Hi, Norasakka here. Fun fact, the college that Shin is going to is based off of Berea College in Kentucky of the U.S. That's where I go too! It's sort of like Hogwarts for poor people. Anyways, enjoy the story.
A question to readers... It's (relatively) close to the ending of the story. At that point was planning to do an ending for each person/route, and then one last chapter as a one true ending thing. But does an ending for each person fit the story, or should I pick one person for Michi to end up with certainly? What would you prefer? Yes, when in doubt ask the people what they want! But I always welcome questions or suggestions. Thanks! Enjoy the story.
~ Michi ~
I woke up shivering the next morning. "Urgh…" I wanted to punch the alarm clock in the face. "Whyyyy…? Why is it ringing like that?"
"Because you have work today. Get up." Musca poked my cheek. "Up!"
"Noooo…" I dragged myself out of bed, yawning and wrapping a blanket around myself as I shuffled around to get ready.
"You wouldn't be so chilly if you hadn't turned the air conditioning down to such a low temperature and taken a cold shower right before you went to bed last night."
"… I needed to cool down, okay?"
"I won't dispute that. I was there."
I blushed hotly. "We don't speak of it! And you don't have to watch, you could just look away."
"Try putting yourself in my place. It's not easy to look away, you know?"
"Yeah, whatever..." I shook my head and went through my morning routine slower than usual, then took my time strolling towards work. "I'm almost late, but I can't find the will to care…" I sighed. "Ugh."
"Come on, Michi. Don't mope around."
"I'm not moping." I looked across the street and stopped walking. "Is that Ukyo?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah, looks like it."
"He has a girl with him…" I was blatantly staring at this point. "Is that her? The first heroine?"
"I think so. I've only ever had Orion describe her to me."
"Eek!" I jumped when Ukyo turned and saw me staring. He smiled and waved, gesturing for me to come over. "Oh, man… I'm definitely gonna be late at this rate." But I ran across the crosswalk anyways. "Ukyo, hey."
"Hi, how are you?"
"Okay. Slowly but surely making progress." I glanced at the girl with him nervously. Damn, she was way prettier than I was. A gorgeous flower.
"This is my girlfriend Kohana. Kohana, this is a friend of mine, Michi." Ukyo made introductions.
"It's nice to meet you." Kohana smiled sweetly.
"You too…" It was surreal. The first heroine was standing in front of me, with no idea about anything that was happening or that had happened. She was just happy with the way she was living her life. Would I be like that one day soon too? "So, what are you guys up to today?"
"We were just going around looking at cake shops. Deciding on a wedding cake is a lot harder than it sounds. We have such different tastes," Ukyo laughed.
"There are these ones where they do half of the cake to one person's liking and the other half to the other person. They're amazing!" Kohana explained excitedly.
"Two cakes in one? I want it. Right now." Then it registered. "Wedding cake? Oh, you're getting married! Congrats, then!"
"Thank you." Ukyo dipped his head. "You'll probably find this type of happiness too, Michi." He looked at me meaningfully. Whoever I chose at the end of this adventure… Would I get to be with them forever, looking this joyful?
"You just worry about your own happy ending, okay? I'm glad for you, really. Anyways, I'm about to be late for work. Gotta run!" I waved, grinning, and ran off.
"What do you think of the idea of marriage?" Musca asked as I entered the back door at work and rushed to change into my uniform.
"Not sure…" The only marriage I'd ever been around was my parents, and it hadn't gone over so well. So marriage, to me… It was a bit scary.
"Michi, you're late," Toma scolded me once I went into the kitchen.
"Sorry… I ran into some people I know on the street and chatted with them for a bit. They're getting married." I paused. This was a perfect opportunity to try and dig a little deeper with him, wasn't it? "So… What do you think about marriage, Toma?"
He visibly stiffened. "We shouldn't be chatting like this while there's work to do." He spun around and left, leaving me to take over working the kitchen for the day.
"He dodged the question…" Musca noted. "You must have hit a nerve."
"Yeah…" I'd pester him about it later, but for now… Dishes. There was never an end to them in the kitchen. That was the nature of the beast. Sawa was working that day too, but since she was needed up front with Toma I ended up doing all of the dishes and a lot of the cooking for that day. I didn't really mind getting to stay in my little nook for the day, but Toma's sudden change in attitude bothered me. Once the day was over, he finally approached me again.
"Hey, Michi." He looked a bit nervous.
"Hi." I finished drying my hands off after having stacked the last of the dishes. Toma tentatively took one of my hands and turned it over in his. "What's wrong?" I asked. He was frowning.
"Your hands are all rough now…" His own hands were smooth and warm on mine.
"Well, yeah. That's kind of what happens when you wash dishes for a living. I've gotten used to it though, so no worries." I pulled my hand away and put both hands in my pockets, a bit self-conscious now that he had pointed it out.
"There's such a thing as hand lotion, you know," he teased lightly.
"… Huh. Never thought of that."
Toma sighed. "Let's go get you some then."
"Eh?"
"You owe me for ditching me for Shin the other day, right?"
"You owe me for ditching me for dishes though," I pointed out dryly. "I already said I'd buy you lunch too. Really, it's no big deal. Chill." I made a mental note: get the lotion so your hands don't stay crusty.
"Come on, I feel bad. Do it for me?" He smiled.
