Chapter 1: Does an album release and free poster justify the wait?
By: ~Skyle~
Author's note:
From hereon out, My writing style will include words that are taken from the Japanese language.
If you are having trouble understanding certain sentences, 'google search' is always an option.
If not, do tell, and I'll be more than happen to put its meanings at the end of the chapter.
Why do we take naps?
The ideal answer would be to recover from fatigue. Then what is the purpose of sleeping? So that we can have dirty dreams or wet dreams?
Regardless of how you define those two, my answer is as follows: Nap is when I return home and have nothing to do. Sleep is for when I am force to off my room lights at night in fear of my mother's bickering as she asks me not to stay up so late.
So then, as of now, why am I taking a nap? The answer is simple – I had nothing to do.
I'm no longer in any club, thus there was no reason for me to stay back in school. I've no shift today, thus there's no need for me to prepare for my part-time job.
In conclusion, here I am, resting on my bed until my mother comes knocking on the door asking me to head down for dinner. Huh? Homework? Nah, I'll do that tonight…or copy from my friends' tomorrow morning. Hmm…the second option seems more appealing.
Be it god's will or whatnot, my smartphone rings just as one of the seven sins known as sloth begins to consume me. Sluggishly, I reach out for my smartphone which has a touchscreen wide enough for me not to squint my eyes when playing games that involves tanks-taking-shape-of-girls [1].
For a moment, I ponder if I should pick up the call. If I do, my lovely ringtone will stop playing and I have to hear the voice of my bishounen friend. If I don't, my ears shall continue to enjoy the lovely idol voices, which is a bliss.
Well, I'll pick up for now, as I can always play the full song later from my playlist.
I try my best to imitate a sleepy voice, "Hello?~~~~~"
"Bro! I have big news! IT-IS-ON-SALE." My bishounen friend speaks in a rather loud voice.
It? Whatever could he mean, "I'm sorry Kenji, I don't understand what-"
"They pushed its release date 24 hours earlier. Trust my sources. The first 100 customers from that shop will get a limited edition poster."
My brain cells begin to run in overdrive. I'm on my feet even without my brain giving the orders. My wallet is already in my pocket once my brain has processed everything. The pain from jumping down 10 flights of stairs has been rejected from my nervous system for I must press on.
The voice of my mother saying some about 'dinner' has been deemed unimportant as I put on my shoes.
"IT IS ON SALE!" I roar at my highest voice as I push open my house door and dash ahead with all my might.
"I'll see you on the other side." My bishounen friend ends the call with that sentence.
With adrenaline running throughout my body, I feel like the gold medal for running 2000 meters in the Olympic is nothing more but an easy feat. No one can stop me. Even if the world stops rotating its usual 1,180 km/hr, I'll keep running on its behalf. I'll be the first 100 customers, even if it means breaking a leg or two just to get there!
Making an emergency turn around the corner, my final destination comes into sight. A line has yet to be formed in front of the store. As expected of my bishounen friend, he gets his information before others could.
Mustering whatever strength left in me for the last spurt, I make a beeline for the store entrance, avoiding civilians and obstacles with reflexes that would put a Mongoose to shame [2].
From the other side of me, a lone figure dashes into my view with speed that could be on par with mine. His from-birth red hair which flows elegantly even when he's running gives him the right to be called a bishounen. His sly looking light brown eyes and decorative glasses would cause a certain group of girls to go 'KYAAAA!' whenever he passes by their classes, further reinforces his position as a bishounen. His simple black shirt and jeans look stylish when he wears them, making me wonder if he should just work as a model.
As the bishounen and I edge ourselves closer to each other and the store, I raise my right fist in anticipation of what is to happen. The bishounen puts on a smile that would cause most girls to faint on the spot, and raises his fist in suit.
With a few steps before us, our fist plunge forward. At the last minute, we pull back out punch and relax our fist, turning it into a hand shake.
"THE FIRST IN LINE!" I shout at the top of my voice as my bishounen friend, Nakamura Kenji, lets out a triumph laugh as the gazes of everyone in our surrounding pierces into our back.
After a full 15 seconds or triumphant laughing, the both of us return to normal human beings and lean against the wall of the store.
"So…what time is the album going on sale?" I ask my bishounen friend as he checks his smartphone.
"12.00am." Kenji replies as he shows me the official announcement on the website.
