Understanding

'Hai. Kanojo wa watashi no koto ga dekimasu ka? (Yes. Can she be mine?)'

The woman mimed a chuckle.

'Mochirondesu. (Of course, dear.)'

After, her attention shifted to Chouko. She mimed a gulp, but understood the message loud and clear. This woman - Naomi had just claimed her. For what?

****? No, that was quite unlikely.

Servant? Just as preposterous.

So she returned her attention back to the other woman.

'Naomi wa genzai, maiko ikodeari, geisha ni naru tame no kunren o okonatte imasu (Naomi is currently a maiko, training to become a geisha.)'

Chouko's gaze snaps back over to Naomi. She couldn't be any older than her (21), yet she wasn't even a true geisha yet?

'Sore ga watashi ni naru kotodesu ka? (Is that what I am to become?)'

The woman nodded, watching Naomi take a seat beside Chouko.

'Hai (Yes.)'

Digging into her bloused sleeves, a camera comes out. An old one, the sort with the photos that need to be waved about.

'Hai, chīzu (Say Cheese.)'

The pair cracked a smile, flash filling their vision. After, the photo fell to the floor. Chouko picked it up, waving it about a little. A double take followed.

Here she was, face decorated much the same as Naomi. But she found herself reminded of a memory from before this moment. But try as she might, it remained just out of reach. Maybe some other day, she could ask Naomi.