Chapter 14: A Lively Morning
[The Next Morning]
"Ahhh Jesus." I yelled, slamming my fist down onto my extremely loud and very much annoying alarm clock. "Why the hell did I set my alarm so freaking early again?"
I glance over to my clock and sigh to myself; 08:00 it reads.
I shrug my shoulders and stretch my muscles a bit before putting on some day clothes. "Well, whatever. I guess it's a little better to be up early since it's our last day off for the weekend."
I walk down the stairs into the living room at least half expecting SOMEONE to be up, but that was unfortunately not the case.
Ageha and Hotaru were both under one big blanket on the big couch, completely snuggled up to one another, absolutely passed out.
I pull out my phone with a smirk and open up my camera to take a picture. "Heh...they're gonna be so pissed. I'm definitely putting this on my Facebook page.'
Frank on the other hand was still literally in the exact same position that he had been that I left him in...only difference was that at some point in the night, Kanako somehow ended up with her head resting upon Frank's legs.
Once again, I hold up my phone towards the two of them this time around and snap yet another picture with a huge smirk.
"Facebooook." I said to myself with a grin.
All by my lonesome, I trot on into the kitchen towards the fridge to pull out some food and start cooking the five of us some breakfast.
Eggs, check.
Sausage, check.
Biscuits, check.
Bacon, absolutely.
Cinnamon rolls...
"Crap, we dont have any more cinnamon rolls? Damnit..." I lightly bang my hand on the fridge in frustration. "Guess we'll have to do without just this once."
Once I had pulled everything out, I turned on the burners on the stove and pulled out a few pans, getting everything ready and prepared to be cooked by none other than yours truly, or at least that's what I had thought.
"Whatcha doin?"
"Oh shit!" I literally almost dropped the huge kitchen knife that I had in my hand, onto my bare foot, though I luckily had caught it in time.
At some point, Hotaru had snuck up to the counter behind me and sat at one of the barstools when I was prepping the food.
She covers her mouth to stifle a laugh and turns away for a moment to hide it the best that she could.
I just rolled my eyes to myself, since I had caught on to what she had done regardless. "Jeez dude, how long were you standing there like th..."
As soon as I had finally turned around to face her, I was greeted back by her big brown eyes, staring deep into mine.
"Uhh..." I simply mumbled.
She quickly turns away after fully meeting my gaze, hiding the redness that had been forming upon her cheeks.
I put my fist up to my mouth and clear my throat a bit before turning back to the cutting board, placing the roll of sausage upon it.
"You uh...want to help?" I asked, keeping my eyes focused on the cutting board as I opened the sausage.
She remains silent for a few seconds before I finally hear her stand up. "S-Sure..." She said as she began walking towards me.
"Cool...uh...thanks..."
"Jesus, that's the best thing you can say Hayden?" I shook my head and scorned myself internally.
"So...what exactly should I help with?" She asked.
"Hmm...let's see...well, if you want, you can crack open all of the eggs from this carton and start whisking them to make scrambled-"
"Wait, all of these? But...this is a whole jumbo 18 count carton..." She said, slowly opening the carton and counting them by hand.
"Well...heh...yeah. Frank and I eat a lot...we usually eat six eggs or so a piece when we make scrambled eggs.
Hotaru raises an eye and looks at the carton questionably.
"Don't worry about it either way. Frank and I usually keep two to three cartons of eggs in the fridge, so we have more anyways...just in case we need em."
She smiles and nods her head before grabbing two of the eggs and cracking them both at the same time rather skillfully into the glass bowl I had pulled out. As soon as she had done so, she set the eggshells into the empty slots in the carton and wasted no time in grabbing two more, repeating the process almost flawlessly.
I just raise an eye at her as she began whisking the eggs in the bowl quickly, before finally leaving nothing but pure yellow liquid in the bowl.
"Well, color me impressed. I'm guessing you've done this before?" I asked her, finally starting my role in cutting the sausage into pieces.
She nods and smiles, tucking her hair behind her ear a bit before putting the cast iron pan onto the burner and pouring the beaten eggs into it.
The pan lets out a big satisfying sizzling sound the second the eggs had touched it, bringing me to a content smile. there was just something about breakfast in the morning that always made me happy...well, actually I'm pretty sure it was just food in general.
