Archive of Our Own

Daytime was the least busiest time for the brothel. Since Satoko had already finished her part of the brothel’s daily chores this morning, she decided to spend her free time resting. But she wasn’t feeling particularly tired that day, she already slept so… she can’t just sleep again.

She wasn’t the type to enjoy lounging around, she’s done that plenty when she’s fallen ill. Productivity is a must in her mind, afterall, she’s already that much of a burden to her family—she couldn’t, or rather, can’t just do nothing . 

So, she decided to do some journaling to pass the time.

“Hey, aren’t you hot, Satoko?” Shinpei asks, splaying his body on the tatami floors right beside her.

“Hm?” she’s taken out of her journalling trance. “Oh, not really,”

“ Whaaat? I’m sweating like crazy here!” He pants out.

She laughed, “We already opened the door here, what more do you need?”

“Hmmm… I think I’d feel much much better if you kissed me riiight here.” he points to his cheek. “Or maybe…” he moved his index finger to his, now pouty, lips.

“ Shinpei-san!! ” her face reddens.

“Well?” He chuckled.

“Ugh, you shouldn’t tease me,”

“No, I’m being serious here,” he deadpanned.

She sheepishly returned her attention to the papers, “…I’ll do so when I’m finished with my journal entry.” 

“Yay! Okay!” He childishly smiled.

And so, some time passed quietly. With only the wind chime to fill in the silence. 

“Hey, Satoko,” Shinpei calls out.

“Hm?”

“You’re the daughter of a Count, right?”

“…Yeah, why?” she turns to him.

“Well, I’ve heard that noblemen are educated, is that also true for noblewomen?”

“Uhm, yes,”

“Oh! You know a lot of things then!” he scooched closer to her, now laying on his stomach but with his chest up supported by his arms.

Cute. She chuckled, “You… can say that. I was homeschooled though, I’m not sure if it’s the same deal as actual schools,”

“But they’re both ‘school’, right?”

“Well… sure, but I don’t think it’s as thorough as actual school is. With my illness and all, I didn’t get to study much,”

“That’s a bummer,” 

“Really is,” she smiled to herself.

“What did you get to study?”

“Uhm… It’s not much, just literature and basic arithmetic. I think politics, too,”

Shinpei looked very awed, “Whoa… sounds fancy!”

“Well, I mean, like I’ve said, nothing much. It’s not as if I’m preparing myself to pursue a job. But even then, a good wife would still need a certain level of education. They needed them so they could carry on their household duties. Though, I wouldn’t know if I’ll ever have to hold certain duties… so, this isn’t that important,”

“But it’s still something wonderful!”

“Wonderful?” she looked at him curiously.

“For one, I want to know what you know! I bet it’s a lot of things I don’t know,”

She giggled, “Wouldn’t that be obvious?”

He leaned on his side, looking adoringly at her.

She feels her face getting hotter by the second.

“Uh, well, I could tell you more about some!” she fidgets. “For example, there was… flower language!”

“Flowers can talk?”

She laughs, “Well, no, it’s more like how the flower talks for us,”

“…Flowers can talk?”

“Think of it more as symbols—a gesture, in this case, is when you gift someone flowers. Different flowers and arrangements can mean different things. Like how roses can mean ‘Love’ and lilies can mean ‘Purity’,”

“ Ooh , then what’s your favorite flower, Satoko?”

“Huh?” she was a bit taken aback, “Oh, well, um, I think all flowers are beautiful regardless of meaning, but… peonies are peculiarly beautiful to me,”

“You like peonies?”

“Yeah! I was about to gift one to my father before… I was kidnapped,”

“Oh. Why?”

“It was his birthday, I though it’d be a nice gesture. Ah! They could also mean ‘Honor’ and ‘Respect’, so it’s a perfect gift for father!”

“I see,”

“Such a shame, I wish I could’ve deliver that gift,”

“Oh,” his stare turned cold, “ Do you want me to chop those bastards arms off? ”

As tempting as that sounds, “…I’d rather not,”

“ I know you want me to, ”

“Quit it, Shinpei-san! No one’s arms are getting chopped off!”

“Aw…”