Hanae p.44-51I liked "Adults don't Understand Me". She was wearing a black knit vest over a thin blue shirt with a red and white argyle pattern knit into the breast. It suited her very nicely so I tried to look for a compliment to tell her, but I couldn't find the words. Having no other choice I said, "You look good too babe," she then furrowed her brow. Was 'babe' inappropriate? She took off walking a little ahead of me. Maybe I had offended her. I shut up and followed behind her, but there was just something I really wanted to know. I still hadn't asked her name. Pretty much at the same time that I sped up and chased after her she stopped. I stopped chasing her. She faced the side. I followed her gaze. There was an elementary school gate. She looked intently at the heavily closed iron gate that was about 1.5 meters tall. The school ground spread beyond the gate, shrouded in pitch-black darkness. A daring smile appeared over her profile. Sensing her plan I said, "wouldn't that be bad?" The character for kawa appeared on her brow. Without paying attention to me, she quickly walked to the iron gate, paced both hands on the edge, and with a decisive action jumped, then stepped one leg over. She moved that leg a little then entered the sidewalk and sat on the edge of the gate as she stepped over. If she had brought the other leg to the sidewalk, her invasion would have been a success. She remained perched over the gate as if straddling a horse and looked over proudly to where I was. I covered my eyes. Her skirt was bunched up to the top of her legs, so the leg not yet on the sidewalk was bare. She didn't appear to mind at all. I heard a thud-like sound. When I looked up her head was on the other side of the gate. Her two round eyes asked me, "well, what are you gonna do?" I walked to the gate, put both hands on the edge and jumped with one motion landing nicely on both feet over the sidewalk. She made a disappointed face, but soon that expression was gone. "That was cool." She said that and smiled. We did three laps around the schoolyard. "Hey did you ever like school lunches?" "I didn't have school lunches at my school." "Hmm, how odd. Private school?" "Yup." "I really hated school lunches. Isn't it kind of scary to have all of the school's students eat the same food at the same time?" "I think I see what you mean." "I thought of school lunches the other day when I was seeing this scene in Escape from Alcatraz where all the prisoners are eating the same meals at the same time. Hey, do you like Clint Eastwood?" "I like him. I think Pale Riders is the best." "I like Dirty Harry the best." She and I held on to an iron bar with both hands and hung around like two baby monkeys. "What kind of music do you listen to?" "I listen to lots of thing. But I really don't listen to Japanese music very much." "Why?" "…Hmm, why? I have never really thought about it much." What music do you listen to?" "I listen to various things too, but I guess I don't listen to Japanese music very much." "Why?" "…Why? I've never really thought about it." "Same as me then." "Yup, the same." We alternated sticking our fingers in the nostrils of some important person's statue placed in the corner of the playground. "What's your dream for the future?" "I'd like to enter a first rate university, and if I can, get into a first rate company. And if it's possible, succeed in good rhythm. And if possible, I'd like to marry a cute wife and have two cute children. And if possible, build a stand-alone house in the city. And if possible, remember he rules to Go even in old age. And if possible, take my wife's hand on one mild autumn day and tell her, 'I was glad to have lived with you,' and die of old age. But for sure that's impossible, so I think I'll walk a different life." "Really? If you could do it, do you really think you'd want to have a life like that?" "Yeah." "…" "Why are you laughing? Did I say something funny?" "Gosh, every single guy around me is amazing. They all say stuff like, 'for sure I'm gonna be a celebrity' even though they don't specify how they'll become famous; but anyhow, it's always, 'I'm gonna be an important man'." "That's because the all want to attract your attention. It's like they're trying to buy you over in advance." "You don't want to attract my attention?" "…" "But hey, why don't you think you'll be able to have the life you were talking about a few minutes ago? If you try hard there's nothing you can't do, don't you agree?" "…" "What happened? Did I ask something bad?" "…I'm gonna be like Bill Gates." "It's late." She and I were lying down in the shape of a dai character in the middle of the playground. "It's so quiet." "Hmm." "…" "Hey if it's alright with you, can you tell me your name?" "Any name will do." "…" "Sakurai." "How about your first name?" "I don't want to tell you, I hate my first name." "My name is…" "Sugihara, right?" "How did…?" "Hahaha, I read it a while ago. But I couldn't catch your first name. What is it?" "Any name will do." "Well that's true." "Hm-hmm." "…" "…" Sakurai sprang up. "Did you just see that?" I quickly sat up and looked at Sakurai's face and nodded. Just a little before that a star had fallen through the sky. Even in Tokyo's bright sky I could see that it distinctly pulled along a red tail. Kawa shaped wrinkles cut through Sakurai's forehead. "This sucks. It's the first time something this embarrassing happens when I'm with a guy." "Embarrassing?" "Yeah, a shooting star. There's nothing more embarrassing than staring at the sky alone with a guy and seeing a shooting star. Don't you think?" "Maybe." "Really." "Maybe." "Yes. You didn't make a wish did you?" I cocked my head to the side. "I didn't have time to." "Oh, good." The kawa on her forehead disappeared. A kind smile replaced it instead. "Since it's embarrassing, don't tell anyone about the shooting star. It's our secret." What would another guy do at a moment like this? I wanted Sakurai to touch me. Any place would be nice. When she'd touch me and take my hands into her own, no mistake it would relieve the sense of impatience filling my heart. I absolutely did not want to lose this girl smiling before my eyes. Though it had been just several hours since I had met her, I felt a surprisingly strong feeling toward this mysterious girl. Then I realized she'd take my hand if she was my girlfriend. Not knowing whether or not I should extend my hand, Sakurai finally got up. "Let's go?" I nodded and stood up. When we got to the gate, Sakurai said, "you go first. I want to see you jumping from behind." I jumped. Sakurai looked over to where I was and beckoned me as I waited on the other side of the gate. I reached my hands in thinking she needed help, then suddenly she pulled both of them in. My body was pressed again the gate. Sakurai's face grew close to mine. "You know, you have jumped before." Sakurai said only this, then united her lips to mine. Even if she knew anything about who I was, I didn't care. Whichever way would be fine. Sakurai and I sandwiched the gate and remained kissing for a long time. The feeling of impatience disappeared without a trace.
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