Chapter 6: If the mountain will not come to Mohammed...
Part II
Five minutes later, Koizumi appeared laden with containers of food, which he left on the bench between him and Kyon. The other boy looked at the food somewhat restless. It had been more than an hour since he started to get hungry.
—You can have it all if you want. I have eaten before —Koizumi smiled.
—Thank goodness, I was hoping you'd say that —The other said without further ado, grabbing the tonkatsu bowl and the chopsticks and starting to eat with some anxiety.
While he was eating, Kyon looked at the containers more closely, and realized that they were again his favourite dishes, like the other day at the restaurant. He looked at Koizumi with an unfriendly face as he chewed.
—Is it good? —The esper asked as if nothing.
—I dunno what do you pretend with this, but I start to get angry —Kyon said taking another container of food.
—I told you the other day, I plan to kill you and marry Asahina-san —He smiled, while the other looked at him with rage—. Oh, by the way, I have also planned to have ten children with her.
On hearing that, the other boy nearly choked, having to quickly sip the tea that the esper had brought him. Koizumi couldn't hold back anymore and laughed.
—I'm sorry, are you okay?
Kyon gave him a dirty look and continued eating.
—I'll be better when I give you a beating.
—Seeing how those guys from the other day left you, don't hold your breath —He smiled.
—You want me to start now? —He asked aggressively, raising his fist.
—Just kidding —Koizumi said, putting a hand in front of him.
—I dunno for what is this sudden attack. Besides, I always give you beatings and you stay like if nothing.
—Maybe it is that I like your sudden tsundere attacks.
Kyon looked away irritated, with some colour in his cheeks.
After devouring the food in just five minutes, they were silent for a while, sitting and watching as people passed.
—Sorry about before —Koizumi said suddenly, breaking the silence.
—Hm? What? —Kyon asked somewhat confused.
—Having left you alone. I found Takada-san and I spent the time talking to her.
—Oh, that. It doesn't matter —He said absently.
—When I said goodbye to her I did not see you and I looked for you, and then I heard you calling me inside that fairground ride. When I saw you, you were quite scared and I worried. It was Nagato-san's work, right?
—…Yeah. She gave me the needle gun and told me what to do.
—I'm sure she did not do it with bad intention. Nagato-san is very noble. Surely she did it with some good purpose.
—I guess… Anyway, I'll talk to her later.
—What was what happened inside there?
—What always happens in my nightmares since two years ago: Ryoko Asakura —Kyon replied, listless—. It's always the same; I have nightmares of all kinds with her. I dream that she's chasing me through dark alleys with her dagger and with that odious smile; that she shows at me at any place, in people's face; that she laughs ominously…
—So that is the reason why I find you almost always listless in school. You try to keep your sullen expression, but by your face I can tell when you have had a nightmare. Your eyes are sad and you look discouraged —Koizumi explained, compassionate.
—I see that now you dedicate to find my moods. Do you want me to give you a medal to the stalker merit or something? —Kyon added sarcastically.
—I really missed your sarcasm —The esper said with a smile—. I do not consider myself a stalker, I only care about you.
Kyon glared away.
—Anyway, the worst thing is when she gets to reach me and stabs me, like that time in the alternative universe —He continued explaining a little later, dejected—. I know they're just dreams, but they seem too real… Damn, I don't wanna be on the brink of death again, it's horrible.
—You do not have to be afraid; I'm here to help you. I could not do it in the alternative universe two years ago because Nagato-san asked me to not accompany you, but next time I will not hesitate to do it. It is not for nothing that I have powers, right? I do not want to be three nights without sleeping again because of the concern.
—Three nights… Without sleeping? —Kyon asked confused.
—Exactly. When you were in a coma.
—But… Wasn't it Haruhi who stayed the three days with me?
—Of course, she was also with you all the time —He smiled—. I talked with Asahina-san and Nagato-san about staying also for the night and as long as possible during the day. Suzumiya-san seemed a little upset about the decision, but she finally accepted.
