Chapter Eleven: Glitter and Stars
~Ichika~
The wind slowly picked up outside, rusting the fresh linen sheets Ichika had hung on the balcony floor. The scent of pollen and salt no longer wafted through the air, but rather the smell of drying leaves and mist. Below, Tokyo's was dotted with patches of yellowing grass and blossoming spider lilies. It was becoming cool enough for the windows to be left open, and that alone was enough to lift Ichika's spirit.
"So I was looking at this problem yesterday and wasn't sure how to start it. Can you take a look?" she asked. Ichika looked up when she didn't get an answer. Across from her, Futaro was writing in the little brown finance journal she had gifted him months ago. "Hey! Are you listening?"
"Hmm?" Futaro closed his journal. "Sorry, did you figure out how to do it?"
Ichika laughed dryly. "If I could figure it out, I wouldn't have asked you to come."
"I thought you invited me just to hang out."
"If I would have told you I needed study help, you would have said no!"
"You're right! I would have!"
"Futaro-kun!"
"Fine!" Futaro sighed and moved to the loveseat behind her. "Alright! Let's look at this. I can't believe you're seriously considering university. You barely passed high school."
"Hey!" Ichika pouted.
"My bad, too honest," Futaro cleared his throat.
Ichika sighed. "I told you a while back, It's a school that lets me do most of it online—it's specifically for actresses on the go. My manager told me about it. Besides, it's not that serious. I just want to test and see if I can get in…" Ichika was half telling Futaro the truth. Ichika had been considering returning to school ever since she graduated, but the struggle was always trying to find a program that respected her irregular work schedule. She never particularly found school interesting, but she disliked the idea of her sisters getting ahead of her. Futaro always warned her never to lay all her eggs in one basket anyway. Geez, imagine if I burned out of acting and had to work with Nino and Miku for the rest of my life. The thought was enough to make her hair stand upright.
"… so then after you carry this number down and apply the— are you even listening?" Futaro frowned.
"Oh, um, yes, of course I was," Ichika grimaced. She hated lying to Futaro.
Futaro dropped the pen on the living room table. "I swear the more things change, the more they stay the same. I have no idea how you're supposed to make it to university," He leaned back on the couch and craned his neck over the pillows.
"Don't you think you're not giving me enough credit, Futaro-kun? This is something I want. Aren't you at least a little proud of me for deciding to go back?"
Futaro replied with a loud snore.
"You fell asleep!" Ichika pulled the couch pillow out from underneath him and hit him over the head with it. "I bore you that much!?"
"Ouch!" Futaro covered his face. "Cut it out! I just closed my eyes!" Futaro yanked the pillow out from Ichika's hands and retaliated. Ichika covered her head, blocking his strike with her arms. She threw her study sheets at Futaro, loose-leaf paper flying everywhere in the living room. Crawling on her knees, she lunged for the other couch and picked up another pillow.
"Oh no, you don't!" Futaro closed the distance. Ichika flung the pillow in her hand, catching Futaro in the face. Ceasing the opening, Ichika tried to tackle Futaro to the couch, but she slipped on one of the papers she threw. They both toppled to the ground, ignoring the pain shooting up her leg. Ichika ripped the pillow out of Futaros hands, smothering his face with it.
"Say it! Say. You're. Proud. Of. Me. Futaro-kun!" She panted, quite surprised by how much strength it took to stay on top of him. She could hear his muffled protests, but nothing she could make out as a concession. She applied more pressure with her body. "Saaaaaaay it!" She pulled the pillow off his face. He gasped for air.
"Are you… are you crazy?"
"I'm waiting for you to say it, or I'll suffocate you again," Ichika pouted. Her heart was racing, and her breath felt hot and heavy. Suddenly Futaro's body lurched, throwing Ichika off balance. He grabbed her by her arms and rolled to his side, freeing himself and pinning hands by the wrists on the floor.
"I'm proud of you," he panted. "Of course, I'm proud of you. You don't need to trick me to get me to visit. Just ask for help," he locked eyes with her in a way that made her feel especially vulnerable.
His eyes are always so serious. She wanted to look away, but her position was entirely powerless. Futaro loosened his grip, perhaps sensing that it was safe. She reacted instantly, reaching for the pillow and smacking him across the face. The force pushed him from atop her, and he bumped his head on the side of the coffee table.
"Oh shit," Ichika said, shifting her body and holding his head. "Futaro-kun, are you okay?"
"Ouch, yeah, I'm fine," Futaro winced.
"Nope, stop moving," she said. He tried to pull away from Ichika, but she held his head in place, checking the area where he hit the coffee table. "Yikes, that corner really got you—"
"You mean you did."
"Shut up—hold on. I'll get you something to so it won't form a bump," Ichika moved quickly to her bathroom and pulled out a tube of ointment from the medicine cabinet. She briefly caught a glimpse of her face in the mirror. Wow, my face so red.
"Go, sit on a stool," she pointed to the kitchen bar. "There's better lighting over there."
She guided Futaro to the bench by the hand and gently urged him to sit. she gently pulled his bangs back, exposing the rising bump on the side of his forehead. Ichika unscrewed the top from the ointment, squeezing the tube until a coin-sized drop of oily pale-yellow contents coated her palm. She gently rubbed it on his skin. Futaro flinched, inhaling sharply. "Sorry, Futaro-kun,"
"No, it's fine," He grumbled. Futaro had already pulled his computer in front of him and was already tapping away. Ichika peaked over and caught a glimpse of an email rejecting his job application to a large fast food chain. She felt his shoulders slump. Futaro googled jobs hiring students near Tokyo University and started scrolling through local advertisements.
Ichika cleared her throat. "So, are you liking your new phone?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Thanks again for taking me to help find one," He said absentmindedly. Futaro had already started filling out another job application to a nearby Starbucks.
"You know, doing that from your phone might be a bit easier."
"It's fine. I got used to this computer already."
Futaro must still be worried about money since he returned from Nagoya last month. She added a bit more ointment to his bump. "There, that should be enough, so it doesn't swell too much," Futaro thanked her as she went around the bar to the kitchen and offered Futaro a glass of water. "I'm sorry I made you spend so much on that phone, by the way," guilt bubbled deep in her stomach.
Come on! Just ask for help already! Ichika wanted to shake him.
Futaro gulped the water quickly. "Oh, it's no big deal. I needed it. I just haven't gotten used to it. That phone has a bunch of really nice features, and when I'm video calling with Yotsuba, it looks great! Even better than this old computer," he threw his hands up in defeat. "Ah, whatever—I'm too tired to make another job application now," he cleared his throat. "By the way, I meant it. I am proud of you for thinking about going back to school."
"Yeah?" Ichika smiled slightly.
"Of course, I think that—" Futaro was interrupted by his phone, which was back in the living room. "Hold up. I think I have to take that it might be Yotsuba."
Ichika nodded, sitting on the stool he had just emptied.
"Oh, hey. Is everything okay?" Futaro answered in a tone that didn't sound like how he'd talk to Yotsuba at all. "I see, okay. One moment—Hey Ichika, this is a work thing, mind if I go to the balcony?"
"Sure!" Ichika gestured to the glass sliding door. "I don't mind."
