"Hhaa!" Youji gasped, his eyes flashing open. He breathed deep a few times.
A dream. A nightmare. All gone now.
Slowly he began to explore his surroundings. The air in his room felt cool and fresh, and he noted that the window was open. He felt tons better than before, although somewhat numb and weak. His muscles ached as if he hadn't used them for weeks. The alarm clock on the nightstand told him that it was 6.27 PM. He felt so much better that he tried carefully if he could sit up. To his amazement, he could. The wound had been taken care of and didn't hurt near as much as it had before. He even noticed some bandaids which had been carefully put on his minor bruises. It was only then that he noticed that his bloody jeans were gone and he was wearing only his boxers.
He didn't have the time to wonder who had undressed him when Ken called his name from behind the door.
"Awake yet, Youji?"
Youji cleared his throat and wished for a glass of water.
"Yeah", he answered, his voice a bit raspy in his throat, "c'mon in."
Ken entered the room, wearing a t-shirt, shorts and trainers, with a football under his arm.
"Hey, you ARE awake at last! You've conveniently slept through the Valentine's Day. And the busy day following it, for which we won't forgive you for some time."
"Huh? That long?" Youji scratched his messy hair.
No wonder I feel so knocked out...
"Aa. I guess Omi can be held responsible for that, he said he gave you some sleeping pills."
"Oh", Youji nodded; the reply sounded stupid to his ears.
He yawned and scratched his sleep-tussled hair.
Ken bit his upper lip and looked around him, somewhat nervously.
"We, uh, just closed the shop for today. I just wanted to check if you're okay before I'm on my way. There will be no one around for a while."
"So where is everybody?" Youji asked.
Ken shrugged and shook his head with an apologetic smile.
"Aya has gone where Aya has gone. You know him. He just disappeared after our shift."
"There ARE other people in this house than Fujimiya Aya", Youji reminded him, quirking an eyebrow.
"N-nani?" Ken blinked, not knowing how to take that comment.
"Dammit, Ken, do I have to spell it out for you? Where's Omi?"
Ken threw the football to the air and catched it again.
"Oh! He went off earlier. I dunno, maybe he went to buy some new parts for his computer or something."
Youji nodded and yawned again. Then he promptly pushed away the comforter and checked if he could at least limp. His left leg didn't feel like it would support his weight anytime soon, but he had to at least try to move a little. For one, he needed clothes.
"You, uh, need help?" Ken asked.
Youji shook his head; he had his pride to consider, and besides, he could limp just fine on his own. He made his way to the closet and started to rummage through his big collection of jeans.
"Say, what happened to the pants you wear during missions?" Ken inquired, suddenly curious.
"You mean you weren't the one to take them off of me?"
Youji gave him a look and chose a pair of scruffy, black stonewashed jeans that weren't as tight as his usual taste allowed.
"Gee, I sure wish I get them back. Even if they were a bit cut."
He shot an evil smirk towards Ken.
"What do you think Aya would say if I asked him if he's seen my pants?"
"Why are you always being so mean to Aya-kun? I mean, it isn't like he's ever done anything to you!" Ken frowned, his voice rising.
Youji looked at him and heaved a sigh as he buttoned up his pants.
"The guy's a stiffneck."
He snickered, the old Youji slowly starting to awaken again.
"I have nothing against him, but he really should try living for a change."
Ken humphed.
Maybe Omi should have pumped some more sleeping pills in him.
"Hey, THIS is critical! I don't have any clean shirts!" Youji observed, changing the subject.
"That's because YOU were supposed to fill the washing machine the day before yesterday. Omi-kun volunteered to do it this morning, otherwise none of us would have any clean clothes."
"Damn", Youji growled, ignoring Ken's remark. "Damn, damn, damn."
"Well, if it bothers you so much, you could always borrow one of my shirts."
Youji looked at him as if he had gone mad.
"Me, borrow clothes from you? The day the hell freezes over."
Ken shrugged.
"Saa, I really must be going now. The kids are waiting for me."
"Yeah, have fun. Frolic around on the green fake grass and run briskly after the ball. I'll go back to bed."
Youji sighed melodramatically.
"I'll just lie there, not even properly dressed, and feel sorry for myself."
"Gambare", Ken snickered, and left the room with a quick "Ja".
Youji thought for a moment. Actually he didn't want to get anywhere close to the bed, more than anything he just wanted to get the hell out of the house. Which apparently wasn't an option right now. I guess I'll have to settle for downstairs. He finally made the painful decision to put on a plain t-shirt. Of course not all the clothes he owned were in the laundry; only his favourites. There wouldn't probably be room for all his shirts in the washing machine. Youji prided himself for his excellent fashion sense, which was why he really didn't want to be seen in public wearing a plain t-shirt and scruffy jeans. The thought alone made him feel uncomfortable.
Oh well, it isn't like I'm getting out of the house anytime soon, so whatta heck...
