Chapter 10 - Girlfriend

  After a long, relaxing shower, I take a selfie and study the picture.

  I never understood the allure of selfies as Riku…

  I’m dressed in standard sleepwear, attempting a smile while flashing the peace sign. The result of my first try is okay. Achieving a natural look proves challenging, but overall, it’s passable. Deleting the picture, I toss my phone onto the bed before heading to the lounge room.

  Mom is lying down, and I decide to join her, sitting on the floor with my back against the couch. I lean back, rest my head on her stomach, and gently take one of her hands to place it on my head. I feel her fingers running through my hair as I close my eyes to gather my thoughts. She makes a soft, pleased sigh, and I wonder: does she enjoy these moments as much as I do?

  “Today, I made a friend named Sami Hina—the girl I helped out yesterday. It was really nice to see her again on my first day at school.” I feel a bit tense about what I’m going to say next, but I push through, smiling as I meet Mom’s amused eyes. “My desk mate is Kato Sakura, and it’s interesting how similar we look. We’re the same height and build, so now I get why Hina-san confused us. Sakura also excels in jiu-jitsu and is the ace of the girls team.”

  “It sounds like you’re finally living life, Vala. If she looks like you, she’s definitely a cutie. I’m proud of you, sweetheart. You’re a Valkyrie, so I expect you to be the dominant one in the relationship!”

  “Okay, Mom, yes, I’m a Valkyrie,” I manage to stop myself from rolling my eyes. “But that’s not the point here. I like her, even if it’s still early days and we don’t know much about each other yet. Feel free to judge, but I think you’ll like her too.”

  “So, you like this girl. Why? What makes her different from the others?” Mom’s voice is light, but there’s a bit of hesitation, like she’s not entirely sure how to guide me on this. I guess this is new for both of us.

  “Looks-wise, she’s my type with a beautiful face and a toned body from martial arts training, but still has nice curves. Personality-wise, she’s sweet, but can be a bit of a… well, you know. Calling me an idiot pissed me off. She’s basically perfect for what I’m looking for in a girlfriend.”

  “Did you get angry when she called you an idiot? I know I would have. Maybe you had a fight? I’m loving the current you, all affectionate, but that’s not the usual you.”

  “No, I just said, ‘See you tomorrow,’ and waved goodbye.”

  “That’s a different way of handling things. I would’ve just asked her to be my girlfriend. If it works, it works.”

  I can’t help rolling my eyes at that, which makes her chuckle. “Sure, Mom, but I came pretty close. Potential girlfriend isn’t bad, right?” Recalling Sakura’s look when she called me an idiot, I sigh.

  “Romance defies logic, sweetheart. It’s driven by feelings and the choices we make in response.”

  She wants me to act on my feelings? I’m sure there’s more to it than that, and what does acting on your feelings even mean in reality? “Mom, are you basically telling me to just ask her to be my girlfriend and stop worrying about things like having only just met?”

  “Yes! Go claim the girl you like. Make her yours and keep her happy. That’s all there is to it.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” I kiss her forehead before heading to bed for the night. Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day, so I’ll need my rest.

  ***

  The next day…

  Showered and dressed, I stand in front of the mirror, having adopted my high ponytail with a framed fringe hairstyle, and added my silver wing hair clip. Hmm, it looks good, but will Sakura like it? Nope… I’m not going to start second-guessing myself now. It makes my silver hair stand out more, and it looks amazing. Smiling in the mirror, I feel a little more confident. Yeah, today’s going to be a good day.

  After our morning coffee, I walk to school with purpose. I can’t use my mana yet, but I can make my eyes shine, the same way I’ve seen my family do. I feel the looks from my fellow students—the two tones of my ponytail combined with glowing blue eyes. Yes, this is the look I’m going for, and hopefully, a certain someone likes it.

  I enter the classroom and make eye contact with Sakura. That intense feeling is still there, but I try to keep my emotions calm as I stare into her eyes.

  “Good morning, Sakura-san. I’m looking forward to spending time with you today.”

  “Good morning, and sorry, Vala-san, but I’ll be training with the club during lunch. I already missed training yesterday.” I can’t quite read her vibe—polite, maybe even a bit professional? What worked and didn’t work yesterday?

