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andrusi · 3 months ago

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the puzzle of scheduling dates

Written for Femslash February 2025

Day 19. Puzzle

Series: Glitter Puffs

Title: the puzzle of scheduling dates

Ship: Karen/Reika

Fandom: Yes PreCure & Smile PreCure

Word Count: 1,624

Rating: G

Warning: None

Tags: Crossover, Getting Together, Flirting, Confessions, Phone Calls

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and today was a great day for bureaucracy and correspondence.

And Reika did not mind one bit that she was cooped up, inside, and on call whilst all her friends were outside and playing. Delayed gratification and all that. She could have her time in the sun, kicking a ball around and laughing raucously, on the day of the interschool round robin.

But first.

It had to exist.

And for it to exist, someone had to organise it and the teachers had already gotten the ball rolling on who to contact and get in touch with: the student body president of the L'École des Cinq Lumières.

The idea is that Nanairogaoka Middle School and L'École des Cinq Lumières would have a day of the carnival would be a sports-focused event but there would be cultural touches, too, such as student food stalls and a choir at the conclusion of the day’s speeches and other formalities. It was a tall ask with much to depend on throughout the ranks of the school, from admin to teachers to even the student council.

Fortunately for the student council, this opportunity did have many boons to how much effort was involved. Interschool friendships were difficult to foster but could lead to lifelong bonds and honed life skills. Time management, e-mail etiquette, and collaboration: all skills highly prized in the work force or on a university entrance essay.

All things Reika was already thinking about as a young fifteen year old. Go figure.

So far, the bureaucracy and correspondence that Reika had to contend with so far was delightful. Her peer in President Minazuki was almost like an other half to her. Oh, goodness, President Minazuki. Now, Reika was not the type of girl to gush or swoon, she was far more prim than that buuuuuuut….

President Minazuki had the most adorable signature embeds in her e-mail. They were stunning graphics made with ice and passion, but tasteful and not overly distracting. Her eloquence was beyond compare, her turns of phrase had Reika looking forward to the next e-mail. Whether it was about canteen volunteering or trophy plaques, everything that President Minazuki had an opinion on was well measured and in excellent agreement.

Reika honestly couldn’t wait for the day that she and President Minazuki could be brought face to face, to finally meet her in the flesh. There in lied the problem.

When was this day actually meant to happen?

They had everything else planned. Events, activities, a name and logo for the day, colour palettes and ways of mixing the students so they would be exposed to new potential friends. Everything except for the best day and it really needed to be soon.

Which was why the teachers suggested the unthinkable. They suggested this date should be decided… over the phone rather than through email.

Reika wasn’t sure why but the idea of conversing with President Minazuki in voice jolted her. Her heart skipped a beat. There was something almost scandalous about it. Like it was cheating her lofty dreams somehow. She had thought about the fateful day, dated undecided, and how she and President Minazuki would revel in the serendipity of their parallel positions in their respective schools or tastes in music.

Yet she still wanted it. She still wanted to hear President Minazuki’s voice for the first time, even if it was over the phone. She had imagined it so much, she wanted her hunches confirmed or utterly discounted. She thought President Minazuki would have a no-nonsense, gravelly voice which could send a chill down her spine.

Now she would find out once and for all.

In her and President Minazuki’s most recent emails, they exchanged school phone numbers and a time they would ring. President Minazuki would make the first move and that time was meant to be right now.

Reika held onto the phone a little too desperately as she checked and double checked the time. President Minazuki was meant to have rung by now. She was three minutes late. Reika’s stomach twisted. What if President Minazuki was ill or what if she had forgotten or there was some kind of crisis she was managing? Or what if-

Ring, ring, ring!

Reika jumped out of her skin when the clunky landline which belonged to the school rang. It jittered in her hand and her nerves got the better of her as she answered.

“Hello, Aoka Reiki speaking- I mean, hello, Aoki Reika speaking.”

The voice on the other side laughed at Reika’s muck up. Reika blushed. That laughter… It was such a pretty sound, even if it had to be at her expense.

“Its good to finally chat to you, President Aoki.” President Minazuki replied once her laughter had died down. “It is, of course, Minazuki Karen speaking. Call me as you prefer, I really don’t mind.”

