The Nail That Sticks Out

Chapter Four: Conversations

Olivia Mei Sasaki

My body jerks at the sound of my alarm. 

I curse and roll onto my back and in the process, fall face-first on the floor. 

What the hell? 

My alarm keeps ringing and I feel like punching someone. 

One thing at a time, Olivia.

I drag myself to my knees, kicking at the tangled mess of my blanket and reach over to shut off the alarm. It takes me a second to calm my pounding head and I open my eyes to look around. 

Right. I'm back in Tokyo and I've got a bed the size of a park bench. 

Oh, and no. There is no gym or lounge at this piece-of-shit dormitory. 

I rub my heavy eyelids and get up, doing my bed out of muscle memory. It's been four nights since I got back from San Francisco and I still wake up thinking I'm in the comfort of Sohpia's queen-sized bed. At this point I should have just stayed at my grandparents' place.

I grab my toiletries and head down to the basement. I remember freaking out the first morning I saw another girl in the shower room, fully naked. Apparently the showers aren't stalls. Just one giant room with eight shower heads and seats under each one. Just like an onsen*, but without the steaming hot baths. I can't say that I'm used to it. Not one bit. 

So I decided on waking up at five every morning to use the showers, when no one else would be using them. Not used to waking up that early either, but I'd rather not share a room with a bunch of other girls in their birthday suits, thank you very much. 

I slip out of my clothes and place them in the lockers before stepping into the shower room. As expected, I'm the only one. 

I take my time scrubbing my hair and allow the piping hot water to beat down my back. I thought it was weird, at first, to be sitting and showering but I've grown to like it. I shut off the water and stare at myself in the mirror in front of me. 

Damn it, my eyes are puffy. Stupid tears. I erase the memory of my weak moment last night. Crying over being lonely? What am I, five?

By the time I'm back in my room, I still have a full hour before I need to head out for classes. I pack my hideous puffy eyelids and dark eye bags with as much concealer they need for me to look presentable. I admit that I was a little excited for my first day in university yesterday, so I did put a little effort into my makeup. Today, not so much. 

I wear my usual tank and jeans and sling my bag over my shoulder before leaving my room. It's way too early, so I take my time walking to the train station, stopping at a convenience store to grab a rice ball and coffee. 

Just as I leave the store, I notice a familiar head of braids walking down the same road. It's the haafu from Friday. This time, she's wearing a red halter top that hugs her petite hourglass figure with a black skirt, short like the purple one she had on the other day. I don't miss the backpack that's casually slung over her shoulder. 

Does she go to university? Or...is she in high school?

I dismiss the thought and follow the path to the station. I walk a few feet behind her and in an awkward moment, I realize she's heading the same way. 

When we end up getting off at the same stop, I grow even more uncomfortable.

I startle when she suddenly turns on her heel and scowls directly at me.

"Are you following me?"

"What?" I splutter. "No, I-"

"You're that chick that was standing outside my dorm on Friday," she says a-matter-of-factly.