So after a long wait, I finally got this done and going. I'm very sorry that this took longer than I thought so I hope a longer chapter makes up for it, eh? Also, I want to take a sec to thank you all so much for support you've given me ever since I started and revived this. It's you guys that keep me writing this fic and I know that I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for you guys. I love y'all, sincerely!
So let's get this show on the road!
Chapter 10: The Parting Glass
Takeo scanned every inch of the chessboard in front of him. His pieces were scattered but victory wasn't impossible. He just had to be smart. The only reason he lost last time was because of his fever. It was a terrible, immoral excuse, but his pride wouldn't accept anything less in order to save itself.
He looked across at his opponent, hoping to discern anything that could tell him if he had the advantage. As usual, he couldn't get anything out of Lilly's usual calm face. He couldn't tell if it was because she knew she had the upper hand or if it was just sheer confidence.
Don't let her psyche you out. This is war! There's no cowardice in war!
Takeo's gaze lingered for a moment longer on Lilly before redirecting itself on the board. His king was at the near the middle of the board, towards the right side. A knight was the only thing keeping it safe. The rest of his forces were all over the board, either being in prime position for slaughter or dancing the line between safety and destruction.
Lilly had a far more stable force. Her queen and bishop were on the frontlines with her rook acting as a flanking squad. Her king was sitting comfortably behind a wall of white pieces.
Takeo chewed on his finger. Failure was not an option. Lilly was a tough opponent that warranted respect. He had to think outside the box if he had any chance of turning the tables. He intently analyzed every square on the board, his mind hammering out every possible strategy he could think of.
Wait, I've got it!
Takeo's eyes fell on Lilly's last bishop at the middle of the board. One of his pawns was a square away from being taken by it. If he sacrificed it to lure the bishop onto its spot, his knight could have a clear shot at her rook, leaving her defense weakened for a quick attack. It left his king in danger, but if it meant taking out her flanking force and possibly her king, it was worth the risk.
Takeo weighed his options before nodding to himself and moving his pawn forward. He lightly tapped the table to let Lilly know it was her turn. Lilly lifted her hand over the board, her fingers grazing every piece as she no doubt mapped the battlefield in her head. Her finger hit Takeo's pawn and his heart skipped a beat. Her other hand touched her bishop before she nodded to herself and took his bait.
"Oh jeez, I was hoping you wouldn't notice that," Takeo said in an effort to sell his ruse. Lilly giggled and set his pawn aside.
"You shouldn't underestimate your opponents, Takeo. You may find yourself in caught in a trap otherwise," she said. Takeo smirked and looked to his knight. He didn't hesitate to pick it up and knock her bishop out of play.
YES! This couldn't have turned out better! Her defense is completely exposed! All I have to worry about is…her…queen.
Takeo watched in horror as Lilly picked up her queen and obliterated his knight, leaving his king completely open. Takeo scrambled to muster some kind of rescue, but Lilly easily steamrolled every attempt and won the game in a few moves.
"As I said, you shouldn't underestimate your opponent," Lilly said with a surprisingly childish smile. Takeo stared dumbfounded at the board before hanging his head in misery. He grabbed the cup of tea sitting next to him and took a long sip, releasing a sigh as he set it aside.
"Well, fair game. How'd you get so good at this?" he asked. Lilly clasped her hands together, setting them down on the table in front of her.
"I've played some matches with Hanako. Although she is much more skilled in this game than I am," she said. Takeo chuckled, thinking back on how Hanako had so easily crushed Hisao during one of their matches.
"She must be a terror when it comes to chess. I probably wouldn't survive more than ten turns with her," Takeo said. He took another sip of his tea, savoring the sweet vanilla taste. He looked out the window sitting adjacent to the table. The last day of exams had passed, evident by the lack of students out on the academy grounds. Many of them had already left to spend the summer vacation with their families.
He remembered how ecstatic Asami was to finally finish their exams. She practically bolted out of their classroom after giving him a brief wave goodbye. He had met Lilly on the way to the dorms and the two came to the tea room to unwind after a long day.
Takeo ran a finger over the rim of his cup. Even though he was helping Asami with her class representative duties, he hadn't done much of anything. He should have expected it, really. It was already the end of the semester. There wouldn't be much for him to do anyways, much to his relief. He still had cold feet about the whole thing.
He glanced up at Lilly as she enjoyed some of her own tea. A gentle breeze fluttered through the open window, flowing past her hair in an elegant motion. She looked very serene, peaceful even. How she was able to maintain a cool composure at all times was something he'd never know.
"Hey Lilly," His words came out before he even realized he said them. Lilly tilted her head slightly and set her cup down.
"Yes?" she asked. Takeo mimicked Lilly's head tilt, lulling it from side to side. He brought his cup back up to his lips, muttering his question into its porcelain surface.
