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Happiness exists, and it is edible. |
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Post by Misha Shirayama on May 7, 2020 16:55:05 GMT -5
Through the Winter months, the Gardening Club worked tiredlessly, and though the weather had scarcely begun to warm up, the fruits of their labor was starting to poke through the mulch. And it was these signs of life that made Misha smile as she slowly walked along the winding brick paths of the garden. There was still a slight chill in the air, though Misha would still have worn that black pinafore dress and turtleneck even in the Summer months. In one hand was the baker's white-and-gold cane, softly tapping against the bricks beneath Misha's feet. And in the other was the warm hand of Nao Kaneshiro, held gently but securely, swinging slightly back and forth with every unhurried step that they took. A relaxed sigh escaped Misha's lips as she gingerly squeezed Nao's hand, looking to her girlfriend with an even broader smile as a brisk breeze blew between them, tossing Misha's long pale hair and dress about. How long has it been? Months? Months already? Months since they first met. Time was a strange thing to Misha now. Between classes, student council work, personal projects, and now Nao, the months were a blur. But the pale-haired girl knew it was better to not focus on the past and enjoy the present, and so she watched Nao quietly as they walk until she caught sight of a set of tables and chairs beneath a small gazebo. "Ah...how nostalgic..." Misha said softly as she turned her head to look in front of her. The gazebo was their destination, where Nao wanted to go over some of her materials for her next novel. And, it was the place where they first met each other, becoming fast friends. But Misha was in no rush, keeping a slow and steady pace just to stay at Nao's side for as long as Nao would let her.
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Post by Nao Kaneshiro on May 16, 2020 15:19:56 GMT -5
The coldness of winter had led to the early promises of a pleasant spring. Wondrous plants were beginning to emerge from the soil they'd been so lovingly planted in a few weeks before, future blooms that would bring beauty and joy to the girls of Fukui. Even with things warming up and it being a very pleasant day, Nao was very much lost in thought. What had seemed like the mere blink of an eye had in fact been several months of life since a singular day. A day that had very much changed the direction of the author's life beyond what she'd thought possible for herself. A couple of her short story collections had been submitted to the publisher, a lot of school work and many romantic trials had taken up that time.
Yet here she was, one hand holding that of her girlfriend. Her girlfriend, Misha Shirayama. It was because of the elegant baker that Nao had insisted upon coming out to the gazebo again on this day, which on its own might not seem extra special. However, this was where the two had first met back all those months previous. Where the ship had sailed at last for a girl who'd only written about and observed others' romance. For Nao this was a special and almost sacred place. To mark the occasion she had worn one of her mori girl style outfits with layered green toned skirts, off white blouse under a khaki bolero and.. red and blue ribbons adorning her brunette hair, which she wore down. They'd been a gift from the girl at her side before they were officially together; during their walk Nao had wondered if Misha noticed she was wearing them again, then inevitably blushed when she caught herself in such thoughts.
"It's funny to think the first time we met here, I was just scoping out other girls for story ideas," Nao laughed as they slowly headed toward their destination. She looked up at the pale haired girl and, blushing, added, "I can't believe that I'm lucky enough to be by your side, Misha. I don't think the me from back them would believe it if I could tell her."
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Happiness exists, and it is edible. |
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Post by Misha Shirayama on May 23, 2020 18:53:11 GMT -5
A soft sigh of relief escaped Misha's lips, her hand gently squeezing Nao's in affirmation of their shared sense of nostalgia. She turned to look at Nao, her eyes drawn to the blue and red ribbons adorning the side of the short brunette's hair. The sight of ribbons was also nostalgic. They had once belonged to Misha's birth mother, along with a white one. The three of them were meant to be with other, such that they would match the form of the Russian flag. But that notion was far in the past now; this was Nao's take on it, and for Misha, it was like a reminder to keep looking forward at her life in Japan. "My whole life can be described like that," Misha said with a soft chuckle. "Would the four-year-old Mikhaila walking along the banks of the Neva River ever believe that she would ever leave Sankt Petrograd? Would the she believe that she she would grow up to be a baker? Would she ever believe that she would inherit a business? Be sent to a world-class school for culinary arts? Become the Student Council Vice President?" With another chuckle, Misha tilted her head slightly in amusement. "And perhaps most shocking...find you and be at your side?" Misha gave Nao's hand one last squeeze as they the arrived at the gazebo, then let go. "When I look back on it all, I really have been blessed, haven't I? And I am thankful for it." the chef said. With long, slow strides that still covered great distances, she walked over to the solitary table to rest her cane against the side before pulling the chair away and standing behind it, a gesture for Nao to take her seat first. "And...I think you're one of the few who...I've ever been able to talk about my past so freely," Misha added, looking down pensively into the chair before looking up to Nao with an amused smile. "That said...I think your parents are now more mysterious than mine."
