Episode 11.5 Part 4. It was the Cat

He stood outside the office, holding his things tightly to his chest. Ichirou had gone downstairs when Tomo turned toward what had been Sawa’s office. Any determination to thank Yuu and not run away from everyone that he had before left him as soon as he heard the others talk.

“I’ll see what Tomo’s up to,” Ken said. “Maybe he got shy.”

“Could be. He doesn’t have friends over much,” Chika replied.

His heart hammered in his chest and though he wanted to run off, his legs gave.

“What was that?”

Of course, his sister heard him.

“It’s probably the cat.”

Sayoko knew it was him. He could hear it in her voice.

“It has to be the cat.”

And so did Ken.

“But we don’t have a cat?”

His sister’s strengths were her kindness and playing sports and nothing else. Not that she was stupid, but she sometimes didn’t catch on to what Sayoko and Ken hinted at.

Before long Ken was standing at the door, looking down on Tomo with an amused smile.

“Sayocchi, do you think it’s a big or small cat?”

“Fairly big. Cute though. Probably black fur and… hmm... Blue eyes?”

Sakura laughed.

“Did I get it right, Kenta?”

“I’ll carry it inside so you can see for yourself if you were right.”

Tomo scrambled to his feet to run away as Ken tried to catch him.

“I might have to chase this cat.”

He stared at Ken with wide eyes, while Ken looked like he had fun.

“Be back soon,” Sakura said.

“When you get back, you better help me with math, Kenta.”

Ken got him as soon as they got downstairs.

“Where are you trying to run, my adorable little kitty?” he whispered in Tomo’s ear.

He kept Tomo from running, his arms firmly wrapped around Tomo’s waist. But rather than slow down, Tomo’s heart raced further.

“This is unfair,” he muttered.

“What is?”

“You’re making my heart race.”

“You do that all the time. I wish I could hold and kiss you to show how much I like you.” He nuzzled Tomo’s hair. “But everyone is here now.”

Tomo was unsure if that was meant for him, but it made him want to spend time with Ken. The grip had loosened and he turned to gaze into Ken’s brown eyes. He reached up and wrapped his arms around Ken’s neck. With strained breathing, Ken closed the distance, and Tomo’s heart pounded so loud Ken must hear it too.

“Hey, Kenta. Come back soon!” Sayoko shouted.

“I’ll be right back,” Ken shouted over his shoulder. He sniggered sheepishly and put his forehead against Tomo’s. “Maybe I can receive that kiss I’ve been yearning for later. Or is it still worth too much for this world?”

“Now,” Tomo whispered. “And I’ll go study.”

Ken’s eyes widened. “Here?”

He pulled Ken with him to his room and closed the door. Ken chuckled.

“You’re cute when you’re desperate.” He cupped his hands around Tomo’s cheeks, making them tingle.

“Ken,” he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. “I love you.”

There was a moment of surprise, before Ken smiled as he closed the distance and Tomo closed his eyes.

Right before their lips touched he whispered: “I love you too, Tomo.”

***

Ken cleared his throat. “I caught the cat.”

He helped Tomo pick up the things he had left on the floor. Their faces were flushed and their breathing strained.

Ken sat down at his spot and picked up his pencil from his textbook, intensely staring into the book. Tomo squeezed himself in between Yuu and Tatsumi.

Sayoko was grinning knowingly.

“What’s up with you, senpai? Seki-chan?” Watanabe Keitarou’s gaze travelled between them.

Sayoko laughed. “It was a struggle for the cat to hide and for Ken to find him.”

“Let’s get back to studying,” Ken said, covering his mouth with his hand, and avoiding looking at Tomo.

Tatsumi discreetly pushed his notebook to the side and shifted his arm. Tomo saw a question.

What did you do?

“Do you need help with that, Tatsumi?” He sounded awkward even to his own ears.

“Yeah, I kept trying, but it doesn’t look right.”

Kissed. Just a little.

He pulled his notebook back to him. “So that’s how you write that. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

“Hey, are you trying your new glasses? You got that.”

He looked up, and Chika pointed at the visible corner of a mint notebook. The print with a bunny wearing glasses wasn’t visible, but Chika had seen it many times in the past few years. She’d recognise the worn-out corner anywhere.

