December 6th Tues. -- Night
The long weekend was almost over, and tomorrow Kasai would have to return to school only to face the dreaded finals. He hadn’t done as much studying as he probably should have. There was no hope for his math classes, not even an ace could save those grades. Looking over Japanese History may have been worth his time. He had a slight chance in that class.
The weekend was long, extended for extra studying time. Instead, Kasai had spent his time at the skate park. He had planned to do his last minute studying at the end of the weekend. After a trip to his brother’s place the day before, any thoughts of studying were out the door. His mind was jumbled with thoughts.
Harchi, they called her. The guy had to be mistaken. He was high after all. He was probably high when he saw her. There was no way his Yumi could be some elaborate gang member.
A glass cup fell into the sink, dangerously close to shattering. He was at work and for a Tuesday, a large pile of dishes lay stacked lazily nearby the large sink. He wore an apron and had his hair pulled back by a hair-tie, or at least the hair long enough to reach. It was quiet in the back room other than the clanking of the dishes, giving him plenty of opportunity for thinking.
Yumi was constantly bruised. He worried about her, but never linked it to gang activity. She would sometimes show up late, or even call to tell him she can’t make it at all. He had seen some of her friends before, from a glance. Their overall look…it just fit the idea altogether. Yumi was Harchi. She had to be. Everything pointed towards it.
But it could also all be a coincidence. He could just be putting pieces together that don’t belong together. He had to give her the benefit of the doubt. The only way he could ever be sure was by talking to her. But when? And how do you bring up a subject like that?
Kasai sighed as he threw a clean plate into a pile of dishes he already washed. Finals were the last thing on his mind.