PLEASE HEAD OVER TO THE "Falter" REMAKE INSTEAD.
So as expected, I was late for Hisa's (and Itou Shizuka's) birthday.
Happy birthday to both of them just the same.
She set the onigiri aside and took the platter of sandwiches in her hands. There were only six bite-size pieces, eighths cut from one regular sandwich. Unable to find some of the condiments she needed, Mihoko had attempted a trial run without — but it was, she felt, with less than desirable results.
She'd cut the crust after lightly toasting the slices until they were a faint golden brown, with the insides still soft and moist. The filling was a mixture of finely diced cucumbers mixed with mashed tuna and a dash of salt and pepper, but the lack of mayonnaise and Dijon robbed it of the extra moisture and a mixture of tangy savouriness. To compensate for the dryness, Mihoko strained a portion of the tuna somewhat less thoroughly than usual, but it was far from the same.
Aware that Ueno-san was about to try her cooking for the first time, Mihoko wished she had more time to prepare, as well as the luxury of making something more elaborate from a more well-equipped kitchen at home. Even so, she was glad to offer the sandwiches with a smile, contented that Ueno-san had enjoyed and sought her company.
And seeing the neatly arranged mini sandwiches, looking for all the world like restaurant-worthy snacks or appetisers, Hisa picked one up and took a bite.
Ueno-san munched on it thoughtfully, and Mihoko waited for the official verdict from one whose opinion had come to mean more to her than anyone else's.
" — it's good." Hisa swallowed as she said with some surprise, "I mean, I knew it would be good, but... wow."
"Really?" Mihoko felt warm with pleasure but had her doubts at the same time. "I couldn't find the ingredients I wanted — doesn't it taste a bit off without the mayonnaise?"
"Mayo's good too," Hisa said as she took another bite, "but it's all soft but crispy together, you know? And the — the cucumbers, right? They really add to it. I like the light and fluffy ones from the convenience store, but this is really something."
She watched Ueno-san finish the sandwich, half wolfing it down and half trying to eat politely. Mihoko said with an amused smile, "Please, have as many as you'd like, Ueno-san."
"You sure?" Ueno-san perked up. "You've only got five left."
"I wasn't going to make more until I had mayonnaise," Mihoko said, "but if you like them this way I can make more right now. I've diced the rest of the cucumbers already, so it's just a matter of mixing everything together."
"Well, if you put it that way," she grinned, "I don't mind if I do."
"That didn't take much convincing, did it?" Mihoko teased, finding Ueno-san's behaviour endearing.
"I guess not," Ueno-san said charmingly, "but your sandwiches are pretty persuasive." She bit into her second one. "You know, this really would be heavenly with Kewpie. Do you want me to run down to the convenience store to grab a bottle?"
"Thank you for the offer, but Kana's probably on her way back with some as we speak."
"Ikeda Kana, right? The girl who adores you." Hisa put the last bite in her mouth, and walked over to the sink to brush the crumbs off her hands. "All your other regulars adore you, but her especially, I think. She really hangs on to your every word."
"Kana does often defer to my opinion," Mihoko said as she placed the platter down on the counter.
Hisa turned the tap on to wash her hands and grinned again. "Yeah, I'll bet. She's got an incurable case of what we call a 'Captain complex'."
"Ueno-san," she admonished lightly.
Ueno-san was only joking, but Mihoko knew Kana's devotion toward her was in all likelihood due to her family situation. With both her parents often working late, Kana had to shoulder a lot of the responsibilities of caring for her three little sisters — a heavy burden for a young girl. So it wasn't that surprising Kana looked up to her as both Captain and a sister-like figure.
"Aren't I right? She follows you around everywhere." Then Hisa patted her hands dry with a dishtowel, and leaned back against the counter. "But honestly, I'm a bit jealous."
"Of what?" Mihoko asked as her heart sped up a little, despite knowing it couldn't be the type of jealousy her mind yearned to interpret it as.
"You're really close with her, right? She's the only one I've seen you on a first-name basis with."
