Chapter 8 Spleen and Cheese #2
Crap. But what was I supposed to expect?
Aiko and Yua are childhood friends. Of course they’d want to say hi to each other.
I was enjoying this moment of clarity, but I can’t stay in it forever.
Seeing Yua reminds me of the job I’ve got to do.
Of the assignment I’m still working on. Of the fact that she can’t escape my thoughts even though coming here was supposed to clear her from my mind.
Yua looks up and turns around right as Aiko throws an arm around her. There’s a flash of surprise in her eyes before her red lips curve up into a smile.
I rub my hands together anxiously. Okay. Do I go over to say hi, too? Or do I stand here like an awkward turtle? I choose the first option because Yua’s smile is infectious, tugging at my chest like a magnet.
Yua’s gaze shifts to me, and she pulls me in for the same hug that she gave Aiko.
As her arms slide around me, I can’t help but notice the way we feel against each other.
My head rests against her neck as my arms wrap around her waist. She’s so soft and thin that it’s easy to lose myself in her embrace.
That is, until I’m yanking myself back because I might have hugged her for a millisecond longer than acquaintances should.
“I was not expecting to see either of you here,” Yua says, white teeth flashing. “But you couldn’t resist the street food, could you?”
I return her smile and hold up the lavender camera draped over one shoulder.
“My friends from home wanted me to document my adventures in Tokyo. So far, I’ve only gotten two pictures.
I should’ve been taking more photos of everything I ate, but the food was so tasty that I completely forgot I was on a mission. ”
Yua giggles. “Yeah, good food will do that to you. But if you need a nice place to take some pictures, there’s a bridge nearby. You can see the skyline from there. And there’s a garden, too, but that’s a little farther away.”
“Are you busy?” Aiko asks Yua.
Yua shrugs and glances back at the case of fish. The chef who was helping her has wandered off to help another patron. “Well, I’m technically supposed to be painting a mural at an elementary school nearby. I wanted to add some fish to it and figured it was best to see some in real—”
“You’ve been commissioned to paint a mural?” Aiko interrupts. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”
Wait, Aiko doesn’t know? Yua mentioned something about it yesterday. I’m kind of flattered she told me before Aiko.
Yua’s brows pinch. “Oh, sorry. I thought I did. Here. Do you want to see what I’ve done so far?”
Yua reaches into her pocket and pulls out her phone for us to see. “It’s a work in progress, but it’s coming together.”
Aiko and I hover around the phone. Even though Yua’s not done with the mural, I can still see the vision.
The painting is on the wall of a long hallway.
The focal point is a giant white crane with a red spot on its head and black-tipped wings.
It stands on the banks of a river that hasn’t been painted yet.
But that’s not what catches my attention.
It’s the smaller cranes that’ve just emerged from their shells.
Knowing that this mural is inside an elementary school, I channel my inner Archi and look at this piece as if I were going to college for art history.
The big crane represents a teacher while the smaller birds represent the students.
They are hatching from their eggs and exploring the strange new world while the big crane can only stand back and watch.
“The red-crowned crane is a Japanese icon because their bright red heads look like our flag,” Yua adds.
“And for this mural, I wanted to create something that the students can see themselves in. Because like the hatchlings, they’re experiencing a brand new world.
And if these new baby birds can grow into something big and strong, then the kids can too. ”
My chest flutters. Even before she told me what the image represents, I saw it in the way she positioned the big crane and the small hatchlings exploring the wetlands.
I knew she was creative in all kinds of ways, but now that I’m seeing another side of her talent, I feel like a fool for not taking her up on her offer to show me the city.
A warmth tugs at my gut. I haven’t felt this in a looong time.
I’m finally onto something. And this sensation coursing through me is the one I’ve been chasing since long before I got here.
I may be in the middle of Tokyo right now, but I’m anxious to get back to my tatami room.
To start designing something. To tell this story of my inner blackbird searching for her muse.
“Lilyn?” Aiko’s voice breaks through my thoughts.
I blink to see both Aiko and Yua staring at me. “Sorry. What did you say?”
“Do you want to go to the bridge?” Yua repeats. “To take some pictures with your camera?”
I glance down at the Polaroid to remind myself that it’s here. “Oh—yeah, sure. Let’s go.”
