Love in Bloom
Disclaimer: I don't own saki or any of the characters that stars on Saki.
Start of Note-
First and foremost, I would like to apologize for my mistake about Toyone. She is in fact a third year, I guess somewhere along the lines, since she was new in Iwate, I hypnotized myself to consider her a third year. Probably because I was longing for more of her and couldn't accept the fact that she's probably gone forever after that arc. However, I can't change things now can I? She'll continue to be a first year in this fic. Sorry again.
–End of note.
PS: and I might not be able to update it this week since i want to concentrate on my other fic :3
One o'clock in the afternoon, Thursday, in a prefecture called Nara six people were practicing hard. The Achiga club was busy practicing and one of them was specially fired up. Shizuno Takakamo who usually scored the least is currently holding her own against her monster teammates: Kuro and Yuu Matsumi and even their fastest player Ako was playing too.
"Ippatsu Tsumo! Ii Pei Kou in the seat wind and plus the riichi stick that's a dealer mangan! That will be four thousand please!" Shizuno said this out loud as she finished the game with a dealer mangan. Her friends were all astounded by her performance and even clapped her victory.
"She really improved after dueling with that Miyanaga Saki didn't she?" Arata observed the games with Harue Akado. Compared to before, Shizuno was now able to generate strong hands in a shorter amount of time. Even with Kuro hogging all the Doras she was still able to get a mangan and that's amazing already as it is.
"In all her games with Miyanaga Saki she never scored one win. Not one hand. However, she gained something important and that's experience. While trying her best to score before she gets clobbered, she found her own technique. It's still unpolished but she will only get better from here on out." Akado replied with shine in her eyes as she watched one of her students grow. Just now while they were talking Shizuno just scored a dealer baiman by Tsumo again.
"Does that mean she's catching up to Miyanaga Saki?" Arata sounded hopeful for a moment. If Shizuno can match Saki then everyone out there is but bread floating in a pond. Since Yuu Matsumi will be leaving them next year it's utmost priority that everyone else get stronger. Since she was appointed to be the team president then it's her duty to see to the growth of her members.
"No! I'm far from her! Very far!" Shizuno interrupted after overhearing the discussion. Arata and Akado were surprised to hear this from the very person they were talking about.
The coach felt proud that her student was able to assess herself well. It's something many players are lacking. There are those who jump in carelessly with overconfidence while there are those who cower in the back with inferiority. However, what Shizuno had was respect for the champion. After dueling with her for many games and for many hours Shizuno could tell their difference and how much more she needed to gain to catch up.
"You're right. Did you know that Miyanaga gets exponentially stronger when she removes her socks? In all of your games she kept her socks on, which meant she must've only been using at most only twenty percent of her true abilities. I spoke with a friend and according to her, when she talked to Amae Koromo, Saki's abilities seemed to increase by a thousand fold." Akado waved her finger in a 'no' gesture. The friend this coach is talking about is a katsudon loving player who visits a certain café regularly. Ako, Kuro and Yuu squealed 'eh?!' when they heard this.
"A-A thousand fold?" Yuu felt shivers down her spine. She could not imagine the bottom of Saki's potential if what was shown to them was only a glimpse of the unthinkable.
"I- I guess it's impossible after all…" Kuro looked lost at the thought that there was a monster holding back all her abilities and still managed to win all her games without losing a hand. It was worse than playing with Miyanaga Teru, at least with Teru they managed to score and they can tell that Teru was at least taking them more seriously.
"No! I swear… the next time we meet I'll make her take it off! I'll force her to take them all off!" Shizuno had her eyes ablaze when she said this… at least until she noticed the condescending look her teammates and coach had at her after this statement.
"That sounded really… kinky…" Ako was the first person to comment before blushing and looking away. She had her hand on her mouth as if she was stopping herself from saying something more.
"E-Eh? I- I didn't mean it like that-…!" It was clear to Shizuno that all her teammates shared the same thoughts as Ako did. She raised her hands while waving them as if to say 'no way' while constantly receiving the judging stares of her friends.
"You know Shizuno…"
Arata walked close and upfront to Takakamo who was still busy denying her teammates' interpretation.
"If it's just making her 'take it all off' didn't you already do that in the first night of the camp?" It was surprising for Arata to tease somebody other than Akado. Everybody else giggled after hearing Shizuno gasped frantically.
"I- I'm telling you it was a misunderstanding! W-We didn't-...! It was-…!" Shizuno's eyes were beginning to swirl. For the first time in her life she felt truly helpless. She remembered how awkward the following nights became because of that terrible misunderstanding. There were times that she wanted to talk to Saki but her other roommate's eyes would observe her like a security camera.
"It's alright Shizuno; Japan has become liberal about these kinds of stuff." Akado patted her student's back while still wearing a huge grin. Shizuno almost coughed after getting hit on her back.
"C-Coach even you?" Shizuno had tears forming around her eyes as the person she expected to calm everybody down betrayed her.
"We're only playing! Loosen up!"
Akado finally decided to end the teasing party before Shizuno could cry. She stepped forward and started writing something on the whiteboard. After writing everything she slammed her hands on the surface of the board as if to make a statement.
"Listen up! Achiga isn't finished yet! There's still the world competition in which four other individuals will be chosen to team up with Miyanaga Saki to represent Japan." Akado flung a folder filled with news and files that pertained to the event which landed on the table.
"Oh!? W-World competition?!" The club roared with curiosity and anticipation. Shizuno was on leaning on her seat with gleaming eyes as she listened to her coach.
"Question!" Arata raised her hand to gain the attention of her coach.
"Um." Akado pointed to the girl to acknowledge her. Everybody paid attention to Arata thinking that what she'll ask is the same thing as what they wanted to ask.
"The champion of the Nationals is Kiyosumi High. Why doesn't the government just choose them to represent Japan?" Arata wondered. This is of course a good question. If the Nationals allowed the best team to hold the trophy then why not allow the winners to represent the country? The other members nodded curiously for they shared the same question.
"It's true that Kiyosumi did rise as the best in that tournament, there's no argument there. However, there are members from other team that are better than some members in Kiyosumi. Let's say Miyanaga Teru for example. Imagine if we put her in Kiyosumi's roster as their vanguard. Now let's say Toki of Senriyama was their Sergeant, Komaki Jindai their Lieutenant and Amae Koromo their Vice Captain." With this comparison the members immediately figured out what the coach was going on about. They all said 'ohhh' almost in unison as they understand what the selection was for.
"So they're trying to create a dream team!" Shizuno closed her hand as she clapped. She could imagine the monsters that her coach enumerated with Saki shining in the middle.
"W-Wait doesn't this mean that we'll have to face all of those monsters again?!" Kuro was quick to figure the situation they were in.
