Greedy Chapter 6

# Chapter Six - "What Do Those Words Mean?"

### Megumi

    In the relatively short months we've been together, my friends have shown themselves to be creatures of habit time and time again, and this is perhaps never more apparent than in the ways they choose to gravitate to and from one another. Preferences toward one's companions are, of course, to be expected in social situations, and some personalities will be prone to attracting certain others with more or less magnetism. It also can't be overlooked that there are a number of preexisting friendships among the members of our group, making this case study somewhat flawed by virtue of those entanglements, but still, many of them are much newer, and nevertheless I find it fascinating to watch such attachments develop.

    Take for example young Ms. Mitsuboshi. She is, without a doubt, one of the most universally beloved among our group. Even our friends most prone to gossip - what I understand to be a fairly common behavior for girls our age - scarcely utter a negative word about her, even in jest. Yet despite this universal love, given the option of spending her time in the company of any of our number, it is almost without exception Ms. Watanabe and Ms… *Junko*, to whom Ms. Mitsuboshi gravitates. Likewise, Ms. Chanel and Ms. Zhou, though they have acclimated quickly to the dynamics of the larger group, are so far often inseparable, and are found as often as not in the additional company of Ms. Hoshino, who I will admit is a bit of a wild card in my theory, as she more than anyone seems to still be feeling out her place within the group. Or perhaps she's the "socializing butterfly" I've heard exists, being content with any company she finds herself in, much like Ms. Hanazawa. Speaking of which, Ms. Han is often quite enthralled by Ms. Hanazawa - at least on the occasions during which Ms. Junko is keeping her rather obvious and slightly improper preoccupation with her roommate in check - and on the occasions when Ms. Hanazawa's attention is otherwise occupied often seeks out the company of myself, with or without the added presence of Ms. Inagawa, or else retreats to any number of tertiary associates she's made across the city. Ms. Han, I've discovered, is an excellent running partner, possessing similar qualities of skill and stamina to myself, and we've enjoyed many early morning runs before departing for school and commuting back to the dorm together once lessons are done. Truthfully, I can find something commendable about the companionship of any among our group. Even those with whom, at a glance, I seem to have virtually nothing in common. Did you know, for instance, that Kazue's grandfather taught her to play the koto when she was a young child? She's terrible at it now, but there are so many fascinating facets and aspects to my friends that I continue to learn much from our time together.

    Of course, I'm not immune to the same attachments and biases that afflict everyone else. I too have a favored companion, one with whom I've grown closer than any of the others. One person with whom I've shared a level of familiarity I never expected I would possess with anyone, and whose friendship I have come to cherish above all others. The sole person I can say I've truly loved beyond my parents, whom you're expected to love unconditionally. In effect, the only person whom I've made the choice to allow to get close to me voluntarily.

    I'm speaking, of course, of Ms. Inagawa.

    Ms. Inagawa and I are best friends.

    I've never really had a best friend before.

    So I don't always know *exactly* what it means…

    What ***do*** those words mean?

    I know that it's someone you're meant to care for a great deal. I know that it's the step above a regular friend, but I can't say that until recently I've had an overabundance of those over the years either. So, to go straight from casual friendships at best to a best friendship so casually…

    Ms. Inagawa is singularly special to me.

    "Heeey, you. Looks like I've got some time now after all. Yeah, all the girls were so worked up they wanted to end practice early. Can you believe them? So if you still want to meet up… No, not there! Because my picture is literally hanging up behind the counter, duh. I'd probably be spotted in like, a minute, and we're training right now so I can't even eat that kind of… Sure, coffee works. No, are you crazy?! Meet me there, silly. I'm gonna head out now, so just come when you're done. Because rumors would be flying before we got to the cafe! Kay, see ya there. Bye-bye now!"

    I hate eavesdropping. It's such an undignified activity. Neither do I really ever have a need to eavesdrop, if I'm honest. One of the advantages to being rather unassuming is that people often forget you're even there after an initial greeting or nod of recognition, so entire conversations can happen while you're tucked in a corner reading a book or looking over new sheet music. When nobody tends to notice you, you're essentially invisible, for better or worse.

