Chapter 7
Living together is sweet
Naoki pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose, without deigning to look at the woman who gave him life, who was getting into his affairs as always.
Since his father proposed it, he knew that having a girlfriend was a bad idea.
"No," he replied plainly. He turned back to the book that school counselors could find interesting to show to those people with doubts about their school careers, but that was not serving him well, because the questions were about what he was good at, what he liked, what he was doing or what his personality was like.
"But oniichan," his mother replied in an annoying voice.
"No," he repeated, hoping that this time the firm denial worked for his mother.
Obviously, it was too much to ask for. "Kotoko-chan and onii-chan should go on a date," his mother tried again, with the affair that caused her to pester him in his room. He then realized that, when naming them, she now listed his girlfriend first. Good one.
"Mom," Yuuki intervened unsympathetically.
"I'm not interested," he said, shrugging his shoulders, and not looking up. He knew that it was best not to respond to his mother, who would soon tire of insisting, but he couldn't bring himself to be so rude as to ignore her completely.
He heard Yuuki and his mother talking to each other on the subject, and he that let him gave his full attention to his reading.
Of the questions in the book, it was easy to respond to what he was good at and his personality, but what he liked and what he saw himself doing were complicated to respond entirely, although he did much introspection.
Did that really apply to anyone else?
If they wanted to have an idea of their professional future, it didn't give them much help, in his opinion. To him, who was good at what he had to do, it did not help him to tell him he had possibilities of professions from different areas.
Well, he admitted that his score was low in the understanding of human emotions and feelings, so artistic expression and human interpretation could be neglected in his future work.
In any case, he didn't see anyone with his intellect to be profitable in such activities. It would be a waste of potential. Other people could do that perfectly.
"But oniichan!" His mother returned to the attack, Yuuki whined.
He looked up from the book and found that his mother covered Yuuki's mouth and struggled with him on his bed, without losing the thread of his conversation with him.
What a puerile attitude.
"You have to spend time together!" his mother uttered whilst hugging his brother, whose small figure did not win the huge—and mysterious—force of their mother.
He felt his eyelid tremble.
"We share school, home, and food, and I spend much of my free time with her," he snapped, annoyed at her insistence, "can't I have a break?"
She hoped that his day would revolve around Kotoko, it was enough to have her fit into his life, and she waited for him to breathe the same air of a room with his girlfriend, more than necessary. His mother was able to go beyond the limits of all patience.
"Onii-chaaaan," his mother said lengthening his name, so irritatingly, "Kotoko-chan wants to spend time with her boyfriend."
Of that, he was sure, but he wouldn't give her the pleasure of agreeing. Well, he wanted to have her eating right from his hand, but long time he spent with her was enough. His peace of mind depended on not having to see her all the time.
Why didn't his mother think of that?
Already, for the past two Saturdays, when he went to play tennis, she had convinced Kotoko to go with him and to be instructed in the sport by a great player.
It was too much.
He retracted his thoughts. At what point could it have occurred to him that the good friendship between the two families would benefit him? Probably in a moment of lack of cerebral oxygenation or momentary madness, because what he was living was a nightmare.
It was okay to think that Kotoko's presence would irritate him, but it went much further. She was more than present, a constant. Annoying and insistent. Just like that. Although she proved to have favorable points, it was like a limpet from which he could not be detached.
With his mother's bad influence, her tiresome ability to be there and disturb him continued, because even when she wasn't there physically, his mother mentioned her in a conversation and made him think of her.
"Kotoko-chan wants to be with her boyfriend," his mother repeated, forcing her hold on Yuuki, who was held back like a wild animal.
"Did she tell you?" he questioned curtly. He thought the best thing was to face his mother once, then she could leave and harass someone else, preferably the young woman in their conversation, without the need to give her any more stupid ideas.
"Well, no," his mother admitted, pursing her lips. He smiled with superiority, "but all girl wants a romantic date..." she insisted; but receiving a negative head movement.
