A/N: I did drop off the face of the earth, but I might be coming back from my hiatus? No promises though!
Also, I apologize for being away for so long and I apologize for this filler-tastic chapter for those of you still reading. I have lost a bit of motivation for this story, but I would like to see it to the end. Hopefully, I get to tie this up and finish any other pending things I have written and so carelessly abandoned.
Red String of Fate – IX
"Kumiko, I'm back!"
Mamiko sighed as she kicked her heels off at the door, locking up behind her. She precariously balanced the hot boxes of takeout along with the tray of cold drinks. It wasn't often that her little sister actually asked her to buy something in particular, so when Kumiko sent her a text asking for some taro milk tea, Mamiko knew the hassle would be worth it.
"Kumiko?" Mamiko set the items on the counter, surprised to see the living room empty. Her heart skipped a beat before it started pounding madly in her ears. She took out her phone and was about call Kumiko when the younger Oumae's bedroom door creaked open.
The older woman jumped at the sudden movement.
"Oh, you're back already, Onee-chan?"
Mamiko let out an even larger sigh, clutching a hand to her chest. "Geez. You scared me." She took a few brisk steps towards her sister, pausing for a second before she ruffled Kumiko's hair affectionately. She smiled awkwardly, feeling stupid for thinking the worst.
"Sorry. I…I-" Kumiko grinned lopsidedly as she stifled a yawn. "I'm just so tired these days." She brushed past her sister, her nose wrinkling at the smell of her favorite braised beef bowl from the Yoshinoya down the street. She swallowed and licked her lips, finally noticing how hungry she was as her appetite revved into a gnawing growl.
Mamiko chuckled as she picked up the faint grumble of Kumiko's stomach. "I hope you're hungry. The super beef bowl was on sale, so I got that for us. The shop owner threw in some extra appetizers too."
Kumiko's eyes lit up as she tore open the plastic bag, taking out the large Styrofoam boxes. "Ahh…they're still hot too! I'm starved!" She broke open her chopsticks, unveiling the heap of sweet marinated sliced beef atop a mountain of steaming white rice. Excitedly, Kumiko dug in, not waiting for her sister to take a seat.
"Wow…you really weren't kidding, were you?" Mamiko chuckled nervously as she took a seat at the breakfast bar across from Kumiko, who was scarfing down mouthfuls of rice.
The younger girl paused after a few minutes, swallowing hard as she took a swig of the cold drink beside her. She let out a satisfied sound as she chased the food down with a creamy mouthful of milk and taro. "That really hits the spot. Have I ever told you that you're the best?" Kumiko grinned as she sipped on her drink, a bit more leisurely this time.
"Who are you…and what have you done with my sister?" Mamiko teased, but the concern crinkled her eyes in a way Kumiko was more than familiar with.
Kumiko scowled, lowering her chopsticks. "I know that look."
Mamiko picked at her food, trying to delay the conversation she was dreading. "Look, I'm just…worried about you, Kumiko."
Kumiko continued to pout, but took out her frustration on her rice as she chewed it sullenly. "And I told you that I'm fine, didn't I?"
"You did…but I just can't help but think that you're not acting like yourself. You don't have to play it up to make me feel better, you know?" Mamiko looked up, cautiously making eye contact with her sister. "We can talk about it if you want?"
Kumiko stayed silent, working away at her dinner.
"Did Kousaka come by today?"
More silence greeted the older Oumae and she was reminded of the old days where they shared more of these awkward exchanges when she had to play the reluctant role of mom and dad.
"I can tell…that there was something between you two…and it's just…given her reputation, she-"
Kumiko's eyes shot up, throwing her sister a glare. "Reina's not like that. She did drop by. She only stayed for an hour, but wanted to make sure that my dressings were getting changed and to make sure I had something to eat. She bought me really nice seasonal fruits and a lunchbox from this café I've been dying to go to and-" Kumiko suddenly stopped herself, feeling a lump form in her throat.
"Sorry, Kumiko…I-"
"No! It's okay." Kumiko wiped at the tears with the back of her hand. "Agh, I'm so stupid…I'm just…I'm frustrated that I can't do anything to help Reina. It's been weeks since she ran into some trouble with the company and I can't do a single thing to help. I feel so useless and it's…"
Kumiko let out a deep sigh.
"It just reminds me that we're from two different worlds, really."
Mamiko studied the pained expression on Kumiko's face. She had never seen her sister so invested in anyone before, not even before the accident.
