Weeks went by like a breeze. Natsume and Sacchan passed their midyear tests, and although Katsuhiro criticized his daughter for “those mediocre scores”, Kaori congratulated her daughter with a heartfelt hug and treated the two girls for dinner to celebrate it (of course, her husband didn’t go as he didn’t see there was a reason for celebrating). Summer holidays arrived after that, as hot as always, but Natsume had a lot of fun with her friends… although she was not the only person enjoying her time with friends.

Just as promised, Kaori phoned Shimoto every two or three days to know more about her life. Conversations turned around mostly about the city woman, as Kaori only wanted to know about her stories. Sadly, Shimoto also wanted to know more about Kaori’s life but, what could she say? The mother felt nothing special happened in her life aside from her daughter, and revealing Natsume’s existence would imply revealing her marriage. For some reason, she didn’t want to tell her friend that. She didn’t want Shimoto to think something that was not true, so her only answers were “you know, routine” or “not much to tell about this town”. Sometimes Kaori talked about her parents or some changes in the town, but nothing else. Whenever that happened, Kaori apologized to Shimoto for not saying anything else, but her friend was as understanding as always.

-Don’t worry, Kaochan! I love talking to you. I’ll wait until you are ready to tell me whatever you want- Shimoto always said.

Kaori felt comforted by those words, even if a little, and went back to their usual talking topics. Summer ended and classes began anew. As if life sped up at an incredible pace, they got into the end of autumn. Life went on like usual until Natsume shared some news in her house:

-Hey, listen, I’m going on a trip with the soccer club next weekend- Natsume revealed casually during dinner.

A brief silence. Kaori leered at her husband: he was shocked.

-A trip? Where?- asked Katsuhiro annoyed.

-Nagoya- answered Natsume. -Our supervisor has organized a training camp with a highschool from the area. We’ll play matches and train everybody together. Well, I’m not training, I’ll be supporting as a manager, but it will be fun.

-So you are going to waste your time and you’re not even playing?- asked Katsuhiro angrily. -I won’t allow you to do such a silly thing.

-It’s not silly!- exclaimed Natsume. -It’s a great chance for the club and it looks fun! I…

-Natsume, let me fix this- interrupted Kaori, clearing her voice after that, and said to Katsuhiro. -Listen me well: our daughter will go to that trip and will have a great time. In the meanwhile, you have two options: find the way to accept it or stay grumpy until then. Understood?

Both Katsuhiro and Natsume were shocked by Kaori’s words. The teen had never seen her mother showing that courage and she liked that, but Katsuhiro was obviously annoyed.

-What I say doesn’t matter anymore in this house?- asked Katsuhiro mad.

-Well, the only things you said for months are things for controlling your daughter’s life and not letting her be happy, so no, they don’t matter anymore- answered Kaori firmly.

The husband let out a snarl, stood up and murmured “I’m going to the pub”, leaving mother and daughter alone in the house. Still nervous, Natsume smiled towards Kaori.

-Thank you, mom- said Natsume.

-Don’t worry, my dear- answered Kaori smiling. -I’m tired about your father complaining over and over again about everything you do. I won’t allow that. Just promise me one thing: you will have a lot of fun, OK? And you must tell me what you’re taking to the trip.

Mother and daughter kept talking about the trip plans and went to their rooms afterwards. Once in it, Kaori was talking again to Shimoto.

-Seriously, I was so mad I just wanted to throw those papers at his face- complained Shimoto. -I told him “you know, these calculations are not right and this client is not that good”, but that guy insisted.

-Wow, what did you do?- asked Kaori with curiosity.

-What did I do? During the meeting, at Q&A session, I put a report with my calculations on the desk. You should have seen his face! In the end, my boss chose my client instead- exclaimed Shimoto. -Even in Tokyo, there are still some grumpy old men who think I can’t do 2+2.

Both women laughed at the same time.

-Anyway, these weeks are so extenuating, I need to calm down- comented Shimoto. -I will take the next weekends to relax.

-Are you usually busy on weekends?- asked Kaori with curiosity.

-Well, I do trips, go the museum, the aquarium or just shopping- explained Shimoto. -Actually, I go out at night with some friends for a drink or two. It’s fun, but right now I need more relaxing and less venting.

-All that sounds so fun- comented Kaori. -There’s not much to do around here…

At that moment, something crossed her mind: her daughter’s conversation. She was going to spend a whole weekend outside, meaning Kaori had to stay with Katsuhiro alone and that didn’t make her happy. She didn’t have other plans… or did she?

