Note: The summer break chapter was too long, so I'm splitting it into two parts. Stay tuned for part two next week.

Voices

September 1, Pt 1: 31st-2nd

15/08/31

Monday

Ishida Yamato

Well, summer vacation is over, and we're officially back in school. The Teenage Wolves practiced almost every day over the break, and we've made a lot of progress. I helped dad at work to make some money, and I saw Takeru a few times. Kid's growing too damned fast. I noticed a couple of girls his age checking him out while we were together. Wasn't he eight years old just the other day?

We finally entered our first competition. No one would admit it, but I think we were all nervous as hell. Hiro stopped swaggering, Akihiko's eyes glazed over more than ever, and Naoki kept talking nonstop and drumming his fingers on everything. Not sure about Eimi; she was running around the whole time.

Waiting for your turn to play is the worst. You can hear the other bands over a scratchy green room sound system, and the other contestants in there with you pretend not to see anyone or to hear how great the performing band is. Honestly, outside of the venue, inside the green room, and onstage all feel like different, distinct universes.

This was my first public performance. I admit that I felt shaky when Eimi ushered us onstage. Just before we stepped on, she stopped us and said, "Sora-chan and Mimi-chan came to cheer us on, so give them a good show!"

Somehow, that only made me more nervous. When did Eimi tell the girls about the contest? Should I have told them? Maybe I'll post a flier at school next time.

I focused on adjusting my bass strap and the microphone stand, squinting in the stage lights. It was like an oven up there, except humid, too. When I couldn't avoid it anymore, I looked out at the audience, and my vision swam. There were so many people, growing less and less distinct further from the stage.

For a second, I almost panicked. Then I heard Sora and Mimi-chan cheering, starting a round of applause as we were announced, and I had to smile. I don't know what I did or how I did it, but I felt myself relaxing and smirking, even though I was nervous.

Then Naoki counted us in. At first, I think you focus so much on what you have to do that you block out the crowd. But eventually, I relaxed enough to feel their energy and respond to it, and that's when everything clicked.

We won honorable mention, which was kind of disappointing. I know we're new, but we practiced so much, and performing felt so great, I just assumed we would place. I guess it's a reminder to keep working. Plus, now that I've seen the performance recording, I have to admit that we have some weak spots to work on. We'll be ready for the next event.

I thought the contest would be hard to top, but our group gatherings went really well. I didn't expect to enjoy them as much as I did.

The beach trip was first, and the girls looked great. Sora wore an athletic bikini in blue, very practical for a day of running around on the beach. She's fit and toned, and I'll be asking Eimi and Mimi-chan about the pictures they took.

We spent most of the day swimming and playing beach volleyball. I feel a little embarrassed about how competitive I was with Taichi-kun. I guess I wanted to butt heads with him in an acceptable way and win. Well, trash him, really. But ultimately, we were always on opposite teams, so whoever had Sora won.

At one point, I walked away from the group to check on dad. A group of older girls, probably in their early twenties, stopped me and asked me to... Well, they wanted to pick me up. I couldn't believe it. I tried to stay calm, but I could feel my face heating up. I'm a minor! Did they think I would just follow them if they complimented me, bent forward, and winked?

I was struggling to respond, which I think the ladies took as acceptance. One of them giggled and took my hand, and when I tried to turn away, I found Sora jogging towards me.

I hate to admit it, but my heart leapt to my throat, and I almost panicked. I stumbled over her name, like she had caught me doing something wrong. I worried about what she would think of me if she misunderstood the situation.

I tore my arm away from that woman. "I'm not interested," I said, and I was already walking away before I finished talking. They called after me, but I ignored them. Ugh. I can't believe kids have to worry about stuff like that. I know I look a little older than my age, but not that much.

Sora walked back beside me, staring at the ground and not saying a word. I don't know what she was thinking, but she wasn't happy. "Thanks for the save," I said.

Her head jerked up. "Oh- You aren't mad, then?"