"You wouldn't happen to know anything about the student council, would you?" he asked, his voice gradually becoming more subdued with every word. Lilly's eyes opened in surprise, their cloudy gaze falling on Takeo.
"My, where is this coming from?" she asked. Takeo shifted awkwardly in his seat. He hadn't exactly relayed the news to anyone about his sudden joining in the student council's affairs. But if anyone could give him good advice, it'd be Lilly.
"You see, I kind of…promised my class rep that I'd help out with her work. Well more like forced to by the president, but I agreed to it in the end," he said. Lilly's eyes closed with a huff. A frown briefly flashed on her face before Lilly smiled again.
"I see. I have dealt with the student council before. I am a class representative, after all. What would you like to know?" she asked. Takeo finished his cup of tea, watching a few stray drops at the bottom of the cup as he contemplated what to say.
"Basically, what I wanted to know was if there was any way to stay on the president's good side. She's seems like the type that would be abrasive at the best of times," Takeo said. Lilly clasped her hands together and nodded.
"Shizune can be difficult. There's no denying that. The only time I've seen her otherwise is when everything is going according to her plan. Really, Takeo, the simplest answer I can give is to simply do the work, no matter how insignificant or pointless it seems," Lilly said. Takeo propped an elbow against the table, his hand cupping his cheek as he hummed to himself.
"Do the work…right," he said with a lethargic expression. Lilly furrowed her brow in concern.
"Is something wrong with what I said?" she asked. Takeo quickly sat upright, vigorously waving his hands in front of him.
"No, no, no, no, it's not that. I was just…thinking out loud," Takeo lied. He massaged his temples, trying to find some silver lining to what Lilly said. The more he sat on the idea of responsibility, the more he was starting to regret ever coming into contact with Misha.
"Yeah, I think I get it. Thank you, Lilly. For the advice and for the tea," Takeo quipped as he lifted the teacup. Lilly gave a firm nod. She reached for the kettle sitting next to the chess board and held it to him.
"Would you like some more? I made plenty," she said. Takeo smiled and held his cup underneath the spout.
"Sure thing," Takeo said. Lilly poured him another cup of team, the sweet aroma hitting him as it poured from the kettle. Lilly pulled it away and filled some more tea for herself. Takeo brought his cup to his lips and took a quick sip.
"You know, I appreciate you doing this for me. I was just about to go back to my room and maybe stare at the wall until I had something better to do," Takeo commented. Lilly set her kettle down and gave him a quick toast with her cup.
"Anytime," she said. The two sat in peaceful silence as they enjoyed their drinks. Takeo glanced up at Lilly for a moment before redirecting his eyes back at his drink, a small smile growing on his face.
The door to the room suddenly swung open. Takeo looked up to see Hisao there. Even before he looked at his serious expression, Takeo could feel the tense atmosphere surrounding him. Lilly turned slightly towards the door, her ears perking up.
"My, who could that be?" she asked. Hisao flinched at her smooth voice as if he didn't even notice she was there. Hisao straightened his tie and walked into the room, sitting down next to Takeo.
"I-It's just me, Lilly. I figured you'd be up here," he said. Takeo raised a brow, watching Hisao's pained expression out of the corner of his eye. He'd never seen Hisao so distraught before. He looked as if his world was about to end.
Probably had a rough time with exams. Poor guy. At least the party will cheer him up, Takeo thought as he went back to his tea. Next to him, Hisao stared down at the table, his foot tapping incessantly against the floor. Ever since yesterday, he kept replaying his conversation with Narumi over and over again. Each time felt like he was twisting the knife over his own heart.
"Ah, it's good to see you, Hisao. Have you seen Hanako? I'm afraid I missed her," Lilly asked. Just the mention of her name was enough to send a shiver down Hisao's spine. He tried his best to suppress it and shrugged.
"We kind of separated after exams. I needed to go to my dorm room to drop off my book bag," Hisao said.
"Thank the heavens that exams are over. Now we can kick back, relax, and enjoy all the luxuries youth has to offer," Takeo said as he raised his teacup. He put it down and patted Hisao on the shoulder, "I'm pretty pumped about this party. First time I've been genuinely excited for something. But I guess that isn't saying much considering…you know."
Takeo pointed at his head and went back to drinking his tea. Hisao grimaced and leaned forward in his chair. Neither Lilly nor Takeo noticed the small grimace on his face. He sighed and turned towards the others. He wasn't sure what possessed him to ask his question, but he needed someone, anyone, to tell him he was just torturing himself.
"Lilly, that day when Narumi came to Hanako's room, what did you talk about when she wanted to talk to you in private?" he asked. Lilly perked up at the question, turning towards Hisao.
