[Zipper]

A roommate?

And they’re not even in the management department? Zipper was unsure how UAU handled its dorming process, but it seemed ripe for improvement. If her hands weren’t full managing the Kei Fanclub, setting up the Introduction to Hero Landings event, and working a part-time job to help her family, she might have to restructure the whole goddamn school.

For now, she’d focus on moving. There isn’t a lot with her. For one, she doesn’t own much of anything. If Zipper knew the antonym of a packrat, she’d call herself that. If you don’t need it, then toss it. There are too many things you need to make room for sentimental garbage.

There are two suitcases behind her and a backpack slung over her shoulder. Zipper knocks on the door, hoping no one’s here so she can set up her side of the room without any headaches or annoying questions. A small part of her hoped for them though.

Annoying questions meant someone she could fix…

---

Aimoto Momo

[Aimoto Momo]

AIMOTO MOMO

THE RED GIRL

Momo wasn’t the only lucky one today. Zipper was too. Mostly because the door to their now shared room opened inward rather than out. Had it been the latter, she would have taken the door straight to the face given the speed and force with which Momo opened it in her excitement. As it was, only the wall suffered a minor dent from the handle being flung into it.

“HiareyoumynewroommateI’mMomoit’snicetomeetyouohmygoshdoyouneedhelp?!”

Had Momo been a normal person, or even just not in the middle of a sugar rush, the greeting would have been more than one strung together word. Those words also would have been comprehensible. Her bright smile and subsequent actions were likely more understandable as she moved forward to grab one of the suitcases to help carry it in—if Zipper would let her.

Nothing about her gave away how complicated getting a new roommate actually was for Momo. Except maybe the sunglasses she was wearing inside. They looked good and went with her outfit, sure. But that wasn’t why Momo was wearing them. The faculty had come by earlier to clear the last of Mei’s stuff out of the room. Cue another crying spree for Momo. The evidence of which the sunglasses now hid.

But she really was happy to meet the new girl!

Notes & Tags: Zipper | Outfit

[Zipper]

Those were a lot of words in not a lot of time. It took a moment for Zipper to process what she heard, but in the meantime, she used her eyes to compensate. While the girl — oh, Momo — wasn’t in her uniform, she was unmistakable Red Girl. The performance was adequate considering the clumsy entrance and her wearing Vox’s shirt over her hero outfit. Make no mistake, Zipper was a fan, too, but there was a time and place to be an obsessive idiot — in the privacy of ‘not on stage.’

She was cute, positive, and high-energy. A marketing goldmine even. But Zipper had other concerns. Aside from moving in, she needed to see whether or not Momo was worth the effort; and whether she was good enough a person.

Zipper walked into the room a suitcase lighter. The helpful were going to help and unless her career was concerned, she took the path of least resistance.

“I don’t need much help unless you’re interested in answering questions.” Zipper unpacked. First and foremost, she’d make room for her work. Pleasantries could wait. “Like why are you talking so fast? What’s with the sunglasses? And what do you mean by new roommate?”

Zipper turns to the wall, seeing how much leeway she has. A desk might be in order.

“And what happened to the old one?”

---

Aimoto Momo

[Aimoto Momo]

AIMOTO MOMO

THE RED GIRL

Score!

The new girl was letting Momo help. That meant they were halfway to best friends already. Momo followed after with suitcase in tow and set it by its twin. She was already clapping her hands together in excitement and preparation for inviting her new friend out for cake and ice cream when she ran into the wall of Zipper’s bluntness.

Down-to-business types of people didn’t bother Momo. She just had to work harder with them. Nosy people didn’t bother her either. She lived her life like an open book—most of the time. The first couple of questions were met with immediate answers.

“Sugar!”

Pose.

“Style!”

Pose two, complete with a white lie.

And for the third and fourth…

Squish.

But Momo couldn’t say that. There was a hesitation, an obvious pause. She could lie here. Again. A bigger lie this time. Not one of half-truth and omission like with the sunglasses. Momo was good, right down to her core, and lying didn’t feel good. Not even the little one. The moral quandary spiraled a second into several. Even if Momo chose to lie now, it would be obvious. But that wasn’t the reason she revealed the truth.

“She died.”

Her voice was small. Quiet. Pained. All of the energy had evaporated from Momo. There was nothing left of the Red Girl or the over-excited puppy Zipper had first seen of Momo. There was only the lingering aftermath of a bitter reminder for how dangerous being a Hero student really was.

Notes & Tags: Zipper

[Zipper]

All of her energy evaporated. The high of a sugar rush couldn’t compete with the loss of a friend. Unlike Momo, Zipper had lost a friend — parents, sure. But that wasn’t the same. She never knew who they were and only experienced grief through discovery. Her life was littered with photos, videos, and stories of who they were and what they did. And no matter how she mourned for what she never had, it was markedly different from this.

