Sugar and Pepper (06)
Edited: 2012.07.21
FIVE
* SIX *
01.
On a dreary morning, the youngest Matsumoto came down the stairs in his uniform. After a quick breakfast, he headed for the door to put on his shoes.
Following, Mrs. Matsumoto went over to hand him his two lunch boxes, one of them naturally belonging to her older son but which Jun had gotten used to still carrying.
That day as she gave them to him, he returned one.
"Since he's living here now, there's no more point in me being the messenger," he explained.
She gave him an understanding smile. "That's true."
Almost an hour later, Satoshi made his way down and straight to the doorway.
His mother followed and handed him his breakfast which he always ate on the run. She also had his lunch box with her. "You can start carrying this on your own, right?" she asked.
He hummed his response but even as he reached for it, Satoshi knew he was not fine.
02.
That afternoon during the break, he sat on the empty staircase. Even though his boxed lunch lay open before him, he did not touch it.
It was while Satoshi stared into nothingness, feeling empty, that a sudden stomping of a person coming up the stairs distracted him. Seconds later, an angry looking freshman emerged from the bottom staircase and stood on the landing below his senior. He looked up and saw Satoshi stare back at him.
"You here alone?" he asked.
As usual, the older boy kept silent.
Undeterred, the freshman continued up the staircase until he reached his upperclassman. Hovering above Satoshi, he demanded, "Don't you think being knocked out cold by a ball during practice is not reason enough to sit out for an upcoming game?"
Satoshi continued to hold his tongue.
The freshman seethed and moved back. "Damn coach."
As quickly as he had come, he left, continuing up the stairs as furious as before.
Behind him, Satoshi reached over to rewrap his lunch.
03.
That evening, Mrs. Matsumoto opened Satoshi's container to wash and was upset to find the contents untouched.
Immediately, she sought out her older son. He sat out on the back veranda working in his sketchbook.
"Satoshi-kun, why didn't you eat today? Are you sick again?" she asked.
He observed her stern expression and knew what he had to do.
04.
Satoshi gave his lunch to his classmate, Miyuki, the next day.
"For me!?" she exclaimed though her own sat before her on the cafeteria table.
"Return the container," was his only reply.
05.
Satoshi went to the music room that day. He sat before the piano and his fingers fell on the keys. He only knew how to play a few notes. However, that day he could not find the will to move his hands. They stayed perfectly still on the instrument.
It was within those moments of silence that his junior showed. Kazunari appeared at the open doorway and with one look, saw Satoshi inside.
"We're both here!" he announced, carrying his guitar and walking over to Satoshi. "I missed you. I've been wanting to work on my songs." Like always, he forced the older boy to comply.
But a little later, in the midst of their session, Kazunari stopped strumming his guitar mid-song to glance at his upperclassman. "Why aren't you singing?"
Satoshi sat with Kazunari's music sheets spread out before him. He usually did anything to please the other youth, but he did not have the energy to sing today. Satoshi stared sadly into space and did not answer the question.
Kazunari sighed and set his guitar down. He observed his senior's expression. "Oh-chan, what's wrong with you?"
Satoshi would like to know the same.
A moment of silence ensued before he turned to his junior. "How's Jun?" he asked.
Kazunari shrugged and took up his instrument once more. "Still the same. Flawless."
06.
After school, carrying his empty lunch box, Satoshi stood outside the baseball field at the fence and watched the team practice their routine. Like the previous time, his eyes were glued to Jun's figure. He could not understand the heaviness in his chest.
He saw Jun pause to wipe at the sweat on his forehead with a sweatband. Satoshi thought that it might be a little nice to be that piece of cloth.
As if on cue, his younger brother surveyed the area. He caught sight of Satoshi by the fence. Satoshi realized Jun had seen him. He stumbled back even while their gazes met across the distance.
Jun blinked and straightened, trying to believe his eyes.
Consequently, Satoshi could not breathe. In his fear, he turned and ran.
* *
SEVEN