Chapter 4:
It was early Sunday morning. The sky was still in its lulling twilight. From a distance, the faint glow of the sun was slowly spreading out. The chirping birds woke up in their nests to find food for the day. One by one, the few remaining streetlights started to turn off. Some residents of the neighborhood came out of their houses to sweep their front yard. As was customary at this time every week, Sarah woke up.
Since she was a nun, she had Sunday service and rising early was one virtue she must practice. Despite last night's incident, she had to attend the Sunday mass, as much as she wanted to look after her best friend. Yakumo's sudden fainting was the first thing that entered her mind once she woke up and that alone quickly roused her into full consciousness. Sarah got out of bed and started combing her long, blonde hair, still thinking about her friend's ordeal.
Yakumo's unusual sleeping episodes usually happened during or after class. Yakumo had once said to her that she gets tired easily when many people are around her. This was probably why Yakumo was hesitant to go to crowded places. Only if it was with a few friends would she involve herself with outings, and those friends were mostly girls. Until someone got wind of it and Yakumo would find herself again in a situation where she would have to seclude herself until it was all over. There were times when she seemed to have a headache and would go to a park bench or an empty classroom to wait for it to subside.
Sarah had inquired Tenma of her sister's unusual habits but she, too, didn't know why. However, Tenma did tell her that it didn't happen while at home; giving Sarah an idea that Yakumo's introversion had something to do with it. Maybe it was stress related or a congenital disease that they were not aware of. This had made her worry even more.
From that point on, Sarah appointed herself as Yakumo's watcher and keeper for whenever she was around. As her best friend, she stayed close to Yakumo as much as possible in case it ever happened again. She had made it known to Yakumo who was tearfully thankful for having such a good friend like her.
With Sarah's support, Yakumo's "naps" occurred less frequently and she now acted more like herself, even more so after she joined the tea club. Yakumo seemed more comfortable and relaxed, staying in the clubroom as long as possible after school. Since boys weren't allowed in the Tea Club, Sarah figured Yakumo had a hidden anxiety towards boys... and dogs, if their first meeting had any indication.
Sarah woke herself up from her reverie. It was Sunday. She didn't expect her other two roommates would be awake this early.
After doing her morning rituals, she went down to the kitchen to prepare her breakfast. She took a slice of bread and toasted it. Sarah was not a creature controlled by coffee but by another beverage: tea. Like any person who was dependent on a certain beverage, she too couldn't last a day without a cup of tea. She made a tea for herself and buttered the toast. It was just a meager meal since there was food in the church. She just needed the energy in these early few hours of the day.
After her breakfast, she went to the bathroom to take a shower. One advantage of waking up this early was there was no line in the bathroom. After that, she went back to her room to get dressed in her Sunday attire.
She was about to leave when she remembered Yakumo. I had better check up on her first. Sarah went straight up to the room and gently opened the door...
... revealing Harima sleeping beside Yakumo.
"What the! Harima!" Sarah shouted. She quickly put a hand over her mouth. It was understandably rude to wake someone up in such a manner but this was something that called for it. If Harima was alone in the room, she would have probably shouted her heart out but that wasn't the case.
Sarah went to Harima's side and rolled him over, letting him face her. "Harima!" She whispered strongly. "What are you doing here?"
"Ugh, wuzza hell's going on?" Harima said groggily. Sarah's eyebrow twitched.
Indignant this was Harima's first words uttered on a holy Sunday, she slapped him on the cheek quite hard. This finally woke the offending man.
"What the? Sarah? What are you doing here?" Harima asked deliriously.
"What are YOU doing in here?" Sarah replied, still in her hushed but forceful tone.
"What do you mean?" Harima looked around and over his shoulder...
And saw Yakumo sleeping beside him.
...Oh, dear merciful Savior...
...Not again...
...The heavens must have hated me...
Adrenaline quickly pumped into his veins like gasoline and he stood up as if he just fallen onto a bed of live coals. His vision was like being blinded by multiple suns but it didn't stop him from getting up. He wanted to shout out but Sarah quickly shushed him.
"Shh! You don't want to wake Yakumo!"
