Chapter 25:
"Look here! I've never seen ingredients laid out like this! There are so many different sizes and colors and you can just pick anything you want! I feel like I'm in the Garden of Eden!"
Asou Hiroyoshi watched his co-worker Sarah fawning over the kitchen stock of ingredients. Fruits and vegetables were all lined up as if it were a hidden market at the back of this hotel. It almost looked like they were in a cooking show. The kitchen was larger than he had expected and Asou most appreciated that the staff wouldn't bump into each other all the time. The kitchen consisted of an island of hanging utensils, stove and grills among others and it was surrounded by even more appliances like refrigerators, sinks and specialized equipment that he had never seen before. The gleaming abundance of stainless steel made the kitchen seem like a medieval armory of sorts.
In his opinion, this kitchen could feed and cater a small army.
Despite its opulence, it wasn't an "open kitchen" where one could watch their food being prepared. Those kitchens were mostly on the lower floors that acted as restaurants by themselves to cater to guests. The one they were in now was a private kitchen reserved for the topmost suites of the hotel. And it meant that everything served here was ridiculously expensive. Just by standing in the room, Asou felt like he was out-of-place. It turned out that Mr. Chen was invited today and he managed to get his two employees to tag along. This was only for a day out of insistence of the hotel's owner and it made Asou wonder why Mr. Chen would ever refuse to work here on a more regular basis. His boss was eligible to work in a place like this and yet he opened his own restaurant. Perhaps it was just a personal dream for him to have one and Asou could never question a man wanting to achieve his own dreams.
"It is pretty impressive," Asou said, "but we're not allowed to eat any of it. I can't even imagine how much a bite would cost here."
"Hey! Even if a talking snake tried to tempt me, I would never do such a thing!" Asou raised an eyebrow. How and why would a talking snake suddenly appear here and start tempting them?
"Well, Mr. Chen would probably let us taste some dishes here. They do look appetizing on the menus to be honest."
"My senior just got tempted by a menu. What a shame." Sarah shrugged.
"Better than a talking snake."
"But today I'm Chef Sarah at your service! I will work so hard it'll seem like I've been working here for a long time." Sarah saluted which was quite odd to Asou since they're in a kitchen, not the army.
"And you should also enjoy it. Trust me. You'll probably miss the kitchen more than the dishes they serve here."
"Hmm," Sarah said, putting her hand down. "What are we preparing for today? Did Mr. Chen tell you?"
"From what I can gather it's mostly about mixed Asian cuisine." Asou answered. "Mr. Chen is very knowledgeable about Chinese dishes and maybe that is why we are invited here. We may be practically beginners here but let's show them what we've got." At this, Mr. Chen walked in along with the staff and he formally introduced the two. The easy-going nature of their boss and how he proudly introduced the two as his employees made the atmosphere lighter despite them being new. It felt humbling discovering that Mr. Chen actually had a lot of clout among the employees here and he was a very well-known person in the cooking industry. No wonder he tended to disappear every so often.
Sarah, on the other hand, wasn't fazed at all. If anything, she looked more prepared than he could ever be. He would just have to step up his game to not lag behind.
x-x-x
After hours of frantic work, Asou Hiroyoshi could feel his soul leaving his body. He was sitting on a chair after the orders finally stopped coming in; trying to remember why he was here in the first place. Never would a game of basketball amount to the work he had done for today. He was in constant motion whilst trying to monitor everything going on in the kitchen to avoid mistakes and it was simply exhausting. Despite that, it was a good learning experience to work with seasoned staff who actually knew what they were doing. His one-day co-workers were very amenable to show him the ropes around the kitchen. He was wondering if he could work here full-time someday.
"Thanks for everything you did today." Sarah said, setting down two bowls of noodles beside him. "It was very fun working here."
"I see you're very at-home here." Asou said, smiling.
"Actually, the staff made these for us. Just a gift for a job well done. Some were even surprised how well we did our part."
"What can I say; we've faced worse."
The two ate their complimentary noodles, and if Asou wasn't dead tired he would have preferred other dishes.
"Where's Mr. Chen?" Asou asked Sarah. "Don't tell me he suddenly left us here of all places."
"Not this time." Sarah answered. "He was called to show up to the guests upon their request. Apparently, complimenting the chef face-to-face is the norm here."
"At least the whole staff wasn't called up." Asou said after finishing a spoonful of noodles. "Perhaps we might get a generous tip after all this."
"Speaking of tips, the staff agreed amongst themselves that whatever tips are collected tonight will be given exclusively to us."
"Really? You're serious?"
"Of course - in exchange for our cellphone numbers, that is."
Asou made a face that told everyone they'd better be kidding.
"It's just a joke, Asou!" Sarah laughed. "I mean, the cellphone numbers. After this, we'll go back to our tip-less job again."
