Episode 8

“Dif-tor heh smusma, Spohkh.” (Live long and prosper, Spock.)

What the frack?

Why is he suddenly speaking Vulcan?! And why is he using the word ‘frack’? He doesn’t say that unless he’s really, really, really, really upset about something. Why would he be feeling upset right now? There’s nothing out of the ordinary. It was just Inoue’s fiancée. Suddenly popping out of nowhere. That’s all. He really doesn’t care.

“Are you alright?” Inoue’s fiancée asked warily.

“Ponfo miran.” (Go to hell.)

Frack!

There he goes again. Gar. That honestly just slipped out of his mouth.

“Look… I just want to see Mao,” the fiancée slowly said as he continued looking at him like he was some kind of alien or manic sci-fi freak. Which he was not. Well, not all the time. Well, maybe sometimes. Gar. Why is he getting so worked up?

“Tomato!” he suddenly heard Mao’s squeal of delight from behind.

And before he knew it, she had ran past him and jumped into fiancée’s arms and hugged him tight. Why is her legs wrapped around his waist? Holy Sith! What is it to him? Her fiancée- Tomato (Lame nickname.)- was grinning as he hugged her back. All Nino could do was blink and then remind himself that he should put up a rule about PDA.

“What are you doing here?” Mao then pulled away and frowned at him. Her voice suddenly suspicious.

“It’s just normal for one’s fiancée to come pick up his bride to be. Ha-Ha-Ha,” Nino suddenly blurted out. Oh My Glog! Couldn’t he just shut up?

Mao frowned at Nino’s fervent grin, confused, and then aimed a scowl at Toma.

“You’re not my fiancée! Why would you announce such a thing?” Kazu might get the wrong ide- Okay, stop!

“You were once,” Toma chuckled good-naturedly.

“Your girlfriend wouldn’t be happy to hear this,” Mao chided, hitting Toma’s shoulder.

“Fine,” Toma chuckled again. “I just wanted to intimidate your housemate here. It kinda worked. He started speaking a language I have never heard.”

“Kazu’s not from Earth!” Mao beamed at him.

All the while, Nino had a dumbstruck look on his face as he listened to this exchange. He’s as crazy as she is! I-Intimidate? That was it? But why does he suddenly feelik like running whimsically across a meadow filled with dandelions? And why is he still carrying Mao? Fra- Gar. He should stop thinking about that.

“What are you really doing here?” Mao asked once more.

“Well…”

Mao’s eyes then drifted out the door when she saw someone move.

“Frogman?” she exclaimed, eyes widening.

Yamashita stood there with the same wide-eyed expression. Nino’s head snapped to him too. Not really noticing him because he had been a bit distracted. What is he doing here?

“You two have met?” Toma asked, surprised.

Mao and Yamashita nodded slowly.

“What’s going on?” Mao managed to get out as Yamashita pursed his lips thoughtfully.

“How about we go inside and talk?” Toma suggested as he took a step forward.

“You can put her down if you’re feeling tired.”

Sithspit! He wasn’t able to stop himself! What in Spock’s ears is the matter with him? Has he inhaled too much space fumes? Which doesn’t really make sense…

Things are beginning to not make sense….

Toma’s eyebrows raised slightly and then he slowly put Mao down. She was still a bit preoccupied with Yamashita’s sudden appearance, she didn’t hear Nino. He gave himself a hard mental kick as they headed towards the living room. As he observed the two guys in front of him, he suddenly felt conscious of his own looks.

Mao’s fake fiancée was dressed as if he was going to be spending a day in his yacht a little while later and Frogman looked like he just stepped out of a fashion magazine. And him? He had his old Yoda shirt on that has a huge hole on the right shoulder and shorts. (that hopefully has no visible holes) Thankful, though, that at least he wasn’t in his Chewbacca pyjamas this time.

They looked perfect. Perfect beside Mao. And when did he ever care again?

“I can’t believe you two already met,” Toma said, sounding highly amused, sitting down on the couch.

Yamashita remained standing, still looking curiously at Mao while she again asked Toma what this was really about.

“It’s not surprising you wouldn’t recognize each other,” Toma grinned, shaking his head. “Mao, Tomo’s the one who found you.”

