Chapter 37 - Meeting Teruhashi
Teruashi Kokomi was about to kick God's ass.
First, her phone died. Like, how was that even possible? So what if she had not gotten a new phone in three years and she was due for a new one? The stupid thing held charge for barely an hour. You would think, with her family's money, being able to afford a 1 billion yen house, could afford their most perfect little girl a new phone every year. But no. Kokomi had to be prim and proper. She could not be a burden on her family. She wasn't about to stoop so low as to use her charm to get one of her many admirers to give her a new phone.
The perfect woman was not a spoiled princess.
Then, Chiyo ditched her, again.
Kokomi waited at that cafe, studying, ignoring her admirers, for nearly three hours straight.
Was it time well spent?
Of course. Without Chiyo to distract her with juicy school gossip, Kokomi was laser-focused on reviewing the topics for the last day of finals. Kokomi had gotten enough studying done that she was certain that she might even make top ten.
Which presented a moral dilemma.
Kokomi wanted to do well, academically. The higher the score, the better her chances are of getting into the college of her choice.
If she did too well, then her popularity would take a dip.
The perfect woman was not the type of person who made people feel small.
Plus, doing too well now might make it look like she was going to a certain college to chase after a certain pink-haired boy who was clearly beneath her. She did not want Saiki to end up thinking that she was pity-dating him.
Was she that hopeless?
No.
She was desperate.
His absence only made her obsess over him like a stalker with a restraining order.
Kokomi had found herself targeting hangout places that gave her an excuse to walk by his house. She had been doing this for several weeks. No doubt that their school friends did the same.
Opposite of what she recalled as a house full of warmth, cheer, food, and chattering of the happily married couple trying to egg their grumpy son into a smile, the Saiki domicile had become desolate in recent time. The lights in the house were rarely on, even at night. The light in Saiki's room was never on. The yard looked like it was rarely tended. There barely seemed to be any life.
Oh. And the rain.
It had been an incredibly wet spring. Kokomi had come home dripping wet more than a dozen times since when it rained, it poured. The rain was not that gentle drizzle that a stranger would find it easy to offer her an umbrella as a romantic gesture.
Not that she looked bad.
Never.
The perfect goddess was always perfect, even when soaked.
But Kokomi had to torture herself back into health each time she got wet since a cold almost immediately followed. She was not about to subjugate herself to her brother's terrible nursing skills, or miss school and make life horrible for her teachers and classmates because she wasn't there to brighten their day with her presence.
So there she goes again, stalking, with her school bag on a shoulder, walking a certain path so she could be just "passing by" Saiki's house and hoping that God was on her side to magically reveal Saiki to her.
God deserved to be slapped.
Kokomi did see Saiki's mother in the little courtyard, right behind the gate though.
It was the first time in a long while that Kokomi had seen Saiki's mother.
Saiki Kurumi looked very tired. She listlessly swept the small path that led from the gate to the front door, as if in a trance. Kurumi looked so tired that Kokomi suspected that the older woman did a few too many all-nighters.
Why would a suburban mom do an all-nighter? Who knows. But when Kurumi did not even look up when Kokomi greeted the woman, Kokomi assumed that the older woman did not hear her.
It was the middle of finals week and there were more pressing issues. Kokomi needed to go home, charge her phone, and call up her girlfriends, like Chisato-chan, and complain about Chiyo's betrayal. Kokomi won't bash Chiyo too badly, since Kokomi still considered Chiyo as a close friend and Chiyo was probably distracted by Kaidou, again. Kokomi had enough girlfriends who completely ghosted her the moment they made a boyfriend to expect it.
Speaking of boyfriends, even Imu-chan, a cute girl from second year, had gotten a boyfriend to her liking.
Imu-chan's said boyfriend was in the hospital, though. So Imu had been acting like the tragic heroine and spent time with him at the hospital. It sounded like her boyfriend came from a family of big shot doctors and the said boyfriend might not be bad marriage material.
The thought dampened Kokomi's mood.
How come such a perfect girl like Kokomi could not get the boy she wants? What about herself was not to Saiki's liking? Was it her height? Her weight? Her voice? Her breath? The color of her eyes? Her body odor?
Was it her gender?
Kokomi dismissed the last idea. She didn't need to become Makoto 2.0. Makoto already got on Saiki's nerves. Kokomi was sure that Makoto 2.0 was not going to improve her chances with the pink-haired boy.
Kokomi turned a corner almost too quickly.
She only saw a red necktie, the neckline of a starched white collared shirt, the standard salaryman's suit jacket before colliding against the knot of that tie with her forehead.
Oof!
Kokomi was so absorbed by her thoughts that she had run into this stupid human roadblock at full speed! Which was impressive, considering that Kokomi was used to dodging the paparazzi and had a sixth sense for people at all times.
