mission report for mynamelessname (part 1 of 2)
Title: Earthling, You Too Burn So Pretty
Groups/Pairings: Mainly Arashi: Sho/Jun, Nino, Oguri Shun, Toma, Ohno, Becky, Aiba, Yoko, Inoue Mao, and special cameo by Kimura Takuya.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Crackiness in many absurd forms, stupid exploitation of grenade and very sharp objects.
Summary: On the Arakawa riverside, Shun, Village Chief in his dubious kappa wetsuit, has Sho trade grass straws for a crazy family.
Notes: Here’s a story of Arashi in Arakawa under the Bridge Universe for you, mynamelessname. I had immense fun playing with this universe. I hope you enjoy this regardless of all the intended deviations.
Mostly based more on the anime version rather than the live-action with a lace of basic plot from an old Japanese folk tale, Straw Millionaire, there’s no major spoilers of the original. One doesn't need to know the original story to read this-it spiralled uncontrollably all over the place anyway. Thank you for Miss Mod and my amazing betas for being patient and wonderful. Without you guys this will never exist ♥!
The moment a pair of strong hands take firm hold of his arms, relief instantly surges through Sho’s entire convulsing body. The water is cold and his lungs are burning. His eyes can't make out anything as he further sinks into the darkness of the river. He struggles to let his mind give in to the incessant pull, knowing that it will bring him back to the surface, that he will be able to get air soon, that he will not die today even if everything goes dark and silent the next moment.
*
Sho stirs back into consciousness, sensing someone sitting not far beside him, the faint smell of lavender mixed with fresh grass surrounding him. He remembers the choking water, the stinging coldness of the bottom of the river. “Oh,” he mutters.
A man is holding a long fishing rod, sitting next to him. He turns when he hears the mutter and senses movement from his side and greets him. “Ah, you’re awake now.”
Ignoring the greeting, eyes fluttering closed, Sho tries to collect himself properly as he gives in to the temptation of curling up on the ground. His clothes are wet, his shoes damp, but his breathing is steady. The cool breeze calms him as he tries to slowly recall how he ended up splaying on the ground. His fingers dig into fresh soil and tall grass, the sound of water very close even though it could be miles away, creating a clearer picture by the second.
He sits up abruptly. “Oh, God. I fell into the river, didn’t I? I did. Then, then, I fell into the river, then I was trying to come back to the surface, fighting for breath. Everything went dark, but there’s… there was…. You?” He stares in disbelief, running out of breath, memory rolling back through him in a wave.
“I just pulled you with a gentle tug, nothing much,” the man says, tilting his head curiously. “And I can see that you’re breathing fine now that you’re back on land.”
“Excuse me?”
“You were having difficulty swimming back to the surface.” The man shrugs when Sho doesn’t say anything else. “But what else would you expect out of Earthlings?”
“Swimming wasn’t easy to begin with and I was…. What? Earthlings?”
The man hums in response as he pulls his fishing rod off, getting it out of water and setting it next to a bucket of water with a few fishes splashing inside.
“You’re calling me an Earthling?”
“Well, you are, aren’t you? We Venusians fare better in underwater endurance and swimming in general.”
“Venusian?”
“You make a cute face when you make that ‘huh’ sound. Is it a sign of disbelief? Or lack of understanding?”
Sho couldn’t help it. The man has a good point, yet he is at a loss for coherent words. “Huh?”
“Anyway, I guess that’s all then,” he continues, ignoring Sho’s disbelief, turning back to gaze at the river in front of them, his long hair blown back by the wind. “Unless you want some fish for dinner?”
“No!” Sho almost jumps into a firm sitting position. “No dinner. No anything. Nothing.”
“All right,” the man says lightly, without turning from the river. “It’s almost time to get home anyway.”
A hard-working […] peasant [?]
The wave of black hair swinging on the man’s shoulder keeps Sho entranced as he tries to form his response to all of the unexpected information. All he can think of is that he wants to reach over, touch and thread his fingers through that hair, that jet black hair; it can’t be anything but light and soft.
Sho catches himself and tries to take his mind off the hair. He snaps back to the lingering thoughts, to the manners that have been ingrained in him since as long as he can remember, and to his condition at the moment. He drowned and this man, this man with soft, long hair, saved him; that means, by simple calculation, he now owes this man a life, his life.
“So, what’s in it for you?”
“In what?”
Sighing tiredly, now that his mind has properly caught up, Sho realizes for the first time that he has probably committed the first and most stupid debt in his life for this man. So much for adhering to a strict set of principles: never, not ever, being indebted to other people, never taking anything from other people, and being perfectly independent.
“What’s in it for you?” Sho repeats his question more slowly, watching in growing attention as the man finally turns to look at him. Conversation needs to be done face to face. The sooner he can settle his debt, the sooner he can go home. He can feel the clamminess of his skin, and he desperately needs to change out of his now clingy and damp shirt.
“I don’t understand your question.”
“What do you want in return?” Sho’s voice turns to his cold, clipped business tone, much to his relief. He’s going to settle this matter once and for all, all business, and then he’ll owe nothing to this man, and that will settle everything in satisfactory fashion. “Or to put it bluntly, you saved my life and I am forever grateful for that,” Sho says. “Now I’m offering you anything of your fancy as repayment. So, what do you want? Anything, anything at all, in return?”
The man looks at him with straight-forward eyes and blinks. “Nothing.”
“No, you see, I think you haven’t perfectly understood what I just offered.” Sho can’t hold back a snort. It’s just damn laughable. It seems that the man hasn’t gotten his message full on. He tries again to explain; perhaps simplification will yield better results. “I’m offering you anything in return for your kindness in saving my life. And when I say anything, I mean anything. You name it and it’s yours.”
The man still looks fixedly at Sho with his blank stare, shifting a bit so he can take a good look at Sho but still giving no answer.
Sho decides to take the confused look as another sign of incomprehension and explains further. “Isn’t there anything that you want?”
The man nods and Sho’s face brightens with a wide smile.
“What shall it be then?”
“A return trip to Venus. I haven’t gone home in a while, so that’d be nice.”
Sho’s face flushes at the answer, both with impatience and annoyance. To be fair, the man had said that he was from Venus, but even with his power he can’t grant that kind of pesky, if not near impossible, request. “Okay, then,” he says, correcting his previous statement. If the man wants to believe that he’s from Venus and wants to get a return ticket himself, Sho couldn’t care less. He still has a debt to settle. “I was talking about anything, anything at all on this planet.”
“Then, nothing.”
On the verge of being completely dejected, Sho tries his luck. “Anything, name anything. House? Sports car? New array of clothing? Position in any company?” He wasn’t throwing jokes at the slightest, yet the man doesn’t give any kind of response.
Sho then falls into silence. He can feel the wind growing excruciatingly stronger now; his clammy skin itches with prickles of pain, his head throbs. “But it’d be overly devastating to owe someone something,” he says, murmuring to himself softly while looking down in defeat at both his pale palms. “I should never owe anyone because that’d be unsuitable for a person of my status.”
The silence continues and Sho can only drown himself in the sound of the river, strangely comforting his clouded mind. He knows he needs to do something to settle the situation but at this point, at the point where he’s run out of choices, out of offers, he can’t think of anything else.
Sho is so lost in thought, he misses the sound of the man rummaging through his jersey pocket and pulling out a piece of paper.
“Hey,” the man says, turning to Sho, who still has his eyes fixed on his palms. “Hey!”
Startled, Sho looks up and finds himself eye to eye with the man again. “Yeah?”
“How about I come up with something that I want from you?”
Sho straightens his back immediately. “Yes. Please, anything.”
“You hate being indebted to people that much?” the man says, and without waiting for Sho’s answer he continues, “All right then.”
“You have something?”
The man nods softly. “I have two things I want.”
“Name them and they’re yours,” Sho says. No matter what or how many things the man wants, he will see to it that he’s properly granted the wishes.
“First, your name.”
“Eh?” Completely not expecting such a request, Sho leans forward to make sure he’s hearing things properly.
“Your name,” the man repeats. “You have a name, don’t you? Mine is Jun. What’s yours?”
“My name?” Sho says, completely bewildered. So the man’s name is Jun? And Jun wants to know his name? At the very least, Sho now owes this Jun a proper introduction. “My name? My name is Sakurai Sho of Sakurai Corporation.”
“It’s Sho, then.”
No one has called him simply “Sho” in a long time; it’s always his last name with proper honorific suffixes, and this Jun doesn’t even flinch at the mention of Sakurai Corporation, a fact that almost never happens now that his family business is ruling the Japanese business world.
Then again, he reminds himself, Jun can call him anything if that is the way Sho can repay him for saving his life. “Fine. Sho it is for you. And your second wish would be?”
“You did say anything, right?”
“I did.”
“Anything within this Earth?”
“Yes. So what would it be?”
Jun turns away a moment to then visibly clutch the piece of paper in his right hand. “Can you love me?”
The wave of black hair distracts Sho again as it shifts along with the wind, bringing the lavender scent back to his senses. He sees Jun’s fair face clearly with the sun setting behind his back, illuminating the pale glow of his eyes. His mouth is closed tight without a smile; Sho was half-expecting one to appear so he can tell him that it was just a joke. Jun stays silent, waiting for his response, and Sho feels an unfamiliar warmth crawling pleasantly on his skin, reaching his face. He wants to look away, to blink his sense back to place, but he finds himself staring, willingly adrift in their silent exchange of gazes, and he lets out the answer that was already on the tip of his tongue as soon as Jun finished his question. “Yes.”
Jun doesn’t smile, but his face brightens in an exquisitely beautiful way; it’s enough to bring Sho back to reality. He just answered yes to the question. It’s Jun’s wish and he’s going to grant it-it is a way of repaying his debt, and if it’s what Jun wants, then it’s all settled.
“Yes.”
“I got you the first time, Sho. We are lovers now then.”
“Right.” Feeling a bit dazed somehow, Sho now realizes that it’s getting darker. He tries to taste the word on his lips, “lovers,” before he can stop himself.
Time to go home, he reminds himself. He waits for Jun to call it a day as he watches Jun move. He now catches a glimpse of the piece of paper clutched tight in Jun’s hand. “What’s that?”
“This?” Jun holds the paper toward him. “A magazine clipping.”
Sho can only stare at it. “Clipping? Magazine?”
“You sound surprised,” Jun says. “I’ll tell you about it later. We have to get you settled now.”
When Jun stands, Sho hurriedly does the same. “Settled? Where?”
“Here in Arakawa, of course,” Jun says, before adding with a hint of concern on his voice, “Ah, but first you need to meet the Chief.”
“Chief?”
“The village chief of Arakawa. He’ll be around the water at this hour.” Jun steps forward to meet Sho’s reflex backward step and hold out his hand for him. “Come on, let’s go. It’s going to be dusk soon.”
*
“Chief.” Jun beams with pleasure at seeing a man float toward the riverside where he and Sho have been waiting for a while now. They watch him slither out of the water with very little grace and flop near their feet in silence-Jun with an interested gaze and Sho with a visible deep frown.
“Ah, that was a nice swim,” Chief says as he rolls over on the ground to settle himself comfortably, dripping wet and all.
“What are you?” Sho can’t help to ask, now that he finally gets a full look at the man sprawled on the ground lazily. The man is clad in a loose green wetsuit, with green mask and what appears to be waterproof dark green makeup-one detail that caught Sho’s attention the most. “Kappa?”
The man called Chief only smiles as he rolls again to lie on his side and prop his head in one arm, twisting his feet loosely, now facing them. Jun sits down gently on the ground, pulling Sho’s trousers, signalling him to follow suit. As Sho complies and descends, he can see in greater detail the green man’s wetsuit and the blatant zipper that hangs near his nape.
“Now that we’re all settled in this warm small circle,” the man says, gesturing at the small space they are sharing now even though the wide riverside is completely empty. “What can I do for you?”
“Kappa costume? Why?”
The man makes an exaggerated gasp. “Costume? What costume?”
“That costume you’re wearing now.” Sho points at bits of water oozing out of the wetsuit as their talk continues.
“This is not a costume,” the man says, all while he pulls at part of his sleeve and wrings it out. “This is my skin. As it is.”
Sho chokes on his laughter, to which Jun helpfully pats him on the shoulder. “Are you saying you are really a kappa?”
“Yup. The name is Shun but people here call me Chief.” The man replies lightly before he shifts his eyes to Jun in a smile. “And who’s this fancy guy you brought here with you today, Jun?”
Jun has his mouth open to answer when Sho cuts him short with a furious protest. “Wait a minute. Kappa don’t exist. You’re just a man with a green wetsuit who, who happens to swim in the river.”
