Tucker, Rin and Hanako had arrived back at the Satou summer house. Tucker was on the edge, while his dad visiting him was a good idea, he felt nervous about how to present the predicament he found himself in. Tucker had finished washing himself off and dressing himself when he stepped out into the hallway. Rin was nowhere to be seen and Hisao and Lilly walked back inside.
"Hey Lilly, Hisao?" Tucker asked. He was curious to see what was happening to see what they had to say.
"Yes Tucker?" Lilly asked. She closed her eyes before taking a breath.
"Where is Rin?" Tucker asked. Lilly sighed before she began to speak. Hanako was putting the scrapbook together so she wasn't going to be bothered.
"Rin's outside. She said she wanted to talk to you after having a conversation with me and Hisao." Lilly explained to Tucker about it. Tucker sighed as he had to bring this up with Rin.
"Okay, wish me luck." Tucker nervously told Lilly. Lilly nodded before she turned to watch Tucker walk outside.
Tucker walked onto the back deck before looking around to see where Rin had wandered off to. He spotted an auburn blob of hair in the golden wheat field. Tucker walked, putting one foot in front of the other as he slowly made his way off the back deck and into the wheat field. Something was wrong but it was pulling him closer to Rin. Tucker continued to walk, the golden-brown wheat stalks brushing up against him while he walked. He looked around to see that Rin was standing in the middle, her eyes fixated on the horizon beyond her. She had something on her mind.
Katawa Shoujo- Innocence
"Rin?" Tucker asked softly. Rin didn't bother turning her head as she was fixated on the horizon beyond her. The sun is setting from the sky to say goodnight to a long day. Rin was still standing there, not doing anything. Rin's uniform sleeves blowing in the passing wind as the gentle breeze has lifted them up into the wind, making her fly. "What's wrong Rin, you haven't been acting like you usually do." Tucker tried his best to get her attention. Rin finally decided to speak.
"I heard Lilly talking about it." Rin began. "Family. A family that we all seem to be a part of. You me, Hisao, Lilly and Hanako, we're like siblings while Lilly and Hisao are the parents." Tucker seemed to be caught off guard. He had no trouble understanding Rin but this was the one thing he had difficulty wrapping his head around.
"What family?" Tucker asked. He was still curious and wanted to know more. "I don't understand you." Tucker finally admitted. Rin turned her head to Tucker as the wheat stalks blew against her.
"Finally given up?" Rin asked. She knew she needed to explain it. "I've been thinking about what Lilly was saying to Hisao plus what we heard in the Hobby Shop. I feel nervous about meeting your dad Tucker. I haven't met your parents at all but having your father come into the conversation while we're playing house in the Satou summer house. Acting like children while growing up to be adults. The wonderful feeling of having someone by your side to lean on, talk to, play with… I felt like I never got any of that while I was painting in Yamaku." Rin admitted, her voice didn't sound like her usual tone but it sounded a bit more childlike, desperate, Rin's emotions she had held back for so long were coming out.
"I'm sorry I haven't been with you for all of these years. I don't know what I would have done to make sure your life was better? This is the first time I wasn't able to understand you. And now you seem to be just as nervous as I am." Tucker admitted. Rin sighed before looking at Tucker. She closed her eyes before she began to speak again.
"Don't be sorry. I am not sorry for losing my arms as a baby nor should you be sorry about your disability either. We all make our mistakes and we regret the choices we make. It all comes down to what we consider ourselves. I've been told to make art all the time I have been at Yamaku, even paid to get to where I am now with all of my side hobbies. Sometimes, it's not enough to achieve happiness and now Mr. Nomiya is turning me into something that I shouldn't be. I bowed out of the gallery event, played with you on Sundays, came all the way out here to… get away from it all. I don't know where the wind will take me." Rin explained to Tucker what seemed to be a whole host of things, like a shopping list for what to get. Some of the stuff that she truly wanted to buy weren't going to be available nor were they going to come the next time she went back.
"I don't know either Rin." Tucker sighed. Rin said nothing before she stumbled forward to Tucker, one foot in front of the other. She finally collapsed into Tucker as the latter threw his hands around her to keep her from falling onto him. "Rin?" Tucker asked. Rin's eyes were glassy as she buried her head onto his shoulder, she knew the feeling, welling in her heart for so long. She had to let it out.
