Chapter Sixteen: Persona Non Grata
~Yotsuba~
Yuna trudged up the stairs, her tired legs carrying a large box of Yotsuba's precious house plants. She huffed and panted with each step, her black bangs falling out of place as she breathed heavily. "I swear! How did you even get these to Osaka in the first place?" Yuna yelled ahead towards Yotsuba, who was waving from the top of the stairs, amused by Yuna's complaining.
"Inoue-san, I told you that I could've managed all on my own. You shouldn't have bothered."
Yuna rolled her eyes and let out an audible sigh. "We're roomies! Of course I was going to help you. Besides, we have to finish moving in today since Coach wants us to have orientation from this afternoon."
Yotsuba paused for a beat and looked down at Yuna with surprise, "Wait, what? Was there an email?"
"Yes, there was an email!" Exasperated, Yuna pushed past an amused looking Yotsuba and gestured down the hall. "Come on! There we are! Room three-seventeen." Yotsuba gave a quick nod and followed Yuna, who unlocked the door to reveal their new apartment.
"Thank God!" Yuna cried out in relief. Yotsuba made her way inside, her eyes scanning the apartment. She immediately understood why her roommate was so relieved. The apartment was spacious and modern, with a large living room and three bedrooms each facing opposite walls of the living room. The kitchen was fully equipped with brand new appliances, and the bathroom looked as though it belonged in a luxury hotel. Yotsuba was impressed with the attention to detail.
Yuna placed Yotsuba's plants gently on the dinner table and made for the living room where she flopped onto the couch, stretching her arms wide. "The dorm room looks old and dingy from the outside, but I can't believe we're actually living in a place like this," she said, grinning. "I feel like a celebrity or something."
Yotsuba chuckled and joined her on the couch. "Yeah, it's pretty amazing. The Olympic Commission really isn't holding back."
"They probably realized that if they want us to perform at our best, we need the best living conditions," Yuna said, propping herself up on her elbow. She gestured around the room with a sweeping motion of her hand. "Look at this place! We have free internet, a fully-equipped kitchen, and our own bedrooms! I'm already feeling pretty motivated just being here."
Yotsuba smiled in agreement and stood up from the couch. "Well, before we get settled in, we should get the rest of our stuff. Miku's probably already lost," she said with a wry smile, grabbing one of her suitcases and moving it to the bedroom on the far side, claiming it for her own.
Yuna sat up and made for the front door. "You're right. We shouldn't get too comfortable… I wasn't planning on taking a nap at all… I'll go get another box." No sooner had Yuna disappeared behind the door than had she poked her head out from behind it. "Uhh, Yotsuba-chan?"
Yotsuba turned to face Yuna. "What is it?"
"Your sister... might need some help."
Yotsuba rushed to the front door, where they could just make out Miku, hunched over and straining to hoist a hefty box up the stairwell. Yotsuba and Yuna hurried to Miku's side and each grabbed a side of the box. "Thanks," Miku panted heavily, her face tomato red. Together, the three girls lumbered up the stairs, finally placing the box just outside the apartment door.
"Miku, this box was a job for two people. See? Inoue-san had marked it." Yotsuba gestured to a large, bold red number "two" written on top of the box.
Miku looked up at Yotsuba and her face was still flushed. "I... I didn't notice."
"I love that!" Yuna chuckled. She playfully slapped Miku's back. "It appears that stubbornness runs in the family. I'll go downstairs to grab another box." Yuna took off downstairs. Yotsuba wondered if this is what people meant when they said she had "golden-retriever energy." Maybe it's just an athlete thing. She shrugged.
Yotsuba strained against the weight of the cardboard box as she dragged it past the doorway and into the kitchen. Her cheeks were puffed out from exhaustion "What are you waiting for? Come in!" Yotsuba yelled over her shoulder as she left the box at the front door and moved towards the kitchen. She began snooping around inside the cabinets. To her delight, each drawer was filled with thick ceramic plates, crystal glasses, and silverware. With a satisfied grin, Yotsuba wobbled to the dining room where Miku sat, trying to catch her breath.
"I found some glasses and a pitcher," Yotsuba said as she placed the glassware on the wooden table. She then went back to the kitchen and returned with a large bottle of water, which she emptied into the pitcher. "Here you go, Miku. Drink some water. It'll help you cool down."
Miku wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and took the glass from Yotsuba. "Thanks," she said, taking a sip of the cool water.
As Miku drank, Yotsuba tore open the flaps of the cardboard box, revealing an assortment of items inside. She reached in and pulled out a photo album, flipping through the pages with a wistful expression on her face.
"I recognize some of these," Miku said, peering over Yotsuba's shoulder. "They're from our third year, right?"
Yotsuba nodded, her eyes glued to the photos. "Yeah, these were all just gathering dust back home. I just thought it might be a good idea to finally take them with me, since I'll be here for a full year and all that. Oh, and thank you for babysitting my plants too. I made sure to bring the rest so you wouldn't have to worry about them."
"It wasn't a bother," Miku leaned in closer, her hand resting on Yotsuba's shoulder. "So, here in Tokyo, huh? At the same university as Futaro... Do you want to talk about it?"
Yotsuba shrugged. "There's... nothing to talk about. He wants his space, and I'm going to give it to him." She forced a hollow laugh. "Maybe, he finally realized what I knew all along–that I'm too stupid to do anything right. Nino was right, I sucked at being a girlfriend."
Miku furrowed her eyebrows, taking another slow sip from her glass of water. "What do you mean? He hasn't broken up with you."
Yotsuba let out a deep sigh. She prayed that Miku wouldn't bring up how she spent every night crying herself to sleep over New Year's. "I think he's being kind. He's letting me down easy. Maybe he hopes that sooner or later I'll just take the hint."
Miku's frown deepened as she watched Yotsuba, her gaze lingering on her for several moments before she spoke. "If he wants out, he has to at least face you head on. He has to face all of us if he wants to get rid of us," Miku said firmly. Her eyes were filled with concern as she let out a heavy sigh.
Yotsuba's fingers tightened into a fist and she felt her nails digging into the back of her hand. What did Miku really feel? What has Nino shared with her? Her throat tightened to the point where it hurt to speak.
"It's okay, Miku. Really. There's other things I need to be focusing on right now anyway."
As if on cue, Yuna burst through the front door of the apartment complex, holding a pair of oversized sports duffle bags embroidered with their school colors. Without missing a beat, Yuna made her way over to the dining room where Yotsuba and Miku were sitting, completely oblivious to the heavy mood that had settled over the room. "Hey Nakanos," she exclaimed. "I brought all our exercise equipment from back home! Where should I put it?"
Yotsuba touched her temple, feeling a slight throb starting to come on. "Inoue-san, I don't know," she replied, her voice laced with frustration.
Miku gave Yotsuba an apologetic look before turning her attention to Yuna. "I think there's some space in the spare room across the living room," she suggested, trying to be helpful.
Yotsuba watched as Yuna eagerly unzipped the duffle bags and began to pull out various exercise equipment, her mind still spinning with thoughts of her failing relationship. As much as she appreciated Yuna's enthusiasm, she couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration—as unfair as it was to Yuna.
"So when do we have to meet Coach?" Yuna asked as she hung a pair of old track cleats over her bedroom door knob.
Yotsuba checked her phone, running her hand through her hair. "Crud! We were supposed to meet Coach at the old gym twenty minutes ago. We're late."
Yuna's face fell. "Oh no! Do you think they'll be angry?"
"I don't know," Yotsuba said, her voice strained. She stood up, quickly moving toward the door. "But it definitely won't look good. We should hurry if we want to make it there at all."
She grabbed one of the duffle bags and pulled out a towel, a pair of running shorts and threw on her university jersey before smashing her feet into her running shoes. "Miku, you can stay here if you want. There's food in the fridge. I'll text you later," she managed to utter before rushing out the door behind Yuna. Together Yuna and Yotsuba sprinted across campus, startling nearby students making their way to class. Their legs pumped and their breath came in ragged gasps. When they finally arrived at the old gym, they pushed the heavy sliding doors to one side allowing them access. Inside, the air was stagnant, and filled with the acrid tang of sweat that reminded Yotsuba of the old high school gyms back home. It was the scent of basketballs and cheap shampoo, deodorant, and talcum powder.
