Chapter 13 - Okimoto Naomi
Dumping his books onto the floor, Sojiro dived onto his bed and laid motionlessly on it for a long while before turning over and staring at the ceiling of his bedroom. "What's wrong with me?" he muttered, "I'm never as restless as this and why can't I stop thinking about it?" He sat up and sighed loudly. Yuki has stirred a past memory in him - a past he has kept hidden from his best friends.
He was fifteen that year when he first met Okimoto Naomi, the only daughter of a maid in his household. Sojiro had never seen her but yet fate played a part in arranging for them to meet. The children of servants are kept away from interacting with their master's children - this is an age-old practice and yet it was by chance Sojiro came across Naomi.
A girl of fourteen, Okimoto Naomi was a cheerful and bright child. She was her mother's pride and joy. Okimoto Naomi grew up in the same household as Sojiro but he never knew her till his fifteenth birthday. He remembered her standing alone at the table just as Yuki did, looking lost and helpless and he had approached her with the intention to help or simply, out of sympathy.
"Can I help you?" Sojiro asked the girl with braided hair. Okimoto Naomi smiled shyly and without reply, continued to search the room with her big, brown eyes. "I'll be able to help if you'd tell me who is it that you're looking for," he tried again. Naomi's eyes return to focus on him before she replied, "I'm looking for my mother."
"It would help if you could give me your family name," Sojiro probed further. He wanted to find out whose household did this beautiful girl belong to. "My family name is..." she hesitated and before she could utter further, the housekeeper had interrupted. "I'm sorry, Sojiro-sama," he said, placing his hands onto the girl's shoulders, "Your mother is looking for you. Allow me to take over from here." Sojiro reluctantly turned to go as the housekeeper ushered Naomi away.
That short interaction remained with Sojiro and the next day, he enquired about her. It was through the servants that he knew about her. After school, the following day, Sojiro hung around the servants' entrance, hoping to get a chance to see her but he never did. He tried again the next day and the next but there was no sign of her. He enquired about her mother and found out that she was asked to leave the day after his birthday celebration.
His last resort was the school she went to and as luck would have it, he found her. Things did look rosy when the two hit it off but then like Tsukasa's mother, Sojiro's mother interfered. It was then Sojiro realised that he'll never be given a chance to love and that prompted him to take the flirting route. Okimoto Naomi could be considered his first love and he wondered if his mother had not interfered, whether the two of them would be together till this day.
Sojiro sat up and stared blankly out the window. Yuki reminded him of Naomi. It was déjà vu as the setting was like that of his fifteenth birthday except that he managed to ask the girl to dance. Sojiro shook his head and tried to focus his mind on something else but memories came flooding back.
************
A limousine pulled up at the driveway of Shelton Hall and a lady dressed in a classic pants suit alighted from it. She looked at the building in front of her and surveyed it before looking at her watch. "They should be back from school soon," Tsubaki muttered, "I just have to wait in here for their return." She re-entered the limousine and sat in it. To pass her time, she picked up her magazine and continued from where she had left off.
************
"Why weren't you paying attention in class?!" asked an irritated Tsukushi, "I don't understand why you bother to come all the way here?!" Tsukasa growled as the duo exited the lecture theatre of their Economics course. "I was not the one who had organised this," he reminded Tsukushi, "That monkey was the busybody. Mind you - I'm supposed to be doing my second year in the university."
Tsukushi frowned and retorted, "You can't even understand the first year's subjects and you want to be in the second year?!" Tsukasa grabbed hold of her by the arm and replied firmly, "If it's possible at all, I don't want to be in this place." She was taken aback by the sudden firmness in his tone, which had a hint of urgency. "This is my mother's territory and I don't feel safe staying put," he remarked.
Tsukushi understood his urgency, as it was with her. Although it has been weeks and there was no action taken on his mother's part, she did not feel at ease and Tsukasa was not helping by refusing to let her out of his sight. She felt like a prisoner without the four walls and she wondered how long would she be able to tolerate this. "Look," she said, trying to convince Tsukasa and herself, "Your sister said that everything's fine and we should believe her. I'm sure everything's fine."
Tsukasa was definitely not convinced. He frowned at her naivety. "Let's go back to the dormitory," he said finally, "We'll have dinner in the city later." Tsukushi nodded as she followed him across the schoolyard. The duo strolled silently along the banks of Charles River as the sun sets behind them.
************
At the dango shop where Tsukushi and Yuki worked after school, business seemed slower and the shop seemed lonelier. Yuki looked out the window and watched the people go pass with some stopping along the way to browse. She sighed, as the day seems much longer without a companion. She reminisces the days when Tsukushi was around and the discussions they would have about school. She is alone now in this shop.
She thought about Sojiro and what he would be doing now and if he remembered her or if at all, thought about her. She was hopeful but reality sinks in when she remembered he's from the elite society. "Yuki," her lady boss interrupted, "Are you all right?" Her lady boss looked at her with concern. Yuki smiled and shook her head. "It must be really hard on you," she said, "I'll try and get another helper soon."
