Chapter 5: Ocean Eyes
Medium. n.
a: to be a go-between or intermediary;
b: an individual held to be a channel of communication between the earthly world and a world of spirits;
c: a condition or environment in which something may function or flourish.
- taken from Merriam-Webster
Mari only brought her laptop, her phones, and the accessories that came with them. Stuff like clothes and toiletries can be bought, she reasoned while her files couldn't.
Thus, on a warm afternoon she situated herself on the executive lounge of the CT Hotel. With a wide view of the city thirty-seven floors up on her left, a fireplace on her right, and a stuffed full leather on her back, Mari's creative juices was in bloom.
Music was Mari's first love and she chased it wherever she could. From the melodies she plucked in the air, the words that inspired her, and to the voices that could deliver them the vivacity they deserved.
On an artist's album, her name could be found under the label music producer or song writer, whichever part it was, Mari cared little. As long as she can make music, for it was through music that her abilities manifested.
Right now she was reviewing the final version of a song she co-wrote with an artist. If she had no objections with the final mix, this version would be published with the artist's latest album.
And a song of love will play on everyone's ears.
Mari closed her eyes and listened.
"Never knew, never knew,"
Some nuisance scrapped a chair near her. An achievement, really, since the floor was carpeted.
"What was waiting right around the corner,"
She scowled and opened her eyes to glare at the stupid person who dared to destroy the mood.
"Wasn't ready for you 'cause I didn't want to fall so hard,"
The first thought she had was that he was wearing an all-black high-necked jacket. How unfashionable.
"But you were there like the air when I felt like I was underwater,"
The second was, his blindfold was a white bandage that made his silver hair a wash-out color. Truly sad.
"You're what I need 'cause now I can breathe,"
The third was, her silver-haired lover also known as Gojo Satoru was here.
"You put the beat in my heart,"
What came out of Mari's lips was, "Your blindfold really brings out your kissable lips. Very peachy. I like it."
His cocky grin widened and he leaned on the table, cupping his cheek. "Yo, Kamiya-chan, wanna spend another night with me?"
Mari held a palm out. "Two hearts, four broken pieces, that's who we were before..." she murmured.
Satoru, "..."
Mari continued, this time the melody was apparent. "Somehow we fit together. Now we're unbreakable." She bobbed her head as she softly belted the last word.
Mari gestured to her ears. "What were you saying? Sorry, I did not hear you apologizing for disturbing me. In the middle of working here."
Satoru's smirk was wiped off his face and he leaned back. He loosely crossed his legs and gave her a wave. "Don't mind me."
"If you say so." Mari shrugged and continued with her work. "If you're hungry, just give an order there at the bar." She looked up from her laptop and gave Satoru a wink. "My treat."
Mari sensed the flash of irritation from her words but it soon morphed to amusement. While she worked, he left from his seat. He was gone for so long she thought he won't be coming back.
Mari was a tad disappointed.
Then, he returned with his phone in hand, sat back again and played with it.
It was fucking weird that there was such a peaceful atmosphere they got going, Mari mused.
She finished the song and sent her comments via email. When it was done, Mari moved to close the browser, however, out of the blue someone pinged her a message on their family's Discord server.
Mari opened the Discord server named 'God's Valley', the cover was a beautiful artwork of the words ab imo pectore and went to the channel #adults-chatting.
BankofLeon: @Mari Without An E bitch, where's my money?
Mrs Independent: Really, Leo, in public?
Corgay: ooooh whaddya do @Mari Without An E?
Mari Without An E: Idk where's your money @BankofLeon
BankofLeon: Somebody withdrew from your account and you don't know????
Mari Without An E: Oh that. How much?
BankofLeon: not much. just. half. your. account. bitch.
Mari Without An E: thank god I still have money left
Corgay: wtf? did you get another fuckboi???
Mari Without An E: uhhhhh, no
Mari became so engrossed with chatting with her relatives that when Satoru's order arrived she didn't notice the quantity. Only when the table was gradually filled and she was forced to take off her laptop did she find that the freaking mtfcr splurged with a buffet of sweets.
