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(https://i.ibb.co/8BwVxWQ/POSTER-HD-chapitrage-petit.png)
WMatsui fanfic (with FuruYanagi as a side pairing)
Characters: Jurina Matsui, Rena Matsui, Akane Takayanagi, Airi Furukawa
Genre: science-fiction, romance, drama, angst
Length: ≃ 20/25 chapters
Big thanks to BT for the poster!
Story: 2050. Rena Matsui, a 26-year-old charismatic young woman, is at the head of one of the most successful companies in Japan. One of her wildest dreams is to build a time machine to go back in time, a technical exploit never achieved by anyone before. To fulfill her wish she gathers a team composed of the best scientists in the country, including her best friend Akane Takayanagi. When the project reaches an impasse, she recruits a 24-year-old girl praised for her talents, the charming and magnetic Jurina...
https://youtu.be/pGrgW6pinjw (https://youtu.be/pGrgW6pinjw)
The video contains heavy spoilers for chapter 13 & onwards, so beware if you haven't reached that stage in the story yet!
LIST OF CHAPTERS
PROLOGUE (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1383723#msg1383723) - CHAPTER 1 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1384781#msg1384781) - CHAPTER 2 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1386442#msg1386442) - CHAPTER 3 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1387315#msg1387315) - CHAPTER 4 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1387900#msg1387900) - CHAPTER 5 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1390078#msg1390078) - CHAPTER 6 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1390418#msg1390418) - CHAPTER 7 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1392189#msg1392189) - CHAPTER 8 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1393065#msg1393065) - CHAPTER 9 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1393945#msg1393945) - CHAPTER 10 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1395245#msg1395245) - CHAPTER 11 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1430202#msg1430202) - CHAPTER 12 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1432724#msg1432724) - CHAPTER 13 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1433067#msg1433067) - CHAPTER 14 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1433528#msg1433528) - CHAPTER 15 (http://forum.jphip.com/index.php?topic=41038.msg1433920#msg1433920)
If you enjoy my stories, don't hesitate to drop a comment. Writing fics is something I do on my free time, and it requires a lot of work & investment to write a chapter and publish regular updates. That's why positive feedback/comments are welcomed and give me motivation to keep on!
(https://i.ibb.co/mTjK4Tt/POSTER-HD-chap00-petit.png)
BACK IN TIMEby Sophcaro
PROLOGUE
It was precisely 9:35 a.m. when drops of water started falling heavily in the streets of Tokyo. The darkened sky had taken everyone by surprise, except for a certain woman with long, black hair who paused in her steps and glanced up to the sky. While everyone around her was speeding up and trying to take shelter from the rain, she calmly took out her small umbrella from her handbag and opened it, placing it over her head.
It is true to say the weather forecast had not announced rain, but Rena Matsui was a sagacious person. It didn't matter all the progress science had accomplished in 2050: meteorology was an unpredictable parameter. After all these years, Nature was an element mankind was unable to fully comprehend, even less bend to its will. That was why Rena had learned never to trust the weather forecast; she always went to work with a mini collapsible umbrella inside her handbag.
Rena resumed her walk, ignoring the sound of the drops of water hitting loudly against her umbrella to fall deep into her thoughts. She had been working on an important project for more than four months, without managing to make much progress. Her young age was not in cause. Despite the fact she was only 26, she was one of the most brilliant minds of her generation. Moreover, she was surrounded by renown scientists and experts in their field of work.
Rena was aware that she was attempting to accomplish the unthinkable. If she succeeded, it would be an extraordinary breakthrough. However, she wasn't solely doing it for the sake of science. She also wanted to fulfill one of her wildest dreams: to go back in time. It was a dream that formed inside her young mind when she was an innocent child, and never left her as she became a grown-up woman.
Society was more than ever turned towards the future. The country was getting robotized at an increasing speed. When it came to robotics, Japan had always been at the cutting edge of technology, and Rena could see how much society was changing. Nevermind how much she believed society was losing its humanity in favor of excessive technology, she had one certitude: old civilizations had not reveled all their secrets.
The knowledge she would acquire if she managed to build her time machine would be immeasurable and priceless.
The rain was slightly decreasing when Rena stopped a few minutes later in front of a 25-floor building. It was one of the five buildings that belonged to her company, and that she had acquired at the sudden death of her millionaire father, Akihide Matsui. Her eyes fell onto the golden plate, Matsui Corporation, and she turned towards the male guard posted in front of the majestic door.
“Welcome, Matsui-san.” He bowed, opening the door to let her in. "The weather is really unfortunate today.”
Rena gave him a thankful nod and, when she found herself in the safety of the hallway, closed her umbrella. “Thank you, Nakamura-san. Weather has always been unpredictable, and I don't believe it will ever change.”
It was very brief, yet Rena didn't miss the surprise flashing into his eyes when she said his name. He had been hired only a week ago, and was manifestly not expecting his employer to remember his name. “Have a nice day, Matsui-san.” A pleased smile moved to his lips, closing the door behind her.
Rena took a few steps inside the hallway and left her soaked umbrella at the reception, before moving towards one of the four elevators. A few seconds later, the doors opened and she entered, pressing the number 22, only to see a girl rushing into the elevator as the doors were about to close. Her eyes widened in surprise at the irruption, and she scanned the stranger from head to toe. If one thing was certain, she had not seen the rain coming: she was completely soaked.
“T-Thank you.” The girl with black, shoulder-length hair said with a grateful smile, slowly catching her breath.
Rena, disturbed by the view, mustered her best polite smile. The other girl was fixing her disheveled hair as best as she could, and Rena couldn't help thinking how useless it was. Rena had no idea who this person was, which was strange considering she remembered all her employees' faces, and she had to refrain herself from saying it wasn't just her hair that needed fixing right now.
Her whole appearance was a total mess.
As if the stranger could feel her eyes on her, she tilted her head in her direction. “I look awful, don't I?” She gave her a small embarrassed look. “I'm going to a job interview. Something is telling me I'm not going to make a good first impression on my new employer.”
Rena shook her head at her, trying to sound reassuring. “The rain took you by surprise. I'm sure he'll be lenient.”
“You think?” The stranger arched an eyebrow. Rena could tell by her amused expression that she didn’t manage to make herself as convincing as she intended.
Rena had always been good at keeping her emotions in check, but maybe the view was too shocking for her to remain imperturbable. Apparently, her perfect mask of composure had slipped, and her true feelings managed to come across. The girl was applying for a job? Surely, she had to be pretty confident in her skills to have the nerves to present herself in front of the recruiter in such a state.
Rena looked away, troubled that this stranger had seen right through her. She took a peek at the number flashing on the wall: soon, she would arrive at her floor. In a few seconds, she would have all forgotten about her short encounter with the talkative, yet pretty girl. Even if Rena believed her job interview had little chance of succeeding – which reasonable employer would hire someone who looked like a mess? – she couldn't help thinking that she looked attractive with her charming smile and cute dimples.
Little by little, silence enveloped them, and Rena came to the realization that the other girl had not pressed any button. Could she have possibly forgotten about it in her haste? Rena turned towards her, startled. “Forgive me, but what floor are you going to?”
The other girl, who was adjusting her clothes, looked up at once, and gave her a small confused look. “Floor 22.”
Rena froze. Wait. What? She was going to the same floor? That was impossible. The staff working on her time machine project was located on floor 22. She had to be mistaken and have the wrong floor number. Rena didn't have time to question her. The elevator doors opened on floor 22, the stranger not waiting to make her way outside.
Rena stepped out of the elevator, her eyes glued on the stranger’s back as she was walking towards the white door at the end of the corridor. She was at the wrong floor, and she needed to warn her.
“Excuse me...” Rena started, but didn’t have time to finish her sentence.
The white automatic door opened on the other side, revealing her most trusted colleague and best friend Akane. When their gazes met, the latter gave her a warm smile, before diverting her attention to the drenched girl who had rang at the door. If Akane was disturbed by her appearance, she was careful not to let it show. Instead, she gave her a welcoming look. “You must be Jurina Matsui?”
“Yes.” The girl, whom Rena discovered in surprise shared the same surname as her, replied with assurance. So, it wasn't a mistake after all? She was at the right floor?
“Please come in,” Akane said, stepping aside. “It's the room at the end of the corridor, on your left.”
Rena watched the other girl walking away, dumbfounded. As soon as she was out of sight, she approached her best friend. “Who is she, Akane?”
“Who?” Akane frowned, and glanced back at her in confusion. “Don't you remember you were supposed to meet candidates for the new position? She's likely going to be your new assistant. Airi told me she has the best résumé amongst all the candidates.”
“W–What?” Rena stammered. The drenched girl she met in the elevator was supposed to be the genius she had been looking for all this time? The person who was going to help her build her time machine? There had to be a misunderstanding; Rena was positively sure about that. So why on earth was Akane looking at her with such a serious expression?
TO BE CONTINUED
Version edited on August 12, 2019
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So why on earth was her friend Akane looking at her with such a serious expression?
Maybe your close friends are right? Rena, trust in them more.
Don't mind waiting. Update Destiny soon~
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This is great! :twothumbs
I'll be looking forward to the subsequent chapter!
Rena! Why must you judge based on looks! If someone applied to a company like that, they must be pretty GOOD! :lol:
Well happy writing to you!
With regards,
Soysaucee
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Ooooh~ very interesting plot! ^_^
So... are Jurina and Rena gonna go back in time?! >w<
I can't wait to see~
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Oh noo.... I love the setting.... :drool: :wub:Continue XD :twothumbs
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Another story to add in my reading list....
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haha.. rena.. jurina is the genius.. :P Got you 8)
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INTERESTING!!!!!!
The vibe is clearly different from Destiny xD
Looking forward to the next chapter~
:twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs
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I was actually surprised to see you finally posted Back in Time; I thought you would wait until you've finished Destiny (and Warriors). But then I read this new fic and now I know why you couldn't hold it any longer. THE IDEA IS GOOD! I'm so looking forward to the development of the plot and characters. Just looking at the title, I know there are many possibilities about this AU fic. And talking about time machine; really? Will they go back in time? I'm so excited to read the first chapter!
:whistle:
Ps. I know Destiny will still be your priority, but please don't forget to update Warriors. I miss the kenjutsu instructor and her protegee.
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REPLIES TO COMMENTS
Maybe your close friends are right? Rena, trust in them more.
Rena! Why must you judge based on looks! If someone applied to a company like that, they must be pretty GOOD! :lol:
Well, when you face a soaked Jurina, it's hard to guess there's a 'genius' hidden underneath such a horrible state :nervous
So... are Jurina and Rena gonna go back in time?! >w<
I can't wait to see~
The time machine is going to be put to good use, that's for sure!
Oh noo.... I love the setting.... :drool: :wub:Continue XD :twothumbs
I'm glad you like it! I'll try to update soon ;)
Another story to add in my reading list....
Glad to know you enjoyed this short prologue :)
haha.. rena.. jurina is the genius.. :P Got you 8)
Jurina is going to be a great addition to Rena's team, that's for sure!
The vibe is clearly different from Destiny xD
I'll be honest: this prologue sets some basis, but it doesn't really reflect the atmosphere of the story. The plot will only be revealed after a few chapters :thumbup
I was actually surprised to see you finally posted Back in Time; I thought you would wait until you've finished Destiny (and Warriors).
At first, I wanted to finish Destiny before starting this story, but I changed my plans a little.
Ps. I know Destiny will still be your priority, but please don't forget to update Warriors. I miss the kenjutsu instructor and her protegee.
Trust me, I never forget about Warriors! Those characters are always on my mind. Once Destiny will be over, you'll be reunited with your beloved kenjutsu instructor :cathappy:
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(https://i.ibb.co/N1VTqyZ/POSTER-HD-chap1petit.png)
CHAPTER 1
Rena discovered Akane was right about the new candidate. In fact, Rena couldn’t believe how impressive her résumé was for someone of her age. At the age of 24, and after graduating from one of the most prestigious universities in the country, the girl who shared the same surname as her had already worked in big corporations in Japan. When she checked her résumé for the first time, Rena was having a hard time matching the drenched girl who was patiently waiting for her turn in the hallway with the person who had accomplished all those things on the paper.
Could looks be so deceiving?
She hired her. It was the most logical decision, albeit the fact she couldn’t say the new candidate had made a first good impression on her. In the end, this brief, awkward moment in the elevator was all-forgotten. What mattered the most to Rena, was what Jurina Matsui could bring to the team. Rena had been looking for someone with the necessary skills to build the time machine, and it seemed the younger girl was in capacity to help them.
Jurina Matsui didn’t disappoint her. In only one month, Rena was amazed by the amount of progress they had accomplished with the latest addition to the team. Of course, she didn’t fool herself into believing it would be an easy task. They were progressing much faster thanks to her new assistant, but there were too many unknown parameters to know if they would ever manage to reach their objective.
Rena was more than grateful for her help, but she couldn’t say that she had truly bonded with her new assistant. When it came to work, the other girl was always polite and on time, and anything but dedicated and professional. However, there was one personality trait she had difficulty adjusting to. Indeed, it didn’t take her long to discover that Jurina Matsui was a total flirt.
She was almost sure that she had flirted with everyone on floor 22, men excluded. It didn’t escape Rena’s keen sense of observation that Jurina’s conversations with her male co-workers always remained strictly professional. Why that? The head of Matsui corporation found this difference in treatment between both sexes more than curious, but she kept her thoughts carefully to herself.
There was one realization that disturbed her even more than Jurina’s flirty nature and obvious disinterest in men. Being her assistant, they interacted a lot during the day. There was one pattern her assistant followed with every other woman of the floor, except with her. She never tried to flirt with her. Not even once.
Jurina would smile to her here and then. Her kindness showed on many occasions, such as when she would bring her everyday her coffee inside her office at the 4 p.m. break. It wasn’t something Rena had ever requested her to do, but that her assistant had taken the liberty to do on her own initiative. However, it never went any further than that. Rena could tell her assistant chose her words carefully each time they spoke. In fact, there was a form of shyness in her eyes that only seemed to appear when they interacted.
Was it because Rena was her superior, and as such her assistant feared she would be overstepping boundaries if she acted too carefree with her? Rena had not a clue, but was more than once taken aback by this difference of treatment towards her. She should be glad that her assistant was respectful and hardworking, so why was Jurina’s attitude towards her troubling her so much?
Today again, Rena was witnessing her assistant’s flirty behavior right in front of her nose. Because of the time machine project, the 24-year-old girl worked in close collaboration with Akane, and it seemed she had taken a particular liking in her. She flirted with her best friend way more often than with the other women of the floor. And, unfortunately for Rena, Akane’s office was located right in her field of vision, making it impossible for her to ignore Jurina’s actions.
This morning, Rena had plenty of work to do, but had a hard time focusing. A few minutes ago, her assistant had arrived at Akane’s office, and was leaning over her shoulder to show her something on the touch screen monitor. They were too far for Rena to distinguish what they were saying, but she couldn’t detach her eyes from the scene. Jurina had casually placed her hand on Akane’s shoulder, an amused smile plastering her best friend’s lips as Jurina was evidently saying something funny to her.
“Why does she keep doing that?” Rena muttered, displeased by her assistant’s impossible flirty attitude.
A knock distracted her, the automatic door sliding open as a long dark, curly-haired woman entered her office. “It’s 12:45 p.m. Want to go out for lunch?” Airi, her 27-year-old Human Resources manager, offered.
Already? Rena was shocked by the revelation. She barely had accomplished half of what she was supposed to do this morning. “Yes,” Rena replied, knowing she needed a break. She lost focus as soon as her assistant arrived and began to flirt with Akane. “Just give me a few minutes. I want to finish this.”
“Alright.” Airi nodded, taking a look at the tablet computer Rena was pointing at. “Come and see me at my office when you’re ready.”
As Airi was about to turn on her heels, Rena felt the need to ask her one particular question. Something had been nagging her for a while, and witnessing her assistant’s behavior with Akane prompted her to voice her concern. “Doesn’t it… bother you? Seeing Jurina-san flirting with everyone, especially with your wife?”
“Absolutely not,” Airi replied, much to her surprise. “It’s mostly light teasing, and Akane doesn’t mind. Besides, you can tell the women enjoy the attention they are getting. I can’t count the number of times I heard them gushing over your assistant.”
“She never flirts with me,” Rena mumbled. When she realized the words she had blurted out without thinking, she looked away in discomfort. For a minute, she hoped her friend had not heard her, but soon discovered it was only wishful thinking on her behalf.
“No, she doesn’t,” Airi conceded. “Why do you think that?”
“I have no idea,” Rena admitted her ignorance. On one hand, she wasn’t feeling particularly at ease broaching such a subject but on the other, she felt relieved getting it off her chest. And who better could she talk about it than with a trusted friend? A friend who had also apparently well noticed this difference of treatment she was being subjected to?
“And I think I’m being paranoid lately.” Rena frowned, remembering vividly a few strange occurrences. “I’m under the impression she purposely flirts more with Akane because she knows I can see her from here. It’s stupid, isn’t it?”
Rena looked up in expectation, hoping Airi would state that it was indeed only a figment of her wide imagination. Why would her assistant be doing that? It made no sense. However, Rena couldn’t ignore that her assistant glanced often in her direction when she visited Akane’s desk.
“Of course, she’s doing it on purpose,” Airi chuckled softly, shaking her head in disbelief. “I adore you Rena but sometimes, you can be so clueless.”
“What?” Rena searched her friend’s eyes for an explanation, but she never elaborated. Rena didn’t miss the amused look plastered on her face as she left her office.
Rena stared at her retreating form, processing their odd conversation. She couldn’t shake off the sensation that Airi was trying to convey a message, but her mind was failing to decrypt it. Rena looked down to the tablet computer and tried to resume her work, but had a hard time getting back on the task at hand. Airi’s last cryptic words rolled in her head over and over. What was she missing?
“Oh no, it’s raining...”
Rena turned her head in surprise when a familiar, feminine voice sounded next to her. It was 8 p.m. and as she was about to leave the building to go home, she had noticed the rain falling in abundance through the front door. Once again, Rena knew she had taken the right decision by not trusting the weather forecast and placing her mini-collapsible umbrella inside her handbag. However, it appeared her young assistant – who was standing next to her and watching the rain falling outside in concern – had not taken such precaution.
Rena pondered over her words, and knew by the light, dark blue vest her assistant was wearing that she would get drenched if she dared stepping outside. If she wished to stay dry, she had no other choice but to wait for the rain to stop. And, considering how heavily the rain was falling, Rena guessed she would have to wait for a while.
“You can walk with me if you want,” Rena suggested. “Where are you going? Is your car parked in the parking lot?”
By her assistant’s startled look, Rena could tell her she was not expecting such an offer. Her surprise slowly turned into a pleased expression tainted with slight embarrassment. “No, I don’t have a car. I take the subway. But I don’t want to bother you.”
“You’re not bothering me at all. I’ll walk you to the station.” Rena opened her umbrella and made her way outside, the younger girl quickly stepping underneath to take shelter. Rena moved towards the direction of the nearest subway station, taking in how her assistant was being silent beside her. With her other female co-workers, she was very talkative, but had a tendency to be much shyer when it came to her. Along with the fact that she never flirted with her, it was an aspect of her assistant’s behavior Rena didn’t fully grasp.
As they walked down the streets of Tokyo, Rena realized that it was the first time they found themselves alone outside the workplace. Rena rarely went out with her employees, except for the monthly dinner organized by Airi for all the employees working on floor 22. Rena never felt at ease during social events, but was conscious of her obligations. There were certain traditions that she couldn’t afford to break.
As for her close circle, there were only two people she got along well enough to consider as good friends. Akane was a long-time friend, whom she had met when she was studying at University. As of Airi, she was one of the first people she hired when she decided a year ago to create this special division on floor 22. Between her best friend Akane and the new Human resources manager, it was love at first sight. Six months after meeting each other, they were tying the knot.
Until now, Rena had kept silent when she witnessed her assistant flirting with Akane, surprised neither Akane or Airi minded the girl’s actions, even passing it off as something innocent. But what if it wasn’t? What if her assistant had genuine feelings for Akane and no one warned her it was a wasted effort? For so long, Rena promised herself she wouldn’t broach this particular subject with her assistant, refusing to meddle in her personal life. However, this evening, she couldn’t keep quiet.
“There’s something you need to know about Akane-san,” Rena started hesitantly, almost not believing she was going to have that conversation. She had to keep repeating herself that it was the right thing to do, in order to continue. But how could she announce her the news without hurting her, if she happened to have feelings for her best friend? In the end, she figured it was best not to beat about the bush but simply be honest. “She’s… she’s married to Airi-san.”
Silence enveloped them, Rena hoping she hadn’t made a big mistake by bringing up such a sensitive topic. Her assistant didn’t say a word, and Rena was too ill-at-ease to look back at her. “I…”
“I know.” Her assistant interrupted her before she had time to formulate a semblance of an apology. “I like Akane a lot, but I’m interested in someone else.”
Rena tilted her head towards her in surprise and stopped. Her assistant’s confession came out of nowhere and Rena felt destabilized, not knowing what to make of it. And what about this shy, but serious look she was giving her? Rena waited, sensing her assistant wanted to say more. Indeed, the younger girl opened her mouth a few times as if she meant to add something else, but no other words managed to leave her lips.
When it became clear that she wouldn’t elaborate, Rena glanced back to the street and resumed her walk, trying to figure out what her assistant was trying to say. The younger girl had always acted timid around her, but this evening, she was being more agitated than usual. Evidently, something was troubling her, and she found herself curious to know what it was.
They had arrived at the subway station, but the younger girl didn’t seem in a hurry to leave her side. In fact, she glanced back and forth between her and the entrance of the subway station, as if torn about her next course of action, until she fixed her eyes on her. “Are you doing something tonight, Rena-san? I want to buy you dinner.”
Rena didn’t often find herself speechless, being naturally a very composed and eloquent person, but her assistant’s unexpected offer managed to catch her off guard. Despite her assistant’s eyes set on her firmly, she could easily read the apprehension mixed with expectation in them. Rena could tell it had taken quite an amount of courage from her to utter such bold words.
They were standing in the middle of the street, under a driving rain, receiving curious looks from bystanders. Rena ignored the attention, looking into the depth of her young assistant’s brown eyes. They shone with such determination, that Rena knew the younger girl wouldn’t move an inch until she received a reply from her. Her previous confession made suddenly sense. This dinner wasn’t a friendly invitation. And, as Rena made the link between her offer and her assistant’s behavior this past month, she understood what Airi had tried to explain earlier in her office.
As the head of Matsui Corporation, Rena had been courted by many men. The majority approached her for her wealth, while a few were more genuine with their feelings. However, never once did she respond positively to any one of them. For a while, she believed her lack of interest originated from her entire focus on her work. Since her father passed away and left her sole heiress of Matsui Corporation, she barely had any free time.
Rena realized what had been going under her nose recently, and what her assistant was expecting from her. Her assistant had a magnetic effect on others, and Rena never denied the fact that she found her attractive. She believed so from the very first moment she laid eyes on her in that elevator. And what about all those times she had been disturbed by her assistant’s flirty behavior with others? Much as she tried to conceal it, she was conscious of her petty feelings of jealousy. By the sound of her beating heart, Rena already knew the answer she would be giving her.
Rena didn’t know how this date would turn out, but she wanted to give it a chance. “I’m free. Where do you want us to go, Jurina-san?”
“You are?” Jurina’s eyes lit up in joy, and Rena couldn’t help smiling at her genuine reaction. She could literally see the relief spreading across her face. “Follow me, I know the perfect place.”
Rena nodded, noting the way her assistant became more relaxed and talkative as she led the way. The tension between them had dissipated by miracle, almost as if it had never existed in the first place. Rena laughed softly when her assistant made a funny joke, finding it hard not to be affected by the charming smile she was sending her. After tonight, Rena had a good feeling their relationship would never be the same anymore.
TO BE CONTINUED
Version edited on August 12, 2019
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Date time!!! ^w^
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That was fast! It’s only the first chapter but Rena and Jurina just had a dinner date (can we say that?) together. It’s totally different with your other fics – Heartbeat and Warriors – which needed more than 20 chapters for WMatsui to finally admit their feeling to each other. :on study: :farofflook:
So Jurina is a real flirt, as expected from her! Haha! She’s a newbie so she has to put quite a distance to her gorgeous boss. But apparently she could gain some courage to ask Rena for a dinner, so...
Nice try, Jurina! It’s worth it! :glasses:
To be honest I still wonder about the core plot of this fic. I’m waiting for more chapters to come. Thank you for writing a new WMatsui fic!
Ps. I know you’d update Back in Time this week, but I’m surprised that it’s this soon. Not that I’m complaining. :on gay:
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Ohoho dinner date!!! :ding:
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Uwaaaahhhhh~
Jurina, you know how to lure your boss so well :cow:
I wonder, what makes Rena trust her easily??? :mon huh2:
Is it possible that Rena has interest in Jurina in the first place? Hehehe
We'll see in the next chap~
Thank you author-san!
:mon fyeah:
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REPLIES TO COMMENTS
Date time!!! ^w^
Ohoho dinner date!!! :ding:
Yes, first date! The first one of a long list to come? :P
That was fast! It’s only the first chapter but Rena and Jurina just had a dinner date (can we say that?) together. It’s totally different with your other fics – Heartbeat and Warriors – which needed more than 20 chapters for WMatsui to finally admit their feeling to each other. :on study: :farofflook:
You're right! It's different because in that case, this fanfic won't be as long as my trilogy or Warriors, and the plot doesn't revolve around the progressive, slow building of their relationship at all. The main plot will be revealed in a few chapters ;)
So Jurina is a real flirt, as expected from her! Haha! She’s a newbie so she has to put quite a distance to her gorgeous boss. But apparently she could gain some courage to ask Rena for a dinner, so...
Rena can have that impressive aura, right? Jurina needs to use tricks to gain her attention :k-wink:
I wonder, what makes Rena trust her easily??? :mon huh2:
Is it possible that Rena has interest in Jurina in the first place? Hehehe
I did state Rena found Jurina attractive in the prologue, even when she was soaked from head to toe :lol: And Rena was definitely being annoyed by Jurina's flirty attitude with the other women XD
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I did state Rena found Jurina attractive in the prologue, even when she was soaked from head to toe :lol: And Rena was definitely being annoyed by Jurina's flirty attitude with the other women XD
UHMMMMMMMMMM :shy2:
Annoyed or jealous????? :hiakhiakhiak:
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Annoyed or jealous????? :hiakhiakhiak:
Definitely JEALOUS :wahaha:
Waaa it's dinner date :on gay:
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CHAPTER 2
Jurina jolted awake at the lively music playing in her bedroom. Despite her sleepy state, it took her only a few seconds to recognize the familiar tune: Oki Doki. Released in 2011, it was one of the biggest hits of a Japanese idol group very popular at the time. Jurina enjoyed listening to old songs, Nostalgia being one of her favorite radio stations. However, this morning, she was having a hard time matching her mood with the joyful lyrics of the song. Not only was she still feeling tired, she couldn’t understand why her humanoid robot had set up her alarm clock on a Sunday.
“Alfred,” Jurina mumbled, refusing to open her eyes. This was a terrible mistake. She needed to warn her robot so she could fall back asleep. “Can you stop the music? It’s the week-end. I don’t have to go to work.”
A small white head emerged from the right side of the bed, and two big blue eyes stared at her. “It’s Friday, Mistress. You have to be at work in 55 minutes.”
Jurina fluttered her eyes open. “W–What? No, it’s Sunday.”
“No, Mistress. It’s Friday morning. It’s now 7:06 a.m. You are six minutes late on your schedule.”
Jurina blinked, until realization progressively hit her. Even if her mind was still inclined on believing it was Sunday, her robot had to be right for one simple reason. Alfred, her 48 inches’ humanoid robot who had been serving her faithfully for 3 years, never made any mistake. Stupefied, Jurina threw the covers off and fumbled around in the direction of her nightstand, her heart beating faster inside her chest as she checked the date on her digital clock. Alfred was right. It was Friday.
How could this have happened?!
She had to be at the office in less than an hour, and she better had to hurry if she didn’t want to be late. Since she started working at Matsui Corporation a month ago, she had never been late a single time. Punctuality was a virtue she considered essential, and she was adamant on keeping things that way.
“Thank you, Alfred.” Jurina took a seat on the side of the bed, and patted the top of the robot’s head. “I don’t know why I believed it was Sunday.”
“You came back late yesterday. It probably explains why you were sleeping so soundly, Mistress.”
A smile unconsciously fell upon Jurina’s lips at the memory of her wonderful dinner with her boss. A part of her was a bit embarrassed by the impulsive way she had asked her out. It was not how she had imagined things in her head. For some frustrating reason, she never managed to take the next step at work, losing all her confidence in her boss’s presence. That’s why, after a month of keeping her feelings to herself, she hadn’t been able to hold it any longer, and seized the opportunity without thinking twice.
Her intentions had been well conveyed and understood. Admittedly, it had surprised her to receive a positive response. However, after this first successful date, she could tell that their feelings were shared. The first date of a long list? She definitely hoped so.
“May I bring a certain subject to your attention before you get prepared? It will only take fifteen seconds of your time.”
Jurina noted the hesitation in her robot’s metallic voice. She gazed back at him in concern. “Yes, of course. What is it?”
“Last night, you repeated something in your sleep. It was so unusual, that I took the liberty to record it. Do you want to listen to it?”
Jurina widened her eyes at the revelation. That was new. In twenty-four years, she didn’t have any recollection of sleep talking. Curiosity got the best of her. “I did? Alright, play the recording.”
The robot complied and Jurina listened, recognizing herself sleeping on the recording. A few seconds went by and, as Jurina didn’t hear anything suspect, she wondered what her robot was referring to. Just as she was about to question him, a name fell from her lips in the recording.
Rena-san… Rena-san...
Jurina flushed. Her robot was… right! She talked in her sleep! And, from what she could hear, she had been mumbling the name of her boss a few times last night.
“S-Stop the recording,” she stuttered, looking away in discomfort. The recording stopped at once, but it was too late. The memory of what she had uttered during her sleep was ingrained in her mind.
“It continues during four more seconds. Don’t you wish to hear the rest?”
“No, that’s fine,” Jurina said, too embarrassed to face him. “I was… I was probably having a dream. Erase the recording.”
Jurina stood up from the bed and entered the bathroom, hoping a warm shower would help her forget about the incident. It was no news to her that she had feelings for her beautiful employer, feelings even more reinforced after their date. But the thought that she had said her name during her sleep was a bit disturbing.
Jurina caught the sound of the robot’s small feet following her on the floating floor. As she was about to press the button to close the bathroom door behind her, her gaze fell down on him. He was looking at her from the doorstep, his head slightly inclined to the right. A pattern Jurina observed happened when he didn’t understand.
“You dream about your employer, Mistress?”
Jurina froze. She believed the matter to be over when she asked her robot to erase the recording, but it was without taking into account his insatiable curiosity about the things surrounding him. She enjoyed this aspect of his program, and was always keen on sharing every bit of her knowledge with him. However, as she was faced with such an embarrassing question, she considered making a few adjustments to his program.
“I work a lot with her,” Jurina said, trying to sound as calm and nonchalant as possible. Her robot was an advanced model, and was very good at deciphering the fluctuations in people’s voices. She wanted to make sure he didn’t notice that she was hiding part of the truth. “It’s not unusual to dream about the people you spend time with.”
The robot didn’t say anything, and she guessed his program was analyzing what she had said. Not wishing to give him the possibility to question her further on the subject, she bent over and patted his head once more. “Why don’t you go and prepare breakfast? I really need to take a shower or I’m going to be late.”
Jurina smiled gently and took a step back, her robot’s large blue eyes fixated on her the whole time as the bathroom door closed on him. Jurina stayed still, listening attentively in case her robot would manifest himself. When she heard his feet drawing away and leaving the bedroom, she released a small sigh of relief.
After a quick shower and a light breakfast, Jurina got ready to leave her apartment. A brief look at the digital clock told her she wouldn’t be late. She knew she made the right decision by cutting her time under the shower by half. While she was putting her shoes on in the entrance, she stole a peek at the robot standing in front of her. Since he brought up to her attention her embarrassing dream, he hadn’t said a single word.
Jurina frowned; her robot was anything but quiet in the morning. Was something wrong with him? Should she check his program for any glitch? Since she bought him three years ago, she never encountered any major problem with him. Alfred was an intelligent and fast-learning humanoid robot that functioned well. Aside from some minor adjustments to his program now and then, never once did he need repairing.
“Alright Alfred, I’m leaving for work. Take care of the apartment while I’m gone.”
The robot produced a small noise of agreement and inclined his head a few times, but didn’t speak for all that. Jurina’s concern grew a notch. Something was definitely not right with him. Maybe she should quickly his program before leaving? She had a few minutes’ left. As she was about to take action, her robot spoke up.
“While you were in the shower, I analyzed the recording three times. You said your employer’s name in a dreamy voice, which means you were having a pleasant dream. I came to the conclusion that it means you like her. Am I correct?”
Jurina stared at him in shock, not believing he was bringing this up again. Was he only being genuinely curious? Because it awfully like stubbornness, a trait of character her robot should never had developed. Added to that, his words made her realize that he had not erased the recording as she had instructed. Her trusted robot had never disobeyed her before. Not once. What was going on with him?
Jurina considered ignoring his question, but felt slightly bad about it when he gave her such an expectant look. Taking a deep breath, she kneeled in front of him. “Yes, I like her. She’s the person I went out with yesterday evening.”
Jurina was caught off guard when he emitted a high-pitched joyful sound, and clapped his hands a few times. “Well done, Mistress! Does it mean she’ll be coming here soon? Do I need to prepare the apartment for her arrival tonight? Do I need to have flowers delivered? Do I need to order a special meal?”
“W–What?!” Jurina was overwhelmed by the multitude of questions. Why was her robot looking so excited? She had acknowledged her feelings for Rena in the hope that it would satisfy her robot’s curiosity enough for him to move on, not so he could jump the gun. “Alfred, calm down. It was only our first date. Rena-san is not coming here tonight, so please don’t prepare anything.”
“But there will be other dates. I’ll tidy the apartment just in case.”
“Alfred!” Jurina tried to catch his arm, much in vain as he had already turned around and moved in the direction of the living room. Jurina quickly stood up, incredulity surging within her, and pondering going after him. Her digital watch rang, reminding her of the imminence of her departure. No, she didn’t have time to deal with this situation right now, or she would be late for work.
“Alright, you can clean the place,” Jurina relented. “But don’t order anything.”
Jurina waited for his reaction, hoping he would be satisfied by her small concession. For some funny reason, her robot seemed utterly convinced Rena would be visiting her tonight. Much as technology had progressed, the functioning of human relationships was still a concept hard to grasp for robots, even for those as advanced as her little Alfred. That’s why she needed to limit the damage at all costs before leaving her apartment. She didn’t wish to see flowers everywhere or the table dressed up for two when she came back from work.