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Post by Nao Kaneshiro on Jun 6, 2020 19:11:53 GMT -5
Given her history of coming here and similar locations to observe girls in love, Nao couldn't help but compare her new life with what had come before. A few months ago the brunette had simply been (if simply was the right word) a yuri author whose expertise rested entirely in fictionalized accounts of girls' love. She interpreted what she saw through yuri goggles, assumed that tropes from light novels played out in real life and didn't always see what was real between the girls around her. Nao would reliably fall back on her own stories to make decisions on how to pursue girls she liked in her mind, but it hadn't worked so well when applying those lessons to the first girl she really feel deeply about. No simple crush would've been able to explain how she'd felt as she was drawn into Misha's orbit. And no light novel cliches had won her over - beating around the bush and acting like a novel heroine had almost lost Misha. Being honest with her heart and direct with the Russian had broken through the novelist's mental barriers and gotten her a girlfriend.
She blushed when her girlfriend pulled the chair out for her, feeling for a moment like a commoner girl who'd been invited into a noble's world. Nao tried to shake the thought lest she fall back into her writer's world. After gingerly sitting down, she looked up at Misha with an incredibly awkward smile. That statement had been an invitation to explain about her own background; Misha had told her stories about her family's history, how they'd ended up in Japan and what some of her relatives did for a living. By contrast Nao hadn't really gone into any depth about her parents at all, other than to say they were kind of overbearing at times. As she attempted to summon the words to properly explain them, Nao gazed out at their surroundings. Plants were starting to bloom now, breaking out of their wintry hibernation to bring beauty and joy to the world. Nao hadn't bloomed until she'd met Misha, not really. Her girlfriend deserved to hear the full story - even if it might lead to an embarrassing meeting with her parents.
Looking back to Misha, and twirling a finger in a strand of her hair, Nao said, "Yeah, they are aren't they? Even though they're not that far away, I don't think you've ever met them.. I mean, we've been at school and everything, so it's been harder to make time.. um, anyway so my family's nothing special. My mom is really into martial arts and samurai history, she says we have samurai lineage and that makes us special. She even talks like she's in a costume drama a lot of the time. I mean, it's hard to understand her sometimes and it took a while to stop talking like that myself." She laughed awkwardly as she recalled a meeting with her fifth grade teacher, most of which was just her mom trying to ask questions in the wordiest ways possible.
She continued, "My other mom's family owns a brewery in Osaka, so that's where a lot of our money comes from. She decorates the house with yellow and black because she's super into the Hanshin Tigers, and that really clashes with the traditional decor my mom.. er.. other mom? puts up. They're really close, though, and even if they're really embarrassing sometimes I always felt like I had support from them."
Nao then switched gears by asking, "So.. I have my new manuscript book now, but the problem is I don't know what kind of story to tell. Going back to how I used to write just feels kind of.. weird. Like it's too cliche and not realistic enough to reflect a girl's love properly. Do you have any suggestions?"
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Happiness exists, and it is edible. |
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Post by Misha Shirayama on Jun 17, 2020 22:10:01 GMT -5
Nao's smile, as awkward as it was, was both reassuring as it was a lesson. Habit had taken over Misha who had fallen back on the indirect strategy of getting information from people. Nao was her girlfriend, Misha reminded herself, and thus there was no need to beat around the bush; just as Nao had done back at the restaurant in being direct with her desires, Misha realized that she too had to be a little more direct herself. And so Misha gave Nao a smile of her own, not the bright and vivacious smile that the Student Council Vice President or the mascot of the Shirayama Bakery gave to bolsters people's spirits, but a small and comforting one, casual and relaxed. She took a seat across from Nao, leaning forward and putting her elbows on the table and her chin on her hands. Nao's parents, and rather the notion of being raised by two mothers, was a rather curious prospect that now held the baker's rapt attention. On one side seemed to be from an old and esteemed family. Misha nodded in understanding, then smiled in amusement as she tilted her head. The chef felt that she would have never pegged Nao as coming from what was ostensibly nobility, but considered it a good thing. After all, the pale-haired girl figured, she was able to more or less hide her own heritage. Then came another surprise, making Misha tilt her head in the other direction. An Osakan brewery, perhaps 'new money'. Again, not a story unfamiliar to Misha, but this time it was more from her adoptive side of the family. But more striking was the mention of the Hanshin Tigers; while Misha was clearly aware of Nao's full name, the '-tora' part, and why she did not seem to use it so much, became much more lucid. Misha's head righted itself as Nao posed her question, though the Russian girl sat up and tapped her cheek in though. "For better or worse, I have to rely on the only other author I know, and that is one of my cousins," Misha said, sighing softly in disappointed resignation. "And that would, in her words, 'write what you know'." Still, the smile on Misha's face didn't wane as she looked back to Nao. "That said...take it as a good thing, that you look back and see your previous work as lacking. That means, you're improving right?" Leaning forward again, Misha relaxed a bit, though her gaze was a bit distant as she mused aloud. "Well...what other examples do you have?" Misha asked, shaking her head and chuckling afterwards as she slowly met Nao's eyes again. "I have no qualms with your drawing on your experiences with...well, us. And then you have your parents too, right? Speaking of..." Another chuckle preceded a hearty grin as Misha light-heartedly teased. "And I thought I had big shoes to fill with the Shirayama Bakery, while Nao-ojousan here seems to have not-so-small brewery."