Futaro exited to the balcony at the back of the living room, leaving Ichika alone to spin around on her stool out of boredom. She played around with Futaro's laptop, enjoying the sound of the keys clacking.
"Futaro-kun is probably the kind of lame guy to have his girlfriend as his password," she said to herself. Wouldn't it be funny if… She pulled the laptop closer to her.
Y-O-T-S-U-B-A, she tapped each key slowly and meticulously.
Bzzz
"No dice. Hmm, maybe this?" She sat up a little straighter.
N-A-K-A-N-O Y-O-T-S-U-B-A
Bzzz
4-2-8?
Bzzz
I-C-H-I-K-A
Bzzz
"Well, I guess that was wishful thinking," Ichika scoffed and shut the laptop. At that moment, she noticed faint sticker residue from the bottom corner of Futaro's laptop. She picked up the computer and tilted it towards the kitchen light. She could make out the leftover residue of two kanji stickers on the aluminum case. "Bamboo… Forest? What is that?" Ichika hummed, running her fingers on the bumpy residue. Bamboo…? No, that's not it. Takehara— oh! Takebayashi!" Her eyes were wide as she had made a great discovery. She thought it was strange that Futaro would own such a nice computer, knowing how much of a penny-pincher he was. Even if the model was old, the laptop he toted around was still a luxury item after all.
Did Takebayashi give this to him? She held the computer at arm's length as if it was going to grow teeth and bite her fingers off suddenly. She turned to back toward the balcony, where she saw Futaro pacing back and forth. He was laughing.
Something strange settled in the pit of Ichika's stomach. She left the kitchen, crossed the living room, and opened the balcony door. "Futaro-kun?"
"And so then I had—sorry one moment. Need something, Ichika?" he covered the receiving end of the phone.
"No. Do you want a coffee? I was thinking of making myself one," Ichika blurted out, quickly coming up with a lie on the spot. I seriously hated lying to him. My stomach is in knots.
Futaro frowned. "At this hour? No thanks."
"Oh, okay. Just me then," Ichika smiled at Futaro, but he had already returned to his conversation. She pulled the sliding door partway and laid on the couch, trying to appear inconspicuous.
"I'm excited too. I think they're doing great," she heard Futaro say, a little too enthusiastically for Ichika's comfort.
"I'm a bit concerned about whether or not they'll be able to be as good in the actual tests as they have been in the practicals that we've made. Do you think we should add more testing to hammer down the concepts? Especially for their biology courses," Futaro's tone shifted. He sounded more like a concerned father than a tutor. "yikes, and Kotaro-kun thinks that I'm the strict one. He's going to hate you for a week. You know that, right?" He laughed in a familiar way. It was the kind of laugh he only shared with her sister.
"Celebrate? Sure. I don't mind as long as it's cheap. Where do you have in mind?"
"Sure, I can do that. I've been exploring the city some more anyway. Is that all?"
"Okay. Then I'll see you tomorrow—what? Oh yeah, that. Don't worry. I'll probably be home in an hour. I mean to catch the last train. Sure— yup. Goodnight, Takebayashi," he hung up the phone. Ichika closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep just as she heard the sliding door open.
"I thought you were going to make yourself a coffee," Futaro said, standing above her.
Ichika rubbed her eyes. "I guess I didn't realize how tired I was," she fake yawned. "Who was that? You were out there for quite a while?" She asked, pretending she didn't already know.
"Oh, just my co-tutor. We were going over some lesson plans for the new trimester. No big deal."
"Who was she again? Takeda? Takamura? Something like that?"
He knelt down and began picking up all the papers Ichika had thrown to the floor earlier. "Takebayashi. And she's a pretty good friend."
"Wait, Futaro-kun, you don't need to do that—"
"It's fine. I wanted to look at this stuff anyway," he flipped through her pages of papers. "Hey, some of this stuff looks familiar," he inspected a paper more closely. He squinted closely at the handwriting of one document in particular. "Ichika, this is Itsuki's math homework."
Ichika nodded. "I asked her for her study stuff before I moved."
"Ichika, I gave you all of these!" He smacked her over the head with the papers in his hands.
Ichika covered her head from further attacks. "Yes, but Itsuki-chan was always so much better at taking notes. I couldn't read my notes when I went back to review."
"Hmm," Futaro glared at her suspiciously.
"—so you still recognize Itsuki-chan's handwriting?" Ichika asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
"Of course, I do," Futaro exhaled loudly, staking the papers neatly on the living room table. "All five of you girls' handwriting is burned into my memory, unfortunately."
"All I'm hearing is that you can tell us apart now," Ichika laughed.
Futaro plopped on the couch right next to Ichika. She felt his body weight press against her shoulder—he felt warm against her skin. "You give me way too much credit," he yawned. "Yotsuba, definitely. You too. But if you all stood in a line, wearing the same clothes, I might struggle."
Ichika's heart fluttered. She grinned like a little girl praised for a job well done. "Well, naturally, you'd remember me. I am the original, after all. The rest are just copies," she said, hiding her joy beneath a thick layer of sarcasm.
Futaro quickly checked his phone and let out a deep sigh and tossed it on the table. He leaned back closing his eyes.
"So does your childhood friend and co-tutor Takebayashi-san usually call you at any hour of the day when you're off the clock?"
Futaro cleared his throat. "hmm, what are you getting at?"
"Don't you think getting closer to other girls might upset Yotsuba?"
Futaro shook his head. "I don't see the problem. Making friends was her idea, after all."
"Hmm, I guess I can see why she'd be worried about you not making any friends. You are a bit weird."
"Watch it," Futaro frowned, his eyes still closed.
"Work/life balance is all I'm saying, Futaro-kun. You don't want those two to intermingle too much," Ichika shrugged. She noticed his phone on the living room table was still on to a rejection email from a job posting. "Is money tight for you right now, Futaro-kun?"
Futaro grunted. "I just need some extra money to visit Osaka before October."
"Oh! Because of Yotsuba's race? Isn't it here in Tokyo? Or at least nearby?"
Futaro nodded. "Yeah, but she's likely going to be too busy to meet me, so I wanted to surprise her before then."
Just as quickly, Ichika's heart deflated. A new uglier feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Between Yotsuba and this Takebayashi girl, Ichika struggled to see exactly where she fit in. "So you're a broke, tired, generally friendless tutor that keeps getting rejected from every job he applies to. Oh! And also your hair was nicer when it was longer! Do I have that right?" Ichika laughed, trying to lighten the mood. But Futaro's silence instantly made her regret her choice of words. She grabbed him by the shoulders, pulled him down, and rested his head on her lap.
"Hey—what are you doing!"
"You should remember that you can rely on me," she said softly. "I'm on your side."
At first, it seemed like Futaro was about to protest Ichika insisting on letting him rest on her lap. But he did not remove his head, whether it was exhaustion or trust. He stared at the ceiling for what seemed like a long moment. Ichika was relieved that she had a special ability to catch Futaro in his most vulnerable moments. It's nice just being there for him, she thought to herself. She wanted to stroke his hair but suspected that might be too much for Futaro's sensibilities.
"Ichika?" Futaro finally said, breaking the silence.
