Not suitable for under 18 years old.
This is a yuri story of a slowly developing love between Yoshida Masaki and Tanaka Mako. Their naivety leads them into an interesting but dangerous adventure in Central America. Readers need to have followed the Watamote manga from chapter 71 to chapter 144 to have an adequate appreciation of the characters.
Chapter 1
The late afternoon sun shone down warmly on a group of mostly elderly Japanese holiday makers lounging around the pool in the evening at their hotel in Costa Rica. It was a relaxing atmosphere in this remote spot bordering the jungle.
Tanaka Mako slowly awakened from a sleep on her poolside sun-lounger. She had drifted off waiting for her friend Yoshida Masaki who was acting as guide for the group of tourists. Something broke into her somnolent consciousness; looking down she saw a large multi-coloured tropical butterfly sitting on her bare big toe. The gentle fluttering of its wings had awakened her. There was a millisecond of panic for Mako because she thought it might be some garish species of unknown vampire bat sucking the goodness out of her big toe. Then she saw it for what it was and was enchanted by it.
As the butterfly, disturbed by her movements, flew away her mind drifted back towards sleep. Before she fell asleep again she briefly thought, 'how did I get here from my routine life in Japan to be lying in the distant tropics enjoying the sight of exotic butterflies on my feet?'
Well, the reason for her presence here began with her friendship with Yoshida Masaki…
CHAPTER 2: The shifting grounds of friendship
This story takes up from the end of chapter 120 of the Watamote manga.
The end of school-year party had just ended for Tanaka Mako, Tamura Yuri, Kuroki Tomoko and Yoshida Masaki as they gathered together at the train station. The more sociable students had gone on to karaoke and further partying, but this foursome of students had exhausted their sociability reserves and wanted to relax.
An air of wistful sadness hung over the group because in some way they wished to stay together longer on this evening but they all lived in different localities. The unsatisfactory compromise they fell into was that they each deliberately missed several trains which would have split up the group, but that demonstration of solidarity had to end as the night grew chillier. They finally bade each other goodbye and hoped that they would all be together in the next year.
Extract from Tanaka Mako's diary:
I used to think that Yoshida was a scary type of person who was best avoided but my view of her has changed. I remember she beat Tomoko a few times when we were on the school trip to Kyoto and that made Tomoko scared of her. Yuri had to intervene to get things back on an even keel otherwise the trip would have been just a sour and uncomfortable experience for their group. However, I started to feel some sympathy for Yoshida because Tomoko harassed her in a stupid way. Tomoko was often the author of her own troubles.
After Valentine's Day I got more friendly towards Yoshida and she began to respond. I did feel that she was mellowing a bit because she left some chocolate for Tomoko in her desk (chapter 112, page 2, panel 6) although Tomoko never said anything to me about receiving it. Yoshida played the machines in the games arcade with Yuri. That made me happy because Yoshida is a beautiful girl who is much misunderstood. She helps people in her own rough way when she feels there's a need to. I want to develop our friendship.
I seem to be slowly moving away from my best friend Yuri – or rather, she is moving away from me now that Tomoko appears to be her best friend. I am moving more towards Yoshida. Yoshida and Tomoko are both troublesome people but they make life interesting.
Tomoko has a secret admirer. I think that Ucchi is in love with her because she carefully cooked a piece of steak for her group and then quickly gave it to Tomoko. I didn't say anything about it, but the others in her cooking group protested. She also gave Tomoko chocolates in her shoe locker on Valentine's Day.
Extract from Yoshida's audio diary:
It's been a better week than usual. I went to the end-of-year party with Yuri, Mako, and Tomoko and we had a good time. I don't normally hang around with the other students in my class because they're a pain in the ass most of the time. I enjoyed playing the pachinko machines earlier with Yuri. Tomoko was just her normal awkward batshit-crazy self. She's never said 'thanks' for the Valentine's Day chocolate I left for her in her desk but of course, I didn't say 'thanks' to her for the shit-shaped chocolate she left for me in my desk. I don't know Mako very well but she's a close friend of Yuri so I see her around a lot. She seems like a quiet and friendly person.
Chapter 3
Extract from Tanaka Mako's diary:
The new school year got off to a promising start because Yuri, Yoshida, Tomoko and I all found ourselves in the same class, although there was a bit of bad news for Ucchi because she was put into a different class. She threw a tantrum about that!
