TRACK 12
Aerosmith - Jaded
"Fujisaki-sensei! This is a surprise! What can I do for you?" asked Hiyori, trying to recover from the initial surprise and recover her composure.
"There you go again with the sensei thing!" he replied, giving an overdramatic sigh. "Tell me, when are you going to start warming up to me? I told you before, I'm only a couple years older than you!"
"But… you're my teacher." She said, hesitating. "Talking to you any other way would be inappropriate."
"We will become closer, Hiyori-chan, I can assure you that". Something in his voice made Hiyori especially upset to be called like that, but she couldn't explain why. "By the way, that friend of yours, Yamashita, she's very kind, she gave me your phone number right away."
"Oh, I see". Hiyori made a mental note about talking to her the next day. "Did something happened? What can I help you with?"
"Nothing to be worried about, sweetheart". The girl swallowed the impulse of hanging up on him right then. "I just wanted to inform you that you turned out chosen to be the main soloist of the choir". "Picked by whom?", she thought, concerned, but opted not to say anything for now. Upon the silence, Fujisaki insisted again. "The cat ate your tongue? Are you not happy?"
"I was just wondering if you could not wait until tomorrow to tell me about this, ¿is this really that urgent to ask my friends for my phone number?". Hiyori realized too late the tone she had used was definitely not appropriate to talk to a teacher. The worst thing about it was that Fujisaki's reaction wasn't even strange to her. He just laughed hard.
"You're absolutely right, Hiyori-chan, you're a very clever girl!" and he added, with a different set of voice: "I actually wanted to say good night."
"Oh… I… see?" she doubted. What was all this? "Good night?" she finally suggested. Fujisaki laughed intently again.
"Good night, honey! I hope this phone call gave you a nice thought to fall asleep to."
He hung up. What was all that about? Trying to follow her way, Hiyori felt a shiver down her spine only for daring to think maybe a teacher – what an abominable idea, was flirting with her over the phone. Of course, Fujisaki was not exactly the least handsome man on earth, in fact, Hiyori could see clearly the face Yama made when the music teacher approached to ask for her number and the reason why she had given it without any second thought, but something in him was just simply… too weird. There was something about his features…
Hiyori flinched when she passed by a street light. Just in the middle of the circle displayed by the lightbulb, there was a girl dressed in a kimono, standing still at that time of night, without signals of anybody around or that she was waiting for someone. She was just there, looking straight up front. Hiyori passed next to her and flinched again when her intense black eyes fixated upon her. There was no expression, not even a glare. Hiyori hurried and tried to get out from her mind the ghostly figure of that pale girl, with black short hair, looking at her with eyes like that, black as hollow, expressionless.
She could never forget that face in her entire life.
"In what moment in life exactly you thought it was a good idea to give my cell phone number to Fujisaki-sensei, Yama-chan?" Hiyori asked to her friend the next day, without second thoughts.
Yama opened her sports bag from school and stuck her head right into it.
"I'm so sorry, Hiyori-chan! I wasn't thinking at that moment!" even her voice was ridden with how embarrassed she was. Hiyori couldn't help but feel a big affection for her friend and smiled.
"It's okay, Yama-chan, don't overthink it. I just think is weird to receive calls from a teacher straight to my phone."
"He called you?" asked Ami, quite interested, and Hiyori nodded.
"Yesterday."
"Why such a hurry?" Ami asked again.
"Well…" Hiyori doubted. Clenching her fists over her skirt, she told them the teacher's decision. "Apparently, they chose me as the main soloist of the choir."
"Wow, Hiyori-chan", said Yama, sticking her head out from her bag. "Since when you're so good in music?"
"Yeah, I mean since we know each other you're barely more than a mess in everything else that doesn't involve studying until your lashes burn", laughed Ami.
Hiyori felt a bit disappointed if she had to be completely honest.
"I'm just as surprised as you guys. I can't stop asking myself who chose me for this."
Apparently, judging by the looks of the other choir members expecting to be picked up, no one except Fujisaki had chosen her for the position. Just to get a second opinion about someone that knew a bit about the subject, Hiyori invited Ami and Yama to stay and watch the choir's practice after school.
The mood was pure tension.
