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“Maya, calm down, they’ll love you I swear,” Claudine reassured Maya, placing a hand on top of Maya’s leg which was bouncing up and down on her seat, hands twitching nervously over her lap. Claudine had to give a teasing grin at her. “This is the first time I’ve seen the implacable Tendo Maya this nervous, I almost can’t even recognize you.”
It was somewhat funny to see Maya going her usual confident self in the airport in Japan, to a more unsure demeanor when they were in European airspace, to a nervous wreck when the plane began to head downwards towards Charles de Gaulle. Claudine wished she had the presence of mind to record it. It would have been funny to go back to it later.
Maya returned the gesture with a nervous smile, laying back against the headrest as the announcement that they were now free to get their bags and start leaving blared from the PA system. “I apologize, it’s just, this is a first for me, meeting my girlfriend’s parents I mean, so I want to make a good impression.”
“Too late,” Claudine rolled her eyes. “I’ve already told them about how annoying you can get, so there won’t be any surprises once you get comfortable with them.” Claudine rubbed Maya’s thighs soothingly. “I promise, just be your usual charming self and they’ll definitely like you.”
Maya paused. “That does make me feel a little better I suppose.” She admitted, relaxing slightly though still a bit stiff.
“Now let’s go, we don’t want it to get too dark out before we meet them.” Claudine said, patting Maya one last time before standing up to get their bags from the overhead compartment now that the plane wasn’t as busy.
The two of them began to follow the exit to the plane and where the waiting area of the airport was. As they were walking outside, Maya noticed a couple waving at the two of them. One of them was a distinctly Japanese-looking man with eyeglasses, while the other was a blonde French woman that looked so much like Claudine that Maya did a double take.
“ Maman, Papa !” Claudine cried out, dragging her bag behind her as she sprinted towards her parents, throwing her hands around the two of them in a hug. Maya followed behind her at a more sedate pace, her nerves coming back with each step
“Hello Saijou-san, Saijou-san,” Maya said stiffly once she stood beside Claudine, bowing at the waist in greeting.
Claudine’s mother laughed, clasping her hands in delight. “You must be Maya! You are so much prettier than Claudine says you are!” She wrapped her arms around Maya in a hug, speaking perfect Japanese if with a slight French accent. “Oh, I’m sorry that was rude of me!” She chided herself, stepping back and giving Maya some space but keeping both hands on her shoulders. “It’s so nice to finally meet you Maya! My daughter always talks about you in our calls, I feel like I know you just as much as I know our Claudine!”
Maya’s lips twisted into a smug grin that she quickly smothered into a polite smile. Claudine could already feel the headache forming from the conversation that Maya and her would be having over this. “I hope it’s nothing too bad Saijou-san, I have been known to be a bit annoying towards her.”
“That’s an understatement,” Claudine muttered under her breath even as her mother laughed.
“Oh please, please call me Jeanne! Saijou-san is my husband, which reminds me, Junichiro! Take Maya’s bags from her, the poor dear’s things look terribly heavy. Also, you don’t mind if we stay like this do you?”
“There’s no need for that Saijou-sa,” At Jeanne’s glare, Maya backtracked and amended. “Jeanne-san, I can carry it on my own.”
“Nonsense, this is your first time in France no? ” At Maya’s nod, Jeanne continued. “We just have to make it as comfortable for you as possible, otherwise how else would we get you to visit us again? Junichiro, her bags please.”
“What about mine?!” Claudine said indignantly, half jokingly half seriously. “My bag’s just as heavy as Maya’s!”
“You can bring it yourself you big baby,” Jeanne sniffed imperiously. She wrapped her arms around Maya’s own, beginning to steer Maya towards the exit. “Are you girls hungry? Oh what am I saying, of course you are, airplane food is a terrible way to introduce you to French cuisine if you can even call it that. We can drive ourselves to a cafe nearby, they have a lovely gratin you ‘d be sure to enjoy.”
Claudine spread her arms in incredulity, staring at her father who shrugged at her. “You heard your mother, you’re a big girl now Clau.”
Claudine’s lips twitched into a smile, sighing in exasperation. “Betrayal from my own parents, woe is me.” She began to follow Maya and her mother, a couple of steps behind them and falling in line with her father, both of them dragging luggage behind them. Claudine began to catch up with her father, though making sure to keep an ear open for Maya and her mother’s conversation.
“Maya, I’ve heard from Claudine that you adore baumkuchen. I can't fault you for that, though you must try the local bread. The bakery near our house just has the perfect pain au chocolat.”
“Claudine tells you what food I like?” Maya asked, surprised. “I didn’t realize she would even mention something like that.”
