Tutti, Pt 2
Tutti, adj: All together, usually used in an orchestral or choral score when the orchestra or all of the voices come in at the same time.
Eimi tipped her head back, taking in the tall building before her. Sora's studio (or atelier if a fancy mood struck) was on one of those floors, washed with light from the glass outer walls. She shifted her weight and clung to the strap of her leather tote bag. She wasn't even in the building yet, and she already felt like she didn't belong.
Eimi drew a long, deep breath. Sora would never want her to be uncomfortable, or anyone else, for that matter. Rationally, she knew the only person making her feel this way was herself. But that logic smashed into an impregnable wall of emotion, and could not reach her heart.
A passing pedestrian bumped into her, knocking her into reality. Eimi straightened her back and stepped into the building.
A glance at the gorgeous lobby nearly undid all of her resolve. The place was sleek and trendy, with black flooring and expensive light fixtures glittering overhead. The wall behind the receptionist's desk was a waterfall, lit so that the surface sparkled like a moving mirror.
The receptionist caught her eye and smiled, and there was no choice but to approach. Eimi plastered an answering grin on her face, and was potently glad that she couldn't see it. It seemed to take forever to reach the desk, each footstep louder than the last, enhanced by cumulative echoes.
The receptionist was stunning, with black hair, cat eye glasses, and a tailored skirt suit. "Welcome!" she said, bowing. "How may I direct you?"
"I, um... I have a meeting with Takenouchi Sora."
The woman picked up a tablet computer. "Your name, please?"
"A-Anami Eimi?" She tried not to grimace at her upward inflection. What, did she not know her own name?
"Yes, you're all set." The receptionist gave Eimi instructions for locating Sora's studio, then invited her to take the elevator. Eimi turned on her heel and fled.
Even the lift was appealing. Eimi conceded that the mirrors made sense, given the building's clientele. She caught a glimpse of her face and trained her eyes to the floor.
What the hell was she doing here, pretending at being a model? I'm a vocalist, not a- Eimi's thoughts cut off as her hands snapped into fists. She wasn't a singer, hadn't been for weeks.
But I'm here. I'm here, and Sora-chan is waiting. That much decided, Eimi eased her hands loose and exited the lift at the correct floor.
Her first impression was of light. She paused and blinked, disoriented. The space was sparse, bright, and partitioned by glass walls. There seemed to be two rooms: a workroom filled with desks, fabrics in bins, and racks of clothing, and an open photo studio housing a backdrop and lights.
Eimi swallowed hard. She knew and hated photo setups, where countless photographers had tried to coax a passable picture from her for album covers. Eimi trained her eyes to the hallway in between the two rooms, formed by glass walls on either side.
As she stepped down the hall, she registered movement from the workroom. Sora appeared from behind a rack of clothing. She approached a door in the glass that Eimi hadn't noticed and joined her in the hall.
"Eimi-chan!" Sora hugged her, and Eimi relaxed just a touch. As always, Sora exuded a calming aura, and Eimi couldn't help but respond... Even when Sora's request was to blame for her tension.
As if reading her mind, Sora said, "Thank you so much for coming. I know this isn't your thing, but... I truly appreciate it."
"Anything for you," Eimi replied, because it was simply the truth. Sora's russet eyes warmed as she slid her hand into Eimi's.
"Mimi-chan is getting ready. Let's see how she's doing."
Gorgeous, Eimi thought. Loving every second. Try as she might, Eimi couldn't begrudge Mimi for any of that. Seeing Mimi shine was a privilege, and yet... She couldn't help feeling that difference between them.
Sora led her to the far wall on the end of the glass hallway. It contained a door that opened to another room, this one visually cut off from the other two. People hurried about, most carrying beauty products or clothing, or bent over chairs stationed in front of lit mirrors.
Sora moved towards the mirrors, where Eimi soon discerned Mimi, chattering with her eyes shut while one woman did her makeup and another worked on her hair.