"We do get some tips in our job, Sarah." Asou demurred.
"Potential tip-less job." Sarah corrected. "Hardly anyone tips at our restaurant, but here it's practically mandatory or else you'll be branded as a cheap rich man."
"Oh, the struggles of being rich."
After finishing their noodles, the two conversed with the other staff. They gave their well-wishes and asked if there was going to be a next time. The two had even been half-jokingly offered waiting staff positions due to their good looks. They got that from a lot of people. The conversation mostly revolved around them. It never got old whenever Sarah would reveal that she was a nun and the guys would suddenly slump their shoulders in unison. As for Asou being part of his school's basketball team, some commented that it was criminally unfair to be good at sport and dashingly handsome at the same time. It was all in good jest and Asou could picture these people coming over to Mr. Chen's restaurant to say hi, and then have a hearty meal and drink while they were at it.
The private luncheon that was hosted earlier should be finished by now and Asou wondered what could be making Mr. Chen take his sweet time there. Well, he was the one who made this possible for them so he shouldn't be annoyed at his boss for leaving on short notice again.
At last, he finally came back after the rest of the staff returned to their posts. Sarah and Asou noticed he looked rather… cheery for some reason.
"That ended really nice." The man said. "Anyway, did you two have a good time so far?"
"A good time seems like stretching it," Asou answered, "but yeah, it was fun."
"Asou got 4 cellphone numbers from the waitresses here!" Sarah joined in. "I'd say that's an acceptable quota."
Asou raised an eyebrow. "Sarah, don't tell me you're keeping count?"
"Nope. I sometimes use those numbers to estimate if we have new regular customers in the restaurant."
"Ain't you a clever one."
"So, Mr. Chen," Sarah said. "What were you saying about something ending really nicely?"
"Oh, it was rather sweet and charming what happened back there. It was really unexpected when a man said that he needed more witnesses to watch a proposal. I couldn't refuse since I was already there."
"Witnesses and a proposal? Isn't that supposed to be more private?" Asou asked.
"Not for the ones who are really in love!" Sarah answered. "It happens a lot in public, you know."
"And sometimes it ends up very badly." Asou added. "And quite embarrassing too."
"It didn't end up badly though." Mr. Chen said. "The bride-to-be seemed very shocked but happy nonetheless and the man said the words straight out. After that, there were cheers and applause for the new couple. There were no objections as far as I know so there's that."
"I wish I could have seen it!" Sarah said. "What did the new couple look like? Perhaps I could recommend them a church for their upcoming wedding." Asou chuckled at Sarah's business savviness.
"The woman looks like a foreigner like you Sarah. Blonde, has a white complexion…"
"And the groom-to-be?" Sarah asked.
Mr. Chen looked up thoughtfully. "Hmm, well, he's not a foreigner but he's fairly tall for a Japanese. Has a rather dark complexion. Handsome in a way."
"Tall, dark, and handsome." Asou summarized.
"If you put it that way."
Gears began to spin in Sarah's mind.
Blonde and possibly foreign bride. Tall, dark, and handsome groom.
It - it can't be.
"Is there any chance that this groom has neck-length black hair?" Sarah asked. Asou apparently picked up on what Sarah was thinking.
"Yes! He looks like a rather rough young man in my opinion - not someone who would have the sort of company he had earlier. I think I have seen him before."
"Because you have." Asou said, connecting the pieces. "His name is –"
"HARIMA?! KENJI HARIMA!?" Sarah exclaimed.
"And the blonde woman is –"
"ERI! ERI SAWACHIKA!"
"You don't have to yell their names so loud," Mr. Chen said, managing to break through Sarah's voice. "Although I think I did hear those names when I shook their hands earlier."
Sarah remained standing there with a shocked expression.
Harima and Eri are here.
A proposal.
They're an engaged couple now.
That means…
YAKUMO!
"I need to talk with those two right now!" Sarah began to walk towards the door when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Sarah, we're not allowed to disturb the guests here. You know that." Asou felt that Sarah wasn't giving an inch. After a brief moment, Asou quickly grabbed both her shoulders as Sarah trashed around demanding to be let go.
"I NEED TO TALK TO THEM!" Sarah exclaimed, "This is just a mistake! I'm sure of it!"
"The one making a big mistake will be you if you suddenly barge in there." Asou reasoned. The two continued their struggle when Mr. Chen spoke.
"I really don't know what's going on but the dinner service is long over. The new couple isn't even staying here. You can check the visitor's log if you want to find out."
"Then I'll call him right now!" Sarah put her hands in her pockets and found them strangely empty.
"We're not allowed to bring our cellphones, remember?" Asou said. "It's a security risk since so many high-profile clients stay in this hotel."
