postcards

“If you’re not doing it, I will.”  

Chihaya didn’t dare breath. A single move from her and she knew—she knew Sumire will see through her threat. Her thumb was perilously close to pressing the dial button. Should Chihaya say the wrong thing, she might end up having to answer to Mrs. Pressure without any mental preparation at all.

“Wait!” She pleaded. “I’ll call tonight. Promise.”

Sumire narrowed her eyes. Assured that Chihaya was completely serious about her resolution, Sumire handed the phone back to her.

Everyone in the club room exhaled. No bomb was unnecessarily detonated this afternoon, fortunately. “Man, you’re almost as scary as Mashima-san just now, Hanano-san.” Nishida remarked, finally able to swallow the pork bun in his hand.

Sumire sighed, still exasperated. “It’s been three days since I gave Ayase-senpai Mashima-san’s number. Forgive me if I sound impatient right now, because I totally am.”

Chihaya prostrated on the tatami. “Sorry, Sumire-chan!”

“Don’t be like that, Chihaya. We understand,” Kanade patted Chihaya’s head lightly. “But Sumire is right. Mashima-kun has been sick for three days already. We’re all very worried about him, just like you are.”

Komano fixed his glasses. “And as his unofficial girlfriend, the task to check up on him falls on you.”

Chihaya exhaled in defeat. She had ran away long enough.

It was time to face the inevitable.

*

Chihaya felt like coming down with the flu herself as she searched Mashima-san's contact number on her phone directory. It was a good thing she delayed eating dinner—her stomach was in knots just thinking about finally calling Taichi's terrifying mother and asking her a favor.

"You're a Queen, Chihaya," she muttered to herself, "You can do this."

Momentarily psyched up by her pep talk, she pressed the CALL button.

Clutching her Daddy Bear to her chest, she nervously waited for the other line to pick up.

"Moshi moshi. Mashima residence."

The voice unmistakably belonged to Mashima Reiko. Chihaya instinctively froze at the recognition, failing to follow through with a greeting.

"Hello? Who's ca—"

"It's Chihaya!" she blurted. Voice slightly shaky, she chattered, "Um, this is Chihaya. Good evening, Mrs. Pre—Mashima-san."

Reiko's voice instantly turned ice cold. "Ah, Chihaya-chan. It's a pleasure to receive your call at dinnertime."

Chihaya's eyes latched on the clock. Of course she'd end up calling at an absolutely inconvenient hour. She instantly replied, "I'm so sorry! It's just—I'd like to ask if Taichi's okay..."

She could hear a disappointed sigh. "If he is still unable to message you and your friends, I believe that means he's currently unwell. Now, do you have other questions, Chihaya-chan?"

Every nerve in her body was desperately begging for her to drop the line already, but if Chihaya would back down now, she's sure Sumire would find a way to still make the request, which may make things more difficult. Steeling herself, she took the plunge. "May I come over tomorrow?"

When she was met with silence, Chihaya rambled on, "I was asked by Tsukue-kun—I mean, his classmate—to deliver the notes for the lessons he missed. And our club members bought him oranges and apples and—"

"You may come tomorrow at five. You can help me prepare dinner."

Chihaya almost choked her stuff toy. This wasn't on the plan. "Sorry?"

"I believe you have excellent hearing, Chihaya-chan. Surely I won't need to repeat myself."

Like a soldier under scrutiny by her commander, she automatically replied, "Y - yes, Ma'am."

Pacified with her answer, Reiko said, "If that is all, then I must be going back to dinner. See you tomorrow."

"Thank you for your time, Mashima-san. S - see you tomorrow."

As soon as the call disconnected, Chihaya collapsed on the bed, energy spent. A minute later she got up, exited the room, and dashed down the stairs.

"Mom! Please teach me how to cook!"

*

"Woah—is meeting Taichi's mom really that scary for you?" Nishida inquired, staring at Chihaya's bloodshot eyes. "And what happened with those?" He pointed at Chihaya's freshly bandaged fingers.

Chihaya blinked rapidly, moistening her eyes. In between yawns, she explained, "I slept late. Mrs. Pressure asked me to help her with dinner so I had to learn how to chop vegetables. Perfectly."

Nishida gave her a comforting smile, "Ganbatte, Ayase. If you survive tonight, I'll treat you with pork buns for lunch tomorrow."

Resting her head on the desk, Chihaya muttered, "Thanks, Nikuman-kun."

*

Had Chihaya been a lucid dreamer, she would've realized that the castle was simply a representation of the Mashima house, the sleeping prince was Taichi all along, and the fire breathing dragon guarding the gate was definitely Mashima Reiko. If she were, she may not have woken up with a start, embarrassing herself in the middle of Fukasaku-sensei's class.

Looking at how messed up Chihaya was, Nishida began to doubt if he'd be able to buy her pork buns the next day.

*

It's okay, Chihaya, she's not really a dragon, she inwardly declared. She pressed the doorbell with her free hand, and then sighed in relief when she found Rika peering excitedly at her from the entranceway.

"Welcome, Chihaya-chan!" Taichi's younger sister greeted. Quirking an eyebrow at her, she then questioned, "Do you want some water? You look pale."

Chihaya waved her worry away. "I'm fine."

Locating Reiko at the kitchen, Chihaya presented the basket clutched in her hand. "G - good afternoon, Mashima-san. This is from everyone in the club." She proceeded to extract Komano's papers from her bag. "And these are the notes from Tsukue-kun."

