She Comes And Goes As She Pleases

by BrDPirateMan

Neku's life turns upside-down when he falls in love with Eri, the most eccentric girl in Shibuya. He's an everydude with a knack for deadpan snarking. And she's the flirty wisecracker who loves using her sex appeal to tease him 24/7. Odd couple? You bet. Get ready for a fun and sexy romantic comedy where their growing relationship is proof that opposites DO attract! [Ecchi content]

39. Apart

She Comes And Goes As She Pleases (Part 39)
by BrDPirateMan

"A little tighter, please."

"D-Does it have to be that way, Eri?"

"Of course! What is with you?"

"No, I just…"

"Oh c'mon, we've done worse things before. I'm not gonna mind, so hop to it already!"

I grunted hard as I renewed my efforts. "Okay, h-how about this? Is it any good?"

Eri sucked in a sharp breath of air, apparently in satisfaction. "Oh god yes, that's the stuff. C'mon, you can do it. Just a bit more."

I heaved. She panted. I huffed. She puffed.

And then, finally, after another strenuous minute of exertions, the deed was done and she was left feeling very satisfied.

"Perfection," she said breathlessly. "Yes, this is just perfect."

No, everyone, we did not just spend the night. Nothing in that sense. I'll forgive you for thinking that way though.

Eri had work tonight at the butler café, and before she headed out, she would have to doll herself up to look the part of Shibuya's sexiest butler. Before this, when we were still living apart, she would do it all by herself. But according to her it wasn't easy; nowadays she had me give her a hand.

So now, in addition to being the man of the house, I had another job under my belt: taping down her breasts.

Not that I minded… It's nice to –

Hey, I'm serious.

What, you think I'm pulling your chain? 'Cause I'm not.

She examined herself in the mirror and ran her hands up and down her flattened chest. Then, after a full minute checking that the curvature was just right, she gave a sharp nod to clarify that I had done my job well.

"Looking good! That's a wrap, Neku!"

"Eri, that is so corny."

"Hee hee. I can't help it."

I crossed my arms and stared at her chest with a questioning frown. "Isn't it too tight? I get hernia just looking at you."

"Don't worry! I'm perfectly fine! I can still breathe, see? And I can't say it enough: you're good at this."

"Didn't know you were a masochist."

"I can go both ways, really. Want me to show you my riding crop?"

"You have a what?!"

"You better believe it," she giggled. "It's for juuuust in case you want to have your butt spanked."

"Can't say I'm interested in the whole 'pain as pleasure' concept. Thanks for being so thoughtful, though."

A few final touches finished her transformation from girl to man. Obviously she would not be heading out in her usual girly wear; tonight her attire was strictly unisex. Her hair was secured into a ponytail and a pair of glasses completed the look. Now she was Seishirou-sama, and the power to charm the pants off of any girl on the streets was hers to wield.

And let's not forget the oh-so-sophisticated speech patterns.

"Wonderful evening, wouldn't you say?" she mused. "Sadly, as much as I want to keep the pleasantries going, my duty awaits me. Best I be off for now."

"Good luck with your work, Seishirou."

She had one last thing to take care of before she hit town.

Arms spread wide, as though to receive me in a big hug, she joked, "If you're going to wish me luck, Master Sakuraba, then why don't you do that with a kiss. A kiss between gentlemen!"

I knew it was my girlfriend hiding beneath all the manliness and chest bandages, and I'd welcome a kiss any day of the week, but…

"Look, you're a guy now," I pointed out. "Not a real guy, of course… But you see, I can't just – "

Eri didn't let me finish. Just closed the distance and planted a big one on my lips. Although I didn't resist, taking solace in the knowledge that she was really a girl, it still felt awkward. And to those who didn't know, we were like two dudes making out. Luckily no one was watching.

"Impeccably done, my friend," she praised. "I would expect no less from your oscular prowess, Master Sakuraba."

The kiss didn't feel as revitalizing as I might have hoped. In fact, it left a weird taste in my mouth.

"…I feel so gay right now."

"Come now," she laughed. "It's not that bad."

XOXOXOXOXO

Spring was coming to an end, but before we could enjoy the summer break, we had to sit for our spring semester exams, which was sure to be a tough beast to tame.

With a couple of weeks remaining, we poured all of our available time into our studies and were forced to forgo both our cooking and swimming lessons until further notice. That also meant less messing around on her part which, while understandable, was something I wished we didn't have to compromise. Eri planned to temporarily put her butler duties on hold starting next week. In fact, tonight she was going to ask for leave in advance.

After a grueling two hours of non-stop studying I had to call it quits. I took time out to watch the night scenery from the window with Mr Spiny by my side.

The sound of the front door unlocking made me jump. Eri trudged in, clearly exhausted. It's not easy pretending to be a man.

"Welcome back," I said. "How was work?"

"Fine… but tiring."

"I can imagine."

Eri unbuttoned her shirt lazily and let it hang loose. Then, moving like molasses, she grabbed the kitchen scissors, slipped the blades carefully down the valley of her chest and snipped the bandages clean off.

"That feels much better," she huffed, tossing them into the trash bin. Her hands reached up and massaged her sore breasts. I tried not to ogle at… them.

"You sound like you've been through a lot tonight."

"I don't mind the challenge. Hmmm, that reminds me…"

"Huh?"

"I've got some… well, it's not bad news, but it's not exactly good either… I guess that makes it not-so-good news. Can we talk in the bath?"

Hopefully whatever got her knickers in a knot wasn't that serious… It sure sounded like important stuff at any rate.

"Lower, Neku," she muttered. "You missed a spot."

I worked the sponge down her back, and her delighted moan shook the vertebrae of my spine.

"Now," I said, "what was it you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh, that." Suddenly she didn't seem too thrilled. "Yeah, okay, I'll tell you."

What could it be that was apparently such a nuisance for her to bring up?

"I just got a call from my parents," she explained. "They said that once summer break starts I'm to go back to Fukushima to attend an upcoming family reunion. I'll be busy catching up with all of my relatives in addition to the neighbourhood kids I grew up with."

Going back to her hometown for the holidays, huh? "Sounds like a fun time. How long will you be away?"

"A whole month."