Eimi froze when Sora gestured towards the next chair over. "Mimi-chan, Eimi-chan is here. Have a seat, Eimi-chan."
Mimi opened a honey-colored eye. "Hey, babe!" she cried. "I'm so glad you're here! It's a lot more fun to model with a friend."
"H-hi." Eimi lowered herself onto her seat in clunky stages, gripping the arm rests for stability. Even with her hair and makeup half done, Mimi was beautiful. Eimi's eyes flicked to her mirror just long enough to view her sallow, blanched skin.
Mimi grabbed her hand and squeezed. "Don't worry! I'll teach you everything you need to know! And I have my team here to help, so you're in great hands!"
More stylists materialized from the ether, and Mimi introduced them. Eimi fixed a smile in place and desperately tried to retain the names.
"You should have water before we begin," a woman whose name already eluded Eimi suggested. "There are restrooms over there, if you need."
"Um." Eimi looked to Mimi for support and found a little grin.
"You'll be in the chair for a while," she explained. "If you need to drink, eat, or use the restroom, now is the time. And your usual glow isn't on... You look dehydrated. You have to take care of yourself, Eimi-chan! You're recovering!"
Eimi glanced down when she heard a tiny squeal. Her fingers were dug deep into the chair's padded arm rests. Mimi gently eased the nearest hand free and held it.
"It's okay," she said. "We're here to help! I know you don't like having your picture taken. It was really sweet of you to help Sora-chan."
Eimi cracked a reluctant smile. "You don't not help Sora-chan."
Mimi's bell-like laugh was so pretty that Eimi's smile grew and warmed. "I know what you mean! It's almost illegal."
A stylist handed her a huge glass of water. Eimi took a sip, then drank eagerly. How had she failed to notice her own thirst?
Eimi swallowed and wiped her mouth. "How did you know I was thirsty?"
Mimi shrugged. "Your skin looked off."
"But I just met your assistant. She doesn't know how I normally look..."
Mimi grinned, then tipped her head on a silent prompt from her makeup artist. "Do you want to know the first step of beauty, Eimi-chan?"
Eimi's sudden surge of desperate interest shamed her. "What's that?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
"Taking care of yourself," Mimi replied. "Sleep, eating well, staying hydrated, exercise. Managing stress. And, most of all... Being happy."
Eimi's teeth seemed to interlock and fuse, a desperate attempt to bar the chaos of words and feelings trying to escape. There was too much to even pick apart. First, was Mimi implying that she looked off because she was unhappy? Second, could Mimi seriously believe that her beauty had nothing to do with genetics?
And, finally... If Mimi really did believe her own words... How had she overcome the lifetime of conditioning hurled at every woman, which encouraged them to hate their bodies, to punish themselves and spend their money in the name of beauty, and to still feel inadequate?
Shocked and humbled, Eimi wondered, How is Tachikawa-san so powerful?!
"Hey," Mimi murmured. "Relax. I know things have been awful for you, lately, but... You already carried yourself this far. Sora-chan's studio is a long way away from the ICU. You're amazing!"
Eimi had no idea why, but her reflection blurred as tears stung her eyes. "I'm here because Sora-chan asked me to be here."
"Because she needs to borrow her sexy friend," Mimi said, nodding. "But you couldn't be here to help her if you hadn't taken such good care of yourself since leaving the hospital. Sora-chan was so worried about you! I'm so glad you're okay."
"T-thanks." Eimi had no idea how to respond, so she excused herself for a bathroom break. When she was alone in the restroom, she approached the large mirror over the sinks and stared at herself.
Her face was the same as ever, save for looking more pale and slim than before her illness. By the standards of beauty she had been taught, Eimi wasn't pretty- cute, maybe, to the right viewer. For years, she had told herself that she had other things to offer, and tried not to dwell on what she lacked.