"My grandma is actually the one who used to show me how to cook when I was younger." Hotaru suddenly spoke after grabbing the pack of bacon and laying the strips on one of the other pans I had pulled out.
"Ah." I grab the last cast iron pan at my side and put it on the third burner I had set on, slapping the ten pieces of sausage I had cut onto it before grabbing the big biscuit pan for the...well...biscuits.
"The same grandma that I met a few times by your house as a kid I'm assuming?" I asked, popping open the can of bisuits and effectively jumping at the noise it made...as always.
Hotaru just nods and smiles again quietly, setting the now bacon strip filled pan onto the last burner.
"How is she anyway? Gonna have to catch up with her soon too when I get a chance."
As soon as I had said that, Hotaru just freezes momentarily from moving the bacon pan around on the burner, looking off into the other direction away from me.
I cock my head to the side briefly and tap her on the shoulder to get her attention.
"Uhh...Hotie?"
She finally looks back at me and smiles a bit weakly. "She uh...she passed away a couple years ago actually, Hayden..."
I take a deep breath and bit my lip, angry at myself for saying anything about it in the first place. "Annnd I'm an inconsiderate douchebag."
"Oh come on, no you aren't. You...you just didn't know...that's all. Plus it's been a while, I've gotten used to it already, so it's okay!"
I search her face the best I could to make sure she hadn't been lying or hiding any true emotion from what I had said, and luckily it didn't seem that she had been.
I smile and nod, patting her shoulder a bit to comfort her a little. "Well, I'm sure she's probably smiling at you and your skill you got there now."
She chuckles a bit at my statement as she pulls off the now finished pan of scrambled eggs and sets it to the side. "Heh...you think so?"
"Of course. You gotta carry that skill on as like...a legacy now, you know?"
She nods and smiles at me once more before turning the burner she was finished with, off. "She used to always tell me every time that we'd cook together...'Hotaru-Chan, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Take care to remember that when you cook for your man so you make a good wife'!"
I couldn't help but to laugh a bit at the little mock voice she had done of her grandma. "You know, somehow I don't doubt that those were probably her exact words."
Hotaru and I both shared a little laugh together at the whole bit before we finally had finished up with making breakfast and cleaning up.
"Ya know Hotie, I guess that means you gotta cook for me sometime huh?"
She looks up at me with big eyes and begins blushing a bit.
It wasn't until after I had said it, that I had realized how it had probably sounded after what we just talked about. "Wait I mean...I wasn't saying it like...I was...like I wasn't implying that you had to cook for me cause I was your man or anything."
She just turns away even further from embarassment and stares down towards her hands.
"Shit dude no! I mean like, I wasn't saying that I was your man or anything either! That's not what I meant! I was...like I was just saying-"
Suddenly Hotaru comes up to me and hugs me tightly, shutting me up quite effectively.
I swallow hard and remain still for a few moments before finally slowly coming to reciprocate the hug.
"It's okay Hayden. I...wouldn't mind anyway..." She said the last part as she buried her face into my shirt a bit before pulling away from the hug, though I had still heard her perfectly clear.
"She's just talking about the making food for me part...right? Yeah...that's gotta be it...unless..."
"Ahem."
Suddenly before I could even think any further on the matter, Frank had suddenly walked up to the bar with the biggest most douchiest smirk I've ever seen.
"Can I help you?" I said with a raised eye.
"Uh yeah maybe you can by telling me what you two were doing, hmm?"
"Well if you'd direct your attention behind me to the kitchen counter, you'd see that we're clearly doing breakfast."
"Oh of course, my bad. Didn't realize that's what they called it nowadays." Frank gestured towards Hotaru and I who had just got done hugging each other.
She turns away once again, redder than ever from embarassment.
I just roll my eyes and clear my throat a bit. "Hey, Frank?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you kindly fuck off?." I said with a smirk.
He just smiles back and laughs a bit before walking into the kitchen and grabbing himself a plate of food. Once he had filled his plate, he immediately grabs another one and begins to put some food on it.
I grin at the whole bit and walk over next to him as cocky as ever.
"Yes?" He asked, taking note of me now standing next to him.
"What uh...whatcha doin here Frank?" I asked, pointing to the second plate of food in his hand jokingly.
"Oh...uh...well I had asked Kanako if she wanted me to go ahead and get her a plate since I was already up and-"
"And since when did you two become best friends?"
