Winter Soliloquy"So are you absolutely sure you know where we are going?"
Reina sounded justifiably suspicious as Ai led her down increasingly narrow paths, twisting and turning in on themselves like a maze.
"It was just
one wrong turn." Ai replied a little defensively, pausing briefly at another corner to re-orient herself while muttering under her breath that Cortana could come in real useful about now. Reina raised an eyebrow at that, but did not comment. She did, however, sidle closer to Ai, wrapping her arms around Ai's, since she really didn't know where she was and did not want to get lost.
"Aha, there it is!" Ai exclaimed, tugging Reina along with her as she shuffled over to stop in front of an unobtrusive storefront. There was a bleak sameness about the entire row of units along that quiet little street, and the place they stood before had little to distinguish itself from the rest, save for a tiny handmade sign hung on the door that declared it to be a family restaurant.
"What's this?" Reina asked curiously, turning to look over at Ai. The older girl had an oddly nostalgic expression on her face as she met Reina's gaze.
"I found this place when I first came to Tokyo. It's a good place." Ai did not elaborate further, only motioning that they should enter. Reina shrugged; she would get more out of Ai later.
The tinkle of windchimes announced their entry, and both girls blinked to adjust their eyes to the dim light. A rush of cool wind ruffled their hair, though no airconditioning unit was in sight, only an ancient fan moving sluggishly overhead.
Reina looked around, bemused. The decor was homely and unpretentious. The restaurant did not pretend to be any more than it actually was, and it did not aspire to be 'retro' as the modern world understood it. It had a solid atmosphere, and felt removed from the world outside. Reina exhaled slowly. It was like coming home.
Beside her, Ai's shoulders also relaxed, a small smile turning the corners of her lips up. Reversing her hand, she took Reina's hand into her own, and they walked hand-in-hand to the counter area.
"Obaachan? Are you there?" Ai called out, after no one appeared in response to their arrival.
A pause, then a beaming old lady came bustling out of the back. Instantly her presence seemed to inject a certain life to the premises, and the place somehow became warmer and more inviting.
"Ara, Ai-chan!
Hissashiburi!" The old lady might have been old, but she had none of the fraility her age would suggest. She was not big; but she seemed larger than life, carrying a touch of roundness to her face and figure, while smile-wrinkles adorned her aged face.
"Baachan. It's been a while." Ai bowed slightly, before reaching forward to clasp the old lady's hands with one of her own. A couple of the other patrons looked up, young salarymen by the looks of them, and they smiled too at the friendly exchange they witnessed.
Reina quelled the odd swell of irritation at the familiarity she somehow felt excluded from, though she definitely bristled visibly when the other patrons looked over. She felt acutely aware of the stares from others now, despite her job. Or perhaps it was precisely
because of her job, and her recent popularity made her more prickly about being seen out and about. She enjoyed the attention, certainly, but there was a time and place for all things. This was not one of them.
Ai must have felt her tense, because she felt a reassuring squeeze on her hand. Ai smiled gently back at her, and Reina let the tension go out of her shoulders. No one was staring at them anymore at any rate, and the old lady was now looking at Reina.
"A friend of yours? My my, she's so adorable!" The old lady fussed over the suddenly quite pleased Reina. "But she's so thin! Come come, we absolutely
must feed you!"
"Be prepared, Baachan really means it." Ai quipped wryly as they removed their shoes to sit in the inner section. "She made me eat so much the last time, I couldn't move for an hour afterwards."
"Pah, don't listen to her. Any girl needs some meat on her bones, and both of you are too thin." The old lady tutted disapprovingly as she prodded Reina's wrist. "Skin and bones!"
"I eat a lot." Reina objected. "I'm just...like that."
Ai laughed. "Oh yes, your famous inability to get fat. I'm jealous of that, I really am!" Her eyes sparkled with mirth, and it lit Reina up to see the open expression on Ai's face.
"Nonsense, neither of you eat enough." The old lady hummed under her breath. "Well you two just wait here, I'll make sure you two fill your bellies tonights."
The girls watched as the old lady bustled back into the kitchen area. Reina broke the relative silence after a moment.
"Well, she's...quite a character, isn't she?" Reina looked over at Ai, who was spacing out again. Their hands were still attached to each other, and Reina squeezed Ai's hand to get her attention.
"Ah, yes, yes she is." Ai reacted after a moment, turning to face Reina with a gentle smile. Reina resisted an urge to reach out and pinch Ai's cheeks, if only to tease another adorable reaction out of the older girl. She settled for poking Ai in the side, eliciting a squeal.
"What did you do that for?" Ai pulled a sad face, making Reina giggle in response.
"You're not paying attention." Reina stuck out her tongue at Ai, who chuckled and rapped a knuckle lightly on Reina's forehead.
"Brat." Ai murmured fondly, and Reina grinned at her like a pleased kitten.
"So, how did you find this place? It's quite a ways off the main street." Reina asked curiously, looking around the small restaurant.
Ai bit her lip sheepishly. "Actually, the first time I got here, I was lost..."
"I knew it!" Reina exclaimed. "There's no way you could have gotten here otherwise!"
"Hey! Someone else could have brought me here." Ai objected. Reina smirked.
"But no one did, and you stumbled upon this place by accident while lost, didn't you?"
