Chapter Text
Tonight was sort of a special occasion. Sohma Momiji was visiting Kinu’s house for dinner and Sawa was going to meet him for the first time. She was a little nervous. Mina’s father owned a very successful company and traveled all around the world for his work. Apparently he had been staying at the main house for a few days, but he wanted to, as Mutsuki put it, “energize himself by dining with the youth.”
However, it quickly became clear to Sawa that Momiji didn’t need energizing. As soon as he and Mina stepped into the living room, Sora jumped up and squealed, and Momiji picked her up in a hug and spun her around. He then did the same thing to Chizuru, who had arrived a minute later. Sawa had to stifle a laugh at Chizuru’s grumpy expression while he was being spun around.
Sawa listened to the happy chatter behind her as she returned to meticulously chopping chives at the kitchen counter. Suddenly, she was knocked forward as arms encircled her waist.
“Sawa!!” Mina cried, squeezing Sawa tightly. “I’m so glad you’re here!
“Ah!” Sawa had nicked her finger with the knife. She grabbed her left hand quickly, not even looking to see how deeply she was cut, and turned, smiling, to face the newcomers. “Mii-chan! Hello!”
Mina hadn’t noticed anything. “ Vati , this is Mitoma Sawa! Sawa, this is my papa!”
Sohma Momiji was tall and handsome, with wavy blonde hair and smile lines around his mouth. He chuckled as Mina grabbed his arm and swung it around happily.
Sawa started to say, “Sohma-san, it’s very nice to—“ but Hajime interrupted her.
“Mina! You have to be more careful in the kitchen; you just made Mitoma cut her hand.”
“Ah! No, it’s nothing, really!” said Sawa, clutching her hand tighter.
“It’s not nothing,” said Hajime. “Mina, get Mitoma a bandage. Hey Riku! Come finish up the chives. ”
“I’m so sorry, Sawa!” Mina said, grabbing Sawa’s elbow and pulling her toward the living room.
“Damnit,” mumbled Riku, stirring from his place on the floor. “Why do I have to—“
“Oh, let me do it!” said Momiji, picking up the knife. “It was my fault anyway; Mina was too excited to introduce me. It’s nice to meet you, Sawa-chan! Please call me Momiji.”
“Eh?! I couldn’t—” Sawa tried to protest over her shoulder, but then Mina was making her sit down and Shiki was asking her to show him the cut.
Sawa finally released her left hand and examined her finger. “It’s not bad,” she said.
“It’s bleeding. You should wash it first,” said Shiki.
Sawa gloomily left to wash her hands in the bathroom. What a disastrous introduction …
When she returned, Shiki was waiting for her in the hallway outside the living room. He gestured for her to hold out her injured finger.
“Are you okay?” he asked, quickly wrapping the bandage around her finger and pressing it down.
“Of course! I was barely bleeding,” said Sawa, turning her head away to stare intently at the wall.
“That’s not what I meant,” said Shiki. “...You know that could’ve happened to any one of us, right? Mina practically tackled you.”
Sawa’s face felt hot. She shut her eyes. How did Shiki always know what she was thinking?
“I’m always so clumsy. I should’ve been…” She felt frustration welling up. “...better. I should’ve been more aware of my surroundings.”
Shiki was quiet for a long moment, so Sawa looked back at him.
He was watching her thoughtfully. “You’ve been helping cook meals here for a couple months now, right? Have you ever cut yourself before?”
Sawa thought back. “...No, but—“
Shiki hummed. “I don’t think you’re actually that clumsy. Have you ever seen Mutsuki-san try to cut vegetables? It’s a mess. But the dishes you help with always turn out perfect.”
Sawa was speechless.
“Come on, I bet the food’s ready,” said Shiki, and he slipped back into the living room.
As expected, Momiji was friendly and talkative, just like Mina. He described his latest trip to the UK and all the tourist spots they should visit there if they get the chance. He asked Hajime about his plans for college, and listened intently as Chizuru told him about his family’s new store.
“I’m glad to hear it’s going so well, but you kind of threw Sawa-chan to the lions there, didn’t you?”
“No kidding!” said Mutsuki. “We had to keep checking on her, or I swear Hibika would’ve scared her away from the Sohmas forever.”
“Very true,” said Momiji. “These kids have really roped you into our wild family, huh Sawa-chan?”
“Not at all, they’ve been very kind to me!” Sawa said.
Momiji suddenly looked very mischievous. “So, they must’ve told you all the best family stories, right?”
Sawa hesitated. “N—not really.”
“No? I’ll have to fix that. Let’s see… Ooh, I know! Stop me if you've heard this one. When I got married, Hajime was about three, and he really hated the dress clothes his mom made him wear, so he—”
“Are you kidding me?!” Hajime yelled as Mutsuki cracked up. “She doesn’t need to know that story!”