“Oh when I said Claudine talks about you all the time, I wasn’t joking, she just will not stop bringing you up everytime we get into a call,” Jeanne said, and Claudine blushed, hurrying up and standing side by side with her mom. She could practically hear Maya’s head getting bigger and bigger, as both Maya and her mother were giving her equally large and equally annoying grins. “Everytime I ask her about her latest part or project in Seisho it always somehow becomes ‘Maya is so irritating!’ ‘Maya did this and that’ ‘Mechante va!’ She even tells me that she believes you’ve made it a personal goal to try and bother her as much as possible. I definitely understand, believe me, Claudine just becomes so much funnier whenever you do it.”
“Claudine becomes cuter too when she’s annoyed,” Maya said, nodding along. Jeanne laughed, smacking a hand playfully against Maya’s shoulder.
“She does, doesn't she? Especially when her nose goes all twitchy and, oh that’s perfect Claudine, that’s exactly what I mean!” Jeanne said, gesturing at Claudine. “Don’t you think so too Maya?”
“I noticed she always does that!” Maya said excitedly, practically bouncing on her heels. “Was she like that when she was younger too?”
“Oh Maya, you don’t know the half of it! I have some backstage footage of Claudine when she was in Arrie, she was such a spoiled child, it is absolutely adorable.”
As Maya and her mother continued to gang up on her, Claudine realized that it was a mistake to bring the two of them together. They got along too well.
She looked back at her father for support. He seemed to get the message, moving up to fall in pace with them. “You also need to see when she was preparing for RATS. She cried when she got the role.”
Claudine put her face in her hands in embarassment. Her parents were giving Maya way too much material, and this was just within their first hour of meeting.
“Maya, we cleaned up the room next to Claudine’s, you can get settled into it if you want.” Jeanne explained, keying open the door to their house.
It was a lovely home, maybe half as large as the Tendou residence back in Japan, but a lot more warm and homey rather than the almost-intimidating design of their own what with its high gates and overwhelming architecture.
“Let me get that for you,” Junichiro reached for Maya’s bag, beginning to drag it inside. Claudine gave a mock glare at her father’s back.
“Really Maya, I feel like I’m the visitor here,” She complained, grabbing her own luggage and going inside
“Maya dear,” Jeanne said. “feel free to treat this house as your own, I insist! Though please take off your shoes, we bought some slippers for you just for this.”
“Oh thank you,” Maya bowed in gratitude. In truth she had bought some new indoor slippers as well but she had left it in her carry-on that Claudine’s father had already brought upstairs the moment they had arrived. She changed into the offered slippers, leaving her shoes in the rack, closing the door behind her.
As she stepped inside, she had to marvel at how inviting everything looked. The hallway was lined with pictures of the Saijou family, all grinning at the camera. The living room was clean but well-worn, and the kitchen looked cozily intimate.
It looked classy, but not to the point of ostentatiousness, it looked like, well, it kinda felt like their dorm in Seisho really.
It felt like a home.
“Maya!” her girlfriend called out, and Maya snapped out of her mini-trance. She looked up at Claudine who was staring down at her from the top of the stairway. “ Papa ’s already brought your things to the room, go and unpack already.”
“Maya! Claudine!” Jeanne exited the kitchen with a knife in one hand, and a potato in the other. Maya kinda missed Mahiru already. She was the first one to leave Seisho for her hometown. “Will you two be staying up for dinner or are you two going to sleep?”
“I’m sure Maya would want some dinner first,” Claudine rolled her eyes. Maya had to blush. The cafe they went to before arriving at the Saijou house had some delicious food, but it wasn’t really enough to fill her up to her preference. “Right?”
“Y-yes,” Maya coughed. “I would like that, yes, thank you.”
“Okay, I’ll start cooking then. I’ll call you two both down when we’re done.”
“Come on I’ll show you your room,” Claudine gestured again, disappearing into the second floor, Maya following after.
“Here,” Claudine said, standing outside a door. “My room’s just next the next one over,”
Maya’s room was almost as big as Claudine’s in Seisho, though the bed was thankfully smaller. Maya didn’t think she could handle a stupid-big bed after getting used to a more normal-sized one like the one in her dorm. Maya loved her, but sometimes Claudine could get a little extra with her preferences. A four-poster bed in a dorm room ? Really?
She knelt down next to Claudine who had already opened her bag up, and the two of them spent the next half hour organizing Maya’s stuff.
“Don’t you have to unpack as well?” Maya asked, curious as to why Claudine was helping her, though not exactly complaining
“I still have my things from when I visited last year.” Claudine shrugged. “And all my stuff still fits.”
“Such a shame really,” Maya laughed. “I think it would be cute to see you grow bigger. A fat Claudine.” She poked at Claudine’s sides teasingly.
