Takina’s phone rang as she was enjoying a long soak in the LycoReco Cafe bathtub. She stood up immediately, and without looking at the caller she answered. “Yes, this is Inoue Takina.”
“You answer all your calls like that?”
“Chisato?” Takina looked at the caller and true enough it had Chisato’s name on it. “Why did you call?”
“Your voice is echoing. Are you in the bath?”
“Yes. Is something the matter? I’m going out now–“
“Ah, no no no. Nothing’s wrong. Stay in the bath.”
“Okay.” Takina looked around and slowly submerged her body into the warm water again. She blinked and considered using the speaker phone in order to relax.
“…but you’re talking to me so you shouldn’t put speaker on or someone like Mizuki could hear our conversation.”
“Please don’t read my mind.” Takina sighed as she kept her shoulders and head above water and rested her towel kept hair onto the wall. “Why did you call?”
“Hm? Nothing much. I just thought that you were always the one calling me, so I thought I’d do it this time.”
“I only call when needed.” Takina closed her eyes as the warmth slowly spread through her body. “Was there something you needed?”
“Hm? Yeah. Your voice. I wanted to hear your voice.”
Takina looked at the phone in her hand, her cheeks heating up from Chisato’s words… or maybe it’s from the temperature of the bath. “Is that another one of your movie’s influences.”
“Normally, I’d say yes, but that’s honestly what I feel right now. Embarrassed?”
“O- Of course, not…” Takina looked away unconsciously, with a slight urge to throw the phone away.
“I could just imagine your adorable blushing face right now.”
“Don’t imagine it.” Takina spoke firmly into the phone. “You’ve heard it now so I’m hanging up–“
“Ah. Don’t. Please. I miss you.”
“We just saw each other today.” Takina played with the water, not knowing what else to do in the tub.
“I know, but that’s like two hours ago. I miss you now.”
“…Even if you tell me that, I don’t know how to react to it.” Takina’s eyes widened as the rubber ducky that she usually kept away from her suddenly floated towards her way. She grabbed it and placed it at the edge of the tub.
“Don’t you have those moments too?”
“…I do sometimes wonder what you do.” Takina stared at the rubber ducky as she lightly patted its head.
“See? It’s a bit like that, but I wanted to hear your voice so I called.”
“I see.” Takina unknowingly smiled at the duck as she continued to pat its head. “There, there.”
“Huh?”
“I- It’s nothing!” Takina accidentally knocked over the rubber ducky and it fell to the bathroom floor. “Ah!”
“Are you okay?”
“It’s nothing!” Takina panicked as she reached for the duck and placed it back on its place.
“Takina.”
“Chisato.” She took the duck from the edge of the tub and placed it on the water. Takina watched it slowly float with the water as she moved.
“Do you really not want to live with me again?”
“What brought this on, suddenly?”
“You know. If we’re living together, I won’t have to call you like this anymore because I can come see you whenever I miss you. Since you’re just right there.”
“…So you can push all the house chores to me?” Takina pouted at the duck and flicked its head as it floated away.
“There’s that too–I mean not that one. I didn’t mean that one. I will share the house chores with you, Takina-sama.”
“Really? I’m a bit doubtful.” Takina stared at the ceiling of the bath.
“Whaaat? When did I ever go back on my word? I keep my promises!”
“…Okay, I suppose you do. I’ll think about it.” Takina sighed.
“Really? Yay~ Ehehe.”
Takina loved to hear her gentle voice, especially when she laughs. You could just imagine her cheerful eyes, and that infectious smile together with that voice that just crawls into your mind.
“Taaakina.”
“What is it?”
“I just wanted to say your name.”
“Weirdo.”
“Taaaaakina~”
“This better be not one of your silly ideas.”
“Ugh… How did you know I was about to ask you to open your video?”
“…I’m hanging up.”
“Ahhh! Please don’t! I was joking! Well if you hang up, I’ll just call again!”
“…I’m really hanging up now.”
“Ahhhh. Please don’t, Takinaaaaaaa.”
“I was only kidding.”
“Whew…”
“…What are you doing right now?”
Chisato smiled as she tapped her pen on the desk as she stared at a few papers in front of her. “Me? Nothing much.”
“Nothing much doesn’t really give me anything to go by.”
“Hmm.” Chisato continued tapping on the desk. “I’m actually writing a letter.”
“A letter? To whom?”
“Hehe. Guess.” Chisato pushed the ballpoint pen’s button once, then pushed it again.
“I won’t guess. Please tell me.”
“I’m writing a letter to you.” Chisato smiled as she tapped the pen on the desk again.
“To me? Why me?”
“You know how we teach Japanese at a language school? Don’t they write emails or messages to their family? Since we don’t know ours, we don’t have to do those. We don’t attend school, like normal people do.” Chisato put down the pen on the table and stretched her back on her chair.
“Is this another one of your movie influences?”
“That’s right!” She snapped her fingers and smiled. “They said that writing a letter to your loved one can make them feel appreciated. So I’m writing a letter to you.”
“I already feel appreciated by you, a lot, Chisato.”
Chisato pouted and slouched over at her desk again. “I don’t feel the same way. I feel like it’s not enough so I’m still going to do it.”
“…Then, I’ll write one to you too. After my bath.”
“Ohhh!? A letter from Takina!?” Chisato’s eyes sparkled at the idea. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Yaaaay. I’m excited! I look forward to it!”
“I look forward to yours too.”
“Yaaaaay~” Chisato hummed as she moved her body left and right on her chair.
“Takina! Stop your lovey-dovey phone call and get out of the bath!”
“Ah, sorry. Go on! An angry Mizuki is scary…”
“Yes… Um, Chisato?”
“Yeah?”
