Sleepover

Hanako's white sarashi draped to the floor and she pulled over the pink pullover Sayuri gifted her - a secret that remained at her place. Her Yukata was strewn in pieces along the sarashi. She looked around the room. A tiny makeup stand with makeup box adorned with flower stickers, oversized stuffed animals that took up half of the bed. Hanako's bedroom was tatami mats with minimal decor and ofuda at the beams. Traditional wardrobe with futon tucked away on top - like from Meiji era room.

She let out a growl like sigh - the past golden week was extra stressful. Just thinking about it made her chest tighten even without the wraps. The suffocating smoke in Orochi heads meeting room, purifying ritual the Kuroakami shrine, and another smoke filled Yukihana-ikka lieutenant meeting. Their voices pressed heavily on her shoulders. She stretched as usual and wished Masaki was here to steady her. He was still out in the Hakone area to investigate Suiryu-no-Oroko wielder with help of few ikka members.

She flopped over to Sayuri's bed and hugged one of the large stuffed bear. Her eyes landed on her duffle bag. Her pager inside will let her know if Masaki reaches out. She rolled over to set the pager on the tiny table.

"There's the Yukiharu Hanako I know" Sayuri walks in with a big grin and lacquered bento boxes in her arms. "You've already ransacked my room already."

Sayuri carefully stepped over the clothes and set the bento boxes down on the tiny table. She hummed mischievously at the pager. Then carefully folded Hanako's clothes and neatly stacked on the side, sarashi sitting on top.

"How was the Golden Weekend, did you go somewhere far again?"

Hanako could not tell her, instead she stretched out her arms to invite her over to the bed. She complied and snuggled at her like a child.

Waiting on Masaki's message was hard to deal with alone.

"There, there, we can chat, eat and read horoscopes on who's gonna be lucky next month!" Sayuri beamed and Hanako was grateful of her warmth.

"Let's eat." Hanako answered.

"I tried to get ekiban specials from Kyoto but they were all sold out. I ended up custom orders instead." Hanako apologized as she opened the bento lavishing lid. Two storied bento box came with assorted tempura with chicken karage with narezushi- fermented sushi - and nigiri sushi on the second tray.

"You are spoiling my family. You and your traditional streaks." Sayuri spoke with her mouth full. The sweet vinegar and tempura sauce filled the small room.

"Don't worry about not getting the ekiban specials, it's crazy to get one this time of the year. I'm surprised you went to Kyoto at all."

"Family obligations. The usual stuff." This was their code for Sayuri to stop asking questions. She hummed with a pout then focused on the food. Hanako was lucky to have her as a friend since childhood. She doesn't even remember how they met in the first place but since then Sayuri's been there in her life and never really asked about things she didn't want to share but still accepted her as who she was. Hanako.

"So, did Ko-chan go with you?" She still tried to pry some more information.

"A bit but he had other things to do with his family." It was true. He was with his family then attended the lieutenant’s meeting then went to investigate the Oroko wielder. Hanako covered her mouth as she bit into the karage, as trained. Sayuri already finished hers and eyed on Hanako's. She offered and she took it after obvious self-inflicted conflict.

"You're trying to fatten me up, I'm already fat." Sayuri still took the tempura piece and relished in its taste. Hanako chuckled and lightly shook her head. She wasn't chubby, she had the curves Hanako lacked. Her slender frame with sarashi made her look like a stick at times.

"You just laughed at me! Alright time for the main event!" She pulled out girls magazines for May under her bed. The plastic wrap still sealed the contents. She must have saved it to share it with Hanako. She tore the seal and opened to her favorite section; horoscopes.

Hanako closed the lid and saved some for later. Hunger wasn't what she was yearning. Her eyes glanced over at the silent pager on the corner then scooted over and slouched against Sayuri to peek into the magazine.

"Let’s see let's see... Scorpio... General: Your quiet moves will speak in volumes and others will notice your intent this month." Sayuri reads out Hanako's horoscope first. Hanako closed her eyes and rubbed her cheek against Sayuri's shoulder like a cat would. Closing her eyes helped her to focus on other things, cloying citrus scent on the fabric and Sayuri’s warm shoulder. The horoscope was somewhat right, she can’t say it but at least she can express them like this. Sometimes she felt words are not enough to express what’s on her mind or avoid the question.

"Love: quiet month but will set up for some heat in the following month." Her voice paused on love then hummed. Nothing to worry about here.

"Friends: A new and old friend will need your help and will deepen their trust. This is totally right, you have to help me on my midterms." Hanako nodded.

"Lucky detail: a dark ribbon." Sayuri leans her cheek against Hanako’s head. “I think I have one for you.”

Silence fell. Hanako kept her eyes closed. The voices of lieutenants and Oroko wilder’s sworn vengeance surfaced again. She snuggled against Sayuri. “Read the next one.”

“Hana-chan… alright.” Sayuri flips through the pages. She gasps.

