Chapter 23

Looking back… 2006/09/04 22:42 Autumn, two years ago. I began a part-time job at an agency to which an acquaintance had introduced me. According to him, the work was easy enough, and the pay was good for what I had to do. Living as a student, I didn’t have the wherewithal to refuse the offer. My first day of work. Wearing an uncomfortable suit, I headed to the desk at which I would be sitting. Inside the office were several other people who had shown up to work before I arrived. As I was mulling over how I ought to introduce myself, a young woman slightly older than I was called out to me. … Whoa, an older lady. And she’s rather pretty. I was nervous. And she smiled kindly at me. It’s kind of pathetic to admit, but by this point, I had probably fallen head over heels in love with her. And so…I began my temp job working for Y-ko— —We would share these conversations as we worked all night, composing documents. —We would share these silly, pointless exchanges. —Sometimes she would even take me out for meals. … As sad as it is to admit, I was so nervous that I don’t even remember how the food was. Our relationship as friendly office worker and temp eventually ended, on a late night with a stunning full moon, as we left work. She seemed stunned for a moment. She hesitantly offered her little hand. Our fingers crossed and tangled tightly. I stopped still. She also came to a stop, one step behind me. I turned around, and she looked up. Our eyes met. I lifted my other hand to trace her cheek. —She closed her eyes. Several moments later, after our lips broke contact, we looked into each other’s eyes again. And it was true. It didn’t matter to me whether she was an otaku or not. And that is how… … Y-ko and I came to be a couple. Later, I would be amazed at the amount of manga in her room. I would attempt to put her idea for a Gundam SEED story into a novel. I would be shocked by her words and actions on a consistent basis, but we continue to live and love in a full and happy relationship. Sometimes my friends ask, “How come you talk so politely to her when the two of you are going out?” I still speak in polite language when I converse with Y-ko. I do have some good reasons, like the fact that she is older than me and the fact that I first knew her as my boss at work. But I think the biggest part is her fierce insistence that “Polite speech is moe!!” When my girlfriend is happy, I am happy. However, Miss Y-ko… When I first announced my attraction to you… And you gave me that disclaimer… I had absolutely no idea what fujoshi meant at the time. But. I’m still glad that I said I loved you anyway. And I always will be.