"What did… Miss Inoue want?" Fate asked hesitantly once they reached their room at the ryokan.
Shrugging out of her jacket, Nanoha tossed their room key onto the side table by the entrance. "She wanted to talk about the deal over dinner." She left out further elaborations, though Fate could easily guess what else the DoCoMo woman may have wanted, considering her behaviour in the gym a mere twelve hours ago.
Had it only been half a day? Fate had experienced the lowest lows and highest highs in that amount of time and the source of it all was this lean package currently unbuttoning her cream blouse as she padded over to their luggage bags left open in the corner of the bedroom.
Averting her eyes, Fate escaped into the washroom to remove her make-up. "Why didn't you go with her? Wouldn't it have been good for TSAB if you had?" Out of Nanoha's line of sight, the blonde slapped a hand over her big mouth. 'Gods, Fate, couldn't you just be glad that she hadn't?'
The silence was deafening while she ran the tap, hoping Nanoha hadn't taken offence to what amounted to her AVP dictating how the executive did business in her home country.
"Is that what you want me to do?" Alto low, Nanoha sounded hurt and Fate kicked herself hard. Shutting off the tap, she rushed back out and hugged the executive from behind. The woman's head was bowed as she stood there in her skirt and bra, the sweater in her hand forgotten as she fought back the sudden pain Fate's innocuous query had caused.
"No, not at all. Please forgive me. It was a thoughtless thing to ask." She tried to turn Nanoha to face her, the executive moving reluctantly though her eyes refused to meet Fate's.
"You wouldn't have been the first to ask." Nanoha uttered, her voice a dead monotone. Her thick fall of hair obscured her face from Fate and the blonde tried to brush it aside. The auburn-haired woman pulled away from Fate's touch, "I should've accepted her invitation," she continued, "All your work could be flushed away because of my refusal."
Heart aching, hating herself more with every passing second, Fate again wrapped her arms around the executive. "No. I don't care a whit about that. I hurt you, and I am sorry." Hot tears spilled from her eyes, dripping onto Nanoha's shoulder. "I had no right to question you or your methods. Please, I'm sorry."
The Japanese woman felt encased in ice, and not even Fate's arms around her could take away the bone-deep cold that had settled deep inside of her. What the actual fuck was she doing? She was jeopardising multi-million dollar deals, and for what? She wondered sullenly if it was too late to call Agito and take the woman up on her offer. Even Fate expected her to whore herself out for TSAB. So why not?
But the princess was crying. Why was she crying? Lifting dull eyes, Nanoha turned, the instinct to fix whatever was troubling Fate was still more than her shrivelled heart could fight. She found that she couldn't stand the sight of Fate crying.
Fate discovered that her greatest fear was to see the life drain out of the vibrant woman in front of her, and it was happening in real time before her very eyes. Somehow, a thumb was brushing away her unceasing tears and it only made them fall ever faster. "I… didn't want to disappoint you. That's why I turned her down." Nanoha mumbled, eyes muted to a cloudy shade of slate meeting Fate's anguish-filled crimson.
"No," Fate cried, cradling Nanoha's face in trembling hands, afraid she had broken something beyond repair, "There is nothing, nothing Nanoha could ever do to disappoint me. Please don't… Please don't pull away from me. Let me fix this, please." Sobbing, she clung desperately even as she felt their friendship slipping through her fingers like so much sand on the beach.
Perplexed, Nanoha's head tilted and she tried to wipe away the tears that wouldn't stop. "I didn't want Feito-chan to cry, that's why I said no. But you are still crying." Shaking her head, words utterly failing her, Fate held Nanoha tight, refusing to let the woman go. "I'm only crying because I hurt you. I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry. I'm so so so sorry…"
Clinging, rocking, crying, the blonde would not, could not, release the Japanese woman, and the Nanoha didn't know what to do. It was easier to numb herself, but not when the person she cared so much for was also hurting. Unclenching hands that had fisted against the sudden, sharp pain she had felt and completely devoid of her usual grace, her arms creakily came around to hold the slim waist she was pulled up against.