"You're late," the coach barked from across the gym. Yotsuba and Yuna quickly shuffled over to where the rest of the girls had gathered, ignoring their cold, hard stares. He glared down at Yotsuba and Yuna with eyes that seemed to cut right through them. As they lined up with the rest of the girls, he peered at Yotsuba's jersey. "Nakano," he barked in her direction.
"What's your full name?"
"Nakano Yotsuba," she muttered nervously. He nodded once, his gaze flicking between his clipboard and Yotsuba.
"I see," he grumbled. He then turned his attention to Yuna. "And you?"
"Inoue, Sir!" Yuna squeaked, her voice trembling.
"Okay, Inoue-san... Would you happen to have a first name?" His nostrils flared in annoyance and Yuna went beet red, shrinking back ever so slightly beneath his glowering gaze. "My first name is Yuna... Sir..."
"Glad we got that sorted." He fixed them both with one last stern look before continuing. "Well, Inoue-san… Nakano-san…" His words dripped venom as he sneered down at them, seemingly ignoring the hushed titterings behind them. "I'm not sure how they do it wherever you're from, but in my team, you're supposed to be on time. Japan promised to send me their best, and if this is what their best is, then our country is in a sorry state." Yotsuba finally got a good look at their coach now; he was impossibly tall and unbelievably wide. Frankly, she'd never seen such an intimidating figure—built like a body-builder but with a lightness to his step that suggested otherwise. She glanced at his name tag on his polo. Coach Ueda.
Is he a boxer? Yotsuba wondered as he turned to face the rest of the girls.
"Ladies. Twenty of you were invited here. You fought, you bled, and you struggled. You all come from different walks of life. You should be proud of everything you've achieved so far. But as impressive as you all are on paper, I only need ten of you. I know some of you were told that there are fourteen slots on the team. That is incorrect. I will only accept ten. The rest of you will be sent home, so if you're not serious about this, make my life easier and leave now. You will not make a habit out of wasting my time." Coach Ueda's gaze lingered on Yotsuba and Yuna. Yotsuba felt a shiver run down her spine as Coach Ueda's eyes bore into her. She had never felt so small in her life. She glanced over at Yuna, who seemed to be holding her breath. Yotsuba knew that they were both thinking the same thing.
Coach Ueda continued. "I'll be dividing you all into teams of five. Each team will consist of one captain, who I will appoint, and four members." He paused in a well-rehearsed manner. "You will show up here and use these facilities every practice until I have determined you worthy to use the new equipment the Olympic Committee has commissioned for you. You will work hard. You will become a well-oiled machine. You will learn each other's strengths and weaknesses, your passions and your pains. You'll understand each other better than lovers do." Yotsuba noticed two girls off to the side stifling a giggle behind their hands at the word lover.
Coach Ueda stopped in front of them and narrowed his eyes. The girls bowed their heads in silence. "You will then compete against each other to prove who best deserves a spot on the Olympic team. The two top performing athletes from each team will be selected to represent us. The others will be sent home." The thought of going home left a bitter taste in Yotsuba's mouth. She had devoted so much to getting here, sacrificing her education, her relationship and even her health. Running was the only thing she had now, but if she failed this race, it would all be a waste if she went home now.
"Now, let me introduce the captains." The Coach gestured towards the four girls nearest to him. "From Tohoku, we have Yamamoto Chieko. From Kanto, we have Nakamura Akari. From Kyushu, we have Suzuki Ayumi. And finally, from Chugoku, we have Higashi Mitsuru."
Yotsuba's eyes widened as she heard the name of the Chugoku team captain. It was the same Mitsuru she had raced against last September, the girl she had beaten by a fraction of a second. Yotsuba could feel Mitsuru's eyes burning a hole through her as if to say, "I remember you."
Yotsuba felt a lump form in her throat. "Umm, Coach? How come there's no Kansai team?"
Coach Ueda frowned at Yotsuba, as if scrutinizing whether she was worth a response. "You've gotten ahead of me, Nakano-san. There aren't enough girls from the Kansai schools to make a team, so you'll have to be with Higashi-san. I trust that won't be an issue."
"No, Sir," Yotsuba bowed. She caught a glimpse of Mitsuru briefly, but she quickly averted her gaze.
"Since we're here, Higashi-san, you'll also be taking on two more girls from Kumamoto who aren't here yet. I'll give you more details later."
Mitsuru nodded curtly.
"Good. Now, Captains, go and collect your teammates and head back to your dorms. We have a busy schedule tomorrow, so get some rest tonight."
The girls all murmured in agreement and began to move into their teams. Yuna grabbed Yotsuba's arm. "Come on!" Yuna said eagerly, bouncing with enthusiasm as she led the way towards Mitsuru. She greeted her with a wide grin and excitement in her voice. "What's up, Higashi-san? Pleased to see ya again, Captain."
Mitsuru crossed her arms over her chest and shot Yuna an irritated look. "There's no need to call me that," she snapped. Yotsuba exchanged an uneasy glance with Yuna.
Yotusba opened her mouth to respond, hesitant to see how Mitsuru would react.
"Is everything alright—"
"You," Mitsuru retorted, her voice cracking like a whip. "I remember you from the Invitationals."
Yotsuba stepped back. "Um, yeah… I remember you too. It was a close race."
Mitsuru scoffed and rolled her eyes with contempt. "You got lucky."
Yotsuba furrowed her brow. She couldn't understand Mitsuru's hostility, but she could see that she was quickly getting on her nerves. "Luck had nothing to do with it," she declared. "I won fair and square."
Mitsuru's lips twisted into a sneer. "Is that so?" she barked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Yuna stepped in between them, flashing Mitsuru an innocent smile. "Hey, let's not be like that! We're all teammates now, right? Let's just take it easy and enjoy our time here!"
"Enjoy our time?!" Mitsuru sniggered with disdain. "You show up late to orientation, embarrass yourselves in front of Coach Ueda, waste all our time with that pathetic half-measure attitude of yours, and you think we're equals?" Mitsuru scowled, making sure to disregard the obvious hurt in Yuna's eyes. "With an attitude like that, it's no surprise Kansai couldn't send anyone better than you. Talk about a loser mentality. This is the Olympics! I have trained for this my whole life! If I were you, I'd start getting serious, Inoue-san."
Yotsuba clenched her jaw. She felt heat rising to her cheeks. Why was she being so rude to Yuna? Why did she have to act like she was better than everyone? Yotsuba hated it. She hated her. Mitsuru was nothing like the girl she met back in September. There was something about Mitsuru's arrogance, her tone, even the way she stood. It reminded her of Nino—and that just made her angrier. "If you're really against being teammates, we can always switch teams." Yotsuba tried to quell her worsening temper.
Mitsuru laughed. "Oh, I'm not bothered by it at all. Even if I'm with a bunch of country bumpkins, at least I'll know I'm the best."
Yotsuba gritted her teeth. "You don't have to be so mean about it."
Mitsuru turned to Yotsuba, her eyes wide and her expression blank. "Oh, you think I'm being mean?"
Yotsuba raised her hands up, palms facing outward. "I'm not saying you have to be all nice, but don't you think this attitude is a little much?"
"You really don't get it, do you?"
"Then what do you want from us?" Yotsuba bristled with irritation.
Mitsuru stopped abruptly, her gaze landing on Yotsuba like an icy whip. "Race me."
"What?"
"You heard me. Race me. Right now. 100-meters. Loser tells the coach they're quitting and going home."
Yuna's mouth hung open in disbelief as her eyes shifted between Mitsuru and Yotsuba. "You can't be serious, Higashi-san," she stammered. "That's way too far."
Mitsuru's cheeks flushed and her nostrils widened with rage. "No. What's too far is how Nakano-san's lucky break back in September cost me my spot as anchor for my school team."
"How can you blame Yotsuba for that? She had nothing to do with it!" Yuna took a step closer to Misturu. "And we're your teammates now."
