Chapter Thirteen: Invitationals Pt. 1
~Miku~
Miku tried to contain yet another yawn as she dragged her exhausted body back to the bathroom. Stopping at the mirror, she surveyed her reflection - noticing the weariness in her skin and split ends in her hair from working and studying long hours she felt no worse for wear, but her reflection suggested otherwise. Opening the medicine cabinet, she grabbed Nino's jar of night cream.
I am still a girl, after all...
She gingerly applied a small dab under her eyes, which according to Nino, was supposed to help reduce the appearance of fatigue. "She'll never know."
As Miku dragged her feet back to her bedroom, she heard a faint voice from across the hall. It was Yotsuba's youthful giggle coming from Nino's bedroom. Miku frowned and turned back towards the sound of Yotsuba's voice.
"Uuueeesuuuugiii-saaaan! Aren't you happy to see me?"
No way, she's…
"We should try our best to have a date with no regrets!"
Miku tiptoed to Nino's bedroom, carefully cracking open the door and peeking inside. "Miku!" Nino shrieked. "What are you doing here?"
"I live here," Miku raised an eyebrow. Nino had her collection of makeup and garments spilling out all over her bed. She had dug through her entire wardrobe to find something sporty—eventually coming across her high school tracksuit with her name stitched onto the front. "Nino," Miku started. "What do you think you're doing? And why does it look like Ichika decided to spend the night here."
"S-shut up! I had no choice! I have too much clothes, and I couldn't find my old tracksuit. Wait! Get out of my room—I thought you were asleep already!" Nino shouted. Her face scrunched up in embarrassment. "You should knock before just coming in!"
"You're rehearsing?" Miku asked, ignoring her sister's shouts. Her mind was already spinning to conclusions.
"Yes, but It doesn't concern you anyway," Nino cocked her hips. Miku always admired Nino's courage and her bluntness. It frustrated Miku that Nino sometimes failed to see things from other's points of view. It was either her way or get out of her way— but that's how Nino dealt with disagreements. Miku's stomach churned with unease as she contemplated the situation that Yotsuba and Nino had entangled themselves in.
Did Yotsuba and Nino really think this'll work? Finally, with a sigh of resignation, Miku entered her room. "She calls him 'Futaro' now," Miku said. "and you're playing up the ditziness too much. Yotsuba is dorky, not stupid."
Once Nino realized Miku had no intention of arguing again, her shoulder relaxed. "Okay," she exhaled. "Then how about this," Nino cleared her throat. "Futaro, are there any special places in town that you'd want to share with me? I want to know Tokyo the way that you do."
Miku folded her arms, leaning against the wall as she watched her sister in action. If there was one thing that Miku was comfortable saying that she was good at, it was understanding her sister's mannerisms. Unfortunately, there was one undeniable truth: Nino enjoyed being Nino too much, and Nino was too proud to play the part that wasn't already hers.
"It still might need some work," Miku said quietly, hoping not to offend. You might need Yotsuba to help you out a bit more.
"She has. Neither of us wants to mess this up. But we're out of time," Nino sat by the edge of her bed. "Honestly, I'm really nervous."
"I probably would be, too," Miku sat on the carpeted floor by Nino's feet, facing away from her. She figured that Nino might have an easier time talking if she didn't have to look her directly in the eye.
"I'm worried that—"
"What's all the noise, guys," Itsuki yawned as she poked her head through the door. "Oh—is everything okay?"
The scene must have looked especially pitiful if Itsuki could notice so quickly. Miku turned to Nino, "You have to tell her."
Itsuki hesitated before entering the room, like a child about to get scolded. "Tell me what?"
Miku could feel that Nino was anxious. Itsuki usually had more of an explosive personality than Miku ever did, and it was unlikely that Itsuki would be supportive— or even understanding. Miku could feel her own nervousness starting to build up too.
"Yotsuba and I are going to switch places when we're in Tokyo this weekend," Nino said softly.
Itsuki furrowed her brow, seemingly not understanding."Why would Yotsuba want you to do her race for her? You two will be instantly found out."
"No, not at the competition. I plan on pretending to be Yotsuba and meeting Fuu-kun for a date."
"Wha—" Itsuki's jaw dropped. "You—You can't do that to Yotsuba."
Nino crossed her arms. "She and I reached an understanding. We know what we're doing, and I don't want you to lecture me on this, Itsuki."
Miku could feel the tension rising in the room as Itsuki's eyes flickered between Nino and herself. Itsuki's expression softened as she looked at Nino, a mix of understanding and disappointment on her face. "Nino, you're making a mistake. You're getting in between Yotsuba and Uesugi-kun. Don't you think they've had enough of that from us meddling in their relationship? Maybe if they broke up one day and Yotsuba was okay with it, you can have your chance—"
"Sounds to me like you've given this a bit of thought," Nino bit back. "I noticed how you looked at him our entire final year before graduation."
Itsuki flashed a deep shade of crimson. "That doesn't make it right."
Nino rolled her eyes, "You're just saying that because you were too scared to stand up for what you want."
"That's not true!" Itsuki retorted. "I just don't think it's right to meddle in someone else's relationship."
Nino scoffed, "Whatever."
Itsuki glanced at Miku. "Aren't you going to say something?"
"No," Miku grunted. Miku hated being caught up in the middle of her sibling's arguments. There was no way she could get involved like how Itsuki wanted her to. Miku exhaled loudly. "This is not for me to decide. Whatever Yotsuba and Nino's reasons for doing this, I'm supporting my sisters."
Itsuki looked at her like she was a stranger. Perhaps Miku was a bit surprised at herself too. "This is a bad idea, Nino," Itsuki continued. "If I can't talk you out of it, then I'll have to talk to Yotsuba—"
"—Itsuki, leave it!" Miku stood up. "It's not our place. And they've already made their decision."
Itsuki's lip quivered. She wasn't used to Miku raising her voice. Her eyes glistened—She cried any time she was frustrated. That was just who her baby sister was. This signaled the end of the conversation. Sure enough, a few seconds later, Itsuki stormed out of the room.
Nino covered her face with her hands. "I knew she wasn't going to take this well."
"Itsuki's closer to the Futaro and his family than any of us, so I'm sure she feels stuck in the middle," Miku murmured wearily and leaned into her sister.
"Do you think she'll tell Fuu-kun and Raiha-chan?"
Miku shook her head. "I don't think so. Itsuki's not that type of person."
Nino let out a sigh of relief. "Good. I don't want to ruin her friendship with Fuu-kun's family."
Miku raised an eyebrow. "What about ruining Yotsuba's relationship with Futaro?"
Nino shrugged. "I know it's selfish, but I've been in love with him for so long. I just need to know if there was ever any chance for me. My feelings might never change, but I still need to know."
"Just be careful, okay? And make sure that Yotsuba is really okay with this."
Nino nodded. "I will. Thanks, Miku."
Miku gave her sister a small smile before standing up. "We should probably get some rest. We have a big weekend ahead of us, and Ichika wants to show us around too," Miku offered, gently stroking her sister's head.
