Chapter Six

Everybody had a few hours for lunch before they had to meet back at the Science Institute. Hiroki went with Miyagi and Shoza to an udon noodle restaurant only a few blocks away. The two literature professors were not close to Shoza, a calculus professor that had worked at M University long before either of them was in their teen years. The English department and the math department didn't associate. Not that they couldn't associate, but they just didn't. It wasn't that they disliked each other, but they were in completely different buildings of M University. They never got the chance to bond over unruly students or the ridiculous grammar mistakes they found while grading papers (seriously though: 19 year olds should know by now the difference between you're and your, and then and than).

Although Hiroki had only first met Shoza on the plane, he already liked him. The man was tall and very skinny. He had a large nose that protruded out from a face wrinkled with lines. His grey hair was balding, but it wasn't a look that Hiroki minded on the older man. It suited him.

In a small way, Shoza reminded him of Nowaki. Not physically, of course, but mentally. They both had a happy and kind attitude that permeated the air wherever they went. Yes, he liked Shoza very much.

Hiroki looked at his watch and was shocked to discover that it was so late.

"Hey, guys," he said while slinging his bag over a shoulder, "I am going to head back to the Kang Institute."

"Oh?" Miyagi teased, "Are you going to go call your giant of a man?"

Hiroki stood still and set his mouth in a firm line. Miyagi only said things to provoke him. If he didn't respond, Miyagi would grow tired and leave him alone. The small man was in no mood to play antics. He didn't sleep well without Nowaki's warmth beside him, and that irritated him on two levels. One: the fact that he needed Nowaki to sleep. Two: the fact that he was tired as a result.

After a minute of silence, Miyagi huffed and frowned. "Ugh, you are no fun today, Hiroki."

"I know." And he walked out the door.

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o

There was a small park in front of the Kang Institute. Trees were spaced intermittently throughout the grassy field and a small water fountain sculpture was centered in the middle.

Hiroki found a bench under a wide tree. Upon sitting down, he took out his phone to call Nowaki. He answered on the first ring.

"Hiro-san!"

Nowaki, Hiroki thought, it's only been two days without seeing you, and yet just hearing your voice makes me so happy. When did I become such a sap?

"Hey, Nowaki, how are you?" He smiled to himself.

"Now that I'm talking to you, I'm wonderful! But it's my lunch break and I only have 50 minutes left."

"That's fine. I just wanted to talk. I only have until two o'clock anyway before I have to go to another meeting."

Nowaki began to relay a story about a patient he had earlier that day, and Hiroki took the chance to lie down on the bench. It really was a beautiful day out— slightly too windy for his tastes, but beautiful nonetheless. A window from a room in the Science Institute was propped open; a scent was carried over to him from the wind. It wasn't entirely unpleasant, slightly sweet in fact. But it burned his eyes, making them tear up.

He turned onto his side and closed his eyes, attempting to block the irritant from entering further. Listening to Nowaki's voice was so pleasant. It was low and full of comfort, no sudden stops or starts in sentences. It was like listening to a recording of nature sounds, meant to lull the listener into a deep slumber. Hiroko began to fall into sleepy temptation as a wave of white peace surrounded him.

Suddenly, Nowaki's voice jumped a dynamic, startling Hiroki back to consciousness.

"Hey, you there?"

Hiroki sat up and began to wipe his eyes, hoping to wake them up.

"Yeah, sorry… I just accidentally… AH!" Hiroki jumped up and dropped the phone. The burning was back, only this time ten times worse. He rubbed his eyes furiously, attempting to quell whatever fire was raging in them.

"Hiro-san? Are you okay? What happened?"

No answer.

"Hiro-san!"

Nowaki heard far off frantic voices on the other end. He continued to yell into the phone, trying to get an answer.

But the line went dead.

Yes, I know that this is short, but I didn't want to add anything more because it would ruin the cliffhanger. I have another chapter typed out, but I'll add it later when I have free time.

Please review! Even just one review would make my night!

Thank you!