It was way more uncomfortable when the choir mates realized the special treatment Hiyori received from the teacher. Every time she noticed a new innuendo the man directed at her, the same ugly feeling crept up her back. Fujisaki stared at her deeply in the eye, with a half-smile in his face, while directing everyone. Both his hands in the air, he had complete control over them all, with an iron glove, but he didn't take his eyes off her. It almost seemed as if he was directing her exclusively. All tension accumulated during that hour and a half of practice passed the toll over her when she came out of the classroom, relieved. Her friends received her, but the reaction was way too different to what she expected.
"I definitely want to know when did you became this skilled singing, Hiyori-chan", asked a confused Yama.
"When did you find time to practice?" tried Ami.
"I sing in the bathtub, don't be so dramatic." The girl answered, a bit alarmed. "Actually I don't think I'm even half good as I would need to be considered a good singer…"
A loud alarm interrupted her. Her smartphone had activated a reminder telling her she should run to the station if she wanted to make it on time with SHRINE. These schedules were becoming pretty hard.
Hiyori excused herself out and ran. She ignored the heavy stare she felt upon her back while crossing the main yard.
"Run as fast as you'd like, rabbit." Muttered Fujisaki, from the music classroom window. "I already have you in my sight."
He pointed his fingers at her, making the shape of a gun with them, and with a sinister smile, he turned around.
At SHRINE's house, the normal volume of conversation was being exceeded. Hiyori entered trying to be discreet and to understand what was being said above the big voice of Daikoku. He was, apparently, scolding Yato. Hiyori knew why the moment she went through the living room's door.
She had never seen Yato in such a shape. He didn't just look drunk, he looked terribly tired. Hiyori wondered if that was the normal effect of having too much alcohol or if he really hadn't slept all night.
"You were the last person he saw", said a voice behind her. Startled, she turned around to find Yukine there, watching the scene. He then stared at her, concerned. "Did something happened to you guys?"
"Something?" Hiyori was completely lost. "Like what?"
Yukine sighed.
"Sometimes he… well, this happens. I don't know exactly what is the trigger, but he's more paranoid than usual, he doesn't sleep, and tries to get away himself by drinking. He says he drinks to try and find some peaceful sleep and he has spans of really bad insomnia." Hiyori looked at Yato. "I think there's something else behind this."
"Last night I didn't notice anything weird, at least not until we split. He did the rest of the way alone."
"NOW PUT THAT SHIT DOWN!" Shouted Yukine, seeing Yato trying to open a new can of beer.
"Noooo!" he cried when the boy took the remaining cans to the kitchen. "You don't understand!" just as if he had a sixth sense, Yato looked at the door and grinned widely, standing on his feet tottering. "Hiyori's-'ere!" to her surprise, Yato threw a limp arm around her neck. "Time to begin' d'practis'". The smell of alcohol and his doughy tongue didn't make things easier for the girl, that the only thing she could fully think of was how close they really were, the warmth radiating from Yato's body, and his smell – he was too close.
"G-get off me!" Hiyori slipped under Yato's arm and made her way alone to the basement. Yato followed her with the eyes, perplexed until she disappeared through the door. Daikoku came close to him.
"That was really smooth."
Yato opened his mouth to complain, horrified, but no sound came out of him.
Hiyori realized, alone in the silent basement, between the controls and all the gear, that her knees were shaking, her shoulders were heavy and her heart pounded violently between her ribs. Was it the fact that she had actually never been that close to someone in such ethylic state, or simply…?
Everyone else entered the practice room with the usual noisy vibe. When Hiyori turned to look at Yato, he averted his eyes quickly to the floor, blushing.
"Wha…" passed across Hiyori's mind, but she rather replaced her thoughts with the warm-up exercises she had learned on the choir practice.
Once everyone was ready, Yato let out a loud distorted chord and let it ring. His hand was up in the air, and after the sound disappeared a bit, the intense sound of the guitar got feedback from the amp and let out a hoarse howl. Hiyori usually limited herself to concentrate and cover her part. Something this night though made all her senses excited and waited intently for Yato to begin playing. He then lowered his arm and made a movement with his head, and suddenly, uncomfortable, Fujisaki popped to her mind.
Her mind began working like crazy. The replacement teacher, wrapped in a brown suit, the shirt well tucked-in, with a tie; Yato was using a muscle t-shirt one size too big for him under his coat. Fujisaki had a rather thin frame, and the few times he worked with his sleeves rolled up, his skin didn't show any spot, not a single mole; Yato had a muscular build that was not immediately evident through his everyday clothes, but one simple look to the man behind the guitar directing this band was enough to convince that under that shaggy look was the true brain that made SHRINE work, every muscle of his arm embellished by some tint, some figure, some kind of mark. Hiyori entered in the right moment with the correct notes, going with the flow, entranced. She had no idea why she was comparing both guys, but the shiver down her spine remembering the teacher directing the choir was noticeable enough: she didn't like Fujisaki at all. Yato, however… where should she put Yato?
