33. Kitchen Table Polyamory

「Hotaru」

"Are you finally going to tell me what this is all about?" I ask Chie.

Her manic energy fills the air, drifting along like the smells of wood and incense that waft through this open shop. A cozy store for home goods, furniture, decor, the odd end here and there… Its all present, surrounding us in a near claustrophobic press. The lived-in nature of the place keeps the comfort prominent though. With larger items like desks and tables up front in the largest part of the shop, arranged like they're in someone's home. The items there are both new and antique, adding to the feeling. Why she decided to come here instead of order from some online store is anyone's guess. She usually isn't the type to make the trip, or ask for company.

She turns to me with light in her eye, as bright and vibrant as a star.

"I asked Mayumi to move in with me!"

My jaw drops.

"You what?!" Joy unbound floods through me, near sticking me in place. I often wondered if this moment would come. I recover and lean in. "How did it go?"

She shrugs and begins gently shaking a nearby table to… test its sturdiness? What is she doing there…?

"She said we'd talk about it. Say, what do you think, should I get a folding table or a regular one?"

I blink, my former excitement slipping into gentle confusion.

"That's… so, she didn't say, 'yes'?"

"She basically did. I definitely should get the folding… You know, I usually eat on the couch, cause—heh—what else am I to do! Right? But we'll need a table to sit at, and-"

“If she hasn't really said, 'yes', then isn't all this a bit… premature?”

“NO!”

Several customers glance our way as I shy away at the outburst.

"Chie…"

She finally turns to me fully, a hint of frown on her face, mixed with comprehension.

"Look, if she meant, 'no,' then she would have just said, 'no'! 'We'll talk,' is Mayumi for, 'Yes, but there are details that need to be discussed'. Which, I get. If I was in her position I'd want to talk it over as well, so..."

She giggles and moves on, staring at a pair of folding tables leaning against the wall in two separate colors, green and blue, as if it's the hardest decision she'll ever make. I stare with wide eyes. She's rarely so… openly happy.

"If you're all moving in, shouldn’t this be something done together?"

She stops, frozen in place like she hadn't considered this.

"You're right… but…" She recovers. "I still need to get a few things! Mayumi kept teasing me about it. And well…"

"You want to do something nice for them?"

"Yeah…"

She's bouncing on her heels now, the absolute cutest expression on her face. Oh this girl is in love… It shouldn't come as a surprise given I've had to deal with a year or so of adoring looks, but still. A feeling of warmth returns. How wonderful it is that she gets to have this.

"Okay." A smile plays at my lips, and I step away, next to a plain wooden table with a fake plant on it. "You'll want something neutral colored then, because I know for sure that Mayumi will have opinions. Probably has the color palate picked out already…"

I mumble my last sentence.

"True…" She sits on the table and then wiggles it a little with her body. The thing creaks, bringing a frown to her face. "Oh, this is hard. Mayumi will care about the looks, and Haruki the build of it. I can account for that but I don't know anything about interior design! What if I get something Mayumi hates!?"

"I just said-"

"Yes, but which neutral!? There's so many! Dark wood, tan wood, light wood…"

"Chie…"

"Then there's black paint, or white paint…"

"Chie…"

"Or even brown paint! Who paints brown things brown?! It makes no-"

"CHIE!"

She blinks at me as if just now recognizing me.

"Hmm? What's up?"

I sigh, long and heavy, before stepping closer to her and laying a hand on her shoulder.

"You're overthinking this. You could pick the ugliest table in here and it would be fine."

"But-"

"No buts." I tap on her forehead. "What's actually going on in there? Are you worried?"

"Well-"

"Cause its okay to be! Its a big thing, moving in with your girlfriends ."

She blushes at 'girlfriends', eyes filled with joyous wonder.

"I just want it to go perfectly, that's all," she mumbles.

I hum.

"That's all?"

"I… think so…?"

I bite my lip, unsure how to voice my thought, or if it would even be wise to. She's so happy right now, and to dim that happiness even a little would be a tragedy. Yet… potential issues shouldn't fester.

"Are you worried about Mayumi?"

Her cute brows draw together, her lips curving down.

"What? Why?"

"She's…" Choose the word carefully. "Chaotic. I know you don't like such things."

"Oh… well. Umm, no. I'm not worried."

"Really?" I say, a slight tilt to my head.

"Yeah, she gets me. She's careful with me. It's why I finally asked."

