Work Text:
It's summer, and frankly, the young lady has other things to do.
Working at the juvenile detention center wasn't how the teenager was planning to spend July... She intended to go to the beach with her friends.
But it's not as if she had much choice. A fight at school and she got a two-week suspension. Three actually, but as the other guy woke up before the ambulance arrived, she managed to negotiate two weeks. Despite the fact that she's cheeky and rowdy, the teachers and the principal like her.
When her father found out, he punished her by demanding that she come with him to the juvenile detention center every day after school for a year. Let her see what happens to kids who do stupid things.
And she's been going there for two weeks now, and she doesn't see what's so traumatic about the place. Maybe because she can go home at night. But in any case, and from what she's seen, the boys here don't seem to be bored, and clearly, it doesn't teach them a lesson.
The girl follows her father and carries stainless steel dishes. She has been instructed never to interact with any of the inmates. Except that now, having to work in the refectory, especially serving, all summer long... She's bound to end up talking to them.
The girl smiles and looks out over the courtyard, where most of the pensioners are divided into groups, probably friends, she thinks, but she doesn't know that most of them are forming gangs. Sweet innocence lulls her to sleep.
They come in all shapes and sizes, from the very young to the older. The latter teach the younger, what, she prefers to ignore. For now. Her eyes roam the entire sad expanse of dried, sandy earth, until they lock on to one of them. A self-effacing figure in a small group. Black hair, cut short, like all the others here... Eyebrows permanently furrowed, though he radiates a gentle aura.
Her gaze remains locked on him for a moment, detailing him precisely. Without realizing it, she moves closer to him, advancing along the dirt path. She can see his golden-brown eyes, warm and gentle. And she doesn't know what he's doing here. This guy here, he doesn't look mean at all... It must be a mistake... A sad mistake...
This boy has probably been the victim of an injustice. There's no way he could have done something to send him here.
From the way he turned his head, he must have felt the girl's gaze on him. He stared at her, eyebrows furrowed but with no animosity emanating from him. A slight smile flitted across the boy's face and he shoved his hands into his pockets. His gaze on her makes her want to cover herself up, as if he can see through her clothes. At thirteen, she's a girl who already looks almost like a woman, she knows it and sometimes even plays on it.
But right now, she doesn't feel like playing. This boy makes her a little uncomfortable. Not in a bad way, but she feels helpless.
"Mind the root! Her father turns his head to watch her walk behind him.
- Wha??!!"
She stumbles over the root in question and the stainless steel dishes tip over and scatter all over the floor in an unbearable racket. The boy rushes over to help her up and grabs her arm to help her to her feet. The girl's father pulls him away from her and glares at him. The young man steps back and apologizes before turning back.
"Hold on! The girl stands up and smoothes the sides of her skirt, she frowns and pulls her father aside: He helped me, why are you pushing him away? She turns to the boy: What's your name?
- Kanji Mochizuki... But all my friends call me Mochi... He smiles gently at her.
- Mochi... She smiles and picks up the stainless steel dishes her father hands her.
- What about y..."
The girl walks away with her father, who pulls her by the arm and seems to scold her. She turns to look at Mochi again, with a big smile and a mischievous look. The young man's heart leaps in his chest and his cheeks heat up. He frowns and touches his forehead. He returns to his friends as soon as she disappears from his field of vision and asks them to touch his forehead to see if he has a fever.
He feels strange, his legs feel weak and his throat tight. Never in his life had he felt like this. For days, Mochi would catch sight of this girl, from afar, walking alongside her father towards the kitchens, or towards the dormitories...
One day, for her attention, he left a dried flower in his bed, under his pillow . She didn't know whose bed it was, but she knew just by looking at the flower that it was from him. Deep down, she knew it.
The girl puts it in her book, carefully, smiling. Those few weeks at the juvenile detention center weren't so bad, too bad she had to go. Her dad finally put a end to this. And on top of that, she won't even be able to tell Kanji Mochizuki.
It was with a twinge of sadness that she and her father left on the last evening. In the distance, she spots the boy in question and gives him a big wave, which he seems to understand, as he returns it with a sad face.
He has never stopped thinking about this girl.