"Hmm?"
"Let me be your tutor."
"Yeah? What do you have to offer over than some random tutor the studio would hire for me?"
Futaro's face turned serious. "I take pride in customizing my students' curriculum to exactly what they need to succeed. And I have a 100% success rate with my students so far."
Ichika smirked. "I hope you're judging that based on graduation rates."
"Naturally."
They laughed, and Ichika felt like they were the only two people in the universe. When their laughter died down, the room once again became silent. Ichika pulled Futaros bangs out of his hair. She lightly touched his hair for a few moments, enjoying silkiness.
"Hey, what are you doing," Futaro frowned slightly.
"I'm just checking that walnut-sized lump on your forehead," Ichika grinned. "What did you think that—"
"No—" Futaro turned away, trying to hide the tint of scarlet on his cheek.
Deciding to show Futaro some mercy, she stroked his hair in silence for a moment. "I'll give my manager your card. I'm sure they'll be okay with it—Futaro, thank you for still supporting me," she said sweetly. This time Futaro replied with a gentle snore. Once again, he had fallen asleep with his eyes wide open as if he were still staring at the ceiling.
"Geez, so creepy," Ichika rolled her eyes. She sighed and glanced at the clock. There's no way he's going to catch the last train now. She decided that he'd be safer staying the night again.
Her eyes shifted to Futaro's phone. Good friends. Oh, Futaro-kun, you're just as gullible as Yotsuba sometimes.
Ichika reached over to the coffee table and grabbed his phone with the tips of her fingers. She tapped the screen, surprised to see a photo of her and her sisters gathered around Futaro just as he cut into his 'goodbye cake' last spring. "You're killing me here, Futaro-kun," she grinned. The prompt for Face ID vibrated the phone in her hand. She always wondered if Face ID would work with sleeping people. She turned the phone so the screen was facing Futaro. To her surprise, the phone chimed and unlocked. Woah. No way! A series of notifications appeared at the top of the screen. Well, I already snooped once tonight. I might as well.
Ichika pulled up his messages and was surprised to see Takebayashi as his most recent text. Her stomach did somersaults reading their conversation. She read every one of Takebayashi's replies as flirty, even if it was something as innocuous as a "good work today" message.
[Takebayashi] (sent at 7:54 p.m) "Thank you for all your hard work today, Futaro. Do you have those printouts for Kotaro-kun? I want to evaluate his progress in Algebra."
"Yeah, wouldn't you like to know, bitc—ooh, I'm starting to sound like Nino," Ichika closed the messages and scrolled threw Nino's messages. Her heart sank reading all the thoughtful checkups Nino would leave for Futaro and his cold replies. He wasn't technically being rude, but Ichika could tell that he was putting up walls for her. The only real reaction Nino would get from Futaro was when she shared a new plate she made in her new program. Ichika felt a strange twang of jealousy. Nino never shared photos of her cooking with her. She disliked feeling like the odd sister out. She wanted to stop, but a small notification with an emoji of a camel and a pair of running shoes caught her attention.
[Yotsuba] (sent at 11:03 p.m) "Hi! Sorry again for the late reply. My study session with Inoue-san ran late. I think she understands what you went through with me now… You're probably already sleeping, but I hope you had an easier day today than yesterday. How's Ichika? I miss you, have a goodnight!"
Ichika felt dirty. She scrolled through Yotsuba and Futaros texts, hoping she wouldn't see anything too scandalous. What she saw surprised her even more. It was the exact opposite of Nino's text with Futaro. Futaro would wish good morning and goodnight, and often there'd be a late message from Yotsuba apologizing for not replying on time. Ichika knew that training for the All-Kanto track meet this year was taking up most of her time, but Yotsuba was dropping the ball in keeping consistent conversation with Futaro. Ichika wondered if her lack of participation was weighing Futaro down. As the big sister, I have to take some responsibility. She put Futaro's phone on the table and stroked his hair. "Nino really hasn't gotten the hint, has she? I get it. She's very stubborn. But I'm sure she'll leave you alone if she meets someone, right? And Yotsuba? She needs a gentle push to be a little more affectionate. You're a good guy Futaro-kun. Just leave it to big sis. It's finally time I stepped in," she reached across and grabbed her purse from the corner of the couch, extracting three 10,000¥ notes from her wallet. She looked around for something to write in. Spotting Futaro's finance book on the table, she reached for it, taking care not to rock Futaro's head too much. She ripped out the last page and folded the two crisp notes inside. "Futaro-kun, consider this your retainer for your tutoring services. You are officially hired. Use this money and see Yotsuba-chan. I'm sure she'll appreciate seeing you before the big race. Go do your boyfriend duties."
Ichika slid the money and her note into his pocket and exhaled deeply. "Let's hope this works."
Autumn leaves crunched beneath their feet as they sped past gridlocked taxis. The night was pleasant, brisk, and perfect to enjoy the electric atmosphere of the city. Ichika fussed with her small amethyst stone earrings she had borrowed just for the occasion.
"Ichika, I'm getting nervous. Maybe this is too much?" Nino said, adjusting her jet-black flowing dress which sported an adventurous plunging neckline that Nino had ornamented with a similarly matching amethyst necklace that glittered against the city lights. She finally pulled her coat across her chest to cover herself.
"Stop it. You'll be fine. I invited you to have some fun with me," Ichika giggled nervously. Ichika watched Nino readjust her dress again, feeling slightly guilty for pressuring her into wearing something that matched her deep navy pantsuit and coat, which she used to accent her button-down blouse, which was only buttoned just over halfway. She was damned if she was going to be the only one of the two that was going to show cleavage tonight, but after about five minutes of being gawked at relentlessly by passersby, she was starting to have some regrets.
"Honestly, you should have told me we were going out when you invited me! I would have brought something of my own," Nino complained. "I've never worn something so breezy."
"You look great, Nino," Ichika laughed. "I was worried that you might have brought something that was a little too high school for tonight, so I thought it would be better if you just borrowed something of mine."
"Have you ever actually worn this Ichika? Seriously geez. I look down, and then bam! There's my boobs, all in my face," Nino hurried her pace to keep up with Ichika. "And stop walking so fast! How come we're not, like, in Shinjuku or something?"
Ichika grabbed her sister by the hand. "Nino, this is normal speed for Tokyo. If you're going to fit in, you'll have to keep up," she winked coyly. "Plus, Shinjuku is only for tourists and businessmen. The parties are never actually at Shinjuku. Trust me. I don't think you'd want to be there anyway. And for the record, I have never worn that dress. But I needed to see how it would look on someone with a similar body type to mine. Mom gave us these gifts after all."
Nino rolled her eyes. "I'm not sure I want to show off mom's gifts to just anyone, you know?"
"Don't be so quick to write off tonight, Nino. We're celebrating the end of filming, and that's the perfect time for everyone to cut loose," Ichika guided Nino around the corner to a hotel lobby where they were greeted by the concierge, who bowed deeply and offered to take off their coats. "Names, please?" the sharply suited man asked with a vaguely foreign accent.
"Nakano, Ichika and Nakano, Nino," Ichika said with a smile.
