Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hinomori Nao knew that something was going to happen today, because today was the 30th of September.

And something about that date threw him off every year.

Not in a bad way, just in a…he expected something to happen way.

His phone buzzed.

“Hm?”

Papa>Nao💙

Papa: can you grab your mom’s phone off our bed? She left it, we’re on our way back to grab it

Nao: mhm

Nao peaked in his parent’s room, but his mother’s phone wasn’t where his father said it would be.

Nao: are you SURE it’s on your bed?

Papa: who knows where she actually put it

Papa: your mom forgets everything

That was true.

“Akane! Madoka! Yayoi!” Nao called out. “Have you seen Mama’s phone?”

Akane peaked out of her room.

“…Are they home?”

“No, why—“

She yanked Nao inside.

“What the—“

Nao froze.

“…What are you three doing with her phone?”

“It’s glowing.” Said Yayoi. “And we heard someone talking!”

“It could just be a voicemail.” Grumbled Nao.

“I’m sure it wasn’t.” Said Madoka.

“Hm? What’s this?”

Akane leaned down.

“Integral…?”

“That’s one of their songs!” Yayoi smiled proudly.

“Why does the cover look so…weird?” Asked Madoka.

“It does look different…” Nao sighed.

“Maybe they changed it?”

Madoka leaned over and pressed play.

“Boop!”

They all shrieked in surprise as the phone began to glow.

”Wh-whats going on?!”

Kiko has never been the type to get into trouble.

She’s a very quiet, very soft girl, or so everyone says. Kiko herself just thinks she minds her own business, unlike most people. And she really does try and keep it that way.

Her brother and cousins, though…

“Kiko!”

“Gah!”

Minoru jumped on her bed and Kiko shrieked.

“God, you—“ she sighed. ”What?”

“Look!”

Kiko stared at her brother in shock.

“Wh—why do you have mama’s phone?”

“Aunt Mino is hiding something.”

“Eek—Erena!”

Kiko so wished that her aunt’s youngest child had audible footsteps.

“Yeah!” Agreed Erena’s sister, Reina. “She was talking to someone but wouldn’t let us see who it was~!”

“And? Probably someone important! You shouldn’t take her phone and—“

“Ooh,” Minoru gasped. “What does this button do?”

“Minoru, what are you—“

Kiko was cut off by a blinding light.

She was going to kill her brother one day.

Kiseki wouldn’t say she was nosy.

Just that she was like her mom.

…Nosy.

So obviously, when she hears her Dad talking to a robotic voice on the phone, she gets a little suspicious.

So what does she do?

…Steal his phone.

Because.

That’s normal.

She didn’t even steal it, really. She just went in to take a peak. She wasn’t even going to take it out of the room. Just pick it up.

And then—

“Are you using Daddy’s phone?”

She jumped.

Her little siblings.

All…five of them.

She sighed.

“Nagi,” She mumbled. “Don’t scare me like that.”

“Are you talking to someone?” Asked Rina.

“Is it that boy we were talking about?” Questioned Riko.

“A boy?” Ena echoed. “You have a boyfriend?”

“You do?” Asked Ken.

“Shhh! No no no!” Kiseki blushed. “And keep your voices down! There’s no boy, this weird voice was just coming out of Papa’s phone, and—“

“Was it the boy?”

“Was he trying to talk to you?”

“Shhhhh!” Sushed Kiseki again. “There is no boy!”

“Sureee,” Rina giggled. “Let me see!”

Rina lunged for the phone, and Kiseki yanked it away.

“Hey!”

“I wanna see, too!” Cheered Nagi. “Kiseki, I wanna see!”

She reached up and tried to grab it.

“None—of you—are seeing—eep!”

In the mess of tiny hands attacking her, Kiseki accidentally hit play on a song.

There was a blinding light.

Hina hummed, playing dolls with Melody. The little girl made a “swooosh” noise as she glided her toy through the air.

“Hey, Melody,” Hina giggled. “How about we—“

Ryū and Sanyu burst into the room unexpectedly

“Hina!” Sanyu cheered.

“Hm?”

Hina paused at the thing in Ryū’s hand.

“Is that…mommy’s phone?”

“Hina, someone was talking.” explained the ten-year-old.

“Eh?”

“There was someone on the phone! A tiny guy!” Sanyu explained.

Melody titled her head.

Hina blinked.

“That’s crazy…”

“It’s not crazy! Look—ooh!” Ryū explained as Hina picked Melody up. “A song?”

“A—“

He hit play.

There was a bright light.

Yuki has never wanted to make her parents angry.

So when she finds her little sister and her cousins snooping on her mom’s phone, she freaks.

“What are you doing?!”

“Yuki,” Miyuki sparkles. “I saw a hologram on Aunt Kana’s phone~!”

