Independence Day

July 4th

"Do you believe that you can walk on water!" Rock music blared from my phone, loud enough to wake me from my dream.

Damnit, I thought as I reached over to my phone to shut off the alarm. Sunlight peeked through the cracks of my blinds on my window. I should get up now.

I reluctantly lifted my head, as though it was weighed down by a bowling ball. Even though it was summer, I thought it would be a good idea to wake up early in the morning, just to keep my internal clock in shape.

I rolled myself out of bed, my feet touching the floor as I caught myself from falling off the mattress. I looked out the window to see the early sun cresting the horizon, greeting me as I rubbed my eyes until I saw mini fireworks.

My window faced the house next door, though I could still see the street. The house belonged to Ono-chan. I tried to peer into her window to see if I can spy a glance at her.

I haven't seen her since the storm. She didn't answer her phone when I called or texted. I never saw her outside of her house these past few days. I don't know why she won't answer me. Honestly, I'm getting kind of worried.

But today's the 4th of July and y'all know I'm patriotic as hell. Today's a day to go to the park for a good old fashioned grill and a game of football. I was planning to go to the park today with the club members. You know, just hang out on a special summer day and to let them experience how we do it in America.

Though I couldn't get a hold of Ono-chan, even though she lives next door.

Still in my PJs, I padded downstairs barefoot. I heard the succulent sizzling of bacon in its pan, its juicy aroma making me drool already. My stomach growled in anger, wanting to eat more and more.

"Mornin' Sawyer!" exclaimed Ms. Kobayashi as she passed me on the stairwell. She held a large cooler, big enough to fit a few beers, cans of soda, and water bottles.

"Morning," I greeted back. Meanwhile, Ms. Kobayashi hurried down the stairs, smiling back at me for a moment.

"Good morning," I said to Mr. Kobayashi, who was grilling up an American breakfast of pancakes, omelets, and bacon on the kitchen stove. He already had two plates ready to eat, with the pancakes topped with syrup, butter, and a strawberry, omelets with cheese oozing from its inner layers, and a few strips of bacon that would be a little juicy when you bite into it. He looked like he was about done with preparing the third plate.

"Morning, Sawyer. Just finishing up this plate. Go ahead and set the table, will you?"

I grabbed the plates and lifted them up carefully. Both plates felt pretty heavy. I guess he did make a big breakfast. I put the two plates down onto the table, then grabbed spoons, forks, and chopsticks. I set them accordingly with the plates. I went over to the refrigerator and took out the orange juice, which was in a rectangular carton, the yellow cardboard signifying that there is OJ in there. I also grabbed three cups and laid them out on the table.

After eating, I went back up to my room to change. I wore a gray shirt with a darker gray version of the Stars and Stripes on the chest and light brown cargo shorts. I slapped on my brother's field cap onto my head. I also put on my red running shoes. After that, I paused momentarily, as if my attention was drawn to a very insignificant thing. But to me, it was very significant. Well, I'm not gonna go to the park until 12, I'll see if I can get Ono-chan out of the house.

Grabbing my phone and unlocking it, I swiped through the large number of apps that I had until I found the green icon with a white phone on it. I tapped on it and searched for Takeuchi-san's contact. I put my phone to my ear and listened to the ringing as it was calling Takeuchi-san's phone.

"Hello?" she said into her phone.

"Hey," I said, "You're going to the park with us, right?"

"Yeah, I am," she answered, "I'm just getting ready right now. What's up?"

"Can you make sure Nakano-san and Saito-san know the plan?" I asked. I still didn't have any of their numbers. Nakano-san didn't give me her contact info because having a boy in her contacts would make her dad suspicious. Meanwhile, Saito-san doesn't have a phone at all, so the only way I could contact her is when I call Takeuchi-san, who relays that message to Nakano-san, who relays that message to Saito-san. To contact them, it's pretty much a big game of Messenger.

"They're coming. They already told me. And let me guess. Sayori is not answering her phone, is she?"

"N-no. How did you know?" I asked. Has Ono-chan not been answering Takeuchi-san's calls either?

