Chapter 07 - The Letter
The morning broke with bright sunrays shining through her window. Tsukushi tossed onto her other side and opened her eyes slowly. She yawned and stretched before sitting up on her bed. "It's Saturday," she mumbled, "Another day and school will begin." Reaching out for her towel, Tsukushi head towards the bathroom. Opening the door, she entered it heedlessly and head towards the washing area. "Why is there an electric toothbrush here?" she mumbled, "I don't remember having one." Staring at it closely, she saw the word 'Doumyoji' embossed on the handle.
"Doumyoji..." Before it dawned on her, the door to her left clicked open. She turned to find a half-naked Tsukasa entering the same bathroom she was in. "Aahh!" she screamed, "What are you doing in here?" Tsukasa frowned and replied, "Do you have to scream every morning when I enter the bathroom?"
"But I'm in the bathroom and..." she paused as she realised that this bathroom is the one thing she is sharing and it is also Tsukasa's bathroom. "How forgetful can I get!" she admonished herself before replying a yawning Tsukasa, "I'm gonna have to set rules about the use of this bathroom." Tsukasa shrugged and walked towards her.
"Stop where you are," she said firmly. Ignoring her, Tsukasa moved closer. She pointed her toothbrush like a weapon to be used on him but instead she stared speechlessly when his hand reached for the electric toothbrush she was holding. "The only rule you can set for this bathroom," said Tsukasa, squeezing the toothpaste, "is that of private time." Tsukushi threw him a puzzled look. "What I mean is when you need to use the toilet and when you need to take a bath," replied Tsukasa, "And I suggest you lock both sides of the door for that private time...Other than that, both doors are to be kept opened."
"Kept opened?" she repeated. Tsukasa nodded and began his brushing. "That means he can come into my room," thought Tsukushi, rooted to the ground, "...any time of the day ...and night! Oh my god!" Before she could recuperate from the shock, a voice was heard coming from Tsukasa's door, "Is anyone in?"
Tsukushi looked at him who was pointing to the toothbrush in his mouth and gesturing her to answer the door. She frowned and refused to move until he pushed her. Sighing out aloud, she head towards the door grudgingly and opened it. "Are you Mr Doumyoji Tsukasa?" asked the man at the door. "Me? A 'Mr'?" thought Tsukushi, looking amused. She finally shook her head and pointed behind her as she replied, "He's in the bathroom."
The man looked at Tsukushi and gave a knowing look. "Why did he look at me like that?" wondered Tsukushi and then, it struck her that the man must have thought that she was living together with Tsukasa. "Er...I think you're mistaken, I don't..." she began but was stopped from saying further when the man shoved her a receipt. "Please sign here," he said and as she did so, the man gestured to the movers by the corridor.
Tsukushi peered out the door and realised the amount of luggage Tsukasa had brought with him. It was box after box and students from the dormitory were curiously staring at the items brought in. "By the way," said the man, "Do you know a Ms Makino Tsukushi?" She nodded and pointed her finger to herself. "I see," said the man, handing her a pink envelope with the letter 'T' imprint on its back, "Here's a letter addressed to you from Ms Doumyoji Tsubaki." She stared at the envelope. "Tsubaki-oneesan..." murmured Tsukushi, "A letter from her..."
************
The late afternoon in Eitoku was a display of orange, yellow and brown as the sun sets. Sojiro and Akira sat by the pond and stared into space. "It's only the two of us now," sighed Akira, "How boring can it get?" Sojiro nodded. With the last bell signalling the end of school, both got up and head toward the exit. "I wonder how's Rui doing?" thought Akira aloud. Unexpectedly, Sojiro's mobile rang. "Sojiro," he said. "Sojiro?" came a male voice from the other end of the line. "Rui!" exclaimed Sojiro, "How are you?"
"Rui!" exclaimed Akira as he snatched the phone, "How are you? How's France?" Sojiro frowned and grabbed the phone. "Mind your manners," rebuked Sojiro. Akira shrugged and placed his ear on the other side of the phone and listened in on the conversation. "I'm fine here," replied Rui, "Just wanted to check on things in Japan. How's Makino? And Tsukasa?" Sojiro sighed before replying, "Both are in Boston now. I don't know if things are fine between them or not but I'm sure Tsukasa will do his best. By the way, how's Shizuka? Any wedding plans yet?"
"She's in school now. As for the wedding," replied Rui, "We're looking into it. There are a couple of things that need to be sorted out first. Anyway, we will be back next week as our parents would like to have a formal meeting." Sojiro nodded, "I see. I guess we can talk when you're back then."
"Sure. I'll catch up with you next week," replied Rui. "See you," said Sojiro and turning to Akira, "There'll be three of us next week." Akira smiled.
************
Tsukushi held the letter tightly in her hand and turned to return to her room through the bathroom as Tsukasa emerged from it. "Where are you going?" asked Tsukasa, "And what are they doing?" Tsukushi made no reply and head straight into the bathroom, closing and locking the bathroom door once she was in it. "Hey!" yelled Tsukasa, banging on the closed door, "I told you before, that this door is to be kept unlocked unless you need private time."
