ED: ...Unexpected, but I'm sure we're fine by now. Let's act natural.
Whoa. Uh, hey Hanako.
Good afternoon...Hisao.
Silence falls between us as busily chatting students pass us by. She's fidgeting constantly, her eyes drawn to her rather unremarkable footwear.
I take the bridge of my nose in my fingers while I blink my eyes heavily in an attempt to make things seem clearer. I am barely staying awake as it is.
Hanako, you want to say something. What is it?
ED: Huh. Direct. I like that.
U-um...I wanted to...give you this...
Hmm?
She holds out a small rectangular piece of paper. I blink again to make out the text through barely open eyes, slowing starting to make out what's written.
ED: Hopefully it's a message from Lilly or something -
ED: Are you fucking kidding me?
A shopping list?
I look upward, raising an eyebrow.
ED: Please tell me it's for Lilly. Or else...
I usually go shopping with Lilly, but I can't come, so...
You want me to run errands for you?
ED: Wow. You're a complete asshole to Hanako. I like that.
I-it's okay if you don't want to! I just thought that, maybe, um...
ED: What is this? Seriously - can't you just ask properly?
She's panicking. I sigh. Yet another battle lost, though this time by a weakly-fought surrender.
I smile tiredly and rest a hand on her head to calm her down.
ED: You - what?
It's fine, I was going to go anyway. Just the stuff on this list?
She nods then bows deeply, twice, as if to make her gratitude perfectly clear.
W-we're going to meet outside the school gates at six...thank you, I was going to get it, but I need to study for the test tomorrow.
ED: Oh, she's setting us up with Lilly. This is good news. I'm feeling less angry already.
Test? Ah, that's right, science. How're you doing with it?
She brightens ever so slightly.
I've been...spending more time on it than before. I think I can do... okay.
Good work, then.
She too, starts smiling, and much more earnestly than I at that.
I have full confidence that I can do fine in it without any extra studying, but the fact that she's putting in the effort instead of just reading in the library is heartening.
I'll grab your stuff and take it to your dorm in the evening. Seeya.
With a small wave, we part ways.
ED: Oh, well. Can't be helped. It's not like we love running errands, right?
I'll go do my homework before meeting Lilly. I should be able to take care of it in time.
ED: Hey, what about the letter? Did you forget?
ED: Well, fuck it, I guess. Let's go with Lilly.
Only a couple of minutes, but enough to make me step smartly out into the courtyard and to the school gate.
I make a right turn and start my way towards the small town below, leaving a few students turning the other way to the bus station.
I slip my right hand into my pocket as I walk into the orange sunlight of dusk.
Thankfully the sweltering summer heat's started to die down, making way for a pleasant cool breeze.
ED: Yay.
Ah, Lilly.
She stops and turns around, swiveling her head slightly to try and work out exactly where the voice came from.
Hey. It's me.
ED: A name would be nice. But I'm quite surprised Lilly went on ahead. She can't possibly go shopping on her own...
I quickly catch up to her, coming in beside her and matching her slow pace as we resume walking.
Good afternoon, Hisao.
Hi there.
ED: I thought things have progressed beyond 'Hi, friend.' 'Hello, mate.' and stuff...we should be more...lovey dovey and stuffies.
ED: Shouldn't you be looking a her, instead?
A distinct tinge of orange discolors the clouds, washing the footpath in its light. Long shadows from the trees fall across the wide road down the hill.
So, Hisao, what brings you here?
ED: Ehhh? Hanako never told her?
Just going to town to grab some groceries. Hanako sent me.
Hanako sent you?
Yeah, said she needed to study for a test tomorrow. I was going to come down anyway, so I'll just buy her stuff as well.
Unspoken is that Lilly really could use some help to get food, but it's an obvious fact that neither of us needs to state.
ED: *Shrugs*
It's good to hear she's studying for it.
I thought the same thing when she asked me to come with you.
ED: Can we not hint too obvious stuff to her already? Let's ..just be direct or something.
We continue walking down the street, the familiar sound of her cane echoing through the air as we go. Except for the occasional passing car and the leaves whispering in the branches, there's a blissful silence.
Thank God I can finally relax for the first time today.
ED: Happy for you, Bro.
I glance over at Lilly.