"Yes! Those four I mentioned will join most likely. Nope, I'd say that it's a hundred percent chance that they will join." Akado was sorry that she had to affirm Kuro's fears but they had to know the depth of the competition they will tackle.
"T-Then we won't have that much of a chance…" Kuro felt defeated immediately after hearing that her previous dilemma will be seating in front of her again. She remembered how it felt fighting Senriyama and especially Shiraitodai. Saki may not be participating but those in that pool are surely sharks hungry for fresh meat.
"No! I think we have a chance." Shizuno stepped forward as soon as she saw her teammates become crestfallen. She had her fists raised as she stomped in front to prove her point.
"S-Shizuno…" Kuro felt as if Shizuno was addressing her since she was the one who was first to lose her courage.
"It wasn't Senriyama or Eisui or Ryuumonbochi that faced Kiyosumi, Shiraitodai and Rinkai High in the championships! Last time I checked it was us! Yes Toki-san is strong! Miyanaga Teru-san is powerful! Komaki Jindai is also strong and Amae Koromo is amazing too! But in this tournament didn't we show everyone that we are strong too?!" Shizuno was filled with passion as she said this. A few seconds later all of her teammates began to form a circle with her and together she led them into raising their hands forward as a sign of their teamwork.
"You're right Shizuno. Each of us has proven our strength in the Nationals. But we're stronger now! We're now stronger than ever!" Ako added to Shizuno's glorious encouragements.
"Achigaaaaa Fight!" They shouted with full spirits as they hustled. Akado stayed behind them with a weird smile on her face.
"Team spirit is good and all but please don't forget that this will be an individual competition." She said this to herself and didn't bother telling them. She wanted them to keep this level of confidence until the tournament comes.
"Sensei! When is the tournament?" Shizuno asked her coach excitedly after the pep-talk.
"It's still two months from now. However, Shizuno and Arata, I will need the both of you to come with me to Shiga prefecture later so we can enter our names in the competition." Akado started handing out papers to her members that they needed to fill up to enter the competition.
"Can we come?" Ako asked the coach. She wondered why only Arata and Shizuno were invited.
"Sorry but I only brought a small car today. Not all of you would fit so I'm only taking the club president and Shizuno with me." Akado replied with a hint of regret in her voice.
"Eh? Not that I complain but, why me?" Shizuno wondered why it was important that she comes. Was it because she was the general in the team in the nationals?
"I don't know it myself but you were requested to come, don't you want to?" Akado asked. Apparently it's not mandatory for Shizuno to come with her and she wondered if Shizuno had better things to do.
"I'll come!" Shizuno replied cheerfully. She felt bad that some of her teammates couldn't come but a chance to explore other prefectures doesn't come often especially Shiga prefecture.
A couple of hours ago, eight o'clock A.M. in West Tokyo, a girl who was permitted to take the day off by their principal is struggling in the kitchen. Various ingredients were littered everywhere. There were vegetables squashed on the cutting board, meat crumbs stuck in the kitchen sink's drain and some bits of poorly attempted sushi were on the floor. In the middle of it all was a pink haired third-year carelessly chopping up a new batch of cabbages.
Outside the kitchen, footsteps can be heard approaching the room, it was her mother. She yawned as she rubbed her eyes for she was still sleepy and was only awoken by the noise made by a novice.
"Why so loud? I thought you had a day off today?"
She asked as she attempted to open the door.
"Your filming is still at noon so why don't you-…! Oh my god!" She screamed as she saw the mess her daughter made in the kitchen. At first she thought she was still half asleep but reality quickly told her that her kitchen is indeed in shambles. Teru turned to her trying to look confident but with tears forming around her eyes.
"Sorry was I being too loud?" Teru asked. She didn't look apologetic at all and instead she went back to noisily butchering that poor cabbage.
"A-Ah… I mean… it's nice that you're learning how to cook but maybe you'd like me to help?" Teru's mom nervously watched her daughter waste the cabbage into pieces. She was worried that sooner or later the girl would cut herself.
"I can do this mom, I already have the recipe." Teru rebelliously declined her mother's offer before putting what she just worked on into a tin pot which was resting on a burner. The pot was filled with brown, icky liquid with many floating ingredients on top.
"Just what exactly are you making?" Her mom had ideas what it was but she needed to know exactly.
"Beef Curry." Teru replied. Apparently she's making rice curry, or just known as curry, with beef as the main ingredient. It's one of the most popular foods in Japan. Basically the Japanese have three common types of curry and that's either rice, udon or pan (bread) and Teru decided to do what she deemed to be the easiest.
"For Teru to be this distracted and into cooking she must be thinking about someone. I wonder who it is. Who's the unlu-… err I mean lucky guy who will receive Teru's first dish?"
The mother imagined her daughter going out with someone. She's not very picky with who her children chooses as long as they don't take it too far.
"I- I see, so who are you cooking for?" She asked a bit teasingly. She hoped that Teru would give her an answer but prepared herself to be disappointed. She blew on the hot coffee that she prepared while watching Teru and started to slowly take a sip.
"S-Saki…"
"Pfft!" The mother spilled the coffee she was drinking and almost dropped her cup. Her eyes widened as she realized that one of her beloved daughters is in danger today.
"Y-Yesterday she forgot her bento that she made so…"
Teru remembered what happened the day before, which was Wednesday, when Saki got herself hungry because she didn't bring her bento. Unfortunately Teru had nothing to share with her little sister that time because she preemptively ate hers before break-time. She hopes this time something similar would happen and this time she'll be ready.
"I-It's not like I want to be close to her or anything. I- I just want our filming to go well." Teru almost cut herself due to being distracted while cutting onions.
"She's so cute!"
The mother had a smirk on her face as she watched her daughter panic. She approached the pink-haired girl and embraced her from behind to comfort her.
"You know, why don't you just talk to her?" She suggested. She knew how much Teru wanted to make up with her little sister but she also knew that Teru was having problems pushing herself to do it.
"It's not that easy mom… I said things… things that a sister shouldn't say." Teru remembered how she declared that she didn't have any sisters in an interview. She also remembered how Saki had no problems calling her 'Miyanaga Teru' instead of oneechan in the set. Frankly she was scared how Saki would react if she was to approach her.
"Teru, when in your time as sisters did you think of Saki as the grudge keeping type?" The mother had a lecturing voice as she said this.
"But…" Teru turned to talk directly to her mother.
"Sure there was the time when you totally ignored her when she came here all on her own, risking getting kidnapped or getting into an accident just to see you." The mother said this with a casual smile almost as if this was nothing big.
"Ugh!" Her mother's words acted like sharp lightning bolts that pierced her heart and burnt holes in Teru's body.
"And it's totally obvious that she only joined the tournaments just to be close to you who still kept ignoring her."
"Gah!"
