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V5 Chapter 3: The Cucumber Fairy
🕑 Added 2025-06-09 13:17:23 +0000 UTCThe last time Kazami Haru saw Mutsumi was... well, the last time.
It had only been a few days since the incident with Soyo ended. Since then, aside from the occasional necessary message about Sakiko or Soyo, Mutsumi rarely reached out to him.
Which made her latest message all the more peculiar, a sticker of a cat with a cucumber on its head.
It was... bizarre. But Haru still tapped a quick reply on his screen.
[FertilizerDealer: Mutsumi, what's up?]
His message was read instantly. In less than a blink, another one popped up.
[Wakaba Mutsumi: I want to see you.]
Haru: ...?
Oh, my God.
I swear, if Miss Wakaba keeps speaking to me in that adorably blunt tone, I'm going to kiss that cucumber-scented face of hers until it explodes.
"She's gotten really straightforward these days, huh."
Haru didn't ask why she suddenly wanted to see him.
He already had a good guess, thanks to what he saw through Soyo's simulation. On the surface, it looked like Mutsumi just wanted to meet up. But in reality, it probably had something to do with Togawa Sakiko wanting to form Ave Mujica.
Still, even if it had nothing to do with Sensei Sakiko, Haru knew he couldn't turn down a request from Mutsumi.
Without hesitation, he agreed to meet her at a café near Haneoka. After making the plans, he said goodbye to the girls from his band and headed straight there.
...
The walk wasn't far, he got there in about thirty minutes.
Ding-a-ling~
As he pushed the door open, the little bell above chimed softly. Accompanied by that crisp sound, Kazami Haru stepped into the café.
The white, cool-toned lights cast a peaceful glow over the place. Gentle jazz music played in the background, soothing and calming. The scent of rich coffee beans floated faintly in the air.
"She's not here yet?"
Having been here before, Haru easily found a seat tucked away in a corner.
Not even three minutes passed before the glass door opened again. In walked a green-haired girl, expressionless, wearing a white checkered dress with dark tones and a gray beret atop her head.
Petite, and carrying a paper bag in both hands, she stepped inside and immediately scanned the room.
"..."
Only when Haru smiled and waved did the slightest flicker of emotion cross Mutsumi's lovely, unreadable face.
She silently quickened her pace. Her pale green hair, smooth and silky like flowing silk, shimmered under the ceiling's white lights.
"I already ordered you a mango juice. Do you want something sweet too?"
"Mango juice is fine."
Still holding the paper bag, Mutsumi shook her head lightly.
Her golden eyes glanced at the empty seat across from Haru, but instead of sitting there, she walked over and sat directly beside him.
"This—"
She suddenly brought out the fancy paper bag she had been holding tightly, and carefully handed it to Haru.
"For you."
"A gift? For me?"
Surprised, Haru took the bag from the green-haired girl. His deep black eyes flickered with curiosity.
A gift? Just for showing up?
They hadn't even been apart that long... since when did Mutsumi start thinking about social niceties?
Peeking inside, he saw a bunch of fresh green cucumbers, clearly homegrown. Judging by the quality, she must've picked out the best ones for him.
With that vibrant color, they'd be perfect in a salad or even raw.
Mutsumi gave me cucumbers. She definitely likes me.
"These look fresh... You just harvested them, right? They're really beautiful."
He pulled one out and examined it closely.
Its smooth, vivid green skin was thin but crisp to the touch. Even someone like Haru, who spent time tending flowers and plants, couldn't help but admire her care and effort.
"..."
The cucumber fairy in a beret gave a very firm nod.
Somehow, her hands were already cradling the mango juice. She sipped delicately from the straw, expression unchanged, yet clearly not as calm as she looked.
Her golden eyes occasionally flicked toward him, stealing glances. She was drinking faster than usual, and even her head was starting to bob faintly.
That barely-there smile tugging at her lips said it all~
The cucumber fairy was in top form!
Watching her obviously pleased expression, Haru chuckled.
"Mutsumi, thanks for the cucumbers. I'll cook them into something nice. If you're free… wanna come over and try it with me? My own cucumbers are almost ready too."