"Please extend our gratitude to them, Chihaya-chan." Reiko took the basket and began to put the fruits inside the refrigerator. "You can leave the notes on Taichi's desk later."

Chihaya's heart skipped a beat. For all the stress she had gone through in the past twenty-four hours, the prospect of actually visiting Taichi had been at the back seat on her mind, overshadowed by the daunting ordeal of dealing with Mrs. Pressure without her son's intervention. Her thoughts led her to look in the direction of Taichi's bedroom.

She had never seen Taichi this sick, and she dearly hoped she could help him recover, if only a little.

She heard Reiko clear her throat. "You may see him as soon as we finished making dinner."

Chihaya's gaze snapped back to Reiko. "H - hai."

Reiko seemed to consider something, staring at her with a surprisingly concerned expression. "Would you like to have some tea first? Your face is pale."

Chihaya slapped her cheeks in response, giving some color to them. "I'm okay!" Encouraged by the thinly-veiled worry for her wellbeing reflected in Reiko's eyes, Chihaya attempted a smile, "I'm ready."

*

Having tried her hand in kitchen work for the first time last night, Chihaya could recognize how admirable Mashima Reiko moved through the space, retrieving cooking tools from the cupboards and ingredients from the refrigerator with exceptional grace. Taichi must have inherited his poise from his mother.

Chihaya put the vegetables in the strainer and headed to the sink. "I'll wash these up, Mashima-san."

Reiko hummed in agreement. "I'll be seasoning the meat." She turned to her daughter perched on the dining table stool, happily watching over the two of them. "Go work on your homework, Rika. You have nothing to do here."

Rika started to protest. "But I wanna see—" her words were cut abruptly, and from behind her Chihaya could guess that Mrs. Pressure had given Rika her intimidating gaze.

If Mashima Reiko were karuta Queen, Chihaya was sure she'd never become a challenger. If she did, she would have to play blindfolded, just so she can avoid that look.

"Fine," Rika relented. "Ganbatte, Chihaya-chan." She proceeded to go upstairs, leaving Chihaya and Reiko alone.

Finishing her first task, Chihaya deposited the vegetables on the container next to the chopping board.

Time to show what I've practiced. She picked up a medium-sized knife and was about to slice the head of a cabbage when Reiko suddenly ordered, "Stop."

Chihaya stared at her, dumbfounded. Was she already deemed a failure? That fast?

Reiko withdrew the knife from her hands. Then she remarked. "Your fingers are hurt."

Chihaya blinked. "They're all right. I can still—"

"Take a sit over there and just watch me, Chihaya-chan," Reiko instructed, her tone clearly expressing that Chihaya have no other choice but to follow. Flustered, Chihaya merely nodded, settling on the stool Rika had previously occupied.

Reiko continued preparing the meal, making Chihaya feel more and more anxious at being utterly unhelpful each second that passed. She knew she should attempt to make small talk, but her mind can't come up with any dialogue, not even about the weather.

It was Reiko that broke the silence. "If I remember correctly, you've injured your hand once before. Was playing karuta that challenging?"

Taken aback by Reiko's recollection, Chihaya failed to filter her thoughts. "Harada-sensei trained me harder so I won't get injured like that again. I, um, got these last night chopping carrots."

As soon as the words were left hanging in the air, Chihaya bit her lip. Please don't think much about it please don't think much about it please don't—

Reiko stopped swirling the ladle in the pot. Chihaya held her breath, preparing herself for whatever it was that will come out of Mrs. Pressure's lips.

Her imagination couldn't have predicted what she had finally said. Not in a million years.

"You know, I never disliked you, Chihaya-chan." Reiko resumed her motions, "Just how early you arrived."

Even though they were merely two sentences, Chihaya couldn't begin to grasp what Mrs. Pressure was telling her.

Even without Chihaya's prompting, Reiko elaborated, "When I became a mother, I promised to myself that I will raise my child with the same standards that my parents had set for me." Having finished cooking the broth, she turned off the stove. Reaching for the box of genmaicha tea, she continued, "Fortunately, I hadn't had much trouble with Taichi. He is naturally brilliant and determined. He listens to my demands and takes on the challenges I set for him. But then one day he came home saying he wants to be good at playing this obscure game,"—Chihaya straightened up, ready for a lecture—"and it worried me, not just because it wasn't in my plans, but also because the game came from a girl that has taken more than his attention, even though he's unaware of it at the time."

Reiko poured hot water on two porcelain cups, then submerged the tea kernels in them. "Just as how my parents had given me freedom to choose the person I like, I must give the same choice to my children. But you happened to come into Taichi's life far earlier than when Oligo came into mine, and I can't help but treat you with unwarranted hostility for that." Reiko gave her a stricken smile, "But maybe it was for the better. If I had Taichi controlled for all these years, he might have been leading a broken life by now." She slid one cup towards Chihaya. "I suppose I owe you both an apology and my thanks, Chihaya-chan."

Unable to completely digest the sudden disclosure from Reiko, Chihaya could only refute her last statement. "That's not true! Taichi is the person he is right now because of your efforts, Mashima-san." Chihaya recalled a moment from way back their first team tournament as a seven-membered club. She relayed the details of the event to her, narrating how Taichi had uncharacteristically snapped at Tsukuba for arguing with the word 'but' all over his sentences, declaring that a man has no use for the word. Chihaya had then commented how Reiko's strictness with Taichi had disciplined him, allowing him to become strong in his own way.