"What? No!" I realized that I was still unsettled, so I tried to recover some ground by playing it smooth. "They weren't my type."

"Oh?" She looked away again, and I wondered if I had said something wrong. Or could it be that she was jealous? I felt myself smirking, even though I knew it wasn't the wisest reaction.

After a pause, she said, "What is your type?"

I hesitated. Sora is... she's different. I've never been interested in a girl before, not past surface attraction, anyway. But Sora doesn't squeal about superficial things and get tongue-tied when she talks to me. She's compassionate, mature, serious, smart, wise, and beautiful.

So yeah, I guess that's my type.

Instead of saying all of that, I went with leaded misdirection. "I like your hair. The clip is very pretty." She was wearing a hibiscus flower in her hair, a real one. It was placed very skillfully, pulling the hair away from her face on one side. Her hand brushed the petals, then fell away.

"Thanks," she said. "My mother stopped me on my way out and clipped it in."

I've gathered by now that Sora has a complicated relationship with her mother. I guess I wanted to spend some time with her, so I sat down on one of our blankets and patted the spot beside me. I mostly listened as she talked about her family's ikebana school and her mother. I feel bad for her. It seems like she really struggles to make both her mother and herself happy. I know what it's like to have a tense home environment.

It was a little bumpy, but the beach trip was great.

We also went to a festival as a group, and I was really impressed when Eimi told me that Sora made her yukata. She didn't have one, being American, and apparently Sora offered to make one. And it was beautiful, well-made, and perfectly tailored. I ended up having a long conversation with Sora about her process. She's really very talented.

While we were talking, Sora suddenly paused and said, "Where is everyone?" The crowd was unbelievable, and I guess we lost track of the others while we were talking. We had wandered into the game area, and we spent some time looking at the prizes. I noticed Sora lingering in front of the shooting gallery, which had a collection of traditional teddy bears made of yukata-styled fabric. She was staring at a red one with a white and pink floral pattern.

This was a little forward of me, but I guess I couldn't help it. I leaned close to her and said, "Do you want that?"

Maybe I'm projecting- it was dark, even with the lanterns- but I think she blushed. "Oh- I'm not very good at shooting games."

I shrugged. "I'll give it a shot."

She started stammering, but I was already paying the attendant. Luckily, I always used to win toys for Takeru, so I was pretty confident. Each prize has a target below it, and you just have to hit it with a cork gun. Easy. I refused to let myself feel nervous. I just picked the gun up, took aim, and bam. First try.

Thanks, Takeru. I owe you one, kid.

She seemed kind of overwhelmed when I handed her the bear. For a second, I was afraid she'd refuse it, but she smiled and accepted. And I guess that was the first time I gave a gift to someone I'm not related to.

When did I start feeling this way about Sora? I wouldn't say I'm head over heels, but she's definitely on my radar. Maybe there isn't a single moment when you realize you're interested in someone. Maybe it just builds in little steps. But while I'm still able to be at least mostly objective, I have to admit that I could do a hell of a lot worse. I don't feel worried about potentially falling for her. I feel like I'm walking into it knowingly and with the expectation that good things will follow.

Speaking of, we closed the summer with a courage contest. I thought it would be a waste of time, since I'm not scared of whatever booby traps the others cobble together, but I went anyway. I think Mimi-chan is trying to set people up, because she insisted on boy/girl pairs. I couldn't relax until I drew Sora's number; I didn't want to take care of Mimi-chan, and I'm not sure if Eimi would be afraid or not.

I almost got sucked into competing with Taichi-kun again like an idiot, but Sora kept me focused. When he took off running in the dark, Sora and I read our clues and set a course. We triggered a few traps, but Sora just laughed at them, and I guess if she laughs, I feel like laughing, too. We probably should have won, but Taichi-kun managed to find the charm out of pure luck, running around in the pitch black like a fool. Funny how some people are like that; no matter what they do, it works out for them.

