Messy hair.
Half opened eyes.
And a heavy body, in every sense.
A dark room.
The room that I now reclaimed.
Moving the body, it had no benefit.
Yet instinct calls for movement.
Getting up, with footsteps so lumber.
Reaching for the door, the door was opened.
Halfhearted groans appearing randomly.
While all the stairs seemed to disappear in sight.
The destination was reached.
The living room.
And what greeted him was loud.
"Good morning Onii-chan!"
Greeting back.
"Yeah, morning Komachi"
Halfhearted, yet still given.
As if commonplace, approaching the table, in his normal place, as if natural.
"Here you go, Onii-chan"
The sound of a clunk and below him was breakfast.
Below him were bread, eggs, and tomatoes.
"Thanks"
The reply.
And so devour he begins.
Another clunk.
Coffee dropped.
Drinking and eating he continued.
*Gasp*
The origin of the sound, where?
From Komachi.
It grabbed his attention.
Since Komachi was gazing at him and the meal.
"What?"
He asks.
"Onii-chan...you ate tomatoes...you ate tomatoes?"
"You gave them to me"
He retorts.
"Yeah, but I thought you were just gonna...put then on the side, not eating them"
"I got used to eating them in America"
"Are you really my Onii-chan?"
I retaliate.
"When you were young, you cried when there was a power outage"
"Ok, fair enough"
"Still, how did you manage to start eating them?"
"My friends knew I hated tomatoes, so they either forced it on me, or they paid me to eat it, I naturally got used to it, and plus I'm an adult now, can't be picky anymore"
"The adult part sounded really convincing, but the part about having "Friends" didn't"
"Shut up"
(As always, this little sister of mine, but it's true though, I do have friends and colleagues now)
Glaring at me again, yet this time, it felt more sly.
"So how was it?"
She started.
"How was what?"
I play her game.
"How was sleeping in that room, sleeping on that bed?"
"Horrible"
An answer in annoyance.
"The smell of perfume and tea, it won't leave the room"
"I can't get rid of it"
"Maybe you don't want to"
She jokes.
"Enough of that, Komachi"
The conversation was killed.
Resuming to breakfast.
And then the silence was broken.
"Anyway, I've been thinking Onii-chan"
(There's still more?)
"Do you finally have girlfriend?"
"No"
"Quick reply!?"
Komachi screamed.
(I already told you yesterday)
"Oh come on, Onii-chan, get a date already, get married, give me a niece or a nephew, isn't there someone that caught your attention?"
"Not interested, plus there is no one"
A sly grin, commencing her plan.
"What about Yukino-sa-
"No"
"Yui-sa-
"No"
"Iroha-sa-
"No"
(Isshiki? How did she even become an option?)
"Anyway, give up, you're not getting any of that from me any time soon"
*Sigh* "This brother of mine"
Having abandoned this conversation, Komachi returns to her food.
She tries to create something new to talk about.
"Anyway, Onii-chan, what are you planning on doing today?"
Nonchalantly, I answer.
"Nothing much, stay at home, maybe get some groceries for myself, and that's it"
"Don't you wanna go outside and visit places?"
"It's summer, I'm not going outside only to be baked alive"
"Good point"
She says.
"Well, for me, I'm too busy with work"
"But since I'm now an adult, I can handle it"
Prideful and cheery.
Until she peeks at her watch.
"Oh no! I'm gonna be really late!"
"Yeah, less talking and more eating"
I joked, yet she.
"Done!"
In surprise, I look to her plate.
Empty.
(Impossible! There should have been half of the food left in there)
Komachi prepares her bag and her lunch box, lightning fast.
In a hurry, grabbing everything she needs and then:
"Bye Onii-chan! Finish your food ok? Bye!"
Looking below.
She put her food on my plate.
"Wait! Komachi-
Before a complain could be held, the sound of the door closing stopped such effort.
*Sigh* "What a pain"
Defeated, I accept.
Finishing my breakfast.
A little bit of cleaning up.
And to the room I returned.
(Still wouldn't leave the room?)
The scent lies still, such is a detritus.
As yesterday my body refused any motion, sinking onto the mattress with no resistance proved effortless.
(I haven't unpacked yet, huh)
Meters away and distance closed, the suitcase right in front, opening it for its content.
Rummaging through, collecting the insides.
Putting them in place.
Desk.
Drawer.
Closet.
Opening the closet, unprepared, a wave of plushies flooded his feet.
("Then, Yukino-san started to bring Lots of Pan-san plushies here, there're lots of them, we hide them in the closet")
(That woman)
(How can someone need this many? you only need 1 or 2)
(What do I do with them?)
The Pan-sans', hoisted and brought somewhere else...
To Komachi's room.
To my room, I returned.
Returning to what I was doing, settling in most of my belongings.
And yet, I am not finished.
The suit case.