Momiji held up his arms placatingly, but his smile only grew wider. “Ok, ok, you’re right, that was too much. How about when Hajime was five and he challenged Mutsuki’s dad to a duel because he heard that—”
“Aaargh!” Hajime threw his hands across Momiji’s mouth, but Momiji had already dissolved into cackling laughter.
“Why is it always me…” Hajime moaned.
After dinner, Momiji wanted to play cards. Sawa was terrible at it, but Sora wouldn’t let her quit. She even whispered hints to Sawa, which made Chizuru mad.
“No helping!” he yelled. “If Sawa-san wins now it won’t count.”
Momiji pouted. “I want Sora-chan to help meee.”
Riku snorted. “Mitoma’s still not going to win; Sora’s awful at this game.”
Sawa was starting to get used to the Sohma’s casual teasing, although she wouldn’t dream of teasing any of them. She really enjoyed watching them all interact, though. Chizuru yelled a lot but he was never truly angry. Sora was goofy, sometimes messing up on purpose or acting oblivious just to get a laugh. Hajime got really serious about games, especially if Mutsuki was playing. He would lean in and focus quietly, and if he lost he would groan loudly and flop backwards onto the ground. And Momiji’s cheerfulness was infectious; Sawa couldn’t remember ever seeing such a carefree adult. Were all the Sohmas amazing? It didn’t seem fair to other people.
Mina had started yawning halfway through the card game, so when it was over—Riku won—Momiji announced they would be heading home. He pulled Sawa aside while Mina was saying goodbyes.
“Sawa-chan, it was a pleasure to meet you. Before we go I just wanted to say—please take care of Shiki-kun, won’t you? He’s a good kid, we all just want him to be happy.”
Sawa blushed. “W-w-wha—um, um, yes! Of course!”
Momiji grinned and patted her on the head. “Good girl.”
He left to say goodbye to the others, leaving Sawa in a daze.
Mutsuki and Hajime walked Sawa home. Strong winds earlier in the day had left the autumn trees almost bare. Mutsuki chattered on about student council and school gossip as the trio rustled through a blanket of crunching leaves.
“You seem especially quiet, Mitoma-san,” Mutsuki said after a while. “Something on your mind?”
“Huh? No, it’s nothing! Tonight was fun. Momiji-san sure is lively.”
“He sure is,” Mutsuki agreed.
“So much laughter…” Sawa mused.
“I wouldn’t mind a little less laughter,” said Hajime darkly.
They walked in silence for a bit.
“Is your mom home today?” Mutsuki asked.
Sawa sighed. “I don’t know. Probably not.”
“Do you still have that letter that I made you? The one saying there was a big student council meeting? I don’t think I put a specific date on it…”
“Yeah, I have it. It’s just…” Sawa shook her head. “Nevermind. Thanks for walking me home.”
“No problem,” said Mutsuki. “Oh! Mitoma-san, Sora told you we’re going to the movies on Sunday, right? Can you make it?”
“Ahhh, I can’t,” Sawa said quickly.
“Aw, are you sure?” asked Mutsuki. “Everyone’s going to be there. Michi, Chizuru, Shiki...”
“I appreciate the invite, but my mom will notice if I spend money on something like that. She really hates wastefulness, so—“
“It’s on us, Mitoma, so you should really come,” Hajime said.
“Oh, n-no I couldn’t ask you to—” Sawa stuttered.
Mutsuki cocked his head to the side. “You didn’t ask, we offered. Everyone will miss you if you can’t make it. Please?”
“This guy,” said Hajime, bumping Mutsuki with his shoulder, “has been talking about seeing this movie for months, and it’s all he’s going to want to talk about afterwards, so you better see it with us, if only to understand Mutsuki’s ramblings next week.”
Mutsuki chuckled at that. Sawa looked at both of them. They really did seem to want to pay for her ticket.
“Alright...” she said slowly. “I’ll be there.”
To Sawa’s relief, the apartment was empty. But just the thought of needing to use that fake letter and lying to her mother had set her heart on edge. She hated feeling like she was sneaking around. She knew it would be a mess if her mother found out who she was spending time with, and Sawa didn’t want that, but why should she have to feel guilty about hanging out with friends? It was so frustrating.
Sawa shook her head to clear her thoughts as she set her things in her room. She didn’t need to be worrying right now. She tried to think of happier things, and she realized she was really looking forward to going to the movies. She couldn’t remember ever having been to one before. Tickets were so expensive… but the Sohmas spent money on fun activities all the time. It was normal for them. Sawa thought it would be nice if she could continue to join them, but she didn’t want them to keep paying for her.
I really need to find a part-time job , she thought sleepily.
The movie was very loud, and Sawa had a hard time following what was going on, but she enjoyed it anyway. She sat next to Sora, who kept stifling laughs and gasps. When it got scary, Sora grabbed onto Sawa’s arm on her left and Michi’s on her right and didn’t let go until the conflict was over.