I can't say I mind. Sora didn't seem scared, but she walked very close to me. I guess it's nice to be a source of comfort for someone, even mildly so. I haven't felt useful to someone for a long time.

But the summer's over now, and I guess it's time to focus again. Eimi turned in our request form for a performance slot on the main stage during the cultural festival, and we'll have to compete for it. I'm trying to get everyone to concentrate on that. I want as many fans within the student body as possible, so they'll hopefully attend our contests in the future and cheer us on.

15.09.01

Tuesday

Kido Jyou

Augh, I can't believe our break is over! It's so much easier to cover your material when you're not learning new things every day. But I did study a lot, and I finished my homework much faster than usual, since I had Koushiro-kun and Eimi-chan to help twice a week.

I managed to do a few things outside of studying this summer, and I have to admit, it made for a nice change. That beach trip… Can we do that again? Now? No? Well, I guess it's for the best to limit some things. It would be hard to concentrate with girls in bikinis around all the time. I thought my heart would crack my ribs when Mimi-chan lifted her cover up on the beach. I mean, I knew she was wearing a swimsuit under that, but for a split second, it looked like… I'm sorry, I'm getting out of line. She was beautiful, of course. She wore a tiny floral bikini and this huge pink cowboy hat. I asked why she wore it to the beach (I think the hat was made of more material than her suit), and she said the wide brim keeps the sun off of her skin. Hmm. I think she'd look good with a tan, but it's true that sun exposure can damage skin. On that note, I tried to stay under an umbrella with Koushiro-kun and watch everyone play volleyball and swim, but Mimi-chan dragged me out, and I guess when she grabbed my arm and pulled, I followed without thinking.

I was terrible at both, but no one seemed to mind.

At one point during the day, the group drifted apart. Taichi-kun and Eimi-chan were making a sand castle, Koushiro-kun was reading, and I'm not sure where Yamato-kun and Sora-chan went. Mimi-chan rolled over on her towel and asked if I'd put sunscreen on her back. I think I went into shock for a second- was this for real? Was this some kind of sitcom setup? I hesitated, and she said, "My skin's starting to burn, I can feel it. I can't find Sora-chan, and Eimi-chan's all sandy. Please?"

Koushiro-kun smacked me with his elbow- maybe he thought Mimi-chan would ask him if I said no? I stood and sat next to her, and I don't think my sweating had anything to do with leaving the shade of the umbrella. This probably goes without saying, but I've never touched a girl like that before. Her skin was like silk, soft and smooth, and I could feel her breathing beneath my hands. I tried not to react, but… Well, I decided to lay down on my stomach on the towel beside hers for a while.

She talked to me for a long time, sort of murmuring. She sounded half asleep, but I can see that. There's something lulling about the sun and the sound of the waves. Mostly she talked about our friends. She seems to think that Koushiro-kun and Eimi-chan are pairing off, as well as Sora-chan and Yamato-kun. I don't claim to be able to read those situations, and while I do think that Eimi-chan has a crush on Koushiro-kun, I doubt he reciprocates.

She didn't say anything about me. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. What do I have to offer a girl like Mimi-chan? But it's hard not to hope, especially when she asks me to put sunscreen on her.

I'm an idiot, aren't I.

We also went to a festival together, and it was nice to see the girls all dressed up. You start taking a certain pride in them. It's not sexual, I promise. There's just this feeling of… Yes, these beautiful girls are part of our group, they're with us, and we get to watch them smile and laugh. Nothing lights things up like a happy girl. I wonder if I feel that way because I don't have any sisters, and these are my first female friends? Whatever the reason, I enjoy watching them enjoy themselves, and I feel good when they turn to me and want to share something with me. Does that sound strange? Of course I like my male friends, too, although Taichi-kun tries my patience sometimes.

The last thing we did as a group was a courage contest. I had no interest in walking through a dark abandoned factory (you know I'd trip and break a leg), so I offered to set up the contest, which meant hiding the charms, writing the clues, and setting up the traps the others made. I came to the event, but I spent most of it waiting at the start/finish line in the building's lobby. I planned to stay there the whole time, but when I heard Mimi-chan screaming, I couldn't help myself. I knew she was probably just reacting to a falling sheet or something, but like an idiot, I went running anyway.

