"With the last class of the semester having ended a few hours ago, I find myself straddling a chair backwards to watch the two interlopers in my room. Aside from the occasional rustle of paper and the squeaking of my hand gripper as I exercise the hand I still have, there's litle to be heard."
 
"Hisao and Suzu work quietly as they sit on the floor, each on opposite sides of my upturned box table. On it sits one science textbook and one notebook each, equations and notes from the former carefully being written to the latter."
 
mik "I have a question."
 
suz "Yes?"
 
mik "Have you two noticed that exams are over, right? You can stop studying now."
 
his "That's exactly why we're studying; to go over what we felt we didn't do well with during the exams."
 
mik "Uh huh. And this is happeing in my dorm room because...?"
 
suz "Because someone had the silly idea that you might actually join us."
 
"Hisao looks displeased with the assessment of his plan. To be fair, there was no way it'd work; I'm already firmly in holiday mode, and couldn't be paid enough to study."
 
"That does remind of of something, though."
 
mik "Ah right, I probably should've mentioned this earlier. There might be a problem with going to Suzu's place during the holidays."
 
"Both of them look to me with interest. I guess holiday plans being threatened is enough to break them from their oh so important schoolwork."
 
mik "My dad called. I ended up agreeing to go home for the break."
 
suz "So you're not spending the time with us?"
 
mik "Well, that's the next thing. Our house has room if you two want to come, and I'm sure dad would be fine with it."
 
suz "Why do I get the feeling you've made our holiday decisions for us?"
 
mik "I have no idea what you mean."
 
"I pull a silly face to try and amuse her, but it doesn't work. Then again, I doubt Suzu's actually annoyed; she'd make it clear if she was."
 
"Hisao, for his part, looks more contemplative than anything. I get the feeling he has a greater sense of curiosity than the norm, so a trip like this should be quite an adventure for him. Either way, his reaction doesn't escape Suzu."
 
suz "I guess I'll call my parents to let them know."
 
mik "You won't regret it, I promise."
 
suz "You're not going to leave me alone with her, are you?"
 
his "Don't worry, I'll come. Seeing where someone like Miki grew up would be interesting."
 
mik "You make me sound like some kind of weirdo."
 
suz "You don't say."
 
"As I'm about to protest, Suzu rubs her tired eyes wearily. It is getting pretty late, looking at the clock beside my bed."
 
his "If you want to get some rest, go ahead."
 
suz "I still need to finish this..."
 
his "There's no point going on if you're tired; none of it'll stick. We can pick this up again tomorrow."
 
suz "Fine."
 
mik "Say 'thank you' to the teacher, Suzu."
 
"To my surprise, she does, but manages to stick a barb in there."
 
suz "Thanks. Now you can try teaching her."
 
his "I'm not a miracle worker."
 
"Reaching for her school bag and sliding her books into it, Suzu comes to her feet and yawns as she groggily leaves the room. Both of us say our goodbyes as she does, the old door creaking shut behind her."
 
"Hisao might go back to reading over his work, but my attention is elsewhere. Leaving the hand gripper on the desk, I get off my chair and sit down where Suzu previously was, picking up the notebook she's left behind."
 
"Her handwriting is an odd form of scrawl, with tiny characters and no flairs at all. It's fast to write and fits a lot of text onto each page, sure, but it's also damn near impossible to read."
 
mik "Guess I'll give this to her tomorrow."
 
"Expecting Hisao to mention something, his silence draws me attention. Sure enough, he still sits there fiddling with some equation or another, pen tapping at his mouth thoughtfully."
 
mik "I don't get it. How did a nerd like you ever get a girlfriend?"
 
his "It's not as if I was always like this. Just wasn't a lot else to do in hospital."
 
mik "Really? You're pretty smart, though. I mean, Mutou praises you all the time."
 
his "I never really applied myself much before then. Messing around with friends and playing soccer was more fun."
 
"He looks back down to his books, but gives up on the prospect of studying further as he sits back."
 
his "What about you, anyway? Ever had a boyfriend?"
 
his "Or girlfriend, for that matter. I won't judge."
 
"I give a brief laugh at his timid indecision over which way I lean."
 
mik "I'd be cool with either, but I've never really felt like getting romantic with anyone. I think friendship is underrated."
 
"He nods, apparently pleased with the answer."
 
his "Hmm, it's later than I thought."
 
mik "You can stay overnight if you want, I don't care. It'll be like an old-fashioned slumber party."
 
his "Sure, but... with a girl?"
 
mik "It's not that weird is it?"
 
his "A teenage girl and a teenage guy, both alone in a bedroom? I think you're the one being weird."
 
mik "It's a genuine offer, you know. Not my fault you're preoccupied with sex."
 
his "I am not."
 
mik "You're a teenage guy, you know. You're allowed to think about that stuff; all teenagers do. Except for maybe Suzu. I'm still not sure she isn't a robot."
 
mik "I guess you're lucky that you had a girlfriend, at least. Dipping your toe in while you're still young is good."
 
his "Well..."
 
mik "Wait, you did get lucky with her, didn't you?"
 
his "That's none of your business."
 
mik "Heh, that confirms it. If there's one thing i've learned about guys, it's that they can't resist bragging about their experience."
 
his "Leaving that aside, if you're fine with me staying overnight, I will. Not much to do in my own room, after all."
 
"He attempts to play it cool, but I'm not willing to let him go that easily. Grabbing his tie and pulling him in, I give an impish grin."
 
mik "You know, we could give it a try if you want. Sex is pretty fun, you know."
 
mik "You're a pretty cute guy, after all. Seem pretty truthworthy, too. I wouldn't mind one bit."
 
his "That's an awfully strange way to start a relationship with someone."
 
mik "'Relationship' is such a strong word. It's not like there's a law saying you have to be lovers to have sex, you know."
 
"I do my best to get a read on him, but it's hard to say if he's really willing. He seems to be giving it sincere thought at least, which is heartening."
 
"As moments pass, I slowly become aware that this could probably be called sexual harassment. I wouldn't want something like this to sour our friendship, and things would just be awkward if he wasn't really into it."
 
"Accepting that this is Hisao's decision rather than mine, I let go of his tie and sit back."
 
mik "You need to loosen up, man."
 
mik "If you wanht to save yourself for someone special, that's fine. You can stay overnight to just study or talk if you want. I'm just saying that if you want to screw as well, I'd be up for it."
 
his "How can you always be so carefree? I'm kind of envious."
 
mik "Well?"
 
"His decision appears to be made, his staring at me ending with a great sigh."
 
his "I guess just messing about with a friend would take some anxiety out of the first time."
 
mik "Right?"
 
"A silence falls as Hisao's face drops."
 
mik "Something wrong?"
 
is "So... do we kiss, or...?"
 
"I break out into laughter. Probably the worst thing to do in this situation, but I don't care at all. How is this guy so bloody innocent?"
 
mik "You're makin' me feel guilty about this!"
 
his "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up."
 
"After having a good chuckle, I manage to slowly get myself back together. His innocence is charming, but I suppose innocence itself can be fun to corrupt."
 
"Knowing that Hisao taking the initiative is unlikely to happen, and would be awkward at best if he did, I decide to lead him as best I can. The box between us is easily shoved aside, leaving me to shuffle myself in front of him."
 
"Reaching out and starting to pop his shirt buttons one by one, I can feel my eagerness starting to get the better of me. For Hisao's part, he takes his cue and dutifully undoes his tie."
 
his "You're pretty good at that. Undoing buttons, that is."
 
mik "You learn this stuff pretty quick when you need to."
 
"Coming to the bottom button of his shirt and undoing it with practiced ease, I quickly pull it off and admire the sight in front of me. I can't help but give a long, whistful breath at the sight of his bare chest."
 
"He does his best not to notice, but I can tell he likes the reaction. While not exactly chiselled, it's clear he's in better shape than the average dude. Rather than being the result of some careful weights regime, his body tells of someone who, like a certain other in the club, has kept himself quite fit."
 
"His heart attack was all the more unfortunate, in that light. He must've been an active and outdoorsy kind of person before that happened, and now he's stuck studying long into the night just for something to do. The scar running up his torso makes that clearer than words ever could."
 
"Without thinking, I reach out and start feeling up his chest."
 
mik "You're pretty nice looking, you know."
 
his "Scar aside."
 
mik "It's just a line. Besides, at least you can hide it."
 
mik "This might be a bit late, but are you sure it's okay to do this with your heart thing?"
 
his "Arrhythmia. I'll be okay, I just have to take it easy."
 
"As I continue running my hand over him, I notice Hisao's eyes peering down into my top. He takes my smile as permission, his hand gingerly reaching forwards."
 
"He seems mildly surprised at how my breast feels as he begins to gently grope my left one, feeling out its shape and seeing how it reacts when lightly kneaded."
 
"My heat skips a beat as his hand chases underneath my tank top, playing with it directly before moving to my nipple. The look on his face of lust mixed with sheer curiosity turns me on more than his haphazard groping could."
 
"My hand slowly moves down from his chest to his stomach, before coming over the now tight crotch of his trousers. His breath catches as I move it up and down a little, the thickening shaft inside obvious to the touch."
 
"Hisao and I look to each other for a moment, the both of us knowing that there's no going back after this. Our eyes couldn't be more different, mine asking for this to continue as his show caution."
 
"He manages to settle himself with with a gulp, accepting the idea of stripping in front of me. Off comes his belt, soon followed by his socks. He manages to tug off his trousers with some effort, before the reluctant strip show ends with his underwear being done away with."
 
"And there Hisao is, entirely naked as he sits on the floor of my room before me. I can't help but pause a little to appreciate the lovely sight."
 
"Looks like my assassment of him having a nice body was spot on, his legs also being suitably toned with a light covering of hair. Then there's his crotch, entirely exposed with its rod standing proudly erect in anticipation. I kind of want to jump his bones right now, though think better of it."
 
his "You look pleasd with yourself."
 
mik "Shouldn't you take pride in turning a girl on?"
 
"He blushes at the praise, words stolen from his mouth as I slowly begin to lower myself down and brush back my hair."
 
"I wonder if I'll ever get used to seeing a man's junk this closely. It might be more simple than a girl's, but it just looks so odd. Thankfully there's barely any smell, with only a faint musk left thanks to him having had a bath before coming."
 
"Unable to help myself, I reach forward and delicately run my finger down the stiff organ from the pink head to its fleshy base, the thing twitching in response. It amuses me how they have such a life of their own, with so any involuntary motions and reactions."
 
"My cheeky grin up to him is met with a grimace as he blushes heavily. My staring so closely and poking at him probably isn't helping his embarrassment, nor that I'm fully dressed while he's in the buff."
 
"As much as he might enjoy this, I have to psyche myself up a little as I work up some spittle. Using my mouth to do this still doesn't feel natural, regardless of how recently he may have washed."
 
"A gasp comes from Hisao as my pursed lips slide over the head, slowly moving down over his shaft. Peeking up to see his reaction shows a flustered face, his eyes trying their best to engrave what he's seeing to memory."
 
"My close up view of his crotch as I do this isn't exactly great, but the hold I have over his emotions is kind of nice. It's obvious he's enjoying this, and as I begin to slowly move my head up and down, he begins to let himself go with what his body is telling him."
 
"The feeling of his swollen rod pressing against my tongue spurs me to move it around a bit, as much for my own comfort as his. I must be doing something right, as restrained moans start coming from Hisao's lips."
 
"I pull my mouth from him, taking the now wet shaft in my hand and using it to continue his pleasure. Given that this is the first time he's done this, I go as lightly as I can. He's already breathing heavily, his solid chest heaving as he tries to control himself."
 
mik "So, what do you think?"
 
his "You know the answer to that..."
 
"How unfortunate; he's getting too good at knowing when I'm fishing for praise. I just smirk."
 
"Taking him into my mouth once more, I return to my motions. He seems to enjoy what I'm doing so far, so I just stick with that I've been doing."
 
"Hisao must be getting close, as his breathing is beginning to get more ragged and the muscles in his groin begin to tighten. His concentration on controlling his urges is written to his face."
 
mik "Miki... Ahn!"
 
"My eyes open wide as thick liquid suddenly shoots into my mouth, forcefully hitting the back of my throat. Hisao's body jerks and spasms uncontrollably as he climaxes, the muscles of his shaft pumping away. All I can do is shudder as I desperately try to deal with the fluid suddenly filling my mouth."
 
"The event is over, at least for Hisao, as his orgasm runs its course. With his rod slowly beginning to shrink, still twitching from its earlier vigour, I pull myself off of it and quickly bring a hand over my mouth."
 
"I've never tasted this stuff before, and if I thought its texture was offputting in normal circumstances, it's ten times moreso inside my mouth. I gingerly try to swallow, but the visacous white goop sticks to the inside of my throat."
 
"My gag reflex suddenly triggering, I frantically come to my feet and run over to my desk and grab for a tissue. The disgusting mucus-like mess takes some effort to get out, my body heaving as I forcefully spit and and huck."
 
"I manage to get the vast majority out with some work, crumping up the tissue and throwing it at the bin before taking a few much-needed breaths of air.
 
mik "Men are so gross..."
 
his "Are you okay?"
 
"I wide my mouth with the back of my hand as I drearily look to him. He still sits there naked, same as before save for his face of concern and much smaller member."
 
mik "You could warn me, asshole."
 
his "Does it really taste that bad?"
 
mik "Imagine taking a mouthful of thick mucus. Maybe I should feed you some back one day."
 
"The face he pulls says all that need be said, the boy rising to his feet with a grunt before walking over."
 
"He asks for a tissue which I helpfully provide, setting about cleaning his junk as I stand next to him. I can't help but look down and watch, a little pleased that he's at least acting a bit less uptight about this stuff now."
 
his "Thanks, anyway. That felt really good."
 
mik "You're talking like this is over."
 
his "But I've already..."
 
mik "You're not the only one here, dude. We're not stopping at third base."
 
"He looks unsure, but I guess it's understandable; it's hard to say when he'll be ready for round two. I'm still ready and rearing to go, though, so he's at least going to learn how to pleasure me before this is over."
 
"I take a hold of my top and begin to lift, his eyes widening as I let it fall to the floor. My bust isn't the only thing he's going to see, with my shorts and panties following in short measure. I just stand back and put my hand on my hip, letting him admire the first naked girl he's likely seen outside of porn."
 
"His hormones get the better of him, his eyes moving up and down as he takes in my figure. It's obvious that he likes what he sees."
 
his "Geez..."
 
mik "I'll take that as a compliment."
 
"He hesitates, but takes a step forwards towards me. I answer his hand running up my side by wrapping my arms around him to draw him into a hug, pulling us together."
 
"Our hands begin to explore each other as we savour the feeling of each other's bodies, Hisao's hands pressing lustfully into my back and pressing my breasts to his chest as mine slides down his back and grips onto his hard butt."
 
mik "Hisao..."
 
"I can hear his lustful breathing next to my ear, his head tilting down to take a lick at the base of my neck. My mind is filled with desire, desperately wanting to ravage him."
 
"Tiring of being gentle, I break from our embrace and step back towards the bed, drawing him along with me as I hold his wrist. He's starting to recharge by now, so it shouldn't take much more stimulation to get him going."
 
"He steps ahead of me and slides onto the bed, with me crawling on after him. He takes the hint as I push on his shoulders a little, flopping down on his back as I shuffle about on all fours over him."
 
"Throwing a leg over his head, I position myself with my head over his crotch and his head beneath mine."
 
his "So this is what it looks like..."
 
mik "Hey, I had to get close to your junk before. You know how to do this?"
 
his "I'm not an idiot, you know."
 
mik "I sure hope not."
 
"Content with my teasing, I lower my head and lap a little at the base, trying my best not to get hairs in my mouth. I can feel Hisao's hands running up my thighs and gripping my butt as I do, taking in how it feels."
 
"I let out a long sigh of pleasure as he kisses my already rather moist nub, my desire for his body finally sated. As he begins to kiss and lick at the various parts between my legs, I dutifully do my bit for him."
 
"He isn't quite hitting the motions I most enjoy, but I leave him to explore my regions as he likes. As his member slowly becomes more erect from all the fooling around, it seems like he's liking this as much as I am."
 
"I pick my head up, lick my lips, and slide my mouth over his shaft once more. He stops his playing with me for a moment to let out a moan of pleasure, before lapping away at me with renewed vigour."
 
"The sweat on my body and his is starting to form, the scent of our excitement starting to pick up on the air. Even as I'm moving my head, I can't help a moan escaping as pleasure starts to overwhelm me."
 
his "Hey, Miki?"
 
"Stopping the moment I hear his voice for fear of repeat of earlier, I pick my head up and look around to his flustered face."
 
his "Do you want to..."
 
mik "Sure. Stay there a moment."
 
"I pick myself off him and get off the bed, my movements a little stilted thanks to how turned on I am."
 
"Reach my desk and pulling out the draw, I grab a small foil square and chuck it at him. He looks a little puzzles for a moment as it lands on his chest."
 
his "Oh, right. That was lucky."
 
mik "Guessing you didn't want to run to the convenience store right now, eh?"
 
"Hisao quickly sits himself up and sets about ripping the wrapper and applying the condom, sliding it over his shaft without too much trouble. As I come back to the bed, it looks like he's finally lost his reluctance about popping his cherry."
 
"We end up fooling around a bit after I get back on the bed, eventually ending up with me on my back and Hisao sitting up at my waist. I suppose there's nothing wrong with him taking the lead."
 
"He gives me a cautious look before taking a deep breath, eyes passing over my body. I reach down and take the bade of his rod in my hand, having a little fun in rubbing it over my wetted lower lips before pressing the head against my entrance."
 
"With one slow thrust, Hisao gently pushes his hips forward and inserts himself into me as far as he can go. A long, pleasureful breath passes my lips, that wonderful feeling of fullness engulfing my mind."
 
mik "Ooh..."
 
his "Miki..."
 
"I look up at him, his body seeming all the lager as he sits upright, hands on the bed beside my waist. I really like this view of him."
 
mik "You've done good, boy. Now stop sitting there."
 
"He response by starting to move his hips, ever so slowly thrusting away as he takes in the feeling inside of me. I just let myself relax, content to sit back and let myself drift in the experience as I grip at the sheets beneath me."
 
"Thankfully he needs no prompting to stop being so gentle, his timidity slowly dropping as he realises he's not going to hurt me by being a little more rough. As he keeps at it, he eventually hits a pretty nice rhythm as the sounds of our lustful breathing and bodies hitting each other begin to fill the air."
 
"As much as I try top let myself just go with the flow, I can't help but smile at the expression of concentration he's making. He's really trying to do this right, and to engrave everything he's doing to memory. It's a funny contrast to how relaxed I feel as he thrusts into me."
 
his "Why are... you smiling like that?"
 
mik "You just look funny, man. Relax a bit."
 
"He makes an honest attempt at it, and to his credit, sort of manages to do so. As feelings of euphoria start to cloud my mind, my hand moves to start pleasuring myself, circling my nub with my finger as he goes."
 
"This is so wonderful. I can't get enough of Hisao, his beautiful broad chest heaving away as he grunts and groans. His inexperience is cute, the way his mind takes in the wholly new smells, sounds, and sensations shown plainly on his face."
 
"Wanting to feel that body for myself, I reach up with my arms for him."
 
mik "Come here."
 
"Hisao follows my directions, shifting his body down with his elbows on the bed either side of me. I wrap my arms around his back, holding his body to mine as he starts thrusting into me once more."
 
"I think we're both getting close to our limits now, the sound of his breathing next to my ear turning me on further, as does the feeling of his sweat-covered back and butt as I move my hand over them."
 
his "Miki... Miki..."
 
