She Comes And Goes As She Pleases (Part 23)
by BrDPirateMan
"Neku? Ah, you're up."
Oh? It was morning. What was this fuzzy thing in front of me? I tried to rub the sleep out of my eyes for a better look but I didn't take long to figure it out. The nice feminine scent was a dead giveaway.
"Five minutes," I mumbled. "Just… five more minutes."
An underwear-clad Eri was kneeling by my side. She didn't fancy my groggy reply very much and let me know. "Come on, lazy. Up you go! Have you forgotten what we've come here for?"
"I haven't. But I still need – "
"No 'buts'. You promised we'd stay for another day! So we're going to go have lots of fun and make every second count. You're wasting our precious seconds, Neku! I wouldn't have it!" She's cute when she's annoyed; when she grumbles it's the most adorable thing.
Well, today was the last day of our pseudo-romantic getaway. I made a promise to her that we would just go crazy and spoil ourselves. No way would I be a total dirtbag like last night. For Eri's happiness, I had to do my best and some! And if things went well, maybe I could even tell her what I felt about her and we could return home hand-in-hand as a couple at last. Lots of things to look forward to, that's for sure!
But it was still too early… The sun was hardly up. Probably wasn't even six.
"I gotcha, Your Majesty," I said, cramming words into my pillow. "Now gimme my five minutes already."
"You sloth! Seriously, you're such a girl! You know why? 'Cause you're all like," – with a sarcastic falsetto she said – "'Ahh! No, no, no, I simply must have my beauty sleep for another five more minutes or my manly complexion will be ruined… ruined!' Geh! Here, I'll even give you a blindfold if it helps."
She tossed something at me. It did feel like a blindfold, judging from the texture.
"Thanks. That's just what I – uh?"
My eyesight had cleared up enough now, and I saw that I was holding no blindfold. It took me a second or two to recognize what it was and then I sprang straight up in surprise like a jack-in-the-box.
"Hey, what the…? !"
Blindfold, my foot! The imp had taken off her bra and handed it to me passing it off as one! She roared with laughter while keeping her bare breasts wrapped up in one arm.
"Now you're awake!" she guffawed. "Oh god, you're a riot, Neku!"
"Dammit, Eri… You nearly gave me a heart attack! And so early in the morning too! This can't be good for my health."
"Still sleepy?" The fingers of her free hand were plucking at the hem of her panties. "Want another blindfold?"
"No! Put something on, you monkey!"
She refused to stop laughing as she slipped her bra back on. Her insanity reaches new heights with each passing day…
"You, Eri, are a real handful."
"So are you," she retorted. "But that's cool. You know what they say: if birds of a feather flock together, than so do handfuls."
"I've never heard of that."
"Of course you haven't, silly. Hee hee… Anyway, come on, Neku! Don't stay indoors when it's such a beautiful day. Here, take a look."
Eri went over to the curtains with a skip in her step and flung them wide open. I watched in horror as she proceeded to open the sliding door and step out onto the balcony. In two seconds I was on my feet, going after her. She was gazing at the townscape whose simple beauty left a grand impression in her. Sightseeing would have been fine any other time but right now she was still in only her underwear.
"The air's so cool and refreshing," she sighed. "Mornings like this are the best."
"Eri! Come on back inside and wear a shirt at least!"
"What? That's no fun," she pouted. "It's still early, and no one's up yet. And the breeze feels nice on my skin. C'mon, surely you can give me, oh, five more minutes?" Kuh! That edge of sarcasm that was directed at me… I really felt it!
"Not like that I won't!"
She ignored my protests and kept wondering aloud about her surroundings. "Oooh, this balcony is a solid place to make out. Quiet, romantic, and a great view to boot! I'll have to remember this spot."
Eri spun round and leaned against the railing, perching on it with her perky behind. "If our friendship was a little deeper," she mused, "we could give it a shot."
My heart stirred. "You mean… m-making out?"
"That's right. Eheh…"
No book or magazine article had taught me how to reply to words so strong and bold. What should I say? Should I express interest? Or go into deadpan mode and say something amusing? I didn't even know how I should begin. That's why I was thankful she made things easy for me by speaking first.
"Sadly for you, wannabe Casanova," she said, "today is not your time to shine. The mouth-to-mouth can wait."
"Er… I… Yeah, I never said there was any rush."
"I'm a woman of my word, though. So don't worry." She pressed my lips gently with her finger. "You'll get your kiss soon!"
"Ah, um… th-thanks… I g-guess?"
"You should be more enthusiastic," she huffed, "but I can't blame you for being so shy. It's kinda cute, actually."
Eri walked back into the room where she finally decided to put on some clothes. Slipping into her yukata, she quipped, "I'm famished. I could do with some breakfast. You?"
"Sounds like a plan."
The two of us could sort out our feelings soon, that much I was sure. Never mind the part about kissing. What's important is that Eri and I had a whole day to goof off and have some serious fun, and we were looking forward to it. What adventures lay in wait for us today? I couldn't wait.
And so couldn't Eri. I just knew.
XOXOXOXOXO
Breakfast was brought to us in our room courtesy of the elderly innkeeper and her helpers. Our food was placed on the coffee table in a lavish spread that we simply gawked at. Fish, beef, soup… Could we finish all of this?
"Looks great," I said approvingly. "Thanks, ma'am."
The innkeeper reacted to my compliment humbly. "Don't mention it. We may be a simple establishment, but taking care of our customers is always our top priority."
Eri was in complete astonishment. Ever since I started teaching her how to cook, she had taken a liking to cuisine. This breakfast, so expertly made, must have left her reeling with envy. "It smells like a real treat. I'll bet it tastes just as lovely! How long have you been cooking, ma'am?"
"I'd gather it to be about… seventy years?"
"Then you've been cooking practically your whole life? You must be a pro!"
"I get that a lot," chuckled the old lady. She must have been thinking what a cute young thing Eri was to be in awe over something as relatively simple as breakfast. "Please, enjoy your meal. We shan't disturb you any further."
