25.

Title: Literature

Features: Hikaru, Akari

Summary: Hikaru's having trouble interpreting a story by a famous Japanese writer.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: I'm back!

"Wait, Akari!"

Hikaru sprinted to his childhood friend, who waved goodbye to her female classmates.

"What is it now?" inquired Akari.

Hikaru held up a finger and then braced his hands on top of his thighs as he panted. He opened his mouth and coughed, choking on lack of air. Akari stood tolerantly until his fit ended.

"I need your help," he was finally able to plead.

Akari gestured him to go on.

"My class just finished reading a dream from Natsume Souseki's 'Yume Juuya'," explained Hikaru. "The teacher wants us to interpret what we think happened to the narrator, but I have NO idea what's going on."

"Well, which dream out of the ten did your class read?" Akari wanted to clarify.

"Err, the one with the guy carrying a kid on his back," Hikaru said, scratching his forehead in concentration. "Or was it a monk? I don't remember which dream exactly…"

Akari sighed. "That was the third dream."

Hikaru nodded. "I guess so."

"How in the world do you remember dozens of Go games flawlessly and not something you did today?" Akari asked rhetorically.

"There's a major difference," objected Hikaru. "I like Go, I don't like literature."

"Tell me what you think the narrator did," instructed Akari.

"Umm, I know he killed someone," Hikaru said uncertainly. "It was a pretty creepy story. I just don't know whether he killed a monk or his own child or some blind guy."

"That's why it's called interpretation," said Akari. "There isn't really a right answer as long as you can defend why you think so-and-so happened. The teacher probably wants you to explore the possibilities."

Hikaru pouted. "So I actually have to think."

"That's what your brain is for," teased Akari. "And I'm not going to do your homework for you so don't even bother asking."

"Aw, how about a hint?" begged Hikaru. "A tiny one?"

Akari shook her head. "Nope, you have to learn to do your own work."

"Why can't I just find the author and ask him?" wailed Hikaru.

Akari smacked him on the ribs with her schoolbag. "Natsume Souseki's been dead for ages. He wrote and published 'Yume Juuya' in the late Meiji Period. I can't believe you didn't even know that. You're really hopeless."

She started walking home.

Hikaru gave chase, while whining loudly, "Come on, Akari! Don't be so mean!"

Looking over her shoulder, Akari stuck her tongue out at him.

Shameless plug: My cousin, Helen Ng, published a children's book, "The Chameleon Program: First Case". First of a series I reckon. Anyway, I'm telling everyone I know (and don't know) about it because if she sells enough to make a nice profit, she promised me a trip to Japan. Check out www(dot)buybooksontheweb(dot)com OR www(dot)bbotw(dot)com for summary.