    Nor, for the record, did I have any intention to listen in to anyone's phone calls when I came to rehearse today. Politeness merely dictates that you not interrupt someone when they're having a conversation, and entering a room - in this case one of the smaller rehearsal spaces meant for vocal practice - is best done during a lull in the ongoing dialogue so one can introduce their presence properly. Thus I found myself paused just outside the door, within earshot of that phone call, waiting for an appropriate opportunity to enter. And since it lasted barely a minute, I had no chance to retreat to a more polite distance and restore my friend's privacy. Overhearing that conversation was, regrettably, entirely unavoidable given the circumstance.

    Once the exchange had passed I came face first with Eimi almost immediately. She exited the rehearsal space as soon as her call was finished and I was, naturally, still right there, unsure of what I had just heard.

    "Oh, heya Megumi. Whatcha up to?"

    "Good afternoon, Ms. Inagawa. I received a new piece of music which I planned to examine."

   She acted entirely nonchalant, evidently unaware that I had overheard her call. "Well Ms. Aihara, I was just checking my messages before running a few errands. Really thrilling stuff. The room's all yours."

    "I'd be happy to accompany you on your errands, Ms-"

    "Thanks, but nah. It's all boring stuff anyway. You'll have a better time learning the new piece." Eimi patted me twice on my right cheek and smiled. The sort of thing that you'd only do with a very close friend. She says it's boring, but it didn't sound boring when she talked about it, and her smile isn't one she'd normally have when she's about to do something unpleasant… "I'll text you when I'm back. Maybe we'll have time to get dinner, maybe not. Depends on how everything goes, so don't wait on my account if you're hungry. I'll text you when I'm on the way back. Bye-bye now!"

    "Perhaps I'll stop at the grocers and pick up some fresh daikon. I can make…"

    She skipped out in quite a hurry. Despite my insistence on continuing the dialogue, Eimi's conversation had evidently ended with her farewell. Was that rude of her or rude of me? I honestly couldn't say. I hadn't been done, but she had announced her departure. If best friends are supposed to be equal, how are you to even know who's in the right? How perplexing…

    It was not perplexing, however, who was in the wrong when I found myself sitting silently at a small booth in a coffee shop, inside a train station a few stops from our dormitory, sipping a cup of hot green tea mere inches from my friend - who is seated directly on the other side of the bench at the neighboring booth. This is, upon some quiet reflection, most assuredly *extremely* rude of me. Ms. Inagawa lied to me, admittedly, but that *must* pale in comparison to me actually following her. Even I can see that. And why? Or what for? The sinking pit in my stomach when I wondered why she was keeping it a secret? The way my brow started to sweat as I imagined all the reasons she may have for arranging a clandestine meeting with a mysterious third party? We're best friends. We're not supposed to keep secrets from each other.

    At least, not unless I've misunderstood what it means to be best friends. Which, I can admit… may be possible…

    There isn't really a book to outline the expectations of this sort of covenant.

    It's just that when I think of Eimi sneaking around to meet someone, my mind goes to all the worst places…

    *What if she's being blackmailed by a crazy fan into meeting, or who knows what else?*

*Maybe she's engaged and is keeping it a secret? She's of an age where that wouldn't be especially unusual.*

*Perhaps she has another, better best friend? They get together every now and then to make fun of me, just like some of the other children used to do during breaks at school…*

    Still, that's no excuse for what I'm doing. I can only hope that I once more go unnoticed by everyone so that I don't have to explain my presence…

    Though she is meeting someone secretly, and the most likely reason she would be concerned over being seen with them is if it were a boy. There's no other explanation that easily explains that part of the mystery, so I'm sure I could be forgiven for being concerned for her wellbeing. There are many reasons for a young girl to do such a thing, but very few of them are appropriate, especially for an idol as famous and desirable as Ms. Inagawa.

