Chapter 28: Otter Embrace
"Hey, did you hear? Ryuugamine-kun used to beat up boys in his former school."
"Tokyo people are scary."
"I heard he beat a bunch of kids who bullied him. It even made the local papers."
"Why send a criminal to another school? Did they want to get rid of him?"
"There are also rumors that he broke a boy's leg for talking to him."
"What?! That's impossible."
"Yeah! They had to go to the hospital and get an operation!"
Kiyoshi sighed under his arms and murmured. "That's not what happened." But then what was the undeniable truth? He refused to properly acknowledge what he did in a fit of overwhelming stress, the start of a domino effect that continued to this day. How could the promising son of an accomplished chef have made a mistake in a curry recipe? It was those careless girls' fault it was inedible. They were playing around and Arisugawa was their head.
The mood during lunch was terrible. Kiyoshi reasonably understood he was the cause, and that he wasn't welcome in the distant classroom anymore. Packing his lunch, he slowly rose and fled the room, evading everyone's gaze.
The previously familiar halls were in a similar state. The girls that passed by him muttered between them with the look. Kiyoshi lowered his head, bumping into someone as he was about to go down the stairs.
He blinked a few times. Shit, this is awkward.
"Senpai, I was looking for you!" Akasaka smiled, crooked. The tension in her tone was palpable.
Kiyoshi cautiously glanced around them. People immediately looked elsewhere. "What do you want?" he murmured. He had convinced her to publish the earthshaking article. She did so. What else had to happen between them? She didn't look angry or offended. Maybe she was the one who wanted to see him.
She tugged the collar of her beige sweater, a habit he hadn't noticed until now. Nervous didn't fit her. "Do you have a moment?"
Kiyoshi merely shrugged. "Does it look like it?" He surprised himself with the snarky reply.
Quickly fed up of the unnecessary debate over their next location, he stomped towards the adjacent set of stairs. Fortunately, the entrance to the rooftop was deserted. "We can talk here," he said.
She went straight to business. "Was it really the truth?"
Kiyoshi blinked. "Why are you asking?" Guilt?
The braided girl looked away, profound thoughts clearly swirling inside her head. "I heard you are related to Sumire-san somehow."
Kiyoshi slumped his sore shoulders. He shouldn't think too hard about this. This had nothing to do with her. He evaded her eyes. "I already answered."
"Right, then everything noted was the truth." She placed her hands on her hips and let out a mighty breath, making Kiyoshi bitter. But before he could process his feelings, Akasaka returned to her meddlesome self, all smiles and gleams, setting off an alarm in his head. "Talking about scoops. Do you have family members here?"
"I-I don't. I haven't heard," he promptly replied. Why does it sound like he's lying? That confident grin made him nervous.
"Maybe in the--" Her voice fell to deaf ears as Kiyoshi leaned ever so slightly and peered down. Third-years were walking around, but nobody of interest. He sighed and swayed his head. He was being neurotic. Looking back at Akasaka who must have been waiting for a question to be answered, Kiyoshi squeezed his shoulders and put on his meanest face.
"Look, i-if you have no-thing else to sa-y, then don't talk to me."
"I have questions!"
Kiyoshi curled his fingers to fists. "No! I won't answer. Nothing else. . . Don't talk to me." His heart was hammering fast. He couldn't look at her. Not waiting for a reply, he skidded down the stairs and fled to the toilet. He stared at his ugly reflection, tapping the glass with his fist before looking away. But a peek was enough.
I'm the worst.
⚽️🐰⚽️
The rooftop was breezy and quiet. The peaceful solitude finally allowed for a moment of ease. He couldn't help looking down, savoring the undeniable temptation to run away from everything. Sakamoto-sensei was nice enough to lend him the key while to this place when it was prohibited. It was the best place to be alone. That's why when he overheard a voice uttering his name, he couldn't help but scream, pressing himself against the tall fence.
"Oh, I didn't mean to frighten you." The boy at the door smiled modestly. The words apparently meant to reassure but Kiyoshi barely registered them. "Is it alright if I stay here?" he asked. The boy looked surprisingly average yet because of the setting, he looked suspiciously out of place. Kiyoshi mumbled a favorable reply, praying the boy didn't ask about access to a restricted area.
Kiyoshi retreated to his thoughts, forgetting about the intruder as he gazed at the skyscrapers on the horizon. A silhouette in the corner of his eye was bothering him. Glancing, it was the boy, staring at the city beside him.
"The view is pleasant," he said without a trace of malice or sarcasm. Kiyoshi recoiled, unable to think of a reply. He could almost feel the boy's private space brushing his own. He knew the boy didn't have bad intentions--he was nice so far--but he was close. Too fast. Too soon.
