Home Alone

The news of Rumi Sato’s rejection spread like wildfire. There was gossip all around. Ever since that incident, Rumi had stopped hanging out with Natsume, Akihiro and Ayane and had remained rather reserved, sticking with her usual friend circle. While the three continued to hang out together like nothing had happened, it was clear that the incident had a significant influence on their lives.

“The Sports festival is coming up in some time, right? I’m so excited, even though we already know the results.”, Natsume laughed.

“Yeah, Kimura-san is very athletic. Whichever team has Kimura-san will win.”, Ayane added.

“No, I don’t normally win in group activities.”, Akihiro said.

“Wow! Was that an indirect way of saying you are the best at solo sports?”, Ayane asked.

“No, I didn’t mean it like tha-”

“It’s a good thing to have self-confidence, but don’t let it become arrogance.”, Natsume scolded.

“Look who’s talking.”, Ayane said.

“Oi!”

“Oh yeah, that reminds me, why didn’t you go to the garden that day? She asked you to come, right?”, Ayane asked Akihiro.

“That’s what she sai-“, Natsume was interrupted immediately by Ayane, “Shut up Natsume.”

Natsume’s child-like laughter was ignored by Ayane. She looked back at Akihiro waiting for a response.

“I just didn’t want to go all the way there. It was pointless anyway.”

“Life is meaningless anyways; we do whatever we feel like doing. We are all truly free.”, Natsume continued as he impersonated Akihiro, “Hahaha, it’s his usual response.”

“Hahaha, yeah, he uses that all the time to justify every action of his.”, Ayane laughed.

Natsume was laughing when suddenly he noticed something. “Oh damn, she’s pretty!”

“Who? What? Where?”, Ayane asked spontaneously.

Natsume pointed towards a woman who appeared to be in her late twenties. She seemed like she had just gotten done with her shopping. She wore a pearl necklace and a frilled red dress.

“Yeah, she’s beautiful but she’s way older than you! She probably has a kid half as old as you!”, Ayane exclaimed.

“Yeah, exactly!”

“What do you mean? I said she’s way older too.”

“Didn’t I tell you? Older, mature women are just my type hehe.”, Natsume said with a smirk.

“Why don’t you go hit on her then, ugh!…”, Ayane said sarcastically.

“Yep, I can’t miss a chance like this!”

“Waittt! I didn’t actually mea--“

Before she could finish, Natsume ran up to the woman. Ayane and Akihiro didn’t know what to do, so they just stood by the side and watched.

“Hi, I saw you from over there and couldn’t resist the chance to talk to a beautiful woman like you.”, Natsume told the woman.

The woman was not expecting a high school student to hit on her.

Although startled, she replied “Ahaha, actually I have a boyfriend. Shouldn’t you be finding someone of your own age?”

“Polyamory is a thing; people don’t necessarily have to love only one person. It’s 2090 after all!”, Natsume replied earnestly, but it still didn’t change the fact that he was being extremely creepy.

“I- err….”

“Okay how about this? I’ll toss a coin. If it’s heads, I get your number. If it’s tails, I’ll go away immediately. Let’s bet on our future!”

“Uhh…ca-“

“C’mon! It will be fun.”, Natsume said as he flipped the coin in the air. It landed on his hand.

“YESSSSSSSS, IT’S HEADS!!!!!” Natsume shouted more excited than ever. “Now, can I have your number?”

“NO! Leave her alone.”, Ayane said as she held his collar.

She turned towards the woman and bowed down, “Sorry about that! He is a little stupid.”

She then grabbed Natsume, “Let’s go!”

“NOOOOOOOOOO!!!” Natsume cried as he was dragged away.

Ayane scolded Natsume for behaving inappropriately, and the two of them started another one of their never-ending arguments.

“But the coin landed on heads!” Natsume cried.

“That’s because there was no tails on the coin!”

“Hehe…you found out?” Natsume asked as he held the coin. It had heads on both sides, a coin which he used frequently for situations like this.

“Even if you used a normal coin and got heads, you wouldn’t get her heart.”

“Then what would I get?”

“Jail time.”

Natsume’s face displayed shock.

“I’m not feeling too well, so I’m gonna go home.”, Akihiro announced amidst their argument. He started walking away and stumbled a bit.

