flufftober thing, so continuity doesn't really matter, but it matters to me dangit! (Also I just realized I forgot to add the date to the chapter whoops better go add that)

“Whooh, I’m stuffed.” Ann said, strolling into the room, Makoto in tow. “Those two sure know how to treat a gal.”

Makoto shut the door behind her, flicking the lock as she did.

“It was awfully generous of them to offer to pay for dinner.” Makoto mused, aloud.

“They did say we were like the two little sisters they never had.” Ann replied. “Although us being their sisters kind of muddies the water if we’re dating…”

“I’m sure they didn’t think too deeply about the metaphor. But they are quite fond of you.”

“You say that like they didn’t like you. They love you! I’m sure they wouldn’t have gone through all the effort if they didn’t.” Ann said, reassuring Makoto. “You’re overthinking things again.”

Makoto shrugged.

“Well, we have some more time in the evening before we should probably head to bed. Did you have any plans?” Ann asked.

“Mmm…not really. I was open to just about anything you would be likely to suggest.” Makoto said.

“Just about anything?” Ann said, eyebrow raised.

Makoto raised an eyebrow at her as well.

“Well…let me think…” Ann rested her head in her hand as she pondered for a moment. “Oh, how about a bath?”

“A bath?”

“Yeah! This room has an onsen big enough for the two of us!” Ann said with childlike glee.

“W-Well…” 

“It’s up to you. I understand if you’re still not fully comfortable with that sort of thing.”

Makoto said nothing as she silently wrestled with her inner voice.

“Tell ya what. I’ll go get in, and you can join me if you’d like. No pressure or anything, promise.” Ann said.

Makoto thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Alright, I’ll think about it.”

Ann pecked Makoto on the cheek as she passed by her on the way to the bathroom. Makoto brought her hand up to savor the fleeting warmth on her cheek as the wheels in her head began to turn.

Beneath Their Masks Chapter 14 is Up!

It's at this point that I've reached the end of my pre-written chapters. I think the daily uploads may come to an end. I'll do my best to keep ahead of the curve, but I'm not gonna write any checks my stupid ass can't cash.

Makoto was lighting a candle in her room after the power had gone out…again. Taking a page from Ann’s book, she had dotted some candles around her room. She even made an attempt to pick candles with scents that wouldn’t necessarily clash with each other. Ann said she was planning on coming by at some point today, and Makoto considered it a shame that the power had gone out, but perhaps Ann being there to comfort her would be a good thing. She hadn’t had as extreme of a reaction as the last time the power went out, but she still felt uneasy. The only thing keeping her mind off it was Ann’s eventual arrival.

Makoto felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out and tapped on the recent text notification. It was from Ann.

Ann: did the power just go out at your place?

Makoto: It did. How did you know?

Ann: because im here

Makoto: Oh, I see. You will probably have to take the stairs, then.

Ann: see

Ann: i wish i could do that

Makoto: It’s not that bad of a climb, to be honest. We’re only on the 25th floor.

Ann: no

Ann: im in the elevator

Makoto: Oh.

Makoto: Oh!

Ann: yeah

Makoto: Did the elevator stop?

Ann: yeah

Ann: i hit the emergency button but nothing’s happening

Ann: makoto niijima, light of my life, would you please find some way to get me out of this thing?

also dont worry tumblr i have permission from toby fox personally to upload this sound effect for the sake of making a post sliiightly funnier

"Who cares"?

You. You cares.

who are you. what are you doing inmy house.

Beneath Their Masks Chapter 10 is Up!

It feels a little weird to put up a chapter taking place on Christmas in October but...here we are, I guess? This is kind of where things diverge from just being about Makoto and Ann, kind of like I said before. I hope it's not too distracting or out of character, but I do want to mix things up a bit. Let me know what you think!

Ann carefully freed herself from Makoto’s grasp as she slid out from beneath the covers, not so gracefully ending up on the floor in the process. Grabbing her phone, she picked herself up and quietly exited Makoto’s bedroom, silently closing the door behind her. When she turned, she didn’t expect to see anyone else up in the Niijima household. Messy red hair filled her view as she almost bumped into her, herself leaving the other Niijima sister’s bedroom.

“Um…”

The woman before her tensed, and she slowly turned around, but relaxed when she saw Ann.

“Oh, I thought you were Makoto for a second. Good morning.” The woman said quietly.

“You’re…Sae’s friend, right?” Ann asked, voice barely above a whisper.

“Why don’t we go out into the kitchen? Wouldn’t want to wake the Niijimas, right?” Sae’s friend(?) said.

Ann nodded and followed her out to the kitchen.