Chapter 19
Yuu was just coming down to the living room when he heard Miki's mum call out, "Miki, I know you're awake! You can't stay in bed forever! Come on down!"
Everybody except for Miki was up and about, preparing breakfast. Apparently, their parents had decided to start the day with a barbeque party to celebrate their return from the school trip.
Yuu looked at the clock hanging on the wall and noted that it was late morning. Miki should have been up and ready for breakfast by now. It was either Miki was pretty tired from yesterday's school trip or Miki was still feeling upset over Ginta's date with Arimi.
Either reason, Yuu decided to go back up to wake Miki up himself. Reaching Miki's bedroom door, Yuu knocked on the door. "Don't be such a sleepy-head, Miki. Everybody's hungry and waiting for you!"
Yuu heard rustling noises coming from inside. Miki was awake but she wasn't responding to his call. After a few seconds, Yuu banged on the door, "If you don't wake up, Miki, I'm going to go in there and spank you until you do!"
Yuu heard a gasp followed by Miki responding immediately to his threat,"Alright, alright, I'm up!" and then there were more rustling noises as Miki rushed to get up from bed. Yuu grinned and then turned around to head back downstairs.
Yuu was helping their parents set up the dishes when Miki arrived outside their back yard. "Wow! What's going on here!" Miki exclaimed.
Miki's mother walked over to place a bowl of salad on the table, "It's a barbeque party, dear."
Miki's dad added,"Your mother and Chiyako have worked very hard all morning preparing the stuff for barbequeing."
Miki looked skeptical at her mother and murmured under her breath,"Really? Or was it just Chiyako that did all the work?"
"Come now, Miki. Don't be mean to your mother. At least she did make the salad." Yuu's father winked at her mum. Her mum blushed.
Yuu watched Miki who looked uncomfortable at the intimate act. After a while, Miki looked up at him as if sensing his stare from across the yard. Yuu wanted to smile at her as a greeting but she turned away, not meeting his eyes before he could begin to smile.
"Alright everyone, grab a cup of drink and let's make a toast." Chiyako passed around the drinks. "Ready? Cheers to Miki and Yuu! Welcome back home!" Everybody lifted their cups and then drank. Once they had finished, they proceeded to the food and started barbequeing. The food was great and everybody was having a good time talking and laughing as they ate.
Yuu walked up to Miki, "Isn't this great, Miki?" Yuu smiled pleasantly at Miki, wanting to strike up a conversation with her while their parents were busy talking among themselves.
Looking hesitant, Miki replied,"Er, yeah!" But Miki didn't elaborate. After an awkward moment, Miki moved away, pretending to fill up her plate when it was still half full.
Yuu frowned at this. Miki was hiding something. Not only that, she was avoiding him for some reason and it bothered him a little.
Miki's mum suddenly spoke up,"Tell us about the trip, you kids. When you came back you were so tired you just handed us the gifts you brought back and headed straight to bed. We hadn't a chance to hear anything from you about the trip."
"Did you guys go up the Hakodote mountain?" Miki's dad asked.
Miki instantly cheered up,"Yeah, the night view up there was great!"
"Such fond memories...," Miki's dad sighed wistfully as if in remembarance.
"Have you been there before?" Yuu asked.
"Yeah, I have, when I was your age too."
"Oh? Did you go alone?"
"No, I went with three other hippies back then,"he grinned but wouldn't elaborate further.
After a while, Yuu noticed Miki was drifting away from the conversation again. A worried frown appeared on her face and she was noticeably eating alone.
Miki's mum suddenly piped up,"Miki, what are you doing over there? Come on over and join us," Everybody turned to Miki and urged her along.
Miki just nodded but continued to remain where she was. Miki might not have noticed but Yuu saw their parents looking at each other at Miki's silent behavior.
Somebody's throat cleared and after a brief pause again, Yuu's father suggested,"It's a beautiful day today. Why don't all of us take a walk together to the park?" Everybody readily agreed and looked at Miki for a response.
Miki looked up, suddenly tensed. As if she couldn't remain silent any longer, she burst out,"There's no way I'm going to go!"
"What's wrong, Miki?" Yuu's mum asked worriedly.
"What happens if we bump into my friends?" Miki was getting agitated. "What happens if they see us? They don't know about our family yet!" Now Miki's face looked red with suppressed anger.
