"Here she is," Nene said, waving, as Priss slowed into the driveway, stopped, and dropped one boot onto the ground.
Linna looked back towards her house, her mum had gone inside. I have a little bit of time before I have to introduce her...
"...what took you so long?" Nene was continuing.
Priss, stiff, swung off her bike and stretched her back. "Uaah."
Smiling, Linna came over. "Not too long a ride, I hope?"
Priss looked back at her flatly. "Just arrived?"
"Yes. Mum is preparing the room. We could all do with a good nights sleep."
"Yeah. I'm beat. This is the country, I want to relax. Forget all about the AD Police and boomers and," Nene yawned.
Priss lifted her duffle bag off the back of her bike. Linna reached out to take it for her.
"It's okay."
"You're my guest. I'll take it."
Both their hands held onto the straps. They stared at each other.
"You two..." Nene yawned again. "I'm hungry."
Linna let go, trying to ignore Priss' victorious smirk as she turned and led the way to the house. "I'll make tea and I'm sure there is enough to eat to satisfy even you, Nene."
The trio entered and removed their shoes. Priss placed hers outside and the outer pair of riding socks. The floor was wood, recently washed with a lemon scent. Walls white divided by dark wood beams, shoji screens dividing rooms. Linna took them to the kitchen, the more modern part of the structure along with the western bathroom.
Linna turned on the electric tea kettle and laid sweet buns on a plate to share.
"How was the ride, Priss?"
"Long."
"Not as long as when we rode to the concert?" Linna smiled. That had been a best night.
"That had better roads. As soon as I got off the highway... I hate truck drivers."
"Well, you're here. We all arrived. And that makes me happy." and she was. Very much so.
She poured tea.
"Ah, Linna-chan," her father entered the kitchen, "This is your other friend?"
"Yes, this is Priss."
Priss held out her hand and with a slight pause father Yamazaki took and shook it.
"You rode all the way from Tokyo? You must be tired."
"A little."
"You look tired too, dad," Linna said, "You should go to bed."
"Ah, yes yes. Good night everyone."
One parent was replaced by another. Linna watched her mother carefully, looking for any reaction to Priss, the riding leathered messy haired singer.
Her mother didn't disappoint Linna's fears. She paused in step when she laid eyes on Priss. Politeness and decorum recovered quickly. It was enough for Linna, though. Nene was a Police Officer. That was respectable. Priss looked... it was Priss, dishevelled by the journey – who couldn't look any better to Linna, undoubtedly the opposite to her mother.
Perfunctory greetings were exchanged. Priss more out of being more tired than she was showing, than she was being as equally distant.
"Linna tells me that Nene is a Police Officer. What is it that you do, Priss?"
"I'm a singer."
"Oh, enka? Opera?"
"No. Punk rock, ma'am."
Priss said it just as Priss could and Linna cringed.
"Is everything ready, mum?" she interjected.
"Yes, dear. It is late."
"It is. Good night."
"Good night."
Linna showed them the bathroom and then to the bedroom where three futons were laid out on the floor. Her drawers were still there; the workbench was gone to make space. Nene left to the bathroom.
"I'm sorry for that Priss." Linna grabbed Priss' hand, why, she felt that she had to – needed to, for herself, irrationally.
Priss shrugged. "I'll manage."
She looked down at her hand. Linna blushed and let go.
"She'll warm up. So will dad. They weren't keen on me going to Tokyo. They're not city people."
"I said I'll manage."
Linna hoped that she would be able to manage herself.
Priss removed her jacket and folding it up, placed it on the window sill. She then lay down on one of the futons.
"It's quiet here."
No sirens, no city hum. No screaming, wailing, shouting, shooting. No wild tide of the crowd there for her.
"Too quiet." Linna started the process of unwinding and unwrapping the may layers of her furisode. Far too quiet for a girl of dreams.
She could feel Priss's eyes on her.
"You're not going to brush your teeth or anything?"
"Too tired." Priss rolled onto her side away from Linna.
Linna slid open a compartment and placed the obi on it.
"Priss?"
She turned around.
"Priss?"
Gone already.
Linna sighed.
Tomorrow – today - she was going to be older. It was her Age Day.
Nene returned, took one look at Priss' slumber and giggled.
"She would never have lasted one of my sleep overs!"