Her robot stopped and faced her back. “It will be done, Mistress. The apartment will be tidied up when you come back.”
Jurina let out a small sigh of relief, and she shot him a smile of gratitude. “Thank you, Alfred. Now, I really have to go.”
“Have a nice day at work, Mistress. Please alert me if you change your mind and I need to prepare anything for tonight.”
When he arrived in front of her, Jurina kneeled to his level and patted her robot’s head, amused by his thoughtful attention. And, to a certain length, his incredible tenacity. Getting up, her fingers were about to press the button to open the front door, when her robot’s voice sounded behind her back. “Wait, Mistress…”
Jurina glanced back at him, but was distracted by her watch’s second beeping. “Sorry, Alfred, but I’m going to be late. See you tonight.”
The door closed on the robot who didn’t have time to finish his sentence. Alfred listened to the sound of footsteps drawing away in the distance, then inclined his head to the forgotten umbrella in the basket. The weather forecast had announced rain this morning. His poor mistress was going to get wet. Again.
TO BE CONTINUED
Version edited on August 13, 2019
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Now I'm imagining Alfred is a boy who is very curious of everything yet very obidient to Jurina. Oh and a Kawaii one too
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Waaaaaa~ Jurina got a humanoid robot, that's cool!!!!
Now I can imagine Rena had an AI like Jarvis at her home. Just how cool is that :on lol:
The door closed on the robot who never had time to finish his sentence, and he glanced sadly at the forgotten umbrella in the basket near the front door. The weather forecast had announced rain this morning. Her poor mistress was going to get wet.
Again.
As long as I remember, rain was never a bad luck for Jurina. It was always a relieve instead. Like when she met Rena for the first time and how they ended up having a dinner date in the first chapter. Rain united them!!! :mon inluv:
Now I'm looking forward to what will happen this time :3
I hope another good things will happen, let's see~ :mon dance:
Lastly, thanks for writing as always Soph-san!!
:twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs
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Jurina must be a very nostalgic person. Not only that she listens to old songs (and old radio station), she also names her robot Alfred
- a very loyal butler character from a fictional superhero universe from more than a hundred years ago.
When I read the first paragraph you shared on twitter, I thought I read Destiny's update ^^" So when it came to this passage
>> "...her humanoid robot had set her alarm clock.." I was confused hehe..
Ps. It's the first appearance of Alfred but I've already liked him :cathappy:
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Alfred is so cute!
OMG Jurina talking in her sleep! >w<
Don't get shy about it, J. It's adorable~! ;3
Update soon! :D
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The character of Alfred, seems lovely.
I loved it.
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CHAPTER 3
Jurina was starting to wonder if the odds were not against her. The sun was shining brightly over her head when she stepped out of her apartment, and it was now pouring hard as she was making her way to the office. Had she done something terrible in another life? Because she didn’t remember doing anything wrong in this one that justified what she was going through. No, she was not going to be late – which was an undeniable relief – but she was going to be completely drenched by the time she arrived at the office. The disturbing prospect didn’t appeal to her in the least.
“Why didn’t Alfred warn me about the rain?” Jurina muttered under her breath. She was desperately trying to dodge the drops, protecting her head as best as she could underneath her black, leather jacket. That’s because he was obsessed with my ‘dream’. It messed up his program, Jurina mused in frustration, catching in the distance the familiar 25-floor building. I need to do something about it when I go home tonight.
Jurina quickened her pace, more than relieved when the golden plate indicating Matsui Corporation appeared. After exchanging a few polite words with the guard, she hastily made her way inside. Jurina removed her black jacket over her head, wincing in displeasure when she observed its terrible state. She loved that leather jacket more than anything. It would take all day long to dry.
Jurina ran her fingers through her hair, her jacket ending up doing a better job than she expected as her hair was mostly dry. That was a small but not insignificant consolation considering that – after taking a good look at herself through the hallway mirror – the rest of her appearance was a total mess. Jurina moved forward, her watch emitting another beep. A quick glance told her she had five minutes left.
The 24-year-old girl walked decisively towards the elevators, sending a smile on her way to the two women at the reception. Usually, she would go up to their desk and take a few minutes to chat with them, but it was not an option this morning. The visual contact was brief, yet their amused looks didn’t go unnoticed. Apparently, her terrible appearance was entertaining them both a lot.
Jurina pretended not to notice, and entered the first elevator that was about to close. She didn’t have the luxury to wait for another. She wasn’t late yet, but it didn’t mean her time wasn’t limited. When she stepped inside and discovered that it was already occupied by a long, dark haired familiar woman, her eyes widened. She hadn’t stopped thinking about her for the last nine hours.
“Rena-san… Hi.” Jurina’s mouth tugged into a pleased smile.
Her boss was wearing a black trench coat, the belt carefully closed around her waist, along with a matching pair of long leather boots. It didn’t take long for Jurina to observe that her hair and clothes were perfectly dry. Manifestly, she had been much more cautious than her when it came to the weather. It didn’t come as a real surprise to her. If there’s one thing she had observed for the past month, it was that the head of Matsui Corporation valued the way she presented herself. Nevermind the context or circumstances, she always harbored a neat appearance, from her well-groomed hair, to her impeccably ironed clothes and clean shoes.
“Hello, Jurina-san.” The head of Matsui Corporation returned the smile warmly. Jurina didn’t miss her concern as she scanned her from head to toe. “You’re wet. Did you forget to take your umbrella?”
“Alfred didn’t warn me about the rain,” Jurina lamented. She didn’t like the terrible view she was offering, especially to her employer. When she noticed the latter’s puzzlement, it occurred to her that the other girl was missing a piece of information. “Ah right. I didn’t mention him during dinner. Alfred lives with me. He’s my humanoid robot.”
“Oh… I see. I don’t have a personal robot.”
Jurina wasn’t surprised. The older girl mentioned during their dinner her certain dislike for excessive technology. It appeared the head of Matsui Corporation was not particularly fond of what society had progressively become. A society that, according to her own words, was gradually losing its humanity. Her ideology transcribed in the way she managed her own company. Matsui Corporation was renown as one of the last companies in the country that employed a large proportion of human employees.
Was it why this time machine project was so important to her? Because she was more turned towards the past and interested in what it still had to offer?
Jurina would lie if she said she didn’t share her view on a few areas. She remained a great nostalgic of the old days, especially in terms of architecture, food, and music. It had taken her a while before deciding to acquire a humanoid robot. When it came to Alfred, it was a choice she never regretted. Not only was he capable of accomplishing all domestic chores, his company was greatly appreciated when she went back to her apartment after a long tiring day of work. After three years, she couldn’t imagine her life anymore without the cute robot that shared her daily life.
At the older girl’s preoccupying look, Jurina gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I have clean clothes at the office. I’ll change when I arrive.”
It was a precaution she had taken after the incident that occurred on her decisive interview, and a few couple of times during the course of the month. Some would say she had a tendency of being a little distracted when it came to the weather forecast. She preferred to think that luck was simply not on her side.
“Do you remember our first meeting?” Jurina asked. Oh yes, the moment had been extremely embarrassing. What were the odds that she would cross path with her future employer in the elevator? She felt ashamed about the bad image she had projected, yet that day was also a fond memory. After all, it represented her first encounter with Rena. The woman who would become so important to her.
“I do.” Rena tore her eyes away from her wet appearance. “That day, you had also forgotten your umbrella and were a bit… wet?”
“You mean I was completely soaked from head to toe,” Jurina corrected, finding it a bit comical that the older girl was trying to be polite by minimizing the facts. “You were so respectful and nice, despite the terrible view I was offering.”
“It wasn’t… terrible,” Rena said, but knew her tone was far from convincing when her interlocutor arched an eyebrow in skepticism. “Alright,” she conceded with a smile, “it was not the best way to make a good impression on the recruiter.”
“I looked awful.” Jurina leaned her back against the elevator panel. A small sigh escaped her lips, watching the numbers of the floors changing as the elevator lead them towards their destination. “I don’t understand why you hired me,” Jurina confessed. After all this time, she was still amazed by the positive outcome. “In your position, I would probably have chosen someone else.”
“You had the best résumé amongst all candidates. The decision was evident to me. I couldn’t have chosen anyone else.”
Jurina smiled back at her. It wasn’t the first time someone complimented her résumé. In the past, many employers had been impressed by it. She would lie if she said she didn’t feel pride in having her skills and experience praised. But this time, it affected her in a different way. Coming from her, the compliment touched her most especially. “Thank you. Thank you for giving me a chance.”
Jurina kept her eyes fixed on her while she uttered those words, hoping the other girl would understand the message she was conveying. She was more than thankful to have been given the opportunity to work on such an incredible project, but there was another hidden meaning behind her gratitude.
“Rena-san,” Jurina started hesitantly. Their dinner had gone so well, that she didn’t want this date to be a one-time thing. She wanted to ask her out again. Pursue this relationship and see where it would lead them. To her dismay, her lips stayed sealed, the question refusing to come out. Why was she so nervous?
Rena was such a unique and exceptional woman. In fact, she didn’t believe to have ever met anyone like her before. Not only was she hard-working – Matsui Corporation was one of the leading companies in the country – she had a certain aura surrounding her that made her seem almost unreachable. Yes, Rena Matsui was impressively charismatic. Why else did she wait so long to ask her out otherwise?
Jurina was more than decided to suggest a second date. Unfortunately, the attentive and expectant look the older girl was giving her was not helping in calming her nerves. Her heart was throbbing at the prospect of what she was about to ask, and she wished the older girl didn’t have such an effect on her. Never before did she prove herself so clumsy when it came to asking someone on a date.
“I had a wonderful time last night.” Rena was the one to break the silence between them. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“I…” Jurina was slightly caught off guard. She could tell the older girl had indeed enjoyed herself last evening – some emotions simply couldn’t be faked – but there was nothing so pleasant as hearing the confirmation out loud. “I’m glad...” After Rena’s encouraging statement, Jurina felt a sudden regain of courage. “Would you like to go out with me again some time?”
“Of course. I would love to.”
Jurina didn’t know if it was because she was ecstatic, but her heart was beating uncontrollably inside her chest. Maybe that explained why she didn’t think properly before continuing. “You do? What about dinner tonight then?”
Jurina froze. Tonight? What on earth was she thinking? It was obvious she was going to refuse! Just because Rena had agreed to a first date yesterday, it didn’t mean she should be going so fast! She immediately needed to right the wrong.
“N-No, I didn’t...” Jurina, witnessing Rena’s speechless expression, tried desperately to come back on her words, only to stutter like a kid. She was so ashamed of what she had blurted out, that she couldn’t even look her in the eye. “Of course, not tonight. I meant…”
“I don’t mind tonight.” Rena’s assured voice brought her attention back to her. “But I have a meeting until 8 p.m. Isn’t it going to be too late?”
Jurina stared at her, bewildered. Did she really agree to her invitation? So fast and easily? Jurina studied her attentively, trying to assess if she didn’t mishear, only to face her calm expression.
“I don’t mind waiting,” Jurina quickly replied. A part of her was having a hard time processing that she had received a positive reply, but she was certainly not going to let this opportunity pass. “I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
It was almost 9 p.m. when Rena left the conference room on floor 11, and took the direction of the elevator. As soon as she got inside and pressed the number 22, her thoughts went towards her young assistant in concern. When Rena joined her meeting at 7 p.m., she believed it wouldn’t take more than an hour. In the end, it had taken twice that time. If there’s one thing Rena never liked, it was unanticipated delays. When realization dawned on her that the meeting would take longer than planned, she hadn’t hesitated to send Jurina a text to warn her.
If anything, Rena was looking forward to their second date, but it would be improper to make her assistant wait for her any further. It was already late, and she had no idea how long this meeting would last. A few unexpected issues with international partners had been brought up halfway through the meeting. That’s why the first thing she did was apologize in her text, before suggesting to postpone their dinner to another day.
A few seconds later, she had received a short reply from her assistant. That’s alright. Don’t worry about it. I’ll wait.
The answer startled her, but she chose not to insist. It touched her that the younger girl was willing to wait a little longer for her. When Rena saw time passing by, unease filled her chest, the meeting showing no sign of ending anytime soon. As the CEO of Matsui Corporation, Rena had the authority to put an end to it at any time. Unfortunately, she couldn’t afford to cut short this one in particular. Not only they were discussing crucial matters regarding the future of the company, some participants had flown all over the globe to attend this important business reunion.
Rena stepped out of the elevator at floor 22, a part of her hoping that her assistant had changed her mind and already left. It was awfully late. Except for the people present at the meeting, everybody had gone home.
What she saw as she walked in the office confirmed her fears. Her assistant was very much present, and as she expected the last occupant of the floor. It appeared her long day of work managed to get the best of her, as her head was resting on top of her desk. Rena couldn’t help but feel guilty at the scene she was witnessing. Of course, her assistant refused to listen and waited for her. She was looking forward to their second date as much as she was.
Rena reduced the distance with her assistant’s desk and leaned over her sleeping form. “Jurina-san…”
Despite the gentle calling of her name, the younger girl didn’t bulge, her eyes remaining tightly shut. Rena took a seat in the chair next to her, her attention drawn to the large touchscreen facing her. Her assistant was working on the blueprint of the time machine. Rena never doubted Jurina’s commitment when it came to her work. How many times did she hear her assistant wishing to stay a bit longer at the office to work on the time machine? Rena could tell she enjoyed working on this project. Jurina thrived on challenges. Many believed Rena was trying to accomplish the impossible.
Building a time machine? A foolish dream!
Not Jurina. Rena had never seen anyone display so much passion and enthusiasm during a job interview. Not once did Jurina believe this project was going to fail, despite all its unknown parameters. She wasn’t in capacity to affirm when the time machine would be completed and operational, but she didn’t seem to doubt in her capacity to succeed. Jurina’s unfailing motivation when it came to this ambitious project was a driving force for the whole staff team working on floor 22.
Motivation and dedication were two traits of personality Rena sought in her employees. When her young assistant was concerned, it went a little further than that. Jurina wasn’t just daring and extremely devoted to her work, she was also headstrong. And, after this evening, it occurred to her that Jurina’s stubbornness didn’t only apply to her job, but also to her personal life.
Rena swept over her assistant’s sleeping form in appreciation. Jurina could behave like a real tomboy when she flirted with the other women of the floor, which was actually amusing considering how feminine she looked. Her jet-black hair that fell just underneath her shoulders. Her long eyelashes. Her delicate features and flawless skin. The dimples that appeared at the corner of her mouth, when she flashed one of her most beautiful smiles. Was it truly a surprise that many people, men and women included, felt attracted to her from the very first moment they laid eyes on her?
“Do you realize the effect you’re having on me?” Rena whispered, unable to deny the fact that she had fallen under her charm. This new feeling was strange and unusual to her; she had never bothered to meddle with matters of the heart before. She had always been a shy and introvert girl, preferring the company of books and focusing on her studies rather than engaging in casual flings.
After her father’s death, she put her heart and soul in the company. Sometimes, she got asked on a date, but always politely declined. Not only wasn’t she interested in the prospect, she didn’t believe to have sufficient time for anything serious. When her best friend Akane began a relationship with her Human Resources Manager, she observed them interacting with a certain curiosity.
She and Akane were similar on so many aspects, whether on their way of thinking or analyzing the world surrounding them. Never once did Akane mention her desire to get involved with someone. In fact, she never dated anyone during their years together at university. That’s why Rena couldn’t believe her eyes when she witnessed the unexpected development of her relationship with Airi.
They immediately clicked, and didn’t even try to make their romance a secret. Even if they had tried, their affection for each other would have been obvious. A simple look at them was enough to understand that they were madly in love with each other. Rena didn’t always know how to react when her best friend spoke about those strong feelings she had for Airi. At first, Rena even believed it was just a crush, and her infatuation would eventually fade away. When Akane had announced their engagement, Rena realized she couldn’t have been more far away from the truth.
Rena was starting to catch a glimpse of what her best friend had described during all these months. She and Jurina had only been on one date, but there was no denying that they had forged a connection. It had been so pleasant, that she didn’t see time passing by in her presence. Her assistant was very charming, but the attraction was not just physical. There were so many aspects of her personality that she found appealing. Intelligence, wit and kindness, to only name a few.
Rena extended her arm to touch Jurina’s hand, a fond smile grazing her lips at the pleasant memory of their first dinner. She didn’t have the heart to wake her up, especially when she looked so calm and peaceful, but she couldn’t let her sleep at the office. Encircling her fingers, she gave them a light squeeze. Jurina slowly stirred, her sleepy eyes falling upon her. Rena was slightly amused when she received a confused look, before her assistant’s eyes widened when she saw who was sitting next to her.
“R-Rena-san?” Jurina stammered, straightening up in her seat. “What happened? Did I fall asleep? What time is it?”
“It’s very late…” Rena retracted her hand, a mixture of concern and guilt sweeping through her. “I told you to go home. Why didn’t you?”
“I said I would wait. I always stick to my words.”
“I can see that,” Rena smiled warmly.
“We still have time to go out. I’m afraid my reservation has been cancelled, but we can find another restaurant that is still opened.”
She had made a dinner reservation? Rena was surprised by the revelation. Now, she couldn’t help feeling guiltier about her tardiness, but was also moved by her assistant’s thoughtful attention. “Alright,” Rena agreed, smiling when Jurina’s eyes lit up with joy. “But this time, I’m inviting you.”
A frown fell upon her assistant’s face, and Rena guessed she was about to protest. She didn’t give her time to open her mouth, quickly pressing her index against her lips. “I won’t change my mind, so don’t even try.”
By her assistant’s complete surprise, it wasn’t hard to tell that her decisive tone had taken her aback. Was she going to insist? It certainly did look that way, considering she seemed to have difficulty accepting her offer. After what felt like an eternity, she gave her a positive nod. Relieved and satisfied, Rena withdrew her finger, only to have her assistant gently catch her hand and pull her closer.
Never before had they been so close from each other, yet the unexpected proximity didn’t put her ill-at-ease. Rena didn’t know how long they looked into each other’s eyes. Jurina had a magnetic effect on her, and she could feel herself getting lost in her alluring brown eyes. When her assistant leaned forward, the thought of resisting never once crossed Rena’s mind. She relished the pleasant sensation of her assistant’s light breath caressing her skin, reading her affection for her in those eyes that were not leaving hers. When her assistant’s gaze fell upon her lips, her intention was easy to guess.
Her assistant had been bold enough to ask her out not once, but twice, yet was hesitant to proceed with her next action. Rena wanted nothing more but to reassure her. She had nothing to fear: they both wanted the same thing. Rena held her breath, not believing what she was about to say out loud. Never in her life had she dared being so straightforward, but there was no use denying what her heart truly yearned for.
The words left her lips naturally. “Kiss me.”
A flash of surprise entered her assistant’s eyes, followed by a smile of pleasure. Fingers cupped her cheek tentatively and Rena’s eyes fluttered closed, her heart skipping a beat when a pair of lips captured hers in a tender kiss.
TO BE CONTINUED
Version edited on August 14, 2019
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The words left her lips naturally. “Kiss me, Jurina.”
Rena fluttered her eyes close when she felt fingers cupping her cheek tentatively, and her heart skipped a beat when a pair of lips captured hers in a tender kiss.
I know it's just a kiss. But.... :mon angel:
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KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! *squeals endlessly*
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I totally agree with Genkikid. The emoticon also suits how I feel about the kiss. :k-hello:
I know it's just a kiss. But.... :mon angel:
To be honest I thought Jurina would initiate the kiss. But then apparently she was too hesitant to make
the first move so that Rena - being very sensitive and sweet - asked Jurina to kiss her instead. :shy1:
You didn't show us about their first dinner. Would you tell us about this second dinner date?
Now that Rena is the one who invites Jurina and it's already late, does it mean Rena would bring Jurina to her house for a dinner? Haha!
Anyway, I can feel that it's gonna be soon for Rena to meet Alfred. What would Alfred say about her?
I believe he will ask tons of questions hehe.. :hee:
Thank you for the update, author-san..
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Haroooo Author-chan!
Finally.....
Kataomoi, finally....
:v
Awwwww.... looks like some things escalated quickly here~
At first I thought it was Jurina who would initiate the kiss but it turned out it's Rena. I'm a bit surprised :D
Rena had showed us who's the boss! Rena is da real boss!! hahahaha
And who is Jurina to refuse her boss's order? :hiakhiakhiak: :on lol: :kekeke:
Though I'm sure that without her boss's bold request, she will still kiss her :v
What a nice chap! See you in the next chap Author-chan :twothumbs
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Maybe this is the first time my proper comment about this latest series.
I'm not that late, am i? :lol:
1.still wondering what is Rena purpose to create such a time machine? Does she want to change something in the past? Or she wants to meet someone? Who?
2. I kinda get the vibe from both series that J is main character meanwhile she has crush on Rena. Well i kinda expecting that you'll reverse their role in here. Like mainly plot is about Rena and she is the one who head over heels to J?
3. I like that robot character hahahaha. So genuine, so curious about human's feeling. I want to have alfred too 😂😂
4. For dinner date this time, i want to see whole scene! Like how they both talk, what did they order, etc
5. Seriously i love that rena encouraged J to kiss her. Me was like "GO ON KIDDO!" :lol:
Before this comment getting long, I need yo stop myself from writing too much hahahaha
See you on next chapter!
Ps. Sometimes i just forgot or busy to comment. Well don't expect too much from a mere reader like me 😂😂
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REPLIES TO COMMENTS
I know it's just a kiss. But.... :mon angel:
KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! *squeals endlessly*
Well, I'm glad you liked the kiss :P
To be honest I thought Jurina would initiate the kiss. But then apparently she was too hesitant to make
the first move so that Rena - being very sensitive and sweet - asked Jurina to kiss her instead. :shy1:
Well, let's not forget it's only their second date. Jurina has no assurance a kiss would be well received at this stage, so better be safe. This Jurina is not the kind to steal kisses like Nobunaga in Warriors :nervous
You didn't show us about their first dinner. Would you tell us about this second dinner date?
Now that Rena is the one who invites Jurina and it's already late, does it mean Rena would bring Jurina to her house for a dinner? Haha!
We'll see ^^
Anyway, I can feel that it's gonna be soon for Rena to meet Alfred. What would Alfred say about her?
I believe he will ask tons of questions hehe.. :hee:
I think the first encounter between Rena and Alfred will be... interesting :grin:
At first I thought it was Jurina who would initiate the kiss but it turned out it's Rena. I'm a bit surprised :D
Well, in a sense, it's Jurina who initiates the idea of the kiss. Rena just encourages her to continue :P
Still wondering what is Rena purpose to create such a time machine? Does she want to change something in the past? Or she wants to meet someone? Who?
I answered that question in the prologue ^^
However, no matter how much she believed society was progressively losing its humanity in favor of excessive technology, she had an absolute certitude: old civilizations still had not reveled all their secrets.
The knowledge she would acquire if she managed to build her time machine would be immeasurable and priceless.
So that's Rena's initial reason for wanting to build a time machine. Knowledge/curiosity, and also let's not forget she is somehow more turned towards the past.
I kinda get the vibe from both series that J is main character meanwhile she has crush on Rena. Well i kinda expecting that you'll reverse their role in here. Like mainly plot is about Rena and she is the one who head over heels to J?
Actually, Rena is the main character here. It will become even more obvious when a certain aspect of the plot is revealed later.
And Rena falling "head over heels for J"? I don't think this expression fits the way I see Rena in general, so I don't believe I will ever portray her this way in my stories.
I like that robot character hahahaha. So genuine, so curious about human's feeling. I want to have alfred too 😂😂
And it's not the last time we hear about him. There will be more Alfred scenes :)
For dinner date this time, i want to see whole scene! Like how they both talk, what did they order, etc
I will write a dinner date. This one or another? We'll see ^^
Before this comment getting long, I need yo stop myself from writing too much hahahaha
Don't worry, I enjoyed reading and replying to your long comment ;)
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CHAPTER 4
Rena brought them to an Italian restaurant. From the outside, it wasn’t extravagant and didn’t attract attention. The black wooden façade was simple, growing ivy plants falling from each side of the door. The name, Il Giramondo, was carved in white letters, with underneath an inscription in Latin: Tempore superiore reversus. Why did Rena decide to bring them here? Was it because the restaurant was located in the old, preserved district of the city, a small oasis of nostalgia in the futuristic Tokyo?
Jurina was not prepared for what she was about to discover. Jurina followed the other girl inside, her eyes widening in surprise when she took in the rich interior decoration. In an instant, she had been transported back in time to Ancient Rome. She had to blink to make sure her sight was not deceiving her.
The first thing that caught her attention were the colored, detailed frescos decorating the large walls of the restaurant. On one of them, Jurina recognized Diana, goddess of the hunt, with her familiar bow and quiver. Represented in the middle of a forest, a deer was holding his head high, and standing proudly beside her.
On the following fresco, was depicted her ephebe twin brother and the god of music, truth and prophecy; Phoebus. Sun shining brightly behind his head, he was wearing a long blue cape on his shoulders, his blond, curly hair floating in the air as he was riding a golden chariot pulled by four majestic white horses.
The Roman frescos were not the only thing that provoked Jurina’s awe. Perfectly sculpted marble statues of Roman gods also ornamented alcoves in the decorated walls. And what about the impressive Roman pillars raising in the air, up to the ceiling representing the all mighty Jupiter laying in a bed of clouds?
The decoration was so magnificent, that Jurina was at a loss for words. How come had she never heard of such an extraordinary place? She felt privileged standing in such a majestic place. The change of scenery was complete, and the contrast sharp with the modernity of Japan’s capital.
“Welcome Matsui-san. It’s always a pleasure.” A man, elegantly dressed in a black tuxedo, addressed the head of Matsui Corporation. “The usual table?”
“Good evening, Enrico. Please.” Rena nodded, diverting her attention to the girl by her side who had stayed quiet since they entered the restaurant. Rena smiled knowingly when Jurina gazed around in admiration. That was a look she was familiar with. The first time she had entered Il Giramondo, she had also instantly fallen in love with it.
“Let me check if it’s available.” The Italian receptionist looked down to his screen, then glanced back at her with a smile. “It is. Please follow me.”
“You should have warned me it was a fancy restaurant,” Jurina said, after they took a seat at a table located in a quiet area of the restaurant. “I feel a bit… undressed.”
Rena laughed softly at her embarrassment. “Don’t worry about it. You’re perfect just as you are. I’m not dressed up for the occasion either.”
A waiter was waiting a little further away, and Jurina recalled the older girl had also called him by his name upon her arrival. It was now obvious to her that she was familiar with this place. “You come here often.”
“I’ve eaten here more than a few times over the years. The food is excellent, and I find the atmosphere enchanting.”
“I can understand that.” Jurina let her eyes travel around the place. She was having a hard time tearing her eyes away from the sight offered to her. Even after taking a good look at her arrival, she still managed to notice some new details. The reconstitution work of the Roman period was impressive. “This is…”
“Fascinating? I understand how you feel. Nevermind how many times I’ve been here, this place still has a profound, emotional impact on me. You see, my great-grandfather was an archeologist.” Rena swept around the main room, her voice softening as fond memories invaded her mind. “When I was a child, he would bring me with him on excavation sites. I admired his patience and devotion to his work. He was a shy, introvert man, but I would never forget the glint in his eyes each time he made a new discovery. His silent happiness spoke louder than a thousand words.”
“He passed on to you his passion for History,” Jurina said, as realization dawned on her. “He’s the reason why this time machine project is so important.”
“Spending so many hours between those ancient stones had provoked my curiosity and triggered my imagination. A few times, I would mention to him my dream to go back in time. Marvel at Ancient Roman and Greek temples, wander in the cobblestone streets of a 19th century Paris, or live amongst the most famous Sengoku period’s warlords and samurais. There was no limit to my imagination. Each time, he would just smile and look at me tenderly. My great-grandfather was a kind and gentle man. He didn’t have the heart to hurt the innocent child that I was, by telling me it was a foolish, impossible dream.”
“It may have been back then,” Jurina conceded. Twenty years ago, technology was not as advanced as it currently was in 2050. Her great-grandfather’s reserve was understandable. “But not anymore. Your dream is anything but foolish and impossible, and I’m planning on fulfilling it.”
Rena’s eyes fell back on her, detecting the determination in her voice. Jurina’s unfailing motivation never ceased to amaze her. Rena had a wonderful team composed of skilled scientists and experts, but nothing compared with Jurina’s dedication to this project. “I know you are doing everything in your capacity to build the time machine,” Rena murmured, reaching across the table to take her hand.
Her assistant’s good intentions were acknowledged from the very first day they met. However, Rena couldn’t ignore a little voice at the back of her head. A voice that was constantly reminding her not to get her hopes up. More than anyone else, she wanted to believe in the success of this ambitious project, but she had to be realistic. There was a strong possibility that, despite her team and Jurina’s best efforts, it might not work out.
“Jurina…” Rena spoke hesitantly, gently squeezing her fingers. “No one believes in this project more than I do. But if it doesn’t work, I will accept it and won’t hold it against anyone. Especially not you.”
“Listen to me. Failure is not an option for me. Nevermind how long it takes, months, years, I will finish the plans of the time machine. You will go back in time. I promise. Do you trust me?”
By her decided look, Rena understood nothing she would add would ever be enough to convince her of otherwise. “Of course, I do.”
A satisfied expression plastered Jurina’s features.
The male waiter approached their table. “May I take your order?”
Jurina buried her nose in the menu. By her lasting silence, it wasn’t hard for Rena to figure out that her assistant had absolutely no idea what to eat. They had been too engrossed in their conversation, marveling at the restaurant decoration surrounding them, to pay attention to the menu in front of them.
“We need a little more time,” Rena said, when Jurina didn’t reply. “Can you please come back in a few minutes, Angelo?”
The waiter nodded and turned on his heels. “That’s fine, I’ll choose.” Jurina lowered the menu, and gazed back at her. “What do you recommend?”
“The Jumbo shrimp and zucchini risotto is delicious,” Rena replied, without an ounce of hesitation. She could have suggested the whole menu, but she had a soft spot for the restaurant’s specialty. “That’s what I’m going to take tonight.”
“Then I’ll follow your lead. Two risotto, please.”
The waiter left with their order, and they both engaged in a casual conversation, soon distracted when a glass vase of red roses was placed in the middle of the table. Slightly puzzled, Rena shot the waiter a questioning look, only to receive a warm smile in return. “Compliments of the house. Please enjoy your dinner.”
“I understand why you like this restaurant,” Jurina said once he left, admiring the beautiful, fresh red roses between them. “They know how to treat their loyal customers.”
Rena didn’t reply, but couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that this gift hadn’t been placed for the sole purpose of thanking her. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more she wondered if the attentive staff hadn’t read the atmosphere between she and Jurina, and guessed this was a romantic dinner. It would explain why they choose this kind of flowers, as well as its meaningful color.
It was almost midnight when they left Il Giramondo. Small droplets of water hit Rena’s shoulders, and she looked up to the dark sky. It didn’t look like it was going to rain heavily tonight. Nevertheless, Rena retrieved her umbrella from her handbag and placed it above their heads as they began walking away.
“Thank you for inviting me. I really enjoyed it.”
“I’m glad.” Rena’s mouth tugged into a smile of pleasure when she distinguished the enthusiasm in her assistant’s voice. “This place never leaves anyone indifferent. I had a good feeling you would like it.”
“Well, of course, it’s a beautiful restaurant and the food is delicious. But I was mostly talking about the company.”
Rena stopped when fingers gently encircled hers around the handle of the umbrella. The following moment, Jurina was leaning forward, and Rena’s eyes closed on their own volition when soft lips kissed her. The kiss was gentle and chaste, similar to the one they had exchanged at the office. However, Rena was glad there was not an ounce of hesitation between them.
Jurina broke the kiss but didn’t leave her personal space, staring deeply into her eyes. “I like you Rena. I really like you.”
Rena’s heart pounded, and she trembled when fingertips stroke her cheek. No, it was not the first time someone confessed their feelings for her. She had had more than a few suitors in the past. Never such words managed to put her in a flutter before. Since their first encounter, Rena could feel herself changing day by day. Her new assistant had provoked unexpected strong emotions within her.
Could she go back now that she had caught a glimpse of what Akane had described? Did she even want to?
Rena pressed her lips against Jurina’s, the kiss deepening when Jurina snaked an arm around her waist. Yes, those new feelings were sometimes overwhelming, but she couldn’t ignore how she felt. Rena Matsui was never one to hesitate once she knew what she wanted. And, right now, she had one absolute certainty: even if she tried, she wouldn’t be able to separate herself from the girl who shared the same surname.
Because Jurina had already found a place in her heart.
TO BE CONTINUED
Version edited on August 14, 2019
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Finally you wrote about this second dinner. And let me tell you, it's worth to wait because it's amazing!
The dinner was fancy yet sweet (with two roses) and I super like the whole atmosphere. Rena just chose the perfect restaurant! :k-great:
The first thing that caught her attention were the colored, incredibly detailed frescos decorating the large walls of the restaurant. On one of them, Jurina recognized easily Diana goddess of the hunt, with her familiar bow and quiver. Represented in the middle of a forest, a deer was holding his head high, and standing proudly beside her.
On the following fresco was depicted her ephebe twin brother and the god of music, truth and prophecy; Phoebus. Sun shining brightly behind his head, he was wearing a long blue cape on his shoulders, his blond, curly hair floating in the air as he was riding a golden chariot pulled by four majestic white horses.
The Roman frescos were not the only thing that provoked Jurina’s awe. Perfectly sculpted marble statues of Roman gods also ornamented alcoves in the decorated walls. And what about the impressive Roman pillars raising in the air, up to the ceiling representing the all mighty Jupiter laying in a bed of clouds?
I can vividly imagine the restaurant design, and I swear for a moment I hope it does exist.
I kinda expected they would order some pasta (because it's Italian) and they would eat it with chopsticks :v (no, I'm joking)
The name of the restaurant, Il Giramondo, was carved in white letters on the right side of the door, just above an inscription in Latin: Tempore superiore reversus.
And I believe you chose the restaurant name not out of the blue. Also with that Latin inscription. I am sure you carefully thought about it. :cool1:
“But not now. Your dream is anything but foolish and I’m going to fulfill it.”
Jurina is always supportive. She believes in Rena's dream. So sweet of her!
Rena is lucky to have such dedicated assistant (and now also lover).
Aaand...another kiss(es)! I guess they're official now? :luvluv2:
Thanks for the update. I enjoyed reading this chapter. :luvuluvu:
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Somehow I forget everthing else other than the kisses
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Great fanfic Author san.
Never fail to amuse me with your new chapters.
I really enjoy to read all of your fanfic :twothumbs
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Dinner at an Italian restaurant and flowers.
The truth is that it has been very romantic.
Although flowers really have not been Rena's thing, a gift from the restaurant.
