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Ch. 48: To each her own
Tatara Kogasa moved about purposefully, her actions swift yet without hastiness, her darting gaze focused and determined as she followed step after complex step of rolling, kneading, pouring, measuring, tasting more pouring, arranging, jumping out of her own skin-
"Hyah!"
A platter of sweets fell to the floor heartbreakingly on the delicious side as a teapot swirled about the edge of the counter, dangerously threatening to follow the platter.
"… H-Huh…?"
"Ah…! Oh no…"
A careless, guilty hand was shakily removed from the shoulder it made jump.
"N-Ngghhh…!"
"I-I'm sorry, I-"
"I was making that for you…" Kogasa said in a very small, barely audible voice.
"I uh… I…"
"It took all morning…" a barely audible, dangerous voice.
"W-Well… It's alright, I mean I already know how good your cooking can be, right? Hahaha… haha… ha…"
Kogasa looked up with a glare. A dangerous glare.
"Ibuki Suika…" a hand reached for a eggplant coloured umbrella leaning in a corner.
"A-Ahhh! ! !Wait! Wait wait wait! Wait! !" Suika waved her hands before her frantically.
"You…" the hand tightened. The umbrella was drawn.
"I'm sorry! ! Please forgive-"
"IDIOT! ! !" Whap!
Home run.
"Geez! Now there's only tea left!" Kogasa pouted as she carried the teapot to a safer location. Suika sat on the edge of another counter, nursing her forehead. It seems that Kogasa's umbrella gained a deadly new functionality over the course of these few days…
"Sorry, sorry!" Suika apologized profusely. Kogasa and her were both in a small pantry that serviced a couple of the smaller outlets. Light blue walls tiled halfway from the floor up with white, slightly greasy tiles. Larger square tiles lined the floor, scrubbed with excessive amounts of heavy detergent in a constant battle against invasive grime. Large and modern silver stoves and counters lined the place neatly, their surfaces bearing burnt marks from cooking and scratches from regular scrubbing.
Kogasa herself was dressed in the blue staff yukata, Suika observed with some annoyance. It seemed as if these few days, the costume had become a regular part of her… Although to be fair, she did look good in it…
"Sigh… And I thought I might give you a surprise…" Kogsa bemoaned the loss of her handmade snacks from some distance away (a/n: blasphemy!). "I guess these will have to do…" Kogasa came back with a tray of refrigerated treats, "I mean, these were made by me as well, but I did not have as much practice back then, so they might not be as good…" she shrugged with a sheepish smile.
"Heeh…~ You've been really practicing hard these few days, huh?" Suika studied the new sweets. Say what she wants… Those sweets looked pretty good already…
"Mmm! Of course! I'm not going to get a free pass just because you and Parsee-san were the ones to introduce me to Satori-san, am I?" Kogasa started to lay out the treats in a little wooden box, "If I'm going to start living and working here, I need to be good at this job," she said light-heartedly.
"U-Ummm… Of course…" Suika absentmindedly twiddled her toes. "Ah…! By the way… what are you doing?" she asked as Kogasa now proceeded to wrap up the box in a floral patterned cloth.
"Hmmm? We're going outside, of course!" Kogasa giggled, "It's a nice day outside, so I thought we might have tea under outdoors? Or…" Kogasa started a little anxiously, "Did you not think it was a good idea…?"
"...? I think it's great!" Suika grinned and, in a role-reversal, grabbed Kogasa hurriedly by the arm, "In fact, let's go now!" she started to pull a stunned Kogasa with her, her other hand just barely maintaining a grip on the snack box, her surprised, parted lips unable to form the smile it wished.
"…! Haha… Wait, Suika! You're forgetting the tea!"
"… How about this spot?" Suika suggested. For some time now, Kogasa and her had been walking through the trees, crunchy golden leaves breaking up beneath their feet to reveal the delicate scent of the earth beneath. The air was cool but now chilly, the sky crystal blue and the sun hazy yellow. The two were in some sort of clearing on a hill, trees abundant behind them but absent before, just as the ground beneath started to dip downwards. More hills coloured yellow and orange and dusted with the defiant green of conifers spread out before them as far as the eye could see.
An autumnal viewing platform.
"I think it's fantastic!" Kogasa stared about happily.
"Then let's lay out the picnic here," Suika said, and the two laid out a mat, took the flask of tea and little box of treats from the basket, set them in the centre and sat themselves on either side. Kogasa reached forth and began to pour out the tea into two cups, and Suika, thinking it would be rude to start before Kogasa was finished, laid back and stared. As in, stared at Kogasa. Kogasa serving tea that is. Kogasa serving tea with her gentle hands.
Kogasa serving tea with her gentle hands and her slender wrists.
And her light arms. And her fine shoulders. And her slim waist… And her chiselled collar bones… And her rosy pale cheeks… And her bright eyes… And her-
"Aren't you cold in that?" was the inevitable question that popped into Suika's mind after a full three minutes of staring at the delicate little flower of a girl youkai before her.
