EVERYTHING EVERY THING + TACHIZAKI +

New Neighbours

I awake to the sound of cars. A large car. A truck. This must be the new neighbours.

Suddenly a shout echoes "Michizou, you'd better help, if you run off I'll really kill you this time!"

What?

The words have me running to the window and throwing open the curtains. I can only see the house's side window, but from closer the voices are louder, but still too indistinct for me to make out now that they're at a normal volume.

A few minutes later I see a boy through the window of the house. He carries a large box, which he sets on his bed. From what I can see, he has red hair, like me, I watch for longer than I should. I can't help it. So I shouldn't be surprised when he look back at me. But I am.

His eyes are amber, a rare colour in Japan, even rarer than my sister's blue. His gaze feels like it bends light around it. He smiles a cocky smile. I give him a small smile back.

-

The next time I see him is four days later at 11:00. (I definitely haven't been periodically checking the window, that would be dumb,)

He gives that smile/smirk again, but this time he throws open his window, holding up a piece of paper. Despite the distance between our windows, the bold marker is easy to see.

It reads: "Sorry about the shouting. My Dad is an ass."

He puts the paper down and holds up another, "Cool house. Have you always lived here?"

I'm not sure what to say to this sudden reaching out, but I know it'd be rude not to answer (would it?) grab a sketch pad and write:

"Thank you. Yes. This has got to be a waste of paper, do you have a mobile number?"

Nervous, I hold up my sign.

He reads it, looking as if the thought just occurred to him. We both laugh, and he disappears for a second, then comes back with another sign: xxx-xxx-xxxx

I grab my tablet and type the number into the messaging app.

[ME] Hi, I'm Junichirou. Welcome to the neighbourhood. How do you like it so far?

I don't leave the window, watching him type back. He looks up at me with a surprised face. I mouth "what?" He shakes his head typing again.

[TACHIHARA] Oh my god

[ME] What?

[TACHIHARA] You text like my ma

What? Did he just want to bully me? I mean, I know I look more feminine compared to other boys, is he saying i text like a girl too? What's girly about proper grammar?

[ME] Huh? What does that mean? If you're only going to insult me, I'll block you.

He shakes his head, laughing as he types

[TACHIHARA] No

[TACHIHARA] I just mean you actually use periods

[TACHIHARA] and commas

[TACHIHARA] and question marks!

This confuses me.

[ME] Others don't?

[TACHIHARA] No

[TACHIHARA] Most people text like this

[TACHIHARA] At least tell me u use abbreviations

Abreviations? Like Kg and kph? I wish he'd be more clear. Maybe I'm just out of touch with how people actually talk (that's a depressing thought) or stupid.