I couldn't believe what was happening to me. My parents had called me to meet them at a nice restaurant on my way home from school, one of the most expensive ones nearby. At first I was wondering if I missed some important date, but no matter how hard I thought, nothing came to mind. Now though, I knew what was going on. Sitting in a private room in a five-star restaurant, in front of a man in a suit, while wearing my schoolgirl uniform. Introductions were made and before I could even utter a word, I was left alone with a person I didn't even know, but seemed to know me. No matter how you looked at it... This was a marriage interview.
Pretend for Me
By:
Satashi
"Sayaka, you should have given the boy a chance," Sayaka's mother scolded her daughter while they rode in their car. "He is the son of a really wealthy family, and we've known them for years."
"I didn't know them," Sayaka replied softly, looking at the floor of the car. "I wish you would have given me some notice."
"You would have tried to talk out of it," her dad instantly spoke up, disapproval clear on his tone. "You're the perfect age to find a husband and settle down after school ends."
"I want to go to college," the daughter instantly replied. "I want to get a job, live my life, be my own person."
Before more protests were made, a gentle voice broke through the clutter to speak out. "Now now, she's still young." Sayaka's grandmother smiled at the child with shining emerald eyes despite her old body looking weak and worn down from her years. "Whatever happened to that nice girl you met in junior high?"
Sayaka looked away, not wanting to relive those memories at the moment. Still, she couldn't turn down the escape she had been given. "It turns out she didn't really like girls..." In the past, she had just said that they had broken up on mutual terms, but she couldn't bring it to herself to lie to her grandmother.
"That's what I've been saying," the mother spoke again. "You don't need a wife; you need a husband. What about children?"
"Mom, adoption is always an option."
A sigh. "But I want my own grandkids..."
"Sayaka." the girl turned to her father. "You know what we talked about. If you couldn't find someone, you agreed to let us help."
"But I do have someone!" The words came without realizing it. Instantly everyone looked at her, curiosity hanging thick in the air. "I mean... I..."
"Why didn't you tell us!?" Her mother scolded.
"You see, I..."
The car slowed down and a voice came through a small intercom next to the black window that separated them from their driver. "We have arrived at the bookstore, as requested."
Instantly, Sayaka opened the door and got out so she could help her grandmother step down from the car. "This bookstore is the one you wanted...?" Sayaka whispered the words to herself. The familiar Fujishiro bookstore was right next to them, and a pleased confirmation came from her grandmother. 'I thought this kind of coincidence happened in books and movies...' Her mind trailed as she walked next to her grandmother.
Upon entering the store, a familiar voice greeted them. "Welcome!" A sudden happy sound came next and Sayaka turned to see Yuu standing up from behind the counter. "Gran-gran!"
"Oh, hello there Dearie," The older woman smiled and stepped forward to greet the young girl. "Could you help me find a few books I've been wanting?"
"Of course!" Yuu smiled and nodded, just then noticing her friend. "Ah, hello Senpai."
Sayaka was confused, slowly pointing at both of them. "You two... know each other?"
"She's one of our best customers and has been coming here since I was really little." Yuu accepted the list given to her so she could scan it with her eyes.
"I've known Yuu-chan since she came up to my knee," a gentle voice spoke, lost in memories for a moment in time.
"I think we have all of these... But Senpai? How do you know Gran-gran?"
"She's my actual grandmother." The green-eyed girl simply smiled, relaxing a little from the casual talk and the warm atmosphere of the bookstore. The sight before her made her happy. Ever since she could remember, her grandmother was there for her. Making sure she had someone to eat with when her parents were gone for days on end, ensuring she had someone with her on parent's day, and doing all that was possible to let her live a comfortable life to her own desires.
Deciding to just follow the two, Sayaka listened in on the pair chatting away happily. "So then, the play was a huge success," Yuu was chattering while plucking a book from the shelf. "I was nervous, but everything turned out okay. Saeki-senpai was amazing as well, she really brought it all together."
"She does that," the older woman just smiled as she thought aloud. "Always bringing a smile to those around her. Sayaka is a good child, if not a little forward thinking."
"Granny!" Sayaka protested the compliment, cheeks blushing.
With a happy tone, she continued to walk with Yuu while the younger girl looked for what she needed. "We were hoping to have her bring someone with her over the winter break. You see, we're all flying to one of my son's resorts for a family get-together this year." Yuu hummed curiously to try and get some more information. "But Sayaka suddenly said that she had someone, after we already made a marriage interview for her! Can you believe hiding something like that?"