"Maybe she just doesn't want to worry you. From what you've been saying about her and…even from how I've seen her treat you…" Mamiko hesitated before she continued with her sentence. She was reluctant to say this, with her knowledge of Kousaka Reina's past and propensity for promiscuity holding her back.
"I think she does care."
This time, Kumiko raised an eyebrow, knowing how her sister wasn't Kousaka Reina's biggest fan.
"Well, what I'm saying is that I think she cares about you and it doesn't matter if you're on complete ends of the social or financial hierarchy or whatever it is." Mamiko sighed yet again. "If you're…if the both of you have feelings or-I-I'm not saying it's love, okay?"
Kumiko cracked a smile at her sister's awkward attempt at making her feel better. She knew where she got it from now. It definitely ran in the family. "It's okay, Onee-chan."
"I'm just saying that I just want you to be happy. I only have one kid sister, after all." Mamiko sighed, shoveling food into her mouth to avoid saying anything more embarrassing.
Kumiko nodded. "Thanks. I'm really glad you're here, Onee-chan."
Days passed, and before Kumiko knew it, Friday night rolled by-another day closer to the end of her sick leave. Kumiko lay awake under her covers, just staring at her phone. She was undecided-torn-about sending Reina a message. It was three days ago that the trumpeter had dropped by with a surprise lunch, three days since she had heard from Reina at all.
Kumiko completely understood, but it didn't mean that she wasn't upset about it. She was due back at the hotel after the weekend. Haruka was nice enough to give her a few extra days of paid leave, especially after Kumiko showed her some pictures of the open sores that were still raw and weeping a few days ago.
If anything, Kumiko hoped that returning to work would give her more time to see Reina. It was wishful thinking, but deep down, the waitress knew that Reina had a lot to deal with at the moment. If anything, Kumiko wanted to help, to do something…anything to help the heiress.
-'I want to see you, Kumiko.'
Kumiko sat straight up in bed, swearing under her breath. She stared at the message window-her heart rate skyrocketing as she saw the 'typing' bubble pop up. Kumiko was already formulating an excuse to explain away why she was up at 3am and why she just happened to be looking at their LINE chat window.
-'I really hope I didn't wake you.'
-'Please get some rest.'
Kumiko took a deep breath, deciding that now was the time if anything.
'I miss you, Reina.'
Typing…
'I could be there in 20 minutes if you're not too tired.'
Kumiko stared at the screen and she couldn't suppress the gigantic smile that spread across her lips. She'd been awake for hours, unable to sleep for…various reasons. Tonight was just one of those nights.
'I'll be ready in 10.'
After typing out that hurried reply, Kumiko sprung out of bed, throwing off her pajamas as she rummaged through her closet. Deciding on her usual casual outfit, Kumiko tiptoed out of her room to use the bathroom. She prayed that her sister was deep asleep. She wasn't ready for Mamiko to chew her out for sneaking off in the middle of the night.
In no time, with her adrenaline pumping and the excitement mounting, Kumiko raced down to the lobby. She was strangely nervous, not knowing how to act around Reina.
Kumiko looked up as the bright headlights of a car pulled up to the front of the building. Stepping out, Kumiko suppressed a little smile at the sight of Reina's flashy red Ferrari. She climbed into the passenger seat, just opening her mouth to say hi.
"Reina, I-mhmpf-!"
Kumiko was pushed back into the seat, Reina's lips pressed desperately against hers. If it were any other day, Kumiko would have reciprocated full fold and let herself melt into Reina's fervent kisses, but there was something terribly wrong. Instead of the usual perfume Reina wore, Kumiko's senses were dampened by the stinging smell and taste of whiskey. It burned as if she just downed a shot herself and she fought her way out of Reina's desperate hands. She shoved the woman back, hard.
"Reina, what the hell?" Kumiko wiped the taste of alcohol off on the back of her hand. "Have you been drinking?"
Reina sank into her chair, averting her eyes. "Just…a little."
Kumiko held her tongue, trying to compose herself as she heard the slur in Reina's voice. Her lower lip trembled as she finally got a good look at the trumpeter. Haggard and disheveled, this side of Reina wasn't one she had ever seen. Dark circles bore into Reina's sunken face and Kumiko knew that these past few days must have been hard.
"You shouldn't be driving." Kumiko's voice was quiet, trying to supress the anger and frustration she felt. She was disappointed that she had encountered one of the sides of Reina she had read about in the tabloids. Driving under the influence was one the heiress' many rumored sins, but she was never found guilty in a court of law.
