• “Anyways, we best be going, Tokyemaru.” Rina said. “We were planning to catch a movie. Anyways, Youri, hope we’ll see you again.”

    Tokyemaru’s friends walked on, toward the movies.

    “Well, Rina seemed nice.” I commented.

    Tokyemaru chuckled. “Yep, sure she was.” He sarcastically added. His mood sharply turned solemn. “I’m sorry… about the others though. Ai was kind of rude, earlier. She acts like I’m the little brother she’s never had, and is over-protective of me. It gets annoying sometimes.”

    “That’s okay.” I smiled at him. “I bet she’s really nice, once I get closer to her.” Tokyemaru stayed sober, in answer to my grin.

    “Ren is a bit worse, though.” He explained. We were walking now, without care of the stalking fans.

    I tried to force a smile. “Ren can’t be that bad. Didn’t he just greet me good-bye earlier?”

    “I know you saw his evil look. He’s planning something.” Tokyemaru’s face became worried.

    “Why?” I said, finally giving up. “What’s with him? How come you sound so worried? Isn’t he called your friend?”

    “Well, let’s just say that he likes entertaining people, especially us. At any rate, you’ll get used to him acting up oddly.” He replied. I looked at him, our eyes unmet.

    I decided to change the subject, after seeing his worried face. “Um… how’s Rokku High? What’s it like?” I know it sounded stupid, and I sounded like a grieved mother.

    “It’s set up differently than other schools.” Tokyemaru explained. “There are four major groups in the school. As you might’ve guessed, lot of rich kids study there, in fact, only a handful of students are Regulars. That’s what they call students that live normally…” then he added, with a chuckle, “like you. Perfects are the secondary, richer, group. Highlights are students third richest of the school. And lastly, Majors are the highest of the group. They’re the most popular, the wealthiest, and, normally, the great-looking ones.” He smiled crookedly at me.

    Ignoring the insult he threw at me, I randomly asked a question. “Which group are you in?” I didn’t sound convincing, I knew that he belonged the Majors.

    “It’s worthless telling you something you already know.” He replied.
    I nodded, but after a minute passed by, a question popped up in my head. “Is it a private school? If it is, don’t we have to wear uniforms?”

    Tokyemaru looked at me as if I were the weirdest person he’s met. “Duh, why do you think I’ve mentioned the school’s groups? I’ve even mentioned ‘rich kids.’”

    “Well, if we do wear uniforms, why are we buying these outfits?” I’ve regretted blurting this, after a few moments in thought of what his answer might be. Oh no! What if he gets mad and say something like, “You want to take these back?! You should be thankful that I’m even spending time with you!” And when I read his face, it’ll say, “You shameless, brat!”

    I heard him laugh, while I was so deep in thought. “Your face shows almost everything you’re thinking.” He said, forcing the words through his chuckles. “You’re like an open book.”

    My face stared blankly at him, still deep in my thoughts. After I had come to, he had already calmed down.

    “These are clothes you can wear whenever you go out.” Tokyemaru explained. “Besides, your pajamas aren’t quite the type of clothes you’d want to wear passing a hotel lobby.”

    “Okay.” I said. I abruptly stopped walking, caught in a thought. “I-I’m sorry.” I meekly uttered. He stopped, too, turning his gaze at me. “I’ve been very rude. Thank you! For everything you’ve done for me.” I smiled at him.

    He flinched when he saw me smile. I noticed that he tried to smile back, but something held him back, and soon, he was deep in thought as I was.

    I stared at him, for what seemed like an hour, until the vision in his head has disappeared. He came to.

    “What?” I asked, almost demanding than curious. He was the one that stared blankly into space, leaving me a curious emotion.

    “N-nothing,” Tokyemaru stammered. “Just some flashbacks from the past, that’s all.” He smiled, the kind of smile that what I guessed was a fake smile, a smile that protects secrets and thoughts.

    I looked at him, squinting my eyes, as if I were reading a coded message. “What are you doing?” he asked, puzzled.

    “I’m seeing if I can read your thoughts, too.” I answered.

    He laughed, more like taunted, at my reply. “I’m an actor. It’s hard to read an actor’s thoughts.”

    “Whatever.” I said, still squinting at him.

    • • • • • • •
    “I’m home!” Tokyemaru cheered playfully. We were back at the luxurious hotel, inside his suite. I hadn’t noticed earlier but I was exhausted. We’ve bought 10 complete outfits, some appropriate for warm temperatures and some for cool.

    “But, there’s no one here.” I said. He ignored me and kept his spirits high.

    He placed the shopping bags, filled with clothes, on the living room couch and walked to the kitchen. I followed his actions, laying the bags, which I carried, on the couch, but instead of following him in to the kitchen, I sat down, profound in thought. Ugh! I’m so confused! Where the heck am I? Did I get a comma during my sleep, and my body’s just lying back at my apartment?!

    “Come and eat!” A familiar voice called, breaking my train of thought. “Aren’t you hungry?”

    I shook my head, trying to force my body to awaken. “Yes. I’m coming.” I walked silently to the kitchen, following his voice.

    “What’s wrong?” Tokyemaru asked, blankly gazing at me. “Are you hurt?”

    I looked up at him. He wore the same apron as he had the other day. “I’m alright.” I lied calmly. I felt sick.

    He set two plates on the table, and on it were noodles and sushi each plate laid a pair of chopsticks. “Okay, then. Just eat.”

    I nodded, ignoring his concern, but picked up the chopsticks and began eating. I haven’t perceived that I was actually starving, as I cleared my plate in ten minutes. “More please.” I stated.

    Tokyemaru looked at me, but smiled. He picked up my deserted plate and placed the same foods.

    I thanked him, as he laid my plate in front of me.

    “Jeez. What a pig.” Tokyemaru muttered. He said this quietly, but each word reached my ear.

    “What did you say?” I commanded, my atmosphere getting darker.

    “N-nothing,” he quickly replied. “’At least you’re eating’ is what I said.”

    “Psh,” I snapped. “Whatever.” I turned my attention back to my plate.

    • • • • • • •

    Maybe I’m homesick. Tokyemaru was already in his room, maybe asleep, as I was lying on the couch, as the night slowly passed. I sighed. Since, I’ll have to stay here for a while until someone from Tsurai rescues me, I should at least have fun, and maybe make friends, too. It was until I saw the moon, gleaming in the sky, through the open balcony that I had fallen asleep, dreaming of noodles and sushi.

    ... Thank you for reading Chapter 3 of iWish ...