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Post by Nao Kaneshiro on Feb 15, 2021 0:50:46 GMT -5
It was very weird to Nao that she was questioning the way she wrote. When she'd been published with the kind of work that she'd done in the past, was it even a good idea to change things up? Yet she knew that she couldn't go back at all to that type of story; all she really hoped for was for her new writing to find the kind of audience that the old stuff had. The brunette did find Misha's smile reassuring, though. If her girlfriend thought that this was a good path to go on, then she would go down that path for sure! Of course she really didn't know where to start either and that did seem like kind of an important thing to figure out before she attempted a new story. Perhaps she was going about it the wrong way - thinking of the circumstances that led to the girls meeting first probably wouldn't help very much. You couldn't well figure out how the girls would react to those circumstances without knowing much about who the girls themselves were.
"Yes, I suppose it does show improvement," Nao chuckled in response, giving her manuscript book a gentle pat, "Really I think my problem is less coming up with a plot, and more figuring out who my characters are. I'm so used to just writing up a scenario for them to meet or be romantic that coming at it from a different angle is actually kind of hard. Something will come to me eventually, right?! I do have to start writing something eventually, otherwise there's nothing to give to my publisher."
While that was nerve-wracking, it was nowhere near as rife with possible embarrassment as the idea of Misha meeting her parents. The author's attention was instantly consumed by the thoughts, even as Misha teased her kindly about it. Just.. what in the world would her parents do, how would they act, around her girlfriend?! What would they want to do once the inevitable meeting took place? She could already imagine the yellow and black accented gifts that they would be given upon arriving for dinner or lunch. Probably some matching items that she and Misha were expected to wear, Then they'd be almost interrogated in antiquated, flowery language that would take both girls a couple of minutes to translate in their heads. A very embarrassing time to be head indeed, and more so at the thought that she was an ojou-san after all. Nao placed her hands on her cheeks as the scene played out in her mind, thoughts racing for a good few minutes before she finally got herself to calm down a bit.
"Well.. when you put it that way... um.. yes, I'm kind of a rich girl, aren't I?" she laughed, then suddenly had a realization. Her hands dropped back into her lap and she looked Misha deeply into her eyes, "Misha, I just realized something. I... want you to meet my moms. As embarrassing as they're going to be, it's.. important to me that we meet them together. Do you think it's okay to invite them here to visit us?"
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Happiness exists, and it is edible. |
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Post by Misha Shirayama on Feb 23, 2021 23:41:03 GMT -5
Misha's eyes naturally followed Nao's hands as they patted the manuscript, her own thoughts wandering a bit as her girlfriend spoke. The baker softly chuckled at the notion of figuring out what kind of people characters in literature were; such a struggle was something that happened in real life as well. Still, having a deadline was stressful and the thought of it caused a frown to crease on Misha's face as she thought a bit. Work in the bakery had no shortage of large orders to be filled by a certain tine, yet it was always just a matter of chipping away steadily until it was done. There was much less creative 'reworking' (for lack of a better term) involved. However, the change in subject was very welcome and Misha closed her eyes in amusement over Nao's admission of her family's background, opening them to see Nao eyes looking right into hers. "Already?" was the first word out of Misha's mouth. The initial surprise seemed to be rather minor at first, with the chef raising her eyebrowss in amusement. "I have no objections to meeting them, but I have to admit I'm surprised you'd invite them here rather than have us travel to Osaka." Misha tilted her head again and chuckled light-heartedly before sitting up again and leaning against the back of her chair. For a few moments, Misha pondered the logistics of such a visit - transporation, likely taking a train, would they need guidance to school? Perhaps a dinner - Misha was more than willing to cook, a chance to show off even, but then what would the menu be? And outside of dinner, what else would they be doin- Misha blinked, cutting off her thoughts before they went haywire. Wasn't this a bit too much? "Now, Nao-chan did say it was important and perhaps I am overthinking it..." Misha trailed off to consolidate her thoughts. "The feeling I get from Nao-chan is that you care concerned about making a good impression on them? Or am I missing something?"
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Post by Nao Kaneshiro on Feb 28, 2021 22:28:20 GMT -5
Nao was only just starting to figure out how to tell herself that her moms visiting would be good or even just acceptable and not embarrassing. She hadn't even thought of the idea of them visiting Fukui and not Misha and herself going to Osaka. There was no way that she was going to let herself get into that situation. Her parents were a bit much in any environment but going into their place of dwelling was just asking for troublesome situations. Being surrounded by yellow and black decor and being suddenly attacked with hugs at an unexpected moment were just some of the things she dreaded in the idea of going to Osaka. Much better to have them visit here and have their own shelter sorted out. Getting some space from them at times was critical for her own survival.
