Chapter 35
Making the difference
"They said that the English teacher was terrible and it is true," whimpered Kotoko at the lunch table, making Naoki laugh softly.
Two classes and she was already regretting choosing the teacher with the worst reputation in college, for strict, just because she wanted to learn. She'd suffer because of her choice, he noted.
"At least, your knowledge of English is not basic," he opined, and then ate his fried rice.
She made a face of suffering looking at the ceiling, before dropping her head to look at her food, which she started to eat with a smile.
"This year will be eternal," Kotoko muttered, and then got some noodles with her chopsticks, concentrating in her biggest love, the food.
It seemed that she forgot her problems with a full stomach.
He could not feel envious that she was happier with it than to be with him, it was childish; in addition, he was content that she was okay.
"Naoki-kun, will you still be in the tennis club?" she asked him, swallowing what she chewed.
Would she attempt to join at that time?
"My agreement with Sudou is for competitions," he informed, interrupting his meal.
She laughed. "Sudou-san will be happy to have Matsumoto-san only for him," she remarked, with a jubilant look. He rolled his eyes but nodded.
Watching her face, he took one of the two napkins he had on his plate and offered it to her. "Right cheek," he said when she looked at him questioningly, referring to the brown drop on her cheekbone, made by a noodle while she ate quickly.
That did not change in Kotoko; she lost track of around focusing entirely on her food and managed to keep some of it in the corner of her lip and her cheeks, which, pumped up, gave a funny image.
She passed the napkin in the area, with careful movements, until he nodded, looking for another sign out of place in her face; but there was none, especially with the smile that adorned her face and the glow that lit her hazel eyes, waiting not to erase it again, less by his cause.
"I'll join the ski club with Jinko and Satomi," she commented, "I hardly see them since we entered college; and Nakamura-sensei accepted me… And the boys of the manga club are very focused on their work and their new anime, so they agreed not to hold me in their club." She grimaced. "Although they want to convince me to use the cosplay and still be their image."
He smirked because she would not yield.
"Besides, thay way I won't get home early and I'll be less time alone in the evenings."
He frowned slightly. "You can come home," he offered, especially because his mother continually asked him to invite her. Only last Saturday she had achieved her purpose.
Kotoko shrugged. "I'm used to it and the restaurant is very close to spend my time there."
"Would that club neglect your classes?" he asked.
"No," she claimed, raising a fist. "I want to graduate from college. Although I have a lot of homework of English comprehension," she complained with shoulders down.
He denied, amused by the exaggerated expression she did.
"At least Chris said that we will practice our languages together," she added, recovering her spirits. "And she has offered to help me reviewing my homework."
"Tell me when she cannot," he said.
She was open-mouthed for a moment; then she nodded, giving him a smile.
Kotoko kept on talking, pausing to eat, referring to different topics not connected. He wasn't confused; he already had enough practice for her habit of expressing that way and his ability to understand quickly. More than half were childishness of her department, which managed to make her excited about the various events in which people were involved.
She recounted it as one of those dramas that she liked so much and he was sure that much of it was her own creation, or one from the young woman with whom she met in class.
He listened, responding only when so necessary, thinking that he liked her more animated as she was now, the way she always acted, though she showed moments of maturity, where only a few were able to notice them.
"Kotoko."
They both looked at the black-haired girls who were at their table, carrying trays of food.
"Sakura, Natsuki!" cried his girlfriend.
"Can we get free seats? There aren't much."
He nodded, aware of Kotoko's gaze on him, who also said yes.
"They are my classmates," pointed Kotoko, smiling at the two girls.
"Irie Naoki," he said neutrally, nodding in a short angle.
"Izumi Sakura."
"Saionji Natsuki."
The last girl was who spent more time with Kotoko; she had dark eyes, while the other had light ones. Moreover, in the conversation, she had named them as her career's friends.
"Nice to me you," he added, ignoring the piercing gaze from the one with the Sakura's tree name.
"The same way," replied Natsuki.
"Yes, until we can meet in person the genius boyfriend of Kotoko." The other said in a condescending manner before smiling broadly at his girlfriend. He watched her eyes too bright and appreciative, very similar to what… Ikezawa did.
Kotoko seemed oblivious to the way she her companion contemplated her, but he met the dark eyes of another student of Social Work, who nodded imperceptibly, confirming what he thought.
He shrugged, uninterested. He was not surprised that someone would like Kotoko, although she was unaware of the interest she aroused in that girl, who quietly carried her admiration for her.