"The first flicker of extreme pleasure pulses through me as I feel myself reaching the end, clutching at Hisao's hard body as if I were trying to grab hold of that fleeting feeling."
 
"My hand digs into his back as my pleasure begins to rise rapidly, my desperate attempts to catch on to each flash of ecstasy making thenm last longer and longer. Don't you dare finish on me now, Hisao. I'm so close... so close..."
 
his "Miki, I can't...!"
 
"I squeeze him tightly to try and make him hold on just that little bit longer. I'm almost there, just... a little... more...!"
 
mik "Ahn!"
 
"I stuff my face into his shoulder as the feeling of climax rips through my entire body, every muscle clenching as hard as it can. Hisao's body, the scent of his sweat, the sound of his frantic breathing, it all fills my mind as I feel myself drowning in desire."
 
"An unmistakable grunt comes from Hisao, his body jerking as the twitching and spasming around his shaft pulls him into climax as well. Once, twice, three times he gives powerful, rough thrusts into me, only serving to make my orgasm all the better."
 
"But slowly, sadly, it begins to fade. I try to hold on to the threads of pleasure, but one by one they slip from my grasp, my muscles slowly relaxing as that crescendo of joy falls silent."
 
"With the high of sex has to come the low, I suppose. The both of us are left a mess as our business comes to an end, our bodies both sweaty and limp, save the odd involuntary twitch."
 
"I'm glad Hisao didn't roll off me after we finished; it's nice to feel his body as the warmth lingers. There's little point in asking him if it was good, as the answer to that is painfully obvious."
 
"All I can do as we recover ourselves, is tiredly pet his dishevelled hair."
 
# Timeskip
 
"With the both of us cleaned up and clothed once more, we lie beneath the sheets next to each other as we try to go to sleep. Not that we try very hard, admittedly."
 
his "Thanks for tonight, Miki."
 
mik "Hey, it was nice for me too. Aside from you-"
 
his "Alright, you don't need to go on about that. It just kinda snuck up on me."
 
mik "I'll bet."
 
his "So we're off on our little adventure tomorrow. What's your home like, anyway?"
 
mik "You'll see. I reckon you'll like it."
 
 
END CHAPTER 1
 
 
"With the last of our luggage off the bus and piled onto the chair of the shelter, the old thing slowly pulls away with a friendly wave from the driver. It's a small wonder that it's still around after all these years."
 
"As the rumble of the tired old engine fades away, it's replaced by nothing but silence. A comfortable, nostalgic silence."
 
"Looking out from the wooden bus stop, topped by a rusted sheet of iron that only barely keeps the sun out, a bright green expanse greets us."
 
"The lonely cracked road cuts a straight line between the multitude of farms and rice paddies that cover the valley. A multitude of perfect rectangles, the muddy fields rimmed by embankments of thick grass, and going on as far as the eye can see."
 
"All that breaks up the view are the wooden poles carrying sagging power lines, trees, and the occasional traditional-style house for the tirelessly working farmers who live here."
 
"Then finally, the hills of the valley. Rising sharply on on either side of the town, they frame the entire village with their lush woods."
 
"I'd say memories come back of hiking and messing around in those woods, but that's true of everywhere here. Not one thing in sight doesn't have a memory attached to it. I lived here, from my birth to just three years ago. Now, I'm finally back."
 
"I've come home."
 
his "What's up?"
 
"I turn to my two companions on this trip. In my unexpected nostalgia for the place, I'd forgotten that it was their reactions that I was looking forward to, not my own."
 
"Suzu couldn't give less of a damn about me, simply standing wide-eyed at the sight before her. You'd be forgiven for thinking she'd just seen the landscape from one of her computer games become real."
 
"Even Hisao, despite his attention being on me, obviously has his mind in two places at once."
 
mik "What do ya mean?"
 
his "You don't have an excuse to look distracted like we do."
 
"He's not wrong. If I'd left on different terms, or even just taken the chance to visit once or twice, perhaps I'd be totally ambivalent about being back here."
 
"They see a bunch of farms and woodland, but I see memories of a fate I'd given up on. That I'd wanted, desperately, to give up on. If only life worked like that."
 
mik "Come on, it's not that weird a place, is it?"
 
"I give a disarming smile to Hisao, but he doesn't seem to buy the misdirection. It's only now that I realise I've been absentmindedly rubbing the stump of my left arm."
 
suz "It pretty much is, yeah."
 
his "I remember seeing places like this in the news, but that's different to actually being here."
 
his "There's just... nothing."
 
mik "C'mon, there's plenty of stuff."
 
suz "Like?"
 
mik "Farms, the mountains."
 
his "And?"
 
mik "...Farms, the mountains."
 
"Their faces fall flat. Using hyperbole really doesn't work when they already believe it."
 
mik "I'm joking! That's a joke!"
 
mik "C'mon, if there are people who live here, that means a bunch of stuff has to be around to support them, right?"
 
his "I guess that's true."
 
"He doesn't look convinced. Suzu looks like she didn't even hear me, given that she's begun to wander around and take in the sights from outside the little shelter. It doesn't take long for her to pick up on something from down the road."
 
suz "Ah, there's a truck coming."
 
mik "Probably dad. Told you he wouldn't be long."
 
"She skips back off the road to where we're standing, picking up her duffel bag from the chair. As the old white Kei truck slows down and comes to a stop, the unmistakable figure of my father can be seen taking off his seatbelt and swinging open the door."
 
"He's a well built man, by any definition. That, in combination with his stubble and his distinct tan from labouring in the fields, would make him an intimidating figure if not for his wide smile. His cheerful expression is always the first thing people notice about him, and for good reason."
 
"That said, he's not all that well kept, admittedly. His hair is cut badly from doing it himself, his stubble is shaved irregularly, and his fingernails are always blackened from dried mud underneath."
 
"But that's the kind of person he always was. He loves his work, and he loves people. We might have different personalities, but I always felt a grudging respect for his outlook."
 
mik "Hey, dad. It's been a while."
 
"He suddenly lunges forward and wraps his arms around me, much to my admittedly halfhearted protest. I try to shout him down for doing it in front of my friends, but he only lets go after giving me a good shake."
 
jun "Good to see you, girl. It's amazin' how much you've grown since I saw you."
 
"I kinda want to joke with him, but I'm having trouble finding the words. It never really hit me how long three years was until now, face to face with my dad after so long. I can feel a really dumb grin on my face."
 
"After taking a breath to settle myself, I clear my throat and gesture to Suzu."
 
mik "Suzu, this is my dad. Dad, this is Suzu Suzuki. She's the friend I've talked to you about."
 
"She bows deeply to him, to which he responds in kind. I wonder if she's trying to mask her shyness about meeting someone new through excessive manners."
 
suz "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Miura."
 
jun "You don't need to be so polite. Thanks for putting up with her for so long; I know how much of a handful she can be."
 
suz "I try my best."
 
mik "Very funny. Anyway..."
 
mik "This is Hisao Nakai. He's the other friend from class I mentioned."
 
"Hisao gives a smaller bow as the two greet each other. I hadn't specifically mentioned much about what Hisao was like to dad, but if he's put off by him coming, he isn't showing it."
 
jun "I have to say... by the looks of you, I didn't exactly expect you two to be the kind of company Miki'd keep."
 
his "Is that a bad thing?"
 
jun "Hahaha! Believe me, she could do a lot worse, boy."
 
jun "Anyway, the name's Junichi. You can call me Jun or Junichi, I don't care which. 'Mr. Miura' is too damn stuffy."
 
"Suzu's sly look towards me tells me one thing; Like father, like son. A loud clap from dad refocuses our attention."
 
jun "Now then, who's in the back tray? We can only fit one person in the front beside me."
 
mik "Me! Me! I'm in back!"
 
"Hisao reluctantly raises his hand, resigned to his fate. He's a guy, he should be looking forward to this sort of adventurous thing he couldn't normally do."
 
"Suzu just shrugs and chooses the front without a fight. To be honest, I didn't expect one."
 
# timeskip
 
"It's nice to travel like this. The wind freely blowing past you, the occasional pothole and hump in the road bumping you up and down, and no windows to get between you and the outside world. It's far less boring than being bundled up in a little metal box."
 
"Hisao, however, looks a little less sure of himself. His right hand grips the side of the tray tightly, with his back pressed hard against the cabin. Our luggage, sitting between us, bumps around loudly as we cruise down the road."
 
mik "Guess it's your first time travelling on the back of a truck, huh?"
 
his "I seem to be having a lot of first times with you..."
 
"He might be grumbling, but I think he's enjoying it. Just a little."
 
"As we continue down the road, Hisao's head perks up as we pass something that's caught his interest."
 
his "Wait, was that a pig on that sign?"
 
mik "Probably a boar. We get those around here."
 
his "Oh, those things. They look pretty cute, right?"
 
mik "The piglets? Sure. Gotta be careful, though; boars can be evil little assholes if you piss 'em off."
 
"A pothole in the road gives us both a good jolt, abruptly ending the discussion. My companion looks a little put off."
 
mik "Worried?"
 
his "Nah."
 
"As time goes on he gets more used to the experience. By the time we turn off the main road and onto the side streets, it almost looks like he's genuinely enjoying himself."
 
# timeskip
 
"With the familiar rumble of braking wheels on rough dirt, the truck pulls to a stop a few feet from the house. Without further ado, Hisao and I hop off as the doors around the front can be heard opening."
 
"It's like I'd never left. The grey-tiled roof still remains pockmarked by the odd leaf and stray broken branch that's settled on it, and the aged wood of the walls serves as a stark contrast to Yamaku's carefully tended-to exterior."
 
"Glancing through the windows, I suspect dad's been putting a bit of extra effort in to make the place presentable before we arrived. Given that I usually made most of the mess around the house before I left, I doubt it's for my sake."
 
"The only major difference I can really see is the vines on one corner of the house having grown some more. Given that I've been gone since entering Yamaku, it's like stepping back in time."
 
jun "So, what do ya think?"
 
his "It's nice. I haven't stayed at a traditional style house in a long time."
 
suz "Likewise."
 
jun "Well, I'm sure you'll get used to it. Feel free to wander around as much as you like, just be careful 'round the farm equipment."
 
"He quickly walks around the back and dutifully grabs our bags, leaving me to show our guests into the house."
 
"A good pull sees the door reluctantly slide away with a loud clatter, revealing the entrance foyer inside. With the interior doors having been opened to allow air to circulate through the house, most of the rooms are visible at a glance."
 
"A lot of friends have said they felt like Yamaku was home after a few months, but I always felt more like a tourist in a foreign country when I was hanging around the dormitories. A school is a school, no matter where it is, but where you sleep and eat is a very different matter."
 
"It could just because I'm a country bumpkin at heart. Maybe it was because of the circumstances I was in when I first entered Yamaku, or just a matter of being in the female dormitories and couped up with other girls of an evening. Either way, for the first time in years, I finally feel like I'm home."
 
"I quickly take my shoes off to distract myself from my meandering thoughts, with the busily gawking Hisao and Suzu doing the same. They hurridly walk past me and into the main room after depositing their shoes, leaving me to follow behind them afterwards."
 
his "I had no idea your place was like this. You should've mentioned it before."
 
"I just shrug."
 
"I look to Suzu to guage her reaction, only to see her concerned face staring at her phone. Before I can ask her what's up, she starts wandering around the room haphazardly, barely managing to step around the low table and other various obstacles. All Hisao and I can do is look at each other with puzzled expressions."
 
his "Uh... Suzu?"
 
"She continues on as if she's never heard him, walking around some more before slowly making her way towards the rice paper door leading outside, the sun streaming through. Without a moment's hesitation, she slides it open with her right hand, still holding her phone to her face with her left."
 
"As she steps from the tatami floor onto the sunlit wooden porch, she abruptly stops and holds her phone a little higher than before."
 
suz "I have a bar."
 
mik "Huh?"
 
"Hisao just hides his face in his hand. It takes me a moment to connect the dots about what she's actually been doing."
 
"Never change, Suzu."
 
"As I shake my head at her antics, I can't help but notice Hisao smiling. It's not that he does so rarely; all things considered, he manages to put on a weary smile surprisingly often. This time, though, it feels different."
 
"It's going to be an interesting time here, between being home after so long, and sharing the experience with these two misfits."
 
"But somehow... I think it's going to be good. The three of us together, enjoying summer in the country."
 
END CHAPTER 2
 
"A mighty yawn heralds the beginning of a new day."
 
"The sun beaming through the rice paper screen gives the room a pleasant level of light as I prop myself up, rubbing my tired eyes as I look beside me. Looks like Suzu's already awake, going by her empty but impeccably tidy futon."
 
"With my mind still half-asleep, I simply sit for a while and hazily look around the room. The walls look kinda bare without the collection of baseball posters and flags I had up when I was a kid, now that I think of it. All that's left is a single tatty poster for the local team."
 
"As each of my senses fire up, the faint sound of chopsticks clattering reaches my ears. My reaction is immediate, taking to my feet, throwing open the bedroom door, and jogging down the hallway to the main room."
 
"Sure enough, I see three people greedily tucking into breakfast after sliding the screen open, the day's morning news blaring from the small television to the side."
 
mik "That's cold."
 
"Dad hurridly gulps down the food in his mouth before looking to me, his face hardly apologetic."
 
jun "Thought you might want to sleep in. You looked pretty tired."
 
"He says, sitting next to a narcoleptic."
 
"My breakfast waits untouched next to Hisao, who gulps down his miso soup without a care in the world. Suzu and dad sit on the other side of the table, the former grazing on some rice as dad gets back to wolfing down pieces of mackerel."
 
"Huffing in displeasure, I walk over and take my place, setting myself down with a thud. Neither of the others pay me much heed, beyond glacing over to the loud distraction stomping about the room."
 
"As I start eating, I feel myself quickly settling down. Dad's food is good as always, and it's hard to stay annoyed while having a nice warm bowl of miso."
 
jun "You hungry or something, boy?"
 
"I look over to Hisao, his bowl of soup emptied and his rice quickly whittling down."
 
his "This is the best breakfast I've had in a long time. I could get used to this."
 
jun "I'll take that as a compliment."
 
"As we continue our eating, I notice that dad seems to be in an unusually bright mood. Maybe it's just my imagination - he has always been upbeat type, after all - but something feels different about him today."
 
"Maybe the chance to simply share a meal is enough to lift his spirits. Since I've been at Yamaku, I doubt he's often had the chance."
 
jun "So, any plans for the day?"
 
his "Guess we're largely up to Miki's mercy."
 
suz "Saying that sort of thing might get us killed."
 
mik "You can relax. I was just thinking of riding up into town and taking it from there."
 
his "On bikes? Do you have anough to cover us?"
 
jun "You can use mine, if you want."
 
mik "That old thing? Does it even still work?"
 
"I find a pair of chopsticks jabbed at the air in front of me."
 
jun "You watch your mouth. I use that old girl nearly every day. Might be getting on by now, but she's done me good."
 
mik "Sounds like it's settled, then."
 
# Timeskip
 
"It didn't take long for us to escape the house after breakfast, the urge to explore the area on everyone's minds as dad went to feed the chickens."
 
"With Hisao on dad's bike and Suzu sitting on the back of mine, we set a good pace as we breeze along the otherwise empty road. The odd hill or house is all that breaks up the flat expanse of rice paddies on either side of us."
 
mik "Yo, Hisao. You keepin' up okay?"
 
his "Don't worry, this much should be fine."
 
his "I'm guessing you get a lot of use from these things out here."
 
mik "Sure do, it's pretty much the perfect place for 'em. Flat, straight, not much traffic. Nice and easy to just shoot along the roads."
 
suz "You do know where we're going, right?"
 
mik "I remember this place like the back of my hand. I wanna drop by somewhere before we reach town, though."
 
his "Where?"
 
"As we start approaching an intersection, I jerk my head to the left."
 
mik "Follow me and I'll show you."
 
"Suzu clutches me tightly as I stop pedalling and let the bike tilt around the corner. This feeling of speed as the air flows past us is great, and going by Hisao's expression as he follows us around the corner, he's enjoying this just as much as I am."
 
"As we right ourselves and end up roughly side by side once more, I notice the thin bead of sweat running down his face."
 
mik "Heat not getting to you?"
 
his "I'm good."
 
mik "Glad to hear it. Lots of people complain it's too hot 'round here."
 
his "You know, you don't need to worry so much about me."
 
mik "But..."
 
"Whether in response or just from a sense of competitiveness, Hisao pushes down on the pedals and brings himself out of his seat as he surges forwards, the bike tilting left and right as he pushes past us with great effort. It's impossible to take that kind of challenge lying down."
 
mik "Hang on, Suzu!"
 
suz "Miki, dont...!"
 
"Ignoring Suzu's protests, I do my best to catch up with the boy. She clutches tightly to my waist, but doesn't seem to be panicking."
 
"It feels refreshing to breeze along the roads like this, with the fresh air flowing past us and bright sun overhead. It's just like when I was younger, even including when my friends and I would race our bikes."
 
"With some effort, I manage to pull alongside Hisao. His face, or rather his smile, takes me by surprise. He barely even notices me as he power on, his mouth in a wide, childish grin."
 
"Hisao really does look better when he's like this, finally freed from his inhibitions as he lets himself enjoy the moment."
 
# Timeskip
 
"Having arrived at our destination, Hisao and I prop our bikes up against a large tree as Suzu dusts herself off, and perhaps tries to collect herself a little."
 
"The old school building stands ahead of me, just as it had all those years ago. Mostly wooden, like everything around here, it seems to have had a few more bushes planted around it in order to not look quite so bare."
 
"Slightly puzzled, I absentmindedly tilt my head."
 
his "What's up?"
 
mik "I could swear it looked bigger."
 
his "That's normal, isn't it? You'd have been a kid when you were last here. Now you're taller and can see it for its real size."
 
mik "I guess. Didn't think I was that much smaller back then, though."
 
suz "It sure is..."
 
suz "...homely?"
 
mik "It looks a bit run-down, I know. This place isn't like Yamaku; We got lunch change compared to their budget."
 
his "I wonder if we could get in."
 
suz "I'm not sure that's allowed..."
 
mik "Pretty sure the place'd be unlocked."
 
suz "Not you too. What if somebody sees us?"
 
mik "Relax, it's not like anybody's around. The teachers would remember me, anyway."
 
"The explanation doesn't seem to settle her, but Hisao's already on his way. It's nice to see my assumptions about his nature proven, his sense of adventure kindled."
 
"Knowing she's lost, Suzu and I follow him up to the door, dirt crunching underfoot as we cross the school grounds. He stands aside to let me have the honour, the old oaken door reluctantly giving way with a bit of a heave."
 
"Hisao and Suzu file in as I automatically tug off my shoes. Only now do I remember that a teacher won't scold me any more for failing to carefully remove my shoes and slip them into the shoe locker beside the door. Smiling, I slip them in anyway."
 
"The floorboards creak as we pass over them, our trio slowly making our way through the hallway as our heads swivel about."
 
"Memories of running through these halls echo through my mind. It's only when I almost bump into Hisao that my distraction ends."
 
mik "What's up?"
 
his "Just nearly tripped over this thing. Why would someone put a bookshelf here of all places?"
 
"He looks down at the conspicuously placed waist-high bookshelf, placed firmly against the wall. Supecting something, I walk around to the other side and place my hand under the bottom shelf, using my stump to help as best it can."
 
mik "Help me shift this thing."
 
"He and Suzu look to each other with uncertainty. She just sighs, knowing that protesting would go nowhere."
 
"He takes the same position I do on the other side of the furniture, the both of us giving a grunt as we lift it up and set it down a few inches away."
 
