After we finish breakfast, Kinosuke-san is smoking his pipe out in the yard. I’ve been so busy the past few days that I never got to ask him why the treehouse was taking so long.
“Kinosuke-san,” I walk over and call him.
“Good morning Tsutomu-kun.” He smiles. He always seems to have that same goofy look on his face.
“Good morning.” I don’t like so much pleasantries but I need to remember the etiquettes my mother has taught me. “When is the tree house going to get finished?” I look up at him, “You said it will only be a couple of days and yet it’s been over a week already. Is it a matter of money?” That’s the only reason I can think of.
He chuckles, “Oh no. That’s not it. The money was already taken cared of by your father. He paid it in full yesterday.”
“Why’d you take money from him?” I scowl a bit.
“Parents are supposed to take care of their children.” He tilts his head at me looking thoughtful, “He wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Crossing my arms I try to think. I already took the job at the Akebeko.
“If it bothers you so much Tsutomu-kun. You can still pay him back.” He smiles, “Show him what kind of man you are.”
“I know that already.” I wave him away. He’s annoying. “So when will this be finished?”
“Everything will be finished by Tuesday.” Finishing his pipe, “Well I should get going to the market. I’m going to buy more beef!”
I don’t stop him. That’s odd though aside from fetching Makoto from school, I haven’t seen Kinosuke-san and Yukiko-neesan together lately. They were inseparable before.
(OOC: Anybody can drop by if they want)
Lazy Sunday
13 thoughts on “Lazy Sunday”
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(Makoto)
I come outside after helping hahaue with cleaning up after breakfast. “Tsutomu-niisan!” I say, seeing him out in the back garden.
I look up at our treehouse. “Is it almost done?” I think I’ve been waiting forever, but oops, I’m not done with my part yet. I can’t wait to surprise Tsutomu-niisan. Now that I don’t have to deal with Sakaya-san, I like sewing club better. She still makes frowny faces at me during sewing and kyudo but Yamaji-sensei said to not pay her any attention.
Oh! I didn’t tell chichiue about kyodo.
“Kinosuke-san said by Tuesday.” I look at her and ruffle her hair. “I haven’t seen you in a while, how are things?”
Pulling a yam from my pocket, I give her one and of course one for myself. I like desserts after any meal especially these.
Oh i just remembered I still have Makoto-chan’s letter. I should ask -her- to send it along with the letter to Uncle Namuzawa.
Tuesday…. maybe we’ll be done with my present. But Yuri-san knows how to use the machine, which is very very fast.
I haven’t seen you in a while, how are things?
“Good! Chichiue is home, and I did good on my last kanji quiz and soon we’re going to have our secret base!” I do a twirling jump. “Oh, and you’re going to have your kendo tournament!”
I eat up the yam – they’re so good. “Tsutomu-niisan, do you think we can go to the park soon?”
Tsutomu:
“Good! Chichiue is home, and I did good on my last kanji quiz and soon we’re going to have our secret base!”
She seems happy. That’s good but I don’t see why she has to insert him in there. “Good job on your quiz then.” I look up, “Before you go do anything in the secret base or go up there, make sure you tell me first.” I’m not sure what she’s so excited about but I have to inspect the “base” first.
“Oh, and you’re going to have your kendo tournament!” Of course leave it to a 6 year old to… I sigh a little.
She reminds me about the Kendo tournament and I can’t help but frown. “I’m not sure if I’ll win.” I tell her honestly, “I haven’t been practicing to my fullest and there’s only a week left.”
“Tsutomu-niisan, do you think we can go to the park soon?”
“Sorry but I also got a new job at the beef hot pot place.” I kneel down a little, “I haven’t really started so I can’t take off yet.”
Hajime:
I’m coming from around the back but I hear them speaking, Makoto and Tsutomu. Not wanting to interrupt their time together, I light a cigarette and just listen. I can’t deny that it highly pleases me that they’re able to interact like this, without the animosity that seems to come naturally out of him.
Before you go do anything in the secret base or go up there, make sure you tell me first.
I nod. “I promise!” I don’t want him to think that I won’t be careful – he could take the ladder away and there would be -no- way to get up there then, since the workers cut the one branch I could maybe have used to pull myself -up-.
I’m not sure if I’ll win. I haven’t been practicing to my fullest and there’s only a week left.
