The mid-term's week flew past in a flurry, paper after paper I attempted, handed in, and moved on. We got back our results, mine weren't that bad, I got quite an average score, although my literature barely passed the passing mark. The school closed for the summer holidays, and classes were over, of course. Throughout the whole week I didn't see Miku-chan, and I have to admit I was kind of worried sick and got kind of paranoid that she was avoiding me on purpose, but I couldn't have been more wrong about that. After a while, I calmed myself down and thought maybe she was just busy with her examinations and stuff, and what more, the first-years are released earlier than the seniors, since sometimes they have additional subjects and such, but I didn't really know.
I got up slightly later the next Monday, the first day of summer. Trainings began at nine, so I didn't have to wake up at six or seven. I got dressed, ate a quick breakfast and left the house. The morning was rather hot, the sun already shining brightly in the sky, casting long shadows from the houses along the street. I was still kind of tired, and to be honest I was kind of jealous that Rin-chan didn't have any school activities at all during the entire course of the summer holidays, so she could sleep late and slack around. Dad already left for work, so I had to go to school myself, taking the public bus.
The weather was smouldering, although the occasional breeze coming from the sea alleviated the situation a little. I paced slowly to the bus stop, the bus wouldn't be arriving until about ten minutes, so I had plenty of time. Across the street a woman walked past, under a shadow of a yellow umbrella, sheltered from the piercing heat. In a front yard of a house, I saw a family getting ready for a trip. The mother, in a white sun hat, was packing what seemed to be mats into the boot of the silver SUV. Beside her, on the floor, was a few stacked baskets, and a folded grey umbrella, leaning against the side of the shiny car. A few moments later, two small girls rushed excitedly of the house, all dressed up and their hair tied, and raced to the car, beckoned by an older boy to hurry up. All three then got into the car and drove off along the road, closing the gate behind them. I couldn't help but notice the exhilarated squeals of delight coming from the younger two children. Well, it seemed like they were going on a trip somewhere, a picnic at the beach most probably. I walked slowly along the path, watching the morning flock of birds fly against the blue backdrop of the sky. I sighed to myself, it really had been a while since we went for those kind of leisure trips. Well, dad has become more and more busy with work, so he couldn't take us on any trips anymore I guess. I should have appreciated the trips we took as a family when I was back in middle school, the last trip of that sort happened back when I was in the first year of middle school, we had a short vacation at Okinawa, if I remembered correctly.
"Morning, Len-kun." I heard a female voice call out to me.
I looked up and saw Luka-san walk up to me, coming from the direction of the bus stop. She was wearing a deep azure long-sleeved dress, with red cuffs and a matching collar. One of her arms were folded, allowing a basket full of groceries to hang on with its handle. Her light pink hair was tied in a neat braid resting gracefully on her left shoulder. She was pregnant, but it wasn't really noticeable yet.
"Morning Megurine-san." I replied, smiling.
"Ah, you're going to school?" she asked, "But isn't it the summer holidays for you guys now?" she continued.
"Well… I have trainings most of the time, so I have to keep going back to school…" I said.
"Oh, you're in sports?" Megurine-san asked.
"Yeah, I'm in track and field." I replied.
"Ah, that's interesting." She remarked.
"Anyway, how are you Luka-san? I heard you're pregnant." I said, changing topic.
"Indeed I am. I'm doing fine, it's been smooth all along." She continued with a pleasant smile drawn on her face.
"Well, see you then, my bus is coming soon." I said, "Take care." I wished her, and began to take my leave.
"Wait Len-kun." She stopped me.
She fiddled through her rattan basket full of groceries, bread, eggs, the such, and fished out a small circular bun, wrapped in a transparent plastic bag, and handed it to me. It was a bun filled with red bean paste.
"Here" Megurine-san said, "I got this at the supermarket just now. There was an offer, and I got it for free after buying some eggs so I thought I'll give it to you." She continued.
I didn't say anything and examined the bread. It wasn't like I didn't like red bean bread or anything, I was actually rather fond of it. It's just that I was kind of surprised, to be honest.
"You like red bean bread don't you, Len-kun?" Luka-san asked, after seeing me silent.
"Ah, yeah, Thank you very much!" I said, bowing, before taking my leave, walking towards the bus stop.
"See you." She replied.