“Watch it,” Claudine warned, slapping at Maya’s hands. “You’re the big eater between the two of us, you’re the one in danger of getting fat.”
“My metabolism is excellent, I'll have you know. And besides,” Maya smirked. “You’d still love me even if I did.”
“That’s besides the point,” Claudine snapped, cheeks turning red. “My point is you eat enough for two people, you glutton.”
Maya grinned, turning to her and wrapping her arms around Claudine’s neck. “I’m glad your mom and I agree on it, you know.” She said, laying a kiss on Claudine’s nose.
“Agree on what?” Claudine raised an eyebrow, though the effect was ruined by how flushed she was.
“It’s cute how twitchy your nose gets when you’re mad.”
Claudine shoved Maya away and onto the bed, the brunette laughing as she fell into the soft mattress.
“You’re insufferable Maya.” Claudine threw the last thing in Maya’s luggage, a windbreaker, at her face, Maya removing it with a grin.
The mattress gave way slightly as Claudine joined her on the bed, both of them spreading their arms out and staring at the ceiling.
“This was where I used to do my rehearsals, you know,” Claudine said.
“Really? Not in your own room?”
“Not in my own room,” Claudine confirmed. “I don’t even remember why anymore. I think I just found it easier to get immersed into a role if I didn’t have my stuff around me.”
“I’d have loved to see little Claudine practicing for Arrie.” Maya grinned, turning to the blonde.
Claudine gave a very unlady-like snort. “Don’t you already have the Blurays for Arrie? And Mary Hopkins?”
“That’s different,” Maya insisted. “That was backstage footage. I want to see what little Claudine was like at home.”
“I’m sure Mama has videos she kept for it.” Claudine sighed. “Though it’s terribly boring. And stop calling me little Claudine, it’s weird.”
“As you wish ma petit Claudine .”
The blonde gave her a long-suffering look and flicked her in the forehead.
“Ow,” Maya deadpanned. “Why must my girlfriend hurt me this way.”
“You’re a big girl already, you can take it.” Claudine turned, wrapping her arms around Maya. The arm trapped under Claudine reached up, stroking the blonde’s hair softly.
“I like your house, you know,” Maya said softly. “It’s nothing like ours in Japan.”
“Because it’s too big?”
“Yes,” Maya confirmed, finding comfort in how soft Claudine’s hair felt under her fingers. “It just felt too impersonal at times really, especially when my parents were off on tour. I don’t blame them, not really.” Maya sighed, wrapping her arms around Claudine, delighting in the warmth she provided. “Our housekeepers tried their best, and they were nice to me, but it’s just different compared to family.”
“Well, you have us now, don’t you.” Claudine muttered against Maya. Claudine’s breath tickled against her skin. It was nice.
“Claudine! Maya! Dinner’s ready!”
The two of them groaned. “I wanted to stay like this for a while.” Maya pouted, wrapping her legs around Claudine’s.
“It’s your fault for wanting dinner.”
“I didn’t know the cafe food was just a snack.”
“You should have ordered more then.”
“That would be embarrassing.”
When Maya went down to the living room, she saw Jeanne coming from the entrance, carrying a box.
“Good morning Jeanne-san,” She greeted, bowing to her.
“Good morning Maya,” Jeanne greeted back. “Though please cut the formalities, it’s one of the few things I disliked when I was in Japan, always felt so stuffy. Claudine is out with her father doing some groceries if you’re wondering, they left a few minutes ago really, you just missed them.” She added.
“Oh,” Maya nodded. “I was going to ask yes, I checked on her room and she wasn’t there.”
“You kids these days,” Jeanne grinned, “can’t keep your hands off of each other for even a minute.”
Maya’s blushed. “T-that wasn’t what, I mean we do but- I just wanted to-”
“I was only teasing dear.” Jeanne shifted her hold on the box so she could pat Maya on the arm. “Would you like some breakfast? Though we only have some bread I bought early this morning I’m afraid.”
“That sounds perfect, thank you.”
“Would you like some hot chocolate?”
“Yes please.”
As the two of them settled into the breakfast, Jeanne leaned forward with a smirk. “So Maya,”
Maya immediately sat up straighter, mentally preparing herself for the incoming interrogation.
“Is it true that you got a collector’s edition copy of Arrie? Claudine mentioned that you were obsessed with her run of the play growing up.”
Maya blinked. “Uhm, yes. I had my father buy it for me when I was a child. He had even gotten Claudine to sign it when he presented her the award.”
