Chapter Eleven: A Quiet Life Is A Better Life... Isn't It?

In a town quite similar to Iwanai, Ai Kawaguchi was born. Her parents, at the time simple farmers, were overjoyed by her arrival, as one usually would be at the birth of their child. Being the size that it was, the news spread through the town fast, and the newly-minted parents received many blessings.

Not having much, they wanted to give all they could to making their daughter's life as easy as possible in the future, so they worked hard and did their best to grow their business. Years later, they were rewarded for their efforts, as their farming business, while never destined to be as large or lucrative as a production or distribution plantation, grew exponentially thanks to an agricultural economic boom of sorts. Their family name became well-known in the area, and the family itself gained much respect. It was around this time that Ai was entering junior high.

Having watched her parents succeed with their work, she was quite proud of them. However, due to the way she had been raised thus far, she did not brag. Raised in tradition and modesty, she often downplayed the compliments she would receive on behalf of her mother and father, insisting that they were just simple farmers like always. That being the line she always heard her parents use, it seemed right to also use it.

Naturally though, modesty, like anything else, comes with its own dangers. While someone successful may not want to accept all the praise, those less fortunate may become irritated by that. Why don't they just acknowledge how successful they are, the lesser might think. It's insulting to the rest of us, they might believe. And so, with this frustration building, Ai began to experience her first real struggles in life.

Through primary school, Ai had some friends (no more than what would be considered normal), and had never really had any issues. No one had a reason to pick a fight with her because she never gave them one. But, that all changed when she reached her next level of schooling.

At first, nothing happened, just like before. But, it seemed the more she denied her family's success, the more the tension around her rose. By the time she had reached the half-way point of her first year of junior high, signs were starting to form. A scoff here. A whisper there. Nothing much, but it was enough to light the fuse.

While the situation itself never escalated to the point of blatant bullying, Ai did start to feel the pressure. Several of the people she had thought were her friends began distancing themselves from her, and she could hear more clearly what people were saying about her. The comments were usually just calling her stuck-up or fake, believing she was bad-mouthing people behind their backs for being lower than her (she wasn't). Regardless of their severity though, it began to affect Ai's way of thinking.

She had never given much thought to the life she was living. Her parents, while not intentionally restricting her, had made most of her life choices, so all Ai had needed to do was obey. When her parents became successful, she understood it was a good thing, but being the obedient daughter she was, she saw fit to follow her parents example in modesty. But, now that that approach was causing her problems, she began to questions things.

Was success really such a good thing? Because of it, her life at school wasn't as enjoyable as it once had been. Not only that, she had found that her life in general drew much more attention than she really wanted. Where she was once able to walk through town with only the occasional greeting, it seemed people were constantly stopping her to talk about her parents' business. While it was true she was proud of it, it also wasn't hers, so it was difficult for Ai to keep up in the conversations. The more they happened, the more she began to grow frustrated by it.

She didn't wish for her parents to have less success. Rather, she simply wished she could live her life without being the daughter of town celebrities. However, as it turned out, that had its advantages. Being well-known, even on a small scale, tended to bring other people to you. In Ai's case, that meant marriage.

Being in a family that had something to offer, and being a family that believed in tradition, Ai's parents arranged for a husband for Ai. By the time she was 16, near the end of her first year of high school, she already knew who she'd be spending the rest of her life with. He was a man with stern expressions, though Ai believed him to be gentle at heart (which was true). As it turned out, he was the heir to a small business much like the one Ai's parents owned. With the similarities, the situation set up perfectly for a business merger if both parties so desired.

Despite appearances, this was not solely an economical union. Ai was an obedient daughter. If her parents believed an arranged marriage was best, then that was what she would do. However, she was still a girl, and the heart can't be fully submissive. It has desires of its own, and while Ai was sure she could live with whoever she was paired with, she did hope that her future husband would be someone she enjoyed the company of.

Upon meeting him, her concerns were relieved. It was perhaps a bit naive to say that she was fully convinced, but it felt as though it were fate. And, as she found out many years later, she had not simply been paired with her husband. He had actually picked her out of a list of candidates, turning down several others that would've arguably been more suitable.