"No, if she hasn't said it, it's not necessary," he said feigning false interest. "So you can go now, okaa-san. "
Yuuki jumped when he was released and ran out when his mother wanted to pick him up again.
"And do not give her any ideas," he added in a middle-of-the-road threat when he saw her putting a finger to her head. Her wit was much greater than the one of Kotoko, who couldn't think of anything very elaborate.
"You're mean, onii-chan!" his mother exclaimed, retiring with a straight pose, but slamming the door at the end.
Naoki laughed softly, even though he knew it was a small victory.
He was impressed by how much his mother could do.
[...]
Arriving near the end of his guidance book, the next afternoon, Naoki heard the sound of the door hinges, which needed to be oiled, so he glanced at who could interrupt so much silence. He was surprised to see Kotoko, in her heart-patterned pajamas, ready to sleep, despite the hour.
If he thought about it, in ten minutes or so he would go to her room for her day's tutoring, so he couldn't explain the reason for her presence or the fact that she wore nightwear at such an early hour. Or not to call the door.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, reading the last page without much interest, the pages full of encouraging comments for young people close to the initial stage of their preparation in professional life, emphasizing the importance of their decision, almost as if they put pressure on whoever that read it.
"I wanted to talk and spend time with you," Kotoko said after a few seconds, in a low voice.
He drew in a deep breath and exhaled, his mother had given the sweet talk to his girlfriend. "Kotoko, don't bother. Every night I have an hour and a half with you," he muttered, rolling his eyes, discontented at how low his mother played, and how unreadable the book was.
She chuckled.
"Yeah, well," Kotoko cleared her throat, "the thing is that you are a very demanding teacher and you just talk about homework."
Naoki looked away from the letters and looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"That was the purpose..." He said drily, settling better into the swivel chair, stretching his legs. "Or did you have other plans?" he inquired, smiling innocently whilst mocking her inside his mind, certain she was too naive to think otherwise.
However, if his mother had suggested it, she did have other ideas.
Kotoko turned all red and he was delighted with it, finding that it was more interesting, and entertaining, than his current activity. She was so transparent.
Noticing that she was looking at his face, he tried to make her aware that he was staring at her from head to foot, looking up from the trousers to the knees and the short-sleeved blouse, not at all provocative.
He was sure that the condom incident had already passed, like him, now that the "effervescent" effect was over. She should not even remember it, like other things.
"No-o... no," Kotoko stammered, increasing the color of her cheeks, covering her breasts by folding her arms, though it only served to press the fabric of her clothes to her figure and highlight what she wanted to hide.
He, not knowing why, could not help but stop his gaze at that place.
He diverted it so quickly by noticing what he was doing, annoyed with himself. "Would you rather I'd stop being a tutor and spend time with you?" he asked, not leaving the subject, seeing the opportunity to get rid of his task, in which he was involved for a moment of weakness and now could modify.
He bent his knees and crossed his arms magnanimously.
Spending time with her was not necessary as a daily task.
"No!" Kotoko jumped, cutting the distance to him, kneeling between his legs, as if it was nothing. "I want to learn."
Very good, that was uncomfortable, as she didn't seem to realize how instigating she could be in that position, accompanied by her words.
He frowned, because it was not normal of him to think in that way.
"Then," he cleared his throat, "do you want me to spend any spare time I have with you?" he asked clenching his teeth to push his thoughts away from his head, returning to the subject with her. "Like I said, I have occupations," he grunted sulkily, pushing her away from him to get to his feet because it must have been time to go to her room and teach her.
Naoki did not understand why his head betrayed him at that moment.
He angrily threw his book to the bed, after which he turned to go to the door.
"No." He stopped and looked over his shoulder at Kotoko, who stood up near the bed. He saw her pout with her lips. "When you say it like that it seems like abuse. "
Poor choice of words.