Three simple words… Just three simple words and they took me aback like someone had just stolen my favourite comics right from under my nose. I couldn't believe it. I wouldn't be able to see her for an entire month, much less do anything with her. One month isn't long, but…

Still in shock, I mumbled like a total idiot, "Th-That's… thirty days, isn't it?"

"Actually," she teased, "I reckon that's about… 720 hours, give or take a few. Sounds about right."

"Oh, um, wh-what I mean to say is… you're gonna be away for… quite a while."

The giggling petered out and was now replaced by mild sadness. "That's what I mean by the not-so-good news. Spending time in Fukushima isn't actually a bad thing. It's just that I can't bring you along, and that's a real bummer."

"Yeah… I figured it'd be about that."

Eri and I were inseparable. It felt weird that we would be apart for the first time in a long while.

"Sorry, Neku." She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I wish I could, but my parents have a strict 'no boyfriends' policy. They sure aren't gonna welcome you with open arms."

"Don't worry, I understand. I'm sure we can work things out in the near future."

"Yeah, I hope so. Still, not having you tag along kinda feels like a wasted opportunity. I want to brag and show you off to all of my friends."

"If you got it, flaunt it, huh?" Pride began to rise within me. The fruits of my hard work as a boyfriend were paying off.

"And there's a great place I know where we can go skinny-dipping. It'll be so much fun. But like I said… too bad."

She said it so nonchalantly I almost thought I heard her wrong. This wasn't the first time she'd suggested I try it out with her, but this time it sounded strangely tantalizing. Just me and her and the great outdoors… Must be nice to romp around the place like a couple of idiots in love.

Wait… I wouldn't have even considered this before. Perhaps in my wildest dreams, sure, but that would be it. It almost scared me. I was seriously contemplating it just now… Was Eri slowly poisoning my mind? Was this one of the effects of going out with a sex maniac?

"Hold up," I said. "That 'great place' you mentioned… it wouldn't be the forest pond you used to go to with the other neighbourhood kids, would it?"

"It sure is!"

"I thought the local bear took it for itself."

"Kogoro may have taken it, sure, but I know I can negotiate with him! If all goes well we can borrow it from him for half an hour or so… He shouldn't mind."

I shivered at the thought of not being able to convince our 'friend'. "Hey, 'shouldn't' and 'if all goes well' are dangerous words. Until you find a safer place, forget it. I sure ain't gonna be bear chow."

Eri pouted. "Then that's a problem. That's the only place I know of where we can swim in private."

"I-I'm sure you'll find some other place." No rush, I guess. Better than losing control and letting, um, nature take its course… "Ahem. Anyway, you'll be away for a month starting from the beginning of summer break…"

"Yeah, will you be alright by yourself?"

I snorted. "Who do you think I am? And I'll take good care of things here, so you just concentrate on having fun. The real question begs asking: will you be alright without me?"

"Struck by the boomerang," she smirked. "Ouch, you got me there! But yes, I'll be alright. I've got photos of us in my phone, so I can always look at your handsome spiked hair if I ever get bored."

"It's nice that you like my hair… but what about me?"

She did a half-glance back and me and gave me a cheeky reply, "Well, you make a nice plus!"

"So I'm just an extra. Wonderful."

"Hee hee… Now, now, you know I'm just kidding. Besides, you and your hair are inseparable so if I love one then I naturally love the other."

"…You're a real handful."

"And that phrase of yours never gets old." Once she was done laughing her humour switched lanes. "One month, though… We wouldn't be able to see each other for a whole month. I'll get some serious withdrawal symptoms!"

There was no harm in building on where she left off. I pretended to be horrified by the stark reality of being apart for that long. "No cooking or swimming lessons… I'll need psychotherapy."

"The world is coming to an end!"

"Madness in its purest form!"

Somewhere along the way we crossed a line. But it's too late. We were both high on our own blend of zany craziness.

"This is Armageddon!" I proclaimed, getting in on the fun. "We need a fallout shelter! Rations to last us a month!"

Eri shot out an arm and pointed majestically into the air. "Barricades to keep the crazies out! Weapons to defend ourselves!"

"This is turning into a zombie apocalypse scenario, Eri. We're in trouble!"

"Oh god!" She clawed her cheeks in mock horror. "Are we the only uninfected ones left?! Neku, hold me!"

Maybe it was the giddy atmosphere that we'd whipped up. Could be something else. But whatever the reason, I wasn't thinking straight. Someone must have hijacked my body because now I had no control over my actions. I wrapped my arms around her in a clumsy hug from behind. Eri's laughter turned into a gasp when she felt our bodies touch skin-to-skin. Her surprise knocked me out of my trance and I gasped myself when I saw the compromising position we'd ended up in – naked and pressed together like sardines in a can. Were those her puppies resting on top of my right arm? Oh goodness, yes they were! What was I doing?!

"Um," I began nervously, "this is… awkward."

Eri cleared her throat, trying to get the situation under control as calmly as possible, although it was obvious she was rattled somewhat.

"Okay, Neku, listen. Firstly, this has to be the first time you hugged me naked of your own accord."

How true that was. But before I could give some sort of excuse to justify my actions, she continued:

"Secondly, it's not your knee that's poking into the small of my back right now."

That… was also true.

I let go of her in a split second and immediately launched a barrage of desperate apologies.

"S-Sorry. I didn't… I just… I wasn't…"

Eri cast a nonchalant look at me, but the blush on her face betrayed her true feelings. "I didn't mean it in a bad way… It's just that the only people who gave me naked hugs in the bath have all been girls, so it kinda surprised me that I'd get one from a guy. This is a first for me."

"O-Oh, is that so? Sorry, you must, um, think it's gross."

"Gross? No way! Are you seriously going to suggest that after we've seen each other naked so many times, I'll be grossed out by a tiny little thing?"

My soul felt like it had been run over by a steamroller.

"T-Tiny…?"

Eri realized she just broke the unwritten rule and now it was her turn to panic and apologise.

"S-Sorry! I wasn't talking about your… I mean, I'm totally cool with it and stuff… It's hardly a hulking monster but – ack!"

Now I felt worse. "So I'm just a guy with a small… heh…"

More panic. "No! No no no, I mean, um… who cares about the little things, anyway – " She slapped a hand over her mouth… too late.

"Eri, you're not helping."

"I'm sorry…!"

Being the savvy sort, I was aware that this was a severe case of the ol' slip of the tongue, but if I didn't know better, I'd have thought she was trying her darnedest to bruise my ego.

