“Well... don’t get the wrong idea,” I said, wiping at the corners of my eyes. “It’s just that I’m very close to Isuzu-san, and I felt a little sorry for her when I heard you talking about her like that.” It was a big lie, but one that I worked very hard to tell.
“I-Is that so, fumo?”
“Yes. You all just keep gossiping about it for fun...” I said accusingly. “I feel bad for her. Latifah-sama, too. I wish you’d show them a little more consideration.”
“Moffu... I see. I’m sorry, fumo.” Moffle-senpai deflated, his shoulders sagging. It didn’t look like an act; Moffle-senpai always got mushy when Latifah was brought up.
Ashe-san, though... “I see, Muse. You’re right,” she said, entirely neutrally.
What’s going on with her? I wondered suspiciously. Her reaction isn’t as simple as Moffle-senpai’s...
“We can stop talking about it. Instead...”
“Instead?”
“Let’s hear some insider talk about Elementario,” she suggested. “How are things really going with you guys? Any funny stories?!”
“Huh?” I was caught off-guard.
“It annoys me how close you guys are!” Ashe-san said brightly. “Like you’re some middle school club! Isn’t there anything sordid going on? Forget Kanie-kun! Any sordid, petty complaints you have... like about who has the most fans?!”
“Um?” I blinked, unsure of what to say.
“Come on, talk!” she demanded. “Is there anyone you hate? How about Salama? I heard you wouldn’t let her stay with you after her place burned down!”
“Th-That was just—” I tried to defend myself.
“Do you not get along? That’s what I want to know! Tell ‘big sister’ all about it! I want all the dirt!”
“A-Ashe...” Moffle-senpai hesitantly patted her shoulder.
Ashe-san’s eyes were glazed over. She upended her cup of sake, and then let out a powerful sigh. “So? Tell me.”
“I don’t think there’s anything to tell...” I trailed off hesitantly. “We really do get along, more or less...”
“Liar, liar, liar!” Ashe-san insisted. “When I was your age, it was really hard! People called me a prodigy, and a genius. Everyone was jealous of me. I never got a break! Even if I worked hard! It was awful!” She let out a long, agonized breath. She was clearly very drunk.
“Ashe,” Moffle said urgently. “Leave it—”
“Shut up, sewer rat!” she scoffed.
“What?!” Moffle-senpai was shocked by her words.
I was reminded that Ashe-san was the former minister of finance of the magical realm of Schubert. She was a true elite herself, and had probably been through hardships I couldn’t even imagine.
“I had to fight my way up the ladder,” she railed. “It was a dog-eat-dog world. I got sick of it. That’s... that’s why I quit. And here in AmaBri. Oh, AmaBri... hehehe... AmaBri? Yes, it’s great here. But still... Mu-chan.”
“Ah?” I asked, while thinking, Mu-chan again, huh?
“When I look at you guys, I get so jealous,” Ashe-san sulked. “Because you get along so well, you know? I would be lucky to have had friends like that at your age...”
“Y-Yes,” I tried agreeing. “I understand.”
“No you don’t, stupid.”
Me, stupid?! Sorry, but that’s a shock!
“So... treasure them, okay?” Ashe-san ordered me sternly. “Salama-chan and Kobory-chan and Sylphie-chan. Because they’re all good girls.”
“Okay,” I said.
“They’re good girls! You hear me?!”
“Y-Yes...”
“No, I really don’t think you do!” Ashe-san continued drunkenly. “Because you’re always spending all my money on nothing, no concern for the park’s financial situation, always, always, always...”
“Ah! Okay, I think that’s enough, fumo!” Moffle-senpai declared loudly.
“Huh? Already?”
“Already, fumo. Let’s head home! I’ll pay!” Moffle-senpai nudged Ashe-san’s shoulder.
Ashe-san crumpled; she looked half-conscious. “Fine, sorry... That isn’t how I meant it...”
“So can we bill this to the park, fumo?” Moffle suggested slyly.
“No.” That was one thing she remained firm on, at least.
“Then let’s go, fumo. Come on, on your feet.”
“Mmgh...” she groaned.
“Darn it... Ashe,” Moffle grumbled, “I thought you were stronger than that.”
“Mm. I’m tired today.”
“Well, you finished your work, and you’re probably sleep-deprived...” he mused.
“You’re so understanding.”
“And I should have paid more attention, fumo.”
“Then, Moffle-san...” Ashe-san sighed, “you’ll get me home?”
“Ah? Ah... sure, fumo. Come on, now. Stand up.”
“Darn it...” she complained.
“Excuse me, fumo! The check, please!”
The part-time worker came and brought us the check. Wanipii-senpai still wasn’t back from buying cigarettes.
Apparently, it was rare to see Ashe-san get this drunk; she’d talked a big game at first, then immediately became gloomy and depressive. “Sorry, Muse...” she told me sadly.
