Summer just rolled around and I finally got to edit this chapter and put it up for your reading pleasure. I know I haven't been able to update for more than a year (university is pretty stressful and eventful) and I apologize for it. I just want to let you all know that I have no intention of letting this story slip away to rot and decay; I will try to upload as many chapters as I can before classes start and I hope there still remains a steady readership from all of you who are still interested in my little ol' story.
Also, I hope I'm not forgotten on this website. Heh.
Ayako looked up at her university with something like a leap in her heart, all ready for her new classes, backpack weighing down on her shoulder.
She hitched it up and walked the first few strides, lace shadows cast from the overhead leaves playing on her bare arm. She heard a giggle and looked up in time to find Lucy bounding over to her, catching her in a friendly embrace.
"Lucy," she said fondly and hugged her friend back. Mike was next, switching up his usual plaid shirts for a grey GAP one. He grasped her in a one-armed hug and she reciprocated, smile wide on her face. Keiro and Miko came up together and she embraced them, too.
"Oh, guys you don't know how good it feels to see you," she said, taking a moment to study them. Most of them looked the same, except for Mike with his change of shirts and Lucy who was now rocking a shorter hairstyle.
She gasped and fingered the edge of her locks. "You cut your hair," Ayako said, more of a statement than a question.
"I did," Lucy said and lit up with excitement. "How are you? How was Russia? Did you get us presents?"
Ayako chuckled and set down her backpack on the nearest marble table set outside their university and rummaged through for the souvenirs that she had found in a night market near her place. Mikhail told her it was one of the most bought souvenirs in the area, and since she had no idea what to get individually, she bought them all different designs of the tiles.
Some of the tiles had imageries of nature while others were more abstract in their design, perfect for art students who immediately studied the different techniques applied to them.
"Whoa," Miko said and held up one that depicted a huge castle. "This is so pretty."
"I know right," Ayako said, tinge of pride. "My dad recommended those for you guys."
"Neat," Mike said and lifted up one with a lake on it. "Acrylic, too."
Lucy squealed and squeezed her shoulder. "I'm so glad you're back. We've been running out of people to help side with me during an argument."
"People as in, those who fully agree you and only you are right?" Ayako asked wryly.
"That, too."
Ayako laughed, feeling lighter than she had ever felt in these past few days, her friends chatting and filling her up on things she had missed.
"Mike found a new boyfriend," Keiro said, fingering the hem of her football jersey. She was part of the university's all female football team and the gang sometimes went to her games for support. Keiro shot the quiet boy a look of triumph as he stuttered out protests.
"Ooh really?" she asked, genuinely curious. "Who?" Mike's face only coloured a deep red and Ayako guffawed, tugging on his arm.
"Come on, Mike, tell me who."
"Dominic," he muttered, and she raised her eyebrows.
"You mean that barista at Beans 'N' Things?"
Mike nodded, rubbing the back of his neck, sheepish.
"The very same one."
"Aw, Mike," she cooed. "You go, my friend."
Lucy snorted, her flowery summer dress billowing around her knees. "That's what I said, too. You should meet him, he'll like your goofy humour."
Ayako huffed a laugh, noting that this was the second time someone told her that she should 'meet someone.' Her mind went to Tadashi and her cheerful mood slipped a little. It must have shown on her face for Lucy stopped, looking over her in concern.
"You okay?"
She shook her head, smile back in place once again, making everyone including herself believe that she was nothing but happy.
~~O~~O~~
Her phone beeped with a text and she looked over the date, seeing that it was a Wednesday and Wednesday's were always date nights with him. Ayako had no idea if she wanted to see him, the indignation of being shunted aside still stinging.
Opening the message, she saw that it was him, asking her to come over for a movie.
Ayako debated meeting up with him and salvaging whatever contact they had, having not spoken to him since their terse conversation yesterday. Her finger hovered over the reply button, when she was filled with a sense of tiredness so profound that she knew there was no way that she could pretend that she was okay tonight.
'Sorry, tired. Maybe next time?'
She sat on her bed and reached for her phone, wanting to call her father up, hoping that she could gain someone else's perspective on her issues. Ever since her visit to Russia, Ayako felt as if she had regained a lost part of herself in the form of her father, Mikhail being a sort of pillar of strength for her now that she had him back in her life.
Her father picked up after a few rings and seemed surprise that it was her.
"Ayako?"
"Dad," she said and someone would have to be incredibly dense to hear the tired melancholy in her tone.
"What's wrong? You sound sad."
She barked a short laugh that didn't sound like a laugh at all. "I don't know, dad. Just some friend problems. I feel...left out."
"Oh dear," he said, dismayed. "Okay, um… Ayako, just remember that you are unique and beautiful and if they leave you out then it's their loss."
A smile lifted on her lips and she felt better. Not good, but better than before.
"Thanks, dad," she murmured and squeezed her eyes shut, envisioning his kind face and the same blue eyes darkened with worry. She missed her father, that much she knew.
"When can I return back to Russia?" she asked, half in humour.
It worked and he chuckled. "Oh, Ayako. Soon, I hope. I miss you, already, moe solnyško*."
"Me, too papa," she said, her accent more pronounced now she was speaking to him. "Thank you for the encouragement."
"Anytime," he said easily and she knew he meant it. "Anytime, my girl."
~~O~~O~~
Tadashi sighed as he glanced up from her message, catching Hiro's attention.
"Why the long face, bonehead?"
The two brothers were relaxing in their room, Hiro completing a sketch he intended for Baymax's new upgrades and Tadashi twirling his phone in hand, pondering.
"I think I made her mad," Tadashi confessed.