Just as they were about to leave, Eri had one more thing to say.
"Wh-What's this?" Her face was a little pale and she was pointing at one of the bowls with a shaky finger. Suddenly she didn't look so enthusiastic. As for why, I would find out in a moment and share her sentiments.
The innkeeper gave her answer nonchalantly, like everything was okay, when it really wasn't…
"That would be one of my crowning achievements: roasted grasshoppers seasoned with teriyaki sauce."
Grasshoppers? ! Seriously, grasshoppers? ! Those… hopping, flying things? ! They're repulsive! Seeing them braised golden brown didn't make them look any more palatable. They sat disconcertingly alongside the rest of today's dishes. I didn't know eating bugs was a Japanese thing. Maybe it really wasn't. In any case, is stuff like this supposed to be edible or given to a certain couple of friends as punishment for having a senseless quarrel last night?
"First time seeing insects as food?" The innkeeper tried her best to dissuade our fears, but she wasn't very successful. "Don't be afraid. Grasshoppers may be a bizarre choice as a side dish, but when cooked the right way, they're really good. Try it. You might just acquire a taste for it."
Then she slid the door closed and left an uncomfortable silence in her wake. Eri looked from me to the bowl of grasshoppers and back to me again, and I did the exact same thing.
"Oh well," I half-laughed, "we can always leave it for later!"
"Y-Yeah!" She was creeped out plenty, although I had to give her credit for trying to sound normal. "It'll be a waste to just chuck them away so let's save it for now! Right?"
"Right! Ahaha…"
"Ehehe…"
We pushed the offending insects to the side and focused on the other food as best as we could to help rebuild our spoiled appetites. Luckily for us the rest of our breakfast was a lot less disagreeable.
"Oh, this is heavenly!" said Eri, chomping down on a slice of beef. "Surreal!"
I couldn't agree with her more and suddenly the grasshoppers were all but forgotten. "That old lady sure can whip up a mean breakfast. She's awesome."
"I wish I can cook like this one day."
"Of course you can! You're getting there, you know. Just keep going. I know you can do it."
"Well, it's all thanks to you, Sensei. If it weren't for you, I'd still be useless in the kitchen. Now I don't need to depend so much on TV dinners and microwaveables, you know?"
"You mean… you still eat those things? Can't be good for your health."
"Only someti– uh, rarely! Like when I'm feeling lazy or I miss the taste. Ehe… Oh, I got it!" Her eyes sparkled with a diamond sheen with the birth of another idea. "Neku, how do you feel about cooking dinner together once in a while?"
"Dinner… t-together?" I probably knew what she was going on about, but was all ears for more details. My hunch told me it would be something enjoyable.
"Yeah, why not? We can bring the ingredients to my place or yours and cook, and once our hard work is done for the day, we can eat each other!"
Oh, that was a splendid plan! I was all for more buddy time (and skinship) with this girl, and cooking was one way to do that. Food is a coagulant that binds people together. I know how that's like. We always look forward to the cooking lessons I hold every Saturday. Cooperating with her at the stove is fun!
…There was one thing, though.
"Eri, did you say we could… eat each other?"
"Ooh, so you really are awake!" she laughed. "I'd have thought you were still asleep. Just making sure!"
"Too many things have happened already in the space of two hours for me to stay sleepy…"
Another slice of beef found itself at the mercy of her chopsticks. "But doesn't it sound nice? Cooking dinner together, that is."
My mind was going through all the good things that could possibly happen from that. "Not a bad idea at all. I don't see why we shouldn't give it a shot already. I mean, we already do these cooking lessons every week anyway… So how about this: instead of having our lesson in the morning, we'll hold it in the evening. Then we can prepare dinner at the same time. Two birds, one stone."
"Nice! I knew you wouldn't deny li'l ol me!" She went for a sip of miso soup before continuing with a dreamy faraway look in her eyes. "It's gonna be awesome. Me at the skillet, you at the pot! Or something like that. Oh, before I forget…"
"Yeah?"
"Everyone gets sweaty working in the kitchen, right? So before dinner, a bath is absolutely necessary. No exceptions! You know how gross it is to do anything when you're drenched in sweat. Thought I might tell you while it's still fresh in my mind, you know? Oh, and while we're busy in the bath, it can't hurt to flirt and spoil one another a little, can it? I'll bet it'll whet your appetite nice and good!"
Count on her to turn any safe conversation topic into a totally unsafe one…
"If by 'flirt'," I said, "you actually mean 'sexually harass', I'm outta here."
"Oh my! You understand me sooo perfectly!" She was a living bag of chortles. "It's a pity neither of us has a bathtub though… I miss bubble baths so much."
In an attempt to make our chat more nosebleed-friendly, I asked, "Are baths that fun? I don't know 'cause I've only taken showers."
"Eh? ! For real? ! Not once in your life? !" Her eyes were wide like dinner plates. I didn't think it was such a big deal… "Then you don't know what you're missing! Bubbles have been known to release stress when you pop them. So having a tub full of them is a great way to unwind. Just keep popping and don't stop till they're all gone, and you'll feel fantastic afterwards. I dunno how it works… Maybe it's that part inside all of us that screams obsessive-compulsive."
Something about that didn't sound right. "…You're confusing bubble baths with bubble wrap, Eri."
"Oh, I guess so! Silly me! Hee hee. Anyway, bubble baths are great. It's like floating in a sea of cotton candy. Kind of romantic, huh?"
My skin crawled at the thought. "Somehow I can't see how soaking in a tub of sticky evaporated sugar can be romantic."
She shook her head in a mockingly sympathetic way… and it was somewhat irritating. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. That is 'tsk' with three 'tsks'! Neku, you only think this way because you have yet to utilize the full capacity of your imagination. Think! Maybe a tub of cotton candy by itself isn't romantic, but if you're sitting in there together with the girl of your dreams… oho, things would take on a much different light, now wouldn't it?"
