The matchmaker's death – by preety_lady_serenity
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Aya Nakahara and that is final.
Risa Otani, once known as Risa Koizumi, arrived home one Tuesday evening and found her husband waiting for her on the couch. As first she did not notice her husband's white face nor his rigid posture, so she sat next to him and gave him a peck on the cheek.
Atsushi Otani jolted up, slightly, and turned to look at her. He lowered his head for a few seconds, before inhaling deeply.
"How was your day dear?" she asked. Noticing his look of mixed fear and sadness, she was taken aback and leaned backwards. "Otani, did something happen?"
"Risa," he hoarsely responded and grasped her left hand, "I have some bad news. Forgive me."
Risa stared at him dizzily. She felt as if a long, deep pit had grown in her stomach. A feeling of an irreversible damage overcame her and she looked at her husband in horror. She did not want to listen to Otani. She did not know the reason for this but she felt scared.
"Nakano-sensei died last night," Otani announced grimly.
"What?" Risa mumbled, shaking her head in disbelief, "You're kidding aren't you Atsushi?"
"Risa, he died last night in his sleep."
She sniffed indignantly and shot up. He grasped her wrist, not allowing her to leave.
"I need to cook," she announced, trying to shake his hand away.
"You cooked early this morning," he hoarsely said, grasping her hand even more firmly.
"I need to cook for tomorrow," she insisted with a whimper and tried to shook out of his grasp.
"Risa, Nakano-sensei thought … you and I …. I mean as a couple," he mumbled, "I know. It is ok."
She stopped fighting her way out and collapsed on the couch. She put head on his chest and started sobbing. Her sobs soon turned into wails quickly and he soon found himself holding her as she shook and trembled, whispering soothing words in her ear and petting her head.
"I never … thanked him for teasing us," she sniffled.
"I think," Otani spoke carefully, "that if you did that he would just laugh at your face.
"You know what I mean," she answered back hoarsely.
"I know. I know," he assured her. "Come, come," he whispered and he helped her to her feet, "We will have a funeral to attend tomorrow morning," he concluded grimly and lead her to their bedroom, trying to hug her closely in the process.
I think I am getting depressing lately. I must say I like Nakano-sensei a lot. He has to put with their stupidity all the time and he has a great sense of humour. I will write another one with him soon.
Please review.
