Chapter 28
Blindly
Naoki observed the room, where no one realized the inappropriateness of mocking his girlfriend.
It bothered him greatly to witness the effect they had on her.
He cleared his throat loudly and the voices fell silent. Sato-san looked at him like troubled, because he knew he was the only one who knew his relationship with her, though he was aware that Kotoko had made some mistakes.
They were just ridiculous and naive with that ruckus. He'd give them a lesson.
"That young woman you criticize," he spoke in a firm and serious voice, the same that he knew caused shivers, "is, mostly, the reason that you still have a job," he claimed, approaching her to take the coffee pot and give it to the employee, who looked stunned as the others. If the other was burned, he deserved it. (Since he could not do more about the matter.)
He made Kotoko walk forward while she kept her hazel orbs on him.
"This young lady was the one who inspired the creators of Kotorin. Also, with her contributions, she helped with many of the ideas that you will work in the coming months," he explained with a smile of arrogance. "So you owe your gratitude to her and not to me… your jobs were saved thanks to her influence."
Nobody said a word and Sato-san nodded, because he already knew it, as Naoki clarified when he congratulated for his wit. Others took the nod as an incentive to cut their complaints to her and nod in her direction, quiet.
"Oji-san's company will be saved?" She asked him, ignoring the stares she received. She was focused on him since he started talking to the others.
He confirmed moving his lips, with his eye on her.
Kotoko jumped clapping, celebrating as if the victory belonged to her, enraptured in the midst of her happiness. He would have had that response if his persona were different; but his girlfriend could celebrate for both.
The others in the room watched Kotoko a few seconds before bursting into applause.
He would give them some minutes and then would remind them of the goal they had for two weeks forward, there was still the first big step.
[…]
"Welcome home, dad!"
Naoki watched the smile of excitement that appeared on his otou-san after hearing the words of his brother, Kotoko, and Shigeo-san. Along with them, he was in the dining room to greet his father, who had been discharged from the hospital.
Naoki knew that it would not be easy for his father to change his lifestyle, but all were quite interested in his welfare, as much as himself, in order that the inadequate habits did not make him go back to the hospital bed that he hated, or go directly to the other world.
They had been express—the physician and him—on the importance of changes, and his parent, fearing the consequences, agreed, showing the same energy that he put to found his company and to make it what it was today.
Everyone knew that, once Irie Shigeki made that promise, nothing would diverted him from his goal… even if it was difficult and he wanted to throw in the towel.
They took their seats at the table, full of bowls and dishes with different foods prepared by Shigeo-san, who took great pains to create healthy recipes (that he also would implement in his restaurant).
"The dishes on the table are completely adequate for your diet, healthy but delicious, Ai-chan," told Kotoko's father, "so you won't suffer and will eat what you like."
"In moderate portions," Naoki added.
His father sighed and nodded. "I feel so grateful for having this family," he said touched, with a smile.
Naoki felt comfortable having him back at home, away from danger, and with his company better. Around him, the others smiled.
"I'll recover to return to my normal life as soon as possible." He looked at his father, as a warning. "I'm not going to cross the line, Nao," he said. "But my place is with my company, they are my second family and I must be for them, understand it."
He nodded in affirmation, after sighing.
"I'll take the time easy, from now; you should know that I want to live to see my grandchildren and enjoy my retirement," he announced, making everyone laugh and clap before watching the dishes on the table. "Now, itadakimasu!"
Others repeated his words, and it seemed that calm had returned home, with everyone happy in the company of all.
He realized that you valued more things when you were about to lose them, and he did not want to repeat an experience like that. Fortunately, now all was going well; there was still the matter with Pandai, but he hoped to resolve it… or engage himself fully… everything depended on the outcome.
He directed short glances at his father and Kotoko.
He realized there were dreams and larger purposes within oneself. All aspirations could cohabit, only that there would be some with more weight, which were located in the first place than others. It was a hierarchy; certain things were more important to achieve than others were and maybe it was not a sacrifice to leave one behind if he stayed with another.
Just as he could not put first his father's company, agreeing to a marriage interview. Or medicine opposite…
He shook his head and decided to eat and enjoy; now, the most important thing was those there with him, and he should focus on it.
[…]
The following days, even carrying his father's frustration, Naoki went to the company, continuing the work to which he committed, with the sole goal of reaching the first day of the holiday period and give the green light to the next challenges for Pandai.