Kokomi fell backward, almost to the point of falling on her ass.
No problem. All her training as a perfect pretty girl had prepared her for such a moment as this. Using her school bag as a counterbalance, she swung it around elegantly to regain balance.
Unfortunately, she hit something.
It was someone's grocery bags.
Normally, Kokomi had incredible patience. The perfect pretty girl was that female who would never lose her temper because she was so innocent, so kind, so nice that it was impossible for her to be angry.
But ever since that no-good-jerk-pink-haired boy decided to stop coming to school, and was replaced by that smelly-feet-metaphor freak Shinoda, Kokomi simply found every single day, trying not to let Shinoda bother her, just irritating.
And falling on her pretty buttocks was the last straw. She felt so angry that she only saw dark clouds.
"Why don't you watch where you're going, you...!"
"Seriously, Teruhashi-san," spoke a voice that seemed so familiar, yet, sounded so strange. There was a lack of hollowness about that voice. "You ran into me."
Whoever it was, was busy collecting the items that got thrown to the side from the errant whipping of the school bag.
That person had magenta-pink hair!
"Saiki-kun?"
The person had gathered up his stuff and stood back up.
Kokomi felt her initial smile morph and evolve into...
Wonder.
Saiki was taller, for one. Taller than she remembered. It seemed like he had hit a growth spurt in the weeks that he had been away. Either that or Kokomi got shorter.
The clothing that he wore was unusually formal, like he was working full time at an office building. It must've been a cold office building because he even wore black gloves to match. He still wore those green-tinted glasses though.
The hairpins were back on his head, even though Kokomi distinctively remembered that Saiki had stopped wearing the beginning of the school year. A perfect woman like her noticed all accessaries.
The hairpins, though, look slightly different. Instead of the white and blue hairpin base, they were black. The little pink balls at the end were the same as the one he had back in second year.
Saiki's expression was decidedly grim. Kokomi had known Saiki to have a resting bitch face, in that dissociative, don't-give-a-damn kind of way. Except for this time, there was an unusual sullenness to that expression.
It was then Kokomi mentally went into a panic.
Her perfect woman act! She was sitting on her buttocks! What if he had seen her underwear!? Her legs were not crossed demurely like a lady! How was she going to get him to like her if she was not perfect!?
While she was mentally berating herself for not being on top of her game in front of the boy she liked, she unconsciously felt him grabbed her hand, pulled her back on her feet.
For a long moment, Kokomi could only think of how her heart was pounding hard and loud. How his warmth had spread outside his gloves.
Kokomi suddenly wondered if she had put on deodorant (1) or if she used the right perfume that day. Did she put on extra lotion? To make sure that her skin was appropriately supple to look at and touch? What about lip balm? Or even lip gloss? What about makeup?
She wasn't prepared for her first meeting with Saiki again to be so imperfect!
She had so many questions to ask him. Like:
Where had he been?
Why was he out?
Why did he withdraw from school?
Never mind that they've snooped in his file. She had to play dumb. Saki wasn't supposed to find out.
What would he say if she tells him that she likes him? Would he say anything at all?
Did he even know how much agony that he had caused her by his sudden absence? How much that annoyed her?
Arg! She still hadn't said anything to him.
Her crush was right in front of her, after more than a month of absence and she had nothing to say to him!
Worthless mouth. Work!
"Your hair is longer," said Saiki, in his usual neutral manner.
Kokomi immediately looked down as she felt her face flush a little.
What if he only mentioned her hair because he didn't like the length?
If Kokomi looked up, and saw the looks of disapproval, she might really run the other direction in a panic and shave her head.
She was the perfect woman, and there was no way that anyone could dislike her hair. But with Saiki-kun, she was never certain.
Kokomi raised her arm to nervously pull at the ends of her hair strands. "Yeah. Well, I haven't cut it in a couple of months," she mumbled.
Stupid. Stupid! STUPID!
What kind of dumb ass, alluring, perfect woman response was that?!
Kokomi felt the air move about her.
He bowed and was going to walk right around her!
Unconsciously, Kokomi felt her body move out of its own accord and she hugged him from behind, to keep him from running away.
Why the hell was she acting like a despairing support actress in a shitty soap opera!?
Yes. This was extremely embarrassing for her.
Yes. Someone was probably taking blackmailing pictures right now.
But at that moment, she didn't care.
"I miss you," Kokomi blurted.
Saiki wasn't an illusion, like that day she discovered that she liked the quiet pink-haired boy. Or that one fantastic dream where they were the prince and princess of a castle.
No. She grabbed him and held him. He was warm. He was real. He smelled like tea and had an oddly foreign and adult manner about him, like he had to mature very quickly.