"I think that if we wait too much longer, that visit's going to happen without our input," Nao laughed nervously; it was true, though - her parents had heard bits and pieces about Nao's girlfriend. Knowing them as well as she did, Nao was pretty sure that the more they knew the more tempting a surprise visit would be. She looked off into the distance a bit as she tried to shake the thoughts of the pair of them suddenly appearing from around the corner. Surprise bear hugs wouldn't be far behind, no matter what Misha and Nao were doing at the time. Or Tiger Hugs, as one of her moms would insist on calling them.
She took a deep breath as she turned her gaze back to Misha. Then that question hit her like a ton of hard-bound anthologies - was she worried about making a good impression on her moms? All she really dd was complain about them whenever the topic had come up previously. But the more that she thought about it, frowning as she did, the more that made sense. It was positively bizarre to her to feel this way but maybe.. just possibly.. she did want their approval. And so her face screwed up a bit before she finally looked up into Misha's eyes to answer her.
"It's so weird for me to be saying this, but.. um.. yes, I do. They drive me absolutely crazy, they're going to take pictures with us every day when they visit.. but.. well, it's complicated," Nao responded, pausing before she added, "You know, I think it's partly because... they're so in love with each other. And if I knew that with that perspective they thought we were a wonderful match, it'd be nice. But.. I think it would just be nice for them to know that they think well of us. "
She hesitated before adding, "But they have to come here. Going to Osaka would be a bit too much. Are you.. okay with that?"
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Happiness exists, and it is edible. |
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Post by Misha Shirayama on Mar 9, 2021 23:53:21 GMT -5
The nervous laugh perplexed Misha and the worry showed on her face as she tried to piece things together. There was no explicit mention of conflict, nor could Misha argue that there was any implied either. But it was evident to the baker the Nao was in some sort of distress. "Of course, Nao-chan," Misha replied, nodding. Her mind had shifted gears - for the moment, the baker was the businesswoman Shirayama-san, trying to arrange logistics for some event. "Whatever you need me to do, just say so, okay? And...well. If we need to prepare things, then I am sure the family I have here can help." Then the moment pass and Misha's normal smile returned. With a soft chuckle, she stood up and made sure that her cane was properly leaning against the table before picking up her chair and walking towards Nao. She placed it down beside Nao but still facing toward her, then sat down with a huff. She looked to Nao with a tilted head and a smile before reaching out to gently pull her girlfriend into a hug. It was the hug that Misha used on Haruna whenever her little sister became anxious and fearful; though Misha worried about it's appropriateness in this situation, it was the only move that Misha knew. After holding Nao closely for a few moments, Misha sighed, resting her cheek atop Nao's hair. "I can't lie and say I fully understand. I've heard of parents who are lovey-dovey like that, and I've never been able to give any advice on how to deal with those." Misha's voice was contemplated, but somewhat distant. Though she hugged Nao, her grey eyes were gazing off into the distance. "But... The feeling I get from you now is...a worry that Nao-chan's parents would disapprove. Again...I understand the notion - I can tell stories about how my parents struggled through it, but perhaps how much it is hurting you...is currently escaping my grasp."
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Post by Nao Kaneshiro on Mar 15, 2021 21:32:41 GMT -5
The closeness of Misha certainly helped ease Nao's anxiety over her parents, and generally speaking how to deal with them. They could be unbearably embarrassing, but she had confidence that they would like Misha. She was an elegant, smart, wise young woman with a strong idea of what she wanted to do with her future. Surely that kind of foundation for a relationship would be precisely what any parent wanted to hear. Having Misha present when her parents were visiting would also give her someone to fall back on if the Kaneshiro parents were too much for her to handle alone. Nao hugged Misha back as tight as she could, already feeling like she needed that anchor just at the thought of her parents coming to Fukui.
She did take some time while hugging her girlfriend to think about why she was so anxious. It wasn't just that they would be lovey dovey all the time, though that could be annoying. Somewhere in her mind she recalled them expressing strong hopes that whoever Nao married would settle in Osaka or at least Kansai in general. They liked their family to be close, and it'd been hard for them to say goodbye when Nao headed to Fukui. Though they would probably be okay if they didn't end up in Kansai, would they accept her dating someone with no interest in either samurai history or.. pro baseball? Wait, why was she so worried about those? Even in the moment, she kind of realized that her moms wouldn't reject Misha just over those things. So if that wasn't it.... what was it?
"I don't think it's anything that makes sense, Misha-san.. I just have this weird fear that they won't give us their blessing for some reason," Nao replied, blushing at admitting she didn't quite know what was causing her fear, "They're so in love that I get worried their expectations are going to be unrealistically high even for us. Like their bar for a proper relationship isn't something that actual people can reach?"
She then laughed nervously, "And then there's the problem that they'll probably try to get you to wear something black and yellow with a tiger on it. Maybe try to get us to go to a baseball game with them... they're even more embarrassing at those." Nao snuggled a little closer to Misha, "So I guess.. just help me figure out what places would be nice to take my parents to in Fukui. Maybe a couple places in town that would be good for lunch or dinner? And be my anchor if they get to be too much."
