Chapter 24
The river has its own course
"I've prepared myself all this holiday season to beat you this trimester, Irie."
Naoki rolled his eyes listening to the words of Funatsu Seiichi, who really was a bother, but not worth it. According to his words, his goal there was to overthrow him of the first position, something he had been aiming to since long ago, when he obtained the second place in the examinations, below him.
He didn't care the reasons of his interest in him, it just bothering him being followed in the cafeteria and being asked questions that, in his opinion, were too easy, but according to the other were advanced topics (as he studied them to win). If his partner put the same effort into being a good professional, he could make the difference… it was a pity that his main goal was to compete.
It was a waste of Funatsu's time, he recognized his efforts, but he had read in a week all the texts that the other studied the whole summer; not just that, Naoki read them long before going on holiday, because he spent his last days of vacation reviewing the topics of the last part of the school year.
It wasn't his problem that he had a different capacity, nor that he had a real interest in the career and that he liked it, even more, every time he read something new of the field.
"In the stomach the complete digestion takes place; the stomach empties into the duodenum with movements ranging from the fundus to the pyloric antrum, they are involuntary and are called peristalsis…,"*
"Naoki-kun." He nodded to Kotoko when she joined him at the front of the cafeteria, interrupting his running classmate.
He noticed the questioning look of Funatsu to his girlfriend. "I remember you, you're the girl who was with Irie the day for Todai test," he said, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "Are you Irie's sister?" he asked, leaning close to the face of Kotoko, who looked wide-eyed.
Naoki blinked disbelievingly, and a laugh interrupted them. Why did they assume that?
"Yes! She is the sister of the demon," pointed Ikezawa, laughing and holding his hands to his stomach.
He wondered if Funatsu was serious, putting a hand on his shoulder to keep him away from his girlfriend.
"Don't come near, Funatsu."
Kotoko blinked, scowling at Ikezawa before doing so with his classmate. "I'm not his sister, I'm Naoki-kun's girlfriend," she protested under her breath.
Funatsu's eyes jumped. "What?!"
"What is the surprise?" Kotoko asked, clenching her hand.
"He… and you… how?! Does he have time to have a girlfriend while studying?!" Funatsu asked, with trembling hands, pointing to him.
She nodded, smiling. "Naoki-kun is a genius."
"A demon," snapped Ikezawa. He scowled at him like Kotoko, for intruding.
"He never studies, he simply read things once," she raised her forefinger, "and understands very quickly."
"Ne… never… studies…" Funatsu stammered.
"He never studies?" Ikezawa repeated, too. "And he's going to be a doctor?"
Kotoko nodded proudly.
"I want a lunch number five," he ordered him to cook, who had his mouth open in his direction.
"You're lying," said Funatsu, approaching his face too much to Kotoko, who shook frowning. "It is impossible not to study and learn so much."
"He is a genius."
"Are you going to attend me?" He muttered to Ikezawa, pulling his girlfriend's arm to put her away from the medical student, who had not understood before. And because she didn't put the distance between them.
"It cannot be!" With that, Funatsu turned to leave, one hand on his head and the other clutching the book of anatomy.
"Who is he?" Asked Kotoko with a finger over her lips. "His face is familiar."
He rolled his eyes, the other had just said where did they meet, but she was so clueless. Although internally he was satisfied Funatsu wasn't relevant.
"Nobody," he said, turning his face to Ikezawa. "My food?"
"I want a lunch B, Kin-chan!" Kotoko ordered.
The other did nothing but nod and prepare their orders, handing to them, for once, in silence.
In his way to a table, he thought about what Funatsu had said. Did he look like Kotoko's brother? It was ridiculous; nothing in his facial features make them similar… and she often proclaimed they were dating.
Matsumoto said that they didn't seem like a couple, prompting him to wonder about the topic.
"Has anyone in the university made you a declaration?" he asked, suddenly, to Kotoko, who stayed with a croquette in the air.
"Hey? Some boy?" He nodded. He saw her blush and frowned. "Well, the way you say it, yes… but it's not important, because they were the club members…"
He let out a small sigh.
"Though… Just today…" He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Kotorin! Be my girl!"
