An Unheard Voice - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Akito hasn't answered me lately. I don't really text first, but when I do, it's just quick replies.. like he doesn't want to talk to me.
We haven't seen each other for two weeks now. Did I do something wrong? I sigh, sitting on the couch next to my mother, who's trying her best to comb smudge.
"Toya? What's wrong?" She asks, completely taking her attention off of him, so he runs back to spot.
I shrug, looking at his contact name. I managed to change it, so I added a smiley face to the end. I still have my keychain, too. I kind of hope he still has it, even if it's still on his bag..
Also, Otori made me a phone charm when she found out I helped Kusanagi, I usually just play with it. It's very adorable.
"No, something's wrong. I can sense it. Do not doubt your mother! Then again, you haven't heard from him for a while.." she glances at my phone, and I turn it off, embarrassed. She holds me close, patting my head.
"It's okay. I know how clingy you can be towards Akito." I can feel her grin, and I blush. I'm clingy-? "I don't know why he hasn't even visited once, but I'm sure he has a good reason. And another thing-- Remember your father was coming back later than he said? Yeah, it's tonight."
I slump, like that ruined my mood even more than it already was. She giggles, and kissed me on my hair.
"It's okay. Whatever nonsense he wants to cause this time, we'll have each other." She reassures me, and I nod.
"Go take a shower, I'll prepare dinner." She takes off her coat after dropping him off, and grabs her apron. My father and I make eye contact, but quickly break it.
It's so awkward talking to him nowadays. How long until my brother's next concert? I'm still a little sad I can't go to any of them.
"So, are you still 'friends' with that imbecile?" He asks, coldly. Normally I'd nod or shake my head whenever he asked me stuff with that tone, but.. he can't say that about Akito. I frowned, furrowing my eyebrows. He looks at me, and sighs. "Why do you do this? Is there a reason why you're sticking around him still? What is he doing to you, I'm sure he's forcing you somehow-"
"I-I'm not.. being forced. It's.. m-my choice." I finally gather the courage to snap, and he goes quiet. He just stares at me, and walks away. I don't usually speak like that, did it offend him? Oh no.
It's always so awkward eating in the same room as him for some reason. He thanked my mother, and returned to his room. Me and my mother just stare at each other, and waited for the sound of the door shutting.
"Do you want to get my groceries? I'll clean that for you. If it's too late when you come back, go to Akito's house. I've talked your father into allowing it over the phone, it's accepted now. But he just.. he just doesn't understand how much he means to you. Yet."
He allows me to stay with Akito..? Is that why he brought him up as soon as I saw him?
"Text me when you do, okay? Be safe!" She takes my dishes, and I nod. I hugged her, then put on my coat and shoes and waved goodbye. I'll probably be back before it's dark, I hope.
Dang it, it's cloudy.. Well, whatever. It's not as late, but if something were to cause a delay I really hope seeing Akito out of nowhere doesn't startle him or anything, I'll-
I hear a loud crack, and jolt. What the-?! It begins pouring immediately, so I quickly go near a building, careful not to get the bags wet. .. Am I having the worst luck today? My clothes are kind of wet.. I immediately sit on the ground, putting my face in my knees.
This sucks. Should I just wait it out? I can make it back home if I run through the rain, though.. the only paper I have is the list that she slipped in my pocket and my notebook.
It's getting cold. I'll get sick if I don't choose something.
"A-Are you okay.?" I hear a girl's voice, and look up. I see.. one of Saki's girlfriends. "O-Oh! You're Saki's friend, right?" She asks. I nod, and she smiles.
"I'm Honami Mochizuki. We haven't properly met, have we?" She attempts to cover me with her umbrella, and I stand up. I shake my head, both to the question and her offer. She's.. way taller than I remember. Almost near An's height. "It's okay! We can walk with it together. I'm going to Yoisaki's house right now, are you able to come as well?"
I blink, then nod. I have some time, I was in the store way shorter than expected.. well, the list wasn't big.
"Great! Oh," She hands me the umbrella and rummages through her bag she came out of the store with. "Here you go." She hands me an.. apple pie? I stare at her, then back at it. It's okay, really.. "Try it! You're a bit wet, I was hoping it'd cheer you up. I felt bad for you not having an umbrella, so I got another.."
