Intermission:
Sweet Tea
ONE NIGHT, THERE WERE THREE WOMEN IN A condo. They sat on the floor together around a low table. The property’s owner, one Amanatsu Konami, raised her glass, inspiring Konuki Sayo and Shiratama Minori to take up their own.
“Here’s to a happy marriage!”
“Cheers!”
The three glasses met with a satisfying clink.
Amanatsu finished her beer in a single swig, thunking it back down. “I’m just so happy for ya. Tanaka-sensei’s a keeper. Students love ’im, staff love ’im. You hang on tight to that one, Noritama-chan.”
“I very much will. I’m a lucky girl.” Minori refilled her friend’s glass.
Konuki looked up and began counting on her fingers. “You started dating in college, so that makes it, what, seven years now? Took him long enough, considering it was never really up for debate whether you’d get together or not.”
“He wanted me to settle into work first. ‘The first three years are the most important,’ he’d say.” Her face beamed with pride, much to Amanatsu’s and Konuki’s bitter amusement.
“Y’know something, you never introduced us to him all throughout college,” Amanatsu said. “Didn’t lay eyes on the guy until I found out we were coworkers.”
“Why keep him secret?” Konuki asked.
Shiratama Minori clutched her glass firmly in both hands and replied with a grin. “That’s a silly question. Because Nuki-san can’t keep her hands to herself.”
A scallop fell unceremoniously from Amanatsu’s chopsticks. “Say the quiet part out loud, why don’t you. For the record, she’s come a long way.”
“No, she’s right,” Konuki said. “Can’t blame me for wanting what I can’t have, can you?”
“I’m trying to help you here, Konuki-chan.” Alas, to be the voice of reason was ever the fate of the twenty-eight-year-old teacher. At least when in this particular company. She retrieved her scallop while her friends clinked glasses again in odd camaraderie. “Ceremony’s this weekend, right? Got all your ducks in order?”
“Yes, we’re ready.” Minori hesitated. “As ready as we can be.”
Konuki frowned. “Is it Riko-chan?”
She tried to smile. Then quickly gave up. “We’ve hardly spoken a word to each other since, well, everything.”
“There’s momma’s boys and daddy’s girls, but Riko’s nothin’ without her sister,” Amanatsu said. “Probably can’t come to terms with Tanaka-sensei snatchin’ you away.”
Minori deflated slightly. “Maybe. She’s found herself a boyfriend, actually.”
“No kidding?! What’s he like?”
“I think he’s the president of the literature club?”
The other two nearly choked on their drinks. They looked at each other and chose their next words very carefully.
“He’s…fine,” Amanatsu finally said. “Bit of a bland guy, but harmless. Keeps a lot of girls around him, though.”
“It’s no small thing to stay composed around so much feminine energy,” Konuki said. “He’s a diamond in the rough, that one.”
“Um, who is he exactly?” Worry started to creep into Minori’s voice.
“He’s, er, sorta the same breed as Tanaka-sensei,” Amanatsu swiftly clarified.
Minori sat up straight. “Oh. I see. So her type resembles Yuuji-san.” Just as quickly as it had left, a practiced smile adorned her lips. “Anyway, Amanatsu-san, I hear you’ve started online dating. How has that app been? Meet anybody promising?”
“You said you’d matched with someone, didn’t you?” asked Konuki.
“Yeah. Nearly sold me on a condo.” Crack. Amanatsu drank this beer from the can, not even bothering to transfer it to her glass.
Konuki offered a can to Minori. She tacitly accepted with an outstretched cup.
“Today, Konami, we drink,” said the nurse.
“The night away,” the soon-to-be-wedded agreed.
“Hell yeah!” cheered the teacher. “That’s what I like to hear!”
Wind hissed through the open window, causing the curtains to swell. It smelled like summer.