Chapter Text
Mifuyu had been coming by more often lately- One of her teachers was taking a vacation for the summer, and since school was out, she had extra free time to come by Mikazuki Villa.
Yachiyo was always glad to see her friend, of course- they usually planned out when they'd get together at the Villa, or the candy shop, or when they were going to patrol for witches, but seeing her unannounced was always a good thing.
She'd even heard from her grandmother and a couple of the boarders that Mifuyu had been coming by sometimes when Yachiyo was busy at her modeling job!
It was great to be able to spend so much time with her! Normally Mifuyu was so busy, and she looked a lot happier than usual now, too.
Her knocking on the door again today wasn't surprising- as soon as she'd finished knocking, Yachiyo had all but run to answer it and greet her friend. "Mifuyu!"
"Yacchan! it's good to see you." she smiled, walking in with a polite nod. "How did your shoot go yesterday?"
"It went well- my manager said that the magazine will probably ask for another with me soon."
"That's really nice! Is your grandma here today?"
"Yep! She's doing some cleaning upstairs right now, but she should be down soon."
They continued to chat as they walked into the living room. They talked about Mifuyu's recent studies and Yachiyo's modeling job, new flavors at the candy shop, and discussed their plans for Witch hunting in hushed tones.
After a while they moved to the kitchen. Yachiyo opened the cabinet to get out some mugs for juice. She got out her own blue mug, but paused upon reaching for a guest mug to give to Mifuyu.
Her friend spent so much time here, and all of the residents in the house enjoyed her company. Surely, she shouldn't still be using a guest mug, right?
"Hey Mifuyu?"
"Hm?" she responded with a tilt of her head. "What is it, Yacchan?"
"How about we get a mug for you today?" she lifted up her own mug.
"A- a mug? But why? I don't live here..."
"But you spend so much time here! And you're my friend, so I think that you should get a mug!"
"But..." she trailed off.
"Oh? Are we talking about getting a mug for Mifuyu?" Yachiyo's Grandma said, entering the room. "Well, I think that's a wonderful idea. I've been thinking that she should get one for a while now, so it'd be a great opportunity."
Yachiyo smiled- she knew her Grandma would back her up on this. But Mifuyu looked unsure. "You... really don't have to buy something for me. I'm just fine with using a guest mug, really."
"We're not getting you a mug because we have to, we're doing it because we want to."
"Please, I wouldn't want you to disrupt your schedules just for that." she looked away, still apprehensive.
Yachiyo remembered what she felt like when she'd gotten her own mug, and insisted. "Please?"
Mifuyu looked at her and her Grandma's earnest faces, and finally acquiesced. "Alright."
.o.O.o.
The shop the three walked to was the same one Yachiyo's Grandma had taken her to when back when she first moved to Kamihama. It was a small shop, owned by an older couple. The walls were a warm wood, and there were shelves covered in plates, bowls, vases, and of course, mugs.
"Wow..." Mifuyu said, walking in. "There are so many!"
"Isn't it cool? and all of the mugs here are made by hand!" Yachiyo said, admiring the pieces. She was quite happy with her current mug, but she enjoyed looking.
Her Grandma had gone over to chat with the owners- they were old friends of hers. Which left the other two to look.
Yachiyo looked around the shelves, wondering which ones Mifuyu might want. Back when she'd gotten a mug, it hadn't taken her long at all to decide. She had always liked blue.
Maybe she'd like something gray, like her magical girl form? Or purple? She also seemed to like red, so maybe...
Yachiyo noticed that her friend had left her side. She turned around to find her looking at the wall at a different set of mugs- plain ones, in subtle colors.
She walked over to join her friend, before noticing the pained expression on her face as she looked down at a cup in her hand. "Mifuyu? Is something wrong?"
Mifuyu appeared to be startled out of her thoughts. "I-It's nothing Yacchan! I'm just looking." she put on an unconvincing smile, before her face morphed back into a frown as she looked back down at the mug.
Yachiyo decided to try for a different route. "Do you like that mug?"
"It's... fine."
She didn't want to push her friend, but something seemed to be wrong, and Yachiyo wanted to make sure she was ok. "If you don't want that mug, then why are you holding it like that?"
