Last Dance with Shinobu-Chan.
By Project Pegasus
Chapter III: Static and Silence
Shinobu was startled out of her reverie by Keitaro's entrance. She turned to meet Keitaro. "Sempai! Hello. I'm fine. Please sit down. How are you?" she said, a still a little nervous since Keitaro had been able to deduce that Shinobu had an ulterior motive.
"I'm ok," Keitaro said while seating himself opposite Shinobu, "I'm flattered Shinobu, really. You really didn't need to go through all this trouble just for me."
"Sempai, it wasn't any problem at all. You know I'd do the same for anyone," she said smiling.
Keitaro surveyed the breakfast. There were slices of teriyaki meat seasoned like only Shinobu knew how, rice with sesame seeds in it, toast and biscuits, and tea, coffee and freshly squeezed juice. Keitaro thanked Shinobu again before he began to eat. After savoring Shinobu's meal for a while, he noticed that Shinobu seemed distant and lost in thought.
Keitaro finished his bite of pork cutlet before speaking again, "Are you feeling well? Why aren't you eating any?"
"Oh sempai," Shinobu said in a gasp, "I'm just thinking a little. And you know that a cook doesn't like to eat the food she's just prepared. It's all very psychological. I will have a cup of tea though." She reached across the table for a cup and the teapot.
"Oh ok, if you're sure," Keitaro said, taking up a triangle of toast.
Keitaro and Shinobu sat in an all-consuming silence. Keitaro suspected that Shinobu had something she wanted to tell him, but couldn't bring himself to make such a reckless indictment. Shinobu herself knew that her attempt to ingratiate herself into Keitaro's graces was overwrought and that her verbal endeavors at flattery were too stilted to be convincing. Even so, the two sat together enjoying each other's company in the early morning hours. This seemed a time for solitude in one another, a comforting illusion that would soon enough be broken by the other residents of Hinata Sou.
At times, Shinobu would look up at Keitaro. Keitaro, noticing this, would smile back at Shinobu. Shinobu would then quickly turn her head and pretend to be engrossed by the design on her teacup or to be checking for lint on her sleeve, all the while suppressing a mutinous blush that would betray her feelings. Even though they both knew that there were secrets and lies at work in the arrangement of this special breakfast, the quiet was not at all an awkward silence, but an indication of the reassurance and calm two people can find within each other with they have reached that point in their relationship when they can dispense with the hallow routine of pointless chitchat, when they can take pleasure in each other's companionship wholeheartedly.
When Keitaro had at last cleaned his plate he said, "Shinobu, thank you. That was probably the best breakfast I've ever had, honest. You'd better get ready for school. I'll take care of the dishes."
Shinobu thought about objecting to this, but decided against it. For his part, Keitaro had presumed that Shinobu had a hidden agenda, humiliating her. She was not in a position to negotiate his instructions. She went upstairs and got ready for school. "And when you're done, come back down please," Keitaro called up to Shinobu as she ascended the staircase, "I want to look at your homework."
"Yes sempai," Shinobu consented disconsolately, her spirit utterly deflated.
While Shinobu brushed her teeth, washed her face, and pressed her uniform, she pined over how much of a failure the morning had been. She was exhausted from arising so early to start breakfast, and not only had she failed to ask Keitaro to her school dance, but she also realized that it would now appear as though she were trying to manipulate him. When this dawned on her, her morning routines became even more taxing. She gathered her homework from her desk and crammed it into her backpack. As she descended the stairwell, she noticed a subdued bustling in the kitchen. Even though it was a bit early, she assumed that the other residents of Hinata Sou were preparing their meals.
But when Shinobu reached the kitchen, she only saw Keitaro, his back facing her. "Sempai, you're not done with the dishes yet? Would you like me to finish them for you?"
"No I'm done with the dishes Shinobu, but here, this is for you." When Keitaro turned around, he presented Shinobu with a simple breakfast prepared while Shinobu was readying herself for school. There were only a couple of eggs, rice, and some chopped and peeled fruit, but at the sight of this, tears began to well up in Shinobu's eyes and she began to shake.
Keitaro panicked, trying to discern how Shinobu knew that he had dropped half an eggshell into the skillet. He put the plate down and held Shinobu. "No, Shinobu-chan, I didn't mean for you to cry. I know it isn't a very fancy breakfast, but I felt so guilty since you worked so hard and didn't want anything to eat. If you want, we can go to a pancake house and get something decent. My treat."
"No sempai. It's not what you think," Shinobu wept, "It's not that at all. Your breakfast means so much to me. You made it out of the goodness of your heart, but I only made your breakfast so I could get something out of you."
"You made me the best breakfast of my life, that's what counts. You know I'd do anything for you. You'd just have to ask"
"Sempai," Shinobu was able to blubber, "I don't have a date for the prom. The boys at school ignore me and the girls pick on me."
"It's ok Shinobu-chan. Don't cry." Keitaro said while caringly stroking Shinobu's hair.
"I know you're a Todai student and don't have any time or money, but could you please be my date to the prom? I know it was dishonest of me to make you breakfast to guilt you into this, but please sempai please . . ."
Keitaro could say nothing for a while, as though he either held a deep reverence for, or disgust of middle school graduation proms that prevented him from speaking. After a while, he managed to regain his voice. "Shinobu, I'd be honored if you would let me accompany you to the prom."
"Sempai . . ." Shinobu whispered, "Thank you, sempai."
With tears still glazing her cheeks, Shinobu took a step back from Keitaro and for once could look him in the eye.
End of Chapter III
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