"Not much really. She merely wanted to know how you and Hanako have been since you started your relationship together. I told her that you two were getting along famously and that I've never seen Hanako so happy before now," she answered. Hisao inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Even if she didn't realize it, Lilly might have saved his relationship with Hanako. Next to him, Takeo lightly elbowed him in the side with a knowing grin on her face.
"You're such a romantic, Hisao. Enjoying the most powerful force on the planet like it's candy," he said. Hisao raised a brow.
"Gravity?" he asked with a deadpan tone. Takeo paused and stroked his chin, his eyes jumping up to the ceiling. He looked back down and cracked a grin, pressing one hand against his chest and holding the other one out to his side
"Yeah, I guess that too. But I mean love, Hisao. Love is the language of the heart. For without it, how can one heart connect to another?" Takeo said in an exaggerated dramatic voice. Across from him, Lilly stifled a laugh, a soft giggle managing to escape her lips.
"Very aptly put. Have you ever considered being in theater?" she asked with a cheeky grin. Takeo's act dropped as he rubbed the back of his neck, laughing awkwardly at himself.
"Ah, no. This is kind of spur of the moment stuff," he said. He and Lilly shared a brief laugh, completely unaware that Hisao was staring out the open window, trying his best to hide the growing frown on his face. He was at a loss. Even though Narumi gave him her word that she wouldn't do anything about their relationship, he still felt like the slightest flaw between him and Hanako could send the whole thing crashing down. He never realized before now how fragile his relationship was, how terrible it would be if it really did break. The last time it happened, he collapsed to the ground in front of Iwanako, his heart burning a permanent scar in his life in more ways than one.
But this time, it was worse. His relationship with Hanako was allowed to grow. It turned into something he couldn't imagine his life without. If something happened to it…
Hisao swallowed the lump in his throat. He needed to stop thinking about it. For all intents and purposes, Hisao was still in a meaningful relationship with a girl he very much cared for. Nothing's changed. For her sake, he had to push on, no matter what Narumi said.
"H-Hello?"
All three turned towards the door to see Hanako peeking inside with a small smile on her face. She took a few steps inside, revealing the plastic bag she was carrying in her hand. Lilly motioned towards the seat next to her.
"It's good to see you, Hanako. Would you care to take a seat?" she asked. Hanako stopped at the side of the table, setting the bag on its surface.
"U-Umm…actually, I wanted to talk to Hisao," she said. Hisao sat up slightly straighter. Hanako turned to him with a noticeable pink flushing in her cheeks. She nervously wringed her hands as her eyes darted in every direction.
"I-I was wondering i-if you could come with me…p-please?" she asked. Hisao rose from his chair without hesitation. She was acting a lot more flustered than she normally did. For a moment, he was reminded of how she used to be when they first met, skittish and ready to run at the slightest provocation.
"Sure, no problem," he said in a soothing voice. Hanako grabbed the plastic bag on the table and held it to her chest tightly, giving him a firm nod. Hisao followed her out of their room, leaving Takeo and Lilly alone again.
"Well, now that the two lovebirds have left the nest…Lilly, one more game. I'll win this time! Third time's the charm," Takeo said. Lilly faced her opponent and gave an amused smirk.
"Very well, Takeo. Please, don't hold back. I certainly won't," she said with an oddly childish smile. Takeo set to work on putting the pieces back into place, already trying to formulate a battle plan in his head. Even if the odds weren't in his favor, he was at least enjoying himself. Lilly was a very easy person to be around and he certainly didn't mind her company.
After finishing putting the pieces in place, Takeo spared one last glance at Lilly. His gaze lingered on her a moment longer before looked back down and moved his pawn.
…
Hisao stared dumbfounded at the myriad of ingredients laid out in front of him. Everything from eggs to carrots to green onions was spread out over the kitchen counter. Next to him, Hanako diligently studied the cookbook, turning the page every so often and humming to herself.
He was a little surprised when Hanako invited him to the cafeteria of all places. But her reasoning quickly became apparent. He did ask Hanako if they could try cooking together and with their party only a few hours away, it was a perfect time to try and make something for the occasion.
None of the cooks or cafeteria workers were in the kitchen, no doubt due to the upcoming summer vacation. Students with conditions that required them to maintain their blood sugar or to prepare their specially made food were sometimes allowed in the cafeteria's kitchen and pantry. Hisao was willing to wager that Hanako had taken advantage of this to cook her food in peace.
"O-Okay…I was thinking we could make O-Okonomiyaki," Hanako said, looking up from her cookbook. Hisao grabbed a head of cabbage, looking it over.
"Have you…made it before?" he asked. Hanako looked back down at the cookbook and placed a hand over her fringe.
"N…No," she said. The two exchanged glances. Hisao set down the cabbage down and looked over Hanako's shoulder.