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I lost my words in this chapter :')
I love this chapter and I love the atmosphere of the restaurant as well!
Good job Author-san!! :mon thumb:
Everything is going just fine and smoothly that sometimes I'm afraid of what will happen next :mon sweat:
But this is also the first time in my wmatsui shipper career, I stated that "This is too good to be true they need a little more plot twist!" HAHAHAHAHA
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CHAPTER 5
The CEO of Matsui Corporation was having a usual busy day at work, occupied in analyzing a couple of budget reports. Under normal circumstances, the task wouldn’t have required more than two hours of attention. After being locked up in her office for almost three hours, she hadn’t finished, the unexpected delay accumulating her pile of work. Rena found it hard focusing on the content of her tablet, her mind drifting far too often towards the image of her 24-year-old assistant.
She and Jurina had been on two dates, the latter even confessing her feelings for her last evening. This morning, when they found themselves alone in the elevator leading them towards floor 22, they hadn’t been shy to express their mutual attachment with caring words and affectionate kisses. It had been two hours since their last physical contact, the memory of Jurina’s lips softly pressed against hers still lingering on her lips.
Rena, realizing she was once more getting carried away, decided to make a short pause. Lifting her gaze from the tablet, she swept over the working area where her employees were hard at work, lightening up at the new presence. Jurina was standing behind Akane, both women engrossed in a conversation while they were making modifications to the blueprint displayed on the touchscreen.
Rena took advantage of her assistant’s arrival to observe her carefully, warmth spreading through her chest at the view of the girl who had been way too much in her thoughts all morning.
Given Jurina’s serious expression, Rena guessed they were discussing important issues related to the advancement of the time machine. Much as Jurina was capable of having light and trivial conversations during coffee breaks, she had the faculty to focus back on her work without difficulty as soon as she joined back her desk. After a full month of watching her, Rena was still amazed by Jurina’s ability to change mood with such ease.
Rena lost track of time. Without her noticing, seconds transformed into minutes, and ten minutes had already passed. It wasn’t until Jurina took a step back from Akane’s desk, in the intent of leaving, that she understood that she had been staring at her the whole time. Rena shook her head in disapprobation at her own behavior. She couldn’t afford to get so distracted when she had so much work to do. She was already behind schedule.
Rena took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself to get back to work, when their gazes met across the room. At the visual contact, a warm smile moved to Jurina’s lips, which Rena immediately reciprocated. How much she wished she didn’t have that late business meeting tonight. Jurina had offered her to go to the cinemas and, as tempting as the invitation was, she had been forced to decline.
Rena wasn’t even sure when they would be able to go on a date in the near future. These last few months, Matsui Corporation had won a few major international contracts, resulting in long days of work and little free time. As a business woman, Rena couldn’t complain: her company had never been so healthy and successful. But the success of her company also had direct consequences on her personal life.
Rena never minded how time-consuming her job was. These last few years, the company had been everything to her. The situation had changed when Jurina entered the picture. Rena didn’t regret engaging herself in this new relationship. Jurina had provoked something within her that she refused to ignore. Emotions no one had ever been able to make her feel. Despite her tight and complex schedule, she wanted to find time for Jurina. Because she believed her to be completely worth it.
Eventually, the visual contact was broken when Jurina left the office, not without sending her one last affectionate smile in her direction. It took Rena a few more seconds to brush away Jurina’s image, and refocus on her work. Seizing the tablet, she was well-determined to not get distracted anymore, and to finish the task at hand by midday. Unfortunately, her goodwill was put to the test when her office door slid open, Akane moving inside and appearing in front of her.
Despite the interruption, a sincere smile grazed Rena’s lips at the view of her best friend. These last few days, she had been so busy with work that they hadn’t been able to spend much quality time together, and she valued the slightest moment of interaction. However, she frowned a little when she took in Akane’s odd behavior. Her best friend had stepped closer, looking around her as if to make sure no one would enter the office and overhear their conversation, before quickly taking a seat in front of her desk, a wide grin spread all over her face.
“So… you and Jurina are a couple?”
The question caught her completely off guard, and it took Rena several seconds to recover from her shock. How could Akane be aware of that? Her second date with Jurina had just happened yesterday. She didn’t have time to share with her best friend the positive development in their relationship. Could Jurina have spilled the beans? “H–How… How do you know?”
“I wasn’t sure, but now I am,” Akane smirked, proud of herself for making the CEO fall into her trap and confess the truth so easily. “Jurina has been acting weird all morning, not flirting with me or any other woman. At first, I thought maybe she was sick or something, then I realized there could be another plausible reason for her unusual behavior. I assume your second date went well, then?”
“Yes, it did…” Rena admitted a little shyly. After two successful dates, kisses exchanged and a bold confession, Rena couldn’t deny how she felt about her young assistant. They had romantic feelings for each other.
Akane was moved to see her best friend glowing with such happiness. Without thinking twice, she reached across the table to take her hand. “I’m so happy for you. Jurina is a nice person. I wish you both the very best.”
“Thank you,” Rena smiled, squeezing her fingers in return. “We’ve only been on two dates, but I really, really like her. She’s smart, funny and kind. I want this to work, but I don’t want to overreact. It’s just the beginning of our relationship.”
“It will work. And before you know it, you’ll be blissfully married and have little children running around the house.”
Rena let out a laugh and shook her head in amusement. “I know you and Airi tied the knot very fast, but I want to take my time. Besides, I don’t know if Jurina wishes any of those things. I don’t even know if I want them myself. I never… I never considered any of that before.”
At the CEO’s pensive expression, Akane understood why she was being cautious. After all, it was her first relationship. What she was experimenting with Jurina was new to her, and Akane didn’t need to question her to know that she was feeling a bit overwhelmed. She could almost envision the multitude of thoughts and emotions going through Rena’s head since she had fallen under the charm of her assistant.
“I see the way Jurina has been looking at you for the past month,” Akane spoke up, recalling with amusement the way her co-worker had been acting over the moon all morning. “Her feelings for you are sincere, and I can tell she makes you happy.”
“She does. Trust me, she does.”
They shared a fond smile.
Following that, they engaged in a casual conversation. Time flew by as they used the opportunity to catch up with lost time, sharing a few entertaining anecdotes and taking simple pleasure in enjoying each other’s presence. When the digital clock announced that half an hour had passed, Akane stood up from her chair, not wishing to monopolize the CEO’s precious time anymore than necessary. Rena glanced down to her work, ready to concentrate, before looking up in curiosity when the other girl didn’t leave the office.
“I forgot to tell you,” Akane chuckled. She had been so distracted by her best friend’s fascinating new love life, that she had left out an important piece of information about herself. “I’m going to need a leave of absence.”
“Is everything alright?” Rena asked, concerned. Akane had not mentioned her desire to go on vacations, and she feared the worst. “Are you sick?”
“No, nothing like that. This is good news. Very good news.”
Akane’s enigmatic words provoked her perplexity, until realization hit her when Akane placed her palm over her stomach. “It worked? You are expecting?”
Rena got up on her feet and made her way around the desk, pulling her best friend into a hug. “Congratulations! You and Airi are going to be wonderful parents!”
Akane returned the embrace, laughing at her friend’s overflowing enthusiasm. It wasn’t every day that you could provoke such a spontaneous reaction from the so calm and collected CEO of Matsui Corporation. “Thank you. It means a lot coming from you. We received the confirmation this morning.”
“Have you picked up a name, yet?” Rena’s eyes flickered between her and the still very flat stomach of her best friend.
“We are thinking of calling her Shizuru,” Akane replied, entertained by the amusing sight offered to her. Rena was obsessed by her stomach, even though it was not showing in the slightest. “And I’m sure our child will soon want a nice friend to play with...”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything.” A smile moved to Rena’s lips at her friend’s small teasing tone.
Rena shook her head lightly and let out a small sigh of content, staring back at Akane’s flat stomach. For months, her best friend had mentioned her strong desire to have a child with Airi. That day had finally happened. Rena found herself a bit emotional as she reflected upon her long-lasting friendship with Akane and everything they had been through. From friends in college, Akane had not hesitated to follow her when Rena had taken the reins of the company. And now here they were, working together, her best friend married with the woman she loved and about to have a family.
TO BE CONTINUED
Version edited on August 17, 2019.
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Furuyanagi are having a child!!!!! Repeat!! Furuyanagi are having a child!!!!! :cow:
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:onioncheer: :onioncheer: A baby a baby !! :onioncheer: :onioncheer:
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Furuyanagi are having a child!!!!! Repeat!! Furuyanagi are having a child!!!!! :cow:
Yes!! Furuyanagay!!! :D
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So, Akane and Airi will have a baby! Jurina and Rena are now officially a couple. Things moved fast. I'm not surprised if there would be a WMatsui wedding in the next chapter. :hehehe:
Thank you for the update, author-san. :k-great: Your consistency to write WMatsui fics is awesome. It's been TWO YEARS and counting! I appreciate it. Ganbatte!
Ps. There's no ALFRED in this chapter. I thought you would put him here like you hinted on your twitter. :err:
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REPLIES TO COMMENTS
Furuyanagi are having a child!!!!! Repeat!! Furuyanagi are having a child!!!!! :cow:
:onioncheer: :onioncheer: A baby a baby !! :onioncheer: :onioncheer:
Yes!! Furuyanagay!!! :D
Yes, one happy couple is going to have a child ;)
Ps. There's no ALFRED in this chapter. I thought you would put him here like you hinted on your twitter. :err:
There was supposed to be Alfred in this chapter but as the chapter was getting too long, I had to cut it in two. Alfred will be in the next chapter :P
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Haroooo S!
Had read this chapter long time ago but I forgot to leave a comment :banghead:
So, Furuyanagi senpai finally having a baby!! YAAAAAAY!! Somehow I think this moment will encourage our wmatsui to tie the knot :whistle:
Btw, Author-chan, I know it's not easy to be a wmatsui fanfic writer nowadays moreover when the actual ship has already sunk :tama-piss: and the reader of the fic keeps decreasing (._. )
But what I like about wmatsui fandom is..... the shippers never really leave the shinking ship while they complained a lot about this ship especially the veteran shipper xD
Recently I did a little research by searching "wmatsui" on Twitter and surprisingly some people are still talking about them especially the shippers that I know they have been wmatsui shippers since few years ago, isn't that interesting?
I know some of them might have stopped reading fics but eventually I'm sure they'll come back! And I think this is something that will give you enough reason to keep going, Author-san!
Thanks for the update as always :tama-bigheart:
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CHAPTER 6
Three weeks later.
Jurina was pacing back and forth in her living room, stopping now and then to take a nervous look around the apartment. Tonight, Rena was visiting her place for the first time, and she wanted to be sure everything was perfect. Lately, they had been both so busy with their job. Rena often had late meetings and business trips, while Jurina liked to stay late at the office to progress on the blueprint of the time machine.
They had been seeing each other after work, but never the opportunity to invite Rena at her place had presented itself until today. After a month of dating, Jurina believed it was the right time to move things forward. All she needed was to find a date that fitted their busy schedules, and they agreed on this Saturday evening.
Jurina stole a peek at her watch in apprehension: the other girl should be here at any moment. As she was about to check one last time that everything was in order for Rena’s arrival, the metallic voice of her humanoid robot sounded behind her back.
“Mistress, you’re behaving strangely this evening.” Alfred came to stand in front of her. “Are you sick? Do you need medicine?”
Jurina looked down to him in confusion. She had been so engrossed in her thoughts for the past two hours, that she had barely paid attention to her faithful servant. “No, I’m fine. Why are you asking that?”
“It’s the third time you’re checking that everything is in place. If you’re not sick, then does it mean you don’t trust Alfred?”
“Of course, I trust you,” Jurina reassured him. Alfred had been of great help these last two hours, tidying the apartment and preparing everything necessary for her dinner at home with Rena. Jurina’s perfectionist side had led her to double-check behind him, and it occurred to her the wrong impression it must had given. “You were perfect,” Jurina said, but could tell by her robot’s worried look that he wasn’t convinced. “You were, really. I just want everything to go well tonight.”
“Why wouldn’t it go well? Mistress likes Rena-san, and Rena-san likes Mistress. Nothing can go wrong.”
Jurina smiled, amused by her robot’s unique sense of logic.
Deciding she had done enough pacing for the evening, Jurina went to take a seat on the sofa, her robot’s feet sounding on the floor as he followed her. She looked up at him and took a deep breath, knowing deep down that he had a point. For some reason, apprehension refused to leave her, but she couldn’t do anything about it. “It’s normal to feel a bit anxious when you invite for the first time to your place someone who means a lot to you. And Rena is someone special to me.”
Jurina hoped her explanation would satisfy her robot’s curiosity, but all she got in return was a questioning stare. She searched in her head a better way to explain things, a little frustrated with herself when nothing came to mind. An apologetic smile fell upon her lips and she extended her arm, gently patting the robot’s head. Alfred may be an intelligent and evolved robot, there were many things that escaped his understanding.
At the sound of the door ringing, Jurina stood up at once. Her guest had arrived. Anticipation built up at the pit of her stomach, and she went to open the door. When she locked gaze with the 26-year-old woman standing on her doorstep, her mouth curved into a large smile, happiness shining from her as she invited her in. Rena Matsui, the person she could now proudly call her girlfriend, was mesmerizingly beautiful.
As soon as the door closed behind her, their lips met, Jurina pulling her closer while Rena’s arms slipped around her neck. They hadn’t seen each other all day, and Jurina had missed the drugging sensation of Rena’s warm lips against hers. Jurina didn’t consider herself as a clingy girlfriend, but the older girl had such a magnetic effect on her that if was hard to stay away from her.
Their lips never parted as they renewed their affection with gentle kisses, neither of them showing any sign of wanting to break free. Jurina relished the contact of their lips brushing slowly against each other, and the feeling of Rena’s warm body secured in her arms. When Rena whispered her name between kisses, Jurina fluttered her eyes open, warmth spreading through her chest when the older girl ran her fingers through her black shoulder-length hair with affection.
The gesture prompted Jurina to press Rena’s body closer against hers, and she smiled into the kiss when the other girl giggled in reaction. She gave Rena one last lingering kiss before pulling away, just enough to sweep over her form in appreciation. The 26-year-old girl was wearing her familiar black trench coat, along with matching long leather boots. Ah yes, that’s right. The weather forecast had announced rain for today. However, she was a little startled to discover that her appearance was not as neat as usual.
Her long black hair was perfectly dry, but her coat showed sign of having met the rain at a few places. An amused smile moved to Jurina’s lips at the sight, and she couldn’t help but tease her. “You got a little wet.”
“I-I did,” Rena conceded, a little embarrassed. “Lately, it happened more than I would have expected.”
Jurina took a step back, giving her enough space to let her remove her coat. However, she soon noticed that something else was monopolizing Rena’s attention, as she was now looking behind her back. Startled, Jurina turned around, only to discover the one and only Alfred standing behind her.
“This is Alfred, my humanoid robot.” Jurina shot her robot an amused look. He was looking at their new guest with great interest. “Alfred, this is Rena.”
Rena approached and kneeled in front of him, smiling as she shook his hand. “Hi Alfred. Nice to meet you.”
The robot didn’t reply to the friendly greeting, and Jurina arched an eyebrow. Alfred was a polite and well-behaved robot, and his silence confused her. Had he not heard her? Was there a problem with his audition? His sight seemed to work perfectly fine, considering how intensely he was staring at their guest.
“Mistress Rena…”
Jurina didn’t believe her ears at the dreamy tone in her robot’s metallic voice. Since she acquired him three years ago, never had she distinguished such a peculiar and strong fluctuation in his voice. She didn’t even know his program was capable of it. And, for some odd reason, it appeared that the presence of their new guest had triggered this unusual response.
“Please don’t hesitate if you need anything.” The robot’s big blue eyes were transfixed on Rena as he held her hand back tightly. “I’m at your entire service.”
Jurina met her girlfriend’s hesitant look. Rena was taken aback by her robot’s strange behavior and his sudden devotion to her. Rena’s mouth opened and closed a few times, her eyes flickering back and forth between Jurina and the robot, not knowing how to react to the small robot that refused to let go of her hand.
Jurina smiled at the amusing scene unfolding in front of her, now having a good hunch of what might be happening. As curious as it may seem, Alfred had purely and simply fallen under the charm of their guest. To be honest, she did wonder how Alfred would react to meeting her girlfriend for the first time. In the end, it appeared she had nothing to fear. Alfred was completely fond of her.
“Alfred.” Jurina intervened, when the robot showed no sign of wishing to separate himself from Rena. “Can you go and prepare the food?”
The pair of blue eyes that had been captivated by the woman in front of him paid attention to her. For an instant, Jurina wondered if he was going to obey, as he didn’t move an inch. Thankfully, Jurina didn’t have to repeat herself, as he produced a small sound of agreement and his small mechanical white fingers slowly let go of Rena’s hand.
Rena raised to her feet, her gaze following the robot moving towards the kitchen. “Your humanoid robot seems nice and very curious. Is there any specific reason why he called me Mistress?”
“Ah, that…” Jurina cleared her throat in discomfort.
Rena’s question was legitimate. It was a respectful term only used by robots to call their owners. Aside from herself, never had he called anyone in that way until today. Jurina was starting to get an idea of what might be going on inside her robot’s head. Not only Alfred already seemed particularly attached to their guest, Jurina wondered if he hadn’t convinced himself that Rena was not just a passing visitor, but she would soon become a permanent resident.
Jurina didn’t believe to have said anything to give him such an impression. Every time she chatted with her robot and answered his overflow of questions regarding the development of her relationship with Rena, he acted far too impatient and eager to see things moving forward between them. Jurina didn’t feel at ease sharing with Rena her robot’s strange and embarrassing behavior. She preferred to play it safe, even if it meant having to tell a small white lie.
“I have no idea why he said that. Alfred is a robot full of surprises.” Jurina made sure her tone sounded convincing enough to conceal the truth. Judging by Rena’s reaction, her explanation had satisfied her enough, not detecting an ounce of doubt within Rena’s small brown orbs when the latter smiled and leaned closer to give her a kiss.
Jurina was tossing and turning on the sofa, unable to sleep. A small groan left her lips in frustration and she fluttered her eyes open, casting a look at the digital clock on the wall. 00:22. Way past her usual bedtime. Why on earth couldn’t she find sleep? Ah, that’s right. She couldn’t sleep because her head was filled with thoughts of Rena. Her girlfriend whom she had invited over tonight and was currently sleeping in her bedroom.
Jurina closed her eyes shut, much in vain. Not only couldn’t she stop thinking about her, she didn’t feel sleepy at all. Pushing the bedcover aside, she took a seat on the sofa, pondering on finding an occupation. Maybe it would tire her enough to put her to sleep? While thinking of a potential activity that could do the trick, Jurina’s keen hearing perceived the sound of little feet moving on the floor.
Jurina blinked, discovering that her robot had left his loading station by the television and was approaching her position on the sofa. Despite the darkness surrounding her, his large blue eyes glowed in the night. “Can’t sleep, Mistress?” Alfred raised his left arm and opened his hand. “Please take this pill. It will help you fall asleep.”
Jurina was touched by her robot’s thoughtful attention, but shook her head negatively at the blue pill he was showing to her. With that powerful pill, great invention of the last decade, you could fall asleep in less than ten seconds. And without any side effects. Under other circumstances, she would have considered his offer. In the past, she had already used that miraculous pill more times than she could count.
Tonight, she decided to pass, hoping for sleep to claim her naturally. “Thank you, but I don’t want to use it. I just need to find another way to occupy my mind.”
Alfred closed his mechanical hand, but didn’t leave her side. “Can I ask you a question, Mistress?”
Jurina frowned a little. What could her robot want to ask her at such a time? It was past midnight. A time very unusual for a series of questions. However, she had to admit the distraction was appreciated. Maybe a little chat was all she needed to fall into Morpheus’s arms? “Yes, what is it?”
“Why are you not sleeping in your bed? I’ve been trying to understand since 10:22 p.m. what logical reason you could have for offering Rena-san your bed and choosing yourself to sleep here. I couldn’t find an answer in any of my programs. I even looked it up on the network, but my research came back with no result.”
Jurina was slightly caught off guard. Lately, it appeared Alfred enjoyed asking impossible questions. At least, it definitely felt this way, as she found it more and more difficult to answer. “Rena is my guest,” Jurina whispered, making sure to keep her voice low enough to not accidentally wake up the other girl sleeping in the bedroom. “It’s common curtesy to offer your guest the best accommodation possible. It wouldn’t be considered proper to have her sleep on the sofa.”
Jurina left out the fact that she wouldn’t be capable of keeping her hands to herself very long if she shared a bed with her girlfriend. After being at her service for more than three years, there was no doubt that Alfred was aware of every single one of her tastes and habits. However, if there’s one thing she was not ready to share with him, it was her carnal desires and sexual urges.
Alfred seemed to meditate her reply, but Jurina could guess he was not over with the subject. A prediction that got confirmed when he spoke again. “Don’t you want to sleep with Rena-san?”
“Of course, I want to sleep with her.” The answer left Jurina’s lips naturally, before widening her eyes in shock at how it sounded. Her innocent robot only meant it in the literal sense, but she thought it wiser to reformulate. “I mean, of course I want to share a bed with her,” she corrected, relieved when it seemed by Alfred’s unfazed look that he truly didn’t catch the double meaning. “But it’s something quite… intimate. Both parties need to agree and feel comfortable enough about it.”
“Mistress has never shared a bed with Rena-san before,” Alfred stated, to which Jurina confirmed with a nod. “But I’m sure Rena-san wouldn’t mind if you joined her. After all, Mistress and Rena-san engaged in a lot of intimate activities after dinner. I even fear Mistress missed most of the movie, which is a real shame as Alfred happened to find it very entertaining.”
Her robot’s tone was nothing but genuine, but Jurina felt like a deer caught in the headlights. Now, she was conscious to have been far too distracted by her girlfriend’s presence to pay attention to her robot’s whereabouts. In fact, Jurina didn’t even recall seeing Alfred around when she had suggested a movie to Rena, and they had comfortably settled on the sofa to watch it. She was convinced to have told him that she wouldn’t need his assistance for the rest of the evening, but it appeared her humanoid robot had not gone very far after all.
She and Rena hadn’t done more than kissing, yet she was embarrassed by the thought that her robot was present and witnessed everything. Jurina was still processing the news when she caught the sound of the bedroom’s door opening. She didn’t have the opportunity to react that her robot had preceded her, his eyes widening as he glanced over her shoulder in the direction of the bedroom. Without warning, he turned around, disappearing from her sight as fast as his little feet could carry him.
Jurina followed his flee in amusement as he retreated to the charging station, the light of his glowing blue eyes fading in the darkness. The green light located on the right side of his neck turned red, indicating that the robot had disactivated himself. When bare foot sounded on the floor behind her, Jurina forgot all about her loyal servant, and glanced up when Rena appeared beside the sofa. Jurina had not a clue what prompted her to leave the bedroom at such a late time of the night, but a part of her was pleased by the unexpected visit.
“I can’t sleep,” Rena confessed.
Jurina gave her a concerned look. “Is something wrong? Are you cold? There’s a switch by the side of the bed to adjust the temperature. It will heat the bed in a few seconds.”
“Yes, I know. But no, that’s not it…” Rena smiled faintly.
Rena’s fingers were tapping lightly against the side of the sofa, her eyes firmly set on her the whole time. Rena’s behavior unsettled her a little. Why did she say that she couldn’t sleep? Was something troubling her? And what about the long and lingering gaze her girlfriend was sending her, giving her the strong impression that she was expecting something from her?
Rena’s feet moved forward and she walked around the sofa. Jurina detected her intention to sit and she scooted further away, Rena taking a seat beside her and slipping her hand inside hers the following moment. They shared a smile, and Jurina gave her hand a light squeeze, lacing their fingers together. Jurina couldn’t help it; she took advantage of the proximity to capture Rena’s lips.
The older girl returned the kiss, but Jurina couldn’t shake the odd feeling that something was not right. Rena was unusually tense, and Jurina slowly broke the kiss to look at her. Rena was a confident woman who knew what she wanted, and never hesitated before making a decision. In fact, it was part of this aspect of her personality that got Jurina attracted to her in the first place. But, right now, Rena’s body language spoke louder than words. Something was clearly bothering her.
“This doesn’t feel right. You shouldn’t be sleeping here.”
Jurina’s eyes flared wide with surprise, getting a better grasp of the situation. Earlier on, Rena had not protested when she had offered her to sleep in the bedroom, even if her small hesitant look hadn’t gone unnoticed. Jurina had not thought too much of it, convinced to be doing the right thing, and simply made sure her girlfriend was well settled in for the night when she turned the lights off.
Jurina was about to explain why she had opted for this arrangement, when a pair of lips fell upon hers. Closing her eyes, Jurina let out a moan, granting Rena’s silent wish when she nibbled on her lower lip. Parting her lips, the kiss deepened, their tongues touching and dancing together.
Jurina snaked an arm around Rena’s waist, massaging Rena’s back through the thin fabric of her tee-shirt. Rena’s kisses were becoming more demanding, much to Jurina’s delight. She secretly enjoyed it when the older girl took the lead, which happened more and more frequently these past few weeks. Was it her imagination, or her girlfriend was even being bolder than usual tonight?
When Rena broke their heated kiss, Jurina was grateful for the small respite, allowing her to catch some air and get a better hold of her emotions. A flicker of doubt made her anxious, asking herself if it wasn’t wiser to stop before the situation escalated. They had only been dating for a month, and Jurina feared the other girl might not be ready to bring their relationship to the next level.
Jurina never made it a secret; she had had a few lovers in the past. One girl in college mattered especially to her, up to the point that after two years of dating, Jurina imagined a possible future with her. Fate decided otherwise. One evening, Jurina caught the girl she loved the most in the world in bed with someone else, the infidelity shattering her heart into pieces. Time had passed, and her heart had eventually mended, opening up to new opportunities. She had had a few flings, but nothing serious, and it wasn’t until her encounter with Rena that she decided to take another leap of faith.
Jurina didn’t doubt the sincerity of Rena’s feelings for her, but she couldn’t forget that she was experimenting all those emotions for the first time. One evening, the CEO had admitted that this was her very first relationship. Jurina received the revelation with surprise, but she wasn’t put off by her inexperience. She had already fallen too deeply in love with Rena to care any less.
Jurina jolted out of her thoughts when the older girl extracted herself from the embrace and raised from the sofa. When Rena extended her hand, Jurina gave her a small perplexed look. “Come. I refuse to let you sleep here.”
Jurina swallowed hard, conflicted. A part of her wanted to get up and accept the tempting invitation, but another wasn’t sure that they were on the same page. Refusing to let any form of misunderstanding come between them, she decided it was best to be honest with her. “I want to follow you,” Jurina said, the pull to take that offered hand becoming harder to resist as the seconds went by. “But I’m not sure we are both ready for the same thing.”
Silence enveloped them, and Jurina felt a small pang in her chest when she saw the older girl withdrawing her hand. She took it as an evident sign that Rena had understood her intentions were anything but pure, and was declining them. Jurina forced a smile, not wishing to be alarmed by the rejection. After all, it had only been a month. She simply needed to be a little more patient, which she was more than willing to do for someone she believed to be completely worth it. Having Rena’s heart and being by her side already made her the happiest person alive.
“I’m sorry,” Rena murmured.
Jurina shook her head, refusing to let her feel guilty. “Why are you apologizing? It’s fine. There’s no rush. Why don’t you go back to bed? Try to relax and empty your head, I’m sure you’ll fall asleep again.”
“No, that’s not why I’m apologizing. I’m apologizing because I shouldn’t have let you sleep here in the first place.”
Rena took her hand, giving it a light, decided tug. The invitation was silently renewed, the explicit desire dancing in her girlfriend’s eyes destroying Jurina’s last shred of resistance. Jurina nodded and intertwined their fingers, following the older girl as she slowly led them to the bedroom. As soon as the bedroom door closed behind them, their lips reconnected, wishing to express in every kiss, touch and caress their mutual affection and attraction. There was no haste in their actions while they removed their clothes, taking time to look at each other and savor the special moment.
Once no more piece of clothing covered them, they slid under the sheets and Jurina slowly moved on top of her, struck by the vulnerability displayed when Rena’s body trembled underneath her touch. It didn’t matter how confident Rena proved to be on a daily basis, especially when she assumed the role of CEO of one of the leading companies in the country. Right now, she was in unknown territory, and Jurina imagined how frightening it had to be to not be in control.
Jurina gave a nervous swallow and tenderly cupped Rena’s cheek, brushing her lips lightly with her own. Nothing she could say would ever be enough to fully erase the apprehension that had appeared in the depth of Rena’s brown eyes. The moment was too important, too anticipated to achieve such a miracle. But it didn’t mean she wasn’t going to do everything in her capacity to make sure Rena kept the most pleasant memories of her first time.
Jurina kissed her neck and shoulders while she caressed her whole body with gentle hands, not missing a single spot. She worshipped the flawless skin she was discovering and touching for the first time, so intimately yet so carefully and gently. She could feel Rena’s heart pounding beneath her palm, matching her own. She slowly caressed and kissed her breasts, Jurina’s pulse fluttering when Rena’s breathing became shallow and a few moans of pleasure escaped her quivering lips.
Jurina slid one hand between Rena’s thighs and gently parted them, tasting the waters. Rena’s chest was rising and falling with rapid intakes of breath, and she was now gazing at her a little apprehensively. Jurina gave her a soft, reassuring smile and cradled her face between her hands, feeling a deep sense of love and admiration for the woman secured in her arms. “Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?” She whispered softly against her lips, and Rena’s eyes gleamed with sudden emotion.
Rena opened her mouth to speak, but as words seemed to fail her, her mouth instead captured hers in a soft and gentle kiss. They shared long slow melting kisses, Jurina feeling Rena reaching for her hand and progressively guiding it back on her thigh. Jurina fluttered her eyes open, understanding the silent invitation conveyed. She kissed her again with all the love she could impart from her soul and her hand descended, rubbing against the soft curls there, tentatively exploring. Very gently, she probed her entrance with her finger, parting her folds so she could settle her fingertips inside. Little by little, with no haste, after a few gentle attempts, she broke the fragile barrier and entered her wetness.
An anticipated cry was muffled against her shoulder and Jurina paused her progression, pressing a quick kiss to her temple. She wrapped her body into her protective arms, wishing to reassure her that she had nothing to fear. Taking her time, Jurina planted a kiss on her hair, then on her cheek, on her nose, and then her kisses trailed slowly to her mouth. She felt her girlfriend beginning to relax, allowing her to invade her mouth, moving with her at the pace she set, giving in once more to her control.
Jurina’s hand fondled her wetness gently, transforming her pain in moans of pleasure. Jurina stroked her more deeply, gliding her finger back and forth inside her to explore her soft, hot flesh. Rena moaned and squeezed her, and Jurina felt a flash of joy nearly as intense as the pleasure she was getting from making love to her.
At each stroke, Rena moaned a long-draw-out sigh of pleasure, and Jurina felt Rena’s body respond eagerly, knowing that she was close to her release. Jurina felt her walls clenching and tightening around her finger, and she added a second digit, guessing the beginning of her climax as she breathed her name, and she pushed her over the edge. When she tensed and rocked against her, she knew she was close. She gave her more, increasing the speed of her strokes, heightening the pleasure.
Rena cried out, and Jurina kept her fingers inside, letting her feel everything as she rode out her orgasm. As Rena clung to her, still rocked by the intensity of her climax, Jurina’s heart was beating erratically, realizing that her most perfect fantasy of all was well within reach. Shuddering in her arms was someone she loved with all her heart; Rena brought her a sense of peace and belonging she didn’t believe she would ever feel again. Jurina lifted her head and when Rena opened her eyes, smiled down at her, witnessing the emotion and pleasure bright in Rena’s eyes. Jurina moved her lips tenderly against hers, her eyes moistening with happiness as she refused to ignore her instincts. Now more than ever, she was absolutely sure of it. She had found the one in the person of Rena Matsui.
TO BE CONTINUED
Version edited on August 20, 2019.
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Oh wow it's only a month and they already....... (I'll stop there :shy2: :shy2:)
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1. ALFRED YOU'RE SO ADORABLE!!!! :onioncheer:
2. THEY'RE GOING TO WAKE UP LATE I'M 1000% SURE MWAHAHAHAHAH :on lol:
3. THANK YOU AUTHOR-SAN! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOUUUUUU :on gay: :on gay:
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I really like Alfred in this chapter :fap :w00t:
Alfred i'm your fans :nervous
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OMG… Alfred was too cute in this chapter! :k-inlove: I really enjoyed his appearance. He was not only being very attentive and curious, he also cared about his mistress so much.
“Mistress, you’re behaving strangely this evening,” Alfred affirmed as he came to stand in front of her and gazed at her curiously. “Are you sick? Do you need medicine?”
....
“Can’t sleep, mistress?” The little robot asked in concern, raising his left arm and presenting to her the content inside his hand. “You can take this sleeping pill if you wish. You’ll fall asleep instantly.”
He is sweet. :luvluv1:
“It’s now the third time you’re checking everything is right in place,” the robot reminded her. “If you’re not sick, then does it mean you don’t trust Alfred?”
And now I know he has a sensitive side, too, which makes him even cuter haha!
I actually laughed during the part when Alfred said Rena's name in the dreamy tone and when he couldn't let go of Rena's hand. (It's Rena's effect, I don't blame him.) I also couldn't help but giggling when he asked Jurina why she didn't share the same bed with Rena.
“Why are you not sleeping in your bed?” Alfred asked. “I’ve been trying to understand since 10.22 PM what logical reason you could have for offering Rena-san your bed and choosing yourself to sleep here, but I could not find an answer in any of my programs.”
Alfred was just pure like spring water in the mountain, and I like it when he tilted his head slightly to the side when he didn't understand something.
I will make sure that 34 years from now - in 2050 - I buy one robot like Alfred. :cool1:
ANYWAY..
Jurina and Rena's relationship is moving fast to the next step. Unlike Rena, Jurina had some ex-es before. Will one of them show up eventually? :on blackhole:
THEY'RE GOING TO WAKE UP LATE I'M 1000% SURE MWAHAHAHAHAH :on lol:
I KNOW RIGHT. :shy1:
Thank you for the update, Sophcaro-san. I really enjoyed this chapter. :luvuluvu:
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REPLIES TO COMMENTS
Oh wow it's only a month and they already....... (I'll stop there :shy2: :shy2:)
They already what? I have no idea what you're talking about :mon misch:
2. THEY'RE GOING TO WAKE UP LATE I'M 1000% SURE MWAHAHAHAHAH :on lol:
Good thing they don't have to wake up early on a Sunday anyway! Plenty of time to share a bed :grin:
1. ALFRED YOU'RE SO ADORABLE!!!! :onioncheer:
I really like Alfred in this chapter :fap :w00t:
Alfred i'm your fan :nervous
OMG… Alfred was too cute in this chapter! :k-inlove: I really enjoyed his appearance. He was not only being very attentive and curious, he also cared about his mistress so much.