"Sure enough, there's a hole in the wall about the diameter of a soccer or basket ball, beige plaster giving way to a dark abyss. It doesn't even look like there's been so much as an attempt to patch the area up"
 
mik "Oh man, that's lame. They just shoved this over the hole instead of fixing it."
 
"Hisao leans around the side to see, with Suzu grabbing at the bookshelf's top and levering herself over it a little."
 
his "Huh. Know what happened?"
 
suz "Was it you?"
 
mik "Hey, not everything is my fault. All I did was hit a ball through a window once."
 
"She stares at me, understandably dubious."
 
mik "...twice."
 
# Timeskip
 
"After wanting to have a look inside my old classroom, Hisao suggested he and Suzu wander the school grounds outside. I guess they're getting bored by now, as admittedly the place is pretty bare. To them, anyway."
 
"As I sit in the chair I used to sit in, feet up on the desk to relax a little, fragments of a life I once lived surround me."
 
"The potplant sitting on the windowsill, always looking like it was on its last legs, but never quite wilting entirely. An old clock on the wall ticking away. A cheerful message still scrawled on the blackboard for everyone to have a wonderful holiday."
 
"Even now I can hear the sounds of chatter around me, the teacher trying to quieten us down for the lesson ahead. The smell from that kid who fell into a rice paddie on the way to school. Glitter getting everywhere as we made a card for a boy who broke his arm. A girl crying after pricking her finger as we tried to sew plush toys."
 
"Then there was the baseball team. Nearly all of them were my classmates, after all. The best friends anyone could've hoped for."
 
"And then... there's me. One day, chuckling away at another terrible joke from the boy sitting to my side. Another, making a paper plane and hitting the board next to the teacher. Man that lit her up. Not to mention that frantic rush out the door every break, tearing outside to mess around be it sun or snow."
 
"And now I'm sitting alone in a classroom, surrounded by silent and empty chairs."
 
"Every life has its peaks and valleys. I know that. Times are sometimes good, and sometimes they're a little rough."
 
"I don't think I'm sad to relive those days, but it frustrates me how I can't put words to what I do feel."
 
"Hearing footsteps approaching, I look to the door. Hisao stands smiling, arms crossed as he leans against the doorframe."
 
his "Finished?"
 
mik "Yeah. Let's go."
 
# Timeskip
 
"With Suzu's endurance beginning to flag, the decision was made to save the trip to town for another day. With Hisao and I slowly walking our bikes along the road with Suzu in tow, we make our way towards one of my other favourite corners of the town."
 
"An apple tree a small distance from the road catches Hisao's eye as we make our way along, his gaze lingering as we walk."
 
his "We should've brought some food; those look pretty damn nice right now."
 
mik "Why don't we grab some?"
 
suz "You think they'll allow strangers to just pilfer their fruit?"
 
mik "That's how things work around here. We don't really worry about money much."
 
"I give the dubious Hisao and Suzu a salute before quickly ducking away, leaving Suzu to quickly grab my falling bike."
 
# Timeskip
 
"Walking back up to the two of them, I motion for them to follow me up to the tree."
 
"Reaching its base and propping our bikes against it, the three of us look up. It's taller than it looked from the road, with the lowest branches far from reach to anyone on the ground."
 
his "So you're sure we can take a couple?"
 
mik "Many as we want, they said. Better us having a feed than letting the birds get to 'em."
 
suz "That doesn't help if we can't reach them in the first place..."
 
his "Guess somebody's just going to have to go up."
 
"They both look to me in unison. This... isn't good."
 
mik "What?"
 
suz "What do you mean 'what'? I'm surprised you didn't offer to begin with."
 
mik "Well, uh, I mean... there aren't many footholds. Maybe you forgot that I also only have one hand."
 
suz "Since when did you suddenly start using your stump as an excuse?"
 
"Hisao's balled hand suddenly comes down on his palm."
 
his "You're afraid of heights!"
 
"Suzu looks to me in shock, but all I can do is cover my face with my hand. Of course he'd be the one to figure it out."
 
mik "Shut up, shut up, shut up!"
 
suz "You learn something new every day. I had no idea."
 
"Looking up from underneath my hand, Hisao's stepped up to the foot of the tree and now looks intently at it. With me out for the count and Suzu unlikely to have the stomach for it, it looks like he's taking one for the team and plotting his approach."
 
"With a hop he starts on his way, plastering himself to the trunk with ease. He nimbly manages to hoist himself further and further upwards, usually with his feet, but sometimes resorting to reefing himself up with his hands where he can't find a foothold."
 
"It doesn't take long for Hisao's to follow his plotted course, swinging a leg up over the lowest solid branch to straddle it, and scooting himself forwards to where the apples are hanging from."
 
"Suzu and I just stare in surprise, both of us suitably impressed at his skill. With the sun shining through the leaves of the tree around him as he smiles down at us, quite pleased with himself at our response, I can't help but think Hisao looks a little cool. It's not often I think that about him."
 
mik "So were you a monkey in a previous life, or what?"
 
suz "He could be a ninja."
 
mik "That's a good point."
 
his "You're not the only one who got up to mischief as a kid, you know."
 
"Maybe I underestimated him. I had made a lot of assumptions given that he said he lived in the city, after all."
 
his "So how are we doing this? Catching them by hand might be a bit hard."
 
"Suzu and I look to each other. I guess I hadn't thought that far ahead."
 
"Evidently coming to a conclusion she rather wishes she hadn't, Suzu sighs and she steps underneath where Hisao sits. Taking the bottom of her dress in her hands, she holds it out a little, forming a net to catch them with. If it works, it ain't stupid."
 
"Apparently happy with the idea, Hisao calls out before dropping the first apple. Successfully caught without any problems, he starts twisting off one after another, sending them falling to Suzu."
 
"With none of us having discussed exactly how many we'd take, he ends up stopping once Suzu's skirt is reasonably full. Overcome with temptation, I pluck one out and take a bite to see how they are."
 
"The answer turns out to be 'pretty damn good'. I stand there and munch away as Hisao lets his body roll off the branch, hanging by a hand for a moment to gauge the fall before dropping to the ground on his feet."
 
suzu "Here."
 
"Suzu offers the seven apples in her skirt, with Hisao collecting them in his arms after dusting himself off."
 
"With that, the three of us set off for the creek once more, satisfied with our haul."
 
# Timeskip
 
"I've always enjoyed coming here as a kid, and even now I can appreciate it. Water quietly trickles along the small creek, a small bird or two crying out occasionally from the trees above. The place was just large enough to run around with a few friends in as a kid, and the ponds had enough water to float various makeshift boats."
 
"Hisao and I lazily sit with our feet in the water, the boy munching away at the last of our food haul while I stroke Suzu's hair, her head on my thighs as she sleeps. It's nice to have a chance to rest and cool down, the cool water flowing past my shins a pleasant sensation."
 
his "You know..."
 
"He busily attempts to swallow the bit of food he's eating before continuing."
 
his "I'm surprised you can ride a bike that well. I mean, without..."
 
mik "It's not so hard. It's like when I was undoing your buttons; you pick that stuff up pretty quickly when you have the need."
 
his "I guess walking around an area this vast would be pretty gruelling."
 
his "What about prosthetics? I noticed some guy with a prosthetic arm in another class."
 
mik "Eh... those fancy computer ones with the moving fingers are crazy expensive. Tried one of those hook ones, though."
 
his "No good?"
 
mik "I made a great pirate impression, but I never got the hang of actually using the thing. Never felt comfortable, either."
 
mik "Everyone's different, I guess. Just ended up being more of a pain than a help for me."
 
"Much to the annoyance of my father and the therapist trying to work with me. The whole fuss is probably part of why dad thought sending me to Yamaku might be for the best. I still don't know whether he was right."
 
"As he finishes the last of his apple, Hisao shakes his fingers in the water to clean them before looking to the slumbering Suzu."
 
mik "Peaceful, isn't she?"
 
his "Yeah. Then again, this whole town is like that."
 
his "I still don't get how someone like you could come from such a quiet place."
 
mik "When you're surrounded by nothing, you've gotta make your own fun."
 
his "Guess I had it easy, with the theatres, shopping malls, bookstores, and all that around. Used to hit up the arcades pretty often."
 
mik "Yeah, I noticed."
 
mik "Did you see those event things often? Like companies putting on street stuff for people passing by?"
 
his "You have no idea. People everywhere handing out flyers and packets, bands doing performances, little exhibitions run near the train stations, festivals..."'
 
his "When you have that many people so tightly packed together, you get a lot of spontaneous stuff happening. You can just wander around and find something to do, really."
 
mik "Man, that sounds cool."
 
his "Yeah, it was. After the heart attack, though..."
 
his "I guess there's not much point to that sort of thing when you're alone."
 
mik "Didn't you have friends? You seem a pretty well-adjusted guy."
 
his "Used to."
 
"I really have those two words. I recognise that tone all too well, too."
 
"With Suzu beginning to stir, Hisao picks himself up and takes to his feet, shins and feet still wet from the creek's water."
 
"I get a little worried as he staggers a little, his face telling of a sharp pain. It passes in no time, but I remember seeing it once before."
 
mik "You okay?"
 
his "I'm fine. Let's go."
 
# Timeskip
 
"The house is always so quiet at night. Aside from the chirping of crickets outside and my footsteps on the floorboards, there isn't really anything around to make much noise."
 
"It's not that Yamaku is loud. Quite the opposite, given that the teachers tend to be pretty strict about discipline in the dorms. There's still the occasional bit of music from the rooms around mine, though, or the chatter of some girls gossiping away a bit too noisily. Pretty sure I heard some suspicious moaning that one time, too."
 
"I got used to the background noise quickly enough, but it makes the near-silence of home a bit jarring."
 
"Somehow, despite my eyes only being open by a very generous interpretation of the word, I manage to notice a faint shadow against the rice paper door leading to the outside porch."
 
"I wander towards the figure out of curiosity. If it's a burglar, I could probably take 'em anyway."
 
"Sliding the door open offers little surprise. Hisao sits on the edge of the porch looking uo at the night sky, thinking to himself silently."
 
"Turns out he's thinking so hard that he hasn't noticed me at all. It's not until I've plopped myself down beside him that he turns to see me."
 
his "Oh. Hey."
 
mik "Here I was thinking I was gonna be a hero takin' down a burglar, and it turns out to be just some dork sitting outside."
 
his "Sorry to disappoint."
 
mik "Guess I'll just have to save the day some other time."
 
his "So what are you doing up so late?"
 
mik "Midnight snack. Walking around all day makes you hungry."
 
mik "What about you, sitting out here all by yourself?"
 
his "Thinking."
 
mik "You don't say."
 
his "It's just that you don't get a good view of the stars in the city. All the lights make them hard to see."
 
his "It's crazy how clear they are out here..."
 
"The stars, huh? I look up at them as he does, trying to get what about them interests him. All I see are the same stars I've always seen. Pinpricks of light in the night sky. They're pretty, I suppose, but I don't think that's what draws Hisao."
 
"I get the feeling this is one of the main differences between us, besides the different ways we grew up. I only see what's in front of my eyes. The world as it is. Hisao's eyes seem to see so much more than mine do, and as we sit here looking up at the same night sky, even now I can see that childlike wonder on his face."
 
his "It's so quiet out here."
 
mik "Yeah, I was just thinking that. Guessing the city would be different?"
 
his "Out in the suburbs it's fairly quiet. The nightlife around some places though is a culture all its own."
 
mik "Is it all seedy and stuff like in the movies?"
 
his "If you go looking for those kinds of places, yeah, they're around. When you get that many people in one place, you start seeing some weird stuff beneath the surface."
 
his "Don't let your imagination get too wild; I walked pretty damn quickly if I ever found myself in those areas. Mainly just stayed downtown, with all the shoppers and gaming places. Lights and advertisements everywhere, crowds buzzing, music on the air from nightclubs and karaoke parlours, it's just so different to the dead of the night around here."
 
mik "That sounds so cool. We should totally travel into the city over a weekend some time. Bet Yukio and Haru would have a blast."
 
his "Yeah, that'd be fun. Lots of those merchandise and manga stores for Suzu, too."
 
mik "Getting nostalgic, are we?"
 
his "More... whistful, I guess."
 
"I click my fingers, finally realising the word I'd been searching for all day."
 
mik "That's it! Whistful!"
 
his "Huh?"
 
mik "When I was in my old school, I was trying to work out how I felt. You finally put words to it."
 
his "You're welcome, I guess."
 
his "That said, I feel the opposite right now. Actually, it's been like that ever since coming to Yamaku."
 
his "Every day's been full of new things. It's weird how quickly you get used to being in a school full of disabled students, but everything else feels so new. New friends and teachers, different surroundings, living alone for the first time, and all that."
 
his "And you've shown me a lot of that new stuff, as well. Roping me into the track club, dragging me out here, and yeah, I guess what sex is like as well."
 
his "Even this night sky is totally new to me, and it's thanks to you that I can be here to see it."
 
"He turns to me with a really sweet smile. It's nice when he lets himself do that."
 
his "Thanks, Miki."
 
"I reach over and scruff his hair a little. He really should get that cut a bit."
 
"Making my case for me, he tries to straighten out his hair after I remove my hand, only for that familiar misbehaving tuft to flick back up. He really is a dork."
 
"His eyes linger on my a little longer than usual, making me curious."
 
mik "What's up?"
 
his "Well, about something I mentioned..."
 
"I keep waiting for him to continue, but his awkwardness gets the better of him. A smile slowly spreads on my face as I begin to realise why."
 
mik "Come on boy, say it."
 
his "Fine. If you don't want to do it again I'll just drop it, but..."
 
mik "But..."
 
his "Could you grab me something from the fridge if you're getting a snack?"
 
"That son of a bitch. I lunge sideways and bring my stump around Hisao's neck, grabbing it and pulling back to lock him in a chokehold. He struggles for breath and clutches at my arm, but it's futile."
 
his "Can't... breathe... let...!"
 
mik "Huh? What was that? You want a snack?"
 
his "Give... give..."
 
mik "Give? Give me what? Come on boy, I can't hear you."
 
"As Hisao's face starts to change colour, I decide I've had my fun and let go. He gasps for air as he rubs his sore throat, but it looks like I haven't done any real damage to him."
 
his "You're such a brute."
 
mik "What was that, perv?"
 
his "See? You already know what this is about."
 
mik "Sorry, I'm just messing around. You get so keyed up about this stuff that I can't miss the opportunity to tease you, you know?
 
"He snorts with displeasure, still rubbing his sore throat."
 
mik "So, you got a rubber?"
 
"The answer becomes obvious as his face becomes a frown. Guess it was too much to ask that he slipped one into his wallet or something. Then again, there are solutions to that problem."
 
his "Damn it..."
 
mik "Since we're like this, maybe there's something you could do for me."
 
his "And that is?"
 
mik "Masturbate."
 
"Even in the moonlit night, the red of Hisao's cheeks isn't hard to notice."
 
his "I shouldn't have asked..."
 
mik "Oh come on, I've already seen your body."
 
his "That's completely different. Can't you just watch porn if you want to see a guy do it himself?"
 
mik "You know porn's completely different from reality. I wanna see how a dude really does it."
 
mik "Fine, how about I do myself as well? Does that sound good?"
 
"He moves to protest, but the words don't come out. It's a little amusing to see him to visibly ponder the question now that the scales have been tipped."
 
"Eventually, he takes a long, shakey breath. It looks more like an admission of defeat than a teenager getting the chance to fool around with a girl."
 
"Hisao pulls himself back off the side of the porch, both of us turning to face each other as we sit. I guess I got the advantage, with my back pressed against the wall for a backrest."
 
"It's only now that I realise what I've gotten myself into. Getting another person off is one thing; you're focused on making them feel good, after all. This, however, is the sort of thing I've only ever thought of as being done in private. Of course, it'd be just the same for him."
 
"For a brief moment, I try to think of this as simply watching 3D porn. It doesn't work at all."
 
"With great hesitation, Hisao begins to work off his pants, followed by his underwear. With the two sitting by his side, his stick is sitting there plain to see, the tuft of hair behind it not quite hidden. His eyes move up and down, trying to look at me, but finding himself too embarrassed."
 
"It'd be a lie to say that doesn't turn me on a bit. Being able to watch him do this for my benefit."
 
his "Could you not stare?"
 
mik "That's kinda the point, dude."
 
"He tilts his head in resigned acceptance as his hand haltingly makes its way onto his shaft."
 
"With the other hand on the ground for support, he begins to move it up and down. The first thing I notice is that he doesn't bring it over the head, but only along the lower part. It also looks like a pretty form grip he has on the thing, whereas I'd always thought it'd be way looser."
 
"It's an odd atmosphere as he strokes himself, my elbow resting on my knee as I watch intently. His gaze begins to wander over my body as he goes, mentally trying to undress me as he gets more and more aroused."
 
"As time goes on, the first bits of liquid start to seep out onto the head, flowing down and mixing with the motions of his hand. A slight pain from the side of my thumb makes me realise I've begun absentmindedly rubbing at it with the fingernail of my other finger."
 
"Man... this really is turning me on. That mixture of arousal and shyness, the way he tries to imagine me as he pleasures himself."
 
"Having had enough of enjoying this purely as an observer, I work off my shorts and underwear, spreading my legs a little to allow him a small reward."
 
"I slide my hand down past my own lower hair and onto my own organs, already moistened from being able to watch him. If nothing else, at least it's been a damn enjoyable show to watch."
 
"After bringing my fingers inside myself to wet them further, and enjoying the sensation enough to make a few motions before pulling them back out, I begin to work at my nub. Circling, petting, stroking this way and that with my fingertips."
 
"Watching the precum continue to form on Hisao's shaft as he plays with himself, a pleasant sigh escapes my lips. Maybe it's because I was able to get off on watching him beforehand, but this isn't as weird as I thought it'd be."
 
his "Enjoying yourself?"
 
mik "Sure as hell. You're really trying not to shoot too early, aren't you?"
 
his "This still feels weird to do in front of someone..."
 
mik "Just go with it. Besides, you're getting to see me too."
 
"I feel my muscles shiver as a small spike of pleasure runs through me. My toes curl as I keep going, the cold wood on my butt and cool breze on the outdoor air doing little to temper my excitement."
 
"As exciting as this might be, though, it isn't quite what I want. My fingers move faster and faster over the areas I most like being touched, and under normal circumstances that would be enough, but it's the thing before me that I want right now."
 
"Hisao pauses as I reluctantly stop my playing and pull myself to my feet."
 
his "Hey, what are you...?"
 
mik "Sssh."
 
"I bring a finger to my lips, before covering my bared area with my hand and scuttling inside, closing the door behind me lest somebody see the half-naked boy. This would be a terrible time for someone else to be walking about the house."
 
"Finding the room empty, much to my relief, I skitter over to my own wallet sitting on an end table near the door. Opening it with some difficulty, I only barely manage to make out what's inside of it, retrieving what I want before coming back."
 
"Opening and quietly shutting the door behind me once more, I give the bewildered Hisao only a passing glance as I take a seat right before him. He looks on wordlessly, his shaft having regrettably shortened as he awkwardly cups it from modesty."
 
his "You had one? Seriously?"
 
"As much as I'd like to make some quipt at him, my mouth is full with the foil square gripped in my teeth. Managing to get a good tear, the top of the package obediently flicks off, letting me grab the translucent white condom inside before spitting it out."
 
"My heart racing as my sense of temptation starts to get the better of me, I give him a gentle push. He gives no resistance as I move to roll the condom on his quickly expanding rod before he can protest any further, managing to do so with a couple of abortive attempts."
 