“Now for mine… Leo, Love: Don’t force things to happen, just let things flow for the right build up.” Her voice trembled with excitement. “You think I might run into someone soon?”

“Haven’t you named everyone in class already?” Hanako answered lackadaisically.

“Hana-chan, this is why you’re not getting any boyfriend. You’re so pretty but that cool standoffish attitude towards boys and Ko-chan by your side makes you Yuki-hime.”

“He’s my attendant, you know that.” Her peeks over to where pager rested, still silent.

“Not everybody would know, I’m surprised nobody questions you about that cover – he’s your cousin? It’s only been a month and there’s a rumor…”

“What rumors this time?”

“That you two are secretly lovers, you two are too close to be cousins.”

The cover worked, Masaki didn’t really attend his high school, he was too busy with being her attendant and helping out his family. Plus, the age gap wouldn’t allow him to be in the same school until now. Masaki’s turning eighteen in June and will share Sakazuki with her father – Kumicho – and will become official Yukihana-ikka member. Then things between her and Masaki will change. She drew out a long sigh.

“Don’t just sigh, you’re lucky Minachi is hanging out with us despite Ko-chan’s circling around you all the time.”

“Minachi? Minato-san?” Hanako’s shoulder tensed, then sat up and stared at Sayuri at eye level. Sayuri's eyes thinned and hummed. She misread. Minato might be connected to Suiryu-no-Oroko wielder. It was natural for Hanako to shift into alert status when she heard his name.

"What did you talk him about?" Hanako asked cautiously, straightened and tense.

"Oh nothing, we just spent time together to come up with his new nickname... Seems like he didn't have a good one back at home. So, I gave him a new one. Now he's everyone's Minato..." She trailed her words then leaned in.

"Don't worry, if you are into him then I won't get any closer. He did look like a goldfish when I called him Ryukin though." She giggled. What if she's into Minato and falls for him when he's a spy? If he is then he's been hiding himself really well the first month.

"Sayuri..." Hanako wanted to warn her but the words crawled back into her throat. Sayuri was already looking at a different section of the magazine.

"Ko-chan is Cancer right?"

"June 28th." Hanako answered without hesitation, that is the day when their relationship will change.

"What's mine?" She sounded agitated.

"... August 3rd?" Hanako had to think before answering. Sayuri puffed her cheeks. At these points she can't read Sayuri's mind, Masaki is easy to read or never complains on what she gives him on his birthday or gifts. But Sayuri makes comments and they make Hanako to rethink on her gift options. Their friendship was less defined by milestones and more by everyday warmth.

"Ojo, I want a bakki so if my judo fails." Masaki's words echoed in Hanako's mind at the Yukihana-ikka's meeting. Visiting Kyoto served that purpose.

"See this is why people think you two are couples and not cousins. Do you know Minachi's?"

What does this has to do with Minato at all?

"How should I know?" Hanako raised her voice, annoyed. "Do you?"

"Ko-chan's, Cancer, General: You're in the safe zone this month, but don't push your luck. Love: consistency is the key to build up and strengthening relationship. Friendship: your loyalties will be tested and rewarded justly, so stick to your friends. Lucky detail: Something red and small." She read out aloud to drown Hanako’s question.

“Here’s your “cousin’s” horoscope so keep that in mind!” Sayuri turned her shoulder away from her.

Hanako couldn't figure out why Sayuri was upset all of sudden. She answered with a bitter smile.

- - -

The two painted their nails in silence with radio playing in the background. The sharp acetone stung their nose but the earlier conversation stung her more.

"Sayuri. I'm..." Her words stuck in her throat.

"...I'm sorry I don't know why I got so upset earlier." She spoke up at the same time but both heard each other's apology. Both grinned. She said the words Hanako wanted to say.

"Me too. There's a lot on my mind and I wish I can share it all."

"It's okay, living in such a traditional family would have a lot of things you can't speak out or put them into words." She got up to open the window, the bug screen was still on but the cool evening breeze let out the heavy air.

"Yeah." Hanako answered, she needed handle herself better so she doesn't stress Sayuri.

"Let's set up the futon and take a bath before sleeping." She started to clear the room.

"Is it.. possible if we sleep on the bed together?" Hanako fumbled her words and Sayuri's expression brighten up like a sunrise.

- - -

The bed was a little too small for two, but Hanako wanted the closeness. She couldn’t sleep. The pager sat on the low table, its plastic cool under her palm when she reached for it. The VHS player’s steady red light caught in the stuffed animals’ glassy eyes and made them look menacing.

A single, mechanical beep cut the dark. Hanako eased out of bed, careful not to wake Sayuri, and picked up the pager. Three digits blinked: 375. Her stomach tightened—Masaki had reported, but the code meant something else. She slipped back under the covers, mind racing.

he number clicked into place. 375—Minato’s code. Whatever he’d found at Hakoha Onsen, it tied him to this. “Minato,” she whispered.

Sayuri stirred. “What did you say?” she mumbled, half‑awake.