"Dude, I'm just getting her a plate of-"
"OH IS THAT WHAT THEY CALL THAT NOWADAYS?"
As soon as I had finished my cocky remark, the two of us had both burst into a brief fit of laughter as I began fixing myself and Ageha a plate of food alongside Frank, handing hers to Hotaru when I finished.
"Here, give this to your sister, okay? I'll make you one too after you take it to her."
"Oh nono...you don't have to..." She puts her hands up to try and stop me, ultimately failing in the end.
I hold the plate of food that I made for her sister closer to her face, forcing her to have to grab it. "Just take it Hotie, I got your plate next...just think of it as thanks for helping me cook, if nothing else alright?"
She finally lets out a little sigh and smiles, complying by taking the plate and bringing it to her sister.
"I swear that girl..."
Frank gets closer up in my face with another big ass cocky smirk all of a sudden. "Hmmmmmm?"
"What now?" I asked as I made Hotaru's plate as promised.
"You swear that girl...what, Hayden? What excactly do you swear, hmmmm?"
I sigh to myself and rub the bridge of my nose playfully. "Could you like...for five seconds, NOT be an asshole?"
"Ehh...I dunno man...five seconds is a pretty long time."
I shake my head and punch Frank in the shoulder, gaining a small laugh from him, myself included. "Alright, let's go eat!" I said, turning around and walking out of the kitchen and into the living room with the food.
Finally after a few tries from Hotaru pushing her a bit, and me doing the same as well, Ageha had woken up as last.
She rubs her head a bit and complains about having a headache, so I ended up having to walk back into the kitchen for some headache meds for her.
Once I had given her some and breakfast was finally all said and done, I stand up from the couch and hold out my hand towards everyone.
"Just hand me the dishes, I'll get em." I said.
"Oh don't mind if you do then!" Frank said, immediately putting his plate and utensils on top of mine.
"Yeah, I figured your ass would jump right on this you lazy prick."
"Hey now, don't get your panties caught up, I'll take care of trash duty today."
I immediately nod my head and point towards him. "You got a deal, cause we have a shitload of trash to take out."
He lets out a big sigh and shakes his head. "Okay maybe this WAS a bad idea."
Once Frank had set his plate on mine, I had walked over to Kanako to grab hers, to which she smiled and thanked me. Next up was Hotaru, who just just smiled and turned away after handing me her plate. As I was just about to grab Ageha's plate...
"Nuh uh." She said, standing up suddenly. "I'm gonna help."
"...You sure?" I asked her, still holding my hand out, ready to grab the plate from her.
She simply nods and pushes my hand away, walking past me and into the kitchen, turning the sink on herself afterwards.
I just shrug and smile, following into the kitchen right after. "Fair enough." I said as I walked up to her side.
"I'll give Frank a hand with the trash!" Hotaru said, raising her hand and jumping off the couch suddenly.
"Me too! Since...he said it was a lot and all, I'm sure he won't mind?" Kanako surprisingly turned directly towards Frank to ask him.
He just shrugs and lifts himself from the couch lazily, stretching a bit as well.
"Sure." He said, mid stretch. "Thanks you two."
Kanako and Hotaru both smile and nod, following Frank until they had all walked out of the front door and out of our view.
As soon as they had done so, an instant change in the atmosphere between Ageha and I had occurred. The second her and I were alone again, nothing but the thoughts of what happened last night had crossed my mind.
It wasn't even so much that I was nervous...I just seriously had no idea what to say to her.
That had all changed quickly though, once she had decided to be the first to break the awkward silence.
"I...uh..." She said, trailing off mid sentence.
"Hmm?" I simply replied, waiting for her to finish.
"I...want to apologize for last night..."
"Ah. I see."
A few moment of silence had passed until I finally decided to continue.
"It's okay you know. It's not like I was mad or anything, really. I...kinda had figured none of that stuff was true anyway, since...well, you WERE pretty hammered." I said the last part with a little laugh at the end, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
She smiles back and giggles a bit, so it must have worked a little at least.
"Well...actually Hayden, I was moreso just apologizing for the fact that I had just come on to you out of nowhere like that...I wasn't apologizing for lying or anything...because I never did."
"...So...you...really WERE serious then?"
"Well...I mean...y-yeah." She said, shrugging at the end, keeping her gaze directed towards the dishes.
I just shake my head a bit in disbelief yet again. This was still a little hard for me to grasp so suddenly.
