Chapter 13

She's like that

The first Saturday after returning to school, Kotoko and he resumed their practices tennis, and she had spent the first part of the exercise complaining about the physical activity she didn't do in three weeks. Naoki just rolled his eyes, admired that there was any difference in her physical condition, the practices weren't months apart.

"That's okay," he told her, concluding his own warming up around the court. "Take the racket and let's practice."

Kotoko nodded and went to pick up her white racket.

He took a couple of balls of the ten they had, introducing them to the pocket of his shorts, and grabbed another, which he bounced as he went to his post on his side of the court.

"Are you ready?"

She nodded. "Eyes on the ball, I must not run away from the ball, I try to hit the ball, I don't have to put the racket in front of my face!" She shouted her mantra, with instructions that he gave him from the beginning and she repeated every Saturday, without fail, before they "played" a game.

He was surprised that she knew it by heart, but he supposed that repetition had helped her to memorize it, as he read in a book. How other people memorize things was a mystery to his own mind.

"I'm ready!" she announced her moving her racket in the air, from right to left.

He watched the ball in his hand and cocked his head sideways to watch her, he hunched before releasing the ball and bend to hit it. He lowered his hand, as usual, standing still, looking in his pocket for another ball.

…and he raised his eyes when he heard the impact of the racket against an object, blinking astonished to see that the ball returned to his side. Surprised, he was unable to answer the service.

"I did it! I hit it! Did you see it, Naoki-kun?! I hit the ball! I made it!" She celebrated, while he kept his eyes on the ball bouncing on his side of the court.

He brought his eyes to Kotoko, who did a dance of victory really derisory, but he smiled ironically, accustomed to her strange ways.

"Let's do it again!" He exclaimed, causing her to stop her dancing, without changing her excited face.

Good spirits didn't fade even if she was unable to repeat her feat. However, it wasn't Kotoko if she didn't throw a party of a small thing and failed countless times.

[...]

"¡Oba-sama! I did it!" cried Kotoko when they arrived home, changing her sneakers excited, to run into another room.

Naoki heard the blow when she skated on the floor because of the socks.

"¡Kotoko-chan!" Yelled his mother going out of the kitchen with a spoon in hand.

Rolling his eyes, he calmly placed his slippers and picked up the ones of Kotoko (with rabbit ears).

He walked over to where his mother first helped his girlfriend, who was rubbing her elbow with a frown, and dropped the pair of slippers next to her.

He took a moment to look askance if it was only one affected elbow and then turned to go to his room, rolling his eyes in his mind.

"I'm fine!" Kotoko announced with an animated voice. While going upstairs, he saw that she stood and put her slippers quickly. "I did it! Oba-sama!"

Naoki found himself faced with his brother near the end of the ladder. He stepped aside and let him down; he noticed that Yuuki had a curious expression on his face; he must have been attracted by Kotoko, not by her fall, but by her words.

"I hit the ball in tennis and returned it to Naoki-kun!" Kotoko yelled and both women squealed, which caused a chill in the spinal column of Naoki.

"I'm very happy for you, Kotoko-chan!" Said his mother, and he imagined them hugging each other, as he headed to his bedroom. "Did you play a game?"

He stopped with his hand on the doorknob.

"Well, I just hit it once," Kotoko admitted. "But I can improve!"

"You've been practicing more than three months, silly!" cried his brother, taunting her. Naoki grinned, listening. "Only you're glad for hitting the ball once!

Unquestionably, though he thought that she did not care, and if she was serious about improving, perhaps—he didn't think it was a matter of skill, not constancy —she could improve her performance in tennis; it was something of her, who persevered even with the odds against her.

It frustrated him, to some extent, because she opposed the possibilities and got to demonstrate what seemed impossible, within the scope of her capabilities. Not that she could do everything, but if she wanted to and struggled to get it, she did whatever was at a level able to surprise others, if you thought she was clumsy and her skills were more inclined below the average.

Just by surprising him, it was more than enough to denote that she get others to admire her her small but significant achievements. That's what made her persistence.

He opened the door of his room, came in and closed it behind him.

Although she had an extreme happiness to achieve a goal and seemed to enjoy that, he thought with a sigh. Kotoko was different from him on it, among other things. He did not know what was truly being ebullient about something, everything became so monotonous, and he saw no emotion in what he could do.