“Oh, yeah. I picked them up earlier. Where did they go?” He looked at his notebooks and textbooks.

“Is this it?” Yuu held up a white case.

“Thanks.”

When he took off his glasses he froze and his skin crawled. He had worn the pink frames in front of classmates who knew nothing about him.

However, it was done and whatever bad would come from it, would come regardless, so he took a deep breath. There was no point in panicking now. He could handle it. Maybe.

“You went with a light purple?” Chika asked. “I guess I owe Chiyo ramen now.”

“That’s low.” Ken stared at Chika, who turned to him. “Why didn’t you let me join in on the bet?”

“Huh? Why would you even want to guess on the colour of the frames?”

“Why would you two do it?”

“Please, don’t start fighting.”

Glares turned to Tomo, who forced a smile. “We’re not fighting,” they said in unison, then glared at each other.

Tomo laughed half-heartedly as the two turned to look in any direction but each other.

“We nearly didn’t get any glasses at all,” Airi sighed. “The salesperson tried to offer other suggestions than what Momo wanted. Eventually we told her she was too persistent. Right, Yuu?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Momo-chan almost ran away several times and was about to give up, but I guess we were too persistent as well.”

“It was fine in the end, though we found out after too much time that there was a lilac version of the very same model and brand as Tomo already owned.” Ken groaned. “We spent three hours trying to find what someone could have easily found for us, because they had until recently been on display on current styles. Are they uncomfortable?”

“They seem fine, but I think they’re a little loose, after all.” Tomo pushed them up and wrote it down.

“But they adjusted the frames in the store?” Airi pointed out.

“There might be a need for fine adjustments. Tomo he keeps notes so he can switch back to a comfortable pair if it hurts.” Ken suddenly laughed. “Or fall off.”

“That was awful,” Tomo laughed as he remembered the incident. His glasses had fallen into a dough while he was baking with Ken and Keiko.

“What?” Satou asked. “Is there a funny story?”

“I doubt your homework includes stories about someone’s glasses. You’re not in elementary school anymore.” Shouji was at the door holding a tray with tea and snacks, which he placed at the centre of the table. “Fill your mouths so you can’t talk and get your homework done.”

***

“Senpai?” All third-years looked up. “Oh, I meant Yamada-senpai,” Satou said apologetically.

“What is it? Do you need help with math? Science?”

Tomo could never understand how Ken’s strongest subjects were the ones that required the most effort. Aside from anything related to the theatre, Ken could be extremely reluctant to do anything that wasn’t absolutely necessary. He seemed more like the type that would enjoy physical activity, like Chika did, but no, it was science and mathematics.

He claimed they were the easiest; just know a bit of basic knowledge and use logic and getting good grades was no effort at all.

Tomo on the other hand was awful at science and had to push through one struggle after another to just understand. Ken was a fairly good teacher though, and he knew what parts tripped Tomo up. Mathematics could be a little easier. Sometimes.

“I was wondering if it’s true that you’ve dated all girls at B High.”

“Wow! I got quite the rep. Can’t help it if I’m irresistible.”

“It’s about half of them, right? Lots in our year, and some of the second years. In the past two years you’ve focused on those in the year above, right?”

“Some of my girls I met while they were in middle school, and they came to our school too.”

“Then I think it’s about half, yeah.”

“Sayocchi, are you keeping track?”

“Maybe.”

“I hope you haven’t been breaking the rules…”

Sayoko laughed. “No. I always wanted to figure out your type. I guess I have now.”

Tomo felt his heart sink and a lump grow in his throat.

“What’s senpai’s type?”

That was the question he didn’t want to hear.

“None of your business,” Sayoko replied with a smile. “I didn’t spend years keeping track of girls Kenta dated just to satisfy other people’s curiosity. You go ahead and track his dating activities for the next seven years to figure that one out.”

Tomo smiled. Seven years was how long Sayoko had known Ken, though they didn’t really interact until they entered the same school. It wasn’t, however, how long he had been going on dates. He would have been ten if it was seven years earlier.

Though it was almost right.

Chika laughed. “You’re so mean to the first-years, Sayo-chan.”

“Would you want me to tell people your type just because I know, Chii-chan?”