"And of course you crushed her feelings when you shunned her away in public when you told everyone in the media that you had no such thing as a little sister and completely isolated her."
"… Please just kill me." At this point, Teru was already crestfallen while sitting in a fetal position in one corner of the kitchen while using the knife to draw sad pictures on the wall.
"E-Eh?! I didn't mean anything bad!"
The mother realized the damage she did just now and rushed beside her suffering daughter.
"What I mean is that after everything it's still obvious that Saki is doing her best to reach out to you. All you have to do is extend your arms too." Said the mother as she placed her caring hands on her daughter's shoulder.
Teru looked back at her mom and nodded. Her advice might hold some meaning but she still didn't know if she had it in her to make the first move. Between facing all the other mahjong players in the world simultaneously and confronting Saki she would choose the first which is less heartrending.
"I- I need to go!" Teru gasped as she looked at the time.
"Wait I thought your filming is in the afternoon?" Their mom remembered her daughter giving her the filming schedule two days ago and if Teru went now she's hours early the appointed time.
"We'll be doing the filming in Shiga prefecture today. So I need to go earlier!" Teru replied. She took a portion of what she made and placed it inside a plastic box before putting it in her shoulder bag waving goodbye.
"She's energetic today isn't she?"
The mother approached the pot filled with what Teru cooked and took a spoonful of the curry. Upon putting it in her mouth she turned pale and she swore that her soul would come out with just a little more prodding.
"Y-You useless husband you better have taught Saki how to eat weird kinds of food because this one might kill her!" Once again she feared for the life of her youngest daughter as she imagined a stampede of wildebeests rampaging above her to emulate her suffering from tasting that curry.
Nine o'clock A.M. in Nagano another girl was busy dressing up in front of the mirror. She was wearing white uniform that does not represent her school. In fact it was the uniform her sister gave her for the film; it's the uniform of Shiraitodai High located in West Tokyo which ironically was their ultimate rival last competition. For consistency, the film decided on using this uniform instead of making their own. This was to gather fans of both Shiraitodai and Kiyosumi although in a round about way, it's a wonder on how Kiyosumi's fans would feel after seeing their representative wearing their rival's uniform. However, after talking with the principal, they were all too eager to allow Saki to wear it.
Saki spun in front of the mirror to grade herself. Many called her cute while she was wearing it but she herself didn't feel that she was. Rather, she never saw herself as 'cute' or 'pretty' for her standard of beauty was something quite close to Haramura Nodoka: long hair, fair skin, huge breasts.
"So this is what I would've been wearing if I went with oneechan…" Saki imagined the days that could've been if she chose to go with her mom and sister instead of staying with her dad. She wants to say that she doesn't regret her decision but the truth is she's lonely without them. Especially since the dad she decided to stay with is currently away for work for an indefinite amount of time. They only get to talk to each other every time he calls on the land phone. He sends her money which he transfers to her bank account which was substantial enough to pay for everything she needs.
Even after grading herself as 'unsure' if she's truly cute or not, she did enjoy wearing the same thing as her sister used to. She turned again in front of the mirror while imagining herself with her sister. In her imagination her sister was rubbing her hair as she played around her before they ended in a sisterly embrace. While in that embrace they would tell each other stories and talk about how each other's day went out. Oh how she loved listening to her sister. Teru's stories were music to her ears and her teachings were law to her understanding. However what she loved the most is how her sister would plant a kiss on her forehead while encouraging her to grow.
"Oneechan…"
She got a magazine which was sitting on a mahjong table and hugged it close to her heart. This was the last issue of that magazine that had Miyanaga Teru's face on the front cover for she was replaced with Saki's and Nodoka's face on the next issues. She imagined how it would be after they reconcile and when they become a family again and she would've continued to imagine it for a little while longer if not for a knock on the door interrupted her.
"A-Ah! Coming!" Saki hurried to answer and open the door. She was expecting somebody today.
"Miyanaga-san!" It was Toyone. Fortunately enough they were in the same class and with the help of the student council president they managed to convince the principal to allow Toyone Anetai to escort Saki to Shiga prefecture.
"Anetai-san!" Saki gladly allowed her teammate inside. Toyone was shy at first but she was also pretty happy to get to see Saki's home.
"So this is where Miyanaga-san lives." Toyone was amazed on how big it was for someone who was living alone. This was the home that housed her whole family back then so it was pretty big, quite big for someone who's now alone in the house.
"P-please make yourself at home! I'll prepare some juice!" Saki wasn't used to having visitors but what she was used to were cooking and other chores. Unlike Teru, she grew up with her dad who knows totally nothing about cooking so she was forced to learn the art by herself. Everyday she would prepare breakfast for the both of them and also the bento for the both of them.
It didn't take Saki three minutes when she came back with a tray holding a glass and a pitcher of juice and five rectangular sandwiches. Toyone was excited to taste the sandwich Saki prepared in such a short time.
"Miyanaga-san these are amazing! How did you manage to prepare something this tasty in a short time?!" Toyone was amazed. Although making a sandwich is something not too impressive, the balance of the ingredients inside the sandwich Saki made were in perfect harmony and it was as if it was something bought in a restaurant.
"I got used to it." Saki smiled and giggled a bit while scratching the back of her head. Sometimes his father would bring officemates and Saki would rush to prepare them snacks or meals if necessary. Before, she panicked easily and could only prepare precooked stuff but as time went on she learned more and more techniques when it came to cooking.
"Miyanaga-san, you live alone right? Since when?" Toyone wondered if Saki had always been alone.
"I had been living here with my dad until two months ago. After we won in the prefectural division in the tournament he suddenly needed to go away for work. I was thankful that I didn't have to relocate with him." Saki replied. She was adamant in staying in Kiyosumi because her father needed to work abroad. Going outside of the country meant destroying her chance of making up with Teru and she simply cannot allow something like that to happen.
"By the way Miyanaga-san, you look really stellar in that uniform!" Toyone noticed the Shiraitodai attire Miyanaga was wearing. Compared to Kiyosumi's uniform, Shiraitodai's really stands out. It had this level of elite feeling oozing about like honey in a beehive.
"T-Thank you very much." Saki blushed. This was not the first time she was praised wearing this uniform.
"Are you ready Miyanaga-san?" Toyone asked as she checked her own watch for the time. They agreed leaving at nine thirty A.M. and that's there's only five minutes left.
"A-Ah!"
Saki was surprised to see the time. She was too busy with preparing herself and attending to Anetai that she forgot why they met in her house in the first place.
"W-Wait I'm not just ready yet!" Saki rushed inside her room and went out with a jacket.
"A jacket?" Toyone wondered why Saki needed a jacket. She wasn't sick and she didn't have the same constitution as that girl from Achiga had.