“Why Arrie?” Jeanne asked, leaning forward, breakfast forgotten. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
Maya brought her hands up, nesting her chin on her fist and cradling her elbow with the other hand. “My father has always expected me to follow in his and my mother’s footsteps in becoming a stage actress.” Maya explained slowly. “I’ve watched numerous films and plays, but those always starred older characters, no one I could really relate with.” Maya had to lean back, recalling more details. “Growing up, I don’t…remember having many friends, or any at all really. Most of my time was spent practicing; modern dance, ballet, violin, and if I wasn’t practicing, then I was performing for my parents’ own friends. I spent my 7th birthday doing a solo rendition of the Black Swan once.” She took a sip of her chocolate which was slowly going cold.
Opposite her across the table, Jeanne was looking up at Maya with pensive eyes.
“It’s a bit embarrassing to say out loud, but Arrie was the first time I’ve watched a performance from a child my age and been captivated by the actress.” Maya continued, dropping her gaze to her breakfast. “It was, well, I think it’s safe to say that Claudine was my first ever crush, as much as a child could have one.” She admitted. “Looking back, it wasn’t healthy I suppose, but I treated Claudine like my best friend even though I didn’t even know her back then. The Arrie Bluray I had my father buy came with a poster of Claudine, and I remember coming back from practice every day and telling her what I learned.” Maya took a final sip of her chocolate, staring at the dregs on the bottom of the cup. “Somewhere along that line, the crush faded and I began to think of Claudine as an inspiration, someone to emulate. Meeting Claudine in the Seisho entrance exam was probably the happiest I’ve ever been up to that point.”
“Sorry,” Maya apologized. “That may have been oversharing.”
“No, don’t apologize,” Jeanne said hurriedly, standing up and moving next to Maya, laying a hand on her shoulder.. “I appreciate you sharing this with me.” Jeanne patted Maya’s shoulder, laying her cheek on the top of Maya’s head.
It felt a bit weird, for another person besides Claudine and Karen to be this touchy with her, though not entirely unwelcome. In fact, it felt a bit pleasant.
“Maya dear, want to help me with something?”
“What is that?”
“Follow me, I’ll show you.” Jeanne grabbed the box she was bringing in earlier with her, leading Maya through a door in the back of the kitchen.
The room they entered looked like a workshop, with the main desk pushed up against the wall filled with, the shelves
“The parts for the computer I was going to make just came in, want to help build it?”
“ We are NOT bringing her to Disneyland Clau ,” Her Papa said in exasperation as the two of them began to leave the car, groceries in hand. “ We’re just going to be wasting Maya’s time. This time of the year, Disneyland is a tourist trap!”
“ So is the Eiffel Tower, but I want to bring her there too ,” Claudine pointed out. “ Also if you had your way, you would just bring Maya to every food place you like .”
“ Based on what you’ve told me and what I’ve seen so far, that doesn’t feel like she’d consider it a bad thing .” He drawled, holding open the door for her.
“That’s rude Papa.” Claudine admonished, giving a quick thank you she passed through. “Only I can make fun of Maya’s eating habits. It’s girlfriend privileges.”
“ Then why do I get hell whenever I do that to your mother then ,” He muttered under his breath, though loud enough for Claudine to hear. She had to smother a giggle, contenting herself with smacking him on his arm..
“ Don’t let Maman hear that, or you’ll be in the doghouse .” Claudine warned, still fighting the grin threatening to break through. “ Maman ! Maya! We’re back!” Claudine called out, switching back to Japanese for Maya’s benefit. “We stopped by Charlotte’s for some bread too.”
“Claudine, Claudine! Over here!”
Claudine raised her eyebrows, meeting her Papa ’s eyes. Maya was in Maman ’s workshop? This should be interesting.
“Yes Maya?” She asked, entering the kitchen and placing the groceries on the kitchen table.
“Claudine, look at what Jeanne-san and I did!” Maya said, practically kicking the door separating the kitchen and the workshop off its hinges in excitement. She grabbed Claudine by the wrist, dragging her behind her.
“Maya, you realize I can walk right?” She asked, though humoring her girlfriend’s excitement.
“Look, look!” Maya was practically bouncing on her feet, proudly gesturing at the table and the thing on top of it.
“It’s a computer Maya,” Claudine deadpanned, trying to find what got Maya so excited about it and failing. She had to look at her Maman , who was standing next to the table, for help.
“Maya built it Claudine,” Her Maman explained, giving a thumbs up over to Maya which she returned eagerly.
Claudine actually cocked her head at Maya. “Really? YOU built a computer?”
“It was really fun.” Maya said, and Claudine couldn’t quite keep the grin off her face at how obviously excited Maya was, one hand holding Claudine’s own, fingers intertwined, the other one gesturing animatedly. She was explaining things Claudine’s heard her Mama talk to her Papa incessantly about the years before she moved to Japan, though if it made Maya this happy, then she would gladly listen to it being repeated to her.