“No!”

“My point exactly.”

“Now they’re curious, so share your type, Sayocchi.”

“Sakura-chan, I guess,” she said after a moment of thinking.

“Huh?”

Sakura’s eyes were wide in shock, and everyone but Tatsumi, Ken and Tomo were staring. Sayoko had a glint in her eye, though she attempted to look serious.

Tomo glanced at Ken and shrugged. “The crude, death-loving type who looks like they’re a good kid?”

“Exactly! That gap! I’d love someone like that. I’d date Sakura, but she’s not into me.” Sayoko laughed at her own joke.

“So who would Hana-chan be into?” Satou followed up. “From this group?”

Without even a moment’s hesitation, Ken and Tomo pointed at each other.

“I get why senpai would have an idea, but why would Seki-chan think he knows? Aren’t you here because you know Ai-chan?”

“No, you idiot. I live next door. I wouldn’t even bother to visit Ai-chan if I’m told I’ll study.” Sakura then looked at Tomo and Ken. “Did you two really have to point at my first and second crushes? And why tell senpai?”

“It’s not our fault you used to have crushes on us,” Ken grinned. “And Tomo tells me everything.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Ow!”

Tomo had protested at the same time as Sakura had punched Ken’s arm.

“Be glad that’s all I’m giving you in return for your compliment.”

“Yeah, okay. Thanks.”

Watanabe gave Sakura a questioning look.

“We know senpai would date any girl, so I guess that’s Ai-chan, Hana-chan, and Chika-senpai.”

“Sakkun? No, that’s gross. Chika would probably kill me. And it’s over with Sayocchi, right?”

Sayoko nodded.

“Airi, wanna go on a date?”

“No?” Airi asked, confused.

“So none of the girls here is my type.”

“Seki-senpai then? Who’s her type in here?”

“Her type’s definitely not here,” Sayoko, Tomo and Ken said at the same time. Chika blushed, while Ken shot a worried glance at Sayoko.

“I’m curious about Seki-chan,” Watanabe said. “Who is his type?”

Tomo stared intensely into his textbook, feeling how his anxiety was making it harder to breathe.

“Guys, do your homework,” Tatsumi said. “You haven’t even started the Japanese literature one and we won’t tell you anything.”

Tomo relaxed when silence fell in the room and Tatsumi gave him a reassuring pat on the back.

He was lucky he’d become friends with someone like him.

***

There was a knock on the door, and Tomo turned to see Ichirou.

“Are you staying for dinner?”

“Oh, is it that late? I have to get home.”

Satou put his things into his backpack. After asking about the track record of Ken’s dating, he had quietly worked through his homework, only asking when he needed help from someone else.

“I’ll let my family know I’m staying for dinner,” Watanabe said.

“Ai-chan and Sayoko-senpai are eating at my place. Chika-nee can come too, if you need space,” Sakura said.

“I’m staying.”

“I expected as much, Kenta-kun.”

“Yuu, what will you do?”

“Neesan will be angry as it is. I need to text her and say I’ll be late.”

“Your turn to cook?” Airi asked.

“Yeah…”

“Tatsumi?”

“I need to call home first. Otherwise, I’ll just come back after eating if we’ll continue.”

“Tatsumi-kun, let me know later.”

“Ichirou-san, is Shouji staying for dinner?” Tomo asked.

“He is.”

Ken stood up just like Tomo did upon hearing the answer.

“I assume you are helping with preparations, then. I’d appreciate it.”

“I somehow feel responsible for Shouji-nii…”

“And he’s my father.”

“Doesn’t that make him Se- Chika-senpai’s father as well? Shouldn’t she help too, then?”

“If you want food poisoning, Watanabe-kun, you’re free to ask Chika-san to cook for you.”

“My cooking isn’t that bad!”

“It has gradually become more like your mother’s, so I don’t think anyone but you can eat it anymore.”

“What? No! Let me— Sayoko, don’t hold me! I’ll help—!”

Ichirou-san closed the door after Ken when they had left the room. Tomo and Ken both let out a relieved sigh and followed Ichirou, holding hands.

They both must have felt a bit frustrated about being close, but also not close enough to even bump shoulders.

At least Tomo had been.