The warm rays of the sun streaming through the window hit my face directly, waking me up with their brightness. It was already morning. I looked at the clock hanging on the wall above the desk: it was ten o'clock. The doctor had told me to rest, so I hadn't worried about going to school. The cell phone alarm, specifically set to ring at seven every morning, hadn't gone off. I had forgotten to turn it off the night before, so why hadn't it sounded? Strange. I picked up the phone to check and noticed it was off. I tried to turn it on but nothing happened, it showed no signs of life. It must have broken during the accident and I hadn't noticed.
Resigned, I went to the kitchen to make breakfast. On the table, I found a note with a message from my aunt:
Good morning, make sure to rest today. - I started having breakfast with milk and cereal. Since I had the chance, I decided to take things easy that morning and enjoy the day. Meanwhile, I thought I definitely needed to buy a new phone, I couldn't be without one. Not that I had many people to talk to or many contacts saved, on the contrary, since I never went out except for school, I had only saved my aunt's contact to call her in case of an emergency. But I couldn't live without my evening readings, they were like a drug to me. Whenever I wanted to distract myself or pass the time, reading was my only lifeline. So buying a new phone was mandatory.
Given the nice day and the fact that I had nothing to do, I decided to go shopping that very morning.
Once breakfast was over, I got ready quickly. I took clean clothes from my room, a blue pair of shorts and a pink t-shirt, put them on and tied my hair up in a ponytail with a hair clip.
I liked to dress simply, without coming up with too complicated or flashy combinations.
The main issue was money. My aunt worked hard to allow all three of us to live comfortably, and I didn't feel like asking her for money, we always tried to avoid unnecessary expenses. I would have to draw on the few savings I had accumulated over time, even if I wasn't sure they would be enough to buy a phone. I didn't need an overly sophisticated or latest model one, so I took them and hoped for the best.
I put on my shoes and left the house, locking the door behind me.
On the street where our small apartment building faced, there was a truck from a transport company parked, and some people were hurrying to unload some packages. I only remembered at that moment that recently the apartment next to ours had been put up for rent. Apparently, someone must have bought it and from today would start living there.
I went down the stairs slowly, curious. I wanted to understand what kind of people our new neighbors were. I approached sneakily to get a better look, but suddenly I heard a voice behind me.
"Hey!"
"Ahhh!" I exclaimed in fright. I turned around and found myself in front of a beautiful, very tall girl. She had long blonde hair and sky-blue eyes. Even her peach-colored lips were pretty and delicate. She seemed mature, she had to be older than me. I would have guessed she was about twenty.
"Hi... hi."
"Hello, I am Nakagawa Chika. I'm your new neighbor. I hope we can get along."
"The pleasure is mine. My name is Maeda Ayame."
"Listen, could you tell me a little more about this neighborhood?"
"Of course, it's a very quiet neighborhood, I've been living here for a while and nothing ever happens. Also, we're just a few steps from downtown, so getting around to go somewhere specific is not a problem."
"Oh I see. That's good. It will make my errands easier."
"So... did you move here for work?"
"No. Let's say I have some issues to resolve and so we moved here."
"Oh I'm so... sorry. I didn't mean to pry."
I apologized.
"Don't worry."
One of the movers came towards us carrying a box. The bottom of the box broke due to the excessive weight, causing some books to fall to the ground.
"What a mess. I'm sorry," said the mover. They both bent over to pick up the books. I also decided to help and, while picking them up, I saw many books and manga that I knew, including some of my favorites.
"Wow!" I exclaimed in surprise, "this volume is rare, you can't find it anymore. And this is the limited edition printed only for a few months."
Seeing all those special volumes, my eyes started to shine, and I completely forgot about the presence of the other people.
"Pfff. Ahahahahah." Nakagawa-san started to laugh.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I got carried away," I said, embarrassed.
"Don't worry. Do you also like this book?"
"Yes, very much."
"They belong to my brother. It seems you two have the same taste," she said, smiling.
"You have a brother?"
"Yes. He should be your age. What grade are you in?"
"Second year of high school."
"So is he. What a coincidence. I think you'll meet him soon, he should arrive shortly."
From afar, one of the movers signaled the girl to come closer. Maybe he wanted instructions about some package.