Yuu looked at her friend, seeing the fear and embarrassment clearly on her face. "Senpai gets really shy sometimes," Yuu offered while moving back to the front of the store to check them out. "It's part of her charm." Despite the calm words, her mind was trying to disect what was said. 'A marriage interview?'
The compliment didn't help ease Sayaka's worry, and she couldn't even get a word in before the two continued to chat away at each other. "Oh yes, yes. She's like me, keeping to herself. But I would like to at least meet this mysterious person. I hope they're well read; most young ones today don't appreciate the feel of pages in their hands."
At that moment, the front door opened again, admitting Sayaka's father. "Ah, just checking up since it was taking a while," he admitted, smiling when he saw his mother-in-law at the counter already. "Sayaka, why don't you come back and talk about what you were saying before you left?"
Yuu tried to keep her nose into her own business, but couldn't help listening to what was being told to her. "You know, Dearie, I wouldn't mind it if she found someone like you." The older woman continued as if nothing had happened. "You've always been so helpful and kind to an old lady like me. Gives me hope for this new day and age. Maybe you know who she's dating by any chance? Are they nice?"
"That's..." Sayaka looked between her dad and her grandmother. "You see..."
"What is it, Sayaka?" Her father paused curiously, looking over his shoulder on his way back to the car. "Come now, I want to know who you're bringing with us to the mountains."
Sayaka's eyes darted back to Yuu, hearing her grandmother speak so kindly. "Though if she were to be dating, do you know if they like books like we do?"
"Sayaka, come on, your mother wants to hear who it is."
"That's..." Sayaka felt the pressure building, conversations coming from different sides of her, prying into her life. A sudden fear gripped her, knowing that she would be put on the spot again and again to meet people, to be introduced to guys who she didn't even know. The panic built and built until it reached a point where desperation took over. "I'm dating Yuu!" She suddenly screamed out, hands going to cover her face. Silence hit the store instantly, every eye on the girl who just shouted. Her shoulders were quivering, eyes fighting back tears. Carefully she peeked through her fingers to see her underclassman looking at her in shock and disbelief. "Please..." Her mouth spoke silently to her. "Please help me..."
Yuu didn't know what to do or say. The declaration was sudden, shocking to say the least. However, the way that her friend was standing, the desperation in her eyes, and the way her bottom lip was shaking as if to hold back sobs, it was too much to ignore. "Ah...Y-yeah...We're... dating. Uhm... I thought... they knew already..."
The sudden smile on the older lady's face lit up the room. Her hands went to Yuu's cheeks to pinch them both merrily. "Oh, you little girl! You hid such a thing!"
"I-it's embarrassing!" Yuu struggled, looking to Sayaka for help.
"Granny! L-leave her cheeks alone." Sayaka quickly darted to Yuu's side and held her arm with both of her own. "I... yeah, I was just going to ask her if she could make the trip, right, uhm, Darling?"
"I-I guess?" Yuu tried to laugh it off. "That's... that's how things are!"
"So, uhm, I'm going to stay here with my... girlfriend... for a bit and talk to her about it. You go on ahead and I'll be there in just one moment, okay?"
Yuu was frantically trying to bag the books with her one free hand so she could turn them over to the buyer. "Uhm, thank you for coming, please stop by again!" The two adults slowly left, one looking shocked while the other looking very pleased with herself. Once the doors closed, the two girls met eyes. "The heck!?"
"Sorry, Koito-san, I just needed a way out of that…"
"Yeah, but telling them we were dating? What's going on?" Their voices were in a harsh whisper, trying to keep anyone else from overhearing them.
"They tried to set me up to marry someone I don't even know!" The way Sayaka's voice broke midway through made Yuu calm down, eyes suddenly soft.
"They did?"
"…Mmn." Looking away, Sayaka rubbed her arm. "When I came out to them, we made a deal that if I couldn't find anyone then they would help me…They just want what's best for my future, I know, but…"
Sighing, Yuu sank back. "Okay, fine… But why me? Why not Nanami-senpai?"
Sayaka looked away as she slowly let go of Yuu's arm. "I confessed to her over the school trip that we took… She said no. I couldn't ask something like this to her after that."
"I see… Sorry… to hear that." Yuu awkwardly took a step back. "Fine then…" Her words made Sayaka look at her again. "If it's just your family… I don't mind pretending."
"Koito-san…" With a soft sigh, she raised a hand to pat Yuu's head. "Thank you."
"Hey, you don't have to pet me!" The smaller girl fumed, glaring up at her friend. "I'm not a kid, you know."
