done in the past, until one day you pressed me for a decision.
I know what it was that set you off. I also know that you were still fighting memories of the past, trapped by them, slashed by them, while you writhed in pain in an unescapable, pitch-black labyrinth.
I want to grant your wish.
Because it will be my atonement.
But even if I can save you, I’d still be a contemptible traitor if I did that.
Your wish is dirty! It’s not right! It hurts people!
And yet you want me to do it? You order me to do something that’s not honorable?
Please stop sending me letters. Stop writing things that test my spirit.
I know I’ll be taken in by you. I recognize that. But I can’t be any more foolish than I already am.
“Wow, you two are
adorable
!”
Kotobuki and Takeda had changed into kimonos with long, trailing sleeves tucked into empire-waisted and full-pleated pants, and when she saw them, Tohko gave a shout of joy.
Kotobuki had clipped extensions on either side of her head and tied red ribbons in them. She fidgeted in embarrassment.
When classes ended, I’d been conflicted over whether or not I should go home when Kotobuki planted herself in front of me, her arms crossed over her chest. “We’re doing costume fitting today. You can’t skip.” Then she pursed her lips and glared at me.
“Hey Akutagawa! Don’t drag your feet, either! We’re going to rehearsal.”
Somehow she managed to settle things and chased me and Akutagawa into the auditorium.
Dressed up as Sugiko, she was like a different person. Her cheeks were delicately flushed, and she kept her eyes down. Apparently they had asked a third-year who did tea ceremony for the clothes. I was busy being impressed by how clothes could change a girl when Kotobuki glanced over and stuck her lip out.
“Wh-what are you looking at? You got a problem?”
“No, I was just thinking how good you look in old-style clothes,” I told her honestly, but she turned bright red.
“You—you jerk! Why would you say that?! You’re just giving me more empty flattery! I—I can’t believe what a jerk you are!”
“But… it’s the truth.”
“What?!”
Kotobuki was speechless. I smiled. “You and Takeda look really good.”
“Yaaay! Thank you, Konoha!”
Takeda wore a trailing, navy ribbon in her hair. She swung her long sleeves and giggled.
In contrast, Kotobuki grumbled discontentedly. “I
really
hate you, Inoue!” And she turned away pointedly.
Huh? Wh-why was she mad at me?
I was confused. But Tohko came bouncing over to me, elated.
“Oooh, I was so conflicted about whether we should do elegantyoung ladies in fluttering kimonos or go with the pants, too, but this is a total blowout! A 1920s romance simply demands ribbons and billowing, high-waisted pants!”
Tohko was wearing a Western-style shirt with a stiff collar and a resist-dyed kimono over it. Akutagawa and I were dressed similarly.
“Heh-heh. You look totally different, too, Tohko! It looks great!”
“Ohh, you mean it?”
“Yup! I feel faint!”
“Oh, stop! Maybe girls will send me bunches of love letters.”
Tohko’s eyes glazed over dreamily, probably imagining the love advice mailbox in the school yard stuffed full of sugary, handwritten love letters. The shirt and kimono over her chest lay perfectly flat, and that didn’t look strange in the slightest, just as I had expected, but her long braids swinging like cats’ tails made her look nothing like a Japanese boy. Just as this thought crossed my mind, she pulled on a dark brown tweed cap and stuffed her long braids into it.
“Now I look even more like a beautiful young man, no?”
“Yes! It makes me want to sigh your name all dreamily!” said Takeda.
“Do it, do it!”
“Ohhh,
Toh
ko!”
“Oh, Chia!”
The two were completely into it. They fell into each other’s arms and shrieked and everything.
“You’re getting a little carried away, Takeda.”
Kotobuki looked sullen, but then Takeda threw her
I know what it was that set you off. I also know that you were still fighting memories of the past, trapped by them, slashed by them, while you writhed in pain in an unescapable, pitch-black labyrinth.
I want to grant your wish.
Because it will be my atonement.
But even if I can save you, I’d still be a contemptible traitor if I did that.
Your wish is dirty! It’s not right! It hurts people!
And yet you want me to do it? You order me to do something that’s not honorable?
Please stop sending me letters. Stop writing things that test my spirit.
I know I’ll be taken in by you. I recognize that. But I can’t be any more foolish than I already am.
“Wow, you two are
adorable
!”
Kotobuki and Takeda had changed into kimonos with long, trailing sleeves tucked into empire-waisted and full-pleated pants, and when she saw them, Tohko gave a shout of joy.
Kotobuki had clipped extensions on either side of her head and tied red ribbons in them. She fidgeted in embarrassment.
When classes ended, I’d been conflicted over whether or not I should go home when Kotobuki planted herself in front of me, her arms crossed over her chest. “We’re doing costume fitting today. You can’t skip.” Then she pursed her lips and glared at me.
“Hey Akutagawa! Don’t drag your feet, either! We’re going to rehearsal.”
Somehow she managed to settle things and chased me and Akutagawa into the auditorium.
Dressed up as Sugiko, she was like a different person. Her cheeks were delicately flushed, and she kept her eyes down. Apparently they had asked a third-year who did tea ceremony for the clothes. I was busy being impressed by how clothes could change a girl when Kotobuki glanced over and stuck her lip out.
“Wh-what are you looking at? You got a problem?”
“No, I was just thinking how good you look in old-style clothes,” I told her honestly, but she turned bright red.
“You—you jerk! Why would you say that?! You’re just giving me more empty flattery! I—I can’t believe what a jerk you are!”
“But… it’s the truth.”
“What?!”
Kotobuki was speechless. I smiled. “You and Takeda look really good.”
“Yaaay! Thank you, Konoha!”
Takeda wore a trailing, navy ribbon in her hair. She swung her long sleeves and giggled.
In contrast, Kotobuki grumbled discontentedly. “I
really
hate you, Inoue!” And she turned away pointedly.
Huh? Wh-why was she mad at me?
I was confused. But Tohko came bouncing over to me, elated.
“Oooh, I was so conflicted about whether we should do elegantyoung ladies in fluttering kimonos or go with the pants, too, but this is a total blowout! A 1920s romance simply demands ribbons and billowing, high-waisted pants!”
Tohko was wearing a Western-style shirt with a stiff collar and a resist-dyed kimono over it. Akutagawa and I were dressed similarly.
“Heh-heh. You look totally different, too, Tohko! It looks great!”
“Ohh, you mean it?”
“Yup! I feel faint!”
“Oh, stop! Maybe girls will send me bunches of love letters.”
Tohko’s eyes glazed over dreamily, probably imagining the love advice mailbox in the school yard stuffed full of sugary, handwritten love letters. The shirt and kimono over her chest lay perfectly flat, and that didn’t look strange in the slightest, just as I had expected, but her long braids swinging like cats’ tails made her look nothing like a Japanese boy. Just as this thought crossed my mind, she pulled on a dark brown tweed cap and stuffed her long braids into it.
“Now I look even more like a beautiful young man, no?”
“Yes! It makes me want to sigh your name all dreamily!” said Takeda.
“Do it, do it!”
“Ohhh,
Toh
ko!”
“Oh, Chia!”
The two were completely into it. They fell into each other’s arms and shrieked and everything.
“You’re getting a little carried away, Takeda.”
Kotobuki looked sullen, but then Takeda threw her
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