Hearts For Us
“Hoo!” Ibé-san had sighed in that field where they watched Ash and Shorter pluck and roast their feathery dinner. Eiji could remember the sudden lines etched deeply on Ibé’s face as he sighed in resignation at the crazy world in which they’d fallen. “Eiji-kun,” Ibé-san had mumbled, shaking his head, “We are not in Japan anymore.”
Yes. They were not in Japan. They were in America-a violent and ugly part of the country that Eiji had loved for its detective dramas. So, Eiji decided that he would do as the Americans do. He followed Ash’s lead, and when Ash was absent, running his private dangerous errands, Eiji turned to the other gang members.
If they drove up and around and down and sideways through the cramped alleyways before getting out and switching cars to reach their destination, then he would sit tight, hold onto the door, and hurry his ass up.
When February 14th surprised the gang, Eiji was ready. He was so prepared that he was quite proud of himself for becoming acclimated to a new role on Valentine’s Day.
9:00am: In Japan, Eiji would be receiving giri-choco sporadically throughout the day as female friends would pop up and hand over the little box or bag with a sing-song reminder of their expectations for White Day.
On a rare occasion, the girl would flutter her eyelashes shyly and present him with honmei chocolate. Eiji would invite the girl on a few dates, and they would have fun watching movies and eating out. But by the next Valentine’s Day, the girls at school all knew that he could receive honmei chocolate.
9:00am: In America, presently, Eiji was cheerfully taping up blue, yellow, orange, and green crepe paper hearts. Valentine’s Day wasn’t the occasion for Eiji to scold Bono for his tough-guy stereotyped dislike of pink. But, out of contrariness, Eiji also put up several giant red hearts with heavy-lashed eyes and rosebud pursed lips.
9:35am: In Japan, Eiji would be sneaking bites of giri-choco behind his exercise booklet whenever the teacher looked to the other side of the room.
9:35am: In America, Eiji was busily sorting out his Valentine’s Day cards and matching message to gang member. He had briefly thought of writing out his own sayings, but he could only remember the Valentine’s Day card that his American pen pal had sent him when he was in elementary school.
The message? “You are my sunshine, so be my Valentine!” The words were written with a rather garish but eye-catching mix of red and yellow crayon.
Eiji contemplated the reaction of, say, Big Hud, and almost lost control of his stomach muscles.
9:55am: In Japan, Eiji would have finished off the last bit of his third chocolate and looked up to see the teacher staring hard at him. Sweat would have popped up on his forehead and right below his shoulder blades.
9:55am: In America, Eiji was having a difficult time deciding. Which card was to be Shorter’s? Ah, what if he used that psychology trick?
Shorter? First thought: Shades. Eiji looked through the cards and finally picked the one with the motorcycle rider. Eh, close enough. He shrugged. He kept that mentality for the rest of the process.
Bono? First thought: Nicotine. Eiji picked the card with the red gummy heart.
Jim-Jam? First thought: Jazz. Eiji picked the card with the red stars.
Tun? First thought: Skittles. Eiji picked the card with the multi-colored hearts.
Big Hud? First thought: Wool scarf (even in the summer). Eiji picked the card with the red and blue ribbon swirls.
On and on, Eiji exercised his not completely random choices.
10:07am: In Japan, Eiji would have given up sneaking chocolate after the close call and spent the rest of the class hour in a haze born of too much sugar. To feel somewhat productive, he would have started a mental checklist for the little trinkets he could buy the girls without breaking his bank account.
10:07am: In America, Eiji finished writing names and scribbling his signature. He tore open the pink bag of Snickers and taped one securely to each card. Afterward, he smiled as he put the leftover candy back in the bag to save for Ash’s random attacks of sweet tooth.
Eiji walked carefully around the sleeping bodies on the futons in the living room and placed the cards by the rightful owners. Some of the gang members could be shy about gifts.
“Huuuuuuuuuuuh!” Eiji heard the ear-splitting yawn from the bedroom. No one stirred on the futons. Well, Shorter made an automatic finger but it quickly flopped back down. He supposed that they stayed over after meetings often enough that they could sleep through Ash’s morning routine.
Eiji poked his head past the bedroom door and shushed Ash loudly. “Shorter and the others are still sleeping. It’s only 10:00.”
Ash covered up another yawn as he continued to roll his shoulders and neck to alleviate aching muscles. “What’re you doing up so early?” he asked sleepily, still sitting on the bed.
Eiji smiled and shrugged. He handed Ash his Snickers bar.
“Valentine’s Day, huh?” Ash said as he smiled in thanks and dropped the candy in his shirt pocket. “Do I get a card too?” he teased. His grin faded as his eyes widened in surprise when Eiji held out a small handmade card to him.
A red and yellow scribble with a rather cheery message that Eiji thought a good match apropos of Ash’s brilliant blond hair.
Ash walked over to his computer desk and ruffled through the papers. He turned around and gave Eiji a piece of cardboard, taking Eiji’s card in return.
Eiji blinked at the bright orange stars in the blue background-not quite dark enough to suggest nighttime but not light enough to suggest daytime. “You’re a star in the sky, Valentine!”
Ash looked sheepish. “I couldn’t really remember what messages people put on the cards, but I figure it’s something like that.”
“Thank you. Your drawing skills are better than mine. I will treasure it,” Eiji said sincerely. “But I thought I was going to surprise you all. I did not think you remember Valentine’s Day.”
“I didn’t. Not until yesterday.” Ash smirked. “You dropped your supplies at the front door when you got back from shopping and ran over to help Mrs. Galloway catch her cat.”
Eiji grimaced. “That animal is evil.”
“I saw the candy, but I wasn’t expecting the card,” Ash said softly. “So, thanks, Eiji. It brings back happy memories.”
Eiji nodded, and they looked at each awkwardly until the moment was interrupted by Big Hud’s cry of surprise when he woke up to see a giant red wide-eyed heart making a kissy face at him.
10:32am: America. Japan. Eiji was happy it’s Valentine’s Day.