Yumi: Part 13, Close Friends

Tired writer is tired. How did I do 5000 words every two days again?

I waited by the front of the station, looking around for Yumi-senpai's purple hair. She's always early for everything, so I thought I'd try to beat her today, just for once. It looks like I managed to do that, but now I'm about half an hour early. This is pretty boring. I don't know how senpai does it. I glanced at my phone again, sighing, before slipping it into my pocket and looking around again.

I'm a little excited, though. I don't really like clothes shopping, but if it's with Yumi-senpai, it will probably be fun. For a start, she isn't someone who knows much about clothing, so it's not as if she'll be judging me. I enjoy her company generally, but it's also a special occasion when we do something we don't normally do. And it's also a chance to impress her, I think. There's no point in brooding, whether it's about Miura-san or about Yumi-senpai going to university. All I can do is try my best to enjoy this time and make Yumi-senpai enjoy it as well. I feel like I can do that much, at least. It's best to be positive, right?

I smiled as Yumi-senpai arrived, running towards her. "Senpai!" She looked up, catching sight of me, but I grabbed her arm with both my hands anyway, sliding to a halt and bumping into her.

She stumbled back slightly, barely keeping her footing. "Momo... good afternoon."

"Good afternoon. Sorry about that," I said, blushing a little. I let go of her arm reluctantly. She's warm, just like always.

"Not at all. I'm used to it by now." Yumi-senpai smiled. "It's better than me not knowing where you are."

I nodded. "Mm. Just as long as it's not a bother."

"Why would it be?" Yumi-senpai gave me a relaxed look. "In any case, you're pretty early."

"I caught an earlier train," I said. "I thought it'd be nice to be the early one, for once." She looks happy today, which is good. This holiday, Yumi-senpai's been more melancholy than usual. It hasn't been this bad since we failed at the prefectural tournament.

"I see. In any case, there's no point in standing around. Shall we go?"

I nodded. "Okay."

We walked out of the station, side-by-side. I glanced sidelong at her. Yumi-senpai's dressed roughly like she was at her house, with jeans and a T-shirt under an open dark jacket. I think it looks good, myself. "So your parents are being problematic again?" I asked curiously.

Yumi-senpai nodded, frowning slightly. "Like I said yesterday, it's the usual story. I shouldn't complain too much, I suppose. Things could be worse."

"If it's annoying, I think it's okay to complain," I said cheerfully. "At least to get it off your chest, right?"

"I suppose so. I'm sure mother, at least, complains about me behind my back." Yumi-senpai crossed the road with me in tow, weaving between the crowd. I wonder if it looked like she was talking to herself. She never complains about that, though. "But honestly, my father is almost worse. Both of them have... this image of me. Mother knows what she has in mind isn't what I'm actually like, but father hasn't realised that. It's frustrating."

"I see. That does sound tough." I glanced at her. "Can't you just talk to them? Maybe if you explain your feelings a little, they'd be able to understand."

"Even if you say that, it's probably impossible," Yumi-senpai said, sighing. "All it'd do is cause a huge argument. Just telling them I want to become a mahjong pro would do that. They're too set on me becoming a respectable married woman."

"That's... honestly, it doesn't sound like you, senpai," I said, giggling. "Not right now, anyway."

Yumi-senpai smiled, glancing at me. "Hey, hey... should I be happy or angry at that? Is my personality that bad?"

"That's not it. It's just you're way too young, I guess," I said. "And you have your own dreams, right?"

Yumi-senpai nodded. "Right. Honestly, my current self... perhaps myself forever, would make a miserable housewife. Making yourself suffer to keep up appearances- I just don't want to have to live like that. But it's not as if I can live exactly as I like, either."

"I see. You're always realistic, after all. I wish I could say something more." I smiled at her. "With my family, it's the opposite... my parents pay me no heed at all. I guess it's convenient, since I can basically do what I like."

"That's really tough in it's own way," Yumi-senpai said. "You might have it worse than me."

I shook my head. "I don't think so. I don't let it bother me."

"Well, it's good if you're positive about it," Yumi-senpai said, sounding dubious.

I glanced up at a shop. "This could be good, right? For clothes shopping."

Yumi-senpai nodded. "You're right. I almost forgot why we were here. Let's go in."

I slowed slightly, staying a half-step behind Yumi-senpai's taller figure. I could feel my presence fade. I'm always uncomfortable in places like this. It often feels like intruding on somewhere I shouldn't be. "Honestly, I mostly make do with my family's hand-me-downs," I said quietly. "We have quite a lot of those, after all."

"I can imagine. I've always picked comfortable clothes without thinking too hard about how they look." Yumi-senpai sighed, walking uneasily towards one of the racks. "This is less about stuff I actually want to wear and more about second-guessing mother. I guess if I can find one or two things that she'd like to show willing, that should do."

"I'm sure you'll be able to find something you like, as well," I said, trying to sound encouraging. "I'll help, too."

"Thanks. I shouldn't be so negative," Yumi-senpai said, looking up at me. "I can find stuff I like, and it is a chance to try something new. Maybe we can find something you'd like, as well."

