Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 168: Arc 4, Act I, - 13: A Little More About You
’Realistically, I should be going for her pieces rather than a checkmate if I want to ask more questions... And I can’t really be playing sacrificially with mine.’ Jotou hid a frown, "Well?"
Hotaru’s ears flickered as she pouted her lips to the side, "Hm... What was your school life like? Friends—studies."
Jotou paused from examining the board to glance at the redhead. ’School life...’ "I was, pretty good at school as a kid.
I was even allowed to skip a year. It put a lot of weight on me and I wanted nothing more than to show it off.
I had plenty of people I could call friends that later became distant enough not to be. I did great in studies, especially science and math.
But my grades only worsened every year and that led to a lot of... other problems. Eventually, I was just burnt out and didn’t realize it.
I ran on fumes for years, studying without another thought. When I slowly began to mature to the world around me, I became more aware of who I was and who I was becoming.
I didn’t care much for studies anymore and I could count the friends I had with my fingers. I had to move to a different school at some point and nothing got better really.
I know I could’ve done well in tests if I actually tried, but I guess I was just too emotionally tired to do much." Jotou chuckled, "I guess, I wanted to spite my parents and teachers.
I found most of the things I studied to be useless and lost interest in many things. I had bullies and friends to defend me.
I was awkward, socially inadequate and couldn’t even be bothered to comb my hair in the morning. I fixed myself up the older I got, but the damage had been done.
Still, there’s a part of me that misses my school life... as awful and as cringy as the memories are. As for friends, it became a solid number four.
Honestly, I wouldn’t changed a single thing if I could. All those moments made me who I am today. And I realize, I like having four friends over a dozen," Jotou shrugged.
Hotaru curled both her hands under her chin, eyeing her, "I’m glad you are who you are too."
Jotou moved pieces on the board, "Ben, Ramond and Kaleb—the names of my other friends. You already met Daiyu."
"I’ll remember that," Hotaru moved her bishop back, not realizing Jotou had already eyed her prey. Jotou moved the knight over the black rook and captured Hotaru’s bishop.
"Ask away."
"Same to you—school life."
Hotaru’s ears folded down, but she smiled, "I told you some of it already."
"The other parts then; if you want that is."
"Alright. I started school when I was five-"
"Five?" Jotou widened her eyes, "You must’ve been a prodigy."
Hotaru stifled a laugh, "No, not really. It’s common to be enrolled into the first year of school between the ages of four to seven.
As long as you can pass the entrance exam, you can move on to the next year; you’d have to retake the exam before going into the next year.
Whatever the case, eleven years of studies must be concluded to graduate, after which you can pursue higher education. Unlike you, I found my studies to be very useful and interesting.
I did good in history, languages and accounting. As for friends, not many and in the end, the same as you. It became... zero, really...
Anyhow, I discovered I could use magic when I was really young and that became an extracurricular activity for myself with what time I could manage.
I had to deal with a lot of anger and resentment I had for mostly everyone around me. Maybe, if I wasn’t overly assertive and showed that anger every time something bothered me, I’d have more friends.
I realized I had to be calmer and kinder with my approach, otherwise I’m just fuelling the fire. And the only way I had to take most of that pain away was... well, you know," her tail stopped swaying.
Jotou nodded in silence.
"All those, cringy moments haunt me as well. I prided myself, made sure my posture was straight, not a flaw on my face and my voice pitch perfect.
I kept going on like this till university, where I studied to be a lawyer for four years after I graduated school at fifteen. I’d hang around the Adventurers Guild in the meantime, waiting for the day."
Jotou had a fist to her chin, "I heard your pitch perfect voice when I first met you. If it makes you feel any better, I prefer this voice of yours than that."
The redhead blushed, "Thank you."
"What about after you graduated university?"
"I believe, that’s another question," the wolf-girl grinned before knocking one of Jotou’s knights off the board with her rook.
Hotaru took away the piece. Jotou’s lips tightened as she peered down, "Go on then..."
"What did you do in your old world before you came here? I’m assuming it wasn’t swinging around a sword and wielding magic."
"Bold of you to assume it wasn’t."
"Oh really?"
"Fine," Jotou rolled her eyes. "I was an artist to put it simply. I wasn’t the best at it, but after I finished school, before the crash, I pretty much sat at home making art to the dismay of my parents.
I played games with my friends almost every other day. I’d stay awake at night and sleep during the day.
Uh, I guess I should explain the concept of the internet at least. It’s like a telephone, where you can communicate back and forth, but more advanced; we can even see each other’s faces."
Hotaru’s eyes gleamed as she leaned her head in closer.
"That’s how we kept in touch even though I lived far away. You can even sell things on the internet, which is how I made money by drawing for people.
My goal wasn’t too far off from mine now—make myself known. I had fun, even going out with friends sometimes and sleeping soundly for once.
I had so much time to take care of myself and my mental health. I discovered a lot of things about myself too."
"Like?"
"I believe that’s another question," Jotou removed one of Hotaru’s pawns, "Check," she declared.
