Work Text:
Mai clipped a lock of hair behind her ear and took a long look at herself in the mirror. Today, she had on a pine green halterneck top and black denim shorts. She applied the last of her lip gloss and dropped the tube into the trash.
Normally, she'd be sad to reach the end of her favorite product, but those days are over.
A huge mall was having its grand opening in downtown Kyoto. The travel magazine she subscribed to included coupons for brands launching only at the new location. She'd be lying if she said she hadn't been looking forward to it.
After shoving her phone and wallet into separate pockets, she knocked on Momo’s door. “Momo! Are you ready?”
A sigh came through the door. “Give me one more minute.”
“What are you doing?”
“Why are you rushing me? We’re both late.”
Momo stepped out of her room, the wings on her eyeliner sharp enough to cut someone. The navy sundress she wore had a golden floral pattern wind around the waistline.
All the irritation in Mai’s body disappeared immediately. “Wow, Momo. You look great.”
“I know,” Momo giggled. “So do you.”
Mai was stuck, floored by the simplest compliment. Momo brushed past her, and Mai caught the scent of peach perfume. It was Momo's favorite, and slowly became Mai’s too.
“You coming?”
Mai jolted out of her daydream. “Right. Yes.”
The bus ride there was so much shorter than their last trip into town. Whenever they wanted to pretend they were a regular couple, they preferred to be further away from the higher-ups' prying eyes. For now, Mai stared at Momo's hands, watching as her thumb flew over the phone screen.
Downtown was as far as Utahime would allow students to go on their own, so they made the most of crowded spaces. Surrounded by strangers, Mai stepped off the bus and finally allowed herself to reach for Momo. Momo grabbed her hand eagerly, intertwining their fingers in the way that always makes Mai's heart skip a beat. The renewed spring in Momo's step was undeniable and endearing.
Finally at the mall, they strolled around the first floor. They almost passed a fountain in the middle of the hall, but Mai made them stop so she could get some photos.
Heading into an alternative store, Mai lingered by the entrance. Momo headed to a display wall, on the hunt for a new choker. Instead of choosing between one with a heart-shaped locket and one made of spiraling black lace, she got both.
Mai fiddled with a band shirt on one of the racks, but put it back when she saw the price.
Next, Momo pulled Mai into a candle store. Momo browsed the section with tiny tea lights. The mixed fragrances of different candles bid Mai to wander around.
She approached a table of candles meant to smell like various foods and settings. She picked up a couple jars of tropical sunset and cinnamon apple. Lavender was nice and all, but it was time for something else. Her hand paused when she came across a new one: peach cobbler.
Mai's gaze flicked up to look for Momo—who now had her hands full of seven-day candles—before hiding the jar's label among the others she planned to buy. Even though she'd never eaten peach cobbler before, perhaps Momo would appreciate its scent for her birthday.
She got in line, a familiar presence joining from behind.
“Whatcha got there?” Momo sidled up next to her and peered at Mai's arms.
Mai angled herself to show Momo the forward-facing jars.
“Ooh. What about that one?” Momo nodded toward the one nestled against Mai's stomach.
Mai whipped back around. “Don't worry about it.”
“Must be pretty special, then.” Momo's singsong tone gave the words a teasing air.
Mai pretended not to hear it, but committed the sound to memory anyway. She checked out as carefully as possible, shielding the label from Momo's view as discreetly as possible.
On the escalator up to the next floor, a huge banner came into view. It featured the same woman on the coupon folded in Mai’s pocket. The girls exchanged grins, their excitement making the escalator ride feel sluggish.
Eventually, they rose to the desired floor and made a beeline for the store. The interior was swarmed with shoppers to the point where it was hard to see any of the products. Mai hooked her arm around Momo’s to make sure not to lose her in the crowd.
Mai gave a few fruitless hops, trying to see over anyone’s heads. She looked down at Momo, who sighed, pulled Mai inside, and kept to the walls. It was inconvenient, but it worked.