That porcelain face of hers never seems to lack that air of relaxed confidence. I guess the same could be said of her confidence, too.
As she silently walks, her face remaining pointed to the street ahead of her, I look ahead and savor the cool air blowing over my face.
This is probably the calmest moment I've had since the about-face my life took so recently.
To have it while walking to get some groceries. What a weird life.
ED: I think it's kind of sad.
I feel the crumpled-up note rubbing against my hand in my pocket, and pull it out to check its contents.
Let's see here...eggs, bread, cereal, thyme, lettuce, shaved ham...
That sounds like quite a bit to carry back along with your own.
Yeah. Just how much does this girl eat anyway?
ED: Have some tact, please.
Mind mind suddenly clicks that yes, there actually is a person beside me.
ED: WHAT?
W-wait, I mean...
She laughs wholeheartedly.
My my, Hisao.
ED: What an asshole you are. *Chuckles*
Her giggles punctuate her words, though she's making little effort to suppress them.
Quite direct today, aren't we?
Yeah, you got me there. Still, it is quite a bit.
ED: Awww, come on. Drop it.
Usually I go shopping with Hanako, so I know what she buys. It's the same thing every week.
Huh. She a good cook?
She gives a nervous giggle.
ED: I take that as a 'Haha, are you kidding? She's already half-cooked by now' Heaaheheauheuahauehe.
It's usually me who ends up cooking. I used to do so for Akira, so it's no problem doing it for Hanako as well.
You can cook? But...
ED: Why? Goddamit. WHY ARE YOU STILL RETARDED?
A short hum with an amused lilt emanates from beside me. I wonder if the fact that she seems amused by my comments so often is actually genuine, or rather just from a want to make me more comfortable in addressing her blindness?
ED: Do you prefer to be punched in the face instead?
There are ways around it. Some meals are more difficult to cook than others because of being unable to see what I'm doing, but it usually only takes a little more time. Fingers can double as very useful measuring tools, for example.
It makes sense, but she'd have to be pretty careful not to hurt herself. I wonder how many times that's happened, given that it sounds like she's cooked alone for possibly years while Akira worked and her parents were gone.
With that, the conversation trails off.
Compared to the awkward silences of Hanako, Lilly seems genuinely content to say what she thinks and stay quiet when there's nothing to say.
The slick road under my feet is bathed in an orange glow, the occasional fallen leaf crunching underfoot as we walk. I let out a deep yawn, my lack of sleep coming back to haunt me.
Did you not get much sleep last night?
ED: Did we even sleep together?
I couldn't sleep at all for the last two nights.
ED: Eh? What? Time skipped? AGAIN?
Probably insomnia.
Lilly's face suddenly comes worried. It feels like a personal failure every time she gets worried about my well-being, even if it's genuinely nice to know someone cares.
You have insomnia? Aren't you going to see the nurse about it?
ED:
![Eek! :eek: :eek:](/forums/smiles/icon_surprised.gif)
No. There's no need for that. I'm sure there isn't...
Nah, no real need. it's happened before a few times. My meds screw with my sleeping occasionally.
Ah...I'm..sorry.
Come on, it's not your fault. At least I shouldn't have any trouble getting to sleep tonight.
You do worry me sometimes.
ED: Oh?
I...worry you?
I reach around and scratch the back of my neck. I kind of want to address this.
Hey, Lilly.
Hmm?
I don't mean to sound weird, but...please try to forget about my heart condition.
ED: I think we'll do that once you start acting proper and stop poking at other people's disabilities.
She looks kind of lost. I hardly blame her.
I guess what I'm trying to get at is... just don't treat me differently because of it.
She bows her head slightly, her white cheeks reddening almost imperceptibly.
It's only natural to worry about those around you...
ED: ...I can't believe you just berated her for caring. What the fuck? Aspie much?
Well, it's still nice to know there's someone like that out there.
It may be somewhat embarrassing to say, but it's the truth. Lilly takes a deep breath to regain her composure and manages a gentle smile, though her cheeks remain flushed.
The final downhill walk to the store passes in silence.
I grab two well-worn red baskets from the stack beside the entrance and pass one to Lilly.
Just as she did before, she lays it on the ground and slides her retracted cone between the blanket's handle before picking it back up with her right hand.