We weave our way through the streets. Slowly, the sights and sounds of the market fade behind us.
The sidewalks open up once more, and the gentle river breeze brings in the smell of sunshine.
Aiko updates Yua on her video game fast. Yua tells her about all the gowns her mom has been tailoring at the shop.
All the while, they speak in English so that I can follow along.
We reach the center of the bridge. I snap some pictures of Aiko and Yua.
Of the skyline, of bikes rolling past us, and of the three of us crammed in for a photo.
A boat passes under the bridge, and the people aboard wave back at Aiko when she waves at them.
After our improvised photo shoot, Yua reminds us that she needs to finish her mural, so Aiko and I head back to the subway station without her.
Once we’ve returned to the Nakamura house, Aiko breaks away to take an afternoon catnap. Even though I feel a heavy weight behind my eyelids, too, I’ve been itching for this moment all day. Now that I have an idea, I can start to draw.
I’ve done it. I have one outline down. It’s a solid-black yukata, but the sleeves are shaped to resemble bird wings.
Instead of being made with cotton, the arms are made with lace to resemble all the textures of bird feathers.
But there are also gold embellishments to give the entire look a celestial aura.
The sash around the middle is gold and so is the design on the back.
I’ve drawn a phoenix with spread wings and outlined it with gold ribbons so that the shape pops against the black.
This part could be made of silk or whatever material Mrs. Matsumoto deems fit.
I don’t have all the details figured out, but I can finally rest easy tonight.
I lean back against my seat right as my phone buzzes on the desk beside me. My first thought is that Whitney and Archi are asking me how my outing went. But when I scoop up my phone, I see Yua’s name on it.
Yua: Hey! Any breakthroughs on your designs yet? I meant to ask you today.
An irrational, illogical smile forms on my lips, and I know it’s from the sight of her name on my phone. Or maybe it’s the fact that I now know she’s been thinking about me. Whatever the case, I loosen my cheeks and type back a response.
Lilyn: I think I’m onto something. Do you want to see what I’ve designed so far?
Yua: !!!
I snap a photo of my drawing and send it to her.
But the moment my thumb hits the screen, a paralyzing thought freezes me in place.
What if Yua hates it? I didn’t do the best job of cleaning up the lines, nor did I erase the previous outlines all the way.
Or worse—what if she sees this and knows I got my inspiration from her?
I cup my phone in my hands and imagine reaching inside my device to chase down the message I sent. If only I could grab it and throw it away in the trash like my other failed outlines. But then my phone buzzes again.
Yua: Wow! I love how you can always find a way to combine your cultural roots and goth aesthetic!
My brain feels like a shaken Coke bottle.
A part of me finds it scary to open up and accept that someone like Yua, who has trained in design since she was a little girl, could even like my sketch.
But another part of me is bubbling up with excitement.
Because if Yua can see the vision I’m going for, then surely so can Mrs. Matsumoto.
Yua: You’re really talented, Lilyn! Mum is lucky to have you as a mentee!
It’s impossible to keep from smiling. I know she’s just being encouraging, but I like that Yua isn’t afraid to compliment me. And if she’s not scared, then I shouldn’t be, either.
Lilyn: I’m the one who’s lucky because I have you now.
You’re the most creative person I’ve ever met
My heart thrums. This time it’s not from the nerves of wishing I could unsend a message, but Yua’s text rolls in before I have a chance to unpack why my insides feel this way.
Yua: Lol thanks
BTW I’m really happy you came to Tokyo!
I know I shouldn’t be curling my toes every time Yua’s name appears on my phone, but things are finally starting to feel all right. That lingering knot left in my chest is undoing itself, and it’s all because I took her advice.
Yua: So are you ready for tomorrow?
I blink at my phone. Did I forget to put something on my calendar? Was I supposed to have a follow-up with Mrs. Matsumoto? It’s possible that Yua said something earlier today, but I wasn’t paying attention because I was so inside my head.
But then three dots appear on Yua’s side of the screen, and soon enough, she’s sent me an image. It’s a screenshot of a QR code. When I tap on the image, I realize I can’t understand a single thing on there.
Yua: Aiko booked us a bus tour to Matsumoto Silk Mill
I’ll see you bright and early in the morning!