Phone calls and Yoshi

Sora woke up after what felt like a heavy dream sequence. She picked her phone up and put her glasses in. It was midday. Mel has been messaging her all morning. She sighed and put the phone back on the table. It was time to wake up after all.

Nobody could say anything to her after the incident with Oshiro re-emerged, while she was with him. So she was certain it was fine that she missed a day in the lab. She thought how the lab director would be apologizing to her when she returned. She didn't want the attention at all.

"Belle, are you asleep?" She stood up and turned her head around.

"No, I am not." Belle was watching child cartoons on her computer by the kitchen table.

"Have you eaten?" Sora walked into the bathroom.

"Yes, don't worry about me..." Belle mumbled.

"Are you not in the mood today?" Sora's head reappeared, her toothbrush was in her mouth. Belle felt her beak twitching from this view. She said with disdain,

"No, everything is okay, I am fine, I just want to watch cartoons."

"Okay. Then I will eat a toast, I guess." Sora looked at herself in the mirror. Her skin looked horrible, and she had lots of breakouts. She washed her face and spread some creme on.

I am not a teenager anymore, damn that drug plus alcohol combo. Or was it the enormous amounts of sweets I ate on the train? Uh, whatever.

She closed the door and dialed Mel who picked up immediately.

"Hey! Sora! Why haven't you called yesterday? I was worried as hell. Sobue-kun let me know you were fine. How did he know before me?"

"I think it's because he and Maki know each other..." Sora thought, and because he knows everything... Maybe I should tell Mel too? "Khm, Mel, I was just very sleepy, I am sorry for not calling you."

"Okay, but it's just that you are in danger, and all of this with freaking Oshiro, I knew he was no good. I wish we learned it before he went there with you. Tell me, how did he manage to appear in Tokyo, did he do something to you?"

"Well..." Sora knew there was no reason to hide it, "he wanted to rape me, so he drugged me. Yoshi came to Kyoto in time to stop him. It's a bit complicated..."

"WHAT?! Shit, that's insane! That's why you didn't call? Did you notify the police about this?!"

"Please stop yelling, Mel, people in the lab will hear you. I mean... There is no need for me to tell them, now they have him, and this way he'll be prosecuted for several things..."

"Oh my god, Sor...I am so sorry about this. I hope you are not very traumatized. Well, what am I even saying you probably are... Oh hell..."

"No," Sora sounded nonchalant, "I don't remember anything, honestly. I was so much under the influence, that I remember only the time in the bar and then how I woke up."

"Damn, Sora. I feel like this asshole has to pay for this too! But I guess I understand that you don't want to see him anymore, so I won't pressure you to do anything."

"I just... I am tired that's all." Sora took a bite of a toast she made.

"I know, but..."

"Mel, don't worry about me. Tell me how are things in the lab. Is Sobue-kun okay?"

Mel paused, and Sora could hear her sigh audibly. "Well, nothing changed, you've missed two days, so nothing really. Sobue is quieter than usual, I didn't see him as much this week. Since Monday he has been leaving work right on time, always in a hurry, I am not sure what that's about. Ask him, he might tell you. He refuses to tell me. What else... Himari is working late, again, she told me now that it's getting much warmer they have many tourists, and she is trying to earn more money. I won't bother you with details, but it feels like we are on square one again. That's all. But I miss you already, come back tomorrow!" Her voice was pleading.

"Okay, okay. I will, I think the director emailed me that she wanted to talk. Also, my supervisor is there tomorrow, so there is no escape for me."

"Wait, tell me how Yoshio managed to come to Kyoto?"

"Long story, will tell you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay..." Mel was disappointed, "please call me if you need anything!"

"Okay!"

"Do you want me to come see you after work?"

"No, it's fine, I think I need to rest more."

"Do you have food at least?"

Sora glanced inside her empty fridge. "I will order something, please don't bother coming here, Mel, I really am okay."

"Only because I respect your decision to rest and be alone, otherwise I would've come already!!"

"And I very much appreciate that! See you, Mel."

"Kisses, rest well."

Sora looked at her screen, and a new message from Sobue appeared.

"Maki-san called me yesterday. What the actual fuck. Are you okay?"