Fate felt the cold hard knot in her middle begin to loosen slightly at the feel of Nanoha's hands returning her hug. "I had no right. I'm the worst," she hiccoughed between sobs.
Drawing back, weary beyond belief, Nanoha looked up at the distraught blonde, "I gave Feito-chan the right," she murmured hoarsely. Even now, Nanoha was trying to take the blame, and fresh tears spilled from Fate's eyes. "But, it hurts." Nanoha admitted rawly.
Grabbing the hand that was again trying to wipe away her tears, Fate nodded, shamefaced. "I will spend whatever time it takes to make up for it. If you would let me…"
Expression injured, Nanoha studied the crying woman. She wanted to stay in that numb place. She'd been there before and it held a comforting familiarity that lured her in with the promise of no more pain. But that would mean not feeling the joy she felt being with Fate, and that felt even worse to contemplate.
Nanoha let out a soft sigh, a physical manifestation of herself attempting to let go of the pain. "You didn't know," she said sadly, "I never told you."
Fate sniffled, wishing she could take everything back, "You are not obligated to tell me anything. I assumed and hurt you."
"You assumed correctly." Nanoha bent to pick up her dropped sweater, tugging it over her head. She didn't want to see that disappointment in Fate's eyes. The blonde's hands were there, however, helping pull her long auburn hair past her collar. The caring touch was out of place with expectations and she hazarded a glance at the taller woman.
"It is none of my business," Fate sniffled more, "Your body is your own. I just… I just feel Nanoha-chan deserves so much more." She looked away, cheeks warm, "To be l-loved, and cherished. Y-You're so special…"
"I'm nothing special, Feito-chan." She kicked off her woollen skirt, throwing it carelessly into her open clamshell luggage. "This is damaged goods," Nanoha gestured disparagingly to herself, "Why do you think I work so hard to keep it from falling back apart?"
Swiftly closing the distance between them, Fate held the hand that dared disparage this amazing woman. "That is so far from the truth. You're everything I w-want… to become," she hastily concluded, hoping her slip went unnoticed.
Nanoha studied the blotchy face of the blonde, the woman was still sniffling and tearing up, yet her sincerity was plain. "It's nice that you think so." Pulling Fate into the washroom, still in just her sweater and panties, she dampened a washcloth and patted the blonde's face. The blonde's make-up was a tragic mess.
The woman was still so subdued and here she was, caring for the person who hurt her. What would it take for Nanoha to see herself through Fate's eyes?
Submitting to the woman's care, the blonde's jaw firmed and she locked eyes with the Japanese woman. Nanoha had been nothing but giving, it was time for Fate to do her part.
"I never feel safer than when I'm with you," the blonde said quietly, but clearly. The hand cleaning her face paused, the Japanese woman compelled to listen, "You watching me during my presentation gave me all the strength I needed to get through it," Fate gave Nanoha a tiny smile, "Even though public speaking terrifies me."
She could feel the other hand holding her chin shake. Her own lifted to clasp Nanoha's hand in hers, "When you are in the room, I… function better. When you are away, or out of the country, I find myself wondering where you are, and what you are doing. You have accomplished so much, overcome so much, given so much, and I find my breath taken away just reflecting on you - all of you."
"You are beyond special. You are the perfection I have striven for all of my life. And I will strive for the rest of it to live up to the example you have set." Fate's heartfelt words helped thaw the ice Nanoha had shrouded herself in. The blonde stared into azure eyes still cloaked in a cloud of doubt. This was the closest she had come to a full confession, and a confession it was. She did not just like Nanoha. She LOVED her, she knew that now that she'd put what she felt into words.
