The Cicada Factory – Chapter 2
Tsukasa switched on the blow-drier, brushing her hair as the water dried away. Another hot night had forced her to take a cold bath that morning. Even worse, she hadn't set her alarm last night, so she had missed telling Kagami about Konata wanting to meet everyone later. But I'm sure I had... She shook her head, feeling her hair lighter now, Well, at least I remembered about meeting everyone later.
Her dad had told her how Kagami had just decided to walk to the store to buy groceries, muttering something about getting out more. She was taking a while, maybe she had gotten tired? She'll be fine, Tsukasa assured herself, She wouldn't let herself get tired that easily.
Her hair dry she switched the drier off. She opened her closet, looking for an outfit, but then realised: she didn't know what she should wear! "Kona-chan said something about taking advantage of the good weather... maybe we're going to do something outdoors?" Tsukasa thought about that for a moment. "Maybe she bought us tickets for a theme park!" In any case, she'd need to know what they were doing so she could choose what to wear.
She picked up her cell phone, punching in Konata's number. The phone rang, she played with her bathrobe's belt ...No answer. Try again, ...No answer. She then tried her house number, which picked-up on the first ring.
"Hi, there! Izumi residence!" came a breathless Konata.
"Um, hi, Kona-chan! It's Tsukasa."
"Did you just call my cell?"
"Yeah. Why are you out of breath?"
"Oh, I heard my cell ringing so I ran all over my room looking for it. Then you called this phone, so I had to run downstairs to catch you!"
Tsukasa sweat-dropped, How fast can she move?! "Um, well, I was wondering what clothes Onee-chan and I should wear because I'm not quite sure what we're doing today."
Konata didn't respond. "Kona-chan?"
"Where's Kagami?" Tsukasa had rarely heard her friend as serious.
"She...went to the store for dad a little while ago, I don't know when she'll be back. Why?"
"I was just thinking..." Tsukasa didn't know what to expect. "It's strange for you to be the one taking the initiative to find out what's going on, Tsukasa! That's usually Kagami-sama's job!" Tsukasa could only stand there, Was that a compliment or not?
"Well I won't tell you what we're doing, that would ruin the surprise!" Konata said smugly, "But you guys should probably wear something for running around outside, something casual."
"Okay, Konata! Thanks!"
"You know, if you're not ready yet you'd better hurry up! It's 12.30, and I was serious about that penalty, you know!"
"Oh, dear! Um, 'bye Kona-chan!"
"See you, Tsukasa!" she hung up.
"Okay: something to wear, something to wear..." the slightly panicking girl turned back to her closet. Flicking clothes hangers this way and that she looked for an outfit. I hope Kagami gets back soon, or she'll miss the train. The hot weather didn't agree with Tsukasa, and she was worried she'd fall asleep on the train and miss the stop. But Kagami would always wake her if she did.
She eventually chose out a pair of shorts that reached her knees and a sleeveless yellow-striped white shirt. Her main problem out of the way, all she could do was wait until Kagami came back.
***
Kagami, drenched in sweat, lethargically stumbled to her room. Collapsing onto her bed she allowed her breathing to return to normal, her burning limbs splayed out to her sides. Eventually she raised her head. She reached over to the grocery bag she had brought, almost forgotten in her fatigue. Opening the edge she reached in, removing her guilty pleasure...
"Welcome back, Onee-chan!" Kagami jumped, startled by her twin's sudden entrance.
She twisted around, stuffing the box behind her. Defensive mode, activate! "No, I'm not gonna get fat! I'm making up for it with the exerci-" noticing it was Tsukasa, and her stunned expression, she calmed herself down. "...Um, hi, Tsukasa..."
Kagami relaxed, sitting the pocky on the bed in front of her. "Did you enjoy your walk?" Tsukasa had returned to normal, curious about her twin's sudden motivation to get outside.
"Right up until the end of the block," Kagami grimaced, "I didn't realise I would get so sweaty..."
"Why did you want to go out, Onee-chan?"
"...Don't tell anyone, but I was thinking about what Miyuki said one time, about exercising as well as dieting..." Not again! "So I thought I should go to the store for dad, you know, to get out of the house. But, while I was there, I was thinking about how many calories I would have burned getting there, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to buy some pocky..." her voice trailed off.
Tsukasa just smiled, knowing her sister's weakness for sweets. Suddenly she remembered, "Oh, Kagami! Kona-chan called me last night-"
"Yeah, she called me too, but I hung-up. What'd she say?"
"Well, she said she'd organised something for us all to do today..."
"Today? No..." She looked over to her desk. She had planned to spend the day studying... She looked down at the box of pocky in her arms, I don't want to leave you, either... Eventually she sighed, "What's she planned?"
"Well, she didn't actually say what we're doing, she didn't want to ruin the surprise," Of course she wouldn't... "but she did say we should wear something for running around outside, so-" She stopped, seeing her twin's resigned expression.
"The one day I decide to get a little exercise she decides to 'help'. How did she find out..?" Kagami moaned, collapsing on her mattress. Tsukasa said nothing.