I hurried my pace towards the bus stop, it was coming soon. I slid the bun into my bag. I was lucky I made it just in time to the bus stop, nearly missing it. The bus was rather full, being a weekday, and many people were commuting to work. It was kind of a surprise how nobody fainted or suffocated in the crush of people in such a confined space. When the bus pulled over to school, I had to squeeze out like how I had to squeeze in, since not many people stop at the bus stop.
School was rather quiet, the courtyard was rather silent, but wasn't as silent as the early morning of the literature paper. There were some students about in the courtyard, some walking in groups and others alone, some carrying sports equipment and a handful lugging books and a menagerie of other assorted objects. An informal atmosphere hung in the air of the school, it seemed more relaxed, and people weren't rushing about. Well, it was the summer holidays anyway. I made my way to the main building, towards the lockers.
There weren't many people at the lockers, for some reason, and I sat down on the bench, and changed my school shoes to the shiny lime-green track shoes with rough rubber soles, knocking the grains of dirt out of them. They were getting rather dirty, starting to get smudged with brown dirt, so I thought I would clean them over the weekend. Either I do that, or mom would nag at me and make me do it. I slipped them on and closed my locker shut after neatly putting away my former pair of white shoes inside.
When I got to the stadium steps, the guys were already setting up the equipment, some were even doing their warm-up rounds already. I got nervous for a moment, thinking that I might have lost track of the time and came late, but I looked down at my watch and reassured myself that I wasn't.
"Morning, Len-kun."
I looked up, Shion-senpai was not far in front, his hand raised.
"Ah morning, Shion-senpai." I said, "Erm.. Am I late?" I asked, just in case.
"Nah, sorry for not informing you guys earlier, but there was a slight change of schedule." He replied, apologosing.
"Well, you'd better get started with your rounds." He added, and walked off.
As he was walking, I noticed he had the clipboard in one arm. Wait, wasn't that Miku-chan's? Talking about that, where on earth was she?
"Ah senpai-" I said, and he turned around. "Sorry if I sound a bit intrusive but where is Hatsune-senpai?" I asked awkwardly.
"Oh, her." He said. "She told us to start off earlier first without her, she said she'll be late, had something to settle."
I didn't ask anything else, and with that, Shion-senpai left me there, and I went on with my training regimen as usual, under the smouldering heat.
Miku-chan only came after lunch, but she didn't talk much. We had trainings all the way until four, with some breaks in between. In the end the only chance where I managed to get to speak to her was near the end of training. She was alone, on the stadium steps, organising something in her file. I just had to tell her, like what Gumi said, let it all out. I guess I wouldn't lose a thing to just make it known to her that I like her, it's not like she would accept me or anything. The rest of them were putting away the equipment, and Shion-senpai was probably with them to, for he was nowhere to be found. I took a deep breath, mustered all my courage, and took the few heavy steps towards her. I didn't know what I was doing at that point, the fear of messing things up was plaguing my mind.
Another part of my mind told me it wasn't the right time, since the whole day she looked kind of gloomy and kept to herself, minding her own work, and that might just ruin everything and make her day even worse. But still, I steeled myself. I had to do it, I just had to tell her.
"Uh- Miku-chan, can we talk for a while?" I asked, trying to act calm.
"Yeah, sure." She said, removing the clutter of files beside her seat.
I went up to her and sat beside her. I didn't know what to say and where to start, so in my nervousness I blurted out what first came to my mind.
"So, Miku-chan, um… why were you late today?" I asked awkwardly.
"Oh, that. I had a doctor's appointment near the city centre. I'm sure Kaito-kun had already explained to you guys right?" she replied.
"Appointment?" I blurted out unintentionally, with surprise.
"Don't worry it's nothing serious. Just a… um…. Check-up." She replied somewhat hesitating, but then covering up with a faint smile.
I stayed silent for a while, not knowing how to proceed with this conversation. It seems like any conversation initiated by me for Miku-chan was destined to doom.
"Ah, is that all Kagamine-kun? Thank you for your concern, but I have some work to do so…" she said.
"No no no that's not all!" I accidentally blurted out, panicking.
She looked at me with surprise, her aqua eyes widening. Oh gosh, what have I done.
"Th-that's not what I meant!" I said, trying to mend the situation. "I mean… I still have other things to say." I continued, my heart thumping violently in my chest.
