Chapter Two
The cold times make dreams fall like rain and slip through my hands…
When I woke up from the countless wishes…
You are reflected in a shimmering illusion…
Damnit!
The silhouette whose faint smile leads me along…
They were still there, trapped in my mind and set to permanent repeat. Was there a melody? Could lyrics that atrocious even support a melody? Would I even want to hear it!?
No. I wouldn't.
There would be no reason for that.
Wearily, I drew myself from my bed and headed for the shower. Although I had slept for a fair amount of time, my mind was still heavy as it craved for the silence of sleep. Silence. Where no words could torment me.
Alas, I knew it wasn't meant to be. Not even a minute had passed after I got out of the shower that the doorbell rang. It didn't take a genius to figure out who it was. Letting out a small sigh of irritation, I begrudgingly opened the front door.
"Yuki-san." On the doorstep stood Kanna Mizuki, my editor. There wasn't much to say about her, other than she was generic. She bowed, at the waist 90 degrees, in front of me. If I hadn't been so used to it by now, those over-done formalities would get annoying very quickly.
"I've come for your manuscript. You're 8 days past deadline." A smile was plastered over her face, but I could easily see through it. She wasn't going to leave without that manuscript.
So I closed the door in her face.
"Yuki-san…" That same, ever patient and admonishing voice continued to speak to me through the door. She wasn't going to leave, not even after that. It'd take more than a door slammed in the face to get rid of Mizuki.
So I locked it for good measure.
Whether she decided to leave or not, I didn't plan on sticking around to witness. This was no way to start a morning, especially after such a restless night. Heading towards the kitchen, I made my way towards the coffee maker… until the phone started to ring.
Damnit it all to hell, how hard is it to find a little peace and quiet these days!? The weariness from last night started to sink in as I marched towards the phone and lifted the receiver to my ear, "What?"
"Is that your idea of answering the phone!?" It was worse than I had feared. "Honestly, Eiri, why not try saying hello like a normal human being?"
Mika. My older sister and proof that demons still walk the earth. "…hello." At this point in our story, I am in no mood to argue. I'm not even sure why I'm still holding the receiver. I should have slammed it down the minute I heard that familiar piercing tone.
There's a frustrated sigh from the other end of the phone. Here it comes. "Eiri, why haven't you come home? I sent you a letter over two weeks ago, and you haven't been returning my calls!"
Not this again. The same thing, over and over. Come home, Eiri. You're needed at home, Eiri. Father misses you, Eiri.
Bullshit, Eiri.
"I have no reason to come home. I have things to do here." There's no reason to go into anything. I already know it's futile.
Another sigh. Now it's time for operation: guilt-trip. "You really need to come home, Eiri! What kind of example are you setting for Tatsuha!? Every night I call and you're not home! And no, that does not count as research for your romance novels! When are you going to realize that you have responsibilities as an adult!? Do you even realize what you are doing to this family and that poor girl—"
The phone conveniently slips through my hands and hangs itself up. That's one way to quiet her. The phone rings again and I turn off the ringer. And by the time I actually got my coffee, I was so agitated that I ended up drinking a little more than usual.
Even if the gentleness that tells about only what makes anxiety flow…
About 5 cups more. Knowing that I'd now be awake until tomorrow night, I begrudgingly headed towards my office and sat down in front of my laptop.
Having fulfilled eternity…
And so I begin my bi-monthly ritual of coerced last-minute inspiration. At least Mizuki will be happy.
…I still don't want tomorrow.