Inspired by Yoshizumi Wataru's Marmalade Boy
"Best I can tell, we're here. See, just passed the giant pink elephant" Chiyako pointed to the glossy map, "and over there is the cotton candy stand."
"You sure?" asked Jin "then wouldn't the Triple Twister of Death's entrance be in front of us?"
"Jin, you couldn't find your way out of a paper bag," said Rumi. She grabbed Jin's shoulder as best she could with her arm in a cast, and rotated him 180 degrees. "Now tell me what you see?"
"Triple Twister of Death entrance." Jin admitted.
"How you passed Junior Tanuki scouts is beyond me."
Jin looked ready to respond, but Chiyako cut in. She heard enough back-home-when-we-were-seven stories to last a week. "We've found it, so who's up to take a ride? Toshio-san?"
Toshio had been standing off to the side during the orientation debate. Hearing his name he started and his face, pallid from spending the summer inside painting film cels, took on a greenish sheen.
"No," he said, "I think I'll sit this one out. You guys go on ahead."
"Are you not feeling well?" asked Rumi.
"Uh, well, you know . . .I don't think I should have eaten that second chili dog."
"You should sit down to let your stomach rest," advised Rumi. "I'll wait with you."
"Oh, you don't have to." Toshio protested, rather feebly in Chiyako's opinion.
"No, it fine. I've had so many people acting nice to me when I was sick. Got to pay back all that karma."
They sat down on a bright plastic bench advertising Pocari Sweat, while Jin and Chiyako went on ahead, passing through the empty cue. But then they rounded the corner and came to a crowd ending at the "Just 30 minutes more" sign.
Chiyako couldn't help smiling, "This is perfect."
"You think so?" Jin cast her a dubious look.
"Absolutely." She took hold of his arm and nuzzled her face into his sleeve, "It will give those two some time alone."
"Which two?" He was smiling now.
"Rumi and Toshio-san," said Chiyako.
"Huh?" Why were cute guys always so dense?
"Jin, why do you think Rumi decided to sit this ride out?"
"To be nice to Toshio-san?" Jin ventured.
"Precisely. There's some chemistry there, I'm sure of it."
"Or Rumi could just be acting nice. You know, a friendly, completely non-chemistry related act of kindness. Or maybe — Hey, wait a moment, " sudden comprehension dawned on Jin's face, "you didn't invite Toshio-san along just to set him up with Rumi, did you?"
"What?" Why were cute guys never dense when you needed them to be? "Of course not. I just didn't want to go as a threesome. It feels so awkward. And I think Toshio's a much better choice than our mutual irritation of a tennis captain."
"I guess. Still, Matsuura-s an would be an even better choice, don't you think? Isn't he back yet? Classes start tomorrow."
"Youji's returning today at four." Chiyako admitted.
"Really? Are you meeting him?"
"Well, briefly. I gave him one of my over-break assignments to proof-check and he's bringing it by this evening." Chiyako repeated the cover story Youji had invented for such an occasion.
"You're so studious, Chiyako. I still need to get that one done." Said Jin, changing the subject, for which Chiyako was grateful.
Things were working out. Not only was Rumi with a potential suitor, but she had Jin to herself for the next twenty minutes. Now, if only she hadn't drunk that 500 ml can of soda.
* * *
"And then, Toshio-san wasn't feeling good because he'd eaten too much popcorn, so Rumi sat out another ride. But when Jin and I got back, he'd mostly recovered. Enough so that the three of them went to grab a bowl of ramen noodles for dinner. Making it convenient for me to slip away and meet up with you here. Pretty smooth, don't you think, Youji?"
"Yeah, I suppose." Said Youji, trying to hide his discomfort.
When he set off for Tokyo today he'd been sure, or at least mostly sure, that he'd gotten over his Rumi infatuation. He'd barely thought about her at all these last few days. And he'd help Chiyako set up the amusement park date, which should count for something.