"Well it shouldn't be too hard, right?" he said. He read through the instructions, pointing every so often at the ingredients needed to make their dish. Hanako set the book down and pulled out a large bowl from underneath the counter. She grabbed the head of cabbage Hisao held and set it on a clean cutting plate. With practiced ease, Hanako pulled out an alarmingly large knife and began shredding the cabbage with methodical motions. Hisao glanced at the cookbook and took a look at the next step.
"Peel the Nagaimo and put in a separate bowl. Sounds easy enough," he said. Hisao grabbed a long, pale yellow root and a grater, sliding it along the root's surface and watching the Nagaimo's surface turn into a viscous white liquid as it fell into another smaller bowl. Hisao spared a glance at Hanako to see her finishing up with her cabbage.
"H-Hisao?" Hanako suddenly asked. Hisao looked up from his grater without stopping.
"Yeah? What's up?" he said. Hanako placed the remains of the cabbage into her bowl. She stepped a few inches closer to Hisao, her dark eyes looking to him under her fringe.
"Wh-what did you and Narumi talk about back at the school gates?" she asked. Hisao's entire body jerked and he felt a slice of pain shot up and down his hand. Hisao pulled his hand back, dropping the Nagaimo on the table next to a small drop of blood. Hanako covered her mouth his shock, freezing up as she stared at his hand.
Hisao looked down at his finger. A small rivulet of blood fell from a cut at the tip of his finger. He looked over at the red displayed prominently on the grater and grimaced.
"S-Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," Hisao said. Immediately, Hanako hurried to the corner of the kitchen, coming back with a small white box. She pulled a stool to him and practically pushed him onto it as she opened the box.
"D-Does it hurt?" she asked in a surprisingly tender voice. Hisao held out his finger and shrugged. It was only a small cut from not paying attention. If anything the shock hit him harder than the actual injury. Regardless, Hanako pulled out a small antiseptic wipe, gently dabbing it on his finger.
"It's fine. You don't have to worry," Hisao said to try and alleviate her concern. Hanako gave a subtle shake of her head as she carefully placed a clean piece of cloth over the cut.
"I-It's okay," Hanako said. She leaned in closer to him, wrapping a bandage around his injury. She slid her hand over his and placed it against her chest. Hanako's cheeks flushed a deep red as a small smile grew on her face, making Hisao's heart flutter.
"I…I want to make sure you're okay," she said. Hisao placed his other hand over hers, giving her a smile of his own. For a brief moment, he had forgotten all about Narumi and the bombshell she had dropped on him.
Hisao lowered his eyes to the ground. He wasn't so sure if telling Hanako the truth was a good idea. She was closer to Narumi than possibly anybody else. Even Narumi herself wanted to keep their exchange private. Hisao couldn't help but feel disgusted for it. Something was playing in the background that Hanako had no knowledge of. If he kept it secret, and she found out anyway, he couldn't bring himself to think of what would happen. It wasn't fair. Without warning, he was suddenly thrusted into a dangerous game with no easy way out.
Hanako shifted closer to him, her smile being replaced with concern. Hisao hesitated. The beginning of every attempted sentence died in his throat, only deepening Hanako's frown. Finally, he put on his best smile. If Narumi wasn't dipping her hand in the can of worms, neither was he. Not yet, at any rate. As much as he wanted to confide in Hanako, to affirm that they both wanted to press on with their wants, he wanted to spare her the heartbreak. She had enough of it.
"She wanted to know if you and I had any plans for the summer vacation," Hisao found himself saying. He regretted every word that came out of his mouth. Lying to Hanako felt like swallowing a slow, sour poison.
She nodded to herself and stood up, turning her attention back to the slew of ingredients laid out on the table. Hanako seemed to believe him. A small, bitter part of Hisao's mind wished she hadn't.
"Well…I-I don't have any plans," Hanako said. Hisao stood up next to her and went back to grating the Nagaimo, taking extra care to keep his fingers farther from the grater. Regardless of what he was thinking before, Hisao allowed himself a simper. Summer plans hadn't been a conversation brought up between anyone in their small group. Though he supposed their get together later tonight would be a good opportunity to bring it up.
Hisao finished peeling the Nagaimo and set it aside, reading the next set of instructions. He and Hanako worked in tandem, completing one task after another. Before long, Hanako put the combined ingredients into a pan, holding it over an oven and listening to the soft crackling coming from the mix of scallions and bacon.
Hisao stood next to her. Even though Hanako's attention was focused solely on the pan in front of her, Hisao was watching her out of the corner of his eye. He could pick up the smallest inkling of a relaxed smile on her face.
Hisao reached out and wrapped his hand around hers. Hanako looked up from the pan in surprise, but it quickly faded as she intertwined her fingers with his. The two stood in comfortable silence, reveling in each other's warmth. Hanako leaned her head against his shoulder, taking a deep sigh.