“Well, you should believe what you see, since I’m right here in front of you.”
“-splayed out with your wetsuit leaking and your mask damp?”
Hurt flashes in Shun’s eyes before he throws a pout and gaze in Jun’s direction again.
“Sho, you shouldn’t say bad things like that to Chief. It’s impolite,” Jun says.
Jun’s tone is flat as he speaks but Sho has enough manners to know that he crossed the line just now. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me-”
“Yeah, that was rude of you,” Shun says, raising a fist to the air as a sign of early victory.
“-still,” Sho continues. All his manners can be thrown into the river at the moment for all he cares. “That is definitely a wetsuit.”
Shun glares at him for a good five seconds before shrugging the matter off. “Okay. You’re forgiven.”
“I am?” Sho wants to add, “even if I didn’t mean a single word in that apology? That was quick and abrupt.” But he chooses to leave the statement out.
“You are,” Shun says, as he shifts again against his probably completely dried costume. “I was going to brood a little longer but it’s going to get dark soon, so better not. And I don’t even know who you are yet. Jun?”
“This is Sho. My lover.” Jun is ready with his answer, calm and sure gaze fixed on Shun. “And he’s going to stay here by the riverside. That’s why I brought him to meet you now.”
Sho’s mouth gapes open as he tries to blink his confusion off. “Wait, what did you just say?”
“Oooh, lovers spat already?”
“You shut up.” Sho indifferently waves Shun off, as he tries to face Jun. “What was that you’re saying about me living here?”
Jun holds his gaze straight at Shun, whose face is now slowly blooming with a loopy smile. He doesn’t turn even at Sho’s attempt to yank his jersey sleeve to get his attention. “Sho?”
“Yes?”
“Didn’t we agree that you are going to be my lover?”
“Yes, we did,” Sho answers in desperation. What is happening all of a sudden throws him off completely. Now, at least Jun is willing to reason, and Sho is a good negotiator himself. He should make sure that the bargain doesn’t grow into something that he can’t handle. “We did agree that I am to be your lover.”
“And isn’t a lover supposed to be in close proximity most of the time?”
“Huh?”
Jun rummages through his pocket again to produce the piece of paper Sho saw earlier. He holds it out to Sho. “It says so here.”
Sho snatches the paper out of Jun’s hand and skims the article quickly before slowly raising his head with a look full of concern and, just a sliver of, horror. “This is,” he says, stifled with worry, “a girl’s magazine.”
“Now, read the title,” Jun says.
“’Love Overcomes Distance: How Long Distance Relationships Never Work.’”
“See?” Jun then turns to give him a pat on the shoulder. “We lovers shouldn’t have distance between us.”
“And that means-“
“-you’re staying here under the bridge with us. I then can meet you every day and there won't be any problems.”
Sho tries hard to control his breathing, staring in disbelief at Jun. Why did Jun expect him to stay at the riverside? He’d need to settle here, though it’s a word that Jun used before, now that he lets their previous conversation repeat in his head. He should’ve known better than to lower his guard during negotiations. And then the other point. “Problem?”
“Jun has a long term memory problem. If he doesn’t see you each day, he may forget about you,” Shun says as he helpfully and-now Sho can see-cheerfully watches the two converse.
Sho is about to turn to Shun to shut him up when he catches the last phrase. “You may what?”
“You said anything within this Earth, right?” Jun says, shrugging and holding his gaze steady at Sho and in a way giving silent confirmation of what Shun has just said.
Sho nods weakly. He can see a glint of pleasure on Jun’s eyes and wonders why it gives him enough encouragement to try, or at least to stop protesting.
“Very well then.” Shun claps his hands now that the discussion is over. He waits until they turn toward him before he waves his hand formally. “Welcome to Arakawa, Sho.”
Escape poverty? [But as it happens, I’m already rich]
At the first Sunday Mass, Shun makes an invisible gesture by inviting everyone from the village to meet him. They even throw a welcome party that leads to a session of Sunday Mass. Everything passes in a blur for Sho as he moves from one person to another with growing unease.
He is about to deem the day just plain weird and go back to the fancy tent he’s chosen as the form of his new home when a tall man corners him.
“Is your love real? If so, I hope you bring Jun a lot of happiness," Aiba, as Shun called this man with a nun robe and cold eyes, says. Sho supposes that it is a congratulatory gesture in a way, before he hears the man add in a threatening low voice, "Or else."
"Or else?" Sho can’t help it, but his voice quivers at the addition.
Aiba's hand reaches inside his robe, and the next moment Sho feels the cold tip of a gun.
“Wait a second! Aiba?” Sho does nothing but freeze in place as he tries to reason with Aiba.
“This is an Israeli open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine gun and you’re deflecting my question!”
“I don’t know!” Panic starts rising in Sho’s head when Aiba keeps on staring at him with hard cold eyes. The gun isn’t helping either, and Sho can swear he’s picking up the scent of gunpowder. “I don’t know, okay? And can you please put that away? It makes me nervous.”
“Nervous people tend to answer truthfully to questions asked.”
“I don’t intend to lie to begin with,” Sho says.
Aiba tilts his head aside a bit, considering. He’s still staring hard at Sho’s eyes, holding eye contact, but the coldness gradually disappears. “Go on.”
“I don’t know about love,” Sho begins again, holding his hand up in front of his face to let Aiba know that he should at least wait till he’s finished his sentence. “What I know is that I am not planning to make him unhappy.”
After a long hard stare, Aiba finally sets his gun inside his robe. “Good enough for me. Hang in there, soldier!" Aiba smacks him hard on the back, making Sho unbalanced and sending him staggering clumsily forward.
After he has regained his composure, there’s nothing much Sho can say. Deep down he knows Aiba means well because he apparently cares about Jun, cares enough to point a gun at his new so-called lover’s forehead to dig out a confession. Yet, there’s only so much one can tolerate. “By the way, how can you carry that thing around? Aren’t you going to get arrested?”
Aiba smiles wide at that, so wide that Sho can only interpret it as either display of chilling confidence or pure innocence. Both are worrying him all the same.
*
Shun dips into the water until only his shoulders up is left unsubmerged; he needs to be careful with his eye makeup, now that he has put in a lot of effort applying it in the morning. It’ll grow uncomfortable on his face later but he needs to have a good appearance today. Especially today when his schedule is full and there’s no time to slack at the slightest: morning for Nino and afternoon for Sho.
From the distance he can very well see Nino pedalling his old bike with difficulty; bold neon-green floral print parka flapping against his red shorts, contrasting with his yellow star mask. Shun readies himself to welcome Nino; the guy has never learned that he should’ve left his bike at home if he’s going to meet him by the river, nor that he should attempt sporting a less blinding fashion sense. Then again, it isn’t Shun’s place to tell him.
“Yo.” Shun keeps himself afloat in an attempt to look relaxed as he welcomes Nino.
“Chief!” That’s the only greeting Shun gets before Nino dumps his bike unceremoniously on its side and stomps toward the edge of the river to plop himself down, catching his breath.
“Looking good as usual, Nino,” Shun says. “Alone today?”
Still catching his breath, Nino makes a gesture with his thumb over his shoulder. “Mao-chan was trailing behind me just now. She says she’ll be here when she gets here.”
“Okay.”
Shun splashes some water around himself playfully while he waits for Nino to finally catch his breath. Not long afterwards, Mao comes sliding down the slope with her line field marker, discharging a white line for her to step on as she makes a solid track toward the riverside.
She stops besides Nino and greets Shun. “Chief, good morning!”
“Morning, Mao-chan. Looking good as usual!”
Nino rolls his eyes. “You just said the same thing to me!”
“That’s because you both are looking good as usual.”
She sets her line marker on her side and sits next to Nino. “Sorry I cannot keep up, Nino. I just refilled the hopper and it’s a bit heavy. You were in a hurry.”
“It’s okay,” Nino says. Now that he’s meeting Shun, he can set out on redressing his grievances.
“What is it then?” Shun begins, giving them the chance to start their conversation straight up. “I can see you coming from a mile away, Nino. You have something important to tell me?”
“He’s been grumpy since yesterday,” Mao says instead before sharing a knowing glance with Shun, but both hold their smiles.
“I can be grumpy all I like.” Nino’s back straightens up, his hunch less noticeable now. He folds his hands in his lap, now that he has worked his temper back, his slight and puffy yellow face flushed. “I have two different complaints and it’s better for me to go through them one by one to avoid confusion on your part.”
“Spit it out then.”
“First, it’s that jerk Sho.”
“It has always been Sho, these past few weeks,” Mao says, giving Nino’s shoulder a comforting pat when he turns to her with a frown. “Don’t be mad. I’m offering understanding.”
“Sure you are,” Nino says with a pout, not trusting the offer even a bit. They will listen to him, but it doesn't mean that they’ll be good enough to agree with him at the end.
Shun knows that he needs to speed this up before they all spend the whole morning just hearing Nino’s complaints. “Then?”
“First, it’s Sho. He ruins everything here,” Nino says, before huffing a deep and loud puff. “Why is he even allowed to stay here? His expensive tent detracts from my view of morning sky. He passes by every morning near my trailer only to make a racket when he stumbles over the empty bottle crates. He’s polluting the air, too. I cannot breath the same air as him, and I am going to smoke my way out of this life if that’s the only way to pollute his air back.”
Shun bubbly nods at every strong emphasis Nino makes.
Nino continues. “And second, it’s that jerk. Sho.”
Mao absently hums a song about a couple bumping umbrellas, her soft gaze fixed on the bridge in the distance to the far right. “Your gentle smile~”
Nino rolls his eyes at the familiar tune but ignores her as he pounces on with another complaint. He knows that Mao and Shun are listening despite their reactions at the moment, and that’s all he can ask for.
*
Before long, seeing that now Shun has completely lost his focus on listening and Nino has been repeating the same points three times already, Mao cuts Nino off at the middle of his on-going rant. “Still, Nino, Jun-kun does look happier these days.”
Mao’s statement stops Shun from making another pose. “That’s true.”
In disbelief, Nino turns his scowl from her toward Shun. “But I also deserve to look happier.”
“That’s also true,” Shun says, nodding his agreement, “so very true.”
“But, but I can’t simply accept that. Who the hell does the guy think he is?! Coming here and all of a sudden snatching Jun out of my reach. The guy has some damn nerves. Didn’t he know that Jun is technically taken?”
Shun murmurs something that sounds like, “in your starry dreams, that is,” but he soon casts his gaze upward to the sky in fake thoughtfulness at Nino’s quick hurt glance.
Nino has been pouting and squinting with hate at Shun for a full minute when Mao gives her answer. “But this way, aren’t you going to have ample ammunition for another ballad composing streak?”
“Oh, yeah, the composing streak was awesome.” Shun makes a solid turn, splashing the water around. It won’t be long before they can settle things with Nino on agreeable terms. He can sense them reaching an agreement.
“Mao-chan.” Ignoring Shun as he knows the man is useless now since he’s back to splashing the water, Nino whines, running out of good reasons for his argument. “Whose side are you on anyway?”
“Jun-kun’s.”
“Nice answer.” Shun compliments her with a thumbs up. He shifts his gaze to Nino to find the yellow man emitting steam from the tip of his star mask. “Nino, you’re letting out too much steam. Be careful.”
Nino lets out a choked scream before he throws his hands in the air and lies down to curl on the ground with his back toward Shun and Mao.
“There, there.” Mao leans in and reaches over to give Nino pats on the shoulder. He at first flinches, and then shrugs before he relents, staying still in a tighter curl.
“I’ll be initiating Arakawa Broken-Hearted Team as soon as I can ease this pain stabbing at my heart,” Nino mutters loud enough for the other two to hear. “You guys just wait and see.”
*
They wait for Nino to come around, or to be more precise, to uncurl his limbs and sit up straight again, even with the same sullen look still pasted on his yellow face, Mao humming the same song twice and Shun sinking further down underwater to resurface with a big splash.
“Say, Nino,” Shun says, “tomorrow’s Sunday. How about I tell Aiba that we need a new song for the Sunday meeting? I can count on you to deal with that, right?”
Even if he’s not fully recovered from the sadness he’s wrapped around himself, Nino cheers up at the suggestion. “I can deal with that easy task,” he says with a pronounced huff. “I’m a goddamn star after all.”
Mao claps with delight. “Nice.”
“A star with a crooked mask unfortunately.” Shun tilts his head in worry as he takes a closer look at Nino.
Mao turns to glance at Nino’s face and lets out a little squeal. “Ah, he’s right, Nino. Your mask is crooked.”
“You should have remembered to take your mask off before you curled on the ground just now, Nino. The right sharp points are bent every which way now.”
