Sorry that it's taken so long to update. I hope you are all staying safe in these trying times.
There was a commotion outside in the hallway that caused Shion to tuck her mother's letter underneath her pillow. Hachi had managed to get her some bedroom furniture for almost nothing after her boss Mikoshiba had decided to shut down his furniture shop - leaving Hachi without a job.
It was unfortunate for Hachi, but the furniture couldn't have come at a better time for Shion. Her bedroom finally looked like it had an owner; her futon had been folded up for what she hoped was a very long time, and she now had a bedframe and mattress, as well as a small bedside dresser and chest of drawers. None of it matched; but she just appreciated having anything at all, after her old things had been sold by her family.
She got to her feet and cracked her bedroom door open as she usually did to scan the kitchen. It wasn't long until the front door burst open and Nana entered, followed by a familiar bald man. What was his name again… Takagi… Takagi… Yasushi. The others called him Yasu if she remembered correctly. She supposed he was visiting Nana, by how happy the other woman looked.
Nana seemed to sense she was there and she spoke cheerily.
"Come out and say hi, Shion. We gotta celebrate tonight - Yasu is here for the band!"
"You're going to drum, Takagi-san?" Shion slowly made her way out of her room.
Nana snorted. "Takagi-san? He's gonna be your bandmate, Shion. Just call him Yasu, like everyone else."
"Bandmate?! But I didn't-"
The older woman slung her arm over Shion's shoulders and grinned. "You will though. I know it. And then we'll be sensational."
"You shouldn't try to pressure her, Nana." Yasu said. "It won't work."
"It did on you." Nana shot back, and the man just sighed. "I suppose."
"Yasu is back?!" Two more people burst into the apartment - Nobu and Shin. Immediately Nobu launched himself at Yasu, beaming while Yasu just patted his shoulder.
"Nobu. I hope you've been keeping yourself out of trouble."
"I'm never in trouble!" Nobu said, coming to stand next to Shion. "Right, Shion?" She thought back to how Nobu had rescued her from getting harassed several weeks ago, only for her to hurt her ankle anyway.
She had to muffle a chuckle. "Right."
Seeing the three of them together - Nana, Nobu, and now Yasu; she understood just how important it was that Yasu was here. He was such an essential part of their friendship, of keeping their group together. To Nana, it must have really felt like everything was falling into place.
Shion was envious of what it must have felt like.
•─────⋅雨⋅─────•
The evening was full of cheer and good spirits. To celebrate that Yasu had joined them, everyone had begun to drink, thanks to the beer Hachi had bought at the shop alongside the sukiyaki. When invited to join them, Shion politely refused, choosing instead to sit with them as they progressively got more and more drunk. Around midnight, Nana ran out of her precious cigarettes and Yasu offered to buy her some more at the convenience shop up the road. When Shin and Nobu also volunteered to get more to drink, Shion wanted to tag along, feeling a little protective seeing Nobu almost completely intoxicated. Her friend wouldn't hear of it.
"I'll be fiiiine~" Nobu sang, already wobbling to his feet. "Yasu and Shin are coming too so don't worry~!" Shion looked to Yasu who seemed to understand the pleading in her eyes.
"Don't worry about it, Shion-chan. I'll keep an eye on him."
Her shoulders relaxed some. Shin noted it and smirked. "Nobu sure is lucky to have someone so cute worrying over him." Shion looked away and said nothing. She was getting used to Shin's comments now. It was just his way. When the men had left, Hachi's cell phone began to ring and she disappeared into her bedroom to take the call, leaving Shion alone with Nana at the table. The older woman was leaning against the window, taking sips of her beer from time to time. Just as Shion was worried the silence between them had gotten too long, Nana spoke.
"Do you have feelings for Nobu?"
"What?" Shion's voice was a squeak. "Do I…? Why would you…?"
Nana smiled. "You just seem to have grown very close in the small time that you've known each other. He seems to be quite protective of you too."
"We are- He is- I mean I hope so." She felt herself getting tongue-tied the more flustered she became. How she felt about Nobu was complicated, but it wasn't romantic. Maybe that was the part that made it complicated. She still felt herself wanting to be closer, wanting to do things together, feeling happy when he thought of her; but from what she had read about love, she didn't feel weak at the knees, or have butterflies in her tummy. But she still found herself wanting to be closer than she was. Was that normal?
