Interlude
Hello. I very much apologise for the lateness of this chapter- especially after the last one was a bit shorter than I like to keep my chapters. I must say the SATs are just really exhausting, even more so since I'm about and hour and a half away from the closest testing centre so I ended up staying overnight in Toronto and trying to navigate my way through the city and then writing a really tedious exam was just tiring. I came back home and slept for all of Sunday instead of writing and uploading this chapter. That being said I do think I did well; the only thing problem I had was that I lost track of time in one of the math sections and so I wasn't able to answer three of the questions but other than that I found it to be fairly easy.
Thank you to everyone for reading this far, and to my four reviewers: NausicA, longing. for .redemption, Skoellya Seyth, and Thun. It's really enjoyable to find that people actually find my writing entertaining. Smarties vs M&Ms was actually the first thing that popped into my chocolate crazed mind when I first watched episode four, and since I watch it without subs I didn't really understand Akiyama's explanation either. It wasn't until I read the wonderful subs that I understood what was going on. I would like to add that keeping to a writing schedule is driving me crazy- it was something that I thought I might try as an experiment but it's definately not working well for me, so I don't think I'll be following it any longer.
He reached Nao's apartment at around ten o'clock the next morning; it was bit early for lunch but he didn't think she'd mind too much. Apparently it was earlier than she had been expecting because as he went in the door he ran right into her going in the other direction. She clearly hadn't been expecting to walk into someone at her lonely apartment complex because she had been caught so unawares that she had fallen over.
"Akiyama-san," she exclaimed in surprise while brushing herself off "you're here so early."
"Is that a problem?" it wasn't really a question as he was pretty sure that it wasn't an issue.
"No, of course not." Nao had hurriedly said as he had expected her to "Akiyama-san will just have to come with me to the market."
Well; that was unexpected. He hadn't been to the supermarket since he was a small child and his mother had taken him along because she had nowhere to leave him while she went shopping. He had stopped going with her when he entered middle-school because he had found debating the freshness of aubergine with his mother too inane. Looking at Nao's excited face though he couldn't say no- after all how bad could it be?
So off they went; Nao carrying a big rattan basket, and Akiyama walking quietly beside her, hands in his pockets, listening to her chatter on. He had expected for her to go to the closest supermarket- but of course nothing was that sensible when Nao was around; instead he found himself walking around with her in a small farmer's market.
Everywhere he looked merchants had set up booths to sell their wares, and were now busy yelling out their offers. Nao ran about from stall to stall, surprisingly efficient at gathering the ingredients that she wanted for lunch. Even more surprisingly, she was a very sharp haggler- not allowing the vendors to charge her anything more than she thought fair, and often getting a very good price by sharing a kind word and admiring the wares.
Soon her big rattan basket was full of fresh offerings and she was ready to make the walk back. Akiyama frowned, they hadn't noticed it at the market but now it was obvious that the sky was darkening with heavy clouds and rain was eminent. Neither of them had thought to bring an umbrella, and the basket Nao was carrying would offer the food very little protection from the rain.
Akiyama sped up he steps a little bit hoping that they would get to her apartment before the storm broke. He had been concentrating on walking lost in his own thoughts for a while before he noticed Nao struggling with the basket making an effort to keep up with him. Stopping for a moment for her to catch up to him he took the basket from her without a word and continued walking in the direction of her home.
The basket had been quite heavy, and though Akiyama was holding it easily and keeping up a good pace he could imagine that for Nao it would have been extremely difficult.
She hadn't complained at all.
She probably would have struggled onwards with the basket without a single word of protest the whole way back to her house; even though he had been walking with her and could easily have carried it for her. If he hadn't noticed and taken the basket from her she probably would have done just that. He wondered how many times she had had to struggle like this living alone. It wasn't easy- he was sure, having to care for a father who was in and out of the hospital (more often in than out) and care for herself at the same time.
As far as he knew Nao didn't have a steady job, and couldn't have afforded to go back to school. At least that had been one good thing about the Liar Game. With the money she had won she would be able to manage for a while longer.
Suddenly he felt guilty- he had won over five times as much as she had in the last round if you counted the 100 million yen he had been returned as he was playing in lieu of Takada, as well as his share of the prize money from the contract. He had no need for so much money. He had been planning on using some of it to fund his return back to school- and he had also wanted to do some travelling (more to find the person behind the Liar Game than for pleasure), but that wouldn't take up even half of what he had won so far.
Looking down at the girl next to him as she walked along side of him smiling sweetly at absolutely nothing he could see something to be admired in her. She was much stronger than he had given her credit for. She had survived alone in the world that he had thought her incapable of surviving in for two years now. She had managed to go on being kind and selfless even though she had been taken advantage of many times.
His throat felt dry as it hit him- this girl had been able to forgive so much, and he had been able to forgive too little.
He was distracted from his thoughts as he felt a small hand lightly touch his forearm. "Akiyama-san?" He met her eyes as she looked at him concerned hiding it quickly with an easy smile, "We're here." He nodded to her allowing her to lead him inside her tiny apartment.
He had been there before, briefly, when she had gotten the invitation for the second round, and he didn't remember her having a table, but obviously she had found one somewhere as there was now a table just big enough for two people to sit at positioned in the corner.
"Please make yourself comfortable Akiyama-san, while I make lunch" Nao said like a dutiful little hostess. "Let me get you something to drink."
Instead of sitting down and waiting for her while Nao cooked lunch he had gone into the little kitchen area with her and leaned against one of the counters watching he work. She had donned an apron, with some popular cartoon character on it that Akiyama couldn't be bothered to place, and tied her hair up tightly, trying, but not succeeding in keeping her bangs held back.
