gladiolus tristis (ycsh)

[ gladiolus tristis ]

Yachiyo was late to come back to the dorm this weekend, Shiori thought to herself. Then again, it can be said that’s only Shiori who’s rarely coming back home, for a reason to another. Mei Fan might not be coming back home as frequent considering the plane fare, so Shiori likely spend a long weekends or holidays together with the China-born upperclassman mostly.

“Shiori, can I ask you something?”

That evening, they are alone by the dorm lobby. Mei Fan tuned it some Chinese historical drama (with Japanese subtitle, and Shiori somewhat feel strange to see that Mei Fan is reading the subtitle instead turning it off), providing some background noises as they are the only ones in the dormitory at the moment. Shiori was browsing through some books she has yet to read over the busy times of student council and Edel, now breezing through an assortment of short Japanese young adult stories.

“Yes, Mei Fan-senpai?”

“Do you like Yachiyo?”

Shiori was sure she held her breath, her response to the question was a mere blink. Wait. She has to think positively about the question. It might be something general, not exactly to the point of ‘do you love her?’ kind of direction.

“W-What do you mean, Senpai?”

“Well, she seems to enjoy on making fun of you. I thought it is bad, especially since she is a Senpai to you,” Shiori let out a soft sigh at that. Yes, it is indeed a general question. “As long as it doesn’t give her a bad impression, then it’s okay.”

“Oh, yes. I … think Yachiyo-senpai is like that to everybody?”

A dry laugh. “Ahaha, yes she is. She sure has her guts to easily tease Akira-san, sometimes. I wish I have a bit of her laidback persona so I can hold a nice conversation with Akira-san.”

By then, Mei Fan started to trail off and talk about Akira with Shiori listening. Mei Fan has a crush on the Frau Platin, Yachiyo always said that, while the Frau Rubin herself confirmed that it is no more than an admiration—Shiori can admit Mei Fan is far too passionate when talking about Akira, though. The blonde offered a knowing nod and a little response as the story from Mei Fan is rolling, from when she challenged Akira one day to a dance, to when she is trying to talk about a topic outside of practice-related material.

“—that reminds me. Yachiyo said something like this when she’s stretching with me,” the conversation took another sharp turn. “Like, how she is jealous of Akira-san sometimes as she is tutoring you like crazy.”

Blood is rushing to her head, Shiori is alarmed. “E-Eh?”

“I confess that I do feel the same; jealousy, I mean, so I agreed to Yachiyo’s claim,” Mei Fan didn’t shy away from the mention. “Though, why Yachiyo is jealous? I wonder about it sometimes. Did she just never want a break on teasing the youngest of us?”

“I … do wonder about that?” her tone is closer to interrogative-defensive, rather than a clueless inquiry. She hoped Mei Fan didn’t notice that awkwardness.

“That being said, if Yachiyo ever inconvenience you, Shiori. Please tell me, I’ll be sure to teach her a lesson!” Mei Fan balled up her fist in determination.

“Thank you for your concern, Mei Fan-senpai.”

That was a close call. It is only Mei Fan, not Michiru or Akira who interrogated her. It is already a rollercoaster of its own, like walking across two steep hills on a rope, Mei Fan might find out and it would be bad since Yachiyo isn’t around to cover for her.

How long do they be able to keep everything under wraps, however? Shiori thought suddenly, as she is somehow missed a certain pink-haired senior even more because of the conversation.

Her phone buzzed, cutting in the silence. Shiori opened her cell phone to see that the girl she missed is the one who’s calling in.

“Mei Fan-senpai, I’ll be out for walk while answering the call.”

“Don’t wander off too far, okay?”


- - -


Shiori settled for a park not far from the Siegfeld dormitory, taking a seat on one of empty long benches away from other visible couples spending their eventful night chats there. The blonde considered on buying Mei Fan a snack later as a form of apology for taking long on her ‘walk while answering call’.

“Mei Fan is sharp, isn’t she? Not sharp enough to sniff everything, though.”

“Senpai, stop it. I was flustered, you know.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sorry. It’s just hilarious~”

When Shiori told Yachiyo about the small talk she shared with Mei Fan earlier, the pinkette response was as expected: a laugh, a big one and long string of laughter. Shiori of course pouted at the apparent response, thinking as if her defensive stance worth for naught. She can imagine Yachiyo doubled over, wherever she is right now, maybe she is in her room in her house.

“Where are you now? I can hear the cicadas.” Yachiyo asked.

“Oh. I’m outside, at a nearby park.”

“You shouldn’t be out too late, summer night could be too cold at times.”

“But I still want to hear your voice.” Shiori said, lowering her voice.

The blonde was sure she could hear a chortle, or a noise similar to a choking sound across the line, “Senpai?”

Yachiyo coughed before continuing. “Can we continue when you’re in your room? I don’t mind if it is past midnight, you are worried about Mei Fan noticing us, right?”

“Ah, no—I don’t want to disturb your sleeping hours,” the blonde reasoned. “Just come back soon, I miss you, Senpai.”

Yet another chortle, Shiori couldn’t help but to wonder if her senior is okay there. “… Why do you have to be so cute? And brutally honest.”

Shiori knew it wasn’t one of noteworthy praises, the ‘brutally honest’ part, it still make her heart skipped a beat, especially the ‘cute’ part. “I want to make sure you know how I feel.”

“I miss you too, Shiori.”


[And they exchanged a few words of love in whispers; hoping that the night wind carried their respective heartfelt message to reach each other.]