But when she sat beside Mimi, she felt the weight of that difference like a ball and chain around her ankle. How could Koushiro move on from Mimi to Eimi without regret for what he once had? How could she hope to gain a sliver of Mimi's confidence?
Her reflection grimaced back at her. Hell, I need to see my therapist...
Sighing, Eimi took care of her business and returned to the makeup area.
XXX
After she was made up and styled, Eimi stared at herself again, this time in a full length mirror in the changing room. She was beginning to understand why Sora wanted someone with her body type to model this dress. It was deep crimson and followed every curve. Although everything important was covered, it whispered what was hidden. She wouldn't have chosen herself as a model, but the dress itself was, in a word... tantalizing.
Arms looped around her shoulders, and Eimi twitched. "Damn!" Mimi cried, leaning into her. "You look amazing!"
Eimi's glance shifted from the dress to Mimi's face. She seemed excited, even gleeful. "So do you," Eimi replied. Mimi's dress was emerald green. Although the cut was more daring than Eimi's, showing off Mimi's toned legs, the overall mood was different. Mimi's look screamed elegance and confidence. Eimi's suggested a soft sensuality. Even her dress from the charity event, the one Kaede regarded as a weapon, couldn't compete. It was flashy in comparison, a call for attention. Sora's dress was a subtle summons, a quiet murmur of promise.
Mimi sighed blissfully. "I know Sora made these dresses for general sale, but... It looks like it was made for you. Not just to your measurements, either. For you." Her hand landed on Eimi's waist and followed the blossoming curve of her hip. "I love me just the way I am, but... These curves are hard to argue with!"
Eimi tried to laugh, but it sounded more like a frazzled giggle. "Are you flirting with me?"
Delight sparkled in Mimi's eyes. "Yes, a little! Desmond will, too. It's fun for us, but don't worry! We're just playing." She smacked Eimi's hip, then drew back. "You ready to head out?"
Eimi nodded and fell into step behind Mimi, who led her to the photography area. A tall, muscular man stood by a large tripod, staring at the camera in his hands. Sora looked up from a tablet computer when they approached.
"Ah!" she cried. "You both look wonderful!"
Eimi grinned. While she didn't distrust Mimi, she was absolutely sure that Sora would never lie to her. The twinges of anxiety caused by the photography setup diminished.
"These dresses are genius!" Mimi said. "You won't be able to keep them in stock."
The man looked up from his camera and grinned. "Damn. You'd better release them with a high supply, Sora."
Mimi translated his English into Japanese for Sora, then turned to Eimi. "You have English, right? This is my boyfriend and photographer, Desmond."
"Y-yes. Hello." Eimi forced a wobbly smile. Desmond was huge, and the impressive camera looked like a toy in his hands. He was handsome in a roguish way, with a smirk, a hooked nose, and a gleam of mischief in his dark eyes.
"Desmond, this is my friend, Eimi-chan."
"Good to meet you," Desmond said. "Mimi loves your music. I like it, too. Soothing."
"Thanks?" Eimi tried not to wince at her own hesitance. Her brain paraded memories of past photo shoots, with photographers growing more frustrated with her by the moment. She still didn't know what 'look natural' meant, at least from a practical standpoint.
"If you don't mind, I'll be starting with you," Desmond said. "I was going to test the lighting with Mimi, but her agent called. Mimi, can you call her back? It sounded urgent."
Mimi sighed. "Ugh, I wanted to do this with Eimi-chan... Alright. I'll call, and you help Desmond with the test, okay? I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Um." Eimi watched Mimi leave the room, then shot a worried look at Sora. She quickly explained where Mimi was going in Japanese, then added in English to Desmond, "I don't... Maybe we should wait for Tachikawa-san? You're used to working with professionals..."
Desmond shrugged. "I'm used to working with beautiful women, so I'm right in my wheelhouse." He winked. "Could you take a seat?"