Still felt like a fork through the heart though.

"Oh man," she gulped, "what a total faux pas… I'm so sorry, Neku."

"I know you meant no harm, so let's just drop the topic and leave it at that."

"I-If it makes you feel any better, I do get self-conscious about my chest too. So we're the same. Um, right? Argh, I'm so stupid like that."

I couldn't stay unhappy forever, not when she was trying her best to put me at ease. No one's perfect. We do make mistakes here and again. And, given the chance to wind back the clock, she wouldn't say what she said, that much I was sure of.

She must still feel terrible. I should return her to her usual self…

My hand reached out to pat her on the head. "C'mon, stop beating yourself up. I'm not mad at you."

"You're… not? Are you sure?"

"Sure I am. Just find a more suitable place for skinny-dipping and I'll forgive you."

Eri immediately perked up like a dog with a biscuit. So surprised was she that she had to turn around fully and look me in the face to ascertain if I was joking. Seeing her in her full frontal glory made my heart jolt as it always did, but I tried to focus my cone of vision above her shoulders.

"I didn't think you'd be interested," she said. "You hardly seem the type of guy to drop his pants and then jump into a lake."

"Uh, what's that saying again?" I scratched my cheek. "It's good to try new things? And, well, I don't mind if it's with you, so… y-yeah. That's… That's all. So… cheer up already."

This was great news to her. She clasped both of my hands in hers and there was a twinkle in her eyes that couldn't even scratch the surface of how excited she was. Eri was back.

"In that case, Neku, I'll do my very very best to convince Kogoro! Ooh, I know! If I give him a peace offering of food, we can probably – "

"No, Eri!" I hissed. "Choose another place! Kogoro will maul us half to death. No way."

"It'll be fine! I'm good at convincing people. So don't sweat the small stuff."

The soul pain that I thought I had done away with returned in full force.

"S-Small…"

Eri was quick to see her mistake. "Eep! I swear I wasn't talking about your…!"

XOXOXOXOXO

Exams were a necessary evil. They had to be done but done they were and we didn't look back. Eri and I worked hard… so we deserved it. We deserved our…

"Summer break!" she roared with gusto, pumping her fist. "Two whole months of joy and sunshine!" Then, in a more subdued tone, she added, "I'm gonna spend half of it with my family, though."

"As long as you don't divulge anything about our relationship, you should be fine."

"Gosh, Neku," she giggled, "I like how we're keeping secrets behind my parents' backs! So naughty!"

"Uh… yeah. Whatever floats your boat, I guess…"

"Never you worry! We're partners in crime here. I'll be in a whole lot of trouble too if they find out, so my lips are sealed. Airtight, ziplock, all that jazz."

I crossed my arms and peered into the open luggage bag on the floor, which was slowly filling up with clothes and other necessities. Tomorrow Eri was to take the train to Fukushima, so now she was packing. I was called in to assist her in streamlining the whole procedure. And by that I mean helping her to decide what to bring. When you have a wardrobe that's filled to the brim like hers, you tend to spend more time than usual making decisions.

After a full minute spent on fighting with herself over what blouse to bring along, she resorted to asking for my input to put an end to her dilemma once and for all.

"Which one, Neku? The blue one or the dangerously cropped, tight-fitting one with the plunging neckline?"

"Th-The blue one."

She glanced from one blouse to the other and then decided to go for…

"The dangerous one it is." And she placed it into her bag.

"Eri," I huffed, "you'll give your parents a heart attack if you wear that. Besides, am I not here to help you choose?"

"Yes you are, but…" – she shot me a naughty wink – "…the executive decision ultimately lies with me! Now don't go away just yet. I need you to pick out my underwear for me!"

"Wh-Why do you need help with that? No one's gonna see it…"

I was rewarded for my naivety with a waving finger in my face. "Tut tut. You don't understand, Neku. Are you aware of the concept of 'lucky panties'?"

"Uh, you said something like that in the past, I think…"

"Sometimes it's not about looking good but more like feeling good. And if you feel good then you naturally feel lucky. See what I mean?"

"Oh, hell. Why don't you go commando and solve all your problems. That'll be easy."

"Ooh, good idea!" she squealed dementedly. "I'm sure it'll be nice and refreshing on a windy day – "

I went on full alert. "You're not supposed to go commando when you wear a skirt! Geez, are you some kind of pervert? …Oh wait, you are one."

"Ha ha ha!"

The luggage bag was now three-quarters full. All that was left was a few odds and ends to fill up the remaining space. She looked around for something good, and her eyes presently came to rest on the soft toy sitting on her bed. Slowly, gently, like she was handling a crystal goblet, she picked it up in both hands and gave it a prolonged gaze. Memories started flooding back and suddenly we became quiet. But it was a happy kind of quiet.

"Neku." She cuddled it in her arms so that it was facing me directly. "Remember this?"

"That's the teddy bear I won for you during last year's Hachi Fest. Do you still call it Phones?"

"Yeah." She squeezed it against her bosom lovingly. Must be nice being a plushy…

"But it's confusing. It's hard to tell sometimes who you're talking about."

"Hee hee. It's the only name that works for me. Since you both share the same name, having him close by when we're apart also brings you closer to me."

"Eri…" I never thought about it that way…

She held the teddy in her hands and gazed into its eyes, talking to it affectionately like she would with a kid. "You're coming with me. But worry not, little fella, I'm not going to pack you inside a stuffy suitcase. You'll be part of my hand luggage. I'll even poke your head out of my handbag so you can enjoy the scenery on the train. Sound good?"

Heh… There's an endearing quality to her child-like behaviour. But seriously, deep inside I was quite moved. This was something I gave her and she treasured it till now. To say it's heartwarming is an understatement.

"Phones thinks it's a smashing idea," she said, hugging him gleefully. "Neku, what do you think?"

Couldn't hurt to show the teddy some love.

"It's perfect," I said. "He'll get some fresh air too… Just make sure you don't leave him out of your sight."

Eri giggled. "Your parental instincts are strong, Neku."

"Ahem, well yeah, I guess…"

Dammit, was I blushing? Blushing over a teddy bear!

…Not just any teddy bear to be fair, though…

XOXOXOXOXO

To be honest, it's still hard to believe Eri will be away for a whole month. One month isn't a long time, but it does take a while for the time to pass. And the girl I loved wouldn't be around, which was sure to make life a little quieter.

