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Sayla was late this time. She told herself it was fine but her heart was racing despite herself, the clattering of her heels on the sidewalk, insufferably loud, and announcing to the city she was tardy. After all, Mirai was late last time right? It had been years though... she probably wouldn't keep track. Mirai didn't sweat the small stuff like that. But still, Sayla was too proud. In fact even if she was on time, no doubt Mirai would have already been there 15 minutes early to make up for the last time. That would be just like Mirai, wouldn't it?
She was late because she over did it last night, spent too much time hunched over her desk. The pain in her neck, shoulders, back, and clicking in her hips, they were all working overtime to make her feel older than she cared to admit. And now she was sweating, damn it. It couldn't be helped with her heavy rain jacket on and wide brimmed hat, but it was raining when she left her residential block. She could have changed plans and suggested the closest restaurant to her neighborhood, but she wanted Mirai to see the best of London had to offer. She was looking forward to showing her around today.
"Looking forward to..." she thought to herself. The moment of reflection made her check herself and slow down, suddenly self-conscious. She shook her head and chuckled to herself. Here she was, over 30 years old and getting excited like a little girl. Then she frowned. Nothing wrong with being happy to see a friend, especially when those were few and far between. Mirai had finally found some time to visit her. She was a busy wife and mother, constantly forced to move because of Bright’s posts and the Federation’s mismanagement. But, the latter was beating a dead horse… She looked up, stretching her neck and back, and realized she had to cross the street to get to the opposite corner to reach the cafe, she had almost missed it. She had this nagging feeling though...
"Same as always, Sayla-san? You should look where you're going before you cross the street!" The playful voice, barely above a whisper, came from right behind her right shoulder. The breath tickled her ear and sent a shiver up her spine.
"Oh, Mirai!" Sayla couldn't even pretend to be upset with her friend's prank, though she balled her fists at her side to contain her energy. Just hearing her voice relaxed and warmed her, despite the chill on the street. She preemptively opened her arms and turned on her heels to face Mirai. "You really shouldn't sneak up on people!" She had tried to sound exasperated, but her voice cracked despite herself, and she quickly hugged Mirai to try to hide tears welling up in her eyes. It really had been too long. Mirai enveloped her senses then, and she realized that nagging feeling had just been her senses reaching for Mirai before she even realized it.
---
Mirai was glad Sayla had hugged her quickly, but there was no way to hide her tears when they pulled away. Still, they enjoyed a long hug and even jumped up and down, laughing. Sayla was like a live wire, she couldn't believe it! Mirai sighed happily and pulled away, and was glad that Sayla was also teary eyed. Now she didn't have to feel so embarrassed. "I just couldn't help it Sayla, you seemed so defenseless," she said through some laughs, wiping her eyes with a finger. She changed her tone, a little more concerned, "You had a look on your face… What were you thinking about so seriously?"
Sayla was also dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief she had quickly pulled from a breast pocket. Very fine silk, Mirai noted. "Oh... just where to go after the cafe..." She was making a show of dabbing her eyes, looking up and away from Mirai. Buying time? Sayla was always so guarded, Mirai thought to herself. She waited patiently, smiling. She really was cute.
Sayla looked, marvelously, the same as she always had. Her blonde hair, somehow still downy like feathers despite the humidity, was bobbed. A designer rainjacket, though modest, plain wide hat and large sunglasses despite the overcast weather. Mirai knew Sayla always kept a low profile, thus the lack of jewelry and barely any makeup. Mirai herself wore her best jacket, her favorite scarf, a light lipstick and some simple earrings that matched her outfit underneath the coat. Internally, Mirai was glad she prepared according to Sayla's taste - the two made a good pair for their day out in the town.
As if reading her mind, Sayla grasped her hand gently. "Well, now that you're here to help me, let's cross the street and get out of this chill!" Mirai rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay, enough of that."