Alfred is one cute robot, right? I love him too :wub:
I actually laughed during the part when Alfred said Rena's name in the dreamy tone and when he couldn't let go of Rena's hand. (It's Rena's effect, I don't blame him.)
Yep. Rena has that kind of effect on humans AND robots too 8)
Alfred was just pure like spring water in the mountain
I think that sums up pretty well Alfred's personality :lol:
Jurina and Rena's relationship is moving fast to the next step. Unlike Rena, Jurina had some ex-es before. Will one of them show up eventually?
No Jurina's ex will play a major role in this story, don't worry about that ;)
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Okay just finished marathon reading this.
Hahahaha can someone create alfred for real :lol:
Why it call rena as mistress too? Isn't it weird?
Lol jurina being cautious over how to progress the relationship.
And hey churi is pregnant! XD
I adore churi so thinking about her pregnancy is quite happy moment for me (though it just fic) hahaha 😁
Anyway, merry Christmas soph! Have a nice holiday and time for family 😊😊
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CHAPTER 7
Jurina stirred at the sound of the radio playing in the bedroom, the music slowly waking her up from her peaceful slumber. Despite knowing today was a workday, her body was reluctant to leave the comfort of her cozy bed, even less the warm embrace of her girlfriend. It only took Jurina a few seconds to recognize the old song playing, the lyrics of Sinatra’s lively song resonating within her.
I've got you under my skin
I have got you, deep in the heart of me
So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me
I've got you under my skin
Oh, yes; Rena had managed to get under her skin. She and Rena had been together for six months, their relationship taking a step further when she moved in Rena’s house a month ago. Despite being located in Denenchofu – one of Tokyo’s wealthiest residential neighborhoods – it wasn’t as modern or robotized as you could expect. In fact, Denenchofu was a quiet and green residential area, void of the excessive technology you could find in Tokyo and other surrounding wealthy suburbs.
Jurina didn’t regret leaving behind her apartment in Ginza. She didn’t consider herself as a materialistic person, and had only started occupying the place when she got hired by Matsui Corporation. Before that, she would constantly move from one place to another, depending on her next job’s location.
Jurina was a person who valued punctuality above all, but this morning, she certainly didn’t wish to get up. Blindly reaching for the alarm-clock that had disturbed her sleep, she put an end to the music, the bedroom plunging again into a pleasant silence. Jurina didn’t detect any sound or movement behind her, reassured that the music hadn’t woken up her girlfriend. Believing she could afford a few more minutes of sleep, she made herself comfortable in Rena’s arms again.
Jurina began to drift off, her keen hearing soon perceiving the sound of the mattress shifting beside her. “We should get up if we don’t want to be late…”
Despite Rena’s reminder that they couldn’t stay lazily in bed as they enjoyed doing during the week-end, a smile of content grazed her lips when a tender kiss was placed on her cheek. How could Jurina desire to get out of bed when she was feeling so relaxed? A little voice inside her head was taunting her to find a clever way to buy herself time. “I think my employer will be lenient if I arrive a few minutes late.”
Rena laughed softly. “You seem so confident. Why do you believe your employer will make an exception for you?”
Jurina distinguished the light teasing in Rena’s voice, and she smiled, turning around to face her. Her gaze fell upon the pair of small brown orbs that she adored so much, and she claimed Rena’s lips in a morning kiss. Releasing a blissful sigh, she swept over Rena’s form in unconcealed appreciation. From her flawless and feminine delicate features, to her long shiny black hair falling down her chest, Jurina found herself enchanted by her girlfriend’s natural beauty. Even at 8 a.m. in the morning, with tired eyes and messy hair, she found her as adorable as ever.
Jurina fondled a few strands of her hair, wrapping her arm around Rena’s waist underneath the bedsheet, her gaze wandering over Rena’s V-neck red night dress. It was the first time she was wearing it, having it bought last week-end during an afternoon of shopping. In 2050, physical clothing shops were few and far, and gave way to the progressive dominance of online stores. Jurina was used to ordering clothes on a virtual catalogue, but her girlfriend remained a little old-fashioned on the subject, refusing to buy anything she hadn’t touched and tried on beforehand.
It had been an afternoon of fruitful shopping to say the least, during which Jurina had accompanied her and not hesitated confessing how beautiful she looked in this night dress when Rena asked for her opinion.
A part of her wanted to go further in the compliment by saying that the close-fitting satin nightdress was highlighting her girlfriend’s slim curves, but she thought it best to keep such thoughts to herself in the presence of the female sales assistant. No, Rena didn’t just look beautiful; she looked incredibly sexy. At some point, Jurina wondered if her admirative expression didn’t betray her thoughts. Indeed, she didn’t miss Rena’s amused, knowing look when she went back inside the fitting room to change.
Going back to the present time, Jurina cuddled her, letting her palm caress and travel down the back of Rena’s nightdress. If there was one thing she couldn’t deny, it was how much she appreciated the sensation of the soft, silky fabric underneath her fingertips. However, what caught the most Jurina’s attention, was the wicked gleam appearing in the depth of Rena’s brown orbs.
Jurina smiled inwardly at the pair of eyes staring at her lips intently, not surprised when they got captured in a lingering kiss. She paused her exploration to follow her lead, kissing her back, noting in mild amusement that her girlfriend didn’t seem in a hurry to get out of bed anymore. Jurina resumed her caress of her lover’s body, venturing lower to her waist, then to her thighs, and slipped a hand underneath Rena’s nightdress.
A first, she felt contented with caressing her body, her palm gliding over the bare skin of Rena’s leg and thigh, but soon realized it wasn’t satisfying enough. Wishing for more access, she couldn’t help but slowly pull the nightdress upwards. It was an impossible task to keep her hands to herself. Rena was so beautiful and attractive. The pull to revisit her girlfriend’s body and map her skin with kisses and caresses was strong to resist, even more when the other girl was not trying to calm her ardor in the slightest.
The caress of Rena’s lips on her mouth set her aflame, Jurina's calm shattered with the hunger of her kisses. While she still had an ounce of lucidity within her, Jurina searched her mind if the CEO of Matsui Corporation was supposed to have an early meeting this morning, but had difficulty recalling her girlfriend’s schedule for the day. In the end, she didn’t even need to ask, as the older girl whispered between kisses the answer to her unspoken question. “I think we can be a little late.”
Jurina chuckled to herself, submitting to the older girl when she got pushed against the mattress. Did Rena have the ability to read her mind? Because lately, it surely looked like she could read her like an open book. No, the CEO had no reunion to attend. Otherwise, she would have prevented the situation from escalating, and wouldn’t be proceeding with her sexual ministrations with such fervor. Rena’s lips flickered over the nape of her neck with hot desire, Jurina moaning softly when she playfully nibbled on her left earlobe.
Jurina claimed her lips, kissing her devouringly, not wasting time in tugging at the waistband of Rena’s panties. When her fingers got in contact with her girlfriend’s most private part, heat spread out from her lower abdomen, turned on by the slick wetness. It was all the invitation she needed to pull off her underwear, groaning when Rena’s hand slipped inside her pants and stroked her intimately. Whimpers of pleasure filled the air as they lost themselves completely to the throes of passion and made love to each other.
Jurina walked down the stairs, noticing Alfred gazing at her with an upset look from the bottom of the staircase. Her personal robot didn’t even greet her as he normally did every single morning, instead staring at her in disapproval. Jurina frowned a little at his strange behavior, asking herself what she could have possibly done wrong to trigger such a negative reaction from him.
Jurina caught the sound of familiar footsteps descending the stairs behind her, and the arrival of the second mistress of the house prompted the little robot to speak up. “You are late, Mistress,” Alfred said, his big blue eyes firmly set on Jurina. “I prepared breakfast fifteen minutes ago, but you didn’t come down.”
“Oh, we…” Jurina cleared her throat, unease filling her. She quickly searched her brain for a good excuse, trying to find an astute way to justify their tardiness while leaving out the true reason. “We didn’t hear the alarm-clock. I suppose we were really sound asleep.”
Alfred emitted a sound of protest. “That’s why Alfred should be waking you up. Mistress was never late before you decided to change your morning habits and replace me with that outdated machine.”
Jurina grimaced, his declaration only serving in reminding her that her faithful servant was having difficulty adjusting to certain changes in their daily life. Contrary to Jurina who quickly and easily fit in Rena’s house, not the same could be said about him. Alfred was used to Rena’s presence and Jurina could tell by the way he interacted with her that he was extremely fond of her. However, the minimal use of technology in Rena’s house disturbed the small robot tremendously.
At a very early stage of their relationship, Jurina became aware of her girlfriend’s reluctance to accept the excessive robotization of their society. She had accepted that aspect of her personality, but it was another matter altogether when it came to Alfred. Jurina would never forget his blatant disappointment when he entered the house for the first time and discovered there was no other humanoid robot like him.
Jurina was even frightened Rena wouldn’t accept the cohabitation with the little robot. After a few hesitant and cautious meetings, Jurina witnessed in front of her very own eyes the relationship evolving in a positive way between her girlfriend and her humanoid companion. The CEO interacted with him with ease, and Jurina could tell she had grown genuinely attached to him. But having a robot at home permanently was an important decision not to be taken lightly.
Rena never minded the robot’s presence when she came to visit her at her apartment. But was she ready to accept him into her home?
Jurina’s fears proved to be unfounded. When she had asked Rena, with a flicker of apprehension, if she was fine with her bringing him to her house, Rena had not opposed the slightest resistance. It had taken a few weeks for everyone to get accustomed to the new living arrangement, and Jurina could state that it was now going very well. Well, except for a few obvious points of disagreement, the robot’s replacement with a vintage alarm-clock being one of the issues he refused to get over.
For three years, Alfred had been the one to wake her up. Each morning, he would come into her bedroom and stand by the side of the bed, announcing the time with his calm metallic voice. Soon after, the radio would start playing in the air, and Jurina had always been satisfied with this daily routine. However, things couldn’t be the same anymore now that Rena had entered her life.
Not only the older girl was greatly attached to her old but still functional alarm-clock, Alfred’s tendency to barge into the bedroom whenever he seemed fit caused a great deal of problems. Jurina would always remember that particular morning when he had entered the bedroom, catching them both naked in a very compromising situation. Jurina couldn’t be mad at him for walking in unannounced. For three years, he had been allowed to walk in her apartment freely without any restriction.
Alfred didn’t seem shocked or ill-at-ease when confronted with both their nakedness. After all, he had seen her naked more times than Jurina could count. What could she say? Jurina never felt the need to be modest around him. As of Rena, it was a different issue. That day, she had let out a loud shriek at the robot’s apparition, covering herself with the bedsheet with blinding speed. Jurina found the situation so comical, that she had to refrain herself from laughing when she gently asked her robot to leave the room.
After that incident, Jurina knew she needed to make her robot understand that he couldn’t walk into her bedroom unannounced anymore. One evening, when she came back from work, she took a seat on the sofa to have a long chat with him. Her confused robot didn’t seem to fully comprehend the reason behind this new house rule, but he accepted it nevertheless as the obedient robot that he was.
“I’m sorry that we’re late.” Rena jumped into the conversation, and slowly kneeled in front of the robot. “We got a little carried away, and didn’t pay attention to the time. Don’t worry about it. We’ll eat what you prepared for us.”
Jurina was amazed by the impact Rena’s soothing voice always had on her robot’s mood and attitude. One minute ago, he was staring at her with unconceiled disappointment. And now, his attention was entirely monopolized by the woman who had placed a gentle kiss on top of his head. That’s why Jurina wasn’t truly surprised when his expression changed drastically, and he emitted a sound of content at Rena’s affectionate gesture.
“No, Mistress Rena. I refuse to let you eat cold food. Your devoted servant will serve you a proper breakfast.”
None of them had time to argue that the robot had already turned on his heels, running in the direction of the kitchen as if the fate of the entire world relied upon his shoulders. Jurina distinguished the amusement mingled with fondness in Rena’s eyes as she watched him drawing away, confirming once more that she had fully accepted and embraced the arrival of this special member into her life.
“I’m a bit jealous,” Jurina groaned teasingly. “You’re beginning to have more influence on him than I do.”
Rena laughed, shaking her head in disapproval. “You’re his one and only mistress.” She embraced her and planted a kiss on Jurina’s cheek, while keeping an eye from afar on the robot hard at work in the kitchen. “You have created such a strong and unique bond with him. If you were not in his life anymore, I don’t know if he would be capable of functioning.”
Jurina knew what she was referring to. She had heard of a few strange stories too. It appeared that in rare situations, some domestic robots had completely stopped functioning when separated from their owner. In one case, the owner’s long journey abroad had triggered his robot stayed behind at home to stop working. In another case, the robot had turned himself off at the sudden death of his owner.
Jurina had never witnessed in person such a behavior. In fact, the logical side of her brain was telling her that it was probably only the consequence of unexpected glitches in their programs, or a simple dysfunction enhanced by the robots’ advance age. In all cases, the robots had been at their owners’ side for a very long period of time. And it had been proved that robots worked far less efficiently once they reached their tenth year of existence.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Jurina assured her, giving her an affectionate look. “You believe me, right?”
Rena’s lips curved in a slow smile of pleasure, and she pressed her mouth to hers. “Of course, I believe you.”
They both turned to follow their robot’s whereabouts, chuckling at the conscientiousness he put in every one of his actions. For Jurina, the idea that a robot could, due to some deep and emotional connection to their owner, be so affected by the separation that he would stop working, seemed a little hard to believe. However, if there was one thing Jurina couldn’t deny, it was as much she adored her devoted companion. As long as she would be on this earth, she promised herself to always look over him.
TO BE CONTINUED
Version edited on August 20, 2019.
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Oh Alfred why are you so cute :nya: :nya:
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Alfred is soo cute!
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Alfred you'r so cuteee as always :lol:
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Wow.. Jurina moved to Rena's house! That's really something. Like...one step closer to you-know-what. :hee:
And yes, Alfred was innocently cute as always. I'm happy that he moved to Rena's house too. But I could
feel he was a bit sad that his morning routine with Jurina changed a little. He couldn't go to Jurina and Rena's bedroom any time.
AND he felt he was being replaced by an old alarm-clock. :on cloudeye:
Wait, did I say Alfred had FEELINGS? :OMG:
I felt something though in the end part of the chapter. It's like...Jurina would go somewhere far. :cool2:
Ps. Can I bring the cute little Alfred to my place? :tantrum:
Pps. Can I have a boss like Rena? She wouldn't mind if I came to work late.
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I love the way Alfred called the alarm clock "an outdated machine" he sounded so upset :hiakhiakhiak:
Now that they live together, I can imagine they will always go to work together hand in hand awwww :tntrm:
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REPLIES TO COMMENTS
Oh Alfred why are you so cute :nya: :nya:
Alfred is soo cute!
Alfred you'r so cuteee as always :lol:
I think Alfred needs his spin-off :lol:
Wow.. Jurina moved to Rena's house! That's really something. Like...one step closer to you-know-what. :hee:
Yes, I think I know :P
And yes, Alfred was innocently cute as always. I'm happy that he moved to Rena's house too. But I could
feel he was a bit sad that his morning routine with Jurina changed a little. He couldn't go to Jurina and Rena's bedroom any time.
AND he felt he was being replaced by an old alarm-clock. :on cloudeye:
Wait, did I say Alfred had FEELINGS? :OMG:
Could it be? ;)
I felt something though in the end part of the chapter. It's like...Jurina would go somewhere far. :cool2:
:-X
I love the way Alfred called the alarm clock "an outdated machine" he sounded so upset :hiakhiakhiak:
He definitely was unhappy! :angry:
Now that they live together, I can imagine they will always go to work together hand in hand awwww :tntrm:
I'm not quite sure about that, but what's certain is that Jurina will never forget her umbrella anymore :grin:
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CHAPTER 8
Rena didn’t know how to interpret Jurina’s strange behavior when they made their way to the office. Since the moment they woke up, Rena could tell something was off with her girlfriend. Not only she spoke very few words, it was evident she was stressed. When she witnessed those signs, Rena questioned her in concern, the latter brushing it off with a small nervous look. Nothing serious, Jurina assured her. This morning, she had a lot on her mind because of the monthly meeting regarding the advancement of the time machine.
Rena chose not to insist – remembering indeed the important meeting was supposed to happen this morning – even though she couldn’t shake the feeling that Jurina wasn’t telling her the entire truth. To add to her skepticism, she recalled vividly the short conversation that took place between Jurina and her robot before leaving the house. Rena was waiting patiently a few feet away for the other girl to finish her chat with him, and the very last words they exchanged brought a frown to her face. Even though she was too far to catch the whole conversation, she still managed to catch snatches of it, and heard Jurina asking Alfred to wish her luck.
Wish her luck? But for what?
Rena’s first thought was to assume that it was related to the time machine. Had Jurina managed to make significant advancements lately? An incredible breakthrough she wished to announce later at the office? Rena couldn’t fathom what else it could possibly be. At some point, she almost broached the subject but refrained herself at the last minute, guessing Jurina had a good reason for not telling her. Maybe she wished to make it a surprise? If that was the case, then she was going to act completely clueless, and let the other girl announce it when she deemed the time was right.
This morning, the sky was cloudy and dark, and Rena was more than grateful for her mini-collapsible umbrella when droplets of water started to fall in the streets in Tokyo. It wasn’t much and she didn’t believe things would escalate further than that, but she placed nevertheless the umbrella above their heads as soon as it started to rain. Of course, Jurina had all-forgotten about the mixed weather when they left home. Not that she expected any less.
Jurina was a very reliable person, whether in the workplace or in her personal life. However, if there was one item Rena knew she couldn’t dispose of, it was her faithful mini-collapsible umbrella. After three months of living under the same roof, one thing became more than obvious: she absolutely couldn’t trust Jurina when it came to the weather forecast. Didn’t she pay attention, or didn’t she really care? Up to that day, Rena still didn’t have a clear explanation.
When they entered one of the elevators at Matsui Corporation, Rena was starting to seriously doubt the credibility of her theory regarding her girlfriend’s peculiar behavior. They had a morning routine. Each time they found themselves alone in the elevator – which was now the case, as many people had descended at the previous floors – Jurina wouldn’t wait to engage in a conversation with her, flirt with her and kiss her. Not this time. In fact, Jurina was keeping her distance and looking anywhere but at her – visibly finding the change of floors numbers very interesting – and appeared increasingly more restless, her fingertips tapping frequently against the handrail of the elevator.
The more Rena studied her, the more she was convinced it couldn’t be related to the time machine. Not once since the younger girl joined the company, had she seen her acting so nervous because of work-related matters. In the professional field, Jurina was a confident person. Now fearing something serious may have happened to her on a personal level, Rena couldn’t help but get really worried. Somehow, she could sense it was an important matter. But why would her girlfriend hide something from her? At the very early stages of their relationship, they had promised to always be honest with each other.
Rena was at an impasse. Stealing a brief glance at the numbers, she noted that they were halfway through their final destination. Until now, she had chosen to keep her thoughts to herself, believing it was probably an innocent matter, but she couldn’t stay quiet any longer. If Jurina was in any kind of trouble, she needed to know.
Her mind made up, she let out a gasp of surprise when Jurina suddenly detached herself from the wall to quickly press the Stop button on the control panel. The elevator obeyed to the command and stopped at once. Rena’s heart pounded uncontrollably inside her chest, and she stared back at Jurina in complete shock. What on earth got into her? Jurina was definitely not herself. “What are you–”
“I have something important to tell you,” Jurina turned and faced her, interrupting her before she had time to formulate her question.
The moment after, Jurina decidedly stepped forward, a pair of lips brushing Rena’s cheek in kiss as Jurina laced their fingers together. Saying Rena was utterly confused by the whole situation would be the understatement of the year. She had absolutely no idea what was going on with her girlfriend. However, as she noticed the shy smile directed at her, she got the feeling that, whatever Jurina was planning on telling her, it couldn’t be as bad as she initially feared.
“Do you know how much I love you?” Jurina murmured against her ear, gently pulling her into her arms.
The gesture coupled with the affectionate words relaxed Rena a little and, regaining her composure, she smiled, pressing her lips to hers. “Of course, I do. I love you too.”
The answer seemed to satisfy her girlfriend as her mouth tugged into a broad smile of pleasure, but Rena guessed there was more to it than Jurina’s simple wish to renew her love for her. Indeed, her expression grew serious and she put a little distance between them, her tone solemn when she spoke. “Eight months ago, I arrived in Tokyo in search of an exciting new job opportunity. My goal was clear and simple: put all my abilities at the service of an incredible project, then continue on my way as soon as I would have succeeded. That’s what I’ve been doing all these years. The idea of being free from any constraints, and having no strings attached was all I desired.”
Jurina leaned her back against the elevator panel behind her, and Rena could tell by her hesitant look that she was searching the right words to continue. The CEO studied her girlfriend carefully, taking advantage of the pause to process what she had said. Nothing she had previously uttered really came as a surprise. Rena knew about Jurina’s past and her expectations of life. Moreover, she was aware that her current life philosophy was triggered by an event that occurred during her college life.
After a two-year relationship with a girl, Jurina got her heart broken when she the least expected it. That unforeseen event not only deeply affected her, it also changed her vision of life. From that day, her ambitions changed. Gone was the person who was madly in love with her girlfriend, up to the point of considering following her abroad. Jurina had put her past behind and forgiven her ex-lover, but it didn’t stop the fact that something had changed within her after that day.
Jurina was devoted to her work. Rena witnessed it on a daily basis, and welcomed that aspect of her personality. However, as the months went by and she valued Jurina’s presence by her side as both a hardworking co-worker and a passionate lover, the idea that the other girl could leave once the time machine project was over never crossed her mind. They were happy together; at least that’s what she believed. So why were Jurina’s last words making her question their future together?
“You make me so happy,” Rena broke the silence that had settled between them. Maybe she was reading too much into Jurina’s words and nervous look. Maybe what her girlfriend wanted to tell her had nothing to do with any of that. “But I will never stop you from doing what you desire.” Rena tried to sound confident, but was unable to keep the concern out of her voice at the fear of losing her. “If you want to leave the company and Tokyo once the time machine is built, I won’t stop you and will support your career choices. I will even help you, if it’s in my capacity.”
Jurina’s startled look fell upon her. “What? No, that’s not what I meant. It’s the opposite. That’s one of the things I wanted to tell you. Lately, I came to an important realization. Even when the time machine is finished, I don’t want to leave Tokyo. Because now, I believe I have a reason to stay. Am I wrong?”
Jurina’s fingers brushed her cheek tenderly and Rena held her breath in anticipation, finding herself once again enchanted by Jurina’s shy but charming smile. That beautiful smile that made it impossible for her to say no when the younger girl had asked her on a date for the very first time. “I know what I want, and what I want is you. Not for six more months, or the duration of the project. No, for much longer than that.”
Warmth spread through Rena’s chest, her eyes following Jurina’s actions as she took a step back and slipped her hand inside her vest’s left pocket. When Jurina pulled out a small square red velvet box, slowly and nervously popping it open, Rena’s heart began to race at the diamond ring.
Everything suddenly made sense. Why Jurina was acting so abnormally stressed all morning. Why she had exchanged those enigmatic words with Alfred in front of the house. And why she had chosen to hold this important conversation in such a symbolic place. Jurina’s current apprehension was palpable, and Rena was pretty sure her heart stopped when her girlfriend opened her mouth to speak. “No one makes me as happy as you do, and I want to spend my life with you. Rena Matsui, will you marry me?”
“Yes, I will!” Rena didn’t think twice and quickly reached forward to claim her lips. She could tell her girlfriend had been caught off guard by her spontaneous action, as it took her a few seconds to react and move her lips against hers. Rena pulled her into her arms and continued kissing her, her heart hammering loudly against her ribs. She was fully conscious that she was behaving far from the calm and composed person she was always praised to be, but she couldn’t care any less.
Rena never planned on getting married. In fact, it had never even been one of her ultimate goals in life. In the past, a few suitors had popped up the question, but she had always rejected them as politely and gently as possible. Until a few months ago, she was entirely satisfied with her bachelor existence. She was a successful business woman who loved her job and found comfort in the routine of her work. What else could she possibly need more? But life wasn’t a succession of events you could plan and control; it was unpredictable. And if there was one thing the CEO of Matsui Corporation surely didn’t expect in her perfectly ordered life, it was to fall in love.
Rena pulled herself slightly away from the embrace, and witnessed Jurina’s eyes dimming with trembling tears, yet glowing with a great happiness. Jurina cupped her face lightly in her palms, and Rena leaned forward to rest her forehead on hers, feeling the overflow of her own emotions. Of course, it was an important question not to take lightly, but she didn’t feel a shred a doubt. Spending her life with the girl who had captured her heart on a rainy day of March was all she desired.
It seemed bad weather was fated to accompany them in the most important moments of their life. It was a bright and shiny day of November when the couple and their guests arrived at the wedding venue, only for clouds to appear and the sky to turn misty and rainy in the middle of the afternoon. Thankfully, everyone had already taken shelter by the time droplets of water hit against the window, and the ceremony was carried out as planned, the happy couple exchanging their vows in front of their friends and loved ones.
They had managed to keep the date of their wedding private, but it didn’t take long for the news of their union to get out. In fact, by the time they were cutting the cake, the wedding of the most famous bachelorette and influential millionaire of Matsui Corporation was already making media headlines, a crowd of paparazzi defying the pouring rain in the hope to take a shot of the new happy couple.
It was without taking into account the couple’s most devoted and faithful servant, the one and only Alfred. From the moment Jurina and Rena woke up, he had taken upon himself to supervise the whole day. From double checking after the work of the staff in charge of their wedding, to carrying and bringing the rings for the anticipated moment of the exchange, the thoughtful robot had left nothing to chance.
In fact, he was the first to notice the gathering of paparazzi outside, immediately storming out to shoo them away one by one. All day, Alfred, dressed for the occasion in a handmade black wedding suit, had been praised by guests for his model conduct. The flattering compliments never failed to make him extremely proud, the robot repeating to anyone who would listen that he didn’t know why it had taken them so long to get married, having predicted such an outcome from the very first day.
A year and a few months later…
There was an undeniable apprehension at the pit of Rena’s stomach when she stepped out of the taxi and passed the clinic’s automatic front doors. As soon as she had received on her phone the alarming message from Alfred, she had excused herself from the meeting she was attending and left the office in a rush. All the way to the clinic, she couldn’t help re-reading the worrying text again and again, praying nothing bad had happened.
Rena approached and addressed the robot at the front desk, her racing heart refusing to slow down despite her best attempts to calm her nerves. Her optimistic side refused to assume the worst. This morning, when she left the house, everything was fine. However, Alfred’s alarming message was playing tricks on her mind, and she knew she needed to assess the situation in person.
“Welcome Matsui-san.” The robot said, making a brief pause to process Rena’s question. “Yes, your wife arrived at our clinic this morning. She’s is in room 222. Please take the elevators on your left and go down at the second floor.”
“Thank you,” Rena gave the robot a grateful look and moved towards the designated corridor, quickly pressing the elevator button. As she waited, as patiently as possible, for the elevator to arrive, she tried to reassure herself that Jurina was in good hands. This was the best clinic of Tokyo, and the doctors were nothing but extremely competent. Albeit those facts, she couldn’t get rid of her apprehension at the unforeseen turn of events.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
Not today.
Not this week.
Not even this month!
It only took a few minutes’ walk for Rena to reach the room 222, a reassured smile instantly moving to her lips when she entered and was greeted with the view of a napping – but visibly in good health – Jurina lying on the clinic bed. Concern made way to a wave of relief, and she slowly progressed inside the room, observing attentively the resting girl once she found herself by the side of her bed.
Jurina’s features were tired but peaceful, and Rena realized that her previous fears proved to be unfounded. Her wife looked completely fine. Deciding not to wake her up, she took a seat in the nearby chair, reaching over to gently take Jurina’s hand inside hers. Her thoughts briefly went towards the humanoid robot that shared their daily life, making a mental note to tell him later to be more careful with his choice of words. He had scared her to death!
Rena jolted out of her thoughts when Jurina’s fingers squeezed hers lightly, and a pair of sleepy eyes landed on her. “Rena… w–what are you doing here?”
Rena’s mouth tugged into a pleased smile, and she leaned down to place a soft, gentle kiss upon Jurina’s lips. “Alfred warned me that you were not feeling well and that you needed to go to the clinic. I came as fast as possible.”
“H-He sent you a message? I didn’t know. When I told him about the pain, he became unusually restless and decided to take care of everything, starting from urging me to take a seat then calling an ambulance. He was acting so frantically, it almost looked like he was the one in pain, not me.”
An amused smile fell on Rena’s lips at Jurina’s joking tone, discovering she had definitely not lost her sense of humor despite the circumstances. Of course, a part of her wished she had been by Jurina’s side at that time, but fate had unfortunately decided otherwise. Thankfully, you could always count on Jurina’s devoted servant to take care of his precious mistress at all times.
“Wait…” Jurina grew concerned, as she came to a sudden realization. “Weren’t you supposed to meet the executive committee? Don’t tell me you left right in the middle of it because of me?!”
“Of course, I did! I didn’t know your condition. I had to see you and attest for myself that you were alright!”
Jurina made a face, embarrassed that her robot’s actions had led the busy CEO out of such an important meeting. “I’m really sorry about that. I’m fine. We are both fine. I don’t know why he did that. I–”
“He did the right thing.” Rena quickly pressed a finger to Jurina’s lips, effectively shutting her up. “You’re my wife. Nothing is more important than you and your wellbeing. Besides, today is a very special day…”
Rena captured Jurina’s lips in another tender kiss, the latter responding to the affectionate gesture with a wide, pleased smile. Alfred’s unexpected behavior fell at the back of her head, admitting how happy she felt deep inside to have her wife by her side. When she began feeling the pain at home, she didn’t draw hasty conclusions and stayed calm, persuaded nothing was going to happen considering how early it was.
In the end, it appeared the calendar wasn’t going to be respected.
A tentative knock on the door interrupted the reunion, both glancing in the direction of the young female nurse who had just arrived in the room. When Rena noticed the small baby sleeping peacefully inside the nurse’s arms, her eyes lit up, emotion starting to take hold of her when she guessed the identity of this tiny human being.
Without her consent, Rena’s heart started beating faster inside her chest, and she simply couldn’t detach her eyes from the quiet baby when the nurse approached her. “Congratulations, Matsui-san. You have a beautiful and healthy little girl.”
When the nurse manifested her intention to place the child inside her arms, Rena was slightly caught off guard, and diverted her attention to Jurina with a questioning gaze. Somehow, this didn’t feel quite right. Shouldn’t Jurina have the privilege to hold the baby first? After all, she was the one who had given birth to this most beautiful creature.
“I already held her before your arrival,” Jurina said, as if she could read her mind. “Come on, take her. You know you can’t wait for it.”
This time, Rena didn’t oppose any resistance when the nurse placed the child inside her arms, listening attentively as the woman explained the best technique to hold the baby. When the female nurse deemed her presence not necessary anymore, she left the room, leaving a certain CEO completely mesmerized by the child resting against her chest.
“It seems someone was a little impatient to arrive in this world,” Jurina said amusingly, not missing out the touching interaction between her wife and their first child.
Rena, who was tentatively making acquaintance with the sleeping little girl, tried to reply, before realizing she couldn’t find the right words to express the extent of her current happiness. For a little while, her eyes stayed glued on the baby barely born, thinking how precious it already looked. Without realizing it, tears of joy began to form in her eyes.
This child was not only the result of the unconditional love between she and Jurina. Thanks to the progress of science these last decades, their baby had also received her genes from each of them. Would she inherit Jurina’s outgoing confident personality? Or would she be more introvert like her? There was no way to tell what kind of person their baby would grow into. However, Rena knew one thing with absolute certainty: she was going to cherish this child with all her heart.
“I have the strong feeling our Natsuki is going to be as breathtakingly beautiful as her mommy,” Jurina’s playful tone distracted her.
A smile plastered Rena’s face and she glanced back at her, reducing the distance between them. She leaned closer and carefully placed the baby inside Jurina’s arms, kissing the mother’s forehead in the process. “And I can’t wait to see her disarming smile,” Rena answered on the same light tone. “I just hope it won’t turn all the girls’ heads as her mama’s.”
“I don’t do that.” Jurina rolled her eyes, a smile nevertheless falling on her lips at the sound of Rena’s small laugh. “Come and lie next to me.”
Jurina scooted further away on the bed, and Rena nodded, carefully laying by her wife’s side. Rena rested her head against Jurina’s shoulder and contemplated the baby’s sleeping form, pressing a kiss to Jurina’s lips when her wife whispered to her a few words of love and affection. As a comfortable silence enveloped them, Rena released a long blissful sigh, and she gently reached for the baby’s hand, amazed by how small, soft and fragile it felt between her fingertips.
From the moment Rena crossed path with the one who would become her assistant, her life had never been the same anymore. She was happy; happier than she ever thought she could be. After marrying the one she loved, she was now going to have a family. Rena didn’t believe her life could possibly be more complete.
TO BE COMPLETED
Version edited on August 24, 2019.
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O___________O
They got married and had a baby?!?!?!?!
...............AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >W<
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My question is: what happened with Furuyanagi? I'm only assuming Churi gave birth in the timeline between the last chapter and this one.
But well, WMatsui getting married then having kids surprised me
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OMG !!
I do need a return in time.
Of course read as Jurina in whole of her pregnancy and how she lived would have been very beautiful.
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REPLIES TO COMMENTS
My question is: what happened with Furuyanagi? I'm only assuming Churi gave birth in the timeline between the last chapter and this one.
Don't worry, Furuyanagi is perfectly fine :P Churi gave birth to her child around the time WMatsui got married, so during the timeline of that chapter.
But well, WMatsui getting married then having kids surprised me
You can say they followed well Furuyanagi's example? XD
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Ooohhh WMatsui have a baby!!!!
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When Jurina asked for a good luck from Alfred, I had two things on my mind. My initial thoughts was not about the proposal.
I thought Jurina somehow managed to finish the time machine and she tried it herself before anyone else. :on study:
Then she tried to go back in time to make sure the machine worked well. :on blackhole:
But later she looked nervous and even blushed, that was when I realised she might propose Rena. And she did!
The elevator scene was sweet and symbolic, though I thought Jurina would propose in front of their close friends hehe..
And I could imagine Alfred was the one that brought the ring on their wedding. :on gay:
Theeeen..here comes cute little Natsuki. Alfred got a new mistress. He might have A LOT of questions about the newborn baby. (He could be very protective as well.)
I believe Natsuki would get along with Churi and Airi's baby. :k-wink:
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I'M SO SURPRISED!!!!
I knew from the start that Jurina would propose to Rena but I never thought that they would think about having a child that fast!!!!
