-Kara Gyaku-
Ryuji…I wouldn't mind if for once you'd give me a little advance notice. At this hour, I should already be cooking.
12:00 P.M.If I hurry, I'll get there in about an hour and a half. It's not like I enjoy being on time for meetings; punctuality isn't one of my great qualities, it would rather be one of my non-existent flaws HAHA.
Of course I'm not dressed up.Should I dress up?
I guess so…why wouldn't I? I can't go to the city every day, and the bus stop is just far away enough to safely say "yes," I should do it, even if it's pretty boring.
The soft smell of my lipstick stopped seeming surprising to me a long time ago…whatever, I'll buy a more interesting one, taking advantage of the fact that Ryuji will take me to the bar with that boy, Yuri? Something like that, I wonder what he's like. I didn't imagine Commander Yoshida's son was already an adult. Is he my age? I didn't put on foundation…
It's a hot day,I don't know what to wear… whatever… the first thing I find will be…
I'd like to live a bit closer to everything.The Crusader camps are very tiresome. In theory, I have a residence in New Tokyo, but with all the training I prefer to have everything here. I'm not the only one; in fact, the only one who doesn't live in this camp is Ryuji. He said he was going to stay at that boy's house for a few days.
It's really weird not to hear him shouting since morning.He is annoying, but anyway, he's my friend, I guess. No, I really am grateful to him.
The camp is a place,ehhhh, I don't know, cozy? It's near a not-very-big town called "Chōnami" from the kanji for Chō and Nami, which is something like ancestral tsunami, but also within the Crusaders it's known to be for Chō, an old commander who founded this dump and liberated it with his water magic.
I don't know if I enjoy these concentrations more than the city.Both have bad things. The city is full of noise, everything is expensive, I don't know. The camp is tiring, strict, although today was the day off, full of dirt and that annoying dusty wind that gets in my eyes. How do they expect me to train my aim if I can't see anything? Plus, there are no parties like in the first squadron's barracks, but it's not like I love that place either, so I'm not interested. Well, maybe a little. Ryuji used to pass the alcohol because he's the captain, and I guess he has Commander Toru's trust.
An old lady and a young man,that's kind of cute. His eyelashes, above all, how embarrassing. I imagine they must be waiting for the bus, that's why they're at the stop…
It's really sunny…I'll put on sunscreen on the bus…
I got on the bus and immediately leaned back,knowing it would be full at this hour. By chance or bad luck, there were two empty seats. Obviously, I hurried to take the window seat; it's more comfortable. I'll just open this and lower the blinds so the sun doesn't burn my skin.
The old lady sat next to me.How awful…
-[Dear, I'm a bit sick, could you lower the window a little?]
What a nuisance.I was obviously going to listen to her, she's a poor old lady. Besides, it seems the boy isn't with her. Maybe if he had sat with me, I would have talked to him… oh well…
The trip felt long to me.Sweat took over me, what a fucking disgust. I have no way to clean myself. I tried to open the window a few times, but I felt a bit sorry for the lady, so I ended up closing it anyway. I hope when I arrive, Ryuji has something to eat…
On the way,we also passed by a house. I always see it when I come here. According to Ryuji, Yoshida lives there. Why would he live so far from everything?
Well,that house usually symbolizes the halfway point. I was annoyed, very annoyed. Not even in the mood to answer that idiot Ryuji. Knowing him, he'll tell me irrelevant things. He's my friend, but damn… how I'd hit him sometimes. It doesn't help that he's in a position of power, although I'm like… a… sub-captain… or that's what I like to think sometimes.
New Tokyo is a city that blinds you as soon as you enter.The giant screens, the reflections of the cars, the fluorescent ink that has become fashionable among graffiti artists. I would describe it as… chaos. The expansion was useful, I suppose, and the subway lines work well. The problem is they do nothing for the people who live on the outskirts… like this damn old lady and her illness. How can there not be a relative to drive her?
What a damn anger.Well, at least with General Yamato we've had better expansion as a country, and even though it's unfavorable for people living on the outskirts, for people living in other regions, with the new, even faster trains, it's easier for them to get here.
Centralization has also increased,but it's normal. Changes start from the most populated/important/big areas or whatever…
Yamato,if I'm not mistaken, has been in power for 16 years. There have been elections, but he gets re-elected because he has really helped us progress. All things considered, I understand why he keeps being elected. I haven't voted yet, but I guess I'd vote for him. I think so.
