[Fiction] 僕たちの日々~OUR DAYS~ Ep1 Part1
Inspired by the early-90s high school J-Dramas I've watched!
17-sai -at seventeen-, Jajauma Narashi, Houkago, Sono Toki Haato wa Nusumareta, Gakkou e Ikou, Minami-kun no Koibito! They all inspired me!^o^
This is my version of an early-90s high school J-drama starring SMAP members^^
Note: This is an absolutely original fiction with fictional characters I created myself. Has nothing to do with their real life, although their real life inspired me here and there. However, I will mostly use their real names for the fictional characters, just so it'll be easy for you to imagine who's who.
Setting:
Nakoshimaru Highschool, Yokohama, 1993.
Brief plot:
Revolves around the daily life of 7-8 highschool buddies who happens to be the school's Photography Club members. The 8 main characters are 17-18 years old, 3rd grade.
Characters:
Nakai Masahiro: leader of the club, the eldest of five siblings
Kimura Takuya: good at everything, the most popular boy in school
Matsumoto Takako: born in a wealthy traditional family in the ikebana(flower arrange) business, but has a tomboy behaviour
Inagaki Goro: cousins with Nakai, very dilligent in studies, his father is a doctor
Kusanagi Tsuyoshi: the only child, bestfriends with Shingo
Katori Shingo: orphan, lives together with his aunt and little sister
Mizuki Arisa: childhood friends and neighbours with Shingo, live alone only with her mother
Mori Katsuyuki: he is in a comma state since the beginning of this story, Goro's father is in charge of him
Katori(Tanaka) Rena: juniorhigh 3rd grade, 14 yrs old, Shingo's little sister
Kanno Miho: 2nd grade, a member of the school magazine club, a clumsy girl who attracted Goro's attention
Nakama Yukie: 1st grade, a girl from different school, Nakai meets her from time to time in the book store he works part-time at
Kimura(Isshiki) Sae: 1st grade, 15 yrs old, Takuya's little sister, just like her brother-popular in school
Inagaki(Esumi) Makiko: working woman, Goro's big sister
Takeda Shinji: 3rd grade, good at everything, Takuya's rival at school, leader of the school magazine club
僕たちの日々~OUR DAYS~
Boku-tachi no Hibi
written by yanie
The eight of us started our friendship since first grade. We've been through many things together since then. We laughed together, we cried together, we even fought each other....
We had alot of fun together... always together...
But one day... the accident happened... one of our friend, Katsu, had a traffic accident and is in a vegetative state since then... We were shaken badly by the incident...
Katsu didn't even get to finish his 2nd grade final exams...
But we still have hopes. We pray everyday, everyday that Katsu will get around soon. We're hanging onto that hope. Until the day come, we decided that all we can do is to continue our life cheerfully, as always.
And always ready to welcome Katsu home...
But how much can we stay live our life as usual, knowing our friend is in that kind of state? How much can we hide our sorrows and put up a front?
There is definitely no way our life would be the same again...
Three months has passed since the accident... It is the beginning of a new school year...
We are all third grade students now...
Spring, April 1993
Photography Club room, Nakoshimaru Highschool
"Minna, we have really worked hard so far in this club for 2 years. We had always kept trying to keep this club active and attract more juniors to our club," I said in a serious tone. "But as you've all heard from Yamaguchi-sensei, the school decided to close our club by the end of this school year, since there had been no juniors at all joining this club... It's really sad, I know... As the leader of this club, it's hard for me too... but..."
I lifted up my head to find Goro is working on his homework. Arisa is reading a book. Takuya, Tsuyoshi, Shingo and Takako are watching horse-racing on TV. No one is listening.
"Oyyy!! Kiiten no ka(are you guys listening)??!".
"Yosh! Yoshh! Ikeeeeee(go)!!!!!!! Barbaroooo!!!" the boys cheering on their favorite horse.
"Noooo!!! Pierottoooo!!! Beat Barbaro!!! You can still win this race!!! Pierotto!!!! Iyaaaaa(no)!!!" Takako is yelling on the TV.
The boys cheered even louder as Barbaro passed through the goal line.
