Shoko Komi's Ultimate Challenge
by Ulquiorra9000
Communication 21: oh brother, again
In homeroom on Friday morning, Shoko Komi was squirming in her seat, a note held tight in her hands. Did she dare pass this note to Hitohito Tadano and launch her next challenge? Actually, did this idea even count as a challenge, since Shoko wouldn't be doing most of the work? And what if it went badly, and everyone blamed her?
Shoko shook her head, then pumped her fists with a happy "Hmph!" Of course she can do this!
She passed the note.
Hitohito's eyes scanned the note, and then he looked up at his friend with a look of pleasant surprise. "I can come over this Sunday? For real?"
Shoko nodded timidly, giving Hitohito an only-if-you-want-to expression. Her heart thudded in her chest, her palms getting sweaty. Such a daring challenge...!
Hitohito motioned with the paper note. "And your brother will be there? Shosuke?"
Shoko made a nervous squeak and nodded again.
That was when Hitohito broke into a wide smile. "I'd love to make friends with your little bro, Komi. I'm curious to see how much we have in common! Thanks for inviting me over."
Another nod was the best response Shoko could offer as she continued squirming in her seat. But at least Hitohito looked excited, and Shoko vaguely wondered if she should have a girls' day out with Hitomi sometime. Well, maybe later. She had enough on her mind right now!
*o*o*o*o*
Shoko was seated on the living room couch, tensely flicking through a teen fashion magazine when the doorbell rang, and she jumped and scrambled for the door. And somehow, her mother Shuko was there too, almost like she had teleported with her secret mom-powers.
"Oh, is it the Tadano boy?" Shuko asked warmly, cupping a hand to her cheek. "Let him in, Shoko!"
I was already planning that! Shoko's face said as she swung open the door to admit her friend. Hitohito stepped inside and shrugged off his jacket, the same one Shoko had bought for him at the mall the other week.
"Hello again, Mrs. Komi," Hitohito said warmly as he took off his shoes. "And hi, Komi. Glad to be here."
"Is there anything I can get you, Tadano dear?" Shuko asked eagerly. She was positively radiant. "I've got lots of extra snacks. And fruit juice!"
Shoko frantically waved her hands to make her mom stop. What, did Shuko think they were six years old?!
"A little tea, I guess. Thanks," Hitohito said. He gave Shoko a charming grin. "So, upstairs?"
Shoko motioned for her friend to follow, her heart thudding in her chest once again, her hand shaking slightly. True, she had invited friends over before, such as Hitohito and Najimi, but this time, it was just her and Hitohito! In Shuko's eyes, this officially made them boyfriend and girlfriend, right? Shuko was an aggressive shipper, after all, and this was kind of like a house date. Was that a thing? Shoko didn't really know what other teenagers liked to do, honestly.
Anyway, Shoko graciously led Hitohito upstairs after a bit of Shuko's tea, then knocked on her brother's room. After about five seconds, Shosuke slightly opened the door, peeking out at his guests.
Shoko cleared her throat and smoothed her hair. She can do this! "Shosuke, um... can we hang out in your room? I'd like you to meet my friend."
Shosuke merely watched his sister with those unreadable eyes of his for what felt like a solid minute. Then he nodded and creaked open the door to let his guests in, though he didn't seem enthusiastic about it.
"So! It's nice to meet you. I'm Hitohito Tadano, Komi's classmate and friend," Hitohito announced with a friendly bow.
Shosuke merely did a slight bow back and remained stone-silent until Shoko gently swatted her brother's shoulder. Clearly startled, Shosuke took a few seconds to compose himself, then muttered, "I'm Shosuke Komi. Nice to meet you."
"How about a Western-style handshake? Let's break the ice," Hitohito said awkwardly but kindly, offering a hand. Shosuke merely stared at it.
Five seconds passed, then ten, then fifteen, then... too many. Poor Hitohito merely stood there, visibly sweating as his new friend refused to shake that hand.
Shoko made an annoyed "hmph!" and gave her brother a stern scowl. Alarmed, Shosuke cautiously and limply shook Hitohito's, sealing the deal. Well, it didn't feel like much of a deal so far.
"What grade are you in, Kom - uh..." Hitohito piped up.
"Ninth grade. And call me Shosuke," the other boy mumbled, averting his eyes. "Since I'm younger than you."
"Okay, sure. Shosuke, what kind of stuff do you do for fun? What sort of hobbies have you got?" Hitohito gave Shoko an apprehensive look, and Shoko made sure to give her friend a reassuring look in return. Her challenge was to help facilitate this brave new friendship, no matter what! She really wanted the two most important boys in her life to get along. If Shoko could pull that off, any other challenge would feel like easy street!
But Shosuke wasn't doing his part. He merely shrugged, still not meeting Hitohito's eyes.
"I admit, I don't have a whole lot of hobbies either," Hitohito admitted, "though I've got a decent light novel collection for summer reading and I play Swamp Bros. with Komi and some other friends. Have you ever played it?"
Shosuke merely shook his head. Well, at least that answer was honest.
"What high school do you wanna go to? Maybe Itan, where Komi and I go?"
Shosuke shrugged again.
"Do you go to the mall a lot? Komi and I sometimes go there with friends. She even bought me a new outfit."
Shosuke held up one finger.
"Just once? Okay. Um..." Hitohito rubbed his hands and looked around the room. "Mind if I...?" He pointed.
