The apartment was quiet except for the soft turning of pages and the occasional shifting of fabric as Eriko and Sammi curled up in their usual reading spots. The evening light filtered through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the room, while the faint hum of the city murmured outside.
Eriko sat in her deep, overstuffed chair, completely immersed in the U.S. elections of 1824 and 1828. The book rested on her lap, heavy with political intrigue and historical echoes. Across from her, sprawled across the couch, Sammi was halfway through Shiho Usui’s Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon, one arm draped lazily over her stomach, the other balancing the manga’s pages.
For a long time, neither spoke. They both liked these quiet evenings, wrapped in the warmth of words. But then Eriko, without looking up, muttered,
“This is… unsettling.”
Sammi blinked and glanced over. “What is?”
Eriko sighed and sat up straighter, flipping a page with a little more force than necessary. “Jackson. Andrew Jackson.”
Sammi stretched her arms above her head, yawning. “Remind me which one he was again?”
Eriko gave her a look. “The loud, populist, 'I speak for the common man' guy who ended up completely reshaping American democracy. The guy who believed in raw political strength over institutions. He saw himself as a champion of the people, but he was also terrifying in how he wielded that power.”
Sammi scrunched her nose. “Oh. That guy.”
“Yes,” Eriko continued. “He played the ‘stolen election’ narrative in 1824 when he lost to John Quincy Adams, despite winning the popular vote. He convinced everyone he was cheated by the so-called ‘elite,’ even though Adams was—objectively—the more prepared leader. Then in 1828, he came back stronger and absolutely destroyed Adams in the rematch, all because he mastered the art of political branding.”
Sammi hummed. “Sounds familiar.”
“Right?” Eriko leaned forward, gesturing at the book. “Adams was the ‘intellectual’ president, the one who believed in science, education, and diplomacy, but he was terrible at the whole ‘relating to common people’ thing. Meanwhile, Jackson went full ‘man of the people,’ even though his policies were dangerous and his rhetoric was… reckless.”
She huffed. “It’s frustrating. People wanted the fighter, not the scholar. They didn’t care about Adams’ vision for the country; they wanted Jackson’s fire. And even though Jackson ended up being the more ‘democratic’ president in terms of popular appeal, he was also the one who destroyed institutions, led to massive economic instability, and forcibly removed Indigenous peoples on the Trail of Tears. So… yeah.”
Sammi closed her book gently, tilting her head in thought. “It’s weird how much history just… repeats itself.”
Eriko exhaled, rubbing her temples. “It’s infuriating. People never learn.”
Sammi gave her a soft smile. “Well… some people do.”
Eriko raised an eyebrow. “Like who?”
Sammi wiggled her manga in the air. “Uno-san and Satou-san.”
Eriko sighed dramatically. “Oh, yes. Of course. We must now pivot from the trajectory of American democracy to your soft yuri manga.”
Sammi grinned, undeterred. “Exactly.” She flipped back to a page and held it up. “See, Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon is about change, too. Uno-san starts off believing she has to be this perfect, proper office lady because she thinks that’s what will make her happy. But she’s wrong! It’s not about playing a role—it’s about growing into your real self.”
Eriko crossed her arms. “I fail to see how this connects to Jacksonian democracy.”
Sammi rolled her eyes. “Come on, Eri. Jackson and Adams were stuck in their own identities, too. Adams thought intelligence should be enough to lead. Jackson thought power was the only thing that mattered. Neither could break out of their role.”
She tapped the manga’s final page. “But Uno-san and Satou-san? They change. They open up. They realize that love is about growing, about meeting someone where they are and evolving together.”
Eriko stared at her for a long moment, then shook her head with a smirk. “So what you’re saying is… Adams should have confessed his love to Jackson and they would’ve lived happily ever after?”
Sammi gasped dramatically. “Exactly! History would have been so much better if all those guys just kissed instead of fighting wars.”
Eriko chuckled, shaking her head as she closed her book. “You are ridiculous.”
“And yet,” Sammi said, sliding closer and nudging Eriko’s leg with her foot, “here you are, completely in love with me.”
Eriko rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small, amused smile playing on her lips.
Sammi grinned. “Admit it. My yuri wisdom helped.”
Eriko took a moment, then finally sighed. “Fine. I admit it.”
Sammi fist-pumped in victory, then flopped over, resting her head on Eriko’s lap. “See? I’m an intellectual, too.”
Eriko snorted, but she ran a hand through Sammi’s hair all the same, absentmindedly twirling a lock of red strands between her fingers.
Maybe, just maybe, love and history weren’t so different after all.
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