Scene Eleven: Something in Common
…
The entire first half of class passes uneventfully. Lunch makes itself know with its bell. I get up from desk only to be cornered by the tag team duo of Shizune and Misha.
"Hello~ Zacchan! We were wondering if~ you'd like to~"
Great! What're they going for now?
"~have lunch with us!"
"Yeah, why not? What do you think they have in the cafeteria?"
"Silly~! We're planning on going into town for lunch!"
"Then, we'd better get going if we all want an adequate meal."
[Don't worry about digging in your wallet. I've decided to treat us all to this meal. We plan on going to this little café in town. It's in the style of an old Chinese tea shop. It's called the Shanghai.]
[Thanks, Shizune. That's really kind of you.]
We walked into the hallway, all ready to travel to the Shanghai. That's when…
She happened.
I felt a sharp knock in my chest as my assailant and I fell to the floor. What I saw was not what I was expecting. She had on two running prosthetics and a girl's track uniform. She had pink hair pulled up into twin-tails. She was overly cute with her slightly wrinkled nose.
"Aw, man. Ow! Hey, are you okay?"
She was as cute as a puppy when she got up. My one weakness. I moved to answer when it hit. My heart rate increase without rhythm causing a sharp pain to shoot through my left arm. I rubbed my chest while taking slow deep breaths in order to keep from losing consciousness. Turns out she just knocked the wind out of me. She's powerful for her size.
"Hey, do I need to get the nurse?!"
Suddenly, I remember why I'm on the floor.
"Yeah, I'm fine. You just knocked the wind outta me."
Not long after I get up, Shizune's already on this girl's case.
[Miss Ibaraziki, are you not aware of the rules of the halls? There is to be no running. Zakuri has an important heart condition and you could've hurt him big time.]
This was all coming out of Misha's mouth, so it lessened in severity. But, that was private information Shizune. You could've just told her to be more careful.
"Omygosh! I am SO sorry. Are you hurt? Please don't be hurt or mad!"
I find myself smiling in spite of the severity of nature this could have had.
"I'm alright, Ibaraziki. Just watch out next time for a fellow prosthetic."
I lifted my right pant leg, exposing my false leg. She gasped, looking at me with horror at the realization. She whimpers, but then pulls a complete 180 when thinks about the time.
"Oh crap. Look I have to get these papers to a teacher quick. See you around, Zakuri!"
"Interesting…"
I feel a tugging on my collar. Misha and Shizune were about to begin dragging me to the Shanghai. We promptly exited school grounds, heading down the hills, and entering the small town that's located next to Yamaku.
The Shanghai looked like an old time shop from an older Chinese dynasty era. I looked like it would appeal to anyone. Except there was no one in there. All of a sudden, there was a loud knock against what sounded like a table. To my surprise, it was Yuuko.
"Hello, and welcome to the Shanghai. I'll have you seated once I get your order."
She performed a hundred mile bow with her greeting.
"Yuuko? I didn't know you worked here."
"Zakuri? Ah, and Misha and Shizune! What'll you have?"
"Hello~ Yuuchan! I'll have a parfait and green tea with milk, Shicchan will have her usual tea. What'll you have Zacchan?"
"Coffee with milk and… I'll take the Miso soup and ramen. That looks good. Hmmm, and a strawberry cake. Don't worry, Shizune. I'll pay for half my meal if you're treating Misha, yourself and me."
She wrinkled her girly nose, and her scowl faded into a cute smile. Misha was as bubbly as ever.
[Thanks, Zakuri.]
"Maybe you should be treating your two cute~ class representatives instead, Zacchan!"
"Heh, heh. Maybe I should. Next time, I promise."
They both lit up in a crimson hue, trying to hide the fact that I just embarrassed them. That made them cuter. They both laughed it off, but I reassured them that I will keep the promise. Our food got here without further delay, and we all dug in to our respective meals. That's when another unforgivable question graced Misha's lips as she was inhaling her parfait.
"Have you thought about joining Student Council, Zacchan?"
"No, Micchan, Zakuri-kun has yet to ponder his position on joining the royal and prestigious Student Council."
"You don't have to be so patronizing, Zacchan."
She looked down, frowning hard.
"Sorry, Misha. I didn't to come off as condescending and rude. Please accept my apology."
Her mood improved and she gave me a teeth-full grin. I look down and see that we're now ten minutes late to class. Great.
"Hey, guys. We're late for class."
"We know, Zacchan!"
"I see that we're all working hard to rectify our current predicament. Well, whenever you're ready to mobilize, I'll be right behind you."
[You seem awfully moved to get back class, Zakuri.]
That's when she went into blunt mode.
[Are you sleeping alright? I remember you saying you had trouble getting to sleep. I've started to see bags underneath your eyes. If need help, ask for help.]
