Shoko Komi's Ultimate Challenge

by Ulquiorra9000

Communication 30: old and new

While everyone in Shoko Komi's class was stretching in the gym for a session of dodgeball, Shoko overheard something rather interesting.

"I'm sorry, I can't today," Nokoko Inaka told Najimi with an apologetic smile. She did a few more stretches. "I gotta help my ma pack up all our things before movin' day! It's on Sunday."

Today was Friday, and that meant Nokoko didn't have much time before the big move. Shoko wished her friend well.

"Aw, be a sport!" Najimi laughed and swatted Nokoko's shoulder. "Chasing ducks at the park is so fun! All the cool kids are gonna be there."

"I... I can't," Nokoko said again, bowing her head.

"Fine." Najimi wandered off to find someone else to pester.

Shoko, meanwhile, wondered how long it would take her to pack up all her worldly possessions and move them to a new home to a new neighborhood. Or a new city! Shoko knew by now that Nokoko was from the countryside, and moving to Tokyo had been a big step for her. And now Nokoko had to move again? So stressful!

New challenge time.

Shoko timidly approached Nokoko and got out a piece of emergency paper from her gym shorts pockets, along with an emergency pen. She wrote her message: Nokoko, do you need any help with the move?

Nokoko flinched and went pink. "I... I...! Maybe? But shucks, Komi, I'd feel mighty guilty askin' you to help out!"

I can help you and your mom move on Sunday. I'd like to do something nice for a friend. And it seems you and your mom could use the help, if I may say so.

Nokoko stared at the note in awe. "You'd really do that for me, Komi? That's so grand of you! And it's true my ma and I are havin' a hard time packin' everything, plus we can't afford more than the truck and a driver. Gotta do all the hard work ourselves."

Is that a yes?

"Um..." Nokoko clasped her hands under her chin and glanced around, clearly thinking it over. Then she beamed. "Yes, please! I'd love to have you on the movin' team, Komi! City gals are so wonderful after all!"

Shoko cocked her head in confusion.

"I-it's nothing!" This time, Nokoko went bright red and motioned with her hands. "It's just that... in the countryside, you get used to folks always helpin' one another in small communities. But in the big city, everyone's in such a rush, and there are so many strangers... you know..."

Shoko returned Nokoko's smile and offered one last note. There are always nice people around you if you look hard enough. I'll see you on Sunday!

"Y... yeah! And thanks again!" Nokoko smile widened, and right on cue, the coach blew her whistle. It was time to split into two teams for dodgeball!

Shoko's team lost rather badly. Ouch.

*o*o*o*o*

"Ah! Yer right on time, missy. Nice to have ya here," said the lady who could only be Nokoko's mother, or Mrs. Inaka. She swung open the apartment door and motioned for her guest to step inside. "Place is a bit cramped, what with all them boxes. Nokoko can show ya where to start."

Shoko nodded and stepped inside, trying to crack her neck and her knuckles to look impressive. Wow, this place really was chaotic! The modest apartment already had a couple dozen cardboard boxes all taped shut, with many more open and half-full. And then there was the matter of furniture, from the low dining room table and legless chairs to a few small bookshelves, a TV and its wooden stand, two dresser units, and more. Some of them looked really heavy! Shoko wondered if she should have invited Makoto Katai over to help with that. He was big and strong, like a superhero. But maybe he was busy training with his sister at the family dojo.

"Oh! Hey there, Komi," Nokoko said brightly as peeked her head out of her bedroom door. "Glad you're here! I'm way behind schedule, haha..."

Shoko joined her friend in the bedroom and presented a note: Where should I start?

"Well, I thought I had all my clothes packed up, then realized I done goofed up and did them wrong!" Nokoko wiped her brow. "Ma yelled at me good for that one. So I had to unpack 'em, then knocked over a box of books and had to sort 'em again! We don't have much time left after all that."

"My girl is right clumsy, she is," Mrs. Inaka commented from the hallway. "She's darn lucky she's got generous friends like you, Komi."

"Ma...!" Nokoko whined.

"Oh, just teasin' you, Nokoko," Mrs. Inaka said cheerily. "But really, chop chop! We're losin' daylight here."

"Ah! Right." Nokoko motioned. "How about you help me with these books, Komi, and once I'm done with my clothes, we'll move my furniture. But be careful! Neither of us very strong..." She winced.

Shoko nodded and got to work. Nokoko wasn't too picky about how her books and other personal items were packed, so long as they didn't jostle around, which made things easy. Shoko felt herself grinning as she neatly packed Nokoko's stuff like a wholesome game of Tetris, and it felt great to fold the boxes shut and tape them before writing NOKOKO BEDROOM ITEMS on them. She then picked up the boxes and carried them to the living room near the door.

"Okay! That does it for my clothes." Nokoko wiped her brow again after she set down her four boxes of clothes by the front door. "Now for my furniture. You ready?"