Finally…when I arrived in the capital, specifically at the bus terminal, I went out for a moment. It was 1:54. I wanted to be punctual this time and I was still a bit late. Anyway, Ryuji wasn't there. Well, he's never been a walking clock either. I'll smoke a cigarette while he arrives.
2:00 nothing.
2:10 nothing.
2:20 nothing.
2:30 nothing…
2:42…I'll go for a walk…
Resigned,I turn around and with my gaze down, I hear what I no longer wanted to hear.
-[HEY! KARA! OVER HERE!]
He's so clumsy…how could I not get angry with this stupid guy.
I would approach angrily,obviously, with firm steps, and without thinking twice, I would hit him. I don't even know where I got that strength.
-[I've been waiting for thirty minutes! You were supposed to pick me up in the car when you arrived and take us to the bar!]
I would avert my gaze a little.Next to Ryuji there is a boy. He seems younger than me. Is that him?
I didn't want him to see me so angry.It's a bad first impression from a girl…
–[Add to those thirty minutes the hour of travel I had on the bus! Plus, I was sitting next to a horrible lady who got annoyed because I opened the window!]
I'm a lost cause…
-[I don't care, and we're not going to any bar! I told you we were going to eat with Commander Yoshida's son!]The girl would light a cigarette while Ryuji spoke. –[But don't worry, Yuri is fun! We're going to eat like bears before hibernating! HAHAHAHA.]
Oh…the other boy tried to look at me and couldn't hold my gaze. That was very cute. Oh, I haven't greeted him. To be honest, I'm a bit curious to see how he talks. He seems somewhat… quiet.
-[Yuri, right?]
-[Y-yes.]
-[I'm Kara Gyaku. Ryuji didn't tell me you'd be here, but better, that way I don't have to put up with him alone.]
Rejoice,Yuri Yoshida, that was my best smile.
Hey…HEY! That's not a very friendly reaction. At least look me in the eyes. Well… whatever, at least it's noticeable that he's making an effort. It's a bit weird... it doesn't make me uncomfortable, but I'd at least like to be more familiar with his face. Beyond that, he seems the typical boring guy stereotype. He might even be a hikikomori, poor thi…
-[Well, well… Kara, Yuri, you've met. A pleasure. LET'S GO EAT, I'M DYING OF HUNGER!]
-[Hey… be more careful with the boy, he seems a bit tired…]
-[Whatever you say… hurry up, slowpokes.]
He's an…insensitive. Has this boy really been with him all morning?
I was really hungry too,so without further ado, I followed Ryuji. Yuri was behind me. Sometimes I turned my head over my shoulder to see how he was doing, but he just kept walking quietly while his gaze remained sunk into the floor.
-[Y-Yuri, hey…]With a fake smile, to make him feel a bit more at ease –[You… How old are you?]
-[S-sixteen.]
-[Oh, great, you're two years younger than me…]
Why would that be great…?
-[Oh…]
Say something else,please…
-[A-and right now, what do you do? Do you study?]
-[N-no.]
-[A-and… What do you do?]
-[I-I've been locked in my house for a year...]
-[Oh, I… see.]
-[What are you two talking about so much?]Ryuji would interrupt the conversation abruptly, nothing new for him, of course. –[Besides, I find it curious… Kara, you didn't answer any of my messages and now you're acting all friendly.]
Ryuji would stick out his tongue over his shoulder,while walking with his hands behind his neck, at a firm but slow pace, then he would continue.
-[Well, we're almost there. Kara's treating!]
After that,he would run off… how childish.
-[He's a child…]Yuri would still be behind me, looking at the floor, just following my steps. –[Well, let's follow him… Yuri.]
I would grab his hand and run after Ryuji.When I took his hand suddenly, his hair would lift a bit. That was when I saw his face for the first time, although with his surprised expression I couldn't really tell much about him. His hand is contradictory to his body; rough and large, more masculine than one might think at first glance. But regardless of that, it was very sweaty…
Turning the corner,Ryuji would be there, standing with a creepy smile.
-[We'll eat here. It's cheap, so you don't cry to me about the prices later, you pauper.]
The temperature of my face would rise,somewhat embarrassed.
-[What the hell is wrong with you?!]I would let go of the boy's hand to hit the giant idiot, but I would hold back the urge this time –[If I wanted to, I would pay for an expensive restaurant for the three of us.]
-[Calm down, it was a joke. It's just that the owners of this place know me well.]
-[Let's see, what's it called?]