First, he wanted to take a long shower, so he threw the t-shirt and a towel on his shoulder and headed towards the bathroom. He let the cold water rinse his tensed body, careful not to let the bindings on the wound get wet. Youji finally felt he was back to normal when he had shaved, brushed his teeth and tied his still damp hair on his usual ponytail. He grinned widely at his reflection in the mirror. Maybe it would be good to spend a little time indoors, anyway. He had hardly even slept a night in his own bed during the last few weeks. Well, there HAD been Sakaki's birthday party, which he just couldn't miss, and there he had met some really nice people who had just moved in Tokyo. When they asked him to show them the city, how could he possibly refuse?
Youji returned to his room to pick up his cigarettes and headed downstairs. A cup of coffee sounded like a good idea. He cursed his leg a few times, but managed to hop downstairs, balancing mostly on one foot.
He had just sat down to smoke a cigarette while the coffee brewed when he heard the door open and close.
"Who's it?" he called.
"It's just me, Youji-kun!" Omi chimed, appearing in the doorway with a bundle in his arms.
Youji gave him a sloppy smile.
"Youji-kun, did you come downstairs all on your own? That was careless, your wounds are still healing!" Omi reminded him, putting his burden on a chair and pouting.
Youji leaned back in his chair and put his bare feet on the table.
"Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Though I don't remember ever being this hungry. How about some lunch, ne boya?"
As he had predicted, Omi's pout turned into a bright smile and he nodded eagerly.
"Want to order a pizza?" Youji asked.
"Dame yo! You need some real food! It's not good to eat fast food right after you've been sick!" Omi lectured, but with his usual playful tone.
Youji threw his hands in the air.
"Well, I'm conveniently handicapped for now, so I think you will have to go grocery shopping. Our food supplies consist of instant ramen and a few bottles of beer."
Omi rolled his eyes and left the room with his buyings.
However, he was determined that Youji did need something proper to eat now that he finally was up again, so he returned soon afterwards and peeked in their 'lunchmoney' box. It had been Ken's idea; that since they all shared the apartment, they could also share the fridge. Truthfully they were all fed up with having to stick notes on the food products to indicate which was theirs. After a few fights over unnamed sake bottles Ken had put a box next to the microwave and stated that from now on, they would all put their food money in it, and whenever they needed food, they could buy it with the money in the box. It had worked out pretty well. Now the only thing they actually had to worry about was cooking turns.
Youji was finishing his coffee. He glanced over at Omi.
"So. What's on the menu?"
"Dunno. I think I'll improvise", Omi shrugged happily, tucking some yen notes in his pockets and heading to the front door.
He put on his sneakers, said "bai bai" and left.
Youji found himself smiling again. Omi's presence just put him instantly in a good mood. The kid was so full of life and always considerate towards others. Normally, Youji didn't like being around high school kids. First of all, they made him feel old, and second, he found it impossible to relate to them. The mere idea of actually discussing something more serious than a flower delivery with the H. S. girls that swarmed around the Ko-neko no Sumu Ie seemed ridiculous.
I wonder if I'm just getting old? Youji sighed to himself and lit up a cigarette. He took a long drag and snickered.
Nah.
Someone knocked on the door.
Youji hauled his feet back on the floor and shouted, "Did you forget your keys, Omi?"
No answer. He sighed, got up and limped to the door to open it.
"K-konban wa", said a black-haired girl in a H. S. uniform hesitantly, looking at her feet.
"How did you get in?" Youji asked, knitting his brows.
To get directly to the door of their apartment, one would have to go through the flowershop. That was why there was a buzzer on the door. But right now the Ko-neko was closed.
"Sumimasen... the shop door was open so I thought..." the girl blushed.
She was hiding something behind her back.
"Okay. Don't sweat it. Omi must've left it open", Youji smiled reassuringly. "What are you here for?"
The girl looked up at Youji and drew a deep breath.
"I'm Otake Hanayo. My little sister came here the day before yesterday... to get flowers for me."
Now that Youji knew who the girl was, he kicked himself for not realising sooner. Hanayo looked immensely like her little sister. He automatically put on the smile he used while dealing with customers, the smile which usually made the H.S. girls double the number of flowers they were buying.
"Ah, you're that little girl's oneesan? Well, how did the flowers work?"
"Actually... they're the reason why I'm here", Hanayo said hesitantly. "I understood - that Omi-san lives here?"
Youji couldn't help grinning. Sometimes he was just too good.
"Yes, he does", he nodded casually. "D'you want me to give him the flowers for you?"
Hanayo blinked, and smiled for the first time. She was actually very pretty when her face lit up somewhat, Youji observed.
"I would like that very much, arigatou gozaimasu!" she beamed and shoved the flowers to Youji's hands.
Then she turned around and ran off before Youji could utter a word.
Youji closed the door and leaned against it, heaving a sigh.
What are we gonna do when they start buzzing around the place even when the shop is closed?
He looked at the flowers which he had himself picked a few days ago and hmphed, throwing them on the kitchen table.
Just then he felt someone trying to push the door open and moved away from the doorway.