So, with a betrothed at 16, Ai became more noticeable. The rumor mill of a small town turns quickly, and her parents played no small part in spinning it faster by telling a lot of the people they knew that Ai was now engaged. As for the girl herself, she was happy with her engagement, though she wished it wasn't public news. It only created further problems for her at school, although the reaction was more mixed than anything. While some cursed her for getting even more good fortune handed to her, there were just as many others who congratulated her.

But, attention was still attention, and it was attention Ai didn't want. When she was a child, she had been raised in modesty. With that being the case, why was it that she kept getting pulled into all of these situations that put her in the spotlight? It was uncomfortable, and she found herself wishing more and more that she could just get off the stage.

In a bizarre twist of fate, she would get her wish, as a scandal rocked her high school and the town as a whole. It was thanks to that scandal that Ai was finally not the one people kept talking about, but she wasn't sure how she felt about her wish being granted at the cost of others. Although, she also couldn't deny that she was grateful.

By the time she graduated, her wedding arrangements had already been made, and it was only six months after high school that she became officially wed to the man that would become Mayu's father in the future. Then, in her first request (and one of the few she had ever made in her life), she asked her husband to take her away from the only town she had ever known.

After looking at a map of Japan, they eventually settled on the idea that while it would probably be best to leave the area they had both grown up in, they wanted to live in a town that was still similar to what they knew. During their extensive research, they stumbled upon Iwanai, and while both were hesitant to live in the cold climate of Hokkaido, they ultimately decided that Iwanai was where they would go. Ai's husband moved the business he had inherited up to the island, and Ai's parents business was sold to him. It was because of this that he had to travel occasionally, needing to check on things in their old area.

Finally, it felt like Ai could get back to the life she desired. She would be a good wife and live the modest life she wanted, in a small town where nobody knew her. In a way, she felt a bit like a celebrity hiding out, but that feeling faded soon enough once she really settled into everyday life in her new residence.

There was a six year age gap between Ai and her husband, but surprisingly, they got along quite well. They hardly ever fought, and most disagreements were taken care of quickly. As the years went on, they lived a happy life together, but it wasn't long before a huge question began getting continuously poised. Of course, the parents of both of them wanted to know when they would have children.

While Ai was a housewife, her husband was a busy man, and while she would never admit it publicly, her sex life was more than lacking. But, it wasn't as if she was upset about it either. This was a woman who hardly ever had to make significant life choices herself. The idea of sex had only ever entered her mind in terms of lessons on human anatomy, at least until the night of her marriage. Even after that, hot nights were often irregular, but it was enough to satisfy Ai. Her husband did make a comment now and then, but with his schedule, there wasn't much he could do about it.

However, parents aren't often so considerate when it comes to their own desires, and as the years went on, they continued to press the both of them to have a child, ignoring their feelings. Ai's husband gave it plenty of thought, and one day admitted that he wasn't opposed to the idea. But, Ai herself was at a loss. This was the first thing in her life she had ever really needed to decide for herself. Everything to this point had either been decided for her or was a joint decision between herself and her husband. So, what did she want?

Surprisingly, it didn't take long for her to arrive at an answer. The more she thought about it, the more she thought it would be nice for someone (if only a child) to keep her company while her husband was away on business. Although, in order to conceive, it took cutting back on his work schedule to make time.

Then, after trying for nearly a year, Ai got pregnant. She was in her mid-thirties by this point, putting the father just past his forties. The pregnancy term went smoothly, and nine months later, their daughter was born. They named her Mayu, which meant genuine and gentleness. Of course, as it turned out, they weren't finished. To their great surprise, on an unusually steamy night, Ai got pregnant again, eight years later. That was Kanade, Mayu's little sister.

In the past, it wasn't as if the thought of having children had never occurred to Ai. Being raised in the environment she had been, she had always known that she would probably be expected to have some eventually as the housewife in a traditional family. But, now that she had actively made that decision for herself, she felt the weight of it that much more.