"She called me by landline. She accidentally broke her phone. It'll take a bit for the shop to fix her phone." Oh thank God, she's okay. I was getting worried there for a second.

"Thanks. I'll just go over to her house to talk to her then," I said, hanging up. I stuck my phone into my pocket and walked out of my room. Mr. and Ms. Kobayashi told me that they are getting everything prepared. They wanted me to see if Ono-chan was going too, so they could give her a ride.

That said, I walked out of the door. Outside, the sun beamed down on me while birds flew above, chasing each other like fighter planes, twirling and diving as they flew. The trees blew in the wind. A lot of the damage from the typhoon was already repaired. A few palm fronds ripped from their trees lay scattered. They have yet to pick that up.

Closing the gate to the house, I walked next door to Ono-chan's. I opened the gate to the white wooden fence and entered.

The mahogany door was simple, with one of those knockers that hung from the door. There was also a peephole. I grabbed the handle of the knocker and banged it against the door.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" I called out, "Ono-chan?"

A few seconds later, I heard the thudding of someone running down the stairs. It sounded like someone tumbling down the stairs. Is she okay?

The doorknob turned and the door unlocked. The door swung open. There stood Ono-chan, her hair disheveled as usual whenever she's at home. Her bow was crooked. She wore a pair of blue PJs, ones that matched her eyes.

"Hello?" Ono-chan greeted with her toothy, cheeky grin. "Lee-kun?"

"Mornin' Ono-chan," I said, smiling back. I chuckled a little while seeing Ono-chan's bedhead. "Daijoubu desu ka? You doing alright?"

"Yes! Actually, I'm glad you came to visit!" exclaimed Ono-chan, giggling, "I kept waking up late! If you hadn't come today, I might've never gotten out of bed!"

"What time do you wake up if I'm not there?" I asked, my smile fading off of my face as I formed a quizzical expression.

"Uh," Ono-chan said as she put her finger to her bottom lip, "around noon." Do I have to be her alarm clock every day? She has to get up at some point.

"Do you want me to wake you up early?" I asked. Honestly, it's not a big deal. I usually go out for a run around the block a couple of times in the morning. After doing my rounds, I could just go to Ono-chan's house, wake her up if her parents aren't home, and maybe make her breakfast… Oh God, now I sound like I'm her husband.

"I-I don't wanna bother you," said Ono-chan, waving her hands up and shaking her head no.

"It's no big deal," I said, grinning to one side of my face.

"Well," she said hesitantly, "If you want. There's a spare key under the doormat. You can let yourself in and wake me. If my parents are out, that is."

"I don't know where your room is though," I said, "If I'm gonna wake you up myself, I should know where your room is."

Ono-chan opened the door a little wider, showing me the interior of her house. I never really went inside her house. I didn't know what it looked like. When I looked inside of her house, I noticed that the layout was quite similar to my house next door. I'm assuming all houses (at least, those on the block) are identical to each other, following the same floor plan.

The only difference is that Ono-chan's house is a little more furnished than mine. The Kobayashi's and I finished decorating the house, but it was still quite sparse. Ono-chan had a little more furniture than the Kobayashi's household, with more paintings and vases everywhere.

I stepped in. Ono-chan led the way upstairs. I followed her without thinking. Her house was nice. The color scheme was almost the same as my house, with the different shades of gray contrasting one another, while the dark wooden furniture stood out from it all, accenting the house with a subtle red taste to compliment the gray paint. The kitchen and the living room looked modern.

Upstairs, there were Kanji lettering on the walls, written on paper parchment and framed. I didn't really know how to read Kanji all that well. It was different lettering than the Hiragana and Katakana that I had learned. Kanji was Chinese lettering adopted by the Japanese. It was pretty much a way of shortening a word. I can read Hiragana and Katakana, Hiragana being used to represent Japanese words and Katakana is used for foreign words. I also know Romaji, which is just Japanese in Latin script. Get it? Roman? Romaji?

