An Unheard Voice - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

"And then I was like-" I see Momoi and Akito as I open the door. I thought Momoi slept in..? "Oh, good morning, Toya!" She smiles, and I nod. I've warmed up to her, but not entirely.
"Morning." He ruffles my hair. I always have to fix it after...
"What were you two talking about?" I tilt my head.
"Nothing, just some idol stories. You won't believe the amount 'marry me, Airi' my members and I got in livestreams, some I wasn't even in!!" She continues to rant, and Akito laughs. Some of the parts were pretty funny. An came in a while after, wearing a mask.
"Oh, class is about to start. I'll see you two later, bye!" She waves, and I wave back. An takes her mask off, smirking at me.
"What, were you jealous?" She grins while holding my neck with her arm, and I blush. Why is she always putting me in these spots..? Embarrassed, I nod. She cackles, but throws up in her mouth. "Excuse me..--" She runs out.
".. I- Oh-" I see his face turns red, and he looks away. Crap, he saw! Pardon my language. We both turn away, avoiding eye contact. Toya, don't intervene with your best friend's relationship! But he is my crush-- whatever! He talks about Momoi a lot, so she makes him happy-! .. More than I can, at least..
"Why is everything so awkward between those two now..?"
"Probably because they both realized their feelings for each other."
So many people are whispering around us... Do they hate me?! I'm sorry, my cupcakes were poisonous according to my mother, so I wouldn't hand out so many out!!
"That's the necklace I got you..?" He asks, and I nod. We're both dead silent. I like it, why wouldn't I wear it.? Everyone begins coming in right before the bell.
"Weird. An hasn't bothered us today. I wonder if something happened?" He says, and I get a notification.
"Om aick. Im goign jome." Huh? Is that some sort of code?? "Oh, she's sick. Damn." Akito laughs, and I frown. It's not nice to make fun of others. Though, I'm not very surprised he did when it comes to An..
"An is sick? Dang." Kusanagi raises her eyebrows, and sits down.
"That's exactly what I said," Akito scoffs. Momoi sighs, and slumps.
"I have nobody to talk to today since neither Akiyama or An are here," She cries, and Akito ruffles her hair.
"You have us. Oh wait, you meant for class." He teases, and she sticks her tongue out. I stare at them, and sigh. Oh, time for daily interaction with Kusanagi so she doesn't feel left out.
"How have you been with Otori lately?" I seem to have written something that made Kusanagi smile. It's okay Kusanagi, just admit it.
"We've been good, actually! Something cheered her up, and now she's being as clingy as ever! It's so cute whenever she is, but she does seem worried about something.." Kusanagi mumbles the last part, and I look to the side, and back at her. Otori better make a move I swear.
"Akito, um.. since my birthday is in a week kind of, can we.. go somewhere? Like- For a celebration?" I hear Momoi say. What.
".. I'll think about it for a week." He laughs, and she punches him. "Kidding, of course I'll do something for you. You have helped my sister through a lot," He shrugs.
I swear I'm suspecting this is what "jealousy" Akito was talking about.
"So, what do you want to do? It's not every day we don't get interrupted by the third wheel." Akito smiles. What does he mean 'third wheel'..? What is- Oh, right!
"Do you want to go on a date?" I want to take him to a cat café I saw on my way to school. He stares at me, and turns red. Did I say something wrong? I look at my paper, and read it again. Oh. I can't joke about saying dates when I'm literally in love with him!!!-
"I- I didn't- I mean-" I'm too flustered to manage to say anything.
"I-It's okay. Let's.. let's go." He chuckles, and I lead him there, humiliated. When he opens the door, my eyes light up. There's so many cats..!!
"Welcome to-" A waitress comes, but it's.. Kusanagi. "I- To-... Aki-" She stutters, and Akito tries not to laugh. She's wearing a maid outfit and cat ears. So that's what they meant by a cat cafe? "You-!! What are you doing here?!" She blushes, hiding her face with the tray.
"We wanted to see the cats. And taste the coffee." I smile, and her eye twitches.
"What are you doing here?" Akito raises an eyebrow. I sigh, since he found a new opportunity to tease someone.
