Chapter 33
“How long ago was that?” Ikeda asks.
“It was Tuesday,” Taki replies. “Two days ago.”
Ikeda takes notes on his clipboard again. Two days ago – Tuesday – Naoyuki had come to school looking worse than he ever had. He was bruised and scratched and scraped all over – and those were only the visible injuries. He was thinner, too. The weight loss was too quick to be healthy. Had he not been eating properly? That wasn’t good, especially in light of the revelation that he was suffering from an immune deficiency. Also, he was still as behind as ever with his work; in fact, having been absent a few days at the end of the previous week and then missed class on Monday to rest in the infirmary, he had built up more make-up work. Even his class work was suffering. He wasn’t paying attention anymore; he sat listlessly at his desk, sometimes even slept. Taki had said that Naoyuki was on the verge of giving up. That was becoming more and more apparent as time passed. And yet, amidst all the negative developments, finally something positive: he was warming up to someone; he was allowing Taki in.
“Soejima, has Naoyuki opened up to you since then?” Ikeda inquires.
“Nothing’s really changed from Tuesday,” Taki replies, worriedly tightening her hands around the edge of the desk. “We walk in together, hang out at lunch, work in study hall, and walk out together. Then he goes home.” Taki frowns and clutches tighter to the edges of the desk. “He’s afraid of hurting me in some way,” she confides in Ikeda. “Ogata-senpai, the captain of the basketball team, has been getting on me for hanging out with him. Naoyuki doesn’t want to get me into any trouble, or inconvenience me in any other way. So he still keeps a little distance between us. But he has been – how do I say this? – a little more...clingy.”
“Clingy?” Ikeda asks, blinking confusedly. “Do you mean he’s troublesome?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying at all!” Taki blurts out. She calms herself and looks away from the teacher. “But..he doesn’t keep me from touching him anymore. And he touches me back. He clings onto my arm and my shirt...It’s like he’s afraid that someone will take me away from him.”
“He’s insecure,” Ikeda elaborates.
“Yeah,” Taki answers, giving a slight nod. She looks up at him, appearing concerned. “Mr. Ikeda,” she asks, “you’ve been checking up on Naoyuki, right? You’re his doctor, or something?”
“Yes, his psychiatrist.”
“Then...you’ve talked to his folks and Ikuo?”
“Yes.”
Taki clenches her fists over the desk top. “Please, you have to make his dad get off his case! He’s hurting Naoyuki so much! Naoyuki’s afraid to even be home with him! He said so... Naoyuki said he doesn’t like it at home with his dad there... He’d rather be here, with these jerk-wad students and all his school problems, than at home... Even Ikuo is... He’s been coming to school all jumpy and in tears... Even nerves-of-steel Ikuo came and cried to me,..and he never loses his cool like that...”
Ikeda’s eyes widen with surprise, then narrow in concern. “Is Ikuo being abused as well?” he thinks aloud.
“He never looks hurt, and he never says his dad has hit him,” Taki replies, “but he sees Naoyuki get beaten up,..and he said his dad fought with his mom in front of the both of them over Naoyuki’s school work or something like that...”
“I see,” Ikeda murmurs. That’s not good. Both of them are breaking... For the parents to let the boys see the worst of them – it’s no wonder Naoyuki is so insecure. After his parents suddenly vanish, like pulling the rug from underneath his feet, of course he would be afraid of losing them again – or losing anyone else, for that matter. And now that they’re all together, the boys’ home environment is falling apart right before their eyes. We have an idea of how all this is affecting Naoyuki, but his stepbrother is a huge unknown. This situation could easily get much uglier, especially with Naoyuki right in the middle of it, when he’s already a mess of emotional carnage. That poor child is going to have a meltdown one way or another if this doesn’t stop.
“Mr. Ikeda?”