Reaching for the deepest parts, a box appeared, heavy and stiff, black and leather-made in appearance, value is unknown.
Hidden inside the closet, it now stayed there.
(Unpacking, done)
With most plans done, I head down for the living room, as slothful as ever, these footsteps, whilst the sofa carried the impact that is my body.
(What to do, what to do)
A simple turn, and to the clock I look.
(8:27 huh)
Komachi would've reached school by now.
(So she'd be at home by 6?)
(Looks like dinner isn't a problem)
My left arm moving, reaching for something, the remote.
Reached, and TV opened.
The news.
"Good morning everyone, it is indeed a peaceful day as of today, July 12"
Audible to the ears, the voices continued.
Heeding no attention, I made to think.
(Why didn't Komachi listen to the news?)
(In a rush? Is she really that late?)
"As summer continues, so has the heat"
(Right you are)
"And students from all over the country delighted for when summer break starts"
(Right? I remember those days, doing nothing, those were great days)
"While studying is a priority, students are also allowed to be exposed in summer fun, the so-called "Youth" that everyone cherishes"
(Hah, Youth you say?)
"Spending days with friends and family"
(...)
"And of course for couples as well"
"Go explode"
Muttering such words, faint and inaudible, only to me was it, heard loud and clear.
"For today, we have compiled a few comments from young couples, asking them what they want to do during summer break"
(Really?)
"First up, this couple says "It would be great to go on a picnic near the beach"
(You can just eat at home)
"Another couple said "Being at the park together is relaxing"
(Good for you, I guess? not)
"Oh and this couple says "Shopping at the mall"
(Cliché-
("Today was fun, see you later")
*Gasp* A faint gasp resounded, with eyes almost going bloodshot.
(Why did I remember that?)
As if to deny the confusion, a refusal of any assumption.
(It's nothing, it's nothing, just a random memory)
"Anyway, since I've got nothing to do, might as well go for a light jog"
(While it's still early)
Gray jacket.
Running shoes.
With the normal running wear layering me, I head off.
"I'll be out for a while, take care of yourself, Kamakura-san"
With Kamakura-san only 2 meters away from him, he meows in response.
(I'm back outside huh)
With simple stretches done, my legs operate strong yet subtle strides.
*Thud*
*Thud*
*Thud*
*Thud*
My footsteps sounded heavy, yet I still had energy.
Everywhere I look, bits of nostalgia came crashing through my head, every type, every memory, almost anything and everything was being pulled out of my mind.
Remembering the moments when I walked these streets.
Tanaka's house.
*Thud*
*Thud*
The house with lots of dogs.
*Thud*
*Thud*
The house with a giant llama statue.
*Thud*
*Thud*
Some playgrounds I went to.
*Thud*
*Thud*
Some certain seconds cross the clock, with turns and turns, and coincidentally, I stumble upon something, something beautiful.
It was still under constant attack from the sun, yet it was standing there, as if the heat never came to be.
Glistening in front of me, majestic was all that it was, unmoving, yet it swayed my heart, draping itself in color of classic.
Praising it seemed almost natural, something I could do for hours on end, with the final compliment nearly lost.
We've met again...
MAX
The very same one from yesterday.
(Looks like today's the day)
The vending machine stood still, its position unchanging, as though to incite me into approaching.
No part of me showed any sign of reluctance.
*Step*
*Step*
With every step beaming with excitement and anticipation
*Step*
*Step*
Only 7 meters of distance left.
*Step*
*Step*
*Step*
(Why am I nervous?)
*Step*
*Step*
(Why was this the only time I felt overly nervous?)
So close, only 3 meters of land separating us
*Step*
*Step*
2 meters
*Step*
*Step*
*Step*
Finally
Putting my hand on the vending machine
(You're as beautiful as the day I lost you)
The long awaited reunion as of now commenced
All over, I've search for this.
Online shipping I thought, don't do it I thought, I wasn't allowed I thought, didn't do it I thought
All of that ignored, as the only thing my entirety was focused on was right in front of me.
(It's good to have some coffee in the morning)
Even though I already did
(It doesn't matter)
All that mattered was this
With wallet in hand, before even noticing it
It seems even this body is eager
The money, inside
With only 2 seconds of wait, the sound of a thud came, with that something fell
As might be, routine...no instinct called for it, bending down to receive Pandora's Box
Rummaging through
(Got you)
The package has been sealed
Freezing in its entirety, and rather than sweat, condensation called for water
Waiting no longer, opening the can and almost delusional yet reasonable
"Cheers"
*Chug*
*Chug*
Every part of my body, consumed by euphoria, a great amount of pleasure rushing to my brain, my tongue dancing in delight, yet at the same time, a certain nostalgia came with it
*Puwaahh*
(Uhh, the American one can't even compare)
The same brand, the same product, yet different?
(Nothing beats you huh)
(You truly are)
The sweetness of life
Slice of Life elements! Go!
Kiryu