The sun was up above the Ultra Academy at half past nine in the morning. The early July sun rays had already warmed the air at this time of the day. Browsing on her computer, Hyori was sitting inside the nearly empty college-preparatory's school's library. She wanted to keep her room cool by leaving the curtains and windows closed during the day. Most of the pupils had already left the school's grounds for the summer holidays, besides the heroic and the support courses who were expected to intern for at least four weeks.
All of Hyori's classmates had already signed their internship contracts. Hyori herself had received an offer directly from the Hero Commission. It was a support position that wouldn't strain her much as the commission intended to have her assist active agencies with specific cases, on their demand. In short, she wasn't expected to patrol yet she supposed the still higher-than-pre-crisis crime levels wouldn't allow her to get bored.
Hyori had decided to postpone her internship starting-day for the third week of the summer holidays. She would use the time to meet her Father's family this weekend and enjoy the summer for a bit. She felt like she hadn't had a proper break over the last holiday and the fatigue accumulated was catching up on her. She had moved her gymnastics and pool sessions to ten in the morning and planned to lounge in the nearby resort in the afternoon.
She also wanted to spend time in the hotel beauty salon in Kamakura but dreaded crossing paths with her previous manager. She was aware the woman had little ammunition left against her since she couldn't threaten her Mother. She also reasoned that she used to wear a wig and was thinner when she hosted. Therefore, it would be harder to frame her on any recordings.
Before she could talk herself out of the idea, she typed the link she used to redeem the spa vouchers she was offered. Not having a valid code, she clicked on the website icon and arrived on a page where she could purchase a voucher for the spa, the beauty salon or both. The ongoing week was already full save from a spot between one and two in the afternoon.
Not wanting to miss the opportunity, she booked a beauty salon voucher since she knew she wouldn't have enough time for enjoying the spa. She would receive a pedicure, a manicure, a hair treatment and skin care for the hefty sum of seventy thousands of Yen. Having to pay for everything by herself was becoming a pain and she was glad not having been able to spend a lot in months.
After her purchase, the girl closed her laptop and put it inside her structured tote bag. She exited the library and walked back towards the dormitories to board her bicycle and leave for the nearby resort. The facility was nearly empty during the holidays since most of its well-off clientele travelled at this time. During summer, most of the visitors were tokyoites seeking to enjoy the thermal baths and the city's floral parks.
Walking through the empty walls, changing area and training facilities gave Hyori the feeling she owned the place. She suspected more people would occupy the place during the afternoon as the ones in college might sleep-in and the working ones were still on clock. The feeling of being alone in the world emboldened her in her choice of apparel as she was wearing a silver blue swimsuit with a balconette cleavage and a crossed back.
Two hours after starting her sports sessions, she changed into a coral Yukata dress with heeled silver slippers. The girl had hailed a taxi to make sure she arrived at the hotel on time. On the road, her forearms' skin was covered in goosebumps at the sight of the familiar road. She hadn't taken that route in half a year and was feeling almost nostalgic.
An hour later, she exited the car on the hotel's guest driveway and walked towards the lobby. She had a strange feeling of coming back home under the high ceiling ornate with crystal ceiling lights, above a marbled floor and marine blue heavy curtains. The receptionist checked her identity before calling the beauty salon to inform them of her presence. She was invited to walk down the covered outer path that led to the beauty and spa building.
The palm trees on her way looked the same as they had been last year when she was walking down that path once a week. When she arrived at the detached building's lobby, the receptionist had recognised and greeted her with a knowing smile while redeeming her voucher and indicating to her the room where she would receive the booked care.
It started with the manicure and pedicure, followed by the skincare and ended with the haircare. The esthetician that executed the skincare hadn't recognised her but still enquired if she wanted another tube of her signature scented lotion. Apparently, her customer profile showed she had one and the product would be ready in a matter of minutes once she had mixed the right doses of components.
Hyori wasn't sure she wanted the lotion. The scent was linked to her activities as a host and had imprinted on the people she had entertained as such. Yet, it was her personal scent and it made her feel special to have one. She was tempted to accept the offer when Megumi's words echoed in her mind. They hadn't texted since their argument but she was still afraid to make the girl's statement truer than they were.
