RED - miya atsumu

ELEVEN

ELEVEN

THICK CLOUDS ROLLED over Tokyo city that morning. The wind was stagnant, offering a mild chill to the streets. Thin mist hung ominously over towering skyscrapers, clouding their mirrors and hiding the people inside away from sight.

Typically speaking, the many citizens of Tokyo never minded the weather. In fact, it wouldn't be imprudent to say that the thought to look up at the sky occurred rarely to the several passing pedestrians.

As she thought of this, Miyuki Fuyuko couldn't help but think of her best friend. How often does she look up? she questioned as she poured herself a cup of white wine. Dark green eyes watched as the pale liquid was poured into the dainty glass cup, white beverage sloshing against its transparent walls.

Setting the bottle down with a quiet thud, Fuyuko briefly turned to the side and adjusted her white fur coat. It was soft against her pale skin, briefly tickling her shoulder and exposed arms. With a deep sigh, she settled deeply down into her chair.

These days, Miyuki finds herself thinking about her friend a lot. One would think Red, beautiful and brilliant as ever, wouldn't need anybody fretting over her. And yet, the Chanel CEO couldn't help but reminisce of their shared high school years, when life was just a little simpler than it was now.

Slowly, Fuyuko brought the white wine to her lips and took a small sip. No, it was no use thinking of the past. Ironically, she immediately thought of her high school's motto, We Don't Need the Memories.

What had it meant? the blonde licked her lips, closing her eyes against the taste of alcohol.

The phrase had mainly been used for the volleyball team. As a result, it wasn't completely outrageous Miyuki was unsure of what it meant. She never really participated in sports in high school, she and Akiko. So, of course...

Outside, pale rays of sunlight briefly seeped through temporary gaps in the clustered gray clouds, then fizzled out again. No, the young lady shook her head. Akiko was the manager of the boy's volleyball team. How could I forget?

It had been an eventful year, 2012. The drama, the scandals; Fuyuko, an ardent fan of watching dramas on TV herself could hardly keep up with all that was happening. As a result, she could remember every single event of her second high school year with startling clarity, how every incident had revolved around the woman who was now known as Red, how Akiko had already begun to seemingly magnetize everything she needed.

Akiko...

Miyuki chuckled quietly. White wine tipped forward and lubricated her lips. Silence hummed in the space overhead, parting momentarily only for the clink of glass against glass.

The poor darling hadn't even asked for all that had occurred. Everything, good and bad, just seemed to be attracted to her. Fuyuko couldn't decide whether this was auspicious or not on her side.

Perhaps it was simply neutral. Now, Kogawa Akiko, under the alias "Red", was the CEO of three successful companies. Miyuki Fuyuko, CEO of Chanel, didn't happen to be just as loaded as her friend, yet she was happy and content all the same.

Happy and content. Two words that will never apply to Akiko, the thought drifted aimlessly by. At this, Miyuki almost laughed. It was a little mean of her, she admitted, but it was definitely true. Once again, the young blonde averted her gaze to the tall window panes to observe the scene outside. Kogawa Akiko. The one who wanted more.

And more.

And more.

Years and years ago, Fuyuko and Red had actually joked about this. They never used the word greed of how derogatory it sounded, and instead, they replaced it with ambition.

Miyuki could still vividly recall the scene where an occurrence like this was happening, both girls in an empty classroom laughing and talking about what their future would become. The Chanel CEO herself slumped across her desk, left arm splayed out and right arm curled within, her limbs providing a cushion for her head as her green eyes lay trained on Akiko before her, Akiko with her straight posture and high-held chin.

"I want more", she had said. The sunlight was a dazzling sparkle in her black irises. The aura she gave off was so tenacious it almost felt arrogant. There was a strong tone of desire in her words. "More and more and more. I don't think it'll ever be enough," she had confessed. Back then, Fuyuko had sighed with amusement. In 2012, she'd closed her eyes. "Then take it all," she had replied.

That one particular ordinary day, Miyuki Fuyuko had no idea of how large an impact her words would've had on Kogawa, the ideas she would've sparked.

But now, she saw the consequences of her actions. Miss Red truly was out for all that the world offered, and the limit of what she was willing to sacrifice for it was still to be determined.

Then take it all. Back then, it had been but an easygoing joke. A filler for something Fuyuko had no idea what to reply to.

Now? It was reality.

—❝RED❞—

Back in the humble abode of Onigiri Miya, Kita Shinsuke had dropped by to give Osamu his supply of freshly farmed rice. Official responsibilities finished, one would've found the two high school friends idly chatting on the high black seats before the wooden counter where Miya usually worked.

The restaurant was empty– This was usually so after the typical lunch break schedule that was given to many of the workers here in the city. The absence of customers was the perfect opportunity for Kita and his junior to exchange pleasantries and catch up. The gentle pattering of rain on the transparent windows filled the space inside, the accompaniment to their conversation.

Kita's calloused, farmer's hands were absently fumbling around with the chopsticks as they conversed, his dark brown eyes mindlessly gazing upon the plates. "How's your twin?" he'd asked. The sunlight dappled his gray hair.

"'Tsumu's doing well," answered Osamu. "Busy as ever, though. Olympics are coming up soon, so that's understandable," he amended. Kita nodded idly. "Do you think you'll get tickets?" In reply, Miya's thin lips twitched into a smirk. "Well. If I can afford it," he replied.

Both men laughed at this. Sure, business was going well. But those tickets could be expensive.

A pair of chopsticks clattered sullenly against the china plates. Shinsuke lowered his chin so that his face could rest on his crossed arms. "I wonder if I'll see Kogawa again someday," he expressed softly.

It was an unusual change in conversation. But Osamu could follow his train of thought: Afford; Expensive; Money; and then, of course, Kogawa Akiko.

Kita turned toward his junior. "You've seen her again, right?" Without waiting for a reply, he continued on: "What's she like now?"

Outside, fallen leaves gently clattered onto the ground. The autumn wind brushed by, momentarily alleviating the burden of gravity on their delicate stems, then rushed away just as quickly.

Miya turned toward his old friend. "She's essentially the same." He tilted his head to the side; The sunshine caught his dark irises. "Do you miss her? You sound reminiscent."

Kita laughed, but there was no humor in his tone. On the contrary, he looked a little sad. Bittersweet, even. "I wouldn't say that I miss her, per se, but..." The rice farmer shifted his focus to the scenery outside. "I guess you could say I miss the feeling that thinks of her."

"So... the feeling of liking, or even loving someone?" Osamu clarified. He couldn't see Shinsuke's face when he responded, but he could hear the nostalgia in his voice. "Yes."

Outside, the autumn winds continued to blow.

ELEVEN