Of Yokai and Hopeless Romantics

Chapter 6

" We have to change? Into what?" Benihime asked this was the first she was hearing of this.

" Into our yukatas, did you think we would be modeling in regular clothes?" Mari said as if Benihime should have already known.

" No, since it is a painting of the Student Council, I thought we would be wearing our school uniforms. Why else would I have worn my school uniform on a Saturday?" Benihime asked.

" If you prefer to be painted in your school uniform, then I can do that Toyama-san. To be honest, this is the first I have heard of the yukata idea," Shige said.

" No, come on, we're changing," Mari said as she dragged her off to a changing room.

" You really aren't good at this whole dating thing are you?" Mari said once they were inside the changing room.

Benihime got a little angry. She had agreed to let Mari play matchmaker, but not to be insulted. Benihime controlled her anger, " I might be better at it if you were not constantly surprising me, I would appreciate you letting me know about what you are planning."

" What would be the fun in that?" Mari said as they changed into their yukatas. " Anyway, it should be easy to understand what I'm doing."

The two walked out of the changing room, Benihime in a light blue yukata, with a white floral pattern, Mari in a black yukata with a white tiger embroidered on the left side. The moment Shige saw them the reaction was instantaneous, his eyes were enraptured, but he seemed to be looking beyond the both of them. Then he snapped out of it shook his head, " sorry I shouldn't stare, but the way you look in that yukata Toyama-san, I feel like I'm looking at something out of legends, like a yuki-onna."

Benihime was taken aback, how strong was Shige's perception? No human should be able to see her that well. Benihime looked at Mari, she had the biggest smile on her face, that pompous little brat.

" I'm sorry, comparing you to a yokai was out of place," Shige said.

" No need to apologize, I took no offense," Benihime said.

With that Shige positioned Mari and Benihime on some stools and set up some lights. He made sure that both of them were comfortable as they would be sitting for a while. Before he started painting he took some photos. Benihime at been uncomfortable at the start of the process, but Shige disarmed her with his professionalism. He was still enchanted with Benihime, but he did his best not to stare or make thing uncomfortable. For her part, Benihime tried to suppress her yokai aura to make it easier on Shige to concentrate. Benihime had to admit it was a bit boring sitting there. Shige for his part looked like a man possessed, the way he was working on the canvas.

" You look like crap again Shige-san," Mari said.

" Thanks," was all he said in response.

" No seriously, you look like you've barely slept and like you're just eating junk again," Mari said. " Do you believe he spends so much time painting he'll forget to eat meals and just eat junk food?"

" That does not sound very healthy," Benihime said giving Shige a good look. " You should look after yourself."

" Mari-san makes things out to be worse than they are," Shige said.

" Really, have you eaten yet today?" Mari asked.

" No, but I was busy setting up," Shige said.

" That is unacceptable, we would have waited for you to have breakfast," Benihime said. With that, she hopped off of the stool and headed towards her box of cookies. " These are not a good replacement for a proper breakfast, but they are better than nothing."

" Oh thank you Toyama-san, but you don't have to bring food," Shige said.

Mari pounced on the cookies before even Shige could. " Yummy, eat Shige-san, cooking is one of Benihime-chan's many good traits. She'd make the right guy a perfect girlfriend."

Benihime and Shige both blushed at Mari's forwardness. Shige took the cookies that were offered to him and even though he tried to eat politely, it was obvious he was hungry. Benihime couldn't help but look around Shige's easel and sure enough, as Mari had said, there was a lot of chips and jerky, junk that was no good for him. Benihime knew it wasn't her place to tell Shige what to eat, but as a chef, it annoyed her to see someone eating improperly. There was no excuse for it, the dining hall provided proper meals for everyone overseen by Tugushi.

" Thank you once again Toyama-san," Shige said bowing.

Mari slapped him hard on the back of the head, " enough with the Toyama-san, we're going to be spending a lot of time together, so it's Benihime-san. Stop being so formal, it annoys me."

" I don't think that's your call to make Mari-san," Shige said rubbing his head.

" She agrees with me, right Benihime-san?" Mari said.

Benihime usually preferred for everyone, but the closest of her friends, to address her formally. Still, there was an obvious difference between how at ease Shige was with Mari and how he treated Benihime. If Benihime wanted boys to not view her as an untouchable idol, she needed to allow herself to be more approachable, like Yayaka had told her so many times. " As long as you are comfortable with it, you may call me Benihime-san."

" Good and you call him Shige-san, of maybe Shige-kun by the end," Mari said and they both blushed again. " Did you know that Benihime-san is on the rebound, there is no better chance for a boy."

Shige just stared at Mari not knowing how to respond to her, so Benihime responded, " that is enough Mari-san, I do believe our break has gone on long enough."

" That's right let's get back to the painting," Shige said.

With that Shige went about getting Mari and Benihime back in position. His focus once again returned to his painting, he had a supernatural air about him, his blood had truly been touched by a yokai. As Benihime watched Shige work she found herself drawn to that passion, it was something she could understand and something she admired. The ability to not only create something but to put all of yourself into something, expecting perfection and only accepting perfection, that was something Mari herself had when it came to cooking. Still, while Benihime might admit there was more to Shige than she had seen at first, she did not see how he was a match for her, it also did not seem that the boy had any more attractive to her than any other boy. Benihime couldn't even imagine him being one of the boys who wrote her love letters anymore, it seemed that what he wanted wasn't a girlfriend, but a muse for his paintings.