"Huh? !" Her words made me recoil. Me and Eri in a tub of – oh no, an image was starting to form in my head! "Wh-What's that supposed to – "
"Silence!" she snapped. "Just stay with me here and visualize. You're alone in the tub with your lady love. A good mood is frothing between you two… and then…"
"This is great!" squealed Eri. "Oh Neku, I'm so happy you invited me to have a cotton candy bath with you."
"Eh, what are friends for?" Man oh man… I was suave and she knew it. Thanks to my velvety persuasion I managed to get her in the tub with me. Today was my lucky day!
Those eyes, filled with longing, never strayed anywhere else. I could feel myself melting in her hot gaze. As the atmosphere grew and our hormones surged through our systems like wildfire, I knew that something good would happen and it would be a matter of not if but when. And my guess was right on the mark. She suddenly stood up, her naked body slathered with the stuff, and proceeded to make herself comfortable sitting in my lap. Whoa! Her smooth creamy skin, her luscious toned body… Everything I had longed to touch in my wildest dreams was sitting on top of me!
"I can't take it anymore, Neku," she breathed, hugging me close. "Eat me!"
"Neku, heel, heel! You're bleeding into your rice!"
"Whuh?"
I snapped back to reality and discovered to my horror that my rice bowl had turned a gruesome reddish hue. There was nothing I could do to salvage the bloodied remnants of my food.
Eri jabbed tissues up my nostrils. "Well, if it's any comfort, you're an astonishing visualiser. I didn't even need to say anything."
"Sh-Shut up, this is all because you're such a tease! Half of my pocket money is spent on tissues alone because of you!"
"Why, thank you!" she laughed. "You just helped give me a delicious boost to my ego. Ah, speaking of delicious, we should be eating!"
"You've come back to your senses at last, I see…"
"Would you like some of my rice?" she offered. "I can share half."
"It's fine. I'm nearly full, anyway. I'll just polish off the rest of the food."
"Really? If that's the case, then more for me. Hee hee."
Five seconds of peace couldn't even get by before she spoke up in jest again.
"Incidentally," she said slyly, "who was it you were fantasizing about being a living stick of cotton candy?"
Gah, she had to ask that! I nearly choked. "No… No one in particular…"
"Come now, you're not a good liar. You wouldn't get a nose-splosion if you weren't thinking of somebody." That's true… but I couldn't say it was her! What should I say?
"Er… This…"
"Was it me?" She was pointing playfully at herself.
"Ah… Um…" Yes, it's you, Eri! I want to devour you so bad! …is what I wanted to say. But I just couldn't. It would be very inappropriate. Dammit, why did she have to ask the trickiest questions? She loved backing me into corners I had no way of escaping from. One had to admit she had a sharp mind to keep winning against me… Either that, or I was simply too slow.
In the meantime, I had an answer to give and she was waiting for it.
"Eri, it's… see… it's a little complicated to – "
"Oh, the grilled eel is good." And she popped some more into her mouth.
"Really? Ah, you're right. I should – " My common sense returned to me in a snap and I gaped at her. "Wait, y-you changed topics? !"
"Huh?"
"…Ah, never mind. Let's carry on with breakfast already." That was a weird way to dodge that bullet…
Mealtime was over soon. There's nothing quite like a tasty breakfast to start the morning, and ours was like a dream come true. Not a crumb remained. We were both very contented and inclined to give Teppeki Inn five stars for excellent room service.
In fact, if it weren't for one tiny thing, it would have been perfect…
"So," began Eri, "what're we going to do about these grasshoppers?"
That's the question I was hoping to not answer. The bowl of teriyaki grasshoppers sat between us, desperately begging to be eaten. "Eat us!" we imagined them imploring in their teeny little chipmunk voices. We weren't so desperate to oblige.
"How does one expect us to eat this?" I huffed with arms crossed. "This is more than disgusting."
"Entomophagy is alive in many parts of the world," she said, referring to the practice of eating insects for sustenance, "but it sure as heck is never gonna be my cup of tea! Ever!" And she made a face to drive home her point.
"I hear you. But if we just chuck it away, it'll be a waste… wouldn't it?"
"And the old lady will be sad. I know how tough it can be to cook. So should we at least take a bite? Just a teeny one."
"A… A bite? ! What, of this? !" I picked up one of the grasshoppers with my chopsticks and held it up for both of us to look and retch at. It was cooked whole just like the rest… You could see every part of it: the eyes, feelers, wings, legs…
"Oh, gross!" she nearly shrieked. "It really looks like something out of one of those crazy reality TV shows. Still… it'd be mean of us to just ignore it. You go first, Neku."
"Huh? ! Oh no, you go first. Since you brought this up, you get first dibs. By all means, be my guest!"
"Eew! No! Get to it already and good luck!"
"Ladies first."
"Aargh!" she roared, frustrated. "Neku, how can you call yourself a gentleman if you keep skiving? You've got to take responsibility, even if it's only once in a while!"
Just because I refused to eat this didn't make me less of a gentleman… But if this kept up it'd never end. One of us would have to undertake the daunting task of sinking our teeth into a dead six-legged crop destroyer. Might as well be me, then, though I wasn't looking forward to this, not that it was any surprising.
After a prolonged sigh, I muttered with great reluctance, "…Fine. I'll eat it."
"Huh? W-Wait a sec…"
"They always say it's good to try new things, I guess… so here goes."
Eri waited with bated breath as I drew the grasshopper closer and closer to my mouth. My lips were straining to part and I tried to will my stubborn jaws to work. And because my hands were shaking so badly, it made the insect at the end of my chopsticks look like it was wriggling for its life, making my morning even more nerve-wracking.
C'mon, just get this over with already…
And then Eri sprang up, grabbing my wrist. Her suddenness startled me and I nearly fumbled with my chopsticks.
"Stop!" she yelped urgently. "Don't… Don't eat it!"
"Eri, what's the matter?"
"Duh! You're going to risk your life eating this… What if you get yourself killed? !"
