Chapter 6: Encounter
Miki had been shocked yet again when I read him the letter. What I had thought was a prank had turned out to be a note directing me to my new accommodation. I remembered the scent of the stationary from somewhere, but for the life of me I couldn't pinpoint it exactly. . .in any case, Miki recognized the address; it was in fact his mentor's room, and from the sound of it this wasn't a very companionable person. He was sure it had to be another mistake.
He expressed his many regrets for not being able to escort me there personally after school (He was going to be busy tutoring seniors in Math) but I thanked him and insisted that I was quite all right on my own. And so, several hours and dreadfully stressful classes later. . .
I dropped the handle to the rolling suitcase and checked the address on the letter again. Yes, it was this door. The nervousness in the pit of my stomach grew. I should have listened to Miki. . . there was a reason he was known as a child prodigy. What would I say if it really was t wrong door? Nevertheless, I had come this far, so I decided there was nothing to lose but try. I knocked my fingers softly on the wood.
I waited a few seconds, but there was no sound from within. My shoulders slumped in both relief and disappointment. I turned to go back to the office, when suddenly. . .
"Come in." called an icy woman's voice. My fingers shook slightly as I turned the knob and opened the door. I walked through the entryway, dragging my suitcase along, and into the main room. Sitting on a wine- colored leather loveseat across from me was a beautiful young woman with tangerine curls framing her pretty face. Well, it would have been much prettier if she hadn't been scowling at me like I was a disgusting turd standing in her marvelous Persian rug. And believe me, right then I certainly felt like dashing out as quickly as my feeble little legs could carry me.
"Good afternoon." I chirped, bowing deeply. When I had straightened again, I noticed she was holding a letter in her slender fingers. On closer observation, I also noticed a very familiar ring on her right index. She looked at me coolly, drinking in my appearance, but not quite probing as the Administrator had. She was suspicious and agitated nonetheless. She stood up and folded her arms crossly, still holding the paper.
"What impeccable timing you have." she stated. "I received this. . . notification. . .only 5 minutes ago. I take it you've also got one?" The tone was not one of a question. What she was really asking was, 'Please show me the proof that you did not just randomly bust into my room like the filthy scum you are.' I was feeling increasingly doubtful about the possibility of living here by the second. I fished the letter from my coat pocket and handed it to her, feeling more like an alien trying to get through a high security airport. Her sparkling green eyes scanned the paper. I took a sudden interest in my shoe, searching my mind for something to break the silence. "My new friend Miki. . . he says he knows you. . .he thought it was a mistake. . ." The jaded pair of eyes suddenly were focused on me again. "Miki? Kaworu Miki?" I nodded and made another attempt at a smile.
She crumpled the papers into one ball with her hand and tossed them into a bin nearby. I was a little shocked at her sudden un-businesslike attitude. "If the End of the World says you will board here, then I'm afraid I can't go against their wishes." she growled. "Of course, that doesn't mean you may do as you like. As far as you're concerned, you're an unwanted guest. And you will have to abide by my rules, until we, that is the Council, takes this matter into our hands." When she looked back at me, her gaze softened a little. I must have been showing a little too much of my disappointment on my face. "I'm sorry, but I'm not used to compromising my privacy." she responded huffily.
"I'm Juri Arisugawa, 10th grade. Captain of the fencing team and treasurer of the Student Council. We. . .the Council and I. . .will find you a more suitable place to board. Until then, I have no choice but to abide by the End of the World's instructions." I introduced myself, and she seemed surprised to learn I was in her grade. I mentioned that she was the second girl (other than myself) who was not wearing a standard girl's uniform. "It's Student Council attire. We all adopted it when we were assigned our positions. Speaking of which. . ." she checked the clock on the wall, ". . .I have a meeting to get to. I don't often cook at home, so if you stay here you'll have to fix something for yourself. I'm going out tonight. You have all your things with you, I presume?" I nodded. "Good. Tonight you'll sleep on the floor in here." She said this as a parent would to a small child. I almost expected her to say there was some spam, or perhaps dog food in the cupboard that I could help myself to.
". . . Did I say something funny?" she asked icily. I wiped the grin off my face quickly. "No, I'm sorry, I was just thinking how much I owe you for this huge favor. I don't know how to thank you." For the first time, she actually returned my smile as she walked past me to the door. "I'm sure we'll think of something . . . Good bye."
The door clicked shut, and I was left standing alone in the room. I was about to pick up my bag and start unpacking, when suddenly I heard the lock click and the door opened again. Arisugawa-san's shadowed face peered at me suspiciously.
"One last thing. Don't snoop around or make a mess my apartment, or you might not live to see the morning. Is that understood?"
I nodded nervously. "H-hai. You won't even notice me." Her eyes narrowed. "Good. See you tonight then." The face disappeared and the lock clicked again. I sighed and unzipped my suitcase. I took out the important things: medications, aspirin, bandages, lighter, and my red towel. I really needed a shower.