This time it was Reiko who was rendered speechless. Chihaya sipped the tea, finding her nerves settling. After finishing her cup, she shyly ventured, "If you will, I'd like to take up Taichi's dinner with the notes now, Mashima-san."

Composing herself, Reiko nodded, then started assembling the food.

*

She found Taichi covered under layers of blankets when she entered his room. Setting the tray on the study desk, Chihay tiptoed towards his huddled figure.

She rested a hand on his arm, finding it awfully warm. "Passing Todai must've been so hard, ne, Taichi?" She swapped the dry towelette for a cool one, setting it on his forehead. Feeling the sudden chill, Taichi stirred. His amber eyes connected with Chihaya's, and he muttered weakly, "Now I'm delirious."

Chihaya chuckled, placing a hand on his cheek. "Not yet. I'm real."

Taichi sounded genuinely lost when he insisted, "You can't be. You'd have to get past my Mom to be here, and you're terrified of her."

Chihaya perked up, "About that..." she decided against telling him about her upgraded relationship with Mrs. Pressure. Taichi would be more convinced that he was hallucinating if she did. Instead, she took his hand. "Everyone was worried about you. Please get well soon, Taichi. I missed beating you in matches."

Taichi grinned mischievously, "You could leave out the beating at matches part."

Chihaya felt her face warm. "Fine, just because you're sick this time. I missed you, Taichi."

Satisfied at her admission, and perhaps still feeling very much unwell, Taichi began to drift off again. Checking her wristwatch, Chihaya noted that there was still an hour before he had to take his medicine.

It was Chitose-neesan's fault. If she had just let Chihaya watch the movie in peace, not blurting any of the weird things she said last night, then maybe she wouldn't find it hard focusing in class today. The conversation started out casually enough.

*

“Say, Chihaya. I’ve been wondering,” Chitose uttered nonchalantly, eyes trained on the television.

Chihaya flinched when a zombie sprang onscreen. "Hm?"

"Mashima-kun's handsome, right?"

Chihaya blinked. Even though it was Chitose's habit to ask random things out of the blue, Chihaya still gets surprised sometimes. Deciding to think nothing more out of it, she replied, "Um, yeah. He's popular at school. Girls give him tons of chocolates for Valentine's Day."

"That's not what I meant." Chitose interjected. "I'm asking you. Do you find your boyfriend attractive?" 

Chihaya's eyes trailed off from the movie, connecting with her sister's. "W - what?" 

Chitose was looking at her with curiosity. "I don't know if it's because you guys know each other since you were kids, but I think you're seeing Mashima-kun as if he's still your classmate in grade school. Or your karuta playmate." 

Chihaya blanked. What is she getting at? Chitose sighed for the second time. Despite sounding resigned, her sister suggested, "All I'm saying is—you may want to take a good look at him." She proceeded to take a sip from her mug, attention returning to the film. 

"Wouldn't want to waste all that beauty in vain."

* 

"—haya-chan," Kanade's waving hand pulled Chihaya from her thoughts. "Is everything all right?" 

Chihaya surveyed the room, finding only a few of her classmates loitering around. She must’ve been lost in thought for quite a while. Turning to her concerned friend, she gave a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Kana-chan. What brings you here?" 

Kanade tilted her head. "Did you forget? We're having a group study in the library today. Everyone's already there." 

“Ah,” Chihaya remarked lamely. She really should snap out of this confusion as soon as possible. It was exam week—the absolutely worst time to be worrying about anything else besides upcoming tests. 

After cramming her notebooks and pens in her bag, Chihaya proceeded to move. “Let’s go, Kana-chan.” 

Maybe she should just try to figure out what Chitose meant right away. It shouldn’t be that hard to do, right?

*

"Quit it, Chihaya. People are staring," Taichi grumbled beside her, pretending to be absorbed in his review materials.

"One minute." Chihaya insisted.

Of course, Chihaya has enough self-awareness to know how silly she must've looked to others, sitting beside Taichi with her chin propped on one arm above the long table, eyes gazing intently on his side profile. She's heard whispers from the students seated at the other tables, collectively wondering whether Ayase Chihaya was seriously flirting in front of public eye. She knew her friends have already placed various bets among themselves, attempting to decipher what's suddenly gotten in the mind of their resident airhead captain.

But Chihaya can't afford to be flustered. She has yet to understand what Chitose meant.

Having no clue how to go about it, or what it was she should even be seeking, Chihaya decided to begin her inspection by listing out the changes that existed between grade school Taichi and high school Taichi.

There was the hair, of course. He kept it longer now, the just enough for the tips of the strands to reach past his eyebrows. It still looked well put and silky, though, and if Chihaya would extend her hand to rest on the mop of his head, she’s sure to find it soft, too. She was about to ask for his permission to do just that when she caught herself. That was a weird thing to ask, wasn’t it?

Discarding the thought, Chihaya focused again at the task at hand, taking meticulous notice of Taichi’s stature—his sharp features and porcelain skin, the trademark long lashes, striking amber eyes…

Do you find your boyfriend attractive?

As soon as her sister’s words echoed unbidden in her mind, Chihaya’s world shifted.