"It's my private time now," yelled Tsukushi on the other side, "Go and settle your luggage!" Tsukasa scowled and turned to face the movers who had stopped to observe the commotion. "What are you looking at?" he bellowed, "If you're done, get out of my room!" The movers put the last box down and left hurriedly, closing the door behind them. Tsukasa leapt onto his bed and lay there, staring at the ceiling. He sighed quietly.
Tsukushi sat on her bed and opened the letter. It read:
Dearest Tsukushi,
By the time you get hold of this letter, I would have arrived in New York. I'm going to settle this for you and Tsukasa, so don't worry about it. Just take care of that silly brother of mine and have fun in Boston. I'll write again. By the way, I've attached a cheque for you and Tsukasa - do hope that it's enough to take care of the expenses for the year. Feel free to ask me for more if it's not enough.
Love, Oneesan.
Tsukushi looked into the envelope again and pulled out two cheques - one in her name and the other, Tsukasa's. "Pay Makino Tsukushi one million US dollars," she read. "ONE MILLION DOLLARS!" echoed Tsukushi as her eyes widen. Looking at the cheque again, she blinked before looking at Tsukasa's cheque which also read "Pay Doumyoji Tsukasa one million US dollars". With trembling hands, she entered the bathroom and unlocked the other door. "Dou...Doumyoji," she stammered as she held the cheque out, "Tsu... Tsubaki-oneesan...this is for you." Tsukasa took the cheque and looked at it. Without saying a word, he took out his wallet and placed it in.
"Er...Doumyoji," began Tsukushi, "I think...I think Tsubaki-oneesan might have made a mistake. She has added one zero too much." Tsukasa's look was one of bemusement. "That's why I hate poor people," he replied, "Never seen that much money in their life and make a big fuss out of it. Anyway, this is just enough for the year."
"What do you mean by just enough?" exclaimed Tsukushi, "Do you know how much Japanese Yen this is? It's almost a hundred over million yen!" Tsukasa shrugged and opened a box near the bed. "Doumyoji," said Tsukushi, "I can't...I can't accept this. My lodging and school fees are paid for. And I will be given an allowance every month...I don't need this." Tsukasa looked at her and replied nonchalantly, "Then return it to her on your own."
"How? She's in New York now," said Tsukushi quietly, "She said that she'll be there to settle things for us..." Tsukasa stopped digging into the box and turned to face her.
The morning broke with bright sunrays shining through her window. Tsukushi tossed onto her other side and opened her eyes slowly. She yawned and stretched before sitting up on her bed. "It's Saturday," she mumbled, "Another day and school will begin." Reaching out for her towel, Tsukushi head towards the bathroom. Opening the door, she entered it heedlessly and head towards the washing area. "Why is there an electric toothbrush here?" she mumbled, "I don't remember having one." Staring at it closely, she saw the word 'Doumyoji' embossed on the handle.
"Doumyoji..." Before it dawned on her, the door to her left clicked open. She turned to find a half-naked Tsukasa entering the same bathroom she was in. "Aahh!" she screamed, "What are you doing in here?" Tsukasa frowned and replied, "Do you have to scream every morning when I enter the bathroom?"
"But I'm in the bathroom and..." she paused as she realised that this bathroom is the one thing she is sharing and it is also Tsukasa's bathroom. "How forgetful can I get!" she admonished herself before replying a yawning Tsukasa, "I'm gonna have to set rules about the use of this bathroom." Tsukasa shrugged and walked towards her.
"Stop where you are," she said firmly. Ignoring her, Tsukasa moved closer. She pointed her toothbrush like a weapon to be used on him but instead she stared speechlessly when his hand reached for the electric toothbrush she was holding. "The only rule you can set for this bathroom," said Tsukasa, squeezing the toothpaste, "is that of private time." Tsukushi threw him a puzzled look. "What I mean is when you need to use the toilet and when you need to take a bath," replied Tsukasa, "And I suggest you lock both sides of the door for that private time...Other than that, both doors are to be kept opened."
"Kept opened?" she repeated. Tsukasa nodded and began his brushing. "That means he can come into my room," thought Tsukushi, rooted to the ground, "...any time of the day ...and night! Oh my god!" Before she could recuperate from the shock, a voice was heard coming from Tsukasa's door, "Is anyone in?"
Tsukushi looked at him who was pointing to the toothbrush in his mouth and gesturing her to answer the door. She frowned and refused to move until he pushed her. Sighing out aloud, she head towards the door grudgingly and opened it. "Are you Mr Doumyoji Tsukasa?" asked the man at the door. "Me? A 'Mr'?" thought Tsukushi, looking amused. She finally shook her head and pointed behind her as she replied, "He's in the bathroom."
