Oh my god, I think I'm going to die...from stuffing my face with Eri's mother's delicious feast! I'm so full that I'm about to explode, and yet I cannot stop eating. I had no idea what half of food I've eaten was but I really enjoyed it. I take back all the bad preconceptions I had earlier about coming here, it wasn't so bad after all. If anything could make me come back to Eri's house it would be her mother's cooking. She must have the Midas touch when it comes to cooking. It's such a damn shame that Eri never inherited this skill from her.
"Like it?" Mother Kamei asks me with a smile. She has a snaggletooth just like Eri, one would think she was her older sister.
"Oh yes. Thank you so much for dinner Kamei-san. It's been a long time since I've had a home cooked meal." Indeed it was the best meal I've had in a long long time.
But after dinner, the rest of the night seem to went downhill from there. It consisted of watching Eri opening her birthday and Christmas gifts. Lucky her, killing two birds with one stone, as they say. The moment I saw her opening her gifts from the other members I felt bad. Even Aya gave her a gift which made me feel even worse even though it was just a bunch of Glico snacks and a case of Gogo no Koucha tea, an all occasion gift Aya gave to anyone. Of course, she was only cleaning out her cupboards and fridge. That's it, I've had enough. My mood had been fluctuating all night more than a middle aged woman with hot flashes. If it had not been for Eri's mother's glorious dinner I would've stormed out a long time ago. I think I'm starting to have indigestion, I thought as I pounded at my chest. I then stood up.
"I should be going now." I yawned and stretched my arms. "Thank you for inviting me. I had a great time." I bowed to them while slowly creeping my way towards the front door.
"Oh, but it's getting late now." Eri's mother pointed out. "You should stay over for the night. I'm sure Eri won't mind."
"Eh?" I stopped in my footsteps.
"Yes!" Eri squeaked. "Please stay over tonight. You can stay in my room."
"Eh?" I repeated.
"After you clean it up." Eri's mother added.
"Mom!" Eri screeched.
"I have plenty of space in my room!" Eri's brother butts in and immediately shies away, his face turning beet red. We all looked at him for a second then the focus went back to me.
"Er, um..." I struggled with my words. "Well I don't want to be a bother."
"No, not at all. Anata, it's perfectly fine, right?" Eri's mother looks at her husband.
"Well," Eri's father spoke with such a deep manly voice. It seemed like it was the first time I heard him speak all night. "I guess it depends on Miss Fujimoto's decision, huh?" He looked at me with his handsome piercing dark eyes. "You are more than welcome to stay at our house."
"Uhhhhhhhhhh....H-H-Hai?" A voice came out my throat. I had no idea where it came from but I didn't say anything! My body acted on its own, I swear! I must've looked like a damn fool just now. I hope I wasn't drooling.
Miss Fujimoto? Is that what he called me?
Ah, suteki. On second thought, make that Eri's mother's cooking and her father would make me come back to her house. I wonder if Eri's mother was caught by this charm of his as well. It's voodoo, I tell you. Voodoo! Oh, god! Why is my chest pounding right now? Indigestion still?
"Great! Eri get the extra futon and set up everything." Eri's mother commanded.
I finally shook out of my trance. "Wait! I-uhhhhh..." I stuttered like a fool again, but before I could protest Eri already sped up the stairs like she was in Hakkan! CM all over again.
Nooooo! I mentally cried. I've been tricked! This is not fair! But I sighed in defeat, there's no escape out of this one. I then turned to Eri's family and bowed. "Thank you for letting me stay over." I lied.
"Ah, I wonder if you'll be ok sleeping in nee-san's room." Eri's sister chimed in, sympathizing for me.
I leaned closer to her and whispered. "You'll come rescue me, right?"
She winked and gave me the ok sign. I snickered weakly and patted the top of her head. I really hope she does rescue me at some point during the night. I approached the stairs and turned to look at the rest of the Kameis who just waved at me as if saying their final farewell as I entered my doom that is waiting for me upstairs. I felt like I was at an execution, being sent up to the gallows up above. Why, Kami-sama, why? Do you hate me or something??? What did I do to get myself into this mess? How I wished this was a dream right now, and I'm actually passed out, drunk out of my mind, and dreaming up these crazy dreams. Hell, I wished this was a crazy drug trip even though I've never taken drugs. Next thing I know I've finally reached Eri's room where I see her setting up the extra futon and tossing her junk to one side of the room.
"There. Finished." She said, feeling accomplished.
I looked at the futon on the floor. Not too shabby looking. Then I looked at her bed which she had dumped the stuff piled on it earlier to the floor. I'd rather sleep on that than on the floor.
"I'm taking your bed, if you don't mind." I said and sat down on it. I should at least get my way for once, especially when I was dragged here against my will. Ok, not really, but I am the guest of honor after all.
"Oh yeah, of course." Eri didn't even protest. "It'll be like a sleepover."