"I-I just work here!! Is there something wrong with that?!" She gets all panicked. He shrugs, and Kusanagi takes us to a table. "I-I'll be back with the menus, uh.. sirs.." She mumbles, and I try to be respectful by not laughing.
Akito stares at me, and holds a kitten to my face. Huh?
"This one looks like Kamishiro, doesn't it? The exact hair color and streaks." He says, and I actually do see a resemblance. I hold it, and it yawns as I pet it. They are so cute-!! Then, a waitress welcomes a puppy in.
"Woah-! aren't dogs and cats like, enemies or something..?" Akito backs into his seat. Oh yeah, he doesn't like dogs..
"Not this one! He's very friendly toward these cats, and he's a stray, so we bathe and feed him often! Just like all of them, all of these cats don't have a home. We take care of them and open doors for any pet, but we wash them before we can let them roam around you know, health codes and stuff," She continues to speak, and afterwards goes back to her work. Why did we just learn everything about the shop..? The cat jumps off my lap, and goes to the puppy.
"That dog looks like Tenma's hair color, doesn't it? All the more reason for it to stay away from me." He finally sits properly again, making sure that the dog is laying down with the cat now. I take a picture, how cute.
"That's disturbing." He laughs and I frown. ".. But it's kind of creepy how there are cats that have the same color as people's hair.." He sighs, and I shrug. I don't know what this is, but I like it.
"Great, there's a Kohanammy. Oh, god. Who gave the hamster a hat??" He scoffs, and I take a photo. I'll set this as Azusawa's profile picture.
"Here you go.. please tell me what you'd like." Kusanagi grumbles, blushing hardly. I point to the coffee of course, and Akito wants to try the cheesecake here. Kusanagi nods, going to get them I just continue to inspect the cats. After a few minutes, Kusanagi returns with our items. Akito looks excited. I take a picture before he realizes.
".. It was decent, I guess." Akito says, but it's so clear he enjoyed it. I'll take him back some day.
"Th-Thank you fo-for visiting today." She messed with her ears, and I nod. I'll leave her a tip for being brave.
"I'll pay." Akito declares, and I stop his hand. "It's fine, I've got this." He smiles. I shake my head. I don't earn this money, but he does!! I'm not going to let him waste it on me, he's already gotten me so many things! It must be expensive!! Kusanagi just stares, waiting for the payment as we verbally (kind of) fight over it.
"Oh look, a picture of Toya in a maid dress I took a few weeks ago." Akiyama says behind, and Kusanagi and Akito turns their head. Me in a what-?! That never happened! "BAHAH!! Made you look!" Akiyama cackles, giving me enough time to hand Kusanagi the money.
"Dammit.." He grumbles. Kusanagi clenches the money, trembling in embarrassment.
"C-Come again some time," She bows, and I nod. But I stop her, and decide to compliment her so she doesn't feel humiliated and worried I'd tell anyone.
"You look very cute. It suits you, and your secret is safe with me." I point at her cat ears, and she blushes all over.
"W-What?! Cu--!! I- Shut.. Shut up!" She kicks my ankle. The pain I feel is too much for me to stand.. I'm sorry, Kusanagi... "B.. But thank you.." she whispers under her breath, and I stare at her, and smile. She walks away, and Akiyama looks at me, then Kusanagi, and so on.
"Uh.. Anyway, time for my introduction! Heya, Toya, Li'l bro!" They wink, and I wave.
"You just had to ruin my day again," He groans, and they giggle. Well, that's the most we've gotten to be alone. Besides the field trip incident. I still get embarrassed from that..
"I should go now, I want to walk Ena to school. Bye, guys! And thanks for the gift! Oh, I have to text An.." They wave, and I smile.
"Let's get going, too." Akito gets up, and I follow. "Did you like it there?" He asks, and I nod. "We'll go another time, then. But next time, when Nene isn't working and let's also sit away from the window so I can have you to myself for one day." He grins, and I blush.
I nod, and we walk to my place. "Oh, I'm also hanging out with Airi after, you don't have to come since I know your mom will be worried about you, it's kind of late." He says, and I look at him. I nod. Why is he hanging out with her so much.?