"I-It's awkward if some people who know me outside will see me wearing Shiraitodai's uniform so…" Saki looked embarrassed while saying this.
Toyone could see the sincere shyness overflowing from Saki's fragile stature.
"I understand!"
The tall girl went behind her classmate and teammate and placed the jacket on the shorter girl herself. Then, she removed her hat and covered the girl's head as well. That way she won't have anything to worry about. Just as she placed her arms around the girl's figure she remembered something: it was the memory of her old teammates. She remembered a girl who calls herself Shiromi Kosegawa. She's an important teammate and also an important person in her life but there was something about Shiromi that she envied: Kurumi Kakura. Everyday she would see Kurumi sitting on Shiromi's lap like loving sisters or probably if you look carefully maybe even more than that and it was something Toyone wanted to experience. Right now as she embraced Saki inside the jacket she felt and wondered if she and her general can have that relationship as well.
"A-Anetai-san let's get going?" Saki asked after completely putting on the jacket.
"A-Ah! O-of course! Sorry I was just completely dazzled with Miyanaga-san's cuteness!" Toyone hugged Saki even more from behind and started rubbing her cheeks with her.
"A-Anetai-san the uniform will get wrinkled!" Saki did not seem to mind her cheeks getting violated like that but rather the uniform that was given to her by her sister. Because of all the ruckus and skin-ship it took them thirty minutes more before they left the house. Furthermore, there sitting in Saki's kitchen was a plastic filled the food she cooked for herself now forgotten.
Twelve O'clock P.M. in the Shiga prefecture, two people who had been sneaking around together since they gave birth to their 'Sisterly Bonds' operation are eating in a restaurant directly beside the Shiga Park Hotel, which was where the people related to the film are supposed to meet by. Takei Hisa had a banana parfait in front of her while Sumire had chocolate sundae.
"One thirty?" Hisa asked Sumire to check her sources. It would be annoying if they were there that early and it turns out it will start five in the afternoon.
"That's what the director said." Sumire replied.
"Riichi!" Hisa said this cheerfully while waving her hand as if she was throwing a riichi stick on the small dining table.
"Now what's this ridiculousness you're talking about?" Sumire raised an eyebrow curiously. She looked at the Kiyosumi president weirdly as that girl continued to grin confidently at her.
"What I'm saying is that something good will happen today! I can feel it." Hisa replied without dropping her smile. She went back into eating her parfait with a happy expression on her face.
"Like one of those bad waits you keep using?" Sumire smiled back and even giggled for a bit.
"Exactly!" Hisa snapped her finger with emphasis.
"Ridiculous." Sumire looked away while eating her sundae. She could not bet on something that she's not sure about. However she does believe that if something was to happen, it might as well happen here, where it's far and away from their comfort zones. While eating, she accidentally allowed a drip of the sundae to flow out of her mouth and trickledown slowly below her lips.
"Hey it's bad to waste food!"
Hisa took a finger and used it to wipe the cream and put it in her mouth.
"Delicious!" Hisa said this with utter cheerfulness,
"Y-You-…!"
Sumire was flustered red after this seemingly shameless act. Even though that cream didn't enter her mouth, it literally touched her lips. If that's the case then it's entirely correct to say that their lips have already indirectly collided and that's something Sumire was bothered about.
"W-Was that an indirect kiss just now? N-No I can't be sidetracked!" Sumire waved her head from side to side rapidly in embarrassment and frustration she was just about to scold that girl when-….
"U-Ueno-san!?" A surprised voice interrupted their conversation. It was a blond girl who had heterochromatic eyes. It was the captain of another popular school which was very well known in Nagano: Kazekoshi High. She walked inside the restaurant with several Kazekoshi members in tow.
"M-Mihoko." Hisa was surprised to see her old rival. She wondered what Mihoko's business there was. After all she only expected people who had to do something with the film to come. Right now, Mihoko and her members had no direct business being there.
"D-Did you two just… did Ueno-san just…" Mihoko was blushing furiously as she tried to get out what she wanted to say. She had one hand raised and a finger pointed at Sumire.
"Eh? What's wrong? That cream didn't enter her mouth." Hisa had an 'it's not my fault' look on her face as she wore a sad frown to flash at Mihoko.
"T-That's not the issue!"
Mihoko replied with a high pitched voice. Then she took an ice cream cone that she just ordered and allowed a portion of it to trickle down her cheek.
"O-Oh no how clumsy of me!" Mihoko acted innocent as she flashed a 'cute' and clumsy look at Hisa.
"Captain there's ice cream on your cheeks, don't worry I'll get it for you." Miharu Yoshitone took out her handkerchief and wiped the ice cream from her captain's cheeks. Immediately after that, an enormous killing intent enveloped the place directed at Yoshitone. It was the last thing she felt before she fell unconscious face first on the table they were sitting on. It was a powerful blow by an enraged monster with an innocent face that caused this but it happened to fast that no one even noticed.
"C-Captain! Yoshitone suddenly collapsed on the table!" Kana flailed as she worried for her comrade who had a terrified look on her face as she slept on the table.
"It must be because of fatigue, she did wake up early." Mihoko had both of her eyes closed as she said this. She still had one hand in a fist but kept it hidden under the table.
"Ah look who's here!" Another voice came in to join. It was no other than the general of the team of a school named Tsuruga. Like Kazekoshi she had her entire team with her. A girl who had very little presence was clinging around her left arm like a koala to a tree.
"Ah! Yumi! You're here too!" Hisa stood up to wave back at the Tsuruga general. That general approached them and both the third years gave each other a high five. This high five was a special high five though since after colliding hands they didn't retract their hands and even closed their fingers on each other. They held hands for a few seconds with a smile as if it was a secret code between close friends… or even closer than that.
"Y-Yumi-sempai what did that mean just now?!' Momo asked jealously immediately after the two ended their high five. She had an intensely worried look on her face.
"Hmm? It's a high five. Don't you do it with your friends Momo?" Yumi replied while her gaze was still fixated on Hisa who sat back on her seat.
"B-But-… w-why is this girl so close to sempai?!"
"W-Why is Tsuruga's general so familiar with Ueno-san?!"
Both Mihoko and Momo puffed up their cheeks and held their breath with frustrated looks while the other members around them kept their distance worried that they might end up like Yoshitone who was still sleeping on the table.
"So… Miyanaga Saki isn't the only person who has a monopoly on young girls. W-Wait why am I acting like I need to be concerned about this!" Sumire Hirose watched how the oblivious Hisa dealt with the girls who seem to have interests in her. She worried that with all this commotion they might forget their true objective, however looking at the other side of the street, no one familiar has arrived so there might still be some time for this.