A rush of heat flooded Eimi's face. There was no way she could translate that without squeaking, so she saved herself the embarrassment and stepped robotically towards the indicated seat. The lights and camera faced a delicate, charcoal-colored chaise lounge in front of a backdrop.
Eimi paused before the chaise, as if unsure how to sit. She glanced at Sora and Desmond for direction and found an encouraging smile and a smirk, respectively. "It won't bite," Desmond said.
Eimi tried and failed to swallow a laugh. Since dignity was clearly not required, she plopped onto the chaise. "Sora-chan, what do you want me to do?" Desmond cocked his head, prompting her to translate for him.
Desmond waved a massive hand. "No worries. I'm just testing the lighting. Just be comfortable."
Eimi began translating, and Sora lifted a hand. "Maybe I should get out of the way. Desmond-san and Mimi-chan know what I want from the shoot. It will take you all much longer to translate everything."
A trill of nerves disrupted the calm that Desmond was helping her establish. "Um... Are you sure?" While Desmond seemed likable, he was a stranger. Sora was a beloved, soothing presence.
"Just let me know if you want me." Sora stood, waited for Eimi to translate for Desmond, and moved to a small clump of employees talking on the other side of the photo area.
"Don't worry," Desmond said. "She's not missing anything right now, anyway. Sometimes it takes a while to nail the lighting."
Eimi glanced up at the enormous lights on either side of Desmond, squinted, and looked away. "Is it really so hard? Everyone seems to use similar setups."
Desmond laughed. "Lighting is a capricious mistress, Eimi."
Eimi grinned. "Oh? Alright, then. So there's nothing I should be doing?"
"You just keep sitting pretty." Desmond took a picture, lifted his camera off the tripod, stared at the screen, and shook his head. "For a bit."
At first, the photo set was quiet, save for the clicking of the camera and the occasional tsk from Desmond as he rejected whatever settings he had chosen. Eventually, the strangeness of the situation dulled, and Eimi tried to recall if nailing the lighting had ever taken this long in her experience.
She blinked into attention when Desmond cursed. "Sorry, darling," he sighed. "The studio is over-exposed, is the thing. I hate to make a lady wait."
A tiny grin touched Eimi's lips. Being called 'darling' by a near stranger normally would have slammed her nerves, but it felt natural coming from Desmond... Not to mention flattering.
"So, um... Your team went to Greece recently? How was that?"
Desmond whistled with appreciation. "Paradise. Little beaches everywhere, tucked between mountains. I don't know what was more beautiful: Mimi or the scenery, which is high praise for Greece."
Wow, this man is smitten. Although his playful attitude remained throughout, a note of reverence slipped into his tone when Desmond mentioned Mimi. Eimi smiled, touched by his attitude towards his girlfriend.
The camera clicked and clicked. "I picked up some new jokes and stories there. Wanna hear them to pass the time? Some of them are filthy, though, fair warning."
Eimi's smile widened. She leaned back against the elegant curve of the chaise, her hip shifting out as she made herself comfortable. "Sure."
And she laughed her way through the rest of the test, until Mimi returned from her phone call.
XXX
Eimi sighed with relief as she stepped off the set. A stranger handed her a bottle of water, which she accepted with relieved thanks.
Mimi approached, chugging her own bottle. "You did great! I'm sure Desmond got some amazing shots!"
Heat rose to Eimi's face. Mimi's turn in front of the camera was mesmerizing, a display of her experience, skill, and confidence. Just a few words here and there from Desmond communicated exactly what he wanted, and she executed to stunning effect.
In contrast, Eimi required constant guidance, sometimes hands-on from Mimi. The comparison in performance was stark, but still, Eimi was grateful. Mimi and Desmond were patient, encouraging, and fun. Between Mimi's demonstrations and Desmond's easy, unhurried pace, Eimi was able to be engaged instead of anxious.
Sora approached, smiling warmly. "You were both amazing! Can I get you anything?"
