Bitter Taste
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Thanks once again to my lovely reviewers.
Apologies for the delay; life happens.
The first thing Natsuki became aware of when she awoke was that her left arm was completely, bonelessly numb.
A heavy ache coursed up her forearm as she tried to clench her fist, and she grumbled in frustration as her fingers remained unresponsive and lifeless on the bed. Rolling onto her back, Natsuki cracked open bleary eyes; blinking violently at the unfamiliar brightness of the room.
When her vision finally cleared, and the fog lifted from her mind, she took full stock of her surroundings. She wasn't in her room; she was in Shizuru's. She had come over last night to apologise, and had stayed the night after Shizuru had broken down.
Rolling her head toward her left, she studied the girl who was currently using her arm as a pillow.
Red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained cheeks did nothing to dampen Shizuru's natural beauty. In fact, Natsuki thought it might have added to the older girl's charms; or at the very least, made her seem a little more human. She smiled fondly as she reached up to brush a lock of Shizuru's hair out of her eyes. Sometimes it was too easy to forget that Shizuru was only a year older than her, and just as vulnerable and insecure as anyone. She was just far too adept at hiding it sometimes.
Her hand drew back and she froze when Shizuru let out a contented whimper and nuzzled further into her shoulder, dragging her hand sluggishly up from Natsuki's right hip to her lower ribs. Electricity shot out from beneath Shizuru's palm, and Natsuki bit her lip as the hand came to a stop, glancing at its owner warily to make sure the older girl wasn't awake and playing some sort of game with her.
When she was finally convinced that it was simply an accident, Natsuki let out a frustrated sigh and shut her eyes, picking Shizuru's hand up gently, and placing it on the bed between them. Shizuru stirred lightly but, to Natsuki's relief, remained asleep.
Feeling thoroughly awkward, Natsuki tried to extract her arm from under Shizuru's head. She half-sat up, using her free hand to help tug the useless appendage back toward her, trying to disturb Shizuru as little as possible in the process.
After a slow and agonising struggle, her hand was finally free, and Natsuki swung her legs over the edge of the bed, holding her useless arm to her body as she tried to stimulate circulation back into dead fingers. After a few more seconds, pins-and-needles replaced the heavy ache, and Natsuki quickly started wishing for the heavenly numbness once more.
The prickling intensified, shooting from her fingertips to midway up her forearm and she grit her teeth, ignoring the pain as she flexed her fingers repeatedly. With each progressive flex the prickling lessened until it became a simple annoyance.
"Ara, is Natsuki warming up for some morning fun, perhaps?"
A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed that Shizuru was indeed awake and staring rather pointedly at her left hand's gymnastics. Catching the insinuation, Natsuki blushed heavily, and stilled her hand, gripping the edge of the bed as she half-turned back toward Shizuru.
"Sorry," she muttered. "Did I wake you?"
Shizuru shook her head and sat up, her yukata slipping part-way down one shoulder as she righted herself. Natsuki averted her eyes in embarrassment as flawless pale skin was revealed to her, only chancing a glance back when the material had been secured back in its rightful place.
"You really needn't be embarrassed, Natsuki," Shizuru admonished gently. "It's just a shoulder."
Natsuki felt her stomach twist uncomfortably, as her eyes darted back to meet Shizuru's. "Sorry, I guess I'm just not as comfortable with these things as you and Mai are."
Shizuru raised an eyebrow. "These things?" she queried, putting a finger to her chin. "I didn't know that Mai-han was—"
"She's not!" Natsuki interrupted before Shizuru drew the wrong conclusion. "At least, I don't think she is. Last I heard she was going out with Tate." Her frown deepened. "Or Kanzaki… I'm not really sure which, but that's not really the point!" she muttered nervously, shaking her head. "What I meant was how comfortable you two are around other people changing and bathing and stuff like that," she grumbled awkwardly, picking at the bedsheet under her hands.
Shizuru smiled, a hand coming up to cover her mouth delicately. "Ah, Natsuki has bathed with Mai-han? Should I be jealous?"
