Chapter 18:

The impatient Okumori Toshiro awaits.

Accepted


Okumori Toshiro


I gazed at Shiori one more time.

I made her cry, didn’t I? Am I seriously that arrogant now? What was the point of that? Why did I even say such a hurtful comment to her, anyway? Is it because I thought it sounded cool? If so, then how ridiculous and impertinent can I really get?

But, well, I can at least somewhat relate with Shiori. Not wanting to show that sad, weak side to others, or not wanting to reveal how much help you really need, especially to people who hold you in high regard, is something that many people can’t do.

But if I’m going off my experiences, I don’t even know anyone who holds me in that ‘high regard.’ And even if that’s a bad, or maybe even a good thing, I want to keep it that way. I don’t want anyone lending me any faith.

So, Shiori, that’s why I don’t want you to talk to me.

There were rapid footsteps and a buoyant cheer that made me cease my drab thoughts. Miyake came to us with the clothes Shiori picked out folded neatly in her hands and was now back to her former outfit.

“Yoo-hoooo!” She called out. “Ya’ ready to buy, Ki-kun?”

I reluctantly nodded to her, already a little perturbed by her “Yoo-hoo!” Sure, I’ve heard it once before, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. But this time, it just sounded… Erm… Enticing, I guess? Nevermind.

“Oh, right, guess what I have?” Miyake asked, “Guess, Ki-kun, guess!”

I answered with a shrug.

“A white shirt!”

I walked away.

Okay, great. Now let’s go buy it so we can leave. Please? I want to go and replace this shirt you stained.

“Hey! Don’t leave us here! I have your white shirt, see? See?”

She sprinted ahead of me and slapped the white shirt on my chest, making me stop. I took the shirt and lowered it to my side. Annoyed, I turned to Miyake again and waited for what she had to say next.

“Seriously, do you not know patience, Ki-kun? You have to be a nice person sometimes! It’s called respect!”

I rolled my eyes. Respect is a dangerous word, Miyake.

“Ah! Uh, um… Wait for me!” Shiori said behind us.

She made out confused sounds and frantic footsteps that I could hear behind me from her. She’d show up to my left with her antsy look, with the handbag she dropped earlier now in her hands tightly clutched.

It didn’t take us long to buy our desired clothing. I bought my white t-shirt, and Miyake bought her clothes. Shiori, on the other hand, had nothing to purchase, and only watched us patiently. It wasn’t long to wear what we needed, either. Once I was done changing, I held the other filthy white shirt with two fingers, not exactly sure what I would do with it.

Do I throw this away? Or do I just hold onto it? That’s just going to seem weird to others, isn’t it? This ramen-stained shirt would definitely catch some attraction. Well, not that it’d be any different from a few minutes ago. Those stares I was getting were starting to get creepy. Plus, I wouldn’t be in this situation if Miyake didn’t shoot me with steaming hot ramen… That damn monkey.

I groaned inside the dressing room before meeting the two patient girls outside.

Oh, wait, sorry. One was patient, not two.

Just as I had stepped out of the changing room, Miyake had the fabulous idea of pouncing at me.

Usually, in these situations, I tend to prepare myself mentally for whatever is going to happen, because Miyake never launches herself at you unless she’s excited. She locked her hand on my wrist and jerked me over to her side.

“Quick, Ki-kun! I really wanna get some ice cream! Do you like chocolate or vanilla? You look like a vanilla type of person! Am I right?”

What happened to you in that dressing room? How did you even get that idea of ice cream? Are you that hungry? Ice cream won’t fulfill your famished cravings, you idiot! Who’s fault is that we’re dying of hunger right now?!

I tried to yank my body away, but I only almost fell forwards because of the overwhelming strength she wrapped on my wrist. Fortunately, I pushed myself back up by using my free hand before my face could kiss the hard-tiled ground.

What are you, a gorilla?! What is with your grip?!

“If I remember… You drank that vanilla bean Frappuccino in that café, didn’t you? I’m pretty jealous, though! Drinking two is a pretty big feat! That must mean you love vanilla! I like vanilla too, it’s just that I don’t consume much sugar!”

You were observing that?! I don’t care what your favorite flavor is! Let me go already! I won’t be able to enjoy ice cream with a bruised face!

We would spend countless minutes running around the mall. And since I was someone who hadn’t run in a while, I began to gas out quickly. Miyake was no different, though, because she was releasing hefty gasps each second.