Nino slowly pats one of the tips, feels a crooked end, and sends a pleading gaze toward Shun. “Chief, how did we do this again?”
“Here, let me help you.” Shun rises out of the water, dripping wet, and he squats next to Nino before he pets and smoothens the sharp points with ease. “You should be careful next time. The mask adds so many things to your appearance as a nice guy.”
“I don’t know how you came to such a conclusion, Chief, but I cannot agree more.” Nino stays still as Shun turns him around to fix the top left sharp point. “Nice guy, that’s me.”
“Now that you bring that up,” Mao says, “Sho is also a nice guy. We went on an afternoon stroll the other day. He wears that fancy white shirt and red tie that looks so soft, a very nice bonus point.”
Shrugging off Shun’s hold, Nino’s scowl returns. “I am dressing myself nice and fancy too. Everyday,” he says while showing off the front of his neon-green floral print parka.
Mao and Shun share a look for a moment too long before turning to offer Nino a sweet smile and a supportive nod, even though it is too late.
“You two are not helping, not helping at all.” Nino lets out more steam from under his mask. He abruptly rises to his feet, throwing one last scowl at the other two. “I’ll get that broken-hearted team ready and nothing will stop me!”
He then stomps his way to his bike with a loud scream.
“He is such a passionate guy,” Shun says to Mao as they together watch Nino kick his old bike and then pedal back toward his trailer. “That’s the spirit, Star.”
Mao shrugs good-naturedly in response.
“All right then, Mao-chan, off I go for my morning swim.” Shun sing-songs the end of his sentence before giving an exaggerated nod and jumping into the water.
“Okay, Chief.” Mao waves him off. “I think I’m going to stay here a while. The bridge looks amazingly lovely this morning.”
“Whatever floats your boat.” Shun floats toward the middle of the water after doing a fancy back splash.
“I don’t own a boat, but thanks anyway.”
*
A few rounds of large laps and deep dives later, Shun can hear the sound of Aiba’s boots strutting closer. “Aiba,” he says, waving from the middle of the river, “I was going to visit you later but you’re here already. You’ve really saved me a trip.”
“Chief, it’s just a 10-meter walk. It’s nothing.” Aiba stands by the riverside as he waits for Shun to swim closer to the side. Wind blows his short bangs sticking out of the nun veil, framing his face sharper around his sad eyes.
“Ah, those were good laps.” Shun crawls his way to the ground before collapsing in an undignified sprawl. “And since now I’m on my much needed break, let’s hear it. What’s up with you?”
Aiba takes the time to fold his leg over the long dark nun robe, dust gathering on his worn-out boot. He finally sits on his leg before clearing his throat. “I have a favour to ask.”
“Anything. What is it?” Shun turns to lie on his side as he takes a good look at Aiba.
“I have a friend coming this weekend,” Aiba says, his gaze fixed on some point far away. “His name is Yoko and I think he’s going to stay with us for a while.”
“Sure.” Shun puts his head on his elbow, relaxing his exhausted muscles. “You know, you don’t even need to come to me for such a small matter, Aiba.”
“This is not small at the least,” Aiba says, with a deeply serious tone. “Yoko has, what shall I call it-an issue.”
Interest piqued, Shun shifts a bit. “An issue? What kind of issue?”
“He has gone through so many difficulties back where he comes from. He might later have a relapse, or two. So I’m here to assure you that it will not harm us… well, not too much. He’s a nice guy. He just has attachment issues, serious ones.”
“I see.”
Aiba falls silent and Shun lets him, giving himself an opportunity to discern the explanation. An idea crosses his mind and he brightens up.
“You should put him in the class then.”
Aiba turns in mild surprise. “Sho’s class?”
“Well, we don’t have any other class, do we?”
“I see.” Aiba nods his agreement. “Perhaps it’s a good idea. It’d give him a chance to mingle with his peers.”
“If his peers are the twins and Jun, that is,” Shun says, barely able to hold in his chuckles. “But perhaps Sho can do something about him, this Yoko guy.”
“He’s a good teacher, I must admit.”
“And I must agree with you. I took a peek last week and the twins were laughing over his fail attempt of making salt brick as foundation for a boat of some sort.” Shun lets out a short chuckle finally. “That guy is cute.”
“He kind of is, even if I was a bit rough on him. It’s good to see he’s earnest though,” Aiba says, grumbling good-naturedly with his low voice. “I should get going, Chief. I need to head to the farm. Rebecca is expecting me.”
“Okay. I’m going to lie here for a while to rest my aching muscles.”
Aiba rises in brisk and swift movements, his robe almost swiping Shun in the face. “Thank you for you time, Chief.”
Shun gives no response but a yawn, and Aiba struts away.
“Ah, today is unexpectedly busy,” Shun says, casting his gaze toward the blaring sun before sighing. “And it’s far from over.”
[a handful] of straw grass: now did you say trade and haggle?
“And this-“ Jun releases Sho’s arm, stepping aside to give him a full view of the place, “-is my palace.”
“Uhm, you mean, place. Your place?”
“No.” Jun stares him, before repeating more slowly. “Palace.”
“Right.” Sho nods sceptically, correcting himself. “Palace.”
Jun eagerly points out his possessions around the closed-in place even with the apparent lack of enthusiasm on his sharp face.
For as long as Sho has known him, facial expression hasn’t been any indication of Jun’s mood. His eyes will sparkles with delight even if his lips don’t form a smile. His hands will clutch Sho’s tight even if his cheeks don’t show his flush. Sho feels like he could get used to the fact, the warmth, but for now he’s being invited to visit Jun’s place as part of their second, or was it third, not that Sho’s counting, date, and he needs to take the opportunity to pay attention.
Sho’s eyes zero in on tall messy stacks of magazines in the corner of the room. “You like girls’ magazine that much?”
Jun hums his answer. He watches Sho walk toward the stack, running his hand on the binding of the magazines with more questions. “I guess I do.”
“How did you get all these? Do you even read them all?”
“Sometimes I pick up some of them from the rubbish in the public park downstream. Sometimes people give me a few issues if they think I’d like the magazine. I try to read them all even if my collection grows larger and larger and I would be stuck all day at home if I did.”
“That’s amazing. I didn’t know that you read this much.” Sho comes closer to the stacks, still in awe as he reads the titles from the side. He can’t really see the covers but he could guess the themes from seeing so much white and pink glossy paper. “If you like magazines that much, I can buy them for you, any of them. Whatever you like.”
“Huh?” Jun blinks. “Why? Is that because we’re lovers?”
It shouldn’t make him flush since Jun has been proclaiming so for over a month now but Sho feels his cheeks grow warm, as usual, at the word Jun seems to like so much. “Because I want to.”
Tilting his head a bit, Jun stares at Sho, searching for another, firmer answer. “You do?”
“Of course I do! If you like magazines that much, I’ll buy you few more stacks, even the whole bookstore if you just ask.”
“But I am not asking for a few more stacks or a whole bookstore. I can barely read them properly as it is. There are many unfamiliar kanji characters, and the ones with fewer pictures are complicated,” Jun says, much to Sho’s disappointment.
While Jun might not sound serious, Sho knows that he isn’t kidding every time he says so. Perhaps he needs to buy something for Jun the next time he goes back to town. That will be interesting, Sho notes, his mind already racing ahead of him with a few flashes of plans.
“Sho?” Jun’s question pulls him back to Jun’s room and his magazine stacks.
“Yes,” he quickly says, focusing on the stack. ”Sorry, I was thinking.”
Jun looks at him with straight eyes and blinks. “You’re always thinking.”
Sho ignores the statement and gestures at Jun to continue with the tour. By the time Jun has shown him everything and Sho can’t stand being in such close proximity with Jun and the lingering scent of his lavender shampoo, it’s already late afternoon.
Unsure whether he should offer Jun a thank you or just take things lightly, Sho lets his question hang in the air. “So?”
“So.” Jun doesn’t add anything else and closes his door behind him. Together they stand close under the canopy of the rundown trailer.
“Thank you for inviting me,” Sho then says, the flush rushing back to his cheeks. “I had a great time.”
“I had fun too,” Jun says, his eyes fixed lightly on Sho’s cheek. “I did need to invite my lover to my house at some point, right?”
“Right.” Sho tries to follow Jun’s viewpoint while growing a bit more flustered now that he sees that Jun is glowing a bit, if not a lot.
*
Sho steps out first to the road with Jun right behind him. He stops abruptly, causing Jun to bump into his back, when he sees Nino on his bike along with Mao standing behind her line field marker, a sullen face and a polite smile respectively. He groans in frustration. “What are you guys, concerned parents?”
Nino shifts with what Sho supposes is Nino’s version of a threatening pose-even though one can’t be very threatening while sitting on that old bike saddle. “We just want to make sure you don’t do lewd things in there.”
“Gutter mind,” Sho mutters under his breath.
“We are just having a home date,” Jun says, helpfully clarifying what actually doesn’t need to be clarified.
“Home date?” Nino chokes on the words, clutching the front of his shirt near his heart. “Jun is as straightforward as ever! It hurts!”
Jun blinks at Nino’s accusation, which then sends Nino bursting, shyly this time, with steam in mere seconds.
“Stop being so star-struck over Jun-kun, Nino!” Mao teases, ribbing him lightly when he sees steam bursting from under Nino’s yellow star headpiece.
"I'm a star goddammit! I can be star-struck all I want. In fact, I can strike whatever I wish." Nino argues his point. “And I’m only keeping you around until I can get a team ready. So be nice, will you?”
Mao giggles softly before she eventually stops when Nino keeps on glaring at her.
“Screwed logic,” Sho says, rolling his eyes and pointedly ignoring Nino’s comment. “Aren’t we supposed to be going somewhere else? As part of our date today?” Sho turns to Jun, ignoring the low squeak he hears from Nino’s direction when he puts an emphasis on the word ‘date’.
“Yes. We’re going to sit by the riverbank and watch the afternoon stream.” Jun answers with a flinch and grabs Sho’s hand, clasps it tightly, and starts pulling him away.
Sho doesn’t even protest, staggering only a bit to keep up. “Let’s go then! See you guys later,” he says a bit too loudly as he throws a smirk over his shoulder to see Nino with a bit steam rising off the sharp point of his star mask. The man stays in place, gripping his bike handle hard while Mao waves them off warmly.
Sho tries to wave back out of courtesy; she doesn’t mean any harm, after all. It was all that yellow guy’s doing.
*
They have just finished talking about Sho’s lesson plan for the next day and he is still confused: his class hasn’t been going well and now he isn’t sure that he should have taken the offer to be teacher all around, but Jun’s suggestion is surprising. “That’s scandalously impossible!”
Jun is about to flick his hair off his jersey when a deep voice comes from their left. “What is scandalously impossible?”
“Ah, Chief!” Jun beams with pleasure at seeing Shun. He shifts to now perch in a curious squat next to Sho. Jun pats the grassy space beside him to beckon him while Sho sputters with mild surprise and sighs.
It shouldn’t surprise him anymore-and it really takes a lot to be able to do such. At first, he can’t bring down his embarrassingly uncontrolled high-pitched screech when Shun materializes stealthily and ends up breathing down his neck.
Kappa or not, no one should just appear and disturb other people. Kappa or not-especially not kappa.
Zipped up perfectly this time, Shun takes his seat a little bit closer to Jun and repeats his question, with his green face looming next to them, in a whisper. “What’s scandalous impossible? Breathing under water?”
“Breathing under water is not impossible,” Jun simply says.
Even as he rolls his eyes, Sho doesn’t say anything. He has learned by now to not throw a fit at Jun’s answer.
Venusian-the recurring fact that he still doesn’t believe because how could one, but has discovered to be one of Jun’s main excuses and reasons for many of his eccentricities-or not Venusian, he is not going to waste his breath trying to disapprove it again. Not after the long fight he had with Jun that ended with a foul taste in his mouth after he went off with his temper and threw some harsh words at Jun one day.
Shun leans, wiggling his eyebrows merrily. “But something else is?”
“I was telling Sho about the trade challenge we do here,” Jun says to Shun, breaking the silence more likely to let the debate continue and diverting the topic.
Producing another cucumber from a pocket in his costume, Shun begins to munch, completely distracted now. “Ah, yes, trade, yes. And challenge. That’s so much fun.”
“And I was telling him that it’s impossible,” Sho adds. “Nothing comes free in this world. Everything has a price. Plus it might be just a silly challenge.”
“Well, that’s not incorrect.”
Sho rolls his eyes at Shun’s airy answer. “It’s definite. There’s always a price for everything, and the price comes in money. You need to have money if you are going to get what you want. That’s how it works now, and that’s how it will always work.”
