Chapter 05 - A New Chapter
The clock continues its time as Tsukushi lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. "It's not a good idea to have Doumyoji here," she muttered, "His mother will find out sooner or later. What makes them think that she wouldn't??!!" Throwing her hands onto her head and scratching it furiously, she sighed. Turning on her side to face a sleeping Shigeru, she wondered why of all persons, it is this girl sleeping next to her that's going all out to bring them together. "No, not only her," she mumbled, "Tsubaki onee-san, Hanazawa Rui, those two fellows and my good friends too!"
Tsukushi tossed on her other side carefully so as not to wake Shigeru up. "The three of them will be leaving tomorrow," thought Tsukushi, closing her eyes, "I might as well catch some sleep before sending them off instead of thinking so much..." Drifting off into a dreamless sleep, she was shortly awoken by Shigeru's voice.
"Tsukushi! Tsukushi!" called Shigeru as she shook her, "Hey! It's time to get up!" Tsukushi stirred and rub her eyes as she sat up. "Is it time already?" she yawned. Shigeru tossed a towel at her and replied, "Yup, you lazy bum! It's quite a distance from here to the airport. I don't want to miss my flight."
Tsukushi wondered why the rush as it's only six in the morning and their flight is not due till ten. Dragging herself out of her bed, she head towards the bathroom. Entering it, she found a half-naked Sojiro shaving and Akira brushing his teeth in front of the mirror. "Aahh!" she screamed, "What are you guys doing in my bathroom??!!" With an expressionless face, Sojiro replied, "Have you forgotten?" Tsukushi blinked twice and wondered if she was in a dream. "This bathroom is shared, remember?" said Shigeru, placing a hand on her shoulder, "You'll be sharing this bathroom with Tsukasa when we are gone."
"Oh, my god!" grasped an embarrassed Tsukushi, placing her hands on her mouth. The two boys shrugged and returned their attention to the mirror. As reality dawn on her, anger overcame Tsukushi as she yelled, "If you know this bathroom is shared, why did you not lock it? What happens if I've entered at an inopportune time??!!" The two boys replied nonchalantly, "By all means." Tsukushi clenched her fits and was about to jump at the two of them when a half-naked Tsukasa entered the bathroom.
"What's going on?" asked Tsukasa as he stretched and when he noticed Tsukushi at the doorway of her bathroom, he eyed her. "Will you put on a shirt before coming into the bathroom?" asked a flushed red Tsukushi. "Why should I?" replied Tsukasa defiantly, "This is my bathroom and I can come in here in whatever I like."
"But I SHARE this bathroom!" yelled Tsukushi as she slammed shut her door on her side of the bathroom. The three stared speechlessly.
************
"Shigeru, did we take the correct bus?" asked an irritated Sojiro as the five of them stood at the roadside of a deserted highway, "If we've taken a cab, we would have gotten to the airport by now." Taking off his cap, Tsukasa frowned and commented, "Why did we have to listen to the words of a monkey?"
"Hey!" said Tsukushi, "That's not very nice! She just wants to experience something different." Tsukasa's eyebrows turned down further. "Hey, you two!" interrupted Shigeru, "Don't start a lovers' quarrel, you have plenty of time over the year." Both turned flushed red when they realised the implication and looked away.
Sojiro and Akira noticed a familiar shape coming up the road ahead. "There's a cab now!" exclaimed Akira, waving his hands up and down trying to get the attention of the driver. Sojiro joined in the frenzy. The cab stopped and the driver popped his head out. "Going somewhere?" he asked. "Yes, could you get us to the airport? We have a plane to catch at ten," said Sojiro. The driver looked at them and replied, "But there's five of you..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Akira interrupted and showed him a stack of notes. The driver nodded immediately and opened the boot for them to put their luggage. Akira took the front seat as the other four squeezed in the rear. "You shouldn't have bought so much stuff," complained Sojiro to Shigeru, "Look at these! We have to fit them in here with us despite the little space we have." Shigeru shrugged and replied, "Put them on the floor if you don't want to hold it."
