Lesson Two:

Mrs. Pressure

In all honesty, there were not many things that could scare Ayase Chihaya. She had those years at playing against karuta opponents of many different shapes and sizes to thank for that, as well as a fair share of experience from the track team that had helped her to learn to deal with a great amount of pressure. So yes, she was fairly confident when it came to handling people.

And so when Taichi suddenly proposed on a very beautiful, sunny Thursday afternoon, coincidentally over a spontaneous lunch date in the small coffee shop across campus, that he wanted to tell his mother about them, Chihaya had been overtaken by the unfamiliar feeling of what she could only define as 'dread'.

Chihaya had grown up with Taichi. They had been classmates back in grade school, and she was not unfamiliar with his mother. Mrs. Mashima was the embodiment of anything nightmares were made of. Well, so maybe that would be exaggerating. But still, Chihaya never found it in her to like the lady. She remembered all their close friends back in those elementary days had called Taichi's mother Mrs. Pressure. And that name had stuck to Chihaya ever since.

"How does this Sunday sound?" Taichi asked her as he pushed a few string beans around his plate with his chopsticks.

Chihaya could only shake her head vigorously. "It sounds terrible. No. I… I don't want to. I'm busy."

Taichi blinked at her, as usual that patient look in his eyes as he watched her from under his long lashes. "Look, I know you never really liked her. But she's my mother, and she's starting to wonder why I don't come home in the weekends."

Chihaya gestured at him with the hand holding her own chopsticks. "So there you have it. You can go home in the weekends."

Taichi frowned at her. "But I'd rather spend my time with you."

And there he was again. Making her feel as if the room was a few degrees warmer than it really was. She patted her face with her free hand, averting her eyes from his. This was not turning out to be good for her, and her pork bowl suddenly started to taste like mush. She put her chopsticks down on her tray.

"Chihaya," Taichi prodded, stooping his head low to peek up at her. "We've been going out for three months now. My mom's starting to suspect that the reason why I'm avoiding coming home is because of a girl."

Chihaya bit her lower lip as she finally turned to face him. "Taichi, let's be real. It'll be awkward, and we wouldn't really have anything to talk about. Your mom never really liked me."

"You don't have to instantly like each other, but we have to start somewhere. I'm not into sneaking around with things like these."

Chihaya frowned at him. "What things?"

"Things that matter. And you matter." Taichi moved to take her hand from across the table.

Chihaya instantly folded her hands over lap, away from him. He did not like this. He kicked her shin from under the table.

"Ow! What was that for?" Chihaya yelled loudly, making the two girls occupying the table next to them look over in surprise.

Taichi turned to them and smiled apologetically. "Sorry," he said.

The two girls blushed furiously, brushing away Taichi's apology in hushed, very shy whispers.

Chihaya leaned forward on the table, feeling very much annoyed at being kicked. "Your mother terrifies me."

Taichi gave her a weary look and he reached out to flick her nose. "I'll pick you up at eleven on Sunday. Wear a dress. My mother likes girls in dresses."

And that had been the end of that conversation.

All throughout Friday and majority of Saturday, the thought about lunch with Mashima Taichi's mother loomed at the back of her mind like a tormented ghost, haunting her. Kana-chan had noticed it several times during their little meetings in the library, and had finally asked her about it when she realized Chihaya had been reading her Modern Literature book upside-down.

When Chihaya finally confessed about Sunday, it was very much like Kana-chan to start her sage advice with a poem from the Hyakunin Isshu.

"The Spring has passed and the Summer come again; for the white robes are spread to dry on the Mount of Kaguyama," Kana-chan said to her.

Chihaya could only curl her arms around her head, whining helplessly. "No offence, Kana-chan, but I don't know how that would help me with this."

"Chihaya-chan," the smaller girl started as she patted Chihaya on the arm. "We've known each other since high school, and back then, I wouldn't have expected you to be troubled by things like these. You were always so passionate when it came to Karuta."

Chihaya looked up to see Kana-chan smiling down at her sincerely.

"But then again, you've always been passionate about everything you put your heart into. The seasons are changing for you, Chihaya-chan. But you're going to face them as you've always have; with grace."