That was food for thought (no pun intended… maybe). What if I had a hidden allergy to insects? The results could be disastrous and bring a swift end to our date. Besides, it's not like I wanted to eat it in the first place anyway.
"You have a point, Eri. I'll leave it, then."
"Don't fret! I've decided…" She squeezed her eyes real shut like she was steeling herself to say something totally crazy… and guess what? It was. "I've decided that I'll eat it for you instead!"
"What? !"
She got up to lean over the table, which was outrageous in itself, but that her mouth was closing in on our arthropod dessert took the cake and sent alarm bells ringing in my head.
"No! No way!" I wrested control of my wrist, which was still being held tight in her grasp. "I wouldn't let you do that! You might catch something!"
"I-It's fine!" Horror gripped me when she plucked the grasshopper away with one hand and clamped her teeth on it. God, she was going to bite through cooked insect viscera if I didn't stop her soon!
"Wait! ! !"
I swooped in like a hawk and bit down on the other half of the grasshopper that was still sticking out from her teeth. In a second I realized how close our faces were and in our startled state we both chomped down on it at the same time. We hastily pulled away, overwhelmed not by the fact that we had bits of it in our mouths, but… well…
For the briefest of nanoseconds, I swear… when we bit down on it together…
…our lips touched.
The moment of contact was quick and almost unnoticeable, but I definitely felt it. It was no full-fledged accidental kiss, though, because there was hardly any pressure on my lips, just a gentle graze. But this was still enough to really make a lasting impression.
Having been in a number of relationships in the past, Eri was no stranger to oscular activity, but our accident had a more pronounced effect than making out with any of her previous boyfriends must have had – or so I would have liked it to be, anyway. In any case, if I wasn't so surprised myself, I'd have enjoyed seeing how cute she looked with her face all red while she was chewing absentmindedly on those insect parts. She was even frozen in that kinky posture, half-kneeling on the table.
"H-How was it?" she squeaked, when the horrid stuff was well down our throats.
"Uh… no idea. Wh-What do you think?"
"I… I don't know…"
Apparently we were so overwhelmed we forgot to taste the darned thing. We remembered it being crunchy like dried shrimp or even crispy like fried chicken, but other than that we were more preoccupied with the near miss our lips just had.
She clambered back down from the table and the two of us just sat there, silent. My heart was still a-fluttering and she was the same way, I'd bet.
"S-Sorry," I muttered, "my… my bad."
"No, uh, there's nothing you need to worry about…"
Suddenly that vulnerable side of her resurfaced and reminded me that even Eri could get self-conscious.
"Oh!" she spluttered in a hurry. "Wh-What say we take a walk around the neighbourhood? I-It's too early for shopping but we can get some sightseeing in! Nice morning, you know? Um, shall… shall we?"
"Yeah, s-sure, let's… Why not? L-Lovely morning, beautiful day!"
On the weird note, breakfast was now truly over. Despite our tact and thoughtfulness, in the end we completely forgot about the rest of the grasshoppers.
Not a single word more was spoken afterward. The whole time we were changing, and even when we had ventured out of the inn and onto the streets, we were silent. I think we were thinking the same thing, asking ourselves the same question, over and over.
Did we just kiss? Didn't we?
Which was it?
XOXOXOXOXO
Out on our walk for a spell of fresh air, we managed to find a spot on a flyover where we could look at the townscape from above. I had been born and raised in Shibuya, so tall buildings and large crowds were the norm in my life. To be able to see a place where people lived quiet lives and where nothing was more than two storeys high was a change of pace I greatly appreciated.
We stood side by side watching the town come to life as the morning began. The grumble of shutters being pulled up signaled the start of business for shopkeepers and stallholders. Middle-aged women – family mums most likely – trooped out by the handfuls to buy groceries. A quartet of elderly men was taking a stroll, probably talking about the good old days while plodding along on slow legs and walking sticks. Then we spied a lone teenage schoolgirl standing around and waiting for someone. A boy presently came rushing over and after a spurt of quick banter they were off. Eri chuckled at the sight.
"That's so cute," she said. "Did you see that?"
"Yeah, I think they're a couple, most likely."
"Exactly. Youth is such a wonderful thing, isn't it?"
I was quite amused. "You're not old, Eri."
"They remind me a lot of us. Every day either you or I would wait at the bus stop for the other, and when we meet we'd get on the bus together."
Ah, that was true. Some of life's pleasures were the simplest ones, you know?
I was about to say something when Eri nudged me in the arm and pointed at the couple who was about to disappear under the flyover's shadow. My eyes were squinting for a better look but I didn't see anything that stood out in particular. That is, until Eri told me what it was that gripped her attention.
"Look!" she remarked. "The guy has his arm around her shoulder. So they are a couple. Just look at them, enthralled with each other's presence without a care for the world. How sweet!"
I felt jealous of them just for being together and in love. They enticed me with their public displays of affection and made me want to emulate them so badly. What fun it must be to take furtive glances all around to make sure no one was looking before going for a quick peck or a few precious seconds of innocent petting. Eri and I continued to watch the couple in secret. The joys of being in love, eh? I wished I could do things like that with Eri. Holding hands and such…
Then something unexpected happened. They suddenly ducked into a corner of the street where there was plenty of shade. The two of us could see them quite clearly though. My jaw clattered to the cement when the boy plunged his hand up her skirt and started feeling up her buttocks. She responded by tearing his collar wide open and licking his neck aggressively. Their antics were quickly reaching disturbing levels and I was worried we might have an R-rated situation on our hands.
What part about them made those two a "sweet couple", now? I get that lust is a part of us but doing things like that in broad daylight is a bit…
"…The novelty," I muttered uneasily, "just lost its charm, huh?"
"Y-Yeah…" The sight made Eri fidget. "I do some outrageous things sometimes, but not… this. Neku, c'mon, we're outta here. We should let them keep their privacy."
"And we should keep our breakfast in our stomachs where they belong. Let's go."