And a little lonelier.

Funny thing, isn't it? Five or six years ago, I'd crave solitude because I hated people. Now I find it hard to imagine what life would be like without my friends, and most importantly, Eri. I sure went through one heck of a paradigm shift.

A couple of soft knocks on my bedroom door pulled me from my train of thought. The voice coming from behind it called out softly.

"Neku? You awake?"

"Yeah, come on in."

The door opened ajar and Eri sidled in. The darkness of the room enshrouded her in mystery.

"Hiya, Neku. Getting ready for bed?"

"Almost. Need anything?"

"It's boring being by myself. Can I join you?"

"Sure. Hop in."

Eri launched herself onto the bed, underwear-clad butt first. In her arms, close to her chest, she was holding her teddy.

"I see you brought Phones along," I said.

"Yeah, 'cause we're a family. And, Neku?"

"Yes?"

"No reading." Her deft fingers plucked the comic book out of my hand and placed it on the bedside table. "Your queen demands attention."

I chuckled. "Your Majesty, by all means, please go ahead. Your audience awaits you."

"I must take to the throne, my squire. Assist me."

"Throne? What thro– oh, whoa…"

Squeezing out every ounce of seductiveness from her entire being, she peeled the covers off of me and took her seat on my lap. Even through the fabric of my trousers I could feel the tenderness of her amazing posterior. She's just that good at being hot.

"Hee hee."

"Your Majesty, I'm not worthy of such… generosity."

Impressed with my wit, Eri's giggles grew into a laugh.

"That's a good one," she said.

"All that aside… how can I help you?"

"I was hoping to spend as much time as I can with you before I leave for Fukushima tomorrow. I need to recharge my batteries to full so I can last the month. Know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I know. Well then, go ahead. You're most welcome."

"Been meaning to ask… Got any plans for summer break?"

"Yeah, what about the beach?"

"I like the sound of that. But it'll be nice if we could do a few more other things over the break. Summer's the best time to have fun, so we should use it to the fullest."

"I know that look. What do you have in mind?"

Eri went into her "thinking" pose – head cocked slightly to the right, eyes looking to the side, and one finger resting against her cheek. "Um, I haven't thought of anything either, to be honest. At the very least, I know we're gonna hit the Hachi Fest."

At the mere mention of that event, I immediately recollected all of the memories I spent with my friends. Back in high school when the gang was still together, the five of us would dive right into the festivities and have a good time. We certainly enjoyed ourselves. The thought of seeing my friends again got my spirits up.

"Hey Eri," I began, "our friends are coming back for summer, right? Beat and Rhyme, I mean."

"Yeah. They'll be late by a couple of weeks because of some matters they need to take care of in Nagoya, but yes, they'll be back in time for the Hachi Fest."

"That's great!" I whooped. "We can be a team again."

"Um, yeah…"

"Eri? You seem a little… fidgety."

She shifted a little closer, pawing my chest lazily. "Oh, it's just… While I like having the whole gang together, we're still a couple. And I'd like it if we can have fun with just the two of us, you and me."

Valid point she made there. I should take her out somewhere romantic where we needn't have to worry about anyone barging in on our privacy. Right now the closest thing that came to mind was…

"Say, Eri? You know that trip to the beach we're talking about?"

"Uh-huh? What about it?"

"When you come back, what do you say we go stay at a beach resort for a couple of days?"

A slow, gradual smile was starting to emerge. "Hey, now you're talking…"

"I've actually been conducting some research in my spare time." I pulled out a brochure that I printed out earlier. As I showed her through the pages I had the honours of doing the explaining. "Downloaded this yesterday. Anyway, I checked out this place on the internet… and I just knew we couldn't go wrong with 'The Red Tide'."

"The what?!" Eri's eyebrows were askew in disbelief. "Wh-What kind of name is that?!"

"I know. It's an unfortunate case of bad naming… but it's got great amenities and you wouldn't need to bust a hole in your wallet with rates like these."

She gave the brochure a careful look through. "We can easily afford it, yeah. Still, that name… It makes me feel like I'll get my period once we set foot in there."

"D-Don't jinx us before we're even started!"

"But I totally dig it. You've been doing your homework too… good boy!" She mussed my hair up into a typhoon-swept caricature of its usual self. "But seriously, I could use a little sand under my feet and salt breeze in my lungs. This city smog doesn't do me any favours."

"Can't hurt to escape to somewhere a little more open, huh?"

"You read my mind, Neku. I like that. Well, I've been monitoring your progress in our swimming lessons. You're not quite ready to venture into deeper waters yet, but we can splash around near the shore no problem. Does that sound good?"

"Why wouldn't it?" I said. "I get to take in the sights and sounds of paradise… and you're the paradise."

Eri's smile became twisted into a wry, almost painful-looking frown. Apparently that ounce of humour didn't work the way I wanted it to. My jokes needed work…

"That's sweet, Neku, but… don't quit your day job, okay?"

"R-Right. Sorry…"

And so it was agreed that after she returned from Fukushima, we'd book a three-day, two-night stay at The Red Tide. I wonder what fun will await me then? This should prove to be a pleasant distraction before the Hachi Fest.

XOXOXOXOXO

Early the next morning, Eri and I did a quick check of her belongings. There was a hanging feeling of tension in the air as we hurried to make sure that everything was in order. Her train was scheduled to leave for Fukushima in forty minutes' time. We had to head out soon.

"This is everything, right, Eri?"

"Yup, I even brought along that cropped low-cut blouse. You know, the dangerous one."

"I seriously hope you don't wear that…"

Eri shrugged. "Look, I already packed it in… What do you expect me to do with it, hoist it like a flag? No thank you, I'd rather wear it."

"Oh boy…"

She patted her luggage bag. "We're good to go, Neku."

"Then let's not waste anymore time. The train's gonna – "

Suddenly she remembered something. "Oh! I almost forgot. Hold on!"

Eri dashed back into her room, leaving me to wait at the front door and listen to the sounds of her rummaging through her stuff. Ten seconds later she was out with a box, packaged in purple wrapping paper. This she handed to me.

"For you," she said with a smile.

"Oh, uh…" I didn't expect anything like this, so I was completely surprised. But I accepted it graciously. "Thank you, um… What's inside?"