"Mm!"
Mutsumi lifted her head, looking unexpectedly serious. Her usually unreadable gaze held a trace of anticipation.
Just as she opened her mouth to say more, she paused. Something important came back to her. After a few seconds of silence, her golden eyes rose again, voice quieter—
"Actually… Sakiko has something she wants to ask you."
"Oh, really?"
Sorry to break it to you, I already saw that coming with my stand, King Crimson!
"...She should be here soon."
Mutsumi looked down, voice a little dejected. She was watching Haru's reaction carefully.
Truth was, she didn't want to be Sakiko's messenger.
Especially since Sakiko was trying to recruit Haru to compose for Ave Mujica. He was already juggling two bands, Mutsumi hadn't reached out lately because she didn't want to burden him further.
She had been looking forward to the amusement park date they'd planned. But she also feared she was just adding to his stress.
That flash of sadness in her eyes made Haru break out in a cold sweat.
Crap...
They had made plans, but he hadn't followed through yet.
This summer had been hectic in every way. But no matter what, he had to make it up to her. Otherwise, he might end up with a cucumber through the skull.
"Mutsumi, I'm really sorry. Once I'm done with all this stuff, let's go on our date."
"And to make it up to you, how about you ask me for anything? I'll do it."
Putting his palms together, Haru gave a serious, heartfelt apology.
The moment he said it, Mutsumi's eyes lit up, the sadness vanishing.
That doll-like face twitched ever so slightly. She leaned toward him on the soft couch, just a little closer.
"It's okay."
She shook her head, still expressionless, yet somehow radiating joy.
"...Haru, anything at all?"
Haru: ...?
What are you going to ask?
Want me to join the Holy Grail War with a Lancer-class Servant? Pilot Unit-02 against airborne Angels? Fight Snake Eyes with pure Taijutsu?
He did say she could ask anything, but he'd assumed Mutsumi wouldn't ask for anything too outlandish.
If it were Soyo, he'd never have made that offer.
But thinking about it...
Mutsumi might seem like a quiet, delicate ice princess on the outside, but deep down, her wild side screamed rock and roll.
"As long as it's not something I absolutely can't do, I'll probably say yes."
"....Okay, got it."
She drained the rest of her mango juice in one go.
The green-haired girl nestled close to him, her golden eyes gleaming with subtle intent.
Anything she wanted.
They continued chatting idly for a while after that. But before long, the café door opened again.
The bell chimed.
A girl with light-blue twin tails tied by black-trimmed ribbons strolled in, her gaze drifting like someone lost in an art museum. Her amber eyes sparkled, searching the room.
The moment Haru called out to her, her worried expression brightened instantly.
"Sorry, I was held up a little on the way."
The moment Togawa Sakiko laid eyes on Kazami Haru, she felt her heartbeat quicken with nerves.
But...
When she saw Mutsumi sitting on the same side of the table as Haru, a flicker of confusion crossed Sakiko's eyes.
It felt a little odd, but she quickly reasoned that Mutsumi must've left the opposite seat open for her, thinking it would be better for serious conversation. With that in mind, she didn't dwell on it and stepped forward in her round-toed shoes, seating herself across from Haru.
"Sorry to call you out like this today, Haru-san. Actually…"
"There's something important I need to ask your help with."
Sakiko took a deep breath. Her eyes, when she lifted them, were full of solemn determination.
Seeing how serious she looked, Haru straightened up immediately, assuming a composed, attentive posture.
"Please, go ahead."
The polite tone drifting from Haru's lips nearly broke the gravity on Sakiko's face.
"Come on, no need to be that formal…"
She had practiced her lines over and over on the way here. But the moment she saw Haru, it all got jumbled. Still, his reaction eased some of her tension.
She exhaled slowly, trying to regain control over her flustered state.
Stay calm. Just say what you need to say as clearly as possible.
"I want to form a band and I want you to be our composer."
Her back straightened with conviction, Sakiko looked him in the eye and spoke with calm clarity.
Mutsumi, who already knew what this was about, opened her mouth just slightly, then turned her gaze to Haru. She was trying to read his expression, to see how he felt about it.