Natsuki sighed, ignoring her friend's theatrics as her hands relaxed on the bedsheet. "Of course not! She just walked in on me in the bath one day when I was staying in her dorm room." She shook her head, a slight flush still colouring her cheeks at the memory. "That girl has no shame."
Shizuru laughed musically. "I can think of worse things than being intruded on in the bath by a pretty girl."
Natsuki ducked her head in embarrassment. "You would," she grumbled, ignoring the fresh chuckles this elicited from her companion. A small smile crossed Natuski's face at the sight of Shizuru's smiling face. "At least you look happier today," she said. "How are you feeling?"
Shizuru's smile faltered a little. "I feel much better," she replied quietly. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that. I had promised myself that it wouldn't happen again."
Natsuki frowned and turned to face Shizuru on the bed, crossing her legs as she fixed the older girl with a stern gaze. "Don't apologise for that." Shizuru's eyes widened in surprise and Natsuki pushed on, her resolve weakening at the vulnerable look in her friend's eyes. She really wasn't good at all this emotional stuff. "That's what best friends are for, right?"
Shizuru's eyes teared up again, and Natsuki shot up in alarm, only calming down when she saw the smile that accompanied them.
"Ah, Natsuki's so mean—making me cry again," she laughed, emotion bringing a tight edge to her voice.
Natsuki frowned. "I am not!" she protested, slightly hurt despite Shizuru's mischievous tone and impish smile. She was well aware that she had been the cause of far too many of those tears. "You just cry too easily," she grumbled.
Shizuru smiled as she used her fingertips to clear the moisture from her eyes. "Maybe so," she conceded.
"So," Natsuki started, wanting to change subjects rather quickly, "what are we going to do today?"
"We?" Shizuru asked, her brow crinkling in confusion as she finished wiping her eyes.
Natsuki frowned indignantly at the puzzled response. "Yes, we! I was thinking of taking you into town for lunch to properly celebrate your graduation, since I was an idiot most of yesterday." When Shizuru just stared at her wordlessly, Natsuki started fidgeting. "Unless you have something better to do, of course?" she prompted.
Her question seemed to snap Shizuru out of her stupor, as the older girl smiled and shook her head in the negative. "I have nothing planned that could top a lunch invitation from Natsuki," she said, causing Natsuki to frown a little.
"That's not what I asked," she pointed out sullenly. "If you've got plans already—"
Shizuru held up a hand, cutting her off. "I don't," she said, shaking her head a little. "I was only teasing."
Natsuki smiled. "Okay, good," she said, getting off the bed to dig around in her backpack. After a few seconds of fruitless searching, Natsuki shot a glance back at her companion from her position hunched over her bag. "Uh, Shizuru?"
The older girl watched her with interest. "Yes, Natsuki?"
"Can I meet you in town later? I think I need to go back to my apartment." She frowned. "I didn't bring any clean clothes with me."
Shizuru smiled in amusement, her eyes glinting dangerously. "Oh? That's too bad. Would you like a lend of some of mine?"
Natsuki shot Shizuru an indignant glare over her shoulder. "Even if your clothes suited me, they certainly wouldn't fit me," she muttered, inconspicuously letting her eyes drift down the older girl's curvier figure.
Shizuru frowned. "Natsuki thinks me fat?"
"Wha—? No! Not even close!" Natsuki spluttered, getting up and taking a few quick strides toward Shizuru when she realised how that last comment had sounded. "I just mean that you—" She stopped and glanced down, a blush decorating her cheeks as she tried to figure how to properly word her next sentence. "Your proportions are—"
Muffled laughter stopped her.
Natsuki blinked, and stared at her older companion. Shizuru had one hand across her mouth, the other coming down to clutch at her stomach, as her body trembled with laughter. Crimson eyes darted up to catch her own, and Natsuki felt irritation bubbling inside her when she realised how perfectly she'd fallen into Shizuru's trap.
"I hate you," she growled, shaking her head and walking back to her bag as Shizuru continued chuckling on the bed.
"Ara," she exclaimed, wiping her eyes, "I love Natsuki too."
Natsuki just shut her eyes and sighed.
"Nao-chan, it's time to get up!"