The school year seemed to speed by, from Spring and into Summer. At this rate the girls would soon have to start preparing for the university entrance exams. The new friendship between Yuri and Tomoko flourished, as did the friendship between Yoshida and Mako.
"Hello, Yoshida-san", said Mako, smiling happily.
"Hello Mako-chan," said Yoshida. "I was just thinking about you on my way here. There's a good horror film on at the Shinjuku cinema next week. Do you feel like going with me and the others?"
"Yeah, sounds like a good idea. Will it be the four of us or just the two of us? I ask that because Tomoko is ill right now and Yuri mostly relates to her and not so much to us".
"Well", said Yoshida tentatively, "It might be nice if it is just you and me on this occasion – that will make it easier to organise. Shall we go on Thursday evening? I can get the tickets for the two of us tomorrow and confirm them with you later. I'll pay for the tickets if you buy the after-cinema coffees". Both girls smiled happily.
Extract from Mako's diary:
I went with Yoshida to the cinema the other night to see a horror film. It was so scary! – I've never been so scared in my life. Masaki took it all in her stride because she watches lots of horror films, but I don't. I only went because Masaki asked me to and I really like being with her. We held hands after I got too scared and that made me feel better.
Extract from Masaki's audio diary:
I went to see a good horror film with Mako earlier this week. It was one of the best that I've seen for a long time. Mako isn't used to horror films and she was really scared. She hid her head against my shoulder and grabbed my hand. I wanted to laugh at her fear but I didn't and tried to reassure her. I felt like putting my arm around her but she might not have liked that.
Chapter 4: A Step closer.
At the end of the year Mako gained entry into University where she studied languages and literature. She majored in English but also took courses in Spanish too. Yoshida was not interested in continuing in full-time education and began work in a travel office as a trainee tour guide. Both women continued to see each other regularly and their friendship grew and deepened. Midway through the year they decided that they weren't seeing enough of each other and moved in together to share a small apartment.
Extract from Mako's diary:
We watched a comedy DVD together yesterday evening. It was a bit chilly so we huddled together under a blanket. It was strange, the skin on my forearm touched the skin on hers and I couldn't ignore the feeling it gave me. I suspect that she felt the electric tingle too. We felt really together in our souls. Masaki put her arm around me and I kissed her goodnight on her cheek. I thought today might be awkward between us but everything was the same as usual.
Extract from Yoshida's audio diary:
We watched a DVD together yesterday and things got warmer between us as we shared a blanket. I felt a bit sensitive. I caught myself looking at Mako's legs this morning. They are very shapely and her hips are rounded and look enticing. I blushed to catch myself doing that, but Mako didn't notice.
Extract from Mako's diary:
Masaki went to Hokkaido for four days as a tour guide for the first time. I tried not to cry when she went because I was worried about her safety. When I woke up on Saturday morning and knew she would be back later that day I was dying with anticipation. When she actually arrived I was so happy to see her! I threw my arms around her and hugged her. It was like Christmas day for me. I think she was happy too to see my enthusiasm for her.
Extract from Yoshida's audio diary:
I had to go on my first serious assignment to Hokkaido with a tour group for four days last week. I was really happy to take my first steps into the adult world of work and things went off without too many problems. Most of the tour group were elderly people and were easy to manage. They just need to have lots of rest and regular toilet breaks.
I was over the moon to get back home and see Mako looking so happy to see me! It made me feel loved in a warm way. I brought her back a nice present from Hokkaido. I'm going to be really nice to her.
A few months later Tomoko told everyone the important news.
"Hello Tomoko", said Mako into the telephone.
"Hello Mako", said Tomoko, "It's nice to hear from you again. I suppose you know that Yuri and I have moved in together – just like you and Yoshida-san".
"Yes, I had heard that you had moved in as a couple. Is that true?"
"Yes", said Tomoko, "our characters are so similar in many ways and we both find it relaxing to be together. And of course there are other factors at play"!
"Oh… yes", giggled Mako. "I'm glad that you are both enjoying life. Yoshida and I are not a couple but we get along fine in spite of being very different. I feel more secure in the flat knowing that Masaki is normally here. However, she's away on another of her tour guide trips for another ten days".
"Where is she going now?" asked Tomoko.
"Well, she only just returned from a trip to Hong Kong a couple of weeks ago and now she is on a trip to Australia. She went to Darwin first and then Melbourne. Today she's visiting an old gold mining town called Bendigo. She tells me there's a big Chinese Buddhist temple with a garden and museum there but almost no Chinese in the town. I'll be really glad when she gets back home".