    "Are you sure this is okay?" The gentleman at the next table has a pleasant voice, and is as aware as I am how this must seem. At least that part of my suspicions had been correct. Curious then that he still wanted the meeting, but it bodes well. Why would he be concerned if he had ill intent? That shows a concern for Ms. Inagawa's feelings, which I appreciate.

    "Psh, it's fiiine. I'm in disguise. Nobody recognizes me without the tails."

    Shortly after leaving the dorm, Eimi had stopped in a train station restroom only to emerge with her hair undone and pulled up into a messy bun. She had also donned a few accessories which were, presumably, meant to obscure her identity, but which did little to hide her natural radiance - an oversized, fluffy pink infinity scarf and pair of matching rose-tinted sunglasses, also oversized.

    "Is that what the ridiculous scarf and glasses are for?"

    "Ridiculous?! I thought they were cute…"

    "Well, I guess you were right. They're very cute on you. Not even a little bit conspicuous."

    "Hey, shut up! I can't believe they let people with zero fashion sense be idols. I guess Goro must've gotten desperate." So the young man is an idol too? Interesting…

    "Ouch. And here I thought you were happy for me."

    "I am! It's really exciting having you at the same company. It means we can talk now and then like this. It was great finally getting to see you perform today too, even if it was just a rehearsal. The rest of the girls loved it too! I swear they didn't want to talk about anything else so they just called off the entire practice to go stuff their faces and gossip. Your debut went pretty great too, right? I looked up the reviews. Some of them were really good. You're the top male group at I MY ME."

    "As opposed to the actual top group… Some of the reviews weren't absolutely awful, but we've still got a lot of work to do. They liked bits and pieces of the performance, but it felt like we weren't even close to ready when we went onstage. The whole singing and dancing and smiling thing, all at the same time… It's nuts. Nobody in their right mind smiles as much as they expect us to! Who made those rules anyway?"

    "You get used to it. Soon it'll be second nature. You'll even find yourself doing it when you're alone. That's when you'll know you're doing it enough. But if you need anything - you know, advice or whatever - for real, just tell me! You guys were great today, and your new song's really good. All you need to do now is not screw it up and you can have a career doing this instead of working for your dad."

    "That's easy for you to say. You're a natural at this."

    "You are too! It's easier for the guy groups, too. You can just get up there and look hot and most of the job's done. The girls in the audience will eat it up."

    "And you think I can manage that? Looking hot?"

    "Eh?" The boy's question took Eimi off guard. "Shut up, you know you're cute! Don't act like girls don't tell you that all the time."

    "They do. It just sounds better coming from you."

    "Hayate, don't say stuff like that! People will get the wrong idea."

    "And that would be…?"

    "Save it for your fans.”

    "I'd really rather use it on you."

    "Hayate!”

    "Come on, Eimi. You know I'm crazy about you."

    "Don't say that so loudly!'

    "Eimi, I love you. I have since we were just little kids. I can't even remember a time when I wasn't in love with you. Come on, be my girlfriend."

    "Hayate…" There was a long pause during which I found myself clutching my teacup rather tightly. "Haven't I hinted enough that you shouldn't ask me stuff like that…? It isn't possible. If my fans even suspected I had a boyfriend my career would crumble. I couldn't possibly do that. Not until I've done everything I want to do."

    "You know I'd be ok keeping it a secret for the sake of our careers. I understand the need for secrecy, and I don't care. I'd rather be with you in secret than not with you at all. Come on! I know you like me too!"

    Eimi made a sound a bit like she was choking on mochi. "Well I wouldn't be! What kind of girl do you think I am? Not the kind who'd skulk around like some kind of escort or hostess! How dare you even say something like that?!"

    "That's not… I didn't mean… You know that's not what I meant! I'm just saying that-"

    "Hayate, no! I'm sorry. It's just not possible. Maybe if I were just a normal highschool student, but I won't throw away both of our careers for nothing."

    "For *nothing*…?"

    "Shut up! *You* know what *I* meant! I'm glad we can be friends and coworkers, but that's all I'm in the market for. Don't take it personally, okay? I wouldn't say yes to any boy at this point in my career, and there's no one else I'd even risk getting coffee with as friends. I've worked too hard and there's too many things I still need to do to do something that selfish. I refuse to let anyone down. Not my fans, not my group, not even myself."