A sleepover, huh? I don't even remember the last time I had one. Aya doesn't count. I just hope I'll be able to sleep in peace. Being Eri's hotel roommate was one thing but now I'm at her house, who knows what weird bedtime routines she has. I then watched Eri proceeding to "clean" up some more by kicking a pile of junk into a corner of the room. In that same corner I noticed some marks on the wall in which some of the paint color had worn off. Judging from how high it is on the wall, it must be the where Eri leans her head on and does whatever the hell she does in the corner. It's a strange habit, I thought. There must be a reason for it. Perhaps she always got in trouble in school and was always sent to the corner.
"By the way," Eri started speaking. "The call you got earlier, that was Matsuura-san, right?"
"Yeah." I answered.
"Is she still out of town?"
"Yup." And nowhere to be found.
"Tell her thanks for the gift." Eri brought it up.
I nodded as I looked at the clock on my cellphone. It was late but still too early to go to bed. For me anyway. "Are you tired?" I asked Eri.
"No, not yet. I usually go to bed around 10:30."
I looked at my phone again. "But it's already 11:45."
"It is?!" Eri sounded shocked. She grabbed the clock on her dresser only to find it wasn't working. "Ahh!" She man screamed. "It's broken again? Where is my cellphone?" She looked over at the pile she had kicked to the corner earlier and proceeded to dig through it, tossing things and messing up the room all over again. I couldn't help but watch her, she's a walking disaster. If I don't stop her she'll end up throwing something my way.
"Uh," I started. "How about I just call your phone till you hear it ring."
Eri stops her digging and turns to me. "Good idea! Except it's on vibrate."
"Great." I sighed. Must she always complicate things? But then I thought it was worth a shot because I'm not about to get down on my knees and help her search for it. I found her number on my call history and called it. Suddenly something buzzed underneath my butt. "Whoa! Hellooo!" I jumped off the bed. I lifted up the blanket and found Eri's pink Docomo. "Found it!"
"Yay, thanks! Of course, I always leave it on my bed." She picks it up and checks the time. Five minutes had passed since I told her the real time. "Ok, time to go to bed." She says.
"What? You said you weren't tired."
"I know, but if I don't sleep now I'll end up waking up late."
"Ooh, what time will that be? 7:3...1? Heaven forbid!" I said sarcastically. "Come on, we don't have work for the next few days anyway. Take a break, chill out a bit."
"Sorry Miki-sama." Eri said as she turns off the lights. The room went pitch black as her voice cuts through the darkness. "If I don't keep this up I'll throw my whole routine off."
I hear her shuffling around in the dark, tripping over things as she made her way to the futon on the floor. I sighed, still in the same position I was in before she turned off the lights which was standing up. Some "sleep over" this is. I didn't even get the chance to situate myself. I fumbled around the bed locating the pillow and sheets. When I finally got comfortable I was not tired at all. I just ended up staring blankly into darkness until my eyes adjusted. I then turned on my side and faced the wall. All I could still think about now was Aya, wondering where she's staying and if she really is ok. I sighed and clutched my cellphone, hoping she would call again. I flipped it open as the screen illuminated the room with a blue glow. I wanted to send her a message but forgot she had no phone with her. I sighed in defeat and turned to my other side. I flashed the glowing screen around Eri's room, lighting up every corner. I then pointed it to the floor to see if
Sleeping Dorky really fell asleep but instead the blue glow lit up a face that was creeping at the edge of the bed.
"What the fff--" I almost screamed but muffled it with my hand. I sat straight up in bed and held my beating heart. "Geez Eri, don't scare me like that!"
"Sorry, Miki-sama." Eri apologized softly. She now propped her chin on the bed. "What are you doing? Sending a message?"
"Nothing." I replied and laid back down. "I thought you were sleeping, what are you doing, besides giving me a heart attack?"
"My routine's ruined now." She sighed. "It'll take a few days to get it back on track."
"So weird." I stated the obvious again. "So, what now?"
"I don't know."
I rolled my eyes. "Well, if there's nothing else then goodnight." I turned away from her, hoping she would just leave me alone. I laid still pretending to be sleeping but somehow I could feel Eri's beady eyes on me. Without looking I asked, "What?"
"Huh?" She replied.
"You seem like you want to say something." I figured.
"Oh, I, uh." She stutters nervously. "I just thought maybe you want to talk a little, that's all."
"No, not really." I mumbled. Talk? You're the one who wanted to go to bed. What's all this about talking now?
"Oh, ok then. Well, goodnight." She says and finally stops talking and moving around.
At that moment I thought I finally felt peace in the room and I can finally lay here without being disturbed, but noo~ I can still hear Eri close by. It sounded like she wanted to say something for I can hear her taking deep breaths as if she was about to speak but suddenly exhaling in defeat. I finally turned around and looked at Eri which caught her by surprise.
"What? What do you want?" I grew irritated now.
"I-I..." Eri hesitated. "I was hoping you could help me with something."
"Help you?" I asked. She nodded. I almost refused but I figured she'd leave me alone if I helped her. "Well, what is it?"
