Chapter 3
Two miles later and Mitsuru wasn’t even breaking a sweat. A miracle, that, considering the summer blaze. Mitsuru felt proud, almost Shinobu-like in his apparent success in controlling his body temperature. As if to prove the existence of Murphy’s Law, however, perspiration suddenly beaded his brow as he completed another half a lap, and Mitsuru grinned wryly. I knew it was too good to be true.
As he rounded the track to complete mile number three, the blonde spied company through the chain link fence enclosing the school track. Squinting his eyes from the direct glare of the sun and slowing to a jog, Mitsuru could just make out a figure sitting against one of the trees that ringed the outer perimeter. Since the stranger was half-hidden by shade, it took a while and several more meters before the blonde could successfully identify the newcomer.
It was the new kid.
Mitsuru debated whether or not to approach him. Although Sakata had seemed friendly enough yesterday, Mitsuru was not blind; he had seen the almost tangible charge of challenge that had sparked between the new boy and his roommate. And Mitsuru’s first loyalties were to Shinobu. Still, Sakata fascinated him and indecision plagued him.
Ten more meters and he would be abreast of the boy. It seemed Sakata was unaware of his presence and Mitsuru took the opportunity to size up the other boy.
Sakata had a small notebook propped against knees that were drawn up almost to his chest. One hand held a pen that was being twirled adeptly between long fingers. The other clutched a half-smoked cigarette between index and middle finger while the heel of the palm rested against a brow knit in a thoughtful frown.
He looks like a Rodin sculpture, Mitsuru thought to himself and immediately felt proud that he had retained some of the knowledge from his art appreciation class.
Five meters and Mitsuru was able to make out a pair of dark shades resting precariously on a thatch of dark brown hair, curled slightly and cut short on the sides. In his ears were those ubiquitous earphones, plugged into the MP3 player by his side. Sakata wore a white, long-sleeved Oxford, rolled partway up his forearms, and a thick, white T-shirt underneath. A pair of faded jeans and black, thick-soled boots completed the ensemble.
How can he stand this heat in that outfit? Mitsuru grimaced to himself and then stopped short. And why am I thinking of clothes? Kuso, I’ve been hanging around Shin too long!
He was in direct line of sight from Sakata now. Mitsuru stopped jogging altogether and walked slowly to the fence that separated clay from grass. He wiped at the sweat that now trickled freely down his face, then leaned against the chest-high chain link, elbows perched on the top rail. He had made his decision.
“Oi, Sakata!”
The other boy looked up, startled. A flush stained his cheeks and Mitsuru wasn’t sure whether it was due to the heat or embarrassment. This was getting better and better, though. If Sakata was embarrassed over something, Mitsuru knew he just had to find out why. He leaped over the fence gracefully and dogtrotted to cover the distance between them.
By the time Mitsuru reached him, Sakata had managed to close the notebook, the pen marking his spot, and tuck it under the MP3 player. He had pulled his earphones off and they dangled loosely from one hand. His knees were still bent, wrists hanging loose over them. He was looking at Mitsuru as if in wait for the other’s company, but his expression was not welcoming. He remained seated.
“So this is what people do for kicks around here,” Sakata commented, letting his blue eyes slide up and down Mitsuru’s bedraggled state.
Was he being mocked? The blonde could not read the inscrutable boy. It was eerie. Sakata reminded him so much of Shinobu. Maybe that was why he was so fascinating…
“It’s something,” Mitsuru shrugged.
“You can’t get enough of school that you hang around it during break?”
This time, Mitsuru was almost certain of the scorn behind those words. He was beginning to regret his decision to befriend the boy.
“Hey, I’m not the only one here, you know! I might ask you the same question,” Mitsuru folded his arms across his chest and put on a mutinous scowl.
Ryan was stymied. He was not about to reveal to this virtual stranger that his father had taken off to the Philippines for yet another business trip, leaving his son alone in a half-unpacked apartment. And he was not about to reveal how, in his infinite loneliness, he had gravitated toward the school, it being the only place he was familiar with in this strange new world.
Ryan took a long drag from his cigarette to stall for time. He wanted to tread very carefully around this situation. He was already kicking himself for being so snide, although snide seemed to be the only thing that came out of his mouth nowadays. But Ryan had a sneaking suspicion that he could get to like this boy if given half the chance, and he didn’t want to fuck things up again. He waited to compose his thoughts so that the next thing out of his mouth would not alienate the other boy further.
To Mitsuru, however, the hesitation smacked of insolence and the blonde felt his hackles rise. He was beginning to understand the antagonism Shinobu had for this enigma. This was a different Sakata from the one who had regaled the Academy boys with wild California stories yesterday. It was as if the boy was bipolar or something, running intermittently hot then cold like a faucet gone berserk.