"But like...you were like a huge tomboy back then dude...hell when I first met you, I had even thought you were literally a guy for like two months, remember?"
She giggles a little at my statement before putting away the dish she had just finished.
"Yeah, I remember. It was all the way up until that time you wanted to have that peeing contest." Ageha turns away for a moment and smiles. "Your face was priceless the second I had pulled my pants do-"
I quickly turn towards her and shoot her a look that says 'Don't even go there'.
She just rolls her eyes and turns the sink off after she had finished up on the last dish.
"So, what did you and Frank have planned today anyway?"
"Us? Meh, not much. He and I wanted to go check out the music store today to buy some new shit for the drums. Plus, I need a new set of strings...the ones I have now are on their last leg."
"Ah, sounds like fun for you two."
"Yeah I guess so...wait...are you guys not hanging out with us today or something?"
"Unfortunately...my mom wanted me and Hotaru home early today since it's the last day before school." She turns to me and leans her back against the counter with a sigh. "They're pretty strict on me and Hotaru about our grades and all."
"I mean, I understand that but...like how early? It's only 9:15am dude."
Ageha raises her eye and takes a step closer towards me. "Aww what's the matter Hayden? You sound disappointed...you really want me to stay that bad?"
"What? Pff...please, it ain't even like that."
"You sure?" She said, taking yet another step towards me with a now large smirk plastered onto her face.
"Uh...yes?" I said, taking a step back cautiously.
Step after step, she continues growning closer, until...
"You know, maybe if you ask nicely, I'll consider i-wahh!"
She suddenly slips on a wet section of the kitchen floor, fumbling forward towards me.
"Oh shit!" I quickly lunged forward and caught her quickly, breaking her fall before she had actually injured herself.
"Jeez you klutz, you almost got hurt. You alright?" I asked, with Ageha now in my arms.
She slowly looks up to me, and the instant that she did, that big smirk that she had before had been completely wiped away and replaced by a fierce shade of red upon her face.
"Uhh...Ageha? You good?" I asked.
She barely nods her head and continues staring directly at me.
"Shit man, how do I always get into these awkward situations?"
Suddenly, she begins to close her eyes and move closer towards me.
"Oh crap, not again."
"Hayden..." She whispered as she continued moving closer.
"Heeeeere's Frankie!" Suddenly the front door burst open loudly, effectively scaring the crap out of both me and Ageha.
"Shit!" I yelled, quickly pulling myself away from Ageha.
Frank then jogs up to the bar and leans over it towards us. "Yo, are you guys done with the..."
Ageha and I had both been faced away from one another now; she had been tapping her foot on the ground a bit nervously.
Frank comes to a little smirk and clears his throat. "So uh...what were you two doing?"
I roll my eyes and point behind me to the finished dishes cockily.
He just continues smiling as he raises his eye. It was pretty safe to say that he wasn't buying it.
Next up, Hotaru came running up to the bar. "Whatcha guys talking about?"
Frank just laughs a bit to himself and shrugs his shoulders. "Nothing really, I was about to see if Hayden was ready to head out so we can bring you all back where you need to go."
I turn my attention towards Frank quickly, instantly cathing his attention as well.
"How'd you know that they had to go h-"
"Hotaru told me outside when we were taking the trash out." He said, pointing towards Hotaru at the same time.
I lift my head a bit in acknowledgement with a little 'ah' before turning towards Kanako who had began walking up to the bar as well, maintaining a bit of distance between herself and Frank; no surprise there really.
"So what about you then? You gotta go too I'm assuming?" I said to Kanako.
She just nods and smiles. "Yeah. I've actually got a little schoolwork I need to catch up on. I've been putting it off the whole weekend since I've been hanging with you all heheh..."
Frank slumps down a bit and turns towards Kanako. "Aw man why didn't you say something? We weren't trying to like...burden you or anything like that."
She just blushes a little and smiles, shaking her head. "No it's okay. I had a lot of fun this weekend...I actually hope we can do it again with all of us like the other night."
"Hell yeah, the more the merrier." Frank said with a thumbs up.
"Well then." I said with a clap of the hands. "Shall we get going then?"
Everyone looks to one another briefly before nodding back at me.
"Alright, lets get to it then!"
Frank and I had both gone our seperate ways for the car rides since Kanako had to go back to F.F Manor, whereas Hotaru and Ageha were just going back to their house.