Twelve O'clock P.M. a coach and two of her club members have finally arrived in Shiga prefecture by car. It appears that the coach had an appointment and she was to meet her inside a Seafood Restaurant. The price was seven thousand yen per head then you can eat all you want. It's not bad but it's not like Akado has to worry about money, first and foremost the new funding the club has is already enough and more, second she's not the one paying but her acquaintance. However, before they could enjoy that pleasure of dining she has to stop a certain girl first from going wild about exploring the city.
"Can we go here?! Let's visit this later!" Shizuno kept bugging her coach to visit a certain park that's famous during the winter which she still wanted to see even though it's still not yet winter.
"Later, first we need to meet with the official first." Akado replied. She couldn't believe how full her hand is with just one overactive girl.
"Akado-san this friend of yours who is she?" Arata couldn't help but wonder who the person they were gonna meet was. She walked close to Akado as she waited for a reply.
"She was the coach of Miyamori High in the tournament. Luckily for us she was asked to be an official in the next tournament. Now we can ask her to help us with the registration and we don't even have to worry about lines." Akado puffed up her chest as she proudly explained to her girls her connections. It's times like this that makes her feel like an actual coach.
With the promise to look around later, Shizuno finally calmed down as they headed to their destination. Inside the restaurant an attendant approached them and Akado gave the man a room number. It was the room number that her acquaintance emailed and sure enough the attendant immediately recognized it and even escorted them to their room. The room was located on the second floor where no one else was there. The color of the corridors was beige and the floor was covered with expensive looking carpets. It truly was a formal type of restaurant.
"Please come inside ma'am." The attendant opened the door for them and immediately the person who was waiting for them greeted them as she sat on a Japanese style table, it's the kind where you sit on the floor.
"Sorry for making you wait sensei." Akado bowed as she entered the room.
"Not at all, in fact I just got here recently too." The old lady replied.
Shizuno and Arata who were hidden behind Harue Akado moved in to see who it was. Shizuno was surprised to see a familiar face and was overjoyed.
"Y-You're Toshi-sensei?! T-Thank you very much!" She kneeled and bowed in front of the old woman who was already preparing an order for the attendant to take.
"My goodness, what ever for?" Toshi wondered why this girl in front of her was being so polite. She doesn't remember doing anything worth of such a feat.
"Thank you for not taking Akado-san away from us! Because of that we managed to get to fight on the top!" She thanked the old lady with all her heart.
"A-Ah!? M-me too! Please accept my deepest thanks!" Arata who had no idea who exactly the old lady was finally realized her importance. She bowed beside Shizuno and sincerely offered her gratitude.
"G-Girls…" Harue Akado did not know what was going on but she felt special that the girls were thinking so much about her.
"Oh my… girls you don't have to thank me. If you want to thank someone that's your coach. She loved you girls so much that she decided to stay with you until you've given up or until you graduate." The old lady persuaded the girls to stand up.
"P-Please don't say that, it's embarrassing." Akado blushed since she didn't want the girls to know what she has given away for them.
"No! Akado-san! Please don't give away your dream of playing mahjong just for us!" Arata who has been Akado's biggest fan since she was a child did not like how it sounded like Akado will never play in the professional league again.
"Arata…"
"I- I want to see Akado-san play again! Please don't stop playing mahjong just because you need to coach us!" Arata said this in an almost begging manner. It's rare for the strong willed Arata to be like this but she was really against the thought of her idol never playing again.
"I'm with her Akado-san! We need you Akado-san but if you must leave please don't abandon your dream for us! Achiga has become strong! We will wait for you if we have too and we won't fall back!" Shizuno backed Arata. She too didn't want Harue to back out of the pro leagues now that the team competition is finished.
Harue Akado sighed after hearing the two girls. Then almost as if nothing happened she sat beside them and smiled before patting them both on the back.
"Did I ever say I will quit mahjong? Of course not! This is my dream and passion. I simply allowed this year's pro league competitions to pass. Next year it will be held directly after the Nationals and when that comes the world will see a new kind of Harue Akado! A stronger Harue Akado!" The coach cheered her members up.
"R-Really?" The two girls were still teary eyed before they finally accepted Akado's explanation.
"What powerful bonds you have. I'm envious."
Toshi complimented them for that act of selflessness. She was amazed that such strong bonds could be created between a coach and her members.
"I need to attend a job I took in a few minutes so let's finish this shall we? Write all the names of your members who will participate in this form then leave everything to me." Toshi handed Harue the form which the latter gratefully accepted. It didn't take them five minutes to fill everything up and return the form to the old lady.
"A job?"
"Yes, I'm currently acting in a film as a mother to two protagonists." Toshi had a happy and wishful smile as she said this.
"E-Eh?!" Everybody in front of her gasped.
"Amazing! So Akado-san's sensei isn't only a pro but also an actor?!" Shizuno had nothing but praises for the old lady.
"Don't flatter me so much, it's only small role. The ones with really big roles this time are them." Toshi giggled as the images of two people appeared in her mind.
"Them?" Arata was curious about who 'they' were because the tone the old lady was using was as if these people are familiar.
"The two best mahjong players in high school of course."
"Y-You don't mean Miyanaga Saki-san and Miyanaga Teru?!" Shizuno bolted up as the thought of Saki acting in a film crossed her mind.
"Yes." The old lady nodded.
"Hoeh? Sensei is it really true that those two are unrelated?" Harue Akado who had access to many rumors wanted to confirm something to her mentor.
"I know what you mean and when you think about it, it's really not surprising for people to think that they're siblings."
Four orders of Gunkan-maki sushi arrived filled with urchin and salmon-roe. There were also tea cups served with them and some special sauce that went perfectly together with the sushi. Usually Shizuno Takakamo is a girl who gets excited after seeing these things but currently she's too intent on listening to whatever the old lady had to say about the Miyanagas.
"However, not too long ago during the time of the tournament, Miyanaga Teru publicly claimed that she had no sisters."
"So they're not really related?" Shizuno interrupted. She couldn't help but dig dipper into this topic.
"If you will take Teru's word for it then yes they're not related but… I've been the official in many tournaments the former champion joined and what I found is that Miyanaga Teru is currently living only with her mom. What's interesting is that Miyanaga Saki until two months ago had only been living with her dad." Toshi had a serious look on her face as she explained this to the girls in front of her whose interests have been aroused.
"Then that means-…!"
"I don't want to think about it. If our suspicions are true then it's too cruel. I wouldn't get in between them if it's not necessary." Toshi wanted to end the topic because it isn't really like her to talk about other people unless it has something to do with mahjong.
Shizuno looked down and was silent for a moment. She remembered Saki's happy face back then in their training camp and couldn't believe that someone like that was hiding something sad. Then, she imagined the cold face of Miyanaga Teru back in the team competition. She felt unreasonably angry at that girl who shunned her own sister away, especially someone as gentle as that girl who rewarded her a dozen of matches that she begged for.
