Shimokitazawa – Part II

Mariko looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. She knew she was delaying herself, wasting time on purpose. If she continued like this she'd miss the train. Or was that what she wanted? She desperately wanted to see Ann again but, at the same time, she was incredibly afraid. She couldn't shake the doubt from her mind that Ann wouldn't feel the same way for her, the real her, than for Subaru. Who'd love a crippled sod like you, anyway? Ann did, she had to believe that, and stop torturing herself. Yet what if-

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Strange, she wasn't expecting anyone today. She made her way to the door and opened it. Standing at the door was an auburn-haired girl some two years younger than her, looking at her as if apologizing for being there.

"Ann?" she exclaimed, surprised.

"Good morning" Ann said, being awkwardly polite.

[A/N: Yes, I know "good morning" isn't awfully polite, but what she said would be the Japanese "ohayou gozaimasu", which is. In fact, Ann continues using the polite, -masu form of Japanese while talking to Mariko. To those that don't know about Japanese forms, well… she's just being strangely polite, but I can't really "translate" it]

"What", Mariko asked, "are you doing here?" when she saw the other girl's expression she quickly corrected herself, "not that I don't want you to be here, but…"

"I just thought I could…" Ann nodded meaningfully in the direction of the wheelchair "…help"

"You don't need to-"

"No, it's okay," Ann interrupted, getting behind Mariko and grabbing the handles of the chair, "I don't mind. This way I can… be more time with you"

Mariko smiled and reached back to place her hand gently on Ann's. "I like that"

The younger girl smiled and nodded.

"And… Ann?"

"Yes?"

"You don't have to be so polite"

The younger girl blushed, looking embarrassed, "I'm sorry, I just-"

"I know," she interrupted, "don't worry"

-----

"Hey! You two! Subaru! Tsukasa!" Yoshi called out their online names as he waved them over. Mimiru looked at him, puzzled.

"How did you recognize them?" she asked.

Yoshi smirked. "It's a see-cret," he answered playfully, "how were you going to recognize them, anyway?"

Mimiru paused. She had never thought about that. Yoshi saw her expression and laughed.

"See? Now what would you have done without me, eh? I'm the best!"

Mimiru looked down, too embarrassed at her own lack of planning to tell him to shut up.

"Mimiru?" Ann asked.

Mimru looked up, nodded, and smiled. "Ann, I suppose"

Mariko looked at the young kid curiously. "Your brother?" she asked.

"No way," Mimiru answered, "if I had to live with that every day it wouldn't stay alive for long." Yoshi stuck his tongue out at her from behind her back.

"Then who is-"

"Boing!" he interrupted, jumping from the bench and in front of her. "Don't tell me you don't remember me," he smirked, "Lady Subaru"

"Sora!"

"Bingo!" he exclaimed, "Yoshi's the name, actually"

"I always figured you were a kid"

Yoshi didn't like that. He grinned devilishly and said, "I always figured you were a le- hey!"

Muffled protests came from the young boy as Mimiru held her hand over his mouth. "Shush!" she said and grinned apologetically to Mariko. "So you're Su-"

"Mariko," Ann interrupted.

"Oh… yes, of course," she said, slightly taken aback. "It's nice to finally meet you both"

-----

Ann and Mariko were at the back of a big clothes shop. They had got somewhat separated from the other two and there was nobody around, so they were taking advantage of the opportunity, holding hands and talking softly.

"You remember the other day, when we were in The World?" Ann was saying. The older girl nodded and she continued, "I… when I was holding you I almost thought I… felt…"

Mariko nodded. "Me too, I don't know how"

The younger girl smiled and said, "it was wonderful, but…"

"But?" Mariko asked, looking slightly worried.

"But… then I was feeling Subaru and, well, I'd like to feel you"

The older girl smiled, quickly scanned the surroundings in case anybody was watching, and pulled Ann close.

Yoshi looked at the two girls from behind a line of clothes and grinned. He went up to Mimiru  and pulled on her sleeve. She looked down.

"What do you want?" she asked.

He quickly brought a finger to his lips. "Shh! Quiet," he hissed and pulled her towards where he had been standing before, "come get a look at this"

Mimiru was dragged to where the young boy had been spying on the two and he pointed them out with a grin.

"Just friends, eh?" he said playfully.

Mimiru couldn't believe her eyes, they-

Her thoughts were interrupted by the clang of metal falling on the floor. The three girls stared at a grinning Yoshi, who had just dropped the can of soda he was drinking onto the floor. On purpose, Mimru noticed. Then the two girls looked at her, and she looked back and smiled nervously.

Yoshi, mischevious grin from ear to ear, just said, "Oops"

-----

"So… it doesn't bother you?" Mariko was asking. Ann was standing beside her, holding her hand. Mariko seemed to be doing all the talking, however.

"Well, I…" she paused nervously, "I'm just surprised, that's all… it's not like we'll stop being friends, right?" she looked at Ann meaningfully and repeated, "right?"

She didn't answer, and turned to leave, but Mariko tugged at her arm and looked at her a moment, and she turned back towards Mimiru with a sigh.

"Just promise you wont tell anyone"

Mimiru nodded. Mariko looked at Yoshi. The kid grinned playfully, "well, maybe I can keep a secret…"

"Please?"

There was something in the older girl's look when she said that which made Yoshi take things seriously, if only for a moment. He nodded and said, "I promise"

Mariko looked up at Ann again, and they seemed to converse without exchanging words for a moment, then Mariko turned around again and said, "we should be going"

Mimiru nodded and said goodbye, when they were going off she waved at them vaguely, but they never even looked back. She sighed and glared at Yoshi.

He just grinned and said, "hey, it was fun"