"Yosshhaaaa!!! Yattaaaa!!! Barbaro won!! Yappariii, Barbaro da naaaa~~!!" they are high-fiving each other.
Takako looked so frustrated and shook the TV, "Nande maketa no yooo(why must you lost)?!! PIEROTTO NO BAKA!!!"
Takuya stretched his right hand towards Takako, followed by Shingo and Tsuyoshi, "Haiii... you owe us 500 yen each!"
Arisa closed her book, "500??! Takako, how can you let these boys fooled you and take your money away?!".
"What do you mean, we fooled her? This is a fair match!" Takuya said.
"People who don't understand anything about horse-racing, may not interfere... shoo!" Shingo pushed Arisa away.
"Sou da! Sou da!" is all Tsuyoshi said.
"Now give us the 500 yen!"
"Wakatta wa yo(I know, I know)...." Takako took her wallet from her bag.
"Daitai... how can an ikebana lady like you has a horce-racing as a hobby??? Shouldn't you be at home now arranging flowers?" Arisa is still scolding Takako.
"OYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!" I finally speak up. They all turned to me.
"I was just talking about something important here!! How could you guys!!" I complained.
"Yeah, we heard you, about this club closing right? Yeah, yeah..." Takuya said while reaching the 500 yen Takako is handing over.
"That's right! Aren't you all concerned at all about this??" I asked them.
"Shouganai darou(there's nothing we can do)... we've tried our best in trying to attract the juniors' attention in the clubs expo last week, but no one came to our stand," Shingo put in the 500 yen he just received to his pocket.
"Yeah, I get that! But what I'm talking about is...." before I finished my sentence, someone opened the door.
"Anooo.... is this the Photography club??" a cute-looking girl showed herself from behind the door.
Takuya widened his eyes, "Sae!"
The girl looked happy as soon as she saw Takuya, "Ahh... oniichan!!!"
"ONIICHAN??!" we all said in unison.
She entered the room and immediately introduced herself to us, "Ah, hajimemashite! Kimura Takuya's younger sister, Sae desu. I'm in the first grade second group class! I hope you will let me join this Photography club! Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!!!".
"Oy, oy, oyyy.... these 2 years, you never told us you have a sister, Takuya!" I walked towards Sae, but Shingo and Tsuyoshi are already standing in front of me.
"Hajimemashite! Katori Shingo desu! I've heard about you before, never thought you're this cute!"
I pulled Shingo away and come to the front, "Nakai desu! I'm the leader of this club... I'll teach you anything about cameras, you can always come to me!"
Tsuyoshi pulled me away, "Kusanagi Tsuyoshi desu! Sae-chan, do you have a boyfriend??"
"Hai! Hai! Hai!" Takuya hit each of our heads, "Enough harassing my sister!" he stood in front of Sae.
"What do you mean, harassing her?? We are kindly welcoming her!".
Arisa and Takako came forward as well, smiling, "Mizuki Arisa desu,"
"Matsumoto Takako desu, nice knowing you, Sae-chan!" they greeted her.
"Ahh... Mizuki-senpai, Matsumoto-senpai, konnichiwa!" Sae turned slowly to Goro's direction, "Anoo..."
We all turned to Goro who is still doing his homework. After 3 seconds, he finally noticed, "Ah... Inagaki desu... doumo(hello)," he nod his head a bit.
Sae smiled, "Ahh... Inagaki-senpai..."
Suddenly, Goro is standing up, "Hiro-chan, sorry... I have juku(cramschool), gotta get going," he put in all his books and stationary inside his bag.
"Oy, oy, oy... chotto, Goro-channn! I still have something to talk about here! Listen for awhile, will ya!" I pushed him back to his seat.
"Then hurry up, I'm really getting late here..." Goro said.
"Okay guys, listen!! I just want us to do something big this year!! Before we leave this school for good and walk on our own paths, let's make good memories and plan many club activities this year!"
"What's this big idea do you have in mind?" Takuya asked.
"Soko nan da yo(that's the problem).... Please help me, think of an idea!"
Silence for ten seconds as everyone are starting to think. But then...
"Nothing comes to mind, ne"
"Sou da ne, let's just think it over at home,"
"Un! Otsukaresama...."
