I'm back - this time round with a much longer chapter. I tried my best! It is rather undramatic, as per usual, although I did add a couple of 'explosions' for LoyalFlutist.
If you're the kind of person who likes a photo accompanying a story,
here's the picture I was staring at the entire time while writing this chapter.
Crossroads - Chapter 4
Yuko smiled at her own reflection in the full-length mirror. She was definitely feeling happier these days. Over the course of the past two months, she had been spending more and more time with Jurina. They had been meeting practically every weekend, and Yuko found it curious how she derived so much joy from doing simple things such as having meals, watching movies, and going shopping together with the other girl.
Even Seiji had noticed the increased cheerfulness in her voice. There were occasions when she missed their usual Sunday morning phone conversations due to prior arrangements with Jurina, but Seiji did not appear to be the least bit bothered. On the contrary, he encouraged Yuko to make more friends to ease the monotony and loneliness that came hand-in-hand with working life. Yuko was pleased to see that this newfound friendship had brought nothing but positive impact into her life.
Holding in her stomach, she made a final adjustment to her obi sash. During one of their outings a couple of weeks ago, she and Jurina had impulsively decided to purchase new summer kimonos to wear to the annual Tamagawa Fireworks Festival. The previous year, Yuko had attended the fireworks display with Mayu and Yuki, and by the end of it all, was feeling very much like a third wheel. She had sworn never again to subject herself to such torture.
Yuko took a quick glance at her cell phone on the dresser and realised that she needed to leave soon if she was to punctually arrive at Futakotamagawa station. After checking her hair in the mirror one last time, she gathered her things and left the apartment, humming in high spirits.
The song of the cicadas had recently decreased considerably in volume, indicating that summer would soon be coming to an end. Swinging her kinchaku drawstring bag with outstretched arms, Yuko carefully tiptoed through the sea of cicada shells. She tried her best not to step on too many of the discarded husks.
For some reason or other, cicadas always reminded Yuko of her mother. Perhaps this was because she remembered that as a child, she often went cycling with her mother during the summertime. She recalled being extremely frightened the first time she saw a blanket of cicada shells covering the ground. Her mother had then explained that these were not actually the bugs themselves, but simply unwanted clothing shed by the insects. Shortly after, Yuko stopped being afraid of cicadas.
I should contact mum one of these days. It’s been a while since I last met up with her. When Yuko arrived at the destination, it did not take her long to spot Jurina’s blue and lavender striped yukata amidst the crowd. She had originally taken a fancy to that design, but as soon as she had lifted the article of clothing off the store rack, Jurina had come bounding along squealing in delight, profusely thanking the older girl for having discovered the yukata of her dreams. In the end, Yuko wound up purchasing her second favourite piece – one that was patterned with brightly coloured splotches. She did not mind giving in to the other girl’s childish whims every once in a while. To her, Jurina was like the younger sister she never had.
Jurina was engaged in chitchat with an elderly man who owned the candyfloss cart, and was so preoccupied that she did not notice Yuko had snuck up right beside her.
“Boo!” cried Yuko, smacking Jurina’s arm.
“Oh my goodness, you gave me a fright!” Jurina placed her hand on her chest, startled. “I was just asking this gentleman here if mixing blue and red crystals results in purple candyfloss. He said he’s never tried.”
“It should. If you mix strawberries and blueberries in a blender, I think you’ll get a purplish smoothie. Just like this colour on your yukata,” said Yuko, pointing at Jurina’s sleeve. “You look really cute today, by the way.”
“Why, thank you! Yuko’s cute too.”
Yuko guffawed in order to disguise the contentment of being praised. “C’mon, let’s get out of this man’s way. We’re obstructing traffic.” Nodding apologetically to the candyfloss vendor, she gently nudged Jurina’s lower back.
After ushering Jurina to a less crowded spot, Yuko spun around to face the younger girl. “I’ve been meaning to say, you cut your fringe!” She pointed excitedly at Jurina’s forehead.
“Oh, oh! Yes! I wanted to tell you the story behind it. Guess what.”
“What?”
“Skymark issues a calendar annually and I was chosen to be a model for next year’s desk calendar!” Jurina declared, looking rather pleased with herself.
“Wow!” Yuko exclaimed as she grabbed both of Jurina’s hands. She then started swinging them about. “That’s wonderful!”
“I was really shocked because it seems like I was the only trainee selected. The other eleven girls are all seniors…” Jurina cast her eyes on the ground, and Yuko couldn’t help but notice a troubled look on the girl’s face.