A crisp, salivating scent wafted from the pan. Hanako took her cue and flipped it with a careful flick of her wrist. She squeezed Hisao's hand with a content smile. Being able to spend time like this with Hisao, even when it was something as simple as cooking food, made her heart swell with happiness. Having him by her side made everything a little bit brighter.
Hanako watched him out of the corner of her eye. The relaxed look on his face made her heart beat a little faster. Ever since they started their relationship, the calm and joyful look on his face was always something she treasured. She turned back to her pan and lowered her gaze, her dark fringe concealing the loving sparkle in her eyes.
"I-I…want you to stay…" she said in a low whisper. She darted her eyes towards him, but he didn't seem to hear her, as if he was lost in his own thoughts. Hanako looked back down, her smile growing slightly larger as she whispered to herself.
"S-So please…stay with me…"
…
Takeo strode through the halls of the girls' dorm with hesitant steps. It was getting late and he would be lying if he said he didn't have second thoughts about walking around the female dorm at night. He half expected a burly security guard to round the corner and toss him out the window, student safety be damned. But according to Hisao, who was trailing right behind him, as long as they didn't make too much noise everything would be fine.
Or he's just kidding and leaves me here to their mercy. No wait, what am I thinking? I got to stop hanging around Kenji so much.
"So…where's Lilly's room?" he asked to his companion. Hisao's head suddenly jerked upwards, as if he was lost in a daze.
"It…should be around this corner. Room 225," Hisao said, pulling up the plastic bag in his hand to cradle it in his arms. Takeo followed his instructions and eventually came to a stop at Lilly's door. Hisao raised his fist and gave it a few soft knocks. Next to him, Takeo shifted awkwardly, looking in every direction on the chance that someone was watching them.
Takeo could hear a small rustling coming from the other side of the door. The door made a clicking noise and creaked open to reveal Lilly on the other side.
"Hey, Lilly. We're here," Takeo greeted her. Lilly smiled and pulled the door open all the way. Takeo took a moment to look around the room while Hisao entered inside. The first thing he noticed was the scent of perfume lingering in the room. Lilly's room was sparsely decorated, with only a few stacks of books and some personal effects to better accommodate her blindness. In the center of the room sat a low table, where Hanako was busy cutting a plate of Okonomiyaki into even slices.
In fact, the entire table was set up rather impressively. A stack of plates sat at the edge of the table with utensils and napkins evenly dispersed amongst four empty teacups. All in all, it was much more organized than when Hisao and Lilly celebrated Hanako's birthday.
Hisao noticed that unlike the other time he visited both Hanako and Lilly in the latter's room, the two girls were still in their school uniform. It was a little surprising, although it was probably for the best. Takeo looked nervous enough walking around the female dorm after hours. If he saw the two in their pajamas, he would possibly be reduced to an uneasy mess. He sat down next to Hanako to help her with the food.
Closing the door behind the two, Lilly held a hand out towards the table, pivoting her boy slightly towards Takeo's direction.
"Would you like to take a seat? It wouldn't be polite if you're the only one standing," Lilly said. Takeo rubbed the back of his neck and sat down on the other side of the table. Lilly stopped next to him but didn't sit down. She turned her head towards Hanako's direction.
"Hanako, would you please come with me? Some drinks would not go amiss," She said. Hanako stood up and followed Lilly towards the counter in her room.
"Feel free to make yourselves comfortable," she said to their two guests. Hanako followed close behind her to help her with the tea.
"U-Um…Lilly?" she asked. Lilly slightly tilted her head towards Hanako a small hum leaving her lips. Hanako fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. She looked over her shoulder to Lilly's room door. A small frown grew wider on her face the longer she stared at it.
"D-Did you have any plans…for summer vacation?" she whispered low enough for Lilly's sensitive hearing to pick up. Lilly ran a hand over the smooth countertop before her fingers hit a tea kettle. Delicately wrapping two fingers around the handle, she lifted it up and guided it towards the kitchen sink to fill it with water.
"Only for a few days. Otherwise, I have an open schedule. Did you have something in mind?" she asked. Hanako pulled open one of the countertop shelves, digging through its contents until she found a packet of teabags.
"N-No…I just wanted to know. H-Hisao didn't have any plans either," she said as she set the packet of teabags into Lilly's open palm.
"I see. Well, perhaps we can all think of something to occupy our time," Lilly said, getting everything together to make a fresh pot of tea. She turned her attention to the kettle in front of her, her hands going through the methodical motions of preparing the usual beverage. Going through the familiar steps once more, Lilly's mind began to wander. More specifically, it wandered to her inevitable revelation to Hisao and Hanako.
She couldn't put it off much longer. The longer she hesitated, the worst it would be. If she didn't do it now, she didn't when she would be able to. But that part of her mind was being chained down by her own unwillingness to cause any suffering to her friends.
