Chapter Nine
"I am so sorry," said Tomomi slowly. Her heart was pounding in fear and shock. She climbed into her car and reversed slightly. Her front bumper dropped off the chassis and hung feebly by a single screw. Haruna's NSX however had held itself together much more effectively. Apart from a small dent and some minor scratches, the car was pretty much unscathed. On Tomomi's heads-up display the words, "Engine inspection required" spelled out in bright red letters.
Haruna inspecting the damage on her car and then on Tomomi's Nissan, she was fighting the urge not to laugh.
"Looks like I should be the one to apologise," said Haruna fighting the urge to smile. She pointed to the damage on Tomomi's car.
"Oh shit!" she cried mournfully. She then turned to look at Haruna's car.
"How does that work?" asked Tomomi. "I barely touched you."
"There modern cars are just plastic lego sets," said Haruna. "Good at saving fuel but terrible at surviving a crash."
"This is going to cost me a fortune to repair," wailed Tomomi. "And I have to go back to work this afternoon."
Haruna looked at her former bandmate. She had an urge to leave her in the car park and get fired as punishment for her crashing into her beloved NSX. But seeing the damage she had caused to her own car, she felt a touch of sympathy overcoming the malice and anger.
"That looks pretty undriveable," said Haruna conversationally.
Tomomi continued to inspect her car, even though she knew it was hopeless to fix without a qualified mechanic.
"You're damn right it is," said Tomomi mournfully. "How could I be so stupid?"
"I can give some examples," muttered Haruna so Tomomi couldn't hear hear.
Tears were whelling up in Tomomi's dark eyes.
"I could give you a lift," said Haruna quietly.
"Pardon me?" asked Tomomi.
"I could give you a lift," said Haruna a little more loudly.
Tomomi was sure she misheard her.
"Really?" she asked. "You'd give me a lift to work?"
"Yes," said Haruna stiffly. "How else are you going to get there?"
Tomomi smiled.
"Thank you Haru," she said gratefully. "Let me just call a tow truck and then we can go."
Haruna sat in the drivers seat of her NSX. She glanced in the rear view mirror and watched the Nissan tow truck load Tomomi's battered Cube on the tailgate. Tomomi thanked the mechanic and dashed to Haruna's car. She wrapped on the window. Haruna unlocked the doors and Tomomi climbed in. The body hugging seats were most unliked her comfortable valour seats in her Nissan and she soon found herself swallowed up in the contours of the seats.
"A little help," pleaded Tomomi as Haruna watched her fighting the urge to laugh again.
Haruna grabbed her hand and pulled her up to the sitting position. Tomomi made herself as comfortable as possible and fastened her seatbelt.
Haruna threw on her seatbelt and started the engine. The huge V6 engine roared and settled to idle. Tomomi was nervous, she remembed Haruna's driving from when they were in the band. She had aquired several speeding tickets in the bands Dodge Ram Van, but she hoped that age had calmed her down a little.
"Haruna," said Tomomi. "Please drive carefully."
She dropped the handbrake and slid the car into 1st.
"I'm always careful," said Haruna. "How could you forget?"
She gassed the throttle, the car pulled off rapidly. She raced across the car park and came to an abrupt stop at the exit. She sat for a moment waiting for a gap. A new generation NSX passed and Haruna pulled out of the car park. She floored the throttle and revved the engine to 6,000RPM before ramming it into second. She fell into traffic between the new NSX and a Toyota Crown.
A gap opened in front of the Crown. Without warning she gunned it. The engine roared. She changed into 3rd. She swerved. She cut in front of the Crown. She slowed and fell into traffic once more.
"Haruna," said Tomomi sarcastically. "You're just as careful as I remember."
"This is a V6," said Haruna. "A V6 likes to sing."
"You can't sing too loud down here," said Tomomi. "We'll get a ticket."
"Don't worry," said Haruna. "We'll be on the highway soon then we can make up the time."
"The highway?" asked Tomomi. "But we don't need to go on the highway to get to Setagaya."
"I know a shortcut," said Haruna.
She pulled onto the highway and rapidly changing gear until she reached 80mph. She began weaving in and out of the traffic taking up the four lanes of the intercity highway.
"Don't worry," said Haruna looking over to Tomomi and seeing her cowering in fear in her seat.
"It's not that I'm worried about," said Tomomi. "I'm still thinking about the poor tour van."
Haruna chuckled.
"That van was ready for the scrapyard," said Haruna. "It just needed a little encouragement."
Tomomi swallowed hard as Haruna swerved behind a Bic Camera truck, cutting up a Toyota Corolla and narrowly missing a bus full of school children. The driver aired his horn aggressively.
She pumped the brakes as they approached Tomomi's work. The car stopped rather abruptly as they were thrown back into their seats. Tomomi removed her seatbelt and turned to her former bandmate.
"Thank you for the ride," said Tomomi. She was shaken up but grateful. "I'm sorry for crashing into you."