Inside the tea shop, the mixture of low light, scent of tea, and warmth almost made Mirai drowsy. "I think you'll really like this place, Mirai. They have a great variety, and I'm sure if you want they'll have some of your favorites from Asia." They found a small corner table. Checking their coats and hats at the door, and Sayla now removing her shades, permitted Mirai to once again appreciate her natural beauty as she shuffled through menus. The two went way back and she never got used to it. Internally, never out loud, Mirai sometimes still called Sayla a princess - a nickname that was all at once playful, infantilizing, and slightly jealous. Worst of all it was painfully true, she thought.
"My, my, that's very considerate of you, Sayla-san." Seated, she looked over the menu and did in fact recognize some specific varieties. A speciality shop then. "Though, I’m in the mood for something I haven't been able to find in a while..." She dropped the menu slightly and glanced across to Sayla with half lidded eyes. Sayla was already putting her menu down and caught Mirai's glance... clearest blue eyes Mirai had ever seen, like the ocean on a clear summer day… Swimming, Mirai held Sayla’s eyes. How long? One second… two…? Sayla’s lips parted as if an electric shock passed between them, stunning her. Finally, Sayla broke contact by looking back down at the menu, mumbling “What… What are you looking for?” She managed to smile, bashfully, back at Mirai and waited.
Exhaling a breath she only now realized she was holding, Mirai looked back at the menu and asked for the menu item her eyes landed on. Confidently.
---
Sayla somehow managed to make it from their small table to the counter and order their drinks without tripping over own two feet. She was drunk, her mind hazy, dizzy with thoughts. What was Mirai doing, looking at her like that? Preposterous! She felt sweating breaking out under her clothes, and for a moment thought she had forgotten to remove her rainjacket. Her ears were definitely red and her heart was beating like a drum…
She was excited. This was going better than she thought, that look was positively amorous. She just had to admit it to herself, and that affirmation would build a wall of awareness. Excited, why? To see her old friend of course. Her oldest, closest friend. Was friend even the right word? Did friends look at each other with, well, hunger in their eyes? What was she thinking, there was… just no one else like Mirai. It was hard to explain but everything felt right with her. Was it right to have everything, wrapped in one person? Sayla fell into a well worn pattern of thoughts and decided to skip to the end - there was no point in categorizing their relationship as one thing or the other. She really should be focusing on the present, right now-
“Miss? Your teas.” The server tried to get her attention with a gentle smile. Sayla completely lost track of where she was. She quickly thanked the server, nodding awkwardly, and grabbed her tray. Mirai wound up ordering the same thing she had planned to order as well, a funny coincidence. It was a great drink after all, a delightful blend of milk and tea. She perked up. She was going to march back over to Mirai and have a nice day. After catching up they would have a whole afternoon in the city and grab dinner. She had so many things she wanted to tell her, show her, share with her…
---
“Sayla, before I forget, I really must thank you for the room, but it’s a whole suite, just for me! It’s too much!” She sipped the warm beverage while Sayla, predictably, refused to budge. Wow, not bad.
“We already went over this, it’s nothing really Mirai. Especially for you. You deserve a nice place to stay during this trip, really.” Sayla leaned forward, adamant. “Really, when was the last time you had some time to yourself! How do you like it, by the way? The tea, I mean.” Her bright eyes gestured, lips curved a soft smile.
Mirai set the tea cup down, made a show of looking especially relaxed and smiled contentedly. “It’s really very good, thank you. And I suppose you’re right, about having some time to myself. I can’t remember the last time... Things are just always so busy… with the children.” She turned her head towards a window near the entrance as if looking far away. Her smile suddenly looked sad.
“Oh, do you miss them? It’s barely been a day, Mirai!”
Mirai tilted her head. Not because she missed them, but because in this moment, honestly, she didn’t… she felt terribly guilty if she thought about it. It was a strange feeling, but the Mirai who was a mother of two felt separate from the Mirai she was right now.
“No… I mean, of course I miss them Sayla, but not so much.” She turned back quickly to Sayla, feeling like she had a small epiphany she wanted to share. “I just had a funny thought, must be a complex I’ve developed. To do something solely for yourself, sometimes feels,” leaning forward, “a little guilty doesn’t it?” She covered up her provocative lips by bringing her teacup to them.