"Toshi-sensei! D-Do you think you can let us come to watch the filming?!" Shizuno asked the old lady with an excited yet adamant look on her face.
"A-Ah Shizuno we can't trouble sensei anymore." Harue felt embarrassed about her student's actions.
"No, in fact I insist! The director doesn't mind either as long as you don't suddenly jump in the set and ruin everything of course." The old lady was happy to agree with Shizuno and promised to take her in the set.
"Please coach!" Shizuno looked at Akado with cute and tearful eyes that she couldn't bare to say no to.
"Fine…" Harue gave up and nodded.
"Hurray!" In an instant, Takakamo was back to her cheerful and energetic self. They took their time eating the dishes they ordered and after a few minutes they finally left with Toshi.
One o'clock pm, two girls just arrived in the train station. They looked like they were in a hurry and for good reason: they only had thirty minutes left and they still didn't know exactly where the meeting place is.
"What did the director say Miyanaga-san?" Toyone asked. She was the one who had the map of the place but since she wasn't there when the exact place was relayed she needed more information to navigate.
"H-He said it's called Shiga Hotel Park." Saki replied after checking a paper where she wrote notes from yesterday's meeting.
"That doesn't really help much but I guess if we ask people someone can direct us there." Toyone proceeded to look for police officers, security guards or other people who looked credible enough to show them the directions for the place however most of them were too busy to pay them attention.
"Look isn't that-…! E-Excuse me!" A voice called out to Saki and Toyone while they were asking random bystanders for directions.
Saki and Toyone looked at the direction where the voice was coming from. There, Saki saw one familiar face and a couple of unfamiliar ones. The only person Saki recognized was a girl whose name was Toki Onjouji. She wasn't personally acquainted with that third year girl but she was one of the three people she had to face in her final match in the individuals.
"C-Can I have your autograph please!" It was Izumi Nijou who called to Saki. This girl was the girl who proclaimed herself to be the best first year. What was achievement for Saki was humble pie to her since this girl definitely debunked her idea of being the best. However instead of envying the champion she began to form admiration towards her for she symbolizes the potential of all first years and proved that not only third years can dominate in tournaments.
"S-Sure…" Saki has never really felt comfortable with giving autographs. In fact it was just recently that she forced herself to make her own 'autograph' so she could give something to persistent people who would come to her ever so often. She returned the piece of canvas that Izumi handed to her with her autograph already written with an ink brush.
"Miyanaga-san, our match was certainly most memorable to me." Toki started a conversation with the girl wearing a jacket and a hat who just finished giving her autograph.
"It was for me too. Onjouji-san's ability to read three turns into the future is really amazing!" Saki replied cheerfully while remembering that match.
"Thank you, but… wait how did you know I can read three turns into the future?" Toki realized something was off. It was widely known that she had the ability to read a turn ahead but her three turns ability was something relatively new. Only she and her teammates should know about it.
"Uhn… it's hard to explain but…" Saki couldn't find the words but what she remembered is that almost immediately when they sat down to start the match she saw hundreds of mirrors displayed behind and around her opponents. After that, she could understand her opponents' abilities as if she played with them for hundreds of times and that it was already usual for her to formulate counters against their powers. This ability was something she shared with another girl who can also summon virtual mirrors that looks into the soul of her opponents.
"Ah! We're going to be late. I'm sorry but perhaps you know the directions to a place called Shiga Hotel Park?" Toyone who looked more concern about the time than Saki took her chances with that group and asked.
"Oh this? It's not too far away from where we were." It was a girl who calls herself Ryuuka Shimizudani who gave Toyone the directions. She was very specific with the details and Toyone was thankful for her help.
With the help of Ryuuka's directions Toyone managed to reach the meeting place in the nick of time. She saw some people holding tripods and other stuff used for filming get down from a van. It is already obvious that they were the people Saki was working with and Toyone was happy to see them.
"Miyanaga-san we're finally-…!"
Toyone turned to tell her friend that they've finally made it. But to her surprise the girl she was supposed to escort there was nowhere to be found.
"Miyanaga-san? Miyanaga-san!" She looked behind the corner she just came from in search of her general but nobody was there.
Meanwhile in a completely different place not too far from where Toyone was a girl was almost in tears as she tried to find her way.
"W-Where am I? Did I take a wrong turn? W-Which way should I go now?" Miyanaga Saki was in the verge of crying as she went deeper into an alley going farther from where she's supposed to go.
One Fifteen P.M. another girl just arrived by train in Shiga. This girl had a huge shoulder bag where she kept the bento she just cooked and some extra dresses. She left the train station with confident strides until she finally realizes something.
"Wait… do I have a map?"
Teru's face darkened when she realized this important thing. She looked for a bench to sit on and dug the deepest parts of her shoulder bag to search for a map or some notes that she may have took yesterday. To her horror she found out the hard fact that the only things she packed are extra dresses that she might be able to force Saki into and the bentos. She could not believe the huge blunder she committed. She definitely did not have the option of going back to get it and her only comfort was that she had her mobile phone with her. Unfortunately she did not have the number of anyone in the film or the crew so it won't do her any good.
"This is bad… I have seven important scenes today and they won't be able to continue without me. Which is worse is… is… Saki won't be able to taste my cooking!"
Teru had a face similar to how heroes in an RPG game when they're about to face the final boss with nothing but their starting skills and default items. What's weird is that she seems more concerned about the food than the scenes themselves.
"What I remember is that director said that it's quite a famous hotel so maybe if I ask someone people…"
Thirty minutes later
"Just how many hotels are there in this prefecture?" Teru groaned as she sat on a bench in front of an empty lot, defeated. She tried thinking about other options to get there but an unbearable noise kept her from concentrating.
"Hey little girl, why don't you ditch the hat and jacket and play with us for a bit?" Two boys who seemed to be in high school, since they had their uniforms on, had a girl cornered. This girl was hiding her face with the shade of a big black hat and was wearing jacket that covered the white uniform she had underneath.
"I- I'm sorry but I have to be somewhere p-please let me go." The little girl squeaked. She was too afraid to shout and sounded as if she was in the verge of crying.
"That voice…" Teru opened her eyes as she formed an image in her mind on whose that voice belonged to. As she turned to her left she saw the girl cowering while hugging a bag close to her chest.
"To be out in this time of the day you're probably a delinquent too so why not just join us?" One of the boys persistently asked. This one was scarier than the other for he had a nose ring and greatly intimidated the poor girl.
"It's not like that I-…" The girl hesitated to say who she was and that she has a filming to attend to because her father greatly told her not in the phone last night. It's a reasonable thought because if they find out who she was things might get more out of hand than it already is.