"Well it seems like she is doing well in her job", said Tomoko, "and she must be earning some money – not like us students. It sometimes feels like we haven't really left school". It looks like her brief interest in my brother has worn out now – I don't think they've seen each other for months.
"Oh, I thought that that might be the case", said Mako, "but I didn't ask her".
It was all that Mako could do not to sound joyous at the news that Tomoki no longer figured in Masaki's thoughts. Mako wasn't a mean-spirited person but she found it difficult to stop smiling to herself after that news.
CH5: Latin America
"I've got this exciting trip to Central America coming up, Mako", said Masaki. It looks like it will coincide with your end-of-term holiday. It'd be great if you could come along with me for the trip!"
"Wouldn't the company object to that?" said Mako.
"Not if I pay for your fares and you share my accommodation. They'd be pleased to have sold another ticket. Plus they'll be getting a Spanish-speaker for nothing".
"Won't it be too expensive?" said Mako.
"I've got enough saved now", said Masaki, "and it would make me so happy to have you with me!"
They sat together for an hour looking at all the possibilities, costs and date clashes. The trip would be to Costa Rica and Panama. It would be good for Mako to speak Spanish the whole time to help her studies. It was exciting for Mako to consider such an adventurous step.
It was very interesting for both Masaki and Mako to arrive in San Jose and lead their travel group to the hotel. Their first minor adventure occurred the same day in their hotel where the girls met two young Italian women who made friends with them in the hotel bar that evening.
Giulia and Isabella were travelling together independently and said they were seeking out adventure. They sat drinking and talking with Masaki and Mako for a while. Isabella then asked Masaki to dance and the two of them went out onto the floor to dance to the hotel in-house musicians group. Isabella kept Masaki out on the floor dancing for quite a long time, whilst Giulia continued talking, increasingly intimately, with Mako.
Giulia's leg began to rub against Mako's leg and then her hand rested on Mako's thigh whilst she leant forward to make a point. Mako was uneasy at this contact but was reluctant to break the friendly atmosphere between them. Giulia evidently took this acquiescence as an invitation to further progress her explorations. Her hand slid further up and moved inwards to the soft, silky, skin of Mako's inner thigh.
At this point Mako made a signal to Masaki to meet her in the toilet.
Mako said, "It's time for us to make our excuses and go to our room Masaki".
"That's fine with me", said Masaki, "but why right now?"
"Giulia is a lesbian and has been trying to get off with me. Running her hand up my thigh", said Mako.
Masaki looked surprised and then replied, "maybe Isabella is one too because she has been holding me in a way that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable".
The two girls made their excuses about needing to be underway early the next day and then went to their room.
"Maybe these two women are looking for adventures of a different sort than we are", laughed Mako.
"Yeah", replied Masaki, "we don't want to end up as the innocent foreigners trapped in a four-way lesbian sandwich!"
CH6: Panama
The remainder of their stay in Costa Rica sped by enjoyably and soon they flew down to Panama City. Masaki and Mako spent most of their days supervising and helping the tourists as they travelled around seeing the impressive sights of the Panama canal and the nearby national parks.
The tourists had a free day in Panama City towards the end of their stay as a break from guided tours, so Masaki and Mako set off on the bus to travel to Meteti which is about a three-hour journey towards the Colombian border. They intended to buy raw Colombian emeralds from traders in a small village near Meteti. Mako was dubious about the purpose of the trip but was thrilled to be setting off into a remote area away from big cities.
Pedro, a short man in office dress, was an acquaintance of a friend of someone in the tourist bureau office. He told Yoshida, "You can buy the emeralds at a price that is about 30% of the price in Japan. It is an easy way to make money quickly. You will be OK because tour guides don't often get searched by customs and the raw emeralds are easy to hide inside a bar of toilet soap anyway".
It was a great trip on the well-maintained Pan-American Highway with lots of strange birds to be seen and the three hours passed quite quickly before they put down in Meteti before midday. Yoshida soon found Pedro's contact who ushered the two women into his people carrier van. The driver made no conversation until they were asked to wait a few minutes in the van as the driver entered a small wayside garage on the outskirts of a tiny ramshackle village.
After five minutes the driver returned to the van along with another man who seemed to be the main dealer.