“Sho.” Shun finishes his cucumber, shoving Sho lightly on the shoulder and creating a wet patch on his expensive shirt. “You are such a cute fellow.”
Jun still watches them as silence follows.
“I’ll take that as a compliment then,” Sho replies dryly before getting back to the topic at hand. “I’m still correct otherwise. Everything has a price.”
“I wasn’t saying that’s wrong by definition.” Finished with his simple lunch, Shun busies himself by playing with the tall grass. “But you don’t always need money to get what you want.”
Sho snorts, before breaking into a loud laugh.
“Chief is telling the truth,” Jun says, finally speaking up as he watches with interest as Sho rolls over in an exaggerated laugh.
“No way that’s true.” Sho hiccups a few last giggles as he sits up straight again. “No way.”
“You are such a cute fellow,” is Shun’s only response.
Ignoring the half-assed repeated response, Sho begins, “That’s madness. Where on earth can you survive without money? You won’t have good food or good clothes or a roof over your head.”
“Mhmm.” Shun pauses for a long time, sliding his gaze toward Jun who gives a blank yet supportive stare back. “Here?”
*
“It as simple as a trade. First, you need something to get you on the road.”
“Trade? I excel in trade. Back when I was still in elementary school we had a simulated presentation about the New York stock exchange. Mind you, my education was flawless. I didn’t attend commoner schools. And I bet you weren’t privy to the fact that it was the Sakurai Corporation that implemented various exchange corporation system adjustments throughout the-“
Shun stops him with a flick of his hand. “I was referring to a much simpler trade.”
“But no matter how you see it, a trade is a trade.”
“Of course, a trade is just a trade but it’s not a diluted trade like the one you rambled on about just now?”
“We’re not going for a stock exchange trade, I suppose.”
“Correct!”
“Another kind of trade?”
“I’ll give you a hint. It’s not only much simpler but also much more satisfying,” Shun pauses dramatically before adding. “Happiness.”
Sho laughs before adding with a mocking tone, “Happiness is more satisfying than a stock exchange trade? I’m so excited.”
“You are such a cute fellow.”
“Would you stop that? It’s beginning to get annoying.” Sho slaps Shun’s arm, his hand meeting damp wetsuit, and flinches with regret over his action. “So?”
Jun nods. “So!”
Sho considers his options; it has started innocently enough. He’s no stranger to trade and business. It would have been easy to explain how it works to Jun if he has to. Or he also could explain it in his class next week. There wouldn’t be a problem there. But now with Shun annoyingly on his side starting to talk big about trade, Sho is somehow even more determined to prove them wrong. It’ll serve as a point for him; perhaps one step closer to get the man to admit about the costume-no matter how far reaching that goal is at the moment.
“Okay, I’m listening,” he says, “but there must be a reward at the end. Shall I agree to this, I demand that you take off that costume by the end of the second month if this happiness bullshit doesn’t work.”
“As I keep on saying and you keep on failing to understand, this is not a costume,” Shun says, rubbing the front of his costume. “Pick this up, for starters.” He grabs a handful of tall grass, pulling it up and laying it on the ground. “Start with this.”
“No. I would be indebted to you if I take something from you.”
“Stubborn, but not very cute.” Shun lays them on the ground. “There, it’s no one’s now.”
Sho considers and relents. It’s a stupid game, but he won’t back down from an open challenge.
“You’re getting out of that costume by the end of the second month!”
“That’d be a stretch, but.” Shun smirks with confidence. “Who knows at the end? This is a crazy world we’re living in!”
“Huh?”
“You’ve got yourself a deal, Sho.” Shun smacks him on the back before he abruptly stands up and shouts with peace signs on both hands raised high. “Fare forth!”
“Huh?”
“Fare forth!” Jun joins in, rising to his feet and waving his peace signs.
Shun smiles. “And in exchange, I expect you to favor us if you lose.”
“Favor you?” Sho asks but Shun has already bolted toward the river with Jun on his heels. They jump their way into the river, impressively in Jun’s case with a somersault and with no great shakes in Shun’s case as he does a normal swimming start pose.
Sho gets to his feet to follow them, just to make sure that everything’s okay, only to find bubbles of air on the river’s surface mocking him for being left alone.
“Jun!” Sho calls desperately before sighing in defeat. “And just like that you forgot that we were on a date.”
A horsefly: or what seems calm before the storm
A few days later, Sho has almost forgotten about the grass, if it wasn’t for Jun tying the bundle onto his briefcase. At first, he wasn’t going to go around carrying his briefcase, especially here in Arakawa, but it is nice to have a reminder that he’s still going through his days with something from his old life in the saner part of Earth.
Every morning, a far corner of his mind tells him that it’s going to be a good day, a routine he had back during his office workdays. And every night, the thought has been well forgotten when he comes back to his tent all tired, realizing the day has gone with unexpected turns and twists, completely throwing his original elaborate work schedule off.
However, if there’s one thing he enjoys, it’s teaching. He once thought to thank Shun for suggesting the teaching job for him, considering that he can’t really bring himself to be useful for the people under the bridge. Although the choice was either teaching the Iron twins who were mostly concerned with doing fun experimental things instead of being given math problems or helping out Becky on her farm. It was an easy choice to make.
*
Aiba comes to his class one afternoon, letting him know that they will be welcoming a new guy in Arakawa. His height still brings intimidating pressure as Aiba towers over him; the black nun robe doesn’t help at all in giving the peaceful and comforting vibe it’s supposed to. The man gives Sho a few vague details about Yoko, a friend from his childhood who’s coming from a place called Eito-city in the year 2035.
Sho has to take a moment to process the information before he can pose a comment. “Aiba, it’s 2013.”
“I know that.”
“And you were saying 2035, what the-“
“I know what I said.” Aiba cuts him off without giving him any more explanation and with a stern look that prevents Sho from prodding more into the matter.
“Okay, so he’s from 2035,” Sho says as he tries to shake off the doubt. If he is getting used to be around a Kappa and beautiful Venusian, he supposes another one, one from the future, won’t hurt. “Is there anything else I need to know then?”
Stepping forward from behind the blackboard and making his presence known, Shun answers. “Aiba told me that he has issues.”
“Issues?” With his expression changing from surprise to a frown in confusion, Sho turns to Shun. “What kind of issues?”
“You’ll see.”
“I’ll see? Why do I have to see it myself?” Sho turns his plea toward Shun who only gives him a raised eyebrow, and Aiba refuses to give any more, blank expression all over his serious face. Sighing tiredly, he growls in frustration. “Fine. Vague it is then.”
“He said it’s fine.” Shun smiles slyly at Aiba, who gives him a short nod of appreciation for coming and helping him. “Our time here is done.”
“Thank you, Chief. It all went smoothly because of you.”
Completely ignored, Sho resigns with a pout.
“Don’t mention it,” Shun says, smacking Aiba’s back in a friendly gesture. “We all need to do what we all need to do.”
“What kind of saying is that?” Sho rolls his eyes, his leather shoes kicking some dirt on the ground as he mutters darkly.
“We’ll get going then, Sho!” Shun waves before he steps back, rounding the blackboard and disappearing.
He has left them alone again in the class. They stare at each other before Aiba decides that he has said enough. He steps forward and smacks Sho on the back, sending him staggering forward.
“Thank you,” Aiba softly mutters, automatically receiving a nod from Sho. “I need to go now. Rebecca is expecting me at the farm.”
As Aiba turns to leave, Sho can swear that he sees a hint of flush rising on Aiba’s cheek. He ponders for a while as he follows Aiba’s figure walking away, but at the end he shrugs the thought out of his mind. For now.
*
Yoko comes to class the next morning, all prim and proper, as eager as a kid on his first day in school. He comes almost at the same time as Sho does, which means 20 minutes before the actual starting time. He asks Sho whether he can choose his chair, and Sho allows him to do as he pleases and assures him that his classmates won’t mind much.
However, it doesn’t take much to burst his bubble of excitement. When Sho announces the start of class after the arrival of the Iron twins, Yoko raises his hand high in the air, seeking Sho’s attention.
“We haven’t started yet but you already have a question? What is it, Yoko?”
Yoko makes a show of clearing his throat before speaking in a deep tone. “I was just wondering if the others are absent today.”
“The others?”
“Well, the others?” Yoko spreads his arms wide, indicating the space of what he considers an empty classroom.
“We are not waiting for any others,” Sho says. “Except if Jun later decides to come to class, then we have him with us. Most of the time it’s just the three of us here. And now it’s four, including you.”
“Four?” Yoko stands in disbelief and starts to shout. “Four doesn’t add up to a class. It’s too small! Seven people is the smallest number one class should have!”
“Sho-san,” Iron Twin One says, “I don’t like this loud guy.”
“Me too, Sho-san.” Iron Two takes the same stance as his brother as they both throw glares toward Yoko.
Yoko only shouts louder. “I don’t like you metal head punks, either! Guess now we’re even, huh?”
Scooting close together the twins hold each other’s hands in shock before they run behind Sho for cover.
“What is this attitude?” A bit surprised himself by the turn of events, Sho waves frantically to mollify Yoko. “This is a classroom, and we all need to calm ourselves down.”
Yoko growls and the twins clutch harder at the back pockets of Sho’s trousers.
“You two, stop cowering behind my butt, and no groping. And you,” Sho says, “you step back. These two are just kids. You need to act your age.”
A black light flashes in Yoko’s eyes a bit before he sticks his tongue out.
“Oh, that’s just mature, Yoko.”
The next day isn’t any better. Yoko still has a kick scaring the Iron twins and runs around chasing them, screaming with growling noises and glinting eyes. Sho could barely deliver his lesson since morning. He finally resigns himself to sitting on his small teacher’s stall and watching the other three go round and round. They will get tired sooner than later; he’s just going to bide his time and wait.
Near midday, Jun walks into class amidst the chase that still hasn’t subdued, wet hair clinging to his back, and goes straight to Sho’s chair, swerving swiftly when a thick book flies over his head.
“Jun,” Sho says, grateful that at least someone who’s not going to make a good mess out of his classroom and schedule is around.
“Good morning.” That is all Jun says before he bends down, pulling Sho’s tie toward him, and kisses him full on the mouth.
Sho’s eyes flutters shut; he feels his tie pulled tighter, nudging him closer to the scent of lavender, so familiar now, and letting Jun lead the kiss. He hears nothing since he can only feel the rushing blood on his ears and not the catcalls and shock gasps around him.
It lasts for a little longer before Jun pulls back and Sho opens his eyes to meet Jun’s bright eyes shimmering. “Good morning.”
“What was that?” Sho is grateful that he was sitting down because he doesn’t think his jelly legs could support him if he were standing.
“A kiss is a way of greeting one’s lover,” Jun says. “It’s what it said in the new edition.”
Yoko is partially covering his eyes with his hand, and Sho can see a flush rising on his face. He chuckles at that; he isn’t the only one with burning cheeks, and somehow it’s not entirely embarrassing. “You’ve been reading another magazine,” he says, more a statement than a question because he knows the answer even before Jun nods from his front corner seat.
The twins are still clapping their hands gleefully. Sho gestures them to their seat and they comply. The morning commotion is simply forgotten. Even Yoko now heads to the chair he was sitting in the day before, behind Jun.
Silence hangs in the air comfortably before Sho realizes that it is his chance to start his lesson. But just to be sure, he needs confirmation. “So, now I can start my lesson?”
“Yes, Sho-san.” The Iron twins already have their pencils and notebooks ready.
Yoko shrugs but doesn’t object further.
Sho considers today a small victory over Yoko with a quirk of a smile-and a larger one over Jun with an internal summersault.
In the afternoon Aiba comes over to pick Yoko up after class, mentiong something about going to town to get some things to help Yoko get settled in Arakawa. Yoko has been excited since midday and demands that Sho end the class early. When Sho reminds him that no matter what time the class ends, Aiba would only come at the end of the class, Yoko finally resigns.
Yoko is overjoyed to see Aiba when he comes and can’t wait for them to get going. Aiba tells him to wait and Yoko nods immediately, much to Sho’s disappointment. He never sees Yoko behaving as in class as well as he does with Aiba.
Aiba pulls him aside to talk about Yoko’s lessons and how he is catching up with the class so far. And even as he explains that Yoko is doing just fine even if he might need to time to fully adjust to the class, he can catch Yoko and Jun’s conversation behind him.
“Isn’t he cool? He is, right? He is very cool. And very nice. He buys me stuff, takes me golfing and treats me to fancy dinners.”
“Yoko, you’re drooling,” Sho hears Jun point out. He then reconsiders today as a larger victory over Yoko; he’s adorable in a way. In a destructive way, sadly, but adorable nonetheless.
