Rooftop

October 5th - Kimura Kiyomi

“I'm glad you came” was the first thing he said to me. Although his unchanged tone of voice almost made it sound sarcastic. I put my bag on the floor besides the door.

“I couldn't help but be interested in what you could possibly want from me Suzuki,” I answered.

I was trying to put up a tough facade, but under his unwavering gaze it started to take some hits already. His black eyes were of an intensity that almost seemed inhuman and his lack of impression made it impossible to tell what he was thinking. But even still, I couldn't help but wanting to stare at him all day and maybe even all my life.

“I assure you it's of utmost importance” he continued. If he was about to confess his undying love for me he choose the most stilted way of talking possible.

“There is a reason I came to this school. It has to do with you. Or should I say, with the both of us.”

At the moment it still sounded like he was about to confess to me.

“And what is it Suzuki?” I was getting somewhat annoyed. Just spill it out. The tough facade was still somewhat intact.

“In short, we have to work together from now on.” He said that in the same tone of voice as before.

“Huh? What do you mean? I don't even know you.” I really didn't know what he could possibly want to work with me towards.

“I'm going to explain it to you at a later date if that is okay with you.” His way of talking was really beyond stilted.

“I mean fine, I guess. But can't you give me a hint at least?”

“It's an ancient duty we have to fulfill” was his answer. Of course, someone like him wouldn't do it any other way.

“That doesn't really explain anything.”

“It has to do for now.”

“Suzuki, you dragged me all the way up here and now that's what you leave me with? You're incredible.”

“Thank you, but I assure you I'm just doing my duty.”

“That wasn't meant as a compliment you dork.” I was really annoyed with him at this point.

Now his facial impression seemed to change for the first time and he very slightly tilted his head like a dog would do. But then he moved his head into an upright position and went back to his usual demeanor.

“I apologize for the misunderstanding. But I have to leave things as they are for now. But we have to start training together as soon as possible.”

“What is this now? Training?” I couldn't believe this guy.

“Yes. As I said. We have to meet somewhere. Preferably your place of residence.”

“Wait, wait, wait. I'm not letting you into my house. You are a guy and I don't know you at all. My mom would kill me first of all and then my sister would never let me hear the end of it either.”

What was he thinking. Did he even have the slightest idea of how the world worked? How high school worked? How teenagers worked?

“Why would we need to do it at my place anyway? Why not at yours? Or even better, not at all?”

“What we are going to do will require you to feel comfortable and usually the place where people feel most comfortable is their home.” He said that with his usual straight face. My face turned completely red. It sounded like he was talking about... No, that was it. I wasn't hearing any more of this.

“Look Mister, I don't know for whom you take me, but I'm not that easy. You are a good looking guy, but that goes too far. I'm leaving.” After I said that I turned around and walked to the stairs at a brisk pace. As I reached the door I turned around to him one last time.

“And don't talk to me again. Like ever. I mean it. Sayonara.” I ran down the stairs so quickly I was afraid I would stumble and die, but I Managed to make it to the base of the stairs somehow and left the building in an even bigger hurry. Only when I had already left the building I realised I left my bag at the top of the roof. But I wasn't going to get it now. No way. So I went home without my bag.

After a while I came down a bit and tried to think about what to do. I didn't think that Suzuki was really trying to do anything unsavory, but he still was such a strange character that I didn't know how to deal with him. I felt a bit guilty about saying to him that he should never talk to me again, especially since he was the person that was sitting next to me in class, so it would be hard to avoid him forever. The truth was that I wouldn't mind having him talk to me some more, but not about something so strange. I would like to get to know him better. Was I that easy after all? I made the resolution to apologize to him tomorrow, at least for the part where I was telling him not to talk to me ever again. When I got home my mom was preparing dinner. We greeted each other and she seemed to notice that something was off about me. I sat down on the couch and tried to be invisible as good as I could. It didn't work too well. I wanted to go to me room, but I usually never did that and so it would have been even more of a telltale sign that something was up. But it didn't work either way.

“Did something happen Kiyo?” Kiyo was what my mother called me. I flinched inadvertently. What was I supposed to say to her? I tried it with a part of the truth.

“There was a new transfer student today.” That was still completely the truth.

“Oh,” she answered. “And did something happen with him?” Now what?

“I guess so.” What kind of strange answer was that?

“Was it a boy or a girl?” My mother kept asking.

“A boy.” I said truthfully.

“And did he say something bad to you?”

“I guess so. Not really bad, but strange. He wanted to talk to me after school and I thought he was about to confess to me or something, but then he ended up just talking nonsense about having to work together.” I heard how my mother dropped the knife she was holding and I looked at her and to my surprise she seemed startled.

“Oh, I see,” she said, trying to sound unfazed. Now it was obvious for me to see that something wasn't right.

“Say,” she continued. “What does he look like? His hair for example? What color does it have?”

Now I was on full alert. Why would she ask something like this?

“It was grey, or rather silver.” I answered hesitantly. I looked at my mother again and I could see that she was struggling with something. Did she know Suzuki?

“I see,” was all she said in response.

“Is something up mom?”

“No, it's nothing,” she said, not very convincingly. I was wondering whether I should try to get something out of her when suddenly the doorbell rang. I was glad for the distraction.

“I get it mom, don't worry,” I offered. My mother had a strangely strong reaction.

“No, stay put. I'll get it,” she said in a stern tone of voice and I did as instructed. She went to open the door and when she did I could hear her shout to the person that was waiting outside and that made me jump up despite my mother telling me not to bother.