The mattress was comfortable. Shin sat up, his journal lying open with a huge dry ink stain. A knock came at the door again, and he realized why he had been woken up. He stood up, made sure he looked remotely presentable and then slid open the screen. Minoru smiled back at him, and mentioned something about breakfast. Shin wasn't exactly sure what time it was now, but it almost felt late for breakfast. Outside the snow and ice had virtually closed the roads, and he connected the dots. Even though it was a day for school, snow had given them the day off. Lucky because it was almost time for winter break.
"If you still want to join us Sawada, you are welcome." Minoru smiled broadly again, and returned back toward the dining room. Shin looked out the window, and decided to stay a bit longer before making the trek back to Kuma's. He hoped the sun would melt the ice a bit.
He packed his bag up, and set it by the front door, taking a good look at the entryway in the morning sun. Back down the hall he could hear Tetsu and Minoru arguing over a bowl of miso. Shin smiled and walked back toward the room. Kuroda was sitting at the head, his paper open to the business section. Two spaces were still open, one with Kumiko's chopsticks sitting across the bowl, and the other with the ones Shin always used while visiting.
The smell of miso made him smile, and he sat down in the spot he was sure belonged to him. Kuroda looked up and smiled at him. "I was wondering if you were going to sleep for the whole morning." He set the paper on the floor, and extended a plate of fish and a bowl of rice from the steamer.
Shin bowed to Kuroda, and accepted the items. He was surprised to see Kumiko's spot still empty, but he thought better of mentioning it. "Did you sleep well, Sawada?" Shin nodded to him, and slowly ate his rice. Kuroda returned to his paper, and Tetsu and Minoru continued their banter. This is what it would be like to live with the Oedo family. Shin smiled to himself, and continued to graze, still unable to eat like he once had.
The bell at the front rang, and Minoru got up to answer. A face Shin had never seen before ventured into the dining room, and Kuroda looked down from his paper again. "Ah, Odagiri. Kumiko is still asleep, but you are free to sit down and wait for her, there is extra rice if you are hungry." The boy shook his head, and made an awkward movement to sit beside Sawada. As the master of reading minds, Kuroda eased his worries. "Don't worry Odagiri. This is Sawada Shin, a former student of Kumiko's as well…"
"Nice to meet you…" They bowed to each other, and let silence return to the table. Minoru had not returned from the hall, so Tetsu had no one to banter with, and Kuroda seemed to think the boys would talk amongst themselves, having returned to his paper. Shin finished off his breakfast, and decided it was about time to go. He was slightly curious about this Odagiri, and thought Minoru could probably answer his questions.
"Thank you so much for the kindness Kuroda, and to you as well Tetsu. Please give Kumiko my thanks as well. It was nice to meet you for a moment… Odagiri." He bowed to the men, and headed toward the entrance. Minoru was tidying up the front where they had dropped the supplies for the stand the day before. Shin stood in the hallway for a minute, thinking about how best to ask why Odagiri was at the Oedo house.
"Hey Minoru?" Sawada sat down on the step after tucking his slippers away. "Why exactly is Odagiri… what's his first name?" The jolly fellow looked up toward Shin, laughing.
"You mean Ryu?" Shin nodded and tied his shoes, still unsure of the best way to find out everything he wanted to know. Minoru might not have been bright, but he would find it strange if Shin asked a lot of questions.
"Yeah… why is he here?" That was casual enough. Shin felt confident.
Minoru finished organizing, and then crossed back towards Shin. "He comes here every so often to help us with cleaning, or with the business, or to help Kumiko with students and school. He actually always reminded me a little bit of you. But there is only one Sawada Shin." He smiled broadly. "Are you leaving for the day?" Sawada nodded, and felt a large pair of arms around him. "We are happy you are back Sawada, even Tetsu. Though he wouldn't show it."
Sawada nodded and picked up his bag, smiling back at Minoru. In the past twenty four hours, Minoru had gone from acquaintance to friend. A small wave sent Sawada out the door, and Minoru returned back down the hallway. A groggy Kumiko was sitting at the table. Her hair was a rat's nest, and Odagiri had clearly been laughing and received a smack in the back of the head.
"Where did Sawada go, Minoru?" Kumiko hazily looked up at her henchman number two.
"He left to… I don't know… probably to go home?" He shrugged his shoulders, and returned to his bowl of rice. Kumiko put a very large frown on, and Odagiri raised his eyebrow toward her.
"Can't believe he left without saying goodbye." She launched up to standing, arms across her chest, preparing to chase after her old student. It was then that Odagiri's imagination went crazy.