Giving Jurina’s arms a firm jolt, Yuko chided, “You really need to have more confidence in yourself! I think it’s great that you’re being given this much recognition despite having joined the organisation only a few months ago. You must be doing something right for them to take notice.”
Breaking into a wide, Cheshire-cat grin, Jurina averted her eyes from Yuko’s sharp gaze. “You really have a way with words. Anyway, back to the bangs. I thought that this hairstyle would make me look fresher and maybe a little more feminine. What do you think?”
“Juritan looks good with any hairstyle!”
“Okay, you can stop the sweet-talking now.” Jurina feigned annoyance and pouted, even though she was secretly chuffed.
“I like it, but I also like your previous bob cut with the longer fringe. Maybe you should try growing your hair out long next. That’ll be even more ladylike. Ah, now I feel like changing up my hairstyle, too!” Yuko whined, placing her hands on her head.
“Let me know if you ever want someone to accompany you to the salon,” Jurina volunteered, directing her thumb at herself.
Yuko nodded with a toothy smile and casually took hold of the taller girl’s hand. “Let’s go check out the stalls! Don’t let go otherwise you’ll get lost in the crowd. I’d prefer to not have to request a lost child announcement,” she teased.
Jurina furrowed her eyebrows and grunted in exasperation. Yuko had suggested that they try their luck at goldfish scooping as it was apparently something she had not done since her middle school days. As of that moment, the younger girl was not buying this tale. For when the older girl received her first paper scooper from the stall vendor, she had instantaneously succeeded in scoring herself a fat, orange goldfish. (She had also jumped to her feet and broken into some sort of embarrassing victory dance.) Jurina was not convinced that such a specific talent, namely scooping goldfish, could come as second nature to a person.
Throwing down her second torn scooper, Jurina wailed, “This is impossible! I don’t want to waste any more money on this!”
“No, no! Just one more time! Here, I’ll pay for one more poi.” Yuko purchased another plastic scoop from the stall owner and placed it securely in Jurina’s right palm. This activity was making her feel young all over again and also very tickled at the same time. She had never seen anyone get this fired up over goldfish before.
She’s so competitive it’s funny. Jurina’s face contorted into one of serious concentration. “I will get you!” she yelled at the pool of fish. “If Yuko can do it, so can I!”
“That’s the spirit! There is great power in positive thinking. It’s like how I look in the mirror every day, and tell myself I appear as youthful as I did ten years ago,” said Yuko, flashing a peace sign with two fingers.
“I’m trying to focus here!” Jurina complained, trying her hardest to keep a straight face. Taking a deep breath, she lowered the poi into the water and in one swift manoeuvre, captured a small, black goldfish. Just as the thin paper net was about to tear, she managed to promptly place the tiny creature in the metal bowl containing the fish Yuko had caught earlier on.
“You did it!” congratulated Yuko, giving her companion a pat on the back. “I guess third time’s the charm.”
Yuko appeared to be thoroughly pleased with their little achievement of the day, and was grinning from ear to ear. Dangling the plastic bag with the two fish in front of Jurina’s face, she suggested, “We should give them names.” Without giving it much thought, she continued, “I’ll call mine Lucy!”
“Huh? These goldfish are foreigners?” Jurina squinted, perplexed.
“Japanese names are boring! English names make them sound more exotic, don’t you think?”
“Okay, hmm…” Jurina contemplated, rubbing her chin. “Mine will be called Caroline, then! Some girls at work said I resemble the manga character from ‘Paradise Kiss’ after getting my bangs trimmed.”
“Lucy and Caroline – our goldfish from Amerrrica!” Yuko mimicked a weird, foreign-sounding accent and flung her arms outward expressively.
“Don’t be so violent! You’ll break the bag!”
Realising what she had done, Yuko remorsefully stroked the plastic bag and stared lovingly at their new pets. “I’m sorry! Juri-mama and Yuko-mama will go to the pet store tomorrow and buy you two a pretty fishbowl.”
The sky was painted crimson and gold as the sun gradually descended towards the horizon. Both girls were still leisurely browsing the numerous festival stalls, completely engrossed and oblivious to time. Suddenly, they heard the rhythmic beating of taiko drums commence in the distance.
“Oh no, we’d better get going or we’ll miss the fireworks display!” Yuko panicked. Flustered, she jokingly accused Jurina of having taken too much time deciding on what she had wanted to eat.
“I haven’t been to such a large-scale matsuri before! I couldn’t make up my mind…” sulked the younger girl, pursing her lips together.
“The usual viewing grounds are always packed. I don’t want to jostle with the crowds.” Yuko mulled over her options for a bit then snapped her fingers triumphantly. “Oh, I know a more secluded spot on the opposite bank of the Tama River! Let’s head there!”