Sudden warmth in her lap. Sayla had leaned forward, under the small table, to grasp her hand which had been resting in her lap. She squeezed, and rubbed Mirai’s palm with her thumb. In this position, the tops of Sayla’s fingers were against Mirai’s thighs. The other player steps up, with an alluring smile. “Mirai-san, I know exactly what you mean.” She reached forward suddenly with her other hand as if to brush something off Mirai’s shoulder. Instead she played with a brown curl there - Mirai’s chestnut brown hair was just a bit longer than shoulder length these days. “I really love what you’ve done with your hair, by the way Mirai-san. Sorry I didn’t mention it earlier.” She grinned, showing teeth, and laughed pleasantly.
Now Mirai was blushing as well.
---
Hours later they found themselves in a huge department store.
After tea they walked through the city as Sayla pointed at sights and rattled off facts. A brief detour through a zoo - a fraction of what it had been in the middle ages, Sayla explained. A light lunch at a shop that had been in operation for hundreds of years despite how many times the city had been destroyed by acts of mankind and God. Now Sayla explained, it was time for shopping.
“I have a game in mind, in fact.” She said, rather seriously, sunglasses still worn inside and hiding her intentions. Her arms were folded. Mirai turned to look back at her, eyes wide in surprise. “A game, really?” Sayla shrugged and relaxed, caught up to Mirai. “Sorry sorry, bad joke, it’s not that serious. I just thought it’d be fun if we shopped for each other. I’m in your hands, Mirai-san!” She raised a hand in an old-fashioned prayer gesture. Mirai sighed and thought for a moment, raising an index finger to her chin. “It’s a little unfair to ask me to buy you something, don’t you think? I’d spend my whole weekly budget on the first day of this vacation!” Now it was Sayla’s turn to sigh. She disliked being reminded of their gap between them when it came to money. She really stepped in it. “Mirai, Mirai, it’s just for fun, no purchase necessary! Come on, let’s go upstairs. They should have some new winter styles.”
Mirai hadn't been in a store as grand as this in quite a while. The floors and fixtures all seemed to be made of dark woods, probably trying to recall mahogany. She couldn't tell without closer inspection if it was really wood or not - if it was, this building was either impossibly old or impossibly expensive to construct now.
Sayla led her from display to display. They spent some time with a clerk looking at perfumes. Sayla tried some shoes; she didn't buy any. Her energy was infectious. Mirai found herself getting nostalgic, remembering when she was a child and her father took her on shopping trips in the colonies. Good times. She wished she could bring Cheimin here some time. A store map showed her another floor with an in-house tailor and men's suits, and she imagined Bright bringing Hathaway here to get his first suit. A fantasy…no, no, all they had now time. They just had to find it.
She blinked and realized she lost Sayla. Oops. Looking around to get her bearings, she realized she was in a most unexpected section. This really was an extensive store to carry articles of clothing that were out of season…
---
She soon found Sayla. They both had a few articles of clothing in their arms - coats, sweaters, blouses. Sayla suggested they try some things on in the fitting rooms. A polite attendant told them they were just in time as a room had just opened up, and led them through a hall of doors, unlocking the room in question for them. She nodded and made her way back to greet more guests.
Mirai opened the door and was impressed again with this establishment - the fitting room was quite spacious. She made to go through the door but looked behind her at Sayla who hadn’t budged an inch - she was pale and had a tortured expression on her porcelain face. After a moment, she whispered “Hey Mirai, why don’t we get our own rooms, no need to change together right?” Mirai furrowed her brows. “What are you so shy about? Besides, the employee already went back outside, don’t bother them over something so silly.” She grabbed Sayla by the wrist with her free arm, careful not to drop her bundle of clothes, and led Sayla inside. The room was windowed on all the walls and had angled mirrors on the corners, as well as a modest table, hooks, benches - all the amenities. Mirai laid her set of clothes flat, careful to not spoil a surprise, but Sayla was not paying attention, looking down and fumbling with her own selection of clothes.
