Kayama Esumi: Anniversary

In her previous life, Esumi once knew of a commemorative day called Art Appreciation Day.

 

It was originally established by the alumni association of the four major art universities in Japan—Joshibi University of Art and Design, Tama Art University, Tokyo Zokei University, and Musashino Art University. In 2017, it was officially recognized and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association.

 

The date in question was October 2nd. On this day, various lectures and events centered around art would be held across the country.

 

However, in this world of Blue Archive, which had its origins in a game, such a commemorative day naturally did not exist. Lately, Esumi had spent her days gazing at the calendar with a dissatisfied expression, feeling a sense of loneliness.

 

"Maybe I should just create an anniversary myself? No... there wouldn't be much point in that. Still, I should probably petition the General Student Council about it later."

 

Setting aside her personal grievances, Esumi had finally concluded her negotiations with the Sisterhood regarding whether or not to display her work in the Trinity Cathedral. To reward herself for a job well done, she had stopped by a cafe.

 

"Thank you for waiting. Here is your order: the matcha-flavored cake and cookies, along with a black coffee. The beverage is quite hot, so please be careful."

 

"Yes, thank you."

 

A polite clerk delivered the intensely bitter matcha cake, cookies, and black coffee.

 

Unlike most people, Esumi had a strong distaste for sweets. Even at cafes popular with the youth, she went out of her way to avoid sugar, opting for the most bitter items on the menu. This habit extended to her choices when dining out at restaurants as well.

 

Because of this, she rarely visited cafes that primarily served sugary treats, but things were different when a limited-time menu featuring bitter flavors was available. Since she was feeling a bit hungry, Esumi happily pulled the items toward her, only to pause. She sighed, noticing two girls who had been staring at her for some time.

 

"You two, is something the matter? You’ve been staring quite a lot."

 

"No, it's just... you really do like bitter things, Esumi-senpai."

 

"I agree. I was certain you would order something sweet."

 

Sitting across from Esumi at the four-person table was a pair of students. Both had hair reaching down to their waists and were significantly taller than Esumi. They possessed sharp, dignified, and beautiful features. Since they were younger than Esumi, a hint of childhood innocence remained in their expressions, though it would likely vanish entirely in a year or two.

 

These girls, whose future growth Esumi looked forward to, were Hanekawa Hasumi and Aomori Mine.

 

They were students of Trinity General School who appeared frequently in the original world of Blue Archive—the future Vice-President of the Justice Task Force and the future Captain of the Remedial Knights. However, as they were currently only first-year students, neither held a titled position yet. They were essentially rookies.

 

As a result, they had far fewer responsibilities compared to their future selves. Since it was easy for them to take time off, the two had come to the cafe together to enjoy some sweets on their day off.

 

(If I remember correctly, there was a game event or something that mentioned they’ve known each other since their first year, but were they really close enough to go out for sweets together? My memory only has images of them constantly bickering... Well, I suppose that’s just part of youth.)

 

Esumi had interacted with them several times due to the activities of their respective organizations; this was by no means their first meeting.

 

Hasumi, a member of the Justice Task Force, had crossed paths with Esumi several times while patrolling the academy and the autonomous districts. Meanwhile, Mine, from the Remedial Knights, had looked after Esumi regarding the issues with her right hand to an almost... no, an incredibly meddlesome degree.

 

Naturally, interacting with Hasumi meant that Esumi was also acquainted with the walking strategic weapon herself, Kenzaki Tsurugi. Even though Esumi preferred to keep her distance from others, it was impossible to avoid contact with those who diligently performed their organizational duties every day.

 

As a result, Esumi had currently met nearly ninety percent of the future third-year group currently enrolled at Trinity. Considering that the future second-year group would be enrolling next year, the possibility of her being swept up into the main story of Blue Archive was steadily increasing.

 

Fortunately or unfortunately, if Esumi continued her life as planned, she would graduate and leave the stage of Blue Archive exactly one year before the main story began. For now, there was no need to take the situation too seriously.

 

The most important thing for Esumi to keep in mind was simple: do not deepen ties with the named students.