“That’s a hell of an off button,” Zipper started rummaging through her bag. There were far too many pockets to navigate, unless you created an alphabetized system for the move. She’s never lost a goddamn thing in her life. “Remind me not to press it again.”

Face still in her bag, Zipper stuck out her hand and offered Momo a Meiji Milk Chocolate bar. It was Chugen… as good an excuse to give a gift as any.

“Let’s consider this reparations.” She said. “Not tryna —” kill “ruin the vibes.”

A peace offering.

Please don’t talk about your dead friend.

---

Aimoto Momo

[Aimoto Momo]

AIMOTO MOMO

THE RED GIRL

The sunglasses did their job. Watery eyes were no match for polarized lenses. Nor were prying eyes, intentional or otherwise, if they sought to see whether or not the returned, but dim, smile upon Momo’s lips reached beyond just going through the motions upon receiving a gift and words mistaken as kind when they were nothing more than evasive. It seemed the sunglasses defense worked both ways—and both depended on the other not really wanting to see.

Momo held the chocolate bar quietly for a second or two while her brain rebooted in an effort to also preserve the vibes. Only when it did, she got a good look at the thing that had been given to her. “Mei…ji.” The brand of chocolate bar Zipper had chosen glared up at her. Momo held it up to Zipper, if only to turn the word away from her sore eyes. “Her name was Mei. I think… I think she would have enjoyed knowing there was chocolate with her name in it.” The past tense in her own words drove home that Mei wouldn’t get to enjoy the coincidence, or anything else, ever again.

Notes & Tags: Zipper

[Zipper]

Should’ve known better.

As luck would have it — in the most warped, twisted of ways — the candy bar shared a name with the dead roommate. Zipper was unfathomably uncomfortable. Yes, they were roommates now but they were still, ultimately, strangers. Zipper didn’t even know Momo’s favorite color. Red could be a gimmick for all she knew. And now she was tasked with consoling her? If this was a client, she’d at least have a portfolio on them.

“We sell these at my store.” Wasn’t really her store, but it will be. Someday. Zipper runs it like it’s her store, even if she’s only behind the counter as a part-timer. The rest of the logistics fall on her. Okay, she pried them from her grandparents' old, tired hands but it was the right thing to do. And so was this.

“You should stop by sometime. We can get more and you can tell me stories about her.” Momo seems the sentimental type. Maybe the gesture will mean something. God, this was so hard. “I’m Zipper. That’s not my real name but what I like to be called.”

She bowed.

“I’m gonna keep unpacking.” Zipper turns around. “If you need anything let me know.” She pauses. “I have tissues, too. If you need them.”

Those sunglasses were doing a shitty job.

---

Aimoto Momo

[Aimoto Momo]

AIMOTO MOMO

THE RED GIRL

Momo drew her hand and the chocolate bar back to herself. She resumed staring down at the name emblazoned across the outer wrapper. “That’d be nice,” she responded to Zipper’s first offer absently.

She was a million miles away behind the shades. Not even curiosity over why Zipper preferred such a name broke through the reverie. Momo only returned to the moment when she was offered tissues. She looked up at Zipper. It was such an odd thing to give her.

“I don’t nee-”

A tiny splat interrupted her reply. Momo looked back down. Another splat. Wet droplets glistened atop the word Meiji. Momo reached up with her free hand to touch her face just beneath the bottom rim of the sunglasses. Her skin was damp.

“Oh.”

Notes & Tags: Zipper

[Zipper]

Zipper pulled out the tissues.

With a deep, silent breath she mustered the courage to confront the crying stranger. These moments were always the hardest. But if there was anything that could bring two people together, roommates nonetheless, then it was the death of old friend.

Yet again, she’d grieve through discovery. She’d learn of Mei’s favorite color, random hobbies, and the memories Momo held most dear. It wouldn’t happen over the evening or even the course of the week, but it’d happen eventually.

Box of tissues in hand, Zipper took off Momo’s glasses and started to wipe some of her tears. She’d offer the rest and stay until Momo was ready to be alone. They couldn’t have been roommates for long. Zipper’s always heard about friendships formed in hero school, but they’ve always been suspiciously quiet about friendships lost.

Now that it was in front of her? Made sense.

Made a whole lot of sense.

---

Aimoto Momo

[coffee]

I'M COMMANDER SHEPARD, AND I APPROVE THIS THREAD

Man, the feels

Momo: 10,00XP + 7500XP = 17,500XP

Zipper: 0 Tokens + 75 Tokens = 75 Tokens

tag: Aimoto Momo Zipper