Then she began cooking and even Akiyama with his minimal experience in the kitchen could tell that this was something she was extremely practised at. She moved confidently and with unanticipated grace around the small kitchen almost dancing around him. As she worked she hummed with joy- it was clear that this was something she loved to do. All of Akiyama's doubts about her cooking completely vanished when a delicious smell began to permeate throughout the entire apartment.
"Nearly done." Nao told Akiyama pleased "Akiyama-san, go sit down please." She ordered him in as commanding a tone of voice as she could manage. He had to smile, she looked anything but intimidating; for one, he was a good eight inches taller than her- and her stern face looked very much like her determined face; to earnest to not enter the realms of adorable.
Again he found himself unable to say no to Nao- he only hoped that she never figure out the amount of power that look had over him because he was sure that if they spent much more time together she would have him wrapped around her finger with that look. Soon she re-emerged from the kitchen laying down platters of food on the table which looked more like the fare served in high class restaurants than most people's homes.
Nao had laid out for them a perfect traditional Japanese meal- something that was becoming exceedingly rare in the city. He should have guessed that someone with as rare a personality as Nao would have interests that most people passed over. The meal was as it looked, absolutely amazing, and Akiyama ate a fair bit more than he had for a long time. Having such a meal prepared specially for him made him feel appreciated; it was a feeling that he had been unaccustomed to.
After helping Nao clear up the remains of the meal despite her protests of him being her guest Akiyama stood to leave. He had spent close to six hours with Nao without even noticing, and had enjoyed himself more than he had thought possible. It had been easier to talk to her and enjoy her frivolous chatter than Akiyama had imagined, and he found that he didn't mind talking about small pointless things with Nao.
Nao of course came to show him out the door all the while reminding him to take care of himself and asking him what he planned to eat for dinner offering to cook for him whenever he wanted. Instead of finding it to be annoying nagging Akiyama took it for what it was; the genuine concern that Nao held for everyone she felt close to, and was flattered that Nao though of his wellbeing.
As she opened the door to let him out she invited him to lunch again the next day but the words died on her lips. Rain fell heavily from the sky outside as both of them looked out in dismay.
Closing the door and turning back to Nao Akiyama asked "Is there an umbrella I can borrow?"
He followed Nao's gaze as she looked at something lying on the floor behind him and off to the side. There was what may have been at some point a bright orange and yellow polka-dotted umbrella; it was now mangled beyond recognition.
Blinking owlishly somewhat relieved that he wouldn't have to carry the colourful atrocity into the less that stellar neighbourhood he was staying in Akiyama hesitantly asked Nao "What happened to that?" he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.
Clearly embarrassed she told him "It was raining last week and I was walking down the lane between here and the park- the one with the really tall trees," She began. He nodded at her to show that he knew the place, "I had gone to visit my father, and I was coming back home. I was about half way down the laneā¦"
Akiyama nodded in encouragement ignoring all of the unnecessary details Nao felt fit to offer. "When some kids played a prank on me by swinging a zombie Halloween decoration down in front of me when I passed by. I tried to run away but one of the strings got wrapped around me somehow and I panicked; so I tried to beat it off with my umbrella." The poor gullible girl looked at him obviously distraught by the memory "That was my favourite umbrella."
It would be her favourite umbrella Akiyama thought quickly finding the humour in the story, but looking at her upset face he wondered how many other thoughtless pranks she had endured. Without really thinking about it he asked her "How often does this happen to you?"
"Nearly every time," She answered adding quickly "but it's only a silly joke Akiyama-san, it's nothing serious."
Realizing that they were still standing in the hall way Akiyama took hold of her wrist and pulled her back to her apartment. "It's obvious that I'm not going anywhere just yet." he stated calmly "Sit down, I will make some tea." He quashed to protests that Nao made with a single look- his looks were definitely much more potent in their severity than hers.
Making two cups of tea quickly he sat one in front of her and looked her straight in the eyes as he said "Nao," neither of them noticing him dropping the honorific suffix, "when somebody does something that is hurtful it is not a joke." Taking in her shell-shocked look at this simple fact he continued "It is serious when anybody does something that hurts you without thinking of you. Taking advantage of your kindness is unforgiveable. Don't forget that you are just as important and have the same rights as everyone." Still slightly dazed by this she nodded in affirmation; and finally satisfied Akiyama let it rest.
NausicA- Thank you so much for reading, I'm glad that you like it. I plan on keeping up with this to completion and then writing some more- maybe for Liar Game, maybe something else.
longing. for. redemption- I'm glad that my little attempt at humour didn't fall flat. I think that somewhere in his heart Akiyama has the potential to be a complete dork- I think that part of him really has great potential to get along with Nao in the long term beyond going through a traumatic experience with her.
Skoellya Seyth- Thank you. While most of the time Nao and I are very different I find it really fun to write her naive side because she's so much like me that way. I'm not at all discouraged by the response to this story- I've had a couple of small works published in anthologies of first time authors, poetry and short story and when you do something like that it's impossible to tell who reads it and what they think unless you make it on a bestseller list (which I obviously haven't yet) so seeing people actually read my story in such a small category like Liar Game is actually really encouraging. Besides that, my writing is for myself- I love it unconditionally :)
Thun- Thank you so much for reviewing, I'm very glad that you're still reading this. I'm glad the writing style is working out; I think I might keep it. The next chapter takes us back to the drama time line, then I have so far planned two- two and a half chapters to be spent on the Resurrection Round. Then Finally Yokoya makes his way into the story. This is really becoming longer than I had planned... No worries- I will finish.