It was a pity for the girl that Kotoko was his girlfriend and that he didn't think to give her to anyone interested in her. She should be content with thier friendship.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, before ringing, indicating that he should return to his building.
"I have class," he told Kotoko as he rose from his seat.
She nodded, waving her hand in farewell. "See you later, Naoki-kun," she said enthusiastically.
He looked at her for a few seconds and looked away to tilt his head toward her friends.
"Be careful in your way home," he whispered as he passed her with his empty tray, obtaining an acknowledgment on her part.
He walked away to place his tray and felt someone's gaze on him.
His eyes met those of Ikezawa, who should analyze his movements like a hawk. He held his gaze until the other jumped when the English came up to kiss him on the cheek, making him blush.
Naoki smirked; as in his case, he imagined what would happen with those two.
He looked over his shoulder at Kotoko, who talked with her companions, and walked towards the exit.
[…]
Kotoko yelled her mantra, and immediately later Naoki made a service. When the tennis ball came to her, she jumped and hit her in drive with a lot of effort, getting it back to his side.
He hit the ball with less power, directing very close to where she was, so she could hit it and send it to his side. He continued to do so, increasing the strength and speed of his movements, to give greater difficulty Kotoko, who failed after the eight blow.
She let the racket go and dropped to the ground, spreading her arms and legs as if she were to make a snow angel, breathing hard.
Smiling, he walked to the end of the net and leaned on the stick of it, without a hint of fatigue in his body, entertained by her great overdoing, after her effort to have a very slow game.
She let out an excited squeal and stood, gyrating at her side of the court, as a victory, celebrating with different words having hit the ball more than five time, her usual amount.
No one would have believed, but she had improved minimally in two years. He knew she could never play well, her progress was less than the one of a beginner; it was just that, only with her persistence, she had achieved to hit the ball more times.
If he did calculations, with the odds against that in favor, it would take her ten years to be an opponent to a novice.
However, only with what she had achieved, she was happy.
Naoki went around the net and reached out to take her arm as she passed him, stopping her and bringing her closer to him, circling her waist.
With his hand he put away some of her slightly damp strands from her forehead; then he lowered his finger in the outline of her face, neck, and arm, making her shiver. She stood on tiptoe and licked her lips with her tongue, before closing her eyes. Since the night they were a couple again, they had not kissed… that was twenty-five days.
He could go without kissing her for a while, but now, her emotion in her face and her victory dance tempted him. And being alone was the perfect opportunity.
He lowered his head while he helped her to cut the distance between the two, and placed a kiss on the corner of her mouth. He closed his eyes and his tongue traced the outline of her mouth, tilting his head when she opened her lips. His moved slowly on hers and he felt her hands rose to his neck, causing him a shiver when her fingers moved behind his ear; there he was sensitive to her hot touch.
His senses were concentrated on kissing and a long time passed; he felt unable to pull away from her yet, without accelerating the pace, enjoying only the softness of her pink mouth, and the excitement that filled his veins with his arms around her.
Kotoko sighed when his lips separated, and she rejoined her mouth to his, this time trying to steer her own pace, making him a smile over her mouth, hushing her moan when she failed to gain dominance.
She parted her face and snorted, causing his shoulders to move and laugh, amused, more when he opened his eyes and saw her pout and the wrinkle between her eyebrows.
Naoki pressed a finger that point on her forehead and broke the childish expression of anger away from her with the hint of a smile dancing in his mouth.
"Let's continue," he said, inviting her to turn around to pick up the racket.
She crossed her arms and stuck her tongue over her shoulder, as he walked to center of the court.
He just laughed.
[…]
Friday of his third week of classes arrived very quickly, and soon Naoki was next to Kotoko, on the way to the station, with her praising her weekend and complaining the exhausting classes, opening her arms.
That day she had been in the library and her time to leave had coincided with his, something that happened twice in the week.
"I don't want mid-term exams to arrive," she said, once in the station, when they reached the turnstiles.
It didn't mattered for him; that day, he had one of his daily test, and actually, evaluations were not very bothersome for him, especially because he liked what he did.
However, he knew that she differed on that topic.
He frowned when he was going to say goodbye to Kotoko, who took the same route as him to go home.
"Where are you going? Your line is to the other side," he said. "Or did you forget it?" he asked jokingly.
On the face she put, she did it deliberately; so it had to be another invitation of his mother.
"Oba-sama wants me to dine with you," she informed him. "It's OK for you?" she asked later, with a honeyed smile.
He sighed feigning exhaustion, and shrugged. "I have to accept it," he answered drily, looking at her to show his amusement denying his words.