"You don't do it?" he said uneasily, tired of it.
Kotoko bit her lower lip. "Well, I dunno," she expressed and shrugged.
"And you still want my hours off to deal with you?" he questioned reluctantly. Either way, she had put a lot of emphasis on wanting to learn, so he couldn't get away from it.
Besides, he had to remember he didn't draw back when engaged in something.
Kotoko let out a whimper and shook her head effusively.
Finished business, he thought, turning to the door.
"But..." He rolled his eyes and snorted when he realized that she would not leave the subject there. "As your girlfriend, I'd like to talk to you, even have a date, I've never had a date." Her tone was more curious than encouraging.
However, Naoki cursed inwardly.
"Have you talked to my mother?" he muttered under his breath, turning his face towards his foolish girlfriend.
"Oba-sama?" Kotoko frowned. "No, should I talk to her? " She tilted her head in a childlike way, like a little girl begging for something.
He sighed. He didn't know why he bothered to ask, it had already become clear that Kotoko would be completely happy at his side, without his mother's telling her to. He also thought she was a romantic. Only, day after day, his beloved mother fed her in the moments she could, increasing that heavy quality in Kotoko.
"Don't do it," he responded when seeing that she looked at him.
He closed his eyes and massaged his temples. He still had an hour and a half tutoring for Kotoko.
And a disturbing life with her and his mother together.
Why wasn't he someone who took back his words? Did they not say that it was wise to do so? Until that moment, he did not see any triumph on his part and already he was overwhelmed and exhausted to deal with both at all times. If it were just Kotoko, well, it would be nice, he could handle her as he first thought.
But with his mother intruding, it was something more difficult, because she had wit and, together with the respect he owed her, made it difficult to get rid of her as he would have done before.
As usual, he hadn't been wrong to believe that his mother would love her.
She kissed the ground Kotoko had stepped on.
Maybe the two together was too much for him.
The main detail, however, was that he had already given his word to Shigeo-san and was committed, it would be a grave fault to his own honor to repent. Fastidious to select another. And also, it would be more bothersome to have his mother insisting to return with the daughter which she already adored.
That vision was much worse.
No, he simply had to stand in his ground, firm in his purpose and plan, and control Kotoko in this annoying relationship, which worked to fulfill his father's request, focus on what he would do and have a woman whom he could handle to be as the person at his side should be. He only had to take more importance on what his mother was referring to.
His girlfriend, despite her iron determination, which was what he admired, was still a puppet... something that his mother had also seen, so he had to be careful of her, not the redhead. Keeping Kotoko content was simple. Once with that happy date, he would keep her at ease for a long time and he would calmly return to his affairs. From there, he would say phrases here and there, directed at the person she had to be, at his pleasure.
Problem solved.
He opened his eyes and found Kotoko watching him closely.
"Eh, I'm leaving," she whispered, walking to the door. "Today I'll sleep early," she laughed nervously and pointed to her nightclothes, "I'm tired and I did my homework. Goodnight."
He frowned, watching her escape from the room, surprised and intrigued in equal parts. Seconds later, since she was not too important a matter, he shrugged and walked to the closet to get his clothes off and to advance to his bath.
Despite that, why was he left with the feeling that the affair would not end there?
Though his shoulders felt the relief of a free night.
[...]
More than anything, Naoki hated losing control.
Of course, he had accepted that he would have a date with Kotoko and it wasn't a complete loss of control, but that didn't include that in his plans of that weekend the event had to happen, much less that his mother orchestrated it (though it spared him the inconvenience).
So that was a worthy reason to be angry and frowning on Sunday, walking next to a glowing Kotoko, who seemed to be amid flowers, while he felt himself in a minefield.
"Can't you see where you're going?" he bellowed to her before she bumped herself against a lamppost. He gripped her arm firmly to guide her, seeing that she didn't seem attentive on the road and didn't even notice her possible accident.