The man looked at Tsukushi and gave a knowing look. "Why did he look at me like that?" wondered Tsukushi and then, it struck her that the man must have thought that she was living together with Tsukasa. "Er...I think you're mistaken, I don't..." she began but was stopped from saying further when the man shoved her a receipt. "Please sign here," he said and as she did so, the man gestured to the movers by the corridor.
Tsukushi peered out the door and realised the amount of luggage Tsukasa had brought with him. It was box after box and students from the dormitory were curiously staring at the items brought in. "By the way," said the man, "Do you know a Ms Makino Tsukushi?" She nodded and pointed her finger to herself. "I see," said the man, handing her a pink envelope with the letter 'T' imprint on its back, "Here's a letter addressed to you from Ms Doumyoji Tsubaki." She stared at the envelope. "Tsubaki-oneesan..." murmured Tsukushi, "A letter from her..."
************
The late afternoon in Eitoku was a display of orange, yellow and brown as the sun sets. Sojiro and Akira sat by the pond and stared into space. "It's only the two of us now," sighed Akira, "How boring can it get?" Sojiro nodded. With the last bell signalling the end of school, both got up and head toward the exit. "I wonder how's Rui doing?" thought Akira aloud. Unexpectedly, Sojiro's mobile rang. "Sojiro," he said. "Sojiro?" came a male voice from the other end of the line. "Rui!" exclaimed Sojiro, "How are you?"
"Rui!" exclaimed Akira as he snatched the phone, "How are you? How's France?" Sojiro frowned and grabbed the phone. "Mind your manners," rebuked Sojiro. Akira shrugged and placed his ear on the other side of the phone and listened in on the conversation. "I'm fine here," replied Rui, "Just wanted to check on things in Japan. How's Makino? And Tsukasa?" Sojiro sighed before replying, "Both are in Boston now. I don't know if things are fine between them or not but I'm sure Tsukasa will do his best. By the way, how's Shizuka? Any wedding plans yet?"
"She's in school now. As for the wedding," replied Rui, "We're looking into it. There are a couple of things that need to be sorted out first. Anyway, we will be back next week as our parents would like to have a formal meeting." Sojiro nodded, "I see. I guess we can talk when you're back then."
"Sure. I'll catch up with you next week," replied Rui. "See you," said Sojiro and turning to Akira, "There'll be three of us next week." Akira smiled.
************
Tsukushi held the letter tightly in her hand and turned to return to her room through the bathroom as Tsukasa emerged from it. "Where are you going?" asked Tsukasa, "And what are they doing?" Tsukushi made no reply and head straight into the bathroom, closing and locking the bathroom door once she was in it. "Hey!" yelled Tsukasa, banging on the closed door, "I told you before, that this door is to be kept unlocked unless you need private time."
"It's my private time now," yelled Tsukushi on the other side, "Go and settle your luggage!" Tsukasa scowled and turned to face the movers who had stopped to observe the commotion. "What are you looking at?" he bellowed, "If you're done, get out of my room!" The movers put the last box down and left hurriedly, closing the door behind them. Tsukasa leapt onto his bed and lay there, staring at the ceiling. He sighed quietly.
Tsukushi sat on her bed and opened the letter. It read:
Dearest Tsukushi,
By the time you get hold of this letter, I would have arrived in New York. I'm going to settle this for you and Tsukasa, so don't worry about it. Just take care of that silly brother of mine and have fun in Boston. I'll write again. By the way, I've attached a cheque for you and Tsukasa - do hope that it's enough to take care of the expenses for the year. Feel free to ask me for more if it's not enough.
Love, Oneesan.
Tsukushi looked into the envelope again and pulled out two cheques - one in her name and the other, Tsukasa's. "Pay Makino Tsukushi one million US dollars," she read. "ONE MILLION DOLLARS!" echoed Tsukushi as her eyes widen. Looking at the cheque again, she blinked before looking at Tsukasa's cheque which also read "Pay Doumyoji Tsukasa one million US dollars". With trembling hands, she entered the bathroom and unlocked the other door. "Dou...Doumyoji," she stammered as she held the cheque out, "Tsu... Tsubaki-oneesan...this is for you." Tsukasa took the cheque and looked at it. Without saying a word, he took out his wallet and placed it in.
"Er...Doumyoji," began Tsukushi, "I think...I think Tsubaki-oneesan might have made a mistake. She has added one zero too much." Tsukasa's look was one of bemusement. "That's why I hate poor people," he replied, "Never seen that much money in their life and make a big fuss out of it. Anyway, this is just enough for the year."
"What do you mean by just enough?" exclaimed Tsukushi, "Do you know how much Japanese Yen this is? It's almost a hundred over million yen!" Tsukasa shrugged and opened a box near the bed. "Doumyoji," said Tsukushi, "I can't...I can't accept this. My lodging and school fees are paid for. And I will be given an allowance every month...I don't need this." Tsukasa looked at her and replied nonchalantly, "Then return it to her on your own."
"How? She's in New York now," said Tsukushi quietly, "She said that she'll be there to settle things for us..." Tsukasa stopped digging into the box and turned to face her.