"Is that true, Zacchan? If you need help, you should ask for it. You're not alone here. You have friends like us to keep you on the straight and narrow~! Believe it~!"
Their sudden cheerfulness filled me with a sense of belonging. I'm really not alone here.
"Hey, guys?"
"Yes, Zacchan~~!"
"Thanks. Let's get back to class, alright?"
They both nodded with pleasure.
We returned in time for the last period of classes. As I was packing my belongings, the two cute class representatives of class 3-3 tugged on the back of my collar. They really like doing that.
"Zacchan~! We need you to get some art materials from the art room!"
"What? You can't do it?"
[The art teacher creeps me out.]
"Ignore him."
[Hasn't worked the past few times.]
"What about you, Misha?"
"Stairs make me dizzy, Zacchan. Pretty please, Zacchan? Can you get these materials for us? We need to start working on festival preparations before we fall behind."
"Alright girls. I'll do it. Just don't spring stuff like this on me, okay?"
[We promise!]
"We~ solemnly swear that we will consult with you on when we need your help~! Will that be alright, Zacchan?"
I nod my head, taking the slip of paper for Misha. My hand brushes against hers for a second. Her palms are cold and a bit sweaty. Must be from the constant signing. And with that, they started towards the end of the hallway to the stairs.
I clutched the door knob to the art room.
"Must be it."
Knocking, I entered. The room looked deserted, so I jokingly called out:
"Hello? Anyone…"
I'm stopped when tomboyish girl appears in my view. I'm caught off guard so badly that, when she acknowledges my existence, I blankly stare at her for more than a moment.
"Hello."
"Hi, I'm Tamaki Zakuri. Pleased to meet you."
"Tezuka Rin. It is well that I have met you."
"I didn't mean to interrupt your meal, but there are some supplies that I was ask to grab in here."
"It is alright. I do not mind. The supplies would be in the back."
"Thanks, Tezuka."
"Rin."
"Sorry?"
"You can call me Rin. I believe that relationship has reached that level at least."
"Uh, thanks. Zakuri then."
"No problem. I think. Unless you are serial rapist. But, you don't look like one. So, what's wrong with you?"
The rate at which this girl switches subjects is to damn high!
"What? I-I mean, what do you mean, 'what's wrong' with me?"
"I collect people, and their disabilities. Some people hurt though. They can't take it, so the end up in an even more melancholy situation than any artist in the past has. It is sad really I hope you're not one of them."
"If I was, I would have probably killed myself a long time ago. I bear all my pain, but I endure. The real reason I'm at this school is not because of scars or lost limb. I have a bad heart condition, and a while ago I had a terrible relapse in condition. I'm attending here while under rehabilitation."
"What limb did you lose?"
"Right leg."
"I know someone who lost both her legs. She likes sports and horses around a lot."
"Would that happen to be Miss Ibaraziki?"
"Yes. I wonder what it would be like if you had a problem with your tackle. I could've used someone in my collection with that disability."
"Eh, Right."
I thanked her for her insight into the world at large. I gathered the rest of the materials from the supply list, and exited the art room.
"What an interesting girl."
"I heard~ that!"
Suddenly I'm smacked in the face with gigantic pink drills. Misha's hair style is distinct, even when it's in my eyes.
"What did she hear, Zacchan~? Come to think of it, who's in there?"
Shizune opened the door. Her face blazed up like fire on nitrate film. The door came slamming back as she huffed in a rage. Rin deftly open the door with her foot.
"Hello."
[Miss Tezuka, you know it is against school policy to sleep on the desks!]
Through Misha, the statement didn't sound so threatening, but Shizune's jabs clearly defined that there was an imminent threat around the bend.
"I am sorry. I'll try to sleep somewhere less distressing. Maybe the floor?"
"Have you been hard~ at work on your mural?"
"No inspiration has come forth for putting brush to wall, paint to brick."
That was deep. She probably has no idea what she just said.
[Well, start working harder! Everyone is pitching in for the festival in a few weeks.]
With that, they took the materials from me and proceeded back to, presumably, the Student Council room. I turned back to Rin .She was contorting between faces, trying to decide what face best fit the situation.
"You need any help, Rin?"
"I'll need you to grab some paints and help me mix them."
"No problem."
I picked up her colors, and we proceeded down the stairwells towards the entrance. The nurse was waiting by the door. He spotted us, and proceeded towards us.
"Ah, Tamaki. And Miss Tezuka as well. How are you?"
Before either of us could answer, the nurse asked Rin if he could see me alone for a minute. It was not a conversation I was expecting to have right now.
"My spy has reported to me that you haven't been to any of the school's facilities. Zakuri, you have to start exercising a tad bit more to help your heart heal a little bit more. All I ask is that you head to the track in the morning and see what you can do."