"Good morning ladies", said the dealer, "My name is Esteban and I'll show you my stones and tell you the prices so that you can make your decision on whether or not to buy. Just come this way into my workshop and office, please". So saying he stepped back to allow room for the two women to follow him into the workshop.
Yoshida and Mako left the van and went through the large workshop and into the back office where they were invited to sit on a large sofa.
Esteban said, "I'll just get the stones out of the safe and lay them out on my desk here so that you can examine them. It will take me a couple of minutes to lay them out. Would you ladies care for a drink and perhaps something to eat after your long trip?"
"That would be nice", said Mako.
"Two cups of tea?" said Esteban.
"Yes, that will be good".
Esteban laid out some biscuits and cake for them and then brought in two cups of tea. He then busied himself with laying out the stones on the office desk on a large blue cloth.
By the time that he had carefully finished laying out all the stones, both women were slumped down on the sofa out to the world. Going through the women's bags Esteban was a little disappointed in the modest sums of US dollars they were carrying; "It'll have to do for now…", he muttered to himself as he pocketed the cash.
"Wha… wha.?", muttered Mako as she came round from a deep unconsciousness state. "What's happened?!" she scanned around looking for Masaki and saw her bound hand and foot on a sofa opposite the one she was on. It was at this point that she realised that she too was bound hand and foot.
"Masaki! Masaki" she yelled. It was no good, Masaki seemed dead to the world.
However, her cries had been heard by someone in the adjacent workshop and a thick-set, unshaven man entered the room. His greasy vest hung loosely from his pot-belly as he walked over to her.
"Oh, you've woken up at last sweetheart", the man said as he sat himself down next to her on the sofa. He placed his hand on Mako's breast and said, "Mmm.. this feels good", and with that he began to squeeze Mako's breasts roughly.
"Get off me!" screamed Mako. "Help! Help!" she screamed at the top of her voice. However, no one came to her assistance. The villainous thug began tugging violently at her clothing and reaching inside her bra as Mako struggled as fiercely as she could whilst bound hand and foot. The awful smell of the man filled her nostrils with a confused mixture of garlic, engine oil and stale sweat.
At this point Yoshida began to stir to life. After a few seconds she came round fully and began to scream abuse at the thug in Japanese.
The increased volume of screaming and yelling brought the dealer into the room. "Get off her you idiot!" he yelled at the thug. "These girls are for ransom not for your filthy practices! When the ransom's paid they'll need to be in good shape". His anger was plainly visible on his face and the attacker quickly backed out into the workshop area.
"Take these ropes off us please …..", Yoshida asked the dealer.
"Sorry, my lovely", he replied. "You're staying here until your employer pays your ransom. And if they don't pay up within two weeks then you are going to be sold to brothel owners over the border in Colombia. You look to be in good shape for that life". He then left the room.
The sorry situation in which they found themselves dawned awfully on the two helpless, naïve, kidnap victims.
After both women shed a few fearful tears, Yoshida's fighting spirit began to return.
"Mako, try to move over to me on the floor if you can. I will do the same and then maybe we can untie each other's ropes".
Mako and Yoshida both managed to ease themselves onto the floor without any injury and rolled so that they were next to each other. By means of careful repeated attempts behind her back Mako managed to loosen the ropes holding Yoshida's hands. That triggered a mass release of all the ropes as Yoshida sprang into action untying knots.
The two women carefully scouted their surroundings. Peeping into the workshop Yoshida saw that it was empty for siesta time. She also saw that, among a cluster of half-dismantled cars, there was a motorcycle standing there with the keys attached to the handlebars by a string. That was the best solution for them because Yoshida was experienced in driving her own small motorcycle.
"Mako, come here and be quiet. What we are going to do is escape on this motorbike. As soon as I manage to start the engine climb on behind me and hold tightly around my waist. They will hear the engine start so we need to be quick in stealing the bike."
Mako was fearful, but knew that it was their only hope of escaping a fate worse than death. She had absolute faith in her girlfriend; if anyone could escape from this hellhole it was Masaki.
Slowly and carefully, stooping low, Yoshida and Mako crept over the cluttered workshop floor and got alongside the motorbike. Yoshida freed up the key and then examined the bike as carefully as she could. It was a much bigger bike than she had ever ridden before. She mounted it and turned the key to see that the petrol tank was half full. That should be enough to get them back to Panama City easily, assuming all went well with the theft.
"Are you ready?" she asked Mako.
