She Comes And Goes As She Pleases (Part 24)
by BrDPirateMan
"Say 'Ahhh'."
"A-Ahhh…"
The spoonful of apple pie slipped into my open mouth. My senses were immediately invaded by both a fruity aroma and the sweetness of a… happy kind of embarrassment.
Eri pulled the spoon out. "Sooo… what do you think?"
"It's… good. Very nice taste. But…"
"Mmm?"
"…C-Could you, like, not feed me anymore? If it's at home I'd be fine, I guess, but it feels weird doing this in public."
"Just one last time? Pretty please?"
I spluttered, "Y-You've had fifteen 'one last times' in the past few minutes!"
"Okay, then this will be the very last time. The final, lastest time, I promise!"
I wouldn't mind if no one was looking, but today the café was full house even so early in the morning and at least thirty pairs of eyes were secretly directed at us. And the only seats available had to be right next to the window where everyone could see us! What's a person got to do to get a corner seat? Tea in the morning was not supposed to be so hectic.
"Neku, say 'Ahhh'…"
The stares and sideways glances of the other customers were getting to me but I was forced to humour her again. "Ahhh."
The wholesome flavour of apple goodness graced my tongue once more. "Delicious, no? Apple pies are impossible to resist!"
I saw her spear her pie again. She was getting ready to feed me again, wasn't she? ! I should distract her.
"Oh right," I began, "you never did tell me why you moved from Fukushima to Shibuya."
Her eyes lit up upon remembering, and luckily for me it helped her forget about her strange feeding fetish for a while. "Ah yes, I believe I owe you a life story. But do you really want to listen? I don't like being a snoozer."
I was firm in my answer. "I'm very interested to know."
"Hee hee. Alright, I'll tell you. It's a relatively simple story though, so if you're hoping for a blockbuster plot or a twist in the ending you might be disappointed."
And so her tale began…
"So I was born in Fukushima, right? And I was raised there too, for about fifteen years. The residential area where I lived was a nice and peaceful suburban place, much like this one. And I was happy, for the most part."
"For the most part?"
"My parents are very strict," she sighed. "Always have been. Kept me on a tight leash 24/7, so it was hard for me to do much of anything without them having something to say. Curfews were inflexible, and at least half of my free time came under scrutiny. It didn't help matters that I was always a wild child, so I was always at loggerheads with them on various things.
"'You can't do this!' 'You can't do that!' That's the stuff I always hear from them. So as you can guess, growing up wasn't easy. Sure, there were fun times to be had… It's not like my family was so feudal that my childhood was totally bleak, but… I couldn't stretch my wings, you know? Living in that kind of environment was no cakewalk."
"I don't claim to know what it's like to have parents," I said, picking my words carefully, "but I should think it's normal for them to be that… demanding."
"Maybe." Eri frowned a little. She definitely had parent issues… "Anyway, it was hard to be myself."
"Sorry to hear that… But what's this got to do with your relocation to Shibuya?"
She gave herself a few seconds of pause to collect her thoughts together, chewing her mouthful of pie thoroughly. "My folks have always been saying that I should eventually go to a respectable university and take up a course in science or something… But since fashion is my interest, I could never agree with them on that front."
"Must be tough having to live up to expectations you know you don't want to fulfill." I took another chunk of marble cake. "Incidentally, what do your parents work as?"
"Dad's a civil engineer and Mum's a doctor."
I gave her an understanding nod. "Maybe they want you to get a career in science simply because it worked well for the two of them. Perhaps you could follow in their footsteps, is what they might be thinking."
"But I don't like medicine or engineering," she protested. "Fashion's my life! I kept telling them over and over that I didn't like stuff like that, but they wouldn't have any of it. Eventually I plucked up the courage to tell them I wanted to pursue a career in fashion design."
"What happened?"
She raked the fingers of one hand through her bubblegum pink locks, apparently not a fan of her own parents getting in the way of her freedom.
"Ah well, you can probably guess. They were really against it and said all kinds of things like how I wouldn't be able to land a stable job if I went into fashion and how fickle my future would be. I get that they're worried, but I didn't like how they didn't even stop to consider my interests."
"But yet you're in college doing a degree in fashion design… Didn't your parents object?" I recoiled when I hit upon a crazy thought. "Or… Or maybe you defied them and ran away from home to settle in Shibuya and do what you've always wanted to do? !"
She laughed briefly. "No, calm down, Neku. It's nothing so dramatic."
"S-Sorry. I got carried away."
"It took a long time and a lot of arguments before they finally gave in. I guess they were just as fed up with all the fighting as I was. So we made a deal."
"A deal?"
Now finished with her apple pie, she washed it down with a sip of tea. "They told me I was free to take a course in fashion design, but if I couldn't find a job within a year of graduating, I was to help out in my father's company. Dad said that he could help secure a secretarial position for me if it came to that."
"Well, that sounds reasonable enough. Even if things don't work out – and I hope they do – at least you've got something to fall back on."
"I used my newly-acquired leverage to my advantage and made an additional request to stay in Shibuya so I could get accustomed to life there. There's a university there I'd been eyeing to get into, so I reasoned that my transition to college would be smoother if I was used to Shibuyan surroundings. My parents didn't want me to have a rough start, so they agreed. And so I moved."
"And now you're in the college of your choice," I said. "Your folks gave you the green light on everything, so it worked out fine in the end, huh?"
"Yeah… I think."
What's wrong with her? She was staring into her tea with a vacant look in her eyes. Did I say something she didn't want to hear? I didn't think there was anything strange with what I said…
I didn't know what got her to be like this but I tried to put her at ease. "I'm sorry… I must have said something I shouldn't have."
"No, it's not like that at all!" she said, shaking her head. "It's just… well… I was thinking about Mum and Dad."
"…Homesick?"
"That's not it." She glanced a little to the side and bit her lip. "My parents were really hoping I could study engineering or medicine or maybe even law, and I said no. I remember how exasperated they were with me for being stubborn and making such a 'wrong' choice. They kept badgering me about reconsidering and changing my mind, so I knew they didn't like my decision.
"And when it was time for me to move to Shibuya, and my parents saw me off at the train station… I could feel their reluctance. They gave me their approval, sure, but I didn't feel like I earned it. We never really saw eye to eye about my preferred career.
