Chapter 2: Investigation

When Isako called me on a Sunday evening, I initially anticipated a refusal. However, it turned out she was in good spirits. She asked to meet me tonight, adding that there was something she needed to test. She didn't elaborate on the phone, however. I had a hunch she would try something in person.

Perhaps I should've broken it to her more gently. I may have bitten off more than I can chew, even if she is my best friend...

The sound of the doorbell snapped me back to reality. That must be Isako. "One moment!" I called out.

I made my way to the door and peeked through the peephole. Sure enough, there she was, wearing her trademark beige-pink coat and slacks under an overcoat. She was still wearing dark glasses and a hat similar to the ones she wore during our first meeting, likely to avoid attracting adoring fans badgering her for an autograph. Oddly enough, she carried a duffel bag beside her usual purse.

I unlocked the door and swung it open. "Good evening, Senpai. Please come in."

"Thank you, Sadayo-Chan, for agreeing to meet with me."

Senpai left her high heels at the door and stepped inside.

"Please make yourself at home. Can I get you something?"

"Not at the moment, thank you. Maybe later. I just wanted to...talk."

I took her coat, set it aside on the hanger, and sat beside her on the couch.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Although I had a feeling I didn't need to ask.

"Your proposal. There are a few things I need to ask you before I agree to it and commence preparations."

Wait a minute...preparations?

"Go on."

"First," she leaned forward at this point, hands clasped together on the table. "What are you not telling me?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"What are you not telling me about your request," she clarified. "During our first conversation about it, you mentioned that there were 'other reasons.' What are they?"

"You may not believe me even if I tell you."

"Try me."

"Senpai, you haven't been happy for a long time."

She paused slightly. "It's called grief, dear friend. And?"

"Well, Amamiya-kun and I thought it would cheer you up."

"Having sex with me would cheer me up?" Senpai said dryly.

"Senpai, weren't you the one who said that women don't need to be tied down to men to be happy?"

"Yes, I said that a long time ago."

"Well, then, what about your needs, then?"

"What about them?"

"Your needs are going unmet, Senpai."

"I don't understand why you have concern yourselves with my needs," she said. "They're my needs, after all. Don't you have your own needs to take care of?"

"That's true. However, they are being taken care of. It's you I'm worried about. I once worked a part-time job and put my needs aside because I felt I had to. Amamiya-kun showed me a better way, and that I have a choice. I'd like to show you that, too."

Isako's expression softened. "Sadayo-chan, I appreciate the gesture, really. It's just that you could have just asked me what I really wanted, you know."

"I know what you really want, Senpai," I looked squarely at her. "Or rather, I know who you really want. Unless the gods intervene, it's probably not going to happen."

Senpai looked visibly shaken. Ouch. I think I overdid it.

"Senpai, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

She waved it away, sighed, and reached into her duffel bag for a beer can. There was a loud popping sound when she flipped its lid open. "I know. You're right. He's not coming back."

I reached out and lay a gentle hand on her shoulder. She patted it. "I'm all right," she said. "I just need a minute." She took another sip.

I waited until she seemed ready before I spoke up again. "Senpai, you know as well as I do that we're both over the hill. No man—no other man—is going to want anything to do with us."

"True. However, he's legally not a man yet, even though he acts like one."

"But he will be. Soon."

"So you thought of making him my boy toy?"

"No, he and I thought of being your partners. No one is going to be anyone's 'toy'."

"Who are you wand what have you done with Sadayo?" Senpai said. "Seriously, this sounds more like Amamiya-kun talking."

"I just thought we could kill three birds with one stone, Senpai." I explained. "Amamiya-kun gets his wish, you get your needs met, and I have the privilege of meeting both of your needs. Everyone's happy."

"Wait a minute," she protested. "Shouldn't I get a say in how my needs will be met? And what about your needs?"

"Exactly," I said. "Which is why we're having this discussion. Do tell me how we can help."

"Can you agree to these?" She pulled out a few pieces of paper and showed them to me. They contained lists of terms, Dos, and Don'ts.

"These seem reasonable," I said after quickly scanning through them. "What's with this last item, though?"

"A special request," she said. "Since this will be about meeting needs and fulfilling fantasies, we may as well include mine."

"All right. I'll ask Amamiya-kun."

"About that," Isako added. "I'd like to ask him, myself. Do you think you could set up a meeting between him and me? There are things I need to clarify with him, too."

"It shouldn't be too difficult. He's currently dealing with family affairs back home but he should be back soon to follow up on his university applications."