She felt bad for me? Oh, right.. the glass.. I accept it, then smile. She stares at me eagerly to bite it, and I do. It's really good.
"Do you like it?" Honami asks. I don't eat pies often, so it's nice to have one once in a while. I nod, and she giggles. "Right? Here, I'll take you there really quickly."
She talked about what she does for Yoisaki.. but I forgot who that is. I've probably met them before, I'm being rude by forgetting.. She knocks on the door, and we hear it open.
"Honami? Oh, who's this?" The girl with white hair hides behind the door. Yoisaki.. oh, now I remember. I've seen her before but haven't really been able to talk to her.
"This is.. Saki talks about you a lot, wait- Toya! Aoyagi, right?" She looks up at me, and I nod. "I offered him my umbrella since he was getting wet. With groceries.." Honami smiles.
"Oh, okay. You two can come in. I do know you though, I was just wondering why you're here." Yoisaki opens the door completely. I take my shoes off since I don't want to get the floor wet.
"Have you eaten?" Honami asks Yoisaki, who looks to the side. "I thought so. I brought ingredients, I'll get cooking." She smiles, and Yoisaki nods. After she left, it was just the two of us standing there.
"Um.. You're dating Ena's little brother right..?" Yoisaki turns to me. Did everyone really think that..? I shake my head, sighing. "Really? I thought you were.." She sits down on her sofa, and pats next to her. But I'm wet..
"Oh, it's okay, I'll help Honami wash it. I'm Kanade Yoisaki. It's nice to meet you. Ena says a lot of good things about you, some from Shinonome-kun." She says, and I blush. He says stuff about me..? "Honestly, Honami has been nothing but kind to me. Doesn't she.. come off motherly?" She laughs, and I think about it. Now that she mentions it, yeah, she does. Yoisaki's voice is very calm and comforting. I don't know why, but these two make me feel more at ease.
"Pardon me, but.. is she hired by your parents? As in, are they away?" I ask. Maybe they're away on vacation, and.. Honami said Yoisaki doesn't take care of herself that much.
"Um.. well, you could say that about my mom. And as for my dad, he's in the hospital. Stress has.. gotten to him." She wearily smiles, and I jolt. I write a thousand apologies, but she laughs and tells me it's okay.
"Do you have hobbies?" She asks. I.. shake my head. I don't do anything, really. "Oh. Well, I make music.. I'll tell you the details since I don't have anything to talk about." Yoisaki says, and I nod. I'm interested in this now..
"I compose it, and the leader.. I think. Mafuyu does the lyrics. I don't think you've met her, but.. um anyway," she blushes, turning away. Hmm.. "Ena illustrates the images that Mizuki edits. Mizuki does the editing for music videos. You definitely know them.. Do you want to listen to one of our songs?" Yoisaki asks, giving me an earbud. I take it, and she presses play.
.. This is really good! Ena draws that? That's so cool-! Akiyama can do that, too?! These lyrics are also really meaningful, it makes it even more beautiful. After it finishes, I smile.
"I liked it."
She smiles back, putting her phone away. "Thank you."
"The food is ready!" Honami hums, and Yoisaki gets up.
"Her food is really good. Do you want to join me?" She asks. I follow, but I'll check their other songs out later, so I set a reminder. "It smells good." Yoisaki says, it really does.
"Hehe. I made some for you too, Aoyagi." She places some down on the table. "It's a bit hot, so make sure to blow it before eating, you two."
.. Just like a mother.
"Thank you for the meal." Yoisaki says, and I nod. "Also, I had a question.. are you just really shy? Like, do I intimidate you that much into not talking.?" She slightly sulks. Oh, right.
"Saki did mention Aoyagi had a communication disorder.. I'm so sorry if I made you scared by randomly dragging you to someone completely new.." She apologizes, but it's really okay.. I've never been more comfortable meeting new people.
"Oh, I understand."
"Mhm. Aoyagi, I can walk you back to your house before sunset, if you don't mind. We want your groceries back as soon as possible, right?" She offers. Why am I always being the one to be dropped off..?
"Have a good day, Toya and Honami. Walk back safely." Yoisaki waves. "I hope we can talk again sometime, Toya. Please don't be nervous with me when I see you again." She smiles before shutting the door. That's kind of impossible..