The two had a start with the voice of a boy of fat body, sitting beside her with a copy of the same manga that he had saved.
He glared at the guy, who ignored him completely eyeing his girlfriend, who had a red face and eyes open wide.
The boy placed the manga on the table, along with a pen and took the hand of his girlfriend; he cut the gesture disgusted while she exclaimed she would not be his girl.
"Then a signature for my manga, Kotorin," pleaded the guy clasping her hands.
The color in her face increased (if it was possible). Naoki wondered how many had seen the manga, which had her as a tennis player, wearing very little clothing and showing a lot of breast; it was supposedly a heroine, in a curious way. It was almost obscene. At what point did he think they would make a harmless manga?
Worse than that, how many people were in the manga and anime club that had a copy?
The idea of many fantasizing with the body of his girlfriend—though she wasn't like that—was not pleasant. While fantasies were harmless, because at the end of the day she was still his, it was uncomfortable to think that many men did same as this guy, whom she dismissed with a grunt.
It wasn't nice the idea of men behind her.
"Why?! It is the third time this day," she complained with arms crossed.
"How many members are there in the club?" he asked.
"Five."
"He is one?" She shook her head. "Do you know him?"
At that moment, three boys he recalled from her club occupied the other chairs at the table; they had big smiles.
"Boys!"
"Kotorin, we won the contest!
She gasped. "What?!"
"We show our first volume of "A Racquet Warrior" in a contest during the summer, and got the spot number one!" Explained the one with lenses.
"We'll be able to work with the following volumes, Kotorin," said another of the club happily.
"And there are already many followers in the country, can you believe it?" added the one that had not spoken.
Naoki felt his eyelids tremble and felt disbelief rather than outrage, having belittled those guys, even though, from his perspective, their work wasn't relevant. He thought it wouldn't leave the school, and Japan already knew their manga.
He sipped water, suddenly thirsty.
"You'll be famous, Kotorin! All women will want to be like you! And all men will want to be by your side!"
Naoki snorted in disgust.
"And they recognize us!" said the lenses guy.
"All thanks to you, Kotorin. You're the best!"
A Kotoko dropped her chopsticks.
"Country? Famous? Volumes?" She spoke while gaping like a fish.
"It's the fantastic twenty-first century!"
"We want you to attend a meeting with the followers of the campus."
"We have the cosplay."
"All," Kotoko muttered, passing our; he barely held her.
"Kotorin!"
[…]
By the second week of school after the holiday period, Naoki had seen in different places enough banners and ads related to manga inspired by Kotoko. They were that many because, while he was with her, there were people always following her, having spread word about the girl that inspired the mange. He would have never thought that otaku fever existed in his college, with a greater number of male followers.
Kotoko tried, futilely, to go unnoticed, but it gave no fruit.
Her club members, supposedly, had reassured her that after the first few days it would subside, after the success of their small convention, which she attended "disguised" but was discovered and forced to speak.
From his point of view, the only good thing about it was that after a guy came up to ask her out, she said she already had a boyfriend—pointing to him—and word had spread, so there were no more doubts about the relationship. Yet that aroused envy and a better understanding of his identity, and several details of the shared life of both.
It was like going back to damn high school, full of rumors and comments about them.
He couldn't complain a lot, he gave his approval and that convinced Kotoko to join the club.
And, to his pleasure, when Ikezawa placed in the cafeteria a poster of Kotorin—that caused enormous complaints from his girlfriend—, he gloated in front of him with having the real at home, making the cook shut for a while.
"I don't want anymore, Naoki-kun!" Kotoko stamped at the cafeteria table, hiding her head under her hands after someone came to beg her for an autograph.
He felt sorry for her; she was not used to being the cynosure.
Still, he let out a laugh, for her attitude.
She whimpered. "Don't be mean," she whined. He smirked watching her, waiting for her tantrum to finish so he could tell her that people eventually get exhausted. Just as he had given up with people fantasizing with her.
"Kotorin!" Two female voices shouted in chorus.
He looked up to see her two smiling friends, Jinko and Satomi, sitting on the other side of the table.
