My Dear Parasyte

Chapter 5

Acquaint or more

The final bell rings signaling the end of the school day. The students happily rush out the door. Sonia left alone in the classroom gathers her things and leaves. On the way down the hall she spots Shinichi and Satomi chatting. Well Satomi was talking Shinichi's mind seems preoccupied. Sonia had pulled him aside a week prior to speak to him about his change in behavior. He had lost his mom so his condition was understandable but there was something else about him that seemed different. He used to be more self-conscious and nervous. Now he was so calm all the time. It was as if he was a completely different person. He wasn't what one would call mechanical just strangely relaxed all the time. It was like after the school break he returned with life all figured out. Anyway Sonia didn't want to force anything out of him. If he didn't want to talk about it there was no pressure. As Sonia makes her way closer to the door she passes the teacher's lounge. A few of her colleagues are inside. They see Sonia and try to get her to have a night out with them but she politely declines. She also notices that Reiko isn't amongst the group. That woman was a mystery. Maybe she was a secret agent living a double life. Sonia laughs to herself while imagining Reiko going on secret missions and fighting bad guys. She almost doesn't lift her head up in time to see Reiko coming her way.

"Oh…hi." Says Sonia

She tries to bring her volume down to cover her surprise.

"Hello." Says Reiko

She stares at Sonia for a moment and for a split second the empty stare reminds Sonia of someone but she can't recall who.

"Are you going home?" asks Sonia

Trying to make small talk because they are now both just standing there in the hallway.

"No. I want to speak with you." Says Reiko calmly

Reiko always looked everyone in the eyes when she spoke but no one could ever get a sense of her feelings because her eyes were always so emotionless.

"What about?" asks Sonia

"I want to ask if you are interested in coming out with me to shop for clothing. Another female point of view would be most helpful." Asks Reiko

"Oh. Now?" asks Sonia

"Friday after work." Says Reiko.

"This Friday?" asks Sonia

"Yes." Says Reiko.

"Like for professional clothes?" asks Sonia

"No, I will require something for an occasion." Says Reiko

Sonia pauses to give her the chance to say more but she doesn't.

"Okay. So where do you want to meet?" asks Sonia

This conversation was becoming painfully awkward.

"I will come to your home. I require your address." Says Reiko

She just stands there staring into Sonia's eyes. Strangely she doesn't even happen to look away. Nothing else seems to catch her attention.

"Well I think I have a paper that I can write it on." Says Sonia

She searches her small satchel and rips a slip of paper from a notebook.

"Do you have a pen?" asks Sonia

"No. I do not." Says Reiko

Sonia hadn't interacted with Reiko enough to know if this was her normal personality. Honestly it was like the absence of a personality. The way she stood there staring and never glancing away.

"Never mind, I think I have one." Says Sonia.

Sonia rummages around in her bag for a second before finding one. Reiko was no help at all. Sonia writes down her address and gives the slip of paper to Reiko.

"Thank you. I will be there at six pm." Says Reiko

She walks away and doesn't even look back. Were some people just naturally strange? What was that woman's deal? Maybe she could learn more about her on Friday. Sonia exits the building to get to the train station. This time the train is on time. Sonia boards with the other passengers and makes her way home. She could kick herself for not bringing a book but decides to play on her phone for a while. The name Takeshi Hirokawa crosses her mind and she can't resist the urge to research him. Most information is pretty general about his election, and plans. Sonia wasn't searching for that she was searching for more personal information.

The train arrives at her stop and Sonia gets off. The whole ride was spent devouring anything she could find about Takeshi. She had found out that he was currently single, never married, and no children. That was unusual for a man that was in his forties unless he was a playboy his whole life. Another thing she didn't know, he was forty. He certainly didn't look that old when they met that night. He could have been thirty five maybe. Was he lying about his age? Why would he? He could have done it for political gain. Still that would make him a liar. On the other hand he could just look good for his age. Sonia wanted to talk to him again bottom line but how? She could drop by his office and leave a gift. That would work only if he was out. If he was in the office when she got there things have the potential to get uncomfortable. There was no information on line about what things he liked not even so much as a hobby listed. Wouldn't it be funny if she got him a copy of Indifferent Love? Surely he must have heard of the book but he most likely wouldn't think it was a very funny gesture. Sonia knew zero about this guy's personal life. So she would have to make a very good guess. However she did know that he was an environmentalist, and she could bet that he recycles. Sonia has a bright idea and goes to buy Takeshi a special gift right then. She had seen these in the store window when she walked around town. Luckily they still had one left.