Mitsuru was about to turn away and give it up as a lost cause when Sakata drew a long breath and unfolded his lanky frame from his sitting position. He dropped his cigarette butt on the ground and stubbed out the embers with the heel of his steel-toed Docs. He stuffed his earphones into his front pocket then ran a hand through his hair, nearly dislodging the forgotten shades before expertly catching them in mid-fall. He shrugged ruefully.
“Look, let’s start over, okay? You’re Mitsuru, right?”
“Ikeda,” Mitsuru answered back sourly. He was not letting go of his ire so quickly; he didn’t want to seem a push-over. And he didn’t think he wanted this rude jerk to use his first name just yet.
“Ikeda, then. Well, Ikeda, do you mind telling me why someone would go running like a mad dog in this crazy heat? Inquiring minds want to know.”
The disarming tone took Mitsuru off guard. Bipolar, indeed! But the blonde’s intrinsically cheery disposition overrode any irritation he still harbored. It just wasn’t in Mitsuru’s nature to hold a grudge where none was needed. Sakata was making an effort; he would meet him halfway.
“It’s vacation heat. It’s not so bad.”
Rather than questioning this obscure comment, Sakata grinned widely. The sudden cracking of his stoic façade softened the boy’s features, transforming harsh concrete into liquid amber. The smile was something akin to every metaphor about suns coming out of clouds and such; it made him seem warmer yet even more unapproachable at the same time. Mitsuru staggered under the heat of that hundred-watt blaze.
“Ack! Now I see why you don’t smile more often. You’re lethal with that thing, aren’t you?”
“It’s been known to impress the honeys.”
The two boys exchanged wickedly knowing smirks then burst into guffaws. Nothing induces immediate male bonding as quickly as raging testosterone. Ryan leaned back against the tree with one hand. It hurt to laugh so hard. But it felt good, too. He couldn’t remember when he’d laughed so completely. He sank to his haunches, helpless. Was this true amusement he was feeling or just a release of all the tension and anger and sorrow he’d been feeling since he’d found out…?
No! Ryan pushed back his treacherous thoughts. He would not let them ruin this moment. His first friend in Japan. And he was as blond and potentially as dangerous as Moon. God, this was rich!
“You never answered my question,” Mitsuru had calmed down to mild chuckles and was now sprawled on the grass beside the other boy, stomach down and chin cushioned by folded hands. His head was cocked to one side like an inquisitive sparrow.
“Which was?”
“What you’re doing here. See, I have an excuse. I’m not going home for summer break and the dorm’s just around the corner. Since I haven’t seen you hang around, I figured you lived off campus. And the nearest apartments are at least a train ride away…” Mitsuru trailed off as he was subjected to that brilliant smile again. “What?”
“Checking me out?”
The phrase came out before Ryan could think over the implications of those words. Once out, however, the boy felt heat rising to his cheeks. I am an unbelievable ass. Now he’ll think I’m queer or something.
Mitsuru was blithely ignorant of the verbal faux pas, however. He was too busy trying to sidle ever closer to the other boy.
Okay, correction. Maybe he is queer!
Ryan was about to shove Mitsuru aside and make a playful remark to defuse the situation when he realized he was not the object of the blonde’s attention. Mitsuru was staring with fixed panic over his shoulder. He looked like nothing so much as a rabbit facing down a cobra. Ryan swiveled his head and saw two girls fast approaching them. One was a petite brunette, her hair tied back in a long ponytail against the suffocating heat. Accompanying her was a willowy blonde. Both wore determined looks on their faces. It was they who had Ryan’s new friend in a dither.
Ryan rose slowly to his feet and Mitsuru reluctantly did the same, although the shorter boy managed to hide his body partway behind Ryan’s lanky frame. Interesting, that.
“You’re the new kid, aren’t you?” The brunette snapped her gum and spoke without preamble.
“News travels fast around here,” Ryan answered with casual ease. He had a problem making friends with boys. Girls, on the other hand, were a different matter altogether.
“Oh, we make sure we know who’s new in town. Especially someone as good looking as you.” The brunette had no shame as she peeked through long lashes and smirked at her target.
“And I don’t blame you,” Ryan bantered, completely in his element. “This is my friend, Ikeda, by the way.” He shoved the other boy front and center.
Mitsuru had no choice but to make eye contact with the two girls and bow politely. The blonde cringed inwardly. Here it comes, he thought. They’re gonna swoon all over me and then I’ll have to fend them off all summer!
But instead of the usual fawning he was accustomed to from those of the opposite sex, the brunette merely flicked him a perfunctory glance then fixed her attention back to Ryan. The taller girl did look at him a bit longer, an appraising gleam in her eye that made Mitsuru distinctly uneasy. But before he could entertain that panicky feeling, she dismissed him as her friend had done and turned toward the other boy.
Amazing! Mitsuru gaped at Ryan. The blonde didn’t know whether to be extremely grateful to his female shield or miffed that his throne was being usurped by this pretender.