-Hey, Kaochan, still there?- asked Shimoto.

-Ah, yes, sorry, I was just thinking of… one thing- mentioned Kaori.

-Ooooh, what is it? If you want to talk about it, sure- asked Shimoto.

-Well, it seems I’ll be free in two weekends and I thought… I’m in the mood for some traveling, leaving routine and all that… And Tokyo is quite close by train so I thought…

-Are you coming to Tokyo?- asked Shimoto happily.

-It’s just an idea I just came up with- commented Kaori nervously. -I thought of searching a cheap hotel and going for some sightseeing during the weekend and well… We could meet by the way.

-A hotel? What are you talking about?- asked Shimoto surprised. -No way, you are staying at my flat!

That took Kaori by surprise. She didn’t notice, but she blushed a lot and had difficulty breathing.

-The… There’s no need, you know!- stuttered Kaori. -I don’t want to force you and be a nuisance.

-You are never a nuisance- interrupted Shimoto. -Truth is, I wanted to invite you to come here for a while to see each other in real life, but I didn’t know if you would agree. But if you are coming, there’s nothing else to say! I’ll prepare the extra room to make you feel at home. Besides, I’d feel bad if you got here without knowing anybody. I’d be more at ease by guiding you around the town. I’ll show you lots of stuff!

Kaori felt immensely happy as she looked forward to seeing Shimoto in person after so many years. They kept talking for a while until they hung up and Kaori went to sleep. She was so nervous.

-I’m just visiting an old friend. There’s nothing wrong. Why am I so nervous?- thought Kaori as she covered her head with the blanket.

During the next days, Kaori found out more things about Natsume’s trip and used that intel to prepare her plans with Shimoto. The mother didn’t know which trip made her more nervous. A few days before the departure, the family was having dinner at the dinning room. There was nothing else but silence, like always, but everybody could feel Katsuhiro more annoyed as the “big day” got closer.

-When are you leaving?- asked Katsuhiro reluctantly. It was hard to tell if he cared or not.

-On Friday, before midday- answered Natsume. -A bus will pick us all up at the train station: it’s easier for it than going through all the small streets to highschool.

-When are you back?- asked Katsuhiro almost immediately after Natsume finished her sentence.

-On Sunday afternoon, right on time for dinner- answered Natsume.

“Hum” is the only thing Katsuhiro said, silence coming back again. Kaori prepared herself to break it.

-Very well. I also have some important news to share: I’m also going on a trip this very same weekend- revealed Kaori.

At that moment, the only sound was caused by Katsuhiro’s chopsticks falling on the table and the ground. Both Natsume and he were astonished, but Kaori kept eating as if nothing special happened.

-Come on!- exclaimed Natsume. -Really? Where are you going?

-I’ll spend the weekend in Tokyo- answered Kaori smiling to her daughter.

-Tokyo?- asked Katsuhiro angrily. -What have you lost in Tokyo?

Kaori threw an angry look at her husband. It was a poisoned question, as if she needed a very good reason to go so far.

-If you really want to know, some old highschool classmates are gathering- answered Kaori. -Like some sort of “class reunion”. I was invited and I’m looking forward to it.

-When were you planning to tell me?- asked Katsuhiro. -I must work this Saturday. How do you expect me to go?

Kaori dropped her eyelids. Even then, her husband only thought about himself so much he didn’t even listen clearly.

-Excuse me, when did I say “we’re going on a trip”?- explained Kaori. -I’m going by myself, thank you.

-At these things, it’s normal to bring your husband so everybody knows how your life’s been going- answered Katsuhiro madly.

-Maybe I’m a bit tired of doing “normal” things- answered Kaori. -I will go on this trip alone, will reminisce happy moments and will enjoy it.

-And what do you expect me to do the whole weekend?- asked Katsuhiro. -What am I eating?

-You said you work this Saturday, right? One day less to worry about- explained Kaori. -About meals, there will surely be some rice in the cooker on Friday, but I don’t think it will be that hard for you. You always bragged about how great of a chef you were when you were younger, don’t you remember? Anyway, I will take Natsume to the station on Friday, have a light meal and take a train in the afternoon. I’ll be back on Sunday, right on time to pick her up and come back home together. I’ll buy dinner in the market before arriving.