After a few minutes into our quiet little ride, Hotaru had finally spoken up out of the blue.
"So...how long have you and Frank actually known each other?"
I look up into my rear view mirror to meet the gaze of a very much 'at attention' and curious Hotaru.
"What made you wanna ask that all of a sudden?" I asked, slapping my car into neutral as I rolled up to the red light.
She just shrugs and smiles. "I dunno. Just curious I guess."
"Hmm...fair enough. Well, I've been around Frank literally since before he and I were even a year old. Our Dads have been friends for...God even knows how long now, and...well that's basically why we've been around each other for so long."
"Ohhh...I see." She said with a very interested tone.
"As for friendship-wise? Well we were both just a tad over the age of one when we actually started to play together. Next thing you know, few years passed and we entered kindergarten together, and even had the same classes literally from then all the way to our senior year in high school. The we both had decided to go to LSU which is a college back by our hometown.
Both Hotaru and even Ageha now were almost completely focused on my little story now, clearly every bit interested.
"We had only gone there for our entire first year, and maybe like four months of our second year? That was when Frank and I had decided to come here to Japan to finish up college as boarding students."
"But...why all the way here in Japan? And by yourselves at that?" Ageha asked curiously.
"Well...Frank and I have always talked about coming back here when we got older after actually finishing college...but we let the hype get to us a bit much and didn't feel like waiting anymore and...well, here we are!" I said, pointing to myself proudly. "Well, here I am at least."
Ageha and Hotaru both let out a little chuckle and nod.
"But...it really is crazy. I mean...you two said you only speak a little Japanese...and with that little bit, you both still decided to come here on your own like that. That's actually pretty brave if you ask me." Ageha gave me a little punch to the shoulder like she had almost somewhat been impressed.
"How's that crazy? Doesn't like 95 percent of Japan speak English anyway?"
Ageha and Hotaru both look to one another before they both burst out laughing.
"Uhh...I take it that means that what I said isn't entirely correct."
They both nod and Hotaru even wipes a little tear away from her eye.
"Granted...people here can speak English, yes...but nowhere near 95 percent. Maybe more like...20 percent...if that even." Ageha stated matter of factly.
"Wait...seriously? But like...everyone I've spoken with so far has spoken English around here and in school. Hell, even back then It was the same."
"Yeah, that's because Kazegaura has always had a lot of foreigners and whatnot come around, so a lot of people here do speak English...but as for like...all of Japan?" Ageha turns and looks out of the window and laughs. "Dude if you guys went to like...say...Tokyo, I could guarantee you'd run into thirty people who can't speak English before you run into someone who does...and even then, they probably can't speak much of it at all anyway."
"Oh...wow. Well, shit I guess we won't be moving to Tokyo then anytime soon huh?" I said with a laugh, finally coming up to Ageha and Hotaru's driveway.
"Well, you better not move anywhere anytime soon...you just finally came back after promising us you'd never leave once before...so if you left again, I'd have to literally track you down and kick your ass." Ageha said, slamming her fist into her hand as some sort of threat.
I just roll my eyes before unlocking the passenger door for the two of them. "Good lord, I am stricken with fear. God help me please."
"Tch...jerk." Ageha said, smiling at the end.
She gives me a hug before stepping out and pushing the seat down for Hotaru next.
Hotaru leans over to me and hugs me as well. Although her hug may have lasted a little longer than her sister's. I had decided to keep quiet on the matter since Ageha didn't seem to even notice it in the first place.
"Heh...even if you did come to 'kick my ass' as you say, I'd have Hotie here to protect me and back me up, won't I?"
I look over to Hotaru and smile, but to my surprise she shakes her head as she smiles back.
"Sorry Hayden...but I think if you left again, I'd be really upset too...and I'd probably want to kick your ass as well." She said the last bit with a little giggle and stuck her tongue out at me before finally getting out of the car.
"Wow...uh...alright. Never in my life have I been so betrayed." I said playfully.
Hotaru and Ageha both laugh alongside each other once more before waving to me and walking up to their front door finally.
"Alright, see you two tomorrow at school!" I said, sticking my head out the window of my car.
They both stop to turn around and wave to me, smiling.
"Text me to let me know when you get to the music shop with Frank so I know you're safe, okay?" Hotaru called out.