"We are not teammates. We're competing against each other. Didn't you hear Coach? And I will not be teammates with someone who'll just hold me back—"
"You lost to me, Higashi-san." Something sparked in Yotsuba's eyes and her voice trembled. "You lost. And no matter what you say, or what temper tantrum you throw, the scoreboard will always read: Higashi Mitsuru—Second Place." She was done with people taking advantage of her. It seemed like no matter what she did, it never stopped them from preying on her insecurities.
Mitsuru must have looked like she was about to lunge at Yotsuba, because at that precise moment, Coach Ueda rushed over to them from the other side of the gym, shouting. "What the hell is going on over there?"
When he reached them, Yuna began to explain, but Mitsuru interrupted. "We just finished our warm-up. We were just about to leave, Sir." Coach Ueda glared skeptically from one girl to the next. "Higashi-san," he said sternly, his eyes bulging out of their sockets. "As captain of this team, don't you think it's your responsibility to make sure your teammates properly cool down and leave my gym? What sort of leadership are you showing here?" Before Mitsuru could answer, Coach Ueda continued sharply. "It's a crime that you've joined Nakano-san and Inoue-san in my shit-list so soon, Higashi-san. Maybe, I should simply send all three of you home now and disband the entire team. What do you think about that?"
"Sir, please don't dismiss us, Sir," Mitsuru replied back as if she were reciting a military drill.
"Since you and your teammates seem to love being here past practice hours, you and three will show up an hour before everyone else for the rest of this week. He glanced at Mitsuru pointedly. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Sir," the three girls said in unison.
"You have been gifted extra laps girls," Coach Ueda continued gruffly. "You should be thanking me." His voice softened slightly as he turned his gaze towards Mitsuru again. "And Higashi-san, you're the one that'll be held responsible if Nakano-san or Inoue-san are late for a team meeting again. Clear?"
Mitsuru nodded firmly in response, her cheeks looked like they were burning.
"Alright then, you have a lot to do today— Higashi-san I've already arranged for your things to be delivered in Nakano-san and Inoue-san's dorm. If you three want to go to bed at a reasonable time, you should get to it now." Coach Ueda said abruptly as he turned away and marched back into the gymnasium. "Get your gear and go back to your dorm—now!"
The girls bowed obediently before gathering their things darting to the locker room. Once inside, they threw their bags down and flopped onto the benches. Mitsuru broke the silence. "This is all your fault!"
Yotsuba sat up, her eyes flashing. "Me!? The race was your stupid idea!"
Yuna threw her hands up in the air, frustrated and exhausted. "Let it go! Both of you! We may not like one another, but we have to live together and train together, especially if any one of us has a chance of making it to the Olympics."
Yotsuba's phone pinged.
[Miku] (sent at 2:51p.m.) "I'm on campus. Want to go with me to check out some artisanal flour makers? They have some really unique ingredients that I'd like to test out... I don't want to go alone."
"I have to go. My sister is waiting for me." Yotsuba said curtly. She didn't want to stay in the locker room a second longer than she had to. Mitsuru had already undressed and wrapped a towel around her body and gone to the showers.
Yotsuba tightly embraced Yuna, burying her face in the crook of her neck. With a deep inhale, she reluctantly stepped back and looked into Yuna's eyes. "Good luck. Just let her have whichever room she wants. I'll see you at home," she said before turning away from Yuna to hobble across campus in search of her sister Miku. As she strolled along the ginkgo tree-lined street, which were sprinkled with fresh buds, Yotsuba admired the regal charm of Tokyo University which reminded her of some fancy European village. Tokyo University, in some way, was completely divorced from the rest of the city—its cobblestone pathways and old-fashioned architecture contrasted with Osaka's modern, cubic-shaped buildings. Deciding to rest by the campus pond, Yotsuba took a seat by the waters' edge.
As she sat there, Yotsuba's thoughts swirled with the events of the day. She couldn't help but feel guilty for letting Mitsuru's words rile her up earlier. It wasn't like her to let someone like Mitsuru get under her skin, but something about her comments had struck a nerve. And it wasn't just Mitsuru either; ever since September, Yotsuba felt like she was always on edge. She looked at her phone for what felt like the millionth time, hoping for… She wasn't sure exactly what she was hoping for. Some part of her hoped that today of all days, she'd hear something from Futaro, but the only message she got was a follow up text from Miku, texting again in a panic that she'd be late.
She hoped that Futaro would send her something—anything; something definitive that she could latch onto. She knew it wouldn't give her closure, but limbo just felt…frustrating. Yotsuba scrolled past her old apologies she had sent him—an embarrassing amalgam of begging and typos. She remembered the crying. She also remembered the yelling the following day. She had said things to Nino she'd instantly regretted. When she returned to Osaka following the competition, her only saving grace was that she had the luxury of letting herself eat cake, watch lame variety shows, and cry herself to sleep.
She leaned back and closed her eyes, letting the sound of the water soothe her. Just as she began to feel like she was dozing off, Yotsuba sat up slowly and her eyes fell upon a familiar figure sitting on the bench next to the water. It was Takebayashi who appeared to be studying and writing stuff down in a tan moleskin journal. Yotsuba couldn't help but notice how pretty she was, with her long, black hair and delicate features. She looked like an Instagram photo brought to life, or like one of those porcelain dolls that Nino wanted as a kid, except Takebayashi wore a plain white button up, tucked into a pair of fitted black chinos instead of a frilly dress.
How can someone look so perfectly and impossibly pretty?
Takebayashi must have felt Yotsuba's gaze because she turned to look in her direction. Without even thinking, Yotsuba stood up and started walking toward Takebayashi. She was surprised by her own boldness, but she thought that as long as she was choosing to confront women that intimidated her, she might as well talk to Takebayashi as well.
"Hey there," Yotsuba said softly, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Hi," Takebayashi replied. Yotsuba sensed a hint of apprehension in her tone. She closed her moleskin journal and gently put it back in her bag. "I guess the rumors were true after all."
"Rumors?"
"Oh, just some of the boys in class today were really excited at "all the new Olympic hotties on campus". Takebayashi chuckled in a way that made her sound like she wasn't amused at all. She looked Yotsuba up and down. "And to be honest, I can see what all the fuss is about."
Yotsuba rubbed her arm sheepishly. "I'm not so sure about that."
Takebayashi raised an eyebrow.
Yotsuba felt her face flush. "I just don't really think of myself that way, I guess."
Takebayashi leaned back in her chair. "Interesting. So what do you think of yourself as, then?"
Yotsuba hesitated for a moment. "I don't know... Just a regular person, I guess."
Takebayashi smiled. "Hmm, that's refreshing." She turned to look at the pond as if she was thinking of saying more. "Well, I should be going. Enjoy your time in Tokyo, Nakano-san." She cleared her throat and began packing her things into her bag.
"Wait," Yotsuba said, grabbing Takebayashi's arm. "Can I ask you something?"
Takebayashi paused and turned to Yotsuba, a surprised look crossing her face. Yotsuba took a step back. "I just—you know," she stammered. "How's Futaro?" She asked, biting her lip.
Takebayashi stared blankly ahead, her voice stiff and lifeless. "He's fine. Busy, as always. But he's doing well." She paused for a moment, before continuing. "I'm not sure it's still appropriate for you to still call him by his first name though. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go."
Yotsuba's fingers tightened around the straps of her duffle bag. "I haven't given up on him." The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop herself. Why did she feel so eager to prove anything to this woman?
Takebayashi gave no response, instead, she fumbled with her belongings, packing away her things with such force that Yotsuba could hear the zippers of her bag grind together. Once she was all packed, she took a few steps away from the bench but hesitated, her feet rooted to the ground. Slowly, she turned back around to face Yotsuba intently. She cleared her throat before speaking again. "Actually, mind if I give you some unsolicited advice? From one woman to another?"
Yotsuba swallowed hard. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea, but part of her couldn't resist hearing what she wanted to say.
