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A warm summer breeze wafted through Makoto's open bedroom window. She lay on her bed in the firing line of two fans, utterly engrossed in a new book. There was nothing like getting a new book, especially when it was an old one. The smell, the way each page was softer, even the past owner’s notes in the margins: Makoto loved it all.
Bzz Bzz! Without taking her eyes off the page Makoto blindly searched through the sheets for her phone with her free hand. Finally finding it she marked her place with her finger before checking her phone.
Above several line messages she hadn't replied to were a few from Yuzuki.
Good morning!!
😺
Excited for this trip! I can't wait to meet Mitsumi's family.
You probably were up super late finishing that book you were talking to me about, would love to hear how the ending was.
Want to go shopping today?
Makoto quickly slipped a bookmark in and rolled over onto her back. Holding her phone in the air, she typed out and deleted several replies before settling on one.
Sure.
Immediately after hitting send Makoto regretted it. Sure? Who just says sure? I should have been more forward, or at least used more words. How does anyone do this? The anxious energy carried her out of bed. Makoto quickly threw on some wrinkled clothes from the ground and dashed out into the hall and down the stairs. Her parents were both off at work so she made herself two slices of toast for breakfast. After quickly cramming them down she ran back up the stairs and put her hair up to shower. Her phone kept buzzing while she showered.
After a hurried messy drying off with her towel Makoto checked her phone while she brushed her teeth. Every Line was from Yuzuki, her chest was warm.
💋💞!!💗!❤️️🧡💛!!💚💙💜!!💝
When are you free? There's this café I've been wanting to check out, want to go together before shopping?
Makoto hurriedly typed back.
Almost ready to go, send me the address and I'll meet you there.
Then Makoto tossed her phone on the bed and stared at her closet. A couple years ago picking out clothes had been a frankly intimidating process Makoto Kurume simply gave up on. But now her wardrobe had a litany of options. Usually this was simply a boon but today, for some unknown reason, the choices paralyzed her. Makoto bounced on her feet as she tried one thing after another, changing combinations wildly. But it was in vain. What could she wear? What would be right? The clock next to her bed and the time on her phone both stared menacingly at Makoto as they ticked ever upward. Choice was required, and with no sure right option she would still need to forge on. Makoto would not be caught in a spiral, not today. The Rubicon must be crossed. reaching into the closet Makoto selected a long skirt and paired it with a complementary light shirt.
In the bathroom she put on sunscreen, bb cream, and a tinted lip balm Yuzuki got her on their last outing. A smile leapt to her shimmering lips, I did it right! Just like Yuzu taught me. Swept up in a whelm of confidence Makoto took a picture of herself and sent it to Yuzuki. As soon as the act was committed the anxiety hit her, who was she to act with such frivolous confidence. To flaunt her countenance so boldly. When her phone buzzed, likely with Yuzuki's reply, Makoto couldn't bring herself to look.
Pushing her leaden legs down the stairs Makoto managed to reach the front doorway. She pulled on her cutest shoes and grabbed her purse and keys. Then it hit her, I need to check my phone to see the address. Makoto stood in the entryway for several minutes debating, weighing the risks. Then she smashed her eyes shut and opened her phone; holding it up she peeked through one cracked eye.
There was the address of the café and a picture of it,
Cute!!
I'm closer so I'll be waiting in a booth
See you soon :)
Makoto let out a sigh of relief. Everything was alright. She locked the door and headed out for the train. The train ride passed relatively quickly, soon she was walking up to the café. It didn't take long for Makoto to spot the ecstatically waving Yuzuki. She hurried over before her friend could make too much of a scene and slid into the booth across from Yuzuki.
Yuzuki’s hair framed her beautiful face. She wore a chic sleeveless pastel blue halter top shirt with cream shorts. "The picture was cute but it didn't fully capture how good you look today."
Makoto flushed and looked down, "thanks."
"Here's a menu," Yuzuki slid the menus across the table, "their specialty is flavored iced lattes with a matching donut on top. I think I want the chocolate one." She pointed it out on Makoto's menu.