Slices of various cakes, mousse, crêpes, tarts, macarons, mochi, wagashi, mooncakes, and others littered the table. An insane amount only an insane person could digest.
Mari's lips twitched.
The server added an army of different parfaits.
Mari lost it.
She doubled over laughing. "Man," she wheezed, "you're a damn spiteful guy."
Mari closed her laptop, leaving the ongoing chat on seen. She put it on her bag and let it hang behind her. "Did you use my money to pay for all of these?"
Satoru jutted his chin. "What, that pitiful change? Those two cheques can't even cover the half of these. No, not only half, a fourth. Not even a fourth. A fourth," he repeated before taking a big bite of a mochi.
Mari rolled her eyes.
"Exuse me," Mari called the server, "would you please set up more tables?". She threw an amused glanced at the sweets and said, "it would be a pity if we only eat desserts for our dinner, won't it? A simple course should suffice."
She pursed her lips. "Since I have a guest, please inform the chef to make some Japanese cuisine."
"Yes, of course, Kamiya-sama," the server bowed and rolled out the empty cart.
"Uwaa, fancy." Satoru commented. "Wonder how'd ya earn your millions?"
Either he lacked tact or he was extremely too assured he didn't care of other people's sensitivities. Perhaps, it was a product of childhood and also his indisputable status in their community that he could ask someone of how they earned their money without an ounce of shame.
It didn't offend Mari but she could see how his words might trigger some people into the defensive.
"From work, as many of us do," Mari replied calmly and swoop for the nearest sweet.
When he started to protest, Mari quipped, "My money."
"No, my money," Satoru remarked seriously.
Mari rolled her eyes. She retrieved her phone and told him, "gimme your bank account."
He did.
No shame.
Mari typed the amount and sent it to him in real time. "There. Satisfied?"
Satoru checked his transactions and noted the name of the depositor. "Jehanne Mari Kamiya."
He loosely crossed his arms. "Mari-chan, huh, finally, a name!"
"Yes, nice to meet you too, Gojo Satoru." Mari greeted dryly.
A loop-sided smile on his lips, he gave Mari a thumbs up and resumed eating. "So, back to that work, Mari-chan."
"Hmm, I'm a music producer. You?"
No caution at all.
"What does a music producer do? Me, I'm a high school teacher."
A casual conversation.
Mari finished chewing. "Making music, overseeing from idea to finished product. Sometimes, I get involved in song writing too."
"But you don't personally sing your songs?"
"No," Mari looked up in a habitual eye contact but her eyes met white bandages instead. Her hands itched to take them off and see his eyes. Eyes were the window of the soul, emotions could be seen in their rawest within those tiny orbs and it made Mari uncomfortable to not see them, hidden as they were behind tight bandages.
He had beautiful eyes, Mari recalled. The vision of the sky, vast and majestic combined with the depth and mystery of the ocean.
"I presume," Mari began, "you hide your eyes the same way I don't sing my songs personally." She turned her head to the window, her own gray eyes lost in thought among the twinkling lights of skycrapers and bright roads.
She sensed his sudden stillness. Did he perhaps thought she was as clueless of their existence as they were of her kind?
"Have you ever seen what joy looked like? It is beautiful. A bright ray so innocent and pure, flitting, jumping from one person to another." Mari held a palm up. There was a tiny floating orb on her palm glowing like a mini sun.
"Can you see it?"
Gojo Satoru was quiet.
Mari chuckled. "Of course not. Your kind is unable to. You guys are simply not wired to see something this weak."
She hummed. "Every emotion is a note waiting to be sung." Mari turned to Satoru. "Music is a medium humans often use to vocalize their feelings. That is because when you put your emotions into words you acknowledge their existence and you gain control over them."
Her eyes glinted. "The most amazing thing is, you can share it to others. Give them light in their darkness, hope in hopelessness."
