Two goddesses at once.
I was anticipating with some dread that either Mari or Ryoko would be waiting for me at the school gate or even right outside of the door to the nurse’s room. I yearned for the sensation from touching their skin…I meant like from one of them…or maybe both…
I shook my head and sighed half in relief, when I arrived at the school gate and found the gateway empty, as of much of the school itself.
I bit my lower lip and stood there in front of the gate for a moment. I couldn’t help myself but look back at the buildings, especially the doorways, half expecting either Mair or Ryoko to show up, half hoping neither of them would.
After a while, I let out a sigh and headed home.
I got home and settled down in my room. I immediately took out my cell phone and checked.
No messages, no unanswered calls. Nothing.
The same photo of a fiercely bright blue sky was there as the background. I stared at it.
I never really bothered to change the background picture. Other girls changed the background pictures constantly. Hell, they even changed their phones almost every week! But I had no need for that.
Nope, not at all.
I continued to stare at the screen until the backlight went dim. Sighing, I threw the phone on to me bed and sat at my desk. Taking out my math text, I began to study.
My cell phone played the OP music to “Aoi Hana” and I nearly fell off my chair. I kicked the bed frame with my barefoot in my attempt to grab the phone. “Ow!” Holding back my tears, I somehow managed to answer without tripping over.
“Hello?” I sobbed, and then immediately regretted it.
“My God, are you all right?”
I blinked as Keiko’s concerned voice reached my ears. There was something in her voice that made my shoulders tense up. I frowned.
“Yeah, I’m OK. I just kicked my bed with my barefoot is all.” I winced and looked down, fortunately I didn’t kick it that hard and my toes were red but there were no bruises and I didn't break anything. Thank god.
Keiko took in a deep breath at the other end. “I heard what happened. What were you thinking?”
I bit my lower lip and managed to respond: “I’m sorry.”
“I…ah…you…Did you learn how to swim at least?”
I blinked and shook my head. “I wish I could laugh at that.”
I felt a sense of gloom transmitted from the other side. My mood also darkened a little.
“I’m sorry, Sayoko. I thought I’d leave you alone and think things over. I was…I wish you would share more of your thoughts with me.”
My gaze was downcast. “Yeah. Me too. But unlike most girls, talking isn’t quite my strength.”
“Yeah, I know.” She paused. “Should I go there to your place to keep you company?”
I tilted my head. “…Well, my mother won’t be home tonight, so we’d have to order pizza…I mean, that is, if you want to come over.”
Keiko’s laughter came. “Just be honest.”
I sighed but smiled. “Would you come over and keep me company for a while?”
She laughed. Her voices sounded like the clearest bells. The only person that laughed like her was Mari.
Mari…
Ryoko…
I…
“I’ll be right over.” She said. “See ya!”
She hung up. I carefully put down the phone on the desk and walked slowly to my desk.
Dingdong!
I almost fell on my butt. Keiko lived close to me but not that close. I cocked an eyebrow.
Walking to the front door, I casually asked: “Mr. Mailman?”
“It’s Mari.”
“Ah…wow…you still remembered my place…” I managed to squeeze out some words. Instead of calling, she came right over.
My lips moved up slightly into a slight grin. When we were still in elementary school, whenever I was down, I’d just go home and cry by myself. She’d always just come over without calling me first.
She knew that I was awkward but stubborn.
Thinking that I’d have two friends instead of one to keep me company for a while, I pondered briefly about the amount of tea and dessert I would serve. I opened the door.
There were two girls, no, two goddesses.
My legs almost turned to jelly and my jaws dropped as I stared at their faces.
Both Mari and Ryoko stood there. They were standing apart and neither of them paid attention to each other. Instead, both of them smiled at me and tried to catch my gaze exclusively; Mari with her hands clasped together and Ryoko with her left forearm resting on the doorframe.
Oh my goddesses.