Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

5 Months Later

6 PM

Kagami looked over her shoulder, careful not to spill her depressingly expensive latte. Behind her was the CAFE sign, stuck broadly across the wall in big blue English letters.

The sign is just sort of a constant here, isn't it?

Kagami laughed to herself, setting down her prized drink.

I can't help but giggle at how matter-of-fact a lot of English signage has started to feel since I started studying the language. Like people just want to sound smart or something.

Kagami crossed her arms, satisfied with her own brilliance.

She'd come to the Good Morning Cafe for the same reason she always did; to spend money she didn't have because staying in that tiny apartment surrounded by law books was going to drive her insane if she kept it up.

Not really much of a cafe though. I mean, this latte is about the most "coffee house" thing this place has, Kagami thought recalling the English definition being closer to 'coffeehouse' than 'restaurant that happens to serve coffee'. Least their sandwiches and drinks are nice.

Nothing like walking off the train and deciding, "I'm an adult, and I'm gonna go out to eat like an adult today!" instead of going back to a cramped apartment...

Kagami smiled sardonically.

"I am become adult, watcher of budgets."

Kagami laughed, leaning back as she took another sip of her liquid pick-me-up.

I really should be studying for that final, but that can wait until I've at least finished the last of this thing. Not on my budget, but definitely in my belly. Exactly what I need on a cold winter day.

Just beginning to knock back another bitter, warming sip, Kagami saw her phone vibrate on the table with an incoming text.

Probably another sales thing. I wish they would stop… wait. Huh? Isn't that a Saitama area code? Guess I should check it. Maybe Tsukasa lost her phone again.

Flipping her phone open, she found the number to belong to-

Patricia Martin?

Kagami cocked an eyebrow, the name having not come up in years.

The exchange student? Is she still living in Saitama? I'd have thought she would have moved home by now. I mean she's in her early twenties like me at this point. You'd think her parents would miss their daughter being away for more than six years.

Kagami tilted her head back, scratching it as she recalled the short haired girl.

Oh right, I think Konata mentioned something about this. About Patricia extending her stay with the Izumi's when received an offer for a cultural scholarship. Her of all people got a free ride, and for cultural arts. Little miss yaoi. Guess it shows you can't judge a book by its cover, I guess.

Kagami pondered the absurdity of Patricia's life situation for a moment until her eyes ran across the message itself.

'Hey there Kagami, long time no talk! I know this is a bit serious sounding, but can you please call me when you get a chance? It's important. I know we never talked much, so this must sound a little weird, but-'

Kagami's neck stiffened, hands clamping down on her phone.

'-it's about Konata-chan.'

It's about Konata? Wha-what's that supposed to mean? Did something happen? Is she all right?!

Not taking the time to think, Kagami left the rest of her coffee and walked up to the bartender, telling her she just got an important call and to put her order on her tab.

With a nod from the short-haired woman, Kagami zipped up her heavy winter coat and stepped outside, ringing the bell on the door as she pushed. Thankfully, the snow from last night had long since stopped, leaving only piles of partially shoveled white powder.

Keying up the number and ignoring the wind, Kagami tensely tapped her booted foot at the dial tone.

"Kagami-chan! Long time no talk, how you bee-"

"What happened!?"

Kagami clasped a gloved hand over her mouth, having spoken out of turn.

"Oh, Konata-chan?" Patricia said, accent making it difficult to tell if she ignored the misstep or was addressing it. "She's okay. She's, well, she's moved back home."

Kagami's balance weakened; her face drooped.

"Patricia, did something happen? W-why is she not telling me this herself!?"

There was an eerie quiet as Patricia made some kind of noise, apparently considering the question.

Please just answer the-

"Wow, Kagami-chan. Perceptive! Sorry for not getting to the point faster, but it sounds like you want to know the details. I was only being asked to relay to friends that she was back in town, but you sound super concerned right now."

Patricia spoke in her usual strangely intonated voice.

Your accent is so grating right now! Don't give me the roundabout!

Kagami winced at her own internal monologue.

I-I, can't believe I'd react like that...

"I'm, sorry for snapping at you, Patricia. You just, you called me up out of the blue about this, and I was worried something bad might have happened."

"Well, you aren't really wrong that something bad happened." Patricia, accent still emotionally inscrutable.

Kagami felt a cold sweat come on, face tightening. Seizing the initiative, Kagami spoke.

"Why did Konata move back?" Kagami said, starting as almost a whisper, and ending on a resolute question. It was at that moment that the gears began to turn.

"Konata and Hideki, they broke up last month. She's been delaying getting in contact with friends about her return home, so her dad and I decided to do it for her."

Kagami's eyes went wide. She'd long since forgotten the cold, struggling not to snap back at her with a sharp question of what he might have done to her.

"Last month?!" Kagami reacted, pausing if only to keep her composure. "D-did something happens between them?"

"Well, sorta? They realized things weren't working out and, well, they decided to go their separate ways."

"Particulars? Details? Why did they break up a whole month ago?! I'm only hearing this now?!" Kagami insisted, her voice more scared than forceful.

The line went silent for a moment, Patricia apparently pondering the question.

"Kagami, can I ask something of you?" Patricia said, uncharacteristically seriously. "Will you ask Konata that question yourself when she's ready?"

I knew it!

"Something did happen!" Kagami nearly shouted, glad there was no one nearby.

"Look, Kagami-chan. She's fine for now, I assure you. She's moved back and adjusted well to living at home again, I've personally made sure of that. I'm sorry if I concerned you with anything I said, but Konata needs some time." Patricia sighed, some obvious strain audible even through her bizarre accent.

"I didn't intend on telling more than she was back in town," Patricia continued. "I'm really sorry if this makes you feel like you aren't doing anything, but I just need you to know that she really is fine. Believe me, I've known her as long as you have."

She wasn't wrong. Maybe not chronologically, but she'd lived under the same roof with Konata for years.

Some part of me is envious, but this isn't the time.

"She still talks about you, Kagami-chan. She still talks about everyone, but you quite a lot. She just needs some time alone is all."

Kagami let out a ragged breath, holding a gloved hand to her windbitten face.

This is too much to take… I suppose I should just wait until I have a better chance, talk to he when she's ready like Patricia suggested… At least I know she's okay.

"Th-thank you for calling to tell me this," Kagami spoke, her voice wavering between relief and weariness. "Whenever she's ready… tell her I'm… honestly, I want to say confused and sad, but if she needs time she can… she can have it."

Kagami struggled to let out a coherent thought, the words seemingly spilling out on their own.

"Patricia… Patty… It's nice talking to you again," Kagami said, being careful not to shoot the messenger. "I miss talking to everyone with all this studying. Also, tell her I'm- we all care for her. We're there if she needs someone. I just wish I could talk to her right now is all."

"You bet I can, girlfriend!" Patty said, accenting with a drop of unnecessary English. "She'll be right as rain in no time, trust me on that!"

"Thanks… bye, Patty..."

"Bye girl!"

The line closed with a beep, leaving Kagami to her thoughts. Kagami flipped her phone closed with a flick of her wrist, letting out a breath of hot white air into the biting cold.

She hoped she didn't sound like she was trying to catch Konata on the rebound, or at least Kagami thought that until she shook the silly idea from her head.

Why did I react so poorly when something clearly happened to her? That wasn't the time for that.

It was at that moment Kagami noticed she had started to cry at some point during that call.

Wiping the tears from her face, Kagami shivered, not at the cold, but at her somewhat misplaced joy.

I know I shouldn't be glad anything happened between those two, and it's gonna be hard waiting for a chance to talk to her…

But I miss my friends...