"You know, Neku, I think I disappointed them. Maybe if I had done as they asked, they'd be happier. I dunno… What do you think?"
Eri always struck me as someone who was always brimming with confidence. Someone who could take on a hundred challenges and emerge a winner. I knew she could be a serious thinker if she wanted to, like how she used to lament her inability to cook, but I didn't think she'd have bigger worries about her life decisions. To me, she seemed like she had everything in order and that all she needed to do was go through with it. The guilt of fighting with her parents must have been terrible to deal with.
It was up to me to help her feel better. "If you took up something only because they wanted you to do, I don't think they'd be happy in the long run."
Her brows knitted together in a confused frown. "Why?"
"You wouldn't be happy doing something you don't like. And if your parents see that you don't enjoy your job, they'll be sad. You were young at the time so you weren't very mature yet, so they tried to veer you onto what they felt was the right track. They just wanted to make sure you don't go down the wrong path in life and have regrets later on. As annoying as they may sound, when it comes down to it, they were only looking out for you."
The frown remained, so she was still unconvinced. "My parents are more hardheaded than you think. I'm sure they care more about what I should do rather than what I want to do…"
"Like I said, they're only trying to carve a better life for you down the road. However, if you really can't see eye to eye with them on your studies, then it's best for you to go with your gut."
"You mean I should just follow what I feel is right for me…?"
"Right. You don't do it for your parents, Eri. You do it for yourself. Listen… They're just giving you options, but it doesn't mean that you should take them. Their words may be wise, but not absolute. It's perfectly alright to have an opinion. And you did the right thing to speak up and tell them."
"Really?"
"Positive," I said, patting her hand lightly. "Believe me, you'll be alright. And if your parents don't know about this already, then drop them a line and tell them how things are cooking on your end. I'm sure they'll give you their full support when they know you're doing just fine."
Eri looked at me, astonished. I didn't really think my advice was terribly good or anything… It just felt like the right thing to say. But she was visibly bowled over. And the 'light bulb' moment she just had burned brighter than a million suns.
"I think you have a point," she said slowly. "Mum and Dad must be worried that my chances of being employed are slim. The fashion world is competitive, so it's easy to see why they'd feel that way. And I know the economy's pretty bad these days… but I'm confident I can make it. I'm working hard… I just need to keep at it and people will notice! And I'll tell my parents not to worry about me."
"That's more like it," I praised, glad that she was smiling again. "The future is uncertain, but at least you have a goal in mind. That's what counts."
"Yeah!" She beamed at me in a show of appreciation. "Thanks, Neku. I know I can count on you. This has been bugging me for ages, but I feel like I can finally relax and actually take pride in myself."
"Got that cloud off your mind, huh? That's good." Heh… That's like another hundred manliness points for me!
Her face was starting to grow redder slowly but surely, and seeing that made mine do the same. I guess being stuck at the hip with her conditioned my emotions to react in tandem with hers. For a few moments we forgot about eating. She was stirring her teacup, but hadn't realized it was already empty. And I just poked what little left of my cake into itty-bitty pieces with my fork. We were quite distracted with each other.
"You always know what to say," she spoke at last. "For someone who's a self-proclaimed 'awkward fellow', you can be pretty smooth."
"I… I just said what I felt. Nothing special."
"You'd make an excellent counselor," she chuckled. "Anyway, my own troubles are over and done with… So now it's my turn to be agony aunt. One good turn deserves another, you know? It's only fair."
"I can't think of anything wrong with my life. I'm good, thanks." Besides, she's probably messing around like usual… And I was right.
"Come on, there's got to be something! Everyone worries about the future at some point. Everyone wishes the grass was greener on the other side. And some people I know get too sexually frustrated for their own good…"
She giggled as I nearly spat out my cake. "What the heck… I'm not sexually – whatever."
"Oh my, denial!" she gasped. "But I speak the truth, don't I? Li'l ol you wouldn't have a condom in your knapsack otherwise."
"Ugh, you had to say that, didn't you? Tell you what, if you can drop the topic, I'll get you another apple pie."
"Really? Oh, how generous of you." Her eyes lit up like fireworks. "Okay, topic officially dropped. You mean it, right?"
"Sure, just take care not to get fat."
"Eh? ! Don't say things like that… You'll kill my appetite." Like a lot of girls I knew, she was a religious weight-watcher. This was one of her real weaknesses, and arguably the only way with which I could get in one of our silly arguments and win. But I didn't like being too mean, even if it was playfully so, and I almost never talked about this. Today, however, both of us were in a good mood, so…
"Don't worry," I deadpanned. "You can always go on a diet if things go south."
"Ooh! How dare you!" she seethed. "Well, don't expect me to help you with your homework anymore after this, young man! Hmph!"
"We're in totally different courses, Eri."
"Fine, you win this round."
I couldn't help laughing at my rare victory. But I kept my promise and called the waiter over to order a second helping for her, which soothed her annoyance somewhat. However, she always had a vindictive streak, so no one who got the better of her would truly escape unscathed. Wait, that's me, right?
"Never mind. I'll be sure to have my revenge in the bath later, Neku."
"Eh?"
She chose not to elaborate further and let it go with a barrage of crafty sniggers. When you don't tell someone what you have in store for them, it makes the paranoia that much worse. In this case, however, I was more curious than scared. Whatever this girl was planning for later, it'd definitely be something outrageous, but then again, such was her nature.
And deep down inside, both of us were looking forward to it.
XOXOXOXOXO
The evening had just begun to roll in when we were done shopping. The two of us came back to the inn clutching a bouquet of shopping bags in each hand. My arms were just about ready to fall off. The world could end in a few minutes, but she couldn't care less as long as that cute skirt was hers. Or that dress. Or both.
Because she has trouble making decisions – something I bore witness to during our visit to the lingerie store earlier – she usually solves the problem by buying both of the choices she is given in any one situation. That is the primary reason her wardrobe is close to bursting…
How does one girl buy so much?
We retired to our room to dump off our stuff and take a much-needed breather. I stretched and kneaded my throbbing arms. Eri was used to lengthy shopping adventures with her girlfriends so it didn't tire her out as much as it did me.