Her voice was otherwordly, so high-pitched and keening. I was shivering the whole time, even as I ran full-out. The factory had a lot of rooms and long hallways, and she stopped screaming before I found her, but I remembered where the nearest traps were and moved towards them. She was sitting on the floor in a hallway, pulling gelatin and spiderwebs out of her hair. She called my name when she saw me, and she sounded so relieved. She jumped up and hugged me, and her body was cold.

"You should have worn a jacket," I said, which is a ridiculous thing to say to a girl wiping tears from her face and goo from her hair. But even in summer, nights can be cool, and I took my sweater off and offered it to her. Honestly, I was a little surprised when she put it on.

I asked her if she was okay, and she started talking in a stream. It ran into a hiss that built and built into almost a screech, like a kettle coming to boil. I can't say I caught every word, but it seems that she ran into spider webs and broke a trip line that dropped jello on her head. She was furious at Koushiro-kun. I know he doesn't have any people skills, so if Mimi-chan says he wasn't considerate of her feelings, then I believe her. But Mimi-chan admitted herself that she ran off and got lost, so I'm not sure how Koushiro-kun is to blame for her ending up alone. It seems they both made mistakes, but it's hard for me to avoid favoring the crying girl. At least I know I'm biased. I avoided Koushiro-kun for a few days so that I wouldn't say something accusing to him.

Once she calmed down, I led Mimi-chan back to the lobby, and she clung to my arm the whole time. Is it wrong that I enjoyed the courage contest? I couldn't help it. Before we said goodbye and went home, Mimi-chan thanked me with such a sweet, serious look in her eyes. I swear I can still see her face, with moonlight in her eyes and her hair.

She still hasn't returned my sweater. That's alright. She can keep it if she wants.

September 2, 2015

Wednesday

Anami Eimi

Dear Kitty,

I'm really sad that the summer is over. It was the best one of my life. Back in the states, I was stuck at home alone with my brother all summer, marooned in suburbia. I held my breath for three months every year, waiting for life to start up again. Here, I'm within a fifteen minute walk of a group of friends. I was so busy!

Let's see... The Teenage Wolves rehearsed every day except Sunday, just like always, except that our practices were longer. Mostly I sat there and did my translating work, but sometimes I listened or did gopher stuff. I'm still working on my playing with Hiro, and I'm getting better.

The boys entered a contest. It was really exciting, but I was so busy that the memory is a blur. There were forms to fill in, light and sound people to talk to, and instruments to cart around. But it was so worth it when I saw my boys walk onstage! There was a big crowd, and Sora-chan and Mimi-chan were there, and everyone cheered for them so much.

They weren't as polished as some of the other bands, but I think our songs are great, and I loved watching Yama perform. It's like he steps into a new skin when he hits the stage, so smooth and confident. His presence seems effortless, but I know him well enough to guess that it's not. He's working hard up there.

We didn't place, but we won honorable mention. I think it was great for our first contest, but Hiro and Yama seemed a little bummed. Silly boys! Rome wasn't built in a day.

Oh, I've discovered that Mimi-chan's shrieking can hit incredible decibel levels. I watched my boys from the back of the stage, and I could hear her from there. I'm surprised Sora-chan didn't go deaf!

I studied twice a week with Koushiro-kun and Jyou-kun, and sometimes the others joined. Japanese schools give so much summer homework, I couldn't believe it! But we did it together in small chunks in Jyou-kun's apartment, studying in the cool and the quiet with his older brothers drifting by and offering help. They're really nice and smart, like Jyou-kun, but I think he's the family worrywart. They both tease him about it. I was a little jealous of their relationship.