“Heh?” Mao frowned, still confused.

Toma looked like he didn’t want to say it. “Remember the hide and seek incident?”

“No.”

Mao’s expression was closed. Nino however was a bit curious.

“That time when you-“

“Kazu!” Mao suddenly interrupted in a bright voice. “How about some refreshments for our guests?”

Our guests? Nino thought, frowning. They were her guests. Shouldn’t she be the one- Gar. Mao had pushed him off to the kitchen. Grudgingly taking out some juice, he strained his ears trying to catch their conversation.

Why would he even be interested?

**

“I think I specifically told you and you to forget about that! It never ever happened,” Mao hissed, feeling her face flush.

“But Tomo just wants to see how you’ve been doing,” Toma tried to reason. All too familiar with Mao’s pride.

“I never expected this in a million years,” Yamashita said. His voice sounded slightly amused. Something she hadn’t heard before.

“Well, you’ve seen me. I’m doing fine! So you can leave now and never ever mention that again!”

“So you remember him?” Toma asked.

“Well-“ Mao got distracted. Nino was coming back with a tray of drinks.

“Maybe you recognized this somehow even from before,” Yamashita offered, taking out the frog purse.

Mao looked down at it. Nino was coming closer. Yamashita looked like he really wanted to talk about it.

“Oh, you want to talk outside? Let’s go then!”

She immediately pulled Yamashita out the back porch and slammed the sliding door shut while Nino could only blink at that. Toma thanked him as he reached for a glass. Nino muttered a distracted response; his eyes still looking to the back porch as he placed the tray down. Toma followed his gaze. His eyes went back to Nino, observing him.

Well, she did admit to having a crush on him… Nino thought to himself as he sat down on the single sofa. Isn’t she a bit too excited to spend some ‘alone time’ with him though? He could see them talking.

Toma continued to observe Nino carefully as he watched him mutter inaudibly and turned on the TV for them. As the TV blasted to a familiar Korean movie, he thought of how Mao always seemed extra happy whenever she gets to mention Landlord Kazu, as she calls him sarcastically. She had tried hard to appear nonchalant when it comes to him but he could always heard the tiniest hint of giddiness in her. She definitely has some… interesting taste, he thought, as he watched Nino absently tug on the hole on his shirt.

He remembered how she had called him up after she ran away and told him where she was currently living and he shouldn’t forget about depositing money to her ATM. He knew she was confident he wouldn’t rat her out to her father. He’s always looked out for her. So he only told them she had called him and she’s safe. Her father had ordered him to immediately find her and bring her back. He was in a pinch so Mao had said she will go back once summer has passed. For now, just let her be…

He saw Nino’s eyes turn to him, a bit unsure; looking like he’s having a bit of a struggle with himself. In the end, he worked up the courage.

“If you’re not Inoue’s fiancée… who are you then??” Nino asked tentatively.

“Her father’s assistant.” Nino remembered Mirai mentioning him.

“My parents have worked for her father ever since I was small. Basically, we grew up together. Hence, the fiancée thing. Her father had decided I would be the only one able to handle Mao. But… it just wasn’t meant to be like that,” Toma said, as he had found happiness in someone else.

“So you have nothing to worry about. It was just a little joke,” he then added casually.

Nino frowned at the grin on his face, suddenly feeling his defenses acting up.

“O-Of course. I had no problem with that in the first place. I even thought, finally someone’s come to take her away.”

Strained laugh. Toma’s lips twitched.

“W-What about Yamashita?” He inclined his head casually towards the back porch.

“His mother worked for the Inoue’s too. For about a year or two. So he’s always been around but kept mostly to himself,” Toma explained as he put down his drink.

Nino wished he would volunteer the information himself. About what they mentioned earlier. Yamashita finding Inoue? And why was she trying hard to avoid the topic? What was their relationship actually? Did they share a bond once? Why, after all these years, would he still think of seeing her? And why in Darth’s helmet is he so interested. Had he always been this nosy? (Definitely not.)

Kroykah! (Stop! or Enough!)

“What is it about the hide and seek incident?” he then chanced. He knew he would sound like he’s prying into things that had nothing to do with him, but…

Toma regarded him seriously for a moment.