  As class begins, I shake my head to clear my thoughts. Nope, I’m not going to overthink this. I reach into my pocket and pull out a red, individually wrapped candy, gently placing it on her desk. She glances at it again and again for a good ten minutes before finally opening the plastic. It’s a strawberry-flavored candy shaped like a heart. A light blush spreads across her cheeks as she pops it into her mouth.

  Yes, I got that one right.

  Feeling more confident, I lose myself in my drawing until it’s finally time for lunch. I see Sakura about to speak, but I quickly cut her off when I realize there’s not much time as I catch Hina-san approaching out of the corner of my eye.

  “Sakura-san, will you be my girlfriend? I’m sorry for cutting you off, but I prefer to take the lead.” I watch her face shift from surprise to disappointment, and my heart twists with each passing expression.

  “Vala-san, your approach yesterday was, I don’t know, but better than this. This just feels off. Did you overthink it last night?" Her head tilts a little and I see the gears turning behind her eyes. "Or did someone try to give you some advice?”

  I flinch inwardly—she’s right on both counts. Maybe getting advice from a Valkyrie mother wasn’t the best idea when it comes to humans. And yes, I’ve been thinking about yesterday a lot.

  “Etto, are you two fighting or something?” Hina-san asks as she joins us on our way out of the classroom. “The atmosphere feels weird around you, and the way you’re acting feels sort of hostile, and maybe flirty?”

  I find myself defaulting to non-communication mode as my mind races, analyzing the recent conversation, figuring out how to respond, and maybe agreeing that I’m an idiot when it comes to this stuff. I watch Sakura’s eyes become warm as she looks into mine. Something in my thoughts must be showing on my face, as she clears her throat. “Vala-san… maybe. I have my own requirements for a potential girlfriend, so, are you game to come to the jiu-jitsu club now?" Then her eyes shift to our friend while I'm still processing her words. "Hina-san," she continues, "Vala-san is trying to ask me out and thinks she's going to take the lead in this relationship. I’m just trying to show her that I’m actually the stronger one between us. I’m happy for her to play, but I’m not going to just give her the dominant position.”

  I feel myself relaxing as I look into her confident eyes. There’s a small smile, but I know now that my attempted method was definitely the wrong one. Still, I’m happy that she’s willing to play along with me.

  “So the two of you are dating but need to set boundaries. You would like to compare your skills to figure out who will be on top during sex?” Hina asks playfully.

  Sakura and I both blush. Still, I push forward and take Sakura by the hand as I look Hina-san in the eyes. While I’m careful to hold it gently, I feel my confidence return at the firm squeeze she gives back, and I find myself giving her a smile that mirrors her own.

  “Hina-san, why don’t you come along and watch? Jiu-jitsu is an excellent way to demonstrate one’s ability,” I say as we leave, and feel Sakura studying me intently at my words. I have to work hard to suppress the smile that wants to creep across my lips.

  I walk beside Sakura as we enter the club room. It’s a nice space, with about eight students currently warming up for practice. Before Sakura can say anything, I give her a grin. She rolls her eyes but keeps holding my hand as we approach the group of girls already stretching and preparing for their session.

  “Hi, we’ll be borrowing the training room to resolve a personal matter. Please don’t be alarmed; while we’ll be fighting, there’s no malice between us. It’s just a match to decide who’s the most dominant.” My words get a few giggles from the girls.

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  “Yeah, we kind of figured, considering you’re holding hands and our team Ace is blushing,” one of them calls out.

  “What Vala-san means is, we’ll be determining who the best fighter is between us. So, being the team Ace that Hana-san just mentioned, I have to accept this challenge.”

  Another girl stage-whispers to the one introduced as Hana-san, “So they’re only holding hands to keep the other from running away. How fierce…” This earns another round of laughter, and I just shake my head in amusement.

  “Please watch and share your thoughts on who the victor is,” Sakura says, a blush dusting her cheeks as she releases my hand, trying—but failing—to be subtle about it.

  We exchange a small sigh before stepping into the ring, bowing, and taking our stances. I take a deep breath, focusing my mind as I meet Sakura’s gaze. She approaches cautiously, staying just outside my striking range.