Mirai genuinely had no clue, but she presented her first article - a long rainjacket. “C’mon Sayla, try this on. It’s not as heavy as the one you’re wearing, but it’s lined, see?” She opened the inside to show a patterned lining, “It’ll still be warm for the winter coming up.” Sayla looked at the jacket and then back to Mirai. “So, you wound up shopping for me anyway?” She sounded slightly disappointed as she got up and started to try on the jacket, after removing the one she was already wearing. Mirai made a show of walking around her with a discerning eye, using the mirror to get in all the angles. Sayla was wearing a simple turtle neck, black, which accentuated her narrow frame. “This is much more fun. It wasn’t a bad idea, after all.”
---
Sayla relaxed after the first two items Mirai gave her to try on, the rainjacket, which they both decided didn’t suit her at all - the cut just didn’t suit her, and a wool sweater that she did think she would end up buying. Mirai seemed to be enjoying herself seeing Sayla in these outfits. “You’re like my little dressing doll…” she said contentedly as she continued to “judge” Sayla. For now, Sayla was also beginning to enjoy herself, as she liked Mirai’s attention. These last two items she had no qualms trying on as she could wear over her clothes. She didn’t remember until the moment before entering the fitting room, but it would be quite embarrassing to undress in front of Mirai. Suffice to say, she had prepared something in a way that she didn’t want to reveal, in case there was a misunderstanding… And right now would blow the surprise. If there was an opportunity for it to be blown, anyway.
That was until Mirai pulled out a bikini.
---
Sayla was struggling to keep her voice at a polite whisper, for the sake of the other fitting rooms. “Where did you even find a swim suit in November!” Mirai was really enjoying dangling the two-piece over her head. It was blue with some green patterns, and was very small. “I just found myself there. It’s a small clearance, but I assume its for people traveling to the southern hemisphere. Pretty funny, but the people who shop in this store must be able to afford it huh? C’mon Sayla, isn’t it cute?”
“It’s microscopic! Besides, it’s unhygienic. I won’t do it!”
Really, Sayla? What’s going on, you presenting such a weak defense? “Sayla, I know you know these have hygienic pads on bottoms, and you try them over your underwear anyway. It’s not any smaller than I’ve seen you wear before. Well, maybe a little. C’moooon just try it. It’s only me here, after all.”
Underwear? Was that it? Is she not wearing any or something? Mirai hadn’t been looking Sayla over the last few minutes for no good reason. Well, it definitely wasn’t a “good” reason. She was just looking… in any case, Sayla clearly had at least a bra. She’s definitely supporting those girls. Not even the princess’s tits, modest in size but perfect in shape, would be disobeying gravity after all this time on Earth. She was familiar with how they looked au naturel, at least back in the day. No panties then? No panty line, but c’mon… there’s no way.
Sayla hadn’t budged but was reddening under Mirai’s scrutiny. “Well, out with it Sayla, I’m curious now and I can do this all day!” Mirai’s voice was clearly above a whisper at this point. “Shhhhh!” Sayla closed her eyes and pressed a finger to her lips. Then she kept her eyes shut, as if this would all go away. Just as Mirai was about to give up, feeling that this was going too far - she was just teasing Sayla but didn’t expect this turn - Sayla signed and quickly pulled her turtleneck over her head.
Sayla was wearing a rather extravagant piece of black lingerie. A whole affair that looked to be made of lace and ribbon, though based on how it cradled, shaped, and lifted all while looking so soft and as if made of one fabric, it must have been some hybrid construction of synthetic materials. That’s all? Really, Sayla, you… She had to admit, Sayla looked damn good in it, though it was always hard to tell if it was just Sayla or it was the clothes. Underwear, in this case. Well, now I know. This answered a lot about where Sayla’s head was at, meeting Mirai today. That was a relief though, and then Mirai felt lightness, a tingling, and a sense of electricity in her palms. She was getting excited.
Sayla in the meantime was rather outrageously standing, eyes still closed, holding out a hand, presumably for the swimsuit top. Her cheeks were puffed out as if she was holding her breath too. Sayla, don’t make it so easy…
“Do you always wear stuff like that?”
“No.”
“You have a hot date tonight, then? Going to ditch me after this?”
“No! I would never, Mirai!” Her eyes flashed open in a moment of genuine shock at the insinuation, then she saw Mirai’s face and somehow flushed even more, all the way to the ears. She grabbed the bikini top and turned away from Mirai, started to slip on the confusion of strings and pads. But turning away was useless in this room of mirrors.