Miku reluctantly left her sister's side and carefully shut the door behind her. She stepped out into the hall and found Itsuki leaning against the banister with her eyes gazing longingly at the living room below. Miku walked up behind Itsuki and touched her lightly on the shoulder, "Itsuki, I—" Itsuki whipped her head to face Miku, her usually soft and tender face was twisted into a pained grimace.
"I'm surprised at you," Itsuki grumbled. "I'm surprised you, out of all people, would be okay with this."
Miku leaned against the banister next to her. "I'm not. But I told you I'm not standing in their way—it's no use anyway. You know how pig-headed Nino and Yotsuba can be."
"That's awfully convenient. I didn't realize how much like Dad you were turning out to be."
Itsuki's words stung. Miku's rarely had the privilege of being on the receiving end of one of her scoldings. "It's not that. I'm just supporting my sister. You haven't watched her the way I have—she's listless and Nino needs an ally. She needs family to be by her side. Yotsuba is too. I think they're stuck. And Ichika agrees," Miku cleared her throat. "Maybe this needs to happen so can do to move forward. Yotsuba can finally learn to trust Futaro's love, and Nino can finally get the answers she wants and begin to move on."
Itsuki sniffled. She hid the tears by wiping her pajama sleeve across her face. "So Ichika is in on it too? I guess that makes sense since we're all staying at her place. I'll stay out of her way. But I am strongly against this. Nothing good will come from this quintuplet game."
"I know that you're upset right now. It took me a while to get used to it too—"
"I don't want to get used to it, and I don't want to be a part of this," Itsuki glared. "I'm going tomorrow to spend time with Raiha-chan and Uesugi-kun, but I'm coming back home after that. Yotsuba and I recently reached an understanding, too— about Uesugi-kun. Maybe I can see why she'd do this, but I still disagree. And I don't want to be anywhere near this when it all blows up in both their faces."
Itsuki walked past Miku without another word. Miku sighed and ran her hand through her hair, trying to clear her thoughts. Itsuki wasn't one to be flexible with her morals the way she was—that's just who her baby sister was—and her anger wasn't misplaced. But Miku also had a sense that there was something Itsuki wasn't telling them. Miku quietly wished her two sisters goodnight, knowing neither would hear her.
As Miku tried to fall asleep, her mind kept drifting back to Itsuki's words. She couldn't shake off the guilt that weighed heavily on her chest. Itsuki was right to be angry. Miku was just as much a part of the problem as her other sisters. She had convinced herself that her role to play in this was to support Nino. But was that really the role she wanted to play? Miku couldn't help but wonder. She thought on her feelings towards Futaro. She wasn't sure if she could still say she was in love with him, but she was certain she still loved him.
What would he think about all this? It almost seemed silly to Miku that after all this time, this was the first time she thought of what he'd think. "We're treating him like a prize," she murmured. Yet another stone settled in the pit of her stomach. It would be hours before sleep finally overtook Miku allowing her to finally close her eyes.
~Itsuki~
Itsuki, Raiha, and Futaro walked through a quiet, trendy Tokyo neighborhood lined with cute cafes and trendy-looking bars advertising fresh teas and coffees. It smelled like food all along the street. Itsuki couldn't help but feel a little out of place and somehow underdressed. Futaro, too, carried himself with a stronger, more confident energy. His strides were quicker, and he rarely looked down at his phone to check if he was heading in the right direction.
"Here we are," Futaro said, stopping in front of a particularly trendy, yet cozy-looking cafe. Together stepped inside and made their way to an open table. As they settled into their seats, Raiha grabbed Futaro's arm. "Are you sure you've been here before?"
"Yeah, but only once. I wanted to choose a place closer to Tokyo station so the transfer would be easy for you both," Raiha and Itsuki had arrived via train earlier in the day ahead of Yotsuba to spend time with Futaro. Raiha, in particular, was keen to spend time with her brother, and Itsuki was especially keen to get away from her sisters as quickly as possible. Part of her knew that she was also looking forward to seeing him. But there was a strict ban on those feelings—or so she told herself. Even so, Itsuki was relieved to see Futaro doing so well in Tokyo. He seemed taller and more graceful. It was a far cry from the panic and worried Futaro she'd visited back in Nagoya.
"Thank you for choosing the place," Itsuki smiled, taking in the atmosphere. She wasn't much of a stickler for aesthetics—at least not as much as her sisters. Though, she did take that into consideration when reviewing a place as her foodie-guru alter ego, M-A-Y. She had announced to her fans that she was visiting Tokyo for a few days and found her comment section flooded with recommendations from fellow foodies and reviewers on Tabelog, but she had decided to take a gamble on Futaro's suggestion anyway.
"I just can't see you coming to a place this cool," Raiha pressed.
"Stop, Raiha! Just let me find a waitress—hey! Excuse me," he shouted across the café, drawing the attention of a skittish-looking high schooler. "Do you have seating for three?"
"Uesugi-kun, manners," Itsuki scolded softly. "Do you mind helping us, please? We're from out of town," she said with a smile.
The waitress spoke softly as she guided them toward a fashionable oak and grey leather booth. A bald light bulb swung gently above them—part of that postmodern minimalist look. Without hesitation, Futaro ordered a black coffee, a chai tea, three waters, and the house special instead of menus. Itsuki usually enjoyed looking at cafes' full offerings before making a decision, but seeing as how he was treating, she thought it'd be in poor taste to complain.
The waitress returned with their waters and coffee. Itsuki took a cup and sipped. It was an unexpectedly mature flavor. Spicy and complex.
"It's the closest thing they've got to curry sauce," Futaro teased.
"Oh, shut up," Itsuki rolled her eyes. "You and Ichika will never let me live that down."
"Speaking of, Ichika mentioned that Miku and Nino are staying with her. You're staying with them, too, right?" Futaro asked, causing Itsuki to nearly spit up her water at the mention of Nino. "Not exactly. I couldn't get the time off work, so I'm just here for today and Friday. I'll head back Saturday morning. Though I'm still catching Yotsuba's first race, at least. I mostly came to bring Raiha to you as a favor to your dad."
"That's because I have the best big sisters! Unlike you, Big Brother. Why do you never call?" She complained.
"Why do I have to call every day, Raiha?"
Futaro took a big sip of his black coffee and Raiha made a face. "Ew, gross. Are you trying to act like an adult or something?"
Futaro laughed and ruffled her hair. "I'll have you know that your Big Sister Ichika taught me how to enjoy it properly, okay? Don't hate on the coffee."
Raiha wrinkled her nose again, "Well, I'm not grown up enough for that bitter stuff anyway! But where are they? Big Sister Nino and the others?" she turned to Itsuki.
"They're having a top-secret girls' day. We'll catch up with them later," Itsuki said with an awkward chuckle. It would have been bad news to have Raiha in the apartment while Nino and the others were scheming. She's loyal to her brother and would spill the beans instantly.
"Anyways, thanks for bringing Raiha to Tokyo, Itsuki," Futaro said.
"My pleasure," Itsuki smiled, ignoring the pinkish tint to his cheeks. She enjoyed that she could get an earnest reaction from him once in a while.
"By the way, how's dad?"
