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Most police officers in town had already known not to bother with Mimi. She had been pulled over, questioned, her ID scrutinized dozens and dozens of times, and after a while, Mimi was sure her picture was shown to new recruits as well.
In Goha City, every official was aware of who Mimi was - or at least they were aware of her as the weird lady, who looked like a child, but most definitely wasn’t. So she wasn’t bothered for a while now.
…emphasis on in Goha City.
She liked to avoid going to other cities, unless she really had to. In Goha City, she had her own well-liked establishments, where the staff at least were fully aware of her situation, and were very helpful whenever there were some busybodies trying to fuss over Mimi, or make a scene about it. So it worked out quite well.
But sometimes, she couldn’t avoid going to other cities.
And these times… yeah. There was no avoiding it.
After all, even if she did her makeup and dressed up appropriately for her age… for people who did not know her, she looked like she was just a kid who was signing up for a beauty pageant.
And kids who sign up for those events definitely should not be driving, so really. Being pulled over was quite logical.
Expected, even.
And as usual, the officers were part offended, part confused, and partially in disbelief.
Mimi was used to a lot of this procedure by this point, really.
Handing over an ID.
Handing over her driving license.
Insisting that yes, she is indeed employed.
Yes, really.
She even had a copy of her birth certificate around, because police officers tended to be really disbelieving of her situation.
On one hand - she really couldn’t blame them. In their eyes, she really seemed like a young girl, not even a teenager, going on a joyride.
Obviously they were right to be suspicious.
On the other hand, going through this for years and years got really annoying, and one would think at least a few identifying papers should have been enough.
“Really, you have no right to call my employers,” Mimi said, annoyed. “The papers I have shown you before should be sufficient evidence that I am of age. I even have a son, you know!”
“You see,” The police officer frowned. “You need to consider how–”
“How it looks from your perspective?” Mimi put her hands to her hips. “I am considering.”
“Then please—”
“I can tell you how it looks from your perspective,” A new voice spoke up. “The lady here has given you all sufficient papers to prove she is an adult and fit to drive a vehicle. So what is the problem?”
The voice belonged to someone who looked like a young boy - with a mask covering his face, and his outfits were elegant, like he was a little prince walking out from another century, his long hair in a braid.
“Young boy, you should not interrupt—”
The new arrival laughed out loud.
“Really, officer. Haven’t you learnt already that you shouldn’t judge by looks alone?”
Oh.
Ooooh.
“Please—”
“How about you leave the young lady alone? I believe you have bothered her enough already.”
The police officer frowned, giving Mimi back her papers.
“Take care, ma’am.”
And then he left, without paying any more attention to the young man.
Then Mimi sighed, turning towards the person who helped her.
“...thank you. This really is annoying, isn’t it?”
“It is. This is usually why I get my son to drive instead. Much less of a hassle.”
“Ahhh. My Yoshio is way too young to drive,” She walked closer to him, extending a hand. “I’m Mimi. Mimi Atachi.”
The young man was hesitating, before taking her hand.
“...I’m Tron.”
“I’ve never met anyone who has the same condition as I do.”
“Honestly, I doubt our situation is the same,” Tron tilted his head to the side, and seemed amused. “But the end result is the same, so it doesn’t matter.”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Mimi tilted his head to the side.
“Nevermind that.”
“Oh!” Mimi glanced at her watch. “This whole thing has made me late. But we should go out for a drink sometime! I think I really need someone to vent about this. Have you ever been to Goha City?”
“I haven’t. But I might as well go over to visit once.”
“If you are over there, call me,” Mimi handed over her card to Tron. “There’s a bar where I’m a regular now so we won’t be hassled! I’d love to hear about your son as well.”
“Sons, actually. I have three.”
“Ooooh, can’t wait! See you later, then! I have to go!”
She was really late.
It took Tron a few weeks to call her.
“I have some business in Goha City,” Tron said through the phone. “So I’m free in the evening, if the offer still stands.”
“Of course I am! Happy to hear from you!”
She really, really needed an understanding ear.
This was the end result of it - she didn’t really have anyone who understood her life. She had some mom friends among the friends of Yoshio’s parents, but they couldn’t really get it. Not to mention her colleagues. They definitely did not get it.
Even if Tron’s situation was different to her own, he might have had to get it somewhat.
Tron didn’t look all that different, at all. He probably just liked dressing the way he did, and covered up his face with his mask still, sitting at one of the booths with Mimi.
A waitress walked up to them, her eyes darting between the two of them, a bit confused.
“Oh… are you on a date, Mimi?”
“Oh no,” Mimi could feel her face heat up. “He’s just a friend. I decided to invite him here, because the staff here wouldn’t bother him.”
“Ah, I see,” There was understanding on the face of the waitress. “Do you know what to order yet?”
“The usual for me,” Mimi smiled.
“I’d like to try your Pinot Noir, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh, your tastes are as fancy as your outfits, huh?”
“Usually I drink even more expensive wines,” Tron agreed. “But I don’t think they have my favorites in stock.”
It was very… refreshing, in a way. Tron was happy to show off his sons, and they were… Well, even Mimi was a bit surprised that Tron had sons that old, but not that it stopped her from showing all her pictures about Yoshio to him.
(And she wouldn’t mention her surprise either. After all… in a few years, she’ll be in the same boat, with Yoshio looking way older than she did.)
And Tron listened, with amusement in his eyes, to Mimi’s rants about the different issues she ran into, especially after having Yoshio.
“Some of my neighbors tried to call child services on us,” Mimi muttered. “They thought I was his sister, and we were abandoned. It was very awkward.”
“I can imagine it. Thankfully we live far enough from neighbors so…”
She wondered what Tron’s circumstances were.
It seemed like he both got it, and didn’t.
Oh well.
At least she was willing to lend an ear, right?
And she desperately needed a friend in a similar boat, at the end of the day.