Shinohara double-checked the address she had recorded in her phone. This was the place—not an apartment, but a small condo out in the suburbs.
Takatsuki Shiori had turned out to be easy to find: she was a model, with her own website and "Contact" form. Shinohara had figured she would get some kind of agent at first, and was surprised to get a direct response by email from Takatsuki herself. Arisugawa had confirmed that it was the right person, and Shinohara began to plan her short trip to southern Kantō.
Some kind of mix-up at the rental car office had left her with a large green jeep, which turned out to be fun to drive but a real pain to park. At least Takatsuki's suburban neighborhood had wider streets.
Before Shinohara could press the buzzer, the door opened. The woman who peered out was wearing an oversized orange T-shirt, her purple hair tied back in a ponytail. She squinted at the woman on her porch.
Shinohara tried to maintain her composure. "Excuse me, I'm looking for Takatsuki Shiori-san…" she explained, holding onto her bag with both hands.
The woman in the doorway grinned. "You've found her." She pushed the door open a bit further and turned back inside. Shinohara found herself frozen on the threshold, taken aback by Takatsuki's casual dress and demeanor. Not at all what I'd expect from a model! she thought.
Takatsuki glanced over her shoulder. "Shinohara-san, right?" she said, a slight drawl in her voice. "Come on in. I saw you from the window."
Shinohara forced herself to snap out of it and stepped inside, sliding off her shoes in the entryway. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me," she called as she hurried after her host—
Who turned around suddenly, poking her head back out of the kitchen. "Tea'll be just a minute, have a seat in the front room."
Feeling distinctly off-balance, Shinohara turned into the living room and sat down, pulling out her notebook and pocket recorder. She looked up as Takatsuki came in with a tea tray and sat down directly across from her.
"May I record our conversation?" Shinohara asked. "It's easier than taking notes for everything."
"If it's going to appear with my name attached, you'll have to run it by my agent before publication," Takatsuki responded crisply. "But if it's just for your own personal reference, that's fine."
The pat, professional response caught Shinohara off guard once again, and it took her an extra moment to reply. "O-of course, Takatsuki-san. It's just for notes at this point."
Takatsuki grinned at her, clearly enjoying surprising her guest. "Not what you expected, am I."
Shinohara considered dissembling, then decided Takatsuki would prefer a truthful answer. "You don't match up with what I think when I hear someone's a model," she said, dipping her head a little.
The other woman leaned forward. "Did you know I do web development too?"
Giving up, Shinohara shook her head. So much for expectations.
Takatsuki's smile widened. "Started teaching myself about a year ago. Now I do a little freelance work on the side." She sat back. "Today's one of my off days. I'm not going to get all dressed up for nothing."
Shinohara nodded. "That makes sense to me. If it feels like work you wouldn't want to do it on your day off."
Takatsuki let out a giggle. "You do understand!" she cried, and picked up the teapot to pour tea for the two of them. Shinohara dipped her head once again in thanks.
"And yet," Takatsuki continued, "you're doing this project in your spare time. Despite being a journalist, I mean."
Glad the topic had been broached, Shinohara launched into her well-worn explanation of the project. Takatsuki nodded in all the right places, but stayed distant until Shinohara pulled out the photograph of her.
"Now that is creepy," she said, eyebrows raised.
"It certainly is," Shinohara agreed. "There's one of me as well, wearing the same uniform. I don't remember this at all; do you?"
"Nope."
Once again, Shinohara was taken aback. "That's it?" she asked carefully. "You're not interested in trying to find out? Or remember?"
Takatsuki set her teacup down with a *click* and looked straight at Shinohara. "Listen. High school was crap. All those preppy kids who were trying to pretend they were adults—who thought they were adults—while squabbling over the stupidest pecking order of their tiny world. Self-righteousness and libido. Anyone who says they have fond memories of high school is deluding themselves. Oh, don't look at me like that," she said, dismissing Shinohara's shocked expression. "Everything is better after high school. The people, the freedom, the the time. Especially the people, because most high schoolers need to grow the hell up. I'm including myself in that, by the way. God, I was such garbage back then. Playing mind games with people, trying to get to the top of the status ladder. You like girls, don't you?"
The non sequitur threw Shinohara for a loop before she realized Takatsuki was actually asking her. She felt her mouth drop open slightly before she regained control. "I don't see how that's any of your business."
"You're asking me all these personal questions, why can't I ask you one?" Takatsuki shrugged. "Well, whatever."
"Takatsuki-san, do you remember anything strange from your time at Ohtori?" Shinohara asked, trying to put some professionalism back into their conversation.
Takatsuki let out a sharp laugh. "I transferred out and back in, so let me tell you. Everything at Ohtori was weird. The lack of adult supervision in the dorms. The Student Council. Those ridiculous gardens. The only normal thing was the classes, and even those seemed like they were just there to mark time." She shook her head and refilled their teacups. "No, high school sucked, and I was glad to get out of there. And good riddance to 'Ohtori Academy'."
Feeling dejected, Shinohara folded up her notebook and stood up. "Thank you for the tea, Takatsuki-san. And thank you for the afternoon." She could tell her tone wasn't exactly sincere but the conversation had left her too drained to care. Maybe I really am wasting my time with all this…
"Aw, Shinohara-san, don't take it personally." Shinohara looked over to see Takatsuki holding out a name card. "Look, you seem like a good kid. I wish you luck on your project."
I'm only, what, three years younger than you? Shinohara thought, trying to keep a polite smile on her face as she took the card.
"If you need a website for your book, let me know," Takatsuki finished. She gave Shinohara a wink.
"Thank you, Takatsuki-san," Shinohara said again.
She left Takatsuki's house dispirited, heading back to her rental car. But she still had one more thing to do on this trip.
Visit the Academy.