We retreated to a safer sector of the neighbourhood and in so doing stumbled upon a marketplace. It was teeming with people and getting awfully crowded at that. Nowhere near as packed as during the Hachi Fest, but it was still easy to be swept up in the throng and get seriously lost. We kind of rushed onto the scene a tad too quickly and now we were being jostled around like ragdolls. Last night's misadventure taught me about the dangers of being separated and I resolved not to make the same mistake twice, especially in this unfamiliar town. Eri and I had to stick together.
"It'll get busy real soon," I said to her. "Here! Take my hand so we don't get split up."
She hesitated, but only for a half-second. Then, with a nod, she clasped my hand in hers and allowed me to lead her through the sea of townsfolk. I was glad I did what I did. There were one or two times when someone would get between us by accident and almost pull us apart, but our grip remained firm and everything was A-OK.
It didn't occur to me right away because I was busy trying to get us out of there, but eventually I did notice that we were holding hands. This was hardly the place for romance, of course, but it still sent shivers up my spine. Ah… We're one step closer to being a real couple now…
I emerged from the marketplace relatively unscathed with my quarry in tow. Free at last!
"Alright, good!" I said. "Man, that was pretty unsafe. But now we're – whuh? !"
Eri wasn't with me. In her place was this old geezer, struggling to stand straight with his cane. Did I somehow let go of Eri's hand and grab this fellow's when I was being pushed about? Then where was she? !
The senior whom I had mistakenly dragged along was panting with a vengeance. "Son," he gasped, "what are you doing? I don't need help walking, you know."
"I'm terribly sorry. I thought I was holding my friend's hand." And with a few frantic bows, I dove straight back into the crowd, leaving the bemused man behind.
Each passing second made my panic grow. I searched left and right but couldn't find her. Everywhere I looked there were people I didn't recognize. No, I couldn't afford to lose her here! Not after the nightmare I went through last night. I vowed to protect her… but I messed up again!
Where was she? !
In desperation, I cried out her name.
"Eri!"
"Neku? Over here!"
I spun in the direction of that familiar voice. It was her! Thank goodness. She wasn't in any trouble. In fact, she was busy buying stuff from a snack stall! And here I was worried sick about her.
"There you are! What're you doing here, Eri?"
"Um… getting some takoyaki?"
"That much I can tell! But why did you let go of my hand? It's dangerous to be alone in a place like this." All the more so for a pretty gal like her!
"I didn't let go," she claimed. "I was holding on real tight! But I lost my grip when someone bumped into me. I tried to get back to you, but then I came across this stall and… well, here I am…"
I rubbed the back of my neck as I let out a groan. "So you got distracted, is what you're trying to tell me? Goodness… Ah, well, for now let's get out of here."
After making doubly sure I was holding the hand of the right person, I hauled Eri and her takoyaki out of the crowd for much-needed oxygen and elbow space. Although I was a bit miffed that I ended up with the old man earlier, I was glad to know that at least my friend was safe and with me. How she pulled off that magic escape trick was beyond me but it didn't matter anymore.
Now that we were a safe distance away, I had some words for her. "You worried me just now, Eri… I thought you'd disappeared! If we're ever in a crowd like that again, please stay close to me."
"Okay, sure," were her words so carelessly spoken. "But don't worry, I'll be fine!"
"That's not what you should be saying!"
She suddenly understood the gravity of the danger she could have been in and her cheeriness dissolved away. "I'm sorry, Neku. I wouldn't do it again…"
The slump in her shoulders told me she was deeply sorry that she made me worry. She almost looked like a dog with its ears down and tail between its legs, and because I didn't like seeing sad girls, the sight of her felt like a punch to the gut and I couldn't stand it. Worried about her I may have been, but was I too harsh?
I patted her on the head, hoping to bring her spirits back up. "Never mind. So long as you understand, it's cool. Sorry for raising my voice like that. I just… I don't want to lose you like I thought I did last night. Please stay close to me from now on."
"Okay, Neku."
"I may not look like much but I want you to be safe because I care about – " Wait. Agh, hold on. This was steering too close to the realm of subtle romance already. Gotta cut it short before things got too sappy. "Gah… Anyway, just watch yourself from now on, Eri. Please." And she nodded. She'd be more careful now, hopefully.
"Thank you," she muttered softly, "for always watching out for me. I do get careless now and again."
"Make that always."
Unfazed by my sarcasm, she just giggled lightly. "Come to think of it, I haven't thanked you yet."
"Huh? For what? And didn't you just do that?"
"No, this is for last night. When the innkeeper told me you went out of your way to try and search for me, I was really moved."
"Is… Is that so?" That's right. The innkeeper must have told her about me… about how crazy I was to run around the neighbourhood like a headless chicken.
"You were a jerk moments earlier, but you redeemed yourself at the last minute with that rescue attempt. Heh, for all of your foolhardiness, you were quite gallant. You've always done lots of things for me, but you really took me by surprise there."
"Oh, uh, I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Too bad your princess was in another castle," she wisecracked.
"…I'm not an Italian plumber, Eri."
"Ha ha ha!" She held up the box of food she just bought. "Anyway, I got some takoyaki… Let's share it?"
"Are you sure? You did buy it with your own money…"
When she beams at me with an ever so slight cock of her head to the side, like now, nothing in the world is cuter. "I bought it for us both. Why not?"
"Alright, but next time it's my treat."
"Hee hee. Then I want crepes!"
XOXOXOXOXO
"Eri."
"Yeah?"
"I did tell you to stay close to me…"
"And I'm doing precisely that now, aren't I?"
"…but not this close. I can't even walk properly!"
We were staggering past a row of shops, and Eri, not wishing to incur my wrath again from being separated, was clinging onto me so closely we might as well be conjoined twins. It was hard to walk without getting our feet snagged with each other every few steps. The two of us became very difficult to not notice. Everyone's eyes were on us. But I'll bet she was enjoying every bit of it, embarrassment be darned.