"Listen," Takebayashi began, taking a step closer to Yotsuba. "I know you still have feelings for Futaro. And that's okay. Letting go of your high school sweetheart can be hard. I had to do the same when I first moved out here." A flicker of pain flashed across Takebayashi's face as she spoke, before softening into a small smile. "But I think you need to focus on yourself right now. You have so much potential. You could be an incredible national athlete, Nakano-san. In fact, I know you will. And Futaro will be great too—probably even become a highly respected professor one day! But sometimes, that same greatness might make it harder for the two of you to stay together. It might just be that you bring out each other's worst qualities. High school relationships usually don't last because people grow in wildly different ways. Better that it happen now before you two entangle your lives any further."
Yotsuba couldn't believe what she was hearing. She felt her cheeks grow hot with embarrassment and anger. She opened her mouth to protest, but Takebayashi held up a hand to silence her.
"I'm not saying that you're a bad person, Nakano-san. But as an uninvolved person, I believe I have a more objective look at the situation. I think you're not ready for a relationship." She said firmly. "You're too insecure and you rely too much on others for validation. You need to learn how to love yourself before you can love someone else," Takebayashi said with finality. She spoke with such conviction and confidence that Yotsuba almost believed that that's all there was to her—as if Takebayashi had her entirely figured out, warts and all. Yotsuba felt a lump form in her throat as she listened to Takebayashi's words. It made her feel squeamish and uncomfortable to think that there might be some truth to her words.
Takebayashi's face softened and she reached out her arm to place a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I hope you find someone who you can talk to," she said. "Maybe you can leverage your connections as an athlete to access mental health services on campus while you train. That way you can still practice."
Maybe she's right, Yotsuba swallowed hard. Maybe I was the one doing all the damage all along.
"Yotsuba!" Miku stumbled into view. Her wide eyes and heaving chest were evidence of her sprint to get there. "Sorry… for being… late," she managed between gasps. Then she noticed Takebayashi standing with Yotsuba, looking confused. "What are you–Why are you two talking?" she asked, her gaze shifting from one to the other.
Takebayashi took a step back, giving the two sisters some space. Yotsuba could feel the tension in the air, and she knew that Miku had noticed it too. She tried to smile, but her sister's piercing gaze made her feel uneasy.
"We were just… catching up," Yotsuba said, not wanting to reveal too much. She didn't want to burden Miku with her problems. But Miku didn't look convinced.
"Catching up?" Miku repeated, skepticism evident in her voice. "You don't talk to Takebayashi. What were you talking about?"
Before Yotsuba could answer, Takebayashi stepped in. "We were discussing some personal matters," she said, her voice soft and polite. "Nothing for you to worry about, Nakano-san. I'm sure your sister will talk about it with you later." She turned back to Yotsuba. "As I said, enjoy your time in Tokyo. "And with that she walked away from the two sisters, down the cobbled path.
Miku's expression tensed, her eyes narrowing as she watched Takebayashi's retreating figure.
"You look like you're about to throw up." Miku observed, finally turning her full attention back to Yotsuba.
"To be honest, after the day I've had, I'm surprised I haven't," Yotsuba admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. Her chest ached from having so many emotions bottled up within.
Miku intertwined her fingers with Yotsuba's hand and gently tugged her away from the university pond. "Let's call Ichika and see if she can join us." A faint smile spread across Miku's face. "You need some sister time. You must be hungry."
Yotsuba felt herself lean into her sibling as if leaning on an unseen anchor of reassurance that no matter what happened, Miku would always be there for her. She returned her sisters' smile and shook her head slightly. "I am starving, but I think she's got tutoring or something today."
"Just family okay?"
"That sounds good," Yotsuba replied. "We'll come up with a plan to get the upper hand on that bitch," Miku said, then laughed at Yotsuba's scandalized expression.
"What's gotten into you?" Yotsuba gasped.
"I don't like her... but also, I guess sometimes I like Nino's approach. You have a bit more of her in you than you think."
Miku smiled mischievously and Yotsuba thought for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Hmm, I suppose so. We're sisters after all—if we're all idiots, then we're all likely to be temperamental idiots."
A chuckle escaped Miku's lips as she added, "Yes. I mean, have you ever stood between Itsuki and a bowl of curry?"
Yotsuba smiled, enjoying the lightheartedness of this conversation; it had felt like it was the first time she had smiled all day. It was wonderful to have a sister so dedicated to being there for her. She squeezed her sister's hand reassuringly before following after her without a word.
~Futaro~
Futaro and Takebayashi sat perched on the edge of the chairs around the Koda's large mahogany dinner table. Despite working for them for nearly a year, Futaro still felt out of place in a dining room that was filled with expensive chinaware, art, and a grand piano against the far wall. Apparently, Azuha had recently taken to learning the piano and was getting supplementary lessons from a private tutor three days a week. They waited anxiously for Kotaro and Azuha's parents to arrive. As they sat there in silence, Futaro noticed how Takebayashi kept tapping her foot and fidgeting with her hair. "It'll be fine," he said, trying to reassure her. "The kids' performance shot up sixty percent according to their grade tracker."
Takebayashi gave Futaro a sidelong glance, her brown eyes flashing with anxiety. Reaching over, she adjusted his tie—a worn piece of fabric that his dad had given him as a hand-me-down. "It's never just about the grades for people like Kota-san," she sighed. "Maybe I should've bought you a couple of nicer ties for Christmas instead of the bag."
"What's wrong with my tie? It's… vintage."
"You're right," she said. "And maybe it'll make Kota-san feel nostalgic." Takebayashi averted her gaze.
"That's pretty harsh, Takebayashi," Futaro said, tugging the fabric away from her fingers before hastily tucking it inside his sport coat. Suddenly, the sound of high heels clacking against the marble floor caught their attention. Futaro looked up to see Kotaro and Azuha's parents entering the room followed closely by the kids.
Their parents were both tall and regal in their business suits, with stern expressions etched onto their faces. Kota-san's mustache was thicker than Futaro expected it to be. He guessed that a man of his status could afford to grow facial hair without anyone else to tell him otherwise, and his wife had a tan complexion and sharp eyes that gripped his gaze.
Koda-san cleared his throat to break the silence. "Uesugi-sensei, Takebayashi-sensei, Happy New Year. We look forward to another fruitful year working together." Takebayashi and Futaro offered a deep bow and returned the good wishes.
"We have been thoroughly impressed with your work over the past year," Kota-san continued. The creases on his face softened, and a small smile spread across his lips. "Your dedication to Kotaro-kun and Azuha-chan's education has not gone unnoticed. Therefore, we are pleased to offer you a contract for another year of service."
Koda-san's wife smiled warmly. "Yes, we're hoping you'll agree to the same conditions from last year—four days a week in the evenings, plus supplementary lessons as needed during exam periods," she said. Her eyes softened and her hand moved to rest on their daughter's shoulder. "To be honest, I don't think our daughter would forgive us if we didn't rehire you, Uesugi-sensei." Azuha blushed a deep scarlet, trying to sink into her seat. "Mom," she moaned in response to the laughs of the rest of the table.
When the laughter died down, Takebayashi spoke up. "I'm sure that I can speak for Uesugi-san and myself in saying that we'd be thankful for the opportunity to guide Kotaro-kun and Azuha-san through their most important year of their academic career. Doing well now will set them up for success in high school. Is your goal still to send them to a top school?" She glanced from Koda-san to his wife.
Koda-san puffed out his chest. "Yes. We want both of them to attend Metropolitan Kokusai High School. And nothing less." Meanwhile Kotaro and Azuha stared up at their father in disbelief, their eyes wide and filled with worry.
"Dad," Kotaro began timidly, "I don't think we're good enough for that school."
"Not now, yes," Koda-san nodded in agreement. "But Uesugi-sensei and Takebayashi-sensei will make sure you're ready for the exams come winter."
His wife gave a firm nod in agreement. "It is true that we could send them to an equally esteemed Japanese school such as Shibuya High or Kaisei, however I feel my children deserve the opportunity for a more international experience, so that they become more worldly and better suited for a career in commerce or politics, like ourselves."