Before they passed a table of lip glosses, Mai tugged on Momo’s arm. Mai reached out and picked up the clear gloss she’d wanted to try. Off to the side, Momo held three tubes of eye shadow next to each other. Mai squinted, doing her best to tell the difference between shades of baby blue.
Mai hummed. “I’m sure any of them would look fi-”
“Alright, outta the way!”
That voice.
It sparked annoyance, and Mai glared into the middle distance as her mind worked to figure out why. It didn’t have to work too hard, since she caught a flash of orange hair as Nobara muscled her way through the crowd with Maki.
Nobara pointed to a boy standing in front of the eyeliner wall. “You. Move.”
He scurried out of her way.
Mai locked eyes with Maki, who seemed unfazed by this level of disruption. It wasn’t until they both looked down—Mai at Nobara and Maki’s joined hands, and Maki at their linked arms—that they both immediately let go of their girlfriends.
Momo crossed her arms, eyes narrowed at Nobara. “Well, if it isn’t Maki’s errand runner.”
Maki’s eyebrows knit together. “You still call her that?”
“I have a name, you know.” Nobara shoved her bags into Maki’s hands, then stalked over to Momo. “Or do I have to hit you with the squeaky hammer again for you to remember it?”
Momo’s hands balled into little fists.
Mai closed her eyes and considered her options. If she let them get into a fight here, what would happen?
They’d break everything. Then they’d all get kicked out, maybe banned for life. And if that happened, she’d have to give up the lip gloss.
Well, that’s not happening.
She put her hands on Momo’s shoulders to keep her from approaching. Maki wrapped an arm around Nobara’s collarbone, holding her back as though she’d done it a thousand times before. That would be the least surprising thing in the world to Mai.
“Momo. It’s not worth it.”
“I know. Tell that to her.” Mai could almost feel the electricity crackle in the glare between Momo and Nobara.
Nobara opened her mouth—no doubt with a challenge on her tongue—but Maki spoke first.
“Nobara,” Maki said with a sigh, “Cut it out. We came here to check out what they have. That’s all we’re gonna do.”
Nobara relaxed into Maki’s hold. The agitation on her face lessened bit by bit, and she pushed out a deep breath. “Fine.”
Mai squared her shoulders and pointed from her eyes toward Maki’s. “We never saw each other. Got it?”
Maki nodded. She set Nobara free, but kept an eye on her while she addressed her sister. “So it’s a truce, then?”
“At least until we’re out of the mall.”
“Just the mall?”
Mai felt her eye twitch, but chose not to acknowledge it. “Don’t push it.”
Maki shrugged. “I figured it was worth asking. Come on.” She grabbed the back of Nobara’s white overalls and dragged her back into the crowd. Nobara kept making faces at Momo until they were out of sight.
Mai looked down to see Momo returning the favor. Mai couldn’t help but laugh at seeing her so riled up.
Momo turned on her heel. “Ugh! She’s so… so...”
“Sure is. But she’s Maki’s problem again.” She handed Momo a display brush and swatch card. “Now, where’d you put those eyeshadows?”
Two hours and many bags later, Mai and Momo found themselves in the food court. Mai had gotten a chicken wrap with seasoned curly fries, while Momo had a medium-sized bowl of grilled shrimp on top of fried rice. Mai reached out slowly enough to catch Momo’s attention, slowly enough for Momo to stop her, and plopped one of the shrimp into her mouth.
Momo watched her eat it, sighed, and pushed the bowl between them to share. Mai gave her the brightest smile she could manage. It dimmed when she noticed it went unreturned, with Momo’s eyes cast down at an empty section of the table.
“Hey,” Momo said. “You think they'll tell anybody?”
Mai’s blood ran cold for a few seconds before she remembered who they were talking about. “Maki's not like that. Her girl isn’t, either.”
“How do you know?”
Mai rested her chin in the palm of her hand. “Maki owes me. As much as I don’t wanna be here, she’d never take away the only thing worth staying for. I’m sure even her little errand runner would understand that.”
She winked, and Momo laughed. It was an unguarded, relaxed sound, and Mai’s heartbeat stuttered again. She couldn’t bring herself to be embarrassed, instead savoring this moment together for as long as time allowed.