"How can I?" exclaimed Sojiro, "Look at the floor!" True enough, the floor of the cab has been filled as well with no legroom. Seated in the front, Akira was no better with some of Shigeru's belonging with him. Tsukasa, seated next to Sojiro, was as annoyed as him. "Move further in, will you?!" he instructed and pushed but the space at the back was designed for three and not four, "Makino, get in." Tsukushi stood by the door, hesitant to enter the car. "Hurry up, will you?!" said Tsukasa impatiently, "We don't have all day!"
Reluctantly, she claimed in but the space for her to sit was so small that she had to lean sideways and onto Tsukasa. Noticing her discomfort, Tsukasa shifted his hand over her and lifted her up and placed her on his lap before closing the door. No time to react to this unexpected turn of event, an embarrassed Tsukushi sat still. "All right, then," said the driver, "Off to the airport."
"This is so embarrassing," thought Tsukushi, looking out the window. The cab hit a bump and Tsukasa's hand reached out for her waist. "What do you think you're doing?" yelled Tsukushi as she jumped from the sudden touch of his hand and slapped it away. "Ouch!" exclaimed Tsukasa, "Why did you do that for?!"
"You...you..." stammered a red-faced Tsukushi. Sojiro and Shigeru watched the exchange between the pair interestingly. "I, what?" asked an annoyed Tsukasa, "The cab hit a bump and I was afraid you'll fall. What did you think I was doing?" Tsukushi could not find words to rebut and her only reaction was to move away from him. "But where can I move to?" screamed Tsukushi in her mind. "Now, will you sit properly and stop shifting around," instructed Tsukasa, placing his hand on her waist and nudging it back to position with her facing the front. He kept his hand on her waist while the other held onto the armrest of the door. Tsukushi's heart pounded as the cab sped to their destination.
************
The airport was filled with last minute passengers rushing to the departure hall. "Shigeru," called Sojiro, checking in the luggage, "You have exceeded your weight limit!" Hurrying over to him, Shigeru passed him another belonging of hers and replied, "But we're flying first class, so it shouldn't be a problem. Both of you should have some to spare." Akira shook his head and commented, "That's why I'll never go on a holiday with young girls." Shigeru hit him hard on the head and replied, "Stop lamenting and help me with these, will you? Gosh! How ungentlemanly can you two get?"
"Only when we are with you," rebutted Sojiro. Shigeru ignored the two and skipped back to the duo waiting by Truffles. Tsukushi had hardly spoken to Tsukasa since the cab ride and both had stood silently by the specialty shop until Shigeru returned. "We have to go soon," she said as she slipped her hand into Tsukushi's arm, "Let's walk over first. They will catch up." Tsukasa followed as the two girls walked arm-in-arm to the entrance of the departure hall.
"Tsukushi," whispered Shigeru, "This is your new chapter in life." Shigeru smiled at the red-faced Tsukushi. "We have to go," she said and yelled to the other two, "Hurry up or we'll miss our connecting flight!" Sojiro and Akira frowned at the unladylikeness of Shigeru. Patting Tsukasa on his back, Sojiro winked and said, "Well, it's all yours." Akira added, "Don't give us a rude shock next year by bringing a baby back."
"Baby?" repeated Tsukasa and realising the message behind, he grabbed their necks and replied, "Stop having such disgusting thoughts!" Both struggled hard to be freed from Tsukasa's grip. "Hey! Take it easy," choked Sojiro. "We're just kidding," echoed Akira. "Come on, you two!" urged Shigeru and hugging Tsukushi, she said, "I'm going to begin a new chapter in my life too!"
"Shigeru..." said Tsukushi quietly. Releasing her, Shigeru beamed and winked. The trio entered the departure hall and disappeared into the crowd of passengers. "Arigatou..." whispered Tsukushi softly. Tsukasa stared at her back and quietly thought, "Can we begin anew, Makino?"