However, even if he didn't enjoy enormously, due to her, his current days were far away from the routine and he saw new things that had not been there before.

He missed the calm but it was becoming acceptable to live like that.

No one wouldn't listen him say it aloud, that's for sure.

Who knew he'd see the day that an irremediable rookie would hit the ball?

He turned his eyes to the ship at the top of his bookcase and gave it a thoughtful look. He felt affected by a strange feeling that came inside him every time it crossed his vision (the gift that he associated with her). Kotoko had given him a huge compliment when see it finished and celebrated the opportunity to have something so amazing before her, completed in the course of a few days. Admired, she filled with annoying praise for the virtuous he was.

It was bothersome all that flattery from her part, though...

The calendar on his desk caught his eye. They were in September.

The sense of reciprocity made him have to find something to give her on her birthday. He was not so sure; he could let his mother get any article and give it to her in his name. However, he also thought she would bother him if he dared not give Kotoko something for her birthday, when she had shown great effort buying him a gift that was to his liking, without much apparent reason (according to her, being a smart boyfriend, help her studying did not count).

He sighed.

Maybe he'd put up with complaints from his mother and not cared about Kotoko's birthday.

"Annoying," he whispered taking his place at the desk, opening upon him the book of political philosophy he did not want to read.

[...]

Naoki rolled his eyes upon hearing the characteristic three calls at the door from Kotoko. He had already found a way to differentiate them from her mother, who gave to knocks to the door, if she didn't open without knocking in a clear sign of privacy violation.

He wondered what would Kotoko want that time. Being Sunday, the only day he rested long hours from her company, he worried she could think any little thing just to be there.

He felt so tempted to deny entry to follow in his reading, but thought that, with her persistence, she would insist at different times of day depending on what needs she had.

"Come in," he indicated monotonously, looking away from Montesquieu lines to look at the redhead who entered his room, because the book needed more attention and she wouldn't let him had it.

He watched as she entered, carrying a bunch of sheets, or between them he had a book, by the thickness of what was in her hands.

"Do you have time?" she asked with a smile, he looked at her with a frown.

Naturally, he had no time to do anything she wanted.

"For what?" He found himself responding, with emphasis placed on what she brought with her. He said it was better to settle once what motivated her meddling.

Her smile widened and he saw her getting Yuuki's chair, putting it at his side and sitting with the papers without departing them from her chest.

He had not asked her to stay and settle, he thought with disgust, sighing.

"In six months we will graduate and I said I'd help you find what you can study at university," she announced carefully placing her burden on his desk and her words dropped on him like a bombshell, causing him to swallow by seeing the enthusiasm that she reflected.

That girl.

Kotoko led him into a sensation that he failed to describe thanks to what she had said and the interest she showed in helping him. She was…

He cleared his throat. "Don't you have to think about yours?" he asked, as a way to get her out and take away the discomfort caused by her actions. He did not like it. If not irritation, it was how uncomfortable it made him feel.

Stopping looking at the sheet in front of her, her eyes narrowed and lips pouting, Kotoko dedicated her glowing orbs to him, before lowering her head and starting playing with her hands in nervous attitude.

"I started thinking, after borrowing your book," she said in slow tone, he wrinkled his brow, intrigued.

"Which?"

Kotoko reached for the stack of papers she left on her desk and he saw, as she pulled a well-known book, how the thickness decreased. She showed him the book cover of the counseling schoolbook he had forgotten. "This one."

Naoki watched it, he had not even realized that he didn't have it. Giving a surreptitious glance at the bookseller, in the space where it should be, he wondered when he had not taken notice of the slight incline in the books accommodated on that shelf.

He shrugged; it was not a monumental doubt.

"I read it, I started when you got sick, because I wanted to help you find what you could study at university," Kotoko explained. "...after seeing all that could be studied or done, I felt interested in social work," she whispered the end in a low volume, before lifting her face, brighter than before, which gave him the precision she had her mind on it. "I have to study to get the degree, which takes three years to get and gain national accreditation, but... I like it… and looked for its practice, and I want to do it... And Tonan, the university linked to the school, is one of the few places where there is a department," she said with great emotion that made her stop breathing to share her ideas. "What do you think?" she questioned at the end, biting her lower lip.