“…Thank you for calling me. I wanted to hear your voice too.”
“Eh? Ah?”
“Thankyouseeyoutomorrowgoodnight.”
“Good ni–” Beep beep beep beep. “EHHHHHH!?” Chisato stared at her phone as it beeped a few more times and the screen with Takina’s name disappeared. “…At least let me say good night back… Meanie, Takina.”
“Haaaah.” Takina stared at her phone for a long time before settling it down with the rest of the dry things. She submerged her face under the bath water as she covered her hot cheeks with both of her hands. She was glad she had the courage to say what she was truly felt, but she should start preparing for the teasing that she’ll receive tomorrow.
However, before all that, excited as they may be to see each other once again tomorrow, they both have a promise to fulfill to each other. A promise to put their feelings in a letter.
To my dearest Takina,
I have never written a letter before. I totally have no idea what to write. Mm~~~~ I searched a little about how to write a letter, and they’re all business type letters! How could there be so many types of letters, and not one of them is about telling your feelings to the one person important in your life!? Absolutely bonkers.
Takina, first of all. Thank you. Maybe you think that all this time, it was you who only receives everything, but the truth is I’ve received a lot of things from you, too.
Your everyday, and increasingly growing big, cute smile. Your warmth. Your pretty sleeping face. Your strict words. Your pouty face. Your embarrassed face. Your soft expression. Your laugh. I’ve received all of them, and they always make me feel alive.
Takina. I hope that you’ll always always continue to do the things you want to do, and I hope that you know that I’ll always be here to support you, just as how you supported me when I was searching for Yoshi-san.
Aggghhhhh. Now my face is so hot, and my fingers aren’t catching up with my writing. Going at this pattern, I feel like I could write a hundred pages and run out of paper… Maybe next time I should just tell them in person, that way I get to see your adorable reactions. Hm-hm, that’s a plan!
Lastly, Takina, I love you. Always.
Loving you forever,
Chisato
Takina looked at the letter then at a proudly grinning Chisato.
“It’s heavy.”
“Wha? Huuuh? I thought it was ‘very me’! What do you mean heavy!?”
“It’s heavy.”
“Waaaahhh! Sensei! Takina’s bullying my feelings!”
Takina laughed as Chisato started complaining.
“I didn’t say I didn’t like it.”
Chisato looked at Takina’s laughing face, marvelling at how pretty it was. Oh well.
“Thank you, Chisato. Here’s from me.”
“O- Ou~ I’ll open it then.”
Dear Chisato,
I have never written a letter before. I never thought it would be this tough. The words do not come to me naturally. If I thought of this as a mission, I wonder if I would be able to make the words flow easier? I feel like writing a mission report is easier than drawing out my own feelings.
Chisato. On that day, when I came, why did you call Fuki-san? I will admit it’s not that it did not make my happy, but I never thought someone would go all the way to call her just to scold them. I thought then that you were such an odd person.
I still think you are, though, but I think I understand you more now. Doing things your way, prioritizing the safety of your teammates, and even the enemies. I still do firmly think that villains should be killed, and I do not carry the same motivation you have to give other people their time, but the smile and relief that crosses your face when a mission goes safely, without anyone dying, always saves me.
Being in the DA, I feel like I was in the darkness for a long time. Only following orders, well, I didn’t follow my last one, doing nothing but shoot to kill, then I met you, and I feel like I suddenly found my light. What I’m trying to say is, thank you, Chisato. For making me feel all these feelings for the first time.
Thank you for choosing to accept me, and cheer me on when I wanted to go back to the DA. Thank you for accepting me with your whole heart, even if you’d joke about it being an artificial one. The emotions of joy, sadness, disappointment, surprise, everything, that you shared with me, I’m glad I experienced them with you.
Please, don’t just suddenly disappear. Please, always stay by my side. If you’re in trouble, I will come and save you. I…
–Takina
“…Don’t you have something else you aren’t saying yet?” Chisato looked up from the letter and leered at Takina who only blinked at her. “Don’t ‘hm?’ me! Look at this, here! What is it supposed to be?” She pointed at the ‘I…’ part at the very end and showed it to her.
“You already know without me saying the obvious, right?” Takina looked away.
“I don’t know! I want to see it, hear it, anything. Takinaaaaaa.” Chisato started hugging Takina as she rubbed her cheeks onto Takina’s cheeks.
“Then, I will say it. Please close your eyes.” Takina gently pushed Chisato away as they both stood at the counter front of the cafe.
“Really!? Okay! Okay!” Chisato stood up straight with her eyes closed while holding Takina’s letter in her hands.
Takina looked around to check if Mika, Kurumi, or Mizuki are going to be turning to look at them any time soon. Seeing that the coast is clear, she walked closer to Chisato.
“I love you a lot. Chisato.” She whispered softly into Chisato’s cheeks, followed by those soft lips onto those soft cheeks.
Chisato immediately opened her eyes, a hand smacking onto her cheeks immediately as she turned to look for Takina who suddenly disappeared together with the door chime ringing. “Ta- Ta- Takina? Eh? Huh?? Takina??? Takina-san????? Takinaaaaa!”
Mizuki entered the cafe and looked at a bright red Chisato. “Are you okay?”
“Did you see Takina?”
“I just ran into her outside. She had this really huge smile on her face.” Mizuki raised an eyebrow. “Something good? Is something good happening?”
“I’ll explain later!” Chisato dashed out the cafe as the door chime rang again. “Takina! That was meaaaaan!”
“What was it?”
“Ahhh! You don’t get to play dumb today, you cheeky little~”
“That tickles, Chisato.”
“I love youuuunnnggghhh.”
“Don’t make weird sounds.”
“NNNGGGGHHHHAAAHHH CUTE!”
(A Letter To You/END)