"Heh…" I look at the time displayed on the top right of his smartphone, "it's only 4.42pm…"
"Yup, looks like we barely made it." my bishounen friend lets out a sigh of satisfaction as he keeps his smartphone.
"So…we have about seven hours to waste…"
"Yup."
"…I should have brought my power bank."
"Don't worry, I brought mine." Kenji shows me his bulky power bank, "Don't worry, it holds 20,000mAh and has two charging slots."
As expected of my bishounen friend, he came prepared.
"Well…before we run through our battery, want to play a game of shiritori?"
"Izaya, we have seven hours. Even 100 rounds of shiritori won't be enough." Kenji pats my shoulder as he puts on his usual smile that could capture the hearts of 100 girls.
"Alright, I'll begin. Opp-" and so round one of our shiritori game begins as we wait for the new album of an idol group that we support to go on sale in seven hours' time. Hurray from free time and nothing to do~~~
By the way, Kenji's reply to my word was Ikuuuuuu (cum).
They say that time flies when you are having fun. Allow me to add my own quote which represent time:
[Time falls flat on the road and becomes roadkill when you are hungry to the point that even the roadkill known as time, looks like a feast.] – Shinozaki Izaya.
After 20 rounds of shiritori, I went ahead and use up my 'fuel' and 'diesel' in my Panther-chacha [1] game while Kenji uses up his'AP' in his Destiny-UnGrand-Order [3] game. By then, 45 minutes have passed and about 30 people are in-line behind us.
We proceed to play another 20 rounds of shiritori, only to realize that we are thirsty. The bloody passer-by that we entrusted to buy us two 1.5L bottles of mineral water returned with the bottles but ran away with our change. Another 30 minutes had passed.
It was then that someone calls my smartphone, playing the beautiful voice on a certain idol group. The word 'mother-from-hell' is displayed on my screen, making me doubt if I should pick up.
Kenji decides to be a sadist and helps me swipe my phone to pick up the call. The next 10 minutes went by with my mother shouting through my phone straight into my right ear about my unorthodox behaviour when I dashed out of the house, along with the fact that I won't be coming back for dinner.
[Huh? You'll return after twelve? Izaya, it seems that you want to die eh?!]
"D-Dear mother, I believe it should be fine for you to let your 16-year-old lovely and obedient son to return slightly later than usual right?"
To be honest, I was never one who could praise the gods until they decent onto earth. Praising my mother would be a more impossible feat.
[I see…my obedient son eh. Very well, have it your way.]
"Ah, thank you dear-"
[I'LL LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS! ENJOY SLEEPING WITH THE WORMS OUTSIDE!] my mother ends the phone conversation.
"Izaya, you have my condolences." I know that Kenji is supposed to empathize me but…why the hell is he smiling?!
"W-Well…I'll make it through tonight." Even my laugh sounds depressing.
Time: 6.30pm
My stomach begins to grumble and demands food of the highest quality. Unfortunately, we are unable to surrender our 1st and 2nd position just to go and grab a quick meal.
After pondering for the available options with Kenji, we decide to make a call.
*du du…du du*
[Hello?]
"Ah, Maya? It's me, Izaya."
[I'm sorry, I won't fall for the 'It's me, it's me' scam (ore, ore phone scams).] the call was disconnected from the other side.
That b**ch…playing with us when we need her the most.
*du du…du du*
[Hello?]
"Maya! Stop fooling around! Kenji and I are in a pinch. We need your-"
[I'm sorry. I have no money to bail you both out of prison for molesting girls on the train.] the call was disconnected from the other side.
…my god-like patience level seems to have reached its limit.
*du du…du du*
[Eh…how did it go again? The number you call, is no longer in service. Plea-]
"Enough fooling around you b**ch! Here we are starving to death and-"
[B**ch? Izaya, did you just call me a b**ch?]
I can feel waves of anger radiating from the other side of the call, "Eh, Maya-sama, it appears that there is something wrong with our connection. I never once said such a word about you, my great Maya-sama."
[Really? So you are saying that my hearing is getting worse? Am I correct?]
"Of course not, Maya-sama! I am nothing more but a peasant in dire need of your assistance. Please-"
[Cut the c**p and tell me what you want.]
That is the cue that Maya is done playing around, "Kenji and I are in-line for an idol album going on sale later at 12.00am and we can't leave the line to grab out dinner. If you could-"
[Send me your location.] the call was disconnected from the other side.
