Chapter 9 Summer Break with Tomoko
The fireworks with Tomoko was amazing except that what Tomoko did was completely unexpected. The kiss, I can't believe I am saying this, but I kind of liked it. Sure, it wasn't Yuu or the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, but it felt right when it was Tomoko who gave me a kiss like that. Putting that aside, Summer break was already here and I was completely excited about it. Although, after that astounding night of fireworks, I decided to make a list of what to do for the Summer, or should I say, my first Summer in a foreign country. My first goal was to get a part time job in which would allow me to help pay for the rent of where I was at. That way I would stop letting my mom take a percentage out of her paycheck to her rent, so I can pay for it instead of her. My second goal was to spend much time with Tomoko Kuroki as I can. Don't judge me! Finally, my third goal was to hit the books a bit, not too much since I am a freshman. Why you ask? I learned while I was in Japan about the "entrance exams" to see which college you can get into a university. A lot of pressure is on you when you take this "entrance exam" because if you fail, you have to wait a whole year again. That blows the ACT and SAT in America out of proportion if you ask me. Anyway, it was the second day of summer vacation and I just finished making my list. By the time I was done, it was late. Then I decided to call Tomoko to see if she is doing anything this Sumer.
"Hey, Tomoko." I said to her as she picked up the phone. I know it was kind of weird to call her after what went down Friday, but I was just going to ask what is she going to do for Summer break.
"O-oh, hey, Russ." She said in a relaxed tone. "What's up?"
"N-nothing." I said. Wait, why did I stutter? "I was just wondering if you are doing anything for this Summer?"
"To be honest," She sighed. "N-no, not really."
"Well, c-can I come over tomorrow? I want to see your house." I said to her.
"W-why? What will we d-do together? We're not do anything bad r-right?"
"No way, I just want to hang out. Get to know you better. Besides, I haven't seen Tomoki in a while actually. How is he? I know he doesn't remember, but it couldn't help but to ask."
"Oh, he is doing good. He just got out of school, too. He has been busy though."
"So, you think it will be ok for me to come over?"
"Well, I need to ask my mom first. I'll tell you tomorrow as early as I can, ok?"
"Alright, thanks, Tomoko. I appreciate it. I'll be happy to see you again if that does happen."
"Goodbye, Russ." I then hung up. As I was laying in my bed looking at the stars in the dark in my apartment, I was really hoping to have a decent summber break compared to all the other summer breaks I had in the U.S. To be honest, this summer was going to turn out good for once. Getting a part time job, going to the library, and spending much time with Tomoko as much as I can, are all my goals huh?
The next morning, I got up early around 8:00 because my phone vibrating. It was a text from Tomoko. It said, 'My mom said, 'Yes', you can come over at noon.' Then I replied, 'Alright, I'll see you then.' Thus, my summer vacation began. When I picked out my clothes, I chose a white buttoned down shirt with blue jeans and headed off to Tomoko's house. On my way to her house, I was wondering what her mother was going to be like. I arrived at her house ten minutes later then I knocked on the door. The door was opened by Tomoko's mother.
"Hello," she said. "who are you?" Tomoko's mother looked really pretty. She had a short light purple shirt with khaki pants.
"I am Russ. Russ Williams." I said in a nervous tone. "Is Tomoko home?"
"Oh, you must be the one who wanted to hang out with Tomoko, right? Tomoko is very excited to see you."
"Y-yes, mam, I am. I didn't know about that. May I come in?"
"Of course, please." Before I came in, I took my shoes off because that is how I normally enter a person or a friend's house. The inside of the house was designed really well. The kitchen looked like I was looking at a royal palace compared to mine. The counter top near the small kitchen was also near the living room.
"So, Mrs. Kuroki? Where is Tomoko?" I asked her.
"I don't know, I think she is upstairs."
"Do you mind if I go upstairs and see her?"
"Sure." I then thanked her and went up the stairs.
"One more thing, Russ." She then told me before I went upstairs, "Don't do anything crazy."
"Yes, Mrs. Kuroki."
Then she said in a serious tone, "I mean it."
"O-ok." I said becoming very scared as I walked up the stairs. I then went to Tomoko's room which was on the left. The room on the right must have been Tomoki's room. So, I open the doors to Tomoko's room. When I entered, I saw Tomoko playing on her game. Tomoko was dressed in red shorts with a brown and green sleeved shirt with the work "spark" on it.
"Hey, Tomoko."
"Oh," She then said getting off the game. "h-hey, Russ. How are you?"
"Good, how has your first few days of summer been?" I said crossing my arms.
"It's ok, I guess. I just did nothing so far."
"Same here. Do you mind if I sit in your computer chair?"
"Sure," She said sitting on her bed as I sat in her computer chair. She had a nice room, but it was small like any ordinary room. She had a small bed near the window with also a good view of the town. She had a shelf that held her computer and across where I was sitting she had a plasma screen TV. Also, she had a long mirror in the room near the exit of her room. "what do you plan on doing, Russ?"
"I want to find me a part time job, go to the library a little bit, and spend as much time with you before summer ends."
"You want to spend time with me?"
"Of course, I don't want you to be alone anyways." I then laughed.
"W-well, thanks." It does feel awkward to be in a girl's room when it is just the two of you. Tomoko is my friend though.
"So, what kind of games do you like?" Tomoko asked me. She was blushing while she said that.