"Go on." She said.
"Well, I wanted to apologise for the other day, for leaving you at the library just like that." I apologised. "You see well… I forgot I had made an arrangement to go home with the both of them, so I'm really sorry." I lied, trying to cover up the fact that I was actually saved by the both of them in that situation.
"Don't worry, it's okay. Although I have to say that was kind of sudden." She said with a small laugh.
"Yeah, so if that's it…" she said, her right hand already reaching for her file behind her.
"Ah and-" I said nervously, my heart beating fast.
"Miku-chan." I looked down towards the base of the steps, and there was Shion-senpai, his dark blue hair blown by the warm afternoon breeze.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?" he asked, to which she nodded and stood up.
Suddenly, she turned around and faced me, causing her teal ponytails to fly around slightly.
"Kagamine-kun, could you do me a favour?" she asked sweetly.
"Yeah?" I replied.
"Could you please help me drop these off at Sakine-sensei's pigeon hole?" she said, handing me a stack of papers fished out from her thick organiser file.
"Okay…" I said, and took the stack from her delicate hands.
"Thank you so much Kagamine-kun!" she said, bowed slightly then went down the steps to be with her boyfriend, and then they disappeared behind the corner not far away.
I went off instantly, with the stack of papers in my hand. Sakine-sensei's pigeon hole wasn't that far from the stadium steps, but it was still quite a walk though. Besides, I had nothing better to do. I made my way to my destination, carefully avoiding the rest so they won't notice me gone. As I walked, I thought about the conversation I had back then with Miku-chan. Well, at least she wasn't angry with me, but I still haven't revealed to her the truth that has been burdening me for quite some time. I guess after I return from dropping off the forms and I'll confess to her. Well, I'm not sure how she would react, but being Miku-chan, for sure I know she won't laugh at me, she takes the feelings of others rather seriously and has a strong sense of empathy and thought.
I reached Sakine-sensei's pigeon hole without incident. The row of brown wooden drawers lining the wall outside the staffroom was where it should've been I suppose nothing peculiar there. I opened the closed pigeon hole with Sakine-sensei's name labelled at the front, and placed the stack of forms inside. I closed the door of the pigeon hole and was about to start walking back to where I came from, deep in thought on how I should structure my words to Miku-chan, when suddenly the glass door of the staff room opened and the clattering of high heels resonated through the empty stairway behind me.
"Ah, Kagamine-san! It's a great thing you're here!"
I turned around and saw Kasane-sensei, standing in front of the glass door, balancing on a pair of shiny black high heels. Her fuchsia hair wasn't permed and was tied neatly in a low ponytail, resting limply on her right shoulder. She was wearing a black, professional-looking suit.
"Uhh… Is there anything you need Kasane-sensei?" I asked, stopping in my tracks.
"Well yes, please wait here! Just a moment!" she said, and hurriedly rushed back into the staff room.
A few minutes later she came out of the pair of sliding glass panels, struggling with two heavy boxes, stacked upon each other. She then placed it on the floor in front of me, apparently in a huge rush.
"Sorry Kagamine-san, could you please help me deliver these boxes to the Prefectorial Board Room? I'm really sorry I have to rush off to an external meeting within the education district. Well I told Hatsune-san to come and help me collect these, but since you're here, you sure can help me right?" Kasane-sensei told me.
"Yeah, sure." I replied.
"Thank you." She said, and rushed off down the corridor and soon disappeared.
Sighing, I bent down and picked up the two boxes stacked on top of each other in front of me, and they sure were really heavy. I struggled trying to get on my feet, nearly losing balance with all the weight I'm carrying on my two arms. What did Kasane-sensei put in here? Stones?!
After a while my arms got used to it although I still felt the heavy weight on my legs occasionally. The Prefectorial Board Room was on the third floor of the classroom block, past the stadium. I sighed. Oh well, it's not like walking a bit further will kill me or something. Besides, it would prove to be a break from the countless rounds I had been running for the past few hours. Somehow I felt a little disappointed that I wasn't able to spit whatever I had to say out before Miku-chan had to go. Well I guess I had to tell her after I've settled this issue.