"Dad's great!" Raiha bounced on her seat. "He's back home and can get around okay, but he's slow and gets tired quickly. He's still taking PT twice a week, but Nakano-sensei says he's getting better very quickly," Raiha's eyes twinkled. "so many people help us. Even the landlord waits for Dad every night to help him go up to the apartment."
Itsuki watched Futaro's expression closely. She was nervous about bringing news to Futaro that would make him worry. He took in what Raiha said quietly. She reached out and touched his hand. "Hey," she paused, grabbing his attention. "We're with you and your family. Trust us, anything Raiha and or your dad needs, I'll make sure we get for them. You don't need to worry." Futaro watched her wordlessly. He cleared his throat and softly removed her hand from his.
"Thank you, Itsuki. I don't know what we'd do without your friendship."
Ouch.
He was kind enough not to squirm away, but it was painfully obvious that he was creating distance between the two of them. Itsuki couldn't help feeling worse. Perhaps he and Yotsuba had talked about the kiss from Hawaii. Itsuki wondered just how much trouble she had made for Futaro because of that.
It would have been great if that idiot hadn't kissed me back then. I wouldn't have to be feeling this way.
The waitress hurried back just in time to shoo away the awkward tension in the air. She carried a large tray with three plates of extra-tall, steaming pancakes accompanied with three small bowls of buttery cheese and rice gratin, which she placed in the center of the table. The rustic scent wafted up to dispel the remaining tension.
"These pancakes look so yummy! Big brother! There's no way you learned about this place by yourself," Raiha pointed her butter knife at Futaro. "Big Brother, have you been cheating on Big Sister Yotsuba?! This place reeks of date place— confess!"
"I said knock it off! I did not cheat! Geez, when did you get so combative?! Is this what adults call 'the dreaded rebellious phase?'" Futaro grit his teeth. "Whatever it is, if you keep making a scene, I'm going to abandon you on the Yamanote line!"
"You animal! Beast! Enemy of women—"
"Don't say that!" Futaro interrupted. "Look, Raiha, just enjoy the food before it gets cold. There aren't many chances you get to enjoy food without having to cook."
Raiha stuck her tongue out. "I guess it is a nice treat.
Itsuki couldn't help but let out a giggle as she watched the bickering between the two siblings. As Futaro's gaze shifted towards Itsuki, she could see the twinkle in his eye that told him there was no real animosity behind their words. "Uesugi-kun must have really missed his baby sister very much," Itsuki leaned into Raiha playfully. "I don't think I've seen him smile this much, even when he lived back home," Raiha grinned, her cheeks puffy with pancake. "Though Raiha-chan does have a point. I don't really see you just searching this place out."
Futaro cleared his throat with some more coffee. "I suppose I did have some help from a friend."
"A friend. You mean a co-worker?"
"A friend, Itsuki. She's very knowledgeable about this kind of stuff. I usually stick to the same three places, but I wanted to treat you both."
"I bet she is," Itsuki tried her best not to frown in front of Raiha. Of course, she and her sisters knew that Futaro had been working with Takebayashi. It seemed almost impossible to them that Takebayashi had somehow found a way into his life again after being away for so long.
"Shouldn't we do something about her?" Itsuki remembered Nino complain in the living room one night many months ago. "Mark my words. She's nothing but trouble."
Secretly—or maybe not so secretly—Itsuki agreed with Nino. She did not like the way Takebayashi flaunted her relationship with Futaro so confidently, as if their history trumped the memories she and her sisters had made with him.
"In any case, I guess tell her thanks for me," Itsuki said with finality. She grabbed her fork and began to cut into the fluffy pancake.
The pancakes had a lemony aroma and a sweet gingery flavor which complimented the light floral syrup. When she bit into them, they were fluffy and soft. They melted in her mouth, and quickly so did she. The cheese gratin was made with rich cream and sharp cheddar, it was salty and creamy at the same time which was especially pleasant when paired with the subtly sweet pancakes. Itsuki noted every single sensation from her dish. Without thinking, she pulled out her phone and began to type furiously on her notes app— she had to make sure she didn't forget a single detail from the meal!
"Does that mean you're enjoying them, MAY-san?"
Itsuki stopped dead in her tracks. Her brain emptied. "How—how did you know?"
Futaro shrugged. "I've known for a while."
Itsuki put the fork and knife down. She felt her face grow hot. "Oh, so now you're going to tease me? Were you just waiting for me to let my guard down?"
"Why would I tease you, stupid? I'm just telling you that I already know you're her!"
"Did Yotsuba tell you? I swear, Uesugi-kun, if I hear one word about this from your father—" A revelation suddenly dawned on her. "Is that why you asked Takebayashi to share this place with you? Because you knew I wouldn't be able to resist? That's so underhanded, Uesugi-kun. Raiha was right. You're the lowest of the low—"
Futaro's heavy exhale was so loud that Itsuki could almost picture the vein on his forehead bulging with anger. "Are you finished?" His voice was strained as he struggled to keep his composure. He lightly placed his nearly empty cup of coffee on the table and tried to explain, "I brought you here because I know this is something you'd enjoy, Itsuki. You like this stuff, right?" He swallowed hard, his throat audibly cracking from the effort. "I was just trying to do something nice— I don't want to argue."
Every feeling bubbling in her chest evaporated almost immediately. An Icy realization swept over her, and for the first time, she noticed how much effort Futaro had put into this tiny experience to make it special for her and Raiha. With a growing sense of guilt, Itsuki knew she had reacted harshly. "I—dammit, Uesugi-kun, I'm sorry. I don't know why I always think I have to fight you."
"Big Sister Itsuki," you said a bad word," Raiha prodded Itsuki's shoulder with her finger.
"Shush, Raiha," Futaro pinched the front of his forehead. "Look, it's fine. I get it. I know how we are sometimes—just finish writing whatever you were writing on your phone. I know that MAY-san has followers waiting."
Still glowing red from their exchange, Itsuki returned her attention to her phone and jotted down ideas for her cafe review. Uesugi-kun had really changed so much in such a short time.
Knowing that someone in her life wasn't teasing Itsuki for her love of food was a strange feeling— she imagined her sisters would be much more ruthless if they found out about MAY. Something about him learning something so important about her felt like a secret that only he could be privy to. She didn't mind keeping this secret. In fact, it thrilled her. It was like a perfect little moment that was packaged specially for her. She could sense that she had a good review in store for her fans. She hoped maybe that Futaro would read it too.
As they exited the cafe, Itsuki stretched with delight from her hearty meal. She was surprised to find just how much the trendy neighborhood had changed in the hours that the sun began to set. It was more lively with people and small side vendors as if all those hipsters and postgraduate students living nearby had finally woken up. "Let's take our time," Futaro suggested, "I think I need to let the food settle." They meandered through crowded streets, occasionally stopping to look at souvenirs and trinkets. Raiha shoved herself between Itsuki and Futaro and took each of their hands.
"I— I don't want to get lost," she blushed.