It was terrifying, exhilarating and eye-opening. She knew in full now, what she'd only known in part before. Why she had said what she had, caused such hurt. She was shaking herself, the fully revealed force of her emotions for this woman made Fate's soul want to fall apart, to lay itself at Nanoha's feet and let the goddess do with the pieces what she willed.
This was how Fate saw her? Thought of her? Nanoha was unable to fathom Fate's words, they seemed so… grandiose. The blonde wouldn't let go of either her hand or eyes, and the executive couldn't find an ounce of dishonesty in the woman's fervent speech. She felt so tired and wrung out. The blonde had pulled the rug out from under her and filled that gaping hole beneath with words that painted her in an impossible light in the space of ten? Fifteen minutes?
The executive needed to get her shit together. This was neither the time nor place for her to indulge in unseemly displays of emotion. She patted Fate's hands with her free one, dredging up a small twitch of her lips for the blonde, "I need to call Haya-chan. Are we still on for bangohan?" It felt weird to ask, but the foundations of their friendship still felt akin to quicksand to Nanoha. She knew Fate was truly sorry but she needed time.
Fate nodded, wishing Nanoha didn't feel like she had to ask. She knew the damage had been done, and it was real with consequences. She only hoped that the woman would give her a chance to make it up to her. "Yes, certainly. I will get ready." Nodding, Nanoha departed to look for her cellphone.
Padding out onto the private porch, Nanoha prodded Hayate's name in her phone's contact list.
"Nano-chan! How did it go?"
The executive raked her fringe back, doing what she could to keep the fatigue out of her voice.
"I think we have it."
"You think? Normally you're sure. Is everything okay?"
"I turned down their rep's offer for a fuck," Nanoha informed her CEO bluntly.
Silence. "I know. I know, it was stupid. The fuck was I thinking? I don't…" She sighed, rubbing at eyes that were blurring from all the emotions swirling inside of her - emotions she wished could compartmentalise better. "I don't know at this point, Haya-chan. I just… I just can't do that anymore."
"Nanoha, fuck that noise." Hayate said crudely, "If the stuffed shirts in DoCoMo can't get their heads out of their arses, that's on them. I never, ever, want or expect you to go that far for a contract. I never stopped you, true, because I trusted you knew what you were doing." There was a thread of regret in Hayate's voice, "Perhaps I should've, if you'd have listened to me."
Nanoha thought back to her old self and shook her head, "I would've out-stubborned you."
More silence. Both women knew it was true. "In any case, good job. I saw the recording of Fate's presentation."
"...Yes, well, she is gifted." Even heartsore, she was proud of the blonde.
Hayate was puzzled at the distant way her EVP of Ops referred to her AVP. They were practically in each other's pockets during their dinner. Maybe Vita's idea wasn't working out as well as they had hoped.
"Thanks for updating me. Let Fate know I said good job, will ya?"
"All right. Take care, Haya-chan."
"...You too, Nano-chan."
Ending the call, Nanoha sighed again. Dinner. She had to figure a way to remain social for a while more. The lure of the gym was strong. To just mindlessly sweat the night away and fall into utter exhaustion was so tempting. 'Pussy. You weren't raised one and you aren't going to turn into one now.'
Scrubbing her face, Nanoha squared her shoulders under the baggy pink sweater she'd pulled on and went back in to face the blonde. Nanoha valued their friendship too much to let her stupidly fragile self ruin it, but fuck did it feel like she was being a masochist at this point. Remembering she still needed to get some pants, she headed back to her luggage to dig out a pair of jeans to pull on.
Fate had cleaned the wreck that was her face, not really caring how terrible she looked. She deserved it for what she had done to Nanoha. Remaining in the washroom while Nanoha was outside talking to Hayate, her hand clutched at her heart while she attempted to process the realisation that she loved the auburn-haired beauty. She'd been this close to blurting her feelings out, which would've been disastrous after what had just happened.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Hearing the shoji doors admit Nanoha back into the room, she hurriedly tied her hair back into a high ponytail and gave herself a once over. Knowing Nanoha's tendencies to dress down after work, Fate had opted for a dark blue blouse she had gotten because its colour reminded her of the executive's eyes. This was tucked into a pair of belted, white tapered jeans and a chequered cashmere scarf was wound around her neck to combat the chill of the autumn night.
