As We Stumble Along
Chapter 9/?
By Baine
Finished: October 1st, 2007
Posted: March 23, 2008
In this chapter, we bid farewell to Mamoru, Motoki, and Mina, but don’t worry: They’ll be back again before you know it! This chapter really kicks forward, though, and propels us into the next segment, with an idea I’m surprised I even came up with on my own! It’s nice and long(ish), too—11 pages!
*—(number) Implies that there is a Japanese cultural note regarding the topic at the end of the story.
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As We Stumble Along
Chapter Nine
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Darkness shrouded the platform outside Sakura Station, but weak light from nearby streetlights made it possible to see.
Umino leaned against the side of a vending machine, eyes riveted on Mamoru, who was half-shrouded by the night. “Why won’t you tell us what you said to Usagi earlier?” he asked, watching his friend drain a bottle of tea.
“’Cause it isn’t any of your business.”
“It’s not like we won’t find out sooner or later anyway.”
“So go ask your friend. Don’t girls tell each other everything?”
“If that were the case, we’d already know.”
Mamoru let out an agitated sigh as he turned his back, concealing his face completely as he walked closer to the edge of the platform. “When did you become such a gossip, Umino? I’d expect it from Minako or ‘Toki, but not you.”
“If you hurt her, I’ll be really mad.”
“What are you talking about?” Mamoru asked, turning to face Umino once more.
“If you asked her to do something stupid that’ll embarrass her—”
“Look, I didn’t, okay? Why do you care, anyway?”
“She’s my friend.”
“Yeah, well, I thought I was, too.”
“You are.”
“So stop getting on my case. I said it wasn’t anything bad, and it’s not. You’ve been my friend for a long time now. Why don’t you know me better than that?”
Umino pulled back and analyzed his friend’s taut face. Something had changed, but he couldn’t figure out what. Was this his fault? In his pursuit for knowledge, was he alienating the friendships he’d been nurturing since childhood?
“Mamoru,” he began, unsure how to continue. He watched helplessly as the other teen shoved his hands into his pants pockets and turned to face the train tracks once more.
“Thinking of jumping, man?” Motoki grinned as he strode across the platform and clapped his friend on the shoulder. “At least wait for the next train to pass so that we can board without having to wait for your sorry ass to get scraped off the tracks.”
Mamoru pivoted, the solemn look on his face disappearing as he raised an eyebrow at his sandy-haired friend. “If that happened, you’d be too busy making out with Minako to even notice.”
“Right, like stopping at the conbini to buy snacks was just an excuse.” Minako rolled her eyes as she held out the plastic bag dangling from her fingers. *—1
Motoki laughed. “Minako would only make out with me with me if I looked like an old man.”
“Old man?” Umino asked, quirking an eyebrow. Minako had always been...eccentric when it came to dating, but she’d always thought ill of the girls who had Sugar Daddies. *—2
Minako made at face at Motoki and proclaimed, “He isn’t old. ‘Toki’s just jealous he doesn’t have my full attention anymore.”
“Dude, he’s our teacher, Mins. Of course he’s old!”
Umino’s eyebrows rose even higher. “You’re dating a teacher?”
“No, but even if I was, he’s not a real teacher—yet, anyway. He’s doing his student teaching at our school. He’s in his early twenties.” She stuck her tongue out at Motoki and grimaced. *—3
“Coulda fooled me with that white hair of his.”
“We’re so not getting into this again.” Rolling her eyes, Minako turned toward Umino with a pleading look. “You see what I have to put up with now that you’re not around?”
Umino grinned, his eyes alight with mirth. “I dunno, Mins, I’d probably be joining in on the fun. I mean, I’m not really a girl for you to side with.”
“Oh, you’re no help,” she stated huffily, digging through her plastic bag for a box of Pucca. *—4
Umino smiled as he listened to his friends’ playful banter. He’d missed this; everything from ganging up on Minako to being able to—well, be himself without fearing he’d screw up and reveal his identity. He swallowed hard as he heard the bells being ringing to signal the approaching train. “So, um, when are you going to come down again to visit?” he asked, suddenly feeling a pang of loss.
“Well, definitely in December for the Knowledge Competition with Usagi,” Mamoru mused. “There’s the Labor Day holiday at the end of the month, but it’s right before an exam, so...” *—5
“Hey, next month isn’t so far away. Besides, it gives us time to figure out what you told Usagi earlier.”
Mamoru smirked and carelessly raised a hand into the air as he stepped onto the train that had just pulled up.
Umino narrowed his eyes. “Find out what he’s up to, yeah?”
Minako laughed and squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll try. You know how tight-lipped he can be, though.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Call me if you need anything, okay?”
“I will.”
The trio said their good-byes, then Umino watched as Motoki and Minako boarded and sat down across from Mamoru. The train hadn’t even pulled away, yet he already missed his friends.