When she takes hold of my arm in her own, I'm surprised at just how fast this ind of casual contact became so natural. Mostly due to necessity, no doubt.
Shall we?
Sure,
While we navigate around the store, the odd person occasionally passing us pays us no heed at all. It's nice, compared to the stares and whispers around the city.
As we reach each aisle, I quickly check with Lilly what she needs and grab it along with what I want, putting our items into their respective blankets.
It's an odd feeling, to be depended on so much for something so basic as shopping. Hanako would be practically a necessity for her to pick out what she wants, after all.
Right, I'm pretty much done with both my stuff and Hanako's. You needing anything else, Lilly?
No, this should be everything.
Off we go, then.
Oddly, there's a queue a mile long. Considering the store's only large enough to warrant one counter, seems like it'll take a while.
Damn.
Lilly gives an inquisitive look, unable to see the reason for my complaint.
ED: LANGUAGE!
The queue's really long. Look like we'll have to wait.
How strange.
Sharing the same mood of resignation, we reluctantly take our place at the end of the line.
One person finishes, the line moves up. Another person finishes, the line moves up.
ED: And move, the line did.
By the time we finally reach the head of the line, I'm so close to dozing of that Lilly has to gently pat me on the back for me to move up.
ED: But...how does she know when to move?
Hisao...Hisao!
Hmm? Ah, sorry.
She gives a short sigh of consternation as I move up, getting the groceries for Hanako and I put into separate bags.
ED: Jeez, what a terrible outing.
By the time we emerge from the store, Lilly's holding a single bag while I struggle to carry four, both hands well and truly full. It's a lot of work, but thankfully the items in them are light.
Even without looking skyward it's obvious that a surprising amount of time's passed, the road outside being dark and lit by streetlamps.
Once Lilly retrieves her cane, we set out back to the dormitories the way we came, leaving the welcoming glow of the store.
Despite the road being empty of cars, the full bags abundantly make up for the lack of noise, constantly clunking and squeaking together.
My my, Hisao, it's good to find that you're eating well.
ED: ??????
I'm a growing guy after all, I need to eat all I can!
ED: I guess we fast forwarded past dinner.
Hmm...it must be nice, being a man.
ED:Ask ScottishMartialArts about it.
W-what?
Seemingly not noticing or ignoring, my surprise at the completely out of the left field comment, she continues on without missing a beat.
Weight doesn't really bother you when eating, most of the time.
I get what you mean. Women tend to worry about stuff like that more than we do, I guess.
Exactly. It makes me somewhat envious, to be honest.
Well, it's not like we can outright ignore it.
With an affirmative nod, we continue our walk.
Huh, that's right.
What is it?
Hanako mentioned your birthday was earlier this year. Do anything special for it?
She gives a long pause, lost in thought for a few seconds as she recalls the event.
Not really. It was just Hanako and I having a little party during the night after school.
ED: The same one you had for her birthday, eh?
Your birthday's supposed to be a big event, you know.
ED: Are we still in sixth grade? Come on. No balloons nor cake already!
Sounds like a pretty lonely way to spend a birthday, just she and Hanako staying overnight.
ED: Perhaps the hot lesbian sex make up for it.
Birthdays always felt like a family occasion for me. They were a time when, in spite of their full-time jobs, both my parents would make an effort to be there for the day or at least for a party beforehand.
It reminds me of how Lilly mentioned she hadn't seen her family in such a long time, and even ended up moving away from Akira's house afterwards.
But I guess it's the same situations as mundane as these. Considering her inability to the packaging, just getting groceries would be a pain without somebody else around.
In the end, she just has Hanako and I, and Akira when she's off from work.
ED: Kinda sad.
Be that as it may, she still seems to have many more distant friends among the students, not to mention people like Yuuko.
It seems to be her own choice that there's no separation between those who are close to her, and those who she only socializes with.
It humbles me a little to see how much Lilly seems to have her life set up and going just as she wants.
Yet Hanako is there for her to celebrate her birthday, and I'm here helping her with shopping. It's a weird kind of symbiosis, I suppose.
Are you all right, Hisao?
ED: He's busy doing the monologue.
Sorry?
ED: Told ya.
You just seemed to go very quiet, that's all.
Ah, sorry. I was just thinking.
Oh?
ED: ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?