Kyon frowned at Koizumi, somewhat disturbed by the confession.
—So… You also missed class those three days? —He asked pissed.
—That is. I received a penalty from the Organization, aside from the one that I received for searching the hospital where you entered without the consent of my superiors —He explained as if nothing.
The other boy was still looking at him somewhat disturbed.
—And all those penalties… Don't you care about them?
—It's not that. But I feel that at least they were worth, especially when I saw you awakening —He replied, making Kyon blush slightly.
After the small talk, a lightning covered the night and bright sky of Amagasaki, followed seconds after by a loud rumble.
—Well, it seems that a storm is coming —Koizumi said.
—It seems so —Kyon responded selflessly looking at the laces of his sneakers, until he saw small drops falling around his feet—. I think it would be better we get back to the hospital.
It began to rain harder. The people who were at the festival started running hastily, covering themselves with whatever was at their hand and taking shelter where they could. Kyon put on the hood of his coat and Koizumi covered as he could with his arm as they ran down the street, toward the hospital.
When they arrived, the sliding front door was locked. There was also no one on duty around, and although they called, no one came.
—Great, what do we do now? —Kyon complained watching from the covered front porch how it was raining heavily.
—Well… I guess our only option is to go to a cheap hotel room, where probably we will have to share a very narrow bed —Koizumi replied seriously, emphasizing the last three words.
Kyon looked at him with disgust.
—We will stay here until they open.
—Whatever, I do not mind waiting —Koizumi said, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall.
The other boy looked at him again with disgust and settled down to wait in the same way, but thirty minutes went by and no one showed up. The rain didn't seem to cease and an icy wind began to rise, causing Kyon to shiver in cold.
—We can stay out here for the night. It is not so bad, right? —The esper commented mockingly.
They stayed a few minutes in silence. After debating where they should spend the night, Kyon had no choice but to reluctantly accept to stay at the esper's home. Anyway, he didn't want to spend the night at his empty and lonely house.
They took the train, and reached Nishinomiya at eleven p.m.. Koizumi's house was something closer to the station, so they only took about fifteen minutes by foot.
I had never gone to Koizumi's house. I thought that he lived in a block of apartments just like Nagato, but when I saw it, I noticed it was quite different. It was much smaller than hers; it had only five floors and seemed more familiar. Each floor of the building had an outside corridor, as if it were a terrace, and the top floor seemed to have a house less than the others, forming the wall as a kind of sloping roof. It hadn't a doorman, like Nagato's building. I guess the neighbours would know each other better here.
—Sorry about the mess —Koizumi said as he opened the door of his house.
—What mess? —Kyon asked, arching an eyebrow at seeing the neatness of his home.
The esper smiled.
—I think we'd better to put our coats to dry. They are soaked.
—As you like —Kyon gave him his coat, checking everything from the entrance.
Koizumi went quickly to leave them at a place where they could be dried, leaving the site.
Well, it isn't very different from my entrance.
—It is done. I put them on the radiator —Koizumi said reappearing.
Kyon looked everywhere suspiciously as he stood at the entrance. Koizumi looked at him with a kind smile.
—Do not stand there. You can go to the dining room if you want.
The other boy gave him a defiant look for a few seconds.
—Yeah, the truth is that it's cold to stay here —He said, and walked to where the esper had indicated, while he followed him with his typical smile.
I had to go through his kitchen before reaching the dining room, as it was the only way to access. I wonder if the architect of this house received the qualification by changing it with an organ trafficker in some dark alley. Well, I think it's time to leave that kind of movies for a while.
When I walked in, everything was predictably ordered, as expected from "Mr. Perfect Smile". He had a Japanese style table in the center of the room, a large couch against the wall and a flat screen television with a small cabinet at its side. There also was a window with a big terrace, and I looked through it. You could see a part of the city. Well, it's normal, living on the fourth floor. I'm envious; from my window you can only see the front house.
—Please, take a seat —The esper invited him, kindly.