Still annoyed, all Katsuhiro did was leaving the table, picking the newspapeer and sitting on the sofa in the living room, passing the pages with rage. Natsume helped her mother to clean up everything and went to their rooms a bit later, but the daughter went inside her mother’s room for a moment.

-What’s wrong, dear?- asked Kaori.

-Nothing, just… it was a big surprise- answered Natsume. -I hope you have a great time. I’m sure you’re looking forward to meeting your old friends.

-Yeah, I really do- answered Kaori smiling.

Silence briefly filled the room until Natsume sat down on the floor.

-Hey, mom, if you have problems with dad, you don’t have to hide it from me, you know?- commented Natsume. -I’m here to help if you need it.

Kaori felt a bit sad by her daughter’s words.

-Sweetheart, you don’t have to worry about our problems, understood?- said Kaori as she caressed her daughter’s cheek. -You must focus on your own life.

-Come on, mom, it’s so obvious- answered Natsume smiling. -Things are not going well since last year’s incident.

-Hey, listen me well- said Kaori. -Don’t think even for a second that this is your fault. Things have been going wrong for a long time, maybe too much. You are the most wonderful thing that happened in my life in all this time. It’s just… I realized lately that I missed so many things in life because your father wanted me to always stay by his side. I want both you and me to live as many new experiences as possible and be happy. I don’t want my life to be limited by his fault and I don’t want him to limit you as well, understood?

At that moment, Natsume hugged her mother, who couldn’t see her daughter’s smile.

-I’m so happy for you, mom- said Natsume. -I’m glad you’re trying to find your own happiness. And thank you for supporting me so much.

Kaori surrounded Natsume with her arms.

-You’re welcome- answered Kaori. -I hope you have a great time during your trip… and I hope I do too!

Friday finally arrived. Kaori and Natsume were waiting together on a sideways next to the station along with her daughter’s friends. The mother told Natsume she could go with them and leave her alone, but the teen not only refused, but took her with the group. Unknowingly, Koari had turned the “favorite mom” in the team: all the girls greeted her energetically and even invited Kaori to go along in their trip, but Natsume said “she already has big plans”. After a fun time with the girls, the bus arrived. Kaori help them to put their luggage inside it, bid farewell to Natsume and saw the bus leaving. Now alone, she realized how nervous she actually was.

-All right, stay calm, Kaori- Kaori told herself- It’s just a trip to meet a friend. Don’t be afraid.

Kaori had a light meal in the station’s mini market, right on time to ride on the train. It had been a long time since she rode one: not only she didn’t travel a lot, but it was always Katsuhiro who drove in her few trips. She found her seat and waited for the train to leave. It would take the train around an hour to go from her town to Tokyo, so she didn’t plan any distractions for the journey. All she did was gazing at the landscapes through the window as the sun set until she got to her destination.

After going through a narrow corridor, she got into Shibuya’s main station and… she was astonished. Hundreds of people going around, a lot of light signs and ads in the station walls and too many doors. She felt a bit dizzy, but walked towards the ticket machines, the meeting point. Her heartbeats become stronger every few seconds. Was it the nerves for the reunion or the chaos of the station? Then:

-Kaochan!

A voice screamed far away, calling for her. Kaori rose her head and there she was: Shimoto, wearing a black office suit and with a brown briefcase, shaking her hand to grab her attention. At that moment, the noise and people vanished: all Kaori could hear and see was Shimoto calling her.

-Shimocchi… Shimocchi!

Kaori began walking as she pulled her suitcase. Unknowingly, she increased her speed until she ran. The woman threw her luggage aside, making some people stared at her, but she didn’t notice. At a few meters of distance, she jumped on her friend and gave her a tight hug.

-Wow, girl! So much energy!- exclaimed Shimoto. -You didn’t need to…

But Shimoto couldn’t finish her sentence as Kaori began to cry loudly, standing out in the middle of the station, although she wasn’t aware of that.

-Shimocchi, Simocchi!- Kaori could only scream her friend’s name.

Her heart couldn’t bear it anymore. As much as she tried to deny it or as many excuses she used, that trip was not a “mere coincidence” to meet again: the women had longed for a long time to go out and look for her, since the day she left inside that taxi. All her heart wished was staying by her side and never leaving her again. It was at that moment that she understood: she loved her. Shimoto didn’t hesitate or make any weird move, just hugged her back with the same affection and began to cry a little.

-I missed you too, Kaochan- murmured Shimoto.