He thought a moment—trying that the envy didn't consume him—, and watched her silently as she looked at him expectantly. Kotoko, working for social welfare, contacting persons that required support or assistance, interacting with people of different ages, children being abused or homeless, or people abused, troubled, handicapped, or unemployed people or young in precarious conditions. With her persistence, sensitivity, and concern for others, it could work. If even she saw him as a beneficial cause.

"I think it's okay," he said and she smiled, nodding with crimson cheeks.

Kotoko had solved this concern, much faster and easier than he had.

"Now I can help you!" She expressed it in a very praiseworthy way.

He snorted with his nose.

She leaned over the book he was reading. "The Spirit of the Laws," She pronounced aloud, and looked at the book in bewilderment. He was amused. "…Laws. Have you been reading to find out?"

He sighed and did no more than nod, without clarifying that it was a political book.

But it didn't serve. He hadn't reached an answer that pleased him. He was taking random books in the library and at home, he looked if the matter could be of great interest, but had not reached more than typical interest to know.

Perhaps someone external giving its opinion could be helpful.

Kotoko shrugged.

"I have a list." She indicated with her index finger the beginning of her paper sheet and he took it. In alphabetical order, there were listed careers that someone could study at universities, junior colleges, colleges of technology and special training schools and community colleges.

She had taken it seriously.

"Naoki-kun. Can we use your laptop?" she asked, indicating it with her finger.

He had to put aside the book, which he would leave for another time, and took his laptop. He opened it and wrote his password, then put it in the middle of the desk.

"Your password is... really long," Kotoko whispered; he looked at her, her eyes were open wide. "How many numbers?"

"Sixteen characters," he said, without giving much importance. "It wouldn't be useful to get them, I change them every week," he warned and his lopsided grin was full of sarcasm, seeing her swallow and nod.

"Genius," she whispered and he saw her press the Browser icon. "Let us see," she said aloud, putting the sheet in front of her that he deposited again on the desktop after reading. "First on the list is..."

"What do you intend to do?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"Well, it's no big deal ... heh, heh," she admitted with a little laugh, "but I will write the career and read what it says and what you need to be… and you'll say if you are interested, or I think if you can be it if you don't imagine it."

That was not far from what he did, nor was novel, but he said nothing because there was a chance she'd find some plausible option.

"It'll take time to read all," Kotoko told him, offering a pained smile. Like if it bothered her. "But we'll find what Naoki-kun will do in the future!"

"A lot of enthusiasm," he muttered, rolling his eyes, while recognizing for himself what she was doing.

"Accountant," she said and started typing, very slowly. Key by key with one finger.

Ridiculous.

"Use all your fingers," he ordered and took both her hands to position them in the right way on the keyboard. "Like this," he instructed, looking annoyed when she wanted to continue the way she did before. "You need to learn to write in a computer," he stated, getting his hands away from her.

Kotoko laughed softly. "Yeah, well... there's no need to be so demanding," she said in the same tone.

"In college you will require it," he argued; and without giving her a chance to reply, he said, "Finish."

She nodded and he watched her trying to write the way he put her hands, taking a little of time, but getting it.

"Accountant," she began to read it after opening a web page, "in this career..."

Naoki half listened to her reading, watching her concentrated on the screen. He was paying attention to her words, but his mind was on anything else, especially her.

He felt remorse of thinking she was only going to annoy, when considering the great time she was thinking of helping him. Kotoko behaved in a very peculiar way with him, which made him feel uncomfortable if he thought how he was to her.

Maybe he was not one prone to consideration to others, but he had to admit that Kotoko, of all people, acted toward him with great esteem and, in response, he gave no sign of respect, although some of his attitudes made them without thinking and because it did not seem hurtful at all for him. After what happened in Nikko, he had thought not to be as straightforward and sharp, just had not really done it, thinking about all the time since them.

He had to try, harder. It was not easy, he was used to dealing with others in a condescending manner, the negative type… now he only had to take into account that Kotoko should be in a higher regard than others, because she proved not to be in their level and she did more than they did to deserve it.

He stifled a sigh. In theory and in thoughts it was simpler than in practice. Nevertheless, it was difficult to change a habit of life and Kotoko was something that made it more difficult, if he thought deeply. With others, when he tried to do it, there wasn't a kind of barrier that blocked the coherent thinking to control his words and acts; with her, his mind wasn't completely controlled. But he would be.