Literally and figuratively. “Chihaya!” She instantly registered concern in Taichi’s voice as her head struck against the table, having slipped unceremoniously off her arm. Heat pooled at her cheeks as the temperature in the room spiked, making her feel like she was suddenly shoved inside a microwave. Every pair of eyes in their table was directed at her, equal parts worried and confused. “Are you—” Taichi was about to place a hand on her forehead, meaning to check if she was running a fever, when Chihaya shrunk back, yelping, “Water!” 

A beat later she leapt to her feet, following through the first excuse she could think of, “I—I’m gonna drink some water.” Without further ado, Chihaya rushed out of the library and sprinted through the hallway, leaving everybody in the room dumbfounded in her wake.

*

“Never again,” Chihaya vowed, wiping off the water that dripped on her chin. “I won’t listen to Onee-chan ever again.” She pressed the one-liter bottle on her cheek, cooling her skin. How was she supposed to face Taichi now? It would be practically impossible to look into his eyes without bursting into flames. 

Chitose-neechan must know how to deal with this, Chihaya hoped. She should head home at once and demand answers. With a newfound resolve Chihaya stood up from her crouching position—before smacking a palm on her forehead. "Ah! My bag—" 

"—is here," a familiar voice cut from behind her. Spinning on her heels, she saw Taichi heading towards her next to the vending machine, both their bags slung on his shoulder. "T - Taichi," she said helplessly, her eyes instantly latching on his shoes. She gingerly inched closer. "G - give me that. I'm going home." 

He turned away from her, then started walking. "Let's go." 

Chihaya panicked. "Wait! I - I can go by myself. You should go back to the others. I'm fine, really." 

Taichi resumed walking. "No, you're not. You look like you're bound to walk into a pole, and Ayase-san would be mad at me if I let you." 

With you, I might do just that, Chihaya retorted. Having no other choice, she followed him towards the school gate. 

* 

Chihaya has always been grateful for her exceptional hearing, but today proved to be day unlike any other, and so she wasn't surprised upon finding herself annoyed with how her ears easily picked up the chatter around them. The train cart was packed with students, many of them being girls who were spending the better part of the ride gushing about her boyfriend. As unsettling as it was for her, she had to admit that the sight of Taichi studying his notes with a calm look on his face was nothing short of eye-catching. Although it had only taken a second to glance at him, Chihaya felt her cheeks flush nonetheless. In utter embarrassment, she covered them with her palms. 

She was determined to shield her vision for the rest of the trip when her phone buzzed. 

from: Mashima Taichi  to: Ayase Chihaya  Do you feel dizzy? 

 Chihaya's breath caught. Her fingers typed in a reply. 

from: Ayase Chihaya  to: Mashima Taichi  No  I'm ok 

She heard Taichi tapping on his phone. 

from: Mashima Taichi  to: Ayase Chihaya  Were exams hard? 

from: Ayase Chihaya  to: Mashima Taichi  Of course You didn't need to ask 

Chihaya was beginning to wonder why they're suddenly conversing through their phones when a new message stilled her thoughts. 

from: Mashima Taichi  to: Ayase Chihaya  Why aren't you looking at me? 

The next stop was still a few minutes away. There was no way she could sprint away from him again in this compartment. Taichi would easily see through her lies. She had no choice but to come clean. 

Since it was more mortifying to type it out than to simply voice her concerns, she tucked away her phone on her skirt pocket. After clearing her throat a bit, Chihaya declared with a slightly shaky voice, "B - because you look like that." 

"Like what?" Genuine cluelessness was evident in Taichi's tone. 

Chihaya buried her face in her hands again as she whispered, "Handsome. Too handsome." 

Silence stretched between them so much that Chihaya wasn't sure if Taichi had heard her. She risked taking a peek at his expression when she noticed him beet red, staring past the train window.

Chihaya wanted to cry. Chitose-neechan better know how to fix this mess she's gotten them in. 

*

In the end, Chitose wasn’t of any help. After laughing at her sister to her heart’s content, she merely commented, “My, what a problem you have there, Chihaya.” She threatened to boycott her sister’s next magazine release as payback.

Grasping at straws, Chihaya then dialed Kanade’s and Sumire’s numbers. As soon as all the amused reactions winded down, Kanade stated, “Although I don’t have any useful advice to deal with what you’re experiencing, I think avoiding Mashima-kun is the last thing you should be doing right now. We’ll be entering university soon, and it’ll be harder to meet each other then. You wouldn’t want to regret that, ne, Chihaya-chan?”

Chihaya sighed. “I don’t.”

“Ayase-senpai,” Sumire chimed in. In a tone reminiscent of the time she guided them confidently through making Valentine’s chocolates to cheer up Taichi, Sumire announced, “There’s only one way to fix this. You have to build immunity.”

‘Building immunity’ apparently meant weathering through all the blushing and the rapid heartbeats until she got used to them. It may be a tall order, but there weren’t any alternatives and Chihaya had been worried about making Taichi worry about her. Putting her faith on Sumire’s reputation on matters concerning love, Chihaya found herself waiting anxiously on the train platform the next morning.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you this early.” Taichi stood next to her and she grounded her feet, desperately willing her face not to redden. Glancing at him, she stuttered, “O - ohayou, Taichi.”