Futaro shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his mind racing with the implications of Koda-san's words. "I understand your desire for your children's success, Koda-san," he said carefully, "but Metro Kokusai is an internationally competitive school. With legacy students and scholars, and celebrities from around the world. I don't think I feel comfortable guaranteeing their acceptance. Would you consider Metro Kokusai as their reach school? We can also target other high performing schools like Kaisei as well." Futaro glanced at Azuha and Kotaro, who hung their heads low.
Koda-san's face darkened slightly at this. "Uesugi-sensei," he said, his voice cold. "I trust that you and Takebayashi-sensei will do whatever it takes to ensure their success. Money is not an issue."
Futaro swallowed hard, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead. He knew that Koda-san's last statement was not a mere suggestion. It was a command. Takebayashi tugged at his sleeve and spoke up. "Uesugi-sensei simply wanted to lay out typical concerns parents have when considering high prestigehigh schools such as these, isn't that right, Uesugi-sensei?" She jabbed his ribs. Futaro nodded along violently, trying not to wince at the sudden soreness of his side. "However, we're confident in our ability to prepare Kotaro-kun and Azuha-chan for Metro Kokusai," She paused, glancing at Futaro for a brief moment. "Now, as forward as it is for me to say, I take it you will agree to renegotiate our pay for this contract? As you said Koda-san, money is a non-issue. And I believe that now that Uesugi-sensei and I have a clearer understanding of your goals, our rates will, predictably, be much higher to account for the specialized practice exams, supplementary material, and of course, correspondence. It will only serve to make our job easier. And provide a firm structure for facilitating Kotaro-kun and Azuha-chan's success."
Koda-san pursed his lips into a thin line before he spoke."Very well, Takebayashi-sensei," His voice was gruff like pavement stones being rolled into place. "I'll submit a proposal for a thirty percent augmentation to your current contract, so that both of you can get the pay more befitting of a teacher of your station – to compensate for the part time nature of the contract." Futaro felt his shoulders relax as Koda-san's favor seemed restored.
Suddenly, the sound of a buzzing phone broke through the silence, and Takebayashi fumbled to quickly silence it. Embarrassment was evident on her face.
"So then, now all that is out of the way," Koda-san's wife interjected, gesturing towards the tea set in the center of the room. "How about something to drink? Azuha-chan? Would you mind getting the tea for this morning?"
Azuha bowed politely and made her way around the corner and into the kitchen. Her mother then shifted her gaze back onto Futaro. "Takebayashi-sensei mentioned that you're also joining the education track along with her. Such a noble decision," she continued with a kind smile. "I understand how precious teachers are, especially to parents like me. But it's such a shame that they have to give up their own dreams for public service. You should be more selfish—pursue private teaching instead of public school! I mean no offense, but public school can be so demanding for those of us with bright minds." She smiled coyly as if she were almost fishing for a compliment. "If you'd like," she continued, winking conspiratorially as her eagerness grew, "I could help you get you an internship at a private institution. I'm good friends with the metropolitan school district's superintendent. I helped him get elected last spring. I'm sure he'd be excited at the opportunity to return some of the good will we've shown him. We take care of our own, Uesugi-sensei."
Would it be rude to reject her help? Futaro thought. The university insisted that they find a university to intern at on their own, but he had declared for the educational track so late in the year that he'd been told no schools in the area told would accept any more interns. His mind raced as he tried to calculate his options. When he realized he had none, he found himself nodding, hoping that it was the right decision.
"Wonderful!" Azuha's mother grinned and clasped her hands together. "I'll make sure you're properly acquainted with a principal by the end of the week." Azuha returned with a tray of fresh tea for everyone, setting it down on the table and handing each person a cup. Her mother inhaled the warm nutty aroma before asking Takebayashi if she also needed help finding an internship.
Takebayashi shook her head. "That won't be necessary. I secured my placement at a nearby public school a while ago. Actually, I am really looking forward to working at a public school. It'll keep me focused on the community that I want to service," Futaro saw Takebayashi's phone buzzing again and this time, she looked visibly annoyed. Rolling her eyes, she fumbled with her phone, shoving it deep under her coat on the neighboring seat.
"Oh that's too bad. Just let me know if you change your mind."
Takebayashi nodded politely as she took a sip from the tea Azuha had made for her and hummed contentedly. "This is delicious, Azuha-chan. Uesugi-sensei, please drink it while it's still warm," she glanced at Futaro. "I'm sure Azuha-chan used the best tea leaves available."
Futaro slowly sipped his warm tea, when out of the corner of his eye he saw Azuha take the seat next to him. Azuha leaned in closer to him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Uesugi-sensei, do you like the tea? Her big eyes shone with a mix of joy and innocence, which reminded him of his little sister. Tenderly, he reached over and gave her head a gentle pat. He had really warmed up to both she and Kotaro over the past year, and there was a large part of him that was gladdened by the opportunity to be their teacher again.
Futaro smiled at her and nodded. "Yes, it's good. Thank you for making it for us."
Azuha's face lit up with delight and she clasped her hands together. "I'm so glad you like it! My mom helped me pick it out when we went to China this break."
Futaro chuckled softly at her enthusiasm. "You have keen intuition, Azuha-chan. Maybe some of that will rub off on Kotaro-kun."
Azuha beamed at the compliment and leaned back in her seat, sipping her tea with joy. Futaro turned his attention back to Koda-san and Takebayashi who were deep in conversation about their recent trip to China. As he listened to their lively chatter, Takebayashi's phone started buzzing again, and she let out a frustrated sigh. Before she could grab it, the phone vibrated off of the chair and onto the floor beneath Azuha, who reached below her to pick it up. Takebayashi stood up. "Give me back the phone," Takebayashi demanded. Azuha, phone in hand, lifted her head to see Takebayashi, standing upright and towering over her from her seat, serious and quietly intimidating.
Azuha handed it over with an apology, shoulders hunched. "Who's S-Sanada-kun?" She stuttered, hurt in her voice. Takebayashi paused for a moment before forcing a smile. "It's nobody important," waving it off. "Just someone that's trying to get a hold of me."
Azuha darted her eyes back and forth between Futaro and Takebayashi. "Uesugi-sensei," she hesitated. "Are you okay with Takebayashi-sensei talking to other boys?"
"Why would he care about that, stupid?" Kotaro piped up from across the table. "They're not married or anything."
"Shut up, Kota-chan! You're too stupid to know how boyfriend-girlfriend stuff works." The twins began bickering, their voices rising in volume. Koda-san's wife sighed and stepped in. "I think this is as good a place as any to stop. We look forward to another successful year working together." She said with an air of finality.
As if waiting for his cue, Koda-san stood up and bowed politely at Futaro and Takebayashi before retreating to his study, while his wife left for their bedroom.
"I guess we'll see ourselves out?" Takebayashi slid her phone into her bag. "Wanna walk us?" She asked Azuha, who seemed to perk up a little at Takebayashi's softer tone. She really was a sensitive kid. She already seemed to have forgotten about the phone and was happily telling Takebayashi about how her piano practice had been going.
As Azuha and Kotaro walked Futaro and Takebayashi to the door, Futaro gently nudged Kotaro's shoulder. "So, you were pretty quiet during that meeting, Kotaro-kun. Something on your mind?"
Kotaro bowed his head, avoiding eye contact. "Dad really wants us to go to Metro Kokusai, doesn't he?"
Futaro nodded. "Yeah, he does. But don't let that worry you for now," he said with a comforting smile and a glint of confidence in his eyes. "I haven't failed a student yet, and I'm not about to start now."
"He's right,you know," Takebayashi chimed in. "Uesugi-sensei has a one-hundred percent success record with all the students he's taught."
"Wow!" Azuha exclaimed. "We're really lucky then!"
"We absolutely are," Takebayashi agreed, echoing her enthusiasm.
Kotaro shifted his weight uneasily but didn't say anything else. Futaro noticed how much more seriously Kotaro was taking things since last autumn. Growing up really does change a kid. Futaro thought of his own transition from a wild child into a studious sixth year in junior high school.
"Well, goodbye! We'll see you next Monday! Make sure you're ready for a tough pre-test!" Futaro and Takebayashi waved goodbye to the twins and exited the loft.