It was probably just the location. Rumi moved into Chiyako's apartment less than a month ago, but her stuff was littering the place much as it had been when she shared a place with Fukutami Yayoi. There were her chemistry and math textbooks piled high on her desk next to a framed photo of Jin and Rumi when they were kids, and taped in the corner, was that the photo he, Rumi, and Yayoi had taken at the video arcade? His heart leaped, then promptly sunk; it was just one of Rumi and Yayoi.
"So, what's next? We could do a nightclub. Maybe get separated? Oh, and do you think you could come along? I think Jin's getting a bit suspicious."
"I'm not so sure, Chiyako. We should wait a bit. Otherwise it will be too obvious, and not just to Koishikawa-san. I think Rumi might catch on."
"Are you sure?" asked Chiyako. "Nothing against her intelligence, but Rumi's not the suspicious sort."
Perhaps, but she'd been primed to this whole set up date idea, not that he could bring that incident up. Still it gave him an idea.
"Best to lay off the set up dates. W e need to work a bit on the Hirokazu aspect, point out his weak points, open Rumi's eyes." "Good thinking, Youji. That's just what we need to do. Or rather, you, because I don't think it would look good coming from me."
"Uhh, actually I was thinking of recruiting someone else for the job. You know Fukutami Yayoi, right?"
"Rumi's old roommate?" Chiyako looked like she had eaten a piece of sashimi gone bad. "No offense to your strategy, but the girl kind of hates my guts."
"But she likes Rumi, and she knows what Hirokazu's like," and it's mostly her fault Rumi's with him in the first place. "She doesn't have to know about your involvement. Only that I don't want Rumi with Hirokazu. She'll believe me, it's true enough."
Slowly the uncertainty on Chiyako's face drained away, and then she started smiling. She put her hand on his.
"You're one really sweet guy, Youji. If I wasn't head over heels in love with Jin I'd-" Youji didn't get to hear what Chiyako would do, because they were interrupted by the door opening. It was Rumi. And the look on her face . . .
What might she have heard? The walls were thin in this place. But then, if she'd been eavesdropping, wouldn't she have kept quiet to hear more? Rumi looked surprised and then, as she saw Chiyako remove her hand from his, her face clouded over with suspicion.
"I see you're back, Youji," she said curtly.
"Just got in." Her hair was shorter, and curly, and there was something else different since the last time he'd seen her. No glasses? No she'd been wearing contacts last time. She'd been wearing make-up too, he remembered.
"Youji's been proofreading my economics homework. See?" Chiyako waved the assignment a bit too conveniently.
Rumi stared at Youji, her eyes narrowed, and said:
"How helpful of you Youji. Don't let me interrupt you."
"Oh, I was going anyway," Youji stood and made his way to the door. "We've got that early physics class tomorrow, after all."
"I switched to the afternoon one," said Rumi, not longer looking at him.
"Oh . . .Well, enjoy sleeping in." It was all he could think of to say. "Bye all."
"Bye Youji" said Chiyako.
Rumi said nothing, and Youji left. Halfway down the hallway it struck him; Rumi had bangs now. They looked good on her.
"Matsuura-san?" Koishikawa was standing at the bottom of the stairs. He looked expectant.
"Hi." Youji waved. "Going up to see Chiyako?"
"Just dropping off Rumi. I have some last minute homework to do."
Which didn't explain him waiting at the foot of the stairs, thought Youji. But surely, if Rumi hadn't heard anything from behind the door, then Koishikawa couldn't . . . Best to say nothing. Chiyako had made it more than clear she didn't want Jin in on the plan.
"Is this the first time you've seen Rumi since the accident?" the question came out sounding forced, and Youji stiffened.
He couldn't blame me for Rumi's getting hit, Youji wondered. Though it was partly his fault.
"I saw her briefly, back when she was in the wheelchair," he admitted.
"Oh," said Jin. "So, you didn't see her with the new hair style?"
"No." said Youji. What did this have to do with anything?
"Looks good, doesn't it? I didn't think she'd look good with curls, shows what I k now."
"Yeah, if it's not done right it can get all frizzy." Youji had plenty of experience talking pros and cons of hair treatments, just not with other guys.