"Jya, see you tomorrow!"
Everyone seems ready to go home.
"Oyyyy, give me a break!!! You guys can't just go home now!!!" I went to the door and closed it, not letting them out of the room.
"Seriously, Hiro-chan, I can't be late for juku!" Goro said.
"I have baito(part-time job) too! But can't you just give a bit of your time and mind for this club??"
"I'm sorry, but juku is more important for me than this club!" Goro started to raise his tone.
That's it, he just pushed my "button"!
My voice tone raised too. "That's exactly what I dislike from you! You are always selfish!! Can't you just stop thinking only about yourself for awhile and think of other people too??"
"Unlike some people who will directly find a job after graduating high school, I'm aiming for Tokyo University here!! You think it's easy to pass the entrance test there?? Unlike Takuya who has a brilliant brain, mine is not so good, so I need this juku!"
"Chotto matte yo... Are you underestimating me?? So you're saying, just because I won't continue to college after graduation, your goal is alot greater than mine, so we should all just fit into your situation???"
He sighed, "I didn't say that...."
I grabbed Goro's collar, "Do you know who I'm doing this for??! It's for Katsu, you idiot!!!".
"Hiro, stop it..." Takuya tried to let go of my hands off Goro's collar, but I pushed him away.
Still grabbing his collar, I yelled at him, "You know Katsu's passion in photography! I promised him last year that we'll do something big this year. You know that too! You were there! Have you forgotten??". Goro didn't answer. I continued, "Don't tell me you have even forgotten Katsu's existence!!! I knew it... I knew it.... You never care about what happened to Katsu and you just----"
Before I know it, Goro has landed a fist on my face and I fell to the ground.
"Goro-chan!!!" Takako screamed.
"Oyyy.... stop it, Goro-chan!!" Shingo and Tsuyoshi tried to hold him back.
Goro started talking, "Don't you dare say that I don't care... Both Katsu and me also has a promise, together we are aiming for Tokyo University. Do you even know that? Do you know that Katsu is aiming for Toudai? My effort in studies is to fulfill that promise. Katsu is one of my most important friend. I can't believe you would think that I don't care about him. We've been cousins forever, but you really still don't know me huh?"
Silence.
Slowly, Goro is stretching his hand to me, "Sorry... I didn't mean to hit you that hard...". I accepted that hand and he pulled me up.
I mumbled, "Yeah well, I don't know you coz I don't really like you since childhood anyway,"
Goro smiled a bit, "Yeah, I don't like you much either,"
"So, is the boys talk over??" suddenly, Arisa asked.
"Huh?" we turned to her.
"It just occured to me that Katsu once told me the idea of a field trip..."
"Field trip?!"
"Mm... there's this Art of Photography competition in Tokyo every year. He think how great it would be if our club can win that competition. For that, we have to have a field trip to places with beautiful sceneries. But for that kind of trip... we need money...."
"Darou na..." I hung my head down, feel disappointed.
"Then, in any case, why don't we try to do some fund-raising effort for our club first?"
"How?"
"We can try to have an art sale, like making photo calendars, photo buttons or keychains..."
"Ohhh, that's a good idea, Arisa!!" Takako seem excited.
Takuya gave an idea, "Sou da! We can also put together a book or slide show of pictures we captured of the 3rd grade students and we can sell them!"
"That's nice too!"
Arisa added, "For a backup plan, in case we don't get enough money to do the field trip, we should also take photos of anything around us, in turns, everyday after school... so we would still have materials for the competition,"
I gripped both Arisa's arms, "Arisa, thank you!!".
I turned to everyone, "Any objection with this idea?"
"Noooope!!!"
"Yosshhh!!! Then let's do this, minna!! I'll talk about this to Yamaguchi-sensei tomorrow. But as to not waste any time, two people who don't have anything to do now, should start taking pictures! Goro-chan and me excluded, who's available today??"
Shingo mumbled, "Ah, Tsuyopon, don't we have that, uhh... thing to do?"
"Yeah, yeah, that thing..."
Arisa turned to Takako, "Ne, Takako... don't we have to go to... that place?"