She replied, "Mind calling?"

Immediately the phone buzzed. She picked up, "Hey, Sobue-kun, you are in the lab?"

"Yes, hi, Sora! What are you asking me, are you okay?!"

"Yes, I am fine. Since you know everything there is no need for me to re-tell everything to you."

"Khm.. Don't tell the snake about it, she might kill the guy."

Sora raised an eyebrow "Since when did you care about Kiyo?"

"Em, nothing, I wasn't..."

"Sobue-kun, you are sounding extremely suspicious. TELL ME NOW DID YOU SLEEP WITH KIYO?!" She yelled so loud that Belle turned to observe her. Sora waved her hand in a "turn back" motion.

"No, no, Sora stop, we didn't, well, we technically did, but..."

"Are you INSANE?! She is the yandere, you do realize this, how could you do this to her? She might kill you after this now ohmygod I leave for two days and what are you doing?"

"Sora wait..."Sobue's voice became lower with every attempt to interrupt her. While she continued her monologue.

"In case you had sex with her, there is no freaking way of saving you, I am giving up, do you hear me? And it's not like you didn't know WHO SHE TRULLY IS? Are you insane I am asking you?" She breathed out, furious.

"Sora, I... I am at work, it's a bit inconvenient to say this."

"Explain it NOW!" She fumed, he could feel it through the phone.

"Okay, okay..." Sobue hesitated for a moment, then his voice became so low, he was almost whispering, "She showed up on Tuesday, and she was worried about you, and I was worried, and we started talking, and then in the end, I don't know how it happened, but she asked me to have sex with her. She promised it was only educational, and after we were done she even disappeared. And..."

"You are an i-d-i-o-t! Did you talk to her after this?"

"Yes, I tried, and she would always be dismissive. It hurt my pride, so you know! I am not the type to leave right after, I am the type to sleep together, and you well, cuddle and stuff."

Sora grimaced, "Okay, Sobue-kun, I got it, there is no need to get into such details..."

"Don't you want to talk about your situation instead?"

"Forget it! Don't even try to change the subject! Did you try going to her yesterday?"

"How did you know? Oh, doesn't matter," Sobue was talking almost as if he was on the verge of crying, "Yes, I did! And she well, she opened the door, took the food, and told me she was busy. Busy! She is never busy, what's that about?!"

"Oh, you are hopeless. I will talk to her for you, she thinks she is more my friend than anyone else, so I suspect she'll tell me. Sobue-kun, you are, I can't even... How? And after she kidnapped you! What's this, Stockholm syndrome?"

"I don't know. I just felt so lonely after you know..."

"Yes, yes, after your heart was broken."

"Yes, Sora, it's not funny. And maybe I was stupid. But it was the best sex I had in my life, so I guess I don't regret it."

"Of course it was, she is insane. And you are a stupid idiot." She sighed, "I'll call you back after I talk to her. Do you want to have a relationship with her now? So just we are on the same page," she added sarcastically.

"Soorraa, stop this. Maybe I would. I don't think that's what she wants."

"If she saw you as I do, true you, a winy nerd with cool hair you probably would've been a lost cause. Luckily, you managed to behave like a cool guy. If you didn't ruin it on Tuesday, I think you might have a chance. She is easy to deal with, I will see what I can do." She sat back on her bed holding her head. "What a freaking circus, honestly!"

"You will? I think I was cool on Tuesday so..."

"Gosh, I'll call you." She hung up. "Sobue-kun, uh!"

To be honest, she had no de to talk to Kiyo now. She decided to take a shower instead.

When Sora walked out of the bathroom when the doorbell rang.

"I wonder who it might be?" She was hoping for Yoshi, but he was so silent for the last two days, that she didn't expect it to be him. She rushed to open the door nonetheless, and well, it wasn't him. Also, there was no need to call Kiyo because she showed up herself.

Sora sighed, "Kiyo-chan, come in."

Kiyohime ran inside and hugged her, "Sora-chan, I missed you so much! Why did you ignore my calls?"

"I was busy, remember?" Sora closed the door with a struggle.

