The Nail That Sticks Out

Chapter Six: Freedom

Kai Fukuda

I was stunned when a particular body all but crashed into the equipment in my hands. Stunned by the collision. The shattering of glass.

Fuck, she's beautiful. 

Her dark waves fell in cascades around her head. Her black tank top covered her chest and her head covered most of it but I knew I'd see more if I tilted her head up just an inch. 

When my eyes snapped to her hands that were picking up pieces of glass, some sort of anger came over me. It pissed me off. 

So I did it myself. Took everything in me not to look up while I was at it, but I failed miserably when I heard her gasp as I tended to the small drop of blood on my finger. 

Christ. I finally got to see them. Her eyes.

For how pure and innocent she looked, I would have never expected a shade so dark. Flecks of grey glistened against the deep black and if I looked close enough I could see the reflection of her lashes. An unsettling feeling grew in my chest and I want nothing to do with it. 

I realized I had been staring too long when I suddenly remembered that this girl probably wants to stab me in the eyes after the shit I pulled on Friday night. Glass shards were conveniently available to her, too. 

Then I realized this girl had no clue who I was.

Something inside me wanted to test the limits with her. Toy with her. She was like a mysterious box that had been placed at my doorstep after years of living the same routine. The world was finally giving me something different. Something interesting.

Olivia.

Her name was written carefully on the righthand corner of her schedule in feminine handwriting. 

I say her name in my head now as I carry the broken beakers to the trash bin in Dr. Davis' office. It suites her, I realize. It's a name that sounds dark and yet somehow cute. It's not a Japanese name, that's for sure. So is she Japanese or not?

I want to know more. 

I grab a few extra beakers from the office and make a mental note to order some more. I head into room 120 where Dr. Davis is. Where Olivia is.

"Perfect timing, son," Dr. Davis grins. He's an old guy in his mid-60s, but if it weren't for his physique and wrinkles, no one would have guessed. The guy acts like a kid. A curious, passionate kid that obsesses over science a little too much. 

He grabs the tray out of my hands and sets them on the table. 

"In the next two weeks, we'll be here in the lab on Tuesdays and Fridays," he explains. "Then we'll do one week of lectures which normally we're supposed to do in the hall, but since we have a small class I might just host it here. More comfortable that way, eh?"

My eyes scan the classroom of nearly forty students. I don't miss the way most of them eye me with curiosity. When a familiar head of dark, wavy hair greets me, I can't help but stare.

Her eyes are glued to the notebook on her desk, her small fingers gripping her pen. Something about the way she sits on the circular table at the front corner of the room tells me she's not the type of student that would doze off in class. Yet, she definitely doesn't seem like the type that would want to be called on for questions. A clever and quiet girl. 

"Oh! How rude of me," Dr. Davis jumps and grips my shoulder. "This is Kai Fukuda. He's been my research and lab assistant for three years-"

"Two," I correct.

"My apologies. I'm a little old, if you haven't noticed," he lets out a boisterous laugh. "Two years! My research and lab assistant for two years. Yes. Please be kind to him, yada yada yada, now let's get on with our first lecture of the semester. I know some of you expected an easy first day of going through the syllabus, but you'll come to learn that I'm much too keen on teaching you the content to waste a full period on silly formalities."

I hear a couple groans but my eyes are trained on the dark haired beauty. Her gaze is still fixed on her notebook, but if I'm not hallucinating, I'm pretty sure I caught a small smile. 

I've been at this job long enough to know that he won't be needing much of me for today's lecture, so I leave the room to go back to the office to order the beakers. The thought brings up the image of Olivia, staring at me wide-eyed while I picked up the broken beakers from earlier. Her full lips were parted and there was something remarkably sexy about them. 

My thoughts are interrupted by a buzz in my pocket. 

Satsuki Shimizu: Kai-kun, konnban hima? (Kai, are you free tonight?).

It turns out the chick from the convenience store, Satsuki, was two years older and was already working as an OL at a trading company. I've had my fair share of ladies that were older, but I wouldn't have guessed with her looks that she was my senpai*. I enjoyed the night. I always do when the opposition knows what she wants in bed. 

Kai Fukuda: Baito no ato wa nanimo- (nothing after my work-).

I pause. Technically, she is older, so I guess I'd have to speak in keigo*? I mean, I don't know how this shit works. I don't normally keep in contact with the girls I sleep with but even I'm a man enough to admit I'd like to fuck her again. My dick twitches at the memory of last night. 

I hit backspace. 

Kai Fukuda: Shichi ji kara juuni ji wa baito. Sono ato wa tokuni nanimo arimasen. (I will be working from seven to twelve. I have nothing to do in particular after that).

I hit send and mentally kick myself in the balls. Like I said, this isn't normal. I make every effort not to stick around with a girl after I've had my time with them. I learned the hard way that it only gives them false hope for something more--something I can't offer. When you've been floating around for as long as I have, freedom becomes the most important thing to you. And I would do fucking anything to keep the freedom I have. 

Satsuki wasn't looking for something more. Other girls have said the same shit. I'm not looking to settle. Sefure de iiyo (we can just be friends with benefits). How many times have I heard that in the past? How many times have these girls turned out to hate me for my lust towards other women and lack of affection?

But Satsuki was...different. It almost scared me the way she got up after I came, slipped into her clothes and sat at the foot of the bed. She looked back at me with a coy smile, asked if I wanted her number. If I wanted her number. I was dumbfounded, not knowing how to respond so I just rattled off my number to her instead.

My phone buzzes.

Satsuki Shimizu: Osoi ne. Demo yokattara uchi ni kitemo iiyo. (That's pretty late. But if you want, you're welcome to come over to mine). 

Should I? I check my watch to find that I should be leaving to change for work soon. I quickly order the beakers and leave Dr. Davis' office. On the way out, I realize his lecture must have ended as students pour out the classroom. The last to leave is Olivia. Oblivious to my presence, she walks the opposite direction and I find myself feeling disappointed. 

I send a text to Satsuki, telling her I'll be there after work.

A/N:

*Senpai: an older figure or a person who is more experienced/higher in rank.

*Keigo: respectful language used in Japan by a younger/lower ranking figure towards a senpai.

Fun fact: Japanese was my first language but I completely switched to English when I was five, so now I don't know how to speak in Keigo. It has put a ton of pressure on me in the past, when I had to address a senpai. I always felt like I wasn't being polite enough or I was being judged for my lack of respect. Tough culture.

Happy reading!