Ikeda breaks out of his thoughts and looks back at Taki over his clasped hands. “Sorry,” he apologizes. “I was thinking.” He jots down the last of his notes and caps his pen, then packs everything in his briefcase. “Thank you, Soejima,” he says. “I will definitely bring up what you’ve told me when I see the Kondos on Sunday.”
Taki gets up from the desk and bows to Ikeda. “Thank you,” she says. “I’ll see you later.” With that, she quickly turns and leaves the classroom.
Ikeda heaves a deep sigh. “I don’t have much time.”
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Tapping his pencil on the kitchen table, Ikuo slumps over his papers and keeps his eyes fixed on them. It was math. He had lots of it to do. But he can’t concentrate. Where was his mother when he needed her? Out on an errand again? Something for Naoyuki? She was out late a lot these days – sometimes even until after bedtime. Ikuo hears another bang. Another scream. His father’s voice; he couldn’t quite make out the words, but the tone was cold and angry. Naoyuki was in trouble again, for whatever reason – most likely, his school work. Ikuo hears his father’s heavy footsteps through the ceiling. Another thump. Naoyuki screams long and loud. Ikuo could almost picture him lying on the floor, crying his poor heart out. Ikuo blocks his ears with his arms, taps his pencil a little louder. It’s Naoyuki’s fault for not doing his work, he thinks. Don’t even try to pop in there; it won’t do any good. Who am I kidding? Even if I wanted to, I can’t. He shudders, a little whimper escaping his lips. His legs were shaking like Jell-O. He could still hear Naoyuki’s chilling screams. He drops his pencil to put his hands over his ears. C’mon, stop. Quit it, already. That’s enough. Can’t you see that hitting him and yelling at him doesn’t help? So stop it. Stop it, already..! “Mom...! Where are you...?!” No. That’s no good either. He hits Mom too. I don’t want to see that... “This never happened before Naoyuki came here...!” he cries. “It’s all his fault...!”
Ikuo feels his father’s feet pound down the stairs and into the kitchen. He uncovers his ears and quickly wipes his eyes. “Dad,” he says shakily, “I need help with my homework – ” He stops short when he sees his father turn and glare at him. He averts his eyes nervously. “I – I...”
“Are you going to start whining, too?” his father hollers. “You should be able to do it yourself!” He stomps to the sink and starts prepping dishes and cookware.
“Th-This is new...I’ve never done it before...” Ikuo stammers, “..and I’m confused by the book.. It-It says it..weird...”
“Aren’t you paying attention in class?” his father roars. “Listen, don’t you be like your stepbrother! You be a good student and do your work, so you can get into a good school and have a good job!”
“I – I am!” Ikuo cries. “I’m paying attention, a-and my grades are good!”
His father turns around and glares at him again. “Stop whining,” he growls. “I will not tolerate anything half-cocked from you, Ikuo.”
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The next morning at school, Taki puts her things in her locker, then goes out to keep an eye peeled for the Kondo brothers, as usual. She paces around in front of the school, never straying too far from the front walk. Someone approaches her. Expecting Naoyuki, she whirls around; but it is the basketball captain who is standing before her. “Oh. Ogata, it’s you,” Taki says. “Do we have a surprise game request, or something?”
“No,” Ogata says. “Just practice, as usual.”
“Then..what is it?” Taki inquires.
“Me and the girls were talking,” Ogata explains, “and we were thinking that maybe we should add another practice to our weekly schedule. Besides, some people’s performances are starting to look a little lackluster lately.”
“Another practice day?” Taki repeats. She pauses to think about it and says, “I don’t know... I do have other things going on...”
“Like what?” Ogata suddenly snaps. “Babysitting that – !”
“Don’t even say it!” Taki yells.
“That Mute/Retard-Kondo is hanging all over you even more than before!” Ogata shouts. “What’s up with him clinging onto you like some frightened four-year-old?! It’s ridiculous the way that little retarded brat hogs your attention!”