Fate left to look for a pair of socks to go with the white sneakers she was planning to wear and paused. Nanoha looked breathtakingly adorable in her oversized pink sweater and jeans ensemble, her long auburn hair tied up into the side ponytail she favoured a fair bit in her down time. Fate could see the shadows hovering over the woman still. It was entirely the blonde's fault they were there, and Fate was determined to do whatever she had to, to chase them away.
"Hayate wanted me to tell you 'good job'," Nanoha mentioned with a brief smile that didn't touch her eyes.
"Small comfort when I've been the worst friend… thank you for passing on the message." Fate returned the mirthless smile and sat on the edge of the bed to wear her socks.
Nanoha knew the blonde was going to beat herself up over this for weeks, maybe even months, if she let it. "Feito-chan, I know there was no malice in your words. Gods know my reputation is as tawdry as it is real. I am the White Devil for good reason. This morning I said you could ask, and that hasn't changed." She glanced away, "I was just… caught off guard. Let's… Let's just try to let it go."
Fate looked up at the sweet woman she now knew she desperately loved. Choking back more tears she refused to let fall, the blonde nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat.
----------------------------------------
They climbed into the cab in silence, Nanoha quietly giving the driver an address Fate didn't recognise. Legs crossed, Nanoha angled her torso to face the window as she propped her chin on the back of her fingers to look out over roads that were at once both familiar and alien in the dimming light of evening. The woman seemed deep in thought and Fate studied her profile, heart aching and wondering how to bridge the divide her careless words had created between them.
She glanced down. Nanoha's other hand was laid out towards the middle of the backseat. Mustering her courage, Fate inched her own hand close but not touching, until a bump in the road shifted both their hands so that their fingers touched. Holding her breath, Fate curled her fingers ever so slightly around Nanoha's. The woman didn't pull away, though her pose remained the same, watching passing lights and winding electrical wires mark the roadways their ride was driving down.
Heartened that the auburn-haired woman hadn't pulled away, Fate clung to their faint connection for the rest of their silent ride.
Nanoha knew she couldn't keep this silence up for long, and feeling Fate's fearful contact with her fingers had a hand squeezing around the executive's rapidly beating heart. 'You said she could ask you anything. Are you reneging on your words already? It hasn't even been a day.' The self-recriminations and hatred were familiar friends, bringing with them that age old pain that she'd had learned to bear a long time ago. This new pain was fresh, raw, and had her feeling exposed and bleeding. The animal part of her wanted to find a den to hide in, lick her wounds.
It wasn't fair to Fate. The woman had walked into a minefield she had no idea was even there. It had blown up in the blonde's face and against all logic, the woman still wished to remain friends. So Nanoha spent the drive mentally bandaging up those fresh wounds. Maybe they would rip open again, but so what? The blonde was absolutely worth this much - far more than the sources of those old hurts were.
Getting off right by Shibuya station's Hachiko exit, Nanoha paid the driver and took in the still hustling crowds of her fellow countrymen. It was almost 6PM and the sea of bodies that typified a weekday evening in Tokyo central was unsurprising to see.
"Oof!" A salaryman in a rush had tried pushing past Nanoha, only to find himself bouncing off of her solid frame. He almost pinballed away from the auburn-haired woman and into Fate but Nanoha was already slipping an arm around the blonde, pulling her close. Flinty eyes staring the rude man down, the executive tightened her arm protectively around the blonde.