"Don't be such a killjoy and come." A boy grabbed her by the wrist which caused her to gasp and squeal. However before the boy could pull her another hand grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her away from them.
"I'm sorry but this is my kouhai kindly please stop bullying her." Teru said this with her 'media' face. The two backed off seeing that this girl might be a year higher than them.
"You bi-…!"
"Stop it dude look at that uniform. She's from that Shiraitodai School." One of the boys recognized the popular uniform of Shiraitodai. However, surprisingly he didn't recognize who the girl in front of him was.
"We're in a field trip forgive me if this girl caused any troubles." Teru pulled the jacket off the girl to show them her uniform. It was as she expected it was the uniform that she had given and it was Saki.
"Come on man let's get out of here. Those bunch are trouble." The two finally decided to back off. The two girls didn't move an inch until the boys were completely out of sight.
Before Teru could say anything, she felt two arms hug around her waist tight from behind her. She felt something gently touch her back. She didn't need to know what it was for this always happened every time her little sister gets so scared. That girl's head would always push down on either her chest or back crying while looking for comfort.
"I- I'm sorry onee- I- I mean Miyanaga-san…" Saki immediately ended her embrace as soon as she realized what it was that she was doing. She was thankful that no one else was there or she would've broken her promise to herself never to let their secret out.
"Saki…" Teru turned to look at her little sister. At first she thought that Saki had abandoned her as well but just a few seconds ago she was sure that the girl was just about to call her 'oneechan'.
"I'm sorry I was just…"
Saki could not bother to look at her sister. Then, a single drop of water fell in between them. Not long after that both of them found themselves standing in the middle of a rain.
"Eh? It's raining…" Even with the rain Saki removed the hat Toyone lent her. Then, to Teru's surprise, Saki placed that hat on top of Teru's head.
"What are you…" Teru was speechless about what her sister is showing her right now. This girl was the one who was attacked and yet she's the one showing more maturity in this situation.
"Miyanaga Teru-san will be having her exams soon right? Getting sick is not acceptable right?"
Saki was smiling as she attempted to remove her jacket and transfer it to Teru. The older sister could not bear it anymore and grabbed her sister's hand and dragged her across the empty lot where something that looked like a small empty warehouse stands
"M-Miyanaga-san?" Saki was about to ask if something was wrong because she noticed something was off and lost about Teru. She was quickly silenced by her sister's embrace which enveloped her entire body.
"What is wrong with you?! What has that man taught you? Don't you even know what to call your own sister?" Teru cried as she gave in to her own feelings.
"O-Oneechan?" Saki's mouth was wide open as she heard something that she thought she would only hear in her dreams. She slowly allowed her arms to envelop her sister's waist as she felt Teru pull her closer.
"Say it again Saki. Let me hear it again." Teru who longed for her sister's affection felt ecstatic after hearing that little voice acknowledge her. To her it's a thousand times better than hearing her teammate exclaim 'tsumo' or ron. It felt more refreshing than water itself after being stuck in the middle of an empty, hot, and scorching desert.
"Oneechan! I'm sorry oneechan! Please forgive me, I want us to be a family again!" Saki too felt joyous. After all these years and all these months fighting off strong opponents she finally managed to say what she has always wanted to say to her sister. Officially she didn't know exactly what it is she had to be sorry for but she did believe that she did something extremely offensive to Teru which caused her to ignore her like that.
"I'm sorry too Saki. I was too conceited… can you ever forgive me?" Teru ended the embrace to look Saki directly in the eyes as she said this.
"I'm not angry at oneechan and I never was." Saki replied as she looked up to her sister. She was sincere about this for the only thing she felt when she was shunned was fear that her sister has totally abandoned her already.
"Oh Saki…" In a sudden burst of emotion, Teru forced Saki to return to her embrace before giving her a kiss on the forehead.
"T-This is…"
Saki remembered that kiss, that kiss that she has been searching for this entire three years. It was that kiss that allowed her to sleep at night when she was little. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she realized that this isn't a dream and she has finally reconciled with her most beloved sister.
"Father, I told you that it's possible. We can be a family again." Saki remembered her own words she used on her father. She was proud for being right and she wished that her dad could see them now.
It wasn't until after a minute did they end their hug because of a small croaking sound.
"S-Sorry oneechan." Saki blushed as she looked away while covering her stomach. Unfortunately she forgot the bento she cooked at home because of her rush.
"You're hungry?" Teru wondered as she looked at the blushing face of her sister.
"I- I can still hold out." Saki didn't want her sister to worry about her especially right now when they're stranded inside an old warehouse which was filled with kitchen utensils.
Teru rushed to search her bag for something that she made this morning. She was extremely happy to give the bento she made to Saki and hoped to hear a positive assessment from her little sister.
"Eh? T-Thank you very much oneechan but how about you?" Saki was hesitant to accept the box but Teru pushed it closer to her.
"Don't worry about me I already ate." Teru lied. She's just as hungry as Saki but her little sister's affection is enough to fill her.
"Okay!" Saki has a wide smile on her face which replaced her years as she accepted the box.
Two o'clock P.M. in front of the hotel everybody who had a part in the film was supposed to meet in the director and his crew were already worried about their stars. The two were usually either really early or just on time. They have never been late before and yet to be this much late today is something troubling.
"Sir, we just called Miyanaga Saki's home and no one's answering." One of the crewmen reported to his boss while waving the hand-phone he used to contact the girl's house.
"That girl lives alone, that means the house is already empty and she's somewhere on the way here."
The director deduced.
"How about Miyanaga Teru?" He turned once again to the crew who he placed in charge for contacting the girls.
"Her mom said that she already left for here hours ago." One man replied with a confused look all over his face. Both Miyanagas left diligently and yet both of them are currently missing.
"Do you think they met up?" The director wondered. He thought maybe the two contacted each other and managed to meet up somewhere.
"Sir, Miyanaga Saki has no mobile phone so I don't think they could've done that." The crewman replied. Once again they were out of leads.
Meanwhile a group of girls and an old lady were waiting near the director and his crew. It was non-other than Akado, Arata and Shizuno who followed Toshi hear hoping to see Saki in the filming.
"Is there a problem?" Akado asked her mentor. She noticed the long delay and the worried look on their faces.
"It seems that the two Miyanagas are missing." The old lady replied with her hand on her cheek. She too was worried for the two girls.
"Saki-san is missing?!" Shizuno felt something jolt inside her after hearing the news about Saki. She was unsure but she felt panicked and lost.
"Could it be possible that they both decided to ditch the filming?" Arata said this.
"No! Miyanaga-san isn't like that!"
Shizuno replied and vouched for Saki. She remembered how dedicated that girl can be as shown on how she kept playing Shizuno even while she was sick with fever.
"Something must have happened!"