"Is it an emergency Sarah?" Mr. Chen asked. Sarah's eyes widened and she quickly seized the opportunity her boss had given her.
"Yes! Yes, it's a very urgent emergency!" Sarah answered. "Can I be excused to leave early just this once? Please?"
"Well, we still have one late order to take for the night so –"
"It's okay Mr. Chen. I'll cover for her." Asou said. Sarah looked directly at him. "It is an emergency and we can't just ignore it - even though it might be a false alarm." Sarah smiled at Asou guilt-tripping their boss for his past transgressions.
Mr. Chen sighed. "It is an emergency, after all. Very well, you're excused for the rest of the night, Sarah. I hope everything goes well."
"Really? Thank you, Mr. Chen! I promise I won't be late next week! And thank you too, Asou." Sarah quickly hugged her workmate and then left through the employee's exit.
I sometimes forget that that girl is a nun, Asou thought eyeing the girl. He stretched his arms for the upcoming battle. This is gonna be a long night.
x-x-x
After Sarah shared her side of the story, Yakumo still couldn't quite believe it. Her mind was starting to rationalize that maybe, maybe, this was all a misunderstanding like always. Perhaps another couple with the same description that just so happened to be there. Were the two at marriageable age right now anyway? Harima was 17 and Yakumo was fairly sure his next birthday was still months away. Why would they even pronounce it in the first place if they were not legally allowed to?
"I checked the visitor's log before I left and their names were there." Sarah said solemnly. "I think they were there to solidify their engagement to avoid further doubts about it."
For once, Yakumo really hoped that this was a misunderstanding. Most of the time she always knew the real picture and had always treated misunderstandings as something temporary that could be corrected later on. Whether it was corrected sooner or later, Yakumo had nothing to worry about as long as she knew the real truth. But now, she wasn't sure anymore. Would she try to clear this apparent misunderstanding right now or would she wait for this to blow over like she always did?
Yakumo stood up and went to retrieve her cellphone. Sarah was a bit surprised that Yakumo didn't say anything after she explained the whole thing. Last time Yakumo heard that Harima was engaged to Eri, Yakumo hadn't even flinched from the news. Her friends were the ones upset, but at her because of her lack of reaction. They were the ones who thought of ways to level the playing field. Right now, seeing Yakumo silently move about before clearing things up verbally first, was a sure sign that Yakumo was really affected by it.
Sarah followed Yakumo and saw her put her cellphone to her ear. She was calling him. Again, Sarah could see her like a wife worried sick for her husband and the only thing that could calm her down was to hear his voice again. However, Yakumo did this a few times and it seemed she couldn't contact him. Sarah knew it was pointless from the beginning. She had tried to contact Harima through her cellphone but the darned automated voice kept repeating that he couldn't be reached.
Yakumo put down her cellphone, resigned.
"A… are you okay Yakumo?" Sarah asked. Words like these usually came out not of ignorance but of concern and Yakumo wasn't one to misinterpret her.
"Harima texted me yesterday saying that he'll come home tonight." Yakumo said. Sarah didn't miss how Yakumo just evaded the question. "He even said that he might be in time for dinner."
"He said that?"
"Yeah. After I delivered his manuscript yesterday."
There was a tense silence.
"Have… have you eaten dinner yet, Sarah?" Yakumo asked. She was again trying to veer off-topic.
"Not yet." Sarah answered. "I was too anxious to get home earlier. I could always say that it's a false alarm if it comes to that."
Yakumo smiled but it was a bit strained. Sarah was really hoping that this was a false alarm.
The two started eating dinner and Sarah was really surprised to find that Yakumo had cooked Wagyu beef curry. It looked like her usual curry at first glance but when Sarah tasted it, she felt she had gone to paradise in that instant. It reminded her that truly, there was still hope in this world if such a dish could exist. The taste was enough to make her momentarily forget the gloominess. She would have begged on her knees to leave the hotel early if she knew this was what awaited her back home. No dish in that fancy hotel could top this. She bet that Harima would find this –
Sarah's train of thought was derailed as realization slowly dawned on her. Yakumo did intentionally prepare such an exquisite dish for a reason: it was for his return home. Sarah glanced sideways and noticed the blinking LED under the television. Harima's favorite TV show was being recorded for him to watch it later. It wouldn't be necessary if Harima were here watching it. The dish that Yakumo had prepared was practically wasted if Harima didn't taste it himself.
Normal rice and soba would be better than this dish as long as Harima was here. Now that she thought about it, what if Harima arrived home this very instant? Questions would definitely be asked and this was what worried Sarah a few days before. If a line was drawn, would Yakumo and Harima continue their friendship this way? Their budding relationship would undoubtedly be affected and what was left of it would be a trail of awkwardness and what-could-be.