"Don't worry, I can cope," she assured. Her lady boss nodded and disappeared into the back of the shop. Yuki picked up the unfolded cardboards in front of her and began on transforming it into boxes. Her hands moved with a mind of their own while her thoughts were elsewhere. It was the entry bell that shook her out of her reverie. "Hi," greeted Sojiro, "I thought I'll come by and get some cakes for the tea ceremony at my place tomorrow." Yuki's eyes widen with surprise.
************
"Madam, they are approaching us," informed the chauffer, who has kept watch for the duo from his mirror. Tsubaki looked up from her magazine and turned her head to the back of the car. She watched as the duo strolled slowly towards the limousine. The chauffer had already gotten out of the car and opened the door for her.
Stepping out, she watched as the duo's gloomy faces turned to surprised ones. Tsubaki greeted them with a smile. "Glad to see the both of you," she said, walking up to Tsukasa and Tsukushi. "Oneesan," exclaimed Tsukasa with a hint of suspicion. Tsubaki sensed it and frowned at her brother. She ignored him and turned to Tsukushi. "How have you been?" she asked, smiling. "I'm fine," Tsukushi replied, "And you? It's been a long time."
"It's been a long time indeed," she replied. Tsukasa frowned at the duo, who were conversing with oblivion to his existence. "What are you doing here?" he interrupted, glaring at his sister. Tsubaki returned his glare, which made him backed down. "Let's go back to the dormitory and talk," she said, turning back to Tsukushi. Tsubaki ushered her up the pavement and into the hall with Tsukasa following grouchily behind.
************
Kaede had just returned from her trip down south and was settling into her daily affairs of the company when her personal assistant interrupted her. "I'm sorry to interrupt," he said, bowing, "I have news for you on Tsukasa-sama and Makino Tsukushi." Kaede made no reply. "They are in Boston together at this moment," he continued, "How would you like me to deal with them?" Kaede looked at him intently and the backward shift indicated his nervousness, as she was known to fire anyone and everyone who could not do his or her job properly. "Leave them alone," she replied finally and waved him out.
Although he was puzzled by her nonchalance, he meekly left the room. When the door was closed, Kaede leaned back onto her chair and turned it towards the window. "I must interfere if I want to prevent Tsukasa from being hurt by Makino," she muttered, her mind working on a plan.
Dumping his books onto the floor, Sojiro dived onto his bed and laid motionlessly on it for a long while before turning over and staring at the ceiling of his bedroom. "What's wrong with me?" he muttered, "I'm never as restless as this and why can't I stop thinking about it?" He sat up and sighed loudly. Yuki has stirred a past memory in him - a past he has kept hidden from his best friends.
He was fifteen that year when he first met Okimoto Naomi, the only daughter of a maid in his household. Sojiro had never seen her but yet fate played a part in arranging for them to meet. The children of servants are kept away from interacting with their master's children - this is an age-old practice and yet it was by chance Sojiro came across Naomi.
A girl of fourteen, Okimoto Naomi was a cheerful and bright child. She was her mother's pride and joy. Okimoto Naomi grew up in the same household as Sojiro but he never knew her till his fifteenth birthday. He remembered her standing alone at the table just as Yuki did, looking lost and helpless and he had approached her with the intention to help or simply, out of sympathy.
"Can I help you?" Sojiro asked the girl with braided hair. Okimoto Naomi smiled shyly and without reply, continued to search the room with her big, brown eyes. "I'll be able to help if you'd tell me who is it that you're looking for," he tried again. Naomi's eyes return to focus on him before she replied, "I'm looking for my mother."
"It would help if you could give me your family name," Sojiro probed further. He wanted to find out whose household did this beautiful girl belong to. "My family name is..." she hesitated and before she could utter further, the housekeeper had interrupted. "I'm sorry, Sojiro-sama," he said, placing his hands onto the girl's shoulders, "Your mother is looking for you. Allow me to take over from here." Sojiro reluctantly turned to go as the housekeeper ushered Naomi away.
That short interaction remained with Sojiro and the next day, he enquired about her. It was through the servants that he knew about her. After school, the following day, Sojiro hung around the servants' entrance, hoping to get a chance to see her but he never did. He tried again the next day and the next but there was no sign of her. He enquired about her mother and found out that she was asked to leave the day after his birthday celebration.
His last resort was the school she went to and as luck would have it, he found her. Things did look rosy when the two hit it off but then like Tsukasa's mother, Sojiro's mother interfered. It was then Sojiro realised that he'll never be given a chance to love and that prompted him to take the flirting route. Okimoto Naomi could be considered his first love and he wondered if his mother had not interfered, whether the two of them would be together till this day.
