(5/27/2020)
You guys! It's like...
The 10th anniversary of this story. Whoa. (Yeah, I know. I forgot all of the other one's, lmao)
I can't believe I've been writing this since high school. (And updated almost every year, lol. No. No, that's not funny.)
So here's an anniversary chapter, just for you. Thanks for sticking around. (It's just a normal chapter that happens to be kind of long. Nothing special, ha.)
Karaoke Neighbor
Chapter 23
One Black Night
Words were being spoken, but Estell couldn't hear them. It was Friday after school, and she was doing her tutoring like normal, but mentally she was not there. Her meeting with Q was set for the evening near his school, where she first spotted him and learned about his 'occupation'. She would give him the price he asked for, 7,000 Yen, and he would get her the BB gun model sometime tomorrow. And luckily for her, this model had 150 BBs included. She really wanted her fake gun, so it was difficult to focus.
She looked up when she finally realized that it was really quiet. Misa was glaring at her from the front of the classroom.
"I'm so sorry, sensei! I had a very personal thought. I will focus now." The girl said, giving her puppy eyes.
Misa sighed and continued with the lesson. It really was different without Miles here.
An alleyway near Yugure High. Estell waited against a building, feeling mildly uncomfortable. Sure, she would label herself as a delinquent, but when it came down to it, she really wasn't much of one. Or at least not like these guys. The school that Q attended was the real deal. With real danger. Probably. Estell just inferred all of this from her observation of the school itself. She didn't actually see anyone doing anything dangerous. But they probably did! Her being alone in an alleyway might not have been the smartest, but Q had messaged her to wait there, and so she did. If anything happened to her, it would be his fault. She could fight, but if her opponents were a bunch of thugs, then she would clearly lose.
Finally, she saw Q come into sight. She looked around before waving.
Q smiled, holding his school bag in his hand. "Esteru!"
"Hey, Q."
"It's almost time, yeah? You get your gun tomorrow. You never told me what you really wanted it for, though.." He gave her a mischievous look.
"I just want it…" She mirrored his look.
"Is someone threatening you? 'Cause if so, you don't need it. Just call me up and I'll beat their ass. I swear."
She smiled. Q beating Hibari Kyoya was extremely unlikely, no matter what method he used. "That's very nice of you, Q. But it won't be necessary," she said, reaching into her bag and pulling out an envelope with the specified amount in it. "Here you go."
Q briefly shrugged before taking the envelope and counting its contents. He nodded shortly after. "Looks good. Um…" He paused and timidly scratched the back of his head. "Can I… walk you home?"
Q could be the cutest sometimes. She would normally decline, but she decided to just go with it. He already knew where she lived, so it really wasn't a problem. Plus, it was safer with him than without, in terms of this part of town.
"Sure, Q. That would be really nice. I would like that."
He smiled and started leading the way. "So… what kind of stuff do you like to do, Esteru?"
They never really tried to properly get to know each other, did they? She had learned a few facts about him like his love for singing and baseball, but not much else, and he barely knew anything about her.
"I like to watch TV dramas! And do bad things with my friends…"
"Bad things?" He gave her an odd look.
"Mmm… Well, maybe I don't do it anymore, but where I'm from, I used to get in trouble with my friends. It was fun."
"Oh… America. You got in trouble a lot there, huh? Like a delinquent? Haha. You wanna come to our school, then? Though its all boys."
She laughed as well. "Nah, but maybe we can do something together. I want to do something together here with all of my friends."
"You made a lot of delinquent friends?" he questioned.
"Well… no. Just you and Tsubaki. But I'm sure my other friends would agree to come…" Miles would probably agree to anything, and Taka probably didn't care either way, as long as he could read a book or something. Basically be a bystander. And Hibari… didn't count.
"I see. Well, yeah, sure. Let me know when you're up for it. I'm down. But what is it you wanna do?"
"Graffiti!"
"Oh, yeah! I love that!"
Estell's eyes sparkled. She knew befriending this kid was a good idea. He was a kindred spirit, much like her friends back home.
They had some more short conversations here and there, and it took a half hour for them to reach the Hana-Kura Apartments.
Just as Estell was about to wish Q a good evening, Hibari came out of the building. He looked at her briefly, seemingly shocked that he had almost run into her before looking at who she was with. He glanced between both of them and then turned him attentions elsewhere, starting to walk away again.
"Bye, Hibari-san! Take care!" she yelled after him, getting no response.