The man's eyes widened and bowed once a bit deeper. "Ah— of course. I've been asked to escort you both to the terrace at once."
"Well, escort us away," Ichika winked.
He guided them to a rapid elevator that quickly ascended to the hotel's topmost floor.
Nino leaned in and whispered into Ichika's ear, "we're expected? By who?"
"Just you wait," Ichika winked. The elevator doors slid open. "Good evening, Yuri-san,"
Waiting by the door stood a tall, muscular man with broad shoulders, soft tan skin, almond eyes, and soft blonde hair. He had the build of a man who was definitely put on a strict eating and exercise regimen by his agent. His dark black suit and pearly white button-up were accented by a thin soft-looking baby blue tie that highlighted his emerald eyes.
"My my, you look absolutely jaw-dropping. I'm glad you made it, Nakano-san," he gently took Ichika's hands as she and Nino exited the elevator. "Who's this? You brought a friend?"
"My sister," Ichika corrected.
"Ah, lovely to meet you. I must say the resemblance is uncanny," Yuri-san took Nino's hand and brought it up to his lips for a kiss.
Nino flushed a deep red looking to Ichika for support.
"Usually, right now, she'd introduce herself," Ichika jabbed Nino playfully on her ribs.
"Oh, um, yes. I mean—" she stuttered. "I'm Nino. Nakano, Nino. Your Japanese is really good," she forced a somewhat awkward smile.
"Yeah— I would hope so. I'm Japanese," Yuri-san laughed playfully. "Just teasing you," he laughed. "I'm American. I grew up in L.A., but my mom is Japanese."
Nino shrunk in place. "That… would explain why you look, kinda… Japanese."
"Nakano-san- I mean-Ichika, Nino, would you care to join me for some drinks?" Yuri-san said in a calming tone. "We can enjoy the beautiful autumn night outside. I saved us a seat. Ichika, are you drinking tonight?"
"Oh, no, thank you, just something virgin and bubbly. But maybe get something for my sister? For her nerves?"
Yuri-san winked. "Absolutely, I'll meet you out on the terrace."
Nino turned to Ichika, "Holy shiiiiiiiiiit, Ichika!"
"What's wrong?"
"He's so hot! You see him every day?"
Ichika took her sister's hand. "Baby sister, he's the co-star,"
"No way."
"Way," Ichika pulled Nino towards the terrace. "and if you chill out, maybe you can get to know him better."
"I am chill!" Nino said through gritted teeth.
"Nino, your hands are sweatier than Yotsuba's running shirts right now. Just calm down. Show them the fiery Nino I love."
As they crossed the hall towards the terrace, Ichika was stopped a few times by colleagues and co-workers who complimented her outfit and welcomed her sister with open arms. Outside on the terrace, Ichika marveled at the rustic wooden tables, all arranged around comfortable-looking leather lounging chairs facing the city. Dark marble torches bathed their surroundings in soft orangey light, and the entire area was delicately decorated with real vines which were somehow still quite green despite the season. It reminded Ichika of some ancient roman grove.
"Isn't it just lovely?" Yuri-san approached from behind, slightly startling Ichika and Nino. "I heard that our producer has an in with famous Aoba interior designer Shimoda Ryosei who designed the terrace exclusively for us tonight," he said as he handed Ichika and Nino their drinks. "Something virgin and bubbly for the star and something daring for her sister."
Nino glanced at Ichika and giggled. "Thank you, Yuri-san," she blushed. "I think it's a bit unfair that you get to call us by our first name, but we don't get to call you by yours. It must be that American strong-headedness I've heard about?"
"Ah well, that's just to avoid confusion, but you're right. I've been impolite. You can call me Dominic."
"Dominic, it is then," Nino giggled.
Ichika almost rolled her eyes but resisted out of respect for her co-star and her sister. "Yuri-san is kind of a big deal in America, Nino. He's been featured in some of the biggest up-and-coming actors articles in some big American magazines."
"Oh really?" Nino touched his arm. "Then how come you're here in Japan? Isn't Hollywood the place to be?"
Dominic smiled coyly. "Part of it was that I wanted to experience Japan. Reconnect with my roots. You know? But also, I couldn't pass up a chance to be a co-lead in a Japanese movie. According to the director Oda-san—Ichika's agent— sought me out for the role," he looked Nino up and down. "I was also excited to make new friends."
Ichika cleared her throat. "To new friends then," she raised her glass.
Nino and Dominic locked eyes and said, almost in unison, "to new friends."
Ichika watched Nino scrunch her face as she took a sip from the glass Dominic offered her. Nino was likely not used to strong cocktails before, despite talking up a big game.
"It's…good," Nino winced. She glanced at Ichika with pleading eyes.
Ichika chuckled and threw her arm around her sister, getting between her and Dominic. "I think I changed my mind, Nino. Can I try your drink? I'd like to see what kind of drinks Yuri-san offers to beautiful Japanese girls. Here, try mine!" Ichika swiped Nino's drink from her hand and drank from it confidently. Instantly Ichika felt the urge to cough as the liquid burned her throat. Geez, this is strong," she cleared her throat quite unconvincingly.
"Wow, Ichika, I never took you for a strong drinker," Dominic said, slightly amused at Ichika's awkward flailing.
Nino sipped discreetly from her Ichika's glass. "Yeah, where did you start experimenting? This is good, by the way—I want another one of these."
"Oh, you know, just here or there. The city changes people," Ichika shrugged. She didn't think bringing up Futaro at this moment would be too helpful. The three walked over to take a few seats near the edge to enjoy the view below.
"Ah, Ichika-chan! Wonderful! I was worried you hadn't made it," a mousy voice said from behind her.
Ichika turned around and was greeted by a short round-face man with thinning hair parted to the side and an unusually confident-looking mustache. "Ah, good evening Oda-san," Ichika bowed.
"You look stunning! You rock that pantsuit," Oda-san complimented her. "Would you mind if I had a word?" Ichika glanced back at Nino and Dominic, who was waiting by the lounging chairs. "You two go ahead. I'll catch up," she said. "Oda-san lead the way."
Oda-san guided Ichika back inside as he complained about the hors d'oeuvres always running out. "Ichika-chan, what are you drinking?" He took Ichika's cup from her hand and sipped from it gingerly. He recoiled immediately. "Hell, this is practically pure vodka! Ichika-chan, are you trying to ask for help—you know what? I don't want to know. As far as I'm concerned, you're an adult, so as long as you don't embarrass the agency, I won't say anything about your underage drinking—on second thought, I changed my mind. Give me that. This is ethically unprofessional," Oda-san tipped the drink over a nearby plant.
"—wait, ah. Fine, sure," Ichika exhaled. Ichika felt like she'd only been here for fifteen minutes and was already exhausted. To her, these parties were just as much of a performance as any other day filming. Hands needed to be shaken, bows needed to be given, and all along the way, Ichika had to pretend to be interested in whatever luxury model foreign was worth fawning over. Playing the game of courtesies was still new to Ichika. Oda-san had mentioned before how there was always a point in an actor's career where talent matters significantly less than the people you manage to cozy up to. These events were the place to do it.
"… Anyway, did you see that— Ichika-chan are you listening?"
