Sugar and Pepper (53)
FIFTY-TWO ~ X- FIFTY-TWO.FIVE
* FIFTY-THREE *
01.
As another day came to a close, Satoshi sat staring out the open window until Jun joined him in the room.
"Why is the window open?" Jun asked as he sat beside Satoshi and covered them both with the blanket. "It's cold."
"It's almost been one year since I came here," Satoshi mused.
Jun moved as close to him as possible and rested his head on Satoshi's arm. He sighed as he relaxed by the older boy's side, warmth from the blanket and his brother's body easing into him; a contrast from the cold air filtering into their room from the open window.
"I can't believe it's only been almost one year," he said.
A small smile graced Satoshi's lips as he watched a star twinkle in the distant sky. "Back then, Jun was someone I couldn't touch."
"That's not true," Jun said and to prove it, he shifted and wrapped his arms around Satoshi's middle.
"What did Jun think of me?" Satoshi asked.
Jun's brows furrowed as he thought back to a time before the present. At last, he said, "I don't really remember. But," he added, "I wanted to know more about you if I had the chance." He reached up to grasp and turn Satoshi's head, forcing his brother's eyes from the sky to meet his. "I'm glad you came here, Satoshi."
Satoshi blushed and nodded, from the bottom of his heart grateful to hear those words.
The cold winter days lessened and so did time move forward.
02.
On one of the warmer weekend afternoons, Satoshi had promised and spent a day out with Sho. His underclassman brought a radio controlled car as an early congratulatory gift and they went to a near park to try it.
They spent a half hour in an empty lot playing with the car before Sho turned the conversation and asked a serious question.
"Ohno-san, are you leaving right after graduation?" he brought up.
At the question, Satoshi looked up from the car and the controller in his hands. "After the graduation," he replied quietly. His plane ticket had already been bought and the majority of his things packed and sent. On the day of graduation, he would be driven straight to the airport.
"My father wanted me to finish school in Japan, but I insisted on studying abroad," Sho told Satoshi suddenly. "He let me go because I wanted the experience and because I'll be staying there for university."
Satoshi nodded, even while his eyes had returned to the ground.
"Senpai, I want to stay in touch," Sho said. "I told you this before and I am serious. I want to remain friends. Can I continue to contact you even when you leave?"
A half chuckle and half sob erupted from Satoshi's throat. He couldn't help that Sho's words had made him happy.
"I want to stay in touch, too," he said. It was true that Sakurai Sho had been the first person to call him a friend. Even though he had never been able to do much for Sho, his underclassman still treasured their friendship as he did.
"When you leave next week, will you let me know?" Sho asked him.
Satoshi nodded.
Sho sighed as if a burden had been lifted off his chest. "I hope you good luck, senpai. We'll meet again at the end of summer."
03.
In the middle of the week Masaki, Miyuki, her friends and Jun went out to karaoke for a farewell gathering with Satoshi.
Masaki forced everyone to sing at least one solo song and then Miyuki and her friends took the stage for the rest of the time.
Throughout, Satoshi sat next to Jun and cheerfully hummed along. Every now and then when Masaki's energy reached the maximum and he urged them they cheered the girls on together with shouts that were drowned out by the music and singing.
Before their two hours were up, Miyuki punched in a last song and stood alone at the front. The music played beautifully in the background as she faced Satoshi and everyone else silenced.
"Ohno-san, at first you didn't bother to talk to anyone and you didn't make any friends," she said. "I felt sorry for you so I always tried to speak to you. I'm happy I kept trying because you're here with us now." Suddenly, she choked on a sob. "I...I'm glad we became friends."
Satoshi too felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. He bit his lower lip and nodded his gratitude as Miyuki bowed after her farewell message. She handed the microphone over to Masaki who took the stage.
The culinary club president took one look straight at Satoshi and burst into tears. His tears were so sincere and heartfelt, his sorrow emanating from his entire being, that tears rose up in Satoshi as well. In the center of the room Masaki tried to calm himself down enough to speak.
Beside Satoshi, Jun grabbed hold of his hand and the strength of their clasped hands gave Satoshi the strength to break the cycle. "Aiba-chan, it's okay," he said even as his own voice cracked.
"Oh-chan, I'm going to miss you," Masaki whispered into the microphone and swallowed another sob. "Please don't forget any of us."
Satoshi nodded while tears streamed down his face. Masaki released the microphone and dived forward. He embraced the older boy tightly and Satoshi returned the embrace.
Into his ear, Masaki whispered, "Thank you for everything."
Satoshi felt another wave of hot tears overtake him. He nodded against Masaki's shoulder. "Thank you," he replied.
04.
He had since returned to school for the last few days that they would spend there. They had rehearsals and pictures were taken. News were exchanged and final details were taken care of.
The day before graduation, the seniors were dismissed after their last rehearsal and Satoshi decided for the first time that he could remember to go looking for his underclassman. The last place he checked was the music room since he did not expect Kazunari to be there; it'd been a while since both of them had visited the place. But to his surprise, Kazunari was inside. He sat by the piano running his fingers across the keys.
