Chapter 14: Entwinement

Meanwhile, Kouji was sitting in class. He had already crammed for his midterm, and felt confident that he knew everything. As soon as he got his test, he didn't know half of the questions. He just did everything, hoping it would be right. He turned in his test to his sensei, and looked at the board. His sensei assigned some work with his textbooks. Kouji opened his books, flipped to the correct page, and stared into the assigned page. He was too tired to read or pay attention. He stared into the text in his books. It all became one big black blur. He tried very hard to stay up, but his head fell onto the book, and he went to sleep.

"Minamoto," his professor said.

The person sitting next to Kouji nudged him. "Wake up, Minamoto."

"Huh?" Kouji said tiredly, and looked up. He saw the mean face of his professor. "Yes?" he said innocently, yet very tiredly.

"Kouji, if you want to go to sleep, go back to your dormitory," he said in a serious tone.

"I apologize," he said tiredly, and took out a piece of paper and started doing his assigned work. He glanced at his watch. It was only one and a half-hour of the class. "Thirty more minutes…" he thought, and struggled doing his questions. He had to do it and manage to stay awake because the paper was due by the end of class. He tiredly wrote every answer and turned it in. By the time he finished, the class ended. He walked slowly, like a zombie, to his dormitory. Surprisingly, Tama wasn't there, but he was too sleepy to care where he was. He went to his room, set an alarm, and collapsed on his bed. He slept for two hours. His alarm went off and it was time for him to go to work. He put his uniform on and drove to work. He went to his post to the cash register, staring at the wall. He didn't even notice Asami walk in. She too was stressed out.

"I'd like hazelnut coffee, please," she asked quietly.

"Huh?" said Kouji, snapping out of his dozing zone.

"I'd like hazelnut coffee, Kouji," she said nicely.

"Oh, Hi, Asami, sorry. I'm so tired lately."

"Ever since you got this job you are."

"And my grades are slipping too. My roommate is so stupid. I don't even know how he got in the first place if he's a drunk."

"I see…"

"By the way, I saw Ryusaki Miyamoto yesterday. I couldn't believe she remembered me. I forgot all about her. And she was SO hopeless. She's acts like hooker now, since she couldn't get an education."

"You did? I didn't even remember her until you mentioned her now. I don't like her anymore. Really? Hah. That's funny. She deserves it. After what she did. I mean, she was my friend and all but real friends don't do cruel things like that."

"Here's your coffee."

"Thanks," she said, handing him money. Asami looked around at everyone who was chattering with their friends."Geez everyone in this damn coffeeshop has friends, don't they? Oh well."

"You have other friends."

"Yes, but their not someone I can depend on. All they want is my homework from me."

"Oh."

"Anyway, I have to study. It was nice talking to you," she said nicely and left.

No customers came for the rest of the afternoon, and Kouji signed off and went home. He only had a little bit of work for class, since it was the end of the semester. When he got home, Tama still wasn't there. He didn't care, and went to his room. He got the papers he wrote. He couldn't believe he got high marks on both of them. They were both horribly written and he didn't feel like he deserved him, but maybe it was just luck. He turned on his laptop, then went onto the Internet, and logged into the main site to check his grades. They have all pulled up incredibly due to his half-baked papers, but he had more things to worry about. His midterms. He hoped he at least got satisfactory on them, and would do well on the near future ones. He had a lot of time to study tonight, so he spent the rest of the night studying. He really wanted to get a high mark, and didn't take a break, so it started driving him insane. He banged his head on the wall. It was sort of idiotic for him to do, but it relieved stress for him. "Why, why, why…" he said, while banging his head on the wall. After mindless banging, he felt confident that he knew everything that the course covered, so went to sleep to gain the lost hours from last night. Tama never came home.

