Chapter Five: A Café near the Station
Yuki grinned when she saw her stepbrother stepped out from the bathroom, looking pretty neat. His blond hair, defying gravity as usual, was combed tidily and his face was cleaner. He wore a white undershirt and brown trousers. Yuki lifted her eyebrow, appreciating the view. She was no different from the other girls from her school. She had to admit she liked her stepbrother's athletic body.
"A date?" she asked, still grinning. "This fast? You just arrived!"
Tappei glared at her, but didn't say anything. Instead, he fumbled with his suitcase, looking for something else to wear. Yuki's grin faded slightly into a small smile.
"I'll take it as a yes," she said proudly.
Tappei looked up and rolled his eyes at her, seeing no use to reply her remarks.
"Congratulations, big brother," she said, lifting her eyebrow. "Make sure to make her happy, alright? Want me to fetch some presents or something?"
Tappei glared at her, which she ignored. "I can help myself, thank you very much. Now, where is that shirt? That brown one?"
"Whatever," she said, grinning again as she walked out from the room. Tappei looked up at her when she shrugged. "And make sure not to wear your brown shirt. My friend kissed it yesterday. Sorry. Couldn't stop her for loving you so much."
She was only several steps out from the room when she heard his scream.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT?!"
"Are you sure this is okay?" Miiko asked worriedly. "You sure this doesn't look too weird or something?"
"Weird?" Kobayashi Yuka laughed from the bed she was sitting on. "I never think you'll ever look weird. I think you look pretty."
Miiko still looked worried. Yuka had to shake her head in exasperation. Actually, the older woman was nice-looking (in her opinion), with that dark blue jeans and a brown t-shirt. She only needed some makeup and wore those pretty high heels that Yuka had bought her as a Christmas present.
Yuka actually had to wonder, what on earth made Miiko so nervous like this. Surely it wasn't a date with Yoshida, since as long as they were together, Miiko had never barged into her house, asking for how to look more stylish or something.
A terrifying thought crossed her mind.
"Miiko?"
"Yes?" Miiko looked away from the mirror, obviously still worrying about tidying her hair. Yuka frowned. She had never seen Miiko trying to comb her hair for Yoshida, and that confused her.
"You're not... going out with someone else, right?"
Miiko's head reeled as if she'd been slapped. "What? Of course... of course not!"
Yuka merely stared at her, terrifyingly reminding Miiko of the mixture of her parents and Mamoru. Well, actually her mother's gaze was scarier than that. "No," the brunette tried her best to make her brother's girlfriend sure. "I'm just going to see an old friend. I need to make myself good for er... him, right? We haven't met for a long time, anyway."
That was a weak argument and both Miiko and Yuka knew that. But Yuka lowered her gaze and smiled at the other woman, knowing how nervous she was. "You look pretty, Miiko. But does Yoshida know about this? You should tell him where you'll go, or he'll be panicked. Remember when you went off in an emergency interview about the earthquake? He sat down here and almost bit his nails off his fingers. And then he paced a hole on my carpet."
Miiko smiled guiltily at her, although amusement flashed in her eyes for a second. "No," she finally answered, trying to sound cheerful. However, Yuka could see cold sweat of nervousness rolled down her temple and to her cheek. "It doesn't matter. We won't take long. He won't know, and I don't think he'd like it if he does."
The brunette was back combing her hair when Yuka broke the silence. "Is it Eguchi? Tappei? Your childhood friend who's now a swimmer? The one who came from America?"
Miiko froze and Yuka knew she had hit a point. And Mamoru had told her about his sister's past with the blond swimmer, which made her wonder. "Miiko," she called calmly.
"Yeah?"
"Do you... you know... like him?"
Miiko slowly turned her face at her. A deep frown crossed her forehead, destroying the makeup and the youthfulness of the face itself. She opened her mouth several times but no word came out. Their silence strengthened the tension of the room. Finally she blinked and said, "Not as much as I love Ikuya, that's for sure."
Yuka smiled an unsure smile. "Then, you're ready to go."
Yamada had given him the address of a cafe near the station, which, to Tappei's surprise, was the quietest cafe ever. It wasn't like there was nobody inside it. Instead, the place was pretty full of people, but they were busy with their own business.
The good thing was nobody recognised Tappei. The young man sat on the farthest seat from the window, musing. The waitress came and asked if he wanted to order something, but Tappei merely shook his head at her, gesturing her to wait. She did and left him alone with the cafe's list of foods and beverages.
Dark shadow fell on the menu he was reading and he looked up. Yamada was there, wearing a brown t-shirt (rather ironic if Tappei remembered about his own tee) and a pair of dark jeans. "You're late," Tappei said irritatingly.
Yamada rolled her eyes and sat down. "Give me that," she said just as irritatingly and took the menu Tappei was reading, ignoring the protest from the blond man. "I'd like some ice cream and doughnuts. You?"
It was Tappei's turn to roll his eyes. She would never change. "Soda will do."
Yamada ordered their meals and smiled at him. She looked much more at ease than at that interview. "You don't change," she said, still smiling at him. That made Tappei wonder.
"What do you mean?"