Her grip on the tea kettle tightened. One of the reasons she agreed to their get-together was because it was the best chance for her to tell them. But now that the moment had come, she was reluctant to do anything of the sort.
It was nothing short of frustrating. It was inevitable. But try as she might, Lilly had no other alternative. All her hesitation had to be wiped away the moment she set foot back into her room. She wished she had more time to gather her thoughts, but as she finished preparing the tea kettle, she knew she wouldn't be given the luxury.
Carrying the kettle in her hands, Lilly turned towards Hanako with a feigned smile. The two returned to their table, Lilly setting the kettle between them. Hanako grabbed a nearby set of tea cups and gave one to each of them.
"So…here's to the end of exams and the beginning of a good summer," Takeo said with a goofy grin as Lilly poured him some tea. Hisao and Lilly raised their own cups with relaxed smiles. Even Hanako joined in, lifting her cup a few inches off the table.
"Time seems to have flown by. I still remember meeting Hisao in the tea room for the first time," Lilly said, taking a generous sip of her tea. Hisao chuckled lightly at the memory. It wasn't long after that when he met Hanako. He still smiled at the memory of her running away from him in the library. Back then, he felt embarrassed and bewildered after it happened. But now, he looked back on it as a fond memory.
Underneath the table, he slid a hand over Hanako's, squeezing it tenderly. Hanako shifted closer to him, snuggling herself against his shoulder. The warmth of her body melted Hisao's heart, a relaxed sigh leaving his lips.
"You three have been together for a while, huh?" Takeo piped up. Lilly gave a slow nod.
"Of course. Before, when it was just Hanako and I, we spent much time here. But now it seems our circle has doubled, hasn't it?" she said with a lilted laugh. Takeo swirled the tea in his cup, glancing at Hisao who was still very much enraptured with the girl in his arms. He cracked a sideways grin and nodded.
"Yup, one big happy family. And one Okonomiyaki," Takeo said, staring rather shamelessly at the plate in front of him. Hisao knocked himself out of his stupor and shared a look with Hanako, who seemed rather pleased that they were getting to the food.
"Right, we worked pretty hard on this. Hopefully it came out okay," Hisao started as he began to distribute pieces of the Okonomiyaki evenly between them. Takeo grabbed a plate from a stack at the edge of the table and held it out as Hanako placed a slice on it.
Next to him, Lilly clasped her hands together. She had to do it. Now was going to be her only chance. She couldn't muster the strength to hold it off any longer. She sat up straighter, taking a few deep breaths to calm her raging nerves. Beneath her calm and cool exterior, a furious wave of apprehension bubbled. Her hands held onto each other for dear life, her knuckles turning white as she prepared herself.
I'm very sorry, Hanako. Please find it in yourself to forgive me…
"Um… excuse me, every-"
"Here you go, Lilly!" Takeo said, holding it out a plate of food for her. Lilly's mind grinded to a halt. In an instant, all her confidence went up in smoke. Lilly turned to him, her fragile smile cracking slightly in frustration. She nodded her thanks and reached out, her fingers brushing against its porcelain surface before grabbing hold.
"Th-Thank you, Takeo. It smells wonderful," Lilly said. She set the plate down in front of her and picked up a knife and fork. She took a moment to find the food before stabbing a fork through it and cutting a piece with a knife.
"Well, bon appétit!" he said. Once he got a piece of his own, Takeo wasted no time in indulging himself. Impaling a rather large chunk of the food, Takeo slipped it into his mouth and took two quick chews.
Then he promptly stopped.
Next to him, Lilly's face scrunched. Her chewing stopped almost instantly. Takeo cleared his throat and reached for his napkin. He wiped his mouth as nonchalantly as he could, covertly spitting out the food into it before balling it up and setting it aside.
Lilly sat up slightly straighter. She took a deep breath with her mouth closed and swallowed the food, accidentally letting out a sigh of relief. Of course, it didn't take Hisao much to notice either of their repulsed reactions. He looked down at his own plate and poked it with his fork.
It can't be that bad, can it? I was sure we did everything right.
Hisao raised a bite of the food and dropped it into his mouth. He got two chews in before a slimy, salty taste suddenly assaulted his taste buds. His entire body cringed, drawing a curious stare from Hanako.
"Wh-what's wrong?" she asked. The other three exchanged panicked looks before Hisao forced the food down his throat and washed it out with a swig of tea.
"U-Uh…we just couldn't believe the taste!" Takeo said as he wringed his hands together. He began sweating bullets as Hanako turned to him. He wasn't being entirely truthful and it was painfully obvious to everyone in the room besides Hanako. But he wasn't technically lying. He was just skewing the truth in their favor. That didn't constitute lying.
I really hope it doesn't, at least, Takeo thought. Hanako remained unconvinced. Without hesitation, she grabbed her own fork and took a bite before anyone could voice their concern. The whole room fell deathly quiet. Hanako lowered her head, her eyes being obscured by her fringe as she chewed.
