You can be anyone,
This time around,
This love of ours

--"Io (This Time Around)," Helen Stellar

[Phone rings]

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[Rings again]

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[And again]

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“Urghh…He-hello?”

“Oh, Sorry, did I wake you, Noriko-chan?”

“Oh, no, no. I’m up! I’m up! Don’t worry. I’m always up.”

“Noriko-chan…”

“Yes?”

“How many hours have you been going without any sleep?”

“Well…not really a lot, I mean, if you count—fine, a lot.”

“Noriko-chan.”

“It can’t be helped. My senior thesis is eating me alive. I admit, I am a little tired…and hungry, apparently”

“Oh dear, was that your stomach?”

“…Yes?”

“[laughs]”

“Hey!”

“It will all be fine Noriko-chan. You know, stars shine even brighter when it’s darkest.”

“I…yes. As always, you know the words I need to hear.”

“I know the secrets of the universe, did you not know that, Noriko-chan?"

"[laughs] No, I believe I missed that announcement."

"Which is why you need more sleep. I won’t keep you any longer. Please do not make me worry anymore—get some rest and feed your stomach before it starts singing.”

“[laughs] Will do—wait, did you need anything?”

“Oh...I”

“…?”

“I just wanted to hear your voice, Noriko.”

“S—”

“Well, please take better care of yourself. Good luck, I know you can do it!”

[phone line dies]

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“[Smiles] I miss you too, Shimako.”

A/N: Hello! It's the return of the migraine! I get chronic migraine attacks so I spent the last two days curled up in a dark, quiet room (like a hamster!). Fortunately for you guys, I am most creative when I get my migraines (I don't know if its the incredible pressure on my brain from the dilating veins or the immense amount of medication I have to take). Anyhow.

I used to dread talking on the phone. For me, phone calls were just filled with ample opportunities for awkwardness--gaps and random silences, a sprinkling of "huh, what'd you say?" and poorly timed "Oh, yeah" at the same time from both parties. I was an avid texter (I once texted 4,000 messages in one month...I have unlimited, fret not). But now that I haven't seen my family and my best friend in three months, I can't say that black letters on my phone screen is enough to substitute hearing their voices.

You can take this as part of Bicycle, if you want :) [Remember, Noriko is a junior during the events of Bicycle]

Have a great week~!

Peace,

Shamazing

P.S. in case you wanted to know, a senior thesis is an intensely time consuming project, especially in science and engineering, that a student will need to graduate with distinction as an undergraduate.