"Nino," Satoshi said in a break in the song.
Kazunari turned his head and saw him by the open doorway. He grinned. "Oh-chan, I didn't think I'd see you again."
Satoshi entered the room and went over to him.
"You're graduating tomorrow, huh?" Kazunari said almost nonchalantly as he made room for Satoshi to sit beside him on the stool. "I'll miss you, you know. I'll be alone in this room from now on. I'll be lonely."
"You can tell Aiba-chan anything," Satoshi said. "He'll accompany you here."
Kazunari shook his head, his grin fading into a sad smile. "But this place and our songs are our little secret." He placed his hands on the keys again. "Oh-chan do you remember that song I taught you to play?"
Satoshi had long forgotten it and he frowned as he vainly tried to remember even a tiny piece of it. Kazunari gestured for him to place his hands on the keys and he did so. The younger boy overlapped their hands and slowly paced him through it again.
"Oh-chan," Kazunari started even as they concentrated on the music, "it's been almost three years for us, hasn't it? The Oh-chan back then and now have changed a lot. Honestly, now I'm even afraid of you. You won't leave me behind forever, will you?"
Sweat beaded on the older boy's brows as he tried to focus on following along with Kazunari on the piano, memorizing the keys and listening to him speak.
"At least, remember this song okay?" his underclassman said.
They continued to make music together and learn. No more about the subject was said.
Not until the first bell rang and it was time for Kazunari to return to class. Then he stood and bowed from his waist down to Satoshi.
"Good bye, Ohno-senpai," Kazunari said and he walked out.
Alone in the music room, in the sudden stillness and silence, Satoshi closed the case over the piano keys for the final time.
05.
He'd idled away his time and at the end of the school day sat at the bleachers by the baseball field to watch Jun practice for the last time. He reasoned that he might be able to return to Japan for a few days or during his vacation in between his long years away, but Satoshi did not want to take for granted this moment.
Jun in his baseball uniform, getting dirty, running, sliding, diving for balls and swinging his bat. Everything. Every little thing he wanted to remember.
Phone calls, emails, and anything else would not make up for him not being here when it mattered.
06.
After the conclusion of extracurricular activities, he stood by the baseball field waiting for his brother. Tomorrow, while Jun returned to class he would be on his way to the airport where his mother would see him off. Today might be the last time they stood here together until that far off day in the future.
"Satoshi," Jun called out to him from behind.
Satoshi turned and saw Jun approach him. He stretched out his arm like a child and understandingly Jun caught his hand and entwined their fingers together.
One day, Satoshi promised to himself, they would stand here again, the two of them.
* *
FIFTY-FOUR
* FIFTY-THREE *
01.
As another day came to a close, Satoshi sat staring out the open window until Jun joined him in the room.
"Why is the window open?" Jun asked as he sat beside Satoshi and covered them both with the blanket. "It's cold."
"It's almost been one year since I came here," Satoshi mused.
Jun moved as close to him as possible and rested his head on Satoshi's arm. He sighed as he relaxed by the older boy's side, warmth from the blanket and his brother's body easing into him; a contrast from the cold air filtering into their room from the open window.
"I can't believe it's only been almost one year," he said.
A small smile graced Satoshi's lips as he watched a star twinkle in the distant sky. "Back then, Jun was someone I couldn't touch."
"That's not true," Jun said and to prove it, he shifted and wrapped his arms around Satoshi's middle.
"What did Jun think of me?" Satoshi asked.
Jun's brows furrowed as he thought back to a time before the present. At last, he said, "I don't really remember. But," he added, "I wanted to know more about you if I had the chance." He reached up to grasp and turn Satoshi's head, forcing his brother's eyes from the sky to meet his. "I'm glad you came here, Satoshi."
Satoshi blushed and nodded, from the bottom of his heart grateful to hear those words.
The cold winter days lessened and so did time move forward.
02.
On one of the warmer weekend afternoons, Satoshi had promised and spent a day out with Sho. His underclassman brought a radio controlled car as an early congratulatory gift and they went to a near park to try it.
They spent a half hour in an empty lot playing with the car before Sho turned the conversation and asked a serious question.
"Ohno-san, are you leaving right after graduation?" he brought up.
At the question, Satoshi looked up from the car and the controller in his hands. "After the graduation," he replied quietly. His plane ticket had already been bought and the majority of his things packed and sent. On the day of graduation, he would be driven straight to the airport.
"My father wanted me to finish school in Japan, but I insisted on studying abroad," Sho told Satoshi suddenly. "He let me go because I wanted the experience and because I'll be staying there for university."
Satoshi nodded, even while his eyes had returned to the ground.
"Senpai, I want to stay in touch," Sho said. "I told you this before and I am serious. I want to remain friends. Can I continue to contact you even when you leave?"
A half chuckle and half sob erupted from Satoshi's throat. He couldn't help that Sho's words had made him happy.
"I want to stay in touch, too," he said. It was true that Sakurai Sho had been the first person to call him a friend. Even though he had never been able to do much for Sho, his underclassman still treasured their friendship as he did.
"When you leave next week, will you let me know?" Sho asked him.
