Chapter 34!

I've been sitting on this one for a while now and I don't know how far I can go with it but I figured I might as well post it anyway.

Enjoy, more notes at the end!

Spring and Beauty

*?*

"T-thank you for your patronage..." she managed to mumble out from behind the counter.

The customer didn't acknowledge her much, not even giving the usual pitying or condescending look that was usually thrown her way, and the woman curled into herself and hung her head as her long bangs draped down to hide her face. She really didn't want to lose the only part time job she had been able to find but she also knew that she wasn't suitable for it. Truthfully, she knew this was a job out of necessity rather than one she wanted but at the same time it at least made her feel like she was contributing something. Without it she would have just stayed in her dark and messy apartment miserably.

She didn't enjoy interacting with people or going out of the minor comfort of her place as they only served to exhaust her more and more, grating at her weak spirit, as she sluggishly made it through the days. The bland and bleak shift dragged on before ending without hardly any notice and the woman made her quiet retreat to her apartment. She stopped by a convenience store on the way home, managing to scrounge up enough money to buy something decent, and she quickly hurried back.

Opening the door without even bothering to announce her return, since she knew no one was waiting for her, the tired woman carefully walked through the tossed about clothes and items and collapsed at her cluttered table. Eating her food slowly but carelessly, she blinked away sudden tears that appeared from nowhere. So stupid, she thought as she wiped at the silly little things but it only served to make her feel more foolish as she wondered why she was like this. Did she think that yesterday was going to change things? She was just an idiot who got her hopes up for nothing.

After her usual lonely dinner, she dumped her dishes in the sink and went straight for her bed and wrapped herself up in the old blankets that acted as her sole comfort. The dead silence and gloomy atmosphere fell around her as she stared blankly at the wall until the hours marched by her, the evening sun collapsing away for the dark of night, and she shut her eyes while she gnawed at her bottom lip. She was still holding out hope wasn't she? Trying not to give into sleep to allow just a little more time for it to happen. Something that would change anything but she was sure that she'd been played and was the one delusional enough to cling on. She should just sleep.

Sleep and ignore it as always.

-break-

She was still tired when her eyes creaked open and she groaned at the offending light.

Turning on her bed, she found her phone screen lit up and the sleep bled away from her as she tossed aside her blanket. Nearing the device but failing to calm her pumping heart, she reached a shaky hand towards it. Gingerly picking it up, she opened the device and found a few useless messages from only moments ago and she scrolled through them desperately until she found the one that she had been hoping for. It was from a few hours ago, probably only a little after she'd fallen asleep, but she read it with baited breathe.

'Sorry for getting hold of you so late. I had a great time yesterday but since we drank I didn't think to message you in the morning and then I got wrapped up at work and got off late. I hope that doesn't sound like an excuse but if you're okay with it I'd love to do what we promised. Is coffee alright? Let me know when you're available.'

Staring at the message, even re-reading it multiple times, she formed a fumbling smile and dropped to her knees in relief. She was overwhelmed, she knew that, and she couldn't control her emotions as she clutched her phone in happiness and hopes that this wasn't a dream. She hadn't felt this happy in a long while and she tried over and over to form a response. She must have rewritten the message countless times but she just couldn't help herself since she was so nervous. At least over text she could sound more confident so this was her chance make a better impression than the other day.

'I'd really enjoy that. I don't have work the next couple days if that works for you.'

She softly smiled as she sent the reply but her happiness waned as she realized how late it was. There was no way she was going to a get a reply at 1 in the morning and in fact her own message must have been a nuisance at this time of the night. She had been too caught up in her giddiness to take that into account but she had already gone and sent the message. She really was just-

'That's great! It might be a bit sudden but how about in the morning then? Is 9 or 10 alright with you?'

She stared at the sudden response and her tiny smile returned to her as she held the phone with both hands once more.

'10 sounds perfect to me.'

'Great! Are you fine with the cafe by the station?'

'I've heard nice things about it but I've never had the chance to go there before. I suppose I'll meet you there?'

'I'm looking forward to it. I probably shouldn't keep you up much longer then.'

'I could say the same. I'll see you then.'

'Goodnight, Mika.'

'Goodnight, Haru.'

Whispering the words as she sent the message, she put her phone down and snuggled back into her bed while the warmest feeling she'd ever felt in a long time had spread through her. Even someone like her still had a chance.

Itsuka couldn't wait.

Notes and Stuff

More Itsuka x Izumi and they're both 26 here. As for why Itsuka is acting this way, I'll get to that with more updates but I can say that this Itsuka used to be canon Itsuka.

As I continue with this story I'll also cover why they go by Haru (Izumi) and Mika (Itsuka) to each other. I know 'Mika' already exists, it's Jirou's Mom's name, but I went with it anyway in reference to the title, 'Spring and Beauty', as it's 'Haru and Mika' respectively. They'll be referring only to each other that way.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed and look forward to more updates from me!