Sighing, Reina rubbed her eyes. "I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm doing here. I-I…I'm a mess right now."
Kumiko's gaze softened and she reached over to squeeze Reina's hand reassuringly. "Just come in. I think you could use some coffee. Or some sleep."
Reina looked over, the remorse clear on her face. "I guess…sleep sounds like a good idea."
Without another word, Reina parked her expensive sports car by the side of the road, following Kumiko into the apartment. There were no words exchanged between them on the elevator ride up and they were quiet until they reached Kumiko's room.
Reina swayed, staggering over to Kumiko's double bed. Wordlessly, Kumiko helped Reina strip off her skinny jeans and she lifted her sweater over her head. The moonlight streamed in, illuminating Reina's perfect figure. Kumiko was no stranger to seeing Reina naked, but still she blushed, averting her eyes.
"C'mon. Let's get you a bit more comfortable here." Kumiko helped Reina into bed and under the covers.
Kumiko pulled off her own clothes and sidled next to Reina. She wrinkled her nose at the strong burn of hard liquor in the air between them, but she curled next to the lithe woman nonetheless, drawing her close.
Reina let out a sigh as she relaxed into Kumiko's arms, already feeling sleep calling to her.
"I'm so sorry, Kumiko…"
Kumiko tightened her hold around Reina, pressing a soft kiss to the nape of the woman's neck. "Don't be sorry. I'm here for you, Reina. No matter what."
Reina felt her heart ache at those words and she furrowed her brows. "Really? Even if everyone else sees me as the villain? If they think that I'm some sort of criminal…?"
"It doesn't matter to me what other people think, Reina. I'm on your side and nothing can change that. I trust you." Kumiko's voice was soft and soothing as her lips brushed up against Reina's ear. "I'll do whatever I can to help you."
"Really?" Reina posed the question innocently, but with all seriousness.
Kumiko blinked, surprised at the sudden shift in tone. She stuttered, hesitating as she thought about it in earnest. She didn't want to make any empty promises.
"I-uh…probably…" Blushing, Kumiko muffled her response against Reina's back. She could feel the rumble of the trumpeter's laugh in return, making her blush deepen even more.
"You definitely have a terrible personality…" Reina turned in Kumiko's embrace, smirking. She was sobering up as the minutes passed, but the stench of alcohol was still on her breath.
Reina leaned in for a kiss, but Kumiko playfully shoved Reina away, chuckling. "Don't think for a second that that line will get you anywhere!"
Kumiko drew Reina in close again, pressing a kiss atop her head affectionately. "But in all seriousness, I'm on your side, Reina. I'd never betray you. If I do, you can kill me."
Reina chuckled at that, shaking her head. "I'd believe the sky was purple if you were the one saying it. I love that about you, you know? You're just so…earnest." Reina let out another sigh, lapsing into sleep again. More than the alcohol, Kumiko's reassuring words and warm embrace took off the edge in a way that Reina never thought was possible.
Before long, Reina drifted off into a deep slumber, but Kumiko was still wide awake. Her mind was swimming with complicated feelings, but there was no doubt in her mind what she wanted to do. Despite Reina's shortcomings, Kumiko still wanted to do everything possible to help the trumpeter. It was unconscionable, absurd, and foolish almost. They weren't blood relative bound by the duty of family or lovers who shared decades of blissful marriage. No. Only a few months ago, they were mere strangers brought together by a chance encounter and off-handed comment. If anything, Kumiko knew she was being naïve, but she had fallen deep into the rabbit hole with Kousaka Reina dragging her deeper through the burrows. It was a sort of blind faith. Kumiko believed in Reina, believed that if anyone could make a difference, it was her.
Holding Reina even tighter, Kumiko felt the tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She whispered softly into the night, expecting her words to fall on deaf ears.
"I'm not very good with expressing my feelings, but take this as my confession of love, Reina."
"Kumiko, are you still sleeping? I thought you wanted to go to that book signing today? I'm not gonna go and stand in line for you if you're just going to stay here and sleep past noon." Mamiko opened the door to her sister's room.
The older Oumae stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips. She wrinkled her brow at clothes strewn on the floor and then the lump under the covers. She threw the curtains open and strolling over to the bed, she flung off the covers, expecting to see Kumiko curled up with one of her teddy bears…
"Ahh!" Mamiko yelled out in surprise as she stumbled backwards.
