The apartment was still bare. No posters, no paintings, not even curtains. Just plain white walls. Seri had brought this up with Shouko, but she didn’t seem to mind.742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnD4m75i5Ek
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhV6dzLuhL
Because there was no clock, Seri had to look at her dainty golden watch. She sighed, nervously twirling a strand of her long purplish-brown hair. It was getting late.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91idcYHQ2F
Kneeling by the low table like a proper lady, she returned her attention to the magazine in her hand. She used to read expensive foreign fashion magazines her mother had lying around the mansion, but she much preferred local magazines such as this.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Rd3R1ZYFg
Her heart leapt as she heard the door swing open. Shouko’s blonde hair, usually buoyant in its messiness, was drooping. She took a few moments to breathe before entering the apartment properly. Her head was down and her shoulders were low. She swayed towards her futon, also plain.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6I7EW95d8
Seri stood up, almost jumping. ‘You’re home! I brought some nikuman so we can have that with our-’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkdDlC6oQy
Instead of answering, Shouko smiled weakly and flopped onto the futon.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkh0uh2lMpX
‘Shouko?’ Seri asked, her voice as weak as Shouko’s smile. She leaned over the futon and heard snoring. With a gentle smile, she pulled the quilt over Shouko and brushed her fingers over her cheek.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5aNrN5LBv
As she left the apartment to head home, Seri’s smile dropped.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcqkKK9JVv
And so the pattern began.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNYLijm2JY
‘Shouko, I discovered this new flavour of ice cream! I thought we could have it for des-’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R6pYd6X57
Snore.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmsrQ4n7sU
‘Sakurako-senpai helped me make these chocolates-’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitqMm0ICJl
Snore.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5uYfCAouv
‘I thought I’d cheer you up with a nice hot meal-’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ7AMXsB3K
Snore.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS95MEXNz3D
Seri sat by Shouko’s futon, a wistful frown on her face. This time she decided to stay in the apartment until Shouko woke up. Dinner, as it turned out, did a terrible job of cheering people up. Or perhaps that was because Seri was eating alone.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd8jj6kqPK
After dinner, Seri settled next to Shouko, reading the magazine. She was desperate enough for mental stimulation that she even began reading the advertisements.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdushq9cysp
Finally, she heard the snoring stop. She turned her head and saw Shouko jerk upwards.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT3tqpMKZo
‘Huh? What I miss?’ Shouko’s voice was a little rough and gravelly, but Seri loved it.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtTbtzXgi1
Seri giggled. ‘Have a nice dream, Sleeping Beauty?’ She took the time to appreciate how Shouko looked in her suit, as messy as it was in the futon.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eULIHh9P3
Shouko lied back down and stretched her arms. ‘Ha! As if! I dreamed I could actually finish a shift on time instead of having to do overtime.’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkV2neH4mL
‘That sounds like a nice dream to me,’ Seri muttered, her eyes downcast. ‘We need some time to ourselves, you know.’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFYzgLmnoy
Shouko turned her body and rested her head on her hand, her elbow digging into the futon. She nodded.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LVj227Ukn
‘I’m open to suggestions.’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ6i9SrUmF
Seri turned the page backwards in her magazine until she reached a page with a big photo of a November illumination festival. The lights were spellbinding and the photograph managed to transport Seri to a beautiful place she knew she had to go.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmab9uRyZDS
Shouko looked at the details of this advertisement, scooting closer to Seri. The other girl’s cheeks grew hot. Despite them having been together for so long, Seri was still not used to the sensation of Shouko being close to her. It was warm and comforting, but it also set her nerves aflame and she became ever-aware of both girls’ breathing.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEcMxjj6S2
‘Tomorrow?’ Shouko asked.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctu354XCnT
Seri gleefully held her hands up in little fists. ‘Yes! It’s perfect! It’s at a local park and it’s supposed to be quite the spectacle!’ She clasped her hands together and rubbed her cheek against them. Shouko could practically see the hearts rising from Seri’s body. ‘There’ll be lights, the view of the park lit up a night, hot food to eat and fun performances! All things we can enjoy together!’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxKYwzfQlA
Shouko sat up, her arm dangling over her raised knee. ‘Wow, sounds like you really wanna do this thing. All right, then. No sweat! Let’s go together. How about we meet at the park at 6?’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I1GvTOJK9
Seri crossed her arms and pouted. ‘Promise?’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpj8hdipw0
Shouko grinned and kissed her on the cheek.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7jaHdjV1N
‘Promise.’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndKPPFVoIH
At 5 PM at the TV studio, Shouko wiped the sweat off her forehead. ‘Phew! Finally! All done.’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzn0ahKWuO
She was heading to the exit when she heard a nasal shout. ‘Akashi-san! Where do you think you’re going?’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMdeQslefB
Shouko gingerly turned her head. ‘Uh...’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wQnDARnDa
The voice belonged to a tall, skinny middle-aged woman with a tight bun and jumbo glasses. ‘Trying to sneak off again? How lazy!’ She yelled, pointing her clipboard at Shouko.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7FkQeJkNU