-["Mizu-san's Rice Pot", Mrs. Mizu works here. She used to give me water as a kid. Ironic, HEHE. She moved near the terminal recently because there were more customers. She makes the tastiest rice I've ever eaten. The old lady really knows business. She makes rich rice and names her shop 'The Rice Pot'.]
(Author's Note:Mizu (水) means water in Japanese, I just wanted to show off that I'm learning Japanese with Duolingo, plebeians.)
Well,she sure knows…
We entered the place.It was a quite traditional spot, its vibes were cozy, and it was spacious. Given the time we had arrived, there weren't many people seated. The people who were seated had modest dishes, but the bowls of rice did look appetizing. I guess I'll order some of those, and some meat. Yummy…
-[MRS. MIZU, HEY!]
-[You don't need to shout like that, idiot]I would tell him while rubbing my head.
-[Oh, Ryuji, I'm coming!]would be heard from behind the counter. She sounded younger than I would have thought at first.
Yuri would still not say a single word.
Mrs.Mizu would come out from behind the counter. Truthfully, she wasn't how I imagined her. She looked like a woman in her thirties, well-preserved. She had breasts larger than mine, in general a voluptuous figure that was camouflaged under the kitchen apron she wore. Despite her youthful appearance, her face had the expression you'd expect from an older lady, as if trying to convey peace to younger people.
-[Oh, Ryuji, you look stronger since the last time you came.]
-[No, Mrs. Mizu, no need to be so kind]he would say that with a modest face, somewhat embarrassed. Surely he knew it was true but wanted to play modest.
-[Don't be modest, Ryuji. You three come in, I'll show you where to sit.]
We would head to one of the tables in the corner,near a fan that made some noise, as if it was broken, but which still saved us from the infernal heat outside the establishment.
-[I'll give you some time to look over the menu.]The lady, or looking at her more closely… miss… would say.
-[Okay, you guys wait for me here. I'm going to the bathroom for a moment. Yuri, behave.]Ryuji would say instantly.
-[W-why?]
-[I don't know. Mrs. Mizu, I want a plate of Yakisoba.]
(Yakisoba:Basically, they are fried noodles.)
-[After boasting about the rice, you dare to order noodles…]
-[Don't butt in. You'll probably order something worse than me.]Ryuji would say while leaving, making gestures of disdain.
I would turn around after that,ignoring him. Immediately after, Ryuji would go to the bathroom and Mrs. Mizu would go attend to other customers while giving us time to think about what to order.
-[*Sigh* Well, Yuri, what will you order?]
-[Rice…]
-[Just that?]
-[I guess…]
-[Don't be boring. You can have it with several things. If you want, we can share a tataki or something. What do you say?]
(Tataki:A cooking technique where the meat is seared when served)
Truthfully,I offered that option because I wasn't very sure what to order either. Even though I'm hungry, I'm not sure if I could eat a whole plate by myself right now. Sharing with Yuri seems like the best option to me, plus it might help him open up a bit more.
-[O-okay.]
-[Why are you so introverted?]The question came out of my mouth without thinking. I would instantly realize what I had said, and the boy would lower his head even further. I would also respond with a similar gesture. –[I didn't have to say something like that, sorry. You don't need to answer.]
-[It's okay…]
Even though I really felt regret for what I had said,the curiosity didn't dissipate. That, added to the fact that I didn't have much to talk to him about, filled me with the desire to follow that topic. I need to know why he decided to lock himself away.
-[No, I want you to tell me why.]
-[I…]His expression, although not very clear, would change from an indifferent one with sad tones, to one that was strictly sadness and a bit of fear.
It was then that I realized that I wasn't actually that interested in the boy in front of me;I was just curious. I mean, why would someone his age lock themselves in their room for a long time?
I mean,I knew someone with that condition. He never told me why he locked himself away, mainly because after he did, I only heard his voice one more time, and it was a scream of despair in the early morning that woke me up. It was four years ago, I think. It's not like I care about people like that.
-[You know what? Forget it. I don't feel like talking about that either.]I would also look away. I felt a bit of pity, not for him, but for my brother who suffered from the same condition as this boy.
-[I understand…]
An uncomfortable silence flooded the table at that instant,a silence that expanded for a few seconds. But then.
-[Have you decided what you'll order? Kids.]Mrs. Mizu would say with her usual kind face.
