Chapter Text
“Mommy! Mommy!”
A small head of blue hair ran into the Togawa villa, excited as can be. She had just gotten home from her first day at kindergarten, and while she cried many tears as she was being dropped off, she was now beaming as she returned home, having been picked up by her father.
“Sakiko, honey! How was your first day, dear?”
“It was lots and lots of fun!”
“I’m really happy to hear.” Sakiko’s mother replied as she picked her up and sat her in her lap.
“I made a friend! Her name’s Mutsumi!” the young girl continued, a sunny smile on her face. “I asked her what her mommy did, and she said she was an… um… a… play lady…? She said she did theater and movies.”
“We call them actresses, sweetheart.”
“Oooh, yeah!” Seemingly satisfied to have learned a new word, Sakiko then turned her focus to the piano her mother had been playing before she came in, and began to press keys at random. “Hehe…”
“Would you like to learn to play, dear?”
“Can I!?”
“Of course! I think you’ve reached about the age to learn. I’d be happy to teach you when I have the time!”
“Yaay! I can show Mutsumi once I’m a really good pianess!”
“It’s pianist, dear… hehe.” Mizuho smiled kindly. “Tell me, what’s Mutsumi-chan like?”
“Um… she’s really expressive! She can make all kinds of faces, and tell a lot of jokes… but also, she can be really calm! When I talked to her the first time, she ran around and played with me, but after lunch, she just sat in the classroom and read a book for a while. I was happy because I was getting tired from playing so much before anyway!”
“She sounds like a nice child. I’m happy you could meet someone you like so much, honey.”
“Yeah! Hey, hey, mommy… can I invite her to my birthday? Pretty please?”
“Hehe, that’s still pretty far away, you know? You just had your fifth two months ago…”
“I just really really really want her to come!”
Seeing the light in her darling daughter’s eyes, Mizuho couldn’t help but smile. “All right, sweetie. I’ll talk to Grandpa about it when the time comes.”
“Yaaaay!” Overjoyed to have her wish granted, Sakiko hopped off her mother’s lap, and ran out of the room. “Papa! Papa! Mommy said Mutsumi can come to my birthday!”
“Hehe… just as wild as her mother. This child of mine…”
Comfortable in the knowledge that her little family is as perfect as can be, Mizuho resumed her piano playing. It promised to be a busy Valentine’s Day next year…
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“Here she comes. One, two…”
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAKIKO!”
“Waaaah!” Sakiko jumped, surprised by her parents’ celebrating, before coming into the room, running over to her parents and tackling their legs in a hug. “Thank you, Papa, Mommy!”
“Of course, dear. And good morning. We’ve just finished decorating the living room. What do you think?”
“Oooh, it’s so pretty! I love the blue balloons! Are they blue because that’s my hair color?”
“Mhm. Your head is like a tiny blue balloon.” Kiyotsugu joked as he ruffled his daughter’s hair, earning a laugh from her.
“Hey, hey, what time is it? Is it time for Mutsumi to come yet!?”
“Excited, aren’t you? It’s almost time, yes. You should go and change out of your pajamas before she gets here, okay? We can all have breakfast together afterward.”
“Okay! Be right back!” Sakiko nearly shouted, before hopping away to her room, leaving her parents on their own for a short while.
“Man… she’s even more chipper than usual, huh? Only six, and yet she has more energy than the both of us combined…” Kiyotsugu fake-complained with a chuckle.
“She really does. I don’t think I’ve seen her this excited to have a visitor before.”
“She must really like Mutsumi-chan… I’m really glad she could make a friend like her.”
“...Me too.”
ding-dong
“Oh, this must be her!”
“Go ahead and welcome our guests, Mizuho. I’ll make sure Sakiko’s properly dressed before she comes running in.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Walking over to the door, the Togawa heir prepared to be as welcoming as possible. She was never one to enjoy the delicate dance of nobility and their manners, but today, she wanted to make an effort, in order for her daughter to enjoy her big day with no issues. So, as she opened the door, she stood up as straight as she could, and put on a perfect smile. “Welcome to the Togawa household!”