A small laugh. "But you're so small, it makes me want to."
"I just haven't grown yet!"
"Yuu?" Rei's voice came from the stairs as she walked down and into the shop. "I heard yelling, is everything okay?" The older sister came over to Yuu, protectively looking around to see if anyone was causing the disturbance. "Ah, hello, I've seen you a few times before." She addressed Sayaka. "Are you Yuu's friend?"
"Rei-chan, this is Saeki-senpai, she's my—" The door opened again, revealing Sayaka's dad.
"Sayaka, come on now."
Rei blinked. "Your?"
"My…" Looking between the two, her face fell into a grumpy, halfhearted glare at her upperclassman. "My…. Girlfriend…"
Sayaka took that moment to quietly step back and bow. "Thank you, I need to be going now. See you tomorrow Koi-I mena-Yuu."
Yuu felt herself slump forward onto the checkout counter while Rei assaulted her with questions. "See you tomorrow Senpai."
As the day progressed, the red head had to fight to ignore her older sister bombarding her with question after question. It wasn't until she was finally able to close down the shop and make it to the bath that she had some time for herself. Stripping her clothes, she placed them in a small basket before washing her body quickly so she could relax.
Sinking into the water, the girl sighed out in comfort. Being so tiny, she was able to completely submerge herself down to her nose so she could enjoy the comforting hug of warmth all around her. A few seconds passed for her before she slid back up to take a nice deep breath. Her phone was next to her, a small light flashing on it snagging her attention. Yuu reached over to pick it up and carefully tap on it to reveal her home screen. With a flick, the top was brought down and the messenger app was touched.
Nanami-senpai: I heard from Sayaka! I hope it didn't put you out too much?
Saeki-senpai: I'm so sorry, Koito-san.
With a sigh, she replied to Touko first. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure it'll only be for a while at the bookstore. Though, I'll have to tell Rei-chan about it soon. She's been annoying me all night." Sending that message, she brought up Sayaka's. "It's fine, I'll explain to my sister when we're alone and ask her to go along with it." Only a moment passed before the reply came to her message.
Sayaka: Koito-san, can I ask a really selfish favor?
Yuu: I can't promise anything, but sure?
Sayaka: Could you pretend to be my girlfriend for a week?
Yuu: Hah!?
Sayaka: I have a family get together over winter break. If I bring you, everyone will stop trying to set me up with people, and my family will ease up on me… please? I'll do anything I can in return.
Yuu: Hold on, I think we should talk this over. Can I call you later?
Sayaka: I can call now?
Yuu: Fine.
Only a few seconds passed before Yuu's phone rang. Answering it, she leaned back into the water and sighed out. "Hey Senpai."
"I hope I'm not bothering you?" Sayaka's voice came from the other side.
"I'm taking a bath, it's fine."
"I am too, actually." Sounds of water moving came. "You're on speaker."
"That's a good idea." Yuu tapped her phone and sat it on the side of the tub so she could just lean back. "Okay, so… What exactly is going on?"
Yuu heard the girl take a deep breath before speaking. "Okay… My family knows that I like girls. Although they don't really, how to say, encourage the idea, they accept it. The deal was that if I could find someone I could be happy with, they would fully accept and support me, but if I couldn't, then they would help me find someone to be with."
"That… sounds so old fashioned." Yuu replied uneasily. "Can't you just tell them to back off?"
"I…"
Sighing, Yuu shifted, making the water splash around a bit. "I get it. What do I need to do?"
"You'll really help?" Her voice was soft.
"I'm not going to leave you all alone." Yuu thumped some water while talking. "I can deal with this for a bit, but we have to tell our friends so they don't misunderstand. That aside, what is this about a family get together?" Silence answered her. "Senpai?"
"Koito-san… actually… I need you to come with me to Hakuba Valley." Bringing her thumb up to her mouth, Sayaka bit her nail nervously. "It's a ski resort, we have a cabin there."
"…What did I sign up for…?"
"It's just for a few days!" Sayaka promised quickly. "Please, Koito-san!"
"…Okay." Yuu groaned, sinking into the tub and looking up at the ceiling.
"…Touko was right, you are too kind." The words were soft, almost guilty sounding. "I'm sorry, Koito-san."
"Yeah… So, what do I need to do?"
More sounds of water splashing came as Sayaka rested her head on the sideof the tub, cradled by her arms."Just pretend to love me?"
"…I don't know how."
"Just like you would anyone else."
