Work Text:
“Sagi, are you busy?”
“Well, I.”
“Of course, you’re not busy. Please go and copy these drafts for me.”
“Yes. Right away, Miss Shinohara.”
“Leave Sagi alone, Hara. She’s working hard on our next sensational mascot. Right, Miss Sagi?”
“Y-yes. Or I’m working on,”
“In fact, Hara, please get Sagi some coffee and maybe a pastry from the break room.”
“N-no, I’m fine I really don’t,”
“But sir, she’s not even working.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. And while you’re in the kitchen, get me a coffee too; Two sugars. Now, Miss Sagi, let's get you back to your station so you can get back to work.
“Y-yes, sir.”
Hours after the Sun fell from the sky, the workday ended. Physically and emotionally exhausted, Sagi started her walk home. Trudging down the path, each step felt heavier than the last.
Don’t worry, Tsukiko.
Sagi’s bag bounced with each step.
You’ll come up with something eventually. They’re all just impatient.
Each step echoed across the empty street. Dim streetlamps emanating a florescent glow lit the deserted sidewalk.
“I don’t know,” Sagi said. “Maybe they’re right.”
They’re all just jealous.
Sagi continued walking.
She passed by the same playground she had passed hundreds of times before. But for some reason, she stopped walking and looked back at the swing set in the middle of all the children’s equipment. She clutched the straps of her bag a little tighter.
Good idea, Tsukiko. You just need to take a little break.
Stepping from the hard concrete onto the soft sandy floor of the playground, she walked to the nearest swing set seat and sat down. The swing seat next to her remained empty. There was a single streetlight shining above.
Something inside the bag on Sagi’s lap started squirming around. After a few seconds of struggling, something popped up.
See, this ought to do you some good.
The famous adorable bug-eyed red dog, Maromi, popped its face out of Sagi’s bag.
It's stuffy in there. I prefer being up here. I like seeing where we’re going. I can watch your back this way.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Sagi said, defeated. “They want something that’ll go viral just as much as you did. I tell them I’m working on it, but I have nothing.”
You’ll figure it out; you always do in the end.
Sagi picked up her legs and slightly kicked them back, making the swing rock back and forth. The metal chain’s squeak echoed across the empty playground
That’s right, Tsukiko. This should be a nice escape for a while.
“Escape, huh?”
Sagi started to feel tired. Her eyes were slowly getting lazy and hazy and starting to shut. She felt like she was drifting away. She felt like she was…
“Isn’t this a bit of a weird place to take a nap?”
Sagi was snapped out of her haze by the soft voice of a stranger. When her eyes adjusted, she saw a woman with black hair standing before her. She was wearing a revealing blue dress with a thin shawl wrapped around her back. The lady had heavy makeup and a slight grin on her face.
Sagi couldn’t help but stare.
“Are you perhaps tired after fighting off all your gentlemen callers with that stick?” The lady asked, “A cutie like you would probably have men lining up just to look at you.”
“Huh?”
Sagi felt something heavy in her hands. She looked down to see she was holding a thick stick that was resting on her lap.
When did she pick it up?
“N-no, I was just um.” Sagi dropped the stick and clutched her bag.
The lady let out a chuckle.
“I’m just playing with you. Taking a break?” She let out a breath. “I’m feeling a bit tired myself. Do you mind if I take a seat? I’ve had a long night.” She indicated to the swing seat next to Sagi.
Sagi didn’t speak; she just nodded.
“Thanks.”
She took the seat next to Sagi.
What was happening? Sagi didn’t want to be here. She wanted to go home so she could just fall asleep and forget about the day.
“Do you mind?”
The lady had pulled out a cigarette and a lighter.
“N-no.”
“Thanks, my roommate usually bitches if she finds I smoked in the house.” The lady lit her cigarette and took a drag. “My name’s Maria, by the way.” She extended a hand.
Sagi hesitated at first but eventually shook her hand. She was surprised to feel how soft Maria’s hand was.
This lady looks like bad news, Tsukiko. You don’t need to interact with her.
“What a cute little guy.” Maria leaned closer to take a look at the bug-eyed mascot. “Does he have a name?”
With the way Maria bent forward, Sagi could see a little more than what she was comfortable with. She started to blush.
