Road to Relaxation

Mid-year examinations came like a bull in a glass-store. Misako and Hiroshi knew the best course of action was to form a study group with one another in preparations for the examinations. We sat together in Misako’s room, studying with the fire of the gods on our side. Well – Misako and I were studying – Hiroshi had succumbed to the dark side, falling asleep on the floor an hour into our study session. Misako tilted her head back in her wheelchair as we approached hour two, I could feel my concentration flatlining the further time went by.

“I can safely say this is all your fault.” Misako said, groaning.

“Sure, sure.” I replied to her.

“That means you owe me another game.”

“I refuse, I’m broke.”

“You suck.”

Misako pulled her pocket watch out of her pocket, playing with the edges. We had decided not to fix the watches just yet, not until we found Hitomi’s watch.

“Do you think we’ll ever find it?” Misako asked me.

“I honestly do not know anymore…it’s been a few months, and we’ve tried and tried again.” I said with sadness in my tone.

“Hitomi… Where would you have taken it?” Misako wondered.

“Give me some more…I want moooore….” Hiroshi snored in his dreams.

Hitomi’s laptop did not have much on it like we expected, a few documents and sheets of music, but nothing more. Well, there was the emails. Misako had found the emails Hitomi and I exchanged with one another. It was a whirlwind; she was still angry at me, for a reason to which I had no answer.

“Hey Misako,” I grabbed her attention, “What else did you find on the laptop?”

Misako merely puffed her cheeks, turning her head away from me.

“Nothing, you idiot.” She retorted.

‘She’s angry, for some reason.’ I thought.

“I’m sorry.” I stated to her.

“And what are you sorry about?” She asked without facing me.

“I…I don’t know…” I replied.

“Then, until you find a reason to apologize, don’t.” She demanded.

I sighed; I did not want to see her angry.

I wanted to change the topic, to ease her mind away from whatever I had done to her. We were heading into our last exam for the semester, so we were going to be on summer break.

“What are you going to do for summer break?” I asked her.

“Me? I don’t know.” She replied.

“I’m sure you do, you just don’t want to tell me.”

“I-I’m going home.”

“To Mister and Missus Takahashi?”

“No, home; To my mom in Osaka.”

“Oh, you are.”

I was sad to hear that. I wouldn’t be able to see her for summer break if she went. Misako looked at me, finally. She caught a glimpse of me moping from her plans.

“Wh-why are you sad?” She asked me, surprised.

“I’m n-not sad!” I lied.

“I saw you! Why are you sad?”

Hiroshi yawned, and got up from his slumber. I watched the man scratch his stomach and walked out of Misako’s room. Before he left our sight, he turned, speaking:

“He wanted to spend summer-break with you, that’s why he’s sad.” Hiroshi stated, leaving us to revel in Misako’s room.

I was red-red, and so was Misako.

“I-Is what he said…true?” She asked me.

“Y-Yes…” I buried my face in my arms.

‘I want to die… damn that Hiroshi.’

“Do you want to?” She asked me.

I faced up to look at her, I didn’t understand her question.

“Sorry? What did you say?” I asked her.

“Do you want to come with…me?” She repeated.

Her face was almost purple. I jumped up at the opportunity.

“Y-yes!” I yelled.

Misako turned at breakneck speed, looking at me dead in the eyes. I coughed, clearing an imaginary object from my throat.

“I-I mean…if you are fine with that, then I’ll come with.” I restated.

“S-sure. I’ll let my mom know.” She said.

“Your mom will be fine…with me staying there?” I asked her.

“I-I’m sure, we aren’t dating!” She yelled.

Gut punch…

“And she keeps on asking me, to bring a friend, I mean…”

“Did you never take Hitomi to your house?”

“Only once…the second time she…she…”

“I understand, you don’t have to tell me, Misako.”

My brain yelled a discovery at me, ‘Wait a moment!’ it said.

“Misako!” I yelled.

She recoiled from me calling her. I walked closer to her; I had a discovery.

“No, wait! I’m not ready!” She replied, holding her hands in front of her face.

“What? No! I think the pocket watch might be at your house!” I explained.