Youji's brain hurt. He'd only meant to see Chiyako today. Not Rumi, who was apparently mad at him for some reason, nor Koishikawa, who was looking far too nervous.
"I need to be getting home," Youji said weakly.
"Sure," said Jin, "I was heading out myself." He joined Youji as they left the apartment building, and apparently he had more to say. "Rumi will be getting the cast taken off before October, did you know?"
"No, that's great."
"She's got the doctor's okay to play tennis again. She just has to be careful." "That's great." Youji repeated. "Knowing her, she won't. I mean, she'll try and all, but she can be pretty competitive. I'm kind of worried about her, to tell the truth."
"Oh?"
"I was thinking, maybe she'd put less stress on the arm if she played doubles for a while. What do you think, Matsuura-san?"
"It might help." said Youji. This had to be lea ding up to something.
"You don't suppose you could be her partner? I'd do it, but Rumi's and my schedules don't match well. And Hirokazu-san would probably be too busy, being captain and all."
"I suppose I could," Yes! It would be a perfect way to spend time with Rumi. But hadn't he been telling himself he needed distance to get over her? This was almost a month away, he rationalized, it would be a great way to renew their friendship. And if J in brought it up . . .
"Great," said Jin. He looked visibly relieved. "I'll suggest it to Rumi. She'll probably take some convincing, but I'm sure I can do that. Umm, I need to get back home. See you Matsuura-san. And thanks again."
He headed back in the direction they'd come from.
Youji looked around, in case anyone else wanted to make an appearance. Hirokazu, Yayoi? But no, the street was free of any familiar faces. Good. Only one last thing to do tonight before he could relax. He continued on to his apartment, and the phone call he had to make.
* * *
"Great seats," said Toshio.
"Yes," Rumi had to agree. They were in the fifth row, just far back enough so she didn't have to crane her neck to see the whole screen.
"I feel sorry for Chiyako and Jin, stuck so far back. Too bad Fukutami-kun couldn't get the seats closer together."
"Speaking of which, where is she?"
"Fashionably late," said Toshio. "I wouldn't be surprised if she shows during the opening credits."
Conversation lulled as it had so often when they were alone on these outings. Not that Rumi minded Toshio tagging along with the three of them, in fact it seemed to put Chiyako at ease to make the outings a foursome or more. Toshio was an agreeable enough fellow, if somewhat introverted. And it made it easy to give Jin and Chiyako time alone when Rumi sensed she was being too much of a third wheel. Bringing Nabishi along was certainly not an option, he even made Rumi uncomfortable, and she was the one dating him.
It surprised her sometimes how easy it had been to become his girlfriend in actuality. But then, it wasn't quite a normal sort of relationship.
"First off, I won't require your presence more than twice a week." Nabishi had said on their first real date. "I don't want you to feel pressured. If you wish to see me more often, of course, you need only say the word."
Rumi nodded hesitantly. Nabishi had told her he was going to make her see him as a legitimate suitor, and that he was willing to modify his behavior to do so. As they'd rarely seen each other more than once a week on the old arrangement, this first item didn't seem much of a change. But she'd promised him another chance, so she said nothing and let him continue.
"No physical advances without your express permission. And no excessive amounts of alcohol. What do you say to that?"
"That sounds . . . promising." She'd hoped he would say something about his bragging, or that he wouldn't bait Jin so much. The no kissing or getting drunk promises were a good start, though.
"-and that relativity book you lent me was just great, Yamashita-san."
Hearing Toshio speak her name roused Rumi from her thoughts.
"I'm glad to hear it." It turned out that Toshio was quite the science fan, or rather science fiction fan. Some of his theories were a bit baked, but he was quite keen to hear Rumi's interpretations. Last weekend, when they were waiting for Jin and Chiyako to meet them for dinner, he'd asked her to explain some of Einstein's and Schrodinger's work, which left her floundering, so she loaned him one of old physics teacher's notes.
"I was kind of wondering if you knew much about biology, specifically immunology?" Toshio asked.
