500 Pages: InuOkko

Chapter 3

Warm suds ran down Toge's body as the shower sprayed his back. There weren't any new products on the silver caddy that hung from the shower head, nor were they scattered around the rim of the tub. He imagined that Okkotsu would have used just as many soaps as Maki, who seemingly had one for every surface of her body.

Toge shook his head, splashing the water against the tile backsplash and cheap curtain. The last thing he should have been doing was thinking about Okkotsu in the shower. Toge's fingers twitched as he scrubbed the remaining soap from his hair; they hadn't stopped since Okkotsu emerged seemingly from the shadows.

That chapter of his life was supposed to be closed. All the days he waited by the phone were wasted. Toge inhaled, letting the hot water pounce from his forehead. What was Okkotsu's plan? Did he even have one? Toge knew he was probably overthinking, but what else was the shower for?

Okkotsu wasn't even wearing island attire. He must have been sweating in his white hoodie and jeans. It wasn't quite as hot as it would be; regardless, it would have been a cruel form of torture to dress in layers.

Toge turned off the water, quickly drying himself and pulling on old gym shorts with a baggy t-shirt. In the yellow light from the vanity, his hair almost looked to be the color of corn. Toge traced the lines on his face, realizing Okkotsu had never mentioned them.

When Toge exited the bathroom, he was greeted with the sight of Maki in a rare state. In one hand, she held a book; in the other, a bottle of beer. Her glasses sat on the tip of her nose as her eyes focused on the text of some grocery store novel.

"Wearing clothes, I see," Maki said.

Toge frantically signed, "Can a man not wear clothes in his own home?"

She closed the book. "Usually you prance around in pajama pants only. Does this have something to do with the tenant?"

"He has a name," Toge signed.

"I'm surprised you know it, considering you never talked about him," Maki had a glare in her eyes resembling a flame.

"What is there to mention? We knew each other for like a minute. Then he was gone," Toge said.

"And that's totally why you just hired him without checking a resume or references? Seems like a minute might mean something different in Inumaki time," she said, taking a swig from her beer.

"Three days," Toge signed.

"A revelation from the Silent Apostle Inumaki Toge? Gasp. What's a girl to do with so much information!" Maki swung her head around.

"I would ask if you're drunk, but I know you're not," Toge signed.

"Better believe this is my first. It's a weekday, we don't have the luxury of days off, do we? Let's see, I've worked here for a few months, so that's like a few decades worth of vacation on Okkotsu time," Maki said.

Toge shook his head, signing, "Don't be too loud. Okkotsu will hear you."

"Nah, he hasn't come up since you closed. Wonder if he's out? I hope he isn't loud as hell like you when you walk around at night," Maki said.

Toge's eyes lit up, "Okay, I'm headed out. Ignoring your rude ass self."

He walked to his room where the door remained unlocked and located his slide-on sandals. He snagged his keys from atop the chest beside his door. Maki didn't speak another word, only waved as Toge walked down the central resident stairs.

The building never made much sense to Toge, even when he was a child. There was a back stairwell from his bedroom, but that door always remained unused. There wasn't a point in dropping into the alleyway behind the inn; the only thing there were meters for the water and a back entrance to the lobby.