Exhilarated, she proceeded to briskly make her way without delay, and Jurina was forced to scurry along after her in order to keep up.
By the time they reached the other side of the river, initial fireworks had already begun to sprout up into the clear night sky.
“We made it!” Yuko rejoiced, panting mildly. She crouched down and rested her hands on her knees.
Placing both hands on her hips, Jurina wheezed, “I don’t think wooden geta clogs were designed for jogging. My feet really hurt!” She peered around in search of a spot. “You were right. There are far fewer people over on this side. That looks like a good place to sit down,” she proposed, pointing at a dry patch of grass close to the river.
Gradually, the frequency of explosions increased, and the girls sat motionless, entranced by the brilliant and dazzling illumination. Yuko was particularly thankful for the favourable weather and the cool night breeze that was starting to stir the muggy stillness of the summer air. She glanced to her left and quietly observed Jurina’s newly cut fringe wavering along with the wind. There was a melancholy aura emanating from her friend’s gaze, and Yuko had a lingering suspicion that Jurina was hiding something behind that sunny disposition.
Maybe I’m just imagining things… Sensing someone’s eyes on her, Jurina turned her head to face the older girl. “Whatcha looking at?”
“Nothing,” Yuko giggled. She quickly looked away, embarrassed at having been caught in the act.
Jurina continued staring at Yuko, who was once again, absorbed in the breathtaking spectacle of light. Over time, she had developed immense respect for her newfound best friend, and often wondered how the petite girl managed to constantly maintain such cheer. Never once had she heard Yuko complain about work problems nor the loneliness she must have been enduring with her boyfriend being so very far away. It made Jurina feel immature and weak in comparison. Just as she was about to engage in more self-deprecation, Yuko let out a small, but audible sigh.
“There are couples all around us. It makes me feel somewhat lonely,” Yuko admitted, as if having read Jurina’s thoughts.
“How can you be lonely when I’m right here with you?” asked Jurina with a doleful expression. She entwined her fingers with Yuko’s posthaste and gave a gentle tug. “I’m your date tonight! At least you’re not watching fireworks alone.” Jurina looked up at and was greeted with a wholehearted smile, complete with deeply etched dimples.
All of a sudden, the pitch-black expanse erupted into a flurry of rainbow shimmers. Upon seeing the flickering reflection of massive fireworks in Jurina’s eyes, Yuko cried in excitement, “It’s the finalé!”
“How beautiful! It’s like the sky’s filled with huge blossoms,” said Jurina, her mouth agape in awestruck wonder. She slowly nestled her head on Yuko’s left shoulder.
The two girls watched the rest of the show unaware that their hands remained clasped.
Everything was over and most of the spectators around them had dispersed. Yuko rose to her feet and brushed off some blades of grass that clung to her attire.
“Guess it’s time to head home. Oh boy, I can only imagine how packed the trains must be right now.”
As she turned around to take a step forward, the older girl felt a firm tug on her left sleeve. Looking back down, she realised that Jurina was still rooted to the ground with an outstretched arm gripping on tightly to her clothing.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t wanna go home,” Jurina mumbled, her fingers toying with the grass.
“Why?”
The younger girl remained close-lipped and reticent. Sensing that things were not quite right, Yuko plonked herself back down next to her friend. “I’m not a mind reader so just tell me what’s bothering you,” she pleaded, placing her hand on Jurina’s shoulder.
After a long pause and one heavy sigh, the troubled girl finally gave in. “My housemates are ignoring me. Actually, it’s been a while now – ever since I was asked to model for that stupid calendar.”
“That’s awful!”
“When the announcement was made, the whole room went silent. It was awkward. Some seniors have been giving me weird looks as well. I even overheard a few of them saying, ‘Who does she think she is?’” Jurina seemed to be on the verge of tears and it was apparent that she was trying her best to preserve composure.
Yuko was at a loss for words. She had never been subjected to such petty bullying before, and was thus unable to offer her companion appropriate words of comfort. Linking arms with Jurina, she got up and heaved forcefully. Dragging the confused girl alongside her, Yuko declared, “That’s it. You’re coming home with me tonight.”
Jurina sat in the warm, lavender-infused bath Yuko had drawn for her, arms wrapped around her knees and lost in her thoughts. She deeply inhaled the calming scent and felt her nerves relax a little.
Things can only go up from here. I need to be optimistic like Yuko. She clenched her fists underwater and gave a single, decided nod.
Meanwhile, Yuko sat distractedly at her desk, drying her hair with a towel.