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Happiness exists, and it is edible. |
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Post by Misha Shirayama on Mar 27, 2021 21:07:04 GMT -5
Quietly, Misha nodded and hugged Nao a little tighter, closing her eyes with a soft sigh of rare exasperation. All the talk of regalia completely went over the baker's head that was filled with a seething anger. She took a deep breath and fortunately her mind managed to stabilze in time to ear Nao's request. "Of course, I can do that," Misha replied, her eyes still closed. Eventually, she smiled a little, chuckling softly. "You may need to give me a better idea on what kind of food they like or what settings the are most comfortable in. I'd rather not send them to see Fukui Castle if they have already been there, or some fancy restaurant in Teyose district when they are bit more relaxed. Though I get the impression that they are not particularly picky." Slowly, Misha's eyes opened, silently looking out into the distance as she thought. After a few moments, she gave Nao another squeeze from her hug. "Nao-chan...? I have...a selfish request." Misha said, her voice just above a whisper. "Can...can we go to Tokyo? To Hachiouji. So that I can introduce you to my family there. Preferably...but not necessarily before your parents arrive." The chef loosened her grip and looked to Nao, frowning slightly. "I...I just want to make sure that Nao-chan knows that...she will always be welcomed in my family."
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Post by Nao Kaneshiro on Apr 4, 2021 13:50:57 GMT -5
Just the fact that she'd gotten her worries off her shoulders had begun to brighten Nao's mood. When her girlfriend promised that she would help in planning things for Nao's parents to do, the brunette knew there wouldn't be anything to worry about. They were going to be in expert hands when they came to see Fukui and the girl their daughter was dating. She snuggled closer to Misha and felt all her own concerns melt away with their combined warmth. When it was Misha's turn to make a request, the author was all ears. Almost instantly afterward she smiled to herself while returning the squeeze in their hug. Knowing that they both wanted to meet each other's families was incredibly reassuring for her; she felt like they were on the same page not only with that but their relationship. Both of them were ready for that next step of meeting family.
"I would love that, Misha-chan," Nao replied quietly, "And you're right, we should do it before my parents come to visit. I have a feeling that your family is going to be.. way less overbearing than mine can be." She laughed briefly, but then looked up into Misha's eyes with a serious look, "And that.. that really helps, actually. To be honest I was worried a bit about that as well, so it would be really nice to meet them."
She of course had some preconceived notions about what kind of people Misha was related to, but she wasn't going to dwell too much on those right now. Nao knew their names and what they did for a living and that was enough for her at this moment. Besides, the idea of idea of going on a trip with her girlfriend was exciting! They'd only really gotten to go on dates around Fukui - which were fun of course, but the prospect of going somewhere new together was a different thing entirely. Would they ride a train or take a bus? Either way, Nao could imagine cuddling together in their seats, maybe having fun at stops along the way in the case of a bus trip. Of course, right now she just wanted to enjoy the moment with Misha.
"I haven't even suggested a visit to my parents yet, so we have plenty of time," Nao added, then decided it was time to change gears, "Hey Misha-chan.. what do you want to do today? I'm fine just sitting here with you, but..we could always do something fun in a while too.. I'm not sure what that is though.." she laughed again, just enjoying the company.
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Happiness exists, and it is edible. |
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Post by Misha Shirayama on Apr 8, 2021 23:56:07 GMT -5
Overbearing? Misha blinked, her expression immediately showing her surprise to Nao. "Overbearing" was the last word that she would use for her parents; if anything, her parents were absurdly supportive. Really, everyone in the Kitamura family was...or at least the 'branch' family was - the main family, now that was some frustratingly overwhelming pressure. Still, the look of surprise melted into one of relief and Misha sighed as the tension eased. At the change of subject, Misha immediately looked around. She didn't have much of a plan - or rather the plan was just to mill about in gardens, but now the baker felt pressured to come up with something a little more concrete. Without her usual disciplined filter used whenever she had to be prim and proper for the public, Misha started to slowly grind her teeth and mutter softly in Russian as she thought. But only for a moment as a spark of inspiration came to. "<Hmm...ah. That's an idea.>" The look of frustration vanished quickly and Misha smiled again. She shifted her posture, hugging Nao more naturally and looking out towards the gardens, switching back using Japanese to ask Nao, "Did you know...the Gardening Club has one of the largest budgets out of all the clubs? And a good amount of it does go into the gardens here. The baker tilted her head and looked to Nao with a grin. "Now, I'm not going to call it 'official business', but...let's just say that Student Council Vice President does admittedly have a vested interest in making sure club funds are utilized properly." Misha winked playfully. "So...how about we take a look around and see what's growing? Though...I'm not exactly the most knowledgeable in flowers and their meaning. But perhaps a writer is more familiar with the language of flowers?"