Itsuki glanced quickly at Futaro, who passively gave permission with a simple shrug. Walking side by side with Raiha and Futaro, Itsuki noticed how the light from the street lamps illuminated Futaro's features. How the shadows seemed to accentuate the sharp angles of his face and the way his eyes glinted in the dimming light. She felt a sudden heat pool in her stomach and tried to push it down. This was Futaro, her once-teacher, partner, and her friend—worse still, she had already made her promise to Yotsuba and Futaro. Itsuki suddenly pitied Nino. It was as if the act of rejecting her feelings somehow amplified them instead of dousing them. But as they continued to walk, her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden burst of music. It was coming from a nearby arcade that somehow seemed out of place with the rest of the fashionable boutiques. Raiha's eyes widened with interest, and she tugged on Futaro's hand. "Big Brother, can we go inside?"
Futaro raised an eyebrow in her direction, "It's getting late, Raiha."
But Itsuki could see the way his eyes sparkled with the same interest as Raiha's.
"It's probably fine to just go in for a quick game or two," Itsuki suggested. "Nino, Miku, and Ichika are pretty slow shoppers when they're together. I can get away with coming back to Ichika's apartment after sundown."
"Yay, Big Sister Itsuki!" Raiha cheered. "Also, you said that since Big Sister Yotsuba wasn't arriving until later this evening, she'll probably be too busy to call anyway."
Futaro hesitated for a moment, then relented with a small smile. "Alright, just a quick game or two. But we're leaving as soon as we're done, okay?"
They entered the arcade, the sound of electronic beeps and blips surrounding them. Raiha giggled with delight, running towards the nearest machine. Futaro and Itsuki followed her, watching as she tested the gun controller by aiming it at the screen. As they watched, Itsuki felt a sudden urge to be close to Futaro. She brushed up against him, feeling a jolt of electricity at the contact. He tensed for a moment before relaxing, his arm brushing hers in return.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, Itsuki could see something flicker behind Futaro's expression. But before she could decipher it, Raiha called, "Big brother, can I borrow some money?"
Futaro cleared his throat. "Oh, sure," he counted out two thousand yen notes and pressed them into her hands. "That's all I can spare, so make sure you only play the games you like."
Itsuki dug into her purse and produced another pair of thousand yen notes. "This is your first time in Tokyo, right, Raiha-chan? Let's make sure it's a trip without regrets."
Raiha grinned and thanked the two of them before scampering off to exchange the money for coins.
"You didn't have to do that," Futaro said as he watched her go.
Itsuki shook her head. "It's just a little something for Raiha-chan. She doesn't get these kinds of opportunities very often."
Futaro chuckled. "Wow, that's Yotsuba's line. Is she rubbing off on you?"
"Maybe a little." She noticed the way Futaro's eyes softened as he looked away. She followed his gaze and saw that he was looking towards a lottery game at the corner of the arcade. In it was a mini-basketball set advertising the Olympics—the kind Yotsuba liked to play with in her room.
It suddenly occurred to Itsuki that maybe Futaro wasn't thinking of her at all—that perhaps it was Yotsuba who had been on his mind this entire time. The thought made her heart sink a little, even though she had no right to be upset.
But as if sensing her disappointment, Futaro reached out and touched her hand. "Actually, do you see that crane game over there," he said softly. He pointed to the opposite side of the arcade, where a large fancy toy crane was situated. Itsuki squinted and saw that there were several expensive-looking items inside it. "I wonder if anyone could even win any of those big prizes."
Itsuki realized what Futaro was hinting at. "Is there something specific you'd like to try and get?" she asked, feeling suddenly excited.
Futaro shrugged sheepishly. "I used to take pictures when I was a kid, and I've been thinking about getting back into it. But cameras are usually so expensive these days…"
"You want to get back into photography? Uesugi-kun wants to do something that isn't studying? Who are you and where's the real Uesugi, Futaro?" she giggled. Itsuki quickly noted the brand and model of the camera that Futaro was pointing to and googled it on her phone. "Still, that camera is worth even more than I thought…" She looked up at him and grinned. "Well then, why don't we try our luck? We could save the money we have and put it together for the crane game. That way, we can get something nice for you and we might still have enough left over for Raiha-chan. What do you think?"
Futaro hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "Alright, let's give it a try."
They went to the crane game, coins in hand. Itsuki eagerly fed the machine the required coins and took hold of the controls. "Okay, watch this!" She lowered the claw, aiming for the camera carefully placed dead center. The large claw swung wildly, skimming by the prize she aimed for. Undeterred, Itsuki kept trying.
"Ugh, no!" Itsuki exclaimed every time the claw dropped its target. After several failed attempts in a row, she sighed in frustration and shook her head. "This isn't working! Stupid game!"
Futaro chuckled, "Hey, don't give up so easily. Let me give it a try."
Itsuki nodded eagerly, moving aside to let Futaro try. She watched as he expertly maneuvered the claw, making small adjustments and aiming precisely. The claw descended slowly, and Itsuki's heart was pounding in her chest as it closed in around the camera.
"Yes! You got it!" Itsuki cheered as the claw lifted the camera box into the air.
Futaro grinned in triumph, but he celebrated too soon. The weight of the camera was simply too much for the claw to hold. The jolt of the claw coming to a stop was enough to slip the camera box out from the grip of the claw and onto the felt platform inside the machine. It rolled to a stop against the corner, farther away than from where it started.
"Maybe we should stop," Futaro's shoulders sank.
"No way!" Itsuki had tried for nearly a quarter of an hour, using all their money, she still couldn't manage to win the camera from the game. Defeated, they both walked away from the game.
"It was probably rigged anyway," Itsuki ruminated.
"Those cameras are about sixty thousand yen," Futaro said matter of factly. "I don't think we're supposed to win it with a couple thousand— how much did you spend?"
"My purse was empty, soooo, about six thousand between the two of us?"
Futaro groaned in disappointment while Itsuki laughed out loud at their failure—it was ridiculous to think that two people could win a high-end camera at some nameless arcade. "I guess I wanted to do something nice. Both as payback—and an apology—for what I said earlier today."
"Hmm," Futaro suddenly spun on his heels and stopped in front of a small mini-crane game with some keychain plushies. He pulled out a one hundred yen coin and grinned. "One last try," he said, pushing the coin into the slot and directing the crane above the cute, grinning curry bowl character plushy-charm from a well-known curry chain. These mini-crane games were practically guaranteed wins as long as the claw was lined up correctly. He managed to grab it within seconds.
"Here," he handed the charm over to Itsuki with an apologetic expression. "I didn't want you spending all your money on me, so here's something for you too. Payback for the payback."
"Thanks," she said. Taking the curry plushy in her hands. Itsuki couldn't help but blush at his words as she gratefully accepted his offer. "Come, we still need to figure out what we can win for Raiha-chan."
~Yotsuba~
"Woah! Nakano-san! Come look at this view!" One of the girls from her team urged Yotsuba as she entered their hotel room. Shortly after arriving in Tokyo, their coach instructed the girls to group up in teams of four. Yuna wasted no time and roped Yotsuba and two other first-year teammates into her group. It was always easy for Yuna to make friends, and Yotsuba was more than happy to let her make the arrangement for them with Coach. They were easily able to get one of the first rooms available. Together they checked into the hotel. It was a simple "business style" room with the bare essentials. Two large queen-sized beds, a large fridge stuffed with beverages for purchase, and a simple bathroom with average amenities.