"Straddling his body, I lose any sense of hesitation and I move to rip off his top."
 
his "Miki, please...!"
 
"He might be offering to do it himself, or wanting to scuttle the whole thing for fear of somebody hearing us, but I'm past caring. Yanking at his clothing, it finally comes off after some force is applied to the problem. His beautiful bare chest is my reward, the line from his surgery doing little to slow my rushing hormones."
 
"Pressing my hands against his lower stomach, I raise my knees for leverage and start to lower myself onto his rod, stopping a couple of times as I feel it bumping either side of the critical hole."
 
"A long, deep sigh of euphoria rings out from the both of us as I feel it finally slide in, his thick shaft pressing against the moist, warm walls inside of me. Even through the condom the parts of his penis can be felt out, from the top of its head to its very base."
 
"I really do like this position. Looking down at him shows a flustered face, sweaty and dazed as he looks up at me and my body. I have total control over him now, and over my own pleasure."
 
"Without further ado, I begin to move my hips up and down, the feeling of penetration made all the better thanks to my knees being the air. My breasts move about as I do, the tank top providing little support for them."
 
"We both do out best to keep the noise down, given our situation. I manage pretty well, I think, keeping my wits about me despite the usual huffs and puffs of being the one doing the work."
 
"Hisao, as seems to usually be the case, is somewhat less controlled. It gives me a chance to get back at him."
 
mik "You look like you're enjoying this."
 
his "I don't think... I can't..."
 
mik "Settle down, boy. You just need... to go with it."
 
"The words do little to calm him as my hips continue thrusting up and down, his crotch no doubt a mess from our combined fluids. I can feel my muscles starting to tighten slightly as I try to control my feelings as best I can, but as this goes on, that becomes increasingly difficult."
 
"He really is quite a looker with his clothes off. That heaving chest of his, a thin sheen of sweat now covering it, looks nicer than ever."
 
mik "Nnnnn... Hisao..."
 
his "Please, I can't..."
 
"From the tone of his voice, this isn't going to last much longer. I keep moving regardless, the euphoria runnng through every inch of my body telling me to drive onward."
 
"The look on his face as he clenches his teeth, holding on for dear life to try and keep this going jusy a few moments longer makes me even more excited. Harder and harder he tries, teetering on the edge as he desperately attempts to hold on."
 
"More... I want more of him. Hold on boy, I just want that little bit more..."
 
his "Ahn...!"
 
"His mouth opens wideas the rush of climax surges through him like a lightening bolt, his pelvis hitting so hard against my own that it almost hurts."
 
"Once, twice, three times his hips jerk upward as intense muscles spasms grip him, eyes open wide as he orgasms. His entire body shakes and shivers as it grasps every little bit of the intense pleasure running through him."
 
"And then... it's over. His hips sink back down to the wooden boards for the last time, rod still twitching away as his mouth hangs open and gasps for air. His eyes look dreamy and unfocused, the rush of hormones still leaving their mark."
 
"Knowing that I've had my fun for tonight, I slip myself off his slowly dwindling rod The experience has taken its toll on me just as much as it has on him, leaving me flat on my back and gasping for air too."
 
"The two of us must look like dying fish right now, both lying on the porch with heaving bodies, our open mouths gulping for air."
 
his "You're crazy."
 
mik "I was just... turned on..."
 
his "I can't believe... you hid that you had one..."
 
mik "You never... asked..."
 
"I raises his hand, probably to try and make an obscene gesture at me or something, but lets it flop back to the ground as he finds himself unable to muster the energy."
 
"With my senses returning to me, I let my head roll to the side. The stars that Hisao had been so wrapt in sit above us, twinkling away."
 
"Realising that I've stopped panting, Hisao looks to me, and then to the same stars that I watch."
 
mik "You know..."
 
his "Yeah?"
 
mik "They're just stars, man."
 
"Despite my expecting some joke or teasing remark, Hisao just smiles."
 
his "I know."
 
END CHAPTER 3
 
"Wiping the sweat from my brow, I look down at my handiwork for the morning. A long line of freshly-planted rice seedlings, their bright green stalks poking just above the muddy brown of the water. A muddy brown that's also covered my hand, and the well-worn overalls I'm wearing."
 
"Hisao and Suzu work on their own columns, smartly planting their seedlings, taking a couple of steps back, and putting in the next. They seem to be slowly getting the hang of it by now, and Suzu's finally stopped complaining about the heat.."
 
"To be honest, this is a bit old. While they might be enjoying an activity they've never done before, helping out on the farm has always been a drag for me. I don't have a problem with the effort required; such mindless fatiguing work isn't that much different to a good run around the track, after all. It's more that I'm not being paid to work my ass off."
 
"Deciding it's time for a breather, I start trudging back to the house. I can feel dad's eyes on me from the porch as I do. Sure would be nice to be some people, sitting on a chair with a beer and watching his kid and her friends to all the work."
 
jun "Had enough already?"
 
mik "Just grabbin' a drink."
 
"He dutifully reaches back into the cooler beside him, pulling out one of the several soft drink cans inside and opening it before handing it to me. I have to admit, I wouldn't have hated him accidentally handing me one of the beer cans."
 
"I sit on the side of the porch and start on my nice cool drink, but a sip reveals it to be lukewarm already. Beggars can't be choosers, I suppose."
 
mik "So when's the paycheck?"
 
jun "The paycheck is me feeding you. Doesn't grow on trees, you know."
 
mik "It kinda does."
 
jun "The money, not the food. Don't get smart with me, girl."
 
mik "Somehow, you scolding me doesn't sound so bad these days."
 
jun "It's good to be scolding you again, too."
 
jun "Sounds like you've had quite a time at Yamaku."
 
"He answers my puzzled expression quickly."
 
jun "That Suzu's quite a talkative type once you get to know her."
 
mik "You didn't need to interrogate her for information."
 
jun "Well, I think we both know there's a lot you haven't told me."
 
"A feel a bit sheepish at the quip. It's perfectly true, and now I'm completely up to the judgement of my dad."
 
jun "Well, there's not much point dwelling on it. Seems you've lived quite a life since you left."
 
jun "One of the things I've learned over the years, is that keeping a tight leash on someone like you would never work out. If you need me, I'm here, but I know you want to work through these things yourself."
 
"That's probably the best reaction I could've hoped for. While I wouldn't say our relationship's ever been bad, I've never been the best behaved kid. He surely knows, at least in vague terms, how much of an asshole I was in Yamaku, but resisted the urge to force me back home, or threaten to do so. It might've taken the intervention of Suzu, but I finally managed to get myself mostly sorted out. I doubt that would've happened if he'd gone through with it."
 
"Maybe life would've been a lot easier if I were more respecting of authority. It can't be helped."
 
"As the both of us go quiet from thought, I bring up something I'd been meaning to ask."
 
mik "I see you took down the shed."
 
jun "Didn't have much use for it after selling the tools. Too many memories, anyway."
 
"He's always been more touchy about that time than I've been, and now is no different. My exact memories of the day I lost my hand have always been weirdly foggy, but I'd take that over the sense of guilt dad still has."
 
"I wonder how different my life would've been if not for that ill-fated time I used his powertools. I don't blame him at all for what happened, despite what he may say."
 
"Seizing on a chance to take our minds off the subject, dad nods to the two ahead of us still working away."
 
jun "Geez, they're really going for it."
 
mik "Or at least trying to."
 
"The both of us give a weak smile at Suzu's valiant attempts, but her stamina really isn't up to the work. Some of her seedlings have already come out of the ground and started floating on the water, too."
 
"In contrast, Hisao's practically a machine. He's thrown himself at the task with gusto, trying his best as a man in the prime of his life to live up to dad's expectations. He seems to have figured this all out pretty intuitively."
 
mik "So what do you make of 'em?"
 
jun "They're a good couple of kids, even if they are a bit dainty."
 
jun "Still the last kind o' people I'd imagine you to end up with, though."
 
mik "Yeah, life can be funny sometimes."
 
mik "Sorry for not sticking around on the farm. And for being a pain in the ass in general."
 
mik "Guess I'm not really the son you wanted, huh?"
 
jun "Bah, what're you sayin'?"
 
jun "You got nothin' to be sorry for, girl. I know it took me too long, but I know you've got your own life to live."
 
"I feel his hand come down on the top of my head, giving my hair a good rub. It feels weird, after so long without having physical affection. Trying to complain ends up useless, the words catching in my throat."
 
"There's little point in denying he'd like me to follow in his footsteps, and I still do think he'd have preferred to have son to a daughter. That said, the fact he accepts that I'm moving along my own path relieves me. I'd harboured that seed of doubt in the back of my head for so long, and now I can finally let it go."
 
jun "Hmm?"
 
"Pulled from my thoughts, I follow dad's gaze out into the fields. Suzu still keeps planting away, but Hisao stands slightly hunched over."
 
"Whether there's a problem or if he's just tired out is answered as he staggers forwards a couple of steps, both dad and I standing up to get a better view of what's going on. My heart stops as a leg falls out from under him, his body collapsing sideways into the paddy."
 
"Dad quickly takes off towards him, little care given to suiting up in overalls as he tramples the planted rice along the way. He can move damn fast when he wants to, my role in the affair being reduced to a mere spectator as Suzu also tries to lumber through the thick mud to the fallen boy."
 
"Helped up by dad, Hisao brings an arm over his shoulder for support. The two slowly struggle back towards the house, a deeply concerned Suzu in tow."
 
"I feel terrible for not thinking of this. He was obviously pushing himself hard, and the sun's been beating down on us the entire time. As much as he may not want to admit it, Hisao can't exert himself as much as someone else might."
 
jun "Miki, get the phone. The ambulance'll be faster than the truck."
 
his "It's fine, please..."
 
mik "You don't look fine."
 
his "It's happened before. I just... need some rest."
 
"Dad and I look to each other, unsure of whether to trust him. Given that Hisao's the one with the condition, I just give a shrug."
 
jun "Alright. Let's just get you inside for now."
 
# Timeskip
 
"The fracas of earlier is finally over, with Hisao's pain having passed. An air of uncertainty still lingers though, as I'm pretty sure nobody is really convinced by Hisao's assurances that everything is fine now."
 
"With noon approaching and nobody having the stomach for returning to the fields, Suzu and I sit at the low table in preparation for lunch. Given what's on the menu, the reason for Suzu's fidgeting is obvious."
 
"Fresh chicken, and actually fresh unlike the crap in the supermarkets. I've seen it all before, but while I didn't expect Suzu to have the stomach to observe, I'm rather impressed that Hisao went with dad to see the process. I do wonder how much of that was trying to regain his manly pride, though."
 
mik "You okay?"
 
suz "I can't stop thinking about that poor chicken."
 
mik "What do you think happens to all the chickens you've eaten before now? Least they're happier on a little farm like this."
 
suz "While they're alive."
 
mik "Just don't go vegetarian on me."
 
"My efforts to help her seem to be going nowhere, making me almost thankful for the sound of the door sliding open."
 
"Turning to see who's come through, my smile instantly turns upside down. Hisao's eyes are sunken back, his expression morbid and complexion a ghostly pale. You could be forgiven for thinking he'd just witnessed a murder."
 
his "I should not have watched that."
 
"The monotone statement is all that need be said, the boy coming to our table and sitting more like a robot than a human. I feel a little sorry for him."
 
"All I can do is scratch my head as I try to work out what to say. It's not that I don't understand how they feel - it's natural to become insulated from the reality of slaughter when the word 'meat' means a shrink-wrapped package from a deli. I've yet to meet a farmer who enjoys the process, either."
 
"I guess it's at least a reality check for them. Life on a farm isn't all frolicking about in the wilderness."
 
"After some time, dad eventually arrives with a large plate in his hands. Hisao and Suzu couldn't look less excised to eat, with the thought of one of them hurling at the sight of chicken passing my mind."
 
"As he lowers the plate onto the table, the relief that washes over all of us is palpable. Rice bowls, assorted vegetables, and some fish. Practically a repeat of breakfast, but he's likely scrounged it up in a hurry."
 
mik "You're just gonna waste that meat?"
 
jun "It'll keep. We can have it sometime later."
 
suz "Sorry to make you go through all this trouble."
 
jun "Bah, it's nothing."
 
"He quickly waves off Suzu's concern as he takes a seat, grabbing his set of food from the platter."
 
jun "Go on, eat. Kids your age need all the food you can get."
 
"Hisao manages to force a bite own after taking his food, followed by more in quick succession as his appetite returns. I have no such reluctance, taking my chopsticks in hand and starting on my fish without any reluctance."
 
"I guess you can take a city boy out of the city, but you can't make him into a country boy so quickly."
 
jun "By the way, there was one other thing."
 
"Suzu and Hisao look to each other with concern."
 
jun "After all the work you did in the fields, I thought that maybe we could hit the baths."
 
mik "Awesome!"
 
"Suzu seems nonplussed by the offer, but Hisao looks mightily interested. Today's looking up after all."
 
# Timeskip
 
mik "Aaah... This is heaven."
 
"I lean back against the wooden skirting with my elbows resting behind me, taking in the warmth of the water. Every pore of my body soaks in the heat of the bath and steam in the air. It's been way too long since I had the opportunity to do this."
 
"Water flows in via a wooden pipe mounted just a little above the water line, giving a nice ambient sound. That, and the open doors revealing a faintly moonlit sky outside, make for a relaxing atmosphere."
 
"The girl sitting next to me doesn't seem so pleased, her eyes closed as she sits next to me. Suzu always acts awkwardly in changing rooms and such, so I guess she's got a thing about being naked. Don't know why; she has a perfectly cute body down there, and the petite look's pretty in these days."
 
"I gently poke her cheek with my stump to make sure she hasn't fallen asleep on me."
 
suz "I'm awake."
 
"And there's my answer. She might open her eyes, but she still stares at the ceiling instead of looking at me."
 
mik "You know, I never asked what you think of all this."
 
suz "About the town?"
 
mik "Yeah. Hisao's enjoying himself, but I can't get a read on you."
 
suz "It's a living."
 
mik "Guess as long as you have an internet connection you're fine, right?"
 
suz "You catch on quickly."
 
suz "Hisao sure seems to be enjoying himself. Health aside."
 
mik "He's more adaptable than he looks. Sure was a surprise when he shot up that tree, eh?"
 
suz "At least you didn't bring along the others from the track club."
 
mik "Hey, they're not that bad."
 
suz "And yet, the only one you brought along was Hisao."
 
mik "And?"
 
suz "You can be so stupid sometimes."
 
suz "I'll say it straight: you're interested in him, aren't you?"
 
"The question leaves me momentarily speechless, my body sinking into the bath a bit as I try to pin down my feelings."
 
"If she puts things that way, it does look pretty suspicious. Hisao's a cool guy to hang out with, and his personality has become more interesting since I first met him. It's a little nice to look back and see that."
 
"But going out with him? I've never felt romantically attracted to anyone in the past, so I'm not sure how I'm supposed to work out if I'm falling for the guy or not. Relationships seem so constricting that I'm not sure I want to be in one in the first place. This untethered life has its advantages."
 
"I wonder if that's how he sees things, though. Now that I think about it, I never took his feelings into account."
 
mik "That sure is a gnarly question..."
 
"Suzu looks genuinely surprised that I'm mulling it over. She probably got some idea that I'd fallen for him in her head, and been running with it for a while now. It's only now that I realise she may have an ulterior motive in asking."
 
mik "Wait, are you?"
 
suz "He's a friend. Nothing more."
 
"She gets points for making herself clear, at least. It's too bad; I would have thought him to be just her type."
 
mik "I just brought him here because I thought he might enjoy it. When he said he didn't have any friends back home to spend the time with, I guess I could..."
 
mik "Damn it, what's the word...?"
 
suz "Empathise with him?"
 
mik "Yeah, that's it! I could understand how that'd feel, so I let him hang with us."
 
suz "So that's why most of this trip we've been on a tour of your childhood."
 
"So now we finally get to the heart of the topic. She thinks I've been showing Hisao my past out of affection."
 
"I guess I have been somewhat selfish in how I've been dragging them around with me whereever I wanted to go."
 
suz "Don't worry about me or Hisao. If you have past debts to settle, go ahead and deal with them."
 
mik "You make it sound like I have baggage."
 
suz "Not a person alive who doesn't."
 
"I guess that makes one person in the world who knows the carefree life I live in Yamaku isn't completely truthful. Even I thought I had my shit together, but it turns out life isn't always so simple."
 
mik "Thanks. Suzu. I probably don't say this enough, but I'm glad to have you around."
 
"I wait for a reply, but the only sound to be heard is water trickling in."
 
"I give Suzu another bump on the cheek with my stump, but this time, no reaction is forthcoming."
 
"Well, I guess staying in for a few more minutes wouldn't hurt."
 
END CHAPTER 4
 
 
"A gentle breeze flows through my hair as I stand where I'd spent so much of my childhood."
 
"It's a sorry excuse for a baseball pitch, I suppose. Not much more than a disused field near the school, covered in dirt and tan gravel. The only sign of what it was ever used for are the barely visible white lines on the ground, and a couple of benches to the side."
 
"The batting stance is still second nature after all these years, a reasonably straight branch serving as a makeshift bat as I prepare for the pitch. The beat-up pitching machine before me stands silent, ready to spit a ball at me at any second."
 
"A heavy clunk sends the entire machine shuddering on its legs, the ball sent flying towards me at a relatively easy speed."
 
"The familiar feeling of impact flows through my arm, my entire body twisting as I give a good, solid hit."
 
"The ball flies up, arcing into the sky..."
 
"...Before giving up, pathetically dropping back down near second base. It gives a soft thud as it hits the ground, all energy lost as it barely even rolls before coming to a halt."
 
"Worthless. Utterly shit. I knew I shouldn't have tried."
 
"Infuriated, I slam the stick against the ground, breaking it in half without even trying. The spike of adrenaline in my system spurrs me into flinging the half still in my hand into the air in a rage, sending it flying far further than the ball ever got."
 
"Far from satisfied, I walk over to the pitching machine and give it a strong kick. the old thing falls to the ground with a loud clatter, but I'm sure it still works just fine. It's managed to survive so damn long that I probably couldn't kill it no matter how much I abused the thing."
 
"The destruction at least lets me vent off a bit of steam, leaving me standing around frustrated and empty-handed. For lack of anything else to do, I give up and let myself fall back onto the ground with a thud. It hurts a bit to land on the gravel, but I don't care."
 
"This is why being left to myself is always trouble; my mind wanders into troublesome places. Looking at the impossibly vast blue sky above, I'm left to wonder what I really expected from coming out here."
 
"Baseball's supposed to be played with both hands still attached to their wrists, after all. It's pathetic - I can't even get a clean hit past the bases, let alone aim in any meaningful way. It's obvious time wouldn't change that, but something in my head kept whispering to me. Urging me to try just once, for old time's sake."
 
"I guess that part of my head can shut up, now."
 
"As I stare up at the sky, a face cast in shadow looms over me."
 
his "Hey."
 
mik "'Sup. What're you doing here?"
 
his "Just wanted to see what you were up to, after how you disappeared."
 
mik "Suzu with you?"
 
his "Nah, she's napping. At least, she was when I left."
 
"I wonder how much he saw. Then again, it doesn't really matter. Being at a baseball field is plenty enough to understand, much less the pitching machine lying near me."
 
"Hisao briefly looks up to see what I was staring at."
 
his "That sure is a sky."
 
mik "Smartass."
 
mik "...Did you take dad's bike up here?"
 
his "Yeah. Why?"
 
mik "You sure you're okay to bike this far? After yesterday and all."
 
his "I'm fine, don't worry about it."
 