Small talk passed between them until their train arrived. Settling on the empty seats, Taichi regarded her with mild surprise. “To be honest, I don’t think I’ll be seeing you at all for the rest of the week.” Chihaya clasped her hands. “W - well, Kana-chan said hiding isn’t a good idea.” She struggled to make eye contact, “A - and I want to be immune as soon as possible.”

Taichi looked at her blankly for a full three seconds. Then he broke into laughter, face lighting up so brilliantly that Chihaya had to avert her eyes.

I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.

summary: It goes without saying—Taichi and Chihaya’s first date is official Mizusawa Karuta Club business. 

If the girls in her class could see her now, ringing the doorbell of the Ayase household, they would surely call her insane. And for a good reason, too. After all, why would a girl do hair and make up for the date of the guy’s she’s still in love with? 

The door swung open, revealing a disheveled Chihaya. “Sumire-chan!” 

This is why. 

“Oh. I wasn’t informed Mashima-senpai would be going out with a geisha.” 

Chihaya prostrated on the spot. “Help me, Sumire-chan!” 

/// 

“So you actually have normal clothes, Ayase-senpai. I’m surprised.” Sumire notes, surveying the dresses laid out on the bed. 

“Chitose-neesan lent them to me.” Chihaya explained. “She said she’d disown me if I wore Daddy Bear on my—” Chihaya stopped abruptly, cheeks swiftly heating up. “My d - d - date.” She turned to Sumire after recovering her bearings. “But I still don’t understand. Taichi’s seen me wearing Daddy Bear since we were kids, and he’s okay with it.” 

Sumire popped a nerve. “You can't wear that on a date, Senpai. Unless you want to look like his little sister and not his girlfriend." 

Chihaya nodded slowly. "Ah." Smiling gratefully, she said, "You’re really an expert in this, Sumire-chan. Thanks so much for coming over today.” 

“It's no problem.” Sumire replied casually. “Now—let's focus. Do you have any idea where you’ll be going or what you’ll be doing? It’s important to dress according to what will happen on the date.” 

Chihaya beamed. “I know! Taichi let me plan for it.” She retrieved a paper on her study table, handing it to Sumire. 

While the absence of karuta-related activities made Sumire impressed, she found something unusual with the list. "Ayase-senpai...I know you and Mashima-senpai are both athletic. But do you really want to do these on your first date?" Seeing Chihaya's blank stare, Sumire elaborated. "It's just that—I don't think anyone's ever done rock climbing, rollerblading, and eating at an all-you-can-eat restaurant in one." 

Chihaya chuckled uneasily. "That's exactly what I'm hoping for," she muttered. Sumire arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean, Senpai?" Chihaya sighed, sinking into the mattress. 

Fiddling with her fingers, she started, "This is all new to me, Sumire-chan. I've never...had a b - boyfriend before. Never gone out on a date. But Taichi—Taichi has, and I'm sure he had so much fun going to the mall and the amusement park with her." Chihaya's eyes went downcast as she whispered, "So I tried to picked places he hadn't gone yet with his girlfriend before." 

Sumire blinked, digesting Chihaya's admission. Was she hearing her right? Was Ayase-senpai honestly expressing jealousy over Mashima-senpai's ex? Shoving the thoughts aside, Sumire settled next to Chihaya on the bed. "Senpai, do you know how many guys would start a karuta club and compete in title matches just to get their crush's attention?" 

Chihaya lifted her head to look at her. Sumire smiled warmly. "I only know one, and turns out, he'll finally go on a date with said crush after waiting for so long." Sumire placed the paper in Chihaya's hands. "There's still some time to change your plans. But if you really want to take on that all-you-can-eat buffet, then—" 

Sumire suddenly found herself enveloped in a hug. Chihaya's voice was brimming with sincerity. "I'm really happy you're here, Sumire-chan." 

Sumire drew back, eyes rapidly moistening. "I know, I know—no, don't start crying, Senpai! You'll get panda eyes!" 

 from: Hanano Sumire 

to: Ooe Kanade 

hair and make up's done! 

When you're young you just run But you come back to what you need This love is good, this love is bad This love is alive back from the dead These hands had to let it go free And this love came back to me

This love left a permanent mark This love is glowing in the dark These hands had to let it go free And this love came back to me

One look is all it took for Chihaya to admit that no, Tsukue-kun's request isn't as simple as he made it sound.

Check in Class 1 before you head home. Wake up Mashima if he's still sleeping.

The thing is, she could count on one hand the number of times she has seen Taichi like this. Shoulders relaxed, expression unguarded. Resting. The number of times they've been around each other these days are even fewer. So nobody should be wondering why she ends up settling on the seat next to him, mirroring the way his cheek rests on a folded arm atop his desk.

The last time he's caught her on the brink of dozing off is still fresh in her mind. It happened just a week ago, after all, on the day she became Queen. She remembers the feeling of having everything and nothing all at once, finally standing on the pinnacle of karuta only to look down and see that she's unknowingly left the most important thing behind. She can still feel the chilling snow beneath her feet as she rushed after him barefoot on the steps of Oumi Jingu. Don't leave, Taichi. Come back. She had been ready to repeat her pleas over and over agan if only the toll of playing five back-to-back matches with Shinobu-chan had not overcome her then, collapsing into his arms instead.

She remembers the cream-colored ceiling of the hotel room greeting her when she opened her eyes. The distinct smell of osmanthus in her proximity. A warm hand grasped in hers.