Dumb Yato. Annoying Yato. Smelly, irresponsible and careless Yato. Talented, mysterious and irresistible Yato. Kind Yato. Unpredictable Yato. Handsome Yato.
The voice part of the song ended, and Hiyori analyzed the tips of her toes, barely touching the heavy microphone stand's base, with wide open eyes. What the hell was she thinking about?
"Hey, Hiyorin, is everything ok?" Asked Kofuku when the practice was over, "You seem worried about something."
The girl only could manage a short "Uhm…" while swiftly gazing with the corner of her eye at the guy picking up every cable he could find out of place. The muscle t-shirt let the movement of his arms and his back to shine through. Hiyori averted her eyes right away and tried to suppress the sudden heat on her cheeks and that annoying feeling of a claw clenching her stomach. Kofuku smiled sweetly.
"Oh, I see." Said merrily the pink-haired girl. "I heard about the phone." She suggested, slyly.
"Well… that's…"
"Good luck, you idiots". Jumping childishly, she got out of the room.
"What were you guys talking about?"
That blue.
It was not just any color, it was that one in particular, precisely the one she could not stand to look in that moment.
"Oh, just…" Hiyori hesitated. Yato seemed to have lost the alcohol effects by that point, but he still had droopy eyes and huge dark circles. "Kofuku-san only wanted to know if we could exchange numbers."
She smiled nervously at Yato's inspection. Her smile vanished the moment a new idea began to form, and the man realized her change of expression, stepping back when she raised her hands to her mouth in panic.
"Hiyori…?" Yato tried.
"I completely forgot!" the surprise made her stutter. She had forgotten to call all the event planners and hotels that may rent a hall for her. "What the hell am I supposed to do know?"
"Hey, chill," said Yato. "What's wrong?"
Hiyori was worrying more and more by each passing second. How could she have forgotten about it? She hurriedly let out an apology and ran to the door, picking her stuff up in her way out. Before she could storm by the basement's stairs, Yato got a firm grip off her arm.
"Are we not a team, Hiyori?", he said, and added with an affected tone: "Don't you trust us?"
Hiyori stopped the overflow of ideas that knocked over all other thoughts inside her mind. She slowly turned her face to Yato. She had no idea her actions were able to affect him this much. He looked at the floor, worried, not daring to raise his eyes, and his eyebrows furrowed. The girl sighed.
"I completely forgot I had to plan my parent's wedding anniversary party. I have a few weeks ahead and I haven't even made the research."
Yato let her arm loose and turned around to search into his coat's pockets. He took his smartphone and plopped into a chair. Hiyori smiled, a bit hurt, seeing he had completely lost interest so quickly. She was beginning to walk when she heard Yato speaking.
"Ishida-san? Good evening! I'm sorry to be bothering you at this time! I'm Yato, you remember me?" he began walking aimlessly across the room. Kofuku came back with snacks and placed them carefully over an amplifier while Daikoku and the others followed Yato around with the eyes. "Thank you! I'm fine… actually, I was calling to ask you for a big favor. Do you still have that big hall we fixed up last summer?"
Bit by bit Hiyori's face was turning from confusion to surprise, to total joy. After a few phone calls, Yato had appointments at different points all around the city, and every person he spoke to were glad to show him places right away.
"T-that's amazing, Yato!" Hiyori stuttered, puzzled. "How did you do it?"
Yato wasn't sure if he should be proud or ashamed of the circumstances.
"I've had this bunch of jobs…" he muttered, raising a hand to the nape of his neck.
"That's not a lie," pointed Yukine, "he has had more jobs than birthdays."
Hiyori could not believe it.
"I thank you so much, Yato!" she watched as the boy fiddled dorkly with his nose before jumping back to his phone. After a few seconds, he stared at his other three friends.
"We're not done yet. Are you still in touch with that restaurant owner in Odaiba, Daikoku? The guy way-too-into fusion food?"
"Ah…" said Daikoku, thoughtful. "I haven't talked to him in a while, but I'll get in touch right away."