And even if the idea of they're having a child ever crossed my mind, never would, even for a second I think that Jurina would be the one who will bring the child to the world! I always thought that it suppose to be Rena but after I read this chapter somehow I understand why Rena couldn't do that. Of course! Rena is the CEO of the company and she is always the busiest one, correct me if I'm wrong xD
And for little Natsuki, I'm sure she'll inherit both of her mama's traits. She's going to be a lovely kid :heart: :yep:
Anyway author-san,
Is this the end?
Is this the final chapter?
Is there going to be an epilogue?
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REPLIES TO COMMENTS
I thought Jurina somehow managed to finish the time machine and she tried it herself before anyone else. :on study:
Then she tried to go back in time to make sure the machine worked well.
I don't think Jurina would dare to use the time machine first, and without her boss knowing XD
The elevator scene was sweet and symbolic, though I thought Jurina would propose in front of their close friends hehe..
It's a very important and intimate moment, right? Besides, Jurina wasn't sure how Rena would respond. I think doing it in front of friends would have been too much pressure for Jurina!
And I could imagine Alfred was the one that brought the ring on their wedding. :on gay:
If I had included a wedding scene, that's exactly what I would have written ;)
And even if the idea of they're having a child ever crossed my mind, never would, even for a second I think that Jurina would be the one who will bring the child to the world! I always thought that it suppose to be Rena but after I read this chapter somehow I understand why Rena couldn't do that. Of course! Rena is the CEO of the company and she is always the busiest one, correct me if I'm wrong xD
I'm happy you mention it, because I think most readers expected as well Rena to be the mother, not Jurina! But as you understood well, it's more logical for Jurina to be the mother. Not only because I see her as more motherly in general, but also because of Rena's job and important responsibilities as CEO.
Anyway author-san,
Is this the end?
Is this the final chapter?
Is there going to be an epilogue?
The end? Not at all! We're about halfway through the story. I think I mentionned it at one point, but the development of the WMatsui relationship is not the main focus of this story. In fact, it's more like something that leads to another more important narrative arc, which the plot will be revealed in a few chapters.
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I see~~~~~
I thought it would have ended so fast :nervous
I'll keep reading!!! :cow:
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I'm usually a silent reader, and I've read through your other stories *Still waiting for Destiny's update*. Great job by the way.. Anyway..
Furuyanagi's daughter named "Shizuru" and WMatsui's named "Natsuki"? I see what you did there~~~ ShizNat! :lol:
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Furuyanagi's daughter named "Shizuru" and WMatsui's named "Natsuki"? I see what you did there~~~ ShizNat! :lol:
I'm really happy someone saw/understood the reference to Mai Hime :P When I saw the opportunity to include one of my favorite anime pairings, I just couldn't help it ;)
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CHAPTER 9
When Rena came back home after work, the first thing she noticed was the unusual quietness of the house. In fact, not a single noise could be heard when she passed the front door and placed her coat and shoes in the hallway. The CEO scanned the living room in curiosity, knowing the place should definitely be livelier at this time of the day. Indeed, her wife should already have picked up their four-year-old daughter from kindergarten an hour ago. Was it possible that they took advantage of the beautiful, sunny weather to go for a walk in the park nearby?
Rena took a few steps forward, addressing their domestic robot who was activated and standing next to the television. “Alfred, do you know where Jurina and Natsuki are?”
The robot gazed back at her and emitted a small sound in recognition, but didn’t reply for all that. Rena blinked in confusion when he remained silent. If Jurina had left the house with Natsuki, she would have informed their faithful servant about it. There was no way Alfred was not aware of their whereabouts.
As she was about to insist, Alfred slowly lifted his left mechanical arm, pointing with his index in the direction of the sofa. Rena relaxed, understanding what he was discreetly trying to tell her. If her prediction was right, her wife had not left the house with their daughter, but could be much closer than she initially believed.
“Ah, it seems there’s no one home.” Rena decided to play along, and let out a defeated sigh, tiptoeing in the direction of the sofa.
Her action didn’t go unnoticed from the robot who watched her every move, producing a small sound in delight when he understood what she was trying to achieve. The CEO turned to him and, with a secret smile, pressed her index finger to her lips, silencing the robot. Now, Alfred didn’t dare making another sound or a single move, his large blue eyes following the amusing scene unfolding in front of him.
Rena progressively leaned over the back of the sofa and looked down, her mouth tugging into an amused smile at her discovery. On top of Jurina’s stomach, was laying a four-year-old Natsuki who was trying to stay extremely quiet, and who gave her an impish side glance at Rena’s sight.
“Look who I found here…” Rena grinned, the little Natsuki averting her gaze playfully to hide and nuzzle her nose in the crook of Jurina’s neck. “Someone is playing hide and seek with mommy?”
“Ah no, Natsuki, our hideout is found!” Jurina exclaimed, faking disappointment. “Mommy is really, really too clever.”
A small giggle was muffled against her shoulder, and Natsuki’s good spirit prompted Rena to have a little fun with her. Extending her arm, she reached over, not wasting time in tickling her daughter’s stomach. The little girl started wriggling on top of Jurina, in the desperate attempt to avoid the relentless fingers. The game went on for a little while, tears forming in Natsuki’s eyes between giggles, until it was too much for her and she had no choice but to concede defeat. “Mommy, stop! Stop!”
Rena decided to have a little mercy on her and stopped her attacks, watching fondly her daughter laughing in delight. Being CEO of a worldwide renown company was time consuming, and she unfortunately didn’t have as much free time as Jurina to be with their daughter. That’s why she relished every single minute they could spend the three of them as a family, nothing pleasing her more than witnessing her daughter’s happiness.
Rena ran her fingers affectionately through Natsuki’s hair, taking advantage of the situation to observe her adorable daughter. After four years, she could now clearly distinguish traits of both she and Jurina in her. Jurina liked to repeat that their daughter was definitely more like Rena, physically and personality wise. To support her statement, she would bring forward her ‘princess-like’ appearance similar to the CEO’s with her long black shiny hair, as well as her introvert and solitary side.
It is true to say that, on the latter aspect, Natsuki didn’t have many friends in kindergarten. In fact, apart from Shizuru – Airi and Akane’s daughter – she had never brought any other friend home. However, if there were two traits that she had inherited from her other mother, it was her stubbornness and athletic side. Once Natsuki had decided she wanted to play on the rocking horse in the children playground, you better had to hold her hand tight if you didn’t want to see her rushing towards it.
Natsuki’s laughter died down, and Jurina straightened up on the sofa, giving her daughter’s back a light, encouraging tap. “Come on, go and see mommy.”
The little girl avoided playfully Rena’s gaze for a few more seconds – visibly uncertain whether the game was completely over or not – before climbing down and quickly making her way around the sofa. Rena kneeled, welcoming Natsuki when she threw herself into her arms. Rena pressed a big kiss on Natsuki’s cheek, receiving a tight hug in return. Rena lifted her up and raised herself to her feet, Natsuki’s legs coiling around her waist, while her arms encircled Rena’s neck. “What did Natsuki do today?”
“Drawing!” Natsuki pointed at the coffee table with unconcealed excitement.
Rena walked towards the sofa and took a seat beside Jurina – sharing a smile with her and placing a kiss against her wife’s lips – then focused her attention on Natsuki who was turning around on her lap to face the drawing on the coffee table. “Mistress asked us to draw our family!”
Rena glanced down at the primitive children’s drawing on the tablet, startled when she noticed the important height difference between she and Jurina, when they were in reality only a few inches apart. “Mama is taller than me?”
“Of course,” Natsuki frowned, as if confused by her silly question. “This is Natsuki.” She showed a little girl with long dark hair standing between both parents. Then, a small robot holding Natsuki’s hand. “And this is Alfred! I put a lot of blue on his eyes to make sure people would recognize him well.”
“I can see that,” Rena rubbed Natsuki’s stomach, and planted a kiss on the top of her head. “It’s a beautiful drawing, darling. You can show it to Shizuru later.”
Natsuki’s smile vanished, and Rena could tell she had said something wrong by the little girl’s sudden silence. It couldn’t be because of the compliment, so it meant it had to do with the mention of Natsuki’s closest friend. Intrigued, Rena glanced back at Jurina in search of answers, but was met with a similar confused look. “What is it, honey?” She returned her attention to her daughter, tilting her head to try and catch a glimpse of her face.
“S–Shizuru is coming tonight?”
“We told you auntie Airi and auntie Akane were coming for dinner tonight,” Rena gently reminded her, taken aback by her behavior. “Did you forget?”
A light hum was all she received in reply, and Rena worried both friends had gotten into a fight. It would be surprising, given the fact they got along well and Shizuru was a sweet and friendly little girl. But Natsuki’s palpable discomfort at the mention of Airi and Akane’s daughter clearly indicated that something was wrong. “Natsuki?”
“Did something happen with Shizuru?” Jurina chimed in, sharing her wife’s concern, only to receive the same silent treatment.
“Little Mistress is upset because Shizuru kissed her today.” A metallic voice sounded in the living room, all heads turning in unison towards an approaching Alfred. “Little Mistress didn’t like it.”
“A–Alfred! You idiot!” Natsuki’s cheeks colored pink, and she pummeled her fists on her legs. “It was a secret between us!”
The robot’s large blue eyes widened and, realizing his terrible mistake, inclined his head towards the floor. “Forgive me, little Mistress.”
Rena observed the robot who was not daring crossing Natsuki’s furious gaze, once more noting how close he had grown to their daughter over the years. Long before Natsuki’s arrival into this world, Jurina had one day told her about a specific program implanted within the robot. Alfred wasn’t just a domestic robot capable of dealing with every day’s house chores; he was also designed to take care of children.
Following Natsuki’s birth, it took Rena a few weeks to fully trust Alfred around their child. When Jurina had no difficulty letting the robot take care of Natsuki unsupervised by a human presence, Rena couldn’t help despite herself but keep an eye on him. Maybe was she too protective. Or maybe it was the concept of a machine handling such a fragile human being that didn’t bode well with her.
In the end, Rena discovered her fears were unfounded. Alfred – their faithful humanoid robot who had now been under Jurina’s service for nine years – was perfect around Natsuki. Not only did he fully understand the little girl’s needs and was capable of taking care of them, he was a devoted friend and a good listener. When Rena sometimes watched them interacting in curiosity, it was more than obvious that he was very fond of his new little mistress, and that the attachment was mutual.
“Where did Shizuru kiss you?” Rena carefully asked, returning to the tricky subject. “On the cheek?”
“N–No,” Natsuki babbled, and continued to avoid her parents’ gaze. “Like mama kisses mommy.”
“That means she likes you,” Jurina said with a knowing smile, finding their daughter’s discomfort very cute. “Did you kiss her back?”
“Of course not!” Natsuki gazed back at her in shock, as if she had made the stupidest suggestion. “It’s too… embarrassing!”
Rena removed the little girl from her lap, and turned her around until Natsuki faced her. “No one is forcing you to kiss Shizuru if you don’t want to,” Rena said, smiling when instant relief spread all over Natsuki’s face. “Why don’t you go and play in your room? We’ll call you when our guests have arrived.”
Natsuki nodded, her bare feet resonating on the floor as she ran in the direction of the staircase. Rena’s eyes followed her retreating form while she climbed the stairs, then shut her eyes close and relaxed back in the sofa. When she felt Jurina gently pulling her into her arms, she smiled and leaned her head on Jurina’s shoulder, heaving a sigh of content as she relished the quietness of the living room and her wife’s presence.
She and Jurina still worked at Matsui Corporation, but her wife had ceased being her assistant four years ago. After both agreeing it was wiser to put the time machine project on hold until Natsuki was old enough, Jurina had been promoted Project Manager. Now, she worked on floor 11, one of the offices invested by the Research and Development Department. “How was your day?”
“It was a great day,” Jurina replied, softly pressing her lips against Rena’s temple. “We filed a patent for a new pill. If everything goes well, we could start commercializing it in a few months.”
“The one that increases human speed?” Rena glanced back at her in surprise, getting a light hum in return. “Congratulations!”
Jurina laughed when her lips were quickly captured into a kiss, shaking her head when she noticed Rena’s enthusiasm. “You have a wonderful team of scientists. Alone, I would never have managed this breakthrough.”
“Always so modest. Do you have any ideas how many companies envy me, and would like to hire you?”
“Oh, that’s interesting to hear. Too bad I’m already taken then,” Jurina said teasingly. “Even if another company offered to double my current salary, I couldn’t possibly leave the side of my beautiful wife.”
At the feeling of Jurina’s fingertips gently stroking her cheek, Rena’s eyes softened and she leaned closer until their mouths were a few inches apart. They looked into each other’s eyes, smiling, and Rena was about to claim Jurina’s lips in a kiss when she was interrupted by a very concerned voice screaming from the top of the stairs. “Mama! Come quickly! I can’t find Duran!”
At the mention of Natsuki’s favorite stuffed toy, Jurina gave Rena a small apologetic look, knowing the little girl would never leave her in peace until she came to her rescue. “I’m sorry,” they shared a knowing look, and Rena slowly pulled away. “By the way, you don’t need to worry about dinner. Alfred and I took care of everything.”
“Oh…” Rena’s eyes widened in slight surprise, then gave them both a look of gratitude. “You didn’t have to do that. Thank you.”
Jurina stood up from the sofa and, after placing one last kiss on Rena’s lips, moved towards the staircase. Once she was out of sight, Rena diverted her attention towards their domestic robot. By his upset look, Rena wondered if he wasn’t still bothered by his last conversation with Natsuki, and feeling ashamed for revealing her secret. Rena motioned him to approach, a pair of curious big blue eyes landing on her as he came to stand in front of her. “Natsuki didn’t mean what she said. She’s not mad at you.”
Despite Rena’s reassuring tone, the robot looked hesitant. Rena took his hand inside hers, knowing it would require a little more convincing. “I have an idea. What don’t we both go and see Natsuki?”
This solution definitely appealed to the robot who emitted a pitched cheerful sound. Rena’s eyes sparkled with amusement, and she stood up from the sofa, not missing Alfred’s footsteps following her closely as they joined Jurina and Natsuki upstairs.
TO BE CONTINUED
Version edited on August 25, 2019.
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Such a harmonious family :nya:
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Very good chapter
I loved the relationship of the family.
Somehow it's refreshing a fic where Jurina is the "woman" of the family. Accustomed in all to be she the masculine personality.
Personally I think it's lovely.
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OMG...it's really warm and beautiful! *shed tears* I read it twice; the second time was much slower. But the effect was still the same for me, even better.
The way you described scene after scene gave me warmth.
My favourite scene is when Rena discovered Natsuki and Jurina behind the sofa.
I can't describe how I feel. It's like marshmallow. So soft...so fluffy.
Like.. it tickles some soft part of my heart. It's different when it's only Jurina and Rena.
Natsuki was effortlessly lovable. I started to adore her even more.
And that was the first time Rena ever called someone with such lovely nicknames like 'darling' and 'honey'.
Never once any Rena in your fics ever called someone like that; not even to Jurina.
In addition, Jurina was a natural. She was very good with little kids.
Alfred was still cute and innocent as always. The scene when he showed Rena about Jurina and Natsuki's whereabouts is funny.
But the bond is Matsui's little family is the best part of this chapter.
I really really like this chapter. You nailed it, author-san!
:heart:
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What a happy family!!! :love:
Author-san, I love this chapter!
It took an extra time for me to read this chapter since I always paused and smiling like every three sentences :hee:
And... And... I can imagine how cute Natsuki is when she saying this!! :inlove:
“And this is Alfred. I did his big blue eyes.”
I don't know why but I have the feeling that she will grow up as a tsundere just like Rena :lol:
I hope she'll soon get along well with Shizuru~
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I don't know why but I have the feeling that she will grow up as a tsundere just like Rena :lol:
OMG...Natsuki growing up as a tsundere like her mommy never crossed my mind! I think you have a good point here! :on lol:
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Hello sophcaro-san!!!
I'm a silent reader and always been one of an avid fan of ur story :bow:
Usually i didn't replt or post something, but i just wanna convey what i feel about this story
From the very first start you post this story i feel like something really bad is going to happen to rena or jurina (most likely jurina i think)
I'm not hoping for it to not happen or have a good ending, i just wanna say that i will respect whatever choice will be
Even though i know that i'll be hurt :cry:
And i hope you will always keep writing a good story and finish it, and maybe be a writer so that i could keep on reading yoor story, Good luck :thumbsup
Btw i'm also a loyal fan of heartbeat series from the start and waiting for it to keep unfold and end in a good way as a story, keep on going!!
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REPLIES TO COMMENTS
Such a harmonious family :nya:
Yes, I think they make a great family too 8)
Very good chapter
I loved the relationship of the family.
Somehow it's refreshing a fic where Jurina is the "woman" of the family. Accustomed in all to be she the masculine personality.
Personally I think it's lovely.
I know what you mean. Jurina is often portrayed as the tomboy in fanfics, right? A change is always good ;)
OMG...it's really warm and beautiful! *shed tears* I read it twice; the second time was much slower. But the effect was still the same for me, even better.
The way you described scene after scene gave me warmth.
My favourite scene is when Rena discovered Natsuki and Jurina behind the sofa.
I can't describe how I feel. It's like marshmallow. So soft...so fluffy.
Like.. it tickles some soft part of my heart. It's different when it's only Jurina and Rena.
Natsuki was effortlessly lovable. I started to adore her even more.
I'm glad you enjoyed that family chapter, and liked little Natsuki :)
And that was the first time Rena ever called someone with such lovely nicknames like 'darling' and 'honey'.
Never once any Rena in your fics ever called someone like that; not even to Jurina.
It's true I'm not very fond of nicknames in general, so I don't use them in my fanfics. However, in that case, I believed it suited very well the circumstances when it comes to Rena's relationship with Natsuki :heart:
Alfred was still cute and innocent as always. The scene when he showed Rena about Jurina and Natsuki's whereabouts is funny.
Alfred may be old now, he's still as cute and innocent as ever :P
I hope she'll soon get along well with Shizuru~
Don't worry, Natsuki gets along well with Shizuru. She's just a big tsundere :lol:
Hello sophcaro-san!!!
I'm a silent reader and always been one of an avid fan of ur story :bow:
Usually i didn't replt or post something, but i just wanna convey what i feel about this story
Hi silent reader! Thanks for posting a comment, I really appreciate it :yep:
From the very first start you post this story i feel like something really bad is going to happen to rena or jurina (most likely jurina i think)
I'm not hoping for it to not happen or have a good ending, i just wanna say that i will respect whatever choice will be
Even though i know that i'll be hurt :cry:
Eh? You mean, while reading the prologue, you felt something bad would happen to one of them? :?
And i hope you will always keep writing a good story and finish it, and maybe be a writer so that i could keep on reading yoor story, Good luck :thumbsup
Btw i'm also a loyal fan of heartbeat series from the start and waiting for it to keep unfold and end in a good way as a story, keep on going!!
I do intend on finishing all my stories, no worries about that :thumbup Thanks for reading/following me :)
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Yep that's what i mean, from reading the prologue or maybe the first chap, well i forgot, and don't know why usually if a story with "time" as the genre, there's somehow something bad or sad happening.
Probably because in relationship "time" is the worst enemy
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CHAPTER 10
Jurina didn’t believe her life could be more ideal. These last six years, she had been blissfully happy alongside Rena, the arrival of their daughter perfecting the picture. Regarding her professional career, her skills were put to good use at Matsui Corporation. She was fortunate to work with the best scientists of the country, and was given the free reins to develop projects dear to her heart. Despite all the liberty she was given, there was one project she regretted never seeing come to fruition. It was the reason why she had applied for a job at Matsui Corporation in the first place.
The time machine project.
Jurina was perfectly aware of Rena’s reasons for putting it on hold. When Natsuki was born, the business woman didn’t want to be a stranger to their daughter. The idea of having her growing up with an absent parent was inconceivable to her, and she wished to be present in her life as much as possible. In that sense, the time machine was an obstacle to her objective. Once the time machine was built and Rena would begin travelling through time, she would evidently be far less present at home.
Jurina understood her wife’s reasons, and willingly agreed when Rena suggested to pause the project for a little while. Following this decision, the team working on floor 22 got transferred to other services and allocated to other projects. As the years went by and Natsuki grew up, Jurina didn’t fail to notice that her wife spoke less frequently about her childhood dream.
When they first met, Rena’s enthusiasm for this project was manifest. Jurina could tell how important it was to her, and she loved the way her eyes would brighten up when she talked at length about all the ancient civilizations she couldn’t wait to explore. For Jurina, it was a motivating factor, and it pushed her to work even harder day by day, more than decided to fulfill Rena’s ultimate wish.
These last few years, Rena’s interest in the time machine project seemed to have vanished. In fact, as they both got engrossed in their work and focused their attention on other projects, Jurina got the strong impression that Rena had purely and simply lost the desire to finish the blueprint of the time machine. The idea of Rena giving up on her dream bothered Jurina to no end. Tonight, Jurina was determined to have a conversation with her about it. Half an hour ago, they had finished dinner and Rena was busy working in the living room, while Natsuki was playing in her bedroom with Alfred.
Jurina pulled a chair and sat at the table, her arrival prompting her wife to briefly look up to her and informing her she was almost done. Jurina nodded and remained silent, trying to figure out the best way to broach the tricky subject. It was not that she hadn’t already tried. Over the course of the year, she had mentioned the time machine now and then, hoping her wife would give her the green light to resume the project.
Each and single time, Rena had replied negatively, stating Natsuki was still too young. Up to that day, Jurina had always relented when her wife used their daughter’s age as an excuse for postponing the project. Nevertheless, Rena’s blatant disinterest for the matter worried her. As she waited patiently for her wife to finish her work, she already had all the arguments lined up in her head. Tonight, she was well decided to make herself heard and do everything in her capacity to change Rena’s mind.
“Is there something you wished to tell me?” Jurina, who was lost in her thoughts, glanced back at her wife’s question. Rena had paused what she was doing, and was watching her in a mixture of curiosity and interest.
“Yes, but I’ll let you finish your work. It can wait.”
Jurina expected her wife to follow her instructions and resume what she was doing. To her surprise, Rena pushed the tablet aside, giving Jurina her undivided attention. “No, I can sense it’s important. What is it?”
By Rena’s expectant look, Jurina knew she wasn’t planning on completing her task until she had received a satisfying answer. Taking a deep breath, Jurina finally confessed what had been troubling her for far too many months. “I wanted to talk to you about the time machine project.”
Rena released a small sigh, and Jurina guessed she didn’t particularly enjoy the direction this conversation was taking. Rena’s reluctance to talk about it was obvious, but Jurina refused to let it go. “I know you wanted to put this project on hold until Natsuki was old enough, and I agree with you that it was the best decision. But she’s almost five now. I think it’s time we start working again on the blueprint of the time machine. I suggest to re-allocate the previous team on floor 22. I also have a few contacts who could help us. Recently, I met with experts who could really contribute to the project.”
“Are you not satisfied with the projects you’re working on?” Rena asked, a mixture of concern and confusion filling her voice. “Is this the reason why you’re mentioning this again?”
“No,” Jurina quickly reassured her. “I like what I’m doing; it doesn’t have anything to do with that. It’s just that it’s been five years. If I didn’t know any better, I could believe that you’re not interested in building the time machine anymore.”
“What if it was the case?” Rena replied, in a decided yet gentle tone. “Would it be that surprising?”
Jurina fell abruptly quiet when she received the answer she dreaded the most. Until now, she was hopeful Rena would tell her that she was all wrong, and she had not given up on her wish to travel through time. However, there was no sign of hesitation in Rena’s voice, almost as if she had made up her mind a long time ago. “But you were so eager to go back in time when we first met. It was such an ambitious and beautiful dream. A dream I promised you to fulfill, nevermind how many years it would take.”
“I know you did, and I will always be grateful for the dedication you put in this project. But what if my goals in life have changed along the way? Tell me. What good reasons would I have to go back in time, when I already possess everything I desire in the present? Having you and Natsuki by my side makes me the happiest person in the world. I couldn’t have a happier and more fulfilling life.”
Jurina felt slightly destabilized and a little desperate, sensing her arguments were having no impact on her wife. “I think… I think you’re making a mistake.”
A warm smile spread across Rena’s face, and she extended her arm to cover Jurina’s hand with her own. “I know you only wish for my happiness, and that’s what I love about you. I’m sorry for not being more honest with you. It was my mistake. I should have told you I had already moved on and put that foolish dream behind me.”
Rena leaned forward and captured her lips in a gentle kiss, then slowly diverted her attention back to the tablet in front of her. Despite the fact the conversation was clearly over, Jurina didn’t move, and stared back at her in deep incomprehension. She wanted so much to add something. Anything that could change Rena’s mind. Since when did Rena believe her dream was foolish? It wasn’t foolish, and not incompatible with her family life anymore. Jurina felt both frustrated and bothered by the turn the conversation had taken, deep down convinced Rena would regret her decision.
“Read me a story, mama!”
Jurina, who was putting Natsuki to bed, smiled to herself. Once she considered Natsuki was tucked properly, she glanced back at her, expecting to hear such a request from the moment the little girl rested her head on the blue pillow. These last few months, Natsuki especially enjoyed it when she read her stories before going to sleep, and they already had gone through half the little girl’s book collection.
Jurina observed her daughter, caressing her hair with affection as Natsuki pressed her favorite stuffed dog against her cheek. Given the expectant look she was giving her, Jurina knew she would have a hard time accepting no for an answer. She stole a peek at her digital watch; there was still time left until Natsuki’s bedtime. “Alright. Let’s read a story.”
Natsuki’s smile broadened and Jurina walked towards the bookshelf, looking for a story she had not read. Finding one, she grabbed the book and returned to sit by the side of Natsuki’s bed, her previous conversation with her wife invading her mind. Jurina let out a small dejected sigh, upset with herself for failing to find the right words. The idea of broaching the subject again didn’t even occur to her. Insisting would be of no use, not when her wife had made her intentions so perfectly clear.
Natsuki called her hesitantly and Jurina jolted out of her thoughts, her conversation with her wife falling at the back of her head as she focused on the red thick hardcover book on her lap. The title was the first thing she read. “The Prince of Nagoya.”
Jurina’s mouth tugged into a smile of pleasure when the title rang a bell. It was a story her own grandmother used to read her when she was a child. Because of the distant memory, some details about the plot remained a bit blurry. “A long time ago, a young prince lived in a beautiful castle. Always composed and polite, the prince was also well educated and wise. With his shiny long black hair falling down his shoulders and his porcelain face, he was known across the country as a very handsome young man.”
“Mommy! The prince is mommy!”
Jurina paused in her reading, and looked up in surprise at her daughter’s excitement. “You think the prince looks like mommy?” Jurina laughed softly when Natsuki nodded with determination and vigor. “Alright, we’ll say mommy is the prince, then.” Jurina found her daughter’s statement amusing but didn’t try to contradict her, and continued reading the fairytale.
“Since a young age, the prince had always been a studious person, preferring the company of his books than sparring with his private tutor. Because of his neat appearance and advantageous looks, the prince drew a lot of attention, but remained solitary. He was constantly surrounded by people, but enjoyed better the quietness of his library than the liveliness of ballrooms. However, there were some duties he simply couldn’t afford to miss. One day, he received a delegation from a distant kingdom, among them a certain beautiful princess...”
Jurina made a pause. Natsuki wasn’t making a single noise and she tilted her head towards the bed in curiosity, willing to check if she hadn’t fallen asleep. The pair of eyes glued on her clearly proved otherwise. A pout formed on Natsuki’s lips. “Why did you stop, mama?”
“Sorry.” Jurina gave her an apologetic look, amused to see how fascinated her daughter seemed to be about the story. “It was love at first sight, and a few months later, they celebrated their love with a beautiful wedding. They were very happy together, until tragedy struck.”
“N–No,” Natsuki’s voice quivered, and she tightly squeezed Duran. “Did something happen to the princess?”
Jurina smiled inwardly, impressed by her daughter’s perceptiveness. “A king visiting their kingdom fell madly in love with the princess and tried to seduce her, but soon became conscious the princess’s heart would never belong to another but the prince. However, the king refused the concede defeat and, one night, took advantage of his hosts’ hospitality to kidnap the princess.
The young prince was devastated but powerless against the evil king: his young and small army was no match against the king’s trained and experienced soldiers. Nevertheless, the young prince refused to give up on the woman he loved. He couldn’t bear the thought of spending the rest of his life without his beloved princess by his side.
With no other options left, the prince did the unconceivable: he sought help from a witch. His advisors desperately tried to change the prince’s mind, warning him about her unpredictable, dangerous powers. The prince, who had always carefully listened to his advisors, dismissed every single one of their warnings. He was ready to face any danger to save the princess. One early morning, he took his horse and rode in search of the witch who was told to be living in a forest a few days away from his kingdom.
He found the forest but it was so vast, that he soon got lost in its immensity. After wandering in the forest for days, both exhausted and beginning to lose hope of saving his princess, he came across a small wooden hut. The prince, realizing he had discovered the witch’s hideout, got off his horse, his vision blurred and his steps unsteady as he approached the cabin. He had not eaten or drunk a single drop of water in several days.
Despite his undeniable relief, he was cautious when he arrived in front of the wooden cabin, his fingers clutching the pommel of his sword as he pushed the door. When he came face-to-face with the old witch, his advisors’ warnings came to the forefront of his mind, but he refused to let his fear transpire in front of her.
The witch invited him to take a seat and, after assessing the situation and judging the elderly woman harmless, he relaxed and explained the reason of his presence. The whole time, the witch listened to him with attention, not once interrupting him. As the prince finished narrating his story and hesitantly voiced his request, he feared the witch would refuse to help him. The prince had always been praised for being very perceptive, and it destabilized him when he found himself incapable of reading her thoughts.
To his surprise, she agreed to help him. The prince was so overjoyed, that he promised to give her everything she wanted if she brought him back his beloved princess. The witch was satisfied by his offer and agreed to his terms, but didn’t specify what she wished in return. The prince didn’t think too much of it. He wasn’t very rich, but his princess was worth all the gold in the world…That’s when–”
The sound of the bedroom’s door opening stopped Jurina in her reading, and she looked up, witnessing her wife standing on the doorstep. Rena’s gaze fell on her, then lingered on the little girl lying in bed. “It’s time to sleep, honey.”
“No!” Natsuki protested vehemently. “Mama hasn’t finished the story! I want to know what happens to the prince and the princess!”
“You have school tomorrow. It’s already past your bedtime,” Rena smiled, gently reminding her.
Natsuki’s disappointment was manifest, but Jurina knew she couldn’t argue with her wife when she cast a look at the digital clock on the wall and noticed the late hour. Rena was right: she got a little carried away. Jurina placed a bookmark at the page she was reading, and gave Natsuki a small embarrassed look. “Mommy is right. Natsuki needs to sleep if she wants to make beautiful drawings tomorrow.”
“Duran is not sleepy! Look!”
Natsuki held her stuffed dog in the air and Jurina smiled, considering reading a few more pages to please her daughter. When her wife cleared her throat behind her back, she knew the latter wouldn’t let her indulge in their daughter’s whim. “I’ll continue the story tomorrow, alright?”
Jurina stood up from the bed and replaced the book on the shelf, then faced back her displeased daughter. “Promise?”
“Yes, I promise.” Jurina nodded, and leaned down to kiss Natsuki’s cheek. “Sleep well. Mama loves you.”
Jurina pulled back and stepped aside, Rena approaching and pressing a kiss on Natsuki’s forehead. “Mommy...” Natsuki caught Rena’s arm as she was retreating. “The prince is going to save the princess, right?”
Rena’s eyes widened slightly at her daughter’s question. She wondered what she was referring to, then guessed it probably had to do with the story Jurina was reading her. “What does Natsuki think?”
“I think the prince is very strong and loves the princess. He will find a way to deliver her from the evil king.”
Rena smiled at her, and traced the line of her daughter’s cheekbone and jaw tenderly. “I’m sure he will. Goodnight, darling.”
Natsuki followed her parents’ retreating form as they turned the light off and left the door slightly ajar behind them, her attention drawn to the book resting on the shelf. The temptation to sneak out of bed and read the rest of the story was very strong. However, she soon gave up on the idea, knowing she was still too young to understand all the complicated words written on the pages. Reluctantly, Natsuki closed her eyes and held Duran close, impatient to discover how the brave prince would save his beloved princess.
TO BE CONTINUED
Version revised on August 25, 2019.
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Yep that's what i mean, from reading the prologue or maybe the first chap, well i forgot, and don't know why usually if a story with "time" as the genre, there's somehow something bad or sad happening.
Probably because in relationship "time" is the worst enemy
Somehow reading this comment, then I can't help to think something bad really is going to happen.
And then the chapter's contains are about Rena's losing her dream of making the time machine and Jurina reading Natsuki a bedtime story halfway and promise to continue next time. It makes me think something bad is going to happen to Jurina that makes her can't continue tha story and that something will make Rena continue the time machine project to reverse it.
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Yep that's what i mean, from reading the prologue or maybe the first chap, well i forgot, and don't know why usually if a story with "time" as the genre, there's somehow something bad or sad happening.
Probably because in relationship "time" is the worst enemy
Somehow reading this comment, then I can't help to think something bad really is going to happen.
And then the chapter's contains are about Rena's losing her dream of making the time machine and Jurina reading Natsuki a bedtime story halfway and promise to continue next time. It makes me think something bad is going to happen to Jurina that makes her can't continue tha story and that something will make Rena continue the time machine project to reverse it.
Sorry for making you think it as well
well right from before don't know why i feel Jurina is the one that going to get hurt
and as your theory say, i do agree with it
Now i'm just preparing my heart for it.... :banghead: :bow:
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Natsuki is such a cutie XD
I want to see her interaction with furuyanagi's daughter more :3
For some reason i don't feel really worried about this fic after 'kids' appeared. It makes the story less tense, yet add adorable point haha
Why rena is so easy to let go that dream??
So after married her priority has changed as well?
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Thank you very much for the new chapter.
It's a shame that Rena has given up on her dream. But I understand herdecision.
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I'm starting lo love this Natsukid! :cry:
Why does she have to be this cute it's not fair! XD XD XD XD
In this chapter I can feel that Rena is dominating the family like the figure of a father while Jurina is a very submissive wife :hehehe:
I'm still have no idea about the continuity of their time machine project though. I don't know why but I think Jurina couldn't just let Rena canceled the project easily.
Is Jurina been plotting something?? :dunno: I'll leave the answer to author-san xD
Please update soon author-san!
Thank you!
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“[...] What good reasons would I have to go back in time, when I already possess everything I desire in the present?”
I think I can understand Rena's reason that she's not interested to build the time machine anymore. There should be something really HUGE to change her mind about that.
“No!” Natsuki immediately protested vehemently. “Mama hasn’t finished the story! I want to know what happens to the prince and the princess!”