“Naoyuki has nothing to do with my game, Ogata!” Taki yells. “So just lay off of him!”
“Ever since you got involved with that brat, your performance has dropped off! You’re obsessed with him, every minute of every day! If he’s all you can think about, then why don’t you just quit basketball for him!!”
Taki freezes for a second. “No way,” she says. “There’s no way I’d quit playing basketball.” That would make Kenta sad... “I’ll practice on my own time if I’m dragging you down that much. But I can’t add another practice. It’s a family issue.” Starting to feel the cold, Taki hugs herself for warmth. She scans the front walk. Still no Kondo brothers. I hope they’re all right... she thinks worriedly.
Ogata scowls at Taki. “Look at you. Out here with no coat, waiting on Mute/Retard-Kondo. You’re stupid, Soejima,” she spits. “He doesn’t even like anything about you but the attention you give him.”
“Naoyuki’s not like that,” Taki insists. “He’s a good kid. A sweet kid.”
“You do realize he’s, like, three or four years younger than you, right?”
“I don’t like him that way, you idiot!” Taki blurts out.
“Then why do you go so far out of your way for him?”
Taki frowns. “I just...I can’t ignore him. He’s so misunderstood..and mistreated...”
“So you pity him? Isn’t that kind of insulting to him?” Ogata asks stingingly.
“He needs help...”
“And only you can give that to him? How conceited of you.”
Taki grimaces. “That’s not how I...I just...want to be there for him...”
Ogata laughs. “Wow, Soejima! You just made my day – Who are you, and what are you doing here?”
She draws Taki’s attention to the little boy who’d come up to them. It was Ikuo. “Oh, Ikuo! Good morning...!” She notices the grim look on his face and just about melts. “Hey, what’s the matter? Did something happen?”
“Oh, I get it,” Ogata butts back in. “This must be that brat’s brother. Guess what, Kondo-number-two? I was talking to her, and you interrupted. Why don’t you get lost?”
“You get lost, Ogata!” Taki yells. “This has nothing to do with you!”
“I’m your senior, you know – !”
“Like it matters! I’m done talking to you right now! Let someone else have a turn!” Taki takes Ikuo aside to the gym door and lets him settle down there. “Hey, sorry about the basketball captain. She’s a little uppity,” she apologizes. “So what did you want to talk to me about? Is everything all right? Ikuo?”
“Well..I... I just wanted to say...” Ikuo trails off and bites his trembling lower lip. “Don’t be startled when you see my stepbrother today...” He suddenly squints his eyes shut and blurts out, “That’s all you want to hear about, right?! What happened to my stepbrother, right?! Why is it always him, when he’s the reason my dad is always yelling and my mom is always out running the streets all night?!! It’s all Naoyuki’s fault, do you hear me?! Before he came, this stuff never happened!!! I want my life back!!! Give back my mom and dad!!! I want them to see me!!!”
Dumbstruck, Taki watches Ikuo catch his breath again as tears force their way from his eyes. His body starts to shake with sobs. “I do good...but they don’t see me anymore...!” he cries. “They only see Naoyuki..!! I was just there to replace him!!” He blocks his face with his arms and tries to wipe his tears. “I miss my mom...!”
Taki kneels down and puts her hands on his shoulders. “Hey, Ikuo,” she says, “I said you could talk to me when you needed to, right? You can talk to me about you. I care about you too. And Naoyuki sees you. I’m sure your parents do, too.” She gently moves his arms away and hugs him. “Don’t worry.”
Ikuo’s tears start to subside. “I kinda get why Naoyuki likes you now,” he says. “You have a touch like a mom... He seems sensitive to that.”
Taki smiles a little. “Yeah? You seem to like it too.” Ikuo sniffles and laughs a little, and Taki lets him go. “This might be the first time I’ve actually seen you smile,” she comments.
