In My Life
I'm pretty satisfied with getting some reviews already, even if I uploaded four chapters at once. Here's the next part. More characterization.
Shout-outs
Fairy Friend- I'm glad you're so into the story! Thanks for your support!
Starlight the Wanderer- Makoto's a heck of a fun character to work with, actually.
Well, here it is.
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Makoto woke up late that morning with a bigger bitch of a headache than last night. The clear night was only a short-lived blessing, as the rain was pouring even harder than yesterday. Makoto let out a miserable groan as he tried to figure where he was, shifting in the bed to slowly sit up.
He saw the pictures of Rick and Karen on the board. Rick's room.
A gentle knocking came to the door. Makoto looked over.
"Umm. you can come in." he muttered cautiously.
The door was gingerly opened, and in came a woman who looked like an older Popuri. Her porcelain skin seemed almost fragile, and her soft hair was tied back into a calm tail. Smiling gently, she walked over to the hung over Makoto with a glass of water in one hand and an aspirin in the other.
"It's nice to meet you, Makoto," she began. "My name is Lillia." She sat down on the bed next to Makoto, handing him the water and aspirin.
Looking at Lillia, Makoto tried finding something to say as he took the aspirin. He downed the pill and the water in one shot, and then finally spoke up.
"Thanks for letting me over. I'm sorry to be a nuisance."
Lillia laughed a bit.
"Oh, you're not a nuisance at all, Makoto!" she replied with her warm smile. "Now come downstairs for some breakfast."
She got up, and followed by Makoto, the two of them headed down the stairs. As the living room came into Makoto's view, he was surprised to see a visitor waiting there. Lillia had welcomed the unexpected visitor, but Makoto was in a bit of shock.
"Ann!!" he burst out, taking a step back.
Ann smiled lightly at Makoto. He stood there, waiting for her to say something as Lillia walked off into the kitchen.
"I wanted to see you after last night. you know, just to make sure you're not too hung over." She gave Makoto a sheepish chuckle.
"I feel quite pleasant, actually," Makoto replied, rubbing his sore head.
Ann laughed a bit.
"Come by the Inn later, eh? My dad said he wanted to talk to you." She headed for the door, turning around to give a quick smile to Makoto. Makoto looked away quickly, feeling a little funny.
"See you guys later!" Ann called over her shoulder as she headed out the door.
Makoto turned to see Lillia setting up for breakfast. Lillia looked up and smiled.
"Makoto, do you like eggs?"
Eggs. Eggs. Always the eggs.
"I love eggs."
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Breakfast was turning out to be a rather peaceful affair. Makoto sat next to Rick on one side of the table, while Popuri and Lillia sat across from them. Lillia had made an amazing dish of tomatoes and sausages with fried eggs, sunny side up to compliment the crazy rain outside.
Rick had opened his mouth to say something to Makoto, but Popuri dove in instead.
"So, how do you like it here so far?"
Hearing those words made Makoto nearly die choking on his eggs. Rick quickly handed Makoto a cup of orange juice to wash down the eggs. After he had settled down, Makoto felt like telling Popuri straight out, but had to choke on his words as well.
"I like it."
Rick sighed. He knew that wasn't the case.
Popuri gave Makoto a bubbly smile.
"I like it too, but I want to travel the world, you know. I want to see more places, and meet new people!"
Now it was Rick's turn to choke on his food. Popuri frowned, and rather conspicuously kicked him under the table. Rick jerked up, darting back down to rub his sore shin.
"Rick, Popuri, come on now." Lillia sighed. Rick stopped rubbing his shin, but Popuri still frowned. As soon as Lillia got back to eating, Popuri stuck her tongue out at her brother.
Makoto shrugged a bit as he continued with his food. Breakfast went on being rather peaceful after that. When it was all over, Makoto stayed by and helped clean up. Lillia thanked Makoto on his way out, and insisted that Makoto join them for another meal.
"Definitely. Thank you."
So he took off into the rainy Saturday noontime, and headed for the Inn once again.
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The Inn was peaceful at noontime. Business was slow, and slower on a rainy day. Makoto stood soaked in the entryway, waiting to be summoned in as he looked for Doug and Ann. The place looked welcome even when it was empty, so Makoto shrugged and walked in, taking a seat at a table near the kitchen the door. He turned to the kitchen, hoping Ann would come out soon.
She finally did, and she snagged a seat next to Makoto, giving him a big, cheery smile.
"Glad you came, Makoto!" she beamed.
Makoto knew what he had to say.
"I'm sorry for last night."
Ann sat there for a moment, nodding slightly. She turned to him, looking into his gray eyes.
"Don't worry about it, Makoto," she finally replied. Makoto sat there, watching her as she sighed. "People have been worse than you at the bar. I just wish they wouldn't be so hard on you."
