Chapter Text
I don’t know what it was about that morning in particular.
I rose early. I brushed my teeth, combed my hair, got dressed, just like always.
I walked with Mai towards our homeroom, stopping briefly at my locker to deposit some books and retrieve others I’d need for the day. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Even so, something caused me to pause as I caught sight of my reflection in the small mirror mounted just inside. It occurred to me that I’d never paid its presence much mind - all of the lockers possessed one - because I was never terribly interested in looking at myself.
Not that my sentiment over that had changed much, but it was as though I was noticing myself for the first time in months. Funny how the simple realization that my hair had grown so long could send me pondering. I hadn’t given that much thought either. As my unusual, cotton candy-colored locks grew, I’d simply taken to spiraling them into two braids rather than clipping them back like I use to.
Seeing it now, I recalled how painfully self-conscious I’d once been about it. In more desperate times, I’d considered cutting it all off, or dying a more acceptable color. Yet here I was, having not spared it even so much as an errant worry at all in the past few months.
It actually looked kind of...pretty.
It probably helped that he liked it so much. How many times had PBG combed his fingers through my hair or toyed with one of the strawberry curls? Thinking back on it now, my anxiety over it almost seemed laughable, knowing that these days I often looked forward to feeling his touch upon it. It was such a simple, yet tender gesture.
I closed my locker once I’d placed the books in my backpack, returning my attention - if only partially - back to reality. I walked into homeroom, letting my eyes drift over my familiar classmates, resting momentarily with fondness upon each member of The Normal Boots Club.
It was these fellows (and Mai, of course!) who had been responsible for how different I was these days. Not only had I become more comfortable with myself, but I had truly opened up to others. The typical worries that used to plague me as they did on my first day at Asagao Academy were faint, if present at all. I felt confident, welcomed, loved…
...at home.
How could I not with the way he beamed at me almost the exact instant I walked through the door? It didn’t matter how long we’d been dating; it seemed the novelty of our relationship would never wear off. PBG always greeted me with the same adoring smile whenever we crossed paths.
I slipped my backpack off my shoulder and hung it neatly against the back of my chair before sliding into my seat. It was positioned squarely between Mai and PBG’s. Mai had always made it a point to secure a place near me, but now PBG insisted upon it as well. As soon as one school year ended and the next began we were meant to change seats to keep things fresh as well as encourage building rapport with other students. It turned out my roomie and boyfriend - gosh, that still makes me feel all light on my toes - were equally good at digging their heels in when it came to getting something they really wanted. Eventually, their persistence wore Miss Shizuka down, though the three of us made it a point to become almost model students after that. We knew she was just waiting for a golden opportunity to split us apart.
Especially PBG and I. She didn’t seem particularly fond of how ‘close’ we were.
“Good morning,” PBG greeted, cheerful as he turned sideways in his chair to give me his full attention.
“Good morning,” I returned, unable to keep the smile from my face.
“So, did you think about it? I mean… I don’t want to rush you, but… You know... ?” His eyebrows lifted with anticipation as he clasped his hands in front of himself.
“No…,” I replied as I set my daily supplies upon my desk. When I saw his bottom lip begin to poke out in the beginnings of what was now an infamous pout, I clarified. “Not ‘no’ no… I meant I haven’t really thought about it.”
“But you haven’t completely tossed out the idea. There’s still hope!” he said. I gave a small shrug and made a small, non-committal noise. Before I could respond further, and for that I was grateful, Miss Shizuka cleared her throat indicating that class had begun.
****
“Wow, hey, you’re right! Things have just been happening so fast I didn’t even think about it!”
“I know,” I agreed with a nod. I had just been sharing my thoughts with Mai as we made our way to the cafeteria for lunch. “Just think, not too long ago you could have been Jared’s personal cheerleader.”
“Psh,” Mai said, blowing at her bangs. “I am never gonna live that down, am I?”
“Hmm, probably not,” I teased. “You never let me live my crush down.”
“Yeah, but you two are actually together . It’s allowed because it’s cute and still applicable.”
“Maybe. Should I be teasing you about Jirard instead?”