I was walking on the corridor, void and empty of any sign of life, heading towards the row of second years' classrooms, when I heard some voices. Usually, I wouldn't be bothered with other's conversation's, and of course, it is kind of rude to eavesdrop on something that's none of your business but somehow, just somehow, that very moment, something within told me to stop right in front of the front door of the classroom. The door was closed shut, but the sliding glass windows facing the corridor were open, and I could hear the voices clearly. It was Miku-chan's and Shion-senpai's.
"Look, I'm really, really sorry." Shion-senpai said. "I can't…" He continued and suddenly fell short.
"What is it Kaito-kun? Is there anything troubling you?" Miku-chan asked, concerned, with that soft and kind voice of hers.
There was some silence following that. Only the wheezing of the summer afternoon breeze could be heard, blowing through the emptiness of the school.
"Well…" Shion-senpai said. "Actually there is."
"If that's the case then, why don't you take a seat here?" Miku-chan said. "You can talk to me. I am your girlfriend after all." She continued.
In my mind I could visualise Miku-chan standing, pulling a chair up for Shion-senpai, doing all this with a sincere sweet smile on her face. I heard the dragging of a chair soon after.
"So, what's the matter?" Miku-chan asked gently and soothingly.
"I'm sorry." Shion-senpai apologised.
"Lately… I've been thinking about this a lot…" He continued, and hesitated.
"What? Just tell me, I'll try my best to help." Miku-chan offered.
"I didn't do too well for mid-terms, and there's a lot of things for me to focus on, what with studying on one hand and being the captain of the track and field team. There's also university to think about, and my family has really high expectations of me and I think... these are the things I really need to put my effort in, but I just don't have the time." He said in a low, sombre manner.
"I could help you cover for some of the club activities if you want, so you can focus on your studies and-" Miku-chan replied, but was interrupted by Shion-senpai.
"You see, I really like you and I have to admit, you've been helpful and wonderful and really aided me when times were getting kinda rough. And… I want you to be happy. I mean, all this while, I've been holding you back, without really thinking about how you felt." He said again.
"No you're wrong! I'm fine! I could manage!" Miku-chan retorted, trying to comfort Shion-senpai "I really like spending my time with you, you're not holding me back at all!" she continued.
There was a short, empty silence after that.
"Look, if there's any way I could help just tell me alright?" Miku-chan said, breaking the silence.
"I think…"
"We should break up." Shion-senpai said suddenly.
My heart skipped a beat. To be honest, that came in as a huge shock to me. From what I saw, they were really close and they seem to enjoy each other's company, so why break up? But well, Shion-senpai had his reasons, and who am I, an outsider who barely knows anything about their relationship, to judge?
"I'm sorry." He apologised, after a brief silence.
"I understand." Miku-chan replied, in a soft melancholic whisper-like voice.
"All the best for your future. I wish you well, Kaito-kun." She continued.
"Well… I'll be leaving now, I have to get back to the classroom." Shion-senpai said.
A few moments later, the back door of the classroom opened, and Shion-senpai emerged. He didn't see me though, as he went straight down the corridor, without even taking a glance back. He walked down the corridor and went down the stairwell leading to the stadium.
From the classroom, I could hear Miku-chan's sobbing.
I decided it was time for me to leave and had just bent down to pick up the boxes when suddenly the front door, which had been closed shut suddenly opened, and Miku-chan suddenly appeared and nearly walked into me. I was kind of shocked and my heart beat faster. Did I get caught?
Miku-chan appeared surprised as well. We stayed silent awkwardly for a brief moment. She was in a mess, her face was damp with tears and her eyes were bloodshot. Her fringe was dishevelled. On seeing me, she quickly adjusted her fringe and wiped away some of her tears with her soft fingers. On her lips she wore a soft, weak, smile.
"Ah, Kagamine-san. Do you need help with that?" she asked. "Well I'm supposed to be the one to move them up anyway." She continued as she went up to me.
"N-no it's okay, really." I said, still carrying the boxes in my arms.
We stood there awkwardly in the corridor. My gaze met with her teary, pitiful eyes for a brief moment, but she quickly looked away, clearly embarrassed at me seeing her face, all sticky and wet with tears.
"If you don't mind, Kagamine-san…" Miku-chan suddenly broke the silence. "Could I walk with you to the Prefectorial Board Room? I have something to get there… Well… If you don't mind that is."she said again.
"Ah, sure thing." I replied, trying my best to sound friendly and cheerful.