I collapsed onto my futon, thankful the day was over. "Well, that's that. You sure know how to go all out."
She joined me on the floor. "Well, I can't resist a good deal."
I took a sweeping glance at all the bags. "Do you seriously wear all of this, Eri? I mean, if you add this to your personal collection at home, and assuming you wear something different every day, it's like two years' worth of clothes!"
"What can I say, I love to dress up."
"Yeah, vanity's your middle name…"
Even the usually energetic Eri was feeling lethargic. "That was quite a workout. Since you're pooped too, why don't we hop into the baths to freshen up?"
So we'd finally come to the long-awaited bath event again, huh? I'd make a terrible monk with all the lewd thoughts my mind was pulling out of thin air.
That perfect toned body of hers… Girls longed to have her figure, guys lusted after her curves, and me? She flaunts herself in front of me all the time, that cheeky girl. I felt a shiver of delight imagining how many guys would be jealous of me if they knew how much fun I was having with her. Ho, the face of that Futoshi bloke would be green as grass, that's for sure!
"Neku?" Eri waved her hand in front of my face. "Are you still here?"
That's when I woke up from my train of thought. "Oh, right! The bath. Sure, I'll… I'll be there."
"You were chuckling to yourself. What's with that?"
"Huh? ! It's nothing. I'm – hey, ahaha… I don't have a fever, Eri." I gently pried her hand away from my forehead. "I'm alright."
She seemed content with that. "If you're sure you're okay – strange laughter notwithstanding – then let's get in the bath without further delay! Yesterday we didn't enjoy ourselves as much as I hoped we would. So today, let's be sure to have a good time!" That smile of hers could warm many a winter month.
Damn, she's too cute! Getting in the bath together with her would be sure to deepen our bond even further. I made a mess of my grand opportunity last night, storming out in jealousy, but now that this second chance had cropped up I knew I'd be a fool to let it go. Maybe I should try confessing? But… in the bath? That's weird. And while naked too? That's even weirder! Let's not forget that there would be people all over the place. Out of the question. I cast the idea aside like moldy bread.
No… That'd come later. I hated how I had to put it off so many times though. I wanted to get the matter over with!
"Neku," muttered Eri, "you've been spacing out a lot lately… What's the matter?"
"Nothing's wrong. I was just – Eri, I really don't have a fever. Seriously." I had to take her hand away from my forehead again.
"It's no good to enter the bath if you're not feeling well. If you don't feel like going – "
"I'll go!" I snapped hurriedly, raising my hand like I was still in class. "I don't want us to miss another good chance."
"You're being awfully enthusiastic," she noted approvingly. "You normally go 'What? !' and follow up with a nosebleed, and while that's always funny, it's definitely a nice change to see you all eager for some skinship."
"My nosebleeds are… funny?"
"They're like geysers and freaking projectiles." She attempted to illustrate by making an exploding sort of hand motion in front of her nose. "Record-breaking stuff."
"…Let's head inside already."
"Ooh, taking the lead too! So manly! Alright, I leave myself in your care, Mr Sakuraba. Shall we be off?"
It wasn't easy to describe the feeling inside me now, but I could provide an approximation: if you took a pot and mixed in a gallon of happiness together with a lot of nervousness and a dash of confidence, what you get in the end is what I was feeling. Could I succeed in my efforts, however, without bleeding and fainting and making a fool of myself?
XOXOXOXOXO
I hate it when thoughts conflict with each other. It makes things so confusing.
On the one hand, the hot-blooded side of me wanted to have fun. It'd be more than just a bit kinky, but what great memories we would have! Frolicking around with Eri… What bliss, eh? But on the other hand, I was a good guy at heart… How could I bring myself to be selfish and take advantage of her while she was unclothed and vulnerable?
The angel and devil on my shoulders were duking it out with each other. Both were strong opponents and the battle was fierce and heated with no way of telling who would win. Who was I anyway, Jekyll and Hyde? !
No, let's be rational: even if I wanted to get sexy with Eri, there would be too many people in the bath to even try without attracting attention and getting openly frowned upon. It was a convenient excuse to stay on the good end of my moral compass. Satisfied that I hadn't given in to the dark side, I went to meet up with her at the entrance of the mixed baths. She was already in her towel and looking very excited, not to mention gorgeous. Those bare shoulders begged caressing…
"Are you still nervous, Neku?" she asked with genuine concern.
"I think I'll be fine, thanks. You?"
She grinned. "Of course I'm good. You know, if we're really lucky, there'll be no one in there, and we can have the whole place to ourselves."
Upon hearing that, my inner devil, having lost the last duel, was raring to get back on its feet for a rematch. An empty bath and the two of us was a recipe for a very lusty boy. …No! I couldn't let that happen. Eri's my precious friend. I didn't want to tarnish my reputation by being a total sleazeball. But most of all, I didn't want her to hate me again…
"Ten yen tells me," I said, "that it's probably gonna be full house."
"Yeah, there's always someone using it. But the more the merrier, right?"
We parted the curtains and went inside. The first thing we saw was the steam. The second was the lack of people.
"Ooh!" squealed Eri. "There's absolutely no one here! The entire bath is all ours… Talk about lucky! I think they just finished cleaning it and that's why it's empty."
Uh-oh. Privacy was good, but would my reptilian side take control and make me do indecent things? But if I kept worrying too much, I wouldn't be able to relax and enjoy myself. What should I do?
Eri is not stupid. She can be a bit of a psychic too: she can read moods and correctly guess what people are thinking based on their body language. She's in her element with socializing; not only is she good at befriending people, she is also easy to warm up to. She knows all about people, so it came as no wonder that she knew from my current behaviour that something was bothering me.
She ruffled my mane affectionately. "Oi, Neku, it's alright. You can stare alllll you like!"
"N-No, wait, I didn't say – "
"Listen, we came all the way from Shibuya so we could have ourselves a nice little vacation. We're here to go nuts, so that's exactly what we're going to do! The stupidest thing one would do is to be shy and hold back. …You're not that shy, are you?"
She wasn't goading me into this or anything. It was just a simple fact that she was trying to point out. Mr H himself said something to that effect too: make sure you have fun. Restraining my urges was a must, but being too restrictive on myself was no good either. All I'd have to prove for my 'chivalry' was a wasted opportunity. Striking a healthy balance was key.