"Ah, yes sir. In fact, I was wondering if this school had a weight lifting room, like a gym. So, I could work out you understand."
"We do. You can check it out after school tomorrow. Just go to the track in the morning. See you later, Zakuri. Miss Tezuka."
Rin didn't either notice or didn't acknowledge the nurses wave to her.
"Was he discussing something about your heart thingy?"
"Yeah."
Rin broke off conversation after that. Not as anything rude, just that she preferred the silence that passed between us over the words. I lifted her things over to her mural, and what I saw… intrigued me. Contortions of every part of the human body, bodies connected to faces connected to eyes, feet, and even a nose or two. This girl had some sense of direction. Or maybe she didn't have one at all, I couldn't tell.
"This mural is certainly interesting."
"Seven years bad luck."
"I know that. That's why I said interesting."
"I appreciate it all the same."
We got started with the mixing process which included mostly me on the ground swirling colors together to meet Rin's ever changing requirements.
"More green."
"This?"
"Hmm, a smidge of yellow?"
"Um…"
"Maybe white? I'm looking for the color that you see when you have just realize you are not alone within the universe, you know what I mean?"
"Maybe red?"
"I like that!"
This continued until it was too dark for me to mix and Rin to paint. We parted ways at the dorm rooms. I waved goodbye as Rin entered the girls' dorm. She is quite dexterous, and even though I just met her today, I want to get to know her better. I want peer into that shell she has encased herself in.
The bed feels as soft as ever.
Scene Twelve: Panic Attacks, Breathe
"AUGH!"
"Zakuri!"
"D-dad, I-I can't… feel…"
"Shit! Zakuri!"
My heart is on fire, almost not beating. Why is it so hot? I can't speak or move my body!
God! Help me, please! I don't understand what's going on!
"Doctor! He's waking up! Zakuri, you're okay!"
Dad looks crazy with worry. Have I done something wrong? Am I in a hospital again? Oh yeah, that's what heart attack is like. They said to be careful with my heart and I was. And now I'm back here. Why is my life so screwed up? Does God hate me? Maybe I'm just not good enough for anyone.
No. God doesn't hate anyone, and I am good enough for someone, anyone. That was memory of my first true heart attack. After that I started working out in the gym, increasing my cardio work outs every day to build my heart's strength. My life was only screwed up because it looked that way then, but I realize now that life is indifferent; it doesn't care because it'll go on and on, without any concern for those it leaves behind. I've grown stronger since then, but I snafued bad one day, and it landed me here. I won't live as long as everyone else, I won't be the average, but I know I can find the reason in a moment, no matter how small.
Well, I got at least seven hours of sleep tonight, because its 5:30 a.m. I'm already up, so I decide to get up and head for breakfast in the cafeteria. It's too early to walk into town, and I might not make back before classes start.
The cafeteria was buzzing with students in the school. There were a couple of first and second were causing trouble with their friends. Odd to think that they'll be here after I'm gone. I spied a familiar blonde head. I grabbed breakfast and strode over to her table.
"Hey, Lilly. Mind if I sit here?"
She looked surprised at my arrival.
"Oh, of course not, Zakuri."
"Thanks. So, how did things go over with our avid reader?"
"Huff, Hanako got scared because she looked you in the eye, and was afraid that you would get angry."
Her cheeks puffed out a little, making her cuter than normally. It's like I'm thinking with a different head than the one on my shoulders.
"Well, if she's here today, I can make amends. I was just trying to make a conversation with her, but I guess she isn't ready for that yet. So, Lilly. How have you been over the past few years?"
She was slightly stunned by my reversal of topic.
"Well, after Akira got her job, I had to be home to keep everything in order. It was more than lonely sometimes, and others were quite difficult. I sometimes wonder if we should have never moved out of your father's residence. I only moved into the dorms during this year as a way to lessen the strain on Akira. She's given so much to me."
"Hey, don't look so glum, Blondie. She loves as an older sister should. Never doubt that you always give back to Akira. Just having you around is sometimes what she needs to make it through the difficulty of her job. Akira cares for you, and, though she may not always be around, you have her in your heart. Even if that begins to wane, you have people around you who still care for you as much as Akira does."
With every word she brightens up greatly. My heart is relieved to see her this happy.
"I hope to count you among them. Zakuri."
I don't care if she can't see it, because I can't seem to wipe the smile off my face.
"Of course."
"Zakuri?"
Her face is suddenly saddened, but it's gone by the time I notice.
"Thank you. Excuse me. Have good day at school."
She gets up from the table with the sweetest smile I've seen all week. When she leaves, I finish off my less than average meal, but I don't care. I'm still smiling. I'm still surviving.