Could she handle raising a child, especially when she was usually on her own? With concerns like that running rampant in her mind, they soon showed on her face, prompting her husband to prod her until she admitted her troubles. Once he heard them, he made adjustments to his schedule immediately so that he'd be able to be home more.

Although, while both parents would be present more, that didn't necessarily mean more success. Neither of them knew what exactly it meant to raise a child. So, taking her own experiences in account, Ai approached the raising of her first daughter much like her own childhood had been.

She taught Mayu to listen to her parents and to be modest in all things. She also taught her to keep her emotions under control. Not to the point of being emotionless, just enough to not have emotional outbursts. Overall, Mayu took to this approach surprisingly well, making the job of being a mother easy on Ai.

Currently, she was trying to raise Kanade the same way, but it was proving difficult. She was much more energetic than her big sister, and it was hard to get her to focus at times. But, even with those issues, Ai loved her all the same. It wasn't as if she was causing huge problems, and Kanade was still young, so there was still plenty of time for her to learn.

And yet, despite things going well for her, Ai couldn't help but worry. Perhaps it was nothing more than her maternal instincts, but she often found herself wondering if she was doing the right thing. She did believe that the way she had been raised worked well, but there were times when she wondered if it was too controlling. Now that she was on the opposite side, her position raised questions in her mind. Did her own parents feel this way when she was young? What would her life been like if she had made most of her life choices instead?

The core instinct inside of her that made it so difficult to make choices for herself was the one responsible for this strife. But, she was no longer a child. As an adult, and now as a mother, she had to make choices both for herself and her daughter, especially if she was going to raise her children in the same way she was raised. With it being the only approach she knew, all Ai could hope for was that she was doing the right thing.

For many years, she wondered, but as Mayu became a high school student, Ai's worries began to subside. Her child was growing into a fine young lady, and she always listened. Compared to the other parents' complaints about fights with their children, Ai saw this as a blessing. She never had to argue with Mayu. Instead, they simply had peaceful days.

But, a small part of her mind worried. Was that normal? Shouldn't a child be more argumentative? Ai wondered, but she also tended to shake off such concerns. An obedient child was a good child, and that was all that mattered.

Of course, as always, life often has a cruel sense of humor. While the first year went smoothly enough, the second year of Mayu's high school career seemed to be getting more tumultuous by the day, at least in Ai's eyes. At first, it was nothing much, just fights among her friends. For as unfortunate as that was, Ai passed it off as normal student behavior. But, it was during the summer of that second year that red flags began to arise.

Primarily, Ai's concerns stemmed from seeing her daughter spend time with girls who were known as gyarus. With their flashy makeup and hairstyles, not to mention their revealing outfits, Ai was not fond of them. In her own hometown, there had been a girl like that once, and Ai had always found her to be obnoxious and mean. On top of that, she had a very nasty reputation. How much of the stories about that gyaru were true and how much were false was hard to say, but just knowing even some of it was true was enough to create a bias within Ai against all girls like her.

While she had heard about two particular girls in Iwanai matching the description of a gal, she hadn't encountered them yet, nor had Mayu said anything about them, so she hadn't been concerned. But when last summer came around and she saw them with her own eyes, her old feelings of bias flared.

It was from that point on that she began to ask Mayu more about the friends she was hanging out with. She was careful not to sound like she was interrogating her daughter, and in kind, she got answers. There was one named Chiyo Wakabayashi, and another named Jasmine Hiraoka. It was Jasmine that drew Ai's interest the most.

It seemed the more Ai asked, the more she heard from Mayu about Jasmine. On top of that, it seemed whenever Mayu spoke about the gal, she made all kinds of faces that Ai had never seen from her daughter before. Having only met the gal once, it was hard for her to make any real judgments. Should she be worried that Mayu was hanging out with someone Ai thought might be dangerous? Or, could the small part of her mind worried that she had restricted her daughter too much feel grateful that someone was making her daughter more expressive?