Their bond had deepened ever since the fight with Callaghan, both brothers now realizing how important the other was and opening up more to each other. If it was before the accident, he wouldn't have been able to tell Hiro how he was feeling, let alone that it was his girlfriend who made him feel this way. Yet, he was now comfortable opening up, recognizing that his brother would always have his good intentions in hand.
"Uh-oh, what did you do? Forget her birthday?" Hiro teased.
He could see that Tadashi didn't take the bait, ruminating silently.
"Big bro?"
Tadashi snapped his head up, realizing that Hiro was waiting for his answer. He rubbed the back of his neck, unsure of what to say.
He didn't know what he had done to make her mad, the closest thing being yesterday flashing in his mind. Tadashi reasoned that it had already been resolved; Ayako herself told him that she was willing to give up her position in the field for a behind the scenes one. She had even embraced him back.
If she was still angry about that, why would she ignore him now?
"I think it's because of her new position and how we took a vote to not let her into the field. She could be angry at that."
Hiro seemed to deflate, understanding lighting his features. The teen ruffled his messy hair and pursed his lips, deep in thought.
"We all know how much she's contributed to the team," he started, "but she nearly got hurt during the ceremony. I don't want to risk her life."
Tadashi nodded, fully comprehensive of his reasoning.
"That's what I told her, too; that we were grateful but she would be more suited for background work."
Hiro shrugged, returning back to his work. He would rather take on a complicated set of schemes than tackling his brother's messy love life.
Tadashi had to chuckle at that, knowing that his brother would not be stumped by complicated mathematics equations but could be confused by how a woman's mind worked. He knew where Hiro was coming from, having experienced the same thing before.
"How about buy her some flowers and take her for a date night or whatever you both normally do," Hiro suggested, shifting his leg from underneath him and stretching out from his cross-legged position.
"Hey, that's a great idea," Tadashi said, inspired. They hadn't yet had a date night since she came back, and maybe a little alone time was what they both needed right now.
He glanced at the clock, disappointed to see that it was slowly approaching nine and that he had an early class tomorrow.
Tadashi settled back on his bed and looked up at the ceiling, at the glow in the dark stars he had stuck there during his cosmic loving days. The cheap neon cut-outs reminded him of that night in the stars when he saw her illuminate with the night sky, dark blue eyes twinkling, carefree, accentuated by the shimmering lights above. He remembered how much he wanted to kiss her that night, the ache in his chest at how beautiful she looked.
Sighing again, he lifted up his phone to read the same reply:
'Sorry, tired. Maybe next time?'
He dialled her phone and when she answered, he had to struggle not to sound incredibly relieved.
~~O~~O~~
"Hello?" she said as she picked up her phone, seeing it was him.
"Hey," he said, voice distorted for a moment as the connection started stabilizing. "I wanted to call to wish you 'goodnight' and that I missed you."
Her heart leapt at that and she struggled to tamper down the smile on her face. She was still annoyed with him and didn't want to give in easily.
"Okay, thank you. That's really thoughtful of you."
"So, how was your first day back?" he inquired and she chuckled.
"The whole gang loved the gifts I got them, which reminded me that I still haven't passed you your gift yet and the team's souvenirs." Sneaking a peek at the bulging rucksack in the corner of her room, she mentally made a note of remembrance.
"I'll make sure to remind you," he teased.
Ayako huffed a short laugh, saying, "Yes. Please and thank you."
A short silence and then she asked: "So, how was your day today?"
"Well, it's been rather uneventful," he confessed. "I was hoping to meet up with you since we haven't had a date night yet, but my lady doth draw too much at night until she's too tired."
Ayako blushed at the fact that he had just called her 'my lady'.
"Yeah, well, I missed you too, sweet talker," she teased back, feeling lighter than she ever did today. Maybe she was wrong, maybe he did care for her and that's why he voted for her to stay in the background as the communications controller.
She understood where his protectiveness stemmed from as Ayako would never think twice to throw herself into danger just to save him, fire and Callaghan's kidnapping included.
"Come over, tomorrow?" he asked softly, and she could hear the fear of rejection tremoring in his tone.
Ayako rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Of course, science boy. I kinda have to since that you wooed me into agreeing."
Tadashi laughed, the sound a light airy one that she loved. There was always something new to discover about him and she sincerely hoped that they had all the time in the world to uncover the little things about each other.
"See you tomorrow, then."
The smile was starting to hurt her face. "See you."
She set down the phone and drawn a sigh, heart fluttering deep in the cavern of her chest. Standing up, she walked around to work out the swooning sensation he always gave her, reaching her window.
Neon lights bathed the city, reflecting off puddles and portholes on the road, cars zooming by like lighted flickers of light on the inky tar. Orange streetlight filtered in through the blinds and the night stretched on from up above, the dark sky contrasting with the bright city below. Wind blew in from her open window, lightly ruffling her dark locks, swirling the smell of asphalt and Japanese takeout from the next building.
She rested her weight against the window frame and looked down at the street.
From the shadows, something shifted and caught her attention; a dark figure leaning by the rubbish dump, apparently staring up at her window. The figure was a man, stoic and heavily built, broad shoulders hidden underneath a grey coat.
He caught her eye and Ayako felt a sense of horror when she stared back, stunned and rooted to the spot.
They continued their staring match and the dark, penetrative stare made her feel as if he were standing beside her, breathing down her neck. He had the sort of fluid face that was hard to pin, features that slid out of a person's mind once he was gone, an unmemorable face.
She blinked and he had turned around, walking away, disappearing behind the corner of a street.
Ayako let out a baited breath and let the blinds fall shut. She was trembling from head to foot, heart thumping unevenly.
She recalled the envelopes and reached for her phone, opening her phone gallery and rereading them all again.
A sense of dread filled her and vaguely, she wondered if his occurrence had anything to do with these letters that she had found in her father's closet.
*moe solnyško - my sun