“Is it very comfortable? I’ve never liked wearing fancy things like that.”
“I have no problem with them. You aught to know Mirai, it’s all about being sized and fitted correctly.” Her nose was actually in the air! “I know a place here in town, where I bought this actually. They’re always booked but I can pull some strings, you know.” She looked at Mirai in the reflection of the mirror.
Mirai wasn’t biting though. “Hm… maybe. I rather like mine though, I have a few I bought all at once when my old ones didn’t fit after the babies. I’ll stick with ‘em.” As she said this she undid a few buttons of her blouse and pulled it open slightly to give Sayla a show. She checked in the mirror to make sure nothing had slipped out, but only noticed her trusty unlined, skin tone bra, and some of her blue varicose veins. Not too shabby, if I say so myself. “Still haven’t been able to cut some of that weight, just sticks to you in those places I guess. Sayla, pick your eyeballs up from the floor and put on the bottoms too. This isn’t anything you haven’t seen before!”
“I disagree, Mirai-san, I hadn’t noticed but they’re huge!”
“They are NOT.”
“They must hurt… speaking of comfort…” Sayla mumbled.
“They’re perfectly fine.” Only sometimes, Mirai thought as she buttoned up the blouse.
Sayla hesitated to unzip and pull her skirt down, but it was too late at this point. Her panties matched the bra, but Mirai was shocked to see Sayla’s bare ass. A thong, really! Mirai was embarrassed it was her turn to pick something up from the floor - her jaw.
“Sayla, really, that’s quite something. I repeat myself, there’s no way that’s comfortable.”
“I don’t want a panty line! It’s perfectly normal, and they’re perfectly comfortable. I can’t believe you’re such a prude Mirai!”
Mirai was trying to give Sayla a pinch but she deftly swatted the hand away, though the movement almost caused her to lose her balance and fall into the mirrors. They agreed to calm down after that.
Needless to say, Sayla bought the bikini. It really did look good on her after all.
---
“Kai?! Kai Shiden?!”
A few hours later they were at dinner. Sayla selected a very popular Japanese restaurant, famous for its food as well as the aesthetics of the establishment. They had a private room with tatami mats and seating pillows with low backs, and a low table. The restaurant was also famous for its rice wine. Mirai and Sayla had indulged a little, and as one might expect, all sorts of topics were discussed. They sat on the floor, pressed together on the same side of the table.
“Well, only a few times.”
“Sayla, please, you’re kidding me.”
“Nooooo, I’m not. It’s not really that big of a deal Mirai! We’re adults, we set rules, we both got what we wanted. We still talk.” Sayla was running her finger around a sake cup, reminiscing. But Mirai’s reaction did hurt her feelings. She said as much.
“Oh, I’m sorry Sayla. It’s just… It just feels like yesterday he was chasing you around White Base. He always had a crush on you. I can’t believe he let you go after…” she trailed off, feeling embarrassed by assuming anything. “Sorry, I don’t know what I’m saying.” She touched her fingers to her warm cheeks. This sake was dangerous, this was the last cup for sure.
“It’s OK Mirai, I understand. Honestly I am too but before we went anywhere, I told him what to expect from me. Something permanent, between him and I… it would never work. Thankfully he understood. We were just blowing off some steam, I think. Tying loose ends, maybe? I don’t know…” She smiled and chuckled to herself, thinking of this, that, and the other. “It was a pretty good time though.”
“Really?” Mirai sounded genuinely intrigued.
“Oh, yes. Kai was very obedient, he did everything I told him. He wouldn’t hurt a fly… unless I asked him to.” She winked at Mirai then added in a deeper, military voice, “Very polite, very formal.” They both laughed.
The door slid open and their female server moved into the room on her knees. “Excuse me -” When she looked up at the two women, she hesitated for a second - perhaps she was surprised to see one woman almost in the other's lap. “I apologize for the interruption mistress, but your food will be served now.” Sayla sat back up, straightened her clothes, and thanked the woman, but if she felt embarrassed she did not show it.