"Oh right! Yeah, yeah, we have to go there now,"
Takuya said to his sister, "Sae... we've promised Mom we'll go home early, na..."
"Sou da ne..."
I pushed them all to the center of the room, "You guysss!!!! Come on, let's do this fair and square! Let's just decide it with janken(rock-paper-scissors) then!"
"Janken boi!!" after a few times, only Takuya and Takako left, so it's decided they will take pictures together today.
"Ah, too bad, Takako, I'll go home then," Arisa left.
"Jya, minna!" Goro took off as well.
"Jyaa... Oniichan, I'll go home first ne, bye bye!" Sae left.
ShinTsuyo went home too.
"Heee.... chotto.... today, I really can't..." Takako mumbled.
"Yoshhh! Takuya, Takako, tanomu na(I'm counting on you guys)! Here, you can use my camera!" I handed over my camera to Takuya, "Jya, baito ni ittekimaaasu(I'm going work)!!!"
~*~
I'm paddling my bicycle with all might.
I feel so relieved that, at least, we've find something to aim for.
Katsu... thank you for your field trip idea...
We'll show you we'd be able to do something big this year!
We'll get that Art of Photography trophy for you!
As I've changed to my baito uniform and entered the store, the first sight came into my eyes is..... her!!!
She's here again! That beautiful girl who often come here since two months ago!
The girl I fell in love at first sight with, but I don't know her name and I still have no courage to talk to her!
Thank you, God! It has been a week since she came, I thought she'll never come again.
She looked.... confused... she's looking for something! Hiro, this is your chance!! You can talk to her as the store clerk! Just ask her what she's looking for! Yosssh....
"Yukie! Here it is! The book you're looking for!!" her friend called her.
Aaaand.... there goes my chance... Hhh, yappari, someone like me would never have a chance to talk to someone so beautiful like her....
I turned away feeling disappointed but then I heard her voice saying, "Ah, that's not it... I'm looking for something else,".
I widened my eyes and stopped my steps....hoo? Could it be?? This is the chance for me? Should I go there? Should I not? Should I? Not? Should? Not? Arrrrgghgh, docchi nan da yo(which is it)!!! Make up your mind, Hiro!!!
Yosshhh!!! I'll ask her!
As I turned around, suddenly her face is already in front of me. I immediately jumped back, "Aaahh!!". She was surprised too, "Ahhh, sumimasen..."
"N--n--no!!! Not at all, I'm very sorry... uhh, so, may I help you?" Stop shaking your legs, Hiro! Dammit, I can't stop it, my legs are trembling by itself! And now, my heart feel like jumping out! My goodness, to see her face in such a close distance like this, she looks even more beautiful! How can such a beauty exist??
"Yes, I'm looking for books about ikebana...."
Ikebana?? She must be the young lady of a wealthy family!
"Ah, hai.... it's this way...." I showed her the way. "Doozo..."
"Oh, thank you so much for your help!" she said so politely.
"Ah, iie... anytime... uhh, if there's anything else, don't hesitate to ask me,"
"Alright, thank you!" she bowed to me.
As I walked away slowly, I can hear her friend said, "So, this is what you're looking for, Yukie..."
Yukie kaaa.... what a nice name...
"Ikebana tte Yukie-rashii na(ikebana suits you indeed, Yukie)..." her friend said.
"Just thought it'll be useful in the future..." she said.
"In the future? As in when you have become someone's wife?"
She giggled, "Iyada! Akiko-chan!"
I closed my eyes.... someone's wife?? She'll be someone else's wife?
Akkhhh, I can't imagine her be anyone else's wife, except me!
Yukie, please just marry me!!
"Anoooo...."
The voice brought me back to reality.
It's her friend, "Excuse me, you're blocking the way,"
"Ah... shitsurei itashimashita, I'm very sorry... doozo!" I gave them way.
Yukie is right behind her friend and when she passed me by, she nod to me a bit, I nod to her back. And gosh.... I can smell a floral odor as she passed! I'm drowned back to the dream land....
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
"Ano saaa...." I followed her from behind.
"Huh?" Takako is looking around her surrounding through the camera lens.
"Where are we going again?"