He planned to stay there until the manga and anime club get along with the Pandai team (during the early spring) and begin the first work of their game. To his great amazement, they even were developing in anime; they were good entrepreneurs.
If all went well—which would happen, being optimistic—, in the summer holidays they would launch the game, coinciding with the sixth manga volume in the market.
By then, his father would be more involved and the employees to whom he would delegate, immersed in their tasks.
The office door opened while he did a few notes for some of the puzzles to people of higher intelligence; he looked to see who entered… probably Kotoko because nobody else dared to enter without calling.
He smiled ironically.
Indeed, his girlfriend went in with a series of papers in her hands, stopping on the other side of his father's desk.
"The exams for the end of the term are next week," she said in a demanding tone, looking at him from the little height difference they had.
Of course, he knew, and he mulled over the idea of different subjects from the program been taught at that time. He had talked to his teachers when he stopped attending a few weeks ago, asking them the opportunity to do the exams even with his absences.
What intrigued him was her attitude.
"Think of the people that will benefit from your dream. Do not let your purpose go to waste, you can delay the start of the semester, but don't lose an entire school year."
Hence, the reason for her attitude, he analyzed standing. Yet, he was surprised that she thought he could be so lightly about that. Although he considered he would take major decisions after the launch of the new game, he would still take evaluations; it would be silly not to do so.
She extended her arm with the papers she was carrying.
"Funatsu-san gave me copies of his notes," she said, even though he did not accept them, puzzled and more interested in her behavior.
"What?"
"He says it is not worth to be the first if he wins the battle because you stop competing. Give them a look, that's all you need." Was it sarcasm on her part?
He took the papers, looking at her.
"Kotoko," he pronounced, with a hint of doubt, reaching out to grab her wrist.
"I just came for this," she replied, turning without a proper goodbye, ignoring his hand.
He frowned, looking at the site where she was gone; she must be very upset thinking that he would abandon the medical career.
Noticing her reaction, he decided that, no matter what, he'd not leave the career. She was right; it had been wrong of him to forget his dream those last weeks, immersed in Pandai and the constant pressure. His brother would be responsible for the company in the future; also, things took a good course.
He sat down again and pushed aside the papers, which he would read after he ended what he was doing.
He hit the desk with the eraser of the pencil, a strange behavior for him, as well as his girlfriend's one.
She had refused his touch.
[…]
Final exams of his first year of medical school, for Naoki, were more extenuating by the lack of proper sleep and the light unbalancing of the school routine, than for their complicated content, which he had reviewed before. Funatsu annotations also served, as they filled in the blanks that might be in his head for the last lessons of the course.
His classmate was the kind of student who worked very hard to get what he wanted, studying for long hours; the competition with him for first place should be the purpose that moved him to continue, whether he really wanted the number one position. He admitted to himself now that Funatsu was worthy of greater recognition, but really it was a pity for the other that he did not require much effort to do things the way they should.
However, in their career was not worth to have the best notes; it was more important to acquire the skills necessary for the course of their profession. To do that, it was admirable the great effort that Funatsu could put.
At least, due to Naoki's lack of points of the practices of the third trimester, his classmate would have the opportunity to be in the first place, which Funatsu believed he was not worthy because he was not present.
"Until next year," he said to Funatsu, while the two kept their belongings. It was the last day of evaluations. "Good luck in your results, you deserve it," he admitted, hanging the bag over his shoulder.
The other seemed to stay as a statue after his words.
Naoki went away, calm, showing no improper attitude to his partner by his immobility.
When he reached the door, he stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Ah, Funatsu…" he spoke loudly, attracting his attention. "Thank you."
Then he continued his way straight to Pandai. He was in the home straight.
He left the building in a hurry; the routine of those days was waking up early to go to college, take the exams corresponding to the day and head to the company, where he stayed until it was late. He went home at night, straight to the little rest he could have.
It was a relief not to worry about college exams and be free to focus on activities that were taking place in the company. There, practically nothing was left; the games were distributed to the stores, and there were only matters of advertising to work with, mostly adjustments, as they weren't applying it well.
Polls had shown excitement to the game and they had won the element of surprise to other companies, whose promotional weren't out yet. The only focal point was what Pandai had to offer. They went well.
His other pending matters were the immersion of the club members—who would arrive that day to Pandai, finished exams for them too—, and other superficial details of the games to develop in the future. They were already planning some of them in sketches, and they had some ideas of action figures based on the videos.
People in the toy factory were aware of that and the movement was at a good pace, to hold until his father returned in mid-April.