"Thank you." She whispered, and I could see the slightest traces of a smile on her lips.
We walked along the corridor together, bright with the rays of the afternoon sun. We said nothing to each other. Miku-chan looked so deep in thought and moody, that I don't think it was the best time to break the tension with small talk. Anyway, we soon reached the Prefectorial Board Room without incident. I went up to the wooden shelves lining the back wall of the room, and placed the boxes, stacked on top of each other, on the topmost shelf, nearly touching the ceiling. Miku-chan sat at the table in the centre of the room, after having retrieved a stack of papers. Seeing that my job was done, and looking at the time, training should have been over, and the other guys were probably heading off already.
I slowly walked up to the open door, my hands finally free, swinging lazily on either side. Miku-chan was still at the table.
"Kagamine-kun." Miku-chan suddenly said, stopping me in my tracks.
"Y-y-yeah?" I said, stammering.
"Could I ask" she began. "Did you happen to hear anything just now? At the classroom?" she continued.
My heart beat faster. Well, I couldn't lie to her… What should I say? That somehow I decided to eavesdrop on their conversation?
With a heavy heart, I nodded my head ever so slowly.
"I see." She said softly.
I started to get nervous. Somehow could she be… disappointed at me?
"Did you hear everything?" she asked again, politely yet stern.
"I-I guess so…" I murmured under my breath.
There was a brief silence before she spoke again.
"Well if that's the case, Kagamine-kun, could you help me with something?" She added.
"Sure." I said awkwardly.
"Could you please not tell anyone about this?"
I nodded my head.
Miku-chan thanked me, following that she stood up from her seat, placing the stack of forms at the side of the table, and walked out of the room, before disappearing down the corridor. I closed the door behind me, and started to make my way to the stadium steps. I looked down at the shiny white watch on my wrist. It was getting late, training officially ended about ten minutes ago.
I finally reached the stadium steps after a reasonable amount of brisk walking, the Prefectorial Board Room wasn't that far from the stadium steps. The wind was blowing gently, and when I went to retrieve my bag, slumped there on one of the seats, I saw Shion-senpai, sitting alone. He didn't see me of course, and I left the place quietly and hurriedly out of awkwardness. He seemed to be in a world of his own.
I made my way to the lockers, and sat on the wooden bench, untying the black laces of my track shoes. I changed into my usual white shoes, returning my used track shoes back into the locker. Walking out of the empty building, I proceeded by my own to the main gate across the courtyard. I had a few more weeks before the Prefectorials, but I don't think I had trained enough yet. My timings, according to Shion-senpai and Miku-chan, were quite good, but I guess I set too high standards for myself.
I wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings, when I reached my hand out to open the gate, expecting to feel the sharp cold touch of the metal handle. Instead, my hand rested on something soft and warm. I was knocked out of my daydreaming and quickly retracted my hand. I looked up.
In front of me, her hand on the handle of the gate, was Miku-chan.
She stared at me in surprise. Blushing and my heart racing nervously, I apologised for not paying attention, to which she nodded with a weak smile. We quietly walked down the pavement to the bus stand. Without saying anything, we sat beside each other on the bench, waiting for the bus. By coincidence, she happened to take the same bus service as me, apparently living a few streets away, in the adjacent neighbourhood.
"It's quite a nice place." She said, describing her neighbourhood when I asked. "There are quite a few shops and the train station is quite near." She continued.
We talked for a bit, small talk mostly. I noticed that she was trying to keep the ball rolling to kill time while waiting for the bus. It wasn't a surprise really, how he should talk all so naturally, just like how she always was, even though something like that just happened to her. She always strived to do her best to make everyone pleased. Suddenly Miku-chan brought the issue up again.
"Kagamine-san." She started. "What was it that you want to tell me just now? You know, at the steps just now…" she continued.
I gulped. How could I possibly tell her? Especially with what just happened, I'd just add insult to injury if I really conveyed my true feelings then.
I couldn't tell her. I couldn't tell her now, I told myself.
"Ah…It's nothing. Nothing to worry about." I said, ending off with an awkward chuckle, to hide my embarrassment.
"Okay, I see." She replied.
