Titre : Forget me Not
Auteur : Amy
Message de l'Auteur :
We see a bit more of Chiyuki with her family in this chapter. Have fun!
Since the slight confrontation from last time, they hadn't seen the young bespectacled man again.
But the world was still spining, although Chiyuki felt... bad.
She thought that she shouldn't have reacted to it at all, as it visibly made them lost a customer. At the same time, this didn't justify neither her behavior, let alone her assumptions.
Even though she was right in itself, her heart was telling her the opposite and made her feel guilty.
An umpteenth day ended in which Chiyuki felt even more tired. She remembered also some mistakes although minor ones she had made.
And yet it didn't stop Decim from congratulate her :
- « You did a good job today.
- Really ? », she said, surprised.
- « Yes, I think you are getting used to it. », he explained, « It's true that you do not excel in the confection of pastry or parfait...
- Thank you... », she told him, slightly vexed, even though he was right.
- « But regarding your memory and your speed, you have a good balance. I was afraid that you would fall several times to be honest, given the speed at which you were going at times. »
...
- « You were watching me ?
- Of course. »
They were in this setting where she made herself, in the shadows of the street lit by lampposts, both warm and toasty in their coats. And she looked his way, surprised. His expression didn't change, as if there was nothing weird.
- « I've always observed you, Chiyuki-san. »
...
- « Pfff...
- Eh ? Why are you laughing ? »
Chiyuki covered her lips, hiding a smile a bit distorded and laughing eyes.
- « I hope you don't say that to everyone, this could be taken the wrong way.
- No, only to those who matter to me.
- Hehe, I see. »
He really wasn't aware of what he was saying, she thought.
Decim had always been honest with his feelings, a little too much even. But well, that's what she liked about him and one of the reasons she felt comfortable.
Basically, she remembered that asking the right questions was enough to lift this expressionless mask.
- « That reminds me, Chiyuki-san... I have to go see Castra-san regarding the uniforms' order, since we've finally decided.
She nodded, a little excited.
- « Shimada-kun said that I'll look « even more » like a gentleman... Do I look like a gentleman ?
- Haha, what's with this question ? », she laughed even more.
Relaxed by what just had happened, they forgot for a moment what he had set himself to do for the next day. It was only within reach of Chiyuki's house that Decim remembered :
- « What time do I come get you tomorrow ?
- ...
- Castra-san knows that I'll come, so she'll probably have something ready for lunch. I think she would be pleased if you'd came to eat.
- I see... »
... it's hard to decline the offer...
- « Let's say at noon, then ?
- Very well. »
A smile appeared furtively on his face, before he said :
- « I wish you a good evening. »
And he went away in no time.
As usual, Chiyuki took off her shoes while announcing her presence in the house.
- « Did you have a good day, Chiyuki ?
- Mhm. »
Her replies were like that almost all the time. She didn't really talk with her parents, although now she took upon herself to eat dinner with them. Her parents talked about everything and anything, mainly about their day, and tried to include her.
- « What did you do today, Chiyuki ?
- Nothing particuliar... oh... »
She just remembered the talk she had had with Decim outside.
- « Tomorrow, I'll go out with Decim. »
It came a little bit out of nowhere, so her parents stopped in their tracks, his mother holding a piece of meat firmly between her chopsticks.
- « ... what do you mean ?
- This is related to the coffee shop, we're going to order new uniforms. »
...
- « Aaah...
- « Why are you looking at me like that ? Do you think that was about a date ? »
Chiyuki's father began to chuckle a little :
- « I didn't really think so, but I think your mother did.
- Otou-san ! » exclaimed the latter.
Chiyuki started to laugh too with her father who continued to tease her mother.
In the end, the evening was happier than expected...
Chiyuki took her time in her bath, remembering her last weeks, her hair in a bun with some wet rebel strands : some droplets were running down all the way and fell either in the bath, or on the lengh of her legs as she was curled up on herself, mind drifting away.
She still felt like in a big fishtank, but Decim's presence was always here to soothe her one way or another. Yet he wasn't doing much.
Maybe the secret was really here : the attention her family had given her when she came back made her feel even worse. She thought that they hadn't brought her up for her to end up like this. She didn't want to be seen like this, so pathetic and dependent.
She was just so ashamed.
She sighed, curled up in her bath, and thought about Decim again. Thanks to him, she had things to do.
Then she smiled.
If it wasn't for him, she probably wouln't have found the motivation...
She suddenly opened her eyes.
She had to thank him, right ?
Why not bring a cake tomorrow ?
Mmm from what she remembered, Decim didn't have anything against sugary stuff, but he didn't have any preference either...
... to be honest, he didn't seem to have any preference at all.
She sighed. Say what you will, but it really was typical of him.
Good, she will just have to bake the cake she knows how to make best.
She only had vague memories on how to make a pastry. Of course, the basis, everyone knew about it, but she'd rather rely on a recipe still. Her phone was used as a manual for the moment.
- « C-Chi ? »
Chiyuki's mother didn't understand why she spotted her past midnight, in an apron, and obviously in the middle of cooking.
- « What are you doing ? »
Chiyuki felt embarrassed. She hadn't been alone with her mother in a long time... because she avoided those times.
- « ... I'm baking...
- For Decim-kun ? »
Her mother smiled, seemingly looking like making a little joke, but she was right.
- « Exactly. »
The young woman remained immobile with her sack of flour.
- « Are you using your cell phone for the recipe ?
- I'm not sure I'd be able to do it without... », confessed Chiyuki.
- « Let me take its place. »
She definitely couldn't say no.
- « Sugar, Chiyuki.
- Yes, yes, wait a second...
- Did you preheat the oven ?
- Yes.
- Decim-kun will really enjoy this.
- I hope so... »
A smile settled between them as they started baking the dough along with the cut apples.
Chiyuki's mother suggested :
- « Shall we sit down ? »
And again, Chiyuki wasn't able to refuse the offer.
She knew where this would lead her the moment her mother had come.
She'll have to tell her...
Her mother sat on the couch, and Chiyuki remembered in a flash of an important memory. From when she was still little...
Her mother was reading her favorite tale to her here, Chavvot. And Chiyuki had asked to go to the ice rink from here.
It was where her passion was born, little by little.
- « How are you feeling, Chiyuki ?
- ... tired... »
She had followed her mother, sitting next to her, but with still a bit of a distance between them.
- « I understand, we just have baked at such an hour. »
She giggled, but Chiyuki didn't find the courage to follow her that far.
- « ... we haven't spent a lot of time together since you came back...
- ... sorry...
- No, I was just making an observation ! I know you are not feeling well, sweetie... »
She felt uncomfortable, waiting for the rest.
But nothing came. Her mother only put her hand on hers.
And it stayed here until the oven made a ringing noise indicating that their work was done.
- « I've got the perfect box to put this in. We'll let this cool down... I think this will still be good even by tomorrow morning. »
Chiyuki nodded, still under the surprise that nothing more had happened.
They were on their way to go back to their rooms, when Chiyuki said to her mother :
- « I'm sorry, mom... I promise you that I'll tell you everything when I can. »
And at this moment, she felt arms wrapping around her. Her mother hugged her tightly without saying anything more.
And Chiyuki felt even more guilty.
She hugged her back, wondering if she'll regain, one day, the closeness she shared with her.