As they walked down the sidewalk away from the Koda's apartment, Takebayashi cleared her throat. Futaro furrowed his eyebrows, waiting for her to speak up. Takebayashi hesitated, looking as though she was debating whether or not to say something. Finally, she let out a deep sigh and turned to him. "You know, Futaro, you could at least ask about all that back there with Sanada-kun," she said, her tone slightly accusatory.
"Why would I?"
Takebayashi raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a mixture of annoyance and concern. "Because that's what friends do? That sounds like you don't care."
"I do care," Futaro insisted. "But you seemed pretty annoyed back there, and I know better than to get caught in situations like that now. Besides, I don't really have the time. I'm running late for another job as it is."
"It's like you're not even grateful for what I did just now." Takebayashi let out a frustrated groan. "You've got to be kidding me. I just convinced Koda-san to give us almost double our money so you wouldn't have to keep taking on side jobs. What is this job anyway? Another part time restaurant?"
Futaro exhaled, wanting nothing more than to avoid telling Takebayashi the truth. "I am grateful. You were great back there," He didn't want to share with Takebayashi that he'd agreed to continue tutoring Ichika for her admissions exams. Nothing good could come from her knowing that. "It's just a teaching job. Admissions exam stuff. Nothing big," he said, burying the lead. "But I still have a reputation to keep. I don't want to be known as the 'chronically late' teacher."
"How come this is the first time I'm hearing about this?" Takebayashi quickened her pace to match Futaro's gait. "Also, 'admissions exams?' Is this an adult student?"
"Yes, they are. And we didn't really have a chance to talk up until today," Futaro said. "Is everything okay? You've never really shown interest in my side-gigs before." Futaro raised his eyebrow.
Her face was flushed. "I mean, I guess... I was negotiating more money for your sake... I was just trying to get you more money and free time for your studies," she muttered, turning her eyes away from him. Futaro noticed her fingers fidgeting with the zipper on her jacket. "But maybe I'm overreacting because of a bad interaction I had this week."
Futaro shifted uncomfortably, before clearing his throat. "Well, thank you for that. I appreciate you working so hard to get us more money. Sorry, I... have to go," he said, throwing his leg over his motorcycle. "I'll see you tomorrow at school. I'm looking forward to working with you another year." Futaro fitted on his helmet and rode off as quickly as he could. He glanced one more time at Takebayashi as she disappeared into the crowd. He couldn't help wondering what she meant by 'bad interaction,' but he knew that right now, there was somewhere else he had to be.
~Ichika~
The doorbell echoed throughout the apartment and into Ichika's bathroom. She quickly spat out the toothpaste that was still in her mouth, rushed to the front door, and peered through the peephole to find Futaro on the other side yanking off his helmet. Ichika opened the door, offering him a gentle smile. "Thirty minutes past when you said you'd be here, Futaro-kun? Geez, you look like a mess. Come in. I'll get you some water… and a towel." She waved him in, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. She took his helmet from his hands and set it down on the kitchen bar as he plopped down on the sofa and took the glass of water Ichika handed him. He drank it in one gulp. "Thanks, Ichika. Sorry for being late. I got caught up renegotiating my teaching contract with Koda-san and his family."
Ichika rolled her eyes as she walked towards Futaro. She shook her head and reached out for his coat, pulling it off of him. "You didn't have to rush, you know. You could've just texted ahead," she said softly.
Ichika felt surprised at how normal the conversation felt with Futaro again. His eyes were gentle, and his posture relaxed; not tense like she expected him to be. It was almost as if no time at all had passed. As if Yotsuba and Nino had never done what they did.
"I'll get you some more water, Futaro-kun," Ichika said, tossing his coat onto the sofa. She returned with a glass flask of water and poured some for him.
"Are you going somewhere?" Futaro gestured to the large pile of luggage stacked by the sofa.
"No. Miku came to visit for a few days."
"Oh?"
Ichika nodded before explaining. "Yeah, she's…um…helping Yotsuba move into her athletes' dorm." She mumbled the rest of her explanation hoping that somehow Futaro wouldn't notice.
Futaro stiffened at the sound of Yotsuba's name. His demeanor became more guarded. "I see… So she came for the tryouts after all. She's in Tokyo…"
"S-so, like, how did the contract negotiation with the Koda family go?" Ichika tried to force the conversation along. She felt like she was navigating a minefield.
"It went well," Futaro began to relax at the mention of work. "Takebayashi was able to leverage the Koda's desire to send Azuha-chan and Kotaro-kun to a top school to negotiate more money from our contract."
"That's great!" Ichika's grin widened. "Does that mean I don't have to pay you?"
"Funny." Futaro fake laughed. "You're lucky I didn't raise my rates."
"I get the 'most attractive, famous actress you know' discount," Ichika said jokingly, but she couldn't ignore the fact that Futaro had just mentioned he'd be working with Takebayashi for another year at least. Ichika's eyes instinctively dropped to the collar of Futaro's shirt, where she could almost imagine a faint smudge of red lipstick still clinging to it. She noticed a muscle in his jaw twitch.
"I told you I didn't even know how it got there," he said with a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"Oh, so she just makes a habit of sucking on the edge of your collar, huh?"
"Ichika…"
"Alright, alright. I said I believed you when I first asked. And I even promised that I wouldn't make a big deal of it. But seriously, Futaro-kun, a woman knows." She gave him a look. "And one day I will want a full explanation." She felt like shaking Futaro. How can you not see that she's in love with you, idiot!? Ichika wanted to say more, but she kept her thoughts on that woman to herself. "Anyway, Futaro-kun, I was thinking... Where have I heard the last name 'Koda' before?"
Futaro shrugged. "I've mentioned them before when we uber'ed to your apartment."
"No, it's not that. I don't know… It just sounds familiar," Ichika frowned. "Like I've heard it somewhere before—and not on TV or whatever."
"Well, the Kodas are a pretty wealthy and influential family. Maybe you heard their name in passing? Or maybe your dad invited them for a fancy dinner one time."
Ichika shook her head. "We're not that wealthy, geez. But you're right. It's probably nothing," she said, dismissing the thought. "Anyway, can we get started on reviewing my scores?"
"Of course," Futaro said, pulling out a computer from his bag. "Let's start with your math scores." Ichika groaned. She knew this wasn't going to be pretty. She looked over Futaro's shoulder as he scrolled through her scores. It was worse than she thought. "Okay, so in your last standard exam," Futaro began, "you got a 29% on the math section. That's not good, Ichika. It's like everything I taught you just fell out of your head."
"I know, I'm sorry," she said, rubbing her temples. "I'll try harder this time, I promise. But Futaro-kun, I must say that there's been a misunderstanding. I am a victim! My previous teacher after you quit kept taking pictures of my underwear drawer when I went to the bathroom!"
"Is that true?!"
"I don't know… Maybe?"
"Get serious, Ichika!" Futaro sighed. As they went through the rest of her scores, Ichika realized it was more of the same. Writing, reading, English—she had failed practically every single one. She felt like crawling under a rock and never coming out again.
"I'm sorry," she said again and again. She hated having her insecurities brought into the open like this, but she knew it was only because Futaro wanted to help her. He spoke harshly, but he did believe in her—more than anyone else had before—which was more than she could say about her last tutor. "So, there's no hope for me this year," she said.
"Nope," Futaro cleared his throat and gave her a measured look. "But you knew that already. So let's focus on getting you ready for next winter's admission exams instead. Give me one year, and I'll cram every bit of knowledge I can into that dumb Nakano head of yours."
Ichika laughed despite herself. "Why'd you have to put it like that?"
Futaro flashed a wry grin. "Experience."
Ichika inflated her cheeks into an exaggerated pout. "Well, that doesn't make me feel any better, you know."
Futaro shrugged. "It's the truth." He said, "For what it's worth, I'm still really happy you're choosing to get a college education. I know you'll likely never use it because you're this amazing actress now—but you said it's important that you do it. Besides, you'll have more life experience from it. I mean, you're not going to pass for a high school girl forever, so you'll have to understand the struggles of a modern Japanese woman too."
