Ami and Makoto: 5 Years and a Day

Day 730 - Hanakotoba : wherein Makoto reflects on her dreams versus her reality and Ami finds a way to bridge the gap.


Makoto was used to going home to an empty house. She grew up living alone for most of her life and she was very good at it. There was a routine she'd had since she was a teenager. Get in the front door, take off her shoes, check on the plants, dinner, dishes, practice a few kata, maybe a quick workout, shower, and bed.

She lived with Ami now; things should have been different, but they really weren't. Ami's work rotation was largely unpredictable, and Makoto still came home to an empty house more often than not. Occasionally, Makoto wouldn't see her for days when things were particularly hectic. Besides, even if Ami was physically in the condo, the threat of her on-call phone going off never really let her relax and be fully present anyways.

Ami had referred to herself as Schrödinger's Girlfriend once when Makoto commented on her insane work schedule. That was both an attempt at self-deprecating humour and a sincere apology. Makoto didn't get the reference, but she understood the intent well enough. It was difficult to ever get mad at Ami, much less stay mad at her. It wasn't really her fault anyways. She was a doctor – her patients were a priority. Still, it was an undeniable drag on their relationship that Ami was so busy.

The good news was that Makoto herself actually kept very similar hours. She was able to devote herself to her bakery without feeling any guilt about it. 4 am starts to bake the day's bread were rough, but at least she had the freedom to head home any time after the lunch rush. She had a good, solid crew of employees and her night manager in particular was a real gem. They could be trusted to run the day-to-day business of the bakery in her absence. In fact, they were practically a second family to her anyways. Maybe that was why Makoto often found that she stayed at work the whole day too. It was better than going home to nobody.

Strange how that had never used to bother her before.

No, that wasn't true. It had always bothered her. She'd just learned to fight through it on her own. She was just being a little extra bitter about it because it was her and Ami's anniversary today.

It should have been a special day, but really, it wasn't. She hadn't seen Ami since the beginning of the week. Makoto wasn't even sure when Ami would be home next. When she was younger, Makoto used to have this sweet silly dream about what her future anniversaries would be like. Her then-faceless husband would come home from whatever high-paying job he had. He would bring her a beautiful bouquet of flowers and then they would sit down to enjoy the amazing meal that Makoto prepared.

It was a nice dream. The very picture of domestic bliss. Sort of funny how life works out.

Melancholy started to set in. Let the fight begin.

Makoto distracted herself with the day-to-day business of her bakery. Wiping the counter, rearranging the displays, brewing tea for all her employees, so on and so forth. Simple, normal, everyday business.

The mindless hum of routine gave her yet another chance to daydream. She had Ami now - a significant upgrade from her teenage self's faceless husband. Ami was sweet and loving and exciting and sexy and just so much better than anyone she'd ever imagined.

Too bad she was never around.

Maybe, just for today, Ami would somehow decide that being with Makoto was more important than work. Maybe she would just somehow be able to drop whatever doctor thing she was doing, and run out the door. Ami would then burst in through the bakery's front door because she couldn't stand to be away from her girlfriend anymore. She'd come and sweep Makoto off her feet with a kiss and loudly proclaim her love. All her employees and customers would be cheering at this point.

And since she was just dreaming anyways, Makoto added in a massive bouquet of flowers. She wasn't sure where Ami would get those from, but why the heck not? This was just a dream anyways.

Makoto sighed. Daydreams were a nice escape from reality, but at the end of the day, Ami wasn't here. She was busy following her dreams and saving lives. Makoto shouldn't be so selfish and force Ami to choose, even in her dreams. They were adults now. They would make it work, somehow. Her relationship with Ami meant more to her than some silly daydream. She could stand to go home to a cold and empty apartment now and again for her love's sake.

The bell at the bakery's entrance chimed and Makoto jumped. For a split second, she was hoping that it really was Ami and that wishes came true.

A bicycle courier walked in instead holding a large manila envelope.

"Good evening, I have a delivery here for a Kino Makoto-san?"

"That's me."

The courier passed a clipboard over the counter.

"Sign here, please."

Makoto did so and accepted the envelope. It was from Juuban Medical University Hospital. Strange... why would Ami's workplace be sending her mail? As if it weren't enough that they were working Ami to the point of ridiculousness, they had to invade her personal space now...

Makoto ripped the envelope open a little harder than she'd intended.

Oh...

There was no message inside, just a simple drawing of a flower arrangement. It looked like a quick sketch, but the lines were still neat and precise. It was clearly Ami's handiwork. She looked closer at the flowers. A spray of blue forget-me-nots twined with little fuzzy white flowers. It took a moment for Makoto to identify them as edelweiss.

True Love wrapped around Courage. Makoto understood the message. Ami always knew what to say to make her feel better. Makoto smiled, thinking back on her idle daydream. A bouquet of flowers, just what she was wishing for. Interesting... she hadn't known that Ami could actually draw. It was nice to be able to learn something new about her love even after all this time.

Strange how it had never come up before? No, wait, never mind. Ami's father. It made sense that artistic talent would be a bit of a private subject for Ami. Makoto's heart gave a small flutter as the sketch took on another layer of meaning. Makoto felt privileged to be the one that Ami opened up to like this. She felt like she should do something to acknowledge the gift she'd just received.

Oh! Of course! Makoto would have smacked herself on the forehead if she weren't busy vaulting out from behind the counter.

"Wait!" Makoto ran outside after the bike courier. She was in luck; he was still outside taking a breather.

"Sorry to interrupt your break, but would you be able to take a return package for me, please?"

The courier agreed for a reasonable fee. Makoto hurried back inside and packed a small dinner. A pair of sandwiches, a slice of cake, and a takeaway cup of Ami's favourite ice coffee. She handed it off with instructions to deliver it to the blue-haired doctor only.

There. Dinner and flowers. Makoto chuckled to herself as the courier sped off. It might take hard work and compromise, but there was no denying that her dreams had come true today. Makoto had seen to it personally.


After work that night...

Makoto held the sketch in her hands, basking in the warmth of its message once again. It was lovely. Maybe it might look nice hanging in the hallway? She'll have to ask Ami about it whenever she gets home.

She turned the drawing over, thinking to measure it for a frame. Oops. She hadn't noticed this before. There was a little surprise on the back. Ami had signed her name there, right above an adorable little doodle of a chibi cactus. It stood tall on two comically large feet and winked at her cheekily.

There was also a well-detailed flower blooming on its head. Makoto thought a moment. Ami didn't tend to do things randomly.

A cactus flower. That tugged at Makoto's memory. Cactus flowers had their own meaning too. Now what was it?

She was halfway to the bookshelf to grab 'Hanakotoba! Guide to the Language of Flowers' when she the answer came to her.

Cactus Flower – sexual desire. Lust.

Makoto did a double take on the cactus doodle. In fact, all together... the whole thing looked really rather...

ECCHI!

Makoto burst out laughing. She laughed so hard that tears formed.

Oii... that's an entirely different another type of daydream right there. Ami was definitely going to get it whenever she gets home.

It was entirely within her power to make some of Ami's dreams come true, too.


A.N.

Chapter cover art: One questionable cactus doodle, signed "亜美".

So concludes Year 2 of Mako and Ami's relationship. Stay tuned in two weeks for the start of Year 3.

Day 733 - Part of a Complete Breakfast: wherein Makoto's talents are greatly appreciated.

Thank you for reading! Reviews and PM always welcome.