Chapter Six: Tapes and Dinner:

I unfolded the sheets to put them on the bed. They looked really clean so far. In fact, they looked rather new. This shouldn�t be so bed, right? It took me about four minutes to put the bottom sheet on first. The rest followed rather smoothly from there. I looked at the bed in satisfaction. It looks about right for now. All the bed needed now was a blanket and pillows. I paused in that thought. Obviously, they would be in the hall. Just� I tried to remember where Cassius� room was. I think he said that he was across the hall. Maybe the others are in their rooms right now. I made a quick dash across the hall to the door. I drew in a breath before I knocked on the door.

�Yes?� I heard the Yamapi fan ask.

�Um� where do you all keep the pillows and blankets?� I asked.

�They�re in the spare closet next to your bathroom near the stairs,� he replied.

�Thank you!� I called. I turned in the direction that he told me. �Which side?� I asked.

�Your left,� he said.

�Alright,� I replied. I headed down that way in the hallway. It took me about forty seconds to find the right door. A bunch of pillow slipped out at my feet. I frowned at the pile-up. Clumsy way to put them. Then again, I remembered the living room. I highly doubted about them all wanting to do a better job of cleaning up the place. I shook my head. I was still hoping that I wouldn�t be staying too long here. I shook my head and gathered up two pillows for myself. Once they passed my inception of soft and firm, I took them back to my room and put the pillow cases of them. I just needed the blanket to cover the bed. I returned with a thick, black one and laid it over the bed. I looked at the finished product. That�s done. I looked over at my backpack. I dropped my shoulders and went on to unpack.

My laptop ended up on the desk. I put my clothes in the chest. Mom and dad�s picture sat next to my laptop. My notes and study book went on the other side of the laptop. I set my glasses case above my bed. I placed my watt man next them above where I would be sleeping. The only things I had were Hitomi�s diary and tapes. Memories about the day I learned she died filled my head. Before, I didn�t have any real questions to ask. Now that I think about it, I just can�t but to wonder why. Why did she kill herself? What happened after we graduated junior high? Why did she call me out that day?

I shook my head of these questions. Right, I have study again. I took my seat at my desk and went back to my studying. Close to sundown, I heard a knock on my door.

�Yes?� I asked.

�Baby bro!� Akemi shouted on the other side. �Dinner�s ready!�

�Alright, I�ll be down in sec,� I said, not looking up from my notes.

�No,� she said. �We all eat together at dinner.� I paused at those words.

�What?� I asked.

�Come on,� she said. �Put the books down and come eat with us.�

�Do I have to?� he asked.

�Yes!� Akemi yelled. �Now get moving! Everyone�s waiting at the table!� I lowered my notes at the table.

�Fine,� I said. �Give me a moment.� I put everything away and opened the door. Akemi leaned in the frame, smiling.

�Took you long enough,� she said. Nee-san grabbed onto my wrist and dragged me with her before I had a chance to speak. I did my best to keep up with her. Again, she was forcing me to do something without talking to me about it. I didn�t understand why I had to go through all of this. Not like I had much of a choice anyway, but still�

Cassius, Isaac, Yusuke, Sunao, and a woman that wasn�t familiar with all sat at the table, waiting. They looked up when they heard footsteps.

�Finally!� Yusuke said aloud. �We can all eat!� The woman leaned her head on his shoulder.

�Oh come on, Yusuke-kun,� she cooed, �That no way to talk about the newbie. He just got here today.� The blonde-haired guy just waved her off.

�But I�m hungry,� he complained.

�We�ll baby bro is here now,� Akemi cut in. �Now we can all have Yumi-chan cooking.�

�Is everyone ready?� I heard a sweet voice ask from the kitchen area. Akemi and I took a seat at the table.

�Yes!� we all said.

�Perfect!� that sweet voice replied. I looked up to see what I thought was an angel walking out with a huge, steaming pot. I had to blink many times because I thought I was in a dream. Her face reminded me of an angel from the shoujo manga. I seemed to be attracted to girls with hair tucked behind their ears. This woman had a little help from a red hair holding it in place. Her whole appearance reminded me of a stay-at-home mom. In fact, she looked like my mom. Akemi patted me on the shoulder.

�Kichiro-kun,� she said aloud, �Meet our cook for tonight, this Yumi-san.� I gave her a small wave.

�Hi�� I mumbled. Yumi perked up at me.

�So you�re the younger brother,� she murmured.

�That�s right!� Akemi bragged. Then, she turned my attention back to Yusuke and the other woman.

�The lady with the red streak in her hair is Romi,� she explained. Romi waved at me.

�Yo!� she said. Akemi frowned at the table arrangement.

�Still no Sakura-hime?� she asked.

�Nope,� Sunao said. Nee-san took a moment to ponder this.

�Hm�� she said. �I�m guessing that she doesn�t have her phone on her either, does she?� The others shook their heads.

�Who cares?� Yusuke asked. �I�m starving here. Can we just eat?� Sunao put his hand up at him.

�Now, now,� he said.

�Take it easy, Nao-kun,� Akemi spoke up. �The man�s hungry. We all feel the same way. So, let us eat.� She turned to Yumi. �What�s the special for today, Yumi-san?� The cook perked up at that question.

�Oh, I made a seafood stew,� she replied. She set the pot on the table and started serving everyone. My spirits felt lifted with the steam formed at my glasses. Akemi tapped me on the arm. I glanced over at her. She gave me a big smile.

�It�s good,� she bragged, �You really need to try it.� I picked up my chopsticks. Yumi took her place at the table once she served herself. We all blessed the food and ate up. One slurp of those soba noodles and I saw Heaven. I looked up and saw everyone else�s eyes on me. I could tell they all had one questions on their minds. I set down my chopsticks and grinned.

�It�s delicious!� I announced. Yumi�s eyes lit up.

�You really think so?� she asked. I gave her a huge nod.

�I can really taste the seafood and herbs in this,� I said, �I can�t remember the last time I ever had a home-cooked meal.� That angel looked like she would fly over the moon from her seat.

�Oh, I�m so glad that you like it!� she said. �It�s actually a recipe from my mother. I couldn�t wait to try it out!� Yusuke smiled as he chewed and swallowed a piece of crab.

�You really outdid yourself this time, Yumi-chan!� he said, grinning. The others around her agreed. Yumi sampled some of her own stew in confidence. Stars twinkled in her eyes.

�It�s just like Mama made it for me on days when I was sick!� she confessed. I happily took another sip of the soba in the warm, herby broth. Akemi nudged me on the arm again. I nodded as I put a piece of shrimp in my mouth. Maybe staying here won�t be so bad.

�Oh man, Sakura-hime and Miki don�t know what they are missing!� Romi said aloud.

�We can just save them some in containers,� Isaac pointed out.

�Just got to be careful not to eat it up from them,� Cassius replied. �You know how Miki gets when her food gets eaten up from her.�

�It�s worse when it�s Yumi�s cooking,� Akemi said. The roommates broke into laughter.