"Yes", came the reply, accompanied by a trusting look.
"Let's do it!" Yoshida said as the engine burst into life with a tremendous noise. Mako jumped up behind her on the pillion seat and threw her arms around Yoshida's waist and hung on for dear life.
As Yoshida gunned the bike out of the workshop yard and onto the local road to Meteti three men came running out of a separate building shouting for them to stop and yelling angry insults in Spanish: 'Puta madre!', 'hijas de puta!', 'Mierda!' were the only ones Mako could understand. The men ran towards their pick-up truck to pursue the girls but it was all too late. There was no way that these stooges could catch Yoshida on such a powerful bike.
Soon the girls had driven through Meteti and were speeding along the main highway back to Panama City. They covered the distance in under two hours and went straight to their employer's office. Once inside they collapsed in the office canteen and got some coffee and food.
"I am so sorry Mako", said Yoshida in a low voice, "I risked your life doing something so foolish. You weren't happy about me buying those stones and I should've listened to you. I'm a total fool. I hope that you can forgive me". Yoshida was so downcast as she said this that Mako couldn't help but forgive her immediately.
"It was my fault too", volunteered Mako, "I should have made more of a fuss about the raw emerald purchase idea". She paused for a moment and then said, "If it wasn't for you we'd have been prisoners and maybe raped and murdered by those swine. So, there is nothing to forgive."
"We can't really report anything to the police since we were intending to do something illegal. They took all the money we had with us for the purchase too. It'll recompense those bastards for the loss of the motorbike. We do need to tell the travel agency, though, that the guy Pedro may be a crook who knew what might happen to us at that workshop. We can't prove that he knew but other suckers might need to be on their guard against him" said Mako.
"Yeah, I agree", said Yoshida, "we'll do that. We'd better stick to the busy main streets here for the remainder of our stay. It could happen that the word is out amongst criminals to get us kidnapped again".
Mako shuddered at that thought. "I'm going to be happy to see Japan again!" she said.
The two women finally retired to their hotel room at the end of a very eventful day. Little did they realise as they opened their bedroom door another life-changing experience would occur before the sun rose again.
After they both had separate showers they went into the bedroom to sleep and recover from their experiences of the day. The hotel had supplied them with a single bed and a double bed; they both, without a word, got into the double bed. Their experience today had made sharing the bed a natural haven for them. Yoshida lay on her back and mentally punished herself for taking Mako into such a dangerous situation for financial gains that were trivial when weighed against a lifetime as captive sexual slaves. Although she lay quietly, her mind was in turmoil and unable to achieve peace.
Mako too lay quietly but began softly crying as she thought of the danger they had escaped. Mako turned her head instinctively towards Yoshida and buried her head into Yoshida's nightdress above her breasts.
"Mako, don't be upset", said Yoshida, "we are safe now". And saying that she put her arm around Mako in a protective gesture and pulled her closer.
Mako buried in closer still and her sobs became louder. This caused Masaki to pull her ever closer. They maintained this position for some five minutes or so before Mako finally said, "I love you Masaki….. I really love you!"
Masaki tightened her grip of Mako and kissed her on her forehead and cheeks and then said, "I love you too Mako, I'm so sorry for what I did to you in taking you into danger".
"Let's forget about it for now Masaki. We can talk about it when we get back home safely". "I really do love you Masaki", she said, and so saying she gently kissed Masaki on the lips.
It was a bit of a shock to Masaki to be kissed on the lips since her life had been one of innocent purity so far. However, she collected herself and returned Mako's kiss.
Mako slowly took the initiative now, although she too had little experience. A multitude of kisses and hugs, coupled with shared bodily heat created its own pathway to increased physical intimacy. Mako ceased to worry about the day's events near Meteti and her full attention focused on her relationship with Masaki. She let her deep love for Masaki inform all her actions.
Since they began living together Mako had often been worried that Masaki would grow tired of her, or possibly that Masaki's interest in Tomoki would lead her away onto a different route in adult life. 'Now is the time for me to claim Masaki as my lover for all time', she thought. 'That's a large task!' she almost said out loud. Indeed, it was a task that had previously seemed almost beyond her ability.
Over the past months Mako had reconciled herself to her love for Masaki, and accepted it in all its forms and implications. However the reverse was not true, Masaki resisted any sexual tinge to their friendship that might pop up in her mind in idle moments. 'Yes! I love Mako, but it's only a platonic love', she insisted to herself. The fight was toughest on those occasions when she saw Mako walking away from her whilst wearing short skirts that emphasized her rounded bottom and slim waist. Her movements at such times were so graceful and erotic to behold!
