Chapter 11 – Secret Sweethearts & Swimsuit Scammers
"W-Wait, huh?! Y-You want us to go to Hakone with you?!"
This was yelled out by Nana. As she and Rise were visiting my apartment today and I had just told them about the trip. And offered them to join us.
"Aw come on, Nana. You did say that you haven't been to Hakone in 20 years. Wouldn't it be great to go back home after so long?"
"W-Well…you're not wrong about that. But my version of Hakone and your version of Hakone are two very different versions. What changed while I was gone?"
"Girl, you know I can't answer that. You gotta come and figure that out yourself."
"B-But…"
"Quit being a baby already. You know you want to go." Rise said.
"Y-Yeah, I do. Obviously. B-But I…I can't."
"This is about my dad, isn't it?" I asked.
"Well…"
"*sigh* Look, Nana. I'm tired of this secret or yours. Ever since we've met, you've been dodging questions that involve my dad in any shape or form. And I even asked Dad about it and he's doing the same thing. Now I want to know what's with you two. And if you still can't do that, then get out of my apartment."
I know it sounded harsh, but I meant every word. I want this secret to be put behind me so that I won't have to worry about it anymore. It's annoying the heck outta me.
And from the look on Nana's face, it's hurting her more than it is me.
"*sigh* Fine. I'll tell you."
"FINALLY!"
"FINALLY!"
"What?! You knew too?!" Nana asked Rise.
"We're best friends. We tell each other everything."
"Now spit it out." I said.
"Ugh! Fine! But both of you better not tell anyone! I get serious when it comes to secrets. Especially my own."
"We promise."
"We promise."
Nana took a few (scratch that. A LOT of) deep breaths and sighed a couple times before finally explaining this secret she and my dad have been keeping from me. It should be good. Since it's been kept hidden for over two decades.
But I can honestly tell you, I was not expecting the secret to be this:
"L-Look, Sachiko. Th-The truth is…y-your father and I…u-used to date."
"Huh…"
…
…
…
"WHAT?! Y-Y-YOU?! A-A-AND DAD?! A-A C-C-COUPLE?!"
"Wow. You and Sachiko's dad? So you're straight?" Rise asked.
"Yes, I'm straight. Why is that a shock to you?"
"Well, when you think about it…not only do you often hang out with a lesbian high schooler, but also 7 lesbian middle schoolers and a crossdresser."
"Yui's a girl, you know."
…
"Wait, really?"
"GUYS!" I shouted."WE'RE LOSING FOCUS HERE! NANA, YOU USED TO DATE MY DAD?!"
"*sigh* Yeah. It happened. Around the time I first met him, actually. Sure, we were friends. But we became more than that rather fast. It was honestly the best 2 years of my life."
"Just 2?"
"When I graduated high school and came here for college, it was rather hard for us to stay together. So we broke up. both of us were really heartbroken by that decision. But we eventually moved on."
I then saw Nana shed a tear.
"Your father more-so than me."
"Huh?"
"Wh-When I went back to Hakone for his graduation ceremony, he already had a new girlfriend. A.K.A. your mom. She and I are also friends, but that's all she knows. And to this day, she still doesn't know that we used to date. And it's been this way for twenty long years."
"W-Wow. Nana…"
"Th-That's horrible." Rise said.
"Yeah. It is. That's why I found it kinda odd that after that long of not speaking to each other, he called and asked if I could watch over you while you live here. But at the same time, it made me happy.
…
Happy that I was able to hear his voice again."
Seeing Nana like this…all depressed and heartbroken. And even shedding a few tears. This is NOTHING like how she was on my first day. She may portray herself as an explosive-loving woman who is (somehow) a science teacher, but really…she's just like every other woman.
One who just wants someone to love and to love her back.
"N-Nana…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have forced you to reveal something so personal to you. It's just…it involved my dad so…"
"No, I understand. You were just concerned, that's all. I honestly thought I could keep this under lock and key. But you kept on pushing. Just like your father. It's insane how you're a lot like him."
"*giggle* Yeah, I get that a lot."
"So does this mean you're coming along?" Rise asked.
"*sigh* Yeah, fine. I'll come along with you guys."
"YES!" I cheered as I gave Rise a high-five. "Trust me, Nana! The memories are just gonna flood your mind! The good ones, I mean."
"You sure seem excited."
"Well, duh. We are going home, right?"