He stood on the platform until the train started up and disappeared from sight, then slowly headed back toward the parking lot, trekking across to the nearby bus stop at the end of the street. As he approached the bench, he was surprised to see a girl hunched over her knees, vibrant red-hair impossible not to notice as it spilled across her shoulders like dark ink.
“Naru?” he asked, shocked by her presence. “What are you doing here? I thought you left with the others.”
“I didn’t want you to go back alone, so I waited for you.”
“Why didn’t you come to the station with us, then?”
“I didn’t want to be a third wheel while you said good-bye to your friends from home. I would have felt awkward.”
“But now I feel bad because you sat out here in the cold.”
“It’s only a little nippy. Besides, you didn’t even know I was here. This was my decision, so don’t feel bad.”
Umino sat down next to the petite girl, unsure of how to reply. Instead, he glanced up into the star-studded sky. “It sure is beautiful out here. The night is so much clearer compared to the city. It’s like the sky is bigger, more...infinite.”
Naru glanced up as well. “I guess I’m used to it. I grew up in a really rural town. Instead of skyscrapers on every corner, we had rice fields.”
He laughed appreciatively. “What have you been doing out here all this time?”
“Just thinking.”
“About?”
She shrugged. “Nothing in particular.”
After a moment, he glanced over at her again. Why did he feel so nervous? Breaking the silence, he stuttered, “So, um, you did pretty well today.”
“You didn’t do so badly yourself.”
“I’m glad we won. We all put so much effort into everything.”
“Yeah.” She tilted her head up once more, the pale light of the moon illuminating her face and giving her an ethereal appearance. Suddenly, a wide smile split her face in two as she pointed upward and proclaimed, “Umi, look, a shooting star!”
Watching the glowing ball journey across the sky, he closed his eyes and thought, Let me make it to graduation with all of my friends at my side.
“What did you wish for?” Naru asked, turning Umino’s attention toward her once more.
“Oh, um, it’s a secret. If I tell, it won’t come true.”
Naru smiled, but it wasn’t reflected in her eyes. “Well, hopefully our wishes will come true.” She fiddled with the edge of her shirt, and silence ensued once more.
Sighing over his inability to break the tension, Umino pulled his glasses from his face and began to wipe the lenses.
“Hey, Umi? Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, what’s up?” His breath caught in his throat, which had suddenly gone dry. He moved to put his glasses back on, but Naru put her fingers on his wrist and pulled his hand back down, causing him to freeze. Her touch seared his skin, sending goosebumps up his arms.
“Why don’t you wear contacts?”
“Huh?” his mouth gaped open as he stared over at her. Of all the questions she could have asked him, he hadn’t been expecting that one.
“It’s just that you have really pretty eyes. Why do you hide them?”
He swallowed nervously, his Adam’s Apple bobbing in his throat. “Well, er—because I can’t see if I don’t?”
She tilted her head curiously. “You don’t seem to be having any trouble seeing me right now.”
Umino mentally slapped himself, remembering that he still clutched his glasses in the palm of his hand. “I can’t really see you, though. You’re just a red blur.”
Naru self-consciously brought her free hand to her head. “At least it’s good for something.”
“I didn’t mean it in a bad way, Naru. I like your hair. It’s a pretty color.”
She flushed, but shook her head. “I didn’t mean it like that. Anyway, we’re not talking about me at the moment. You wore contacts earlier for the performance. That’s how I noticed, actually. When I removed your mask, I could see all these colors floating around in them. It was like looking into a rainbow.”
He laughed, embarrassed. “I’ve never heard hazel described quite like that before.”
“Well, it’s true. They’re really lovely, Umi. You shouldn’t hide them.”
Umino wet his lips as his mind rushed to come up with a reply. “Um, honestly? Er, I don’t know, I guess, er...I don’t really like the idea of sticking my fingers into my eyes? Plus, I study so much that my pupils get irritated really easily. They’re rather sensitive, and because my prescription is so heavy, my glasses are really thick. I wore them for the show, but I still couldn’t see well because they don’t make perspective lenses for people as blind as I am.” He quelled the notion to wipe the sweat from the nape of his neck. Had she bought it?
“Can I try your glasses on?”
“What for?”
“I’m curious to see how bad your eyesight is.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. The last time someone did, they got really dizzy because there was such a big difference in vision.”
“Did they wear glasses themselves?”
“Um, no?” he shot her a strange look. What kind of question was that?
“Well, it’s just that I wear glasses too, so it probably wouldn’t be as big of a jump for me.”
“You wear glasses?” he gaped at her in surprise.
“Sure do. Well, contacts, actually, but same difference. I’m not as near-sighted as you are, though.”
Umino stared at Naru, still reeling from her revelation. Before he could come up with another excuse, the bus arrived, saving him from the current course of conversation.