*
On to Part 2
Groups/Pairings: Mainly Arashi: Sho/Jun, Nino, Oguri Shun, Toma, Ohno, Becky, Aiba, Yoko, Inoue Mao, and special cameo by Kimura Takuya.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Crackiness in many absurd forms, stupid exploitation of grenade and very sharp objects.
Summary: On the Arakawa riverside, Shun, Village Chief in his dubious kappa wetsuit, has Sho trade grass straws for a crazy family.
Notes: Here’s a story of Arashi in Arakawa under the Bridge Universe for you, mynamelessname. I had immense fun playing with this universe. I hope you enjoy this regardless of all the intended deviations.
Mostly based more on the anime version rather than the live-action with a lace of basic plot from an old Japanese folk tale, Straw Millionaire, there’s no major spoilers of the original. One doesn't need to know the original story to read this-it spiralled uncontrollably all over the place anyway. Thank you for Miss Mod and my amazing betas for being patient and wonderful. Without you guys this will never exist ♥!
The moment a pair of strong hands take firm hold of his arms, relief instantly surges through Sho’s entire convulsing body. The water is cold and his lungs are burning. His eyes can't make out anything as he further sinks into the darkness of the river. He struggles to let his mind give in to the incessant pull, knowing that it will bring him back to the surface, that he will be able to get air soon, that he will not die today even if everything goes dark and silent the next moment.
*
Sho stirs back into consciousness, sensing someone sitting not far beside him, the faint smell of lavender mixed with fresh grass surrounding him. He remembers the choking water, the stinging coldness of the bottom of the river. “Oh,” he mutters.
A man is holding a long fishing rod, sitting next to him. He turns when he hears the mutter and senses movement from his side and greets him. “Ah, you’re awake now.”
Ignoring the greeting, eyes fluttering closed, Sho tries to collect himself properly as he gives in to the temptation of curling up on the ground. His clothes are wet, his shoes damp, but his breathing is steady. The cool breeze calms him as he tries to slowly recall how he ended up splaying on the ground. His fingers dig into fresh soil and tall grass, the sound of water very close even though it could be miles away, creating a clearer picture by the second.
He sits up abruptly. “Oh, God. I fell into the river, didn’t I? I did. Then, then, I fell into the river, then I was trying to come back to the surface, fighting for breath. Everything went dark, but there’s… there was…. You?” He stares in disbelief, running out of breath, memory rolling back through him in a wave.
“I just pulled you with a gentle tug, nothing much,” the man says, tilting his head curiously. “And I can see that you’re breathing fine now that you’re back on land.”
“Excuse me?”
“You were having difficulty swimming back to the surface.” The man shrugs when Sho doesn’t say anything else. “But what else would you expect out of Earthlings?”
“Swimming wasn’t easy to begin with and I was…. What? Earthlings?”
The man hums in response as he pulls his fishing rod off, getting it out of water and setting it next to a bucket of water with a few fishes splashing inside.
“You’re calling me an Earthling?”
“Well, you are, aren’t you? We Venusians fare better in underwater endurance and swimming in general.”
“Venusian?”
“You make a cute face when you make that ‘huh’ sound. Is it a sign of disbelief? Or lack of understanding?”
Sho couldn’t help it. The man has a good point, yet he is at a loss for coherent words. “Huh?”
“Anyway, I guess that’s all then,” he continues, ignoring Sho’s disbelief, turning back to gaze at the river in front of them, his long hair blown back by the wind. “Unless you want some fish for dinner?”
“No!” Sho almost jumps into a firm sitting position. “No dinner. No anything. Nothing.”
“All right,” the man says lightly, without turning from the river. “It’s almost time to get home anyway.”
A hard-working […] peasant [?]
The wave of black hair swinging on the man’s shoulder keeps Sho entranced as he tries to form his response to all of the unexpected information. All he can think of is that he wants to reach over, touch and thread his fingers through that hair, that jet black hair; it can’t be anything but light and soft.
Sho catches himself and tries to take his mind off the hair. He snaps back to the lingering thoughts, to the manners that have been ingrained in him since as long as he can remember, and to his condition at the moment. He drowned and this man, this man with soft, long hair, saved him; that means, by simple calculation, he now owes this man a life, his life.
“So, what’s in it for you?”
“In what?”
Sighing tiredly, now that his mind has properly caught up, Sho realizes for the first time that he has probably committed the first and most stupid debt in his life for this man. So much for adhering to a strict set of principles: never, not ever, being indebted to other people, never taking anything from other people, and being perfectly independent.
“What’s in it for you?” Sho repeats his question more slowly, watching in growing attention as the man finally turns to look at him. Conversation needs to be done face to face. The sooner he can settle his debt, the sooner he can go home. He can feel the clamminess of his skin, and he desperately needs to change out of his now clingy and damp shirt.
“I don’t understand your question.”
“What do you want in return?” Sho’s voice turns to his cold, clipped business tone, much to his relief. He’s going to settle this matter once and for all, all business, and then he’ll owe nothing to this man, and that will settle everything in satisfactory fashion. “Or to put it bluntly, you saved my life and I am forever grateful for that,” Sho says. “Now I’m offering you anything of your fancy as repayment. So, what do you want? Anything, anything at all, in return?”
The man looks at him with straight-forward eyes and blinks. “Nothing.”
“No, you see, I think you haven’t perfectly understood what I just offered.” Sho can’t hold back a snort. It’s just damn laughable. It seems that the man hasn’t gotten his message full on. He tries again to explain; perhaps simplification will yield better results. “I’m offering you anything in return for your kindness in saving my life. And when I say anything, I mean anything. You name it and it’s yours.”
The man still looks fixedly at Sho with his blank stare, shifting a bit so he can take a good look at Sho but still giving no answer.
Sho decides to take the confused look as another sign of incomprehension and explains further. “Isn’t there anything that you want?”
The man nods and Sho’s face brightens with a wide smile.
“What shall it be then?”
“A return trip to Venus. I haven’t gone home in a while, so that’d be nice.”
Sho’s face flushes at the answer, both with impatience and annoyance. To be fair, the man had said that he was from Venus, but even with his power he can’t grant that kind of pesky, if not near impossible, request. “Okay, then,” he says, correcting his previous statement. If the man wants to believe that he’s from Venus and wants to get a return ticket himself, Sho couldn’t care less. He still has a debt to settle. “I was talking about anything, anything at all on this planet.”
“Then, nothing.”
On the verge of being completely dejected, Sho tries his luck. “Anything, name anything. House? Sports car? New array of clothing? Position in any company?” He wasn’t throwing jokes at the slightest, yet the man doesn’t give any kind of response.
Sho then falls into silence. He can feel the wind growing excruciatingly stronger now; his clammy skin itches with prickles of pain, his head throbs. “But it’d be overly devastating to owe someone something,” he says, murmuring to himself softly while looking down in defeat at both his pale palms. “I should never owe anyone because that’d be unsuitable for a person of my status.”
The silence continues and Sho can only drown himself in the sound of the river, strangely comforting his clouded mind. He knows he needs to do something to settle the situation but at this point, at the point where he’s run out of choices, out of offers, he can’t think of anything else.
Sho is so lost in thought, he misses the sound of the man rummaging through his jersey pocket and pulling out a piece of paper.
“Hey,” the man says, turning to Sho, who still has his eyes fixed on his palms. “Hey!”
Startled, Sho looks up and finds himself eye to eye with the man again. “Yeah?”
“How about I come up with something that I want from you?”
Sho straightens his back immediately. “Yes. Please, anything.”
“You hate being indebted to people that much?” the man says, and without waiting for Sho’s answer he continues, “All right then.”
“You have something?”
The man nods softly. “I have two things I want.”
“Name them and they’re yours,” Sho says. No matter what or how many things the man wants, he will see to it that he’s properly granted the wishes.
“First, your name.”
“Eh?” Completely not expecting such a request, Sho leans forward to make sure he’s hearing things properly.
“Your name,” the man repeats. “You have a name, don’t you? Mine is Jun. What’s yours?”
“My name?” Sho says, completely bewildered. So the man’s name is Jun? And Jun wants to know his name? At the very least, Sho now owes this Jun a proper introduction. “My name? My name is Sakurai Sho of Sakurai Corporation.”
“It’s Sho, then.”
No one has called him simply “Sho” in a long time; it’s always his last name with proper honorific suffixes, and this Jun doesn’t even flinch at the mention of Sakurai Corporation, a fact that almost never happens now that his family business is ruling the Japanese business world.
Then again, he reminds himself, Jun can call him anything if that is the way Sho can repay him for saving his life. “Fine. Sho it is for you. And your second wish would be?”
“You did say anything, right?”
“I did.”
“Anything within this Earth?”
“Yes. So what would it be?”
Jun turns away a moment to then visibly clutch the piece of paper in his right hand. “Can you love me?”
The wave of black hair distracts Sho again as it shifts along with the wind, bringing the lavender scent back to his senses. He sees Jun’s fair face clearly with the sun setting behind his back, illuminating the pale glow of his eyes. His mouth is closed tight without a smile; Sho was half-expecting one to appear so he can tell him that it was just a joke. Jun stays silent, waiting for his response, and Sho feels an unfamiliar warmth crawling pleasantly on his skin, reaching his face. He wants to look away, to blink his sense back to place, but he finds himself staring, willingly adrift in their silent exchange of gazes, and he lets out the answer that was already on the tip of his tongue as soon as Jun finished his question. “Yes.”
Jun doesn’t smile, but his face brightens in an exquisitely beautiful way; it’s enough to bring Sho back to reality. He just answered yes to the question. It’s Jun’s wish and he’s going to grant it-it is a way of repaying his debt, and if it’s what Jun wants, then it’s all settled.
“Yes.”
“I got you the first time, Sho. We are lovers now then.”
“Right.” Feeling a bit dazed somehow, Sho now realizes that it’s getting darker. He tries to taste the word on his lips, “lovers,” before he can stop himself.
Time to go home, he reminds himself. He waits for Jun to call it a day as he watches Jun move. He now catches a glimpse of the piece of paper clutched tight in Jun’s hand. “What’s that?”
“This?” Jun holds the paper toward him. “A magazine clipping.”
Sho can only stare at it. “Clipping? Magazine?”
“You sound surprised,” Jun says. “I’ll tell you about it later. We have to get you settled now.”
When Jun stands, Sho hurriedly does the same. “Settled? Where?”
“Here in Arakawa, of course,” Jun says, before adding with a hint of concern on his voice, “Ah, but first you need to meet the Chief.”
“Chief?”
“The village chief of Arakawa. He’ll be around the water at this hour.” Jun steps forward to meet Sho’s reflex backward step and hold out his hand for him. “Come on, let’s go. It’s going to be dusk soon.”
*
“Chief.” Jun beams with pleasure at seeing a man float toward the riverside where he and Sho have been waiting for a while now. They watch him slither out of the water with very little grace and flop near their feet in silence-Jun with an interested gaze and Sho with a visible deep frown.
“Ah, that was a nice swim,” Chief says as he rolls over on the ground to settle himself comfortably, dripping wet and all.
“What are you?” Sho can’t help to ask, now that he finally gets a full look at the man sprawled on the ground lazily. The man is clad in a loose green wetsuit, with green mask and what appears to be waterproof dark green makeup-one detail that caught Sho’s attention the most. “Kappa?”
The man called Chief only smiles as he rolls again to lie on his side and prop his head in one arm, twisting his feet loosely, now facing them. Jun sits down gently on the ground, pulling Sho’s trousers, signalling him to follow suit. As Sho complies and descends, he can see in greater detail the green man’s wetsuit and the blatant zipper that hangs near his nape.
“Now that we’re all settled in this warm small circle,” the man says, gesturing at the small space they are sharing now even though the wide riverside is completely empty. “What can I do for you?”
“Kappa costume? Why?”
The man makes an exaggerated gasp. “Costume? What costume?”
“That costume you’re wearing now.” Sho points at bits of water oozing out of the wetsuit as their talk continues.
“This is not a costume,” the man says, all while he pulls at part of his sleeve and wrings it out. “This is my skin. As it is.”
Sho chokes on his laughter, to which Jun helpfully pats him on the shoulder. “Are you saying you are really a kappa?”
“Yup. The name is Shun but people here call me Chief.” The man replies lightly before he shifts his eyes to Jun in a smile. “And who’s this fancy guy you brought here with you today, Jun?”
Jun has his mouth open to answer when Sho cuts him short with a furious protest. “Wait a minute. Kappa don’t exist. You’re just a man with a green wetsuit who, who happens to swim in the river.”
“Well, you should believe what you see, since I’m right here in front of you.”
