Dinner Wasn't Awkward, Mostly

After Kame stammered her way out of the room, Kimiko and Katsuo made awkward eye contact. Even Katsuo was blushing a little, although he’d never admit it to anyone.

“So, apparently Kame-san remembers knowing you well enough to come by your house without telling you first.”

“Yeah, but I still don’t know her.”

“You mean you didn’t talk to her at school?”

He shook his head.

“No, at least I don’t remember having seen her. Apparently, I also didn’t go to my usual spot for lunch though, so maybe that has something to do with it.”

Kimiko nodded, then pinched her chin in thought.

“I think she’s in class 2 – 3, but I’m not sure. I know she isn’t in our class.”

“We probably better get down there.”

Kimiko looked at him in confusion for a moment, then blushed a little as she turned towards the door.

“Right, we should.”

They made their way down the stairs to find his sister giving him a glare while somehow pouting at the same time. Kame was setting something on the table, desperately trying to avoid eye contact. His mother was preparing something in the kitchen. She gave him a knowing smile.

“So, what were you kids up to up there? Hmm?”

Kimiko only blushed further, clearly at a loss for words. Katsuo was quick to contest whatever thoughts his mother was having, but while still being flustered, Kame was faster.

“I-it wasn’t like that. I was just surprised. Yeah, surprised, that’s all. The door wasn’t even closed all the way.”

She said this, because it was the truth, but Katsuo couldn’t help but feel she sounded a little like she was also trying to convince herself of this as well. His mother smiled, setting down a large pot on the table.

“Ah I see. Hayami, I assume you know Kame, right?”

“Uh, yes ma’am I do. While we aren’t in the same class, we are in the same grade. I’ve seen her around.”

She turned to Kame and bowed slightly.

“It’s a pleasure to formally meet you, Ito-san.”

Kame threw up her hands in protest, waving them back and forth in front of her.

“No no, please call me Kame. Everyone else here does, right Katsuo?”

Katsuo stammered at this. He was unprepared to be addressed and caught off guard by the familiar way she used his name. Before he could get a word out, his father interjected from behind.

“That’s right, we’re all friends and family in this house.”

He declared this quite loudly, stepping forward to join the conversation with a big smile on his face. He patted his son on the shoulder, then let his hand rest there.

“Kame here is like family; she’s been around for years. She and Katsuo used to play together as kids. Right son?”

So, the childhood friend. If only his dad knew how much he had just helped his son.

“Oh, right. We did.”

He hoped he sounded surer of himself than he felt. By the nervous look on Kame’s face, he wasn’t very confident in that. Kimiko still stood there; hands clasped in front of her waist. She had gradually moved closer to Katsuo as the conversation had gone on. Is she afraid of crowds, or just being in the spotlight? Everyone was just standing there, a little awkwardly. Kanna came to the rescue.

“Can we eat now?”

“Oh yes, of course dear. Everyone, please sit. Kame, Hayami, would you please join us?”

Everyone took seats at the table, including Kame and Kimiko. His mother had added their two spare chairs. This made for uncertain seating at first, as Katsuo wasn’t sure where to place himself or where to suggest Kimiko to sit. He opted to sit in the added chair next to his mother, putting Kimiko in his usual spot, opposite his father. Kanna sat in her usual seat to the left of their father, with Kame taking the extra seat next to her.

Katsuo felt this arrangement seemed fair. Their guests weren’t forced to sit next to one of the parents, and neither of the girls were technically sitting next to him. And if someone thought otherwise with Kimiko to his right, well Kame sat across from him. Plus, he made it look as though he had chosen to sit next to his mom rather than either of the girls.

“Thank you for the food!”

Everyone chimed in, and set about filling their plates and bowls with food. They all made pleased sounds and gave warm thanks for the tasty dinner. Anytime Katsuo looked in his direction, his father wore a mischievous smile on his face that he was failing to hide. His mother was the picture of innocence. She smiled when she saw him looking and thanked everyone for their compliments on her cooking. He could tell that Kanna knew something was up but hadn’t quite figured out what.

Kame still carried a flustered air about her throughout the meal, or maybe she was just always like that? Kimiko held a calm composure, but he could tell she was a little on edge under the surface. Maybe even slightly embarrassed. She probably hadn’t planned on having dinner with his family, or for Kame to show up. But who could have predicted that? Kame was the first to break the silence of dinner.