"Grr…" He needed to stop doing that, that thing where he acted like a puppy when he was actually cunning like a tiger. "Fine, fine. Where are we going?"
"That's… A really good question." He laughed. Neither of us really knew where to go in order to find girly things. Those just hadn't been a priority in my life considering that half the time my dad and I hadn't even had running water.
"Toma, you're ridiculous." We just ended up strolling through town, trying to find any store that looked like it would be the kind of place to smell the kind of lotions that Sawa and Mine used for their hands, the ones that smelled like flowers or sugary baked goods and came in sparkly bottles.
"You are too, but I don't get mad at you for it." He ruffled my hair.
"Point."
"Hey, if I ask you a question will you just be honest with me?"
"That's usually my philosophy." I looked up at him. "But then you'll have to be honest with me about a question, too."
"Okay, deal."
"Good, Michi!" Musca nodded. I had effectively roped him in. He had to answer me honestly now about what I needed to ask him. But first, what was it he wanted from me?
"It's painfully obvious that you like Shin and the he likes you. But then there's Ikki and the way you two act around each other, and then I also heard from Sawa that you went to a goukon with Kent, so… You can understand why I'd be confused. Who is it that you really like?"
"Uh…" Crap. "Umm… I don't really want to answer that, but since I said I'd be honest with you…" I noticed that Musca was also looking at me intently for an answer. Of anyone, she'd probably be the most curious. "It just, it makes me sound like a bad girl," I laughed.
"Well… Even if you're a bad girl, I won't hate that about you," Toma said quietly.
I glanced at him and my heart skipped just for a second. The way the sun was hitting him, he was shining, bright and golden. The expression of solemnity on his face made him look even more striking. "C-c'mon, don't be so serious about it," I punched his arm.
"Well then? What's your answer?"
I took a breath after clearing my throat. "The truth is…" When I didn't overcomplicate things by thinking about it too much, the answer may not have been the prettiest but it was clear. "I'M SURROUNDED BY A HAREM OF BISHIES AND I LOVE THEM ALL!"
"Um… Okay?" Toma looked around as passersby stared after my outburst. "You didn't have to tell everyone else too. I just wanted to know."
"I just wanted to own it, you know? But that's the truth. And… I'm not ashamed of it anymore."
"You love them all, huh? Okay. Thanks for being honest. And…" He leaned over to look into my eyes seriously. "You're not a bad girl, Michi. You'll never be one."
"Thanks, Toma… That means a lot coming from you." He was a good guy in my experience, after all. Having his vote of confidence felt important.
"So… You had a question for me, too?"
"Yeah. So I was wondering…" I trailed off as my phone stated to vibrate. "Here, let me just reject this…" I blinked at the caller ID. "Kent? What's he want? Whatever, I'll just call him back later."
"No, it's fine. You can answer if it's important."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, it's no problem."
"Thanks. Hello?"
"Hello, Michi. Good day to you."
"Uh, you too. What's up?"
"I have a question about social etiquette."
"Oh, okay. I'm listening."
"If you see a friend walking down the street but they're currently with someone else, do you interrupt to offer greetings or not?"
"Well, if they look like they're having a serious conversation you shouldn't, but if they're just hanging out then you can drop in for a quick hello."
"Ah." There was a click, and then silence.
"Asshole hung up on me!" I frowned.
"Hello, Michi."
"WAH!" I clung to Toma as for what felt like the millionth time, Kent snuck up on me. "Every time! Every single damn time, you do this!"
"I'm not aware of another way to greet you. Other than your being startled, how are you?"
"I'm good, you?"
"Doing very well. Hello, Toma." Kent nodded a greeting to him.
"Hey…" Toma looked down at me as I let go of him.
"Michi, I have another question for you as well, but I'm not sure if it's one that should be asked in front of others."
"Well what is it? I'll just tell you after the fact. And for the record I promise I will not get offended and attack you." I held up my right hand solemnly.
"Very good." Kent took a breath. "Will you come on a date with me?"
"... Uh?" Was my eloquent reply.
"Is that affirmation? It wasn't clear."
"Uh, you mean, right now, come with you right now?"
"Yes."
"Um, I washed dishes all day, so I got a bit sweaty… Um…"
"You seem perfectly lovely to me. But tomorrow is fine… If you are also amenable." He actually looked nervous… So damn cute, why was he so damn cute?!
"T-tomorrow, then… Okay."
He smiled, fully and warmly, yet another blow to my heart. "Very good. I shall depart now."
"Wait, at least tell me when and where, you idiot!"
"Ah. I hadn't thought that far ahead. I will text you details promptly, however. Do not worry." He walked away.
"How can I not worry if he's always like that…?" I sighed. Always so smart yet airheaded socially, so… So damn cute. That asshole.
"Well, that was… Interesting," Toma commented awkwardly.
"I'm sorry… I had no clue he was going to ask that."
"So, you'd be willing to date Kent."
"Er…" It was impossible to explain to him that I liked Kent but mostly spent time with him in order to complete the pathway, and that even if Kent did ask me out I'd probably have to say no because I hadn't yet completed Toma's route. "I…"
"You don't have to answer. I won't press you about it anymore. Just know that I never judge you."
"Thanks, Toma…" But his time would come soon, I knew. I felt it. The time when I would be just as hopelessly drawn to him as I had been the others…