Obviously, I have to mention the much-prophesied beach trip. We chose a day with perfect weather, sizzling and clear. We all met at the school gate and piled into Ishida-san's van early in the morning. Even the car ride was fun, since everyone was talking and excited. (Well, except for Koushiro-kun. He was trying to read while Mimi-chan told him to stop and be social. Why is she so offended by that?)

Speaking of Mimi-chan, she and Sora-chan invited me to shop with them for the trip, and Mimi-chan found this amazing swimsuit for me. It's red and has this flouncy little skirt. But I digress.

When we arrived, everyone carried stuff to the beach- you wouldn't believe how much stuff you need for the beach- and everyone took off their shirts and cover ups. Ahhhh, Sora-chan and Mimi-chan are sooooo cute, and Taichi-kun was killing it. He's the only one of us with visible muscle definition, and the tan looks so natural on the beach. Don't get me started on Yama, though; he's really too handsome to be allowed. There should be a permit or something. I think I noticed a group of older girls trying to hit on him, but I wasn't in earshot.

I spent the day running around with the others, trying to keep up with volleyball games and swimming. They have so much energy! Ishida-san lounged under an umbrella off to the side all day, trying to give us privacy but stay available. Jyou-kun tried to hide under an umbrella, but Mimi-chan dragged him out, and he's putty with her, I swear. Koushiro-kun was more recalcitrant, and as Mimi-chan isn't strong enough to move him, she enlisted Taichi-kun's help.

Alas, Koushiro-kun. Your day of pleasantly reading on the sand was not meant to be. Taichi-kun picked him up, threw him over his shoulder (!), walked into the surf ("Taichi-san, put me down! What are you- Taichi-san!"), and as soon as the water was deep enough, he tossed him in.

Koushiro-kun doesn't swim well, so I ran behind behind Taichi-kun, trying to make myself heard over his laughing, Koushiro-kun's babbling, and Mimi-chan's giggles, but naturally, it was no good. Koushiro-kun disappeared beneath the water, but it was shallow enough that he found his feet. Then a wave pushed him into me, and we grabbed onto each other. He didn't sway with it at all; it hit him like a train, and judging by the coughing fit that followed, he swallowed a large percentage of it.

So now Koushiro-kun's hacking and turning red, I'm screeching at Taichi-kun and trying to drag Koushiro-kun out, and Taichi-kun's just shaking his head. He grabbed both of us by a shoulder and said, "You can't swim, Koushiro? Learn computers some other time; I'll teach you."

At this point, I was holding Koushiro-kun up. The water was at our waists (well, I guess it was higher on him? I think he's been growing recently, though), and I think I realized all at once that his arms were around me. He was leaning against me and struggling for air. I stopped scolding Taichi-kun and went silent.

Then something curious happened. Mimi-chan walked to the edge of the water and lifted her voice into this sexy, twinkling call. Taichi-kun twisted around so fast that his neck cracked. "Aww, Taichi-kun," she sang- yes, it sounded like siren song- "Come on! We were playing volleyball! We need you! Eimi-chan's a good swimmer. Let her teach him."

What was she thinking? I have no idea! But Taichi-kun turned back towards us, and I swear his eyebrow jerked up. I was trying to tip Koushiro-kun onto his feet, and we were all tangled up, and when Taichi-kun's stupid eyebrow went flying, I wanted to grab it and pull it back down. I almost started sputtering because I felt so self-conscious and defensive. Koushiro-kun let go of me, but another wave broke, and I heard him sigh as he grabbed my arm.

"I don't know," Taichi-kun said. "Are you strong enough to haul him back in if he slips?"

"He's fine!" Mimi-chan cried. "Come on, Taichi-kun!"

Annnnnd he left. I can't blame him; he had Sora-chan and Mimi-chan beckoning to him in bikinis. That's some Tantalus shit right there. I watched him go until Koushiro-kun heaved on my arm, trying to stand.

"I apologize," he said. "Thank you for your assistance. If it's all the same to you, I'd rather read."