The dish suddenly lost its appeal, like tasteless porridge in her mouth. Sarah could only imagine what was going on in Yakumo's mind right now. Preparing a meal especially for someone, only to have their plate sitting there untouched. It was saddening but in truth, their relationship could be summarized in that simple example.
Sarah took another bite. For all its worth, the meal was quite effective at getting rid of the thoughts that started plaguing her. She couldn't just stay silent and keep the atmosphere gloomy. As the good friend that she was, Sarah complimented Yakumo for her cooking. She then went on to ask how Yakumo cooked the dish and was there really a secret behind why her cooking seemed so special?
Slowly but surely Yakumo started talking. Yakumo was more of a listener than a talker so Sarah took the lead in the conversation once again. She spoke about her experience being in a kitchen of a luxurious hotel. Her complaints about dishes that were way too overpriced just because of simple garnishes. Her newfound respect for her boss being a renowned chef even though he seemed to get into false emergencies often. How the tips alone were almost as much as her salary back at the restaurant.
They finished eating dinner and Sarah volunteered to wash the dishes while Yakumo went to get a bath to end the night. Now alone with her thoughts, Sarah's mind wandered again.
Harima said he would come back before dinner. Why isn't he here yet? When does he plan on coming back? If he does come back, how will he break this whole story to Yakumo?
What if this is all true? How will Yakumo react? Can she cry in front of him like a scorned lover? Can Harima really be that naïve and think that their relationship is heading nowhere despite the things they've done together?
Sarah was still not ready for these things to happen. It made her very apprehensive on her part on what to do. Could she silently watch on the sidelines while her best friend's heart slowly shattered? Could she actually confront Harima and spill everything to him? She could tell Yakumo that there were still other boys out there. Heck, if all else fails, there was still Hanai to choose from! But those were always horrible things to tell someone fresh from heartbreak... Even she could tell that Harima wasn't just any other boy to Yakumo. The things they'd experienced together couldn't simply be replicated with anyone. For all Sarah knew, Harima might be the only person out there that Yakumo could ever love - like Tenma's undying dedication to Karasuma. They really were sisters despite their many differences.
This wasn't all a foregone conclusion and Harima could still possibly waltz inside the house and act as if nothing happened. However, there was something within Sarah telling her this was different. The only person that could finally settle this was Harima himself. It had always been like that from the start. All they could do was wait. Again, it had always been like that.
After finishing the dishes, Sarah went to take a bath once it was available. She could imagine her co-workers still hard at work back at the hotel and here she was ready to end the night. If not for this "emergency," she would be with them, mind completely focused on the task at hand; rather than have it worrying and wondering over this sudden development between two of her closest friends.
Sarah went back down to get her things she had left in the dining room and saw Yakumo leaning her head on her arms resting on the table. It didn't take long for Sarah to register that Yakumo was planning to wait for him right there.
"Yakumo, you don't have to wait for him." Sarah said softly. "He'll come back. He still has his things here."
"I know." Yakumo murmured. "It's just… he said he'll come home tonight." Sarah could feel her own heartbreaking apart just from watching Yakumo. Would this continue until Harima showed up?
As much as Sarah wanted to stay and support her friend, her earlier workload both at the church and hotel was taking a toll on her. As the saying goes, the spirit was willing but the body was weak.
"If you need anything else, I'm here, okay? We'll sort this all out eventually." Yakumo nodded and bid her a good night. Sarah went back to her room to get some much-needed sleep. Thoughts came back over and over in her mind as Sarah tried to re-arrange them neatly. The bad thing was the uncertainty and the good thing was how clearly everyone felt. The only consolation she took comfort in was the thought that this could all finally wrap up by the end of it – for better or worse.
x-x-x
The next day, Sarah woke up early in the morning to prepare for the new week of school. Summer break was just around the corner and people were trying to think of how to spend the vacation.
She wished that was the only thing she was thinking about now.
Sarah went downstairs to help prepare breakfast. Instead of seeing it halfway done, what she saw was Yakumo sleeping with her head leaning on the table. Meaning Harima hadn't come home last night.
Breakfast wouldn't prepare itself so Sarah tried to prepare it as quietly as she could. Yakumo might be a heavy sleeper but Sarah also thought that maybe Yakumo waited for quite some time before she finally fell asleep. Her mouth turned down at the thought.
When she was almost finished making breakfast, Sarah caught Yakumo slowly waking up.
"Oh, Yakumo. Good morning." Sarah greeted.
"Good morning Sarah." Yakumo replied weakly before quickly sitting up straight. "Did… did Harima –"
"No. No, he didn't." Sarah answered.
Yakumo sighed. "I - I should prepare breakfast." She tried to stand up but her body was protesting due to her poor sleeping posture and Sarah quickly went to her side.
