The weather was cold today. Wataru had to put on a hoodie between his shirt and blazer. He was thankful that there was no P.E. class today. Club activities also ceased due to the cold weather. The bell rang in the hallways and all over the school, signaling the end of today's last class. Soon enough, doors were slid open, followed by the students walking out the class in a clamor, filling up the corridors and other parts of the school.
Wataru hung his bag over the shoulder and leisurely walked out of his classroom, but before he reached the door, his back collided with something and an arm flung around his shoulders.
"Wataru, let's go for dart tonight!" his friend said with a wide grin on his face.
"Didn't Osokawa say he'd treat us to karaoke?"
"Hey, what about asking those Seiryo girls out with us? You know, the ones we met the other day near the fountain!"
"Great idea! Let's do that!"
"Who has their numbers?"
Wataru huffed. "Sorry, I'll have to pass today."
His friends looked at him in disbelief. "Haaaah? What's that? I thought since Hosugi isn't around anymore, you'd have time to play with us again. So boring!"
Wataru lightly hit his friend's head. "Dumbass. I only have to go on time today or else my mom will cut my allowance next month. Or do you guys want to treat me for a whole month?"
His friend scrunched up his nose in disagreement while the others shrugged. "But we'll still go for Sunday, right? You can't say no for that one! We went through a hard time to get the tickets!"
"I know, I know!" Wataru waved his hand to his friends.
Walking down the stairs, Wataru looked out the view outside the window. It must be snowing in Hokaido, Wataru wondered. He took out his phone and stared at the wallpaper. It was a picture of him and Kei from when they went to the amusement park last summer. He sighed. Still no more message, email, nor a call from Kei since that day. Their homeroom teacher had officially announced that Kei had transferred to another school and also conveyed Kei's apology to the whole class for moving so suddenly and didn't have time to say goodbye. Wataru only let out a snort at the time.
He thought of going to Kei's apartment once again, but he didn't know what he would do if there was still no one answering the door. He walked past the teacher's room and something crossed his mind. Should he go and ask his class teacher? You know, just in case Aunt Maya gave his teacher Kei's new address for documentation purpose or something like that. He hesitated for a moment before reaching out his hand to open the door. Someone beat him to it, thought. Wataru walked back two steps to avoid colliding with anyone walking out of the teacher's lounge. A junior student looked at him before lowering his head in a greeting, then walked past Wataru.
"What is it, Minamoto?"
His class teacher's desk was right beside the door, so he immediately noticed Wataru standing in front of the door. Wataru had no other choice but walked in. He greeted his teacher. "Sensei, it's about Kei— I mean, Hosugi…"
"What's with Hosugi?"
Wataru bit his lip. "Sensei, do you, by any chance, have any information on Hosugi's new address?"
His teacher raised a brow. "Aren't you close with him? I know he moved so suddenly, but you couldn't not know about this, right?"
Wataru shook his head. "Of, of course I know. It's just that a few of his things are still with me. If Sensei has his address, I'd like to send them to him."
His teacher nodded in understanding. "If that's the case…" His teacher opened a drawer and took out a folder. He leafed through the documents inside for a moment, then shook his head regretfully. "Sorry. I don't have it. Why don't you go to his house? His mother is still here."
Wataru secretly let out a sigh. So even his teacher didn't know. Wataru bowed. "It's fine, then. Thank you, Sensei. Sorry for bothering you."
"No problem. Oh, you haven't returned your preferred college form, right? Remember to submit it before next week!" His teacher reminded him before Wataru left.
Wataru obediently nodded. He closed the door to the lounge. He clacked his tongue in annoyance. Why did it have to be so difficult? Couldn't he have a normal first relationship like everybody else?
He spent the day playing video games and watching the DVD of his favorite band's concert, but even those didn't manage to distract him. Wataru finally relented and decided to go out and join his friends at the dart cafe. He really could do with anything that could distract him from thinking about Kei. He was in the middle of getting ready when his phone rang. Wataru almost couldn't believe it. It was the ring tone he set especially for Kei, and his ear really didn't deceive him. When he picked up his phone, Kei's name was displayed on the screen indicating the caller.
Even so, Wataru stared at his phone, still thinking that he was somewhat halucinating. Then, his phone stopped ringing and the screen went dark. "Oh, shit!" Wataru cursed, frantically tapping on his phone to open the lock and immediately return the call. He hopped around as he wait for the call to be picked up. It felt like forever before Kei's voice answered from the other end.
"Wataru?"
"Why did you hang up? Tsk! Did you even mean to call me?" Wataru grumbled even though he couldn't stop the smile from appearing on his face.
Kei's laugh tickled something in Wataru. "Sorry. You didn't pick up so I thought you were busy or, you know, you didn't want to talk to me–"
"Shouldn't that be my line?" Wataru quipped but he quickly slapped his own mouth. "Sorry. I didn't mean…" He didn't want to remind Kei of their last conversation. He feel silent, unable to find anything to say to Kei. He walked to the window and Wataru leaned against it, looking at the street in front of his house. He remembered a time when Kei called him while standing across the street, checking on him because Wataru was down with chicken pox.
On the other end, Kei was also silent. Wataru licked his lips. "Umh," he tried to say something. "Where did you go go, exactly?"
"...Hokkaido,"
"Hokkaido?!" Wataru exclaimed in disbelief. Then, he quickly berated himself. Calm down, he told himself. "I mean, which part of Hokkaido? I'm looking at the map right now."
"Liar. You hate looking at maps," Kei mocked him, but then he said, "a little town near Furano."
Kei was right. Wataru didn't like looking at maps, but for this once, he made an exception. He put the call on speaker so he can open the map on his phone. Typing in Furano, he waited if Kei would tell him more.
Kei didn't.
Wataru said, "Should I follow you there?"
Kei was silent for a second. "...Wataru…"
Wataru messed up the back of his hair in frustration. "I know, I know. You want me to give you some space. I'm sorry for even suggesting to follow you there," Wataru said sarcastically. He stopped himself, then took a couple deep breaths in. "Sorry. We're finally talking and I– Sorry, Kei."
Kei was silent again but Wataru felt like Kei was shaking his head and smiled in understanding. "How are you?" Kei asked instead.
Frustrated, angry, suffering from insomnia, confused, horny, pick one, Wataru thought. "I'm good as I can be. Next week we're going to the onsen. I don't want to go because there's a concert I want to watch, but you know my parents."
He heard Kei laughed from the other end, and Wataru was happy that he could hear Kei's laugh again. "Is it snowing over there?"
"Yeah. It's been snowing almost every day since I arrived. My dad said that if it continues like this, it would be troublesome." Kei told him about many things, and for some time there, it was as if there were no rift between them. Wataru had lowered himself to the floor and sat with his legs crossed. His upper body leaned forward, pressing his forehead against the wall. He was happy but at the same time, the more he listened to Kei's voice, the more the pain in his chest became more obvious.
Wataru winced.
*****