“Do you really care about Mao?”

Nino was taken aback. But even more taken aback by the answer that crossed his mind. YES. A big fat YES. Wookiees!

“She is a friend…,” Nino fidgeted a bit in his seat.

Toma then leaned forward.

**

Meanwhile, outside, a different conversation was happening at the same time…

“Why do we have to step out?” Yamashita asked as they sat down on the porch.

“Because I don’t want Kazu knowing any of this,” Mao explained softly, peeking into the sliding door. “I don’t want to appear pathetic and pitiful in front of him…”

Mao’s eyes snapped to Yamashita, who was regarding her with curious eyes, when she realized what had just slipped out of her. Her eyes went to the frog purse in his hand.

“Now I know why it looked familiar,” she then said, grabbing any excuse to steer the topic.

The side of Yamashita’s lips lifted slightly. “Can you still remember?”

Mao shook her head.

“Not really. That incident was really not something I would want to remember. Anything connected with it… I try hard to completely forget.”

Yamsashita nodded, looking solemn.

“I remember you suddenly went to find me, slapped this in my hand, stuck your nose up and demanded I should forget about everything. I took it as your way of saying thank you.”

Despite herself, Mao smiled. “It probably is.”

Yamashita looked at her. Now that he thinks about it, it is the same smile he had always seen on the kid version of her. He had known of her situation with her father; Gossip travels fast around the staff. He could oftentimes hear them talk about how her father shuns her to the side while he dotes on his pregnant second wife. Throwing it in her face… but somehow she never gave up. At such a tender age, she kept on smiling that sunny smile of hers. Still carrying a hope… He was lost on how she managed to do that because he finds it hard to smile when there’s really nothing worth smiling about…

He never expected her to become… the way she is right now. He and his mom had left not long after the incident; his mom had an aunt that helped them get to Australia. And then he never really knew what happened to her smiles.

Guess people do have their limits.

“Toma wasn’t exaggerating when he sort of cautioned me about you,“ Yamashita then offered.

Mao rolled her eyes. “Whatever he’s told you, I’m not as bad as he says.”

“I should have connected his description of you to a weird girl that I had not liked meeting.”

Mao narrowed her eyes at him. “Why pop out now? You could have come to us before.”

“Can’t. My mom and I went to Australia,” he explained as he looked out to the backyard. “I thought to come back and stay for a little while. Been missing it here for years.”

Mao pursed her lips. “You didn’t come back for me, did you? Coz you’re really not my type.”

That sounded familiar. He gave an amused smirk. He really wasn’t the smiling type but somehow he had always had a soft side for her.

“You’re not my type either.”

“Good. I just want to be very clear on that,” Mao gave a nod.

“Yeah, you like funny-looking things,” he commented as she suddenly looked a bit flustered, not liking the tone of his voice. What was he implying?

“You two are the only people I really know here,” he then continued. “It wasn’t really hard to find your father’s company. Though getting in touch with Toma is.”

Her eyes fell again on the frog purse that he was twirling in his hands. He had kept it all these years… Remembering he said something about a childhood…

“When you said you can relate to the owner of the purse…,” her voice trailed off, afraid of imposing. She knows how sensitive the topic can be.

“Just like you, I want to forget memories of my childhood. Or lack thereof.”

Mao inclined her head to the side in inquiry.

“My father isn’t really the most loving and responsible parent,” he began. “He’s an alcoholic who just stayed home. Mom was the one with the job. But he’d be spending all her money away and she lets him. And I couldn’t do anything… It continued for years till he started to be abusive. Mom finally had enough and took me away.”

“And she ended up working for your family. So with our way of life, there had been really no time for fun,” he finished.

“You seem like you don’t mind talking about it now…”

Yamashita shrugged. “It’s alright now.”

“Now I know why you always have that expression on your face,” Mao imitated his deadpan expression.

He narrowed his eyes at her.

“Different people have different ways of coping.”

Mao gave a small smile.

“I somehow have a hazy recollection of a surly-looking kid now,” she thought out loud “You didn’t like playing with us.”

“I just wanted to be left alone then.”