"I... guess," Mihoko said slowly, thinking. She had never really considered the closeness of her general existing relationships based on what she called others, since she addressed everyone in the same manner. And she couldn't recall in recent memory wanting to be on a first-name basis with anyone — Ueno-san being the only exception. Even with Kana, it had taken many reminders and prompting — in addition to a direct request on the girl's part — before she switched from 'Ikeda-san' to calling her by her given name.
Mihoko's heart fell a bit at this realisation; the last time she initiated calling anyone by their given name was, at best, sometime during the first few years of primary school. She closed her eye a little more tightly at the thought.
Hisa continued, lightly scuffing her slipper against the floor. "At first I thought maybe it was because Ikeda's younger, but you address other younger kids formally too. Did you know her from way back or something?"
"No... Just since Kazekoshi last year."
"I see," Hisa said after a moment.
"Um... Ueno-san?" Mihoko asked hesitantly.
"Mm?"
"Do you — Would — um," she gestured clumsily, "what I mean — is... is that why you called me 'Mihoko' last night...?"
She trailed off, suddenly developing a very keen interest in a smudge on her apron.
"Oh... uh, did I?" Hisa scratched her cheek. "Well, I — would you mind a lot, if I did now?"
"No — no, not at all." Mihoko wondered if they were really having the conversation she thought they were having. She glanced at Ueno-san, and was surprised to see her look somewhat off-balanced, a bit different from the usual Ueno-san she knew. Not exactly embarrassed, but maybe a bit... less collected than usual. It made her feel less awkward knowing she wasn't the only one feeling this way. "Rather than minding, I... I would be very glad."
"Really?"
She nodded quietly but firmly.
"In that case," Hisa said, "do you think... I could ask the same of you, Mihoko?"
"Y-Yeah," she stammered out automatically, as a mixture of pleasure and self-consciousness vied for dominance in her mind at hearing her name from Ueno-san. A part of her wanted to burrow her face in Ueno-san's shoulders to hide her embarrassment, to feel Ueno-san's comforting warmth, to make sense of emotions she no longer felt she understood —
And another part of her was keenly aware of, without a doubt, how it was increasingly difficult to pull herself away, or to remind herself of reality the closer they grew. The closer they were the closer she wanted to be; the more precarious the situation ended up, the more reckless she dared to be. Mihoko didn't know how she would bear the pain nor the joy of this imagined intimacy.
"Mihoko?"
"Y-Yes?" she said with a visible start.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-Yes, I'm — I'm fine."
"Then," Hisa smiled lightly, "would it be safe to assume that your face is getting two shades redder every time... because I'm saying your name?"
"U-Um..."
Hisa paused, as if she were engaged in deliberation — then slowly leaned in, and brought her lips close to whisper in her ear. "Mihoko," she breathed.
— if she previously had any doubt whether Ueno-san were teasing her intentionally or not, all such reservations were dispelled in an instant.
Hearing the timbre of Ueno-san's voice so intimately close sent shivers through her body — while the warmth of Ueno-san's breath against her ear and neck sent a multitude of emotions washing over her — emotions, she knew, that were enormously amplified by the fact Ueno-san was consciously alert of every action she took now, unlike the night before.
"I take that back," Hisa said cheerfully as she stood back up. "Make that ten shades redder."
"U — Uh —" Mihoko sputtered as she looked at Ueno-san with a sense of disbelief that had barely even begun to register in her mind.
Ueno-san spoke with a kind smile and mirthful mischievousness. "Sorry... I couldn't resist."
"I-It's all right," Mihoko managed out. But it was not all right; her heart felt like it would burst from overexertion at any moment.
Was there any way to barricade herself against unexpected moments like these — ? But even if she had the means, she doubted her will. At this point — she would be fine as long as Ueno-san didn't tease other girls the same, even if similarly innocently.
"So... teasing aside, do you think you could, you know —" Hisa began meaningfully.
"Pardon?"
Her mind was still disoriented, her thoughts still scattered — figuring out what to reply with in a timely manner was taxing enough — following the conversation in its entirety was beyond her ability at the moment.
"Are you getting back at me for teasing you?" Ueno-san laughed as her cheeks darkened with the faintest possible shade of pink. "I mean, could you say mine, too?"