Natsuki’s disappointment was manifest [....]
The temptation to sneak out of bed and read the rest of the story was very strong. However, she soon gave up [...]
I FEEL YOU, NATSUKI-CHAN! I also want to know what happens next! :frustrated:
Anyway, author-san, I thought in this chapter you would write about the dinner between both families (Furuyanagi and WMAtsui).
I wonder how Shizuru and Natsui would interact after the "embarrassing" moment. :hee:
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:ding: :ding: :ding: :ding:
:kneelbow: :kneelbow: :kneelbow: :kneelbow:
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Now that my Heartbeat trilogy is completed, I'm planning on resuming my paused fics.
Back in Time is the first fic I will be updating.
In anticipation for the publication of chapter 11, I've revised the 10 first chapters. The story is almost 3 years old, and it required some editing & improvement. I also extended some passages & added a couple of new scenes!
Feel free to check the previous pages of this thread to access the revised versions.
CHAPTER 11 ON AUGUST 30, 2019!
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CHAPTER 11
The sound of the front door opening, followed by the virtual voice welcoming Jurina in the house, reached Rena from the bedroom. At once, she looked up from her work and tilted her head to her vintage yet beloved red alarm-clock. 11:15 p.m. Jurina was even more late than yesterday. Rena found herself once more curious to discover what kind of project seemed to monopolize all her wife’s attention recently, and also knew she needed to address a certain situation that had occurred during dinner.
A little before 8 p.m., Jurina had called home to warn she would be late, and it was best they didn’t wait for her. Rena had followed her instructions, warning Alfred to prepare the table for two. Soon after, she and Natsuki had settled at the table while Alfred served the food, and it didn’t take long for Rena to be testimony of Natsuki’s difficult behavior. Natsuki wasn’t talkative, barely answering her questions about her day at school, and wasn’t being cooperative when it came to finishing the plate in front of her.
“Mama is not eating with us?” They were in the middle of dinner when Natsuki finally admitted what was troubling her.
“No, mama is working late. She’ll come and kiss you goodnight as soon as she arrives,” Rena smiled, trying to cheer her up. “Now, Natsuki needs to finish her vegetables.”
Natsuki pouted and played with her green beans. “But I don’t like them. And I’m not hungry anymore. Can I go and play in my room?”
“Natsuki won’t grow as tall as her mama if she doesn’t eat her vegetables,” Rena said, her voice firm but gentle.
“Mama never forces me to eat them if I don’t want to,” Natsuki mumbled, looking down at the floor.
Rena paused at the revelation and regarded her daughter, but she was cleverly avoiding her gaze. Rena let out a small, almost inaudible sigh, making a mental note to have a conversation with her wife later. “Alright. You can leave the table.”
“Thank you, mommy!” Natsuki smiled widely, jumping out of the chair. Rena followed her retreating form as she ran towards the staircase, only to see her retracing her steps back to her with a hesitant look. “Can Alfred come and play with me?”
Rena turned to their robot who was busy cleaning up the dishes, and who had instantly looked upon the calling of his name, his eyes now darting between both his mistresses. “Yes, Alfred can play with you.”
“Mistress? Are you sure?” The robot’s gaze dropped to the plates in his hands, then looked back at Rena questioningly.
“Yes, it’s fine. I’ll take care of it,” Rena assured with a smile.
The robot’s eyes remained fixed on her, visibly torn between carrying out his duty and obeying his mistress’s new order. At last, he emitted a sound of agreement and carefully replaced the plates on the table, Natsuki not wasting time in grabbing his hand and quickly leading him towards the staircase.
Rena realized she truly hadn’t seen time passing by after dinner. Much as she didn’t enjoy bringing work at home, she had an important business meeting to attend in the morning, and she wished to check one last time that she had all the elements. Rena turned off the tablet computer and, while waiting for Jurina’s arrival, decided to go and check up on Natsuki. She got out of bed and made her way outside, carefully pushing their daughter’s bedroom door, only to catch a glimpse of Natsuki sleeping soundly.
At the sight, a warm smile moved to Rena’s lips. As she was about to close the door, she distinguished the sound of footsteps approaching behind her. “You’re still awake?” Jurina whispered, surprised.
“Yes, I was finishing reading a few documents,” Rena nodded with a smile, kissing her back when Jurina pressed her lips against hers. Rena stepped aside to let her wife enter their daughter’s bedroom, Jurina leaning over Natsuki’s sleep form to plant a kiss on her forehead, before quietly retreating.
They both took the direction of their bedroom. While watching her wife getting prepared for the night, Rena slipped under the covers, before Jurina joined her in bed and switched the lights off. As they faced one another, Rena snuggled close to her and looped one arm around Jurina’s waist, asking the question that had been nagging her for far too long. “What have you been working on all these evenings? You still haven’t told me.”
Jurina tensed in her arms. “I-It’s a complicated project. I really don’t want to say anything until it’s finished.”
Rena frowned at her vague explanation. “I can’t have a hint?”
Jurina shot her an amused look, and tucked a strand of hair behind Rena’s ear. “My God, you are so curious. It doesn’t matter how many times you ask. I won’t tell you anything. You’ll have to be a bit more patient.”
“There’s really nothing I can do to convince you?” Rena slipped a sneaky hand inside Jurina’s pajama top, tracing her fingers along the length of her back in a sensual caress.
Jurina felt her heart beat more rapidly, drawn to those irresistible lips taunting her. She could no longer hold back and slowly lifted Rena’s nightdress, only to feel her jerk at her touch when her fingers came in direct contact with her thigh. “Sorry, my hands are cold?” She winced, and withdrew her hand. “The evenings have been quite chilly lately. Alfred usually reminds me to bring my gloves, but he forgot this morning.”
“Always poor Alfred’s fault,” Rena said cheekily, before remembering a particular topic she had wished to tackle with her wife. “I never realized until today how much you spoiled our daughter.”
“Eh?” Jurina’s eyes widened in surprise. “I don’t spoil her.”
“Oh, come on,” Rena chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief. “We both know that you’ve always been Natsuki’s favorite. Today, during dinner, she refused to eat her green beans. Apparently, you told her that she didn’t have to eat them if she didn’t want to.”
Jurina felt like a deer caught in the headlights. “W-Well, it’s true that she doesn’t like them very much, so I might have said…” she swallowed nervously at her wife’s inquiring look. “It won’t happen anymore. I’ll make sure she eats her vegetables properly next time.”
“Good.” Rena cradled Jurina’s cheek in her palm and kissed her, a satisfied expression on her face. “If you could also limit the number of candies you give her behind my back, I would very much appreciate it.”
Jurina made a face, realizing she had been caught in the act, before her eyes twinkled with mischief. “I think my wife is jealous.” When Rena arched an eyebrow, Jurina leaned in, pressing their bodies closer. “She also wants to be spoiled.”
Jurina moved on top of her and quickly attacked the crook of her neck, Rena laughing and twisting as Jurina relentlessly tickled her in the ribs. After a little while, Rena tapped her arm, asking for a respite, and Jurina complied, shooting a playful, mischievous look at her. Ultimately, Rena’s laughing died down and she stared into the pair of brown eyes never leaving hers, catching Jurina’s hand and slowly replacing it on her thigh. “It’s true the nights have been cold lately. I guess it can be the occasion to warm you up?”
Jurina’s eyes gleamed with expectation at her wife’s explicit tone, knowing exactly what she had in mind for tonight when she witnessed the hot desire burning in her eyes. Jurina swooped down, kissing her fiercely, Rena returning the kiss with equal passion. Unable to stop herself, Jurina’s hand moved on her thigh and raised the nightdress hem higher, pulling it over Rena’s head then removing her panties, her own nightshirt and underwear soon being disregarded and following the same path on the floor.
Jurina felt Rena’s chest heaving against her body, and she let her fingers dance across the skin of Rena’s cheek and down to the line of her jaw. She admired every curve of Rena’s breathtaking body, as if seeing her naked for the first time. She kissed her neck, suckled her breasts and caressed her body with such a soft, gentle yet firm touch, as if nothing else mattered but here and now.
Rena shuddered in pleasure and wove her fingers into the soft strands of Jurina’s hair, guiding her mouth back on hers. Jurina obliged and lowered her lips on to hers, drugging, kissing her into pure bliss, making Rena’s body quiver with anticipation as to what was to come next. Jurina’s heart quickened, and her hand moved down her torso, past her navel and below her waist, where Rena ached for her.
For a brief instant, a part of their previous conversation rushed back to Jurina’s mind, admitting to herself that it was getting harder to keep a secret from Rena when her curiosity only increased with the passing of the weeks. But Jurina refused to relent and ruin the surprise. She was so close to reaching her final objective. A few more weeks. It was all she needed to finish it. In time for Rena’s 30th birthday.
Jurina stirred aware at the feeling of someone pulling at the bedcover repeatedly. She slowly fluttered her eyes open, only to discover Natsuki tightly holding Duran and standing by her side of the bed. Jurina blinked, briefly noting that it was past 2 a.m. as she tried to assess the situation, before guessing by her daughter’s frightened look that something had disturbed her sleep.
“What’s wrong? Did you have a bad dream?” Jurina asked in a whisper, receiving a quick, silent nod in return. “Alright, go back to your room. I’m coming.”
Jurina sleepily watched Natsuki leave, and turned around in bed, relieved to find her wife still sleeping peacefully by her side. Rena’s arms were wrapped around her waist, and she slowly disentangled herself from Rena’s embrace, not resisting laying a gentle kiss on her cheek before she slipped out of bed. It took her longer than she anticipated to encounter in the obscurity her clothes scattered on the floor, a smile unconsciously moving to her lips at the remembrance of their passionate lovemaking.
After getting dressed, Jurina gave her sleeping wife one last lingering look, her mouth tugging into an amused smile as Rena unconsciously drew closer to her side of the bed in her sleep. Jurina approached the door and quietly made her way outside to enter Natsuki’s bedroom, only to find her daughter sitting in bed with a scared expression plastered all over her face. After taking a seat by the side of her bed, Jurina stroked her hair and spoke to her softly. “What did you dream about?”
Natsuki looked the other way, embarrassed. “I-I don’t want to say.”
“You know you can tell me everything,” Jurina said encouragingly, playing with the stuffed dog secured in Natsuki’s arms.
There was a short pause before Natsuki hesitantly spoke. “I dreamed that the prince wasn’t strong enough to save the princess.”
It took a few seconds for Jurina’s brain to register what she was referring to, until understanding crossed her features. Jurina felt a slight twinge of guilt, now remembering indeed that she never finished reading the bedtime story. These last few weeks, she had been working later than usual. And, by the time she arrived home, Natsuki was already fast asleep. “Why didn’t you ask mommy or Alfred to read you the story?”
“No! I want mama to read it!”
Jurina smiled a little defeatedly. It was during those moments that she recognized Natsuki’s characteristic stubbornness. A trait of personality that her daughter had apparently inherited from herself, according to her wife’s own words. “What if I read it to you when I get home tonight?”
Natsuki’s eyes brightened. “You will? You promise?”
“I tell you what.” Jurina’s voice lowered and she leaned forward, as if wanting to share a big secret with her. “I will even leave the office earlier to pick you up from school. What do you think? Would you like that?”
“Yes! Yes!” Natsuki nodded rapidly, head bobbing.
Jurina raised her pinky finger with a conspiratorial smile. “So does it mean we have an agreement?”
Natsuki giggled, wrapping her finger around Jurina’s, and spontaneously reached forward to kiss Jurina’s cheek. “Duran says it’s a deal.”
“Good.” Jurina wore a serious expression on her face as she gazed down to the stuffed dog and shook his leg, sealing the agreement, before looking up at her daughter grinning from ear to ear. “It’s now time to go to sleep. Or you’ll be very tired at school tomorrow morning.”
She didn’t need to say it twice that Natsuki was already laying down and making herself comfortable in bed, Duran closely pressed against her. Jurina smiled knowingly at her, figuring out by her daughter’s current excitement that it would take a few good minutes for her to fully calm down and fall asleep. Jurina tucked her in bed properly, soon meeting her daughter’s expectant look. “Can you stay with me?”
“Yes, I will.” Jurina dropped a kiss on her forehead, witnessing a huge smile appearing on Natsuki’s face. “And you don’t have to worry. The prince is very, very brave. He will never stop fighting until his princess is free from the evil king.”
Jurina watched her fondly as Natsuki slowly closed her eyes, reveling in her happiness of having such an adorable and beautiful daughter. There was no denying that she found great accomplishment in her job, and nothing gave her greater satisfaction than to reach the objectives she had set and to carry out a project to its end with success. However, if there was one thing that fulfilled her even more as a human being, it was to be surrounded by the two people she loved the most in this world. Because her wife and her daughter were her biggest pride in life.
TO BE CONTINUED
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Well that was fast. I thought I need to wait longer for your update and please continue the prince story that you wrote in this fanfic I'm really curious about it.
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Silent reader here. I've been following your works since last year. Your Heartbeat Trilogy - i have no words, can't count how many times I've reread everything.
Anyways, back to this story, i feel like something ominous would happen next, im thinking of that kind of plot, jurina being brought to the past by the time machine and to an unknown timeline...
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WELCOME BACK, CUTE LITTLE NATSUKI AND ALFRED! How I miss you both! :luvuluvu:
Anyway, I’m really curious about the project that Jurina’s doing. What kind of project is that? What will happen on Rena’s 30th birthday? Will something terrible happen that day? :cool1:
I’m just as curious as Rena. Though it’s only Rena who has the super power to make Jurina confess actually, if she was persistent enough during those cold nights. We all know that Rena is Jurina’s weakness :wahaha: I admire that Jurina could handle Rena in that situation. Rena was very smart, but yes, Jurina was very stubborn. It should be Jurina who got distracted, but she didn’t. She still managed to keep her secret with her. Wow. :kneelbow:
I wonder if Natsuki’s dream about the prince and his princess has a correlation with what Jurina is doing. Jurina really spoiled Natsuki, maybe she had a hint about her future? (Well, from this chapter we know who Natsuki’s favourite is hehe...)
Thank you author-san for bringing back this story after years. Ganbatte! :on woohoo:
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Hi Sophcaro.
Welcome back with Back in Time!
It has been a long time since you published a chapter, right? :welcome
I've had to read again the previous chapters, to remember certain details un orden to not have problems reading this chapter. I've noticed that you changed certain details here and there and I think that is normal, after all, you paused the fic for a good time now and when you resume it, it's normal that you find situations that you believe could be improved.
In this new chapter, you show us the kind of interaction they have as a family: both mothers taking turns to be able to be with little Natsuki when the other is busy working. We can also see that Rena has problems with certain behaviors of Natsuki and all because of Jurina-mama who had spoiled her so much!!. Bad, bad Jurina-mama!! :smhid :smhid
Alfred is a great help for both mothers and a good friend for little Natsuki, thing that I consider very cute . Alfred is still my favorite character XDXD I'm very sorry Rena and Jurina, but my heart belongs to Alfred XD :love: :love:
Now ... as for Jurina's suspicious behavior ... I'm completely sure something is up and I bet my salary that has to do with the time machine !! Rena has to improve her interrogation tactics if she wants to have an answer (if you know what I mean :roll:)
And you know, the bedtime story that Jurina reads to Natsuki ... you know, I have a bad feeling about all this. A very BAD feeling! Author-san, are you going to make us suffer, right? :cry:
Thanks for coming back to this story! After the Heartbeat trilogy, we definitely still have a lot of Sophcaro to read !!
I will wait to the next chapters! :heart:
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CHAPTER 12
It was almost 7 p.m. when Rena arrived home, a heavy sigh of exhaustion escaping her lips as she passed the front door. Removing her raincoat and boots, she rubbed her forehead at her headache, placing her wet umbrella in the basket. Today, and following months of intense negotiations, she had at last signed an important contract with the CEO of a leading specialty pharmaceutical German company. The business woman was pleased and proud to have reached such a great deal, the 5-year contract partnership opening their products to the European market.
This morning, she had arrived at the office a little before 7. Along with the other members of her company working on this negotiation, they had revised in detail all the terms of the contract, while waiting for the arrival of their foreign counterparts. Rena wished to put all chances on her side, refusing to let pass such an incredible opportunity. After a 4-hour meeting with the German representatives, their brand-new collaboration had been formally sealed with a long-awaited signature.
Rena progressed forward in the hallway, feeling her own strengths leaving her. Outside, the wind and rain were fierce, announcing an imminent tempest, water droplets hitting the house windows with a deafening noise. After such a long tiring and stressful day, Rena had one desire: to have a light, quick dinner and join her bed.
Rena entered the living room and dropped her briefcase on a chair, startled when she noticed the obscurity greeting her and the unusual quietness of the house. Her gaze drifted to the top of the staircase, wondering why she couldn’t hear Natsuki playing, then noticed their domestic robot standing by the side of the living room’s television. That definitely piqued her curiosity. “Alfred? Why are you not playing with Natsuki?”
When the robot didn’t react, Rena blinked in confusion. “Alfred, did you hear me?”
His large blue eyes lightened at last, and the robot stepped forward; acknowledging her presence. “M-Mistress? Y-You c-called m-me?”
“Yes. I asked why you were not upstairs with Natsuki,” Rena repeated, destabilized by the slight jerks in his metallic voice.
Rena was taken aback by his lengthy response time.
“That’s because little Mistress is upset that Mistress Jurina didn’t come to pick her up after school. She refuses to let me enter her room.”
“What do you mean, she didn’t pick her up? Weren’t they supposed to go to the zoo today?” Rena asked, feeling a tinge of doubt. “Show me the calendar.”
The robot projected an image on the wall, blurry and unreadable at first, which caused Rena to gaze back at the robot in curiosity, before it adjusted and got clearer, revealing the family’s monthly schedule. Rena’s confusion arose; the data displayed confirmed what she thought. Jurina was indeed supposed to leave work earlier today to spend quality time with their daughter.
“Did Jurina warn you about any change of plans?” Rena asked, seeing the robot nodding negatively in response. She stood in the living room for a moment, analyzing the situation. Alright; that was strange.
Rena retrieved her Bluetooth earpiece from her vest pocket, and placed it inside her ear. “Call Jurina.”
Calling Jurina. The device responded to the command, dialing. Rena waited, hearing the call ending after one ringing, and falling on Jurina’s voicemail. Rena extracted the earpiece, checking it for any potential malfunction, then put it back inside her ear when nothing appeared out of the ordinary. “Call Jurina.” She repeated, the robotic voice recognizing the command and dialing the requested number. A couple of seconds later, she reached the same result.
Straight to voicemail.
Rena removed the communication device, and faced Alfred’s expectant look. “Something unexpected must have come up at work.” She tried to keep her voice light and unconcerned, but knew she’d failed when she saw Alfred frowning at her.
“Mistress Jurina always calls when she’s delayed at work,” the robot answered, visibly not convinced by the explanation.
Rena didn’t say anything, knowing he was right. It wasn’t like Jurina to not warn them if she was going to be late, even less not to respect a promise made to her daughter. Natsuki was Jurina’s little sunshine. She spoiled their daughter like no one else, always ready to please her and give in to all of her whims. For nothing in the world, would she do anything to tarnish Natsuki’s happiness.
Rena kneeled in front of the robot, catching his hand. “Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll have news from her very soon.”
They held one another’s gaze, the mechanical fingers closing around hers. Rena’s mouth broadened into a smile at the glimmer of hope shining in his blue eyes, amazed by how expressive the humanoid robot could prove to be. Some days, it was so easy to forget that he was a machine, by the genuine, great affection he harbored for the three members of the family. But Rena knew his unfailing loyalty would always go to one member above all. It was the person his eyes had laid on for the very first time, when he got switched on almost a decade ago. It was the one who had held his hand, and given him a unique name, and to whom he had vowed to obey and serve his whole life.
His precious Mistress Jurina.
“I’ll go and see Natsuki.” Rena gently slipped her hand away from his grasp, receiving a weird crackling sound of agreement in response. The latter made Rena pause, asking herself if something couldn’t possibly wrong with the robot, making a mental note to herself to mention it to Jurina later.
Rena climbed the stairs leading towards the first floor, fearing nothing she would say would be sufficient to quell their daughter’s disappointment. Approaching Natsuki’s bedroom, she distinguished the light filtering from underneath the door, but the deadly silence reaching her did not augur anything well about her daughter’s mood.
She opened Natsuki’s door, seeing an instant look of relief greeting her, only for it to transform into a blatant disappointment at her sight. Rena wasn’t offended by her reaction; she knew it wasn’t her that their daughter longed to see the most right now. Rena stood at the entrance of the room, taking a moment to study the scene. Natsuki was sitting on the floor, head low, her back leaning carelessly against the side of the bed. Duran, her all-time favorite stuffed toy, wasn’t in her arms but laying on the pillow, while her toy box remained untouched in front of her.
“Hi honey. Mommy is home. What are you doing?” Rena leaned down, dropping a tender kiss on the top of her head. When her question was met with silence, she turned to the stuffed toy left on the pillow. “I’m sure Duran must be feeling alone up there.” She reached out for the stuffed dog and tried to place it inside Natsuki’s arms, but her daughter refused it and faced the other way.
“I don’t want Duran.”
Rena took a seat by her side, and slowly wrapped her arms around her waist. “I know you’re upset Mama didn’t come to pick you up after school,” she carefully said, seeing how her daughter refused to meet her gaze.
“She promised!”
The dramatic outburst startled her, and she met Natsuki’s angry look. “I’m sorry she couldn’t come. I know you were looking for it.” She caressed the length of her back in a soft, soothing gesture. “I wish I knew what happened, but I can only imagine that she got delayed at work. Maybe someone requested her presence and attention, and she couldn’t free herself as early as she wished.”
“Someone more important than Natsuki?” Rena witnessed her daughter’s anger progressively changing into a mixture of sadness and incomprehension.
“No, no one is more important than you.” Rena gathered her into her arms. “Don’t ever think that.” When she heard the soft sniffing against her neck, she strengthened her hold. “Your mama loves you more than anyone in this world.” Rena gently pulled away, wiping away the budding tears forming in Natsuki’s glistening eyes. “She would never do anything to make you sad, and I know she will make it up for it.”
Rena smiled at her confidently, and drew her back into a long, comforting hug. After a while, she heard the crying diminishing and she approached Duran closer to the little girl, relieved when it wasn’t rejected. “Why don’t I ask Alfred to come and play with you?” Rena offered, playfully pulling onto the dog’s tail, pretending to want to steal it from her. “What do you think? There’s still time before dinner.” When Natsuki pulled the stuffed toy into her arms in a possessive gesture, and her gaze lingered on the untouched toy box, Rena hid a smile, sensing her daughter’s mood had considerably improved.
“Yes, I’ll call Alfred.” Rena placed a kiss on her cheek.
Rena spent the following half-hour finishing some work, reassured by the high level of noise and laughter coming from upstairs. Natsuki seemed to have swapped back to her usual cheerfulness in Alfred’s presence, and it never ceased to amaze her how fast children were capable of going from one mood to the next. On occasions, Rena would look out the window, wondering what could be delaying her wife so much, and hoping she wouldn’t forget to take an umbrella to protect herself from the pouring rain.
She had almost reached the bottom of the financial report she was reading, when a sudden scream reached her.
“Mommy! Mommy!”
At the sound of her daughter’s alarmed voice, Rena raised her head from the digital tablet and left it aside on the table, standing up from the chair to join her upstairs. The instant she opened the bedroom door, she faced Natsuki’s frightened look.
“Mommy! Alfred isn’t speaking anymore!”
Rena glanced down at the humanoid robot standing by her daughter’s side, his eyes extinguished and void of their familiar blue glowing light. As she studied further her daughter’s small companion, she noted something else: the light located on the right side of his neck had turned red. “Hum, I see. Maybe he simply needs to recharge.”
Rena kneeled and lifted the robot, carrying him out of the bedroom and downstairs, closely followed by her daughter’s hurried steps. Once in the living room, she placed the domestic robot on the recharging station. She found it a bit odd. Such an incident had never happened. When his batteries were low, the robot would systematically take the direction of the recharging station on his own.
She waited for the result, Natsuki burning with anticipation beside her with Duran secured in her arms, yet was surprised when the light didn’t turn orange as usual when the robot was on charge. Rena removed Alfred from the recharging station, believing in a temporary connection problem, then put it back in place. She repeated the process a few more times, but despite her best efforts, the light remained desperately red. “I’m not sure what the problem is. Mama will check it when she gets home, alright?”
“W-What if Alfred never speaks again? What if I can’t play with him anymore?” Natsuki stammered, petrified.
“Of course, you’ll play with him again,” Rena said reassuringly, softly caressing her shoulder. “Mama often improves Alfred so he can be more intelligent and spend more time with Natsuki every day. Alfred is getting old now. He probably needs more time to rest, that’s all. Don’t worry about it.”
Rena gave her a smile, and saw her relax slightly. “Why don’t you go back and play in your room? I’ll call you when it’s dinner time.”
Natsuki looked hesitant. “I don’t want to. Can I wait for mama with you?”
“Of course.” Rena embraced her, kissing her temple. “I still have a bit of work to do. Why don’t you watch some TV in the meantime?”
Natsuki beamed in reaction, and Rena watched her retreating form as she walked away and jumped on the sofa, immerging herself in a cartoon. Rena returned to her work, yet quickly lingered back on her daughter. Two unhappy events in the same day were definitely too much to handle for such a young girl, but Rena was convinced everything would go back to normal once Jurina would return.
Rena stared up at the digital clock on the wall: 8 p.m. Usually, Alfred was the one to remind her of the time when she let herself get carried away by work, but the daily routine had been abruptly disrupted. Rena turned off the digital tablet and slipped it in her briefcase, beginning to feel concerned by Jurina’s absence. Seizing the Bluetooth device from the table and, noting she hadn’t received any message from her, she decided to give her wife another call. Her new attempt was met with the same result, and she fell onto the voicemail.
Powerless, she darted a look towards the living room; Natsuki’s attention was still entirely monopolized by the cartoon playing on the television. “Honey, it’s 8 p.m. Can you put the table on?”
Natsuki glanced back in her direction; her eyebrows arched in surprise. “We’re not waiting for mama?”
“I don’t know when mama is coming home, and it’s already late. So it’s best if we start eating without her,” Rena gently explained.
Natsuki switched the television off and slowly climbed off the sofa, Rena not missing the slight dejected look on her face as she entered the kitchen. A silence fell as they ate dinner, none of them having the desire to respect this usual time for convivial sharing. Rena could see that Natsuki was feeling down, but she was having difficulty finding the adequate words to cheer her up, equally disturbed by the situation. The reasonable part of her brain was telling her that there had to be a simple, logical explanation for Jurina’s tardiness, but the lack of news and contact from her struck her as odd and unsettling.
The sound of the front door ringing extracted both family members out of their thoughts, a sudden cry of joy escaping Natsuki’s lips as pleasure plastered her features. For a split moment, Rena did share her enthusiasm, also believing the missing member of the family was finally home, and she stood up from the table. However, her smile progressively faded away as she entered the hallway, and realized something didn’t make sense. Jurina would never ring to enter her own house.
When she opened the front door, she was faced with two police agents, their long black uniforms drenched from the rain, standing on her doorstep. “Good evening, Matsui-san. I’m agent Kimura,” said the first male officer, then motioned the female agent by his side. “And this is agent Inoue.” He removed his cap, politely bowing to her. “We apologize for disturbing you at such a late time of the day. May we come in?”
“O-Of course.” Rena stepped aside, letting them in, noticing the young female agent’s attention drawn to Natsuki who had joined her side.
“Hello, what’s your name?” The female agent asked with a gentle smile, and leaned down to her height.
“M-My name is Natsuki.” Came the shy reply.
“Hello, Natsuki. I’m Inoue-san. Your mommy needs to have a talk with my partner. Would you mind showing me your bedroom?” She asked, then glanced up to the head of the family. “That would be alright with you if I stayed a bit with her?”
Rena found herself momentarily at a loss for words by the strange request, but nodded in agreement, giving Natsuki an encouraging light tap on the back when she saw her eyes flickering hesitantly between the police agent and her. “It’s alright, honey. Go play in your room with the lady. I’ll call you when our conversation is over.”
Rena watched them leaving and climbing up the stairs - listening as Natsuki was prompt to present with enthusiasm her favorite stuffed toy to the female police officer – then was distracted by a male voice addressing her. “Matsui-san, are there other people present in the house?”
“No, it’s only me and my daughter,” Rena calmly answered. “My wife should be on her way from work. May I know what this is about?”
“Do you mind if we take a seat?” He bowed and said, indicating the direction of the living room.
Rena found her interlocutor a bit stiff, but chose to ignore it, nodding in agreement. She led the way, listening to the heavy steps of the male officer’s boots behind her, until she stopped in front of the table and offered him a seat. Once he had settled down, she mimicked his gesture and pulled a chair. The silence that followed between them felt almost heavy, Rena not missing the way the male police officer was nervously avoiding her gaze while he placed his cap down on the table.
Rena was about to repeat her unanswered question, when the new visitor faced her back and opened his mouth.
“I’m afraid I have some very bad news to tell you. Your wife was involved in a car accident. According to initial findings, the driver fell asleep, and the car’s radar system didn’t detect in time your wife’s presence on the crosswalk.”
Rena’s heart raced; her whole body stiffened. “A car accident? How is she? Is she at the hospital?”
The male police officer shifted uneasily in his seat. “The damage was too severe. By the time the ambulance arrived on the scene, it was already too late.”
“I don’t understand. W-Where is she?” Rena’s voice quivered; she felt a tightness in her throat. “Is she at the hospital? Is it serious? When can I see her?”
“You wife didn’t survive,” the male agent said, his voice filled with pain and empathy. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”
Rena felt dizzy and lightheaded. “No, it’s not… it’s not possible. It has to be a mistake. You must have the wrong person.”
“I’m afraid there’s no mistake. We found your wife’s ID card in her vest pocket. I know my words will never be enough to alleviate your pain, but the paramedics said she died instantly. She didn’t suffer.”
Rena vaguely heard the officer’s words, but barely understood them. Her headache became suddenly acute. A nausea seized her, and she had to swallow hard to keep from vomiting. The room seemed to swell around her; she could hardly breathe. The last thing she distinguished was the police officer’s alarmed voice calling her name, before blackness swept over her and she faded into unconsciousness.
TO BE CONTINUED
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What. Seriously WHY. Why did you do that.
Oh I get it. You kill jurina so rena would continue her time machine project and save jurina from the car accident. I get it.
But still you know it was too sudden. At least give me a warning.
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Hi Sophcaro!
I want to congratulate you!
You managed to develop the chapter in a splendid way. The mystery of wondering what is happening stays with you throughout the whole reading of the chapter.
Honestly, it’s a chapter that made me sad, but it was something I saw coming and I regret having been right about my suspicions. It’s the first time I’ve wished not to be right XD XD :cry: :cry:
I think my biggest clue was the story Jurina read to Natsuki before bedtime in chapter 10. I know that you never write something unless it’s important for the story, you have no filler scenes. Another example, in chapter 7. You put emphasis on the fact the android stops working when their owner dies, and I knew it had to be a meaningful information.
I can also mention the way this story was structured; here you didn't tell us the way Rena and Jurina fall in love and live happily together after overcoming a series of problems. No, in ten chapters you had already written about all that with relative speed, so I knew the central problem had to be something else... the use of the time machine.
But what would make Rena show interest again in a project she had already closed? Fortunately for her the project remained active, although secretly, thanks to her wife.
It only remains to see the way in which things will be arranged. I have faith in you, I know that you are a fervent wmatsui shipper, so I know that the ending will be satisfying for everyone.
I congratulate you for having done something that not many writers do, leaving your comfort zone and writing a different story.
As for whether you should put warnings in your stories... I have never read a book where the author warns us that they are going to kill a character XD I think that would take away completely all the excitement of reading.
I’m looking forward to the next chapter!
Thank you for your effort and hard work.
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Oh my god.......
You killed Jurina. You really killed Jurina 😭😭😭😭😭
I actually already have the feeling that something bad is gonna happen for one of the characters in order to include the "back in time" theme on the story. But I cant believe that you really killed Jurina 😭😭😭😭
And Alfred!!! Oh my goodness, Alfred 😭😭😭😭
I cant wait but at the same time not ready to see Natsuki's reaction to this situations. Two of her most important persons in her life left her at the same time 😭😭😭
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It's been awhile since i last login
Just want to say... I KNEW IT!!!😂😂😂
Anw always a fan of your work Sophcaro.
Glad to see Wmatsui fanfic still going strong, especially from you😁
Keep up the good work👍
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NOOOOOOOO! :pleeease:
This chapter is too sad. Whyyyyy :on cloudeye:
My heart is broken to pieces. It's unbearable to Rena, and also Natsuki.
AND ALFRED ALSO DIED :imdead: Oh poor little Natsuki... She lost Jurina and Alfred at the same time. She was just too little to understand all of this.
This is too sudden. They were a perfect happy little family. I thought you'd make Jurina in coma or anything other than sudden death. I read every fic you wrote, and cried because of some of them, but this is the saddest one. Natsuki just wanted her mama to pick her up after school, and maybe read her a bed time story later. :gyaaah:
Rena, know I trust this time machine with you. Please...pleaseee make this situation better with different ending for Jurina. Please do it for the love of your life, for Natsuki, for yourself, for Alfred, and...
...
...
...
...for meeeeeeee... :fainted:
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REPLIES TO COMMENTS
Honestly, it’s a chapter that made me sad, but it was something I saw coming and I regret having been right about my suspicions. It’s the first time I’ve wished not to be right XD XD :cry: :cry:
I actually already have the feeling that something bad is gonna happen for one of the characters in order to include the "back in time" theme on the story.
With the few hints I left here & there throughout the story, it's always interesting as a writer to read people's comments and see who interpreted them well. So I'm glad to hear you guys saw it coming!
I think my biggest clue was the story Jurina read to Natsuki before bedtime in chapter 10. I know that you never write something unless it’s important for the story, you have no filler scenes. Another example, in chapter 7. You put emphasis on the fact the android stops working when their owner dies, and I knew it had to be a meaningful information.
You're right, those were the two main hints I left to prepare for the drama to come. Well done for seeing them! :thumbup :thumbup
Just want to say... I KNEW IT!!!😂😂😂
Hehe. Yes, I remember the comment you left on chapter 9, when you mentioned believing something bad would happen to one of the main characters, and most certaintly Jurina. I didn't want to spoil anything at the time, so I chose not to reply by the affirmative or negative, but now I can say congrats :thumbsup
NOOOOOOOO! :pleeease:
This chapter is too sad. Whyyyyy :on cloudeye:
My heart is broken to pieces. It's unbearable to Rena, and also Natsuki.
Trust me, I can understand your pain. As a writer, it's a difficult narrative arc to write, and I never take pleasure in making my characters suffer. When I elaborated this fic, I believed it would make a good story to do something a bit different, explore a theme & genre I had not written about until now. It's going to get a bit dark, but I hope you'll enjoy the ride!