It was ridiculous what a simple rose could do, which she held between her two hands, holding it close to her nose to smell it.
It was going to die anyway, having been cut off. There was not so much importance in a flower set apart from the earth.
For some people, it could be a romantic gesture, but he thought there wasn't much charm in a flower that would wither due to lack of watering, even if the water was constantly changed. What good was a gesture involving death?
At least, he recognized within himself, it made Kotoko happy, and that was good to keep her in his favor.
His mother, with her meddling, had given him a favorable point, when she gave him a bright red rose, seconds before Kotoko went down the stairs, making it seem like he took the trouble to get it for her.
As if he had done it right away, with the idea of handing it to her at home.
Only his mother had seen him, but it was enough to disturb him. As it did Kotoko strolling with him until the cinema, drawing stares and having him keep watch of her, as she didn't take into account her surroundings. He had to babysit his girlfriend when, for the first time, she didn't look like an infant.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the sky-blue dress with strips of Kotoko, which reached to her knees and had a neckline in the shape of an inverted triangle, that did not make her look bad. His mother had been right with her choice of clothes (as she presumed), as it gave her an appearance of being a little older and pointed out some of her attributes.
Yuuki had commented well on that fact when his mother insisted that he had to say something nice (like him, but for his own part she did not get anything).
Ponytail and lip gloss were also a good choice. That way, as a consolation, he did not feel like a man walking the streets with his Lolita, who paradoxically was older than himself, which she punctuated when she asked for his birthday.
He took her by the arm to the cinema and heard behind him a shout from the only person he needed to irritate him more that day.
Naoki looked over his shoulder, Ikezawa had just jumped behind a wall, covering his mouth.
What was he doing there? No, how was he there? It was what caught his attention, Ikezawa was so obsessed with his girlfriend going so far as finding out about private details and following her.
That was annoying.
And just then he had exclaimed in the distance to stop mistreating Kotoko.
As if he were doing that. He just was guiding her because, in the idiocy of her reverie, she would end up in the middle of an accident, and his mother, his father, and father-in-law, would kill him for it. Or, on second thought, only his mother would do it, because Shigeo-san had to know his daughter perfectly, and his father was less likely to believe her perfect and delicate.
Either way, that idiot didn't have to follow them, less question him. More because it bothered him so much that people interfered with his life.
Apparently, Ikezawa had no limit.
Naoki grinned sideways; it would be appropriate, even funny, to show that Kotoko's boyfriend was him.
Suddenly, that date didn't seem so annoying.
Make clear his position.
Kotoko chose that moment to get out of her reverie and point to the movie poster of the romantic movie for which his mother had bought tickets. The typical plot of girl meets boy, extraordinary circumstances occur and, in the end, the boy ends with her and… They live happily ever after. The creators of films of that sort did not shine by their creativity.
"Naoki-kun, you look like the protagonist!" Kotoko exclaimed, after saving her precious rose in the purse that she carried under her arm, letting it protrude from the inside.
He frowned, not finding anything of him like the guy staring at the idiot-looking girl in the picture.
"Don't say nonsense."
He directed her to the candy stall and let her choose what she wanted, as he glanced around the corner at Ikezawa, who hid behind a cardboard advertisement that didn't hide anything. Even in the distance, he could see the crimson of fury on his face.
It was clear to see that she preferred him, even at a glance, he thought.
He turned to the attendant to hear the amount to pay and, without much interest in what Kotoko acquired, gave him the money, before carrying a drink and the container of popcorn himself, letting Kotoko walk with the impossibility of her spilling something, with her habitual clumsiness.
He noticed that she only ordered one tall drink, but he let it pass, their lips had been touched before and he had noticed that her hygiene matched his own. From another person, he would have taken it with dislike and made it clear by buying another glass.
"Oba-sama said the film is very romantic," Kotoko said, as they headed into the theatre, after seeing it on the tickets. "It's exciting to see a movie of love on our first date," she continued in a singsong voice.