“Maromi,” Sagi answered, looking a little ways off. “His name is Maromi.”
“I know that.” Maria pet the dog’s head. “Just sometimes, people give him personal names. Names that make it feel like he only belongs to them. You’d be surprised to hear what some of my clients call their Maromis.”
Clients? Oh. So that’s why Maria was dressed like that.
“His name is already personal to me,” Sagi said.
Maria turned to the side and let out a breath of smoke. When she turned back to Sagi, she had a twinkle in her eye.
“So that’s where I recognized you from. You’re that cutie that made this little guy.” She pressed her temple. “Miss… Miss,”
“Sagi. Tsukiko Sagi.” Sagi answered.
“Bingo. I almost had it.” She took another drag. “You seem tired. So, have a long day at work? Or maybe a date stood you up? Well, if the asshole did, his loss.”
“I guess. I mean, it was a long day at work.” Sagi was giving in to Maria’s pestering. “I’m working on a new mascot.”
“Ah, hard at work? Good for you, girl. So, what’s it like working that job.” Maria made a weird movement with her hands. “Does it come naturally to you? Is it, like, when you sit down in front of a piece of paper, your eyes go black, and your hand moves crazy-making, like, crazy shapes until you wake up and see a new creature?” Maria looked genuinely interested.
Something is wrong with this lady, Tsukiko.
Maria’s excitement was admirable, but Sagi felt like it was directed toward the wrong person; Directed toward a phony.
“Not exactly. It’s a bit harder than that.” Sagi started fiddling with her hands. “I’ve been in a bit of a slump recently. I’ve been thinking that, maybe, I’m no good at it anymore. That anything I make won’t be liked.” Sagi felt like she was going to cry. “That maybe I should just.”
Escape.
“Huh?” Maria raised an eyebrow. “Well, I guess it can feel that way sometimes. Don’t let it get you down.”
“What?”
“It can feel like that sometimes.” Maria crossed one leg over the other. “That nothing you do will be enough; Like the whole world’s against you, just rooting for your destruction. But that’s probably not the case, huh? In a way, our problems are just paranoia that we create in our heads.” Maria playfully ruffled Sagi’s hair.
“I… I guess.”
When Maria took back her hand, Sagi felt like reaching for her; She didn’t know why.
“Sorry if I’m sounding like one of those self-help tapes,” Maria said. “My roommate’s been putting those types of sappy things on before she goes to sleep, and I get stuck listening to them, but they’re, you know, not the worst.”
Sagi was very familiar with the tapes Maria was referring to. The messages of those recordings were clear, but they had a different effect when she heard it from another human being—especially one as stunning as Maria.
“I see.”
“Do you still enjoy designing those cute little creatures?” Maria asked.
“Yes, well, sometimes.” Sagi looked at her shoes. “I enjoy my job, but I enjoy creating a bit more when I do it for fun at home.”
“Really? An artist on the streets and beneath the sheets? I think I’m jealous.” Maria gave Sagi a playful shove. “I would kill if I could do what I loved day and night. But because of our-ahem, my roommate’s condition, I need to be home by a certain time. Speaking of which.”
Maria pulled out her phone to check the time. She then tapped a few buttons to check her voicemail.
Sagi unconsciously tilted her head to look at Maria’s phone. Maria’s eye caught her’s.
“Curious girl, aren’t you?”
Sagi pulled back, “Yes, er no. I-I’m sorry, I just was just,”
“Curious?” Maria gave a sly grin and flipped her phone shut. “It’s okay. I was just checking my messages. Looks like she hasn’t left any today.”
“You talk about your roommate a lot. Are you two… close?” Sagi asked.
Why was she asking that!?
Maria tilted her head, giving Sagi a knowing look.
“Yeah, we’re close, but not like that. It’s more complicated than that.” Maria pushed back, rocking the swing slightly back and forth. “I like her, and I want her to be happy, but she doesn’t seem to think her happiness and mine can exist side by side; She’s got image problems. I don’t see why she just won’t accept her for herself and me for myself.” Maria clenched her teeth. “Sometimes, she really pisses me off.”
Tsukiko, you shouldn’t be here.