As he climbed onto the bus and grabbed a ticket, he made a mental not to get a real pair of his younger brother’s glasses. It would never do to have someone find out his lenses were fake and that he could see perfectly fine. If the truth was ever discovered, his identity would be revealed for sure. *—6
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The smell of charcoal permeated the air, eliciting a rumble from Umino’s already-hungry belly.
Stepping into the enclosed pool area, he was hit by a wave of warmth, a nice change from the chilliness that had begun to settle over Tokyo. “Wow, it feels really good in here,” he said, looking around in awe.
“Yeah, well, how else could they keep the pool open all winter? We’d freeze!” Usagi grinned as she played with her purse strap.
Umino looked up at the covered ceiling, the cloudy-white awning clear enough to allow the sun to flicker through. “I’ve never seen anyone create a type of greenhouse around an outdoor pool before.”
“It’s really cool, isn’t it? Our school is pretty famous for our pool.”
“Isn’t it expensive to do this every year?”
Usagi nonchalantly rolled her shoulders. “I’ve never really thought about it before. I’m sure the school keeps and re-uses all of the pieces and stuff. They probably spend more to keep it heated and running, but I’d rather swim here than at an indoor pool. It just doesn’t have the same feeling as an indoor pool, you know?”
“Aren’t pools all the same?”
“Well, technically, but outdoors, don’t you feel...freer, I guess? More...at one with nature? Indoor pools are so much more sterile. The lighting is harsh, there’s nothing but linoleum and tile beneath your feet, and because of the way the room is enclosed, the smell of chlorine is absolutely overpowering. To me, an outdoor pool is much more natural and relaxing.”
“I guess so. I never really thought about it before.”
Tossing her belongings onto a nearby lounge-chair, Usagi shot him a sympathetic look. “I probably wouldn’t either if I’d had the same traumatic experiences with water you did.”
Umino made a noncommittal sound, quelling the urge to look longingly at the swishing water behind him. He hadn’t been swimming in so long and the sight was all-too tempting. Trying to push it from his mind, he asked, “How did the school come up with this idea, anyway?”
“Oh, that? A few years ago, we had a girl at our school who was a genus. She was on the Swim Team and even placed first at Nationals. If she’d continued to swim for sport, she would probably have ended up at the Olympics, but she quit upon entering university to focus on her career. She’s a famous medical researcher now, which is really hard work. In fact, she just made a breakthrough discovery on stem-cell research this past summer.
“Stem cell—” Umino’s eyes widened. “Wait, you don’t mean Mizuno Ami, do you?”
“Yeah, actually,” Usagi replied, face alight with curiosity. “You know her?”
“I know of her. Her work is amazing. I want a job like hers after university. It’s one of the reasons I transferred here.”
“Wow, really? I didn’t know that. How cool!” Playfully tilting her head and causing her golden hair to cascade past her shoulders, she added, “Of course, to become her disciple, you need to bring out your inner mermaid.” She grinned as she poked his shoulder.
Turning to analyze his surroundings once more, Umino mused, “So she designed a place where she could swim year-round?” She really was a genius. Even he wasn’t creative enough to consider combining a pool with a green house in order to preserve it during the winter.
“Yep. Pretty cool, don’t you think?”
“Definitely.”
Walking over to the grills at the other end of the pool, the duo stopped to fill their plates with food. Umino chose a slice of pork, one of chicken, and a couple rings of squid, watching in amusement as Usagi loaded her plate with meat.
“Got enough there, Usa? Save room for other food, too, yeah?” he grinned as he added eggplant and cobbed corn to his plate, then topped everything off with some udon before bringing his plate to one of the people working the grill.
“Hey guys!”
Turning with a start, Umino smiled down at his petite roommate. “Hey Naru, what’s up?”
“Eh, not much. I brought you guys a present.”
“A present? Really? What?” Usagi bounced up and down, spitting out questions without waiting for a reply.
Laughing at her friend’s audacity, Naru held out a plate of food. “I figured you guys would be hungry and meat takes a while to cook, so I had them grill us some yaki-onigiri.” *—7
“Wow, thanks,” Usagi exclaimed, grabbing one of the balls and shoveling it into her mouth. “Thesh ish rerry gooh,” she proclaimed, her words indecipherable as she sprayed rice while continuing to talk and chew.
“Ew, Usagi!” Naru crinkled her nose as she wiped a grain of rice from her chin. “Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
“Yah, yah, waatevah,” Usagi mumbled, swallowing and reaching for another onigiri.
Grinning mischievously, Naru inched her way backward until she was at the edge of the pool. Watching Usagi stalk toward her, she moved out of the way at the last minute, causing her blonde-haired friend to stumble as her heel came in contact with the edge of the pool.
Flailing for something to hold onto as she struggled to maintain her balance, Usagi grabbed onto Umino, bringing him alongside her as she fell into the water.