Sojiro sat up and stared blankly out the window. Yuki reminded him of Naomi. It was déjà vu as the setting was like that of his fifteenth birthday except that he managed to ask the girl to dance. Sojiro shook his head and tried to focus his mind on something else but memories came flooding back.
************
A limousine pulled up at the driveway of Shelton Hall and a lady dressed in a classic pants suit alighted from it. She looked at the building in front of her and surveyed it before looking at her watch. "They should be back from school soon," Tsubaki muttered, "I just have to wait in here for their return." She re-entered the limousine and sat in it. To pass her time, she picked up her magazine and continued from where she had left off.
************
"Why weren't you paying attention in class?!" asked an irritated Tsukushi, "I don't understand why you bother to come all the way here?!" Tsukasa growled as the duo exited the lecture theatre of their Economics course. "I was not the one who had organised this," he reminded Tsukushi, "That monkey was the busybody. Mind you - I'm supposed to be doing my second year in the university."
Tsukushi frowned and retorted, "You can't even understand the first year's subjects and you want to be in the second year?!" Tsukasa grabbed hold of her by the arm and replied firmly, "If it's possible at all, I don't want to be in this place." She was taken aback by the sudden firmness in his tone, which had a hint of urgency. "This is my mother's territory and I don't feel safe staying put," he remarked.
Tsukushi understood his urgency, as it was with her. Although it has been weeks and there was no action taken on his mother's part, she did not feel at ease and Tsukasa was not helping by refusing to let her out of his sight. She felt like a prisoner without the four walls and she wondered how long would she be able to tolerate this. "Look," she said, trying to convince Tsukasa and herself, "Your sister said that everything's fine and we should believe her. I'm sure everything's fine."
Tsukasa was definitely not convinced. He frowned at her naivety. "Let's go back to the dormitory," he said finally, "We'll have dinner in the city later." Tsukushi nodded as she followed him across the schoolyard. The duo strolled silently along the banks of Charles River as the sun sets behind them.
************
At the dango shop where Tsukushi and Yuki worked after school, business seemed slower and the shop seemed lonelier. Yuki looked out the window and watched the people go pass with some stopping along the way to browse. She sighed, as the day seems much longer without a companion. She reminisces the days when Tsukushi was around and the discussions they would have about school. She is alone now in this shop.
She thought about Sojiro and what he would be doing now and if he remembered her or if at all, thought about her. She was hopeful but reality sinks in when she remembered he's from the elite society. "Yuki," her lady boss interrupted, "Are you all right?" Her lady boss looked at her with concern. Yuki smiled and shook her head. "It must be really hard on you," she said, "I'll try and get another helper soon."
"Don't worry, I can cope," she assured. Her lady boss nodded and disappeared into the back of the shop. Yuki picked up the unfolded cardboards in front of her and began on transforming it into boxes. Her hands moved with a mind of their own while her thoughts were elsewhere. It was the entry bell that shook her out of her reverie. "Hi," greeted Sojiro, "I thought I'll come by and get some cakes for the tea ceremony at my place tomorrow." Yuki's eyes widen with surprise.
************
"Madam, they are approaching us," informed the chauffer, who has kept watch for the duo from his mirror. Tsubaki looked up from her magazine and turned her head to the back of the car. She watched as the duo strolled slowly towards the limousine. The chauffer had already gotten out of the car and opened the door for her.
Stepping out, she watched as the duo's gloomy faces turned to surprised ones. Tsubaki greeted them with a smile. "Glad to see the both of you," she said, walking up to Tsukasa and Tsukushi. "Oneesan," exclaimed Tsukasa with a hint of suspicion. Tsubaki sensed it and frowned at her brother. She ignored him and turned to Tsukushi. "How have you been?" she asked, smiling. "I'm fine," Tsukushi replied, "And you? It's been a long time."
"It's been a long time indeed," she replied. Tsukasa frowned at the duo, who were conversing with oblivion to his existence. "What are you doing here?" he interrupted, glaring at his sister. Tsubaki returned his glare, which made him backed down. "Let's go back to the dormitory and talk," she said, turning back to Tsukushi. Tsubaki ushered her up the pavement and into the hall with Tsukasa following grouchily behind.
************
Kaede had just returned from her trip down south and was settling into her daily affairs of the company when her personal assistant interrupted her. "I'm sorry to interrupt," he said, bowing, "I have news for you on Tsukasa-sama and Makino Tsukushi." Kaede made no reply. "They are in Boston together at this moment," he continued, "How would you like me to deal with them?" Kaede looked at him intently and the backward shift indicated his nervousness, as she was known to fire anyone and everyone who could not do his or her job properly. "Leave them alone," she replied finally and waved him out.
Although he was puzzled by her nonchalance, he meekly left the room. When the door was closed, Kaede leaned back onto her chair and turned it towards the window. "I must interfere if I want to prevent Tsukasa from being hurt by Makino," she muttered, her mind working on a plan.