"Oh, of course, can I have some tea? It's my first proper time here! Also, I brought some food, I guessed you might be home today after the travel. I have chicken, are you going to eat with me?"

Remembering she had a mission Sora smiled. She looked at the kitchen table and saw that Belle had transformed into a vase. Funny, she's afraid of Kiyo probably. The vase is cute though. Hope she won't be very angry if I eat chicken. I am so hungry. "Kiyo-chan, do you want green tea? I usually don't eat meat, but I am very hungry today, so I might have a bite."

When she noticed the vase trembling, she sighed, "You know, no, I can't eat chicken."

"Uh, no problem, I have some wontons with shrimp for you!" Kiyo seemed overly excited to be inside Sora's house. She shamelessly walked around and even smelled a couple of her things. She spent a bit too long staring at the bed, which Sora decided to ignore, for her mental health sake. She moved the vase to the window and prepared tea silently. When she arranged cups and plates on the table Kiyo ran towards her, intending to hug her again. Sora sat down rapidly.

"Kiyo-chan, please, the tea is waiting, let's eat."

"Of course, as Sora-chan wants! I am happy to be here, and be sharing this meal with you!"

They ate for a while, and Sora waited for Kiyo to say anything about Sobue, yet, she seemed as usual, not intending to talk about it.

Sora cleared her throat, "The wontons are great! Kiyo-chan, where have you been for these past several days, did anything happen?"

Kiyo had a chicken piece in her mouth, "Not really. I watched the anime you recommended I had so much free time, that I watched all three seasons. Now I am going to see the next one on the list, uh, I forgot what it's called. Doesn't matter."

Sora observed her calmly, and probed again, "Well, did you see Sobue-kun by any chance?"

"Uh, you are right, I did see him, on Tuesday, I think, and yesterday too. He's boring to me now, I am not really interested in stalking him anymore."

"Really, why?"

"You know, I wanted to experience the pleasure that every creature seeks, so I asked him to do it. And when we did it, I felt like it was rather disappointing. He wasn't very aggressive or passionate with me. I was not impressed." She gnawed a chicken bone with a straight face, "After such a performance, I wondered whether pursuing my ex was a mistake. You know, when it happened for the first time it wasn't that magical, but I remembered it as such, so I wanted to check. And now I definitely understand that it is not that."

When she started to gnaw on a new bone, Sora had to look away for a moment. "Kiyo-chan, want my opinion?"

"Mn?"

"There might be several reasons, first - you had a disappointing experience because Sobue-kun was nervous and didn't do his best, and also, there were no real emotions behind it, so you felt detached."

With a chicken drum in her hand, Kiyo looked perplexed, "Feelings? Nervous?"

"You know, he's not in love with you, and it is hard to do it with a new person, when you are unfamiliar, and do not share some sort of interest in each other..."

"There was a lot of interest on my part, I am not sure what you are talking about."

Sora touched her forehead, trying not to get irritated, "It's not that interest I am talking about it's affection, mutual attraction, you know?"

"Huh?"

"Forget it. Either you want to try again with someone you have feelings for, or you should try doing it with a girl for a change."

"With a GIRL?! What on Earth are you talking about!" Kiyohime was red from head to toe, she even dropped her drumstick on the plate.

Sora looked curiously at her. "Now I am certain you have to find a girl to try it with!"

Kiyo thought about it, then looked at Sora meaningfully, "Shall we do it now?"

"Pff, Kiyo-chan," Sora spilled her tea, "I didn't mean me! I am, well, I am not interested."

"Why? Do you think I am disgusting?" Kiyo pursed her lips, she even looked cute this way somehow, but still terrifying.

"What, no! Of course not!" Sora waved her hand manically, she began to panic a little, "You are amazing, it's just I am like someone else, and I can only do it with the person I love." She blinked hoping her lie wasn't very obvious.

Kiyo squinted her eyes, studying Sora's expression, "I see. I will believe you this time, I wonder if I should try falling in love before having sex with someone then. From what you said it might be more enjoyable. I was in love with that pig, and it felt sort of magical. Should I fall in love with this version of him too?"

Sora sighed, relieved. She wasn't ready to have sex with anyone now. She glanced at Kiyo, "Maybe you should aim for someone else? I suggest finding a girl. From your reaction, I can tell that it might be more exciting for you."