With those questions on her mind, it was on April 10, a Saturday and nearly a full week into Mayu's third year of high school, that Ai experienced something she never thought she would. To her surprise, a gyaru, complete in dyed hair, makeup and suggestive clothing, was standing in the entryway of her home. Ai knew that she was coming, as Mayu had asked for permission to have a friend over several days ago, but this hadn't been what Ai was expecting.

"Thanks for havin' me," Jasmine said with a slight bow, her wavy pink hair falling forward with her. "...Of course," Ai said as she recovered from her shock. "Please, make yourself at home." "Would you like to go to my room?" Mayu suggested, which Jasmine simply responded to with a "yeah, sure."

Ai watched the two girls walk off, her concerns for her daughter rising.

*****

"Wow Mayu-chi, your room is pretty big," Jasmine commented as she walked in. "Really?" Mayu said. "It doesn't seem that big." "My room's like, half the size of this," Jasmine said. In contrast with the more traditional Japanese interior of the Kawaguchi residence, Mayu's room was stylized more in a Western look, having a bed instead of a futon and beige-colored, painted walls. Aside from those outlying details though, the room kept with the simplicity of the rest of the house, having only the necessary furniture of a bed, dresser and desk. The decorations were minimal, with a few pictures here and there, but not much else would indicate that this room belonged specifically to Mayu.

"Is your house really small?" Mayu asked. "Yeah," Jasmine said. "Kinda like a shack." "Oh… I'm sorry," Mayu said, feeling bad for asking. "Nah, don't worry about it. It's not like I'm attached to the place or anything," Jasmine said. "And, when it comes to my room, I really only need it to sleep." "What about your possessions?" Mayu asked. "I don't really have alotta stuff," Jasmine said as she began wandering around Mayu's room. "Really?" Mayu said. "I would have thought your room would be full of clothes and makeup, stuff like that." "That's Chiyo's room," Jasmine said with a laugh.

Mayu laughed too, drawing Jasmine's attention. "What?" the gal asked. "It's nothing," Mayu said. "I was just thinking about how you and Chiyo are so similar on the outside, but very different people overall." "Well… I guess that's true," Jasmine admitted. "How did you two become friends?" Mayu asked. Jasmine sat down on Mayu's bed, an uncertain expression on her face. "Uh…" she let out. "Let's just say she kept annoying me until I gave up on trying to get away from her." That was mostly the truth, though Jasmine decided to spare Mayu the more raunchy details of the two gals' first few encounters.

"That doesn't sound very nice," Mayu said, causing Jasmine to laugh. "Yeah, guess not." "Sometimes I wonder about you two," Mayu said suddenly. "What do you mean?" Jasmine asked. "The way you act with each other. Sometimes it's hard to tell if you actually like Chiyo or not," Mayu explained. Jasmine looked up to the ceiling. "That girl…" she said softly. "Is annoying, ridiculous, and has dragged me around so much that I think I'm dizzy from it. But…" Looking back down, Jasmine looked at Mayu. While Jasmine didn't really notice herself, she was smiling. "...the thing about Chiyo is… she has this funny way of showin' she cares about someone. She'll keep pestering ya and telling ya to do things with her, but it's all because she just wants to help."

"Help?" Mayu repeated. Jasmine nodded. "Chiyo acts like an idiot a lot, and like, she is one most of the time, but… she's got the ability to see through people, and know exactly how much they're hurting. Because of that, she always wants to help the people around her like that feel better. Even if she has to sacrifice a part of herself to do it…"

As she spoke that last part, Jasmine's voice trailed off and a conflicted expression appeared on her face. "...A heart of gold often feels like lead inside the owner's chest," Mayu said. Jasmine stared at her. "I believe I read that in a book once," Mayu said. Jasmine didn't say anything, so Mayu continued. "I'm sorry. I feel like I made you talk about something unpleasant…"

"...If you feel so bad," Jasmine said, a wry smile growing on her face. "Why don't you come over here?" "Okay," Mayu said simply, not knowing what Jasmine meant. Just as she went to sit down next to the gal, she felt her arm pulled. "Eh?" she let out. "Not there," Jasmine said as Mayu fell toward her. "Right here."

