Shoujoai ni Bouken: Adventures of Yuriko

The Story So Far: Yuriko's first week as a senior at Mitsukawa High ended in a series of small disasters, but Yuriko's perky nature won't allow her to stay down forever. It's Saturday night and she's out being grown-up once more, thank the gods. But the day isn't over yet...


Volume 1, Issue 9

"Saturday Night"



"Kampai!" Yuriko drank her beer with relish. Being an adult had it all over being a kid.

Mari and Hachi joined her with their own toasts and the three settled themselves down for the long haul. This restaurant was a favorite with the studio crowd; Yuriko could see several faces she knew - a few of them, very well indeed. She caught a wink from one of the women across the room and raised her glass, then turned back to her friends.

"So," Hachi said, "I hear you've really made a splash at school in your first week."

Yuriko pushed her glasses back on her nose and leaned her elbows on the table. "I really don't want to talk about, okay? Tonight I'm an adult again, I want to talk about things that are important...not essays and math problems." She sighed a little and ran her fingers through her hair.

Mari patted her lightly on the shoulder. "Poor Yuri. This has been alot harder than you thought, hasn't it?" Yuri nodded, pouting, then smiled as Hachi poured her another glass. Her smile broadened as the waitress came over to take their order.

Hachi watched in amazement as Yuriko took over the conversation. In seconds the waitress was talking exclusively to her, laughing and flirting with the blonde as if they were old friends. He caught Mari's eye and they smiled at their friend's behavior.

When their orders had been placed by Yuriko - who had ordered for all of them - the waitress took her leave, with a last glance over her shoulder at the table. Yuriko's spirits seemed to have improved immensely by this point.

"I don't know how you do it." Hachi said, a little enviously, "that's a heck of a magic power you have."

Yuriko grinned. "I like to think of it as good interpersonal skills." They laughed. "So, tell me," she requested, "what the rest of the world is doing."

"Well, Hachi just pulled in a huge contract for his company!" Mari gave her fiancé's arm a squeeze. "I'm so proud of him."

Hachi insisted it wasn't that big a deal, but Yuriko could see that it was. She congratulated him enthusiastically.

"And," Mari continued, "we have a new production assistant on the show."

"You're working on the new quiz show now, right?" Yuriko asked.

"Yes, the one with the stupid costumes...you remember? Well, this one's a Type 1 and I bet it won't be long before she snaps. We actually have a betting pool. I bet that she'd go before the end of her second week."

"Mine's Type 2, but this week was so tough, I bet I get a new one for next week." Yuriko grinned.

Hachi looked back and forth between the two women. "What do you mean by 'Type 1' and 'Type 2'?" he inquired.

Mari laughed into her glass. "It's an idea Yuriko had a while back. You know how...disposable...PAs are, right?" Hachi nodded and Mari continued. "Well, Yuriko says that they seem to break down into three types."

"Type 1," Yuriko took over, "begin as perky and move into hysterical then finish up homicidal. In their late phases, they chain smoke, drink constantly and talk to themselves alot. Type 2 begin as laconic, or melancholic, and end up suicidal. They simply disappear one day and never return. Type 3s begin and end burnt out. They go from job to job like automatons, with no free will."

"But what about the ones who don't snap or burn out?" Hachi asked. Both women looked at him with complete seriousness and shook their heads.

"No such animal." Yuriko commented. "If it doesn't destroy them, they aren't PAs."

Mari added, "The ones with any real talent leave almost immediately for a better job, a few sleep their way out of the position, but a real PA is one of the above."

"Oh," Hachi said, enlightened.

"Speaking of sleeping with someone, where's Mira tonight?" Mari turned to Yuriko. "I thought you'd bring her."

"Mira?" Yuriko paused, her glass halfway to her mouth. "Who?"

Mari's brows drew together in confusion. "You know - Mira. That Greek reporter you had a fling with last year? She's in town this weekend. I saw her at the studio and told her to give you a call..." Mari paused, taking in Yuriko's puzzled face. "You haven't checked your phone messages, have you?"

"Uh, no, actually..." Yuriko set her glass down and rubbed the back of her head. "I've been so busy and tired when I do get home that..." Looking down at the table, then back at her friend, the blonde asked, "How long did she say she'd be here?"

"She's flying home tomorrow morning." Mari answered, and watched Yuriko sigh. "Sorry."

"No," Yuriko said placidly, "it's just the perfect end to this week." She picked up her glass and drank it dry.

***

At least dinner had been very good, Yuriko thought, as she returned home. And the waitress *was* cute. She looked down at the card she had slipped Yuriko with the check. Tucking the card in her inside pocket, Yuriko grinned. Maybe she'd give her a call sometime.


At home the answering machine blinked twenty times. Yuriko counted - twice. Without hesitation she reached down and hit "erase," then proceeded directly to bed. Alone.