Breathing heavily while staying relatively quiet, Harima willed himself to calm down.
I didn't do anything.
I didn't do anything.
I didn't do anything.
He repeated the words in his mind like a mantra. Sure that it wouldn't suddenly burst out from his mouth he spoke up in a quiet voice. "Sarah, we – I… I didn't do anything. I swear." Sarah made a face like she wasn't convinced though so he worried a little more. Why do people not believe me when I'm telling the truth!
Sarah suddenly pulled Harima's ear and used it to lead him out of the room. Harima awkwardly jerked sideways and tried his best not to utter a word of pain while Sarah closed the door behind them with her other hand.
They headed towards the kitchen, Harima's ear still in Sarah's vice-like grip all the way. The trek downstairs was excruciating as Sarah was not breaking her stride nor adjusting so Harima had to contort his body to retain a semblance of an ear.
Now in the kitchen and sure they were beyond hearing distance, Sarah let go of Harima and let loose of her righteous fury, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN YAKUMO'S ROOM!?"
Harima waved both his hands in surrender. "I swear Sarah, I didn't do anything! Believe me!" he answered, sweat beading on his face down to his neck.
Sarah closed her burning eyes and crossed her arms. "Then. Explain. What. You. Were. Doing. There." Each word was its own sentence, distinct and fired like bullets.
Harima had never been this terrified in front of a supposedly holy person. One wrong move and he would probably see his Creator. She is a nun, right? Do nuns act this way when they're angry? This is God's judgement in human form!
The accused took a deep breath and tried to calm himself for the umpteenth time, still repeating his mantra and prayer. "Sarah, right after you left, I laid down Yakumo on her bed." He saw Sarah nod and he continued. "I was about to leave when Yakumo reached out, tugging one leg of my pants." Sarah raised an eyebrow when she heard the word 'pants'.
Right there and then Harima thought Sarah would kick him out of the house, but she remained composed. This was really uncomfortable but Harima continued his story. "She then muttered something that I should stay, like, watch over her or something so I stayed a bit. I guess I fell asleep before I knew it. And then I felt something slapping me in the face."
Sarah sighed and put a hand to her chin, clearly thinking about his explanation. Harima stood still like a man waiting for his death sentence.
"Yakumo does sometimes mutter in her sleep," she finally said.
"Exactly! She asked me not to leave so I did, what with her fainting and all."
"It's quite kind of you now that I think about it." Sarah observed, her tone slowly going back to her usual cheery voice. The blonde then looked up to him. To Harima's relief, there was no longer fire in her eyes and not a hint of a scowl on her lips. "Well, I'll let this one slip." Harima wanted to fall to his knees and thank God for his mercy. "But Harima, it's still inappropriate for a boy to sleep in a girl's room." She chided.
"I'm pretty aware of that." Harima replied grimly.
"Okay, now that everything's been sorted out, I'm going to the church." Sarah turned around. "By the way, I'm sorry for acting presumptuous earlier. And for that slap and that ear pulling. It was mean of me." She said in a slightly sullen voice.
Harima smiled weakly, massaging somewhat of an ear he had recovered. "No, that's alright. You were only concerned for her. There's no shame in that."
Sarah looked over her shoulder and smiled at him, "I'm right. You'll definitely be a good husband someday!" For the first time, Harima laughed at her quickly aging joke.
Wait. Husband?
"Well, take care now. Look after Yakumo for me, okay?"
"Sure." Harima looked on as Sarah left the house. He let out a sigh he didn't know he had been holding. Another speeding bullet dodged this time. He was seriously questioning his luck with all these things happening in his life. Well, at least I can still stay here.
Harima went back to his room, finally. Sighing along the way he still couldn't believe he was still staying here. If Tenma had been the one to catch him, he'd probably be on the way to the hospital right now for multiple stab wounds and psychological trauma.
Opening the door, the first thing he saw was the mess in the middle of the room. Papers, pencils and various art supplies were scattered everywhere. Since he had been in Yakumo's room all night (still shuddering about that harrowing incident), Harima still hadn't tidied things up. Yesterday had gone all haywire when Yakumo suddenly fainted. It became even weirder when Sarah explained the situation.
