Year 1997—Tokyo, Japan
March 2nd
Bending down to lift two baskets of folded laundry fresh out of the dryer, Eri stepped into the main living area, the bundle heavy but manageable enough. Once upstairs, she disposed of the clothing, laying them in her parent's bedroom before turning to her room. From there, she sorted through it, returning them to their respective drawers. Since early morning, she'd helped with the cleaning and the washing, and running the usual errands at the store down the street.
Eri turned to the clock hanging above her desk. "Oh, I'm late!"
When she realized her classmates were waiting for her, she scrambled left to right. As she reached for her jean backpack, bedazzled with silver gems and key chains, she wavered in front of the mirror.
To her utter horror, a small coating of dust and lint covered her, and refusing to walk around dirty, she sifted through her closet. A handful of clothes greeted her, each ranging from shorts, blouses, slacks, and dresses. Eri considered every hue, fabric, and design before deciding on a particular outfit.
White with thin horizontal lines trailing the soft material of a long-sleeved blouse, Eri paired it with a flattering jet-black pleated skort, matching leggings and leather ankle boots she bought a week ago. This style suited Yuka more, but she had assured Eri it would suit her. Since it had been half priced, she had splurged.
After removing her dirtied top and adorning the ones of her choosing, she hesitated. What was missing? As she peered closer at her reflection, she scrutinized her boots before staring at her yellow headband. The color didn't match, and she exchanged it for a white one from her drawer and fixed her fringe.
Dressing in style was the utmost important factor, according to the all-knowing, Yuka. Only if you were career oriented and interested in dating. In fact, it was an absolute must in retaining popularity. Kagome and Yuka achieved that, specifically where male-driven hormones glanced their way.
They had their own expectations, though Yuka's stretched a little higher than theirs. She often stated her clear disdain for the short, ill-tempered, soft-spoken, and obnoxious. Nerds and bad boys were out of the question, and she favored mature men. The rest in their small circle were open-minded.
She wasn't certain what guy attracted her. If he was honest, then nothing else mattered. Thinking about it further, the possibilities of raising a family surfaced. Was she ready for that? She tossed those thoughts to the furthest corner of her mind and grabbed her backpack.
To her immediate surprise, bounding down the stairs, she paused halfway when she noticed three familiar faces. Her mother included. "Hey, I thought we were meeting at the bus stop?"
With hands crossed, Yuka struck Eri with a stare. "Yeah, well, you were taking too long. But now I understand why. You're dressing to impress, huh?"
The simple reply left her flustered as she joined them. "I figured, since the weather was going to be nice, I might dress up."
"You look cute, Eri," Ayumi said, smiling at the stylish attire. "I was wondering when you'd show it off. It suits you."
"Thanks," She said, holding the strap of her bag with ease.
A low whistle drew Eri's attention to Yuka, whose aqua orbs followed the curvature of her figure. There was a note of playfulness lighting her gaze, and after, winked and gave her a thumbs up.
"You'll definitely catch some stares today and snag yourself a man."
"I'll say!" Ayumi said, beaming.
Chapter Management