Flag 4.1
My deep slumber was interrupted by a loud knock on the door.
I opened my eyes to gaze at the window. It was still pitch black, turning the glass window into a black mirror. I diverted my eyes towards the nightstand. The clock on top of it read quarter to five in the morning. I groaned. Who would want to see me at a time like this? It was so early in the morning. Finally, I turned around from the uncomfortable position I had in bed and threw a pillow above my ears. I prayed that the visitor would go away.
Knock. Knock.
The consistent knocking went on. I pushed the pillow harder against my ear.
Knock. Knock.
It was getting louder and louder. I tried ignoring it, but it wasn't working.
Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.
In an instant, I got up from the bed, reached for my glasses and marched to the door. I wanted to put an end to this once and for all.
I put on an enraged face as I opened the door. I started barking. "What do you think you are-"
I was planning to surprise the visitor. But instead, the visitor surprised me, making everything quite awry.
My visitor had long black hair and had skin like alabaster. It took me a few seconds before I realized that I was inches away from her blue eyes, an awkward position to be in. I made one step back. Right then and there, I was in shock.
My visitor was the girl from yesterday.
"Suiichi-san," I was able to cough out.
"Hey, what took you long to open the door?" She said casually despite the embarrassing instant.
I didn't respond anything more than a shrug. I felt too flustered. I wished she would go away.
She just kept talking. "And you can call me by my first name, it is okay," she said. Sooner or later she started making her way inside the room. "This place is a mess. You should ask room service to clean sometimes," she blabbered on. "And why aren't you fixing your things yet? Your luggage is just lying there in the corner…"
As she kept talking, I suddenly got lost in thought. What would she want to do at this early morning at my place?
I want to ask you if you can walk me home this afternoon.
"Keima-kun," Azuka said suddenly said from behind.
I jumped. "S-Stop startling me," I said to her. She caught me off guard. "And what are you doing here?" I snapped back. Sooner or later, I was back to my senses. The fury from minutes ago came back to me.
"We are going shopping," she announced. "I told you that, remember?"
"Shopping? I didn't remember you saying anything about shopping. Besides, I don't want to go with you," I protested.
She didn't respond. The next thing I knew is that she was rummaging through my wardrobe murmuring things like "there's got to be something in here" or "he'll look plain with this" or "who wears this stuff" or "these colors definitely don't match."
"What are you doing with my stuff? Keep your hands away from them!" I yelled a second too late. My clothes were already scattered all around the floor.
I sighed and watched her mess with my things. Even if we just met yesterday, I had the feeling that she was going to be a lot of trouble. She refused to answer most of my questions. She would do outrageous things like blackmail. What was driving me insane is that she acts like I had known her before and feels comfortable doing it. What kind of girl was she? Was there something I am missing?
After a long while, she threw a white shirt at me. "Get dressed now," she commanded.
"I'm telling you I'm not going," I said stubbornly. "And there is no way-"
She pulled the PFP from her bag and waved it in front of my face. I knew what she was trying to say.
I sighed. Azuka wasn't letting me off the hook for this.
"I'll go change," I muttered as I turned involuntarily for the bathroom.
Flag 4.2
After getting dressed, Azuka yanked me out of the room and dragged me- against my will- to a local market in Ikei. It was so early in the morning and the sun had barely risen but the place was already quite crowded. There were many stores selling different kinds of stuff, ranging from food like fish and greens to novelty items to handicrafts and other products. People were up and running around setting up their stalls and carrying goods from one place to another. It was much like the city, but something different and overwhelming altogether.
I allowed myself to follow Azuka's lead after a while as we moved our way through the bustling plaza. I figured that it'd be hard for both of us if she pulled me all the way. And besides, why would I force myself to go back to my hotel room now? Plus, my PFP was not safe in Azuka's hands.
Along the way, we came across a large group of people gathered. Wondering what the commotion was all about, Azuka went into the crowd. I followed her in there only to find one of those old men who plays games with passersby. This particular old man was entertaining a young couple with the "hiding the stone" game.
"If you guess correctly, you will have this sack of money," the old man told the couple. "If you don't, you'll pay me as much as this bag contains."
"You don't have to do this," the young girl whispered to the guy with him.
"But we have no choice," he whispered back. "We can't go back to Tokyo if we don't have the money."
The boy nodded to the old man. Soon, I watched as he placed the stone on his left hand. Swiftly as he could, he passed the stone from his left hand to his right hand and back again. Finally, he held both closed fists in front of him for everyone to see.