Shouko rubbed the back of her neck. ‘Well, my shift is over.’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2AfxoXvSp
‘Like hell it is! You still have that Noh mask to locate for tomorrow’s show!’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqDUM5OtnR
‘Oh, come on!’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsULU0VmZtU
‘You better find that Noh mask before 5 AM tomorrow, and all the shops close at 6 tonight! You did track, didn’t you? Run!’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6VLVBM2yc
Shouko bowed her head. ‘Yes, ma’am.’ She pulled out her phone and began her search for costume stores. ‘Yes? Hello? I know it’s last-minute, but do- Yes, I know business hours end soon. I’m with a TV station and our costume department badly needs a Noh mask. Yes! A Noh Mask! You know, those- Seriously? Not even one?’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV44NSHAZl
Eventually, Shouko decided that making phone calls was a waste of time. She sprinted to every store she could find, muttering curse words to a boss who wouldn’t head them. She would have enjoyed the feeling of cold air racing through her suit and the memories of the high school track team they brought with them, but she was too distracted by the task and the stress it brought with it.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBm9Vy92ie
Every store was either already closed or sold old out of their Noh masks. 5 PM became 5:20, then 5:32, 5:58 and finally 6:15, with no Noh masks in sight.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0KSbJtUo2
Shouko dropped to the ground, her hands scraping against the concrete. She did everything she could not to cry in public, but passersby in the busy street glared at her for getting in their way.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTEDkFWCdj
‘It’s over. It’s all over.’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYxONluQSI
She considered lying down in a ball on the concrete when she heard a beep in her pocket that woke her out of her funk. She took it out and saw the time and battery at 2 per cent, screaming internally but answering the call.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2FJCkBmfG
‘Seri? Seri? Listen, I-’ The phone was quiet. ‘Oh, she hung up.’ Seri didn’t hang up. Shouko’s phone screen was completely black.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD98qOIM0ib
Meanwhile, at the festival, Seri could barely enjoy the bright lily-shaped lights floating on the pond in front of her. Shouko’s sudden hanging-up set a flame behind Seri’s eyes, but she tried to reason with herself. Maybe Shouko’s phone reception went kaput.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEdP2YeGo4
She wondered if Shouko was already there but couldn’t find her. She walked up to an old couple with their arms linked together.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkZ6Bitjoq
‘Um, excuse me, sir?’ she asked the man. ‘Have you seen a woman around my age with bright blonde hair?’ The man shook his head. Seri bowed. ‘Sorry to disturb you. Good evening.’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48H2lyGZDY
When Shouko reached the park, she ran past the trees with fairy lights as fast as she could with all the people around. She had to push through some people and felt a twinge of guilt, but Seri’s smile was her main priority.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmW98kQLrmx
She caught a glimpse of purplish-brown hair and rushed to the girl. ‘Seri?’ No response. ‘Seri!’ She tapped her on the shoulder.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyty9GfjJx
The girl jumped in shock and turned her head. It was an elderly woman with dyed hair. Shouko bowed. ‘Sorry, wrong person.’ She heard a familiar voice and followed it.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdSt0VAfc2
Seri shivered at the cold wind that whirled red leaves around her. Her hands were shaking, but not from the cold. Her shoulders drooped under the weight of her struggle not to cry. She began her walk out of the park.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c9TqnvMdf
‘You said you were looking for someone? Young woman? Blonde? Gorgeous?’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlMihN3LvQ
The weight on Seri’s shoulders disappeared like magic. She beamed and turned her head. Shouko was huffing and puffing like she had just finished one of her races. ‘Yo,’ She said with a breathy voice and a big, goofy grin.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9JrEcJGOs
Seri leapt into a bear hug. ‘You came!’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQusAJckVe
As she replied, Shouko petted the other girl’s hair. ‘Of course! You’d think I’d miss the chance to see you, babe?’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwSaSM76DZ
‘But you were-’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4ozZorP36
Shouko began her long explanation about what happened. Seri’s eyes were wide. ‘Huh? Noh mask?’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThziPFaZyG
She covered her mouth and looked down, her shoulders shaking. A jolt of fear dashed through Shouko’s body.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzPeF0oqXP
‘It doesn’t matter, Seri,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t find it anyway, so...’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e4QItGdDc
She shut up when she heard the delectable sound of melodic laughter. She went through a range of emotions, starting with attraction, then confusion and finally annoyance.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXyuxojsGy
She narrowed her eyes at Seri. ‘Am I a joke to you?’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEc2uV5VWq
Seri turned until she and Shouko were facing the same direction before grabbing her arm and resting her head on her shoulder.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WINnA8LPT
‘I’m just so happy to be here with you.’
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrxo84rxmo
The two strolled through the bright lights in vivid colours and various shapes. The air was cool but their bodies were warm. Despite the cacophony of chatter, laughter and sizzling food surrounding them, they could still hear each other’s slow, calm breaths.
742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqeYNkoUIZ
At one point, Shouko found a stall that sold a range of Noh masks.742Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklp3bNc9xA