"Eri, this is a bit much – "
"Don't mind it… It's fine, it's fine! Just imagine we're like that couple from earlier… minus the disgusting part." She pressed against my person even more.
Gwoh…! Was that her breast that was rubbing against my arm? This… This… softness was unbelievable. Her chest wasn't horrendously large like some girls I've seen, but she was no cutting board either. Just nice.
"Neku." Eri kept her voice down so no one could hear her but me.
"H-Huh? What is it now?"
"I hope you're not comparing my breasts to that juggernaut over there. I'm really sensitive about my chest size, I'll have you know."
She snapped her head in the direction of a couple of women having tea, and I knew at a glance which one she was referring to: the young lass with the massive roadblock of a chest. The sweater she was wearing was thick and a little on the frumpy side but failed to hide its monstrous size.
Eri continued to lament, "Had I drunk a little more milk during my school days, I might be a size bigger. But alas, puberty is past and gone so what you see is what you get…"
What's a guy to say to something like this?
"You keep gawking at that girl," she hissed. "I get that mine are unsatisfactory, but…"
"Huh? ! Wait a sec…"
Now Eri was even getting poetic about her 'underachievements'. "The natural selection process doesn't work in my favour here… Such are the hardships of life, I suppose… Now even my best friend has turned a blind eye to my charms and given in to the seductions of an ample chest. C'est la vie…"
"Hey, c'mon!" I snapped defensively. "Don't make me out to be some breast fetishist!"
The mandibles of everyone in the vicinity dropped wide open. What's this? This boy with the orange broom of a hairdo had the gall to proclaim in public that he was a breast fetishist, now? That's what I figured they must have been thinking. Why did I have to be an idiot and talk so audibly? The sad part was, this wasn't the first time such a compromising incident has happened to me. Yesterday in the bath I was already misconstrued as a groping pervert. Now I had to chalk another unfortunate misunderstanding to my credit.
"Eri," I mumbled, "are you a good runner?"
"I guess I'm okay – whoa? !"
I grabbed her hand and sped off like lightning. "Not sticking around. We're outta here!"
Through a series of blind twists and turns we went full circle and were back to the flyover where we had spied on the flirting couple.
Our run had left me out of breath. "So much for a 'quiet', 'refreshing' and 'uneventful' morning walk."
"Look at the bright side," she said. "At least we've got something to laugh about."
"Says you."
Eri took a casual gander at the street corner that the overly romantic couple had violated with their eye-sore of a make-out session. They had long gone, leaving the townscape safe for all ages to admire once more.
Her gaze lingered on the roads. "Hey Neku, can I ask you for a wee favour?"
"Sure. Shoot."
"Seeing that woman with the huge rack reminded me…"
"Of what?"
"I think I need a new bra. While we were running I saw this lingerie store… Um, could you come with?"
Thwack! The imaginary sound of her nonchalant attitude hitting me reverberated through my skull. She wanted me to accompany her to a lingerie store? ! Oh wait, she'd done this before with me once, when she took me out on our first date. Should be peanuts for me now, right? Except… all I remembered from back then was that I had so great a nosebleed I passed out for a good while. The entire memory of my being there was wiped out as a result, and I had no recollection of how spending time in such a place was like. This would be like my first time!
No, calm down… We've done more ridiculous things together before. Bathing, sharing the same bed, even seeing each other naked… What's a trip to a lingerie store compared to tomfoolery like that, eh? I'd be fine! …I hoped.
"Never would've thought there's a Lacy Temptations branch in this here town," she said. "They've got this selection of stuff on sale and they're just so cuuuute! I must have them. Must. Please come with me, Neku? Please?"
"Uh, I…"
"Neku, we're on a date now, right?"
"Yes, but – "
"Then let's go! Shopping is a perfectly legitimate dating activity. You should know that by now. So come on, time's a-wasting! Good deals are not meant to be passed up, even more so if they are on underwear!" She clutched onto my arm with her deathly tight fingers and started walking, leaving me no choice but to follow. My protests fell on deaf ears. Was this a shopping trip I could survive?
XOXOXOXOXO
Show Eri a shop full of clothes – or undergarments as the case may be – and she goes more hyper than a hamster on coffee.
"Oh my gosh!" she squealed. "Everything about this bra is so cute! It has a clean ergonomic shape and the low hem makes it possible to wear dresses with plunging necklines without accidentally showing your bra cups! The framework lifts and squeezes the breasts for maximum cleavage that's a must if you're feeling sexy! And I recognize this type of bra: it blends in with your skin so well it's like you're not wearing one. It's that comfortable!"
Glad that she's having fun… but I was a fish out of water. Guys simply do not belong in lingerie stores, 'nuff said. There was underwear as far as the eye could see, so there was no place I could look that was safe!
"You sure know your stuff, miss," said the salesperson approvingly. "What is your size? I'll get one that suits you so you can try it out."
Ooh, what's this? ! I just heard something interesting… What was her answer going to be? …What? It's normal for guys to be curious about these things!
"I'm a B-cup. Oh, by the way, do you have any in maroon?"
Hmmm… B is average from what I've heard – neither too small nor large – but that's just fine with me. Either way, that wasn't bad at all. Ah, and maroon seemed to be her favourite colour –
Ugh…! It's bad enough that I was standing smack dab in the middle of a sea of lace and stockings, but having those thoughts reinforced the notion that I was turning into a real pervert already…
Gotta think normally! Gotta force my brain to think normally… That's right… Act normal… Engage in perfectly nice and normal conversations with Eri… and everything will be fine and normal… Yes… normal… "Say, Eri, did you find anything you li– "
She had disappeared. How many times did she have to pull this trick?
"Eri? Hey, Eri…"
"'Sup?"
Her head poked out from behind the curtains of the fitting room right next to me, startling me enough to make me jump. So she had already gone inside to try out those bras, huh… Wait a minute! Was she really comfortable doing it behind a flimsy piece of cloth? If someone accidentally brushed their hand against it… or a strong draft from the air-conditioning whisked it aside… or, heaven forbid, someone tripped nearby and grabbed the curtain to save himself but fell anyway, ripping it wide open… the world would see her!