"Bye-bye, Akito!" My mother and I wave, and she closes the door, then turns to me with tears already in her eyes. What the- "Toya!! Something's wrong with smudge, he won't go away from the window!! I saw a stray outside, so I fed it, and didn't let smudge out and now he's mad at me!!" She cries, and I go to see him. When I carry him, he smells me, and hisses. Oh.. I think I might still smell like other cats. I pet him, apologizing.
"I don't think he's trying to attack that one, though... It looked like your hair color so I couldn't resist!! Maybe he just wants a friend?" Okay, now I get Akito's point. I look outside, and open the window to look down. Is that it? Oh, it does look like my hair. Smudge jumped out the window. SMUDGE JUMPED-- I go after him out without thinking, but fall on my head. At least it's the first floor... My mother rushes to us, and helps me up.
"Toya, look..!" She whispers, and I turn my head. Smudge is rubbing letting the cat rub his head against him. "AWWSK--" We hear rustling, and Kami-cat comes out. Yes I mixed Kamishiro's name with a cat. Oh right, they're strays. I'm assuming they can come in and out, then.
Smudge hisses at Kami-cat, and it just stands there, then walks away. Oh no, Kami-cat..
"Bad smudge! We always welcome cats here!" My mother scolds him. He doesn't care, he just lets the cat cuddle him. "Toya.. can we.. can we keep him? Pleeease?" I shake my head, but finally give into my mother's begging, and I sigh, nodding. "Yay! Let's go take a bath, mister!" She picks him up, and smudge puts his claws into her shoulder.
Two cats in the house.. my father is dead if he comes back. After a painful hour of trying to wash the cat, but it wasn't even him who was fussing, it was smudge, he's scared of the noise the water makes. After that, we fed him, and he slept on the couch with smudge. I let my mother name him this time.
"Hmm... Spot." She says, and I stare at her. That.. That is worse than smudge, I would cry if my name was either. "Now it's time for your homework, mister." She picks me up over her head, and brings me to my room. How..?
I wonder how Akito is doing right now. I sit on my bed, staring at the floor. My mother comes in with water, and sees me. "Is something wrong? Do you need a hug~?" She smiles, and squeezes me.
"Can I invite friends to stay over here?"
"Well.. I'll have to call their parents to drop them off, it's a little too late for them to be walking here. But does that mean Akito too~?" She smirks, and I blush. I sigh, and shake my head. "D-Did you guys break up?! This is an emergency!!!"
"Heya, Toya! Hi, Mrs. Aoyagi!" An waves, in front of her father. Akito would be happy if he were here.
"How have you been, Toya?" He asks, and I freeze. He chuckled and ruffled my hair even if I didn't answer. I'm so scared talking to adults more than children-!!
"Hi, Mr. Shiraishi." My mother greets him, and he smiles. "I'll take good care of An, she seems to really like Toya!"
"I don't have to worry about her with you." He says. Azusawa and her father come behind them, and An jumps on Azusawa, giving her kisses.
"H-Hello, M-Mr- I mean, Ken..!" She shyly says, and he waves.
"You must be Kohane's dad! Nice to meet you!" My mother shakes his hand, and he trembles. He's just like Azusawa..
"Can I marry Koha--" Azusawa's face turns red, covering An's mouth.
"This is probably our third time seeing each other, Mr. Azusawa? We can have more time to talk during the day, well then, have a good night." Ken is very friendly.
"Y.. You too." Mr. Azusawa bows, and leaves. I'm not one to talk, but his face is very stiff when he's nervous. Azusawa did mention he doesn't really like to interact with people..
"Bye, dad!" Azusawa shouts as he waves. "He wasn't too sure about me coming since you're a boy." She smiles, and I try not to laugh.
"Don't get into too much trouble, okay, An?" Ken ruffles her hair, and she giggles. "Bye, Kohane."
We wait for Saki and Tsukasa and Saki gets out of the car, running up to my mother.
"Ms. Aoyagi!" She says, and my mother hugs her back. Tsukasa comes out carrying a ton of bags, and I rush to help him.
"Thank you, Toya! Is something wrong? My mother said she sounded in a panic." He asks my mother, and she looks down.
"AKITO AND TOYA BROKE UP!!" She bawls, and they all gasp. I turn to her, giving her a blank stare.
"HUH--?!"
what.