I face my bishounen friend, "…everything is fine, right? There is no way that Maya sounded angry from that conversation…right?"
Kenji merely puts up and smile of empathy before fiddling around with his phone, "Just let Maya break a limb or two of yours. I'm sure she'll be fine after that."
…it was at this moment that my bishounen friend abandoned me to fend for myself against the wrath of Maya.
Time: 7.15pm
The line behind us has grown to the size of a small battalion. Those people after the 100th mark must be nuts. They won't be receiving anything extra from lining up, yet here they are. Isn't it fine if you just buy it online or just drop by the store tomorrow to get it?
Are you all masochists? Does the thought of being packed in line turn you on? Huh? The album is worth the wait? Yeah right. The wait will only cause you to have lack of sleep tomorrow morning, resulting in unnecessary yawning and dozing off while attending classes or work. There's no way your teacher or boss will accept this as a valid excuse.
To show your support for the idol group? The only support the group needs from you is your money! You wait in line and buy it at 12.00am, they'll receive your support. Buy it tomorrow when there isn't a line, they'd still receive your support. This reason is invalid less it's for their concert ticket!
By the way, Kenji agrees with my train-of-thought. If we didn't make it for the first 100, we'd be long gone from here.
Side note…Maya is taking her time with our dinner.
"Kenji, any update from Maya?"
"Hmm? *munch much* *swallow* Nope, nothing at all." I swear I just saw Kenji holding a chocolate wrapper in his right hand.
"Hey…Kenji…we are friends, right?"
"Eh? Are we?" would you look at that, another chocolate in his right hand. Ah, now all that's left is the wrapper.
"Bastard! Share some with me! I'm hungry as well!" looks like hunger has reduced me to nothing more but a mere barbarian.
"What are the two of you doing?" a familiar voice enters my ears.
"Heh? If it isn't Kenji and Baka-Izaya? Ah, no wonder nee-chan bought those bento." another familiar but cuter voice enters my ear.
Releasing my death-grip on Kenji, I stand up and turn around.
Erasing the fact that I just mounted Kenji from my memory, I greet the two figures in front of me "Yo, Maya. How have you been?"
"Fine…Ai wants me to accompany her to buy some lingerie." Maya's voice is forever nonchalant tone.
"Baka-Izaya, why didn't you greet me~~?" it seems like the cute voice next to Maya is talking to me.
"Kenji, I leave it to you." I retreat a few steps as Kenji steps forward.
"Good evening, Maya, as well as Ai-chan."
"Shut up, you gigolo bishounen." the sweet voice just said something rather ill-fitting, "I'm talking to Baka-Izaya…I mean Bakaya. Gigolo's should stay out of this."
Did she just merge the insult and my name?
"There's your reply, Izaya…Bakaya. I got burned…really bad." Kenji retreats behind me.
Wait…is this new insult catching on? Bakaya? Eh?
I decide to head straight to the cause, "Err, Ai-chan, please don't change my name just because you-"
"Bakaya, please don't speak to my sister. You'll tarnish her".
It's really catching on! Even Maya is using it!
"Seriously…each and every one of you." I can do nothing but weep in silence.
Now that I am in the process of recovering from my depression, allow me to introduce the two sisters.
The one who speaks with a nonchalant tone is Kanzaki Maya, the 16-year-old elder sister. She has always been my classmate since middle school, which means we have known each other for four years. As usual, her long black hair is tied in a ponytail with a black scrunchie. Maybe it's because of the night lights but top of her hair is coloured beige, a colour fitting for her stiff expression, unsmiling face, and cold blue eyes. As for her attire, she's wearing a comfy black shirt along with her usual white jacket and black jeans. Ah, let us not forget the two bento containers in her right hand.
And of course, the one standing next to Maya is the little sister with a cute voice yet poisonous words, the 15-year-old Kanzaki Ai. A freshman in my school, Ai is nothing more but a wolf hidden in sheep's clothing. Wait, that might be an understatement. Kanzaki Ai is a wolf-snake-swindler-manipulator-demon lord wrapped in the clothing of the cutest puppy in the world. Unlike her sister who doesn't show much emotions, Ai displays a variety of emotions that changes according to the situation, yet they are nothing more but fake emotions. She keeps her stylish Burnette hair at neck-length, using a cute hairpin to pin her fringe to her left, revealing her light blue eyes filled with hidden intentions. She loves to dress lightly in order to fully utilize her body figure to swindle men when needed.
