Chapter Two: Shinobu's Turn

A person can live their life from day to humdrum day, never expecting any change. So, when a change does happen, the person can feel blindsided, even though others around long expected it. In Shinobu's case, it happened one Fall Monday morning after French class.

Tokyo University required one foreign language in addition to English for a degree. Shinobu thought that French was the most interesting (and romantic sounding) of the options, and since Naru had taken it before, she could count on her help. She figured she could get the language requirement out of the way, and maybe put it to use with fancy French recipes. The reality was less glamorous. She'd probably pass, but wouldn't be proficient like she was in English.

After class, Shinobu and her friends would watch the male Econ majors as they filed out of the class next door. It was something she took more interest in now that she let go of her false hopes with Keitaro. Besides, what Haruka told her after that disaster about not drifting stayed in her mind. She couldn't just pine away over a childish fantasy.

"Hey Shinobu, there's one who would be good for you," her friend, Mari Saionji whispered. Shinobu looked to see who she was talking about.

It was the handsome and serious Takane Ukyo, who was a year older than her and a Senior.

"He'd be a good catch. His dad runs a successful size trading company. Rumor has it, he will take over when his dad retires." Saionji seemed to know the score with all the eligible men. "I think you two would make a good match. What's your horoscope?" She pulled out her phone to check their compatibility.

Ukyo looked up from his conversation with his classmates and saw the girls ogling him. He gave a smile and a wave.

Shinobu blushed as their eyes made contact. But remembering what Kitsune once told her about making a good impression, she smiled and shyly waved back. He was probably waving to one of my friends.

Kyoko Hayakate nudged Shinobu. "He was totally checking you out!" she hissed in an excited whisper. "Did you see it?"

"Auuu, come on you two." Shinobu blushed deeply. "He's from a rich family. My dad's a salaryman and my mom's a housewife." For now anyway. Shinobu sighed. The latest news from her family wasn't good. The last time she visited, her mom implied the promise to hold together until she graduated might be hard to keep. "There's no way he'd be interested in me! Besides, even if he was, families like that want arranged marriages."

Saionji and Hayakate shared an eye roll. He did direct most of his attention to Shinobu, and he wasn't that rich. "The Showa era called," Hayakate said. "They want their shoujo manga plots back."

Shinobu gave a slight glare. "There's nothing wrong with my manga. Besides, it's better than the yaoi stuff you read."

Hayakate glared back. "What's wrong with BL?"

Saionji cleared her throat. "Wanna know something else that's like a shoujo manga? We're gonna be late for the next class."

"AUUU!"

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There's just no way… Shinobu thought to herself. She'd been telling herself that since this morning. Even now, as she did her turn of clean up after the meeting of the foreign literature club, the whole thing seemed ridiculous to Shinobu. Her family was nothing of significance. His was of wealth and stature. There was no sense in hoping for the impossible, and she wasn't going to think about it. Then she sweatdropped, realizing she had been thinking about it all day.

Deep in thought, she was blindsided when a quiet voice said behind her, "Miss Maehara?"

Turning, Shinobu blushed to see Takane standing in the doorway. "Ah, Ukyou-san!" she said, fumbling over her words. "Did you come to see somebody? I'm sorry, but everyone else has left."

"You have cleanup detail? Let me help you with that," Takane offered. He moved to take some of the teacups from Shinobu.

Shinobu blushed. "Ah, I don't want you to miss your own activities on account of this!"

"Don't worry, Maehara-san. I want to help." Takane smiled gently.

Shinobu thought about that. Unlikely as it was, she could only think of one reason he would say that. "You mean…?"

Tanaka nodded encouragingly.

"…that you like to clean things?"

Takane sweatdropped. "Err, no. I wouldn't do this with anybody else." He smiled shyly. "Do you understand now?"

Shinobu thought about it. "I think so. You think I'm doing a bad job of cleaning?"

Takane facefaulted. "No! I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go out with me this Sunday!"

Oh… Shinobu thought, feeling foolish—and stunned at this turn of events. Say something! "Me? W- w- Why would you ask me, Ukyo-san? You don't know me well and there must be other girls prettier than me!"

"Because I like you, Maehara-san," Takane said, warmly. Something of a shy man around women, this was a bit more foreword than he preferred. But he had been interested in her since last year, and since she waved at him this morning, he had spent the day trying to work up his courage to ask her out.

"Oh…" Shinobu said, flustered. Come on! The impossible has just happened! Give him an answer! "I... I think I might like that," she mumbled, blushing.

"Oh, good..." Takane said, hoping he had understood her mumble correctly. "Would you like to join me for some tea?"

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There were a large variety of teas available at the on campus cafe. Some of them, Shinobu had never heard of. A bit overwhelmed, but wanting to create a sophisticated impression, which meant not asking for the usual green tea she knew so well, she searched her memory for a western tea. "I'll have an orange pekoe," she said, closing the menu.

Takane and the waitress sweatdropped. "Okay," the waitress said, trying to keep a cheerful expression. "But what kind of tea would you like at that grade?"