Kiyo got red again. "I will consider it. With a girl, well. Never thought about it."

"Maybe you should start with a date, and then try to build up the relationship naturally, without trying to sleep right away?" She observed Kiyohime for a moment, and then added, "I mean, some people like having sex, and no serious relationship, but it's up to you to decide."

"Okay. How do I find the person?"

"You can install the app. I can show you if you want. But I just want to ask you about Sobue, he might be misunderstanding the situation. What should I tell him?"

Kiyo didn't understand, "What do you mean? You can tell him what I've told you, I am not that interested in him anymore."

"Got it."

They finished eating, and Sora was forced to show Kiyo how to install and use a dating app. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was getting rather late in the day. Kiyo was swiping left and right slowly. She took the idea of meeting people very seriously. It was evident that she didn't care about men as much as she did about women. Sora laughed: Kiyo soon would be out of the closet, she thought triumphantly.

"Khm. Kiyo-chan, I am afraid I need to rest, I haven't slept well, I am sorry!" Sora pretended to have a headache.

Attention on the screen Kiyo nodded, "Okay. Do you want me to put you in bed?"

"Ha-ha, no need, I just want you to go home too. You now can spend some time searching for a date, right, you can do it at home, I will rest, thank you again for bringing food!" She stood up, and pulled Kiyo towards the door.

After Kiyo left, Sora breathed out with relief. "Belle, you can come out. I am dying of exhaustion, too many conversations!"

Belle came out of her disguise "What a disgusting creature! It was painful to watch her! And chicken, you were almost a traitor back then!" She turned her head theatrically, and folded her wings.

Sora came up to her, and brushed her head, "Don't be mad, I changed my mind. And Kiyo is a snake, I am afraid she likes chicken a lot."

"Pff, I never wish to talk to that yokai ever!" She walked towards the bed, "Now I am going to lie down, I am tired too, you know."

Sora sat on the chair. "I think I need to take a walk... do you want to go with me?"

"Aren't you afraid to go by yourself?"

"I'll go to the supermarket and back, just to clear my head, and you will be there, right?"

"Maybe in half an hour?" Belle turned the computer on.

"Okay." Sora took the plates and the moment she started washing them the doorbell rang again. She put out water, "Not again..."

She walked to the door, a bit irritated, thinking it might be Mel given the hour. When she opened it, saying, "I told you not to co-" Her face froze. Yoshi stood there with two boba teas in his hands. He opened his mouth to reply, but she waved her hands rapidly, "Yoshi! I am sorry, I thought it was Mel, well, em, come in?"

"Hey... I wanted to em... how are you... and decided to bring a tapioca drink." He was wearing regular clothes. Sora stared at him for a second, mesmerized. He even had a cap on his head. She never saw him looking like this. Somehow, it was very nice. The cardigan suited him a lot. One might say he even looked stylish. Immediately she forgot that she had been mad the last time they talked.

When she came back to her senses, she grabbed a plastic cup from his hand, "Yoshi, you did great. Come in!"

"I don't want to bother you..."

"No, no, it's actually great you are here. I was planning to walk, so it's good. We can leave Belle home, and I can walk with you. I'll just put on a cardigan." She pulled him in and ran inside.

Yoshi stood in the corridor awkwardly, when he noticed Belle's brief side-eye before she returned back to watching cartoons. He looked around. The house was a mess, not surprising. Plus food containers made it look a lot worse.

Sora bustled around: realizing that Yoshi saw her in her home hoodie, with her hair all over the place, there was an urgent need to fix her appearance. She grabbed some nicer black clothes and ran into the bathroom to change.

He stood there, next to the kitchen. Somehow in Sora's apartment, he always felt comfortable, despite the surrounding mess, despite Belle who was now living here too. This apartment was welcoming. He sipped his tapioca black sugar tea loudly earning another side-eye.

Before he could say anything, Sora appeared next to him, pulling his sleeve. "I am ready! Yoshi, let's go!"

Only now he noticed that her hair was no longer fully red, and her smile was so much more open and warm than he remembered. He couldn't help but smile back.