"... oh." Mihoko averted her gaze as her embarrassment return in full force. "Um... ..."
"Pretty please?" Hisa said lightly.
Mihoko nodded her consent hesitantly, and quietly cleared her throat. "Um... H — H — Hisa... san?"
She peeked at Ueno-san with her eye to gauge her reaction, and was gratified to see the wide smile on Ueno-san's face.
"I barely even heard you, but —" Hisa grinned. "But — you've just put me in a very good mood. Do you think I could get you to say it one more time?"
Mihoko furrowed her brow as she complied, her voice a fraction louder than before. "H-Hisa-san..."
"Or maybe twice or thrice... or a gazillion times..." Hisa suggested, "I wouldn't mind at all."
"U-Ueno-san...!"
"I'll take that as a no," Hisa said as she grinned again.
"O-Only because you keep teasing me," Mihoko mumbled.
"Does that mean you'll call me Hisa all the time if I stop teasing you?"
"N-No... and you're teasing me again already."
"Hm, good point."
Mihoko gazed at Ueno-san, marvelling at the affection she felt toward her — and thought of the two magnetic cell phone charms carefully and separately wrapped, packed deep in her duffel bag between her garments. She wanted to give the charm to Ueno-san as soon as possible now, even though she had originally planned on leaving it till the day after, at the very end of the training camp.
A few days ago she wasn't sure she would've been able to muster the courage. Even with the guise of presenting it as a thank-you gift, even with the resolution toward feigning ignorance should Ueno-san know the charms were especially popular amongst couples — couples who liked to adorn their respective cell phones with a charm each, and let the little peaches kiss when brought together —
But bolstered by the feelings she felt, she blindly took the plunge.
"... Ueno-san?"
"Yeah?"
"There's something I want to, um, show — no, to give you." Mihoko stumbled over her words, but forged onward. "I — I don't have it with me right now, but... maybe, tonight, sometime after dinner — before the rematch with Amae-san and Kajiki-san — ? I know you're tired, but it won't take much of —"
"Sure," Hisa said warmly.
"— your time, so —" Mihoko paused, flustered. "Um. Okay."
"Then that's something else for me to look forward to tonight," Hisa said amiably. "After tonight's rematch, who knows when all four of us will get the chance to meet up again?"
"At least we'll still have online mahjong," Mihoko offered.
Mihoko chastised herself — how unsubtle could she get?
"True. But hey, I have an even better idea," Hisa said. "Since my kid sister's coming over soon, the three of us could play in person instead. I haven't thought through the details yet, but are you in?" Hisa asked more or less out of formality, already knowing the answer.
"A chance to play against someone who you say is better than you? I wouldn't miss it for the world," Mihoko smiled.
"Hey hey hey, was better than me," Hisa emphasised.
"We'll see," Mihoko said playfully, even though in her mind there was no contest as to who was better, in every sense of the word.
"Oh?" Hisa grinned. "We can settle this tonight when I —"
"— Captain, I'm sorry for the wait! I've bought the Kewpie Half like you a— … oh."
Hisa turned her gaze to the entryway, and faced a rather flushed and out-of-breath Kana. "Oh, hey, Ikeda," she greeted.
"— W-What are you doing here?" Kana demanded, with hackles raised.
"Kana..." Mihoko moved forward a fraction toward the girl. Why was Kana acting so prickly all of a sudden, when she was usually always so friendly and respectful? She only hoped it wasn't because of any unnecessary conflict with Ryuumonbuchi's members on Kana's way out to the store; she knew how much Kana blamed herself for their two losses at the qualifiers.
Kana's posture relaxed a little as she reined in her displeasure. She asked with a small scowl, "Why are you here? … Kiyosumi's buchou."
"Well, it's the shared kitchen, isn't it?" Hisa asked reasonably. "Why shouldn't I be?"
"Y-Yeah, but...! You know what I mean!"
"I don't think I do, actually," Hisa said with a grin, toying with Kana a little.
Mihoko glanced surreptitiously between Ueno-san and Kana; though uncertain of its origin, she could clearly sense the growing tension.
