⚜ EVENING, 25TH JULY, 1990, THE GOJO ESTATE ⚜
THE SAITO GIRL was sitting near one of the side tables, looking as out of place as ever. Her pale hands rested awkwardly in her lap, and her dark hair hung in a sleek, shiny curtain around her face.
Lord Saito was nowhere in sight, though Ginny noticed a few other members of the family milling about the place, all looking equally uncomfortable and out of their depth as they engaged in various activities.
The servant boy stood a few paces away, his hands clasped behind his back as he watched his young mistress with quiet attentiveness. Ginny spared him a brief glance before fixing her gaze on the young Lady Saito and flashing her most charming smile.
"Lady Saito," she said, her voice warm and lilting. "Your gown is exquisite. The embroidery is exquisite. Is it from Kyoto?"
The girl's head snapped up, her wide, dark eyes blinking in surprise. For a moment, she simply stared at Ginny, as if unsure whether she really had been addressed. Then, slowly, she nodded. "Y-Yes," she said softly. "It… it was a gift from my grandmother."
"How wonderful," Ginny said, settling gracefully into the chair beside her. "Your grandmother must have excellent taste. You look absolutely stunning."
Saito flushed a delicate shade of pink and ducked her head, clearly unused to receiving compliments. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Ginny leaned in slightly, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. "You know, I was just telling someone earlier how difficult it can be to find genuine, refined company at these events. Everyone's so busy trying to impress the Potters or the Malfoys that they forget what real class looks like."
Lady Saito's eyes widened, and Ginny could almost see the gears turning in her head. It was a carefully calculated statement — just vague enough to leave room for interpretation, but pointed enough to make Lady Saito feel singled out, chosen.
"I—I suppose that's true," the girl said hesitantly. "It can be… overwhelming."
Ginny nodded sympathetically. "Exactly. But that's why I thought it would be nice for us to talk. It's rare to find someone who understands what it's like to be overlooked just because we're not part of the 'Golden Circle,' don't you think?"
Saito bit her lip and glanced around the room, as if checking to see whether anyone else was listening. Then, she leaned in slightly and whispered, "I didn't think anyone else felt that way."
"Oh, I feel it all the time," Ginny said, letting a hint of frustration creep into her voice. "It's like no matter what we do, we're always seen as second best. But I think that's going to change soon. People are starting to realize that it's not just about being born into the right family — it's about what you can bring to the table."
Saito's expression softened, and for the first time, she offered Ginny a shy smile. "Maybe you're right."
Ginny smiled back, but within, she was trying to plotting her next move. This was just the beginning, she thought. Saito might be timid and uncertain now, but with the right guidance — and the right leader — she could become a valuable ally.
As they continued to talk, Ginny kept her tone friendly, carefully steering the conversation toward topics like fashion and music, endearing herself towards the Saito girl to the point that they got on a first name basis — it was rather fast, but Ginny wasn't complaining.
The Saito girl really opened up quite a bit as she became warmer towards Ginny. "You really are a fun person, Ginny. I wonder why you say others think otherwise."
Ginny flashed a grin. "Thank you, Akiko."
Akiko smiled back, before her face shifted to an expression of thoughtful contemplation. "Actually, I think I have a small way of helping with the Potter girls. You know, just to thank you for being kind enough to come meet me — not everyone would."
Ginny's eyes widened. "Really?"
Akiko smiled as she leaned in and whispered in Ginny's ear. Ginny felt her heart palpitate faster and faster as Akiko relayed her plan. By the time Akiko pulled back, Ginny could barely breathe.
"What do you think?" Akiko asked, her voice as light as a feather, as though she hadn't just set Ginny's world spinning.
Ginny swallowed hard, her mind swirling with a mixture of exhilaration and dread. But beneath it all, one thought burned brighter than any other. This was it. This was her chance.
"I think," Ginny said slowly, a grin beginning to tug at the corners of her mouth, "that it's perfect."
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Jasmine was chatting cheerfully with Ashley, her voice light and easy as they wandered away from the main crowd. The bustling hum of conversation faded behind them as they strolled toward the large koi pond, tucked away near the edge of the garden.
They had left their other friends to their own devices, choosing instead to steal some private time to catch up in peace. It wasn't often that they got moments like these, and Jasmine wanted to savor it.
She laughed softly at something Ashley said, her green eyes sparkling with amusement as she leaned against the railing surrounding the pond.
"I swear, Ashley, you're still just as dramatic as ever," Jasmine teased, shaking her head with a grin.
Ashley gave her a mock-offended look, placing a hand over her heart. "Dramatic? I prefer the term 'panache for the dramaturgical.' Really sells the idea of my magnanimous ability for theatrics. You'd miss it if I stopped."
"How presumptuous of you," Jasmine replied, laughing again. "Well, at the very least, your ever-so-wealthy vocabulary supports the idea that you're a drama queen."
Ashley gasped in exaggerated indignation, placing both hands on her hips as though she'd been gravely insulted. "Drama queen? How dare you reduce me to mere royalty when, clearly, I'm operating on goddess levels of theatricality."
Jasmine snorted, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle. "Goddess, huh? And here I thought humility was supposed to be one of your virtues."
"Oh, darling," Ashley drawled with a wicked grin, flipping her hair over her shoulder, "I left humility at the door a long time ago. Too heavy to carry around all the time."
Jasmine shook her head, smiling fondly. "You're impossible."
"And yet, somehow, you still adore me," Ashley quipped, leaning casually on the railing beside Jasmine. "Admit it. My flair for the dramatic makes life just a little more exciting."
"More like mildly exhausting," Jasmine teased, though the warmth in her eyes betrayed her fondness.
Ashley gasped dramatically, throwing her head back with a flourish as she pressed the back of her hand to her forehead in an exaggerated display of mock distress.
"How dare you!" she exclaimed. "'Mildly exhausting'? You wound me, Jasmine! I'm supposed to be the greatest source of ire in your life, yet I am relegated to mildly exhausting! Such betrayal, from my dearest of friends — oh, the audacity! How could you!"
Jasmine burst out laughing, covering her mouth as she shook her head at Ashley's theatrics. "Oh, the tragedy!" she teased. "What a scandal! Ah, but I'm sure you'll recover—"
Before she could finish, a voice cut through the playful moment, sharp and unexpected.
"Excuse me," Ginny said, her tone clipped and oddly formal. She stood a few feet away, looking tense, her expression somewhere between forced politeness and simmering irritation.
Jasmine raised an eyebrow, her playful smile fading just a touch as she exchanged a quick glance with Ashley, who straightened up, her dramatic pose forgotten in an instant.
"Ginny," Jasmine greeted, her voice calm but cautious. "Is there something you need?"
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Author here. 🥸
The plot thickens! Anyway, I hope that everything up until this point has been satisfactory, because I have some rather big things coming up in a chapter or two. 🥸
In any case, drop them reviews, comments, and power stones, please! I'd appreciate it! 😁