Nao steps inside after you. "Thank you." He said slipping off his shoes. Leaving them by the door. "I wasn't sure if you'd be coming home soon or not."
You smile softly, taking off your shoes and set your package on the kitchen counter. Reminding yourself to get to it soon. "Sorry, I didn't mean to keep you waiting. I had something to do." Step into the kitchen and grab the kettle from off the stove, fill it with some water and put it back. Turning on the pilot light. "There that should take a bit." Dust your hands off. "Please," you offer a hand out to the your living/dinning room area. "make yourself at home. I'll get things ready."
He nods and walks over, taking his time giving himself a little look around. Where went, it was cozy and simple. You put your touch in it, making it as homey as possible. He noticed the picture of April you had on the T.V. stand, his heart and smile sunk for a moment. It was hard to believe from what the others told him, about what happened to her. He couldn't believe it, but Makoto and Haru where honest about it. He saw the tinge of pain they still held from it, she actually...died. He never expected that from her, then again...now that he thought about it. When they where younger, there times she was absent or had to go home and he or Natsuya had to walk May home.
Yeah, Nao recalled. Once April did faint and they had to rush her off. No one told May when she came, April made them promise not to say a single thing. He didn't, now..he kind of wish he did. Still, it would have been nice to see her again. After so long, after what happened. Sure April completed her junior high with him and Natsuya, but it wasn't the same, because...Nao turns back to you. You where busy getting plates and cups, turning off the fire. Feeling his eyes on you, look up and smile at him, he smiles back. You go back to getting things together., His smile falls returning back to the picture of April, April wasn't the same really when she and her sister became separated. Only one of them was allowed to stay.
Mrs. Yama was only able to keep one, the other had to go. It was April who was...in the since the lucky one. If one could call it lucky. May was taken away and place in who knows where. Nao remembered, a week and half after it happened, April came back do devoid, she was like a ghost. That clung to limbo in hopes of finding her sister. Finding where she went, every day...she'd walk by and stare into May's old classroom. And every day the tears would dry up and nothing seem to remain. April stopped going to the pool, she didn't have the heart really. But, he and Natsuya would at times catch April standing outside looking in. They both couldn't imagine what she was going, it was like she died but was forced to live. Having lost their father and her sister right after.
There wasn't much Nao admit he could do. Except be there, the only thing that seem to bring April joy, the pictures her sister had taken and left behind. That each of them had, in a form an photo album she made for everyone. Sort of like a scrap book. It was small, but it meant so much to April. Because it was her sister, it was a part of her sister.
It brought her smile back, even if it was small.
And that was all that mattered. Once junior high ended, April went away. He never saw her again, until now. The picture of her was the last age she was. It was a selfie of the two sisters together. Taken by May, it would seem. At festival it would seem, both of them where wearing kimonos. April standing behind May, her arms dropped over the youngest shoulders, hugging her sister close and secure. That famous warm and charming smile on April's lips, with that wink she always gave before laughing. May stood before her sister with a soft dolce smile. But, the pure happiness could seen in both their eyes and love just radiated off them.
The happiest he'd ever seen them both, smiling to himself. Glad to see their smiles had returned.
"That was the first and last we both went to the fair together." you said walking over with the kettle, plates, cups, and chopsticks for two. Your eyes mist with looking at the picture, smile softly. Wipe your eyes quickly. Swallow the rising sobs in your throat. "I had just been returned to her. She was...eighteen," you express voice slightly cracking.
Nao turns to you, his eyes apologize while at the same time soften with admiration in the way you presented yourself. Choose to listen. Your words came out with love and warmth despite the small tinge of longing. "She wanted take me so bad, I remember. It was first thing she wanted to do, we had a great time. We played so many games," you smile laughing a bit. "I managed to win, she didn't. Our favorite part or should I say her favorite part, the fireworks. We finally got to see them together. That day, that time..she let me do anything I wanted. But," your lips quivers a bit. "all I really wanted now that I think about it was, her. More time with her. Because there was so much time that passed between us. I often wondered if she still thought of me."
