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I returned to my waiting room carrying the certificate of commendation, the gold trophy, and the cash award. The commemorative photoshoot was over, but I was expected to participate in interviews with the newspaper and music magazine reporters in the lobby afterwards.
It was a real relief when the coordinator told me I could change first. I wanted to hurry up and throw on a more comfortable dress and flats.
Though my body was exhausted, my mind was whirling from the excitement of winning. Strolling down the hallway feeling happy enough to skip, I opened the door to my waiting room. Already waiting inside was my family, Miss Ayumi, Kon, Kou, and Midori who had run there from the main hall. Even Miss Sakurako and Miss Chisako were inside. The fairly small and narrow room was tightly packed with people and an insane amount of flowers.
“Congratulations!” Hanaka was the first person to throw her arms around me. I could tell she had been crying the whole time because her foundation was smeared. She narrowly escaped looking like a panda thanks to her waterproof mascara.
“Thanks, Hanaka.” I tried to give her a big hug back and laughed—all the stuff I was carrying got in the way of our hug.
“Congratulations. Here, why don’t I take that off your hands? Is it okay on the table for now?” Kou swiftly came over and held out his hands.
“Yeah, thanks!”
Kou’s timing was perfect, as always. I handed him my stuff, thinking with conviction that he was popular simply because everything about him was made to be popular.
“You were seriously…great! Like earth-shatteringly awesome! You were crazy good!” Hanaka became emotional as she told me her thoughts on my performance.
“Thanks. I was really happy you were here to hear me.” I waited for Hanaka to calm down before turning to Kou and Kon. “I’m sorry you guys had to see me break down earlier. Thank you for putting me back together,” I thanked them from the bottom of my heart.
Kou softly smiled and rested his hand on my head. He patted me twice before pulling his big hand away. Pathetic as it may be, his touch brought me ultimate relief. My expression melted into a dorky smile as Kou’s hand overwrote the disgusting feel of Tobi’s. He stared at my face.
“…Don’t do this to me,” he wrenched out in a husky whisper I just barely caught. This was where I’d normally get angry at him, but I ended up grinning instead because I noticed his red ears.
Kou’s embarrassed! Now that’s rare!
Kon looked from Kou to me and giggled behind her hand.
“Mashiro, you went out there and gave it your all!” Miss Ayumi’s hands were clammy. I only ever knew her hands as being soft and dry. I immediately realized she’d been worrying about me to the point of sweaty palms. There was no doubt in my mind that I would’ve never made it this far without her guidance.
“All of my success is thanks to you, Miss Ayumi. Thank you so much. I will strive to get even better!” I held Miss Ayumi’s right hand in both of mine and deeply bowed to her. Seemingly lost for words, she nodded several times as she returned my handshake.
I responded to everyone’s congratulations in turn and then finally got a chance to bring up the standing vases overflowing with flowers in the room.
“Um, what’s with the flowers…?”
“What’s wrong with them? You won the competition. A congratulatory flower wreath is a requirement.”
“Chisako is right. We actually ordered them in advance. We were positive you would win, after all.”
The two rich mothers answered in unison. Kon put her hand to her head and groaned.
A generous number of white, purple, and light-pink moth orchids decorated the extravagant two-tier flower stand. I felt like face-palming. Worst yet, there were five flower stands with different types of flowers decorating the tiny waiting room.
What is this? The ceremony to celebrate the opening of an influential politician’s new office?! I won’t ask the price. Yeah, no need to know.
Midori was talking to someone on her smartphone. When our eyes met, she flashed a toothy grin and said, “Here,” as she passed me the phone.
Could it be…? I gingerly took the phone and held it to my ear.
“Hello?”
“…Congratulations.”
A lump caught in my throat at the voice ringing in my ear.
It’s Sou! I knew it’d be Sou!
“It’s pretty early there. It’s not a problem for you to be up right now?” My voice trembled despite my best efforts to talk normally. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I blinked them back several times.
“No problem at all… You’ve gotten better, Mashiro. Your performance was breathtaking.” I heard his gentle, deep voice through the phone.
Thank goodness I saw him talking on that DVD before this. His matured voice would’ve made him sound like a completely different person otherwise.
The way he spoke was much calmer now too. He stopped being the adorable little Sou in my memories.
I bit my lower lip and thought of the space and time separating us. The closeness between us as children seemed like a dream now. Loneliness washed over me.
Staying quiet the whole time just because I was absorbed in sentimentalism wasn’t a good idea. I pulled myself together and spoke cheerfully.
“Midori told me before my performance that you were cheering me on from Germany, So—Shiroyama,” I barely stopped myself from saying his first name. “Knowing that really bolstered my confidence. I felt like I couldn’t perform poorly with you listening, Shiroyama.”
“…I see. I’m glad to hear that,” Sou said softly after a short pause. “Congratulations again. You deserve it. Also, thanks for the letters. That’s all I wanted to tell you. You don’t have to give the phone back to Midori. I’ll just hang up,” he continued. My heart felt like it was being strung up and hung upside down.
I want to talk longer. I don’t care if it’s just small talk, I want to hear Sou talking in person, not just through a video.
…Uh, wait. This is an international phone call! ACK! And even worse, I’m using Midori’s phone!
An insanely expensive phone bill haunting my thoughts, I quickly said goodbye. “No, I’m the one who wants to thank you. I’ll write you another letter soon!”
“I’ll be waiting. Till next time.”
“Yup. Until next time.”
We didn’t have to say goodbye anymore. That alone made me unbearably happy. It gave me this delusional sense that he and I were connected forever, even if we never saw each other again.
“That’s it? And what the heck is this Shiroyama business…?” Midori frowned and raked her gazed over my face.
I felt like I couldn’t properly explain to Midori why I called Sou by his last name. A proper explanation would require speaking of that sad, snowy day. That was the one thing I never wanted to do.
“Thanks for letting me use your phone. I’m glad I got to speak to him after all this time,” is all I said as I held out her smartphone.
“Is this your doing?” Midori pursed her lips with disdain and turned on Kou for some reason.
Kou accepted her glare head-on and lightly held up his hands. “Hardly. She’s just awkward when it comes to these things. I haven’t said anything… Not yet, that is.”
“Hmph. So you say.”
The mood between them took on a sharp, sparking edge. Does Midori dislike Kou? I’ve always thought that almost every girl fell for Kou’s looks and suave moves. This is like a breath of fresh air. Kou and Midori, huh? They look like a picture perfect couple when they stand next to each other with their mouths shut.
They both shot me questioning looks when I started grinning like an idiot.
“What’s with you, Mashiro? You’re creeping me out with that look in your eyes.”
“I bet you’re getting the wrong idea in that flower-filled head of yours again.”
Two surly gazes slammed into me like bullets.
Boo. Why is everybody able to see right through what I’m thinking?