Soon the bus pulled up to the bus stop, and we got on. It was quite full, since the afternoon rush hour has come, and crowds of people were starting to leave the core of the city for the suburbs. There was one seat left, and I let Miku-chan have it, while I stood beside her, holding onto the pole beside me for support. She sat on the chair, her small haversack placed on her lap. Throughout the journey, we didn't talk to each other. It was awkward for me and I could see that she wasn't really in the mood to talk, but knowing Miku-chan, she would still try her best to keep up a conversation, if I was the one who initiated it. But it would be kind of rude to suddenly try to talk to her, so I left her alone.
Her stop was a few stops after mine, so I would be alighting first. I looked around the bus. It was jam-packed full of people. Mostly businessmen and workers, standing shoulder to shoulder, all in their suits and office clothes, from the offices and banks in the downtown area. A group of junior high school girls, clad in grey seifukus stood in a corner of the crowded bus, having a conversation in semi-hushed tones. They talked excitedly, yet managed to control themselves not to cause a commotion. I wonder if Miku-chan used to be like that in junior high, she seemed like the type of girl who would have many friends.
Outside, the sun shone brightly, its strong rays painting the city white. Buildings cast shadows on the street. Pedestrians walked down the pavements in droves as we passed through a major shopping district. Ah, the seasonal sale would have started around this time, I thought to myself.
"Kagamine-kun," Miku-chan said softly, placing her hand on my free left arm to get my attention.
Her soft warm touch shocked me and made my heart thump really hard.
"Sorry." She apologised.
"The other day… before mid-terms, there was once I called you by your given name right?" she continued.
"Yeah… I guess so." I replied.
"I'm really sorry about that. I kind of got too carried away." She added.
"Nah it's okay. Actually, you can call me Len-kun if you want, I don't really mind." I said.
I don't know why, but somehow we had swapped places that day. Instead of her being all positive and encouraging, it was my turn.
"Well, could I still call you Kagamine-kun? We are not too familiar with each other and I thought it might be rude."
"It wouldn't be fair wouldn't it?" I said cheerfully. "I mean, we could all call you Miku-chan, so why don't you call me Len-kun?"
Oh crap. Why don't you call me Len-kun? I hoped she didn't get the wrong idea, I thought to myself, getting all self-conscious. I have never been good at phrasing myself. I'll never be as good at Miku-chan when it comes to trying to comfort others, since I'll just end up blundering myself up.
"No no, I meant like… erm… since you let others call you Miku-chan... so I thought… err…" I tried to correct myself awkwardly, my face all beetroot.
She giggled. I looked up at her, she was smiling slightly.
"Yes, I get what you mean." She said, in a more happy tone.
My heart felt slightly better knowing that I've managed to make her laugh.
"I'll call you by your first name if we're close enough." She said. "Although I already take note that you've allowed me to call you that." She said again.
We didn't say much after that, although she did look slightly happier. Then I realised we were nearing my bus stop. I told her I was alighting soon. She nodded, smiled at me, and said goodbye. As soon as the bus pulled up to my bus stop and opened its gates I got out. But not before I asked her if she was okay, to which she nodded. Still, I could see she wasn't okay, the glassiness in her eyes told me.
"Just call me if you need someone to talk to okay?" I offered.
I'm not sure if she heard me or not, she didn't seem to move an inch when I looked behind.
I walked home slowly, seeing off the bus as it disappeared deeper into the suburbs. I opened the front gate, and slowly trudged my way lazily across the yard, finally realizing how tired I was. After what seemed like an eternity, I reached my front door at last.
"I'm home." I said softly, with whatever energy I had left.
"Oh, you're finally back." Rin-chan said, emerging from the staircase. "Mom went to the grocery store." She continued, informing me of my mother's absence.
"Well okay." I said, not knowing what to reply, and with that my sister disappeared.
I placed my bag down, and lied down on the sofa. I was so exhausted, the sofa had never been more comfortable in my life. I looked at the clock on the wall. It was five-thirty. My socks were still hugging my feet, and my sweaty t-shirt and shorts still clung on to my body. Within a few minutes, I was asleep.
"Hey, wake up."
I felt somebody shaking my arm. I opened my eyes slowly, adjusting to the bright sunlight entering from the window. I was still on the sofa, and the clock on the wall points at seven-thirty. It was summer, so even though it's already evening, it was still bright out. The window was slightly open, and the gentle breeze that came in infinitesimally made the curtains move.