"The lotion would help prolong the skincare effect, especially when used with the complementary soap."
Hyori pondered the woman's words. She had never tried the complementary soap. All she had ever used inside the pension was the hotel's standard soap. She had also never been able to find products that were as delicate and effective as the ones in the hotel's beauty salon. She loved the light texture of the lotion and the velvety touch it left on her skin.
Reasoning that using these products wouldn't mean anything, she accepted the offer and the esthetician proceeded to put inside a sealed see-through pocket the waxed-off hair from her armpits. After scribing on the pocket's tag, she put the pack inside a designated slot of her toolbox. Afterwards, she massaged the skin softening ointment on Hyori's skin for the final touch. The latter girl felt brand new once the treatment was over.
Once the last beautician had taken care of her mane, Hyori exited the room and stopped by the lobby where she paid for her lotion and soap before leaving the area. On her way, she hailed another cab to drive her back to the sports' resort where her bicycle was still parked. She opened the sunshade that she kept inside her holiday bag and walked with her bicycle instead of pedalling.
When she arrived inside the dormitory at half past three in the afternoon, the common area was empty. The girl beelined for her room and put her goods inside her toiletries purse. She then changed into a pair of boyfriend jeans with an oversized sky-blue blouse on top. She didn't have the will to touch her newly groomed hair and let her loose curls fall below her minimiser bra strap. Her hair had definitely lost its battle against gravity and lavender petals were twisting on themselves on her back.
Afterwards, she exited her room to walk into the kitchen and retrieve the lunch she hadn't been able to enjoy between her sports sessions and her beauty salon booking. Being the summer, she had ordered cool meals last Friday and kept them in the fridge. She was in the mood for a salad with pieces of chicken breast, prawns and garlic seasoned olive oil. The cherry tomatoes' fresh juice was wonderful on her tongue as she enjoyed her meal.
Once satiated, she put the package in the trash bin and opted to read in the academy's library. The place was bathed in natural light and cool despite the hot weather, probably because she was alone inside the large and well ventilated area. She realised she had been there for well over two hours when she read the numeric clock of her phone after finishing reading her book.
She walked back inside her class's dormitory building to shower for the night and maybe remain inside her bedroom until the following day. Afterall, she had postponed her internship to renew her physical and mental strength after the hectic last months. She was idly walking through the living room when she heard noise inside the kitchen. She assumed some of her classmates were already back from their internship or their errand.
Footsteps were exiting the kitchen and Satou, the class's baker, emerged from the kitchen. The boy was tall with a sculpted features and body. His plump lips and squared jaw gave him an exotic look, being quite uncommon in the streets. His face framed by side-whiskers exuded an easy-going joy and the boy looked like the poster-capable-man of the early days of cinema. She had seen leading actors looking like the boy in the Sumo-themed movie covers she had seen in her Father's collection.
"Hello, Shinsou." Greeted the boy with his booming voice. "I was about to make dinner since I arrived early. You can join me if you want. I might make something you would like."
Thinking she hadn't had a manicure to head straight into the kitchen, she declined his offer.
"I'm not very hungry and my cooking skills are far from great, thank you."
"You can just sit by. Cooking is more enjoyable with someone." Requested the boy again.
Her classmates had never insisted on getting her involved. Sensing she couldn't politely refuse, she left her book on the dining table and headed inside the kitchen to sit on the low cabinet by the fridge. The room lacked a chair and the cabinet was sturdy enough she wasn't afraid to crush the piece of furniture. The kitchen was extra large and so was the furniture.
"I'm cooking a beef hotpot with Cantonese stirred rice. I'll make dumplings as appetisers and maybe a pie." Said the boy as he laid ingredients on the counter opposite to where she was sitting.
Hyori watched him dance left and right in front the counter, cutting and prepping ingredients before cooking them. He seemed happy to cook for his classmates, in a similar way her Father was happy to cook with her when she couldn't convince him to order. The man would sometimes insist on cooking and she had to admit the taste was different. He would proudly state that the difference was the taste of love.
"Do you have any preference for dumplings? You said you weren't very hungry but you might enjoy a piece or two?" Asked the boy, interrupting her daydreaming.