Two other servers entered the room to help remove the appetizer plates and to serve the main course - a colorful rainbow of sushi. Sashimi cuts simmered like gold before Sayla and Mirai. The head server also discreetly replaced their sake carafe with a full one, Mirai observed.
“Oooooh, it's so good! Mirai have you tried the hamachi? Here, here… it's good right? I told you, this place is legit. I'll introduce you to the manager if she's in tonight. She's Japanese too, though the sushi chef is from Central America if I recall correctly…” How Sayla spoke quickly, impatient to grab another piece. She squealed in delight again.
“It really is quite good. Very authentic, as far as I can tell… though I haven't had sushi in Japan since I was a child so I can't really claim to have any expertise… Oh and please don't introduce to me to anyone, it would be too embarrassing Sayla. Especially if they're a die hard conservative, it'll be a pain to explain I, a Yashima, didn't marry a Japanese man.” She was half joking, but only half. Since the One Year War, Japan had a notorious closed-door policy. The two women mulled over history repeating itself, nodding sagely.
“Not that I'm complaining, but they did bring a lot of food…” Mirai had a few pieces already and was starting to worry where the rest would go.
“Oh, did I forget to mention? My assistant will be joining us soon, as thanks for helping us with the bags earlier.”
After their shopping spree, Sayla had called her assistant to get the multiple bags of clothes and two hat boxes Sayla had purchased. Mirai had gone to the restroom (which was again, another shockingly large room with onyx sinks and silver fixtures) and by the time she was back, the bags and their porter were gone. It was all well and good since they were nearing the time for their reservation, which was fortunately only a few blocks away.
Sayla said after another piece of sushi. “You'll really like her, Mirai. I came upon her when she was about Hathaway's age, but she's really grown into a capable young woman. Oh I should save the praise for when she's here, she soooo cute when she blushes. Oh, and another thing you'll find very interesting…” she paused to reach for another morsel. “Sayla, slow down. You're racking up the sins.”
“Excuse me?” Sayla stopped dead in her tracks.
“Oh gluttony, avarice, lust…” Mirai, surely on purpose to sell the heat, took a sip of sake. However, Sayla did not appreciate the sentiment. Her eyes narrowed.
“Are you still caught on Kai? Get over it already, you're the one who asked. Oooh, I never should have told you!”
Mirai’s eyes widened as she realized she'd made a huge mistake. She raised her hands up in an appealing gesture. “Holy on Sayla, I didn't mean, oh I think we really should allow down on the sake-”
Sayla’s sake cup clattered loudly as she took another defiant drink. Mirai had been trying to pace herself, since she knew she was bad with alcohol...
“I can fuck who I want, I don't need your permission! He likes it, I like it, there's no problem… I won't take being shamed by you, Mirai. You never liked me and Amuro either…”
Mirai was content taking her lashes for what she implied, but at that she cut in, “That's not true, Sayla, I just-” she stopped. Knew it wouldn't work out … She felt truly awful now.
Sayla trembled, as if she was debating if she should say something. "You, then Amuro, then Kai... I'm just going down the White Base roster, aren't I?" Her voice was filled with self disgust. "You think I'm a slut, don't you? Loose woman, with men or women, it doesn't matter..." She sank down over the table, her face away from Mirai.
Sternly, but compassionate, Mirai said "Sayla, please don't talk about yourself like that. I don't think any of that at all, either." She rubbed Sayla's back. "All of us on White Base, we had a special connection. We all went through a lot, and we were so young ... Our relationships took all types of shapes. But no matter what, they were all beautiful, don't you think?"
Sayla was quiet for a second, her breathing calming. Suddenly she froze completely, exhaled, then tilted her head to the door.
She looked at Mirai, her demeanor suddenly changed. Mirai's head was spinning - what was going on? Her senses were slamming her with new and contractory information. First, she expected Sayla to have puffy eyes or a flushed face, based on how she was a moment ago. Secondly, she has the feeling something was coming, but it was feeling she hadn't felt since the old days. A premonition. Sayla smirked sheepishly at her.