"I'm glad to see you took all the exams." He winced a little when Kotoko positioned himself beside him, forcing his feet to stop.
She looked at him, nodding to herself, with a serious look.
What was happening to her?
He heard her sigh. "I was worried that you didn't take them," she said, and her mouth slightly curved into a smile, but he felt it different, strange.
He was confused. "Kotoko?"
"You'll have to go to Pandai, I don't want to interrupt. I have an exam." She shook her head and took direction to the Social Department.
He frowned, looking at the dwarfing figure of his girlfriend. Lately, he had not seen her, because they didn't coincide during breakfast and she had stopped attending Pandai to concentrate on her tests, and at night, she was already asleep.
He continued shaking his head and thinking of the activities to do; Kotoko could wait, her behavior could be caused by school affairs.
She always acted differently with exams.
[…]
"I'm already here."
Naoki, along with the people in the room, raised their eyes.
"Kotorin!" Chorused her club's fellows, while the employees of Pandai sighed, knowing what was coming.
Kotoko would be there during the holidays; although she was not good at what she did in Pandai, because it was practically a different thing from what she used to do, she served as a source of inspiration and support for those present.
She also wanted to help his father, he had heard the day before.
"Hello." She waved her hand, making a small smile. "I was at the game store mall a few blocks and there are no games left."
He nodded, pleased with the news. It was the first day of sales and they didn't have all the reports, but he wished the similar results with the other stores.
Pandai young developers slapped palms, smiling, before engaging with the designs presented by college students; surprisingly, and fortunately, one of them was a fan of the manga.
He looked at what others did and returned his attention to his girlfriend; amazed, he noticed she was gone.
He rose from the couch and went to the door, peeking out to see where she had gone, and in a stealthy way.
In the hallway, he saw her with Matsumoto. The tall girl had requested the opportunity to practice there during the holidays to gain knowledge of the branch.
He looked at them and realized that cordiality prevailed in the body postures of both, especially his girlfriend, who before didn't look very comfortable in the company of Matsumoto.
That seemed to have changed.
He sighed, he couldn't know what had both done at that time disconnected from his usual world; he could only bet that most shocking was Kotoko.
"Naoki-san?"
He turned to the occupants of the room and went back to his seat, concentrating his interest in the meeting… though many times he felt out of place among the six, whose jargon escaped from his vocabulary.
That was what entailed to be the link. The good news was that, soon, he would leave them alone.
While observing the drawing of Kotorin greeting the "Musketeers", he noticed a particular detail… Kotoko didn't talk specifically to him moments before.
He frowned.
"Something is wrong?" Minagawa-san asked and he denied, changing his gesture, hiding his bewilderment on the other issue.
Leaving it for another moment.
[…]
On Saturday, after being in Pandai until noon, Naoki entered Fugukichi to take lunch, on his way to the library to find a couple of books for the next year in his career.
"Naoki, so good to see," greeted his father-in-law, from the other side of the bar, which was occupied completely. "Let me take you to a table," he offered, putting the rag he was carrying to his shoulder.
He shook his head in a slight deny. "Do not worry, Oji-san, I'll take a seat."
"Then, I'll tell Kinnosuke to take your order in a few moments." He sighed, but nodded; at least there, Kotoko's father would save him from receiving a lower portion.
He sat at one of the tables in the corner and, while he waited, he checked his emails on his mobile phone. That day of the Mimosa—as in Japan appointed the day for women of the United Nations—, the theme of equality for women for the progress of both sexes had made him receive a large number of reflections in his mail, much of which he had not finished reading even having started very early.
"Dad said you were here and that we occupied your table because the restaurant is full." He put his phone in his pocket when he heard Kotoko's voice in the bustle of the local; he raised his eyes, thinking of the use of the plural in her phrase.
His eyes met first with his girlfriend, who used a pink sweater under some overalls, and then he looked at her side, where a blonde girl, clearly foreign, watched at him.
She had crystal blue eyes and used a pink scarf that stood in her dark clothing, which, in turn, contrasted with her snow-white skin.
"She is Christine Robbins, she comes from England," Kotoko said, pointing to the young blonde. "He's Irie Naoki."
He nodded.
"Nice to meet you."
She remained silent. His girlfriend frowned, looking at the girl.
"Chris?" she called. "You don't understand the words?" she asked in slow English. Kotoko set her eyes on him. "She said she came to Japan to study language at our university. She came ahead of time for several months."
"Nice to meet you, Christine Robbins," he pronounced in the native language of the girl, who did not seem to listen again.