Yuzu's hands were so beautiful, each delicate finger dancing together as she explained the menu. It was hard to focus on what she would order when Yuzu's hands were right there, so close that if Makoto reached out at all she could catch one in her own. She knew how soft Yuzu's hands were.
"So what do you want to get?"
Makoto looked up and blinked then hurriedly looked back at the menu. "I think, um."
Yuzu laughed, "Sorry, I'm going too fast aren't I? You're still thinking about your book, how is the ending?"
"I actually finished it last night, the ending was very satisfying. I started a new book this morning."
"You read so fast Makoto, you just started reading it like two days ago!"
"Well it was a manga, so reading it fast was easy."
"Ah! That's more my speed. What's the title?"
"I doubt it would be your kind of thing."
Yuzu put on her best display of dramatic pouting, "but I can never keep up with how fast you read Mako-chan. Please? I want to be able to talk about books with you sometimes."
"It's called Donuts under a Crescent moon."
"It's got donuts? How could you say it won't be my kinda thing, I love donuts." Yuzu quickly wrote a note on her phone.
A waitress came to a stop in front of their table. "Are we ready to order?"
"I am," Yuzu smiled, "I'll get the chocolate latte with a chocolate donut." She looked over at Makoto.
Makoto put her hand up and whispered, "too many choices. Help me."
"And she'll have the strawberry latte and strawberry donut. Thank you."
The waitress gave a quick nod of a bow and scurried off to help other customers.
"Thanks Yuzu."
"No problem," it seemed Yuzu couldn't stop smiling today, "it works in my favor too. Now I get to try chocolate and strawberry. Both were well reviewed online and I spent the whole time waiting for you trying to decide."
Makoto found it so easy to get lost in Yuzu's smile, everything about her friend was so warm. Even as so many of the other students at school gave her the cold shoulder or blamed her for guys they crushed on asking Yuzu out instead, Yuzu stayed warm and bubbly.
"So what did you want to go shopping for today?"
Somehow Yuzu's face lit up even more, "Swimsuits!"
"I need to leave."
"No you don't," Yuzu put a leg up under the booth trapping Makoto in. "No fleeing on me now."
The warmth of Yuzu's bare leg froze Makoto in place. Just like Yuzu's hands, her legs were wonderfully soft, it was like being strapped in a silk prison.
"But Yuzu."
"No excuses!"
The waitress returned with both of their drinks. What had looked reasonably sized in the picture proved to be much larger in reality. Behind the towering sheer glass pillar lay layers of sugary delights topped with a glazed donut. There was a latte layered with whipped cream, pink sugary sauce, real strawberries, and layers that Makoto couldn't identify. Escape could wait.
Makoto tried the donut first, the strawberry glaze cracked under her teeth like a thin sheet of ice on the sidewalk. The glaze gave way to pillowy squishy donut, with all the flavors together it was a heavenly bite. She chewed on the strawberry cloud and smiled as everything slipped away.
"That good?"
Blinking, Makoto descended back to earth and found Yuzu smiling as she watched her from behind an untouched latte.
"Y-you haven't had any yet?"
"Watching you is the real treat."
Makoto felt her cheeks heat up, "here try it," she held out her donut.
Yuzu leaned forward and took a dainty bite, "s' really good." she mumbled as she chewed.
They both sipped their drinks and sighed. All the stress of shopping had slipped away. Drinking from the bottom and eating away the top layers with small spoons the girls passed bites back and forth.
With a sigh Makoto leaned back, "they're both so good."
"They are, and when you put them together it gets even better." Yuzu slid her glass across the table and tilted the straw towards Makoto, "try both at once."
With Yuzu watching her intently Makoto drank from both straws. Chocolate and strawberry danced in her mouth, a perfect concert of flavors. As they had drank and ate the Lattes had slowly melted and combined in a conglomeration of flavor at the bottom of the tall glasses. Drinking both at once was akin to seeing two collages side by side.
"So good, your turn."
When Yuzu drank and smiled it made Makoto realize again how much fun she always had with Yuzu. Just seeing the other girl smile made her feel all bubbly inside. Makoto's gaze traced down Yuzu's neck to her clavicle.
"You're right it's amazing!"