She absorbed the glowing orb and she sang. "Give faith that there is joy in life." Softly sang with delicate strength, one that drilled to the heart and summoned happy memories.
For a moment, just a single moment, Satoru remembered his dearest best friend. Not their latter years, no, not that tragedy. What came to mind was the earlier years.
Meeting the first time. Arguing. Pranking. Laughing.
Satoru's hands unconsciously grasped his armchair. The knuckles turned white as inside, his feelings of longing and of shame warred.
"Do not hurt, Gojo Satoru," Mari continued to hum. She recognized the pain accompanying a happy memory and she only wished to alleviate the hurt. There was no ill intent in her actions or her words.
Satoru leaped out of his chair and attacked Mari. He slammed her on the wall, his hands around her neck, squeezing tightly.
His mouth clenched and he desired, oh how he desired to shut her up.
Mari grasped Satoru's blindfold and tore it off in one swift motion. A few pieces remained on his right eye but his left eye was in full view.
"Cry." She choked the words.
"No." A gruff reply.
Mari grabbed Satoru's face with both hands. "It's not a lie," she breathe out as her vision began to flicker. "Happiness is true even when things change." She cupped his cheeks, her thumbs unconsciously rubbing soft circles on his skin.
Her eyelids lowered with lightheadedness. "Let go of your regrets because you deserve..." her lips was turning blue, "...to live..."
To live just as you are.
Humans acted with their hearts and felt with their heads. By that, people dictated their actions according to what kind of emotion held greater importance or greater influence. More often than not, the decision hinged on the level of satisfaction or pleasure, how certain acts was chosen because it would make them happier. However, when things went wrong, humans felt with their heads, they reasoned out events, sought assurance to a cause and effect, and when none was found, invent ideas, spout scenarios in order to fit the narrative.
One such narrative often sacrificed joyful possessions in the face of tragedy. The common belief that they should not be happy for they were suffering or caused the suffering of others. As if humans could only exist anchored either by negativity or positivity.
The truth was, the world is an indifferent place. The world would not care a shit if one was a serial killer in need of karma to set one right or if one was a selfless virgin maiden whose faith could reach the heavens.
The world would continue to turn even after humanity disappeared from the face of the earth. What dictated a human's life, how it should be lived, were humans themselves. Each individual held the reins of their future. The journey of joy and sadness were roads of choice.
There is no mission, no goal to complete. Just endless set of choices. If people only realized that the chains they wore could be broken by their own hands, perhaps, not many would drown from their sea of misery.
Just enjoy every day, all the bad and all the good. Do not dwell, for life is far too short to spend on what has passed and far too precious to be dictated by mistakes.
There's only one life for every one. Live it.
Mari gradually opened her eyes. She was in a room with only a lamp lit on. There were curtains around her.
It reminded Mari of a clinic with all those metallic tube above to hang the bland green curtains and a single metallic bed with only a few inches of foam to supposedly help a patient's sleep.
Her hand caressed the elastic bandage wrapped around her neck.
He bruised her.
Well, Mari forgave, she did manipulate his feelings without his permission. So, they're even.
Mari sat and checked her clothes. A standard white patient gown, no surprise there. Whoever tended her, they left a slipper beside the bed, how kind.
She put them on and slid the curtain to reveal an empty room. There was a table and a swivel chair in a corner. Mari checked the table for her phone but none was found. She sat on the swivel chair and spun while she summarized her thoughts on her current situation.
One, she lost consciousness and woke up in a foreign place. Two, might be connected to Gojo Satoru because he was her last companion. Three, she didn't have any means to contact Atsushi or Hiroki.
Should she explore outside and look for people?
It was freaking midnight though according to the wall clock.
Mari swung her legs back and forth.
At the edge of her psyche, a disturbance appeared. It was a tap announcing their existence outside the parameters of her mental walls.
Her legs paused.
After a minute or so, her legs straightened and Mari walked out of the clinic.
She had an unexpected but fruitful conversation.