I mean, silly me, right? Poor Eri just wanted to spend time bonding with her favourite guy. Who was I to deny her? Who was I to deny myself?
"You're right, Eri. Thanks for that."
"Hee hee. Just be yourself, okay?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. Now take it off."
Take what off? She was pointing at the towel covering my lower half. I gulped and instinctively took a step backwards.
"Wh-Why do I have to take it off?"
"Neku, don't you know it's bad manners to wear your towel in a public bath? It's common onsen etiquette."
"Ah, um… This…" Just because it was basic courtesy didn't mean I was fine with it!
"What's wrong?" she teased. "Afraid I'll see your periscope?"
"What the heck… Don't be so vulgar!"
"Hee hee… You should know that if there are no secrets in the bathroom, then the same applies to onsens. And we know each other's 'secrets' very well already, if you get my drift…"
My words sounded like they had gone through a blender. "Y-You're not wrong, but – "
"Less talking, more bathing! Now, off with it!"
Suddenly, Eri grabbed the hem of my towel with both hands and I couldn't even get to defend myself. In a flash, she yanked my towel clean off, like in one of those tricks where you whisk away the tablecloth from underneath a desk full of things. It was so quick it took me an eternity of five seconds to realize why I could feel the breeze in that place that saw no sun. She dangled her ill-gotten prize from her fingers in a show of victory and was chuckling buckets.
"Hoi!" I yelped. "What're you doing? !" It wasn't easy covering myself up and trying to snatch my towel back from her. I must have looked like a screeching monkey.
"Ah ah ah, no towels in the bath, remember?" That smirk was still on her face! "You can't have this!"
"I just don't want you staring at my – gah, just give it back!"
She fixed a blank stare at me, which caused me to stop freaking out momentarily.
"What now?" I snapped.
With a matter-of-factly tone, she said, "Um, Neku, I don't really need to stare… you know? Because I've practically memorized how it looks by now. So even if I don't see it…"
Silence fell over the world. Dead silence.
I couldn't believe what she said. With a very uneasy quiver in my voice, I waved the matter off. The less my mind lingered on it the better. "…I'll just pretend I didn't hear that. And if I can forget about this altogether some time in the future, hopefully, that'd be great too."
At any rate, we were inside the water. Without anyone around to barge in on our private time, we could afford to relax in a more open area of the bath instead of hiding behind rocks. It was less stuffy and our view of the surroundings was a lot wider. As the warmth crept through my body, I began to slip into a calm state despite the presence of my friend beside me.
"Ahhh!" she sighed. "I feel like I've been reborn."
"Can't agree with you more."
"I know, right? It feels so good on tired muscles."
"Yeah."
Her eyes were closed and she sat still in an apparent attempt to enter a trance-like state for maximum relaxation. In so doing she became the subject of my secretive glances. That slender neck, her smooth creamy skin, that cleavage peeking out from the water surface! I felt guilty being a voyeur, but how could I not want to look? And if she said I could stare alllll I liked, then shouldn't I take her up on her offer?
I continued to drink her beauty in with my eyes, thinking she was unaware, and hoping she would stay that way for a few more precious seconds. Then without warning, her eyes snapped open just as I was straining for a closer look at her br– uh, collarbone. And I was caught red-handed.
Shoot!
"Ack? ! Uh, I… I'm sorry, Eri. I didn't mean to – "
"Neku, sneaking a good peek, are you?"
"No, I mean, it's… a little complicated…" Gah, I was grasping at straws!
"You silly thing. Didn't I say it's okay to look? I told you: you can stare allll you like! 'Cause you're okay in my book, see? So don't be shy!"
"Oh, um, thanks… I guess."
Ooh… The mood was not bad. I sat there wondering what I could say and/or do to flirt with her safely. She likes to play around with me; what's stopping me from doing the same with her? But I wasn't exactly debonair, and I didn't have a lot of experience with girls, so I was stumped.
My thoughts turned to the young couple from this morning. Ah! Perhaps I could get some ideas from them. What did the boy do with his girl again? You know, before things took a turn for the shocking and he started groping her butt? Oh yeah, he had his arm around her shoulder. That's easy enough… Maybe I should give it a go. But I had never even tried that in the twenty years of my life. Was it possible to screw up something as simple as this?
Hmph. Of course not! I'll have her begging to be in my arms before the evening is over!
…Easier said than done.
"Eri?"
"Mmm?"
Those eyes of hers – so angelic, so innocent, so sparkly – weren't making it easy for me! But fight I must, and win I would!
"Um, Eri… I was th-thinking… Is… Is it okay if… I… if…"
She was clinging onto my words, but then she sprang to a conclusion. The wrong one. "Oh, I get it! You want me to scrub your back? Okay! I'll even wash your hair as a bonus."
"Huh? Uh, wait, I – " I wouldn't be getting through to her anytime soon. She was already getting out of the water and raring with excitement.
"Don't worry!" she said with a wink. "You can count on me to do a splendid job!"
And that was how, instead of snuggling at my side, she was behind me, hard at work. You do the hair first before the back, she said, so now she had her fingers on my head, washing like a hairdresser in a beauty salon. But I just wanted us to cuddle a bit… Oh well, this couldn't be bad either. The light sweeping motions on my hair had a Zen-like meditative effect. I was still not very calm but at least my mind was a lot clearer. Plus, hearing her hum and giggle and be her cheery self was a treat for the ears.
"My dear customer," she cooed in a sing-song voice, "do you find my service satisfactory enough? Or is there a spot I missed? Any itches that need scratching?"
"I-I'm fine, thank you." She was really getting into the act…
"Are you sure? Don't hesitate if you need anything. It's all free of charge."
I deadpanned, "All you require is a big fat tip, huh?"
"Ha ha ha! You're a sharp one, sir!"
"…You're an expert at this, aren't you?"
"I do my best. Your hair feels so nice to the touch! It's soft like a cat's fur and once you get it wet and soapy, you can sculpt it into all kinds of shapes."
A bark of laughter rang from my throat. "Are you really doing your job, miss?"
"Oh but of course, sir! But if I can make devil's horns sprout from your head while I'm at it, then why not?"