“By the way Katsuo, I have your schoolwork from today. Your teacher gave it to me.”

“Oh uh, thanks.”

“Of course, it’s what we always do after all.”

“Oh, right. Of course.”

Who could’ve predicted Kame coming by? Everyone, literally his whole family. He supposed they may have thought Kimiko had already grabbed it for him, but still. Someone could’ve said something. Thankfully the rest of dinner passed without too much more awkward conversation. Thanks to some carefully proposed questions by Kimiko, Katsuo learned that his parents did run a bookkeeping business together. They had one employee other than themselves, and as in Katsuo’s world, his father had inherited it from his father.

He couldn’t help but find how strange it was that she was asking about his family only for him to learn more about them. In addition to helping him know more about his own family, Katsuo wondered if Kimiko realized that his father was growing quite pleased with her seemingly heavy interest in the family business and lifestyle.

This became even more apparent to him when Kimiko’s questions became more directed towards his mother. She started with compliments on dinner, following that with asking advice for her own cooking. His father grew excited by this as well.

“Do you like to cook Hayami?”

“Yes sir, I do. Although I’m not very good, that is to say I don’t do it very much.”

“Well, there’s plenty of time to learn. After all, there’s not much that makes a man happier than a pretty girl, than her being a good cook too. You can take my word on that.”

He gave a big grin to his wife, definitely adding the last as an escape from her meaningful look.

“Oh stop, you’re embarrassing the poor girl. But he’s right dear, there’s plenty of time to learn. I don’t cook quite as much as I used to, but I’d be happy to teach you sometime if you’d like?”

“I would appreciate that very much, but really, there’s no need.”

“Oh please dear, I insist.”

Kimiko eventually begrudgingly accepted. Katsuo thought he was going to have to start remembering Kimiko with redder cheeks. As he was pretty sure that he had seen her glowing red more often than not since he had first met her. He took his leave from the table, put some tea on, and started cleaning dishes. Meanwhile the girls and his mother continued their conversation at the table. His father blissfully took in the conversation, seemingly enjoying just bearing witness to it all.

“Aw mom, I want to learn too!”

“Of course, Kanna, you can too. It’s about time I started teaching you a thing or two anyway. Kame, what about you dear?”

“Oh, me? Sure! I’d love to!”

“Splendid! We’ll just have to make it a girl’s day then. Is everyone free tomorrow?”

“Aw, but mom. Katsuo was going to take me to the mall tomorrow.”

“I also can’t, I have work tomorrow.”

“What? Katsuo how come you didn’t tell us Kame got a job?”

His mother turned to him as he set the tea kettle and cups down.

“Uh, well..”

“He didn’t know, tomorrow’s my first day. It’s actually at the mall. Oh, you guys should totally stop by when you’re there!”

“Okay yeah! We will! Right onii-chan? We’ll stop and see Kame, won’t we?”

“Uh, sure. Where is it, you’re working exactly?”

“At the new cat lounge, it’s called the Paw Lounge!”

This of course made Kame even more excited for the trip. He couldn’t help but notice that Kimiko seemed to have perked up a little at this as well, hiding her reaction behind her teacup as she took a sip. Kame looked over at the clock and then got up from her seat and bowed.

“It’s getting late, and I should be heading home. Thank you for having me, and for dinner, it was delicious!”

“Of course, dear, you’re welcome anytime.”

Kimiko started to push her chair back and say something, but Katsuo gave her a meaningful look that he hoped she understood. She seemed to have understood, or at least she hadn’t said anything yet. She did, however, give him a somewhat stern face in response.

“Oh Katsuo, I almost forgot. Your schoolwork.”

“Huh, oh right. Thanks.”

Kame pulled a binder and a schoolbook from her bag that had been leaning by the door.

“Miss Nakajima said there were some notes about what they did in class clipped in the front.”

“Okay thanks Kame.”

She smiled back at him, hopefully not catching that he had almost used an honorific with her name. He didn’t think it would be such a big deal, but if he understood their relationship properly, then it would speak volumes to her and his family.

“Kame, would you like Katsuo to walk you home?”

“That’s okay, my mom just texted. She’s on her way home now, she said she would stop by and pick me up.”

