Chapter Six: Interrupting Interlude
“Hey, Yuuma! Got a minute?”
Called it. Fucking. Called it. Didn't even make it halfway back to the dorms. If there is a God above, he sure has a sense of humor. Or nothing better to do.
Not sure which prospect is more terrifying.
I grunt out something akin to a response and stop in my tracks. I don't want to turn to see who called me. That requires energy. Energy that has already been spent on keeping up with crazy Kiyomi and remembering how to tie my goddamn shoe. That, and I'm pretty sure I know who it is. Someone I really don't want to talk to right now. Or ever, really. Not unless I want the whole school to know about it.
“Hey, Miki,” I say as I turn around.
Sure enough, Miki Miura is running up to catch me. Crap, I do not want to deal with her now. This is about Makoto. He did something incredibly stupid, and now I'm caught in the fallout. Wish I could say this was the first time. Or hope it was the last. If wishes had wings...
Damn, she is coming at me pretty fast...
Is she pissed? Would she tackle me in the open? Makoto, I'm going to kill you-
Suddenly, Miki is in front of me, no more winded than if she had walked over. She brushes a few stray locks of her charcoal hair away from her eyes with her bad arm. Her good arm snaps up to my chest as she pokes me hard. I stumble a step from the force of it. Damn, she is strong for a tiny thing.
“Hello, Yuuma. Could I have a word?” She asks with a toothy smile.
I take another step back, just to widen the distance a bit. She doesn't look particularly mad. But that wasn't a particularly friendly poke, either. Her wide grin only makes it all the more disturbing. Times like this I wished she wore the girls uniform. For some reason the boy's top only makes it worse. Maybe it's the haphazardly worn tie? Certainly adds to the whole 'crazy' thing she had going on. Why does she wear that thing anyway?
I chance a quick glance at her chest. Maybe she doesn't fit into the blouses?
She flashes a devious grin. “See something you like?”
Damn, not fast enough.
“What do you want?” I ask wearily. Hopefully she will catch onto my tone and leave me alone.
Miki lifts her arms over her head and looks off into the distance, which has the unfortunate...fortunate?...effect of accenting her chest. “Don't change the subject, Iwasaki. I asked you a question.”
These track girls are all insane. At this rate I won't live 'til graduation. Some track chick half my size is going to murder me first. They act like it's all fun and games until you try to play along. And it will all be Makoto's fault. I'm taking him out of my will. No first edition Charizard for you.
Well, I'm not playing, Miki. I am in no mood.
“What. Do. You. Want?”
Miki turns her provocative pose into a stretch. “That can wait for a moment. You don't sound too happy. Don't like getting showed up by little girls?”
Oh, fan-fucking-tastic. Of all the people who could have witnessed that, it had to be Yamaku's resident gossip? Of course it did. Today's cosmic farce wouldn't have been complete without the added element of continued embarrassment. Should have seen this coming.
I attempt to say something back. Something witty, possibly mean...definitely mean, but I can't seem to think of anything. I'm so far beyond wanting to think about this right now. I'm going to bed.
Turning away, I begin walking toward the dorms. A small hand grips my shoulder. She isn't holding me hard, but it leaves no room for nonsense. Well, this is how I die, eh? Can't say it's what I would have picked for myself. I can think of worse ways to go. Might make a funny story.
Strangely, the killing blow never comes. Miki's hand leaves my shoulder as she rounds in front of me.
“Hey...look, I'm sorry. I saw what happened back there and I should have known not to push too hard.”
Wait...does she mean? Crap, she saw that, too?
I take a deep breath. “Just forget about it.”
Miki gives me a half smile. “Already forgotten. But, sorry again. Sometimes I don't know when to hold back.”
Really? Didn't know that about you. Call the press. Then again...
“Something we have in common, I suppose.”
She blushes for a moment before that suspicious smiles reappears. “Anyway...we need to talk.”
“I gathered.”
“Yeah...” She trails off. “You should keep a tighter reign on your friends.”
I roll my eyes. “Sorry. He's such an idiot sometimes. Can't believe he asked you out.”
Miki's eyes widen and she lets out a laugh. “What? Oh...oh...god, no.”
I close my eyes and rub my temples. “Are you telling me he didn't even make a move?”
Miki continues to giggle. “Are you kidding me? He was like a terrified little puppy. Although, it makes a lot more sense now.”
I'm going to kill you, Makoto. Just for putting me in this situation.
“Well, then what the hell was all that about yesterday?”
She finally gets a grip and slowly stops laughing. “That...that was just to goof on you. Mostly.”