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Post by Nao Kaneshiro on Apr 26, 2021 21:58:12 GMT -5
Nao found herself wondering at what her girlfriend was saying in another language. It always puzzled her, though she usually got a translation if what'd been said was in fact an important. Still she looked at Misha in fascination as her girlfriend seemed to be thinking out loud - just a few words, but they held infinite possibility within them. Then she wondered if staring with such curiosity over something that was probably quite inconsequential might be rude. The brunette ended up looking away out of fear that it might be, choosing instead to look over at the gardens. A place where she had met the girl she was now dating, a place where she really hadn't been since that day. Sure she'd passed by from time to time but she'd largely avoided entering them by pure happenstance. How much inside the garden might have changed since then? New girls joining the gardening club might mean new things to see in the club's gardens.. and that seemed to be where Misha's mind was going.
At the suggestion of going to see them, Nao titled her head back and feigned deep thought, "Now that is an interesting suggestion. Review the results of one of our best funded clubs to ensure that they're using the funds properly.." Nao tilted her head and looked over at Misha, winking, "And getting a published romantic novel author to interpret the flowers that have been planted for you as well. Who knows what secrets might await in the soil of the gardens here! Perhaps a message of love unrequited or secret affections between close friends within the club."
Nao let that flowery suggestion sit for a bit before she hopped up to her feet rather abruptly. A nice stroll was a wonderful idea, especially since it would be just the two of them taking in the gardens. Maybe she would get some ideas for her writing; ideas that were less flowery than the words that she'd spoken just a moment ago. Actually it did bring an interesting kernel of an idea to her mind. Something with a couple of girls in a gardening club who didn't really know each other at first, but working together to nourish each other's plants and eventually each other. What in the world that actually meant she wasn't totally sure right now.. and she should really pay more attention to the company she had right now. The author blushed a little and held her hands behind her back earnestly.
"Well it's less fancy than what I was saying, but I do know a bit about flowers and their meanings. I'm happy to explain what I can," Nao explained, nodding toward the gardens, "Shall we head in? and.. can I hold your arm? I want to be close to you in there."
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Happiness exists, and it is edible. |
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Post by Misha Shirayama on May 4, 2021 21:49:06 GMT -5
Misha chuckled softly at Nao's wink. She let go of her girlfriend to stand up, deftly snatching her cane with one hand and twirling around to wordlessly offer Nao a bent arm for her to hold. A bit overdramatic, but it was the little bit of silliness that the baker could indulge herself in. Once they were arm-in-arm, Misha set off down the white brick path from the gazebo and onto where the gardens were. The simple tracts of grass lining the path gave way to curated and well-maintained flowerbeds and as the pair approached a mix of floral and fresh mulch scents mixed in the air. Misha slowed her pace a little, looking side to side rather quickly, trying to take in the sights. For a time, the chef was silent beyond the tapping of the metal cane against the bricks. "<как неловко...>" Misha finally said. "I don't really know what to look for, in terms of faults." She shifted her grip on her cane, holding it at the band denoting the end of the handle and reached out to try and touch the petals of a nearby carnation before pulling back at the last moment. "I feel like if I touch one of these, it'd suddenly shatter." In the corner of Misha's eye, she seemed to spot something rather peculiar. "This one...?" Misha asked, turning the cane and pointing it to one of the flowerbeds a short distance down the path. Still holding at Nao's arm, the baker approached before standing right in front of it. Many of the other flowerbeds had contained a single kind of flower, arranged for decorative effect. But this flowerbed - an enclave perhaps was a better way to describe it, had a mix of flowers surrounded by a circular stone wall. In four quadrants were a patch of White Egrets, Forget-me-nots, Morning Glories, While Lilies in alternating white-and-blue patterns, and in the middle were two long flowers, a single Yellow Camilla and a single Iris planted almost too close to each other. "...I feel like there...is a bit more behind this specific setup..." Misha said, narrowing her eyes and frowning in worry before looking to Nao for an explanation.
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Post by Nao Kaneshiro on May 9, 2021 20:37:47 GMT -5
To be offered Misha's bent arm in a somewhat dramatic fashion made Nao feel a little bit silly, but that didn't mean that she wasn't following through. Quite the contrary, Nao looped her arms around it and pulled herself close to the baker. With the sun out and beautiful flowers all around them it felt right to hold her girlfriend so close. Though to be honest on a day as lovely as today she wouldn't have minded walking like this with Misha anywhere, even a boring old school hallway. Half of the author's attentions were focused on just how warm it felt to be so close, how warm Misha was. The rest of her took in the colorful sights and scents of the flowers around them. Mostly planted with care together with more of the same variety, until they came to an arrangement which couldn't be ignored.
As soon as Misha pointed them out, Nao's brow furrowed. This certainly wasn't any ordinary flower arrangement. At first she kept one arm around Misha's as she leaned forward to have a closer peek, "This is kind of elaborate.. and you might be right about this not just being for aesthetic purposes."