In front of me was my mother, her blonde hair tied up in a ponytail. She was wearing a white blouse and grey track pants, apparently having just returned from the supermarket not too long ago, since she hadn't changed yet.
"Dinner's ready." She continued.
I lazily slid off the sofa, still wearing my now-crumpled sports attire and went up to the dining table. Rin-chan was helping to arrange the cutlery on the table. I asked whether I could be of any help, but she just replied sarcastically that I have woken up too late to be of any use. Following that, she disappeared into the kitchen to help mom. With that, I just sat quietly at my seat, clean, gleaming cutlery staring right at me from the table. Dad informed us that he would be coming back late that day, and told us to just have dinner without waiting for him.
Soon, mom came into the living room, a large serving bowl of soup held between her two mitten-clad hands. Scurrying to the table, she placed the steaming glass bowl onto a padded coaster that Rin-chan placed in the middle of the table. The aroma of miso filled the air. Following that, Rin-chan entered, bringing with her three bowls of freshly-cooked rice. After setting up everything, we finally got together, the three of us, to have dinner.
Nobody really talked much at the dinner table, only the slightest echoes of the clattering of chopsticks on the wooden bowls filled the atmosphere. I already finished my rice and was drinking my soup when suddenly mom finally broke the serene-like silence that was wafting through the air.
"Ah Len-" she began. "I just remembered, just now about fifteen minutes ago, a girl called. She was looking for you. She didn't say who she was though, but she sounded quite soft." She continued.
I nearly choked on my soup. So Miku-chan did want to call after all. But then, why did she call my home number? Questions ran through my mind. A rush of guilt filled me for not answering the call when it came.
Quickly finishing my dinner, I brought my used cutlery into the kitchen, and hurriedly washed them in the basin, placing them on the rack to dry shortly after. I quickly tried to swerve around, to quickly get back to the living room, but in my frenzy, I forgot my socks were still on and I ended up clumsily slipping and falling on to the smooth tiled floor. To be honest, mentioning it without its details would be a major understatement. I went down in such an unceremonious way, crashing into the refrigerator door, and then dropping on to the floor, sprawled, with a thunderous thud. I sighed, why am I such a klutz…
"Hey, are you seriously alright?"
I looked up, and saw my mother standing in the doorway. Worry was evidently written all over her face, of course. In the background, I saw Rin-chan peering behind our mother's shoulder. I could see that she was concerned, but when our eyes met, she averted her gaze and walked off.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I replied to my mother, standing up slowly, dusting my shirt with my hands.
"Be careful next time." She said with a sigh.
I walked past her briskly, trying to get to my bag, slumped on the side table just beside the television set. When I finally got to it, I frantically unzipped the compartments of my small haversack. At last, I found it.
In the midst of all my stuff, at the bottommost of my bag, was my handphone. With a heavy heart, I flipped open my phone and unlocked it. My intuition was right.
Five missed calls. Five. All from Miku-chan.
Argh! I'm the worst, how could I be sleeping when Miku-chan wanted to talk to me?!
I was about to return her call, but suddenly Rin-chan appeared from the kitchen, helping to bring back the serving bowl, now all dry, like a dried-up lake in a drought.
"Mom told me to tell you that the bath is ready." Rin-chan began. "She told you to go get changed and be careful in the bathroom." She continued, and began to leave.
"You're always that clumsy. You make everyone worried you know?" She said in a stoic tone, but you could detect the minutest hint of concern in what she just said.
With that, she started to walk again, but as she got to the doorway of the kitchen I stopped her.
"Hey, um… Thanks for your concern." I said.
"Think nothing of it." Rin-chan replied coldly and disappeared into the kitchen.
I smiled seeing my twin sister. Although she acts all cold towards me, somehow, somewhere in her heart, she still cares for me. She's been cold to me ever since junior high school, but I still don't know the reason why. But through my observations, it's an on-and-off thing, so I don't really understand her.
After finishing my bath, I threw myself onto my bed. Exhausted, the fluffiness of the mattress felt really, really, good. I yawned, and stretched myself. I felt slightly refreshed after the shower, but the fatigue of training really overcame me. Today sure was exhausting. But still, I had something left to do.
I reached for my phone, and flipped it open. Propped up against my pillow, I began to slowly punch in Miku-chan's number. With a dreary heart, I put the cell phone to my ear.
She hates me, she hates me for sure.