“Maya dear, why don’t you actually turn it on, see if it works?”
Maya brightened up ever more, eyes practically shining. “Of course!” She said, pressing the button. Claudine could practically see the dog ears flattening down on Maya’s head as nothing happened on the computer.
‘Cute’
“Maya dear.”
“Yes Jeanne-san?”
“You haven’t plugged it in yet.”
“Oh.”
“Maya, could you please carry this inside?” Junichiro said, handing Maya a cooler and putting a duffel bag on top of it. It wasn’t particularly heavy, so Maya nodded and headed towards the cabin that she and the Sajous would be staying in for the weekend, hurrying up to keep pace with Claudine who was bringing her backpack of clothes and a paper bag of groceries for their stay.
It was a cabin that the Saijous had owned for years now, a few minutes walk away from a lakeside and less than an hour’s drive away from their home. Claudine had told her endless stories about how, growing up, they had used it for weekend retreats for the three of them, just as a getaway to enjoy nature
“You can just leave that there Maya,” Claudine pointed to the table, opening the fridge and storing the perishables inside it. Maya placed the cooler on top of the table, placing Junichiro’s fishing bag next to it. She turned back to Claudine, standing right next to the refrigerator, waiting for her to finish. Claudine raised an eyebrow at her, and Maya shrugged back.
Claudine rolled her eyes, putting the last of the meat into the fridge before nudging it close with her hips, hiking her backpack up.
“This is our room,” She said, leading Maya through one of two hallways in the cabin, passing through an open door that looked like a bathroom, and into the room at the end of the hall.
The room was as big as Claudine’s in her home, though it felt smaller because of how many closets, desks, and shelves there were that made it more cluttered. “Like I told you, we’ll be sharing the bed.”
Maya snapped to attention, staring at Claudine eagerly.
“No, we are not doing it while my parents are in the same house Maya,” Claudine hissed, smacking her on her arm. Maya pouted.
“Just a little?”
“You’re insufferable.” Claudine sighed, turning her back on Maya to get her things out of her bag.
‘That wasn’t a no,’ Maya noted, pumping her fist in victory, then hastily hurrying up to settle in as well when Claudine suspiciously glanced back at her, taking up one of the two closets that made up the wall, Claudine taking the other side.
Once they finished, they returned to the living room to see that both of Claudine’s parents had finished setting up as well, with Jeanne already sitting on the couch watching TV.
“Jeanne-san, what are you watching?” Maya asked, looking curiously at the distinctly japanese program being aired. “You have access to Japan
“A stream of my favorite comedy duo in Japan,” Jeanne paused, and sized both Maya and Claudine up. “Well second favorite now, you two are funny too.”
“Hey!” Claudine said, looking offended.
Maya looked down at herself, then at Claudine. “I’m obviously the tsukkomi .”
“In your dreams,” Claudine snorted. “You are way too irritating to be anything other than the boke .”
“It’s called acting against type Claudine,” Maya sniffed, turning her nose up at her girlfriend even as she slid her arms across Claudine’s waist.
“Stop flirting and sit down already girls,” Jeanne said, making space on the couch for the two of them. “Watch with me.”
Claudine slapped Maya’s hands away, sitting down next to her mother, Maya pouting and deliberately sitting down on the other side in protest.
“These two are Aiba Aina-san and Tomita Maho-san, they’re great actresses, but put the two of them together outside of the stage and they’re a hilarious duo.”
“It's rare to see you actually watching TV here," Claudine observed, supressing a snort as one of the duo on screen, Tomita Maho, pissed off the other one.
“What do you usually do here?” Maya asked curiously, laughing at the other actress, Aiba Aina, taking revenge.
Jeanne hummed at the question. “Just relax really, eat some good homemade food, get away from it all. We watch some films or recordings of plays, have a family game night. Other times we just go to our own corners of the cabin and read our own books or scripts. Junichiro sometimes takes Claudine out to fish. Oh!” Jeanne said excitedly, clasping her hands. “Have you ever tried fishing before Maya?”
“I have not,” Maya said slowly.
“This is the perfect time to try it out, it would be a waste not to try it, especially since we have such wonderful weather today. Junichiro!” She called out.
“What?” Junichiro called out from the kitchen.
“Take Maya out fishing please, would you?”
“Eh?” He said, coming out with a pitcher in his hands. “Right now? But I just made lemonade.”
“Every girl needs to experience fishing even if just once.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re French,” He muttered.
“Maya’s girlfriend is French, of course she’s going to have to learn it!” Jeanne raised her hands in exasperation. Maya turned to Claudine questioningly.
Claudine shrugged. “I’ve had to stop fishing in Japan, but when I was still living here, I went fishing with my dad often, yes.”
“Why’d you stop?” Maya tilted her head at Claudine.
