Strands and Scissors

1st Cut: Another Day?

“Yo Hachisako-san, what are you doin' after class?” Akiko looked from her textbook up at the bespectacled man. His name was Maeda Shinya and he was slightly taller than she was and had known her since... about halfway through elementary school. They had the same mathematics classes at the university but their majors were, as some would say, at the opposite sides of the spectrum. Her goal was to become a high school mathematics teacher, and Shinya was in some engineering program. It didn't bother her though. It didn't matter at all.

“Nothin' Shin, why?” Akiko tucked her pen behind her ear and began to pick up her things.

“Well, a group of us are going to the arcade today. You know the one next to the station?” He pushed up his glasses with two of his fingers.

“Ah. Bringing Eriko?” Akiko smirked and Shinya looked away. Bingo. In any case the arcade wasn't a bad place and she was itching to play the crane games, or watch the guys get mad playing fighting games. “Okay I'll go, who else is going?”

“Tsuchida, the two Ishizukas, Nakadai and Tomo.”

“Tomonobu?”

“Yeah, why so surprised? Crush?”

“No I just wanted to know, go away.” With her books in her bag and a few light items in her arms Akiko walked away. “I'll meet you guys there, I need something to eat.”

“Well just don't bring a girl back, Akiko.” Oh you silly bastard. Akiko chuckled to herself, Shinya's joke was an old memory from when they were in high school. She stopped by the university cafe and bought herself a bite to eat. Akiko's first love was normal. A boy in 5th grade. An athlete that played soccer and baseball. Crushes came and went. But her first relationship was something totally different. It began in the spring of her second year of high school. The year had just begun anew. There was rumor of a foreign born transfer student all about the high school. Kuroda Eri. She was half Japanese and moved to and from America. Eri was her first... everything? Yeah, that was right. She was fluent, smart, witty (although lazy), beautiful and motivated. The only problem was that she disappeared after graduation. Without saying a word. Akiko snapped back to reality and chomped on the ice cube that was already in her mouth. Why did she have to remember something from back then?

….

Akiko made her way over to the station where the arcade was, searching for the red sign that said 'LITTLEBOX'. It was only named that because it wasn't as big as the BIGBOX arcade (the naming made sense) but it was still a large place in her eyes. She sent a mail out to Shinya to find out which games they were set on. Street Fighter 4. She guessed that watching Shinya lose a lot was a victory in itself. In the back section where the fighting game machines were she spotted Tsuchida Maki and one of the Ishizukas (the younger sister Maori).

“Yo, what's going on? The boys lose a lot?” Akiko patted Shinya's shoulder but he brushed her off, focused on the heated battle on screen.

“Yeah,” Maki told her as Maori laughed at Shinya's bad reactions, “That other person on the other side is apparently a really good player. I mean, that's what Shin told us, since they have these point cards.”

Akiko looked on the screen and noticed some point values next to the player names. ShinyaPOWER: 15819, Eiren-fist: 43404. From the looks of it he was outclassed. “C'mon Shinya, win!”

“I'm tryin' Akiko sheesh!” He tried, but as soon as the letters K and O appeared on screen he threw his hands up in defeat and left the seat to let another challenger face off. “Whatever, let's go play crane games.” They ventured off to another part of the arcade where the crane games sat and found the three other guys trying to get a rabbit plush. They were fools for wasting their money on a crane game, but it was all in good fun.

“Wow, Tomo you were so close to getting it that time...” Maki jabbed him in the ribs.

“Eh, I mean it would be cool if I got it for you.” Tomo blushed and most of the group took it as a cue to leave them be. The other two girls left with their boyfriend (or brother) to the shooter games, leaving Akiko with Shinya as they usually were.

“Do you wanna play shooters?”

“No.” A roar came from the other side of the arcade. “What's that about?”

“I don't know maybe someone is doing really good.” The pair ventured back over to the fighting game machines where they spotted a nice crowd gathering at one of the head to head machines. Maeda asked an onlooker what the commotion was all about. Apparently the person that he lost to before they left had caught the eye of one of the veterans and the two were playing now. Akiko smiled.

“Cmon Shin let's watch I've never seen people too serious about games...” Akiko tapped her cheek, “Y'know except you.” Shinya sighed. They decided to go to Eiren-fist's side since there was more room. When they got there they had a pleasant surprise. Eiren-fist... was a girl. She was wearing a long sleeved shirt and some jeans, but for some reason she had on a hat with some sunglasses. Probably hiding her face from some annoying onlookers.

“Wait, what?” Shinya looked floored. He had lost to a girl, but he had reassured himself since she had legitimate gaming skills. Akiko patted him on the back laughing.

“Oh man Shinya, this is great.” Soon though the event came to an end, with Eiren-fist barely losing to Daimyo by one game. Although she didn't have the slightest idea of what was going on, Akiko was excited and could kind of understand since fighting games were straight forward. You either get hit or block, and whoever loses all of their life first... loses. As Eiren-fist got up and took out her card, various people congratulated her, including Shinya.

“You're really good, I hope I can play you again here some other time.” Shinya smiled. Akiko sniggered behind him. Fool.

“Uh, sure.” Eiren-fist answered back sternly. “You weren't that bad.”

“Good going girl!” Akiko gave a thumbs up and the girl nodded politely in return while staying silent. “Something wrong?”

“No... Uh... I just gotta go now.” Eiren-fist walked quickly out the arcade, and that was that.

“Whoa, she didn't want any friends,” said Shinya.