When Mayu landed, it took her a moment to get her bearings. But, once she did, she blushed furiously. "O-Oh no! I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to land in your lap like this!" When Jasmine had pulled her, that had been her intention from the start. Now, Mayu was seated across the gal's lap, and as she scrambled to get off, Jasmine wrapped her arms around Mayu's waist, locking her in place.

"H-Huh?" Mayu squeaked out. "They say hugging pets can bring a sense of ease," Jasmine said coolly. For a moment, Mayu's embarrassment shifted to sulking. "I-I'm not…" she began saying, but her embarrassment of the situation quickly returned, so she couldn't finish her protest. "Wow, I'm feeling better already," Jasmine said, her voice quiet. "J-Jasmine-chan, could you please let go now?" Mayu pleaded. "No way," Jasmine said back immediately.

Mayu could feel her face burning. Jasmine stared at her, a content smile now on her face. Then, as she lowered her gaze, Mayu heard her speak, just barely above a whisper. "You really are just too cute." "Wha…" Mayu let out, having no idea how to respond to that. However, she didn't have to think about it for long, as she heard her door open and saw her mother standing in the doorway.

Surprise was clearly written on her face, but she did her best to recover. "I've brought tea," she said calmly. Immediately, Mayu slipped out of Jasmine's arms to go take the tray from her mother. "T-Thank you mother," she said quickly. "You two seem to be… close," Ai said cryptically. Before Mayu could say anything else, Ai walked away, leaving Mayu with an uneasy feeling.

Along with the simple furniture already set up, there was a table leaned up against the wall opposite of Mayu's bed. Grabbing it, she set it down in the center of the room and prepared the tea, all without saying a word. Moving from the bed to the floor, Jasmine sat across from Mayu. "...Sorry," she mumbled. "Huh? For what?" Mayu asked. Jasmine's eyes widened a bit. "I thought…" But, as she tried to explain, Mayu just stared innocently back at her. "...Never mind," Jasmine said, breathing a small sigh of relief to herself.

With how Mayu had reacted to Ai's presence, Jasmine had thought she had gone too far. It was easy to tell that Ai hadn't liked seeing her daughter in that position, and Jasmine thought Mayu might be of the same mind. But, with how the girl was acting now, it seemed like she was just overthinking things. So, she picked up her tea, blew on it, and took a drink in an effort to calm her own nerves.

Although, even if Mayu said she wasn't bothered, it was clear that something was on her mind. "Mayu-chi?" Jasmine said. Mayu looked at her. "Ah, did you say something?" she said. "No, but you looked lost in thought," Jasmine said, a little worried. Mayu usually didn't look like that. "Is there something on your mind?" Mayu was quiet for a moment.

"I'm worried about our friends," she finally said. "Mi-chan hasn't come to school for several days now. Chiyo hasn't been as happy as usual. Kana-chan thinks Endo-san might be missing… a lot of bad things are happening." Jasmine wasn't really sure what to say in response to that. After all, it was undeniable. "I wish there was something I could do to help…" Mayu said quietly.

A sense of powerlessness can be contagious, and it was slowly infecting all of the girls within the group. Honestly, Jasmine was beginning to feel the same, but unlike most who said "I wish I could help," she went with "there's nothing I can do." True, it was a defeatist attitude, but it was also mostly correct as well. Aside from giving her support to her friends in need, there really wasn't much she could do in this situation. A part of this was just based on past bad habits. In most of her past relationships, she had been the one to get dumped. With each time it happened, Jasmine found herself using the excuse "there's nothing I could've done," more and more. It wasn't as if she was particularly attached to any of those failed relationships, but constant failure still weighed heavily on a person.

However, this time, Jasmine found that she really did want to help too. But, just like the others, she really wasn't sure if she could actually do anything. She had no idea where Haruna went. Michi didn't like her, so even if Jasmine went to talk to the girl, it would only result in a fight. Chiyo was doing her best to look happy, but Jasmine could tell just how much her problems with Michi were getting to her. Lastly, there was Kanako, who more and more was running around with increasing panic as she tried to find her girlfriend.