"Hmm? Oh, sorry, Oda-san, I guess I was daydreaming," she smiled playfully.
"Well, whatever. Were you looking at Ueda-sans dress? I don't blame you. That woman has an eye for style," he whispered in her ear. "I heard her dress isn't even on sale until next season. That spoiled brat has more leverage in this industry than both of us combined—would you like me to introduce you to her?"
"Oh, that's okay," Ichika laughed breathlessly. The prospect of meeting yet another Tokyo socialite filled her with bile. She really wished she had that drink Oda-san thrown away about now. "I would much rather meet her in a calmer environment. So we could get to know each other, you know?" she smiled in her standard industry way.
"Good point. You're much better on lunch dates. I'll arrange a meeting later and see if we can score a collab," Oda-san nodded. "Anyway, that's not the point. I was going to wait until later to tell you, but I have a lead on a new role—"
"Ichika-chan! Oh my goodness!" a woman that Ichika did not recognize called out to her. She wore a tight-fitting tiny black dress and a generous leg slit.
"I'll tell you later. Oh," he picked up a glass of cider from a waiter who passed by and handed it to her. "Try and avoid the hard stuff," Oda-san whispered in Ichika's ear before smiling and greeting the new arrival. Less than five minutes had passed before Ichika was once again swept up in yet another conversation with another upcoming starlet in the industry who insisted on trading diet secrets. She was appalled to discover that Ichika didn't do much to maintain her physique beyond her usual morning routine. She peaked over the shoulders of her co-stars in a fruitless attempt to find where Nino and Dominic had gone as they had long since left the seats they said they were going to go. Half an hour later, Ichika returned to the terrace and let her body sink into a supple leather couch. She buttoned up her shirt and pulled out her phone.
[Ichika] (sent at 11:52 p.m) "Hey! I'm stuck at this lame party—How's studying going?"
She felt lame for texting at what's supposed to be one of the biggest parties of the year, but if she had to have one more conversation about how awful the Tom Ford makeup lineup this fall was, she would likely scream. Her phone buzzed in her hand.
[Futaro] (sent at 11:56 p.m.) "It's going just tired is all… Party at this time of the year? Did you finish those worksheets I gave you? You know that you have a lot of material to cover if you're seriously going to apply for school next spring!
[Ichika] (sent at 11:56 p.m.) "Relax, I'll get them done… eventually."
[Futaro] (sent at 11:58 p.m) "Fine… Wasn't Nino coming over this weekend too? Is she at the party with you?"
[Ichika] (sent at 11:58 p.m) "Nino? Oh, she ditched me long ago to hit on my co-star. Tall-handsome-and-foreign-san."
[Futaro] (sent at 11:59 p.m.) "Nino met someone?"
[Ichika] (sent at 11:59 p.m) "Yes. It's adorable!"
[Ichika] (sent at 11:59 p.m.) "Don't tell me you're jealous."
[Futaro] (sent at 12:00 a.m.) "Not in the slightest…But you should probably keep an eye on her."
[Ichika] (sent at 12:00 a.m.) "What's this? Do I detect a hint of concern? She's a grown girl. I'm sure she'll be fine."
[Futaro] (sent at 12:01 a.m) "Of course, I worry about all you idiots…."
[Futaro] (sent at 12:01 a.m.) "But also, have you thought about what happens if people mistake her for you?"
[Ichika] (sent at 12:02 a.m.) "Oh shit. NO! LOL! It's a bit too late now anyways."
[Futaro] (sent at 12:03 a.m) "I'm looking forward to the tabloids…."
[Ichika] (sent at 12:03 a.m) "I'm going to have to invite a date over to break those rumors that'll spring up… Oh, I wonder where I will ever find a boy to take to another one of these fancy parties…."
[Futaro] (sent at 12:07 a.m) "…"
[Ichika] (sent at 12:07 a.m) "Just food for thought ;)"
Ichika cleared her throat and gazed at the city lights twinkling in the night. From where she was, they looked like stars against the night sky. Her phone buzzed once again in her hand. Worried that she might have pushed her teasing too far, she quickly checked.
[Nino] (sent at 12:10 a.m) "Ichika! Where are you?! I have so much to tell you. Yuri-san asked me out on a date back in Nagoya! Ahhh! Tonight's been amazing! I feel like I'm going to explode."
Ichika put her phone down and sipped her cider, feeling quite pleased with herself.
~Nino~
Nino checked herself in the mirror one last time, ensuring that her soft dark maroon dress curved around her body the way it was supposed to. She pulled the dress from the front, grateful to be wearing a much more comfortable dress than the one she wore at Ichika's party. Geez, I really hope he's not thinking I'm going to dress that way tonight. Nino watched herself flush red to match her dress. No way will I ever wear something like that again—well, maybe for my husband. Definitely for my husband. After checking her makeup one last time, she exited her room and descended the stairs. Miku was in the living room in her old red sweats from high school, flipping through tv channels.
"Nino! You going somewhere tonight?" She asked, craning her neck back as Nino passed.
"Yeah, don't you remember I have that date with the guy I met at Ichika's thing?
Miku pouted slightly. "I vaguely remember. It's not like you haven't mentioned this guy every day since last Sunday," Nino could tell she was cautious about this man—Nino would be too if the roles were reversed. But this was her first date, and she was determined for it to go right.
"Did he mention where he was taking you?" Miku prodded.
"No, he just said dress nicely."
"And he's driving?"
"Yes! Isn't he so grown up!" Nino squeaked.
"How old is he exactly."
"I have no idea yet."
"Nino!"
"Miku, relax!" she said, taking her sister's hand. "It's fine. He's got a trustworthy face. And he works with Ichika. There's no way that anything bad could happen."
Miku pouted again, squeezing Nino's hand tightly. "It's just—you know?"
"I know."
The apartment bell rang, signaling that he had arrived. "Oop! Gotta go! Don't wait up for me!" Nino giggled, taking off and out of the apartment before Miku could get another word in. She checked herself in her small pocket mirror while she waited in the elevator. A simple blush and shadow combination that felt truer to her than the makeup she had chosen to wear for Ichika's party. She wanted to seem approachable and kind. The elevator door binged and opened. Dominic was waiting for her outside, leaning against a cherry red classic-looking foreign car. Classic cool guy move. You'd think he learned it from a movie.
Her hands felt clammy as he watched her approach. For some reason, the walk from the exit of her building and the sidewalk felt unbearably long.
"Nice to see you—wow, you look lovely," he smiled.
"Ehe, thanks… Nice car," she said, feeling like the lamest girl in the world.
"Ah, it's my pride and joy. When I left to work in Japan, I knew that I had to bring the car with me. It's a 1969 Camaro— err, you know what? That doesn't matter," Dominic said, looking quite flustered.
He jumped at her touch when she took his hand. Nino giggled at the flustered boy, relieved she wasn't the only one feeling nervous. "It's amazing that you brought it from America," she said as he opened the door and waved for her to enter. She slid into the seat, slightly surprised at how low it was. The interior was supple black leather and smelled faintly of sandalwood. Undoubtedly, he had cleaned the car beforehand. She appreciated that he had gone the extra mile to impress her. And it worked.