Nana didn't answer and instead grew a smile on her face. I can tell she's excited to go back to Hakone after so long. She's so bad at hiding it.
"Hey. We better go if we want to find some good ones." Rise said to me.
"Oh, right. We really should."
"Huh? Go where?" Nana asked.
"We're going swimsuit shopping. Neither one of us has one for the trip."
"I see…"
…
It was at this moment that Rise and I looked at each other with a smile then turned back to Nana.
"Hey, Nana…"
"No."
"Aw! Killjoy!" We both whined.
"Dang it! I can't believe Nana doesn't want to wear a swimsuit! She would've looked so sexy in one!"
"Yeah. But take it from me, Nana rarely wears anything other than sweaters, jeans, and lab coats. It's her thing. As she keeps telling me."
"Her "thing", huh? Well, she needs a new one."
"*giggle* Yeah, totally."
The two of us were now walking to the nearby mall (Rise showing me the way, of course) to buy our swimsuits for the Hakone trip. It's been nearly a month since I moved here and I feel like Rise is the best friend that I made here. Despite the 2-year age gap.
She's opened up to me a lot more than when we first met. Even pulling out a smile or two. Granted, they're still rare. But it's a start.
She even took my advice on what clothes to wear (oddly enough) by wearing lightly-colored and cute clothes (also oddly enough). Right now, she's wearing a white cotton shirt with a pink floral design, black Capri jeans, and a pair of really amazing grey, white, black, and red Nike shoes. Did not think she was into that brand.
Me on the other hand, I just put on the same clothes I had on yesterday. I was just too lazy to pick out new clothes.
"Wow, wow, WOW! So THIS is what a mall is like?!" I yelled in excitement as we both entered the mall.
"You've never been to a mall before?"
"No, not really. Hakone doesn't have any. The closest we got is a little outdoor shopping district. Nothing there besides clothes, food, and candy."
"Candy?"
"Most of the shops are candy shops. It's really popular in the country."
"I see. Well, I'll show you around. So don't go running around like Mario with a Starman."
"L-Like I would do that!" I said with a faint blush.
"But you were planning on doing it, right?"
…
…
"N-No comment." I said. Rise then laughed at my embarrassment look.
After a quick tour of the place, we found the swimsuit store and were currently picking out which swimsuits to buy. Some were really cute, while others were…a bit revealing.
Point is, I don't know which one to get.
"Woah. There's so many here. How would I know which one to get?" I asked myself.
"So. You need help picking out a swimsuit, huh?"
"Huh? Did you say something?"
"No. Why?" Rise asked.
"Hehhehheh. Right here, ladies."
Pushing through the rack of swimsuits next to us was a girl with long black hair with two knots made into twintails. She had light black eyes and looked like she was the same age as me.
Though I have no idea who this girl is.
"Huh? Who are you?" I asked.
"Never mind that. I hear you need help picking out a swimsuit. Isn't that right, Ichiko-san?"
"Okay, how do you know my name?"
"Never mind that."
I do mind. Cause you're starting to creep me out.
"Anyway, I can help you pick one out, Ichiko-san. And even you too, Matsumoto-senpai."
"Uh…thanks?" Rise said.
"Of course…for a small fee."
"A fee?" I asked.
"Not much. Just, oh I don't…¥2234.34 plus ¥670.86 shipping and handling."
($19.95 plus $5.99 shipping and handling)
"What?! Okay, that's just absurd!" I yelled.
"Well, what can I say, Ichiko-san? Money does make the world go-"
*SMACK*
"Ow!"
"Ow?"
"Ow?" We both asked.
"Geez, Aoi. You promised you would stop with that ridiculous scam of yours." Said another girl who appeared behind the black-haired one. This one had short brown hair, blue eyes, and was also the same age as me.
And like the first girl, I don't know who she is.
"It's not "ridiculous", Hiro. I'm telling you, it's foolproof."
"The only fool is you for believing this will eventually work."
"H-Hey!" The black-haired girl got insulted.
"A-Anyway…sorry about this, Ichiko-san." The brown-haired girl said to me.
"That's alright. But…do I know you guys? Cause it seems like you know me from somewhere."
"Oh, right. Sorry. My name's Hiro Takaoka. And the girl who tried to scam you is named Aoi Isurugi."
"It wasn't a scam, Hiro. I was going to help them."