"O-oh. well." Mifuyu glanced back towards the three adults, all still caught up in their conversation. "It's... my Mother, I guess. I've never gotten something like this for myself before, since she picks out all of our dishware. I was just thinking that... this is the sort of cup she'd want me to get... probably."
Yachiyo took a closer look- It was a subtle cream color, with no decorations or embellishments at all. It did seem like the sort of mug her Mother would get. But it was plain, simple, and easy to deal with in a way that Mifuyu wasn't- in a way that Yachiyo didn't want to her to be, for no other reason than to spite that woman who her friend called "Mother."
"Ok. But do you want it?"
"Well... I guess not. But if I get something else, then my Mother..."
"Who cares about your Mother!" Yachiyo blurted out without thinking. When Mifuyu turned to her quickly with wide eyes, she decided to double down. "I mean, it's not like she's ever gonna see it. It's a mug for you to keep at Mikazuki Villa, so your mother doesn't even have to know it exists."
"Oh." Mifuyu said, looking back down at the plain mug between her hands.
Yachiyo wondered if this was what Mifuyu had been worried about this whole time- it was no secret that her Mother didn't like Mifuyu spending so much time with Yachiyo, or at Mikazuki Villa- she preferred her to spend time on her various studies or with "more appropriate" company.
If her Mother found out about her getting a special mug, then she might get angry- maybe even not letting them see each other again, if things got bad. Especially if the kind of cup she got wasn't in line with what Mifuyu's Mother wanted her daughter to be.
Determination flared up in Yachiyo's chest. To Mifuyu, her Mother and her expectations must feel like an ever-present specter, hanging over her head and ready to manifest and scold her at any minor wrong she might commit.
Even with Mifuyu's wish, her very own miracle, she'd only asked for freedom in her dreams.
Mifuyu had turned away, and was wiping at her face. Yachiyo gave her time.
After a bit she took a deep breath, and finally turned back to face her, eyes slightly red. "Ok then. Let's... go check out some of the other mugs."
They meandered around some of the different shelves, Mifuyu still seeming hesitant as she picked up different mugs, but she kept on going, trying to find something she liked.
After some looking, she let out a small gasp, and Yachiyo quickly walked over. "What is it?"
"This mug." Mifuyu said, looking intently at one on the shelf in front of her. "It looks... just like something I saw in my dreams."
The mug in question was mostly green, painted to look like a sprawling field stretching out into the distance. Sheep were jumping around the field, some laying down and resting with each other in the sunshine.
It was a really peaceful scene.
"You saw it in your dreams?" Yachiyo asked.
"Yes. It was before I made my wish." she said with a smile. "I was running around a field with a bunch of sheep, and it was so peaceful... It was one of the nicest dreams I've ever had."
"That does sounds really nice."
"Yeah... it really was." she said, smiling down at the mug. "I think... I think that I want to get this mug." Mifuyu said, after some thought.
"Alright! Let's go see Grandma then." the two walked over to where Yachiyo's Grandma was still talking to the owners, and showed her the mug.
"It's wonderful!" she held it up, looking at it from different angles before giving it back and getting out her wallet.
"Oh no! I- I can pay for it." Mifuyu said, going to reach for her own.
"Nonsense. Consider it a gift from me." Her Grandma said with a smile, before handing over the money to the shop's owners.
They put the mug safely into a paper bag in order to carry it back, handing it to Mifuyu who accepted it with a small bow. The three then began walking back to the Villa, all holding hands.
"Mrs. Nanami... thank you." Mifuyu said, looking down at the bag in her hand. "I really appreciate that you got this for me."
"You're welcome." Yachiyo's Grandma said with a smile. "and Mifuyu, I want to make sure you know something."
"What is it?" she said, looking over at her curiously.
"No matter what happens, Mikazuki Villa will always have a place for you. So if you ever need somewhere to stay, don't hesitate to come over. We'll have your mug waiting for you."
Mifuyu looked taken aback at her words, mouth slightly open. She turned to Yachiyo, looking for confirmation, and Yachiyo nodded with a smile as she held her hand just a bit tighter.
She still didn't look like she knew what to do, or to make of this, but eventually, Mifuyu stuttered out, "O-ok then. Thank you very much, Mrs. Nanami, Yacchan." with a small smile.
Grandmother and Granddaughter smiled too, and they all continued walking back towards Mikazuki Villa, together.