Ai sighed. "Well, yes...stop laughing at me!" She swatted at the giggling Reina, who ducked under the blow and nuzzled playfully at Ai's shoulder like a kitten seeking attention.
"But you're so fun to tease~" Reina grinned again. Indeed, Ai's flushed cheeks from the embarrassment was certainly a sight for sore eyes. Reina did not think she would ever tire of seeing them.
Ai pouted, turning away from Reina. "Fine, I'm not saying anymore."
"Aww, come on..." Reina nudged her senpai in the side. "Tell me~"
"Nope." Reina made a face, and Ai resisted the urge to smile.
"I'll sulk." Reina threatened. Ai smiled beatifically.
"Go ahead." Reina pouted, before resorting to dirty tactics and beginning to make puppy eyes at Ai while whining cutely and tugging at her sleeve. Ai managed to keep a straight face for all of 5 seconds before she gave up and started laughing.
"Quit it! It's not
that funny!" Reina slapped Ai's shoulder even as the older girl practically doubled over into her lap. Ai wiped the tears with the back of her hand, leaning her weight against Reina as she breathed hard to calm down.
"You seem happier here." Reina observed after a moment, when Ai had finally stopped giggling to herself. Dark brown eyes flicked over to meet wonky ones, and Ai smiled lazily.
"I told you, this is a good place." Again, with the lack of explanation. Reina huffed impatiently, making Ai chuckle quietly.
"This is a place I can relax in. I thought you might like it too." Ai admitted, sitting up to face Reina properly. Her eyes were sincere, if a little nervous, watching intently for Reina's reaction.
Reina was silent for a moment, digesting the fact. Slowly, she looked up and met Ai's anxious gaze. Then she smiled, reaching over for Ai's hand.
"Thank you for sharing it with me."
A slow, hesitant smile bloomed on Ai's face, a mixture of relief and uncomplicated joy.
Under the table, their fingers entwined together, as if they would never let go.
~*~*~
"I'm so full I can't breathe..." Reina complained, sprawling onto the comfy seat. Ai followed her with an amused glance, settling herself more neatly on the seat next to Reina.
The train was fairly empty, and they had managed to locate a relatively quiet carriage where the only other occupants were a balding salaryman and a hunchbacked old lady. Granted, it was getting late, and no one wanted to stay out long in the cold at night.
"I told you she would make us eat a lot." Ai said, poking at Reina's tummy. The kitten slapped at her hand, mock-growling with lowered eyebrows before both of them started giggling again.
"Brrr it's cold...I didn't think Tokyo was supposed to get this cold!" Reina sat up, rubbing her mittened hands together. Her tiny frame seemed lost within the giant hoodie , making her look like a purple ball of fluff.
"I thought you would be used to colder winters from where you came from." Ai pointed out. It was a relief that the train was a great deal warmer, but the wind had been brutal earlier during their walk to the station. Reina threw back her hood, pouting.
"Just because I'm used to it doesn't mean I have to like it. Aren't your hands cold?"
Ai grinned, and Reina looked down automatically for her hands. An eyebrow jerked up.
"I don't think it's very lady-like to sit on your hands..." Reina started. Ai smirked.
"I don't think an ex-yankii has the right to call me out on that!"
Reina twitched. Ai grinned some more. Reina glared.
"You've been saving that for a while, haven't you?"
Ai continued grinning madly. "I've been dying to say that since the first time I saw you."
Reina stared for a moment, then recovered quickly. Scooting closer to Ai, Reina leaned in close to the older girl's ear.
"What if I'm not just an
ex-yankii..." Reina murmured, digging her gloved fingers into Ai's arm in a near-crushing grip. "...but a real one?"
Reina felt bold with her lips almost brushing Ai's ear, especially when she felt Ai tremble ever so slightly; be it from her words or the closeness, she did not know. A pleasant flush lit Ai's cheeks, and Reina boldly nipped at the inviting earlobe before retreating, a smug smile on her lips.
Ai looked oddly disconcerted for several moments, staring blankly into space. The silence stretched between the two girls, until it started to become awkward after a minute or two.
Not wanting Ai to feel uncomfortable, Reina squeezed Ai's arm lightly to get her attention, then whispered.
"I was just kidding."
Ai didn't respond for a moment. Suddenly she straightened and turned to face Reina in all seriousness.
"So are all yankiis actually
dere-dere on the inside like you?"
Reina gaped.
That was what she was thinking about?! And I was actually worried about offending her???"Are you fuckin' kidding me?" Reina blurted, her accent coming out in her exasperation. "I can't believe you just---argh! Mou! Baka!"
Ai blinked innocently at the fuming Reina, who was muttering to herself. She couldn't help but notice Reina's blushing cheeks, despite the younger girl having turned away from her.
So cute... Ai smiled to herself. Steathily, she sidled closer and rested her head on Reina's shoulder, letting her eyes flutter close.
Reina was in the middle of a frustrated diatribe when she felt the sudden weight on her shoulder. Sparing a glance at the sneaky older girl, Reina only sighed.
"What will I do with you, Ai..."
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Sorry about the long delay! I had a bad case of writer's block. I still think this chapter feels awkward...and it's still more or less filler until the main event.
Btw, in case there are people who don't know,
dere-dere kinda means "lovey-dovey", or basically acting all cute like Reina is prone to do.

Ai was basically letting her otaku side show.
I hope you guys like the chapter!