Maromi was tugging on Sagi’s sleeve, but she didn’t notice. Her focus was entirely on Maria.
“Maria?” Sagi asked.
“Yeah.”
“Do… Do you think,”
Suddenly Maria’s phone started ringing.
“Ah, crap. Sorry, do you mind?”
Sagi closed her mouth and shook her head.
Maria gave her a small smile. She then put out her cigarette and started talking on the phone.
Sagi sat in silence. She didn’t feel comfortable listening to Maria’s phone conversation, and on top of that, she was starting to feel embarrassed. Now that she was thinking about it, why was she even still talking to Maria?
What was she hoping would happen?
Let’s blow this joint, Tsukiko. Cough. It’s very smoky here.
Sagi clutched her bag and started to get up.
“Hey, leaving already?” Maria flipped her phone shut.
“Ye-yeah, I have to get home,”
“Really? But I was enjoying your company, and I hoped you were enjoying mine.”
Sagi’s heart started beating faster.
“I was, but I need to get some rest. I have to get up for work tomorrow and,”
“Ah, that’s too bad.”
“Yeah. Goodby-,”
“Because that phone call was my, ahem, scheduler. One of my appointments canceled at the last minute.”
“Ah, Is that so?” Sagi felt a bead of sweat run down her head.
“That is so.” Maria set her phone down. “Which means I’m free for the next 90 minutes if maybe you’ll like to keep me company.”
“M-me keep you company?”
“Yeah, why not? You’ve proved to be a great listener. Isn’t that a bit like therapy?”
Maria started lightly swinging back and forth. The movement slightly lowered one of her dress straps to the side of her shoulder.
Sagi clutched her bag tighter.
“I don’t know.” Sagi lowered her eyes.
“Come on, honey. What’s your rate? I’ve got quite a bit on me.”
Sagi looked at Maria’s chest but then quickly averted her gaze.
“No, I’m not, uh, I don’t do your… work.”
Maria let out a soft laugh
“I’m just messing you. Sorry, dear.” Maria stopped swinging. “But, if you were in my line of work, your clients would need to pay an arm and a leg just to have a chat with you.”
“Heh.” Sagi shuffled in place.
Maria smiled and patted the swing seat next to her.
Tsukiko, you’re not going to guwah.
Sagi pushed Maromi back into the depths of her bag and walked over to Maria. She didn’t sit but was standing in front of Maria.
Maria’s expression changed from a playful one to a tender one. Maria accepted Sagi when she sat side-saddle on her lap; And she accepted her when she rested her head on her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around Sagi.
“Maria.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think phonies, people like me, deserve to be happy?”
Maria took a moment and brought Sagi closer.
“I think everyone deserves a chance to be happy.” Maria was petting Sagi’s hair. “Whether or not someone takes that chance or runs away is their choice. But,” She lifted Sagi’s chin and wiped a tear away with her thumb. “It’s never too late to have another swing at it.”
Moving slowly, Sagi found herself lost in Maria’s eyes. A moment later, her and Maria’s lips connected as they exchanged a kiss.
“Was that your first kiss?” Maria asked.
“Yes.”
“How did it feel?”
“It felt nice.”
“What do you say I make you feel a lot nicer?” Maria was slowly sliding her hand under Sagi’s shirt.
“I don’t have money with me.”
“Don’t worry, dear” Maria gave Sagi another kiss. “This one’s on me tonight.”
Sagi slowly opened her eyes and let out a yawn. The blanket that was keeping her warm started sliding down. Her eyes slowly adjusted as she started waking up. When her eyes fully came too, she saw where she was.
She was sleeping on the couch of a quaint little apartment; Compact yet roomy. Though, she wasn’t doing much looking around. Instead, Sagi was looking at the brown-haired lady with glasses looking at her.
The lady didn’t look happy.
“He-Hello.” Sagi moved to get up until she realized she didn’t have her clothes on. She then quickly wrapped the blanket around herself, embarrassed. “I am very sorry for the intrusion. Are you Maria’s roommate?”
“Yes, and I can see you’re yet another person who has encouraged her and her little… hobby.” The roommate said in a cold tone. She crossed her arms.
“I-I am terribly sorry,” Sagi bowed her head. She started searching the floor for her clothes but couldn’t find them.