"I-I kind of like RPGs, Shooting, and Action games." I replied. "What about you?"
"M-me?" She said shyly. "I like some d-dating sim g-g-ames."
"I used to play those to be honest."
"You do?!" She shouted
"I only played a couple of theme my whole entire life. Although, the names of those games are much rather vague to me. I don't play those anymore."
"How about the name of those games you like?" I then thought to myself when she asked me a good question then I gave her a response.
"For an RPG, I had played a bunch of Final Fantasy games. I love those games!"
"I think I might have heard about those games before."
"Have you heard of Final Fantasy VII? That is a highly recognizable game. Almost everybody around the world heard about this game because Final Fantasy VII is the best in existence, but I don't have the game."
"How have you heard of Final Fantasy then?"
"I have the game Final Fantasy IX. That is a really good game, not to mention it has one of the best character development I have ever seen in any JRPG every."
"You seem to know about a lot, Russ." She said being really confused.
"I'm sorry, I said too much." I said rubbing the back of my head.
"How about you tell me where you came from or what was it like."
"Well, originally, I was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois. It was pretty tough living down there since all the kids I dealt with were tough compared to me. I wasn't that strong or cool. Heck, I really didn't have that much friends neither until I met two friends who I thought were gonna be my life long friends. Alex and Josh. We met in six grade when the three of us took band together."
"You took band? What instrument?"
"Well, I played the trombone. Originally, I wanted to play the trumpet, but a lot of people wanted to play the trumpet. So I was stuck with the trombone. I only played it a couple of months because two months later I found out that I was moving."
"How did your friends take it?"
"Well," I said in a sad tone "they were really disappointed when they found out I was moving. They were going to miss me as much as I would miss them. I was moving to a town called Greenfield, Tennessee. Yet, I didn't like that town too much because I was more of a loner there than I was in Illinois. Then my parents got divorced, finally. Then me and my mom moved to here, then I met you. To be honest, I'm glad I got to meet you once I came here, Tomoko."
"I'm glad I met you, too, Russ. I didn't think I wasn't going to make any friends at the start of the year." Tomoko smiled at me. Then while I looked at her computer, I noticed there was a picture. Not just any picture, THE picture.
"What the heck is that?" I exclaimed while pointing to the picture of me kissing Tomoko on the cheek when we took pictures together.
"I.. um, well, how can I?"
"Yeah, uh-huh." I nodded my head in disdain. "I told you to get rid of ALL the pictures, Tomoko Kuroki."
"Well, I liked this one the most, ok? I had a lot of fun, and…."
"And what, Tomoko?"
"I want to keep this for memories."
"Are you kidding? I look hideous!" I shouted.
"No, you look pretty handsome in this one. I mean… oh , crap!" Tomoko exclaimed.
"Wait, what?"
"Forget what I said! Just, c-can I still have this? Please?" Tomoko begged and pleaded while holding the tiny picture of me and Tomoko. Me and her were still blushing. But I had to say something to break the awkward silence.
"Ugh, fine, but keep it hidden, ok?" I demanded while I was still blushing.
"Ok, I promise." Tomoko responded. I noticed that it was sunset and I needed to get home.
"Tomoko, I'm sorry I need to get home."
"Oh," Tomoko frowned. "well, do you need anything before you go?"
"I already got what I needed from you anyways for today." I smiled.
"What was that?" She asked.
"I got to spend my day with you, Tomoko."
"O-oh, thanks." Tomoko blushed.
"Well, I'll see you next time." I said leaving her room.
"Bye."
I then headed down the stairs and spoke to Tomoko's mother and told her I was leaving.
"Mrs. Kuroki, I am leaving now. I had a great time with her, today."
"Oh, you did? You didn't do anything 'wrong' with my daughter did you?" She asked strangely.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, never mind." She suggested. "Come back soon."
"Thank you, Mrs. Kuroki for letting me come over, it was a pleasure meeting you as well." Then I left the Kuroki household and while on the way I had met Tomoki on the way back to my apartment. We were near Ox park and Tomoki basically had the same thing I was wearing except he had dark pants.
"Hey, Tomoki." I said to him.
"Oh, hey, who are you?" Tomoki seemed startled
"I'm Russ, your sister's friend."
"You know Tomoko? Oh, you had saved my sister once, right?"
"Yeah," I smiled "I'm glad you remember. I hung out with your sister today."
"You did? What for?"
"I just hanged out with just to get to know her better. She is a good friend."
"You think so?" Tomoki seemed surprised.
"Yeah, she was my first friend I met this year anyways."
"Well, I'm glad that Tomoko has an actual friend."
"I'm going to go home now. It was nice meeting you, Tomoki." Then I walked past him and towards my apartment.
"Hey," Tomoki yelled at me "thanks for saving my sister that day."
"Anytime, for Tomoko." I smiled at Tomoki. "I hope we see each other again soon." Thus ending an astounding day in my summer vacation and it was far from over.
Hey, guys and fanfictioners. I'm glad to be back up and running once again on Fanfiction. I just want to let you know that I will be happy to do the Q&A on July 23 (This Wednesday), so get your questions in asap. If you, don't know what questions to ask, go back to the Extra 1. Again, I will be happy to answer any questions regarding the anime or the story here. I am glad to be back on Fanfiction and you guys rock!
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