one [sachio ueda]

t w e l v e : m a i

I wake awakened by some sounds in the kitchen.

Did I even set the alarm?

I was so sure that I did...

I groaned and tapped my hand on the floor, trying to reach for my phone. It was six in the morning. There was a blanket on top of me. I don't remember putting on a blanket either. Was I drunk yesterday? I don't remember getting drunk either.

"You sleep a lot." Sachio walked into the living room. I couldn't open my eyes but I did sense his presence.

I squinted and looked up at Coco's bed. She was still sleeping. That means I could sleep too. I crossed my eyes at Sachio. This fucker had to wake up early, didn't he?

"Get up." I heard his grim voice as he walked towards my sleeping figure.

"I can't." I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head. I couldn't even move my legs.

He squatted down and pulled the blanket away from me. "You're sleeping on the floor. At least sleep on the couch."

"Give it back." I tried to snatch the blanket back.

"Why? Didn't you fall asleep without a blanket?" He wrapped the blanket around his hand.

That's it. My sleep is completely broken now.

"Huh?"

"Nevermind." He got up with a huff, taking the blanket with him. "Put the pillow back on the sofa when you get up."

I tiptoed over to the bathroom, making sure Coco doesn't wake up. I realised that I forgot to brush yesterday night. There's only one person whom I can blame. Everything bad that happens to me is because of him.

"How's your hand?" I sat down at the kitchen table.

He simply let out a scoff in response.

"Are you still angry?" I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table.

He didn't answer. He turned around and rolled an apple on the table towards me. He wasn't exactly ignoring me. It's as if he didn't care what I had to say.

Well, he cared enough to take a bath yesterday because I called him stinky.

That's it.

A great nickname.

"Stinky." I muttered.

That earned me a reaction. His eyes shot up at me. "Stinky?" He repeated.

I leaned back on the chair, taking a bite from the apple. "You know, sometimes your hair looks like a bird's nest. Why can't you learn anything from Yuken? His hair is so silky."

"I don't have time for a haircare routine."

"But you have time to fight against random people?" That didn't just include the different schools or gangs. It included me.

"Fine." He put the toasted bread on the plates as he spoke. "What do you want me to do?"

"Straighten your hair." I munched. "Or at least style it."

"Too much work. Can't do." He glanced at me as he gracefully spread the butter on the bread.

This is an opportunity, Mai. It's not everyday you get to touch the legendary Sachio Ueda's hair.

... Didn't I promise myself not to have a crush on this guy? My stalker habits hadn't gone, let alone the crush I had on him.

"I'll do it."

"Okay." He slid the plate towards me, pursing his lips.

He has no idea about my intentions. If he knew that I was his stalker, he would've kicked me out long ago.

He sat on the floor and I sat on the sofa while straightening his hair.

"It's hot." He complained as I used the blow dryer brush on his hair. The sound of the air even woke Coco up. He had a lot of hair. I've seen many people balding at our age.

"That's the point." I kept brushing and turning the dryer.

I stepped out in front of him and leaned down to his level. I nodded with a proud expression. I wasn't proud because I styled his hair well. I was proud because he didn't mind me touching his hair.

It wasn't surprising that he was gentle. He had a sister. Sometimes I wondered how a guy like him could even fight. He should be one of those monks or activists spreading peace and love.

"If I don't like it, I'll do the same shit with your hair." He warned, taking out his phone to open the camera. He turned his head sideways, his eyes fixed on the screen. "I look different."

"The good kind?" I scrunched my nose.

He put down the phone and sighed.

Yeah, it's definitely the bad kind. It's time to say goodbye to my hair now.

"Yes, the good kind." He looked into my eyes.

For the first time, I noticed his eyes. Like actually noticed them. Unlike the character he pretends to be, he had those soft, round eyes like a Disney princess. Imagine that you're trying to intimidate your enemy but your eyes look like a literal puppy's. There was no difference between his eyes and Coco's eyes. And behind those cute eyes? He probably had evil thoughts but right now, it was blank. He was staring right back at me, possibly judging my face the same way I was judging his.

Suddenly, Coco jumps in between up and trotted round and round, unable to decide whose face she should lick first.

"Glad." I broke the silence when I realised it had been over twenty seconds we were staring at each other's face.

I prepared Coco's breakfast while Sachio took Coco out for a small walk in the garden. I could see them from the transparent window. Both were hopping around. Sachio running in circles and Coco chasing. I was watching two dogs. Sachio is not the Sachio I knew from all the stalking I did.

I realised why Fujio likes him so much. I was the problem. Not Sachio.

... Wow, overthinking so much made me depressed.