His mouth dropped open. It looked as if a sweat drop was forming on his forehead. He stammered while attempting to speak. "Did something happen with… him?" Yankumi looked back down at him with questioning eyes. It wasn't often that Odagiri was rendered speechless.
"OHMYGOD NO! Are you crazy? Never with a student Odagiri. Once a student always a student. Seriously, are you crazy?" She delivered a second strong slap to the back of his head, which sent him into the remnants of Sawada's fish. She sat back down, arms still crossed, but thinking better of running after Shin.
Slowly, Odagiri regained his composure, trying his best not to think of the fish bone stuck to his cheek. "Did you really have to do that Yankumi?" The henchman and Kumiko were rolling on the floor laughing. Kuroda couldn't help but chuckle as well. Odagiri pulled the spine off his cheek, and stood up to use the rest room and clean anything else off his face.
Yankumi gave a short apology, at least about the fish, and began devouring her breakfast. Slowly, it was sinking in that today was a school day. And that Minoru and Tetsu hadn't woken her up. And that it was probably very late. She finished a bite, and went into panic mode. "OHMYGOD WHAT TIME IS IT? Why didn't you wake me up this morning? I must be so late for school right now!" In a flurry of hair and rice, she disappeared back down the hallway. It was 3 minutes before she reappeared, fully dressed, and prepared to stomp Tetsu and Minoru into a pulp. But that would have to wait until the evening. It was almost slipping on the stone walkway that made Kumiko notice the snow and think that perhaps school was cancelled.
Inside, Odagiri and Kuroda were waiting for her to reappear in the entryway. Odagiri had come today because he knew the school wouldn't be in session, and Yankumi had called him a few days earlier about her plan. Kuroda was preparing to go fetch Kumiko for him when she sheepishly entered the house again.
"Wow it's… slippery out there." She tried to cover up her rash actions with marginal success. "I bet that school isn't even in today." Odagiri denied his impulse to laugh, not wanting to do a face plant on the wood below.
"I came by to help you with your idea Yankumi." She nodded, and put her case back on the step, happy to have someone impartial to give her their input. Kuroda walked back down the hall, Odagiri and Kumiko following behind.
The cards she had displayed for the principal were arranged on a table in the sitting room. Odagiri looked over them, and noted the foot prints on a few of them. "You know Yankumi, you could have done manga." He studied the proportions, and the bright colors. There were a lot of hidden talents to this teacher. "As for the idea… Yankumi… I'm not sure it's a very good one." He prepared himself for a bashing again.
But none came. Kumiko just looked over at him with a sad sort of determination. "You too? Everyone so far has said so. I expected it from Sawatori, but not from you or Kiyoru. Or Sawada for that matter. But I didn't expect him at all."
Odagiri was still curious as to why this Sawada had been here and then not, and why it was so strange. "Who is he anyway?" He ventured the question.
"Sawada Shin. He was like you and Hayato. Leader of the class, and very stubborn. Didn't trust any adults either. Every class has the same up hill battle." She rested back on her arms, looking up in thought. "Kuma and he were good friends, I saved Kuma from expulsion the first week I was there, and eventually Sawada came around, and the rest of the class followed."
Odagiri nodded. His class went along the same track. "But that doesn't explain why he was here, or why you are surprised about him… or why I've never seen him before. Kuma certainly doesn't get anything like that."
Kumiko nodded. "That's true. He did the first time I saw him after high school though." For a second Kumiko lost the question, thinking about seeing the Bear, and eating his ramen the first time. "Sawada graduated from high school at the top of his class. Gave the speech and everything. He got into two really good universities too, but instead of going to either, he moved to Africa. No one has really heard from him since then. Then he suddenly appeared in my living room last night. Almost gave me a heart attack."
"Hmm…" That explained why things were strange. "Why did he move to Africa?" Odagiri had never really heard of a high school graduate just moving to Africa.
"He told me when he decided not to go to college. School studies were always too easy for him. He wanted a challenge. But I think there were other reasons that he didn't tell me, and I'm sure he didn't know all the reasons when he left. It was pretty out of the blue." Kumiko leaned forward again, remembering the conversation on the bank of the river. That was an important river. "Either way though, it's good to have another face back and doing well."
A comfortable silence fell between the two, and Odagiri glanced over the cards again. "I dunno Yankumi. I think it's a good idea on the drawing board, but in action it might not work out as well. But I don't know really. Your class might succeed by networking like this, but it also might cause more problems than it does good. But knowing you, you'll do it anyway."
Yankumi laughed and looked at the cards herself. He was right; she would end up doing it, even if a few people disagreed. This was the best idea she'd ever had. Ryu stood up at smiled at her. "I think it's probably time for me to go Yankumi. I still have work today." She nodded and bowed slightly to him.