Miki's dad asked,"How come, Miki?"
"Because people will think we are strange! Imagine what they will think when they know that both our parents have divorced, swap partners and then remarry! What's even wierder is that their kids are living together!" Miki huffed out the last sentence. Suddenly, she got all teary when everybody just stared at her silently,"It's just all a bad idea, okay!" with that, she turned to run out the back gate and onto the streets.
A stunned silence filled the air as everybody watched Miki's departing figure. Yuu was at a loss as to what to do. He couldn't understand what brought it on. He wanted to follow her to calm her down but he didn't know what to say to her.
After a while, the silence was broken by sounds of plates being cleared. Yuu moved to help but his mum held up a hand to forestall him,"It's alright, Yuu. Why don't you go on up. We'll handle this." a tired look appeared on her face. Miki's outburst had dampened everybody's mood.
With a silent nod, Yuu headed to his room.
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It was nearing dinner time when Yuu decided to go downstairs. But before he reached the living room, he heard his parents whispering.
What was odd about these whispering was Miki's parents were also whispering along. Before he could wonder about it, he heard the front door open and then Miki walked in, announcing her arrival.
Miki looked as if she had a good cry. Yuu wanted to ask her how she was doing when suddenly there was a loud crash coming from the living room. What followed after that was an angry shout and then what sounded like quarreling from their parents.
Alarmed at the sudden chaos, Miki and Yuu rushed to see what happened. When they arrived at the scene, everybody was standing apart from each other, looking tensed. In the middle was a broken flower pot.
Miki looked at Yuu for an explanation, which in turn he shrugged, just as puzzled as her.
Suddenly, Miki's mum spoke up,"It's nothing, Miki. The flower pot just fell and broke. Why don't you kids go up to your rooms," and then she began to clean up the mess, not looking up. The rest of their parents remained silent.
Miki and Yuu looked at each other. It was clear that something bad had happened. They wanted to ask but it seemed like a bad time and so they wordlessly headed up to their rooms.
Dinner was late that night and everybody ate in silence. A strange scene enfolded whereby their parents would talk politely and only when necessary, not really looking at each other. Before this, they would have laughed and touch each other affectionately but now it seemed as if they couldn't stand to be in the same room together.
The next day at school, Yuu and Miki sat together during lunch break to ponder over the incident that happened.
"I think some sort of quarrel over something huge had started," Yuu concluded.
Miki nodded. "Do you know what they were quarreling about?"
Yuu shook his head,"All I know is that when I came down I heard some sort of whispering going on in the living room and then you came back. The next thing I heard was that flower pot crashing onto the floor. What followed after that...well, you know what happened."
"Hmm...,"Miki frowned and looked down at her hands.
Yuu looked at Miki. At least she wasn't thinking about the barbeque party incident. That seemed to have passed and long forgotten. But now they had this to deal with.
"Don't worry about it too much, Miki. I'm sure this quarrel between our parents will blow over. We don't even know what started it anyway," Yuu smiled reassuringly at Miki.
Miki blinked at Yuu but after a while Miki smiled hesitantly,"I guess."
"Well, we'd better head back to class. Recess is almost over," Yuu moved to stand up and waited for Miki to do the same.
With a nod, Miki gathered up her stuff and joined Yuu.
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Everything seemed fine when they reached home. Yuu heard Miki breathe a sigh of relief that no quarrel was heard from any part of the house. After putting their school shoes aside, they both headed up to bathe.
Yuu was in his room relaxing after his bath when suddenly another crash happened downstairs. Angry shouts followed after that.
With a sickening feeling, Yuu rushed to open his door to head downstairs. He was met with Miki who also came out of her bedroom with a panic look on her face. With a tensed nod, Yuu went down with Miki to investigate the crash.
"I can't take this anymore!" Yuu heard Miki's mum shout as they neared the living room.
What they encountered was not much different from yesterday's drama except that now they seem to be talking more openly in front of them.
"I should have known that this would never work out," Yuu's father moved over to his mum while Miki's parents stood together on the other side of the room.
"That's right. In that case, we had better separate now before it's too late."
Huh? What's going on? Yuu frowned.
"Yes, we should live separately too,"Yuu's father added, but it sounded a little odd to Yuu.