"The park! There are usually good sceneries in the park, deshou?"
"Sou ka..."
Takako and me has been walking a few blocks from school to the nearest park. We are now in the residence area.
She stopped and hold the camera to the sky's direction, "That's a nice cloud!". I heard the shutter's sound. Apparently she started taking pictures of the clouds.
I started gazing the sky as well... and suddenly I noticed something in the opposite direction with the one Takako took pictures at.
I walked towards her and from behind her, I hold her both hands which are still holding the camera, turning her around to the other direction, "I'll show you something better,".
As I stopped turning her, she asked, "What is it? There's nothing...".
I lowered my head next to her head, so I can see what she sees. And moved her hands a bit to the right, "Okay, look through the finder,".
"Woooo..... A rainbow!!!!!!! Sugooiii(amazing)!!! Kireeeiiii(so beautiful)!!!" she looked so excited.
"Hora... see?"
She smiled widely and turned to me, as we realized our faces are just an inch away... we got all awkward and immediately pushed each other away.
She pouted, "Chotto... you can just easily point at it, you don't have to hold my hands from behind like that just to show it to me...."
"Sou da kedo sa(yeah, but)..." I can't respond to that, I dunno why I did that either.
"Don't tell me...."
"What?"
"Don't tell me, you have feelings for me??"
I nervously laughed, "Baaaka(you idiot)! 'Nna wake nee darou(no way)!"
She responded back, "What are you sweating for? I'm just joking! Baaaka!"
"Oyyyy!!! Takakoooo~~!!!"
We turned around to the source of the voice.
It's Shingo waving from inside a moving car through the window.
The car stopped right next to us. Shingo and Tsuyoshi got off.
"What are you guys doing??" I asked them.
The driver of the car came out, "Ojousama(lady)! I've been looking around for you, I was quite panicked to have not find you at your school. Gladly, I met Shingo-sama and Tsuyoshi-sama and they told me you went to the park so they showed me the way!"
"Katsuhisa-san... I'm sorry, I have school assignments I have to do now, you may leave, I'll go home by myself," Takako said, almost sound like an order.
Namase Katsuhisa-san is a man in his early 30s, who has served Takako's family for 15 years.
He widened his eyes, "By yourself?? How?".
"Of course by the train," she said nonchalantly.
"Ojousama! Please don't joke, if Master knows you'll be riding such a vehicle for the common people, he definitely won't forgive me!"
"Such a vehicle?"
"For common people?"
Shingo and Tsuyoshi mumbled.
Takako insisted, "Well, I'm sorry but I can't go home now, there's really a task I---"
Suddenly, the telephone in the car rings. Katsuhisa-san picked it up, "Hai, hai! Tadaima(immediately)! Yes, she's right here now... Ahh, with... with a few of her friends too... Hai, kashikomarimashita(as you wish, Sir)!"
Katsuhisa-san fixed his glasses position and wiped the sweat on his face with a handkerchief.
"Ojousama, just now Master wants you at home right now, because it is time for your tea ceremony lesson... and he invited these young masters as well, to observe the lesson,"
"Usooo(no way)!" the three of us said in unison.
~*~
I already know I have this tea ceremony lesson today. I know I should've told Hiro-chan before, that I'm also not available today, but I wanted to avoid this lesson. When I lost the janken game, I thought, "What a coincidence, now I have reasons for not attending this lesson,". But apparently, my father wouldn't let me go so easily... well, of course, I knew that too. But I just thought there might be a possibility of escaping this lesson.
I am currently stirring the green tea powder with water. Takuya, Tsuyoshi and Shingo are here with me in this room, together with the "tea ceremony" sensei.
As I finished, I presented three cups of the green tea I just made, to them.
Sensei reminds them, they should turn the cup once before they drink them, and turn it back once they finished.
After they drank the tea, the boys put on weird facial expressions, Shingo even stuck out his tongue. Yes, the real green tea is very, very bitter.
I giggled to see their expressions. But then sensei gazed at me sharply, so I immediately stopped. The boys put on straight faces immediately, too.
~*~
"Uwaaaahhh........ I can't feel my legs!!!" Tsuyoshi stretched his legs as soon as Sensei exited the room.
