Learning To Fly: A Saki Enomoto Pseudo-Route

Life Expectancy :: Electric Daisies

AN: Woo! First time I get to put images into the text!  The song title comes from the song linked below by Lindsay Sterling. I won't be putting youtube links inside the text, but there's usually one piece of music that I love using as inspiration for the chapters I name them after.

-~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~-

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

The alarm clock sears through my head with all the subtlety of a speeding train. I reflexively flop over, fumbling blindly to smash it, but to no avail. I clip the corner of it, and it makes a leap for safety – right down behind my nightstand. To add insult to injury, I hear rattling as it takes several pill bottles with it.

I groan and clench my teeth as the electronic taunting continues. I hoped I would have at least hit the snooze button during those theatrics, but to no avail.

I sit up and swing my legs out over the edge of the bed in one swift motion, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible. Standing, I lean over the edge of the nightstand to see the cruel red display staring maliciously back at me. It takes a few seconds, but I'm finally able to silence it and put it back in its place along with half of my medications.

It takes a bit longer for the cobwebs in my head to completely clear. There's no class today, so I had set the alarm for a bit later than I usually would...but I didn't think I'd actually sleep in until eleven. I guess the rigors of this first week at Yamaku ended up taking a bigger toll on me than I thought.

I stretch, the sore muscles in my back protesting. My sleep schedule still isn't normal, so I either wake up incredibly early like the time Saki rescued me from Shizune, or I find myself barely making it to class. I idly wonder if part of it could be because of my medication as I wrestle with the top of a bottle. Maybe I should talk to Nurse about it.

Yawning, I step over to the window and take a look outside. Not only is it Sunday, but it's the day of the festival as well. I can see a few people lingering around between the various booths and stalls set up, half of which must be students. Maybe it's still early for too many people to show up.

I didn't really have any plans for the day myself. There are a few tests this next week I need to study for, but I shouldn't have a problem with them.

I hear some shouting drift up from down below and look to see a group setting up rows of seating before the stage. I gave them a hand in setting it up yesterday because Saki asked me to, but I didn't realize they were setting it up right under my window. Chisato is directing a pair of fellow students with chairs under their arms with the precision of someone on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.

Saki had roped me into helping yesterday purely by chance, or at least, that's what she'd claim if questioned. I had woken up insanely early, and was unable to get back to sleep. I had surrendered to the thought of it being a long day and decided to take a walk around campus to kill time before classes started, something I've started doing more recently this week. I ran into Saki completely by coincidence over by the arts wing, heading back towards her dorm carrying a gym bag over her shoulder. Joining her on the walk back, I found out she had a morning routine of heading to the school pool early before the day truly started. I didn't think much of it, equating it to my morning walk or Emi's morning runs.

After she dropped her bag off, we grabbed breakfast again in the cafeteria and I asked her how the festival preparations were going. Between bites of bland eggs and burnt toast I learned everything was nearly ready except setting up the collapsible stage for the performance tomorrow.

Without thinking, I asked if there was anything I could do to help, and sure enough, hours later I was wrestling with lengths of pipe and various hand tools.

Okay...maybe I exaggerated when I say she roped me into it.

My stomach growls as I finish taking the last of my morning medications. I should probably head down to get something to eat; I'm curious to check out the festival anyway, and I'd like to see the band performance later, especially after skinning my knuckles setting up the stage yesterday.

-~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~-

After buying a plastic plate of takoyaki from a stall belonging to the class next to ours, I take a seat in the school gardens and watch people pass by as I dig in. It's a bit bland, but I shouldn't complain as it was fairly cheap and does a good job of curbing my appetite.

As I sit there nibbling, I notice that the school grounds are getting more crowded as people file in. I see families of children excitedly dragging their parents around from one event to the next, filled with energy from the sugary treats they carry. Some people are parents or guardians of students, as evidenced by someone in uniform showing them around and pointing out various things. Still others are there by themselves, and I can't help but notice most of these are in an older age bracket.

Come to think of it, I noticed that earlier in the week when I went down into town to go shopping.

This must be one of those towns where the only people left are those that lived here their whole lives and refuse to leave, or those wanting to live out the rest of their lives in one of the increasingly few tranquil places. That must be one of the reasons Yamaku's atmosphere is so easygoing and laid back, not that I mind one bit. I like how calming Yamaku is, especially after what happened to land me here.

The humidity, though, is another matter entirely. I can already feel my shirt starting to stick to my back where I'm leaning against-

Gah!

I'm shaken from my thoughts by a loud clanging of bells blaring from the school's PA system. I stand up, and a few of the people near me share my reaction. I hear the principal make a garbled announcement over it, officially declaring the opening of the festival, already well in full swing. The statement draws varied responses from the people around me. Some smile, others groan, and interestingly enough most of the students I see don't react at all. I imagine they wouldn't, given they've been in the festival mindset for the last week. When the voice goes silent, everyone gives polite applause before going back to whatever it was they were doing.

I stare down at the now empty plate, wondering how I'm going to spend my day. I could go get another plate of takoyaki; this one wasn't that bad. Rin was working frantically at her mural up until the last moment. I could go see how that turned out. I could go see what time band is having its performance. I could check out some of the games that have been set up. Or I could just retreat back to someplace quiet like the rooftop or the library.

Still undecided but opting to move, I throw the plate into a trashbin and lose myself among the flow of people. They all seem to be heading towards the main school building, which seems as good a place to start as any.

As we draw closer, I'm actually surprised to see how many stalls have been set up around the perimeter of the main building. A few clubs and classes must have opted to have more than one booth. I see stalls hosting all the standard games one would find at a festival, along with all the low quality foods that are just as much of a staple.

