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Shijima is thinking of Majime again. It’s dark in the closet she calls her bedroom and there’s no sound but the whirring of her sister’s machines from outside. With a sigh she recalls a conversation she had earlier in the day.
“Why are you always so noisy?” She’d asked.
Majime seemed to consider it. Shijima didn't realize that Majime could make that kind of face. She didn’t think Majime was capable of deep thought in the first place. “I think that’s because I’m with you. I get really happy and excited and can’t stop talking and-”
“Why is that?”
There wasn’t even a beat of hesitation before the answer, “Because I love you, Shimeji-chan!”
The next morning, Shijima hovers in the doorway before leaving for school. “Sis.”
“What is it?” As per usual Shijima’s older sister, who answers without looking up, is tinkering with a new machine that Shijima can’t and doesn’t want to understand.
“How do you make others happy?”
That brings about a short pause, but the clinking of metal resumes quickly. Interesting. “That depends. Is this about your girlfriend, the stupid one with the egg on her head?”
“Yeah.”
“You could ask her yourself.”
“She said she’s happy because she loves me.”
Her big sis doesn’t laugh but Shijima’s grown accustomed to her mannerisms from living with her for so long, so she knows that that slow nod’s her sister’s equivalent to one. “Good for you, you don’t have to do anything more.”
“I want to know why.”
Her sister stops completely this time to look back and wave a hand, shooing her. “Find out now then. You’ll be late for school.”
“Shiiiiimeeeeejiiii-chan!” Majime’s far too cheerful at 9AM on a Wednesday, bursting into the classroom to wrap Shijima in an asphyxiating hug in her seat.
“It hurts.”
Majime releases her with a giggle and Shijima’s no closer to grasping what that girl is thinking. “Sorry. Good morning, Shimeji-chan.”
“Yeah.”
“Say it back!” Her face is twisted in a pout but there’s a cheeky glimmer in her eyes to show she’s not really upset; Shijima wonders how she’s able to make so many different expressions.
She’s silent for a few moments. “Good morning, Majime.”
Majime’s grin is excruciatingly bright and goofy as she begins to- What is she doing…? “You finally said good morning back!” It’s clear there’s more excitement in her than her body can handle in the way she seems to vibrate in her seat; Shijima is perplexed once again.
“What’s wrong with that?”
Head’s cocked to one side in puzzlement as she says, “I never said anything was wrong, silly. You’ve just never done that before, so I’m happy.”
Shijima Tsukishima fancies herself quite tranquil. She knows what happiness is. Probably. Her happiness isn’t like Majime’s though, and she wonders what makes her act the way she does... Shijima’s vexation has begun to peak and the day’s only just begun. Majime’s always that effect on her ever since they first met, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. And so, in the midst of Majime’s babbling slips out, “I want to make you happy.”
Airhead she may be but Majime can be quite keen, especially in matters concerning her Shimeji. “Eh~ Are you finally proposing to me, Shimeji-chan?” The sound of her desk as she skids closer makes Shijima cringe and regret ever opening her mouth. “We’re still students, you know, but after we graduate I wouldn’t mind-”
“Let’s go somewhere after school. If you want to.”
Pure glitter explodes in Majime’s eyes at Shijima’s uncharacteristic overture and she has to clap a hand to her mouth to muffle a squeal. “I’m so touched, Shimeji-chan…” Coy, she tucks hair behind her ear. “You’re so bold today. Have you finally opened up to me? I’m so happy!”
It’s that phrase again. I’m happy. She’s happy. She’s always happy. Can she turn it off? “Do you want to go?”
“No, of course! I’d love to go on a date with you!”
I didn’t say that. “Okay.”
At the very first chime of the final school bell Majime’s already jumped out of her seat; the teacher throws a stick of chalk in her direction. “I’m not finished, Yamashita!”
With a huff she sinks back into her chair, “But the day is over...” She’s always eager to leave (Shijima knows this, she’s always been victim to Majime’s mumbling as her seatmate) but today Majime seems genuinely disappointed. What is she thinking… Class is never dismissed on time anyway.
Majime’s fallen asleep on Shijima’s shoulder by the time the teacher’s given up on holding everyone back. Watching students disperse in groups, Shijima leans her head against Majime’s, the girl who finds that exact moment the most opportune time to jolt awake. Their heads collide and there’s a strangely hollow sound from Majime’s end. Is it actually empty…? “OW! Shimeji-chan, what are you doing?!”
“You were sleeping,” Shijima mumbles, rubbing the sore spot where she got hit.
“Then wake me up! What about our date?” So whiny. “Do you have any ideas where we should go, anyway?”
“I don’t know.”
She ponders for a moment. Finally, Majime lights up and her fried egg nearly jumps up off her head. “How about the aquarium? Since you like fish.” Her smile is radiant and Shijima thinks she can see a halo appear over her friend’s head. But this isn’t about me...
“What about you? What do you like?”
A sense of deja vu washes over Shijima when she gets the answer of, “You, Shimeji-chan! I’m just happy I get to hang out with you.” Shijima doesn’t seem satisfied with this though, so quickly she adds, “Oh, there’s a pretty field near your place! Um, you know, the one near the river. I’ve always wanted to go see but I never had time… We don’t have to if you don’t want to, eh- where are you going?”
Slinging her bag over her shoulder, Shijima merely says, “come on, egg.”
“You know, you're a bit funny today, Shimeji-chan.” Majime’s been talking the whole way but this is the first thing she says to elicit a real response from her partner.
Shijima wants to understand Majime. Why does she try so hard for me? “Is that bad?”
And Shijima is sick to death of the answer- “Not at all! I’m happy, actually.” But what have I done for you? “Look, over here!”