“A—“ Yuki ignored the absurdity of that claim. “Guys! We’ll get in trouble! Put it back!”

“No we won’t!” Hummed Sora. “They’ll never know!”

“How’d you even open it?!”

“It was unlocked~!” Giggled Himari. Yuki face-palmed at her sister.

“Guys, put it back now! If mommy finds out—“

“She won’t! Hey, what’s this song?”

Miyuki pointed to one.

“A new project?”

“Doesn’t look new.”

“Guys—“

“Let’s play it!”

“No—!”

Sora hit play, and there was bright light.

Chapter Text

Nao blinked open his eyes, rubbing them.

“Jeez…”

“Madoka!” Yayoi huffed. “What did you do?!”

“I didn’t do anything!” Madoka pouted back. “I—“

“Where are we?”

Akane’s question made everyone pay attention.

“…Is this a…school?” Yayoi asked.

“Not just any school.” Nao pointed out the window. “There’s a train-station out there!”

“What the—“ Madoka peered over Nao’s shoulder. “…oh, that is a train.”

“This is…” Akane gulped. “This is weird…”

Then, the door to the classroom opened.

“Sakiii? Is that—“

Rin paused.

“You…?”

The four kids all stepped back a little, Madoka and Nao shielding the younger two.

“What the…” Madoka squinted. “I-is that Rin? Isn’t she like…not real?”

“You don’t need to squint that hard.” Nao hissed. “She’s right there!”

“That’s why I’m squinting! She’s a voicebox, Nao! Why is she here?! How is she here?! What is here?!”

“Rin,” Another voice sighed. “What’s all the noise—?”

Luka froze in her tracks.

“…Oh.” She said. “I didn’t expect to see them back so soon.”

“It’s been a good…twelve years since Nao and Madoka were born.” A third voice, Len, said. “According to the album.”

“Th…album?” Yayoi squeaked.

“Photo album.”

“Wh-what’s going on?! Are you three…real?” Asked Akane.

“We’re very real!” Rin smiled. “And we’re so, so, sooooo happy to see you all again! Let me see—“

Rin pointed.

“Nao, Madoka, Yayoi, and Akane!”

They all gulped.

“H-how do you know our names…?”

Len nodded and Luka and left the room, returning a minute later.

Miku, KAITO and MEIKO peaked in the classroom.

“Oh? Haven’t you four grown.” MEIKO commented. “I’ve seen the pictures, but—“

“What are you?!” Akane yelled.

Miku cleared her throat.

“Right,” She smiled. “This is SEKAI.”

“SEKAI…?” Whispered Akane.

“Yes. Your parent’s SEKAI, to be exact.”

“This—“ Nao gestured. “Was Mama and Papa?”

“And your aunts.” KAITO added.

“This place was born from their feelings!” Rin cheered.

“Eh?”

Luka snorted at Nao’s reaction. “You are just like your mother.”

Despite the situation, Nao couldn’t help but feel a little proud of the compliment.

“Let me explain,” Said Miku. “Bear with me here—when your parents were sixteen, the four of them, together, made this world, this SEKAI, from the feelings they shared. And through a song, they can transport here.”

“Actually—“ Len tilted his head. “Who’s phone did you come from?”

“…Mama’s.” Akane confessed shyly. “She left it at home and we saw it glowing, and we heard a voice…”

“…Oopsies,” Rin mumbled. “That was me…I was trying to say hi…”

Len rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“Where are your parents?” Miku asked.

“They’re at some sort of meeting with their manger, I think…” Madoka mumbled. “So—this is their world? They made this?”

Miku nodded.

“And you…know about us?”

“We do,” Luka nodded. “Your parents let us meet you when you were babies, but we weren’t supposed to see you again until they decided you were all old enough to handle the responsibility of keeping this a secret—“

“Which was supposed to be years away.” Len raised an eyebrow. “And considering they’re out…they don’t know you’re here?”

“N-no…” Said Yayoi.

KAITO sighed. “You should go back. Before long, they’ll—“

“We’ve got time!” Madoka insisted. “Please? Can’t we stay a little longer?”

“I wanna explore!” Akane smiled.

Nao shrugged. “I mean…”

“…”

“Alright,” Miku gave in. “Just a little longer.”

“Yay!” Akane cheered.

Yayoi groaned.

They were going to get in so much trouble.

“So, these are photos of us that Mama showed you?”

Madoka titled her head at the album.

“Yup!” Rin smiled.

She flipped through the pages, pointing at the photos she deemed her favorites.

“Do Mama and mommy come here a lot?” Madoka asked. “To show you all of these?”

“Well, they bring photos sometimes.” Rin said. “Other times they’ve come just to talk about you. Or to have a break, to practice…sometimes they just find comfort here.”

“Comfort?”

“Yeah. Like, when you’re having a down day, where do you go?”