    Her voice cracked slightly, a mix of frustration tinged with just a hint of sadness that, I imagine, most people who aren't me wouldn't be able to detect. Whatever deeper meaning lurked behind her words I could only guess, and doubtless would be pondering later. After a few minutes of stony silence, during which I didn't dare think a thought lest I miss something, the man spoke again.

    "I got something for you. I still want you to have it."

    There was another long pause, during which I could only theorize what the young man had gotten for Eimi. Hayate… Ms. Inagawa has mentioned him before. A childhood friend of hers who premiered as an idol around the same time as Interlunium. There are a nearly infinite number of potential tokens of affection you may want to give to a special someone, and I imagine that list only grows the longer you've known them. Sweets are always popular gifts, though if he knows Ms. Inagawa well enough to justify their familiarity then it's likely he's aware of her disdain for empty calories. Jewelry, perhaps? Depending on the strength of his feelings maybe earrings or a bracelet, or a hair pin or other more unassuming trinket she could wear without drawing suspicion. A ring? That seems unlikely given the tone of their exchange, but men are known to jump to conclusions in matters of love, and perhaps he thinks a peacockish expression of his feelings could change Eimi's mind?

    "Concert tickets?"

    "To Kerberos' performance tomorrow. There's two, so you can bring a friend. It'll be less conspicuous that way. Just a couple of idols supporting some of their coworkers, right? I know it's short notice, but I wasn't sure I'd get to see you before then."

    "Thank you, Hayate. That's very… kind of you. I'll consider it."

    "You'll consider… Even *that's* too much for you? Do you even want to be friends?"

    "Of course I do! My schedule's just gotten super busy lately. And honestly, I'm not really a huge fan of going to other idol's concerts. Someone always recognizes me in the audience and it becomes a whole big thing, and next thing I know I'm getting interviewed about how much I like the performers, and with other girls it's just annoying. And that's *if* they're with our label. If they aren't it becomes a whole other big thing with the execs for endorsing the competition. But with a group like Kerberos… Well, I'm sure you can see how that could look! What would my fans think?"

    "It's always about your stupid fans! Fine… I see how it is…" There was another lull in their conversation, and I even felt a little bad for the boy, despite understanding Eimi's reasoning fully. "That's a bit of a letdown, honestly. I was really excited for you to see me perform for real. I've been to a bunch of your concerts, you know. I thought it'd be nice to have someone in the crowd cheering for me for once…"

    "That's what your fans are for. That's the whole reason you chose this profession, right? To make the crowds go crazy loving you! And they are! You're living the dream, Hayate! Only you don't realize it yet. I'll still be cheering you on, just… more professionally. Behind the scenes, as a coworker and friend. I *will* think about it, okay? But that's all I can promise you. You'll understand soon enough what it's like and why you need to be more discreet."

    "Oh, aren't you a cute one? It makes me wish I weren't so devoted to all of my fans." The boy repeated, verbatim, the standard company line, though with much more sarcasm than our coaches taught it to us.

    "See? You do get it. Cheer up or you'll get frown lines. This is a good thing for you. Make the most of it. Someday you'll look back and miss this, so don't take it for granted."

    "Is that some of your expert idol advice?"

    "It is. Be mindful of what you do so you don't screw it up and work hard. Do those and I'm sure you'll be successful. Speaking of working hard, I have some things I need to take care of this evening so I'd better get going."

    "Can I walk you back to your building?"

    "Thank you, but no. That's where I'm most likely to be recognized. Hasn't *anything* I've said sunk in… It was great catching up with you, Hayate. I'll be cheering for you! I really will, just in my own way. Try to focus on all the good things happening and forget about… Just try to have fun, okay? Please? You have a good life right now. Enjoy it a little"

    "Thanks. I'll try, I guess… See you around, *Inagawa*."