“But you have to try your best!” I look at him seriously. Oh! “You can practice here! I’ll pretend to be the coach.” In a deep voice I say, “strike, Fujita-kun! Arms up, Fujita-kun!” I heard him when I saw practice that time.
Sorry but I also got a new job at the beef hot pot place. I haven’t really started so I can’t take off yet.
“Awww…” I look down and kick the ground a little. “But we can play now, right?” Then I think of something, “oh! Why do you have a job? But don’t worry, I can help you pay for yams.” I have two whole coins hidden in my room. I do eat too much of his candy…
Tsutomu:
Oh good. She promised. I’ll have to get up there on Monday night after work and see if everything is fine.
“You can practice here! I’ll pretend to be the coach.” “strike, Fujita-kun! Arms up, Fujita-kun!”
I can’t help but roll my eyes but also laugh a little. I find a stick and wave it around just to humor her.
“oh! Why do you have a job? But don’t worry, I can help you pay for yams.”
“Well a man needs to pay for his own way. And besides, a man shouldn’t let a girl pay.” I tell her seriously. “When I get my first pay, you can come and we can have beef hot pot together.” I grin.
Hajime:
My eyebrow quirks up. This job is getting to be much more of a bother isn’t it? I sigh. I’ve been to that place before but I can’t be letting these two go by themselves even if Eiji is there.
Finally deciding to get out of my hiding place, I walk over to them. Tsutomu spies me and seems to want to move but with Makoto there and not much place to run, he hesitates and ends up stuck at where he is.
“Good morning.” I tell both of them and light up.
“Hai hai Fujita-kun!” I say, hopping a little as he “practices” with a stick, and I laugh with him. I think he’s very very good but I’m his sister!
When I get my first pay, you can come and we can have beef hot pot together.
Oh! “That would be wonderful!” I give him a hug, because that would be a lot of fun. I like beef, and I’ve only been to a restaurant… oh, that one time when I started school. And sometimes I sort of remember going to eat some place where we wore funny clothes and there were lights everywhere.
Then all of a sudden there’s chichiue!
“Good morning, chichiue!” I’m so happy that he’s home!
Hajime:
Watching Makoto hug Tsutomu, I don’t see him squirm away. I can almost laugh at that.
“Good morning, chichiue!”
“What are you two doing today?” I place a hand on Makoto’s shoulders and pull her close to me. “Sword practice? Now don’t get carried away Makoto-chan.”
Picking up the branch that Tsutomu casually dropped on the ground, I inspect it. “These dried tree branches can be sharp.”
Tsutomu:
“I wasn’t doing anything.” I glare at him. He comes over here like he knows everything. Besides I was only humoring her… I look at Makoto. Forget it.
“I’ll be going inside.” I mumble. There’s no sense sticking around here.
“Tomu-kun.” I hear him say sternly, “I want to speak to you about that new job of yours.”
“How did you know that?” I look up at him and he has this dissatisfied look on his face as he releases Makoto-chan.
“Why don’t you go inside Makoto.” He tells her softly.
Well isn’t that nice? Speaking to her like your darling pet.
(OOC: Makoto can either obey or not. This discussion is likely not going to go well.)
What are you two doing today? Sword practice? Now don’t get carried away Makoto-chan
“Tsutomu-niisan was showing me his practice, he’s very good, chichiue!” He talks about me and swords and I frown. “Girls can’t do kendo at school, but I get to help with kyudo practice!” Then I think about the dojo that Kenji-kun’s father has… hmm.
He warns me about sticks. That’s probably why hahaue says we can’t run with them – we could poke out an eye!
But Tsutomu-niisan looks funny all of a sudden. Is he in trouble? Oh no
Tomu-kun. I want to speak to you about that new job of yours.
How did you know that?
Chichiue doesn’t sound happy and he stops hugging me. Oh no he is in trouble! I pat my brother’s arm. I’m worried. Why is he in trouble? “Niisan takes good care of me, chichiue,” I say. I want him to know that he’s been a good boy, even if he’s in trouble.
Why don’t you go inside Makoto
I go inside. I don’t like people hearing when I’m in trouble. But I’m still sad. I need to go find hahaue for a hug.
(OOC – Makoto exits)
Hajime:
“Niisan takes good care of me, chichiue,”
“I know Makoto.” I push her gently to go inside. It seems I may have upset my daughter but for now I should get Tsutomu’s job issue out of the way.