Nao groaned irritably and buried her face in her pillow as the sing-song voice bored straight into her brain. "No it's not, Aoi," she growled. "It's the weekend; it's time to sleep."
Spears of light assaulted her eyes as Aoi threw open the curtains to the room and Nao pulled the sheets over her head to block out those vindictive little rays. She was left in peace for only a few short moments, before she heard soft footsteps approaching her bed. Soon enough, strong hands peeled the sheets from her body, leaving her exposed to the bright morning sunlight and chill spring air.
"The hell!" she croaked angrily, her voice still husky from sleep.
"It's too nice a day to go wasting away in bed," her roommate explained, holding onto the bedsheets as she smiled down at Nao. "So get yourself up and go do something!"
Nao glared daggers at her roommate. "I was doing something," she protested irritably, "I was sleeping!" She flipped onto her side away from Aoi and tucked her knees to her chest to keep warm. "And as soon as you've gone, that's what I'll keep doing."
She heard her roommate sigh tiredly as her sheets were unceremoniously dumped back on her exposed body. "Geez, you're going to be in high school soon, Nao-chan! You can't keep doing this anymore," she said.
"Wanna bet?" Nao taunted, her voice muffled by her sheets as she pulled them down to glance at the older girl.
Aoi was standing facing her with hands on her hips, an unimpressed frown marring her features as she met Nao's gaze unwaveringly.
"Oh, fine! I'm up, I'm up!" Nao finally growled, throwing the sheets off her body sluggishly and swinging her legs over the edge of her bed. She ignored the joyful expression on her roommate's face as she straightened the edges of her nightshirt and ran a hand through her sleep-mussed hair. "You know, you have an unhealthy obsession with keeping me from sleep," she pointed out.
Aoi grinned and went about getting herself ready for the day. "I see it as my duty as your senpai and roommate to give you a gentle shove in the right direction every now and then," she said, fastening a necklace around her neck. "And if that means interrupting your sleep, then so be it."
Nao just scoffed as she climbed sluggishly to her feet, studying Aoi as she moved about their room hurriedly. "What are you getting all dressed up for, anyway?" she asked curiously. "Got plans?"
Aoi met Nao's curious glance in the reflection of her bedside mirror as she used a finger to paint lip balm across her bottom lip. "Mmm, I'm meeting Chie-chan and the others at Linden Baum this morning." She turned back to Nao, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Actually, I think Mai-chan and Mikoto-chan will be there. Would you like to come?"
Nao shook her head. "I've got something else to do today" she replied, wandering over to her dresser and fishing out a few items of clothing.
"Oh," came the disappointed reply, "okay."
Nao glanced at her roommate out of the corner of her eye, to find the older girl looking somewhat downcast at her dismissal. "Maybe some other time?"
"Mmm!" the older girl nodded happily. "Actually, I think Mai-chan was planning another karao—"
"No way," Nao interrupted curtly, turning to walk toward the bathroom.
Aoi jumped up from her dresser, latching onto Nao's arm before she reached the doorknob. "Please, Nao-chan? It's going to be the last time we're going to be able to get together with Suzushiro-san, Kanzaki-san and Fujino-kaichou before they leave for university!"
Nao turned back to Aoi and raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to make it sound as unappealing as possible?"
Aoi smiled sheepishly. "Oh, right! I forgot that you don't like Fujino-kaichou very much," she said, before a confused frown crossed her face. "I don't really understand why, though. She's always been perfectly lovely to me."
"Yeah, I'm sure she has," Nao sneered, biting her tongue to keep herself from saying any more.
Aoi studied her silently for a few moments. "Okay then," she said. "Forget the others; come for my sake."
Nao met her roommate's pleading gaze. "You're seriously asking me to attend one of Tokiha's lame karaoke parties for you?" Aoi nodded, and Nao sighed heavily. "I'll think about it."
"Yay!" Aoi cried, throwing her arms around Nao's neck in an impromptu hug. "Thank you, Nao-chan!"
"I said I'd think about it!" Nao protested, tugging at Aoi's arm insistently. "I never said I'd actually go."