Ageha makes a slightly annoyed face before stepping a foot in front of her sister.
"Or you could text me if you want to let me know! Or just call me or whatever!" She said.
I nod my head to the two of them.
"Yes yes, I'll be sure to let both of you know, I promise."
As soon as I had begun backing out, I glanced over to them once again to see the two of them now bickering a little between one another. I couldn't help but to envision the two of them standing there as little kids.
"Heh...just the same as back then...you two haven't changed at all." I said to myself as I drove off.
After about twenty minues of driving after calling Frank, we had decided meet up at the gas station close by the house to try and further figure out exactly where we wanted to go.
"Damn, it's about time slowpoke." Frank said, stepping out of his car as I pulled up next to him.
"Yeah yeah. Anyways did you happen to look up any music stores around here?" I asked, pulling my phone out just in case.
"Nah I didn't. I was talking to Kanako the whole ride there and-"
I immediately put my hand up into his face to cut him off.
"Hold on slow your roll there...you and Kanako actually talked?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked.
"Dude...are you kidding me? She's literally always like...crazy quiet, save for when she talks to Ageha and Hotaru. Heheh...becoming closer friends with Kanako there, eh Frank?"
He just shrugs his shoulders and nods. "Yeah...I guess you could say that. But...I mean, all I really did was asked her about herself and her hobbies and shit to break the ice a little."
"...No shit huh? Well...maybe that's honestly all that was needed and-wait...hold up."
Frank just raises an eye at me due to me stopping mid sentence.
"Did she make eye contact with you even once?" I asked him.
He ponders for a moment before looking up at me, a bit more intrigued now.
"You know what? She actually didn't now that I think about it."
I let out a big sigh and shake my head lightly.
"Well...maybe eventually she'll break out of that shell...IF she actually keeps hanging around you and I." I said.
"You trying to say I'm annoying?" Frank asked with a raised eye.
"No. I'm actually saying that WE"RE annoying."
"...Alright, fair enough." He said, folding his arms afterwards. "Anyways, you think they maybe have a Guitar Center around here? They...are worldwide aren't they?"
"Uhh...yeah, I believe so...hell, actually I dunno. Let me check."
I open up google maps on my phone and type 'Guitar Center' into the searchbar. Within seconds, not one, but THREE had popped up within the 25 mile radius.
"Well goddamn. I guess they are worldwide then." I said, turning the phone screen towards Frank. "Closest one is only 10 miles from the house."
"Hell yeah, what is that like...thirty minutes-ish?"
"26 if we're being exact...well, according to maps at least. Shall we then?" I asked, already putting my phone away and hopping back into my car.
Frank hops into his car and rolls his windows down after starting it.
"I think you already know what I'm gonna say to that one." He called out.
We both pull out of the gas station together, arriving at the local Guitar Center some twenty odd minutes later or so.
"Holy crap dude, this one is so much bigger than the one by our house back in the U.S." I said, glancing at the building from bottom to top.
Frank nods his head and holds the door open for me. "Yeah no kidding."
"Thanks sweetheart." I said, winking at him afterwards.
He jokingly makes a kissy face and follows me inside.
I had gotten no more than five feet from the door before instantly stopping in my tracks. "Holy shit dude..."
Frank had finally looked up as well after closing the door behind us. "Oh...mother of God. Dude...this place...it's like the godfather of Guitar Centers."
"This is NOT good. I'm gonna buy shit we don't even need, I can already see it coming."
Frank takes out his wallet and looks at it with an exasperated sigh. "Well, it was nice knowing you, money."
He and I walk over towards the drums section to buy a few new pairs of sticks and whatnot, stop over by the strings section for myself and walk into the acoustics room afterwards just for the hell of checking it out.
"Yo man, why haven't you gotten yourself an acoustic guitar yet anyway?" Frank asked suddenly.
"Please don't ask, cause I'm gonna end up getting one if you do."
He shrugs his shoulders and nods to my comment. "Fair enough."
"Hayden? Frank?" A familiar voice suddenly called out from behind us.
We both do a complete 180 to meet the gaze of none other than Ina and Akira.
"What's up guys?" Ina asked, walking up to the two of us and hugging us briefly.
Akira had greeted us right after in the same manner.
"Yooo, what are you two doing here? You girls play music?" I asked them curiously.
Akira raises her eye and shakes her head.
