She occupied his thoughts as he walked home from school. She must lead a very interesting life, being the mayor's daughter.
He was surprised to find her hanging out under the sewers.
"What are you doing down there?"
"What do you care? Go away."
He could hear her trying to suppress her sobs. "Are you crying?"
Her exasperation echoed through the pipes. "That's a stupid question to ask."
She had always had this effect on him -- making him feel inadequate, awkward. "I – I'm sorry. I just wanted to see if you're okay."
There was a long silence and then he heard her blow her nose. "Thanks, Naota-kun. I just needed to vent. I didn't mean to take it out on you."
He pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to her. "Here." He watched her white hand emerge from the grate to take the handkerchief. "Thank you."
"Umm… why don't you climb out of there. I'll walk you home."
* * *
"What were you doing down there?"
Ninamori looked over her shoulder and answered. "That's the only place I know of where I'm not expected to behave a certain way. Down there, I can be whoever I want."
"How did you find that place anyway? It's like a maze down there."
"My father's mistress showed me around one time… while she was mapping out her own route of escape."
The fact that the mayor of Mabase had a mistress did not surprise Naota – what did surprise him was that the mayor's daughter knew about it. "How do you feel about that?"
"About what? My father's mistress?" She shrugged her shoulders. "It doesn't bother me. It's his damned life, right? I'm just his daughter. I have about as much say in this matter as a cockroach."
"I'm sure it isn't like that."
"Yeah right." She turned around and started walking backwards. "What about you?"
"What about me?"
"You're the only kid I know who refuses to play baseball, yet I see you carrying a bat all the time. What gives?"
"That's none of your business." He snapped.
"I guess what they say is right. Nandaba Naota doesn't like baseball because he's scared to be compared to his brother."
"It isn't like that."
She cocked her eyebrow. "Yeah right." She turned around again and continued to walk. "We both have a lot in common, you know."
"I – I know."
* * *
Part Four
He decided to stop by her house first.
Naota rang the doorbell and tried to dust himself off as best he could. The ride home to Mabase did not take as long as the ride leaving Mabase, especially because this time he had a specific destination -- he knew exactly where he was going.
Impatiently, he rang the doorbell again. He could hear her hurried footsteps get closer and closer.
The gate opened. He smiled; she gasped in surprise.
"You-- you're back?"
"I'm home."
"Since when?"
"Just now. I wanted to see you first."
"Why?"
He couldn't stop smiling. Somehow, just being near Ninamori Eri made him feel happy. "You've cut your hair short again."
"Yes, I have. Why did you want to see me?" Ninamori clasped her hands behind her back, hoping he wouldn't see them trembling in excitement. At that moment, her heart was doing flip-flops. He's here. He's home and he's come to see me.
Naota opened his mouth to say something but changed his mind.
Why did I want to see her first? I should have just gone home to Dad and Grandfather.
"I-- This was a bad idea. I should go." He got on his scooter and started the engine.
"I'm glad you came to see me first. Whatever your reason was, I don't care. I'm just glad you did."
Naota nodded, grateful that it was dark enough that she couldn't see him blush. "I got you something. I'll give it to you tomorrow or whenever."
Ninamori Eri smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow."
* * *
Naota could hear his father and grandfather rave wildly and hurl curses at, what sounded like, a television show. He shook his head in amazement. Things haven't changed that much around here.
"Dad? Grandfather? I'm home!"
He grimaced when he heard a loud collective "shush" from within the room.
Naota slid the screen door open and his suspicions were confirmed. He found his father, grandfather and TV-Boy huddled around the television watching a wrestling match. He tapped his father lightly on the shoulder. "Um, Dad? It's me, Naota. I'm home."
Nandaba Kamon nodded rapidly in acknowledgement. "Yes, yes, I know. Why don't you go get your grandfather and me some beer from the kitchen. Hurry back and join us. This is a very exciting match. It is an epic battle between good and ... better."
"And get some rice crackers while you're at it. I need to keep up my strength if I'm going to cheer that limp noodle of a wrestler to victory. Jeez, he's bad."
Only TV-Boy gave some semblance of a welcome. The words on his screen read: "Hello, did you get me the brand of oil that I requested? Everything is fine here. You have a letter from your brother."
Naota paused for a moment as he tried to process how he felt about his family's welcome before going to the kitchen for the beer and rice crackers. When he returned, his father moved to make room for him to sit. "Join us, Naota. You will learn a lot from such a great match."
"It's okay, Dad. I'll go take a bath first."
"Ah, you will have the ultimate bathing experience in our newly-renovated state-of-the-art bathroom."
Naota's forehead furrowed as he tried to understand his father's ramblings. He turned to TV-Boy for an explanation.
"Your father had me install a shower curtain to make it more Western."
Naota shook his head and turned to leave.
"Son? I'm glad you're home. We've been lonely without you."
Naota didn't turn around to face his father. He nodded his head in acknowledgement. "I'm glad I'm home, too."