Turning to him, I put a hand on his shoulder but he backs off slightly. Trying not to sigh, I just take a drag on the cigarette.
“Look,” I start, “if this is about the stick, I was only stating a fact. Of course I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt your sister.”
I look at him but he stays silent.
“I’m really thankful you know, that you and her seem to be getting along well. She’s not had much family you know. You’re important to her.” I look at him directly trying to catch his eyes as he crosses his arms and look to the side. “I also heard from Hide that you protected Makoto-chan in school.”
I smile just a little, “You’re really quite the man now. Thank you for taking care of the people in this house, even Hide.”
I’m truly proud of him. It takes a bigger man to give someone he doesn’t like information if only to prevent them harm. He did that for Hide even though I know, how deeply he did not like her. So today even if he’s being like his usual self, if he hates me, that’s something I can accept. After all I was not a good father to him.
“So since you’ve proven yourself quite the man, I’d like to give you a chance at the job at the Akebeko though,” I place the cigarette back in my mouth, taking a long drag, “I’d like you to tell me the state of your schooling. My priority is your studies so I’d like to know the state and we can determine whether you can keep the job.”
Tsutomu:
He tries to touch me but I move away. I don’t know exactly why I did that. I’m sure he’s going to have a fit later.
“if this is about the stick, I was only stating a fact. Of course I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt your sister.”
I don’t look at him and cross my arms. If he knew that, why did he have to make a big deal out of it?
She’s not had much family you know. You’re important to her.
“Maybe if you didn’t abandon them for many years, Makoto-chan wouldn’t be like that.” I mutter. Besides he’s still going on these months long absence for his job. That useless job of his. He can’t even support our house and -this- house. I scowl but keep those thoughts to myself.
Thank you for taking care of the people in this house, even Hide.”
I don’t say anything to that. -She- has been awfully close lately. I really need to try to avoid her more.
“I’d like you to tell me the state of your schooling. My priority is your studies so I’d like to know the state and we can determine whether you can keep the job.”
I look at him and scowl. Why does he always think he can dictate what I do? He has no -right-. “I don’t see why I need your permission. After all you were never interested before. Nor do you feed or clothe me.” I ball my hands into a fist. Let’s see what he has to say about that.
Hajime:
This son of mine… Still the same.
I had hoped that being away from his mother would do him some good. That being here with his sister and Hide, he would see the reason I could not continue -that- life but that I wanted him in mine. But he never budges an inch and I could blame him, but this stubborness borne out of years of him being disappointed and Tokio and my poor parenting shows itself in full force.
“Maybe if you didn’t abandon them for many years, Makoto-chan wouldn’t be like that.”
“I can’t turn back the time Tomu for her,” I look at him, “nor for you. If I could, I -would-“. I look at him straight and at once I knew, he still harbors ill feelings about my work. “It cannot be at the expense of my job. One day you will understand.” I tell him calmly. The last time we had this argument I admit I lost my temper but I am unlike the man I was last year. Many things has happened.
“I don’t see why I need your permission. After all you were never interested before. Nor do you feed or clothe me.”
For a moment, just like the old days I wanted to wash his mouth with soap but I let go of feelings of anger. There is some truth in what he said after all.
“Where do you get the idea that I don’t feed nor clothe you?” Inhaling deeply on my cigarette.. I stare back at him. On one hand I’m not at all surprised that this is how it turned out.
(OOC: anyone can listen in on this conversation for future information or not. It can be indicated mid or end thread what was heard or not.)
I give it a minute to see if it resolves quickly. No… Tsutomu-kun is unlikely to relent.
I go by the kitchen door that leads out, stopping when I hear the voices – Tsutomu-kun’s full of hurt, anger, lashing out, throwing knives. Hajime is… calm and measured.
Maybe if you didn’t abandon them for many years, Makoto-chan wouldn’t be like that.”
I can’t turn back the time Tomu for her, nor for you. If I could, I -would-. It cannot be at the expense of my job. One day you will understand.
I don’t see why I need your permission. After all you were never interested before. Nor do you feed or clothe me
Where do you get the idea that I don’t feed nor clothe you?
Ah… that part came from me. I should be more careful, but I was puzzled by his large “allowance” and… well, I should have known he would take it all the wrong way.
Then Yukiko-san comes into the kitchen. I smile and step away from the door. I don’t want to be caught listening in. And I really do owe her another talk because she’s been -very- quiet lately.