Aoi released her, and wandered back to her dresser to finish getting ready, throwing her a wink in the process. "Gotcha! It's next Friday; so make sure you don't plan anything for that night," she ordered, ignoring Nao's angry protests.
When it became clear that Aoi wasn't going to listen to a word she had to say, Nao rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she muttered, stepping through the bathroom door and closing it behind her.
As long as someone kept Fujino away from her; she'd be just peachy.
Antique furniture decorated the small shop. Rustic wooden tables and chairs occupied most of the floor room in the store proper, as a large open fireplace, framed by an old Victorian-style mantelpiece, crackled and spat on the back wall. Waiting staff, clad in simple white button-down shirts and black slacks, dashed about hurriedly, relaying orders to and from kitchen staff and back to patrons.
Shizuru smiled and took a small sip of her water as she took in the atmosphere of the cafe. It was certainly like Natsuki to recommend this place—the younger girl had always had a bit of a fascination with Western culture. And even though it wasn't a fascination that Shizuru particularly shared, it was always enlightening to experience new things. Especially when Natsuki was involved.
"Shizuru!"
She turned to find the subject of her ponderings making her way over to her table, her hair still slightly damp from a recent shower and her helmet tucked roughly under one arm.
"Sorry I'm late. I had trouble finding somewhere to park," she explained, pulling out the chair opposite Shizuru and dumping her bag and helmet under her on the floor. "Have you ordered yet?"
Shizuru shook her head, handing Natsuki a menu, which the younger girl took it with thanks. "No, not yet," she supplied. "I was waiting for Natsuki to recommend me something," she said, supporting her head on bent elbows.
Natsuki furrowed her brows and stared up at Shizuru over the menu. "Don't put that kind of pressure on me," she complained. "Your tastes are completely different to mine."
Shizuru smiled back fondly. "That doesn't matter," she offered, enjoying the cute crease Natsuki's eyebrows made as her frown deepened. "I just want to try something that you like."
She was rewarded with a weary sigh as Natsuki put the menu down. "You're not going to drop this, aren't you?"
"No, I'm not," she agreed amicably.
"Alright," Natsuki said, sitting back in her seat and crossing her arms under her chest. "But if you don't like it, I don't want to hear you complain," she ordered, her gaze turning insistent. "Okay?"
Shizuru winked, dropping one hand to rest across the smooth table top. "Understood."
Natsuki said nothing, shaking her head a little in weary resignation. A few strands of damp hair fell in front of her shoulder before sliding off, and Shizuru pointed a finger to the wet patch left behind on her t-shirt. Natsuki raised an inquisitive eyebrow at the gesture.
"Your shirt is getting wet," Shizuru provided, settling the arm back down in its former position.
Natsuki tugged at the neck of the close-fitting top and cursed quietly when she spied it. "I didn't have time to dry my hair before I left," she said, rummaging around in her bag for something. "Do you mind if I go and tie it up?"
Shizuru shook her head. "Take all the time you need."
Natsuki sent her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Shizuru," she said, lifting her bag onto her shoulder and walking toward the back of the cafe. "If someone comes to take our order, can you get two toasted chicken focacias—with extra mayo for me—and a white coffee?" When Shizuru nodded, Natsuki shot her a warm grin that sent a stab of longing lancing right through her.
Shizuru watched Natsuki's retreating form silently; guiltily appreciating the dark denim that covered lithe thighs and a very well-shaped posterior as she disappeared around a corner. Apparently she was not the only one who thought so, as a young man at a nearby table tracked Natsuki's progress with his eyes as she passed by, elbowing his companion and nodding in Natsuki's direction. A surge of vicious jealousy raced through her veins, and she averted her eyes, folding her hands on the table as she struggled to regain control of her emotions.
It had been getting easier these days, to control that vindictive little part of her that wished bodily harm on those who looked at Natsuki less than platonically, but it was still far from easy. It also didn't help that the girl in question kept sending her mixed signals every now and then.
Many questions had been plaguing her since the end of the festival about Natsuki's own feelings. Like, why she had kissed Shizuru after their battle, even after saying that she couldn't reciprocate Shizuru's feelings? And if she was rejecting Shizuru, why had she kissed her on the mouth, rather than the cheek?
