IV
"So we knew each other at school?" Juri's voice was crisp.
She was with Tenjou Utena in a café just across the street from the flower shop, having tea and cake. The strange (but cute) woman had just told a nonsensical and suspiciously vague story about floating castles, searching for her childhood prince, and duels fought to 'revolutionize the world' (what the fuck?!). Utena frankly admitted that her own memories had upsetting gaps, and that she was incredibly happy to run into Juri. Perhaps together they could piece together exactly what had happened.
Juri didn't know quite what to make of it, or Utena. Clearly, this hogwash couldn't be true. It was more suited for a children's fairy tale or a sword and sorcery anime! At the same time, the more they talked the more she did remember things about Utena. Like that she was good at sport, insanely good. She'd been a straight-forward jock, and popular with the student-body … not unlike Juri herself. As far as Juri could remember they hadn't been close (and why not?) …. Juri had been on the student council and captain of the fencing team, neither of which had involved Utena.
Only they had. Somehow ….
"Yeah, we did," confirmed Utena, brushing cake crumbs from her lips. "Look … I can see you think this is a bunch of lies."
"Not lies," corrected Juri, "more … embellishments perhaps? You must admit, your story isn't very realistic."
"Sure," said Utena frankly, "but it's true."
They stared at each other across the table.
"More tea?" asked a passing waitress.
"No thanks," said Utena, but not without turning to study the waitress with a kind of probing intensity that Juri didn't understand. It was almost like she was looking for something that simply wasn't there, trying to will it into being.
"Look, Arisugawa-Senpai," said Utena finally, turning back, "I'd like us to stay in touch. Maybe can talk about our memories some more."
Juri leaned across the table without even thinking about it.
"I don't know about more memory talk, but I'd like to take you to dinner." She placed a bold hand on Utena's and watched charmed as the younger woman's blood vessels practically burst out her face.
"S-S-Senpai," stuttered Utena, pulling her hand away as fast as was physically possible. Juri thought she wouldn't be surprised if Utena started wiping it on her pants. "I-I'm not … I'm not … "
" … Interested?" wondered Juri, leaning in a little closer.
"Er … " Utena's blush increased in intensity, if such a thing was possible. "I-I'm not like you."
"Whatever do you mean?" purred Juri, beginning to enjoy herself. Utena actually squirmed in place.
"I … that is … I … dinner sounds nice. Yeah, why not. Friends do it all the time. Right?"
"Friends?" husked Juri as she found a pen and began to write her phone number on a serviette.
Drops of sweat beaded on Utena's brow and her fidgeting grew worse.
"Do I have to dress up?" she asked, obviously trying to change the subject.
"You don't like that much, do you," said Juri absently, enjoying the spark of their brushing fingers as she handed over her number.
"You remember that?" Utena's eyes were wide, and Juri found her own eyes growing wide as she gazed back.
"Yes … Yes I do …." Utena tucked the serviette into her jacket pocket and looked smug.
"Kind of a friend sort of thing to remember," she said pointedly.
It was Juri's turn to blush.