Kyon didn't hesitate and hurried to sit near the table, with his arms and legs tucked under it, near the heater.
—The truth is that it is quite cold —Koizumi remarked.
—Too much.
Koizumi smiled and shifted his gaze to the small trickle of water that they had left on the floor upon entering. They were also soaked by rain.
—Well, we'd better change before we leave this even worse —He commented—. Would you like to take a bath?
—Is there hot water?
—Yes. Although perhaps we should bathe together to save water —Koizumi said with serious gesture.
—I think it would be more effective to lock you up in the terrace and to shower yourself with the rain —Kyon replied sarcastically.
—I will go first —Koizumi smiled, giving up—. I will not take too long —He added, leaving the room while Kyon scowled at him.
Great, now I've forgotten to ask him how the TV is turned on. Well, I guess it'll not be that difficult.
Kyon reached the remote control that was in the middle of the table. To his amazement, he found that it had too many buttons and hesitated if turning it on for a moment, just in case he touched the button he shouldn't.
But what's this, a remote control or a device to contact alien life forms? It looks like something that Nagato would use. And the TV doesn't seem to have buttons…
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, and left the remote control again on the table.
I didn't want to think too much about the fact that I had to stay overnight at Koizumi's place, and even that at one moment to another I would have to use his bathroom. The thought of it makes me feel uncomfortable.
I tried to get rid of the weird thoughts and I began to inspect the room, although with four counted things isn't that there was much where inspect.
I felt somewhat bad at nosing others' things, in fact, I'm not used to it, but when I think they are from Koizumi, the guilt disappears. He deserves it because of the shame he has put me through lately.
I walked silently toward the TV and I knelt in front it. It had a cabinet below that I wouldn't let escape. I opened it, and to my amazement, I discovered that he had a Play Station 3, and even a Xbox. Since when do this guy likes videogames? And not one, but two consoles. And I have to settle myself with the Play Station 2, which is half broken up because of my sister, who sometimes gets too excited to play and hits it. Anyway…
I closed the cabinet below the TV, somewhat indignant, and I went straight to open the one which was next to it; it called me more attention. When I opened it, I got the feeling that Koizumi had docked an entire video store. By the way, those sites still exist? Anyway, it doesn't matter. I would say that there were over one hundred films on DVD there. Is that he can't download all them from the Internet as we all do?
I doubted a little, but I dared to pull out some of them to see of what they were about. There was of everything; action movies, adventure, detective, mystery… Romantic? I wrinkled my nose and went back to put in the cabinet that Japanese drama that I had just found.
I was beginning to get bored of finding so strange film genres, until another DVD cover caught my attention. I pulled it out with some fear and when I saw the cover I went blank. But what the hell…? This can't be true.
Imagine something that Koizumi would never have. Well, he does. Exactly, it was a hentai game. I approached the cover further to my face to check that I was wrong. Yeah, Kyon, there's a half-naked girl with a tattered schoolgirl outfit in the cover, making a face of having fun. You maybe haven't seen many like that in real life, well, without counting with Asahina-san and the provocative costumes that Haruhi makes her wear, but I guess that doesn't count entirely.
I reacted from my stunned state and took the other DVDs that were beside it; about ten. Yeah, they were all hentai. He even had some movies. Seriously, is this true? I couldn't believe it coming from Koizumi. From Taniguchi I can expect that he have his whole room full of this, or even all his home, but Koizumi? I dunno if leaving this house for my own safety now, just for what might happen.
—Do not you know it is rude to snoop others' things? —Koizumi said in his ear, suddenly.
Kyon was startled and looked back, finding himself too close to Koizumi, who was crouched behind him with a smile. He wanted to get away from him, but his socks, still wet, slipped, dropping him sitting on the floor.
—I see you have discovered my little private collection.
—What the hell do you have that for? It doesn't seem proper to you —Kyon asked still trying to get away from the esper.
—All human beings have needs, isn't it?
Kyon went blank, unable to speak.