Dominic went around and entered from the driver's side. "How are you liking it?" He smirked. He knew that she was impressed.
Nino crossed her arms. "Well, I guess it's pretty nice."
"Pretty nice?" Dominic chuckled. "Listen, this car can race circles around any car your other boyfriends have."
Nino smiled, thinking of her manager's dorky scooter that Futaro would borrow. "Yeah, I reckon this is a bit cooler."
Dominic drove down the street with the confidence of someone who had been driving for years. Nino had read that Americans often had cars pretty, but this was the first time seeing it in action. He darted around cars calmly and seemed to know exactly where he was going despite not even being from Nagano.
"So, have you ever been to Blu?" Dominic asked, not taking his eyes off the road.
"Huh?"
"I know right! It's a restaurant called Blu. Am I not saying it right?"
"Oh? Oh! Blu! Yeah! I know it; it's French," Nino grinned. "It's a crazy nice place, actually one of my sister's favorites."
"Ichika?" He said as he turned the corner.
"No, no, my younger sister Itsuki," Nino clarified.
"I see. I'm glad you liked it before. I think tonight they're going to have some nice options. But what the hell kind of name is Blu, anyways?"
Nino laughed. "I guess the owner isn't that creative. But the food is great! Trust me," she watched in silence as he navigated the streets, feeling awkward that the conversation had died down. "Hmm, I was thinking Dominic is kind of long. I should come up with a nickname for you," she said, trying to fill the silence.
Dominic chucked. "Do you usually give out nicknames?"
"Only to the people I like," she said. "How about… Dommi-chan—no? Dom-kun? … No, that won't work either."
Dominic glanced at her. "How about just Dominic, please."
"Oh, I see. I guess that's fine," Nino shrunk, sensing that she had made him slightly uncomfortable. Soon they pulled away from downtown arriving at a brightly light restaurant by the corner of the street framed with large window panels and intricate roman inspired marble pillars. A valet took Dominic's keys as he helped Nino out of the car and inside. She recognized the roman motifs on the walls, but they were lighted more softly and dimly than during lunch. A portly older man greeted them and asked if they had a reservation. Dominic bowed and leaned over to the greeter's side, showing him his phone. What is he planning? His effort exhilarated Nino. The greeter nodded knowingly and guided them to the elevator, which took them to the restaurant's highest floor, an expansive, circular room with large window panels that rose to the ceiling, giving the guests a wide view of the city below. At the center, a bartender bowed deeply and greeted them as they passed by. "This is your table, Yuri-sama," the greeter said. "The waiter will arrive shortly."
Dominic came around and pulled the seat out for her. Nino took the seat with a slight curtsy as he adjusted the seat perfectly to the mahogany table. He took his seat just as the waiter approached with a deep bow.
"Good evening Yuri-sama, Nakano-sama. Could I interest you in some refreshments? We have a lovely aged house cabernet sauvignon, and we also have a wide assortment of vintage reds if you already know what's suitable to your palate," he said as he handed them a pair of menus.
Dominic glanced at Nino, "I think the house wine would be fine for the both of us for now," he smiled at Nino.
"Um, actually, I'll take a…" she scanned the menu, which offered little help. Realizing she was taking too long to decide, she closed the menu. "Actually, why don't I let the bartender surprise me," She forced a smile, desperately hoping the waiter would offer something good. "I like something sweet. Very sweet," She stressed the last part of her sentence, recalling the awfully strong drink Dominic had brought her the night they met.
"Absolutely, Nakano-sama. I'll make sure to let the bartender know. I'm confident his creativity will not disappoint," the waiter bowed and retreated.
Dominic cleared his throat. "Isn't it pretty great how Japan never cards you?"
"Wha— you know I'm underage?!" Nino's jaw dropped.
Dominic grinned. "No, I meant me," he leaned in close. "I'm eighteen, so I'm having a blast here. I graduated high school just a few months ago. Does that bother you?"
"No, not exactly. It just wasn't what I was expecting," Nino's eyebrows rose to her bangs. "No way I'm older than you. You look so much older than—umm, than other men I know."
"Must be the milk in America or something," Dominic shrugged. "So, you mentioned at the party that you're thinking of becoming a chef?" entirely brushing off her most recent discovery about this man sitting across from her. Nino decided to let him off the hook.
"Yeah, I started off baking, but I realized how much I love creating dishes and being creative with the plating. My school has opened my eyes to so many styles and cuisines. My head is just spinning thinking about it all."
"What do you think of restaurants like this?" Dominic gestured to their surroundings.
"It's… fine. I wouldn't mind doing an apprenticeship with some highly skilled chef to build more skills, but one day I want to have a place of my own. Maybe with my sister."
"Itsuki or Ichika?" Dominic tilted his head.
"No, my other sister, Miku," Nino said. "Though she's much more of a baker than a cook. We both go to school together, but I decided to specialize in cooking roles, specifically cafe-style delicatessens, and Miku has gravitated more towards desserts and other pastries. A bit ironic considering how bad she—ah, well, that part doesn't matter."
"So you're going to culinary school?"
"Yeah! One day you can come over and try some of the things I made If you'd like. I'm pretty damn good if I say so myself."
Dominic laughed. "Wow, three super-talented sisters," his eyes twinkled in the soft indoor lighting. "A future movie star, a future five-star restaurant chef, and a world-renown baker."
Nino blushed. She wasn't used to being complimented so openly. The boys she knew were too shy and often would instead admire her from afar. Dominic was different. He made sure you knew he liked you. Nino was very aware of her body. She kept adjusting herself to find that perfect angle of allure, mystery, and casualness. But all those magazines she read told her what she should do on a first date, not necessarily how. "I have one more sister," Nino blurted out. "What I mean is I have four sisters total. We're quintuplets."
"Quintup— sorry, what? Is this a language joke I'm not getting?"
"No, I mean it. There's five of us."
"All identical?"
"Yup."
"Woah," Dominic leaned back on his seat just as the waiter returned with their drinks. "Have you two made a final decision?"
Nino took a sip of her drink and was delighted by the sweet and complex flavors of deep mocha and toffee. She could not taste a single drop of alcohol in it—though it certainly smelled like it had some. "Wow, that's lovely," She smiled. "Please compliment the bartender when you can. I'm quite impressed," Nino cleared her throat. "I noticed there's a chef's choice option. I wonder if your chefs are as impressive as your bartenders. We want to do that if possible."
The waiter bowed deeply at Nino. "Wonderful choice. I am confident that you will not be disappointed. Would you like your option to feature steak or fish?"
"Fish for me, please," Nino said confidently.
"And you, sir?" The waiter turned to Dominic.
"Oh, um. Fish, too, I guess."
The waiter took their menus, bowed again, and left them, retreating to the back.
"Nice save. I never know what to get at places like this," Dominic said a little sheepishly. He sipped his wine delicately. "four sisters, huh? It must be nice having such a big family. I'm an only child, so I don't know what it's like to have a busy house."
Nino exhaled. "Well, it wasn't always nice. We struggled for a while. Then there was this time when we all moved out together. Five girls in an LDK apartment? It was miserable. Kind of fun, but it was too much for us at the same time. I was stuck cleaning a lot of the time."