"Damn it…" Jasmine thought. All of these feelings were so new to her. In the past, Jasmine had never really cared much about others. But, in her time with Chiyo, then Haruna and all the others, she found that the friends she had gained were ones that were precious to her. And now, in the midst of understanding those new feelings, the negative side of caring about others was coming at her.

Just like Mayu, she was worried, but unlike Mayu, this was essentially a first for her. The worry that she had felt consuming. If this was what it was like to care for others, then was it really worth it? That was a question Jasmine wanted to ask, but she didn't, because she also knew it was pointless. There was no going back to how she once was, so all she could do was look forward.

There was nothing she could do, and no words of comfort came to mind. Jasmine could feel her teeth gritting harder together, but just as she did, she felt a hand grab her own. Without noticing, Mayu had come over to her side of the table, taking Jasmine's left hand in her own right along the floor. "Perhaps it sounds a bit childish," she began. "But maybe the best thing we can do is believe in our friends." "Believe… in them?" Jasmine repeated. Mayu nodded. "When you care about someone, you always want to be able to help them in their time of need. But, I think sometimes, the best way you might be able to help is by simply putting your faith in them. Not everybody needs a guiding hand or others to act for them. Sometimes, all they need to know is that people are there to support them. And, if that's all we can do for Kana-chan, Mi-chan, Endo-san and Chiyo, then I think that's what we should do, until they ask for more."

A minute ago, she had looked so downcast, but now, here Mayu was, giving an answer that sounded far beyond her years. "But don't you feel helpless?" Jasmine asked. Mayu shook her head. "I don't like to dwell on the negative. Instead, I'd rather find ways to look at things in a positive light. It's true, a part of me does feel helpless, but an even bigger part of me knows that I'm already helping, and that's something I can take solace in."

Taking in Mayu's words, Jasmine squeezed Mayu's hand as they held together on the floor. "Thanks, Mayu-chi," she said with a soft smile. Jasmine felt so grateful to have gained a friend like Mayu, someone who could ease her worries with just a simple touch and words.

"Hey, by the way," Jasmine said. "Don't ya like, have a little sister or something?" "Oh, Kanade?" Mayu said. "She's at a friends house today. Sorry you don't get to meet her." "Nah, it's fine," Jasmine said. "From what Itsuki has told me, she's a big ball of energy. I'm not sure I could handle her." Hearing that, Mayu laughed. "It's true that my sister is quite lively. This one time, she played with Itsuki-chan so much that Itsuki-chan had to take a break. That was a surprise, considering how much energy she always seems to have." "Yeah," Jasmine agreed. "I'm happy that Itsuki-chan and Kanade get along so well though. It would be awkward for everyone here if all they did was fight," Mayu said. "Although, sometimes I wish Kanade wouldn't always come get Itsuki-chan when just the two of us are supposed to be spending time together."

"Itsuki-chan."

"Itsuki-chan."

"Just the two of us… spending time together."

As Jasmine sat there, listening to Mayu recount stories of Itsuki and Kanade, she noticed something. The more she heard about Itsuki being with Mayu, the more it bothered her.

*****

In the second year of Ai's high school career, a scandal occurred. Though, perhaps calling it a scandal was only in the eye of the beholder. Depending on one's perspective, it might just seem like an overreaction. But, for the residents of Ai's hometown, what happened was nothing short of criminal in the court of society's law.

Two girls, both in the same year as Ai, were found to have an exclusive and sexual relationship. Being the time that it was, and the place they were, the people of the town saw such a thing as extremely wrong. Legally speaking, there was nothing that they could do, but truly, the power of words can often hold more sway than a court of law.

The two girls were not just ostracized at their school, they were bullied. Their lockers were filled with all sorts of things, from shaving cream to sharp pins. Their desks were covered in hate speech, and the teachers, in an effort to stay out of the situation entirely, turned a blind eye. With no one to help them, they clung to each other even more, which also made the bullying worse.

