Chapter Five: Isaac:

I studied upon to noon when my stomach started to growl. At first, I did my best to ignore it. No, I can�t eat until I�m finished. It�s not time to eat yet. I can hold out a little bit longer. I buried myself deeper in my books. Finally, I couldn�t take it anymore.

Alright, you win! I�ll go get something to eat. I set aside my study material and went downstairs to the kitchen. I peeked around for the whole trip in hopes of not running into any of them. Something is telling me not to stay here too long. But yet, I feel that somehow I don�t really have a choice. I don�t know my way around Hiroshima and I don�t have much money for a train ride back to Tokyo. I don�t even know how long nee-san is keeping me here. Why did she even bring me here to Hiroshima in the first place?

I managed to make it down to the kitchen without being seen. Now what to eat? I glanced over at the clock on the microwave. 12:10 already? I shrugged to myself. I might as well have lunch. I opened the fridge and took a look around. To my dismay, there wasn�t much already cooked for me to eat. Most of everything inside was just ingredients and drinks. I frowned at my options here. I kept looking, however. I finally got lucky when I looked in the very back. Off to the far right sat a container of onigiri. A little smile came onto my face.

I hope they aren�t going bad, I thought. I reached forward and took out the container. Before I could fully stand up, I became aware of someone standing behind me. I glanced over my right shoulder. A black man�s face eyed me.

�Do you know whose rice balls they are?� he asked. I turned to him with big eyes.

�No!� I yelped. �I�m so sorry! I was so hungry and there wasn�t much in the fridge! And� And� And�� I bowed down as fast as I could. �I�m so sorry!� The black man laughed at me.

�We eat microwave meals for lunch here,� he explained. �Leftovers are breakfast and we all take turns doing the cooking for dinner.� I looked up at him.

�So, where is everything?� I asked.

�Cabinets,� the man said. �Next time, ask.� I looked at him still uneasy.

�Okay�� I mumbled. The man gave me a little smile.

�And yes,� he said. �You can have one.� I bowed with relief.

�Thanks!� I said. I opened the lid and took one out.

�Next time ask,� he said.

�Yes,� I said. I took a bite and chewed away happily. �Oh thank you!� I wailed. �I was so hungry upstairs!� The black man gave me an odd look.

�Excuse me, but who are you?� he asked. I looked up at him.

�Kichiro,� I said, �I�m Akemi�s younger brother.� The man perked up when I said those words.

�Oh!� he said. �So you�re little nerd boy she brags about!� A sweat drop formed on my forehead. Again with the nerd thing? What did she tell them? The black man stuck out his hand to me.

�Name�s Isaac,� he said. I shook his hand reluctantly.

�So you�re Isaac,� I said.

�Yes,� he said. I nodded at him.

�Hey boys!� we heard someone behind us. We looked over to see Akemi peeking in on us. She gave us a small wave. Isaac grinned and let go of my hand.

�Hey, Baby Girl!� he cheered. Isaac came over and hugged my sister. Akemi giggled aloud.

�Isaac!� she whimpered. �Why did you slip in without telling me?� Isaac kissed her on the head.

�I�m sorry, sugar,� he said. �I�ll greet you more personally later.� Akemi looked up at him with big eyes.

�You promise?� she asked. He kissed her on the forehead.

�Of course,� he said. I cleared my throat at them. Akemi and Isaac looked up at me.

�I�m sorry, did you want something?� Akemi asked. I shook my head.

�No, I�m good,� I said. �Thanks for the onigiri.� I walked out of the kitchen to head to back to my room.

�Oh yeah, I met up with Yumi at the bus station,� Isaac told my sister as I walked away, �She says she�ll be over soon. She just needed to pick up some things for dinner.�

�So she�s cooking tonight?� Akemi asked.

�Yep,� Isaac replied.

�And how�s her mother?� she asked.

�I didn�t ask her,� Isaac said. They went silent as I closed the door behind me. A confused thought crossed my mind.

Wait a sec! Doesn�t Isaac have a girlfriend? I turned to the door. Wait; did that mind that he was two-timing with my sister? She wouldn�t allow that, would she? I almost wanted to ask to settle my mind. I shook my head. No, it�s none of my business. Just need to study for the entrance exam for Todai and get in. Maybe once I get in, Akemi will have no choice back to let me go back home. I just paused at that thought. Somehow, I don�t even think it would be that easily. I looked up at the ceiling.

Hitomi-chan, what do I do now? Then, someone pounded at the door. I felt the knocking at my back.

�Yes?� I asked.

�I brought you some sheets for the bed,� Cassius said on the other side.

�Good,� I said, �Just leave it out there.�

�Alright,� he said. I didn�t move until I heard his footsteps leave the outside. I slowly opened the door and peeked downwards. Blue and white sheets, huh? I dropped my shoulders and lowered my hard. Oh well, I might as well unpack since I�m going to be here for a while. I picked up the sheets and took them into the room with me before closing the door.