Yotsuba made her way to the window and admired the expansive panorama of Tokyo. The sun was setting behind the Shinjuku skyscrapers, and one by one, the city lights twinkled one after the other like stars in the sky, as if they were just waking up instead of settling down for the night. At least their school had splurged on this spectacular view, Yotsuba mused.
"It's quite nice," Yotsuba said lamely. She realized she still didn't know her teammate too well and struggled to match her enthusiasm. "Um, could that be the Tocho building, Hanaumi-san?" Yotsuba pointed to the towering twin-spired structure, standing prominently above its neighboring buildings. She knew it was, but Yotsuba felt an urge to make some small talk.
"Yeah, I remember from all the social studies books from junior high school. And it's Hanaura, actually. Hanaura, Mei," Hanaura-san corrected Yotsuba.
"Oh, my bad," Yotsuba chuckled, feeling embarrassed for even trying.
Hanaura-san bowed. "No, no, I'm sorry for not correcting you sooner. There's just no time since you're always with Maenaka-senpai or Inor—"
"Ah! This hotel room is a total dump!" Yuna shouted, poking her head out of the bathroom.
"–Speak of the devil," Hanaura-san laughed.
"The shower's got, like, zero water pressure and—oop, what's with this awkward atmosphere?" Yuna grinned impishly. "Mei-chan, was Yotsuba bragging?"
"Bragging?! Excuse me?"
"Yes, bragging!" Yuna stuck out her nose and pretended to be a snob. "You know, Yotsuba is pretty loaded. I saw some of her photos in her apartment, and she got to go on vacation during every single break in high school. I bet views like this are just another day for her," Yuna said as she spun around in circles and embraced the two girls. "Though I don't know if you ever get totally used to it," she whistled.
"Are you actually rich, Nakano-san?" Hanaura-san tilted her head, trying to get out of Yuna's grip.
"Stop giving people the wrong impression of me, Yuna!" She elbowed her friend in the ribs, forcing her to release them both. "It's not really like that. My dad makes pretty good money, but I'm trying to be as independent as possible, so I don't have to rely on him so much–"
"Oh! That explains her piece of junk rundown apartment," Yuna laughed. "Come on! This is all wrong, you two. We are in Tokyo; we were invited to be here! Isn't that exciting!?"
"Well, duh. These are the All-Japan invitationals. It's the dream and all that blah blah bs," Hanaura-san sneered.
Yuna jabbed her finger at Hanaura-san, her eyes wide with excitement. "There she is! I think we finally caught a glimpse of the real Mei-chan!"
"Come again?"
"Yup. After you get to know her, Mei has this whole air of superiority that really comes out. Trust me, Yotsuba."
"Air of what?!" Hanaura-san smacked Yunas face with a pillow.
Yotsuba retreated to watch the two girls smack each other around with the hotel room pillows. They cursed each other playfully, and their Osakan accents began to slip in between laughs. In some ways, the two girls reminded her of Miku and Nino. They'd bicker and argue, but their love ran deep.
Yotsuba suddenly felt strangely lonely.
Yuna stopped mid-pillow fight when she noticed Yotsuba's expression. "Hey, something up?"
"Nothing major. I guess I just miss home. I don't want to ruin the mood, Inoue-san," Yotsuba shrugged.
"Pfft, don't stress about that. It's normal," she shimmied across the bed on her knees and took Yotsuba by the hand. "Being away from home is hard, but you told us they were all going to come to support you tomorrow, right?"
Yotsuba nodded.
"See, then don't stress! Maybe there'll be some time to catch up in between heats. Maybe at some point you can call your boyfriend too, but tonight you have another mission—you have to have fun! I asked Kiana-chan to pick up some drinks and snacks from the Lawsons across the street for tonight. You should try and get to know your teammates better," Yuna squished Yotsubas face with her hand. "Destress tonight, so we can re-stress tomorrow. Deal?"
"Deal," Yotsuba tried to say through her squished lips. Yuna laughed at her attempt and let her go.
Shortly after rearranging the room and unpacking their belongings, their other roommate Kiana-san stumbled into the hotel room carrying several heavy-looking plastic bags. She was a slender yet muscular girl who smiled endlessly and joked tirelessly. Yotsuba always saw her hanging out with Hanaura-san.
"You really should have let Mei come with me!" she complained as she stepped through the door. "I could have used another pair of hands to get all the drinks you wanted, Inoue-san!"
Yuna playfully stuck her tongue out and then reached over to grab some of the bags from Kiana-san's hands. "I just believed that you're strong enough to handle it. I'm sure you can do anything you put your mind to!"
"Don't try to hide it; you wanted to call dibs on the better bed!" Hanaura-san chided as she helped Kiana-san take everything out of the bags. "Inoue-san, you asked for all this alcohol?" she held up a six-pack of chu-hai.
"Oh, yeah, just to get everyone in the spirit of things," Yuna replied nonchalantly.
"Won't our coach do room checks?" Yotsuba asked, a bit disconcerted by how many cans Kiana-san had bought.
"I don't think so," Kiana-san wondered. "We're in college."
Yuna passed a few thousand yen notes to Kiana-san. "Well, now that we have that settled, I have an Uno deck, and I noticed we have a small pull-out table. Let's start a game!"
"Uno? Isn't that a bit childish?"Hanaura-san asked as she set the unfolded table between the two beds.
"Not the way that Inoue-san wants to play it," Kiana-san smirked. "We spent the whole flight thinking of the rules. Uno-batsu game edition."
"No way, I don't want to play a batsu-game with you," Hanaura-san said, trying to move away from Kiana-san. But she was immediately pulled into a tight embrace.
"Come on!" she whined. "I just want to get you drunk enough so you'll fool around with me."
"Cut it out! You have no filter!" Hanaura-san struggled to get out of Kiana-sans grip.
Yotsuba grabbed an orange juice from the bag and popped it open. "I'm a bit curious about how we're going to play a batsu-game with Uno cards."
"I'm glad you asked," Yuna whipped out a deck of cards from her bag and flicked it to Yotsuba. "Basically, it's regular Uno, but every time you drop a 'draw two,' the person who draws has to take a drink. Also, when you want to use a 'draw four,' you both have to take a drink. Also, if you have no cards, you can— you guessed it— drink."
"Oh, great. So you want us to die fifteen minutes into the game," Hanaura-san said deadpan. "Kiana, did you really take the whole flight to come up with those rules?"
Kiana-san rubbed the back of her neck. "Maybe we discussed it as we were picking up our luggage."
Yotsuba grabbed a brand-new deck of cards from its container and began to shuffle them mindlessly.
"Nakano-san?" Kiana-san spoke up, getting closer and making sure that their eyes met. "You don't look so great. Is everything okay?"
"Oh, I've just never drank before, so I'm a bit anxious that I'll mess up the game," Yotsuba forced out a chuckle, feeling out of her element.
"Wow, never?" Yuna gasped. "Such a good girl!"
"I am also not interested in getting totally shit-faced right before our only practice day," Hanaura-san added. "Maybe we should add another rule?"
