Put on Your Game Face

People said there was a first time for everything and this was definitely one of them. Whether cause of the early morning chill or his own apprehension, he wasn't sure, but Benjiro didn't feel too great. The front door of the Higaki household felt even more like an iron gate than it had before. After steeling himself, Benjiro pressed the doorbell and waited. Not very secretly, he hoped that nobody would open the door and he could just awkwardly wander off without anybody ever knowing he was around like he normally would. Unfortunately, he forgot that other people tended to actually like being around others and be gracious hosts.

"Oh, Benjiro it's good to see you", greeted Rin, "What brings you here so early in the morning? I thought you were taking a short break from working?"

'Dammit, why does this woman have to be such a nice person?'

"I-Is your d-daughter home?"

The look of surprise that crossed Mrs. Higaki's face wasn't unexpected but something about it just rubbed Benjiro the wrong way. He wasn't sure which thing made him feel that way more: Having to deal with the rebarbative harpy known as Fujibayashi or when people gave him that look of 'Wow, you actually know how to seek people out?' That was the look he always got when he actually made an effort to be sociable. It wasn't even so much that he hated it, it was just that he didn't always feel like he had anything worth contributing to the conversation. So, it always felt infuriatingly patronizing when people looked at him like that.

"Why, yes she is", Rin cheerfully affirmed, "She's just upstairs in her room like usual." She stepped inside the vestibule and waved him in, "Come on inside while you wait. I'll bring her downstairs in just a moment."

Benjiro could hear Mrs. Higaki talking to her daughter from downstairs as well as the accompanying sounds of an irate teenage girl. A moment later, the sound of soft padding and loud, clunky footsteps could be heard, and it wasn't hard to tell which belonged to who. While he had lived with his Dad on base, he had come across any number of colorful characters. Hearing men say things like, "Hey, you look like s**t" was just how some people said "Hello." Upon seeing Akiko, Benjiro could only not so subtly utter a concerned, "D**n!" He may have gone further, but even a socially tone deaf person such as him could recognize when you shouldn't prod the bear.

"What do you want?"

That wish for someone to not answer the door was seriously coming back to haunt him. All he wanted to do was turn around and go home. This would all just blow over and everything would just work itself out in the meantime, wouldn't it? That was how things usually worked right? Tensions could just die down as long as nobody aggravated anything and all you had to do was bide your time. Other fallacies flashed in Benjiro's head as he tried to justify an excuse to leave. Yet, in the back of his head, he could hear a voice telling him not to run. It told him to take an honest look at the girl in front of him

'See anything familiar standing in front of you', the voice asked.

Her hair was a total mess, her eyes looked almost dead, her posture was somehow both drained yet coiled and she did not look pleased to see him. It was clear that she either didn't sleep much, most likely from crying, the night before. Everything about her just screamed 'defeat.' It was a feeling he admitted to knowing better than some friends.

"I w-want you to c-come with m-me."

"Huh?" Akiko breathed with an apathetic and annoyed face, "What do you mean? I'm not in the mood to do anything. Just go home. Shouldn't be that hard. It's right across the street."

"That's where we're going. Now stop moaning and just come already."

It was difficult to tell who was more surprised by the boldness that Benjiro spoke. Akiko could still not be bothered, but she recognized that the poor bastard was trying his hardest, so she decided to humor him for a few minutes. With what little she knew about him, whatever it was probably wouldn't take long. Begrudgingly, she got some shoes on and they both walked across the street to Benjiro's home. The place still creeped her out for some unknown reason, but she still followed him inside. He guided the short girl to the living room where they sat the last time she had come over.

Akiko sat down on the couch and Benjiro sat across from her in his Dad's recliner. For a few minutes, he didn't say anything at all. Instead, he just affixed her with that odd gaze of his that she so rarely so him use. That gaze that felt as though it were looking right through her, at something much deeper, exposing every secret and shameful thing. But the odd thing was, those eyes weren't simply examining her, they had appeared understanding. That and, even though she hadn't taken much notice before, but his eyes were pretty.

'His eyes are almost two different colors', she thought, 'They look like a kaleidoscope.'

Benjiro finally broke the silence, "I had to deal with Fujibayashi today."

The curious air dissipated, "And how was the mouthy b**ch?"

"Mouthy is the right word. She kept on hinting something about you... something that happened in the past."

Akiko's posture changed from apathetic to defensive in a second, "And just what are you trying to imply?"

"Nothing."

"Really, cause it sounds like you're trying to dig up some dirt."

"I'm doing nothing of the sort."

"Oh yeah?