"No, Saeki-senpai… I don't know what love is." The word came out a little more heartbroken than Yuu realized. "You see… I've never been in love. I've never felt those feelings before, and I don't think I ever will… I'm broken." The last two words were barely a whisper, fading into the warm water surrounding her.
"Koito-san…" Sayaka breathed out the name softly.
"I have to go, Senpai. I'll talk to you at school tomorrow, okay?"
"Yeah… Goodnight, Koito-san."
"Night, Saeki-senpai." Yuu reached over and tapped her phone before sinking under water again fully. The warmth engulfed her, hugging all around her body as she lost herself into the weightlessness of it. 'Love…' her mind thought sluggishly. 'It's something I can't understand, Senpai…'
The next day Yuu found herself being taken to the Echo coffee house after school. The warmth of the place was a nice contrast to the freezing cold outside, and before long the two found themselves seated near the back for privacy in the lightly crowded area. "I'll pay," Sayaka declared to her. "Get whatever you want."
"A blend then, please." She told Miyako when she came to them. Sayaka mimicked her order and the two were left alone once again. "So…"
"So…" Sayaka fidgeted in her seat. "Thank you again for this."
"It's fine. I just don't want to mess it up for you. I'm not sure how to do this, I don't even know anything about you."
"Let's start with names?" Sayaka suggested after a few more moments of no talking. "May I call you Yuu-san?"
"If we're dating, do you think the -san is necessary?"
"…Probably not." Sayaka took a breath. "Yuu."
"Yes, Sayaka-senpai?"
The older girl felt a small ping of joy at the name paired with the honorific. "I think the senpai part could be left off? We need to sound close."
"…Then… Sayaka Sweetheart?" The word made Sayaka blush at once, siting straight up in her chair. "You have such funny reactions, Sweetheart." Unable to keep it in, Sayaka gave a small squeak and looked away, trying to keep her face straight. "…Sweetheart? What is it?"
"You're having too much fun." Sayaka scolded her, still looking away. "What if I called you Darling?"
"I wouldn't mind. Go ahead." Yuu replied easily.
"Then," As their drinks were being sat down in front of them, Sayaka stated her words clearly. "Enjoy your coffee, Darling." She lifted her drink to her lips.
"Thank you, Sweetheart." Yuu easily replied, enjoying watching her friend snort into her drink. Miyako just smiled at them and turned away to give the girls their alone time. "That aside, I don't really know anything about you at all."
"The trip is over the winter break, so we have two days to get to know each other." Sayaka sat her coffee down. "This feels like I'm speed dating."
"The feeling is mutual." Yuu agreed, sipping her coffee after adding in some cream and sugar. "I still have to ask permission from my parents to go. What all should I bring?"
"Some clothes, pajamas, bathroom things, the usual. I'll go shopping with you to get you some winter clothes for skiing."
"I don't know how to ski." Yuu looked at the girl over her cup. "I'll look like an idiot."
"I'll teach you." Sayaka smiled gleefully. "Seeing you fall over yourself over and over is reward enough for it."
"You say that, but your looks tell a different story." Yuu leaned back and crossed her arms. "How many days is this anyway?"
"Five days; one there, three staying, one back." The look of uncertainty on Yuu's face was clear as day for her. "Please forgive me for asking something so heavy."
"I've already agreed, so stop complaining…Sweetheart."
The way she said it made Sayaka sink down a little in her chair. "Don't force yourself… Sayaka-senpai will be fine for now."
"Yeah." Once again, an awkward pause hung over them as they slowly drank their coffee. "This is going to be tough." Yuu sat her drink down and looked over the table. "Fine, let's get together tomorrow for a date."
"A date?" Sayaka repeated the words, a sudden flashback hitting her from when she was in junior high. "A date, huh?" Looking down, a sad smile came across her lips. "Yeah, I think a date would be nice." Her emerald eyes lifted up again to meet golden ones. "Then, Yuu, will you go on a date with me?"
Yuu swallowed thickly. Even though it was her idea, hearing those words made it suddenly very real. "Yeah." She spoke easier than she thought she would. "I'd like that, Sayaka-senpai." The two finally fell into a comfortable silence as they enjoyed their coffee together.
Yuu looked in her closet, humming to herself as she moved clothes around. Most of her attire was for cooler weather, but she did have a few things to wear for her date with Sayaka. Rei was sitting on the bed behind her, watching as she rooted through the clothing to hold up against herself. "So you're going on a date?" The elder sibling asked around a stick of pocky. "I thought you said that this was just pretend for a little bit?"
"It is," Yuu confirmed, looking in her mirror while swapping clothes before her. "But we have to make it look real, so we're going to give it a test run today." Turning, she held out the hangers. "Which one?"
