Chapter 5

Shizumi was crying. She had never cried before, not even once (baby days are exceptional). Mitsui had a sudden feel of guilt. Before he could say anymore, she ran out of the gym.

"You hit the spot, Micchy," said Ryota. "You're in trouble."

"I didn't expect that it would end up like this," said Mitsui, grabbing his hair. "Well, maybe she'd be back to normal by tomorrow."

"Normal?!" Ryota shrieked. "I hope that she'd change after you gave her that fatal blow!"

"If I gave her a fatal blow, she'd be dead by now," Mitsui replied.

"Whatever."

***

A week passed, Shizumi wasn't at school at all. No sign of her anywhere.

"What do you think happened to her?" asked Kogure.

"I dunno ." said Mitsui.

"Maybe she died," said Ryota.

"Yeah, maybe she did."

"Mitsui! How can you say that?!" said Ayako. "That's absolutely rude."

"I was just being sarcastic, Ayako."

"Have you tried calling her?" asked Kogure.

"I don't know her phone number."

"Have you tried visiting her?"

"I don't know where her house is."

"What kind of a cousin are you, Mitsui?" asked Ayako.

"A not-so-bad cousin."

"Maybe she'd turn up tomorrow," said Ryota.

"Ryochin, you said that yesterday, and the day before yesterday, and the day before the day before yesterday, and the third day before yesterday, and the fourth day before yesterday, and she still hasn't turned up yet," said Mitsui.

"Well, she might turn up tomorrow."

"Tomorrow's a Saturday, Ryota," said Kogure.

"OK, on Monday, then."

Mitsui sighed.

"I don't have any idea what happened to her. It could be something bad, or maybe something good."

"Good?" said Ryota. "I don't think anything good could happen to her, unless she has a coma and forgets her old attitude and comes back with a new, good one."

"Ryota, if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all," said Ayako.

"Hai, hai, Aya-chan ."

"Well, there's nothing I can do now but wait for Monday to come," said Mitsui. "Maa, we have basketball practice, don't we?"

***

"Today's Monday . I don't see her ." said Mitsui, looking around while fumbling with his collar buttons.

"Micchy, if you don't keep your eyes on your hands, you're gonna rip your uniform any moment," said Ryota.

"Yo, sushi king!"

A red-haired girl was walking towards them, dressed up in casual clothes.

"There she is!" said Mitsui.

"You know what? You sound as if you just found your long lost girlfriend, Micchy," said Ryota.

"Urusei," he retorted.

"O'hayo, muffin head," said Shizumi.

"Pepperoni can't talk," said Ryota, crossing his hands. "Why are you dressed up like that? This is not a costume party, neither is it a-"

"I'm leaving Kanagawa," she replied.

"Uh-leaving?" said Mitsui.

"Actually, I'm leaving Japan."

"Oh, what good news," Ryota said sarcastically. He nudged Mitsui. "Isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is ."

"I won't be coming back till I finish my studies in America."

"America?!" chorused Mitsui and Ryota.

"You're so lucky, you pepperoni!" said Ryota. "I've never had a chance to go overseas, not even to another state in Japan!"

"Well, that's you, and I don't know what to say."

Shizumi looked at her watch.

"Pi po, I'm running late, the plane's gonna go in ten minutes."

"Chotto matte!" said Mitsui. "Tell me . if nothing happened to you, why didn't you come to school the whole of last week?"

"What else? I skipped school, duh! Oh yeah, and I was faking the crying scene, mind you."

"Faking?"

"How?" asked Ryota. "You'd need onions, not a punch in the stomach."

"I forced the tears out, but the blood was for real."

"Ah, it's so like you, isn't it .?"

"Ne, I think I'll go now. The taxi's waiting. Say goodbye to the basketball team for me."

"Yup, I will," said Mitsui.

Then, Mitsui did something he had never done before. He hugged Shizumi.

"I'll miss you, cousin."

Shizumi looked a bit disgusted, but she was smiling.

"Thanks for the hug, but your hands are a bit sweaty, and I can't breathe properly."

Mitsui let go of her and gave her a slap on the back.

"That's better," she said.

"Ja'na," said Mitsui.

"Ja! I guess I'll be seeing you in five years, Mitsui!"