"Thanks for your input Odagiri." She leaned back again, considering what to do with her day off. "Maybe I'll come visit you at work Odagiri." He laughed and headed towards the front, stopping to say goodbye Kuroda. Finally, she slid all the way onto her back, looking up at the ceiling. It wasn't often she had an unexpected day off. She wished Sawada hadn't rushed off so quickly, she wanted to talk to him about Africa more and about plans now. Maybe she could visit Kuma, and figure out a bit more about Sawada.
That sounded good. She sat up, and thought about ramen. She would finish the school work she hadn't done the night before, and then go get lunch at Kuma's. The students forms were still in disarray, but she began to tally the schools everyone had requested. There were only a few in common, but she thought the school with the most requests would be the best place to start.
After adding the others up, she looked back over Kiyoru's page, puzzling over his decision. After sitting for a moment, she stuck the papers back in her folder, and got up to change once more. She was in good school clothes, but she wanted to feel a little more relaxed. As she passed by the dining room, Kuroda had finally finished his paper, and was eating alone.
"Grandpa! Why are you eating alone?" She sat down beside him again, finally noticing the mess she had left behind. She brushed the rice into her bowl, and picked up the few that had landed on the carpet.
He smiled at her. "The paper took a little longer than usual, and Tetsu and Minoru have work to be done. My second command is with his wife, and Wakamatsu left early this morning for a meeting. You had visitors, and I don't mind eating alone Kumiko. It looks like you have some place to go too." He patted her on the back. "Would you like me to come pray with you before you leave?" Kumiko nodded.
Together they walked toward the door, stopping before the shrine in the entryway. Kuroda lit a stick of incense, and together they clapped their hands and bowed to their ancestors. He struck the flint over her, and she smiled back at her grandfather. "Good luck Kumiko, whatever your plans are."
The roads were finally starting to melt, even though it was still freezing. Kumiko wondered if the buses were running yet, but her question was answered by one passing by. She headed up the road to her bus stop, and kept looking around in various directions. She always had to be ready just in case Shinohara showed up. It was a little late for him to be going to work, but he popped up in the most surprising of places. Unfortunately she saw no sign of the red thread of destiny. Instead, the bus arrived a few minutes late, and she headed further into Tokyo.
Kuma's restaurant was surprisingly busy. The cold weather meant more people eating ramen. She sat down at the only table open, and looked around. Aya trotted up, asking her what she would like to drink and if she was ready to order. Kumiko had decided on the bus what she would have, so Aya trotted back to the counter and gave Kuma her order.
Automatically, Kuma knew it was Yankumi, and though it was a rush, he darted from behind the counter and up to Yankumi. "Hello! Your noodles will be ready in a minute and when lunch rush is over I'll come and talk." Before she could get a word in he was back behind the counter, and Aya had appeared with some tea.
She leaned back in her chair and drank her tea, watching a few of the other customers. The hum or conversation and slurping of noodles kept her entertained. The bowl of noodles appeared before her, and though she wasn't quite hungry, they smelled too good not to gulp down.
After a few minutes, most of the noodles were gone, and she placed the chopsticks over her bowl. The soup warmed her stomach. The restaurant was at capacity, and everyone had their noodle bowl. Kuma appeared back at her table, slightly haggard from his day so far.
"Hi Yankumi. What brings you by today?" He sat down in the chair across from her, taking a short break before a few customers cleared out and new ones came in.
Kumiko gave Kuma her award winning smile before lunging across the table and almost strangled him. "Why did you not tell me Sawada was back?" She roared at him.
Kuma shrank to a cub, and cowered across from her. Kumiko carried a surprising amount of fear factor. "I thought he would tell you himself!" The customers around them were looking slightly alarmed.
"I guess you're probably right." She released him without much of a fight. "He was just sitting in my living room last night." Kuma took in a deep sigh and tried to lean back into the chair. But Kumiko was holding his collar again. "But you should have told me! And he should have too!"
He attempted to get out of her hold to no avail, but she released him a moment later. "I'm sorry Yankumi. I don't think Sawada knew how to tell you he was back. The only other that people who know really are me and Uchi." Kumiko nodded and her anger had subsided. She got the feeling that Sawada really didn't know what he was doing at the moment, and didn't want to burden very many people with it.
"Well, thank you Kuma." She motioned toward the noodles. "I think I'm going to go hunt down Kiyoru." Kuma nodded to her, and noticed a few tables emptying, and that his back up cook looked as if a heart attack was on the horizon.
While running back behind the counter he waved to Kumiko, and resumed his craft. Kumiko slurped down the last of the noodles, and left her money on the table. Outside, the sun was hiding behind the clouds, and she set off toward Kiyoru's neighborhood.