"I have to finish here and see what the movers are up to. Have a nice day. It was nice meeting you."
"Oh, the pleasure was mine."
So I continued on my way, leaving Nakagawa-san to her business.
A neighbor my own age? That was new. The building was mostly inhabited by elderly people or single folks. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have someone my age who didn't know me and hadn't been influenced by others' gossip. Maybe it would be a great opportunity to meet someone I could get along with, someone who would finally see me as a person, not as a tool to entertain themselves by pranking or disrespecting me.
However, I didn't get distracted from my real goal. I started looking around the area for stores that could sell a phone at a good price. But all the stores had more or less the same models and, consequently, the same prices, which were too high for me.
I had tried all the stores that came to my mind and, during my search, I ended up unknowingly in a store near the hospital where I had been taken after the accident.
It wasn't a store specialized in telephony, but from the window, you could tell that it sold all kinds of electronic goods.
I went in to check if there was really something that could meet my needs.
"Good day," I said once I entered.
"Good day to you," the store's employees responded.
I quickly looked around. Judging from the stock on display, they sold many electronic items, including phones. But the models and prices were the same as I had seen in other stores.
"Can I do anything for you?" an employee asked, coming towards me.
"Hello, I was looking for a phone, but these are all a bit too expensive for me."
"On that side of the store, there's the section of used or repaired phones. They cost less, you can take a look if you want," she pointed me in the direction with her finger.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. If you need anything else, just ask."
I headed towards the direction the saleswoman had pointed out. Indeed, the devices in that department were priced lower than the others. If she hadn't told me they were used, maybe I wouldn't have noticed. They had only minor dents, but apart from that, they looked new.
I quickly scanned the area until I found a phone to my liking. Its price was within my budget and, apparently, it was even better than the one I had.
How lucky! I thought.
"I'll take this one!" I said confidently.
But at the same moment, I heard the same phrase uttered by the person next to me.
"I'll take this one!" said the young man. He had also decided to buy the same phone I intended to purchase. Once I turned my gaze, I was surprised. The face of the person in question was that of the young man who had saved me yesterday. The question I asked immediately after, with a stunned expression, came spontaneously.
"What are you doing here?" I asked in perhaps a slightly shrill voice.
"Well, that's a bit of a silly question. I came to buy a phone. Mine must have broken yesterday while I was busy saving an ungrateful person who literally yelled at me."
"Yeah, I know... I mean... Never mind," I said, embarrassed and slightly irritated. He had decided to hit a sore spot, and I didn't know how to respond.
"What a nice temper. You had a similar reaction yesterday. Nice way to talk to someone who saved you."
"I already thanked you for that. Listen, let's pretend we never met," I said coldly.
I didn't want to be so detached with him, but when I saw his face, I remembered the conversation we had in the hospital and it irritated me. I just wanted him to go away so I wouldn't see him anymore.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to call the salesperson. I need to buy this phone."
"Calm down, I was about to buy it. I was going to the counter to ask if they could give it to me."
There was a quick exchange of glances for a few seconds, then we started to race to see who could get to the counter the fastest.
"We'd like that phone, please!" We shouted in unison at the employee behind the counter.
"I got here first."
"What?! I got here before you did."
In the end, we did nothing but disturb the entire store. For this reason, the salesperson, irritated by our behavior and our excessively loud voices, kicked us out of the store.
"It's all your fault," I yelled at him.
"How is it my fault?! You're the one who got upset from the moment you saw me. And now because of you, I wasn't able to buy the phone."
"I was about to buy it. I saw it first."
"But I got to the salesperson first. If he hadn't kicked us out, I would have bought it."
"What are you saying? I got there first. He would have sold the phone to me."
"Why can't I have a normal conversation with you? Yesterday it ended like this too, with shouting and screaming."
"It ended like that because you showed yourself to be the kind of person I hate the most, those who judge without knowing."
"But you don't even know me. You could at least try to respond more politely and not look too much like a crazed gorilla."
"Are you saying I look like a gorilla?"
"Listen, let's end this conversation here, because whatever I say, you make it a point of discussion. Goodbye."
"Goodbye. I hope I never see you again."
So he walked away from me and our bizarre conversation ended there.