“Because I had to catch up to you obviously.” Claudine said, grabbing one of the couch’s throw pillows, climbing over on top of Maya’s lap, and shoving it against her face.
“Ow,” Maya deadpanned, voice muffled against the soft material.
“So uh, do I just wait till you guys are done being all lovey-dovey?” Junichiro asked, and when Claudine climbed off of her quickly, pillow dropping behind Maya, she saw that he hadn’t moved from his place previously, still holding the pitcher in one hand.
“I’ll join you guys,” Claudine said, cheeks still red.
“No you won’t,” Jeanne said, laying a hand on Claudine’s arm, pulling her back on the couch. “We'll be the ones preparing dinner this time. Besides, there’s only two rods anyway. And you’d really leave your poor mother all alone here? Really, Maya dear, you and Junichiro should really get going, the weather’s just lovely, you couldn’t have asked for a better day for it.”
“I’m ready,” Junichro said, leaving the pitcher on the table in front of them. “Let’s bring this out to the lake,” Junichiro said, indicating toward two packs hidden near the side of the entrance, a fishing rod poking out of each one. “Could you also grab the cooler over in the kitchen? We’ll be taking that with us too.”
Maya hurried to do as he told, hearing the ice shuffling around it as she picked it up.
“Thanks,” He said, one pack slung over his shoulder, the other under his arm. “My favorite spot’s pretty close by,” Junichiro assured, holding the door open for Maya. “In fact, you can already see it,” He pointed to a spot between the treelines, and Maya could indeed already see the water of the lake crashing onto the shore. “It’s just a few minutes walk from here, the path’s already pretty well-worn so no danger of tripping up or getting lost. Let’s go.”
They arrived pretty quickly, and Maya had to marvel at how clear the water looked. In fact, she took out her phone for a picture, noting to send it later to the Seisho group chat. Karen in particular would love the view.
“Do you drink alcohol Maya?” Junichiro asked, setting down the bags, opening them up and revealing two portable chairs which he began to arrange on the shoreline. Maya laid down the cooler on the side, feeling awkward as she stood beside him.
“Only when the situation calls for it,” She admitted. “When my mother and father bring me along to their events, wine is usually brought in and it’s considered rude to not partake. Other than those, I have not tried any alcoholic beverages.”
“So you’ve never tried beer before?” He asked, sitting down, indicating for Maya to do the same with the chair beside him.
Maya shook her head.
“Half the appeal of fishing is drinking, might as well try it out now.” He said dryly, opening a bottle with a twist of his hand and offering it to Maya. “Otherwise you’re just going to be staring at the water for a few hours.”
Maya hesitantly reached out.
Junichiro shrugged. “Drinking age for France is 16 if that’s what you’re concerned about. Clau’s been doing it since she was 14, though I bought non-alcoholic for her and just switched around the labels. Don’t tell her about it though, I know she still sometimes thinks she’s cool for drinking earlier than most people, would hate to burst that bubble of hers.”
Maya couldn’t quite suppress the chuckle that came out of her at his admission. She brought the bottle to her lips and her eyebrows shot up in surprise at the taste, staring at the label in interest once she finished her first gulp.
“Belgian beer.” He grinned. “Tastes really good.”
“It is,” Maya said, taking another, more appreciative sip.
“Now, this is how you prepare the line.” Junichiro said, beginning to walk Maya through the process of how to set up the equipment.
“So we just wait?” Maya asked, staring at the fishing rod set up in front of her. “I don’t even have to hold it?”
“We just wait,” Junichiro confirmed. “I don’t have the tools for fly fishing, and I don’t think I have the time to teach you properly how to do it either.”
“Who taught you how to fish?”
“Clau’s mother actually,” He said with a grin. “She took me out to this exact lake when we were still dating. She demanded that if I was going to be with her, then I had no choice but to learn.”
“How long does it usually take for a bite?”
“Half an hour at most, and if nothing’s still biting I usually move on to another spot. I always come here first though, I like the view. The entire thing is very zen really.”
“The lake is very pretty.” Maya agreed.
“That it is.”
The two of them leaned back in their chairs, enjoying the silence as they waited.
“You know,” Junichiro said conversationally, taking another sip of his beer. “I feel that this is where I should be acting my part as the defensive father. Asking you about your intentions with Clau, what do you like about her, all that jazz, do the whole interrogation thing.”
Maya sat awkwardly, not exactly knowing what to say. “Do…do you want me to go through with it?” She asked hesitantly, cradling her bottle with both hands..
Junichiro laughed, leaning back in his chair, staring at the fishing rod in front of him. “Not really, no. I’ve seen how you two look at each other, I’d be stupid not to see you’re just as in love with Clau as she is with you.”