"Now where is the stone?" He asked the couple.
The boy pointed to the right hand. The old man opened his right hand by cue. The stone wasn't there.
There was tension in the air.
"Apparently,"- I told Azuka –"everyone will think that the stone would be in his left hand. But I don't trust this old man. Azuka-san, do you-"
"I know where it is," Azuka raised her hand and stepped forward. Suddenly, all eyes fell on her.
What the hell is she up to now?
The old man was grinning. "What do you know, young lady? If you say that it is in my left hand you-"
"I wasn't talking about your left hand, oldie," Azuka answered confidently before turning to the couple. "How much do you need the money?" She asked them.
"We really need it," the boy said, looking up to Azuka.
Without hesitation, she turned to the old man. "Give them the bag," she demanded.
The old man became furious. "Why should I-"
"Roll up your right sleeve," she commanded.
"W-why on earth-"
"Just do it and give them the bag!"
The old man did as told. And to everyone's surprise, the stone was there.
Without another word, she turned around and pulled me out of the crowd, leaving the people dazed.
"Azuka, how did you know that it was on his sleeve?" I finally asked her.
"Did you figure that it was on his sleeve, too?"
"Yeah, I did."
After that, she just shrugged. "Must be something that we gamers have in common," she mused.
Now that I thought of it, she is also gamer. And the fact that she has that much wisdom for a person who blackmails people she doesn't know to help other people astounds me.
I shot her a wary look as we moved on.
Flag 4.3
We came across a bazaar in the middle of the market. There are sales of everything from accessories to toys to furniture. As luck would have it, they were having a sale on video games.
I mustered some courage to be able to pull Azuka – almost excitedly like a little boy- to the stall. When we were there, I crossed my fingers that they sell galge.
I started looking through the games- action, children's games, educational games, sci-fi, musical games, fantasy, and do much more. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find any galge; only this old fashion family simulation game.
I looked over to where Azuka was standing just a while ago, right by the racing games. When I checked, she wasn't there.
"Azuka-san," I called out. "Where are you?"
"Over here, Keima-kun," a voice called out.
I followed the sound of the voice all the way to a novelty item store. When I looked inside, I saw Azuka wearing an oversized pair of sunglasses and wearing on top a t-shirt splattered all over with paint.
"I wished I brought a camera along with me," she giggled as she made funny faces on the mirror beside us. "I look so funny."
I watched as she took off the pair of sunglasses and exchanged it with a mask, then a bandana, then a pair of hoop earrings and then a necklace made of seashells.
For some reason, I felt I have done this before. Where I came with some person and we'd try on different silly things. Talk about something like déjà vu.
Then suddenly, something caught my attention. I saw this gray fedora hat with a pin like the buttons on my PFP on it. I took it off the shelf and examined it real closely. Before I knew it, I tried it on.
I looked at myself at the mirror. I look silly, I thought to myself.
Flash.
"I caught you," Azuka said from behind. She was holding her cell phone in front of me.
"You liar," I accused her. "You said you didn't bring your camera."
"I didn't say that I didn't bring my phone," she defended herself.
"Stupid," I muttered under my breath.
I took the gray fedora hat off and placed it back on the shelf.
Then I took one wary glance at Azuka. She was looking at the clever snapshot she stolen seconds ago.
"I took one pretty good stolen shot, didn't I?" She said as she showed me the photo.
I grimaced.
Just as I suspected, it was me facing the mirror wearing the hat…
…while wearing a big smile on my face.
Flag 4.4
After purchasing the paint splattered t-shirt Azuka decided to give me, we walked until we reached a shop selling traditional Japanese costumes. We made our way inside the run-down shop where different kinds of kimonos, yukatas and other costumes hung on wooden racks or set up on display. In there, it smelled like old silk and it felt quite stuffy.
"Okay, we're here," I told Azuka. "Now what do we do?"
She looked back at me and pointed to a rack of matsuris on the right hand side of the store. "Go pick your suit," she requested.
"W-why should I pick a suit?" I asked her. It seemed out of the question. I figured it was for the festival. But the whole part of me wearing a silly suit is, well, silly.
She felt silent for a moment.
"Azuka, are you alright?" I started to worry. She was turning pink.
"Because," she cried. "I want to wear a yukata on the festival. It'd be unfair if you go on your regular clothes then I'd have to do those stuff. And then…"
Azuka suddenly looked flustered. Her embarrassment was choking up her words.