At sixteen, four years later, the girl is walking down the street in the evening, in a deserted alleyway. She's never been afraid of anyone or anything; she's a strong girl who knows how to defend herself. A pretty young woman, developed as she is, with large breasts and prominent hips that draw her firm, rounded buttocks. For a sixteen-year-old girl, she looks twenty-two.
"Nobody passes through here."
The voice addressing her is deep, serious. She takes a deep breath and raises her head to look at her interlocutor. After a day in high school, then a fight in which she took a few hits, she really doesn't need this.
"I'll go this way, not another. Her voice, too, is firm; she has no desire to take any detour to get home."
They stare into each other's eyes for a moment, eyebrows furrowed. Neither is going to give in, it's out of the question. As she looks at him, the girl's heart begins to beat faster and faster, without her knowing why.
The young man opens his eyes wide after a minute and takes a step back.
"It's you... Mochi smiles slightly: It's been a while since we've seen each other... I thought we'd never meet again.
- Kanji? The girl lets her guard down and her heart races at the mere mention of his name.
- We couldn't say goodbye properly, four years ago... I waited for you every day in the center courtyard... Mochi smiles.
- I'm sorry... My father... He's a jerk. He didn't want us to talk... Thanks for the flower, it's beautiful."
The young man feels his heart leap in his chest.
"What do you say we go out tonight? The young woman looks at him, amused at seeing his panic.
- Go out? I've got to have a meeting with my... My friends.
- Your friends? The other delinquents at the center?
- No... Others... Kanji scratches the back of his neck and turns his head.
- It's okay Kanji... I know you're a delinquent... I like that."
She laughs and grabs his arm before sticking to him. Her chest crashes against his forearm and she rests her head against him.
"I'd love to catch up on all the conversations we missed while we were apart... She looks up at him, smiling.
- Uh...I .. Yes... Okay.. Mochi looks at her, his cheeks flushed. He's never been so close to a girl in his life.
- Perfect... Can you pick me up at my place tonight? I live a little further away, in the white building with the big picture windows. She slips a piece of paper into his T-shirt: "My phone number.
- Okay..."
Without really understanding what has just happened, Mochi watches the young woman walk away. He feels a slight twinge of sadness as she leaves his sight. After four years, he hadn't expected to see her again, and yet he'd never given up hope. Tonight, he would do his best to look his finest.
He'll probably wear something simple, a t-shirt and jeans that aren't ripped and he unfortunately doesn't own any classy clothes yet, and he hopes he won't stand out next to her. This girl is so beautiful, she always has been. To try to look better, he'll put on his rings and some perfume.
Mochi begins to feel the stress rising. He looks at the paper on which this girl's phone number is written. He decides not to think too much about it and to wait until tonight.
He'll go home and get ready to pick her up. She'll probably be very pretty, maybe wearing a nice dress... maybe leather shorts with tights... maybe a shirt with pants... Mochi starts blushing to himself and covers his mouth with one hand.
Whatever she wears, she'll be beautiful, and he knows it.
Mochi waits patiently for the evening, and when the time comes, he goes home to change. He puts on jeans, a white long-sleeved polo shirt and a black t-shirt. He puts on a chain with a cross and rings, six to be exact, four on one hand and two on the other. He slips on sandals and takes one last look in the mirror, spraying himself with cologne. He hopes with all his heart that this girl will find him attractive... He's been waiting to see her for so long... This girl... He's dreamed of her for so long...
Mochi stands in front of his apartment and sighs as he waits for the girl who made his heart beat and gave him the strength to endure the juvenile detention center. After about ten minutes, the door of the building opens, and she finally appears. Voluminous curves, beautifully drawn, in a dark burgundy evening gown, open on the right thigh, level with her pelvis, and low-cut at the front, just enough so that it's not vulgar, nor does it make her look like a saintly nun.
She descends the last few steps, and it's as she lifts the flaps of her dress that Mochi catches a glimpse of the girl's beautiful black patent heels. For a second, the young man felt himself leaving. Such a beautiful woman, he thinks he's dreaming. As she approaches, he notices that she's wearing a light make-up on her eyes that makes them stand out, and that they're animated by a mischievous flame. Her mouth is adorned in a blood-red that accentuates her full lips, and Mochi just wants to kiss her.
Only he can't afford such a gesture. It would be inappropriate. They've only just met again.