“Please no,” she pleaded with me, though I could already see the telltale blush reddening her features almost the same shade as her hair.
Ah, yes. That had been another big change. Definitely not one anyone expected until they considered it after the fact. Mai had been so hung up on Jared for so long it was strange to think of her ever turning her affections, however feverish, on anyone else. But maybe that was why she and Jirard had eventually clicked. It was nothing at all like the fangirlish swooning I used to witness. He wasn’t someone that she was falling all over herself for, or melting into a puddle on the concrete at the thought of. But he shared her pep and vigor, her enthusiasm, and showed her a white-knight level of kindness that was difficult to ignore. Granted, their their interests didn’t always mesh, but that was hardly a deal-breaker. Their differences helped balance them both out in a way, Jirard helping Mai focus her boundless energy and Mai ensuring Jirard didn’t become too absorbed in his quests for perfection.
Mai even had her own small collection of Itty Bitty Kitties developing. She’d vehemently denied her association when I’d discovered the first figure in her room, but the more she accumulated, the harder it was to deny their existence. Naturally, I suspected Jirard’s involvement almost from the get-go. He was the only other person I knew who collected the figurines and he appeared rather tickled when he announced that he was no longer the only one amid our group with an affinity for them. That was the day Mai’s secret could no longer be denied, and it seemed after that the two of them were seen together more than ever.
Mai still hadn’t quite gotten used to any of it. Maybe she was perplexed how it was that Jirard could make her blush at least as much, if not more, than Jared ever had - and with a great deal more subtlety to boot.
“Ah! You didn’t beat me!”
PBG jogged up to flank my other side, slowing his long stride to match our pace.
I couldn’t help myself.
“Funny, I thought I beat you quite soundly. By at least 300,000 points, I think it was.”
His brow furrowed and he pursed his lips, feigning indignance as he turned his head away, chin high.
“I meant to lunch. And it wasn’t that much! Geez, Hana, when did you get such an ego ?”
I giggled lightly, once more noticing a change in my own demeanor. Not to long ago I would have blanched at such teasing, wondering if he was serious about his accusation and apologizing profusely for my perceived offenses. But I knew PBG far too well these days to be fooled by his play-acting anymore, much to his relief, I’m sure.
“I know . Gawd,” Mai chimed in. “But that’s entirely your fault, PBG. You praise her too much.”
“I. Regret. Nothing,” he intoned, turning a side-eye on the two of us before letting a lopsided grin cross his lips.
Ever the gentleman, he held open the doors for us with a flourish and a bow so we could enter the cafeteria, trailing closely behind. We found our way to the usual table, settling down among the other members of The Normal Boots Club.
Before I forgot, I hoisted my bag into my lap and began to rummage around, withdrawing a few items that I had borrowed during my trip back home to visit my father. The first was a book I had borrowed from Satch; he often recommended and loaned me novels he thought I might enjoy. The second and third were a couple of puzzle and strategy games to try on my 4DS that Jon had provided for me to practice with. And the last was a special edition Itty Bitty Kitty that Mai had promised me to pick up for Jirard when he found out there was stock available specifically at a shop in my home town.
“Did you have a good trip?” Paul asked. “It was kind of strange not to see you around for a few days.”
“No kidding. Even though you’re normally so quiet, it’s like there was a void when you were gone,” Jirard mentioned.
“Yeah, it was nice to see my Dad, but I will admit I missed seeing everyone here. I’ve gotten so used to hanging out with you all,” I said, happy to hear I’d been missed.
“PBG was insufferable ,” Jared hummed, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.
“Don’t exaggerate,” PBG defended.
“At least you didn’t have to live with him,” Jon piped up, a devious little quirk tilting his lips. “‘Insufferable’ is hardly enough to describe it. More like f-”
“Nanananana, no!” PBG chanted, planting his hands over my ears. “There’s nothing wrong with missing my girlfriend, okay? You two are just jealous because you haven’t gotten any yet.”
“Whoa,” Satch chuckled. “Low blow from Peebs.”
"I meant girlfriends.”