Mari beamed. There was indeed a silver lining in every situation. Coming here wasn't entirely useless.
She followed the map she was given and soon, she stepped outside. The building she was in was elevated compared to the other lower buildings, the numerous stairs linking each building to each other.
The trees rustled as a draft passed by.
Mari shivered.
Footsteps echoed on her left. It seemed there was a hallway connecting one building to another.
Mari ran down and hid behind a tree.
The footsteps belonged to a woman in a doctor's coat. Mari saw the woman yawn as she entered the building.
Wait, Mari thought, why was she hiding?
Right. She wasn't a prisoner here. Besides, it was cold outside, she should just go inside and keep the woman company.
With that in mind, Mari edged out of her hiding place.
"What are you doing?" A man's voice whispered on her ear.
"Eek!" Mari jumped and fumbled.
Her foot stepped on an overgrown root and she slipped. "Catch me!" She shouted, flailing her arms.
Satoru watched the slowmotion of Mari's pitiful descent and at the last minute, saved her with his leg.
The scenario was this, Mari half-kneeling, her waist hanging on Satoru's lower leg and Satoru, his hands on his pockets, bending slightly while his other leg was outstretched.
Mari didn't escape injury still, her palms burned with scrapes from their kiss with the tiny stones of the cement.
"You're no gentleman, aren't you?" Mari said as she moved to straighten herself. She dusted her gown all the while grimacing from the burn on her palms.
"Did I give you an impression I am?" Satoru slouched without a hint of a smile.
"No," Mari was quick to answer. "I just thought you'd be nicer now that you need information from me."
"Look, Mari-chan," Satoru leaned closer, "Let me be honest, I don't like you. Do that again and I'll kill you."
Mari raised her head and met his eyes covered as they were once again by bandages. "Threats don't work with me Gojo Satoru but," she raised her hands in surrender, "I admit my mistake in doing that to you. I'm sorry."
She let the silence emphasized her sincerity. "I'm not apologizing because you threatened me, you know. I recognized I went too far in showing you my abilities. It's one of the reasons why I don't sing the words I wrote."
The scope of her abilities wasn't just the singing though, Mari silently added. At its lowest, it could guide the listener to feel something or to maximize a fading feeling to its once concentrated form like adding fuel to a dwindling fire. At its potent form, her abilities could strip man of his will, like a sailor lured by a siren to the sea.
Satoru neither accepted nor rejected her apology. He started walking back to the building. "If you want to freeze outta here, feel free to roam around."
"Ah, so here she was," a rather bland comment was said by the woman with a doctor's coat as she exited the building.
"Yo! Shoko," Satoru's cheerful greeting prompted a raised brow from Mari. "Look! Found the wayward charge."
Mari shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "Hello!"
"What's that on your palms?" Shoko squinted.
"Oh, thi--"
"She was being clumsy that's why she got injured. What a baby!" Satoru cut off with a shallow laugh.
So, he was going down the bully route, eh? Mari thought. As if she'd let him?!
Oh, hell no.
Mari winced. But first, let's clean and cover these hands.
:Writer's Notes:
Remember my note on Chapter 4? Well, because I found I really did not like how Chapter 7 turned out I scraped it then I realized it I have to dump Chapter 5 and 6 too to get going. So, yeah, here is Chapter 5 after many revisions. I wonder, does it feel different compared to the earlier chapters?
For some reason, I feel like I've unintentionally created a melancholic atmosphere. Also, I highly recommend you guys listen to Unbreakable, it's in English from the anime Carole & Tuesday and it is lovely.
:The Playlist:
1. Ocean Eyes - Billie Eilish
2. Unbreakable - Carole & Tuesday anime ver.
:Curiosity Corner:
Are you an anime-only reader or a manga reader? Or a bit of both?
(Because I'll be diving on the Prequel heavily in the next chapters~)
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thank you for reading!
-whisper/prayed-can a kind soul leave a review so I know someone at least enjoyed reading this, please?-whisper/prayed-