She was more than aware that Natsuki's social skills were somewhat restricted due to her upbringing, but surely…
She sighed, cutting off her train of thought. She had revisited this particular argument, and was no closer to working out Natsuki's motives on the matter. She could ask the girl directly, but she was scared. Scared that she would affirm Shizuru's suspicions, and what that would mean for their relationship, and just as equally scared that she was wrong, and it would finally kill that last little flicker of hope that had been burning away unbidden in her chest.
"Sorry to interrupt, but are you ready to order?"
Shizuru turned, breaking her musings to face an attractive young waitress standing at the edge of her table. She straightened up and fixed her with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I was lost in thought. I'm ready if you are."
A beaming smile and slightly flushed cheeks met her apology. "Certainly. What can I get for you today?"
Shizuru took a moment to think. "I would like two chicken focacias—one with extra mayonnaise," she recited, as the waitress quickly jotted down her order, "one milk coffee and one green tea, please."
The waitress nodded as she continued scribbling on the notepad. "And would you like those focacias toasted?" she asked, meeting Shizuru's eyes nervously before glancing back down at her notepad.
Shizuru paused, trying to think if that was what Natsuki had told her.
"Yes she would."
Turning, Shizuru saw Natsuki making her way back toward them, her hair pulled from her neck in a messy ponytail. Words caught in her throat and she tried to keep the easy smile cemented in place. It wasn't fair that one girl could hold so much power over her. She forced her attention back to the waitress, who was studying the newcomer with undisguised admiration.
Natsuki had that effect on people.
"Yes, both focacias toasted please," Shizuru reiterated, smiling back at her companion as she took her seat once more.
The waitress nodded and repeated their order, smiling shakily when Shizuru thanked her as she took her leave.
"What a cute girl," Shizuru said when she was out of earshot, turning her attention back to her younger companion. "Although she can't quite compete with Natsuki in terms of dark good looks."
Natsuki flushed as expected, shooting Shizuru an annoyed glare. "I don't know," she said. "She certainly seemed taken with you."
Surprised eyebrows crept skyward at Natsuki's tone. "Ara, I didn't get that impression at all. Maybe I should ask for her phone number when she comes back?" she teased with a smirk.
Natsuki frowned. "You do that," she muttered quietly, earning a puzzled look out of Shizuru.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Natsuki muttered, her thumb flicking over the edge of the drinks menu, before she sighed. "It's just—don't you get tired of doing that?"
"Doing what?" Shizuru asked, wary of exactly where Natsuki was taking her line of questioning.
"That," Natsuki said, gesturing a hand in Shizuru's direction. "Flirting with random girls, and then having them fawn all over you," she explained.
A flash of annoyance coursed through her at Natsuki's assumption. "Did Natsuki actually see me flirting?" she asked.
Natsuki's brow furrowed. "No, not really."
"Then you should perhaps not accuse me of things that have no basis in truth," she concluded curtly, regretting the clipped delivery only after it had left her mouth.
"I-I'm sorry," Natsuki muttered. "But even if you don't actively encourage them; you don't really discourage them either," she protested, cautiously meeting Shizuru's gaze.
Shizuru sighed. "Is it really fair to blame me for the actions of others?" she asked rhetorically. "And Natsuki should know that discouraging people doesn't always work. Regardless of the strength of the rejection."
"I guess," came the thoughtful reply. "I suppose I never thought of it like that," she said, meeting Shizuru's eyes with the air of someone who has just had a minor epiphany. They sat in tense silence for a while until Natsuki raised her voice tentatively. "Then, you don't, you know, have feelings for any of those girls in your fanclub?" she asked, looking awfully embarrassed just for asking.
Shizuru blinked at the suddenness of the question and then shook her head gently. "No serious feelings, at the very least."
The frown reappeared. "What's that supposed to mean?" she grumbled sullenly.
Shizuru laughed lightly at her expression. "Does Natsuki really want to know?"
Natsuki paused, her body language signalling her discomfort, before nodding once.
"There are some girls in that particular group I find myself physically attracted to," Shizuru explained, feeling rather awkward discussing this particular topic with Natsuki, but wanting to indulge her all that same. "Just as I am sure there are some boys you are physically attracted to."