Satoshi nodded.
Sho sighed as if a burden had been lifted off his chest. "I hope you good luck, senpai. We'll meet again at the end of summer."
03.
In the middle of the week Masaki, Miyuki, her friends and Jun went out to karaoke for a farewell gathering with Satoshi.
Masaki forced everyone to sing at least one solo song and then Miyuki and her friends took the stage for the rest of the time.
Throughout, Satoshi sat next to Jun and cheerfully hummed along. Every now and then when Masaki's energy reached the maximum and he urged them they cheered the girls on together with shouts that were drowned out by the music and singing.
Before their two hours were up, Miyuki punched in a last song and stood alone at the front. The music played beautifully in the background as she faced Satoshi and everyone else silenced.
"Ohno-san, at first you didn't bother to talk to anyone and you didn't make any friends," she said. "I felt sorry for you so I always tried to speak to you. I'm happy I kept trying because you're here with us now." Suddenly, she choked on a sob. "I...I'm glad we became friends."
Satoshi too felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. He bit his lower lip and nodded his gratitude as Miyuki bowed after her farewell message. She handed the microphone over to Masaki who took the stage.
The culinary club president took one look straight at Satoshi and burst into tears. His tears were so sincere and heartfelt, his sorrow emanating from his entire being, that tears rose up in Satoshi as well. In the center of the room Masaki tried to calm himself down enough to speak.
Beside Satoshi, Jun grabbed hold of his hand and the strength of their clasped hands gave Satoshi the strength to break the cycle. "Aiba-chan, it's okay," he said even as his own voice cracked.
"Oh-chan, I'm going to miss you," Masaki whispered into the microphone and swallowed another sob. "Please don't forget any of us."
Satoshi nodded while tears streamed down his face. Masaki released the microphone and dived forward. He embraced the older boy tightly and Satoshi returned the embrace.
Into his ear, Masaki whispered, "Thank you for everything."
Satoshi felt another wave of hot tears overtake him. He nodded against Masaki's shoulder. "Thank you," he replied.
04.
He had since returned to school for the last few days that they would spend there. They had rehearsals and pictures were taken. News were exchanged and final details were taken care of.
The day before graduation, the seniors were dismissed after their last rehearsal and Satoshi decided for the first time that he could remember to go looking for his underclassman. The last place he checked was the music room since he did not expect Kazunari to be there; it'd been a while since both of them had visited the place. But to his surprise, Kazunari was inside. He sat by the piano running his fingers across the keys.
"Nino," Satoshi said in a break in the song.
Kazunari turned his head and saw him by the open doorway. He grinned. "Oh-chan, I didn't think I'd see you again."
Satoshi entered the room and went over to him.
"You're graduating tomorrow, huh?" Kazunari said almost nonchalantly as he made room for Satoshi to sit beside him on the stool. "I'll miss you, you know. I'll be alone in this room from now on. I'll be lonely."
"You can tell Aiba-chan anything," Satoshi said. "He'll accompany you here."
Kazunari shook his head, his grin fading into a sad smile. "But this place and our songs are our little secret." He placed his hands on the keys again. "Oh-chan do you remember that song I taught you to play?"
Satoshi had long forgotten it and he frowned as he vainly tried to remember even a tiny piece of it. Kazunari gestured for him to place his hands on the keys and he did so. The younger boy overlapped their hands and slowly paced him through it again.
"Oh-chan," Kazunari started even as they concentrated on the music, "it's been almost three years for us, hasn't it? The Oh-chan back then and now have changed a lot. Honestly, now I'm even afraid of you. You won't leave me behind forever, will you?"
Sweat beaded on the older boy's brows as he tried to focus on following along with Kazunari on the piano, memorizing the keys and listening to him speak.
"At least, remember this song okay?" his underclassman said.
They continued to make music together and learn. No more about the subject was said.
Not until the first bell rang and it was time for Kazunari to return to class. Then he stood and bowed from his waist down to Satoshi.
"Good bye, Ohno-senpai," Kazunari said and he walked out.
Alone in the music room, in the sudden stillness and silence, Satoshi closed the case over the piano keys for the final time.
05.
He'd idled away his time and at the end of the school day sat at the bleachers by the baseball field to watch Jun practice for the last time. He reasoned that he might be able to return to Japan for a few days or during his vacation in between his long years away, but Satoshi did not want to take for granted this moment.
Jun in his baseball uniform, getting dirty, running, sliding, diving for balls and swinging his bat. Everything. Every little thing he wanted to remember.
Phone calls, emails, and anything else would not make up for him not being here when it mattered.
06.
After the conclusion of extracurricular activities, he stood by the baseball field waiting for his brother. Tomorrow, while Jun returned to class he would be on his way to the airport where his mother would see him off. Today might be the last time they stood here together until that far off day in the future.
"Satoshi," Jun called out to him from behind.
Satoshi turned and saw Jun approach him. He stretched out his arm like a child and understandingly Jun caught his hand and entwined their fingers together.
One day, Satoshi promised to himself, they would stand here again, the two of them.
* *
FIFTY-FOUR