Q looked at her curiously.
"My neighbor," she said answering his unspoken question.
He nodded. "Kinda rude, huh? Didn't even talk to ya."
Estell chuckled. "You don't even know…" She muttered before waving. "I'll see you tomorrow, Q. If you get it after 4, just come to my work."
Q smiled. "Okay. Have a goodnight, Esteru!"
"Same to you."
She turned and walked into her building.
Friday nights and parties were practically synonyms, but Estell was once again alone with her TV and thoughts. She had stripped down to her bra and some shorts earlier because of the intense heat in her apartment. Now it was a little better with her balcony doors wide open. The small breeze was nice.
She couldn't help but think back to a few hours ago. Hibari didn't really give her the cold shoulder much anymore, and she would bet that if Q had not been with her, he would have said something. Maybe he was a little jealous. Last time he had casually asked her if Q was her boyfriend, which she of course denied, but maybe there was something more to that. Like he felt threatened that another male was in his territory…
'Ugh, don't be so full of yourself. That is not what he was thinkin', girl.'
Plus, most of Estell's friends were guys anyway. He didn't care who was around her. But this time did seem a little different…
"Ahhh, whatever!" She childishly flailed around her couch before staring at the ceiling. The show she had been watching was a rerun, so she wasn't paying much attention to it.
She jumped off the couch and grabbed her phone, heading out to the balcony. She was tempted to call her friends back home, but it would have been like 5 a.m for them. She could text Miles and see how he was faring. It had been a little while anyway.
'Miles! I don't know what you're doing but hang in there! I'm rooting for you. And stuff.'
"And send…" She giggled to herself and looked at the sky. A few minutes later, she got a response.
'Thanks! I'll try my best! (strong arm emoji) Miss u. Night.'
She smiled.
'Night'
She placed her phone down and leaned on her railing. "I hate summer…" she pouted to herself.
A few minutes passed and she was about to return inside when she heard the sliding doors open from the balcony over.
She looked at her neighbor and he immediately spotted her and sighed.
"Mind putting some clothes on, Kiseki?"
She looked down at herself. This wasn't the worse thing she could be wearing. "I am wearing clothes, sir."
He rolled his eyes at her. "Whatever." He went to lean over his own railing.
Since he was here and it didn't look like he would be making a run for it anytime soon, Estell decided to stay outside.
She stood the closest to him that her railing would allow and asked, "So… how are you?"
He looked over before quickly looking away. "Ugh…"
"You're 'ugh'? Well that doesn't sound good."
"No, move further away. And aren't you supposed to be speaking Japanese?"
"Yeah, but it's the weekend."
He gave her a look. "…you work on the weekend. Which means you speak Japanese on the weekend."
"Well it's Friday night and I don't feel like it! Stop bustin' my balls."
"Pfft-"
Estell's eyes widened. Did Hibari just briefly laugh at something she said? Although, she was pretty sure he did that before. But it was still pretty rare.
He had his hand covering his mouth, but he then removed it. "You're an idiot," he then said.
"Yeah, yeah." She continued to stare at him.
He looked at her for a few more seconds before turning away and focusing his attention back on the skyline.
"I forgot to ask, but did you enjoy your gift? The cute lil birdy?"
He didn't answer immediately, but eventually Estell heard a grunt, which she took as a 'yes.'
"Cool. Hmm…"
"Making conversation is not something you have to do right now…"
"I know! So like… where did you go today?"
"No comment."
"Did you have fun?"
"Would you like me to bite you to death?"
"I mean, I wouldn't mind… if your tonfa weren't involved…"
He gave her one of his many disturbed looks. "Can you afford to be flirting like this? I'm sure your boyfriend would be upset."
"I don't… have one of those?"
"Does he know that?"
"Who? Q? I'm pretty sure he does. He's pretty much in the friendzone with everyone else. Why do you ask?"
"Never mind."
"No, you have to tell me now! Why do you ask?"
He was silent for a beat before he shrugged. "I didn't like the look he gave me."
"Q gave you a look? Like what? Like what?"
"…are you a child?"
"Sometimes."
He sighed. "I don't know. Just a dirty look. And why are you hanging out with delinquents like him from Yugure anyway? It's dangerous."
"Awww. Are you worried about me? I love when you do that." She said and smiled like an idiot.
"Ugh, I can't take this…" Hibari mumbled before leaving the balcony and sliding the doors closed.