Magnificent was far too weak a word to describe the blush spreading across Natsuki's cheeks. Even the tips of her ears were starting to take on a reddish hue. "O-Oh," she stammered, struggling to meet Shizuru's eyes.
"I did not think Natsuki would want to discuss this," Shizuru said, not particularly confident that her cheeks didn't contain a flush of their own, wishing for Natsuki to change the topic. "Especially not here," she said, gesturing to their surroundings.
Natsuki shook her head, her ponytail whipping back and forth behind her. "Whenever I try to talk to you about it, you joke around and change the subject," she declared. "And I want to know about this part of you." She averted her eyes. "You'll be leaving for university soon," she finished, not needing to voice the rest of her sentence to get the message across: Shizuru would soon be gone for five months, and she wouldn't have the chance to ask later.
Shizuru pushed down her uncertainty with that simple request. "Very well then; what would Natsuki like to know?" she asked, resting her chin on interlaced fingers.
Natsuki frowned, as though considering her question carefully. "When did you know?" she asked finally, her eyes meeting Shizuru's.
Shizuru stifled a giggled. "You might need to be a bit more specific; I know many things, Natsuki."
Natsuki had the good grace to look embarrassed. "Uh, that you liked girls," she offered lamely.
"That is far more complex a question than you might imagine," she sighed, frowning as she thought on it. "But I suppose I became rather convinced of it after Reito-kun and I tried dating in our second year of middle school."
Natsuki's eyes widened. "So that rumour was true," she said quietly, her posture still far from relaxed. "I've always wondered about that."
Shizuru smiled back. "And yet, you've never asked me about it," she prodded.
Natsuki glowered. "You know I'm not good with this sort of stuff," she defended. "And I always thought it was just a stupid made-up rumour; I never really thought it might've been true."
Shizuru's brows raised, her curiosity piqued. "No?"
"No," she said. "You're around Kan—Minagi all the time, and you've never acted like he was—" She searched around for the right term.
"An ex-boyfriend?" Shizuru supplied, watching Natsuki as she tried to process the thought.
"Mmm," she agreed, frowning a little as she thought on it more. "So did Kan—Damn, I really can't get used to calling him Minagi," she complained, scrubbing a hand across her forehead as Shizuru giggled. "Did he know?"
Shizuru smiled fondly. "I would imagine so," she said. "Although you would have to ask him specifically if you want confirmation."
Natsuki nodded, mulling over the information she had just obtained. "Thank you, Shizuru," she said finally with a small smile.
She lifted her head from her hands. "For what?"
Clear green eyes met her own. "For telling me all of that," she returned.
She smiled fondly at the younger girl. "I think this is the least I can do for you," she said simply. "Is there anything else Natsuki would like to know?"
Natsuki frowned, her hands drumming on the table top gently. "When did you—" She cut herself off as their meals and drinks were delivered, a gentle blush staining her cheeks as their plates were laid out before them.
"When did I?" Shizuru prompted after the waitress had left.
Natsuki shook her head, signalling the end of her line of questioning. "It doesn't matter," she muttered, the blush still faintly evident on her face.
Shizuru studied her curiously for a few seconds, but chose not to push Natsuki any further. They still had two weeks. If Natsuki wanted to know something, she was sure the younger girl would ask.
Turning back to her plate, Shizuru studied the nicely presented meal before her. A set of silverware was laid out before her, and she held back a sigh at the sight of slightly greasy contents in the bread. Natsuki had taken no time in devouring her meal, a happy smile on her face as she savoured a large chunk of focacia. Unwrapping her utensils, Shizuru cut off a small piece, popping it into her mouth.
"So, what do you think?" came a hesitant voice across the table.
Green eyes studied her intently as she finished off her mouthful.
"I've barely started eating," Shizuru protested. "Let me sample a bit more before you ask me to judge it."
Natsuki glowered but held her tongue, her eyes trained on Shizuru as she ate more of the heavy bread.
"Natsuki is making me nervous watching so intently," Shizuru finally said, watching in amusement as the younger girl averted her eyes in shame.