It was all too strange for his simple mind to absorb. But then again, what should he expect from a sister of Tenma? He had seen how Tenma could be rather rambunctious in her sleep. She would mutter nonsensical things or randomly react crazily and then just go back to sleep as if nothing happened. She didn't faint like Yakumo though, which was a big difference.
Harima went back to that moment before Yakumo fainted. She had looked so afraid and lost as if she had just seen a ghost. Her face was drained of blood and her eyes were wide and terrified. It was very unnerving to say the least.
Does she really look like that before she faints?
He had forgotten to tell Sarah about it since his mind wasn't functioning properly back then. Fear, concern, panic and bewilderment mingled together, forming cobwebs in his thought process. Discovering a weird side to Yakumo was shocking and he only asked the questions that first popped up in his mind.
And then, when she murmured something to him.
It was almost a heartbreaking thing to see, Yakumo pleading weakly in her sorry state. She wasn't even conscious at the time and yet she somehow knew he was about to leave. Harima couldn't leave her when she so desperately needed company after what she went through. He didn't specifically know what she really went through but the expression she made before she fainted told him it definitely wasn't a pleasant experience.
Thinking of her situation, he began to pick up his art supplies. He decided he would just do his comics in her room in order to watch over her. Even if it was now a forbidden area to be in, after having been caught several times in a silly misunderstanding, he would not leave her until she woke up on her own.
Harima grabbed his things and left. It was still too early in the morning to prepare for breakfast. He would just have breakfast with Yakumo and have a talk with her. The paper sketch definitely triggered something and that needed an explanation from her. He grabbed an apple from the kitchen table to alleviate the early pangs of hunger and went to Yakumo's room.
Setting up his things on the low table like the one he had in his room, he sat down and started his work, occasionally taking a bite from the apple. Yakumo was still asleep so radio or TV for background noise was not an option. Harima looked around and realized this was the first time he could fully observe Yakumo's room. On previous occasions, he had either collapsed or been thrown out before he had had a chance to do so.
Yakumo's room was pretty bare. It was stark and utilitarian for lack of a better description. Unlike the other rooms, this one had a more traditional vibe to it, staying true to the overall design of the house. There was a typical low desk, cabinets with sliding covers on the walls, a small table, a closet with a sliding door, and a futon on the floor where Yakumo now lay. Harima remembered there was a bed instead of a futon back when he first came here; a moment of his life he would never forget.
Unlike most girls' rooms, it had no stuffed toys of any size or shape scattered around the room. No charms or frilly decorations with varying colors. No obnoxious bright rugs and posters. No giant mirrors or various beauty products on desks. No electrical devices with wires like jungle vines strewn around. No one would even guess this was a girl's room.
Despite the lack of modernity, the room was comfortable and serene. The breeze from the single large window permeated the sense of tranquility and peace. There were traditional decorations of wind chimes, lamps and some tall paintings of silhouetted landscapes. There was even a well-kept bonsai tree on the desk near the window. The house didn't have big fabulous gardens like the ones at Eri's mansion but Harima supposed that Yakumo tended to this lone bonsai with great care to compensate for it. Harima imagined that if Yakumo were to tend to a full garden it would be grander than any he would see at Eri's. It would be more Oriental than European however, but he preferred that style anyway since it wasn't very imposing and showy.
This entire room embodied that ideal; having an ambiance reminiscent of 16th century Japan that put emphasis on tradition rather than convenience.
Yakumo was surely a girl who preferred the solemn stillness and calm of long ago rather than be surrounded by the luxuries of modern times - a really rare girl in this day and age. This observation was another point Harima had to add to the already long list of reasons he had for respecting Yakumo.
Before he could start thinking of becoming a poet instead of a mangaka, Harima went back to his work. Since he didn't get Yakumo's valuable insight before she fainted, he was at a standstill, not knowing what the best course of action was. Thinking back about last night, drawing the characters was a breeze compared to making up stories. Characters could be put in every story he came up with so it may be best if he did more.
He grabbed a pencil and started to draw. But suddenly stopped after a little while.