Fate was surprised to feel the arm around her, tugging her to safety and out of the shifting sea of bodies. More so when the man simply righted himself and rushed off. She'd expected at least a quick apology, but it seemed that was not a thing here. Her body was warm wherever it was in contact with Nanoha and she was afraid to move or say anything lest the woman pulled away. Glancing at the Japanese woman, her breath caught at the concern in those azure eyes. 'She still cares.' A glimmer of hope propped up Fate's courage. "Th-Thank you."
The soft feel of the blonde against Nanoha sent the protective walls the executive had constructed around herself into a swaying tremor. Releasing Fate, she gave the woman a sharp once over to determine if she was all right. Jaw clenching, she took Fate's hand and began weaving through the crowds. Her powerful gait had the sea of bodies parting before Nanoha and there was nary a word of apology for anyone who was bounced out of the executive's path. Finally finding a side lane where the crowds were far thinner, she let go of Fate's hand.
The blonde had no time to catch her breath. One moment, she was pressed against the woman she loved, the next, that wonderfully strong hand had hers and was leading her past staring locals unused to the sight of an almost six foot tall blonde in their midst. Happy that Nanoha was even deigning to touch her, Fate went along, the woman's cute Timberland boots stomping through the crowds and her leanly solid body created a path for them with ease.
Disappointed when her hand was let go, Fate took a moment to gain her bearings, shyly casting questioning glances at the executive while she did so. Nanoha still looked sombre, similar to when they'd first met. "Unlike Singapore, people won't apologise for bumping into you here." Nanoha explained, moving down the single lane road she had brought them to. Following, Fate kept close, straining to hear the woman's alto over the din that was growing louder as they walked.
"A lot of that politeness is pomp and circumstance… substance, is debatable." Sighing, she glanced over to the blonde following a half-pace behind her. "I don't want my words to lack substance. I left this place partly because of all that hypocrisy." Fate listened intently, trying to eke out what the Japanese beauty was trying to say. "I will… be okay. I just need time." Picking up her pace, Nanoha hurried down the small road, the din revealing itself now to be izakaya, or small japanese bars, lining either side of the road.
Hurrying after the executive, Fate caught up easily with her long legs. "You have it," she huffed out, heart swelling with hope. Fate's easy answer seemed to have no thought behind it. Throwing the eager blonde a wry look, Nanoha shook her head, "It could be decades," she warned, seriously.
"You still have it," the blonde countered gravely. This Principessa wasn't joking. Nanoha paused her forward progress to really look at Fate. The woman stopped when Nanoha did, and there was a strange light in those crimson eyes that were fixed upon her. Her mouth opened to warn Fate again, instead, she said, "Should be a place somewhere here…" Resolutely tearing her eyes away from the compelling stare the blonde was giving her, Nanoha found the little shop she was looking for.
It was a modest little eatery, its menu laid out across the walls on wooden tablets with japanese words written on them. The quaint little tables and stools declared the place to be for the everyman. Amazing scents and steam emanated from the back area where the kitchen was. A little bell announced their arrival and a woman's voice answered from within, "Irasshaimase!" Welcome!
Nanoha picked a corner booth that incidentally offered her a complete view of the establishment and its entrance. "This place does great tempura dons," the auburn-haired woman explained. "I figured something not too heavy would be good."
"Anything is fine if I'm having it with Nanoha." Fate stated with quiet conviction, prompting another sharp look from the executive. The blonde kept making these declarations that threw the executive for a loop. Usually Fate would stammer and look away, but that simply wasn't the case now and it was giving the Japanese woman all sorts of confusing signals.
Nanoha had no time to process Fate's reply, since a pretty black-haired woman was pulling Nanoha up into a hug, "Nanoha-chan! Hisashiburi! Long time no see! Oh my, let me look at you." Speaking a mile a minute, Fate couldn't make out what the lady was saying in japanese. All she knew was that she was all over Nanoha and that green-eyed monster was rearing its head even more now that she'd come to terms with how she felt about the Japanese beauty.