"Okay. It's still raining hard, but the thunder hasn't really been bad.. yet. Let's hurry. Just in time too, it won't be too late when I walk." Honami takes my bags. Wait, but- "You're clearly struggling.." She giggles, and I blink. Wow.
We walk away from Yoisaki's house, and she holds the umbrella. It's already enough she's holding my bags, the least I can do is hold the umbrella..
"It's fine really, I'm used to holding a lot of stuff, it's awkward if my hands are empty. I just enjoy helping out others." She smiles, and I nod. She's very kind, I approve of her marrying Saki one day.
She begins talking about her girlfriends, which I don't mind but I can barely keep up with what she's saying since she's rambling.. Then goes onto the topic of what else she does for Yoisaki, then back to Saki, it's basically a back and fourth thing. It's hurting my head, but I try to listen closely.
Then, someone grabs my arm, pulling me back. What the-
"A-Aoyagi?!" She turns around, as I'm just behind held close with an arm around me. I look back slightly, to see Akito..? We all just stand there, but he holds me tighter under his own umbrella.
"Hey, Toya. What are you doing?" He asks, but I just blink. Uh.. what?
"O-Oh, Shinonome-kun! You're.. Ena's little brother, right? Yoisaki spoke of that once.." Honami stutters, like she's intimidated. He smiles, and nods. I swear, if he begins teasing her..
"Yeah. What are those bags you're holding?" He asks, and they have a conversation as if I don't have an arm around my waist, completely unable to get out. My groceries...
After he's caught up on what has happened, the whole situation, Akito thanks her for taking me in, and holds the bags. She leaves, waving. After she's out of sight, he sighs.
"Your mom asked if you were at my house. I said no and she began panicking saying you weren't there either. What were you doing at someone else's house, if you were supposed to be at mine?" I turn my head slightly, and his face looks worried. I blush, not knowing how to respond to that. But I still reach into my pocket and before I can pull out the notebook all the way, he takes it.
"Don't write, it'll get wet. And.. I want you to say it with your voice, I've missed hearing you." He buries his face slightly in my upper arm, mumbling. I can feel my face heating up.. what's wrong with him? He doesn't usually act like this-!
"I.. I don't.. kn-know. I-I'm sorry-.." I whisper, but he lifts his head, just enough to look at me.
"Don't apologize for everything. You can't keep saying sorry to people, okay? Especially me, you know I'll be able to forgive you no matter what.. I can't stay mad at you when you're being so adorable like that." He says, muffled. Seriously, he ignores me, and now he's back like this-?! If he's teasing me, I don't like it!
".. th-then again, you h-haven't- talked to- to me in.. a few d-days.." I look to the side, trying to pull away from him. He eventually lifts his head completely, and stares at me.
"Is that your way of saying you wanted to make me jealous? Well, it worked." He scoffs. I didn't even-?! "I'm sorry. It was just family problems, I didn't want you to worry about me since I know how much you do." He smiles. Oh..
I suddenly feel bad for unintentionally coming off petty, and look down.
"But I don't need you to forgive me, since I know I should've checked up on you every now and then.. and there was.. something I needed to tell you." He lets go, and avoids eye contact. Something he needed to tell me? Is that also why he came looking for me?
".. I'll just tell you when we get to your place. It's only 7:30, we can make it." He smiles, and I nod.
Once we get there, my mom shouts without an umbrella. My father stops her from stepping out, and she groans.
"Let me go!! I need to embrace my child!!! He had me worried to death!!" She shouts, struggling to move his hand away.
"At least get an umbrella!" He says, and takes her back in as she moves like.. a bug that got smacked for the first time.
Once she finally gets it, she dashes out but just enough since I'm already near in the gates.
"Oh, my baby!! Are you okay??! Thank you so much for returning him!!" She sobs, dropping her umbrella. I can see my father sigh, and walk back in. I think he saw Akito.. and Akito's face is clear he saw him, too.
".. Well, I'll get going. See ya, Toya. I'll text you more, and if I forget, text me first." Akito grins, picking up my mother's umbrella and handing it to me. He waves, and I slowly wave back. Didn't he have something to tell me.?
Well, whatever.. it probably wasn't important if he chose not to say it. Text him first..?
"Oh, uh- take the cats to your room. He's been sneezing a lot.." My mother whispers, laughing.
I'm tired.