“-splayed out with your wetsuit leaking and your mask damp?”
Hurt flashes in Shun’s eyes before he throws a pout and gaze in Jun’s direction again.
“Sho, you shouldn’t say bad things like that to Chief. It’s impolite,” Jun says.
Jun’s tone is flat as he speaks but Sho has enough manners to know that he crossed the line just now. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me-”
“Yeah, that was rude of you,” Shun says, raising a fist to the air as a sign of early victory.
“-still,” Sho continues. All his manners can be thrown into the river at the moment for all he cares. “That is definitely a wetsuit.”
Shun glares at him for a good five seconds before shrugging the matter off. “Okay. You’re forgiven.”
“I am?” Sho wants to add, “even if I didn’t mean a single word in that apology? That was quick and abrupt.” But he chooses to leave the statement out.
“You are,” Shun says, as he shifts again against his probably completely dried costume. “I was going to brood a little longer but it’s going to get dark soon, so better not. And I don’t even know who you are yet. Jun?”
“This is Sho. My lover.” Jun is ready with his answer, calm and sure gaze fixed on Shun. “And he’s going to stay here by the riverside. That’s why I brought him to meet you now.”
Sho’s mouth gapes open as he tries to blink his confusion off. “Wait, what did you just say?”
“Oooh, lovers spat already?”
“You shut up.” Sho indifferently waves Shun off, as he tries to face Jun. “What was that you’re saying about me living here?”
Jun holds his gaze straight at Shun, whose face is now slowly blooming with a loopy smile. He doesn’t turn even at Sho’s attempt to yank his jersey sleeve to get his attention. “Sho?”
“Yes?”
“Didn’t we agree that you are going to be my lover?”
“Yes, we did,” Sho answers in desperation. What is happening all of a sudden throws him off completely. Now, at least Jun is willing to reason, and Sho is a good negotiator himself. He should make sure that the bargain doesn’t grow into something that he can’t handle. “We did agree that I am to be your lover.”
“And isn’t a lover supposed to be in close proximity most of the time?”
“Huh?”
Jun rummages through his pocket again to produce the piece of paper Sho saw earlier. He holds it out to Sho. “It says so here.”
Sho snatches the paper out of Jun’s hand and skims the article quickly before slowly raising his head with a look full of concern and, just a sliver of, horror. “This is,” he says, stifled with worry, “a girl’s magazine.”
“Now, read the title,” Jun says.
“’Love Overcomes Distance: How Long Distance Relationships Never Work.’”
“See?” Jun then turns to give him a pat on the shoulder. “We lovers shouldn’t have distance between us.”
“And that means-“
“-you’re staying here under the bridge with us. I then can meet you every day and there won't be any problems.”
Sho tries hard to control his breathing, staring in disbelief at Jun. Why did Jun expect him to stay at the riverside? He’d need to settle here, though it’s a word that Jun used before, now that he lets their previous conversation repeat in his head. He should’ve known better than to lower his guard during negotiations. And then the other point. “Problem?”
“Jun has a long term memory problem. If he doesn’t see you each day, he may forget about you,” Shun says as he helpfully and-now Sho can see-cheerfully watches the two converse.
Sho is about to turn to Shun to shut him up when he catches the last phrase. “You may what?”
“You said anything within this Earth, right?” Jun says, shrugging and holding his gaze steady at Sho and in a way giving silent confirmation of what Shun has just said.
Sho nods weakly. He can see a glint of pleasure on Jun’s eyes and wonders why it gives him enough encouragement to try, or at least to stop protesting.
“Very well then.” Shun claps his hands now that the discussion is over. He waits until they turn toward him before he waves his hand formally. “Welcome to Arakawa, Sho.”
Escape poverty? [But as it happens, I’m already rich]
At the first Sunday Mass, Shun makes an invisible gesture by inviting everyone from the village to meet him. They even throw a welcome party that leads to a session of Sunday Mass. Everything passes in a blur for Sho as he moves from one person to another with growing unease.
He is about to deem the day just plain weird and go back to the fancy tent he’s chosen as the form of his new home when a tall man corners him.
“Is your love real? If so, I hope you bring Jun a lot of happiness," Aiba, as Shun called this man with a nun robe and cold eyes, says. Sho supposes that it is a congratulatory gesture in a way, before he hears the man add in a threatening low voice, "Or else."
"Or else?" Sho can’t help it, but his voice quivers at the addition.
Aiba's hand reaches inside his robe, and the next moment Sho feels the cold tip of a gun.
“Wait a second! Aiba?” Sho does nothing but freeze in place as he tries to reason with Aiba.
“This is an Israeli open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine gun and you’re deflecting my question!”
“I don’t know!” Panic starts rising in Sho’s head when Aiba keeps on staring at him with hard cold eyes. The gun isn’t helping either, and Sho can swear he’s picking up the scent of gunpowder. “I don’t know, okay? And can you please put that away? It makes me nervous.”
“Nervous people tend to answer truthfully to questions asked.”
“I don’t intend to lie to begin with,” Sho says.
Aiba tilts his head aside a bit, considering. He’s still staring hard at Sho’s eyes, holding eye contact, but the coldness gradually disappears. “Go on.”
“I don’t know about love,” Sho begins again, holding his hand up in front of his face to let Aiba know that he should at least wait till he’s finished his sentence. “What I know is that I am not planning to make him unhappy.”
After a long hard stare, Aiba finally sets his gun inside his robe. “Good enough for me. Hang in there, soldier!" Aiba smacks him hard on the back, making Sho unbalanced and sending him staggering clumsily forward.
After he has regained his composure, there’s nothing much Sho can say. Deep down he knows Aiba means well because he apparently cares about Jun, cares enough to point a gun at his new so-called lover’s forehead to dig out a confession. Yet, there’s only so much one can tolerate. “By the way, how can you carry that thing around? Aren’t you going to get arrested?”
Aiba smiles wide at that, so wide that Sho can only interpret it as either display of chilling confidence or pure innocence. Both are worrying him all the same.
*
Shun dips into the water until only his shoulders up is left unsubmerged; he needs to be careful with his eye makeup, now that he has put in a lot of effort applying it in the morning. It’ll grow uncomfortable on his face later but he needs to have a good appearance today. Especially today when his schedule is full and there’s no time to slack at the slightest: morning for Nino and afternoon for Sho.
From the distance he can very well see Nino pedalling his old bike with difficulty; bold neon-green floral print parka flapping against his red shorts, contrasting with his yellow star mask. Shun readies himself to welcome Nino; the guy has never learned that he should’ve left his bike at home if he’s going to meet him by the river, nor that he should attempt sporting a less blinding fashion sense. Then again, it isn’t Shun’s place to tell him.
“Yo.” Shun keeps himself afloat in an attempt to look relaxed as he welcomes Nino.
“Chief!” That’s the only greeting Shun gets before Nino dumps his bike unceremoniously on its side and stomps toward the edge of the river to plop himself down, catching his breath.
“Looking good as usual, Nino,” Shun says. “Alone today?”
Still catching his breath, Nino makes a gesture with his thumb over his shoulder. “Mao-chan was trailing behind me just now. She says she’ll be here when she gets here.”
“Okay.”
Shun splashes some water around himself playfully while he waits for Nino to finally catch his breath. Not long afterwards, Mao comes sliding down the slope with her line field marker, discharging a white line for her to step on as she makes a solid track toward the riverside.
She stops besides Nino and greets Shun. “Chief, good morning!”
“Morning, Mao-chan. Looking good as usual!”
Nino rolls his eyes. “You just said the same thing to me!”
“That’s because you both are looking good as usual.”
She sets her line marker on her side and sits next to Nino. “Sorry I cannot keep up, Nino. I just refilled the hopper and it’s a bit heavy. You were in a hurry.”
“It’s okay,” Nino says. Now that he’s meeting Shun, he can set out on redressing his grievances.
“What is it then?” Shun begins, giving them the chance to start their conversation straight up. “I can see you coming from a mile away, Nino. You have something important to tell me?”
“He’s been grumpy since yesterday,” Mao says instead before sharing a knowing glance with Shun, but both hold their smiles.
“I can be grumpy all I like.” Nino’s back straightens up, his hunch less noticeable now. He folds his hands in his lap, now that he has worked his temper back, his slight and puffy yellow face flushed. “I have two different complaints and it’s better for me to go through them one by one to avoid confusion on your part.”
“Spit it out then.”
“First, it’s that jerk Sho.”
“It has always been Sho, these past few weeks,” Mao says, giving Nino’s shoulder a comforting pat when he turns to her with a frown. “Don’t be mad. I’m offering understanding.”
“Sure you are,” Nino says with a pout, not trusting the offer even a bit. They will listen to him, but it doesn't mean that they’ll be good enough to agree with him at the end.
Shun knows that he needs to speed this up before they all spend the whole morning just hearing Nino’s complaints. “Then?”
“First, it’s Sho. He ruins everything here,” Nino says, before huffing a deep and loud puff. “Why is he even allowed to stay here? His expensive tent detracts from my view of morning sky. He passes by every morning near my trailer only to make a racket when he stumbles over the empty bottle crates. He’s polluting the air, too. I cannot breath the same air as him, and I am going to smoke my way out of this life if that’s the only way to pollute his air back.”
Shun bubbly nods at every strong emphasis Nino makes.
Nino continues. “And second, it’s that jerk. Sho.”
Mao absently hums a song about a couple bumping umbrellas, her soft gaze fixed on the bridge in the distance to the far right. “Your gentle smile~”
Nino rolls his eyes at the familiar tune but ignores her as he pounces on with another complaint. He knows that Mao and Shun are listening despite their reactions at the moment, and that’s all he can ask for.
*
Before long, seeing that now Shun has completely lost his focus on listening and Nino has been repeating the same points three times already, Mao cuts Nino off at the middle of his on-going rant. “Still, Nino, Jun-kun does look happier these days.”
Mao’s statement stops Shun from making another pose. “That’s true.”
In disbelief, Nino turns his scowl from her toward Shun. “But I also deserve to look happier.”
“That’s also true,” Shun says, nodding his agreement, “so very true.”
“But, but I can’t simply accept that. Who the hell does the guy think he is?! Coming here and all of a sudden snatching Jun out of my reach. The guy has some damn nerves. Didn’t he know that Jun is technically taken?”
Shun murmurs something that sounds like, “in your starry dreams, that is,” but he soon casts his gaze upward to the sky in fake thoughtfulness at Nino’s quick hurt glance.
Nino has been pouting and squinting with hate at Shun for a full minute when Mao gives her answer. “But this way, aren’t you going to have ample ammunition for another ballad composing streak?”
“Oh, yeah, the composing streak was awesome.” Shun makes a solid turn, splashing the water around. It won’t be long before they can settle things with Nino on agreeable terms. He can sense them reaching an agreement.
“Mao-chan.” Ignoring Shun as he knows the man is useless now since he’s back to splashing the water, Nino whines, running out of good reasons for his argument. “Whose side are you on anyway?”
“Jun-kun’s.”
“Nice answer.” Shun compliments her with a thumbs up. He shifts his gaze to Nino to find the yellow man emitting steam from the tip of his star mask. “Nino, you’re letting out too much steam. Be careful.”
Nino lets out a choked scream before he throws his hands in the air and lies down to curl on the ground with his back toward Shun and Mao.
“There, there.” Mao leans in and reaches over to give Nino pats on the shoulder. He at first flinches, and then shrugs before he relents, staying still in a tighter curl.
“I’ll be initiating Arakawa Broken-Hearted Team as soon as I can ease this pain stabbing at my heart,” Nino mutters loud enough for the other two to hear. “You guys just wait and see.”
*
They wait for Nino to come around, or to be more precise, to uncurl his limbs and sit up straight again, even with the same sullen look still pasted on his yellow face, Mao humming the same song twice and Shun sinking further down underwater to resurface with a big splash.
“Say, Nino,” Shun says, “tomorrow’s Sunday. How about I tell Aiba that we need a new song for the Sunday meeting? I can count on you to deal with that, right?”
Even if he’s not fully recovered from the sadness he’s wrapped around himself, Nino cheers up at the suggestion. “I can deal with that easy task,” he says with a pronounced huff. “I’m a goddamn star after all.”
Mao claps with delight. “Nice.”
“A star with a crooked mask unfortunately.” Shun tilts his head in worry as he takes a closer look at Nino.
Mao turns to glance at Nino’s face and lets out a little squeal. “Ah, he’s right, Nino. Your mask is crooked.”
“You should have remembered to take your mask off before you curled on the ground just now, Nino. The right sharp points are bent every which way now.”
