Asuka Fukuda
“…Yeah.” Thanks, Atsuko.
Asuka Fukuda “I figured the clothing thing was obvious with what you’re wearing, y’know? I mean, even if it was the cheap stuff we got when we showed up, you haven’t rushed to take it off, and I’m hoping you have taste to not accept cheap, weird handouts.”
Atsuko looked down at her outfit. Her shawl, her gloves, her scarf…
“…These are all mine. I brought them onto the train with me. I didn’t… wake up with anything extra, like some of you did.” And that continued to aggravate Atsuko. Whatever it was that decided who got to wear extra clothes had clearly decided she was already equipped for the cold. And that was true. But she was not equipped to wake up on the ice like that. The memory still sent shivers down her spine.
Asuka Fukuda “You probably could just go alone…? Hello? Are you totally dependent on them? Because there’s this fun thing called “self-care” you clearly should invest in. Just splurge some cash and, like…. Go nuts! Do what you wanna on your own! Who needs to invite other people? The whole point is to get away from stress and work. So getting permission and a timetable? No thanks~ Is moi the only one with standards around here, hm?”
Atsuko blinked at Asuka, as if the words went right in one ear and out the other. Or maybe she was listening, and it was just her usual blank expression.
“…I know that. I suppose I just don’t have much interest in going somewhere else alone. It would be… the same. Even if I insisted on going completely alone, papa would probably send someone to come with me…” Walking around Asahikawa by herself was fine, since most people knew better than to mess with her. But to send her across the country alone was another story. “Papa… worries about me too much.” Even now, he was probably beside himself that she was gone.
Asuka Fukuda “Oh! Also, FYI? You don’t need to ask. I can just buy stuff with money. You can even take it from your parents - or dad, I guess, since you only mentioned him - and guess what? Nobody’s going to care when there’s so much! I do it all the time, which, I mean, I look amazing, so that proves that!”
Unfortunately for Asuka, her pose had little effect on Atsuko. She preferred the elegance of her own clothes, although the lighter pink was a nice color. Papa hadn’t picked anything that color since she was younger.
“…There are things money can’t buy that someone like papa can get. Things you can’t find in a luxury store. And things money can’t do.” She bought things by herself all the time, anyway. She made her own money, and still had credit cards given to her by papa that she regularly ran through.
For someone who claimed to also be rich, there were some things even Asuka didn’t understand. Once again, she would chalk it up to everyone else being oblivious, rather than her being wrong.
Asuka Fukuda “….Okay, so basically your papa’s hobbies are yours, got it. I won’t pry anymore since I’m gonna be totally disappointed by whatever bullshit you end up spewing."
Up until this point, Atsuko had remained infallible, as she did toward most things. But even she had a breaking point And those who tested her would come to regret it if they weren’t careful. Atsuko always made sure of that much.
Atsuko’s gloved hand dug into the ornate frame of the painting hard enough to leave marks.
“Don’t put words in my mouth. Papa has done unforgivable things.” For someone who was clearly so reliant on him, she seemed to have some choice words about him whenever asked. “I would never do what he’s done.” The painting felt ever heavier in her hand. She needed to get out of here.
“Maybe once we’re out of this car, you’ll find out. And if you’re lucky, you won’t find out sooner.”
Atsuko kicked the discarded pile of letters she had unsuccessfully searched through to find her own, making a mess like a child throwing a tantrum. She needed to decompress before she could write her own letter.
And with that, she turned and left Asuka behind, stomping off somewhere else in this tiny, cramped car full of letters.
