Chapter Text
At the very moment Hatori and Mayuko had been reading the note that Shigure had left them, all prejudice against the man aside, he had, at least, been true to his word–he was indeed at the aquarium with Akito at that very moment. And while he didn’t know for certain what Ayame and Mine were doing, they were most unlikely galavanting about in town like he had said.
They had even gotten up earlier than usual for the occasion. In Shigure’s words, it was to ensure “maximum success”. Ayame had been more than eager to comply. After which, Shigure had placed the note, already prepared beforehand, on the coffee table. Then they had stealthily left the house.
Ayame had admittedly not been especially stealthy, but Shigure hadn’t been too worried about that; he knew that Hatori and Mayuko would most likely be sleeping soundly. After all, he had made several… preparations in this regard.
Ayame and Mine both seemed rather eager to go through with Shigure’s plan. But Akito, on the other hand, looked rather weary, though Shigure swore he saw a bit of her mischievous smile emerging on her face when they were stealthily leaving the house–she did have a naughty side, after all.
And now, here they were at the aquarium, visitors who had been there half an hour already and planned to spend the whole day in the area. Far away from the lakeside cottage they had abandoned Hatori and Mayuko at. Well, not really abandoned, but still.
Of course, Shigure knew that this plan was just as good for him as it was for his beloved Haa-san. It had been a while since he had gotten the chance to go somewhere fun with Akito like this. So of course, he was making good use of the time he had.
Standing before one of the tanks, Akito looked strangely entranced by the manta rays as they glided through the clear water. Her mouth was hanging partially open and her eyes glistened with a kind of childlike wonder as she gazed at the huge tank spanning from the floor to the high ceiling and hinting at a beyond.
“Aki?” Shigure leaned in towards her from his standing on her right.
She turned to look at him, a little startled, his voice jerking her out of her trance. “Yes?”
Not replying immediately, he stared at her for a second before righting himself again. “You really like the manta rays, huh?”
“I guess so…”
That was when they noticed a small plaque adorning the tank just the right of where Shigure was standing. It was obviously an information board, and inching closer to it, Shigure scanned over the words. It wouldn’t really seem to be exactly characteristic of him to take an interest in a public information board, but…
Lo and behold, the board was dedicated to the manta rays gliding through the tank, the discovery of that particular board amidst all the others featuring information on the other marine creatures quite fortunate. Under the heading, it listed some ‘interesting’ things about manta rays; but what really caught Shigure’s attention was the final sentence, which he read aloud.
“ ‘They symbolize grace, wisdom, strength, protection, and guidance’... eh?”
“...really?”
“That’s the board talking, Aki, not me.”
“I know…”
A manta ray glided over to the edge of the tank, right in front of them. It lingered for a moment before gliding smoothly away from the glass. It was a moment of silence before they realized that their eyes had followed the movements of the majestic creature.
“Shigure… this is going to sound really corny, but…” her voice grew softer with each word she spoke, a light pink flush spreading across her cheeks. “If I ever have children, then that’s the kind of mother I want to become.”
Akito had never been more grateful for the white umbrella hat she had taken to wearing. Gosh, what am I even saying? And to this guy, of all people…
Why did this have to be the one time I decide to say one of those things out loud?
It was a thought, a desire so pure and sincere–one that served as a hopeful conclusion to a chapter of Akito’s life. She herself had never had the chance to have a real mother figure in her life. Everyone was well aware of Sohma Ren, the things she had done, the things she hadn’t done, and of the things she was bound to continue doing even when everyone else had moved on.
And no one knew all these things better than Shigure.
“I’m sure you can do it.”
Looking up, she was suddenly face-to-face with the owner of those precious words. Words so strangely kind for such a person. Words that made the pink adorning her face turn red.
Shigure was looking into her eyes with a gentle fondness that he would surely show to no one but the woman he was truly in love with.
“Hmm, but to make that wish of yours come true, you would need to have children of your own. Or should I say, we would need to have children of our own. What do you say, Aki?”
Regaining her composure, she looked right up at him. “I say that that wasn’t the worst pick-up line I’ve heard, but you really could do better.”
“But it’s true, isn’t it? Next time, we should bring our kids here, so that they can fall on their knees and thank the manta rays for giving them an outstanding mother.”
“You really do need to shut up sometimes, Shigure…”
“Now, now, I’m not that bad anymore, am I?”
“Well, I admit I’m a little surprised that we’re here, and I’m not stuck crouching in the bushes outside the cottage with you so that you can spy on Hatori and… Mayuko. You did all those extra things just for this outcome, yet you’re being strangely sensible about this.”
“You’re changing the topic, Aki.” Shigure sighed theatrically, the grin not leaving his face.
“And I can tell you’re trying to change it again. Out with it–you don’t have some ulterior motive for giving them this privacy, do you?”
“Well, Aki…”
—-------
“Um, Hatori-kun? I made us tea.”
“Oh, thank you, Mayu."