"Oh, sorry, you were changing," I muttered, getting nervous. "Don't mind me, then. Take your time."
"Sorry, I might take a while. Fitting into the right bra is serious business! A little comfort goes a long way. Oh, by the way, I'll need your input shortly, so don't go away."
"My… input?"
She flashed a cunning look at me, reflecting her naughty nature. "I'm going to need your opinion on… certain attire that is normally hidden away from public eyes. You'll know when you see it." Then she vanished and went back to changing.
Underwear, huh… She must want to know what I thought of her in maroon bras or whatever.
Why did she have to worry so much about things that she's never going to show anyone? If no one sees how I make my bed or arrange the food in my fridge, why should I care? Maybe this was something only girls could understand. Or maybe it's like those "good luck" panties that they wear to important occasions like dates or job interviews. I dunno.
Hold the phone. I'm the only person she's exclusively shown her underwear to!
When she stays over at my place and is done bathing, she never puts her clothes back on. Either she's too lazy or she wants to tease me with her sex appeal or both. It's usually both. And when she's ready to hit the sack, don't expect her to put on at least a nightie, because she wouldn't. Her refusals to do so are vehement. "This is the way I sleep, so there," she would reason.
It's no secret that I've seen her half-naked a million times by now. We're really close, so she doesn't think twice stripping to the bare essentials in my presence. And our tight-knit friendship gives her the right to play around with me with total abandon. Of course, despite freaking out countless times from her wild behaviour, I've never once complained.
Eri is still an awfully nice girl on the inside, despite her weird behaviour. My heart pounds just thinking of her…
There must be a deeper meaning to wanting to poke fun at me so often and so much. Before, it'd have been pure mischief. But now it felt like she just wanted me to notice her more… She's like one of those children who pull pranks just to get attention.
"Neku," came her voice, "is it okay if we chat a bit while I'm changing? I'm sure you're numb from waiting so how about we talk?"
"I'm fine with the waiting part. I don't want you to rush and buy the wrong thing, but I sure could use a little conversation. So what's on your mind?"
"Uh… Hmmm…"
She plucked a random topic from the air and blurted it out.
"How many kids do you want to have when you start a family?"
My head exploded.
"S-Say what? !"
My outburst caused Eri to realize how inappropriate she sounded and her words came out in a panicked jumble. The upshot was that she now sounded even more inappropriate. "N-No, I didn't specifically mean starting a family with me or anything, it's just a question I've – "
Start a family with Eri? Have kids with Eri? ! There's only one real (and preferable) way to do make that happen, and just having the thought of it sloshing around in my head made my nose act up.
"Neku… do you have a nosebleed already?"
"H-How do you know? !"
"…Wild guess."
Right on the mark for a 'wild guess', eh? ! As the salesperson kindly handed me some tissues – employees in this line of work have to be prepared for the hot-blooded boyfriends of potential customers, after all – I nonetheless replied as honestly as I could. "I'm… I'm not ready for children yet. We're still in college and now's hardly the time. Er, please don't misunderstand though! It's not like I'm desperately trying to do it with you or anything! Nuh-uh!"
"D-Don't worry… I know."
All this veiled talk about birds and bees was creating an uncomfortable rift I knew we'd be better off without. That we both knew she was still in a precarious position made the whole affair even worse.
Her voice seeped out meekly. "Um, c-can we talk about something else?"
"Y-Yes please." Oh, I got just the thing. "Say, what do you think of this whole place so far?"
"The suburbs, you mean? It's awesome!" The quietness was gone and the lively girl that was her was back. "The surroundings are pretty and I like how everyone goes about their daily lives in peace. It's a lot like my home town, that's the best part!"
Hmm? What did she say? "Your home town? Aren't you a Shibuyan like me?"
"No, I was actually born in Fukushima. Lived half of my life in a residential area much like this neighbourhood. That's why this place brings back memories."
"That's news to me," I said, stunned. "I always thought you were a city girl."
"Heh… Just goes to show that looks can be deceiving. But don't mistake me for some country bumpkin, I'm warning you!"
I had more questions for her. "If you were originally from Fukushima, then why did you come all the way to Shibuya?"
"I'll tell you later. There are more pressing matters at hand. So why don't you haul your fine head through here and give me some feedback? Unless you tell me something, I think it's going to be a tough time deciding what to buy."
I froze and sweat started to gush from my neck by the bucketload.
"Y-You're indecent in there," I stammered, "aren't you?"
"Oh Neku," she laughed, "'Indecent' is hardly the word to use here. Why can't you say 'ravishing' instead? Come on and take a look already. You wouldn't be disappointed, but I still need a guy's viewpoint and you fit the bill."
Of course I was happy to help! One could never tire of Eri in her underwear no matter how many glimpses one had taken. But is it even okay to stick your head into a fitting room when everyone knows there is a girl inside not wearing a whole lot? Wouldn't the other customers think I was perverted? Wouldn't they think we were?
"It's too weird for me to do that, Eri… Tongues will start wagging."
"Who cares what they say?" she countered. "It's not as big a deal as you think."
"I'm still not convinced it's alright…"
"Ugh, you…!"
Hey kids, fun fact. Did you know you can't deny Eri and expect to win? It's a scientific fact. I would re-learn this lesson the hard way.
Her voice took on a sinister lilt, like she's ready to commit a crime. "You idiot… If you're that worried about people looking, then get inside here where no one will see you!"
"Wait a mi– ack? !"
Suddenly both of her arms shot out from the curtains at me, fingers grasping my collar. Then, with a burst of superhuman strength, she yanked me in. The curtains got in my face and I was momentarily disoriented. The momentum caused me to crash right into her, eliciting grunts from both of us. Instinctively I held my hands out to keep my balance, and my palms slapped neatly onto the wall in front of me. I was saved from getting a busted forehead.
