That’s Not Something You Need To Fix

Thank you for reading chapter 2. Enjoy reading and your tea🍵

Chapter 2: That’s Not Something You Need To Fix

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‘Flip!’ The sound of paper cut through the quiet room as Mio flipped through the stack like she is in a rush.

Faster than she needed to, like she was rapidly analysing, not wanting to look at it but couldn’t stop either.

“What you looking at?”

Akari’s voice came in gently, warm as ever, walking over with both of their mugs in her hands.

There was a knowing-like tone in her voice, like she already expected the answer, but her gentleness softened it, perfectly blending it in like she cared rather than curious.

“Just the test paper we received back today.” Mio replied casually, but not quite smooth. That tiny pause in between her words giving her away.

Akari taking this opportunity, placed down the mugs with a soft clink, and gently wrapped her arms around Mio from behind.

Not tight. But just enough to be there. The kind of hug that didn’t demand anything, but only offered.

“What’s wrong?” Her voice staying close, barely above a whisper, next to Mio. It was short, but that was everything that needed to be asked.

Mio didn’t shift, didn’t reject it either.

“Nothing much.” She mumbled. “Just… a little upset that I scored lower than I expected.”

Akari rested her chin on Mio’s shoulder.

“I don’t think that numbers are able to tell the whole story.”

She said after a pause, her voice not rehearsed, but thoughtful.

“Sometimes they just remind us of what we still think we have to prove.”

“But… numbers shows your ability doesn’t it?” Mio asked with a tilted, surprised look.

Akari smiled softly, not in mockery, but in a way that says she already expected that too.

“It’s not only about the ability, is it?” Akari, answering with no hesitation. “Sometimes, it’s about the process”

There was a small silence.

“I see… there was just too many mistakes made in the test this time.”

She flipped the page again, a little too quick. Her voice said she understood, but part of her, buried deep in her, knew she didn’t. Not really.

Akari, understanding Mio, didn’t push for a response. She never did.

Instead, she let the moment settle. A little heavy, but neither was it suffocating.

She stepped away, reaching just far enough to reach the tea.

The mug was warm, too warm, maybe. And the floral scent of peach sprang up as she handed it to Mio.

“Careful, it’s still hot.” Her tone, shifted into playful mode, like she just flickered the light into a softer dim.

Mio nodded, gently wrapping her fingers around the mug like she was caressing it.

She didn’t drink. Just held it, letting the warmth seep into her palms.

“Wanna know how well I did?” Akari asked suddenly.

“I barely passed.” Akari said so without drama. Grinning like she just received a badge of honour. “Barely made it”

“…I’ve failed as your tutor.” Mio responding like it was a joke. “…are you serious?”

“I am.” Akari took a sip from her mug, reflecting her cuteness, like it would just cover up her failure in getting a satisfactory score.

“I’m more untalented than you think I am. Or maybe you’re the extraordinary one?”

“That’s not something you should be proud of…”

“But I still got the peach tea perfected, and you’re still sitting here with me. So, without a doubt, it’s my win.”

Mio almost rolled her eye at Akari seemingly prideful score. Maybe she rolled her eyes somewhere Akari couldn’t see. Instead, a small sound slipped out. Half a sigh, half a laugh.

“What a cute smile you got there” Akari’s positivity taking it as a smile, as she said proudly. “You’re making this sound wayyyyy easier than it actually is.”

“I’m just saying,” Akari shrugged. “If I can fail gloriously, and still drink these overpriced floral tea, maybe you don’t need to punish yourself over some missed marks.”

She paused for a second, then added, a little more gently: “…You care a lot, Mio. And that’s not something you need to fix.”

Mio stared into her tea.

It had cooled slightly now, steam no longer rising, but the warmth still lingered. She didn’t move, nor drink.

She just let it sit. Like maybe if she held the cup long enough, it would warm her thoughts as well.

Akari wasn’t saying anything. Not because she didn’t know what to say, but because there wasn’t a need to.

She shifted to the side, folding some of the worksheets scattered across the table.

Her fingers moved, calm, like she had no where to be. Soft, slow, patient. Folding corners that didn’t need to be folded. Straightening edges that was already neat.

It wasn’t about tidying up, it was about waiting.

That was what made Akari special. She didn’t pry. But she knew when to stay close.

“…it’s dumb.” Mio muttered, even to her ears, it sounded like a throwaway-excuse. One she wasn’t even sure she believed.