"Not much. Is this for your story too?" Toshio had plans to write a comic book, or movie screenplay. He'd summarized the major plot points when they'd been at the amusement park. It involved school girls saving the universe; Rumi thought it needed more romance.
"Yeah, I was thinking, what if the universe-"
"-were all the product of some giant organism's digestive tract?" said Yayoi, sliding into the empty seat by Rumi, "Don't let him get started on this. He cornered me in the hallway yesterday when I was waiting for the washing machine to free up."
"And you said it would make a great movie script." Said Toshio, sounding more animated now that Yayoi was here.
"I said it sounded like plot for an Ultraman movie," countered Yayoi.
"There's no reason giant robots can't —"
"Toshio-kun, I do not want to get into another giant robot discussion. I came her e to celebrate Rumi getting her cast off and to enjoy the student film society's movie night. Tonight's show won one of those American award thingies. Have either of you seen it?"
"No," Toshio seemed loath to admit an area of nonexpertise around Yayoi. "I wanted to, but I refuse to watch dubbed foreign movies. The Japanese voices never sound right."
"You like foreign films?" ask Yayoi dubiously.
"I like all movies, especially Hong Kong cinema." "Somehow that doesn't surprise me."
In front of them, one of the student organizer was talking about the movie schedule, but Yayoi ignored him.
"It's this America Yakuza movie, set about a hundred years ago in New York I think, right after the time the Americans could start drinking alcohol again. And it's all about two guys who set up this serious deception. I think you'll really like it Rumi-chan, Chiyako-kun too."
"Really, why?" Rumi tried not to squeak. Yayoi wouldn't bring up the old plan in front of Toshio, would she?
"Because the actors are major hunks." Yayoi gave a wicked smile.
"I don't know why females are so gaga over that Redoford-san, I can never distinguish him from the other white actors." Said Toshio. "Numanu-san is far more interesting looking."
"Well, that's always been my opinion," Yayoi sounded both defensive, and surprised.
". . .and without further ado, we'll start the show. For the enjoyment of those around you, we ask that you remain quiet for the duration of the film" The speaker directed this last point at Rumi and company.
It didn't seem to make much of an impression on Yayoi, or Toshio-san. Before the main character's partner was killed, she had switched with Yayoi so she wouldn't have them whispering across her. It was hard enough to read the subtitles without the distraction.
It was a good movie, though slightly confusing, Apparently the lead actors were setting up the Yakuza boss, but she wasn't completely sure that the younger, and in her opinion, more handsome guy wasn't going to doublecross his new partner.
That was the problem with such scheming. Everyone had a ulterior motive, and could only be trusted up to a point. She'd learned that the hard way with Youji.
He'd been so nice, so supportive. And that night in his apartment, when she'd been feeling utterly worthless Youji had said all the right things, and said them in such a way that she truly believed him.
Shows what she knew. In fact he'd been after Chiyako the entire time. She didn't want to believe it, but hadn't she seen the two of them holding hands in the apartment last month? Chiyako told her Youji was helping her with math, which was probably what Chiyako thought was happening. Youji was smart, he could worm his way into anyone's heart through "friendship," even those confidences that he planned to use and discard.
On screen the girlfriend turned out to be a hitman, but the younger guy was saved before she could shoot him. Pity, thought Rumi.
"I saw that coming." She heard Toshio-san.
"Oh yeah?" snorted Yayoi, "Well, what do your powers of foreshadowing tell you about-"
"Ssshh!" from some patron behind them. Rumi was grateful. The movie was getting more complicated, and she wasn't sure who was on who's side anymore. She was sure someone was going to betray them to the Yakuza boss.
Would Youji tell Chiyako their plot? No, he couldn't do that without exposing himself as well. But maybe if he let slip a fact here, and observation there . . . Just enough to feed Chiyako's fears, to confuse her, to get her to break up with Jin and then Youji would have his chance.