"Like what?" Kiana-san asked. "We need a good enough penalty for it to count as a batsu."
Yotsuba coughed lightly. "Maybe we can play truth or dare for those who don't want to drink too much," she suggested. "It could be a great opportunity for us to get to know each other better."
"Great idea Yotsuba!" Yuna grinned. The other two seemed satisfied with her proposal. The four girls gathered around the small table as Yotsuba passed out the cards.
"Oof, my cards are trash," Kiana-san complained. "Can we do a mulligan?"
"Nope, you have to deal with the cards you have. Otherwise, there's no point to the batsu part of the batsu game," Hanaura-san grinned impishly. Yotsuba got the impression that Hanaura-san was looking for any opportunity to rock the boat. Yuna maybe was right. She would have to be careful around her.
"Alright, then paper, rock, scissors for who goes first?"
"That sounds fine," Yuna agreed. After tying a few times, Hanaura-san emerged the victor. She flicked the first card of the deck and laid it flat on the table. "Two, red."
"I have plenty of red!" Kiana-san grinned as she put down a red nine.
"—Shut up! Now everyone knows you have a bunch of red cards, Kiana," Yuna scolded Kiana-san as she put down a green nine. "You're up, Yotsuba."
Yotsuba looked at her cards. She had no green except for a draw two. She put it down with an apologetic glance at Hanaura-san.
"First blood!" Yuna cheered. "The usual, right Mei-chan?" She handed her a grapefruit chu-hai. Hanaura-san cracked it open with a satisfying snap and took a deep drink from her can.
"Okay, Nakano-san is officially fair game," Hanaura-san sighed with gusto. She took another sip and put down a reverse green. "Do it again."
Hanaura-san must have known that Yotsuba had no other green. Perhaps she shouldn't have looked so sorry. Yotsuba tried to reach for the pile, but Hanaura-san blocked her hand. "Nuh-uh, drink first," she sneered playfully.
Yotsuba reached for her can of orange juice and sipped. "There?"
"Boo!" Kiana-san and Yuna said in unison. "Don't be lame," Yuna added. She took Yotsuba's canned orange juice and poured it into a cup from the hotel, then, she added some clear liquid before handing the cup back to Yotsuba. "Now drink— but pace yourself."
"Ugh," Yotsuba said, wrinkling her nose. It still looked like regular orange juice, but now she could smell the sterile scent of alcohol wafting from her drink when she raised it to her nose. "It smells awful," she said.
"Taste it," Yuna urged.
She sipped from the glass, expecting a disgusting bitterness. She was pleasantly surprised to learn that the drink still tasted like her regular carbonated orange juice, only now with a strange bite at the end that Yotsuba assumed must be the alcohol.
"It's good, right?" Yuna asked. "I took a mixology course before coming to uni because I knew it'd come in handy. I had a feeling you'd like the sweet stuff. Careful, that's probably more loaded than our three drinks combined."
The game continued for another two hours or so, Yotsuba had quickly lost her ability to keep track of time. What was first a friendly game of Uno quickly turned into a feud match between Kiana-san and Hanaura-san, with Yuna and Yotsuba caught in the middle. The cans of chu-hai piled up quickly, and even Yotsuba had polished off two cups of the orange drink that Yuna had prepared for her. She made a mental note to ask her what the name of the drink was for later.
"And that's game!" Yuna cheered as she put down the last card in her hand. The other three girls groaned and tossed their cards on the table.
"I was so close!" Yotsuba whined.
"Ah! Yotsssss, your face is so red!" Yuna squeezed her Yotsuba's cheeks.
"Speak for yourself, Inoue-san! Your face is red too!"
"I would have won if Mei hadn't been targeting all game," Kiana-san groaned.
"It was your own fault for skipping me five turns in a row. You got what you deserved," Hanaura-san huffed.
Kiana-san popped open a bag of chips and ate them by the handful. "I was holding half the deck by the end of the game!" she said, while bits of chips fell from her mouth.
Yotsuba tried to lay down but the room kept spinning even when she was holding her head still. Yotsuba felt dizzy and her words were coming out a bit sloppy. As a matter of fact, she felt like her head might pop right off her body and float away.
"Maybe you should drink some water, Yotsuba. Actually, you especially should drink some water," Yuna said, forcibly sitting Yotsuba upright and handing her a bottle of water from the hotel fridge. "We should stop here. Let's get some ramen or something before we go to bed to suck up all the alcohol we had."
"I'm fiiiiiiine," Yotsuba slurred her words.
"The issue isn't the amount," Hanaura-san hiccuped. "It was the pace. Except for Kiana. She's trashed."
"—hey!"
"—Also, we forgot that we could opt out of drinking by doing a truth or dare."
Kiana-san flipped to her stomach. "I guess we can play now—I still need to get to know myself better," she burped as if to drive the point home.
"Yotsuba, you're the one who wanted to get to know Kiana-chan and Mei-chan better. Why don't you ask?" Yuna urged her while resting her head on Yotsuba's shoulder.
"Why me?"
"Well… I need to focus on not throwing up."
Yotsuba exhaled loudly, trying to form a cohesive thought. "Right, so what do you make of this weekend then?"
"Oof," Kiana-san winced. "Really just getting into it, huh?" The three girls exchanged glances for a moment or two.
"I'll go first," Hanaura-san shrugged. "I don't care." "If I'm being honest, I know that I'm only here to fill out the roster. The Olympics are kind of a pipe dream for me."
"I know what you mean," Kiana-san added. "I only came to Osaka because of the sports scholarship. My family couldn't afford Osaka U otherwise—hell if I didn't get in, I'd still be stuck in my boring mountain village, probably working at our only convenience store."
"And also you wouldn't have met me," Hanaura-san added as she polished off the rest of her drink.
"But wasn't competing something you wanted, Hanaura-san?" Yotsuba chimed in.
Kiana-san slurred her words as she spoke. "That's just what we're supposed to say in track. Of course only you and Inoue-san have a realistic shot at competing at a higher level, Nakano-san. I don't feel bad because I got to meet Mei," She struggled to sit up. "One time I got mad at her for saying the same thing at the start of the trimester. But when I watched you and Inoue-san run, I realized there was such a wide gap in our abilities. From how coach and Maenaka-senpai interacted with both of you, it was obvious who had a chance and who didn't. But oh well, but it's been fun! Now I can start thinking of a real career after uni—Oh, don't worry," she quickly added. "I'm not bitter—we'll support you every step of the way!"
Yotsuba grappled with Kiana-san's directness. In some ways, her bluntness reminded her of Nino. Was this the power of alcohol?
"I guess if I'm being honest, I don't know what I'm doing here," Yotsuba blurted out. "Like Kiana-san, I came to Osaka on a sports scholarship, but unlike her, I only came here because I didn't know what I wanted to do next."
"Like, with life?" Yuna asked. She rubbed Yotsuba's back softly.
"Yeah," Yotsuba hiccuped. "My sisters all knew what they wanted to do. One's training to be a chef, the other a baker, the oldest is a blossoming movie star and the youngest is learning how to be a teacher."