"Ehh?" Shinobu said, feeling like an unsophisticated bumpkin.

Takane gestured to the waitress. "Get us two Star of India, please." It was an Orange Pekoe quality tea after all, and he hoped it would help save face for her.

After the waitress returned with their order of tea and scones, Takane looked at Shinobu earnestly. "Since last year, I had been interested in you. But I thought you weren't interested." He began. He stopped and placed his hand behind his head, embarrassed. "Sorry, that sounds like something a character in a coming of age anime might say. But, since you waved this morning after class, I began to think I might have a chance to talk to you. I'm glad you said yes."

Last year? Shinobu thought? I must have still been pining for Keitaro. She'd finally broke the habit of thinking about him as senpai. "I guess I was distracted then," she confessed. "But I probably would have said yes if you asked." Of course, she wondered if it would have worked if he had asked then. She had gone on a few dates, after Keitaro and Naru had married, but they never worked out. Maybe it was for the best that he waited until now?

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It had been a wonderful time. But, as she traveled back to Hinata City, she began to worry. Why did I agree to a date? What if something happens? What if I'm not interesting to him? What if we have a bad time? What will happen when the others find out? The last one was of particular concern. Between the teasing and the good intentioned "help," she wasn't likely to get much peace until the date was over… and that was a best case scenario. Kitsune would no doubt drop innuendo after innuendo. Motoko would probably be overly protective. And Su… she was sure that would involve mechatama or bringing out that kissing robot. Or a combination.

So, while she wanted privacy, she also wanted encouragement for all of her self doubts. So, that probably meant talking to Naru. She was the most levelheaded of the people there. Haruka was experienced with the world too. But then there was other areas like how to dress, what to expect on a date, what she was expected to do in response. Would Naru and Haruka know about that now that they were married?

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"I'm home," she called out as she entered Hinata House. As it was her club day, she didn't have everybody waiting for her to serve the meal. So, she wouldn't be swamped as soon as she opened the door. In the meantime she resolved to keep it secret until she could get a sense of how Naru might respond.

"Shinomu!" Su called out, deliberately mispronouncing her name, "you dropped this card!" She read aloud. "Takane… Ukyo… and his phone number is circl- mmpfh!" she was cut off as Shinobu clamped her hand over Su's mouth and snatched the card. But the damage was done. The women came out in an avalanche.

"Ooh, is it a secret forbidden affair between teacher and student?" Kitsune asked, acquiring the card from Shinobu.

"What? Wait, I-"

A barrage of questions flew, and Shinobu had the story dragged out.

Naru came downstairs into the flurry. "What's going on?"

"Apparently, Shinobu has a date," Kanako said, shrugging. "We were offering advice."

"Oh? Well, don't let me interrupt."

Kanako turned back to Shinobu. "Okay, here's some brass knuckles in case he gets out of line."

"Umm, what?" Shinobu asked in disbelief.

Motoko nodded. "That should be effective if you target his solar plexus. Just don't get in a situation where your arms get pinned."

"Umm, I don't think he's like that…"

"Just remember to quit before he stops breathing, Shinomu!" Su chimed in.

Kitsune leered even more. "Don't give it up for him early. Make him work for it."

Shinobu recoiled. "Huh? I'm supposed to-?"

Naru cleared her throat. "LET ME INTERRUPT." She took Shinobu's arm and extracted her from the crowd.

Going to Naru's room, they found Sara brushing Hachi. Shinobu shrugged, indicating she didn't have any objections to her remaining there.

"I thought you needed a rescue," Naru said, plugging in the kettle on the counter and easing herself down to a sitting position.

Shinobu organized three cups and the tea Naru had on hand. "I did, thank you. I didn't expect their reactions to be like that… especially Kitsune's."

Naru sighed. "I guess since I'm married now, she lost interest in my relationship with Keitaro and needs to move on to the next potentially illicit relationship."

Shinobu blushed. "Yes, that comment bothered me. It's like she thinks I'm supposed to erm, repay him for a date." She hesitated. "Umm, for a guideline… Umm, how long were you and Keitaro dating before you… err…." She broke off and stared at the floor.

Naru took pity on her by answering directly. "Had sex? No, for us, our wedding night was our first time."

Sara looked up. "Really?" Kokeru had been dropping some hints and she was hoping for some guidelines herself.

Naru blushed. "Yes… well, actually I guess I can't claim all the credit. When I was afraid the promise wasn't working, I tried to initiate something a couple times, but it always ended in disaster. But once I realized he'd wait for me, I decided to wait until we married. I'm glad we did. I think we would have regretted it if we went all the way before we got married."

"But," Shinobu replied. "What if Ukyo-san isn't like Keitaro? What if he doesn't want to wait like that?" She was a bit surprised to learn this about Naru. Her friends at Todai thought it was strange she was still a virgin, so she assumed that Naru was… experienced… before she was married.