Katawa Shoujo- Romance in Andante II
"I love you Tucker." Rin began. "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you! Don't go away, I beg of you. Never, ever go away. I love you, so please...!" Rin cried out. Tucker's heart wasn't racing, nor did he feel like he was in pain. He just held Rin in the most relaxed position he could. Tucker was finally able to crack the code that opened Rin's mind up. Tucker sighed slowly, he had to bring this up with Rin.
"Rin?" Tucker began. Rin looked up nervously to Tucker before he continued to speak. "This might sound convoluted to say the least but I hope you're willing to keep up with me?" Tucker began. Rin looked on before she began to speak.
"I will." Rin softly told Tucker. Tucker sighed before he began to speak.
"I will always accept your embrace into my arms, this is one thing I've been looking forward to. Girls never really confessed with what seemed to be love to me. Mother told me to be the one to make the first move with girls but I always seemed to be lost, as lost as we are in the wheat field, having nowhere to go or head back. It's terrifying if there are no walls, no guidance to show us the way, no light at the end of the tunnel. It's just being lost." Tucker explained that. His mother told him to make the first move with girls but he was more comfortable with having the girls come to him and he can socialize with them more. Rin stepped away from Tucker while looking to see where this will take them.
"I am uncertain about all of this but if we can stick together for these next few weeks, we can probably see the light at the end of the tunnel, no more Mr. Nomiya telling us what we can and can't do. We can be floating up through the clouds, maybe even riding on them. Just promise me that if you do lose your arm and still want to pursue your dreams… find a replacement arm." Rin explained that she knew that unpredictability was going to be the biggest shortfall they'll deal with but if they stuck together for it, they could make it through this. Rin sighed before Tucker began to speak:
"I know what we're dealing with could be the biggest challenge to the relationship but, I don't want to leave you either Rin. You were the first person I met in Yamaku and we managed to form a bond that will be hard to melt." Tucker sighed. He seemed to be running out of things to say. "I'll never go away from you, I promise." This was interrupted with Lilly stepping out onto the back deck, overlooking the wheat field that Tucker and Rin were spending time in.
"You two sound like you'd be confessing to each other." Lilly began. Tucker and Rin looked at Lilly who had thrown her clothes onto her body, it was clear she was a mess and her appearance wasn't as elegant as she made herself out to be.
"I confessed to him." Rin admitted she felt awkward while saying it. Tucker said nothing as Lilly had caught them at an awkward time. "So, we're both in love with someone?" Rin asked Lilly. Tucker walked forward to Lilly; Rin followed him.
"I believe so. I… I… I just confessed to Hisao." Lilly stuttered as she found it somewhat hard to swallow. She still felt like she was tearing up. Rin walked over before hugging Lilly.
"It's okay Lilly, I just confessed my love too. You're not alone with us." Rin reassured her that she wasn't the only one to confess her love to someone special. Tucker began to think. Lilly and Rin actually made good friends surprisingly but there was one person who was left out from all of this.
"Hey… what about Hanako?" Tucker asked. He wanted to see if there was going to be someone for her too. Lilly nodded before she continued to speak.
"I think that is something I wish to talk to her about. I bet she'll be happy with the Newspaper club she's in. Hopefully things can go well between us. I do not want to create a misunderstanding with Hanako snapping at us." Lilly told them that she'll talk to Hanako when she had the time, her last sentence sounded worried, she was scared of making Hanako angry.
"I will. Also, should we get going, I have plans to speak to my dad later today. The man in the hobby store we were talking to had managed to get him to come to Hokkaido about the situation we're in." Tucker laid out his situation for Lilly that he had to be somewhere if he was going to be on time.
"Good luck Tucker." Lilly told Tucker that she wished him luck and Tucker sighed, he knew he needed to get going.
"Thanks Lilly, I'll need it." Tucker sighed. He began to make his way to the door with Rin as the sunset was turning into the twilight air. "I'll see you tomorrow morning." Tucker told Lilly as he and Rin left the room, they left their stuff they got from the hobby shop with Hanako as they were going to be coming back tomorrow for the afternoon and the ride home.