It was at this point that Nao put on her detective's cap and let go of her girlfriend's arm to get a closer look at the flowers. Now admittedly she knew very little about the actual flowers or how to care for them properly, much less how much time had to have gone into raising them. However an important thing to her was knowing what the flowers symbolized - it was a key element for certain kinds of yuri novels. Heck, even the lily had become code for love between two women! Nao had written a trilogy of light novels titled In the Gardens of Love about a year back. A lot of research had gone into reading flowers in this way.. but there was no way that a meaningful arrangement like that could happen in real life, was there?
And yet.. there it was. A large number of the flowers being used had multiple meanings, but could be interpreted in love or a yearning for it. But that could happen in just any kind of floral arrangement - what was it a love of specifically? Those two singular flowers in the center had to be the key to unlocking the gardeners' intent. Nao tapped a finger on her chin as she pondered the camellia and iris which had been planted close to each other. Their meanings.. no, this had a different path. Being such a focal point of the flower bed meant that they were more important than the rest of the theme. And then it hit her.. maybe not meanings but names were in play here. Once that came to her the author nodded and blushed; this was actually very similar to those books and the idea she'd just had.
Nao stood up and laughed awkardly, "Well.. you're not wrong. Not at all. The two in the center, that's the key. See how they stand out so much more than the rest? I think this was planted by either a Tsubaki or an Ayame - those flowers must represent two people with those names. And all the other ones they've included? Well it's just screaming a longing for love and affection for that other person." The brunette looped an arm around Misha's again as she motioned to the flowers, "Consider it their way of confessing to the object of their desires.. it's.. like something out of one of my books to be honest.."
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Happiness exists, and it is edible. |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Fuyu
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Post by Misha Shirayama on May 16, 2021 14:12:20 GMT -5
Silent nods relayed that Misha was following what Nao was saying, unconsciously holding an arm out for Nao to loop her arm around as the baker peeled through her memories. "Tsubaki...and Ayame..." Misha echoed, narrowing her eyes at the two flowers side by side. The names were familiar and it only took a moment longer for her to finally remember. The baker sighed, a mix of exasperation as well as pity laced through it. "Sotomura Tsubaki, Visual Arts, Fourth Year. Uchiyama Ayame, Literary Arts, Second Year." Misha's voice shifted to a serious, business-like tone, her grey eyes looking distantly. "Sotomura-san is the Treasurer of the Gardening Club. From what I have seen from her, she is very diligent, and very meticulous. Part of why the Gardening Club has been able to manage such a large budget is in part due to her skill and when it came to defending her allocations she was very... passionate." There was a deep breath and a shake of the head from Misha, pulling her arm closer as a way to somewhat-hug Nao's arm. "In the past years, I did see her on the field, planting flowers, tending to the beds," Misha continued. Focus returned to her eyes and they started to scan over the other flower beds nearby. "But now that I think of it...she hasn't done so recently. Nose deep inside a spreadsheet, working...often to the neglect of her own self. I try not to pry, but...I think she's managing stuff with her family business on top of watching the Gardening Club's budget like a hawk. An accountant now, rather than a gardener." The sense of pity in Misha's voice became much more apparent, and she took a breath before contining on. "Uchiyama-san doesn't hold an officer's position, but I've always seen her at Sotomura-san's side. She's a bit taller than Sotomura-san despite being younger, and a bit shy. Though in the glimpses I've seen, Uchiyama-san seems to try to take care Sotomura-san, since her senpai seems to be...disinclined to take care of herself. I believed it was for the best to...not intervene. That it was not my matter, that things between them were...fine." Eyebrows raised but with a small frown, doubt was clearly written over Misha's face as she looked to Nao. "I wonder really. Does our art reflect things seen in life, or is life the one that imitates art? Speaking of, perhaps you have a few fans of yours among the student body." Misha tried to crack a small smile.
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Post by Nao Kaneshiro on May 26, 2021 21:35:22 GMT -5
The pair walked, Nao hugging Misha's arm close and feeling the rest of the world fade away for a moment. She listened with great interest as her girlfriend related to her a story of her own about two girls bearing the names of the flowers which had been planted in the very focused display. Really Nao had been partly joking when she suggested the reading she'd given, but now it sounded like the guess was incredibly accurate. Two girls who were very close but didn't fully realize their feelings mutually, so close and yet so far. One longing for the other to notice her feelings and for them to be joined in a deeper relationship surrounded by the flowers they both loved so much. It was absolutely something out of one of her novels. Weirdly this sort of reality was more dumbfounding for her than anything.
She considered her work - especially her previous, early work - to be kind of fluff that certainly couldn't totally happen in the real world. Being with Misha had helped the author appreciate and recognize what realistic romance between two girls could look like. Yet here they were with proof that what she'd written could actually occur in real life. Either that or maybe Misha was on to something and one of either Tsubaki and Ayame were fans of her work. Regardless it was odd, endearing and amusing all at the same time to consider that possibility. As the continued walking she smiled a little as she considered Misha's suggestion. There was absolutely evidence to suggest that her girlfriend was correct about there being fans of Nao's work in the student body.