It didn't take long for Eri to finish washing my hair and now she went on to do the main course: scrubbing my back. When I tweezed one of my matted locks in my fingers, I was both surprised and delighted to find it was literally squeaky clean. Eri was better at this than I thought.
"Not shabby at all," I said. "You're very thorough."
"I always settle for nothing less," she proclaimed proudly. "Making my favourite customer happy is an art unto itself."
"Still playing 'let's pretend to be an onsen employee'? Not that I mind…"
"If I was wearing a fundoshi* and had my chest wrapped up in gauze, I'd probably look the part too… maybe. Heh heh… Neku, this reminds of the first time I scrubbed your back for you. Remember? I was feeling down, and you took me out on a date to cheer me up."
"I… Yeah, I remember that." It was just hanging out with each other, but ever since Eri started the whole "pretend date" trend, the name just stuck. Every time we go out, that's what it'd be: a fake date between friends. But even fake dates could harbour real feelings…
"It was pouring towards the end, so to stop the two of us from catching a cold, I made us take a bath together, much like now." The memory brought a smile to her voice. "I have to admit, you were so cute when I forced you to get in the bathroom with me. You were screaming bloody murder."
A cross between a laugh and a sigh billowed out from my lips. "I can kind of see how girls bathe together but no girl would ask to do it with a guy…"
"Hey, we're special," retorted Eri coolly. "Deal with it."
"'Special' doesn't mean 'abnormal', Eri."
"Ha ha ha! Your sense of humour is picking up!" Then she continued, "We got to talking… and you know how I told you I couldn't cook, and that it bothered me?"
"I didn't think a happy-go-lucky person like you would get depressed over it. You're actually a deep thinker."
"You tried your best to make me feel better, and when you offered to teach me how to cook, I was so happy… After all the idiots I had as boyfriends, it's refreshing to know someone who's nice."
My heart skipped a beat. "W-Well, you're pretty nice yourself, Eri. To tell you the truth, I thought you were really weird at first. But as time went by and I gradually peeled away the layers, I began to see your true self. I'm so lucky you're my friend."
"Pfft…!"
"Wh-What's so funny?"
"I'm sorry," she choked with laughter. "It's just that when you said you 'peeled away the layers', you kinda sounded like you were stripping my clothes off. Ahhh, so daring…"
"I… I didn't mean it that way. Seriously, your sense of humour crops up at the weirdest of times…"
"Ha ha ha! You should know how I work by now!" Then she added with a more genuine tone, "But I am happy that you like me. So… let's keep on at our friendship, eh? I can see bright things in our future."
"Yeah." Eri…
"Okay, enough of the serious stuff!" Like a drumroll, she announced, "It's done! You are now officially free of dirt, sweat and dead skin. A bang-up job if I do say so myself."
"Thanks, Eri. That was… nice."
"Don't mention it. I said it before, but exfoliation is important for everyone. You've got to get rid of that dead skin for a smoother, shinier back. Now, let's switch places."
"Switch… places? What do you mean?"
"I'm saying it's your turn to be the onsen employee."
"Onsen employee…?" My voice came out in stammers when I grasped what she was trying to say, and my insides spun like a centrifuge. "Are you telling me to scrub your back? !"
And with that oh-so-cheery voice, she said, "Yup!"
Oh my god. This was bound to happen, sooner rather than later. Don't get me wrong; I love pretty girls as much as the next guy, and Eri's gorgeous. But I had yet to stand up to the challenge of keeping my blood intact by the end of our bath.
After some hesitation I blundered headlong into the task of scrubbing Eri clean. As she sat there on the stool waiting for me to begin, I just gawked at her naked back like an idiot. What flawless skin! And those curves were amazing. How is a person born to be so beautiful? God, I was so happy!
"Um, Neku?" Eri laughed. "When you wash someone's back, you use soap, not blood."
Oh crud! Guess my nose couldn't take it after all! It was gushing haemoglobin all over her lovely posterior.
"M-My bad!" I filled the wooden pan in my hands with water from a nearby tap and emptied its contents over her. "Terribly sorry… I didn't mean anything bad…"
But she didn't mind one bit and was even starting to develop a hearty laugh. "No need to apologise so much; it's okay! It makes life more interesting this way. It's never boring with you around. And you're a nice guy to boot so it's all cool."
She's more comfortable with it than I was! I was slightly ashamed of my nervousness. But her laid-back attitude did wonders to put me at ease, and even when her bare skin was in full view I was actually starting to calm down. As I lathered her up our conversation carried on at a good clip. We talked about everything under the sun, never sticking to a single topic for too long. Wow, she's so much fun to talk to! Even someone like me who still struggles with social graces finds it easy to converse with her. Maybe that's part of what makes her so popular.
"…It's too bad you broke your arm in high school, Neku," she said, "otherwise you could have stayed on in the baseball club."
"My arm was never quite the same after that. I couldn't pitch right anymore, so I had to call it quits."
"Yeah, too bad. I always loved to see you pitch. You had such great form out on the field!" Eri always tends to emphasize her words with gestures, and now she was trying to imitate a baseball player in action. Except…
"Eri, that's basketball. You're doing a dunk, to be precise."
She giggled. "Just making sure you're awake."
"I woke up a gazillion years ago! And that joke's stale already."
"Hee hee… Glad to see our long-running comedy routine hasn't changed much over the years."
"Tell me about it," I sighed. "It's like freaking manzai**, man. You'd say silly things on purpose and I'd be the one to correct you and place you back on track."
"But it's good, isn't it? It's like a testament to our friendship. We might appear like a couple of idiots with the way we trade retorts, but it's these little things that remind me how fortunate we both are to be alive and… well, together." Then, afraid I might get the wrong idea, she added, "Together as friends, you know? As friends."
What kind of relationship did we have exactly? Acquaintances, schoolmates, faithful members of the same table at lunch? Friends, neighbours, date partners?
So-called 'buddies' who are really just dying to be officially in love with each other?
What were we?
I knew what we could be. I just didn't know what we were now.
The answer lay with her. Within her heart.
But I had to find a way to get her to open up. She called us the most awesome team and such, but never actually said anything about her true feelings. There were times when she came close but then she always cleverly skirted the issue. No more. Tonight, I would find out for sure and maybe, if our feelings for each other were that of love rather than the mere togetherness that friends enjoy, I could tell her… how I truly felt about her.