"I don't think of him in that way." she said slowly. "But I do want to be closer to him. He's a precious friend to me - you all are, of course, but Nobu is… he's…"
"He's special, right?" Nana said, eyes filled with understanding. "He's supportive, and when he loves he puts his whole heart into it. He makes you feel loved, where otherwise you'd feel empty."
Shion stared at her. "Exactly! How did you manage to phrase it so perfectly?"
Nana sipped her beer. "Because that's what he did for me, back in high school." She looked at Shion again. "I'm glad there's someone else who cares about him so much. Look after him for me, 'kay?" Shion nodded.
•─────⋅雨⋅─────•
On the 25th, Shion had an appointment at the hospital to remove her ankle boot. She'd been planning to take a bus that morning with Hachi who was heading to her new job at a magazine company, but Yasu had offered to drive her instead when he'd turned up that morning to check on the three of them. Since Yasu had said he would be moving to Tokyo, they'd be drinking excessively almost every night since and it was beginning to have an effect on Nobu in particular. Shin had taken Nobu home after the young man had passed out on the way to the shop last night and most likely would be nursing a hangover, unable to accompany her as he'd promised. Shion was nervous at the prospect of being alone with someone who she hadn't really spoken to, but she knew Yasu was a good person and he looked after Nana and everyone in her social circle. She could trust him.
"It must have been a pain to wear that boot for as long as you have." Yasu said, as they stopped at a red light. She was inclined to agree, but she remembered how being injured had allowed her to spend more time with Nobu since he'd walk her to the bus stop and go with her to work. He'd aided her whenever he could and it had allowed them to grow closer without her shy attitude messing everything up. An excuse for the two of them to talk as much as they did. She hoped that feeling wouldn't fade away now that her ankle was healed.
"It's been okay." she said finally. Wanting to change the subject, she spoke up. "Are you looking forward to band practice tonight? Nana was raving about it this morning."
He smiled. "She seems to be happier now that she's living with you and Nana."
The traffic lights when green and the car began to move again. Yasu took the final turn towards the hospital car park. "Would you like me to wait in the car, or come in with you?" he asked, pulling into the parking lot.
"Oh, you don't have to do either, honest! Just drop me off here - I can get a bus or something if I'm too tired to walk back."
Yasu looked uncertain. "I'd feel better if I could see for myself that you were okay to walk by yourself."
"It barely hurts anymore, I swear!" she insisted. "And I promise I'll get the bus if it gets too much. I just really wanna walk once the boot comes off. I'll call you if something goes wrong."
That seemed to satisfy him and he nodded. "Then I suppose I'll see you at practice tonight."
She nodded. "Yep! Thank you for the lift."
•─────⋅雨⋅─────•
Shion was free. Her ankle was still sore in places, but the doctor had said it would get better once she got used to walking without the support. He'd encouraged her to walk for thirty minutes a day, but not to strain herself too early on. Work started for her in half an hour and it would take about half that to walk there. Nobu would have his shift as well, and she couldn't wait to show him that her ankle was fine again.
She walked through the doors of the record store with fifteen minutes to spare, and sure enough Nobu was already there sorting through a box of new music that had come in that morning, looking half dead. Clearly the hangover was a bad one.
"Good morning!" she said happily, practically skipping around to the other side of the counter. He looked up from what he was doing and he gave her a small smile.
"You've come from the hospital, right? I'm sorry I couldn't come with you - it took me everything just to get to work this morning."
She shook her head. "It's fine. Yasu drove me instead. And look!" She did a small pirouette. "My ankle feels great!"
"My, you're energetic today Nishimura-chan. Did something good happen?" Shion whirled around to see the manager, Yoshida-san regarding her curiously. Immediately she felt blood rise to her cheeks. Had he seen that?
"She went to the hospital and got her ankle boot taken off." Nobu said, jumping in for her. She smiled at him gratefully.
"I see. Then that's wonderful news." The old man smiled. "Use that energy and work hard for me today. I'm counting on you Nishimura-chan, Terashima-kun."
"Hai."