Saiki covered her hands with his own. It was light and gentle. It reminded her of the last time she walked him home and how elated she had been, childishly fantasizing about a future family with him and all the cute children they would have.
Kokomi felt her face flush deeply and it somehow reminded her of Chiyo. She remembered how Chiyo described her first alone study date with Kaidou, and how Chiyo nearly melted like butter.
Kokomi felt like melting right now.
"Get your hands off of her, you stinkin' four-eyes!"
Makoto!
At this moment, Kokomi was about to kick her annoying, interfering, no good older brother from here to Timbuktu! She was having a moment here! With the first boy she liked! Why was Makoto ruining it?!
Kokomi felt Makoto grabbed her arm and forcefully dragged her away. It had happened so fast that Kokomi did not have the time to process Makoto's actions or do something about them.
"What are you doing with her!?" Makoto demanded from behind his pale blue surgical face mask. Makoto was in his standard disguise to ward away crowds of adoring female fans. Beanie hat, sunglasses, and face mask. "I take a longer job and you bewitch my sister the moment my back was turned!"
"O-nii-chan!" exclaimed Kokomi as she snatched her arms back, forcing Makoto to let go. "What are you doing here? I thought your filming schedule kept you occupied until next week."
"We finished early because Goriki-san isn't feeling well," said Makoto quickly. He turned to look at the pink-haired no-talent, useless four-eyes. "You better not be dreaming about hanging around my sister, four-eyes! She's too good for you!"
"O-nii-chan, stop it," said Kokomi in a placating tone. "Don't say such embarrassing, silly things."
Makoto was having none of it. "Yeah? Why is he all decked out in a suit and tie, then? He must be dressed to impress! You're trying to get my sister to fall in love with you, aren't you? You're just like one of her many suitors."
The said four eyes, rolled his eyes. He hefted his grocery bags, and began to walk away, completely ignoring the Teruhashi siblings.
"Hey, I'm not done talking to you!" Makoto declared with a grouchy expression on his face.
"O-nii-chan. Stop it. You're making a scene," said Kokomi, this time in a stern tone. She had to get the situation under control. Saiki was already walking away!
"Yeah. You better get out of here," called Makoto loudly. "You might be her friend, but she's not interested in you!"
The situation had devolved in a manner out of Kokomi's control. Hating the fact that she sounded desperate but wanting to spend a little more time with Saiki before he inexplicably disappeared again, she called out, "Wait! Saiki-kun! I..."
By then, Saiki had already turned the corner and out of sight, going toward the direction of his house. He did not even pause to throw a glance at her.
Kokomi stared at the street corner where Saiki slipped out of sight with an incredulous expression.
Her sweet person wasn't enough to make him standstill.
Over to the side, Makoto was looking mighty proud of himself for beating off another unworthy suitor. He reached over to grab Kokomi's hand. "Come on, Kokomi. Let's go home."
With a swing of her arm, Kokomi flipped his handoff.
"Why did you do that!?" Kokomi demanded.
Even though it was the second time that Kokomi had rejected his hand, Makoto did not think much of it. He had to protect Kokomi from unwanted attention and influence. "Well, that Saiki is..."
Kokomi did not allow Makoto to prove his reasons. "I like him!" Kokomi said through gritted teeth, making sure she was quiet enough to convey the message, but not too loud to be overheard out of an earshot. Kokomi felt her eyes begin to tear and her sinuses swell. She refused to cry though. She understood the effects of her tears on the surrounding populace. "Why did you have to tell him to leave!?"
Makoto seemed confused by her words. "You like him? But Kokomi. You like everybody. He's no different than the usual flies that buzz around you and you entertain them. I'm your O-nii-san. I have an obligation to protect you from the usual human trash."
Normally, Makoto's words did not have much of an impact on Kokomi. She was used to his usual nonsense and tolerated it since it generally came from a good place.
"But I really do like him," said Kokomi with clenched fists, feeling anger welling up. "I want him to like me!"
Makoto looked at his sister, realizing that she was near having a full meltdown, and backed off a bit. He needed to placate her, but still protect her from unnecessary heartbreak. "Kokomi-chan, you know that this is just an infatuation. He is a thing that you like now and discard later. I've seen you do this hundreds of times."
The words struck a chord within Kokomi. "What do you mean?" she asked with a slight quiver in her voice.
Without missing a beat, Makoto answered, "Well, you pretend to like someone, get what you wanted out of them, their adoration, their love, their gifts, get your thrill in, then move on. You do this all the time. We are Teruhashi. It's how the world works around us."
Kokomi looked stricken, and her expression twisted in a mixture of naked emotions.
"I simply think Saiki is the type who plays hard to get so you'd waste more time on him," Makoto continued saying. "I've seen the type. They're everywhere in the celebrity world. They are usually the shittiest actors and actresses but they act like they're so valuable and untouchable. They are the ones who manipulate others into thinking that they're more desirable than they truly are. They string people along, only to cut them loose or backstab them later when they got bored. I want to protect you from that."