Sputtering as he rose to the surface, Umino pushed wet strands of hair off his face as he struggled to see through his misty glasses.
Hearing someone gasp out his name in shock, he glanced up at Naru, who stood at the edge of the pool with her hand covering her mouth, the plate of onigiri scattered at her feet as she stared down at the wet t-shirt now clinging to Umino’s chest.
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Now there’s a cliff-hanger for you, ne?
Whee, lots of Cultural Notes this time around. Sorry about that!!
Cultural Note #1: A conbini is what a convenience store is called in Japan. In the US, Wawa and 7-11 are two popular convenience stores. In Japan, there are also 7-11 stores, actually, but the two most popular conbini stores are the chains Family Mart and Lawson’s. At a Japanese conbini, you can even pay your bills such as electricity and mobile phone by going to the register with the stub. You can also use a special kiosk machine to purchase things from Amazon Japan or to buy tickets for things such as Disney World, etc. It’s really amazing!
Cultural Note #2: In Japan, brand name clothing, accessories, etc. are very popular. For young females, it is very hard to afford such things unless you are rich. There are many girls who will accept what is most closely called a Sugar Daddy in English. He’ll give her material goods, and she’ll pay him back in...other ways. This phenomenon is especially prevalent in larger cities such as Tokyo where there is high pressure to be fashionable.
Cultural Note #3: There is student teaching in Japan, but it is for a much-shorter period of time than it is in, say, the United States. It’s usually only for 4-8 weeks, and then a teacher is thrust into a classroom. There are no substitute teachers, though. If a teacher is absent, the other teachers have to cover. Usually, the students will have another class instead or do silent work, depending on the teacher, subject, etc. A teacher usually only transfers in mid-year if someone goes on maternity leave, has to leave unexpectedly, or additional help is needed at some point, otherwise, they have to wait until April to begin teaching. The teaching system in Japan is also unique in the fact that a teacher in not allowed to stay at the same school for more than four to six years (it varies from area to area. In my area, it’s six years) and will be transferred at some point by the Board of Education. Sometimes, they have to leave earlier, but they rarely ever have a choice in when or where they’ll go. They find out if they’ll be transferred in March right before the school year ends, and they’ll give a farewell speech at the closing ceremonies, then clear out their desks when the students have a break before the new school year starts in April.
Cultural Note #4: Pucca is a type of Japanese candy/sweet. It is shaped like a goldfish, but the shell is more of a pretzel-like substance. Inside, there is usually a chocolate-filling. Oishii-sou, ne?
Cultural Note #5: Labor Day is on November 23rd each year. It is a national holiday, so people always have off of work on this day. The nice thing about Japanese holidays is that if the day falls on a Sunday, you get Monday off from work. If it falls on a Saturday, you don’t get an extra day, though. Holidays are the best when they fall on a Friday or a Sunday because you get a three-day weekend and can plan mini-vacations. Because this year’s Labor Day [2007] is on a Friday and we get three-days, I randomly had theirs be a three-day as well, even though they won’t be able to get together.
Cultural Note #6: In Japan, there are usually two doors to a bus: One in the front and one in the middle. You board the middle door and get off at the front of the bus. When getting onto the bus, you either take a bus ticket or you swipe your bus pass. There is a board at the front of the bus with numbers. Your ticket matches one of the numbers, so you know how much to pay when you get off the bus. If you have a pass, it’s calculated automatically and removed electronically from your card. Most of the single-door buses are long-distance buses, while city buses tend to have one exit point and one entrance point due to making more stops and having more fare rates and all.
Cultural Note #7: Yaki-onigiri is almost exactly like regular onigiri (Onigiri is a rice ball, by the way). Yaki means that something is grilled, so basically, if you take a riceball, slather it with some soy sauce, and stick it on the grill, you get yaki-onigiri. You should try it! Mm, DELICIOUS!!!
Author’s Note: Okay, I wasn’t expecting to have Ami enter this chapter—or a sort of greenhouse set-up in order to continue using a pool, for that matter. When I realized that it was November for the characters, the idea came to me. Perhaps it’s because I went to the indoor SeaGaia Ocean Dome in Miyazaki last week over the three-day holiday? (Yep, there’s a holiday for the autumn equinox here! There’s one for the vernal equinox, too. It is common to visit the graves of your ancestors at this time, etc.) I’m not sure, but it really seems like an idea that a water-loving genius like Ami would come up with, doesn’t it? I really like how this story is shaping up and I have so much more planned for it. I’m having a lot of fun writing this, and I hope my few readers are enjoying it as well!
As always, a special, special thank you to my Squishy, who never has any spare time, but still looks this over for me. *loves you*
Like it? Hate it? I’m the one to talk to! Hit the little review button or Email ladybaine at gmail dot com today!
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