Chapter 21

Ojisan: Subarashi! Finally some free time! Now I can watch some anime. I haven't been able to finish black clover yet. The last time I caught up to it was way in the past. Just goes to show that time really does fly. I looked away for a second and suddenly I'm a hundred chapters away.

The stress on Ojisan was starting to show as his hairs were starting to change color. I kind of forget that he's actually quite an age. Yet, his face was quite young compared to most people his age.

I was in their house once again, though this time I was here for a different reason. Mera wanted Ojisan to take us to the festival which was in a couple of days. The night sky started to show the busy street lights flashing multiple different colors. Sometimes I forget that they live in a penthouse.

Ojisan was a child in a handsome middle aged man's body. Nobody would expect this man to have a bunch of glass cabinets filled with different anime merchandise right next to his wardrobe of suits. It doesn't help that the moment people enter the living room, there are numerous wall scrolls of anime too. It was a revelation when I first stepped in. I thought for sure that Mera was an otaku.

Ojisan: Oh Mark-kun! I didn't notice you there. I don't recall this to be a day you'd normally arrive. So you must be here for something else entirely. Did Mera not bring you to her room yet? Either way, you're most welcomed into our home. Visit anytime if you don't mind me watching anime in the background, Mako-kun.

Mako: Yeah, I'm actually here for business.

Ojisan: Business? I'm already in my home yukata though.

Mako: No, it's not business in that sense. Don't worry about changing.

Ojisan: Then fire away, Mako-kun.

Mako: It's about the Falling Leaf Festival.

Ojisan: Oh! Are you looking for work? I can gladly squeeze you into helping one of the stands we have.

Mako: No, that's alright. I already am working in one of your booths anyway.

Ojisan: Sugoi, you already have the connections to do that at your age. You're way too mature than you look.

Mako: Yeah, but the problem is that it's my first time going there. I've never actually gone to Mount Polaris. I've avoided the Falling Leaf festival the last couple of years because of complications but this year is different. Mera said she wanted to go too.

Ojisan: Oh, so you two need a ride? Doesn't the school provide students passes? That's what I did from my time in Oak high.

Mako: I just don't like the idea of cramp spaces in public areas.

Ojisan: Hm… Then so be it. I'll drive you two there. I was going to go there anyway but I was going to be much early since I have to oversee a couple of things. Are you two sure that you want to be that early into Polaris?

Mako: It sounds fine for me.

Ojisan: Alright then. Be here by four A.M.

Mako: Four A.M.!

Ojisan: I did say, early. Even then, the roads are going to start to accumulate cars. Some people even prefer riding their jitensha like some kind of right of passage.

Mako: I'm good! I'll take your offer.

Ojisan: Actually now that I think about it. You must commute to school don't you?

Mako: Yeah, I do.

Ojisan: Follow me then.

Ojisan quickly hit the pause button of his video player then shuffled past me. He signalled me to follow him towards a door that was by the kitchen. I hadn't actually seen this door because I don't usually loiter around the property for long. His face lit up as he opened the door! He didn't hesitate as he went through the doorway. Walking up, what was behind would be his workshop.

The flooring was the same as the living room's, however the room was shaped as a studio. Only one light fixture and that was above us. This cozy feeling of someone else's hard work felt strange. There weren't even any windows. A place where all distractions were void. Pure focus breathed into this room and it showed. I was amazed...

There were dozens of things around the small room that were completed. From wooden sculptures of anime to a completed one thousand puzzle piece albeit anime, this room was the polar opposite of mine. Something inside of me just started to burn inside. What was this? Envy? Or admiration?

He walked over the mechanical section of his workshop. Screws, bolts, and screwdrivers were scattered in this section of the studio. I walked over to see what he was actually reaching for, he lifted up something metallic. It looked like some kind of frame?

Mako: What is that, Ojisan?

Ojisan: This right here is a foldable bicycle. It's a bit special in it's own right because it's a custom metal paint job to look like the bike from Akira. Assuming that you know that movie in the first place, this is actually quite rare because the metal is a strange substance that makes it so light and foldable.

Mako: How rare?

Ojisan: It costs me in the higher areas of 5 digits. Hazukashi, it was an impulse buy. I mean I do like Akira but I'm not a big fan. I just knew it was going to be a rare buy that I needed to have.

Mako: What are you going to do with it?

Ojisan: Well, I thought it was going to be a bit obvious but I'm clearly offering you this frame.

Mako: A whole frame!?

Ojisan: Yeah, I mean what else would you want from this room hahahaha. Another truth is that I don't actually know how to ride a bike.

Mako: Really?

Ojisan: Honto. I never learned from my parents and I didn't even bother learning it myself. It didn't occur to me that I actually didn't have the capacity to ride one when I bought it… My head just processed rare anime item.

Mako: Ojisan…

Ojisan: Yes?

Mako: I don't know either…

Ojisan: …

Mako: …

This awkward silence… His blank express made me want to laugh but it would make it even more awkward.

Ojisan: It's not too late to learn. Just take it, the frame is pretty light in itself plus it's collapsable. It'll save a lot of money on commuting and healthier too.

I held out my hands to reach out for the bike. As he dropped it on my hands, it really was lighter than I expected. I could even haul this over my back while I walked and I still wouldn't know the difference. Ojisan just smiled then patted me on the back. Suddenly the realization hits, he hadn't attached the damn wheels!

Guess it's up to me to complete the rest. Looking around, I could see the items that looked like the wheels. Though it didn't look like traditional wheels because it's just a red giant whole circle. Nothing that could pass through it. Fuck! Why was this so hard to describe! Looks like I could just attach it…

Mera: Mako~

For a second, my soul leapt out of my soul. Damn it woman! Cinnamon roll scared me within my focused state. Just as I got up to greet her properly, her cat eyes shined at the sight of my new bike frame.

Mera: Woah! Dad's finally giving that thing away!

Mako: Thing? It's a bike.

Mera: I knew that. It's just been a while since I've seen it again. I'm glad that if Akira was going away, it was going to you.

Mako: Akira is the movie from which the paint job is based. It's not actually called Akira.

Mera: Really? Well I like to call it Akira anyway~

Mako: I got some good news. Your dad is going to drive us but we have to be awake by four in the morning.

Mera: Four in the morning! I feel like I'm going to die~

Mako: Be fucking grateful. You didn't want to ask him yourself.

Mera: But Mako, you're dad's favorite. He can't really say no to you.

Mako: Please don't say that…

Mera: It is true though… You always managed to convince dad somehow.

Mako: That's because I'm more direct.

Mera: I don't think that's true, Mako. I've been direct to him for a long time now.

Mako: You just need to talk to him more. I'm sure he'd listen.

Mera: Hm~ You're actually being quite nice to me today, Mako.

Mako: Shut your fucking mouth, cinnamon roll. Just help me with these wheels already damn it.

Mera: There she is.

Was I actually turning soft? No, I'm not. The person that changed the most was her after all. She used to be much more feisty during the first time we've met. Now she's just accepted me into her life. Someone that I could siphon out of.

As we finally finished up actually creating Akira, I made my way out. Mera walked with me out of the entrance of the building. Despite holding a bike on my back, the only thing that I was spinning in my head was what she said.