"You're handsome, Kanji! I feel like I'm not good enough for you. The girl grabs the young man's arm and clings to it.
- I... You... Are very beautiful... Mochi looks at her and tries to hide the redness in his cheeks. He doesn't question whether she's lying. Something deep inside him tells him she's completely sincere.
- I've tried... I don't want you to think I'm mediocre... I want to live up to you! She squeezes his arm tighter and he almost sinks into her chest. They walk in the moonlight: You smell so good... I love your perfume...
- Thank you... The heat rises to the cheeks of the young man, who can hardly contain himself. This girl's perfume had come to caress his nostrils the instant she descended the steps: It's cologne... You smell great too...
- Thank you!"
The girl laughed and let go of Mochi's arm before coming to take his hand. Her smile is wonderful, and her laugh infectious. She looks particularly happy, and the young man is delighted. She's offered to go to the restaurant, and Mochi couldn't be happier to take her. He's even set aside a little extra money to take her out.
They finally arrive in front of a restaurant, a modest establishment but renowned in the neighborhood for its delicious food and affordable prices. They enter the restaurant and the host looks at them with a smile, a commercial smile that he must give to everyone.
The young woman steps forward and asks for a table for two, which she had previously reserved. Watching her talk to this waiter makes Mochi blush. She has a poise and natural ease he's never seen in a woman before. The moment he saw her, four years ago, he fell head over heels in love with her, and now, seeing her, that feeling is increasing tenfold.
Never again in his life does he want to be separated from her. And he can't help but feel a surge of jealousy and anger when she smiles at this clown.
They are finally led to a table, a beautiful table, perfectly set, and close to the window. The girl puts down her pouch and prepares to sit down, but stops when she sees Mochi rush to pull out her chair. And once she's settled, he goes to sit in turn, opposite her.
"You're very gallant Kanji, it's a quality that's being lost... Nobody had pulled my chair out for me before... She places her pouch on the windowsill and smiles at the young man in front of her.
- So that means nobody's treated you the way you deserve. Mochi frowns a little at her laugh.
- How do you think I deserve to be treated? She smiles again and watches the waiter arrive out of the corner of her eye.
- Like a queen. He doesn't even think about the answer."
Mochi manages to elicit a slight blush from the young woman's cheeks, and he's not the least bit proud of it. The waiter finally arrives at the table to take their drinks order and Mochi is astonished to hear that she would like a whisky dry with no ice. The same as him. The waiter doesn't even ask them if they're of age, just nods and leaves after handing them their menus.
Mochi look at the woman in front of him, who looks nothing like the girl she was four years ago. She looks twenty-two today. She's a distinguished, beautiful woman, and he can't believe he's bumped into her, or that she's asked him out.
The meal passes off perfectly without any awkward silence or abrupt change of topic. The more time passes, the more Mochi's feelings are confirmed. He loves this girl, and will do anything to keep her with him. He can't help smiling when she talks, laughing when she laughs, looking at her with loving eyes when she eats.
The young woman looks at him mischievously, happy to be here with him and glad to see that her love at first sight four years ago was not fleeting.
~~~~ Present day~~~~
Mochi opens his eyes to look at the woman standing before him. He's moved, very moved, but he can't allow himself to cry. However, a small tear rolls down his cheek.
"And I remember, that night, you were wearing your gorgeous red dress with black heels... You told me you hated that outfit more than anything else in the world, that you should have worn jogging pants and a sweatshirt... That you just wanted to look good in front of me... But no matter what you would have worn that night, I had fallen in love with you four years before that date, and my love for you has only increased these past years. Today, I'm happy to be able to marry you, and happy that you haven't left me despite the life I live.
- Kanji... You're an idiot. This life I share with you, and I'll follow you all the way to hell if it means I can stay with you forever."
Mochi smiles and looks at his bride-to-be, standing before him, dressed in the most beautiful wedding dress he's ever seen. She has always been, and still is, the most beautiful woman he has ever known, and he is about to marry her. There aren't many people at their wedding, just the Bonten executives, the only people who still talk to them. But that's enough for them.
And the moment the priest tells Mochi he can kiss the bride, all the memories of the last few years spent at his wife's side come flooding back. Their first meeting in particular, he has never been able to forget. Mochi has only been lucky once in his life. And he wouldn't trade it for the world.