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.523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i0Lk0Rf2H
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMw3D8twpJ
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN5QRhxlaZ
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmnjPwysIn
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxl3WgifcJ
Seri stood up, almost jumping. ‘You’re home! I brought some nikuman so we can have that with our-’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnZewRZtaC
Instead of answering, Shouko smiled weakly and flopped onto the futon.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFTmznjCVy
‘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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAGINCApQn
As she left the apartment to head home, Seri’s smile dropped.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyEAenpEqZ
And so the pattern began.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXzyipDpsC
‘Shouko, I discovered this new flavour of ice cream! I thought we could have it for des-’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLQ9lQ2ukV
Snore.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVoQT3PsKH
‘Sakurako-senpai helped me make these chocolates-’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOglm3iRLlg
Snore.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpimCn1LcFb
‘I thought I’d cheer you up with a nice hot meal-’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HUygjTRGv
Snore.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3wgddFLs5
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKLjE749fT
After dinner, Seri settled next to Shouko, reading the magazine. She was desperate enough for mental stimulation that she even began reading the advertisements.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZdts5dn1d
Finally, she heard the snoring stop. She turned her head and saw Shouko jerk upwards.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIPqok7sWe
‘Huh? What I miss?’ Shouko’s voice was a little rough and gravelly, but Seri loved it.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqTFLXzZqO
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaDcqQsrCG
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.’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmtXEkXCiW
‘That sounds like a nice dream to me,’ Seri muttered, her eyes downcast. ‘We need some time to ourselves, you know.’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyH0uDXH4Ni
Shouko turned her body and rested her head on her hand, her elbow digging into the futon. She nodded.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Opq3uj9gj
‘I’m open to suggestions.’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96vMHeVjdS
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLF7d7GuSH
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGULMSyrakK
‘Tomorrow?’ Shouko asked.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqV0aiwuqO
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!’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyO4bkkrUGi
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?’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqIpKe90IH
Seri crossed her arms and pouted. ‘Promise?’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG21XEziiz
Shouko grinned and kissed her on the cheek.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAAHsG8LCp
‘Promise.’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcO2ir92UM
At 5 PM at the TV studio, Shouko wiped the sweat off her forehead. ‘Phew! Finally! All done.’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTAhCrvn2V
She was heading to the exit when she heard a nasal shout. ‘Akashi-san! Where do you think you’re going?’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRt1VYPSqoi
Shouko gingerly turned her head. ‘Uh...’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnL89NNE5G
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyJ8CzpPJY
Shouko rubbed the back of her neck. ‘Well, my shift is over.’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLDfl1lSd9
‘Like hell it is! You still have that Noh mask to locate for tomorrow’s show!’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyLimNEbjA
‘Oh, come on!’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaI506JNQaA
‘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!’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZlfwHLSvg
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?’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMeTb3Zgoi
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ38BOvJA1G
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRYXHYKqgZ
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYURQT50iDm
‘It’s over. It’s all over.’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSml14G4Qee
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3W9K0NGxB
‘Seri? Seri? Listen, I-’ The phone was quiet. ‘Oh, she hung up.’ Seri didn’t hang up. Shouko’s phone screen was completely black.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrHYI332Ml
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGoJoGyomz
She wondered if Shouko was already there but couldn’t find her. She walked up to an old couple with their arms linked together.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvlSa6Bw2y
‘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.’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyVLJ8avvn
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaDhOP7ugy
She caught a glimpse of purplish-brown hair and rushed to the girl. ‘Seri?’ No response. ‘Seri!’ She tapped her on the shoulder.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2YphHydjx
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwQZSynvEy
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOJp2Z7m94
‘You said you were looking for someone? Young woman? Blonde? Gorgeous?’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMkGzI0Eiu
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IaKato6pp
Seri leapt into a bear hug. ‘You came!’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZqN6rBpH9
As she replied, Shouko petted the other girl’s hair. ‘Of course! You’d think I’d miss the chance to see you, babe?’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsuTZwhIsd
‘But you were-’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyia5CLq7Ok
Shouko began her long explanation about what happened. Seri’s eyes were wide. ‘Huh? Noh mask?’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7N8TShOtF
She covered her mouth and looked down, her shoulders shaking. A jolt of fear dashed through Shouko’s body.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rpaKBtH2W
‘It doesn’t matter, Seri,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t find it anyway, so...’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaz06h3KzDX
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JmCMFSssI
She narrowed her eyes at Seri. ‘Am I a joke to you?’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPtwPH5eK2
Seri turned until she and Shouko were facing the same direction before grabbing her arm and resting her head on her shoulder.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum7PfL53pw
‘I’m just so happy to be here with you.’
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QxYLp7TcD
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.
523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHynNyqSVak
At one point, Shouko found a stall that sold a range of Noh masks.523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qLNi0lEMh
