Scene 9: Reverse Psychology
A.N: Picking up where we left off, here's a refresher if you need one:
Hisao and Lilly ran into Takumi, Mai, and Shin. Shin is cool and quiet, Mai is capricious and quick-tempered, and Takumi is a delinquent savant. They're not (that) angry at Hisao for his angsty assholery anymore but things are still a little awkward.
Aya Nakai is a politician and Hitoro Nakai is an architectural designer. They're pretty nice people that just got one of their cars stolen.
And now here we are!
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
As I exit the bathroom a smell other than the typical post-shower odors of water and shampoo reaches my nose.
Even though the hot shower and good night's sleep worked miracles to wake me up, pure muscle memory would have allowed me to navigate the familiar layout even if I was still in the drowsy pseudo-dead state. In the kitchen I'm greeted by the sight of my dad and girlfriend cooking a western style breakfast.
"And what was this called again?" The eldest of the household has the sleeves of the "#1 dad" sweater I gave him years ago rolled up to his elbows. He follows Lilly's instructions and navigates the kitchen with almost exaggerated caution.
"A full breakfast. Or depending on the region a full English, full Scottish, and so on."
Glancing over the large assortment of meats and other foodstuff I think that the name is very appropriate.
"Traditionally there are features that are rather exotic to Japan, such as haggis and the like. But I never really enjoyed haggis regardless." Lilly is already dressed in a smooth, light purple, halter top with a thin strap running around her neck and white shorts that reach to about mid-thigh with a thin brown belt. "Did you add the tomatoes to the pan yet?"
He uses a knife to scrape a small pile of sliced tomatoes off the cutting board and into the pan where they instantly begin to sizzle.
"Yes. And you said how much salt?"
"Just a pinch is perfect," she says with a charming smile then turns to me. "My my, you've slept in today."
Eight-thirty isn't that late.
In all honesty though, I'm surprised to see Lilly up and about so early. Again I am amazed by how quickly she memorized my house from the short tour last evening. It's incredible how Lilly can navigate the from the guest room to the kitchen and, by the look of her hair, the shower as well.
My dad looks up and grins, clearly not in his work-mode. "Lilly ran into me as I was starting to make breakfast." Hopefully he means figuratively. "She had the idea of making a Scottish style one. The eggs are ready, and the turkey bacon will be done in a moment."
I look over the spread of food on a trio of large plates and still in progress of being cooked. Eggs, bacon, beans, toast. If it weren't for the disproportionate amount of obvious heart foods I would be worried about eating this much meat, turkey or otherwise.
We eat breakfast and talk about the rest of the day. Dad has a meeting he needs to attend today and Lilly wanted to see the city.
"So to speak."
There's a park nearby where we could walk and I could show her some places I used to hang out at.
The food is delicious and savoury even though my dad rarely, if ever, cooks. Lilly's assistance and instruction seems to have made a decent chef out of him. Being much heavier than what I'm typically used to I fill up quickly. Especially with the large mouthful of pills I already took but I eat slowly between conversation and the food settles easily.
"And what about your friends?" He takes a bite out of his toast with black bean sauce leaving a small bit on the corner of his mouth. "Takumi and you seemed to be getting along again."
I shift in my seat feeling awkward and reach for the small bowl of ground flaxseeds in the center of the table and stir it into my oatmeal.
"More or less," I say seesawing my hand. Maybe a bit less. "Me and Lilly were just going to walk around the city." I take a bit of my oatmeal and repress a grimace. The dirty brown seeds taste exactly like how you'd expect them to: like dirt. Their slight nuttiness and the honey I mix in curb the aftertaste for the most part.
"Hanako is stopping by here in a few days so perhaps we could wait for that so we can see the main parts of it together," Lilly suggests.
"Right," dad finally brushes the beans off and says,"this Hanako is visiting for that only day?"
"Yeah, Hanako said she would just be here at about the halfway point of her vacation."
I don't remember much of the exact details. Just some counterclockwise, oblong loop through Japan that swings by my place. It looked fun, stopping by all types of major cities. Maybe I could do a road trip sometime.
"Hanako's friend was fortunate enough to have a family member that was willing to drive their group around for most of the southern part of Japan."
Right, Naomi's family. An image of two Naomis flash into my head. The picture adjusts itself when I remember that the cousin is a boy. While not nearly on the level of say, for example, Misha, Miss Inoue was definitely one of the more energetic people in my class. I wonder how they're getting along? I should give her a call later and see how things are going.