Haruna smiled.
"Think nothing of it," she said. "It's the least I could do, seeing as how it was sort of my fault."
Tomomi looked at her confused.
"Well, it's been a while since we last saw each other," she said. "I think I startled you."
"Yeah, you did," said Tomomi.
"Do you need a ride home?" asked Haruna. "I have nothing to do this afternoon I'll give you a ride home."
"Are you sure?" asked Tomomi. "I would hate to be a nuiscence."
"No nuiscence about it," said Haruna. "I'd be happy to."
"Okay," said Tomomi. "I finish at 5.30."
"See you at 5.30," said Haruna. "I'll be here."
Tomomi smiled.
"Thank you," she said.
Haruna nodded. There was a moments silence before Tomomi got out of the car. She closed the door and Haruna drove off slowly. Tomomi watched her leave before she turned and walked towards the nursing home.
The black NSX rolled to a stop outside the nursing home. She glanced at the clock, it was 5.20pm. She had arrived a little early. Haruna killed the engine and waited patiently. She removed her seatbelt and made herself comfortable. In the backgroud, Tokyo FM chattered in the background with stories of traffic jams and amusing stories of people doing their daily business.
Five thirty came and went. She looked over at the main entrance as several day nurses exited. But Tomomi wasn't among them. Unfazed, she sat back in her seat. Finally, at five fourty five by Haruna's iPhone Tomomi dashed out of the building. She ran around the car and scrambled in.
"I'm sorry," said Tomomi. "I was waiting for Sora to relieve me. She was late this afternoon."
"Don't worry," said Haruna. She tried to keep her voice normal but there was a sprinkle of kindness in her speech. She threw on her seatbelt and started the engine. Tomomi buckled up as they prepared to leave. Haruna dropped it into first and they set off slowly. They drove in silence, a loud silence. Both of them trying to start the conversation first but each was unable.
"How's your band?" asked Tomomi trying to break the ice.
"They're doing alright," replied Haruna. "The new album drops next week."
"Good luck," said Tomomi.
"Thanks," replied Haruna.
They were silent once again.
In the background the radio was gently serenading them. The traffic reports faded into a song. The song was SCANDAL- HARUKA.
"Oh my god!" exclaimed Tomomi. "It's us!"
She grabbed the volume knob and turned up the sound.
"Remember when we recorded this?" asked Tomomi
She began to sing the first verse.
"Oi!" exclaimed Haruna. "That's my part!"
Tomomi stopped and Haruna took over. Tomomi beamed, even after all this time, Haru still had it. They sang the chorus together as they raced through the small streets of central Tokyo. Haruna changing gear like a racing driver.
"Now it's your turn!" commanded Haruna.
Tomomi sang her part. Haruna listened intently, it was absolutely pitch perfect. Haruna continued with the verse and the merged together into the chorus. Mami's guitar solo followed and Haruna used this time to power down the side streets of central Tokyo. She turned onto the expressway to give them a direct route to Ueno.
Haruna continued singing as she sped, weaving in and out of the traffic.
The song finished and the radio chatter resumed. Tomomi turned down the volume.
"You still got it Haru," said Tomomi.
"And you still sound like a chipmonk," Haruna joked sarcastically.
Tomomi mock punched her.
They were silent once more as the moment of euphoria wore off. Tomomi was turning her head to look out of the window when something caught her eye. It an envelope with the NHK logo in the corner.
"That letter," said Tomomi.
"What letter?" asked Haruna.
"That letter," repeated Tomomi. "From NHK."
"What about it?" queried Haruna.
"I got one too," said Tomomi. "We all got one."
Haruna slowed to a crawl as the traffic built up in front of her.
"How do you know we all got one?" asked Haruna curiously.
"I asked Rina and Mami," replied Tomomi. "They told me."
"You're still in contact with them?" asked Haruna.
The traffic moved forwards slightly.
"Yes," replied Tomomi. "Actually Mami contacted me. She asked us if we could do it."
"What?" asked Haruna. "She never asked me."
"That's because you isolated yourself from us for the last five years," said Tomomi. "You can't really blame her for that."
"No," said Haruna angrily. "It's your fault. If my boyfriend hadn't left me for you on Rina's advice then none of this would have happened."
"Well if you weren't such a damn workaholic and actually made time to see him he wouldn't have needed to quit you and find a bit of affection elsewhere," retorted Tomomi.
They were silent once more. Haruna moved a little further along the traffic clogged roads.
"Do you know why Mami is so interested in doing the reunion?" asked Tomomi. "Have you even bothered to think about why?"
Haruna shook her head.
"She needs the money," explained Tomomi. "One million Yen for each of us. That can pay for a lawyer to get her kid back."
Haruna gasped.
"Haruka?" she asked.
Tomomi nodded.
"Yes," she replied. "I know you have some compassion in you Haru and think of Mami. This is her only chance to get her kid back and have a better life. If you won't do it for us, please do it for her. She needs you."