"It really is. I was so excited to get here and got so caught up in the pictures that I forgot to check the price." Makoto fumbled through her purse to check how much money she brought.
"Don't worry," Yuzu waved her hands, "I got it."
"Yuzu you don't have to."
"I want to," Yuzu reached across and squeezed Makoto's hand. "Swimsuit shopping is stressful for you isn't it? So I want to treat you Mako-chan. Today I’m going to do everything I can to take the stress away. I'm sure once we get to the beach you'll have a great time."
"Thanks Yuzu."
The store they were going to was only a five minute walk away. Yuzu took the lead with Makoto following at her side. As they walked, Makoto found herself glancing down at Yuzu's hand; it wouldn't be weird for friends to hold hands. But for some reason she couldn't bring herself to reach out for Yuzu.
They walked past several large department stores before turning down an alley. Halfway down the alley they came to a small unambiguous door. Yuzu knocked and moments later the door swung inward and a middle aged woman with her hair in a bun peaked out.
"Are you here for the pop up?"
Yuzu said, "Yes, I hope we aren't too early."
"No you're fine, I got a late start this morning and getting things set up took longer than expected." She swung the door open all the way and waved them in. "Come in and look around, I'll be running about finishing set up and putting signs out."
Makoto followed Yuzu in. Racks of swimsuits and summer wear were scattered about the small room which had a second room attached to the back. The walls were bare brick with different posters and paintings of beaches hung up.
"What is this place?" Makoto asked as she looked around.
"A pop up store for swimwear, I saw some of their advert posters and looked it up online. Apparently they're spending a week in Tokyo, then they'll move on. It felt like the perfect spot, not nearly as many people as a department store."
Yuzu put so much thought into this. Why does that make me so warm and fuzzy? Makoto looked away and saw herself in one of the standing mirrors which leaned against the bare brick wall. There was a rosiness to her cheeks and a confidence to her stance she hadn't had a year ago. I guess Yuzu has always been the person that makes everything special for me, it's alright if I never find a boyfriend.
"Alright Makoto, ready to try on swimsuits?" Yuzu bounced over and wrapped her arm around Makoto.
There was a security in being wrapped up in Yuzu. Makoto nodded, "but I need help picking out something cute."
"Getting to pick out cute things for you to try on is so exciting Mako-chan." Yuzu guided her into the second room. "Hmm what are your sizes?"
Makoto flushed and wrapped her arms around her chest, "S-Sizes?"
Yuzu laughed, "if you don't know it's fine, we can just try a few things on to get a rough idea of size. Here let's start with this." Yuzu snatched up several racks of matching swimsuits. "I think blue will look nice on you." Yuzu led her over to the changing partition, "alright let's find something cute and comfy."
Before Makoto knew what to say back she was behind the partition. There was a bar to hang clothes on, a small stool and a tall mirror. It was rather scandalous removing all her clothes somewhere so public with only a paper wall separating her and Yuzu. Changing in clothing stores always felt a bit terrifying to Makoto. One by one she peeled back the layers of her outfit.
The first suit she tried on was a one piece which ended up being too short for her. Next was a matching blue and white two piece, the top went around her neck and wrapped down over her boobs, the bottom was a bikini piece with a frilly skirt covering it up. Just putting it on made her blush, this is too much. She quickly slipped it off and pulled her shirt back on.
“Yuzu I don’t think I want to show this much skin,” she passed the suit over the paper wall.
“Alright,” there were some rummaging and squeaking sounds, “hear try this on.”
The suit Yuzu passed over was a two piece. The bottom was like a pair of blue shorts made out of whatever material swimsuits were made of. Makoto slipped it on, comfortable and secure. Then she took her shirt off and pulled on the top, a purple swimsuit crop top. In the Mirror Makoto looked back at herself and smiled.
“Makoto,” Yuzu whined, “don’t leave me in suspense forever, do you like it?”
Makoto put her hands on her hips, “Yes.”
“Can I see?”
Her cheeks flushed, Makoto took several deep breaths then pushed the paper wall aside.
Yuzu’s face lit up, she squealed and ran over to hug Makoto, “so, so cute! Now youre ready for the beach.”
“I can’t wait.”