My dad stands up and makes to clear the dishes and I help. Lilly, a slower eater than us, finishes her meal and carefully carries her dishes to the sink.
"Thanks for helping me with breakfast Lilly, it was amazing." He enters and exits his room fully dressed in a matter of minutes before proceeding to brush his teeth with a practiced efficiency that leaves me still brushing my teeth as he darts out the door. "I'm heading out now so you two just enjoy yourselves and I'll see you tonight. I don't know how long the meeting will be so don't wait on me for dinner. Bye." He belts out his spiel in one breath and speeds out in the rental car.
"He sure can change at the drop of a hat," she says amused, hitting the nail on the head about the vast canyon between my dad's work and home personalities.
"He was pretty no nonsense all the time until I caught him playing with his toys." I laugh at the memory.
As we head out the door I tell Lilly about the it. I think I was nine at the time and after a little bit of flusteredness dad gave up his attempts of appearing professional at home. We bonded over those little, colourful, plastic blocks.
"I outgrew them. Him, not so much."
Outside the sun shines merrily through the trees as it gains momentum in the sky. Wind sweeps past us, rustling Lilly's skirt who holds it down then adjusts her golden hair. Lilly holds onto my arm and her elegant silken top contrasts with my far more casual outfit. The fanciest article of clothing I have other than a suit are a few sweater vests which I omitted in favour of a simple polo and a pair of cheap, cotton, grey, shorts because of the summer heat.
"So since we're waiting for Hanako what places are you going to show me."
I shrug and scratch the back of my head with my free arm.
"There's the pool. The city has some shops." I count off the usual areas I hang out at on my fingers, excluding certain places like the arcade. "A handful of parks. Any of those sound good?"
Lilly makes to answer when a another gust of wind blows past and some strands of her golden hair fly into her face.
"Today is good weather to fly a kite," she says with a mix of frustrated sarcasm and genuine earnestness.
I am surprised by her not at all incorrect statement. "I guess so. I've never really flown kites. Do you…?" The question is left in the appropriately breezy morning air.
"Only a little. Inverness is up in the windier part of Scotland and my mother took me kite-flying a few times. I enjoyed it," Lilly says with a nostalgic smile, "the tug of the kite and the way I swung around felt like dancing."
Dancing, huh? We stop walking and take a seat on a bench. Now that we're in the one of the busier areas of the district groups of other student on summer break walk past like little packs. Cafes begin to go through their rush-hour and the whole area seems to have a sort of controlled yet manic energy. It really reminds me of how used to Yamaku's serenity and quietness I've become over the past few months.
"I wanted to try dancing when I was a little girl. I could hear and feel the music but I never actually acted on it." Because she was scared? Because she wasn't allowed to? Regardless, that gives me an idea.
"Then how'd you like to learn how to dance?"
"That would be lovely," Lilly gives a bright smile. "Do you dance?"
I laugh at the notion. I've never exactly been the most coordinated person. Even when I played football after school sometimes we would just sort of run with the group and try to kick the back towards the other end. They were games of inexperience and pure recreation. The sort of raw enjoyment you can only get out of a group of complete amateurs.
"Mai has a part-time job as a dance instructor at her studio. I'm sure she could give us a few pointers."
"Oh, but she seemed rather hostile yesterday."
"That's just who she is," I say. "Now that Mai has said, or shouted, more accurately, her piece she should be mostly cooled off by now."
"What a peculiar girl."
I chuckle at Lilly's assessment. "You don't know the half of it. She's quirky but that's one of the reasons we love her."
"Well I'm not certain if we would get along though." Lilly puts one hand on her cheek worryingly. "I wouldn't want to cause any friction between your recovering friendship."
Already pulling my phone out of my pocket, I assure Lilly that it is fine and flip through my contacts. My old friends' phone numbers are still there, the last call from or to them dating back to almost a year ago.
The phone rings a few time before abruptly going to the telltale buzz of a call being sent of voicemail.
"Real mature, Mai."
"Something the matter, Hisao?"
"Nothing. Hold on, I'm calling Shin."
Shin picks up before the first ring finishes. "Hello?"
"Hey Shin, are you with–."
I hear scuffling on the other end. Deciding to put it in on speaker, Lilly makes an odd expression at the muttered curses coming from the phone.