“Wait, lemme check your temperature.”, she said as she placed his hand on his forehead.

“Whoa! You’re burning hot!”

“Oya? Oya oya oya?”, Natsume had a big grin on his face.

“Wha-? Nooo, I didn’t mean it like that!”, Ayane exclaimed.

“Yeah, I know. I’m the only one who’s hot here.”

“Yea yea right…”

Natsume laughed at his own joke as usual. Ayane ignored him and turned her attention towards Akihiro.

“We’ll drop you off at your house.”, Ayane said.

“No, it’s okay. I can walk ba-”

“There’s no one at your home right?”, Natsume interrupted.

“Yeah, Dad will come home late tonight.”

“So technically you’re going to be home alone, right?”, Natsume said as he smirked, looking towards Ayane.

“Oi, why are you looking at me like that??”

“Isn’t this story moving a bit too fast?”, Natsume said smugly.

“Shut up!”

They both laughed.

----

They had reached Akihiro’s house. A pretty normal apartment, everything was neatly arranged and super organized. As expected, no one was home.

“Whoa pretty neat!”, Ayane complimented.

“I was expecting used tissue papers to be thrown everywhere.”, Natsume said.

“Tissue papers used for what?”, Ayane asked

“Wow Ayane, you are so innocent. That’s pretty cute.”

Ayane gave a confused look and imagined the bedroom filled with used tissue papers. She realised what Natsume had meant and her face turned red.

“Ohoho, you understood?”, Natsume asked.

“Shut up!”

“When will your dad be back home?”, Natsume asked Akihiro.

“Why is that your first question!?”, Ayane responded.

“Around 9.”

“Oi! Don’t actually tell him!”, Ayane said again.

Natsume and Ayane continued to laugh, while Akihiro slowly walked to his bed and tucked himself under the blanket. Ayane started searching for the thermometer.

“Oh yeah, I completely forgot he was not feeling well. I was too excited to see some action.”, Natsume grinned.

“What do you mean by action? Huh?? And why would we let you see it?”, Ayane replied

“Akihiro is the sick person, we are in his house, yet we are too focused on each other to realize he’s sick.”, Natsume smiled smugly again.

“No eww!”, Ayane replied. She found the thermometer and checked Akihiro’s temperature.

‘100F’

“Oh okay it’s not that bad, take some rest and you should be fine.”, Ayane said.

“Yea I know.”

“You both aren’t gonna rest together?”, Natsume interrupted them with a smirk on his face.

“STOPPPPPP! Either keep your filthy mouth shut and help me make rice porridge, or I’ll hit you” Ayane yelled in an annoyed tone.

“Hehe second option doesn’t sound too bad”

“GO make rice porridge!”

“Yes, Princess of the Crimson Red Flame, I shall carry out thy orders!”

“Yes please go!”, Ayane was sick of being annoyed.

Natsume left the room and started cooking.

Ayane took a cold wet towel and placed it on Akihiro’s forehead. He seemed to have fallen asleep by then. She just sat there and continued to watch him sleep.

‘So cute’

She slowly brought her face closer to his.
His eyes opened suddenly, and the both of them were staring at each other but she wasn’t startled. In fact, both of them didn’t move at all, as they continued to stare at each other. It seemed as if time had stopped; All they could see was each other’s eyes.

-Ding Dong-

She backed her head away. Natsume had opened the door.

“Hi uncle!”

“Oh Natsume! it’s been so long since you’ve come over.”
“Oh haha, I’ve been busy thinking of a story to write. Nothing is interesting enough to write down. And don’t worry uncle, there’s another person who would love to come over.”,

Natsume joked and looked behind. Ayane had come to the door to see who it was.

“Oh? We have a guest?”

“Hi uncle, I’m Ayane Kawasaki. I’m Akihiro’s classmate.”

“Wait why was I not counted as a guest?”, Natsume interjected.

“Haha, you are like family. Anyways, where’s Akihiro?”

“Oh he wasn’t feeling well, so we came over to help him. He has a mild fever so he is resting.”, Ayane told.

Akihiro’s father was shocked for a moment.

Natsume moved closer and whispered into Mr Kimura’s ears.

“Uncle, I know it’s hard to believe that Aki-kun is capable of bringing girls home.”, Natsume said.