I didn't know how to respond to that. But I had to.
"Uhm. Well, you can go to the festival without one," I suggested. "If it makes you feel uncomfortable, then don't…"
"But…"
"But what?"
"It's an embarrassing thought."
"Try me."
I saw a wistful look on her face. There was a long, dramatic pause before she continued.
"Well,"-she said to me gently-"wearing a yukata brings me back memories of my childhood days. I always looked forward to special occasions like festivals. When I wear a yukata, I feel like a whole different person. People would tell me I look beautiful in a yukata."
"That's silly," I commented.
She shot me a warning look. "Excuse me?"
"I mean that's silly. You don't need a yukata to feel beautiful. Besides you are already beautiful and-"
…
Azuka stared at me, wide eyed.
What the heck did I just say? How did that come off my mouth?
I wished it never happened.
"Azuka-san," I said as I pulled two matsuris from the rack, trying to sound oblivious. "Blue or white?"
Flag 4.5
Much to my dismay, we were able to buy a matsuri. What was worse is that I had to pay for it. But then, I guess Azuka is now happy. He wouldn't be alone with the whole festivity costume thing.
Throughout the rest of the day, Azuka and I visited so many places like stationery stores, ramen houses (where we tried a local dish called champuru), fortune tellers, and even a surplus on foreign goods. When afternoon came, my feet were very sore and it felt like the whole day had passed already.
Our last stop for the day was Ikei Beach, which is located below the red bridge connecting Miyagi and Ikei. I dragged my feet across the white and fine sand as Azuka collected shells from the coastline.
"I wished I had more of those champuru," Azuka said to me as she picked up a cowry shell. "That was so delicious. Too bad I didn't have enough money. We shouldn't have gone inside the whacko fortune teller's booth…"
As she continued talking, my thoughts drifted away. I looked at the ocean waters. It turned into different shades of blue, just like how I felt. Right now, I am confused. I spent a whole day out here with Azuka, a girl I just met yesterday, trying to figure out who she is and what she wants from me. Today, I saw many different sides of Azuka. I saw a serious, wise and helpful Azuka earlier this morning. Then, I saw a fun loving Azuka at the novelty items store. And over at the kimono shop, I saw a fragile and shy Azuka.
I still had no answer to my questions. I didn't understand her at all.
Splash.
All of a sudden, water started splashing me at the face, leaving me so wet.
Azuka was laughing from where she was treading water. "I got you good, Katsuragi!" She cried.
"What did you do that for?" I spluttered, wringing my shirt.
"You were spacing out," she explained.
"I am not," I protested.
"Yes, you are!" She started splashing water at me again.
"Quit it, would you?" I ran back, exasperated. My shirt was now heavy with water. It sucked against my body with the worst pucker and cling ever.
"Quit what?" Azuka laughed.
"Quit this!"
And with one great kick, I sent a wave of water cascading over her head, nearly knocking her over.
"Hey," Azuka cried. "Not fair!" Now Azuka was also dripping wet.
Now it was my turn to laugh. "You should see yourself," I commented.
"You look even funnier," she shot back.
We both laughed.
…
Wait a minute. What was happening now?
I came back to my senses. Then I remembered I had to get this over with. I had to get home and away from her. I straightened my face and composed myself.
"How are we supposed to go back to the hotel now?" I asked Azuka, seriously now and trying to get on her nerves. "We're dripping wet. They're probably not going to allow us inside…"
"You can take the shirt I bought," she said without hesitation.
"Are you serious?" I asked, completely abashed. My plan has gone to become something really awry. "I mean, you'll need it more than I do. And besides, the shirt is yours. I didn't mean to…"
"No, it is okay," she said. "It's my fault you got wet in the first place."
She dug into her bag and located the paint-splattered shirt then handed it to me.
I hesitated at first. What is she doing?
"Go on and take it," she encouraged me with a big smile on her face.
"Thanks," I muttered as I took the shirt.
After I changed, Azuka waited for me by the foot of the stairs leading to the bridge. Beside her was a two-seated bike. And before she could even speak, I knew what it meant.
"I'm going to pedal that bike for you until we reach the resort, right?" I guessed.
"And you thought you were going to get away with splashing me in the first place," she added.
I took my place on the bike. At the backseat, Azuka held on tight to my waist.
"Your hands are wet," I complained, cringing as she inched closer.
"Less talk, more pedaling," she commanded.
I sighed. I'll never understand Azuka.
I pushed my legs faster, leaving the beach behind me.
