Request From Friend

“Are you ready, Arima-kun?”

“Yes, Saito senpai!”

Today is the day when Saito senpai’s grandma and grandpa come to Tokyo. We will wait for them at the train station.

“Grandpa and grandma have arrive! Let’s go to them!”

“Okay senpai!”

Senpai’s grandma and grandpa look young. I almost mistake them as senpai’s parent.

“Akemi, sorry for the wait! Where is your boyfriend?”

“It’s okay grandma. Here is my boyfriend!”

“Nice to meet you! My name is Arima Youta!”

“This man is good. Right, grandma?”

“Yes, grandpa.”

“Grandpa and grandma, when both of you will go back?”

“This evening. We have bought the ticket for the evening so don’t worry about it, “ said senpai’s grandma.

“Okay. So , let’s go home, grandpa and grandma!”

We go back home by bus. When we arrived at senpai’s home, senpai’s grandma asking me.

“Arima-san, where do you live?”

“My house is next to Saito senpai.”

“Really? But why are you calling her senpai? I thought both of you close to each other?”

“Both of us are in relationship where we still learn about each other. Right, Youta?”

“Yes, Akemi! That’s why I call her senpai before, grandma!”

“Okay then. Akemi, I want to buy new cloth. Can Arima-san and you accompany me?”

“I thought that you just want to visit me.”

“I forgot that I need to buy new cloth. So, can both of you join me?”

“Youta, do you fine with it?”

“Don’t worry about that! Come on, let’s go to shopping mall!”

We have arrive at the shopping mall. Senpai’s grandpa said he feel tired, and he want to take sleep.

“Let’s go to clothing store, grandma! Youta, do you want to join us?”

“I will waiting outside of the clothing store.”

“No! Arima-san should join us. I need his opinion about my choice of clothes.”

“Wait! Grandma, I think I can wait out-“

“Come on, Arima-san!”

In this one year, there are many times I feel déjà vu. This time is like when Azusa brought me here last summer. I entered the store with both.

“Akemi, you also should buy new cloth. You can ask Arima-san to choose for you.”

“What, grandma?! But I don’t need to buy new cloth.”

“You can just buy it. You can wear the new cloth when both of you have a date. Right, Arima-san?”

“Right… I will choose for you Akemi.”

“Okay, Youta.”

“So, I will find my cloth first. Akemi, you can find your cloth with Arima-san.”

“Alright, grandma!”

I follow Saito senpai.

“Arima-kun, sorry for today. I never thought the situation will become like this.”

“Don’t worry about it senpai. Somehow, I can predict this will happen today. Should I choose the cloth for you, senpai?”

“You will choose it for me?”

“If senpai don’t want to me to choose it, I fine with that.”

“But maybe I need your opinion about my choice . How about this dress?”

“How about that white dress? I think you look comfortable in that dress.”

“Really?! I think it fit me too. “Should I buy this?”

“Sure! If senpai happy with that dress.”

“Okay, I will buy this dress.”

“Akemi, did you have pick your cloth? “

“Yes, grandma!”

“Okay, I will pay the cloth.”

“Wait, I can pay it by myself, grandma!”

“You can save your money. You always buy something for me using your own money before. Just let me pay for lovely granddaughter.”

“Okay. Thank you, grandma!”

“You are welcome!”

After senpai’s grandma paid for the clothes, Saito senpai said she needed to go to toilet. Senpai’s grandma and I were waiting for her in front of the entrance of shopping mall.

“Grandma, I will bring that cloth for you.”

“Thank you, Arima-san.”

“You are welcome.”

“Arima-san, can I ask you something?”

“What is it, grandma?”

“Arima-san and Akemi, both of you are not a couple right. You don’t need to act in front of me. But I think you are close to Akemi.”

“Right, grandma. We are not a couple. We just have a relationship as senpai-kouhai.”

“I think you can reject Akemi’s request to become her fake boyfriend unless you have some feeling for Akemi.”

“I don’t know. Sometimes I see her as senpai. But there are times I thought she was my best friend. Both of us have do many things together. She is kind, cheerful and pretty. She always takes care of people she loves.”

“The truth is grandpa’s friend is not finding wife for his son. All that just a lie.”

“Why did you lying to your own granddaughter?”

“I just want to know is she happy in Tokyo. I think she have tell you about her family situation. When she said she got her a boyfriend, I want to confirm it by my own eyes.”

“So, what is your opinion about Saito senpai today?”

“I think I can entrust her to you. Who knows in the future, you and Akemi become a real couple. If she feels sad, I hope you can stay by her side. She like to cry although she is cheerful person.”

“Okay, grandma.”

“Sorry for waiting! I have stomachache just now.”

“Akemi, lets go back to home to get your grandpa now.”

“Alright!”

We went back to Saito senpai’s house. When we arrived there, grandpa was already woken up and ready to go back to their home. We then go to the train station by bus. As we arrived there, senpai’s grandpa and grandma said they need to board the train now because it only fifteen minutes left before train depart.

“Akemi, we will go now. Make sure to eat properly.”

“Alright, grandpa!”

“If you need anything, you can call us. Take care yourself and Arima-san, I hope that you can support Akemi.”

“You can leave it to me, grandma!” I said to grandma.

“Grandma and grandpa, make sure to take care yourself too.”

“Okay, Akemi. I think we need to go now. Goodbye Akemi, Arima-san!” said senpai’s grandma.

“Goodbye grandpa and grandma!”

I wave at them as the train started to moving.

“Arima-kun, did you and grandma talking about something earlier.”

“Nothing.”

“If you don’t want to tell me, its okay then. Should we go home now?”

“Yes!”

Next day is Sunday. Saito senpai said today she and Fujimiya senpai will go to amusement park. Saito senpai tried to invite me yesterday, but Hiroshi needed my help today, so I decided to not join them. Hiroshi said he really needs my help and needs me to come to university. When I arrived at university, he asked me to come to the field. What is the help that he needs from me? At the field, I can see many soccer players are there. Hiroshi notice me and ask me to go to him.

“Hiroshi, what help do you need from me today?”

“First of all, here is your jersey. Change your clothe now.”

“Did you ask me to play soccer?”

“Yes. Some of our players cannot come today. That’s why I ask you to come here.”

“I don’t have soccer boots.”

“You can use mine, Arima!”

“Noda senpai, you are here too?!!”

“Of course! I am president for soccer club. I need to support my member. You will play as a defender. Change your cloth quickly!”

“Okay!”

I did not expect to play soccer today. Last time I played soccer was when I was in middle school. I don’t how much I can play for today. I heard today our university will be against local team. What will happen to us today? After some briefing by Noda senpai, all of us go to the field and get ready at our own position. The whistle is blown. The game finally starts. All the players from both sides is playing hard to get the ball. Although our opponent is local team, we also don’t give up and try to give our best to win the game. At the end of the game, the match end with our loss. The local team won by two to one. After the game end, we shake hand with opponent team.

“Youta, do you want to go café with me after this?”

“Okay!”

Both of us go to the café and we order two ice coffees. We have a seat and talking about the soccer match before.

“Youta.”

“What is it?”

“Can you help me? This will be my last time I ask help from you.”