A month has passed since Madoka's birthday. Things have quieted down since then as I had completely adjusted to my life in Mitakihara. Mami's continuing periods of absence had lost all concern and mystery and is now just a fact of life. The thought of her being a prostitute was still there, but that turned into the more relaxed version known as compensated dating.
I never asked Mami about her job, nor did I worry too much about it. If she was gone, I'd have Madoka, Sayaka, Hitomi, or Honoka to hang out with. Though, I often spent most of my time (and money) to head to the hospital to give Akemi a visit. Of the times I had seen her, she was often lonely. Today was just another day for me to visit her, though, not in the usual way as I normally transit.
I never liked taking the train in urban Japan. It seemed like, no matter what time I picked, it'd always be crammed full of people, forcing me to stand in what felt like a rickety caboose.
I was only talked into taking the train because of Madoka. She doesn't know it, but she has quite a silver tongue with her voice, something that had calmed me down during our trip to the hospital.
I had been debating with myself about involving the other girls to make hospital visits with me, as I viewed that as me hanging out with Honoka. What made me decide to go was the idea that, if I were to have Akemi meet girls her age, that it might expand her circle of friends…
That and I guess talking about her to Madoka got her excited to meet her.
By the time the train stopped at our destination, Madoka dragged me out of the crowd. I then led her to the hospital, told the receptionist at the desk that we're here to visit Akemi, and be led to her.
While we didn't take long to get to Akemi's room, I stopped for a moment as I looked in the room parallel to hers, seeing an empty bed by the side. Kurosawa, the person who occupied the room a month ago, had passed away. It's most likely the reason why Honoka doesn't swing on by to visit nowadays.
Madoka entered the room and waved to Akemi. At first, Akemi blushed and retracted herself, but as Madoka approached her, she slowly relaxed.
"Sorry about that…" I entered the room. "I did say I'd be bringing in a friend last time I was here… Probably should have let you know ahead of time that we were visiting." I gave a light chuckle.
"N-no, it's fine… I was just a little surprised." As Akemi said that, Madoka came towards her.
"Hello! I've heard a lot about you from Shane." Madoka said.
"And you're…" She took a moment to think. "Kaname, was it?"
"Yeah. Though, you can call me Madoka." She said. Instantly, Homura looked away and fiddled with her fingers.
"Isn't that a little… much?" Akemi asked.
"Nah, she told me to call her that too." I said.
"But… you and Kaname are…" As Akemi said that, I couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
"It's fine. Actually, would it be okay if I called you Homura?" Madoka asked her.
"Are… you sure? It's… kinda a weird name…" Homura's voice was silent…
"It's not weird, though. It has the meaning of flames, which I think is awesome!" And, as a sharp contrast to Madoka's upbeat voice, it made me want to step back and admire the two talking to each other.
I listened to their voices as they talked a little more about themselves, things I've already known from both of them. Yet, I didn't grow tired of the repetition… If anything, I was feeling tired over just how pleasant they sounded. It was times like this that made me truly blessed to move to Japan…
Which made the trip back to Mitakihara all the worse when I was forced to confront two things…
The first, obviously, was the crowded train. At least with the bus, I was able to sit somewhere.
The other was what would await me at home… Or rather, what wouldn't await me. Even though I accepted Mami's absence, it still left me with a cold feeling of isolation, especially in those times where I go to bed and she still hadn't returned home.
"That was fun, wasn't it, Shane? Maybe next time, we can have lunch together!" Madoka told me. I couldn't really respond as I shivered, though it seemed Madoka noticed this. "You okay?" She asked me.
"Just… crammed is… all…" I could feel someone's elbow rub against my rib, almost pressing right into it. I winced in pain, unable to voice my complaint as all it would do is annoy the person. As I was about to let out a soft cry, Madoka wrapped her arms around me.
"Squeeeeze~!" Madoka held me tightly, which didn't even feel painful at all. "This should keep you safe from those people." I gave a light chuckle before I hugged her.
"Squeeeeze~!" I replied. I took a step forward as we edged towards the window of the train, giving us a little more wiggle room, though we were still close to each other. Before long, it felt as though Madoka and I were the only two people in the train. As we fell in close proximity to each other, the allure of her cute face drew me closer and closer, likewise for Madoka…
"Mitakihara Station! Mitakihara Station!" I instantly let go of Madoka with a small peck to the cheek. Madoka gave me a smile and a blush as the train came to a halt. We got off soon after.
"So, you're okay going home?" Madoka asked me as we walked.
"Yeah. I shouldn't keep sleeping over your place whenever she isn't home. It's gonna be tough, but I'll pull through." I said to her.
"Well, I'm always a phone call away if you need me, Shane." We approached the door leading into my apartment complex and shared a kiss on the lips.
"Text me when you get home." I said. She gave a smile as she went off. I took a moment to think back to what I asked of her on the night of her birthday.
"Would you be willing to share a person you love with someone else?" Madoka and I had been unofficially dating for a month with this in mind, and yet the someone else I had in mind was barely around. I doubt she'd even be waiting for me inside…
And yet, I need to embrace the isolation.
I went into the complex and got to my apartment room… As I opened…
"Huh? Oh! Shane! Welcome home!" Mami's voice instantly filled me with joy as I took off my shoes and went to the living room where she was. As I entered, I slowed to a stop, if only because I saw someone else at the table.
She had a rather tomboyish figure, even more so than Sayaka's due to the lack of a bust. The only thing that made her stand out as a girl was her wearing a denim skirt and long, fiery red hair that was tied into a ponytail.
"My apologies, this is my cousin, Shane. He's staying over at my place." Mami said. Even though I was talkative to people, I couldn't find anything to say to the girl. That is, however, until she gave me her name.
"Hey, the name's Sakura Kyouko." She said with a smile.
"Sakura? As in…" She had the same reddish hair as Minister Sakura, if not redder. I hesitated before I bowed. "Sorry… You wouldn't happen to be related to a…" If she was, I didn't want to bring up her father's excommunication. "Sorry again… I'm not sure how to word this but… I might have met your father a while ago. He was offering rites to the people at the hospital."
"Oh! You know my father?" She asked me.
"Yeah. He gave me a push into finding out my place here in Japan. How… How is he?" I braced myself for the worst.
"He's doing great! Just the other day, people came to the church to listen to what he had to say!" Wait, what? Last I checked, he was excommunicated. Did something happen that led to some form of turn around?
"Well, that's quite the change from what he said." A brief musing that slipped out of my tongue… It caused Kyouko to frown slightly before changing into a smile again. "I promised him I'd attend his church, so I guess now's a good time as any… N-not now now, but…" I blushed as Kyouko and Mami laughed.
"It's okay, I understand." Kyouko said.
"I want to hear more about this, Shane. Sit down and enjoy some pie with us." I followed Mami's command to the letter as I sat down and dug into a slice of peach pie. "It's nice that you know her father. It almost feels like fate in a way."
"Yeah…" I delayed taking in another bite. This wasn't the first girl Mami had brought home with her. It was how I met Honoka. If it wasn't for Honoka, I wouldn't have gone to the hospital with her and met Sakura and Akemi. If I didn't meet Sakura, the idea of fate wouldn't have gone into my head… But… now that it has…
How much of me meeting these beautiful girls was just a coincidence and how much of it was really fate pulling at the strings of my karma?
