Eight/twelve, the flows of life

“Wait…”

Wait? No way, for all I know she has a knife in her hand and what’s the best way of winning a knife fight? Run away as fast as you can and hope they’re not as fast as you are. Considering that she already seemed tired, probably because she chased after me. I should be safe but I am not risking anything.

I don’t see her here anywhere, thankfully. Looks like Akari’s top form physical body has its obvious uses. But… Where am I?

This is not the path I took with Hinata… I’m lost aren’t I?

Alright, don’t panic, my phone probably has a map, and it does thankfully. All I need to do is put in the address… and what was the address again? Why didn’t I pay attention to that?

What’s done is done. I am going to add memorising Akari’s home address to my already full checklist. Yes, right at number one…

I have no other choice than calling his mother or looking for Nari since I’m sure she somehow knows about the address already. I’ll stick with the safer option. Thankfully the number’s saved on the phone.

“Hello.”, she almost mumbled. She wasn’t doing great from what I could tell.

“Are you alright?”, the words escaped my mouth before I could even think. I hear laughter from the other side, “Is that why you called me? Shouldn’t I ask you that instead?”, I hope she’s smiling at least, but I really should’ve lead with a hello.

“Yes… You’re right.”, I took a moment to gather my thoughts but there wasn’t much to gather.

“Can you come pick me up… I’m lost.”

“Oh, Akari. Where are you?”, she spoke with an extremely concerned tone.

Let’s see where am I… Right, there’s a supermarket near me and a bench to sit on. Now I know what I’ll do while waiting here.

“I’m near by the school’s… eight/twelve…”, I sigh. Can they make it any less obvious?

“Don’t worry.”, I think my sigh worried her. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Don’t wander off.”, and she cut the phone. There I go worrying her again. I’ll just sit on the bench and contemplate as always.

Looking back, maybe I shouldn’t have ran way to begin with. Nari didn’t seem like she’s hurt me, right? Alright, maybe let’s not be that trusting yet. I should’ve just ran on the path I knew, thanks to Hinata.

“Hey.”, I look up. “What are you doing here looking all sad?”, that’s Mary, what’s she doing here. She has a plastic bag on her hand.

“You were there shopping in eight/twelve right?”

Mary laughed, “Yes, I was but I asked about you.”, she sat beside me and looked into my eyes, “Are you alright?”

I sigh, I’m not alright but should I even tell her that.

“No… I forgot my home address…”, I sigh again. It is one of my problems, so I did choose to tell her this.

“Oh no. Do you have it written anywhere?”, she looked at me with worry. I nodded a no, “I called Akar- I mean, my mother. She’s on her way here.”

She smiled, “I’m glad.”, she said while putting her hands inside her plastic bag and taking out a juice box. “Do you like orange juice?”

“I mean… they’re fine…”, I assume she wants me to have it but…”Do you like orange juice?”, I asked. It seemed obvious but might as well be sure.

“I love orange juice!”, her eyes glimmered. I didn’t expect that. Not that I’m complaining.

“Then you should have it.”, I smiled.

She proceeded to place the juice box on my hand without missing a beat, “I have nine more inside this bag.”, she chuckled. “You can have this one.”

She then took one out and started drinking it. Well, I might as well too. I hope oranges taste the same here and they do, just like real normal oranges. It’s not like this is the first time I’m eating or drinking something so I don’t know why I kind of hoped for orange juice to taste different but well, it tastes the same unlike their naming conventions.

“How did you go home yesterday?”, she asked, wait did she already finish her juice. That’s fast. She’s still looking at me, “Oh! Right!”, get your footing, “Hinata showed me the way.”

“You’re childhood friends right?”

“She certainly says so.”

Mary laughed and took out another juice box out of her bag, “Did you forget the route?”

“No…”

She probably understood that I didn’t want to talk about it but I didn’t want to end out conversation there, “I ran away from a… problem.”

“Is the problem that girl from the other class?”, she replied as fast as she could. How did she know?

“Almost everyone in school knows… You’re kind of famous.”, can she read minds? Also I’m famous? No, wait, she means Akari.

“It showed on your face.”, she laughed. She can definitely read minds.

“Yes. You’re right…”

“Do you want me to talk to her?”, I mean as much as I’d enjoy the support. I feel like we should have a talk being reincarnators and all.

“No. Thank you though.”, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Akari! There you are!”

Oh, Akari’s mother’s here.

She looked at Mary, “Are you his friend? Thank you for keeping him company.”, it looks like she was exhausted. Did she run all the way over here?

“Mary nodded, “Yes.”, she looked at me, “We’re friends.”, and smiled. Makes the whole day worth it.

“I’ll be off then.”, she waved a bye to the both of us and we both waved back.

Akari’s mother really seemed exhausted. “Do you want me to buy you water?”, I gesture her to sit down on the bench, which she does but she waves a no.

“I’m just glad you’re alright.”, she smiled. “Give me a moment to rest and we’ll go back home.”, I nodded in return. I sat right beside her and finished my orange juice.

The journey back home was silent but comforting. It was nice knowing that someone else was right beside me, it being Akari’s mother made it more comfortable. I wonder, does Akari’s emotions still reside in this body? Or am I feeling this solely because of me…

We enter the house, after I take a while to note down the address. Which somehow managed to lift his mother’s spirits up. That’s two birds in one stone.

“Your father is going to be late today. Go wash up, your food’s ready.”, it came naturally to her and it almost came naturally to me. I nodded, I should’ve spoken up I doubt she could see my nod but I had a feeling that she understood.

I washed up and changed my clothes before sitting on the dining table where the food was already ready. I’ve never eaten this cuisine in my world, so having these daily in a new one does seem exciting. The only constant being the rice, you’re going to follow me everywhere, aren’t you? I don’t really like rice that much. Even thinking about that here feels like a crime.

“Everything good?”, she looked at me while taking her place opposite to me.

I nodded and kept looking at her, “Thank you…”

“For the food?”, she smiled. “Yes.”, I nodded and took a bite. It is tasty, the rice and fish go well together. “But…”, I looked up at her and added, “For everything.”

She laughed, “No problem, I’m your mother.” Right… that she is…

“Still...”, I smile. ”Thank you.”

The mother looked up at me, staring for a few seconds as if words escaped her. She nodded and smiled in return and started eating again. I don’t know if I was mistaken, but there seemed to be tears forming in her eyes. The rest of our dinner was rather silent. Not that I mind. I went to sleep with a new goal in… mind. I should really stop doing this; there’s no one here to listen to my thoughts.

The next day. The school’s silent as always. I’ll go to the class where I need to go. Thankfully, she’s right there. Should I do this? I shouldn’t run away from my problems, I really shouldn’t and besides if she did what I doubt she’d ever do I can simply run away then. Alright, you can do this! You can do this. Calm down.

I go towards the door and knock; she’s the only one sitting. Thankfully. Can’t let the gossip run amok again.

“Nari. We need to talk.”