"Uh… well goodnight to you, too!" Estell yelled after him.
"Welcome!" She said when she heard the door chime, her attention briefly taken away from her textbook. "Oh."
In walked in the kids from her school, who she now knew as Tsuna and Hayato. Tsuna lived nearby and Hayato was always with him for some reason or another.
"Hi, senpai!"
"Hey, lady."
She still wanted to sock Hayato in the face. He was so rude.
"Hi to Tsuna and Tsuna only," she said, glaring at the silver haired boy.
"Ya!"
"Haha… Be nice to senpai, Gokudera-kun."
He sighed. "Yes, Juudaime. Hello…. Senpai…"
"See? That wasn't so hard, was it, sweetheart?" she asked with a smirk.
The boy flushed red and proceeded to escape down one of the aisles, his brunette friend following behind.
She laughed to herself. Gokudera Hayato was actually really cute, but much too young for her. Plus, she wasn't looking for anyone else. She already had her love interest…
A few more people came into the store, and she greeted them and said goodbye after their transactions were complete. Her classmates were still in the back. Probably looking at magazines or something. She trusted that Tsuna was a good kid, so she wasn't worried about them stealing anything.
She read a little bit more of her textbook before she got bored. "mm…"
Then a thought popped into her mind.
'Hey, you guys wanna hangout with me tomorrow night? I so lonely…' she sent in a group chat to Miles and Taka, but she decided to add Tsubaki to it too for the hell of it.
While she was waiting for them to respond, the door chimed again.
"Welcome."
"Esteru!" Q greeted her, a wrapped gift box in hand.
"Hi, Q. Did you get me a present?" she asked with a knowing smile.
He chuckled and nodded. "For you."
It was actually really smart of him to do it like this. That way he didn't look suspicious.
She took the box and set it near her feet.
"Ehh…"
She looked up to see Hayato eying her, and Tsuna smiling like always.
"Is it your birthday, senpai?" Tsuna asked while they put their snacks and magazines on the counter. Q moved away for them but didn't leave.
"Nope."
"Then is this your boyfriend?" Gokudera asked. He didn't look very happy.
She shook her head. "Mm mm. Just a really good friend bringing me a present." She said smiling and ringing up their items. "Your total is 1,450. How would you like to pay?"
Gokudera gave her money and she gave him 50 yen in return. "Take care, my dear underclassmen. Please come again."
Gokudera said nothing and only gave her an embarrassed look, while Tsuna waved. "Bye, senpai!"
Estell smiled after them.
"You like being called senpai, huh? Heh heh."
She looked at Q and shrugged. "I don't mind."
"Ehh…"
A few moments passed.
"Were you shopping? Or..?"
"No, I just came to deliver that to you."
"I see. Well, thank you very much, Q. You're the best."
He smiled and rubbed the back of his head. A habit, it seemed.
"Hey, would you like to… hang out with me tomorrow night? I invited some of my friends over to my place. We'll just do normal things. Eat. Maybe karaoke…"
"That sounds like fun! Thanks for the invite."
"Yes, no problem. You've delivered this when you didn't have to, so it's the least I could do. I'm still waiting on them to respond, though."
"Okay! Let me know later, then. I'm gonna head out. See ya!"
"Bye bye."
He left and she looked at her textbook again. A few minutes later, her phone started vibrating and everyone answered at once.
'I don't think I'll be busy, so sure!'
'I suppose I can make time for you, Estell-san.'
'Why am I in this group chat?! And who are these people?'
Estell laughed at her phone.
'Miles and Taka. Come have fun with us, Tsubaki! I also invited my friend, Q. You remember him, right'
'Yeah, I guess. Whatever.'
'So we're meeting Q finally, huh..?'
'Wasn't he a drug dealer, Estell-san'
'No, Taka! I told you guys already!'
'Drugs, no drugs. Whatever. What are we even going to be doing, Kiseki?'
'Karaoke!'
'Is karaoke a smart thing to do, Estell-san?'
'Yeah, Estell. Remember what happened last time?'
'Wait, the hell are you guys talking about? What happened?'
'Don't worry about it. It'll be fine.'
She looked at the present by her feet. It'll be more than fine now that she had a new toy…
(insert self promo for Karaoke Neighbor game here, available in my profile. also social media and all that jazz.)
Shout out to the USA! Thanks for reading.
Song:
One Black Night - Wonder Girls