"Ikeda-san, hisashiburi~" Smiling faintly, Nanoha patted the woman's arm in greeting. Finally, the one called Ikeda released the executive to greet her companion, "Have you brought me a new customer? About time, my business has been dismal without you around!" That flash of jealousy in this new person's eyes hadn't escaped the Ikeda's notice. As always, her seitou kaichou, or student council president, was completely oblivious.
Switching to english, Nanoha introduced Fate, "Feito-chan, this is Ikeda-san. She helped feed me all through high school on days when I was too busy to make my own bento lunch. Ikeda-san, this is Fate Testarossa, she…" About to introduce Fate as her subordinate, Nanoha caught herself. Her injured heart capitulated and she gave herself an inward sigh for being too fucking soft around the blonde, "She is my best friend." She refused to meet Fate's eyes, making a show of looking at the wooden tiles.
Which meant she missed the shocked look Fate threw her, the blonde's eyes filling with unshed tears. Ikeda didn't, however. 'Well, that's interesting.' She patted Nanoha's shoulder and said in stilted english, "President too busy for lunch, ne? All the girls chase. She hide on roof. So I make bento."
Feeling her cheeks warm, Nanoha threw Ikeda a glare, "When did your english get so good?" She asked the shop's proprietress accusingly.
Giggling, Ikeda covered her mouth with her waiter's notepad, "Must learn for tourist, hai? Feito-san tourist?"
Still blinking eyes bright from Nanoha's introduction of her, the blonde shook her head, rendered momentarily speechless. "I work with Nanoha-chan," she finally explained, boldly using the honorific, looking at the executive who gave no indication she had noticed the '-chan'.
The woman made a sound of pleasure, "Hayate-chan?" Fate nodded to indicate she was familiar with the brunette. Ikeda clapped her hands in delight, pointing at Fate, "Shitty racoon!" She said in english. Nanoha face planted onto the table. Slapping her palms down, Ikeda's former student council president pushed herself back up, "Annou, Ikeda-san, who is teaching you english?!"
Giggling more, the proprietress looked proud, "America jin-san!" Groaning at her corrupted friend, Nanoha covered her eyes. The gentle chime of Fate's laughter made her look up and she was once again captured by the sight that greeted her eyes. The glacial beauty's face was lit up with warmth and amusement, a hand over her mouth to muffle that laugh. It was a welcome change from the earlier weeping and the executive felt a tug at the corner of her mouth.
Ikeda noted the lessening of the palpable gloom the auburn-haired woman had come in with and deduced the beautiful blonde was perhaps a little more than friends with her former student council president. Deciding to get out of the way, she tapped Nanoha's hand, "President usual order?" Nanoha nodded. "Feito-san?"
"May I order for you?" Nanoha asked Fate, words politely formal. At the blonde's nod, Nanoha asked Ikeda for the mixed bowl. Pouring water from the large tumbler placed at every table for customers to self-serve with, the executive gave Fate a cup and nursed her own. "Ikeda-san took over for her parents around the time I left for Oxford, but she was always experimenting and trying out new recipes on me."
That Nanoha wanted to share even a little of her younger days with Fate was all the blonde wanted and she hung onto every word the auburn-haired woman said. This was more than she could've hoped for after what had occurred back at the ryokan. "The roof?" Fate prompted softly.
Coughing, Nanoha rubbed at her neck, the same old spot that had nagged at her back when they'd first met. "It was a place where I could think or study without interruption." Hands never still, Fate watched while calloused fingers removed disposable chopsticks from the paper sleeve it came in. Slowly, she began to shape the stiff paper into a little stand for the chopsticks to rest on. Fate made no note of it when Nanoha unconsciously began doing the same with Fate's chopsticks.
"I would have hidden there with you." Fate mused aloud. Nanoha eyed the angelic blonde, "Family?" She wasn't usually one to pry, but it was a safer topic than… most other things right now.