B y the way, both sisters have their front fringe shaped in a 'v-shape'. Maya leaves it as it is while Ai pins it to her left.
"Come now, Baka-Izaya, cheer up~~" looks like Ai decides to continue her previous insult.
"Anyways, here." Maya passes me the two bento containers that she bought from the convenience store.
"Thank you, Maya. You were a great help." I pass the containers to Kenji before taking out my wallet, "So, how much is it?"
"2,000 yen each, including delivery charge~~" Ai butts in and puts on a super-sweet smile (fake).
"So expensive!" I blurt out on impulse as Kenji remains silent with his usual smile on his face. Looks like he'll leave it to me to negotiate the price.
"400 yen each." Maya states with her nonchalant tone.
"Alright." I pass her a 1,000-yen note.
She accepts it and places it into her jacket pocket, "I'll buy you a soda tomorrow."
That's her way of saying that she doesn't have change, "Sure, no problem."
"Ah, nee-san~~" Ai walks behind her sister and sticks you her head from the right, "Don't forget that Bakaya called you a b**ch on the phone."
…I totally forgot about that-
A fist lands straight onto my stomach area. Thankfully, my stomach is as empty as the barren lands of the desert, or I would start vomiting out stuff. However, this isn't enough to quell Maya's rage. She grabs me by the top of my shirt and pushes me backwards, my back pressed against the wall. She proceeds to use her right knee to strike my stomach area a few times.
As if she knew what was to come, Maya retreats just as the gastric juices in my stomach was forced upwards, out of my mouth. My vision remains blurry and I am on all four, viewing my gastric juice on the pavement.
"Baka-izaya-senpai~~? Are you alive~~?" I am greeted with Ai's sly smile as she squats in front of me.
"Maya, I'm sorry." I answer before accepting the water bottle that Kenji passes to me before helping me up.
Maya is looking away from me, showing her back to me.
She makes a sideway glace at me, "This is a line to buy an album right? For that idol group."
"Yup. Kenji and I are first in line."
Looking behind, the nearby individuals are frozen in fear after observing what Maya did to me.
"Izaya…what are you doing here? This is not where you belong." Maya uses her rare 'serious tone'.
"You are wrong." I reply with my usual tone, "This is what interest me, not the world's interest. Thus, I am here."
"What kind of logic is that?" Maya turns around with the emotion 'anger' slowly seeping onto her face, "Just because that happened, you decide to abandon everything and revert into an otaku? What makes you think-"
"Maya, I didn't abandon everything." surprisingly I can't get angry after what she just said, "I merely decided to stop pleasing the world. And I am not an otaku, I merely respect idols…that is all."
The emotion 'anger' is clearly visible on Maya's face. Before she could speak, Kenji interject with a tone that is calm yet with a hint of seriousness, "Maya, isn't that enough? Besides, I believe that some lingerie shops are awaiting your visit, correct?"
"tch, baka gigolo bishounen." a cute voice just uttered something extremely poisonous.
The anger in her face disappears as Maya lets out a soft sigh before turning around and walk away, "Ai, we're leaving."
"See you tomorrow." I say to Maya, who doesn't reply.
"Coming, nee-san~~" Ai stops in front of us and puts on her sly smile, "Thank you for the drama, Izaya-senpai."
Now she calls me in a respectful way?
She turns towards Kenji's direction and shows a disgust face while lowering four of her five right fingers, "Drop dead, you gigolo bishounen."
Kenji merely laughs off the insult as Ai chases after her sister. Like a storm, the Kanzaki sisters came and left.
"Ha…hungry, hungry." I rub my stomach as Kenji passes me a bento container.
Using the water in my bottle, I wash away the gastric juice on the pavement before we squat against the wall.
"Itadakimasu."Kenji and I say our thanks before digging into our similar bento. As expected, everything tastes delicious when you are hungry.
Only four and a half hours left until the album goes on sale.
Author's note of certain references:
[1] Andriod game 'Panzer Waltz'
[2] When I did my research, I was surprised as well. the Mongoose animal is surprisingly 'amazing'.
[3] Andriod game 'Fate Grand Order'