"Neku, can I ask you something?"
"Huh? Yeah, shoot."
"It's really embarrassing for me to ask, but heck, I don't see why I should hold back either. So in return, I need you to be honest, okay?"
What did she want to know? Heh… If she was as curious as I was to know how far we could take our friendship, that'd be the thing… But it would be just wishful thinking.
"I'll be very honest, Eri."
"Really? Ah, good, good," she sighed, "it makes me so happy to hear that. Well then, I shan't keep you waiting any longer."
Why did her voice sound so dreamy? It always became like that whenever she gushed about her current boyfriend. But she's single now… Wait a minute! That's the voice of a girl in love. How could I not have seen this? And if she was like this, then…
…maybe she really was in love with me? !
Ha ha ha… No way, right? That'd be too easy. The universe didn't work that way.
But… But she promised to kiss me, and there was a whole bunch of other telltale signs that indicated she might hold feelings deeper than what she usually showed on the surface. So what could this mean… Damn, why are girls so difficult to understand?
"So," she said, "this will be a bit abrupt, but tell me… please tell me…"
I kept my breath held as I waited for the single most important question in the history of my life…
"…do you believe in UFOs?"
…What.
I was so stunned by the question that I thought I had heard her wrongly. She had to repeat it for me.
"So… UFOs. Are you a believer, Neku? My girlfriends and I were talking about it the other day and all this stuff about abductions and crop circles just came up. One of us even suggested that out of every few thousand people in the world, one of us is actually an alien in disguise, observing mankind. You can imagine how crazy our talk became, so… Neku? Any thoughts?"
And here I was under the impression that she was going to ask if I loved her. It sure ain't easy to be a guy at the end of an unrequited love.
Disappointed, I mumbled, "I'd be hard-pressed to think that the truth is out there, to be honest."
"Really? I think aliens can be cuddly."
"Even when they're sucking out your brains and making clones of you to help raise their kids?"
She laughed. "And you're the one who calls me vulgar. Listen to yourself!"
If you want something done you've got to do it yourself. You can't count on others to do the work for you. I knew this very well, of course. But I was banking on that slim chance that I might just get a freebie. No luck.
Never mind, I'd get it over with later. For sure.
Afterwards when I was done with my cleaning stint, Eri was testing the texture of her skin to see if I had done a satisfactory job. She used one hand to reach behind and up her back as far as she could manage and stroked it this way and that. I stepped back to admire my handiwork. Yowzers… It's almost a wonder I didn't faint already. When you've got an acre's worth of luscious skin sitting right in front of you, it's not like your eyes can say no to the sight, can they?
"Ooh, nice work!" she said cheerily. "For a first-timer you're pretty slick."
"Your back's pretty slick too!" I wisecracked… in my head. She probably wouldn't get offended by that, but better safe than sorry.
"Thanks, Neku! This is important for us girls, you know?"
"Then I'm glad I'm not a girl. It'll be tiring having to worry about my complexion all the time."
"News flash, pal: skin care is essential for men too! Maybe I'll teach you the finer points of it sometime. But for now…" – she took my hand and led me back into the pool – "…we'll take advantage of what little time we have left before the people start coming in again. This is just about the last leg of our vacation so I want us to spend it the best way we can."
I was thankful for being able to spend time with Eri. I'd be sure to show my appreciation later by donating to a bunch of charitable organizations.
She suggested, "Let's sit against those rocks, shall we?"
The night breeze had chilled our bodies so slipping back into the warm water felt great. I didn't want to get out. We sat side by side, resting against the rock formation in the middle of the pool. Even though I originally just wanted to rest my arm around her, we ended up doing something that had an even more potent effect. Should I up my ante and go for a bolder course of action?
"Oh, here's a fun fact I just remembered!" she said. "I heard that this spot we're sitting at brings good luck. Anyone who comes here strikes gold at some point in life."
"Huh? Seriously?" I snorted. "You sure this isn't something the staff thought up to draw in more customers?"
"Maybe. The innkeeper told me about it, but I can't verify the truth. The story about the young couple who successfully conceived here was really interesting though."
I recoiled in shock. "And that's where we're sitting? !"
"Yup!"
Oooh… My head was starting to feel weird after hearing that. Did someone actually do that in this kind of place? How did that even play out…
Eri gave her own theory. "Maybe they climbed up onto the rocks behind us and – "
"Oi! N-No need to be so graphic, Eri!" You'll make me think stupid things!
She rubbed her chin, apparently in deep thought. Don't tell me she was actually thinking of even more twisted theories? ! Then her face lit up. Perhaps she really did come across a novel way for couples to have kids in the public bath, in which case, it wouldn't apply to us! …Yet.
"You know, from what the innkeeper told me, this bath is a bit special."
"Special? What, like it has magical powers or something?"
"It tends to bring good luck to whoever uses it. So people flock here, hoping to catch some positive vibes. Everyone who's taken a dip has claimed to be blessed with great fortune, like getting rich or scoring big in exams."
"I dunno about that… Sounds fishy…"
"Don't knock it till you try it! If you were fine with petting the Statue of Hachiko then you'll be fine with this."
"Okay, I understand your logic, O Wise One. But what should we do here?"
She playfully rubbed her shoulder against mine. "The guy takes the lead during a date, right? Why don't you do just that and I'll tag along with whatever plan you come up with."
Something stirred within me. We were sitting smack dab in the middle of the so-called lucky bath, so shouldn't I take advantage of it and try confessing? People have gotten rich, passed with flying colours, and even had kids thanks to this place. What's stopping me from giving it a go? It'd be nice to go down in the history of this inn as another success story.
"Anything, you say?" I asked, heart pounding jackhammer-style. "You're okay with anything?"
"Sure, just don't keep a lady waiting!"
She looked super happy and super excited. I knew this was my big chance! So I took destiny in my own two hands and made it happen…
I shifted my position so that I was sitting directly opposite her. Before she could ask what I was up to, I laid my hands on her shoulders and pushed her back, pressing her gently against the rock behind her. There was a twitch in her frame and a gasp in her throat, and those deer-in-headlights eyes told me she was a tad scared, but I didn't care. I had gone through life without so much as a shred of true romance and I was desperate to be loved back by a nice girl like Eri.