Eri then sat up taller, resting her arms on top of the bed. She took a deep breath before she spoke. "Well, you see, I have this
friend at school and she was asking me for advice." She starts.
"Whoa, wait a minute." I interrupted. "Friend? So this isn't actually your problem?"
"Well, kinda." She stuttered.
"Well, why should I help your friend who I don't even know?"
I could tell she was intimidated for her voice shook and cracked when she spoke. "I just heard that you might know about certain things."
I rolled my eyes, could she be a little more specific please? "What things?"
She totally ignored me and continued. "Well, anyway, my friend, she..."
"She likes someone but doesn't know how to tell them?" I finished her sentence.
"Eh? How did you know?" She gasped.
"I'm psychic." I joked. But I surprised myself for it was just a random lucky guess.
"Really?" Eri sounded amazed.
"No!" I rolled my eyes. "So?"
"Well, how can my friend tell this person that she likes them?"
Oh brother, I thought. Could she be more obvious? I wanted to blow her cover right now but I decided to play along. "And does your
friend know this person?"
"Yes, they've talked lots of times. You can say they're even good friends."
"So, what's the problem?"
"Well, there's just situations that could complicate things. Plus since they're friends and all she doesn't want to ruin the friendship they already have if suddenly things don't work out, you know?"
"Oh, it's like that, huh?" I realized.
"Yeah," She said. "So...what should she do?"
I would've said just forget it but then she'll be bugging me all night. So I thought for a moment before I answered. "Well, it shouldn't be that awkward for your friend to confess her feelings since they know each other already. It's not like they're strangers, you know? Besides, maybe the other person likes her back."
"You think so?"
"Sure."
Eri was silent for a moment. "Yeah, you're right, Miki-sama."
"Of course I am." I gloated. I then shifted toward Eri and flashed my cellphone screen on hers face like a lamp in the interrogation room. "So, who is this person that you like, Eri?"
"Well it's, uh...Hey!" Eri yelped, realizing she'd been tricked.
"Ah ha! I knew it was you the whole time." I sneered deviously.
"Really? How did you know?"
"Captain Obvious." I pointed out. "
My friend, my friend. That is the oldest and most overdone excuse."
Eri sighed in defeat. "Ah, this is embarrassing." Eri covered her face with her hands. "I feel so stupid. You're right, it's me."
"Kawaii." I actually said to her. Now I'm really interested in who is it that captured shy dorky Eri's heart.
"But I really don't know what to do." She whined. "I don't know what to say to him."
I almost said
Awwww but resisted.
"And then there's that whole 'no boyfriends' rule." She mentioned. "I don't want to get in trouble."
"Oh yeah." She reminded me. That's a stupid rule if you ask me. What do they want us to do then? Go out with each other? They said nothing about having girlfriends, right? Besides, several members, including myself, have bent that rule already. Well, there ya go, a loophole. UFA, more like UFAil! I patted Eri's shoulder in reassurance. "Well, if you really want something," I said to her. "You won't let anything hold you back."
She thought for a moment then nodded her head. "You're right again, Miki-sama. I shouldn't let anything hold me back."
"That's right."
"I gotta be strong!"
"Yes!"
"Brave!"
"Yes!"
"Normal!"
"Uh, er...definitely!"
"I can do this! I can do this! I...can't! do this!" Eri cried as she faceplants into the mattress.
"Ugh, you're hopeless, Eri. Goodnight!" I laid back down. So much for that. At this point I'm starting to get sleepy now. I yawned and closed my eyes. Suddenly Eri starts talking again. Ugh.
"Does Miki-sama have someone special?" She asks.
"None of your business." I answered, pulling the sheets over my head. I do, I thought, but she's not here with me.
"Just wondering, I've heard you've 'been around the block' or something like that."
I flung the sheets off me and shot up in bed again, causing Eri to back away in fright.
"Who said that?" I almost growled.
"I-I don't know, I just heard it around work. Must be hard to find someone if you had to go looking around the whole neighborhood."
What the hell is she talking about? I thought. She absolutely has no clue. It's a blessing sometimes, thank goodness.
"Eri, shut up and go to sleep now. Please." I warned her.
"Ok...sorry. Goodnight, Miki-sama." She apologized and was silent from then on.
I waited for a couple of minutes to confirm that she indeed shut up. Finally. I tried to sleep but my mind kept tossing and turning about that last thing Eri said. Whoever said that about me is going to get it. The thought kept bugging me so I had to settle this right now.
"I still want to know who said that about me." Because it's totally untrue. So maybe I had some incriminating photos of me before I joined the company but I am not like that! I waited for Eri's reply but she didn't answer me. "Did you hear me?" I asked. "Who said that?"
Silence. I flashed my phone screen down to the floor and was completely dumbstruck. Oh my gosh, I can't believe it. She fell asleep on the edge of the bed!
Topic: April no Aho [Chapter 16 - 3/4] (Read 49278 times)