Kotoko chuckled and stuck her tongue. She was ahead of him, her back to the road. "Mean," she complained and he held before she hit the wall, where they were going to turn.
"You don't change," he murmured, shaking his head gently. "Watch out."
She put an embarrassed expression and jumped to pick his arm, without losing her good spirits. Exactly a month ago she had accepted him again and it was amazing she resumed her way of being, although sometimes he found her watching at him carefully, as if waiting for some sign from him.
He recognized being tested, but alone with Kotoko, no public, or in contact with her, he was at ease, and he wished that his natural way of acting with her, showed her that he was serious.
It would be a weigh how he damaged her and all their early history, but he would keep quiet.
They made the descent down the stairs with her prattling of a love story, until he hurried with her in tow, noting that transport was there and that people had already gone down.
The doors were closing.
Kotoko let out a series of laughter when they were inside the car, and he rolled his eyes, guiding her to the side. It was not too crowded.
In the end, he also let out a small laugh.
"Chris is very determined on getting a date with Kin-chan," commented Kotoko moments later, laughing. "She confessed to me that, after escaping from her ex-fiancé, she will be in Japan a year to get a boyfriend and learn the language better; her love for Japanese dramas led her to learn. Sounds crazy, right?"
He nodded, rolling his eyes.
"And Kin-chan flees her everywhere," she said in a tone amused, "but Chris says he is the love of her life; she sent a photo to her mother and she thinks she has very good taste."
He snorted, wondering what was going through the head of Western women.
"His okaa-san is famous," Kotoko continued. "She is an actress… and is very beautiful. She's from the nobility. Her otosan owns a bank…" She put a hand to her mouth, silencing a laugh with a guilty expression. "He said Kin-chan is a monkey."
He let out a laugh, finding funny the description of the English's father.
She could not hide her amusement and laughed as he watched her, looking remorseful when their laughter mitigated.
"I like Chris," Kotoko said. "And she has a well-defined goal. I support her. I want them both to have their happy ending, like us. They make very good…"
He froze as she continued talking, taking in her words. He was relieved, grateful to hear the opinion she had of both, and knowing that she was happy at his side, after what happened. His actions should be correct, and it was good; it wasn't enough to know what he had to do but carry it out; at least, it worked to have her back, and have a stable relationship without the details of the past.
Suppressing a smile, he continued listening, while the way home continued.
[…]
Naoki completed his dental cleaning in the bathroom on the ground floor, after a long time waiting for everyone to do it, and left the small room.
He heard his mother and Kotoko talking in the living room, where he went a brief moment to ask if she would go home with him, as the night had fallen. His mother had advance dinner time, just so she could be present and have the opportunity to return.
"Are you going back to your place?" he asked, looking at Kotoko, who was going to nod when his mother spoke.
"Kotoko-chan, accompany onii-chan for a while. He studies a lot in his room."
"But…" Tried to replicate his girlfriend.
"Onii-chan or dad will drive you later," added his mother, smiling.
He shrugged; also, he wondered why she insisted that she accompanied him, if she loved the company of Kotoko, and mostly, because he occupied the time to read before bedtime.
Then, while his mother gave Kotoko a book of knitting, she saw her give her a wink. He had to roll his eyes; it was clear that she sent her with other intentions.
What daring from her part, especially because he had the floor all to himself, and that her head was put on them having intimacy, even with the knowledge of others at home.
He avoided blushing, thinking of the last time the two were alone there.
If his mother knew.
But he would not take those courses, it was not essential in their relationship, though he desired her; he was content with her and that time had been a slip led by strong emotions; they didn't have to limit their relationship to the physical aspect. Also, in the future, there would be enough opportunity, and they were one-step at a time.
He preceded Kotoko on the way to his room, with the sound of her footsteps as sole companion, until he reached his personal space, where he indicated that she could enter after opening.
She blushed under the doorway of his bedroom, without advancing, and he let out a small laugh, aware of what was going through her head.
He turned to Kotoko, placing his hand on her head, a movement that to others resembled a caress.
"Come in," he invited impassive, and she took a deep breath, nodding to enter with her head down. "Take the place you want."
"Yes," she whispered, staying motionless in the middle of the room, looking around.
He purposely left the door open and then walked to his desk, where he took place and took the book of Pharmacology he was concentrated in those days.
He decided to give her space and turned his back, holding back from what she was doing. She had not had peeked into his room since they slept together, so she had not had a chance to settle entirely in her head.
After a few moments, he heard the faint sound of the mattress, so his interest won and he turned to find her lying on her bed, with her miniature copy in her chest and the book over her head.
