Chapter 1: Tea
With Sawako
Kotobuki Tsumugi gracefully poured
tea for her fellow friends and band-mates calmly, the usual serene expression
on her face belying the chaos twirling inside her. She felt like her
insides would explode at any moment's notice. However, a proper ojou-sama
would restrain herself and Mugi, as she was called by her friends, could
not break the mold no matter the circumstance. She smiled as she sipped
her tea and listened to the chatter surrounding her. Ritsu and
Yui were discussing the merits of chocolate cake while Mio and Azusa
tried to direct the conversation to practice rather unsuccessfully.
Tomorrow the senior members of
the Light Music Club would graduate and make their way to university
after the break. Mugi and the others would all be going to Japan Women's
University, thrilled that they would all be together again even in a
different environment. While she was a bit melancholic about leaving
the school she had come to know as her second home, the feeling sat
on the back burner. Her wish, for the past three years would finally
come true. The thought and joy at the prospect made everything else
she was feeling pale in comparison. Mugi's smile increased a few watts
as she thought back to a year ago.
It had been a day like any
other since Mugi started high school. Classes, band practice and teatime
with her friends. Afterwards the girls had exited in pairs on their
way home. First Mio and Ritsu, Mio's eyebrows twitching at some inane
comment Ritsu spouted. Next to leave were Yui and Azusa, Yui glomping
the kouhai as they walked out the door. While Mugi assured them it was
fine to leave, Sawako-sensei was still drinking her tea and she'd keep
the teacher company. Yui smiled guilessly while Azusa looked at Sawako,
then back at Mugi before she agreed.
Mugi realized that lately
Sawako had been staying in the room long after everyone left. It would
be just the two of them, sitting there, drinking tea, and enjoying random
conversation while the sun sank lower. Those days of tea and quiet murmured
conversations filled her with happiness. She would go home,replaying
each interaction as she laid in bed at night. It was a safe assumption
to say she had fallen for Sawako from the first moment she met the teacher.
The fact that Sawako was not the person she initially portrayed in school
did nothing to destroy the girl's feeling towards the older woman,
it served to strengthen her affections and adoration instead. Everyone
else might have a problem reconciling 'Katherine' of Death Devil with
Sawako's sweet image but Mugi gracefully accepted her as she was.
That day Sawako was unusually
quiet, an unreadable look in her eyes as she glanced at Mugi. The young
girl took a deep breath. Today was the day she would express what her
heart had been feeling all along. Sawako, who had been sitting there
with her legs crossed, in a totally relaxed posture and her eyes closed,
looked over at Mugi when the young woman spoke in her usual gentle
manner.
"Ah, Sensei..." Sawako
smiled as encouragement for the student to go on. Mugi gulped, determined
to speak her mind. Sawako listened attentively as Mugi bared her soul.
She looked down once she finished speaking, her hands twitching in her
lap, her heart beating faster than Ritsu could possibly beat on the
drums. Her face felt incredibly hot. After speaking she couldn't look
at Sawako, fearing the inevitable rejection.
"That was really brave
of you Mugi." Sawako said with a smile, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"And thank you. I had a feeling you felt that way about me."
Mugi waited for the 'but' to fall from the teacher's lips.
"Kotobuki Tsumugi, I like
you as well." Sawako added quietly, relief on her face.
"I underst-" Mugi
jolted up from her chair as Sawako's words sank in. Her face flushed,
her hands covering her quivering lips, she stared at the sitting woman.
Although she had dreamt of such a response she did not imagine the teacher
would actually say it in return. The woman stood up and made her way
to the student, wrapping her arms around her. Mugi sank into her, she
wanted the feeling of Sawako's arms around her to last forever. She
was in a state of bliss, completely content at that moment with Sawako's
warmth, softness and scent surrounding her.
She didn't want to look a gift
horse in the mouth but she was curious about the relieved expression
she spotted on Sawako's face moments ago. "Sawako sensei..."
Mugi felt Sawako's answering 'hmm' vibrate from the woman's chest rather
than heard it. "You seemed relieved when you responded. May I ask
why?" Sawako chuckled at Mugi's polite but insistent question.
She was more than happy to explain. Sawako had fallen for the earnest
young woman who displayed an aptitude for any endeavor she attempted.
She fought a fierce battle within herself once she realized her feelings
for Mugi. After all, they were student and teacher, older and younger.
Any move towards the younger woman would have been incredibly inappropriate.
Despite the fact that she loved stripping Mio and dressing her in cosplay
or suggestive clothing, there were certain lines she couldn't cross.
And so she took her somewhat sadistic inclinations out on the girl would
would react in the most outrageous manner when in fact it was Mugi who
was on her mind. The young woman deserved better and ironically, also
intimidated Sawako, who decided she'd keep that last part to herself.
She explained all of it to
Mugi, happy that she didn't have to hide her feelings from the girl
she loved. Mugi snuggled deeper into Sawako's arms ecstatic that she
was finally able to confess her feelings to the woman she admired and
loved so much. It was an even bigger shock to find that Sawako returned
her affections. She did not feel so alone anymore. Mugi loved her friends
dearly but it also seemed they were 'paired up'. Whether it was true
or not there had been a lingering air of isolation. Mio and Ritsu seemed
like they belonged together while Yui was always glued to Azusa. Being
at home did not help since her parents were constantly traveling.
Suddenly, it hit her that Sawako's
body was flush against hers and her body temperature rose immediately.
She noticed the older woman had stiffened as well and they drew back
while looking at each other. The teacher spoke softly, "Mugi, I
will make a promise to you. I want us to be together, but we can't right
now. You are still a student." Mugi was disappointed but she was
also a smart girl. She knew of the consequences of entering a relationship
with Sawako right away. She knew what the teacher meant and quickly
agreed.