Goodness… Reika’s heart seized inside of her chest. President Minazuki was already exceeding all expectation. Her voice was suave and her atmosphere effortless, even over the phone and with its slight distortion. Nonetheless, her brassy tones were apparent and were ever so lovely.

Reika felt like she was such a dork in comparison. She couldn’t believe but she mustered her nerves regardless.

“Thank you, President Minazuki, I appreciate your time.” Reika replied.

“Excellent, then shall we begin? I have the school’s entire schedule right in front of me so let’s try and find a fitting date, yes?” President Minazuki suggested.

“Yes, of course, I am also looking at our spreadsheet, too.” Reika said.

“Okay, let’s see… How about April twenty-first?” President Minazuki asked.

Reika paused and chewed her lip as she found the date in the calendar, “Ack, there’s already a school play by the drama club that day.”

“Darn.” President Minazuki said.

“What about May second?” Reika asked.

“Let me see… Oh no, there’s a futsal game and will probably be a big game for us.” President Minazuki said.

“Wow… Good luck to your team.” Reika wished well but her pleasant sentiments did little to disguise her dinned disappointment.

“Thank you, our ace futsal player is amazing, I’ll let her and the girls know.” President Minazuki replied and Reika could practically hear the smile of pride in her voice. Then, it turned on a dime as she found her next date, “Alrighty, could something earlier, like April fourteenth work?”

“Ooh, maybe.” Reika replied and she got way too hopeful as a second later she sighed. “There’s a student-teacher-boardroom night. Could be a little rough on staff?”

“Mm, good point. That early, I imagine its discussing everything going on.” President Minazuki replied, her tone of voice mimicked Reika’s.

Both sides of the line went mostly quiet. Reika typed away and President Minazuki must be doing the same as Reika could hear the mechanical echo of keys being pressed upon quickly. Their breaths were sharp and disappointed, any suggestion all but dismissed right away for whatever reason.

What a perplexing puzzle that they both had in front of them!

Reika was certain that there answer was right in front of them and it would be obvious in hindsight but first, they had to find that overlap in free space in a very jam packed school year.

Two schools, both alike in dignity, and completely unalike in schedule. It was quite frustrating. Both girls worked hard and still struggled to navigate the spreadsheets and calendars until President Minazuki sighed, throwing in the towel - at least temporarily.

“Let’s take a break, President Aoki.” President Minazuki suggested. “We’ll just burn ourselves out if we try too hard for little reward. I’m sure no one will mind if we… shoot the breeze, so to speak to rest our minds from going into overdrive with this little conundrum we have on our hands.”

“Yes, good idea, President Minazuki.” Reika replied.

“So, when are you free, President Aoki, or may I call you, Reika?” President Minazuki all but purred as she posed this question. “We are friends after all…”

Reika blushed again. She bolted straight up in her plastic, ergonomic chair.

“Y-Yes, we are, th-that’s totally fine, Ka-Karen.” Reika stammered.

Karen laughed at Reika’s expense again. There was no cadence of mean spirited-ness, just amusement.

“I’m glad.” Karen replied. “I must confess, I had been wanting to hear your voice for quite some time. Your just as cute as I imagined you would be, Reika. So, when are you free, Reika? Perhaps we could do more than just telephone or email if your schedule is free.”

Reika couldn’t believe her ears. Could it be…? Karen had been looking forward to this telephone call just as much as her?

“I actually rang late on purpose because I was worried about coming on too strong. I’ve been told I can be quite intense from time to time, in fact… You’ve gone so quiet… I’m worried I have been too much and have made a faux pas.” Karen’s seemingly flawless facade of being all business and mature began to fracture.

“Ah! Sorry, I just… I feel the same. I was so excited to hear your voice, too, and can’t wait to meet you face to face. I-I thought it would be at the round robin but, um, I’m free this weekend if you are.”

“I am.” Karen replied. “I’m glad. Well, at least we have one date.”

Reika giggled, “Yes, we do. Well, um, we better try and pick a second one now.”

“That we should.” Karen agreed.

“Okay, so, how about May nineteenth?” Reika asked as she got the conversation back on track but she could hardly cope with her racing heart and glee over now having a date with her precious President Minazuki on her schedule.

#always reblog karens #usually reblog reika

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