“Hello, hello, Togawa-san!” Meeting her gaze with a practiced smile was a woman with green hair, accompanied by a small girl about Sakiko’s age. “My name is Minami Mori. I’m Mutsumi’s mother.”
“Oh, it’s good to meet you both! Sakiko’s told me a lot about you, Mutsumi-chan. And you’re just as cute as she says, too!”
“...” Mizuho swore she saw Minami’s perfect expression break for just a moment, but she chalked it up to her imagination. “Thank you kindly! Mutsumi, say thank you to the nice lady, won’t you?”
“...Um…”
“Come on. Say it.” Minami smiled.
“U-Um, it’s quite all right…” Mizuho tried to interject.
“No, no, it wouldn’t do not to be polite. Mutsumi.”
“Th… th-thank you…”
“Good, good.”
“Um… would you like to come in for tea? I’d like it if we could get along, like our daughters can.”
“I’m truly sorry, but I must be going…!” The Wakaba matriarch declined. “I have a shoot for my next film lined up today, so I only came to drop off my daughter. I’ll pick her up around eight, if that’s all right?”
“Oh, of course. Um… good lu–”
“I’ll see you later, all right, Mutsumi? Be good.”
“...Mhm… um, goodby–” Mutsumi replied, though her mother didn’t wait for her to respond, and had already begun to walk away.
“...”
Mizuho couldn’t help but feel on edge. Minami hadn’t done anything wrong, per se, but something about her demeanor bothered the woman. Her smile felt… too perfect, her words too practiced. She got the feeling that she enjoyed acting, even outside of her job, and that she needed to get rid of her stage prop as soon as possible so she could walk back on stage. Regardless, she tried not to get too lost in thought. Now wasn’t the time, and she had to be a good host for this innocent girl, who seemed so lost and small here on her doorstep, with no one she knows to spend time with her.
“...Would you like to come in? Sakiko will be here in just a few minutes.”
“...!” Hearing her best friend’s name, the small guest instantly perked up, becoming almost like a completely different person. “Y-Yes! Um, please! I wanna see Sakiko-chan!”
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Mizuho was more and more surprised the more she learned of Mutsumi. Sakiko had told her she was a very energetic girl at times, but the difference between her quiet self when she first saw her and the little girl nearly bouncing off the walls now was staggering. The teddy bear she was once clutching so close to her chest was now seated politely in a chair, guarding the small box she had brought with her while she moved around to discover every inch of the unfamiliar room. The woman simply watched with a smile, as she set various snacks and drinks on the table for everyone to enjoy.
“Mutsumi-chan, what would you like to eat for breakfast? We have all kinds of things, so please pick your favorite.”
“Thank you, ma’am! Um… can I have one of these?”
“Oh, the chocolate cornets? Good choice! Here you go.” Mizuho handed the girl one of the pastries, feeling proud that her impromptu visit to that bakery she had heard such good things about paid off. “Do you want me to put your gift with the other ones?”
“Ah–” Mutsumi panicked, barely managing to swallow properly before speaking. “It’s okay! If I can… I-I’d like to give it to Sakiko-chan myself…”
“...” Mizuho smiled. “That’s fine by me. I’m sure she’ll like your gift even more if she gets it from you directly!”
“...Mhm! Thank you!”
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Soon after Mizuho finished preparing, Sakiko came downstairs, and the birthday party began in earnest. Together with her parents and Mutsumi, the young girl played all sorts of games, enjoyed delicious snacks, and had an amazing day. As the sun was setting, however, Mizuho and Kiyotsugu had to go, as they had reserved a restaurant to celebrate Valentine’s Day together, leaving the two children alone with only housekeepers to keep them company. As the excitement began to wear off, Mutsumi found herself winding down as well, becoming her calmer self once again.
“Sigh…”
“...Saki. Are you sad?”
“Hmm… yes, a little bit…”
“...I wish our parents cared about us more.”