 

And yet, one might wonder why she was currently sitting with Hasumi and Mine, chatting while they ate dessert. The answer was quite simple. This cafe was popular at all hours and was currently at full capacity. Esumi had simply been led to their table by chance to share the space. She had not sought this situation out.

 

It was an act of God. In a school with countless students, who would have thought she would end up sharing a table with these two of all people?

 

".....Haah."

 

Esumi let out a sigh of despair, reflecting on her past actions and feeling that no matter what she did, she was destined to be pulled into the main plot.

 

"Oh? You suddenly sighed. Is something wrong, Esumi-senpai? Don't tell me... has your physical condition taken a turn for the worse?! Please, show me at once! I must exterminate the cause immediately!"

 

"Calm down, Mine. That was clearly not a sigh of physical illness. First, put that massive shield on the floor. It’s dangerous. What exactly do you plan to do with it?"

 

Hasumi moved to forcibly restrain Mine, who had suddenly grabbed her shield and looked ready to pounce on Esumi due to her misunderstanding. While Hasumi had the clear advantage in terms of height and build, Mine—who spent her days training with that mysteriously large shield—was struggling to break free.

 

"Let go, Hasumi! Even if that sigh was psychological, illness often begins in the mind! It’s pointless if we act after it’s too late! Besides, Esumi-san’s weight has been trending below average lately!"

 

"What? Is that true, Esumi-san?! How did you manage to lose weight so effortlessly... no, I mean, I’m not saying I’m not worried about your health! More importantly, Mine, how do you even know her recent weight?!"

 

"Because I visit Esumi-senpai regularly for check-ups, of course! I am simply fulfilling my duties as a member of the Remedial Knights!"

 

"That’s just barging in! Besides, you could just send another member instead of going yourself! Stop bothering Esumi-san!"

 

"How rude! I’m not bothering her! In fact, I only perform these house calls after a thorough discussion with Esumi-senpai!"

 

".....Both of you, be quiet. We are in a cafe."

 

Esumi placed her coffee cup back on the table with a deliberate clatter. Frowning, she held an index finger to her lips in warning. The two, who had been scuffling like kittens, immediately corrected their posture. Noticing the curious glances from the other customers, they both shrunk back in embarrassment.

 

(Good grief. I guess they really were the bickering type, just like in the original.)

 

Esumi shrugged. Seeing the manager emerge from the back of the shop to address the commotion, she quickly stood up and gave a deep bow.

 

"I apologize for the noise. Our conversation simply became a bit too heated. It wasn't a fight, so please don't worry."

 

"I... I see. I thought there might have been trouble between our guests. I was worried there was a problem with our service, but I'm glad to see that isn't the case."

 

"Not at all. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. It was entirely my responsibility."

 

Esumi continued to speak with the manager for a moment until the misunderstanding was cleared. Once the manager returned to the back, Esumi sat back down and let out a weary sigh. Hasumi and Mine spoke up immediately.

 

"Esumi-senpai, I am truly sorry..."

 

"We were the ones arguing, yet we let you apologize for us..."

 

Listening quietly to their words, Esumi reached for her cup and drained the rest of her coffee. Still holding the empty cup, she gave a small, wry smile and shook her head.

 

"Don't worry about it. I shouldn't have been so rude as to sigh in front of you while we were sharing a table. And as your senior, I should have stopped the argument immediately instead of just watching. I have some fault in this too."

 

"But Esumi-senpai, we were clearly in the—mph?!"

 

As Mine tried to continue her protest, Esumi suddenly stuffed a cookie from her plate into the girl’s mouth. Mine began to crunch on it, but because it was a bitter matcha cookie, her face immediately twisted in discomfort from the unfamiliar taste.

 

".....Th-this is... so bitter... my tongue...!"

 

"M-Mine! Here, have some water! Drink this quickly!"

 

"Th-thank you!"

 

Hasumi hurriedly prepared a glass of water and handed it over. Mine drank it down instantly. Even though she tried to wash it away, the bitterness seemed to linger. She groaned and struggled to compose herself.