It seemed like only yesterday when I was Amamiya-kun's homeroom teacher. And now he's preparing for college. Time does seem to fly sometimes.

"All right," Isako said. "That's settled. Next, have you thought about how this may affect our friendship, Sadayo? We're basically entering bisexual friends-with-benefits territory with this."

"I'm well aware of that, Isako. And I've thought about that a lot."

"And how do you feel about that?"

I shrugged. "I'll keep an open mind and proceed slowly. I trust you. Both of you."

Isako nodded. The look on her face suggested she liked my answer. "Is Amamiya-kun all right with that?"

"Yes. He and I have talked about it. We both agree that you'd be our best partner instead of anyone else."

"All right. Let's dive a bit deeper. These may be subject to change so I will ask again on the day itself, several times if need be: how do you feel about me touching your boyfriend intimately?"

I thought for a moment. "If he's okay with it, I'm okay with it."

"How do you feel about me touching you intimately?"

"I'm willing to explore that."

Isako looked at me with an odd expression on her face. "May I have your consent? I'd like to test something."

"Of course. What do you in-"

I was unprepared for what happened next. My best friend leaned forward and planted a quick, sweet kiss on my lips. She smelled faintly of alcohol.

"What was that for?"

Isako smiled. "You didn't flinch. That's probably a good sign." She turned a leaf on her notes and took another sip of beer. "One or two last questions for now: is this a one-shot, no-strings-attached thing, or will this eventually become a polyamorous relationship?

"Well, Amamiya-kun and I were thinking of maintaining our relationship through it all and afterward, probably an NSA? We'll figure things out as we go along."

"How will we deal with any jealousy that comes up?

"We'll talk about it, just like what we're doing now."

"Okay. What is the precise nature of the engagement?"

"Excuse me?

"I mean, will you allow a hard swap? A soft swap? Assuming I consent, will you allow him to penetrate me? What are the no-nos?"

"Um…I haven't thought that far ahead, to be honest."

"No problem. We can iron them out as we go along. We have time." She folded her notes up and tucked them away. "All right, so far so good. I think we're nearly done. One last thing for tonight." Isako downed the contents of the beer can. Her face was slightly flushed. "How sound proof is your unit?"

"Fairly soundproof."

"May I please use your bathroom?"

"Of course." When she called, Isako indicated that she needed to test something else. She didn't elaborate. Still, I trusted her.

She returned minutes later wearing a bathrobe and holding a large towel. She spread the towel on the floor in front of the sofa.

"Uh…" I began, not sure what to say.

"Do I still have your consent?" she asked, seemingly oblivious to my reaction. "Don't worry. I won't touch you."

"Yes."

"Oh, and feel free to film this, like we talked about. Show it to Amamiya-kun after I speak with him if you like, and only if you like. I'd like to know what he thinks about it." She winked at me.

I brought my phone out of my purse, ready to record...

Minutes later, Isako leaned back on the sofa, breathing heavily.

I let her catch her breath before I spoke. "Wow, Isayo. Just...wow…I have no words, and I'm a language teacher."

My best friend looked blearily at me. "Thanks, Sadako-chan. I think...I need some water."

She rubbed rubbing alcohol on her hands before accepting the glass of water I gave her. She had lost fluids, and I figured she'd want to replenish them quickly.

"I'm sorry about your floor," she said. "The towel didn't catch everything. Do you have a mop? I'll clean it up."

"Don't worry about it," I said. "After what you've shown me tonight, mopping the floor is the least I can do to support you."

"Thanks, Sadayo-chan. You passed, by the way."

I gaped at her. "This was a test?"

"Of course." She took another sip of water. "I needed to see how you'd react to a kiss on the lips and the sight of me doing something sexual in front of you. If you can't handle me doing either, you probably won't handle a threesome. Thank you for the opportunity to clarify matters. I'll be in touch."

I let her get dressed, and we parted ways. Once Isako shut the door behind her, I brought my phone out to rewatch the video. I envied how unabashed she was, utterly lacking in shyness or inhibition, at least with me.

I can't top that. We made a good choice, Amamiya-kun and I.

Author's Note:

Thank you for reading this chapter! You've probably suspected that I have an uncensored version of this somewhere besides my computer. You're right. If you'd like to read the finer details, of Toriumi-sensei "working" on herself, I have left links on my profile to my profiles on other platforms with more complete versions of this chapter. Take note that this will be my policy with other chapters in this tory with mature content, moving forward. Thank you very much again!