The Melancholy Of Kyonko (Kyoko) Izumi
Chapter 6
By: Ichi Okazaki
CHAPTER SIX:...Kyoko's Goodbye to Sweet Love...and Koizumi's Melancholy...
"Kyon. Hey, Kyon! Get your butt off my chair!"
Who was that shouting at me? Take a guess. If you guessed Haruhi, you're very much right. I could recoginize that voice from a mile away. I hadn't realized I had been dozing in the Brigade Chief's chair, with the computer turned on and the desktop showing the window for the folder of Asahina's knock-out lolita photos. Strangely enough, I didn't have any interest in them today...
"Ooooh...so maids do turn you on, Kyon-pyon...if you want more Asahina photos, you're gonna have to lick my feet for them. So if you don't wanna do that...get off my desk! Now! Do it in 5 seconds!" Haruhi yelled, smacking my head with a rolled-up copy of the new SOS brigade magazine/(photo collection of Mikuru in more lolita photos).
"Okay, okay, chief. I'm doing it." I said, relucantly getting off Haruhi's comfortable new seat. It was a sofa for one, actually. It was made of leather, and it was like those chairs you see in detective movies. I had to carry that damned chair all the way from Akihabara to North High (and even in the train!) Geez, Haruhi, if you wanted a new seat, you could've given your members some too...
Koizumi, however, was still the same. Always smiling and asking me if I want to play almost every type of board game ever made. Usually I declined, so he would end up playing with Kyoko. During the games, I noticed that he and Kyoko would exchange knowing glances, and they kept on laughing lightheartedly. It was obvious that Koizumi wanted to keep his relationship with my cousin a secret from the SOS brigade so badly.
Nagato was still reading books without a care in the world. Mikuru had been absent for three days now, and I was left standing wondering what to do or what to say. Today Koizumi and Kyoko were playing Chinese checkers, and Kyoko was really losing. But I guess it doesn't matter to her. Anyway, I went over to Kyoko and decided to start talking to her.
"Hey, cuz, when is your departure?" Those words were all I could say. I was beginning to feel unwell again. But I had to get an answer this time...
"Why are you asking that? You know perfectly well that I'll be staying here for a whole school year. Or maybe for a lifetime, or until the psychics call me for a different mission." Kyoko replied proudly. She didn't seem to know that Haruhi was around...I turned to Haruhi and saw her listening to Mikuru's iPod. Phew, the cat's safe in the bag.
"Oh, so your stay here does have a time limit. Oh...you lose, Kyo-chan." Koizumi piped up, chucking the last piece out of the checker board on Kyoko's side. "Kyo-chan?" I really think Koizumi's turned out to be a regular high school guy. Just a regular guy.
"It really is important for me to know that."
Koizumi held on to my uniform after I said that. "Stop saying those things, Kyon. You're driving me insane."
"Insane? No way. Not ever...but anyway, I'm going. Haruhi is not in the mood to make us do anything, so..." I replied, picking up my bag and leaving the SOS brigade room.
"Wait. I'm coming too." Koizumi piped up, following me out. Kyoko cleared her throat and followed suit.
*ASA MO YORU MO KOI KOGARETE-* (Kyoko's ringtone)
"Moshi moshi? Ah, Oka-san (mother)! Nani desu ka? (What is it?)" Sigh...Kyoko's stupid phone rang just as soon as we got to the school's yard. Oh, well. I couldn't help but watch Full Metal Panic's Chidori Kaname (actually a cellphone accessory) swing on Kyoko's phone as she walked around, chatting happily with her mother- that was until...
"Ehhhhh? Ah- y-yes, I understand...another one. So early, no, I should say way too early! There's gotta be some more time for me! Oka-san, you're tearing me apart. Okay, I understand...guess there's nothing I...could do about it...goodbye, Oka-san. Thank you..." Kyoko sadly said, as she hung up the phone. Kyoko put her phone back in her pocket and looked down to the ground for what seemed like forever...then suddenly, I noticed tears falling from her eyes straight to the ground. I approached her and asked Kyoko what it was her mother told her over the phone. Okay, I know I was insensitive, but I really had to know.
Koizumi shook his head, and gestured for me to stop irritating Kyoko. I made to leave with Koizumi to give Kyoko some alone time, but Kyoko held on to my uniform...and buried her face there. And she then started to shake and cry like mad. I was going to get pneumonia at this rate. Why me and not Koizumi?
"K-Kyon onii-san...I...I d-don't want to go! I w-want to stay here forever! I don't want to leave Koizumi-kun! I don't wanna Idon'twanna Idon'twanna...!" Kyoko was really crying. She was pretty mad about what she heard over the phone. And it hadn't been a week yet...now I knew why she was crying. I didn't have to ask anymore. Koizumi smiled at me, and then approched us. Koizumi whispered for me to comfort her. And so I did, by gently rubbing Kyoko's head. My cousin...had really grown up a lot. But I guess even psychics didn't bother to be emotionless...
"There, there, Kyoko. It's alright. It's not like you'll never see us again..." I said in the most soothing voice I could manage, still rubbing her head. Kyoko stopped crying long enough to look at me, then at Koizumi. Then she started to smile- a very forced one. But at least...
"K-Koizumi...I really h-have to go. Mother says the psychics have given me another mission...I...I'm sorry to have disappointed you. It hadn't even been a week. But I'm sorry...I really am. The whole thing with Haruhi is worthless, they say. And since I am making friends and living a real life...they don't like that. The higher-ups...K-Koizumi, are you mad at me?" Kyoko said nervously.
Koizumi stared at Kyoko with a look of sadness etched on his face. Kyoko did the same...and then he suddenly reached out and embraced Kyoko so tightly...Kyoko then reached up and gave Koizumi a warm kiss, with tears still falling from her eyes. Hey, hey! They didn't even remember that I am watching!
It seems like they didn't mind. Then Koizumi whispered things in Kyoko's ear which seemed like they were his reply...
"Koizumi-kun...my parents have reserved a spot on the last flight to Kyoto for tonight...I have to go home with Cousin Kyon and pack..." Kyoko sadly replied. Then Koizumi cleared his throat and spoke up.
"Kyoko-chan...don't worry about me, I'll be all right. Just let life take its course. I will still be here in this world, though maybe not in Japan my whole life. I promise...I will always think about you, and you should do the same. I...I love you more than anything, Izumi Kyoko..." Koizumi said. Man, that is pretty ro-man-tic! I can't imagine myself saying such a thing to Asahina. Koizumi sure had guts!
"I...I love you v-very much, Koizumi-kun...I swear I will never forget about you...ever." Kyoko replied. Smiling, she took Koizumi's hand, and they both laughed lightheartedly.
I was glad. Koizumi was glad, and so was Kyoko. It was going to be a very pleasant night...I looked up into the late afternoon sky, which was now starting to get dotted with stars. As the sun set, I thought...what a wonderful world I am living in. I will never exchange anything here for something like the world a particular girl desired...