I got to Ono-chan's door, which had a picture of a sun with her name on it. Her room's probably nice, I thought. Boy was I wrong. I never thought my first time in a girl's room to be like this.

Jesus, you live in this mess? I asked Ono-chan in my head. What I saw made my room back home look clean. Clothes littered the floor. Already eaten Cup Noodles with wooden chopsticks lay cluttered on her desk. A couple of plush toys lay scattered. Her bed was not made. It just looked like a madhouse.

That made something inside me click. I instantly started to pick things up. "What are you doing?" asked Ono-chan.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" I asked as I scooped up a pile of clothing and put it near the door. I also picked up all of the Cup Noodles cups and stacked them. I put the stack near the door so I can remember to throw it away when I go back downstairs. I quickly made her bed. Not the best of jobs, but it looks cleaner now. I also picked up all of the plushies and placed them on the bed.

"You know, you don't have to do this," Ono-chan said.

"Oh, but I do," I said sarcastically as I placed the last plushie, a big huggable cow, at the end of the bed. There was a yellow plush duck on the windowsill behind it. There were two windows in her room, one facing the street and the other at the head of the bed, facing my house.

"Why did you clean my room?" asked Ono-chan, "And how did you do it so fast?"

"Practice," I said, shrugging my shoulders, "and my house is always a mess. I always have to clean the house."

"So," I continued, "I came over today because I wanted to ask if you wanted to go to the park with me. The rest of the club is going today."

"Oh?" asked Ono-chan, "What's the occasion?"

"It's a, uh, a national holiday back home. Independence Day. I was the one who wanted to do something, me growing up on a military base and all." I smiled awkwardly, putting my hand on the back of my neck.

Ono-chan sat down on her cleanly-made bed, her hands folded in her lap. "What if I don't wanna go?" she asked, a faint yet fake smile curling on her lips.

"Then I'll make you go," I said. "You can't spend your summer cooped up in this house. What happened to that energetic Ono-chan I knew? After the storm, it felt like the clouds above stayed without you."

Ono-chan blushed as she squirmed on her bed. After a pause, I said "I designate this excursion as a club activity. The vice president can't miss club activities, can she?"

After a sigh, she agreed to go. I left the room for a few minutes to let her change into the appropriate clothes. Meanwhile, I quickly cooked something up for her to eat on the way. I made her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast. When she came down, she wore a red shirt with a black cardigan, as well as a pair of denim shorts.

After she quickly wolfed down her sandwich that I made her, she hitched a ride with me in Mr. Kobayashi's car. When we arrived, the other club members were laying out a red white and blue table cloth on a wooden picnic table, which had a wooden bench on each side and a wooden canopy.

Mr. Kobayashi parked the car in a parking space next to the table. As we stepped out, Takeuchi-san looked up from what she was doing and waved, with the other two girls did the same after she did.

Takeuchi-san wore a white spaghetti strap shirt and a pair of dark blue skinny jeans. Her hair was put up in her usual ponytail. Nakano-san wore a rosy pink off-shoulder shirt that says "BAKA" in bold English letters, as well as a pair of black short shorts. Saito-san wore a turquoise shirt with a navy blue cardigan that was a little too long, making it seem like it flows in the wind. She also wore a pair of faded light blue jeans.

Their outfits sort of fit the occasion, with Ono-chan and Nakano-san wearing red, Takeuchi-san wearing white, and Saito-san wearing blue. I don't know if it was intentional or by coincidence, but I'm glad they dressed up for the occasion.

"Hey, guys!" Takeuchi-san called out as we exited the car. I smiled and waved back as I opened the trunk.

Ono-chan and I unloaded the pizza and chicken wings that we brought, while Mr. Kobayashi took out the cooler filled with Kool-Aid, Gatorade, and water bottles. Ms. Kobayashi grabbed the bag filled with hot dogs, hamburgers, and buns. Can't have a good old fashioned American grill without the burgers and hot dogs.

We still have to unload the grill and charcoal itself, but Mr. Kobayashi said that he got them. I offered my help, but he said he's fine with it.