The clock continues its time as Tsukushi lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. "It's not a good idea to have Doumyoji here," she muttered, "His mother will find out sooner or later. What makes them think that she wouldn't??!!" Throwing her hands onto her head and scratching it furiously, she sighed. Turning on her side to face a sleeping Shigeru, she wondered why of all persons, it is this girl sleeping next to her that's going all out to bring them together. "No, not only her," she mumbled, "Tsubaki onee-san, Hanazawa Rui, those two fellows and my good friends too!"
Tsukushi tossed on her other side carefully so as not to wake Shigeru up. "The three of them will be leaving tomorrow," thought Tsukushi, closing her eyes, "I might as well catch some sleep before sending them off instead of thinking so much..." Drifting off into a dreamless sleep, she was shortly awoken by Shigeru's voice.
"Tsukushi! Tsukushi!" called Shigeru as she shook her, "Hey! It's time to get up!" Tsukushi stirred and rub her eyes as she sat up. "Is it time already?" she yawned. Shigeru tossed a towel at her and replied, "Yup, you lazy bum! It's quite a distance from here to the airport. I don't want to miss my flight."
Tsukushi wondered why the rush as it's only six in the morning and their flight is not due till ten. Dragging herself out of her bed, she head towards the bathroom. Entering it, she found a half-naked Sojiro shaving and Akira brushing his teeth in front of the mirror. "Aahh!" she screamed, "What are you guys doing in my bathroom??!!" With an expressionless face, Sojiro replied, "Have you forgotten?" Tsukushi blinked twice and wondered if she was in a dream. "This bathroom is shared, remember?" said Shigeru, placing a hand on her shoulder, "You'll be sharing this bathroom with Tsukasa when we are gone."
"Oh, my god!" grasped an embarrassed Tsukushi, placing her hands on her mouth. The two boys shrugged and returned their attention to the mirror. As reality dawn on her, anger overcame Tsukushi as she yelled, "If you know this bathroom is shared, why did you not lock it? What happens if I've entered at an inopportune time??!!" The two boys replied nonchalantly, "By all means." Tsukushi clenched her fits and was about to jump at the two of them when a half-naked Tsukasa entered the bathroom.
"What's going on?" asked Tsukasa as he stretched and when he noticed Tsukushi at the doorway of her bathroom, he eyed her. "Will you put on a shirt before coming into the bathroom?" asked a flushed red Tsukushi. "Why should I?" replied Tsukasa defiantly, "This is my bathroom and I can come in here in whatever I like."
"But I SHARE this bathroom!" yelled Tsukushi as she slammed shut her door on her side of the bathroom. The three stared speechlessly.
************
"Shigeru, did we take the correct bus?" asked an irritated Sojiro as the five of them stood at the roadside of a deserted highway, "If we've taken a cab, we would have gotten to the airport by now." Taking off his cap, Tsukasa frowned and commented, "Why did we have to listen to the words of a monkey?"
"Hey!" said Tsukushi, "That's not very nice! She just wants to experience something different." Tsukasa's eyebrows turned down further. "Hey, you two!" interrupted Shigeru, "Don't start a lovers' quarrel, you have plenty of time over the year." Both turned flushed red when they realised the implication and looked away.
Sojiro and Akira noticed a familiar shape coming up the road ahead. "There's a cab now!" exclaimed Akira, waving his hands up and down trying to get the attention of the driver. Sojiro joined in the frenzy. The cab stopped and the driver popped his head out. "Going somewhere?" he asked. "Yes, could you get us to the airport? We have a plane to catch at ten," said Sojiro. The driver looked at them and replied, "But there's five of you..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Akira interrupted and showed him a stack of notes. The driver nodded immediately and opened the boot for them to put their luggage. Akira took the front seat as the other four squeezed in the rear. "You shouldn't have bought so much stuff," complained Sojiro to Shigeru, "Look at these! We have to fit them in here with us despite the little space we have." Shigeru shrugged and replied, "Put them on the floor if you don't want to hold it."