Wait. Can I sketch the ones I drew yesterday? We don't want to repeat last night's spectacular event again. So...
Damn it! Harima cursed in his mind, gritting his teeth so he wouldn't voice it out loud. What should I draw this time!? He put his hands to his temples, trying to forcibly squeeze an idea from his brain. His eyes then fell upon Yakumo. He blinked. He had seen Tenma sleep before but this would be the first time he observed Yakumo sleep.
He had taken care of Yakumo when she became sick all of a sudden during winter break. But because Tenma had thrown his sorry ass out of the house previously, he kept an eagle eye around for her possible return. He stayed in the living room for most of the time, occasionally checking on Yakumo to see if she was all right. On her part, she weakly assured Harima that she wouldn't speak about any of this to her sister so that Tenma would not worry. But Harima had his own reasons and refused to take any chances. If he were to even see a glimpse of Tenma's shadow, he was prepared to cut and run like a man chased by a thousand demons.
For the first time, everything ended well. Yakumo recovered and thanked him. She even offered to help him in his manga and he could stay. Harima refused the offer politely, still not wanting her to exert effort after being sick, and also to avoid Tenma catching him back in their house. He left and that was that. Another bullet dodged... or prevented.
Harima continually stared at the sleeping form of Yakumo. She looked so serene and peaceful. It was the complete opposite of her older sister. While Tenma was so active in her sleep, muttering and gesturing all sorts of weird phrases and actions, Yakumo was still and unmoving like a statue. Her rhythmic breathing was the only indication that she was still alive and well. An idea then passed through his mind.
I don't think she'll mind so what the heck. Harima then started to draw again.
After an intermediate amount of time, Harima finished some of his sketches. It was past 7:30 in the morning and his hungry stomach was making a ruckus from time to time. Yakumo was still asleep, though. She usually woke up between six or seven during weekends.
"I better make breakfast." He whispered. He originally thought that he would be assisting her in making breakfast. Sarah was right. Yakumo did sleep long. He tidied up his things before leaving the room, slowly closing the door behind him. Sarah had her Sunday activities so it was up to him to look after Yakumo.
He went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Opening the fridge, he contemplated what he should prepare. After scrounging for a few seconds, a thought passed through his mind when he saw something in particular.
Maybe I could make an English-style breakfast? It couldn't hurt to be adventurous, right?
He had been told about it by Nakamura and his staff from one of their meetings. It was simply fried eggs and bacon, buttered toast, and pancakes and waffles if necessary. The beverages were coffee, milk or tea. It was simple and easy to do and Harima thought it was because rich people didn't want to inconvenience themselves this early in the morning.
Fortunately, Yakumo had all sorts of groceries in the fridge. She once said Tenma had a habit of suggesting random dishes out of the blue and so she stored all types of food. Sarah, too, had remarked that she missed the kind of breakfast she had in England.
Counting the right amount for the both of them, he pulled a few eggs from a tray and some bacon strips. Switching on the stove to heat the frying pan, he grabbed slices of bread and put it into the toaster. For beverages, he opted to go for tea since both his housemates preferred tea over any other beverages. He brewed a pot and then went to fry the eggs and bacon.
After several minutes, the breakfast was laid out on the table. The only thing missing was the pancakes or waffles. Thinking he should go the extra mile, he then went to go make them.
Well, at least Yakumo won't be troubled when she wakes up, Harima thought with a small smile.
x-x-x
"Daddy! Daddy!" A young girl cried. "Please don't leave me! You promised me!"
"There was an accident. Your dad... Your dad is..."
"No, he's not! He will come back!"
"It's all your fault! It's all your fault that daddy won't be able to come home! I hate all of you!" Her relatives just stared at her with a detached expression, neither giving a concerned glance nor speaking comforting words. A little girl with small pigtails was crying too, but she was surrounded by her friends trying to comfort her.
Throughout all of this, she found herself alone. All alone.
Yakumo's eyelids fluttered open.
Author's corner: Sorry if the plot was moving at a snail's pace. I also retconned the part about Yakumo's room, though. Artistic liberty and whatnot!