After a moment Mai's clear voice jumps from the cell. "Why did you call Shin?" She sounds annoyed. As if she wanted me to keep trying to call her.
"Make a wild guess."
"What? Does being ignored upset you?"
In the background I can hear Shin's baritone clearly even through the speaker. "Mai can I have my phone–"
"In a minute. So what's up, Hicchan?"
Lilly giggles then recomposes herself. "I told you to–," I stop myself. It's fine. It's fine. "Lilly wanted learn a bit of dancing and you're an instructor, right?"
"What, the princess doesn't already know ballroom dancing and shit?"
"No," Lilly says with sarcasm that matches if not surpasses Mai's, "the princess does not. I suppose Hisao put a little too much faith in your character to think your tantrum yesterday was enough to placate your immature temper."
I had never seen Lilly get angry. Or rather, this type of angry; direct and snarky. She normally remains composed and subtle, even when fighting with Shizune, but I suppose Mai just pushes her buttons or something.
"Oh please," I hear Shin ask, and be denied, for his phone again, "that's how I treat all the bratty kids I deal with. My siblings, my students, my friends that are angsting."
"I am surprised someone like you is a teacher." Another scathing remark that smashes on one of Mai's biggest triggers.
"I. Am. An. Amazing. Instructor!" Mai fumes on the other end, punctuating each word with seething contempt. "Ask my ballet class! Or my ballroom class! Or my–!"
"Maybe you can teach young children because of your like mindedness, but do you have any realclasses? For adults? Could you teach someone whom is blind?"
"I could teach a dog, you–!" Shin must have finally grabbed his cell back judging by Mai's now muted yells of protest.
"Mai says," Shin pauses for a moment, "she says to be at the studio in five minutes or she's going to–no, Mai, I'm not saying that. Look, Hisao, just come to Mai's studio. We'll see you there."
The phone beeps for a bit and I hit the "end call" still dumbfounded.
Lilly has a bright smile that gives no indication of the snipes she and Mai were exchanging moments ago. She has a strange, pleased, and accomplished look on her face.
"You, uh," I falter at the odd exchange I witnessed, "you really want to learn how to dance."
A smile far more knowing than any teenager should have dances across my girlfriend's face.
"Is her dance studio nearby?" She asks.
"Um…just a few blocks away."
The studio Mai learns and teaches at isn't necessarily dingy, but it is also not the most modern place in the city, by any stretch of the word. It's large, yeah, but pretty baren. Smooth, shiny, hardwood floor stretched across the wide room from the entrance to the ceiling height mirrors in the back. A long metal railing, smudged on some parts and rubbed to a polish on others, ran along one wall and on the other was a small amount of desks, posters, and a few dated computers with a small purse resting on top of one of the unused monitors. The computers, a small fridge, and Mai's phone are all plugged into power strip in a tangle of wires that just has to be a fire hazard.
Sitting behind one desk, her head not even popping above the computer's monitor, sat Mai typing no less than 60 words per minute. She was already dressed in her dance outfit: tight fitting purple shorts and a matching black sleeveless top.
Shin is also here, standing quietly next to her, dressed casually in a pair of cream coloured shorts and a simple white t-shirt. I will never understand how he is so ripped. Cooking isn't exactly a physical activity and he doesn't lift weights but he looks like a professional wrestler. Not that I'm jealous.
"Alright Princess," Mai finishes typing with a far too dramatic flourish and shuffles through some CDs I presume are for the large boombox under the metal bar, "you're going to bring down the mansion at your next ball."
"It's not a mansion," Lilly and I correct her at the same time.
Mai looks taken aback and Shin has a minuscule smile, like a tiny crack in granite wall. "I was just being hyperbolic but damn, really Princess?" She reaches down and grabs her phone and beings dialing, mumbling to herself. "Can't believe I took that bet."
That explains who she's calling. "Hey Takumi, you were right…hah hah you're so funny shut up."
I just know on the other end Takumi is grinning. I can hear his grin. It's Takumi's signature grin. The grin of a douchebag. The grin of a douchebag who knows he's a douchebag and positively revelsin his douchiness. Takumi's own words.
Patent pending.
"So apparently Princess has a big ass house…yeah, they're both here." She turns to us. "Start stretching. Uh huh. No, it was ten-hundred yen. Hundred. Who the hell would bet ten-thousand for something that asinine? Other than you."
