Naota continued walking in silence until he almost reached the bridge. However instead of continuing down to the under beams, he turned right towards the school. He had lied to Haruko, but didn't care. He wasn't going home, and she had known that.
Looking at his feet, Naota began to lose track of where he was walking and started to veer off to the right side of the street. He was angry with Haruko. She had used, in his terms, "Too Much Force" earlier. He still couldn't determine if she was trying to make him drink it, or induce vomiting.
The sun had begun to set.
Seeing this, he began to make his way home. It was only a five or so minute walk. Putting his thoughts deep into his, last he checked empty, head; he sighed felt a little more normal.
When Naota got home, dinner, the usual curry since their housekeeper's re-appearance had been set. Haruko wasn't downstairs, and he droningly walked upstairs to his room. He opened his door, stumbled over to his bed and fell face first onto the pillow.
The low E note of a bass was being repeatedly played. Naota heard this and knew that Haruko was tuning her Rickenbacher that she had left there.
"So what's on your mind?" said the unusually soft voice from above him.
"Nothing." Naota said flatly.
"Let me guess, mad about the soda right?? I would expect a little kid to be so..."
"So what??" He persisted
"So damn bitchy."
"Well I aint' bitchy and no, the soda... I don't care about the soda."
"Then what is it?" She continued to hound him.
"Nothing. Who say's that somethings wrong anyway?"
"Well, I always knew that you were one to walk away from anybody. But you didn't walk off like you hated me. That's a knew scenario for me."
"Just leave me alone for a while." He said, turning over on the pillow so that he was looking towards the bottom of his brother's bunk.
"Is it because we haven't really talked since I came back? We both remember what you told me that day... When I left...."
They both remained silent.
"OR DO YOU JUST MISS GETTING FURI KURI?!?!?!" She shrieked, jumping down from the top bunk and ripping Naota off of his. He groaned as she shook him around, dancing with his limp body grasped in her arms.
"AAHH!!" He screamed. "No! I DON'T MISS FURI KURI!!!" He pried himself from her arms and fell on his neck on the floor.
Haruko smiled. "So how does it feel?"
"How does what feel?"
"Your head, you don't wear hats anymore."
"Well I think I have a brain again. Medical Mechanica hasn't dome anything weird at all since you left."
Haruko reached up onto the top bunk and grabbed her bass. An evil grin appeared on her face. "Really?" She hissed. "Wanna change that?"
"What?" Naota replied, looking at her puzzled. He turned just in time to see her rip the chord on her bass and have it slam directly in the center of his forehead. He flew across the room, knocked out, and broke his flight with the wall. The impact left a gaping hole where he had hit.
"Now," Said Haruko with the same smile, "time for a little Mouth to Mouth!!!"