How could she have let herself fall for a guy like that? Even Hirokazu Nabishi was better. At least he was up-front about what he wanted — a wife and mother to his children. And he didn't pretend to be her friend, didn't confuse her with words of encouragement, or believable lies about her charms. Probably because Nabishi wouldn't be intelligent enough to come up with such a deceitful plan, much less carry it off, she admitted. But if that's what intelligence and interpersonal skills were used for, then maybe they were overrated.
Bang, went the gun of one of the con-artists, shooting down the one who betrayed him. The plan was in ruins, cops were coming to arrest them all, and the Yakuza boss was getting away. This was supposed to be a comedy? But then, everyone was laughing. Turns out the shooting had been faked, they'd gotten the money after all. Rumi's head was spinning trying to put the pieces together.
Fictitious characters were so lucky. They had writers twisting plots, adding details, devising last minute revelations, all to make the characters' lives turn out happily ever after. Meanwhile she had to live with her bad luck, and the consequences of her mistakes. It just wasn't fair.
Still, it had been a neat movie.
Both Yayoi and Toshio-san demanded they sit through the ending credits while they tried to recognize names and see how many camera crews were involved with the filming. Consequently, they were the last ones out of the theatre. Jin and Chiyako were nowhere to be found at the theatre.
And they never showed up at the bar afterwards, either. It would have been another long evening with Toshio-san if Yayoi had made good on her promise to head home early to finish an art project. But she and Toshio got to talking, or arguing in Rumi's opinion, first about the plot, then about movies in general. In the end, Rumi was the first one to leave; she hadn't really been in the mood anyway.
Her way home brought her by the backside Youji's apartment. She counted up to the fourth floor and over three. The light was on, Youji was in, probably correcting more of Chiyako's papers. More than anything, she wanted to go up and confront him.
I'd let him know I was onto his little plan, she told herself, and I'd let him know he wasn't getting away with it! But deep down, she longed for the old Youji and the night before summer vacation when he thought she was pretty, smart, kind and honest.
It wasn't going to happen, though. She should know that by now.
Rumi reached into her purse and drew out her wallet. It bulged, mostly from the various photographs in the picture sleeve. There were her parents, her younger brother and sister, old classmates, Jin and her at various ages, Chiyako, Yayoi, even one of her fifth grade teacher who she once had a crush on . She really should clean thing out, at least of the people she didn't know anymore. Youji's photo was cropped slightly. Originally it had included Yayoi, but it wasn't a good likeness and so Rumi had cut it so only she and Youji showed. It made them look like a couple out on date. Maybe that's why she'd been loath to toss it.
Even now, it was hard to remove it, to tear it to pieces, to let them fall through the grates into the sewer. It didn't stop her though. And afterwards, she feel better, or so she told herself.
* * *
"Twenty minutes late," said Youji as he checked his watch, "I'm guessing they aren't going to show."
Rumi shrugged and went back to ignoring him.
It had been obvious from when he met her on the courts that she wasn't happy to be his partner for the doubles match. Was it because she didn't want to play doubles or was it because of him? Either way, this wasn't going the way he wanted.
"You know, it's not like we don't have enough people for a game, Rumi. Would you like to play one on one?"
Rumi gave him a look of distaste. "I thought the whole point of this was that I not overtax myself."
"We'll take it easy, just one or two sets?" Anything to keep her here a bit longer. Ever since school started it had felt like she was avoiding him in class. And without the break-up-Jin-and-Chiyako plan, it hardly felt like he saw her at all.
"Okay." She grabbed her racquet and headed for the other end of their reserved court.
Youji meant to play an easy game; Rumi seemed to have other ideas. From her first return, she was aggressive; her swings were swift, decisive, and punctuated with loud barks, just like the professionals. This did not translate to control over the ball. Half of her returns fell outside the foul lines, and some didn't even make it over the net. It did nothing for her temper, or her playing.
Consequently, the sets took almost no time, and Youji won them easily. Across the net from him, Rumi stood, panting and glaring.
"Don't worry," Youji tried to reassure her. "You're just out of practice -"
Before he could say more, Rumi had spun about and dashed for the locker rooms. Youji made no attempt to chase her. He wouldn't know what to say to her, and besides, she was a very swift runner.
