Days Of High School

Chapter Ten: News

" How was the planning for the dance? " Akai asked Kaine on the car ride back to Tyrann's apartment.

" We have everything sorted out. The dance is this weekend. "

Akai pulled her holo phone from her purse and checked the messages on the glowing blue screen.

Dad: They did the tests on your mom this morning and the results just got back.

Akai: So?

Dad: She has to stay one more night and then we're coming home right after.

Akai: What about that big meeting? Can you reschedule?

Dad: We already did. The executive was very understanding and even suggested that we take the time off. We're leaving again Sunday night.

Akai: Ok. I'll tell Tyrann.

Akai slipped her holo phone back into her purse as the car slowed to a stop outside of the apartment building.

" Well, my mom's test results just came back and she has to stay one more night and then they come home and they aren't leaving again until Sunday night. "

" Ok. Looks like you only get one more night sleeping on a shitty air mattress. " Tyrann laughed, getting out of the car.

Akai rolled her eyes, getting out of the car and grabbing the spare key Tyrann had given her. She put it into the lock and waited for the reader inside the lock to scan the code and the name of the key's owner in the data stored inside. She looked at the gray scanner on the door in place of what the people of Old Japan called deadbolts. The scanner blinked blue, and she turned the key opening the door.

" Looks like it might rain tonight. " Kaine remarked before stepping inside, throwing her school bag at the back of the couch.

" What the fuck did your bag do to you? " Tyrann asked, an amused expression on his face.

" Nothing. Unlike you. " Kaine said, walking over to the couch, She grabbed the tablet-like panel from the coffee table and selected the local news. The TV turned on to the local news. A young Replicant appeared on the screen brushing her dark brown hair away from her eyes and looking down at the papers in her hands.

" Sarani akarui nyusu to shite wa, Tokyo rijon to Saitama rijon o musubu koiki kozokudoro no kensetsu ga kanryo shi, kozokudoro ga futatabi kaitzu shite to iu kotodesu. "

" That would be nice if we ever bothered to go to the Saitama region. " Akai said, from the kitchen where she was looking over the fridge and small pantry for something to cook.

" Damn it! Can't they just get to something people want to hear? " Kaine yelled from the couch.

" Well, some people have been waiting for the expressway to open again. They'll want to hear that. "

" Ugh! I'm going to get under a hot shower for 45 minutes cause I don't want to deal with this shit. "

" Not when I'm about to cook dinner you're not. " Akai said, placing a pan on the stove.

" Well, what are we having? " Tyrann asked, turning around to face her.

" Beef Stir Fry with homemade herbal sauce. "

" That sounds pretty good actually.. " Kaine said, turning back to the TV.

" Soshite, otenki to tomoni Hasegawa-san e! Hasegawa-san? "

" Miriemu-san arigato! Kon'ya kara mokuyo ni kakete kion ga 50-do-dai ni sagari, ame ga ori, shumatsu ni wa 60-do-dai kohan ni moderu yodesu. Koko su-nichi no tsukin ni wa kasa o motte iku koto o o susume shimasu! "

" At least it'll clear up by the dance. " Tyrann said. " And it also means no one gets to try to hurt my Red Rose.

Akai blushed furiously and Kaine snickered.

" See that right there is why I call you sister in law.. " She said through her laughter.

Akai turned back to the pan and the open bag of stir fry mixture she was about to pour into it.

The news continued even though no one was really paying attention until one story caught Akai's ear.

" Eguchi Kiyono to Inaba Saburo wa kesa, hakushigo o gizo shita tsumi de kiso sa reta karena no doryo ni yoru to, aru shedo kanja ni fuseikakuna kensa kekka o ataeta nochi, sarani chosa shite shinjitsu o hakken suru made, kono jiken wa henken ni motodzuite okonawa reta mono to shite gomakasa rete ita to iu. Eguchi to Inaba ni wa saiko de choeki 5-nen ga iiwatasa reru. "

" Those sound like the doctors that my mom saw when she got to the hospital. " Akai said, taking the pan off the stove while she worked on her homemade sauce. The news went off for a break and various advertisements scrolled across the screen, personalized for the people living in the apartment.

" Dono kutsu ni mo suberikoma seru koto ga dekiru atarashi chosetsu kanona tei hanpatsu sapoto ga, honjitsu kara kikan gentei de $12.99 de jimoto no kutsi-ten de nyushu kanodesu. Jimoto no kutsyua made kuruma de iki, ima sugu konyu shite kudasai! "

" Those might be useful since you're on the track team. Maybe I'll take you down there before dropping you off at your parents house tomorrow. " Tyrann said, looking at Akai who was bringing over the finished food to the coffee table.

" Maybe. I don't want to tear a hole in my shoes and have to pay $5 to get them replaced. A memory foam support to cushion my feet ought to help a lot. "

Kaine slid down off the coach onto the cushion directly in front of it. Tyrann followed her sliding down onto the cushion in front of his spot on the couch. The three ate in silence not paying attention to the rest of the advertisements playing on the TV.