"Wow, they sound so cool, Nakano-san," Kiana-san opined. "But I think that 'world-class athlete' is up there, don't cha think?"
Yotsuba shook her head. "I don't think I care if I'm honest. Like you said, I try my best at practice because it's expected of me. Coach is always measuring my time improvements and Maenaka-senpai is always offering pointers, but I'm not too sure that I care about getting the invitation for the Olympic team tryouts."
Hanaura-san exhaled loudly. "Don't let Maenaka-senpai hear you say that. You're like, her project."
"What's with her anyways?" Kiana-san asked. "Does she have the hots for Nakano-san or something?"
"Nah, I don't think so. I heard some of the upperclassmen talking, and basically, our captain has been trying to go to the elite stage since she was seventeen and has always missed the mark by seconds. Even after she became captain, she still failed to get the invite. It happens to almost every athlete—we just hit that wall we can't get over. And some of us are a little less gracious about admitting it than others… My guess is that as a 4th year, she's likely given up on making it through herself and is instead putting all her hopes and dreams on Nakano-san—just a guess, though."
"Sheesh, I can't imagine that pressure," Kiana-san grimaced. "Nakano-san are you okay?"
Yotsuba laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, I guess. I didn't know any of that," a pang of guilt wormed its way deep into Yotsuba's chest. Her breath suddenly felt labored.
"I know that look," Yuna frowned. "Don't let that story change your mind. You do whatever you'd like, Yotsuba. You are in charge of your life, not anyone else. Has anyone asked what you wanted to do?"
Yotsuba lingered on her friend's words. Her brain suddenly felt hazy. For a girl like Yotsuba, who lived to please others, a question like 'what do you want' is impossible to answer. Because she knows in her heart of hearts she's a selfish girl. Her thoughts drifted back to Futaro. She missed him terribly and longed for the days when they could be close again. But she knew deep down that it was more than just missing him; she wanted a future with him. But there were still obstacles in their way. She needed to know that he felt the same, and part of her was terrified that somehow Nino would win their Quintuplet game and she'd be left behind. She sighed, knowing that she couldn't fix everything at once. If anything was certain, it was this: After this weekend, everything would change.
"I want to have a life without regrets," Yotsuba finally said, letting her heart do the speaking for her.
"I can toast to that," Yuna smiled. "Come on, everyone, let's go get that ramen."
The next morning Yotsuba jolted awake to the shrieking of a megaphone in her ear.
"Rise and shine, ladies! I trust and hope that you had a lovely party!" Maenaka-senpai's screeching filled the air, as she rattled a clear bag full of empty chu-hai cans.
Yotsuba's half-conscious eyes darted around, struggling to adjust to the light when Maenaka-senpai abruptly ripped open the curtains, flooding the room with brightness. Hanaura-san and Kiana-san had passed moaned desperation. Instinctively, Yuna pulled up the blanket to cover her face. All four girls were now temporarily blinded by the intense sunlight.
"Listen you lovely, lazy bags of bones!" Maenaka-senpai once again shouted with the megaphone. The rest of the team is already down in the lobby waiting for you! You have two minutes to get changed into your practice uniforms and go downstairs immediately!—Yocchi! What are you doing just sitting there! Go Go Go Go Go!"
The four girls scrambled in a panic around the hotel room as if they were chickens with their heads cut off. They bumped into each other, trying to brush their teeth and change into their uniforms. Yuna was particularly panicked about not being able to find their competition number badges, only to discover that Kiana-san had accidentally thrown them away along with her bag of chips the night before. Ten minutes later, Yotsuba and the others found themselves boarding a travel bus with the rest of the first year girls. She might as well have already ran all her heats for the weekend with how hard her heart was beating.
"On a scale of one to ten, how much is your head hurting right now?" Yuna asked jokingly once they had finally caught their breaths.
"Surprisingly, I'm feeling okay, like I actually got a good night's sleep for once," Yotsuba replied with a smile.
"Oh, you suck… I was hoping that I'd be able to sabotage your only practice day. Did you see the stadium where we'll be competing at?"
"Not really, I forgot."
"Oh, you're going to love it. Tokyo University got this crazy subsidy from the government to spend millions in remodeling their sports facilities to train the official Japan National Team on site for the Olympics while the fancy new stadium is being built," Yuna glowed with anticipation. It was difficult for Yotsuba not to get absorbed by her enthusiasm. She felt herself smile, admiring her friend, who was clearly living their dream.
Yotsuba watched the bus maneuver through the city traffic effortlessly. Tokyo itself was a drab gray landscape, but she could appreciate the vibrant signage on the businesses on either side of the street, advertising eateries and famous local delicacies.
"You know, it's not like I expected you to ask about this but," Yuna said as she popped an umeboshi rice ball into her mouth.
"Ask what?"
"If Kiana and Mei-chan were… more than friends."
Yotsuba's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh! I just figured it wasn't any of my business. Love is love and all that. It wasn't like they were likely to do anything with us in the room."
Yuna gave a knowing smile, offering a packaged rice ball to Yotsuba. "You might be right. Though I may have been too preoccupied to notice anything. You hit like a truck when you sleep."
Yotsuba's face flushed a deep crimson. "I'm so embarrassed! Did I hurt you too badly?"
"Don't worry," she chuckled, her eyes twinkling in amusement. "Though if you recently shared a bed with your boyfriend and he didn't bring up anything, perhaps an apology is in order."She gently touched her bruised cheek to emphasize her point.
A short while later, the bus descended down a concrete ramp and came to a stop at the far end of an unassuming building with a discrete Tokyo University Sports Grounds banner above the wide double doors. Inside, the facilities opened to a broad track field with a high metallic domed roof and harsh fluorescent light fixtures. Yotsuba watched, mesmerized, as athletes from every corner of Japan ran, jumped, and threw. In the foreground, a sprinter rushed past the starting blocks in a flurry of movement. A high jumper flew up and over the bar before landing softly on the large pad beneath it. In the distance, a shot putter practiced their motions slowly and carefully–like a dance.
Its a real dog pile to reach the elite level.Maenaka-sempai told her once. You have to be prepared to bleed your heart out on that track.
Their cohort was shown to their changing room by the athletic grounds guides. Yotsuba's eyes widened as she noticed the smooth marble floors and the locker doors that clicked closed with a satisfying thud. Peeking inside each one, she was impressed by the glossy finish of the wood panels and how each compartment boasted its own phone charging station. Glancing up, she admired the vibrant murals on the walls, depicting famous Japanese athletes in action and out by the showers, there was a large selection of massage tables, and plunge pools, fitted with customizable temperature and pressure settings. Yuna wasn't kidding when she mentioned that the government had spared no expense.
"This is like a high-end spa!" Yotsuba whispered into Yuna's ear.
"Just enjoy it! Japan is flexing for the Olympics! Rumor has it that the main event athletes will also be using these facilities."
"Just how many schools are competing?" Yotsuba asked as they were shown to their personally labeled lockers.
"Um, I guess about seventeen universities and three high schools, but like, those high schools are specialist schools for the top of the nation. Being here is mostly symbolic for them and most likely, were already shoo-ins for the National Team invitationals– woah! Everything here is embroidered with our name!" she held up her towel bearing her name in stylistic kanji.