The corner of his mouth arched into the image and he sighed, returning his eyes to the words in the medical tome, focusing entirely on it.
Much later, when her eyes were a bit heavy, noting that took it had been a while without hearing the sound of the pages from her, he took one look at the clock, realizing he had to take her home.
He shook his head and saw the page in the book, standing up.
"Kotoko," he called, arranging the table.
With no response, he turned.
"Naoki-kun," Kotoko mumbled, as he approached the bed; there he noticed that she had fallen asleep with the doll beside her.
He picked up the book on the floor and placed it on the nightstand, before laying his eyes on her.
He took the phone from Kotoko, which rested on her chest, squeezed by her hand, and chuckled, seeing a game of solitaire open. He turned it off and settled it on the book, sighing.
He took out his own phone from his pocket and pressed the screen to call Shigeo-san, who attended promptly.
"Good night, oji-san," he greeted as well.
"What happened?" asked his father-in-law on the other side.
"Kotoko fell asleep at home."
On the other side, Shigeo-san laughed. He should also know of her heavy sleep.
"Although you don't believe it, it makes me calm down," Shigeo-san said. "Today the restaurant is hectic; mainly because the clientele has increased since the presence of Christine. We'll be closing a little later; I won't have to worry because she's alone."
"Then I do not interrupt you more, oji-san."
"Thank you for contacting me. I know she will be well looked after. Have a good night."
"I wish you the same. Bye."
He hung up and looked at his girlfriend, before maneuvering to accommodate her under the sheets and help her be as comfortable as she could be in her current circumstances. It was good she used a skirt and no jeans, so he just had to release her hair and place her head on the pillow, where she settled in her sleep.
He leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips, took his belongings to go and take a shower, leaving the lamp on his nightstand on.
Ten minutes later, trying to dry his hair as much as possible, he also decided to lie down and not to delay his sleep.
He closed the door and turned the bed to take the place of the left. He went to bed, turning off the light of the lamp and settled his body to sleep and closed his eyes.
However, before the sleep beat him, Naoki felt her lean, with the doll placed between the two. He made a slight exhalation and took the doll to place it on the table to his left, settling again, this time approaching the body of Kotoko to his, experiencing a sense of joy for having her at his arms at night.
He should expect much time for it to happen again.
He would be patient.
With a sigh, he closed his eyes and let sleep surrender him.
[…]
The next morning, Naoki was awoken by his mother. She chattered incessantly as she moved his shoulders, until he spoke letting her know he was conscious, forcing her to turn back to bed and call Kotoko, abruptly awakening her.
She was not attached to him as when he fell sleep, because at night he discovered the movements that Yuuki wrote in his vacations homework, which made Kotoko put distance between them at any time of night. He felt her moved for a few moments, but nothing of her bothered him to sleep.
Fortunately, for her night restlessness, his mother did not find them too close together.
He realized he had not set the alarm to wake up and go to practice, but he figured it had no great importance.
"What time is it?" Kotoko asked stretching just as he rubbed his eyes.
"Ten something," said his mother, making him blink in surprise.
He stood up and confirmed that it was, getting out of the bed, stretching his muscles in the process.
"Onii-chan, get dressed to go out," requested his mother, holding the hand of his girlfriend. "Kotoko-chan, I have clothes for you, a lot of I bought that you didn't take, come on."
"Why the rush?" he asked, frowning.
"After having breakfast we will go to a place that was remodeled, I want you to see it," announced his mother, making Kotoko stood, though she walked like a zombie.
He rolled his eyes and grabbed his stuff, getting ready, as she wanted. He did not understand why his mother put so much interest in a place remodeled, but to avoid her insisting, he would follow her ridiculous orders.
He dressed in dark jeans and a blue shirt, passing a sleepy Kotoko in the hallway. She watched him confused a few seconds as she looked at her blue dress and looked around.
"Did I go back in time?" she asked, frowning.
He laughed. "Ahead," he muttered, heading for the stairs with her.
"Hey?"
"You fell asleep," he explained, shrugging. "I told your father."
He looked over his shoulder, getting a nodded. "Where are we going? We aren't going to train?"
"One of my mother's ideas," he said, descending. "We're not training."
"Oh."
She yawned.
"It's amazing you have sleep left after all you've slept," he observed, making her laugh.
"There's never enough sleep," she claimed.
He shook his head and ended the first flight of stairs, where he met Yuuki, who made a face of not knowing when he asked him with his eyes for the attitude of their mother.
"Good morning, silly," greeted his brother with a chuckle.