"So that's what this is about?"
Haru raised an eyebrow slightly, murmuring to himself.
Ah, the power of intel. Looks like he's gone full info-gathering mode now.
Though he'd already guessed Sakiko was here to invite him to Ave Mujica, hearing her say it aloud put him at ease. He could finally drop the what-ifs.
The tension in the air began to dissolve.
"Actually, about that—"
"Wait, don't reject me yet!"
Just as Haru opened his mouth, Sakiko jumped in with urgency.
Her amber eyes locked onto his, eyebrows drawn into sharp arches, her gaze intense and unyielding. In that moment, she looked like a proud white swan—graceful, but filled with steely resolve.
"The band I'm forming will debut as fast as possible!"
"The vocalist will be Uika. Lead guitar and keyboard will be handled by me and Mutsumi. The rest of the members are all top-tier talents."
"All you have to do is compose. No performing. You'll be paid the same cut as I am!"
Afraid Haru might reject her right then and there, panic flickered in Sakiko's clear eyes. She even pulled Mutsumi into it.
Her eyes never left his. She clenched her pale fist over her chest, every part of her posture shouting pride and determination. It was like she wanted to bare all of her passion, her confidence, her strength, just to get Haru to believe in her.
Sakiko didn't want pity. She didn't want sympathy that would make her feel weak.
What she did have was pride and dignity of her own. She wanted to stand beside him as an equal, shoulder to shoulder, no matter what came their way.
That was the resolve she had made.
"Haru, I need you."
"So…"
Her voice trailed off into the air.
Sakiko's eyes stayed locked on his, overwhelmed with anticipation and anxiety. She was terrified he would turn her down. After all, Haru was already juggling two bands, training and composing at the same time.
If he said yes to Ave Mujica, it would mean writing for three entirely different bands. Even the most brilliant mind would be pushed to its limits.
He had every reason to say no.
Even a genius didn't have infinite inspiration.
"Sakiko."
Haru took a breath, his brow furrowing as he looked at the tense girl in front of him.
"…Did I ever say I was rejecting you?"
Eh?
There was a flicker of confusion in her eyes, but it quickly gave way to understanding.
Sakiko's beautiful amber eyes widened slightly, and those sharply arched brows slowly relaxed. The tension around her face began to melt away, replaced by something softer, something warmer. A long-lost smile played gently on her lips.
Beside her, the doll-like girl with green hair watched in silence.
"…"
Mutsumi seemed to drift off, as if remembering something from a year ago, back when she was still part of CRYCHIC. For a moment, the Mutsumi of the past and the present overlapped in her mind, leaving her oddly dazed.
She remained seated, her head lowered slightly, lost in thought.
"I'm not going to take your money just for writing a few songs. Give me some of the backstage work too."
"…Got it."
Sakiko felt her heart soften.
Of course Haru had pride of his own. And now that she thought about it, offering him only the composer role probably hadn't been very fair. So when he asked to shoulder more, she didn't push back.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a paper contract. Since the band would be debuting officially under an agency, things like non-disclosure agreements and employment contracts had to be signed.
Without even glancing at the contents, Haru grabbed the pen and began signing.
"Haru, aren't you going to read it first?"
"…What, you think I'm scared you snuck in a marriage license?"
Without missing a beat, he signed his full name at the bottom, ignoring the entire wall of legal text. That kind of trust left a warm feeling in Sakiko's heart.
Her eyes instinctively narrowed with joy, a soft smile forming at her lips.
"…Crap, I might really need to be careful."
As he finished signing, Haru suddenly froze, his expression thoughtful.
"Huh? Be careful of what…"
Seeing his sudden change in demeanor, Sakiko blinked in confusion.
"What if you did sneak a marriage license in there? I just signed it. That'd mean we're married now."
"I—I'd never do something like that!"
Sakiko's face went bright red, a flush spreading from her cheeks all the way down her neck.
From Mutsumi's angle, you could even see the fiery red glow of Sakiko's ears. Gone was her earlier composure, she looked completely flustered.
Still… is that really an option?
