The next day is a boys' night at the Ishida household, meaning father and the two sons hanging out together, also an excuse to celebrate Yamato's finishing his exams.
They ordered chinese take-out, as they all loved it, and decided to watch a movie after. Before that, their dad excused himself for a work call and left the two boys in the living room.
They chatted inconsistently for a couple minutes, before going back to their friends-reunion night and at that Yamato snapped. He took the opportunity to clear up something that was bothering him since the day before.
-What it is that you think you were doing the other night?- Yamato accuses, eyes boring deep into his brother's.
Takeru smiled, as if incredibly amused -Should I know what you're talking about?- but he knew, he could read his older brother like the palm of his hand.
-Don't fuck with me, Takeru- Yamato kept a cold stare but his irritation was growing by the second.
The other snorts -Is this about Mimi?-
-What if it is?- he challenged, glaring daggers at him.
-I'd say you're ridiculous- he laughed but turned serious so fast he gave Yamato whiplash -How about you make up your mind about her, if you care so much, instead?-
Yamato could only open and close his mouth -Fuck off-
-Nii-san, I'm serious- Takeru stared him down, standing up while Yamato was sprawled on the couch -Don't break her heart-
The older one bit his bottom lip and just offered a grimace.
As if it was that simple.
His heart was doing a number on him. He felt torn inside, feelings a mess. Things with Mimi were going well until he had been starting feeling suffocated, little by little, although she didn't really do anything for him to feel that way, he knew, but still that didn't made the ugly uncomfortable emotion stop rising up in his chest.
On the other side, he couldn't get enough of her and really couldn't stay away too much from her either. When he saw her the other night, looking so enticing without even knowing, making his heart beat uncontrollably, he couldn't help himself and had to kiss her.
At least now, with exams and school basically done, he had time to focus just on his music and he was thinking of getting a part-time job at least until University started.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Mimi kept a tight grip on her feelings and stayed mum, not wanting to aggravate anyone with her problems and, above all, trying to distract herself exactly from that. Because Yamato had to go and kiss her and then disappear again, leaving her like.. an emotional mess.
She was resolute to confront him, though, once she felt she could hold his stare and hold her tears (which, ah! was almost a mission impossible).
Finally, some few days later, a Sunday now really at the very end of January, Mimi lost her patience and texted him.
-Can we meet today?-
The reply came a good half an hour later -I have time after 10PM. Your house?-
-No- Mimi was quickly to reply, she wanted a neutral ground and not ending up in bed with him -Let's do Xxx Park at 10.30, ok?- it was a small but very cute and green park 10 minutes away from her house.
-Ok-
If he had perceived something wrong from her text, he didn't show it.
At 10.30 sharp, Mimi was already in the park, waiting for him by a bench and playing with her phone. She didn't even bother to change from her home-attire, just putting on a colored lipbalm and putting on a black beanie on her loose hair. She was engulfed in her warmest white winter coat, with her pink sweat underneath and purple sneakers.
A text informed her Yamato was on his way and 10 minutes later, there he was. He looked around the dim-lighted park and then on the bench Mimi was sitting on.
-You shouldn't be alone at this hour, in a park, or anywhere for the matter- he muttered the last part, eyes still unreadable.
Mimi arched her eyebrows -It's a really safe neighborhood-
-Still..-
Mimi snickered lightly, incredulous -Ok, dad, I'll get my bodyguard next time-
He shook his head and smiled at her tone before getting close and sitting down beside her, hands in his long black coat and gaze up ahead of him, looking at nothing in particular.
So Mimi did the same and schooled her gaze elsewhere, she inhaled and tried to keep her cool.
-Mm so, let's not beat around the bush- she started -Are you ignoring me?-
Yamato turned to her, eyebrows furrowed and eyes intense -Mimi..-
-No, listen to me.- she put a hand up -I'm tired of feeling like this-
-Like what?- he asked, even if perhaps he knew all too well.
-Stupid.- her voice trembled -Like I'm the only one who cares-
She could hear Yamato exhale slowly and closing his eyes, as if to ground himself, but refused to keep looking at him.
-If you have something to say, just do it but don't leave me hanging and treat me like an idiot- this time her voice came out softer, almost scared.
-I didn't mean to make you feel bad, trust me- in an unexpected move, he gripped her hand -I care too- he uttered, still not looking at her -I like you Mimi, I told you-
-Yes but do you want to be with me?- she whispered, her chest constricting.
-I though we kinda were already-
A pause and then -Were we?-
-Look.. I know I'm fucked up, I'm doing my best, and maybe that's not enough, but you don't have to put up with me if you don't want to- Mimi couldn't see his face in the dark but his voice betrayed a little emotion.
-But.. I want to- another timid mutter, by now her eyes were glazed and her lips downturned.
This time Yamato turned her way and hugged her, grabbing her first by her shoulder, taking her to surprise so much she gasped.
-I missed you- he said, hooking his chin on her head -I'm sorry for being a dick-
Mimi squeezed him back, plunging her face on his shoulder -Yeah..- feeling extremely vulnerable and on the verge of tears (dammit!).
They stayed like that for a while, in silence, just listening to sound of the night and their own heartbeats.
-Stop pouting- the blonde said once he detached himself and took a good look at her face.