Ann rested her jaw in her palm, giving Makoto a light gaze with a little smile. Makoto watched back, waiting for her to say something. Ann turned to him, and gave him a light smile. Makoto turned away again.
Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Makoto turned back to Ann. She smiled at him again! What was he gonna say??
Doug came out of the kitchen and saw Makoto stammering and stuttering over Ann as she waited for a coherent syllable to finally pop out of his mouth. Doug chuckled under his breath, and decided to interrupt.
"Hey Ann! The room upstairs needs to be fixed up before Gray comes back tonight!"
Ann turned back to Makoto, and gave him a shrug.
"Oh well," she said. "I guess I'll see ya later!" And with that and a swing of her braid, she was gone. Makoto stood at the table for a moment, and buried his face in his hands.
"Jesus Christ." he muttered.
Doug chuckled again.
"Hey, Makoto! C'mon over here!"
Snapping back to his senses, Makoto strode over to Doug, not angry, but wondering why he wanted to talk to him all of a sudden. Makoto sighed at Doug's feet, Doug cocking his head.
"What's the matter, Makoto?" he asked.
Makoto barely brought himself to look Doug in the eye.
"I." Makoto began. "I'm... I'm sorry about yesterday."
Doug stroked his thick moustache a bit.
"Yeah, well. I never want to see that out of you again, son, but that's not what this is about."
Makoto looked up at Doug again, cocking his head in confusion. He stood there, wondering what Doug meant. Doug sighed, and continued.
"I can't help but notice Ann taking a liking to you, Makoto."
Makoto was floored.
"Me?"
Doug nodded.
"She wanted to make sure you got to Rick's house alright last night. I didn't let her go then, but she begged again this morning, so I gave in." Doug leaned in a bit, taking his voice down a notch. "She never goes to see hung over customers."
Makoto still wore the same shocked expression. Doug sighed again, his pained eyes staring at Makoto.
"You know, Ann's mother died a long time ago, when Ann was just a little girl. I've never been too sure how to raise Ann, but I'm glad she's so sweet and friendly." He smiled lightly. "It's just. I can't help but wondering how Ann's upbringing might have been so much better."
Makoto tried to say something, but Doug continued.
"Makoto, what do you think of Ann?"
. . . . .
"I think." Makoto uttered, wondering what to say. "She's cute."
Doug definitely was satisfied by Makoto's opinion. He let loose his trademark chuckle, hardy and lively.
"Why don't you ask my daughter to let you accompany her to the Goddess Festival tomorrow?"
"The what?"
Doug nodded.
"Oh yeah, that's right. The Goddess Festival is a big thing for couples in town. The guy asks the girl permission to escort the lovely lady to the festival tomorrow. There's lots of dancing, and everyone in town goes."
"Couple?"
Doug chuckled again. Makoto stood there helplessly.
"Go upstairs and ask her now if you want."
Looking to Doug one more time, Makoto took a deep breath. He headed off and turned to run up the stairs.
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Makoto had been hiding next to the open door for what seemed to be hours. He occasionally poked his head in when Ann turned to her vacuuming, turning over in his mind the words he was going to say. The vacuum finally ceased, and Makoto's heart skipped a beat. He took another deep breath, and approached the open door.
Ann turned to see Makoto, standing in the doorway, wonder what was going on with him.
"Is there something you need, Makoto?" she asked as she rolled up the plug for the vacuum cleaner. She tied the end together, and hoisted the light vacuum over her shoulder.
The moment of truth finally arrived.
"Can I. ummm."
Ann knew what was coming, and just stood there waiting for it. Makoto was so tied up in finding the next obvious words.
"Tomorrow. The. Goddess Festival? Please?"
Makoto stood there, anticipating a positive reply.
"I'm sorry, Makoto."
Shot.
"I definitely like you, Makoto. But only as a friend."
Those words.
Makoto took it, and nodded.
"I see. I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologize."
Makoto nodded.
"See ya another day, I guess."
"Yeah, see ya."
Makoto turned to the door, and walked away. He headed down the stairs; Doug was nowhere to be found. So he decided to go back to the farm and catch up on some much needed work.
"I can't believe my dad forced Makoto to ask me to the festival. I could see that he didn't want to ask me at all. Now Makoto's at his farm, more disappointed than ever. If we're lucky, Makoto will actually show up and sulk in the corner. The poor guy already is miserable! I hope he finds someone who understands him."
-From Ann's Diary
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The Goddess Festival is tomorrow. Rumors are spreading about Makoto like wildfire, and they're not what one would consider even tolerable. Makoto still brings himself to the festival, where he gets to reflect on Mineral Town as he sees the townsfolk in their happy glory. Not to mention that Duke's convinced his chatterbox wife what a freak Makoto is. What's anyone to do to prevent going insane??
Until next time!