 

"Would you like one, Hanekawa?"

 

".....I... I think I'll pass!"

 

When Esumi held out the other cookie, Hasumi declined desperately. She knew that if she tried to insist they were in the wrong again, that cookie would be shoved into her mouth without mercy. As a lover of sweets, she wanted nothing to do with that bitterness, so she shook her head repeatedly.

 

"I see... and they're so good, too..."

 

Esumi murmured with a slightly disappointed look and began to eat the cookie herself. Overwhelmed by the gap between Esumi’s beautiful face and her strange tastes—and feeling a surge of guilt—Hasumi found herself reaching out to take a matcha cookie after all. A moment later, she was writhing in agony from the overwhelming bitterness.

 

Mine hurried to get water for her this time. Watching them, Esumi thought to herself that they really were close friends, even when they fought.

 

1-2

 

"Nagisa-sama. A gift from my master."

 

While Kirifuji Nagisa was busy with the paperwork for the Tea Party, her attendant Cheri appeared, holding a small paper bag. Nagisa paused her work and looked at the bag with a slight frown.

 

"A gift... from Esumi-san?"

 

"Yes. She went out for a change of pace earlier and apparently purchased this during her walk. As for the contents, she said she wanted you to see for yourself, so I'm not sure what's inside."

 

"I see. That's unusual. Esumi-san isn't the type to give gifts, even to close acquaintances. Very well. Could you place it on that table? I'll check it later."

 

"Understood. Right here."

 

Cheri carefully placed the bag on the indicated table and promptly left the room. Once alone again, Nagisa glanced at the bag several times before quickly organizing the documents on her desk.

 

Once the surface was clear, she finally turned her full attention to the gift.

 

"Oh... it's quite light."

 

Picking up the bag, she realized the item inside wasn't heavy at all. Was it some kind of confection? Nagisa looked into the bag and pulled out the contents.

 

".....This is."

 

Inside was a small box containing a roll cake—Nagisa’s absolute favorite treat. And it wasn't just any roll cake. It was a limited-edition item from a highly-regarded bakery in the Trinity district. It was so popular that it was currently only available by reservation.

 

"To think Esumi-san, who dislikes sweets, would choose a pastry as a gift... fufu."

 

As a lover of roll cakes, Nagisa had eaten from this bakery many times. The combination of fluffy sponge and cream was addictive; she would have bought it every day if it weren't for the reservation system. It was no exaggeration to say this was her favorite. For Esumi—who usually showed no interest in the preferences of others—to choose this was a perfect ten out of ten.

 

The fact that Esumi knew her tastes well enough to pick this out made Nagisa’s cheeks flush.

 

"I don't know if it was a coincidence or if she knew... but either way, it is a gift from Esumi-san. I shall enjoy it gratefully."

 

Ideally, she would have liked to hold a proper tea party to eat it, but a roll cake wouldn't last long at room temperature, and it was too late to start preparations now. Besides, this was a special gift. Nagisa opened the box at her desk, picked up the included fork, and gave a small bow of thanks before taking a bite.

 

"As I thought, this bakery’s roll cake is delicious no matter how many times I have it. I should give a slice to Cheri-san later. Since it was chosen by her master, I’m sure she’ll be delighted..."

 

In the quiet room, the only sound was the faint noise of Nagisa enjoying the cake, a soft smile on her face.

 

1-3

 

"Thank you for the meal."

 

A short time later, Nagisa finished the cake with a satisfied smile. She carefully placed the remaining slice on a small plate for Cheri and used her phone to call her in. Within seconds, the door opened and Cheri appeared.

 

"Did you call, Nagisa-sama? Oh? So the gift from my master was a roll cake. As expected of Master, knowing your favorites... This is wonderful. Please, Nagisa-sama, leave the cleaning to me. By the way, is that remaining slice for storage?"

 

"Fufu. No, this slice is for you, Cheri-san. Please, help yourself."

 

"I see, a slice left just for me... wait... I... I can eat this?!"