“So you’ve made progress! Actually coming to look for us now,” Mao then grinned.

“Whatever,” Yamashita gave an off-handed shrug.

“But you still have that deadpan look,” Mao pointed out again. “Can you actually smile?”

“Of course I can.”

“Show me,” she suddenly ordered, smiling herself as if telling him to follow her lead.

Yamashita looked at her as if she was not right in the head, as she continued to insist seeing it. He worked his lips.

“You’re just showing your teeth,” she snorted.

“It’s the same deal.”

Mao laughed heartily as Yamashita regarded her with his usual deadpan look. The way they were easily comfortable around each other evident. She then stood up. They should go back now…

**

Nino and Toma’s eyes snapped to the two that were coming back in. Mao had a slight frown on her face, observing the slightly guilty looks on them right now.

“What have you guys been talking about?”

Toma gave a laugh. “I was just telling him how you had a huge crush on me before.”

Mao’s face scrunched up. “I did not!”

“Come on, Mao, it was obvious,” Toma continued to tease her. “How was your talk? I still can’t get over this freaky coincidence with you two. How come you never knew she was Mao?”

“I didn’t bother getting her name,” Yamashita explained. “I just refer to her as Crazy Girl or Crazy Manipulative Girl.”

Mao glared at him, whacked him on the arm and pushed him. Yamashita ignoring her. Nino observed the exchange between the two. Suddenly feeling a Vulcan coming again.

“How about all of us go have lunch right now? Catch up and stuff,” Toma suggested.

At that moment, the doorbell sounded. Nino went to answer it. It was Aoi. Mao looked over, wondering what was up. Nino seemed to be a bit frantic and laughing nervously more than was usual when he’s around Aoi.

“I-I’ll go to your house as soon as I’m finished here,” she heard him tell her and then hurriedly turned back in.

“I’m sorry. You guys go on ahead. I have made plans,” Nino apologized.

“Where are you going?” Mao asked in a what she hoped was a casual tone.

“Aoi and I had made plans before to go to the theme park today,” he told her.

And he couldn’t believe he actually forgot about it. What the frack? Gar. There it is again. Somehow the thought of a fake fiancée and a Frogman had completely driven it out of his mind. No, wait… he had totally forgotten about it even from last night. The situation with Mao… Sithspit. He should stop thinking about it right this instant. It happens. Nothing significant or anything. Yeah.

Mao’s eyes widened a bit at that as Nino told Toma and Yamashita maybe he can join them the next time. Where they going on a- on a date? Was that it? Oh- bi Wan! What else could it be? She felt something bubble up inside her throat. She should just shut her mouth. She should ju-

“How about we all go then? Haven’t gone to a theme park in ages! (Not true. Jun had taken her there recently.) And Yamashita just got back from Australia! I bet you would like that, huh?” Mao asked cheerily.

Yamashita looked quite the opposite. Nino opened and closed his mouth, knowing a protest was in there somewhere.

“Isn’t he like going on a da-“ Toma started.

“It’s settled then! Go tell Aoi, Kazu!” Mao interrupted, grinning widely at Nino; the protest lost in his throat.

What was she doing?

**

Nino and Aoi walked behind the trio as they entered the park. He watched as Mao’s arms were linked to the two guys at her side, chatting with them excitedly. Why did they have to come? It was supposed to be a chance to spend some time with Aoi. But the Sith… Gar.

His frustration had nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that he wouldn’t like to see Mao with these guys. Why? Erm… because they were enabling her! Letting her get whatever she wants. (Wait, isn’t he doing that too?) His eyes went to Mao’s arms that were linked with Yamashita’s and what Toma had told him in the living room came back.

The hide and seek incident.

Mao had always asked her dad to play with her whenever he was at home. No matter how many times he refuses and tells her to go play on her own. She would always go back the next time. Maybe one day he’d change his mind. She couldn’t let a chance like that pass…

And it did come. One day, she had asked him to play hide and seek with her. And he told her he’d go find her. She was ecstatic and went off to find a place where he’d fine her easily. The half-made tree house in the backyard. He knew that was her favorite place. She had her frog stuffed doll with her and had sat eagerly, waiting for the moment he’d find her.