Kokomi just stared at her brother, her expression slowly evolving into something unreadable.
"Look, you know that Saiki doesn't have anything to offer you," reasoned Makoto, "but he still acts so high and mighty around you. He's a measly high schooler, for god sakes." Makoto paused to let the words sink in. "You don't deserve that. You deserve someone far better, someone who knows your worth and can give you your worth. Didn't you say that the Saiko Conglomerate heir, Saiko Metori, is interested in you? Someone like that, or a real prince, is worthy of you. Especially me. I can make sure that you live in the lap of luxury and protect you for the rest of your life. That poor, stinkin' average, four eyes cannot offer you that. Wake up and know that this is just a fling."
Kokomi squeezed her eyes shut. Makoto was making too much sense for her.
Her heart though, did not want sense.
"I don't want a prince or a wealthy heir," said Kokomi in a hushed whisper. "Saiki Kusuo is who I like. I feel like I've liked him for so long that I would've known if it's just mere infatuation."
Makoto shook his head. "No, Kokomi-chan. You know I'm right. Stop wasting time on him. Don't let a piece of dung stain the magnificent wildflower that you are."
Damn metaphor, just like that jerk Shinoda!
"No! O-nii-san. You're wrong!"
At the formal address, Makoto's heart skipped a beat. Kokomi had only ever used the sweet, intimate '-chan' honorific with him before. It had been what made her so adorable and lovable. "Wha?"
"So what if whom I like is crap in your eyes?" Kokomi heard the pounding of her heart in her ears. She had never been so directly in conflict with her older brother. The perfect pretty girl got along with everyone, including her sibling. She simply had to charm her way into getting what she wanted.
What Makoto said was true. Most people are not worthy of her and generally, Kokomi let Makoto's ramblings go. Kokomi did superficially play with people's hearts. Getting people's adoration was a thrill, a validation of her person.
But hearing Makoto insult the boy she liked inexplicably enraged her. It was as if Makoto was insulting her person, her judgment, her good sense.
"I like what I like," said Kokomi. "And I want Saiki-kun to like me. But you made him leave!"
"Well...well...it's to protect you, Kokomi-chan."
"Protect me from what?"
"Well, he's obviously using you," said Makoto.
"For what? Saiki-kun is the only person I can approach knowing that he won't want something from me," said Kokomi shaking her head. "Even you can't do that."
Makoto's mouth dropped slightly as he comprehended her words.
"I hate that you would suggest that my real affection for someone is so misguided and fleeting," said Kokomi as she felt a pinch of tears in the corner of her eyes as feelings moved her mouth to say the next words. "I hate you, O-nii-san. I wish you would just go away!"
Makoto's heart was instantaneously shattered.
Kokomi stumped the other direction, and out of sight.
Kokomi found herself walking the neighborhood for a couple of hours after her encounter with her older brother, lost in thought.
Did she really like Saiki-kun? Or was it simply an infatuation, no different than a person being 'in love' with a TV personality?
Despite her vehement rejection, Kokomi knew there was a droplet of truth in that.
It was a thrill to be showered with adoration and gifts simply from her good looks and charm. Granted, she worked hard for that since she made a point to memorize details of the people around her, to keep up the facade. It took a lot of work to be so perfect. Experiencing the success of her hard work was an affirmation of her being.
Kokomi eventually found the neighborhood playground and sat on the swings. By then, it was dark and most people had gone home.
When was the last time she had a spat like this with Makoto?
Right. It was over Saiki.
Makoto had gone over to Saiki's house and threatened the pink-haired boy over Kokomi.
Kokomi had told him that she hated Makoto at the time.
Eventually, Makoto got over it. He simply loved his sister too much to stay mad at her. And Kokomi forgave him, too. At that time, Kokomi was simply embarrassed that Saiki would think that she was worried. Saiki was no one special, and did not deserve the attention of the goddess of the world. Kokomi was too good for him.
Kokomi wondered when that feeling changed?
Kokomi needed to talk to one of her girlfriends, to chat and process the event in the safety of a sympathetic ear.
Except that her phone was still dead.
Okay. This was it. She was going to charm the next person she sees into getting her a new phone. Or give her such a large discount that it would close to being free. She was too flustered to want to get it through her parents or Makoto.
To do that, she would need to go to a commercial district where people were still around.
Kokomi stood up, full of determination. She walked to the little gate of the playground and turned a corner.
And repeated the same thing she did earlier with the same young man.
This time. She did not fall over.
"You know, we got to stop meeting like this," said Saiki dryly as he grabbed her arm, preventing her from falling backward. "It's getting hazardous."
"Saiki-kun!"