"I'm great!" Mimi said. "I'll just get this dress off and back to you."
Sora frowned and tipped her head. "Didn't I mention? They were made for you. They're yours to keep."
Mimi slapped a hand to her mouth, then pulled Sora in for a hug. "Oh my god! I know I should say you don't have to, but I want this dress! Thank you!"
A rush of happiness warmed Eimi. "Are you sure?" she asked for both herself and Mimi.
Sora nodded. "Absolutely. They were made to your measurements, anyway. And it's the least I can do to thank you for modeling for my product page."
"Oh- You really don't have to thank me-"
Mimi rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Eimi-chan, come on. You look incredible in that dress. It would be a crime not to take it, since Sora-chan is offering."
"Oh- um-" Eimi looked to Sora for help, but the designer just grinned. "Uh- How did you get my measurements, Sora-chan?"
"I had an assistant call your manager. She said she had updated measurements for you, since..." Her smile flagged, but rallied. "You've lost some weight."
Eimi hoped that her expression remained clear. "That's right... Kaede-san measured me to have a dress taken in for my single release party."
Mimi grabbed her shoulder. "Oh! You should wear this dress!"
Eimi blinked, then brightened. "I- I would love that."
Sora's smile widened. "That's wonderful. The more you wear it, the better."
Eimi paused, unsure how to parse that. "It's free advertisement," Mimi explained. "I wear Sora-chan's designs all the time on television. Try to find an opening to talk about what you're wearing, okay?"
"Oh! I hadn't thought of it that way. Thanks for the dress, Sora-chan. I'll wear it as much as I can."
"You're more than welcome. Thanks again, both of you."
Mimi flashed a peace sign. "No problem! C'mon, Eimi-chan. Let's go change."
Eimi followed Mimi to the changing room, feeling exhausted, but relieved that the shoot was over. "I think that went pretty well," she said. "I'm sorry it took so long with me, though."
"Of course it took a while." Mimi waved a hand airily. "It always does for beginners. Desmond and I both know that. You were great."
Eimi grinned, reassured. When her mood was receptive, Mimi had that effect on her. She was so positive that it spread around, like morning sunlight opening flowers.
Eimi shut the changing room door behind them. It was a windowless space, with a few clothing racks against the walls. A large mirror stretched across the length of one wall, with a counter and a few chairs in front of it.
"Do you need help with your zipper?" Eimi asked.
"Please." Eimi undid Mimi's zipper, then turned for Mimi to do hers. Then she retreated to the corner of the room, where she had cleverly placed her clothing earlier. Facing the wall, she lifted the dress.
The sounds of shuffling fabric suggested that Mimi was changing, too. "Eimi-chan? Can I ask you something?"
Eimi hastily placed the dress on the counter and grabbed her skirt. "S-sure."
Mimi drew a long breath, which seemed to tickle Eimi's nerves. "Okay. Sorry to throw this at you, but... I've been meaning to ask about the weird energy between us."
The muscles in Eimi's back twinged as her shoulders shot up. "W-what do you mean?" she asked, knowing exactly what Mimi meant.
Mimi tsked. "I want us to be friends, but sometimes, you seem so distant with me. Koushiro-kun said that you're introverted, so I let it go... But it's more than that, isn't it?"
Eimi froze, holding her blouse to her chest. No soothing misdirection materialized in her brain, but how could she tell Mimi the truth?
Slowly, Eimi pulled her arms through the shirt sleeves. "I... don't know what to say."
Mimi's gaze was crushing, but Eimi didn't dare to look at her. After a terrible pause, Mimi said, "You know. You just don't want to say it."
Mimi's bluntness shocked Eimi into lock down. "Um..."
Soft footsteps announced Mimi's approach. She pulled up a chair and sat near Eimi. "Babe, I want to be friends. I'm trying to end something, not start something."