Well I can't force you to live by my ethics," Naru said bluntly, "and I can't act high and mighty because I almost went all the way and for a bad reason too, but I think that if a guy who tries to pressure you into sex, he isn't worth dating." She looked both Shinobu and Sara in the eye. "If you feel like you owe a man for taking you out, or you're afraid you'll lose him if you don't, or because you can't think of any reason to say no, those are bad reasons to have sex. These were once reasons I felt like I had to do it if I was asked."

"Really?" chorused Shinobu and Su.

Naru lowered her voice. Well, this is dumb, but…." She stopped, and frowned. Then she got up and quietly moved to the door, suddenly throwing it open. Kitsune was crouched there, hand cupped to her ear, a sheepish grin on her face.

"So the honeymoon was your first time? Really? Poor Keitaro!"

Naru stared at her, eyes narrowed. Shinobu and Sara winced from the THWOK. Then Naru slid the door closed, walked back and eased herself back to her seat while massaging her fist.

"Ara! Kitsune!" came Mutsumi's voice. "Oh, where is the first aid kit?"

Shinobu sweatdropped.

Naru cleared her throat. "Well, remember when Keitaro and I took the trip after we failed our entrance exams? One night we wound up having to share a room because the inn was overbooked and the okami thought we were a couple. I remember thinking that if he went for it, I didn't have any good reason to say no. I was even checking to see if I smelled Okay before I realized that not wanting to do it was a damn good enough reason to say no."

Shinobu thought about that, remembering her talk with Haruka after Naru slapped her. How Haruka said Naru had low self-esteem. This seemed to fit. "So, did he… umm… try anything… bad?" She was blushing even worse once she finished that sentence.

Naru smiled. "No, he was a gentleman of a perverted kappa."

Shinobu nodded. I had no idea this was going on behind the scenes. "Well, I'd like a guy who doesn't try to pressure me do those things but they're kind of rare, aren't they? I'm not likely to find one. I imagine only the real special girls can find a guy like that." She sighed. "Maybe I'm not ready for dating?"

"Hey," Naru interrupted, a little angry. "Shinobu, you are worth a guy who will treat you with respect. I think every girl wants their first time to be with the one they love forever. Maybe we need to insist on waiting until we know that guy's the one instead of thinking we have no reason not to do it and hoping it works out."

Sara and Shinobu both looked thoughtful. What she says makes sense, Shinobu thought. I don't feel like I'm ready to start doing that yet.

Hmm, Sara thought. So I can tell him to take a cold shower until I want to do it.

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When they emerged from Naru's room, the others were a bit more restrained and apologetic for their previous mob scene… a bit more.

"So," Motoko said hesitantly, "tell us about this man. Is he someone you were interested in? Or was he someone who just barged in and you said yes to get rid of him." Her expression made clear that if it was the latter, she'd be happy to give him the bum's rush.

"No… he wasn't intrusive or creepy," Shinobu replied. "I always thought he was interesting. But I was too um…" she looked glanced uneasily at Naru, "…distracted before. Now that I'm thinking about dating again, I was attracted to him." She looked embarrassed. "The only problem is, he's from a wealthy corporation and I'm, well, me. I still worry about whether I'm below his class."

Motoko nodded. "In old families, I could see that. The Buke families for example. But if he was one of the merchant families, status doesn't matter as much." Her tone showed which of the two she placed herself.

"Still, why did I agree to have a date so soon," Shinobu mused. "I only have less than a week to get ready for Sunday."

"Well, what do you think you need?" Naru asked.

"Well, I think I should have a nicer dress to go out in."

"I can help you there!" Kitsune jumped in, before Naru could wave her off. "I know some good places to shop."

"Oh, really?" Shinobu asked, thinking there couldn't be much harm in having her along if it was just shopping. After all, she probably knew more about fashion than Naru. "That might be fun."

Naru eyed Kitsune suspiciously. The older woman had always been ready to get involved before she married Keitaro. It looks like Shinobu is the next victim. Well, there was no sense in becoming the Hinata House busybody again. As long as she protected the house from Keitaro's mishaps, that was heroic duty.

Author's Notes

"maybe put it to use with fancy French recipes." Maybe I missed something, but it seems like Todai doesn't really have courses for becoming a chef. Normally one goes to a cooking school for that. But it's canon that Shinobu went to Todai, so I have to deal with it.

"My dad's a salaryman and my mom's a housewife." I hear that in the anime, her dad's a taxi driver, but this is based on the manga where we have little information about her parents except there are marital problems. Besides, how could her parents afford to board her at Hinata House on a taxi driver's income?

"The Showa era called." Ending in 1989. The reign of Hirohito. Hayakate is basically saying Shinobu's thinking of class as a barrier is old fashioned.

"Orange Pekoe." This happened to me in a conversation once. If you're like me (or Shinobu) and don't get it, Orange Pekoe isn't a flavor, color or a type of tea. It's the quality of the tea leaves of a black tea. (Orange refers to a Dutch origin). Star of India would be a type of black tea which can be of that quality).

"Buke" (武家). The Japanese Samurai class.