As Kagami sighed again Tsukasa piped-up, "Um, you know, sis; it's not just us who're going." No reaction. "Yuki-chan's definitely coming. Konata's invited Martin-san, and I bet Yutaka-chan and her friends will want to go, too. She might even have invited Kusakabe-san and Minegishi-san, so you can spend time with them, too."
"Typical Konata, getting everyone involved without asking if we're okay with it..." Kagami muttered.
Tsukasa leaned over her sister, "If you really don't want to come, I don't think she'd mind."
Lilac hair flew as Kagami threw her head back with laughter, Tsukasa barely managed to keep her balance. Picking herself up, Kagami said, "Tsukasa, of course she'd mind! She'd never stop saying how I'd wasted the great weather!" She smiled wryly at her sister, who returned it. Kagami would always make time for Kona-chan... "Well, if I've got to do any more exercise today, I'd better have a bath first. When was it she wanted to meet us?" She walked across the hall to the bathroom.
Tsukasa checked the clock beside Kagami's bed. "It's 12.50, now, so..."
***
The train ride to Miyuki's stop would take half an hour. To catch the right train the twins would have to run to the station - Kagami barely had enough time to change her clothes and put on deodorant. While she was changing, Tsukasa grabbed a sweater from her own room. As she turned to leave she saw her maths textbook on her desk: she'd been having trouble studying last night, hadn't she? She looked out her window again, re-tracing her thoughts from last night. Suddenly she remembered.
She rushed downstairs to the kitchen to her dad, who was still reading the newspaper after his lunch. "Dad!" She had to ask now, she'd probably forget again later.
"Tsukasa, what is it?" he said, looking over at her.
"Dad, you know when I said I wanted us to get a dog a while ago?" He thought back for a moment, then nodded. "Well, I was thinking that, maybe a dog wouldn't be a good idea. But could I maybe get something smaller and easier to look after? Like, maybe guinea-pigs?"
Tadao smiled, "You're right, they would be a better idea than a dog," Tsukasa's eyes lit up with hope, "But, Tsukasa, did you think about how much they would cost to buy and look after?"
"Yes!" Her eyes had become uncharacteristically serious. "But you could buy them for me as my birthday present this year! It's all I'd ask for!"
It was rare for his daughter to be so serious about something, so Tadao had to struggle to refuse her. Smiling sadly, he said, "You know, Tsukasa, you'd only be able to keep them for a few months before you have to go to college. And then you might even have to get an apartment close by to shorten the commute. On-top of studying, looking-after yourself and part-time job; when would you have time to look after them?"
Before Tsukasa could think of an answer Kagami ran in, dragging her outside. "Sorry, Dad! We're going out with our friends and we're almost late for our train. Call us if you need us to get anything while we're gone!" Tsukasa quickly reverted to her normal self, stumbling after her sister.
"Enjoy yourselves!" Tadao waved them out from his seat. "And, Tsukasa," his daughter turned back, "I don't really think it would be a good idea for you to get a pet, but, if you really want one, we could talk over it again later."
"Um, yeah-"
"Tsukasa! Come on!"
"Ah! Coming!" She chased after her twin, yelling, "'Bye, dad!" over her shoulder. The door slammed shut.
***
For what must have been the first time in Japanese history: without good reason the train was late, by a whole two minutes. Quite fortunate for Kagami and Tsukasa, since they themselves had been late, despite running. Flopping down on two vacant seats the twins struggled to catch their breath. Kagami looked down at her pale-blue shirt, sweat staining her collar. What was the point in changing?! Maybe she should change her deodorant to a better antiperspirant...
Kagami opened the window behind her while Tsukasa waved her arms to let some of the sweat evaporate, earning a few glances from the other passengers. The day's heat was soon lost to the air rushing past the train, and the girls' discomfort soon passed. As they relaxed, Tsukasa slowly slipped into sleep, leaning against the uncomfortable middle-aged man beside her. On her other side Kagami realised she was holding something. It was her box of pocky, still unopened. She smiled, opening the box; didn't she deserve a treat after that little fiasco? She quickly popped one of the sticks in her mouth. As she was about to put the box away, she thought back to earlier: she hadn't had one after her walk. Another one wouldn't hurt...
***
A.N. Was it worth the wait? I don't really think so. This chapter and the next were supposed to be together at first, but the length was too intimidating for me to write in one go so I cut it. Also, since the weather is great in the story but in reality is a cold, wet November, I got stuck in a reverse-spiral of lost motivation. I'm back in control, now, and I'm really enjoying writing the next chapter! I temporarily got rid of the flashback thing I did last time, I didn't really see a good way for it to work in this one. I might be using it again in chapter 4, though: I like writing like that!
As of today I'll be on a two-night trip across the water to the lovely Isle of Arran with my school! The only downside is that I won't be near a computer, so I can't reply to emails, or do any writing! I'll be back on Sunday, though, and I'll bring paper to write chapter 3 on! I might even update this next week! Look forward to it!