"Cool! Yuki!" the boy raised his nose from his bass and stared back reluctantly, "Kofuku's family has a big storage vault full of furniture, make some time tomorrow, we need to select what we will be using."
"I get to be the carrier?" he whined, "I still want to grow taller, you ass!"
"This sounds like fun!" Kofuku squealed. She actually didn't have any idea of where she had put the key to the vault, but she would surely find it somehow.
"Thank you all so much, guys." Said an overwhelmed Hiyori. "Actually when you already have so many things under control, I don't think I need to do anything." She laughed a bit, ashamed. Yato pointed at her with his phone.
"Your job is the most difficult one!" he put a hand in his waist, extending the other one towards her. "You'll have to coordinate everything and don't let us slack off."
Hiyori laughed again, harder this time.
"Leave it to me!"
Yukine popped his neck while walking during sunset through one of the parks nearby Yato's basement. The furniture was ready, Hiyori was better than she thought for coordination, especially after having a more precise idea of what she was trying to accomplish. Yato walked by Yukine's side while making their way to the basement, where Yukine wanted to check thoroughly one of the parts he should play on a new song.
Yato looked straight ahead, undoubtful, firmly, and with a slight smile curving the corners of his lips. Curious about the silence, Yukine stared at him intently.
"You've been weird lately." He began. "Are you sure tha-?"
"Everything is okay?" Yato interrupted, "of course. Now everything is okay."
After another brief analysis, Yukine bent his arms behind his head, locking his fingers together, and sighed.
"Does this have anything to do with Hiyori?"
Yato could barely manage to keep his balance.
"THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, YOU BRAT?" Trying to give a smack to the kid's head, he barely hits a trashcan.
"We'll help you set this up; We're a team" Yukine mocked, "Since when you're so into getting up and do things? I think if you really try you can be a little more obvious, moron."
Yato rubbed his knee, but looked up at the sky, thinking.
"Are you trying to say that…" He stopped and tried to avoid blushing "I like Hiyori?"
"No." Said Yukine, simply, and began walking again. Intrigued, Yato ran after him. "I think you are deeply, stupidly and totally in love with her."
"Sure." Yato scorned, pretending his young friend's words hadn't made his heart jump.
"You can try to lie to me if you want." The blond suggested.
"And what could you know about those things, midget?"
Yukine avoided his eyes and blushed strongly.
"Shut up."
Yato stopped in his tracks again. Yukine did the same, even though he was not sure what was going on.
"Go to my house, I'll meet you there." Said the older boy, giving his keys to the blond kid.
"WHAAT?" Snapped Yukine, trying to read the look in Yato's eyes. They were cold, steel hard blue, and his jaw clenched, almost making it possible to hear his teeth screeching. Yukine tried to follow his eyesight, but couldn't spot anyone. There was a girl further ahead drinking water from a drinker a few meters ahead, but that was it.
"You're definitely a freak, now what the f-?"
"I told you to go! I'll catch you later."
Yukine went ahead, surprised by the roughness of Yato's words, not without turning around to look at him suspiciously.
Yato was finally alone in the park. Strangely alone. A cold breeze went through his jersey and the wool sweater he put over it, but he was sure it had nothing to do with the temperature.
It seemed all the cold air was coming from the eyes of the short-haired girl coming closer to him, after closing the drinker's tap.
"I'm so glad to see you," she began talking, with a sweet voice, "Yato."
He clenched his jaw even more. Something about the way she spelled his name sent shivers down his spine.
"What are you doing here, Nora?"
"Isn't that obvious?" said the girl, and took Yato softly by the arm. "I come to take you."
"Not this time."
"You've become harsh, Yato."
"I'm not going to be available every time he needs. I have a life of my own."
"With them?" asked Nora softly, tilting her head, and then looking to the path Yukine had gone by. "That's impossible. You know the only ones who truly love you is us, Yato."
Again with that, Yato thought and ripped his arm off Nora's soft grip.
"You can tell that nasty geezer I'm never going back."
The long silence made him look back to her. Her black junior high uniform gave her an air of innocence Yato knew very well couldn't suit her better. Nora smiled, holding her briefcase with both hands. She was the stereotypical image of a japanese dream girl.
"Father will get mad if I come back without you."
"I'm sorry about that."
"You're not sorry enough, Yato." Nora slowly began to walk away. "Not yet."
Something in her words made all the alarms in Yato's mind ring.
"See you later, brother."