 

The phrase "shocked out of one's wits" perfectly described Cheri’s reaction. Usually so careful with her etiquette, Cheri’s formal speech slipped into a more casual tone as she clutched her flat chest and stumbled back. Despite her reputation as a cool, tall beauty with secret fans at school, she looked quite comical in this moment.

 

"Na-Na-Nagisa-sama! This was a gift prepared by my master for you! Are you really telling me you're going to give part of it to someone like me?!"

 

"Yes... Cheri-san, what is the matter? Is it really that shocking? I'm sure Esumi-san wouldn't be sad to know her star pupil enjoyed the cake."

 

"That may be true! But I am merely an observer! I should not interfere in the intimate exchanges between you two! I already occupy the luxurious position of being both her direct disciple and your attendant, allowing me to witness the wonderful sight of your special interactions! For me to lay a finger on a gift intended for you is simply too much!"

 

".....Umm, Cheri-san?"

 

"Yes?!"

 

"I’m sorry. The second half of that was so fast I couldn't quite catch what you said. Could you repeat it?"

 

"My apologies! It was just the ramblings of a nuisance otaku, please pay it no mind!"

 

"A... nuisance otaku?"

 

Ignoring Nagisa’s confusion, Cheri moved with blinding speed to grab the slice of cake along with the empty box and bag.

 

"Then, I shall gratefully accept this slice you left for me! I will savor every single bite to feel the strength of your bond!"

 

"Wait a moment, are you mistaking roll cake for some kind of sacred relic?! Please just eat it normally!"

 

"Impossible! For me, this slice cannot be compared to ordinary cakes! It would be a waste to finish it quickly! In fact, I feel unworthy to even taste it!"

 

"It’s a perishable item, so I’d rather you eat it sooner than later!"

 

"Then I’ll just have to freeze it for preservation!"

 

"You... if you’re going to be that stubborn, I’ll shove it into your mouth myself!"

 

"Wait, Nagisa-sama?! Please refrain from such violent language! It calls the dignity of the Kirifuji house into question!"

 

Hearing a lady of a noble house use a word like "shove" seemed to snap Cheri back to reality. She turned slightly pale and began to soothe Nagisa. Indeed, such behavior was quite uncharacteristic of a student at a refined school like Trinity.

 

The cause was entirely Cheri’s bizarre behavior, but Nagisa also reflected on her loss of temper. She apologized deeply, her face reddening.

 

Once they both calmed down, Cheri—now holding the roll cake again—seemed to have an epiphany.

 

"By the way, Nagisa-sama. Since you received such a gift, why don't you give my master a call?"

 

"A... a phone call?"

 

Nagisa blinked, stunned by the unexpected suggestion.

 

"Yes. A message on MomoTalk might suffice for most, but you know Master... it might take her until tomorrow to reply. If you want to convey your gratitude immediately, a call is the best option."

 

"But... I promised Esumi-san I wouldn't involve myself with her 'unnecessarily.' Doing this might be a bother..."

 

"I don't think expressing direct gratitude for a gift is unnecessary, do you?"

 

It was an irrefutable argument. No matter how much Esumi tried to keep her distance, she wasn't so cold-hearted as to ignore a polite thank-you. Nagisa knew this well. As Cheri stared at her with a straight face, Nagisa looked down, feeling conflicted.

 

"You’re right... this is gratitude. I’m just thanking her. It shouldn't be a bother..."

 

She glanced at her phone on the desk, then back at Cheri. Her attendant gave a firm nod of encouragement. Nagisa offered a weak smile and reached for her phone. Cheri took that as her cue to leave.

 

"Then I shall take my leave. I’ll dispose of these boxes, so please take your time, Nagisa-sama. I’ll make sure no one enters the room until you’re finished."

 

"Thank you... but Cheri-san, please promise me you’ll actually eat that cake."

 

"Of course... I’ll do my best."

 

"Cheri-san?"

 

Nagisa sighed, but the interaction had eased her tension. Whether that was Cheri’s plan or not, the attendant bowed deeply and slipped out of the room.

 

(Right... let us begin.)