And though Chihaya knew that that should have been enough to encourage her through Sunday, she just couldn't find the inspiration in it. Because bottom line was, she did not want to see Taichi's mother. And she doubted Taichi's mother wanted to see her. So no, she did not think she was going to be able to face her 'with grace'.

And so with much effort, she tried to forget about the possible horrors she was going to face inside the Mashima residence and put on a dress that Sunday, because Taichi's mother liked girls in dresses. It was only when she was standing in front of the Mashimas' front door did she wonder to herself how many girls in dresses had Taichi taken home to introduce to his mother.

It was not a good thing to think about in such a situation, because the enormous butterflies invading her stomach had started to make her feel even more uncomfortable at the thought that Taichi may have brought home other girlfriends in the past, and now she was starting to worry how she would match up.

Taichi was standing beside her, looking as calm as he always was before a karuta match. Which actually bothered Chihaya because the last thing she wanted was to see Taichi looking like this was going to be something he had to be emotionally ready for.

She swallowed hard. "So… are you going to open the door?"

Taichi took a deep breath, held it in, then let it out in a huff. "I am. Once you let go of my wrist. You're cutting off the circulation to my hand."

Chihaya looked down to see that she was, indeed, clinging onto him. She instantly let go. "Sorry. I just… yeah… uhm… "

"You're nervous."

That was the understatement of her lifetime. She started fiddling with her skirt. She had picked out one of her simpler dresses, thinking that she didn't want Taichi's mother to think she was trying too hard. Now that she was here, she was wondering if maybe she should have chosen something else.

Taichi said after a while, "You don't have to be nervous. I'm not expecting much from today, either. I told you already. She doesn't have to like the idea. I just want to give her a heads-up."

"A head-up for what?"

"For the fact that I'm seeing someone, and that someone is you."

Chihaya started to straighten out her dress self-consciously once more.

Taichi brushed a finger across her cheek, catching her attention. "You're beautiful."

Chihaya, suddenly feeling embarrassed, looked up to see that he was watching her. She stuck out her tongue. "This is your fault, Taichi. And if you think flattering me would make me feel better, then you have another thing coming, because after today, I'm going to – "

Taichi silenced her with a kiss. Right on the lips. And she felt for that moment the butterflies in her stomach vanishing, because it was Taichi and his kisses.

And it would have been absolutely romantic had his mother not picked that moment to open the door just in time to see them break apart from that kiss, and the three of them were left staring at each other in pure and utter shock.

Chihaya wanted to find a dark, empty hole, crawl into it and die.

"Oh…" was the first thing that escaped from Mrs. Mashima's lips, finally recovering from the shock.

Taichi cleared his throat loudly, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. Chihaya could see his face coloring brightly, up to his ears. "Ah… I guess we wouldn't need a preamble for today, right mom?"

One of Mrs. Mashima's eyebrows rose a few centimeters up her forehead, and Chihaya wanted to hide.

"Hi, Mrs. Mashima," she said feebly, trying her best to smile.

Mrs. Mashima's eyebrow lowered and she gave her a small smile that could mean anything. "Chihaya-chan. It's been a while. How are you?"

Oh, I've been fine, ma'am. Dating your son. You must hate my guts. Please don't kill me.

"I'm doing all right, thank you."

She stepped aside. "Where are my manners? Come in. Taichi, you should have told me that you and Chihaya-chan are… seeing each other." There was a pause. Chihaya had good ears, and she couldn't miss that pause.

Taichi took Chihaya by the elbow and led her inside. "Isn't that the reason why we're here now?"

"I would have appreciated it if you had told me in advance, dear."

Taichi rolled his eyes when his mother wasn't looking. "Does it matter? I'm telling you now."

That finally made her back away. The silence after that was deafening, interrupted only by Taichi whispering in her ear, saying, "Go wait in my room, Chihaya. I'll go get us some drinks."

She felt a cold sweat pop out on her forehead and she glanced over her shoulder to see Mrs. Mashima watching her sharply as she made her way towards the kitchen. Chihaya nodded at Taichi and practically ran up the stairs to take sanctuary in Taichi's room.