“He always says love is meaningless, women are meaningless, life is meaningless and now he brought a girl home. I can’t believe it!”

“Aki-kun’s taste in women is pretty good.”, Natsume whispered.

“On top of that, she’s taking care of him. She’s so well mannered too.”

“Uncle, do you think we should run from here and leave them both alone?”

“Oi! I can hear you both clearly. And don’t please!”, Ayane interrupted their discussion.

They started laughing.

“But still, to bring a girl home…”

“Is it that unbelievable? Is Akihiro some kind of monster?”, Ayane interjected.

“Only Natsume comes over all the time so I was a little surprised. But thank you so much, now I don’t have to worry anymore”

“Your welc- wait what?? What were you worrying about? UNCLE!!”, Ayane shouted.

Natsume and Mr Kimura continued to laugh.

Akihiro woke up from the commotion and came up to the doorway to see what was going on.

“Oh Aki-kun, you’re awake? How’s your fever?”, Natsume asked.

“I feel very energetic, the fever is gone.”

“So fast…”

Mr Kimura smiled.

‘He’s changed…I don’t know how to put it. Ever since I took him in, I’ve never seen him like this. He seems more human? Is it because of this girl? Well, I’m glad he’s changed.’

“Aki, if you are fine, go drop them till the station.”, his dad said.

“Oh no uncle, he still needs more rest. We can walk by ourselves to the station. I will drop her home.”, Natsume replied.

“Oh, okay then. Aki, can you check whether it’s raining? It was drizzling when I was coming back home.”

Akihiro walked towards the window. He pushed the curtains aside. “No rain.”

Akihiro was about to go back when he noticed something odd. A man in a black coat, wearing the classic dark sunglasses, was standing in the shadow. The man looked up at Akihiro.

-Sync Connected-

A weird sound played again. Akihiro looked around startled, but no one else seemed to have heard the sound.

“Aki-kun what happ-” Natsume was interrupted by Akihiro running out of the door. Barefoot, he climbed down the wet stairs swiftly. He ran up to the spot where the man was as a strong breeze gushed past his face.

It was just an empty road with no one in sight. Akihiro looked around but couldn’t find anyone. Natsume and Ayane had grabbed their belongings and rushed down the stairs.

“Aki-kun, what happened?”, Natsume asked.

“I thought I saw someone I recognised here.”

“Huh? Anyways, we’re leaving now.”

“Wait then, I’ll drop you both home.”

“No, you need to get proper rest. We can walk by ourselves.”, Ayane interjected.

“Oho, I didn’t know you wanted to walk with me so badly.”, Natsume said with a smirk on his face.

“Ugh, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I feel perfectly fine. It’s okay, I’ll drop both of you.”, Akihiro said.

Ayane looked at Natsume. He was still doing his signature creepy smile.

“Fine, you can drop us; I won’t feel safe walking alone with this dude anyway.”

“Whaaaa- I’m a pure Christian. I have always followed the path of the lord. Never have I ever fallen into temptation.”

“Yea right…”

“Thee aren’t tempting either.”

“Say that again, you enemy of all women!” Ayane said and they both laughed.

----

All three were walking down the road together. The atmosphere was silent and cold. It was already pretty dark, and there were puddles everywhere.

“Enemy of all women huh…”, Natsume muttered to himself while walking with his hands in his pocket.

“I said it as a joke, I didn’t mean it. Although there’s some truth to it.”, Ayane responded.

“Yea…”, Natsume continued to look at the starry sky.

“What happened? Why are you sad?”

“Ah….I’m not sad. I was just thinking about how I became like this.”

“Something happened in the past?” Akihiro asked.

“Not exactly, but you could call it a bad phase. Something I regret even now.”

“Damn I can’t even imagine you regretting something.”, Ayane said.

“But in a way, I’m thankful it happened. I hope I’ve changed since then.”, Natsume said as he looked at the palm of his hand.

“So...what had happened?”Ayane asked.

“It’s a long story and it’s not something I’m very proud of.”

“It’s okay. We are best friends after all.”, Ayane consoled him.

“Best friends huh… ’kay fine I’ll tell you both the story. It’s not like it’s a secret anyway.”, Natsume shrugged and began to narrate the events that took place three years ago.