“Appreciate it.”
“Thought you might.”
“Then what were you two talking about?”
Miki crosses her arms. “Things you should have already told him.”
Geez, what have I not told that kid. “You will have to be more specific than that.”
“Well, after he came to ask me out, apparently, he just kinda fumbled about for a bit. Was sorta cute, but a little annoying. After a while we started talking. He is a bit clueless about girls, isn't he?”
“He told you about Takara, I take it?”
Miki snorts. “Half of Yamaku knows about his little crush. I brought it up.”
Relationship advice from Miki? Sounds like a recipe for disaster. Then again, he wouldn't listen to me. Maybe any action is good in this case.
“Well, I hope you set him straight.”
“I did my best. I'm no matchmaker, but that guy is clearly smitten.” She exclaims.
I force out a short laugh. “At least you don't have to hear about it all the time.”
She shrugs and looks away. “He has some roundabout ways to get a girl's attention, that's for sure. Asking me out wouldn't have helped.”
“Told him that.”
“He's not even my type.” She flashes a smile and looks me up and down. “I like my men with a little more...substance.”
I'm not playing. Nope. Try again later.
“Funny stuff, Miki. Real funny.”
She shrugs again. “I think so.”
“I'm sure you do.”
“Yep. Besides, it's pretty clear you're taken.”
Yeah...wait, what?
“Dear lord, Miki, lay off of all that.”
She grins. “What? She was cute. Those second years are so sweet aren't they? And this one was new, too. You work fast, don't you?”
“Remember that whole 'not knowing when to stop' thing?”
“I seem to recall you telling me to forget.”
I push past her. “Forget all of this, Miki. Please. Sincerely.”
“My lips are sealed.” I hear her call from behind.
“I somehow doubt that.” I call as I continue to walk away.
“Have a little faith!”
We'll see, Miki. You aren't known for your discretion.
That would certainly sour Kiyomi's first impression of Yamaku. Rumors of her hooking up with a third year on her second day. She doesn't deserve that. For your sake, Miki, keep this one under the lid. I don't want to have to deal with that.
And Makoto. What a moron. At least he didn't get his ass beat. Or mine. Still, I knew this was all going to come back to me. It seems like anything about him and Takara always ends up in my lap. It's not even my problem, but that's what friends are for right? I should really return the favor.
But, later. Bed. Sweet, cozy, completely predictable bed. I'm coming to you. Wait for me!
My brain spares me the journey as I realize I'm in front of my door. I lazily slip the key in and stumble through my door. I think I hear it close as I deftly navigate the piles of stuff and fall onto my bed. I was supposed to clean this place. Got distracted. Too distracted.
I snatch my pillow from wherever it ended up this morning and place it over my eyes. I take a deep breath and fall into slumber.
BEEP.
There is always just one more isn't there? Just when you think you're safe.
I groan and slip the offensive item out of my pocket. The screen lights up with a new text message.
[Hey, you haven't texted me yet!]
Seriously, Kiyomi? She is tiring even when she's not here. Wait...
I tap a response. [How did you get this number?]
Moments later my phone chimes again. [Obviously not by you texting me, like you said.]
I copy and paste. [How did you get this number?]
BEEP.
[Hey, a girl has to have her secrets.]
Great. I wonder how she did it? Kiyoshi doesn't have my number. Can you look that kind of information up somewhere in the building? Maybe she hacked into the mainframe or something. Or broke into the administration offices. Wouldn't rule it out. I have superpowers after all.
But I want to sleep. Not think. [Whatever. I'm going to bed. Later.]
I press send and let my arms fall where they lie. Come on, sleep. Get your shit together.
BEEP.
She would feel the need to respond to that.
[Sleep? It's wayyyyy to early for that. You're strange. Anyway, night night!]
I toss the phone down into the unreachable regions of my bed. Some sunlight still filters through my window, but I don't feel like getting up to close the curtains. It will be dark soon enough. But if I don't close them now then the sun will wreak it's horrible and unjust vengeance upon me come morning. I attempt to rise, but my body isn't having any of it. Guess I will just have to deal with it later.
I should have never tried to sleep at normal times. Look what happens when I do. Today was...I don't even know what today was. Exhausting. That's about the only thing I can think of.
Good. Stop thinking, brain. Shut down.
I think I hear a faint beep as I fade into darkness.
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Welp, this one was a bit short. In my original outline almost all of the events of chapters 4-6 happened in one, but the breaks didn't line up that way. I try not too make them too long or too short, but this one was even shorter than chapter one, something I thought wasn't possible
. But, eh, sometimes it happens.