Ryan had moved a bit away from Mitsuru, perhaps sensing the other’s hesitation and giving him time to come to terms with whatever bothered him. The taller boy’s back was to his new friend and he continued his flirtation with the girls, hands in pockets and shoulders slumped in a picture of cool nonchalance. Mitsuru was still trying to decide on his feelings for the situation when he felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder.
“I thought you were running.”
Mitsuru turned to see Shinobu behind him. His roommate was impeccably clad as usual, breaking nary a drop of sweat in khakis and a light cream-colored sweater, cut low and loose to reveal stark collarbones. Mitsuru studied him for half a moment then glanced back at Ryan. The other boy looked as cool in his jeans and long sleeves as if it was a balmy 75 degrees out and not the currently pushing triple digit temperature.
Why am I the only one hating the heat here? Mitsuru wailed to himself plaintively.
“Mitsuru?” Shinobu’s question was pointed.
“I was running. Then I sort of got distracted.”
“I see.”
“Hai! Sakata was just sitting here and he looked lonely, you know? So I came over and we started talking and he’s really friendly once you get past the --- what?” Mitsuru did not like the scowl forming in Shinobu’s grey eyes.
“We’re late for dinner.” The silver-haired boy managed to make the innocuous statement sound accusatory.
“Oh, I know! I was getting that rumbly feeling in my stomach and I was about to suggest food to Sakata when --- what?!” This time, Mitsuru could not mask the exasperation from his voice as he watched Shinobu’s jaw tighten imperceptibly.
“You were going to suggest food. To Sakata.” His roommate spat out the words forbiddingly.
“Hai?” Mitsuru’s tone hitched high, half-bewildered and half-challenging. He knew Shinobu didn’t like the other boy, but he had never really given Sakata half a chance, had he? And it was just food, for crying out loud! It wasn’t as if Mitsuru had invited the new boy to become his best friend or anything!
“Let’s just go, ne?” Shinobu was suddenly weary of the bickering. “You’re acquaintance seems to be busy at the moment anyway.” That last bit was announced with scornful sharpness.
It was unfortunate for Ryan that the girls decided to cut their conversation short just then. They made to leave, waving good-bye and calling out exhortations for Ryan to phone them soon. The boy ran his hand through his hair, a seemingly habitual affectation, and waved back. Then he turned to address his new friend, planning on ribbing the blonde about his apparent shyness with the ladies. He was confronted by a pair of steely grey eyes.
Oh, damn. Ryan had forgotten about the watch dog.
“Tezuka.”
“Sakata.”
Again with the underlying challenge. Again with the ill-concealed venom. Again with the long, charged look that neither boy seemed inclined to back down from. If a third party didn’t do anything, it promised to be a very long night. Mitsuru’s stomach grumbled.
“Oi, Shin! I’m hungry! Didn’t you say we’re late for dinner? If we don’t move, we’ll miss out on some really yummy miso soup!”
Shinobu’s eyes flickered briefly in acknowledgement and that was all that was needed to demagnetize the poles. He broke contact and walked slowly toward his roommate, his back unwavering in his graceful retreat.
Ryan sighed inwardly with relief although his face was still fixed in an impassive mask. He knew danger when he smelled it, and this boy positively reeked of it. However, that contrary part of him - the part that had gotten him into all sorts of trouble back home - relished the danger, even sought it. Yet even thrill seekers recognized the need to know the layout of a terrain before attempting to conquer it. This Tezuka was unknown territory. Ryan would wait. His time would come soon enough.
It was too bad, really, that Ikeda was saddled with such a sour bastard. Ryan knew, even in that brief moment of camaraderie they had shared, that the blonde was something akin to a kindred spirit. God, he even made him think of Moon! That had to count for something…
Ryan was not about to give up his new friend without a fight. He didn’t care about first dibs. That’s not the way the game is played if one wanted to win. And Ryan wanted to win. Desperately. He wanted one good thing in his life and, unlike Ikeda, he held no loyalties to this silver-haired freak.
“Cool. Maybe I’ll see you then.” Ryan walked back to the tree that had proved a steadfast guard to his notebook. With the toe of his boot, he kicked it up and caught it and the pen that flew out from it in one deft grasp.
Mitsuru saw this skillful feat, as the other boy had intended, and gave him an approving thumbs’ up. “Hai! I’ll talk to you later, then, Sakata!”
“It’s Ryan. Just call me Ryan!”
“Okay, Ryan! Ja!” The words floated back on the faint breeze that signaled day’s end and a cooling evening.
It was unclear whether or not Mitsuru had intended anything by it, but Shinobu was not the only one who caught the meaning behind the exchange. Ryan smiled, its glow dimmed by the calculation that found its way into his blue eyes. He had called Mitsuru by his first name. And Mitsuru had not stopped him. In fact, Mitsuru had returned the favor. Ryan watched the boys’ retreating figures. Like yin and yang, those two. But were they really inseparable?
Tokyo wasn’t going to be so bad after all.