Sleepyhead. [Arc 9 End]

"Hello mom? Umm.... I have something to tell you.", Ayane said, a little confused on what to say. Sayaka happily took over the phone.

"Hello Ayase-sensei!! It's been so long!!"

"EH? IS THAT... SAYAKA??", she felt her heart stop. She was working when she took the call. She suddenly left her work and concentrated on the call.

Tears came to her eyes as she remembered her old student. She quickly covered her mouth in excitement.

"Sensei, are you crying?", she giggled as she heard her snorting over the call. She was happy too. It was a little unbelievable for her, having so many reunions today. She leaned on the corridor wall and flowed with the conversation, not noticing anything else.

It would be rude to eavesdrop their conversation, so Ayane decided to head back. She peeked through the door to the living room, seeing Kanako drinking drinking the soup directly from the bowl without using a spoon.

Her eyes met Kanakos'. She felt like a thief, though she didn't know what she was stealing. She walked inside the room with an expression of being caught.

She sat down beside Kanako's mom, a bit farther away, respecting her own personal space. Midori poured Ayane a bowl full of soup, and she didn't look like she had a personal space to begin with. It was the same with all of them. They didn't have a personal space around her.

It took a little bit of the sluggish mind— because of the high humidity— to understand that they were treating them like one of their own, like their own family member. Though she was anxious about her first impressions, it seemed she was already accepted.

The broth of the soup glossed under the bulb lights. There were tofu and vegetable leaves floating in the broth, filled with rich aroma. Little droplets of oil sparkled along with the water. Taking a sip from the soup, she noticed something from the corner of her eye.

That was quick. Sayaka was already done talking and sat at the other corner near her. She giggled as she looked at her, along with her mother. Ayane looked confused. She gazed at Kanako, who was staring at her with curious eyes too.

She looked at Sayaka and Midori, wanting an answer.

"Ayane-chan, did Kanako's disease had you too?", it took a while for her to understand that she too, was not using spoons and was drinking directly from the bowl like him. She felt a quick rush of embarrassment.

"Don't worry, feel free to anything you want. I don't care.", her mom comforted her. "Sayaka, what did you say to Ayane's mom?"

"Yep. She's staying."

"Good job!", Kanako's mom clasped her hands in excitement. "Then I will be off cooking something for dinner."

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

Both Kanako and Ayane had a confused expression. She handed Ayane's phone to her. "You are staying, Ayane-chan."

"Ehhh?!?", she couldn't believe it. It's not like she doesn't want to, but she was having a hard time digesting it. Today was a pretty eventful day, after all. "But I don't have my necessities..."

"Who cares? We will manage. Now, Ayane-chan, onto the main topic."

Ayane and Kanako closed up to hear her

"What did you mean that you want help?"

She looked at Kanako, trying to read his expression. He closed her eyes, placing his chin on his hands. "I think its best if you ask her about it yourself.", he sighed. She felt a bit relief looking at Sayaka's face. At least, she didn't have to open up to a stranger. He heart warmed up.

***

"Hmmm... so you want help in your acting practice?"

"Yeah..."

Kanako's head slammed in the desk as his hand fell off. It was a whole hour of their conversation, which was going off topic multiple times, to understand the situation. Kanako fell asleep midway through.

"Good morning, sleepyhead.", Sayaka laughed.

"I was having a good time till I saw your face.", he glanced at Ayane and fixed his posture. "I'm not talking about you.", her lemon eyes were irresistible to him. It was too innocent.

***

Ayane wasn't sure when or even how they finished eating and went upstairs, helped her senpai Sayaka get another futon, arranged and prepared the bed. Her eyes were blinded by the bright pink colour of her walls, along with the dazzling lights. She didn't have a full sized bed, as she was out for work most of the time. Both of them laid on their futons, which was connected to each other. She wondered if she could sleep or they would chat the whole time.

"Well then, lets go to sleep, Ayane-chan.", Sayaka turned off the lights.