The apartment seems darker once Hotaru is gone. Haruka has taken my bags up the stairs to where the rest of the bedrooms are. I want to examine the wall of photos but im scared and instead I sit on the couch facing the windows. I watch planes in the sky and I watch boats on the water. I clear my mind.
"I set you up in the guest room." Haruka's voice breaks my clarity.
"Sorry?" I say realizing I had fallen asleep and now am a bit out of it.
"Sorry, I didn't realize you had falling asleep. You remember where you are?" he asked gently. I study him, his features are soft.
"Oh yes, I know where I am. I just didn't catch what you had said."
"I put your things in the guest room, until you're comfortable."
"Why can't I sleep in my room?" I ask.
"I wasn't sure you would be comfortable there."
"Why wouldn't I be?" I ask. Haruka's cheeks turned a pale shade of pink.
"We share that room."
"Oh." I say feeling foolish. "Sorry, I didn't think of that. I guess I didn't realize, but of course." I ramble. "Hotaru calls you papa, and me mama why I didn't piece that together. I'm sorry." I end.
"It's ok."
"I'll sleep in the guest room then." I say.
"Good." Haruka nods. "Would you like a tour?"
"Sure" I say joining him at the stairs. He places his hand at the small of my back as he leads me around our apartment. He shows me the kitchen and asks if I know what everything is, I do, things I remember it's everything else I forget. We walk to Hotaru's room and Haruka opens the door, I'm filled with joy as I look into the room. The walls are a medium purple making the space feel warm but small, her bed is a poster and sheer purple drapes hang from the posts. There are few dolls but I do notice there is a large painting on the roof of the sky.
"Who painted that?" I ask staring in awe of the precise astrological dimension.
"You." Haruka says.
"I paint?"
"You're considered a genius." He closes Hotaru's door and leads me up the stairs. There are four rooms on our second floor a guest room, the master bedroom, a bathroom and an arts room. Haruka shows me the art room first, it's mine he explains but everyone spends time there. There is an unfinished painting of the ocean placed near the window. The room is a boring white but there are ridges in the walls that I don't understand.
"It's for sound proofing. You play the violin."
"I paint and play the violin."
"Yes. You're very talented Michiru." Haruka smiles at me. "I accompany you on the piano and Hotaru is learning the guitar. Mostly she just sings to whatever we are playing." I smile, that sounds nice. Next I'm shown the guest room that I will be staying in, it's a sand coloured room with a large bed and a small desk, there is little else in this room save for the large window facing the city rather than the ocean.
"It's a big room for the guest." I say randomly.
"You hated it when we bought the apartment. You needed a room that faced the ocean, so we renovated." Haruka led me to our master suite and the view took my breath away. Being a bit higher gave the illusion that we were in the ocean. The blue of the sky mixed with the blue of the water gave little end.
"It's amazing." I said resting my hand on the window.
"It's something." Haruka agreed. "Other than my garage that's the whole place."
"Your garage?"
"I have a shop in the basement of the building. You hate it there but it's where I spend a great deal of time. I fix up cars and bikes."
"As a job?"
"No, I race cars as a job." He smiled.
"I paint and you race cars?" I asked not understanding how two people so different could be married.
"Something like that." He said glancing at his watch. "I should feed you." I nodded feeling my stomach groan.
I watch as Haruka makes dinner, little things about him are familiar and make me smile as if I had smiled at them before; the way he grabs the hot pan without thinking to use a towel, the way he curses under his breath and waves his hand in the air cooling it. I watch him and wonder what kind of toll my amnesia has taken on him, on what was or would be us.
"How did we meet?" I ask as he sets a plate in front of me.
"We met in school." He answers shortly.
"Ok." I say wanting more.
"We met in our last year at junior school. I was running track and after I won the match you approached me wondering if you could draw me. I said no but you were very." He paused. Persistent."
"I was?" I say wondering if I could be that brave.
"You wouldn't take no for an answer. And it's hard to say no to such a pretty face. I eventually gave in and you got your drawing."
"We've been together for that long?" I ask.
"Yes."
"I should remember."
"It's alright Michiru. You didn't ask to forget."
"No." I agree. "Will you tell me about the accident?"
"No." He answered. "And it's late, you should be getting some rest."
"I suppose." I said frowning. Haruka cleared our dishes and walked with me to the guest room.
"Tomorrow I'll tell you more." He said.
"Good night Haruka." I said. He leaned forward and for a moment I wondered if he were about to kiss me. His eyes opened wide as he regained himself.
"Good night Michiru." He said finally. I stepped into the sandy room and closed the door.