On those occasions, Masaki blushed red and had to hide her face from Mako. She felt confused and embarrassed at how the vision of Mako's round bottom had such an effect on the blood flow to her face. Nevertheless, at this moment in time, lying in bed with Mako in the warm tropical night and with Mako gently stroking her hair and neck and kissing her cheeks it was impossible for Masaki to clear her mind. She had no choice but to 'go with the flow' and see where the chips fell.
Mako was gently squeezing her breasts now and titillating her nipples. Masaki couldn't hold back any longer and began a series of passionate kisses with Mako. She felt that she was operating at a different mental level than heretofore. Things were not under control and she was being swept off into the unknown…..
Chapter 7:
Yoshida Masaki woke from a deep slumber the following morning to find herself alone in the double bed. She could hear Mako at work in the kitchen area preparing breakfast for them. 'What had happened last night!?' Her mind was attacked by strong memories from the previous evening's love-making. It was deeply embarrassing that she would have to face Mako when she went out to join her for breakfast. 'My God!' thought Masaki. It was unbelievable what had happened, and yet she felt a deep sense of physical and mental relief and relaxation. 'I hadn't realised how fantastic the love-making experience was, nor how much I feel changed by it', she told herself. 'I wonder what Mako has felt too, because she was as inexperienced as me, I'm sure'.
Mako poked her head around the door, smiled, and said "I see that you're finally awake Masaki. Seems like you used too much energy last night!"
"Oh, Oh, – and you too", said Masaki smiling. It was good to see that there would be no lasting awkwardness between them.
Mako stepped around the bed and gave Masaki a tender kiss on the lips. Masaki put her arms around her lover and pulled her onto the bed on top of her. She squeezed Mako lovingly and enjoyed the luxury of sliding one hand down to caress the contours of Mako's bottom. 'Wonderful!' she thought, 'I no longer need to look away blushing to enjoy this treasure of Mako's'.
The two women went into the kitchen area and sat at a small table and ate their breakfast. "Last night's action sure took our minds off that kidnapping stunt", said Mako. "I'd never expected you to be so passionate in bed".
Masaki smiled and said, "It was your fault Mako for being so seductive. You have the softest and warmest eyes in the world. How could I help myself?"
CHAPTER 8: Back Home!
It was with a huge sigh of relief that Masaki and Mako arrived safely back in Japan. One of the first things they did was to let their friends know that they were back and to arrange a celebratory lunch.
Two days later all the gang from Chiba school were sitting together in a restaurant in central Tokyo. Nemo and Akane arrived together and both had left their boyfriends at home. They were still very close friends. Tomoko arrived with her new girlfriend after her breakup with Yuri.
Given Tomoko's problems and upsets with Yuri, Tomoko had been very careful before beginning a new relationship. However, Ucchi had been extraordinarily persistent and had agreed to the terms that Tomoko laid down for their relationship. These terms were designed to prevent the re-occurrence of the Yuri introversion and jealousy problems. It was an awkward thing to ask of a girlfriend but Tomoko had phrased it as positively as possible: 'to keep the relationship as pleasant and as long-lasting as possible then I need to have a break at least once a week where I am out by myself'. It was left unspoken that Tomoko might misbehave with some other of her admirers during these break periods. It was a lot to ask, but Ucchi remained extremely keen to go ahead.
It was an inauspicious beginning to her life with Ucchi but things had gone surprisingly well so far. Ucchi had been an interesting person to get to know and her physical charms were above average; she was also a good cook and active in the bedroom. She had started to grow on Tomoko.
Katou turned up to the meal with a very good-looking and stylish young man as an escort. Yuri did not turn up, and this was understandable given her recent breakup with Tomoko – it would take a few months for them to converse easily again. Ogino had been invited to the meal and everyone was pleased to see her arrive. Most of the girls had had a belated recognition of her efforts on their behalf.
Ogino-sensei, as the oldest person present, proposed a toast to the returnees from Panama. After the drinks Nemo said, "Tell us about the holiday in Latin America. You both look relaxed so it must have been a restful time".
Masaki responded, "Well ….
THE END
Author here: I hope you enjoyed this story. Comments welcome.
And thank you to those who commented on my two previous stories.