Your eyes drop to the floor, the tears started to come. You tried to hold them back. "She did." Nao said resting a light hand on your shoulder, lifted your eyes up. To his. "There wasn't a day that went by she didn't think of you. You were her best friend, May. April loved you more than you know and always wanted you to be happy."
The tears welled up again, he pats your shoulder a few times before using the sleeve of his sweater to dry them up. "Sorry." He apologizes. You smile through the dry tears.
Laughing just a bit. "T-That's okay. Thank you though. Because of April," you pause for moment, eyes still on your sister. "she brought me together. Now," clearing your throat hold up the kettle. "I really want to eat that miso flavor instant ramen." Gesturing to the coffee table go over.
He follows, sitting on one side. While you took the other. He takes out things of instant miso ramen, setting one before you. You give him a set of chopsticks, a cup and a plate. He opens the ramen up, allowing you to pour the water in. The aroma filled your, your stomach growled. With joyful hunger. You couldn't remember the last time you had this. When the last time you sat with Nao, eating this. He had the same thought in his eyes, taking out what else he had in the bag.
Choco cornets!
You squeal inside clasping your hands together, bouncing up and down like a child. Nao did his best not laugh, but he couldn't stop his smile from deepening. You lite up just as you did years ago, when he would present it to you. A special treat...
"A choco cornet! Oh wow!" you gasped, eyes wide as dinner plates. Jump up and down on your toes, gushing at the treat Nao presented to you. The others, April, Natsuya, Haru, Mako, Asahi, and Ikuya look on smiling. Asahi was slightly frowning...pouting.
Arms cross over his chest. Fuming. You instantly take it from Nao and bite down, melting in the taste. Your cheeks burst with pink nearly matching your hair, spin around giggling.
All from a single food item. Spin around running to April, arms out food hanging from your mouth. Voice as high as the sky. "Sister! Sister! Look what I got!"
Nao walks over watching April nearly be dragged down by you hanging hug. She smiles at you, while trying to hold herself up, looks to him. Lightly chuckling."You spoil her you know that."
He did, he admitted that. Even now. And just like years ago, you had the cornet hanging from mouth melting into it. He finished taking out the rest. Two bottles of peach flavor ramune. Your eyes lite up again, he was sure they became high beams. Again another treat. You remember drinking this one day with everyone, Natsuya, April, and himself decided to treat everyone after a job well done. Everyone was allowed to get one, it was your first time drinking it, and you loved it. Like the choco cornets, Nao would bring it for you.
He opens them, handing one to you. Done with your dessert, which you should have eaten last, wash it down with the delicious drink. The bubbles tickled going making you laugh.
Hiccupping too.
Nao kept smiling, picking up his chopsticks fumbles around with the noodles. They where ready, after a few sips and laugh, you set the drink aside and pick up your chopsticks. Do the same thing he did and begin to eat.
Slurping on noodles, smile and giggle between each bite. It was so warm, so filling. Even the broth you drunk once done with the noodles. Release a satisfied sigh, lick your lips a bit to get any left of taste. Nao hadn't finished his in the ten minutes you finished yours.
He stared shocked. "Well, I guess I should bought more." He lightly jokes. Eating some of his. You went to finish off your drink, while eyeing his cornet. He saw this and slides it over to you. Allowing you to have. "So," he starts. Just as you bite into the dessert. "are you going to open your package?" He asked filling his mouth with noodles.
You nearly forgot, with the cornet in your mouth go and get it. He follows you, swallowing some noodles. Watching you try to find who it was from. Seeing nothing, you open it anyway. Find to your surprise, assortments of different treats in both peach and taro flavor. There cookies, candy, pudding cups, and so much more, along with a white puka necklace and other trinkets. There was even a plushie…a shark plushie.
Your brows lift with laughter while your eyes frown. It didn't hide the true gleam in your eyes Nao noticed. "Those seem like a lot of gifts." He accounted, picking up the shark plushie. Reading the tag. Surprised where it came from. "Australia? All the way from there, who do you know there? Oh!" He noticed something under the plushie, turns it over to see. Softly smiles.
Hands it back it to you. You take it casually and turn it over to its stomach to see. Your heart instantly swelled up, beating wildly against your chest. That frown in your eyes lite into a smile, despite how deeply you tired to hide it. It made its way softly on your lips. Set the plushie to the side. Right next to you.
