Unlucky at games, lucky in love? Pt.2

Unlucky at games, Lucky in love? Pt2

I’m still dreaming, aren’t I?

For the second time today, I’m being showered by nostalgia. For the second time today, I’m hearing that voice say my name. For the second time today, I’m meeting her. But this time, I’m really meeting her.

Koyori, for real?!

I’m in a state of utter shock. What are the odds of having a dream about your childhood friend and then that dream turns into reality? It feels too good to be true. Why is she visiting me now? 6 years Have passed without her calling even once even though I had made sure to share our phone number. Shouldn’t she have called before coming here?

My thoughts get distracted when my attention becomes fixated on her. In spite of the hot early afternoon heat, a massive shiver is spreading goosebumps all over my skin. I’m notoriously bad at keeping eye contact but the sparkles in her round, green eyes act like a magnet, keeping my eyes glued, unable to look away, unable to unsee the tears she must have shed because I took ages to open the door. Did she worry about my address not being correct anymore? Did she turn around already, thinking we’re no longer living here? But wait, our names are on the doorbell, never mind that…

“K-koyori?”

Me calling her name apparently causes a reaction in her. I wouldn’t hold it against her to not recognize me anymore, given that I’m wearing that cap hiding not only my head but my forehead too. Her eyes are suddenly sparkling with even more intensity and the sadness and nervousness she has been expressing vanishes immediately, replaced by an overjoyed squeal. Before I know it, a wide smile appears on her face, growing wider and wider. It’s the same type of excited smile she wore in my dream when she entered the playground to meet me. A sudden sense of familiarity strikes me. Isn’t this a similar situation?! Don’t tell me she’s going to…

“Oh it’s really you, Kei-kun. I’m so happy!”

Koyori’s hands abruptly let go from the trunk she’s been leaning against, leaping high into the air with her arms reaching skyward. She’s laughing in utter joy, melting my previous anger away with ease. My eyes are no longer locked to hers so I’m free to take a closer look. Her blonde hair has grown slightly longer than the shoulder-length pigtails she sported as a child. A single ponytail, tied by an oversized orange ribbon, is dancing along with her jumping movement, probably reaching slightly below her chest but not quite down to the waist. Two thin strands of hair are nicely framing her face, though they are dancing along as well.

C-cute!?

I never thought much about it back then but, seeing her like this, I can’t help but admit it. I feel my heartbeat go faster, throbbing through my entire body. Suddenly, I feel a lot of heat creep to my face, forcing me to lower my gaze considerably. My eyes fall on Koyori’s clothing. A sleeveless, canary summer dress is covering her slender body, reaching roughly to her knees though her jump temporarily reveals parts of her thighs as well. Suddenly, I feel even more awkward as my unfamiliar symptoms increase, forcing me to look at the ground in front of me instead. What’s going on here?! Why am I feeling like this?! Also, don’t tell me she’s…

The moment her feet touch the ground again, Koyori completely abandons her luggage to start sprinting towards me, almost tripping over her red sneakers as she sets into motion.

… She’s going to do THAT again, isn’t she?

Arms spread out widely, Koyori is rapidly approaching me. In spite of the fact that previous experiences already taught me what’s expecting me, I’m unable to prepare for it. Awaiting a collision like in my dream, I’m surprised when she slows down just enough to pull me into a hug almost gently. A cacophony of emotions is hitting me at once as the cotton of her dress and her warm, slightly sweaty skin come into contact with me. I’m unable to react, petrified on the spot. My arms are just hanging from my shoulders like dead weight but she doesn’t seem to mind, wrapping her own arms even tighter around me. Remnants of her earlier tears are sticking to my cheek now as she presses her face against mine.

What’s this feeling?!

Koyori has hugged me before when we were kids but today it feels vastly different. Various instincts are telling me to run away, to break free of this embrace immediately. I’m panicking, my heart is beating faster and faster and sweat is erupting all over my body. While I’m feeling extremely uncomfortable, I’m frozen in place. Even if I could move right now, I couldn’t push Koyori away.. The way she’s pulling me close is a fine indicator of how much she must have yearned for this reunion to come together. More importantly, though, regardless of my panic due to the sudden closeness, I’m kind of… enjoying this? I can feel her smile grow wider and wider against my cheek, her body relaxing in the hug I’m failing to return.

“Oh Kei-kun, I’m so glad to see you.”

Her voice, initially just a hoarse whisper into my ears, quickly increases in volume and velocity.

“All these years I wanted to see you again but it just wouldn’t work out no matter how many times I asked. You were the first real friend I had and playing with you had been so much fun, I wanted to play so much more with you. I’m so glad you still remember me, Keiichi. I’ve felt so anxious. I mean what if you had found other people to play with and forgot all about me? I was so worried about that and then no one opened the door for a while even though I called in the morning announcing I’d come for a visit. I was afraid you didn’t want to meet me…”

She’s saying these things faster than I can listen and process but I’m definitely perking up when she starts mentioning the call. So Mom knows about this?! She should have mentioned it to me!

“You’re not mad at me, are you? I mean I could have called whenever my mother wasn’t at home but whenever I was thinking of doing it I got nervous. Keiichi?”

There are so many things on my mind but, right now, I need to reassure her. She must have noticed my lack of interaction, drawing the wrong conclusions from it.

“Yori-chan, why would I be mad at you?” I tell her quietly, my voice quivering somewhat from my nervousness. “Mom didn’t bother to tell me you called so I’m still a little shocked to see you again. I thought Mom was gonna open the door but… well, it’s on me that it took so long…”

Suddenly, before I know what’s happening, my arms start moving on their own accord, stretching just enough to wrap around the lower part of her waist. I’m feeling even more frightened than before but, somehow, I’m still enjoying this. Could it be that my guilt forces me to apologize or am I doing this out of a random, inexplicable mood?

“I’m glad to see you too, Koyori,” I mumble quietly while beginning to philosophize about the root of my actions. However, I’m not getting any time to ponder about it.

Someone’s coming down the stairs. Crap, if Mom sees me like this…

A sudden sense of embarrassment overwhelms me. Without thinking or warning her, I hastily push her away from me. Hardly a second later, Mom is standing on the doormat, her knowing smile telling me that she saw it anyhow.

“Just for reference, Keiichi, I wasn’t ‘taking a shit’ but cleaning up the shower you left in a mess in case our guest here wants to use it.”

If a glare could kill, Mom would be dropping dead right about now. I was gravely mistaken to assume hugging a girl is the most embarrassing thing to do. Damn, I shouldn’t piss off Mom again, she can be scary like that…

I can hear a hearty chuckle from Koyori which is probably entirely on me though she sobers up quickly.

“Thank you for inviting me, Kobayashi-san,” Koyori says formally while bowing slightly. While this does confirm they both were in contact before, I still can’t really make any sense of the big trunk of luggage Koyori brought with her. Even if she were to sleep over for a few days, she wouldn’t need to bring her entire wardrobe along, would she?

“Keiichi, would you help with the luggage?”

Mom is gesturing around, nonverbally inviting Koyori into the house. She’s sending a quick grin at me before leaping inside while I head into direct sunlight to retrieve her heavy luggage. Seriously, what did she pack in there?!

I have so many questions on my mind but, for now, I’m dragging that thing inside while trying not to die from exertion.