I make up my mind to start over by the booth on the end of the line and head down. I hear an excited shriek and general applause as I get closer from the people gathered around it, but I can't make out the reason through the throng of people surrounding it. A few seconds later, a small girl darts into view holding a plastic jar with a goldfish in it, awkwardly running in her excitement as her parents take long strides to keep up. I have to make a quick sidestep to avoid being crashed into.

Completely oblivious, the girl careens on, the poor fish being shaken like a baby rattle. The mother gives an apologetic nod as she passes me.

"Hisao!"

I turn back towards the stall, the gap in humanity letting me get a clearer view of who's running it. I see Saki rising to her feet, her lower body being blocked out by a very large fish tank at waist level. She waves to me and I find myself waving back as I pick up my pace.

Saki had mentioned that the band was setting up a stall during her argument with Shizune earlier in the week, but I honestly didn't know what type of stall it was going to be.

"So, this is what the band is up to?" I say, coming to a stop in front of the booth. I stare down at the tank to see the surface rippling with the cream and orange bodies of dozens of small goldfish. Taking in the rest of the surroundings, I see a few boxes of paper nets near the back of the booth, along with some colorful banners explaining the rules to those not familiar.

"Yep! At least for a while," Saki says. "We have that booth over there too," she continues, pointing to the one next to us. A quick glance shows a ring toss game of some sort.

"Two?" I say, impressed. "You weren't kidding about being busy."

"We're not on our own," she explains, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her eyes. "The art club has these few booths and we're rotating shifts during the day. Band's running the show for another...hour," she says, turning her wrist to look at a small golden watch. "Then drama takes it over while we have our performance."

"That seems fair."

"It would be, if half the people bothered showing up," Saki mutters darkly. Just as quickly as the cloud descends on her face, it lights up again as she looks off to the side. "Sorry," she says apologetically to me, "but it looks like we have someone who wants to try!"

Next to me I see a young boy gawking wide-eyed at the fish tank, completely hypnotized by the motions of the creatures within. Saki squats to bring herself to eye level with him across the top of the tank, getting his attention. "Would you like to try and catch one?" she asks cheerfully.

His eyes get bigger as they make contact with Saki's. "Can I?" he asks, in wonderment.

"Mhmm!" Saki affirms, nodding. "That is," she hesitates, turning a beaming smile towards the couple standing behind the boy, "if it's okay with your parents?"

The child looks up towards his mom, his face plastered with the purest look of expectation and longing I think I've ever seen. What makes it even better is that Saki joins her gaze with his, matching his expression perfectly. It's all I can do to keep from bursting out laughing.

What mother could stand up under that barrage? Not this one. She sighs as she hands over a few paper notes to Saki while the boy gives an enthusiastic clap of his hands and emits a squeal of delight. Saki turns and puts the money away into a box behind the counter, then turns back with a paper net already in hand.

"Now, be careful!" she says as she hands over the net. "Pick one you like, but choose a good one! If you let the net stay in the water it gets weaker, and if you try to pick one that's too big he may break out!"

With laser like precision, he focuses in on one he likes and dips the net in. Sensing danger, the target fish makes a beeline for the other side of the tank when the net approaches. The boy's brow furrows in concentration as he gives chase.

After a few seconds of epic struggle, he pins the fish against the side of the glass!

"You got him!" Saki encourages. "Now just lift the net up carefully..."

The boy follows the advice and actually manages to get the net above the surface of the water. Just as he starts to smile however, the goldfish flails violently and tears through the fragile paper. It lands back in the tank with an audible plop, clearly imitating the youngster's spirits.

All of watching give a sympathetic groan as the fish dives at full speed towards the safety at the bottom of the tank. The boy looks absolutely crushed.

"I almost had him!" he exclaims, staring intently at the one that literally got away.

Saki gives the parents a wink over the top of their son's head, then crouches down to his level again. "That was so close! Do you think you could get him if you tried again?"

"Yes!" he answers at once.

"Alright! One more time then!" she says, mirroring his enthusiasm. Reaching one hand under the counter, she pulls out another net. This net looks a little different, although I can't quite put my finger on why before the boy snatches it and dunks it in, intent on trying again.

The fish puts up a valiant fight, but in the end gets pinned against the glass again. The boy lifts it out of the water, and at the critical moment, it starts to thrash around. This time however, it isn't so lucky and the paper holds.

"I got him, mommy!" he shouts, full of accomplishment. Saki takes the net from him and swiftly deposits his prize into a waiting jar.

"Good job!" she praises, carefully handing him the fish. "Now make sure to keep him in a nice clean bowl and feed him every day, okay?"

"I will!" he says, taking the jar with both hands. The father looks amused at the whole situation, having not said a word the entire exchange up to this point.

"Come on Yutaka," he says, taking his son by his free hand. "Let's see some more and then we'll take him home, okay?"

"Okay dad!" Yutaka replies, all smiles. "Thank you!" he says to Saki, bowing slightly before dragging his parents away, high on his recent victory.

I'm just left there staring, trying to piece together what just happened.

Saki grabs a nearby towel and wipes the water off her hands. She puts both the net and the towel underneath the counter again when she notices me looking at her.

"Okay," I say, narrowing my eyes. "What just happened?"

"What?" Saki answers, staring at me with an innocent grin. Too innocent.

"That net..."

She laughs. "Oh, that? Maybe he was just really lucky..."

The stare I give her lets her know I'm not buying it for a second. This only causes her to laugh harder.

"Uh huh," I prod. "And are you going to say you didn't help at all?"

"Will you believe me if I say no?"

"Probably not."

"Then it doesn't matter what I answer, does it?"

I sigh, admitting defeat, and move to change the topic of conversation. "When did you set all this up? I didn't see you when we were putting up the stage yesterday, which, I may point out, you asked for my help with."