And answer Nao's question. Humming fondly."Yeah, just a friend."
"Well, I'm sure whoever this friend is rather special." he said. "May," he gets your attention. There was a slight seriousness in calm his voice. That gave him your full attention. "I was hoping we could talk. Or better you could talk." You weren't sure what he meant, but had an idea where this was going from the knotted feeling in your stomach. Your eyes disconnect from his took elsewhere.
Your voice even loses volume, it almost sounded like it faded. Swallow. "W-What did you want to talk about?"
He takes a sip of his drink. When he sat it down, you slightly flinch. "Well, I'll start, I ran into Mako recently and meet up with Haru and Asahi. We were able to catch up after some time. I was hoping we could do the same. They told me how they've been doing and that they've recently ran into Ikuya too. I'm not sure how he's doing besides what the others have said, I do know this though." He pauses for a moment. Each second that passed crawled on your skin. "What happened between them, don't let that upset you."
Your eyes drop further. He kept going. "They didn't mean for it go the way it did. For what happen-"
You hold up a hand, stopping him. "Whatever happened, I don't really have time to think about that right now. I've got another puzzle to fix." Sharply let slip. Quickly cover your mouth. Mumble something in them. He barely managed to hear.
The response he was rather surprise to hear. Despite your eyes saying something else. "May..."he said.
You run your fingers through your hair, with a sigh. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out like that. What I meant to say was that, well, however or whatever it is or was..."Clench your fist for a second. Release it.
His eyes search you, the words of the others ring in his mind. He could hear their desperate apologies meant for you. Especially from Asahi. Despite how hard you tired to hide your hurt, it still poked out. Your worry.
Extends a hand to you. "I'm sure they would greatly appreciate you being there at the upcoming tourament. Everyone's going to be there and you can snap the moment."
Your heart lurched from the words, he noticed your hands shaking a bit before you hide them under the table and brief haze in your eyes. "Well...I..."you twiddle with your words. You had yet to return to meet his eyes.
Shifting a bit in your spot, jolt hearing your phone ring. Raise instantly and hurry to get it. Nao watches you swipe it up and take a second before answer it. "H-Hello?" You cough clearing the lump in your throat. He noticed the change in your tone and took it as his cue to go. Rises from his spot.
You noticed and quickly end the call. Step out the kitchen stopping Nao. "Sorry!"
He smiles tenderly at you. "No. That's alright. It was great catching up with you." He slips on his shoes. Still talking. "Haru told me your majoring in sports journalism and photography. That's good to know. Choosing something your passionate about. I know April would be happy to know." He rest a hand on your shoulder squeezing it softly. "You always capture the best parts, I hope you come to the meet. It'll be great to see that again."
"...Nao..."
He takes his hand back, hoovering it over your head. Stops himself, remembering you weren't a child anymore. Takes it back. Grabs the door knob. "I'll see you later, May. Have a good-night."
You had the words, they came out. Stop. "Yeah...good..good-night." They changed at the last minute. You stood at the door find yourself waving back to Nao, watching him walk down the stairs. Each step he took down, your heart dropped also. Sinking lower when he was out of sight. Go back inside.
Shutting the door, walk to the table and clean it up. Throw the trash away and dishes in the sink. Grab your phone, go back to the living room. Collecting the box and plushie head to your room.
Set it on your bed. Go to your drawer, set your phone down to look for some thing to wear. It vibrates. You didn't pick it up till after you found something, see it was from Kon. Your sullen eyes read it. And respond. Walk to the bathroom, decided to take a shower. A quick one. Step out, dry off and slip on your night large red shirt and socks. Walk to your bed, climb in taking the plushie set it by you along with your phone. Grab a the plushie and hold it close against your chest, bury your eyes in it. Muffling your cries...stop hearing your phone ring.
Reaching out slowly pick it up and read who it was. Set it back down. Face down. Squeeze the plushie closer, extend a hand to the empty spot next to you where the phone rested.
Grab a fist full of the sheets. Curl up and allow sleep to take you. Despite your whirling thoughts.