Maya flushed red and hid it behind another sip. “Claudine is very precious to me. Meeting her and being her girlfriend has to be the luckiest break of my life.”
“Is your Father okay with it?” Junichiro asked, looking at Maya.. “With dating Clau I mean.”
Maya had to pause, organizing her thoughts.
“My father... doesn’t really approve of us so much as he tolerates it,” Maya admitted. “I think he’s seen that Claudine brings out the best in me, both as a person and as an actress, and he likes that I’ve been able to reach higher highs than I have ever reached before, was able to be an even better actress than he expected… but I’m sure that if he were to have his way, my father would have preferred that I kept to myself until I was in my 30s.” Maya paused, taking a larger pull of her beer, the sting of the alcohol making the words a lot more palatable. “or if I were to get into a relationship, that I’d have fallen for someone more….natural.”
“Do NOT say that.” Junichiro said, so sharply that Maya instinctively straightened her back at his tone. At Maya’s reaction, Junichiro paused, taking a deep breath. He set his beer down on the ground, turning in his seat and leaning towards Maya. “Maya, listen to me. Do not EVER say that what you have with my daughter is not normal. I’ve seen and heard how much Clau has talked about you whenever her mother and I called her in Seisho, and that was when you two were just friends. Seeing the two of you here, now, how happy you make my daughter and how happy she makes you, never imply that what you have, that being happy with the one you love, is anything less than completely natural.”
Maya’s lips trembled, hiding it behind her finishing the last of her bottle. She pressed her palm against her eyes, rubbing at them. “Thank you.”
Junichiro leaned back in his chair, finishing up his beer. “I think we should move, nothing’s biting here.”
“It has been an absolute pleasure to meet you dear,” Jeanne said, wrapping Maya up in a tight embrace, Maya hugging her back. “Please do take care of our Claudine, I know she can get a bit tough to handle at times, but she’ll melt if you handle her with any sort of love.”
Maya grinned. “I’ve learnt that pretty well over the past year. She’s worth the headaches.”
“Oi.” Claudine said from a few feet behind them, arms crossed and looking unimpressed. Beside her were their luggage bags as they readied for their flight back to Japan. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here. Also, you’re the headache between the two of us.”
“Don’t mind her, you’ve been nothing but a sweetheart with us.” Jeanne assured Maya, sticking her tongue out at her daughter.
Claudine rolled her eyes at the two.
“Now Claudine, Maya,” Jeanne said, picking up the two shopping bags beside her and pushing it towards the two of them. “These are gifts for your friends. There’s perfume, soap, some cosmetics in that one, and there’s candy, some snacks, and tea in that one. Maya, make sure Claudine doesn’t eat all the nougats, I know she loves them.”
“Yes I will.”
“Oi”
“Maya I have something for you as well,” Junichiro said, grabbing something from his bag. “I remember that you seem to have liked the baumkuchen from that Erste’s place more than any of the bakery’s here in France.”
Maya had the grace to blush at that. When the Saijous had taken her across the border for an overnight trip to Germany, she had fallen in love with a little bakery near their hotel that carried her favorite treat, except done better than any other place she’s tried in Japan, and had gotten a little carried away with ordering from them.
“Last night I drove over to Germany to buy some of those Baumkuchen from them.” He brought out a plain packaged box with the logo that Maya’s engraved into her brain forever.
Maya, eyes wide, accepted the box as if almost in a trance. She turned mechanically, handing it to Claudine, and then gave Junichiro a hug. He stiffened, turning to his wife who just gave him a thumbs up. He awkwardly pat Maya on the back.
“Thank you.” Maya said, trying to get as much sincerity as possible through the words.
“Anytime,” Junichiro said, giving her a thumbs up as they separated. “Next time Clau brings you here, we’ll work on your fly fishing. If you pick up enough French by then, maybe all of us could go watch a theater production as well. I know you’d love some of National Theater’s, or Theatre du Flamme’s works.”
Maya laughed, standing besides Claudine, intertwining her fingers around her girlfriend’s. “I’m already looking forward to it. I’ll be asking Claudine for lessons.”
“Now remember, you’re always free to call us dear,” Jeanne said, leaning against her husband, smiling proudly at Maya and Claudine. “See you guys in a few months when you graduate!”
“Bye!” The two of them waved back their goodbyes, leaving the two of them in the airport entrance and going through the check-in process.
Claudine eyed Maya who was already practically salivating over her prize. “You realize you’ll actually do gain weight if you eat all of that at once right?”
“I’ll be sharing some with the others,” Maya said, affronted, though hugging the boxes protectively. “Karen and Tsuyuzaki–san are already in the dorms last I checked.”