•─────⋅雨⋅─────•
With her foot healed it had meant Shion was free to do far more of her work duties that until then Nobu had been covering for her. Due to his hangover, they had found their positions reversed that day, until they were let off at 3pm. Nobu had mostly taken care of customers, while she'd set up the new TRAPNEST display that the manager had wanted. He'd ordered boxes of merchandise filled with posters, shirts, keychains, and even signed records that he wanted in the window display, hoping to attract more customers. When she'd finished arranging everything, she stood back to admire her handiwork, and she had to admit that if she'd been a TRAPNEST fan walking past, she'd want to take a look.
At Nobu's request, the two of them headed to the same diner they'd eaten at before for a late lunch. The diner that Hachi's boyfriend Shouji worked at. Shion couldn't help noticing that Nobu seemed to be watching Shouji move around the restaurant every now and then, but didn't have the courage to bring it up. After leaving, Nobu smiled at her sheepishly.
"I've been pretty bad company today, huh? That's the last time I drink so much in one go. The hangover was brutal."
"It's okay." she said. "I'm just glad we could hang out."
"You'll be coming to our practice later, right?" Nobu said. She nodded.
"Then I'll see you later. Sorry, but I think I might head home and try to sleep the rest of this off."
She waved him away. "Of course! See you later."
She was left alone with her thoughts when she returned home. Both Nana and Hachi were out still, and so she sat at the table staring at her cellphone, her thoughts returning to the letters she had received over a week ago now. She wished she had some way to contact her father. It wasn't fair for him to dump his news on her when he'd already left the country. He hadn't given her the name of the hospital, or even the name of his illness. There was no way for her to find him if he didn't want to be found. Would she even know if something happened to him? Would her stepmother even bother to get in contact with her? It was something she didn't want to think about.
There was a knock on the door, and she jumped up, already bolting towards her bedroom. She wished the apartment had a peephole. At least then she'd know whether it was safe to answer the door herself.
"It's me~! Is anyone there?" Shion relaxed slightly when she recognised the voice. Shin. She calmed herself and slowly opened the door, letting him in.
"Is it just you, Shion?" he asked. "Where are the others?"
"Nana and Hachi are both out at the moment." she said politely. "But you're welcome to stay here and wait for them." At that moment she heard her ringtone play through the apartment. It was Vivaldi's Spring. She hurried to answer it.
"Moshimoshi?"
"Hello. Am I speaking to Shion Nishimura?" The voice on the other end spoke entirely in English and she barely understood anything that had been said. Immediately she began to panic. She didn't know anyone who was fluent in English - especially not foreigners!
"Uh… I... "
"Hello? Can you hear me?"
She thought back to the English she had been taught throughout school but her anxiety was making her knowledge elude her. She had no idea how to communicate to this person.
"I am… Shion… Nishimura." She struggled to articulate and her accent was terrible. Sitting at the table across from her, Shin raised his eyebrow curiously.
"I'm one of the nurses at the hospital overseeing your father. Are you okay to talk right now?"
What did that mean? She tried going back over the sentence in her head and picked out two words. Hospital. Father. Was the other person talking about her father? Had something happened? She needed to know but she had no idea how to say it.
The frustration must have shown on her face because Shin gestured to her. "Speaker phone." He mouthed. "I can help." Not having another option, she did as she was told.
"Hello? Do you want to talk to Shion Nishimura? She doesn't speak English but I'd be happy to interpret your message for her." Shion could barely believe her ears. Shin spoke English perfectly.
"Oh! I'm afraid I can't disclose detailed patient information to anyone but immediate family, but I can tell you about his condition." Shin relayed the message back to Shion and she nodded.
"She says that's fine. What can you tell her?"
"Her father had a heart attack last night but is in stable condition. He wanted to call her himself to reassure her that he was alright, but his wife asked me to do it instead. He's on new medication and currently preparing for his treatment that will take place in a few months. He sends his love."
Shion bit her lip when the message was translated. Her father had a heart attack? Was his health that poor? Why hadn't she noticed it before? She was at a loss for words.
"Tell them 'thank you for letting me know'." She told Shin. "And to tell my father I love him."
He did as she said and the call ended. They sat in silence as she went over what had happened. Eventually she looked at Shin.