"You. And that cap. And soda." She shook her head vigorously. "And that baseball jacket. Who would have guessed? I thought not becoming a baseball player changed you or something."
Tappei didn't know what to say, so he decided to explain what was exactly happened to him. Why he didn't tell them, why he just left.
It took him an hour or so, telling her his sob story, and to his surprise she took it well. Better than Shimura, that was for sure. She didn't sneer at him or patronized him for leaving without telling. She merely nodded, her eyes grim and a deep frown crossed her forehead. But other than that, she didn't say anything.
And for that, Tappei was thankful.
"Er, Miss? Your ice cream's melting."
The passing waitress' words snapping the two old friends back to reality. Yamada's eyes widened comically at the sight of her melting ice cream. "Oh no!" she exclaimed, taking the glass and hurriedly ate the meal. Tappei looked down at his own soda, and the cream of his drink had melted into his glass. Some of the cream slid down to the table making a white stain on it. He groaned.
Yamada still looked a bit ashen when she looked up at him. "Here's my favourite place," she said cheerfully. Although Tappei knew it was still forced. "What's yours in America?"
"Well..." he mused. "There is a restaurant, my friends took me there once and let's say that place hooked me."
"What does it serve?"
"The best burger I've ever eaten. Like that. Some junk food, but the best ones," Tappei grinned. "But probably you're forbidden for that place."
She frowned. "Why?"
"Because they don't accept overweight people."
Yamada needed a minute to understand what he said. When she finally did, she glared at him and punched his upper arm from across the table. "Stop calling me fat! I'm not!" She kept doing as she said those words. "I'm. Not. Fat. Remember that!"
Tappei laughed and rubbed his sore arm. "Stop it, silly," he chided. Yamada did and she leant back at her chair. "Okay, okay, maybe you'll like it." He smiled at her. "Someday I'll take you there."
That sounded like a promise and that made the two silent.
The blond man practically hit his head for not remembering Yamada's 'taken' status. He sounded like a silly man making a promise to the girl he liked. Really he did sound like that.
Maybe because he really did like her.
"Tappei? You're drifting again."
Tappei looked at her. "Sorry."
"Never mind," she said, although there was a flash of annoyance in her eyes. "Want some?" she asked, pointing at the doughnuts. "They're the best ones."
"Really?" Tappei asked, taking one. He hadn't eaten doughnuts since he graduated college. And that meant years ago. He took a bite. It really tasted good, at least for someone who had practically forgot how doughnuts tasted like. "Nice."
"See?" she beamed at him. "Have no cafe like this back in America, yes?"
"Not like that," he mock-glared at her. "It's just... my dad doesn't like me eating junk foods and cakes and so on. Besides, I'm a swimmer, not a fat reporter."
Yamada glared at him and Tappei leant back with a grin, in case she wanted to punch him again like what they did back in the elementary school. But she merely sighed and ate her doughnut. "How's him?"
"Huh?"
"Your dad."
"He's fine. Really glad that I've become a swimmer, though. He never contacts... you know, my mother. Never."
"I can understand that," Yamada said. Then she looked at her now empty plate of doughnuts. "You know, I'm really glad you're home."
Tappei's face cracked into a grin. "Me too."
"Yukko and Kenta and Mari-Chan and the others are too. They don't hate you. We don't hate you."
"I know."
"We had beaten you or something, yes, but that doesn't mean we hate you. We just hate your cowardice—admit that, Tappei—but we're actually glad you're back in here."
Tappei hated being called a coward. Everyone he knew, even Reagan Jones, hated being called that. But this time, Yamada had said that and as painful as it was, it was the truth. She was right. "I know. I'm sorry." Sorry was a foreign word in his mouth, but it was relieving that he could say it. To Yamada, above all people.
"We all know. And you're not a coward anymore." She grinned. "If you were still one, you would've no guts to come back here. So, welcome back to Japan, to us."
The blond grinned back. "Thanks a lot," he said. He hadn't felt happier than this for... how long?... maybe years.
"So... I think I should go," she said before standing up. "Mamo will be here in a minute."
Tappei stood as well. "Can I take you home or something?" he asked, braving himself. He had liked her since he was a kid and had been too shy to tell her and now, when she had a boyfriend, he had gotten the guts. Like what Jones used to say, that absolutely sucked.
She shook her head. "No thanks."
Yamada was opening her wallet to pay their meal when Tappei saw something.
"You have a driving licence. Why don't you drive home yourself?"
She smiled slightly at him. "That doesn't matter," she answered. She had this face that made Tappei decided not to ask for it again, although he knew there was something about it. He knew Yamada Mamoru's busy schedule, and there was no way he could pick her up this time.
Tappei pulled out his own wallet and paid for his soda, much to Yamada's annoyance. But finally she agreed and they paid for their own meals. They still hadn't left the place where they were standing and silence covered them like a thick black cloak.
"So," Tappei broke the silence. "See you next time?" That was a question, not a statement.
"Of course," she smiled at him. She was almost as tall as him now, and he wondered how on earth she could get this tall. "Maybe the others want to talk to you too. Thanks for today."