"Nope. We're here cause our idiot brothers wanted to stop by on the way of taking Ina and I shopping. I guess we can't say much though since they are taking us for our sake and all."
"I...was unaware that either of you had siblings honestly." I said matter of factly.
"Yup. They both go to school with us as well, but we're literally never around them there, so I'm not surprised. My cousin Akari goes there too." Ina smiles and looks down at her phone, which had suddenly vibrated.
"Wait, you don't mean that class president chick or whatever huh? Isn't HER name Akari?" Frank asked out of the blue.
Ina nods her head after placing her phone back into her pocket. "Yeah. Her, I'm not so surprised for you two to know. A lot of people know her, due to her position and how well she...I guess you can say 'manages' it."
"Isn't she like ridiculously over-strict about everything though? I remember on like Tuesday or so, when Frank and I were going to the vending machines for some green tea deliciousness, she was in the hall yelling at some dude for his shoe being untied."
"Heh...yeah, that definitely sounds like her. Anyways, what are YOU two doing in here?" Akira asked.
"Just doing a bit of our guy shopping. I needed some new guitar strings and Frank needed drumsticks."
"Oh, so you guys do play music then?"
"Yeah, I play drums and Hayden plays guitar. Been playing together for about...oh...say, ten or eleven years now?" Frank said after pondering on it for a moment.
"Oh wow that's a long time...so you've known each other for a while then?" She asked, a bit more intrigued than before.
Frank nods his head with a proud smile. "Yep, been best friends for as long as I can remember honestly."
"Yeah same for Ina and I. We've known each other since we were little kids, so we grew up around each other. Surprisingly, we actually have our idiot brothers to thank for introducing the two of us to each other since those two had already known each other beforehand."
Ina suddenly turns around and takes notice of someone, waving them over towards us. "Hey speak of our idiot brothers, here they come!"
A couple of voices had called out from outside of the doors to the acoustics room, just out of my view.
"Hey, who are you calling stupid?" The first voice said.
"They're just upset cause they didn't get to go to the mall without paying this small price." The second voice followed. "What're you two doing in the acoustics section any...way..."
All of a sudden, when the mysterious voices had finally come into the room with us to reveal themselves, the four of us guys' jaws hit the floor.
It was Motou and Hamada.
"Yoooo...time the hell out. These two are your brothers?" I asked, pointing to each of them respectively.
"You...four know each other?" Akira asked with obvious confusion.
Motou nods and folds his arms. "Yeah we do but...how do you know them?"
Akira scoffs to herself a little and smiles. "We literally sit right in front of them in class. How do YOU know them?"
"We're all in the music club together? Duh." Motou said it like it should've been obvious.
Akira places her hands on her hips with a bit of attitude. "Well excuse me for not knowing."
Motou nods his head and shoos her off with his hand a bit. "You're excused."
She folds her arms and turns her head to the side away from him. "Tch...asshole."
"Spoiled brat."
She let's out an annoyed grunt followed by a heavy sigh. "Ugh...whatever, can we go already?"
"Sure sure. We were done anyway." Motou turns towards the two of us and slaps hands with us before turning back around.
"Speaking of, we all have club tomorrow anyway...so we'll see you two at school tomorrow I guess huh?" I asked.
Hamada walks up to us after and does the same as Motou had, nodding afterwards. "Yup. We'll be there."
Ina and Akira both walk up to Frank and I afterwards to hug us.
"Well, now that we know Hayden and Frank are in the club with you guys, we have even more of a reason to come and bother you all when we have extra time!" Akira said with a devilish grin.
I rub the back of my neck and smile a bit nervously. "Ahah...I don't know whether to be afraid of that statement or not when you put it that way."
"Guess you'll just have to find out! Well, later guys!" Akira gives us a little wave as she runs up to her brother, who had already pretty much left her behind and headed to the door himself.
Ina smiles and waves afterwards and catches up with them all until they had eventually all exited our view, and the store as well.
Frank lets out a little playful sigh and looks over to me after he had finished waving. "Looks like we're in for a bit of liveliness tomorrow eh?"
I just shrug my shoulders before nodding. "Well you heard the girl...we'll just have to see huh?"
Yoooo, sorry for this crazy long delay, work has been hectic as hell lately and I haven't been able to do much writing, let alone even touch my pc lol. Forgive me, I'll try to get the next one out a little sooner, I promise!
-H