[Vol. 2] Chapter 44: Housewarming
Kenji and Harada came in loaded down with bags in both hands.
"We brought some things for the celebration."
"Where should we put this?" asked Kenji, raising a hand.
"You can leave it on the table."
"Perfect."
Rika wasted no time opening them — inside there were snacks and drinks, maybe a few too many for what they actually needed.
"Don't you think you went a little overboard?"
"You have to be prepared. You never know when there might be an emergency," Rika remarked.
I was about to ask what kind of emergency would require all that, but decided I was better off not knowing.
While everyone was setting things down, I stood back and watched them.
The apartment filled quickly with voices.
Laughter.
Footsteps.
Bags.
Comments.
Imagining a scene like that in my home would have been impossible before I got this apartment.
I'll admit it wasn't bad. It felt good to be a proper host.
Although… in reality I was probably being a terrible host, since I forgot they were coming and didn't prepare anything.
I'm sorry.
I hope they don't notice or think too much about it…
"Wow."
Rika's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"What?"
The girl was looking around.
"It's really nice."
"Huh?"
"Seriously. It's huge."
Rika walked over to the living room and looked from one side to the other.
"You live here alone?"
"Yes."
"Alone alone?"
"Well, yes…"
I couldn't help looking away slightly.
"Alone alone alone?"
"Rika…"
"Sorry, it just surprises me a little!" she said with a small laugh. "After all, we're still in high school."
Arima nodded.
"It surprises me too. Plus this place is enormous."
"Aika…" Rika paused dramatically. "Are you also rich?"
"Rich? Of course not. I'm just a stripper."
"…"
The living room went quiet for a moment.
And then everyone burst out laughing.
"I wasn't expecting that kind of joke from you, Shimizu-san," said Harada, wiping a small tear from his eye.
I started laughing too.
Because it wasn't a joke.
I don't know why I said it, but at least it kept them from digging further into how I was paying for the apartment or why I lived alone.
A little while later Arima appeared with a speaker in his hands, asking where to plug it in.
He pointed to a wall.
"Can I unplug this lamp?"
I looked to where he was pointing.
"Sure."
He put the speaker on the floor, and as soon as he plugged it in—
BZZZT!
"AAAAAAAAH!!!"
Arima flew backward.
"ARIMA-KUN!!!"
I startled.
Rika ran over to him.
"Are you okay?!"
Arima slowly raised a thumb.
"I'm fine…"
Silence.
"I think."
I brought a hand to my mouth to hold back the laugh.
It didn't work.
"Pff…"
"Shimizu-san!"
"S-Sorry."
I felt a little bad for having been half-expecting that to happen.
A little while later the music finally started playing — Arima had survived the second attempt at plugging in the speaker — and the table was full of food.
Rika had opened practically every snack she'd brought.
Kenji and Harada were arguing about what music to put on.
And Yuuna was talking with Mei.
I'd stayed near the table, drinking something.
"By the way."
Rika appeared at my side.
"What?"
"Kenji told us something interesting."
"What?"
She smiled.
"That the four of you are going to be in a movie!"
"Ah."
I felt a small flutter of nerves in my stomach.
"Yes."
"That's incredible!"
Rika clasped her hands together.
"Are you excited?"
"Maybe a little. But nervous too."
Rika smiled.
"Understandable. If I were in your position I couldn't even sleep… but you'll do great! When you're all famous, don't forget about us."
"Famous?"
I laughed.
"I don't think it'll go that far."
"Of course it will!"
Rika pointed at Mei.
"You too!"
Mei smiled.
"I suppose it would be nice…"
A little while later I got up to take some empty bottles to the kitchen.
Mei stood up too.
"I'll help."
"Don't worry, you don't have to."
"It's no trouble."
"Well then…"
I smiled.
"Thank you."
And so we walked into the kitchen together.
Mei picked up a bottle.
"I'll throw this out."
"Yes."
I turned toward the trash bin.
And then I remembered.
The cigarette. I'd thrown it in that bin.
Mei was walking toward it and already bending down to toss the bottle.
"M-Mei, wait!"
I rushed over to her and without meaning to, our movements ended up coinciding.
"Ah."
"Careful!"
I stumbled.
"Wah!"
Mei reacted quickly and caught me.
But the momentum made us both lose our balance.
"Ah!"
I fell forward.
Mei ended up against the counter.
And I…
Too close.
My hands, trying to stop myself, ended up pressing against something soft.
Warm.
Firm beneath the fabric of her shirt.
She let out a small gasp.
"…"
"…"
I felt my brain stop working.
I didn't move.
I couldn't.
"S-sorry."
I tried to pull back.
But Mei was still holding me by the waist.