"Were you really?"
…
…
"Well, okay. I wouldn't have been the best help…"
"You think?"
"Hold on. Hiro Takaoka…Aoi Isurugi…now I remember! You two are in my class!" I said.
"Glad you remember us, Ichiko-san." Aoi said. "Now about that payment…"
"I'm not paying you, Aoi."
"*whine*"
"Wh-Whoa! F-First names already?!" Hiro asked.
"I don't normally use surnames where I'm from. It's just easier to use first names. Hope you don't mind, Hiro."
"O-Oh. No, I don't mind, uh…Sachiko, was it?"
"Yep. You got it."
"Okay, then. Nice to officially meet you, Sachiko."
"Same here, Hiro and Aoi."
"And it's nice to see you again, Matsumoto-senpai."
"Nice to see you again as well, Takaoka-san." Rise said.
"Wow, Matsumoto-senpai. You look really cute in that outfit. Makes you stand out more, to be honest." Aoi said.
"Th-Thanks, Isurugi-san." Rise said with a sweatdrop.
"Can you two hear her?" I asked.
"Yeah." Aoi said.
"Why, you can't?" Hiro asked.
"Well, yeah. I can. Not sure how, though."
"It's the same with us."
"I see."
After we looked around the store a bit (and found some swimsuits to wear), the four of us were at this area called a food court (Rise eventually explained to me what that is) where we ate some of the food options here.
While doing so, we told Hiro and Aoi why we were buying swimsuits in the first place. And they got really excited.
"Woah, really?! You're from Hakone, Sachiko?!" Aoi asked.
"Yep. Born and raised."
"I always wanted to go to Hakone. But it was always so expensive. My family could never afford it." Hiro said.
"Yeah. The resorts there are rather pricey. I'm hopeful that the others can afford it."
"Gah! You guys are lucky! Going to Hakone for the summer! I wanna go, too!" Aoi whined.
"Aoi, stop. People are staring." Hiro said.
You know…even though I just met these girls, having them tag along wouldn't be that bad. I mean, they're in my class. So I'm sure that Akari, Chinastu, Himawari, and Sakurako already know them.
The third-years…I'm not so sure.
"Hey, guys. If you want, you can come with us."
"H-Huh?! Really?!" Both girls yelled in shock.
"Y-You really don't mind?!" Hiro asked.
"No, not at all. The more people, the better right?"
"I'm sure the other will be okay with it once we tell them." Rise added.
"Well…"
"Ah come on, Hiro! It's a free trip to Hakone! How can we say no to that?!" Aoi asked.
"Granted, you'll have to pay for your own room." I said.
"*sigh* Alright. We'll come along. Thank you for inviting us, Sachiko."
"Yeah, thanks a lot, Sachiko. You're a really good friend. I feel like I owe you something now. How's about a 10% discount on my offer from earlier?"
"I'm not paying you, Aoi." I said in an annoyed tone.
"Knock it off, Aoi." Hiro said.
"Fine, fine. Come on, Hiro. Let's go find ways to make extra money for the trip."
"You better not use any more scams."
"Shh! Quit calling them scams!"
As we watched the duo leave, I took a peek inside the bag with my new swimsuit in it. I just wanted to take another look at it.
"Geez. I still can't believe Aoi actually helped us find some good swimsuits." I said.
"Yeah, me neither. Maybe we should've paid her after all."
…
…
"Nah."
"Nah."
Both of us laughed as we tossed that thought out of our heads and began heading home.
Final Thought: Hiro and Aoi…they seem like really good friends to each other. I can definitely see it here than with Kyouko and Yui, Kyouko and Chinastu, Kyouko and Akari…
…
Now that I think about it, Kyouko's just a bad friend as a whole. But I'll just keep that to myself.
Anyway, thank you for reading along. I hope you come back soon. Bye now!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, um…I finally looked up the birthdays for these characters. Two things came out of it.
First, none of them have a birthday in August. So that idea's out the window for this story.
Second, I found out that Yuru Yuri had TWO spin-offs. The first is called "Reset!". Which is where Hiro and Aoi are from. The two even made cameos in the anime (though Aoi doesn't have a voice actor).
The second is one where Sakurako (yes, her of all people) and her sisters are the main characters. How Sakurako got her own manga is a complete mystery to me.
That's all I wanted to say. Thanks for reading. Later.