And with that, she was out the door. Kimiko then went back upstairs to gather her things. While their parents were focused on the rest of the dishes, Katsuo pulled his sister aside.

“Hey, Kanna. Would you mind if Kimiko came with us tomorrow?”

“Why, is she like your girlfriend or something now?”

“No, she’s a friend. I just thought it would be nice if she joined us, that’s all. I think she likes cats too.”

Somehow this seemed to make her more interested in the idea.

“Oh, she does? Well in that case, she can come. But you still owe me a day with just my big brother.”

“That’s fair, I’ll remember.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

She grinned at this and made an excited sound as she crashed into him giving him a big hug. Kimiko reached the bottom of the stairs as he was patting his sister’s head. She smiled at them, until she saw Katsuo looking. She tossed her hair, acting as if nothing out of the usual had happened. Once Kanna had released him, Kimiko gave her farewells and thanks. Then Katsuo walked her out the door.

Once they were outside, they both expelled a breath, looked at each other and laughed. Kimiko was the first to break the silence that followed.

“Well that went surprisingly well, all things considered.”

“Yeah, it did. Especially with Kame showing up.”

“And now we know that she’s going to be our biggest challenge.”

“Huh?”

“Really? You heard them; you’ve been friends with her since you were little. Convincing her that you remember your childhood together is not going to be easy.”

She was right about that. Just having plain old friends at school was going to be difficult enough. But someone who had known him for years? This was going to be another thing entirely. Kimiko turned to him.

“Well, I should be going.”

“Let me walk you home.”

“Oh, uh. Sure.”

She said it so quietly, and she was partially hiding her face from him. He poked his head through the door, and let his parents know what he was doing. He wasn’t sure what it said about him that he had offered to walk Kimiko home, but not Kame. Eh, oh well. They didn’t know it, and not that he could explain, but Kimiko was the only person he actually felt like he knew here.

They walked in near silence for a few minutes, with little more than the taps of their shoes and the occasional passing car making any sounds.

“So, I talked to Kanna.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, and she’s cool with you coming tomorrow.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

He nodded, unsure what to say at this point. He couldn’t help but notice it wasn’t as awkward as it might seem. At least it wasn’t for him. He did see Kimiko fidgeting a little out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head to her. This must have put on too much pressure, because she sputtered out –

“Look, about what happened earlier. I, uh.. That is to say..”

Ah, that. He honestly hadn’t thought about it since it happened, or almost happened. He crossed his arms behind his head as they continued to walk.

“I’m not sure what you mean?”

“You know, in your room. Just before.. Kame-san showed up.”

“Oh, that.”

“I just want to make it perfectly clear that nothing would have happened.”

She cleared her throat into her fist.

“That is all.”

He made a non-committal sound, afraid that anything he might actually say would just embarrass her further. She must have been content with that because she didn’t press the subject any further.

They reached the intersection that Katsuo remembered parting at last time, Kimiko must have had the same thing in mind because she said as much.

“This is far enough; I can make it the rest of the way on my own.”

“Oh, are you sure?”

“Yes, I’ll be perfectly fine thank you.”

He shrugged in response and turned to go, then paused.

“Oh, hey Kimiko?”

“Yes?”

He turned to look at her, she stood with the light pole behind her, one foot propped on her toes, holding her hair back with one hand. It reminded him of seeing her here the last time they had parted.

“Thank you, for all your help. And stuff.”

Wow, real smooth. That could have gone better. But she smiled at him anyway.

“You’re welcome. And Nakajima?”

“Yeah?”

“You should call me by my given name, Hayami, instead.”

He just stared at her, hardly believing it.

“I mean if yo-“

“I will, Hayami it is.”

“Geez, not so informal. I didn’t mean to drop the honorific.”

She said this while looking away from him, and could barely be heard as she did so. The crossing light came on, and she turned to leave.

“Goodnight, Hayami-san.”

“Goodnight, Katsuo Nakajima.”

And with that, she crossed the road and continued down the street. He watched her walk for a minute or two, before turning and making his own way home. Only then did she herself turn and look back once more.

As Katsuo made his way back home, he couldn’t help but feel positive about his life change. It was hardly like he had been thrown into another world at all when he thought about it. At least not any different than if he suddenly had two new friends back in his own world that is. Sure, there were some differences, like his family and school. But all in all, he figured he’d be okay.