"Sorry Mirai, I was being a little dramatic just now. I feel like we were about to get somewhere in that conversation, but we're going to be interrupted. Make yourself proper for my assistant, please. Can't have her lose any more respect for me." Slightly annoyed, she sat upright.
"I do want to pick up where we left off." She said.
"Of course." Mirai was confused but she could agree to that at least.
There was a tapping at the door and then they opened, revealing a young petite woman with mousey brown hair. She was wearing the black suit of an attendant, and wore a pure wholesome smile, her green eyes shining bright. With her appearance, a kind of peace descended on the room. It was a welcome change.
Mirai understood all at once, the attendant was a newtype. It all made sense. She looked at Sayla.
"This is my assistant, Leina Ashita. It's a pleasure to finally have you two meet, as she's very familiar with your husband."
"Yes, I've heard a little of her and her brother. And all your accomplishments. I hope my husband didn't cause you too much trouble." She nodded respectfully.
Leina waved her hands, exclaiming, "Oh no, we owe him! My brother and his friends were a real handful back then, any trouble was wholely their fault." She bowed and asked to enter the room, which Sayla granted. She sat across the corner from Sayla.
"Leina, thank you for coming on short notice, but this isn't a professional meeting." Sayla smiled and put a hand on Leina's shoulder."I have some news to share, plus I'd like you to eat with us."
"Oh thank you, Sayla-san ... But what news do you have that concerns me?"
"Plenty of time for that in a minute. Here, try the toro, it's fantastic."
They enjoyed the sushi, as Mirai offhandedly inquired as to how and where the fish came from, to be so fresh. Sayla let Leina explain between bites. Mirai was wholly impressed with the young Leina, who was refined, well spoken, and educated on what seemed a wide variety of topics. Mirai began to expect Leina was more than a smile assistant but more like an apprentice or protege.
"Now I wanted to take advantage of the timing of everything involved... And Mirai being here, for a little emotional support" she locked eyes with Mirai for a moment. Determination? But a little fear as well. "Well, in short, I've decided to lend my capital to a Jupiter mission. I'll be personally accompanying them, as will Leina, if she's interested. And before you ask, yes, we can make a trip to find Judeau, wherever he is in the Jupiter Sphere."
Leina, completely ignoring the decorum Mirai was just praising her for, leapt into Sayla's arms. "Oh Sayla-san, thank you thank you thank youuuu! I can't wait to see onii-san!!" It was a heart warming scene. Sayla put her arms around the young woman, smiling contentedly. "Leina, you know this is the result of your own efforts."
Sayla looked to Mirai and explained, "Leina created a whole investment proposal around infrastructure of some of Jupiter's less developed moons. It aligned with my interests as well, so she knows her audience. In any case, barely any work from myself to get this going." She rubbed Leina's head in praise, as the younger woman giggled in a way much more becoming of a girl.
"That's very impressive, Leina, especially for someone your age. "
Mirai had lingering doubts about Sayla's lack of a support structure - part of the reason she had actually inquired about Kai. But she felt after seeing Sayla and Reina, she felt some relief. She felt guilty about how she and Sayla fell out of contact, then had these meetings that picked up where things left off, years in between ... Comforting in one sense, but arresting in another. She made up her mind about some things
After they finished eating, Sayla let Leina go. Leina hesitated, probably expecting to be a chauffeur. Sayla explained, "Don't wait for me, Leina. I'm pulling an all nighter tonight at the office." Leina understood the coded message, but the young woman couldn't help it and glanced at Mirai. Mirai was confused at first, but something in the girl's knowing glance betrayed her. In short: don't expect me home tonight. That's settled then. What's the best way to go about it?
Coals that had grown cold in Leina's presence rekindled themselves after the young woman left. There was an awkward silence as they waited for the check to be settled
"Well ... Do you want to continue this conversation at my hotel? It's very nice."
And I've got some ideas, thinking back to the available amenities I saw in the room's brochure. Surprising variety of things to order for room service these days
"Yes, that sounds good. Your hotel is on the way to my office anyway." A mentally rehearsed line. So she still intends to keep up a front. I guess it's a fall back line.
"Oh, it should be a nice walk too. There should be fireworks tonight!"
I certainly hope so, Mirai thought
To be continued!