Chapter Thirty-Nine
She sat alone at her regular table, sneaking glimpses at me over the menu. I stopped to think that maybe things were already over between her and Takendo Nakagawa. But something about it didn't seem very true. With that, what was she doing here? Kotoko liked to eat at Tonan for lunch most days.
I went to take her order and she stopped peeking out from behind the menu.
"What are you having?" I said.
"I'm not ordering yet," She checked the door, "Just so you know, I'm not here for you today."
My jaw clenched shut as Teppan's door swung open and in came Nakagawa. He waved and strutted to Kotoko's table. Shamelessly, he slid into the chair beside her and hung his arm around her shoulders. I almost rolled my eyes.
"Hey, don't do that…" Kotoko tried to shrug him off but he didn't budge. Instead, he bared his teeth in a wide grin. My teeth dug into each other. If she didn't want him touching her, he should have gotten his arm off of her.
"I'll be back in a few minutes so you can order." I said although it took a lot in me to not sound cross.
Kotoko's brows knitted together and familiar creases formed on her forehead. As I walked away, she was finally able to shrug his arm off of her and the creases smoothed.
I went into the employee bathroom and took a moment to cool off. This guy… he irked me. I didn't know exactly what it was about him. Maybe he was too confident, or bold… or touchy. I snapped myself out of it.
Back out in the dining area, Kotoko found me with a huge smile. She called me over. Her eyes followed me as I directed myself over to her and Nakagawa. Still, her expression was filled with the admiration she held for me since the day I met her.
"Do you know what you'll be having?" I asked.
"Yes," Kotoko said, "I'll have the zosui."
I looked to Nakagawa, "Unadon." He said.
I gave their orders to the kitchen and worked on my attitude for another brief moment. I cleaned the table of a customer who'd just left and brought someone their food. Then I brought Kotoko and Nakagawa their lunch, not paying attention to either of them.
My shift ended and I hung my apron up, leaving for Tonan.
I spent another hour in the library, studying the medical books as I had been every day since last week when I first went. The books carried on, and an unwanted subject crept its way into the crevices of my mind. I ignored it as I read, but for my last class of the day, it rang through me as loudly as a siren.
Kotoko was dating that guy. Actually dating him. That had to have meant she liked him in some way, but what was that? For a full two years, she'd been chasing after me and claiming to love me. But how could that be if she was interested in someone else?
My fingernails clawed at my palm. I didn't understand.
"Are you okay?" Yuuko mouthed at me as the professor explained some concept.
And although I was sure I didn't look it, I mouthed back, "Yes."
At the end of the day, I decided to go to tennis practice for exercise and to maybe clear away my negative thoughts. And maybe I'd get to see Kotoko without that pest buzzing around her like some loyal pet wagging its tail on end.
When I got to practice, Yuuko waved me right over and we started a match. I kept an eye out for Kotoko, who I still hadn't seen since I got to Tonan after my lunch shift.
She came in late, sneaking through the gates as usual.
"Aihara!" Sudo bit her head off, "What are you doing late? There are balls that need to be picked up!"
"Yes!" She got cracking on it, wheeling the little basket around when someone else came in through the gates. Anger stiffened me and I gripped my racket tighter, almost missing one of Yuuko's balls.
He strutted right over to Kotoko and helped her pick up balls. They spoke in hushed tones. And then Sudo noticed them.
"Who are you? You aren't part of the tennis club." He asked. I strongly hoped Sudo would make him leave. Nakagawa shouldn't have been here in the first place.
This time, I did miss one of Yuuko's balls.
"Woah," She said, "You always get my underhands. Are you sure you're okay? You really are acting strange today."
I had no answer for her and tossed the ball back her way as I continued to eye Sudo, Nakagawa, and Kotoko across the court.
I didn't hear the rest of what was said, but Sudo left them and Nakagawa stayed.
Why is he still here?
I really didn't understand it. Sudo had rules (one of them being that only club members came to practice), he was the club leader, and he wasn't abiding by his own regulations? Agitation popped at my shoulders and sizzled through the back of my head. Having him around was frustrating.
Yuuko missed and the ball came over to me. Anger surging, I served the ball and hard. It whipped past Yuuko's face. She seemed shocked.
I served again and she hit it this time, matching me in strength. I caught it straight on.
Across the way, Kotoko and Nakagawa continued to pick up balls. He said something and she laughed and said something back. He touched her hand.
I swung my racket through the air and pummeled the ball over to Yuuko who returned the favor. The match became harder and quicker, helping me to get out my frustration. And Yuuko was the best opponent for that, too.
Nakagawa wiped a piece of hair away from Kotoko's eyes. I lost it. My vexation reached soaring heights, and my whole body sizzled with boiling blood.
I dove for Yuuko's return, but was slammed in the jaw with the ball. I fell to my knees from the jolt of it and held my hand to my face.
"Irie-kun!" Yuuko called. I moved my jaw around to be sure it wasn't injured. And it wasn't, but there was going to be a bruise.
"I'm so sorry!" She rushed to my side of the net, but I didn't need the help getting up. I was finally able to catch my breath from that intense match.
"Are you okay?" Yuuko gazed at me worriedly.
"Yeah," I said as I began to taste blood in my mouth from where I'd bitten my tongue, "but I think I'm done for today."
Kotoko noticed something was up at last and looked to me questioningly. I ignored her and went for the locker rooms where I sat on the bench calming down.
I closed my eyes and held my forehead. The silence was better than being out there, seeing those two. I hated it so much.