“Ech,” Jon intoned. “I ain’t got time for romance what with all my work at the theater.”
“AND NEVER GETTING SOME,” Jacques added. Jon promptly pinched his fingers around the bird’s beak.
“Who’s side are you on anyway?” Jacques wiggled in protest.
I lifted a hand and coughed into it, hoping the interruption might change the subject. At the rate it was going, I was worried PBG and my own relationship status would be called into question and rampant teasing would begin about how we had not ‘sealed the deal’ yet. Despite the fact I was a more open person these days I still wasn’t ready to discuss that.
“We’re all still up for the convention next weekend, right?” I asked. Everyone at the table nodded and the excitement over the event began to prevail over any of the other conversations going on. Phew. Quick thinking, self.
Mai shot me a look and then bobbed her eyebrows, but kept quiet. Okay, maybe I hadn’t entirely dodged the bullet, but at least she wasn’t saying anything at the table. I’m sure I would get an earful about the fact PBG and I were sharing a room this time later.
“Speaking of conventions…”
“This again already?”
“What? What again? I didn’t even say about the thing that I wasn’t even going to talk about,” PBG rambled.
I sighed.
“I was just gonna say that I’m really excited because they’re releasing a new Harvest Noon game and will be featuring it at the con.”
Oh. Was that all?
“Really?” I asked, still a little skeptical. “That’s that farming game series you really like, right?”
“Yeah! It’s been a long time since a new one was released so I’m really looking forward to seeing the new features in action!”
“But is that all it is? I mean… Farming?” I asked. For a moment PBG looked as though something inside his brain had shorted.
“It’s not just farming. It’s about family , Hana. And chickens.”
For such a simple sounding game, whenever it was brought up he sure sounded serious . I might have worried about inadvertently insulting something he clearly loved, but he was still very understanding of my ‘naivete’ when it came to some games. I don’t think I’d ever quite ‘get’ the depth of some of The Normal Boots members' passions towards their individual gaming preferences. I really enjoyed my puzzle games, and the strategy games seemed sort of interesting so far, but I was still nowhere near on the same level of fandom as these guys. I wondered if I’d ever feel so dedicated.
“That’s it. I’ve suffered this injustice and I can’t suffer it no more!” PBG declared, hopping up from his chair with a clenched fist.
“So you can suffer it,” Satch said. When PBG looked at him with a puzzled expression, he added, “Double negative becomes a positive.”
“The point is, Hana,” he emphasized, turning his eyes on me. “You are going to finally play a Harvest Noon game!”
“Okay, sure. But when?”
“Right no-”
“We’re in the middle of the school day, dude,” Shane pointed out.
“...ooooaafter classes!” Were it not for the fact he knew I wouldn’t skip class to play games, I’m sure PBG would have honestly suggested we bail then and there. He never really cared much for school in the first place, but for a student running on scholarships like yours truly, ditching was simply not an option.
“I guess that’s okay, but we have a paper due soon and I really should -”
PBG dropped to his knees in front of me, grasping my hands. The drama of it startled me and I immediately felt a rash of heat crawling up my neck into my face. He looked so incredibly desperate and his eyes were so soulful and pleading, I wasn’t sure what I expected to come out of his mouth next.
“Pleaaaase, Hana. We can write the paper tomorrow!”
“On a Saturday ? You’re going to do schoolwork on a Saturday?”
“Yes, sure, whatever you want. But you have to play Harvest Noon before the convention so you can know just how amazing they really are before we see the new one together!” His voice dropped into a whisper and he scooted a fraction closer. “It’ll be magical .”
“I think you’re weirding her out,” Jon said, though his tone implied this show was nothing new to him.
What could I say? I’d never seen him so insistent about anything in a long time. Plus, I always had a really hard time saying ‘no’ when he looked at me like that, much less all knelt down on the floor as though he was begging for my mercy. I began to nod furiously.
“Alright, alright!” I hissed. “Just get up! People are starting to stare!”
“Yeah!” he exclaimed, triumphant as he hopped to his feet again. I hid my face in my hands to wait for the blushing to subside.