    "Hayate! Don't be like that…"

    As the young man passed my table to return his cup I snuck a quick peek at him. Objectively he's quite handsome, with rather attractive short cut hair bleached almost platinum blonde that suits his complexion. He's very much in line with the sorts of men Ms. Inagawa has frequently pointed out as being her type. Well… Her favorite type, at least. Eimi does have the ability to find beauty in a great range of subjects. It's one of the things about her I find quite delightful. It's her own unique sort of optimism. To Eimi, everyone has the potential to be beautiful if the circumstances are right.

    He stopped at the door of the cafe and gave a glance back toward me which made me shiver for a moment until I realized it was merely passing over me on its way to the table he had been occupying. His gaze rebuffed, the young man turned and walked back out into the winter evening. Even I, who had never faced rejection in a romantic sense, could see the anguish hiding behind his features well enough that he had my sincere sympathies and uncommunicated apologies for intruding on what should have been an extremely private-

    "EEP!" A hand reached over the back of our shared bench and tweaked my ear, eliciting a sharp cry.

    "And what do ya think you're doing, huh?! You're spying on me?"

    "Ow! Imsorryimsorry I didn't mean to! It just happened!"

    "How does it just happen that you follow someone for twelve train stations and end up sitting directly behind them?"

    "I just… I accidentally overheard your phone call and I was worried that… You put on a disguise, so I figured it may be something dangerous, or someone was blackmailing you, or…"

    "You expect me to believe that you overheard me making plans to meet a friend for coffee and followed me all the way here in the most conspicuous way possible just because you were worried I was getting into some kind of trouble?"

    "What do you mean by 'most conspicuous'-"

    "You're in a kimono! Do you know how many people on the train were wearing a kimono? You and two old women! That's! It!”

    "I'm sorry, Eimi. I don't know why I did it. I was just… worried…"

    Eimi let out a long sigh, then pushed me further into the booth, trapping me near the wall as she took a seat next to me.

    "What would you have done if I were in some kind of trouble, anyway? Did you even think of that?"

    "I…" didn't think of that, actually. "I guess I would've gotten in trouble with you."

    The look on Eimi's face was a mixture of confusion and annoyance. "You're a real dummy sometimes, you know that?! Don't you think that if I were in actual trouble I'd tell you? All I wanted was to have a little chat face to face with an old friend without anyone taking a bunch of pictures and running to sell them to the tabloids. He's doing really well so far! It's a big deal, and I can't even support him properly! Do you know what that feels like?!"

    "Do you wish you could have said yes to him?"

    What I actually meant to say - and in fact, had thought I'd said until the words I actually spoke registered with me - was: "I'm really very sorry. I know that I shouldn't have followed you. It was a huge violation of trust, and I hope that in time you can bring yourself to forgive me." What came out of my mouth instead was the gnawing insecurity shamefully vomiting beyond the bounds of my stomach. It was clear from the way they talked that the boy has genuine affection for Ms. Inagawa behind his confession, rather than pursuing her purely for status or because of her outstanding good looks.

    I admit, their entire exchange filled me with some measure of anxiety.

    We've only been such good friends for a short time. I've only *had* any sort of good friend for such a short time. The thought of going back to how things were before is one I don't relish. As close as we are, surely having a boyfriend would trump that. That is, I understand, the way things are meant to be. What if she simply hates me after this betrayal of her trust? What would I do then?

    "I should've known you'd be the jealous type."

    "I-I'm not jealous. I'm merely-"

    "Couldda fooled me! Hayate's a really old friend. Like, primary school old! Our dads used to do a lot of business together and we're almost the same age, so we used to play together and stuff all the time. What a dumb question! You know we're not even allowed to be seen alone with boys, so there's only one thing I *could* say. And do you honestly think I'd keep it from you if I had a boyfriend? Is that what you think of me? Why is everyone saying stuff like that today? Am I that awful?!"

    "No! I just… I've never been in this kind of situation…"

    "I don't know if I wish I had been able to say yes, okay? I just wish he had listened all the times I stressed how important it is that idols don't have boyfriends! I told him over and over, but that idiot just kept hinting at it every single time we met. I wish he'd never asked because then I wouldn't have had to… He wouldn't have gotten his heart… Why is he always such an idiot?!'