Not really used to stretching I awkwardly turn my arms towards the large, bright lights above then reach for the floor only to stop at least twenty centimeters above it. God am I glad Lilly can't see how ridiculous I look.
Lilly, poised and refined as ever, runs through what I assume are routine stretches for her given the obvious familiarity. The way she naturally moves her torso and all her limbs displays a grace that is incredible for someone who is blind.
It's certainly better than my pitiful display. At least my lack of flexibility is something I've always had rather than developed after my long hospital stay.
Shin doesn't stretch, he says he doesn't dance, and instead opts to just watch Mai and help her choose the music, occasionally looking our way with an almost nonexistent smirk.
If it was any other scarred, muscular, two meter tall, guy, I might have been somewhat concerned about the way my girlfriend's light purple shirt fit her figure so well. But Shin doesn't really seem like Lilly's type and besides, he has his eyes in Mai.
Having hung up on Takumi, probably in the middle of a sentence, Mai looks us over with a trained eye.
"Don't you have any casual clothes?"
Lilly looks confused for a moment. "Am I wearing my mauve top?"
"Er. Yes," I say. At least I think that's mauve. Sometimes I wonder if I missed out on a couple thousand cones or rods.
"Ah. Well then, these are my casual clothes." The silky fabric does look like the sort of thing someone would wear to a dance. But practicing dancing in? Not so much.
"How do you know the colour of your clothes?"
I elbows Shin in the stomach then wince slightly and rub my elbow. Lilly however, just smiles good-naturedly.
"I don't exactly know what the colour is but my sister told me what they were. She explained that it was similar to the notes on a piano: basic scales with notes that have higher and lower variations. Some clash and others blend harmoniously."
Shin and Mai nod in an understanding way but still look somewhat surprised.
I too am surprised by this information. "You never told me you played the piano."
Lilly gently laughs. "I'm not very good at it. My father mostly had me do lessons to improve my muscle memory and other such skills."
Mai snickers. "I definitely thought you were the type to play piano or flute or viola or something. But I didn't want to be rude."
Yeah that's definitely rude alright.
"I chose the classiest music we got," Mai says sticking the CD into the player, "so it should be right up your alley."
Various string instruments and drums hum through the boombox and several other speakers.
"Hisao, hands here and here." She brusquely grabs my arms and places my right around Lilly's waist and my left hand in her right.
"This is a simple waltz, everyone knows the beat."
I use a scratch on the floor as a reference for where to pivot over. We spin in place for a bit before syncing up with the music. I occasionally glance at my feet to check if I've strayed to far and Mai repeatedly taps the back of my head every time I do.
"Just like that," she hold her own arms up with an imaginary partner. "Be smooth you two. Smooth. Be relaxed and just follow the music. One-two-three. One-two-three. Nice and simple."
I put a conscious effort in to each step but slowly it becomes more natural. Just as I feel like we got the hang of the dance Mai decides to raise the bar.
"Let's spice things up a bit, add a little more. Hisao forward, Princess go back. And forward and back. And forward and back." Lilly and I falter a bit at the new movements but flow back into the new rhythm much quicker than me started. "Just like that. How about you give her a spin, Hisao?"
"How about no?" I'll stick to what's safe, thank you very much, experimentation be damned.
"Are you sure Hisao?" Lilly teases, "I think it could be fun to do a little twirl."
"Fun until centrifugal force leads to us both falling on our behinds."
"Half of the dancing experience is falling down," Mai and Shin say this little line in response to my concern almost immediately. Shin abruptly takes interest in his shoes then makes to untie and tighten their laces.
"My my, that is certainly an interesting aphorism," Lilly and I continue our waltz and I can't help but be eager at the chance to return some of Mai's jabs. "I do not believe Hisao and I have spent nearly enough time falling then."
"Don't ask them to join," I joke, secretly goading them to see if they'll dance too, "they might jinx us."
In response Mai fiddled with the player a bit and the tempo picked up significantly. "Should I stop going easy on you two?"
"I do wonder how much of a difference it would make if you did."
"Partner switch!" Mai takes my spot as Lilly's partner, their height differences, while an obvious quirk of their partnership, proves to be of no major issue.
Lilly has truly taken to the three-step base dance number and other variations of it very quickly. Her innate grace and fine motor control allows for her to keep up with Mai's swift, almost liquid movements.
Shin has taken a seat and his eyes are fixated on Mai. A small grin begins to creep onto his face but it disappears when he sees me looking.