"Don't!" Wailed his girlfriend.
The girls burst out laughing, which led Kotoko to raise her head and give them a piercing gaze.
"You are cruel!" she said, crossing her arms.
"Hi, Irie-san," greeted the highest, with a glass with a straw in hand.
He nodded, continuing his meal.
"How is the fame for you, Kotoko?" Asked the dark-haired.
"Awful."
"In the website, the number of followers has increased. At least, people from the university have saved your location, Kotoko, or you'd have more people behind you."
"What kind of friends are you?" Spluttered his girlfriend, showing her tongue.
"Those ones who'll act as your PR from now on," declared Satomi smiling. "Ryo has given me some advice now that we prepare me to meet his family."
"And I'm learning to be Jyunpei's manager in the future," said Jinko.
"So, we'll control your followers," Satomi finished still smiling. "It was my idea," she added in a whisper.
"Girls! Thank you!" Kotoko shouted, going to embrace them.
He got up, leaving them alone.
Whether the friends were good at it or the emotion eventually dwindled, by the next week Kotoko's chase was over… without them convincing her to participate to be "Miss Tonan".
[…]
"Naoki-kun."
Hearing Kotoko, Naoki looked over the book of Physiology, to find her watching him with blinking eyes and an enthusiastic smile. It was her birthday, and his mother had made a big fuss in the morning, celebrating her nineteenth anniversary. No one would say that the most important birthday for the Japanese was the twentieth because his mother wanted to make big celebrations for all.
He sighed, raising an eyebrow.
"Would you like to accompany me to the amusement park?" she asked, tapping the tips of her forefingers.
He raised the other eyebrow for her to explain.
"The club guys gave me a double pass to the park; they won it at the contest and its validity ends on the last day of September, and as I have no plans for today and it's Saturday…"
He stared at her for a few seconds, wondering why he had to be dragged to many things because of her, but she could not help it. At least the club had been thoughtful with her after the chaos of that month with their risqué manga. It would help her to relax.
"Will you go with me?"
That did not mean he had to go.
Naoki thought for a moment, imagining that if she left looking sad, his mother would come to the room to threaten him.
He closed his book, as he would no longer read.
"All right," he accepted placing the book from the library on the top shelf on the desk.
"For real?" He nodded, breathing in. He supposed she deserved after a busy month. "Yes!"
She left the room, moving her hands.
"Oba-sama! He said yes!"
He made a gesture of denial with his head and went to his closet for a thin coat, expecting a drop of temperature for the night. He took his keys, phone and wallet before leaving his bedroom.
He heard a bang from Kotoko's and rolled his eyes with her cry of "I'm fine", heading for the stairs.
"Don't you dare, okaa-san," he threatened his mother, at the foot of the stairs, taking her by surprise as she smiled when she was planning something. "Maybe something will come up."
His mother stuck her tongue shaking her head; then she showed her hidden small camera on her back.
She took a photograph.
He folded his arms grimacing.
"Just so you know, I invited Konomi-chan to come home," she told him with an expression of triumph.
"What?!" Both looked at Yuuki, from the hallway to the kitchen, with candy in hand. "Mooom!"
She laughed, shaking his hand in a dismissive gesture, as his brother walked toward her.
"I found Konomi-chan and her parents the other day, they have an engagement this afternoon, and I was sad a nine-year-old girl had to stay home alone on a Saturday," explained their mother, covering Yuuki's mouth with her hand when he wanted to retort. "Besides, I knew Kotoko-chan and onii-chan would go out, so I'd have the opportunity to care of the children."
Then her face wasn't for he and Kotoko, he thought with relief, feeling slightly sorry for his brother, but he could not help of rejoicing for being free of his mother.
Yuuki shook in the arms of his mother, stopping and opening his eyes to the stairs.
He turned, curious to what caught his attention.
He blinked surprised at Kotoko, coming down, flushed. She was quick. "Kotoko-chan, the clothes were perfect for you!
Naoki heard the sound of multiple camera's shoots while watching the stretch dark denim jeans of his girlfriend, together with a sleeveless red blouse; all the clothes hug her body changed by the exercise. The point worthy of mention was that her eyes had some makeup, emphasizing her expressive orbs, and her lips had more color than other times when she only used glow.