Rin and Tucker walked the mile and a half back to the stop where they had agreed to meet Tucker's dad in the town and probably spend the night with him to find out where they should go from there. They arrived at the spot they were dropped off the night before as they were now waiting for someone to come to the spot. Tucker got out his phone to text his father the location they were at while Rin looked at the darkening sky.
"Do you think the sky changes colors like that?" Rin asked Tucker. Tucker looked at Rin as he tried to figure out the answer.
"The sky changes colors but I'm not sure why, on the rare occasion they could be pink before becoming light blue or dark indigo like right now. You see the bright spots in the sky like the little islands in the middle of the dark ocean. I don't think fireworks count as stars, Rin." Tucker explained to Rin that the sky was one that wouldn't pause to change shades of colors. Rin nodded before she began to speak.
"I remember now." Rin began. "When we were having that festival that day, we were sitting on the rooftop with Natsume and Naomi." Rin paused as she tried her best to recall the events of that day and what happened. "You won that cat and took it with you as a good luck prize. I surely would have won a prize like that for myself." Rin admitted while looking at him.
"Hey… I could get you something when we go on our summer break. I think you'd like a butterfly to hold." Tucker admitted. He looked at Rin as he wanted to give her something but he had nothing on him. A tall man began to approach them, he seemed curious to see what they were talking about.
"I don't know what we'll be doing this summer break but we have to figure out something between the two of us. It won't appear like an idea on the wind." Rin sighed. Tucker better look into something for them to do. The man looked at them as Tucker was still engaged in the conversation with Rin while waiting for his dad.
"Tucker." The man would tell him. Tucker looked up to see who this man was. Tucker instantly recognized his face.
"Oh dad, you took us off guard there for a second." Tucker began. He stood up before his father shook his good hand. Rin looked on curiously, wondering who this man was that was talking to Tucker.
"I got the call from the man in the hobby shop earlier today and I said I wanted to speak to you." Mr. Kagami told Tucker why he was here. He turned his head to see who this girl was that was standing right next to Tucker. "Are you Rin Tezuka?" Mr. Kagami asked out of curiosity.
"Yes, that's my name." Rin replied. She sighed before thinking about what to say next. "Your friend had been very nice to me when we first met, I was the one who introduced myself to him as the rest of the class never really clapped for him. I wanted to do that but I couldn't. At least I can try to hug him though."
"Nice to meet you Rin. I'm glad you two are acting nice to each other and I wasn't expecting you to be this far in Hokkaido. Is there a reason why?" Mr. Kagami asked them if they had any reason to be away from Yamaku.
"We're given a three day break and Yuuko the librarian told us about the hobby shop that you got a call from located here and that is what we decided to do for the break. We're heading back to Yamaku tomorrow though the time to go back isn't determined as of yet. We're going to leave the hotel by noon and spend some time with Lilly." Tucker explained to his father why they were in Hokkaido. Tucker's father nodded, he figured out that his son was most likely taking a trip to Hokkaido with friends to spend time with the break.
"Hobby shop eh. Well you found my friend's and that's kind of not what I wanted to talk about but catching up to see how my boy is doing." Mr. Kagami sighed, when he learned about this. "So I'm getting the news about Eleanor not doing good with her grades?" Mr. Kagami asked if this was going to be true.
"Yeah it is true, I was looking through the bag with Hanako and her assignments were either failing or incomplete. Plus she's beginning to sound…" Tucker tried his best to explain the situation at hand before Rin decided to add to the conversation.
"Pretty nasty." Rin told Tucker's father. The man was shocked. Tucker knew he had to explain this in more detail.
Katawa Shoujo- Letting My Heart Speak
"I tried talking to her and she said she wants to do just art and when I asked her what she wanted to do for the break, she snapped at me in a rather rude way and told me to go away. Also our art teacher Mr. Nomiya decided to suspend her classes to focus more time on her art. I think she's going crazy and I don't know what might be in store for us." Tucker did his best to explain the situation to his father about Eleanor's behavior as it seemed to be going south.
"I got that in the letter you'd sent me but I wanted to make sure you and Rin are okay." Mr. Kagami told his son about what this meant. Rin began speaking next.