"Black," Rei answered easily. "But why are you so worked up over it?"
"I have to make sure I play my part!" Yuu scolded. "Besides, she's my friend. I shouldn't go easy on this just because it's a favor. She really needs me." Once more she turned, this time holding socks.
"The fluffy ones." Rei pointed. "Still, it's just odd. I thought you were head over heels for Nanami-chan?"
"Nanami-senpai is different," Yuu revealed while tossing clothes on the bed next to her sister. "Being with her is normal." Despite her words, she briefly wondered if making out with your friend really was considered normal. "We're not dating." Again she looked at her clothes and nodded to herself.
Rei sighed as her sister began to strip down. "Still, I can't help but think you're taking this rather too seriously." She pointed at Yuu with a new piece of pocky. "We don't go out of our way to match our underwear to our clothes unless we think someone might see them."
Yuu looked down at her white and black underwear that did, indeed, match the general scheme of her clothing. "You picked them, don't say things!" Yuu protested at once. "Besides, Sayaka-senpai always treats me like a kid, so I wanted something more mature looking."
Rei just hummed, pushing the stick of candy into her mouth while chewing. "So you're saying if she sees you in that set, she would think of you less like a child?" She got a nod. "Then, isn't that the same as wanting someone to see them?" Caught on the spot, Yuu chose not to reply. Instead she pulled up her leggings by hopping, only to fall onto the bed. "Real mature, little sis."
Grumbling, the girl smoothed out the leggings and slid up her skirt. A little while later, she looked into the mirror to admire herself. Boots, fluffy white socks that went above them, black leggings, skirt, matching top and covered with a jacket. "I think I look rather nice."
"Why not let your hair down?" Rei offered. "It'll make you look a little older."
"Think so?" Yuu reached behind her head to undo the ties holding her little pigtails together. Once free she shook her head and turned to admire it. "I'm not sure, I think I look weird."
"Girls always change their hair when it's important." Rei mused helpfully. "Give it a shot." She watched Yuu get the flat iron so she could remove the kinks in her hair. "That being said, when are you supposed to meet?"
"At the train station around noon," Yuu mused. "We're going to a movie, shopping, and then to dinner."
"Sounds romantic."
"Yeah, yeah." Finishing herself up, she looked at Rei. "Okay, how am I?"
"Solid eight out of ten." Rei praised. "Would be higher, but I like taller people."
"Oh shush." Yuu grabbed her purse and checked her phone. "I'm off then." She watched Rei wave her off before jogging down the stairs and out the front of her house. The train was caught with no hassle and before long she arrived at the station where she would meet her date for the day. The meetup area was found and Yuu smiled lightly to herself when she saw Sayaka already there waiting. The girl was in a nice-looking attire of flowing clothing that was a mix between formal and casual, her hair actually up in a ponytail.
"Yuu," Sayaka looked thankful when her date came by. "Hey, you're early."
"So are you," Yuu smiled up at her. "Did you wait long?"
"No," Sayaka glanced around before turning back down to her friend. "Shall we go then, Yuu?" Offering her hand, she gave a soft smile.
Yuu took the hand slowly, feeling a little embarrassed walking next to her. "Uhm, I like your hair," she tried to start the conversation. "It looks really nice like that."
"I overheard you once tell Touko that you liked ponytails," Sayaka replied with a light teasing tone to her voice. "Your hair looks really nice today too, I don't get to see it down much."
"Hehe, I wanted to try something different for you." Yuu scratched her cheek with her free hand. When she noticed Sayaka glancing around again, she tilted her head. "Sayaka-senpai? Is something wrong?"
At first she didn't reply, simply walking with Yuu out into the bustling streets of the city. A few moments passed as they moved together before she finally began to talk. "I used to date a girl," she began, looking over at Yuu for a moment. "For almost a year… I won't go into details, but it ended very badly… with her telling me it wasn't real, and that she didn't actually like girls. It broke my heart." Sayaka guided Yuu along to the shopping distract as she spoke, now paying attention to what was before her. "I met her again a few weeks ago, at the train station. It didn't go much better, but I was able to stand my ground that time. I guess I was just unsettled thinking I would see them again."
Not really knowing what to say, Yuu simply squeezed the girl's hand. "Thanks for telling me."
"Mmmn." Sayaka smiled down at her. "Don't tell anyone, okay?"
"Promise." It was a small thing, just a conversation between them, but it was also the first thing that they had together. A promise of something just for them. Although not much, it was something that they could build on, and they both recognized it.