"You look great, Kotoko-chan! Right, onii…"
The doorbell cut his mother's words, which he thanked. He nodded to Kotoko, turning his face to the front door.
His brother came reluctantly at his mother's call; she said goodbye to someone shaking her hand before stepping aside and expose the newcomer.
"What a pleasure it is to have you here, Konomi-chan, come in," invited his mother to the little girl, a few centimeters taller than his brother. He saw her a few moments, her hair, contrasting with her white skin, was almost black and reached her shoulders; two pins with figures of Kitty held a few strands. Her eyes were dark and attracted attention more than her ruddy cheekbones and a shy smile. She was using a yellow dress.
"Hello," whispered the girl, finally entering the house. "My name is Sagawa Konomi."
Kotoko passed him with a large smile and stood in front of the bowing Konomi. Her effusiveness startled the poor girl, as it was a contrast to her shyness. "I'm Kotoko," she said in a singsong voice. "I like your hairpins."
The girl nodded gently, putting a hand to the pin. "Thanks," mouthed quietly, smiling slightly.
His girlfriend sat up and pointed at him. "He's Naoki-kun, Yuuki-kun's onii-chan."
He gave a nod to the girl, who shook her hand in greeting.
"And my boyfriend, he'll go out with me today, it's my birthday," Kotoko added with a big smile.
The girl's eyes lit up as he looked at his girlfriend, nodding with interest. At least she didn't seem like the other girl Kotoko took home, especially when Konomi slightly moved her gaze to Yuuki, blushing while he looked at her expressionlessly, though his eyes followed her when she returned her sight to Kotoko.
He smirked, amused by knowing what his mother and Kotoko ignored.
"Happy birthday, Kotoko-san. Yuuki-kun okaa-san said it." Konomi took her school bag on her back, which she opened, and introduced one of her little hands on it. "I brought this."
The girl pulled out a two inches-brown-knitted bear that smiled. It was a keychain.
Kotoko squealed. "Thanks, Konomi-chan!" she cried, hugging the girl with joy before receiving the gift. "It's very cute, did you do it?"
Konomi nodded.
"It's great! I'll take with me," said his girlfriend, opening the bag he had not seen, securing it to her key ring hanging with other figures.
The girl smiled more broadly and again reach into the bag; this time, she pulled out a knitted flower, almost the size of a ruler and gave it to his mother. "As gratitude for letting me stay today… My mom helped me, Irie-sama."
"Oh, Konomi-chan! You're very sweet, you didn't have to bother, I'm delighted you're here," said his mother joyfully, hugging the girl.
He looked at his brother, feeling sorry for him; at least until the end of his elementary school he would have his mother pestering for the girl, who had already won her affection.
That would give him freedom.
Great.
In addition, there were two children; she had a long way ahead.
"Now, kids, go to the living room, I have prepared games for bothm," his mother announced, placing her hands on their shoulders. "Kotoko-chan, onii-chan, have fun!" She saw off less effusive than usual, to his delight. "Don't forget to take pictures, Kotoko-chan."
She nodded and snapped her fingers, and then she went up the stairs to return with a thin coat.
[…]
Kotoko received her pink cotton candy with a smile that, after a water attraction and a roller coaster, would only serve to increase her glucose levels, increasing her excitement.
Naoki denied when she offered him her candy, smiling mischievously, surely knowing his tastes. Giving a sideways glance, he thought her makeup should be waterproof because she had not ruined it, though she didn't have a lot.
He had to admit to himself that she looked good on that occasion; the clothes suited her, she like a young woman and not a girl. It was a nice change from other times together, especially because, regardless of her new good appearance, she had many puerile attitudes that made her being her.
At the time, she could play with her cotton as a child, though she look like a woman.
He didn't matter. Since long ago he had assumed that her personality was thus, but he also noticed that, in some situations, she could behave in a more serene and mature way, highlighting her different but genuine and innocent way of seeing things.