"Heh… Wouldn't be a present if I told you right off the bat, would it? Anyway, don't open it now, we're in a hurry. Do it when you come back."

The present was never far from my mind as I escorted her to the train station. What did she give me? Was this going to be another prank?

I was feeling rather nervous. No, not because of her mysterious gift. But when you're about to see someone off whom you know you wouldn't get to see again for a month, the feeling in your gut is almost surreal. The trepidation keeps you at the edge of your seat… and we weren't even sitting.

Just think… In a few more minutes, when the train comes, Eri would leave and I'd be alone. I'd miss her for an entire month. No one to have cooking lessons with, no one with whom to trade retorts, no one to take baths with… The two of us would be apart and we couldn't do the things we normally did on an everyday basis.

But it's still just one month. It shouldn't take long. I can handle this…

…I think?

Presently, a familiar figure came along to greet us. Eri reacted energetically.

"Shiki! You came to say bon voyage to me! How nice!"

Our gallant bespectacled friend nodded. "Of course! Ah, hi Neku."

"Hello, Shiki. It's been a while."

Enthused over the arrival of her friend, Eri shared a big hug with her. Then we talked while waiting for the train.

"It's too bad," said Eri. "Beat and Rhyme will come back while I'm away. I really wanted us five to be together again. It's been so long."

Shiki nudged her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "They'll still be here when you're back, you know."

"Yeah, that's something to look forward to! I really miss groping Rhyme's amazing boobs. It's a great stress reliever."

"I… I can't believe you said that with a straight face."

Growing a little red in the face myself, I mumbled, "No kidding."

"But I can wait. It's just one month." Better watch yourself, Rhyme… Your modesty can be counted in mere days…

We didn't get to talk much more before the announcement preceding the next train's arrival blared across the station. People began to move into position and the air was abuzz with the murmurs of the crowd. We knew this was the time to say goodbye.

As the train rolled into view, the girls shared another hug.

"Have fun, Shiki," said Eri. "I'll get you all souvenirs, count on it!"

"Thanks. You stay safe, okay?"

Now it was my turn to receive a hug from Eri. "Take care," I said. "Send me a message once you arrive there so I know you got there safe."

"Alright. Try not to cry too much, okay?"

I snorted, and out of the corner of my eye, Shiki was stifling a giggle. "We already covered that, Eri. I'll be fine."

"Make sure Mr Spiny gets enough water and sunlight."

"Of course."

"One more thing."

She flashed me an innocuous-looking smile, but the words that came out of her mouth didn't match it.

"If you cheat on me behind my back, I'll fling you into the deepest reaches of hell."

It's normal to feel possessive in a relationship, but I still felt the hair stand on end at the back of my neck. The moment I so much as thought about someone else, I was a dead man walking. Still, she had no reason to worry.

"C'mon, place a little more trust in me, will you? We made a promise to stick together, Eri. I have no intention of breaking that."

Satisfied that I would remain faithful, she giggled, "Glad you remembered. Well, see you in a month!"

I watched, growing more and more apprehensive, as she boarded the train. She twirled round, waving at us. Her ever-present smile almost made the whole occasion seem like a happy one.

Then the doors closed… and the train thundered away. She kept waving at us through the windows, and I reciprocated every wave until she was completely out of sight. Suddenly, I was gripped with a sense of loss that left me in a daze.

Shiki clapped me on the shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, Neku. Eri knows how to take care of herself."

"It's… It's not that I'm worried about."

"Missing her already?"

Right on the mark like an arrow through the bull's-eye… I saw no reason to deny it, but I was slow to admit the truth.

"Well… I…"

"Sorry," she said politely. "I wasn't trying to put you out. Cheer up! It'll be over before you know it."

"I guess, yeah…"

She gave my arm a light slap in an effort to wake me from my catatonic shock. "C'mon, snap out of it! I'll treat you to crepes, okay?"

"I… I think I'd like that. I'll, um… I'll have a minestrone-flavoured one. With anchovy toppings."

Shiki stared at me, unable to believe the things coming out of my mouth.

"…Just how much are you out of whack, Neku?"

XOXOXOXOXO

Shiki did her best to lessen the sting of my newfound loneliness with her chirpy attitude and a chocolate crepe. I had to give her credit for trying, and to be fair, it did help somewhat. Of course, I thanked her for everything. It's good to have friends who care about you.

When I returned home, however, the absence of a certain pink-haired lunatic took centre stage and I felt lonely again. The apartment felt so empty without her. Quiet, too. There were times when I wished she'd just shut up for two minutes but now I missed her endless chatter.

If it's any consolation, my aching heart was proof that I've found someone truly special.

Without any plans for the day, I fired up my phone for a round of Heroes of Ziodim. It's been a while since I played that game and I probably missed out on a good number of login bonuses, so why not.

But when I retired to my room I immediately caught sight of the present Eri gave me. It sat on my table where I left it earlier. Now my curiosity was piqued anew. I reached for it, giving it a gentle shake. Listening closely, I heard something soft inside, along with the squeak of what must be packing peanuts. Hmmm… no real way to tell what it was.

I stripped away the wrapping gingerly and continued to make guesses in my head about the contents. What could be inside? Knowing her, it's probably something weird. If she had the audacity to give me a pair of panties, then I wouldn't put it past her to give me a bra to go with them this time.

In the middle of the box, sitting right amongst the packing peanuts, I found…

…a teddy bear?

I fished it out of the box carefully and gave it a thorough look all around. There was a pink scarf round its neck as well as a cap on its head. It was adorable. Just looking at it tugged at my heartstrings.

There was also a folded letter inside the box that came with the bear. I smoothed it out and gave it a read.

Hi Neku,

Congrats! You are now the proud owner of a brand new teddy bear. Let this little fella's cuteness overwhelm you! Mwahahaha!

Eri's odd humour brought a smile to my face. Even in a letter she never stopped being a joker.

The letter continued:

Oh yeah, I wanted to make your bear extra-special, so I gave it a hat. But I can't sew to save my life, so I asked Shiki to help me. Make sure you thank her for being awesome, 'kay?

It's true. The hat was custom-made and bore a striking resemblance to Eri's own signature cap, right down to the brown-and-white stripes and the "pins" stuck onto it (they were buttons here). The only one worthy of such handiwork was resident master seamstress Shiki. It was plainly obvious.

