Mizuto Irido: In the Midst of a Cultural Summer
It was now summer. The only thing keeping the depressing heat away while listening to an annoying chorus of bugs was the air conditioning. This was what modern summer culture had become. Going to the rivers and mountains had become outdated. Why go anywhere and expend your energy when the most comfortable place to be was your own room? As I armed myself with arguments against leaving the comfort of inside, I tried to recover the energy I’d expended yesterday.
“Ah!” Chikuma yelped from beside me.
We were playing a video game on the TV, and I’d sent his character flying off the stage to win the match.
“Whaddya wanna do?” I asked him casually, my controller in hand and the results screen staring him down.
“Rematch...”
So we reselected our characters and jumped into another round.
It was Obon and, as usual, our family had returned to the Tanesato house in the countryside. Chikuma had grown a little since the last time I’d seen him, but it didn’t look like he’d changed too much on the inside—he was still shy and reserved. This only seemed to make him more prideful when it came to the things he actually liked. I could relate to him...both metaphorically and literally, because we were actually related.
Last year, I would have never thought I’d play games with him. I found myself marveling at how what I’d thought to be useless training in games with Isana and Kawanami was now bearing fruit. I was playing games with my little cousin, sitting cross-legged on the tatami, while enjoying the cool air from the air conditioning. I, honestly, was pretty okay with this situation. Maybe this year I won’t even get to some of the books and they’ll stay unread.
In the next moment, I sent Chikuma’s character flying off stage again. So how’re you gonna recover? I tried to read his strategy and guard the edge when I heard a voice from behind me.
“Mizuto, Chikuma-kun, there you guys are.”
“Ah,” the two of us said in unison as I whiffed my edge guard and he mistimed his recovery move, leading both of us to die, but since I was a little lower than him, I died first and lost.
As we froze in place, a girl with long, black hair came in between the two of us.
“Natsume-obaachan cut some watermelon. Do you two want any?” Yume asked, smiling as she looked at me.
Meanwhile, Chikuma moved a little away from Yume, embarrassed.
“We’ll eat here. This is a duel between men.”
“‘A duel between men’? We’re in the twenty-first century.”
“Sorry, a duel between two humans.”
Yume giggled. “Why is that the part that you fix? Trying to be PC?”
For some reason, it seemed that Chikuma was sneaking glances at her. Is it possible that he’s already figured out that we’re dating?
“Well, if you’re so concerned about PC culture, then come to the kitchen and get it yourself. It wouldn’t be right for women to serve you food, right?”
“Good point.”
When I started to stand, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. Hm?
“Give me a sec,” I said, looking at my phone and seeing an unexpected name displayed. “Kawanami...?”
LINE messages were normal from him, but an actual phone call? I couldn’t even remember the last time he called me. What could he be calling about? I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear.
“Hello?”
On the other end of the phone, I could hear a ragged, desperate voice.
“Irido! Help me!”
Kogure Kawanami: A Guy’s Memories
Someone was here. I wasn’t sure if I could tell because of the sound of their breathing or the rustling of their clothes, but it was like a pebble had been thrown at me in my half asleep state. Who is it? Did mom or dad come home?
Then I heard footsteps moving away from me, but I could hear them clearer now and they were much faster, as if they were running. Then I heard the door open. Why are they leaving without saying anything? It should’ve been obvious I was asleep without them having to come all the way to my bed to check... But then a certain thought crossed my mind, causing me to slowly open my eyes.
My vision was barely coming into focus, so I still couldn’t really make out what I should’ve been able to. I felt like a newborn, only able to recognize movement but not actually see it in detail. There was a ponytail bouncing from side to side and a swish of a skirt. But then the door shut and I was left staring at it in silence for a little.
Minami...? It took me ten seconds longer than it should’ve to finally realize that the ponytail belonged to Akatsuki Minami. She was my troublesome childhood friend, but that didn’t explain why she’d been in my room. She hasn’t been staying over here that much recently, so why’d she come here?
As I continued to process everything that’d happened, my mind became clearer, and I felt something off. Why does it feel so breezy? I couldn’t help but note the sensation of my blanket on my bare skin. That’s right. Bare skin, without anything in between. I flipped over my blanket and found that I was in nothing but my boxers. I’d been sleeping in nothing but my boxers.
It was already August, so we were right in the middle of summer break. Did I sleep like this because of how bad summers are here in Kyoto? Or maybe I took off my clothes while sleeping. But more importantly...when and how did I fall asleep?
As I listened to the sound of the insects chirping in the morning, I sat up in my bed, put my hand on my head, and tried thinking, but I kept coming up blank. I couldn’t remember anything about last night. If anything, I felt remnants of a fatigue that sat deep in my chest. I can’t remember last night. I’m naked. Minami was in my room for some reason. From these clues, I can conclude that...
“Mn... Go ahead...”
“Mm... Ko-kun!”
I fell silent remembering these snippets of sound. Though it was the apex of heat during the summer, I felt my body growing cold to the bone.