Kogasa looked up in surprise and… was it disappointment? "Eh?" was the sound that escaped from her open mouth.
"I mean, you're wearing that yukata…"
"Geez!" This again…? "This again?" Kogasa asked with a slight frown. And she had tried to be as deliberate with her actions as possible… "I've already told you, this version is for cold weather. It's warm and snug and I'm perfectly fine! Satori-san would not want her employees freezing to death, would she?"
"I'd imagine she would if I were the one working for her," Suika countered.
"Yeah… I would too actually," Kogasa reluctantly admitted.
"Achoo!"
"Are you okay, Satori?"
"I'm fine Parsee, thank you for your concern." Suika…
"Well, I think that Satori would take great care of you, so you should be fine if you say so," Suika said.
"I did say so, didn't I? !" Kogasa pouted, "Haah…~ Oh, and here you go!"
"Thank you," Suika received her cup of tea from Kogasa, blew on it gently and took a sip. "Ah…" she sighed with satisfaction.
"Hmmm? It… may sound rude of me… but," Kogasa started, "But I could never imagine you to enjoy drinking something so much that was not alcoholic," she giggled.
"Eh? ! Hey! I can appreciate tea just as much as any alcohol," Suika pouted, "I'll have you know that I have participated in as many tea ceremonies as sake parties!" she boasted.
That's right… because that's all I ever do…
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Kogasa giggled some more, "But… was it really that good?" she asked hopefully.
"Well, in your case, I gave you a discount," Suika huffed.
You've grown so much in so short a time…
"Oh? Is it because it's made by me?" Kogasa slyly hit back the mischievous insult thrown at her.
"It's because it's made by an amateur!" Suika expertly deflected back.
"G-Gah…!"
I'm the one that's no good…
"Ow… that hurt…" Kogasa faked wiping a tear from her eye, her lips donning a smile behind the sleeve of her yukata.
"Heh! Don't forget who you're dealing with here!" Suika drank more tea triumphantly.
A lousy, good for nothing free loader…
"I'll miss you."
"E-Eh? !" Suika startled and almost dropped her cup. Wh-Where did that come from…? ! "Hey… Koga- Huh… ?" Suika suddenly halted and nearly dropped her cup again.
Before her, Kogasa genuinely looked as if she would cry.
"C-Come back and visit often, okay!" she looked up with wide ruby and sapphire eyes, "Promise me!" she put a hand to her chest. "Promise me… Or-"
"Definitely!"
"…? !"
"I said 'definitely'," Suika said passionately.
"Ah… Suika…"
"And I… I expect your skills to improve the next time I come back here!" Suika looked away with a blush, evidently embarrassed about her slip up.
"… Of course!" Kogasa smiled and did wipe off a tear this time. "You'll love my tea so much you'll want to kiss me…" she said to herself under her breath.
"Hmph…!" Suika smiled kindly. She had heard that last part of course, but she decided to accommodate Kogasa this one time. This girl… Suika thought, she really, really loves me…
If she stayed with me… I would be the one to be a bother to her.
"Ah… That was delicious!" Suika bit into the last of the sweets.
"Oh, you're just saying that…" Kogasa blushed happily.
"Even if I were, would it have made you any less happy?" Suika smirked.
"…? ! Of course it would! Silly Oni!" Kogasa smacked the back of Suika's head playfully, "Well then, I guess we had better head back. You'll need some sleep for your journey home early tomorrow morning," she stood up and stowed away the empty box and flask back into the basket. Suika, after a few moments, hesitantly followed suit and helped fold up the mat they were sitting on.
"Well… Let's go then!" Kogasa said with some forced enthusiasm, "It's a rather long walk back."
With that, the two turned their backs on the clearing in the forest, the sun hanging low beneath the break in the trees, the hills behind them dimmed from yellows and oranges to reds and browns. Evening would be here soon, the appointed time of their departure.
No… Not ours, mine… Suika thought sadly. But… still… It's not like I'm not going to see her ever, right…?
The two continued down the forest path, the carpet of crisp leaves silent and the trees lining either side hushed. It seemed as if the insects and birds hidden within the forest had neglected their usual chattering too…
"Suika?"
"Hmmm?"
"Wh-When do you think it'll be the next time you come here?"
"Hmmm… When I can afford it next?"
"Haha… Please don't joke like that, Suika, it'll mean I won't ever see you again…"
"Hey! I'm not that poor! I'll just… need to make some more money… haha… ha…"
"… You are going to see me again, right?"
"… Do you really have that little confidence in me…?"
The sun behind them was drowsy with sleepiness, but somehow managed to stay afloat in the sky. Rain clouds gathered on the horizon, but the winds barred them entry.
"… Thank you."
"… What?"
"I said 'thank you'."
"A-Ah…"
"You've done so much for me…"
"Um… I didn't really-"
"You were the first to acknowledge me as a youkai."
"Ah…"
"You called me 'special'."