His face was flushed from swallowing sea and coughing, and his hair was all tousled. I guess I suddenly realized just how thin he is. I could see his ribs, faint ridges beneath his skin, and the impression of his hip bones just above his trunks. His body hair is red, too. There's just a tuft on his chest, and a little trail beneath his belly button. Did the other boys have hair like that? I guess I don't remember. But I kept wanting to touch that line of hair, and thaaaat would not have gone over well. Who cares about body hair? It's hair! I guess it's because it's all so red?

Anyway, he seemed so tiny and fragile, and I said, "That might be a good idea. You were sick not long ago. Don't push yourself."

It was obvious that I made a mistake. First, his eyes flared open. Then they narrowed, and he glanced away. I saw a muscle tighten in his jaw. "Actually... I suppose there is merit to swimming lessons. I didn't perform well in gym class, and it's a part of our grade. Would you mind...?"

I admit that I stared at him for a second. Why the sudden switch? But he looked so serious, it didn't occur to me to say no. So I ended up holding his hands for the better part of an hour, trying to teach him to breathe, kick, and stay calm. His biggest problem was that he wasn't relaxing. His breaths were shallow, not enough to fuel the activity or give him buoyancy.

At the time, I was very focused, trying to find the problems and fix them. I don't think I was very aware of holding his hands or being so close to him. But somehow, when my mind wanders these days, I keep finding it there. I can hear the waves and the water splashing beneath his legs. I can feel his hands in mine, and the slow, steady burn in my muscles from supporting him. And I can see his hair, mussed and wet, plastered down above dark, deep-set eyes. He looks very serious when he concentrates. It's a little... Intimidating isn't right. It just makes me feel a little nervous. High strung? But it's not a bad feeling.

Anyway, the others called us and said they were getting shaved ice, so we left the water. I think Koushiro-kun was exhausted; he went straight for his blanket and sat. I guess it must have been hard on him…

We stayed until the sun set, and I was so tired that I fell asleep tucked in the back corner of the van, even with everyone talking. How embarrassing...

I also went to my very first Japanese festival this summer! Sora-chan helped me pick fabric and made a yukata for me, can you believe it?! She's so nice and talented! It's dark blue with yellow and white flowers. She also lent me a spare pair of sandals. The yukata is amazing, but the shoes were very uncomfortable and awkward.

The festival was really fun. The girls looked like moving flowers in their yukatas, there were so many games, and there was food everywhere, all kind of crazy stuff I had never tried before. My friends were all there, and everyone shared bites of things, so I got to try so many new foods. (As a side note, I don't understand why you'd eat octopus. Even deep fried, they are rubber.)

There was this drum ceremony, and it was amazing! There were all of these huge drums set up in the shrine, and young men wearing headbands came out and played them. I could feel the deep reverberations in my bones like a second melody. Yamato was right- it was worth it just for the drums.

The night ended with fireworks. I've seen better- I think the light and air pollution from the city interfered with the viewing. But they were really nice, and it was just such a great evening. The only bad part was the crowd. It was so packed, I kept trying to stay in the middle of my group. Crowds make me nervous...

We closed out the summer by meeting at an abandoned building on the outskirts of the city to tell ghost stories and have a courage contest. It's kind of a gauntlet of scary obstacles in a scary environment that you have to pass to find an object. Whoever finds their object and returns to the starting point first wins. We all made hazards and obstacles, and Jyou-kun set everything up and made hints for us.

Mimi-chan insisted on boy/girl pairs, and I was paired with Taichi-kun. We won, I guess, but it wasn't much fun. He grabbed my hand and ran, and it turned into a blind marathon through dark, musty hallways. I don't even know if we set off any traps; we just kept moving so fast. I like him, but I wish I could have been paired with... well, anyone else, I guess. Poor Koushiro-kun especially needed help. He lost Mimi-chan, or something; they boy give different accounts, so it's confusing.

So, that was my summer, and it was awesome! And my hand is about to fall off, so good night!

Yours,

Eimi

Author's note: Thanks for reading! See you next week :)