But he never came, as minutes passed by and turned into an hour… two… three… she still sat there stubbornly saying to herself he’d find her. There’s no way he’d forget about her… No way… He said he’d gind her. That what her dad said…

No one came. No one was coming. The rain fell when it was close to evening. The roof of the tree house wasn’t finished, soaking her to her bones. She was still seated, unwilling to move.

Yamashita was the one who found her, lying on the tree house floor, drenched and shivering. He had been the only one that noticed she was missing; Toma had been out with his mom. He went to find her, uncharacteristically. The moment he had gotten help, they had brought her back to the house only to be scolded by her father to have made trouble again.

But he was the one who told her he’d go find her, naively thinking he was serious when in reality he had just wanted her to stop disturbing him… That was what made Mao change overnight…

His softened gaze went to Mao’s back.

Toma also mentioned something about the frog purse. Yamashita had kept it, a reminder of the little girl he had saved. And he had even come to Japan to look for her again. Was the link of theirs so strong? He watched as Mao pulled Yamashita towards the bumper cars. Maybe it is… They somehow had a common ground… based on what he heard about Yamashita’s childhood. There was an unspoken bond there. Maybe both don’t even realize it… Okay, no, he didn’t have to sound too resentful at that.

The bumper cars were fun except for the fact Mao seemed to be targeting him and bumping extra hard, always forcing him to be stuck on the side. Gar. Why does the Sith always has to win? They had gone through more rides but he thought it was time for him and Aoi to split up. And watching Mao playing and getting too close with Yamashita wasn’t what he would call- Okay, stop whacked thoughts must.

**

Mao watched as Nino and Aoi walked away. He had casually asked what ride she didn’t particularly liked and when she told him what it was, he had announced he and Aoi would like to try that out again. She narrowed her eyes at his retreating back. Smartass.

“Let’s go get some food,” she then said in a bored tone as she dropped Toma and Yamashita’s arms, proceeding to the food stands.

Both guys looked at each other. She had been doing the extra effort of sticking them close to her in almost exaggerated close proximity earlier, which had really tired them out. Hm, what factor had changed?

Mao bit into her huge burger and chewed thoughtfully, wondering what Nino and Aoi were doing now. Did they have to split up? They were having fun right? She noticed Toma regarding her silently as he sipped his soda.

“Wharg?” she asked through a full mouth.

Toma gave an amused smile, his eyes twinkling.

“You remind me of myself when I was in third grade.”

“Heh?” she squeaked as Yamashita popped fries into his mouth, looking almost curious.

“When I was in third grade, I had this huge crush on this one girl. Aiko. She had the prettiest pigtails. Anyway, I’d always be playing pranks on her, trying to be mean just to get her attention.”

“How did that go?”

“We shared a wonderful recess together but then Kotoko came so it didn’t last.”

Mao rolled her eyes. “If you just wanted to brag about your ‘conquests’ as a kid-“

“The point is you’re doing the same exact thing to Nino,” Toma then cut her off.

Mao stopped chewing and blinked at that. Toma and Yamashita regarded her with curious eyes.

“No, I’m not. Stop making things up!”

“Yeah, right. You’ve been at it the whole day ever since lunch. You’d always be goading him about stuff.”

What was wrong with joking about his mother ship and asking if he glows in the dark? Okay, so maybe that wasn’t all she had said. But that doesn’t prove anything! It was just fun to watch Kazu go all hyperventilating.

“And admit it. You were trying to make him jealous right? Just trying to see what his reaction would be when you’re so close to other guys,” Toma continued.

Well, he never took his eyes off Aoi. Just taking care of her and such.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she sniffed and turned her full attention to her burger. Toma doesn’t know what he’s talking about. She’s not that transparent. If she was, Kazu would have caught on, right?

Toma tried to stifle a snicker.

“You know, Nino’s an old-fashioned type of guy,” Toma quipped casually, feeling Mao’s ears grow bigger to hear if he’s got any advice. “I wasn’t surprised he’d fall for someone like her.”

“She’s warm, feminine, very conservative, kind, nurturing…,” Toma continued to rattle off.

“The exact opposite of you,” Yamashita pointed out unnecessarily.