Ichika raised her eyebrow. "Was that supposed to motivate me, Futaro-kun?" She said as she poured herself some water from the flask using Futaro's old cup.
"Maybe," Futaro shrugged. "Did it motivate you?" Ichika shook her head, taking a sip of the cold liquid from his glass.
"Ah well, that's a shame. It motivated me."
"How so?" Ichika asked curiously, as she took another sip of her drink.
Futaro ran his hand through his hair as he answered her question. "I felt bad about leaving you high and dry. If I had been teaching you, right now you'd have gotten the score needed to start uni. I delayed you a year; it's my greatest failure." Futaro lifted his head to match Ichika's gaze, a hopeful look in his eyes. He continued. "How can I tell people I have a 100% success rate if you don't get into college?"
Ichika smiled in response to his sincerity and determination. "Can we study twice a week? I know you're doing a lot of stuff now, like tutoring the Koda's, school and all that. And I don't want to stress you out, but…"
Futaro considered her request carefully. "It's not just me. I'm sure your recording schedule will be difficult too. But I'll make it work," he said. "Next week, let's plan a realistic schedule carefully and stick to it no matter what. We might have to meet at odd hours, but we'll manage."
"Thank you, Futaro-kun," she said softly, watching his face for any signs of emotion. He looked tired and worn out, his eyes downcast and expression solemn. Ichika knew he was still skittish about the subject of her family, yet the fact that he had come tonight seemed to her to be a sign that he still welcomed them into his life. She took strength from Itsuki's words: they just needed to keep pushing through, no matter how long it took to crack down the walls he had built around himself.
She resisted the urge to reach out and touch him more. Her body felt like electricity—she felt like she'd spark like a flame at the smallest physical contact. A small truth began to sprout from within Ichika. Futaro is a single man. And she is still hopelessly in love. She glanced outside as rain began to pitter-patter against the balcony window.
Futaro and Ichika finished their drinks and then headed towards the balcony to watch the rain fall.
"Do you want to wait for the rain to stop?"
"Sure. I'm in no rush."
They stood there silently observing the strong rainfall while its rhythm filled the air like distant drums. "So I got a new role... Do you want to hear about it?" Ichika eventually broke the silence, gazing straight ahead at the gray cityscape.
"Sure." Futaro's voice was flat, his eyes fixed on the rain. Ichika felt a twinge of disappointment at his lack of enthusiasm. But she shook it off and began telling him about her new role.
"It's called 'Shibuya Socialite'," she said, her voice gaining excitement with every word. "I play a young woman who's just moved to Tokyo and is trying to navigate the high society world of Shibuya. It's my first leading role in...well, anything, really. Can you believe it, Futaro-kun? My first leading role. No more two-bit roles or lame drink commercials."
Futaro turned to look at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "I can believe it. That role sounds very, you. I think Raiha told me about the book over break. I'll miss those unforgettable summer commercials though." He laughed at his own joke. Then he tugged at his hair the way he always does when he isn't sure what to say. "So... When does filming start?"
"In two weeks. I'll be at Todai actually. Maybe you'd like to watch, if you're free?"
"I thought you hated it when I watched you at work."
"I don't think I mind so much these days," she said with a laugh, cheeks turning pink from the memories of their past experiences together.
"Hmm," Futaro murmured. "I'll think about it."
That's very like you, Futaro-kun, Ichika smiled. Ichika grinned. It was always the little gestures with him that always rang the loudest in her heart. That was good enough for her.
At that moment, the front door opened and Miku stepped inside, dripping wet from the rain. She struggled under the weight of several bags filled with baking ingredients and dumped them onto the kitchen table with a thud. "Ichika! Don't leave your props out!" Miku scolded as she picked up Futaro's helmet from atop the kitchen bar.
She froze. Her eyes found Futaro standing at the balcony next to Ichika. "Oh! Futaro... Long time no see... Um, Happy belated New Year," Miku said in an unnaturally high voice. Her mask of confidence melted as she clutched his helmet behind her back.
Sensing the tension in the room, Futaro turned to Ichika and said, "That's mine, Miku…" he gestured to the helmet. "I don't want to make anything awkward, so I think I'll get going, Ichika."
Ichika, not knowing how to respond, simply nodded. She walked over to the door and opened it for him, not wanting to push him too hard to spend time with them.
As he stepped towards the front door, Miku's eyes followed him. "Futaro, wait!" She called out suddenly. Ichika stared at her sister in surprise.
Miku took a deep breath as if willing herself forward and observed Futaro with a determined expression. "Would you like to stay and help us bake? I mean, if you don't have anything else to do..." Her words trailed off, leaving a small silence in the room.
Ichika smirked and shook her head, knowing that her sister had likely worked up all her courage to face him head on—she should follow her sister's example.
"Come on, Futaro-kun," She gently prodded his back. "Save Miku from having me as her assistant. You know I'm no good in the kitchen."
Futaro hesitated for a moment before finally giving in. "Alright, I'll stay."
"But before we start, Miku, you should probably change." Ichika pointed discreetly to a trail of water that led from Miku's soaked clothes across the floor.
Miku blushed and nodded, hurrying to Ichika's room to change into dry clothes. Once Miku returned, the three of them got to work. Futaro measured out the dry ingredients while Miku and Ichika worked on the liquid ingredients. As they mixed and stirred, the awkward energy from before dissipated, and the kitchen was filled with laughter and chatter. Futaro updated Miku on his life, telling her about his job as a tutor and the difficulties he faced while trying to balance work and school. He mentioned that he'd be teaching Ichika again, which to Ichika's surprise, Miku seemed thrilled to hear.
Ichika watched, smiling, as Miku effortlessly commanded the kitchen, politely instructing Futaro which steps to follow. Futaro was visibly more relaxed now.
See Futaro-kun, it's not that hard to forgive if you just give us a chance. Ichika smiled. She thought about how Itsuki was going to love hearing how well today had gone and how easily Miku was able to make Futaro relax. Something about her just brought out a protective side of him. There's no way that Futaro could deny it now. He still loves us.
"So why cupcakes, Miku?" Ichika asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Because they're easy," Miku replied with a shrug. "Futaro is good at following directions, but I didn't want to try out anything too difficult for you, Ichika."
Ichika laughed, embarrassed. "Ouch—you got me there."
Miku glanced at Futaro who was carefully measuring out ingredients for the cupcake batter. "Plus, they're the same kind Raiha likes, so Futaro can make some for her if he wants. I mostly wanted to test out some ingredients I bought the other day for my portfolio."
A glint of interest shone in Futaro's eyes. "Portfolio?" He asked.
"Yeah," Miku explained. "If I want to have my own bakery one day, I need to have my own menu, right?"
Futaro nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that makes sense." Using a wooden spoon, the three of them took turns scraping the thick batter from the mixing bowl and divided it into two trays lined with cupcake foil. When all the batter was poured, Futaro glanced at his phone and let out a sigh. "It's getting really late for me. I've got homework and lesson prep to do, and I've also got to water my plant..."
"Plant? Since when do you have plants, Futaro-kun?" Ichika handed him his helmet.
"Oh... It was a gift from Yotsuba—a while ago," he said, lifting his guard up once again.
Miku and Ichika exchanged a knowing look before Miku spoke up. "I'm glad you're still taking care of it then... Don't worry about all this. I'll clean up here. You can head home. I'll leave you some cupcakes with your landlord before I leave."
Futaro smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Miku. I appreciate it." He grabbed his backpack, tossed on his helmet and headed towards the door.
Ichika watched the door close, feeling her heart sink a little. She wished he would stay just a bit longer.
"Ichika, can you help me clean this up?"
Miku's voice snapped Ichika from her thoughts and she turned to see her sister standing in the middle of the disheveled room with an exasperated look on her face.
"What happened to 'I'll clean up'?" Ichika teased as she grabbed a rag from the sink and started to wipe down the table.
Miku sighed, "Shut up." She pointed to the surfaces she wanted Ichika to clean while she began washing the dishes. "So, Yotsuba's plant, huh?"
"Yup. There's still hope for that idiot, it seems." Ichika sounded a bit more biting than she intended.
