Chinami

A bright orange neon sign sat atop the entrance to the brick building that housed Isashi Cafe. Inside the large front window was a swarm of university students, still too young to visit the bars, but still in need of a place to socialize. It was just across the street from the university, making it a popular place.

The glow of the sign painted Hiroki's face as he looked up to it, confirming he was at the right spot. He made his way through the door to the upbeat conversations of other new university students.

The place had a warm atmosphere with dimmed lighting and aged furniture. It had certainly been in business for a while and had not been updated in at least twenty years. But it was pleasant.

Everyone was unreserved. None were holding back, as if the place was serving alcohol instead of tea and coffee. Maybe it was youthful exuberance of new students who hadn't yet been jaded by adult life.

"This way, my friend," Nobu said as he appeared beside Hiroki, throwing his long pitching arm onto his shoulder.

Nobu guided him to a group of tables the baseball team had sequestered. Sprinkled among the players were some women who Hiroki assumed were the nursing students Nobu had mentioned.

With a hand on each of Hiroki's shoulders, Nobu made the introduction, "This is Hiroki, our shortstop."

A few of the women gave a gentle wave. He sat down at the end of the eight seated table; an even split of women and men. Nobu took a chair at one of the middle seats.

On his left was Taka, an outfielder. Hiroki hadn't yet learned his full name. "Hiroki, what's up man?" Taka exclaimed. "Not much, just getting my night started," he replied.

In front sat a woman with long loosely curled hair. Something she had clearly spent an abundant amount of time to fashion.

On her ears, she had silver, teardrop-shaped earrings and a loose, white blouse draped over her shoulders, buttoned up to the base of her neck with long sleeves that ran down to her wrists.

Her demeanor presented as if she was listening quietly, waiting to speak, but doing so confidently when her turn came.

"I'm Hiroki, nice to meet you," he gave a slight bow.
"I'm Chinami," she bowed back.
"Do you go to Watsune?" he asked her.
"I do," she affirmed with a modest smile.
"What are you studying?" He was ninety percent sure she was going to say nursing, but he didn't want to seem too researched.
"Nursing, how about you?"
"Kinesiology."
"Oh, what career do you want with that?"
"Airplane mechanic," he spouted with a smirk. She chuckled. A positive sign considering it wasn't a good joke. He smiled back, "No – I'm planning to be a gym teacher."
"Not professional baseball?" she poked.
"A backup plan, I guess."

Hiroki could see Nobu looking at him out the corner of his eye. He turned to see a mischevious grin across Nobu's face followed by a quick flick of his eyebrows. Nosy bastard.

The night moved on. Hiroki and Chinami talked for over two hours without realizing it – completely unmindful to the happenings around them.

They talked about her dog, Pochi, who was back at home in Gifu with her parents as pets weren't allowed in the university dorms. About the family vacation Hiroki took to Gifu while he was in junior high and ended with his whole family getting food poisoning. And about her love for baking, which Hiroki hinted at being eager to try.

Until...

"So, what's your hobby?" she asked.
He tried to evade the question as best he could, "well, baseball, I guess."
"Other than baseball." Oh no.
"Um..."

Hiroki's mind went into overdrive. Don't say gaming. But then what? What does a normal, average man do as a hobby that is not viewed so obscenely?

He was an auteur in button mashing. A man who stayed up until 3:00 am on a school night huddled in his room – eyes deadlocked to the screen, sometimes forgetting to blink. All just because it was release day of the newest addition to the Phoenix Quest franchise. Going to school and barely functioning on 4 hours of sleep, but then doing it again the next night because he just couldn't help himself.

He needs to answer. This empty pause has been too long.

"I like reading," he spewed, as if it was a question. The only thing he has read in the past 5 years of his life that wasn't required reading for school was shonen manga which, in Hiroki's mind, was only marginally better than video games in the purview of women.

He could sense the next question that he did not have an adequate answer to. He pleaded in his thoughts that she would not ask it.

"What do you like to read?" The worst of follow-ups to be asked while in the midst of a bedeviled lie.

"Books," Hiroki mutters as all blood drained from his head to feed his palpitating heart.

She giggled, "well, ya, but what kind of books?" He knows the line of questioning won't stop. He needs an answer that will satisfy her, but won't get him caught in this swamp of deceit.

"I like stuff with a bit of mystery." Did he even know any books in that genre? "The Devotion of Suspect X was pretty great." He remembers seeing the cover on his dad's bookshelf and thinking it looked cool, but never actually read even a page of it.

"Huh, interesting. I wouldn't peg you for a mystery lover." Or a book reader, Hiroki assumed she was thinking. He gave a spirited shrug. The thudding in his chest began to slow.

Hiroki finally looked around to see that most of the others in their group had left. "Oh wow, it's already eleven thirty," Chinami blurted.

The café was mostly empty at this point, except for the few who were undoubtedly going to be there until they were forcefully removed at closing time.

"I guess I should get going then," he added, "would you like me to walk you back to your dorm?"

"That's okay, I'll walk back with my friends," she gestured toward a group of three girls who likely stayed behind for her sake. They saw their cue and got up from their table and joined Chinami.

"I'll see you around," she said warmly with a smile. Hiroki considered for a moment asking for her number, but chickened out. Maybe it was too soon.

He watched the four girls exit the café. The air felt a lot emptier now.

"That went well." Hiroki turned to see Sora sitting at a table with the second basemen whose name he hadn't learned yet, both wearing wide smirks on their face.

Hiroki arrived back to his third story apartment, only two blocks from the university. It still smelled of floor cleaner the landlord must have used before Hiroki moved in.

He collapsed into his bed face first. Exhaustion radiated throughout his body. From baseball practice, from the excitement of starting university, from maintaining social vitality.

Thoughts of Chinami's smile, her self-assuredness crept into Hiroki's consciousness as he felt himself succumbing to the fatigue.

Slowly, he began to drift into sleep.

 But then, he was jolted awake by the voice of Akumatsu, King of Demons, calling him – begging to be defeated.

It was going to be another late night of gaming.