"It's okay, Yakumo. I'll do it." Sarah smiled a little. "And next time, bring your futon if you're going to be sleeping here." Yakumo smiled back and Sarah knew she appreciated every little act that made her friend feel happy.
The walk to school was relatively silent. Sarah was gauging Yakumo, trying to see how it affected her so far. Yakumo would only give one-word answers when talked to and would not start a conversation by herself. Saying it would turn out fine was like putting salt on a wound. Sarah knew she couldn't do anything about it and she wasn't sure if it would really turn out fine, and so kept it to herself. It was probably best to let her be for now, but if it continued for too long it would negatively affect her well-being, like something eating away at her from the inside. Sarah obviously couldn't let that happen but what could she do? Her classmates might be able to help her deal with this.
x-x-x
"WHAT!? DON'T TELL ME THAT REALLY HAPPENED?!" Miki exclaimed, loud enough for it to be heard from the next room.
"Miki, you don't need to shout." Haruna said. "We're just as surprised as you are."
"But, but it's serious this time! Is – is it serious this time?"
"We're not sure." Sarah answered.
"There's a chance that it's not all true?" Satsuki asked.
"I don't see why they would do so if it is all an act."
"So, Yakumo, what do you intend to do?" Haruna asked.
"I – I really don't know." Yakumo meekly answered.
"Then we have no choice but to go to Eri's place and find out!" Miki said.
"Can we not first ask Akira about it before doing something rash like Miki said?" Satsuki suggested as Miki glared at her. "She probably knows more than anyone about this whole ordeal."
"Sounds like a plan." Haruna said. "Miki, I hope you're not planning on doing something on your own."
"Hey! I haven't done anything yet!" Miki turned to Yakumo. "Don't worry Yakumo. We'll figure this all out and everything will be back to normal again, I promise.
x-x-x
"Yes, it's all true." Akira said after sipping from a cup of tea.
"WHAT?! ARE YOU SURE?!" Miki exclaimed.
"Miki, shouting louder does not help things." Haruna said.
"But if Akira said it then it must be true!"
"Akira, will you please explain how it came to be?" Satsuki asked. "I mean, this whole engagement thing. I thought that Eri did this just to, you know, be closer to Harima."
"Eri is a lot of things but she wouldn't do something like that to impress one man." Akira said. "On the contrary, it wouldn't even cross her mind." As smart as Eri was, Akira had seen her as a girl who usually came up with something on the fly instead of thinking about it first. This was the real Eri and not the image of a cool and composed heiress Eri had built upon herself. Akira suspected that most, if not all, her advances to Harima were things that Eri would not do if she was thinking clearly – just like said person who'd taken her attention.
"I heard it was about Eri's parents getting sick and no one could manage their business in their absence." Sarah said. "The need for an engagement seems strange to say the least. Couldn't they simply appoint someone in their company as an interim until they feel better?"
Akira brought her cup down and glanced at Yakumo who was quietly sipping her tea. The younger girl's posture and behavior told Akira that Yakumo's relationship with Harima had progressed further, to the point it could shake her this much. Akira would not expect Yakumo to be the one actively searching for answers but a little voice within her had hoped that Yakumo should at least be the one asking the questions. The will to act, to actively grab the reins was the most important aspect in tackling any challenge, more so than any amount of preparation. From her point of view, this was what had cost Yakumo the game despite her having more opportunities this time. The situation had actually become reversed compared to last year. This time Eri wasn't in Harima's class and he was living with Yakumo after Tenma left abroad. It should have turned the tide but it was Eri's insistence that changed it all.
An invincible will to act spelled out the name of the game.
With that in mind, Akira yielded and was willing to answer if it would make things easier for the other side.
"I don't usually explain these kinds of things openly but with how things are going right now, there's a need for clarification. News spreads fast so it is better to clear things up before it gets messy." Akira cleared her throat and the other girls became silent.
"I should first explain what an engagement means. Other than a symbol of emotional attachment, it has many practical uses in society. For starters, you are legally tying your name with someone that could potentially change your identity as a whole. This sometimes takes precedence, especially with those who hold weight behind their names. You don't need the emotional part in an engagement because the result is the same. This is where the heart of the issue resides." Akira deftly explained in a seemingly breathless rush and yet it still sounded clear to everyone. She took a breath and continued as if reciting from a script.
"Eri, despite her British heritage and upbringing, carries the Sawachika name from her mother because she is their only heir. The Sawachika family is a very old, deeply traditional family. So much so, they still follow the custom of having only male leaders - just like Japan's Imperial House and much of the world's remaining monarchies. Eri's mother was an only child and so Eri's father agreed to take the Sawachika name when they married. Now with Eri's parents unwell, they need another man to join the family and lead the company - at least in name. That is where Eri's engagement comes in. And if she refuses, or even delays too long, the family elders have said they will permanently hand the leadership to a distant relative. Archaic and absurd that tradition maybe, especially in this day and age, but unfortunately, that is how things stand. Of course, Eri would not let her parents' hard work and reputation be stripped away because of her, so she has no choice but to agree to an engagement."