The small black beads of his eyes were fixed on her when she focused on him to answer.
"I like them better without meat or tofu… And baked." Replied the girl.
"Oh~ I never baked dumplings. I'll try and hope for the best." Said the boy before facing the counter and making the dumplings.
The hotpot was set on a low heat and vapour was swirling from the rice inside the extra large wok pan. After a moment of cutting and arranging the pieces, he put the dumplings plate inside the oven and crouched in front of the see-through window to watch over the treats. After a dozen minutes, he opened the oven and retrieved the plate. He left it on the counter to cool and retrieved ingredients for the pie.
The dumplings smell was inviting while the boy worked on the dough for the pie. Again, he interrupted her daydream with another question.
"Do you have a preferred flavour for the pie?"
"I'm not sure. I haven't had a lot of pies. You don't have to make the common treat fit my taste, though." Answered Hyori.
The boy hummed before replying.
"I've noticed you don't store a lot of sweet treats. I guess you aren't sweet-toothed. I'll make a pear pie and try to not make it too sweet."
Hyori was surprised he had noticed she didn't eat many sweet things. In retrospect, her snacks might be obvious since the class seemed already used to each other's liking. Her snacks could only be the unusual ones.
With moves showcasing dexterity, the boy covered the flattened dough and closed it before cutting it with swift motions. He made a little over twenty pieces and put them in the large enough oven.
"They'll cook fast since they are small." Announced the boy before starting to clean.
Feeling he had done a lot already, Hyori stood from the cabinet to fill the dishwasher. She could at least do that while the boy wiped the counter. Once the cooking tools were inside the dishwasher, Satou offered to try the dumplings. He retrieved a couple of baguettes and promptly held a piece at Shinsou's mouth. She took it in her mouth and enjoyed the crunchy piece whose juice spread down her tongue. It was as good as she could have dreamed of. Her appreciating smile was almost closing her eyes, with her cheeks pushing from the bottom and her heavy monolids pushing from the top.
"It's good!" Exclaimed the girl faster than she could think.
The boy was staring at her contentment until the oven timer rang and broke the moment. He rushed to the oven and retrieved the plate to let the treats cool at room temperature. As if on cue, the main door of the dormitories opened on numerous pupils, some had probably been enticed by the smell and were walking towards the kitchen.
"It smells nice here! What did you make- Oh! Shinsou!" Exclaimed the invisible girl who was surprised to find her inside the kitchen.
She was soon joined by Mina and her lightning friend.
"Good afternoon." Greeted Shinsou.
Most of the classmates who had arrived were crowding the kitchen's entrance as if there was a show going on inside.
"Common! Let's set the table." Invited the class president.
The classmates who had just arrived hurried to do as instructed and the table was ready in a couple of minutes.
"Are you staying for dinner? I suppose you are hungry after helping Satou. We usually are two or more to help in the kitchen." Addressed Asui.
"I didn't do much." Countered Hyori.
"You did more than enough." Assured Satou. "Come eat with us."
Not left with any issue and surrounded by her peers, Shinsou agreed to stay for the dinner. She sat on the chair nearest to the stairs. Mina and her lightning friend rushed to both her sides before Satou could. The boy resigned to sit on the next available seat beside the lightning boy.
It was her first time hanging with her classmates and she already felt pressured by the furtive glances she was receiving from Kouda and Shoji who sat further, on top of Satou's overall presence. She took a discrete breath as she tried to conceal the memories of her last birthday party inside the Inner Palace. Her sweet sixteen dinner had been polluted by the preying glances she had received from the Emperor and the First Prince.
She ruled her face and reasoned the setting was different but couldn't help her triggered mind not to be uneasy. She supposed her mind had been elsewhere during the dinner. She had vague memories of some of her classmates' surprise at the baked dumplings and some arguing the pie wasn't sweet enough. Somewhere during the dinner, the girls had mentioned a pool activity and she supposed she had been invited due to their look on her.
"Of course." Replied Hyori. "Just not this Saturday. I have a family event."
"We can do it on Sunday. The academy's pool would be available." Concluded Momo.
Afterwards, she was excused from undoing the table and rushed to take her shower before climbing in her bed, hands slightly trembling.