"Wow! I've never drank such a bitter tea in my life!! Can I have some water please?" Shingo is still sticking his tongue out over and over. Seem like he really hates the tea.
I giggled to see their reaction.
"But... this house is really wide naaa!!" Takuya opened the sliding door to the garden, "I've only came here once and that was 2 years ago, now I just remember how big your house is!"
"How many rooms do you have in this house??" Shingo asked.
I tried to count with my fingers.
"THAT many??!" Shingo widened his eyes.
I smiled, "Sonna koto nai yo(no such thing), just that I never bother to count them,"
"I wish someday I can live in such a big house like this, naaa..." Tsuyoshi mumbled.
"Don't say that... you'll regret it if it really happens," I chuckled, "You know about 'the prison made of gold'?"
The three of them turned to me almost at the same time, "Takako..."
"That's what this house is for me..."
Shingo grinned, "Don't exagerrate things, what prison? You can still go to school, darou?".
"Of course... but my destiny is decided already, and no matter what, I cannot escape it. I was born under the star where my destiny has been decided and I cannot choose any other path. You'll see, everything will be decided for me... what I should do after I graduate high school, who I should marry to... In the end, this house is just a prison for me..." I smiled.
"Takako, you will really be the heir of the Matsumoto family business?" Takuya asked.
"That's what they said. I'm the only child, dakara ne... Uhmm... years ago, father and mother went to so many doctors so that my mother can be pregnant again, in the hope she'll give birth to a baby boy in the next try... but apparently, my mother's uterus is not in function anymore, she can never have a child anymore... So yup, I'm their only heir,"
That's right. I am the fourth generation of the Flower Masters family lineage. Although we prefer male descendants to be the successor in this business, but when we have no choice, female can be a successor too. That means the man I will marry to, in the future will have to be willing to marry into our family instead and change his surname to Matsumoto.
That's why.... that's why.... I know that just everything will be decided for me....
~*~
It's already dark when I saw the boys off to the main gate.
"Thank you so very much for accompanying me today, guys!! Somehow... somehow, I felt alot more comfortable than usual today, with you guys there with me," I smiled.
"Hey, you know what? Since I live just three blocks away from here, you can invite me anytime to one of these lessons next time!! It'll be my pleasure!" Tsuyoshi offered.
"Sankyuu, Tsuyopon! That means alot to me!" I thanked him.
"Jya, see you tomorrow, ne!" they walked away.
I closed the gate and climbed up the stairs to enter the house. Just right before I enter, someone called me, "Oyy!! Takakoooo!".
It's Takuya. As I'm upstairs and he's below there, the gate and wall aren't in the way for us to see each other clearly.
"Takuya... You forgot something?"
"No, there's just something I need to tell you! Listen okay??"
"What is it!??"
"No one.... not even a single human in this world has definite destiny! No one can decide our destiny! Not our parents, not even God! We decide our own destiny! You too!! You can decide your own destiny! And choose your own paths! Just don't give up on that, okay??!"
Tears are welling up in my eyes, but I hope he can't see it.
"Baaaka!! Don't act so big like you're Mr. Know-It-All!!" I said to him.
He smiled widely, "Jyaaa neee!!! Don't forget to do your homework!!".
He walked away.
I kept gazing at him until he disappear from my sight.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
"Tadaima!"
As I heard his voice, I immediately welcome him to the front door.
"Okaeriiii!!"
Shingo widened his eyes to see me, "Arisa!! What are you doing here??"
Rena-chan, Shingo's little sister, stretched her head from behind the kitchen's wall, "Oniichan, okaeri! I invited Arisa-neechan here!"
"Why?" he asked while taking off his shoes.
"What do you mean 'why'? You hate it that much that I'm here??" I pout my lips.
"Today, obasan works overtime and Arisa-neechan is alone too, at home, so I asked her to cook curry for us!!" Rena-chan said from the kitchen.
"Heee..." he responsed.
"What 'heee'.... ureshii kuse niii(I know you're actually happy)..." I grinned and teased him.
His face flushed a bit, "Betsu ni(no, I'm not)..." he walked towards his room.