He closed his eyes for a moment, concentrated on listening to Kotoko, and even in moments he entertained with the illusions she had on him and the profession; she shook her head as if she wasn't convinced.

He thought she had a path to take... and he...

He clenched his jaw. He felt... frustrated... Was there something special for him? That interested him… enthused him? Would he understand what it was to dream?

She had it easy.

[...]

Walking in the morning with Kotoko, on Wednesday, two days before her birthday, Naoki reconsidering getting her a gift for the day, while listening to her babbling about careers that until then they had "discussed" as their direction in life.

She took many troubles for him, and he could, during that afternoon, do something about it and give her a present into consideration, at least thinking it was her birthday before entering college. In addition, because he felt indebted to her for what she was doing, though it was intruding on his life and he didn't understand why he didn't seem fastidious. It was clear that she loved to help, and that being his girlfriend and holding him on a pedestal, as expected of her, but he didn't see why her interference didn't fall within the annoying category that was her company.

That's why he didn't want a girlfriend in that or another time, or why he maintained interpersonal exchanges with others at a low level; being involved with someone close had such consequences: the analyze of himself and take into account how they interacted, as other things.

He was also limited in his interaction with others because many of the people surrounding him didn't have his ability, as his girlfriend, and brought him to irksome moments (indeed, he didn't like stupid people).

Although, with her, he was breaking that pattern and he was asking much of himself when he could not keep his head focused on other issues. For some time now, that had increased.

To that and other things had forced him the presence of Kotoko in his life.

"In the afternoon don't wait for me," he said, taking advantage when she stopped talking to take a breath. He'd use that day to visit a store and buy something for her birthday.

"Why?" Kotoko asked, looking at him with a curious expression, ignoring the way.

"It's not your concern," he whispered, out of habit. Seconds later, he sighed. "I have something to do," he added, laconically.

She nodded and he saw her stumbling with her feet, automatically, he grabbed her arm when he saw she was going to fall.

"How many times do I have to tell you to look the way?" He inquired with an exhalation; he hated repeat itself, but it was useless. She lowered her head and shoulders. "In the afternoon, do it," he requested with a quiet voice, pushing her back so they hurry to enter the station, in order not to waste transport.

"Yes, Naoki-kun," she said smiling and walking towards the turnstiles to the arrival of the metro platforms.

He put his card and pushed the turnstile to move to the other side, seeing on the screen the four minutes before the arrival of their train.

He heard behind the whistle refusing the access. "Naoki-kun, go ahead," Kotoko told him and he looked over his shoulder; she muttered things against her card and the due date.

"Buy a normal pass and hurry up, there are three minutes left," he muttered, urging her to the head machines.

Every day it was something different with her.

When she had entered, Naoki took her arm to move fast to the platform, because transportation was coming and the next came fifteen minutes later. Also, the station was starting to fill and it would be easy for her to get lost or fall and stay below the crowd… that would be troublesome.

"Come on," he said when they reached the platform and the subway doors were about to close.

He recovered the air as they settled and then wondered why he bothered with her; she was not worth the trouble.

It was true; it was becoming a habit… and an atrocious one, if asked.

"Thank you, Naoki-kun," she whispered, pressing her head to his chest for a moment before turning to hold herself properly.

He gave an exhalation.

"Don't kill yourself in the afternoon, silly," he advised, pulling a book of Indian poetry out from his briefcase.

[...]

"Happy birthday, Kotoko-chan!"

Naoki, adjusting his red tie, watched with a smile how Yuuki jumped on the bed, thanks to the roar that made their mother in the room across the hall.

His brother groaned and got out of bed, going to the dresser for his belongings and prepare to go to school.

"A great Friday," muttered his brother going out of the room, almost dragging his feet.

After combing, Naoki closed the closet door that had a mirror and picked up his briefcase on his desk to go down to breakfast.

While leaving his bedroom, he found Kotoko, who smiled happily. To his surprise, she was completely ready in her uniform, even styling her hair with a high ponytail.

"Morning, Naoki-kun!" greeted Kotoko waving her hand with good spirits.

He looked at his face and nodded. "Good morning. Happy Birthday, Kotoko," he said affably and allowed her to proceed ahead, looking she didn't give any missteps with her excitement and stumble.