A quiet squeak broke the silence. Hanako placed a hand against her mouth, her eyes as wide as saucers. She swallowed the grotesque food and massaged her throat, her cheeks flushing a deep red. She gently pushed her plate towards the center.
"I-It could have been better…I guess," she said. The four traded glances with one another. Takeo grinned and chuckled softly. The others soon followed, laughing without a care in the world. Lilly managed to rein herself in and listened to all the happy voices in the room. All the jovial sounds brought a wide smile to her own face. When she first came to this school, she never imagined that she would become part of such a tightly-knit group.
Maybe she could hold off telling them. Just for a little while longer. She wanted enjoy a moment of comfort one more time. Even if it meant putting it off again.
"So...were you saying something, Lilly?" Takeo asked in a bid to end the silence. Lilly turned to him in mild surprise, hesitating slightly. She could feel the eyes of the others falling on her and she unconsciously dipped her head lower. Her cheeks flushed into a dusty pink. Her ears grew warm from the sudden, unwanted attention.
"I-It's nothing. It can wait until later," her words spilled out before she even realized she said them. Then before she had any chance of taking it all back, the others delved into their own conversations. Lilly sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
I'll find a way…somehow.
…
Hisao leaned back against Lilly's bed, his eyelids drooping with every second. His body fought to remain awake, but the forceful waves of exhaustion overrode his attempts to so much as sit straight. Next to him, Hanako curled up, bowing her head against his chest and giving a long, barely concealed yawn.
"What time is it?" he asked. Across the room, Takeo rolled up his sleeve and checked his watch. He pressed his cheek against the smooth table in front of him, sighing in complete exhaustion.
"Eh…almost two in the morning. I think we overdid this a little," he said with a forced, strained laugh. What sleep was left in Hisao's system was eliminated in an instant. Takeo covered his head with his arms. He banged his head against the wooden table several times, the plates and utensils rattling with each hit.
"Let's get out before curfew…oh we won't be long…we'd have to be stupid to be there any later," Takeo mocked. He lifted his head and stared at Hisao through half-lidded eyes.
"We're stupid, Hisao. Irrevocably, unequivocally, hopelessly stupid," Takeo said. Hisao pressed a hand against his forehead. He groaned loud enough to rouse Hanako from her sleep-addled stupor.
"I-It's really late, isn't it?" she asked. Takeo rose from the table and shuffled around the room towards the corner where Lilly was. Her back was turned to him, her hair swaying from side to side as she went about storing the rest of their partially eaten food.
"Thanks for having us over, Lilly," Takeo said. Lilly turned her head in a slight pivot.
"No problem at all. I rather enjoyed our time together," Lilly said. She turned to faucet and washed out the teacups of whatever tea was left. Takeo looked over his shoulder at the myriad of other things left sitting at the table.
He gathered the plates in his arms, setting utensils on top, and carried them back to the counter. Takeo rolled up his uniform sleeves up to his elbows and turned on the sink's faucet, washing out each plate with a torrent of warm water.
"Yeah, it's nice having time to relax without having to worry about school for once. I can focus on other things…like my memory…thingy," Takeo said. A dull throbbing reverberated against his temples, like a jackhammer driving through his skull. He sighed and rubbed his fingers against them, hissing in a low tone.
"Are you alright?" Lilly asked with her brow furrowed. Takeo shut his eyes and sighed.
"Yeah, I'm fine. My head's just killing me. Serves me right for staying up so late," he said with a forced smile. Lilly's expression turned pensive. Her hands moved from the packaged food towards one of the drawers in the counter. With a deft motion, she slid one open and dug inside.
Takeo peeked inside the shelf as she fished for what she was looking for. An assortment of small white boxes and rolls of bandages were assembled in painstakingly organized detail. Lilly glided a finger over each one. She stopped once she reached the far corner and pulled out a long, thin box.
Sneaking a glance, Takeo noticed that it was a usual over-the-counter medicine. Lilly slid out a plastic tray from the box and punched out two holes in the aluminum wrapping. She held out her hand to him, two bite-sized pills resting in her palm.
"Please, it'll make you feel better," she said. Takeo stared at the medicine. He reached his hand out to Lilly's, hesitating more and more as the distance between them narrowed. His fingers stopped just inches of Lilly's palm, prompting her to open her eyes slightly and tightening her lips into a frown.
"Is something the matter?" she asked. Takeo met her clouded eyes and sighed, pulling his hand away.
"Are you sure, Lilly? I mean, I can go and get some of my own medicine," he said. Lilly furrowed her brow. The subtle smile on her face belied her concern. Takeo barely had time to react before Lilly took his wrist and deposited the pills into his palm, closing it over her hand.