Reina stirred, letting out a disgruntled groan, her eyes still heavy with sleep. Kumiko was slower to wake, still curled up against Reina, trying to preserve the warmth that the discarded covers provided her. Reina sat up, clad only in her matching bra and undies, still trying to register what was happening. She had a crippling headache, the sunlight blinding her. She opened her eyes just a crack, peeking out at the shocked older sister.
"K-K-Kousaka-san…"
Reina, although groggy, had half a mind to try and cover up. She pulled the blanket up to her chest as she offered an annoyed, yet polite smile to Kumiko's sister. "Good morning."
Kumiko was a little less calm, a mix of embarrassment, fear, anxiety, and even shame flickering through her beet red face as her eyes darted from her sister to Reina and then back to her sister again. She settled on her initial emotion-embarrassment. "O-Onee-chan! Why don't you ever knock!" Kumiko was wide awake now, her face red from ear to ear.
Mamiko scrambled out of the room, not bothering to apologize.
Mamiko sat stiffly in her seat, drumming her fingers restlessly against the countertop as she watched Kousaka Reina sip her coffee leisurely. The two women sat in silence as they waited for Kumiko to finish her shower.
Reina seemed to be coping well with the silence, satisfied with her coffee and morning news. She scrolled through the news feed on her phone, checking her stocks and looking for any updates on her current crisis.
On the other hand, Mamiko was restless and sitting on the edge of her seat. She was still perturbed by the surprise this morning, not expecting to find her baby sister in bed with the country's richest businesswoman. Letting out a groan, Mamiko couldn't get rid of the mental image, quite sure that there was no mistaking what she suspected was going on between the two women.
"Kousaka-san."
Reina looked up from her phone, a diplomatic smile on her face. "Yes, Mamiko-san?"
Mamiko cleared her throat, not about to let someone her sister's age intimidate her. "Forgive me for being upfront with you, but are you just toying with my sister? She's not just one of your booty calls or casual relationships. Kumiko's more fragile than that."
Reina held Mamiko's gaze without faltering, her confidence holding steadfast. "I know you're worried that I'm going to hurt her, but you need to give your sister some credit. She's an amazing young woman who knows how to take care of herself."
"You're being a little evasive there, Kousaka-san."
Reina scoffed. "That wasn't my intention, but if you must know, Kumiko is important to me." She fixed Mamiko with a cold stare. "More than you could ever know."
Mamiko held her tongue, still skeptical, but it was difficult to rebut Reina's conviction. She sighed, shaking her head.
"Are you two ready?"
Both Mamiko and Reina looked up to see Kumiko emerging from the bathroom, her curls unfurled, the ends still obviously damp. A layer of fresh gauze gingerly covered her jawline, Kumiko becoming an expert at minimizing the impact of stringent white against her tan skin. She strode out dressed in a casual jumper and a pair of black jeans. Reina rose from the table, a grin on her lips. She went over to Kumiko, combing her fingers through the brunette's messy locks.
"Your hair's still wet, Kumiko. Why don't we dry it a bit more before we go out?" Reina's tone was soft and gentle, affection dripping off every word as her lips widened in a grin.
Mamiko averted her eyes, her mind flashing back to this morning. She flushed a bright red, unable to comprehend the way this beautiful woman looked at her sister.
Kumiko also blushed, feeling a bit self conscious in front of her older sister. "O-okay. You're right. I'll make it quick though. After all, I'm the one who wanted to get that book and drag you both out for brunch…"
"Don't worry. There's no rush. We have all day today, don't we, Mamiko-san?" Reina looked over to the elder Oumae and Mamiko nodded in agreement.
Mamiko desperately wanted to make her sister happy, but it was going to be difficult, especially if she had to deal with Kousaka Reina.
Hours later, after an impromptu brunch at a new crepe shop, the three women were headed to Kumiko's big event of the day. They had already missed the morning session, but the autographs were going on all day.
It was a strange feeling, but as Mamiko walked through the shopping district with her sister and her sister's…lover, it felt almost normal. Kumiko was always mindful of her proximity to Reina, ghosting a touch of their fingers and the occasional intertwining of their arms as they walked, but they were less flirty than Mamiko had expected. Above all, Kousaka Reina was being more of a gentleman than anything, staggering her pace and alternating with Mamiko as they both took turns walking beside Kumiko wherever the flow of conversation took them. It was a seamless transition and at times, when Kumiko lingered or bounded ahead to peek into the stores, Mamiko would fall into step with the heiress, find herself chatting idly with Reina, as if they were old friends.
