The Right Direction: Part One

Shit…

Katsumi swung his legs out of bed and sat up. He rubbed his temples with his palms and sighed. After a moment of adjusting to waking up he grabbed his cellphone off the nightstand and the screen flickered on.

“Nine-fifty…” Suppose I’m a little late.

Katsumi stood up and headed for the washroom.

I could probably return the box and get to school in about an hour. Wait no, that’s a terrible idea. I'll just tell Nara’s brother to come get it.

Thinking about the box, its contents, and his altercation with Mayumi last night began swirling in his head. After a few seconds his thoughts collected into one idea—Mayumi.

I spewed all that garbage about change… what change? Why would I say that… It makes for a convincing lie… but that’s all. I actually have to spend time with her?

Katsumi stared blankly at his washroom mirror and sighed.

Nothing needs to change.

“Ta… Arata!”

“Huh? Oh, sorry sensei,” Mayumi turned her attention from the window to Hasegawa-sensei.

Some light laughter came from around the classroom.

Mayumi found herself being shaken from her daydream by the teacher, Hasegawa calling on her. It was nearing the middle of the day and her afternoon class had just begun.

“Damn kids these days. Apparently staring out the window is more important than learning… The answer to number seven Arata.” Hasegawa sounded frustrated.

“Yes.” Mayumi came up to the chalkboard and stood in front of it, not writing anything.

“Somewhere else today are we, Arata?”

She stood quietly facing the board.

“Just go back to your seat. Can someone else answer this question?”

As Mayumi returned to her seat Yui gave her a worried look.

“Yumi what happened earlier? You completely blanked up there,” Saki said as she approached.

Mayumi was sitting with her head on her hand gazing out of a window while Yui was sitting backwards on the desk in front of her, fiddling with her cellphone.

The class had ended and many of the students filled out of the lecture hall. While Mayumi and her two friends stayed behind.

“Yeah I wanted to ask you too. I’ve Never seen you do somethin’ like that,” Yui added her voice to conversation.

“I’ve just been a bit distracted recently I guess...”

This comment from Mayumi about being distracted prompted the two girls to begin throwing out some ideas as to maybe the root of her aloofness. Yui brought up the fact that living alone can be stressful along with a few other suggestions. Saki then asked if it was about not being able to see her mother for a long time. When she asked this, Mayumi didn’t respond, instead she stared blankly at the empty seat in front of her.

“Hello~? Earth to Yumi.” Saki waved a hand in front of Mayumi’s face.

“Hm? Oh, Sorry…”

“Is your mom going to be overseas for a long time?” Saki re-iterated her question.

“I think she is in America for a little over a year this time.”

The look on Mayumi’s face was distant—something the two girls picked up on quickly as Mayumi usually didn’t wear expressions like that.

“How about we go shopping tonight?” Saki asked. “Some stores are starting their summer-sales early.”

Saki made a fairly obvious, yet kind, gesture to try and cheer her friend up. While Saki didn’t have a good grasp on what exactly would lighten Mayumi’s mood, she thought that getting her a cute new outfit might help.

Her suggestion didn’t work however, as Mayumi responded by saying she was busy tonight.

“…Hey, would it work if we came over instead? I’ve been wanting to see your new apartment too,” Saki asked.

“Oh~ that’d be nice. These summer deals go on for a while so shopping can wait,” Yui added on.

“Sorry but I really do have something going on tonight. What about this weekend?” After standing and pushing in her seat Mayumi began walking towards the classroom’s door—the other two in toe.

“What’d you have going on?” Saki asked.

“Yeah… What do you have going on tonight?” Yui moved closer to Mayumi, seemingly inspecting it for clues as to what she had planned. “Hey hey, is it with Murakami again?”

“She’s been seeing him!? He’s terrible! He—” Saki seemed to be holding back a torrent of jabs directed at Katsumi.

“We aren’t going out nor are we like that. I simply helped him with some organization yesterday.”

“Mhm… When you’re ready you can tell us, we’ll understand.” Yui nodded smugly.

Saki had an expression that said she wouldn’t understand, but surprisingly kept that comment to herself.

The girls were now in one of Building Two’s many corridors and Saki’s cell phone buzzed—it was a notification from Jackon. She gave some parting words of caution about Katsumi to Mayumi, and waved goodbye to Yui before turning to walk the opposite direction down the hallway.

Yui waved back with a smile, then, instantly after giving her goodbye, Yui swiveled around to face Mayumi with great curiosity in her eyes.

“Come on, come on, tell me. You two are going out, aren’t you?”

“I have no clue why you two instantly jumped to that conclusion. It’s a little rude to suggest something like that—”

Yui’s expression sank a little as Mayumi completely shut her down. However, it was as if words were stuck at the tip of Mayumi’s tongue—she was hesitating.

“But I am seeing Murakami tonight.”

“I knew it!”

“To work on our modern Japanese project. I have a feeling you didn't even remember we had one, let alone start on it.” Mayumi chided.

“That may be so…” Yui looked away while saying this, but then quickly brought her face back up to Mayumi’s. “More importantly though, that means you’re going to be alone with him.”

“We have been alone together quite a bit already.”

Yui pouted. “You’re no fun.”

“Still, I could never see Murakami doing anything like that.”

Mayumi pulled out her phone, thinking Yui was done teasing. But one more question came hurling her way—one of the last one’s she wanted to hear.

“The question is though… Would you want something to happen?” Yui asked.

Mayumi’s upper-cheeks turned ever-so-slightly pink. “D-don’t suggest things like that. How many times do I have to tell you? It isn’t like that. It’s like you’re in your own world making up stories.”

“Sorry sorry, I was just jokin’ around.”

Mayumi sighed.

They found themselves near the entrance to Building Two when they were stopped by the pragmatic professor Hasegawa. His attention was on Yui when he spoke. “Could you come here for a moment please?”

“Yes sensei.”

“I looked at some records and saw that you live somewhat near Murakami. I'm sorry about this but could you bring him his homework? I’m really sorry about this.”

“Sure! I’m happy to help!”

Hasegawa-sensei pushed up his glasses. He handed a packet of papers to Yui who enthusiastically accepted them.

Mayumi couldn’t understand how Yui could be so excited to do a menial task, especially for that apathetic professor. She just sighed and accepted the task they were assigned.