But Yotsuba was too preoccupied to notice. Seventeen universities. She wondered if any of the students in those schools felt the way that she did. Outside, everyone all seemed so confident and sure of themselves and Yotsuba couldn't help but feel intimidated by their impressive display of athleticism. She felt anything but "a shoo-in."
"Yocchi! Inoue-san!" Maenaka-senpai peaked her head from around behind a porcelain wall. "Coach wants me to take the first stringers and anchors to the field already. You guys get first dibs to try out the field," the two first years quickly scurried out onto the field, trying to avoid the ire of their team captain. Yotsuba found it strangely difficult to make eye contact with Maenaka-senpai since her conversation with Hanaura-san the night before. And strangely, she felt like she'd already let Maenaka-senpai down already.
"Okay, don't overdo it, you two. Right now, you should just focus on getting comfortable with the bounce of the track. It's springier than the field back home–ugh, I hate indoor fields. The wind plays such a huge factor that sprinting indoors ruins a bit of the challenge," Maenaka-senpai complained. "Yocchi, you'll be doing the 100m solos and the 400m relay with Inoue-san, Hanaura-san, and myself. Based on your times, I nominated you to be the anchor. Are you okay with that?"
Yotsuba nodded sharply. There was no room for negotiation now. This was business for Maenaka-senpai.
"Good," she continued. "Inoue-san, you'll also be doing the 100m hurdles first, so make sure you're comfortable with this track's bounce.
"Wait, you'll be the only upperclassman in the relay, Maenaka-senpai?" Yuna asked, seemingly bewildered. "That's not standard for a competition."
"It's not. But these are technically friendlies," Maenaka-senpai clarified. "It won't go against our school record, so these are only personal stat boosters for Yocchi and yourself. Trust me, the only one you're competing against is yourself."
"Not to mention the other two hundred runners who want to compete in the Olympics," Yuna mumbled.
"Cute," Maenaka-san said sarcastically. "Inoue-san, you and Hanaura-san can alternate with the Kanagawa team for some hurdle practice on the outer side of the track. I already spoke to their captain, and they were okay with it," she declared her instructions, again, not allowing any discussion on the matter. Yuna smiled sympathetically before dashing away.
"Okay, Yocchi, let's have you do some practice heats first. You've only got two this weekend, so you have to perform perfectly in both."
Maenaka-senpai quickly ushered Yotsuba to an empty line at the starting block where the other teams had already begun practicing their heats. An unspoken rule of the 100m sprint was made known to her; Schools always entered their star runners for this heat. It did not escape Yotsuba how other runners were already sizing her up.
As she stretched her muscles and went through her warm-up routine, Yotsuba tried to shake off all her feelings. She dug her cleats into the rubber track. Her palms were sweaty, and her stomach in a tight knot; silently, she prayed that it was just because of the alcohol. Yotsuba sprung from the block a beat late, her body struggling to keep pace with her blaring heart. She pushed herself, trying to regain her lost time. But stuggled to syncronize her breathing. She leaned forward past the imaginary finish line with a stifling gasp.
"Fourteen-point-three-one!" Maenaka-senpai shouted from across the track. "Shake it off, Yocchi! Just go line up and do it again."
Yotsuba felt warm as she crossed the length of the track. She sensed eyes on her, and she even thought she saw some of the Hiroshima girls lean in and whisper something as she passed by.
"Her captain said fourteen point something."
"Yeah, not that impressive. She's probably just another roster stuffer."
"But isn't Osaka supposed to be a good school?"
She clenched her teeth, fighting the urge to speak up. She made eye contact with one of the girls. She had sharp features and long hair that reached her waist and pulled into a tight ponytail. Yotsuba just managed to catch a glimpse of her name, Higashi. She knew words would do nothing now; they had already made up their minds about her.
"That's fine Yocchi, just shake it off. It's the first warm-up," Maenaka-senpai said once Yotsuba was within earshot. "Remember, this track is bouncier. Let that work for you," she gestured to Yotsuba to get closer. "You don't have to prove anything right now. It's just practice. But, maybe give them something to look forward to, Yocchi. I know your type. You win," Maenaka-senpai smiled.
Yotsuba grinned. Project or not, she had to give credit where credit was due. Maenaka-senpai knew her. As she lined up back at the starting blocks, she thought of Nino.
Would I have been as much of a sore loser as her if Futaro had chosen her? Probably.
Yotsuba tensed up as the countdown began. When maenaka-sempai reached zero, she burst from the starting blocks and flew forward. She could feel Maenaka-senpai's eyes on her back, and she could sense the other runners mocking her. Adrenaline—and rage—surged through Yotsuba's veins as she ran with an intensity that surprised her. None of this is for you! She screamed internally.
Finally, after crossing the finish line, her muscles buckle. Yotsuba collapsed onto the track, barely able to move. Maenaka-senpai was by her side before she knew it, wrapping the towel around Yotsuba's trembling body.
"Look at that. You're practically in charge of your own destiny," Maenaka-senpai whispered into her ear. She showed Yotsuba the stopwatch.
Twelve-point-one-five
"Don't worry. I haven't forgotten." Maenaka-senpai smiled knowingly.
Yotsuba couldn't believe it. That number was already her best time yet. She thought of Maenaka-senpai's promise to her if she managed a flat twelve. She craned her head back to the domed ceiling of the stadium. No regrets. That's the goal.
Author's Notes:
Hi everyone! Thank you for reading yet another chapter of Marching Forward. Happy spring! I would like to extend a special thank you for everyone who patiently waited for this update. I know it's late, but I had real life get in the way and honestly, I felt pretty insecure about this chapter. So much so that I wrote both this chapter and the next together because I felt that I needed to see the progression of the entire arc realized so I see the full picture.
Also I have some exciting news to share. I finally have an editor! They're a personal friend who's more or less just doing a favor to for me because they've become invested in my story… all the more reason to try harder to bring my best self. And to probably bribe them constantly with bowls of ramen & onigiri.
Writing from the sisters' perspectives is quite difficult and often I worry that I'm incapable of weaving the inner conflicts and relationships that each character has with one another. They're all sisters, but they all see the world in specific ways and often I doubt my ability to represent that in an earnest way.
I appreciate everyone for being on this journey with me so far, and I believe you can expect the next chapter quite a bit sooner than this one.
I've been especially grateful for the traffic my fics been getting on AO3 too! I was worried about how slow it was growing.
I'm grateful to everyone who stumbles across my fic, but I'd like to take a special moment to acknowledge the following: CrampyBitch, Chloetuco, Bazzo, Gazara12, JOA20, TheMist33 and Mangotree on FFN for your wonderful reviews and commentary.
On AO3 I'd like to thank XRomanG, Lucas81, PCRM13, NBRSuperstar, Makoot, and especially SuperKameha for your constant support and thoughts on my fic!
Lastly, on the subreddit I'd like to thank: CptBalster, Mangotree once again, QuantumLatke, Ubberr, and electrocyberend for commenting on my last chapters update.
Every single one of your comments inspire me to do my best and to become even better than before. Please look forward to my next chapter! -Miimbot