It'd been awhile since Sakaki had gone upstairs. Despite Yomi's misgivings, Sakaki assured her she'd be fine going alone. In fact, she almost seemed determined not to have her come up. Yomi didn't push the issue. If Sakaki wanted to go alone, she certainly had that right. It was her home after all, though Yomi was sure she hadn't meant it that way. Besides, if anything happened she'd be right downstairs. A look of relief seemed to come over her, but Yomi merely shrugged and let it slide.
Soon afterward, the water could be heard running in the bath. Sakaki would likely be awhile, so Yomi took the opportunity to get started on her homework. Actually, she should already be done but, with all that'd gone on that day, she hadn't had the chance. Plus, they had a test to study for.
She'd been at it about ten minutes or so when she heard the water drain and the sound of footfalls exiting the bath. Yomi paid it no mind and continued with her studies. She was listening to one of those foreign language cassettes to prep for tomorrow's English exam. Part of it would include a three minute dialogue with Yukari.
Hi. My name is (insert name). What's yours?
*click*
["Hi. My nom eez... Yaomi Mizuuhala. Wott's you?"]
Naturally, that hadn't come out right. So she rewound the tape and tried again.
Hi. My name is (insert name). What's yours?
*click*
[Hi. My nom eez... My naim eez-]
About mid way, she was startled by something hitting the floor, overhead. Yomi rose to her feet, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.
"Sakaki...?"
No answer.
Hm. Maybe she hadn't heard her, so she tried from the base of the stairs, "Sakaki, you okay?"
Still no answer.
Yomi hesitated, wondering whether or not she should go up and check, then suddenly realized what she'd heard. Idiot! You're supposed to be looking after her! she mentally chided herself. Eyes wide in a panic, she bolted up the stairs.
"Sakaki!!"
The sight that greeted her wasn't quite what she'd expected. Sakaki had indeed collapsed on the floor. What Yomi wasn't prepared to see was her hindquarters raised in the air along with other parts of her anatomy. Yomi turned at least five shades of red and quickly averted her eyes.
"Uh... M-Ms. Sakaki... are you... okay? I can c-comeback later if you want." she croaked nervously. Sakaki showed no signs of moving or having heard her, causing Yomi to peek back at her from between her fingers.
Now what? There was no way she was touching her, it'd be too weird under the circumstances. But she couldn't just leave her like that either. Yomi scanned the room for something to cover her with which is when she finally noticed something else: Sakaki's room.
"Wha...? What in th...?"
There were plushies everywhere, most of them cats. On her nightstand, on her desk, even her sheets and pajamas were decorated with them. More than that, there were posters of them in vivid hues and pastels. Going over to the bookshelf, Yomi was even more surprised to find a music box, in the form of a minirature carousel.
It was all so... so cute, a stark contrast to the image they'd all built up of her. Yomi didn't know about the rest of them, but she thought Sakaki's room would be more like a guy's: with stock car posters, anime, or maybe a Bo Flex somewhere. Instead, it looked more like how she'd expect Chiyo-chan's room would be.
Yomi could hardly believe her eyes. Who'd have thought the coolest kid at school had a thing for cute animals and plushies? It made her wonder just what else they didn't know about her, or how much they'd truely seen.
Is that why she's always so quiet? 'Cuz she doesn't want anyone to know?
Taking the blanket from the bed, Yomi knelt by Sakaki's side and covered her. Mayaa's left ear flicked a couple of times before the kit raised its head and made eye contact with her. Upon seeing that it was Yomi, he yawned and promptly went back to sleep, getting a giggle out of her. Sakaki shifted a bit beneath the covers, gently clutching Mayaa to her.
It left Yomi feeling like she was intruding somehow and made something catch in her throat. So she rose to her feet and quietly exited the room, closing the door behind her. It wasn't til she was outside that she felt something warm and moist run down her cheek. She wiped at it with her forefinger, finding it damp when she held it before her face.
"Huh?"
Rather than dwell on it, she briefly removed her glasses to dry her eyes. Then returned downstairs, wondering not so much when she'd started crying, but why.
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(Posted Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:15)
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