geranium garden (ycsh), 2-2

// white, 02


Yachiyo somehow has expected that Shiori would stay and help her. The pinkette trusted her intuition would not betray her.

And so it has been late over 11 PM – both of them are sitting beside each other while doing on some accessories and knitting over details. Shiori is not clumsy, but not exactly meticulous either. Maybe because it is her first time sewing, her pace is slow, slow enough for Yachiyo is close to take over the task given to her.

All in all, Yachiyo didn’t mind an extra hand; she has always been working solo, but having a company once in a while feels nice.

The blonde’s way of holding her needle is as basic as how Yachiyo taught her. Still, the pinkette is afraid that the younger girl would hurt herself at the beginning. As the time passed, no danger happened, and so Yachiyo focused on her work.

“The costume looks lovely.” Shiori said suddenly after their long silence.

“Mhm. Praise me more~” Yachiyo joked.

“But really, it’s amazing!” the blonde was mesmerized. Her eyes were gleaming, dreamy. “I would never be able to make costumes for myself. To know you’re working all of the costumes for Edels, I was stunned.”

“It’s my dream to have my handiwork on the stage,” The pinkette explained. “Knowing your amusement, I think it’s hard work paid off in a way, tee-hee~”

Shiori was bunching flowers for Earth Goddess’ costume at the moment. After Yachiyo told her what to do, Shiori put herself to work without saying anything more. It was like that time when they are working together for student council’s treasurer assignments. Shiori is one of obedient, meek, innocent little girl—compared to her older sister.

Wait. Shiori has said herself that she didn’t want to be compared to Fumi.

But that way on giving her the excitement, the way Shiori praised without restraint, it’s just like—

“… Maybe it is running in Yumeoji blood, huh?” Yachiyo mumbled.

“Y-Yes? Did you say something, Yachiyo-senpai?”

“Nope, nothing! Please do this part next, Shiori~”

“O, Okay!”


- - -


Yachiyo preferred to work in all silence. Connecting fabric to fabric together required utmost concentration. You mustn’t stray on the outline, or it will ruin the costume in the end of the road. Taking breaks after long time is needed, but sometimes she would lost the track of time after immersing to costume-making.

When was the last time she and the person whom helped her with this chore talked?

It’s only when it hits Yachiyo that Shiori was still awake, absorbed in her work – maybe just like her.

Yachiyo has reached her point of the night with these two costumes, but Shiori’s work is still ongoing. Both of them have exchanged plentiful yawns here and there but no one is giving in. The pinkette then glanced on her cup of coffee to find that it is empty. It’s not like she needs another cup, her work has been done for the night – though, what about Shiori?

Not to mention, Shiori is younger than her. Is it past her bedtime? Is it okay for her to stay too long in this room, working with her? Why the room is void of conversation? Is it alright to be working without words? What are words? Why Yumeoji Shiori is here?

.

The time is now 1 AM.

“Shiori?”

“Y-Yes?”

“It’s okay if you left it. It’s already late, you must be tired.”

“Ah, no. It’s alright. Just a bit more.”

—And that perseverance, Yachiyo paused.

It’s just like what Meifan had said, it is hard not to compare her with her older sister. It was nowhere a bad comparison, it’s just that they shared some things in common. The perseverance. The kind heart. The pure gem. The wind which soothes and blows, freely along the trail of skies; whispers to the earth, tames the fire, and creates ripples on the water.

Yumeoji Fumi was nowhere a prodigy like Yukishiro Akira. Was nowhere as scheming, as ‘directing’ as Ootori Michiru. Yumeoji Fumi had a dream that any other stage girl’s sought: to stand on the stage proudly, to be known with her own hard work.

When Yachiyo ponder about it a little more, there are a lot of things that she didn’t know about Yumeoji Fumi, given that the Frau Perle and Frau Rubin are only there shorter than the other three.

Is it alright to despise such hardworking girl, who’s having her expectations slapped away by the harsh reality? Did she, Tsuruhime Yachiyo, despises Yumeoji Fumi for leaving the throne of Frau Jade? Is she, Frau Perle, content with how the throne is taken by her younger sister—a totally different persona with common traits?

What Shiori really feels about her sister when Fumi … /just/ leave?

“—Senpai?”

Ah.

The voice is softer. And it is not calling her by the name. A faint scent of coffee they shared for the night. The fabric littered on the floor.

“Yachiyo-senpai?”

—It’s when Yachiyo aware that she was, resting her head against the smaller shoulder frame. The sudden jolt of realization finally gotten into her, Yachiyo quickly back to her tall posture of sitting, holding the hem of her favorite stole as a means of protection.

What, what happened?

“Sorry to wake you up.” Shiori’s voice was small. Did she just sleep on Shiori’s shoulders? “I’m done with the tiara.”

“Right.” Yachiyo swallowed. Her eyes made an excuse to look for the small table clock, it’s 2 AM. “You … should go back.”

Shiori was hesitant. Her lips were open, though it quickly closes. The blonde then nodded and she stood, making her way to the door.

“Thank you for tonight, sorry that I sleep on you~” the pinkette tried her usual tone.

“It’s okay. You should rest more than pulling a lot of all-nighter, senpai.” Shiori replied. “Good night, Yachiyo-senpai.”

“Ni~ght.”

Just as the door closes, Yachiyo sighed. Burying her face on her palm, she groaned.

Is that how easy of her to let her guard down in front of Frau Jade?


- - -


The hallway is silent, save from the little girl who’s walking toward her room. Soreness begin to roam on her back after sitting for long, so is tiredness on her eyes from focusing on the task.

Her mind, however, is fully awake.

“She keeps on calling Fumi-san … huh.”