Dominic sipped from his wine glass. "It sounds like that's not the case anymore."
"Oh yeah, we moved in back with our dad. Don't get me wrong, having that freedom was wonderful, but it was also a chaotic time for us, and Ichika also struggled a lot to make that apartment happen for us. Even after we got jobs, it was still more trouble than it was worth. So, we moved back," Nino shrugged. "Most of us, anyway. Ichika was already moving to Tokyo, and my other sister—Yotsuba, didn't stay long before moving to Osaka."
"What does she do?"
Nino gulped, trying to find the words to describe her little sister. "She goes to Osaka University as part of the track team. It's so funny. Out of all of us, she's the one I least expected to move away. Yotsuba is a wild sort of girl. She wears her heart on her sleeve but lies about it. She acts dumb—most people think she's just an athlete with her head in the clouds, but she's a very considerate and kind girl. The type to run out in the rain just to buy you an umbrella, but all the while forgetting to take one for herself,"
"You almost sound like you miss her," Dominic nodded.
Nino wanted to reply but could not find the words to say. She wasn't sure how much to tell this stranger about her sisters.
Perhaps sensing that he had stumbled into a sensitive topic, Dominic cleared his throat. "Not to distract you or anything, but your city is beautiful," Together admired the night light of downtown Nagoya. The city had lit up just enough so they could still admire the city castle as it poked out from its surroundings.
"Most people don't say that after living in Tokyo," Nino smiled lamely.
Dominic shrugged. "It's got a nice vibe. It's nice seeing trees. That's not something you can find in either Tokyo or L.A.," Nino admired how comfortable he looked. He reminded her of cozy air and the scent of autumnal candles. Maybe that's just the actor in him.
The waiter soon interrupted their conversation with their first course. Nino was absorbed by the wonderfully sweet and rich aroma of plump and perfectly seared scallops, which sat on a bed of shiso leaves and drizzled with a glossy white miso sauce.
"Geez, is this place always this nice?" Dominic grinned from ear to ear. Nino pulled her plate closer, admiring the plate arrangement and testing the springiness of her scallops with her fork. Hoping Dominic wouldn't notice her, she quickly swiped a bit of the savory sauce with her finger, tasting it carefully.
"Is it good?" Dominic said with a gentle smile.
Nino flushed deeply. "Yes, it's good. The sauce is deceptively sweeter and a little on the sharp side."
"Good. It's a shame that I hate seafood. You can have mine too," he said, pushing his plate to Nino's side.
"What, but you ordered fish! It's such a waste!" Nino said, surprised that a man as mature-looking as Dominic could be such a picky eater. "You're missing out. I bet you wouldn't even taste the scallops in this."
"I panicked!" he said, turning a deep scarlet. "Look, just—why don't you tell me about the dish. You're in culinary school. Maybe you can convince me."
After confirming that he wasn't teasing her, Nino focused her attention on the plate. "Hmm, well, this first dish is a bit of a liar. It tricks you into thinking that the scallops are the star with the plating, but the scallop's flavor is quite mild. The real star of the show is the sweetly tart white miso sauce here and how it plays with the minty-ness of shiso leaf. The scallops are just a vehicle for the sauce," Nino assembled a perfect bite from the plate with all three elements from it carefully balanced. "Open your mouth."
"Wha—"
"Trust me," Nino commanded.
Dominic grinned from ear to ear and leaned in, opening his mouth. Nino blushed as she fed him. She watched his suspicion melt away into a gleeful grin. "Woah, this is super yummy!" He hummed.
"I told you so! Can you taste the scallops?"
"No, not at all. Well, I guess I kind of can, but I feel like it, I dunno, feels right," he blushed slightly and pulled his plate back to his side of the table. "I think I'll be taking back my plate if you will. I'm glad I trusted you."
"Ah, make sure to pace yourself. This is just the first plate of six," Nino winked. "I can deconstruct all the plates for you. Let me teach you a little bit about Japanese cuisine."
The rest of the evening, Nino dissected and deconstructed every plate the waiter brought. Nino had never talked too much in her life, and what was more, she felt like she was genuinely being listened to. Dominic hung on her every word as Nino explained cooking concepts and techniques that might bore another guy. She explained common dish combinations, sauces, and other interesting bits of gastronomy. The conversation flowed naturally. For the first time tonight, she felt like she was having fun.
When they were finished, Dominic dropped a few10,000¥ notes on the small leather container to pay and leaned back, rubbing his belly. "Oh my god! I don't think I could have another bite!"
Nino ignored how tight her dress felt around her stomach and leaned back on her seat. "It was amazing. I've never had a better course in my life. I've got so many new things I'd like to practice." Soon the waiter came and whisked away their last dessert bowls and the money Dominic had put down. Nino felt slightly guilty, she wanted to pitch in, but she sensed that Dominic might be too much of a "guy" to let that fly.
After paying, Dominic guided Nino out of the restaurant, where the valet brought Dominic's car and welcomed them back to their seats. Nino was impressed at how even at this point of the evening, Dominic was still the perfect gentleman. He guided her to the seat and opened the door for her to enter. The drive back felt so much quicker than the drive to the restaurant. Nino quietly brooded that her night was coming to an end. Soon they were back outside her apartment, listening to the engine purr calmly.
"This was a nice night, Nino," he smiled. But something seemed off about his smile. It looked sad and a bit distant. It was nothing like the smile he showed her at the beginning of her date. Maybe he doesn't want the date to end? She thought to herself.
"Here, I'll open the door for you," he said.
"Wait," she reached out and held his arm before he could open his door. "I feel like I did something. Your attitude is all wrong."
"Ah, well. I just—it's nothing. It's petty of me to bring up."
Nino blinked. "What are you talking about? Did you not have fun?"
"No. I had a great time Nino," his shoulders sank. "I can tell you don't like me, though."
"What do you mean?" Nino furrowed her brow. "Of course, I like you. I had a great night!"
Dominic shook his head. "Maybe, but I can tell you're not really all that into me."
"I—wait, I don't get what's happening here," the car suddenly felt very claustrophobic.
"Nino," Dominic sighed. "Can you tell me anything about my hobbies? What about what it's like living in Japan? Do you know how many exes I've had? Can you tell me what my favorite food is or what my future dream is?"
Nino frowned, thinking back to their conversation from dinner. "Well, I know you're a single child… and that you hated seafood… and that your car is a Mustang or something."
"Camaro. Is that it?"
"You didn't bring up any of that stuff while we were talking," She cleared her throat, frustrated that she was being tested. Nino felt like strangling the man. What did it matter that she didn't immediately remember all the details about his life after two conversations? Who does he think he putting me on the spot like this? "Look, if you didn't enjoy yourself tonight, you should just say so and stop pretending like this was my fault," Nino crossed her arms.
"Nino…"
"What!" She spat.
"I know you're not into me because this entire night, you did not ask one single question about me," he smiled sadly. "Usually, when someone is interested, they try to get to know them as much as possible. You didn't even ask me if I like living in Japan. Which is, like, the number one question everyone asks me when I get here. I knew you weren't into me from the moment I met you at the party that you weren't into me."
