Chapter Four

Asami

The year is 1961 and I am six years old. My family has lived in Kamome Village since before I was born, so I know this place like I know the back of my hand. I know the old man who has a Takoyaki truck on the pier, and gives me free candies when he sees me pass by, I know the pretty young lady in town who runs the flower shop, and who is always talking about her upcoming marriage to a police officer from Kyoto, and her mother who hates said police officer from Kyoto. I know almost everyone here, except for the twins.

The twins are small, and pale, and no one really likes them, I don't know why though, they seem fine. No one plays with them at recess, and everyone ignores them in class, people act like they smell when they're near them, or they pretend that they can't hear them when they speak. I've seen one of them put his head down in the middle of class and just cry. I don't like it when boys cry.

I go to talk to them during recess, if no one else will play with them, I'll do it, I hadn't seen them do anything wrong. I feel the eyes of my friends drilling into my back as I approach the twins, soccer ball cradled protectively in my arms.

"What are your names?" I ask, only one of them looks up, it's the boy with the tear stained face, the one who was crying before. "I'm Asami, I'm six."

"Asami? That sounds like my name, I'm Amane, I'm five." Says the little boy, his twin shoots him a look of disbelief as he takes the ball from me. He smiles nervously at me, waiting for me to say something else.

"How come nobody likes you?" I ask, with a child's usual tact. His face falls again, and his eyes get shiny with tears, his twin scowls at me with such hatred that I take a step back.

"I'm sorry for hurting your feelings," I tell him, giving him a small pat on the head, he begins to cry loudly, with no shame, and wraps his small arms around me, pressing his damp little cheek against mine. I pat his back as he cries, like my mother would when I was sad, and soon he's just hiccuping. Everyone on the playground is watching us, I feel very embarrassed, but what I want the most is for him to stop crying.

"I don't know why nobody likes me." He says at last, "I try really hard to be friends, but I guess I'm no good." He sniffs again.

"You're not no good!" I yell, he jumps at my sudden ferocity, "you're just fine! And I'll be your friend…" I pause suddenly a little shy, "if you wanna?"

He stands back from me and wipes the tears off his face, then gives me a 400 watt smile, "of course!"