Meanwhile, Izumi was flying on the plane heading onto Jiyuugaoka, Japan. She hated having her ears popped. Maybe she could fall asleep and not have to feel it. But she couldn't sleep. She was too excited. She was surprised how this all happened in a matter of three days. She'd be able to see the people she hadn't seen in seven years. She was bored, so she looked into the catalogs in front of her. The things they advertised were quite funny and convenient, but useless. She put the magazine and looked at something else to do. Her mother and father were asleep. She looked out the window, but all she saw was clouds. It was winter, and there wasn't much to see. This weather reminded her too much of Kouji. She had the want to be with him, but she felt that he wouldn't care, either that or he'd try to avoid her. Kouji also had feelings for her, he hid them all the time, but Izumi didn't know it. She sighed, watching the puffy white clouds pass by. The white clouds reminded her of snow, and Kouji's bravery. Everywhere she looked, something would remind her of Kouji. She tried getting it out of her mind. She asked the hostess if it was safe to use electronics, and turned on her laptop. She started writing up a personal statement, like her father wanted, so she could enroll in Jiyuugaoka University, or the nearest one around. The entire thing bore her, so she stopped in the middle of typing. She had nothing else better to do. Her father was snoring, and her mother, also sleeping quietly. She stared at her black gloves. Since it was winter, she was wearing nice winter clothes. It reminded her of Iwate-san Mountains. She was wearing a black blazer, with a white turtleneck. She wore black slacks and black boots. They were very sleek and made out of leather. She knew her father would get a huge raise after this move. She was getting quite tired of moving. She wished she could keep the friends she made. Kouji probably forgot about her. She fingered the necklace Asami gave her, and she could still remember the feel of Kouji's trembling hug seven years ago. She smiled, and went back to looking out the window. It was already dusk. She got tired just staring at the small window. She requested a pillow and blanket from the hostess. As soon as she gave them to her, she wrapped herself and went to sleep. After thirteen hours, the plane landed.

"Izumi, wake up," her mother said softly. Izumi was a heavy sleeper, so when her mother nudged her, Izumi whacked her in the nose.

"OWW!" Mrs. Orimoto screamed

"Huh?" Izumi said groggily.

"You banged my nose! And we're in Jiyuugaoka now."

"WE ARE?" Izumi bursted, standing up very quickly, hitting her head on the ceiling. All the passengers looked at her like she was either a stupid tourist or crazy. Izumi immediately blushed and said, "Sorry" quietly. She immediately boarded off. "Hurry up, mom, dad," she urged ahead, walking fast. As soon as she got out, all she did was stare. She couldn't believe she was in Jiyuugaoka already. All she could think of was to see Kouji again. And possibly give back the necklace to Asami as she promised long ago.

"C'mon, Izumi, we need to get our luggage."

"Oh yeah, I forgot," she replied back, recovering from her shock of being back in Japan.

While waiting for her luggage with her dad and mom, she was getting bored, so she saw a nearby stand, which sold souvenir merchandise. She walked at the souvenir stand, and bought a small purple jingle keychain, with a small cat at the end, which could put on cell phones. She paid the cart cashier and walked back to the luggage claim. As she went back, her mother saw her with a bag. As she approached them, her mother said,

"You wasted your money on that? You like to buy useless things."

"Just as remembrance."

"Remembrance for what?"

"My first day being back here."

Mrs. Orimoto still thought she had wasted her money, but Izumi didn't care. They waited to claim the rest of their luggage, and then Mr. Orimoto called his boss on his cell phone to arrange a van to take them to their new home. It was quite convenient how Mr. Yoshimitzu arranged practically everything for all his workers. Mr. Orimoto worked for a big franchise, so at rare times, they had to move. And these were one of those times. After getting off the phone, Mr. Orimoto led his wife and daughter outside, waiting. Izumi was getting agitated and bored, having to wait and wait for the van to come. After thirty minutes, it came at last. Izumi gave a heavy sigh, loading the entire luggage. Her mother went inside, to the second passenger seat, and her father sat in the front. The van driver was one of his co-workers, so he drove them to their new house, located in the middle of Jiyuugaoka, near Mr. Orimoto's work. Mr. Yoshimitzu arranged everything, and Mr. Orimoto felt as he couldn't accept it. The house, the new car, he just simply couldn't accept it. Mr. Yoshimitzu had his new house arranged, and had got the family a car. Mr. Yoshimitzu insisted that he take this, and it was only a little bit of money, and said that he invested a heck of a lot more money than the money he spend on housing and a car; with the franchise they were in. His boss also said it was a gift for helping the company improve so much, and he wouldn't let him take it back. Mr. Orimoto had no choice, but to consent to everything, so he gratefully accepted. As soon as they opened the door to their new home, every piece of furniture was already there. They had forwarded their furniture. It wasn't assembled into proper places. Izumi's bed was lying in the middle of the living room. Mrs. Orimoto commented, "Honey, you're company can't think logically and put furniture in its logical place? Who puts beds in the middle of the living room! And why would they put blenders in the bathroom! They said they'd assemble everything"

"Sorry, I guess they were in a hurry," he replied back. "Well, at least they gave us a new beautiful silver car,"

"I'm too tired to move anything. We'll do it tomorrow," said Mrs. Orimoto, and lied on her bed, next to Izumi's, in the middle of the living room. They all fell into bed, exhausted from everything that had occurred all in three days. The next day, it was raining. Mr. Orimoto went with Izumi to Jiyuugaoka University to enroll her. She turned in her essay and filled out forms. They sent it to the main office and told her that they would send her a letter saying if she would be able to transfer. Izumi and Mr. Orimoto left. Mr. Orimoto went into the car, but Izumi wanted to look around further.