Shoko nodded, then joined her friend in the bedroom and realized that she was not ready.

"How... did we move this... to begin with?" Nokoko grunted, trying in vain to move her heavy dresser from her end. "Grrrrrgh!"

"It was 'cause we had movin' men to help," Mrs. Inaka called out from her own bedroom. "We can't afford none of that this time. Put yer back in it, girls! Find a way!"

Easier said than done, but Shoko didn't dare back down. Who says two determined girls can't do what they set out to do? It was tough, but after a bit of experimenting, Shoko and Nokoko figured out a method to partially lift, then wiggle and scoot the heavy dresser out of the room and down the hall. Good thing the Inakas were on the ground floor, or getting that dresser down a flight of stairs would prove nearly impossible!

Shoko worked up a sweat as she helped the Inakas prepare all their stuff, and sure enough, the moving truck's driver politely warned them that they were nearly out of time. More driven than ever, Shoko summoned all her strength as the shadow dragon princess and heaved every box and piece of furniture into the waiting truck.

"Here. Ya earned this," Mrs. Inaka said warmly, offering Shoko a bottled energy drink. "You're doin' a mighty fine job, missy. Now let's squeeze into the truck and be on our way."

There was barely enough room in the moving truck's cabin for the three ladies and the male driver, but they managed, and Shoko found it relaxing and fun to sit in there and watch the city go by as they drove to the Inakas' new apartment. After a half-hour drive, they arrived at an equally modest but newer-looking apartment complex, and to Shoko's immense relief, the Inakas' new place was on the ground floor here, too. Time for work!

Shoko was definitely getting tired and sore by now, but the challenge was only half-done! She literally rolled up the sleeves of her plain white T-shirt and resumed work, panting and sweating with effort as she helped Nokoko and Mrs. Inaka unpack everything from the truck, carefully going down the truck's wide metal ramp and into the new apartment. Ah, it was thrilling to step into an empty, clean apartment and imagine how it could be filled with stuff to become a proper home! It was like painting on a fresh canvas.

"Okay, nice and easy with that, girls," Mrs. Inaka warned as Shoko and Nokoko slowly moved Nokoko's dresser down the ramp. The words barely left Mrs. Inaka's mouth when the dresser got snagged on the ramp, and Shoko, who was pushing rather hard on it, heard a wooden crack!

"Aw, shoot!" Nokoko flinched in surprise and lost her grip, so the dresser tumbled down the ramp and onto the parking lot pavement, fully breaking in half. The three of them just stared at the ruined dresser for a moment before Shoko suddenly felt her eyes burning with ears.

How could she do that?! Shoko had forgotten that the foldable ramp had bumps and ridges on it, and now look! So careless! She knelt to a crouching position on the ramp, hands clapped over her face as she sobbed in guilt, the challenge forgotten. Then she felt four comforting hands gently take hold of her.

"That's okay, Komi. It was an old dresser anyway! It was gettin' kinda loose and messed up anyway," came Nokoko's voice. "No big deal."

"We'll find ourselves a new one. We're a resourceful family, we are," came Mrs. Inaka's slightly gruff voice. "These things happen, Komi."

Shoko was immensely relieved they weren't angry at her, but still...! She wondered if she shouldn't have bothered to help.

"We can still do this," Nokoko assured her friend. "I'm so proud of you for volunteerin' to help, Komi! We couldn't have done this without you."

"On your feet, missy," Mrs. Inaka told her. "We've got a job to do, and we need yer yelp."

Shoko shakily got to her feet, sniffing and wiping her eyes. She nodded bravely and, after she apologized with a written note, vowed to be doubly careful. She got back to work, helping the Inakas move the rest of the stuff into their new living space, no matter her soreness or exhaustion. The sun was starting to set by the time the three of them finished the job, and then Shoko got another idea.

My mom once took me to a used furniture store near my neighborhood, Shoko told the Inakas with her note as the three of them gathered in the new apartment's near-empty living room. I'll help you find a new dresser for a low price, Nokoko! And I'll use all my allowance to help you buy one.

Nokoko gasped and held her hands to her mouth. "You'd do that for me, Komi?"

Shoko made a watery smile and added to her note. I'll help you pick out a sturdy, stylish dresser to make your room sparkle! I can ask my mom or dad to drive it here in their car.

"Well I'll be, Nokoko." Mrs. Inaka clapped her daughter's back with a hand. "These city folk are all right after all! You've got yerself a good friend here."

"Yeah. I sure do!" Nokoko beamed and gave the thumbs-up. "And thank you so much for all your help!"

Shoko returned the gesture and made a quiet, satisfied "Hmph!" She would help the Inakas dispose of the broken dresser, then get home and take a bath and relax for the evening. She was exhausted, but in a good way, and she decided the challenge was complete after all. And helping Nokoko pick out a new dresser would be a fun bonus challenge, too!

Shoko took a taxi home in high, if sweaty, spirits.