Prologue
The windows to the mahjong club's room were open, and the curtains gently billowed in the summer breeze. Clouds like cotton bloomed against a vivid blue sky.
Sumire leaned back, stretching her arms, and let out a satisfied sigh. There were no club activities today, so the only ones present were herself and Teru. One way or another the two of them seemed to end up in the clubroom together no matter what day it was.
Most days, like today, Sumire had some duty to perform for the club. Today she was filling out a document to notify the school of their next training camp.
Teru often didn't do anything at all, sitting in a corner at the back of the clubroom. Sometimes she'd be playing a game of mahjong alone, circling the board and moving for all the players. Sometimes she'd read, and sometimes she'd sleep. Today she was simply watching the sky out the window.
Sumire liked these days, when it was just the two of them, enjoying a companionable silence on a warm summer day. The juniors called them ToraHime, because they were always together and their skills complemented each other. Teru was supposed to be the Tora (Tiger) and she was supposed to be the Hime (Princess.) She protested that name, practically begged them to drop it, but secretly she liked it, if only because they were associating her with Teru.
"Are you done?"
Teru's clear voice rang out in the empty clubroom, interrupting her thoughts.
"Mmm, yeah, I finally finished."
"Are you going to head home?"
"I'll stay awhile longer."
Teru nodded, and returned to staring out the window. Her eyes were fixed far away, somewhere in the sky.
Sumire liked these days, but sometimes when she was alone with Teru it hurt a little bit too. When they were together Teru always looked at the mahjong tiles, or at the sky, with such intensity.
The only thing Sumire looked at with that intensity was Teru. And no matter how much she secretly hoped deep down in hidden parts of her heart, no matter what happened in her best dreams she never told anyone about, Teru never, ever looked back at her.
I wish she'd look at me.
.:::::.
Writer's Note: A bit of a heavy start, but I'm just setting the scene. Chapter one will be more lighthearted, and will contain some very fun scenes. Hang in there Sumire!