She stuck out her tongue. "Good morning, otouto. Do not forget I'm your onee-san," she mocked.
He stepped forward as their kept their childish fight and reached the first floor of his house, approaching the dining room for breakfast, taking just a seat when Kotoko came running.
"Thanks for the food!" She spoke before she took her food quickly.
He did the same at a more restrained pace, as his mother walked there giving they looks that intrigued him.
That gaze caused him a bit of reluctance on the inside, which continued all the way in the car, with his mother on the steering wheel; the other looked at the outside having the same puzzled expression as he squinted trying to think what kind of thing could cause such enthusiasm expression in his mother.
After half an hour away, without a word, his mother parked in a place full of residential houses, where he had not been before.
His eyes were curious about it, wondering exactly what kind of building could be there… completely distrustful of all of it.
"We're going to walk just a little," said his smiling mother, stepping forward to follow her.
His eyes analyzed the sidewalk as they walked, watching meticulously around.
"We arrived!" His mother stood with hands up and he looked surprised at the exact spot she did, watching a bell on top of a religious building.
"Why did I have to come here, Noriko?" He turned to the right, with an eyelid trembling, to the father of Kotoko, who closed the door of his cab and looked at them with a shocked face.
"For a wedding!" cried his mother.
The temple doors opened wide, showing inside their acquaintances; they were moving their hands, greeting them.
A wave of anger ran through him and he gritted his teeth, glaring at his mother. She, excited, was telling them that she had been planning happy the event.
Such insolence.
His eyes turned away from his reckless parent and went to his girlfriend, whose brown orbs glittered in panic. With everything that happened for her to accept, his mother intended to push her, push them (because he wanted to complete their education before marrying her) to join in marriage.
"Okaa-san!" complained, turning his eyes to his mother.
"Oba-sama," whispered Kotoko his side.
On his periphery, she saw her sinking.
It was too early for that. He wanted to marry her, but he wanted to do it differently… he'd only accept now if she agreed. However, her body language showed she was far from it.
If his mother had done something wrong before, she had beat herself now.
He closed the distance to his girlfriend looking at him fearfully, and bent down to her ear. "Do you want a race?" he murmured, only for her to hear.
A few seconds passed and Kotoko turned to him, her expression changing to a smile. Then she nodded.
He took her hand, prompting excited cheers from his mother, to whom he raised an eyebrow. She would be busy in the next few hours, he thought mischievously… vindictive.
They took a step toward his mother—others making space—and surrounded her, as she said she had the clothes ready for everyone.
"Come on," he whispered to Kotoko.
Then he ran with her, who followed his pace, walking as fast as they could to increase the distance between the madness of Noriko Irie and them.
Not caring for something else, they escaped, listening to the amazed screams at his mother behind, calling them.
[…]
After a long journey, Naoki stopped, Kotoko imitating him, and both breathed agitated, recovering the air after a long run to be the farthest away from the temple.
They had run enough so his mother, with the imposition of her desire, her plans, didn't catch up to them. In addition, she would be very busy to cancel everything that she had orchestrated.
For a moment, he felt slightly guilty, but that changed as soon as he was sure it was right for both of them not to marry at that time, less with the doubts and the fear that he had seen in the face of Kotoko. It was clear that she would think that, had he convinced her now, it could be something related to the proposition of his father, even though he had assured her it wasn't real for his parent.
He took long breaths and looked up, realizing that the other side of the street was a park, in its entire spring splendor. There was a pond with ducks swimming and a couple of kids feeding them, people exercising and others walking calmly on that Saturday afternoon.
"I…" he looked at Kotoko. "Not right now…"
He put his hands in his pockets. "Do you want to feed the ducks?" he asked, as if nothing.
She gasped a moment, and then smiled with a nod.
"For now, I'm happy as your girlfriend," she said holding onto his arm.
Naoki laughed softly, though he felt pleased that she had said that for the first time.
They crossed the street and went to a stall, leaving her to order the food for ducks as he pulled his vibrant phone from his pocket, which he turned off without looking.
They made the purchase and walked to an empty bench near the pond. They sat there, oblivious to what was happening in the reality that they had neglected moments ago.
Kotoko, happy, began throwing food to the ducks, and he watched them, squawking happy, enjoying the calm of the moment, feeling happiness and fulfillment.
His eyes looked askance at his girlfriend, who smiled entertaining the birds… and put a concealed smile. Imperfect girlfriend for anyone, but then one for him.
Without turning, he placed a hand behind her back, feeling her waist in his fingers as she approached her body to his.
And in her company, he enjoyed the passing of time.