"Who are you?" Kiyoshi whispered. In the corner of his eye, the boy's eyes widened. He forced a laugh and gripped the fence.
"Right, even if I know you, there's no way you would remember." Kiyoshi cringed. An apology was rising from his throat but as usual, it clamped. "We greeted each other the other day. I'm. . . in your class.
Kiyoshi met the boy face to face and immediately looked away, shame tinting his face. Replies filled his mind but none came out until it clicked. "Ah, I think I remember."
"Really?! Oh my god, that's great!" His excitement made him smile a little; it felt like a compliment.
Their eyes met again. Kiyoshi looked away bashfully. The boy did the same.
"Um, Ryuugamine-kun." The boy broke the spell, signaling a pressing topic. Kiyoshi stiffened. Yet, the boy didn't continue. Kiyoshi delivered another glance to him. The fence squeaked as the boy stroke a wire with his finger. "Ryuugamine-kun," the boy whispered. "Are you free this weekend?" Kiyoshi couldn't help but turn fully. His mouth gaped.
HE WAS BLUSHING!
The boy locked his gaze. Both looked away for the third time, Kiyoshi watching the distance between their hands on the fence. The mood was exactly what he was reading, and he couldn't believe it.
"Maybe we can. . . watch a movie?" Kiyoshi nodded furiously. He tried answering with his voice but only guttural noises came out. Fortunately, the boy was apt enough to carry on the necessary arrangements. They exchanged e-mails and agreed on a meeting place. Just as they pocketed their phones, the bell tolled. Kiyoshi felt a rock drop on his stomach at the thought of walking back together.
"See you on Saturday then." The boy waved, swiftly turning.
"Wait!" Kiyoshi reached out. The boy stopped and turned. "I didn't catch your name."
The boy smiled. "Hirawa. Hirawa Mikio. Nice to meet you."
⚽️🐰⚽️
Date day came like lightning. Kiyoshi had done all the freaking out he had fondly dreamed. This was definitely a date. Kiyoshi had confirmed they would be alone, and Hirawa had mindfully asked if there was another place he wanted to go. Also, the boy used the cutest kaomoji. This was definitely a date. Kiyoshi wanted to roll on the floor and scream out of happiness.
He had to return home to drop his bag and shower, and then dress well. After a lot of valuable consideration in front of the tall mirror, he had chosen a red flannel on top of a shirt and some white sneakers. Kiyoshi covered his eyes, the sexy reflection of himself in tight jeans awakening his instincts. How can this be possible?
After gleefully sending a picture of his outfit to Shino-san who knew about the date, Kiyoshi burst out of the house, almost forgetting to tell his mother he was going out. It was officially one of the most embarrassing things he had done in his life. If his mother extending some money for him to spend wouldn't have made him explode with embarrassment if it were possible.
He promptly ran to the local train station and hopped on the train. The trip was actually bearable despite the people, and he hoped Hirawa forgave him if he smelled of sweat under the cologne.
The clock read three p.m. Kiyoshi had arrived an hour early. The movie was thirty minutes after that. Hirawa must have arrived already. Kiyoshi looked around as he reached their meeting place.
No signs. He took out his phone and typed a message before sitting beside the decorative plants. His foot was tapping incessantly, and his hands were rigid. He looked at the time, barely a minute had passed. He stood up and looked around, massaging his neck. A brief walk wouldn't hurt. He had to relax. Maybe he might discover a nice place to go after the movie.
The nearby stores were unfamiliar. Kiyoshi's tugged his cap down, just like the other times where he felt uncomfortable in a packed environment. He had never ventured alone this far from Setayaga. He suddenly wondered why he hadn't foreseen he would be this unsettled.
As he retreated back to their meeting place, a graceful figure entered the corner of his eye. It was a girl. Her deep charcoal eyes met his, something like surprise growing in them. Her lush ebony hair left a floral scent as she passed by him, only letting him whiff her existence. It all happened too fast. Like an apparition, she was gone as soon as their gazed unlocked, Kiyoshi's body moving in the opposite direction with gravity.
"Sorry for being late!" Hirawa arrived sometime later. "I totally lost track of time!" He tilted his head. "Ryuugamine-kun, are you okay?"
"Oh-um, yeah." He nodded, forcing himself to blink.
"Shall we go?" Hirawa readily extended his hand with a pleasant smile.
Kiyoshi beamed. "Uhn!"
Hirawa was like a friendly little otter. No personal interests, no evil plans to use him. He witnessed Kiyoshi's worst quirks, acknowledged them, and reassured he was willing to hold his hand in the long run.
Otter Embrace | End