The place had not changed, even after Taichi had moved out of it and into his own flat near campus. It was kept as clean and tidy as it had been when they had all watched the Meijin and Queen Tournament. She settled down on the bed, the mattress squeaking underneath her weight as she perched on the edge on it. She could hear Taichi and his mother talking downstairs. It took all her self-control not to open the door and listen to what they were talking about.

After a few minutes, Taichi finally joined her, bringing a pitcher of orange juice and two tall glasses on a tray. He balanced the tray on one hand as he closed the door behind him.

"Sorry about that. She was asking a lot of questions," Taichi said, a little flustered.

"I told you this wasn't a good idea," Chihaya said accusingly.

Taichi gave her an odd look, and a blush rose on his cheeks once more. He took his time in pouring each of them a glass. "She said she sort of figured it out. Us, I mean."

Chihaya blinked at him, confused. "What about us?"

"The reason why I joined Karuta in the first place."

Chihaya snorted tactfully. "What is she talking about? You joined Karuta because it's fun."

Taichi turned to her again, this time giving her a pointed, sharper look. "Yeah?"

Chihaya took to biting her lip again. She felt her own face heating up. "Well, it is," she grumbled.

"And given this is the first time I've ever taken home a girl, she's beyond herself with relief."

Chihaya doubted that. "Relief? Last time I came here, she was practically murdering me with her eyes."

"A sixteen-year-old boy's mother would be worried. I guess things change when you're almost twenty and you still haven't had any telltale signs of having a girlfriend. She said she was starting to worry I was going to turn into one of those guys who didn't care about starting a relationship." He laughed as he abandoned the glasses on the center table, moved over to where she was sitting on the bed and kneeled in front of her, placing his hands on either side of her hips, straightening out the fabric of her dress.

Chihaya looked down at him, examining his face. She reached to flick at his long lashes, making him close his eyes. She let her finger linger at his brow, stroking at it gently. "What did she say about me?"

Taichi leaned into her hand she placed her palm flat against his cheek. "She said you've become even prettier. And she liked your dress."

Chihaya smiled, feeling the pent up tension in her melt away as Taichi took her hand into his and kissed the tips of her fingers gently. "I'm glad. I swear, she makes me really nervous. I was expecting her to lash out at me or something."

Taichi shook his head, tucking her hair behind an ear before reaching up behind her head, pulling her face closer to his, their noses touching at the tips. "I couldn't have cared less what she thought. Then again, I've stopped caring what she thought when it came to you."

Chihaya frowned at him. "I don't know if I should be happy about that."

"It's the truth. The reason why she never liked you was because you were the reason why I started Karuta. And one of the bigger reasons why I even started was because of you. So, yeah… "

Chihaya still didn't feel too happy about it, but she sighed in resignation and leaned her forehead against his. "So does this mean you're willing to meet my parents as well?"

Taichi paused, blinked, then smiled. He leaned in, tilting his head to the side, his eyes half-closed as he nodded. "Introduce me. I'd love to meet your family," he whispered, his breath tickling her bottom lip.

Chihaya felt her insides do that thing they did when she was preparing to get kissed, like twisting into knots before unwinding and twisting again. She closed her eyes and waited for his mouth to touch hers.

And the door opened loudly, admitting a Mrs. Mashima carrying a plate of cookies. Chihaya had never seen Taichi move so fast. One moment he was kneeling in front her, the next he was standing by the window, covering his eyes with one hand and muttering something under his breath.

Mrs. Mashima eyed Taichi warily. "Taichi, you know you're supposed to leave the door open. Common manners, dear."

"Of course. How could I have forgotten," Taichi grumbled from his place.

Chihaya rubbed the bridge of her nose, warding off what felt like a soon-to-be headache.

Mrs. Mashima gave her a brisk nod before making her way to the door. "Make yourself at home, Chihaya-chan."

Chihaya was a hundred percent sure that she couldn't possibly, possibly feel at home there.

A/N: I just read the latest chapter of Chihayafuru, and my heart is in pieces for Taichi. No, I won't leave spoilers here, in case some of you haven't read it yet. If that's the case, I hope you drop whatever it is you are doing, forget anything that you have to do for five minutes and READ WHAT HAPPENED. I was so heartbroken that I was suddenly inspired to write something happy for these two. I swear, I need a happy ending for them…