Miki had been shocked yet again when I read him the letter. What I had thought was a prank had turned out to be a note directing me to my new accommodation. I remembered the scent of the stationary from somewhere, but for the life of me I couldn't pinpoint it exactly. . .in any case, Miki recognized the address; it was in fact his mentor's room, and from the sound of it this wasn't a very companionable person. He was sure it had to be another mistake.
He expressed his many regrets for not being able to escort me there personally after school (He was going to be busy tutoring seniors in Math) but I thanked him and insisted that I was quite all right on my own. And so, several hours and dreadfully stressful classes later. . .
I dropped the handle to the rolling suitcase and checked the address on the letter again. Yes, it was this door. The nervousness in the pit of my stomach grew. I should have listened to Miki. . . there was a reason he was known as a child prodigy. What would I say if it really was t wrong door? Nevertheless, I had come this far, so I decided there was nothing to lose but try. I knocked my fingers softly on the wood.
I waited a few seconds, but there was no sound from within. My shoulders slumped in both relief and disappointment. I turned to go back to the office, when suddenly. . .
"Come in." called an icy woman's voice. My fingers shook slightly as I turned the knob and opened the door. I walked through the entryway, dragging my suitcase along, and into the main room. Sitting on a wine- colored leather loveseat across from me was a beautiful young woman with tangerine curls framing her pretty face. Well, it would have been much prettier if she hadn't been scowling at me like I was a disgusting turd standing in her marvelous Persian rug. And believe me, right then I certainly felt like dashing out as quickly as my feeble little legs could carry me.
"Good afternoon." I chirped, bowing deeply. When I had straightened again, I noticed she was holding a letter in her slender fingers. On closer observation, I also noticed a very familiar ring on her right index. She looked at me coolly, drinking in my appearance, but not quite probing as the Administrator had. She was suspicious and agitated nonetheless. She stood up and folded her arms crossly, still holding the paper.
"What impeccable timing you have." she stated. "I received this. . . notification. . .only 5 minutes ago. I take it you've also got one?" The tone was not one of a question. What she was really asking was, 'Please show me the proof that you did not just randomly bust into my room like the filthy scum you are.' I was feeling increasingly doubtful about the possibility of living here by the second. I fished the letter from my coat pocket and handed it to her, feeling more like an alien trying to get through a high security airport. Her sparkling green eyes scanned the paper. I took a sudden interest in my shoe, searching my mind for something to break the silence. "My new friend Miki. . . he says he knows you. . .he thought it was a mistake. . ." The jaded pair of eyes suddenly were focused on me again. "Miki? Kaworu Miki?" I nodded and made another attempt at a smile.
She crumpled the papers into one ball with her hand and tossed them into a bin nearby. I was a little shocked at her sudden un-businesslike attitude. "If the End of the World says you will board here, then I'm afraid I can't go against their wishes." she growled. "Of course, that doesn't mean you may do as you like. As far as you're concerned, you're an unwanted guest. And you will have to abide by my rules, until we, that is the Council, takes this matter into our hands." When she looked back at me, her gaze softened a little. I must have been showing a little too much of my disappointment on my face. "I'm sorry, but I'm not used to compromising my privacy." she responded huffily.
"I'm Juri Arisugawa, 10th grade. Captain of the fencing team and treasurer of the Student Council. We. . .the Council and I. . .will find you a more suitable place to board. Until then, I have no choice but to abide by the End of the World's instructions." I introduced myself, and she seemed surprised to learn I was in her grade. I mentioned that she was the second girl (other than myself) who was not wearing a standard girl's uniform. "It's Student Council attire. We all adopted it when we were assigned our positions. Speaking of which. . ." she checked the clock on the wall, ". . .I have a meeting to get to. I don't often cook at home, so if you stay here you'll have to fix something for yourself. I'm going out tonight. You have all your things with you, I presume?" I nodded. "Good. Tonight you'll sleep on the floor in here." She said this as a parent would to a small child. I almost expected her to say there was some spam, or perhaps dog food in the cupboard that I could help myself to.
". . . Did I say something funny?" she asked icily. I wiped the grin off my face quickly. "No, I'm sorry, I was just thinking how much I owe you for this huge favor. I don't know how to thank you." For the first time, she actually returned my smile as she walked past me to the door. "I'm sure we'll think of something . . . Good bye."
The door clicked shut, and I was left standing alone in the room. I was about to pick up my bag and start unpacking, when suddenly I heard the lock click and the door opened again. Arisugawa-san's shadowed face peered at me suspiciously.
"One last thing. Don't snoop around or make a mess my apartment, or you might not live to see the morning. Is that understood?"
I nodded nervously. "H-hai. You won't even notice me." Her eyes narrowed. "Good. See you tonight then." The face disappeared and the lock clicked again. I sighed and unzipped my suitcase. I took out the important things: medications, aspirin, bandages, lighter, and my red towel. I really needed a shower.