Not Again

After a lengthy explanation of everything that had happened in the last two days, Fumihiro didn't exactly look satisfied.

"Are y-you angr-ry?"

"No, I'm not mad that this is happening. I'm a little surprised, and I wished you had told me about this beforehand, that's all."

Benjiro sighed with relief.

"This is actually quite good, at the rate you were going, I thought you weren't going to make any friends before you got to college."

Benjiro knew his Dad was probably exaggerating but, like all hyperbole, there was usually a hint of truth behind all the excessive phrasing. He did want friends, but at the same time he never once made an effort to get close to anyone. And although Fumihiro was most likely only joking, hearing those words made Benjiro feel like someone was poking at his chest with a needle.

"Now, I'm assuming that since you just got home, and that you don't like to wander, you have most likely not eaten anything since lunch."

Now that he thought about it, Benjiro realized his Dad was right, and his stomach decided that would be the opportune moment to lament its emptiness. Fumihiro couldn't help but laugh listening to his son's growling stomach, which made Benjiro begin to crack up as well.

After some dinner and a minor debriefing of what he was trying to accomplish, he was holed back up in his room again, staring at another blank sheet of paper, pondering over what Mr. Watanaba told him.

"Family, huh?"

He just sat tapping his pencil against the sheet, and, not exactly reminisced. That was something you did when you look at your memories with a feeling of nostalgia. Brooding or reliving was a more appropriate way of defining it.

'Worthless! Stupid! Can't you do anything right?!'

His chest, back and arms began tingling as those all too familiar words echoed in his mind. He looked over at the clock, and it said it was only nine in the evening. Any other day, he'd consider that too early, but it had been a crazy day and he had enough. Climbing into bed, he could feel the effects of the hectic day full force. Fortunately, he fell asleep after a few minutes, unfortunately it wasn't long after passing into slumber, that the tingling he felt in his body before turned once more into agony.

"Son! Son!"

He could vaguely hear someone calling out to him. As well as humming? Benjiro bolted awake and saw his Dad rubbing his shoulder and back and humming his favorite Beatles song. Just like the day before, his brow was covered with a cold sweat, his body felt just as tired as before he laid down and his chest felt tight with fear.

"Easy there, kiddo", Fumihiro reassured, "It's alright, I'm here. Just take a few deep breaths. Do it with me, iinn."

Fumihiro inhaled and brought an upward palm from his stomach to his chest.

"And ouuutt."

He exhaled and brought his hand back to his stomach. It took a little more directing but Benjiro eventually was able to steady his breathing. Looking over at his clock, he felt a small wave of annoyance.

"2:13 in the morning? S**t", Benjiro cursed

"Are you alright now?"

Benjiro just meekly nodded.

"Wh-what h-happ-pened?"

"I woke up to some small banging coming from your room", Fumihiro explained, "I walk in and you're tossing, and groaning in your sleep."

Benjiro stuck a knuckle in his mouth and lightly bit down.

"Do you remember anything about what you saw?" Fumihiro asked

His son shook his head and covered his eyes with one hand. Fumihiro cursed as they both came to a realization neither of them wanted to admit.

'Those damn night terrors are back again', he concluded, 'And after it seemed like he was starting to move past them too.'

"Son, did something happen to make them start happening again?"

Benjiro thought back. There was Higaki, almost threatening arrest, but that had been resolved for the most part. There was the Domon Battalion, but he had trying to keep things mostly low profile. Or there was that crazy soccer girl, but he hadn't seen her at less than 500 meters and hadn't dared to go near any place that was denoted as a girl's area for anything other than a gym class.

"S-some st-stuff has been happ-pening at sc-chool. B-but it w-wasn't anyth-thing th-that I c-can't avoid."

"Son."

Benjiro looked up at his Dad's steady gaze.

"Don't lie to me." Fumihiro urged, "Those bruises from the other day weren't from floor hockey, were they?"

Benjiro lowered his gaze again and slightly shook his head. Fumihiro knit his eyebrows together and bit his lower lip.

"Do you want to explain to me what happened?"

Benjiro just shook his head a little more. Fumihiro knowing he probably shouldn't press much further for the time being just continued rubbing his son's back and humming for a moment until he appeared calm enough.

"We'll talk some more tomorrow, okay?"

Benjiro nodded one last time as he laid back down and Fumihiro exited the room. The big man sat on his own mattress but he didn't lay down for a little while, as he began his brainstorm of what needed to happen.

The next morning Akiko woke up to her phone buzzing, and for some reason it was one of her friends.

"What is it Maria? Don't you know you don't call your friends when they're sleeping in on the weekend?"

"Akiko why don't we hit up somewhere for karaoke?"

"Seriously", Akiko grumbled, "don't you have anything more important to do?"

"Don't be such a stick in the mud." Maria chided, "It's been ages since we all last went. Besides, with all the work you've been putting in, you need a break from club."

She sat up and wandered over to her dresser. She rubbed her eyes and shuddered a little seeing how much bedhead.

"Give me an hour to get ready. Usual place, right?"

"Um, yes, usual place." Maria giggled

Akiko froze in place.

"Maria are you up to something?"

"Why would you ask such a thing", she said in a mock offended voice

"Because whenever you're coming up with a stupid scheme, you start giggling uncontrollably. Why do you think you never win when we play 'Go Fish?'

Maria's giggling slowed down and sounded more nervous than before.

"Heh heh, well anyways, we'll see you in a few hours, so warm up your vocalizer because we're going to sing our hearts out today."

The line went dead and Akiko was left standing, there narrowing her eyes and lengthening her forehead in suspicion. Maria hadn't been a close friend, but a good enough one that they understood certain things about each other. Akiko knew that while her friend was a terrible liar, but that she wouldn't divulge any secrets was a delicate balance. However it was one that had worked so far.

Her trio of friends was one that liked to do little things to pull the wool over each other's eyes, but it rarely went beyond harmless little pranks. Although she didn't exactly want to be bothered, Akiko couldn't deny that she needed some time to relax and unwind. There wasn't much else to do but grab some breakfast, get ready for a day out on the town. Or at least as much of being 'on the town' as a bunch of teenagers could be.

The karaoke place was in another town, so Akiko had to leave a little early to catch the train if she wanted to be there by noon. It wasn't until she got through the turnstile that she noticed her neighbor and now fellow club member was also on the platform. They noticed each other and Benjiro gave a quick upward nod and raise of the hand. In her head, Akiko was more preoccupied with what she was in the mood to sing, than him.

She noticed that the boy got boarded the same train but once again gave it no extra thought. Not until they both exited at the same stop did she realize that they were headed in the same direction, which was giving Akiko a mild case of Deja vu.

"Is there a reason we seem to be going in the same direction?" she asked as she turned around.

Benjiro shrugged

"I w-was told to m-meet with s-some p-people at n-noon, s-so I'm h-heading th-there now. I sw-swear I'm n-not trying to f-follow", he responded with both hands raised.

Akiko was still a little suspicious but kept walking. When she got out of the station and hailed her friends, she noticed that they each had a boy with them. A sick theory sprang into her head as her suspicions were becoming clearer.

"Oh good, you both made it?"

Akiko's stomach made that swooping feeling you get when you suddenly miss a step on a staircase as the suspicion became reality.

"Alright, with everyone here", Maria announced, "Let's get our couples date started."