Behind us was Shiori, who had no clear problems with our running pace. In fact, she looked entirely fine. She had a good jogging form and had no difficulties controlling her breathing. I couldn’t even see a bead of sweat leave her head.

“Ice cream… Ice cream…” Miyake said like a zombie.

I have an idea. Why don’t we just walk?! The ice cream isn’t going to eat itself! I’m going to die if I keep running for this long! Am I really this unfit? How do marathon runners even do this?

And so, even more, running ensued, and my legs were starting to give. My breathing was replaced with wheezing, and my heart beat every step I took.

“Haa…” Miyake gasped for air. “I found it…”

We both dropped to the ground. I had my right hand over my mouth, desperately swallowing back in the liquid that had been forming and piling in my throat before I could offer the floor a smelly, putrid cleaning.

I’m not cleaning again. I’m not cleaning again. I’m not cleaning again. I swear I’m not. Was all that I could think of while I gulped again and again.

Miyake let herself fall into my back unexpectedly, making me grunt and groan because of her weight. I looked over and watched her rest herself on me as she panted for air.

I looked away and didn’t bother to move her. I couldn’t care less of her as of now, because I needed to catch my breath, or I probably was going to pass out.

“Um… Guys… Everyone’s staring at you…”

We both looked at Shiori who had spoken.

“Let them.” Miyake flatly replied, then let her head fall back down.

We continued to rest until we were rudely interrupted by some man.

“... Hey, what the hell are you two doing? You flirtin’ in front of my shop?”

A young man stood, appearing to be around our age. He had arched eyebrows and a worried look aimed at us. He wore a polo shirt that had white and pink stripes on it, and even a white apron that covered his legs. His white visor cap covered his head, but it didn’t entirely hide him from us recognizing who it was.

Oh… It’s him. Kojima.

“Hey, Kojima-kun.” Miyake moaned, “I got too excited and tried finding you all of a sudden…”

“Huh? You miss me already?”

“No, that’s gross. I’d punch you right now, but I can’t breathe…”

Kojima became stiff after her blunt insult. “Right… Sorry. Get up, you’re causing a scene.”

He’d reach out his arm with a courteous look across his face, as Miyake took it and pulled herself up, with feminine grunting that left her mouth as she slowly but surely set her feet on the ground.

"You're oddly heavy…” Kojima complained when he stretched his arm around.

I could see the veins popping out of Miyake’s forehead when she heard him. She formed her hand into a fist and landed it on Kojima’s gut without a warning.

“Oh, shut up! That’s rude!” She yelled.

“Ogh!” He held his stomach and got on his knees. “It was a joke! A joke! Do you not understand jokes?!” He cried.

“I don’t care if it was a joke! You’re simply an idiot! Despicable! Hmph! How does it feel if I called you frail and skinny, huh?! Exactly!”

“What did you want me to say?! That you’re really light?!"

“I-I said shut up!” Miyake smacked his head. "You could've just said nothing!"

“Ow!” Kojima howled again. “Fine! I’m sorry!”

Am I watching some type of primary school argument? What is this?

While the two quarreled like little kids, Shiori would lean over to me and tug my arm lightly, catching my attention.

“Senpai… The floors are dirty… Get up…” She whispered, with both of her arms out to me. “Here, I’ll help you up…”

I gladly accepted her offer and gripped her forearms to pull myself up.

“Heave… Ho!” Shiori pulled.

She didn’t budge me at all.

So, she tried again.

She even moved her head back and pushed herself so much that she began to turn red and puff her cheeks.

“I... Got you… Senpai...”

I absently watched as she continued to attempt to take me up.

Hey, you’re not moving me at all. Are you really trying? I’m not that heavy, you know. It shouldn’t be that hard. Come on, Shiori, you’re embarrassing me here.

Eventually, I just brought myself up with my other hand to save me and Shiori some time. Yet, Shiori had a gratified look on her face when I looked at her– seeming happy with whatever she had just done.

“I did it! I helped Senpai up!” She quietly cheered with her hands in the air.

N-No. You didn’t.

I didn’t deny her achievement, though, and instead, just let her celebrate it. I soon turned my gaze back to the verbal brawl that went on beside us now.

“You’re ruder than I thought…” Kojima whined.

“Well, I wonder as to why!” Miyake retaliated.

I’m glad I don’t get that treatment.

“U-Um… H-Hello…” Shiori announced behind me.