 

Now alone, Nagisa held her phone with both hands. She scrolled past the names of her childhood friends and attendants until her finger stopped at the only name in her favorites list: Kayama Esumi.

 

".....Inhale... exhale....."

 

The nervousness she thought had vanished came rushing back. She took several deep breaths, steadying her heart, and tapped the screen.

 

Their message history appeared. She ignored the text field and moved her finger to the call icon, freezing for a moment.

 

"Will she even answer...?"

 

A call was different from a message; it was immediate, but it also required the other person to be available. At worst, she might just be ignored. Esumi was incredibly busy between her work as an artist, preparing for exhibitions, and her studies. Her time was precious.

 

(Maybe a message is better after all... no! Cheri-san went to all that trouble to encourage me. I can’t back down now!)

 

Thinking only of the negatives would get her nowhere. Steeling her resolve, Nagisa tapped the icon and pressed the phone to her ear.

 

The unique ringtone of MomoTalk filled the air.

 

One ring. No answer.

 

Two rings. No answer.

 

Three rings. Still nothing.

 

Four rings... silence.

 

Five rings..... still no response.

 

(So... she really can't talk…)

 

In business or private matters, it’s often said that if someone doesn't answer by the sixth ring, you should give up. Nagisa worried that the ringing might be interrupting Esumi’s focus and making her irritable.

 

(I should probably hang up…)

 

There was no rule saying she had to call right now. If Esumi was busy, she could try again later. Just as she was about to pull the phone away to end the call, a voice came through.

 

".....Hello?"

 

Nagisa froze. Whether it was the sixth or seventh ring, the sound had stopped, and the voice of a girl replaced it.

 

There was no mistake. It was the voice of Kayama Esumi.

 

".....Ah... um... E-Esumi-san..."

 

"Kirifuji? You surprised me, calling out of the blue. Is something wrong?"

 

"No... not for any particular reason... I just... um..."

 

".....?"

 

It was no use. It had been months since they had actually spoken. Esumi’s voice was enough to make Nagisa’s heart race with destructive force. She couldn't find her words; she could barely remember how to breathe.

 

(That's right... it’s been months since we’ve talked like this. We’ve only exchanged nods or messages. I wasn't prepared to actually speak!)

 

Even though their contact had decreased since middle school, Esumi was special to Nagisa. Even with the distance and the lack of conversation, Nagisa found herself thinking about her constantly. What was she doing? Was she painting? Washing her brushes? Sharpening pencils? What was she dreaming of as she lost herself in the canvas?

 

The more she thought about it, the more she was drawn to Kayama Esumi. That was why she had forced herself to stay away, honoring the promise not to involve herself unnecessarily.

 

But look at her now.

 

Despite their long history, Nagisa was as nervous as a girl in love. She wouldn't call it "love," but she knew she wasn't being her usual calm self.

 

(This is embarrassing... I'm so excited just to hear her voice.)

 

Nagisa pulled the phone away for a second to let out a sigh of frustration at her own lack of composure. She took three more deep breaths, calmed her racing heart, and put the phone back to her ear.

 

".....Esumi-san, it’s been a long time. I apologize for calling so suddenly. I wanted to thank you directly for the gift you sent..."

 

Her breathing had stabilized, and the words flowed more easily as she thanked Esumi for the roll cake. Esumi went quiet for a second, then asked, "You called just for that?" before letting out a small laugh.

 

"Was it really that funny?!"

 

Nagisa’s ears turned red. She had worked so hard to sound composed, only to be laughed at.

 

"Sorry, sorry. It’s just, usually you’d just send a message on MomoTalk, right? I didn't expect you to actually call."

 

".....It was Cheri-san’s suggestion. She said if I messaged you, you might not reply until tomorrow at the earliest."

 

"Ah... I see. She might be right about that."

 

"You aren't even going to deny it?"

 

Esumi spent far more time with brushes and books than her phone, so Nagisa wasn't surprised. But a part of her still wished Esumi would reply to her messages quickly. Perhaps Cheri was right to suggest the call.

 

"By the way, Esumi-san. May I ask why you sent me a gift today?"

 

"The reason I sent you a gift?"