"Hisao steps back, the tone of his voice telling me that I've hit a landmine. He really doesn't like talking about his heart condition."
 
"I pull myself to my feet in response, dusting off my hair and the back of my shirt afterwards."
 
mik "You don't need to be like that. Everyone's got their share of problems to deal with, you know."
 
"My stomach chooses now of all times to growl loudly. Farting around at midday may have been a mistake. Hiso just grimaces."
 
his "You don't say."
 
# Timeskip
 
"While some things might be the same, there are a few oddities that have popped up since I left. This place is one of them."
 
"It's the kind of eatery that wants to be a restaurant, but can't help feeling more like a cafe. While the owner seems to be making a genuine effort at making their dream come true in owning their own little restaurant, their budget - and likely their customer base - is lacking."
 
"But the food is what counts, and as the owner places a bowl of tempura soba before each of us, the smell is enough to know this is going to be good."
 
"I split my chopsticks and grab at the tempura, taking a good chunk out of it as the noodles steam away. Hisao, on the other hand, simply blows on his bowl with the tempura still in it."
 
mik "C'mon man, what're you doing?"
 
his "What do you mean?"
 
mik "You're just gonna let it get all soggy?"
 
his "It's called 'letting it soak in the broth'. It tastes better."
 
mik "'Making a soggy mess in your noodles', more like."
 
"He just shrugs before idly looking about while his meal cools."
 
his "You know, there is something I've noticed about this town."
 
mik "Yeah?"
 
"I lean in, interested to hear his views on it."
 
his "I think saying it's a town is being too generous. It's definitely a village."
 
mik "Come on, really?"
 
his "The 'town centre' you wanted to show us before is one street!"
 
mik "So?"
 
his "A small street! I can count the number of shops on one hand!"
 
mik "Alright, fine, geez. We can't all come from the big smoke."
 
mik "Still a town."
 
"He just snorts as I mumble a last rebuke."
 
his "So why were you playing Godzilla in the baseball field, anyway?"
 
"And there it is. I guess I should've paid more attention to my surroundings before losing my temper."
 
"The two of us are briefly distracted by an impromptue visitor, with a dishevelled stray cat strolling past us as if it owned the place. It eventually hops up onto the sill of an open window, flicking its tail for a few moments before hopping down."
 
"Hisao just smiles, which at least lightens my own mood a little."
 
mik "I guess I just couldn't admit that it was over."
 
his "I had no idea you were so into baseball. Were you good?"
 
mik "Boy, I was the cleanup hitter. Slammed that thing harder than any of 'em could."
 
his "You must've been pretty talented."
 
mik "'Talent' is how lazy people justify being bad at something."
 
mik "I worked my god damn ass off to get that good. I lived and breathed baseball. Followed the leagues, had my favourite players, watched it on the little television even when the reception was shit. I put blood, sweat, and tears into it, all to run for the base just a second or so quicker, and hit the ball just a that few more yards."
 
mik "It was my thing, you know? I had purpose. I could always aim to be that little bit better every day. I never felt lost in life, because I could see the path ahead so clearly. I was going to devote myself to becoming the best there was, whether I was a boy or a girl."
 
mik "And then... the accident happened."
 
his "That must've been hard."
 
"I just shrug, making him lift a brow."
 
mik "It's kind of weird. Losing my hand in itself was a pain the the ass, of course. Found the physical therapy easier than most do, but that isn't really saying much."
 
mik "But the hardest thing to accept, was that I'd reached my peak. I'd reached the top of my personal Everest, and could only ever see lower mountains before me. My life would be all downhill from there."
 
mik "What do you do after you've reached the top, Hisao? In all these years, I've never found an answer."
 
mik "Sorry. I'm using you as a scratching post, aren't I?"
 
his "If I had an answer for that, I'd tell you. I'd sure like to know that myself."
 
mik "...Hisao?"
 
"He gets up from his chair, his meal finished save for some broth left sitting in the bowl."
 
his "Let's go. I'm sure the others are waiting for us to get back."
 
# Timeskip
 
"As soon as we walk in the door, bikes left propped against the wall, I can hear the voices of Suzu and dad from the living room. Wondering what they'd have to talk about, Hisao and I head towards the source."
 
"I groan the moment he slides open the door. The two sit at the table with an old leather-bound album opened in its centre, Suzu peering over to see this photo and that."
 
mik "Do you have to show them that...?"
 
jun "I don't get to do this often, you know."
 
"Resigned to my fate, I follow Hisao to the table. Everyone crowds around to get the best view as dad sits to the side."
 
"Having progressed past the baby photos and elementary school, it sits at the years I was in junior high. A school photo takes up most of the page, with a few elementary students sitting on chairs as about fourteen junior highschoolers - me included - stand behind them in our summer uniforms."
 
suz "I like the outfit."
 
"She points to the back row, the girls clad in our black-trimmed white sailor tops and long black skirts, and the boys in their smart white shirts. I don't mind the look, though they tended to get dirty pretty fast."
 
suz "Was this seriously the whole school?"
 
jun "Sure was. One class for elementary students, another for junior high. The teachers were good folks, despite whatever Miki's said."
 
his "That's you, isn't it?"
 
"He points to a girl in the back row, grinning away happily."
 
mik "How'd you know?"
 
"Dad chuckles as he turns the page, but the corner of his mouth tugs downwards upon catching sight of the next photo."
 
"Ten boys and a girl, all of us dressed in identical pinstrip baseball outfits. A lot less formal than the classroom photo, some have arms around those next to them, while others pull faces. One of my better friends at the time grabs me in close around my neck as I hold my trusty bat over my shoulder. Our ponytailed coach simply stands by us, smiling with pride at the team he worked so hard to raise."
 
"Every one of us was a friend to each other. We had fights of course, as friends sometimes do. As we got older, those fights sometimes ended up with real injuries, too. Given a focus for our youthful energy, we all poured ourselves into the sport, trying to be the best junior team there was."
 
"The last few months of my life here saw that wonderful life crumble before my eyes."
 
"I notice Hisao looking sidelong at me. Without knowing quite how to react, I just look away."
 
suz "So this is the baseball club you were in."
 
suz "Wait, you were the only girl?"
 
mik "Yeah. Why?"
 
suz "A lot of things about you suddenly made a lot of sense..."
 
his "It's kind of hard to even recognise you, given you're all wearing the same stuff."
 
mik "Puberty sure took a whack at me didn't it?"
 
"Hisao's constant attempts to be tactful make it all too tempting to tease him."
 
suz "What happened to them? Are they still around?"
 
jun "They left for the city. Happens a lot, these days."
 
his "I heard about that. Lots of rural places having problems with the younger generations moving out, without people replacing them."
 
jun "That's exactly it. The way I see it, there's not much of a future in places like this."
 
suz "That must be frustrating."
 
jun "Frustrating? Nah. Some of the older folks 'round here have Opinions when it comes to today's kids, but I don't hold it against 'em."
 
jun "You two would know better than most how inviting city life must be. 'Convenient' was the word they used when they described it after leaving."
 
suz "But still, this is your home."
 
jun "It might be a home, but it's also a business. Gotta make money to live, after all."
 
jun "When you're up against those gigantic agriculture corporations, little family farms like this one don't stand much of a chance. It's the same story for all the farms here, whether the old coots admit it or not."
 
jun "While it used to be a vibrant, lively place, I can't help but feel the town's not much more than a museum piece these days. Don't know if it'll take years or decades, but eventually this way of life just isn't going to exist any more."
 
suz "I'm sorry for bringing it up."
 
jun "Don't be. Change happens, I know that. Ain't a good thing or a bad one. It's just the way things go."
 
jun "But even so... I guess it does feel a little bit sad."
 
"Hisao and Suzu appear to take him at his word, but I know something else lies behind those tired eyes. A wound that never truly healed."
 
"With that, he solemnly closes the album."
 
# Timeskip
 
"Once again, I find myself sitting on the porch in the cool nighttime air. I suppose it's natural to want some time alone when surrounded by people the entire day, even if it does mean getting less sleep."
 
"I look down at the photo held in my lap once more. Eleven happy kids, beaming at the camera. A girl with a bat, and a toothy smile."
 
his "You're up late."
 
"He takes a seat beside me, plopping himself down with a grunt. My first instinct is to hide the photo, but the question of where I possibly could puts a stop to that."
 
mik "Become a bit of a nightly rendevous, huh?"
 
his "Purely by accident, I swear."
 
mik "You're not just feeling randy again?"
 
his "So this is what I get for being worried about you. That's harsh."
 
"We both chuckle, though it ends as Hisao looks down at the picture in my hand. I doubt he picked up on dad's feelings, but my moaning beforehand probably stuck with him."
 
his "It's a nice photo."
 
his "You know, I was surprised not to see more baseball stuff around your house when I arrived."
 
mik "Not much reason to keep that stuff. It only ever reminded me of what I lost, so I threw it all away."
 
"I hold the photo up a little."
 
mik "You know... I tried to get rid of this, too. I scavanged a cigarette lighter, and had the photo right there."
 
mik "I just hated it. It was the last record of everything that was taken away from me; my friends, my hobby, my dreams."
 
mik "I wanted to get rid of it so much, but..."
 
his "...it's hard to truly let go."
 
"With the words stolen from my mouth, I silently look to the boy sitting next to me. He looks like an old man, the weary smile on his face making my heart sting a little."
 
mik "You..."
 
his "The letter you saw, from Iwanako?"
 
his "I couldn't bring myself to throw it out. Scrunched it up and threw it into the bin, but I ended up just digging it back out."
 
mik "But she broke up with you. What's the point in keeping something like that?"
 
his "Because it proves those times existed. Just because she broke up with me, it doesn't mean the times we had before that went away."
 
his "It's not just her, either. Ever since I saw the nostalgia on your face, I guess I felt sort of the same thing as I thought back to my childhood."
 
his "I know it's not the same as baseball was to you, but I never appreciated how much soccer practice meant to me until I lost it. Just getting together with friends every week to kick a ball around. It sounds so trivial, doesn't it?"
 
"He leans back and closes his eyes, his mind obviously in another place."
 
his "Messing around at arcades with friends. Gazing at cute girls. Sneaking peeks at dirty magazines in convenience stores. Riding bikes around the city. Covertly exchanging notes with friends during class. Hoping for a good mark as each new test rolled around."
 
his "And then sitting alone in a hospital bed, smelling bleach and staring at four sterile white walls."
 
mik "What happened to them? Your friends, that is."
 
his "They visited damn near every day at first, All of us chatting away as they kept me up to date on what was happening at school and at soccer."
 
his "Then it became once every few days. Then once a week. As time went on, we stopped talking so much. None of us outright said it, but it was pretty obvious I was moving further and further from ym circle of friends. They were living lives full of new experiences every day, while I just saw the occasional new patient wheeled into the room every so often."
 
his "Then finally, one day... they stopped coming at all."
 
his "I guess they got bored of me."
 
mik "How can you say that so easily?"
 
his "Hmm... probably because I knew it was coming. It was the same for Iwanako, as well. A long, slow fade to nothing, rather than any kind of dramatic breakup."
 
his "I suppose that's why I couldn't throw out that letter. It'd be easy to say my life got reset when I started at Yamaku, but that'd be a lie."
 
his "I lived. It was a good life, too. Even if I can't return to those times any more, I think I want to remember them."
 
mik "And that's what you wanted to say to me before."
 
his "Pretty much. I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. I kinda get what you're going through."
 
"I did come here to show Hisao and Suzu what country life was like, but in the process, I got completely distracted by the relics of my old life. Here I was thinking about myself, while Hisao was there going through all the same shit."
 
"Only now do I realise what made me notice him in the first place after he transferred in. That feeling of connection, of sharing something, that was always in the background."
 
"'You're not alone'. Those three words are enough to make a lump form in my throat. I take a deep breath to try and steady myself."
 
mik "Man... what the hell?"
 
mik "I thought I had all my shit together, and then you go and drop that on me."
 
"I just sigh and smile at him, clearing my thoughts as I do."
 
mik "Thanks. That means a lot."
 
"He just smiles, the two of us looking up into the night sky."
 
END CHAPTER 5
 
 
"A stick loudly snaps as I move through the undergrowth, roots and fallen branches beneath my feet, and the forest's green summertime leaves hanging overhead."
 
"No less noisy as we carry ourselves up past the foothills is Hisao, walking a couple of yards behind to let me navigate the barely visible path. Each of us uses a hastily-found stick as a trekking pole, which has helped us make pretty good progress up the hill so far."
 
"I'm reasonably confident that said progress has been in the right direction. Nothing more than a trail of worn ground from previous travellers, the path we follow has very nearly faded back into the bushes and leaves thanks to nobody coming through here for so long."
 
"Our movement disturbs a bird who'd been resting in a low branch, annoyed chirping ringing out with a slight echo as it flutters past us."
 
his "You sure it's alright not to ask Suzu to come along?"
 
mik "She's probably going to sleep for ages, and besides, can you really imagine her wanting to do this?"
 
his "...Good point."
 
"The two of us continue walking, looking at this and that as we move. It doesn't look like this pace is too hard for Hisao, as he isn't showing any signs of slowing."
 
"This reminds me a lot of jogging around the track at Yamaku, come to think of it. Pushing myself onwards, with a feeling of accomplishment coming from the fatigue. The humidity is also pretty nice, with the moisture in the air trapped beneath the canopy."
 
mik "Say, have you ever done this before? Hiking, camping, seeing the great outdoors?"
 
his "Sure. Not really my thing, but I've done it."
 
mik "Wait, really? I thought you were some super urban kind of kid."
 
his "There are these things called cars, and trains for that matter. They can take you out of the city."
 
his "Let's see... I've been around Hakone a couple of times on family trips. Nice place for relaxing in a hot spring after a day of hiking, actually. Had a flight down to Okinawa once, as well."
 
mik "You've flown? That's awesome!"
 
his "It's not that unusual these days."
 
mik "What's it like? C'mon, tell me."
 
"Taken off guard by my enthusiasm, he struggles a little to get his words together."
 
his "That's actually kinda hard to answer."
 
his "There's a lot of waiting around, for one. Waiting in lines, waiting at the terminal, waiting at the gate, waiting for takeoff."
 
his "Then once you're in the air, you're really just siitting in a metal tube for a few hours. Your ears go all funny from the changing pressure, and your eyes dry out from the recirculated air. The food's pretty miserable, too."
 
his "And don't get me started on crying kids, or being stuck next to some chatty person for ages when you just want to watch an inflight movie or look out the window."
 
mik "Huh. So it's not all that great, then."
 
his "It's incredibly cool. Despite all that, it still manages to be fantastic."
 
"Hisao sounds really keyed up about it. Not that I don't understand; just the idea of a massive machine lifting hundreds of people into the sky and putting them back down again blows my mind."
 
mik "So you'd be up for a sixteen hour flight to the Big Apple?
 
his "...Maybe it's not that cool."
 
"My smile drops as I remember what part of the hike we're nearing. Sure enough, the next few yards mean walking along a particularly narrow ridge running alongside a steep drop. It'd be damn near suicidal in bad weather, as you'd be a goner if you slipped."
 
"I reflexively step back as a familiar dropping feeling inside my gut comes over me. Hisao steps alongside, putting a hand on my shoulder to steady me as he peers over. The bastard doesn't look phased by the sight at all."
 
his "Maybe a plane trip wouldn't be the best idea for someone like you."
 
mik "Just shut up and let me focus."
 
"I pull my shoulder from his grasp and force myself to continue walking, doing my best not to look down. So what if I don't like heights; it's not that uncommon, right?"
 
"My legs and arms are tense as I gingerly place step after step, every bit of my mental strength focused on keeping my eyes pinned forwards. Hisao, thankfully, keeps his mouth shut and lets me take this at my own pace."
 
"This is fine. I can do this. Just one foot ahead of the other."
 
"I breath a sigh of relief as the path winds back away from the ledge, taking a few gasps of air as I lean against the trunk of a large tree and wait for Hisao to catch up."
 
"He flashes a smile at me once he does, the two of us continuing on."
 
"The slowly rising angle we have to walk up does nothing to stop the wildlife, the undergrowth around us getting thicker if anything. The odd squark and cry from this bird or that can be heard, and the shaking of a bush here and there reminds us that we're far from alone."
 
"Noticing that Hisao's footsteps have stopped, I look back to see what's holding him up. Turns out he's paused to look at a lizard sunbathing on the side of a rock."
 
"Looking slightly embarrassed at my having noticed him, he quickly falls in behind me once more."
 
his "Are you sure you know where we're going?"
 
mik "How long have I lived here? Of course I know the way."
 
his "If you say so. I know i said I hiked before, but there aren't any paths at all."
 
mik "There are, you just need to know where to look."
 
"My confidence seems to settle him down, and if we're where I think we are, it shouldn't take long to prove my case."
 
"Sure enough, in the distance I can see sunlight breaking through the line of trees. Just a little further, and we should reach the spot."
 
"Emerging from the forest into the clearing, Hisao and I stop side by side to take in the sight. A couple of fallen logs stripped of their branches and laid either side of a stone campfire pit lay in the center, with an old tire hung from a branch by a fraying rope to the side."
 
"Near my feet sits a faded 'keep out' sign, the pole attached to it having come out of the ground during some storm or another. We probably didn't follow building standards all that well when we hammered it into the ground."
 
"A few other bits and pieces we dragged up here to make the place feel a little more like our own lie strewn about, though most have been blown away or stolen."
 
"Still, I'm kind of impressed this much is left. A little testament to our friendship, still surviving so long after we left."
 
his "I'm guessing you had a hand in this?"
 
mik "Sure did. Used to be more impressive, but the fact anything's still here is a bit of a surprise."
 
mik "Now do you trust that I know my way around?"
 
his "Alright, you win. Let's eat."
 
"Sound like a solid plan. Hisao goes to one log as I walk to the other, propping my trusty stick against it and undoing the zip to my backback and rifling around for the rice balls I packed. Managing to grasp the small bag they're in with the tips of my fingers, I pull them out as I take a seat."
 
"Hisao unclips the bag slung around his shoulder, lifting the flap and grabbing a bottle filled with water. I'm glad to have a chance to rest my legs, but it's Hisao I'm more worried about. Now that he's seated, that terrible wheeze he sometimes gets has returned."
 
mik "Doing okay? You look pretty beat."
 
"He takes a big gulp of water before answering, wiping his mouth with his sleeve."
 
his "Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed a breather."
 
"I almost offer if he'd prefer to turn back after we're done here, but think better of it. He'd just say we should keep going, regardless of whether he was having chest problems or not."
 
"It worries me, but it also makes me admire him a little. It's easy to be all gung-ho when you're a fit peson in the prime of your life, but Hisao pushes himself hard all the time despite his condition, both around here and on the track at Yamaku."
 
"Maybe that's why he's such a balanced person. After all, he has a good, sensible head on his shoulders, is reasonably fit given everything that's happened to him, and is smart enough to be Mutou's pet in class. He might be a bit awkward socially, but at least he tries to be outgoing."
 
"Just an all-round good kid, really. Too bad that doesn't mean shit when life decides to screw you over."
 
his "Any good?"
 
mik "Hmm?"
 
his "The rice balls."
 
mik "Oh, right. Guess they're okay."
 
his "Did you make them, or what?"
 
mik "Yeah. It's kinda hard to mess up rice balls, though."
 
his "True."
 
"Well, there is one thing about him I don't like; that tendency of his to so visibly think about what he wants to say. The topic of cooking's put something into his head, but he won't come out with it."
 
mik "What's up?"
 
his "I was trying to put this tactfully, but I guess that's unnecessary when it comes to you."
 