Nino slowly pats one of the tips, feels a crooked end, and sends a pleading gaze toward Shun. “Chief, how did we do this again?”
“Here, let me help you.” Shun rises out of the water, dripping wet, and he squats next to Nino before he pets and smoothens the sharp points with ease. “You should be careful next time. The mask adds so many things to your appearance as a nice guy.”
“I don’t know how you came to such a conclusion, Chief, but I cannot agree more.” Nino stays still as Shun turns him around to fix the top left sharp point. “Nice guy, that’s me.”
“Now that you bring that up,” Mao says, “Sho is also a nice guy. We went on an afternoon stroll the other day. He wears that fancy white shirt and red tie that looks so soft, a very nice bonus point.”
Shrugging off Shun’s hold, Nino’s scowl returns. “I am dressing myself nice and fancy too. Everyday,” he says while showing off the front of his neon-green floral print parka.
Mao and Shun share a look for a moment too long before turning to offer Nino a sweet smile and a supportive nod, even though it is too late.
“You two are not helping, not helping at all.” Nino lets out more steam from under his mask. He abruptly rises to his feet, throwing one last scowl at the other two. “I’ll get that broken-hearted team ready and nothing will stop me!”
He then stomps his way to his bike with a loud scream.
“He is such a passionate guy,” Shun says to Mao as they together watch Nino kick his old bike and then pedal back toward his trailer. “That’s the spirit, Star.”
Mao shrugs good-naturedly in response.
“All right then, Mao-chan, off I go for my morning swim.” Shun sing-songs the end of his sentence before giving an exaggerated nod and jumping into the water.
“Okay, Chief.” Mao waves him off. “I think I’m going to stay here a while. The bridge looks amazingly lovely this morning.”
“Whatever floats your boat.” Shun floats toward the middle of the water after doing a fancy back splash.
“I don’t own a boat, but thanks anyway.”
*
A few rounds of large laps and deep dives later, Shun can hear the sound of Aiba’s boots strutting closer. “Aiba,” he says, waving from the middle of the river, “I was going to visit you later but you’re here already. You’ve really saved me a trip.”
“Chief, it’s just a 10-meter walk. It’s nothing.” Aiba stands by the riverside as he waits for Shun to swim closer to the side. Wind blows his short bangs sticking out of the nun veil, framing his face sharper around his sad eyes.
“Ah, those were good laps.” Shun crawls his way to the ground before collapsing in an undignified sprawl. “And since now I’m on my much needed break, let’s hear it. What’s up with you?”
Aiba takes the time to fold his leg over the long dark nun robe, dust gathering on his worn-out boot. He finally sits on his leg before clearing his throat. “I have a favour to ask.”
“Anything. What is it?” Shun turns to lie on his side as he takes a good look at Aiba.
“I have a friend coming this weekend,” Aiba says, his gaze fixed on some point far away. “His name is Yoko and I think he’s going to stay with us for a while.”
“Sure.” Shun puts his head on his elbow, relaxing his exhausted muscles. “You know, you don’t even need to come to me for such a small matter, Aiba.”
“This is not small at the least,” Aiba says, with a deeply serious tone. “Yoko has, what shall I call it-an issue.”
Interest piqued, Shun shifts a bit. “An issue? What kind of issue?”
“He has gone through so many difficulties back where he comes from. He might later have a relapse, or two. So I’m here to assure you that it will not harm us… well, not too much. He’s a nice guy. He just has attachment issues, serious ones.”
“I see.”
Aiba falls silent and Shun lets him, giving himself an opportunity to discern the explanation. An idea crosses his mind and he brightens up.
“You should put him in the class then.”
Aiba turns in mild surprise. “Sho’s class?”
“Well, we don’t have any other class, do we?”
“I see.” Aiba nods his agreement. “Perhaps it’s a good idea. It’d give him a chance to mingle with his peers.”
“If his peers are the twins and Jun, that is,” Shun says, barely able to hold in his chuckles. “But perhaps Sho can do something about him, this Yoko guy.”
“He’s a good teacher, I must admit.”
“And I must agree with you. I took a peek last week and the twins were laughing over his fail attempt of making salt brick as foundation for a boat of some sort.” Shun lets out a short chuckle finally. “That guy is cute.”
“He kind of is, even if I was a bit rough on him. It’s good to see he’s earnest though,” Aiba says, grumbling good-naturedly with his low voice. “I should get going, Chief. I need to head to the farm. Rebecca is expecting me.”
“Okay. I’m going to lie here for a while to rest my aching muscles.”
Aiba rises in brisk and swift movements, his robe almost swiping Shun in the face. “Thank you for you time, Chief.”
Shun gives no response but a yawn, and Aiba struts away.
“Ah, today is unexpectedly busy,” Shun says, casting his gaze toward the blaring sun before sighing. “And it’s far from over.”
[a handful] of straw grass: now did you say trade and haggle?
“And this-“ Jun releases Sho’s arm, stepping aside to give him a full view of the place, “-is my palace.”
“Uhm, you mean, place. Your place?”
“No.” Jun stares him, before repeating more slowly. “Palace.”
“Right.” Sho nods sceptically, correcting himself. “Palace.”
Jun eagerly points out his possessions around the closed-in place even with the apparent lack of enthusiasm on his sharp face.
For as long as Sho has known him, facial expression hasn’t been any indication of Jun’s mood. His eyes will sparkles with delight even if his lips don’t form a smile. His hands will clutch Sho’s tight even if his cheeks don’t show his flush. Sho feels like he could get used to the fact, the warmth, but for now he’s being invited to visit Jun’s place as part of their second, or was it third, not that Sho’s counting, date, and he needs to take the opportunity to pay attention.
Sho’s eyes zero in on tall messy stacks of magazines in the corner of the room. “You like girls’ magazine that much?”
Jun hums his answer. He watches Sho walk toward the stack, running his hand on the binding of the magazines with more questions. “I guess I do.”
“How did you get all these? Do you even read them all?”
“Sometimes I pick up some of them from the rubbish in the public park downstream. Sometimes people give me a few issues if they think I’d like the magazine. I try to read them all even if my collection grows larger and larger and I would be stuck all day at home if I did.”
“That’s amazing. I didn’t know that you read this much.” Sho comes closer to the stacks, still in awe as he reads the titles from the side. He can’t really see the covers but he could guess the themes from seeing so much white and pink glossy paper. “If you like magazines that much, I can buy them for you, any of them. Whatever you like.”
“Huh?” Jun blinks. “Why? Is that because we’re lovers?”
It shouldn’t make him flush since Jun has been proclaiming so for over a month now but Sho feels his cheeks grow warm, as usual, at the word Jun seems to like so much. “Because I want to.”
Tilting his head a bit, Jun stares at Sho, searching for another, firmer answer. “You do?”
“Of course I do! If you like magazines that much, I’ll buy you few more stacks, even the whole bookstore if you just ask.”
“But I am not asking for a few more stacks or a whole bookstore. I can barely read them properly as it is. There are many unfamiliar kanji characters, and the ones with fewer pictures are complicated,” Jun says, much to Sho’s disappointment.
While Jun might not sound serious, Sho knows that he isn’t kidding every time he says so. Perhaps he needs to buy something for Jun the next time he goes back to town. That will be interesting, Sho notes, his mind already racing ahead of him with a few flashes of plans.
“Sho?” Jun’s question pulls him back to Jun’s room and his magazine stacks.
“Yes,” he quickly says, focusing on the stack. ”Sorry, I was thinking.”
Jun looks at him with straight eyes and blinks. “You’re always thinking.”
Sho ignores the statement and gestures at Jun to continue with the tour. By the time Jun has shown him everything and Sho can’t stand being in such close proximity with Jun and the lingering scent of his lavender shampoo, it’s already late afternoon.
Unsure whether he should offer Jun a thank you or just take things lightly, Sho lets his question hang in the air. “So?”
“So.” Jun doesn’t add anything else and closes his door behind him. Together they stand close under the canopy of the rundown trailer.
“Thank you for inviting me,” Sho then says, the flush rushing back to his cheeks. “I had a great time.”
“I had fun too,” Jun says, his eyes fixed lightly on Sho’s cheek. “I did need to invite my lover to my house at some point, right?”
“Right.” Sho tries to follow Jun’s viewpoint while growing a bit more flustered now that he sees that Jun is glowing a bit, if not a lot.
*
Sho steps out first to the road with Jun right behind him. He stops abruptly, causing Jun to bump into his back, when he sees Nino on his bike along with Mao standing behind her line field marker, a sullen face and a polite smile respectively. He groans in frustration. “What are you guys, concerned parents?”
Nino shifts with what Sho supposes is Nino’s version of a threatening pose-even though one can’t be very threatening while sitting on that old bike saddle. “We just want to make sure you don’t do lewd things in there.”
“Gutter mind,” Sho mutters under his breath.
“We are just having a home date,” Jun says, helpfully clarifying what actually doesn’t need to be clarified.
“Home date?” Nino chokes on the words, clutching the front of his shirt near his heart. “Jun is as straightforward as ever! It hurts!”
Jun blinks at Nino’s accusation, which then sends Nino bursting, shyly this time, with steam in mere seconds.
“Stop being so star-struck over Jun-kun, Nino!” Mao teases, ribbing him lightly when he sees steam bursting from under Nino’s yellow star headpiece.
"I'm a star goddammit! I can be star-struck all I want. In fact, I can strike whatever I wish." Nino argues his point. “And I’m only keeping you around until I can get a team ready. So be nice, will you?”
Mao giggles softly before she eventually stops when Nino keeps on glaring at her.
“Screwed logic,” Sho says, rolling his eyes and pointedly ignoring Nino’s comment. “Aren’t we supposed to be going somewhere else? As part of our date today?” Sho turns to Jun, ignoring the low squeak he hears from Nino’s direction when he puts an emphasis on the word ‘date’.
“Yes. We’re going to sit by the riverbank and watch the afternoon stream.” Jun answers with a flinch and grabs Sho’s hand, clasps it tightly, and starts pulling him away.
Sho doesn’t even protest, staggering only a bit to keep up. “Let’s go then! See you guys later,” he says a bit too loudly as he throws a smirk over his shoulder to see Nino with a bit steam rising off the sharp point of his star mask. The man stays in place, gripping his bike handle hard while Mao waves them off warmly.
Sho tries to wave back out of courtesy; she doesn’t mean any harm, after all. It was all that yellow guy’s doing.
*
They have just finished talking about Sho’s lesson plan for the next day and he is still confused: his class hasn’t been going well and now he isn’t sure that he should have taken the offer to be teacher all around, but Jun’s suggestion is surprising. “That’s scandalously impossible!”
Jun is about to flick his hair off his jersey when a deep voice comes from their left. “What is scandalously impossible?”
“Ah, Chief!” Jun beams with pleasure at seeing Shun. He shifts to now perch in a curious squat next to Sho. Jun pats the grassy space beside him to beckon him while Sho sputters with mild surprise and sighs.
It shouldn’t surprise him anymore-and it really takes a lot to be able to do such. At first, he can’t bring down his embarrassingly uncontrolled high-pitched screech when Shun materializes stealthily and ends up breathing down his neck.
Kappa or not, no one should just appear and disturb other people. Kappa or not-especially not kappa.
Zipped up perfectly this time, Shun takes his seat a little bit closer to Jun and repeats his question, with his green face looming next to them, in a whisper. “What’s scandalous impossible? Breathing under water?”
“Breathing under water is not impossible,” Jun simply says.
Even as he rolls his eyes, Sho doesn’t say anything. He has learned by now to not throw a fit at Jun’s answer.
Venusian-the recurring fact that he still doesn’t believe because how could one, but has discovered to be one of Jun’s main excuses and reasons for many of his eccentricities-or not Venusian, he is not going to waste his breath trying to disapprove it again. Not after the long fight he had with Jun that ended with a foul taste in his mouth after he went off with his temper and threw some harsh words at Jun one day.
Shun leans, wiggling his eyebrows merrily. “But something else is?”
“I was telling Sho about the trade challenge we do here,” Jun says to Shun, breaking the silence more likely to let the debate continue and diverting the topic.
Producing another cucumber from a pocket in his costume, Shun begins to munch, completely distracted now. “Ah, yes, trade, yes. And challenge. That’s so much fun.”
“And I was telling him that it’s impossible,” Sho adds. “Nothing comes free in this world. Everything has a price. Plus it might be just a silly challenge.”
“Well, that’s not incorrect.”
Sho rolls his eyes at Shun’s airy answer. “It’s definite. There’s always a price for everything, and the price comes in money. You need to have money if you are going to get what you want. That’s how it works now, and that’s how it will always work.”
