Girl Next Door

Chapter Fifty-Seven

That following day, Kyosuke and Risa were closer than ever. The two of them were so happy together that almost everyone in school believed them to be dating. Risa would brush off the rumors casually, while Kyosuke blushed everytime he was asked if he was going out with her.

One time, Kyosuke and Risa were taking care of their things in their lockers when Kyosuke was approached by resident pop idol Hikari. Kyosuke grew tense.

"Ah, H-Hikari-san," he stuttered, gulping down past the lump in his throat. "H-Hey, I'm really sorry about... what happened yesterday. I feel really bad about it."

"That's okay," said Hikari with a calm and gentle smile. "I understand that you already like someone else. And I respect that."

"Hikari-san..." said Kyosuke, surprised by her mood, but he had taken to heart what she had said. "Thanks for understanding."

Hikari gave a sweet smile before turning to Risa and bowing to her. Then she left them. Kyosuke looked at each other with bewilderment and chuckled.

Meanwhile, in the library, where it was quiet, sat the two bookworms, Ichiro and Yukie. The two were reading books as usual. Ichiro was reading The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O'Neill while Yukie was reading a textbook on art styles titled From The Perspective of the Next Picasso.

"These art styles are really interesting, Toyama-kun," said Yukie, her nose in her book.

Ichiro looked into Yukie's book and nodded. "Yes, indeed. That book really gives detail on the different art styles of the likes of Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Luna, among others."

"Have you read this, Toyama-kun?" asked Yukie.

"Yeah, I have a much older copy at home," replied Ichiro with a half-smile.

"I see," said Yukie, smiling gently. "I'm an avid book collector myself."

"Bibliophile," said Ichiro, adjusting his glasses. "That's the formal term for book collectors."

"Ah, I see," said Yukie with a chuckle, adjusting her own glasses.

Ichiro smiled at her before going back to his book. Yukie then peeked into it.

"I never really got the theme of that play," she said.

"Oh, that's simple," said Ichiro, clearing his throat. "It contains many allusions to political topics, particularly anarchism and socialism."

"Oh," said Yukie, sounding interested. "How is that?"  

"Well," said Ichiro, adjusting his glasses once again, "Hugo, Larry and Don are former members of an anarchist movement. Larry, now a bitter man who claims to be waiting for death, is approached by his ex-girlfriend's son, Don, at the beginning of the play, and Don remains at the bar. Don admits that he informed the police of the illegal activities of his mother and other anarchists. He gives several reasons for this but later admits that they are not the real ones. He first claims that he did it out of patriotism and then that he wanted the money, but finally admits he did it because he hated his mother, who was so obsessed with her own freedom that she became too self-centered and often either ignored or dominated him. The conversations between Don and Larry are among the most emotional in the play. Some of these conversations also often involve Hickey, whose actions somewhat parallel Don's."  

Yukie listened intently to Ichiro's explanation. "Ah, I see. How interesting."  

"Really?" said Ichiro, smiling sheepishly. "I'm glad you think so."  

Yukie giggled. It was the first time Ichiro heard her do that and he blushed.  

For a few seconds, the two were eyeing each other like two pigeons on a park bench. When they realized it, they blushed and went back to their books.