It was frightening, really. The magic that was the Kousaka charm was truly amazing.
"Finally, the main event!" Kumiko stopped in front of the large bookstore, a sign erected at the entrance with the different authors slotted for each of the autograph sessions. Leaning in closer to read the smaller font, Kumiko furrowed her brows until she found the information she wanted. "Ah! Great. Just in time. We're a bit early, so hopefully there aren't too many people in line right now. It's on the fifth floor!"
Beaming, the younger brunette turned to her two escorts for the day, feeling content with the way things worked out. There was no other place she wanted to be right now. She was with the two most important people in her life, indulging in one of her secret hobbies.
Walking up to the sign, Reina quickly skimmed the banner and she let the realization sink in. "Chihara…K.?" She shot a questioning look at Kumiko and received a sheepish grin in return. "The romance novelist?"
"Uh huh." Kumiko nodded in anticipation, waiting for Reina's full reaction.
Reina blinked. "I've seen her name on the short list for best novelist a few years in a row…and I'm pretty sure we own her publishing company." Reina was lost in thought, clearly racking her brain for the name of said publisher.
Kumiko saw the train of thought derail, so she pulled the lever to abruptly switch tracks. "You're not surprised at all, Reina?"
Reina paused, cocking her head slightly. "Surprised? Why would I be surprised? If I remember correctly, Chihara-san's writing was highly acclaimed across many radio outlets and women's magazines. She seems to be making quite a name for herself. Maybe I should buy a copy for myself when I get the time…" Reina trailed off, picturing a time where she could read for leisure and not deal with all of the drama that threatened to sink her ship like a crate full of cinderblocks.
"You don't think it's a bit out of character for me to enjoy that genre?" Kumiko asked as she closed the distance between her and Reina. Her voice almost cracked with trying to suppress her excitement and she even glanced over at her sister who flashed her a cheeky grin.
Reina furrowed her brows. "Out of character? Not at all. I feel like it's just like you to enjoy that particular genre. It's almost stereotypical for girls to like romance stories, so it's not really that farfetched." Reina smirked, wondering what Kumiko was trying to get at.
Kumiko was taken aback, embarrassed that she made such a big deal out of it. "I guess if you put it that way…but my sister hounded me for days when she found out I was a big fan. She kept making fun of me for liking that sort of sappy stuff..." Kumiko glared at her sister over Reina's shoulder, but the older Oumae simply rolled her eyes.
Reina took a step forward, holding Kumiko's hands in her own. She stared into the brunette's eyes, holding her gaze until Kumiko tore her eyes away from the intensity of the woman's stare.
"Reina…" Kumiko blushed.
Leaning in closer, Reina brushed her lips against Kumiko's ear, whispering her thoughts. "I knew you were a romantic sap from the moment you fell for me. How else would my cheesy lines work on you?"
Reina edged away, but Kumiko heard the smirk in the woman's voice before she saw it grace those pink lips. It was Kumiko's turn to roll her eyes as she pushed Reina playfully.
"Very funny, Kousaka-san…" Kumiko couldn't contain her grin.
Watching the two, Mamiko shook her head. She sighed heavily as she encroached on the little bubble that held the two in their own private world. "It's been fun third wheeling today, but I think I'm going to head out to do some shopping and buy groceries."
Reina and Kumiko looked over, jolted back into reality being the fact that they were flirting shamelessly in public and in front of Mamiko.
"Ah. Okay. Can you get some Earl Grey? We're out." Kumiko replied nonchalantly, feeling happy enough to have spent the better part of the day with the two of them.
"Sure, sure." Mamiko made a quick note in her phone before saying her farewells. "I'll be going straight home, but you're welcome to join us for dinner if you like, Kousaka-san."
Reina and Mamiko locked eyes and shared a knowing look.
"Thank you so much for the offer, but I really shouldn't impose on you two any longer and I must apologize for my…unannounced visit last night. I had a great time today and hopefully we can all grab waffles again someday, Mamiko-san."
"That sounds like a plan…" Mamiko smiled genuinely, nodding in agreement, but she shifted gears quickly. Putting on her big sister tone of voice, Mamiko's eyes narrowed. "But you haven't won my approval yet, Kousaka-san. I'm entrusting Kumiko to you for now, but if you even dare do anything to hurt her-"
"Onee-chan!" Kumiko flushed a bright red.