“No, it’s fine,” I reassured her. “It’s really fine.”
“I’m just really tired. Forgive me?”
“Um, it’s really fine...”
“We’re still friends?”
“Of course!” I insisted. “It really is fine!” I was most surprised to hear her call herself my friend at all; I was honored.
“Moffu. Anyway, see you, Muse,” Moffle-senpai said, helping the slouching Ashe-san up. “I’ll take Ashe home. You wait for Wanipii, all right?”
“Huh?!” I said.
“I sent him a message earlier, but he hasn’t replied, fumo. At least tell him we all went home.”
“But...”
“Thanks, fumo. See you,” Moffle-senpai told me, and then left the room with Ashe-san. She was shaky on her feet and leaning on him. They walked off with a quiet exchange of, “I’m so embarrassed... don’t tell anyone,” and “Okay, fumo,” and “Was it like this with Takami-chan?” and “How much have you heard, fumo?”
What is with that sexual tension? I thought. With the way Ashe-san was acting, I wondered if things were going to go places between them later. In fact, he would probably just take her home, put her to bed, and that would be the end of it. But watching them go, I felt like I was seeing something very adult.
At the same time, my own head was spinning; I was exhausted. The thought of walking seemed like too much effort, and my stomach felt like it was full of lead—something about that Savage room made people drink too much. I’d been through the emotional wringer, too. Honestly, I was probably about as dizzy as Ashe-san was.
“Muse-chan?” I looked back and saw Wanipii-senpai standing there.
“Sorry, pii,” he apologized. “They told me to read one manga magazine, but there were a whole lot of new ones on sale today, so I ended up reading three, pii.” It was impressive, in a way.
“Oh, Wanipii-senpai. The truth is...” I explained that Moffle-senpai and Ashe-san had gone home.
Wanipii-senpai seemed to understand, and just said, “Oh, okay, pii. But Muse-chan,” he added, “you’re looking pretty bad, too.”
“Oh, well...” I trailed off.
“I’ll get you to a taxi at Amagi Station; no ulterior motives,” Wanipii promised. “Can you get back on your own after that? I promise I’ll see you off!”
“Th-Thanks...” I mumbled. Wanipii-senpai was a good person. I felt bad for being so guarded around him.
I was squatting next to a power pole when Wanipii helped me stand up, swaying and uncertain on my legs. With his help, I just barely managed not to fall.
“You okay, Muse-chan?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m sorry...” Just then, I heard a voice from nearby. A familiar voice.
“Nya, nya!” was the first sound I heard. I looked up and saw Nyathan-san standing at the corner nearby. He must have been on his way home after drinking in the neighborhood.
✦ ✦ ✦
Colonel Nyathan. He worked in one of AmaBri’s five areas, Etceteland. He was a communist cat from the UPSR, where he apparently held the rank of Colonel.
Colonel Nyathan shivered and trembled. “W-Wanipii...” Colonel Nyathan said.
“Pii?”
“You... you were the one person I believed in,” he cried. “I’m so disillusioned, nya.”
“Nyathan. What are you talking about, pii?”
“You... you capitalist!!” Colonel Nyathan screamed. “To get an Elementario girl drunk, and take her back home with you! I’m disappointed, nya! I’m so disappointed, nya!”
“Wait, pii!” Wanipii protested. “It’s a misunderstanding, pii!”
“No! You’re just like Moffle!” Colonel Nyathan howled. “Die! Suffer and die!”
“Wait!”
“I never want to see you again, nya!” Colonel Nyathan ran off, crying. I was feeling very unsteady on my feet, so I just slumped limply in place, not saying anything.
✦ ✦ ✦
●
Apparently, this was the exact same way that the rumors between Moffle-senpai and Takami-chan got started. Nyathan-san was the source. I’d enjoyed the rumors then, but I couldn’t now.
But... I wonder why? They all seemed okay with the pairing of me and Wanipii-senpai. I didn’t know how to feel about that. Did other people think that Wanipii-senpai and I could really be dating?! It was a real shock! I virulently denied it. I thoroughly denied it. I denied it so hard I probably made Wanipii-senpai feel bad (sorry).
I had a few chances since then to see Wanipii-senpai in the cafeteria or the underground corridors. I’d say “Sorry” and he’d smile self-effacingly to make me feel better and say, “it’s okay, pii.”
At times like that, I found myself thinking, “Huh? Maybe he really is a pretty good person...” No! Forget about that. But I was thinking a little bit. If even an amazing woman like Ashe-san could be that way... Then maybe even an awful person like me...
No. Never mind that. I’m not quite that stupid. Isuzu-san or Latifah-sama? Like I’d know the answer to that!
✦ ✦ ✦
[The End]