"Where are you going?" her father asked.

"I want to look around, I'll walk home."

"What? It's raining. I don't want you to catch cold."

"Please, dad."

"Well, ask your mother first, then you can go."

"Oh, all right," Izumi said, while pouting; closing her umbrella, and opening the car door and got in with her dad. They drove back home. As soon as the reached their destination, Izumi busted through the door, asking,

"Mom, may I look around a little bit?"

"Why?"

"I just want to see Jiyuugaoka."

"It's raining, why don't you wait till tomorrow."

"Please? I haven't been here for seven years."

"Well okay, but bring an umbrella, a warm jacket, and take the car! I don't want you walking around in the cold rain. Also, the car is new, so don't drive too fast."

"Okay, mom," Izumi said, hurriedly, rummaged through her luggage bag with clothes, took out her black peacoat, grabbed an umbrella, took the keys from the table, and rushed through the door.

"What's her hurry to see this place?" Mrs. Orimoto mumbled.

"She missed the place, that's why."

"Yes, I know. But she should stay and help us unpack things," she said, opening another box of room things, such as candles and curtains. "Honey, don't you think Mr. Yoshimitzu is being too nice? Last time in Venice, we had to buy our own stuff."

"Yes, but he said that since it was such of an spontaneous time, he got us all of this. I asked my co-workers. They also got the same things as we did."

"Oh, but it looks like Mr. Yoshimitzu is just squandering his money."

"Well, it's his, not ours to spend. Besides, he's very wealthy."

"I see," Mrs. Orimoto concluded and went back to unpacking.

Izumi walked to the car, umbrella in hand. Her boots made noise while walking to the car. She got in, started it up, and drove around slowly. She knew it wasn't safe to drive fast in the rain, of course. She looked around. Everything was the same, except some new shopping areas have been built. While looking around, she saw the semi-tall building of her previous elementary school. It was still the same, and she still wondered if Yanagimoto-sensei still taught there. Izumi pulled into the school faculty parking lot, got out of her car, and opened her black umbrella. It was around nine, but she doubted that school was open. At least, she hoped the time hadn't changed. The cherry blossoms weren't blossoming. She saw the marble stone bench she always sat on, under the sakura blossoms. "Izumi is stupid," was still etched by Miyamoto under then bench. Izumi checked herself to see if it was there. She looked to her left, seeing an oak tree. There was a red bench under it. Miyamoto used to sit there with her lousy clique, doing nothing but talking about other out of boredom. Asami used to sit there also. She walked away, to the door of the school. Her leather boots, making sounds throughout the hallway. She was right. It was exactly the same. She was also surprised to see the office open on a resting day. She walked to the main office.

"Excuse me, but does Yanagimoto-sensei still teach here?" she asked politely to the school's main desk secretary.

"Yes, she does. Do you wish to speak to her?"

"Yes."

"She's at a meeting, I'll leave a note. What is your name?"

"Orimoto Izumi."

"All right," she said.

Izumi left as someone called her in the hallway, as she was about to leave through the school door.

"Excuse me who are you?" Yanagimoto-sensei asked. Izumi stared at her. She looked exactly the same from seven years ago.

"Hello, Yanagimoto-sensei, it's me, Orimoto Izumi."

"Orimoto Izumi? Oh my gosh! It's been so long! You're back from Italy?"

"Yes, my father moved back."

"Let's talk," said Yanagimoto-sensei, leading Izumi though the halls. "So, how are things?" she asked Izumi.

"It's okay. I've missed this place a lot."

"You've grown a lot since the last time I saw you, except with the hat."

"I gave my hat to Kouji."

"I knew there was something between the two of you…"

Izumi blushed. "No, we're just friends."

"Heh, I'm just joking, Izumi."

"Well, it was nice visiting and seeing you again, Yanagimoto-sensei," Izumi said quietly, smiling. Yanagimoto-sensei left back to her meeting, and Izumi left through the door.