Suddenly Miki rushed forward, "What are you talking about? Why are you guys talking about living separately now?" she demanded.
Miki's dad apologised,"I'm sorry, Miki. You objected from the start but we went ahead with the divorce anyway and remarried and now it has hurt everybody in the end."
Miki was looking very puzzled and none too calm at this statement.
"At least we're not officially married yet."
Yuu was getting the feeling of dread again when suddenly his dad spoke up,"Yes, we should end this and never see each other again." Yuu frowned suspiciously at his father. This time, he was sure of what he heard. His father was being overly dramatic, which was unlike him.
And then he saw his father's eyes turn to look at him and then just as suddenly move away. A telling flush appeared on his neck, which confirmed Yuu's suspicions. It was all a farce!
Yuu was unamused and a little angry but the feeling of dread had dissapeared only to be replaced by a sense of relief that he wouldn't have to move out, away from Miki.
Yuu turned to Miki, to see if she knew it was all a play. But Miki was still looking upset and clearly believing what was enfolding before her. Yuu decided to play along to see how far they'd go and to know what was their agenda, "Will I need to change school?" Yuu asked.
Yuu's mum answered," It would be for the best, Yuu."
"That's just too bad. And I was just beginning to adjust to the school here," Yuu folded his arms and pretended to frown at the turn of events.
"We had better start packing," Yuu's father spoke hurriedly.
"Wait!" Miki burst out. "You're giving up already? Aren't you even going to think it over? You won't regret your decision?"
"What's wrong, Miki?" Miki's father spoke up. "Weren't you against this from the beginning?"
So this is why they were acting. Yuu frowned. They wanted to find out what Miki really thought about their strange family situation. Yesterday they must have been really busy planning it out. It's probably what all the whispering was all about when he came down.
"Aren't you happy this turned out the way you want it?"
Miki's immediate response was to protest but was overcome by a look of puzzlement,"Well, that's what I wanted at first...but..."
"But...?" Miki's father prompted.
Yuu tensed at what Miki would say.
"It's definitely a family situation that has never happened before but Yuu's parents are nice people," Miki frowned at herself as if not believing what she was saying. Yuu couldn't believe it either."I thought society would not accept us, but you guys seem to be very happy anyway and seem to be doing well."
Miki looked up and a look of panic appeared on her face,"But now you guys are giving up so easily and over a matter that I don't even know about!"
"Are you saying that this family situation doesn't bother you anymore?" Yuu's mother inquired.
Miki nodded hesitantly, looking puzzled at the question.
Suddenly, Yuu's father cheered. Miki looked stunned at the sudden change of mood. Everybody seemed to have dropped their act and was now cheering together at her revelation.
"I knew this was a fake when father said those things. It seemed too unbelievable,"Yuu exclaimed.
"Well, I'm not very good at pretending, I'm afraid," Yuu's dad laughed at himself.
Yuu was still unamused. They may have gotten what they wanted out of her, but who was to know how Miki would respond to this manipulation to get her to confess her true feelings.
And he was right. Yuu looked at Miki and noticed that the truth had suddenly dawned on her and she was looking decidedly pissed at being had.
"I can't believe you guys! And I thought you were nice people!" Miki lashed out at the direction of his parents, who promptly hushed up.
"Miki..."
"I don't want to hear it! I hate all of you!" Miki suddenly burst into tears and turned to run up the stairs. The door to her bedroom slammed and with a resounding click, Miki locked herself inside.
The living room was quiet again. But instead of the silence from yesterday, it was filled with quiet guilt from both their parents. And then together as one, they rushed to go upstairs to Miki's bedroom.
Yuu followed from behind and watched as they tried to get Miki to open her door. But the door remained closed and there was a loud bawling coming from inside. Miki was crying her heart out.
"Miki, dear, open up please. We're sorry," Miki's mum urged.
"Go away! I never want to speak to you again!" came Miki's tear filled reply.
Miki's mum looked around worriedly, "Do you think we overdid it?"
Yuu had heard enough. There was no telling what Miki would do. Yesterday, Miki was already upset about being seen in public with their parents and now to be betrayed by her own family...Yuu could certainly understand why Miki would be upset.