Eimi glanced down and found Mimi smiling gently. There was nothing accusatory in her eyes or body language. Eimi swallowed hard, then sank onto the empty chair nearby.
"I'm sorry," she sighed. "You've always been so kind to me, and I've been so stiff..."
Slowly, Mimi reached for Eimi's knee. When Eimi didn't move away, Mimi scooted her chair closer. "You've been great, but... Sometimes, you seem so uncomfortable. What's up?"
Eimi wrapped her arms around herself, seeking comfort that remained elusive. There were a great many terrible things that she'd rather endure than explaining everything to Mimi. An angry, frightened voice in her suggested that this was none of Mimi's business, anyway.
But… She had to admit that she liked Mimi. And maybe… Maybe putting this all to rest would be helpful to everyone.
"I, I'm sorry," Eimi muttered. One by one, with many painful pauses, she strung the dreaded words together. "I've loved Koushiro-kun for… for a long time. That's what I kept my distance from both of you while you were dating."
The weight on Eimi's knee increased as Mimi slumped forward. "Whew. I hoped that was it. We can work with that."
Eimi flinched so hard that she practically jumped in her chair. Mimi's sweet laugh filled the room, clashing against Eimi's confusion. "Why so shocked? I wondered if that might be it, and when Koushiro-kun told me you two were dating... It just made sense."
Eimi boggled at Mimi, slowly shifting from shock to a jittery focus. There were no signs of anger or annoyance on her lovely face, but Eimi knew that some people were better at hiding their feelings than others. Mimi always seems so honest, though... I don't think she'd say one thing and mean another.
The room felt hot, and Eimi wiped her brow, but found it drawn and dry. "I... don't understand. I thought you'd be upset."
"Why?" Mimi asked, tipping her head. "If you had gone after Koushiro-kun knowing we were dating, then I would have been. You didn't. We broke up, and I found Desmond, and you found him. I get that it's a little awkward, but… Why should I lose a friend because of that?"
Eimi stared, slack jawed and stunned. Mimi made it sound so... simple. For Eimi, every choice, and a lot of her feelings, seemed to branch out from herself and connect to other people. The potential weight of hurting, disappointing, or even inconveniencing others could be crushing, even in a hypothetical scenario. How could Mimi just... Go after things, approaching everything at face value? From Eimi's perspective, that skill bordered on superhuman.
Eimi pushed, desperate to make her position known. "I wanted something so important to you. I felt guilty and awkward. I still do."
"Why, though?" Mimi's lips dipped into a puzzled frown. "I'm happy with Desmond. I care about Koushiro-kun, and I did have to work through some feelings when I found out you were dating. But... Things just didn't work out between us, lifestyle wise. It hurt to lose him... But I'm already seeing what a relationship can be like when two people want the same kind of life."
Mimi leaned forward, balanced her elbow on her knee, and cupped her cheek with her hand. A melancholy smile nudged her lips. "Koushiro-kun and I... We were always fighting to meet each other on the middle of a bridge, when we both wanted what was on either side. More often than not, it just… drew us away from where we needed to be."
Stunned, Eimi repeated those words over and over in her head. "I'm sorry. That's… an incredible explanation, though."
A lock of loosely curled hair tumbled over Mimi's shoulder as she straightened. She seemed half annoyed, half pleased. "I spent a lot of time thinking about it… Which is not like me. So frustrating!" Sighing, she plopped against the back of the chair. "But it was worth it. I made the right choice."
Eimi's fingertips drummed against her knees. "And this doesn't... Feel weird to you? Not at all?"
Mimi tapped her chin with her pointer finger, eyes trained to the side. "Well, I used to be with Koushiro-kun. Is it weird for you to be around me?"
Eimi couldn't contain the grimace that twisted her features, and hurt filled Mimi's eyes. "S-sorry," Eimi choked. "It, it's not- I mean- I just-"
Mimi opened her mouth, but snapped it shut with visible effort. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again. "Eimi-chan... I would never do something to get in your way with Koushiro-kun."