Hotaru pouted, "Spiteful little housecat," she muttered in a grin.
"Hmph."
"Now, what will you ask?"
"What was your work life like?"
"Hm, I started working as a general practice lawyer when I was nineteen, but not too many cases came my way. I had to go searching for clients.
All together in my three years of being a lawyer, twenty-five cases in my favour and zero in the opposition," she placed a hand on her collarbone, "A spectacular streak of victories and even then, not successful.
Oh and of course, I never told you I worked at a small café in the Bargain District when I needed a little extra money," she smiled.
"You were a waitress?"
"No, I prepared the drinks and some simple foods. I could cook somewhat for myself, but that’s where I learned to cook properly."
"And you never once decided to take me there? The nerve," Jotou moved the piece, "Check."
"Why?" Hotaru moved her king as her tail began swaying once more, "Do you want me to take you there someday? A table for two sounds nice. Though, we’d have to go back to Kria which I assume’s not soon," she fluttered her lashes.
Jotou stared at the board. "Well, we have a table with two chairs out on the balcony and an enormous kitchen. I think that’ll do, won’t it?" the blonde hid her blushing with a wall of confidence.
"Maybe~"
Jotou stared Hotaru in the eyes as she took Hotaru’s rook off the board, "Am I distracting you too much?"
Hotaru glared down to the piece, "Not at all... It’d be pathetic if you were trying to distract me like that, wouldn’t it?"
"Would it now? Well, I’m glad I’m not trying then." ’Play all the flirty tricks you want. You’re not winning this.’ "Most interesting case?"
Hotaru’s ears flickered, "Hm... I overheard some people talking about a blonde woman coming back to life who was in custody of the Krialin with another girl; safe to say, it’s the case that changed my whole life."
Jotou leered, "Cheater."
"Oh, that won’t do?" Hotaru cocked her head, "I don’t remember that as a part of this verbal contract."
Jotou seethed in her seat as the fans blew her hair down. Hotaru knocked Jotou’s other knight off the board, "There, you can start using the other pieces more.
What were your parents like and do you... miss them? I know they were abusive."
Jotou’s eyes went to the ceiling, "Hm, my dad was a businessman who’d frequent other countries and my mom was a housewife. It made me pretty distant with my dad, I spoke less to him than a normal child would.
My mom and dad were horrible, at least to me. They’d compare me to any other living child, forced me to study and live a dream they wanted more than I did..." Jotou sighed.
"We, don’t have to talk about it if you-"
"No, no. I’m fine, just, have to recall those stupid memories is all. My parents were abusive in every sense. If something didn’t go their way with me, they’d make empty threats.
When I got older I realized how empty they were. They’d abuse me emotionally through guilt tripping and saying what others would think of them if I didn’t obey their commands.
If something were to go wrong, they’d be quick to yell at me before checking if I was okay. Anything that goes wrong is my fault, never theirs.
And of course, they’d hit me a lot; ever since I can remember. It only stopped when I started defending myself and realized I could call the police... Still never did though, I wonder why..."
Jotou shook her head, "They were frankly terrible parents, but I had some good moments with them which I miss. I bet when I died, they were more concerned about what the rest of my family would think before caring that I died.
They were entitled assholes and never once apologized to me for treating me so badly. I became a good liar, I became good at hiding things; as well as bottling up my true feelings.
They’re partially responsible for making me as paranoid and anxious as I am. Still, I’m glad I turned out the way I am now, despite all the pain they gave me.
It would’ve been so easy to show hatred to the world and become a bad person. I like who I am, anxiety and all. Do I miss them? Sure. But I still hate them with all my heart," Jotou exhaled.
Hotaru watched with a soft smile, "I’m proud of who you’ve become, despite all of it."
Jotou felt a warmth go over her skin. Her eyes welled up, but she kept it together, "That, means a lot." She knocked Hotaru’s knight over, "Check."
Hotaru refocused on the game as she sat up straight.
"Do you miss your parents?"
"Mine...?" she spoke just to fill the air.
"You, don’t have to-"
"No," she smirked, "You answered. As I said to you before, I couldn’t care less about my mother; I only have her last name in spite I suppose.
My dad tried his best, I know that now. I love him and I do miss him. Maybe if he was still alive, I’d like to amend a few things with him...
That doesn’t change the fact that he was a terrible father. He was irresponsible and forced my hand to pretty much take care of him and myself when I was still young.
You, know the other details. It really doesn’t bother me. Perhaps, it was just a fleeting moment at his funeral that I broke down. But I’m completely fine to have them both out of my life," she answered firm.
Hotaru got rid of another pawn on Jotou’s board, "My turn."
"Go on then," Jotou surveyed the board.
"Do you, have a crush on Daiyu?"
"Ew."
Hotaru’s ears pricked as her eyes widened, "Really?"
"Listen, I know we’ve known each other for a long time and we like each other’s company. I love her to death, but never in my life have I had a crush on that psychopath."
"Well... that’s good to know."