Wait, what? Does he have hentai for…? God, I don't even wanna think about it. I've seen those kind of magazines because Taniguchi lends them to me, since I'm not able to buy them, but it will never occur to me… Besides, I live with my parents and my sister, well, and the cat too. For my sanity, I hope you don't say it seriously.
When I looked more closely at Koizumi, I realized that he was shirtless. He was only wearing the bottom of the pajama, apart from having wet hair and a towel on his shoulders. Great, the last straw to make me more nervous. I have seen him many times in summer when the whole brigade goes to the pool, but now he looked more attractive than usual. Wait, what the fuck did I just thought? I think my dreams with Asakura are making me paranoid.
—I had them reserved for you, as a punishment for having won you at the festival —Koizumi said, pointing the games with his chin.
—Huh? For me?
—Yes. So that you could play and learn how to be a good maid to please your master Koizumi —The esper added as if nothing.
—What…? —Kyon's was dumbfounded.
Koizumi laughed out loud, making Kyon to bother and hit him hard on the head.
—First rule of a maid: do not hit your master —The esper explained massaging the blow of his head—. Unless you are doing other things…
He approached slowly to Kyon, who was still sitting on the floor and somewhat stunned, remaining a few centimetres from his face.
—Do you want to do other things? —He whispered in his ear, causing him to shudder and blush completely—. …Other things like bathing. I left the bathroom a while ago.
Koizumi smiled, separating from Kyon, who had his face completely red and stared at him in disbelief. Upon seeing him, he couldn't help but let out another laugh.
His expression turned from disbelief to anger, looking at the esper grimly. He rose from the ground with disgust and went to the bathroom, leaving the other guy standing in the dining room with a compassionate smile.
Fifteen minutes after leaving, Kyon appeared again.
—Uh… Hey, Koizumi, don't you have smaller pajamas? —He asked with annoyance.
Koizumi left the task he was doing of ordering the DVDs that Kyon had pulled out and turned to face him. The esper had left him in the bathroom one of his pajamas for after bathing; a long-sleeve T-shirt and a pair of long elastic pants. Somewhat old, but quite comfortable and warm. Anyway, it was something long for Kyon, since he was smaller than the esper. Luckily, it wasn't too big from the waist, as both had similar complexion, although it was still somewhat big.
—Sorry, I'm not as small as you —He mocked with a smile.
—As far as I know, you're just eight centimetres taller than me, so don't boast.
—Well, I'm afraid I do not have pajamas of your size —He added—. Anyway, you look quite cute in that, you look like a small child whose clothes are too big for him.
Koizumi turned away again and continued to placing the remaining DVDs in its respective site. Kyon looked at him with distaste and a blush on his face, folding the cuffs of the T-shirt and the low part of the pants.
—Well, it is done —He finished, closing the cabinet and rising up from his position.
—Hey, Koizumi… Where are we supposed to sleep? —Kyon asked with some trepidation.
Koizumi crossed his arms and placed a hand on his chin, making a thoughtful gesture while Kyon looked at him with a frown.
—Well, I have only one bed, and we will have no choice but to share it, so I do not know whether sleep would be the right word… —He commented with serious gesture.
Kyon took off one of the slippers and threw it to him, although the esper dodged it.
—Just kidding —He said smiling as usual, picking the slipper from the floor and handing it to Kyon, who snatched it from his hand with violence—. If you want, you can sleep in my room. I will sleep on the couch.
—No way. I sleep here, I don't care.
—As you want, but here is colder than…
—I don't care —He interrupted.
—I assure you that my room is not nothing to shout about, but alright, if you do not want to sleep there I will bring you a blanket, at least —The esper said, giving up and leaving the room.
Knowing you, I dunno if that that your room isn't anything special it's true. And with what I discovered a while ago in the cabinet, I don't even want to know what you have there.
A moment later, Koizumi returned carrying a blanket and a pillow.
—How fortunate, I found a spare pillow in my closet —He commented—. Are you sure you want to stay here?
—I'm sure —Kyon said.