I'll be away for a while, but don't be sad. Sorry I don't have much else to say, but… take care, alright?

See you soon!

Eri XOXO

Thanks, Eri… Thank you so much.

I gave the bear a squeeze. It's so soft… and it put my heart at ease just hugging it. That's when I knew this would be a friend I'd have for life. This will be my bedtime companion, someone to keep me company. Heh… it was very thoughtful of her. I guess being invested in a serious relationship must have brought out the best in her.

Oh, there was something else inside the box. Digging through the leftover paper, I scooped it up and froze at the sight.

A bra. She just gave me… a bra.

The fabric was luscious to the touch. The colour was an inky black, and made it look like I was holding a piece of the night sky. Hmmm… It's familiar, somehow…

I'd find out. There was another envelope – even tinier than the first one – attached to it. Inside, the letter reflected her shamelessness perfectly.

Congrats again! Now you've got a bra to go with the panties I gave you last month.

What can I say, I'm a completionist. Hee hee.

Eri XOXO

PS It's clean. Don't get any funny ideas.

Ooh… So that's why it looked familiar. It's part of a set.

What's funny was that I actually guessed correctly that she was going to do that.

"Pervert or no," I said aloud, "it doesn't change that you're still a darling. Thanks, Eri."

I'll repay her in full soonest chance I get. I probably won't give her my briefs, though…

XOXOXOXOXO

The apartment was silent. No one here but me. When someone who's naturally noisy suddenly goes away, the void of silence she leaves behind is hard to ignore.

I tried not to let that bother me at first. I spent two hours grinding for cash and equipment in Heroes of Ziodim. It was splendid. By the end of my play session, I collected over six thousand gold pieces and a couple of rare item drops, which I made a mental note of to forge into some good armour later once I found the other pre-requisite ingredients down the road. All in all it was a good haul.

But I couldn't play forever. Eventually I had to take a break, and once that happened… the boredom started to take hold once more.

Eri has become such an inseparable part of my life that I couldn't even fathom anymore how I was able to go through life by myself. Now I was at a loss with what I should do with all of the spare time on my hands.

I could use a pick-me-up right about now. I had no idea if now was a convenient time to give her a call, but if I sent her a message she probably wouldn't mind.

There we go. Finished typing. The first thing I wrote about was the teddy. I thanked her, but kept it peppy so it wouldn't sound too formal. It was equal parts warm and humourous, which was sure to score points with her. I was confident it would make her day.

One message coming right up! And… send –

No, hold on a minute!

Didn't she say her parents were the strict, controlling type? She mentioned that she wasn't allowed to get herself a boyfriend until she graduated. Supposing she was with her family when I messaged her… they may be alerted by the sound of my incoming message, and they'd want to know who it was. One question would lead to another and eventually our secret relationship would be revealed. I dreaded to think of the consequences.

No… it's best not to take risks. My thumb was hovering right above the send button, poised to press it. That was a close call (no pun intended)! I immediately deleted my message and decided to take the safe route: wait for her to contact me instead. I wouldn't know when it's safe to talk, but she will. Better leave it to her.

"One month is fine," I said to myself for the umpteenth time. "I'll just pretend Eri went on an extra-long shopping trip."

Since messages and phone calls were out of the question, I resorted to other ideas to keep myself entertained. There was a recipe I saw on the internet that I've wanted to experiment with, so what better time to do that than now? All the ingredients were with me so I was good to go.

One hour later the result of my efforts lay on a plate looking real nice. I must admit I was proud of myself. Prettiest prawn omelette if I ever saw one.

I scooped a tiny piece into my mouth to ascertain the taste and texture.

"Bit too salty," I muttered. "Could use extra pepper as well… but otherwise, it's great. Ah, hey Eri, have a bite – "

I turned to my side, inviting her to try some… except she wasn't here.

Whoops… force of habit. That's something I would say during our Saturday cooking lessons. Good thing no one was looking!

I must still be reeling from the stark reality of Eri's absence. That's why I couldn't think properly… yeah, that must be it. But I suppose a bath will clear up my head admirably. Besides, I worked up a sweat in the kitchen. All the more reason to clean up.

Wait… What's that noise? It's coming from the bathroom.

I crept up to the bathroom door, all the while trying to pinpoint the nature of the sound. Was someone using the shower? Was there an intruder in the house? And a bold one at that! Who would break into a person's house in broad daylight and use the bathroom?

However, from within, another sound joined the hiss of running water. Someone was singing in there!

"Sunshine… ooh, my ray of sunshine… You pierce the dawn with your morning light, you bring the darkness out of the – "

Oh god! What awful singing! Only Eri could sing that badly. Only she could be that hopeless!

Hold on… Eri? She was… here?

Didn't she already leave? What's she doing back here? Forgot to take something? Missed me already? Wanted to play one last prank on me?

This was all very strange. Nothing made sense. But I had to get to the bottom of this mystery in order to put my mind at ease. I twisted the doorknob at a snail's pace, peeking inside. The shower curtain was drawn closed and I could barely make out the silhouette of a person that looked suspiciously like her. The sound of splashing water was unmistakable. That… and the horrible singing.

"…Like a spear through the sky, you light up my life… Illuminating from A to Z…"

Gah! Terrible lyrics to go with a terrible voice! The worst of both worlds! I had to end this!

I lurched inside in a hurry and took a hold of the curtain…

…then I whisked it aside in a flourish to expose the mystery guest.

"Gotcha!"

There was no one. The shower head was turned off. As a matter of fact, absolutely nothing was happening.

The whole thing… It was all in my mind. Nothing more than a hallucination. I gave myself a couple of light whacks upside the head to get it back in working order. Damn, I must be getting hungry. That's why I was seeing things. Yeah, that's got to be it.

Halfway through my shower, I happened to reach behind my back while I was soaping up, and realized I could use a good scrub.

"Hey Eri, think you could scrub my ba– "

There I went again! I said that out loud without a moment's thought. What's wrong with me? Was I really that hungry? Maybe I was really starting to lose it. I thought that shower could lift me out of my dream-like state, but I guess I was wrong.

