Backstage pass

"And just why did you find the need to watch every second of that?" Maida glared as she walked out of the salon.

"... It was hot?"

"Tanabe-kun... Ugh. Were you seeking me for another reason?"

"Yeah, charger," Iori grumbled as she trudged up with Alya in tow.

"Ishikiridokoro-chan... Why are you up and about?"

"Cuz I can't sit still. ACHOO!"

"And you'll be doing so for another day."

"No way, I wanna play tomorrow and go to the Bermuda party!"

"If you're still sick-"

"Then whip up a cold cure. You're the science teacher, right?"

"Cold medicine and rest are all that's needed."

"Then why haven't ya gotten me any cold medicine?"

Okisato's eyes narrowed as Maida stated that she had tried to, but refused to purchase any of the cold medicine currently stocked at the hotel, claiming it appeared to have been tampered with. And with the weather, she couldn't really go out, meaning Iori had been without cold medicine for the day.

"Ginji. That bastard. He's trying to keep Iori from getting better," Okisato thought as he clenched his hand tighter. "Anyway, why's Alya tagging along?" he asked Iori.

"Uh, you ever heard of Al n' An? Famous duo of two dumb Slavic girls doing dumb shit, but they broke up 2 years ago. One half, Anastasia, has rebranded and become a boring bitch now. And Alya, vanished. No new channel, no re-branding, nothing. Just- ACHOO! Ugh, just left the internet. But here she is now, and if what Mimo-chan's mom said was true, she's an SPCM."

"And that means?"

"Duh, we drag her to the secret puzzle cafe so we can challenged her."

"Absolutely not! We can't risk you making others sick!" Maida glared.

"Who cares?"

"Were you not fully conscious last night when we discussed this?"

Realizing things could escalate, Okisato decided to calm things down with a proposal. "Iori-chan, how about I challenge Alya, while you watch the Ichiko Rojas show," he proposed as he flashed the ticket before her.

Everyone stared blankly.

"Uh, Oki-kun, that's kind of harsh. Like BAD harsh," Iori sighed.

"How? Ichi-ro's a riot."

"WAIT! You actually like her cringe!?"

"I wouldn't call it cringe. Sure her jokes fall flat, but her milf-energy makes the experience enjoyable."

"YOU'RE INTO MILFS!? FUCK! I'M NOT A MILF YET! ...Wanna make me one?"

"ISHIKIRIDOKORO-CHAN!" Maida seethed with fury.

"Y- Yes mommy?"

"Oh for the love of- Here, take your charger and play with your phone. but NO streaming!" Maida growled as she tossed Iori her phone charger.

"YAY! Now bring me some gourmet chicken nuggets, with the honey walnut sauce."

"Ubel eat that yourself."

As Iori giddily headed off, Maida stared intently at Okisato's ticket.

"Do you want to come see it?" Okisato asked.

"No, I don't want to see that buffoon ever again."

"You've met her?"

Maida's eyes shifted away slightly. "I had the mispleasure of seeing one of her acts, and I hated it."

"There's more to the story though."

Maida let out a heavy sigh. She was afraid Okisato would see through this, but she didn't want to relive all those embarrassing high school memories. Yet she didn't have a choice as none other than Ichiko Rojas herself walked by.

"M- Mañana?"

"..."

"Mañana! You shaved your head!? What brought that on, girl?" Ichiko smiled as she swung her arm around Maida's shoulder.

"It's Mayana! Now get off me or I'll sue for sexual harassment."

"But I'm a girl."

"And? The law cares not. Sexual assault is sexual assault, or are you trying to make another bad joke."

"Well I'd say it's funny that I dyed my hair, while you shaved yours and then some."

"Hold on, do you two really know each other?" Okisato asked.

Ichiko stared at Okisato for a bit before gasping. "Oh Mañana, congratulations on motherhood."

"He's my STUDENT!"

"... You're a kinkier girl than I remember. Well, guess you always-"

"Ichiko, don't slander me."

"Or you'll sue me?"

"Or I'll break your jaw to atoms."

"YO! We getting a milf teacher catfight!?" Iori gasped as she came back running.

"Another student?"

"Yes, one I need to attend to after all. Good day."

"Hasta Mañana."

At that point, Maida could no longer take it and got right up into Ichiko's face. "You said that on purpose."

"It's just "See you tomorrow" in Spanish."

"Uh, don't you have a show?" Alya nervously asked.

"Cancelled. Not enough tickets sold... But there is a way to still make use of the stage at the lobby cafe I rented out. Mayana, wanna play some chess?"

Maida's eyes narrowed, but she was completely down. "Bring it. I've been studying up on chess. I'll crush an imbecile like you in under 30 moves."

In her 2nd year of high school, Ichiko Rojas transferred from her Peruvian high school to a Japanese one. That was how she first met Maida.

"Hola, I'm Ichiko Rojas. I'm from Peru, but I'm half-Japanese," a young Ichiko smiled before the class.

Her hair was still bobbed, just as it was now, but it was an undyed chestnut brown.

"Rojas-san, please sit here at the front next to Maida-san" the teacher ordered as he motioned to an empty desk at the end, adjacent to one occupied by a bespectacled girl with long messy dark brown hair.

Despite her unkempt appearance, Mayana Maida was an honors student, but an antisocial one at that. Ichiko on the other hand was an extrovert, and one that disregarded personal space at that.

"So what's your name?" Ichiko giggled as she sat next to Maida and leaned into her desk.

"Maida, now no talking."

"That your first name or your surname? I want your first name."

"I don't want to give it to you."

"Beh, stop bein' such a grouch, Mayana," a ditsy girl with permed blonde hair grinned as she leaned over.

"You and your big mouth."

"Mayana... Sounds like mañana... I'll call you Mañana!" Ichiko exclaimed.

"What!? NO!"

But before any further protests could get in, the teacher quieted everyone down and began the lesson. This marked the start of Maida and Ichiko's tumultuous relationship.

...

As everyone reached the stage, the usher raised an eyebrow. "Thought your show was called off."

"It's back on," Ichiko smiled as she summoned a chessboard with her WWCF card.

"Wait, you're playing chess?"

"Yup, and there's elo on the line, so do try and sell those tickets before we finish. Mañana says she's gonna beat me in under 30 moves."

"Must you always raise a spectacle just to make a fool of yourself?" Maida growled as she sat down across from Ichiko.

"People laughing at me is the only thing I've got... and chess I suppose. Now, wager time. You lose... You shave your head."

"Haha, very funny, I'm already bald," Maida snarled in annoyance.

"Then I'll shave you again as part of a comedy act."

"Weasel, so that's how you sucker people into watching your show. Well too bad for you you're an idiot. I win... you never call me "Mañana" ever again."

"Game on, Mañana. You go first, but remember, it's gotta be under 30 moves, or we get sued for false advertising."

Maida shot her one more unamused glare as she let out a sigh and stared at the board before her. "How to open?" she thought to herself.