Hayami had really thought that Akira would come this time. It was supposed to be totally casual. Totally platonic. And he had been totally up for it until Hayami got a sudden text from him. Something had come up, something involving Aoi and being a woman who aspired to have a nice, cookie-cutter family, she couldn’t make Akira come on this totally not a date date because it was a family issue.
But knowing that she was being selfless, didn’t make Hayami feel much better. She stood out, in the rain no less, just adjacent to her favourite ramen and udon restaurant, poking the bowl of salt on the ground with her foot, listening to the sizzle of gyoza from inside. She sighed to herself. Another lost opportunity. And it made Hayami realise.
She was never going to be anywhere close to Akira’s top priority. They were barely friends and very likely, they were just going to remain co-workers forever. Hayami very much wanted to shrug such thoughts off but it was finally time to face the writing on the wall. He just wasn’t that into her.
A sigh escaped her lips and not a moment sooner, someone suddenly showed up in her life to turn that frown upside down.
A motorcycle screeched and Hayami was drenched in muddy city water as it pulled up in front of her. A gorgeous woman sat, strident, over the machine and as she haphazardly tore her helmet off, her mane of long, fluffy hair fell back and in a panicked way that only the coolest of the cool could be, she asked: “Are you okay?” A jostled exclamation which rung out across the cold rain.
Hayami laughed, shrugged her shoulders. “It’s not nearly as bad as how I feel.”
“Aw, sweetums, what’s the matter, Risa?” she asked.
“Huh?” Hayami blinked. “How do you know my name... hang on, wait a minute. You! You’re the girl from that thing! You know Akira! Uh, c’mon... your name’s on the tip of my tongue... wait, got it! Ema! You’re... Bessho Ema.”
“Right on the target.” Ema replied with a playful wink. She dismounted from her motorcycle.
“My apologies for forgetting your name...” Hayami murmured.
“None taken. Though, personally, I never forget a cute girl’s name.” Ema said and she quickly came in under the restaurant’s crimson pergola.
Together, they stood side by side, just out of the rain, it splashed out noisily towards their feet. The bowl of salt was all that separated them. Hayami fidgeted with her hands whereas Ema kept stealing curious glances towards her.
They had only met briefly, and it was quite a while ago now. At least sixteen months ago, now but Ema didn’t know Hayami to be so dour. She looked weirdly defeated. Her shoulders all slack and sloping. Her cheery face wiped of all that tenacious mirth. Even her wavy hair had lost so much of its curly shine. And Ema suspected that it wasn’t just because her and her cute little pantsuit were all drenched with muddy rainwater.
“What’s the matter, hon? Life got you down? Cat got your tongue?” she asked quietly beneath the sound of the pelting rain.
“Yeah, something like that...” Hayami murmured.
“There’s a restaurant behind us,” Ema pointed out, “wanna go inside and talk about it?”
“Maybe. This place is my favourite but... I don’t know if I’m in the mood anymore.” Hayami said.
“That’s just tragic.” Ema sighed, folding her arms. “We’re absolutely going in if it’s your favourite.”
Without even giving her a chance to reply, Ema reached out and grabbed Hayami’s hand. She dragged her inside and to the barman, she yelled: “Sitting for two, please, sir!”
He gestured the seats in front of him and the barman barked at someone on his staff. A waitress came over and gave the two ladies some glasses of water, and a nice fresh towel for Hayami to dab over herself. Sitting down, in the thick of all the savoury scents, finally returned a smile to Hayami’s face, even if it was feeble. Ema noticed and was a delighted.
“Excuse me, sir, I’ll take a pork bowl please. Make it extra spicy, thanks. And I’ll pay tonight, so whatever she orders is on my bill. It’s our date now.” Ema teased, throwing another wink towards Hayami but Hayami groaned. “Oh, sweetie, did you get stood up?” Ema looked as though she had regretted her choice of gab.
“Kinda.” Hayami said. “It wasn’t really a date, but I was meeting the guy I liked.”
“Akira?” Ema guessed.
Hayami nodded quietly.
“Thought so. I know that feeling. I chased him for a bit as well but just between you and me, I don’t think he goes for gals like us. Or gals in general.” Ema whispered.
“Oh...” Hayami murmured, eyes widening, and she started to laugh. “Oh, uh, good for him. Oh gosh. Well...”
“Yeah.” Ema replied, something of a chuckle in her voice as well. “So, what can I order for you?”
Hayami smiled, wider this time, and she flicked a few tears from the corner of her eyes. Or maybe they were raindrops. Who’s to say?
She licked her lips, “If you don’t mind, Ema, can I call you Ema?”
“Yeah, absolutely.”
“I’d like chikara udon... I like my mochi. It reminds me of home.” Hayami shyly said.
Ema tapped the top of the divider. “Hear that old man, my date here, so cute and wonderful, would like a chikara udon, please.”
Hayami blushed and now she was the one stealing glances at Ema. She was beautiful. She had derisive eyes, long lashes, a curvaceous body. She was way out of Hayami’s league, she felt but goodness gracious, it felt so good to be called her date. Hayami could only imagine what it could be like to be called her girlfriend. Or her wife. But that was probably getting way too ahead of herself, but it was just like her to infatuate like this. As quickly as a downpour, that’s what Hayami’s feelings were like.
Ema smirked when she caught Hayami staring. “So, Risa, why don’t you tell me more about yourself? You said mochi reminds you of home? What’s the story there, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Hayami replied, growing hungrier by the second because the restaurant smelt so good, and so did Ema, truth be told, all coy perfume downtrodden by the rain and by a bit of gasoline as well, “well, I was born on March third, Hinamatsuri and...”
She went on to explain the associated memories with her family and childhood. After wallowing in such misery prior, the way Hayami’s face lit up was absolutely precious. Ema listened, sweetly, not quite intently as such pleasantries were vaguely alien to her because of the trouble her birth had caused her family, in a way, but it was nice. Her eyes were utterly lovestruck as she listened to Hayami ramble. Meanwhile outside, the clouds were beginning to part and the rain was beginning to ease, allowing moonlight and the luminous glow of the city to shine through. Romantically, Ema liked to think that the weather was shifting all for Hayami who finally shone with some sort of cheer for the first time since they ran into each other outside.
Link VRAINS is in danger. Hayami is giving Ema the details of the mission so she can take care of it. Ema is upset that she has to do this mission. She had plans with her brother, but she had to cancel so she could deal with some hacker who is wreaking havoc.