    "Eimi? Are you-?"

    "I'm fine! I'm fine… I just need a minute…"

    I have glimpsed multiple facets of Eimi that I'm fairly certain have been witnessed by practically no one else. Likewise, she's seen sides of me that, before her, had been a secret kept to myself alone. Even my parents have never seen me as befuddled as I feel right this second. At least, not so that they could tell beyond my mask of calm detachment, and not since I was a young child. But despite everything we've revealed to one another, this is the first time that I've ever seen Eimi Inagawa shed a tear, or lose her composure, or act in any way erratic, even if it was only enough to let a single drop trickle from her oceanic eyes. She was obviously hurting, but like an animal, that's often when a person is at their most unpredictable.

    "Eimi… It'll be okay. He's hurt right now, but he looked like a very strong young gentleman. I'm sure you'll both get past this and go back to being good friends."

    "You don't know him. He's always been extra sensitive with stuff like this! Why did that idiot make me… I know how much he must be hurt right now and I can't do anything…" Eimi clutched at her chest. It was apparent now that she did care for the boy, at the very least as a friend, and the act of breaking his heart had wounded hers as well. "This is all your fault you know…"

    "...Eimi? I'm s-sorry! I didn't-"

    "Used to be I didn't care what I had to do to be a success, just so long as it got me there! It was perfect… Then all you dumb girls hounded me until I joined your little group, and now I have stupid friends I need to worry about letting down, and that means I had to do *that* and now I feel terrible, all because I hurt a *single* person… That's all your fault! If we weren't friends then I wouldn't feel like this! I wouldn't have to care about anyone but myself. I hate worrying about hurting people! How do you all do it all the time?? I hate you! I ha…" Eimi's voice cracked and ceased to produce words. She just moved her lips for another few lines while looking away from me, not bothering to try to repeat any of it.

    I was speechless. I could have understood if she had said something to the effect of "I wanted to say yes but only if it could be a secret, and I knew you were there." That actually would be my fault. But blaming me for her empathy…

    That's…

    If I'm honest, that's the highest compliment I've ever been paid. How could I be upset about that, no matter how aggressive she was being, tugging on my sleeves and trying to hold me responsible?

    "Ms. Inagawa…" I believe that in every life, there are a few moments that define who you are by the precedent they set. When I was in primary school and a girl stuck me with a rather unflattering nickname, I chose to endure it rather than fight back and give her additional reasons to taunt me over my heritage. I knew exactly who I was. As such, her opinion was simply unimportant in that regard, and hardly worth fighting over. That felt like one such moment. The time Ms. Hanazawa - Rinko - lied her way into Mr. Kumasawa's office and spun a tale to the CEO about me already having joined her group… Going along with that tale was another. Hearing my best friend ever… the singular person in the world for whom I would do absolutely anything… shout that she hates me…

    This was another such moment.

    Because I can't believe that she possibly means it, and it sets the precedent that I probably never will.

    Ms. Inagawa is my best friend.

    It doesn't matter if she tears my heart out and stomps on it in heels.

    She doesn't mean it.

    And so, no matter what…

    I will endure it for her sake.

    I've already decided this.

    She has no say in that particular matter.

    Since that renders her hurtful words irrelevant, it seems pointless to allow them to possess any real power.

    "Ms. Inagawa… I have no doubt that the girl you were when we were first acquainted could have done much worse than this and barely felt remorse. In the time since you've become a girl who feels distress purely because someone she cares about put her in an impossible situation where she had no choice but to hurt their feelings, even though she had already gone so far as to warn them of what would happen. If I'm the reason for that change… I will gladly bear the brunt of the responsibility. It's the only proof I have that I'm capable of being a proper friend to someone, which I've never before thought possible. If you want to blame me then I'll let you. You're my best friend, and that means something special to me, even if you say you hate me."

