[21]
The ubiquitous drumming of rain on metal over their heads. Car horns screeching everywhere. A decidedly dreadful tune on the radio. The woman, who she found in the arms of the man she had been infatuated with for several months, humming a weird remix between two very different genres.
Relying on her peripheral vision, she snuck a glance at the woman beside her. There was a hint of a smirk in her eyes, though she tried to suppress it well. Now and then her lips would betray her, twisting up ever so slightly even as she sang.
Mai shook her head and tried to focus on the loud cacophony, imagining how instruments might imitate the strange discord. Could bowed strings be able to copy how exhausted this cab's engine sounded? Was it possible for a trumpet to parrot the vengeful winds whistling through the windows? Might a piano be able to accompany a fusion between Enka and R&B?
What would a duet between this woman and Professor Shibuya sound like, Mai wondered. Would he be able to keep up with her rampant tempo? How would they harmonize during the chorus she had composed? After they had finished playing their song, what would they do next? Have pizza delivered, binge watch an entire season of a foreign television series, fall asleep together on the couch. Or not—because she was wearing his shirt that night and he just couldn't resist anymore so he hefted her over her shoulder, rushing to their bedroom where they would—
"I'm Madoka Mori, by the way," the woman said, offering to shake hands. "You can just call me Madoka."
Mai resisted the urge to hurl herself to the other side of the country. She could feel heat rising at the back of her neck.
"Mai Taniyama, 2L, Criminal Law," she sputtered out automatically, realizing her mistake only after the words had already escaped. Her fingers twitched, wanting nothing more than to smack her forehead, but instead she shook Madoka's waiting hand.
"Are you one of N—Kazuya Shibuya's students?" Madoka asked, her tone teasing.
"In a weekly seminar, yes," replied Mai, her gaze shifting away from fuchsia.
Giggling, Madoka leaned in and whispered as if she was revealing a secret that might endanger the entire human race. "Wanna know three sure-fire tips on how to pass his class?"
Mai's eyes widened as she leaned in wordlessly— hook, line, and sinker.
A/N: ...What did I do yesterday, you ask? I baked banana bread. It was edible. (PSA: Don't ever use brown sugar.)