It took forever to get the words out but I eventually did it.
"I'm sorry for springing this upon so suddenly but I can't wait."
"N-Neku…?"
"Eri, I… See, I…"
Ugh… What's wrong with me? It's normal to be nervous when you're about to tell someone you love them, but it didn't feel right for my head to be spinning like this. The world was starting to look strange and wobbly… Was Eri supposed to sway like that?
The blood either rushed to my head or away from it; which direction it was I couldn't tell, but I gradually lost consciousness and fell forward, lodging my head into her chest.
"Kyaa! Neku? !"
As my vision faded to black, one thing came to mind.
Air bags…
XOXOXOXOXO
"Is he gonna be okay?"
"Relax, dearie. He's just had a mild case of heatstroke. Your friend will be back on his feet in no time. See? He's already awake."
"Oh! Neku!"
As I came to, I realized that I was back in our room, lying on the futon with a bag of ice on my head. Eri and the kindly innkeeper were sitting by my side, watching over me. The moment I sat up, my pink-haired pal pounced on me, anxious to know if I was alright.
"Neku! Good god, you're alive!" In her relief and excitement she forgot I was still recuperating and shook me by the shoulders like a rag doll. "You had me so worried!" Gah! Just when I was getting better!
"M-Miss," said the alarmed innkeeper, "please stop doing that! He hasn't recovered completely yet!"
"Ah! S-Sorry!" And she let go. I did my best to steady my dizzy head.
"I think I missed out on a few things," I muttered. "Mind filling me in?"
Our benevolent elderly friend gave me a brief summary. "You passed out in the bath earlier. Your friend called me for help and we brought you back here. Make sure you thank her properly, will you?"
"I… I fainted?"
All that heat did a number on my head, huh… I slouched in disappointment. My confession got botched again! And in such an embarrassing way too… I was supposed to be the one Eri could rely on and here she had to rescue me.
After the innkeeper was sure that I would be okay, she left us be. There was a tray of chilled drinks on the table and I graciously took one. The coldness felt good going down my throat. Meanwhile, Eri refused to leave my side. She suggested that we hang out on the balcony for some fresh air so that was what we did. The breeze helped to cool my body and it didn't take long after that for my health to bounce back. After I was cured of my doziness I thought I should say a few words.
"Eri, thanks. You know, for watching out for me."
"Heh heh… Don't worry about it."
"I'm not sure if I correctly recall the last few seconds before I blacked out, but if I'm right, then I'm sorry for doing a nosedive on your, um, chest."
"Hey, it's fine," she said kindly. "In fact, I'm glad you did."
"Wh-Why's that?"
"Because if you didn't, you might have hit your head against the rocks behind me, and that would have been a pretty gory thing."
"Oh… uh, right. Th-That's true…" She's making it sound like it was perfectly okay to plant my face into her breasts for the sake of my safety. Honestly, I didn't know what I should feel. But you know what they say: all's well that ends well. I think.
"By the way, Neku…"
"Hmm?"
"What was it you were trying to do back then? I know we're out of the bath but if you want, we can continue where we left off…"
Oh, right! I was trying to confess to her. I couldn't do it earlier but now, as we stood face-to-face in the privacy of our own balcony, I knew I had been given another chance. How many times have I failed and ended up empty-handed? This time, I swore, would be my final try. The gods up above must be getting sick of me by now anyway.
Come on, Neku. Have courage, man! You were this close to doing it before and now you can finally do it. I stood firm and proper before her and my face hardened with determination.
"…Neku?"
"Eri, uh… Can I tell you a little something? And please promise me you wouldn't freak out."
She raised her eyebrows ever so slightly. "Okay…"
"You know, I… uh…"
One final push! I'm so close! …Damn, I sound like I'm giving birth.
I didn't want to leave her hanging after what I just said. It wouldn't be fair to her. It wouldn't even be fair to myself. Twenty years without a taste of real love is no joke. When everyone else is going out for a good time, I'm the one who stays single, at home watching TV and eating alone. I've been used to doing things by myself but I just thought it would be nice if I had someone to at least curl up with on the sofa. It's thanks to Eri that I was able to alleviate some of that loneliness, but the truth still held fast: we weren't an official couple. I had to change that.
Would Eri say yes to me? I didn't know. But was this any reason to be scared and back down? No, of course not. I was always too afraid to take risks. I always thought I'd be scarred for life if things didn't go my way. But staying in the safe zone is not how we grow and improve. Failure can and does sting, but at least you can walk away happy with the knowledge that at the very least, you tried.
I said it.
"Eri… I love you." Then, afraid she might misunderstand, I added, "Uh, in a romantic way. I love you in a romantic way." That was awfully slapdash, though…
Those slightly widened eyes, the reddish glow on her cheeks, her hand creeping up to her bosom… Yes! I finally said it! Just one more thing to say to her…
"Will you go out with me?"
And done! Now, what would she say? Oh, maybe I should add a few more words to cement my reputation as a potentially respectable boyfriend.
"I'm thankful that you're always there for me, ever since high school, but now I think it'd be nice if you could count on me more. I may not seem like much, but I can be pretty dependable. Eri… will you accept me?"
She gave me a warm smile.
"Neku," she said softly, "thank you. It makes me happy to hear you say that. Seriously, I'm flattered. I haven't felt this way in a good while! Hee hee."
"Eri! D-Does this mean…?"
"However, I'm sorry." She bowed in a show of genuine apology, and then continued, "I think you're cool, but I'm not sure I'm ready to go out with you."
I honestly thought I had a chance! I didn't expect this. All those great times I spent with Eri… Maybe they lulled me into a sense of complacency. Maybe I took her for granted and thought that at the very least she wouldn't say no. Whatever the case, my spirit was rather deflated. I was so close! I just knew that if I was a little more persuasive we could finally be a couple for real.
"Still," she said kindly, "you're a decent person. Why don't you give me some time to sort out my feelings… and then I'll get back to you? How about it?"
"Eh… Um…"
"I'll be able to give you a definite answer by then. Again, I'm sorry." One more bow.
I was sad, but had the dignity to accept this as my fate. I bravely put on a smile. "Sure, no problem. Don't worry about me."