Surely there must be something I can do… Just then, an idea struck her. She pulled open a drawer and fumbled around.
Aha! Found it. Yuko began to unhitch a small, ceramic charm from the metal ring. She remembered picking out the trinket with Takamina and Kojiharu when the three of them had visited the hot spring town of Beppu a few years back. Seiji had liked the souvenir, but obviously not enough to bring it along to Canada. Yuko let out a mild humph, then looked guiltily at the framed picture of Seiji and herself that was sitting on her desk.
I’m sorry, Seiji. Just trying to help a friend out here. She carefully returned the tiny ornament to the drawer.
“I think I look funny in men’s pyjamas.”
Yuko glanced over her shoulder and saw Jurina in the midst of rolling up sleeves that were too long for her. She had lent the girl Seiji’s old sleepwear.
“If you were smaller, you’d be able to fit my clothes. Not my fault,” Yuko taunted, sticking out her tongue.
With an exaggerated frown, Jurina retorted, “I’m not all that big! You’re the malnourished midget!”
The long-haired girl cracked up into boisterous laughter and soon enough, the two girls were tied up in a childish battle of name-calling. When the novelty of the game had worn off, Yuko got up from her chair and reached for Jurina’s wrist. Onto the girl’s open palm, she placed two keys held together by a metal ring.
“Here are the keys to my place. Feel free to come here whenever. The gold one’s for the main gate downstairs and the silver one’s for this apartment,” she stated matter-of-factly.
Jurina was dumbstruck and stared motionlessly at the brass objects in her hand. Finally, she asked with uncertainty, “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes. The situation at your dorm sounds horrible.”
“I won’t be imposing?”
“It’s no trouble. Seiji was living here for a bit. In fact, those keys are his. But since he isn’t even here right now, I don’t see any issues.” Yuko could tell that the younger girl was still hesitant. “Look, I have a huge double bed here and plenty of room to spare. I’d be more than happy to have some extra company, especially if you cook for me.”
“You’ve got yourself a deal! I’d love to cook for someone other than myself. It’s one of the few things I’m actually good at,” Jurina expressed with pride. She retrieved her bag from a corner of the room, and securely pulled the drawstring after laying the keys inside.
“I’m sure you’re good at a lot of other things. You just haven’t discovered them yet,” the older girl encouraged while sitting herself down on the bed.
Looking Yuko straight in the eyes, Jurina flashed a heartfelt, grateful smile. “Thank you,” she shyly said.
The bedroom was enveloped in darkness due to the drawn curtains. Jurina lay on her side with her back facing Yuko. She was having trouble getting accustomed to an unfamiliar bed and its foreign fragrance.
“Are you asleep yet?” she pondered aloud.
“Yes,” said a sleepy voice.
Jurina chuckled. “My training will be over soon. Starting next month, we get to actually be on the flights for some hands-on experience. Then in November, the real work begins.”
“Are you looking forward to it?”
“Yes and no. On one hand, there’ll be the stress of having to face real travellers. On the other hand, I won’t have to spend as much time with my housemates and their gang.”
“Let me know if they try to make life even more difficult for you. I’ll charge to your dorm and beat them up.”
Jurina laughed. “I guess with Yuko around, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” She closed her eyes, grinning in content.
Silence filled the room once again as the girls tried their best to sleep after a long day of excitement. Yuko realised that it had been over a year since she last had someone lying this close beside her. She had missed the sense of comfort brought about by warmth of a person within close proximity.
“Jurina,” Yuko spoke to the ceiling. “It’s okay to cry, you know. There’s no need to act strong all the time.”
There was a brief pause before she received a response.
“Ever since the last time, I’ve decided not to cry anymore. I want to become a strong person like Yuko.”
Yuko could hear conviction in the younger girl’s voice, but that did not lessen her concern. Rolling over onto her side, she laid a hand softly on her friend’s back. “You’re doing great. I think you’re strong enough as it is,” assured the older girl.
“No, it’s not enough…” Jurina replied obstinately.
Not knowing what else to say, Yuko tenderly hugged the girl from behind. They slowly drifted off into peaceful slumber.
Author's Note:I was inspired to write about cicadas when I saw Yuko fearlessly pick one up right at the beginning of
YouTube video. Please feel free to ask questions. I usually draw inspiration from something or other, and will be more than happy to share my sources.
Kindly pardon the strange English that appeared in the fireworks scene. That was me having fun using a whole lot of flowery language I don't usually get to use. (Was laughing quite hard at the sparkly rainbows bit.)
Topic: Crossroads (JuriYuu) - Cancelled (2014.02.19) (Read 24655 times)