"Finally…?"

"I had the idea to ask months ago, but…"

"You didn't wanna be a stereotype?" I joke.

A sheepish grin from her.

"Yeah… and I wanted to be sure. "

I giggle. "Okay, good to hear. I'm proud of you, you know? You and Mayumi too. You've both come so far since we met."

Her eyes are soft.

"You think so?"

"Of course! You're all good for each other. You were an emotionally constipated mess back then-"

"Was not!"

"-and Mayumi couldn't get out of her head long enough to see who's feelings she was stepping on. Its night and day with you two. I'm happy you have each other. Haruki too. The three of you are well-balanced."

Which is saying something. Haruki and Mayumi were balanced already, with Haruki being the calm and cool one while Mayumi the hotheaded and biligerant one. However both of them could still get each other into trouble if there was enough cause, which is how the fiasco with the fear demon happened. Having Chie as a part of the dynamic will make them near unbreakable. Her careful mind will keep the other two from leaping into the unwise, and she will give both Haruki and Mayumi someone tangible to protect. Physically and emotionally.

Chie has gone quiet, genuine concern on her face.

"I'm worried about her."

"Who? Haruki?"

"Yeah…"

She tells me about a conversation her and Mayumi had, where she learned about Haruki’s exhaustion at the world and desire to help those she loves. It's sad to hear, and my heart hurts by the end of it all. I didn't know Haruki felt this way. She’s always so calm and controlled, almost unbothered by the struggles of the world, but I should’ve known better. Calm hearts hide deeper sorrow.

“I want to help her,” Chie finishes, “But I don't really know how."

"You're already are helping her, we all are. She wants to be a great hunter? We've been on that path for a while now. It won't be an easy journey, but all of us are committed. So we will succeed."

Her lips quirk at me.

"We make it possible?"

"Exactly," I say with a grin, glad she's finally caught on.

Her lips contort in some expression of thought, then with a rap of her knuckles on the wood of the table she sits upon, she leaps off with a smile. "We make it possible," she murmurs to herself. "Now… umm… which one should I get?"

I eye the selection around us with a critical eye. There are a dozen tables in all colors and sizes here. I can see how the sheer amount of options would have her paralyzed.

"That one." I point to a dark-wood folding table double the size of the one she was sitting on. She looks back and forth with an expression of confusion.

"It's so big…"

"What? I'm tired of eating on the floor! Me and Katsumi will need a place to sit too!"

She grimaces.

"Right…"

Her sheepish look pulls a giggle from me. "Look at you, oh great leader of ours, letting your subjects eat on the floor."

"Stop! I'm hardly much of a leader…" she mutters, looking to the side.

"Sure you are! You are because we say so."

"Is that so? I don't remember us taking a vote…"

I tally off with my fingers. "I don't want it. Mayumi is too reckless, Katsumi too new, and Haruki…"

"She likes slicing things too much to bother with planning," she finishes for me.

I smile.

"Exactly!" I take her over to the one I pointed out. It's even bigger up close. "They offer delivery here, right?" I ask.

"Of course they offer delivery! I'm not taking a table home on the subway."

"Or on my scooter," I giggle.

"I think we could make a good go of it. Tie a rope to it and pull it behind us. Easy."

"Oh yes, such a great idea."

"Apparently I'm known for those."

I snort.

"Well now that this is settled, is there anything else we're here for?"

"Chairs?"

"I thought that much was obvious. What else?"

"Not sure. How about we just, uh, walk around and see if anything catches the eye?"

"Sounds like a plan."

We continue deeper into the shop, closely passing an obvious couple already being assisted by an older kind-faced man—he likely owns the place. Its a wonder why he hasn't spoken to us already. Perhaps as two girls we're seen as less serious customers. Two friends just looking at what there is to see. That or the alternative, but such things shouldn't be assumed.

The place is built like someone's home, and we pass through several rooms before, to no one's surprise—not certainly my own—Chie stops in a room dedicated to lamps. The room is tight, with only enough room for three people to stand side-by-side, and there we stand, staring at the forest of lamps and other light-related paraphernalia like a pair of moths. The image brings a smile to my lips. Chie is very moth-like, small and fluffy and cute.

"How are you doing, Hotaru?" Chie asks without looking at me. She only has eyes for a bottle-green glass lamp hidden behind several others. The light reflects off her eyes, giving them an otherworldly glow. "Sorry, I forgot to ask."