With their relationship exposed, their parents also came under siege. The other employees either shunned or belittled them, calling their daughters all sorts of horrible names, along with their parents. Eventually, it got so bad that they had to quit. But, that wasn't enough to satisfy the residents. They wanted these people gone, purged from their town. While they didn't go as far as torches and pitchforks, they did everything else within their power to make their lives a living hell.

In the end, several things happened. Both families moved away, but not before their reputations fell into complete disrepair. One father became a drunk, the other got a divorce. One mother became abusive, and the other ended up in a hospital for mental conditions.

As for the girls, they were essentially forced to break up, though by the time it came to that, it didn't take much convincing. And, witness to this all was Ai. She hadn't taken part in any of the activities, but being raised in a traditional household, she certainly hadn't approved of such a relationship. Then, upon seeing all of the damage that those two girls caused, an opinion formed within Ai.

Logically speaking, a reaction so volatile to something as simple as a girl-girl relationship wasn't going to be a common occurrence. The level that it had gotten to was so bad it had made the national news. Naturally, the town came under much scrutiny and faced plenty of rage from many other parts of the nation. This had also been part of the reason why Ai had wanted to move. Between her hometown being known for such terrible actions and her own known reputation, Ai wanted out of the spotlight as fast as possible.

But, while she knew a reaction of that scale was uncommon, she couldn't help but take it into account when it came to her own thinking. She had already been against girls dating other girls, but when put in the scope of her past experience, it only furthered that belief. If a relationship like that was going to cause so much damage, then it clearly was something people shouldn't be doing.

Now, many years later, she was recalling those memories, along with those feelings, in great detail. Seeing her daughter in the lap of another girl, looking as intimate as they had been, was the final straw for Ai. Of course, as a parent of a child who attended Iwanai Municipal High School, she had heard all about Kanako and Haruna's relationship. She had already been planning on talking to Mayu about that, but now she had an additional concern.

A gyaru, who had entered her home, was contaminating her daughter. Ai had seen enough. It was time for her to act as Mayu's parent, to put her foot down and correct her daughter's behavior. Clearly she had put too much faith in her daughter remaining obedient just because that was how it had always been. Mayu was surrounded by bad influences now, and it was Ai's job to put a stop to it.

*****

"Mayu, may I have some of your time?" the girl's mother asked the next day. Currently, Mayu was sitting in her bedroom studying at her desk. "Sure," she said easily. Walking in, Ai approached the table that was still set up on the floor. "Would you join me down here please?" she asked. Mayu obliged, putting her pencil down and sitting on the side next to her mother. "Is there something you want to talk to me about?" Mayu asked.

Ai had spent the previous night trying to think of the best way to approach this topic, but in the end, she decided that direct was best. "I'll just get right to the point. I want you to stay away from those friends you've made at school." It was a blunt, cruel demand, and even Ai knew how unreasonable it sounded. If she was in Mayu's position, she'd probably react much the same way her daughter did.

"W-What…?" she uttered. Ai continued through Mayu's shock. "There are just too many rumors going around. I'm worried about your safety." "Safety?" Mayu repeated, still reeling. "I'm sure you know what I'm talking about," Ai said. "Those really flashy girls that everyone says do all sorts of vulgar activity." "You mean Chiyo and Jasmine-chan?" Mayu asked. "I'm sure you're just trying to see their good sides, but I can see what kind of an effect they're having on you," Ai said.

"Jasmine-chan is good!" Mayu exclaimed, an unusual sight for someone usually reserved. However, this further proved Ai's point. Mayu was much more calm and gentle before she had started spending time with those other girls. At this rate, she was bound to fall into disaster. "I find it hard to believe she's good when it looks like she's seducing you," Ai said bluntly.

Mayu froze. "S-Seducing?" she repeated, completely confused. "Yes," Ai said. "Such as yesterday, when I brought you tea. You were in her lap, weren't you? That's awfully inappropriate, especially for a young lady such as yourself." "T-That's just Jasmine-chan teasing me!" Mayu cried. "She doesn't mean anything by it!" "I doubt it," Ai said darkly. "Girls like her always want more."