Kojima looked towards her and saw who had greeted him. He locked a glare at Shiori for what seemed to be forever, which probably intimidated her. Then, all of a sudden, he burst into emotion.

He pointed at her, “I-I-Is that Shiori Yokoyama?!”

Miyake paused and glanced at Shiori, then perked up a smile and nodded in an obnoxiously

“Mhm! That is! We became friends with her!” She’d bragged with crossed arms. “What? Are you jealous of my friendship skills?”

“No! Yes! Maybe!” He yelled.

“Haha! You don’t want to admit it, don’t you?! Just say it! I’m better than you!”

How did we end up here, again?

Kojima went silent after Miyake’s counter and brought himself up. He looked defeated, but it was only short-lived because he zealously pointed back to Shiori.

“You’re just letting a super cute, talented, beautiful, cupcake girl walk around with you?! She’s going to get harassed, you know! Idols have it hard!”

I paused.

Did you just call her a cupcake?

Miyake seemed to get aggravated by this and promptly responded in anger.

“Huuh?! And you think you could do any better?! I can take care of her much better than you!”

“Really, now?! I have a sister! I know how girls work!”

H-Hey. Wrong choice of words. Just, stop talking. Please.

Miyake paused. She’d slowly stepped back away from Kojima. Then, she’d burst out laughing. She held her stomach and wiped her tears synchronously as she continued to hysterically cackle at Kojima, causing Kojima to get flustered and start stumbling on his words.

“BAHAHAHA!” She laughed.

“W-W-What’s so funny?!” He weakly argued.

“You’re definitely a siscon! Oh my god! Not only that, but you sound like a huge pervert! You know how girls work, huh?! Tell me, Kojima-kun, did ya’ sniff your sister's panties?! Did you?”

“No! No, no, no!” Kojima instantly waved his hands in a panic. “That’s not what I meant! Stop it! I’m not a siscon! I swear!”

“Kojima-kuns a siscon! You definitely are!”

“Shut up! I’m not!”

I watched in horror as the two continued to dispute with one another, not wanting to get involved.

After what seemed to be five or so minutes of relentless attacks, be it physical or verbal, it would finally cease. Now, Miyake and Kojima had now calmed down and finally started to act friendly to one another.

“You really ran out of ideas, huh? You should seriously plan out your dates more efficiently…”

“Yeah, well, I ended up sleeping beside Ki-”

I would scowl at her before she could even finish. She’d stop her sentence, and would rub her neck nervously.

“I just didn’t have enough time. That’s my bad…” She said with an unsettling laugh.

Not enough time… You could’ve just messaged me. How did you even manage to fall asleep? What made you decide that sleeping beside me was even a good idea? You’ve made everything so much more awkward because of one careless stunt.

Kojima didn’t seem to hear Miyake’s first reply, retreating with a conquered look. He’d then look towards me, giving me a gentle smile.

“Anyways, Okumori-san-”

He’d stop.

“-Kun.” He’d correct. “Has she been giving you a good time?”

I gave him a silent, disinterested reply.

“I’m going to assume that it wasn’t.” Kojima instantly nodded. He’d then look back at Miyake with a glare and vehemently whispered at her. “You’re doing it all wrong, Miyake-san! Look at him! He doesn’t seem pleased at all!”

“I know that! I’ve been trying, you blockhead! I don’t even know what he likes! I just assumed he liked vanilla ice cream earlier! That’s it!”

“That’s it?!”

“That’s it!” Miyake affirmed.

Kojima groaned and placed his hand on his forehead in discontent.

“What about the pendant? You know, the necklace thingy!”

“That’s why I’m here! You didn’t tell me where it was at all! That’s your fault, idiot!”

“You couldn’t just search it up on your phone?! Or even look at the mall directions that are posted all around here?!”

Miyake became quiet, with a face of realization starting to kick in.

“Oh. No. I didn’t think of that.”

Did you two plan this out? What is this thing about this necklace? What does Kojima mean when you’re doing it all wrong? More importantly, how have you not done either of Kojima’s suggestions if you already had it planned?

Kojima became even more livid. “You’re more blockheaded than me, blockhead!”

“Shut up! I’m trying my best, okay?! I forgot I could even do that!”

“Are you sixty years old?! You know how to use a phone, right?!”

“I’m going to hit you! Shut up already!”

Hey, will you stop arguing for once? You’re making me have a headache. I seriously can’t deal with this any longer.

Just get me out of here already, can you?