Madoka thought about it.

“Usually to Mommy or Mama. Auntie Ichi and Uncle Shii if they’re not around…” she replied. “But sometimes, Nao helps me, too. He understands what I mean more than my parents do, sometimes. I guess it’s because we’re the same age. Akane and Yayoi don’t understand as much, but they’re a good distraction…”

Rin nodded. “Mhm! This SEKAI is kind of like…that place for them!”

This SEKAI?

Kind of like…home?

Madoka looked down at the pictures.

…Huh.

“Yayoi, what do you think?”

Yayoi titled her head, surveying her surroundings.

“It’s nice here.”

“Thanks.” Len chuckled.

“Mommy and Mama come here a lot?” She asked.

“Plenty.” MEIKO nodded. “It’s been here for years, after all.”

“What do they do here?”

“Practice. Talk. Hang out. They used to have sleepovers here.”

Sleepovers.

Yayoi liked sleepovers—they were one of her favorite things. She got to stay up late and do Madoka’s hair and she got to hear her cousin’s secrets and stories that they’d hide from their parents the next day.

Kiseki met a boy…

None of them told their Uncle Toya. Or Aunt Annie. Nor Uncle Aki or Uncle Koha. But they giggled about it.

Yayoi wondered what would happen if she met a boy. What would her moms say?

She wondered—

“Did you guys know when Mommy and Mama like…loved each other for the first time?”

Len titled his head.

“They’ve always loved each other, even if there was a time where they weren’t exactly…”

MEIKO elbowed him.

“I think she means when they started dating.”

“Ohhhh,” Len chucked. “Yeah, we knew. The SEKAI always knows.”

“It knows?”

“It’s complicated, honey. You’ll get it more when you’re a little older.”

Yayoi pouted.

She was perfectly capable of understanding anything, she was sure!

Akane gazed at the stars.

“They’re pretty…!”

KAITO nodded.

“They’re always shining here.” He explained. “And it’s usually clear.”

“Usually?”

Akane echoed.

“Sometimes, it gets cloudy.” KAITO shrugged.

“Why? If Mama and Papa made this, why would they want it to be cloudy?”

“Some cloudy days just happen, little one.” KAITO told her. “You don’t really get a choice.”

Akane pouted.

“I’m not little…!”

“You’re little to me.” KAITO giggled.

Akane huffed.

“But why do cloudy days happen?”

“Because,” KAITO said. “If it were always sunny out, wouldn’t it be less special?”

“I guess…but I don’t like cloudy days.”

“But after the rainclouds clear, doesn’t the sun shine brighter?”

Akane hummed. Well, she always liked seeing the sun after a rainstorm.

“Yeah, I guess…”

KAITO chuckled.

Adorable.

“So, how have you been, Nao?”

Nao looked hesitantly at Luka and Miku.

“Alright…” He mumbled.

Luka hummed.

“Anything interesting been going on?”

“Not really.” He shrugged.

Miku snorted.

“You’re a lot like your dad, too.”

“I guess…” Nao couldn’t help but smile a little. “But I look more like Mama. Except for my green eye.”

Luka giggled. “And that makes you proud?”

Nao flushed.

“H-huh?”

“You get very happy when you’re compared to one of your parents.” Miku noted.

Nao huffed.

“They’re my mama and papa, of course I want to be like them…”

The pigtailed girl ruffled his head.

“You admire them a lot, don’t you?”

“Mhm.”

“…Hey,” Miku smiled. “Do you want to see something?”

“Eh?”

Nao was being led down the halls of the school, twisting and turning, and then—

“Here.”

He blinked slowly. Oh, that was bright.

“What the…”

“Nao!”

Akane hugged him. She was here. Along with Madoka, Yayoi and the…

Other magical robots.

Nao was still confused. About literally everything.

“What is this place…?” He patted Akane’s head.

What looked of he hundreds of floating orbs.

“What are these?” Asked Yayoi. “They’re pretty.”

“Songs.”

“Eh?”

“They’re songs.” Miku smiled. “Your parent’s songs.”

Akane titled her head.

“Like the ones Mama makes?”

“Sort of.” Said Luka. “These songs…were made from your parents feelings.”

“Feelings?” Madoka echoed.

“Uh-huh!”

Rin gingerly touched one of the yellow orbs and brought it over to Madoka.

“Does this sound familiar?”

“How…” Madoka gulped. “How do I listen?”

“Touch.”

Madoka reached out a hand, and a familiar melody flooded her ears.

“Do you recognize it?”

Madoka nodded.

“Stella…” She murmured. “That’s Mama’s Song. That’s Stella.”

“I want one!” Akane jumped up.

KAITO reached up and pulled one down for her.

“Here.”

Akane held it in her hands and squealed.

“That’s the—this is Papa’s, right?”

“Mhm. How could you tell?” MEIKO asked.

