Chapter 13
The usual routine begins anew the next day: Naoyuki wakes up early, gets ready, eats breakfast. Shizuyo waits for him at the door by the time he trudges toward the foyer to slip on his shoes. “Ready to go?” she asks gently. Naoyuki nods absent-mindedly and follows his caretaker out to the car. Shizuyo and Naoyuki climb in and belt up, then Shizuyo backs out of the driveway and takes off down the street. In only a matter of minutes, they arrive at Naoyuki’s school. “I’ll be here to pick you up after school,” Shizuyo says, glancing back at Naoyuki, “so look for the car.” She reaches back and props Naoyuki’s chin up on her fingers. “Cheer up, okay? We’ll figure something out.” She watches him unlock the door and open it up. “I’ll see you later,” she says as Naoyuki slides out on to the sidewalk.
Naoyuki hears the car drive off as he trudges up the walkway. “Cheer up,” she says, he thinks bitterly. She doesn’t get it at all. She keeps saying it’ll all work out, I’ll get to see my parents, and things will go back to normal. Yeah right. She’s been telling me that for three years, and nothing’s ever come of it. I’m sick of her empty promises.
“Naoyuki!” Haruko and Kotaro come rushing excitedly up to their friend. “You’re finally back!” Haruko greets him. “We’re so glad!” Her smile melts when she sees the apathetic look on Naoyuki’s face. “What’s wrong?” she asks.
“Left your newfound smile at home, or something?” Kotaro jests.
Naoyuki sidesteps them and continues up the walkway. “Naoyuki!” Haruko calls after him. “Come back!” Kotaro grabs her arm and holds her back. “Naoyuki!!” Haruko calls again. Naoyuki disappears into the school. “What’s wrong...?” Haruko trails off. “Why is he mad at us?”
Kotaro frowns. “I guess we’ll just have to find out.”
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The lunchroom fills with noisy children as the bell rings. Haruko and Kotaro scan the tables to see if they can spot Naoyuki. “He’s been avoiding us again,” Kotaro murmurs. “I wonder if we should just leave him alone, if that’s what he wants anyway.”
“I don’t know,” Haruko says. “He’s acting strange. Maybe something’s wrong.”
Kotaro points to a table off in a corner of the lunchroom where few people were sitting. “There he is.” Kotaro leads Haruko down the aisles until they reach the table. Sure enough, Naoyuki is sitting alone at the far end. “Hey,” Kotaro greets him. He takes a seat on the opposite side of the table, and Haruko sits next to Naoyuki. “How’s it going?” Kotaro asks, trying to break the ice.
Naoyuki doesn’t look at him or even give him so much as a nod. “Did you have a good morning?” Kotaro asks. He still gets nothing out of Naoyuki. “What’s up with you?!” Kotaro cries. “Why are you ignoring us?!”
“Naoyuki...” When Haruko reaches out to touch Naoyuki’s shoulder, he completely flies off the handle. Screaming, Naoyuki shoves Haruko away and slaps her face.
Kotaro bolts up from the bench. “HEY!” he yells. Naoyuki suddenly stops himself and starts choking down sobs. He jumps up from the table and takes off down the aisle.
“Naoyuki!” Haruko calls as she jumps up to chase him. She runs down the aisle and out of the lunchroom doors to find Naoyuki sitting outside crying. She cautiously approaches him and asks, “What’s wrong? Why are you upset with us?” She waits a minute before inching a step closer and kneeling in front of him. “Did we do something wrong?”
Naoyuki suddenly jumps up and throws himself against her, clutching on to her shoulder. “I’m sorry!” he sobs. “I’m sorry...”
Utterly dumbstruck, Haruko lets him give vent to his grief and cautiously puts her arms around him in an embrace. Finally, she replies, “It’s okay. Please don’t cry anymore.” Naoyuki’s sobbing slowly subsides. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him act like this. What could he be so upset about? Haruko wonders. Then again, maybe it’s best not to bring it up; that would only make it worse for him. Once Naoyuki finally stops crying, Haruko says, “Come on, let’s go eat before lunch is over.” Naoyuki wipes the tears from his eyes, then gets up to follow Haruko back into the lunchroom.
