Chapter 8 by Akane
I took his hand and followed him to his home, probably in Suribachi City. Well, was this what people said by hitting two birds with one stone?
I didn't want to go home and here he was, the Sheep's leader, next to me. It was Ougai-san's birthday today and I refused to dress like a doll. Indeed, I needed some information out of him, but after he saved me from those boys, I didn't think it was polite to take information out of him. Oh well, he offered me food. I needed food to live.
But this short guy indeed, was a kind person. Even though I drenched out from the rain he still moved his umbrella so I didn't get exposed to the rain. I noticed from the start he walked next to me, his right shoulder get wet from the rain.
"Why are you being so kind to me?" I asked him.
"I can't leave a girl alone in the middle of the rain," he shrugged.
"But I'm not a good girl you think I am," I said sadly.
"I don't know who you are," he said, "But I still can't leave a hungry girl alone," he grinned.
"Oh, you're making fun of me!" I laughed. He was a good person. I felt sorry for deceiving him like this, but it was not like I told him lies.
The Suribachi City was not too far from the store. Once we entered the city, it went dark. This city didn't use much electricity on street. This city creeping me out, I didn't think I wanted to step here ever again.
"It's okay. You're with me now," he said, "No one's going to hurt you,"
Oh, maybe I moved closer to him on a whim.
"But are you sure you're okay going here?" he asked.
"Why are you asking that now? You're the one who offered me to come with you," I snorted.
"Because you don't seem comfortable by being here," he replied.
"Uh, sorry. I tend to raise my guards up when going to an unknown place," I said. We arrived at a small house, no, storehouse and entered. It was so small but it was comfortable. Everything was put in place.
"Welcome to my home," he smiled, "Wait here I'll give you clothes,"
My eyes followed him to a wardrobe and he took some clothes from inside. He measured the clothes by putting it in front of me and nodded.
"You can use these clothes," he said, "These are my smallest clothes so I'm sorry if not comfortable,"
"As long as it's dry, I'm fine with anything," I smiled. He showed me the shower room. Small, but he really cleaned this home frequently, it was so clean. I washed my hair and let the hot water touched my body then dried myself up and put on the clothes. I supposed even though he looked thin and short he had some amount of muscle.
"I finished," I said as I walked out the shower room.
"I thought girls would take a long time when taking a shower?" he asked.
"Maybe because I'm not a normal girl?" I laughed awkwardly.
"Oh, right," he smiled. He let me sit on the bed and kneeled in front of me. He then put bandages on my wounded knees and handed me ice to put it on my swollen cheek.
"Wait for a minute I'm going to take a shower too then we can have dinner," he said then.
"Okay," I answered. He entered the shower room. This was really a good chance to dig out some information out of this place. But now I thought I shouldn't do anything rash. I wanted to be friends with him. I could see hangers and I hanged my wet clothes on a rope that hanged across the wall. He probably hanged his clothes here too.
I sat on the chair and rested my head on the table. I sighed. I wondered if I should do this…
"Oh? Are you sleepy?" he asked.
"Wow, that's so fast," I stared at him, "the boy I know takes long time in shower,"
"And I'm not normal boy too, I suppose?" he laughed it off, "by the way, sorry I don't have hairdryer,"
"It's okay. I dry my hair naturally. Hairdryer is not in a good term with my hair," I grinned.
"Then use this on your shoulder. Can't have you catch a cold by getting your shirts wet again, can we?" he smiled. He walked towards me and handed me another dry towel. Then he put out some things from the plastic bag he had carried earlier.
"What are those?" I asked.
"Foods?" he replied awkwardly, "I'm sorry I don't have decent foods for you to eat,"
What? What was he talking about? Wait… Weren't those…
"Is that instant ramen?!" I stood up from my seat and approached him.
"It's cup ramen," he corrected me and chuckled. I took one and it is indeed, it was shaped like a cup. May be this was made so people could easily eat this. I looked at the price written on the cover.
"What the hell?! It cost only 150 yen?!" I shouted.
"Uh, is this really okay with you? I know this is really cheap and all but—"
"No! Let's eat, let's eat!" I said happily, "how do you make this?"
"First you open the cover in half and you pour the seasoning inside. Then you pour hot water until the line and close the cover. Wait for about 3 minutes," he explained. I did what he said and waited.
"I'll make tea. Don't open the cover before 3 minutes," he warned me and made tea not far behind me. I was so curious what would happen to the noodle that I moved my hand to open the cover.
"Not yet," he warned me again.
"How can you see what am I going to do?" I pouted.
"Intuition," he laughed. I waited another minutes as he finished making the tea. He put the tea in front of me.
"It's done," he said and opened my cup's cover and his as well, "then all you have to do is mix it well,"
"IT'S HOT!"
"Of course it's hot," he laughed, "you should blow it well before you eat it,"
I blew it and after I thought that it had cooled down enough for me to eat, I took a mouthful of noddle into my mouth.
"Damn, this is so tasty," I commented.
"For a young lady you sure talk in harsh words,"
"My father and friend also scold me about that,"
"I see,"
Awkward.
Awkward.
AWKWARD.
Please say something.
Silent.
Silent.
Oh, God.
"So, what should I call you?" I asked.
"You could call me anything," he answered.
"Then I'll just call you Chuuya. Is that okay? Or do you think it's too intimate?"
"No, you can call me Chuuya. Then what should I call you?"
"Call me Akane," I replied.
"So, Akane-san, are you—"
"Akane. Just Akane,"
"But aren't you in high school?"
"You know, I'm smart and all, so I'm actually 15," I smiled.
"15? We're in the same age!"
"You are?" I giggled, "Then what should I call you? Should I call you Nakahara-san like before?"
"No, Chuuya's fine,"
"Okay," I nodded, "I don't mean to be rude but, do you live alone? It would be really awkward if your family suddenly comes in and I'm here,"
"No, I live alone," he replied shortly.
"Hm, Okay. Sorry for asking," I apologized.
"It's okay,"
Silent.
Silent.
Silent.
Slurpsss.
Silent.
Silent.
Slurps.
Silent.
"So, what was that, you know, when you.. you saved me… what was that power?" I tried to break the silence but he kept silent. Damn, did I ask the wrong question?
"Ah, I'm sorry," I apologized again.
"Are you afraid?" he asked slowly.
"No. You saved me after all," I replied and smiled. We finished the dinner and he threw the cup away. He didn't seem want to spill it out anyway. I probably had finished the mission and found out who Arahabaki was. I should go home and report this to Ougai-san tomorrow.
"I'll introduce you to my friends tomorrow and I'll also tell you about my ability," he said all of a sudden.
"Really, you don't have to do that," I said. I really was sorry for asking that and I was grateful for him to introduce me to a cup ramen. And met members of the Sheep definitely not a good thing.
"It's okay. I want you to know me," he smiled, "For now, you can sleep on my bed. I'll be on the couch if you need something. Good night,"
"Thank you and good night," I said then laid down on the bed. Hm, smelled like Chuuya. I looked over to him on the couch and he was laying down with a blanket over him, making me smile.
He's so honest. Unlike a certain someone.