After a few moments and a final flirtatious giggle from Mieko, their rendezvous came to an end as Touma’s ragged yelling signaled for Ryusuke to return to his post.
「See you later!」 Mieko waved with a perfect whip of her hair, turning away from Ryusuke with a blush and leading Lucy back onto the street.
「Well, that was something.」 Lucy nudged Mieko’s side as the two spun around to retrace their steps.
「He’s such a nice guy!」 Mieko whined. 「You know, sometimes his shop prepares the food for my father’s gatherings! That’s actually how we met when we were kids!」
Lucy couldn’t help but smile as Mieko practically danced her way up the street, humming and beaming with every step she took.
It was obvious Mieko fancied Ryusuke, and Kazuma and her father were the impenetrable hurdles blockading their friendship. Lucy held back a scowl as her small town brain tried to comprehend the stringent rules wealthy people had to follow. No matter which way she spun it, the whole thing was downright silly in Lucy’s eyes - people with as much money as the Takaharas could afford to be with whoever they want!
「But yeah.」 Mieko sighed, kicking a stone in front of her as the pair stopped to peer into a small tea shop’s window. 「Sometimes I wish I could see him more, but I don’t wanna have to choose between him or Kazuma and my dad. So this way is for the best, I guess, huh?」
Lucy was at a loss for words as Mieko lowered her gaze, tracing an indescribable pattern on the window glass with her eyes glossed over in thought.
“Oh! Well what do you know, if it isn’t my star student!” Both girls froze as a chipper, English-speaking voice suddenly rang from the crowd.
“No way…” Mieko’s somber frown quickly flipped into the happiest smile Lucy had ever seen grace her friend’s face. “Mrs. O’Halloran!”
Flipping her body towards the crowd in search of her beloved teacher, Mieko took Lucy’s hand and ran up to a beaming red-haired woman.
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“Oh Mieko, it’s so good to see you!” The woman cried, flinging her arms around Mieko while shooting Lucy a smile.
Lucy’s eyes were ready to pop out from her spinning head.
Another American?
Or at least, Lucy assumed she was American. She had quite the accent, practically singing her “o’s” and “e’s” everytime they came out of her mouth. Her messy bun of auburn curls struggled for freedom under her sunhat as she let go of Mieko, ruffling the younger girl’s hair.
“Oh my, oh my, Mieko, who is this?” The woman’s eyes remained focused on Lucy, their hazel hue bright with an endearing glimmer.
“This is Lucy! She’s American too!” Mieko grabbed hold of Lucy’s shoulder. “Lu-chan, this is my old tutor! Her name is Eliza, and she is much better than Mister Fosters.”
With that cheeky compliment, Eliza broke into a fit of laughter. “Hah! Now now, Mieko, Old Man Fosters is a stiff, but everyone deserves kindness, you know!” Eliza grabbed Lucy’s hand for a shake.
“Isn’t she a riot? Name’s Eliza, it’s great to meet ya, Lucy!”
“Likewise.” Lucy cracked a smile from ear to ear. Part of her was ecstatic to be making acquaintance with another American woman while the other half feared her hand would fly off after a few more shakes from Eliza’s iron grip.
“Where are ya from?” Eliza’s eyes were still glistening with enthusiasm and genuine interest as one hand rested on her hip, the other still holding onto Lucy.
“South Dakota, my family owned a farm. I moved here with my uncle.” Lucy stopped herself as her free hand curled its fingers around a lock of hair. Why was she giving away her life story to this woman?
“Hey, my family did some farming too! Well, a little garden, and it was mainly flowers, but hey! When you’re an ocean away you gotta find some common ground when you can, eh? Anywho-” Eliza let go of Lucy’s hand while she studied the younger woman's face. Eliza was sad and confused to see her once-smiling eyes slowly clouding over with dullness and melancholy.
“Yeah, you’re right.” Lucy forced another grin onto her face, fingers still intertwined with a bundle of curls. “It’s really nice to meet you as well. Where are you from?”
“Michigan!” Eliza exclaimed, regaining her bravado with her chin raised and chest puffed out in pride. “Upper Peninsula, Saint Ignace! Great little place, but all birds have to fly the coop sometime!”
Mieko’s heart sang as her ears drank in Eliza’s wonderful way with words. Her English accent was Mieko’s absolute favorite, and her father’s most despised.