"Can we go to the Ferris wheel?" Kotoko signaled the big wheel amusement park, illuminated in different colors and giving a panoramic view of the place, as an alternative to monorail running through the park, which had a view of the mountains alongside the land.
He shrugged, directing his steps toward the wheel and wearing his coat. Anyway, she was interested and that day she had the opportunity to decide.
They arrived at the wheel and had to wait a few minutes at the end of a line.
"This is so romantic," whispered Kotoko in a dreamy voice when they were in the cab and the wheel began to rise slowly.
He rolled his eyes, looking at the lights' attractions, pine trees and mountains in the distance.
He felt Kotoko leaning on his shoulder, sighing quietly.
"Don't fall sleep," he asked quietly.
"I won't."
Suddenly, she placed a hand on his chest, over his heart, and he turned to look at her; she had a smiling expression on her face and her eyes seemed to ask him to kiss her. He let out a breath as she slowly raised her hand to his neck, ascending a finger to his ear and then directing it to his cheek.
He wondered if she knew the tingle that caused her touch with her breathing approaching his face until he was an inch away.
She ran her tongue over her lower lip, her eyes narrowed, and he was the one who cut the space between the two. He lowered his eyelids, catching her lip between his and nipping it before moving his mouth over hers, pulling her with his hand on her head and disheveling her loose hairs. He leaned his head to deepen the kiss, consuming the air that flowed from her with his own mouth, holding her breath as he felt his tongue touched hers; a chill ran on him from the sweet touch that he proved in that new way to connect with her.
Kotoko gasped and he felt her closer, her hands moving tentatively on his back, increasing the previously unknown sensations in his body, concentrated on his stomach.
Reluctantly he pulled away from her mouth to regain normal rhythm of his breathing and heartbeat, opening his eyes a little, meeting her pink lips, on which he pressed a kiss, falling in the temptation to put his mouth on the line her jaw, shortening the way to her exposed neck, where he remained a few moments breathing her scent.
One of Kotoko's hands positioned over his heart and he closed his eyes, trying to calm his hasty heart rate; he knew she would notice, but it didn't bother him because he felt in her throbbing throat the reaction she caused her, which made him let out a slight laugh, in that position, making her tremble.
He didn't know what had led him to kiss her, nor did he care, he liked it, and it was a relief to know that just Kotoko had witnessed his actions, to the point of forgetting that he was in a public place for a short time. He opened his eyes and shook his head in denial, realizing that the wheel had stopped for a moment, he didn't know why.
"Naoki-kun, look!" They weren't on the top, but he still part from Kotoko to follow the direction she pointed behind him.
Beyond the park's lights, above the almost invisible mountains, ran a bright meteor.
"A shooting star!" Kotoko said, smiling, before closing her eyes for a moment.
He shook his head, watching the luminous phenomenon in the atmosphere. Silly things, he thought, imagining her asking for a wish. What could she want?
Seconds later, on the hand resting on his right leg, she clasped his, closing the space between them with a handkerchief in her other hand. She rubbed it in his mouth.
"Lipstick," she whispered.
He nodded his thanks and Ferris wheel began to move again. For some reason, he let her have his hand.
Kotoko released him when they came down and continued in the amusement park with the same attitude as before, walking side by side, he listening to her babbling, barely touching.
But, for him, something had happened up there.
He shrugged and sighed when she fail again to catch a goldfish in the bowl, approaching with an outstretched arm asking for the net, trapping the animal in the first attempt.
"No, let it go," whispered Kotoko when he was going to put it in a plastic bag.
He frowned at her.
"He's better with his friends," she assured, making him laugh in disbelief.
Kotoko hugged him after letting go of the little fish. He pulled away wrinkling his nose, causing her to laugh.
"Let's go to another attraction," she begged, going away with open arms.
He put his hands into his pockets and followed her, observing ironically the childish gestures that characterized her. However, it was fine, it did not hurt anyone and she deserved that joy after a hectic month.
He curled a smile sideways seeing her greeting a child, before going by his side; she was clearly happy.
He could understand her.
The rest of the afternoon passed quietly.
*I don't know if it's okay, the original text came from a medical book in Spanish.
NA: The intention of this chapter was time he,he.