"I give a disarming smile at his attitude. He takes it as permission to go on."
 
his "Is your mother, uh..."
 
"Oh, it's just that. I probably should have said something about it to him before it became the elephant in the room."
 
"COme to think of it, I wonder how long that's been on his mind, and Suzu's for that matter. Don't tell me he's been trying to ask me about that for the entire time he's been here..."
 
mik "Man, you don't need to pussyfoot around that stuff."
 
mik "It's not much of a story, to be honest. My mother ditched me and dad when I was really young. About three years old, I think."
 
his "She just left?"
 
mik "Yep, up and left. Got her stuff, walked out the door, and that was the last either of us ever saw or heard of her again."
 
his "Geez. That's rough."
 
"I just shrug. It is what it is. Not like I was old enough to understand what was going on, or even to really remember the event in the first place."
 
"Leaning forwards with my arm outstretched to offer some rice balls to Hisao, he takes a couple and starts grazing on them."
 
his "Do you ever wonder where she is now? Whether you might be able to contact her somehow?"
 
mik "She could be dead in a ditch for all I care. Why would I give a shit about someone who abandoned their own baby and left her husband heartbroken?"
 
"I don't have any trace of anger in my voice, but the idea obviously puts Hisao off. I don't blame him; I've long since come to accept that my situation is different to the vast majority of people out there. That's not their fault, nor mine."
 
his "You might have a half-sister or half-brother, though."
 
"That's not a terrible argument, but I already know my answer."
 
mik "I guess I've never put that much weight on blood ties."
 
mik "Having a sister would've been kinda nice, though. A younger one, so I could dote on her and be the cool older sis."
 
his "Yeah, I could see that."
 
mik "What about you? Only child, right?"
 
his "Yeah, no sisters or brothers for me."
 
his "I dunno, I think I'm pretty okay with it. I'm good with kids, but I don't know about growing up beside one."
 
mik "So you're the fatherly type, huh?"
 
his "I could see myself with kids, yeah. Having a family would be good."
 
his "What's with that face?"
 
mik "Were you born forty years old?"
 
his "Some of us can look further into the future than the next meal, you know."
 
"I just laugh. He's not wrong, really."
 
"Finishing his last rice ball and putting away his bottle, Hisao clips up his bag and takes to his feet, collecting his trekking pole before walking over and offering me a hand up."
 
his "Good to go?"
 
mik "You know it."
 
# Timeskip
 
"The trek takes its toll on our legs as we push ourselves along, the incline up the hill now quite severe. Not only that, but the overgrown roots sticking out of the ground and uneven rocks leading upwards force us to be careful that we don't break or twist an ankle."
 
"It's painful, but not all pain is bad. From the way Hisao's holding onto his waist, it looks like he's in more pain than I, having developed a stitch. Better that than a heart problem, I suppose."
 
his "How... far is it... to go?"
 
mik "Stop whining, you big baby."
 
his "That's easy... for you to say."
 
"Hisao pushes himself a little harder after I've scolded him, despite what he says. At least his awkwardness about being beat out physically by a girl has finally disappeared."
 
"More and more rays of sunshine manage to peek through the leaves overhead, casting spots of light on the lush green bushes around us."
 
"My heart is beginning to beat faster and faster, but it isn't from exhaustion. We're so nearly there. Just a little further now."
 
"The look of the area's changed a fair bit from when I was last in this spot, but that's only natural given the surroundings dying off and regrowing. Something about it feels familiar, though. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's there."
 
"The feeling of tiredness in my muscles slowly begins to fade from my mind, as do the sounds of the birds and other wildlife. Dropping my makeshift pole, it takes some effort not to run the last of the distance, anticipation filling my body."
 
"Sunlight assaults my eyes as I emerge through the treeline, forcing me to squint heavily. As my eyes adjust, the sight before me is just as tremendous as I'd hoped."
 
"I hear Hisao come up behind me, gasping wordlessly at the view."
 
"From where we stand, the entire town can be seen below. The breeze brushes past us as we stand and stare, taking in the vast fields and the narrow roads between them. Old wooden farmhouses, some newely restored, others run-down from old age. The river cutting through the valley, acting as a vital artery to the entire town. Telephone poles with wires hanging loosely, running alongside the streets."
 
"I can't help but give a whistful smile as I turn back to Hisao."
 
mik "Welcome to my home, Hisao."
 
mik "My entire life is down there, you know. Where I was born, where I played and where I went to school. Where I found a dream, and had it dashed. Where I made friends, and lost friends. It might not be much, but it's mine."
 
"I take a long breath to steady myself. It's not often I get emotional, but after so long, I just can't help it."
 
mik "This is why I brought you here, Hisao. I did get kinda wrapped up in my own nostalgia for the place, but in the end, we managed to get here."
 
"I bring my arms out wide before letting them fall back to my sides."
 
mik "This is me."
 
"Hisao just looks wordlessly at my smiling face, before letting himself fall to the ground with a thud. Completely exhausted, he just sits with his hands on the ground behind him, looking into my eyes as he pants and sweats heavily."
 
"Now that I think of it, I must look a total mess right now, too. Sweat's all over me, and I can feel a couple of hairs stuck to my face. That fact quickly becomes unimportant as I look into Hisao's eyes, suddenly noticing something different inside of them."
 
his "I can't take this any more! You win already!"
 
mik "Huh? What're you goin' on about?"
 
"He pauses to take some much-needed air, before looking to me with a face full of both exhaustion and... a warmth that I've never seen him have before."
 
his "I love you, Miki."
 
"My heart stops. No, it would be more correct to say the whole world around me stops."
 
"With me taken completely by surprise, it's Hisao who fills the silence."
 
his "I've completely fallen for you. I don't know if this can go anywhere, but I can't take this any longer."
 
his "You've shown me so much, that I feel like a child seeing the world for the first time all over again. I want to keep on seeing new things, too."
 
his "And I want to see them with you, together."
 
"Questions slowly begin to fill my mind. How long has he liked me? What should I say? What do I do? Should I have noticed his feelings before now? We had a good thing going with our friendship, but could we ever go back to it now?"
 
"But somehow... none of those questions really seem to matter. All that I can think about, is the boy sitting before me, eyes full of weariness, hope, and love. Nobody's ever looked at me with such a face before."
 
"So that's Hisao's judgement, after seeing all this. I showed him everything, and what he felt from that, was love."
 
"It's kinda funny. So much so that I start laughing. I don't really know why it's funny at all, but it just so seems inexplicably hilarious that I can't stop. Hisao just looks up at me luke a buffoon, unable to interpret my response at all."
 
"I take a deep breath to collect myself, smiling down at him."
 
mik "You sure make a terrible Romeo."
 
"He just hangs his head at the quip. He might not exactly be the most poetic type, nor the most manly in sweeping me off my feet... but that's fine. For good or bad, he's Hisao."
 
"I offer him a hand, which he takes as he levers himself back up."
 
"With the two of us side by side on the peak of the hill overlooking the town, I sling my arm around his neck."
 
mik "'Together', huh?"
 
mik "That doesn't sound so bad when you say it."
 
 
END CHAPTER 6
 
"Nothing gets me going like a good sprint. One foot htting the ground quickly after the other, the buildings and plants around me seem to fly past. My breaths short but measured as I throw myself forwards with glee."
 
"Guard" "Stop! I'm telling you, stop right there!"
 
mik "Ah ha ha ha ha!"
 
"I can't help but laugh at the fool. There's no way that old man could outrun someone like me, no matter how carefully ironed his poncy uniform is. He looks more like an office worker than security, not that it's easy to see him in this darkness."
 
"To his credit, he is managing to keep up, going by the circle of torchlight swinging to and fro on the ground just before me as he frantically gives chase."
 
"One problem with living in the country is that if you miss one train, the effect ripples down as you end up missing the next few connections as well. By the time we finally got back to Yamaku, it was well past curfew."
 
"Not that I mind. After all, I'm having the time of my life right now."
 
"The plus side to the nighttime darkness that's fallen over the school grounds is that it's trivial to sneak in. With me acting as a decoy to draw the guard away, Hisao and Suzu should be well on their way to their respective dormitory buildings by now."
 
"The security guard yells out some more, but it only makes me go faster. My hair and shirt billow in the wind as I run through the grounds, the night air feeling wonderfully refreshing against my skin as I move."
 
"Hello again, Yamaku."
 
# Timeskip
 
har "Yo, Miki."
 
"Haru raises a hand in greeting as he notices me walking down the hallway towards class."
 
mik "Hey. Unusual to see you here so early."
 
har "Had plenty of time to recharge over the holidays, after all. Ready and rearing to go."
 
mik "Didn't you work in your family's bakery? How's that gonna recharge you?"
 
har "Baking is fun, you know. Besides, it's not like I worked for free."
 
"He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out his smart brown wallet. The number of bills he pulls out makes my heart skip a beat."
 
mik "Dude..."
 
har "This is what it's all about, girl. Fat stacks."
 
mik "Gimme. Gimme, gimme. I want to touch it."
 
"He gingerly hands it over, my hands instinctively snatching the wad of cash from his fingers."
 
"So this is what it feels like to be rich. I rub the notes between my fingers, taking in their texture before bringing them underneath my nose and taking a whiff."
 
mik "Smells like... capitalism."
 
har "And part of capitalism is paying the worker, so give me that back."
 
"I frown as I dutifully hand him back his money. That was probably the most cash I've ever held in my hands at once."
 
mik "Sounds like you enjoyed yourself, at least."
 
har "Sure did. You didn't kill Hisao and Suzu, did you?"
 
mik "Haha, nah. They're still kicking around."
 
"As we walk into the classroom, my point is made for me. Suzu sits at her desk while Hisao talks to her while standing in front of it. Everything really is back to normal."
 
"Giving a hearty stretch, in part from lack of sleep, I walk over to the two as Haru takes a seat."
 
suz "So you managed to avoid the guard, then?"
 
mik "C'mon, who do you take me for?"
 
his "Thanks for doing that, anyway. We'd have all been screwed if you didn't draw him away."
 
mik "Eh, it was a nice run."
 
mik "And besides, it's kinda hard to refuse you, now."
 
"He just smiles and scratches his head. If I really wanted to torture him, I'd give him a big ol' kiss in front of the class, but I'll save him the embarrassment. For now."
 
"Suzu just gives a sigh as she starts getting her things out for the day ahead."
 
his "I probably should have asked, but are you okay with this, Suzu?"
 
suz "It's not up to me."
 
suz "Besides, I largely expected it. I just hope the influence you have over one another runs in one particular direction more than the other."
 
"I stick my tongue out at the cheeky girl. I'm glad she doesn't seem to mind, though it would probably be best not to be too touchy feely around her, going by her reactions to it."
 
"As we talk, I look back to see Mutou striding into class, the day's teaching material held under his arm. As good as catching up with others might be, I suppose school wouldn't be school without the pain of classes."
 
"As he deposits his folders and books on the desk, Mutou's head perks up as he notices that I'm here."
 
mut "Ah, Miura. Good morning."
 
mik "Mornin'. All rested up after the holidays?"
 
mut "Teachers don't get holidays."
 
mik "Seriously?"
 
mut "We take training, mark tests, and prepare lesson plans the next semester. As much as I'd like to rest, there isn't much time for it."
 
mik "That's terrible. How can anyone live like that?"
 
mut "It's the life I chose, so it's not that bad."
 
mut "You seem quite tired, though. Not enough sleep?"
 
mik "Ah ha, yeah. Got to sleep pretty late last night."
 
"He doesn't say a word, content to simply stare at me intently. I keep smiling, but I know damn well that I just dug my own grave."
 
mik "Shit..."
 
# Timeskip
 
mik "Shit damn bloody shit."
 
his "Swearing's just going to get you more detention if a teacher hears you."
 
"I continue grumbling under my breath as we walk, both of us loaded down with thick textbooks as we walk down the hallway to the library, the sounds of people outside enjoying their lunch break making this all the more dreary."
 
"In the end, there just aren't that many girls here brazen enough to try outrunning the security guard at night, let alone doing it while laughing maniacally. Waltzing into Mutou's trap didn't help my case, either."
 
"At least I'm not alone in my punishment, with Hisao having volunteered to take a load down there as well."
 
mik "Thanks for offering to help me with these."
 
his "To be honest, that was just because I was going to the library anyway."
 
mik "Nerd."
 
"I keep watching him as we walk, losing my self-awareness a little as I do."
 
his "Is there something on my face?"
 
mik "I was just wondering how I ended up going out with a dork like you."
 
his "What about me? A dedicated student hanging around a total delinquent's not a good look."
 
"I bump him with my hip, earning a sigh. He might have roped me into a relationship, but I'm not gonna make it easy for him."
 
"Walking into the library, it looks just as it always has. Students quietly read away, with the odd sign that this is unmistkably Yamaku lying around, like the cane propped against a desk, or braille book being scanned over by the fingers of a pretty blonde."
 
"Hanako, as always is just visible in her little corner, burying her face in some novel or another while she sits on that big beanbag of hers. It's too bad the couple of times I tried to get closer to her failed so utterly."
 
"Hisao quietly calls out that we've come with the textbooks, given that nobody's behind the counter to take them. Before I suggest we just dump them for the staff to sort out, a loud thump from under the counter gives us both a jump."
 
"Yuuko slowly emerges from the ground, rubbing her sore head as she stands. The poor girl never seems to have very much luck."
 
his "That sounded bad."
 
yuk "That's the second time today..."
 
mik "Maybe you should start wearing a helmet."
 
"The quip doesn't go over well, the librarian becoming even more depressed. I feel like I just kicked a puppy."
 
"Having had enough of standing around with this weight in my arm, I sit the pile on the counter. Hisao quickly does the same, putting his stack beside mine."
 
yuk "Ah, these are the ones Mutou borrowed for class?"
 
his "Yeah. They should all be accounted for."
 
"As Yuuko begins to count up the books, my interest in staying here starts rapidly dropping, my eyes drawn towards the door. The fact doesn't escape Hisao."
 
his "You could show at least try to hide your lack of interest."
 
mik "I can't help it, I'm allergic to paper."
 
his "Oh really?"
 
mik "Yes, really. I break out in a rash. The only cure..."
 
"I shuffle a couple of steps towards the door."
 
mik "...is to go..."
 
"A couple more steps. I've nearly managed to escape."
 
mik "...Outside."
 
"I feel the tips of Hisao's fingers brush against my arm, but I slip from his grasp and slide out the door. I'm finally free."
 
# Timeskip
 
"Wandering past the trees to the track, all the usual suspects are hanging around. Emi and the track captain pelt around at high speed, as if they had any other speed they go at, while most of the others are stretching and chatting between themselves."
 
"As much as I'd like to call this familiar scene home, it's only going to last a few more months. When that time comes, this will all be gone, just like my life at the farm."
 
"Not wanting to get caught up in my angst, I give a big stretch to try and ward off my tiredness before walking across the track and up to the assorted club members."
 
mik "Yo."
 
yuk "I was wondering when you'd show up here again."
 
mik "Is that in a good way, or a bad way?"
 
yuk "Guess."
 
har "Can't you two get along just for a single day after the holidays?"
 
mik "It's his fault."
 
yuk "What? No it's not."
 
har "Now, now, children. Stop fighting."
 
mik "Fine. Too tired for this shit, anyway."
 
yuk "Tried to keep your holiday going a bit too long?"
 
mik "Something like that. I think I need a holiday just to recover from my holiday."
 
har "A lot happened, then?"
 
mik "You have no idea."
 
"Yukio's gaze shifts over my shoulder. Turning to see what's taken his attention, I see Hisao striding up. Guess he got bored of his precious books."
 
mik "Speak of the devil."
 
his "Hey, guys."
 
yuk "You managed to survive, then?"
 
mik "Why does everyone say that?"
 
his "After what happened? They're not exactly wrong to wonder."
 
har "Can't leave us hanging, man. What's the story?"
 
his "Uh, well..."
 
"He looks to me with a slightly questioning face, as if asking how best to break the news. It turns to a look of concern as the corners of my mouth curl upwards."
 
"I grab his tie with my hand, yanking his face towards mine. Our mouths meet, my heart skipping a beat as I feel his soft lips press to mine. He gives a muffled mumble of surprise, but it only makes me kiss him all the harder."
 
"Letting go of his tie, he stumbles back and gasps for air. I can't wipe the toothy grin off my face, smiling so hard that my cheeks almost hurt."
 
yuk "Well, well."
 
har "You're a braver man than I."
 
"As Yukio is left scratching his head, Haru steps forward and pats Hisao on the shoulder. Hisao finally manages to recollect himself after a few moments, though it's obvious his heart's still racing."
 
his "She's not that bad."
 
yuk "I hope it works out for you. If anyone could civilise this savage, it's you."
 
mik "I'm right here, dude."
 
yuk "I know that."
 
"Someone a few yards away calls for Yukio, and with a quick wave, he leaves us. Haru turns on the ball of his heel, about to follow."
 
har "Good luck, you two."
 
"He gives a wink, and with that, walks away. Hisao stays silent as I wave him off."
 
mik "Got bored of the library, huh?"
 
his "Yeah."
 
"The silence between us is all the more noticable thanks to the noise from the other club members. Hisao's cheeks look slightly rosier than they did before, leading to only one conclusion."
 
mik "You're not all embarrassed from that kiss, are you?"
 
"His face flowers into a scarlet blush as he buries it in his hands. I just laugh, partly at him, and partly to shrug off my own feelings. The feeling of his lips against mine still lingers in my mind, after all."
 
mik "You're too soft, boy."
 
his "That was our first kiss..."
 
mik "And it was a good one, too!"
 
"The weariness in his eyes as he looks to me tells that he's finally coming to realise what he's got himself in for. Taking pity on him, I reach forwards and rub his hair."
 
his "Why do you keep doing that? It's embarrassing."
 
mik "'Cause I like doing it, why else?"
 
"Hisao frowns, but I can tell he secretly enjoys it. He tends to be cutest when he's trying not to be."
 
his "There was something I wanted to ask you. Before you ran away from the library and left me standing there like a goose, that is."
 
mik "Go on."
 
"He clears his throat and takes a breath before continuing on."
 
his "Do you have anything planned on Sunday?"
 
mik "Not a thing. Why?"
 
his "Then it's a date. I'll pick you up late morning."
 
"Oh, right. We're going out now. That means dating."
 
"I know what that entails, in a rough sense. Romance movies aren't really my thing, but I've seen a couple that show characters dating. It's just spending some time with you person you love, really. Time with the person you love. Person you love. Love."
 
"That damn word keeps echoing around in my head. It actually feels kinda nice to think about, like rolling a tasty piece of candy about in my mouth."
 
"Feeling a smile on my face, I know there's only one answer I can give."
 
mik "Cool."
 
 
END CHAPTER 7
 
 
"I have to admit, Hisao sure knows how to win me over."
 
"The odd beep and boop from the computers behind the counter and chintzy pop playing over the speakers provide the soundtrack to our romantic meal of burgers and fries. Peoplewatching provides a nice source of entertainment as well, with the place being fairly full this time of day."
 
"Officeworkers in their smart white shirts and contrasting black slacks and skirts tap away at their phones checking their stocks and emails, while kids chat between themselves about this idol group or that videogame. It's a nice atmosphere. Casual, informal, no pretense of fine dining or any of that crap. Just people having a bite while yakking to each other."
 
"I take a good bite of my burger as Hisao slips a few fries into his mouth, both of us apparently being pretty hungry."
 
mik "You know, this is kinda like when we first met."
 