"Thank you for helping me. I wouldn't have known what had happened at all if you weren't here."
"It seems like a lot has happened since you left practice to go to that family dinner." he said, pulling out his pack of cigarettes and letting one dangle from the corner of his mouth before lighting it.
"I… yes. A lot has happened." She slumped over, resting her head in her hands. "Why does family have to be so complicated?"
"Who knows?"
"My father… he told me he was being transferred to work in America when I went to dinner with him. Then a couple of days ago I got a letter from him saying he lied, and actually he was being hospitalised in America and I probably wasn't going to see him for years." she clenched her fist and looked up at Shin. "Right after I decided I didn't want anything to do with him - he goes and drags me back to worrying about him. It's not fair! Why does he get to treat me like I don't exist for years and then act like I'm the sole reason for his existence?! He let that witch of a stepmother do whatever she wanted and I just had to take it, as a child. And he just stood and watched every time it happened. He didn't care! So why do I have to care now? Why do I care so much?" She choked on angry tears and buried her head back in her hands so that Shin couldn't see her cry.
After a few moments of sniffling, she raised her head and looked at Shin, who was still sitting with her patiently, and she felt that even though he wasn't talking, he was still offering her his support.
"Please don't tell the others about this." she said, wiping her eyes. "I don't want them to worry."
"They would worry." Shin said. "But I don't think that's a bad thing. You must have figured it out by now." She looked at him quizzically and he rolled his eyes but there was a teasing kindness behind the gesture. "You've got some good friends, Shion. It's okay to lean on them when you need to. No one is gonna complain."
She was still hesitant and he sighed. "At least tell me if the hospital calls again. I can help you as an interpreter."
"Thank you, Shin."
He lowered his voice and his eyes were playful. "And if you want someone to help you take your mind off things for an hour, just call me. I've always got time for you~"
She felt her face redden and he laughed. "I was joking. Or was I?" He was still laughing as she disappeared into her room to wait until the others returned. Still, it seemed as though the two of them had bonded over something, although Shin was still so mysterious it was hard to know for sure.
•─────⋅雨⋅─────•
She dropped by the diner again on the way to band practice. Intent on arriving early so she could get some violin practice in, she'd left Shin alone in the apartment to wait for Nana and Hachi. She still hired a room in the same studio as the others but Nana had told her that it made no sense for her to pay for a whole new room on days when she'd be there anyway to watch BLAST practice.
"We've got the room for 3 hours each day." Nana had told her. "But we only really mess around during the last hour. You should use that last hour instead - you can get some extra practice in that way." Shion had wanted to hug her when she'd made the suggestion. Instead she figured she could repay her friends by bringing them burgers.
She recognised Hachi's boyfriend tending to tables when she entered. After ordering food to go, she was left to her own devices for ten minutes while everything was prepared. She decided to slip off to the bathroom, located next to the staff entrance at the back of the establishment. It had seemed like a good idea, until she came out only to hear things she knew weren't for her ears.
"Sachiko? Are you okay?"
There was the faint sound of sniffling and a girl replied. "Shouji?" Shion's heart plummeted. Shouji? She thought the voice seemed familiar.
"Are you okay? Those guys were harassing you earlier, weren't they? I knew I should have told them to back off!"
"It's okay, Shouji." The girl said. "It didn't bother me."
"How could it not bother you?" Shouji said. "And it definitely did. You're crying. It bothered me too. How dare they treat you like that. I.." His voice lowered and Shion wished she couldn't hear it but her feet were glued to the floor. "I don't want any other guy touching you except me."
"Shouji…"
Shion had heard enough. She stumbled away from the door and collected her order, her smile taut.
Hachi's boyfriend was cheating on her. Hachi's boyfriend was cheating on her. There was no way the conversation she had overheard would have taken place between just simple co-workers. More than anything she now wished she hadn't heard anything, that she was ignorant. What was she supposed to do? What was the morally correct thing to do? To tell Hachi and be the reason she discovers something heart-breaking? To confront Shouji - who she had nothing to do with? Telling Nana would be the same as telling Hachi, and Nobu would want Hachi to know as well.
What was she supposed to do?!
•─────⋅雨⋅─────•