-[Yes… We want two plates of rice and a tataki to share. If I'm not mistaken, Ryuji ordered a Yakisoba. Knowing him, I suppose it's beef; and to drink, I don't know, water, I guess, for the three of us.]I really felt like drinking, but I don't know what Ryuji would think, since he knows the lady. Anyway, the idiot only told us what he wanted to eat.
-[Thank you very much, Kara, right? Ryuji has told me about you. It seems you are great friends.]
-[Yeah…]I would try to seem interested, but I could see it coming from Ryuji. I imagine he comes here often, and at some point he must have talked about me…
-[You seem very nice. You two should stop by someday.]
-[What do you say, Yuri?]Hey, if Ryuji bothers the quiet one… why couldn't I? Even if just a little.
-[Sure…]With his gaze lowered as always.
-[I'll remember you both. I'll bring your orders right away.]
-[Yes…]A bit uncomfortable.
Mrs.Mizu would leave, to keep working, I suppose.
-[I-I'm, sorry.]Yuri would exclaim, deigning to speak.
-[Why? You haven't done anything…]
-[That's why… I'm sorry for being boring…]
-[Oh… don't worry…]
The atmosphere was very awkward.
-[Excuse me, kids.]
Mrs.Mizu would arrive with cutlery, napkins, a pitcher of water, and our respective glasses.
-[Thank you.]I would tell her, truthfully also a bit grateful for saving us from the uncomfortable situation.
-[You're welcome.]She would go back to work, leaving us alone again.
-[I'm sorry.]
-[Why?]
-[For saying something I shouldn't have…]
…
-[Hey, what do you think of Ryuji?]
-[He… I guess… he tries to help.]His eyes would be darting from side to side.
-[But… would you prefer to still be locked up?]
Silence would return for a few small seconds.The boy sank his gaze even more, if possible, and would grip the side of the table.
-[No…]his eyes reflected sincere gratitude, as if he really needed someone to do him such a favor.
-[Oh…]Silence would return for a short moment. –[Does that mean you've officially stopped being a hikikomori?] A mocking smile would appear on my face.
-[W…what?]A huge relief would illuminate his face, and as if he couldn't quite believe it, he would keep asking obvious things. –[Really?]
-[I think so…]The smile would disappear. The boy didn't seem to understand I was making fun of him. -[So… are you grateful to Ryuji?]
-[Y-yes, Th-tha… thank you v-very much, M-Mr. Ino]he would say while trembling like a hurt little bird, sitting straight with a look of fatal fear.
-[I'm not Ryuji.]I would laugh a little –[Don't call him by his last name. Knowing him, I assure you he likes to be treated familiarly. So when Ryuji comes back, you'll call him that.]
-[O-okay.]His gaze would lower again, as if he didn't want to or couldn't fulfill what he had agreed to.
-[You know, you're not so unpleasant. When you join, consider joining the first section.]Hey, I should be more serious. This boy is going to be a soldier soon. –[Well, yes, first the commander has to consider you useful.]
-[I'll try…]
-[Don't say that.]I would get annoyed and, crossing my arms, would scold him. –[You have to achieve it. Or do you think your process is over?]
-[H-how?]
-[Leaving your house isn't an achievement, Yuri.]I would look at him firmly for a moment, but upon realizing he would lower his head to the floor again, my posture would become kinder. –[But, hey, that doesn't mean you aren't building something.]
-[I… don't understand.]
-[What I mean is that you're still young. You're not at an age to give up.]
-[Oh… thank you?]Did I say something wrong? -[No, yo-you're right, thank you, Gyaku.]
He was so easy.I should have tried it sooner.
My eyes would respond to his words.The boy was the first to notice.
-[I-is something wrong?]
-[No, I just felt a bit nostalgic. I thank you too.]
I would grab a napkin;its soft texture would caress my lower eyelid, absorbing the small tears that came from my eyes. Yuri kept looking at me. I just understood; I earned his trust. I guess I'm not so bad at some things.
-[I-is it my fault?]
-[No, it's about something else. How embarrassing.]Small, timid laughs would come from my mouth. -[Well, I hope the food cures our sorrows. Cheers, without Ryuji.]
-[Hey… crybaby, I'm here.]
-[H-how much did you see?]
-[How should I know.]He would sit in the host's seat. –[So? Did you like the crybaby?]
-[Y-yes, Ryuji…]
Happiness invaded my body upon hearing those words,and it seems Ryuji also liked hearing his name coming from Yuri's mouth. Yuri himself had a hugely embarrassed face, very blushed, but I suppose all in all, he had a small smile on his face.