“Ahhh that was great,” said Mutsuki when they were back in the lobby. He stretched his arms over his head and glanced at the fading light outside. “I don’t wanna go back yet. Let’s go to that restaurant around the corner.”
“Yes yes, let’s go!” agreed Michi, looping her arm through Mutsuki’s.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Michi. Otherwise I get outnumbered by the boring ones,” said Mutsuki, glaring back at Hajime, Shiki and Chizuru, who were standing around at the back of the group.
“I really should be studying…” mumbled Hajime, but he followed Mutsuki and Michi nonetheless.
The restaurant, Honey’s, had a yellow neon sign out front and big pictures of fried chicken and ice cream on the windows. On the inside it was brightly lit and buzzing with conversation. A paper posted straight ahead caught Sawa’s eye. It said, “Help Wanted: 15+, Evenings and Weekends. Ask a server for more details.”
Sawa’s heart leapt a little. She took another look around the restaurant. It seemed… nice. Happy. Most importantly, it was the kind of place her mom would never be interested in visiting. Suddenly Sawa felt nervous. Was it possible she could get a job somewhere like this?
They took a seat in a big corner booth, but Sora bounced back up immediately to get drinks.
“Place your orders!” Sora commanded.
“Tea for me, please” said Hajime.
“Same here!” said Mutsuki.
“Milk,” said Riku.
“Juice,” said Chizuru.
“Uh-uh, Chizu-kun, you’re going to help carry everything,” Sora said sweetly, pulling Chizuru up by his arm.
He huffed but stood up obediently.
“Sawachiii, for you?” Sora asked.
“Oh, I don’t need anything,” Sawa said, holding up her hands.
Sora pretended to think. “If Sawachi doesn’t tell me what she wants, Sora is going to get Sawachi a big chocolate milk with two straws to share with Shii-kun…”
“Tea is fine!” Sawa said quickly.
Sora smiled. “And for Shii-kun?”
“Water, please,” said Shiki, his face a little pink.
Their server showed up a few minutes later, notepad in hand. He looked around their age, with a wiry build and short-cropped black hair.
“Oh, hey Abe-kun!” said Mutsuki. “How’s it going?”
Abe flashed a sly smile. “Mutsuki-kun. You here to make my life difficult?”
Mutsuki laughed. “If I had known you worked here, I would’ve stopped in waaay sooner to make your life difficult, but alas, in front of my family I have to pretend to be a role model.”
Sawa watched this interaction with interest. A friend of Mutsuki’s worked here? After Abe had taken their orders and left, Sawa leaned in and asked Mutsuki about it.
“Abe-kun? Yeah, he’s in my class. We haven’t really hung out, but he’s a cool guy. Why do you ask? Want me to introduce you?” Mutsuki raised an eyebrow suggestively.
Sawa wondered briefly if she could ever become immune to the Sohmas’ teasing.
“Uh, no. That’s ok.”
If she wanted to be taken seriously, she had to do this herself. It was no big deal, she just needed a job application. No big deal...
Mutsuki shrugged and launched into a discussion of the movie they’d watched. Sawa was lost in thoughts of first impressions and interviews when she felt Shiki’s eyes on her.
“What?” she asked, turning to look at him.
“What was… nevermind.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, did you know that guy or something?”
“Eh! No no, I was—“ Sawa lowered her voice. “I was just thinking that I might, um, ask about… applying for a job here.”
“Oh.” Shiki seemed to relax a little. “That’s great. I’m sure you can do it.”
Sawa smiled brightly. “Thanks, Shiki-kun.”
As everyone was getting up to leave, Sawa spotted Abe stacking dishes onto shelves near the back of the restaurant. This was her chance. She took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and slipped away from the group to talk to him. Be brave, Sawa.
“Hi. Um, Abe-san?”
Abe turned to look at her, surprised. “Oh, hey. You’re one of Mutsuki-kun’s cousins, right?”
Sawa sqeaked. “No! Not a cousin, just a friend. So sorry to bother you—”
“No problem. How can I help you?”
“I saw that you were hiring, and uh,” She took a deep breath. “I was wondering if I could apply?”
“Of course! Let me grab you an application, just wait here for a minute.”
You did it, Sawa! First step complete.
Abe brought back a paper application, and Sawa thanked him and headed back to the Sohmas, who were still loitering by their booth. Now, though, they were all turned toward her, watching curiously.
“A job application?” asked Michi.
Sawa nodded bashfully.
“Huh,” said Mutsuki. “Wait one second, guys. I’ll meet you outside.”
Everyone started heading for the doors, but Sawa watched Mutsuki dash over to Abe and say something to him. Abe nodded, and Mutsuki grinned and patted him on the shoulder before heading back to catch up with the group.
“What’d you tell him?” asked Hajime as they stepped out into the night.
“I said that Sawa is the best worker on student council, and they’d be lucky to have her, and to please put in a good word with his manager.”
Sawa was thankful that the darkness hid her beet-red face.