"Mr. Nomiya presented me and Eleanor with a gallery event. I said no while Eleanor jumped in with no hesitation whatsoever. I knew doing that would be a bad idea as it meant giving up everything you'd have. Tucker formed a club that we'd have fun in on Sunday afternoons but with Mr. Nomiya tells us that the only way to recover Eleanor's grades is to disband the club and get me back into art… I don't know what I want to do." Rin tried to explain how their art teacher most likely took advantage of Eleanor for his own purpose and the only way to reverse it was to dissolve everything they had built up in the last few weeks. Mr. Kagami began to think about it, he decided to come to a decision.
"I'll talk to your mother and the art teacher about the situation and if worse comes to worse and the club is disbanded… I'll try to find something for you and Rin to enjoy. Think about what you two want to do for summer break to start it off." Mr. Kagami told Tucker that he was willing for them to think over their decisions with the options that presented themselves.
"Thanks dad." Tucker told his father about it.
"Anything for my son." Mr. Kagami told Tucker. He got up and looked at his son. "I have to get going, it was nice chatting with you. Take care and treat Rin well."
"Take care, dad." Tucker told his father. Mr. Kagami nodded as they began to part ways for days unknown. Tucker walked alongside Rin while he began to think about what they were going to do next. After taking a few steps, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Tucker turned his head back to see his dad had followed him. "Anything else you want to talk about?" Tucker asked.
"Take some cash, you're starting to look a little thin. Have you been eating ever since you went to Yamaku? Have you been eating properly?" Mr. Kagami handed Tucker some cash for him to get some food. He was getting worried for his health.
"I have, dad. It's just the stress of the tests coming up. We're getting ready." Tucker explained to his father. He took the money as he was thankful of his dad being generous to him.
"Good luck, I must be off or your mother will wonder where I am. Have a good rest of your night." Mr. Kagami turned and began to walk away from the scene while Rin and Tucker waved goodbye to him.
Tucker and Rin went to a local store to find something to spend the money on. This was going to be their last night in Hokkaido before they head back to Yamaku for the weekend. He didn't know if they were going to find something to do. Sensing the time was going to be right, they decided to strike up a conversation.
"Hey Rin?" Tucker asked. Rin turned her head to Tucker as she was curious about it. "What do you want to do when Summer Break comes around?" Tucker asked. He wanted to see what Rin had in mind on what she wanted to do. Rin began to think about it.
"I don't know actually. I probably want to go on a trip. I don't know where, it's something I would do and enjoy where the trip will take me." Rin explained that she didn't know where she wanted to go for the summer break. Tucker looked around before pulling out a couple of rolls of sugar candy for them to share.
"Well you like it when it comes to day to day. Not much of a planner?" Tucker asked. Rin walked around while figuring out about it.
"I'm not, I just like being in the moment and when I have my fill I move on. It's like our games, painting and other things I don't really know about." Rin sighed. Tucker went up to the counter to begin paying for the meager snacks.
"I can sense that I can understand you more while the walls are blown open and you can go straight through." Tucker tried his best to compare Rin's walls getting blown open upon which they could pour on through. After paying, he grabbed the tubes and knew they were off to the hotel.
"I hope so too." Rin told Tucker. They were now walking along the cool night-time air along the street, it was peaceful, it was just them, a couple of street lights and the occasional flash of car's headlights as it passes by them. Once getting back to the hotel, they decided to head for their room. Tucker and Rin opened the door and decided to get themselves cleaned up. Tucker decided to get himself cleaned up first as he knew that he needed to head for bed and with him helping Rin out, he had to take care of the girl his dad told him to treat well.
"Hey Rin, are you fine with cleaning yourself?" Tucker asked if she needed any assistance.
"I should be good." Rin told Tucker. Rin paused as she began to think about something. She then began to speak. "Hey Tucker, can you keep your shirt off just for tonight?" Rin asked Tucker if this request could be met.