Naoki remained silent. At least, with Kotoko, it was easy to keep silent, as she often got involved in monologues with no interesting or clever content. If idiocy was contagious, he would have feared for his sanity.
"Be silent," he spoke as she pushed the door to the theatre so they could enter the dark room. "And do not commit the stupidity of falling," he added, because she was prone to accidents. The dim lighting of the theatre was an incentive for her to stumble.
"Yes," Kotoko replied in a murmur and he watched her slide her foot carefully onto the rug to tempt the entry step while holding onto the wall.
He rolled his eyes at such an action, walking behind her calmly, since the lighting was enough to see, but he let Kotoko do something so ridiculous.
In moments like that, he wondered if it would be possible to make her change, and if he should bother.
"There are two seats," Kotoko whispered, pointing to two places in the corner of a row, which were fine for him, because sometimes his legs didn't fit into the confined spaces between the rows of seats.
He saw her sit down and he then imitated her when she was properly placed, handing her the popcorn, leaving the drink in the space between the two.
Soon he heard a "Where? Where?" coming from behind them. Ikezawa made his entrance.
Surreptitiously, he watched him sit in the seat behind them, which was somehow predictable.
Naoki didn't understand why, but it was entertaining to see what the other was willing to do for the slow girl, whom he had for a girlfriend and who didn't realize what was happening.
Maybe it was that the idiots provided a good source of fun, otherwise the series that had them as protagonists would not be so successful. Except for that American series of scientists, but even they had the blonde neighbor who did not understand much as a strategy.
The lights faded and the screen changed, indicating that the movie was about to begin, reminding him of the situation. He had a good hour and a half watching a stupid argument.
In that time, he saw the scenes without much interest, not bothering to make sense of what they transmitted on the screen. The girl liked the man, who ignored her until her image changed, and when he paid attention, she refused because she didn't think he was genuinely interested in her, although it was clear that, since before, he was attracted.
How could people pay for such nonsense?
Kotoko began to lean toward him and heard a slight groan behind him, so he sneaked a glance and noticed that the idiot held out his hand to place it between the two.
He smiled sideways and raised his arm to attach his body to his girlfriend, rejoicing in the gasp from the back seat, while Kotoko let out a small cry, muted by the sound of the film.
Ikezawa was asking for it, no one forced him to spy on them.
The rest of the film remained as calm as ever, though he repeatedly laughed at the times when he heard a whimper behind him.
[...]
Naoki nodded graciously to the waiter who had just finished their bill and listened to Kotoko, silent with a finger on her lips, which she rhythmically pounded.
He thought she would be chattering about anything, after having finished her praises to the wonderful film they had just seen.
"Don't you have the feeling of being watched?" Shocked inwardly by Kotoko's awareness, he raised an eyebrow at her, who seconds later shrugged.
If she had even noticed Ikezawa, who was at five tables from theirs, it was too much. Although it had taken her longer.
At least, it wasn't his mother taking pictures.
It was okay to threaten her to refuse the date if she showed up. So he had got rid of her and, in fact, she didn't appear at all in her stupid disguises.
Anyway, by custom, he looked for her around the restaurant with orange walls and tables of white tablecloths, before standing up and giving Kotoko an indication to do the same.
"Can we take a walk in the park before we go home?" She asked, looking into his eyes, and he gave a sigh.
He nodded. A little more time without his mother was to consider. Also, to his own amazement, the only bad thing so far was the presence of the idiot. Kotoko had done nothing but talk about her silly little things, and looked at him with hazel eyes for a long time, which was customary.
As he had thought before, without his mother, she was manageable. She was a romantic fool, but she knew how to keep quiet when he told her, and only by asking direct questions did he have to give her an answer. Or, sometimes, he just had to disconnect or listen to it halfway, she didn't say many productive things. And to keep her content was simple.