"Oh, I see you're finally on your feet", Aya commented as he entered the room with a paper bag in his hands.
"In a manner of speaking, yes", Youji grinned, "though my other leg might disagree with that statement."
He watched as Aya put his bag on the kitchen table.
"Don't tell me you went grocery shopping too?" Youji moaned, slapping a hand on his forehead.
Aya gave him a weird look as he took off his coat.
"It happens that we don't have practically anything in the fridge. And stop smoking in the kitchen."
"Omi just went off to buy some food, too", Youji said, a crooked smile on his face.
Aya sighed and started to fill the refridgerator with his buyings.
"Maybe it isn't such a disaster. I didn't buy all that much, anyway."
Youji stumped his cigarette and peeked in the fridge over Aya's shoulder.
"Hey, are you planning a gourmet dinner or something? Those little tomatoes are really expensive! And so's that - "
"I'm not, Ken wrote the list", Aya interrupted him and closed the fridge door.
Youji knit his brows.
"Don't tell me he's trying to cook something again..."
"I'm back!" Omi announced as he threw the door open. "Oh, Aya-kun! You're here, too! Are you hungry? I'm gonna cook dinner tonight!"
"Then you will have to discuss it with Ken. He has also planned to cook tonight", Aya informed him.
"Mou!" Omi said, knitting his brows and stomping his foot for emphasis.
"I should've known", Aya rolled his eyes, throwing his hands in the air.
"Either no one cooks, or everyone wants to try their culinary skills at the same time."
Omi scratched the back of his other leg with the other.
"Well, if Ken-kun doesn't come back soon, I will start cooking without asking him! We're hungry, we can't wait around for him, right, Youji-kun?"
He raised his gaze to meet Youji, and found a strange expression on his face. Youji blinked and straightened his back, and it was gone.
"Say what?" he asked.
Truth to tell, he had stared at Omi without even realising it. He was glad the boy apparently hadn't noticed. If he had asked what he was looking at, Youji wouldn't have known what to say to him.
Because I don't know the answer myself...
"Oh, never mind", Omi heaved a sigh.
Then he noticed the flowers on the kitchen table.
"YOUJI-KUN! Did you bring flowers in the kitchen? They'll be making a mess!"
"They're your flowers, not mine", Youji pointed out.
Omi blinked.
"Why did you bring me flowers?"
If this was a manga, Youji thought to himself, I would probably sweatdrop right now.
"Your girlfriend stopped by and was too damn shy to give them to you herself", he ground out.
He didn't like the fact that Aya was looking at him suspiciously. On the other hand, Omi didn't seem to mind. The honey-haired boy frowned at Youji's explanation.
"I don't have a girlfriend, Youji-kun, you know that."
"Do I now", Youji teased him.
"Hi guys", said Ken as he burst in the room, letting the football fall from his hands only to kick it back up again.
He brought with him a scent of fresh grass and shower gel.
"For the hundredth time, leave the ball outside", Aya ordered, holding his head. He started murmuring mostly to himself, "Why do I even bother cleaning the kitchen when you have to bring in flowers and muddy footballs? And Ken, do you have to bring in mud and grass with your dirty training shoes?"
"Tough day, huh?" Ken gave everyone in the room a collective glance.
He took off his training shoes and put them obediently in the closet.
"Look, Aya, I'm putting them in the closet, see? Happy now?"
Aya grunted.
"I'm starving!" Ken exclaimed, opening the fridge door. "Oh good, you brought everything on the list. I feel creative today, so I'm gonna cook dinner."
"But I was gonna cook something, too", Omi protested.
"Well heck, we can make dinner together", Ken shrugged carelessly as he took a bottle of coke from the fridge and poured some in a glass.
Aya and Youji sighed in relief.
Ken gulped down the coke and chuckled, noticing the flowers.
"Work followed us home?"
"Youji brought them here", Aya said, turning to look at Youji as if to say 'and he's going to take them out, too'.
"I did not, Omi's girlfriend did!" Youji protested.
"I don't HAVE a girlfriend!" Omi stomped his foot.
"Does the name Otake Hanayo ring a bell?"
Omi went silent, and Youji didn't miss the opportunity to continue teasing him mercilessly.
"Nice try, Omittchi..."
Aya left the room, not explaining himself as usually.
"Otake-san is just a girl on my class", Omi tried.
"That much I know", Youji shrugged.
"Can't we just drop the topic, ne?" Omi sighed.
Ken straightened up and clapped his hands together.
"So! Do you still want to help me, Omi-kun? Because my stomach can't wait much longer."
Omi's gaze wandered around for a while, then he hesitantly answered, "No - you can do it, Ken-kun. I have some schoolwork to do."
With that, he left the kitchen.
"Now what did I say?" Youji wondered aloud, scratching the back of his head.
"Maybe he just wants some solitude for a change", Ken shrugged, piling the food products on the table. "Or maybe you hit too close to the truth."
Youji looked at him, furrowing his brows. Had he really? For some reason, the thought worried him.