Chapter 13 is coming up soon!
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(https://i.ibb.co/zRBjPMZ/POSTER-HD-chap13-petit.png)
CHAPTER 13
Akane stirred awake, blinking at the light penetrating her eyelids from the large window panels of the hospital room. Stifling a yawn, she straightened up in her chair, feeling drowsy, her back hurting from the uncomfortable sleeping position. At the sensation of an object inside her hand, her gaze dropped to the cellphone she was holding, reading the text she never finished typing. Akane had no memory of falling asleep, but figured she shouldn’t be too surprised. She and Airi had been up on-and-off all night, uncapable of finding sleep after the tragic news.
Akane saw movement in her peripheral vision and she gazed up at once, watching in expectation the woman slowly waking up in the hospital bed. A small groan escaped Rena’s lips as she had even more difficulty than her adjusting to the bright morning light, her eyes fluttering several times in displeasure. Her tired, drawn features also betrayed her disorientated state and confusion, and it didn’t take long until her attention fell upon her. “A-Akane?”
“You’re awake.” Akane rose from her seat, pained to hear her voice sound so weak. She took her best friend’s hand in a gentle grasp. “How are you feeling?”
“Sleepy. What am I doing here?”
“Well, you were…” Akane began to speak, choosing her words carefully. “You were a little agitated and had to be hospitalized. They gave you a sedative, that’s why you’re feeling that way.”
“Why would they give me a sedative? Does Jurina know I’m here?”
Akane was at a loss for words, destabilized. She and Airi had been both shocked to learn about Jurina’s sudden death. She couldn’t imagine how Rena felt when the police knocked at her door to reveal the devastating news. When Akane heard Rena had been admitted to the hospital, she had rushed to see her, only to discover she had been sedated. The hospital staff let her stay by her side while she rested, yet warned her there was a possibility she might not behave in a coherent way when she woke up. Akane didn’t think too much about it, believing they were being overdramatic.
Rena’s reaction took her completely off guard.
“Why am I at the hospital?”
“Do you… remember what happened?” Akane asked cautiously, searching Rena’s face, only to receive a negative nod in reply. Her friend looked genuinely clueless and a mix of unease and pain swept through Akane’s chest at what she was about to say. “Yesterday, two police officers came to your house. Do you have any memory of that?”
“Two police officers?” Rena frowned at her.
Akane swallowed a nervous lump and squeezed her hand. “Rena… Something terrible happened yesterday and-”
“Is Jurina fine?”
Disarray entered Akane’s eyes. “There was a car accident. Jurina was seriously injured. She didn’t… She didn’t-”
“Stop it.” Rena pulled her hand away, anger burning in her eyes. “What are you telling me? Let me talk to Jurina. I want to see her.”
Akane was powerless; her friend wasn’t listening to a single word she was saying. Until now, she had tried to stay brave in front of her, but she couldn’t take it anymore. Her lips trembled; her mask slipped. “R-Rena, I’m so sorry.” She laid a tentative hand on her arm, tears gathering in her eyes. “I’m so sorry for what happened. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling. I’m here for you. I will help you go through this. I promise I won’t leave your side.”
“You’re not making any sense!” Rena sat straight up and threw the bedcover aside, getting out of bed. “I’m calling her and going home.”
“W-What? No, you’re still weak and disoriented,” Akane stammered, surprised by her outburst. “You shouldn’t get out of bed.”
“I’m perfectly fine,” Rena said in a decisive tone, her unsteady steps proving otherwise as her fingers searched frantically her vest’s pocket.
“P-Please, listen to me.” Akane stretched out her arm towards her shoulder.
“Don’t touch me!” Rena slapped her hand away angrily. “Where’s my phone?!” She looked wildly around her. “It should be in my vest!”
Akane’s eyes widened in shock.
The bedroom door slid open, revealing a young female nurse. “Is everything alright?” Her tone was calm and gentle as she entered the room. Her gaze fell on Akane at first, then drifted to the woman wearing a hospital gown. “Matsui-san, you’re under medication. It’s not wise to get out of bed so soon.”
“I-I don’t want to sleep…” Rena’s voice dropped to a weak murmur and she stumbled backward, unbalanced. “I want… I want to see my wife.”
Akane rushed to help her, but the nurse had already made it to Rena’s side. “I understand, but it’s for your own good.” The nurse held Rena by the arm, stabilizing her. “Let me help you lie down.”
A small upset look plastered Rena’s features, but she didn’t oppose any further resistance, holding on the nurse for support as she made her way back to the bed. As she placed her head on the pillow, the nurse infused a sedative in the IV bag, the effect immediate as Rena’s pupils closed without her consent and she fell in a deep slumber.
“I tried to explain her what happened, but she wouldn’t listen.” Akane faced the nurse, a wave of despair washing over her.
“This kind of news can be harder to handle for certain people.” The nurse gave her an understanding look. “Your friend needs more time to process it. Please don’t worry. We’ll keep her under observation as long as needed.”
The nurse left the room, leaving Akane conflicted. She drew her attention back to her best friend, watching her sleep. She looked so calm and peaceful, as if lost in a pleasant dream, but Akane knew it wouldn’t last eternally. Soon or later, she would have to open her eyes and face the truth she refused to accept.
“It’s already been two days. Natsuki keeps asking questions and I don’t know what to say anymore.” Airi said over the phone, keeping an eye from afar on the two little girls playing together in the living room. She drew in a deep breath, mustering up every ounce of courage she could summon for what she was about to suggest. “Do you think… I should tell Natsuki the truth?”
I don’t know… Akane’s voice sounded insecure on the other side of the line. I think Rena should be the one to tell her, but…
“She’s still in denial?”
She spends most of the day sleeping. When she finally wakes up and a doctor or I try to mention it, she shuts everyone out.
Airi pulled a chair and took a seat, discouraged by the news. She opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by a voice calling her from the living room. She glanced up, meeting Natsuki’s hopeful expression. No words left the little girl’s lips, but Airi had no difficulty guessing the question on her mind. For the umpteenth time, she shook her head negatively at her, a sad smile grazing her lips as she faced the little girl’s disappointment.
Was it Natsuki?
“It was,” Airi lowered her voice, not missing the way Shizuru read the atmosphere and tried to cheer up Natsuki, distracting her with a new game. “Each time she sees me on the phone, she thinks I’m talking to her parents.”
There was a long-tensed pause.
Airi buried her face in her hands, a little desperate. “I can’t imagine what Rena is going through, but there has to be a way to help her.”
The doctor mentioned one… But I don’t know if Rena is ready.
“If something ever happened to you, I don’t know how I would…” Airi couldn’t finish her sentence. The simple thought of it made her stomach sick. “I know you don’t want to make her suffer. God, it’s the last thing I want too. But I don’t think… I don’t think refusing to face the truth is going to help her come to terms with what happened.”
There was another silence.
I know… You’re right. I’ll talk to the doctor again.
Airi didn’t miss the exhaustion in her wife’s voice as they exchanged last words of affection. She hung up the phone and redirected her attention to the living room, observing the two little girls lost in their own little world. There was a certain innocence to the scene, as Natsuki was back to smiling and laughing in Shizuru’s presence, but Airi wasn’t deceived by her behavior. At such a young age, mood swings were recurrent in a child, passing from feelings of sadness or anger to being cheerful again in a flash. But it didn’t mean Natsuki was naïve or oblivious. She was old enough to realize something was wrong.
Rena stood quietly, her eyes darting back and forth between Akane who was helping her put a coat over her hospital gown and the male doctor waiting by the door. “Am I finally going home?”
“I’m sorry, Matsui-san. Your current medical condition doesn’t allow us to discharge you. But I’m hopeful you’ll be able to go back home soon.”
The doctor’s enigmatic words puzzled her and she glanced back to her best friend, but she avoided her gaze. Rena didn’t have the opportunity to speak; the doctor had already opened the bedroom door, leading them outside. Rena grimaced in pain, her head aching at the sudden bright light attacking her pupils and the noise surrounding her. Her body was numb, her brain muddled and she was forced to wrap an arm around Akane’s as they walked down the corridor.
They entered an elevator, Rena’s confusion arose when the floors numbers changed and they reached the underground floors. “Where are you bringing me?”
Rena was destabilized when her question was met with silence. She gave her best friend a side glance, sensing her nervousness. The doors opened and they stepped out of the elevator. They were crossing a new corridor, when Rena abruptly stopped walking. “I don’t want to be here. Bring me back to my room. I want to go home.”
“There is something we first need to do. I promise we will bring you back to your room after,” the doctor said softly.
For the first time, Akane looked her straight in the eye. “This is for your own good. We have… We have to do this.”
Rena went stiff and a bad feeling swept over as she perceived the pain, but mostly guilt reflected in her best friend’s eyes. Akane gently held her by the arm and guided her as they approached an oversized unmarked metal door. The doctor asked them to wait and went through the door, reappearing with a hospital male attendant. “My colleague will walk you through from here.”
Rena entered and shivered at the sudden drop in temperature. She paused, studying the new room they had walked in. On her right, was a small empty waiting room. On her left, were aligned three white doors, two of them labelled with a number.
“Matsui-san, please come with me,” the male attendant addressed her. Rena hesitated, her gut instincts humming with burning insistence to not follow him. Akane gave her an encouraging caress on the shoulder and she followed him until they faced the door labeled number 2. The male attendant was about to open, when Rena looked over her shoulder, realizing Akane had stayed behind in the waiting room.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Akane said, but her words did little to reassure her. Her friend was calm, but her discomfort palpable.
“Matsui-san, please take all the time you need.” The male attendant opened the door, leaving it ajar. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Rena brought her attention back to him; the atmosphere became more and more tight. She didn’t know how long she stood unmoving in front of the door. She was conflicted between her curiosity to discover what was on the other side, and a small voice taunting her at the back of her head that she should flee this place as soon as possible. She forced her feet to move forward and she pushed the door at last, hearing it being shut close being her as she entered.
The air fed her heaving lungs and beating heart as she saw the lifeless body of her wife lying on a trolley, silhouetted by a maroon blanket.
Just the head and shoulders were showing; the rest was hidden underneath the sheet. Her eyes were closed; all the color had drained from her face. There were small bruises and cuts all over her skin, but her face showed signs of having been carefully cleaned up. Rena lifted a shaking hand to her pale face, touching her cold cheek. The contact provoked an electric shock within her. Her brain had blocked everything until now, but reality was impossible to ignore any more.
Tears blinded her eyes and choked her voice. “J-Jurina…”
She watched her lifeless face, her fingers trembling as she reached for her hand underneath the sheet. Rena felt dizzy and sick at the cold contact, vaguely registering the feeling of a hospital band around Jurina’s wrist. Her attention got caught by a small table she hadn’t noticed until now. On top of it laid a few personal belongings she recognized. Amongst them some clothes, a broken umbrella and a wedding ring.
Rena crumbled inside and could hold the heartbreak no longer. Her hand gripped her chest as an indescribable pain sprang from her inner being. She screamed as she fell to her knees and her grief poured out in a flood of uncontrollable tears. The door opened and two arms embraced her, but she found no comfort in her best friend’s embrace. Rena tried to look away, to forget, but the lifeless body was a persistence of vision she couldn’t erase. Jurina, her beloved wife and mother of her child, was dead.
TO BE CONTINUED
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It must be very hard for Akane to see her bestfriend in so much pain like that. And it’s not easy for Airi too to hide the truth from poor little Natsuki.
She glanced up, meeting Natsuki’s hopeful expression. No words left the little girl’s lips, but Airi had no difficulty guessing the question on her mind. For the umpteenth time, she shook her head negatively at her, a sad smile grazing her lips as she faced the little girl’s disappointment.
This broke my heart.
And that moment when Rena finally saw with her own eyes that her wife dead, it was just too sad. :pleeease:
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Wah! I don't know a fanfic could break my heart apart like this.....
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Hi, Sophcaro.
This chapter is full of difficult times.
I must say with total sincerity, that my heart has broken ... and I am sure that there are still more sad moments to come!! :cry: :cry:
I think there are many forms of pain described in this chapter:
Churi's pain who has not only lost Jurina, but she has to see Rena fall apart and know that she must stay strong to help her friend.
Airi on the other hand, must pretend that everything is fine in front of Natsuki. I am sure that it must be very difficult to see the girl's face knowing that her world is about to change forever. It must also be difficult to listen to Churi's suffering on the phone and not be at her side to comfort each other. Not to mention what she must be feeling for Rena´s pain.
And Rena ... my God, Rena. She just lost her life partner. I can't imagine what something like this must feel like.
I think the tactic used by the doctor was cruel, but necessary. She must get out of denial and face reality for her own sake and for Natsuki's.
Now I just wait for the moment when happiness returns to this story.
Excellent work, as always, Sophcaro.
Even in its sad moments, your stories are something worth reading. :jphip:
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CHAPTER 14
Airi retrieved a glass from the cupboard and placed it next to the napkin and pair of chopsticks on the food stray, stealing a worried glance at Akane who was cooking. At this late time of the day, the house used to be full of life and filled with conversations, but their routine had been abruptly disrupted. These past few days, a heavy atmosphere enveloped each of their evenings. While Shizuru and Natsuki watched television in the living room, their female domestic robot, Alice, prepared dinner with the rigor and dedication she was famous for. In fact, the latter went on with her daily chores as usual and didn’t seem too disturbed by the recent arrangements in the organization of the household.
But not the same could be said for the other occupants of the house. Airi witnessed on a daily basis how Akane was affected by the decline of Rena’s health and mental condition. When was the last time she saw her wife smile or laugh? Airi couldn’t recall. As for their daughter Shizuru, it was a hard task to keep the truth from her. She kept asking questions. To know why Natsuki and Rena were living with them. To know why Jurina hadn’t showed up once since their arrival. Shizuru didn’t understand the situation, but was clever enough to realize her parents were hiding things from her.
Akane turned the burner off and poured the soup in the four bowls on the table, filling at last the bowl on the food tray. As she leaned down to carry the food tray, Airi reacted on instinct and held her arm. “Let me do it tonight.”
They exchanged looks in silence. A mixture of emotions flashed through Akane’s eyes – confusion, surprise. She gave her a weak nod of consent. “It will be alright.” Airi gave her arm a gentle squeeze, wanting to restore hope and confidence in the future. “We will go through this. Together.”
Akane’s eyes locked into hers. “I can’t handle seeing her like this. She’s my best friend. I want to help her any way I can. I just… I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Airi saw her insecurity. Her despair. Her sorrow. “I know.” She leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Rena is a strong person. Right now, she’s going through a difficult phase, but she will overcome this. I know she will.”
A faint smile played across Akane’s lips. She didn’t add anything after that and Airi knew they wouldn’t speak of the subject anymore.
Airi left the kitchen and climbed the stairs leading to the upper floor, cautious not to spill the content of the food tray. As she approached the guest room, she felt a twinge of anticipation, fearing how her arrival would be received. Following Rena’s discharge from the hospital, Akane had drove her back to her house, but the outcome was a disaster. Rena didn’t have the energy and emotional capacity to take care of herself, breaking down each time her gaze fell upon the single remembrance of her deceased wife in the house. It had only taken Akane and Airi a short discussion to make a decision. That same evening, Akane brought Rena to live with them.
Airi passed the bedroom door, not surprised to find the lights off and the curtains closed. She squinted, letting her eyes get accustomed to the darkness. Her gaze fell upon the bed, undone but empty. Airi moved forward and laid the tray down on the table, switching the bed lamp on. The light slowly brightened until it flooded the room, the walls, the furniture, and the body curled in a corner of the room.
After two weeks, Rena’s physical frailty had reached a preoccupying stage. Rena was dressed in her pajama, her general appearance sloppy, her hair disheveled. Her face was as pale as death, her lips parched and crackled. She had an empty gaze, her eyes swollen and puffy. Despite the food presented to her three times a day, each food tray was returned barely touched. Rena spent all her days secluded in her room, alternating between sleeping and crying when she thought no one heard her.
Airi’s heart sank, still not accustomed to such a terrible vision. This person huddled on the floor, silently hugging her knees close to her chest, didn’t look like her friend. She bore no resemblance with the proud and confident millionaire CEO she had worked aside and known for so many years. Both she and Akane did everything in their power to be of moral support after the tragedy that had struck, but their efforts didn’t seem to pay off and have any positive effect on her.
Airi kneeled in front of her, murmuring. “I brought you dinner.” She received no response and laid a tentative hand on her knee. “Rena?”
The physical contact stirred her up. “Thank you.” Rena stared back at her with a blank look. “But I’m not hungry.”
Airi felt despondent and frustrated by the rejection. “I know, but you have to eat. Akane and I are worried about you. Think about Natsuki. She wouldn’t want to see you like this.”
At the mention of her daughter, Rena’s eyes filled with tears. “You think I’m a bad mother, don’t you?”
“Of course not,” Airi protested, caught off guard. “You are in pain and grieving. We love you, Rena. We will take care of you and Natsuki as long as necessary. But we want to help you go through this. So please. Promise me you’ll eat something?”
Airi feared her plea to be futile. Her friend was avoiding her gaze and didn’t look inclined to comply. Airi hesitated, acknowledging the tricky situation. She didn’t wish to show too much insistence; it would only push her friend to withdraw even further into her shell. She waited and stroke her arm, whispering a few words of comfort. She repeated the process, waiting, hoping to witness the slightest sign of change. She didn’t want to leave the room with another sense of failure.
At last, she caught Rena’s attention. Her lack of enthusiasm was showing, yet Airi’s patience was rewarded with a small, unconvinced nod. It wasn’t much, but enough to elevate her spirit. She helped her get up from the floor and they took the direction of the table. The meal went on in silence. Airi stayed by her side the whole time. Jurina’s absence resonated in every one of them and she couldn’t imagine the pain Rena was going through. However, after tonight, her chest filled with hope at the small step she achieved.
“The prince reached the tower where the kidnapped princess was imprisoned. Without warning, his horse stopped with his head high, ears forward, body rigid. The prince began to soothe the animal with a caress on the neck, but the horse refused to move forward, stamping his feet in displeasure. The prince stared in front of him and reached for his sword, sensing the danger. Suddenly, a mournful howling sound could be heard. His jaw dropped in shock at the threatening green dragon that appeared in front of him. The prince felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He heard the storytelling of a dark creature invoked by the king, but refused to believe it. Today, he was going to fight his greatest enemy.”
Natsuki gasped and watched, wide-eyed, the dragon projected by the hologram, searching in the darkness for Shizuru’s hand. At the physical contact, Shizuru tilted her head in her direction, reading the terror plastered all over her friend’s face. Alice, her domestic robot, kept on narrating the story, projecting in Shizuru’s bedroom images of the brave prince fighting the dragon with all his might, the special effects coming from the hologram making the fairytale extremely realistic.
“After a fierce battle, the prince planted his sword in the belly of the beast. The earth trembled as the defeated dragon collapsed and expired his last breath. The prince, exhausted and severely injured, dragged his feet forward and marched ahead. He arrived at the bottom of the tower, his progress coming to a halt when a field of thorns developed and grew by magic, preventing him from accessing the front door. The prince’s bloodied arm trembled and he raised his eyes to heaven, devastated by the new obstacle. Was fate against him? When would his misery come to an end?”
“No!” Natsuki let out a frustrated scream. “Why can’t the prince be reunited with the princess already? Why??”
“I-I’m sure he will,” Shizuru said, taken aback by her outburst. “Let’s listen to the rest of the story and see what happens nex-”
“No! I don’t want to! Enough! Enough!”
Shizuru stared at her, complete surprise on her face. Her friend rose from the bed, agitated, refusing to spare another look at the hologram. Shizuru went silent, not knowing what to say next. Deep concern washed over her. Natsuki was on the verge of tears. “Alice…” She forced a smile and addressed hesitantly the robot who had paused the story. “Could you please… leave us alone?”
“Yes, Miss Shizuru,” the female robot said with a slight bob of her head. “Don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything.”
Shizuru followed her robot’s retreating form as she left the bedroom and redirected her attention to Natsuki. Since she began living with them, she hadn’t been the same. Shizuru had questioned her parents about it, wishing to know what was happening, but all she managed to learn was that she and her mother would be staying with them for a little while. Under other circumstances, she would have been overjoyed by the news. She loved spending time with her best friend. Nothing made her happier in the world. But everything had changed two weeks ago.
During their conversations, Natsuki almost never smiled. Every interaction with Alice, the family’s domestic robot, darkened her mood even more. Shizuru knew how affected Natsuki was by Alfred’s terrible fate. She didn’t understand either herself how come he had stopped functioning. But it wasn’t the only absence in her life that caused her friend so much pain. During family meals at 4, Shizuru didn’t miss the dejected look Natsuki would give the two empty chairs.
Shizuru gave a small tug at Natsuki’s hand. She was relieved when she didn’t reject her and came to sit by her side on the bed. In the past, Shizuru adored teasing and showering her friend with gestures of affection. A kiss on the cheek or a spontaneous embrace, often received by her shy friend with an embarrassed blush. However, this evening, when Shizuru laced their fingers together, her only objective was to bring her comfort. She suddenly had a flash of intuition. “Why don’t you go and see your mommy?”
Natsuki glanced up at her, startled. “But… Auntie Akane and Auntie Airi said I can’t.”
Shizuru tried to remain calm and think rationally, but her frustration at the situation bubbled under the surface. “I know and I think it’s silly. She’s your mommy! It makes no sense! You want to see her, no?”
She got a timid nod in reply.
Shizuru’s eyes twinkled. “Let’s go!” She stood on her feet and pulled on Natsuki’s hand. “Follow me. I know where her bedroom is.”
A flicker of hope brightened Natsuki’s bleak expression. “I-It would be disobeying. What if your parents get upset with me?”
“Who’s going to tell them? I won’t,” Shizuru said confidently and kissed her gently on the cheek. “I promise. It will be our little secret.”
Rena tossed and turned in her bed for the umpteenth time. Would tonight be another night of torture? She hated the nights when she couldn’t sleep, her brain filled with memories of Jurina and her tragic death. Rena stared up at the ceiling. What time was it? It was hard to tell. She vaguely remembered Airi’s visit and taking a bite of the dinner she brought, the food feeling tasteless and bland on her tongue. She lost all appetite a long time ago. Rena was aware of the sleeping pill on the bedside table, ready to put her out of her misery. The temptation was high.
Sleep all day and forget? Or stay awake and have her days and nights filled with visions of the one she lost? The thought brought a lump to her throat and her eyes moistened. Her everyday life had never been the same since she crossed path with Jurina. She brought her a joy and sense of fulfillment her job never managed to accomplish. How could she go on with her life without her by her side?
All these years, she had become so dependent on her love, support and presence. Her heart wasn’t only broken into pieces. When she discovered Jurina’s lifeless body at the morgue, she also lost a part of herself. She felt paralyzed all day, detached from everything around her. Her emotions seemed to have disappeared; she felt physically and mentally drained. She was empty, like a cold shell, vacant.
At the sound of a small knock on the door, she hurriedly brushed away a lonely tear. Tears came so frequently and effortlessly. She prayed they would stop falling for once. She hated offering such a pitiful state of herself to her friends. Rena sat up in bed, frowning as she checked out the alarm-clock. A little over 10 p.m. Dinner had already been served. Had she been crying too much?
Air caught in her lungs when the person she expected the least appeared. Natsuki, her 5-year-old daughter, was standing on the doorstep. Rena grew rigid. She turned pale and clutched the bedcover. Shock. Disbelief. Fear. She had an agreement with Airi and Akane. She made them promise to not let Natsuki enter her bedroom under any circumstance. So what was her daughter doing here?
Rena followed her progress inside the room. Don’t come closer! she wanted to scream. She needed to stop her. She couldn’t witness her mother in such a bad condition. So why weren’t the words coming out? Natsuki paused once. And twice. She hesitated. She was afraid of being scolded. Rena could see it written all over her face. That’s when Rena realized she couldn’t prevent this reunion from happening. Of course, Natsuki missed her. She missed seeing her as much as she did. Tears sprang to Rena’s eyes and slid down her cheeks. When did she last lay eyes on her daughter? Days? Weeks? Her brain failed to come up with a single response. She lost all notion of time.
Natsuki came to stand beside her bed and, slowly, step after step, climbed onto the bed until they faced each other. Rena couldn’t breathe, let alone speak with the knot forming in her throat.
Natsuki’s fingers lightly touched her cheek. “Mommy is sad too…”
Rena shivered. “Y-Yes, mommy is sad.” She tried putting on a brave face to appear in control, but the sound of her voice breaking betrayed her true emotions. “Mommy… is not feeling well.”
“It’s because mama is not here?”
Rena could only nod by the affirmative.
“Where is mama? Why don’t you tell her to come back?”
Rena felt tears rising again but battled them back. She reduced the distance and wrapped her arms around Natsuki, pulling her close. “Honey…” Rena said hoarsely. “Mama… Mama is not coming back.”
“Why?” Natsuki leaned back, looking straight into her eyes. “I want to see mama… Where is she? Tell her to come home. Please. Please!”
Rena heard Natsuki’s intake of breath as a sob caught in her throat and saw tears streak down her cheeks. She embraced her in a tight hold, feeling her stomach churn at her daughter’s heartbreaking distress. It tore her heart to hear her cry. She needed to tell her the truth, but it was beyond her capacity. She couldn’t find the strength to utter the words out loud. “I know you love your mama. I love her too. But she’s not… She’s not coming back. It’s just the two of us now.”
“No!” Natsuki tore herself away from the embrace. “She promised we would always be together! What did you do?! It’s your fault! I hate you!”
Natsuki’s face had hardened; her eyes burned with anger and resentment. Rena didn’t have time to reply. Without another glance, Natsuki jumped off the bed and stormed out of the room.
Rena was left shocked and shattered.
Her heart clenched with pain, but she didn’t hold it against her for her harsh words. She was the only one to blame; she had handled the situation in such a terrible way. Rena felt more powerless and desperate than ever, before coming to the realization that it was probably for the best. Maybe she should let Natsuki believe she was the reason why Jurina left. How could she bring herself to tell her daughter that her dear mama - the one she admired, praised and loved more than anyone in this world - had died in a cruel car accident? Rena’s own sanity was already hanging by the thinnest of threads. The idea of destroying her daughter’s fragile innocence with the truth was too unbearable to consider.
TO BE CONTINUED
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Oh my god. This is just too sad especially for rena.
This is just too depressing. Rena heart had fall to pieces when she
heard natsuki says she hate her.
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Just wanna F***!
Like before i already expect what's gonna happen (prepared for the death and how Rena in denial *chap 13), but this... this i didn't expect and totally reach the feels like hard (almost tear up).
Good Job Sopcharo-san, just know that i always read your story even though i didn't reply. Always my favorite Author. Hope one day you could make your original novel and i will def read it!
:thumbup
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really good fic !! :twothumbs :twothumbs
i was wondering if you were French since some words you use reminds me of the way French people talk. If you are, will you consider writing in French ? :roll :grin:
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Hi Sophcaro
From the moment Jurina had that unfortunate accident, I have not stopped repeating myself over and over again, an old refrain that says that it's always darker before dawn.
In the last three chapters, my heart has broken again and again. That's thanks to the extraordinary form in which you write. :jphip:
All the scenes were overwhelming, but definitely the last one manages to squeeze the heart with greater force.
"Mommy is sad too ..." that dialogue hurts. :cry: :cry:
I knew that the encounter between mother and daughter would be sad, but that didn't stop it from hurting.
I don't like the way Rena is thinking. It seems she prefers Natsuki to blame her instead of telling the truth. In the end that will cause more damage for both of them. :( :cry:
It's a shame that we met Alice in these circumstances, I couldn't help wondering how her interaction with Alfred would have been ... I miss Alfred so much! And obviously also Jurina.
Thank you for this chapter. I know that although things are sad and gloomy now, you have a great plan for this fic. I know it!!
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REPLIES TO COMMENTS
>> Thanks to 0jyuri, Rena-chan Daisuki, daph & facarous for taking time to drop a comment. It means a lot to me :heart:
This is just too depressing. Rena heart had fall to pieces when she
heard natsuki says she hate her.
Like before i already expect what's gonna happen (prepared for the death and how Rena in denial *chap 13), but this... this i didn't expect and totally reach the feels like hard (almost tear up).
From the moment Jurina had that unfortunate accident, I have not stopped repeating myself over and over again, an old refrain that says that it's always darker before dawn.
In the last three chapters, my heart has broken again and again. That's thanks to the extraordinary form in which you write. :jphip:
All the scenes were overwhelming, but definitely the last one manages to squeeze the heart with greater force.
Yes, it's a difficult/dark phase but to go through. There were no other option possible, with the tragedy that struck the characters. However, it won't last eternally. Things will progress forward very soon!
i was wondering if you were French since some words you use reminds me of the way French people talk. If you are, will you consider writing in French ? :roll :grin:
I'm curious to know what words I use make you think I'm French? :shocked
About your question, I did consider it. At first, when I started writing my Heartbeat trilogy, my plan was to do it in French! However, French readers are limited in this fandom, and I knew I had to write in English if I wished to reach a larger audience. So to answer your question, I'm afraid the answer is no. I'm not planning on writing a fic in French anytime soon.
Good Job Sophcaro, just know that i always read your story even though i didn't reply. Always my favorite Author.
Thank you for this chapter. I know that although things are sad and gloomy now, you have a great plan for this fic. I know it!!
Thanks for trusting me with this story! I hope you'll keep enjoying it ;)
NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE COMING UP SOON!
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i read this story on wattpad; nonetheless, it is just amazing *chefs kiss*. i'm so glad that people are still writing about the graduated members because they will leave a permanent mark on akb history :wub: :wub: :wub: keep up the good work author! i'm looking forward to see what you'll be able to come up with later on :)
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I had a hope when Rena finally saw Natsuki, only to get my heart broken when Natsuki yelled at her 😭 I can't imagine how devastated Rena to hear what Natsuki said. She just lost the love of her life, and NOW her daughter is mad at her. It must be really...really...really painful for her :on cloudeye:
I'm happy that Rena at least still have bestfriends. Airi did her best, gently, to remind Rena that she had to be strong for her daugther. But Natsuki...why did you that to mommy? Don't you see she's sad tooooo?
Anyway, I just realised Akane and Airi had Alice. If Alfred came back to live, I hope there would a scene between those two loyal robots :k-thrilled:
Thank you for writing, author-san...
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i'm so glad that people are still writing about the graduated members because they will leave a permanent mark on akb history
Yes, I agree! There are not many active writers still writing about graduated members, and as both a writer and reader, I'm always grateful when I stumble upon a new fic on my favorite pairing :wub:
I had a hope when Rena finally saw Natsuki, only to get my heart broken when Natsuki yelled at her 😭 I can't imagine how devastated Rena to hear what Natsuki said. She just lost the love of her life, and NOW her daughter is mad at her. It must be really...really...really painful for her :on cloudeye:
But Natsuki...why did you that to mommy? Don't you see she's sad tooooo?
Well, we can't always expect a young child to act in a rational & logical way, right? Her words were mostly impulsive, and I'm sure she'll soon reconcile with her mommy :yep:
Anyway, I just realised Akane and Airi had Alice. If Alfred came back to life, I hope there would a scene between those two loyal robots :k-thrilled:
I can't promise you anything, but I'll keep your suggestion in a corner of my head ;)
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CHAPTER 15
Two months later.
Rena walked into the entrance vestibule and retrieved her coat from the hanger, dressing up and slipping into her shoes. She shut her eyes close, as if to mentally prepare for what was to come. She felt a sudden shiver of apprehension. For the past two months, those visits had turned into a routine. Nevermind how fragile and shattered they always left her, for nothing in the world she would put an end to them. Rena was extracted from her thoughts by the sound of footsteps approaching. She took time to recompose herself and slowly glanced over her shoulder, making eye contact with Akane.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you?” Akane offered, conflicted. “I could come with you.”
“Thank you, but I already called a taxi,” Rena said, reminding her. “And you have to be at work in half an hour, remember?”
“I can afford to arrive a bit late,” Akane said, with gentle insistence. “I don’t have any important meeting this morning.”
“Arrive late? What would the CEO think of her chief operating officer behaving in such a way?” Rena said, attempting a light, joking tone. Her friend didn’t seem fooled by it. “Thank you, but…” she added in a weak murmur, a forced smile curving her mouth but not reaching her eyes. “I prefer to go alone.”
Rena saw her hesitating, her mouth opening and closing as if she wished to add something, but she didn’t say anything. Yes, she preferred being alone during those visits. Tears always fell with great ease, too hard to contain, and she refused to offer such a sight to her friends again. They had already witnessed her sorrow far too often for her liking. She wanted to retrieve a semblance of dignity.
When did she come out of her state of torpor and inactivity? It was hard to pinpoint the exact moment. At first, she went downstairs to share meals in common, returning to the darkness of her bedroom straight after. Progressively, she went out an hour, and two, slowly back to interacting with the other members of the household.
Alice, the family’s domestic robot, had been the easiest to start with. Rena didn’t feel ashamed to look like a mess in front of her. She patiently listened as Rena spoke. Her replies were always tainted with a certain innocence and naivety, characteristic of her robotic conception, but she never asked questions more than necessary. Rena felt comfortable in her presence; Alice was a simple but easy company.
Gaining confidence, Rena allowed herself to engage in conversations with Akane and Airi. A few minutes at first. As the weeks went on, it turned into an hour, then two. Conversations were light and trivial. Mostly non-important. But the renewed socialization enabled her to slowly come out of her shell. Shizuru, Akane and Airi’s quiet and good-mannered daughter, occasionally took the initiative to engage a conversation with her, mostly to share her everyday life at school.
The only person Rena hadn’t managed to interact with was her own distant daughter. During meals, Natsuki focused on her plate and barely said a word. When they found themselves in the same room, Rena sometimes caught her daughter staring at her. As soon as their eyes met, Natsuki looked away hastily.
Right now, as Rena finished preparing herself for her departure, and she observed the two children playing in the living room, her eyes suddenly locked with Natsuki’s. Rena distinguished a flicker of hesitation in her expression. These last few weeks, it wasn’t the first time she witnessed it. Her attitude had changed ever so slightly. She refused to talk to her, but the visual exchanges lingered, as if she was… torn? Yet, this time once more, the brief visual interaction ended as every previous one. Her daughter’s reproachful and upset look: Rena would never get used to it. And it made her heart clench in pain every single time.
“You should tell her the truth,” Akane said tentatively. “It’s not right… It’s not right to make her hate you for this.”
Rena took a deep, shaky breath. It wasn’t the first time she brought up this topic. “It would only make her suffer.”
“Because it’s best to let her believe her mama abandoned her? Don’t you think she could believe it’s her fault if she left?”