“Maybe a hikikomori?”

“I suppose...” Shinya's phone vibrated and he saw an email saying that the rest of their group ditched them for a fast food place a bit further down. “Oh those idiots! C'mon Akiko, they're at McDonalds.”

….

After saying good bye to her university friends, Akiko had to take the train to work. It was only a few stations down so it wasn't that far away. She stood next to the windows watching the urban skyline speed past her in a marquee. Shinya took them to the arcade a bunch of times, but it was the first time she had seen something... Well, someone that was interesting. It was like some television story or some dumb plot of a manga. The mysterious masked girl gamer. Akiko giggled quietly to herself. She would probably try to talk to her if they ever saw her again.

Soon the train stopped and she got off to find her workplace. It was a modest salon that had some very high class patrons, usually models or idols. It was called Resistance and was on the second floor of a building right off the station. There was no sign, since the only way people found it was through word of mouth. The owner also owned the building itself. The third floor was their house which only eased the amount of business they could take in. Akiko went up the elevator and through the glass doors.

“Hello Akki!” said Mika the receptionist. Resistance was a very upbeat, energetic, spunky place. It was usually frequented by well-off girls from high school to university and such, but Resistance made a name for themselves through frequent visits by young and even former idols. They even sent stylists off on tours or let them attend to just one customer, that is, if they could pay and Miss Takara allowed it.

“Hey Akko, ready for today?” It was Miss Takara the owner of Resistance. Akiko loved her like a second mother. The only reason that Akiko had even been considered to train in Resistance was because Miss Takara had witnessed her handiwork and concluded that she needed the young girl. Although, being a hair stylist was not Akiko's first choice in career but she had been here since her last year in high school, so she just shrugged it off.

“Yes Miss Takara, although it depends on who's coming today.” Miss Takara raised a brow.

“Well, besides your usual clients.” A chuckle came over from the far side of the room, where Takumi (who was an odd person, a womanizing hairstylist. Kind of weird, maybe not.) was working. Akiko usually attracted a younger crowd in their teens or nice older women that wanted younger styles. Her skills were not lacking, but her clients quite simply were. “I have an assignment for you, so to speak.”

“Yeah? Gonna give me off on a tour?”

“No, not like that Akko. Eiren-chan is going to come to Resistance. Have you heard of her?”

“Of course, but only from Shinya and all of the other boys falling over idols.” Akiko smiled as she set up her station. “You want me to work on her?”

“Well, we don't know since she's requested to choose her own stylist when she gets here.” Miss Takara brought up a calendar pointing to the appointment date. May fifteenth.

“Choosing her own? Sheesh nothing wrong with that but it sounds like the girl gets whatever.” Miss Takara smiled at Akiko. “You sure she isn't an ice queen?”

“I am sure that... she is. Oh, and...” Miss Takara turned on one of the televisions. “She's doing an interview on this show right now. Anyway be ready this week, Akiko.”

Akiko watched the hour long talk show while working and noticed that the idol Eiren was a very nice girl deep down, fragile and cute. Of course there was no way she was going to believe that until she saw it.

“I knew I was ready for a real client, but I don't know about some fake idol...” Akiko muttered under her breath. But somehow she wished she could retract her statement as she saw the same face on the television screen walk through the glass doors of Resistance. It was Eiren, by herself for some reason.

“Hello, Eiren can I he--”

“No, I'm just here to pick out my stylist.” She cut Mika off sharply and walked straight toward Akiko, who was just finishing up a customer's request. Eiren waited until the customer left.

“Do you need anything?” Akiko asked in a polite tone. She looked up, seeing the taller girl stare down at her with a strange ferocity.

“Yes. I pick you. You'll be my personal stylist.” She called Miss Takara over. Akiko sighed silently. “I want her. Akiko.”

“We'll that can be arranged, although your appointment was next we--”

“I want her now.” Akiko was so confused. It was like the girl had no manners at all. She wanted to slap her and snap her out of it, but she was sure Miss Takara would disapprove.

“Okay Eiren. You've contacted your manager?” Eiren nodded. Akiko took a second look at the girl and noticed that by her height and features, she was probably only half Japanese. “Akiko, you can go with her.”

Akiko replied with just a nod and packed a case that had all of the things that she needed as well as getting her own stuff. Being a hired stylist was actually kind of cool, since you worked only the hours the client needed and still got some cash out of it. In any case she smiled. It was a good day. She left Resistance with Eiren tagging along behind.

“Where are we going?” Akiko stepped in the elevator and pressed the button for the ground level.

“My apartment. My manager is there.” Eiren pointed out of the small window in the elevator at a black car.

“Is that our ri--wa--mmph!” Was this seriously happening? Akiko was pinned to the elevator wall and being kissed by Eiren. However, Akiko felt no ill intent so she let the idol explore her mouth, their tongues darting around with each other. The only interruption was the ding of the elevator and a shove from Akiko. The elevator doors opened and the two got out, silent, only looking at each other. That was how they stayed the whole way. Akiko was the most confused. She looked at Eiren and saw her smile. On her end she was wondering what had happened, how it happened and most importantly, whyit happened. She had just been forcefully kissed by a famous idol for no reason. Well the reason was kind of obvious but still. It was too random.

“Eiren, why did you do that?” Akiko said reluctantly.

“No reason. I just wanted to check you out.”

“What?”

“You pass.”

“Do you kiss all of your stylists?”

“You're the first.” Akiko rubbed her temples. What the heck is wrong with this girl?