Student

One sunny afternoon, Masami was in his room in the student dormitory at his university, wind blowing into his room, he was dotting his pen on the writing paper he had on his desk, unable to pen down any thoughts onto his paper, “Man, what a boring day” He thought to himself. Masami pulls out a cigarette and puts it to his mouth before lighting it he remembers the no smoking rule in the dormitories, He puts away his cigarette in spite and turns to his writing paper.

His roommate, Chihiro, comes bursting into the room with a cigarette in hand, “Masami!! You still trying to write? Come on! Let’s go out drinking tonight!! I know a few people that we can go on a mixer with!! I can set you up with Midori if you want.” “Again with this? Come on, Chihiro, I can get with Midori if I want to, I just don’t want to yet.” Masami said the last part quietly.

They both start to wrestle and eventually come to a draw, with both men tired out, “Come on Masami! Just think about it, I could get you and Midori alone in a room together, you want that wouldn’t you?” Chihiro said, Masami replied, “Even if I want to, I wouldn’t, I’m just… Giving it some thought you know it!!”

“Okay okay if you insist on it being that way but let’s go drink tonight, I promise it’ll just be the two of us only.” Chihiro says then leaves the room. Masami goes back to his writing paper and pens down, “The swallow landed on a lilypad and said “Oh how must I land here? The beautiful pond is so perfect” Said the swallow but soon a caiman snaps up and eats the swallow” Masami looks at what he has written but only to scribble it out “Ah it’s no good” He thinks to himself. 

Masami decides to go out walking around the city, He goes to a bookstore to see if there is any good books to buy. Masami goes to the hundred yen per book section, he drags his finger across the bookcase, looks through the case and finds The Sickness unto Death by Søren Kierkegaard, He goes to checkout while having the book in hand reading it. 

“Kierkegaard taught me what anxiety really is” The bookstore keeper cheerfully says, Masami smiles and walks away while reading the book, while reading and walking, he bumps into Midori. Masami rubs his neck in embarrassment, “Ah! Midori, I didn’t expect to see you here today!” “Masami! Oh? What book are you reading today?” Midori questions, “Sickness unto Death by Søren Kierkegaard, have you read any of his work before?” Masami asked.

Midori says, “You really are such an intellectual.” “No, I’m not.” Masami blushingly refuses. Suddenly, Masami’s pager rings. It reads 724106, meaning, “What are you up to?” Masami, thinking that it’s Chihiro, excuses himself from Midori and rushes to meet Chihiro at their usual spot.

Being the first one there as usual, Masami decides to continue reading his newly bought book while waiting for Chihiro. After reading the book three-quarters in, Chihiro arrives with a girl under his arm, “Who’s this?” Masami asked, “Oh her? She is Sakura, she’s the girl I’ve been telling you about” Chihiro said while winking, Masami catching onto what Chihiro is trying to imply, plays along and aims to be a good wingman for his best friend, Chihiro.

Masami proceeds to use self-deprecating humour to prop up Chihiro as the better guy, they get to drinking, eating edamame, joking around and smoking cigarettes. Soon midnight ticks closer and they decide to break into their separate ways, Chihiro and Sakura making their way to a hotel while Masami walks back to the dormitory.

Once back at the dormitory, Masami goes to the communal shower to clean up and goes back to his room to read his book. In a dark room, only being lit by the small clip on lamp on his bed frame.

Waking up the next day, Masami decides to confess his feelings for Midori, feeling adamant about it, he calls up Chihiro and asks to talk to him for a while at their usual bar. Once at the bar, Masami confides in Chihiro about Midori. “Dude!! You really should confess to her!! I’ve seen how she is around you, she really likes you!!” Chihiro says with confidence. Masami still unsure of it, takes a shot of whisky, feeling good, he feels this rush of energy and decides to confess to Midori.

Masami walks to a phone booth and phones Midori at her apartment, “Hey Midori? This is Masami” Masami on the phone says, “Would you like to have dinner with me sometime in the future? I can pick you up on my bike.” “Oh Masami! I’d be happy to go on a dinner with you, when are you coming to pick me up?” Midori being shy over the phone, “ “How does eight o’clock sound? I have a good restaurant in mind.” Masami nervously says and Midori shyly agrees to it.

After hanging up the phone, Masami jumps for joy and rushes back to the dormitory to get changed and freshen up for his first date with Midori, Chihiro drops by and asks him a few questions to prepare him for his date with Midori and gives him some advice.

When it was seven-twenty, Masami hopped on his Honda CB360 and rides off with intent in his heart. Once at Midori’s apartment, he knocks on the door and stands in solemn. Before he knew it, Midori in a beautiful red and white dress opened the door, Masami was lost for words when he saw her, believing he had just seen a slice of heaven, he flusteredly nervously asked her if Midori was ready for the date and she says yes

They both hop on Masami’s bike and zooms off to the restaurant. Once at the restaurant, they took a look at the menu and ordered their food. They spoke for a long time and had wine with their food. Hearing her laughter made Masami less nervous and more confident, He blurted out “You’re really beautiful. Midori”, and with this, Midori went beet-red and hid her face behind her hands, “W-well you are too!!” Midori stuttered flusteredly.

They both leave the restaurant but Midori was awfully quiet, when Masami is walking to his bike, Midori grabs onto the back of his jacket and says, “I want to know you more, Masami, I don’t know a lot about you.” “Do you want to come to my room at the dormitory the day after tomorrow?” Masami ask. Midori agrees and they hope onto Masami’s bike and rides off.

While on the bike, Masami feels Midori hugging him tighter than before and Midori buries her head into Masami’s back while daydreaming of what the future between would be like. Once at Midori’s apartment, Masami walks Midori to her door and says “I’ll see on the day after tomorrow okay?” Midor nods, waves him goodbye and Masami walks away and rides back to the dormitory.

When the day after tomorrow came, Midori took a deep breath in and out then knocks on Masami’s door. Masami opens the door and welcomes Midori in, she looks around Masami’s room and admires his large collection of books, “Wow! You read a lot, do you?” Midori admires, Masami affirms it and gives Midori a tour of his room.

Masami suggested that they should go out to get some food together, they went out to get some burgers and came back to Masami’s dormitory to eat it. Masami tries to hold Midori’s hand, slowly creeping his hand towards her’s and she reciprocates with Masami’s attempt and they held hands for the first time. The air in the room felt light with sparkles of happiness dotted throughout the room, both of them looked away while blushing.

After some time had passed, they let go of each other’s hands and flustered, Midori says that she is leaving and Masami, still red from holding Midori’s hand, tries to get Midori to stay but Midori insist on leaving but before stepping out of the room, She kissed Masami on the cheek before running out of Masami’s room. Masami lays down on his bed and starts kicking his legs against his bed and rolls around in excitement.

When night comes, Chihiro visits Masami at his room to drink, “You did it!! I’m proud of you, Masa! Come! Come! Drink up!!” Chihiro encourages Masami to drink and He drinks up a bottle of shochu. “Come Masami! A toast for the future! Cheers!” Chihiro and Masami toast for the future.

Some time has pass since the event of those days, Masami in his room pens down on his writing paper, “Many years has passed and still my love for her will persist through hardship and pain, I pray for a future for us to come” Masami looks at what he has written and suddenly his pager rings, “33414”, he smiles and gets dress to go out.