I placed the pizza boxes I was holding down onto the cloth-ed table. "Hey," said Nakano-san, crossing her arms as a grin crept on her face.

"Hello," said Saito-san as she smiled faintly.

"So," spoke Takeuchi-san, who approached me with her hand on her hips, "Why did you want us to come out here with all of this stuff?"

"Well," I said as I shrugged my shoulders, "I came here to experience the Japanese culture. Might as well show you guys how we do it back at home." I grinned widely.

"Besides," Ono-chan piped in, "It's a nice day outside!" I looked at her and she had a really big smile on her face.

"Aw," cooed Nakano-san in a mocking tone, ignoring Ono-chan's comment, "Baby Lee-san's already homesick." She smiled as she leaned back a bit and crossed her arms. Meanwhile, Saito-san looked a little flustered, as if Nakano-san was her misbehaving child.

"N-Natsuki!" exclaimed Saito-san, scolding her, "That is rude! He is probably missing his family!"

"Ah, it's not a big deal," I said as I grinned to one side of my face. Saito-san took a breath of relief.

"I'm glad," she said, smiling. She held her hand close to her chest.

"It's a little taste of home for me anyway," I murmured.

"I had so much trouble trying to get out of the house," said Nakano-san, "My dad was being a total jerk."

"Oh?" I asked as I crossed my arms, "What did you do?"

"When he wasn't looking, I sneaked out of the house," Nakano-san said as she gleamed with pride.

"What will happen when you go home?" asked Saito-san.

"He'll," said Nakano-san hesitantly, "Let's just say he'll probably be too tired to do anything."

"Natsuki, you know that's dangerous! Why would you do something so reckless?" asked Saito-san. Dangerous? Reckless? What does she mean by that?

"Relax Yuri," said Nakano-san, giving a kind smile, "I know how to handle it."

"You guys still live with your parents?" asked Takeuchi-san.

"I still do," replied Nakano-san.

"Me too!" added Ono-chan with a giggle.

"I do not live with my parents anymore," said Saito-san, "I am responsible enough."

"What about you?" asked Takeuchi-san, pointing her chin at me, "Do you still live with your parents?"

"Me? Yeah," I said, "Though I spend my time over at a friend's house or with my brother on the nearby base."

"Base?" asked Saito-san, "As in a military base?"

"Yeah, my brother was a pilot there," I said. "How about you?" I nodded to Takeuchi-san.

"I pretty much live by myself," said Takeuchi-san, "My parents live with me, but they're never home. They're always doing business in London." Her parents work abroad a lot. Is this what got her rich?

"Meanwhile, my brother lives in California, so I'm pretty much home alone," Takeuchi-san said as she held up a football. I noticed that she wore a black hair tie around her wrist. "He got me this and another football signed by the quarterback for the New England Patriots." Oh crap! Where did her brother get a football signed by Tom Brady?

"Hey, let me see that," I said, pointing at the football. Takeuchi-san tossed it to me and I caught it. The pigskin had the Wilson logo and the NFL logo. I haven't seen one of these since I left for Japan. Football isn't big in Japan, that's why I don't see these pigskins laying around.

I remember a few years ago, I bet on the Patriots for the Super Bowl LII. I ended up losing a Benjamin to my friend when Brady screwed up the catch for their Hail Mary play, giving the game to the Eagles. Moral of the story, bet on the underdog.

"Do you guys want to play?" I asked. Nakano-san shook her head no and told me she didn't eat a single thing today and wanted to have some breakfast before playing. Saito-san pretty much said that it wasn't her style (those weren't her exact words per se. She would never say something like that). Ono-chan told me that she doesn't know how to throw a football and that she wanted to play later.

Takeuchi-san and I were the only people present who knew how to throw a football. Takeuchi-san backpedaled from where she was standing and held her arms up to get ready to catch the ball.

I ran out into the open so I won't hit anyone. I placed my fingers on the lacing of the pigskin and threw it, watching the ball spiral. The ball gracefully fell into Takeuchi-san's hands and she caught it without trouble.