"Hisao pauses for a moment to think, looking like a squirrel with his cheeks full of fries. Eventually he gulps them down, having remembered that day."
 
his "Oh, right. When you took me to the Shanghai."
 
mik "Yeah. It's kinda cool."
 
his "I meant to do that. Glad you noticed."
 
"I flick a chip at his face in response, hitting him between his squinting eyes."
 
mik "So, what's next? Wanna pop by that shrine we passed?"
 
his "Not really into visiting shrines. I'm surprised you're interested, though."
 
mik "Doesn't hurt to throw in a coin and do the ol' rituals every so often. Didn't work for my hand, but maybe it's given me a little luck in other places."
 
"He looks interested, but very much in the politely nodding way."
 
mik "I guess that sort of thing's more important to people who grew up with it."
 
his "Yeah, I never really bothered much. The architecture's nice for temples and stuff, but that's about it."
 
"I take another bite of my burger before continuing on, unsatisfied with his answer."
 
mik "Do you actually believe in anything? Like, I dunno, stuff you can't see? God, spirits, karma, an afterlife, any of that stuff?"
 
his "Not... really?"
 
mik "So it's that simple."
 
his "It's not that I haven't done any thinking about it. Believe me, I did plenty of that while I was in hospital."
 
mik "Nearly dying would do that."
 
his "Problem is, the more I read, the less I felt I knew. It's a funny thing, how the more you research anything, the more you realise just how little you actually understand."
 
his "I absolutely devoured reading material, but in the end, I found a whole lot of questions, and not many answers. Pretty anticlimatic end for a quest to understand mortality, huh?"
 
mik "At least all that reading filled in the time."
 
his "That's..."
 
"Hisao just sighs."
 
his "Yeah, you're right. I guess it did."
 
his "How about we hit the castle once we're done here? Could have a good wander around."
 
"He doesn't seem too interested in the suggestion, but nor am I. We both ponder a bit as we munch away at our food."
 
"An idea begins to form in my head, going by how Hisao acted during our time back home. I don't know how far it is from here, or how expensive it is, but I think he'd like it."
 
his "I always get worried when I see that grin."
 
mik "Eat up, Hisao. We've got places to be."
 
"He looks to me with concerned eyes, having no idea of what's to come."
 
# Timeskip
 
"Cloaked in a deep blue glow, Hisao stands wide eyed as he stares up at the tank before him. I'd tease him for being so amazed, but I'm doing just the same."
 
"A giant manta ray, impossibly huge, breezes past the window with its underside pointed at us. It's crazy how easily it cuts through the water with such small movements. Its mouth and gills look bizarre, so totally unlike anything that walks on land."
 
mik "Animals are cool."
 
his "Sure are."
 
"As it glides around to the back of the tank, we start walking to the next display."
 
"A gaggle of teenage girls on the other side of the passage shriek in excitement, apparently overcome by the cuteness of a couple of turtles which swam up close to the window. You'd be forgiven for thinking they were fawning over a baby or something."
 
"We join a father and his young son at a shark tank, several of them lazily swimming about their enclosure. They're not exactly at their most menacing when they're cooped up like this, looking more bored than ravenous."
 
"Hisao doesn't seem to mind, though, still watching them float about with interest. Looks like I struck it out of the park on this one."
 
mik "Having fun there?"
 
his "I had no idea this city had an aquarium. You ever come here before?"
 
mik "Me? Nah. Probably should've."
 
"He goes back to looking at them swimming away after I give a shrug. It's now that I notice the young boy staring not at the sharks, but at the one-handed girl nearby. Maybe I should take pride in being more interesting than a few sharks."
 
"I poorly mime clutching at my stump and yelling with pain, drawing a smile from the kid. The spaces where he's lost a couple of baby teeth make it look all the cuter."
 
"I quickly step back and stiffen up as Hisao turns back around to see what the movement was, pretending nothing happened. Doubting me, Hisao looks over to the boy. He does just the same, though even less convincingly than my own act."
 
"Thoroughly beaten, Hisao moves on with me quickly falling in beside him. I think I see a smile there, no matter how much he might try to play it off."
 
his "You don't seem all that interested in the sea life."
 
mik "Just too used to seeing them, especially wild ones."
 
his "I guess when you grow up with something, it becomes the norm."
 
mik "Sure does. The aquarium's pretty cool though; it's first time I've seen some of these critters."
 
mik "You have a nice smile, you know that?"
 
his "What brought this on?"
 
mik "I was just thinking how different you are to when you first started in Yamaku. If you had a colour back then, it would've definitely been grey."
 
his "And now?"
 
mik "Hmm... you look kinda blue right now."
 
"It takes a second for him to get it, but his face drops once he does."
 
his "Right, the light from the tanks. Very funny."
 
his "I don't think anybody would argue that your colour's red, as if it were ever a question."
 
his "But yeah, I feel different to when I started at Yamaku as well. I can't see the entire path in front of me yet, but it feels like the fog is beginning to lift."
 
his "A lot of that is thanks to you, you know. The world didn't change after I had my heart attack, I just got to see a whole different part of it."
 
his "Maybe that's why I kinda get Mutou. When he goes on about how interesting this part of science is or that, he's really talking about a new way of seeing the world. Of understanding what's around us."
 
mik "Understanding Mutou, now that's a scary thought."
 
"I am glad, though. It feels less like I'm dragging Hisao along life with me, and more like he's back on his legs and starting to walk on his own. It reminds me of how Suzu and I ended up."
 
"That I can be there for another person like that makes me pretty happy."
 
"Eventually we reach the exit of the aquarium proper, entering the small gift shop. The two of us part to look at this knicknack or that, from small stuffed animals to phone straps and stickers."
 
"I feel like I should buy something for Hisao given that he paid for both our tickets, but even if he hadn't offered to get them, I couldn't have afforded one. You can practically see the tumbleweeds blowing across the empty expanse of my wallet."
 
"As I ponder my sadly lacking funds, I come across to the clothing section. It leaves me wondering who would want a hoodie with the name of an aquarium proudly displayed on it."
 
"One thing does catch my interest, though. A baseball cap with a nice colour scheme and thankfully small logo. I pick it up to check the price, but end up sighing before putting it back on the shelf. Sometimes I can afford the odd luxury, but this isn't going to be one of those weeks."
 
his "What's up?"
 
mik "Nothin'. Found something, did you?"
 
"I point to the small stuffed turtle in his hand."
 
his "Just something small to remember the place. You going to grab anything?"
 
mik "Nah. I'll wait outside for you, okay?"
 
his "Sure. See you there."
 
# Timeskip
 
"Hisao and I slowly walk across the school grounds together, the oversized plastic bag at Hisao's side crunches away with each step. With the sun finally setting, it looks like our day together's finally over."
 
mik "Whelp, that's that. I had a great day, Hisao."
 
his "What are you saying? The date's not over yet."
 
"Now that was smooth. He doesn't quite manage to take it all the way, with his mouth giving a slight grin from nervousness at the suggestion, but he still gets an A for effort."
 
mik "I might fall for you even harder if you keep that up. Mind if we stay in your room tonight?"
 
his "Sure."
 
"With that, the two of us make our way to the male dormitory building."
 
"A couple of dudes lounge around in the bottom floor common area, sipping at cans of soft drink as they watch television. A nice lazy way to spend an evening, really."
 
"We finally reach the floor of Hisao's room, the familiar poorly pinned sheets of paper still hanging onto the corkboard on the walls, albeit only barely. It's a pretty empty part of the dorms, but Hisao seems to like the quiet, so I'm not one to complain."
 
mik "Maybe you should put something up on the boards."
 
his "Like what?"
 
mik "I haven't thought that far ahead yet."
 
"He clips me over the back of the head as we continue down the hall."
 
"Entering his room, it looks the same as it always has. Spartan. A couple more bits and bobs have ended up on shelves and his desk, but nothing of much interest."
 
"Not that I dislike it, though. It almost charming in being such a good example of his orderly personality."
 
"I feel his hands on my waist, and as I turn to see him, I find out lips pressed together. I just close my eyes, letting myself be taken in my the sensation."
 
"His warm body held to mine, the tickling of his breath against my face, the brushing of his hair against my forehead.... Even if it's not exactly a passionate embrace, I can still feel my heart skip a beat."
 
"It's terrible how I fold so quickly like that when taken off guard. It takes me a moment to notice Hisao's hand retrieving something from the bag, leaving me to look up stupified as he plops the object onto my head."
 
"My eyes open wide as I realise what it is."
 
mik "How did you..."
 
his "I noticed you staring at it in the shop. I think it looks good on you."
 
mik "You know what?"
 
mik "So do I!"
 
"I jump at him, wrapping him in a hug. It still doesn't quite feel like a natural thing to do, but I feel like there's no other way to channel the energy I feel right now."
 
"This dork really can be something."
 
 
END CHAPTER 8
 
 
"Sitting on my desk as we wait for the teacher to show up, I find myself chatting away with Haru. Try as I might, I can't stop my fingers tapping on the desk beside me."
 
har "You look nervous."
 
mik "Nervous? Who do you take me for?"
 
mik "I'm just so excited for the lesson ahead that I can't stop moving in anticipation."
 
har "You managed to find a lie even less believable than what I said. Impressive."
 
mik "I hate the English teacher. She's even worse than Mutou."
 
his "The problem's with you, not him."
 
"The voice calling from behind me induces a heavy sigh."
 
mik "I didn't ask you..."
 
har "Maybe if you didn't go out of your way to annoy her, you would've have so many problems."
 
mik "But I don't! I just don't care about English. I don't even get why it's mandatory to learn; does this look like America to you?"
 
har "It's not just America, you know. There's Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, uh..."
 
suz "Singapore."
 
mik "They speak English there too?"
 
suz "Maybe you should pay more attention to geography as well as English."
 
"I bring my forearms over my ears to try and block out everyone's voices. I feel like I'm being egged."
 
"My attention is refocused as Haru takes out a particular worksheet. The sudden interest in it doesn't escape him."
 
har "So that's why you're so antsy."
 
mik "Okay, so I kinda, sorta, maybe didn't completely do all of the homework we were set."
 
"He just smiles at me knowingly."
 
mik "I am two hundred percent screwed, yeah."
 
mik "But you know, if you were so kind as to let me copy your homework super quickly..."
 
har "I don't think there's a lot of point to using mine. I'm not much better at this than you."
 
har "Why don't you ask your boyfriend, anyway? At least that way you might scrounge up a decent mark."
 
"I turn my head back to Hisao, still standing next to his desk while busily looking over the very worksheet I need so badly."
 
mik "Hey, Hisao? Let me copy your-"
 
his "Do it yourself."
 
mik "See? Maybe you can try getting that stick out of his ass."
 
his "I heard that."
 
mik "It's lodged in there real tight."
 
"He puts his hand on top of my head and latches down, dragging my head around with his grip tightening by the second."
 
mik "That's kinda painful, dude."
 
his "Good. Maybe if you did your homework sometimes this wouldn't be happening."
 
"I get the feeling Hisao's holding back less and less when it comes to being rough with me, which suits me just fine. Even if it does mean suffering a little more."
 
"But for all the teasing they may give me, I do have a lot of fun these days. Life became a lot easier once I stopped trying so hard. It's great for Hisao that he's finding his groove, but as for myself, my time has passed. The contentment I feel now is enough for me."
 
"As the teacher finally shows up and begins to stride in, she gives me more than a passing glance. I have feeling this is going to be a very long lesson."
 
# Timeskip
 
"A good jog around the track is probably one of the more productive ways to deal with stress. God knows I'd be in a world of hurt if I told that woman what I really thought of her."
 
"Given the amount of sweat building up already, the thought passes my mind that I should actually count the number of laps I do one of these days, or time myself doing some sprints. Compared to people like Emi, though, I couldn't care less about records or self-improvement."
 
"Running for the sake of running is a perfectly good way to spend the time, after all. Not that Hisao seems to really see it that way."
 
"He might have cheated by joining me well after I'd started, but his heart having played up during the holidays has made me appreciate how he still throws himself at the track. He still doggedly tries to regain his previous physical fitness, or at least as much of it as he can."
 
mik "You're keeping up well, Hisao."
 
his "That's because I'm trying, unlike you in class."
 
"Trying so hard that he's doing this in his normal school uniform, unlike me in my proper gym gear."
 
mik "Aw, c'mon. I don't need another person on my case."
 
"He looks genuinely annoyed with me. That haughty sense of judgement towards what he thinks counts as an incorrectly-lived life reminds me a little of Shizune and her strict nature. Then again, as much as I may dislike living according to their standards, I can respect that disciplined attitude towards life."
 
"I grin as I reach beside me and take his wrist in my hand."
 
his "You have some terrible idea again, don't you?"
 
mik "Yup!"
 
"With that, I speed up and drag him along behind me, the two of us breaking off the track and away from the school building."
 
"The storage shed still gives me bad memories as we pass by, Hisao nearly getting dragged off his feet as I speed up to get past it. As we enter the greenery ahead, the both of us disappear from the sight of the others."
 
"I start slowing down as we get deeper in, eventually letting go of his hand as the two of us start to walk the rest of the distance. There isn't really any singular spot I'm looking for, so we end up almost strolling in the undergrowth for while."
 
"Still breathing a little heavier than usual thanks to my efforts on the track, I make do with watching Hisao. The way his eyes turn this way and that makes it obvious he's a tourist more than a local."
 
mik "Never been here before?"
 
his "Nope. I'd occasionally wondered what it was like behind the track."
 
mik "Well now you know. I'm not totally sure if this land is actually owned by the school, but they sure don't make much effort to clean it up if they do."
 
his "Still not a scratch in the forests back up north, though."
 
mik "You got that right."
 
"I run my hand through my hair as I look about, seeing little but trees, bushes, and undergrowth. Listening intently reveals that we're not quite alone, with fallen leaves shuffling in the distance from some squirrel darting about. As far as human go, though, there are few who'd venture this far on a whim."
 
"My companion slowly stops walking as we reach the heart of the forest. Turning to see him, Hisao backs up to a tree and lets himself slide to the ground, letting his head fall back onto the trunk in defeat."
 
his "You can't be serious."
 
mik "What's up?"
 
his "Don't play innocent with me. There aren't that many reasons for a guy and a girl to sneak off alone. Especially when one of them is you."
 
"I throw my arms up in surrender. It was only a matter of time until he worked it out."
 
mik "Oh no, I've been caught. Whatever will I do?"
 
his "Hell of a way to let off some stress..."
 
mik "But very effective! Especially with someone else."
 
mik "Your heart's racing, isn't it?"
 
his "If we get caught, we'll be in for the high jump without any water."
 
mik "There's nobody here, man. Besides, the fresh air will be a nice change to a stuffy bedroom."
 
"Having had enough of talking, I wander over to him and turn about, sitting in his lap with my back to his chest."
 
"As expected, the temptation soon becomes too great for him to resist. I let myself settle back into him as his hands come around my waist, his face coming beside mine."
 
"The feeling of his large hands cuping my breasts makes me roll my head to the side, every muscle relaxing as he begins to knead and move them. There's a charming mix of curiosity and desire in his movements, which only makes this all the better."
 
mik "Nice, aren't they?"
 
his "Wouldn't they be a pain while exercising?"
 
mik "Worth it. Totally."
 
"His hands snake underneath my gym top, the feeling of his skin against mine sending a shiver up my spine as he takes in the feeling of my taut stomach. I'm starting to think he likes it, with the way his hands linger over area."
 
"Slowly, teasingly, he moves his hands upward. I can't help but sigh as he begins to grop me directly, my bra doing little to lessen the sensation of his playing with my breasts."
 
"This is the best. Just sitting here being played with, drifting on the current of pleasure without a care in the world. I don't think he's really trying to get me off so much as explore how my body feels, but I enjoy that fact."
 
"With my hand and stump lying on my thighs, it's easy for my hand to absentmindedly slide down just an inch of two, the side of it settling between my legs. All it takes is the smallest movement to feel it rubbing through my spats, settling into a nice, regular rhythm."
 
"It isn't until Hisao notices me getting a little too dreamy that he notices I'm masturbating in his lap."
 
his "Miki..."
 
mik "Just keep going."
 
"He obediently does so, and as I feel something against my butt, I can tell it's turning Hisao on like crazy. I can't help myself, and if it turns him on, all the better."
 
"Wanting to do this himself, he shifts his left hand to continue kneading my right breast, his other hand moving downward."
 
"Hisao manages to slide his fingers between my sweaty skin and the top of my spats, pausing a little as he feels how aroused I've become. Gathering the courage to try fingering me for the first time, he brings his middle finger over my lower hair and begins to stroke at the most important spot."
 
"It's when he starts a slow circling motion that he really manages to nail it, making me practically melt."
 
mik "Aaah... that's good..."
 
mik "See? It was worth watching each other."
 
"In a surprisingly quick movement, two of his fingers flick downward and slide into me, making a come hither motion with enough force to make me cringe from pain."
 
mik, "Ah! Ow! Too much!"
 
his "Then don't tease someone with their fingers between your legs."
 
mik "Asshole..."
 
his "What did I say?"
 
"Having had quite enough of his lip, I twist around and grab the knot of his tie. Hisao's surprise is met with a strong tug as I let myself fall to the ground, his body falling on top of me."
 
his "Hey, Miki-!"
 
"He tries to pin me down out of frustration, but I manage to overpower him. With a bit of a scuffle, I free my arm and give a solid shove to his shoulder, using my stomach muscles to send him toppling over onto his back. I quickly follow, ending up on all fours above him. He gives a weak smile as I grin in victory."
 
mik "I win."
 
"I move my head down to kiss him, out tongues meeting as the experience begins to sweep us away. My heart beating away and body more than ready to ravage him, I slip off his tie and work away at his buttons."
 
"I can feel myself panting as I move further and further down, finally undoing the last button. Hisao sits up and quickly shirks it as I continue to undress him, each piece of clothing ending up discarded without much thought. Eventually I manage to work off his underwear, the boy naked in the midsummer's day."
 
"I move forwards to kiss him once more, but as our mouths meet, I'm taken off guard by his hands coming to my shoulders and throwing me down onto the ground. I've done it to him before, but now that the shoe's on the other foot, I'm left more dazed than anything."
 
"His mouth is pushed onto mine, my breath stolen as his tongue darts in and moves about, tangling with my own and refusing to let go. I kick, jerk, and squirm under his grasp, but he keeps going, our saliva mixing as he takes his fill of me."
 
"Eventually, finally, he breaks off. My heart's almost hurting from how fast its beating, my attempts to speak amounting to little as my need for air takes precedence."
 
mik "Hisao..."
 
his "There. I win."
 
"I can't help but laugh, my body convulsing with hilarity at the ridiculous sight. It makes me glad to see him bring forceful like this, taking what he wants. It sure is a change from the subdued and hesitant kid who so akwardly introduced himself to class all that time ago."
 
"I reach up and take the side of his cheek in my hand, quite taken with the fellow holding himself above me. My breathing finally under control, I smile and say four simple words."
 
mik "Then take me, Hisao."
 
"He needs no further urging, grabbing me and rolling my body about with a fair amount of force. Having ended up with my chest on the ground, I try to pick myself up, only to feel a hand grabbing the back of my spats."
 
"With a strong tug, Hisao exposes my butt and crotch to the air."
 
mik "Oh...!"
 
"He jams himself into me with enough strength to cause a damn lot of pain, our hips hitting with a loud sound. The pain and surprising force that he's become comfortable in using against me combine to send my front falling back to the ground, the side of my face hitting the dirt as as he pulls back and begins to thrust."
 
"He grips my butt tightly as he hits himself against it, each thrust slow but powerful. I can't help but yelp and moan loudly, all of my senses overwhelemed by the strange mixture of pain and pleasure. He goes harder and harder if anything, his confidence and lust building within him."
 