Shijima’s mouth falls open a little as she follows Majime, squeezing through a gap in the chain-link fence. They’re greeted by a vast meadow speckled with flowers, blades of grass kissing the edges of a gently flowing river. Upon closer inspection the colours are off; the grass is tinted a slight blue, the plants are too, and the flowers seem to droop and face away from the sun. It’s peculiar, but Shijima’s no stranger to eccentricity (giving Majime a side-eye, she thinks, you're probably the weirdest thing to have happened to me).
“Shimeji-chan, let’s watch the sunset together.” Majime doesn't wait for a reply before she plops herself onto a particularly soft-looking patch of grass by the water, landing with a soft oomf. She pats the spot next to her, beckoning her friend over. Shijima obliges. “What are you thinking?”
“It’s nice.”
There’s a sudden splash and Shijima groans, shielding herself belatedly as water splatters across her face. Majime’s hopped into the river, because of course she has. The water’s not very deep and though it’s soaking into the ends of the egghead’s skirt, she doesn't seem to mind. “I think so too!” She beams, holding out a funny-shaped fish, really more closely resembling an eel. “I’ve made a friend. What should we call it?”
“I don't know.” Shijima isn't really the creative type.
It’s clear that Majime isn’t either because her answer makes Shijima shudder, “I like Yoshika 2.”
“Two?”
“We’ve already got a Yoshika, haven’t we?” As if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “So this can be the second one. Yoshika 2!”
“If… you want to.”
There’s a long drawn-out pause that stretches between them. With no warning Majime bursts into a fit of laughter. “Shimeji-chan, you're silly. There’s no way I’d pick such a lame name!” Bewildered is an understatement in describing Shijima’s current state because there’s a rueful gleam in Majime’s eyes behind her glasses, contradicting her nonchalant words. So she actually liked the name… And then, even more sudden, Majime drops Yoshika 2 back in the water.
Most baffling of all is how Shijima jumps immediately, scrambling to grab the fish before it hits the water and swims away. She’d lost all her dexterity from living as a shut-in, causing her to miss completely and tumble rather unceremoniously into the river. Majime’s expression is fretful as she stands over Shijima.
“A-Are you okay, Shimeji-chan? What was that?” She holds out a hand, which Shijima takes, thankful that she’s not being laughed at.
“Yoshika 2… You said it was your friend. I didn't want you to lose it.”
Majime’s grip on Shijima’s hand loosens, causing her to fall back in. “Eh- sorry! I just-” She takes her glasses off to wipe her teary eyes with her sleeve. “You’re so thoughtful, Shimeji-chan!” Intending to move closer and help Shijima back up again, the idiot trips and falls right over her.
“Majime… What are you doing?” The fried egg on the top of her head’s gone a little runny as Majime starts bawling into Shijima’s shoulder, getting snot on her uniform.
“That was… so sweet of you…!” She barely manages to speak between sobs, and Shijima has entirely and completely blanched. Just what am I supposed to do in this situation? “I knew you cared!”
“That’s news to me.”
Freeing Shijima from her grip to give her a pout, Majime says, “If you didn't care about me and Yoshika 2, why’d you roll into the river like that?”
“I didn't roll…!”
“Hehe~ your ears are red, Shimeji-chan.” Shijima wordlessly cups her ears with her hands. “The cutest ever in the universe… Stop making me cry, Shimeji-chan!”
Shijima’s pulled into another hug, still sitting on the streambed. She shivers.
“Eh… What are you doing?!” Majime huffs. “Get up, Shimeji-chan! You're sopping wet- you're gonna catch a cold!”
“Then let go of me and help me up.”
“Ah.”
They haven't any towels or blankets but Majime does have an odd collection of handkerchiefs that she carries around in her bag all the time, so she's piled them all on top of Shijima to soak up water and keep her warm. “I don't need any,” she'd said triumphantly, “you know how the saying goes, ‘idiots are too slow to catch colds’!”
Not exactly something to be proud of. “The sun’s going down now.”
“I know. Thanks for playing with me, Shimeji-chan.” Majime edges closer, resting her head on the other girl’s shoulder. Shijima had long given up on her initial goal, plainly accepting that Majime Yamashita is just... an enigma.
Shijima only mumbles in response. As the day bleeds into dusk there’s a sense of contentment that fills her despite her outward shivering; she's so calm that the slow rise and fall of her own chest as she breathes seems unfamiliar to her. Majime is humming a tune she doesn't recognize, and Shijima thinks the girl might be slightly tone-deaf but the sound is comforting despite that. “I like you.” She's finally being honest.
“I like you a lot too, Shimeji-chan.” Majime giggles, looking up to press a kiss on Shijima’s cheek. “Eh… you didn't reject me this time!” Her typical enthusiasm’s returning and Shijima almost wishes she'd never said anything, so as to savour Majime’s rare moment of placidity. Almost. She doesn't hate this part of Majime either.
The evening has long set in but it’s not dark, far from it in fact. The blue-tinted field’s glowing cyan in the moonlight, and the flowers so shy from the sun are beginning to bloom. The river water is abnormally clear and you can see every tuft of flora and animal swimming around within it.
Peeking in, Majime exclaims, “Yoshika 2!” Sure enough, a noodle-like fish hovers by the pair’s spot on the riverbank. Even when Majime wades into the water and picks it up for a hug, it doesn't flail. “You came back for us….”
This Wednesday was not a productive one for Shijima Tsukishima; she'd set out with a goal and came back with more questions than answers. But still… Watching Majime frolic about in the stream with her new friend, Shijima thinks she's understood the reason behind that girl’s smile. This isn't so bad.
“Shimeji-chan, come join us!”
Her head is buzzing with the sounds of night insects and giggles and her heart's full; rising, Shimeji Tsukishima is happy. “I will, Maji-chan.”