Was the girl somewhat distracted as his girlfriend? He did not get an explanation from Kotoko because she looked puzzled.
Kotoko moved a hand in front of the girl, who blinked. "I'm in love," she said in rudimentary Japanese after a long sigh. "I've meet… met the man of my life," she completed with some difficulty, still smiling.
His girlfriend squinted looking at him and he mimicked the gesture, but more intrigued by her reaction to the words of the girl. She was very calm.
"With him?" Kotoko pointed at him.
"Hey?" The English girl blinked, focusing her stunned eyes at Kotoko. "No, he's not. And you said you had a boyfriend named Naoki? You're her boyfriend, right?" she asked him in her language.
He nodded.
"I have better taste, no offense to you," said the girl, without causing him discomfort; he was rather relieved for not having her interest. However, something else confused him, Kotoko's attitude.
"So, who do you love?" Kotoko replied, calmly, causing him more perplexity. Where was the reaction she had with Koujiro and Matsumoto?
"He, that handsome and manly man." His girlfriend narrowed her eyes, looking over his shoulder. "The one approaching this table."
"Kin-chan?" Naoki gaped, giving his attention to the blonde. Did she just refer to Ikezawa as handsome and manly?
She needed to have her vision checked if she had that impression.
He let out a snort.
"Kin-chan?" Robbins repeated. "That's his name?"
"Yes, Ikezawa Kinnosuke," Kotoko smiled, as she had not done until then, "and he's a charming guy, a great friend, loyal and honest; we studied together and he works for my father."
"He's not that important," he opined, through gritted teeth.
"He's sincere and devoted, which makes him a good boy," protested Kotoko, looking at Robbins, who nodded with a smile.
"What can I offer you?" The voice of Ikezawa served to irritate him more, after hearing the words of his girlfriend and the way she had said them, especially because she seemed very comfortable with the arrival cook… even more pleasant than she had been with him.
Was something happening or was he imagining things?
"A boyfriend," Robbins said, in Japanese.
"Ah? What did you say?" The black-haired looked frowning at the English girl, stressing his Kansai accent. "Kotoko, did I misunderstand your friend?"
"No," said Robbins. "I've say… said… that a boyfriend. Will… Would you be my boyfriend, Kin-chan?" she asked, bluntly, very determined.
He was pleased to see the astonishment that crossed the face of the scandalous guy before he reddened and gapped repeatedly. Kotoko laughed.
"What?!" Ikezawa cried, and covered his mouth looking at other clients. "What's wrong with you? I don't like you. I don't even know you. Are you crazy?"
His girlfriend laughter subsided.
"But it serve to get to know us, Kin-chan. I'm Christine, and I know you're the man I will marry."
Kotoko placed a hand on the shoulder of blond, deadpan, while the dark-haired's face showed different emotions.
"Chris… don't you think…?"
"No, I know what I want," punctuated the blonde, smiling sweetly at Ikezawa. "And I will fight for it."
Then she stood and walked to the bar, where Shigeo-san gathered a few dishes, to talk to him. She earned a stunned look, but interested in his father-in-law. What was she saying?
"Where did you get that girl, Kotoko? Is her mind okay?" Ikezawa asked, directing surreptitious glances at the blonde, who was still talking to his boss.
Kotoko shrugged with a thoughtful expression.
"Anyway. What are you ordering?" Asked calmly Ikezawa, increasing his intrigue. Was it an act? Where was the proclamation of the other to his girlfriend? His animosity directed at him? "By the way, Kotoko, the game you recommended me weeks ago, launched this week, I enjoyed it." Ikezawa looked at him. "I must admit, Irie, it was good to sell it before, I would not have bought it if I had seen more on the shelves."
Ikezawa was being nice to him? That much had happened in his absence?
The cook coughed. "What do you want?"
Barely paying attention, he ordered; Kotoko said what she wanted, smiling at his friend.
He had an uneasy feeling inside, which he previously recognized as jealousy… plus something else. But it was impossible, even the black-haired was not provoking and looked like a normal young; it was Kotoko who, in his face, was giving too much attention to the boy… after several days in which she seemed rare and distant with him.
Was there something in those weeks that he didn't hear?
The blonde reappeared, cutting his thoughts slightly. He was interested in her efforts for Ikezawa; maybe he'd finally separate Ikezawa from his girlfriend.
"I have a new job," she announced clapping. "Here!"
Ikezawa, more than he and Kotoko, showed a huge surprise. "What?"