"Is that so?"
"What ever do you mean Jotou?" Hotaru’s smug face melted as Jotou downed Hotaru’s queen piece.
’Do I, ask her now? It’s clear isn’t it? ...It might be seen as desperate though... I’ll have to coax it out of her.’ Jotou gave a sly smirk, "What do you like about me?"
Hotaru hid her face with her fingers, acting like she was thinking, "Hm... That’s difficult."
"Sure it is..."
"Well, I like your stubbornness. As well as the way you look at life as a whole. When you gaze at the stars, I can see this, small glimmer in your eyes that makes your face just, pop.
You know what to say when the moment’s right and you’re self-conscious. The cattiness you carry yourself with can be endearing... sometimes... It can also be infuriating.
All the more fun for me though. It’s also nice to see you get giddy like Asobi; you have a beautiful, genuine smile.
The way you-" Hotaru paused, "Do I need to keep going?" she raised a brow as she took away Jotou’s rook, "Check."
"Well, you can keep going..." Jotou paused. ’You’re blushing Jotou, you’re definitely blushing, hide your face, hide your face!’
"I think, it’s my turn to ask~ Same question for you, my golden knight."
Jotou pondered for a second... "Your eyes," she held back the flood of words in her mind.
Hotaru waited for more compliments... "You little..."
"One thing I like about you, that was the question, correct?" Jotou raised her brows.
Hotaru’s fangs glistened in her wide grin, "I’m not gonna let you win."
"We’ll see about that," the blonde’s eyes sparked a smidgen as she took another one of Hotaru’s pieces out, "Check."
Hotaru glared.
"What’s your favourite dish?"
"Stir-fried sweetened pork with lemon and a side of rice."
"Now I know what to learn to cook," Jotou smirked as chess pieces moved after one another on the board with barely a moment of pause.
"Check, what’s the largest amount of chocolate you’ve eaten in one sitting?" Jotou asked.
Hotaru grumbled, losing another piece, "...Around seven hundred grams," her voice barely reached the blonde’s ears.
"That’s a lot..." Jotou smiled as she glanced at the board and moved the queen, "Check... mate," Hotaru’s king had been cornered by a rook and a queen.
Hotaru huffed, her tail and ears spiking up. She got up from the table and folded her arms, "Make it a good one."
Jotou looked at Hotaru, "...Hm. Exactly how sensitive are your ears and tail?"
The redhead furrowed her brows as her ears folded and her tail began wagging in a rhythm. She blushed, "Based on, things I’ve read, a little more than your ears; my ears are more sensitive than my tail. My tail feels the same as the hair on my head."
"Has anyone petted them before? Like when Asobi gives head pats sometimes."
Hotaru stood silent, facing away, "...The game’s over you know."
Jotou leaned forward and smiled, with a playful look in her eyes, "Aw, no need to be a sore loser~"
Hotaru bit her lip... "Yes... In fact, Asobi’s petted them twice..."
"Well, if Asobi’s petted them. May I do so as well? I just want to see your reaction, as long as you’re okay with it."
Hotaru’s tail wagged even more, "... ...Only if, the next time I win, I get to ask something of you as well."
"Done."
Hotaru turned, "Did you even think about it!?"
"I’ve literally slept on them. And it’s only IF you win, so..."
Hotaru gave a childish pout before walking forward, "Fine, I’ll allow it. The nerve of you to even ask."
Jotou stood up, "Well," she sighed, "Seriously, if you really don’t want to-"
"Will you just do it?" Hotaru glared.
Jotou smiled as the two stood close... Hotaru stared at the ground while the blonde looked at her twitching ears. She raised her hand and placed it on her head.
Her fingers ran through the red strands before her nails gently scratched the backs of her right ear and then her left. The redhead’s skin grew riddled with goosebumps, flushing as red as her crimson hair.
Her tail wagged furiously as her head tilted to the ear Jotou would scratch. Jotou finally simply petted her head and removed her hand, "Well, that was adorable..." Jotou uttered.
Hotaru opened her eyes as the sensation of the hand on her head went away. She stood tall, her ears easily beating Jotou’s height as the two stared at each other...
The redhead’s lips curled into a smile, bit by bit, "Are you satisfied?"
Jotou could not help but smile—their faces centimetres apart, "Very."
Hotaru breathed out her mouth, "I hope we’ll play again soon... For now, goodnight Ms Howllett," she smirked.
"Night Aru; sweet dreams."
Hotaru turned around, purposefully brushing her tail against Jotou’s hip as she walked to her bed. Jotou blushed before she started to clean up the chessboard.
Jotou got under her sheets and stared across to Hotaru’s bed, as the redhead turned off her lights. The blonde turned the other way and settled into the comfy mattress. An unending smile as her head lied on the pillow. ’We’re both playing a game.
It’s about who’s gonna confess first. Or rather, who’s going to coax it out of the other first. I think we’re both well aware of how we feel about each other...
I can play this game as long as you can Hotaru. And I’m having fun every step of the way...’
