The Song of the Sakura Tree - 9

Evening came after the wonderful day of my life, I could hardly keep up with its happiness 'cause I'm so, so, SO GLAD. I was in very high spirits that I didn't even realize that my older brother and his wife were already knocking at my door. I stopped daydreaming and heard them calling, "Arika- chan! Arika!" My sister-in- law, Haruka, even called me, "Arika- ochibi-chan!" Haha, nice one, sister, but I'm not much of a kiddo anymore.

I stumbled on my seat as I stood and rushed to the door. I opened to them and I was greeted by the scent of groceries- hey, I can smell wine. What's that for? I breathed it all in before greeting my brother and his wife. "Ah, ano, konbanwa!" They went in and followed me to the living room. But Haruka- san went to the kitchen.

"So, imouto-chan," my brother, Yonaga, said. "How're things doing here?"

"Just swell." I alleged. I heard someone cooking in the kitchen. "Is Haruka- san cooking for us?"

"Yup." My brother nodded. "She's gonna make some okonomiyaki, gyudon, tempura, and sashimi."

"Whoa." I could already hear my stomach grumbling. "She's going to make a... lot."

Again, my brother nodded as he reached for a newspaper to read. I grabbed the book I was reading, "The Alchemist by Peter Coelho," the one I borrowed in the library, and started flipping through where I was since last night. When I was on the fifth page of the fifth chapter, my brother spoke, and he said, "By the way, Arika, Haruka and I are going to move to America by next week."

I nodded, I knew of their plans already. "Oh, yeah, that's great. So?"

My brother retired from reading the newspaper and looked at me straightforwardly. I imitated him as I closed the book I was reading. (I'm gonna make sure I remember I'm already on the fifteenth page. Whoa, that was ten pages from before.) I could sense that there would be a serious topic to be discussed over the meals.

"We'll talk about that after dinner." He told me, and got up from where he seated. I also followed; though felt unsure what this topic might lead us on to.

"Arika! Yonaga!" Haruka called. "Dinner's ready!"

We both went to the dining room and sat while we waited for Haruka.

Haruka served us food like a proper maiden and housewife. As she passed by, my brother kissed her hand and poor Haruka blushed so hard. My eyes grew wider when my brother said, in perfect English- they've been studying English since they're moving there, "Haruka, thine love, speak thou art love for me." And Haruka replied, "To thou kiss I shalt submit, to thou love I shalt remit; to thou I shalt only breathe; For thou art the only one in the whole world... I shalt love."

I admit this was too much for me. They both love Shakespeare after all. But those lines, does not come from Shakespeare. I could feel it. It's theirs.

So after those three-minute testimonials or whatever, supper took place. We all took a bite on tempura first and it tasted good.

"Honey, you really cook well." My brother said to his wife. "It tastes so good."

I tried the okonomiyaki and I felt its warm flavor swell in my mouth and under as it went through my throat and swallowed it.

"Tabe mono wa oishii desu! (This food tastes great!)" I cheered. It does really. My brother and his wife both looked at me and smiled at my delight. "Glad you like it, Arika." Haruka bowed. "Arigato." I returned the favor and bowed as I said, "Doomo."

"What do you want from me, Yamazaki- senpai?" Yuzora asked. Soichiro paced towards her from where he stood beneath the Sakura tree. He grinned at her first, but then his smile turned to a frown. Then he spoke, looking at her directly, "It's something about yesterday. You see, I want to apologize for barging in... when you guys were telling Arika about the truth. I couldn't help but go in, and fill you in some facts... especially since all, everywhere, in school are talking about it, and that your friend is 'in' the babbles. I'm afraid to tell you that, it all started when Hirojo broke up with Arika and started going out with Akiko, was the beginning of this entire ruckus. All events regarding from who almost stole Kimiko's jewelry box, video-taped the scandal of Hirojo and Akiko, and-"

"I don't mean to interrupt, but, could you SIMPLIFY it? You know, make it simple? So I can get it?" Yuzora said, cutting him short. "And what are you REALLY telling me?"

Soichiro sighed, but he gave her a smile that almost made Yuzora's heart melt. He giggled, and then continued in a plainer manner, "What I'm trying to tell you is, that someone is doing all these things behind our backs, and that if that someone will not be stopped, things will probably get from worse to worst than before."

Yuzora stared at him as if he was nuts, but then got serious as she reconsidered all things he said. She closed her eyes and thought for a moment. When she reached the end of her train of thought, she opened her eyes and looked at Soichiro long and straight. Then she asked, "Yamazaki- senpai, from the information you have gathered, do you think it's someone close to us? Really close?"

He beamed at her intelligence and told her, "Yes, you got it. Exactly." Then he looked away from her and breathed before saying, "But the problem is, we don't know who that person is."

Yuzora looked down, depressed. "I wish," Yuzora said, silently. "That whoever that person is, he/she better stop it." Then she cupped her fists until it went white and pale before muttering angrily, "Or else, I'll knock them down with my fists."

Soichiro stared back at her and smiled. Then he patted her head. Yuzora didn't get mad or what, but she felt unsure of what she was feeling for her senpai. She just turned red for that matter. Soichiro giggled at her reaction and said, "Don't get so mad, you'll get ugly." To this, at first, she felt irritated, but then she smirked, and jeered together with him.

"So," I said. "What do you want to tell me?"

My brother and his ever honest wife stopped eating their gyudons to look at me. Haruka gazed at his husband and then he nodded. My brother took his napkin and wiped his mouth before telling me, "Oh, about that. It's something about the America thing." I nodded.

"Yeah, so what about it?"

"Well, we were thinking... are you really okay here all by yourself?"

"Bro, I told you that, I'm FINE. I'm okay. In fact, I'm used to it."

My sister- in- law frowned and looked saddened by this. She might have thought that I felt so alone. Well, I was. Was, okay, was! Not again, this time.

"I mean, our money's more than enough for the two of us, we could take you with us."

"Right," I pouted. "I'll just think about it. Okay?"

"Sure."

After that, things just seemed like a buzz in the wind. We finished dinner, fixed the table and talked about stuff they're planning to take to America. Moments later, they went off. I was left alone again. Maybe Haruka is right about my being alone at home, but not at school. I got a lot of friends, Yuzora, Kimiko, Kiro, Meika and a lot of others. I also got a new boyfriend, Raiden. I got my phone to see if I've got mail. Oh dear, I think I've got a message from him.

Oh, I did.

I opened my phone and entered his mail. In his message, he wrote:

"Hey, Arika- chan, would you mind if I fetch you tomorrow?"

I smiled at the words, and replied to him:

"Sure! What time, then?"

After two minutes, he said:

"Oh, fine then! I'll pass by 6? Okay with you?"

This time, I laughed from the magazine I was reading, and texted him:

"Of course! Can't wait already! P.S. - ILY"

After that message, he called me. At first, he was giggling, aw... what a cute laugh. Then he told me, "I like you, too, Arika."

I blushed harder, harder, even though he wasn't there. It's like I could imagine him looking at me with those gorgeous hazel eyes.

For the rest of the night, we just talked about random and funny things. And that, I guess, could be one of the best moments after my life.

Before I realized what was really going on.

To the Management: Thank you very much for your consideration.