Chapter 19: A Late Delivery

Hana’s face went red as I asked. She pulled the sheets up to her nose and rolled over on the futon, back toward me.

"Hana-chan? Are you alright? Did I ask something too sensitive?"

"Mm. I’m fine." She mumbled into the sheet. "Just give me a moment, Ryo-kun."

"Of course. Take your time."

Half a minute passed. Just as Hana opened her mouth to speak, keys jingled at the front door.

My head turned. Yuki stepped in. My heart did a flip.

I half-expected Daiki to be with her. She was alone.

"Oh. Ryo-kun. Thank you for looking after Hana-chan. How is she?" Yuki passed through and noticed us.

"Good afternoon, Yuki-chan. She’s alright. Very chatty. I gave her some Tylenol." I smiled.

"That’s a relief. Obon is coming and Hana-chan has an important part to play." Yuki knelt beside Hana and checked her temperature.

Is it just me, or does Hana look disappointed?

"Hana. Get some sleep, alright?" Yuki patted her head gently.

Hana nodded quietly.

"Ryo-kun… Can we talk?" Yuki glanced at Hana briefly. "In my room."

Two pairs of eyes on me. My heart did a somersault. “Sure. We’ll be back soon, Hana-chan.”

She nodded.

I followed Yuki upstairs.

Thud. Thud. Thud. My heartbeat kept pace with my footsteps. I’d been to her room a couple of times before, years ago.

Yuki opened the door and stood aside to let me in, then closed it behind her.

I looked around. Mostly the same as I remembered, except for a cork board on the wall — photos of Yuki with Daiki, pinned across it. My heart panged with jealousy and hurt. I let it pass.

Yuki noticed my eyes. She pressed her lips together slightly and sat on the floor, motioning for me to join her.

We used to sit on the bed. That was a different time.

I folded my legs and sat beside her.

"Ryo-kun. How are you?"

"Fine… Reasonably fine."

"…Have you been to Shimizu-san?" She gestured vaguely. "He’s unexpectedly good at… these kinds of things."

I paused. Ah. So the girl Shimizu-san mentioned was Yuki-chan.

"I have. He helped me two years ago too."

Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that.

Shimizu’s words came back uninvited. ‘It’s time to look ahead. Not at the ground.’

Yuki bit her lip and folded her arms, bracing herself.

"It’s my fault, Yuki-chan." I said before she could start. She looked up. "You were right at the camp. I left without a word. Then came back, also without a word."

My heart was beating faster. But the pain was different now. Duller. Something that could be said out loud.

"I only thought about my own suffering."

Shimizu’s voice came back again. ‘The shrine was really clean for about a whole year after you left.’

"I didn’t think about how much I hurt you too."

We both stared at the floor.

"I promised once that I’d tell you about the girl I liked."

Yuki looked up, eyes bright.

"Is it too late to make good on it?" I said it to the floor.

"Ryo-kun…" Her voice wavered.

"I like you, Yuki-chan." I clutched my chest. It felt as if something twisted inside as I said it. Ah. There it is. That’s where it hurts.

"I always have… for as long as I can remember." My eyes started to sting.

Yuki began to shake. She unfolded her arms and grabbed my sleeve, and pressed her face into my shoulder, sobbing.

Some time passed. We sniffled quietly, side by side. My sleeve was soaked.

"What happened to your handkerchief, Yuki-chan?"

"It’s in the laundry," she sniffed.

I let out a small laugh. She joined in.

"You’re still an idiot, Ryo-kun." Yuki straightened up and patted my shoulder. "Sorry about the sleeve."

"I think we’re even now."

She slapped my arm lightly.

"Yuki-chan. It hurt when I found out about Matsuda-san. And it hurt even more to learn everyone had kept it from me…"

Yuki lowered her head. “I’m sorry, Ryo-kun…”

"Next time, be honest." I smiled at her. A genuine one.

She nodded.

"Matsuda-san… He’s remarkable. You’ll need to keep on working hard to deserve someone like him, Yuki-chan." I kept smiling through it. "I suppose it doesn’t hurt as much, losing to someone that good."

Yuki fidgeted. “Ryo-kun. I have something to say. Be quiet.”

I blinked. There she was. The feisty Yuki I knew from before.

"You were an idiot, a coward, and a selfish prick."

I stared at her as my tail went between my legs. I probably deserved that.

"So… so…" She hugged herself and stuttered. "Daiki-kun and I talked about it." A pause. "We want to still be friends with you. If you’re okay with that."

You insulted me for that? A smile came up slowly.

"I’m more than okay, Yuki-chan. I’d like that very much. A close friend — like we used to be. I’ll even make Matsuda-san jealous while I’m at it."

Yuki choked.

She nearly laughed. I could tell.

"You won’t have to try very hard. He’s unexpectedly childish." She smiled.

"That’s more than I needed to know, honestly." I stuck my tongue out.

She stuck hers out too, then pulled it back quickly, as if surprised by herself.

"Idiot Ryo-kun." She slapped my shoulder. Harder.

"Yeah. I’m an idiot."

"Mega idiot." Same spot.

"Oi. I’m not made of metal."

"Shut up and let me vent." She moved to assault my lap next.

I let her vent until she stopped and nursed her hand. My entire left side was probably red under the clothes.

"Okay… You may go back to babysitting Hana-chan now." She announced.

I looked at her. Eyelashes still wet, but a small smile.

"Yes, ma’am." I stood and rubbed my arm and lap.

As I stepped toward the door, Yuki tugged my shirt.

"Thank you… for coming back… and delivering on your promise." She said it to my back. "Treat her well, okay?"

"Who’s ‘her’?"

Thud. Click.

A locked door.

Through it, faintly, Yuki crying.

I stood there for a moment. Then went back downstairs to a very concerned Hana.