Boys Before Flowers
XI.
The moment Ishida Yamato entered Happy Love Love Karaoke Station, he knew he had lost. Getting him there in effect had granted Tachikawa an automatic victory. Tachikawa seemed to sense this too; however, adding insult to injury in her own little fashion, she signed up for two hours in the Happy Kiss-Kiss Love room. 'It's my favorite,' she commented as he looked around. Girls, mostly, and under the age of seventeen by the looks of it. Granted, there were guys; the exchanged glances with Yamato as flies caught in a spider web might. A passing prayer that they'd make it through the night, though their doom rested only minutes away.
Tachikawa seemed to see this as well, further advancing her pleasantry.
"You can choose my songs, so it will be fair." And she smiled, walking as he trailed behind.
For a second --Yamato felt as though he were losing his mind --it seemed as though it were a date, not a challenge. But at the sight of the Happy Kiss- Kiss Love room, all the absurdities of this thought passed.
If the lobby was extravagant in its pink and purple lights, this room would be indescribable in any language existing on the planet. The furniture glowed with neon lighting and tailored Christmas lights; the couch alone could have powered a small third-world country. Anything and everything Yamato had ever imagined as soft and squishy was emulated there --the fuchsia shag carpet particularly --complete with a huge, furry and hot pink television set where images of highly made-up people danced across the screen.
From the corner of his eye, he saw even Mimi shudder.
"Soo desu." She recovered quickly, bounced across the carpet and landed, with a flop, on the couch. He chose a chair close by, that he soon discovered to be filled with water, like a water bed.
"Two hours start now." Mimi cheered good-naturedly, and turned on the karaoke device.
Yamato didn't bother to hide his wince.
XII.
HAPPY LOVE LOVE KARAOKE STATION!!
Happy Kiss-Kiss Love Room Special
SoNg LiSt
Player: Mi-chan Song: Baby Baby Baby score: 97 ("Okay Ishida, you're turn.")
Player: Yama-chan Song: Abunai score: 63 ("I've never heard this song before..." --;.)
Player: Mi-chan Song: Oops! I Did It Again score: 89 ("Not bad for singing in English!" )
Player: Yama-chan Song: I Love You (take my breath away) score: 31 ("This is sung by a girl! Miho Nakayama even!")
Player: Mi-chan Song: The Princess of Kabuki City score: 100!! ("I relate to this song so well.")
Player: Yama-chan Song: De Ki Tera score: 11 ("More Miho Nakayama?!")
Player: Mi-chan Song: Kiraro score: 87 ("It's because I asked you to sing with me." XD)
Player: Yama-chan Song: Romance score: 81 ("See, I'm not that bad once I get a decent song.")
Player: Mi-chan Song: Evolution score: 100!! ("Needless to say, I won.")
Player: Yama-chan Song: Ride On Shooting Star score: 100!! ("Just don't tell the band..." -.-;.)
Player: Mi-chan Song: Negai Kanaeru Kagi score: 71 ("Ne, your band was on the karaoke list...?")
Player: Yama-chan Song: Country Roads score: 02 ("I want to go home...")
FiNaL sCoReS Player Mi-chan: 529 points!
SUPA!!! v Player Yama-chan: 288 points!
FAILED!!! .; Better Luck Next Time!
XIII.
"I win!" said Mimi, a happy smile across her face. Ishida sighed, not defeated no, but exhausted. He stretched as they left Happy Love Love Karaoke Station, then let his head drop onto his chest for a quick moment before facing her.
"You win, Tachikawa." He mumbled, shoving his hands in his pocket, "The next challenge is your call."
"Right." She said proudly, and raised her head before laughing. Even Ishida smiled, before his eyes caught sight of the clock at the center of the plaza.
"It's almost nine."
"I'm going home then. I should study for Isuzu-sensei's political science quiz tomorrow..." She rambled on like this, for a moment, then shrugged and turned away.
"Tachikawa." Ishida called her attention, and she turned around too quickly. He didn't appear to notice, however. "See you tomorrow."
Tomorrow on the battle front, she thought to say cleverly. But before she could implement her comment, the words had already tumbled out of her mouth.
"I had fun tonight." She stood, paralyzed by her own words. Ishida watched back, as she suddenly shivered and, fighting the rising embarrassment, turned quickly towards the direction of the train station.
Halfway home, and her breath still caught in her throat.