“That’s still half a dozen whole cakes in there,” Claudine pointed out. “Honestly, my parents spoil you too much.”
“I like them.” Maya nodded to herself.
“Of course you do, they already love you,” Claudine rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you become their favorite child soon.”
Maya quirked her lips at Claudine. “Child?” She wondered out loud.
Claudine blushed, coughing and avoiding Maya’s gaze. “W-well, when we, you know when we get m-married you’ll obviously be part of the Saijou family.”
Maya’s mouth dropped open, and Claudine was treated to the rare sight of Maya completely speechless.
“Hurry up already, we’ll miss our flight!” Claudine snapped, hurrying on ahead, head hanging down. Maya was sure they were more than an hour early, but with her brain still rebooting, she followed Claudine on autopilot.
____________________________________________________________________________
“I’m back!” Claudine called out, toeing off her shoes and replacing it with her indoor slippers, stepping through their dorm’s entrance.
As she entered the living room, she raised an eyebrow at Futaba, Kaoruko, and Maya sitting together on the couch, the three of them talking to someone through Maya’s phone.
“Hello,” She greeted, walking over and laying a kiss on the top of Maya’s head, settling down on the couch’s armrest next to Maya. “What are the two of you doi- Maman!?” She instantly shot back to her feet, cheeks flushing. She snatched Maya’s phone out of her hands, walking away from the two of them.
“Oh, you two are just so cute together aren’t you?” Jeanne cooed, leaning forward in the video call. “Honestly, Maya is just perfect for you Claudine, the two of you need to tie the knot as soon as you graduate otherwise I’ll be disappointed in you.” She said, jokingly. At least Claudine thought she was joking. Her Maman looked entirely too serious to be joking.
On the couch, Claudine could see all three of them giving her identical shit-eating grins. She kinda wanted to throw something at them. She grabbed the hand towels that Nana usually lays out on their dinner table and threw it at them, especially hoping to hit Kaoruko.
“Maman, why are you calling my girlfriend,” Claudine asked through gritted teeth.
“ I just wanted to talk to her! I’m lucky that I caught Futaba there too, she’s as cute as a button that one, and why haven’t you introduced me to Kaouko? She is an absolute treat to talk to. I feel I have to ask though, is every one of your friends gay Claudine ?”
“BYE MOM!” Claudine said loudly, cutting off the call. She turned back to Maya with a glare, demanding an explanation.
“She was the one who contacted me,” Maya said defensively. “Also that was rude, we were still talking to her.”
“Your mom’s cool Kuroko,” Futaba added. “Didn’t realize she was that much of a theater nerd. I think she knows more about them than Kaoruko.”
Kaoruko ignored the potshot at her, giving Claudine a deliberate look-over.
“What?” Claudine snapped, suspicious of Kaoruko actually shutting up for once.
“Is it just me, or is Kuro-han’s mother really attractive?” Kaoruko asked out loud.
Claudine actually recoiled in horror. “That’s my MOTHER you’re talking about you weirdo.”
“I don’t know, she kinda has a point,” Futaba agreed, turning pensive, eyeing up Claudine as well. “Oi Maya, was she that hot when you met her personally? She has to be, she looks like the type to look just as good on camera as in real life.”
“I know right?” Kaoruko nodded along. “Lucky Maya, at least we know how Claudine will turn out in the future. Futaba-han is too short to have the same build as her mom.”
“I think Hanayagi-sama’s pretty attractive as well.” Futaba closed her eyes, tilting her head in thought. “She is kinda the perfect Yamato Nadeshiko, and though Kaoruko resembles her mother, she’s too rotten to actually be one.”
“Hey!”
“I would have to agree, I’ve seen both of your mothers’ perform in a festival once, and they are pretty attractive.” Maya jumped in on the conversation as well.
“Eh, but if we’re talking attractive mothers, Tendou-han’s has to be the winner on pure facial looks, no ? It’s almost unfair for her to be that aesthetically pretty and to be that vocally talented.”
“But we all agree that Claudine’s is the hottest, correct?”
“Agreed.”
“Agreed, if Kuro-han grows up like her mother, then Tendou-han will be beating up suitors with a stick for your entire lives.”
“That’s it, no more talking about my mom, or anyone else’s mom please.” Claudine begged, already trying desperately to forget the past few minutes.
“Right,” Kaoruko nodded, going for the TV remote. “”Time to watch little Claudine cry over her RATS audition.”
Claudine glared at Maya who looked back at her sheepishly, got out her phone, and dialed her mom.
Why did she have to give Maya that footage?
On the one hand, Claudine was glad that Maya and her parents got along well, and Maya deserved it. On the other hand, Kaoruko now had ammunition she didn't need to tease Claudine with.
Claudine blamed Maya. It was always her fault