  There’s a pause before she strikes out repeatedly. I cycle through from a circular block, single-arm block, and X block, choosing a different technique each time. She strikes me with a kick to the hip and while it hurts I catch her leg and immobilize her in the process. We separate, and rebuild our stance before commencing again. This time I will add offensive techniques.

  Ramping up the speed, I combine offensive and defensive techniques similar to my training in CQC. I keep the power to a minimum, but she still has been struck multiple times. She strikes out hard, overextended and off balance. It’s the perfect position for me to throw her. I secure her wrist and feel her body tense for the impact. She opens her eyes in my arms instead. It’s a brief hug, and I enjoy it without dragging it out in front of the crowd.

  I notice Hina-san standing close by, her phone out, apparently recording the spar. An idea strikes me.

  “Hina-san, could you please send Sakura-san and me a copy later? We can tally up the score and find key points that need improvement.” She smiles and nods, while a few of the girls give me entertained looks.

  ‘To tally the scores, huh,’ I hear one of the girls whisper.

  ‘At least she didn’t say it was for science,’ her friend whispers back in amusement.

  I try my best to keep things somewhat professional, though I can’t deny wanting a copy for personal reasons.

  “Thanks for the spar, Vala-san. I’ll review the video with Hina-san now.” Sakura’s face is pink, maybe from exertion or the looks she’s been getting. Maybe I shouldn’t have hugged her? She returns my wave before turning to talk with Hina-san.

  The vibe is positive as I wink at the crowd before leaving the club room. I’m happy with the results, and getting to hug her is enough for now. Quitting while I’m ahead, I return to the classroom and quickly finish my lunch.

  Sakura and Hina both return just before the bell signals the end of lunch. I look over at Sakura, and she seems calmer now.

  I return to my drawing, giving her a little space. I feel she will need to decide what happens next. I’ve done my best to convey my feelings, and now have to be patient.

  Standing outside our lockers, I sit down to change my shoes. This time I just concentrate on getting ready to leave.

  “See you tomorrow,” I hand Sakura a note as I’m leaving, which she immediately starts to read.

  Dear Sakura-san, I had fun today and enjoy spending time with you. Please take your time in sorting out your feelings and if you ever need me, here’s my contact information.

  Love Vala x x

  She seems happy, as I take a final look at the smile on her face before leaving.

  I’m almost home by the time I check my phone and see a message from Mom and two unknown numbers. The first one is from Hina-san and has the video from today attached. The second one was from Sakura-san, hoping it was okay to give my number out. That Hina-san had messaged her to request my number.

  I reply to Mom first that I will take care of dinner tonight and will be home shortly. Second, a quick thank you to Hina-san. I take my time messaging Sakura about my current shopping and making dinner tonight. Not exactly bragging, but I’m definitely trying to show my best side.

  I place my phone in my pocket and head to the convenience store, not far from home. I’ve decided to make ginger fried pork, as it’s quick and the ingredients are readily available. They have an arrangement of individually wrapped candies, which I think Sakura may enjoy. I buy a few different varieties as I’m trying to find what she likes. It’s sort of my thing now, and I like having a morning ritual with her.

  “Hey, I’m home and will be cooking dinner now.”

  I have the rice cooker set up, and just finished chopping up the ingredients when Mom comes over for a hug.

  “Hey, sweetheart, how was your day?” She sits down at the table to watch me cook.

  “I think today went well, but it was a bit different from what I had planned.”

  I wash my hands before grabbing my phone. I set the video to play, allowing Mom to make up her own mind, while I focused on the pork and ginger.

  Her face becomes serious, before finally settling into a warm smile, as she pauses the video.

  “I can see why you like her, and from this video alone I have a high opinion of this girl. The scene at the end where you are holding her in your arms. You truly make a beautiful couple and I want her as my daughter-in-law. So how are you going to make her happy and yours?”

  “I think my feelings have been conveyed enough for now. We have been messaging each other as well. So, I’m currently working on Operation Housewife.”

  I arrange dinner to look as nice as possible, before sending a picture to Sakura.

  “Mom, I am trying to be myself, but also trying to show the best side of that. I have advantages from my adult life. Cooking, cleaning, and sewing are covered as part of basic, after all. I probably have an advantage over most people my age. To make her happy, I have fighting and candy. Which doesn’t seem like the most promising material for wooing a girl, but I will work hard to expand on that.”