"I know that," Eimi replied. "You've always been so kind. But, when I'm next to you, I can't help seeing how, how... Different we are."
The little storm cleared from Mimi's face with a tiny laugh. "Of course we're different, babe! You should never want to be me! I'm me! You're Eimi-chan! And your relationship with Koushiro-kun probably wouldn't go so great if we were alike."
"W-what do you mean?"
Mimi flapped a hand. "What do you mean, what do I mean? Desmond and I have so much fun traveling and partying together. You and Koushiro-kun have fun being at home together, right? That's important!"
If Koushiro-kun wanted to date someone like Tachikawa-san, then... He'd still be dating her. The logic was sound, but Eimi could hardly begin to believe it. Her hesitance must have shown, because Mimi took her hand and leaned in.
"Look... You should talk to Koushiro-kun about this. I can only tell you how I see things, but you need to know what he's thinking."
There was a faint beeping sound, and Mimi reached for her purse. "Ah, I have a text..." She dug out her mobile, then gazed at the screen. "It's ready! Hold on, I'll be right back."
Mimi hurried to the door to the changing room and opened it just enough for a hand to slide in from the other side, holding a large piece of paper. Mimi accepted the paper, chirped, "Thank you!" and closed the door after the hand receded.
Excitement lit Mimi's face as she gazed at the paper. "Oh, Eimi-chan. It's perfect!"
"O-oh?" Eimi struggled to drag her mind away from their conversation and towards whatever Mimi was looking at. The model came to her, holding out the paper.
"Look look look!"
Baffled, Eimi accepted her offering. The paper was heavy-duty and sleek. She pulled it in and found what seemed to be a portrait of herself, although she had never seen such a flattering one. She was tempted to flip the photo over, as if to reveal an explanation or trick. "I don't- This was taken just now? During my shoot?"
Mimi grinned and lifted her hand, holding her pointer finger and thumb close together. "We pulled a liiiiiittle trick on you."
Eimi's stomach sank. Of course... Sora-chan didn't actually want me to model for her. "Sora-chan didn't need a model for this dress?"
"Huh?" Mimi scowled. "Of course she does. She'll use the full body shots from your formal shoot. But this portrait is from before that."
Eimi cupped a hand to her forehead, straining to follow. "Before?"
"Desmond told you he was testing the lighting. He was actually taking your picture while you were talking."
"What- really?" Eimi stared at the portrait again. It captured her upper body in a relaxed pose made decadent by the formal wear and the curve of her body against the chaise arm. She was laughing at one of Desmond's raunchy stories, eyes lit with humor, cheeks slightly reddened from the subject matter- and probably the flirting.
"It... Looks like me," Eimi murmured.
"Because it is you!" Mimi laughed. "And the makeup just enhances what you have. Sora-chan specified that she didn't want anything that changed the way your face looks."
"Well, okay, but..." Eimi held the photo further away, still searching for the trick of it.
"Babe!" Mimi's laughter grew louder and fuller. "What are you doing?"
In a baffled, almost frustrated tone, Eimi said, "It looks nice."
Mimi's laughter abruptly cut off. Eimi glanced at her, attention drawn by the change. She blinked, unable to parse Mimi's expression. Her wide eyes and open mouth hinted at surprise, but the bow of her brow suggested hurt, or at least worry.
"You're confused because the picture looks nice?"
Eimi winced, then scrambled for an explanation. "I'm not photogenic. I get uncomfortable when a camera's in front of me."
Mimi nodded slowly, still staring at her face. "I know. That's why Desmond told you he was taking test pictures."
"That was a great idea. I usually look so stiff!" Eimi smiled, but Mimi's expression didn't lighten. Seriousness felt foreign from Mimi, and a little unsettling. Eimi smiled wider, unconsciously trying to tempt Mimi to join her, to no avail.
