Irashi and Mairi

The two met beneath a starry sky.

Mairi had almost decided against the meetup. She had no idea who left the note for her, but what was written kept slipping into her mind as the day went on. The day had thankfully been easy as far as college course work. She was too busy pondering many things. What would she wear? How would she escape if she needed to? More importantly, who was it that noticed her existence?

‘Tonight’ certainly hadn’t been the most precise time. Nine in the evening seemed to be a good time to show up at the fountain within the prestigious college campus, or so she hoped. Mairi watched the water’s surface ripple as it flowed through the fountain, it’s sounds helping to calm her nerves. An instinct made her look up, and a few meters away she saw her.

Irashi.

She had been in the area since seven. “I’ve been here for a while!” ‘No, don’t say that.’ she mused to herself. “You’re not late! I just got here myself.” ‘I guess that’s why all dates start like that in the movies, ugh.’ Irashi had these conversations with herself the two hours she roamed around the campus’ center. Familiar classmates attempted to engage with her, but for the first time she wished to be alone.

Irashi was so absorbed in her thoughts that she wandered right past the one she intended to meet that evening when the sky had darkened. ‘She’s here—’ She internally panicked upon realizing what she had done. Embarrassment was a rare emotion for someone as outgoing and confident as her, so to experience this now made the ordeal amplify itself. She sensed something though. The woman’s steps were inaudible, but she knew Mairi had began to follow her.

Did she know it was her who left the letter? Or was it merely from curiosity? It didn’t matter, she had the girl’s attention which is what she wanted. She carried on for a few more steps, before turning and smiling at Mairi.

“Hey.”

To this Mairi lightly gasped, and embarrassment was evident in her voice. “U—um. I.” Mairi’s ears drooped downward instinctively. “Sorry. I was waiting—”

“I know, sorry about that! I just got here.” Irashi cut Mairi off, continuing to grin. “Were you waiting long?”

Time froze for Mairi at this very moment. It was her after all. It was her. It was her. “No, not an all.” An anxious smile crossed her face. She was happy, but also nervous. But why? What now? “Your note” she began. “It didn’t have anything else on it though. Did you want to talk about something?”

Irashi rubbed the back of her head as she let out a laugh. “I guess I was in a bit of a hurry this morning. I didn’t want to be seen. Guess I could’ve been more specific.” She then bounded over to Mairi, taking one of her paws in her own. “Yeah, let’s talk!” She began walking again, leading the other woman along.

Mairi wasn’t sure where to go from here. “Okay. Talk about what though?”

“Anything you want!” Irashi grinned as she glanced at Mairi. “We share a couple classes, but I’ve never gotten to speak to you before. You’ve always seemed so busy. And by the time we’re released from class you’re already gone.”

“Oh…” Mairi had been caught off guard by this. Irashi had wanted to talk to her this whole time? But “You always seemed busy too.” she responded sheepishly. “I didn’t want to bother you whenever you’re with your friends. Boyfriend…?” The last word came out awkwardly. Mairi wasn’t sure what the woman’s relationship was with various other males who fawned over her. She wasn’t given the chance to dwell on this, when Irashi stopped and suddenly erupted into a fit of laughter.

“Boyfriend? You’re kidding right!? No, oh my god no I don’t have a boyfriend.” She wiped at her face with her paws to clear away tears that built up. Seeing the confused and mildly frightened look on Mairi’s face, she took a couple of breaths to regain her composure. “They certainly try to be, but none of them stand a chance. Ever.”

Mairi carefully studied Irashi, and the meaning of her words. To anyone else, they would have meant something nonchalant. Something to be swept under the rug as a new subject was bought up. Mairi’s own actions made her anxious as she held out a shaky paw towards Irashi. “By that, do you mean…?”

Her thoughts were confirmed when Irashi nodded, taking Mairi’s paws in her own. “I’m gay.”

“Oh, yeah? Me too.” Mairi awkwardly replied, it was a knee jerk reaction. Relief washed over her when Irashi responded with a chuckle. Although she still felt sheepish, a grin also made its way across her face as Irashi began to lead her around the campus.

Time was lost on them as the pair giggled beneath the stars. The only thing brighter was their smiles as they enjoyed each other’s company.