"If we will know each other, I have to spend time with you. Don't you think Kin-chan?" she explained, shrugging.
"Boss!" Ikezawa cried, going away.
"I prove what you bring me!" Robbins added, aloud.
He could have laughed like Kotoko if he wasn't worried by her attitude towards him.
It was a pity that after eating, she went out with the other girl to show the city, ignoring him.
[…]
A few days after the incident at the restaurant, with Kotoko seemingly back to normal, Naoki was in the mall near Pandai, thinking that behind it all was something strange about his girlfriend.
He could not deny—as his brother had said—, that in some moments she was very quiet; but it only occurred after receiving her notes. She had to repeat the test on the signs a week before the classes started, so she didn't take the course once again.
Naoki guessed that her subdued attitude could be due to her results, especially when his condition was not to fail; though he would not deny that he had the slightest suspicion that something else was happening there, after observing her as much as an object of study and knowing her over the nearly two years they had together. He had watched her many times, in different facets, and he noticed there was something about her that prevented her from being completely quiet.
Perhaps he would make time to help her with her impending test, which he already knew all the signs, the basics she had to know for the exam. He had seen her do them properly in mid-January… maybe at the time of the testing the nervousness broke her down and prevented her of doing them appropriately.
Within two weeks, if he could, he would depart completely of his father's company; he was doing it gradually, for the moment, but just until then he'd have enough time to help her. However, she would have to prepare before for the test, and his freedom coincided with the week of Kotoko's evaluation.
That meant he had to make room in his schedule for the next few days, before her exam.
At least, she had stopped attending Pandai to focus on her practicing, even if it left a wave of nostalgia in some of the workers, despite how happy they were with her departure, for the benefits of her absence.
He curled a little smile, looking through the window of a video game's store, corroborating that a teenager took the last box exposed to the public.
Things were going well; he could be as optimistic as Kotoko in that.
He moved on to another shop in the mall and saw several men walking with gift bags. Looking for a reason, he thought about the day and realized that on Friday, three days from now, would be March 14, hence the reason for the presents—tradition.
Later he'd pass to a candy store to buy a bag for Kotoko, recalling that in the midst of his stress, she appeared in Pandai to bring him some chocolates, though it wasn't as much as the massage she gave him at the time. Her hands, with some abruptness, took away much of the tension in his shoulders.
Candies and help in her study would be appropriate to repay her. Ostentatious gifts—as his mother seemed to think—were not like him… and it would mean something that he went out and picked something for her, when he would not have done it normally.
He thought about the other thing that came to his head… that Kotoko could be staying away during the recent events in Pandai, so he could concentrate, but… he admitted that he missed her presence, her good spirits were…
His phone rang as he stopped in front of the video game store. He answered absent-mindedly, staring inside the store.
"Sato-san? Yes, they are good news," he replied, thinking back to Pandai.
[…]
Naoki felt pleased to see the happy mood in his living room, while his father celebrated the call he had just received from Sato-san. In the call, his father's secretary had told Naoki about the weekend reports of sales, ten days after launching the game, which was a total success in the market, to the extent they required those in store, planned for next month. In the next week there would be on sale more new games, but they already had a clear advantage.
"I'll communicate with Sato, son. He will manage the company today, you deserve a day off," said his father, taking out his phone with a big smile; the others at the table applauded, without paying much attention to the breakfast.
He could not have started better his Friday; with a success achieved and a battle won. He could go back to his regular days without the pressure of his father's work, so much tiring with what had been happening lately.
He leaned back in his chair, feeling calm, and then took some rice of his breakfast, glad.
It was amazing, it had been the most stressful weeks of his life and he could take a break.
He'd return to his usual life again, back to some mishaps and the situations not so controlled, to which he felt comfortable, because they were part of his every day than the events after his father's threat of heart attack.
He allowed himself to smile, listening to his father talk lively with his secretary—and others paying attention—, noting the considerable improvement; days before he looked a little downcast, as a result of his time in the hospital and his health. Reluctantly, his father had been adapting to changes, and the modification of his diet and the exercise had its effects… if he counted the reduction of his breaks to breath, compared to before.
He could allow that excitement in his father, because he was happy and he wasn't making great efforts; also, because fats on his body had been declining and the examinations of three days before had shown remarkable differences from the past, so it was clear he was taking seriously his recovery.
However, the different faces of Kotoko began to occupy a large part of his mind and gave him something else to think of.
What was wrong with her?