-I'm not- she pouted harder.
-You are- the blonde smiled, enticed.
-'m not-
Soon after that, they ended up going to her house after but, for the first time, they didn't do anything other than just literally sleeping next to each other.
Mimi looked at his sleeping form, both on their sides in front of each other, his chest lifting up and down and soft puffs of air coming out of his parted lips, face
relaxed and devoid of any frown. A rare sight, nonetheless beautiful.
She really looked at him and in that moment, like an epiphany, she knew for sure she would never be able to get a hold of his heart completely.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
February signed Mimi's debut as an official model in Japan, although there wasn't much fuss about it, as the first shoots for the magazines she did came out. It had been merely two days until a classmate came screaming with said magazine in her hands -This is you, isn't it?- she squealed loudly, gaining the attention of the whole class, but as it was recess most were out luckily.
Mimi gulped, feeling at least 10 eyes on her, and nodded -Yep, that's me-
Chaos ensued, everyone got close to see her photos and comment on it, staring at her like she was suddenly a celebrity and then asking a million questions from the normal to the most absurd ones.
The same happened when the other magazine came out and by then, all her class and some of the others knew. She wasn't too bothered by it, except when she had to answer to stupid questions but her life went on as normal.
Mr. Lee mentioned the response to her debut photoshoots was great and asked her about her social media accounts, since her imagine had to be more controlled now that she was somewhat "known". Mimi had only instagram and she proceeded to change her bio (with her agency link and name) and profile pic, deleting also some personal photos and other stupid ones. Other than that, she was assured she wouldn't need to do much, just be careful not to expose her personal life and that was fine with her.
The young girl wondered if she had to post the photos from the shots but Mr. Lee just said that was entirely up to her but they would still be up on the agency's account and she would be tagged so she decided that was more than enough.
Things with Yamato were.. fine, as usual. They still saw each other every 3 or something days, texted regularly and sometimes called each other at night. A somewhat regular couple, one could say. Except, they never touched upon anything really serious again and acted like the break and all their talk didn't happen at all.
Or at least, that was what Mimi was worrying about in her head..
Meanwhile, being just a few months shy from the start of her third and last year of highschool, Mimi was starting to think about her future and which university she would apply to (and if she could, seeing her more than average grades). She knew modeling was just a job in-between, not something she really wanted to do all her life,and thought hard about her path.
She never said it outloud, for fear of being ridiculed, but she wanted to be a CEO. Be her own boss, be in charge, own and promote something she was passionate about.
And that would be fashion and beauty, of course. But before that, as all things in life, she had to work hard to earn her dream.
After researching extensively and asking for advice from her parents and teachers she finally decided to apply to a fashion school and do maybe some business classes on the side. For the moment, all she had to do was study to actually manage to get into said school and that itself was hard.
While her teachers proposed she'd apply to a cram school after school, Mimi also relied on her friend Mina, who was currently studying fashion in one of the schools she had been eyeing.
Growing up was hard.
So Mimi's schedule was full, most of the time she was just studying but she also made time to be with her friends and Yamato, and of course she had her job at the agency now.
Thank god, she didn't have problems with that, as her new manager Miss Itsu worked around her school and cram-school hours/days for her shoots and meetings.
At school now, Mimi was mostly with her closest classmates (a couple of which were legit friends now) and rarely visited the roof, since all her childhood friends weren't really going to school much as their graduation came nearer. It was just her and Izzy left and, although she loved her friend, he wasn't much company at all.
At least, in a few months, she would have Takeru, Hikari and Daisuke with her at school and that alone put a smile on her face (Miyako, being one year older than them was already enrolled in another high school).
That evening, Mimi was returning home after cram school and decided to stop by a cafe with a couple of her classmates who also went to the same cram school she was going to.
-I hate studying- she moaned, slumping on the table.
The girl and boy, Aiko and Masato, laughed -We hear you- one said and the other nodded along -It sucks-
Spending some time together in a cafe was becoming a routine for them before they all parted and went home, some sort of relief, Mimi was tired so she bought a couple of prepackaged meals and called it a day. She knew Yamato would be busy at this hour, working at his new part time job as a waiter in a new pub.
She texted him quickly, knowing she would be asleep by the time he finished and they had to forgoe their night-chat for that day.
-Gonna collapse in bed, hope u have a good night at work. Call you tomorrow xxx-
After a quick meal and bath, she was ready to sleep, her eyes literally closing at just 10pm. She felt exhausted and she wanted nothing more than for Yamato to be right there, with her, hug him and kiss him till their lips were sore, tangle their body and feel his warmth. Everyday Mimi missed him more and she didn't know how she was going to deal with her overwhelming feelings and for how long she would resist.
Why did she feel like a ticking timer was on her relationship with Yamato?
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Like I said, I'm on a roll. Honestly, I forgot about this story and when someone remembered me, I felt bad. So now I'll try my best to finish it before summer ends. For real this time. You'll notice time goes by fast and that's on purpose, I need it for my agenda lol and I hope it's not too forced. Originally, I wanted to do a part 2 to this story but I don't know anymore. If I don't, I'll leave with a huge cliffhanger / open finale but If I don't .. well, I don't even know when I'd start it let alone finish it. I guess we'll see. Hope you enjoyed it. Stay safe xxx