"I
will wait until graduation. It's a year but at least I will still be
able to see you in school." Sawako hugged Mugi upon the girl's
words. She kissed her on the forehead. "Then I promise I will wait
for you as well, Mugi."
Mugi's fingers touched the spot
on her forehead where Sawako kissed her a year ago. She remembered the
feeling of the soft lips and wondered how they would feel against her
own. It wasn't the first time she had that thought. Her eyes glazed
over and her face flushed as she forgot she was still in the clubroom
with the others. She was so absorbed in her thoughts she even missed
when Ritsu's arm ended up around Mio. And she lived for those moments.
"Thinking
of something yummy, Mugi-chan?" The words, said in a whispered,
teasing manner, came from her right, Sawako's usual seat during teatime.
Somehow the teacher always made it into the room and sat at the table
without the others noticing. The only person who did notice every time
was Mugi, of course, her reason for doing so rather obvious. She
blinked, a warm smile quickly coming to her lips as Sawako winked at
her. The others still caught up in their conversations missed
the exchange between the two.
"Would
you care for a slice of cake, sensei?" Mugi asked as she brought
the piece she had procured especially for the older woman.
"I'd
love a piece, thank you." Sawako answered as she sipped her tea
that Mugi poured.
"Mugi-chan!"
Mugi looked up as Yui called out to her, "Want to come over to
my house for snacks? Ui is making lots today!"
"I'd
love to, Yui! But I can't today, my apologies. I am having dinner tonight
with my parents since they will be out of the country tomorrow and can't
be here for the graduation ceremony. Please feel free to go ahead without
me this time."
"Awww."
Yui pouted but accepted Mugi's polite apology. The girls all pitched
in to clean up after themselves. They all had a feeling there was something
going on between their friend and Sawako-sensei but instead of accosting
her with the knowledge they decided they'd wait until Mugi filled them
in.
They filed out, the door closing
behind them cutting off the chatter of the four girls. The golden light
of the setting sun bounced off Sawako's hair and created a halo-like
effect around her head. Mugi's hands itched to run through the burnished
locks. She was caught off guard and sighed happily when Sawako reached
over and stroked the blonde hair at the side of Mugi's face.
"What
were you thinking of earlier?" She asked the younger woman, her
fingers abandoning the light hair and traced imaginary lines on the
side of Mugi's face instead. Heart skipping a beat, Mugi replied breathlessly,
"Your lips." Sawako's touching was having a dangerous effect
on her. For the past year they had been very patient with each other.
They still spent quiet afternoons in the clubroom together, with rules
in place which included no touching and a certain distance between them
when alone. They were safe as long as they were around the others. To
touch each other while alone would be asking for trouble. They both
knew this yet Sawako did not stop and Mugi did not object. Her blue
eyes drifted close as her she put her hand on top of Sawako's.
"Tsumugi..."
She felt a shift in the air before the faintest of touch on her lips.
Heartbeat tripling, all thoughts left her head. Her entire body felt
hot and she wanted more. And she wanted it now. Sawako was drawing back
across the table when Mugi grabbed her shoulders and whispered one word.
"No."
She pulled the teacher towards her and kissed her fully on the lips.
Sawako's hand slipped to the back of Mugi's head and pulled her closer.
All of the times she imagined kissing Sawako faded. Now that the woman's
lips were upon hers she trembled at the perfect feeling, she never thought
it would feel so marvelous. She gasped and Sawako immediately deepened
the kiss, her tongue flicking against Mugi's lips before darting into
her mouth.
Mugi moaned in a most un-ladylike
manner which evoked an answering moan from Sawako. They were both so
caught up in each other they did not hear running footsteps on the stairs,
or the door opening until Yui ran in calling out "Git-..."
They pulled apart quickly, their
faces red as they looked towards the door to find Yui and Azusa gaping
at them. Azusa was the first to catch herself. She bowed and stuttered
"G-gomenasai!!!", grabbed Gitah in one hand, a shell-shocked
Yui in another and ushered her out the door before closing it.
Mugi and Sawako were once again
by themselves. They looked at each other blankly for a few seconds before
laughter bubbled up and out. Sawako held her stomach as she laughed.
Mugi giggled, hands covering her mouth.
"Well,
that's one way of telling your friends!" Sawako commented, remembering
the expression on the other girls faces which made her laugh even more.
She gasped for air and finally their mirth died away.
"Do
you mind them finding out like that?" The teacher asked a bit more
seriously once they settled down. "Somewhat, but I don't
regret the kiss." She blushingly admitted. Sawako laughed and placed
a finger on Mugi's lips.
"You're
rather bold, Kotobuki-san." At those words, Mugi smiled mischievously,
parted her lips and bit the tip of Sawako's finger.
That night Mugi called Azusa and
Yui to ask if they had told anyone what they witnessed in the clubroom.
Azusa stuttered, said no and switched the topic to the impending celebratory
dinner. Mugi was pleased at the younger girl's tact and graciously allowed
her to switch the conversation. She then called Yui and after some small
talk posed the same question. Yui answered in the negative, stating
that Azu-nyan promised she wouldn't hug her anymore if she said anything
about kissing to the others. Mugi giggled but her face became hot immediately
after Yui asked what it felt like to kiss Sawa-chan like that?
Mugi didn't have a proper answer.
The day of graduation came and went in a blur. The girls felt rather emotional now that they were leaving their beloved Sakura High School behind. It finally hit Yui they were leaving for good in the middle of the ceremony. She burst out in tears but they were all somewhat teary eyed. They could not rebuke Yui in all fairness considering they sat in the same boat. Outside cherry blossoms slowly floated down to the ground as various kouhais took photographs and made their last memories with their sempais.
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