"… Well… It's no big deal. Back then, I just-"
"It is!"
Footsteps came to a halt. Blazing eyes of ice and fire searched relentlessly for amber brown ones, found them, and held them tightly in their gaze.
"Now you're helping me to secure my livelihood…"
"… It was Parsee's idea-"
"Suika! If I hadn't met you back then… If I had never gotten to know you-"
"No… I would have never gotten to know you."
The irises of ice and fire retracted as their eyelids flew up, and blood flowed into the skin in the cheeks beneath them. The small mouth between them was still open halfway through their retort, but no words came out from it as air rushed in instead to feed a rapidly beating heart.
"I… I never did say this properly… but… I'm glad to have met you, Kogasa."
"… Sui… ka…"
"… So… Um… How do I put this…? Well… While you're here, I can't watch over you so…"
"… Suika…"
"… So… So…! D-Don't do anything to worry me, okay? ! I- Oof!"
Air was now being forced out of lungs as two arms wrapped around a torso tightly, eliciting a gasp and a reflexive reciprocation of the embrace. A cheek was being nuzzled against a neck, the eyes above it shut sight, the eyelashes moist.
"I'll miss you!" Kogasa did cry out this time.
"… Kogasa…" Suika half-closed her eyes kindly as she moved one hand from Kogasa's back to her head and stroked it gently.
"I… I'll do my best here, I promise!" Kogasa wept, "I-I'll be fine! S-So…"
"I'll visit soon," Suika said straightforwardly.
"Haah… Suika…" Kogasa pulled back a bit, and her eyes were at her most longing ever.
"Yes?"
"I… I…!" Kogasa paused for a moment, looking hesitant, apparently afraid to make the request, "I… Could you…?"
"Could I… what?" Suika asked softly, "If there is anything I could do for you before I go…"
"Haah…! Th-Then could you kiss me farewell?" Kogasa asked hopefully, unabashedly.
…? !
"Wh-Wha wha wha wha WHAT? !" Suika flustered and started stepping back, but Kogasa maintained her steel embrace and simply allowed herself to be pulled along, her face falling from hope to disappointment.
"… You see, I knew you'd react exactly like that…" she pouted, her tears too let down to continue.
"Ah! ! K-Kogasa! It's not like I don't want to but-"
"Suika…"
"No! Really! It's not like-"
Suika, I've kissed you before, haven't I?"
"But never on the lips! Kogasa, listen! I-"
"I never said it has to be on the lips…" Kogasa said dryly.
Suika's panic shattered to make way for hysteria.
"Ack! ! W-Well, I thought you meant it that way but-"
"Hmmm...? Suika… could it be that secretly, you really want to kiss me?"
"No! No no no! You misunderstand! I mean… I wouldn't mind at all for something like this if you insisted-"
"I do insist."
"Hyah! Ah… Er… W-Well then, where would you er…"
"I'm fine with your suggestion on the lips."
Suika's hysteria broke down along with the rest of her sanity.
"W-Wait! Wait Kogasa- Mmphf!" Suika's eyes nearly popped out of her skull. Wh-What is this… What is this…? !
Kogasa's soft lips were pressed hard against her own, her eyes closed as her arms linked around Suika's neck. Slowly, Kogasa removed her lips, reopening her eyes and looking up at Suika's own, which had remained wide with shock the entire time.
"Hah… Hah…!" Kogasa kissed me… Kogasa kissed- "Hah…! Th-That was my first!" Suika cupped a hand over her mouth and turned away, blushing furiously.
"Mine too…" Out of the corner of her eye, Suika saw Kogasa running a finger over her own lips, her cheeks matching Suika's shade of red, "And that… I have to say, was a little disappointing…" Kogasa smiled awkwardly.
"K-Kogasa… I- Mmphf!" Once again, Suika found herself being kissed on the lips. And as soon as Kogasa backed away again…
"Hah…! Th-That was my second!" Suika cupped a hand over her mouth and turned away again, blushing even more furiously.
"Hmmm… Suika, it's hard to kiss you when your lips are pressed into such a thin line…" Kogasa said, expression all discontent.
"W-Well, that's because I'm not prepared! And that's two times in a roll you've stolen a kiss from me!" Suika retorted.
"Can't we please just do it properly, Suika?" Kogasa pleaded, "Can't we? I do love you after all…" she stated outright.
"…? ! I…" Suika took a good hard look at the karakasa before her, then sighed in defeat. Haha… Who would have thought that just a month ago, this girl was just a lost umbrella, and now… "Fine, fine! Honestly… I've fought and beaten all sorts of youkai, but you're the first one to be able to conquer me…" she confessed reluctantly.
"Con… quer…? Hah…! Does that mean-"
"I'll only admit I love you if you can make good enough tea the next time I visit."
"… T'ch… You're so mean…" Kogasa pouted, "Well… I guess this is good enough for now…" she smiled and leaned in once again to steal her own and Suika's third.