Miku took a deep breath and fixed Ichika with a direct gaze. "I can see it in your eyes. You still have feelings for Futaro."
Ichika froze. Miku had become increasingly more blunt and direct lately, and it often caught Ichika off guard.
"Yes," she whispered, averting her eyes from Miku's. "And I already know what you're going to say. I'm not going to try anything."
"That's right. You're not. We're on damage control and all this is for Yotsuba's sake," Miku said firmly, her voice tinged with sadness. "Futaro is off limits, Ichika." Miku shut off the water and dried her hands on the dish towel before striding from the kitchen to take a bath, leaving Ichika alone in the living room.
Ichika drifted over her drawer of knick knacks and pulled out an old wine cork from her and Futaro's first night drinking together. She rolled it pensively between her thumb and forefinger.
This is enough for me. I promise.
~Nino~
Three Weeks Earlier
Nino prodded the glistening, golden potatoes with her cooking chopsticks before finally giving it an approving nod. Stabbing a few more times for good measure, she adjusted the flame of the stove to a low simmer once she was satisfied with the suppleness of the potatoes. She carefully added the curry roux to the pot. The fragrant smell of curry and cayenne wafted through the air as she stirred with a large wooden spoon, making her mouth water.
Itsuki will be happy with this, she thought, as she put the lid on the pot to let the liquid thicken to a sauce.
Nino settled into the love seat, taking in the decorations of holly sprigs and twinkling lights that she, Miku, and Itsuki had expertly arranged throughout the room. Christmas had already passed, but neither she, Miku or Itsuki had wanted to take down the decorations just yet. She smiled; even their dad had complimented their decorations. And he never said much about anything. Still, he had taken off the entire holiday break to spend time with them. It's more than Nino could or would have hoped for. She admired her dad for keeping his promise to be around at home more often and she was happy that the house felt somewhat normal for a change during New Year's. But she knew that she and her sisters were all playing a part to keep the peace for their dad.
Nino remembered how she had tried approaching Yotsuba one of the nights she was over—everyone was congratulating her on deciding to try out for the Olympics. Nino had wrapped for her a beautiful new white bow that she had bought for her earlier that month. Nino had hoped to apologize to Yotsuba, to admit that it was all her fault and that she was willing to do anything to repair her relationship with her sister. She thought that it was sweet of Yotsuba to listen. Her face was kind and understanding. Nino had almost convinced herself that Yotsuba had accepted her apology only to discover that Yotsuba had quietly returned Nino's present the morning she left for Tokyo by leaving it on Nino's bed on top of her pillow with an apology letter.
"I'm sorry. But I can't accept this. Take care of yourself, Nino."
The letter was short but it stung all the same.
In an attempt to pull herself from her thoughts, she reached for the magazine on the coffee table. Its cover crinkled in her hands. Her thumb easily found its mark as she had read this issue multiple times already. She'd read nearly every page of this edition—"The Art of Seduction: How to Make Him Crave You." It was her favorite. Of course, none of the advice from these silly magazines could be taken seriously. The articles were always over-the-top, impossible to achieve in the real world, and likely written by an intern, but she still folded the pages with the articles of "Five Quick Ways to Drop Five Kilos in Five Days" and "The Trick to Orgasming Together".
Just in case.
But then, she came across one article that caught her eye. An article that she had noticed several times, but never bothered to read. It was titled, "7 Tips on How to Be a Better Person." She scoffed at it at first, thinking it was just another gimmick to sell magazines. But something about it made her pause. Maybe it was the fact that it was the only article in the magazine that didn't revolve around pleasing a man or losing weight. Maybe it was the realization that she needed to do something to better herself. Nino took a deep breath and started reading.
1. Practice Gratitude: Gratitude is a powerful tool for happiness and personal growth. Make it a habit to acknowledge and appreciate the good things in your life, no matter how small. Expressing gratitude not only improves your own well-being but also strengthens your relationships.
Of course, I'm grateful to people. I always say please and thank you at work, and at home, I always thank Itsuki for washing the dishes before I get home after work. This is a no-brainer.
2. Continuously Learn and Grow: Embrace a growth mindset. Be open to new experiences, challenges, and learning opportunities. Seek out knowledge and self-improvement through reading, taking courses, or seeking advice from mentors. By constantly growing, you become a better, more adaptable person.
I mean... I guess I'm going to school right now. I'm getting better at cooking and I study what we learn in class. I'd like to believe I'm growing pretty well.
3. Prioritize Health and Well-Being: Taking care of your physical and mental health is essential for personal growth. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and stress management techniques are all crucial components. When you feel good physically and mentally, you're better equipped to be a positive influence on others.
Well that's easy... I still manage to do my yoga every morning. Of course, it's tempting to eat all of the delicious food people make at school, but I think I'm pretty good at controling myself. Nino nodded to herself. Maybe she was a much better person than she gave herself credit for.
4. Give Back to Your Community: Contributing to your community, whether through volunteering, supporting local causes, or simply being a good neighbor, is a meaningful way to become a better person. Helping others in need not only makes a positive impact on their lives but also enriches your own sense of purpose and fulfillment.
True. I probably should be doing more. Maybe next year, I'll ask Itsuki to go with me to volunteer, maybe handing out Christmas presents or something. I'm sure her school will be doing something or whatever.
5. Practice Empathy: Empathy is the cornerstone of human connection. Try to understand and share in the feelings of others. This means actively listening, putting yourself in their shoes, and suspending judgment.
Empathy... She slowly ran her finger over the page and paused at the words "putting yourself in their shoes". Taking a deep breath, a gentle sadness welled up in her chest. Something gave Nino the impression that empathy meant more than just crying at the end of one of her favorite rom-coms. "Maybe that's something I can work on," she said to herself.
6. Be Kind and Compassionate: Kindness and compassion can go a long way in making the world a better place. Treat others with respect and kindness, regardless of their background, opinions, or circumstances. Random acts of kindness can brighten someone's day and create a more positive environment.
...Perhaps I could change things up by making Miku something to eat. A baking project would be something I hadn't tried for a while, and maybe she'd like that. And I could send some over to Ichika as well—something simple like cookies. Nino felt a pang of sadness grow inside her. Ichika had also barely spoken a word to her during their entire New Year's break. If Nino was home, Ichika would spend the majority of her time sleeping or in Itsuki's bedroom. She'd even offered to visit mom's grave with Itsuki and didn't think for one second to invite her. The ingredients would be wasted on cookies that'd just end up in the trash.
7. Cultivate Self-Reflection: Take time regularly to reflect on your thoughts, act—
She huffed in frustration, crumpled the magazine into a tight ball, and hurled it in the general direction of the coffee table. It bounced off the corner, rolled across the floor, and came to rest against the leg of the opposite couch. With a heavy sigh, she collapsed back onto the cushion, hugged her knees to her chest, and lowered her forehead to rest between them. "This is stupid. I should talk to him."
Author's Note: Hi everyone! Happy Tsukimi season! I have been stuffing my face with mcDonalds tsukimi burgers nonstop all September as I've been working on this. I apologize for being a week late. My editor discovered a continuity error in my chapter and I had to back to make some pretty sizable changes to make sure it flowed the way that we wanted it to. I am so very grateful to have someone with a keen and patient eye to help elevate my fic into a better place for you all to enjoy!
I was a bit nervous about this chapter as it has quite a few Japanese words in it—either name, locations, things and I was a bit worried that the English was coming across as a bit "Japanglish" and so my editor and I worked really hard to streamline the language as much as possible. Honestly, I couldn't do it without them.
If you enjoyed, please review and share as one of my biggest motivators of my fic is reviews and watching people engage with my fic in discussions
As always, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to like and review! I'd like to personally mention a few names from the past month who left their thought on my fic: Guesto, AllSlayer, Bazzo, Gazara12,MTW King,and Octopodes
On AO3: NBRSuperstar, SuperKamehameha, Mikropolis, lucas81, TrainBrain81, and thelargeroomba
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Thank you for your readership. I am grateful that you've chosen to spend your valuable time reading my fic. See you next month!