I nodded. "Okay. Let's do our best together."

Yumi-senpai doubtfully picked up a black frilly dress, holding it up to her. "I don't think this stuff suits me at all, though. It's pretty... bold."

"I don't think it looks that bad," I said. "Just different."

"Is this what my mother had in mind, I wonder?" Yumi-senpai said dubiously, sliding it back in place. "Or is she thinking of stuff that doesn't exist any more?"

I blinked, looking up slightly. It looks like at least one other person was staring at Yumi-senpai. I stepped back slightly, trying to strengthen my presence. "I think it's best if you don't worry about her. Just concentrate on what you like."

"You're right. It's a problem if I'm stuck at her pace." Yumi-senpai picked up another dress. "I haven't worn anything like this in so long. But I guess I'm just making excuses. White's no good, though." She put it back decisively.

I smiled slightly, turning and heading for another rack of clothes. Honestly, even her awkwardness puts me at ease, in a way. "Well, it doesn't have to be a one-piece if you're uncomfortable. How about just a skirt with your normal shirts?"

"I suppose that could work," Yumi-senpai said. "I wear something similar at school, after all. You should try some of these, though. I think you'd look good in a dress."

"I doubt that," I said. "It's embarrassing."

"Do you think so? It'd be cute, I think," Yumi-senpai said, looking at me.

I blushed. "I don't have your figure. I think it suits you more, however I look at it."

"That's silly. You don't have anything to be ashamed of." Yumi-senpai stepped forwards, holding the black dress against me. "See? It'd be cute. You should try it on."

I fought down my embarrassment, looking up at her. "I'll try it on if you do, too."

Yumi blinked. "Hmm... well, I guess just trying it on is fine, right? Even if it looks silly."

I nodded. "I promise I won't laugh."

Yumi-senpai smiled. "Thanks. That'll be helpful."

And just like that, we somehow relaxed and got used to an unfamiliar environment, just doing things our way. We tried on a lot of different clothes and went to several different shops in the process. It's pretty remarkable how much clothes can change you. Yumi-senpai in a dress is a lot different from normal, after all. It's a little less comfortable, a little more provocative... somehow I'm really reminded she's a young woman and an attractive one at that. I don't think she's normally thought of as beautiful, but I think she's pretty. At the least, she's striking and memorable. It's encouraging for someone like me, who doesn't really look like a beautiful girl in an ordinary way. And her compliments were really flattering, as well, even if they were probably undeserved. It made me feel good, even so. If it's Yumi-senpai, I know she's being honest with me. And looking attractive in her eyes is something really valuable to me, since she's the person whose opinions I most value. Even if everyone else found me plain or boring, if she likes me, that's enough. That's how I feel.

We didn't buy very much, though. Trying things one for each other and wearing something regularly are two different things. But we still brought a few things we particularly liked, so I suppose it was a success. And we had fun, as well.

"I think this will do for now," Yumi-senpai said eventually, as we left the fourth shop carrying a few bags. "I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired."

I nodded in agreement. "Mm. Normally we're sitting down..."

Yumi-senpai checked her watch. "Ah. Shall we have a snack at a café, or something?"

"That would be good," I said, glad we weren't heading back already.

"It'll be my treat," Yumi-senpai said. "I dragged you out here to tag along with me, after all."

"No, it's no trouble," I said. "I've had a great time."

"Good." Yumi-senpai smiled at me. "Honestly, I'm always worried about boring people. I get that a lot."

"That's not true at all," I said sharply. "And if people say that, they don't know you very well."

"Thanks. Honestly, that's also reassuring. I know I have a serious personality." Yumi-senpai paused for a moment. "Maiko always said the same thing. Miura-senpai, I mean. She had a point, but when someone you care about says something like that a lot... it's not as if I was trying to bore her."

I looked at her, trying to gauge her expression. "You don't have to talk about this if it makes you unhappy."

"No, I want to. Maybe I need to. For one reason or another, recently, I've been thinking about her more and more." Yumi-senpai glanced at me. "Kanbara's been spoiling me and I've never really told anyone else. I thought that would be fine, but when I think about it, I've been letting those memories affect how I treat you. And that's unfair."

"I've never had any reason to complain," I said. "You've always treated me well."

"Maybe it's unfair to me, rather than you," Yumi-senpai said vaguely, waving a hand. "And in any case, I want you to know, as well. I want to be able to tell you about everything. By now, at the end... if I can do that maybe I won't have any regrets. I'm not sure."

I nodded. "I want to know. So I'll listen if you want to tell me."

Yumi-senpai picked a small café close to the station, heading for a small table for two in the far corner. "It's not a very interesting story, though," she said, smiling. "I'm probably being self-indulgent." She sat down. "Maybe that's okay, though. Maybe people should be allowed to be selfish every once in a while."

I sat opposite her, putting my bags on the floor. "I'll listen to anything. If it worries you, then it'd worry me as well. We're close friends, right? Not just senpai and kohai."

Yumi-senpai blinked slowly. "Close friends, is it? In any case, I'll tell you about Maiko."