"But since you've bought the Kewpie, I guess I might as well tell you — I'm here to fraternise with your talented and beautiful Captain," Hisa grinned. "To, you know, come up with signals and sneaky, underhanded strategies to beat the competition in our next matches."
"Ueno-san —" Mihoko couldn't understand why Ueno-san was baiting Kana into responding — Ueno-san wasn't taking offence to Kana's attitude, that much was clear, but —
Why tease Kana so much when they barely knew each other?
She glanced at Kana, who looked ready to burst from indignation. "Kana, Ueno-san's only teasing about the mahjong, she doesn't mean it —"
"... I know that," Kana said, bristling at the sight of Hisa. She conceded reluctantly, "If she really were doing something like that, you wouldn't think so highly of her."
"Then why...?"
Kana turned to Mihoko. "It — It's because she —"
Mihoko gazed at Kana encouragingly.
"… it's — it's nothing, Captain."
Hisa grinned a little in Kana's direction. "... well, I can't say it hasn't been fun, but it's about time I got back." She turned to Mihoko. "And you're planning on finishing the sandwiches for the break, I'm guessing? You've got the onigiri done."
Mihoko nodded, though she'd completely forgotten about the sandwiches with everything that had been going on.
"I'd offer to help, but I think I'd just get in the way of your professional chef-like creations." Hisa smiled, "I can't wait to try your Kewpie tuna sandwiches, though. Is there anything I can get you before I leave?"
"No, I'll be fine," Mihoko smiled in return. "Kana's used to helping around and she knows where I packed everything — you should head back now."
"Alright. I'll see you in a bit then," Hisa said. "You too, Ikeda."
"See you," Kana muttered.
"See you later, Ueno-san," Mihoko said softly.
They traded one last glance before Ueno-san left and turned down the hallway. For a moment, she wished again she were impulsive enough — enough to forget about the camp, the sandwiches, and everything else in between — and invite Ueno-san to spend the day with her, just walking around and enjoying one another's company.
"Captain?"
Startled out of her wishful and irresponsible fantasy, Mihoko turned to face Kana, and stroked the girl's hair.
"Thank you for running down to the store, Kana."
"Ehehehe... it's no problem at all."
"Did the nearby convenience store have any? You look so out of breath."
"I had to go to another one — but it wasn't far at all!" she said hastily.
Mihoko saw Kana's sweated brow, with short bangs plastered to her forehead. She brushed and tidied Kana's hair, pressing the back of her hand against Kana's cheek. It felt hot to the touch, and was pink and flushed from obvious exertion.
"I'm sure anyone else would've thought it were far," she said affectionately. "And I thought you would be thirsty by the time you got back, so..." Mihoko left Kana's side to get the cup of water she placed in the freezer earlier to let it cool quickly. "Here, be careful, it's quite full."
Kana accepted the cup gratefully. "Thank you, Captain."
Kana pressed the side of the cup to her cheek, and sighed contentedly. Pressing both hands firmly against the cup to cool herself further, Kana began to down the water in large gulps.
"Now, don't drink so quickly."
Kana slowed down slightly, still finishing the water in record time. Happily, she took the cup to the sink to rinse it off, splashing the cold water against her arms and on her face, relishing in the cool relief.
Kana placed the cup on the rack and patted her arms with a towel just till they'd stop dripping wet, and dabbed at her cheeks with her arm, swiping across her face. She beamed at Mihoko.
"Looks like you're feeling better now," Mihoko said kindly. "I was worried something had happened to you earlier when you were like that with Ueno-san — are you all right?"
Kana said abashedly, "I'm sorry for making you worry, Captain. I — I'm alright."
"Don't take Ueno-san's teasing too seriously — she doesn't mean anything by it. She's actually very nice. I'm sure you'll like her once you get to know her."
"I... I just don't like how familiar she's acting with you," Kana mumbled.
Mihoko smiled. "I know what you're worried about, but it's okay — Ueno-san's not trying to be rude to me or to our club. But it would mean a lot to me if you could try to get along with her."
Kana nodded mutely. "I — I'll try, Captain."