Her dislike of gyarus, her past experience with a scandalous same-sex relationship, the rumors she kept hearing. All of her feelings on the topics were merging into one. "You've allowed yourself to be surrounded by girls like this 'Jasmine-chan' and others. All they will bring you is pain."

"Others?" Mayu caught. "Like who?" "Nakatomi-san and, Endo-san, is it?" Ai said. It was then that Mayu put the pieces together. Whatever issue her mother had with Jasmine, she didn't know, but she did know about how Ai felt about girls dating other girls. Seeing Jasmine with Mayu the way they had been, and then hearing about Kanako and Haruna had most likely been the trigger, Mayu thought.

Once again, she was confronted with something she had very little experience with. When she had first found out about Haruna's feelings for Kanako, it had been a shock. But, as time went on and Mayu gave it more thought, she realized that maybe it didn't really matter so much. As long as two people cared for each other, what was the harm?

Regrettably, her mother did not share the same opinion. Her opinions were biased, based on poor experiences. Mayu didn't know the details, but the way her mother was talking about her safety seemed to indicate as much.

"Those two girls are doing something disgraceful," Ai practically spat. "I can't imagine what they're putting their families through right now." "What's so disgraceful about it?" Mayu asked with a bit of force. "It's obviously shameful, is it not?" Ai pointed out. "That's not answering the question mother," Mayu said sternly. "What's disgraceful about their relationship?"

At the same time, two things were happening. One was this being the first time Mayu had ever truly confronted her mother. On the other side, this perhaps was the first time Ai had ever been confronted about her feelings on girl-girl relationships. Due to what she witnessed, all she had done was go with the flow, just accepting that what those two girls had done was "wrong." However, now that she was facing an opposing side, she was finding it difficult to come up with a genuine reason.

Certainly, how the situation she had seen in her past played out was destructive. Lives had been ruined, and there was no telling what had become of those individuals involved now. But, when looked at not as a whole, but in pieces, Ai started to see the holes. It started with the girls themselves, who had done nothing more than fall in love. Then it snowballed, and people, some with reasons and some without, led a campaign of hate against them and their families. But, if some of those people never had reasons, and Ai was struggling to find one to lean on herself, then what was the justification for her own feelings?

She wanted to keep her daughter safe, that much was true. But, as the more logical part of her brain entered into the fray, she was beginning to falter. What happened before was unlikely to occur again. So really, even if Mayu was associated with girls who preferred girls, a fallout of such magnitude would most likely not sweep her daughter up and ruin her future.

And yet, knowing that, Ai still found it hard to accept. Even if same-sex relationships weren't an issue for her anymore, it didn't change the fact that she had a bias against girls like Jasmine and Chiyo as well. Choosing to use that as the leg she wanted to stand on, Ai continued.

"You never know how people will react. What if you tell someone about Nakatomi-san and Endo-san and they lash out at you just because you knew them? Or what if you come across someone who was wronged by those gyarus you call friends? I'm just looking out for your safety, Mayu. That's my job as a parent."

Mayu was quiet, but when she finally gathered her thoughts, she looked resolute. "I appreciate your concern, mother. However… Kana-chan, Endo-san, Jasmine-chan… all of them… they're my friends. I know I've always listened to you, and I don't want to be a disobedient child, but… I won't allow you to treat them like they're dangers."

While still struggling with her new realizations, Ai's emotions jumbled, she became irritated. "If you don't want to be disobedient, then you should listen," she said. "You are not to see any of them anymore, do you understand?" "I'll still see them at school," Mayu pointed out. "Then perhaps I should look into transferring you," Ai said sternly.

"Transfer?!" Mayu exclaimed. "Mother, you can't!" "I can and I will," Ai said, standing up to turn and walk away. "Mother!" Mayu cried, but it was no use. The door shut, and Mayu was left alone in her bedroom. "She isn't really going to take me away from them is she?" the girl wondered. "My friends need me right now. I don't want to leave them… I don't want to leave… Jasmine-chan..."

For the first time ever, Mayu experienced genuine anger toward her mother.

End of Chapter Eleven.