If it wasn't obvious enough, Eri had dragged me into the fitting room, and a bit too forcefully at that. She was standing with her back against the wall, trapped from all directions: my outstretched arms on either side, and me in front. Our faces came so near… and her soothing citrus breath glided across my cheeks and tickled them so good. And she was so surprised by how things turned out that she forgot to let go of my collar. Or, well… to be more precise, her grip softened up a little and her hands slid down to my chest and got my spine tingling. My goodness, what an intimate position we were in!
Eri was clad in this number… an intense combination of lace and straps that was hotter than jalapeno peppers. Dyed blood-red, it demanded attention to the wearer. She… She was beautiful. She loves to play predator on my hormones, parading around the house while severely underdressed, but our close encounter took away much of her ferocity; now she was so shy she couldn't do much but return my bug-eyed gaze.
It would be a while before either of us could get our voices back. Totally unlike herself, she was actually stuttering. "H-How do I look?"
I plucked the first thing that came to mind and passed it off as an answer. It came across as weird and faltering.
"You're… um… what's that word… 'ravishing'?"
"R-Really? Ah… uh…" It's cute seeing her at a loss for words for once. "Th-Thanks, but… I was hoping that your opinion would be a bit more… constructive."
She's blushing so hard I thought she might lose it. And I could hardly blame myself for feeling the same way. I'd been in similar "stuck-in-the-same-enclosed-space-while-Eri-is-und ressed" situations with her. There was our first date, when she went into hiding with me in a fitting room at a boutique, not wanting her then-boyfriend to get the wrong idea about us. During the last Hachi Fest, a cubicle in the ladies' washroom became our next place to play hide-and-seek. So this was no different. But our growing feelings for each other made us a lot more jumpy than usual.
"Constructive? Well…" I paused for thought and to give myself a moment to will my nose to stop leaking. But how could I think properly when she had these beautiful eyes trained on me! My reply that came afterwards was most surprising to her as well as to myself.
"E-Eri, how should I put this… Maroon is nice and so is pink… B-But I think you look best in white."
Oh my god, I did not just say that!
"Y-You like white, Neku?" She covered her mouth with her hands. "I… I thought you were the sort of guy who likes underwear with, uh, bold colours…"
"Huh? You were… planning on wearing it for me?"
"Eh? Ah… this… um…"
She swallowed hard as I waited for her to speak. The blood was rushing to my head in gallons as I tried to make sense of what she said. I get that she was an attention-craver, and that she was vain to a fault, but what did she mean when she said she thought I liked seeing loud-coloured –
"Well, see…" Thumbs twiddling, lips in a ghost of a nervous smile, she admitted, "I thought, um, you might like me even more if I wore something sexier…"
Uwoooh…! Eri wanted to be sure – cement-and-concrete sure – that I still liked her, so she went to such an extent as to choose the right underwear? ! I was happy. I was moved. I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't! My heart was flatlining from the joy! But mind you, I wasn't shallow. And I knew she wasn't shallow. She just wanted some security in our friendship… or was this more like a relationship already?
I peeled my hands away from the wall and told her kindly, "Forget what I just said about white bras or whatever. You're free to wear what you want. Don't wear something you don't like. I'd be happier if you were yourself."
I guess that's what she really wanted to hear. She relaxed greatly and I was rewarded with a wide grin that melted me from the inside.
"Thanks, Neku. I actually figured you might say that, to be honest."
"D-Don't mention it. We're friends."
"Also," she chuckled, "I'm surprised your nose hasn't started acting up already."
I groaned. "It will sooner or later, no thanks to you."
"I'll take that as a compliment. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get changed. Unless… you want to help me? Hee hee."
XOXOXOXOXO
"Thank you for your patronage! Please come again."
Eri was beaming from ear to ear. There's no better rush for her than going home from a shopping trip with her hands full. Each of us was carrying a shopping bag.
"So in the end," I said, "you bought not only white, but maroon and pink too."
"And black. Don't forget black! It's the ultimate in sexy."
"I… I guess."
"Anyway, that was fun. Thanks for helping me out with this, by the way. But the day's only started, and there's more we can do. Let's head back to the inn and drop off my stuff."
"Alright. Wanna hit up a café for some tea next?"
"Sounds good," she chirped. "It'll be nice to have a little something to help muffle the texture of grasshoppers that's still lingering in our mouths."
"Ugh, don't remind me. Oh, I still want to hear about why you moved from Fukushima to Shibuya, so we might as well talk about it over snacks. And another thing: it's my treat this time. I insist."
She laughed good-naturedly. "Aha! You're finally getting the hang of dating, I see!"
"…Eh, I try."
"Now, now, no need to be so humble. You're not as awkward as you think you are anymore, and you should be proud of that!"
"I certainly hope you meant that as a compliment…"
"Ha ha ha!"
I hadn't found an opportunity to tell her my feelings yet, and we had already nearly kissed twice! Was this a sign?
Oh well, Eri was as happy as a clam, so here's hoping things would be relatively smooth sailing from now on, at least till I made the actual confession. I didn't want anyone or anything to come along and mess things up. There's a two-seater ride to a romantic relationship and we'd booked the tickets, so all I had to do was ask her to take it with me. Nothing was going to derail us!
"Ooh, look!" squealed Eri. "It's a swimsuit store! Perfect timing… I need a new two-piece."
"But we just went to a boutique…?"
"Underwear is sexy, but a bra does not a bikini make. Hey, I might set new standards for fashion if I went to the beach in a Super V, but I'd probably get arrested before it hits it off with the general public."
"So… we're going in there? What about putting these things back in our – "
"No!" she snapped. "They're having a sale! They get snapped up lightning quick if you don't act fast! Come on, get your rear into gear! …Ooh, maybe I'll try a maillot this time… You'll give me your feedback as usual, right, Neku? Right? Good! Let's go!"
She thundered off in the direction of the store like a living ball of energy, and I struggled to play catch up. If this was anything to go by, being in a relationship with her would have its challenges…