"Uh, sorry," she said. "I just want to know what you think."
Shizuru put down her cutlery, wiping her mouth with a serviette. "Natsuki has chosen well," she said. "It's quite enjoyable."
A pleased grin met her response, and they continued their meal in silence, Shizuru enjoying the satisfied expression on Natsuki's face as she finished most of the food on her plate.
"So, when do you start classes?" Natsuki asked when she had finished her meal, nursing her cup of coffee between two hands.
Shizuru looked up, noting the subdued expression on her young companion's face. "They officially start on April the seventh," she said, taking a sip from slightly weak tea. "But I need to be there a few days in advance to organise materials and books for my classes."
Natsuki nodded, still not looking particularly pleased. "Law, huh? I should have known that you'd get into something like that," she said with a small smirk. "It suits you."
Shizuru shut her eyes. "Thank you," she said. "But I must admit it will be strange being back in Kyoto," she said. "I have gotten rather used to it here."
Natsuki took another sip. "Are you going to stay with your family there?"
Shizuru shook her head. "No, I shall stay on campus. Certain things shall be less restrictive there."
Natsuki blushed, and Shizuru giggled. "Oh, what sort of things could Natsuki possibly be imagining? That I shall be able to take girls back to my room without much fuss?" she asked with a sly wink.
"Shizuru!" the younger girl spluttered, causing another fit of giggles.
"Forgive me, Natsuki. You are just far too much fun to tease."
The younger girl pouted petulantly, taking another large gulp of her coffee as she ignored Shizuru's teasing. She then paused, her fingers brushing against the side of the cup, as she turned her eyes toward her lap. "I'll miss you, you know?"
Shizuru's heart skipped a beat, and she felt warmth blossom across her cheeks at the quiet admission. A sad smile tugged at her mouth when she reigned in her emotions. "I will miss Natsuki too," she said softly.
Fire sparkled in Natsuki's eyes. "Then—"
"I will still need my time away," Shizuru interrupted cutting off Natsuki's protest before she started. "Natsuki knows that."
Looking like she was biting back a retort, Natsuki nodded. "I know, it's just—" Her frown deepened as she crossed her arms on the table and laid her head on them. "This really sucks, Shizuru."
"Yes it does," she agreed with a small sigh. "It's going to be a long five months, but at least I will be back in time for your eighteenth birthday."
A small nod and grunt acknowledged her statement. A moment later, a musical beep punctured the silence. Natsuki lifted her head and fished around in her bag.
"A message?" Shizuru queried, watching as Natsuki sat back up, her phone in hand, nodding.
"It's from Mai," she said with a small frown. "She's organising another karaoke session next friday," she murmured, her frown becoming more pained as she read. "She says to pass the invitation along to you too."
"Ara, how nice of Mai-han. Let her know I'd be happy to come," Shizuru replied as Natsuki closed her phone and dropped it back in her bag.
"Fine, I'll tell her when I let her know I'm not going."
Shizuru darted forward to grip Natsuki's hands. "Natsuki has to come!"
"No way! Whenever I go either you, Mai or Nao force me into weird costumes. Go by yourself!"
Shizuru pouted, maintaining her grip on a struggling Natsuki. "Natsuki's so mean! She would make me go to my last karaoke party alone?"
Shizuru hid a victorious smile when the younger girl stilled, her frown becoming sullen.
"That's unfair, Shizuru!" she protested, ripping her hands back and crossing them over her chest.
"Who's being unfair? I just want to spend one night surrounded by Natsuki and all her friends before I leave," Shizuru returned, her tea all but forgotten as she argued her case.
Natsuki stilled, her frown dropping away as she met Shizuru's eyes. After a heavy sigh, she dropped her arms from her chest, resting her elbows lightly on the edge of the table. "Fine, I'll come!" she growled. "But I won't sing!"
Shizuru smiled. "Natsuki won't even sing a duet with me?" she asked sweetly, causing the younger girl to turn a glare at her.
"No!" she spat. "Look, do you want me to come or not?"
"I do," she said quickly, not wanting to push her luck. "I would very much like to have Natsuki there."