My suspicions hardened to concrete as I continued to acknowledge her presence throughout the day. More than once I had the gut feeling that she was going to whisk away her clothes and ambush me, but when I turned round to defend myself, there would be no one to see and then I would have to remind myself that no, Neku, she's in Fukushima right now. Stop being an idiot. But it was no use. My mind kept playing tricks on me.

The paranoia came to a head during dinner when I felt my legs being caressed, causing me to have a wild fleeting thought that somehow she was playing long-distance footsie with me. But as it turned out, it was just the draft from the air-conditioning blowing against my shins.

This was bad! The day wasn't even over and I was already suffering from girlfriend cold turkey. She just wouldn't get out of my head, and while that usually wasn't a bad thing, here it was quite worrisome. How was I going to survive this month?

This tight feeling in my chest… The worry and sense of uncertainty… The intense longing to see your partner again, even if it's just for one moment… Was this what one might feel in a long-distance relationship? It's a very uneasy feeling.

And then there are the questions I kept asking myself that I couldn't find the answers to. What's she doing now? Was she taking care of herself? Who's she talking to? Were there any guys still trying to hit on her? If only I had some clue on her current well-being…

I had been waiting for her to get in touch with me but it's already bedtime now and my phone was worryingly silent.

"She'll be fine… right?"

Instead of counting sheep, I counted the number of times I asked myself that question.

XOXOXOXOXO

Before I tucked in for the night, I remember saying to myself that I might have less-than-savoury dreams about my current predicament. Against all expectations, I fell into a dreamless sleep.

However, I did wake up in the middle of the night, and that' something I rarely do. Out of habit, the first thing I did was to flip the covers over and check for a certain surprise guest. I half-expected her to be right beside me, snoozing peacefully like a cat. But no, she wasn't there. It sure wasn't the same without Eri sneaking into my bed while I slept.

A great deal of tossing and turning later, it became obvious to me that I wouldn't be getting back to sleep anytime soon, so I got up. Now with a cup of freshly boiled instant noodles in hand, I sat in front of the TV and started channel-surfing. At this hour, there was nothing interesting on the cable.

I know it's right in the dead of night but it's still boring… If I could just talk to Eri a bit…

Suddenly, my phone went off. At this hour. Seriously? What kind of idiot leaves messages at this time of –

When I saw the caller ID on my phone, I nearly jumped. It's Eri! She'd started a chat with me! Oh god, I'm so sorry I called you an idiot! I'd have loved for her to call me so I could hear her voice and that laugh of hers, but I wasn't going to be choosy.

She wrote:

Neku, are you asleep?

Stomach churning with excitement, I wasted no time typing in a reply.

Don't worry, I just happened to get up not too long ago. How are you?

I pressed "send" and awaited her reply with bated breath. My phone chimed in almost immediately afterwards. That was fast!

I'm fine, my parents don't know about us yet. *thumbs up*

Eri has a habit of chaining several smaller messages together at a time. They blinked onto my phone's screen in rapid succession and I waited patiently for my turn to come up.

Sorry I couldn't contact you earlier.

I wanted to let you know I'm okay…

But the moment I reached home, I was bombarded with all sorts of duties.

It's to prepare for the big family reunion dinner, you know?

I was totally tied up. Couldn't find free time at all.

Until now.

Sorry! Anyway, what're you up to?

Apart from fantasizing about me, that is. LOL

I smiled when I read the last line. I wouldn't call it fantasizing so much as having reality-bending delusions… but it'd be odd to tell her that.

Still, her homespun humour helped to revitalize my spirits and even got me in the mood for some fun.

Apart from fantasizing, I've been doing…

…even more fantasizing.

It's your fault.

She wrote back with a written laugh.

Always knew you had it for me so bad, hee hee XD

I'm flattered.

Really, I'm happy to hear you still think I'm hot.

Now spill the beans, honey: was I naked in your daydreams?

…Or wearing a birthday suit. That's good too :D

Amused, I snorted audibly.

They're both the same thing, Eri.

Ah, I almost forgot. There's one important thing I needed to tell her.

Oh yeah, thanks for the teddy. It's cute.

The custom-made hat is nice too.

Really appreciate the gift. I'm serious. Best thing ever.

There. I said it.

Shucks, it ain't nothing.

It's just a little something to repay you for all the love and kindness you've heaped onto me.

You've done so much more for me than anyone else ever had.

I punched in a reply at this point.

Thanks but you deserve a pat on the back yourself.

It's hard to put everything in words, but…

…just know that I'm happy you're with me.

It's true, you're awesome.

That you're hot is a nice plus lol

I felt my insides turning into goo in the nicest way possible. This is what it's like to be in love, huh? It's the one sickness you don't want to find a cure for. It's warmth, fun and security all wrapped up in one shiny package. You could die happy any day.

Eri took a little longer than usual to compose her next message. The indicator that said "typing…" stayed onscreen for a good while – almost two minutes – and I began to wonder if she had fallen asleep while writing. It was pretty late… But no, she was still here on earth.

Well now that's just giving me too much credit…

But you have my gratitude :D

You've gotten me in a good mood…

…so I'm gonna send you a pic.

One that'll blow your mind and give you nosebleeds for days.

Yeah, it's that sexy.

…You game?

My gut tightened at the prospect of catching a glimpse of some skin. I'd be an idiot to turn her down.

For real? Colour me interested.

You gotta send me that pic, Eri.

Like, right now.

I wanna see it, so… better not get cold feet! :D

It embarrassed me how much my hands were shaking in anticipation. She's sent me a few of her selfies before. I didn't have a whole lot of them, but the ones I did get from her were awfully saucy… as expected from someone who likes to keep her daily attire light and airy. I wondered how she was going to outdo herself. That wasn't going to be an easy task even by her standards.

About a half dozen emoticons peppered her reply like confetti.

I knew it; you're a pervert :)

You'll get arrested if you keep this up :D

But it's nice that you're being honest with yourself.

That makes two of us.

Except I'm more natural about it, hee hee.

Gotta warn ya though… It's a really hot photo. Once you see it, nothing can save you.

Sooo… no second thoughts?

I've come so far. All I needed was one last push and the finish line was mine to cross.

None whatsoever. Hit me with all you got.

In my mind's eye, I pictured her nursing an evil grin. Heck, I could almost see it through the screen.