Akari didn’t flinch, didn’t judge. Just gave the softest “mm?”. Enough to let Mio keep going if she wanted, enough to let Mio know she was paying attention.

“I know I shouldn’t be so… fixated on it, I… know the score isn’t bad and it doesn’t really matter.” The words were trying their best to sound rational. But something underneath tugged at it.

“I just…no I thought I had it this time.” Mio voice dropped a little. Not in volume, but in weight.

“I thought I would feel… different. Getting a satisfactory score. Like I finally caught up to everyone else’s expectations.”

Akari kept her hands busy with the papers. Yet it wasn’t loud.

Her gaze, flickered to the sides. Not straight at Mio. Just… beside her, watching quietly, but without applying pressure.

Mio let out a breath, not quite a sigh.

“Haha… I’m supposed to be logical, not feeling bad about it, but instead thinking how to fix it. Yet… I still feel like I’m missing something. And, you have to see this sorry sight.”

She paused. Adding softly: “I guess I wanted it to mean more. But I don’t know why.”

The tea cup was still in her hands, untouched.(not literally)

Akari stood up gently, not in a hurry, and walked over.

She sat beside Mio this time.

Not behind, or at the side.

Leaning slightly until their shoulders touched. Not a press, or a weight, just presence.

“You always said failure was fine… as long as I didn’t stop.”

Mio said it quietly.

It wasn’t fancy like a quote. Just something that Akari had said once. Long ago, probably when Mio didn’t want to hear it, yet it stuck.

Akari didn’t nod, or repeat empty words.

She just reached forward, setting down Mio’s mug on the table. Her fingers, lingering slightly longer on the rim, like it meant something.

Mio didn’t reach for it again. Her arms stayed folded in her laps.

Her head, unconsciously leaned towards Akari’s shoulder.

Not enough to look like comfort, but just enough to stay close, and feel the warmth.

Akari didn’t say anything else. And that, maybe, was what made Mio feel safe to let something slip.

Mio slightly looked away. Water welled up in her eyes, as if looking away would cover it.

And the dam broke, despite desperately holding on, a tear slipped out.

She didn’t know why, really, she didn’t feel that bad over the score.

But no matter how hard she tried, it just fell out.

What was different?

Except Akari being here, she didn’t know.

“I’m sure you’ll do better next time.”, “You’re better than that.” Echoing in her head. Their empty words meant to encourage, only made the weight inside heavier. Like she always fell short.

I see…

And that’s what made Akari special.

She didn’t try to fix it, or do anything significant.

But somehow… she made her feel the worth, acknowledgement, like she mattered.

She wanted to stay like this, for just a little while longer.

But her pride told her to stay composed and logical, told her to stop, and don’t let another tear fall out. At lease, not in front of Akari.

Akari, still unmoved, didn’t wipe it away.

She let it dry.

Because she knew, maybe better than Mio herself. That sometimes, silence is the gentlest kind of understanding.

“I don’t think we cry because we fail. We all fail, everyone does.”

“I think we cry… when we were hoping for something more.”

”And yet, we often times don’t realise it.”

A pause.

Her voice warm. Familiar. Close

“Peach tea isn’t always perfect.”

“Sometimes the leaves steep too long, or the water’s too hot, or… the balance are just off…”

“but you still drink it. Because it’s yours.”

Mio continued leaning on to Akari.

She smiled, smiling like she did not just let a tear fell out, but like someone who felt safe again.

Then slowly, she shifted closer.

Snuggling closer into Akari’s side. Like a cute, but quiet, puppy seeking her owner’s embrace.

Akari softly moved her hands. Without hidden intentions or any meaning beyond presence. Wrapped around Mio.

Pulling her closer.

Putting her head on her lap.

Mio have never given a lap pillow or received one.

She didn’t know the appeal of it. It was awkward and impractical.

But now… she understood a little.

Gentle as she was, warm as she always have been, Akari hugged Mio. Not in parts, but taking her whole.

They remained as so for a while. Not daring to move.

Each wanting this to go on just a little longer.

Mio didn’t knew what she was feeling.

She had no clue. No words.

Yet she hugged back on instinct, wrapping around Akari without a second thought.

And in that moment, that quiet, wordless moment.

It felt like enough.

The warmth between them settled into the room like mist. Unspoken, but everywhere.