Fate took a sip of water and nodded. "Mother had attendants with us while we were in school. It was impossible to shake them off most days. She probably knew how many times I visited the girl's washrooms on any given day. Can't have the prize fillies having liaisons with the common folk." The blonde didn't sound overly bitter. One couldn't miss what one never knew.
Slowly lowering her own glass, Nanoha couldn't help but stare when the implication sank in. "You… You mean you've never…"
Realising what she'd just confessed to, the blonde blushed to her roots, pale eyebrows standing out in stark contrast to her red face. "I-I uh, between school and then work, there w-was never… um. Oh my gods." Wishing for the earth to open and swallow her, Fate buried her hot face into her hands. 'She knows you're a loser virgin at freaking twenty-eight years of age now, good job, Fate!'
The Japanese woman watched Fate wallow in misery and embarrassment, mind still adjusting to the idea that this woman was completely inexperienced. A little more of that raw hurt receded in the face of that revelation. She was expecting adult reactions and behaviours from a princess so sheltered that Nanoha wondered if those glistening lips had ever been kissed at all. No, no, no! What was she thinking?! Nanoha wasn't going to despoil Fate's innocence with her used-goods self.
"Hai! Sorry for wait!" The cheery woman reappeared with their orders. Nanoha's bowl was piled high with crispy shrimp tempura, sat on a steaming bed of rice and drizzled with Ikeda's family recipe sauce. Fate's was a little different, holding not just two gigantic fried shrimp, but also battered okra, aubergine and a fan of enoki mushrooms. The same drizzle of sauce was applied liberally over her bowl, glazing each food item with a fragrant miso-based gravy. "Please enjoy!"
"Looks incredible as always, Ikeda-san," Nanoha complimented the chef warmly. "Itadakimasu~" Picking up her chopsticks, she waited for Fate to do the same. Fate's face was still buried in her hands, and only the arrival of their dinner had her dropping them. "Ah, thank you, Ikeda-san." Fate hoped to the heavens the woman hadn't overheard their conversation. One person knowing was one too many.
The table was quiet while the women ate. Nanoha applied herself to her meal as she would a task she wasn't particularly looking forward to, with stoic focus. It was still painfully difficult for her to return to the ease of their banter; she hadn't been lying when she told Fate it would take her time. Fate felt the distance between them, but it was a silver-lining since it meant the executive wouldn't pry any further into how big of a loser she truly was.
A barely heard voice spoke at the table, "You will find someone." Uncertain if she had heard correctly, Fate glanced up at the auburn-haired woman, whose lips were twisted as if she was tasting something particularly bad. "P-Pardon me?"
Not meeting Fate's eyes, Nanoha poked rather savagely at the inoffensive bowl in her hand, "You will find someone, someday. So you need not… feel embarrassed." She lifted her bowl to shove a heaping mouthful into her maw, chewing without tasting. Just imagining 'someone' having their hands all over the blonde made Nanoha want to sick up. Poor Ikeda's excellent cooking was barely noticed at this point.
'I've already found that someone,' Fate thought, though she had no idea how to convince the gorgeous women seated across from her of this. It warmed her that the executive wasn't mocking her, though. Even trying to console her, in a way. She just ate on in silence.
Ikeda considered the pair in her shop, bustling about serving other customers who had trickled in after their work day was over. For best friends, those two were terribly quiet. Nanoha had arrived at the till to pay for their meal. "For Nanoha-san and best friend-san," the woman winked, handing Nanoha her receipt and some vouchers. Peering at them, the auburn-haired woman realised they were for freebies at various izakaya around the tempura shop. "Ikeda-san…" She sighed and raked her fringe back, "It is good to see you."
Turning to leave, Nanoha was delayed by a hand on her arm, the proprietress leaning over to whisper, "She doesn't hate you…"
Nanoha quirked a mirthless smile, "I don't hate her either. It's… just some things I need to work through."
Ikeda patted her clueless seito kaichou, "Work through it with alcohol, hai? Ladies' night."