Koizumi hesitated, but finally ended up accepting.
—Alright. Then I will take the opportunity to do some backward homework.
—Are you gonna do homework at this hour?
—Yes —He smiled, looking at his wristwatch—. It's only half past twelve, I have some time. I'm used to sleeping little anyway. When Suzumiya-san creates closed spaces at dawn, I'm warned by my superiors at any hour, so I have to be alert. However, since in recent years her alterations have lowered quite, I can sleep better, although I'm still getting alerts.
Koizumi seemed not to care too much about the fact that he had just explained, since he kept smiling as if it were nothing, something that irritated Kyon greatly.
—Oi, Koizumi, I know it's not very nice to wake up at dawn, I say it to you, that I have a little sister who loves horror movies and then has trouble sleeping at night, so you don't need to be always smiling —He said a little tired.
—No, I do not smile for that. The truth is that I have been exhausted for it until recently, when the activity dropped.
—So? You don't need to pretend that stupid smile, now we aren't with Haruhi —He protested.
—Maybe I'm not pretending and I'm smiling for something else.
Kyon looked at him puzzled, looking away angrily shortly after.
—Well, it is a shame, but I cannot stay here all night, as much as you want.
—Yeah, sure. For me you can go now.
—It's okay. I will do homework before it gets later.
—I don't know how you feel like doing it, at this hour —Kyon said, letting out a yawn.
—Blame it on a certain person who has not let me sleep the last two weeks.
—Blame yourself; nobody forces you to accompany me in the hospital.
—Yes, maybe you are right… —He said somewhat melancholic, irritating Kyon.
—Anyway, good night —The other boy tried to end, annoyed.
—Good night —Koizumi smiled, turning to his room, and stopping a moment before leaving the dining room—. By the way, if you are going to see any of the hentai DVDs, do not make too much noise, so the neighbours might think.
—I didn't mean to do it, you jerk! —Kyon shouted, throwing another slipper again, but Koizumi closed the door laughing, before it could reach him.
He could still hear Koizumi laughing as he picked up the slipper. Annoyed, he went to the couch and quickly wrapped himself with the blanket, covering up until the nose.
I looked up to look out the window. The night lights illuminated the city. It looked like it had stopped raining, and I cursed myself for wanting to be anywhere but at Koizumi's home. At my home, for example. I miss sleeping in my bed and being awakened by my sister's shouts. Anyway, I didn't want to think much more about it. Doing it made me feel too sad, so I tried to think of something else.
I thought of why Nagato would want me to play that awful game this afternoon. I guess it would be to get rid of my fear for Asakura, although I don't understand how her powers or alien utensils could help me with that. Anyway, I had to talk to her the next time to clarify some things.
I tried not to think of anything else so that I could sleep, but I kept turning it over in my head.
Suddenly, it came to my mind what Koizumi had just said to me a moment ago. "Maybe I'm not pretending and I'm smiling for something else". What did he mean with that? The truth is that lately his smile seemed more sincere than when I first met him, especially these last weeks. Although he kept pretending when he smiles to Haruhi's nonsense. It seems that he only smiles sincerely at me, and that makes me feel uncomfortable.
When I thought about it, a strong heat rose to my face, and the cold that I felt dissipated suddenly. It bothered me greatly and I turned away in the couch, trying to sleep and trying not to think about Koizumi's stupid smile.
N/A: I hope you liked it! There will be a surprise in the final part of the next chapter. I guess it's the surprise you've been waiting for if you've read this far, so you must wait a little longer =)
Clarifications: I didn't want to make Koizumi OOC with the hentai stuff, I just wanted to invent his likes or interests since in the anime his life and personality are barely known.
N/A: Please, if you read the chapter, don't forget to leave a comment or constructive criticism. This encourages a lot to continue to writers, especially beginners like me. It will not cost anything, and the author (me), would really appreciate it. It isn't motivating to make a fanfic with dedication and effort and that nobody bothers to comment or give their point of view. Thank you!