"Can't they just wait until her parents get well?" Sarah asked.
"In the business world, a day or two could cost a company millions due to stalled production. Someone should always oversee it even for formality's sake. It reassures investors if there is someone in charge of the company at all times. This is what Harima and Eri were doing with their meetings: to reinforce their relationship with their clients and to greet potential ones. Postponing it for an indefinite amount of time would cost the company dearly. This is from a practical point of view and it has always been like this from the start." Akira took a sip of tea to let the information sink in. The other girls were quiet after Akira's explanation. They had never heard Akira speak so much in a conversation before and it only added some mysticism to it. But Miki in particular looked like she was more confused than before.
"That's basically the gist of it." Akira said. "I'm sure you were all expecting a different answer; like perhaps they'd fallen in love…but as I said earlier, one doesn't need such a connection in an engagement. I might have said before that they might not go through with it but with those two, one can't really be certain."
"Argh!" Miki groaned. "Why are rich people making this so complicated!? We just need to talk with those two to clear things up, right?"
"Eri and Harima are out-of-town and they might not come back for a few days." Akira answered. "Even I don't know where they are right now." The other girls were surprised to hear her admission. They'd always thought Akira had the answers to pretty much everything. To leave a little bit wiser but still unable to do anything was disappointing to all of them.
The group of friends went their separate ways after each trying to cheer Yakumo up, leaving the morose girl with Sarah. Without their friends around them, the thick silence came back and settled around the two.
Their company had always been a pleasant one but Sarah alone could not cheer up Yakumo the way Harima could. It just seemed natural for the guy – he could brighten her mood without showing any effort at all. It was not that Yakumo valued her friendship with Sarah any less now. It was a side effect of being separated from a bond she had so cherished and become accustomed to. And that bond was at risk of never returning.
Over the following days, Sarah could tell that Yakumo's much-vaunted cooking skills had changed. Her meals often became either overcooked or underdone and they sometimes passed off as a bit bland. She started falling asleep in classes again with Sarah explaining to their worrying friends that Yakumo couldn't sleep well at night – which was true because Yakumo still kept sleeping in the living room.
They didn't know when or how the news about Eri and Harima's official engagement got out, but that was what the whole school was talking about for a few days. It was odd that students as young as high schoolers were getting married already, some noted. Still, it didn't dampen the liveliness it brought. Even if they didn't personally know the couple, others celebrated the news just for the sake of the occasion. Where the wedding would be held or what kind of ceremony it would be were the talk of the town. Obviously, it would be grand because the Sawachika family would host it. To think that Sarah nearly recommended a church to this new couple.
There was a small corner of the school where the air hung heavy. A portion of Class 2-C was silent despite the noise going on around them. The five classmates sat quietly in their seats, four of them not knowing what to do. Something was holding them back and every word they wanted to voice out was stuck in their throats.
It was painful to see their classmate being this depressed. Yakumo was staring blankly out the window and Sarah knew no amount of words was enough to snap her out of this state.
Miki stood up, unable to bear this somber atmosphere anymore. "This bites! What gives?! Can we not do something?" She turned around to leave the classroom. "I'm gonna have a talk with that Harima."
"Miki, Harima still hasn't come back yet." Haruna softly reminded her. Miki stopped in her tracks and turned around to her classmate.
"What?! Then I'll go speak with -"
"Eri also hasn't come back yet."
"So what do you want me to do?!" Miki snapped at her. She then looked at Yakumo and started walking towards her. "Hey, Yaku-" Miki felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked to her side and saw Satsuki. The basketball ace had her head low, slightly shaking it sideways. It was enough to send the energetic student the message to calm down. Miki sat back in her seat, indignant as to what was happening right now.
It was preposterous. That it was her own friends who were attempting to stop her from doing anything. Back then, they were oh so willing to help out by any means necessary and now they couldn't even talk. She took a glance at Sarah, Yakumo's closest friend, hoping for some support, only to find that even the nun was avoiding eye contact with her. A storm of frustration was building up inside her at how powerless they all seemed now.
Miki had once thought to use – err… ask Hanai if he could somehow make Yakumo happy since she was probably on his mind all the time. She would gladly give up her crush if it meant he could make her friend happy. It turned out that he didn't need anyone to ask him. Unfortunately, Hanai wasn't a very sensitive and tactful person when it came to showing his affections.