“They’re on the coffee table in front of you. I took the liberty of washing them for you.”
The lady was right; Sagi’s clothes were folded on top of the coffee table along with her bag.
Sagi looked in her bag and saw Maromi, whose eyes were in a spiral.
Tsukiko, I saw things last night that I wish I could forget.
“Th-thank you, Miss,”
“Chono.” The roommate said.
“Thank you, Miss Chono,” Sagi said. “I’m sorry, but do you know where Maria is?”
“She’s not here right now. She has other things to do during the day.” Chono said, looking away.
“I see,” Sagi said in a defeated tone.
“But now that you reminded me, I’m going to leave a message for her, giving her a piece of my mind. You can change here; I’ll do it from my room.”
Message? Not call?
Chono pulled out her phone. Sagi could see a blinking light, indicating that there was missed call.
Sagi watched as Chono left the room.
Come on, Tsukiko. I think we’ve bothered this nice lady long enough.
Sagi nodded and started changing.
And that no-good Maria. Who does she think she is, leaving you here like this? If we see her again, I’ll give her what for.
Sagi finished changing right as Chono came out of her room. The expression on her face looked different than the serious one she was wearing before; She looked preoccupied.
“I’m sorry for the intrusion, Miss Chono.” Sagi bowed her head.
“Hm. Yeah, no. Don’t worry about it,” Chono waved her hand. Sagi noticed she looked her up and down, bit her lip, then quickly cast her eyes away.
“I-I’ll be leaving now.” Sagi grabbed her bag.
“Really?” Chono almost sounded disappointed. “I mean, I just made some coffee; if you would like to have some before you go?”
“No, thank you, I need to be going.” Sagi put on her shoes and opened the door. “Please tell Maria that I had a very lovely night. And next time I see her, I’ll pay the,”
“You can spare me the details.”
“Right, sorry.” Before Sagi closed the door, she peaked her head through the crack. “Uh, Miss Chono?”
“Yeah.”
“Maria cares about you. Even though it may seem like she doesn’t, she does. I-I’m not. I don’t know about the relationship you both have, but if you can both talk and maybe come to an agreement where you can both be happy. I think that would be nice.”
Sagi blushed as she spoke. She has never tried giving advice like that to someone before.
Miss Chono didn’t respond. She looked taken aback.
Sagi closed the door before Chono could gather herself. She leaned against the door and took a deep breath. Time for another day like the last. She started walking but was stopped when she heard the sound of the door opening behind her.
“Sagi,” Chono quickly strode over.
“How did you know my name?”
“This paper.” Chono handed the piece of paper that looked like it was torn out of a notepad. “It was, uh, on the coffee table. You forgot it.”
Sagi took the piece of paper. It read:
I am very sorry for having to leave before giving you a proper send-off. I very much hope we can meet again. Maybe next time at your place :) so as to not make a mess for my roommate. Phone: XXXX-XXX-XXX
That was weird. Sagi didn’t remember seeing the paper on the coffee table. Maybe she missed it because she was in such a rush. The writing was pretty, but something about the wording didn’t feel like Maria’s. But Sagi’s thoughts of doubt were quickly replaced by something else.
“Thank, Miss Chono.” Sagi, with a bright smile, bowed her head once more.
“You can call me Harumi, if you like.” Chono gave a small smile as she watched Sagi walk away.
You Have 1 message:
Harumi, I know you’re, or you will be mad, so I’ll cut to the chase. You get to have relationships. You get to love people. I’ve seen your pictures of that handsome teacher you work with. He makes your heart beat hard, doesn’t he; makes you want to do things; Naughty things. And I can respect that; I really do. I don’t get in your way. So, all I ask is that you do the same for me? At least this one time.
This girl, the cutie sleeping on the couch, name is Tsukiko Sagi. She’s unhappy, scared, cornered. She wants to be free; she wants to feel alive, like me. I wasn’t sure at first, but I think I’m feeling something for her; Something I’ve never felt about anyone before. Maybe you can relate to that feeling. So, when you wake up and see her on the couch, please be nice to her; Let us both be alive… I’m feeling tired. Ah, crap. If I forget, give her my ph-phone numbbb…”
Call ended.