"How can I?" exclaimed Sojiro, "Look at the floor!" True enough, the floor of the cab has been filled as well with no legroom. Seated in the front, Akira was no better with some of Shigeru's belonging with him. Tsukasa, seated next to Sojiro, was as annoyed as him. "Move further in, will you?!" he instructed and pushed but the space at the back was designed for three and not four, "Makino, get in." Tsukushi stood by the door, hesitant to enter the car. "Hurry up, will you?!" said Tsukasa impatiently, "We don't have all day!"
Reluctantly, she claimed in but the space for her to sit was so small that she had to lean sideways and onto Tsukasa. Noticing her discomfort, Tsukasa shifted his hand over her and lifted her up and placed her on his lap before closing the door. No time to react to this unexpected turn of event, an embarrassed Tsukushi sat still. "All right, then," said the driver, "Off to the airport."
"This is so embarrassing," thought Tsukushi, looking out the window. The cab hit a bump and Tsukasa's hand reached out for her waist. "What do you think you're doing?" yelled Tsukushi as she jumped from the sudden touch of his hand and slapped it away. "Ouch!" exclaimed Tsukasa, "Why did you do that for?!"
"You...you..." stammered a red-faced Tsukushi. Sojiro and Shigeru watched the exchange between the pair interestingly. "I, what?" asked an annoyed Tsukasa, "The cab hit a bump and I was afraid you'll fall. What did you think I was doing?" Tsukushi could not find words to rebut and her only reaction was to move away from him. "But where can I move to?" screamed Tsukushi in her mind. "Now, will you sit properly and stop shifting around," instructed Tsukasa, placing his hand on her waist and nudging it back to position with her facing the front. He kept his hand on her waist while the other held onto the armrest of the door. Tsukushi's heart pounded as the cab sped to their destination.
************
The airport was filled with last minute passengers rushing to the departure hall. "Shigeru," called Sojiro, checking in the luggage, "You have exceeded your weight limit!" Hurrying over to him, Shigeru passed him another belonging of hers and replied, "But we're flying first class, so it shouldn't be a problem. Both of you should have some to spare." Akira shook his head and commented, "That's why I'll never go on a holiday with young girls." Shigeru hit him hard on the head and replied, "Stop lamenting and help me with these, will you? Gosh! How ungentlemanly can you two get?"
"Only when we are with you," rebutted Sojiro. Shigeru ignored the two and skipped back to the duo waiting by Truffles. Tsukushi had hardly spoken to Tsukasa since the cab ride and both had stood silently by the specialty shop until Shigeru returned. "We have to go soon," she said as she slipped her hand into Tsukushi's arm, "Let's walk over first. They will catch up." Tsukasa followed as the two girls walked arm-in-arm to the entrance of the departure hall.
"Tsukushi," whispered Shigeru, "This is your new chapter in life." Shigeru smiled at the red-faced Tsukushi. "We have to go," she said and yelled to the other two, "Hurry up or we'll miss our connecting flight!" Sojiro and Akira frowned at the unladylikeness of Shigeru. Patting Tsukasa on his back, Sojiro winked and said, "Well, it's all yours." Akira added, "Don't give us a rude shock next year by bringing a baby back."
"Baby?" repeated Tsukasa and realising the message behind, he grabbed their necks and replied, "Stop having such disgusting thoughts!" Both struggled hard to be freed from Tsukasa's grip. "Hey! Take it easy," choked Sojiro. "We're just kidding," echoed Akira. "Come on, you two!" urged Shigeru and hugging Tsukushi, she said, "I'm going to begin a new chapter in my life too!"
"Shigeru..." said Tsukushi quietly. Releasing her, Shigeru beamed and winked. The trio entered the departure hall and disappeared into the crowd of passengers. "Arigatou..." whispered Tsukushi softly. Tsukasa stared at her back and quietly thought, "Can we begin anew, Makino?"