"This is war, Ishida." She whispered mutely to herself, blushing and upset at her actions, "I won't forget."
XIV.
'Mrs. Robinson' echoed through his apartment when Yamato arrived home, which told him Takeru had stopped by for a visit.
"Oniichan." He greeted in his soft, agreeable voice, "Konbanwa." In his lap rested the acoustic guitar Yamato used for finding melodies. Takeru sat cross-legged on the tatami mat from under his bed, cramped between a desk and the sofa.
"Did rehearsal run over?"
"I went for karaoke with Tachikawa."
"Karaoke?" Takeru laughter also seemed astounded, "You hate karaoke, don't you?"
Yamato grimaced subtly, and nodded.
"Someone burned down half the gym today, so there's no school tomorrow." He rubbed his eyes, "Can I spend the night?"
"Sure." came the automatic response, as his little brother had spent the night more frequently over his house. Problems with Mother, Yamato suspected, but when Takeru was ready to talk he would. In the meantime, he fell backwards onto his bed while the hesitate notes of a new song fingered through the chords.
"I talked to Hikari." He yawned casually, perhaps pretending the subject had merely fiddled into his mind, "She decided to test for Todai High School."
"Same as Ken?" Yamato inquired absently, as if filling in spaces for questions he already knew the answer to.
"Yeah." said Takeru, "She's been spending a lot of time with him, lately."
Silence, except for the acoustic guitar, grew between them. The notes, which had singing smoothly along, now crumbled frequently. Takeru laughed disheartenedly.
"I...I can't get the notes right..." He gave a final chuckle and let it fall gingerly to his side; Yamato had given him the guitar, otherwise he would have been appalled by its treatment.
"Is that so?" He said finally. Takeru nodded. "We were supposed to go shopping, but..." He ran a hand through his hair.
"She had to study, you know?" His voice had grown rueful, his attention drifting vaguely towards the window where the lights of Rainbow bridge flashed over the bay. "Ken is really busy, so she has to take all the time she's got to...to be with him."
Yamato saw him looking down now, visibly frowning, the guitar, him and quite possibly the world forgotten. He trembled somewhat even, and stood quickly, hiding his face.
"I'm going to get some water." He murmured, and left the room. Yamato sighed, concern and compassion sweeping through his insides.
But what can I do, his thoughts swam, and nothing came to mind. He felt as helpless as he had just an hour ago, when Tachikawa had stood there, shivering, before she ran away. He hadn't understood then, and he certainly didn't understand now.
Takeru returned with a half-empty glass in his hand and nestled onto the Tatami mat.
"She called a little while ago." His thoughts still lingered on Hikari, Yamato could tell, but he didn't mind. He smiled, the light of his true smile filtering through for the first time that night, "War with Tachikawa? I hope she goes easy on you."
Yamato shook his head and rolled over, burying his face in his pillow. Then he jolted up, and pulled his cell phone from his pocket, giving it a curious look. After a vague silence,, he stood up and changed his shirt. Takeru watched with silent confusion as his brother then headed for the foyer. "Where are you going?" He called. Yamato pulled on his shoes, looked up and shrugged.
"I have to see someone." He grabbed his jacket from the coat hanger,
opened the door and left. Takeru scratched his head, "That's strange..." The phone rang, and he reached over with an easy movement and hit speaker.
"Yo, Ishida house." Toru's voice filled the air.
"Hey, Ishida! How was the hotel?" Takeru gave the phone a bewildered look.
XV.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED: 13 TEXT MESSAGES.
TEXT MESSAGE RECIEVED: FRIDAY, NINE TWENTY FOUR P.M.
Mimi-chan, is it over already, or are you still in Shimane? How far did you get in your ABCs?
Please let me know!
-- Kikuë and Miyo
TEXT MESSAGE RECIEVED: FRIDAY, TEN TEN P.M.
Nee, why didn't you say about you and Ishida? You don't need to be so bashful with your friends! Everyone knows you two are intimate. It's all over the school, genma. So tell us how far you got? Who won? How did you judge it?
Tanaka
TEXT MESSAGE RECEIVED: FRIDAY, TEN THIRTY TWO P.M.
Hey, Mimi-chan! It's Haruko! How did it go?! I hope you used protection --don't want to end up with a D or E, right? Good luck!
TEXT MESSAGE RECEIVED: FRIDAY, ELEVEN THIRTY THREE P.M.