"Thanks."
That was the end of my confession. It was a grey cloudy feeling… And I knew it all too well. My heart was broken once by Shiki. Now was the second time and it was by the only other girl I had come to love.
That night, instead of snuggling in the same futon, we slept separately. It's only natural: given the circumstances, even she knew it would be awkward to be her usual touchy-feely self. There needs to be some distance, at least for a while. But it hardened my suspicions that perhaps I was really just a good buddy to Eri and nothing more.
Then… what about yesterday, when she promised she'd kiss me to make up? You don't do that with friends, do you? You don't kiss them, even for fun. Or could it be that Eri was the type of girl who gets her kicks from kissing people? That made me rather depressed because that meant I wasn't someone special to her.
But I am special! She said it herself. So… what did this mean? There were more contradictions here than a high-profile court case!
My brain hurt from all the thinking and analyzing. I was not experienced with romance, so how could I even know what conclusion to come to? This sounded like a job for Kariya and company back at WildKat. They could help me sort this mess out. Probably.
Until then, all I could do was sleep away the disappointment.
XOXOXOXOXO
The next day, it was business as usual for Eri. Her sunny disposition remained, and she was even back to her teasing and stripping ways. It was like she had forgotten all about my confession. Did it mean that little to her? I hoped not…
Our onsen date ended today, and we were back in Shibuya before long. In fact, right now as I speak, we were standing at her doorstep. There was a trainload of shopping bags all huddled around our feet as I waited for her to unlock the front door. Anyway, we left the bags in her room and after a short chat it was time for me to leave.
"That was a fun date," she said smilingly. "And the longest one I ever had too. I'm sure it'll break some records! Thanks for everything, Neku."
"Oh, no, thank you. You're the one who came up with the idea of going to an onsen in the first place. It was really cool."
"We'll do it again sometime, wouldn't we?"
"Sure, why not?"
I didn't know what to say next and her sweet gaze was giving me kittens, so I was scrambling for an excuse to hurry home. However, before I could act, she circled her arms around my neck and moved in close till I could almost see the pores on the skin of her face.
It got me stammering. "E-Eri? ! Hey, wh-what's gotten into you?"
"Neku," she whispered, "I may not be able to give you an answer yet, but what I can do is keep my promise."
"P-Promise?"
When she replied, she spelled out the letters of a single word, drawling out each one in a ridiculously sexy way. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G."
She was coming closer! "Wait a minute… I don't know if my heart is ready for this…"
"Heh heh… Don't worry, don't worry! It'll just be a quick peck. Nothing too sloppy and long drawn like the stuff you see in movies."
"Wh-What makes you think I should trust you on th– "
She reached up and planted one on my forehead. If I didn't see what she was doing, I'd have thought she had poked me with her finger as a joke. But it wasn't a joke, and she used her lips. Her lips! Those perfectly-shaped things. I was stunned. My body went rigid. Paralysed. Helpless. What was I supposed to be doing again? Oh yeah, I was saying goodbye. And now, she had given me a kiss on the forehead. Wow! What a detour! That felt strange and amazing all at once.
She giggled, "I want to keep my promise from last night, but doing it on the lips is still a bit embarrassing after all. Maybe next time?"
Adopting a more serious tone, she continued, "Listen, I still need to think about your confession, Neku. I'm happy, of course. If those were your feelings about me, then I'm glad you were being honest. But I need time to give you an answer. I know it sucks to wait, but please be patient, yeah?"
Going steady was serious business. After wasting her youth with trashy boyfriends, she didn't want to make any more wrong decisions. If she was so sick of hanging out with them, then she wanted to be doubly sure that if she went out with me, I wouldn't be just another chump with a flair for the ungentlemanly. For her, waiting it out to think it over was the right thing to do. If I were in her shoes, I'd probably do the same thing.
"I'll wait," I said. "Take your time, Eri."
"Are you sure?" she chuckled. "I can take forever, you know."
"Eh… Um… I mean…"
"Just kidding. I'll give you an answer… soon. I'm not sure when exactly, but it'll be soon."
We parted ways for the day and I went home, pondering hard at this turn of events.
XOXOXOXOXO
The kiss took up my mind for the rest of the day.
I had never been kissed before. It wasn't mouth-to-mouth, so it didn't count as my first. But this feeling… this feeling of happiness and excitement and accomplishment… Every time I shut my eyes and focused on that moment, my mind's eye would go psychedelic and the twisting rainbows wouldn't quit.
But it had the unfortunate side-effect of leaving me in a more confused state than ever.
I still didn't know where her feelings lay. She knew about mine already, but hers were still classified information she wasn't willing to divulge just yet. I'd have to wait. She'd tell me soon. But how soon was "soon"? A week? Two weeks? A few months? It's almost unfair how she could put me on hold indefinitely if she so wished. But I knew she wouldn't be so mean…
Seriously, love is a minefield… And I just stepped into one.
…
…
*fundoshi: a type of traditional Japanese underwear, commonly worn by men during certain sacred ceremonies. It consists of a length of cloth wrapped around the groin.
**manzai: a form of stand-up comedy native to Japan. There will typically be two comedians trading jokes quickly: a straight man (tsukkomi) and a funny man (boke). In this case, Neku could be considered the tsukkomi and Eri the boke.
...
Author's note:
Sorry for the late update. Truth is, I was writing more than one story simultaneously, with the intention of releasing them all at the same time. Here's what I'd been working on:
(a) this chapter of She Comes And Goes As She Pleases (of course). I've updated the cover image as well.
(b) Behind Closed Doors, which is a romantic comedy about Neku and Shiki. It also features a brand new cover image that I drew myself. If you want to know what Shiki looks like in a bikini, now's your chance. It probably wouldn't give you a nosebleed but if it can, I'll be happy :D
(c) Blossom, which is an erotic romance about Neku and Shiki. It's in the M-rated section for a reason.
So yeah, it's a bumper update and if you have time, do check 'em all out. And for everyone who's read She Comes And Goes As She Pleases and liked it, I'm thankful to you. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, especially GengaJupite, whose reviews are nice, informative and constructive. Thank you kindly, bro! I have so much fun reading them.
See you fellas soon and have a very merry Xmas. :D
-BrDPirateMan