    "Stop being an idiot! I don't really hate you… I'm just… You idiot… Never heard of hyperbole…"

    Eimi and I, I believe the term is, "hugged it out", in the almost-corner booth of the little coffee shop, in embarrassingly clear view to anyone who happened to be passing by.

    "I love you too, Eimi."

    "Shut up. Don't say stuff like that. It's weird."

    "You always say I'm weird, so it must be expected by-"

    "Just stop talking for a minute! Geeze…"

    One thing that should be very obvious about Eimi Inagawa, if you were paying attention, is that she isn't a big hugger. Neither am I. I'll hug my parents, of course. My mother has always been very insistent in that regard. But unlike some of the girls at school, I generally prefer to keep my personal space exactly that, lest someone attempt some sort of prank. My kimonos are quite expensive, and a real endeavor to clean. We've shared a few attempts at that sort of closeness before, Eimi and I. In our games, of course, but that mostly boils down to looking for the most embarrassing moment to grab the other's hand and say something embarrassingly sweet, or land a pinch at just the right moment. Hugging has always felt a little awkward and stiff, like we were trying to copy what we'd seen other people do just because it was the sort of thing that friends do. Our current embrace is enlightening, however, in that despite how upset Eimi is with me, she's still clinging to me tightly. Maybe that's what it means to be best friends: someone you'll still want to be there even as you're upset with them for being there. Perhaps it's less about doing everything right, and more being willing to forgive when they do or say something wrong.

    A second enlightenment is that this is the first time I've felt this sort of closeness was genuine. Not forced or exploratory, but the natural thing to happen given the events surrounding it. Being there for someone who wants you to be there for them and for whom you want to be there. Like there was a hole in Eimi's soul, and even though she was upset with me, I was still the only one who was properly sized to fill it, and that was more important than anything else going on right now.

    I think I finally understand what it means to truly be friends with someone. It's not finding reasons to care for someone.

    It's letting yourself care for someone despite all the reasons you can find not to.

    "Let's go to Kyoto. Just for the weekend. It'll be great. Wouldn't it be nice? You can see your parents!"

    "Eimi?"

    "Come on. It's quiet and your parents are super nice and it's far enough away that nobody will have to see me like this. Please? You owe me for following me. Didn't you say they were gushing about how you needed to bring me back for another visit?"

    "Spring is the busiest season. I'm not sure if there would even be any rooms available."

    "You have a room, don't you? It worked just fine last time, and we don't need all that fancy food. We can get takeaway for our meals if we'd be too much work. I just want to get away for a couple days. Please? I don't have anywhere else I can go…" There was an edge to Eimi's voice. A rawness that overshadowed her usual confidence. She wasn't her normal persuasive self. She was too frayed for that. She was pleading. Another first.

    "What about school?"

    "We'd only miss one day. We can come back by Monday. Come on… What's the point of having a best friend with an awesome house if you never get to visit it?"

    "Why not your home, then? I've yet to see it."

    "Hah!" Eimi laughed sharply and loudly, directly into my ear. "I don't think it'd be a good idea for me to show up on Daddy's doorstep crying. He'd take it personally, and Hayate's already feeling bad enough without my dad holding a grudge against his family. No, come on, let's go right now. You have tons of clothes and stuff there so we won't even need to pack. I can buy a toothbrush at the station and you have like ninety yukata.'

    "Why Ms. Inagawa, are you trying to elope with me? How sudden…" She slapped my back for falling back on a dumb joke at a time like this, though I'm fairly certain my mother used to strike me harder after feeding me as a baby. "Okay, I'll go along with it. I won't mind seeing my parents, and as long as we promise to help out a little to earn our meals they should overlook us skipping a single day of school."

    "Thank you. I'm already hungry..."

    "We can get something at the station. You enjoy yakitori, don't you? It'll be late by the time we get there so there will only be leftovers tonight."

    "Thank you, Megumin. You're the best. You really are." Dramatically, Eimi pinched my arm hard, taking me quite by surprise. "I'm still *super* pissed off, but I promise, I don't really hate you. I just need a little break from everything…"

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