Chapter 5

Leant above me as I lay on the bed was Akemi's smiling face. Her pale skin highlighted by the sunlight that bled through the window. She was coaxing me to wake up; "Wake up sleepy head." Her laughter was like the sound of angels descending down from heaven. I raised my hands to pull her in for a kiss but I didn't taste the usual watermelon lip balm she wore. Rather it tasted like fabric. 

The taste began to smoother me, making me wake up. I screamed into the pillow on my head, angry my wonderful dream was ruined by something so trivial. "Come on," I moved the pillow to see Kei stood over me, arms crossed and looking annoyed. "I prey the Akemi you were calling out for was your wife and not the version you met the other day." 

I pulled myself up to sit up straight, raising my arms to loosen up my joints. "Don't worry," I groaned. "It was certainly my wife I was dreaming of. Unlike you, she used to wake me up gently. Would even make me breakfast." 

"Not getting breakfast off me," Kei smiled, dropping his arms. "But I would appreciate if you would wake up on time. You said you would come out with me today." 

I looked over to the clock. I slept in by over twenty minutes. I laughed nervously, gingerly getting out of the bed and heading the the dresser. On the corner of the mirror was a picture not unlike what Akemi showed me from the day she visited the class, only this time, Aki, well I, was in the photo, knelt down beside her with the class rep on her other side. The smile she wore as a kid was certainly a lot brighter. Though it makes sense seeing as her dad passes soon. I put on a plain t-shirt and some bland jeans, noting how boring Aki's wardrobe was. "Has Aki always dressed like this?" I asked Kei, seeing him nod in the mirror. "I might need to update his style a little bit." 

"You have a massively different style from your time?" Kei asked. 

"When I started to earn my own money, I couldn't afford actual brand names but would certainly buy the cheaper versions of the styles," I explained, turning to lead Kei downstairs. No time for breakfast as I'm already late. I can maybe grab something from a vendor. 

"Did Akemi like how you dressed?" Kei asked. 

I hummed, thinking back to when Akemi went clothes shopping with me for the first time. 

We had only had a couple of dates but I really wanted to do something that would help us get to know each other a bit more. In my head, going clothes shopping was a way to show her a bit of my personality. We were in one of the discount stores, while I was at the back looking at shoes Akemi stalked over to me, holding some shirts behind her back. "You going to try some stuff on?" I asked. Akemi shook her head, pulling the shirts in front of her, to show me in full glory. They were pretty stylish, resembling the latest trends. "They seem a bit masculine for you." 

"They're for you to try on," she giggled pushing them into me. "I'll go wait on the sofa." 

I gulped, going into the changing rooms. Akemi sat on the sofa opposite, I smirked, remembering that no one else was in the store and "forgot" to close the curtain. As I changed my shirt, I watched Akemi stare at me with red cheeks. I chuckled putting on the first shirt, putting it up slightly, leaving enough unbuttoned to show off my chest still. I turned, Akemi turning her head to avoid eye contact. "You certainly have good taste," I commented. 

"Yeah, that one does look good," she squirmed in her seat. 

"Let's see if the others look as good," I said, repeating the process a couple more times. Conveniently forgetting to close the curtain to continue to tease Akemi. Each time I would turn around Akemi would immediately turn around to avoid my eyes. 

After I finished changing into my own shirt, I checked the prices of the shirts. I cringed, seeing the price tag was out of my range, even for a discount store. Akemi followed me as we walked out of the changing room, I went to hand the shirts to the attendant but Akemi swooped in taking them and ran to the counter. "Hey wait," I called out to her. The cashier was already scanning the items as Akemi was getting her purse out. "I can't let you so that." 

"It's okay," Akemi turned to me, her face to a pink blush. She stood on her tip toes, leaning in, her lips connecting to my cheek, making my heart race. "There's my repayment."  She laughed, turning back to pay the cashier, taking the bag and handing it to me. 

We walked out the store, though I was still confused. Why was Akemi being so kind to me? Was a kiss on the cheek really enough for payment. Wait a minute, I stopped Akemi from walking, grabbing her forearm and turning her around. I leant over, placing my lips on her cheek. "There's an extra payment," I smirked. 

Even though that date ended with a simple kiss on the cheek, that line of affection with someone special meant so much to me in the moment. Kei and I finished putting on our shows as Aki's mom came to the entrance to see us off for the day. Since we came from the hospital whenever she looked at me, it was always with a sad smile. "You boys have fun today," she said, holding out some money for me. "Get yourself something nice today." 

I looked from the money to her and then back to the money. I gulped, my hands shaking as I took it. Was she giving me an allowance? I've never had an allowance before. "I'll see you later," I stuttered as we left. 

"You okay?" Kei asked, sounding worried. 

"I um-" I tired to answer but I wasn't sure. I feel conflicted, I should feel happy yet feel so guilty. Aki's mom is so kind. A mother's love is certainly something special.