OK, you asked for it! ;D

Whoa, she sounded like this was going to be her latest masterpiece. A little voice at the back of my mind told me I was actually going to regret this. Eri's sex appeal was dangerous. I could just keel over from the ensuing blood loss. But I'd already strapped in for the ride. Might as well see it through to the end.

Three seconds passed without event, then four and five… The calm before the storm is always an uneasy, fidgety one.

And then, all of a sudden, her photo popped up just as she promised. I froze in awe and joy and all the good feelings in the world combined.

Eri was apparently lounging in the bathtub all this time, which made up the backdrop. She stood kneeling in the tub, the water surface barely obscuring her below the waist. Panning up, I was treated to a generous view of her body, with one arm coyly wrapped around her chest, being the real tease that she was. She sported a smile which contrasted sharply with the appearance of her hair, which was slick and wet and clung to the skin of her shoulders in sexy ways.

W-Wow…! Good work, girl! Thank you so much! I had no idea why she was taking a bath this late, but who was I to ask questions?

At that moment, nothing could make me a happier man.

Also at that moment, my nose erupted and sprayed my phone full of blood. My euphoria vanished and turned into panic as I grabbed a tissue to wipe it clean.

When I was finally done, I jumped at what appeared next on the screen. While I was wiping it, I must have pressed on the keys of the onscreen keyboard, leaving this charming message:

qwdfgvcdfkjoiugfdfsahjkfgghjojlp

To top it off, I even sent it by mistake. Eri was probably reading it by now.

I hurried to explain, but she struck first.

Is that the sound of your nose going kaboom? That's cute lol

Hmmm, maybe I could use my blunder to my advantage and turn it into a joke.

Never expected to receive a nude selfie. Had to give my phone a good wipe. Got blood all over it…

Eri saw some laughs to be had in my self-deprecating humour.

I assume that's how you wrote all that gibberish…

Not even the spell check can salvage that XD

But I'll take that as a compliment, of course.

Ooh, she liked it. Gotta keep the ball rolling.

It is one. lkjasdfhkjlrhgoiuwhdb

I swear Eri must be laughing while punching in her next message.

Oh, now you wrote that one on purpose.

Fun and jokes aside, a proper display of gratitude was in order.

I know I'm going to sound like a dirty old man…

…but thank you for the photo.

Can't stress enough how amazing you look.

You could pass off as a model.

She wrote back immediately.

Modeling, huh? Hey, that sounds like it could actually work.

If they need someone to show off the latest Birthday Suit Summer Collection, it'll be me lololol

I was about to send her another retort when she interrupted me with a more important message.

You know, I could've called you. It's easier to talk than to write.

But I'm scared that my parents will hear me. My cover will be blown.

So we'll have to communicate like this for the time being. Sorry.

My folks are like demons when they're mad. :P We need to be sneaky.

Both of us were fast typists so chatting was a rapid-fire process with little delay. As a result it never felt like a chore. But I couldn't deny that talking has numerous advantages over messaging, such as being able to hear the soothing voice of your significant other.

Better safe than sorry, Eri. You're doing the right thing, trust me.

But if you find a good opportunity, do give me a call.

Just make sure no one's around, and we'll milk our 'us time' for all it's worth. Sound good?

Eri was in full agreement with me. This was the price we had to pay for keeping our little secret safe from her parents. It's inconvenient, but hey, it's better than nothing.

We spent a solid half hour exchanging messages about her stay in Fukushima and what I've been up to here in Shibuya. All in all, we learnt a great deal about each other and even tossed bits of our daily teasing shtick into the mix, which kept things refreshing. It's actually kind of exciting having these trysts behind her parents' backs. But all good things must come to an end and our conversation had to be put on hold for another day.

Gotta hop outta the bath, Neku. Been soaking in here too long.

Any longer, and I'll be a prune! :P

Prunes are not sexy. :(

I acknowledged her reasoning but had one last question for her.

Why are you taking a bath in the middle of the night anyway?

A flurry of replies burst out of my phone.

I woke up not too long ago for no reason.

When I reached for the light switch in my room, a spider jumped onto my hand. Never saw it coming.

You know how much I hate spiders!

So to get rid of the icky feeling, I took a bath.

What, really? She could've just washed her hands… Sure, she's free to do as she pleased, but…

But Eri, the spiders around here are small and harmless…

True to form, she assaulted me with a battery of counterarguments. She typed them so fast I actually had to hurry and finish reading each one to keep up with the new ones that kept popping in one by one.

Small and harmless, my behind!

Spiders are gross!

Gives me goosebumps looking at them.

Having one of them run across your hand is even worse!

You can almost feel every one of their individual legs clawing against your skin. Eek! :O

And what if I got bitten?

They could be packing poison strong enough to give me all sorts of life-threatening symptoms…

I could be stricken with nausea, shortness of breath, heart failure… It could even make me shoot webs from my wrists!

Even when she was overreacting, it's kind of cute.

Isn't that last bit a good thing, Eri? You can fight crime or something…

She didn't think so.

God, no! It's like I'm ejaculating from my hands. I don't even want to think about it!

Never thought about it that way… I'll never be able to look at web-slinging superheroes the same way again…

Fair enough, Eri. Sleep tight and I'll catch you again when you're free.

She sent me her last message for the night.

Sure. Good night and wet… I mean, sweet dreams. ;)

And that was that. I scrolled back up to the beginning of the conversation, amazed at all the lines of text. I read through it all one more time, smiling at the funnier exchanges. She's so kind to me, I almost didn't feel like I deserved her.

Hot damn! I'll say it again: Eri's the best! It rocked to be in love with her!

I knew I couldn't rely on her all the time. But knowing that she's there for me when I did need her made me feel like I could climb any mountain.

But enough of my rambling. I've got a certain photo to make a backup of on my computer.

...

Author's note:
Sorry this update took long (almost two months!)... I had to do a lot of overtime lately, so there wasn't much time on my hands. Now that my work has eased up somewhat I hope I can release new chapters sooner. Anyway, this chapter puts Neku and Eri apart for the first time. I apologise if it feels a little slower, but it's a phase that they have to go through at some point, and I wanted to illustrate this, at least.

I have a rough idea of what I'm going to write about in the duration of Eri's absence from the story; I can't tell you about it, of course. I wish I could leave you with some details about the next chapter, but everything is so uncertain that I feel I should keep the details to myself for now. Anyway, I'll see you soon in Chapter 40. Bye!