Moving In(1)

Tooru packed his suitcase. He would not miss the dirty cramped room. But he was not sure if living with Yoojun was the best decision.

Yoojun was stupid, for one.

And both him and his kid were annoying like birds in the morning.

He also felt like Yoojun only offered to let him live in his house so that someone could keep a watch on Naoko alongside Yoojun.

Not that he had seen Naoko or Yoojun all alone very often.

Naoko was a little kid. Fourteen, bright and irritating. The sort of kid that scratched blackboards.

The one that laughed the loudest and the one who stood the tallest.

But he was reminded from Yoojun's talk that she was still a kid, regardless of the strength in her steps.

Tooru sighed.

The door opened with a loud slam.

"Why are you living with us? You slug!" Naoko yelled.

"I need healthy food and a clean environment," Tooru said while he folded his clothes.

"Do we look like your servants?" Naoko asked through gritted teeth.

"Yes, with how stupid you are." Tooru scoffed.

"Not more than you!" Naoko walked towards Tooru and kicked him. Tooru didn't even blink. Just stared at her for a moment.

"I'm the one with the doctor's degree," he said in a quiet tone.

"Well…you still suck, and I hate you!" Naoko whined.

"Damn, I almost cared for a second." Tooru went back to packing.

Naoko had been coming to Tooru's place for the last three days trying to convince him not to come. But Tooru was sold when he ate the homemade food by Yoojun. That soon became his favorite type of food.

"Did you see Naoko—there you are." Yoojun glared at Naoko, who hid behind Tooru.

Tooru moved away.

"Oh shut up old man," Naoko stumbled.

"You shut up." Yoojun said in a mocking voice.

"No you!" Naoko yelled.

"No you." Yoojun's tone was tight.

"Get out both of you." Tooru said.

"Chocolate is dark but your heart is darker!"

Tooru visibly winced at the very painful line that Naoko said.

"Well strawberries are less sour than you!"

Wasn't Yoojun supposed to be rich? There were plenty of sweet strawberries. Tooru sighed.

"You take that back!" 

Tooru was not sure how they had survived so far.

He looked at them both for the following days. 

Yoojun tried to cook everything he saw, Naoko tested it.

It was definitely time for them to die and leave their house to Tooru.

Tooru laid on the bed. Tired from a long day.

Beside him Naoko played with his stethoscope.

And Yoojun was making a list of what to buy for groceries.

He never had time to rest, those too clung to him like they were slugs.

Idiots.

Suddenly Naoko turned and her stomach showed for a fraction of time.

Tooru saw something similar.

Something that he should not be seeing anywhere but the hospital.

He believed it was his misconception and moved on.

The thought did not let go though.

The fifth day of living with them, when he came home, the house was covered in flour and cream. 

"It's his fault!" Naoko pointed at Yoojun who looked down in shame.

"I was trying to cook you a cake, and Yoojun acted like he knew better!" Naoko pouted and looked around at the house filled with flour.

"That's dumb." Tooru sighed.

"Sorry." Yoojun said while sitting on his knees.

Naoko grinned.

They started to clean the house, though halfway through it turned into a fight.

But that's another story.

Then Tooru started to notice that sometimes when they were laughing—Naoko started to sweat a lot. Her cheeks would turn red. Her eyes blinked uncontrollably.

She would be smiling, but looked constipated.

And the marks.

Again and again, on her stomach he would see something dark.

He believed it was just a big mole.

One day as all three of them were sitting together, well two of them were sitting—Yoojun was working on his crops.

"Do you think someone could ever love me?" She asked out of nowhere and he saw Yoojun flinch a bit from the corner of his eyes.

"No," Tooru scoffed and ruffled her hair. "Don't ask stupid questions."

"I think anyone could like you." At the continued silence, Tooru continued, "Why don't you think like that?"

"Because I am dirty," Naoko walked away and tried to help Yoojun.

Tooru bit his inner cheek.

Tooru did not sleep that night. He looked at the clock but could not tell the difference between three and six.

He woke up and his body felt hot.

He tried to stand up.

But he fell off the bed. His throat felt dry. It hurt all over.

He fell asleep.

But when he woke up, he was on a soft surface. Something cool on his head.

He remembered Yoojun and Naoko sitting beside him.

Nothing else.

The next day when he could see well again, Naoko showed him a portrait.

"See! How stupid you look!" She smirked and placed the drawing of my face sleeping in front of me.

"I look like I gave birth to you," Tooru scoffed. "No wonder I am so ugly!"

"Shut up, I am pretty!" Yelled Naoko, loud enough to give Tooru a headache.

"Yeah right." Tooru rolled his eyes.

Naoko did not say anything for a moment.

"Am I really not?" 

Tooru looked at Naoko, then looking at the other side he mumbled.

"You are."

"Man, you are so easy." Naoko giggled.

Tooru threw a pillow at her, "Damn brat!"

She ran away.

He took a day off the next day as well.

"Yoojun is away!" Naoko quipped 

"Huh? Where?" Tooru questioned as he sat down on the table, a little bowl of porridge and fish that was charred.

"Miss Shizuka came back and he wanted to ask something," Naoko did not look at Tooru as he ate the burnt fish.

"You suck at this" Tooru drank some water to help him swallow.

"I'm better at baking okay!" Naoko whined.

The silence between them was one filled with understanding.

When they finished eating and Naoko stood up, her shirt pulled up a little.

Her stomach had scars. 

Big, old, dark scars.

And newer ones still.

Naoko pulled her shirt down and walked away.

"You need to explain this."

"No," Naoko mumbled.