Then a talk, long overdue. An agreement, one she's determined to keep.

Dating could come later. Right now both of them have to face the hurdle of university entrance exams and saying goodbye to their karuta club, and she has yet to adjust to this new, overwhelming feeling she has for a boy she's known almost all her life. Chihaya isn't the type to subscribe on shoujo mangas like Sumire and many girls in her age do, but she's nonetheless aware of the trademark image of a girl in love—a blushing mess in a perpetual lovestruck daze. She's always wondered if she would look that way, too, when the time came. Before, she might've even attributed her reactions to Arata as such. Now, Chihaya's well aware that real love feels different. Better than expected.

That said feeling is bubbling inside her now, warming her insides. Gaze tracing Taichi's features, Chihaya finds herself rewriting the words he'd said to her on that fateful April afternoon. Taichi, you know...

I love the nails you've always kept short so you can play karuta with me. I love the fingers that reaches out to me to ruffle my hair, or cushion my head before it hits the tatami. I love your hair, though they sometimes make it hard for me to see what your eyes are saying. I love you even if I've almost known it too late while you have been loving me always, ever since we were little.

A buzzing sound pulls her away from reverie. Chihaya reaches for the phone in his bag, finding it alight with a message from Suou-san asking for Taichi's whereabouts. She tells him how his top student has slipped into sleep halfway through last period and she would appreciate it if he could be kind enough to let him make up for the lessons he would be missing. Suou-san asks for a dorayaki in exchange for her request. Chihaya smiles.

"You'll be paying for that," she mutters to Taichi. Or maybe not, considering the chocolate hunting trips he voluntarily went on to get her fueled enough on karuta matches. She might have to buy Suou-san twenty dorayaki if he asked.

Sundown colors the room vermillion, like the maple leaves in Tatsuta's stream. There'll be curveballs and a whirlwind of new things coming their way, but Chihaya knows she'll weather it all so long as she stays like this, anchored and stable with Taichi by her side. After checking her watch, she goes back to resting her head on the table.

Finding Chihaya sprawled on the tatami mat is a sight Kanade did not know she missed until she sees it again. It is late in the afternoon and the club meeting is cancelled as the members need to pore over their studies for exam week. She herself is about to go home, but her footsteps had drawn her here before she could even think of a reason why.

She enters the room and settles on the space beside Chihaya.

“What brings you here, Chihaya-chan?”

Chihaya’s eyes spring open in surprise. She must have been in deep thought, Kanade notes. Her friend’s outstanding hearing allows her to quickly sense them whenever they’re around that Kanade’s long used to being on the receiving end of her greetings.

Chihaya sits up, turning towards her. “Kana-chan…” she pauses for a second. “I needed somewhere to think, that’s all.”

It’s understandable. In between the whirlwind of last weekend’s Meijin and Queen matches and the upcoming university entrance exams, there are merely a few moments for Chihaya to take in everything that has been happening. Indeed, this quiet hour in the club room is the perfect time and place for mulling over pensive thoughts. Still, something is telling her she shouldn’t leave Chihaya alone just yet.

Kanade lies down on the tatami mat. “This is nice,” she announces to the startled girl beside her. With a hint of wistfulness, she admits, “I should have done this more often.”

“But it’s really an unladylike thing to do and you’re a graceful girl, Kana-chan, so there’s nothing to feel sorry about!” Chihaya supplies immediately, her sincerity bringing a fond smile to Kanade. Laying back on the floor again, Chihaya mutters, “You know, I’m not sure if it’s possible for me to ever become a graceful girl. Or even understand how it is to be like one.”

The concerning tone of her voice prompts Kanade to ask. “What have you been thinking about earlier, Chihaya-chan?”

Kanade could feel Chihaya stiffen slightly beside her. A few seconds pass before she hears a muted reply. “I was thinking about what should I have said to Taichi when…when he told me he loved me before.”

Eh?! So he did tell her?! That explains a lot of things but—when did that happen? How? It took all her self-control for Kanade to conceal the dizzying questions in her mind. Feigning a calm demeanor, she asks instead, “I see. Do you perhaps regret what you said to him back then?”

“I don’t know,” Chihaya answers, seemingly frustrated at herself. “I just know it was wrong because it hurt him enough to leave karuta, to leave the club, to leave…me.”

“Oh, Chihaya-chan.” Kanade loves Chihaya for all that she is; however, she can’t deny not hoping to have a conversation like this with her dear friend, one who has long been entangled in matters of love whether or not she’s ready to welcome it. Nevertheless, it is worrying to witness her perpetually cheerful friend in distraught. It’s clear that Chihaya had been deeply affected with President Mashima’s previous departure, but she evidently had no clue about the extent that feeling went. Attempting to provide some level of comfort, Kanade says, “But he’s come back now. Everything’s fine.” She looks over Chihaya, only to find a weary expression on her face. It’s not, it seems to say.

A new understanding dawns on Kanade. If she understands this correctly, then…

“You are worrying about what happens after you two graduate, aren’t you?” Chihaya’s open expression tells her she’s right. Kanade pushes on, “Chihaya-chan, even though you and President Mashima are going to different universities, it’s still possible to meet with each other. You can ask him to eat with you or to play karuta at the Shiranami society when there’s time. Unless…” It’s now or never, Kanade thinks as she finds her voice again, “…that wouldn’t be enough for you?”

