Chapter Ten: The Calm
Never shop hungry. That's what they say, right?
Glancing down at my basket full of candy and not so healthy snacks I think I might understand the danger. Then again, whoever came up with that probably didn't have to suffer Yamaku's lunch menu. Any reprieve from that is worth a few extra pounds.
And the extra money. Can't forget that.
I quickly count the contents of my basket, making sure I can even afford everything I have picked out. It's close. If I get everything I won't have much left over for the rest of the week. What if Kiyomi wants to play a bunch of games or something? Does she expect me to pay? I mean, that's what a guy on a date would do.
God dammit.
So many things are dependent on whatever the hell tomorrow is. It was annoying before, but now it's interfering with my ability to buy unhealthy snacks. That's crossing the line.
Sighing, I place several items back on the shelf. Who needs double chocolate muffins, anyway? My stomach rumbles in protest.
Calm down, you will get something soon enough. Just...not any of that...
Maybe just one box-
BZZZ
My phone vibrates in my pocket, interrupting my moment of weakness. Or moment of triumph. Depends on how you look at it. Jury's still out.
I fish it out and check the fresh message. Eguchi, brilliant.
[Yuuma, our normal space isn’t available today. Can you meet me in front of the school?]
I check the time. Fifteen minutes until our time begins.
[I’m in town right now, might be a little late.] I key into the phone.
Placing the phone back into my pocket I head to the register. I suppose what I have will do, for now. Having a bit of extra pocket change for tomorrow couldn't hurt.
My phone vibrates once more as I finish paying.
[Well, if you would like we can meet in town again. See you back at the park?]
Well, I am already here.
[Fine, see you there.]
I have just enough time to savor some unhealthy goodness. I make for the nearest bench and tear into the contents of my shopping bag. I don't know who first thought of mixing chocolate with peanut butter, but that man deserves a parade. At the very least a medal.
Five minutes later, several wrappers litter the seat next to me. So much for making it last.
I rise and carry the rest of my purchase toward the park. My mind begins to wander back to Kiyomi and what tomorrow might bring. Downtime, you and I don't get along right now. Not when it gives my mind time to dwell on things I have absolutely no control over. I wish it was just over already. Just so I know where everything stands. The waiting kills.
But what if nothing happens? What if it is a completely normal evening? Normal being a relative term, I suppose. That might be worse. It's either a date or it's not. If it's not, that raises more questions. It isn't too out of the ordinary for her to gravitate to the only familiar person she knows here. But it's all just too odd. If it's completely innocent, then something else is off.
I shake my head. Circles. Always circles.
I quickly find the tree where we had lessons the other day and practically collapse onto it. I close my eyes. Stop thinking, stop thinking, stop thinking-
“Stop thinking, stop thinking...” I mutter.
I open my eyes and stare up through the branches. Sunlight shines through the leaves, casting shadows all around me. A few birds hop from limb to limb, chirping idly. I let out a deep breath. This actually sort of works. How about tha-
A large blob of bird excrement lands inches from my hand.
I quickly pull my hand away and rise. Looking back up at the tree, I give the birds the bird. “Back at you, you disease ridden pieces of-”
“Healthy, Yuuma. Real healthy.”
Jumping slightly, I look back down. “They nearly shat on me.”
Eguchi cocks an eyebrow. “So, you thought the most reasonable course of action was to give them the finger and yell at them?”
“Yeah, seems reasonable to me.”
She sighs and gracefully sits down in the shade. “Your mental health therapist might disagree.”
I roll my eyes and plop down across from her. “You can just say therapist.”
“Ah, but there are many types of therapists.” She says as she snaps her fingers. “Much like myself.”
“Still sore about that 'real therapist' comment?”
“I'm sure I have no idea of what you mean. That doesn't sound like something a pleasant and upstanding young man such as yourself would say.”
She is packing some extra sass today. Must not have been a pleasant day.
After a few minutes of her shuffling through her bag and checking her phone, more than once, she pipes up. “Today's lesson will be a continuation of what we have been doing. Only speak when told. Watch my hands. Think about what I'm telling you to say. Really think. Can you do that, Yuuma?”
“Already did once.” I respond.
The smile she flashes me is a bit unsettling. “We will see.”
She seems out for blood. And I'm closest. Lovely.
…
…
Son of a bitch!
[Come on, Yuuma! Think about it.]
I angrily sign back. [I'm trying! This shit is hard!]
[Really? You don't know any of the words I'm giving you? Or is it saying them in a sentence?]
I start to sign a response, but throw my hands back down. “You're giving me things I don't...thi...” I growl through the confusion between my mouth and my brain. It's so easy to feel it when it's this prominent. I hate it.
I slow down. “Things I don't say.”
Eguchi lowers her own hands. “That's the point. It takes extra time for you to process complex words. If you aren't accustomed to it, it's a stronger baseline for your apraxia.”
“So this is just some experiment? See what makes me sound like an idiot the most?”
“Of course not. But it's easier for you to coast with the things you are familiar with. This forces you to think and fight for it.”
I look down and clench my fists. “I don't want to have to fight that hard to speak clearly.”
Surprisingly, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look back up to see genuine sympathy in her dark eyes. It looks genuine anyway. Hell of a impression, if not.
“You aren't normally this wound up. Is something else bothering you?”
I snort. “Other than you forcing me through more apraxic episodes in an hour than I have had in the past month? No, can't think of anything.”
She bops my head. “Speak clearly. You are letting your frustration muddle your speech.”
“I think it's warranted.”
She shrugs. “It's only going to get harder, so you might as well get used to it. And lying to me won't get you anywhere.”
“Trying to be my real therapist, again?”
She doesn't visibly grate at that comment this time. Bummer, will have to think of something new.
“It's girl trouble isn't it?”
What the...
I must have betrayed something in my expression, because the smug look she's giving me would make Miki jealous.
“I was a teenager once too, you know.” She says.
“Oh, you were a boy back then? Explains a lot.”
She just chuckles. Damn, she's got it together today. Something must have pissed her off more than I can today. Oh, well.
“Boys and girls aren't so different, Yuuma. At least, not teenage ones. I recognize that look of yours.”
That isn't surprising, actually. “You probably confused all the boys in school, didn't you?”
She flips her hair back and flutters her eyelashes. “You mean with my stunning good looks?”
I let out a small laugh. It was intended to be comical, but still...
No, brain. Eguchi is not pretty! She is the enemy.
“Or your completely off putting personality.”
“Said the pot to the kettle.” She fires back.
I can't help but smile. Enemy or no, she's got a quick wit. Kiyomi's a bit like that. Dear lord. That can't be good.
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Part Two
. Dialogue is usually my favorite aspect of writing and it's always nice when people like it. Yuuma is always a bit of a challenge in that department, because it's so easy to default his language and responses to really flippant and sarcastic things. Of course, he is a bit flippant and sarcastic, but it is a very slippery slope that I have to watch constantly, lest I make him sound even more like an asshole. Hopefully he is becoming a bit more lovable...hopefully...