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It's a peaceful day at Leblanc. Sojiro has a couple customers in his shop, both sipping coffee, one eating a curry. Mellow music is playing, the lighting is cozy, and the coffee is as good as ever.
He nods a greeting as Akira enters the shop on her way home from school.
Akira pries herself off of Shiho. She — it's weird to have Shiho hug her like this, especially in public. She's just saying what it was like. It's normal, right...?
Your parents didn't accept your identity, and made you change your last name when you came to Tokyo, but clearly had the means to support you easily. That plus the fact that you escaped the house for hours at a time despite the supposed luxury, and the lack of friends your age there, combine to make it very clear that your home life was terrible. Shiho's a smart girl; she can do the math, moitié, Julie points out.
Akira nods back and fiddles with the sleeve of her blouse. She's really not sure what to say.
It wasn't that bad, she protests to Julie.
You just told Shiho that you spent as much time out of the house as you could. No one with a good home life does that. Chérie, literally all of the unpleasant surprises in our mindspace home have to do with your parents, except for one or two about the principal. It was bad enough to have your complaints about it slip into an unrelated conversation, clearly, but do you not consider that enough to deserve a hug about it?
Bien sûr, moitié. So are you pulling out of the hug because you don't want to be hugged, or because you think you don't deserve it?
... the latter. And because I'm embarrassed to be seen hugging in public.
"Thank you," Akira repeats. She assesses Shiho for a moment, then nods.
"... Let's talk more at the café," she says. "I know it's kind if heavy for a date and all, but... If anyone would know what it's like it'd be you."
Shiho nods firmly and starts back toward the station, offering Akira her hand to hold.
"Yeah, I would."
"I mean, uh, the dumpling place, not the crepé place."
She takes Shiho's hand and smiles.
"Thank you."
She nods. "Thought so."
The silence this time feels a bit more thoughtful, contemplative, and is accompanied by a handsqueeze from Shiho. Soon enough they're walking down the stairs into the station.
"So tell me about this dumpling place," Akira says. "Or the hiking trails, take your pick."
"The trails, I think. You'll see the dumpling place with your own eyes in twenty minutes," Shiho muses as they wait for the train. "I... I haven't gone in nearly two years, but one of my favorite easier ones is Mount Kōbō. I used to go every March, for cherry blossom season. In the evenings, the flowers catch the light from the lanterns beautifully, and they've got picnic tables too."
"Cherry blossoms really are beautiful. There are few things prettier than a sakura in full bloom."
Akira pauses. "I think you might be one of those things, though."
Shiho just freezes for a moment, at a loss for words, a blush rising on her cheeks.
"I—um—Thank you."
She squeezes Akira's hand again.
"I think you're really pretty too."
She hopes that little freeze means Shiho likes it...
"Thanks to you too."
And she leads Shiho onto the train.
I suspect the unexpected compliment derailed her mind un peu, chérie, Julie suggests with a mental smile.
Shiho spots a pair of seats and pulls Akira toward them, sitting down next to her. She holds Akira's hand in her lap, clasped between both of hers, smiling warmly.
Having Shiho be so possesive of her hand is really sweet. Also, it is in her lap.
Akira suddenly finds the train announcement screen very interesting.
Shiho runs her thumb along the back of Akira's hand, still smiling.
"There's another hike that's pretty easy, and really pretty this time of year. Kinchakuda has a nice trail that has some lovely waterwheels and red spider lilies and wildflowers along the way, and a great view of Mount Fuji and of the city, when you get to the end."
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