In contrast to his usual timid demeanor, seeing him look at her so firmly almost made her uncomfortable.

"You hate that girl don't you?"

All Akiko could do was nod.

"I'm guessing she either did something really bad to you or she's just holding somethin' over your head?"

Her fire quickly returned, "What did that b**ch say to you?

Benjiro waved his hand dismissively, "Doesn't matter. What-"

"It damn well does matter! I'm having lies about me spread around even now and all I can do is lay over and play nice while that poisonous, talentless waste of oxygen just sits back and watches the fireworks."

"And if she were standing right there", Benjior pointed to a spot on the floor next to Akiko, "What would you do right then and there? No consequences, nobody to tattle, nothing. Just you two with her completely at your mercy?"

Akiko felt a prickle of apprehension at the question she was being asked, but it did get her thinking. Memories of the past three years began to resurface. Along with all the anger, shame, hatred, despair, devastation and repulsion. Images began to form. She began small, but the more she spoke the more angry and spirited she became as Akiko began ranting and raving. For almost thirty minutes about everything she hated about Fujibayashi and everything she would do as revenge to her if she could. Everything came pouring out of her like a bursting dam that finally had a door opened.

After she finished, Akiko stood there panting from the sheer amount of talking she had accomplished. An embarrassed blush etched its way onto her cheeks when she realized this fact, "Was that going too far?"

Benjiro snorted amusedly, "If you went off for that long, I have a feeling that this has been a long time coming."

Akiko's former subdued nature came back which prompted him to ask, "I'm guessing you haven't been able to tell anyone about this?"

A shake of the head.

"Not even those friends of yours?"

"They mean well enough", Akiko said in a thankful tone, "And honestly I don't deserve them, but I couldn't tell even them."

Benjiro responded with a knowing grunt before clapping his hands and standing up, "Wait here, I'll be back."

Akiko was confused as to what he was doing, but a minute later the lanky young man returned with a glass of water and for some reason his makeup kit, 'He wants to work right now? Odd time for inspiration to strike.'

"What are you getting all that stuff out for? I thought you already had the designs you needed."

"Never hurts to have more. Besides, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by this one."

Now her curiosity was piqued but Akiko could tell that the artist inside was starting to take hold and any talking would be pointless. For some reason, she didn't recognize any of the colors that were being used. They weren't the usual pale, multicolored flesh or green colors. It all looked relatively normal, which served to confuse her even more.

"And now for the finishing touches", Benjiro announced.

He came up behind her and began braiding her hair. His hands were surprisingly gentle as they maneuvered strands of her hair with obvious signs of experience. Her hair was never tugged hard enough for her to even slightly wince. While unsure of what he was attempting, for some reason Akiko didn't feel the same sense of apprehension as the first few times when they were in her room.

This time around, it was barely even twenty minutes before he announced he was done. Benjiro handed her a mirror and all Akiko could do was gasp in surprise.

Satisfied with the results, Benjiro admired his handiwork, "Well, I think I did a pretty good job. What do you think?"

There was absolutely no trace of the usual horror elements. Instead, there was just Akiko, except really beautiful. Any blemishes were expertly covered up, her eyebrows had a soft upturn with a barely noticeable pencil touch on the sides. Her eyes were framed in such a way that they shone through like never before. And her lips, made completely smooth with a soft shade of pink to contrast her face. Her hair was French braided on both sides, with the braids coming down to be arranged in a circle pattern while there were still two loose strands of hair to frame her face.

It took a few moments to for Akiko to realize that the face staring back at her truly belonged to her, "This is amazing, I haven't even been able to look this good when I went to a salon. How are you this good? I thought you just made people look like monsters."

Akiko wasn't sure what to think when he saw a proud smile adorned on Benjiro's face. She had seen him wear a few different faces, but never one like this. It was quickly succeeded by a knowing smile, "I know what it's like to see what happens for someone to look at a girl and call her ugly. And I also know what it's like to want to see something other than yourself when you look in the mirror. It's like getting a nice suit, something about it just makes you want to stand tall."

"It's just that... well this is shocking."

"Just do me a favor", Benjiro paused to make sure his phrasing was right, "You're a pretty hot headed person, but it doesn't look right seeing you look down. Just try to have a bit more of a steady courage."

Hearing those words, Akiko wasn't sure what was happening, but she felt a serious fluttering inside her chest. Like an entire flock of sparrows had suddenly arisen within her. Giving her a bit of a tired smile, "You should get doing now, I'm sure your Dad is worried about you being over here for so long."

Akiko just nodded dumbly and stood up. Walking across the street, she began to wonder, had she really gotten her heart ensnared by her neighbor?