Shosuke didn't respond, so Hitohito poked around the room, including checking out the manga volumes, light novels, and random CD cases on Shosuke's large bookshelf. "Hey, you've got Berserk!" Hitohito commented, flipping through the first volume. "I checked out a few volumes at the library, and wow, it's pretty R-rated! I can't afford a lot of manga volumes, though, not after getting my favorite light novels. Figures, huh?" He chuckled.
Shosuke still didn't respond. Ugh!
Hitohito kept exploring Shosuke's room and commenting on what he found, including the AliensWare laptop and the acoustic guitar, but Shosuke didn't say a word. Shoko clutched her face in despair, wondering if she should cut her losses and just invite Hitohito back downstairs to watch TV with her or something. Why wasn't Shosuke saying anything?! It's like Hitohito wasn't even speaking his language...
That's it!
Shoko hurried over to her friend, grabbed the acoustic guitar from the closet, and pressed it into Hitohito's hands. "Try it," she whispered.
Bewildered, but open to try anything, Hitohito took hold of the instrument and strummed it at random. It didn't sound so good, and Shosuke seemed to think so, too. He immediately strode over, motioned, and accepted the guitar from his new friend. Shosuke played the first 30 seconds of his favorite J-rock song, nodding his head to the rhythm, then handed the guitar back.
"Hmmmmm. Let me see..." Hitohito tried to copy what Shosuke had done, but the notes were wrong, and it sounded totally different. Shosuke took the guitar back and demonstrated once again, with Hitohito paying closer attention this time. When Shosuke handed the instrument back, Hitohito closed his eyes, exhaled slowly, then strummed a decent approximation of the song. It was recognizable, at least, and Shoko clapped. Hitohito was so gifted!
Shosuke nodded with approval, took the guitar back, then strummed a few basic chords. He handed it back, and after a few false starts, Hitohito strummed a messy but reasonable set of chords himself, and Shosuke even guided the other boy's fingers to get the chords just right. With Shosuke's help, Hitohito finally performed a perfect chord, and Shoko gasped with delight. Music really could bring people together! Hooray!
The challenge wasn't yet complete, though. Shoko put the shared guitar back in the closet and grabbed the laptop, then cracked it open and motioned for her brother to type in his password. Then the trio sat on the bed together with Shosuke in the middle, and the younger Komi silently but cheerfully scrolled through his extensive Steam library. Hitohito leaned closer to check it out, pointing at the games he knew and nodding with approval or giving a thumbs-up. And when Shoko suggested it, Shosuke loaded a challenging puzzle game and cleared the first level, then handed the laptop to Hitohito. To Shoko's delight, Hitohito narrowed his eyes in silent concentration and cleared the second level before passing the laptop back. They kept going back and forth as the levels got tougher.
Of course! Shosuke, not unlike his sister, preferred to express himself not through words, but through actions and objects, such as the guitar, computer games, or going fishing with Masayoshi once or twice a month. And Hitohito, being the very kind and understanding boy he was, had no trouble adapting to Shosuke's ways so they could bond.
More, more!
Shoko watched with joy as Shosuke and Hitohito moved on to another game, then headed downstairs to grab snacks together and watch a prank TV show with Shosuke joining them. No one laughed out loud, but Shoko definitely saw amusement in both boys' eyes as they took turns pointing at the TV to indicate which pranks they liked best. And not a single word needed to be exchanged.
Finally, Hitohito made a certain expression (Komi couldn't read it) and motioned something to Shosuke. Going slightly pink, Shosuke shrugged and waved a hand in a funny way, then returned the favor to Hitohito. Then, to Shoko's shock, Hitohito flinched, went bright red, and glanced at Shoko before making an unreadable but frantic motion right back, and Shosuke nodded. Did Shoko see a cunning look in her brother's eyes? Did Shosuke know something Shoko didn't? This challenge had taken on a life of its own!
Finally, Hitohito checked the time on his phone, pointed at it, and offered his hand. Shosuke offered a firm and manly handshake, then Hitohito slipped on his shoes and jacket and waved goodbye at the front door. "See you tomorrow at school, Komi!" he said brightly as he opened the door. Then he offered a thumbs-up to Shosuke, who returned it. Looking pleased, Hitohito took his leave.
Shoko just stood there, utterly bewildered. She cleared her throat. "Shosuke, why did Tadano go red like that?"
Shosuke shrugged. "We... exchanged opinions."
"On what?"
"It was... personal."
"Oh. Um..."
That was when Shosuke collapsed into Shoko's arms and an alarmed Shoko barely caught him in time. What the heck?
"I'm so worn out," Shosuke groaned. "I've never hung out with anyone for that long. Ugh..."
Shoko smiled. "It takes work to build friendships, Shosuke."
"I see what you mean, big sis."
"But isn't it worth it?"
Shosuke merely offered a shaky thumbs-up. Good enough!
Shoko half-carried her exhausted brother back up his room and set him on the bed, then gave him another quick smile before retreating to her own room, where she flopped belly-first onto her bed and covered her face with her hands. To be honest, that challenge had been exhausting for her too, but true to her word, it was so worth it! Perhaps Shoko should give herself some credit; she had become good enough at friendships that she could help other people make friends, too. She had become her brother's own Tadano! Amazing!
Shuko and Masayoshi had no idea why their daughter was humming happily to herself that evening at dinner, so she simply gave them a thumbs-up and resumed eating. Good enough!