Rena’s eyes widened. “No, she wouldn’t…” she stammered, words failing her. “She believes it’s my fault. She wouldn’t think…” At Akane’s serious expression, the realization hit her. A pang of shame swept through her. Her wish was to protect Natsuki from the harsh truth, and she had been more than willing to put all the blame on herself. All this time, this eventuality hadn’t crossed her mind.
Rena turned away, not wanting her friend to witness the indignant tears that threatened to come suddenly to her eyes. “I know I have to tell her the truth. Trust me, I do.” Her voice was husky with despair. Deep down, Rena was aware she couldn’t lie to Natsuki eternally. But how could she consider having this conversation when she felt herself breaking at the simple idea? “I just don’t know how…” With an effort, she lifted her eyes and gave Akane a pleading look. “I need a little more time. Please. I promise I’ll tell her.”
“Alright,” Akane said, offering her a sad but friendly smile. She wrapped her fingers around Rena’s palm and, feeling it shaking, gave it a light squeeze. “It’s fine. On your own terms. When you’re ready.”
Rena was secretly relieved when she didn’t insist, and turned on her heels. “Ah, wait!” Akane sounded urgent behind her back. “Before you leave, could you sign this? It completely slipped my mind.” Akane retrieved a digital tablet from her briefcase. “It’s for the launching of the new project. The board of directors approved it; it only requires your signature.”
Rena’s gaze dropped to the tablet Akane was handling her. She skimmed through the text and, without second thoughts, added her signature at the bottom of the page.
“By the way….” After a moment’s hesitation, Akane continued. “When are you planning on coming back to the office?”
Rena tried to hide her unease with a fake smile. “From what I’ve seen, you’re managing the company very well without me.”
“I’m doing my best to run it in your absence and I’ll gladly continue as long as needed,” Akane said, trying to sound reassuring. “But the board of directors have raised concerns. They are understanding of the situation, but they fear an impact on our partners and investors on the long-term.” She swallowed, and her expression turned apprehensive. “The last thing I want is to rush you into going back to work if you’re not ready. I hesitated a lot to mention this, but I can’t keep it to myself any longer. The board needs to be reassured, and my words have limited effect. I’m afraid only the CEO’s presence will manage to put them at ease.”
“I don’t know when I’ll be able to…” Rena’s voice trailed off weakly.
On a few occasions, Akane and Airi had suggested her to consider going back to work. They seemed inclined to believe that, the slow and progressive regain of an activity would do her some good. She had difficulty sharing their view on the subject. It already caused her great effort to leave the confinement of her bedroom. Even more to interact with others. She hadn’t hesitated to delegate the reins of the company to Akane, having no doubt it would be in good hands. Hearing the issues Akane was going through made her feel slightly guilty, fearing to have placed a heavy burden on her shoulders.
At the sound of her watch beeping, she read the message she had received. “The taxi is here. I should be back in an hour or two.”
“Take all the time you need,” Akane assured her. “I’ll drop Natsuki and Shizuru at school on my way to work. Airi has an appointment at the office this morning, but she’ll work from home in the afternoon. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to ask Alice if you need anything.”
Rena nodded silently and opened the front door, but couldn’t help stealing one last glance in the direction of the living room. She lingered on her daughter, attentive to her every move, watching her play with Shizuru. Pain tore at her heart at the deterioration of their relationship. When would she be able to be a real mother to her? When would she find the strength to confess the truth about her mother’s death? Despite the uncertainties placating her, Rena felt a twinge of reassurance. Natsuki wasn’t alone. In this household, she was surrounded by people who had undivided affection for her, especially an adorable friend by her side.
Matsui family vault.
Rena’s footsteps came to a halt, and she read the golden inscription carved into the black marble façade. Despite its majestic, imposing stature, the grand funeral building was located in a quiet, isolated area of the cemetery, preserving it from needless attention. Its Roman architecture, sharp contrast with the modern technology of Tokyo, was a direct influence from her great-grandfather’s legacy. Rena wasn’t a capricious child. She didn’t raise her voice in presence of adults. She always obeyed her father, following his instructions to the letter. At her great-grandfather’s passing, and her father suggested to reduce his body to ashes and place him into a cremation site, she refused to stay silent.
Her father and her great-grandfather didn’t get along. Their conflictual relationship went back to the time when she was a young child. Rena never got to learn the official reason behind their dispute, but as the years went by, and she became more attentive of her environment, she figured her father’s frequent infidelities, added to his lack of paternal love, were not innocent to it. In the professional field, no one could match Akihide Matsui’s pioneering spirit and talented skills as a business man. It had propelled Matsui Corporation in the top 10 companies of the country after one year of existence.
But not the same could be said of the father figure he represented. Rena had learned to grow up without a mother, and with limited contact with her grandparents. Raised by nannies, her education taken care of by knowledgeable but dull private tutors. Ignored by an absent father who gave more attention to his work and fleeting conquests, Rena was a smart but lonely child. Her only sources of happiness resulted from the times when her father, in his rare moments of leniency, allowed her to visit her great-grandfather on one of his archeologist’s sites.
Consigning her great-grandfather to oblivion in one of the dozens cold and soulless cremation buildings that abounded around the city was out of the question. She had spoken up, staking her claim, refusing to give up until he accepted to erect a site worthy of his heritage. To her surprise, the conversation didn’t turn as heated as she feared. Maybe her father had been caught off guard by the unexpected moment of rebellion. After a long silence, during which his expression proved unreadable, he had calmly stated it was a waste of money but agreed to her request, under the strict condition that she took care of all dispositions.
Rena didn’t let herself get discouraged by the challenge.
At the age of 15, Rena surrounded herself with the best in their field of expertise. She brought her input into the elaboration of the construction plans, and undertook the building of the family’s vault.
For a little while, Rena stayed in front of the entrance, feeling a sense of pride at what she had accomplished. After 15 years of existence, the vault still stood proudly, preserving the remains of the members of the Matsui family.
Extending her hand, Rena placed her palm flat on the rectangular panel located on the left side of the door. A light scanned her hand, and Rena saw her picture and name pop up on the screen. “Matsui Rena-san,” announced a robotic voice. “Authorization granted.” The door opened up, and Rena walked inside.
Over the years and the evolution of society in terms of robotics, Rena had taken the liberty to make a few changes to the original building. Securing the main access had been her main concern, followed by the customization of the interior’s design. The vault was divided into separate rooms, one for every family member, each space arranged carefully to allow visitors a proper time of reflection.
Rena had stopped counting how often she came to visit Jurina. Her knees weakened and her chin trembled at the sight of the coffin positioned in the middle of the room. She took a deep breath, trying to calm down, and progressed further inside. The walls were decorated on all sides with the virtual projection of a forest landscape, accompanied by the light rustle of wind in the branches, and the melodic chirping of birds.
Rena wasn’t an adept of excessive technology, but she didn’t regret implementing those modifications. They contributed to create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere to the sad and cold place. Separating her from the white coffin, was a transparent glass window, secured by another control panel. Rena repeated the process and placed her hand on it, the quick scan confirming her identity, and allowing her to enter.
“Hello, my love.” Rena slid her fingers along the polished surface of the white wooden coffin. “I miss you. I miss you so much.” Her voice cracked; her eyes grew large and liquid. “But I guess you’re tired of hearing that week after week? You probably prefer if I tell you about my day? I’m afraid it will lack originality.”
Rena staggered a few steps away from the coffin and glass window, the door closing automatically at her passage. Feebly, she sat down in the chair behind her. Not taking her eyes from the coffin, she wondered when those conversations became a habit. The first time she passed that door in Akane’s presence, her insides had exploded into pieces, a wail of excruciating sorrow bursting from her throat at the sight of what remained of her wife. As seconds transformed into minutes, and her pain showed no sign of diminishing, her best friend hadn’t waited any longer to pull her out of the place.
The second visit hadn’t gone any better. Rena had taken the initiative to flee the room as soon as tears rolled down her cheeks. Airi, who had accompanied her, hadn’t said a word and drove her back home, but the renewed failed experience had left Rena devastated. A few weeks went by before she gathered the courage to make a new attempt. She could literally feel the anticipation emanating from Akane when the door slid open, almost as if she was ready to drag her out at any instant.
To Rena’s relief, she managed to stand on her feet without breaking down. With unsteady steps, she had approached the glass window, holding her tears as best as she could. She hadn’t been able to stay long, overwhelmed by emotions, but when she left, Rena realized the important step she had achieved. The following visits marked a further progress. Not only was she capable of going alone without Akane or Airi’s assistance, she had formed a sort of routine. Talking to Jurina for an hour about everything and anything. Somehow, those visits became less painful, even bringing her some comfort, almost as if Jurina was still present and hadn’t completely left her side.
Rena’s gaze drifted to the picture frame of her smiling wife and the digital tablet disposed on a small rounded table. The tablet contained a list of files, pictures and videos, memories uploaded by visitors. It was a way of honoring the deceased, transmit the memory of the one who had left this earth but remained in people’s hearts and minds. Friends, co-workers… So many had contributed to preserve Jurina’s memory, and Rena was almost sure to have viewed all of them.
During her visits, Rena often watched at least one video. The painful and complex nature of her relationship with her daughter pushed her to play one in particular. One of the videos that Rena had herself uploaded. “Play memory n°11.”
“Playing memory n°11.” A robotic voice repeated. The forest background dissipated on the opposite wall, giving way to the video’s projection.
“Come on, blow your candles!” Jurina, who was wearing a silly blue birthday hat, could hardly contain her enthusiasm, clapping in her hands. On the opposite side of the table was seated Rena, who was doing her best not to laugh at her wife’s childish behavior. As of Natsuki, she was positioned between them, staring with envy at the chocolate cake. Four white lit candles were disposed as a circle and surrounded a larger one in the middle, representing the letter 4.
As if preparing for a complex challenge, Natsuki’s expression grew serious. Leaning over the table, she inflated her lungs and exhaled, blowing out the candles. All white candles extinguished, but not the one in the middle. The flame wavered left and right, but didn’t go out.
“Ah, Natsuki didn’t blow hard enough,” Jurina said. Her teasing tone didn’t escape Rena’s attention. She exchanged a look with her, and understanding crossed her face at the mischievous wink she received.
“I did!” Natsuki glared at the rebellious candle. With a great gasp, she filled her lungs afresh and blew with all her might. The candle flame flickered, a smile of victory already playing on Natsuki’s lips, only to vanish when the flame didn’t falter. The candle flame stood proudly in the middle, unaffected by Natsuki’s second powerful but failing attempt. “No!! It’s not… It’s not possible!”
Natsuki stared at the cake with anger and frustration, and Rena decided to put an end to her misery. “It appears your mama played a trick on you and bought one of those old vintage candles, didn’t she?”
Natsuki’s eyes widened and she looked at Jurina in shock. “W-What does it mean! How do I blow it?!”
“You can’t.” Jurina’s face split into a wide grin. She reached for a secret switch behind the candle. The flame, that had given Natsuki such a hard time, extinguished by magic.
Natsuki’s mouth dropped open.
“Taste your birthday cake.” Jurina cut the cake and put a slice on Natsuki’s plate. “Your mommy baked it especially for you.”
“Y-You did?” Natsuki tilted her head in Rena’s direction, incredulous.
“Yes, I did,” Rena replied, finding her reaction entertaining. “Why do you look so surprised?”
Natsuki could not hide her embarrassment. “It’s just that mommy is always so busy.” She lowered her voice, fumbling for words. “I didn’t think she had time to…”
Rena didn’t feel offended. Her daughter was only stating the truth. As CEO of a major company, her high position required a lot of personal investment and charged her with great responsibilities. However, this job she loved also had its disadvantages. Amongst them, enough free time to spend with her family. “Yes, mommy works a lot.” Rena drew her chair closer and reached for Natsuki’s face, stroking her left cheek gently. “But Natsuki must never forget how much I love her.”
Natsuki blushed and nodded, smiling shyly.
“And I love you too!” Jurina exclaimed, and kissed Natsuki’s other cheek. “In an hour, aunty Airi and Akane will be coming over with Shizuru. I’ve been told your girlfriend has a special present for you.”
Rena shot her wife a slight disapproving look.
Natsuki went scarlet. “S-Shizuru is not my girlfriend!” Her gaze quickly dropped to her plate and she took a piece, lifting her fork to her mouth. She opened her mouth and tasted it, her whole face beaming with the liveliest, happiest smile.
Rena watched her eat her cake, the way she gulped it down in barely three bites, soon requesting another slice. Rena looked over the other side of the table, and exchanged a subtle look of amusement with Jurina. Rena didn’t hesitate to comply to her daughter’s wishes, cutting another slice for her. Natsuki ate the second slice almost as fast as the previous one, emptying her plate in no time. Natsuki turned in her direction and placed a spontaneous kiss on her cheek, and Rena felt the warmth of pleasure fill her chest. Each day that passed, she realized how fortunate she was to have such a wonderful family.
The video had some footage left, but Rena wasn’t paying attention to it anymore, tears blinding her vision. Those precious family moments reminded her of what she had lost, and how strongly she wished she could go back in the past. She got extracted from her thoughts by the sound of the front door beeping. Caught off guard, she swung around, a robotic voice refusing the entrance to the new visitor. A second attempt was made, only for the control panel to deny access.
Rena heard footsteps receding, and she hesitated. The fact that the visitor wasn’t granted access only meant one thing: their identity wasn’t recognized by the system. Curiosity getting the best of her, Rena stood up from the chair and moved towards the entrance. As she slid it open, the stranger faced her back. It was a long, dark-haired slender woman, dressed in a long brown coat and a matching pair of boots. She wore light makeup, and her lips were slightly red. Her whole appearance was quite elegant and graceful, and Rena figured she had to be in her late twenties.
“I’m sorry for the disturbance,” the woman said, bowing respectfully. “I hope it’s not inappropriate, but I was wondering if I could pay my respect to Jurina-san.”
Rena studied her, and tried to figure out who she was. One thing was certain: she wasn’t part of Jurina’s close friends and colleagues. Otherwise, she would have recognized her immediately. The woman didn’t give her a bad impression, and struck her as sincere in her intentions. After a short moment’s reflection, Rena gave her a nod of consent. “Yes, of course. Please come in.”
Rena lead the way, the woman’s hesitant steps following her. Rena entered and realized the video was still playing. She switched it off hastily. The frozen image of the happy family faded on the wall at once, replaced by the peaceful forest scenery. Rena stood at the back of the room, using the opportunity that the woman was approaching the glass window to observe her attentively. A multitude of questions piled up in her head, one more pressing in particular. Who was that woman?
“Where are my manners. I didn’t introduce myself.” The woman turned around, and gave her a half-embarrassed smile. “I’m Iriyama-san.”
“Matsui-san. A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Rena replied politely.
“Yes, I know who you are,” the woman said and, witnessing Rena’s confusion, added. “It would be hard not to recognize the face of the CEO of one of the top 10 companies in the country.”
“Right…” Rena murmured, feeling a little silly. “Sometimes, I forget anonymity is a luxury I can’t afford.”
The woman’s face became sober, and somewhat uneasy. “I want to express my sincere apologies for your loss.”
Rena’s features darkened. “Thank you, I appreciate your kind words.” She recovered quickly and smiled, but it just barely made it to her eyes. “Forgive me, but I don’t think we’ve ever met?”
“No, we haven’t. I lived abroad for many years, and came back to Japan recently. When I heard about this tragedy on the news… I could hardly believe it. Jurina-san and I didn’t part on good terms, but I knew I had to come and visit her. My eternal regret is that I’ll never have the opportunity to tell her how sorry I am for the pain I caused her.”
Rena was destabilized, unsure how to react to the confession. And what about the strange familiarity she had used to call her wife? For a while, they didn’t speak, and the woman redirected her attention to the casket visible through the glass window. “How… did you know Jurina?”
“We met in college. For two years, we studied in the same class. Until my actions caused our paths to drift apart,” Iriyama-san replied, with a sad undertone in her voice. “I was young and foolish, and hurt someone I truly cared about. It took me too long to realize my mistake and, once I did, Jurina and I had already lost contact. And now… Now I’ll never be able to ask for her forgiveness…”
She trailed off, and silence stretched between them for an eternity, before she added with a twinge of embarrassment. “I’m sorry for interrupting your moment of reflection. Once more, I want to express how deeply sorry I am for your loss. I couldn’t help but catch a glimpse of the video, and I can see you formed a beautiful family. I can’t even imagine the degree of your pain.”
Rena stayed quiet, noticing from her peripheral vision the other woman walking towards the exit. That’s when it clicked. “I know who you are.”
Iriyama-san tilted her head back. The look in her eyes betrayed her surprise.
“Jurina spoke about you,” Rena started, putting pieces of the puzzle together. “The way your relationship ended hurt her a lot, but…” Rena was a bit ill-at-ease broaching this particular subject, but kept on, wishing to convey as much honesty as possible in her words. “Eventually, she managed to move on and forgave you. She found happiness again.” Rena offered her a small, tentative smile. “She wouldn’t have wanted you to live the rest of your life with regrets, so I hope you’ll be able to forgive yourself and put the past behind.”
It was a long while before Iriyama-san summoned the composure to speak.
“Thank you. Thank you for saying that,” Iriyama-san replied, with a flare of emotion in her voice. “And yes, I can tell she was truthfully happy with you.” Her face softened slightly. “It might be difficult to hear such a thing during those times of hardship you’re going through, but once your sorrow will have decreased enough, I hope you’ll find a way to move forward and rediscover a taste for life.”
Those were the last words they exchanged.
Iriyama-san offered her a polite bow and withdrew from the room, her last words lingering in Rena’s mind.
It was 6 in the morning when Rena tiptoed out of her bedroom, careful to make as little noise as possible. The house was plunged in darkness when she walked down the stairs, and settled down in the kitchen for a light breakfast. The moment of quiet and solitude was the occasion to contemplate her decision. Fear and uncertainty crossed her features. What if she was going too fast and making a huge mistake?
The sound of feet clattering on the tile floor caught her attention and she looked up from her bowl of cereals. A pair of blue eyes were shining through the kitchen’s dim light and approaching her position. Rena lowered her gaze to the ground. Alice, the family’s domestic robot, was staring fixedly at her.
“You’re up early, Miss Rena-san. Is something wrong? Do I need to warn the mistresses of your presence?”
“No, it won’t be necessary,” Rena said, whispering back. “I have to go somewhere, but Airi and Akane don’t need to know about it yet.”
The female robot looked confused. “Mistress Airi and Mistress Akane need to be aware of everything that happens in the house. Not to mention, my role is to look over you. My mistresses were very explicit on that. I cannot disobey a direct order.”
Rena couldn’t help but flash a nostalgic smile. Alice’s sense of dedication and stubbornness reminded her of a special robot who used to share her daily life. It had taken her a little while to adapt to Alfred’s presence. Now that he was gone, Rena realized how much he had come to mean to her. Almost effortlessly, the adorable, helpful little robot had left his imprint in her heart.
“I thank you for taking good care of me.” At the memory of Alfred’s absence, Rena’s faint smile contained a note of sadness. “And you’re not disobeying any order. I was planning on leaving a note. Your mistresses will find it on the living room table as soon as they wake up and come downstairs.”
“Oh, alright.” Alice bobbed her head in agreement. “Thank you for this information. In that case, I can allow you to leave the house.”
Rena followed Alice’s retreating form as she retraced her steps back to her favorite stance by the sofa, the blue glow of her eyes slowly diminishing. Rena redirected her attention to her unfinished breakfast, and brought a spoonful of cereals to her mouth. Putting aside her brief encounter with her morning visitor, a knot formed in Rena’s stomach. She didn’t know if she was ready, but she had to see for herself.
It was raining. Of course, it had to be, Rena cursed the droplets of water hitting her face when she stepped out of the taxi and arrived at her final destination. The weather was fine when she left her friends’ house, but it appeared misfortune decided to strike her. A few months ago, she would never have trusted the weather forecast, and systematically brought her mini collapsible umbrella each time she left home. Her carelessness left her both bewildered and slightly ashamed.
“Matsui-san, please take shelter.”
Rena’s heart skipped a beat when she heard a male voice addressing her from behind, soon seeing an umbrella above her head. She spun around to look at him, her features slowly relaxing when she recognized the male guard. “N-Nakamura-san. I didn’t expect to see you. What are you doing here so early?”
“I always start work at 6 am, Matsui-san,” the guard replied, in a tone of mingled calm and politeness.
“Oh, that’s right…” Rena showed some uneasiness and hesitation. Was her brain so muddled from being cooped up at home that she couldn’t remember the work schedule of one of her employees? “Tell me. Has… anyone arrived at floor 22?”
“Fuji-san, Minamoto-san and Tamura-san have arrived at floor 7. Mori-san and Haradara-san at floor 2. And a few other employees at floor 5 and 9. But no one from floor 22. You’re the first, Matsui-san.”
A wave of relief washed over her. It was the answer she hoped for. “Thank you, Nakamura-san. I won’t delay you any longer.”
The male guard opened the door for her, and stepped aside. “You’re welcome, Matsui-san. It’s a pleasure to see you back.”
Rena entered the building and didn’t dwell upon the receptionist’s surprised look, getting in the first elevator. Pressing the button 22, she tried to keep her focus on the change of floors numbers as she felt a shiver of unease stir deep down inside her. The feeling was strong, oppressing her chest, and she had to hold onto the handrail to brace herself for fear of losing her balance. Nevermind how hard she tried not to think about it, this place unleashed a stream of memories.
It was the place where she and Jurina had first met, the latter soaked from head to toe in search of a new job opportunity. It was the place where, as soon as the elevator emptied and they found themselves alone, they had exchanged so many kisses and words of affection. It was the place where Jurina had asked for her hand in marriage, and she had immediately said yes. It was also the place where Jurina had showed her proudly an ultrasound, revealing the arrival of their first child.
The changes of floors felt interminable. 7, 8, 9. Rena panted, every breath burning through her throat. 11, 12, 13. It felt as though this nightmare would never end. 16, 17, 18. The idea of pressing the emergency button crossed her thoughts. Her hand clutched more tightly the railing, so hard her fingers hurt. 20, 21, 22. At last. The opening of the doors felt like a deliverance.
Her feet inched forward and she stepped outside, feeling herself tremble as she heard the doors closing behind her. She marked a long pause and tried to recollect herself, steadying her breathing. When she felt calm enough, she forced her legs to move. She walked forward, her movements stiff and awkward, until she stopped in front of the door leading towards the large office of floor 22.
As she entered, her first instinct was to sweep the place. She was grateful for the emptiness of the floor, mentally thanking Nakamura-san for his reliable memory. If she had opted for coming to the office at such an early time of the day, it was for a good reason. She wanted to avoid meeting people, fearing she wasn’t ready for any further social interaction. Making small chats at home with close friends, was one thing. Being able to hold a proper, civilized discussion with employees was a whole different matter.
She crossed the room, taking time to look around. The location of the desks. The decoration. The names of each employee, that she read and recognized, indicated on the upper right side of the window panel of every desk. Nothing seemed to have changed a bit since the last time she set foot in floor 22. Her path led her to her own private office, only to reach the same observation.
Here and there, there were some subtle signs that her office had been occupied by someone else. Rena recognized a few of Akane’s belongings, from a picture frame of her family, to her own computer. Some files were properly piled up on the left side of the desk. The place hadn’t been rearranged or redecorated, and was as tidied as she left it. Rena stood at the back of the office, feeling a warm, nostalgic feeling fill her chest.
Against all odds, her previous, almost traumatizing, experience in the elevator had vanished from her mind to give way to a more calm, peaceful sensation. When, a little while later, she left her private office and floor 22, Rena found herself conflicted. She thought it wiser to use the staircase, and the long, slow descent gave her plenty of opportunity to reflect on her next course of action.
She had felt at ease within the space of her office, surprising herself in missing her job and responsibilities, but returning to work implied more than sitting behind a desk. She would be required to attend meetings and conferences. Interact on a daily basis with employees, work partners and associates. Today, she had taken an important step forward. But was she ready to return to public life for all that?
I hope you’ll find a way to move forward and rediscover a taste for life.
The words Iriyama-san had pronounced replayed in her mind. These past two months, she had slowly emerged from her torpor. She had learned to appreciate again some aspects of daily life. Her palate became sensitive again; the food didn’t taste bitter anymore. She was capable of holding, as small and trivial they remained, bits of conversations with Airi and Akane. She didn’t feel a mere shadow of her former self anymore, and the light and outside world didn’t frighten her as much.
But she couldn’t get the picture of her wife’s body lying at the morgue out of her mind. Her chest was tight with emotion each time the memory resurfaced. She had to swallow hard to bit back tears and keep control over her feelings. Jurina’s face haunted her thoughts. She wanted to make her smile and hear her laugh. Embrace her and kiss her again. How could she move forward, when her brain refused to accept that Jurina had passed away?
Rena’s feet slowed down, and she halted in front of floor 11. It was one of the offices invested by the Research and Development Department. The department Jurina had managed, and developed so many groundbreaking projects for the past five years. All nervousness and apprehension slipped back to grip her. Every fiber in her body warned her against the idea of entering that floor.
Rena closed her eyes, trying to steady the sudden wave of fear that filled her. She had gathered so much courage to come all this way. She couldn’t turn back. She needed to overcome this new challenge. All her senses were in alert when she stepped inside the office grounds of floor 11, attentive to any noise, any sign that someone might be present. Just as Nakamura-san had stated, this floor was thankfully also void of employees. Rena’s heart was beating with an uneasy, irregular rhythm and she didn’t dwell in the main open space, taking it straight to Jurina’s private office.
Rena stood in front of the entrance, unmoving, and took a deep breath, summoning the last vestiges of her strength. Her hand tremored as she placed it onto the scan, a robotic voice granting her access. She stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind her, and she leaned heavily against it. Her gaze wandered around the room, in search of something out of the ordinary, but everything was the way it should be. Jurina’s office remained untouched, as if frozen in time.
Her black leather office chair. Her desk, with her computer and digital tablets. The square table in a corner of the room, with maps and files and other documents scattered over it. The walls decorated with a blue ocean scenery. At last, the large picture frame hanging on the wall opposite the desk, and representing Jurina’s family. Rena forbade herself to tremble and pushed herself away from the door, stepping closer to the middle of the room. Pulling the office chair, she sat down gingerly, fighting to keep her fragile control.
She tried to ignore the tightening of her stomach muscles, and let her fingers ran across the surface of the desk. She did not actually touch, merely passed the flat of her palm over her wife’s possessions, one after the other, slowly, carefully. When she felt her hand shaking, she withdrew it, and clutched her hands together in her lap. She dragged her eyes away and attempted to stand up, but her whole body felt heavy, refusing to respond, as if it no longer belonged to her.
Rena raised her hand and passed it over her face, closing her eyes, growing despondent as she could feel the tears wet on her cheek. Why on earth did she decide to come back to the office? Airi and Akane only meant well, but she remained too emotionally fragile. She wasn’t in physical and mental capacity to resume work, and this place brought back too many memories.
Absentmindedly, Rena pulled a drawer open, discovering a number of documents stuffed inside. A faint smile crossed her lips at her wife’s slight disordered desk. Jurina’s work was always so perfect and meticulous, that Rena wondered how she achieved such a miracle with her own personal conception of organization. She opened a second drawer, finding another stack of pages. Her attention was grabbed by a white envelope laying on the top of the pile. Blinking in confusion, she retrieved the mysterious envelope, and her body grew rigid as she read the inscription.
Rena.
She almost dropped the envelope; her fingers shook so. She ran her fingertips across the smooth edges and, for a long moment, stared at her name penned in Jurina’s handwriting. What words could be within? Why did she feel so afraid of opening it? She pulled out a letter, carefully unfolding it. It was an old-fashioned style of paper, slightly browned with age, crackling to the touch, just like an ancient parchment. The letter was bordered with a pattern of delicate flowers, that Rena recognized as pink freesias.
Happy 30th anniversary.
Yes, I know. You said you didn’t want to receive anything special. But did you truly expect me to listen? Today is the 30th anniversary of my beautiful wife. And nothing could have stopped me from making this moment unforgettable. For months, I thought a lot about what kind of present to give you. The idea of writing you a letter, and using an old style of paper from this vintage shop you love so much, was the first that came to my mind. I can even imagine your smile right now as you read this letter.
I knew I had to do something significant to mark the occasion. I’m sorry for hiding you the truth for so long. All those evenings, when you kept asking me what was delaying me at work, I had a difficult time to not revealing everything. You are so smart and persuasive. It’s a hard task to conceal anything from you. To be honest, I didn’t even know if I would achieve my objective. During months, I worked relentlessly on this project, as discreetly as possible to not alert anyone.
I did it, Rena.
I finished the plans of the time machine.
Right now, as I’m writing those words, I’m not sure how you will receive the news. I hope you won’t be mad at me for doing it behind your back. I know you said you had put that dream behind, but certain dreams are too meaningful to give up on. I want you to go back in time. Revisit all those wonderful, ancient civilizations you so often speak about. Please accept my gift. Please build the time machine. No one should live their life with regrets, and I never want to see that fire of passion extinguish from your eyes.
With love,
Jurina.
Rena could hardly breathe.
She held the letter between her shaking hands, her eyes transfixed on the words. Over and over, she ran her gaze across them. She had a hard time believing what she was reading. Adrenaline suddenly shot through her as she realized what Jurina had accomplished. A miracle. There was no other way to name it. Rena straightened her shoulders and, tilting her chin up, wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
Her eyes gleamed with a newfound determination.
TO BE CONTINUED
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I'm so glad I finally caught up. I'm a slow reader, it's such a pain sometimes.
I'm curious if that Iriyama character will have an important hand in building the time machine. Potentially as a way to redeem herself for hurting Jurina? Idk.
Also love the recurring joke of the prank candles in your stories.
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@StrongStyle9Q: Iriyama is just a passing character. She was written in this chapter for a purpose, and she now served it. We won't see her again in the story.
On another note, I'm surprised you noticed the "recurring joke of the prank candle". I only used it twice (here, and in Partners), so I didn't expect anyone to remember that detail. Good job!
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Hi.
I'm beginning to think that I should always have a box of tissues nearby when I read a chapter of this fic.
The emotional charge is too much for my poor heart, I think I've already told you before, Author-san. :( :cry:
Natsuki's subtle glances at her mom make me hope that soon things will improve between them. Akane is right, the girl may think that it's all her fault! And that's not fair. Rena-chan, think! :banghead:
The scene in the cemetery was very touching. I started crying when Natsuki's birthday video was playing.
You know? I am surprised that for someone who does not show much appreciation for technology, such as Rena, the family mausoleum has so many technological modifications. I suppose it's an example of how Jurina influenced her life.
"I hope you'll find a way to move forward and rediscover a taste for life." I think it's fair that we thank Anna for these words. I feel like they were the push Rena needed. :thumbup
I knew it would be very difficult when Rena returned to work. A place so loaded with Jurina's memories. The scene in the elevator was very significant. In that place they had their first meeting and many important things happened there. :cry:
Finally, seeing Jurina's office and finding that letter (more crying from me :cry: :cry:) ... I admit that this was not how I imagined Rena would find out about the time machine. I thought it would be through a journal or a work log.
I have mixed feelings with the time machine. A part of me believes that Rena should go on with her life and not cling to the past, but another part of me agrees to use it and get her girl back ... I mean, who the hell wouldn't do the same? :lol:
I am excited for the chapters to come!
Congratulations! Great job as always!!
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I super like the latest chapter of Back in Time. I have a high hope that things will be better 🥰 And I sense that Natsuki will soon get along with her mommy again. Rena is almost recovered from her pain, PLUS she discovered the gift that J planned to give to her. I can't wait to know what would happen once Rena tried the time machine. VERY INTERESTING!
AAAAAAAAKKKKK...AND ANNIN IS IN THE HOUSE! 😍 Aadafshxtabajgjakajdvbd. I always like her. But yeah, I understand that she's only a passing character. :kneelbow:
Cool, author-san! Thank you for writing this lovely chapter. :k-great:
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I really apologize for bumping this thread to leave a long and late review. I re-read the whole fic and took note of stuff to mention, though the list is now messed up by teardrops. I'm worried that it would pile up if I wait for the next update (especially since my reviews already get long enough in the first place).
I'm starting with Chapter 12.
The story that Jurina read to Natsuki seems to have parallels with in-story's 'real life', but I can't seem to connect the dots as to who or what the king is supposed to represent :sweatdrop: I find the mystery exciting. When Alfred started malfunctioning, I already knew something happened to Jurina, but I was expecting her to have been transported "Back in Time", not dead! That was an awesome but heartbreaking curveball you threw there.
Poor Natsuki. Kuga Saeko wasn't her only mom to die from a car accident.
Chapter 13:
I was very much in denial that Jurina was dead (just like Rena!) until her remains were shown. I felt really sad for Natsuki as well, and Churi and Airin who had to handle them along with their own losses.
Chapter 14:
A broken heart is crippling, and I can only imagine how much worse it feels to lose the love of your life just like that. I found your description of Rena's appearance appropriate for her state. Mourning isn't exactly fabulous. Churi and Airin's constant encouragement, contact, and care for Rena surely needs a lot of strength and I'm happy that their efforts aren't completely going to waste.
“No!” Natsuki let out a frustrated scream. “Why can’t the prince be reunited with the princess already? Why??”
What is this, a peek of my WMatsui-shipping heart while reading Destiny's Chapters 22 to 34? lol
“No!” Natsuki tore herself away from the embrace. “She promised we would always be together! What did you do?! It’s your fault! I hate you!”
This part in particular made me cry harder. No loving and well-meaning mother deserves to hear that from her child. Of course, it's hard for Natsuki too. She's only had her aunts to take care of her recently. This is a really good chapter and I think you've done well in conveying the grief of all parties involved.
Chapter 15:
I understand that Rena is not in her right mind but I have to question whether or not it's right to let your child hate you over her other parent dying. Natsuki is going to have to grasp the concept of death sooner rather than later, might as well not grow apart trying to prevent the inevitable.
I like the little backstory regarding Rena's family. I also can't seem to get over how beautiful the family vault is. The description makes it sound so elegant yet fitted with modern technology on the inside.
“Hello, my love.”
Such a soft, loving, and melancholic line.
I love that as Iriyama comes to pay respects to Jurina, she gives Rena encouragement to try living again. I think Jurina would appreciate that.
It was raining. Of course, it had to be,
It rains a lot here especially on important occasions lol I remember it was raining when they met, on their first date, the day after their first date, when Rena first slept over, when they got married, etc.
I must say, I find it very French of you to call a birthday an 'anniversary'.
As an engineering student, I am a little skeptical that Jurina's plan for the time machine will work without her having built it already - little issues tend to come up in turning theoretical to practical, right? - but I trust that Jurina knows what she's doing.
Her eyes gleamed with a newfound determination.
Ah, I'm tearing up again. It may have taken a while but I'm so happy to see Rena get some of her spirit back. Onward, brave prince!