Tokyo's Calling

Chapter 6: Love and Hate

"Really sweetie, it's not you, it's me,"
"So after a whole month of me slaving away, trying to please you, it's just, over?"
"You have to understand. I can't keep doing this, it's not fair to you. Please, say you'll forgive me."
"Just save it! I know it's that girl from the other night. You walked her home just like you did when we met. Well you know what? You can have that low grade skanky little slut! I could do better anyway!"
Maybe that break up could've gone a bit smoother, but in her defense it was really sudden. Katsuro sighed as he watched his new ex stride away through the halls. Tashiro came up to him soon after.
"Are you sure hat was really the best thing to do?" He asked full of skepticism.
Katsuro gave a short sigh and half smile. "What can I say? I just didn't feel it anymore." He shrugged.
"The problem is, you never felt it before." Tashiro rolled his eyes.
"But I'm past all that now Tashiro, keep up." Katsuro said as he began walking out the door. "There's something else I have to take care of, and you're gonna help me."
"And how exactly do I do that?" He raised his eyebrow.
"It'll be easy. All you have to do is walk Asami home today." He said matter-of-factly.
"What about that is easy?" Tashiro shot. "Yeah, sure she's kinda sweet, but I don't know how much of her I can handle at one time."
"Oh come on, please? It's not that bad. She's new remember? She's just excited that she's found someone willing to give her any attention, that's all. If you talk to her more then I'm sure it'll wear off. It did with me anyway." He laughed and his friend pushed him.
"That's what you say, but I'm not convinced. I just don't want her getting the wrong idea. She seems like the type to make something out of nothing, if you know what I mean." He spoke like he was embarrassed.
Katsuro laughed a bit. "You sure are quick to flatter yourself. She might not want a thing to do with you." He smirked as they walked through the courtyard.
"Whatever," Tashiro rolled his eyes, "Anyway, why am I walking her home today? We haven't walked them home in at least a week."
"Well I still don't think it's good for them to walk home alone, and Katsumi's still not even looking at me." Katsuro finished rather quickly.
"So that's what's going on. Hinata didn't work so it's my turn, is that it?" Tashiro smirked a bit.
"Well no-" he started. Tashiro looked at him with serious doubt. "Yeah." He finally admitted.
"I don't know what makes you think anything is going to help. She was publicly harassed and humiliated in front of her peers." His friend seemed like all of that information was irrelevant.
"Yeeaaaah, but she'll have to come around eventually, they always do." He reminded him.
"Dude, she slapped you." Tashiro shot dryly.
"And I've forgiven her for that completely, so no harm done." He was all too chipper.
Tashiro shook his head and harshly rolled his eyes.
"You're hopeless." He paused and looked around. "Well, I guess if I'm trying to fix all your problems then I better find them." He said sighing as he changed directions.
"What would I do without you." Katsuro said as he watched his friend begin his mission.
In his heart Katsuro wanted to talk to her, and he felt overwhelmingly guilty for what he'd done, but no one could ever know that. On the inside he knew nothing would come of him sending his friends to do things he was to scared to do, but admitting that was near impossible with his ego. He sighed and shook his head. He needed Tashiro to do this perfectly; he was running out of options.
             **********************************
     Tashiro hastily walked behind Asami and Katsumi. He was debating whether or not to even speak to them, at that point turning back seemed like the easiest thing to be done. No, he couldn't do that. Katsuro wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted and it was just easier to go along with it rather than to go against him. So, he fell into step with them and watched as Asami's eyes lit up.
         "Hey," He said easily, but he was actually quite uncomfortable.
         Katsumi scoffed. She already knew what was happening, and she was already over it. She just shook her head as they stepped.
       Asami however, was quite the contrary. Her face was all smiles and her eyes grew very wide when he approached them. "Hey," She said calmly. She had so much more to say, but she didn't want it to go like last time, so she held her tongue as much as she could. "Did you need something?" She asked him sweetly.
"Nah, not really, just wanted to make sure you were getting home alright. I know we haven't walked you home in a couple days so," he drifted, not really sure what to say.
Asami's heart sped up in the inside. He wanted to check on her. Everything around her began to blur as she focused on his eyes. She smiled so genuinely that even he lightened up for a minute.
"Thank you for checking on us Tashiro, we've been getting home just fine since you left. But I enjoy the trip home much more when you all come around." She said quietly, smiling at the ground as she walked.
Tashiro was so awkward, he hardly knew how to react to anything correctly. So, he just smiled slightly and ran his fingers through the hair on the back of his head.
Katsumi had been silent the whole time but of course she had to throw in her sarcasm.
"Yeah, we 'love' it when you all come around. Where's the other half today?" She rolled her eyes. "Finally found someone else to entertain himself with?"
"Ouch," Tashiro laughed, "that's rough." Her comment didn't bother him though. Katsuro was his best friend and they said things like that to each other all the time. "Nah, not quite. Not today at least. I think he had to pick up something for his mom anyway."
"Why, is she sick?" Asami asked with slight concern.
"No," Tashiro smirked, "She just has four kids home at one time and needs groceries."
Katsumi looked up, taking interest in him slightly for the first time. "Katsuro's mother?"
Tashiro nodded. "Yep. He's the second oldest of them."
"Wow," she sighed a bit, "He strikes me more as the spoiled brat only child type."
Tashiro laughed at that. "Yeah? Me too. But if that's anyone, it's me. It's just been me and my mom since I can remember." He finished easily.
She didn't expect that out of him since he was so easy going, but it really didn't look like it bothered him.
"I'm so sorry!" Asami exclaimed, "My parents split up about two years ago so I know how hard having separate parents can be." She said with sympathy.
"No really, it's alright. I can't stand my father so I don't mind seeing him for one week and one holiday every year." He said softly, his tiny smile almost genuine.
"That's one thing we have in common then." Asami said as if just speaking about her father made her angry.
He'd never known she could go deeper than the smile she wore on her face everyday. He never expected her to have gone through anything close to what he had, but maybe there was more to her than what he'd thought. Maybe trying to fix Katsuro's life wouldn't be as unbearable as he anticipated.
"Hey," he broke the minute of silence, "You guys like sweet dumplings?"
"Of course." Asami said with a smile quickly growing.
Sweet dumplings were just about Katsumi's favorite thing in the world, but she couldn't make herself seem so available, so she just half nodded at the idea.
"There's this really cool little shop beside my apartment building and they have the best sweet dumplings in the whole city." He said coolly.
"Really?" Asami said with wide eyes.
"Yeah, for sure. How's about I treat you two to some." He said with a steady expression.
"That sounds wonderful!" She couldn't contain her excitement.
He looked over at Katsumi waiting for her response. She looked back and answered all too quickly. "Well if your paying then why not?"
"Great." He said before leading the way.
__________________________
Katsuro sighed and stared at his math book. He'd been doing that since he got home, yet none of his problems were done. Nothing could keep his attention as long as Tashiro was still out being where he wanted to be. Finally he got out his phone and texted him.