~*~
"Itadakimaaasu!!"
We start dig in our curry.
"Umaaaiii!!!" Shingo said as he put in a spoonful of curry rice in his mouth.
"Sasuga Arisa-neechan! You're a genius!" Rena-chan seem like the curry very much, too.
"Maa ne... I am aiming to be a chef, afterall," I said.
"I wish you can cook like this for us everyday!!" Rena-chan said, "Arisa-neechan, you'll be a good wife, ne...." she kept talking, "Ahh... wakatta! You should just marry Oniichan after you graduate highschool! Then, you can cook for us everyday!".
Shingo immediately hit Rena-chan's head, "Urusai!! You're so noisy!".
I giggled, "Ehe... gomen ne, but I also have to cook for my mother everyday, Rena-chan,"
"Oh yeah, why's Reiko-obasan(auntie) not home yet?" he asked me.
"Oh, the usual... she has a date..."
"Ahh, with the new boyfriend Arisa-neechan told us before?" Rena-chan said while gulping a glass of water.
"Sou, sou! Shachou-san datte(he's a company president, y'know)!" I said excitedly.
"Heeee.... ii naaa~~~!! Then that Mr. President might be Arisa-neechan's new papa!??" she asked.
"If it goes well, of course! Then again, it's my mother's dream to get a 'tama no koshi' marriage, so of course she'd put on an effort to reach her goal this time!"
"Uwaaa... 'tama no koshi'!! Ii naaa~~ if you become a lady of a wealthy family, then you might come to the school with a car and a butler!!"
I pushed Rena-chan's arm away, "Iyadaaaa~~ Rena-chan, don't get my hopes higher than it already is!!" I laughed imagining myself being called "ojousama" just like how Takako's house servants calls her.
"Tama no koshi, tama no koshi, tte... is it really all about money for you girls??" Shingo asked.
"OF COURSE!!" Rena-chan and me said in unison.
(*tama no koshi ni noru: to marry a wealthy man, basically to marry money)
~*~
After dinner, the three of us are playing jenga stacking game in Shingo's room.
Shingo is pulling out a block slowly, "Yosh, yoshh, yoshh...." he pulled it out and the stack tower is still standing.
"Yoshhhh... yatttaaaa~~~!!!" he screamed.
"That was close!!! Who's next?? Rena-chan?" I asked.
"Rena, it's your turn!" he turned to Rena-chan only to find her falling asleep.
"Necchatta ka yo(she's asleep)..." he mumbled.
He gently shake Rena-chan's shoulder, "Oyyy... don't sleep here... go to your room... oyyy...".
No respond from Rena-chan.
"Shouganai naa(I have no choice, then)..." he turned to me, "Help me put her on my back," he squat with his back facing Rena-chan.
"Ah... hai..." I lifted Rena-chan and dragged her onto Shingo's back.
As I put Rena-chan's arms around his neck and Shingo gripped her legs, he lift up himself while carrying sleeping Rena-chan on his back.
Watching this view makes me smile... the view of a big brother carrying his little sister on his back...
"What are you grinning for? Help me open the door, will ya?" Shingo startled me.
"Ahh... gomen!" I immediately open the door for him.
While he's taking his sister to her room, I looked around his room. It's a typical boy's room, it's a mess, jackets are lying around, a stack of comic books are on the floor, this room must be rarely being cleaned up, unless when their aunt has time for it. My eyes stopped at a few photos stuck on the wall. Most of them are the Photography club members. We are really close with each other. Most photos I put up in my album are also photos with them. Then I saw a picture of Shingo and me in elementary school... tashika, it was when we were in 4th grade...
We know each other since we were 7 years olds. After my mother had a divorce with father, we moved in to a small house right next to Shingo's house. Our houses located in the downtown(shitamachi) area next to the shopping street(shoutengai). That time Shingo and Rena-chan's parents were still alive. Due to an accident, their parents passed away when Shingo was only 10 and Rena-chan was 7. And then, Shingo's mother's big sister who is a divorcee and cannot have a child, moved in together with them, taking their custody rights.
