Manga evening
Hanako opens her door and smiles when she sees Miki bearing snacks. Their weekly get-togethers are manga evenings in name only, neither of them is very interested in comics, but they enjoy each other’s company so much that there is never a shortage of things to talk about.
Miki notices a photograph taped to the wall above Hanako’s desk. “Oh that’s new, more food porn eh? I like it.”
“Misaki says pictures of my dishes are a g-good addition to her portfolio. I’ll probably use them in applications too.”
“Still planning on going to pudding school then?”
“C-catering college thank you very much! Have you thought about what you’re going to do n-next?”
Miki grimaces. “Suzu and Hisao are dead set on University but it’s not right for me. The government guy who came to the Track and Field Club said there’s money to fund one or two of us, we’d be pin-ups for their campaign to get more disabled kids into sports. It’d give me the chance to train full-time and I should be able to find a coach near wherever the guys end up, so I’m gonna go for it. I not going to compete as a disabled athlete tho’, this doesn’t slow me down,” she brandishes her stump, “and the best opportunities are in the mainstream.”
She puts the snacks on Hanako’s desk and points at a teacher training prospectus. “This doesn’t look like pudding school, unless you’re going to teach others to make puddings.”
“Catering college! N-no, that’s for Lilly, I’m helping with her applications.”
Miki raises her eyebrows in surprise. “I thought we’d seen the last of the Amazon?”
“She’s not happy in Scotland and wants to return h-home.”
“How do you feel about that? You’ve come a long way since she left, do you think you’ll fall back into your old ways if she takes you under her wing again?”
Hanako shakes her head emphatically. “No, we’ve talked it through, we b-both realise our relationship wasn’t very healthy a-and we’ve been making changes. I miss her a lot, but I’m really enjoying g-getting to know more people, walking my own path”
“Yeah, I doubt I’d be sitting here if she was still around. If you ever want anyone to join you on that path, shout and I’ll be there.” She wrestles a card from the pocket of her hoodie and gives it to Hanako who smiles when she sees the doodles of chibi Suzu and Hisao.
“Pizza and m-movie night?”
“Yeah, they’ve been feeling a bit out of touch now you’re busy with the Newspaper Club. We’re not trying to guilt you or anything,” Miki says hastily, “it’s good you’re doing new stuff, but they don’t see you as much as I do and want to re-connect.” She watches Hanako fidget uncomfortably and avoid eye contact for a few moments before saying, “come on, out with it, looks like you’ve got ants in your pants!”
“You always collapse into a c-cuddle pile as soon as we’ve eaten and I feel-”
“-like your intruding? Gotcha. Less cuddling, more chatting.”
“N-not intruding. M-Miki…”
“You OK?” she asks in surprise, she hasn’t heard Hanako’s shy voice for a long time.
“It’s not impossible that someone will l-like me, is it?”
“Of course not, I like you loads.”
“N-no, like me.”
“Has Hanako got lurve on the brain? They grow up so fast…”
“Hush you! You see all sorts of people p-paired up, do you think there’s someone for me?”
“Oh my sweet girl.” Tears spring into Miki’s eyes as she hears the yearning in Hanako’s voice and she can’t help but hug her. “Yes, there are people out there for you. You’ve got to be picky tho’, don’t settle for the first person who’s nice to you, you’re worth so much more than that.”
“A-am I?”
“Fuck yeah! You’re smart and kind and loyal, and you’re getting a wicked good sense of humour. It might be hard for you to accept but you’re beautiful too. Anyone who won’t look beyond the obvious can fuck right off.” Miki feels Hanako nod against her shoulder and they lean out of the hug.
“How did it h-happen for you?”
“I wouldn’t ask me for advice, the number of break-ups I’ve had means I’m hardly a role model.”
“What about the three of you? It’s stable i-isn’t it?”
“Yeah but that’s different.”
“In what way?”
Miki runs her fingers through her hair as she tries to think. “It’s difficult to put into words. I guess it was a similar story with both of them, we had a strong base to work from before adding the romance. Nurse told me to keep an eye on Suzu and even tho’ she annoyed me at first, she got to me in the end. She’s a persistent bugger, never gave up on me even when I was at my worst. She took whatever shit I threw at her and answered it with a cuddle.”
Hanako nods, “I was t-terrified of you in first year, it’s hard to imagine now.”
“Hisao looked beneath the surface, saw things most people don’t notice cos they’re too busy checking out my boobs. He said I helped him get back to his old self after his time in hospital. I didn’t find out about that till later, all I knew was he stopped being a little scared boy and learnt to give massages which had my toes curling in pleasure.”
“How did you go from friends to l-lovers?”
“There’s no magic recipe, it’s different every time. You’ve got to be brave and follow your feelings.”
“I’m n-not brave…”
“You say that sweetheart, but there’s times when it takes more courage for you to set foot out of this room than most people ever need. Have you seen someone who tickles your fancy?”
“Not really, I’ve o-only just started thinking about the possibility of a relationship.”
“What about a preference? Boy or girl?”
“I haven’t thought about that either. I think who they are is more important t-than what they are.”
“Good for you! You may be a late starter but you know what matters. Make sure to run ‘em by me before you get up to any mischief.”
“Nuh-uh, you’ll scare them off and I’ll die a v-virgin!” When their laughter dies down Hanako asks, “what’s that like?”
“Sex?” Smiling at her embarrassed nod, Miki replies, “it can be the best thing or the worst. Often meh.”
“How come?”
“First times with strangers have a sense of excitement, a feeling of danger. The sex isn’t usually great tho’, it takes time to learn what buttons to press for your partner. Going by the book gets you close, but it’s never as good as with someone who really knows you.”
“I-I can’t imagine doing that.”
“Never say never! But yeah, you should go slow at first. I’m not gonna say I regret anything, tho’ I learnt more about what I don’t enjoy than what I do.” Miki leans closer to Hanako. “Don’t tell anyone, I kinda miss the thrill of the hunt.”
Hanako gasps, “you wouldn’t do anything to h-hurt them would you?”
“Nah. Sometimes I see a cutie and wonder what it’d be like, but it’s not worth it, what I’ve got is too important to me.”
“So when is it the b-best?”
“Predictably enough, when you know each other, when there’s trust and love, all the cliche stuff. The things Suzu can… Well that’s probably TMI eh? I wish there was a way to get the best of both worlds.”
“R-roleplay!”
“Huh?”
“Be someone you a-aren’t. I bet you could think up all sorts of scenarios between the t-three of you. What if you p-play the part of a rich businesswoman and offer Suzu a million Yen for a night with Hisao w-while she watches and-”
“Bloody hell Hanako, where’d that come from?”
She blushes, “I’ve been reading Yuuko’s an an magazines, she’s always l-leaving them lying around the library. Once I’ve read the good bits I pretend I’ve just found them and give them b-back to her.”
“You sly old dog!” Miki grabs her phone starts laboriously typing a message. She sends it and looks up at Hanako with a smile. “Let’s see how long it takes them to get bac-” She is interrupted by several notifications going off in quick succession and reads the messages. With a laugh she stands up and walks towards the door.
“Miki? Where are you g-going?”
“To rescue a stranger in a dark alley. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow!”