"Actually, now that you mention it.. I know for sure there's at least one. Well, two if you're right about the girl who planted those flowers," Nao explained with a glance up at Misha, "I've gotten some fan letters through my publisher's office here in Fukui. A girl who's written to her favorite author after every volume of The Flower Circle series and a few other books were released. They're all weirdly formal, very respectful and enthusiastic too.. not the sort of weird obsessive fan that fame sometimes brings. Even then it can be a bit much."
Nao sighed and tugged a little on Misha's arm, "Anyway in her most recent fan letter a couple months ago she mentioned she's attending school here at Fukui. Not that she knows that Suzuki Tsubame is actually another student at her school. Or that her favorite author's real name is Kaneshiro Nao.. Her name is Kawahashi, for what it's worth." A pause from Nao was followed by, "What do you think I should do if I actually ran into her some day, Misha? I'm not super good at that kind of thing."
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Happiness exists, and it is edible. |
PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Fuyu
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Post by Misha Shirayama on Jun 5, 2021 19:00:38 GMT -5
Misha had no destination in mind and was content to wander along the garden paths, guided by Nao. The name Kawahashi seemed familiar, in the sense she may or may not have passed one such person in the halls, but the baker's mind was more on Nao's words. Tucked away in the back of the baker's mind was the pen name that Nao-chan used. Notion that she had a fan who wrote her often elicited a chuckle, both of amusement and a strange bit of jealousy. But the question did give Misha a bit of a pause, and she tilting her head side to side in thought. "Well, I suppose one can look at the situation like having a costume of sorts," Misha started, gently squeezing Nao's arm before letting go of it only so that she could change their contact to holding hands. "If you are at some book-signing event or some other official business related to your writing, you done the guise of the venerable and wise Suzuki Tsubame-san. Otherwise, you are one Kaneshiro Naotora-san."With a smile and a soft chuckle, Misha lifted Nao's hand and kissed the back of it before looking to Nao herself for her reaction. It felt like a silly little thing, but it was how Misha wanted to show how much she appreciated her girlfriend at her side. "It may not be quite the same, but it reminds me of middle school. There really was no way to hide the fact I was effectively the mascot of the Shirayama Bakery. I had my own little songs and flourishes that I employed while working there. And like how an idol will repeat their catchphrase or signature gestures, the other kids wanted me to do it at school. But I always made it a point that...the bright and cheery and inviting girl on that sidewalk...is not the same as the one in school. Does that make sense?"Misha paused then frowned. "I...old habits, sorry Nao-chan. I should be more direct I suppose." She squeezed Nao's hand gently. "I'd say...don't lie about your work. There's less to remember versus coming up with alibis. But...no need to seek the limelight either."
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Post by Nao Kaneshiro on Jun 12, 2021 21:24:10 GMT -5
The little gesture of Nao's hand being kissed was enough to make the brunette blush a bit. Misha's affection meant the world to her, but something like this would inevitably surprise her a bit. In the middle of a flower garden just after discussing potential romance between a couple of girls at their school? That was pretty much something that would happen in one of her stories, rather than something with her girlfriend. She couldn't help but smile a bit at the gesture as well. However fate transpired to make her not dwell too long on the hand kiss itself. Something much more fascinating came out that she really had not expected at all out of someone of Misha's stature.
From what her girlfriend said, she'd done little songs and flourishes when she worked at her family bakery. To imagine Misha singing happily while doing her best sales pitch for the baked goods she had made.. that was quite intriguing for the author. Goodness she had never suspected that such a thing was even possible for such a fancy young woman. The moment that Nao began to materialize a mental image of what that would be like, she blushed even more. For a moment she could see Misha in a cute outfit singing directly to her, inviting her into a very fancy looking bakery. A bakery with a finely carved exterior and the enchanting scents of baked delight wafting out from within. Slowly she smiled in an incredibly silly manner while the rosiness remained in her cheeks. Then she woke from the daydream when Misha gave her some advice on how to deal with a fan at Fukui.
"Y-yes, that makes sense. I suppose just letting her know that I'm just a girl who goes to school here.. and not a fancy young woman with a trend setting wardrobe who has her finger on the pulse of romance and sees the truth in every girl's heart.. that might not be so bad. She seems like a very nice person from the way she writes, so maybe it'd be just fine to meet her," Nao remarked, her blush slightly diminishing as she stood for a moment in thought.
Then she tugged on her girlfriend's arm and asked, "Ne, Misha-chan.. you really did little songs at the bakery? That sounds really cu.. I mean I'd like to se... or join you.. anyway." She giggled a little before resting her head on Misha's arm, "Thanks for sharing that with me. And for being with me. I don't think I could be scared of anything as long as I've got you in my corner.." She paused before looking up and asking, "Let's walk some more.. we can start planning specifics for the other stuff later. I want to just enjoy being with you for a bit."
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