What is Family? by Hoshiko - Part 2
When I got back to my room, I was a bit surprised to see that Hasukawa’s study lesson with Mitsuru-sempai was still in progress. I was even more surprised to find that Shinobu-sempai was sitting in Suka and my room, calmly going over his math homework. I opened my mouth to speak when a loud thwack sounded clearly through the wall, accompanied by Suka’s irritated complaint.
Glancing up at me, Shinobu-sempai rolled his eyes, the hint of a smile on his lips. Grinning, I shut the door behind me and seated myself on the edge of my bunk. I was going over the notes I had taken during my interview with Hasukawa-sensei when I realized Shinobu-sempai was watching me.
“What are you working on, Shun?”
Blinking, I smiled uncertainly. There was a note of curiosity in his voice that I had long ago learned to be wary of. Looking up, I saw that he had closed his textbook and was regarding me with his full attention. I felt that familiar stirring of dread in my stomach…having any amount of Shinobu-sempai’s attention is generally not a good thing.
“Oh nothing, really. It’s a special assignment for my journalism class.” I said, smiling brightly.
“If I may ask, what is it about?”
I felt my eyes widen a little. He was entirely too interested for my peace of mind.
“Masutani-sensei overheard me ask my seatmate a question, and he thought that I should do an article on it.”
Despite the fact that I wanted to interview Shinobu-sempai for my article, I was starting to have second thoughts about that idea.
“Really.”
Thwack.
Startled by the sudden disturbance, I couldn’t help but smile as Suka started in on Mitsuru-sempai, his voice that of someone who’d been pushed too far. Shinobu-sempai sighed as the sounds of what could generously be termed a ‘scuffle’ ensued. I spared a moment of pity for Shinobu-sempai, past instances of the other two’s ‘arguments’ flashing through my mind. At least they were in the sempai’s room this time. Any furniture damage or resultant mess from their ‘disagreement’ would not be my problem.
Partly to keep myself distracted from the noises coming from the other room, and partly out of some long-dormant sense of responsibility, I flipped to a blank page in my notebook and looked up at Shinobu-sempai. He cocked his head to one side, patiently waiting for me to speak.
“Ne Shinobu-sempai, would you mind if I interviewed you for my article?”
He smiled, and his eyes seemed to light up. I felt a moment of almost-terror at that…now I knew why Masutani-sensei’s smile had so unnerved me. It was the same exact one that Shinobu-sempai used.
“That depends Shun. What is your article about?”
I took a deep breath to steady myself. Shinobu-sempai watched me quietly, and I felt grateful that he was allowing me the time I needed to regain my composure. The question itself wasn’t the hard part, it was asking it that was difficult. If I was surprised by Hasukawa-sensei’s answer, and I barely knew him, what would hearing Shinobu-sempai’s answer be like?
“What does family mean to you?” I asked, forcing myself to meet Shinobu-sempai’s eyes.
Shinobu-sempai didn’t so much as freeze, so much as he went completely and utterly still. I wasn’t even sure he was still breathing, until he sighed.
“Shinobu-sempai? Are you all right? I’m sorry if my question –”
I broke off as Shinobu-sempai raised his hand to forestall further apologies from me. I was suddenly nervous, and worried. Belatedly I remembered the fact that Nagisa-san was related to Shinobu-sempai… How could I have forgotten? Was he mad at me?
“Shun,” I flinched inwardly, wondering if I was going to regret having even thought of interviewing Shinobu-sempai, “Were you planning on interviewing Mitsuru, as well?”
Totally confused, I nodded.
“Then would you do me a favor?”
Again I nodded. The saying about curiosity and cats ran fleetingly through my mind, but my subconscious squashed it before it fully caught my attention.
“Would you mind not interviewing me until you’ve had a chance to talk to Mitsuru? If you don’t mind, that is.”
Even had he not had such a strange statement on his face I would have done as he asked. I could tell he was up to something, and I wanted to know what.
“Of course, Shinobu-sempai. That’s no problem.”
He smiled again, and I felt the coils of dread loosen a tiny bit.
I was relieved that he wasn’t angry with me, but that didn’t change the fact that Shinobu-sempai was planning something.
“Thank-you, Shun. I appreciate it, although I would wait until tomorrow to interview Mitsuru if I were you.” There was no mistaking the amusement in his voice, and the cat-like smirk of his made me uneasy for some reason.
Suddenly I became aware that all sound issuing from the other room had ceased. Following Shinobu-sempai’s gaze, I could only gape, open-mouthed at what I saw.
Standing unsteadily in the open doorway – he must have opened it while I was talking to Shinobu-sempai – was the battered, rumpled figure of my roommate. He shot the both of us a dirty look before falling flat on his face.
To be continued...