Not knowing what to do and not wanting to return to my always empty home in the morning, I decided to enter a cafe, located next to the electronics store from which I had been evicted, and get something to relax a bit after the heated conversation earlier.
"Hello."
"Hello to you."
I went to sit at a table, and after a few seconds, a waitress came over to take my order.
It was a fairly large café with many tables and a large window that overlooked the outside. It wasn't an overly crowded place, and I appreciated it more that way. I hated places that were too crowded and full of people; I preferred quieter, silent ones, where I could enjoy my meal in the best way.
"What would you like?"
"A croissant and some tea, thank you."
"Coming right up."
My mind kept going back to the coincidence just before. Seeing the boy from yesterday had made me nervous, and the issue with the phone and the scene outside the store had only made the situation worse.
"What a strange guy," I muttered under my breath, sighing.
"You're no different."
I heard his voice again and turned around, this time feeling impatient.
"Are you following me?" I said, raising my voice again.
"Don't shout, or they'll kick us out of this store too. I'm here only because you're the only person I 'know' who I can ask for directions. I'm new to town and wanted to know more about the popular places and this area. I only know a few streets. I would have used my phone's GPS, but my phone is broken."
In the meantime, the waitress arrived with what I had ordered. "Sorry for the wait, here is your order. You just arrived. Would you like something?"
"Yes, thank you. A slice of cake with whipped cream."
"Coming right up."
After ordering, without even asking me, he sat at my table. He didn't care in the least that it might annoy me.
"So after we finish, we can go around?" he concluded his speech.
"What makes you think I'll help you? I don't like you, and I can't stand you."
"Take it as a way to pay me back."
"You said I didn't owe you anything."
"Yes, but I changed my mind."
What an annoying guy...
In the meantime, the waitress returned with his order.
"Here you are."
"Thank you."
He took the fork and used it to cut his piece of cake. As he dug into it, you could see how soft the batter was. When he put the first piece in his mouth, I paused to watch his expression of pleasure and joy. He looked like a child who had just been given candies.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he said with an irritated air.
"Nothing. You just looked like a child."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing. Listen, if I act as your guide, will you then leave me alone?"
"Yes, I promise."
"Ah, fine." I huffed.
We finished consuming our orders, paid, and left the place to start the guided tour of the town. The day planned for rest ended up becoming the one where I would be the guide to my savior. I showed him everything: from convenience stores to the best sweet shops, from less frequented places to those most frequented by young people like karaoke, arcades, cinemas.
Between us, there was minimal conversation, I simply accompanied him everywhere, waiting for that day to end. And I hoped that the end would come as quickly as possible.
As sunset arrived, we saw a square with a fountain and decided to rest on a bench nearby. I ended up spending the entire day with him, who had tried or bought anything he saw around the street. Throughout those hours, I changed my mind about his character; at first, I thought he was a particularly calm and quiet person, but he turned out to be excessively eccentric and hyperactive, and perhaps also a bit impulsive. Exactly the type of person I couldn't stand, a simpleton who had fun with every little thing. I preferred quieter and calmer people.
"I really enjoyed myself today."
"Good, I showed you the main places, now I think you can navigate better. It's time for me to go home." I said, getting up from the bench.
"Yes, thank you. I should also go home."
"Good, goodbye."
"Goodbye."
As much as I hate to say it, the story wasn't over yet. On the way home, I noticed that he was still just a few steps away from me.
We had met too many times that day: at the phone shop, at the café, and the fact that he wasn't leaving made me feel uneasy. And then, by chance, he was at that crossroads at the moment of the near accident. Strange thoughts flashed through my mind. What if he wanted something from me? What if he was a maniac? What if all these encounters weren't coincidences?
"Why are you following me?" I yelled at him, agitated.
"I'm not following you. The way to my house is this way. While you were showing me around the city, I more or less understood the streets to take to get home."
We continued to walk in silence until we reached the vicinity of my apartment. I noticed Aunt and Hiro talking with Nakagawa-san. Apparently, they had met and were now exchanging the usual pleasantries.
Once I arrived, I greeted them with a wave of my hand.
"Oh, dear, you're back." Said my aunt.
"Oh, here you finally are. I was waiting for you. You could have given me a call." Nakagawa-san said to the boy who had never left my side.
"I'm sorry, big sis, but I had some complications."
"...Sister?"