"Calm down Shizu… we're not sure what happened yet. Let's wait for more details." Akado tried to calm Takakamo by rubbing her back.
"Toshi-sensei!" A tall girl was running towards them with tears around her eye.
"Eh? Toyone you're here!" Toshi immediately recognized her prodigy. She was surprised to see the girl since she didn't know that she was supposed to escort Saki here today.
"Eh? It's tall-san." It was Arata who said this. It's quite a rude nickname for some but it can't be helped since she hasn't known Toyone long enough to memorize her name. Besides, it's the girl's most defining factor.
"A-Anetai-san is Miyanaga-san with you?!" Shizuno was quick to ask the newcomer.
"That's the problem! I was supposed to escort her here but I lost her on the way! I tried looking for her but I can't find her anywhere!" Toyone was bawling out loud as she reported this to the people in front of her.
"What? I knew it! We have a big problem on our hands!"
A voice interrupted their conversation. It was a girl in a coat and a cap. That girl removed her coat like a cape and revealed her face. It was Hisa who was waiting there along with the crew for Saki and Teru.
"You're new so you don't know this but Saki has a special skill of getting lost." Hisa said this with much regret on her face. She asked herself why she didn't force that girl to buy a mobile phone.
"They're sisters after all then since Teru has that same special skill." This time it was another girl who was also in a coat until she threw it away like one of those people in the movies who tossed their disguises as they revealed themselves.
"… Are you gonna pick that up?" Hisa pointed at the coat which was lying on the ground waiting for people to step on it.
"A-Ah yeah, sorry I got caught up in the moment and… well I guess you understand." Sumire was blushing as she picked up the coat she just threw away.
"This city is huge however are we going to find them?!" Toyone was still in tears even after familiar faces appeared to help her.
"Maybe we can help." Yet another voice joined them. They turned to see who it was and found a woman with glasses with a camera man behind her.
"You are that reporter who follows Nodoka right?" Hisa recognized the face of the reporter but she wasn't familiar with her name at all.
"I'm Junko Nishida and I was supposed to do 'behind the scenes' of this movie. I know the ins and outs of this city since I've done much coverage here. If you can show me where you lost her then I'm sure with my help we can find her!" The reported looked confident with her tracking skills and so was the camera man behind her. This is no lie since she had to track down many people for her job, no matter how annoying those people thought about her.
Meanwhile, about the same time their friends got together, two people were still stuck in a shed with rain coming down outside.
"Did mom…" Saki wondered who cooked that bento. She imagined that it was their mother who cooked it since her mom was a really great cook.
"No, I cooked that."
Teru replied after she deciphered what Saki wanted to say.
"Oneechan never cooked nor helped in cooking before when we were together. I bet she learned a lot from mom since these three years. I can't wait to taste it."
Saki took the spoon offered to her by Teru and dug into the curry. She took it and raised it to her nose to enjoy its scent.
"Mmm… umaiii!"
Saki praised the delectable scent oozing from the curry. She pulled it closer to her nose for one more sniff.
"Umaiii!"
She said again before opening her mouth and finally putting the piece in.
"… Oh my!"
She screamed this in full English. Teru looked a little startled after hearing her little sister gasp. Saki noticed how Teru was eyeing her as if she was asking 'so how was it?' She had to say something so she forced herself to swallow what was already in her mouth.
"T-this is amazing!"
Saki cheered. However sweat was rolling down her cheeks as her hands trembled while holding the Tupperware.
"T-this taste! It looks fresh and edible from the outside but what is this crispy and burnt taste that I get after I sink my teeth? Also, the taste of saltiness is overpowered by something sour and I can even taste sweet almonds. Oh oneechan how long exactly have you been cooking?" Saki began turning pale as she imagined the ingredients that her sister mixed into making this.
"Well?" Teru asked as if she was waiting for something. She had an unmoving gaze directed at Saki who still had some crumbs of that omelet stuck in her throat.
"H-Hmm?" Saki wondered as she choked. She wanted to ask Teru for some water but that would mean that there's something wrong. She did not want to disappoint her sister as much as possible.
"I've already eaten so you can have all of that." Saki just heard what she feared Teru would say. Teru who was secretly very happy that Saki praised her food could not wait to watch her little sister finish her dish.
"B-But…" Saki was teary eyed as Teru narrowed her stare on Saki's face. She didn't want to, but she just reconciled with her sister, and she didn't want to get her mad or disappointed immediately after that.
"Didn't you say that you were hungry?" Teru asked with a look that says 'eat it or I'll feel terrible'. She even crawled next to Saki just to closely see her sister's reaction.
Saki's face was drenched with sweat at this moment. Never in her life did she think that she would die this way. The thought of putting another bite in her mouth deters her will to move any further but the thought of having her sister disheartened is such a strong push that her hands moved by themselves. She had two choices, either to take big chunks of the meal and swallow them as fast as possible, that way she'll only suffer for a few minutes, or take bit sized portions to minimize the damage to her pallet per chew which could take longer but probably more endurable.
"I- I am, I was just savoring the smell." At this point Saki wasn't lying. The smell was perfect compared to its horrible taste. Hesitantly she took the first option took her spoon and filled it to the brim before putting it into her mouth. Almost in an instant she felt her mouth protest and a sensation similar to paralysis.
Unbelievably, even though her tongue and pallet were already paralyzed she still managed to taste every single bite she was forced to take. Every time she chewed on whatever it was in that plastic box she imagined a different type of natural disaster: an out of control stampede of rhinos, a volcanic eruption, an earthquake followed by a relentless tsunami and a globally catastrophic meteor shower. After she finally finished everything she found herself looking up the ceiling while forcing herself not to vomit everything out. How could someone she adored so much cook so horrible?
Saki, herself, was very well versed in cooking. Since she chose to stay with her dad, who knew shit about cooking, she had to cook the dishes for the both of them everyday. Teru on the other hand had her mom to do it for her and since she's in the city lunch was a matter of giving money to a fast food restaurant employee. However, no matter how versed she was, she could not tell the ingredients Teru used to kill this dish.
"T- Thank you very much." Saki tried avoiding Teru's gaze as she returned the bento. There were still some left but she hoped that she already ate enough of the dish to satisfy Teru. She certainly wasn't hungry anymore… not after that. It was like her stomach got traumatized into submission that it won't accept anymore food for god knows how long.
Teru looked at her dish and felt glad that Saki ate almost all of it. She wondered how good it tasted. She imagined that it must've been delicious for Saki to finish them and that feverish look on her face was just blush because of how good it was.
Meanwhile, a door different from what they used to get into the abandoned storage house swung open surprising the two sisters. A girl appeared from the other side with a small shotgun in her hand. She had it aimed at the sisters who were shocked to see this girl who was wearing a maid costume.
AN: and that's that, keep the reviews coming!