On the ground floor, Shigeo-san appeared and smiled at her daughter, giving her a greeting with a hug, joining them on the way to the dining table.

There, his mother left the kitchen with a big smile. "Today is a special day Kotoko-chan and Ai-san and I have cooked your favorite breakfast, because she likes sweet things and loves the food of his father: pancakes and an omelet," she announced happily putting the two plates in the place of his girlfriend, with the dorayaki and tamagoyaki that she had just revealed.

Kotoko clapped and took her seat with her smile shining.

"Thanks, otou-san, oba-sama, they make me very happy!" She exclaimed and his mother hugged her shoulders before going to the kitchen, returning with the food of others.

Kotoko thanked for her food with great emotion before eating, unmolested.

Naoki rolled his eyes and sat quietly at the table, like Shigeo-san.

"Happy birthday, Kotoko-chan," said his father when he enter the kitchen and the aforementioned nodded mouthful before swallowing.

"Thanks, Oji-san."

His father also took his place and his mother went to put the dishes to the table with omelet for everyone, although not dorayaki. Naoki thanked her, because he was not a fan of sweet, as opposed to his girlfriend.

She coughed at that time, reaching for his tea.

"Not so fast, Kotoko," Shigeo-san suggested with a smile, getting a nod from his daughter.

Naoki winced looking away from her and thanked for his food, when Yuuki made its appearance in the dining room ready for school.

He said good morning to everyone and sat in his chair, proceeding to start his food after thanking in a whisper.

His father cleared his throat with a cough. Naoki suppressed a smile, seeing that Kotoko looked attentive to his brother, bouncing in her seat, waiting for his congratulations.

However, his brother continued to eat oblivious to the attempts of his father.

His mother took her place and began eating too, although she must have realized what was happening because she turned her eyes to Yuuki.

Naoki just finished his breakfast with his interest in the events. "Yuuki, did you congratulated Kotoko onee-san for her birthday?" asked his mother.

His brother shrugged, but he saw him pressing his lips to stifle a laugh, secure in the knowledge that it caused frustration in his sister.

"Bon appetite," Naoki said and rose from his seat, without much ceremony. Kotoko followed suit and wished all a fruitful day, as she always did.

His mother winked at him as he walked to the exit. More than a week ago, she had come to ask him if he would do something special for Kotoko in a surprise party. When he answered not to expect him to do some demonstration at the event, she said he better did something with her that day or he'd regret it, because she wouldn't throw a party if he would not participate. That she better saved her efforts for a more important party in the future.

He bet it was a wedding.

Two days ago, he had told her she won and that she had to postpone her early dinner celebration; she had understood without explanation. Only the warning that he could change the plans for that day if he saw her had to reduce her attempts to follow them after leaving school.

He was only going to invite her an ice cream and take a walk, she didn't need to exaggerate; his goal was to present her with a gift without being at home.

"Happy birthday, Kotoko," pronounced in a loud and friendly voice his brother when she was going out, making her go back to the table.

Yuuki had said her name without animosity, noted Naoki, and it seemed that it was easier for his brother to put aside his normal behavior that day. Or, really, it was clear that Yuuki was different from him.

Kotoko, with her usual effusiveness, embraced his brother in her arms and gave him a big hug. The rest of the table laughed at the many complaints of Yuuki, although he left her to hold him.

Naoki shook his head… that was Kotoko.

AN: I don't know how many "annoying, troublesome, bothersome,...", I've read until now.

So, the chapter's name was kind of different in Spanish, but it makes sense here. Also, for those who read/translate the other one, I changed the first career on the list, as Accountant comes before Attorney/Lawyer, the career I used in the original. Thankfully, it doesn't change the text, though it'll be different in the future. It's my story and I do my corrections ha,ha.

Thanks for reading!

With love, Karo.

Guest: Ha,ha, weeeell, you have to wait for that. It'd have been interesting, but not good for their relationship, he'd have changed because of sexual really early ;)

Sydney: Oh! I read your comment in the other fic. So, Sydney? Wow, that's really far from Mexico ha,ha. It's nice to know you read from there. Also, I'm happy you can enjoy this fic in your language, even though this has some mistakes. Thanks for reading, and hope you're doing well too. See you :D