Kanade fixes her gaze at Chihaya, determined not to miss her reaction. Chihaya’s eyes are open wide, and Kanade’s sure that the intention behind her question got through to her. Then, most unexpectedly, she covers her face with her hands as starts to snivel. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Not when he says his feelings for me have faded away.”

So she’s heard us before?  Pushing aside the thought, she focused on consoling her friend. “Look at me, Chihaya-chan,” Kanade waits for her to heed her request before continuing. “You trust me to know things about poetry and love, and so I want you to believe me when I tell you this: President Mashima is lying. I could tell that he still loves you. So tell him what you wish to let him know, Chihaya-chan.” Kanade gives her an encouraging smile, her own heart soaring in happiness for her friends.

Chihaya takes a steadying breath, appearing soothed, but then she’s overcome with another worry. “I can’t.”

“It’s not that hard, Chihaya-chan. You just have to tell him you want him to stay with you and—” Kanade’s advice is cut off at the sight of Chihaya shaking her head. “No. I can’t tell him anything.”

It’s Kanade’s turn to be baffled. “What do you mean—?”

Chihaya’s face crumples as she suddenly wails, “I can’t tell him anything because I can’t find him anywhere! I’ve been searching for him this whole week and he’s nowhere—not in the library, or his cram school entrance, and I can’t bother him during class…” She collapses on the tatami mat once again, “At this rate, I won’t ever see him ‘til graduation! And only to tell goodbye!”

Before she could stop herself, Kanade bursts into laughter. Chihaya looks at her, petulant. “Kana-chan!”

Wiping at the moist in her eyes, Kanade explains, “Sorry, Chihaya-chan. You’re right, Prez isn’t around right now—but only because he’s on ‘house arrest’ for the week, as Nishida-kun calls it.”

“Huh?”

“Prez has his entrance exam this weekend, and since he took the time to watch someone play last Saturday,” Kanade gives her a playful wink, “his mother had him locked him up in his room to catch up on his studies. According to Tstutomu-kun, even his phone was confiscated.”

Chihaya was awestruck for a whole five seconds before being the one to dissolve in laughter this time around. “Mrs. Pressure must’ve been terrifying.” Chihaya proceeds to stand up and stretch her arms as if she’s detaching herself from the things that worried her. Beaming at Kanade, she declares, “Well, if Taichi’s doing that much and he’s already smart, I may have to start seriously studying for my exams. All right, let’s go home!”

Before leaving their separate ways as they head for their respective train stations, Chihaya asks Kanade for a favor. “Kana-chan, if you’re free this Saturday…can you and Sumire-chan help me make chocolates again?” Kanade’s sure about the reason behind the request, but decides to indulge in the happiness of hearing Chihaya say it. “Of course, Chihaya-chan. Do you want to host another Valentine’s Day picnic at the club?”

Chihaya stammers out, blushing all the while. “T-that’s a nice idea, Kana-chan! But I actually wanted to make some for Taichi—as a congratulations present. For taking the exam. And, um,”—Kanade’s internally squealing at how adorable Chihaya tries to convey herself—“I needed a reason to tell him what you told me to tell him.” Kanade holds Chihaya’s hands, “Everything’s going to be alright, Chihaya-chan.”

In the train on the way home, Kanade recalls the turn of events at the club room. Looking up at the full moon behind the train windows, she thinks of two poems that resonates with them:

Even for a time/Short as a piece of the reeds/In Naniwa’s marsh

We must never meet again:/Is this what you are asking me?

Though I would hide it/In my face it still appears—/My fond, secret love.

title: save the date

summary: It goes without saying—Chihaya and Taichi's first date is officially Mizusawa karuta club's business.

***

[Ooe Kanade]: Everyone! After drying like a seaweed, finally, the time has come!

[Hanano Sumire]: senpai, japanese translation please *confused emoji*

[Ooe Kanade]: Chihaya-chan and Prez are going on a date!

[Nishida Yuusei]: *shocked pikachu meme*

[Tsutomu Komano]: I'd thought this wouldn't happen for another week. It seems like my data is inaccurate. I owe you a milkshake, Hanano-san.

[Hanano Sumire]: told you Komano-senpai. love does not follow logic :P

[Nishida Yuusei]: *shocked pikachu meme*

[Ooe Kanade]: Before we get carried away, let me get to the point. We've got to help those two!

[Nishida Yuusei]: Sure, Kana-chan, Nishida-kun-who's-never-had-a-girlfriend-before could help

[Tsutomu Komano]: Let's hear what she'll have to say first, Nishida.

[Ooe Komano]: Indeed. So, here's our plan. Hanano-san and I will be helping Chihaya-chan (pep talk, hair, dress, and make-up), while Prez will be in your hands, Nishida-kun and Komano.

[Hanano Sumire]: i call dibs on Chihaya-senpai's dress and make-up!

[Nishida Yuusei]: i still think mashima of all people wouldn't need help with this kind of thing

[Tsutomu Komano]: It took Mashima six years to tell Ayase he likes her, Nishida. Remember that.

[Ooe Kanade]: Now all that's settled, let's all do our best, everyone!

[Akihiro Tsukuba]: wait

[Akihiro Tsukuba]: President Mashima and Ayase-senpai like each other???

Introductions “If these knees weren’t as old as I am, I’d be playing against one of them right now.”