Youji was better at waiting. The locker rooms had a second door that opened on the main hall, and it was most likely where Rumi would emerge. From there, she could take either the large double door exit by the front desk, or sneak out through the door that led past the outdoor pool. Youji placed his money on the smaller exit, just our of sight. If she wasn't out in thirty minutes, he'd assume he guessed wrong and would give up, but until then, he had time to think of what to say to her.
Rumi was out in less than ten minutes, forcing Youji to go with his first, and only, plan.
"Hey, Rumi," he said, stepping out behind her. "Want to join me for coffee?"
She froze at the sound of his voice.
"Rumi, please, don't run. I think we need to talk."
"About what?"
"About . . .things." Youji fumbled, "Like, I owe you an apology for the way I acted at the train station. I was out of line. I'm sorry."
This seemed to be the right thing to say, he could see Rumi visibly relaxing. He took a few steps forward so he could talk to her directly. He gave her a reassuring smile and continued:
"I should have been glad you realized your feelings for Jin were based on friendship. The last thing I'd want to do is force you into a relationship to someone you didn't love romantically. And perhaps . . ." His voice trailed off. What was he doing? At this rate he'd end up confessing his feelings to her, and he couldn't do that now, if ever. She'd end up seeing him as some sort of lovesick fool, and then she'd never take his opinions on Hirokazu seriously.
"What I mean, is that I'm really glad you and Jin are friends again." Said Youji, switching tracks. "Even if it isn't romantic love, it's something special. Chiyako's been telling me about you two and it seems —"
"How much time are you spending with Chiyako, Youji?" interrupted Rumi. She took a step towards him.
"A bit," he said. "I'm helping her with some assignments. There's this professor she wants to impress-"
"That's so good Samaritan of you Youji." Rumi said coldly. "You're such a great friend to help her with class work. And you're such a wonderful listener to all her worries, aren't you? Especially when she's worrying about Jin, right?"
"No," he lied reflexively, "I mean, yes. But she's not worried about Jin, she's worried about you, Rumi." He'd have to be careful not to give away Chiyako's plan, but really, Rumi needed to see that dating Hirokazu wasn't a good idea.
"She needn't be, I'm not going after Jin anymore."
"No, it's not that. Can't you see, she doesn't like you dating Hirokazu, and neither does Jin, and neither do I. I mean, I don't want you dating Hirokazu."
Rumi looked shocked, and then her face went back to being guarded. "I'm so glad you're taking such an interest in my social life. And what's the consensus on who I should be dating? Toshio-san perhaps? You?" She sneered and glared.
Youji held his breath. There were probably worse times to confess your love, but he couldn't think of any at the moment.
"I could do a lot worse than Nabishi." She said after a bit. "I could pine after someone who didn't love me, or someone who didn't care about me. I could build up this elaborate fantasy about me and this person, and take every bit of second-hand sympathy he showed me as a token of his unspoken love. I could even go so far as to let someone use me to further his own goals."
Youji said nothing, but inside he cringed. Was that the way she saw him, as some clingy, love-struck, loser, never getting a hint? Was he that irritating to her?
"Nabishi is going to propose to me in the next month, he's as much as said so. And when he does, Youji, I'd appreciate you not interfering. And not pushing Chiyako to interfere, and not pushing her to push Jin to interfere. I'd like you to mind your own business, can you do that?"
She's going to marry Hirokazu?! Youji's head was spinning. He might have nodded, he wasn't sure.
"Good." Did she seem a bit dazed too? "I'll hold you to that, Youji. And if you don't, I'll tell Jin and Chiyako everything about our plan. I will too, so you better behave."
Her voice seemed to crack at the last of this, but he couldn't be sure because she didn't wait for confirmation from him. She strode past him, her arms swinging purposely. Youji noticed she didn't seem to favor either of them, she must have made a full recovery from her injuries.
Copyright Kim Smuga-Otto Feb 2001