Yes, her company was not too unpleasant, even when they had to study. It was just that long time, it was tiresome, more when he wasn't who selected the time and moment.
Following his plan, to continue with her, it did not seem so bad.
The only annoying thing was having to think about taking care of a wife like her, as it would be her husband's duty, because someone as clumsy as her was problematic.
Obviously, he was not wrong in his deed, he knew a class-F idiot girl would fit well in his purpose. And, he thought, she would mature over time.
In the street, they walked to the corner junction; Kotoko was strangely silent, again.
"Naoki-kun?" she called in a whisper that he barely heard amidst the sound of cars and passers-by.
"What do you want?" he asked, looking at her red face, without stopping.
"Can I hold myself to your arm?" Kotoko asked fiddling with the rose, that he didn't know when she had pulled back from her purse.
He was willing to say she shouldn't bother, but he looked over his shoulder, the idiot on his periphery. What better than to see her with him on the street, in an intimate way, to convince himself once and for all. It was what he deserved for following them.
He didn't answer, and pulled his right arm away slightly, so that she would introduce hers, which she did quickly, giving a little squeal of emotion.
Naoki snorted low.
He heard the exclamation of Ikezawa and others from behind, and his curiosity overcame him.
The idiot had collided with a man, apparently, spilling his drink on the man's top.
Stupid.
Kotoko was still in her own world and he continued on their way to the crossing, knowing himself free of the idiot (already thinking of freeing himself from her arm), until a series of shouts made him turn, separating himself from the redhead. He clung her to his side as he watched Ikezawa run in his direction, fleeing from two stout men.
"Hey!" Kotoko said in an indignant voice, as Ikezawa passed by her, briefly bumping into her, dropping her rose to the sidewalk.
He held her back when she showed an intention of bending over to pick it up, as the two men were about to pass at that moment.
"Hey!" Kotoko grumbled, raising her hands in fists, looking to where they were going.
Seconds later, she lowered her head to the ground, where he saw that the rose was crushed, with the stalk split and some petals fallen from it.
Kotoko let out a groan, and suddenly her shoulders began to move up and down as if she were laughing.
"You should have left it at home," he said with condescension. The rose was going to die sooner or later, only she advanced its destiny by not leaving it in a vase.
His girlfriend began to move her shoulders more quickly and let out a whimper, which caught his attention, and he suspected that it was something else that was happening. She lifted her face and he saw, uncomfortably, how a few tears escaped her eyes.
Damn, that wouldn't help to keep her happy, in order to leave him in peace.
The image of his mother appeared in his head, stunning him to exhaustion. Nor did it suit him that she was of this way.
He opened his mouth. "If you want one so much, I'll buy another," he mumbled so that she would stop crying and be smiling and happy again.
Kotoko stopped whimpering and focused her glassy orbs on him. Then she smiled. "No matter, you're with me which makes me happy," she mumbled, wiping away her tears.
"Then why are you crying?" he questioned. If the loss of the rose didn't do anything to her, nor did she want to replace it, what was the point of her crying?
She shrugged her shoulders. "Because it makes me sad to see what happened to the rose," she explained with a bright look.
Was she like that for a flower? He did not understand. It was not the same sense, but the Little Prince came to mind.
Less logic, more feeling.
Anyway; he was not going to put himself on her level. He knew she was sensitive. "Let's go, there's no need to delay," he said, to drop the subject and leave.
Kotoko crouched and picked up the rose on the pavement, along with its fallen petals, which she kept in her purse.
"What are you doing?" He questioned, dumbfounded. "It does not serve a purpose anymore." And she had said that it did not matter.
"I cannot leave the rose Naoki-kun gave me on the street. I'll treasure it with my things," Kotoko smiled at him from the floor, before standing up with great effusiveness and restraining him again.
Women, he thought rolling his eyes, urging her to continue.
Deep down, he recognized her loyalty and the importance she gave to small things.