Yumeko didn't want to admit how lonely she was in the few days that Mitsuri was gone. She still had her hands full scouring the mountain for the patches of herbs she planted months ago and taking care of her grandmother, but eating by herself for dinner and going to bed without someone next to her had made her realize just how much she had already gotten used to the traveling nurse.
It only got worse when her grandmother noticed. She teased Yumeko relentlessly; it was bad enough that she had to threaten to make the plain congee her grandma hated. That eventually got her to stop, but not before Yumeko had gotten increasingly nervous about the nurse's eventual return.
When the day arrived, Yumeko was once again sweeping the outside of the shrine. The leaves had cluttered the ground again, and while nobody ever came up anymore, Yumeko wanted to keep up appearances just in case. She heard the nurse before she saw her, a sharp click-clack of heels on the stone steps leading to the torii gate. Yumeko didn't know how Mitsuri did it.
When she finally appeared, Yumeko didn't know what to do for a moment. Stuck in a brief period of indecision, she almost missed when Mitsuri opened her arms out, almost. But she saw it, and Yumeko immediately ran in for a hug. When she pulled back her face erupted into a bright red blush.
"Ah, I'm sorry, here, let me help you with your bags." She apologized.
"Don't worry, you don't have to apologize for hugging a friend." Mitsuri chuckles, handing Yumeko one of the two bags she was carrying. It appeared to be her suitcase, meaning the other one was probably her medicine bag. In Yumeko's curiosity, she almost missed what Mitsuri said.
"Wait, did you say friend? I'm your friend?" She questions. Mitsuri got quiet for a second, and Yumeko wondered if she had said the wrong thing, opening her mouth to apologize, but she was stopped at the last second when Mitsuri began to talk.
"I mean, I assumed we were? But if you don't want to be that's totally fine." Mitsuri states. For a second, Yumeko can only stare at Mitsuri with her mouth open, watching as Mitsuri slowly turns redder and redder under her gaze.
"Of course, I'd love to be friends! I've never had a friend before and- well, isn't that kind of embarrassing to admit." Yumeko chuckles awkwardly.
"It's fine, making friends isn't easy. I've made a few over the years, but I can't help but feel like we're drifting apart now." Mitsuri sighs, and Yumeko reaches out to pat her on the shoulder comfortingly. They've reached the house now, and Yumeko slides the door open to let Mitsuri through. Walking through, Yumeko places Mitsuri's bag in her room, right on the futon, which she had yet to take down despite three days having passed.
"Thank you for letting me stay here. I know it can't be easy to provide for another person." Mitsuri bows, and Yumeko waves her hands frantically.
"No, no, I'm thankful to you, really. Aren't we friends now as well? This is what friends are for." Yumeko tells the nurse. Mitsuri nods, and Yumeko finds herself smiling in glee. They visit Satsuki soon after, and though the old woman tries to pretend, it's clear to Yumeko that she's glad to see Mitsuri back as well. With all that settled, Yumeko starts to prepare dinner.
"I was thinking…" Mitsuri starts, and Yumeko glances up to give the nurse her full attention, "You collect herbs, right?" At Yumeko's nod, Mitsuri continues, "So I was thinking, if a few of them happen to be medicinal herbs, I could refashion them into remedies for cold and pain. They won't be as effective as modern medicine, but I'm sure they'll get you more money." Mitsuri finishes.
"T-that…do you think it could work?" Yumeko asks hopefully.
"Probably, I don't know everything about medicinal herbs, but I know more than the average doctor due to traveling," Mitsuri replies.
"I think it'll work out, and with extra money I can buy more food and maybe even something extra!" Yumeko gets lost in thought as she imagines everything she could do with the extra money, she's only brought out of her fantasy when Mitsuri makes a noise.
"Ah! I almost forgot, I have something for you." And with that, she dashes off toward the room, leaving Yumeko to stare after her in confusion. A minute later, Mitsuri returns, holding a small box in her hands.
"What is it?" Yumeko questions.
"It's for you," Mitsuri answers, holding the box out to Yumeko. She gasps, her mouth falling open as she hesitantly takes the box.
"For me? Are you sure- I don't…" Yumeko stammers.
"I'm sure, take it, you can always make me something later," Mitsuri reassures. Yumeko nods and opens the box, her hands shaking. Inside is a wooden hair ornament, made to look like pretty white flowers. She doesn't know which kind, but that doesn't matter because it's beautiful and the only gift she's ever gotten from anybody other than her grandmother.
"Thank you…it's…gorgeous." Yumeko breathes, eyes shining from unshed tears.
"I'm glad you like it. I saw it in a corner store and I knew I had to buy it for you as soon as I laid eyes on it." Mitsuri smiles.
"C-can you help me put it on?" Yumeko questions nervously. She sees Mitsuri's smile soften as she beckons Yumeko closer. Yumeko places the ornament in Mitsuri's hands, removing the simple ribbon she currently has. She waits patiently as Mitsuri takes strands of her hair, gathering them up in the half-bun that Yumeko usually keeps her hair in. It feels…intimate, and Yumeko blushes, thankful that Mitsuri can't see her face.
"Done," Mitsuri states, and Yumeko moves toward the bathroom, looking up in the mirror at herself when she arrives. The ornament is beautiful; it matches her old and worn kimono, and she marvels at how such a simple thing could make her so happy.
"You look amazing," Mitsuri tells her, and Yumeko believes her. The smile on her face only grows.