Toma chuckled at that agreeing completely. Mao’s eyes glinted at the both of them.

“One look and it’s kinda obvious who he’d fall for,” Toma continued to provoke Mao, enjoying the way her face flushed from irritation.

Suddenly, something wet hit him square on the face when he looked away. Mao’s soda. She had shook her can, opened it and aimed it at him to get back at him. Yamashita observed at the side.

“What the hell?” Toma sputtered, wiping his face, disgusted. “Mao!”

“Sorry,” she said sweetly. “I should have been more careful. Tissue?”

Toma glared at her.

“I’m just saying if you really like him-“

“I don’t!” Mao huffed, not willing to be the first to admit it.

“Stop denying it. I know you and I bet he’s the reason you ant to stay here so bad.”

Yamashita turned to them. “What do you mean ‘stay’?”

“Nothing!” Mao said before Toma could answer. “And I would think you can handle it for me.”

She then gave a frown. “Is it part of the reason you came here? Is there something I should know?”

Toma sighed as he washed his hands off with the bottled water.

“He’s not giving you till the end of summer anymore. You have to go back as soon as possible. The arrangements have already been made.”

“What? No! I’m not going anywhere! Haven’t you told him?” Mao cried.

“I tried telling him every way I can,” Toma explained. “But it’s no use. Maybe if you…”

She hated talking to her father. All they’d end up doing is shout at each other, without getting anything across. And she didn’t like facing him. The way he would look at her…

“Just do everything you can!” Mao gritted her teeth as she stood up and stomped off, trying to let some steam out.

Toma shook his head resignedly as he got up, followed by Yamashita who could only marvel at what just went on.

**

Toma and Yamashita quietly followed behind Mao’s back, who had her shoulders drooped and seemed to be walking aimlessly.

“Come on, I’ll win you a stuffed doll home,” Toma called to her.

“With you, that’s never going to happen,” Mao called back.

Toma shrugged. So he wasn’t good with games.

“I bet Tomo can win you one,’ he said, a grin in his voice as he clapped Yamashita’s shoulder.

Mao stopped in her tracks and turned around.

“I want the biggest one.”

**

“I wanted that big froggie!” Mao whined as Yamashita handed her a small sized panda.

“Pandas are cuddlier anyway,” Yamashita countered as Mao pouted down at the doll.

“But that froggie looked way cuddlier than this!” she complained some more.

“Fine. I’ll have that then,” Yamashita attempted to snatch it away.

She held it out of his reach. “I’m not saying I don’t like it.”

Yamashita gave her his deadpan look.

“You already have a stuffed frog at home anyway,” Toma interjected, poking the panda doll in her hands.

Sithspit! An image of Kazu with his silly smile popped up in her head. Toma and Yamashita watched as she hit her forehead repeatedly with the panda.

And then instantly pointing, “Oooooh, let’s have our mugshot taken!”

She then yanked the two clueless ones away, feeling her face grow hotter by the second.

**

“We even have a mugshot!” Nino said, smiling.

“We got one too!” Mao exclaimed as she held up a mug with a photo of her, Toma and Yamashita doing funny faces. Well, except for Yamashita who still had his deadpan look.

“The horror house was really cool! Though not for Aoi, she was holding on to me the whole time, a bit scared.”

“We went there too! But we just laughed at the monsters and traps,” Mao offered cheerfully. “Well, Toma and I did. I don’t think Yamashita laughs.”

“I won Aoi a big stuffed bear at the ring toss!” Nino grinned.

“Yamashita won me this!” Mao held up her stuffed panda, wishing it was something bigger right now. “Although it’s small, it’s from Yamashita still.”

They had been doing that from the moment they got home, retelling stories of what they did. Though it sounded more like a childish way of trying to outdo each other and prove who had much more fun.

Nino watched as Mao went over to the couch and placed her stuffed panda between the two frog dolls he’s won for her before.

“Now Kazu and Mao have Yamashita Panda as their new friend!” Mao said brightly.

Yamashita Panda. Riiight. He eyed the panda as Mao went to the kitchen to get a drink. Hm. Pandas and frogs don’t really mix.

He has never resented pandas more than ever.

Blaster Bolts!