Chapter two: Catnap Burglar.
Eizan and Jimmy looked around as the school was being fixed for once. ''Wow, the principal spared no expense for once!'' Jimmy said impressed. ''Thanks to Kita-sensei and Okuni, they managed to convince him spend some of the money for once. Also because our stuff is still missing.'' Eizan said. ''Oh, yeah, I did mean to ask Okuni where she got those mad negotiation skills from.'' Jimmy said.
''She claimed to have learned it from Kubo-sensei.'' Eizan said, eyeing the roof. The school did start to look quite nice, now that half of it wasn't damaged. ''Damn, really got to start paying attention in his classes. So, where is she at now?'' Jimmy asked.
''She and Ami went shopping, getting some stuff.'' Eizan said. ''Rather then buying stuff, we should be looking for the missing stuff.'' Jimmy said, still missing his MP3 player. ''You're right. Maybe we'll find Okuni's skipping rope, she misses that thing a lot.'' Eizan said musing and then they went off to see if they could find the lost items.
Meanwhile Ami and Okuni were doing the last bit of groceries. The principal had already confessed to Okuni that whilst sleep-stealing, he had also sold the items in his sleep via several websites. And it was no longer tracable, because in his sleep, the principal had also deleted his history. So, there was the money, but no way to find the items anymore.
Okuni, who had gotten Kita-sensei to help her, had told the principal to use that money for some new gym equipment. Then Okuni had told him to use a partial part from the golden socks to pay for fixing the school as Ami and Okuni would quietly replace the stolen items with another part of that money, in exchange for them not telling the other students that the orginal items were forever lost.
They had found most of the items, though Ami had taken the liberty of buying a slightly more expensive brand of hairspray, but the issue now was with one of the last items, because Okuni couldn't remember for the life of her what type of Mp3 player Jimmy had lost. So, she was stuck checking out most of them, but not really aware what she was looking for exactly.
''Does it really matter?'' Ami asked, checking out the stuff they had gotten already. ''Kind of, we are replacing their items, we don't really want any of the others to get the idea we have replaced them. It still puts the blame on a possible thief. And Jimmy really cared for it.'' she said, checking the features for one device that sort of looked alike.
''Well, with that, it might be difficult. There was already several playlists on his version, and you don't buy these with playlists.'' Ami said. ''I figured the same, but he showed me yesterday that he had a copy of those playlists on his laptop. He really likes rap music a lot, and suprisingly, a lot of classical music.'' Okuni said with a smile.
Ami studied her for a second, giving Okuni a smirk. ''And I may feel guilty about forcing him to borrow it to me, because I thought I could catch the thief with it.'' Okuni admitted. ''Now that makes more sense. For a minute there, I really thought you liked Jimmy more than a friend. And he's cute and all, but you two wouldn't make any sense.'' Ami said. ''Ehr… Thanks.'' Okuni said, not sure what to think of that. Despite Ami still not understanding why it mattered which they picked, she did help Okuni pick a nice one.
Eizan and Jimmy had searched the entire school, but the items were nowhere to be found. ''Maybe Bakufu took some, as repayment.'' Eizan opted. ''The man was filthy rich, I am sure he can't do anything with hairspray, some lunches, a diving mask and a skipping rope that was clearly used.'' Jimmy rolled his eyes.
''It's not about what it is, it's the sentimental value. You said it yourself, you cared for the MP3 mosly because the songs on their represented memories. Like when Okuni introduced us to Bach for study purposes. Or that rap song that was played when you were on the waiting room when you were waiting for the plane from America to Japan. It's not about how much the stolen stuff was worth in money.'' Eizan said.
Jimmy nodded to that, it was mostly why he missed the device. They weren't that expensive to replace really. ''Okuni really liked that skipping rope, didn't she?'' Jimmy asked suddenly, thinking back to her enraged reaction when it had gone missing. ''It was the first thing she brought to this school.'' Eizan verified. ''I think I need to head to the mall too, want to tag along?'' Jimmy asked, and Eizan frowned but nodded.
Late at night, Jimmy knocked at Okuni's and Ami's dorm. Ami cheerfully opened up, before smiling. ''Jimmy, what can we do this late at night for you.'' she said. ''Is Okuni in here, I wanted to bring her something.'' Jimmy said, feeling a bit nervous. ''Sure, I was just about to leave for a shower anyway. Catch you around.'' she said, before slipping out, leaving the door open for Jimmy.
He walked in to find Okuni wrapping some items. ''Okuni?'' he asked, and she nearly shrieked. ''Oh, hey, Jimmy.'' she said, once calmed down. ''Are you gift-wrapping a scuba mask?'' he asked. ''Uhh…'' she only reacted. ''So.. the items are still lost?'' Jimmy asked and she nodded. ''I got you something too.'' she admitted, before pointing at an already gift-wrapped package. ''Funny, because I got you something too.'' he said, pulling a gift from his pockets.
''Japanese customs say we shouldn't open this in front of eachother.'' Okuni told him, as she sat down on her bed. ''Well, I would like to see your reaction, actually.'' Jimmy admitted, sitting next to her, admiring his gift. ''You first.'' Okuni insisted, looking fondly at her gift too. Jimmy teared it open, only to find a MP3 player with earplugs. It looked a bit close to the one he used to have, but also a little bit fancier.
He placed in an earplug, and to his surprise when he pressed play, there was already music. Music that had been on his former player too. When he looked at her, she was nervously biting her lip, eagerly awaiting him to say something, anything for that matter. ''You found my MP3 Player! Thanks.'' he said, pausing it.
The smile of relief made it worth it. ''I am so sorry I made you borrow it to me.'' she said. ''No matter, you got it back.'' he happily pretended it was the right one. ''Cool. Happy you got it back.'' she looked again at her gift. ''Is it really ok if I open this?'' she asked. ''More than okay. I think you'll like it a lot.'' Jimmy promised.
She carefully unwrapped the paper, savoring it to wrap another gift with. She took the object, observing it closely. ''Is that a new skipping rope?'' she asked. ''Yeah. I tried to look for your old one, but couldn't find it anywhere. And I am sorry for saying that it wasn't worth it for the thief to steal such an old thing. It was important to you, and that should've mattered.'' Jimmy said.
''Thanks Jimmy.'' she said, suddenly hugging him. In relief, he hugged back. ''Thank you too, Okuni.'' he said. Ami found them much later, both listening to music as they relaxed on Okuni's bed. And smiling to herself she made a mental note to talk to Okuni later about her evident feelings. For now, she decided to let it slide, and read the newest of Girly girl magazine, being the awesome friend she is.
At the other side of the school, Zumikito did one last inspection, to see if everything was in order. He frowned as he found the Principal's drawer to be filled with junk that the children had been missing before. ''Ah, I see. He's collecting items for that test. Good luck in the future, children.'' he said to himself, before he went to home.