At the time being, Kouji had just woken up. He walked groggily to Tama's room, but he wasn't there. "Where is he?" Kouji thought. He hoped nothing bad had happened to him. Although Kouji wasn't very nice to him, he cared how his life was going to turn out. It was a boring Saturday, and he had to go to work. He got ready, grabbed his keys, and went to work. As he drove, it was raining. He got to the Coffee shop, put on his work apron, and stood at the coffee processing station.

"Kouji!" yelled Mr. Yasuyuki, his boss.

"Yes?" he said quietly, assembling the coffee mixers.

"I told you, you're not supposed to wear things on your head while at work. I have told you about three times now."

"Sorry boss," he said even more quietly and pulled off his bandanna. He stuffed it in his pocket, with Izumi's hat. He already forgot it was there. He arranged everything, took equipment out from the cabinets, and cleaned the tables. Asami walked in, with wet hair.

"Oh hey, Asami," Kouji said, wiping a table.

"I was at school today," she said.

"Why were you at school? Today's a Saturday."

"I was at the school library, and I saw this one girl who looked like Izumi."

"What?" Kouji said semi-loudly, looking up at Asami from wiping the table.

"I'm serious. But don't you think she'd recognize us? Maybe it was a look-alike. Izumi would've told us if she was coming back."

"It wouldn't be her. She would be wearing your necklace you gave her, wouldn't she?"

"Yeah, but I don't know. Maybe it was her. Maybe I'm being delusional."

"Yeah you are. What did she look like?"

"She had the green eyes, the golden hair, but she wasn't wearing a hat. She had a gray trench coat, a white top, black pants, and black leather boots."

"Wouldn't Izumi be wearing fuchsia, like her hat?" Kouji asked, pulling out the hat.

"You take her hat with you everywhere?"

"Well, uh… I forgot it was left in my pocket, heh." Kouji lied, blushing a little bit.

"She looked like she was turning in forms. Hopefully, they will accept her, and then we can find out about her. If her name isn't Izumi, then I will still have to wait for that heirloom."

"She hasn't come back for seven years now. I don't even know where she is anymore."

"Well, I'll check the office again."

"By the way, have you seen Tama? He hasn't come home for the past two days."

"No, I haven't. Maybe he's drunk somewhere."

"Yeah, I guess. He's got to learn how to face reality."

"Well, I'll see you later, Kouji."

"Okay."

Kouji wiped the remaining tables and went back to the cash register.

Izumi was bored and it didn't look like there was anywhere else to go. She stopped at the stoplight. Right next to it was Jiyuugaoka Coffee shop. She was really tired, and she thought she could stop for some coffee. She hadn't had any in awhile. She made a right turn and parked. She went out of her car, without her umbrella. She went inside the nice interior of the shop and looked around, her boots making watery tracks on the floor, also making noise. It was similar to many drink shops, such as the tapioca shops, which she couldn't find in Venice, like she could here. She walked up to the cash register. Kouji was looking down, and didn't even know Izumi was right in front of her. Izumi stared at him like he looked familiar, but scratch that. "Wouldn't Kouji know who she was?" She kept staring at him. That MUST be Kouji. He wasn't wearing his usual clothes, but his hair resembled him too much. The sideburns, the ponytail. He wasn't wearing a bandanna, though. "No, it couldn't be him…" she thought sadly. She wished she could see him again. She didn't even know he was right there in her face. Kouji asked glumly, "May I take your order?"

"Yes, I'd like a caramel frappuchino," Izumi said quietly.

"Okay, that will be sevent—," Kouji said, finally looking up. He was dumbfounded. The person standing right in front of him looked exactly like Izumi, except more beautiful. "Ahem, sorry, I mean your total will be seventy yen," he said while clearing his throat." Izumi gave him the money, and walked slowly to a table, her boots making noise as she walked. "Is that Kouji?" she thought to herself. "I missed him so much when I went back to Venice, but… no… it couldn't be him." She sat there quietly, thinking. Kouji went to make her coffee he opened a blender and thought, "Is that Izumi? I think she would say something if she were coming back. Izumi's favorite color of all time was fuchsia. Why was she wearing black? I wish she was here…" Kouji thought. He finished mixing ingredients and topped it with whipped cream and caramel. He walked to her table, slowly, still trying to figure out who she was. "Here, enjoy," he said, and quickly walked away to the back. "Excuse me," Izumi said very quietly. "Yes?" Kouji said, not turning around. "…Excuse me for asking, but… are you Minamoto Kouji?" Kouji stared at her like she had never seen her in his life. His hand was in his pocket, clutching Izumi's hat.