“You say that, Harada-san, but we both know just how much you’ve waited for this. First official match and all.”

“Iie. I don’t think anyone’s as excited as you are, President Sudou-san.”

“Playing for Class A finals are Mashima Chizumi-san and Wataya Hajime-san. Playing for Class B finals are…”

Jigsaw She’s always figured romantic love would be a bit like jigsaw. And how, for the longest time, the puzzle pieces have always been in her line of sight. But she’s never been able to see the complete picture, being so focused on karuta and not much on everything else.

She’s beginning to put the pieces together, though. It’s one of the new things she does after he leaves the club. It’s yet one of the things she wishes she could get help from him.

This is much harder than studying, or not playing karuta. But just you wait, Taichi. I’ll figure this one out, too.

Karate It took only a day for the gossip to reach Taichi’s ears. Rumor has it that the hottest guy in the med department’s already taken. He could almost say he didn’t care, if only he hadn’t heard the tail end of that rumor. And she’s a black belter in karate, so you guys better back away from both of them.

Beside him, Chihaya swings her arm swiftly through the air. Taichi catches her hand before she moves it again and fuels the misunderstanding. “Chihayaー” Freezing up, Taichi considers an idea that suddenly entered his mind. Chihaya looks at him inquisitively as he releases her hand. “Taichi?”

“Your swings need a little more power,” he says.

Lessons Whoever said that you don’t completely know a person until you’ve lived with them had it right, Chihaya thinks. Even though she’s known Taichi since forever, she finds herself discovering new things about him now that they’ve been living under one roof.

He’s tidy in every place except the kitchen. He can’t sleep with the lights on. He absent-mindedly hums their high school anthem in moments of deep concentration. He can’t fix a broken pipe, but he can stitch every torn fabric in the house.

For Chihaya, learning about Taichi is a lesson she won’t ever get tired of.

Mistletoe They’re at a joint Christmas party celebration between the Suihoku and Shiranami karuta societies, and Chihaya is at the doorway, excitedly waiting for their friends to arrive.

Meanwhile, Taichi has himself planted firmly on his spot at the registration table, refusing to budge under the pointed gazes of his society members. “How long are you going to stay here, Mashima-kun?” Hiroshi-san asks playfully, gesturing to the registration papers. “Almost all of Shiranami’s members are here, so whoever will walk through that door might seriously take a chance on Chihaya-chan.”

His jaw clenches in annoyance, earning an amused chuckle from Hiroshi-san. Baka Chihaya. As he finally heads over to his very excited, very oblivious girlfriend standing under the mistletoe, Taichi could feel every bit of the teasing energy from the people around the room.

He places a chaste kiss on her cheek. In a second, Chihaya’s eyes are blown wide, her face rapidly flushing as she gawks at the lively people in the room. “Taichi!” She whispers at him, “E - e - everyone’s looking.” Taichi’s fighting a blush himself as he directs her eyes upwards. Chihaya’s face reddens even more at the realization while he mutters, “Glad you noticed.”

Noodles “T - t - thank you for accepting my request, Mrs. Pre - I mean, Mashima-san.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble, Chihaya-chan. Let me ask you, though, why are you trying to give my son ramen instead of chocolates for Valentine’s Day?”

“Ah, that’s because Taichi gets tired of sweets pretty fast. He used to receive so many in high school, and I remember him saying that he’d rather eat salty food. Last weekend, he also mentioned missing your ramen, Mashima-san. So I thought that it would be a great Valentine’s gift.”

“W - well, if that’s so, then let’s get started right away, Chihaya-chan.”

“Hai!”

Pressure “Taichi, you should really get some rest,” Chihaya implores, staring at the pale complexion his workaholic boyfriend is currently sporting. “What if you faint while taking the exams? Isn’t that just as bad as failing it?”

Taichi runs a hand through his hair. “Chihaya, you and I both know this is going to be hard. There will be patients who will need this information from me, and so I have to learn as much as I can so I won’t be letting those people down.”

Karate

It took only a day for the gossip to reach Taichi’s ears. Rumor has it that the hottest guy in the med department’s already taken. He could almost say he didn’t care, if only he hadn’t heard the tail end of that rumor. And she’s a black belter in karate, so you guys better back away from both of them.

Beside him, Chihaya swings her arm swiftly through the air. Taichi catches her hand before she moves it again and fuels the misunderstanding. “Chihayaー” Freezing up, Taichi considers an idea instantly presented at him. Chihaya looks at him inquisitively as he releases her hand. “Taichi?” 

“Your swings need a little more power,” he says.

Lessons

Whoever said that you don’t completely know a person until you’ve lived with them had it right, Chihaya thinks. Even though she’s known Taichi since forever, she finds herself discovering new things about him now that they’ve been living under one roof. 

He’s tidy in every place except the kitchen. He can’t sleep with the lights on. He absent-mindedly hums their high school anthem in moments of deep concentration. He can’t fix a broken pipe, but he can stitch every torn fabric in the house. 

could the disappearance of ‘chiha’ be linked with the emptiness chihaya finds in playing karuta which is by part due to taichi’s disappearance? like, one thing similar with her noticing the absence of ‘chiha’ in the playing field was that taichi was away for both times. and during the first time--aka her team match with arata--the moment ‘chiha’ was read, but as a dead card, was the moment chihaya saw that taichi’s returned, but not really since he wasn’t playing with them.