 

"Yes. You gave me art supplies for my birthday before, but there’s no clear reason for this one. You aren't usually the type to just give things away."

 

".....Well, I suppose that’s true."

 

Nagisa heard a sigh on the other end, followed by the sound of someone fiddling with something.

 

"Do you know what today is?"

 

"Today...?"

 

Nagisa glanced at her desk calendar. It wasn't a holiday or any known anniversary. She turned her focus back to the call, confused.

 

"The calendar says it’s just a normal weekday... but I assume that’s not the answer you're looking for?"

 

"Exactly. To the rest of the world, it’s just a Tuesday. But for you and me, it’s a bit of an anniversary."

 

"An anniversary for us...?"

 

Nagisa racked her brain. An anniversary is usually a memory shared by two people. For an art-obsessed girl like Esumi to send a gift, it had to be something significant, but nothing came to mind. She started pacing around the room in circles.

 

Finally, she gave up. ".....I don't know," she admitted.

 

"I figured you might not remember," Esumi said, her voice sounding as if she had expected this. "Kirifuji, today is the day we met four years ago. The day you suddenly scouted me."

 

".....Ah!"

 

Now she remembered. Four years ago today, Nagisa had seen Esumi’s work at an art competition in the autonomous district. She had been so captivated by Esumi’s talent and charm that she had immediately offered her a patronage contract.

 

Without that meeting, they wouldn't be talking now. Nagisa wouldn't be spending her days with a heart swayed by Esumi’s every move. It was the same for Esumi; without Nagisa, it would have taken much longer for her to succeed as an artist.

 

It was, as Nagisa thought, a "fated encounter." It was indeed an anniversary.

 

"Back in middle school, you’d find any excuse to see me in person. Now that you're in the High School division, we don't see each other as much. So... I thought I’d send a gift as a sign of my gratitude for this anniversary. I'm glad to hear you liked it."

 

"Of course I liked it! It’s a gift you chose for me. Why wouldn't I be happy?"

 

".....Hmm."

 

"What’s with that reaction?! It’s true! I would be happy with anything you gave me, Esumi-san!"

 

"Then next time, will you eat those bitter matcha cookies I like?"

 

".....Eh?! Matcha?! Ah... um... if possible... I would appreciate it if the bitterness was kept to a minimum..."

 

"Fufu, I understand. I’ll think carefully about the next gift, then."

 

Nagisa felt a surge of joy at the mention of a "next time." She pressed a hand to her warm cheek. Every time she talked to Esumi, she found it harder and harder to end the conversation. But she couldn't stay on the phone forever; she still had Tea Party business to attend to.

 

With a lingering sense of regret, she prepared to say goodbye, but first, she had to say one more thing.

 

"Esumi-san... next time, let me send you something wonderful as well."

 

"Oh? A present from you? It’s a bit early, but I’ll look forward to next year."

 

"Yes, please do. I will find something that suits you perfectly."

 

"We'll see. But just so you know, my next gift is going to be something amazing."

 

"I could say the same. Well then, Esumi-san. It is getting late, so I shall—"

 

"Wait... hold on, Kirifuji."

 

".....Esumi-san? Is something wrong?"

 

".....Um... well... it’s embarrassing to actually say this out loud, but I want you to hear it. When you called... honestly, I was really happy. And you probably think you haven't given me anything in return this time, but... hearing your voice for the first time in a while was a better gift than any object. So don't worry about it."

 

".....Esumi-san."

 

".....Well, goodbye. See you when I see you."

 

".....Yes. Thank you so much for today. I'll see you again."

 

".....Yeah."

 

The line went dead. Silence reclaimed the room.

 

".....Haah."

 

Nagisa sat down weakly in her chair, still holding the phone—which had grown warm from the long call—to her ear. Finally, she lowered it to her lap and exhaled.

 

"Really, Esumi-san... you are a cruel person for ruffling my heart like this."

 

Though she complained, she had a look of pure satisfaction on her face.

 

An anniversary just for the two of them. She decided she would spend the rest of the day celebrating it in her heart.