"I'm very sure, Takeo. You're quite bullheaded, aren't you?" Lilly said with a cheeky smile. Takeo cracked an amused smirk and pulled his closed fist away. The warmth of Lilly's hand still lingered on it. He tried to focus on downing his pills while Lilly turned to the exhausted couple leaning against her bed.
"Everyone should go get some rest. I suppose if Hisao is feeling up to it, you can spend the night in Hanako's room," Lilly said. Hisao cracked one eye open, directing it towards the girl wrapped snug in his arms. It was already late and the idea of spending the night with her was much more appealing than walking back to his room.
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Hisao said. Hanako gave a slow nod. She pried herself from Hisao's arms and helped pull him up to his feet. Hanako turned to Lilly, giving her friend a small bow.
"Thank you for tonight, Lilly. I had a lot of fun," she said.
"So did I. I'll see you two tomorrow, okay?" Lilly said. Hisao joined Hanako as they both stepped outside. The hallway's lights were dimmed to almost absolute darkness, no doubt due to the time of night. After exchanging their farewells, Lilly closed the door behind her. Hisao and Hanako felt along the walls until they came to Hanako's room next door.
Hanako unlocked the door and gave it a light push. The door swung open with an ear-grating creak. Just like the rest of the dorm, Hanako's room was nearly pitch black. Hanako stepped inside and sat down at the foot of her bed, kicking off her shoes and undoing her ribbon. Hisao carefully navigated the room, almost bumping into her desk as he reached Hanako's side.
Hisao loosened his tie and set it aside. He gave a long sigh, running a hand over his hair. Being in her room again reminded him of Narumi. It reminded him of how she was subtly prodding him to find out if he was even right for Hanako. How she doubted that they even had a chance to begin with. The whole memory left a rotten taste in his mouth.
Hisao sunk his head, shutting his eyes with a pitiful frown. He hadn't felt this trapped since he was confined to a hospital bed for months on end. He didn't feel safe anymore. He didn't feel like he could enjoy what he had to the fullest. He wanted to believe that his life was back on track, but it wasn't up to him anymore. Now he had to look over his shoulder and worry that Narumi was watching him, waiting for the slightest indication that he would let something slip and hurt the one person he cared about more than anything else.
Without warning, a pair of hands wrapped themselves around his neck. Hanako had crawled up behind his back and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his shoulder. Hisao slightly tensed from the contact.
"H-Hisao?" Hanako said, breaking the silence of the dark, still room. Hisao placed his arms over hers but said nothing.
"Are you okay?" Hanako asked. Hisao looked over his shoulder. He could barely make out the subtle outline of Hanako's figure in the thick darkness. Even if she couldn't properly see his face, he still gave her a forced smile.
"Yeah, I'm alright," he lied. For some reason he felt a chill run down his spine. Every time he opened his mouth, he felt as if he was digging himself deeper into a hole. All to save the skin of someone who didn't welcome their relationship with open arms.
Hanako didn't respond right away. Instead, she gently pulled him back into bed so that they both lay along its length. Hanako wrapped her arms around Hisao and nuzzled herself against his neck. Hisao rested his chin on top of her head, giving her a small kiss there before shutting his eyes.
A kernel of dread sprouted in his weak heart. He released a long sigh, sending shivers down his spine. Hisao wrapped a possessive arm around Hanako's waist and placed the other over his frown. Meanwhile Hanako shuffled against his gently as she fell into a relaxed sleep, unaware of his inner turmoil.
He didn't want to let her go. Not after all he had lost already.
If need be, he would fight his way out of this mess. Hisao wasn't the kind of person to give up easily.
And he certainly wasn't going to start now.
...
Takeo shambled out of Lilly's room, yawning into an open hand as he turned back to her. Lilly closed the door part way, leaving just enough room to show her and nothing else.
"Thanks again, Lilly. I had a great time with you guys," Takeo said as he rubbed the sleep out of one eye. Lilly placed a hand on the outside of her door, giving him a pleased smile.
"I can say the same thing. I'm glad you were able to come along," Lilly said. Takeo laughed slightly and rubbed the back of his head, looking down at the carpet. He glanced up at Lilly and smiled. She had already shut off all the lights in her room, but her curtains were still open, letting the moonlight spill into her room. Seeing Lilly framed in the silver light made it impossible to look away. He couldn't help but find the sight enchanting.
"Y-Yeah. So am I," Takeo said. He reached up and scratched his oddly warm cheeks. He looked up and down the hall before returning to look at her, his heart beating just a little bit faster.
"S-So…I'll see you later, right?" he said. Lilly nodded.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Takeo. Have a good night," she said, slowly shutting the door behind her. Takeo stared at the closed door a minute longer then headed down the hall. From his worries about his memories to him trying to come to terms with his condition, a single thought rose among the garbled mess in his mind.
She really is something else.