Tokyo Ever After: A Novel (Tokyo Ever After #1)(29)
Something tickles my arm. I glance down. It’s the Thanksgiving silkworm. His back arches and he thrusts upward like he’s a bloodhound, sniffing for the scent of mulberry. He can’t find it, so he resumes a steady course up my arm. Rationally, I know he can’t hurt me. Emotionally, I feel as if it’s a full-out declaration of war. I want him off me. Now.
I shake my arm. Thanksgiving refuses to budge. Damn those sticky legs adapted over decades to climb trees. Right now, I hate evolution more than anything.
The twins are placing mulberry branches on the silkworms, easy as you please. They’re way too calm. It makes me suspicious, but there’s no time to dissect if they may be responsible (they totally are). Thanksgiving is digging under my sleeve. Oh my God. If he makes it into my dress, I’ll die. Die.
I get a flashback to summer camp, sixth grade. A bee crawled under my sweatshirt. Panicked, I’d stripped the garment off, only I hadn’t been wearing an undershirt or a bra. I ended up flashing the entire lunchroom of Camp Sweeney. Now, I am at the precipice of a similar situation.
I raise my hand, ready to flick the rare Koishimaru silkworm. As far as I’m concerned, it’s him or me. I don’t care if the cocoon you weave is used to restore priceless ancient artifacts or if you’re considered a national treasure. Sayonara, silkworm.
A body wedges itself between me and Akiko. A hand sweeps over my arm, capturing the silkworm. I look up. It’s Mariko to the rescue. Lips pinched, she opens her hand and dumps the silkworm back onto the mulberry leaves. Thanksgiving has disappeared into the masses. Mariko melts into the background again.
Mr. Fuchigami waves his hands and says something in Japanese. The imperial photographers put their cameras down. They exit the cocoonery. I’m a thousand percent sure I’ve messed up. Mr. Fuchigami confirms this when he says, “Don’t worry, Your Highness. If we didn’t get a good shot, we’ll edit the photographs.” I’ve ruined the carefully constructed photo opportunity.
The Shining Twins are smug. Now I understand the power dynamic between us. I am at the bottom. Time creeps on. I feel the blood drain from my face, pool at my toes, then out of my body. Here they come. Tears, hot and sticky gather in my eyes. As if it couldn’t get any worse, I cry right in front of the Shining Twins.
* * *
That afternoon I lounge in the living room and watch Mariko like a cat as she sorts through a pile of gloves. A text comes through. At the alert, Mariko fixes me with a shrewd look. She has a thing about my phone and my pathological attachment to it. My eyes are still a bit puffy. I wept some of the car ride back to the palace. Mariko and Mr. Fuchigami kept up a steady conversation in Japanese. Wow. Talk about uncomfortable. Now, Mariko is giving me a wide berth. I shrink down so I’m in full recline, legs dangling over edge of the couch.
Unknown number
Are you ready to step out of the celestial limelight?
Me
Who is this?
Unknown number
You don’t know your favorite second cousin?
Unknown number
I am devastated. Insulted. Deeply wounded.
Despite my gloomy mood, I smile. Yoshi.
Me
How did you get this number?
Yoshi
Google is your friend.
Me
Srsly?
Yoshi
No. I asked for it. Nobody questioned why. Amazing what people will give you when you’re royalty.
Yoshi
But a warning: you really can find anything on the Internet these days. The right YouTube video and I could give myself a vasectomy.
Me
Would you really do that?
Yoshi
Course not. Deprive the world of my superior sperm? Unlikely.
Yoshi
You didn’t answer my question.
Me
What was your question exactly?
Yoshi
Are you ready to step out of the celestial limelight?
Me
Dunno what that means.
Yoshi
Tokyo, darling. I’m talking about a night on the town.
My gaze shoots to Mariko. She disappeared and brought back more gloves. Good Lord.
Me
Can’t. I’ve got a glove fitting.
Yoshi
That’s a real thing? Never mind. Not talking about right now. Nothing good happens until after 9 p.m., after all.
Me
I don’t think it’s a good idea.
Yoshi
I disagree. This is probably the best idea I’ve ever had.
I look out the window and consider his words. Trees sway in the breeze. It promises to be a nice evening weather-wise, but escape is impossible. The landscape is dotted with at least a dozen imperial guards, Akio included, and an equal number of cameras. But I am stuck and restless and still a little sad.
I purse my lips. All events outside of the palace have to be sanctioned. Though no one has said it outright, it’s understood that I am not allowed to leave alone. Princesses belong in heavily guarded towers.
Me
Say I wanted to. How would I get past all the security?
Yoshi
You just leave it up to me. Come. Let us break rules and hearts. Have a wake-up-with-a-tiger kind of night.
Yoshi
You in or out?
I recall how the ride from the airport to Tokyo was like peering through a keyhole. Yoshi is offering me a way to unlock the door and open it wide. Isn’t this what I wanted, the city spread at my feet? Noora and I would do this together. If she were here, we wouldn’t hesitate to sneak off into the night with the promise of adventure just around the corner, so it’s totally on-brand for me. In the name of all best friend relationships everywhere, I am practically obligated to say yes. Plus, I need a friendly face. I tap out my response, my chest light with anticipation.