Lighter | Noriaki Kakyoin

10| No Problem

Almost a week has passed since Pol Pol Land, and the time has come for all of us students to desperately cram together.

As exams were closing in, I offered to help the boys study to make up for the classes they'd lost. Usually, Chiyoko, Semi, and I would help each other, but he's been putting an effort into ignoring me. If he expects me to come crawling back and apologize, he'd better get himself a chair.

We'd study at Kakyoin's, and so the three of us walked leisurely together. The sun was particularly strong today, but I had a human tower blocking most of it walking by my side. Jotaro's relaxed expression didn't intimidate me anymore, even though his resting face mimics that of a murderer.

"You're actually not that unpleasant to be around once one gets to know you better." I said honestly without thinking much, to what he only grumbled in response. On my other side, Kakyoin giggled at the sight.

"My parents aren't home yet, so I'll make us something quick to eat." He entered the house and left his bag on a corner. The place had a simple and elegant decoration, exhibiting a modern atmosphere.

"You know how to cook?" I looked around the neatly organized kitchen, and Jotaro appeared to do the same. Is this also his first time here? Strange, one would imagine such close friends as these two would have been to each other's place at least once.

"I can manage." He washed his hands and was already working before me and Jotaro had finished putting our things down. 

It turned out his cooking wasn't bad at all, so he was probably just being humble by saying his skills couldn't compare to mine. In fact, I should avoid comparing for the sake of my good mood.

We were in the middle of studying when somebody entered through the front door. In came a slim woman, her fiery and curly hair very familiar. She blinked at us a few seconds, then showed signs of finally remembering something.

"Oh, Nori, you brought your friend over. And you girl friend." She stared at me wide-eyed, mouth half-open in surprise. 

"She isn't my girlfriend, mom." Kakyoin hasted to correct her, his cheeks matching the family hair color. "Yubi is the friend who came to help me and Jotaro study." He mixed the explanation and introductions into one, doing everything for this interaction to end as soon as possible.

"Pleased to meet you." I smiled, trying my best to look composed. Jotaro mumbled something in agreement.

"I don't mean to interfere. I'll leave you now. Call me if you need anything, okay?" She left still a little in disbelief. I could almost hear her son sighing in pure relief.

"Your mom is cute." I whispered to break the silence.

"Oh, well. Can we go back to history now?" He still had a flush of pink in his cheeks, which made me laugh before continuing to go through the lessons.

It got dark earlier than usual due to the black clouds gathering from the distance, so we called a break. We played some video games at Kakyoin's room until Jotaro got tired of it. He was like an elder when it came to those things. Not enough patience

"Let's make a competition." I proposed excitedly. "A duel in that shooting game you got."

"You were so terrible at that arcade game you'll hardly do any better here." Even though his words were discouraging, his smug smile indicated he was already up to it.

"Bet." The game fitted on top of the console with an audible click. 

"Fine. What do you want to bet?" He was already navigating through the menus, setting our game mode.

"If I get a higher score than you... You'll give me a kiss!" I know my odds of winning are low, but they have just increased as my adversary has lost his composure.

The game began before he could answer, and as I had calculated, I started with the advantage. It took him some seconds to start playing, and by then he had already lost some points.

The thunders sounded closer and closer, and soon the rain reached us as well. It was a heavy storm, so much that the lights flickered. Then the energy went all out and we found ourselves sitting in a dark room, the only sound of the rain hitting the window.

"Talk about break of expectations." I whimpered.

"I-uh... I'll bring us some candles." His voice trembled a little before I heard his steps hurrying away.

My phone started ringing, bringing a little light into the room. My father sounded worried on the other end, telling me he'd come to ride me home. The call lasted about 20s, giving me no time nor opportunity to disagree.

I used my phone to light the ground and got up, carefully walking out of the room. After reaching the corridor, I bumped into something and heard the sound of several small things falling down. One heavier object made a higher sound, and sadly that was me. I used the flashlight to make sense of what had happened and found myself surrounded by unlit candles, lighters, and a stunned red-headed.

"Is everything alright here?" His mother came to our rescue with her candle already lit. I couldn't help but chuckle at the scene she had caught us in.

"Are you hurt? I'm so sorry, I should've lighted a candle before running upstairs." Kakyoin lent me a hand to help me get up then started gathering what else had fallen to the ground.

"I'm fine! I have to go now, though. My father's on his way." I spoke as I finished setting my skirt back to place.

"Already? It's not so late, dear. I can drive you home if you want." His mother sounded a little disappointed. Should I be glad?

"Mom..."

"Oh, fine. But do come again. It was wonderful having you here. Right, Nori?"

"Sure thing, mom. Let's go Yubi, I'll help you get your things." Wanting to run away before anything embarrassing came out of this conversation, he made a world record of quickly lightening a candle and dragged me downstairs.

I took everything and put it all in my back. We waited together in the cover of the doorstep, sitting on the dry steps. I breathed in the natural and familiar scent of the rain, taking in as much of the day as I could.

"Thank you for helping us study, Yubi-chan. It wouldn't be bad to have you around again." He smiled at me with a tired and yet satisfied face.

"I had fun today! Maybe we'll finish our bet later." I couldn't help but chuckle again at his embarrassment. Soon familiar headlights came into view, and it was time to bid our farewells. "See you at school."

"See you." I waved and rushed to the car door, still catching enough raindrops to make my hair drip.

I got home and immediately entered the shower. I took my sweet time on the warm, soothing waters, and gave my hair a good treatment afterward. After I got out, I saw one missed call from Kakyoin from two hours ago. Strange, did something happen? I called him back to be sure.

"Hi, Yubi-chan. Did you get home safe?"

"I did, thanks. Has the energy returned yet?."

"Not yet." Something in his tone made me wait. He struggled for some seconds before talking again.

"I spoke to my mother." He paused. I could almost hear the gears turning inside his head, trying to work despite the incoming flow of thoughts and feelings. "She agreed that I changed after... the trip." Another pause. I silently held my breath in expectation. "But she doesn't think it is a bad change. She says I've been easier to read, better at expressing how I'm feeling. After you guys went back home, I swear she spent two hours nonstop talking about how happy she was that I had made friends."

I couldn't help but laugh, my voice pitched by relief. I felt so good hearing and feeling the faint smile on his lips, he also felt relieved. The pieces of his broken heart, I realized, were finally starting to find their way back.

"I hope I made a good impression." He gagged in a way that made me question if I had just offended his ancestors.

"Are you kidding? My mother loves you. She'll keep asking for you to come back, I'm afraid."

"No problem by me."

"No problem here, either."