  “Sounds like you’re doing a great job sweetheart.”

  It’s a success with dinner, and I hit the shower in a good mood.

  Refreshed, I’m about to start my homework when the phone lights up displaying a video call from Sakura. Accepting the call, I prop my phone against the textbooks and sit back in my chair, allowing her to see me from the waist up.

  “Hey, Sakura-san, looks like we are both fresh from the shower.”

  I’m currently regretting wearing my plain cotton sleepwear, but I wasn’t expecting a video call tonight. Her own outfit is a simple white singlet. I can’t see past her waist, but I picture cotton shorts or something similar. While still fairly modest, she has my attention.

  “Sorry if you were getting ready for bed, but I wanted to talk about the video and your take on the fight itself.” She seems a little evasive. Perhaps she just wanted to chat and needed an excuse to call?

  “Happy to talk anytime, especially if you’re the one calling.” I feel myself wince, realizing how cheesy that sounded, and do my best to ignore a certain someone giggling over my comment in the next room. Clearing my throat, I do my best to answer her. “So, the spar was broken down into two parts. The first was a demonstration of different techniques used for defense. The second showed how to combine them with offensive techniques. Only jiu-jitsu was used for this spar, but I would combine mixed martial arts for actual CQC.”

  “CQC? I’m not sure I’ve heard of that. What does it have to do with mixed martial arts?”

  “Hmm, sorry, I have a bad habit of using acronyms. CQC stands for close-quarters combat, and it’s used for both… lethal, and non-lethal force.”

  “So… You had enough leeway to turn our spar into a demonstration, and didn’t use your main skills? What type of life have you been living, and what are you training for? I don’t even know where you would get training like that, besides the military!”

  “I don’t mind answering your questions, but it would only make the situation more confusing. A simple answer would be that the women in my family have a certain view on training, and tend to be a little battle-oriented.”

  I’m not exactly lying, but revealing more wouldn't help me in this situation.

  “Okay, I’ve heard about hidden families who retain their own teachings. In particular with martial arts, and other subjects. Is this why you are reluctant to show your true skills?”

  “I thought you wanted to compete in jiu-jitsu? And why would I use combat techniques on my girlfriend?”

  Her cheeks are turning pink after I use the word girlfriend. It’s true she hasn’t officially said anything, but I feel her conditions should have been met during our spar. And, indeed, she does answer so.

  “Vala… yes, I will be your girlfriend, but I’m not open about my sexuality like you are. I need you to understand that my parents and friends don’t know. Well, Hina-san does, and other people probably already assume things, but I haven’t done anything that would confirm that. You are my first girlfriend, so please… I’m not ready to share this with everyone.”

  She seems genuinely concerned about this, and I think I understand more about her reluctance, and issues with physical intimacy.

  “I’ve no problem with keeping things secret. Except for my family, I won’t let anyone else know. They already know about me, and that I like you. It’s only my Grandma and Mom, who are both super supportive. Not like you need to meet them or anything, but you are welcome to come over if you’d like. They are both very good at keeping secrets. You can trust me on this.”

  Something in my tone must carry across to her, as what I’m saying is definitely true. She nods before giving me a shy smile, “Good night Vala-san, see you tomorrow.”

  “Good night Sakura-san, sweet dreams. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

  Not in the mood to start my homework, I decide to hang out with my family.

  I find Mom lying down on the couch and repeat my actions of laying my head on her stomach while placing her hand on my head. A big part of me still marvels quietly over my sudden ability to be so uncomplicated with my desires for attention.

  “So, is this becoming part of the routine as well, sweetheart? Or do you have something on your mind?”

  She slowly starts running her fingers through my hair, and I feel my tension slipping away as she does so.

  “I just finished talking to Sakura and didn’t realize how nervous I was until we ended the conversation. It was really nice, but a part of me was nervous about being rejected. She is not open about her sexuality, so I need to keep it secret. I’m not happy about that, but I will respect her boundaries, and take things one day at a time.”

  “Ah, my daughter is such a mature girl. You managed to be dominant and have gotten her to accept you as her partner. Now for the last part.”

  “How to make her happy…”