Shingo and I went to the same elementary school, different junior highschool and then the same highschool. Although we visit each other's houses and even each other's rooms frequently, we don't hang out together at school. We had our own groups of friends at school. Of course, I hangout with girls and he hangout with boys. So, in elementary school, not many know that we are childhood friends. My juniorhigh friends didn't know anything about Shingo too.
In high school, we joined the same club coincidentally. And since we become very close with the club's members, they all know about Shingo and me. At school, Shingo goes everywhere with Tsuyoshi now, apparently they get along very well and become bestfriends. They are quite inseparable. But even so, it doesn't make me any less friends with Shingo, since I'm close with Tsuyoshi, too.
Besides being a childhood friend though, we have quite a complicated relationship... I have to say... We're not just childhood friends anymore... at least, for him...
I heard the door's closed.
I turned and find him standing there, "Rena-chan is asleep?"
"Un..." he nod.
"Urayamashii(I envy you)..."
"Why?"
"To have a sister... I wish I have a sibling like you,"
"Ahh.... but she troubles and irritates me all the time,"
"Of course... although you said she troubles you all the time, she is definitely the number one important person for you right?"
"Maaa... she is important to me, alright... don't know if she's number one though..." he sit on the floor, throwing his back to the side of the bed.
I laughed, "Hidooii!! So Rena-chan is only number two important for you?? Who's number one, then?"
"Saaa...." he rolled her eyes.
"Wakatta!" I pointed at that picture of Shingo and me in 4th grade, "This girl, deshou!?"
He smiled.
Teasing him, I said, "Yamete yooo... you better give her up! You know, she only goes for rich boys!"
"You'll see! I'll be the president of a company in the next 20 years!"
"Of course... a president of a small company with only 3 employees, ne??"
"What do you mean!!? So you don't think I can make it?"
I laughed, "I didn't say that..." I sit right next to him.
"Jya, nan da yoo(then, what..)...."
A few seconds of silence filled the air.
Then, I broke it, in a serious tone, I said, "Shingo... you know that I'm still trying to sort out my feelings for..."
"I know! I know.... I do not expect anything in return from you... I do not need any answer... you will always be my childhood friend, that will never change... But... but just let me watch over you... and protect you... okay?"
Somehow, tears falling down my face.
"Akkkhh.... stop it will ya! You know, I'm not good at handling crying girls!"
He stretched his arms up to handle the uncomfortableness he's feeling right now.
"Shingo... I'm sorry... I'm sorry, I..."
He immediately cover my mouth from behind with his right hand which arm he just stretched up seconds ago.
"Yose(stop that)... Don't say any apology... If you say it, I'd look even more pathetic...."
It's Katsu.... It's Katsu I have feelings for.... Last year I realized I have feelings for him.
As soon as Shingo know that, a part of him start to worry and realized his own feelings for me. We had always been together since we were only 7, although we think of each other as important persons, we never realized it. We never bother to admit that. I can't say that I have never seen him more than just a childhood friend, of course I've seen him more than that. Shingo is someone important for me too. But I don't know why, in 2nd grade, all of the sudden... I started to have these feelings for Katsu. I'll go dokidoki everytime he come near me and all.
As Shingo sees that, he finally confessed his feelings for me. But I couldn't answer... nor I could confess my feelings to Katsu. Before we find out whether or not Katsu has feelings for me, the accident happened. So everything were pretty much left hanging in the air. And I'm still trying to sort out my feelings for both Shingo and Katsu....
"Konbanwaaa~~~ Shingo-kun!!! Is Arisa theeeere???"
Suddenly I can hear my mother's voice from across the window.
Shingo immediately stood up, "Ah, obasan, okaeri!! Yes, yes, she's here!" he opened the window wider.
I immediately wiped my tears and shouted, "Haaiii! I'll be there in a minute, Mom!"
"Ahh, alright then! Just checking! Shingo-kun, oyasumi!" Reiko-obasan waved from the window.
"Oyasumi nasai!"
Our houses are only separated by a narrow path, and so by speaking up a bit, we can talk to each other from across the windows.
"Okay then, I'll go home now. See you tomorrow,"
"Uhm, see you tomorrow!" Shingo saw me off to the front door.
TO BE CONTINUED >>>>