"Good catch!" called out Ono-chan, who was waving from the bench. Meanwhile, Takeuchi-san threw the ball. It glided towards me and I caught it, feeling the rough leather as it spiraled into my hands. We threw it back and forward for ten minutes, with us increasing the distance from each other every now and then.

My phone soon rang. I heard my ringtone ring as I got ready to catch the ball that Takeuchi-san threw. My eyes left the ball for a second and my hands dropped to my pocket to grab my phone, forgetting the task at hand. That was not a good idea, because a second later, the ball smacked my face.

My head recoiled back and I fell backward onto my butt, knocking the wind out of me. My hand instinctively shot up to the spot where the ball hit my face. Takeuchi-san ran towards me.

"Are you okay?" she asked in a worried tone.

"Yeah," I said, "It doesn't hurt too bad. My phone just rang and I gotta take it. How about you teach Ono-chan how to throw a football?"

"Okay! And I'm sorry about that!"

"Not a problem. I'll be fine."

Takeuchi-san smiled as she ran off to fetch Ono-chan. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I read the caller ID. My phone said, "My Sis wants to FaceTime".

I swiped to answer the call. A second later, and my sister appeared on the screen. She wore a black oversized shirt that had a graphic logo of Captain America's red white and blue shield on it. Her long blond hair sat on her shoulders. Her sharp blue eyes contrasted her pale skin. She had thin and delicate lips.

From the looks of it, she had her phone propped up against something because she was resting her chin in her hands. From what I'm seeing, I'm assuming she propped it up against the lamp she has on her desk. Her white bed was not made at all. The sun streamed in through the cracks in the blinds in the nearby window. Her beige-colored room was clean, other than her bed.

"Is… is that my shirt?" I asked.

"Yep!" she said, grinning so wide, her eyes are closed.

"Please don't tell me you're not wearing pants," I whined.

"Au contraire, mi amigo, I am not wearing pants," she said, still smiling like the cheeky dumbass she is.

"Goddamnit," I said as I put my head in my other hand. I looked ahead and saw Takeuchi-san teaching Ono-chan how to throw a ball. Nakano-san and Saito-san were at the table, eating hot dogs. Mr. Kobayashi was grilling hamburgers while Ms. Kobayashi was getting stuff from the car.

"So what are you up to?" asked my sister.

"I'm at the park right now. Celebrating the occasion, you know?" I said with a little chuckle.

"Really?" she said, "Never thought you would've done something like this… especially after what happened."

"Don't remind me, you nitwit," I said, "That's why I'm doing it. So that I don't have to forget how we used to do it without having to feel sad or anything."

My sister smiled and shook her head as it dropped from her hands. "You fucking emo kid," she teased.

"Shut up, you heartless bitch," I teased back.

Faintly, I heard yelling from outside her room. I knew exactly who was yelling.

"Ugh, I gotta go," my sister groaned, who quickly ended the call. I didn't even get to say bye. Whatever. At least he can't get me here.


Honorifics: (Underlined honorifics are the ones used in current chapter)

-san: Most common, it is an all-purpose suffix that can be used in any situation where politeness is expected. Basically the titles Mr. Ms. etc.

-sama: This suffix is one level higher than "-san" and is used to confer great respect.

-kun: This suffix is commonly used at the end of boys' names to express endearment.

-chan: Feminine version of -kun.

Senpai: Superior/Upperclassmen.

Sensei: Master.


Translation notes:

1. The word "Baka" on Natsuki's shirt means idiot. A common phrase said by tsunderes like her.


A/N: Well, I ended up making a 'Murican themed chapter. I kind of planned that a few months ago but forgot how it was gonna go. Whoops. Because of that, I had a massive case of writers block. (FYI, if you've been reading my other two projects, I'm having writer's block for them.) That's why I haven't posted another chapter. Oh well. You know, it's a coincidence that I'm posting this chapter. It's currently Veterans Day here in the States (Armistice Day if you're in Europe). I don't know why I'm telling you this. I just thought it was funny that I was posting a chapter about the Fourth of July on Veterans Day. God bless America I guess. On that note, I'll leave you to it!