“O-Oh, no, I’m not sad about that…! Mommy and Papa spent a lot of the day with me. I know today is the day when grownups spend time alone together, so I’m happy they still wanted to be with me for my birthday!”
“...” Mutsumi stayed quiet for a moment. “...then, why are you sad?”
“Because you’re gonna have to leave soon, Mutsumi…! I’m having so much fun, even now that we’re just reading together quietly!”
“...Mhm.” The green-haired girl smiled imperceptibly. “I’m having fun too.”
“You’re the greatest birthday gift ever, Mutsumi…!”
“Ah–” Suddenly, the guest stood up, seemingly remembering something. “The gift…!”
“Hm? What is it– wait, is that for me!?” Sakiko said, shocked, as her best friend pulled out a thin, rectangular box about as long as her forearm.
“...Yeah. Happy birthday, Saki.”
“Can I open it now!?”
“...P-Please do.”
“Yay!” Not missing a beat, the blue-haired girl wasted no time in ripping the wrapping paper open, before carefully opening the black box inside. “Oh…! Is that…?”
“...Um… I know it’s your birthday today, but also… like you said, today’s the day grownups spend time with the people they like… so, um…”
“What a pretty rose…! Aaah, this is such a good gift! I love it so much!”
“...and, uh… since I like you a lot… I looked at Mom’s movies and… um…” Mutsumi continued to mumble under her breath as Sakiko shouted with excitement.
“Oh, sorry, Mutsumi! I was so happy, I wasn’t listening… what were you saying?”
“...It’s nothing.” The girl replied bashfully.
“...” As silence fell between the two, Sakiko seemed to consider something. As she reached a conclusion, she gathered her courage, and began to declare something. ”Aaah, all right! I have a gift too!”
“Hm? But, it’s your birthday, Saki…”
“I wanted to surprise you on the anniversary of us becoming friends, but I just can’t wait after such a nice gift!” The noble girl stated, before heading over to the piano, and taking a deep breath.
Mutsumi felt enthralled as her friend began to play the instrument carefully. Her arms were short, so she couldn’t quite reach the notes at the beginning and end of the keyboard, but the classical music she had practiced was nonetheless beautiful in a way the six-year-old couldn’t qualify. She made mistakes here and there, be it from messing up the tempo or pressing the wrong key, but for a girl her age, Sakiko played impressively. She was a natural at this; even Mutsumi could tell.
“...Phew…! I did it…!”
“...Whoa…”
“I practiced a lot! I’m not perfect yet… but Mommy says it’s okay, so I thought I’d show you now!” The birthday girl said, as she went back to her friend’s side. “I, um…!”
“That was… thank you, Saki. I had a lot of fun… listening.”
“O-Of course! Um…”
“...?” Mutsumi looked at her friend inquisitively. She seemed to still have something on her mind. “Are you okay?”
“Y-Yes! Yes… um! C-Can you… close your eyes for a moment…?”
“...Okay.” Mutsumi simply stated, following her friend’s guidance.
“...” Sakiko gathered her courage once again, and leaned into her best friend, leaving a quick, shy kiss on her lips.
“A-Ah–” Not expecting such a gesture, Mutsumi’s eyes shot open, and she lost her balance, only managing to stay upright by using the table behind her as support.
“U-Um!” Sakiko began, blushing. “O-Once, when we were eating breakfast, I saw Mommy and Papa doing this… and they told me that I should only do that with my favorite person in the whole world! So, um…! I w-wanted to do that with you!”
“Aah… um…” Mutsumi, meanwhile, felt like her brain was about to explode. “Th-Thank… you…” The both of them were blushing intensely, but Mutsumi was the most affected of them both, as she hadn’t expected her affection to be returned.
“Mutsumi… I’m really, really, really happy we’re friends!”
“...Yeah. Me too…!”
As the two of them returned to their usual selves, they couldn’t help but smile. This day may be coming to an end, but they could both tell that their bond was now ironclad, with innocent love as the strongest alloy.
Nothing could ever pull them apart. Not even the sun and moon themselves. Of this, they were both certain.