Tappei snorted. "Screw the formality."
Yamada laughed and looked at the window. There was a car parked near the door. "Okay... time to go. See you."
Tappei wanted to tease her, just like what he used to do. "Hey, Yamada?" he called when she was going to open the glass door.
"What?"
"Why are you wearing those heels? You're too short for your own good!"
He had run away to the men's lavatory before Yamada could answer.
Miiko huffed at the spot where Tappei had run away and shook her head exasperatedly. He really hasn't changed, she thought with a small smile on her face. She heard a car being honked and was forced to look away. At the sight of the car, she approached it.
"Sorry," she said not so apologetically.
Mamoru snorted next to her, but didn't say anything. She knew he was annoyed; being forced to leave one of his practice sessions was annoying after all. He began to drive the car down the street in silence. Finally he broke it.
"Those are Yuka's shoes."
"No, it's mine." Miiko insisted. "She gave it to me as Christmas present."
"I mean those look like hers." He stopped below the red light. "Why your boyfriend can't pick you up? Why me?" he asked irritatingly.
"I met Tappei," Miiko answered. "Is that enough for an answer?"
That silenced her brother instantly. Miiko decided to make it up for him. "Listen," she said, staring at him with her huge eyes. "I know you're sore at me because of this, but I'm sorry. I'm soooooooooo sorry. Okay, my dear brother? Okay?"
Mamoru rolled his eyes. "Stop that," he said in slight amusement. They were nearing Miiko's apartment. "You're not convincing me. Whatever then. Up to you."
He stopped the car. "We're here. And stop pulling me out my practice hours."
Miiko winked at him and pulled him into a sisterly hug. "Thanks, Mamo. I owe you."
With that, she was gone. The young baseball player shook his head in mixture of annoyance and happiness. His older sister had gone through many things, and seeing her happy like she used to be was a good thing. A really good thing, even.
Even if that meant he missed one of his baseball practice.
A/N: WOOO LONGER CHAPTER! YAAAAY! :D
Okay, first I'm sorry for the long update.
My modem died permanently TWICE (blame Chris Furrh for that! He killed it! Chris Furrh the Modem Killer! *points at the blond boy in my profile pic*) and once when I was almost done so it has to be changed to a new one. It's a coincidence but it died when I was looking at Chris' photos. See why I blamed him? And why did he had to be so nice looking? IN 1990?! XD *muter Bacchanalia dan lari keliling kamar dengan muka dicat lipstik*
Oh, Seer! Stop rambling.
Happy late Doomsday, Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays), and Happy New Year all! This chapter has actually done before New Year, but I've gone away for holidays at that time so yeah. Hope you all have a nice 2013! I got three books for Christmas and one of 'em is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and it was amazing! Have you guys read it?
Ideas and reviews are so very welcome!
Bad news #1: Remember Try Outs and National Exams? My holiday ends in January 7th (that's why I want this chapter to be done first) so I don't know when to update again. I also want to apply in a certain university so I have to study harder. Grr.
Bad news #2 (or maybe Good news #1?): This story is starting to be slightly dark, and it deals with some kind of depression and a bit of disability, so if you don't like them in this cheery lil fandom, you better get away from this. I'm not kidding because I don't accept flames.
Good news #1 (or #2?): I thought of better plot! And look! I've applied some Tappei/Miiko jokes! I mean, Tappei won't stop insulting Miiko, and Miiko won't stop hitting Tappei, after all. But a 25 year old woman hitting her friend's head just won't do, right? So we have Miiko hitting his upper arm instead. ^.^
Noowww, my fav part! Review's answer! Thanks all for reviewing :D
DheKyu:
Sebenernya bukan Tappei ninggalin Miiko atau gimana. Dia pindah ke AS ikut ayahnya, cuma awalnya dia nggak enak ngomongin dia bakal pergi soalnya ngepas hari kelulusan SD, jadinya dia nggak bilang apa-apa. Akhirnya dia keterusan, nggak berani bilang kalo dia tuh sebenernya udah pindah ke luar negeri sama temen-temennya.
Makasih! UN oh UN. :|
Twin Judge of Gemini:
My written Indonesian is much better for writing essays, not stories. That's why I write my stories in English. I don't think I want to translate this, because like I said, my Indonesian is as stiff as a board. If someone wants to I won't mind, as long as they tell me first.
Yes, you just read the longer chapter! It's around 2.400 words, and it's longer than the others. Well, I know UN isn't that hard, but still. D: Thanks a lot!
Wonton Noodle:
Thanks for keeping up with me! And yes, I'll watch my step :D
I know! That's why I'll keep threading and will write as soon as I can. And it's okay of you don't have any suggestion, I'll go out there and find more inspiration :D
Ryuzaki Miki:
Why thank you *is flattered*. And yes, the 4th was the last, but hey, I updated! :D
Pleased to meet you too!
Muthia: (oke anda review di chap.2 but gapapalah :D)
Iya, iya. *lari buat ngupdate*
lidiishere:
Hello too! And yes, I'm from Indonesia. Why? Are you an Indonesian as well? :D
Thanks! And I'll do my best :)