“Mama talks about it all the time. Mama loves it, Papa made it for her.”

Miku giggled.

“He most certainly did.”

Len suddenly rubbed his chest.

“What?” MEIKO asked.

“I’ve got a feeling. A nervous feeling.”

“So do I…” mumbled Luka.

Akane interrupted them both.

“Can we hear more?”

“Sure, but—“

Suddenly, there was a loud cry.

”Mikuuuuuu!”

Miku opened the door to the classroom.

Saki was on the verge of tears, Honami was biting her nails, Shiho was pacing back and forth and Ichika was trying (and failing) to take deep, even breaths…

“Miku!” She shrieked. “Miku, we can’t find the kids anywhere!”

“We came back in the house, and we—“ Honami stammered. “Th-they weren’t home—”

“God damn it we were only gone for twenty minutes!” Shiho yelled. “Where could they have even gone?!”

Saki just rocked back and forth.

“About that…”

Ichika’s head snapped towards Miku.

“What.”

“Listen…”

“Miku, where are my children.”

Miku gestured, and all four of them peered out.

“Nao!”

“Akane!”

“Madoka!”

“Yayoi!”

Saki picked up her youngest in her arms.

“Are you okay?! You’re not hurt are you?! I was so worried! We—wait a minute, how did you get here?!”

“…”

“…Tenma Yayoi.”

“Okay so Madoka took the phone.”

“Yayoi!”

Shiho rubbed his temples and looked at Akane.

“You…stole your Mama’s phone?”

“We didn’t steal it.” Grumbled the girl. “We like…held it. And then we hit play on a song. And we ended up here!”

“You didn’t tell us you had a whole world in your phone!” Nao said to his mother.

“We were going to.” Ichika crossed her arms. “Before you took matters into your own hands.”

“It’s not my fault!”

“It was mostly Madoka’s fault.”

“How?!”

Honami groaned.

“How long were you even here?”

“Great question. There’s like, no clock here…” Madoka replied Madoka.

“That’s because time passes much differently here.” Saki said. “But aside from all that…”

“You scared us half to death!” Ichika huffed. “Can you imagine how we felt when we walked in the house and you were just gone?!”

“Did Grandma and Grandpa know about the SEKAI?” Nao asked.

“That isn’t important! Besides, at least I used my phone and didn’t steal one to get here…”

“…” Nao flushed.

Ichika sighed. “Sorry, I’m sorry, hun, really. I don’t mean to yell. But you really did scare all of us, disappearing the way you did. Also, like it or not, you did technically steal from me.”

“…We know.” Nao mumbled. “I’m sorry, Mama…”

“Sorry, Mama. Sorry Papa.” Akane sighed.

“We’re sorry…” Madoka fiddled with her thumbs.

“Sorry, Mama. Sorry Mommy.” Yayoi hugged Saki.

Shiho sighed.

“You’re forgiven.” He said. “But you’re also grounded.”

The kids all pouted.

Ichika sighed at Luka and the others.

“Why’d didn’t you send them back, anyway?”

“They’re too cute…” Luka mumbled.

“How can you say no to those faces!” Rin whined.

Honami facepalmed.

“Whatever. Where’s Ichika’s phone?”

Madoka tugged it out of her dress pocket.

“Here.”

Honami handed it to Ichika.

“We’ll see you another time.” Ichika told Miku.

They all waved to her.

“Bye.”

“Goodbye.”

“Bye-bye!”

“Bye, everyone.”

“See you next time!”

KAITO nodded at them.

There was a bright light…

That night, Nao sat on his parent’s bed.

“Mama?”

“Hm?”

“U-uhm,” He mumbled. “Will we be able to go back, one day? To the SEKAI? I…liked it there. It felt nice.”

He watched as Ichika paused, thinking about it.

“Most likely. Though I clearly can’t trust Miku with baby-sitting.”

”When were we gonna find out?”

”Not until you were a little older, hun.”

She sat next to him. “After all, it was quite…shocking, wasn’t it?”

”Did you know? The first time you went?”

”Goodness, no.” Ichika laughed. “I thought I was dreaming. You have to admit, when you put it into words it sounds…outlandish.”

Nao nodded. He couldn’t imagine telling his friends ‘hey, I traveled into another dimension and met Hastune Miku through my mkm’s phone last night!’

Speaking of…

”Does anyone else know about it? The SEKAI?”

“Only other people I know who have SEKAIs know about mine.” Ichika told him. “But they’re secret for a reason, sweet boy.”

She looked at him seriously.

“Promise me that you won’t tell anyone else what you saw today, alright?”

Nao nodded.

”I promise.”

She hummed.

“You should get to bed. It’s late.”

Nao nodded and hugged her.

“I love you, Mama.”

She kissed his head.

“I love you too, Nao. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”