"That won't be a problem." Reina countered with a sweet and diplomatic smile, earning her a miffed grunt of acknowledgement from the older sister before the tall brunette stalked down the street.
Reina chuckled to herself, watching Mamiko skulk away. "I envy how much Mamiko-san loves you. You have such a great big sister."
Kumiko sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah…I love her to pieces, but sometimes she tries way too hard to embarrass me to death." She said to no one in particular, her words trailing off as she grabbed Reina's hand to drag her into the bookstore.
As the two entered the multi-level building, a man across the street adjusted the baseball cap obscuring his face. He scrolled through the photos on screen, selecting one out of the few dozen he had snapped. He attached it to an email, waiting for it to send before he shoved the phone into his pocket and turned to disappear down an alleyway.
On the fifth floor, Reina stood obediently in line with Kumiko. The entire section was full of young women buzzing with excitement from getting to meet their favorite author.
"-so lucky to be able to meet her! She's never done any TV interviews or radio ones. Her published interviews never had any photos of her either. I'm just so excited to see what kind of person could come up with such heartwarming yet tragic plotlines." Kumiko continued to gush as she gripped her copy of the latest novel in her hands. She craned her neck to try and see around the crowd ahead of her, but view of the signing table was blocked off by a partition.
Meanwhile, Reina had her nose buried in a brand new copy of the same book Kumiko held. She was skimming the contents and flipping through the pages, but she could only come to one conclusion. "I can't deny that the writing's good, but Kumiko…" Reina looked over at the brunette who gave her an innocently inquisitive look.
"Hm?"
"Rather than romance, this is more erotica, isn't it?"
Kumiko blinked, clearing her throat arbitrarily. "It's just this latest installment's been especially…steamy. They're not all like that, you know?" Kumiko turned back towards the front of the line, trying to hide her quickly growing blush.
Reina conceded silently, but smiled to herself as the brunette tried to defend and deflect a glaring truth.
Before long, they were at the front of the queue. The line was moving quickly and time passed easily as Kumiko chatted to Reina about the book, about where they should go for brunch next time, and what else they should do on their next day off. Reina found herself laughing and smiling, all her worries a dull ache at the back of her head. Compared to the deafening jackhammer it was last night, it was a relief to finally clear her mind. As if on cue, ideas flooded in, and her cool composure returned. There were options. It seemed bleak at first, with all the rage, hurt, and cynicism clouding her judgement. She wasn't thinking straight and she was a fool to think alcohol would solve anything.
Reina couldn't wait to consult with Kumiko, to finally make some headway on her counterattack.
"Next in line please."
Kumiko took a deep breath, her knuckles turning white as she grasped her book tightly. She and Reina moved along the roped off area to the enclosed space where the mystery author sat.
"No pictures, please."
Kumiko nodded to the attendant, steeling her breath again as she rounded the partition with Reina.
"Chihara-sensei, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm a big fan of yours and I've followed the series-" Kumiko suddenly stopped, her eyes widening as she registered who exactly 'Chihara K.' was.
Reina looked to Kumiko, curious as to why she stopped mid-sentence.
"Ah…Kumiko-chan…"
Reina's brows furrowed at lightning speed and she fixed a wary gaze on the author seated at the table. She had short brown hair that framed her face, straight locks tapered at her jawline. Beautiful and poised, the woman gave off a maternal air to her, contrasting the mischievous beauty mark perched on her left cheekbone. Her cherry pink eyes were hidden behind black rimmed glasses, but they crinkled with a softness, a kindness that Reina couldn't place. She knew it wasn't an expression reserved for mere acquaintances or even friends for that matter.
"Do you two know each other?"
"We…we do…" Kumiko held onto a wavering smile, still gripping her book tightly. She stared at the floor for a good while as she let out a shudder of a breath. Looking up, Kumiko prayed for her façade to stay strong, but she felt it cracking already, breaking off like the crumbling of dry clay.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
"It really has been too long since I've seen you, Kumiko-chan…"
Reina watched the exchange, feeling her heart bristle at the non-verbal exchange between the two women.
Kumiko shook her head, sighing as she grit her teeth, unable to decide between a grimace or a smile. It twisted her lips into a self-deprecating scowl as she looked down, trying to hide her shame.
"I really am the worst. Getting so worked up just seeing your face again."
Kumiko wiped away her tears angrily with a swipe of her sleeve.
"I'm pathetic, aren't I, Kaori-san?"