"Okay then," Natsuki said. "If I come you won't make me sing," she repeated, glancing at Shizuru for confirmation. "Right, Shizuru?"
Shizuru let a small grin cross her face, stifling a laugh at the wary expression that settled on Natsuki's. "We shall see," she said lightly.
Natsuki opened her mouth to protest, but cut herself off, sagging back in her chair tiredly. "You're impossible," she sighed.
Shizuru laughed and propped her chin back up on a palm. "I know," she said, earning a fond smile from the girl seated across from her. "But that's what you love about me."
The familiar sound of a ventilator met Nao's ears as she entered her mother's hospital room. Sliding the door closed behind her, she made her way over to her mother's bedside, clutching a fresh bouquet of orchids in her left hand. The ones she left last week were starting to wilt, and looked in desperate need of changing.
"Hi Mama," she said to the prone figure on the bed, brushing back short brown hair as she bent forward to kiss her mother on the forehead.
She then picked up the old vase of flowers, taking out the old bouquet and throwing them in a nearby bin. Once that was done she refilled the vase and settled the orchids into their new home, placing it gently on the bedside table.
When the flowers were organised, Nao pulled a chair closer to her mother's bedside and sat herself down, reaching for her mother's hand and letting them rest on the bed's soft surface.
"So, I've officially graduated middle-school, Mama," she said to the prone figure on the bed. "I guess neither one of us thought I would make it, right?"
A hiss from the ventilator answered her question, and Nao continued on, hiding the rueful smile that wanted to spread across her mouth.
"I start high-school in a week," she said proudly. "But I can't say I'm a fan of the uniform. It's the ugliest shade of mustard yellow you've ever seen; so I really don't know how I'll last three years wearing it." She sent a small smile at her mother. "But I suppose I can't complain. At least we know that my education expenses will be covered up until I graduate, right?" she said, rubbing a thumb across the back of a bony hand. "I don't even know if I want to go to university yet. Or if any will actually accept me," she laughed, humourlessly.
She paused as a nurse came in to take obs, smiling as she glanced down at Nao.
"Ah, Nao-chan, has it already been a week?" she said, picking up the chart on the end of the bed and walking over to the ventilator.
"It has, Tanaka-san," she said quietly, letting a small smile cross her face as she met the gaze of the portly nurse.
"Time just flies, doesn't it?" she said, pausing as she noticed the flowers on the bedside table. "And what are these? Orchids?"
Nao nodded, as Tanaka leant over and smelt them.
"They smell wonderful. Your mother sure is spoiled, having such an attentive daughter," she said, clipping a small device over her mother's other finger and writing down the results.
"No changes this week, Tanaka-san?" Nao asked, more as a formality than anything.
"No, none as usual, Nao-chan. We had to clear a minor infection around PEG tube port earlier this week, but as soon as we put her on IV antibiotics, it cleared up straight away."
Nao nodded, having long since become accustomed to a lot of the medical terminology they used when talking about her mother's care. "Good," she said. "Thank you, Tanaka-san," she said, as the older nurse made to leave.
"Now make sure you grab something to eat from the nurses lunch room down the hall," she ordered firmly. "You're getting too thin, Nao-chan. Have you been eating properly?"
Nao turned a polite smile on Tanaka. "I have, thank you. My roommate has been making sure of that."
Tanaka nodded shortly. "Good," she said, her hand on the door handle. "I'll leave you to it, then," she said, waving to Nao as she disappeared into the hallway. "Bye."
Nao held up her free hand, turning her attention back to her mother when Tanaka had gone. When she had finished recounting the rest of her week, including Aoi's near tantrum that morning, Nao stood up from her chair, laying her mother's hand gently down on the bed.
This was the part she always hated.
"Okay, Mama, I need to go. But I'll be here next week." She paused as she remembered her commitment the following Friday night. "Actually, I might be a bit late next week, but I'll tell you all about it. I'm sure Kuga or Midori will do something embarrassing to keep us both entertained."
She leaned forward again and planted another kiss on her mother's forehead, being careful not to disturb the ventilator tubing sticking out from her tracheotomy.
"Bye, Mama," she whispered. "I love you."