“Sho.” Shun finishes his cucumber, shoving Sho lightly on the shoulder and creating a wet patch on his expensive shirt. “You are such a cute fellow.”
Jun still watches them as silence follows.
“I’ll take that as a compliment then,” Sho replies dryly before getting back to the topic at hand. “I’m still correct otherwise. Everything has a price.”
“I wasn’t saying that’s wrong by definition.” Finished with his simple lunch, Shun busies himself by playing with the tall grass. “But you don’t always need money to get what you want.”
Sho snorts, before breaking into a loud laugh.
“Chief is telling the truth,” Jun says, finally speaking up as he watches with interest as Sho rolls over in an exaggerated laugh.
“No way that’s true.” Sho hiccups a few last giggles as he sits up straight again. “No way.”
“You are such a cute fellow,” is Shun’s only response.
Ignoring the half-assed repeated response, Sho begins, “That’s madness. Where on earth can you survive without money? You won’t have good food or good clothes or a roof over your head.”
“Mhmm.” Shun pauses for a long time, sliding his gaze toward Jun who gives a blank yet supportive stare back. “Here?”
*
“It as simple as a trade. First, you need something to get you on the road.”
“Trade? I excel in trade. Back when I was still in elementary school we had a simulated presentation about the New York stock exchange. Mind you, my education was flawless. I didn’t attend commoner schools. And I bet you weren’t privy to the fact that it was the Sakurai Corporation that implemented various exchange corporation system adjustments throughout the-“
Shun stops him with a flick of his hand. “I was referring to a much simpler trade.”
“But no matter how you see it, a trade is a trade.”
“Of course, a trade is just a trade but it’s not a diluted trade like the one you rambled on about just now?”
“We’re not going for a stock exchange trade, I suppose.”
“Correct!”
“Another kind of trade?”
“I’ll give you a hint. It’s not only much simpler but also much more satisfying,” Shun pauses dramatically before adding. “Happiness.”
Sho laughs before adding with a mocking tone, “Happiness is more satisfying than a stock exchange trade? I’m so excited.”
“You are such a cute fellow.”
“Would you stop that? It’s beginning to get annoying.” Sho slaps Shun’s arm, his hand meeting damp wetsuit, and flinches with regret over his action. “So?”
Jun nods. “So!”
Sho considers his options; it has started innocently enough. He’s no stranger to trade and business. It would have been easy to explain how it works to Jun if he has to. Or he also could explain it in his class next week. There wouldn’t be a problem there. But now with Shun annoyingly on his side starting to talk big about trade, Sho is somehow even more determined to prove them wrong. It’ll serve as a point for him; perhaps one step closer to get the man to admit about the costume-no matter how far reaching that goal is at the moment.
“Okay, I’m listening,” he says, “but there must be a reward at the end. Shall I agree to this, I demand that you take off that costume by the end of the second month if this happiness bullshit doesn’t work.”
“As I keep on saying and you keep on failing to understand, this is not a costume,” Shun says, rubbing the front of his costume. “Pick this up, for starters.” He grabs a handful of tall grass, pulling it up and laying it on the ground. “Start with this.”
“No. I would be indebted to you if I take something from you.”
“Stubborn, but not very cute.” Shun lays them on the ground. “There, it’s no one’s now.”
Sho considers and relents. It’s a stupid game, but he won’t back down from an open challenge.
“You’re getting out of that costume by the end of the second month!”
“That’d be a stretch, but.” Shun smirks with confidence. “Who knows at the end? This is a crazy world we’re living in!”
“Huh?”
“You’ve got yourself a deal, Sho.” Shun smacks him on the back before he abruptly stands up and shouts with peace signs on both hands raised high. “Fare forth!”
“Huh?”
“Fare forth!” Jun joins in, rising to his feet and waving his peace signs.
Shun smiles. “And in exchange, I expect you to favor us if you lose.”
“Favor you?” Sho asks but Shun has already bolted toward the river with Jun on his heels. They jump their way into the river, impressively in Jun’s case with a somersault and with no great shakes in Shun’s case as he does a normal swimming start pose.
Sho gets to his feet to follow them, just to make sure that everything’s okay, only to find bubbles of air on the river’s surface mocking him for being left alone.
“Jun!” Sho calls desperately before sighing in defeat. “And just like that you forgot that we were on a date.”
A horsefly: or what seems calm before the storm
A few days later, Sho has almost forgotten about the grass, if it wasn’t for Jun tying the bundle onto his briefcase. At first, he wasn’t going to go around carrying his briefcase, especially here in Arakawa, but it is nice to have a reminder that he’s still going through his days with something from his old life in the saner part of Earth.
Every morning, a far corner of his mind tells him that it’s going to be a good day, a routine he had back during his office workdays. And every night, the thought has been well forgotten when he comes back to his tent all tired, realizing the day has gone with unexpected turns and twists, completely throwing his original elaborate work schedule off.
However, if there’s one thing he enjoys, it’s teaching. He once thought to thank Shun for suggesting the teaching job for him, considering that he can’t really bring himself to be useful for the people under the bridge. Although the choice was either teaching the Iron twins who were mostly concerned with doing fun experimental things instead of being given math problems or helping out Becky on her farm. It was an easy choice to make.
*
Aiba comes to his class one afternoon, letting him know that they will be welcoming a new guy in Arakawa. His height still brings intimidating pressure as Aiba towers over him; the black nun robe doesn’t help at all in giving the peaceful and comforting vibe it’s supposed to. The man gives Sho a few vague details about Yoko, a friend from his childhood who’s coming from a place called Eito-city in the year 2035.
Sho has to take a moment to process the information before he can pose a comment. “Aiba, it’s 2013.”
“I know that.”
“And you were saying 2035, what the-“
“I know what I said.” Aiba cuts him off without giving him any more explanation and with a stern look that prevents Sho from prodding more into the matter.
“Okay, so he’s from 2035,” Sho says as he tries to shake off the doubt. If he is getting used to be around a Kappa and beautiful Venusian, he supposes another one, one from the future, won’t hurt. “Is there anything else I need to know then?”
Stepping forward from behind the blackboard and making his presence known, Shun answers. “Aiba told me that he has issues.”
“Issues?” With his expression changing from surprise to a frown in confusion, Sho turns to Shun. “What kind of issues?”
“You’ll see.”
“I’ll see? Why do I have to see it myself?” Sho turns his plea toward Shun who only gives him a raised eyebrow, and Aiba refuses to give any more, blank expression all over his serious face. Sighing tiredly, he growls in frustration. “Fine. Vague it is then.”
“He said it’s fine.” Shun smiles slyly at Aiba, who gives him a short nod of appreciation for coming and helping him. “Our time here is done.”
“Thank you, Chief. It all went smoothly because of you.”
Completely ignored, Sho resigns with a pout.
“Don’t mention it,” Shun says, smacking Aiba’s back in a friendly gesture. “We all need to do what we all need to do.”
“What kind of saying is that?” Sho rolls his eyes, his leather shoes kicking some dirt on the ground as he mutters darkly.
“We’ll get going then, Sho!” Shun waves before he steps back, rounding the blackboard and disappearing.
He has left them alone again in the class. They stare at each other before Aiba decides that he has said enough. He steps forward and smacks Sho on the back, sending him staggering forward.
“Thank you,” Aiba softly mutters, automatically receiving a nod from Sho. “I need to go now. Rebecca is expecting me at the farm.”
As Aiba turns to leave, Sho can swear that he sees a hint of flush rising on Aiba’s cheek. He ponders for a while as he follows Aiba’s figure walking away, but at the end he shrugs the thought out of his mind. For now.
*
Yoko comes to class the next morning, all prim and proper, as eager as a kid on his first day in school. He comes almost at the same time as Sho does, which means 20 minutes before the actual starting time. He asks Sho whether he can choose his chair, and Sho allows him to do as he pleases and assures him that his classmates won’t mind much.
However, it doesn’t take much to burst his bubble of excitement. When Sho announces the start of class after the arrival of the Iron twins, Yoko raises his hand high in the air, seeking Sho’s attention.
“We haven’t started yet but you already have a question? What is it, Yoko?”
Yoko makes a show of clearing his throat before speaking in a deep tone. “I was just wondering if the others are absent today.”
“The others?”
“Well, the others?” Yoko spreads his arms wide, indicating the space of what he considers an empty classroom.
“We are not waiting for any others,” Sho says. “Except if Jun later decides to come to class, then we have him with us. Most of the time it’s just the three of us here. And now it’s four, including you.”
“Four?” Yoko stands in disbelief and starts to shout. “Four doesn’t add up to a class. It’s too small! Seven people is the smallest number one class should have!”
“Sho-san,” Iron Twin One says, “I don’t like this loud guy.”
“Me too, Sho-san.” Iron Two takes the same stance as his brother as they both throw glares toward Yoko.
Yoko only shouts louder. “I don’t like you metal head punks, either! Guess now we’re even, huh?”
Scooting close together the twins hold each other’s hands in shock before they run behind Sho for cover.
“What is this attitude?” A bit surprised himself by the turn of events, Sho waves frantically to mollify Yoko. “This is a classroom, and we all need to calm ourselves down.”
Yoko growls and the twins clutch harder at the back pockets of Sho’s trousers.
“You two, stop cowering behind my butt, and no groping. And you,” Sho says, “you step back. These two are just kids. You need to act your age.”
A black light flashes in Yoko’s eyes a bit before he sticks his tongue out.
“Oh, that’s just mature, Yoko.”
The next day isn’t any better. Yoko still has a kick scaring the Iron twins and runs around chasing them, screaming with growling noises and glinting eyes. Sho could barely deliver his lesson since morning. He finally resigns himself to sitting on his small teacher’s stall and watching the other three go round and round. They will get tired sooner than later; he’s just going to bide his time and wait.
Near midday, Jun walks into class amidst the chase that still hasn’t subdued, wet hair clinging to his back, and goes straight to Sho’s chair, swerving swiftly when a thick book flies over his head.
“Jun,” Sho says, grateful that at least someone who’s not going to make a good mess out of his classroom and schedule is around.
“Good morning.” That is all Jun says before he bends down, pulling Sho’s tie toward him, and kisses him full on the mouth.
Sho’s eyes flutters shut; he feels his tie pulled tighter, nudging him closer to the scent of lavender, so familiar now, and letting Jun lead the kiss. He hears nothing since he can only feel the rushing blood on his ears and not the catcalls and shock gasps around him.
It lasts for a little longer before Jun pulls back and Sho opens his eyes to meet Jun’s bright eyes shimmering. “Good morning.”
“What was that?” Sho is grateful that he was sitting down because he doesn’t think his jelly legs could support him if he were standing.
“A kiss is a way of greeting one’s lover,” Jun says. “It’s what it said in the new edition.”
Yoko is partially covering his eyes with his hand, and Sho can see a flush rising on his face. He chuckles at that; he isn’t the only one with burning cheeks, and somehow it’s not entirely embarrassing. “You’ve been reading another magazine,” he says, more a statement than a question because he knows the answer even before Jun nods from his front corner seat.
The twins are still clapping their hands gleefully. Sho gestures them to their seat and they comply. The morning commotion is simply forgotten. Even Yoko now heads to the chair he was sitting in the day before, behind Jun.
Silence hangs in the air comfortably before Sho realizes that it is his chance to start his lesson. But just to be sure, he needs confirmation. “So, now I can start my lesson?”
“Yes, Sho-san.” The Iron twins already have their pencils and notebooks ready.
Yoko shrugs but doesn’t object further.
Sho considers today a small victory over Yoko with a quirk of a smile-and a larger one over Jun with an internal summersault.
In the afternoon Aiba comes over to pick Yoko up after class, mentiong something about going to town to get some things to help Yoko get settled in Arakawa. Yoko has been excited since midday and demands that Sho end the class early. When Sho reminds him that no matter what time the class ends, Aiba would only come at the end of the class, Yoko finally resigns.
Yoko is overjoyed to see Aiba when he comes and can’t wait for them to get going. Aiba tells him to wait and Yoko nods immediately, much to Sho’s disappointment. He never sees Yoko behaving as in class as well as he does with Aiba.
Aiba pulls him aside to talk about Yoko’s lessons and how he is catching up with the class so far. And even as he explains that Yoko is doing just fine even if he might need to time to fully adjust to the class, he can catch Yoko and Jun’s conversation behind him.
“Isn’t he cool? He is, right? He is very cool. And very nice. He buys me stuff, takes me golfing and treats me to fancy dinners.”
“Yoko, you’re drooling,” Sho hears Jun point out. He then reconsiders today as a larger victory over Yoko; he’s adorable in a way. In a destructive way, sadly, but adorable nonetheless.
*
On to Part 2