Ever since the news about the engagement broke, Hanai tried to woo Yakumo every chance he got, but he did it in the worst possible of ways: Reminding Yakumo that since Harima wasn't here, he could take his place. Asking her out in front of everybody, thus putting pressure on her. He also wondered out loud how out of all the boys in the school, and in the country even, a person like Harima would be the one to wed "princess" Eri. It seemed very unlikely to him that Harima could ever end up with someone for that matter. In his mind, he was infinitely better than that brutish delinquent could ever be. It was then that Miki would first see Yakumo slam Hanai to the ground, although maybe it was because he had laid a hand on her shoulder. Yakumo simply walked away, leaving Hanai and the onlookers in shock. But the guy continued his attempts to win Yakumo over and every time Yakumo would apologize and leave quickly (with no more body slams, fortunately for him). It wasn't working out and it only made matters worse.
If one of Yakumo's most ardent admirers couldn't do anything, what could Miki do?
After class, Miki quickly made her way to Eri's house as she said she would do.
Now in front of the Sawachika mansion, Miki pressed the doorbell by the huge gate. After a while, a tall butler with a handlebar mustache greeted her.
"Uh, hi?" Miki greeted.
"Why, hello, young miss." The butler made a short bow. "I'm Nakamura, the Sawachika family's butler. I assume you also attend the same school as the young mistress?"
"Yes, I do." Miki answered while twiddling her fingers. "Umm, I don't know if this is proper to ask but is Eri here?"
"I apologize. Miss Eri isn't here at the moment."
Miki's shoulders slumped.
"And if you're also inquiring about Mister Kenji then I'm afraid he isn't here either." Nakamura continued.
"Wait. How did you know that I was going to ask that next?" Miki asked. The butler's mustache curled a bit.
"Ah, another girl also asked about them yesterday. Sarah is her name, if I'm not mistaken. She declined when I offered to inform the two that she had stopped by here. She said she didn't want to disturb them." Miki quickly regretted thinking badly about Sarah earlier.
"Well, I guess it's the same for me. Thank you, Mr. Butler, and sorry for the trouble." The butler bowed modestly in response and Miki went home.
x-x-x
"I'm sorry Sarah. I don't know where he is right now. He didn't ask my permission to go anywhere even when he was still staying here."
Sarah hung her head after hearing Ms. Osakabe's answer. It wasn't a surprise anymore.
"It's his M.O to vanish without telling anyone." Itoko continued. "This isn't the first time he's done this."
"So, Harima will not come back?"
"Well, he returned as much as he left so I would be more surprised if he didn't. It's like clockwork to him. Either way, he'll make his presence known someday also without telling anyone. It's just the way he is."
"Okay. Thank you, Miss Osakabe, and sorry for coming in uninvited." Sarah bowed and started to walk home.
Another fruitless search. Sarah sighed heavily. With each passing day, her hope diminished. She didn't want to accept it fully until she was sure. If Harima did leave without telling anyone, what would that do to Yakumo? It would be similar to how Tenma left prematurely. Yakumo had apparently gotten over it quickly but if it happened again, Sarah wasn't sure Yakumo would be able to repeat that feat.
Back at home, Sarah updated Yakumo on what Miss Osakabe told her earlier. Sarah stressed that Harima always came back one way or another. His belongings were still there and he still had a manga to finish. Secretly for Sarah, however, she wanted Harima to return with a completely different reason in mind.
That night, Sarah slept in her room while Yakumo still opted to stay in the living room. Sarah had offered to also sleep there but Yakumo promised her that she would not be staying there again and not to worry about her.
Yakumo set an alarm on her cellphone so that it would go off after a few hours. That way she would definitely be sleeping in her own room for at least some of the night. It was still a promise and she intended to keep it.
Hours went by and Yakumo started feeling sleepy. She laid her head on the low table and soon enough, she drifted off to sleep.
-/-
"But dad!" A young girl shouted, her face pleading. "It's my preschool graduation! Can you not attend it first?"
The man crouched down to her. "Don't worry. It won't take long. I promise I'll be back. I'll catch your awarding ceremony so have your awards ready, okay? I know you have lots of them." He put a hand on her head and ruffled her hair. The young girl smiled and waved at him, bidding him a safe journey.
Many people attended the ceremony. There was a somber silence in the air and it made things eerier. People had come and gone to pay their well wishes and respect. A young girl was tightly clutching a book, her head bowed, uninterested in the hollow voices of people around her. She couldn't care less about what they had to say. It was her fault for not dissuading him even further.
There, in front of them, was a picture of a man who hoped to attend a ceremony but ended up in a different ceremony altogether.
-/-
Mikoto and Ms. Sasakura had now left after taking care of the necessary things for Tenma's departure. Tenma's clothes had been quickly packed but they ultimately decided that Tenma could simply buy the stuff she needed there instead. The direness of the situation made them not think too much and everyone moved on impulse. Yakumo wasn't an exception as she too did what was asked of her. If anyone was good at moving on autopilot, Yakumo made it seem so effortless, it was as if she alone had been prepared and ready for it.