The three of us dance for a while longer until I've worked up a moderate sweat.
"What do you think about calling it a day for now?" I don't want to push anything.
Lilly, also slightly out of breath, nods and agrees. "I notice that Shin did not join us."
Shin shrugs. "I don't dance. It would be a hazard to myself and everyone on the floor."
It's no exaggeration too. I've seen him. His arms are either stiff at his side or flailing like a tubeman. He says dancing is "too erratic." With how he carefully measures his, well, everything, it makes sense he prefers something with more controlled movements like cooking.
"Well Princess," Mai pops the CD out of the player and places it back into the case, "make sure you send me a photo or something of your next ball. I always wanted to see a mansion filled with bourgeois gawking at one of my students."
"It's not a mansion. It's simply an above average house."
Mai looks unconvinced. "Yeah? What's the meterage?"
Lilly thinks for a moment. "I do believe I recall Akira saying it had roughly 500 square meters of floor space."
"I think that classifies it as a mansion," Shin says.
I shrug my shoulders and Lilly huffs slightly. "Is there like a bar or something? Some requirements it needs to meet?"
"The definition of 'mansion' is loose, as with most words. It could be defined as: a dwelling containing ballrooms, drawing rooms, dining rooms, music rooms, and other such amenities."
"And does your princess castle have those?"
A light blush creeps onto my girlfriend's face. I raise an eyebrow. "It does not have any ballrooms."
"You kidding," I say, astonished.
Mai, on the other hand, starts guffawing like a moron. "That's rich, Princess! Shin, you should ask if they need a new private chef."
Shin curtly but politely declines.
"Well, this was fun, Princess," Mai unplugs her phone and sticks it into purse, "but I have some other babies I need to take care of."
Outside big, fluffy, white clouds trudge across the sky. We had danced for far longer than I thought if the sun's position is any indication. I wonder if I could arrange for more lessons. It seems like a decent way to get some physical activity. And it'd let me do it with Lilly!
On the other hand, my pessimistic side raises its ugly head, I doubt Mai would let me just take lessons for free. And mom and dad aren't exactly in a position for me to take up a new hobby. I guess I'll just stick to running for now.
"It is going to rain in a few days," Lilly says
This shocks me. "How can you tell?" The sky, while yes, is cloudy, is also a vivid blue and the sun still shines through any cloud that passes under it.
"I can smell it in the air." She smiles knowingly. "The smell of ozone and precipitation and–." Her grin cracks and widens.
I roll my eyes and Mai coughs into her hand. "Why don't you pull the other one; it has bells."
"I have no idea what you mean." Lilly continues to giggle.
"She's definitely messing with you," Shin says, "it was on the news this morning."
"Why'd you have to ruin the joke?" Mai slugs him in the elbow as it's the only place she could comfortably reach. "We could've strung him along for who knows how long."
Not that long. I think.
After we stop laughing at my expense Shin starts walking back downtown where he lives and faces Mai the other way.
"So, uh," Mai looks back and shifts her weight between her feet, "I'll see you guys around."
"Thank you, Mai." An earnest thanks and a delicate smile that would melt anyone's heart.
Even a heart of caesium.
I know the expression is "heart of stone" but caesium is just more appropriate.
"Ah hell. Come on." She waved for us to follow and starts walking to her house. "Shin! Get back here; you're making us lunch!"
Almost immediately he makes an about face, Newton's first law be damned, and starts for Mai's place. A subtle but telltale new spring in his step.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Extra:
"I don't dance. It would be a hazard to myself and everyone on the floor."
"What do you mean?"
"Hisao?" He nods at me.
"Law of mass dictates that the mass of an object dramatically increases the force of impact when said object collides with the ground; and, with Shun's size, he'd make an extensively large impact upon his inevitable fall," I answer my girlfriend's question the best I can.
"What?"
"The bigger they are, the harder they fall."
"Neeeeeeerd!" Thanks Mai.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
A.N: Holy shit this chapter is long. I was thinking of splitting it into two parts but then it would've been too short. And I just think this flows better as one part.
I guess even if no one reviews writing fics does still help with practice. But I'd still like it if someone gave me some feedback. Also, I started a story on FictionPress. It's called "Absolutely Terrible." Name subject to change. Check it out and tell me what you think. Or not. You know what, don't. I don't care. Whatever. Don't read it. Don't review. Do what you want.
Thanks for reading.
-Red