Nino felt like he'd smacked her in the face with a sock full of bricks. Had she been that rude? Had she been that obvious? "Wait… Dominic, I'm sorry. I didn't realize how selfish I was being," her heart sank knowing that she had blown her first date.
He shook his head. "No, it's okay. I promise that I'm not angry or anything. It's not bad to be selfish. I still had fun, which is kind of why I'm disappointed to be honest. I sensed it back at the party too. Maybe there's someone else or whatever?"
Nino swallowed. "Look, You're right. I had fun to, but I felt awkward. Like, I was trying to impress you or something. I don't do this often and you just looked like the type that was used to this. I even told Ichika all about how I was looking forward to meeting you. But I guess if I'm being honest, there's this guy who," Nino sighed deeply, feeling a knot twist itself tightly in her throat. "… its stupid."
"I see," he said, seemingly unsure how to take that information. "I was looking forward to tonight too. It's a shame,"
"Dammit, I suck. I made you drive down this whole way from Tokyo and made you waste your gas, time, and money on me tonight. I should have been honest with you."
Dominic laughed mirthlessly. "Stop that. You don't suck. I was being honest when I said I enjoy driving. Just look at this thing!" he gestured to the interior of his Camaro. "So, that wasn't a big deal. For what it's worth, I got a chance to learn a few things talking to you—I even learned that I don't hate fish nearly as much as I thought I did. I had a feeling that tonight would be a bust, but I thought it would be nice to try and get to know you anyway. I think it's great that you have such a good dream. I admire that."
Nino forced a laugh feeling incredibly awkward. "I guess so. Don't bother getting my door. I've got it," she opened the door, letting in the crisp autumn air. Just then, a rogue thought occurred to her just as she was about to exit the vehicle. "Hey, why did you come out here knowing that tonight would be a bust?"
Dominic gripped the steering wheel of his Camaro. "I couldn't live with myself if I didn't get a clear answer."
"Wha—"
"Seriously. I hate ambiguity and having to guess about what-ifs, so I came tonight looking for an answer—and I got it."
Nino stared at him blankly. "I don't think I get you."
"Maybe it's an American thing?" He shrugged. "Have you ever been in a situation where there was something that you desperately wanted to get an answer to? Like, seriously, the kind of question that burns a hole in your chest, and you're desperate to get it out— and when you finally do, you're left waiting—waiting, and waiting and waiting. I hate that feeling. I choose to live my life avoiding situations like that. I came here tonight knowing there was a high chance that I would be rejected, and I still came anyways because I would not be able to live with myself, not knowing if you liked me or not. Now, I know you don't, and I can move on with my life. Easy peasy."
"…I see," Nino once again felt stunned by his words. But this time felt different. His words wound themselves deep in her chest, unlike anything he had said until now. "Okay, then… I see. Have a good night, then. I'll see you again at some point, right?"
"Sure, maybe. I think that all things happen for a reason, and I don't like burning down bridges usually. Maybe our timing was just bad," he said sadly. "In any case, I hope you get some closure with that dude too. You deserve that much."
She nodded solemnly and backed away from the car. He gave her one last goodbye before driving off. Nino watched the rear lights of his Camaro disappear down the street.
She exhaled deeply. "What a mess," she took out her phone. Worried that her sisters would begin prying as soon as she entered through the door, Nino turned away from her home and wandered down the street. Turning down a few familiar corners, she eventually found herself at a nearby park with a pair of solitary swings at the top of a hill behind her neighborhood. she sat on one of the swings, wincing as the sound of the loud creaking that came from the swings as she rocked her body. "These could break at any moment. How can Yotsuba even use these," she said, eyeing the joints cautiously. She hung her head. Gently pushing the dirt with her toes. "Geez, men suck!" Her heart panged. She felt embarrassed enough that she could just about bury her head in the sand.
What's up with that loser anyway. Tonight would have been fine if he didn't get all in his feelings. So, what if I didn't ask anything. I've never done this before.
"It's not like I told him that either," she said loudly.
I shouldn't have to tell someone I'm new to this.
Her heart and mind clashed, resulting in an amalgam of shame, embarrassment, anger, and disappointment. Nino felt like the night was unnatural, despite the good parts. She chided herself for not seeing the writing on the wall.
"Pretty crazy how he came all this way just for a bad date," she exhaled. It sounds like something Fuu-kun would do. She respected Dominic for having the courage to put himself out there and do whatever it took to reach an ending with which he could be satisfied. Of course, there was someone else. There had been someone else on her mind the whole time. She knew that as much as it frustrated her to admit it, Yuri Dominic wasn't Uesugi Futaro, and that set the tone for the night from the beginning. She enjoyed the attention, but it wasn't the date she wanted. Nino grit her teeth. She hated admitting to being weak, and she hated being wrong even more. If she were being honest, Nino enjoyed being on the offensive. Finding ways to get Futaro to notice her was exciting and made her heart flutter. She often wondered if it was more about the chase for her. Nino never thought that Futaro was particularly exceptional. But she had still come to love that trademark awkwardness of his.
"Fuu-kun is a dumbass," she exhaled deeply.
In matters of love, one must always be on the attack. She thought back to that silly book she had gotten ages ago. "That's it!"
She dug her feet into the sand, stopping abruptly. "Fuu-kun never told me he wasn't interested! That's why I can't let go of Fuu-kun. He's too much of a coward to tell me that he didn't like me outright! I need that answer! Just like Dominic!"
She looked around at her surroundings, frustrated that the thought had never occurred to her before. She pulled out her phone and carefully tapped the screen, deleting her message several times, unsure how to phrase her question.
[Nino] (sent at 10:47 p.m) "Hi Yotsuba, long time no see. I'm at your swings, and I was thinking of you. Can we talk, please?"
[Nino] (sent at 10:47 p.m.) "I miss you."
"Dammit! No!" Nino wailed. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" she grit her teeth, bumping the corner of her phone against her forehead. Her phone vibrated in her hand.
[Yotsuba] (sent at 10:49 p.m) "I miss you too."
[Nino] (sent at 10:50 p.m.) "I'm glad I caught you before bed. I'm sure you're drained from practice… can we talk? I mean, can I call you?"
[Yotsuba] (sent at 10:52p.m) "Yeah, I'd really like that."
Hi everyone Miimbot once again! Thank you for joining me in this wild ride once again! This was actually a super difficult chapter to write, and I had to go back to the drawing board several times to come up with something that I was satisfied with. I wanted to explore Nino a lot more and I knew I had a lot of ground to cover if I wanted to do her character justice. I really hope I did.
This will be the last chapter of 2022, and next month will officially be the one-year anniversary of Marching Forward! I can't believe it's already been a year. I didn't know how big a part of my life this project was going to become, so here I am incredibly grateful to still being able to share my vision with everyone. I hope you have as much fun reading it as I have writing it so far.
A very special thank you to Segft, TheMist33, Bobalon, marioedi, chloetuco, bazzo, MTWking, Static Grey, SuperKamehameha, XRomanG and as well as everyone else who's left a guest review on reddit and on fanfic on my fic! It's blown up quite a bit and I hope to have even more interaction with everyone in the community in the future.