Now that the preparations were done and everyone had left, the haze in the heat of the moment had begun to fade and reveal the impulsiveness of their actions. One by one, questions arose in her mind asking what they were doing; what she was doing. Had she just helped someone pack their things so they could leave? Not just anyone but a loved one?
A sudden realization then assailed her mind so terrible that it shook her to her very core.
Wait.
Tenma is going to leave?
She is going to leave me?
I'll be alone again.
I – I don't want –
"You can still stop her." The ghost said from behind her. "Is the man who rejected her this whole time more important than her own sister? Leaving her alone, all for him?"
She clutched her cellphone with trembling hands, sweat starting to drip down her temple.
Why?
Why leave me all of a sudden?
Have I not been a good sister to you?
You care for him more than you do your own sister who took care of you all this time?
What about me? I'm all alone again.
Why?
"It's just that easy. Call her, dissuade her. But then again, you care for her more than yourself. Why is it so hard to imagine that she will leave you someday? You are willing to sacrifice your heart and what has it brought you in return?"
Gritting her teeth, she put down her cellphone as tears started to stream down her cheeks.
x-x-x
Yakumo slowly woke up from the vibrations of her cellphone, the screen flashing like a lighthouse in the darkness. She reached out a hand to grab it as her eyes adjusted. She stared at the few lines of words adorning the screen for a while, and then she stood up and went to her room, canceling the alarm she'd set earlier along the way.
x-x-x
It was Friday morning, which meant a full week had passed with Harima away. Sarah went downstairs and was relieved Yakumo wasn't in the living room sleeping. It somehow gave her hope that perhaps Harima did come home last night. It was short-lived though once she saw Yakumo who told her it wasn't the case. They prepared breakfast together but Sarah felt a little uneasy. It might have been Sarah's imagination but Yakumo seemed to act a little cold today. Her friend usually moved on autopilot but today she had a stern look on her face like she had to focus.
This behavior didn't go unnoticed by their friends. It might be a phase, they thought. It had been a week now since the last time they saw Harima, and perhaps Yakumo had finally accepted that he wasn't coming back anytime soon.
After school had finished, the group of friends went to karaoke since it had been a long time since they'd gone. It was the start of the new weekend and they couldn't just end the weekdays by being depressed. Singing would also be a good way to relieve some stress from the last few days. It was lively and cheery and even Yakumo joined them in a song that was fortunately not about pining for someone. It was better than to sulk all week long.
It was quite exhausting but they all had a great time nonetheless. It reminded them of how they'd all hang out together before the stress and tumult of exam week had taken over their lives. And so, the friends promised to drop by the Tsukamoto house more from now on. They'd always had fun the couple of times they'd been there before and now they could help lift Yakumo up from her down mood.
That night and while washing the dishes after dinner, Sarah heard the doorbell ring. She quickly wondered why her friends would drop by when they just saw each other earlier.
Sarah went out to open the gate and was surprised to see a man dressed in a crisp, unbuttoned dark-blue suit and white shirt. His longish hair was neatly combed back and his hand was inside his pants' pocket. It was relatively late and Sarah couldn't tell who he was until he spoke.
"Good evening, Sarah."
HARIMA!
"OH! HARIMA! It's so good to see you!" Sarah greeted loudly, not minding if the neighbors could hear her. Harima was taken aback. "The house hasn't been the same without you! You really had us worried this past week!" Sarah grabbed his hand and pulled him inside the house. "I don't really know what's going on but Yakumo has been –" Harima pulled Sarah's hand off his and stopped walking. "Harima?"
"I'm sorry Sarah."
"For what?"
Harima looked at Sarah with a sullen expression and replied, "I only came here to get my things. I'm leaving."
Author's Corner: WHAT THE HECK. This has been the longest chapter of the story yet by far! I didn't want to cut this chapter in half as I did with the last two chapters so I rolled with it. I have to add some more character's perspectives other than the usual main characters. You know what, my favorite character in School Rumble is featured here and I can't help myself but write his point of view for a change. Yes, it is Asou Hiroyoshi, the sanest boy in the entire SR cast. He's a bit underrated in the series but I guess he would pretty much get all the attention if he becomes the focus. At least I have the opportunity to highlight him here!
There are still loads to come with the drama and heartache angst. Maybe that's why this chapter is unusually long. Don't know if the next chapters will be as long, but the angst and drama are here to stay.
Thanks again to my beta Sumodog for their services. I can crank out chapters so much faster with a beta to clean up the mess! Just throw some love their way. That's all I'm asking.
As always, thanks for reading and see you in the next chapter!