I bump my shoulder into hers in a gesture of, 'don't worry about it'.

"My mom's still busy with work and stuff, so I rarely see her these days, which sucks. But my grandparents are doing very good, even if they get on my nerves sometimes."

She turns to look at me.

"Oh? How so?"

I huff, though without any anger.

"Grandpa is fine, a bit like a mischievous child…" I chuckle. "But manageable. Grandma though seems to make it her mission to make me do twelve life-changing activities at once."

"Still want's you to be a doctor?"

"Yeah, and a full-time mother, and caregiver to them, and…" I pause, my past conversation playing in my mind, unsure of how much to give away. I don't want to pressure them into thinking that they have to come to my rescue by becoming my students. That wouldn't even be ideal. An unwilling or undedicated student is an exercise in pointlessness.

Chie is still waiting for my response.

"…and some other witch stuff. All at once! Like… I understand that she," I swallow, "She doesn't have all the time in the world, and wants to be there for me, but she's very unrealistic!"

Chie snorts. "Family and unrealistic expectations. Name a better duo."

"Oh I don't know, how about: Family and chilling out for five minutes?"

We both devolve into giggles.

"Anything we can help with?" Chie asks earnestly. "Anything you need and we're there, you know?"

"I know! Its just…" I sigh. "Grandma is worried about the… survival of our craft."

Her head tilts in that curious way of hers, so open and honest as she always is with her expressions. Its impossible for her to hide herself. I shouldn't hide either, should place some trust in her, but… I also should speak carefully.

"She… thinks I should begin to teach," I begin tentatively, "But I disagree. I am young and I have decades in front of me. I don't need to take a student, but…"

"You think she wants to be there to help?"

"No, she fears I'll repeat her mistake. Take a student far too late and risk our spellcraft being forgotten."

Chie hums, nodding along.

"So yes, she wants me to be doctor, caregiver, mother, and teacher all at once."

"Big ask. My dad only wanted me to get a decent job and do good in school. What about your mom?"

"She just wants me to be happy, I think. She did everything grandma wanted so she understands if I want to go my own way. As long as I'm helping people she won't care."

"That's good," Relief is in her voice. "Mayumi's run up the team's quota on evil family members. Oh, Katsumi too."

"Katsumi?"

"Yeah, her parents are rich. CEO rich. And in Mayumi's words, 'she's living out of a shoebox'."

"Oh wow. Poor girl."

"So yeah, no evil family for you."

With snort through my nose I say, "Sure, I'll let my grandma know. No turning evil! She'll get a kick out of that for sure."

With a chuckle Chie says, "Good."

She continues to stare at the lamp.

"Do you… want that?" I ask.

She really is eying the thing intently. Almost uncomfortably.

"Yeah…"

"Then… get it?"

"Should I though? What if-"

" Chie . Get. The. Lamp."

She sighs long, as if the very idea of doing something nice for herself is torture, but slowly she approaches it and then picks it up, cradling it in her hands. Its an obvious antique. Intricately blown, green glass that swirls in a shape that reminds one of a bonsai tree. There is a single light bulb on it, with no lampshade. Up close, there's something odd about it, but I can't put my finger on it…

"Oh, you're so pretty…" Chie whispers. "Hmm, but where's your hat, hmm? You need a hat."

I quirk an eyebrow, but she's already unplugged the thing and is looking through stacks of lampshades off to the side of the room.

"What color would suit you best? Not beige, eww… brown? Eh, maybe… Black… yes. Can't go wrong with black. Mayumi says so!" She giggle's and straightens, holding the two items in her arms.

"Happy?" I ask.

"Yeah!" she beams.

We return to the front to purchase her things. She sets her things on the counter before the old man, and calls out the table set she wants. His bushy brows raise.

"This one?" he rumbles. "Interesting…"

"How so?" Chie asks.

"I just got it last week or so. A woman wanted it gone, but didn't want to throw it out. She brought it to me, as many often do."

"Oh?" Chie says, leaning forward. "Why?"

"Its a… superstition among us older folk, that if you throw away an old item it will come back as a demon." He chuckles. "I've never seen it happen myself, but that doesn't stop them from delivering their things into my care. It's good business, all things considered."

Chie hums and pays for her items.

"Will your husband be coming to pick up the larger things, young miss?" he asks.

I spot the bare hints of a wry grin before she answers.

"What's a husband?"

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