Back at the cottage, Hatori and Mayuko, after thoroughly assessing the situation and deeming it a futile effort to try and retaliate, had set about their regular routines. Breakfast had been a simple affair–Hatori had opted for just a cup of black coffee and one of the onigiris from the stockpile in the fridge. Mayuko had done the same, the main difference being that the coffee in her cup was of a noticeably lighter shade.
With the others gone, the cottage had been filled with a sense of peace. The kind of peace that people went on such getaways just for. But at the same time, Mayuko found this situation far from peaceful.
Facing Hatori alone after what had happened last night was already hard enough–and she had no idea how he felt about it personally, which was nerve-wrecking. That man hardly let anything of such relation show on his face.
However, it had undoubtedly been a day she wouldn’t trade for the world. It had taken awhile for her to get over the whole situation, but they had enjoyed the day nonetheless. And now it was late in the afternoon.
From morning till then, they had done several things to at least make the vacation worthwhile; after breakfast, they had taken a walk down to the lake, and it was then that… things Mayuko deemed too embarrassing to be recorded happened; then, they had headed back, showered, and made lunch in the kitchen, and it was then that… things Mayuko deemed too embarrassing to be recorded happened… and after lunch they had spent the afternoon thus far reading and doing those kinds of relaxing things.
So yes, it had been just as embarrassing for Mayuko as it was memorable for them both. Though I guess you could say that it had been just as embarrassing for Hatori. Though we don’t talk about that now.
Yes, tea. Mayuko had just made some.
Handing him one of the cups, she sat down on the sofa beside him, careful not to cause any spillage in the movement. She was so engrossed in watching Hatori sip the tea in his composed way that she was quite startled when he paused in this action and spoke.
“Mayu… can we talk about what happened last night?”
In fact, she was so startled that her jolt shook the sofa. Thankfully, as if Hatori had had the foresight to anticipate this, his cup was already half drunk and the vibration failed to knock any tea out of the porcelain container. “Y-yes? Of course we can.”
He took a deep breath before turning to face her. “I’m sorry about last night, Mayu. But… there are some things that I do want to explain.”
“Go ahead, Hatori-kun.” You shouldn’t apologise, though.
“This may bore you, but I hope you understand.” He gave her a soft smile, a hint of sadness gleaming in his eyes. After receiving a nod from Mayuko, he began. “I’ve… been the Sohma family doctor for more than ten years now. Since I was in high school. My father… I was never really close to him, but he was the previous doctor, you see. He died when I was in high school, so I had to succeed his role.”
When Mayuko said nothing to butt in, Hatori continued. “And, well, I’ve stayed at this vacation house several times. But that room, the room we’re staying in… it’s the same one I was in when… I found out my father was in critical condition.” Somehow, beyond his control, his voice grew softer. “And when I returned to the Sohma estate, he was already gone.”
Mayuko’s eyes visibly widened. She had already known of the burdens he carried from his relationship with Kana, and she had already known that he hadn’t had a great life in the confines of the estate.
But she hadn’t known much about these other burdens he carried, much deeper… in places fewer knew… burdens that had truly shaped who he was and how he had lived until now. She was starting to put together the dots–she could see where this was going, and she didn’t like it.
“Last night, I was reminded of it. Reminded of losing my easy way out. Reminded of my own weaknesses. I really am pathetic, aren’t I?”
Sohma Hatori could be described with many words. But to those around him, and especially to Mayuko, “pathetic” certainly wasn’t one of them.
Something in Mayuko snapped. “Don’t you dare call yourself that! You have no idea how much you mean to me… how much you’ve done for so many people… if you’re pathetic, what would that make me?”
I want to carry your burdens with you.
No matter how heavy.
Because even the heaviest of burdens can be split into two lighter ones.
“I’m always here for you to rely on. Don’t you dare ignore that fact either, Sohma Hatori.”
It was his turn to be startled. His eyes widened as she let her feelings come pouring out, the same way she had cried for him that day. If he wouldn’t be upset, then she would be, for his sake. If he tried to put himself down, she would somehow lift him up, for his sake. Time and again.
Just like she did at that moment.
“About last night, you have nothing to apologize about. And, anyway, I… I kind of enjoyed it too…”
The thing with Mayuko’s usual way of letting her feelings out was that she would sometimes say things she would immediately regret saying. But before she could say anything to try and defend herself, Hatori chuckled, in his usual quiet way.
He looked her straight in the eye, softly and lovingly.
“Thank you.”
No more words needed to be spoken. Silently, he wrapped one arm around Mayuko and she inched closer to him, leaning in until their faces were mere inches apart. Then, their eyes half-lidded, their lips met–almost like a seal, a promise.
That no matter what, they would be there for one another.
No matter what.
—-------
“Out with it–you don’t have some ulterior motive for giving them this privacy, do you?”
“Well, Aki…” Shigure looked into the glistening blue of the tank, his gaze seeming more distant than before. “I’ve known Hatori for a long time, and he’s one of my most precious friends.
This may surprise you, but I do care about my beloved Haa-san, you know?”
I interfere with the both of you. I meticulously plan my own little schemes. I say and do things to push you together.
But tell me, Haa-san…
Did you have fun today?
“Well, Aki, as I always like to say…
‘The end justifies the means’!”