Yuu went into his room and walked to the bedroom window. Earlier when he just moved in, he noticed that his window was just beside Miki's and it was just a short climb away. He had never thought of climbing over before but now was the perfect opportunity to get to Miki while she has her door locked.
As Yuu slid out onto the window ledge, he hoped that Miki's window wasn't locked. He proceeded to edge his way over and with a short lunge, Yuu grabbed the edge of Miki's window before his leg slipped off to place carefully on her window ledge. He tried to open her window but just his luck, she had locked it.
He peered in between the curtains and could see Miki crying on her bed. Carefully gripping the window ledge, Yuu tapped on her window to get her attention. After a whle, Miki looked up in surprise and saw him outside her window.
With a sudden gasp, she hurried over to open the window for him. With a hop, Yuu was inside her bedroom while their parents continued to call from outside her door.
"Yuu! What on earth are you doing outside my window?" Miki looked startled. And then she hurried over to look outside her window to see where he came from. "How did you climb over? You could have fallen!" Miki turned to look at him with a worried expression.
Yuu smiled gently at her, pleased that she was worried for his safety, "It's no big deal."
"No big deal!" Miki turned angrily at him.
Yuu chuckled and couldn't resist touching her tear dried face,"Well, at least you've stopped crying."
Miki flushed and touched her own face unbelievingly. Yuu's fingers continued its gentle stroke to brush away her remaining tears from her eyes. "I know you're hurt, Miki. They pretended and lied to you. But don't you think you're overreacting a little bit?"
Miki glanced up at him. Her mouth closed stubbornly. Yuu's gaze dropped to her mouth.
Without meaning to, Yuu's fingers moved to brush her lips,"You have a right to be angry, Miki. If I were you, I would be too. But you have to understand why they did it," Yuu stared intently into Miki's eyes.
Miki suddenly breathed faster. Her breath was coming out in short gasps at the touch of his fingers and his intense gaze.
"They wanted to know what you really felt about the marriage. But you have to know they didn't mean to hurt you and they are now truly sorry for it," Yuu's gaze dropped back to her mouth where his fingers remained. He could feel Miki panting over his fingers.
Suddenly, all Yuu wanted to do was bend down and kiss her where his fingers were. Initially, Yuu came in to comfort her. But that intention had turned into something more. And now, Yuu couldn't seem to pull his gaze away from her lips or from her eyes that were now gazing up at him with an amazed look.
A loud banging started at her door and the magical moment faded. Taking a deep breath, Yuu slowly pulled away from Miki and took a step back.
With a ragged breath, Yuu asked, "So, what do you say? Will you forget and forgive?" Yuu smiled and held out his hand to her, waiting for her to respond.
Miki blinked a few times as if clearing her mind over something. She looked at his hand and after a while, moved to place her hand in his.
With a gentle tug, Yuu pulled Miki over with him to open her bedroom door. Their parents didn't wonder about Yuu being in her bedroom. Their focus was on Miki and they were apologising repeatedly for their mistakes.
Yuu stood behind, watching them. But after a while, Miki turned to gaze at him with a strange look on her face. Yuu didn't know what to make of it, so he just smiled. He didn't know whether Miki would have welcomed his kiss or not but she didn't seem angry about it now.
After assuring their parents that she had forgiven them, Miki turned to go back into her bedroom. One by one, their parents walked back downstairs to clean up the second mess they made in the living room.
Yuu had gone back to his room too. After a while, he heard his mum knocking on Miki's bedroom door. Their conversation was muffled by the wall between their rooms. Suddenly, a faint tantalizing smell came into his room.
Curious about the heady smell, Yuu got up and opened the door. Miki's bedroom door was ajar. Inside, he could see his mother offering a perfume bottle to Miki as a peace offering. Yuu guessed it was one of the perfumes she got from her line of work.
Opening the cover, his mother proceeded to dab a touch of perfume onto Miki. Miki looked delighted at the scent. Yuu smiled at Miki's expression. The perfume wafted again around Yuu, wrapping him in its scent.
Somehow, the sweet perfume suited Miki. It reminded him of how Miki is pure and innocent. It made him long for her even more than he did before.
Miki turned around to thank his mum. Yuu stepped away from the door before she could see him spying on their private moment. Turning around, Yuu headed back to his room, bringing along the sweet scent that was Miki and more.