The Nail That Sticks Out

Chapter Eleven: Positions

Olivia Mei Sasaki

"Hello!"

"Hello," I reply.

"Hello!" KooKoo repeats.

Stupid parrot.

He flies off my grandpa's shoulder and settles on top of his cage before digging his beak into his feathers.

"Mei-chan hai, tabete." My grandma hands me a bowl of udon. (Here you go Mei, eat).

I happily take it and the enticing aroma hits me hard.

"Well?" Grandpa asks, leaning back in his chair. "Tell me all about school, kiddo."

"There's not much to tell," I say through a mouthful of noodles. "I'm taking six courses. Advanced Statistics, Human Anatomy, Molecular Cell Biology-"

"Kid, I'm proud" he interrupts with his hands up. "But come on, you're putting your poor old man to sleep. Gimme something good, something interesting."

Interesting? I think about the events of last night, sneaking a guy into my all-girls dormitory and then shopping with a man I barely know in the middle of the night.

"My Anatomy professor's quite interesting," I offer.

My grandpa looks less than impressed.

"Sweetheart, I know you haven't exactly gotten used to Tokyo. You miss San Francisco, I get it. I miss that dump of a place too. But hey, I found your Obaa, and you know what? I'd happily stay here till the day I die. I only wish you'd meet a person like that for yourself," he says, looking over fondly at my grandma who's busy boiling more udon.

"I'm nineteen, I don't exactly need a life partner right now," I mutter.

"Heck no, honey, I meant a friend, as in I want you to make some friends here." His thick brows furrow. "I'd better be dead first if you decide to get all romantic with some rascal."

I snort and finish my soup before standing to grab seconds. I consider his words. It's not like I don't have friends here. I talk to Noah. I've spoken to Nami. There's also that girl I miserably approached once. There's also Kai, but he's not exactly a friend.

He took you home.

But it was late, so it makes sense that he would.

He offered to buy you a pair of shoes.

He owes me.

He said he'd show you more.

What the hell does that even mean?

I let out a frustrated groan as I return the ladle to the pot and plop back in my seat.

"Hello!"

"Shut up, KooKoo."

***

The floor-to-ceiling windows at Waseda's cafeteria show off the vibrant colors of autumn leaves, the breeze coming in from one end of the open building and out through the other. 

I dig into the teishoku*, remembering the glop of cream pasta and questionable chicken nuggets I used to have in middle school back in San Francisco.

I'm in the middle of enjoying my miso soup when I hear the loud dragging of chairs.

I look up and to my surprise, Noah and a not-so-happy Nami place their lunch on the table.

"Uh, hey?" I greet, glancing between the two.

"Olivia-chan," Noah winks. Nami just rolls her eyes and stabs into her vegetables.

"Baby girl, what do we say when someone does something nice?" Noah chides, nudging Nami with his elbow.