Chuckling a little, Ikuo wipes away the remainder of his tears. “You’re weird,” he says. Then he sees that she isn’t wearing a coat. “Hey, aren’t you cold? That’s kinda dumb, walking around in the winter with no coat.”
“‘Kinda dumb’, huh?” Taki shoots back. “You’re kinda a jerk!” She gives him a playful punch on the shoulder. “Let’s go back in front and find your stepbrother,” Taki says. “All three of us can walk in together.” She takes his hand and leads him around front. The front walk was emptying out, as it was almost time for the bell to ring. “Do you know where he went after you two got dropped off this morning?”
“He usually goes in here, and I usually go down to the primary school block,” Ikuo replies. “I thought we’d’ve seen him by now.” He thinks for a little, then concludes, “Maybe he went looking for you.”
“Well you found me pretty quick,” Taki comments. “So where’d he go?”
“Taki!” Both Taki and Ikuo whirl to see Hitomi racing full-speed toward them. “Taki!” she pants as she crunches to a stop in the snow. “Ogata’s..at it again! It’s Naoyuki! She’s sicced some of the girls on Naoyuki!”
Taki bolts up the front walk and into the middle school doors. Sure enough, Ogata and some of the ninth-graders had Naoyuki cornered inside. Taki can’t tell what they were doing to him, but she knew it was nothing less than harassment. “Ogata!” she yells as she pushes her way through the crowd of gawkers. “I told you to lay off – !”
“Oh, look. It’s your guard dog come to save you,” Ogata sneers. She pushes a beaded necklace into Naoyuki’s hand. “Why don’t you go and collar her? Don’t you already have her on a leash, Mute/Retard-Kondo?”
Naoyuki throws the necklace back at her and tries to force his way out, but the ninth-graders lock him in. “What’s the matter? You don’t want to? Well, why didn’t you say so?” Ogata teases him, grabbing his arm.
“OGATA, STOP IT!” Taki shouts, pulling back a clenched fist.
Ogata shoves Naoyuki toward Taki. “Go ahead and hide behind her!” She loops the necklace around his neck before letting him fall on the floor. Naoyuki flings the necklace back off and throws it at Ogata. “Oh, so you do have a little fight in you,” Ogata snarls. “But still only enough to equal a tantrum.” She flashes a photo in front of Naoyuki’s face, and he jumps up to snatch it. “Nuh-uh! Remember our deal?”
“Give it back to him!!!” Taki yells. She snatches the picture and helps Naoyuki back to his feet. “What’s your deal?! You’re such an immature jerk!”
Ogata huffs and scowls at Naoyuki. “Stay away from Soejima, brat, if you know what’s good for you!” She finally strides away, and the ninth-graders and the gawkers break up, realizing how late it was.
Taki hands Naoyuki his photo. “Are you all right?” she asks. She gently turns him to face her and sees all the new scratches and bruises on his pale face. Ikuo told me not to be startled, she reminds herself. “Your dad again?” she inquires worriedly. “Naoyuki, you look pale. Are you feeling all right?”
Naoyuki tucks the photo into his pocket. “I’m fine,” he mutters, then proceeds to dust himself off. He looks up and sees Ikuo and Hitomi standing a few feet off. Averting his eyes from Ikuo, he walks across the floor, bends over and scrapes his belongings into his backpack.
Taki gets down to help him. “That jerk took your backpack? She pretends to be such a goodie-good, and here she’s picking on kids!” she spits. “I hate two-faced goons like that!”
Ikuo kneels down and grabs the last of Naoyuki’s papers. He walks over to Naoyuki and holds the papers out to him, his face flushing. “Here,” he says. Naoyuki hesitantly takes them from Ikuo and puts them in his bag. “What was all that about, anyway? Did that girl want something from you?”
“Guys, the bell rings in about a minute,” Hitomi speaks up.
“Naoyuki, go with Ikuo,” Taki tells him.
The two stepbrothers exchange questioning glances, then turn and walk away down the hallway together.