Mio stayed there for awhile. Head on Akari’s lap, eyes not really closed, but not searching for anything either. Just still.

Akari’s fingers moved slowly. Brushing aside a strand of hair that had fallen across Mio’s cheek.

There was nothing special about that motion. No drama, or performance. Just quiet, and wordless care.

Eventually, Mio sat up.

She didn’t say anything at first.

Just picked up the tea gone cold.

She took a small sip. Like an act. But not really at the same time.

“…Thanks.” She said, barely louder than a whisper.

“…for the tea?” Akari tilted her head, teasing.

“…for everything.”

Akari gave a sort of small shrug. “You’re welcome for the tea then.”

Mio let out a breath she didn’t realise she was holding. It could’ve been a laugh, who knows?

There wasn’t a need to explain. She didn’t have to say what ‘everything’ meant.

Akari didn’t ask too.

The silence that followed wasn’t empty. But shared.

Full of comfort. Like something had taken shape, settling between them.

Akari stretched a little. “We should eat soon.”

“…I’m not really that hungry.” Mio said so, but her stomach quietly disagreed.

Still a little ashamed of letting Akari see that side of her. She wanted to show that she was strong to Akari.

But she had just showed her vulnerable side.

“Too bad. You can’t grow properly if you don’t eat well.”

Mio not knowing whether she was teasing her or not, rolled her eyes, but gently.

“You’re not subtle at all.”

Akari grinned. “But you love that about me”

Mio didn’t reply. But her smile lingered.

A lot softer than usual.

The air around them shifted. Not in a dramatic way, but more like a ripple in still water.

The weight of the earlier moment didn’t just ‘poofed’ and vanished just like that. No, it blended into the day, becoming part of it.

And somewhere, Mio felt ok. More ok than before.

“Itadakimasu” as both Akari and Mio said as one, before a meal.

(Itadakimasu- いただきます. Japanese phrase that translates 'to humbly receive' -> showing gratitude + respect for everyone + everything that made the meal in front of you possible.)

Mio digging in with a satisfied yet cute smile, like she totally did not just said no to dinner.

“So where are we going?” Akari said so since they promised to.

Mio face remained a poker face. But deep inside realised she had been too consumed by the test score, she completely forgot about it.

“You haven’t planned right?” Akari shutting down all escape route from Mio. “Can I decide where we go instead this time?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t plan… and now you have to plan for it…” Mio seemed genuinely apologetic and guilty plastered on her face.

“No no, I suddenly wanted to go somewhere. Not because you forgot, but because of my own selfishness.” Akari affirmed Mio she wasn’t the cause.

“Still… I forgot.” Mio sounding even more guilty than before.

“You remembered the part that mattered,” Akari replied, tilting her head slightly. “You still show up. Even though your mind was somewhere else, you still let me in.”

That caught Mio off-guard a little. She didn’t show it, but her hand paused for just a second.

Akari continued eating casually, as if she didn’t just say something out of a novel, that would sit in the heart for a few days.

Akari looked dignified amidst her gracefulness, yet somehow, she looked… even cuter than before.

“Then pay me back by going there with me.” Akari said so, giving Mio a chance to repay her to ease her guilt.

“Alright alright. Th-thank you.” Mio trying to sound casual but couldn’t help and blush. She couldn’t believe that she thought of Akari like that…she should be on a pedestal instead, admired by everyone. No, by me only, and only me.

“…so cute.” Akari mumbled under her breath, quietly, gone unnoticed by Mio.

“Did you just look at me and blush?” Akari, couldn’t help but tease her for it.

Mio overthinking, thought she had figured out but asked a vague question. ‘Can she read minds!?’ She was flabbergasted.

“N-no, the room is just a little hot.” Mio lying straight to her face, while still managing to fan herself with her hand like it would make it any more believable.

“Fu-fu” Akari couldn’t help but laugh.

“Just remember to show up for our date. Our date alright?” Akari deciding to give Mio a break, reminded her of the date. “I’ll take care of the rest.”

Mio, taking this opportunity, “Yeah! I’ll remember it. Promise.”

Akari smiled. Calm and bright, like the day wasn’t over yet.

She looked out the window for a moment.

Breeze passed by, stirring the curtains softly, like it was listening in.

And for just a moment, the world felt quiet, gentle, and just right.

Mio didn’t understand everything. But in that moment, she didn’t have to. Some things don’t need to be named to matter.

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