And my hands… were still there.
"It's okay."
Her voice came out lower than usual.
Her face was completely red.
Mine probably was too.
"I…"
Mei opened her mouth slightly, like she wanted to say something.
Something important.
Her gaze met mine, and for some reason time seemed to stop.
What's happening?
Mei took a deep breath.
"Aika…"
"Yes?"
Silence.
Her expression shifted slightly and my heart sped up.
Could she be…?
I swallowed.
"…"
"You're grabbing my chest… if you press that hard it hurts."
The sentence came out barely above a whisper.
Flushed to her ears.
Her eyes didn't leave mine.
A sudden heat rose up my neck.
I pulled my hands back sharply, as if I'd burned myself.
"I-I didn't…! It was an accident!"
Mei didn't say anything for a second.
She just looked at me.
Still so close I could feel her breath against my lower lip.
Then her expression shifted again.
More serious.
More… something.
"Aika…"
"Yes?"
That dense silence again.
"You…"
My chest was rising and falling too fast.
Could this finally be it?
I'm not ready!
Mei tilted her head slightly.
"You smell like cigarettes."
…
…
…
CRACK.
It felt like lightning had struck directly on my head.
"Huh?"
Mei tilted her head a little.
"Cigarettes?"
"N-no."
"Yes."
"It must be…"
I looked away.
"The neighbors again! Yes, that's it — I really need to file a complaint soon."
I started laughing to cover it up, but my nerves made my voice shake.
Mei sighed.
"You don't have to make up strange excuses. I won't tell anyone."
"No, but seriously I…"
"It's alright, Aika."
"…"
"Well…"
I lowered my gaze.
"Aren't you disappointed?"
"No. Everyone has their secrets, although…"
She paused.
"I'd be lying if I said I don't care at all. Honestly, I'd rather you didn't smoke."
"…"
"It was just… it was just once."
Silence.
"For some reasons."
Mei smiled.
"I'm glad to hear that."
Mei went back to the living room with the others, and I ran to the bathroom to brush my teeth before anyone else noticed.
Time passed much faster than I expected.
Between conversations, food, and Rika's constant antics, the celebration ended up becoming something quite pleasant.
And as always happens with things that are too pleasant, they end too soon.
When the time to say goodbye finally came, I walked everyone to the building entrance.
"Thank you for having us, Shimizu-san," said Harada.
"No, thank you all for coming."
"It was so much fun!" Rika added.
"We should do this again!" Kenji remarked casually.
Does anyone in this group ever think to consult me first?…
"See you!"
"Bye!"
The group started heading off toward the station.
Yuuna walked with them.
But then she stopped and turned.
"Mei?"
Mei was still standing next to me.
"Aren't you coming?"
"No."
Mei pointed down the street.
"They're coming to pick me up."
"Ah, I see."
Yuuna nodded.
"Then we'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes."
"Good night, Aika."
"Good night."
The group continued on their way while I raised a hand to wave goodbye.
A little while later… it was just Mei and me.
The street was quiet. The lights from the buildings lit up the sidewalk and every so often a car would pass.
I leaned slightly against the wall.
"Today was fun."
Mei smiled.
"Yes."
"At first I thought a party would be uncomfortable."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
I looked out at the street.
"I'd never done anything like this before."
Mei was quiet.
"But…"
I smiled.
"It wasn't bad at all."
She smiled.
"I'm glad to hear that. I'd like to do it again too."
I looked at her and let out a small laugh.
"We'll have to."
For a few seconds neither of us said anything.
My mind started drifting back to some memories. The library, the first day Mei came over to me, when she offered to help me study.
The drama club…
I lowered my gaze slightly.
"Mei…"
"Yes?"
I looked at her.
"Thank you."
Mei blinked.
"Huh? Why?"
She seemed confused.
"You've done so much for me."
"Ah, I already told you the apartment wasn't a big deal…"
"I didn't just mean that — though please thank your father for me too."
Her expression turned confused again, and I turned to face her directly.
"If you hadn't come over to me, and if you hadn't invited me to the drama club, I wouldn't have experienced any of this. That's why… I wanted to thank you."
A strong gust of wind blew through, ruffling both our hair, and suddenly a sleek black car appeared at the end of the street, slowly approaching until it stopped in front of us.
Mei looked at the car and then turned back to me.
For just an instant… I thought I saw that expression in her eyes again, and with a blink, it was gone.
"Don't mention it."
She smiled.
"We're friends, after all."
I kept looking at her.
"Yes."
Mei opened the car door and put one foot inside.
"Goodbye, Aika."
"Goodbye."
"Get some rest."
"You too."
The door closed.
The car started pulling away.