"Okay…?" Tucker awkwardly responded. He felt weirded out to be asked to be seen without his shirt. He began scratching the back of his head. What did Rin want him to do without it. He decided to wait around for Rin to come out of the shower. Tucker decided to figure out how to pass the time. He had that magazine with Hanako so no use to walk an extra three miles to retrieve it. He began laying on the bed, confused about what to do. He decided to get the rolls of candy he purchased in the store and cracked one open. He took out the cylindrical tablet of sugar and placed it in his mouth to suck on. It fasted fruity to him. "Cherry." He told himself. He continued to suck on the tablet, patiently waiting for Rin to come out and show him what she meant when she didn't want his shirt on. After a few minutes, Rin came out, she looked unusual with just the towel on.
Rin sat down and began rolling the tablets out. Tucker looked on curiously while Rin was getting what she wanted from the tube-like packet.
"So, are you ready for me and you to paint something beautiful?" Rin asked. She began separating the tablets out by their colors.
"What are you talking about? Is it a painting of some sort?" Tucker asked Rin what she wanted to do. Rin then turned around as she was smiling though the tablets were hanging out of her mouth in the color order: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Purple. Tucker knew the colors could be associated with the flavors: Cherry, Citrus Orange, Lemon, Green Apple, Blue Raspberry and Grape. "Can I have an answer please?" Tucker asked, he was still confused by what Rin had in mind. Rin flicked her head like someone flicking their hands, trying to draw them closer. Tucker inches up to Rin. She was trying to tell him to get closer to her. Tucker got as close as he could, just a couple inches from her face. Rin closed her eyes happily with the rainbow colored tablets in her mouth. She knew now was the perfect moment to paint the rainbow.
Katawa Shoujo- Aria De l'Etoile
Rin leaned in as her green eyes closed, the sugar tablets she had neatly lined up in her mouth came down onto Tucker by surprise. Within the span of a couple of moments, their lips connected, Tucker was taken by surprise as Rin was kissing him again. It felt strange to have the girl he liked kiss him with pieces of rainbow candy in her mouth. Even with this awkward feeling, Tucker accepted Rin's kiss though the feeling was so awkward. Was Rin planning for this the entire time? Tucker decided to roll with it what Rin was going to give him. Tucker wrapped his arms around her while feeling them getting pulled into the sky. This felt weird but strangely good, hopefully they could eat the candy while enjoying themselves.
Thump Thump.
Thump Thump.
Thump Thump.
Thump Thump.
It has been a half hour since they started, Tucker and Rin's clothing was nonexistent as they were having their fun. Tucker's heart was beating with the feeling that Rin was giving him the fun that he needed. Rin then collapsed alongside him while resting her head against the pillow.
"Did you have fun?" Rin asked. She snuggled her head against the pillow as they both had their candy. "We certainly painted the rainbow." Rin teased Tucker playfully. Tucker smiled as her tongue was colored with the colors of the candy.
"Painting the rainbow with your tongue is always a weird feeling. I wasn't expecting this when you told me that I should take my shirt off." Tucker admitted. Rin smiled while looking at him.
"Maybe that's what I should do, paint your face with my tongue, I don't know if we should get more of these candies when we go back to Yamaku. I think I want to get more just in case. Give a packet for Hanako to try." Rin suggested. "They also sell them at the hotel entrance so we can pick up a bunch on the way out."
"That will be nice for Hanako to draw out on." Tucker told Rin. He felt something crushing his left arm and it needed to be addressed. "Rin?"
"Oh sorry. I wanted to say ``closer'' again." Rin told Tucker. She then rested on his body, probably still feeling ecstatic from the experience. "Tucky, when we get back to Yamaku, promise me you'll think of something for our summer vacation?"
"I promise." Tucker told Rin. He didn't know what he had in mind but if he could talk to Hanako and her friends in the Newspaper Club about it, they can plan something out which would make them all happy. Rin snuggled her head on Tucker's chest almost as if she was melting into butter with the feeling of her lover.
"Happy Rin is Happy." Rin sighed; they were out like candles a couple moments later while the moon reflected on them. Tomorrow was going to be their last day at Hokkaido before their return trip would take place.
[A/N]: Picking up the events regarding the previous chapter as Tucker and Rin have to try to figure out what to do about Eleanor and more importantly themselves. When they return to Yamaku, they better try to get everything sorted out. I'll see you in the next chapter when they decide to return to Yamaku Academy from Hokkaido. See you later.