I woke to the sounds of someone wrestling with keys in a lock. I had been in the hospital moments ago. I couldn't figure out where I was or how I got there. Moments later a knock on the door and a drunk woman's voice filled the small apartment.
"Yuni, Moma can't find her keys. Baby, are you up?" The voice slurred through the door in desperation and somehow, I realized she was talking to me. I went and opened the door, and a gorgeous middle-aged woman stumbled in. She looked familiar, but I couldn't place from where. She beamed as she looked at me, "Momma put in another hard day love. Did you save me dinner?"
I nodded toward the kitchen and sure enough there on the counter was a plate of leftovers with a note on top of the cling wrap. Why did this drunk think I was Yuni and she was my mom? Could she be drunk enough she couldn't even recognize her own daughter? These were the thoughts that rushed through my mind as I resettled with the sleep that still clung to me like a blanket. Then it clicked, where I knew this woman from. She was a rarely seen character in my favorite manga, and her daughter was the main character and her name was Yuni. So, I was dreaming, I assumed, but why start a dream in such a weird place? The story I was familiar with almost never took place here. I grabbed the phone laying near me assuming it must be mine. I needed context and quickly.
"Thanks for tonight. You were amazing. I love you so much but remember total secret. I can't have the team find out about us," Natsume Nanase had sent that message several hours ago. I scrolled up to the beginning of the thread. In the beginning there were occasional messages separated by days and the topics were random and goofy. Then they became nightly recaps of the day and confessions of longing. Finally, "I can't hide myself from you any longer. Yuni be my girlfriend. Even if we never tell another soul I want you and I'm all yours," her confession made me blush. I had agreed and invited her over that night. Judging by the context we had enjoyed each other completely and even then, her first thought was to make sure I remembered to keep it a secret. She truly was incorrigible.
After I tucked my mom into bed, I went back to sleep in what I assumed was my bed. I figured while I was sleeping, I would wake up back in the hospital, and it would all be over. I was wrong. I woke several hours later to the alarm blaring and I slowly pulled myself out of bed. I got dressed and made my way to the train in a haze. As I got on the train I seen her, not Nanase, but Fuuko the woman I shipped Yuni with every time I read the story, but this was all before the story. So, I knew I didn't even know Fuuko yet, but I couldn't help myself. I walked over and stood in front of her.
I leaned in and said, "I know your secrets. Can we talk."
She glared at me. Her thoughts unreadable. I knew she was calculating. I had no idea what she would do or if I could win over Fuuko. After all she had loved Yuni in the story, and I wasn't like Yuni. I would not wait to be destroyed by the woman who claimed to love me. To be embarced and made to fell little. I couldn't do it, but I loved the unyielding support and devotion Fuuko always showed.
"Yuni-Can, I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you. Never thought you'd approach me though. I thought you would be talking with Natsume-san. That's who you usually spend your morning commute with," Fuuko responded after a silence that felt like it lasted forever.
"If I asked you on a date, would you go?" I whispered and then finally stood back up. At this point Natsume entered the train with our mutual friend. I paid her little mind. If this was a dream, then I wanted to achieve nothing more than a single date with Fuuko.
"Shopping, after school, while your girlfriend practices," Fuuko answered already returning her attention to her book. I took the hint and went to stand by the door and finally greeted Natsume and her friend.
"Good morning, Asahina," Natsume says as I approach.
"Hey Natsume, Suzuki," I respond flatly. The girls start immediately caring on about the gossip of the day and scrolling through their phones. I also start scrolling through my phone. When a notification draws my attention.
"Yuni, what's with you and Taki-San? Didn't know you knew each other," Natsume's text read. I couldn't help, but smirk. Just as in the original story as soon as I got attention from Fuuko she was interested in setting boundaries for me.
"She's a friend. We're going shopping tonight," I texted back and instantly she looked at me with a disproving glare.
"Thought you were going home with me after practice," her text was immediate, and I was already getting annoyed.
"Not tonight, sorry," I replied. I didn't feel like arguing and this certainly wasn't the place to break up, but I was done with her hypocrisy.
"Kay. We still on for video chat when I get home?" She texted yet again.
"Sure," I replied, thinking that would be a perfect chance to tell her I had made a mistake and wanted to end things.
We continued to ride them talking and me occasionally nodding along. My mind was already on that night. It stayed the same throughout the day. We sat in class ate lunch and I even walked her to her practice. The whole time Natsume talked and I barely interacted, and she never noticed the distance. I couldn't wait for this video call and an end to this sham.