"With little to grip onto, my hand grabs into the dirt and dead leaves, sweat pouring off me. More, I want him to move more. I like this Hisao, I love this Hisao..."
 
"His desire not sated by his current motions, he picks up a knee and uses one his his hands to push down hard between my shoulderblades. I try to squirm out reflexively, but he simply pushes harder while shoving his rod ever deeper into me."
 
mik "Hisao... ahn...!"
 
"He doesn't say a word as he grunts away, teeth sounding like they're clenched as he drives onward. I can't move from his grasp, left with the side of my face pressed against the ground as rapturous pleasure floods my body."
 
"Keep going, Hisao! I want more of you, I want more...!"
 
"A huttural growl rises in my throat as a familiar sensation begins to rise, my heart racing as every sense starts to converge into a raging torrent of euphoria. Try as I might, I can't hold back the surge quickly rising with me."
 
"It's a bizarre but deeply satisfying mixture of bliss, pain, and exhaustion that I've never felt before, the adrenaline filling my body in response to being held down mixing with the arousal threatening to so quickly send me over the edge."
 
"I can't stop myself at all, Hisao's hold over me total and unshakable. I feel my neck muscles tightening as I growl and dig my fingers into the dirt to frantically try and keep control of my body, but I can't... I can't stop... I can't...!"
 
mik "Aaaahn!"
 
"My mind blanks as every muscle tightens, fingers and toes curling as the pleasure of orgasm wracks my body. Every sense is washed away in an instant as pure wonderous joy floods every corner of my consciousness."
 
"I don't know how long it lasts, nor do I care. I'm in bliss. I lose track of everything, even my own self, as I utterly surrender to the feeling washing over me."
 
"As I take one step over that peak, the real world begins to rush in to the vacuum within my addled mind. My collapse is all but instantaneous, every last ounce of energy I'd had being utterly exhausted as my hormones, and emotions, crash."
 
"I simply flop onto the ground face-first, my limbs having gone entirely limp. Every sense feels muddled and unclear, from the blurry and unfocused ground before me, to my sense of touch barely registering the sweat soaking my body and clothes, and the feeling of Hisao's thick member slipping out."
 
"Something warm touching my butt and lower back vaguely registers in my mind, but I don't care. I can't think right now. I just want to lie here, holding on to this feeling."
 
"Hisao enters my vision as he sits and then falls back onto the ground, his bare chest heaving from the effort. I try to reach out and brush a couple of hairs sticking to his cheek, but my hand barely gets halfway before flopping the the ground for lack of energy."
 
"There we lie, with the boy on his back and I on my front, breathing heavily as we try to recuperate. I manage to weakly smile at him, his hand reaching out and gently brushing some hairs from my forehead."
 
mik "You really went all out, didn't you?"
 
his "I was frustrated with you, I guess."
 
mik "Still frustrated?"
 
his "I lost track of what I was even annoyed about."
 
"As we lie there looking at each other, that sensation I felt on my behind slowly comes back to haunt me."
 
mik "You didn't...?"
 
"He just averts his eyes. So he did finish himself off onto my back. I just let out a long breath, completely unable to muster anything more notable."
 
his "I wasn't thinking."
 
mik "Just get a tissue."
 
his "...I really wasn't thinking."
 
mik "You suck."
 
"I playfully bat him on the face with what little force I can muster. For all I chide him about thinking too much, he really chooses the worst times."
 
 
END CHAPTER 9
 
 
"I idly watch the scene before me from afar, an impenetrable wall standing between they and I."
 
"About seven boys, likely first years by the looks of them, seem to have gotten their hands on a baseball bat and gloves from the storage shed. With their blazers piled near a tree, they've taken to the field with gusto. Not a bad way to kill some time after school's finished for the day, really."
 
"The batter lowers himself and brings his bat into position, preparing for the pitch. The posture of his upper body is pretty much right, but his footwork is horrible."
 
"The pitcher's tongue flicks along his lips as he focuses himself. A quick look around the field betrays his lack of confidence, needing to reassure himself of where his few friends are standing. Going by the hand he's repeatedly dropping the ball into, looks like he's a southpaw."
 
"I'd put money on the pitcher being the weak link in the game, despite the short-staffed fielding team. They manage to have left field, right field, and the shortstop position covered between them, waiting with ready hands and focused eyes."
 
"The catcher nods, and with a long breath, the pitcher pulls his arm back. Everyone, including me, tenses up, waiting for the critical moment."
 
"With little warning, that moment arrives. His left arm flies towards in an unmistakable fastball, his entire body moving with the one goal of getting as much speed on the thing as possible. While he's no professional, the sight of a fit body in such fluid, practiced motion is one of the most impressive things to watch."
 
"For an amateur just messing around, he sure put some steam on it. The batter's eyes remain steadfastly on the ball, not shrinking from the challenge."
 
"The sound of impact echoes around the field as he nails a solid hit, the ball shooting flat and just to the right."
 
"...And straight into the stomach of one very unfortunate fielder. Everyone around cringes at the sight."
 
"The force of the blow dazes him for a moment before he crumples to the ground, arms clutching at his sore torso. It doesn't take long for his friends to quickly jog over."
 
his "That didn't look fun."
 
"I turn to see Hisao having coming up behind me, eyes still watching the events unfolding ahead."
 
mik "Couple o' bruised ribs at least, I'd imagine. That's what happens when you try to play like a pro without the practice to back it up."
 
his "Or the protective gear."
 
mik "That too."
 
"He turns on his heel and gestures for me to follow. Without anything else to do, I shrug and obediently do so."
 
"As we arrive in Hisao's room, it's his desk that immediately catches my attention. On it sits a couple of textbooks, one open to a bookmarked page, and a notebook before the chair. As Hisao steps back to allow a better view of them, it's hard not to be suspicious."
 
his "Take a seat. Your afterschool study lessons begin today."
 
mik "Really?"
 
his "Yes, really."
 
his "I'm not much good at humanities, but since you're managing to just pass those, we can probably afford to skip them."
 
mik "Can't we just have some fun in bed, instead? Maybe watch a movie on your laptop or something?"
 
"He just crosses his arms in response. He's really set his mind to this."
 
"Another glance at his desk shows one possible reason. Peeking out from beneath the heavy chemistry textbook lies a couple of glossy university brochures."
 
mik "So this is what brought this on."
 
his "In part. I do want to help, you know."
 
mik "You've been doing great at tutoring Suzu, isn't that enough?"
 
his "That's completely beside the point. Why are you so hesitant about applying yourself at school work?"
 
mik "I'm not hesitating. I just don't care. There's a difference."
 
his "I've heard that before. You'll care an awful lot in a few months, I can tell you that now."
 
mik "I already know I'll get some crappy job. Boo hoo."
 
his "So that's what you think about first..."
 
mik "What, you mean this is about us? Together? Come on, I know you'd be cool with being around each other a bit less if we end up in different places."
 
his "But you wouldn't."
 
his "I don't even know why I'm telling you all this. You already knew, didn't you?"
 
"Hisao can be sharp when he puts his mind to it, much to my annoyance. As much as I might try to dance around the elephant in the room, he's not letting up in pursuing it."
 
mik "This is fun, isn't it? We make a good pair, and life with Haru, Yukio, Suzu, and everyone else is great, too. Even if it can't last forever, can't we just enjoy the time we have?"
 
his "So that's all this ever was, in your mind? Just a fling before we gave up and parted at graduation?"
 
mik "I'm just being realistic."
 
"Those three words hurt him more than I think I've ever managed to in the past. Maybe I didn't understand just how much sway I had over his emotions until now."
 
"It's he who breaks the silence."
 
his "Was I ever anything special to you? Something more than some chew toy to throw out once you got bored with it?"
 
mik "That's not fair..."
 
his "I'm being perfectly fair. I lost everything that was precious to me, but I worked damn hard to get myself back together. Now you're just going to flake out on me? Shrug and say you've had enough?"
 
mik "Well pardon me for drawing the short straw in life!"
 
mik "You have money, a normal family, you're smart, and you'll probably get into some nice, poncy university. You won, well done. Teacher Nakai has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"
 
mik "I tried, man. I worked by guts out, and look at where it got me. Stop being a dick just because not all of us can be as lucky as you."
 
his "Yeah... real lucky."
 
mik "I-"
 
"Apologising is the last thing I want to do, but I didn't mean to wound him like that. All I can do is grit my teeth, accepting the anger he must feel in me right now."
 
his "I just want to help you. I love you, Miki."
 
mik "Really? 'Cause from where I'm standing, it looks more like you fell for who you thought you could make me into."
 
his "So it's my fault you only want to be around me for a few months? Is that what you call that love?"
 
mik "I thought you'd finally become someone pretty cool after all this time, but it turns out you're just a bore who hides behind his arrogance."
 
his "Take that back."
 
mik "Piss off. You're the one talking down to me."
 
"It's only by clenching my fist until my knuckles whiten that I stave off the adrenaline coursing through me, but as he continues looking at me with eyes of pure contempt, I feel my body preparing to lash out."
 
"Left with no other outlet, I quickly turn around and punch his door on the way out of his dormitory room. Arguing with the asshole any longer isn't going to change his mind."
 
his "Miki, come back!"
 
"I don't bother turning back as I hear his voice coming from behind me. I don't even want to see his stupid mug right now."
 
mik "Like Hell I will. Have a nice life at university, asshole!"
 
"I misjudged him. I took his changing personality to mean he was like me, relearning how to enjoy life after such radical change, but it looks like he's more interested in lording himself over others."
 
"I don't need someone like that."
 
END CHAPTER 10
 
 
 
"I idly hit the back of my head repeatedly against a dresser in my room, sitting on the floor as Yukio leans against my desk and Haru sits on the side of my bed. It's been a while since we had an impromptue meeting like this, but they soon agreed after I recounted what happened."
 
har "That ain't gonna help."
 
mik "It doesn't hurt, either."
 
"Yukio just crosses his arms, moving on to more important matters."
 
yuk "You screwed up."
 
mik "Tell me something I don't know."
 
har "Are you two gonna fight again? Right now?"
 
yuk "I'm just telling her the truth."
 
yuk "To be honest, I saw this coming. I don't think I'm the only one, either."
 
har "You're not the type to be tied down, that's for sure."
 
"I give a grin at the at the comment, which earns a quick rebuke from the other."
 
yuk "That's not a good thing. For all the fun you're having now, eventually you'll need to face life outside. You might have your head on straight compared to your early days in Yamaku, but that doesn't mean anything in the outside world."
 
yuk "Quite frankly, I don't blame Hisao for trying to slap that into you."
 
"So he's taking Hisao's side in this. That's not a shock given Yukio's straight-laced nature, but it still sucks."
 
"Haru's impish smile takes my mind off the unwanted lecture I'm getting."
 
mik "What's with you?"
 
har "This isn't about some attempt to get you to study, is it?"
 
"I move to protest, but a little voice at the back of my mind tells me that he's not entirely wrong. It is true that I don't care about my academic results; I'm too far gone to recover my grades now, and what's the point anyway when one unlucky turn could take it all away again?"
 
"I don't think I'd have the strength to endure that. Not again."
 
"What most echoes in my mind since our argument, though, isn't the words spoken. It's the way Hisao looked. I don't think I've ever hurt a person like that before."
 
mik "Why does everyone else seem more clued in to this than me?"
 
yuk "Sometimes looking in from the outside is what's needed. We can get stuck in our own heads and unable to view a situation objectively."
 
mik "I don't get it."
 
har "Yeah, me neither."
 
yuk "I'm surrounded by idiots..."
 
yuk "I don't know what you really expect from us, Miki. As much as I'd like to wave a magic wand and make this all go away, you're gonna have to deal with him eventually."
 
har "He's right, you know."
 
har "You know, it's not like you have to be going out to be together. You got along just fine as friends, didn't you?"
 
yuk "The oaf is right; being friends isn't any better or worse than lovers."
 
mik "You say that like you have experience. Hitting on random girls doesn't count."
 
yuk "You shouldn't make assumptions."
 
mik "Oh?"
 
"Yukio just closes his eyes, frustrated with me for trying to change the topic onto him. As much as we may fight, his uncompromising attitude can be helpful sometimes."
 
"With a snort, he stops leaning on the desk and starts to leave."
 
har "Where're you goin'?"
 
yuk "Far as I see it, there's not much point being here."
 
yuk "I don't mind being used as a scratching post, Miki, but you don't even know what it is you want to do."
 
mik "What should I do?"
 
yuk "I don't know, and neither would Haru. Work out whatever will leave you with no regrets, that's all I can tell you."
 
"With that, he leaves. Haru just stays where he is, doing his best to not look too serious about all this."
 
mik "Why do I feel like I just got scolded."
 
har "Because you did."
 
mik "So what do you think about all this?"
 
har "I just want everyone to be happy. That's pretty much it."
 
mik "I don't think I've ever seen you anything other than happy. How do you manage that all the time?"
 
har "You just gotta smile. It's hard to feel sad when you have a big grin on your face."
 
mik "Yeah... I guess."
 
"He brings his legs out before levering himself off the bed, clapping me on the shoulder as I take to my feet."
 
har "You shouldn't worry so much. It's weird to see you so concerned about something."
 
mik "I know..."
 
har "You'll work it out. If there's one thing I've learned about you, it's that you're a stronger person than most."
 
har "To be honest, I've always admired that about you."
 
mik "Thanks. You're a good friend. And Yukio too, when he isn't being an ass."
 
"Haru just laughs."
 
har "That's more like it. Good luck, Miki."
 
"We give our goodbyes to each other as he leaves, my room becoming empty once again."
 
"I might not know what I want, but I do know what I don't want. The silence of an empty room. The loneliness of being without friends. In other words, the life I'd lived before in Yamaku."
 
"As I look out my window, a decision soon forms in my mind."
 
"After all, one thing has always stayed constant, no matter what's happened around me in life."
 
# Timeskip
 
"It's been a damn long time since I've punished my body like this before. I don't even know precisely where this is, my legs carrying me a good distance beyond the small town below Yamaku. I barely even managed to get off the road before collapsing beside it, utterly drained of every ounce of energy I had."
 
"Try as I might, my arms and legs simply refuse to move. All I can do is lay helplessly on my back, chest heaving as my body grabs at any oxygen it can."
 
"My eyes have trouble focusing, but it's like there's much to look at. Just a blue, cloudless sky looming above, impossibly vast compared to the insignificance of me and my collapsed body."
 
"I've seen this sight before, come to think of it. After I'd messed up once again. Guess that's a pretty shitty thing to associate with a nice summer's day."
 
"A bird soars overhead, squarking as it reaches out with its great wings and begins to glide on the air. I briefly wonder if it's teasing me."
 
"That is, before I get a solid kick directed at the side of my ribs."
 
mik "Ow!"
 
"I roll my head slightly to see who's stuck their foot into me, only to find the wind taken our of my sails."
 
mik "Oh. It's you."
 
"Hisao just looks down at me, his face flat. Try as I might, I just can't get a read on him at all, and he isn't saying anything."
 
mik "So why are you here?"
 
his "To make things clear. I've had enough of being dumped the easy way."
 
"He lowers himself to the ground, taking a seat beside my slowly recovering body. Silence ensures as we both end up watching the bird hovering above us, barely making any headway as it rides the breeze."
 
mik "How'd you find me?"
 
his "A one-handed girl running through the campus and local town in the male uniform isn't exactly subtle."
 
"He has a point. I never have been the subtle type, after all."
 
The letter of his I managed to find bubbles into my memory. I can't remember much of it, but I can see his point. Getting dumped would be hard enough, let alone when the other side doesn't care enough about you to do it properly."
 
mik "You came all this way to make sure it was you who was dumping me. How terrible."
 
his "Don't put words in my mouth."
 
"I never thought it would happen, but Hisao's completely managed to take hold of the conversation. Between his placid face, brief replies, and near-monotone voice, I've little choice but to let him talk as he wants."
 
his "It's a funny place, this."
 
his "Half in the country, half in the city. A school for students with disabilities; an idea strange enough to feel surreal when you first enrol, but utterly normal once you've been here a while. Isolated enough that some are dumped here to hide them away, but with staff and facilities so good that others think it's their kid's best chance."
 
mik "I have to admit, I've only ever seen it as just another school. Sure, most of the students have disabilities of whatever kind, but it's still just a bunch of regular teenagers, and some teachers trying and make them learn."
 
his "All depends on your poit of view, I guess. Just like everything."
 
mik "Are we seriously gonna do we 'say sorry to each other and make up' thing?"
 
his "Not at all. I stand by what I said."
 
mik "Well... Good, because I stand by what I said, too."
 
"The silence afterwards makes me wonder if I said the right thing. I'm still confused why he's even wanting to talk to me, or why I'm not questining him about it. I've totally let myself get caught in his pace."
 
"Unless he's just dancing around what he really wants to say. Now that I think about it... that really is something he'd do."
 
"Still sore from my running, I manage to sit myself up with some difficulty."
 
mik "I'm not buying the poker face thing. Out with it, Hisao."
 
his "In the end, I just can't keep up with you. You might want me to run about and play rough, but I just can't do that any more. I wish I could."
 
mik "Well what about me? It's too late for me to rescue my studies, and I'm an idiot anyway. Sure, I might get some scholarship or anther, but I'd just flunk the academics anyway."
 
mik "We started from such a similar place, but our paths are already drifting apart so fast..."
 
"This always happens, after all. Given enough time, everyone I enjoy spending life with slips from my fingers. It's just the same for him, given his friends and his ex. Is it really so wrong to admit that, and just enjoy the present?"
 
his "I don't want to let go, Miki. I know you don't either, no matter what you said."
 
mik "It's going to happen again. It always does."
 
his "So you're not going to even try? That's not the Miki I fell for."
 
his "You worked so hard in your baseball team, and your body is proof you kept working hard at staying physically strong. You made such tight bonds with the friends you had back home, and with the ones at Yamaku, too."
 
his "Maybe you're right, and it will fall apart. Maybe might get into the same unversity, or we might not. We might not stay together even if we do."
 
his "But I want to try, Miki. Because I love you."
 
"It feels like Hisao has my heart in his hands, gently squeezing as he stares at me with those eyes. It's not that he's begging, but... hoping. This is what hope looks like."
 
"After all this time, I'd forgotten what that was like. All I can do in response is give a long sigh."
 
mik "It's ironic, isn't it? The first time we truly feel like a couple, is after we've broken up."
 
his "We don't need to stay that way."
 
mik "You really are a hopeless romantic, you know that?"
 
his "Is that a bad thing?"
 
mik "Don't put words in my mouth."
 
"There is it again; I really do like that smile of his. I could forgive a lot about him, just for the chance to see more of that face."
 
"As I take to my feet and dust myself off, Hisao doing the same. For some reason, I don't feel tired at all."
 
mik "Whatever am I gonna do with you, boy?"
 
his "Perhaps... go out with me again, together?"
 
mik "'Together', huh?"
 
"I give a grin as I swing my arm around Hisao's neck."
 
mik "That doesn't sound so bad when you say it."
 
"With that, I put one foot ahead of the other as I begin to walk once more, Hisao being dragged along. I don't think I've seen where this road leads ahead of here, after all."
 
his "Wait, hold on! Where are we even going!?"
 
mik "Anywhere we want to, boy!"
 
"He just gives a snort of laughter, smiling as I drag him along."
 
"I guess we're both going to change in the weeks, months, and years ahead. That's how life is, though. You can't just set things up the way you want them, and expect it to go on forever."
 
"Like this, the two of us will walk towards that unknown future ahead of us. Together."
 
END