"You're beautiful," Mimi said. "You do know that... right?"
Heat rushed to Eimi's face, more from shame and embarrassment than pleasure. "Oh- That's- Thank you."
And suddenly, Mimi was in her face, firmly grasping her chin. Shocked, Eimi blinked and stared back, unable to do anything else. "I'm serious, Eimi-chan! You look like you, and no one else does! You don't have to look like me or anyone else to be beautiful! You just have to be you and take care of yourself! You are always the beautiful woman in this picture! That's the face you give the world every day!"
There was a long, ear-ringing silence. When Eimi's brain tripped back into gear, she muttered, "Do you really think I look like this?"
Mimi drew a deep breath, then released Eimi. "Yes. This isn't photoshopped, and there aren't any makeup tricks. It's just you, relaxed, having a good time, dressed up nice. Show it to Sora-chan if you have to, she'll say the same thing."
Eimi looked at the portrait once more. An odd, surreal feeling was beginning to solidify. She didn't photograph well, and she only looked in mirrors to prepare for her day. Was it possible that she didn't really know what she looked like, in a practical sense?
Suppressing a sigh, Eimi placed the photograph on the counter and faced Mimi. "Thanks for everything. You've always been so good to me, even when I was..."
Eimi hesitated, and Mimi patted her shoulder. "Going through things."
Eimi's eyes stung, unable to withstand Mimi's kindness. "I admire you a lot," Eimi admitted. "Maybe a little too much."
Mimi laughed, then winked. "Well, I can't blame you for that!"
Somehow, Eimi managed a smile. "I'm sorry I was stiff around you. It's not your fault that my confidence needs work. I'm sorry I saw you as... some kind of... marker that I couldn't... Couldn't live up to."
"Be gentle with yourself," Mimi said. "We're conditioned to think that way. Women, I mean. I see it all the time in the modeling industry. After all, 'top model' means more beautiful than the rest, right?"
She snorted and crossed her arms. "I love my job… But I get so frustrated! Just saying the word 'model' has all of these connotations, like a small handful of women are prettier than all the others. Ugh! And I love high fashion, but street fashion is much more needed, right? And women have so many body types!"
Eimi nodded, unsure of what to say and struck mute by both Mimi's kindness and passion. Slowly, Mimi uncrossed her arms, leaned closer, and winked. "And that's why Sora-chan and I are working together to design clothes for women of all shapes! Well, she's designing and producing… But I'm promoting the brand and pulling in women I've met from around the world to model!"
Eimi felt her eyes widening. "What? Really?"
"You bet! I'm gonna use my platform to show the world all kinds of beauty! And with Sora-chan's designs, it's sure to take off!" Her excited smiled slowly sobered to something more rueful. "I don't want any woman to feel the way you said you do. I don't want them to look at other women and feel bad about themselves. I want them to celebrate what they are."
The sound of her own sniffling surprised her. Eimi wiped her eyes. "Mimi-chan?"
"Hm?"
"I really want to be your friend, too."
Mimi blinked. A bright, beautiful smile overtook her face as she caught Eimi in a hug. Laughing, Eimi squeezed her back. When they separated, Mimi poked her nose and grinned. "That's great! Especially since you're our first model for this project!"
"What!" Eimi squawked. Mimi slapped her knee and dipped forward with laughter.
"Oh my god! You look so shocked!"
"Mimi-chan!" Try as she might, it took Eimi a while to draw a sensible explanation from Mimi. She knew that a friendship with Mimi would involve a lot of overwhelmed moments, but…
Mimi was more than worth it.
Author's Note: Stay tuned for the next chapter, Tutti pt 3! We'll see Eimi and Taichi apartment hunting and Eimi having an overdue talk with Koushiro about the issues brought up in this update.
Thanks for reading! I truly hope you're all safe and well in this crazy time. Please remember to review, I would love to hear from everyone and know you're okay.