Konbanwa, Tachikawa! We heard you and Yamato are in lover's bliss Shimane! Tell us the hotel so we can drop by tomorrow! Kichi, Dai, Hideaki and Jun
TEXT MESSAGE RECEIVED: FRIDAY, ELEVEN THIRTY FOUR P.M.
Mimi-chan! Everyone's saying you got to C? Is it true? Tell me tomorrow!
Takahashi Marie
TEXT MESSAGE RECEIVED: SATURDAY, TWELVE O' ONE A.M.
Mimi? It's Sora. I'm getting all these text messages asking me what's going on. You're not really in Shimane with Ishida, are you? Text back as soon as possible. --Sora
TEXT MESSAGE RECEIVED: SATURDAY, TWELVE THIRTY THREE A.M.
Mimi dear, the last train already left and you're still not home... Are you stranded somewhere? Do you need money for a taxi? Please call us back! We're very, very worried. -Mother
TEXT MESSAGE RECEIVED: SATURDAY, SEVEN THIRTY SEVEN A.M.
Ne, Mimi? Did you over sleep? Why aren't you at school? Everyone's bombarding me with questions! Please wake up!
--Nanako
TEXT MESSAGE RECEIVED: SATURDAY, NINE O' FIVE A.M.
It's Yumi. It's not true about Shimane is it? Is that why you wouldn't tell us? Mimi-chan, please respond soon!
TEXT MESSAGE RECEIVED: SATURDAY, ONE NINETEEN P.M.
Mimi? I heard from Ikeda that you weren't in class today. And Takeru said Yamato left last night and didn't come back. Are you with him? What's going on? Please text me. --Sora
TEXT MESSAGE RECEIVED: SATURDAY, ONE FORTY SIX P.M.
Hey Mimi, where are you? We're all going shopping at this new place near Rainbow Bridge. It's called Toki Toki. Come meet us so you can tell us about last night, okay? Okay?
--Kiku
TEXT MESSAGE RECEIVED: SATURDAY, ONE FIFTY FIVE P.M.
Honey, I came home early today and you're still not home. Where are you? Please answer, or we'll start looking for you. Father
TEXT MESSAGE RECEIVED: SATURDAY, TWO THIRTY P.M.
Mimi-chan, have you see my brother? I've been asking around and everyone says he's with you. If he is, tell him to call me, okay?
Takeru
XVI.
"I hope you have enough money for this." Ishida commented, leaning back on the soft cushions and starring out of the sunlit window. "We've been here a while."
"I have enough money." Mimi replied softly, "I'm going to win this, Ishida."
"Whatever." He closed his eyes, resting his arms behind his head. Mimi leaned close to his ear, the unexpected intimacy causing him to shift slightly, and even she tinged pink.
"I'm serious." She said, too pleasant to be entirely mature, and too dangerous to be entirely pleasant. "And when I win," her happy whisper continued, "I'm going to get you back. I promise."
"We can do it now, if you want." He stated bluntly, infuriatingly indifferent, and with the slightest air of suggestion that made her acknowledge the distance between their lips, "There's a hotel over there."
Mimi lingered for a second, then sat back, shaking her head.
"Don't you know, Yamato-kun?" She giggled, leaving no undertone of her former seriousness, "It's no fun if you don't beg."
The taxi pulled to a stop.
"We made it. Minamiza, Kyoto." Said the driver. "That's ¥12000 even." Ishida clambered out of the taxi while Mimi paid and received her change. Then she pulled her cellphone out of her purse.
"Thank you!" The taxi drove down the street, and she smiled, "Oh, hi Mom. I'm in Kyoto, don't you remember? I reminded you a few days ago...yes...oh, it's fine. I have enough. No, I'm just fine, Ishida is here. Tell Dad not to worry. I'll be home tomorrow. Yes...Yes...No, Mom...Okaasan! Alright...alright...ja!"
"Where are we going?" Yamato inquired dryly. "More karaoke?"
Mimi stowed her phone.
"Do you like Kabuki, Yamato?"
End of Act III.
notes: I'm fairly confident that ABCs in Japan is kind of like First, Second and Third base here. D and E supposedly means pregnancy and abortion, for references to the text message type thing going on. I'm not quite sure the direction this story is taking, so bear with me, okay? La-La-Love, Artemis
P.S. In my attempt of shameless advocation, visit my website! (www.geocities.com/simchipop)